It's A Small World After All...

It's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, this is something to be super excited about.... but I am mostly thrilled because D & I have been so busy trying to catch up with life that we haven't had much time together since we've been home. So I am excited that tonight we are getting a chance to take it easy. Perhaps tackle some of those boxes that have taken up permanent residence in the guest wing hallway? Speaking of the guest wing... We have recently gotten exciting news that we will been having house guests of the Wollschlager/Ndjerareou kind in the fall!!!! Some time in September/October (just in the time for my birthday!!!) they will head to our neck of the woods to spend some quality family time. Which is fantastic because it gives me the excuse to have the house "guest ready" by this fall! Bring on the organizational skills/paint rollers/curtain & pillow patterns etc! It's time to get cracking! Chelsea Rawson.... why aren't you in Germany so I can take advantage of your fabulous organizational skills??? I need you!!!! Anyone here in Germany love to organize? I could sure use your expertise!!!

I am fascinated at how your past weaves it's way throughout your life. I feel as though I have lived in several places (though not near as many as some people) and wherever I go, I nest. I hunker down and spread roots as deep and as far as my heart will let me. Dana tells me it is because of this that I make such close friends wherever I go. Therefore I am constantly amazed at how you never know when a distant part of your past will intersect with your present. In coming to Germany I have had two such reminders of how small the world really is. Ironically I have the same lovely lady, Mrs. Paula Amrein, to thank for both occurrences.

Texas Tech meets Germany: Many months ago at the Amrien's Christmas Party I was introduced to a bright and sunny individual about my age Miss Jen Wall. We got to talking and introductions were made only to find out we were both from Texas (hooray!). Then the "where did you go to college" bit came out only to find that we had both attended Texas Tech during the same years, and furthermore had hung around the same people! The Phi Lamb, Kappa Chi, BOG, and BYX crowd. I can only imagine how many times our paths had crossed and we were simply never aware! So the whole, "Do you know so-&-so?" conversation went on for at least 20 minutes. Since December and rather as of late, she has become one of my closest friends here in Germany! I heart you Jen!!!!

Germany meets Hudson Middle School???: The most recent encounter was the day before yesterday... Paula had invited me on a exploration adventure in downtown Landstuhl. It's important to note how excited I was... even though I live in Landstuhl, the amount of times I get to explore downtown when shops are actually open is a rarity indeed. She mentioned in passing that she was bringing a new friend of hers, Andrea, along with us. I always love meeting new people, particularly here as the military wives are a special breed of woman. So when I finally made it down to Paula's car, opened the back door and peered in to say hello to the figure in the back seat, imagine my surprise when the face staring back at me is eerily familiar. I immediately flip through the pictorial rolodex of faces in my mind and almost instantly I have a name. I point to her and exclaim in what I can only imagine is shock an disbelief "I know you!!!! You're Andrea Jancoviak!!" Her expression, God bless her, is one of utter confusion as she tries to place my face in her memory. I proceed to tell her that we went to Hudson Middle School together and she is just as shocked as I am! I had also completely forgotten that we lived in the same neighborhood albeit she lived in the older side of The Greens. While we weren't friends at HMS due to the school system splitting us up into teams (MVP's and ?) I am excited at a chance to reconnect with someone from home, someone from a time long ago, someone who also knows all of the same people I do from a cherished childhood.

Here are some images from our walk!!! Ya'll know me, never waste an opportunity to break out the camera and give my readers a chance to see what I see everyday!

We stopped at Sander's for lunch! Yum!!!!

This marks a tour around downtown Landstuhl. If you follow them it will lead you around the town to specific monuments! I love it!!!

Can someone tell me if these are bleeding hearts? I think they are I just can't remember!

Paula's mother informed us that these cones are given to the German children on their first day of school. the are carried upside down and filled with goodies specially bought for their first day! How awesome is that?!?!

I love that this series of maps is the "Marco Polo" series. Anyone else find that hysterical?

The signage for a cute parisian clothing store in town. i love it!!!

 

Well our busy schedule has yet to let up.... But I'm looking forward to the events planned for this weekend. Our friends Ashley & Time Jenkins are PCS-ing back to the states, ironically to our old stomping grounds of Iowa City. They are having a huge going away party on Saturday night. And I'm super glad that my husband isn't on standby this weekend so he can have a beer or two.

Also Brandon Amrien's birthday is this Sunday and I am creating a new Icing on the Cake recipe in his honor, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes! I can hardly wait to play in the kitchen on Sunday! Considering Reese's is Dana's middle name he can barely contain his excitement either!

So a happy wonderful weekend to you all, and I promise more pics of the honeymoon are coming! All my love to our family and friends!