Back to life, back to reality...BOO!

It is definitely bitter sweet.  I had a fantastic trip.  So fantastic that I don't even know where to begin.  I want to tell you everything! Okay, I will start at the beginning.  


I left you at the airport...I was getting ready to board...sorry to leave you hanging like that.  I was so busy and had such a good time, I never once thought about blogging while I was there.  Now, I want to relive it so I will by telling you and showing you some of the pictures I took.  BTW I am very proud of my pics!  I think they border on professional and I have decide that in my next career, I will be a photographer.  I know crazy right?!?!  Well, maybe you will change your views once you see my shots.  I will let you be the judge.


My flights to and fro were great! Very little turbulence, which I have to admit was a relief.  That is one of the only things I do not like about flying.  They fed me, I rested, and arrived safely both directions.  Who could ask for more! 


I did become quite verklempt (verklemmt in German) as the plane approached the airport.  The thought of seeing my brother for the first time in... too long was overwhelming!  


Once I landed in Germany, I worked very hard on not getting lost in the airport.  I did not want to delay seeing him in anyway.  Thank God the signs had English and Deutsch translations so I made my way toward the exit without incident.  Holding back the tears I turned the corner to what I thought would be more corridors and BAM Nadine, Peanut, and my favorite brother Dan were standing right there!  I lost my breath for a moment but not my step and I immediately went to him and got the brother hug I have so longed for!  It was from that moment on, I had the time of my life! 


My first impression of Germany was "WOW, no speed limits!"  My brother attempted to break the speed barrier more than once during my stay and he began with our trip to his house.  Peanut, Dan and Nadine's doggie loved me at first lick and we became fast friends in the car.  I held on to him for dear life and he to me for fear that the car might take wings and fly.  It didn't and we arrived to his home safe and sound. Whew!!

Peanut <3

I was dying to meet the kids I have Skyped with for the last year and going to pick them up at school was a must!  They knew I was coming and Dan and Nadine told me they were as excited to meet me as I them.  However, Dan did warn me that the little one, Myra might take a day or two to warm up. I was prepared for that.  We walked over to the school, which was a hop, skip, and jump from their house.  Walking did these plane cramped legs some good.  Patrick, saw me right away and came running!  I got a big hug and smile!  My heart quadrupled.  Myra gave me a smile but was reserved as expected.  We walked home giggling and having fun.  

Once back at the house, Myra the "reserved" one ended up on my lap and we were even faster friends than Peanut, no licks required! I enticed the kids with America gifts.  I figured it would be an ice breaker.  After all, they only know me from Skype and I do not speak German at all.  The gifts were a hit!  Here are our first minutes together.

 I fit right in!!

The first weekend we spent together was a family affair.  All of us hopped in the car and did a little sight seeing, kids had a school show and cake feast, and Dan and Nadine hired a professional to take pictures of all of us.  What a wonderful way to mark my visit. 

DUCK FACES! HAHAHA

We had a lot of fun doing these pics and this is just a few of them! 

I have taken you through the first three days of my time in Germany and I can see that it is going to take me more than one post to tell you about my trip.  

What is to come...castles, tulips, and maybe even a video or two!  PLUS, my favorite photos post! Stayed tuned! 

  

I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane...

...I probably won't want to come back again! OK so I changed the words of that song a little. You don't mind do you?!?

It is official! I am sitting in the terminal waiting to board.  I am watching the crew examine the plane and I have one hour till take off.  I cannot believe that it is finally here!  Let's reflect shall we...

It was many months ago that I decided to book my flight to Germany.  I was very disappointed that my brother received his deployment orders for July forcing him to change his plans to come home for a visit this summer.  So, I became highly motivated to see him.  It has already been 18+ months since we have seen each other and adding another year was just plan wrong.  Therefore, the only way that I would be able to see him was to get my buttox onto a plane and go there.

Planning the trip is not as easy as it may seem.  I have a crazy schedule with work, kids, and especially school.  However, if you know anything about me you know that I am a highly motivated person and so these things were measly speed bumps in the road.  Fast forward a few months, $1000, and many research papers later...Voila' I am sitting in a terminal waiting to board.

To say that my lil' bro and I are beyond excited to be together in a number of hours now is an understatement.  I am beside myself and so is he.  In fact he is so stoked that I am coming he was going to be at the airport 24 hours ahead of schedule LOL!!  Time change can screw a brotha up ;-)    

I will tell you all about the trip when I come home...

Boarding has begun...LATER!!!

Hair Days

I often wonder why hair plays such an important factor in my self-esteem.  

Bad hair=Bad day!  

Over the years of my life, I have experimented with all kinds of "dos." Short, long, and everything in between.  Although, I get compliments on my hair's quality, I have yet to find my "perfect" style.  

Last year around this time I decided to grow my hair out.  It was a spontaneous decision but I stuck to it.  Here I am a year ago:

Feb 2011

Pretty cute huh?!?  I thought so.  I loved my hair like this.  I had good hair days most everyday.  I could drive with the windows down and not fear messing it up.  Easy to style and weather didn't effect my look.  Rain? Who cares! Humidity? Bring it!  It just didn't matter. 

There were a couple of draw backs to having this style though.  First, I had really bad bed head in the morning.  Secondly, men either hated it, loved it, or thought I was gay.  Not a very good thing for a very straight, very single gal.  Third, it had to be cut monthly, which kinda became a pain in the butt.  However, none of these reasons were good enough for me to grow it out.  I liked it and kept it like that since Feb. 2008.  

So why did I decide to change my look, you ask?? Like I said, I decided one day.  Very out of character for me, I might add.  If you know me at all, you know that I am a planner and very rarely make spontaneous decisions.  

Here I am today (well close to today, about a week or two ago):

Oh wait, that is not the one I wanted to show you...hold on a sec...

Me and my babies...growing to fast!  Go Phillies!

There you go!  It may still seem short to you but I can tell you that it was not pleasant to grow it this long.  MANY bad hair days I still have not gotten over.  Nothing therapy cannot cure though...hee hee!  Getting past the ears was the worst part. 

Now, I am just smooth sailing.  Just waiting until I find the perfect "do."  I was kinda going toward this:

I have a way to go but I never tried this one and I think it might just fit me.  

Gone with the bed head! So long to frequent hair cuts! Humidity and rain have now become my enemy...

...but at least I won't be mistaken for a lesbian.  LOL ;-)

Guilty Pleasures or Are They?!?

Thank God for my DVR!  I don't have the ability to watch t.v. in real time BUT I make time to watch my mindless but ever so entertaining shows.  I might be a week or two behind in watching them but that doesn't bother me.  I just stay clear of those nameless individuals who might spoil the results for me.

On tap these days is Dancing with the Stars a.k.a DWTS and American Idol (AI).  

Dancing with the Stars:  I have been watching DWTS for many a season now.  I am not sure just how many, could be all of them.  Like most shows that have been on for too long, some seasons are better than others.  Last year (or the year before??) was lousy.  So lousy that I didn't make it through the whole season. I dumped it!  This made me angry because it gave me less mindless activities to do and made me lose faith in the show.  However, as faithless as I was, I still "checked out" the new season's cast to see if there was any hope of rekindling my fetish.  Alas, my faith has been restored in 2012!  This season is the best to date!  Yes, I said it, "The Best!"  I am totally taken by it.  So taken, in fact, that I am up-to-date with my episode watching.  I am not sure what it is I love the most.  It could be the talented cast or it could be the fact that the eye candy on this season is in one word "HOT!!!" I think it might be the later.  Anyway, in the past I have cringed when contestants preformed.  I have not cringed at all this season.  On the contrary, I broke out in a raging hot flash, more than once I might add, from watching. I think I have been single too long.  This season is fantastic!  You must check it out!  

American Idol: My second guilty pleasure.  Again, some seasons are real good and others, not so much.  This year it has been touch and go.  I watched all of the auditions and eliminations and I must say that by the top 24, I was hooked.  However, some of my favorites did not make it through to the top 12 and I was hopping mad, on the verge of removing it from my recording schedule (GASP!).  I stuck it out though and I am glad I have.  I am really enjoying the talent on this show.  I am equally enjoying the contestants I don't like get booted off!!  I am so going to hell for taking pleasure in one's pain ;-)

There you have it.  My guilty pleasures.  The little things that add a little highlight to my day.

Speaking of highlight of my day...

Adorable

Faithful, Humble, and Talented

Sexy

Surprisingly Attractive

Oh and one more...

Hubba Hubba :-P

No guilt in these pleasures ;-) Night All!

It has arrived!!

"Oh sit son! She's legit!!"  

Indeed, it is here and I will be there 59 days!  Now that is what is up !

Stylin' & Profiling

As you know, I am on a dating site.  In hope of meeting "the one," I must fill out a profile that gives viewers enough info about me.  Then they formulate a decision as to whether I am worth more than a look see.  So here how mine reads right now...(keep in mind that was my first attempt at summing who I am up in a not too short, not too long paragraph).

I am a career oriented, strong willed woman looking for someone to round out my life. I love the outdoors, taking walks, running, watching movies, hanging at home. 

I like sports but definitely not obsessed. 

I listen to all different kinds of music but 80's are my favorite. 

I have a lot to offer someone. I am goal oriented, loving, considerate, funny, stable, settled and am looking for the same in return. Life is not a dress rehearsal, so I plan on living it the best way I know how and I would like to share it with someone. 

My favorite quote sums it up "Love is not gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction" Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Short, sweet and to the point...at least I thought it was.  I am finding that I must be WAY MORE specific.  So, I thought I would attempt to write my new one here.  Let's see what you think!

Take a few...

I am a real woman, who is here with intentions of meeting someone to spend time with.  I am a busy, single mom/college student, homeowner, and employed for 14 plus years at the same company.  Although, my life is busy, I am willing to give my free time to someone who is willing to give me their time as well.  

I am thoughtful, considerate, healthy, trustworthy, sweet, funny, silly, patient, smart, vulnerable, successful, driven, independent (not too independent) and a tell it like it is woman.  What you see is what you get!  My pics look like me, although, I feel they are not my best shots.  I am in the process of growing my hair out from a very short cut to a longer shoulder length style.  It is a difficult feat but it is progressing nicely.  

I am attracted to men who are around my age or older but not older than 50. I have never dated inter-racially and I really do not plan to.  Although, I am far from prejudice!! I am not one who curses a lot.  I keep my mouth clean for my children and in my opinion, it is not very attractive for a woman to have a potty mouth.  I have an ankle tattoo (I was 18 and did not have very good judgement) but am not attracted to men who use their body as a canvas.  

I absolutely love when a song says what I am feeling.  I use music as one way to express my love to someone.  I like all varieties of music.   I love to take pictures. I love the outdoors.  I like chick flicks.  If you like to go for walks, enjoy the mountains, and stop to notice unusual flowers, trees, or the stars we would probably get along.         

Let me tell you more of what I am looking for...I have taken advantage of my years of experience to understand myself enough to know what it is I am looking for.  

I want a man who is thoughtful, considerate, healthy, trustworthy, sweet, patient, funny, silly, smart, vulnerable, successful, driven, independent (not too independent)...I expect what I offer.  

I am tired of men who need me to motivate them!  I am tired of giving more than I receive!  I am tired of making the man I care for a priority when all he does is make me an option! 

TRUST is something that I give freely.  Don't lose mine!  

I like sports but I am absolutely turned off by a man who would rather sit inside and watch sports than play them outside with me.  Obsessions are a major turn-off and do not work for me.

I am cautious about this way of dating.  So you must be patient.  I will not give you my phone number or real name the second e-mail you send me.  Like I said, I am smart!!

I am looking for someone who is actually available.  I am a one man woman.  I do not date around and if I am giving you my focus, I expect the same.  "Separated," does not work for me.  You need to be single/divorced not "almost divorced."

Lastly, long distance just doesn't work.  I live in Delaware County PA.  If you live in another state  or more than 45 minutes from my area please keep looking.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. Didn't I save you a lot of time!?! Me too (I hope)!

That is much better!  If they take the time to read it than they will know exactly what I am looking for.  If they e-mail me, I hope to assume that, even after reading my profile, they are seriously interested.  If I do not get any e-mails (realistically, this is a possibility), I can only assume...well instead of worrying about that, I will focus on my good intentions of saving my time and theirs, being open and honest, and being clear about my expectations.  Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Right is out there...we'll see.

Love a Nurse

You should definitely have a nurse in your life!!! LOL

Well, I have taken a break from the books to check in.  Albeit a short break.  I am up to my earlobes in Community Health Nursing.  Translation = term papers, text book reading, and research.  It's a blast!

UPDATE:  Passport application submitted and paid for.  Now I must wait 4-6 weeks to get that baby in my hot little hands...cannot wait!  What is the count now?!?...hmmmm...70 days...can I get a Whoot Whoot!!  Yea Baby!!