Now I Get It...

My boss is sitting in the other room sucking the food from between his teeth, making disgusting sounds. This is a man who talks with his mouth stuffed full all the freakin' time. I mean, it's so full you can't understand what he's saying. When I give him a look and ask him to repeat himself he gives me an indignant look. Anyway, the sucking noise is gross and I finally understand why Yago gets irritated.

I'll be spending the entire next week up at Ramstein attend the Transition Assistance Program Seminar. It'll be nice to be out of here and with my boys for a week and a half.

I did some cleaning last night and I felt GREAT afterward. Made me wonder why I haven't done more throwing away and scrubbing over the last couple years...

The Curse, continued

I am essentially out my security deposit and no one is held accountable. (except me, of course) I'd like to kick everyone that works over there in the jimmy a couple times. (too bad they're girls and don't have jimmies)

I was informed yesterday that I owe Sam's daycare $150. I was supposed to be getting money back since I pay for the entire month on the first and he's leaving a week early. Nope. They say somewhere the billing got mixed up and I owe them $150... today. Perfect.

For YEARS, I have been looking forward to accruing enough frequent flyer miles to upgrade to business class. (Not even 1st class, just business class) I finally got the 25,000 I needed so my next trip to the states I was going to be balling, shot calling. Ya know what I'm saying? I went to look up ticket prices and upgrade procedures last Wed only to find they raised the requirement to 50,000 miles. WHAT??!! But, but... I was so pleased that when I go home over the holidays, 6 mos pregnant, I'd get to rest and relax on the plane. I'd get to dine on fine food instead of the microwavable veggie pizza crap. But, nooooo. I get to spend 10 hours crammed in a little seat doing the bobble-head sleep thing. (observing Sam's restful slumber only embitters me more)

On a happier note... my sister, mistressofmoomoo, turns 32 today. Happy birthday, you old lady!!! Sam said, "So Aunt Mistressofmoomoo is 32 and you're 33?" Yep, I'm only a year older. (zip it Yago. I didn't go cradle robbing for the verbal abuse)

Still with the curse?

I haven't much felt like posting lately because... well, a few reasons.

What's occupying most of my time and energy right now is trying NOT to get screwed by my landlord. He put a clause in at the end of my rental contract that nullifies the military clause. Of course, this cute little clause is all in German and the Housing Office said it was a good contract and recommended I sign it. Turns out it's not a good contract for me and I could be held liable for rent until Dec 2007. If I'm lucky I'll just be out a $3,600 securtity deposit. The whole purpose of the "Housing Office" is to help and protect military tenants, which they haven't.

Sam is leaving me this weekend to live with his dad. I'm sad that he'll be gone, I'll be lonely. I'll have to cuddle myself after dinner. I'll join them in a month but it's still four weeks alone in my apartment.

I've been trying to hand stuff off at work with mixed results. I don't really care about the Holiday Party but the person that's supposed to take it over isn't DOING anything with it.

It's frustrating but I have to remember, regardless, it'll be over in about a month.

Positive In = Positive Out

This morning I felt awful and didn't know why. I went to the espresso bar for a pick me up but got more than a caffeine buzz.* The people at the coffee machine are cool, not like the knuckleheads in my office. After a few minutes of good old-fashion bantering I realized that I physically felt better. It's amazing how that works.

* I know I'm not supposed to have a lot of caffeine and I am trying to ween myself.

Who has what?

Last night, while fixing the worst dinner in recent memory, the phone rang...
"Let me talk to Schmitty."
"Okay, hold on." hmm, that's weird.
Schmitty hands the phone to me a couple minutes later. With a smile he says, "The little baby in your belly is growing raisins."

Thanks, Yago. He's reading anything and everything he can get his hands on about fetal development.

Better Than Last...

This weekend was better than the last one... When Sam tried to get me arrested for kidnapping and child abuse. (lil' stinker)

We saw the movie Over the Hedge and had fun. I was CRAVING Chili's steak and portabello mushroom fajitas so I talked Yago in to going. He despises such establishments but agreed anyway, for the sake of Cranky I think. I can't tell you how excited I was about these fajitas. Imagine the disappointment when I saw they were discontinued. That was a bummer.

I ordered school clothes and maternity clothes on Sunday. Can't wait to have a little pregnant belly. (not the huge one where everyone is afraid to stand too close)

Big Smile

Yago and I went to my first OB appt today. Once he found out there was going to be a pelvic exam he wasn't nearly as excited about attending. "It's okay, you don't have to be there for that part." (in a forgiving tone when I actually didn't want him there for that)

I went out and got Yago when the doc was ready to do the ultrasound. It was so cute, you can already see the little heart beating. The doctor told us Cranky is about the size of a gummy bear. Yago made some comment about seeing it's little arms. The accompanying gesture was so funny I laughed the sensor/scopy/thingy off my belly. He's so ridiculous sometimes.

The difference in care between the Americans and Germans is already apparent. When I was pregnant with Sam I was diagnosed as pregnant. They took my bp, height, weight, some blood and sent me to a briefing. That's the only care I got during the first trimester.

I was diagnosed here and immediately eligible to see a doctor. I'm about 8 wks along and had my appt today. They didn't weigh me, which I found odd because in the US they write down your beginning weight and then lecture you the rest of your pregnancy about weight gain. They didn't take my blood pressure either but did collect a couple tubes of blood. Plus, I already got an ultrasound. That's a treat reserved for the fourth month in the States. They do an ultrasound EVERY visit and they have the 3-D kind.

Another difference... The doctor told me I could change into the robe hanging on the wall. She didn't leave the room or anything, just stepped behind the screen out of my sight. I asked which way I should have the robe open, the front or back. (All us girls know different doctors have different preferences.) This doctor sounded a little confused by my question. She told me, "We only have the robes for the American patients because we know that's what they're accustomed to. Germans don't use them." Hmm. I'm trying to imagine myself stripping down and walking around a stranger's office buck-naked. Nope. Then plopping myself down on a table in to stirrups without a robe, sheet, or anything. Nope. I don't even do that at home in front of my husband. (I mean walk around naked, we don't have stirrups at home.)

Today has been such a good day, I'm even friendly to people at work. Completely out of character.

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Baby Cranky hasn't been so cranky the last couple days so that's good. I was worried I was going to have to endure months of feeling sick.

So it was right around a year ago that Yagopuchae started drunk dialing me while I was working mids. That is so funny to me. I had a little crush on him but I didn't take him seriously when he said, "I want to get to know you on a personal level." Yeah yeah, we'll see if you even remember this conversation tomorrow. It's amusing.