Traveling Abroad

Annie, Nathan & Michelle

My niece Michelle is home from her year of study in Germany. She looks wonderful. She lived a healthy lifestyle while there. This photo was taken at a local bike shop, where we met up with her as she decided on a bicycle purchase. Riding was her main source of transportation, and she is missing her German bike riding!

Michelle loves Germany. She is already missing her friends and family. A particular young man as well. She is planning a year of study here, at DePauw University. Then, she wants to go back to Germany and go to a University there.

My Sister, Julie, and husband, Brent, had a wonderful welcome home party for her a couple of weeks ago. She had a nice mix of family and friends. I loved seeing Michelle. I wasn't able to chat much with her, as she was the Fraulein Michelle was in demand by all. I look forward to upcoming gatherings as I am anxious to her of her adventures.

My Emily, has a few friends that have or will be traveling abroad this year. One of her Roommates will spend a semester in France, I believe, studying Culinary Classes. Emily and Annie also have a few friends that are or will travel due to military.

Frankly, the selfish Worry-Wart Mom that I am, makes me glad the girls haven't gone out of the United States. I hope they will have an opportunity in the future, but, I feel they are safer here. I realize several of my readers won't like that comment, and I apologize for any ill feeling I may cause. Particularly to my friends in the UK, Australia and Canada. I love you all and would love to travel to your beautiful countries one day. But, I am not crazy about my 18 and 20 year old daughters going across the state lines let alone the country borders. Traveling is kindof scary these days.

Heck, everything is scary lately.

Zhanis! You Putting on more Weight!

Quoted from my dear Mother -in-Law this weekend.

First of all; obviously this old woman doesn't realize how hard it was to gather my family and pretty much MAKE them go see her & Poppa Saturday. It certainly wasn't anyone other than me saying: "Come on, we need to go see them. Show the love. It's been a while. I know it would make them so happy!"

Second; we came to eat at the Assisted Living Retirement Center they are currently staying at. No one wanted to eat at 4:30 (why do oldies do that?), let along there. The food isn't an, uhm, favorite shall we say?

I said, "Thank you Momma, I see you are packing a few new pounds too, no wonder with the pound of butter they put into each meal." She laughed and said, "yes! I gain 10 pounds!"

Third; She has no idea how self-conscious I am of gaining this weight. Earlier Emily caught me measuring my fat body parts, and told me that no one does that. Nor do I look like I gained any weight. Yes, Her eyes rolled back when Momma, announced to the dining room crowd about my gaining weight.

My Father -In-Law laughing chimed in: "You weigh a good 140 pounds now, huh? 140? Am I right?" Shut up Poppa. He caught me slip in the weigh room on the way back to their apartment. I jumped on the massive scales. Poppa pipes up: 140? No? I said, "Old Man, watch it!" In which,he laughed.

Fourth; Hello? The home we are purchasing has two master bedrooms. May be a good idea to stay on my good side! My folks are rocking right now...

ps.. I do love my In-Laws dearly. I appreciate them, even when they are mean. I see where Sergio gets it....

What I Feel

Happy. Sad... Loved. Hated... Excited. Frightened... Skilled. Awkward... Calm. Anxious... Baffled. Satisfied.

Emotional.

I am an emotional mess. I never know what will strike me.

Will I be in a good mood? Or will I be sad?

Am I going to be a Bitch? Or a Saint?

Whine Whine Whine.

Poor me.

I know that much has to do with Menopause. It also has to do with my depression. Throw in finances, relationships, stress, and stability and you have my life.

What is so crazy is it is such a roller coaster.

I feel that it is up to me to make the best of each situation. To take what I get and make it good. Turn my frown into a smile.

My motto has always been, "You get what you get, so, don't throw a fit". It is up to you to make what you want out of every situation and opportunity.

I don't always suceed. Sometimes I am in the company of people that are so negative it is difficult to see past. That is when I work harder and hope that I will turn more than one frown upside down.

I am Blessed to have my religion, family and friends. Without them it would all be pointless. It is because of them I "pick myself up, brush myself off, and start all over again", when it gets tough.

What I Know

Not enough.

I thirst for knowledge. I desire to be more educated and refine. I want to not only follow but converse and have a valued point. I want to make people think and I want to share.

I am proud of what I have accomplished. And of what I have done. I struggled through high school and only made way through one and a half years of college. In all fairness, I would have gone longer if I had the finances. I also have taken some classes, got my real estate salesperson license, as well as a few other small educational acknowledgements.

I know I am not afraid to learn more.

I am not afraid to ask questions.

I just wish, I could feel more comfortable in my intellect.

Yes, I know what you are thinking... GO BACK TO SCHOOL! Take a class or two. I will. In time. Right now, it is time for my girls. Let me get them through college. Then, when I have paid off the loans, it can be my turn again.