The Story: Part II

The Internets

When I came back from Poland I still had almost another week to go without the internet, which was starting to drive me crazy. However, I was able to get through the withdrawl by stopping after work at the library on base to use it to check my mail and to pay a couple of bills that were coming due. A week ago Friday I stayed home to wait for the telephone technician and the window they gave me was 8-2. I was lucky, because the guy showed up around 10ish. He sets it up and says it should be working within 30 minutes, so I'm all excited and pacing around, thrilled at the idea of finally having the internet back. 30 minutes pass and I'm hooked up trying to establish the router connection.

What I had forgotten was that during a storm this past summer, while my computer was hooked up via the LAN cable, lighting or something killed the LAN port in my laptop and the only way I could get on the internet was via a wireless connection. I was annoyed, but there was nothing I could do, because the router first needed a wired connection before you could connect wirelessly. This past Monday, a friend of mine came over with his laptop, after I bribed him with food, so I could establish the router connection and connect wirelessly.

I'm also still waiting on my MacBook, which should be here any freaking day now. However, the APO mail system is another entirely different rant that I may save for later.

The Visit

The good thing about not having the internet last weekend was that I had been invited to go and see my former host family from high school, the Riegers. I've known them for many years now--13 or 14 is what Gaby and I figured--and I've tried to visit them every time I've been to Europe. The last time I saw them was, I think, 3 years ago. It was a wonderful weekend. They treat me like family and I feel so comfortable around them and in their house. It's nice, being so far away from my own family, to have one here who treats me like their own. As always, there was good food, good conversation, and good drink. I came home with southern german treasures too--beer from one of the small towns in their area (no, Dad it's not the one in the big brown bottle that starts with an 'N'.) I've had one every night since I got back.

A shepard and his sheep we came across while taking a walk in the Rieger's village of Heuchlingen.

The Break

This weekend I have nothing planned. I slept in a little, got up and enjoyed my coffee and scrambled eggs, and stayed in my warm robe, catching up and did some online shopping. This happens to be a good weekend for it, because the weather forecast predicted rain/snow and temperatures no higher than 35 the entire weekend. And snow is exactly what I saw when I woke up, too. It was enough to cover the ground. After being lazy, but productive with some laundry, I walked down the hill into town to get some onions from the market and to find something to wear to our Christmas cruise on the Rhein on the 6th. H&M came through.

Now I'm all caught up and so are you. Stay warm!