Ain't No Sunshine

I took this Monday evening around 6 pm. I was moderating (badly), so if you care to listen to me babble, make sure your sound is up. It wasn't actually "clear" as I say in the video, but clearer than it had been all day or the days before it. The only sunny day was Friday, the day I arrived.

I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Some of the rows we picked.

Today, a group of us went to a winery in Nierstein, a city on the Rhein. I carpooled (since I don't have a car) with Tony, who is also living in this hotel, and we arrived just before 7:30 in the fog, barely finding the winery (thank you GPS). The plan was that we get breakfast, we pick grapes, we get lunch, we pick grapes, we taste wines. Sounds great, right? How hard can it be? I mean, the people in the movies are always beautiful and warm and enjoying themselves. Ummm, yeah.

There were about 25 of us who carpooled from the winery to the vineyard, following the vintner. There were immigrant workers there already, which I gathered from their accents were probably Polish, some other Eastern European country, and possibly Italy. We gathered and wasting no time, got our clippers, a bucket and went to work on about 10 rows of vines so long and covered by the dense fog, you actually didn't know how long they were. We later learned they were 4100 square meters (about an acre). We busied ourselves clipping the grapes, moldy ones and all. It was cold, foggy, and wet. So the first hourish was miserable to a degree. Breakfast was the typical German bread, meat, and cheese....and since we were at a winery....WINE!

A heap of grapes we gathered in just an hour.

My bucket o' grapes.

After breakfast we returned for more free labor and worked forever. I felt better, I was a little warmer, because someone had on too many layers and gave their coat, but the grapes only seemed to be hanging at waist level and below. What does that mean? A lot of bending and hunching. After what seemed like forever, but realizing we had snipped the grapes almost to the end of our rows, it was time for lunch.

Don't be fooled, I really wasn't smiling much during the picking of the grapes.

They made yummy soup, had bread, meat salad, fried potatoes.....and WINE! Lunch lasted a little longer, which everyone seemed to be happy about given the hard work. I even saw a few guys break out the ibuprofen!! We went back to work and finished off our rows, which took us to 2:30. Awesome, wine time, right? Uh no, at this point, the vintner said there were about 1400 square meters left at a different part of the field and the group usually stayed until 4:30. Some people were so tired that they didn't want to continue, which included the person who was my ride. I didn't want to bother anyone with a ride back and just came back with Tony.

So, unfortunately, I didn't get to stay for the other 2.5 hours of more grape picking, which would have been followed by coffee, cake, and a wine tasting. I would have stayed, even though I was tired and wet, but I was sort of okay with going home. Afterall, we had wine at lunch and I got to experience the back-breaking work of picking grapes ;)

I got home, relaxed a bit, then decided I wanted some food for my room, so I ventured to the commissary just 15 minutes down the street. I didn't stay long, but I was impressed with the selection. I picked up some staples for my room, including good coffee, since the stuff they serve here at "breakfast" is crap. (Just an FYI: I made need some Peet's coffee sent to me soon after I finish the bag I bought today. At the store, it was Newman's Own (RIP), Starbucks (yuck), Seattle's Best, or general brands I don't even consider coffee (says the coffee snob).

Any bets on how hard it's going to be for me to get out of bed tomorrow morning? Let me just give you a sneak peek: bending over to brush my teeth was slightly problematic for the muscles in my lower back. Now where'd I put that Tylenol PM...

When I Drink

Koestritzer Schwarzbier

Who Needs Sleep?

My last day at home was blissful. Chris and I had breakfast at probably the best breakfast place in Baltimore--Miss Shirley's--which is only a short walk from his doorstep. This was followed by lazing around and relaxation until we had to head to the airport.

It was hard to leave home, but I made it. I'm here. In Germany.

Of course, as usually happens when I fly to Europe, I slept very little. This time it likely had to do with the fact that there was a kid screaming and/or crying 2 rows up. A kid whose parents did hardly anything to calm it. And once the mother picked him up, she realized he was all wet everywhere and then blamed her husband. Huh, funny. I probably wouldn't be too happy if I had to sit in wet clothes either. After he was changed, he was quiet the rest of the flight.

When I arrived in Frankfurt, my muscles and I loaded my two giant, packed-to-the-max suitcases on a cart, then went to find my bike. My sponsor and her husband were there to pick me up. I guess I was easy to spot--a single woman pushing a cart with a bike box, tall end up, and pulling a giant suitcase, trying not to hit anyone, since I couldn't see over the box.

My sponsor had to go back to work for a meeting, but her husband took me to my hotel. Thankfully my room was ready, so we got my stuff to the room, I brushed my teeth, then slept for about 90 minutes, before I forced myself up.

My sponsor, her son, and their standard poodle Bacchus came to pick me up at 1. We went to base to register, then she showed me around quickly. I can't tell you where anything is, but I signed up to take my driver's license test, got information on registering my new car, and somehow signed up for a new bank account.

After all this, we went to the city center of Wiesbaden, walked around, then found a place to eat outside. I don't usually drink alcohol or coffee my first day after changing so many timezones, but I knew certain friends would be disappointed if I didn't have a German beer at my first opportunity. So, my first food and drink was very German: wheat beer and Wiener Schnitzel! You're welcome ;)

I surprised myself with my German and did pretty well. I was able to communicate with this old woman next to us, who was doting on Bacchus and how cute he was. (I have to admit that he is really cool and he doesn't have that stupid ass poodle haircut--he actually looks and acts like a dog.)

After I got back to the hotel, I was able to stay up until just past 9 after watching The Pursuit of Happyness and playing around on the internet. I woke up wide awake at 12 and after getting on the internet and reading an article in the New Yorker, I fell back asleep around 2. This morning I woke up at 8:45, but fell back asleep until 9:15, when I realized if I didn't get up, I'd miss the breakfast offered.

So today I may go and explore the open-air market that exists every Saturday and then I'm going to dinner wth my sponsor and her family and a few of their friends tonight for their son's 13th birthday.

Since I haven't showered since 9AM EST Thursday, however, and it's 5AM EST Saturday, I'm going to do that.

Further on Up the Road

I've done a lot more besides freaking out these past several weeks. I've had a lot of fun.

• I've eaten more than probably 4 times my weight in wonderful food and drink at the variety of great restaurants Baltimore has to offer.
  


• I continued to enjoy Tille's Tuesday night suppers of deliciousness and the company at them.
  


• I saw my favorite band the Avett Brothers.

• I had a nice steak on the grill and at outdoor fire at my friend Jeff's house.
  


• There was a great happy hour for a coworker and I as a celebration for our time in the office. Thank fully I had a designated driver ;)
  


• I was lucky enough to see my favorite Hampden street *cough* actors.

• I saw the Baltimore streetcar museum, which was really cool, Fort McHenry, and watched Domino sugar being unloded from a freighter while standing at Tide Point, all with my friend Chris on my last Sunday in Baltimore.

Unfortunately or fortunately (whatever your point of view), I'm headed east across the "big water" to create more fun and more memories. I probably won't enjoy the food as much, but the beer....ahhhhhh the beer.

The new chapter in my book starts tonight. You'll have to let me know if it's worth reading ;)

A Lot of Movin'

It's official, as of Monday 29 September, I have no residence. As my friend has pointed out, however, I will never be "homeless."

My apartment looked like a bull went through a china shop during week before the movers took my things. I've gone through every drawer and every box, under my bed, in the closet, and upstairs in storage. I've sorted, tossed, and piled things for charity. Why I kept some of these things, I'll never know, but other things were fun to find (hellooooo lava lamp) and even made me a little sad.

Now what I have in my suitcases is what I'll have to make due with until all of my things get there. Luckily, I don't have to live out of suitcases AND a hotel right now, which is what I'll be doing until I find a place to live in Germany. My wonderful friend Chris has graciously offered his spare bedroom and bathroom in his house in Baltimore until I leave. It has been so much better staying in a house where I'm comfortable instead of a boring hotel room. Thanks Chris!

Who Says You Can't Go Home

I headed home this past weekend to see family before I move. It's always crazy going home--making certain you see the people you need and want to see, but there is never enough time to see everyone you want to see.

Wednesday, I arrived and Grandma Roberts picked me up and we went to my favorite cholesterol-inducing restaurant. I don't even have to look at the menu. The standard single with pickles and mustard and a regular order of cheese fries, please. That should hold me over for a while. That night, Mom and I thankfully ate a healthy dinner of fish.

Thursday I headed to Wilmington to see Grandpa Beal, Great-Uncle Kenny, Great-Aunt Rosey, and Grandpa's wife Mourine. I don't get to see them nearly as enough as I'd like, so when I do, I really soak up the time . We headed to McD's for lunch and I slyly paid for lunch without anyone realizing it. Rosey still doesn't understand how I do it. I also had the pleasure of seeing my "other Grandma," Mary-Lou, who I thoroughly enjoyed.

Since Mom was going to see The Lion King Thursday night, I made plans for dinner and a few beers with my good friend Chris V. He has known me for a long time now, but he still laughs at my cheekiness and liberal leanings. If you visit me, Chris, maybe I'll let you ride in my liberal car.

Friday was a day of relaxation at the spa with Mom. A massage, a facial, lunch, manicure, and pedicure. It was all very nice. But don't think for one minute that spas are safe, kids, because I was injured. That's right. A spa injury! While sitting in my vibrating chair, listening to earth sounds, and getting my pedicure, she clipped the skin on my toe instead of my cuticle. Her response, "That's funny, do you always bleed this much?" My thought: "Ummm yeah, I tend to do that when my toe is gouged with the sharp metal object." So I got 9 toes painted. Awesome.

Afterward, we went to the Schottenstien Center and saw the various Brutus Buckeye statues dressed up as different things (kinda like the Cows in Chicago, the Crabs in Baltimore, or the Donkeys and Elephants in Washington D.C.). Brutus on Parade! They're very cute and well done, so I'd recommend anyone who lives there to take a look. It was hard to choose a favorite, but I did enjoy the Dave Thomas and Christopher Columbus Brutuses (or is that Bruti?). That evening, we had dinner, then went to the Drexel Grandview to see "Man on Wire." It was a great film, a true story, and I think my palms were sweating during most of the movie.

Saturday morning was lazy and Chad came over to visit. We watched the Buckeyes make a close call with the Ohio University Bobcats and had lunch. (Don't tell anyone, but I was kinda cheering for my alma mater's rival when they were showing up the Bucks.)

The afternoon was filled with more football at Dad's (helllloooo, this is Ohio, afterall), then dinner with Grandma Roberts, Chad, and Sue's daughter and son-in-law. I tried to share one of my favorite beers with Dad, but after one sip he decided he likes the fake stuff better. All the better, because it's just more for me! Sunday Dad and I watched the Bengals lose to the Ravens and had a relaxing day.

I took several pictures over the weekend, so feel free to peruse.

It was good to see everyone, but hard to say goodbye.