Flashback Friday ~ Salzburg, Austria 2003

Friday, 24 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

In 2003, the day after a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with the Sims and the Martins, we caught an early morning train from Weiden,Germany to Salzburg, Austria. I almost cancelled because Bennett, our lab, had an eye infection and I didn’t want to leave him. Our neighbor, Stephanie, agreed to take him to the vet first thing in the morning and, much to FM’s relief, I reluctantly agreed to go.  Of course, I called several times that weekend to check Bennett’s medical status 🙂

Off we went to Mozart’s birthplace and the city where “The Sound of Music” was filmed.  There was a slight delay on our train ride ~ FM thought he had time to get a beer and a bratwurst in Regensburg where we had a 15 minute connection but the train took off without us.  He has yet to live that one down ~ FG likes to remind him about that ordeal everytime we take a train.

It was so cold the entire weekend but we walked the old city, road the incline to the castle and enjoyed all of it. We especially liked the gorgeous Christmas market which looked so magical at night with the lights shining bright.

Seems whatever city we’re in, the mimes are always so sweet to FG. This Salzburg mime was no exception:

Posted in Flashback Fridays, Travels | Leave a Comment »

Having a gratitude attitude…

Thursday, 23 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

I once read an article in Time Magazine when I was a teenager living in Puerto Rico. There was a photo of an impoverished African man who laid on the ground and the caption read something like this: he comes from no where and has no where to go. He lays here waiting.

As I sat on a gorgeous beach, with my picnic lunch and read the article, I was overcome with gratitude for the life I was living. I knew then and there I was ‘priviledged’ ~ my family was far from rich but I felt like I owned the world.

Ever since then, I have been grateful EVERYDAY for everything in my life, even the challenges which only serve to make me stronger and more appreciative of what I do have.  My first thought each new day is “Thank you, God, for giving me one more day on this glorious earth.” And at the end of each day, I once again thank God for my day’s blessings. I am grateful to have shelter, running water and electricity which may seem so basic but, I always remember that some people have to walk miles for water and all I do is turn the faucet.  

On this Thanksgiving day, I am especially thankful for:

FM and FG who love me unconditionally. 

Good health.

Family and friends who, although they are far away,  continue to support and encourage me.

I want for nothing (OK ~ I do want a house on Puako Beach in Hawai) 😉

For living in a tropical paradise and meeting the wonderfully diverse group of  people on the island.

For having traveled all my life and knowing there is more goodness in the world than evil.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.   (John F. Kennedy)

Happy Thanksgiving to all !

Posted in Miscellaneous | 2 Comments »

School Spirit Week

Monday, 20 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

Last week was School Spirit week and FG enjoyed dressing crazy all week. Her favorite day was “Wear your PJs” – especially getting to wear slippers to school.

Unfortunately, the school chose this day to present the five art finalists with their certificates and take photos. FG received 5th place in the school-wide art contest. I would post the drawing but I didn’t think to scan it before she turned it in. FM and I have ZERO artistic talent so I think FG takes after my sister, Jo.

It was also parent-teacher conferences ~ all’s well on that front except the teacher showed us some take home projects which were turned in early. FG’s class each picked a different building on base to duplicate. She picked an apartment building (barracks really, but they look like apartments to me) and she’s been working BY HERSELF on the project. Well, the one turned in is the base airfield and there is no way it was done by a third grader. It’s even built to scale. So my question is: how much do you “help” your child? I want her to learn to do projects on her own and to take pride in her own work. But it’s disheartening for her to see the other works of art ~ she thinks the kids did it on their own.

She also has a power-point presentation due on the Rainforest and has to make a diorama to augment her slideshow. She’s been working on it herself but when FM checked her work, he had to have a discussion about plagiarism ~ it’s was a little too easy for her to cut and paste off the internet 🙂 Since she wants to be a travel writer, she best learn now about not ‘borrowing’ someone else’s work.

Posted in Favorite Girl | 2 Comments »

Friend for Sport

Wednesday, 15 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

Most people who know us won’t be surprised we’ve added a new puppy to our family ~ Maya.  She’s been adopted from the local animal shelter (G.A.I.N) and is sweet as can be. We brought her home on Saturday for what FG calls a “sleepover” so we could make sure Sport liked her.  They certainly look good together since Maya is the color of Sport’s spots. She’s a matching accessory 😉 

Since Sport is 11 years old, I didn’t want him to feel jealous and thankfully, he seems to like her a lot.  He’s been very lonely since Bennett died.

Sport actually started running around and playing like a young pup himself. That sealed the deal for Maya ~ she now has a new family and is officially off death row.

This is FG’s first experience with a puppy and she’s having to get use to Maya being underfoot ALL THE TIME. Needless to say, I am going through the ordeal of the puppy training ~ I’ll be really happy when she’s housebroken and doesn’t refuse to move everytime I put the leash on her.  She’s quite the charmer though so she makes us smile a lot.  

Posted in Animals, Favorite Girl | 6 Comments »

Memories and Great Sadness

Sunday, 12 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

This week brings back very difficult, sad memories from two years ago when FM’s unit lost a lot of good men during the battle of Fallujah. No matter what I’ve been doing this weekend, my thoughts drift back to those awful days in November 2004. My friend, Heidi and her terrible loss 2 years ago has been on my mind even more intensely than usual. 

Throughout her terrible ordeal, she’s always handled herself with grace and she honors her husband, Sean, in everything she does:

Last night, as I was watching yet another episode of Law and Order, FM came in and asked me to change the channel to FOX news. A familiar face was on the TV. It was SSG(Ret) David Bellavia and he spoke at length about his time in Iraq with A Co. and how difficult it was to lose his Company Commander, CPT Sims and his Company Executive Officer, Lt Iwan and the Battalion Command Sergeant Major, CSM Faulkenburg.  He also spoke of the importance to not “cut and run” from Iraq and how we need to give the Iraqi people a chance at democracy. SSG Bellavia earned a Silver Star for his contributions in Iraq and also was up (and I think he still is) for a Medal of Honor.

About an hour later, FM once again called for me to watch something else on FOX and this time I saw SGT Mock on the TV.  The last time I saw him was at the 2-2 IN Welcome Home Ball and remembered him to be so polite, well spoken and nice ~ and so young, only 21 years old at the time of the ball.

As the FOX news clip played, I felt very unsettled. Why were they showing footage from two years ago? At the end of the interview, SGT Mock said something to the effect of: I will never attend another Memorial Day or Verteran’s Day event without thinking of all the men who gave their lives here (in Fallujah). Whew, I thought to myself ~ it’s just a Veteran’s Day piece. Unfortunately, the reporter then said SGT Mock wouldn’t have that opportunity, he died on 22 October 2006. FM and I gasped and both said “Oh, NO” at the same time.  He’d been serving again with 1ID but this time with 1-26 IN, 2nd Brigade. My prayers go out to his family who are in Kansas and I imagine he’s had another kind welcome home but this time he was greeted by all those great soldiers who went before him. 

Posted in US Military | 3 Comments »

Veteran’s Day 2006

Saturday, 11 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. Armistice Day, as November 11 became known, officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all veterans.  Their committment requires that they leave their family and loved ones, they risk their lives and their health and for some, they make the ultimate sacrifice.  I appreciate all you do (or have done) to ensure our nation remains safe from those who seek to do us harm.

Poem to a Soldier  

It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us a right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.

                     by Father Denis Edward O’Brien, USMC

Posted in US Military | 1 Comment »

Flashback Friday St. Martin’s Day Parade

Friday, 10 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

St. Martin’s Day Parade 2001



St. Martin’s Day Parade 2002

One of my favorite traditions while living in Germany was the annual St. Martin’s Day parade which took place every November. When FG started kindergarten in 2001, she was able to participate in her first parade. The children take weeks making their own lanterns and then on St. Martin’s day at sundown, they march in a parade through town re-enacting the legend of St. Martin.

The legend (and parade) goes something like this: A knight, wearing a red coat, on horseback, rides through the town with the children following behind with their lanterns and singing songs about St. Martin. There is a beggar walking alongside the horse. Once they arrive at the kindergarten, where the bonfire is, the beggar asks the knight (St. Martin) for help. St. Martin takes off his coat, cuts it in half and gives the beggar half of the coat to keep warm. Then, St. Martin gives the beggar bread for his hunger. More songs are sung by the children and it is a festive time for all.

After the play is done, everyone enjoys warm glühwine and bread. Every year, it was so cold and the glühwine was very warm and tasty.

The first year FG participated in the parade, she was only three and there was a REAL candle in her lantern. Needless to say, I worried the entire time about these fire hazards. Thankfully, no one burst into flames that year so I was much less neurotic during subsequent parades.

Each year, she made a new lantern which we still have. The kindergarten teachers were always so creative and patient when helping the children make their lanterns.  We’re  going to get the lanterns out of storage tomorrow for St. Martin’s Day and light them at dusk ~ just for old times sake. 

Posted in Favorite Girl, Flashback Fridays, Germany | 1 Comment »

Decor Envy…

Thursday, 9 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

I went to a meeting the other night at a woman’s house here on base. The minute I walked in, I felt like I was transported into another world. The house was so beautifully decorated with teak furniture imported from the Philippines, Saipan and Bali. There were yummy smelling candles, elegant accessories, and beautiful sheer curtains she picked up on a trip to Bali. The house oozed of elegance and warmth. It felt so comfortable and inviting. Truly, Nate Berkus has nothing on this woman who I would guess is in her mid to late twenties.  Since I was the first to arrive, I watched the reaction of the other attendees as they came in the door and all had the exact reaction I did: AWE. 

In my mind, I kept thinking: What’s up with this? She has three dogs and is fostering a puppy, she works full time, and she volunteers every Sunday, all day, at the animal shelter. Where did she find the time to keep her home looking so beautiful.  Don’t get me wrong, I like my house just fine but I don’t expend a whole lot of energy keeping it looking spectacular but, there are times when I feel I should.  

Finally, the last attendee arrived and as I watched her face register how beautiful the house looked, she said “So, this is what a home can look like if you don’t have children.”  Ah, that was it 😉  

Since FG was with me and took exception to this comment, I assured her that the woman didn’t mean that she didn’t like children(she has three children she loves dearly), she was just justifying for the rest of us why we shouldn’t compare our homes to this “model” home.   One good thing, it’s inspired me to hang those curtains since my “we just moved in” excuse is fast becoming untrue. Hard to believe we’ve been here 6 months already! Now if only I could jet over to Bali for the weekend and pick up some of those gorgeous curtains 🙂

Posted in Travel | 4 Comments »

Probabilities

Tuesday, 7 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

For the last month, FG has been begging for a hamster.  By begging, I mean every two hours, I get the question “What do you think about me getting a hamster?” I was pretty strong about saying no at the beginning but, after losing Bennett, I’m starting to waiver a bit.

Not to mention, FG is getting better at her persuasion tactics. Since she’s learning probabilities at school, she brought her legal pad and pen with her last night to have a  hamster discussion with me:

FG: What is the probability that I can get a hamster?

Me: Oh, about 60%

FG: If I get a hamster, what is the probability that I can get a white one?

Me: 30%

With that, she runs off to figure out how to raise the probability of getting a white hamster.

My reluctance about getting a hamster is what to do with it when we leave the island in 2.5 years.  Also, I really don’t like the white ones with the beady red eyes (too mouse like) and, ironically, FG loves them. 

I’m sure Sport would be thrilled to have a hamster in the house ~ all the while hoping it makes the grave mistake of escaping the cage 😉

Posted in Animals, Favorite Girl | 5 Comments »

Back to the Beach

Saturday, 4 November, 2006 by Beachbums1

It’s been awhile since I went to a “new” beach so I headed to Ritidian Point this morning with FG and friend. It took some convincing to get FG to go – she really wanted to be a homebody today but I dragged her anyway. Of course, once there, she didn’t want to leave.

Ritidian Point is part of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge and is easily accessible by car. The beach itself is gorgeous and the white sands seem to go on forever in either direction. Did you notice in the photos how deserted the beach is? It’s like having your own private beach. FM is off-island so he missed out on our adventure. We’ll probably return next weekend with him and we’ll hike along the beach, exploring the coastline. This beach has been added to the must see list for our upcoming visitors.

FG and her friend loved being “buried” in the sand. The sand is so cool and soothing ~ kinda like a spa treatment.

Posted in Travel | 3 Comments »

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