puzumaki

This year was one of my better birthdays. A colleague took my closing shift, so in the afternoon everyone wished me a happy birthday with some cake then I went home to open gifts! I have quite a few blu-ray movies and the Indiana Jones Lego game now! Of course, I have to wait until the PS3 is back, but that should be soon. Hopefully.

We ate at Giardinos (Italian) and walked the dogs over to the ice cream cafe. Luckily, Herr’s big gift was to arrange an exercise room! Yay! After all the goodies (and two more bbqs in the next three days…), I seriously need it. It’s set up with the elliptical, the television, and a DVD player. I nearly killed myself yesterday watching a movie while exercising. A quick jump in the sauna then shower afterwards, and I’m good!

I have been jamming to the Across the Universe soundtrack, tried reading Hans Christian Anderson in German (very funny Herr, ha ha…), wearing my new fancy bracelet (have to figure out how to put a barrette in my hair, yeesh I can be clueless) , exercising, and looking forward to movie mania and the lego ball! Thank you everyone!

In the past few weeks, my PS3 died (no word on it yet), my computer with all my photography, writing, and important files died, and yesterday, I effectively killed the laptop. Right now, we do not have a functional computer.

This has wiped out my two or three attempts to produce my biannual (not biennial) newsletter, Dragonfly. I do not have my mailing list, and every story I wrote has been killed on both computers. Needless to say, the newsletter will be delayed.

I can’t help but think I am slightly cursed… and I should start rethinking myself and my reliance on computers. Of course, the primary reason I am so upset the situation is my lost photography, which happens to be digital with computer a necessary component. Right now, that is still an open wound for us… still no hope in recovery at this point. I am considering alternative activities and have begun reading a book series I read several years ago. A comfort read.

We did celebrate my birthday that is tomorrow (I have to close the library on my birthday, so not doing anything on my actual birthday). Last weekend we went on a river cruise of the Rhine Neckar valley (a three hour tour… *Gilligan’s Island theme song*), Thursday we picked up outdoor furniture and lighting, and Saturday we went shopping down the Hauptstrasse. We picked up some new digs for Herr, I purchased a new dress, then we went to eat at Konomi (Japanese restaurant) and had a cocktail at Regie. No worries, they have non-alcoholic drinks.

Well, guess it is time to find out what I should be doing with myself, since it is obvious my house was built on a graveyard and the ghosts are attacking my electrical devices. Good thing I don’t have a television to get sucked into…

Saturday was the big furniture shipment day. The movers arrived around 9:30 a.m. The movers behaved oddly, in my opinion, but we eventually got them out. The day will be shown in pictures! So follow along…

Oh, Sunday morning the dogs were actually playing together!! This is the first we have seen them do this, so we’re very happy. Up until now, Tommy has been less tolerant of Ruby by growling or stealing attention. They both try to steal attention now, but at least they recognize each other! Yay! Still having issues with dogs making messes at night, so we’re going to give them longer yard time for the last call of the night. Hopefully I don’t have to clean up poo or pee tomorrow morning. *sigh*

Yay for new furniture though! I’ll take more pictures when we have the living room put together. We have to rearrange and move the temporary furniture out of the way. We have ideas how to arrange it, but we have to try it out now. Time to take the dogs for a walk.

Herr accepted a job yesterday! He will be working freelance teaching English at Berlitz. He needs to attend two weeks of training in June before he can start teaching, so he doesn’t really start for a while yet. Herr has frequently spoke about a desire to teach, so now is his chance!

We should be getting our furniture in the next week or two as well. I have spent several thousand dollars on furniture I have yet to see… scary, I know. So, we will have a couch, two new chairs, and a floor lamp for the living room, and bookshelves for our library. I can’t wait to have the library put together (all the books are in piles on the floor…).

And for the last big piece of news: we have adopted two English cocker spaniels, Tommy (male) and Rubia (female). We are not certain if the names will stay. We are rescuing them from Spain, where virtually no laws exist to protect pets from abuse or neglect. They are both approximately one year old and get along. From what we know, they should be flown to Frankfurt next Wednesday… we need to confirm the flight still. Tomorrow will be a doggy shopping trip.

Meet Rubia and Tommy!