Can You Say Ow?

On January 1, we had a snowstorm and got about 3 – 4 inches of very wet, large flake snow. Danai had never seen snow before, so Dad decided that we (Dad, Danai, This Dummy, and the Dog) had to go for a walk in it – thus resulting in us being covered in slushy wet snow, getting a bunch of cute photos for Danai to send back to mexico, and a brief attempt at a snowball fight which lasted all of 5 minutes.
Let’s just say it was nice while it lasted. Today, starting about 2PM ish, it started raining. Not like a normal rain, Oh NO… but a drizzle misty sort of rain that on the cold snow and pavement turned to ice. A thin sheet. Just enough to make everything VERY VERY slippery.
Ice on the pond
The result? I got home in treaturous conditions and had to take the dog out. Not a big deal – only – As he went bounding down the two stairs into the apartment building (they’re tile) and onto the cobblestones and started to slide himself, I managed to take one step and landed ass first on the cobblestones myself.
It was one of those moments where after landing you lay there for a minute, realize that the step is across the middle of your back, the wind has gotten knocked out of you and you think… OWWWWW!!
After groaning, confirming that nothing is broken, realizing I will have a step shaped bruise across my back (ok I can already see it forming in the mirror when I take my shirt off) and will be sore tomorrow, I did manage to complete the dog’s walk – with much slipping, sliding, and thinking MY GOD, don’t they SALT HERE? (They do – but were just starting as I was going in the house – Guess they saw me fall?)
At any rate, re the fall and subsequent bruise – I *WISH* there was a video camera there for that. At least I could be laughing my ass off with instant replay of that moment despite the pain I’ll feel tomorrow….
Update (20 minutes later): I just talked to my grandma. My Cousin Monica had a baby girl yesterday (Jan 4) – Arianna Marie – 7 lb 6 oz little girl. She’s 21 inches long and has blue eyes and reddish blonde hair. Congrats Mon!
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Potsdam – Yep, I get around

I realized that I really have gotten around in the last month or so – and it’s no wonder why I’m tired.

I was in the USA (salt lake city) for Thanksgiving. Got home and was here for a week before heading to Dresden for the weekend. Got back from there and 4 days later dad arrived. Since then, I’ve been to Spandau (suburb of Berlin); Downtown Berlin, Charlottenburg (suburb of Berlin), Szczecin (Poland), and Potsdam (yesterday). In between I had Christmas and a tour of Teltow/Stahnsdorf/Dreilinden (near where I work.) Humm.. I think I’m going to need a vacation from my vacation.

Anyhow, The photos (what few I took) from Potsdam are up. (I admit I didn’t take that many since I have a bunch already). They’re at:

the very bottom of the Potsdam Set.

Tomorrow, we’re back off to Berlin again – to ride a double decker bus and see the area around the Zoo and Alexanderplatz. We may even celebrate New Years if I can get them to stay out past midnight. (Granted Danai doesn’t celebrate anything since she’s Jehova Witness but I’m going to try anyhow…)

If not, I guess I’ll turn into a pumpkin this year – and hopefully spend it out and about the next one.

Otherwise, here’s wishing you and yours a very Happy (and Travel filled) New Year!

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Trip to Poland

After a long chat with dad (and his really really wanting to hit at least one other country while in Europe) we decided to go to Poland. The closest country to us is Poland – it’s only 2.5 hours by train, and the price was about 50 Euros round trip.

Unfortunately, the day we decided to go, the weather was terrible. We’re talking fog all day with inturspaced periods of falling misty rain. The train trip up and back wasn’t bad, nor was the humorous experience of trying to communicate. Let’s just say that I speak NO POLISH, and they speak none of the languages I do. I can understand some polish (thanks to the Russian) but that doesn’t help too much in the long run.

Oh – and for those wondering – Poland is a part of the EU, however, they use the Zloty and not the Euro. Now that we have that straight (after 2 hours there – it was only when we wanted to buy something that we discovered this little fiasco) we wandered back, changed money over, and then took more pictures. Lunch wound up being at the KFC (I’ll take that picture right there please) rather than trying to figure out a standard printed menu. (Some things are just easier to point and hold a finger up for “1”.) Anyhow, here’s

A few Pictures from Szczecin, Poland

and a brief history of the town – off their website:

Szczecin, Poland is a city with over a thousand years of tradition and a turbulent history. The city was for many centuries one of the most powerful ports and trade centres in the German world. The past of the City of Szczecin is both multinational and multicultural one. The history of Szczecin began at the turn of 7th and 8th centuries and over time was ruled by the Polish, Prussians, French, Danish and Germans. In April 1945, Szczecin was conquered by the Russian army and a Polish administration took over the town. The German population was then expelled. Their place was taken by settlers from all over Poland and Polish speakers from Lithuania and Ukraine, who arrived in Szczecin and the rest of Western Pomerania in large numbers.

That being said, I will have to go back when the weather is better. They have REAL potato chips there – and a mall – and their Zloty is 3.55 to 1 Euro so everything is significantly cheaper. The only problem is… do they have clothes that would fit a gal with curves? Things that make you go humm….

~Rose

P.S. Your Lost in translation photo of the day (From yesterday’s trip to Potsdam with dad)

Der Butt fischrestaurant

Yes, folks this really is the “butt fish restaurant”. No, I’m not sure I want to eat there – no matter how pretty the sign is.
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