Our new addition!

I'd like to introduce you to Mieka's brother Josh!

He was an enormous surprise for us - literally. He's just over a year and weighs just over 90 Lbs and he is insanely sweet.

My parents have had him for a month and were able to keep him a secret from us until we got home for Christmas. You can imagine how excited and surprised we were to see him wearing his bright red bow when we arrived from the airport.

He's extremely handsome, somewhat clumsy, and very curious / skittish, but he's a great addition. I need a dog in Munich!

new camera

I am having a fantastic time learning my new camera. So far I am very impressed with its capabilities.

I know that Nikon's are seen as cameras designed by photographers for photographers and Canon's are seen as cameras designed by engineers for photographers, however I've had so much luck with Olympus.

They were the first to incorporate the super macro function into their cameras. I always love to look closer and see the intricate details, so this is now essential for me.

Snow Day

While the US is getting pounded by snow storms evidently not everyone minds being stuck at home.

My sister sent me this adorable photo of Mieka. She looks as happy as all of the neighborhood children who had several days off from school this week and had nothing to do but play in the snow.

I love everything about this picture - from the little star snowflake on her nose, to the little bubbles on her tongue, and her breath frozen in the air. She exudes happiness. Thanks for sending that Meem!

It's no surprise that I want a dog. It's so difficult to be in such a dog friendly city, where I constantly see people on the subways and in the parks with their partners in crime. Having a dog isn't conducive to our small apartment or our on the go travel plans... and so I will have to wait.

Birthday

The holidays are always action packed with Christmas, New Years, and my Birthday all falling around the same time. This year I celebrated my birthday twice. Once with family in DC, and again when we were back in Ohio.

After all, who doesn't love an excuse to eat cake?

In Ohio, we decided to go to The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant to celebrate. I really liked the variety and small portions, although once the chocolate fondues came out we were feeling very full. It was a great way to spend the evening.

My sister made some wonderful cupcakes to my exact specifications and even Mieka enjoyed some 'frosty paws' (ice cream for dogs).

I really love being able to spend my birthday with family. That was very much my favorite gift of all.

Soon I'll write about the other fun things I received during the holidays as well! Thanks to all of my friends and family for making it such a fantastic visit home. The time always passes too quickly!

Early surprises

The past few weeks have been really busy and trying for me and Stefan. It's been difficult to only have time together on the weekends, but we try to make the most of it. Fortunately that looks to be something that is going to taper down, especially with the holidays around the corner.

We will be heading to the US to celebrate Christmas with my family, which will be the first time for us to celebrate with them since I moved here. This will also be Stefan's first proper American Christmas.

The past few weeks I've been stocking up on German treats for everyone at home. I can't wait to enjoy a loud, children filled family gathering and having some of my Grandma's wonderful baklava.

There's also talk of my parents getting another puppy, so Stefan is keeping his fingers crossed for that. That would mean 8 muddy paws to clean, 2 baths to give, and a lot more work. Even so, we'd at least have fun playing in the snow with Mieka, the family dog.

During our visit we will also be making trips to New York City to visit friends and then make our way down to Washington DC to see more family. I'm looking forward to the calmness before Obama's inauguration.

Not only do we have that to look forward to, we even have some guaranteed time together in the coming year. I always keep an eye on affordable flights and today we booked two!

First, we'll be heading to Rome in late February. Can you believe I've never been to Rome? It's one of Stefan's favorite cities and I am sure we'll have a great time. The art historian in me is going to absolutely love it, especially since I won't have to fight through loads of tourists.

We're considering a stay at one of the convents, which offer rooms, but I know they also have plenty of design oriented hotels as well if we need a fall back.

For the second trip we will be heading to Cairo in March. I am simply in awe that I will be seeing the Giza pyramids for myself. We're also in luck, because my old roommate Kate used to live there, so I am certain she will have some fantastic tips.

I would definitely say 2009 is off to an amazing start.

(images: flickr - washington dc, rome, cairo)

Happy Birthday Mieka!

Lost in the excitement is that Mieka, the family dog, also celebrates her birthday today.

Despite being 4, she is still very much in her terrible toddler years. I think I will miss the day when she stops stealing random things to be chased and her playful nature. Thankfully, I can rest assured that she won't lose her obsessive compulsive tendencies of barking at things that are out of place, her radiating beauty, or her mischievous streak of waking people up early in the morning for some company.

Happy Mother's Day!

Yesterday as I was walking through an increasingly crowded Marienplatz, the flower shops were buzzing with people. There were plenty of signs proclaiming not to forget Mom. How could anyone? Days like this definitely make me miss family get togethers that we have at home and wish I wasn't so far away.

Sometimes it's funny what a coincidence things are that can remind me of my Mom. Today Stefan and I went to enjoy the weather at the Englischer Garten and then to have a beer in her honor. Low and behold we saw a Great Pyrenees - the same breed as Mieka, our family dog. That instantly brought a smile to my face, especially since they are quite rare. I don't know that I have ever seen one in Munich. I also loved that this Pyr had enjoyed some time in the water. I know she would have loved this - fortunately I am the strange girl that takes pictures of other people's pets.

We had a lazy afternoon at the park, where everyone seemed to be speaking English. Sometimes it's nice just to eavesdrop and understand everything, although some of the conversations were rather interesting. On our bike ride back home we stopped to test out a relatively new restaurant called Pommes Boutique.

They claim to have fries like those in Belgium, and I must admit they did quite a decent job of replicating them. They also have about 20 different sauces to choose from. It's definitely a niche restaurant they don't have a huge menu, but the restaurant itself is quite simple and nice.

We chose to celebrate Mother's Day at the Wienerplatz beer garden since we hadn't visited this season. Although I appreciate the small reminders of my Mom, nothing beats having her around.

I think tonight I'll enjoy some salt chocolate (something we both love) and think of you Mom! I can't wait to hear how you spent your day - or for the package I sent to arrive!

Happy Mothers Day with love from Munich!

Blizzard

Mieka is a force to be reckoned with when it snows, so I decided to join in the fun and enjoy the snow for one last hurrah. In truth, I don't really like being in the snow. I love when it's pure, untouched, and windswept, but I do just fine looking out the window and admiring it. However, I wanted to spend some time with her enjoying something she likes so much. I couldn't stop laughing as she contorted her body and resembled an arctic fox as she jumped around and dug in the snow. Obvious signs of puppy contentment.

I think watching a dog run in the snow is one of my favorite things. She is definitely smiling the entire time.


Leaving a pet behind is very difficult. I can talk to my family on the phone and communicate with them, but watching Mieka's antics and being able to pet her is something that doesn't bridge the distance.

I try to remember all the funny things she does - stealing things to be chased, being OCD enough to recognize when something it out of place, and staring you down when it's time to go on a walk. That usually makes me dog-sick and I go to the parks to watch the dogs frolic about, thinking of her and wishing she could be there to appreciate that. She would undoubtedly be the misbehaved one that doesn't know how to walk off a leash, but maybe she'd return to her European roots, her ancestors are from the Pyrenees after all.



I decided to take a bit of the snow and puppy back to Germany with me by making a DVD.


One thing's for sure - I'm ready to say sayonara to is the snow. It's been real, but I'm ready for spring.

Snow Day

Since we are able to enjoy winter here, I thought I would share some happiness, which is a warm puppy playing in the snow...

Happy Valentine's Day!

For me, Valentine's is a day to do something for loved ones and an excuse to eat a lot of chocolates. I am going to be taking Mieka on an extra long walk, especially since she will probably only enjoy her squeaky 'pupcake' for about 5 minutes. Hopefully I'll also be able to find some dendrobium orchids for my Mom.

Stefan and I don't really exchange gifts, which is OK with me, I'd much rather the time with him (even if I have to wait until tomorrow night). I did however find some cute chocolate covered fortune cookies to surprise him with and the brand is 'Emily's', which is quite fitting.

I hope everyone does something special for a loved one or for yourself today! Everyone needs another excuse to eat chocolates.

Split between two homes

I always enjoy a trip back to normalcy - familiar things that I forgot how much I missed and others that I thought about very often. The most basic things become memorable - snow days, soft toilet paper, wide roads, using a car... and then there are the things that I never forget -my dog and her howl, food, family, and my bed. Sometimes I am also reminded of how things change and life continues to go on - watching my Dad take his blood pressure in the morning, having a newly painted bedroom, knowing what winter is like again, and my cousin having a new baby.

When I was checking in at the airport in Munich yesterday, the Lufthansa counter woman kept talking to me and telling me that after 10 years in Germany, she was going to be moving back to Canada. Then came that far look in her eyes and she recited the things that she missed... cheddar cheese, caesar salad, steak, martinis, nachos, potato chips... it went on and on. I could identify with her to some extent and then she began telling me how after ten years how her social life in Germany was not too existent due to the 'invisible barrier' that friendships often don't progress past. She only had a hand full of friends she could invite over for a bottle of wine just for the heck of it. She was also telling me the things she would miss most about Germany - clean public bathrooms and church bells topped her list.

I listened and wondered where in the world I would be in ten years. Everything in Germany is more regimented, which makes me happy to come to the 'wild west', if even for a short time. We are so fortunate to be able to visit our friends in family in the US quite often. Living abroad definitely has taught me that 'home' is a relative term. It's frustrating because living in various parts of the world there are always things that suddenly lend to the feeling of home, so it's difficult to feel complete in one place. If we move back to America at some point I will miss aspects of Germany, but we'll always have tie there as well.

The next month is going to be exciting and fun. I can't wait to visit with old friends and familiar haunts. The food is definitely going to be a high point - I'm going to make sure I'm soaking in everything I can't obtain in Germany. And in the meantime I'll be enjoying winter with a dog who loves the snow.

a boy + his dog in law

I was looking through some old photos today and came across this one that made me so happy.

The first time Stefan met Mieka, she was several months old and she adored him. I still remember her running up and down the hallway trying to entice him to play. She always wanted to be near him. If she was outside everyone had trouble getting her to come in. Stefan had to simply call her name and she would prance up to him like they were old friends. Irritating as it is - I love the bond they have formed.

I'm really looking forward to a visit. Or as Stefan says, 'We love that girl don't we?'

Ohio

Spending 6 weeks in the US is a blessing that I am unsure that I will get to experience again in the near future. I could tell my family was doing all they could to make me happy and give me those simple pleasures of home, like my mom's oatmeal cookies. I couldn't have asked for a better time.

Meem and I had a great road trip up to Detroit, Frankenmuth, Bellevue, Ruggles, Ashland and Mansfield. We met up with Stefan and his coworkers, Emily + her new baby Claire, and Ryan. I was also able to do a little christmas shopping.

Target and Jcrew appreciated that I was back I am sure... as did my family.

We had a lot of fun taking Mieka on daily walks and periodically sprinting with her. I was curious what she would think of randomly running, but she loved it. It was nice to have a dog around again... even if she is slightly neurotic. I also loved being able to photograph her nonstop. Being home is one of the few places I actually take less photos. Except of course for poor Mieka. I know she would love to run like the dogs do at the Englisch Garten. I wish the US was more dog friendly, although I did see the Jeffersonville outlet mall now allows dogs. I'm looking forward to seeing Mieka and the rest of my family again in just a few months. I think the time will pass quite quickly.

Amy and I (and hopefully Stefan too) have a trip planned for Boston / Maine. I always loved the North East and I would love to go back to Stefan and my first trip together and to take Amy to the NE.