Less Than A Week!

Hi, I'm Lindsey, and I'm a chicken with it's head cut off!!

Ummm, this is an actual costume you can rent for Halloween! Hahah (source)

Haha, at least that is always what I feel like these last few days at home. I can't tell you how excited I am to get over to Finland and get this season going. Ok, before you call me delusional, I know I am not the one playing, but the start of the season also represents a new beginning for me as well. A new chance to get things going in our life again!

Plus, the hubs can't stop talking about how he really, really likes it there. I got a Skype tour of the apartment, which looks great. We are 4 blocks from the city center, well within walking distance...dare I say, even in snow?! The team has been more than helpful and accommodating. It is almost surreal to be treated so good. Granted, we had it pretty good last year too. But it is always a nice surprise to have the people working for team really care about you :) I haven't even met them and I am already grateful for what they have done so far.

Oh, and did I mention that the grocery store there has a giant North American section?!? Awesome. Complete with Mac and Cheese. Heaven, I'm (the hubs's) in heaven! Can you tell I am ready to get there or what.

Quick Finnish lesson: Makaronit ja Juusto = Mac and Cheese! That's not hard, right?! (source)

Even if good beer at a bar costs 7.50 Euro (SHEESH! That is over $10 a beer). Not going to think about that right now. But maybe I will start devising a plan to smuggle beer back from Germany. Ok, or maybe a bottle or two. Hey, we aren't alcoholics or anything like that, just cheap asses!

So the count down is now less than a week. Just have to take it day by day, hour by hour, agonizing minute by agonizing minute. Can I just sleep until next Wednesday?!

On another note, I know, random post today, but I don't have much else for it! All of you "Abroad Writers" have you seen this group on FTLOB?? You have to check it out! They are gathering all the bloggers who write about life abroad. What a good way to group us all together!

What else, I feel like there was something else...

Oh, I need to come up with one really good last 'American' Frackin' Friday tomorrow. Maybe I can find some good Texas cuss words that others might not know. Remember, if you have any good suggestions, send them my way. Hopefully I will be picking up Finnish cuss words in no time. Or not, don't really want them yelled at me, I guess. 

Well, still have a ton of blogs I need to get around to today. I leave the computer for a day and that always seems to be the day that everything happens online! Have a great Thirsty Thursday. I am having a Skinny Marg tonight for sure!

Minimal App-titude: Need Your Help!

Hi friends! Happy start of the week...yes there is such a thing. Nah, you are having an O.K. one at least, right?!

First and absolutely foremost, THANK YOU to all of ya’ll that voted for me in the “Best in Life” category over at FTLOB. I somehow or another pulled it off and won the title for this month! 

YIPPEE!!

I really couldn’t have done it without your voting, so here is a big internet hug for you! Wait, those self-hugging pictures I tried to take were really creepy. Here is two thumbs up instead. Enjoy, you earned them! 

Haha, what a dork! (And a mini preview of the no-poo pics!!)

Anyways, laugh with me. Remember this post! Haha, hilarity.

Why??

‘Cause I went out and got me one of these shiny, do-hicky things.

Well golly, I can even get on the world wide web with this, huck huck. (source)

Ok, I know, I went on a tiny, little rant about iPhones and how I like a less device-filled life, but we needed a second computer (what a snotty thing to say, ‘needed’ a second computer!) and I wanted some kind of Mac. Already have a MacBook and love it. So I thought I would try out an iPad. I had played around on one before and really liked how fast and small it was. PLUS, I was already thinking about investing in a Kindle, so this was my two-fer. AND we were going to buy a Slingbox Catcher, those expensive elusive discontinued items, but the iPad will transfer enough HD quality that we won’t need one. Three-fer, right? Right?!

 

(come on, make me feel better about it, just say yes in your head! ;))

But here is where I am desperate for all you App-savy bloggers' help. I am bit overwhelmed with all the options for apps and what all they can and can’t do. Most look like a waste of time and money, but I know there are a lot of real gems out there. 

So, what are your favorite/most used Apps?? Have any great FREE Apps?? It is my favorite price, after all. What MUSTS are there that I absolutely need? 

Please Hel-aap Me! Ok, that was lame, but your advice won’t be. 

(Tomorrow, full routine and update on how the no-pooing is going!! I promise I haven’t forgotten about it!)

Hello, 21st Century!

Well, we've done and did it.

We entered the 21st century last night. The hubs and I FINALLY saw a 3D movie. No wonder you kids had been ranting and raving about 3D movies. That shiznit blew our minds. Not to mention that it was Harry Potter and just an all around good movie to begin with (not like that over-hyped Avatar crap. Yes, de-friend me in bloggyland, I said Avatar was average...at best).

And the 3D glasses weren't that noticeable. (source)

 

Ok, you can't blame us too much for not seeing one before. It wasn't like we were exactly going to hop into a German movie theater and sit through a poorly German-audio-over-English movie just to see the effects.

But, being a little behind is like us. Call me crazy, but I don't buy into all the hype that comes with 'new' technology and devices. Heck, I don't even buy into the hype around the older stuff floating around. 

Unless it is this. This looks trust worthy. (source)

Case in point. Don't own a smart phone. Actually, I think my phone is literally making me dumber. It can't even take a picture. And I love it. While in North America, we jump on my parents plan, and overseas we stick with a pay-as-you go phone. Laugh all you want, after all, we do look silly with all that money sticking out of our pockets, don't we?!

Ohh, burn, burn double burn. Haha, just kidding, you know that. But if only I get back my old pink Nokia with this bad boy on it!

No one would beat me on this. NO ONE! (source)

And twitter...naaah (watch, I will end up eating those words). Trust me, I am not exciting. Like, not in the least bit. The last thing ya'll need to do is hang on my every ingredient I added in last night's dinner. Ewww, just reminds me of dumb facebook status updates.

I get Twitter for your blog, for a business and the like. But no way in hell do I need to know that Kayne "...makes awesome decisions in bike stores" or that he thinks "Fur pillows are hard to actually sleep on". True tweets, look it up.

Maybe I'm secretly like 60+ years old.

I'm thankful the hubs isn't into video games. No Playstation, X-Box or Wii. (although, there is a Nintendo DS we share). Think I have played Wii once. Maybe?

But meh, what do you do? A lot of it is due to our lifestyle. We are on the move too much to accumulate crap nice, pretty, useful things. And I think I prefer it that way. I don't get caught up with the latest app, or worry if my phone is out of date, we just make do and get on with our lives.

That is not to say that I wouldn't be all over that stuff if we lived full time in the U.S. Oh, I'd be hooked on it all like it was a drug! For reals. So maybe it is a good thing we live on the bare necessities of technology. 

We'd make this look guuuud! (source)

 Anyways, where was I? Oh, the movie rocked. And I think we might have actually enjoyed that new-fangled, not so new thing called 3D.

BTW, Ixy, from Illusion, Congrats!! You won the Texas/Germany/Canada giveaway! I can almost hear the audible groans of everyone else who entered. I tried to email you, but get a hold of me when you can. I will take full advantage of the fact that we are both in Canada right now and I can send that baby off for waaaay cheaper. (TexaGermaNadian (at) gmail (dot) com)

Schpanks again to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and entered the contest! You guys rock!

Ok, I'm wrapping it up! 

Last but not least, I am up for "Best in Life"! See, told you hubs, I really am :)

What? What's that?...Not like that? 

Oh, I guess they mean the "Best in Life" category for best blogs on FTLOB! Hey, I'll take it!

Life, of course, being a blogging category. Although I have my stuff together, not going to lie, in 'real' life too, haha.

Be a dear, and if you like the blog, like really, really like it, jump over here, find TexaGermaNadian and like it too.

Well, maybe not best in life, but damn good at making useless pictures!

I'm in a funny mood today, sorry :)

But I really would appreciate it!

Hope everyone is having a great week, and enjoy your hump day!

A Very Good Day

I feel like I just posted, but I have some fun things to share. Although, I do really hate 'covering up' the post below.

Do ya'll ever feel that way? Where you want to leave a post you love up as long as possible so it can have it's time in the spotlight? I dunno, maybe I am just weird, haha.

If you didn't get a chance to read about our weekend in France, you will have to look at the two posts below!

But really, what I wanted to do today was tell you about the great day that I had yesterday! I felt some of these things were worth sharing with ya'll!

It really was a great day.

First off, my beloved, the sun, was out all day yesterday and it made for the most perfect weather day here in Germany. Highs in the low 70s, no wind and warm sunshine the entire day! There are few things that can tear the hubs away from the TV for an entire afternoon. The weather yesterday was able to do that. We laid around in the sun for hours. I was in heaven. (if you haven't noticed yet, I basically worship the sun!)

I'm working on it Cristiano! (source)

Secondly, the not-so-baby-anymore goatie has, once again, figured out how to get out of his pen. He doesn't realize that the grass is just as green and yummy on both sides of the fence, but then again most of us don't realize that either!

We turned our back for once second, and look who decided to see what was going on in the apartment. Honestly, where do we live!?!

"Oh hey there folks, you gots anything good to eat in here???"

Third - and yes he gave me permission to blog about this - the hubs finally threw away a pair of underwear that he had had for TWELVE YEARS!! I am not joking about this. They were tattered and hole riddled. I asked him numerous times to toss them, but he was adamant that they were his favorite pair and too comfy. Finally, out of the blue, yesterday he stands up, declares that they must go, and throws them away right then and there. Making progress.

And on another note, which I will have to save for another blog, the hubs is a big over-sharer. I know more about him and his body than any lady ever needs to know. He isn't gross or anything, I guess he just feels comfortable enough to tell me...everything. Joys of being married, right!?

Last but oh-so-certainly not least, I was nominated for For the Love of Blogs BLOG OF THE MONTH! EEEEEeeeee!

I am not gonna lie, the competition is stiff this month. There are some great bloggers up for the award, many of which I really enjoy reading every day.

It would be such an honor to be named Blog of the Month, but really, for lack of less corny wording, I feel like I have already won. I honestly have the most supportive and awesome group of readers/commenters I could have ever asked for. I know other bloggers might say that, but I really mean it.

Ya'll are funny, witty, and actually seem to enjoy what I write (which might mean you are good actors too, haha, jk). Before I started blogging, I never thought that bloggyland could be such a positive and supportive community. And thanks to the bloggers I have found, ya'll made that a reality. Although I try to give back as much as possible by reading and commenting on your sites, I don't know if I can ever truly express how awesome ya'll all are and how appreciative I am. Thank you for putting a big smile on my face every day!

Now, if you do feel like voting, I would love the support :) And if not, that is ok too. But you should at least check out FTLOB. The three ladies who run the site have grown it into a wealth of information and help for any and all bloggers.

I wish all of you a very happy and great Hump Day!

Short and Sweet

Quick post, and perfect for Fab Friends Friday over at FTLOB. Just when I lose hope in people over here, I find someone who is so lovely and kind, that they restore my faith in goodness (ok, maybe it wasn't that profound, but ya know...)

It's not that the Germans are mean spirited or anything like that, but coming from the South, we tend to 'over-sweet' our emotions, and I really miss that at times.

I went to the gym this afternoon, after running about 500 errands I had put off this whole week until today. I made it there with just enough time for a quick cardio circuit and to make it home before the hubs left for his game tonight. I opened my bag to see that in the dim lighting of our bedroom, I had packed a sports bra and two pairs of shorts....and no shirt. Shit. Or Schade, the polite way to say 'bummer' in German.

Right about then, the only other lady in the dressing room came around the corner. She asked what was wrong, I told her that I was an idiot. And without one moment of hesitation, she offered me the extra shirt she had packed. I don't know this lady, never seen her before at the gym. And here she was lending me her really nice workout T-shirt, because she 'didn't want to see me drive all the way home to get mine'. She quickly game me her name, and said just to leave the shirt at the front counter when I was finished with it. And that was it, like it was an every day occurrence for her.

Dammit, now that I think of it, I forgot my headband and leg warmers too! (source)

How nice and thoughtful and trusting is that?! The Germans have a reputation of being 'cold', at least when you first meet them. Hey, these aren't my words, even the Deustchers will tell you that. But when it comes down to it all, there are nice and kind people all over the world. I am lucky to have run into this one today.

I might not see that lady ever again, the gym is big and we will be gone in a month or two. But the kindness that she showed to a complete stranger will leave me with a smile on my face for a while. Again, vielen Dank!

Sorry for another sweet and sappy post, soooo not like me. But thought it was worth a mini-share today.  Maybe I shouldn't have written this mean spirited one a while back. Whoops!

ALSO, and definitely last but not least, I really, REALLY want to thank everyone for your lovely comments and enthusiasm for the "Storytellers Blog Hop" I mentioned yesterday. Ya'll couldn't have been better. Honestly, thanks for the great feedback. Go ahead and mark your calendars for next weekend Friday Feb. 25th and Saturday the 26th. That way I can get those week bloggers as well at the weekend warriors included. Can't wait for all of us 'storytellers' (ehhh, still think its a little corny sound, but whatevs) to link up! If this goes well, might have to make it a regular end of the month feature.

Hope everyone else is having a good Friday, link up with the hop over at FTLOB and share a friendly story!

Compliment Sandys for Everyone

I can pretend it's spring already, right?! I am longing for a day without a heavy winter coat, a day without Deutsch, a day at home by the pool. The dog days of January are upon us at the moment. What we like to call Groundhog day. The hubs gets up, he goes to practice, I have class, we mindless watch horrible television, I hop around bloggyland. I don't enjoy the winter. I am not one of those sassy Germans that gets all bundled up and cross country skis across our front lawn like it is the most beautiful day they have ever seen. Nuh-uh, no way. I live in my blanket, lounge in my robe and hibernate like a good little bear until the first signs of spring emerge. 

Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today.

Source

But, even though the weather outside is effing depressing frightful, that doesn't mean I can't start springing things up inside. Inside my apartment and inside my head. Time to toss those wintery thoughts and bring on new buds of ideas and ideals. Does that mean I will be a chipper little forest creature the rest of this blog?? You bet you ass there is no way that will happen. That's not in my nature.

But maybe it can mean that I can vent a bit, let some things off my chest, and then also give a word of praise or two in the meantime. Clear my head, clean up the cobwebs in my mind and get ready for the spring. Inspired by the great ladies over at FTLOB, I am ready to clean out my closet!

Source

Instead of being a totally negative Nelly, I think I will use the "Compliment Sandwich Technique", where you sandwich one bad point between two good points. For instance, I really like sandwiches, but I really, really hate the term "Compliment Sandwich Technique", although it was pretty helpful for me to get ideas for this post. See, wasn't that easy??

Good: Hey facebook you've been doing a really great job lately for a lot of people out there. I wanted to thank you for keeping me in touch with my close friends scattered throughout the United States. For a sometimes homesick Texan in Germany, it is a life saver!
Bad: Well, I think we might have to part ways soon. Its not you, its some of your loser users. I don't care what the shit you did all day long, what dumb indie band you are sooo into right now, or that you can recite song lyrics and pass them off as your own words in your status. (said much better here). Also, I want to punch (think positively) am slightly annoyed by the Mommybookers out there. Don't get me wrong Moms, I love seeing pictures of your kids. Your son and daughter really are precious. But when I have to log onto facebook and see that your kid is running a fever, has a dirty diaper, learned to wear big girl panties, or that your doctor told you it could be any day now because your freakin' cervix is getting soft I want to defriend you immediately.
Good: And on that note, thank you facebook for the hide button. That too is a life saver!

Good: I love my generation. We don't quite have the middle-management aspirations of Generation X and we aren't exactly the Hannah Montana crazers of the younger ones. We were born in the middle of a technological boom, torn between writing notes in high school and sending emails in college. We don't take no for an answer, we want things our way, and we are all pretty dang creative.
Bad: But let's be honest. In this whole texting, emailing, chatting lifestyle, we are losing the ability to have real relationships face to face. Many struggle to be sociable at live functions, and for the extreme, some have a hard time living outside their video game avatar. Quit resolving your problems through text messaging, have you noticed it doesn't work? Don't ignore emails, just don't. It is rude, it is happening more and more often because it is too easy to do. And please, for goodness sake, quit airing your dirty laundry on facebook. Divorces are bitter, we get that. Take the high road and leave the internet name calling and bullying behind.
Good: Ummmm, well it felt pretty good to get that off my chest, does that count as the bottom loaf in my sandwich??

Good: I am blessed that I get to travel around the world as such a young age. I am free to discover and immerse myself in different cultures, to learn new languages, and to meet people that I would have never had the honor to meet before. I think some hockey wives (not any of the lovely in bloggyland) will argue that this kind of hockey life closes more doors that opens. I strongly disagree. I am not 'putting all my hope and dreams on hold' while we live abroad. I am building new paths in life and growing my dreams to even bigger sizes than before.
Bad: I am scared for the day that I go back home, and it won't feel like home anymore. We always plan to live in Texas when this traveling is all said and done, but in the hockey world, nothing is a constant. What if I will never live in Texas again? Now that frightens me (see, I can do vulnerability without being a wiseass!)
Good:  This lifestyle has made me and the hubs closer than we could have ever imagined. And it is only the beginning. I guess as long as I am with him, I will always have a home.

Three, extremely random, things I can try to leave in the past, place them in my mind's Goodwill box, and not linger over. I have never been one to dwell too long on the bad. I consider myself a good adapter, a good 'living in the moment' kind of gal. Even if that moment right now I want to drop kick the weather for dumping another healthy amount of snow :( 

Here's to your spring, I hope it finds you ready and blossoming with new ideas!

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