Achtung Baby

Greetings. Put on a dry pair of pants, your time of feverish anticipation is over. I give you:

Blog Post - Germany 2009

Frankfurt: We woke early and picked up Kelly who JUST HAPPENED to be in Frankfurt at the same time we were. After a lovely stroll by the river, breakfast, and Kelly ordering a cup of coffee the size of Liechtenstein, we bid her adios on her way to Spain and then hit the road.

Lost in the German Countryside: Here's what I can tell you based on our random meanderings throughout the countryside: (ooooh, double colons!)

- Driving on the Autobahn in a Fiat Punto (http://tinyurl.com/ol9ymn) is a bit emasculating as the Porsches, BMWs, and Audis blow by you like you're standing still

- Germans love their bicycles, and the Dutch love their campgrounds

- Ausfahrt = giggle

Heidelberg: We made it. This picturesque little city, with a holy-crap-there's-a-lot-of-stores shopping scene, and a lovely river walk is nestled in between the "mountains" south of Frankfurt. We napped in a park, we drank their beer, we rode the Funicular up the "mountain", and enjoyed a lovely time in the central square having dinner on the plaza. All the while Allison enjoyed the friendly Facebook banter.

It's breakfast and Starbucks mug shopping in the morning and then back to the airport to head towards sweet home Chicago. If you're reading this, chances are we have talked about dragging you along to a place like this, so keep that suitcase handy, you never know when we'll come a knockin.

Specimen Sample #2371

Yes, they're the same in Germany too. My theory still holds until a black swan...err, black pigeon, emerges.

The Best Little Place You've Never Heard Of...

Hi, we're in Luxembourg.

No seriously, we are. And no, it's not a Swedish cruise ship, it's a country (http://tinyurl.com/qkvhus), and a pretty cool little one at that.

So let's answer the obvious question, why are we in this little central European nation?

Multiple Choice:
a. We heard about their legendary kraut and had to try it firsthand
b. Allison found out her great great aunt's sister's cousin's former roommate was the Duchess of Luxembourg, and Allison has returned to claim her rightful place on the throne
c. Jeff has relatives living there and found some cheap tickets
(Answer: http://tinyurl.com/q8pcc5)

Have I ever mentioned how big and amazing the world is? That's a trick question because I have, and if you weren't sure whether I had, you must have clearly forgotten, so shame on you.


Our aunt and uncle, Nancy and Roby Burg have been longtime residents in this tiny oasis wedged between Belgium, Germany, and France. And despite very short notice, they were nice enough to host us for the day, give us a tour of the city, and feed us real Luxembourgish ice cream.

Synopsis? We got a great tour and found the place charming, beautiful, historic, and full of French-speaking German-descended Luxembourgish people. The world is a crazy place, my friends. Next time you're in this neck of the woods, stop on by and check Luxembourg out.

Part II: Off to tour the countryside tomorrow. Try not to wet yourselves in anticipation of our next post.

Grajumicated!

Woohoo! Congrats Blake!

Acquisition

Our family made an important M&A transaction this weekend, courtesy of Blake. He found this sweet girl named Laura while he was cruising along the beach in Holland, Michigan, and asked her to marry him. She said "yes" somewhere mixed in with a bunch of "Oh my gosh"s, and now we get to make many hoorays as she will be in the family!

We think this is good and we plan to celebrate profusely in the coming months this event, possibly with a silly hat party.

Laura/Blake, you rock over London (and rock on Chicago). Congratulations and joys and happiness and hoorays!

Old People Party Too

Warning: You may find yourself insanely jealous. This is normal.

We went out for a night in Chi-Town with the Swierczeks, Riddles, and Tofilons, sans-kids. We're old, but we know how to party (as long as we can be home by 10pm, of course).

Long story short: friends + Allison's birthday + train + Jeff' digging up 50% coupons + Chicago + Carnivale + Vanessa's birthday + Jen Riddle showing the cocktails who's boss = (fun fun fun fun fun fun)^3 * 72.

P.S. - I recommend the cake.

Insanity Run 2009

Hi. Yes, I'm nuts.

[Clicky]

Feathered Theories

Many of our faithful readers (all three of you) will note that a particular winged creature, the urban pigeon, has been featured on our blog several times before. And while the author can't deny a slightly obsessive fascination with this wonderful species, Flyingus Raticus Pigeonus, we've only scratched the surface in terms of analyzing this mysterious head-bobbing garbage-eater.

As I was driving into Chicago yesterday, I noticed a phenomenon that I first observed last year but promptly forgot: Dead pigeons lying all along the side of the highway next to the jersey barriers. Murdered? Suicidal? Napping? Who knows. But there are too many lying around to just be coincidence, hence I have developed theories:

1. Winter Thaw - Winter in Chicago is cold. Stationary pigeons occasionally freeze and then thaw out in the spring and fall to the pavement.

2. Colorblind - Jersey barriers blend in with the natural "highway-ish" surroundings, prompting hapless pigeons to smack into them at high velocities as they swoop about aimlessly.

3. Chicken - Pigeons play chicken with rush hour traffic and lose.

4. Sleepy - Napping on the side of the road? Perhaps the white noise of the highway traffic soothes them to sleep.

5. Beltway Pigeon Sniper - If people out there are crazy enough to snipe humans, why not brainless birds?


I'm onto something here, but I'm not sure what it is. Hang in there my little feathered disease bags, we'll get to the bottom of this.

Wait and See

So, I have been a grouchy girl recently… very grouchy. I have been struggling with the truth that God does not always fill us in on where He has our lives headed. I have been a good girl, I have been obeying, but this week, I realized that somewhere in the mix of it all, I expected God to work in MY time.

I have realized that while I was “trusting God” with things, I was secretly creating my own timetable in my mind…. And now, when my timetable has not been met, I am grumpy…

So, I am working on my grumpiness (not easy when only eating beans and rice), and I am remembering that God has a plan for me…. “Just you wait and see”

Here is the chorus of my favorite song of the moment…


Wait and See
Brandon Heath

There is hope for me yet
Because God won't forget
All the plans he's made for me
I have to wait and see
He's not finished with me yet

Hunger + Thirst

So, both Jeff and I are on our second day of a food challenge with our Church. From Monday through Friday of this week, we are eating only beans, rice, bland oatmeal and water (generaly from the tap). We are doing this to stand in soladarity with those around the world who eat that every day of their lives.....

... and I have to say, I am struggling. I am grumpy, and I feel like I have little hope. I will confess my hoplessness comes from not being able to engage in a fun answer to "whats for dinner" tonight... or "ooo, that m&m bowl looks yummy" or "No COFFEE?!?!?".

To be short, I am overwhelmed by how blessed I am. And I wish I could say that my revelation has created a sense of thankfulness... but really, I am still grouchy... maybe tomorrow?

Check out the website for what we are doing.... :)