Bye Bye Burstadt

Tonight is our last night in our sleepy little town of Burstadt. I'm starting to get a little bit sad. A little nostalgic, maybe. This was our first house together. We met neighbors and grew some flowers.

We learned about the intricacies of recycling and noise restrictions. We fell into routines and found comfort in them. During our last dinner out tonight at Astrix around the corner, we talked about our three years here and what we loved and what we've missed and what we will miss when we go.

What we will both miss most when we move back to America is our house, our yard, our little town of Burstadt.

We made some friends. Well...we met some people. Apollo (the dog)'s family. They have a new dog now. We didn't ask what happened to Apollo, but the new dog's name is Sheila. The new neighbors got a new kitchen in February and are now getting an outside makeover. The across the street man had some kind of hip replacement or something. And our 3 little kitties (Karl Sometimes, Pinky T, and Baby Matt Parkman) make us smile whenever they are spotted.

It's a happenin' little street, this Andreasstrasse. And a happenin' little town on New Years Eve. I don't believe we will soon forget the fireworks unleashed Dec 31 all over the then not-so-sleepy little town. And Halloween with the kids and their trick or treating fun, a new tradition for them.

It's been a good place to start our lives together, and we will miss Burstadt.

Background Change

because we are coming home~

Guess It's Been A While - Randomness

There just doesn't seem much to say. I can only count and recount, update over and over on the move status, and post random photos so many times. There is no focus right now except to get on a plane August 7. Everything we do seems to revolve around it. Stephen will start clearning next week. That's where you go to every imaginable agency and office on post and have them sign and stamp that you don't owe them money or inventory of some sort.

I have 2 weeks left of work! We have one more furniture pick up, one final house inspection, car title transfer (sold it Thursday!) and a few farewell dinners and luncheons!

Ready to GO!

I'm kind of sick to my stomach.

We didn't watch the Michael Jackson "memorial". In truth, I probably would have watched it just to see the other people singing. But Stephen had absolutely NO intention of it, and I really didn't care one way or the other.

But here's the thing. He wasn't Jesus. He wasn't even someone I would characterize as a stunning individual. But then I didn't know him. I'm not even going into crimes he has been accused of multiple times, he was never convicted and that is the measure of guilt in this country, so he is to be presumed innocent. But would YOU let him babysit your children? I wouldn't. But then, I didn't know him.

Neither did those thousands of people all over the world bawling their eyes out because he's gone. I might shed a tear when Olivia Newton John dies. Not because I know her personally, but because she was a huge part of my childhood, and is someone I have always had some kind of admiration/idolization/ crush on. But even Olivia's death won't make me fall on my knees bawling and sniveling. What IS that about?

Why are so many thousands of people worshipping this man? I'm not trying to be an unfeeling meanie. But I really think people are just a little bit over the top. Well...actually I think they are a lot bit over the top. I was just trying to be nice.

I come here often

But it is mainly to check the countdown! I haven't posted much lately. Just so ready to go home I can't think or talk about anything else. We have a Housing inspection this morning. Check out that counter. Looking good, no? And subtract 10 days, and that's how many are left living in the house in Burstadt. July 28 we move on post to the guesthouse/hotel.

We have been looking at housing options in Kansas. The truck is almost to St Louis. Nothing left in the Burstadt house but gov't furniture, things we are consigning at the Thrift Store or donating, and our suitcases of things we will carry home.

Sorry for being so absent. I'd love to say it will get better, but it probably won't until mid to late August. Here is a picture to enjoy in the meantime.

It's like a puzzle How many butterflies can YOU find in it?!

and here are some others:

ANSWER:

Moving Progress

It looks as though we are really getting close! Half of the remaining dozen 7th TTSB Soldiers scheduled to depart to Bagram left Friday. The rest will go in July.

As much as I hate it that I won't see them come home, I'm glad I get to see them all off and train the new FRSA before I leave.

Our small shipment of stuff, everything we won't be carrying in our suitcases will go Monday, June 29. Then it's just one more month!

LTC Fletcher, CSM Bryant and the USAG Mannheim bid us farewell at this quarter's Hail and Farewell dinner. Stephen and LTC Fletcher just happen to wear matching shirts. I thought this was pretty funny. :)

They said nice things about Stephen and gave him a beautiful picture of the Mannheim Water Tower.

There is no photo of the Water Tower presentation because the camera battery died while CSM Bryant was saying nice things about me.

PACKED OUT!

All of our big stuff and most of our little stuff was loaded on a truck Friday and is headed for the ship! Tomorrow we ship the truck, and everything else we won't be carrying in suitcases will go next Monday. We're almost there!

Our patio chairs. I thought this was too funny how they wrapped up. These guys were IN-credible with the tape gun!

Now that all the dishes are gone, I put the spices in the big glass-front cabinet! All spread out like that, everything is easy to find!

It's been a while...

What have we been doing, what's been going on?I made a banner to send to dad Soldiers.

Stephen made some homemade pizza!

After a day of rain and overcast weather, the sun came out. Then the sun hid behind dark clouds. Then it hailed for a few minutes, and then the sun came back out.

And we've purged, sorted, packed and organized. Ready for pick up next week! :)

LAMPSHADES!

Jessica,

I can't find your email on your blog. But if you are still looking for lampshades for your fancy lamps, I just reconnected with an old friend via Facebook, and she just started a lampshade business. They are really cute!

Anyone else interested in cute lampshades (she is expanding into pillowcovers) check it out. :)

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6685835&section_id=5967379

Sad Sunday

Well, today was it. We sent the remaining soldiers downrange today. It was a sad sad sight. I'm proud of them and in awe of them and so impressed by the families of these Soldiers. I will miss them terribly and will stay in contact even after we leave Germany.