The Big 400

***My internet moved to siberia but I hope to be back online in the next day or two!***

I am a mere few posts away from hitting 400 posts. That's kind of hard to believe. I don't really know why all of you read my blog but I am happy that you do!

Have some cake on me!

I thought I'd do something cool for post 400 but I don't know what. I could give stuff away. I've got lots of things I don't want just hanging around the house. I could let you ask me whatever you want to know. I could book myself a vacation to Hawaii and meet Crash and Anjeny and all those other awesome Hawaii ladies (and let's face I do feel Hawaii calling my name!) and you could all come and it'd be one big Bloggerfest party.


That would be a good post 400. Live from Hawaii! It's Blogging Mama!


In my dreams maybe.


So here's what I'll do. On Monday I'll turn the big 400. I've decided that for those of you who actually read this blog you deserve something. I can't give you all something, I don't have that much stuff laying around to give away. I'll list several things below I'd like to give away and things that you can do to make Post 400 a big deal.

1. Free Movies - I have some dvds still in cellophane that I've never watched (US region dvd players only sorry). I'll give them to you. Simply tell me which one you want (by title in your comments) and I will randomly choose someone to win each of them. I have Along Came Polly and Anger Management up for grabs. I do have Weird Science out of the wrapper (but unwatched) but that one has so many memories from childhood, I really can't let you have it.
   
2. Ask me anything you are just dying to know about me, my life or what it's really like to live in Germany. I'll do my best not to lie.
3. I'll send you some German chocolate. I can't be responsible if you live in a hot state and it melts but I have no doubt if you pop the envelope into the freezer for an hour it'll solidify again. Then tear open the package and enjoy! (be warned most of the chocolate here has traces of nut products so please, be mindful if you have a nut allergy. I don't want to kill you.)
4. I'll pick one of you and send you a grab bag of fun things from one of my favorite stores. I won't tell you what's inside but it'll be really cool just trust me.
5. Anyone who wants one can have a personally drawn picture from one of my kids. Art for the ages. Chick likes to make circles and Boo likes to draw flowers. You can pick which you'd prefer.
6. I have this book called "Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones" that I bought by accident thinking it was something else. It's yours if you want it. Free!

Now doesn't that sound like it'll be fun?


Leave your comment with one or all of your number choices above for the prize drawing (which will be a random drawing names from a hat kind of thing) and if you are choosing number 2 please leave your question for me as well. I'll pick several of you to win something and display the winners on post 400. And answer the questions if I should get any.



So come back on Monday and see if you won any of the goodies!

No internet

I'm the black hole of helk with no internet since Tuesday night. Post are popping up scheduled so if it doesn't make sense or is incomplete its all T-Mobile Deutschlands fault!
I am hoping sometime in the next week to get access again. I'm reading all your comments via my blackberry and responding to those who have email addresses attached. But a blog hopping I can't go. Just know I'm in serious blog withdrawl.

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Sign Language Wednesday

Tomorrow I'm going to be announcing a giveaway to celebrate my 400th post that's coming up next week so make sure you stop by for details.

It's week three of Sign Language Wednesday.   I got the idea to ask all of my readers to leave me a word that I could write on a sign and then photograph. The photograph would relate in someway to the word.   And thus in very simple terms the event was born.  We've seen Serendipity and Love so far.

This weeks word was suggested back on week one (and those others I am trying to find the perfect picture for so be on the lookout Keely, Sara and Kimberly).  I can't even remember how she found me or how I found her but from the first post I read on her blog I was hooked.I like to read her blog because she's insightful, makes me laugh and has no problem poking fun at herself in a gentle way. Dishing it out with reality and style and with No Botox Allowed this week's word comes from Wendy who is also my featured blogger of the day.

The dictionary would define todays two word combination as such:

¹no

Pronunciation:\ˈnō\

Function: adverb

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nā, from ne not + ā always; akin to Old Norse & Old High German ne not, Latin ne-, Greek nē- — more at aye

Date: before 12th century

1 achiefly Scottish : not b—used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility no>

2: in no respect or degree —used in comparisons no better than the rest of us>

3: not so —used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal <no, I'm not going>

And the second part:

Botox 

Pronunciation:

\ˈbō-ˌtäks\

Function:

trademark

—used for a preparation of botulinum toxin

So I give you, No Botox:

This handsome guy is actually out in front of a bathroom store near my house. We convinced a visiting friend that standing in front of him and having your picture taken was on the level of kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland.  Yep, he fell for it and I've got the picture to prove it :)

We did eventually tell him the truth.  Needless to say we no longer speak.

What would your definition of No Botox be?  What would your picture look like?  Don't forget to leave me your word suggestions for next week!

Be sure to stop by No Botox Allowed and give Wendy a shout hello!

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Very Random and Very Tuesday

Amazingly I didn't write today's Random Tuesday Thoughts post in advance. That's Random. Anyway if you want to play along with this awesome little event go to Keely at the Un-Mom and linky up.  It's lots of fun and completely Random. (I forgot the fugly button at first.  Sorry).

How many days in a row can you feed your kids chicken nuggets before it's child abuse?  I'm just curious....

If we open the cupboard and don't find anything we like to eat what compels us to open it two or three more times in the hope that something will magically appear?  Desperation?

I'm not feeling overly Random today (and I don't know why I keep capitalizing Random) which in itself is weird.

Anyone else scared of this swine flu thing going on?  Pig sickness.  What's next?  Oh that's right another salmonella outbreak.  This time with alfalfa sprouts.  I forgot.  Is it just me or is anyone else planning to start growing or raising all their own food now?

Why is my son home on holidays from school more than he's actually at school?  Again he has Thursday and Friday off.  I am not sure what the enormous school tuition is for exactly because it surely can't be for educational purposes!

The pollen is so thick here I sat outside for five minutes the other day and my hand was covered in nasty green pollen in minutes.  Eww.  My car has a permanent green tinge even hours after you wash it.

We are solidly  (bangingly, knockingly, noisily!) into week three of the neighbors ROOF project.  I have never in my life seen men take so many breaks nor go so freakin' slow at replacing a roof.  I'm no expert but I don't think it should really be taking this long.  And frankly, they give me the creeps in the fact that they can stare in my kitchen window.  Diet Coke construction workers they are not.  *For those not in the know these are the diet coke guys

I really can't think of anything else Random.  That really is weird.

This week I am taking time to mention some of the great bloggers I've come across.  Yesterday I told you about Clark Kent's Lunchbox.  Today I want to tell you about Pearl at Pearl, Why you little... Pearl is a great blogger whom I suspect is wanted in several states not least because of her counterfeit badminton coupon scheme at the local community center.  On a regular basis she sits next to some interesting people on the bus and I never fail to walk away from reading her blog going "Whew!  Glad I'm not Pearl!"  Filled with humor and a dash of sass and insight Pearl never fails to make me smile.  

Please stop by Pearl, Why you little... and say hi.

Come Visit Me At Casey's Place

As I mentioned on Saturday I'm guest posting over at Casey's today (That would be at Half As Good As You) so please be sure to stop by and say hello. After you check out my post over there come back and help me caption this little picture.  All I can say was it involved the Boys and my kitchen.

Today's Featured Blogger is Clark Kent from Clark Kent's Lunchbox. CK always keep things on an even keel (unless you saw the video he posted on Sunday, then you strictly laughed out loud and quite possibly had a good memory at the same time.  Or you peed your pants.  Sir Mix A Lot's Baby Got Back and Spongebob.  Trust me and go check it out.)

I love visiting with CK.  He is informative on many topics that are very relevant to today such as Parental Alienation, depression, hitchhiking and Vegas (in the same post) and being a man.  I can always count on CK to deliver up something funny or interesting or insightful.  And let's face it, he's Superman hiding behind the persona of Clark Kent.  Who wouldn't love reading about that? 

Please stop by CK's Lunchbox and see what he's all about.  You won't be disappointed.

The One in Which Blogging Mama Plays Guest Poster

I'm hanging out with Casey at {LINK REMOVED}on Monday. She's asked me to guest post for her. Talk about pressure! Her blog rocks and always gives me anything from a giggle to a full blown belly laugh. Please come by Casey's place and leave some love!

This week we have Random Tuesday Thoughts and Sign Language Wednesday and I've decided that I'd like to take time this week to let you know about some more of my favorite bloggers. So be sure to stop by to see who else I'm always stalking.

Candid Carrie's Photo Friday and Friday's Feast F2

Thank the good sunshine it's Friday.  It has been a week with good, bad and ugly.  I'm very happy for it to all to just be over with.  I went all day yesterday without any coffee.  I didn't get the shakes or a headache or anything.   This morning my husband was driving to work instead of riding his bike so I was nice and made him coffee.  So now guess what I'm drinking?  Wahoo, I lasted a whole day.  Maybe I'll try again on Tuesday.

Since it's Friday it means that I'm taking a little walk down memory lane over at Candid Carrie's with her Photo Friday Fiesta or Friday Photo Fiesta or something.  (You can see why I simply say Candid Carrie's Photo Friday).  Since flashback photo's seem to be the new It item I pulled out a few of my own.  Of course this is way before they had scanners and digital anything and probably even computers.  I present you three of my highly amusing childhood photo's!

My Christening  (I was five months old).  Jeez, I could fly with those ears. Unfortunately I never did grow into them.  I did however finally grow some hair.

Check out the chair! Hello, 1970's! By the way my sister had a matching dress in green and pretty much the same thrilled expression on her face. I would guess I am about 3 or 4 maybe in this one.

And the real beauty picture!  My favorite place - the beach.  My I was a sassy thing wasn't I?  Yes, that is a deflated vinyl inner tube I'm wearing as a dress.  Some of you said I had fashion sense, as you can see it started when I was young.  I'm probably about 5 or 6 here.

Go to Candid Carrie's and see who else is embarrassing themselves (or their loved ones) today!

Moving on to Friday's Feast F2 over at CaJoh's (btw, did you all see him at Venus vs Mars yesterday??  If you didn't go check it out!  Sage advice from Mr CaJoh.)

I really like salads for lunch.  I mean big salads with lots of good stuff.  When my son was a baby I ate salad everyday for lunch for over a year.  Not just some lettuce and that's it kind of salad, no I like real salad.  Here's my salad and pita I had for lunch yesterday.  Spinach, cherry tomatoes, black olives, feta cheese and Italienisch Krauter dressing.  It's kind of like creamy Italian dressing.

What I used to put in a salad was any combination of the following:

Spinach or butter lettuce

Cheese: cheddar, mozzarella, colby jack or any or all

Cherry tomatoes

Radishes

Celery

Green or red peppers

Carrots

Cucumbers

Black and green olives

Dressing: Sweet Vidalia Onion (from Costco) or Maple Honey Mustard (Annie's Farm Organic)

Now if you take all of that and put it in a pita or a soft tortilla, that's bliss and a great tasting healthy lunch.  What do you like to eat?  Do you have any embarrassing childhood photos to share?  Be sure to stop by Candid Carrie's and CaJoh today!

And this has nothing to do with this post, except that I am so disgusted I can't even stand it. And it's not a joke. I found this at my bloggy friend J's site Germany Doesn't Suck (he intro'd me to blogging sorta, he was the very first blogger I started reading and I've actually met him several times.) Visit and voice your disgust even if you aren't living in Europe.

One In Three Ryanair Passengers Vote for ‘Fat Tax’

Ryanair to Consider How to Charge for Very Large Passengers

MamaKat's Writers Workshop and then some

It's Writers Workshop day with MamaKat!  It's on every Thursday so be sure to join in.

Head over to her place if you just want to read what everyone else is writing!

The Prompts:

1.) Book review!

2.) When is it okay not to listen to the words? Explain about a song you really love that has lame lyrcis or lyrics you simply don't understand.
(writingfix.com)

3.) Why won't you forget? List six true sentences that begin with the words 'I'll never forget...' Then use all six of your sentences in a paragraph, poem, or longer descriptive piece.
(writingfix.com)

4.) Write about an interaction you had with a salesman.

5.) What's for dinner? I'm starving.

Okay I pick number five cause I'm not feeling inspired by the prompts today (I've got my own little thing I want to say).

Tonight's dinner is...Chicken Fajitas!  I swear Hubby and I eat this once a week.  I simply can not get enough.  The funny thing is we hardly EVER made fajitas when we lived in the US. Very weird indeed.  The kids won't touch them so they get chicken nuggets, veggies, fruit and milk.  Well, Chick probably would eat them if we were willing to share.

If you are hungry I highly recommend making fajitas or heading out to Chili's.

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This is for all of you:

I Wouldn't Know Nuttin' if it Weren't For You

I wouldn't know about the Zombie Apocalypse if it weren't for Keely at The Un-Mom.

I wouldn't know about He Blogs/She Blogs if it weren't for a blogger who writes for Hot Dads who led me to Petra  The Wise (Young) Mommy

I wouldn't know anything about Sumo wrestler wallpaper (and wanting to buy some) if it weren't for Captain Dumbass at Us and Them

I wouldn't have such awesome music flashbacks if it weren't for Musical Monday's and Robin at Cinnamon & Honey

I wouldn't have musical flash forwards if it weren't for Shelle at BlokThoughts who turned me onto Lady Gaga

I wouldn't know about Kane spiders or be so in love with Jack Johnson if it weren't for Crash at Crash Test Dummy Diaries

I wouldn't know it was earth day yesterday and look smart to my son if it weren't for Kimberly at Zook Book Nook

Nor would I know all about pie if it weren't for The Blonde Duck

I don't know much about being a single parent but Debbie at The Single Mom in a Complicated World makes it look so easy

I wouldn't be getting my healthy on if it weren't for Casey at Half As Good As You and Club HASAY

I also wouldn't know anything about the Bonehead Brothers if it weren't for Mrs. Cox at My Own  Brand of Crazy

So you see?  I really wouldn't know nuttin' if it weren't for You!

Sign Language Wednesday

It's Wednesday so that means it's time for Sign Language Wednesday. Don't know what Sign Language Wednesday is? Here's how it works. I ask all of you to give me words, challenging words even. Then I will pick one word every week to feature by writing it on a sign and finding somewhere to photograph your word that relates to the word's meaning.

Please don't forget to leave me a word you would like to see featured when you comment! As always if I use your word I will link you to this event.

Today's word comes from a blog that I only recently discovered. Written by a single dad, his blog discusses everything from dating, single parenthood, divorce and cooking, all with a sense of humor. From Dad's House I give you the word for SLW week two: Love.

The definition from Webster's online is:

Main Entry: love

Pronunciation: \ˈləv\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English lēof dear, Latin lubēre, libēre to please

Date:

before 12th century

1 a (1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties love for a child (2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests {lovefor his old schoolmates} b: an assurance of love love}2: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion {love of the sea}3 a: the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration love} b (1): a beloved person : darling —often used as a term of endearment (2)British —used as an informal term of address4 a: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2):brotherly concern for others b: a person's adoration of God5: a god or personification of love6: an amorous episode : love affair7: the sexual embrace : copulation8: a score of zero (as in tennis)9capitalized Christian Science : god

— at love 

: holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis

— in love 

: inspired by affection

Obviously there are a lot of different definitions of love. I found a great example this weekend at the Cologne zoo in the hippo area. I give you love

What does love mean to you?  How do you define it?  What would your picture of love look like?

Please make sure to leave me a word for next week when you comment!

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Spam

It's time to get random over at Keely's place with Random Tuesday Thoughts.  Jump right in and get random with me or head over the The Un-Mom and read up on who else is getting random this week.

Monty Python's SpamALot is coming to Cologne.  I'm not a MP person but I can't even begin to imagine what this must sound like in German.  New York!  London!  And Koln!

I'm preparing to talk myself into potty training my almost three year old.  Someone please talk me out of it because quite frankly, I really don't want to do it.

Speaking of the Chick, she's kicked up the nighttime waking full measure again.  I would give anything to be able to figure out how to get her to sleep through the night.  You name it, I've tried it.  One year and one month later and I'm still doing multiple nighttime shuffles from my room to hers.  I've somehow learned to make Permanent Sleep Deprivation work for me.

Who wants to read the news anymore?  Yesterdays headlines were about water torture, kidnapped people and a plane hijacking.  Please just let me crawl back into my happy place and disappear.  I liked it much better when I didn't have any idea what was going on.

Our satellite is broken (yet again) and it seems it isn't going to be fixed.  We were told that we need a new dish.  No way am I chunking out that much change for the next 10 months just to have tv.  I've got the internet, it's all I need.

I would like to storm my mothers doctors office and whip them into shape.  It's been a month since her surgery and has she started her treatment yet for cancer?  No.  It's starting to really tick me off.  It should not be so hard to get help.

The neighbors across the street are having a new roof put on.  Joy!  I listen to them pounding and throwing things all day.  Not to mention disrupting nap time.  And getting out of the driveway is super duper simple with their big truck parked right across from my driveway.  A ten point turn should do it. (okay whine done)

Yesterday I was 25 minutes early to pick up Boo from school (a weird quirk of mine) so the Chick and I walked along the sports field of the school.  Several interesting things happened. One - the Bitburger (that would be BEER truck) was parked in front of the school.  And yes, school adult socials do include beer and a lot of wine.  The Germans may have the advantage on that one.  Two - There was also a man laying in the sun on the field (old creepy guy, no shirt, you get the picture) where not far away the kids were having gym class, playing cricket (yes British sports at an American international school).  Chick and I were sitting on a bench and I happened to turn at the same time Creepy Old Guy gets up, walks to the fence and...pees.  Yep just right there on the sports field in plain view.  To see kids do this is gross and yet so completely commonplace here.  But an adult?  Yeah, that was a first.

Think good thoughts today.  Life could get very interesting around here.  Let's hope.  And nope, I'm not going to say anymore about it.

I'm also blogging over at my other place today, Venus vs Mars.  So please come by and check it out.  It's a little piece about vacations. Here tomorrow I have Sign Language Wednesday, it's week two.

What random thoughts do you have?  Feel free to leave them here or over at The Un-Mom today!

Club HASAY Reporting In & A Trip to the Zoo

Ah Monday.  Hear the sound of silence?  That would be because my kiddo is back at school. Yippeee!  I love him but two weeks spring break... are you kidding me?  We did do a few things. We played scientist doing lots of experiments with water, learning what sinks and what floats. We also pretended to be the Mythbusters.  hehe, that was cool.  

Mint Mentos + Diet Coke = Exploding fun for the whole family!

Unfortunately I seem to have deleted the video file by accident. Darn it.  I guess we'll have to just do it again.  Over the last two weeks there was plenty of whining (by them and me) and lots of playdough, videos, cooking, whining, lego's, playstation (kid loves golf) and more whining. But we survived it somehow.  

It's Monday, as I said, so that means it's time to report in for Club HASAY over at Casey's place. This week I did really well.  I did pilates and yoga on Monday and did yoga all week (with my seven year old playing along, very funny to watch).  I haven't gotten to run this week with the weather being rainy all week though.  I may be participating in a charity 5k this summer so that has helped me to make sure the days it doesn't rain I am out there pounding the pavement.  Motivation.  The key to success.

I admit to eating ice cream and a few M&M's this week but I've cut out the Milka Caramel (wahhh!) and changed over to rice cakes occasionally with peanut butter as my nighttime snack.  I'm finding the best way to get with this healthy kick is having good support, like the Club HASAYers. How did you do this week?

Yesterday was a beautiful day so we took the kids to the Cologne Zoo.  We went when we first moved here three years ago and loved it.  This was Chick's first zoo visit and she is an animal nut so she was very excited.  The zoo is one of the best in Europe and a short thirty minutes ride from our house.

We saw Meerkats:

We saw Zebras:

We saw Tigers:

Elephants are always a big hit:

Gorgeous Giraffe's:

And of course no trip is completely without Hippo's and Gorilla's:

Naturally we have a lot more photos including some great ones taken by Boo but I won't bore you with all of them.  How did you spend your weekend?  Did you do anything fun?

Saturday Sillies

Chick loves the video function on the Mac and we use it to practice speaking.  But tonight we just decided to dance :)

Candid Carries's Photo Friday & Friday's Feast (F2)

It's Friday again and today I've got lots of treats.  This week I'm going to start with Friday's Feast F2 with CaJoh.  I bought a few berries at the store and stumbled across some tartlett shells and then discovered I had vanilla ice cream in the freezer.

An idea was born of the simplest most wonderful ingredients.  

It was very yummy.  I may have broken a few HASAY rules but it did at least have fruit.  I thought since it was a red, white and blue dessert I'd find a nice American poem to go with it.

AMERICA FOR ME

Henry Van Dyke

Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down 

Among the famous places and cities of renown, 

To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of their kings,

- But now I think I’ve had enough of antiquated things. 

So it’s home again, and home again, America for me! 

My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be, 

In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars 

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

Oh, London is a man’s town, there’s power in the air; 

And Paris is a woman’s town, with flowers in the hair; 

And it’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome; 

But when it comes to living ... there is no place like home. 

I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled; 

I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled; 

But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day 

In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way! 

I know that Europe’s wonderful, yet something seems to lack: 

The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back. 

But the glory of the Present is to make our Future free, 

We love our land for what she is and what she is to be. 

Oh, it’s home again, and home again, America for me! 

I want a ship that’s westward bound to plough the rolling sea 

To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars 

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

And now on to Candid Carrie's Photo Friday.  I had planned to put up a slideshow about Luxembourg but in the theme of America I was looking at old photos and came across these we took in 2004.  This was when we were building our house in Maryland.  We lived down the street in an apartment while the house was being built so we generally stopped by everyday to see the progress.  I thought these pictures told a fun time-lapse story. Photos taken June 29, August 16, September 13, September 22 and finally November 15 three weeks after we moved in.

204 Suburban Drive - Doesn't that just scream America?  Please visit CaJoh and Candid Carrie for more fun today!