Tick Tick Tick.........

AS THE SIGN SAYS WATCH OUT FOR THOSE KIDS!

Where does the time go? I had the best intentions of posting a blog a week, unfortunately things don't always go as planned. Last week I got a nasty (German) flu/cold. Just prior to getting sick I agreed to head up a project here called "Operation Shoebox." I picked up the information and tucked it away, I was adamant I would wait until after Halloween- To me it just doesn't seem right to put anything "Christmas" out until the end of October..........I would make flyers, set up collection boxes, use some catchy phrases. In my head I had it all planned out.

I decided to get started by reading up on the project. I just about fell out of my chair.........the deadline for shoebox pick up is November 15th! HOLY COW! Someone tell me how am I supposed to pull this off!

I fussed and fumed, how unfair of them to dump this project on me. I should have known earlier, I just moved here, I don't have the resources to reach out to the community, not enough time, I don't have my own car, and several other unmentionable thoughts went thru my head. I still didn't feel well and this was icing on the cake.

I calmed down and said to myself.....Liz just do the best you can, whatever you do is something the bottom line....... it is not about me it is about the children. I was just making excuses. And really it is a wonderful project, basically fill a shoebox with much needed items such as school supplies, toiletries, a toy, a book, hair barrettes, stickers, or perhaps a book. Once the shoebox is full wrap it with Christmas paper and have them ready for pick up and delivery to various churches who then mail them out worldwide.

Armed with these thoughts I decided that the bank at the Army base was a high traffic area and a good place to start. Last Saturday Terry and I wrapped a cardboard box with Christmas paper and asked if it was okay to set up a collection location. Not only did they say YES! but what can we do to help. It just so happens a customer in the bank overheard us, she works at the NATEX warehouse and would be happy to donate shoe box sized boxes with lids. From this point on the project has taken off with a life of its own. Several drop off locations throughout the area are set up and hopefully they are collecting items to fill the 50 empty boxes that are waiting in my living room.

Can you help?

If you would like to help what I need are monetary donations to cover postage and wrapping paper. It costs approximately 5 Euro or 7 dollars for every box that I put together. Or perhaps you would like me to put a box together especially from you! Just let me know. If you can help with a donation there are are two ways this can be accomplished.

1. You can email me with and amount and I can cover it until I receive the check.
2. You can make a deposit into a Bank of America I have set up.

• My email address: terryandliz@gmail.com
• My mailing address is PSC7 box 491 APO AE 09104
• My Bank of America Account number is 7591530468

If you would like more information visit their website at http://www.samaritanspurse.org/ and follow the links to Project Christmas Child

love and miss you all

A Little Trash Talkin...

Generally speaking of course, most Americans could learn from the Germans about recycling. Here, there at least sixteen ways to sort your trash. When we "in processed" we had several briefings and one was dedicated to the finer art of sorting ones trash.

There was a gentleman in the orientation who could not, or would not grasp the concept, he thought it was to much trouble. Someone needed to just tell him how much it would cost if he put everything in one bin. Ever so patiently the briefer tried to explain the process again. If he followed the guidelines for sorting trash then what was left would be placed in a gray bin, when that bin is collected, it is lifted up on a truck, a computer weighs the garbage and stores the information. The actual fee is based on a per household calculation already being charged in his "nebenkosten" that is paid to his landlord along with rent. At the end of the year a reconciliation is done you either pay the difference or you are reimbursed.

Well, that did not sit well with him and he voiced his displeasure. How much per pound or kilo am I going to be charged is all he wanted to know, not how to sort the trash. The briefer was ever so patient trying to explain it to him. I felt sorry for her, he was not making her job any easier. I decided to put my two cents in so I chimed in with "sir, really it is not that hard, I am from the Pacific Northwest where recycling is very similar and if you just sort according to the chart, what is left is your actual trash trash, I promise you it is not that difficult!" He then glared at me, and just then the nice Major sitting to my right said to him, it's okay Chaplain Smith lets just say we move on to the next item and come back to this later. I rolled my eyes and elbowed Terry, Chaplain indeed!

It looks a little complicated but really its not scary! Here is what the trash schedule for our village looks like.

love and miss you all

329 Cannondale Miles

As of yesterday I have ridden 329 miles on my bicycle. I say "I have ridden" because lately it has been me following Terry as he trains for the December 1st marathon, or me riding my bike to the local market for fresh produce and groceries. Sundays are his long runs and yesterday was an 18 mile run that had blog material swirling in my head.

Here in Germany a big deal is made of your birthday. On your birthday your friends will decorate your house with all kinds of crazy things





Also, it is expected that the person having the birthday treat all of his or her friends to cake as well as any other celebratory festivities. When a baby is born, again your friends will stop by and decorate your home, the decorations stay up for at least a week. I tried to get a good picture can you see the baby clothes strung up across the house in the lower picture? I am going take pictures of every age and see how many I can collect!

















We pass by a nursing home on our run/ride. It is called St. Josef's and if the weather cooperates, the residents are outside visiting with their families enjoying the sunshine and scenery in the BEER GARDEN. Yes indeed ladies and gentlemen, this particular adult care facility is complete with outdoor seating and a Bitburger beer garden. Yesterday there were a few residents out and about but the weather was a little on the cool side and it was still early. I stopped take a picture and this is the best I could do.






Below is picture of one of my favorite views while bike riding. It is my job to carry the water, cell phone, snacks, energy drinks, camera and anything else we think we need for these Sunday excursions. I do think about how important my "job" is and I am happy that I am riding and not running!



Also

I did not realize that this blog had a setting for limiting comments, I changed it so anyone can leave a comment......... and of course, all comments are welcome!


love and miss you all