I’ve decided that you guys are right, I should take an official break, cause otherwise I’m always thinking that I should try to write something and that puts a small amount of stress on my shoulders that I can do without at the moment. But, I don’t think I want to give up blogging completely in the meantime, so here’s what I was thinking: I’m taking an official break from posting well thought out, informative stuff and will occasionally just make posts where I ramble on about my thoughts and maybe add a couple pictures. Hope you all looking for the former can hang in with me until I have more time to get back to researching and forming arguments, etc.
So, here goes with random babbling:
Our car isn’t working because a marten (Marder auf Deutsch) chewed up the engine parts. This really sucks. After being pretty much homebound for the last 10 months because of hyperemesis and then back/leg problems, I am going insane now. I must go someplace NOW, and a walk around the neighborhood just doesn’t cut it. For more info (in German, couldn’t find an English article, Martin comes up in the results also and it’s too common a word) on marten’s chewing habits, see the Sixt blog.
Leo is now 5 weeks old. He smiled for the first time last Wednesday (July 14). It was a big, wide, joyous, toothless grin that completely melted my heart. I still haven’t managed to get his smile on camera though. SLRs are great cameras, except for getting shots of early baby smiles. He only smiles when I’m about a foot away from his face and there just isn’t room for an SLR in there. Hmm, now that I think about it, maybe I should try my cheapo cell phone camera. It won’t be great quality, but at least I’ll have a photo. Or maybe we should get one of our point-and-shoot cameras repaired. Mine just gave out (due to old age?) last year and Rainer’s was destroyed by a toddler when it was only a few weeks old. Wonder which would be cheaper to fix?
Oliver had some trouble adjusting to Leo at first. I was in the hospital a while then as soon as Leo and I came home, Rainer took Oliver to his Oma’s. It wasn’t an ideal start, but it couldn’t be helped. Oliver is now a great big brother though, and has to greet Leo as soon as I walk in to get him at day care and he gives him a kiss goodbye in the mornings and a kiss goodnight at bedtime. He helps get diapers for Leo and yesterday when Leo started crying while I was finishing up some housework, Oliver came over to say, “Mama, Leo’s crying. Leo’s crying!” It was too cute.
Blogwise, I’m really touched by all the people complimenting me and my readers on our politeness in debating and fair treatment of the opposition, even on controversial topics. I’m not sure where this outpouring of sentiment came from and why it’s hitting now, but in the past month or so, there have been quite a few people commenting or emailing me about this (it even started before a troll accused me of rude treatment towards anyone who disagreed with me, or the other troll who said my readers and I all need therapy, so those weren’t the reason). Many have mentioned other sites that aren’t so fair and I know what you mean. I used to frequent those sites in order to attract more readers here, but stopped reading them because I didn’t like how people were treating each other.
I’d like to say that you guys are great and I love that I can post about controversial subjects and we can have frank and interesting discussions with some/all sides represented without 99.9% of posters resorting to personal attacks (or at least trying to, nobody’s perfect. I try hard, but slip on occasion myself). So, thank you all for creating a welcoming, friendly, thoughtful community for this blog.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
The boys are gorgeous! And it sounds lie you have your hands full in the best of ways!
I love my little Canon Powershot 10 megapixel. It only cost me $145.00 on Amazon 2 years ago. It’s a great, easy to use camera.
.-= Maribeth´s last blog ..And We’re Back =-.
I think you can get an extra rider on your car insurance specifically against Marten wire chewing.
.-= bopper´s last blog ..Dinkelsbühl =-.
Always good to get updates. Glad you’ve found something that works for you. I am most intrigued by Leo’s picture. Is he a redhead?! Our 2yo is blonde for now — born to two dark-brown haired parents. I know, Rainer did explain to me that this is not a simple Big B, little b thing… LOL. But still.
Who cares about what you have to say about things? I think YOU are a troll.
@maribeth: I just got my DSLR for Christmas, so I think my husband would go nuts if I brought up buying another camera
@bopper: Too late now, but good to know for the future, thanks!
@rachael: His hair on the top of his head is dark brown, and on the sides it’s reddish brown. Oliver’s hair changed from dark to blond around the 5 month mark, so I’m curious to see what Leo will end up with.
@farecho: I know I shouldn’t feed the trolls, but clearly there are at least a few people who are interested. You are not one of them, so feel free to move on to more interesting sites.
You’re boys are adorable!!! Thanks for sharing and glad you’re going to keep writing. You’ve made my life sooooo much easier since I discovered your blog 4 months ago. We moved to Germany two years ago and I was importing all kinds of stuff needlessly. You and your other loyal readers are so helpful, considerate, and thoughtful and I really appreciate that… it’s becoming more and more difficult to find online communities like this one.
PS: My husband and I are both extremely interested in what you have to say about things
Dear Christina,
congratulations to your wonderful family. I am glad you will try to keep blogging while taking a little break. I love your blog. It is so fascinating to see how Americans feel about living in my old home country of Germany. Also, I think your blog is always fair and considerate. You make good arguments which you support very well. Thanks for everything. I hope you’ll find time to relax. You deserve it.
Greetings
AMazing
I, too, have found your blog to be completely wonderful and helpful. Yours was the first one I found, over a year ago when I was first contemplating moving to Germany. I found your writing so inspirational, and it helped (and still does) to read about the times when you have also struggled with some things in Germany, and yet you still have a positive outlook and embrace German culture. I thought, well, it is possible for me to do this, too. And now I am here.
Your blog is also a catalog of how to live here – from shopping, foods and American food substitutes, trash, etc. I appreciate the practical information so much.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Five Senses Friday- July 30 =-.
Aww, man – the Marten thing is a total bummer! Is there anything you can do to get rid of them (or block ‘em) so they won’t come back and chew the replacement wires?
I had a friend who started his grandmother’s car while the cat (unbeknownst to him) was sleeping on the radiator fan. Not good.
.-= Dave´s last blog ..German Privacy Laws =-.
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