How does the saying go about the greatest revenge being....... "living
long enough to embarrass your children"?  Whoever said that one
knows mom personally.

Mom is 77 and due to being partially deaf and completely inattentive
she sometimes has what we lovingly refer to as selective hearing. 
That's a polite way of saying she tunes out the world and what she
hasn't got tuned out by choice, she can't hear anyway.

The scene: a public bus.

The players:  Mike, my mom and me.

The setup:       Mom and I had been running around
Southern Germany and had agreed to meet Mike in Berchtesgaden at the
same hotel that My honeybear Barry and I had stayed at before.  Mainly
because we all knew where it was and there wouldn't be any confusion in
where to meet.  It's a wonderful place called the Hotel
Gruenberger and it has a pool, tanning bed, and sauna room, full
restaurant and great staff.  I don't tan but I definitely swim and
sauna every chance I get.  The only problem is I left my suit at
home.  Now as most of you know, in Europe, almost all pools,
saunas and beaches are clothing optional.  Or at least top
optional.  I can't count how many women I've seen swimming in
nothing but their underwear because they forgot their swimsuits. 
And as weird as it sound I could care less if a bunch of strangers see
me topless, I just don't want my acquaintances or my husbands co-workers
to see me that way.  So I was completely stoked to get in the pool
and then relax in the sauna.  But when I went down the pool area
was completely deserted, not ONE person in there and I'm not going to
get even partially naked in a deserted pool where just anyone can walk
in.(call me paranoid)  So I went back up to our room and asked mom
to come down with me and she wouldn't.

Next day on the bus: 
Mike arrives and we're on our way to our next touristy spot and I'm
telling him how I couldn't get naked at the pool and then lay in the
sauna cause mom wouldn't come with me.  and she says
"Oh Elizabeth just go down there with Mike, he'll do anything for you" 
I goggle at her....Mike goggles at her.
(Have I ever mentioned that Mike's face can turn beat red in a heartbeat.)
I turn to my mom and sputter "I can't go down there with Mike. That's
just too weird and I don't think I could ever look at him again."
Mike is quietly going up in flames.
She says "Well that's just silly, he's your best friend."
and poor Mike who grew up next to the ocean says the lamest excuse ever..."umm, I don't swim."
and at the same time I say "I can't believe your telling me to take another man down to the pool so I can sauna naked."
She gets all googly-eyed and says "Naked!!!, oh. I missed that part."
Now I'm not really sure if I was as red as Mike because normally I
don't blush, but Good lord my face sure felt hot because I knew mom had
put pictures in Mike's head and he knew that I knew.  So it got
very quiet and then me and Mike hear snickers from all around us. 
Mom, oblivious to it all, just keeps looking out the window. 
Mike once again goes up in flames.
and I quietly sit there wondering how much a hearing aid would cost? and wishing my boobs weren't so conspicuously big.

I may have got rid Katie finally (yup, I sure did)  but that
doesn't mean he needs to be alone.   So here's my want ad for
Mike.  (He would kill me if he ever saw this)I guess I have some
match making in me after all.  Not that I expect anything to come
of this but if I did write one it would be long and go something like
this.....
Looking for an intelligent woman, with a a sense of adventure and sense
of humor.  Must be willing to relocate around the world if
necessary.  Must be financially responsible with a job. 
Needs to be able to go thru the bad times as well as the good, fair
weather ladies need not apply.   Easy going and relaxed is a
plus.  Must be willing to eventually settle in Seattle area. 
Companionship essential, marriage optional.
You will get in return:  A man who loves to travel, loves
motorcycles, airplanes, music, the outdoors and doesn't mind
shopping.  Financially secure.  Down to Earth, easily amused
and loves to laugh and have a good time.  Slightly over-weight but
hard working.  Will take the long way home and won't mind taking a
wrong turn now and then.  Loves women.  Is a gentleman.
Blushes like mad.  Very loyal.
Cons: takes slightly longer than forever to make a decision but once he
makes up his mind its made up.  Hates confrontation. (He didn't
want to hurt Katies feelings, which is why that drug on so long)
(("Hello! She LEFT you, when you were down and laid off, and didn't
want you back until you were here in Europe."))     Smells
like an airline mechanic. (trust me it's very distinctive)  But he
cleans up good.   Sometimes clams up rather than talks. 
Can be naive.  Has no real interest in having children of his own,
so baby making is probably out at this stage.  (but then if you
don't want children that would be a plus!) Very Stubborn in a quiet way.

And I guess it would also have to include having to put up with
me.  Whatever lady is lucky enough to spot this gem in the rough
my love and friendship for Mike is strictly platonic, blushes and teasing notwithstanding. 

My mom took off for home yesterday.  You know I had forgotten what
a nosy parker she is, it doesn't faze her at all to come over and sit
on the arm of my chair and read what I'm typing. lol, I called her nosy
and she said "Yes, I got it from your grandpa."   So, needless to
say I never even looked at my xanga while she was here.  And
sometimes hesitated to even check my email.   Is that bad?  
The good thing is, at 77 she's completely computer illiterate,  if
she had seen something I could have closed it out and she can't even
turn the computer on, much less find a closed web page.  When she
wanted to know something and I found it on the computer in just a few
minutes she was amazed. (google-ing to impress you senior citizen
friends)
I hadn't seen mom in a couple of years, though we snail mail every week
and talk on the phone as well.   I missed her and to my surprise
when were saying goodbye just outside of passport control I found my
eyes welled up with tears.  I guess even when you know that your
mom drives you batty she's still mama and you love her all the same.
well at least I do, your mileage may vary.

Now
it makes me wonder if my kids feel the same.  You know, (we love
her, but she drives me crazy) I bet that's exactly how "The platypus"
feels.   Oh well, at least I know how the mama feels. (we don't
care that we drive our kids batty)  But it's always a good thing
to remember patience is a virtue worth cultivating.  Remember that
and it will make it easier for ALL concerned. 

So now I have 2 full days to get ready for my trip to meet Allie in
Ireland.  We will spend from the 12th to the 18th there and then
come back to Germany.  It's quick but she needs to see her pop
too.  Also I want her to see some of Germany and how beautiful it
is where we live.  I'm never going to catch up on these summer
trips.  Too much,  much to fast.   Most are just
weekend or day trips.  But you can see a lot in just a
weekend.  This trip to Ireland is 6 days, longer but still pretty
quick.  Hope it doesn't rain the whole time.

Speaking of the weather, I had told mom to bring layers because it was
so cool here.  Then 2 days before she arrived the temp started
going up and it stayed up.  So much so that for the first time
since I've been here I dug out my shorts.   I had to take her
to the German equivalent of the dollar store to get her some shorts and
short sleeves.   Then she left and I wasn't even home yet and the
temp started dropping.  It's still very nice in the upper 70's but
it makes me wonder.  What killed
me was when it was in the upper 60's while we were in the Alps and she
was freezing.  Arizona girl thru and thru.

I'm way behind on all my reading and I hope everyone knows that if you
really want me to know something all you have to do is email me. 
I think about you guys a lot and was going to try and send out more
postcards from Switzerland but it was just a day trip so I
couldn't.  I hope when we get back from Ireland to be able to do
more than take a deep breath. "feast or famine"  Nothing all
Winter and then non-stop all Summer.    Better than the alternatives eh? 

One story that needs to be told for sure is the naked swimming story, and with that tantalizing bit..... I'll close. 

In just a month or two we will have been in Germany for 2 years. 
In all that time we've never had any company at all.  Not one
family member or friend has come to see us.  Well that is about to
change.  So in case your wondering where I've been, c'mon flatter
me and say "why yes, I was wondering", I'm going to tell you. 

First my mom was supposed to come, well that sent me into a frenzy of,
"holy cow, where are we going to put her?"  Because we have a one
bedroom apt. and you really can't expect your 76 (or 77, I never can remember) year old mom to sleep
on the ancient, crippling couch your husband picked out because it was
cheap.  Did I mention it's hideous as well.  Then I
remembered that we have a box spring that is brand new and my brain got
to working over time about how large our living room is and voila insta
bedroom.  Courtesy of a few wires and 3 shower curtains.  I
did have to buy a bed to go with the box spring as well as linen, but I
went for plain cheap cotton.  And the matress, there is really no such thing as a cheap matress, oh well.

shower curtains closed and.....

shower curtains partially open.  Look privacy!

Foot of the bed, head of the bed.

She even has her own table lamp for late night reading.
Now doesn't that couch look uncomfortable?

You'll just have to trust me this little bed is WAY more comfortable.

Then her trip got cancelled at the last minute, but that was okay because Heather and Carrie decided to come over after all.  They went to high school with my daughter Emily
They are only staying a couple of days but it will be very nice to have
them.  Carrie goes to school in Spain and Heather goes to school
in Scotland.  Now how cool is that?  So one of them will get
the bed and the other will get this little fold out futon chair thingy
that was given to me.  But I have an egg crate pad to put on it so
it should be okay for just a couple of days.  Besides when your in
college and tooling around Europe on the cheap........ free room and
board is much more important than a fancy, or even comfortable,
bed. 

Then I found out that my mom is coming after all.  In fact the
young ladies are leaving here Wednesday the 14th and my moms' plane
lands that very same morning.  So no breather there.  She's
leaving on July 10th and my daughter Allie
is arriving July 11th.  So we will literally have company from
June 4th until July 27th.  Like I said Feast or famine.

I guess it's a good thing I made the little room.  And by the way
if you drop over for a night or two you know exactly where you'll be
put....lol.

One picture now, more to come later.

"Paris of the East."

Prague, Czech Republic.

The observation tower was built in 1891 for the Jubilee
Exhibition.  It is 60 meters or 200 feet tall, a quarter of the
height of the Eiffel tower in Paris.  The only way to get to the
top is by climbing 299 stairs. Ack!
 I didn't huff or puff my way to the top.  Remember, I'm
afraid of heights.  So since I knew I would never make it up that
wooden spiral staircase Bear and I sent Mike.  (It's good to have
good friends.)  He took some amazing pictures.  Of which I
will wade thru and pick a few to share.  It was really windy on
Sunday and when Mike got back down he said the entire tower was swaying. 
So it's probably a good thing I didn't try it, though next time I'm
going to at least try the first platform.  After all I am trying
to push my comfort zone on the unreasonable fears.  Hopefully
there won't be ANY wind!  

I hope everyone had a weekend as nice as ours.  And more than that I hope you write about it.....hint, hint.  

Yay, it's Memorial Day weekend.  This means that Prague is on the menu. 

We (meaning Mike and myself) finally talked Bear into going to Prague, so it was decided Memorial weekend would be good.  Of course I found out that it's going to rain for three solid days but We'll work around that.  If nothing else we'll stay indoors, in castles, churches, museums etc.  And then there is always the famous Budvar .  So technically if it gets really cold and icky we could just pick a club and stay indoors until we have to wobble back to the hotel.  The temps have been hovering around 60 but with the wind it feels like 50, you would never guess it's almost June.

Speaking of Budvar, the American company tried to sue over ownership of the name wanting Budweiser to change their name, but since there has been Czech Budweiser for about a thousand years they keep losing.  Go figure.   You would think after so many years they would finally reach an agreement.

Anyway, once again I get to go somewhere extremely cool.  Paris of the East.  I think this time I'll make sure to take a picture of the Eiffel Tower.  And in case you think I'm kidding, I'm not.  They really have one.  I'll do my best to bring back proof, lol. 

And yes, I do realize how extremely blessed I am. 

Hope everyone has a terrific weekend and stay safe!

Tiny update at the very bottom
Hey!  Did you guys know schlemiel is in the dictionary?  I never knew that.
schlemiel/noun : An unlucky bungler : chump 

And if you don't get the link well then your young and need to get out more.



Now!  Back to Rome.




Saturday, way back on April 8th we had the whole day to ourselves to do
as we pleased, when we pleased.  We pleased ourselves by touring
historical Rome. 

Piazza De Popolo




This was taken from a balcony above the Piazza while still inside part of Borghese park.


That's St. Peter's Basilica way back on the right side.




The next picture shows a better view of the domes that are kind of blocked by the two pines.



























  The twin churches of Santa Maria Montesanto and   Santa Maria Dei Miracoli ... they are so beautiful and huge too!

I'm glad I didn't have a regular film camera because I took about 50 pictures just in this piazza.




















The gate is 16th century
and at one time was the main gateway to the Adriatic.  There has
been a gate into Rome in this spot since about 220 BC.  You know
the saying....."All roads lead to Rome."

I was actually trying to keep the Semi-trucks in the picture.  It
gives a good perspective on how large the Piazza really is.  We
were about in the middle when I took this so there is almost as much
space behind me as there is in front.  And yes those are regular
sized semi-tractor trailers.

Trevi Fountain













I'm actually surprised at how pleasant his expression is, he abhors
crowds and as you will see from the third picture down the crowds at
the Trevi fountain were absolutely horrendous.  It's still a
breathtaking fountain, crowds or not.

That's it.  Of course there's a
bunch I left out, but good grief this is pictures heavy enough and you
will probably hate me for how slow it loads.  On the bright side
if your in the subscription page it doesn't show the pictures so it
probably loaded quick.

Now unless something
major comes up ancient Rome should be next.  I loved ancient
Rome.  I could spend days just in that part of the city.  And
if I really do ever get to go back I will definitely spend at least one
entire day in that area.

(links are colored)
tiny update. literally!  I really hate how my site looks and I
know that I will NEVER be html proficient enough to design something
myself.  So in the interest of making me and someone else happy I
have decided to offer a years free premium to design a new look. 
If your interested email me.  indigolady1@yahoo.com  Now I'm really finished!

Happy Birthday Infiniteplatypus!



For my Emily!



     Last Aug
I wrote Allison's birth story for part of her birthday gift. 
Today is Emily's birthday so at the risk of boring my faithful readers
and grossing out the guys among you, here is the birth story for my
youngest.  The one destined, for the rest of her life no matter how
old she gets, and no matter how senile I get, to be known as "my baby
girl".  (no comments on the senility, wacky people)
                                                 

circa 1984

We were still Air Force and were
stationed at a small base in Merced, California called Castle. (it's
closed now) This was really the first time I had been so far from my
family and when I found out I was pregnant shortly after getting to
California it never dawned on me how hard the next 9 months would be without my
friends and family and a one year old to round things out.  But
time and growing belly wait for no woman

.  

 Before I knew it mid April had arrived and my mom was there to help
out. (Emily by the way had a due date the last week of April.)  May 1st
rolled around and still no baby.  I went in for my regular weekly
appointment and everything was still fine.  They figured that every
day she stayed where she was, was a little bit more weight and
growth.
 I think they like it when you can't breathe, bend over
and have to run to the bathroom every 5 mins. (the doctors I mean, not
the babies) 
All 4 of us were like planes circling the landing strip just
waiting.  Allison spent a lot of time patting my belly and telling
her sister it was okay to come out.  I spent a lot of time napping
since my mom was there to watch Allison.  And Bear spent a lot of
time wishing his life had less women in it.....or a bigger apt.....poor
guy.  My mom spent a lot of time wondering why she had come over
to California so soon.



By May 9th I was back at the obstretician and practically begging him to do something. 
By our calculations I was more than 10 days over due.  The doctors
disagreed.  But I knew my mom
couldn't stay forever and if she went home that meant that I would
  (A.)  have to drive myself to the hospital or (B.)  
Bear could drive the whole family there but then still have to leave to
take care of Allie. Because we just didn't have anyone we could leave
her with overnight.  I knew I couldn't do this childbirth thing
without him there so I was getting in a bit of a hurry even if Emily
wasn't.

That evening seemed like every other evening for the last 2 weeks and
even though at first I had been excited by 9 PM I was just tired. 
We stayed up for the 11 O clock news and then went to bed.  At
about 1 A.M. I woke up and had to pee so bad it felt like Em was
digging her heel into my bladder.  So I lumbered to the
bathroom.  When I got back in bed I had barely got comfortable
when I felt moisture between my legs.  I was peeing the bed. 
"For Gods sake" I thought, "let's just pile on one more
embarrassment."   So I got back out of bed and went back to
pee some more.  Then went and got back in bed.  More
pee!!  Wait a minute?? (light bulb)  I think my water
broke.  So not being completely sure, since I hadn't had a
contraction and believe it or not was about half asleep, I thought I
would call the
hospital and ask some questions.
 
I snuck downstairs dialled
the hospital and told the nurse on duty what was going on.  
Of course her first question was "Have you had a contraction?"  I
was literally in the middle of saying no when the first one hit. 
That settled that and I told her to expect us soon.  (Barry and I
had discussed before hand with my Dr. the need to go immediately because my
contractions with Allison had never come regular and the whole
hemorrhaging after birth thing had kind of scared us both last
time.  Though with Dr. Graham we both felt much more secure.)
So
I went back upstairs woke up Barry and told him what was going on, then
we went down and woke my mom up and told her we were headed for the
hospital.  FINALLY! 
2 AM and we were finally headed toward baby day.

Thank YOU Zhenai!

I have the best friends in the whole wide world.  And I have never met any of them face to face.   
Doesn't matter.  Good peopple are good people and thoughfulness
shines thru.  My little circle here on xanga is stuffed with great
people.

I am just here to tell how thrilled I get by presents.  I don't
care one bit whether they're on time or not.  Shoot, just seeing
that little yellow package slip in my post office box gives me a little
thrill.  Yesterday I got a double thrill because I didn't even
know to expect a package and when I saw it was from Zhenai
I got so excited by that little yellow envelope.  (Yes people, I
am easy.)  I ripped it open in the car and whooee! hit the
jackpot!!  

This is my birthday card and let me share with you.  If she's the Queen well the I'm the crown princess.

Also
inside was an anniversary card.  So I took it down to the hangar
and interrupted Bear at work so we could open it together.  Then
when we saw it we both laughed.  Because not even two weeks ago we
saw a Bike with a sidecar and I told him I would like to get one. 
He said "no way."  When I asked why not?  He never really
gave me an answer but I think it's because they aren't as "cool" in his
eyes.  Well anyway I wouldn't let up and finally he asked why I
wanted one so bad and I said "When were old and tottery we won't fall
over".  Him and Mike nearly died laughing at me.  They think
the picture of us tootling around is great. 

And then lo and behold we get this card.  Just proof that you can
get to know someone online.  That is so awesome. 

Mike wanted to know if we had ever met, I just grinned and shook my
head.  and said nope and he said well she sure knows you! 
ha,ha.

My candy!  Bear took about half of the little one to keep in his tool box.   Which is fine.
The senior moments mints?  You will see exactly how apropriate they are.

All morning I had been gathering the odds and ends that we had bought
the kids trying to put together a box.  Also trying to put
together  two little packages for our moms for mothers' day. 
And a fourth box for my sis and her hubby who has a birthday of his own
coming up.  Well our post office closes at 3 pm so that they can
get the mail to the main post office by 4:30.  Everything that
could go awry did!! Of course.  I don't want to say go wrong it
just didn't go as planned.  By 2pm I was on my way to the post and
it was only when I was fishing for my wallet that I realized I had left
it at home.  No ID, no drivers license, no debit card, no
nothing.  Senior moment at its finest.  To bad I didn't have
those mints!!   
The book is also from Zhenai.  I really like this because its not new.  It's what I call a pass along.  It seems we pass along books we like.  I started it last night and oh! I can't wait to send this to my Allie. 
It is so beyond good.  This book reminds me of why I loved to read
Amy Tan, Pearl Buck and others.  I love to get a glimpse of Asian
culture in the past.  When she tells about footbinding it made my
toes curl. 
All in all this little package had a big punch.  All my favorite
stuff.  A reallly good book, candy and funny
cards.     Thank you Zhenai, your thoughfulness has just blown my socks off.  Your a sweetheart! 

VERY heavy picture post.............you've been warned!
ALL of these can be clicked on to see a bigger version.
Friday April 7th Rome, Italy.  Inside St. Peter's Basilica. 

The
Basilica is huge but it gives the impression of being much
smaller.  You don't even realize how big it is until someone says
oh that statue is xx feet tall.
We were here the Friday before palm sunday and while we were in the
Basilica there was the most beautiful choral music coming from all the
speakers. (Bose by the way) I kind of figured that it was being piped
in but then when we were almost ready to leave the church a choir came
marching down the aisle in their long dresses and dress pants.

Actually everything is so ornate that you need a lot of time to absorb it all. 

Baroque and renaissance so there is lots of decoration and gilding etc.

This
is called the Baldacchino Canopy it was designed and made by Bernini in
the 17th century.  The spiral columns are Bronze and are 66 feet
high, that's not counting what's on top of the columns.  We are
quite a way back and its blurry but you get the idea how big this thing
is right?  It is situated right below the main dome of the
Basilica.  If you took this and floated it straight up all but 6
feet of it would fit in the top part of the dome.  The small
part. 

Notice there's no stained glass, I was expecting it to be everywhere and instead there wasn't any at all.  surprise!

Oh, only the pope is allowed to celebrate mass on this altar.  The
altar itself is just a huge slab of marble but our guide told us it
came from the Nervi forum so it's probaly a couple thousand years
old.  The crypt just in front of the altar is where they tell
people St. Peter is buried but there's a lot of speculation on that one.

Bernini's last work before he died.  It's a papal monument to Pope Alexander VII.

This picture is bad as are most from inside the basilica, I couldn't
keep my camera steady and my tri pod was clear across town. 
That'll teach me.  But the thing is I saw this from clear across
the Basilica and hoped that our guide would take us for a closer
look.  If he hadn't I would have asked him too.  Bernini
really had that unexplainable "it"  you can see something by him
from a long way off and it just draws you in for a closer look. 

Did you notice the floors?  Three different part of the Basilica so three different floors.
All of the floors are beautiful.

We
don't really even remember which papal monument this is, after awhile
your brain just starts hearing a bunch of names and dates.  A lot
like high school now that I think about it...lol

The Pieta
by
Michelangelo
25 years old when completed in 1499.

Stunning
Luminous
Sad
Moving

One of those "you had to be there" things.

It still amazes me that I was in St. Peter's square.
Me!  This lucky person was in Rome and stood in Piazza San Pietro!

Wonder
how many times they get their picture taken in a day?  Because
when I took this there were 15 or 20 other people right there with me
snapping away.  Neither one of the Vatican Guards even looked up
much less posed.  I imagine its completely normal after the first
month on duty. 

The
Pope's apartments are on the top floor all the way on the right. 
His bedroom is the second window.  Obviously our guide told us
this, how else would I know. 

Still in St. Peter's square.  Which was also designed by?............
you guessed it,

Bernini!

All the chairs are set for the masses that will be said on Palm Sunday and then again on Easter.

The Sunday before we arrived was the memorial for Pope John-Paul. 
There were a quarter million people in the square and in the road
leading up to the square.

That's all for now.  To much already huh?  I didn't even put up any Vatican Museum pictures yet!

Maybe we can skip those and go straight to Historical Rome instead? 

I think I may understand why Osama Bin Laden is still running around free.
The Army HAS my address and it took them over three months to find me, so you can imagine if I was trying to hide.  It was nice to get a Christmas card on my birthday though.