Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Potsdam, Germany
08:00 pm
Stormy

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you,

It's been a busy month.

We had a Thanksgiving Dinner. This year it was a very small gathering of friends but nevertheless very enjoyable. My godson Max and his family visited and he is such a sunshine.
Besides delicious food, I was busy building houses with wood bricks that I had bought for the little guy. Every day I am thankful for friends that share their love with everyone.

Then the weekend of the annual pediatric ward Christmas party came. I worked late shift that Friday, but drove to the party afterwards with a friend. It's lovely every year: loads of home-made food, nice drinks, creamy desserts, nice conversations and plan making for the annual summer party.

I drove 2 friends home and went to bed by 3am. Got up by 8 and started preparing for my Christmas party at home. Patty had stayed at my place and I kicked him out of bed by the time I got back from Christmas shopping. I cleaned, made Christmas cookies, prepared the turkey and set up the tree.

By 3pm, my mom and her boyfriend arrived with homemade waffles and ice cream for coffee.

We played games, welcomed the other guests,

exchanged gifts and prepared the tables for the big feast.

The food was delicious

as was the dessert (white and brown mousse au chocolate). Some left, others arrived and we did "Stehrumchen". The night ended with a comfy gathering in front of the TV watching "Three hazelnuts for Cinderella" - a classic in Germany.

On Sunday, we got out of bed by 9,

cleaned up a bit and had a nice breakfast. Jana, Steffen and little Laura left for home and shortly after Mom, Henry, Sis, Sandra, Anja and I left for Chemnitz. The Christmas Market there is very nice, though it was more crowded and we were all so beat from the day before so we just stayed a couple of hours.

You can guess that by Monday I was very happy but exhausted to the bone. Thank goodness I had the day off.

The rest of the week was filled with loads of work, very unsatisfying because we were not enough nurses.

I will have nightshift at Christmas, but will get comfy at work.

To all my big family (by blood and by heart) - I love you and wish you all the best and a very Merry Christmas!


Andrea

Work, Snow oh and more Work

Potsdam, Germany
09:00 pm
Snowy and cold

Hey,

As you noticed in the title, I've been pretty busy! Work is loaded at the moment. Too many sick children, not enough nurses. But we still do our best and from the feedback I had, the parents very much appreciate everything we're doing.

Thanksgiving will be soon and I am having a small dinner again. It's not so much as celebrating the American holiday, but the idea behind it. Being thankful as something humanity forgets too fast, especially the so called industrial nations. I am very much looking forward to having a nice dinner and conversation with my friends.

Last weekend I attend a medical Congress our hospital is hosting every year. It has seminaries for doctors and a one day seminary for other medical personal. It was very educational and I am looking forward to attending again next year, if thinking about speaking at it. Who knows...?

Sis and I have been taking part in a study for a friend. It involves us being hooked up to electronic charges and doing exercise. Believe me; it’s more harmless than it sounds. The electricity stimulates the muscles and in combination with some exercise is supposed to be better training than simply aerobics. We'll see. I am just glad to be able to do something for my physical education this winter. lol.

One other thing. Our sleep lab is participating in a German wide multi center study. Its goal is to find out more about the healthy sleep of children in order to help children that are have problems in their sleep behavior. We are looking for children between the age of 0 and 17 years. It involves spending a night in our sleep lab, no pain, just sleeping. If you are interested in finding out more... mail me!

To the Weiss men (you know whom I am talking to!): Get a grip! You have one life, one chance to do the right thing, do the wrong thing (like doing nothing or very little) will most certainly lead to failure and regret. I never gave a damn about what other people thought I should achieve, but I've always wanted to do more than just live. And I know both of you have similar goals. So get your head out of your rear and do something about it! Don't make me come down!!

Much love (even to the two "gits")
Rea

P.S.: tried posting pics . . not working... check Flickr

Halloween leaves me Speechless

Potsdam, Germany

04:30pm

Foggy like London

Hiya,

hope everyone had a gruesome (lol) Halloween or a nice and quite day of reformation. I specificly changed shifts to have that day off. This years Halloween party had the theme "Hooks and Pimps" and it was quite shocking. The few people who came had dressed up amazingly! We had Raclette (small pans that you can fill with your hearts desire and cook under a small heater) and loads of good conversations. I will only present few pics, because some felt the need not to share their darker side with others - rofl.

You asked about being speechless?? Well, I was left with no voice afterwards. Yep, it finally happened, by sunday the only sound that could be heard was a squeal. Adding to that I have a nasty Bronchitis - again. Yes, Renu, I am gurgling with salt water and yes, I am having enough fluids!

Much love to all of you,

Rea

Life - Vacation - Smiles

Potsdam, Germany
05:30pm
Typical cold and wet autumn day

Hello to all of you!

As you noticed I just posted to updates, though the first one is from 3 weeks ago. I didn’t post it the first time, because I got fed up with my computer being a slow Joe.

Okay, living room finished, I even have a dining table with 4 chairs, now. Looking forward to Thanksgiving now!

I spend a long weekend at Jana’s place in the Harz Mountains.

It was fabulous! Her daughter Laura is 3 months old and a real doll. When I drove to her place, Marina offered me her Navigation System, and despite me not being fond of them, I agreed to use it. Thankfully, I was on vacation and not in a hurry! It took me 3 ½ hours instead of 2, but the route was very scenic!

We did a lot of long walks, talks into the middle of the night and playing with Laura. Jana lives with her parents and I like those two very much, despite only having met them for the second time. Johnny (her Dad) makes his own bread and bakes it in a stone oven out in the back yard. I could die for that bread. Add some garlic butter… heaven!

We also did some digging in the garden, which felt amazingly good. Being outside, sun in our faces and burying our hands into the earth. After a couple of hours and a homemade lunch (courtesy of Jana’s mom), the two of us drove to Goslar. A medieval festival took place and the town is very pretty without that added bonus.

How to get a Baby to smile - take a look and listen:

On Monday I drove home, stopping in Hannover to visit some friends. After a late breakfast (missed my exit and was a tiny bit late) with loads of good conversation, I had a light lunch (soup and salad) with another friend, and a long walk afterwards. Drive home was uneventful (170 km/h – go Schorschi!).

So, here I am, enjoying my last day off.

Hope all of you guys are doing well! Much love,
Rea

P.S.: If anyone from the Potsdam area is reading this, I am looking for someone to take a walk in the woods like once a week (no matter the weather). Preferably English speaking and female. Mail me.

Feedback - Repost from 23.9.2008

Potsdam, Germany

Midnight

Cold, clear night

Just a quick note: I did survive - lol!

We managed to renovate the kitchen (new paint) and completely change the living room:

Saturday:
- Buy Furniture at IKEA (Me and Sis)
-Clear stuff from old furniture (Me)

- But up for sale at EBay

Sunday:
- Early shift at Intensive Care for Children (Me)
- Take down old furniture (Me)
- Sell it for 50 € to a first grade kid (her dad).
- Prepare Kitchen (Me and Sis)

Monday:
- Get old furniture down to basement (I live 5th floor - no elevator) - (Me, Sis, her bf)
- get new furniture up to apartment (Me, Sis, her bf)
- Help mom and her bf get stuff (for painting and tools) upstairs
- Paint kitchen (5 walls) and remove wallpaper from 6th wall (oil stains!)

- Build up furniture and connect electrical devices

- trip to tool shop
- Move stuff from bedroom to living room (mostly books - lol)
- New wallpaper onto 6th wall
- Clean up
- Go to bed

Tuesday:
- Finish painting the kitchen

- Put supports under the drawers (Steel!)
- Small repairs
- trip to tool shop (Baumarkt ?!), ordering Hobby glass for 6th wall to prevent new oil stains
- take apart the bookshelves and bring them to basement
- go to nightshift

Phew, I feel really, really good!

More at some other point - will spend next 2 days at friends place.

Love, Rea

No stopping me, now...

Potsdam, Germany

10:00pm

Nice and cold

Yes! I got my contract!! A signed last tuesday.

Yes! I am repainting my kitchen.

Yes! I went on a shopping spree at IKEA's and am redoing my living room.

Boy, I feel awesome!

Last weekend I was in Havelberg, again. The weather was a mix of rain and sun, so I caught a cold, no news.

But, I also managed to secure myself a few goodies at the flee market:

Pink Floyd - The Wall - LP

The Rocky Horror Picture Show - OST - LP

Yes! Yes! Yes!

"You will, because you can!"

Rea

Change feels good!

Potsdam, Germany
9:00pm
It’s really, really nice outside

Hey,

It’s time for some change. But first things first.

Patty’s birthday was on the 23rd of August. We partied all night long (lol I was in bed by 3am, I guess).

The party was held at Micha’s family garden in Buckow. It’s lovely there. The garden is located at a small lake, with woods surrounding it.

We slept in tents as usual

and spend most of the night sitting on the pier, talking, drinking, and eating.

We even took one of the boats out in the middle of the night to the center of the lake and let the boat drift to watch the star filled sky, including falling stars.

Now to the change part… I desperately needed some!! I will redecorate my kitchen in the coming September and possibly my living room, too. We’ll see. But I did change myself a bit, by cutting my hair shoulder length and simply making some decisions:

1st: I will not give into my hospital concerning my working hours. It’s either the full 40h or I will leave and search for something else. I simply will not tolerated 30hs, which would force me to take a second job. No way!

2nd: I will be part of a congress (as speaker) in March despite the outcome of my contract negotiations. It’s about Sleep (labs). One of my doctors invited me to do a small presentation and I am more than delighted to do it.

3rd: I will do my registration as a nurse for the US in January 2009. It costs a lot of money, but it will allow me to work as a nurse (RN) in the US.

4th: Register for the green card lottery.

5th: Take a few days vacation to visit with Jana and Baby Laura. It’ll help me relax, spend some time with people who me a lot to me and help Jana a bit.

So, next week is the horse market in Havelberg again and as usual. I will be there!! Hopefully, I manage to blog soon after…rofl.

Much love to each and every one of you!

Rea

Loads of Things

Potsdam, Germany
00:30 am
Really nice night - heavy rain

Hey,

The guy is history. I will not tolerate a guy that is not able to respect me as a person and my needs like sleep. And the sentence "I was a macho once." should have been a big red light. I am staying single for the moment.

Work has been okay. My contract is up for being prolonged or cancelled. They offered me an unlimited one with 30h week. I rejected that, because I want to work 40h and I need the money to be able to move out of this country at some point soon. So that means more waiting and worrying.

I went to Patrick's Asia Night. And I wore one of my Sari's. In public. Guess what, it felt awesome! The party was fun.

We made sushi, I cooked thai food and made pompadums. There were want tans, an asian salad and baked bananas and pine apple for dessert. Oh, and my godson Max was there, too. The two of us had a blast! The kid loves veggies and fruit, as well as sushi, lol!

I've arranged a Baby Shower for my friend Jana. She already gave birth to a beautiful baby girl named Laura.

We did the party after birth, because there was too much going on prior to Laura's birth. It was really nice.

Donnée, Lea and I drove to the Harz, where Jana and her family live.
They have a beautiful home.

We made salad and I had prepared Brownies and cookies the night before. I had prepared a cake base, which I forgot at home. The whole family had a good laugh about that one. But with some help from my sis by phone and an oven... et voila new cake.

The party was outside.

Jana's mom, dad, grandma and grandpa, as well as some other friends had already arrived. So, after coffee and cake we played some games - change the diaper,

guess the baby food,

blind feeding.

The evening was spend with eating self made pizza, bread

and soup. I spend that night in my tent in the back yard and in the morning Jana's mom, grandma and I went for a swim in a mountain lake in the middle of the woods. Best thing after a party night!!

Today wasn't too good. Sis was bitten by 2 bees 2 days ago. Her arm was swollen and she was too stubborn to go to an ER. So, after a painful, sleepless night she finally gave in and asked mom's bf Henry to drive her to the hospital. She was treated with the right meds and it seemed to be better. She came home today and while we were grocery shopping, I noticed her having problems breathing. She rejected my concern and said everything is fine. A bit later she searched for her emergency inhaler. Took it and nothing. I checked the inhaler and she had taken the wrong one from home. So, off to the ER (with her protesting, despite being short of breath). This was once again a moment in which I was glad to be known in the ER team. We were let to a doctor and Marina was immediately treated (anyone else with such an attack would have been treated as quickly, but it felt more personal somehow and I knew she was in good hands). It didn't get much better and she had muscle spasms as well as feeling dizzy. They are keeping her monitored and with oxygen in the ICU for the night. What a day.

I am going to bed now to get some much needed sleep. Will visit sis tomorrow and do some redecorating at my apartment. More in the next post.

Love,
Rea