wahoo!

by friday, i will have worked every day this week!! it feels so good to be in a classroom everyday again. i still wish it were a full-time gig, but i'll take what i can get. speaking of full-time employment, i have casted my application net a little wider. it makes me smile to know i'm trying a little harder, feeling a little more hopeful. :)
and thank you to those who are sending out their own thoughts on the bachelor 13. my prediction is melissa. we'll see.

Big Day Today

#1 Of course, there's the presidential inauguration. Very exciting, indeed.
#2 I babysat my niece all by myself for the first time today. Sure she was fussy until her mom left and as soon as she walked in the door, but for the hour I was alone with her, I swear she was either sleeping or happy as a clam. Looking forward to spending more one on one time with her. :)
#3 I finally got my car back from the shop!! If you have seen any of my FB statuses, you have seen my frustration with my beautiful, yet apparently jinxed, car. Now I have it back again, and I have been assured it's been nursed back to heath, to the best of the car technician's ability. All I can say is it better be or some heads are going fly. I'm not messing around this time.
That's all!

Can we fix it?

Yes we can! This was the theme for my most recent world travels. I had the most amazing, unbelievable time in Deutschland. I actually posted pics on FB! (that's a first for me) Anyway, this post could go on forever so continue at your own risk. My trip started with a delightfully delayed flight out of freezing Chicago, sitting next to the chattiest guy in the whole world. But it could have been worse. He could have smelled bad. Once I got to Frankfurt and saw my buddy Chels, however, I knew I was in for a smashing good time. My first day started with me meeting Chels' boyfriend, Marcus (quite the guy, I must say), and then struggling to stay awake as we went to his family and friend's house for an after Christmas dessert and coffee time. Most of this activity was auf Deutsch so it was a struggle for me battling jet lag, but I did survive without falling asleep. That night I went out with a bunch of their friends, including two Brazilian girls who were studying in London but were in town visiting a friend of Marcus'. We were so international. :) Alexi came the next day, and then it was really one good time after another. We went back to Heidelberg and visited all the old places we used to go, including Kabap Haus and Starbucks. An old professor of ours even had us over to her house for dinner.


Then she took us up to Moore Haus to look at our old rooms, library, kitchen, etc. Just sharing old memories was fun.


One day we went to a Christmas Market where the food and drink is always so so good.


On the 30th, Marcus and his friend Michael drove us down to Switzerland for the craziest New Year's I have ever had. It finally snowed there on New Year's Eve so I got to at least see a little snow (which I felt I deserved since it had been so stinking cold with absolutely NO precipitation!)


While in Zurich, we went down into the city and walked down the Rodeo Drive of Switzerland. Fancy place. The 31st night consisted of poker (which I nearly won), drinking, and watching fireworks out over the lake right after midnight.


And if you want the unedited version of the evening, well, you'll have to ask me personally about that. January 1st was a LONG day as we drove back to HD, but it was worth it. After a little bit more shopping/spending time in the most wonderful city in the world, my friends and I made our final trek back to Frankfurt.


All in all, the best trip ever. Or at least in a very long time. I so cherish the memories I've been making these past few months. Lots has been happening, and although my life feels a little like a mess, I still have so much to be thankful for. Here's to a new year, 2009!