Bernkastel-Kues: Mosel River Cruise w/ Josh

Morning, Afternoon, Evening,

I realize I haven’t written a post, in what seems like forever, and I’m sorry for my absence.  A little bit has changed; I have a new job, I’ve been promoted, friends have PCS (permanent change of duty station=on to their next job)…yet there is a lot that’s still the same. I am still traveling whenever I can, I’m very happy (maybe more so than before), I have great friends and family that are fun and supportive. All in all I’ve had a great year and the New Year, though early, is off to a great start.

I saw most of you (most readers) over the holiday and enjoyed seeing you all! It was a nice long break and I got to see most of my family, sans a sibling and Aunt or two, and most of my good friends.

I came back on the weekend of the MLKJ holiday and took a trip to the French Riviera with a couple of friends. We stayed in Nice, took a day trip to Ezé, Monaco, and Cannes. It was absolutely beautiful, weather was low 60′s, and sunny! But enough bragging…

I’m not writing a long post. It’s one of my resolutions and goals to write a post bi-weekly, at minimum, and more and likely I’ll get side-tracked on a future post and fill you in then.

Quick update:

• Promoted to 1LT, 06Jan2012
• Moved to Brigade Headquarters (same higher command I was under in the company) to be the Public Affairs Officer. The Deputy Commander of Brigade, who was the Battalion Commander when I was in the Company, pulled me over in November. It’s a great opportunity and it will be quite a learning experience. For one I’ll be able to work on my writing skills…much needed! I know!
• Tried out for the CST in September but was medically dropped for mononucleosis (couldn’t I have gotten that in high school geesh!), and recently I broke my big toe in a little wrestling accident…I immediately heard my Mom in my head “stop horsing around or someone’s going to get hurt”. But I’m determined for this gig, I’ve put in my application to try out for CST, again, last week. When I hear news I’ll relay it here.

Actually those are really work-related updates…I don’t like delving too deep into my personal business but most of you that are reading this know from recent talks and pictures that I am very happy in my personal life. : )

I’ll write soon, my main goal for this post was to shoot out a quick update and hello.

*I’ve really enjoyed some of the Shit ____ Says videos

Take Care,

K

My Mom visited last week!!! We went to Salzburg and Prague and of course I showed her around Bamberg. My Dad surprised her for her big birthday and up until the ticket counter she thought they were headed to Canada for a bike tour. She was only upset that my Dad wasn’t joining her but I think she’ll get over it. I posted the pics and I must warn you that there are 488. Including the oohhh so many unflattering pics of yours truly. My Mom did not want any pics deleted and therefore you have all original untouched pics, not just the select few I usually post. Enjoy and I hope everyone had a GREAT Friday and weekend!

Back to work this week and I’m three coffees deep and I still feel restless and tired. Lots of catching up to do and I still have to get ready for school next week. Two weeks in Vilseck for the Communication Security class. Should be fun, and by fun I mean relaxing 9-5 work days with no outside obligation. We will see…maybe I’ll have time to finish The Wire. I’m hooked. Okay done for the day, off to go clean my house and run errands.

Hallo!!

Here are pictures from my Munich, Dresden, Rothenburg, and most recently Krakow trip. All of the cities were great, some had better highlights than others but they were all unique in their own way. I saw Katy Perry in Munich not necessarily the city; Dresden had a gorgeous Markplatz; Rothenburg was small and quaint yet bustled with energy; Krakow was a pleasant surprise. I went to Krakow with the thought, “who the f chose Krakow?” Not only was it going to be twenty degrees cooler than our hometown of Bamberg as well as my alternative weekend spot Paris, but it’s Eastern Europe so I was assuming a dreary idle city. Not only was it the complete opposite but as of right now it’s easily in my top five. I believe a lot of this had to do with the company I went with: fun, outgoing, loose with their schedule, smart, and most importantly funny. I had an absolute blast and I hope to go on another trip with them soon.

The most moving experience had to be going to Auschwitz. I’ve read and heard of this horrific place but to go there in person is something completely different. We were lucky enough to get included into a tour which took about 4-5 hours. First they take you through the Auschwitz Camp then they take you to the Crematorium in Birkenau. The reality hits when you walk into the buildings and see the display of all the personal belongings the victims traveled with and when you see the pictures. It’s beyond disturbing but it’s a necessary reminder to our world of the atrocities that occurred. Jaw dropping really. I’ll think I’ll go watch The Pianist again.

Switching topics…This past month I was prepping and running a “mission” in the field. We got back earlier than expected which pleased everyone, especially me, and we were all able to enjoy and take advantage of the 4 day weekend. The field experience was great, learned a ton. The week I got back my commander was out for school so I kept staying busy with extra cmdr duties but it wasn’t bad. Now I’m back with my platoon focusing more on this role as opposed to my executive officer role. This is the only opportunity to be a platoon leader and my peers and mentors say I should take full advantage of this time, not try to rush being a captain or working with battalion. Today’s been really slow though…still recovering from the field and 4 day.
Pretty beat…actually this whole day I’ve been straining to keep my eyes open. So I’m going to cut this post short on story time and head to bed. I’ll write soon.

Next adventure…maybe Amsterdam’s Queen Day aka one of the largest street parties in the world! we’ll see…

Budapest- The Parliament

Finally with internet!!!!! Which means I can keep up with music, movies, lives (f-book lives), and Skype not via an iPhone camera. Oh, and of course, post pictures and update my blog post more regularly.

I hope this post finds you well and healthy. With all the crazy weather, Mother Nature seems to be so bi polar lately, I hope you’re staying warm when it’s snowing cats and dogs and getting outside when it’s unseasonably warm and cool.

I’ve uploaded pictures from my Budapest trip from last month along with a couple of pics from my nights in Bamberg. The gentlemen you see are a few of my fellow LT’s that have welcomed me into their family of late night drinking and clubbing. They’re my “mister”, what’s the equivalent to mistress or other lady?, to my boyfriends at home. They don’t know me like my true loves but they’re there to talk to and hang out with since the originals are not. Seriously what’s the male equivalent of mistress…

Works been steady, we have a “mission” in Grafenwoehr next month which will put me out in the field for about a month. I’m surprisingly looking forward to this, it’s a month away from the office and b.s. that goes along with that aspect of the Army. It’ll be a good learning experience too because I’m working with the water platoon and have yet to see them in action.

I’m scatter brained right now so I apologize for this post hopping from one random subject to the next.

Lately I’ve done some serious furniture shopping for my apartment. A large majority of the govt furnishing is out, it was only preventing me from buying my own stuff, and a good portion of my new furnishing is in! I’ve still got a lot to do in terms of small item decor but I’ve knocked out the living room furniture set, rug, and tv, as well as the “reading” room bookcase, rug, and foyer set up. I haven’t touched my kitchen, bedroom, or closet room. My bedroom has my bed and that’s it, my kitchen as the kitchen cabinets, fridge, stove, sink and dryer (all either govt or pre-installed). My closet room is just that, clothes & shoes everywhere with the govt wardrobes, dresser, mirror, and my parents former white couch posing as a temporary laundry folding area…it’s like that chair you always threw your clean clothes on and your mom would get on you to hang up or put away your clothes. Now its a couch.  Just Skype me for the grand tour!

I’m sure I’ve missed some updates but if you want to know anything you know how to reach me.

Miss you (a large majority of the readers not brought here by Word Press’s random post generator ; )

K

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years and holiday season! For Christmas I went to my sponsors house where another couple and single LT and I had a nice Christmas Eve dinner. Afterward I went to the Bamberg Cathedral and saw the Bamberg Orchestra and Boys Choir at the Midnight Mass. It was a beautiful service, though, I didn’t understand a single word. Christmas Day I unpacked all my clothes and finally made an attempt at cleaning my apartment. It’s slowly beginning to look like a respectable living area. I need to get some furniture and hang pictures but without a car it’s pretty difficult. I rented a BMW yesterday—it’s nice. Reeaaal Nice! and I’m planning on running errands and completing some long overdue chores with the new found freedom. I only have it until Thursday night-we have a 4 day weekend for MLK Birthday and I’ll be leaving for Budapest Friday morning-so my freedom is short lived.

Back tracking a bit–For New Years I went to Hurghada, Egypt. It was a resort, real touristy, and I didn’t leave the property. I just lounged in the sun and got a nice lil glow, which was the sole purpose of the vacation. I’ve turned into a ghost here and I desperately needed that Vitamin D. Nothing special to report on my New Years trip.

I’m really looking forward to Friday and this weekend. Friday morning I leave on a 9 o’clock train and head to Budapest, Hungary where I’ll be staying at the Corinthia Hotel. I got a great deal on Voyage Prive (click the link to be invited-there’s great deals in the US and internationally) and I’ll be staying there until Monday. Sunday afternoon I bought $18 Opera tickets at their Opera House which apparently is a sight to see in itself. I’m really looking forward to the pampering weekend. This past week I was out in the field conducting a MK19 Range and lost my whole weekend. Figured I’d compensate myself this coming weekend. A big plus is I might be meeting a couple friends I met here in Bamberg. I ran into one of them last week and a couple of them are back from their block leave (a long break from work your authorized before and after a deployment–they just came back in November) and they rented an apartment for the weekend. So hopefully I’ll have at least one night out with them, they’re always a fun time.

I’ll write to you soon, after the weekend more and likely, and post pictures of my trip. I’m off to see how much music I’ve missed and check the Daily What.

Miss and Love,

K

Uploaded some pictures, here’s the link again.

Walked around the Bamberg Xmas Market today, had a couple of glühwein with my sponsor and then headed back to the hotel to hit the hay early. Back to work tomorrow which again should not be too bad. This week we start “Headstart” which is a week-long course on the German culture, language, customs, etc. At the end of the week we’ll try out the bus and train system. I’ve already used both but there was no communication. Either way it’ll be nice to learn what I should say or hear in that interaction. We’ll also get to go to a restaurant and order food as well as take a tour around the town. Pretty relaxed week work-wise. I’ll be moving into my apartment and setting up transportation for all my stuff which should keep me busy.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Christmas/Whatever Holiday you celebrate and New Years is just around the corner and I can’t wait!! Already listening to my Xmas Playlist!

Good night!

Back from Copenhagen! Had a great time seeing the Von Heills and exploring the city. This was a picture I took in some square on some fancy ad board. I’m beat from no sleep on the City Night Train but I’ll write soon.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!! What I’m grateful for: to be over here in Europe and have such wonderful family and friends. Now back to complaining…

All day it’s been raining…blah. On the bright side Girl Talk’s new album All Day is available! For free, like always!

Here’s a random link for good measure. 32 Undeniable Truths for Mature Humans #22 is what I like to call ‘the lazy man load’