Vacation - Part one (08/08 - 08/12, 2010)

One thing I love about Eric's job in the military is he accrues 'use or lose' leave....which means mandatory fun! The only difficult part of this vacation was choosing where to go with all the amazing options in front of us. Eric quickly solved that little 'problem' by making plans to visit many of the ski resorts in Austria and Germany so he could better plan for our winter ski vacation. OK by me - all of these locations are beautiful in the summer!

We'd found a kennel just outside Gyor that was pretty new and looked really nice, so Sunday morning we took Chip there and managed to convey the necessary info to the non-English speaking kennel owner and drove off hoping they would take good care of our sweet puppy. Around lunchtime we stopped in Sopron, a beautiful Hungarian town closer to Vienna than to Budapest and sporting many signs in German. Back in the early 1920's Sopron made the choice to remain part of Hungary instead of being included as part of Austria - so in tribute to that decision, 'The Gate of Loyalty' was erected. After walking around a bit we started looking for a fun place to eat lunch. We found one based on an old time American saloon that specialized in steaks cooked over an open fire. We figured we could find something there TJ would eat. It ended up being a pretty pricey lunch but very good. After lunch we were on our way to Austria.

Our first night we stayed in Bad Mitterndorf, a possible ski destination. It was clear early on that one of the major sources of income in Austria is tourism. With it's breathtaking scenery, awesome ski resorts and down right charm it's no wonder that most of the towns we drove through have streets lined with Bavarian Gasthauses, colorful flower boxes decorating their windows. The countryside was amazingly lush and green for August, a fact that became less surprising as we discovered an umbrella is something you should have close at hand no matter what your plans. By the time we arrived in Bad Mitterndorf I was seriously trying to think of ways to afford a vacation cottage on one of those picture perfect slopes. Our room included a private deck with a view of the alps, a delicious breakfast and an indoor pool (a rare feature in Europe). Of course TJ couldn't wait for us to get into our suits, although when we finally did he wanted right back out since it wasn't heated and the initial dip took your breath away. Being sympathetic parents, Eric and I forced him to stay in with us and swim! No way were we going to go to the hassel of getting into suits and getting wet and then let him wimp out on us. After moving around a bit we warmed up (or rather became numb enough to stand it) and stayed in for a fun swim.

From there we went on to Zell Am See, a charming town with beautiful views of the Alps (remember we were on a mission to find the best skiing available come winter) and a bustling walking district. America needs to develop some walking streets with shops and restaurants and no cars. We found great pizza and of course ate outside at one of the many umbrella covered tables, enjoying watching people stroll by and children playing. We loved our room that overlooked all the action and had a lovely view of the church (which was made less lovely as the night went on and the bells continued to ring on the hour...ending at midnight and beginning at 6 AM). We eventually made it over to Berchtesgaden in Germany, also referred to as The Eagle's Nest. A hideout that was gifted to Hitler and has a notorious name but was barely visited by him. All the same it was a bit creepy to be there. The views were pretty amazing and we could totally see why it's called The Eagles Nest! From there we made our way back to Papa for a brief rest, quick batch of laundry and re-packing to prepare for Part two - Italy.


Wow - I just clicked back onto my blog almost one year later. There is much more detail I could have written about this first BIG vacation we took while living in europe, but with so many under our belt since I'll just post this unfinished one and start from there.

Bratislava, Slovakia July 31 - Aug 1, 2010

Before moving to Hungary I had never heard of Bratislava. And after being in Papa a few months the only thing I knew was it was close (about 1 1/2 hours away) and that is was interesting. So when John and Eric settled on going there for the weekend I was curious but with few expectations, and excited when I learned that Cherub and Dan were joining us with their two kids, Logan - 6 months old and Anson - who is a dog but also their 'first child' and every bit a member of the family. TJ was thrilled to know Anson would be with us and looked forward to playing with him.

The Burnett's had left several hours before and were settled into their apartment by the time the rest of us hit the road. When we reached the border of Slovakia we had to pull over so Eric and Dan could buy the necessary vingettes (a tag that is essentially a toll to use the super highway) allowing us to drive without paying a huge fine. The border crossing looked much like the toll plazas in Jersey except old with peeling paint. One of the interesting things about the traveling we are doing while here is I'm learning/re-learning about geography and history. Like everyone, I took History in school and actually liked it. I also had Geography which was less interesting, something that is becoming embarrassingly obvious. For example, driving into Slovakia, Eric (who has always been great at geography, made even better at it with a job that takes him all over the world - a job that requires him to know where he's at and where he's going) 'reminded' me (is it a reminder when I forgot I ever knew this) that Slovaki is only part of what used to be Czeckoslovakia and is now divided into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Light bulb moment....it's coming back to me....sort of. When you visit different countries, especially when you drive to them, where they sit on a map begins to become fixed in your brain. Nice.

Entering Bratislava, the irony of Europe is apparent with modern buildings rising amongst the more beautiful ornate edifices that have stood the test of time. As we crossed a sleek modern bridge into the old city, Itried to snap pics from the car of the castle up on the hill. I couldn't wait to climb up and see it up close! Good thing Eric had gotten a good feel for the city on google because the streets were a confusing web with cars zooming past us. I was lost before I even got there! But Eric managed beautifully and drove to a street very close to where we were staying. Eric found a parking place in an open spot and we wondered if it would be safe to leave the car there overnight. John and Toni had found parking for 56 euro per night and had opted for street parking instead - but they had a rental car. After a little discussion we decided to take a chance.
Toni had found us the rooms on the walking street. Instead of staying in a hotel this time we had seperate apartments that were really cool. Since they had gotten here ahead of us they had picked up the keys so all we had to do was bring in our luggage. Our key opened an exterior door right off the walking street into a small courtyard. We walked up the old stone stairs to the 3rd level and used another key to open our apartment. It had been renovated and had 2 bathrooms (one huge with a spa tub and seperate shower), a small kitchen, a livingroom with a fold out couch for TJ and a bedroom with a fireplace for Eric and I. The bedroom and livingroom windows looked out onto a small courtyard. It was cute and roomy and the weather was such that the lack of AC wasn't going to be a big deal. One inconvenience we have faced with many of these older hotels is they usually only offer one room key which makes it a bit tricky at times if Eric and I want to go in different directions, but we've managed it ok. After getting our things settled we went down to the street to meet up with the Burnett's and wander around a bit. The kids loved the sense of freedom to be on a street without cars and dashed joyfully around. I think I felt a little of their excitement, I just had to channel it in a more appropriate and grown-up fasion! Soon we walked a few streets over and met up with Dan, Cherub and little Logan. They had gotten a room at the Radisson hotel close by. We made our way through the walking street to an restaurant with outdoor seating, a perfect way to enjoy the evening air and give the kids room to stretch while the adults talked. After dinner we strolled to the center plaza where an orchestra was set up on a stage. The setting was perfect with stars appearing as the sky turned dark, the elegant old buildings lit and a mixed crowd of people all enjoying the music. Looking around I wondered how we Americans had gotten so far away from this type of "community" where people of all ages gathered and enjoyed such simple things. I love the slower pace of europe. The guys walked the rest of us back to our rooms, locked us in with the one key per room and wandered off for a little male bonding.

Next morning the kids were awake (and therefor the mama's too) long before the daddy's were ready to start their day. Toni and I brought the noisey little creatures down to the street in search of breakfast. We had seen a lot of fun eateries the night before but discovered most of them didn't open until a more civilized hour....which meant good ole McDonalds! Before we headed in that direction I wanted to make sure our car had made it through the night safely so we walked the few blocks to where it was parked, only to discover it had a boot on the front tire. Lovely. I sent Eric a text sharing this fun little tidbit (there went his idea of sleeping late) and then we took the kids to McD's. By the time they finished eating Eric and John were awake and dealing with the boot so Toni and I got packed up and ready to check out. It ended up working out great because the paid parking was 56 euro a night and Eric talked the guy that took the boot off the car down from 60 to 30 euro - who knew illegal parking was such a good deal!

After re-parking in an acceptable location we met up with the Langs (including Anson, much to TJ's delight) and set off for the castle. I love walking the narrow streets of these cities and marvel at the intricate details of even the simplest buildings. The castle itself was in a beautiful setting on top of a hill and we were treated to a view of the city and the Danube. Just below the castle we discovered a park with play equipment, just what the kids needed. At this point we left them with their daddy's and Toni, Cherub and I enjoyed several hours of girl time. As much as we love our kids it was so nice to be without them and have a chance to think only about us and what we wanted to do! We found a Cuban restaurant and enjoyed a leisure lunch of food you can't find in Hungary, which included the best mojito I've ever had. And then, just because we could, we went to the yummy bakery we had spotted the day before and ordered dessertand coffee! Just as we were finishing up Cherub got a call from Dan with the news that Logan had had a blow-out and was currently sporting only a diaper and swaddled in a small blanket and screaming for his mama (as only a nursing baby can). We finished the afternoon at the cheese shop and left the city with a selection of delicious cheeses.

So far, of all the places we've been, I love Bratislava the best!

July 24th, 2010 - Daddy's Birthday

I woke in the early hours full of longing, four countries and an ocean between me and the hug I want to give you on this, your 83rd birthday. I have been searching for a gift I can send you, something you would enjoy, something to let you know I am thinking of you and missing being with you, something to celebrate what should be a wonderful milestone marking a life filled with, among other things, seeing to my needs. I am still searching, for the truth is that the things that reach you now are as basic as a touch, a kiss, a back rub. The real truth is that the distance between us is not the miles but your mind being able to access the memories that keep you connected to me, and those memories are slipping quickly. Daddy, I remember! I remember walking with my small hand in your big warm one, stretching my stride as far and fast as I could to keep pace with you as we walked on ahead of mama. I was so proud when I could keep up - to this day I tend to walk briskly where ever I am walking. I remember you with nails in your mouth and a hammer in your hand as you built and fixed and remodeled our houses. I thought you could do anything! I remember how you carried me home from conference at The Tabernacle, my head nestled on your shoulder, smelling Old Spice and feeling safe and loved. I remember you in a crisp white shirt and tie, sitting on the stand at church or walking out the door to work. I remember family home evenings - my favorites being the ones where you got down and played with us, becoming the big bad wolf to our little pig selves. I remember you doing gymnastics with us, going hiking, going camping. Oh how I loved our camping trips with you pitching our tents (I can still smell the heavy canvas one that had only the dirt for our floor), building our fires and cooking those amazing breakfasts! I remember you with a camera in your capable hands - how many of my memories are set firmly in place because of the pictures you took? These are the sweet tender memories that shimmer with rose color and warmth. There are also the other memories...of long car trips with few stops regardless of an aching bladder, and tight lipped conversations and clenched teeth. Memories of anger flashing quick and hot and the uncertainty of what might bring it on. I remember wanting so much to make you break into that brilliant smile yet fearing the rage that seemed to simmer just beneath the surface. I learned to walk lightly, blend in, not make waves. - longing for your embrace yet flinching away. All of this is what shaped my life and helped make me who I am. I hold each memory, good and bad, tenderly, grateful for remembering - knowing now that what connects us to the world is memory. And there you are, having lived your entire life taking care of others; your mom, our mom, us kids, all the pets and people that mom brought in for you to provide for, being the best son, husband, father and man you knew how to be. Imperfect. Vulnerable. Human. And now you spend your time with nights and days blending into simply moments of wakefulness and sleep, locked in a body whose brain is becoming so disconnected that the very memories who let you know who you are and what your life has been are virtually unreachable. Like an infant, dependent on others to meet your needs and where people only exist to you when they walk into your line of vision.
I remember standing next to you in your dark room in Brigham, amazed as you dipped white paper into trays of chemicals and seeing images appear like magic, enchanted when the photo's you liked were dipped into the final tray that fixed the picture and then clipped to the wire to dry, forever captured. Remember too, the way the photos that weren't submerged into that final bath of liquid would begin to fade until they disappeared. Is that what you feared daddy, when you learned of this disease? Did you try and fix your memories in such a way you could sort through each one? I think of how it must have felt as you began to watch each one fade away, unable to make them stick. If I was there with you, as I long so much to be, I would hold you in my arms, hum some familiar tune so you would dance with me. I'd rest my cheek against your soft stubbled one, savoring each precious moment. I'd pull back and gaze into your familiar blue eyes, hoping they would light up, even briefly with recognition that I was someone important to you, accepting when your gaze became distant and vague. Hoping that as your mind wandered that you were walking through the best parts of the life you have lived. I'm searching for that perfect gift for your birthday daddy. In truth, all I can give you on this day is to remember. Remember you, remember the stories I've been told of you, remember who you are and were. I will do for you what you can't, for as long as I can. I love you daddy. Thank you for everything!
Love, Duayna Lee

First trip to Vienna - July 16-18, 2010

I was so excited to be going to our first "destination" weekend trip, and very excited that it was Vienna! We had talked about going somewhere fun with Luis,a single guy Eric works with. He's a pilot on a short tour and since it's no fun to go to new places alone he hadn't been very far from Papa on his time off. The Burnetts, our friends from WA state that are also here on a short tour decided to go to Vienna too so we made plans to all go together (in two cars of course).

The first thing to do was find a hotel with three rooms meeting our requirements (one for a family of four, one for a family of three and a room for one) that was affordable. Sounds easy, eh? Not so much. Remember this is Europe and the hotels are renovated buildings that were built sometimes hundreds of years before. Another thing we learned from our stay in the Panzio for our 4th of July party was that air conditioning is a good thing - and a rare thing as well. And screens on windows is also rare. After much research by both Toni and Eric, the choices were narrowed down.

The next thing was what to do with Chip. Normally we would just find a dog friendly place (pretty easy in Europe) and bring him with. But it was going to be another hot, muggy weekend so the hotel could get miserable during the day and the pavement would be scorching. Lucky for us Laura, one of our friends here was at the house Fri morning for our weekly playdate which I was hosting and she said she and her girls would be willing to take care of Chip during the day and stay over at night. We have a/c in our bedrooms and they don't and the girls wanted to swim in our little pool to beat the heat so it was a win/win! Playdate over, Eric picked up early and things ready for having Luis and the Burnetts over for pizza and playtime (the kids played upstairs and the men 'played' in Eric's Man Room....watching TV and playing loud metal music whilst eating pizza and drinking beer) = no packing for our trip til morning time! Totally worth it!

Saturday morning came too early and I was in a rush to straighten up the house, change the sheets on the bed for Laura and her girls and get TJ and I packed and snacks together. It was a huge relief not to have to worry about Chip this time around so that helped. The Burnetts and Luis were here by 8:15 - time to nail down the hotel. Each new thing is a learning experience and this was no exception. Lesson for the day: if you want three rooms AND air conditioning, book early! After much juggling of sites and phone calls we finally got rooms at a Best Western, sans air conditioning. Oh well, you do what you have to do to have fun, right? Finally got on our way and made the drive, stopping for the required vingettes (it's like paying a toll to use certain major roads) and making a side trip to the airport to drop off the rental car Luis had been using and wouldn't need while he was doing training in the states til the end of Aug. John and Toni and gone on while we did the car rental thing so arrived at the hotel and got us all checked in. Nice! We scored parking on the street right in front (parking in Vienna can be costly and difficult) and we took our bags inside. The elevator was one of the old fashioned kind with a wooden door and little room for many people and luggage. Taking the stairs up three flights to our room seemed like a great idea until the elevator proved to be reliable.

As we walked up the marble steps we could feel the air become warmer and I wondered how it would be trying to sleep without the comfort of air conditioning. Eric worked the lock to our room with a combination of holding the handle at just the right angle, pushing on the door and jiggling the only key. Locks can be tricky in Eurpoe. The door swung open and I was instantly charmed by the beds neatly made with crisp white linen, the large wood framed windows that swung open into the room and the large tile and marble bathroom, complete with bidet! The slight breeze on my face gave me hope that air conditioning wouldn't be an issue. Anxious to start exploring, we unloaded our luggage, stashed a few things in the little fridge and headed down to the lobby to meet up with the gang.

As soon as we hit the street we felt fine drops of misty rain. No big deal - all of us were from Washington state at some point and this felt like home. Much better than hot and humid - we raised our umbrella's and set out to explore Vienna! I tried to take it all in, the sights, the sounds, the smells of this city. Such a mixture of past and present. I imagine everyone born to such a "young" country as America feels much as I do when walking amongst building that have been standing so long in a place that was a bustling city when the 13 colonies hadn't yet been established. The architecture is stunning. Church spires that soar towards heaven (as was the intention), statues carved in such amazing detail scattered throughout the city, gracing not only the parks and streets but also the tops of the buildings everywhere you look. Gargoyles glare fiercely next to intricately carved flowers and graceful arches adorned with amazing designs. Each building an obvious tribute to the purpose it was erected. The Theatre. The Opera. The Sciences. The Parliment. And then there are the fountains! Granite and marble, brushed in gold or left naked to show the beauty of the stone. Carved with elaborate robes, others barely draped to reveal immodest glimpses, many completely nude with only water cascading over marble skin. All glorious tributes to the human form and spirit.

After meandering through old Vienna for awhile (we never made it to the new part of the city I guess. Didn't realize this until we returned home and someone asked what we'd seen), the kids began to complain of being hot and tired. We had put the umbrella's away and the sun and humidity wrapped around us like a cloak. John and Toni suggested we catch one of the open car tours and we all jumped onboard. We drove in a large loop through the streets, passing historic buildings and learning a little bit about the most prominent ones. It was a perfect way to see the city while resting our feet and containing the kids. Totally worth the money!

When the tour was over we hopped off and began searching for a place to eat. Toni and I had purchased tickets from one of the costumed "Mozarts" in front of the Opera House for an early evening performance of Orchestra, Opera and Ballet. They promised we could attend dressed as is, the kids got in free and there would be air conditioning. Sold! Thanks to Eric's impeccable map reading and sense of direction, we made it through the walking district and found a restaurant that was not only across from the performance but also had a wonderful park for the kids to burn off their energy. Perfect!

The park had a zipline and even better, John jumped right in playing with the kids and kept them running, jumping, swinging and climbing while we crossed the street and ordered our food (always a long casual ordeal over here). By the time the food came the kids were hungry and thirsty and ready to settle down a bit. We barely had time to eat before we needed to head over for an hour and a half of Mozart and Strauss with Lauren and TJ. Johnny stayed with John, Eric and Luis - a trade that John felt was totally worth it not to have to endure opera and ballet. The palace was beautiful and ornate. I'll be honest, I was expecting more of a theater with descending rows and a large stage and cool air wafting over us. In reality it was a long beautiful room with rows of plush folding chairs facing a smallish raised stage with none of the promised air conditioning. The Viennese orchestra consisted of a flute, an oboe, a clarinet, some violins and cello's. The conductor was also a violinist and she stood in front as the rest were seated behind her. The next 1 1/2 hours drifted by with the music of Mozart and Strauss, a couple who came on stage every few songs to dance ballet and another couple who came on stage during other compositions to sing opera. I had to smile as I watched TJ struggling to be quiet and to realize that Eric had thought his son's first concert would more likely be closer to his genre of Metal than this one. TJ did remarkably well for a six year old boy and I enjoyed it all. After it was over we went back outside to wait for the guys to meet up with us. Walking back to the hotel we stopped at a little bakery for gelato and Sacher-Torte, a must try chocolate cake Vienna is famous for. A wonderful way to end an evening! It was John's birthday so the mommy's settled the kids in bed and the daddy's (and Luis) set out to a nearby bar for a few additional hours of fun and music. I laid in bed with the windows thrown wide, listening to the rain pound the pavement and thunder chase the lightening flashes, smiling to myself. I was in VIENNA!

Sunday morning came earlier than I would have liked with TJ whispering for me to wake up, he was hungry. Shortly afterwards I got a text from Toni saying her kids were up and raring to go. Being nice wives, we got the kids dressed and left our sleeping husbands to enjoy a little more quiet while we enjoyed the hotel breakfast. Besides the typical european offerings of rolls and meat and cheese and yogurt, we could also choose pastries and cereal, fruit, juices, milk and coffee and hot chocolate for the kids. I could really get used to coming downstairs each morning to find a beautiful breakfast waiting for us and someone bringing us whatever we asked for! It was still a bit drizzly but not enough to keep us from walking the kids to a nearby park. They were disappointed it wasn't the really fun one with the zipline, but as kids always do, they made the best of it and managed to have fun regardless. Soon Eric and Luis joined us at the park and eventually we walked back to the hotel to wake up John, get packed and check out. The plan had been to stop at the outlet Mall on the way home but like many places of business in Europe, it is closed on Sunday. A bit anti-climatic, but still a wonderful weekend.

One of the things I loved was to watch the kids skip ahead through the streets and splash each other as they leaned over the fountains - oblivious to the history but alive with the joy of this place. Love that we can bring Thomas to places like this, making his connection to the world more intimate, more concrete. Each new experience changes us and we are hoping to make his life richer and his view point more open with each opportunity.

Tuesday and Wednesday

Tuesday - Jumped in the shower first thing and soon wondered why I bothered. It's so hot and humid lately that you always have a thin layer of sweat on your skin. No moisturizer needed! I am finding I need to get more sundresses as that is the coolest thing to wear. TJ was bouncing off the walls waiting for it to be time for Toni and the kids to stop by and take us over to Kelly's. Another day to play with Lauren and the little kids under the watchful eye of Kelly's nanny meant another fun mommy's day out with the girls - we were all happy campers!

Soon we had the kids settled (if you can call having them run wild in Kelly's backyard settled) and Kelly, Toni and I climbed into Summer's SUV for our outing to Gyor. I'm not usually much of a shopper but having a chance to do more than walk by all those fun shops on the walking street (like I do when I go with Eric) was going to be fun. Sumer was making it a girl day with her 3 1/2 year old Jocelyn and I found myself in the seat next to her on our way to Gyor. When you think of a day out without kids it doesn't sound fun to have a 3 year old tag along, but she is so adorable it was fun. When childless couples begin longing to reproduce, this child is what they are envisioning. She is sweet and quiet and happy to be coming along. Sumer claims that much of the credit goes to the early schooling in the Hungarian pre-school and Kindergarten. The children are kindly but firmly expected to take turns, be respectful and follow instructions. She could be right that some of that helped, but I think combined with good parenting that Jocie basically came this way.

Gyor is so beautiful with it's centuries old buildings and flowers everywhere. The walking street is perfect to just stroll and talk and wander in and out of shops. I even tried on a few things and ended up buying some shorts and a top. I assumed they accepted visa (wrong, silly me) but luckily I had enough forint on me. We made the mandatory stop to get gelato (to die for here and sooooo cheap) and then a few more shops. None are air conditioned so you really have to find something you love to be motivated enough to try things on - after the first shop I was done, but it was fun watching the others. By the time we got to the big plaza we were ready to eat and picked a restaurant that had outdoor seating with plenty of shade. I ordered the salmon for the first time since moving to this land-locked country and was delighted to find it cooked perfectly. Lunch of course was like every restaurant meal here, long and casual. Thank heavens the nanny was happy to stay longer so we could extend our fun. By the time we got back to pick up the kids and go back home we were all wiped out. I told TJ he could watch TV or play his Wii but that I was going to take a nap in my cool air conditioned bedroom! As it turned out I only slept for about 10 min but it felt good to just relax. When I woke up I saw I had missed a call from an unknown number. I flipped on the computer to check Facebook (a major source of communication here with each other) and saw a message about a girls night of dinner and a movie (DVD of course) that had been thrown together as a last one for Dawn before she left for the states. A quick check with Eric to make sure he was up to have TJ and Sean for the evening, a change into a cool shirt (my pj top wouldn't fly) and Dawn swung by to get me for another girls night out. FUN!

Dinner was at The Storks Nest (the first place Eric, TJ and I ate the day we arrived in Papa) which is aptly named due to the giant stork nest on the roofs' chimney, complete with stork and babies. We ate outside and were treated to the mama stork's interesting sound when she landed to to feed the babies. I found it fascinating and borrowed Kelly's camera to take several pics. She was less than thrilled by the stork - she hates birds of all kinds but finds large ones with long beaks particularly creepy. Dinner was a few hours long followed by walking over to The Family Center and picking from their selection of movies. We settled on Alex and Emma (or is it Emma and Alex???) which turned out to be looooonnnnggg and booorrrriiinnnnggg. It got to the point where we had invested too much of our lives watching it to just turn it off so we put on the sub-title feature and fast forward until it mercifully concluded. It was fun nonetheless. I met a few new women from the HAW and got to share Dawn's last movie night. Too bad it was spent watching such a boring movie. By the time I got back home Eric had dropped Sean off to his dad, tucked TJ in to bed and was fast asleep himself.

Wednesday - Another early morning taking Eric to work. I sooooo want to find a cheap 2nd car he can drive back and forth to work in, especially before winter! I needed the car because it was the weekly playdate at The Thermal Baths. It was so much hotter than last week so we swam in the outdoor pools. TJ is doing so well simming under water that I think by the end of summer he'll be able to be in water over his head. If not then he'll probably get the whole swimming with his head above the surface in swim class during school. After awhile Dawn offered to keep an eye on TJ so I could swim a few laps in the deep pool. Wow, I feel like I've really recovered from my surgery in March until I do something like that. My stomach muscles are sooooo weak! I need to go swim laps every morning to stretch out and get strong again - maybe when Patty comes. After several hours of swimming and going down the outdoor slide things started to get crowded. Large busloads of kids were arriving and soon it felt like all the people in Papa that weren't at work were coming to the pool. Can't blame them, it's a great way to beat the heat!

We finally pulled the kids away from the water and had lunch at the little cafe attached to the Thermal Baths. When we got home, TJ and I both sighed with relief to be in our nice cool house. I told him no more playdates for the rest of the day, but then the phone rang and Aga was calling on behalf of Sandor. He had Panka at the house and wanted to know if TJ could come over and play. It was too hot to go out again and besides, he was always going there, so I had Aga ask if she could instead come to our house until I went to pick Eric up from work. Not long after Sandor and G delievered Panka and the kids ran off to play. I chatted with the guys for a bit about not wanting Eric to simply get a scooter to get back and forth to work because he can't drive it in bad weather (which is when I most want to NOT have to take him to work). I told them I was pushing a Maruti on him but Sandor said we need to look at Trabant's instead. They are much cooler beater cars than Maruti's I guess, although to me they look about the same. It was good to get this opinion I could pass on to Eric. I don't care what kind of car he gets as long as it makes it to the base and back every work day for the next 2 years!

After the kids played in our pool and then chased around the house with nerf guns, I dropped Panka off and picked up Eric. We had a relaxing evening of puttering around the house, organizing a few things and visiting with Eve and Tamara when they stopped by to get the rent. We showed them the dirt piles that keep springing up in the lawn from some little critter, likely a mole or something. Apparently they have fought the beast for years to no avail. They showed us the latest weapon, a small alarm mounted on the garage that emits a high pitched noise that is suppose to drive all such critters away. Obviously it's not working. Eric stomped the mounds down last night but I noticed a fresh one has risen in the same location this morning (Thursday). I am beginning to take it personally and am going to read up on what our next move could be.

Herends

I have two minutes to post this so it's actually current. Took a mommy day sans kids. Toni and I dropped our kids off at Kelly's so her nanny could watch them all and along with Cherub and Logan (who is too small and too cute to leave with the nanny) came along on our tour of Herends Porcelain Factory in Herend, Hungary. It was nice getting away without the kids and the factory was really interesting. Makde me appreciate the beautiful porcelain so much more after seeing how much work goes into each piece (although not enough to pay for any of the finer stuff - very pricey). Made me think of my mama so much, she would have loved being there today and seeing it all. It was very much her style!

Got back by 2 (the nanny had a date we needed to get back for) and I picked up Sean to come play with TJ while I waited for the dishwasher repairman to come see if ours could be fixed. He finally arrived about the same time Eric got home from work and with only a few mishaps due to not speaking the same language, it got fixed.

We all had such a fun day and the kids enjoyed playing so much we're going to do another mommy's day out tomorrow, but this time to Gyor. All those shops in the walking district are calling to us!

TJ is tucked into bed and sleeping peacefully, Eric is reading in bed and beginning to doze and here I sit, torn between wanting to go upstairs and crawl into bed and needing to get this blog caught up. Sleep can wait (can't it always?)

Wednesday - June 23rd brought the movers with all the rest of our household goods as well as our shipment from Aviano (fridge, microwave, washer and dryer, wadrobes and most important - AFN receiver and dish to get a few US TV stations!). Busy, hectic day. I'm sure the neighbors on our very narrow street were less than thrilled to have the big moving truck parked all day in front of the house and virtually blocking the road. Unlike NJ, in Papa we have to pay for garbage removal by the square meter so it was necessary to have the movers unbox and unwrap as much as possible and haul it off. The main problem with this is suddenly all our stuff was piled in rooms all over the house without benefit of a neatly labelled box saying what was inside and where it went. I can't even begin to describe how overwhelming it is to end the day walking from room to room faced with mountains of stuff and no idea where you're going to put it. It felt like I had been dropped into an episode of "Hoarder's - Best of the Worst!" I just wanted to walk out and lock the door behind me!

Friday - June 25th, 2010 was a party at Sandor's. I can't remember if I have mentioned that although our ex-landlords name is pronounced Shandor, it is actually spelled Sandor (S is pronounced Sh in Hungarian), so I will be careful to write it correctly from now on. Anyway, with his wine cellar/party room and covered patio it's a great place for our parties. He continues to develop it making more improvements every time we go back! The playground for the kids is complete and makes it great to bring the entire family to the get-togethers. It was great meeting more of the people from the HAW and to have a chance to hang out with my Hungarian friends as well. For a time I sat on the patio with Sumer, Aga, Jeannie (I need to find out how to spell her name - it's pronounced zsa-nay), Sandor and G (we can never pronounce his sons name so it's G from now on). With the help of Aga and G translating I learned a few things about Gypsies. I didn't realize that there are both Romainian Gypsies (whose women tend to wear the bright colored long sleeve blouses and long colorful skirts) and Hungarian Gypsies (who tend to have darker complexions and wear tighter clothing). It was interesting to hear their stories and opinions, to discover that dogs are good to have because gypsies are afraid of them, and it's often safer to live by them than in a neighborhood where none live, because as I was told, "Gypsies don't steal from their neighbors!" I laughingly said I needed to hire a few to come take all my stuff so I didn't have to figure out where in my house to put things. Sandor's immediate reply, "How do you know they aren't there right now doing just that?" LOL Aga even offered to teach me a good Polish curse so if I ever offend a gypsy and they put a curse on me, I can yell one even better back! As the night wore on I was cajoled into trying Palinka for the first time. Not a fan!

I know we were busy doing something every single day through the end of the month but I can't remember when we did what. I know there was a trip to Gyor where we went to McDonalds, much to TJ's delight. We also stumbled upon a small festival with knights and swords. TJ got to do a little sword fighting, despite the fact they all spoke only Hungarian. We had The Lingens over for a playdate and Sean (8) and Amy
(11) hung out in the pool with TJ while Dawn and I talked about McGuire and Papa. TJ got the courage to actually put his face in the water and then learned to hold his breath and swim under water. He now wants to spend all his free time in the pool! It's been delightful to watch him go from being fearful to fearless.

Friday - July 2nd, 2010 - another party at Sandor's! They are all fun, but this one was exceptional. John's wife and kids had flown in on Wednesday from WA state for a two month visit. Eric and John hit it off from the very beginning, their friendship nurtured on their shared love of Heavy Metal bands and WA state. We'd been anticipating the arrival of Toni (his wife) and Lauren (6) and Johnny (2 1/2) for a few weeks so it was great finally meeting them. TJ and Lauren were already friends since Eric had taken him to John's the evening before so they ran off to play while Toni and I got a chance to talk. I could tell right away that this was a person I was going to enjoy hanging out with. She's really laid back, easy to talk to and interesting. A few of the girls decided it would be fun to have a girls night out so we got our husbands on-board to watch the kids and we walked downtown for dinner. It's been a long time since I've done something like that - it was a blast. There were 6 of us in our group but lots more from the HAW at the restaurant. As we got talking we found out that all of us had huge WA state connections. In fact I think I was the only one who hadn't grown up and gone to school in WA! It felt a little surreal to realize that I was making friends in Hungary that I will maintain when we move back to WA. Funny how life happens. We ended up taking the party to a little basement bar a few blocks away and just hung out and talked as more people joined our group, also from WA. LOL We finally walked back to Sandor's to get the kids and our husbands by midnight and get back home. We needed to get some sleep so we could go to the big Independence Day celebration the next day!

Saturday - July 3rd, 2010 I tried to sleep in but that didn't happen. Got a few things done around the house and got packed up for the party and our overnight stay. Around 3 PM the Burnett's and Luis met us at the house and we caravaned about 30 miles away to The Brown's. They live in a beautiful home overlooking a valley that looks like Tuscany (at least like Tuscany looks in the movies I've seen). We had made reservations at their landlord's Panzio next door (it's like a hotel/bed and breakfast with a dining room that serves breakfast). We got checked in and put Chip's dog bed and food in the room, then we all went up the hill to the party. They hosted a July 4th party last year so everyone who has been here since the beginning was familar with their place. It was fun to have such a big mix of people from different countries sharing their favorite dishes. The food was amazing and never ending and everyone seemed to have a great time. They had a bouncy house and face painting/temporary tattoos for the kids and they all had a blast running around. Chip went to the party at first but it was hot and there were so many people he soon became nervous and tired. As much as I knew he would hate being separated from me and left alone in the room. I knew it would be far better than him having to deal with so much going on, so I took him to the Panzio, turned the fan on and left him in our quiet room. Later on when things wound down and it cooled off I brought him back and he was fine. It was such a fun party and so nice not to have to make the drive home when we were all tired and ready for bed.

The next morning all of us that stayed at the Panzio (5 families in all) ended up down eating breakfast around the same time, then went back up to the Browns to hang out, enjoy Dunkin Donuts coffee and chat for a bit before heading home. We had a few hours to get organized before the Burnetts and Luis came for a little BBQ in honor of the 4th. Fun weekend!!!

The next week consisted of play dates and swimming at the Thermal Baths (awesome pools in Papa) and very little cleaning and organizing of the house. We're just having way too much fun to stay home! Eric got to fly for the first time from Papa -left early Monday morning (TJ and I took him to the base at 1:30 AM....yawn) and got back Thursday early evening.

Friday, July 6th, 2010 No party at Sandor's, weird, huh? I had planned on having leftovers for dinner so when Eric suggested we could go out I jumped at the chance. We ended up meeting up with Luis, The Langs and the Burnetts and ran into a few other couples there as well. It's a kid friendly restaurant with a little TV playing kids shows in a small room upfront, so the adults sat outside talking while the kids hung out, watched TV and played. It's such a different environment here, so casual. We hung out for almost an hour before they took our order, then dinner was long and casual with the kids eating then going back to their area while we took our time. It was a relaxed 3 hour meal with no one needing to rush back to watch a show or something they DVR'd. I love this place and our life.

Saturday and Sunday were the slowest we've had since moving here - but only because Eric insisted on NOT making plans to go away anywhere. It was kind of nice actually. We did end up making a trip in to Gyor on Saturday since we had several things we needed for the house. Took Luis with us since he hasn't ever been there yet and won't be here much longer. Found the walking street and several of the more famous statues and building in Gyor. It's a beautiful city with some fun shops and restaurants and gelato stands everywhere!!! It was a hot day but fun.

Catching Up - June 16th - 22nd

We were without internet for over 2 weeks so I started just writing my blog on word with the intention of keeping track every day....but that didn't happen. So here are the few posts that I wrote and I will do a new one from memory. I also have some new pics to add to the photo's at the bottom of the page but I need to remember how to add them. :-)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
We moved to the house yesterday and slept here for the first time last night. TJ was soooooo excited! He kept telling us how much he loved our new house. I think part of the charm is he was excited to have so much space after living in a one bedroom apartment for 1 ½ weeks. Even more, he likes how accessible Eric and I are to him all of a sudden. We took breaks sitting together on the porch swing, He and I played WAR on the couch (thank you USO in Philly for the deck of cards) and his favorite activity – he and Eric spent an house riding on the scooters around the large detatched garage and down the long driveway. There’s NOTHING better than fun time with daddy!
Eric and I were discussing the sad fact that among all the other things that are on the boat in our household goods is our cork screw, making it difficult to toast our first night in our Hungarian home with our newly bought Hungarian wine (from the Balaton region, thank you very much)! Eric was debating if he wanted to make a run to the store to get a cheap cork screw when TJ announced we should have a party! I asked him how we would go about having a party and he suggested that we go outside on the porch swing and drink. Eric and I looked at each other a bit sheepishly at this and I hesitantly asked him what he thought we should drink. He thought for a minute and then suggested, “soda?” With a sigh of relief from the parents, Eric asked if he thought they should run to the store for some of the yummy orange soda they liked along with some ice cream to make orange cream floats!? He was totally onboard! So daddy and TJ went to the store, got the goodies (along with the necessary corkscrew) and after returning and a much needed bath for TJ (so much for those showers that he loooovvvveed), the 3 of us sat out on the porch swing, ate orange cream floats and took turns saying what we loved about living in Hungary. It ended up being a pretty perfect first day, all things considered.
TJ was excited to sleep in his new room in his new bed. I had had the foresight to pack his favorite airplane sheets and comforter and the pillow with our family picture on the pillow case, so even though it was so new it also felt very comfy to him. Eric laid by him and talked about guys stuff while I showered. By the time I was out, TJ was asleep and Chip had been carried up the open wooden staircase (which freaked the poor dog out). Nice!


Thursday, June 17, 2010
Owwww – chhhhhhh! Waking up this morning was painful. The mattress on the bed the home owners left for us while we wait for our furniture is terrible! It is only slightly better than box springs. I had major surgery the first of March and my body still needs to be pampered. The beds at the apt were very new and very European (i.e. FIRM) but 1000% better than the one here. Regardless of how I felt, TJ and I needed to get going as we were taking Eric into work today. The air conditioner guys were coming at 9 AM to install 2 new units in our bedrooms upstairs, but I figured when they were done TJ and I could take the car and go on an adventure – code for exploring new territory. After dropping Eric off outside the gate at the base, we hurried home and got a few things don while we had the house to ourselves. Around 8:45 AM I heard a car stop and saw a dark haired girl get out. The driver left and she remained in front of the house. Hmmmm TJ and I discussed who this stranger might be. His guesses were interesting but my guess that it was our landlords college age English speaking daughter was the correct one. I went outside to confirm my guess. She said her dad had dropped her off but had neglected to tell her why she was there. It made me laugh. I explained that I suspected she was going to be our interpreter and that workers would be arriving soon. We stood outside waiting and getting to know each other.
It was wonderful to have someone to ask many of the questions we had had (like how old the house was and how close her parents lived). She had just graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and was planning on going for a Masters in the fall. She would be living with her parents over the summer which meant we would have someone to translate for us for the next several months. After awhile she excused herself, explaining she had to study for some tests. I suspected that she had stayed as long as she had out of politeness. Selfishly, I didn’t care. It was nice having her to visit with and make that connection. When she was leaving she mentioned she would like to return sometime to play with TJ, possibly bring a 10 yr old cousin with her as well. I asked if she babysat. She said not for money, just because she enjoys children. WOW I had promised TJ we would go on an adventure when the workers were done, but they finished barely in time for us to run to Inter Spar for some dinner and then to the base to get Eric. Sometimes adventures must wait til another day. On the way home Eric reminded me he was going to Vienna in a few hours to pick Dan and Cherub up from the airport. Good. I’m anxious to meet them in person.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
It’s funny how not being connected to the internet has changed my focus on keeping up with my blog. Even though I know I can cut and paste this from a word document once I’m re-connected. Somehow it’s not the same and I have lost the intensity. I guess the instant gratification of having it posted is part of the draw, not just keeping track of our experience. So almost a week since my last post I will attempt to capture the highlights. Last Thurs when Eric got back from the airport he had the most wonderful thing in the world under his arm…a thick foam mattress topper! He had mentioned to the Langs that I was needing something to cushion my poor body from the hard mattress that was on our bed. They offered to let us borrow the foam and I have slept wonderfully ever since! On Friday a guy came to install screens on two of the three sun room windows. We can now get a breeze from that direction sans mosquitoes. For dinner we went to pick up John to go to dinner. Once there I discovered (I say I, and not we because I suspect this was no surprise to my sneaky husband) that he was hanging out with his neighbor and fellow military guy who had tickets to attend a huge metal concert in Prague, and was working on getting 2 more tickets so John and Eric could go as well. Of course Eric was playing all innocent and making sure I was ok with it, but I get the feeling that was more out of coutesy than anything else. LOL So we left John behind to get things worked out and Eric, TJ and I went to the Hotel Classica for dinner. I wanted to try it because this is the place we would have stayed if Dan hadn’t hooked us up at Shandor’s apartment. We sat outside (of course) and ordered our meal. This was a little more expensive than most of the other places we have eaten at but they had a big flat screen playing the soccer game – USA vs some other country (I’m not yet a fan – I’m sure I’ll pick it up though). Shortly after our drinks came but before our meal the skies began to get dark, the wind picked up and the rain began. We were under cover so I wasn’t too worried, but then a few people came out to turn off the TV and cover it. Before they were done a bright flash of light was followed almost immediately by a giant clap of thunder (the kind that deafens you) and we decided it might be safer to go inside after all. The food was fine, although not remarkable. The highlight of the meal was that TJ tried his huge mound of mashed potatoes and declared them WONDERFUL! The child hasn’t allowed a mashed potato to pass his lips since he was 2 ½….Hungary is doing great things for his appetite!

Chips' Diagnosis

Just got back from the vet. All the tests have come back and the news is sad. Our sweet Chip has cancer of the spleen. The 'stroke' he had wasn't caused by a blood clot but instead from a small piece of his spleen breaking off and traveling to his brain, causing a block. The meds he got soon after opened his veins wide enough to pass the clot, and he has recovered his normal behavior.
The bad news is it won't go away, chemo isn't an option and removing it is very dangerous because of his age. So for now we will give him the meds plus vitamins to strengthen his immune system and keep him as healthy as we can. His spleen is breaking apart slowly so this will happen again. We will take him to the vet every week to check the progress of the cancer and hope for the best. The main thing is to keep him as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.

Right now he is very happy and you would never know how sick he was. We can only take it a day at a time and live in the moment - as with all things, right? I've packed up the last of our things in our little apartment and we are just waiting for Eric to get off early from work to settle up with Shandor and move everything to the house. The only thing keeping me from being totally excited is knowing we won't have Internet, probably for awhile. Since that is my only connection to friends and family and the "outside" world, I will feel very disconnected. I will also miss posting something daily on my blog. I'm sure that there will be many good things come from not having internet that I won't discover until it happens. Signing off for now. :-)

Moving Day and vet appts

Had a very long night with not nearly enough sleep. Chip slept at the foot of our bed and was up and down a lot. I even slept part of the night with my pillow down where my feet usually go so I could be closer to my sick dog. When morning finally came he seemed in better spirits and wanted to eat, but kept circling in tight circles to the right. Definetely not normal!

We had to meet at the house at 8 am to sign the final lease papers and go over all the details. After all that I had Eric go off with the interpreter to get all the utilities in our name while I took TJ back to the apt to be with Chip. The moment Eric walked in the door we were back out again with Chip on our way to the vet. This time there was a long line of people and dogs ahead of us. I ended up waiting with TJ and Chip in the car while Eric waited inside for our turn. We were so lucky that Marti, the Hungarian Boeing worker who organized our lake excursion last weekend happened to be at the vet helping a Swiss couple get a passport for their dog. Dr Attila's wife wasn't there today but Marti offered to stay and intpret for us. She was a Godsend! Dr Attila is pretty sure Chip had a stroke but we caught it very early and between the meds and the shots (2 more today) he seems to be doing much better now. One more appt tomorrow and hopefully the blood test will show something.

After finishing up there we went back to the apt to begin moving everything to the house. Almost everything - since the AC guys are going to the house tomorrow to install it in the upstairs we'll keep a few things at the apt and stay there one more night. Eric took two loads over by himself, such a sweet man, and came back the third time for us. We picked up some cleaning supplies and went into our Hungarian House as a family. It was so fun to let Chip and TJ out to explore while we cleaned shelves and put stuff away. Chip was too nervous to be out of my sight very long and ended up curling up on a pile of packing paper to keep an eye on me.

We finally got everything pretty much unpacked and put in the right rooms to the point we felt we could call it a night. Dropped Chip off at the apt, cleaned up and met the guys for dinner at a little restaurant with outside seating. TJ gets so excited when any of 'the guys' from the base hang out with us he gets a bit crazy as only a 6 yr old boy can - it about drove us nuts but the guys had had a few beers before we met up with them and were fine with our little energized bunny. TJ ordered a cheeseburger and it was the closest thing to an american one we have seen yet. He was very happy!

I'm so tired I find I can't even think of all the little things I wanted to write about. It's too bad too because the house doesn't have internet yet and by the time it does it could be almost 2 weeks from now. I will certainly forget much of what I wanted to put down if it takes that long. Maybe I'll write it out the old fashioned way - in a notebook! LOL Time for bed!

A New Week

Monday, June 14, 2010
Today is Flag Day in the US. It made me think that we don't have a flag anymore after the wind ripped our last one. I never replaced it and now I miss having one.

This morning started slowly - I barely heard Eric after he got up and began getting ready for work. He kissed me goodbye and told me something but I have no idea what. TJ wandered in a little later so I got up. Saw right away that Eric had forgotten to take his cell phone to work, leaving it plugged in to charge. This didn't bother me as much as it would have last week. I knowing my way around and having a vehicle to use makes a world of difference!

As I was getting fresh coffee ground and TJ's breakfast dished up I noticed that Chip was acting a bit strange. His head was down and he was walking very carefully. I poured out his dog food and he went over and sniffed it so I figured he was ok. When we got back from the festival last night he was perky and dashing around with me, seemingly fully recovered from his illness from a week ago.

I sat at the computer with a cup of steaming coffee, ready to catch up on what happened half a world away during my night, when Chip came next to me, head down and trembling. Instantly I was kneeling next to him, petting him and speaking gently to him when he let out a pitiful moan which turned into a high pitched cry. Chills went through me - he sounded and acted so much like our sweet Buddy (our Jack Russell Terrier) did just before he died of a liver disease several years ago. I went to get my phone to call the vet (thankfully Lisa had given me that number on Sat) to see about getting Chip seen. I was told his wife speaks English so was hopeful I could make myself understood, although I had no idea how I was going to lift him into the car let alone find my way to the vet office. Just as I reached for my purse to get my phone I noticed the keys to the Reeds car missing. Heart sinking, I walked out to check and sure enough, Eric had taken the car. The only reason I was surprised was because I had planned on taking TJ to the HAW's Family Center by TJ's school today. I had thought Eric was going to take Dan's car into work (Dan and Cherub won't be back until Thurs) so I could use the other car. Suddenly not having a car combined with Eric leaving his cell phone home made for a more serious situation! The only other phone numbers to anyone I personally knew was Lisa and Corey - and they were both flying to Ramstein today! I had to reassess what I could actually do now and quickly undertstood, not very much!

I helped my sweet Chippy curl up on TJ's bed, covered him with a sheet so only his face was visible (as warm as it is today, he seemed cold) and lay by him, whispering what a perfect, wonderful dog he is. Tears flowed as I struggled with the knowlege that he is over 11 yrs old, which for a Whippet is a long life, and he might not recover this time. All I could do until Eric got home from work was to give him comfort and be close to him....and hope that this spell works itself out and he once again is back to normal. He is the most gentle soul I have ever known and I'm not prepared to lose him just yet. Currently he is resting comfortably and seems a little better. I will take my nook, sit beside him and read. TJ is busy with his new friend (Shandor's daughter) which will help keep him occupied.

At 11 AM Eric called to tell me he had forgotten his phone. As soon as he heard about Chip he asked what I wanted him to do. He was home within 1/2 hour and although there was no answer at the vet, we all climbed in the car and set off to find him, TJ me and Chip crowded into the back seat with Chips head on my lap. Numbers on houses and businesses don't run exactly the same way they do in the states, so it took a bit of searching, but finally we arrived at the vet with the English speaking wife. Eric went in to make sure we could be seen and then came out to carry Chip in. Dr Attila was with another patient so we waited in the waiting area. His wife immediately came out to talk to us and get the story of what was happening. She is a small woman, very direct and very attentive. Of course being in a strange place that had obviously been teeming with other pets seemed to energize Chip (how many of you with children have taken an ill child to the Dr only to have them perk up and seem totally fine?!), but even so it became clear he wasn't quite right.

When it was our turn, we brought Chip into the examination room. Dr Attila is a big bear of a man who handed the young toddler he was holding in his arms back to his wife, then instantly turned his kind attention on Chip as he listened to his wife tell what we had told her. He listened and nodded then knelt to examine Chip himself, running those big hands over his head, along his neck and over his back and sides. He would ask questions in Hungarian as his wife nodded and listened, then she would in turn tell us what he said and ask his questions for us to respond. Often as I explained he would begin to nod and ask more questions for her to translate, leading us to believe his understanding of English is far better though he feels comfortable relying on it alone. As I explained things I knelt beside Chip to keep him calm. It brought fresh tears to my eyes and I found I could barely talk as I wept with the fear of my sweet pup being frightened and in pain. The exam continued in another darkened room where Chip was given an ultra sound of his chest and stomach, his eyes were examined as well as having blood drawn and sent to a lab to be tested. It seems he didn't have a stroke but his spleen is very enlarged. Hopefully the blood test will come back with some answers or at least some clues. In the meantime we were given 2 medicines and a 3 written down to pick up at the pharmacy and an appt to return when they open around 10 AM tomorrow. In Jersey an appt like this would have been hundreds of dollars and mounting - in Papa it was about $80 - which we were told we could pay after our next visit, no rush. WOW

After we got home I tucked Chip into bed and ran to Inter Spar to get a few groceries and to the pharmacy for Chips other med. I'm getting around with ease and was totally confident finding the pharmacy and requesting what I needed. I even counted out the correct coins to pay for it without any problem. Amazing the difference a week makes. We returned to the apt to find workers inside installing the new air conditioner. With moving day tomorrow it won't do us as much good as the people that follow, but at least tonight we can sleep with the windows shut and no mosquitoes - if Chips condition allows for sleep that is.

I've spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with Chip. Poor dog can't get comfortable and his need to be constantly in sight of me makes it difficult to even use the bathroom without him painfully getting up and following me. Once Eric got home and could keep an eye on TJ, I went into our room and lay down for over an hour with Chip stretched out by me, hoping it would bring him comfort and reassurance. We've searched the internet for what he might be suffering from, but in truth we have no idea and hope so much the vet will have an answer that includes a full recovery. Tomorrow we move - I'm so hoping Chip gets a chance to love this new house with the yard we chose in part for him.

Friday Night Fun and our First Full Saturday in Hungary

Friday evening, June 11, 2010
The festival began today in Papa. Between the heat everything I had to do to put a claim in on our stolen stuff, we had decided to wait until evening to take TJ to it. Eric and arranged with John, Louis and Kevin (all from the HAW) to walk to it together around 6 PM. TJ was so excited he fairly skipped into town, chattering away and talking about what there might be for us to do. The streets were bustling with activity and we could hear a band playing at the city center. When we arrived we could see there were two bands (the kind that you see at football games, not at a rock concert) one in blue uniforms and one in red. They took turns playing for the crowds that were sitting or standing around the square listening.

We eventually wandered off to the park where all the action was. We hadn't eaten so we first searched out the festival tent which had a stage with a local group playing music and singing Hungarian songs, lots of long tables and booths selling food. We got a hot dog for TJ, I bought gyro platter - which had the meat and lots of veggies piled on top of french fries instead of a pita, and Eric got a skewer of pork and veggies and fries. Once we ate we were ready to hit the carnival. Eric and I are pretty cautious about letting TJ go on rides that are moved around a lot. Those rides having the highest rate of breaking and people getting injured, but there were a few things that looked pretty safe. First TJ rode on a children train/roller coaster. The track was different than any we had seen. I'll post pictures at the bottom of my blog as I can't explain it very well. We were impressed at how long the ride went. TJ loved it. Nest we bought a ticket for him to go on a bouncy castle type thing. Once again our little Mr Aloha made friends with the other kids there, the language barrier was nothing to any of them. When the time was up on that, Eric took TJ on his very first bumper car ride! It was a riot watching the two of them. Eric managing the gas pedal and TJ steering the car. They aimed for the cars driven by Louis and John and Peter, crashing into each other and laughing with delight. Thankfully Eric kept shielding TJ's head after a few mishaps of TJ getting thrown around a bit. The age and height limits in the US have their reasons! LOL After that ride we walked to the end of the carnival and found some giant inflated slides which TJ HAD to try out. So the adults stood around, talked and swatted mosquitoes while he climbed up and slid down over and over. It was getting dark and almost time to head back home so we did one final 'ride' - we paid to have TJ strapped into a harness and he was hoisted up a bit and spent about 5 min jumping and doing 'tricks' on a large trampoline. He never wanted to leave but Eric was going to stay late to listen to a rock band, scheduled for 10 PM to past midnight. He needed to walk us home and then be back in time for that. Once back at the apt we made a quick trip by car to get Eric back downtown, then came back and got TJ showered, fed a snack and tucked into bed. He was asleep within 2 min of laying down!

Saturday, June 12, 2010
It's hard to believe that it was a week ago this afternoon that TJ and I flew in Vienna and then drove to Papa. It feels like we have been here much longer! I glance through my previous posts and realize we have packed a lot into a single week. I'm sure that once TJ is in school and we get into a routine we will slow down a bit - but I'm hoping the summer continues to be full of activity and exploration!

The festival in Papa is still going on but we ended up not going to it. It's a VERY hot weekend and the thought of walking on hot cement streets with crowds of people fighting off the swarms of mosquitoes is unappealing. Thankfully the Reeds provided a wonderful alternative. Marti, one of the Hungarian people who works for Boeing, had arranged an excursion. She is anxious for us to all discover Hungary and love it so she plans weekend adventures. I love that! Anyway, the adventure today was to drive to Balatonfured (the double dots that our pc can't do go over the U in fured). Balaton is the largest inland lake in Europe. The Reeds (Corey and Lisa - the sweet couple that has allowed us full use of their 2nd car until ours comes - amazing!!!) came by about an hour before we were to meet the group. Lisa and I have been talking via Face Book and has given me some of the best advice I've had to prepare for the move here. They have been here since the beginning of this NATO mission and have helped blaze the trail for the rest of us to follow. They are as nice in person as thru FB and it's nice to finally get to meet them. They brought a bottle of wine and a container of homemade choc chip cookies (TJ's favorite) to welcome us. So nice - I have been trying to think of an appropriate way to thank THEM for the use of their car!

The three of us rode with Corey and Lisa to ALDI (the small grocery store) where the group met. Then the several families caravan-ed to Veszprem (the county seat I think). On the way there I felt moments of concern as cars and motorcycles that wanted to go much faster than the speed limit whizzed past us, seemingly unconcerned if we were approaching the top of a hill or a curve in the road. I tried not to think of the potential unseen car barreling equally fast from the opposite direction...defensive driving here is key! Corey is a great driver and got us safely there. Marti's boyfriend drove the lead car - very fast. Corey drove very safe, which means we lost sight of the group and followed the GPS. We had been told by Marti that we were meeting at an ice cream shop, which Corey had put in his GPS and we drove directly to. No one else from the group was there even though we were the last car. A quick call to Marti directed us to another location down the street. One of many lessons of how things get lost in translation or that explanations may only be partial. :-) The adventure was to begin with parking and walking down to the lake to feed the swans. It didn't take long for TJ to make friends with some of the other children his age and to scamper off ahead. To a 6 year old it doesn't matter what country you happen to be in as long as there are other kids to play with. He was enjoying have other kids that spoke the same language.

The humid heat had us all sweating so it was lovely walking down the tree lined street toward the lake. Balaton is beautiful, doted with sailboats and lined with stretches of beach where sun bathers sat on chairs and couples walked along the edge. As soon as we walked to the bank alongside the pier, the ducks and swans paddled up expectantly. Everyone (but Eric and I - we didn't catch this part of it) had brought bags of bread to feed the swans. They are HUGE and beautiful and like geese, somewhat ornery. I was less afraid of TJ getting bitten than I was of him falling into the lake. They were standing on the edge of a cement wall and TJ was perilously close to the edge. He often is so focused on the excitement on hand that he doesn't pay attention to little things like edges and drop-offs. Although the water wasn't extremely deep, it was murky and I envisioned the swans thinking that any child that fell in was an offering - not to mention the creepiness of the black water snake that slithered past. ick After awhile the swans and ducks tired of bread and swam off to find the bugs and fish they preferred. The group wandered down the pier to where the boat tours dock and where the public bathrooms (WC) are. It's prudent to always have a few 100 forint coins in your pocket as that's what is required to use bathrooms, park cars or 'rent' shopping carts. The breeze off the lake was cooler and the view was beautiful. Eric and I plan to return another weekend to take the 2 hour cruise as well as stay at a military owned beach area where Lisa said we could stay at a hotel for about $25 a night. I can't wait.

Next we ended up back at the lake's edge where the kids all played in a spot that had water shooting up from the ground in several places, designed specifically for kids to cool off in. I started by warning TJ to only get his feet wet since we were riding back in the Reeds car and I didn't want him to be soaked and sit in their car. But as I watched the other kids getting drenched and having so much fun I wasn't going to be 'that' mom that doesn't let her kid participate. Many of the local kids were stripped down to their underwear of totally naked so I bit the bullet and allowed TJ to play in his nascar underwear. He was briefly concerned if "the other kids were doing that too", and when I pointed out several that were he quickly joined in. They had a blast! We had rung out his lightweight shorts and when it was time to continue on we just took off his underwear, put on the damp shorts and trusted the sun and the breeze to dry him out. As we walked back to the cars we passed several booth es that were set up along the tree-lined walkway. The handmade baskets. ceramic bowls and wooden platters are beautiful. Before I leave this country I'm certain I will have acquired a selection of each. We bought pizza baked in open brick ovens at one of the stands - delicious! TJ was hesitant to try it (what a surprise - not!) but once he took a small bite he came back for several more. Once back to the cars we continued on by driving to Bergmann's, the ice cream shop we originally went to. Most of the tables were on an outdoor patio, our favorite way to dine. By this time in the afternoon it was mostly shaded and the breeze made it very pleasant. The ice cream selection was small (about 8 delicious flavors) but there were also amazing looking pastries as well as a small selection of sandwiches. TJ ordered his favorite - basic vanilla. I am hopeful that he will broaden his ice cream horizons while we live in a place where there are such amazing choices. It seems such a waste to stick to simple vanilla, although I admit even that tastes better here than in America. A few in our group ordered sundaes. When they were delivered to the tables we were delighted with how cute they were, created to mimic animals or clowns, etc. It reminded me of my mom teaching me that "we eat first with our eyes, then our mouths". TJ enjoyed hanging out with other kids even more than the ice cream, and by the time we began the hour long drive back to Papa, his shorts were dry and he was worn out. It barely phased him when we passed the familiar golden arches of the McDonald's in Veszprem. Corey kindly drove us to wear we will have to go in a week to get our visa's at immigration. We are grateful for this as it would have been difficult to find the correct building which is tucked around a corner and up a flight of stairs. TJ slept the remainder of the ride home as Eric and I sat back, soaked in the view and asked questions about whatever we could think of. It was a really fun day!

When we got back we saw several tables set up on the driveway by the patio. Shandor explained (through his son) that they were hosting a party for his friend to celebrate his 'name day'. It seems that there are days throughout the year that celebrate people who share certain names. It was obvious there would be many people attending, some were already arriving with gifts of wine or food. We were invited to join them, but as this was for his friend (who we didn't know) and not for Shandor, we felt the invitation was more Hungarian politeness than anything else so we thanked him for the invitation and went back to our little apartment. TJ, well rested and ready for action, was whining about wanting to return to the festival where he had had so much fun the night before. But Eric and I were hot and tired and just wanted to relax. Eric had planned with John to go to a metal concert on the border of Austria and Hungary this evening (they would have left around 2 PM so he hadn't planned to do the ice cream excursion with us), but when he woke up he wasn't feeling great = just really tired and not up for a concert. He was still feeling that way so we told TJ we'd maybe go again on Sunday.

Eric grilled hot dogs/brat's and I cooked up veggies and we enjoyed an easy diner at home, listening to the music from Shandor's party. One of the highlights of this evening was skyping with Marci and Dejah and then again with Nate. What a wonderful invention, skype! As the sun went down we were careful to leave lights off as the mosquitoes are so fierce and our windows have no screens - but it's too hot to close them as we also have no AC in the apt. Eric made me go in the bedroom and close the window and door so the light I needed to skype didn't attract the little insects. When I was finally done I turned off the computer and the lights, plunging the entire apt into darkness. It was so hot TJ was having a hard time falling asleep and he was afraid to lay on his little bed awake and alone. I laid down by him. placing a cold wet wash cloth on his tummy and tickled his arm until he drifted off. Eric and I lay in the dark, listening to the loud music and singing going on just outside our little yard. It made me smile.

Sad, Angry, Frustrated!!!

Friday, June 11, 2010
Once again I was teased awake by a dream, this time in a panic! I dreamed I was taking pictures somewhere in Europe. I reached into my camera bag to change lenses when I suddenly noticed the bag was empty. I awoke with my heart racing, a feeling of certain dread filling me. Jumping out of bed and rushing to the suitcase where I had packed my very expensive Olympus E-510 camera, I searched frantically. GONE! Knowing it was useless but unable to stop myself, I tore through the 3 remaining suitcases that were stacked along the wall of our temporay bedroom (just as I had done that first day searching for my laptop and TJ's Wii). And just as before it was impossible to find what was no longer there. Bursting into tears I sat on the edge of the bed, my sense of loss overwhelming.

Not only was this camera very expensive - one I had dreamed of owning for so many years and so happy when I finally got it, what it held was even more precious! I had backed up the pictures from my laptop (yes, the one that was stolen) onto extra SD's that I had tucked into my camera case. Looking at it now I realize that putting them both in checked baggage at the same time is like having both parents fly on the same plane while leaving your kids home with nana...no problem unless the plane goes down! OK, a drastic comparrison but the one that comes to mind.

I begin searching the internet for claim forms to report stolen items from checked baggage. Lufthansa has a really cool site but there is nothing that really helps me. They address many issues like missed, delayed or cancelled flights, missing or damaged luggage, what to do if you leave your glasses on board - but it's like they don't want to offer a solution for stolen property as if ignoring it makes it not happen. More likely they don't want to alarm their customers by alerting them to this danger. What I did find plenty of was post after post of people who had things stolen and their frustration at never getting any satisfaction from the airlines. Not just Lufthansa, all of them. Of course the obvious thing is to never put anything in your checked baggage you don't want to lose, right? Sounds simple. In my case I had few options. My camera case with lenses was large and heavy as was my laptop and TJ's Wii, not to mention I already had maxed out my allowable carry-ons with items that are essential when traveling alone with a 6 year old.

I have spent the remainder of my day writing letters, finding a place to make copies of my baggage claim stubs, airline ticket and receipt for my laptop (yep - for some reason I had that in my papers instead of on a boat with the rest of our stuff), and then finding a place in Papa where I could fax it all to the 2 Lufthansa #'s I found (one in Germany and one in NY). I'm not hopeful this will be addressed, let alone resolved, but I had to do something. sigh I need to make my peace with this since it happened and there's no way to change it. I've had to make my peace with so many things the last 6 months - I should be getting good at it!

On a happier note, we went and signed out lease this morning. We will be allowed to move in on Tuesday. I'm excited to be able to start getting settled here.

Different Things I Like!

Many things here are different. The language, the culture, the money, the kitchens, the toilets...the list goes on and on - and we've only been here 5 days! On the way back from the base today, TJ and I discussed the word different. Often we think that different equals bad or weird. We talked about how much of the food here is different but yummy and that people talk different but cool. We agreed that from now on, when we say the word different, we are going to translate that word to automatically mean, good or cool, yummy or interesting! I've decided to begin a list of things that are different that we like while they are still novel enough that we don't become so accustom that we forget it's different. I suspect his list will be constantly edited and added to over the next 2 years:

* Separate blankets. The queen size bed came with 2 twin size comforters instead of one larger one. Not sure if this is the norm or not but I like it! I'm usually either too hot or too cold compared to Eric. No more tussels over blankets!

* 2 way windows and doors. With the turn of the handle, the windows in this apt either swing open or tip out from the top while staying secured at the bottom for air flow. NICE!

* Privacy blinds. These same cool windows and glass doors have plastic blinds on a track that you lower or raise with a cord. Hard to explain but very cool. They have vents for air if you want along with the privacy or you can close them up completely. They are on the outside of the window so out of reach from little hands.

* Hanging your clothes out to dry. I remember my mom doing this when I was little. I still love my clothes dryer for convenience but I forgot how nice everything smells drying in the sun. And I love not using the electricity if I don't have to. So while I will still use the dryer I get from the base I will also opt for air drying much of our clothing when possible.

* Boxed milk. No one was more surprised than I was when TJ announced that he LOVED the new milk. What I love is it's shelf stable so I don't have to keep so much in the fridge. I suspect that it's not the best choice if we had organic milk that requires refrigeration as a choice - but since we don't I will embrace the good things about what we do get.

A day of Firsts

Thursday, June10, 2010

I woke up around 4 AM from one of those dreams that are so vivid, it lingers in your mind for a long time as if it is a memory of a real experience. 8 hours later it still feels that way. Dreaming, I walked through a doorway and to my right I saw my mom sitting in a comfortable chair and smiling at me. I immediately went to her and wrapped my arms around her in a tight embrace - the kind reserved for someone dear to you and much less fragile than she was in the last few years. "Oh mama, I have missed you so much. It's good to see you!" I pulled away to look into her smiling eyes and even in my dream I suddenly remembered that she had died less than 2 months ago. What happened next was pretty interesting. I smiled back at her and said, "I know this is a dream and that you aren't really here, but I'm going to enjoy this time with you and remember how much I love you. Thank you for being here with me." I can feel in my mind how warm her palm felt as she reached up to rest it on my cheek, pure love coursing through me as we smiled at each other. Then I drifted away and one dream faded into another until I woke with the memory of my sweet mother resting in my heart. As tired as I was I struggled to stay awake and hold onto this dream. It felt as though my deepest desire, to give her one last hug and say my goodbyes in person before she left us had been granted. There was no grief, no saddness - only sweet peaceful joy in being together. I feel like just as I have journeyed away from my family for a time to live in Hungary, my mom has journeyed to another place far from me. And just as I will return in a few years to America, there will be a time when I will once again be in my mothers presence and we will have much to talk about. This dream of her, so real and yet with none of the grief that has filled me since her passing, is a first. I hope for many such dreams.



Another first, Eric took TJ and I to the base. Soooo different from the ones in the U.S. Before he drove through the gate, TJ and I had to get out and go to a window at the guard building and show them our passports. This visit was so I can get a photo ID to come on base by myself, but that process takes about a week so this time we had to remain in Eric's presence. While we were getting our guest passes, Eric drove through the gates alone. Apparently only the driver is allowed to remain in the car while the passengers must go through on foot. Hmmmm, not sure how that will work when it's just TJ and I going through. Maybe their goal is to discourage me from going on base without Eric? I had the distinct feeling as the guard took our passports and began entering data into his computer before finally giving us guest passes that it must have felt very much like this not that many years ago at other check points in more somber times. I found myself being reminded that the freedoms we have grown up with should not be taken for granted.



Another first, driving a car in Hungary without Eric. This is the first time I have moved to a new place as an adult and not personally driven there! I am very independant and like being able to go where I want when I want. And I love exploring new places. But I have never before lived in a foreign country where my language is in the definite minority. I've never lived anywhere (since getting my drivers license at age 16) where I have gone 5 days without driving around. But today I was NERVOUS! We started small. After Eric left for work TJ and I talked about where we might want to go first. He suggested we go to "that big store down the street" (the Inter Spar) "so we don't get lost!" LOL Good plan. So we braved the streets of Papa and drove a few city blocks to our first destination. Piece of cake! The next 'first' was to purchase something on our own. Eric has been trying to teach me the forint, which is the Hungarian $. We really don't have room in our tiny kitchen for anything so we walked around becoming familar with what was on the shelves, picked up a few non-refrigerator type items and checked out with my Visa. Someone is seriously going to have to teach me how to buy produce here. I've tried to buy bananas twice but they need a sticker on them with a bar code and I can't see where to get that taken care of. That's my next challenge! After that I was feeling confident and wanted to try a few more things. The rest of the afternoon consisted of finding an ice cream shop (a different one than our fisrt walk into town) and conveying that TJ wanted a vanilla and chocolate twist cone. We even got the correct change figured out! Woo Hoo! Armed with his ice cream cone, we next found the Aldi (a smaller grocery/sundry item type store) and bought a few things with forint. Next we went in search of the house we're going to rent, which I managed to drive directly to, thank you very much! And finally we searched out a more direct way to walk from the new house to downtown, a route with a biking path so we can ride our bikes there. I am sooooo glad I ventured out. Papa already feels more like home and less of a mystery.