Listening

While I was working, I took a sales seminar on "Overcoming Objections." I have to say it was not overwhelmingly helpful for my job, but I have found it really useful for working with E & L. Kids are by nature, really difficult to work with - they want what they want when they want it. Talking them out of whatever it is they happen to want - when they want it - is a chore for a diplomat. Equally challenging is talking them into something you want then to want; when they are absolutely opposed to that idea.

I have often thought that my two were the king and queen of opposition. But yesterday in the park, while playing in Muenster, I noticed that the other German mommas were trying equally as hard to organize their preschoolers too.

Apparently - not listening - to any language spoken by parents - is universal!

Planes - Buses - Cars

We made it. Three planes and about 28 hours later we had made it. There were some interesting moments - like the bus ride to the main terminal in Frankfurt. Then we sat a bit and then another bus ride to our plane to Muenster.

After arriving in Muenster we took another bus to our friends house.

We then broke the cardinal rule for beating jet lag and took a nap. Seriously, I could not have stayed awake for all the money in the world. After our nap, we took a trip to the store and had dinner.

Then we went to sleep at 9 pm and slept until 10:15 am this morning. I still feel a bit disoriented but by tomorrow I should be good as new.

I also have to say kudos to P. He was a great help with the little people, which is good as he has one on the way.

I will share one humorous story. We flew on a very small British Aero Space turbo prop to Muenster. To board the plane, we had to climb the shakiest looking stairs I have ever seen. Everyone was in a big hurry and they all apperantly needed glasses - as they shove past me, holding L's hand, with the car seat backpack on, with my purse and E in my arms. I mean - no problem I could stand there all day. I will say one kind gentleman did stop, to inform me that E's shoelaces were untied! Oh, ok I will get right on that with my extra set of hands.

But all in all the trip here went better than expected. I have a great friend and great kids!

Passport - check.... Sanity, uh? check

Yep! Got the passport! the airline tickets! the suitcases packed! New toys/coloring books for the little people! Gifts for the people who so graciously extended me an invite to stay with them (oh, what were they thinking????)(E-books loaded on the Palm. & music too!) Sanity - sure, ah maybe???

So you are wondering about the monologue? Well, I am off to Germany for a trip. Going to be staying with friends and family. I am going to be traveling from the north of Germany all the way to the south and then back up north again to return home. It is going to be a great trip. Which I am going to be making largely solo - with little people. H is meeting up with us for part of the trip, but mostly it is just me. I am flying over with our good friend P. He loves me and the little people! Really he does, but what he loves more is my extra cargo space.

I have a very important travel rule. Take no more than you can actually manage and carry! So even though the 3 of us (me and 2 little people) are entitled to 2 undercarriage bag each (total of 6) - I only have 2 packed. I can only manage two suitcases, with a stroller, a preschooler, my purse and diaper bag. So that is all I am taking! Done deal. P gets 4 extra slots. He is in baggage heaven!

So, while I may not be posting alot over the next few weeks, do check back, as I plan to post pictures as I can and offer some comments as to my travels. So live life to the fullest while I am away!

It's that time again....

Yes, the primaries are coming this fall - and that means the TV commercials from hell are coming back. It also means that the mudslinging is in high gear; which also means that many well educated adults will have forgot the sage advice their mothers' offered them in the 3rd grade - mainly "If you haven't got something nice to say, then say nothing at all!"

Now on the upside, many well educated, witty adults will be generating very catchy bumper stickers for your driving pleasure. Like the one I saw tonight:

" I rather liked it better when the president was getting screwed."

Yes well didn't we all!

But then it gives all something to blog about too. Like this wonderfully written entry from my friend. I have not laughed so hard in weeks! Sadly that is something I might dream about too!

But seriously, I wish they would focus on the issues (cuz there are some doozies! that need to be addressed ASAP!) Like that pesky little police action - oh wait that is the one from the 60s- I meant to say the war on terror and health care and social security could use a bit of assistance.

But I am not going to hold my breath - I am just going to keep my TV viewing to a minimum.....

Random Questions

My college roommate sent this around and indicated she most wanted to hear my answers, so naturally I had to answer! Since I missed the Thursday 13 this week, I thought I would post this instead!

1. What time is it? 11:07 am

2. What is your full name? Thoughts from the edge
3. What are you most afraid of? feeling like I did not do enough
4. How many grandkids? none, we are 20 years from that I think
5. Have you ever seen a ghost? No
6. Where were you born? Columbus, Ohio
7. Ever been to Alaska? No

8. Ever been toilet paper rolling? Once, it was really dumb

9. Ever loved someone so much it made you cry? Yes

10. Been in a car accident? Yes
11. Croutons or bacon bits? real bacon

12. Favorite day of the week? Thursday

13. Favorite Restaurant? Starliner diner in Hilliard, Ohio
14. Favorite Flower: lily of the valley & daisies

15. Favorite Drink: Shiraz or Vanilla Stoli Martinis
16. Favorite ice cream: Can't eat it - but I do like Chocolate Sorbet
17. Favorite fast food: Chipolte
18. What color is your bedroom carpet? cream

19. How many times have you failed your driver's test? 1 (Yes I hit all the pillions!)
20. Before this one, from whom did you get your last
email? my dear college room mate
21. What do you do most often when you are bored?
I have two kids, what is bored again??

22. Bedtime? 10 pm

23. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest?
not sure??

24. Who is the person you sent this to that is least
likely to respond? H
25. Who is the person that you are most curious to see
their answer? J
26. What kind of car do you have? Chrysler Pacifica

27. What are you listening to right now: nothing
28. What are your favorite colors: green
29. How many tattoos do you have? 0

30. How many pets do you have? none
31. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Egg
32. What would you like to accomplish before you
die? Travel to all the places I have not yet been (I have a list), run a half marathon, get a novel publish, and learn to knit
33. How many people are you sending this e-mail? 11

Cut and paste this on your blog for fun! Have a great weekend!