Wow

I think this has been the longest that I've gone without a blog post. I guess life has been busy, or not busy, or maybe just strange. I feel a bit in limbo, still living in Stuttgart, but being only a month from moving back home. And it also just feels weird knowing that Nate won't be coming with us. More on that below.

We've pretty much just been hanging out in Stuttgart, enjoying our last weekends in the place we've called home since May 2007. Sometimes we'll be walking around and I'm struck by the things that I will really miss about living here (Schnitzel, anyone?). And other times I'll be sitting in my apartment when three ambulances go by screaming that shrill sound, and I'm struck by a feeling of rage at those loud beasts interrupting my quiet afternoon. I guess I'm just a bit emotional right now.

If you haven't heard, Nate is looking for a job. His company doesn't have an office in the Peoria area, so he needs to find something else. We'd been putting off the job search for some dumb reason, perhaps stupid optimism, but now that we've started searching it's a bit depressing. The job market, even for accountants, isn't so good in Peoria. I'm trying to trust, not stress, and so on, but it's very hard now that we have a mortgage and car payment.

For the time being, Nate is going to work two weeks in the States and then two weeks in Stuttgart, on and off. I'm not looking forward to the separation, and I know Elena's going to have a hard time of it. She spends half her mornings asking for "Papa", so I can't imagine how it will be when he's gone for two weeks. I'm just hoping that it doesn't have to last for long.

Look at me, I've gone off into a sad tangent. So, to keep you happy until Nate edits our Greece and Turkey pictures, here are a few snaps from the last month. Enjoy.


Oooh, a llama!


Look Mama, it's a polar bear!!!!


The goats and sheep were absolutely vicious. You could pay 20 cents for a bit of feed to come out of a vending machine. As soon as the coin clinked they attacked. As you can see, I was not so impressed.


Feeding the only patient sheep around.


Elena playing in the fountain. About two seconds after this picture was taken she sat straight down and splashed everywhere. Good times!


Me with my soccer team. I finally got a chance to play in a short game with them this past weekend. It was so much fun, and I didn't make too many mistakes. Now if only we'd won : )