I need to start off this post by letting you all know that Fritz’s pathology report came back and he is going to be okay! The doctors got all the tumor and there shouldn’t be a re-occurrence of the problem! Hubby and I are rejoicing tonight!!!

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I was sitting here thinking of Uschi and Volker and the wonderful time I had with them in Berlin. So, I went through all the pictures we took, found my favorites (way too many, so this is a tad long) and made a montage.

Watching it brings tears to my eyes, as I recall the time spent with my dear friends! I hope I will be able to make a trip back, soon!

Berlin June 2010 Germany from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

As I said the video is a little long, but full of smiles and doggies and happiness!

Okay, I know I have pretty ugly feet. I accepted this long ago. With feet, there is not much you can do about it either. Just cover them up and hope that no one asks to see them, and that your partner doesn’t break off the relationship when he or she does!

Why am I bringing up feet right now, when all my thoughts should be surrounding Anneliese and our trip to Germany?

I woke up yesterday morning with “Shrek Feet”!

See the similarities?

It has been unmercifully hot here in Berlin. Last night when I went to bed it was nearly 90 degrees just in my room and not much cooler outside! So, yesterday morning when I woke up and my two feet looked like meatloaves, I was more than a little concerned.

I decided I needed water. I drank and drank, but noticed that the liquid was just staying put. Uschi and I went to the Apotheke and spoke to the Pharmacist who gave me an all natural fluid pill. Eventually I should get rid of the fluid. (and so far they seem to be working)

We came back home, I drank a ton of liquid and took my pill. Then we both sat with our feet up and watched TV.

Even Anneliese came out for a while. Uschi’s dog Noah, went outside under the sprinkler, so until he dried off, he was kept out of the house. Anneliese didn’t mind that at all!

In fact on this trip, Anneliese has made herself right at home. She loves her Uncle Volker and her Auntie Uschi, and considers their furniture, her furniture!

Yesterday we also went to a discount shoe store and bought a pair of sandals for the trip home. I still cannot get my puffy feet into my shoes, so velcro sandals to the rescue!

On my last day here, we are going in to Potsdamer Platz. It is a wonderful area to shop around, and most of it is well shaded. I am taking Uschi and Volker out for a meal today and Potsdmer Platz has many nice restaurants there. If Uschi’s and my feet hold up, we may walk around the Tiergarten and enjoy the sights. If our feet give out, we will have Volker drive us back home.

It is hard to believe that my time in Berlin is at an end. I so enjoy spending time with Uschi and her family, and going to the beautiful places in this country! Germany will always be my second home!

Some of you asked how Uschi and I met. It’s really quite amazing but here is our beginning.

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It’s funny how we started out. I’d gone to a (German language) dog web site where there was a chat room. At the time I was trying to learn some German. (Unfortunately I am one of those people who is not linguistically gifted. )

While there I left a message that I was looking for a pen-pal. Uschi replied to the posting and we have been together ever since.

The first postings were formal. I learned she was born and raised in Schmölln, Germany. She was an Engineer, married, with a daughter, and a yellow Labrador, named Gilli and currently living in Berlin. I wrote to her about me. I was 42, fighting my weight (even then), married, with one daughter, and two dogs. A White German Shepherd, Max and my beloved Shubi.

Over time we would write about what we were doing, what we were thinking, what we were cooking or where we were going. We set up our computers so we could chat online and each day at 3 pm my time and 9 pm her time we would meet to chat!

It was a year before we actually met each other. Then Uschi and her Hubby came to visit us here in the USA! We went on a road trip. Two dogs, and four people in a camper. We went to Niagra Falls, St Louis, Branson, Huntsville, Alabama and then on to Washington, DC. What a blast!

A year later I went to visit them in Germany while Hubby stayed home. Our Max was ill and Hubby didn’t want to leave him. It was so great to be there with Uschi and to visit Berlin after being away from it since 1990.

When Shubi got sick, Uschi helped me find my Greta and she made most all of the arrangements for us to go over and pick her up. This time Hubby came with me and we enjoyed a week with Uschi and her Hubby!

Meeting Uschi is so special because she is now a sister to me. I know I can go to her anytime and pour out my heart and she will listen and love me anyway. She understands my heart and we share so many interests and concerns

We have been through life’s most difficult moments and been able to be there for each other in a way that many other friends simply cannot. I am truly amazed at how a woman from Schmölln, Germany, and a another woman from Falmouth, Massachusetts, could find each other and become sisters!

I  am so very lucky to have found her!

Nine years ago I met my best friend, Uschi. It’s a day I won’t soon forget because our friendship has grown over the years and we have become sisters. Each year I celebrate this day because it was a special start to one of the most important relationships in my life.

So Happy Anniversary to my dearest Uschi!
Thank you for being my friend!

I got a surprise today from far away! My best friend, Uschi sent me a bouquet of roses from Germany! They arrived just at the right moment to make me feel very happy and much loved!

Aren’t they beautiful?

Thank you so much Uschi!!!

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I do not do quiet well. In fact, aside from my 1 hour a day during the week when I watch “All My Children” on TV, I am usually puttering around keeping busy.

However, since the doctor has forbidden me to do much for a few days, I spent the day sitting, cuddling with dogs, and well, not doing much.

That is, until the idea hit me! Why not Christmas shop? All I needed was a computer, a credit card and the ability to make a list of people to buy for.

I found some great deals, and fabulous surprises for the ones I love. I didn’t get it all done, but I did get a lot of it done, and that made me very happy.

I also spoke to my house sitter and she is coming over on Friday to go over everything with Jack and I for the upcoming trip that we will go on in 9 days!

Hubby is doing the chest therapy for me, by pounding on my back to loosen the congestion in my lungs. Fritz and Arnie do not like that at all! They both come running and try to stop Hubby by using their noses. Ah, my wonderful boys!

Hubby went out and did the grocery shopping today and bought enough dog food for a month. We will not have to worry about them running out of food while we are gone. He also brought home the most wonderful swordfish ever and we enjoyed that.

Well, time to rest again and get well. I refuse to get any sicker and by tomorrow I want to be feeling a lot better!!!