My Life – Page 134 – The Dackel Princess

Getting Back

I worked hard today to get back into gear with my life. I was up early, showered and made my breakfast to bring along with me to Weight Watchers.

Yes, today I faced the scale.

My heart was in my throat as I recalled all the wonderful food I had eaten in Germany (not to mention the beer!). I stripped down to my usual boxer shorts, and tank top and stepped on the scale and ……….

Down .2 pounds!!!!!

Okay, I realize that 2 tenths of a pound isn’t a big deal, but if you could see what I ate while visiting Uschi, you would have been convinced that I would have gained at least 5-10 pounds! HA!

After class I had my yearly mammo, and then came home to make lunch for Hubby and me.

I’d hoped to be a bit more productive today and I started to email with my cousin, and I actually fell asleep in the middle of that. This whole sleep thing is sad. Maybe it’s not Jet Lag, maybe it is a cold or something.

Tomorrow the plan is to get out and get some exercise in the hopes that I will feel better. I’m going to ski in the morning and then make a nice dinner in the evening.

Meanwhile I am watching Anneliese carefully. I just have this very good feeling that she is, in fact pregnant. Just a couple of weeks and we will know.

There Is No Nightlife!

I have come to realize that I do not cross time zones easily. Going east to Europe I seemed to do okay, but had the overwhelming feeling of utter exhaustion for several days, but it was nothing a good strong cup of German coffee couldn’t cure.

Anneliese and I did rendezvous with the great out of doors at 2:30 in the morning for several days, but soon she fell into German time and we both slept through the night.

Hot flashes seemed to occur at any time, as my body could not decide where the heck it was in relationship to my menopausal symptoms. I kept a sweater by my side so that I could cover up with a chill or pull it off when I flashed!

Then I came home.

At first I was nearly punchy with lack of sleep. I went 22 hours without sleep that night. I hoped that this would help me get back to East Coast time quickly, alas I was wrong. It just seemed to make it worse.

I would sit here in the evening with my head bobbing, my vision doubling and eventually my eyes closing and my jaw opening to let lose a giant snore.

I tried taking a nap. I thought perhaps this would help. I slept like a baby, but it didn’t help at all. You should have seen me last night, all decked out in my pajamas, snuggled in my blanket with the dackels all around me. I was trying to watch the CBS comedy line up, but really only made it through “The Big Bang Theory” before going into my sleepy trance!

Hubby tried to get me to stay awake and I tried. Really I did. I even sat in this chair with my eyes open, as if I were truly awake. Finally when I noticed the clock read 9:30 I gathered up the dackels and Fritz and off to bed I went.

30 seconds later, I was asleep!

Today I have tried another avenue. I have stayed awake all day, and at 4:00 this afternoon I made myself the strongest cup of coffee and drank the entire thing. So far I am awake, but then it is only 6:45 PM.

I think it will be a little longer until Anneliese and I are back on time. However, I heard today that this is the weekend that we “Spring Forward” with the clocks!

Just what I need! Another time change to conquer!

Home

Hubby picked Anneliese and I up at the airport last night. The flight from JFK to Boston was delayed, so we got in late. I was exhausted! Anneliese was too.

Hubby brought the other three dogs, and although I was concerned about all the craziness in the car affecting Anneliese, it turned out that all was well and it gave all the dogs a chance to get used to each other before we got home.

The flight from Berlin to JFK was fabulous. I had a good seat, a pleasant seatmate and Anneliese was a dream. And surprisingly, the Captain that flew me over also flew me back! Small world, yes?

Today her heat is easing up, and this is a little bit of an indication that perhaps she is pregnant, although we will not know for another month.

It was tough to say good-bye to Uschi.

I will say that the airport staff was so nice to both Anneliese and me. Do you see my green brocade suitcase? It held up just fine thus, I think I will have this K-Mart special a little longer!

However, it is good to be home and to be sleeping in my own bed with my own pillow.

Today was laundry day, but the rest of the day I kicked back and didn’t do too much. I am hoping for a longer night sleep tonight (I was awake at 2:30 this morning), waking and feeling like my old self again!

I hope to be visiting everyone else’s blogs this week. I’ve missed hearing what’s going on with you!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Leaving On A Jet Plane…

By the time most of you check in and read this, Anneliese and I will be on our way back to the States. We’ve had an incredible time, seen some old and some new places, and met some great people!

Uschi and I have talked until our jaws ached, watched movies, played with dogs and hopefully helped Anneliese become a Mommy.

But now I return home to Hubby and my other three babies. I sure have missed them. When I look back and remember how Hubby brought me here, as a new bride and showed me a city which will always remain special in his heart, I couldn’t help but wander around with my head full of the memories that we made here together.

But now I hug Uschi and Volker and say good-bye, thanking them both for all that they did. And I think how lucky we are to have each other!

All my bags are packed
Im ready to go
Im standin here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin
Its early morn
The taxis waitin
He’s blowin his horn
Already Im so lonesome
I could dieSo kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that youll wait for me
Hold me like youll never let me go
cause Im leavin on a jet plane
Dont know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Weight Watchers In Germany

As you all know, I have been following the Weight Watcher Plan for over a year. I have lost 54 pounds, and became a Lifetime Member in early January! Part of the benefits of this is that I can go to a meeting free of charge anywhere in the world. Last night I decided to take advantage of this and go to a meeting here in Berlin.

As I have mentioned before, Germany has many more Weight Watcher products in the stores. Every time we have grocery shopped I look to see what items they have. I wish we had the number of soup mixes, fresh meals and deli cold cuts that are available here.

Okay, back to my story about last night. We drove a short distance to a local community center where the meeting was being held. Uschi served as my translator because my German is very poor, and I have found that many people under the age of, say 35 do not speak English too well. I think also, people who do not use their English here forget it or perhaps lose their confidence. In any case, my Uschi was there and translated it all for me.

We walked in and the leader greeted us and it turned out that she and Uschi are well acquainted! Uschi explained that I was a Life Member and that I wanted to come and share a meeting with them. I was warmly greeted and I went through their products (available only at meetings) and bought a few things, including a cook book with many German recipes and their point values.

Then women began filing in and all were seated as the meeting began. Our leader was a kind and gracious woman. She smiled a lot and she answered the questions that the women had. She introduced me as a Life Member from the “Fatherland of Weight Watchers, America”!

I smiled and told them I had lost 54 pounds, and then I passed around my before and after picture, which I had brought with me from home. The meeting lasted for 45 minutes and at the end I asked if it was okay to take a few pictures of their set-up.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to go to this meeting and to share the struggle of weight loss with women from another country. You see, it doesn’t matter where you are from in this big world of ours, most women want to be fit and trim and to feel good about themselves.

Today I will be packing up and getting ready to fly home first thing tomorrow. I cannot believe how the time has flown by. It seems as though I have just gotten here. I am also sad because I do not know when I will be back to see Uschi and her family or when she will be able to come to me.

I think I will not wear too much make-up tomorrow, for I know that the tears will fall when we hug for the last time and say good-bye.

Berlin!

Last night we got to the gate at JFK and boarded the plane for Berlin. I was just settling in my seat when they announced that we had to de-plane and move to another aircraft due to a bird strike on the engine! Sounded good to me. Remarkably, we were not too delayed and got off only an hour and a half late.

Anneliese traveled well and never made a peep in the plane or while we waited in the airports. This is how she traveled. Right in front of my seat!

Here is a picture just after we arrived.

We came back to Uschi’s house and Anneliese finally did her wee-wee. I was thankful. She is now getting settled in.

Uschi´s daughter and grandson came over and we had a great time with them. Anton is just the sweetest child and he already has picked up some English!

I am very sleepy tonight so I will sign off for now and make more sense of this tomorrow!

It’s Not Enough

I’ve been packing my suitcase. It’s the size that I can carry on along with Miss Anneliese. After spending several hours packing and repacking I have decided, it is simply not big enough!

In this day of baggage limits I find that a normal person cannot pack for a trip within the “rules”. I finally got out my packable space bags and put everything in those. Now I have my outfits in them with the hopes that they don’t pop mid-air. Should that occur, I’m totally screwed! Imagine the mess my 15 year old suitcase will be!

Yeah, my suitcase is 15 years old. It is also nothing very special either. One day I was in K-Mart and I saw this suitcase with a nice print on it. It cost me all of $12.99! And it has a handle and wheels, which after 15 years of being brutalized by travel, still work. I love this suitcase and when it finally falls apart, I will be extremely sad.

I also packed Anneliese’s little soft sided carrier. The back has a pocket for her things and I put in her little panties, her pads and some bones and crunchies. Now Arnie sits next to the bag looking longingly at the back pocket!

I took Anneliese to Weight Watchers on Wednesday. I wanted to desensitize her to large, noisy crowds. Well, she did just great! In fact she only barked once, never shook and seemed to enjoy the activity around her. Her little panties were a real hit!

Well, back to packing and organizing. Something I simply am not good at. Oh well, somehow we’ll make it over and hopefully so will my clothes.

This, That & Anneliese

I’ve been sort of quiet today after waking up with a silly old winter cold. You know, the kind that makes you have chills, sneeze a ton and feel all filled up. My answer to this was to stay in my pajamas until 10:30 this morning and then take the day off. I stayed in my chair reading things on the computer, cuddled with various dackels, and playing Scrabble.

I’ve also been watching and checking Anneliese for any sign that she is going into heat. I’m sure she is sick to death of me coming at her with a Kleenex to check her out! So far, nothing!

I have gotten all my documentation put together for Anneliese’s little rendezvous. And once she does go into heat, she must be taken in to our Veterinarian’s for an International Health Exam. They know all about it, and are on standby.

Tomorrow I will start setting aside clothes to pack for myself. I also have to go to the dentist to have a filling replaced.

Don’t even get me started on how much I detest going to the dentist. It’s a childhood thing. I just get completely unglued, even though I like my dentist and he is very gentle.

Fear not, gentle readers, I shall let you all know the moment Anneliese goes into heat. Then the fun begins.

We take Anneliese off to Germany to meet her husband!

Weight Watchers

Today was Weight Watchers. I got up and did my make-up and hair and dressed in some nice clothes. I even put on jewelry. I looked good.
I got there early, because I always weigh in, in my shorts and a tank top, and then re-dress in my warmer clothes. Tami is always there early and we talk.
Then people started coming in and I talked with them. A little time passed and they asked me if I could lead the group because our leader was delayed in traffic. So I got up and welcomed everyone and did the celebrations part of the meeting. I gave out 5 pound weight loss stars, and I even gave out a 10 % key chain! Oh I was so happy. I spoke for half of the meeting and then the regular leader, Suzanne came in and she finished.
After class she spoke to me for a while encouraging me to become a leader. Also several women at the meeting spoke to me and also said I should do this. One woman, she is very nice and recently started the program came over to me today. I had brought with me my before picture and I showed it to her and then she could see the after. She started to cry. I asked her why, and she said that I gave her hope that she too, could do this. I told her to keep my picture and to let it give her strength. She hugged me.

I think I will go to classes and learn to be a leader. It’s something I realize that I really believe in.

Blah…….

I’ve got one of those 24 hour stomach bugs that makes you just feel plain old blah! I’ve tried to work through it by ignoring it and just doing my usual work, but this darn germ is winning out.

At about 2 o’clock I took my temperature. It was 99.6 (F). Now usually my temperature is 97.5 so this little temperature of 99.6 is a big deal for me.

So I sat down.

I started having chills and then hot flashes. I’ve decided that being menopausal with a fever is a real pain in the neck. I mean, here you are already burning up with a fever, and your cute little menopausal body decides you aren’t hot enough and gives you a “royal flash”!

I’m not feeling too hungry either, but since I like Hubby I made him a nice meal of goulash and mashed potatoes. I think I will probably do something totally exciting, like make myself some cream of wheat and tea.

Hopefully by the morning I will be back on my feet and ready to go to Weight Watchers.

I really dislike feeling this way. Blah is no fun!