You might be wondering why I would title this "OH what a world, what a world..." well, have you ever had one of those days when you got up and the sun was shining and you could just tell it was going to be one of the most beautiful days you have ever lived? Well, yesterday wasn't that. Actually, it started in the afternoon on Thursday. The rain started, yet again, and then the wind started. We aren't talking a gentle breeze, no no, we are talking gale force winds...that weren't going to stop for a while.
Friday morning comes around (no it wasn't bright and sunny...I get up too early for that right now anyway) and after a night of hearing the wind blow so hard that you would have thought the roof was going to take off, I got to get in my car and drive my happy butt to work. It was still raining like anything and the wind made you definitely drive slower and with both hands on the wheel...unless of course you were one of those daredevils on the autobahn with a death wish...then disregard the slow and both hands. I get to work wondering why with the weather as it was, they hadn't cancelled school...but hey, like always, no one asked me. So time goes by (because I always seem to get to the school extra early, just in case) and then it's time for the buses to show up, but guess what? Many weren't going to be on time...why? Because of the weather. Not a problem for me since I have my gifted enrichment first thing in the morning and I knew all of mine were staying in their regular classes for party/fun day.
So I am sitting there in my classroom, which by the way happens to be on the second floor of a portable building, listening to the wind blowing, the rain tearing down (no gentle falling, it was on a mission), and the acorns slamming into the roof, and occasionally what sounded like a branch slamming into it also. The beautiful trees that I normally love to look at through the window right by my desk were swaying to and fro, then bending more and more and more. Needless to say, I closed my rolladins (the window covers...they are on the outside of the windows) and pretended that it was going to be ok. In all truth, I didn't want to be looking out and see some witch riding by on her bike with a little dog in her basket.
Guess what? I know this may be hard for some people to believe but Germany can get hurricanes, and we were in the middle of Hurricane Joachim. Now wouldn't you think that people with half a brain would think that maybe walking kids out in torrential rain with winds strong enough to knock down trees was not a good idea? Yeah right, some still had those poor little kids out in that weather rather than just contacting the specialists and saying, "hey since the weather really sucks you think we could cancel the normal class with you, or could you possibly come to our room so the kids wont have to go out in this weather." I know my 4th graders for specials showed up in the morning. The 5th grade teacher whose class I had yesterday emailed and asked if I would mind going to their room...she is a wise woman.
The weather continued, but hey at least it wasn't snow so less chance of me not being able to fly out on Sunday. The end of the day came about and I made my way home...luckily a lot of the really bad weather had passed. Unfortunately a lot of really pretty trees were now on the ground :(
I goofed around, repacked my suitcase as it was too heavy and since I am not really sure how much I am allowed (depends on whether you believe the travel agency, the airport site, or the plane site) I figured better to take the time to adjust things (fingers crossed it is OK now).I did some laundry, talked some on phone and email to the kids, read for a little while then went to bed, figuring I could sleep in till 8 am or so. Wrong...6:30 am comes around and guess what? I had forgotten to shut off my alarm...OOOPS! So I got up tried to find something to keep me occupied until the airport shuttle showed up (at 1 pm). Time was dragging to say the least. But the sun was out and it was starting to look like it was going to be a beautiful day!
Finally, the shuttle shows up and we are on our way. We cross over into Bavaria and things started to change...the sun disappeared. You remember watching those old versions of Frankenstein where the sun is all but blocked out by the grey clouds and its dreary and rainy and well you get the pictures...that was my first view of Frankfurt (funny thing, we drive by Darmstadt to get to Frankfurt and Darmstadt is where Frankenstein's castle is). It's rainy and dreary and the shuttle lady tries to make me get out at the airport...despite the fact that I made the reservation to take me to the hotel that I am staying at tonight...I didn't want to risk bad weather in the morning that might have made me miss my flight...which of course its not supposed to be bad weather at all...obviously because I made reservations to come today. I have never heard a German woman use such profanity until today...she really liked saying shiza (or however you spell it). I thought she was pissed at me but then figured out she was mad at the people in charge at the shuttle place for not telling her I was going to an airport hotel not the airport. So anyway, she got me to the hotel and I sat here for a while kind of bored...not much you can do when everyone back home is asleep.
With nothing else to do I went downstairs to find out when the restaurant opened...it wasn't opening today :( but luckily the bar was open and I could get some dinner there. What a dinner it was. OK, I wont say it was cheap, but not much choice considering where the hotel is and there is nothing close by and its rainy out. So I went with their local cuisine meal. OMG they have the best potato soup...its a creamy potato soup with bacon and fried onions in it...yum!!!! Then I had the beef with horseradish sauce and parsley potatoes. Can't really say it was all that great, but to tell the truth I am not really a big fan of German food anyway...kind of bland. You could barely taste the horseradish. I wanted that sauce to stand up and slap me in the face so that my nose would be nice and clear....that didn't happen. It was good but not great. Then for dessert; walnut ice cream with a slice of apple strudel with vanilla sauce on it. The meal started great and ended great. Needless to say, there was a lot left on my plate but I did enjoy the meal none the less.
So now, I have gotten back to my room (which is not bad at all of 47 euro)...wish I had some shorts or a bathing suit with me since they have an indoor pool and sauna...silly me not thinking of those things. I could have taken out one of the goodies I was taking with me to bring those, but noooo I didn't plan ahead. Anyway, got back to the room, took a look at the TV shows...just like in the States...120 stations and nothing on (OK, a lot on but all in German), took a shower, wrote this blog entry, and now that I am at the end, I think I will see who is up and around back home so I can say hi! Tomorrow, back in the States! (well for a visit at least).
Merry Christmas everyone (or in German minus the correct letters, cause I dont know how to get German letters on here...Frohe Weinachten)
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