So Stephen has been in the States working for just short of 2 weeks. He'll be home in 4 more days. I've been marveling at how my lifestyle changes the longer he's gone.
At the beginning of his absence I made (from scratch) chicken fried rice - it was fun, relatively easy and delicious! In the middle, I was still cooking/grilling and enjoyed some gourmet spiced turkey sausage. Last night I think I may have hit a low...pan fried spam and instant mashed potatoes. Well, I thought so, until I was at the check-out at the grocery store today.
My cart included: Cat food, wheat thins, fresh fruit, pimento spread, a frozen turkey dinner and a Twinkie. I started to laugh at myself. It was the perfect confluence of crazy cat lady and "table for one".
"Oh, common" you say, "how in the world does your cart say 'crazy cat lady'". Well...I had cat food...60 cans of various flavors. Which roughly equates to half a metric ton of cat food. Cat Food + frozen dinner = lonely woman* w/ cats :D
Stephen better get home soon...I'm not sure where this downward spiral will take me ;P
*Don't worry, I'm not actually lonely. I've got 3 cats!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
When in Rome...
...Do as the Romans!
And we sure tried!!
Stephen, Mom, Dad and I took a little weekend trip to Rome, Italy (July 3-6, 2009). We spent 4 days in the bustling cradle of civilization and took in all the sights we could.
We arrived after midnight on Thursday night. I had specifically chosen the hotel for its location. It was just 2 blocks from the train station where our shuttle would be dropping us off. The unfortunate part was I wasn't sure which 2 blocks away it was.
We set out with a hunch and about half an hr later we found the hotel. The neighborhood was quite sketchy. Homeless people, marauding hooligans...but no one bothered us. We asked about 9 people where our hotel was and they just kept saying "Keep going, straight ahead"...or some version of that.
On Friday, we did the Vatican museum and St. Peter's Square. We had our first gelati and dined in a great family restaurant not far from our hotel. It was also our first taxi experience. If you've never been to Rome, then there's no way you'd know that traffic is the most insane in the world...yea, yea, yea... you can say "sure, but you don't drive in (fill in the blank - D.C., Atlanta, Chicago). To that I say bulls***t! This is the most insane traffic in the world!!!
Cars are double and triple parked on two way streets with buses and semi's not making any attempt to slow down. Lines are on the roads, but within city limits, they mean very little. Passing is the fine art of the mentally instable. Scooters passed on the left while trucks blazed thru on the right. Oncoming traffic? No problem, they'll have to slow down or stop to get out of my way! Pedestrians have the right away...unless the car you're in can drive faster than they run into the street.
Thou Shalt Not Drive In Rome - Leave it to the professionals...and buckle up, just in case.
On Saturday, we did the Coliseum and finished the day in the most expensive and luxurious restaurant I've ever been in. The meal was an EXPERIENCE. This four course meal included appetizers, pasta, beef main dish and dessert. The walls were lined with autographed photos of celebrities from the past and present. The Restaurant had been in existence for over 100 years!
On Sunday, we went to the beach. We took the urban train out of the city center all the way to the Mediterranean coast and spent a couple hours resting on the beach and exploring the area known as Ostia. We then finished the day with a bit of comfort food...McDonald's. We just couldn't eat any more pasta. Pasta is eaten at every meal (except breakfast, but I'm sure we could have gotten it). Don't get me wrong, it was the best pasta I'd ever had. But one can only take in so many carbs and rich sauces.
On Monday we each went our separate ways. Mom & Dad did a Hop-on/Hop-off bus tour and hit all the major sites. Stephen and I headed back to St. Paul's to get photos from the inside of the Basilica then enjoyed a stroll from the Spanish steps (with all the amazing high end designer shopping), thru Piazza Republica (beautiful fountain & national museum), past the main train station and then back to the hotel where we waited to meet up with mom & dad to head back to Germany.
The weather was excellent! The only complaint was that it was so darn HOT. It was in the mid 90's every day. Not a cloud in the sky. Thankfully I brought my sun hat and spent as much time as I could under my hat or jumping from shady spot to shady spot. No one got sunburned...oh, well, except for dad on beach day, but it was very mild and he was recovered by the next morning.
The trip was just the right amount of time. Four days is just enough to get sick of the hectic traffic and strange food. I was very happy to return to the rainy, cold climate of south-west Germany but more importantly, my bed.
New photos have been posted. Check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkiwatson/
And we sure tried!!
Stephen, Mom, Dad and I took a little weekend trip to Rome, Italy (July 3-6, 2009). We spent 4 days in the bustling cradle of civilization and took in all the sights we could.
We arrived after midnight on Thursday night. I had specifically chosen the hotel for its location. It was just 2 blocks from the train station where our shuttle would be dropping us off. The unfortunate part was I wasn't sure which 2 blocks away it was.
We set out with a hunch and about half an hr later we found the hotel. The neighborhood was quite sketchy. Homeless people, marauding hooligans...but no one bothered us. We asked about 9 people where our hotel was and they just kept saying "Keep going, straight ahead"...or some version of that.
On Friday, we did the Vatican museum and St. Peter's Square. We had our first gelati and dined in a great family restaurant not far from our hotel. It was also our first taxi experience. If you've never been to Rome, then there's no way you'd know that traffic is the most insane in the world...yea, yea, yea... you can say "sure, but you don't drive in (fill in the blank - D.C., Atlanta, Chicago). To that I say bulls***t! This is the most insane traffic in the world!!!
Cars are double and triple parked on two way streets with buses and semi's not making any attempt to slow down. Lines are on the roads, but within city limits, they mean very little. Passing is the fine art of the mentally instable. Scooters passed on the left while trucks blazed thru on the right. Oncoming traffic? No problem, they'll have to slow down or stop to get out of my way! Pedestrians have the right away...unless the car you're in can drive faster than they run into the street.
Thou Shalt Not Drive In Rome - Leave it to the professionals...and buckle up, just in case.
On Saturday, we did the Coliseum and finished the day in the most expensive and luxurious restaurant I've ever been in. The meal was an EXPERIENCE. This four course meal included appetizers, pasta, beef main dish and dessert. The walls were lined with autographed photos of celebrities from the past and present. The Restaurant had been in existence for over 100 years!On Sunday, we went to the beach. We took the urban train out of the city center all the way to the Mediterranean coast and spent a couple hours resting on the beach and exploring the area known as Ostia. We then finished the day with a bit of comfort food...McDonald's. We just couldn't eat any more pasta. Pasta is eaten at every meal (except breakfast, but I'm sure we could have gotten it). Don't get me wrong, it was the best pasta I'd ever had. But one can only take in so many carbs and rich sauces.
On Monday we each went our separate ways. Mom & Dad did a Hop-on/Hop-off bus tour and hit all the major sites. Stephen and I headed back to St. Paul's to get photos from the inside of the Basilica then enjoyed a stroll from the Spanish steps (with all the amazing high end designer shopping), thru Piazza Republica (beautiful fountain & national museum), past the main train station and then back to the hotel where we waited to meet up with mom & dad to head back to Germany.
The weather was excellent! The only complaint was that it was so darn HOT. It was in the mid 90's every day. Not a cloud in the sky. Thankfully I brought my sun hat and spent as much time as I could under my hat or jumping from shady spot to shady spot. No one got sunburned...oh, well, except for dad on beach day, but it was very mild and he was recovered by the next morning.
The trip was just the right amount of time. Four days is just enough to get sick of the hectic traffic and strange food. I was very happy to return to the rainy, cold climate of south-west Germany but more importantly, my bed.
New photos have been posted. Check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikkiwatson/
Saturday, May 2, 2009
First Open Water SCUBA Dive
We did it! We had our first 3 open water SCUBA dives on May 1. The weather was beautiful, the water was cold and we had a good time.Take a look at the photos: http://www.flickr.com/people/nikkiwatson/
We drove to Waldsee, Germany (about 45 min from Ktown) and we unloaded all the gear. There was a group of about 9 of us (7 students, 2 instructors). Stephen and I were the only Americans.
After unpacking and scoping out the lake, we suited up (quite a labor intensive process). We were both sweating by the time we had all the gear on and were looking forward to the cold water.
We waddled down to the lake (because the wetsuits are VERY tight and the gear weighs about 45-50 lbs) and walked in. Our instructor gave us a few more instructions and then we descended to 5 meters (15 feet).
Yes, the water was COLD, but surprisingly, only my face got a little chilly and after that went numb, it was all quite comfortable.
I had a bit of trouble getting orientated as visibility was still poor (about 3-4 feet) and I was scared (as one should be!). But the instructor took my hand and we dove for about 25 minutes. I soon settled in to the sensations and got more comfortable around the 7-10 min mark. When we surfaced, we were about 1/2 a mile from our start point.
At the surface we got some more instructions for our next "assignment" and made our 2nd dive. This one went even better. No hand holding this time. Stephen and I did some underwater skills and then made our way back to our original starting point.
We made our way out onto the beach and back up to our rest area, took everything off, and spread out in the sun to enjoy our picnic lunch while the rest of the students went our with the instructors.
At about 2 p.m. we made our third dive which went even better. We were on the road by 4 p.m. and back home about 6pm. We both got a bit of sun and we both slept VERY well.We have two more dives scheduled for Sunday and then we will be certified!
We drove to Waldsee, Germany (about 45 min from Ktown) and we unloaded all the gear. There was a group of about 9 of us (7 students, 2 instructors). Stephen and I were the only Americans.
After unpacking and scoping out the lake, we suited up (quite a labor intensive process). We were both sweating by the time we had all the gear on and were looking forward to the cold water.
We waddled down to the lake (because the wetsuits are VERY tight and the gear weighs about 45-50 lbs) and walked in. Our instructor gave us a few more instructions and then we descended to 5 meters (15 feet).
Yes, the water was COLD, but surprisingly, only my face got a little chilly and after that went numb, it was all quite comfortable.
I had a bit of trouble getting orientated as visibility was still poor (about 3-4 feet) and I was scared (as one should be!). But the instructor took my hand and we dove for about 25 minutes. I soon settled in to the sensations and got more comfortable around the 7-10 min mark. When we surfaced, we were about 1/2 a mile from our start point.
At the surface we got some more instructions for our next "assignment" and made our 2nd dive. This one went even better. No hand holding this time. Stephen and I did some underwater skills and then made our way back to our original starting point.
We made our way out onto the beach and back up to our rest area, took everything off, and spread out in the sun to enjoy our picnic lunch while the rest of the students went our with the instructors.
At about 2 p.m. we made our third dive which went even better. We were on the road by 4 p.m. and back home about 6pm. We both got a bit of sun and we both slept VERY well.We have two more dives scheduled for Sunday and then we will be certified!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Common' Baby Light My Fire
I just lit the water heater!
I was doing some dishes and noticed that the water was just not getting warm. So, my first thought was "oh, shit, now what", then I thought "oh nevermind, it'll fix its self" and then I was like "OH NO YOU DIDN"T" and I went to the basement to investigate.
First I checked the gas gauge, to see if it was moving - it wasn't (Humm...did we pay our gas bill). Then as I was fiddling w/ gas levers to see if it would change anything, the furnace kicked on - OK, we paid our gas bill! Well, since that was burning, I decided to turn off the lights and see if I could see a pilot light on the water heater. Low and behold, there wasn't one. So I grabbed a screw driver, opened the access panel and stared blankly at the guts.
I've never seen a water heater's insides before.this just isn't a common sense skill for me. So I naturally turned to the directions posted directly above the access panel - Damn it! They’re in German...and not just "Hallo, wie geht's" German. No, it's technical, mechanical; don't blow yourself up, German. UGH! I must have missed that day in German class.
Well, I read what I can (mostly conjunctions and pronouns - not very helpful) and I try to follow the 1, 2, 3 instructions.....
Now, I’m not sure if these are the 1, 2, 3 instructions on how to light the pilot or how to initiate E.T. first contact.
I lucked out! I turned knobs, I pushed buttons, and I didn't end up w/ 2nd degree burns on my arms or ankles! Now I should have hot water in 20 min. or so.
The mystery remains thought, how'd it go out in the first place?
I was doing some dishes and noticed that the water was just not getting warm. So, my first thought was "oh, shit, now what", then I thought "oh nevermind, it'll fix its self" and then I was like "OH NO YOU DIDN"T" and I went to the basement to investigate.
First I checked the gas gauge, to see if it was moving - it wasn't (Humm...did we pay our gas bill). Then as I was fiddling w/ gas levers to see if it would change anything, the furnace kicked on - OK, we paid our gas bill! Well, since that was burning, I decided to turn off the lights and see if I could see a pilot light on the water heater. Low and behold, there wasn't one. So I grabbed a screw driver, opened the access panel and stared blankly at the guts.
I've never seen a water heater's insides before.this just isn't a common sense skill for me. So I naturally turned to the directions posted directly above the access panel - Damn it! They’re in German...and not just "Hallo, wie geht's" German. No, it's technical, mechanical; don't blow yourself up, German. UGH! I must have missed that day in German class.
Well, I read what I can (mostly conjunctions and pronouns - not very helpful) and I try to follow the 1, 2, 3 instructions.....
Now, I’m not sure if these are the 1, 2, 3 instructions on how to light the pilot or how to initiate E.T. first contact.
I lucked out! I turned knobs, I pushed buttons, and I didn't end up w/ 2nd degree burns on my arms or ankles! Now I should have hot water in 20 min. or so.
The mystery remains thought, how'd it go out in the first place?
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Day Off
I TOTALLY took a day off today! I'm so happy I did. Work has a way of getting to you somtimes so I decided to take the day off, burn some of that precious and hard to come by leave/vacation time.
What did I do today? Well, first I did some paperwork (that took me till 1130) then I had lunch with my husband. After that, I headed out to the "Walmart" type store in our area and, NO LIE, bought over $200 in wine!!! Oh, it was FUN. Stephen and I have a wine cellar in our house, so at every opportunity, we buy wine to fill it up (and of course to taste).
After the wine, I bought SHOES! Yes, my knees are shaking, it's been a AWERSOME day.
I think it was an excellent use of vacation time. Now...if I can just get my husband to take me out for dinner.
What did I do today? Well, first I did some paperwork (that took me till 1130) then I had lunch with my husband. After that, I headed out to the "Walmart" type store in our area and, NO LIE, bought over $200 in wine!!! Oh, it was FUN. Stephen and I have a wine cellar in our house, so at every opportunity, we buy wine to fill it up (and of course to taste).
After the wine, I bought SHOES! Yes, my knees are shaking, it's been a AWERSOME day.
I think it was an excellent use of vacation time. Now...if I can just get my husband to take me out for dinner.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thankful Christmas
As many of you know, Stephen and I headed back to Wautoma, Wisconsin recently to celebrate a Thankful Christmas (Thanksgiving dinner meets Christmas presents - yay!!).
We had the pleasure of seeing lots of family and even a few friends. I must take this moment now to apologize to Chrissie and Karla - Ladies, I'm so sorry that we couldn't make it down to Milwaukee. Believe me, I realize what a sh***y friend I am that I didn't even call. Please forgive me!.
Stephen and I made out like bandits! Mom and Dad were so generous! I also have to thank Stephen for loosening the purse strings as we did a TON of shopping...oddly it was really basic stuff (bras, undies, teeshirts). We arrived with one suitcase and left with two!
In addition to Thankful Christmas, we got a chance to visit with my youth pastor, Soozung who was in the area very temporarily - it was fate! Soozung was the youth pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Wautoma when I was in Jr./High School. She recently had her first baby, Robert. He was 8 weeks old the day we met them. SO cute, very good baby. We all took turns holding him - you MUST see the pictures.
I rounded out my trip to Wisconsin by visiting my very good friend Becky, her husband Steve and baby Ian (who will be 1 year old in Feb.). I must say, he is the coolest kid I've ever met!!! Becky is an awesome mom. I hope I can be as cool as she is when the time comes. Again, you must see the pics (when they finally get posted)!
All-in-all we REALLY enjoyed our visit. The weather cooperated (f**king cold and snowing - but to be expected) and we got a chance to visit all the hot spots in Wautoma ("hot spots" - ta hee!). Thank you to everyone who spent time with us and a HUGE thank you to my parents - your hospitality and generosity can not be matched!
We had the pleasure of seeing lots of family and even a few friends. I must take this moment now to apologize to Chrissie and Karla - Ladies, I'm so sorry that we couldn't make it down to Milwaukee. Believe me, I realize what a sh***y friend I am that I didn't even call. Please forgive me!.
Stephen and I made out like bandits! Mom and Dad were so generous! I also have to thank Stephen for loosening the purse strings as we did a TON of shopping...oddly it was really basic stuff (bras, undies, teeshirts). We arrived with one suitcase and left with two!
In addition to Thankful Christmas, we got a chance to visit with my youth pastor, Soozung who was in the area very temporarily - it was fate! Soozung was the youth pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Wautoma when I was in Jr./High School. She recently had her first baby, Robert. He was 8 weeks old the day we met them. SO cute, very good baby. We all took turns holding him - you MUST see the pictures.
I rounded out my trip to Wisconsin by visiting my very good friend Becky, her husband Steve and baby Ian (who will be 1 year old in Feb.). I must say, he is the coolest kid I've ever met!!! Becky is an awesome mom. I hope I can be as cool as she is when the time comes. Again, you must see the pics (when they finally get posted)!
All-in-all we REALLY enjoyed our visit. The weather cooperated (f**king cold and snowing - but to be expected) and we got a chance to visit all the hot spots in Wautoma ("hot spots" - ta hee!). Thank you to everyone who spent time with us and a HUGE thank you to my parents - your hospitality and generosity can not be matched!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
First Snow and Thanksgiving count down
Hello everyone!
We enjoyed our first snowfall this weekend. It's simply beautiful! It started on Friday with just a few inches of accumulation late in the evening, it melted away by Saturday afternoon and snowed a few more inches Sat. evening.
We're supposed to get snow for the next few days so we may be enjoying a white Thanksgiving.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am excited to be hosting Thanksgiving again this year! Stephen's parents arrived last Wed. and will come to our house for dinner. Additionally, my mom's eldest brother, Bud, has also recently moved here and he and his wife will be joining us for dinner as well!
Watch out! 2 worlds will collide - The Watsons and The Rasmussens. Don't worry, there'll be pleanty of wine to keep everyone relaxed and festive :)
So I bought my Turkey yesterday (15.9 lbs) and I got the potatoes (1 metric ton - mashed potatoes are pretty much the only reason Stephen wakes up on Thanksgiving...though he's not opposed to the delicious bird and pies!) and I've got makings for green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole (compliments of Ellen). My "Beth's Holiday Relish" is chilling in the fridge already and the pies are slated to be baked today or tomorrow - Thank you MIL!! We will have a feast for sure.
Isn't it interesting how traditions develop? Let's take, for example, my Thanksgiving dinner:
Turkey - the bird will be grilled, yes, grilled. This is the way that Stephen's family has done it for years. It's super easy and it frees up the oven for other yummy dishes. Stephen's Dad does the grilling which frees me up to make other things.
Potatoes - ok, nothing special here, they're just same old mashed potatoes that have been made for generations: potatoes, milk, butter, mash.
Green Bean Casserole - I'm certain this tradition started from the back of a package of French Onions but I'm happy to continue it!
Sweet Potato Casserole - this is new this year...sort of. My family has always had sweet potatos as a part of the Feast...The Watson's haven't. I introduced them last year, but they didn't get the warm welcome that I expected. So this year, I'm trying a different approach, a small casserole rather than a few whole potatoes. Additionally, this dish is being contributed by my friend and colleage, Ellen.
Holiday Relish - perhaps the most delicious side dish on the table, the Holiday Relish recipe was given to me by a good friend from Augusta, Beth. I first brought this along with me when I attend my first Watson Family Thanksgiving to make them fall in love with me...it seems to have worked because it is now requested each year. No lie, i've got 4 quarts of the stuff chilling in my fridge right now and that may give us leftovers for just a day or so.
(M.I.A) Ribbon Jello - anyone who has ever attended the Rasmussen Thanksgiving (my Mom's family) is well acquainted with the Ribbon Jello. This dish is a masterful piece of art! It takes about 2 days to prepare this jello. It is layer upon layer of jello flavors topped with whipped cream. Absolutely delightful - way to much work! I made my first one last year, and much like the sweet potatoes, people didn't warm up to it like I had hoped. So this year, no ribbon jello...at least at my Thanksgiving.
Pies - a delightful finish to an increadible feast and provided by Scootie, Stephen's mom. I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for a bit of Pecan Pie...probably since last Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving may just be the answer to everyone's problems. It shows us how to work together as a team while making choices to please everyone - and in the end you either have an increadible meal or a good story...perhaps both.
We enjoyed our first snowfall this weekend. It's simply beautiful! It started on Friday with just a few inches of accumulation late in the evening, it melted away by Saturday afternoon and snowed a few more inches Sat. evening.
We're supposed to get snow for the next few days so we may be enjoying a white Thanksgiving.
Speaking of Thanksgiving, I am excited to be hosting Thanksgiving again this year! Stephen's parents arrived last Wed. and will come to our house for dinner. Additionally, my mom's eldest brother, Bud, has also recently moved here and he and his wife will be joining us for dinner as well!
Watch out! 2 worlds will collide - The Watsons and The Rasmussens. Don't worry, there'll be pleanty of wine to keep everyone relaxed and festive :)
So I bought my Turkey yesterday (15.9 lbs) and I got the potatoes (1 metric ton - mashed potatoes are pretty much the only reason Stephen wakes up on Thanksgiving...though he's not opposed to the delicious bird and pies!) and I've got makings for green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole (compliments of Ellen). My "Beth's Holiday Relish" is chilling in the fridge already and the pies are slated to be baked today or tomorrow - Thank you MIL!! We will have a feast for sure.
Isn't it interesting how traditions develop? Let's take, for example, my Thanksgiving dinner:
Turkey - the bird will be grilled, yes, grilled. This is the way that Stephen's family has done it for years. It's super easy and it frees up the oven for other yummy dishes. Stephen's Dad does the grilling which frees me up to make other things.
Potatoes - ok, nothing special here, they're just same old mashed potatoes that have been made for generations: potatoes, milk, butter, mash.
Green Bean Casserole - I'm certain this tradition started from the back of a package of French Onions but I'm happy to continue it!
Sweet Potato Casserole - this is new this year...sort of. My family has always had sweet potatos as a part of the Feast...The Watson's haven't. I introduced them last year, but they didn't get the warm welcome that I expected. So this year, I'm trying a different approach, a small casserole rather than a few whole potatoes. Additionally, this dish is being contributed by my friend and colleage, Ellen.
Holiday Relish - perhaps the most delicious side dish on the table, the Holiday Relish recipe was given to me by a good friend from Augusta, Beth. I first brought this along with me when I attend my first Watson Family Thanksgiving to make them fall in love with me...it seems to have worked because it is now requested each year. No lie, i've got 4 quarts of the stuff chilling in my fridge right now and that may give us leftovers for just a day or so.
(M.I.A) Ribbon Jello - anyone who has ever attended the Rasmussen Thanksgiving (my Mom's family) is well acquainted with the Ribbon Jello. This dish is a masterful piece of art! It takes about 2 days to prepare this jello. It is layer upon layer of jello flavors topped with whipped cream. Absolutely delightful - way to much work! I made my first one last year, and much like the sweet potatoes, people didn't warm up to it like I had hoped. So this year, no ribbon jello...at least at my Thanksgiving.
Pies - a delightful finish to an increadible feast and provided by Scootie, Stephen's mom. I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for a bit of Pecan Pie...probably since last Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving may just be the answer to everyone's problems. It shows us how to work together as a team while making choices to please everyone - and in the end you either have an increadible meal or a good story...perhaps both.
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