The best compliment so far about my beard has, quite surprisingly, come from the person who hates it the most. Jen and I’m sure she wishes now she hadn’t said it, blurted out that I looked like a young Santa Claus whose beard hadn’t yet turned white. I accepted this compliment with great enthusiasm and hence have decided to keep the beard even longer than originally planned. Apparently, as she has just informed me, it was meant to be a negative statement and was intended to encourage me to shave. HA, BACKFIRE, I associate Santa Clause with all things good (who doesn’t?) so, all it did was serve as encouragement. I mean, everybody loves Santa Claus, so I am thinking it isn’t a bad thing to be associated with him, even if it is only by my soon to be wife. Besides, I no longer have to impress anybody with my looks (well, one person, but she already said yes) so, I hereby nominate and support Keep Your Face Warm and Look Like a Young Santa December!! Stay tuned: soon to follow, Bust into the New Year Burt Reynolds Mustache Month (January).
Our first stint in Germany is currently coming to an end. We have spent the last five months living in this beautiful country playing handball and it has been an experience. Jen and I are currently over the Atlantic on an Air Canada flight (I would recommend flying with them whenever you get the chance) and just viewed the film Up (if your thinking funny animation, you will be disappointed). We left from Switzerland a few hours ago and I must say, if you have the choice/chance, I would also recommend flying from Switzerland as often as possible. You do not have to removed shoes or other articles of clothing and fingernail clippers, etc, are not confiscated. Very refreshing, especially when you walk through the checkpoint and it is doesn’t smell like someone’s old sneakers.
The last two weeks have been a rollercoaster ride for Jen and I. Like the song that plays constantly on German radio, we have been up and down like a jump rope. BTW, I hate this song, it is annoying and awful and will stay in your head for days, not hours, DAYS and it will drive you crazy. Handball finished okay. Jen’s team won easily, Jen scored 4 goals which gives her an average of 5 goals for the last three games, since returning from Poland. We expect this trend to continue if not grow after the break. ESV Weil tied, played very uninspired and can’t wait to play the team again at the end of the year so we can smash them.
Fast forward one week. We have been in the glorious United States of America for a week and everything I was writing about before is moot. I don’t remember the thread I was on and I don’t particularly care. I even shaved my beard. Young Santa is dead. Which, as it turns out, was a big mistake, cuz it’s freaking cold in New Hampshire and my face appreciated the cover. Regardless, we have been immensely enjoying our time in the States, the first two days included a Lobster and Steak, Surf and Turf if you will, dinner for my birthday followed by an evening of appetizers and steak and chicken with friends. I forgot how good meat is here. Don’t get me wrong, I love wurst and all its variations, there isn’t a better brat in the world than in the D-Land, but here in America we know how to do steak and it is good.
Moving on, my parents and sister flew into Boston on Friday and it has been wonderful to see them and spend some time with them. Jen’s parents through us an engagement/cocktail party on Saturday night. Good people and good times combined with some wonderful hand foods and good drinks. An absolutely fabulous evening. Jen managed to get her hair cut and her eyebrows waxed by a competent person while we were in Boston, this made her very happy and in turn, made me happy. We also enjoyed cheap Sushi while in Boston, something apparently foreign to Germans, so that was good.
I also got to experience one of the best activities a man can in the wedding process last Wednesday. I was mislead early in the morning, Jen told me I had to go shopping with her and that if I went we could stop at Dunkin Donuts on the way (we really miss Dunkin Donuts in Germany, coffee to go and sausage, egg and cheese croissants are hard to let go of). Naturally, this is all I needed to hear. Magically, when we arrived at the store to shop, I was handed a gun and told that whenever I saw something in the store I wanted to have, all I had to do was put the gun at it and I would receive this thing in six months at my wedding. This happened at all three stores we went to that day. That is the way to shop! Registering is amazing. I will be receiving stuff I don’t need and may never use. Also, when Jen wasn’t looking I “shot” some things she had previously said no to. I guess the jokes gonna be on her when she opens up the gifts after the wedding. Ha. Can’t wait to get my Wii.
Jen’s mother surprised us with an early Christmas present the day we got home, she had bought us guest passes to the local gym so for the first time in 5 months we have been able to work out daily in a gym stocked with equipment. It has been great to workout daily and to stay in shape while on break. Lifting weights feels really good when you haven’t had the chance to do so daily for quite some time.
We are very excited about the tournament taking place in NYC post New Years. Jen and I will be down there to check it out and meet some people and watch some good handball. There may even be a chance to play a little which excites us both.
We hope everybody is enjoying the season as much as we are. Being around family and friends and being back in the States has so far been wonderful and we are enjoying it full throttle. Marry Christmas to all. I have some presents to wrap and I am not so good so I gotta get started. Peace, love and presents.
No comments:
Post a Comment