A bumpy arrival

I'll admit, I'm kind of a mess. In the past two weeks, I have slept in nine beds and been in eight different airports. As I was landing in Berlin, my eyes were burning in protest to being open, my stomach was screaming at me and my internal clock was spinning.

When you move to another country, especially one where another language is spoken, nothing seems easy, even things that are easy. (I say move, because being a tourist is an entirely different feeling.) For example, finding my apartment seemed like it shouldn't be a problem, but it was. That is, of course, my fault. I told the woman I'm renting the room from that I was arriving Aug. 4. Nope. I looked at my itinerary (which is in plain English by the way) and gave her the wrong date. It just so happens, that she was to be on vacation and was having her daughter meet me. I realized the error a few days before my departure, but it was too late to reach her by e-mail.

So I came anyway, hoping she would be staying at the apartment and would answer the door, and gave the taxi my address: Panufer 92. What I didn't know was there is a Planufer 92, a Panufer A, a Panufer B, all the way to Panufer E, and each had about 8 floors of apartments.

By some grace of God, after breif visions of me sleeping on the street with my two suitcases, I stopped at a closed restaurant and was able to pick up an internet signal. I found the daughter's phone number in one of my e-mails, which I didn't realize I had.

An hour later, she met me and helped me up the five flights to my new apartment. Seeing the apartment was the reward for my my prior stress. It's in one of several ornate buildings, with high ceilings and big widows that overlook a channel. Apparently, I have a roommate, but I have only seen him for about 30 seconds since I've been here.

Now I'm sitting at my dining room table, watching the sunset above the treetops.

Lesson learned: Look at the arrival time carefully. It just may have (Aug. 5) after the arrival time.

A match made in heaven

I think Amanda's wedding was one of the most beautiful that I've ever been to. So I'm a bit prejudiced, but it's hard to top an outdoor setting with views of the craggy peaks of Glacier Park as a backdrop. I got choked up the minute I got to the front to watch my dad give my sister away. The only thing that kept me in control was that I was about to sing a duet I had written for Amanda and Brad, and I really didn't want to do it with a runny nose. The song went well, despite the fact that the microphone's weren't working.





The reception was equally beautiful. Amanda seriously looked like a princess. I have to admit, I had my doubts about the band she hired, but they ended up being a lot of fun. Much to my dad's dismay, I caught her bouquet.

Lessons learned: All the stress is worth it.

Wedding stress

The days leading up to Amanda's wedding have been crazy. I impressed with how Amanda wielded a cell phone in lining up the music, arraigning the delivery of the food and coordinating decorating efforts.

We had the rehearsal on Friday night, with a dinner Amanda's mother-in-law-to-be coordinated. Many of the family and bridal-party stayed afterwards to decorate and cut fruit for a fruit salad. We did all the flowers on our own. Needless to say, trying to put together a bouquet for someone else's wedding is a little intimidating.

Lessons learned: I'm having a small destination wedding with like three guests.

Organizing a kidnapping

My main job in all of this week — the week before Amanda's wedding — was to throw her a bachelorette party. For her, I couldn't do the traditional bar hopping night, since that's not her style.

In high school, she used to occasionally house sit for our neighbor, who has this beautiful house on a hilltop just up a forest service road from us. It's owner, Pat, agreed to allow us to take over. Only, Amanda didn't know this.

She thought we were eating dinner at a restaurant in town, which we did. Toward the end of the dinner, a masked man sauntered in. I have to admit, I knew Kyle was coming, but when he walked in, with a bandanna over his face, sunglasses and wearing a hoddie, even I was a little freaked out. He blindfolded Amanda, saying "You're coming with me, sweetheart," in a raspy horror movie voice. She immediately latched onto my arm. That's when Matt entered, and we were able to wrench her hand off my arm and onto his. As they guided her out, she even took her napkin with her, which I was able to snatch without her noticing.


So that began the panicked race out to Pat's, where all the girls gathered before the guys delivered Amanda. They brought her up blindfolded, holding a Twisted Tea, which they told her they wouldn't take away from her as long as she was good.

So I have to stop there, because the rest is just girl stuff, but I will say the night involved White Russians, a hot tub and lingerie.

Lesson Learned: Kyle would make a great bank robber.

Bride to be

So this blog post is long time coming, but my sister is getting married! She's been with her boyfriend, Brad, for about four years. So he took her to South America about a month ago and proposed (good work Brad).

Since then, we've been plunged into wedding planning stress. We've picked a venue, selected dresses, talked about food, and made invitations. I've never talked to my sister on the phone so much in my life. But it is fun at the same time. I'm really happy for her, and I can't wait to be her maid of honor.

Lesson learned: My sister is such a romantic.