He's German, get over it.

Let's be frank, there are a lot of things that annoy me... traffic, unruly children, people who let their dogs crap in my yard and don't pick up after them... Next time that one happens, I am going to send Scout over to their sand box for some pay back...

With that being said, I am sick and tired of people treating mein Deutscher differently because he is a German. Yes, he sounds a lot like him. Do me a favor, do not ask him to say something to you in German unless you have something specific in mind for him to say. He is not a bard and he will teach you to say something if you are specific. He will not ramble on in German just so you can hear his accent. If he does, he is probably saying something about you that you really do not want to know. I love it when he does that... Insults you to your face and walks away... Sorry if that is ugly, get over it. This is my rant.

Do not even get me started on his immigration status as you do not want to screw around with me on that at all. We both go through a lot to make certain he is here through the proper channels. He speaks fluent English. That leads me to another thing that bugs the shit out of me. Do not laugh at him. Do not be smarmy when you correct his English. How many freakin' languages do you speak? Well he speaks two fluently and is fairly decent in a third. As a matter of fact, his Spanish is better than mine and I have a Latina heritage. Can't you just look past his saying something in the wrong tense? You understood him, didn't you? Unless of course you are the pizza delivery guy, then you are completely clueless as to what he ordered. That's why I order the pizza, damn it. Yes, he makes some mistakes. Yes, sometimes the Bubbie (who is about to turn seven) corrects his father's English. He had no formal education in the English language. He learned by speaking to others and then moving here and having to speak the language out of necessity.

Another thing that annoys us both is having to hear about Neo Nazis. Just because mein Deutscher is German does not make him a sympathizer to the WWII Nazis or a member of the new regime. Hell, he was not even born until years after the war was over. It is not a part of who he is or who anyone member of his family is (or was). On our trip to Germany we spent a day at Neuengamme and my husband was as repulsed, disgusted and upset as I was as we walked through and read the signs and entered the different areas. The sign at the entrance actually read that those who enter the gates are "stripped of all rights and human dignity".... So suggesting my German is one of those is even that much more offensive.

The other night I was enjoying cocktails with some girlfriends at our local watering hole. An acquantance of mine (and the German's) stopped by my table and asked me "where is your Nazi"? I shit you not. Y'all, he called my husband a nazi!! I was floored. All 5'3" of me stood up and told this (over 6') ass that if he "ever calls my husband that again, I will personally kick his ass". I was flabbergasted that he thought this was acceptable. He just did not get how vulgar, insulting and hurtful that is/was. I do not call ANYONE a racial slur. The jack-ass that called my German that finally (a few weeks later and after being shunned by many people for calling my husband that) approached my German and apologized. My husband graciously accepted. He is more forgiving than I am in that manner. I am still a little pissy about it but realize if he can forgive than I have to as well.

Why am a laying all of this on you today? Well I am in a mood, that's why. I am tired of people being insensitive and downright rude to to other people. I have said this several times before but it bears repeating: We are who we are. We should make no excuses nor offer apologies.

Crap I've read today...

I got nothing this morning. Usually I have some little speck of something; however, not today. I have done a little web-surfing and this is what I have for your consideration this morning.....

Gigantopithecus - Real or myth?
I don't freakin think so...
What about the carnivores?
Who's your daddy?
Anybody hungry?
When you a moment and need a laugh.....
Brain food, who doesn't need some of that?

German lesson for today...

1. Bist du immer schon so doof gewessen?

2. Ist da spinat zwischen neinen Zehnen?

3. Ich habe cheezeburger?

The answers to the first is: Have you always been so stupid? And the second one is: Is there spinach between my teeth. I think the third one answers itself. At least I hope it does...

Useful information for any future trip to Deutschland...

One is silver and the other gold...

Remember that song from your Girl Scout days? Who would have thunk it that I would one day post about it? Not me, that's for certain.

I have only been in the blogosphere since May... Still such a newbie... I've gotta tell y'all something... It's been a wonderful experience. I have an avenue in which to share, vent and express myself how I see fit without being tethered. I share that I have a blog with whom I choose in regards to my family and friends so I can feel free to be as open as I damn well please. Sometimes I get things off my chest and others I post photos of a stuffed duck. I throw out the occasional German word of the day. All in all, it is very liberating.

Back to the title... I have some really good friends. Great friends that I can turn to in thick and thin. You know who you are. However, I have met some wonderful folks through this. On June 14th I met some of the folks who's blogs I lurked. (Is that really a sentence?) I had the pleasure of meeting Brittney, Kat and the famous Aunt B. I also got to hang out with Her Royal Highness, Ginger and the badness herself Ivy who's first sentence cracks me up and who is my hero for her cleaning tips which I might actually follow some day soon. I met the lovely KatieO who actually took German for fun. Who knew people did that?

There are so many more and my fingers are tired from all the linking... However, I hafta bring up that I am soooo looking forward to meeting Lynnster, 'coma and the hot new thing when they venture out this way. Which, incidentally, I hope is very, very soon... (hint, hint).

So I raise a toast to the old and to all the new, mentioned and unmentioned.

Prost!!

Madre, Mere, Mutter

They all equal out to one thing... Mother... We all have one regardless of our circumstances. Our individual relationships with them vary far and wide. I am blessed to have a fabulous one that I often refer to as the Munchkin due to her being all of 4'10"ish. I add the "ish" because she's lost about an inch in her 60 odd years on earth and she has always said that every fraction of an inch counts when you are under 5'.

We are over our misunderstanding of a few days back. I never made the phone call to her; however, she, Daddy and the Nana came over for lunch yesterday... Burgers the size of my head to be exact. Following my usual M.O., I digress.

We had good conversations, my mother and I. I am way over being upset and need to get skin just a few notches thicker. I am trying to enjoy the times I spend with the people I love and care about. After all that is what makes life worthwhile to me. I need to constantly remind myself of that little tidbit. Maybe I will put up post-it notes that will give me the "gentle reminder" I so often need when I am having a blue moment. Or maybe I should just tattoo it to my forehead. Not.

Anywho, the test results are back... Finally... News is of the good. No visible signs of cancer... The fluid surrounding her heart is nothing to be worried about and simply is a side effect of the radiation. The other problems are being addressed in the ways the docs see will suit her best. Everything will be monitored accordingly.

She did do one thing of which I was quite proud... She asserted herself with the oncologist by letting it be known she wants a brain scan. Seems lung cancer all too often metastasizes to the brain. Dr. Sandler does not think this has happened to her; however, he supports her being proactive and the MRI will be on Sunday, July 1st.

Things are looking good, no, better, than expected. If you or a loved one is ever put in the situation that Mama is in, I highly recommend Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center. I am a researching fool and it was good to find a facility accredited by the the National Cancer Institute. I will tell you up front that I pray that you and yours are never in need because this is not of the good.

Lessons learned? Follow God's commandment to Honor your Mother and Father. You will be blessed all the more for having done so.

Growing old ain't for sissies....

Credit to Bette Davis for that little gem....

But I kid you not, it's so true.... This whole pre-menopausal thing is not fun. Not. One. Little. Bit. How in the hell (thank you PG-13 rating) am I going to live through these horrific hot flashes?! Omigosh, I think am going to spontaneouly combust like a drummer from Spinal Tap. Hair is sprouting up in odd, places, ewwww!! Don't even get me started on the mood swings.... The usually rational me can go from 0 to bitch in 3.2 seconds (I probably just moved to an R rating for that one). Or if I am not getting my bitch on, then it's the tears. Who knew a Hallmark commercial could be so, well, so sad?

I am suffering through the three B's... Bitching, blubbering or burning.

Stop the madness!

Doodle Duck versus Roaming Gnomes

All hail Captain Doodle Duck... Note: If you have a stuffed duck, flight attendants will allow you into the cockpit of a 747 unattended. Nice security measure, huh?



Even Doodle enjoys his fries... Nice table manners with the fork.


Groovin' to the ipod in flight...


Looking at Germany from higher than he can fly... The chef offers a shoulder for Doodle.


Nappin' with the German on the drive to Berlin...


Awaiting room service in Berlin...


All hopped up on Gummi Bears...


Checking emails while waiting to go out...


Getting ready to go out for a little fun...




It says "Duck" so it must be Doodle's drink...


Fishing for his own kind with the help of the German.


Not only did he sit in the cockpit, he also got to drive the "short bus"


Klinde should know ducks don't have antennaes.


Tuckered out...


A kiss from Tina...


Even Doodle likes to channel surf...


Doodle suffers from hitting the mini fridge and having too much Duckstein...


Snoozing with Klinde...





More adventures later... Doodle Duck needs to rest...