Dear Diary

Mapleleaf, what tropics were you in? I understand Indonesia has some God-awfull centipedes.

Dear Diary,

I had a very interesting day at work today. Our company is building a new factory in Alabama which is supposed to be up and running in 2008. 13 people were hired who will be trained as service technicians and shift leaders in Germany. 11 of them arrived today. They will stay in Germany for up to two years, without their families, not speaking the language yet... Some of them have never been on an airplane before. We picked them up at the airport, took them to the appartments the company rented, then later on took them to the supermarket and finally a typical Swabian dinner.

It was so very interesting. All these different people, different stories and reasons to do this. I enjoyed meeting them all and am looking forward to tomorrow when we will have them registered at the town hall, take them to the bank etc. I hope I will have the chance to stay in contact with them and watch them settling in... Very courageous people!

Urs it sounds like you are talking about one of the German auto makers. I thought I read somewhere that Mercedes is building a plant in Alabama. What's a typical Swabian dinner consist of?

No, Pitter, no auto maker - we make dialyzers. There is a Mercedes plant in Alabama, you are right. Our company got a very good offer from the city of Opelika to build the factory there that's how we ended up there.

The dinner was at a old Swabian restaurant - Flädlesuppe, which is a clear broth with stripes of pancake. Potatoe salad without mayo, Schnitzel, Linsen mit Spätzle und Saiten (lentils with typical Swabian noodles and sausages kinda like hot dogs). Spätzle are important! Every Swabian housewife had to know how to make them by hand. I can't... ;-)

I can't either but now I know what a typical Swabian dinner is. Sounds a little heavy but yummy.

Yes, Pitter, Linsen mit Spätzle are a typical winter dish. It is cold here! :-)

Tomorrow, the group is invited by the city of Hechingen for a small welcome gathering and a tour around the town. I will come along to see that nobody gets left behind.

And the good news of the day: I might get another job soon. Our research department is looking for an assistant with very good knowledge in MS Office and English. This sounds like just the job I have been waiting for for almost a year now. My current boss - the HR manager - thinks I am perfect for it. She hates to loose me but knows that I am not happy with the work I am doing at the HR department now. And she already told the head of research so. So my chances are good!

I think I had some Spätzle at an Octoberfest dinner.

Yes, that is very well possible, husker. Did you like it?

Dear Diary,
I had an awful weekend.

How is it that you can give advice to others but when the same situation arises in your life, you seem totally clueless?

it was great served with schnitzle(sp)

tell us more

Dear Diary,

After three weeks, I have been able to put my cane aside. During the past 7 days, I dropped one of my four pain pills; yesterday, I dropped the 3rd one. This time, there is ringing in my head and brief headaches. Everything appeared to be falling in line until the lady we thought we had hired to help around the house didn't show. So now, I'm doing some heavy work I hadn't planned on....result...increased pain.

My daughter and her husband from Cincinnati, Ohio visit for a week. We are most proud of her. She has been suffering from MS for a decade or more. Meanwhile, she has distinguished herself in her work with non-profit agencies. In some situations serving as the director, but in recent years she has become very effective at fundraising. She has a gift at working with rich folks, especially, little old ladies. <smile>

I wasn't able to complete my yard work this fall and winter. I will probably lose some 100 to 150 bulbs I had so carefully dug up and put aside for planting. The list goes on. I do enjoy working outside, but in recent years I have had great difficultly in getting up from the ground.

This weekend we visit the world's largest acquarium. I look forward to observing our grandson.

Mapleleaf where is the world's largest aquerium? Also if you move to Colombia you can have a full time, live on the property gardener for about $250 a month.

Your grandson is in an aquarium???

Atlanta just opened the world's largest fishbowl...one of the ex-owners of Home Depot funded it.

Conor, four years old, his parents and granpa/granma Mapleleaf will be in attendance. I'm not sure one has really lived until, as an older adult, they watch a child grow from birth.

Happy, happy...

I'd love to see it. The best I've seen so far is the one just outside Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

I read about the aquarium in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Another reason to visit Atlanta again...

Mapleleaf, your wellbeing is most important - a lot more important than your garden. Please don't forget that!

And have fun with your daughter and her family!

The kind words are appreciated.

Dear Diary,
WOW! Last entry Feb 11th...I'm beginning to feel human again...just need to avoid another accident. In NW Georgia we have reached the low 70s...early blooms are up...I mowed today, which is good for me...we are getting use to having a person help us once a week...so, we're training one another.. ...our community theater is presenting CATS...since our community (Rome, GA) has an abundance of formal music training, it should be worth attending. Love the bright rays of sun coming into the house...pumps me up, probably better than the pills I take.