Shopping and Touring

I’m inside this rainy and cool Saturday morning, suffering with my self-imposed exile... and relishing every moment.  Getting my new-to-me printer onboard with the Mac, doing laundry, cleaning this huge apartment, and doing online business provided a sense of accomplishment at a leisurely pace.  A delightful day so far and it’s only noon.  This is especially appreciated as this week’s germ-share has left me rather run-down.  Part of the ability to relax is know that the next week will be rather light. 

Just having received a phone call, I now have to make a trip to the grocery store for more ground beef and taco seasoning for tonight’s pot luck gathering.  How great everything is within just a few block of walking.  Several of us are converging on Gail’s place for a pick-me-up for her.  She just had arthroscopic knee surgery and has been rather housebound as she lives up three flights of stairs.  (I’m so thankful for my bottom floor apartment!)  We (Pat is going, too) will be picked up and driven, making it much easier.

Yesterday our other neighbor , Julia, asked if we would like to drive to Lörroch for shopping.  To clear Saturday and avoid the crowded parking, we opted to go early from school.  Though having been there and shown around briefly when we got our visas, this time we explored many other places.  Pat opted to shop at a department store while Julia and I went to other places.  At the health food store we scored natural peanut butter!  Any peanut butter was hard to find before, but the PB with sugar and salt can now be found in small jars in the local markets.  We also visited a euro store, like our dollar stores, a great way to purchase basics like printer paper, and odds and ends...no nylon net bath scrubbers though.  

We met up again and headed to the huge basement level grocery store, which like many others here, carries a wide range of goods aside from groceries.  There I was able to get something totally elusive up until then--scotch tape!  Can you imagine?  Index cards here are not 3x5 but almost 2x3...lined or graphed.  With the small stapler purchased, I’m almost complete in the office supply department.  They even have quite a selection of fresh fish.  Julia, with her Japanese cultural experience introduced me to a marinated mixed fish pieces that need only sautéing for a meal. I also now have a one serving fondue cup and raclette cheese (I’m not sure about this, but it is used on some device for making melted cheese sandwiches with veggies on top--more after next weekend’s gathering).

(Guys reading this can skip this paragraph...girls will understand.)  I’m excited about one of my purchases yesterday...I now have all-weather boots!  That may sound silly, but that is something on my list since before coming.  None of my shoes from Naples would serve the needs of wet and cold weather, especially walking everywhere.  These aren’t fashion statements, but one pair is cute enough, and both have wool lining, all weather exterior, and no high heels to cause me to be klutzier than I already am, plus being reasonably priced.  Perfect!  They had so many cute styles, but spending that kind of money on leather that would be getting wet and ruined kept me in line.  

I was ready when we headed home.  By the way, did I tell you Julia’s car is a cute, two-door  Mini Cooper (do they even have a 4 door model?), one of those really adorable little cars that are so perfect for these narrow roads and the expensive gas (though it isn’t the best for gas milage).  Well, don’t be envious if you're the third passenger.  These cars really seat two people with a back seat for looks only.  Actually, it isn’t too bad to sit in, it is the getting out that is the problem.  I was on the passenger side rear seat.  Pat slid the seat forward and tilted its back forward, leaving a few inches between the front seat and the frame.  Well, the best way to describe this extrication maneuver is to imagine pulling yourself up from the bottom of a large, wide vase with a narrow neck opening.  I reached out with both hands and managed to get one leg out past the seat...just not far enough to touch the ground.  I could also get two legs out and not touch the ground.  There was no place inside to turn around for leverage to push up and out.  Well, since you’re reading this, you know at some point I did get out.  Such were the adventures of Friday shopping. 

Fast forward to Wednesday...today

We just returned from a day trip to Titisee, a tourist area and lake in Swartzwald, the Black Forest.  The rainy, cold start found us under prepared for the cooler, higher Titsiee area.  Warm, spiced wine (typical for here) and a brot helped as we ate in a glass enclosed area, but having the doors closed on either end would have been better yet.  Once fed, we perused a beautiful glassware shop (all my mind could think of was the word "breaks") and, of course, we had, just HAD to check out the cuckoo clock stores.  They were at least two shy by the time we left, as  Pat and Grace both purchased one.  What a variety: little magnet-on-the-fridge size to monstrous wall hangings.  Clocks were always a delight to Bill and me (even though neither of us cared to be governed by time), and this would have been a special day.  In memory, I did find one that would interest me, rather different than the usual.  It is elongated rather than wide, with the beautiful wood working, and three weights: time, cuckoo, and music.  However, now is not the time as it needs to be shipped home.  Maybe that will be the special memory purchase  I'll take back when I return...if there is another like it at that time. 

Why were we not with the kids at BFA, you're wondering?  It is German Reunification Day and nothing is open in the Kandern area, not even a grocery store or an apothecary.  Since we’ll have no Thanksgiving Day off here, we gave thanks for this holiday!  Actually, I have to (and am glad to) say that this is the first day of feeling better AND the first day that a constant pressing forward to prepare or do school work has not occurred.  Teaching science has allowed little relaxation on that front. This was totally relaxing, a welcome gift.  As soon as I send this is off; however, it is back to the books and preparation for class, plus there is a quiz in my German class, too!