I posted a little something about the wedding I attended this summer. That's my old Vox blog that I converted to a Wordpress blog when they shut it down. I'm doing Reverb10.

Tags: reverb10
Current Location: los angeles
background noise: the dishwasher

Wow! I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted!! Lots has happened.

We went to Paris to celebrate our victory over the Windpocken! That was amazing. We took the overnight train from Berlin, and arrived in the morning. It was great.

Unfortunately after all the medication I was on, my immune system was shot, so I returned to Berlin and spent another week or so in the apartment. The worst of it was these darn fevers. When I finally felt well enough to venture back out, the weather had changed and now everywhere inside was kept super warm. I've never been good with changing temperatures, but this was too much. I kept uttering things like "they are trying to kill me" when we would walk into a store that felt like it was 80F.

We were actually out at one of the main train stations (the East one, not the West one) when we learned about the alert issued by the US for Americans traveling in Europe. B has actually left me sitting at a Dunkin Donuts (where I was drinking water) to go get some supplies at the grocery store in the train station that is open on Sunday. I was reading Twitter and saw the announcement. What fun.

I can't believe we have been here nearly 3 months, or that we leave in less than 10 days. It really flew by - well, maybe not the six days in the hospital.

The weather was cooperating for a while. The rain had stopped, and the temperatures were in the low 50's. That's not so bad really. I did go out a couple of times by myself and took some photos. I probably won't upload them until I return.

We also got to go to Hamburg to see how other Germans live. People have warned me that Berlin isn't like the rest of Germany.

We hopped on the ICE train, and were there in no time. We didn't have access to a printer so we had to get the tickets at the train station. We actually could have just boarded the train and paid there, but decided to go to the ticket counter.

The woman told us the next train was at 10:17am. I looked at the clock - that gave us about 7 minutes to make it. We just had to go down three levels in the Hauptbaunhof. We got off the escalator as the train was pulling into the station. We ran to get to the right car.

I'm happy to say that I have kept a journal for this trip. A paper one. I hope to write some of the stories down. I did get a very interesting look into the German culture. I also hope to return. There is so much I feel that I didn't get to see.

Tags: berlin, how do you spell adventure
Current Location: berlin
i am feeling: thoughtful
background noise: hamburg song, keene

Oh yes, I got the Pox. I thought I had had it as a baby. That's what my Mom told me. That could be true. You can apparently get it again.

We arrived at the hospital almost 2 weeks exactly after B was diagnosed. I figured it would be quick and easy. Worst case they want to draw some blood. I'd be given a prescription, we'd go to the pharmacy, and be home within the hour. Well, that was my plan. It wasn't theirs.

We were sent up to the dermatology department. The doctor who saw us was named Homer (like B's dad). He examined me, and then determined it would be best to admit me to the hospital for a few days. No really, that is what he said.

He called in the head of the department for a consult. He remembered B. He told us basically that having chicken pox as an adult can have serious complications. It can get in your brain. It can get in your lungs.

They didn't think B could take care of me properly. That he would leave me in the apartment alone, and if something happened, I would be in trouble. So, checked it, it was.

First though they wanted to draw blood. Did I mention I fear needles?

I was brave, and it wasn't bad, but I was told to sit outside and wait. I told B I felt dizzy. I could feel my field of vision going. Ears were ringing, there wasn't time. I cried out, Help, but was gone. Only about 5 seconds.

My eyes never closed. My pupils just dilated really big. I saw the prettiest color blue. And for those few seconds, there was no such thing as chicken pox. I was not about to be taken upstairs and be abandoned by my husband and forced to endure a hospital stay in a foreign country where I did not speak the language. This could not be happening.

I woke up with my legs in the air, being held by none other than the chief. Dr. Homer was at my side. A nurse was putting cold paper towels on my forehead and telling me it was okay.

Amazingly I felt refreshed. I could tell that my fever had broken. While it was true I hadn't eaten, I think that was a panic attack gone very bad.

The good news is that my waiting was over. They found a gurney and took me up to the fourth floor. All I saw was the ceiling. I had no idea where I was in relation to anything.

I am home at the IKEA house now. I'm getting tired, but will write more. My left arm got infected at the site of the catheter for the IV. I'm a southpaw, so this has been the worst of all. Plus it was painful. Still is, but showing signs of getting better. They wanted me to stay for another IV (I confronted them on this one - hello - that's what caused the problem, um no.) I actually was released because I had a party to go to. I am such an American.

Tags: adventure, adventures in berlin, berlin, germany, the pox
Current Location: berlin
i am feeling: tired
background noise: hamburg song, keane

Thanks to everyone for all the comments! I'm glad to see so many of you still here. As you might be able to tell from the title of this post, things have gotten a bit crazy.

On Thursday afternoon, B was diagnosed with chicken pox. Really, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

He came home Wednesday evening from the office with what looked like a very severe case of acne on one side of his face (that everyone was too polite to say anything about). I thought for sure he had a food allergy. When you eat at restaurants and don't really speak the language, you never know for sure what you might be eating. And while the German diet is fairly tame, you just never know.

He was tired, but otherwise in fairly good spirits. We ate dinner and then headed out to get more water. You have no idea how guilty I feel for not going to the grocery store that day.

We bought six 1.5 liter bottles of water plus a bottle of orange juice and a 10-pack of toilet paper. We went to the store closest to us, but still B insisted on carrying the bulk of the load. As we got back outside I could see that the other side of his face was starting to get all bumpy. Again I questioned what he had eaten, or maybe he had washed his face with some soap in the restroom. He couldn't think of anything.

He went to bed, and the next morning thought that maybe he had the measles (per Dr. Google). He had a fever and a mild sore throat. He had felt like the wall hit him on Sunday, and had been a bit sluggish since then. He had notified his boss and the office was working on finding him a doctor. I told him to call his mother. She was the only one who would know what he had had as a baby.

She wasn't sure which of the 3 of them had had what. But someone did have the measles. She also reminded him that his new brother-in-law, upon returning from a three-week honeymoon in Europe, came down with the chicken pox. He told her to email a photo to his sister.

His sister texted back that it looked just like her new husband's face. I asked if she had gone to see Dr. Jerome (long story, but he was the (awful) wedding singer at their wedding - he was also a trained medical doctor). I had always been taught to believe that in adults chicken pox would knock you on your butt. When it went around at my work, people were out three weeks, down for the count.

The ER doctor in Germany said that chicken pox on its own isn't bad. It's uncomfortable, but really not that serious. What can be serious are the complications when people don't take care of themselves. Okay then, chicken pox it is. Deen wins the prize.

B has been quarantined to the house for a week. That means I get to play nurse, and cook and maid. I'm really not complaining, but clearly this is not how I intended to spend my time in Berlin. His sister sent some helpful tidbits at which I just had to scoff - you did this with access to a maid and a driver plus your mother and mother-in-law. I'm doing it in a foreign country where I don't speak the native tongue, in an apartment that isn't mine, and where I get to walk or take the bus to the store.

Last night around 10pm, I noticed several bumps starting to swell up on my arm. It couldn't be. Could it? B said worse case I could go to the hospital and get a shot. The thought of that I couldn't even begin to comprehend. You see, I hate shots. I am beyond a big baby about it. And I'd have to go alone. No, no and no!

You see, when that outbreak happened at my work some 15 years back, I remembered seeing a form my mother filled out for school about my health. It listed a bunch of ailments and asked the parent to check all that the child had had. My mom had only checked the box for ear infections. I remember thinking that for sure I was going to be the next victim at my office, so I called my Mom.

She told me she lied on the form. She didn't want them to think I had been a sickly child. Really, that's what she told me. She said I had had all those diseases when I was a baby. I didn't have anything to worry about. And sure enough, I did not come down with chicken pox. Now I was thinking she lied about lying.

Thankfully the welts from last night are gone. I think it was maybe a bug bite or something. I can't say I feel great, but I am grateful that I have been taking vitamins for at least 6 months daily. I wish I was drinking more tea.

Tags: berlin, chicken pox, germany, how do you spell adventure, i'm not making this up, my mom
Current Location: berlin
i am feeling: drained
background noise: all i have, beth nielsen chapman

It's been a while, I know. LOTS has happened. I went to Manila, and then about 12 hours after returning learned we were headed for Berlin. Yes, as in GERMANY.

I have a passport that expired without a single stamp, and now I am a world traveler. My rock star status has been kicked up to notches unknown to mankind. Just wait until I get through with Citibank tonight.

I'm barely adjusted to the time difference. We had to move from our original location. We moved in a taxi - it was a Mercedes. I say that counts as a move. Let's call it 28.3.

It's just about dinner time here, so I need to start on that as B is on his way back from the office. Since we can't remember the login for Wordpress I may have to use this journal for now. Hopefully someone is still reading. If you are, please say hello. I'm sending LOTS of postcards!

I miss all of you.

Tags: berlin, germany, leave a comment, moving, postcards, travels, woe is the life of a rock star
i am feeling: enthralled
background noise: a place called home, kim richey

I just went back almost 1000 posts. That's about all lj will let you go.

I have been posting on my blog. I actually did post every day in November, and so far so good in December.

I can't believe the year is almost over.

I really should be in bed.

Tags: brief
Current Location: los angeles county
i am feeling: cold
background noise: sleepy noises

I think this is the longest I have ever not posted here. Here are a few things to catch you up:

1. If you missed it, we eloped. And haven't sent announcements.
2. I also turned another year older. Thank you to those who left wishes here.
3. I am working on changing my name officially. I have no idea what I am getting myself into. No idea how attached I was either.
4. I am promoting a book. Not my own (yet). Check it out. Please.
5. Am starting preparations for the Mother's Day Project. This will be biggest year yet!
6. You can find me on Twitter.
7. I am going to Vegas in about a week.
8. Lists still keep me sane.

 

Tags: book promotion, lists, marriage, twitter
Current Location: los angeles county
i am feeling: anxious
background noise: come on get higher, matt nathanson

onetakemovie & I were legally married on Wednesday, February, 4, 2009 - the anniversary of our first kiss. It was a private ceremony held at the LA County court house. There were no witnesses as we took advantage of the confidential (aka rock star) marriage license. The record is sealed. It takes a court order to get a copy of the marriage certificate. It should save us from unsolicited mail.

We arrived a half hour early, as instructed. We had to pay the fee for the copies of the certificate plus the ceremony fee. We were then told to wait in the waiting area. That was the saddest part of the day. Lots of pregnant women getting married. People in jeans and t-shirts. It just felt like people didn't really take this seriously.

Our appointment was at 1:30pm. We were called in at about 1:40pm. We had to go around to the chapel, and be let in. The wait seems forever. Ironically my cell phone rang. I didn't answer it. Turned out to be a wrong number from Chicago.

Once inside, things happened pretty quickly, although it also felt like time stood still. The officiant said we were the sweetest couple she married this year. 

I think we broke every rule. We made our own rules. There really aren't any rules.

B ordered a ring while his family was still here. Since they extended their stay there really wasn't much choice in the matter. As it turned out, the ring arrived the morning of the wedding. It meant we got the grand tour of LA county. We drove across the San Gabriel Valley to Pasadena to pick it up, and then out to Norwalk for the ceremony. From there we headed to the Westside.

Neither of us had eaten more than a cup of tea and a couple of bites of baked goodies from Bakesale Betty, so first order of business (after switching shoes) was to find something to eat. It was after 2pm, so we headed northwest and tried to figure something out. I remember talk of a Jewish Deli in Culver City that had been there over 40 years. I thought it was called the Rock 'n Rye. Google correctly routed us to the Roll n' Rye. The food was plentiful and delicious. I had a chicken salad sandwich on sourdough and B got the cheese blitzes. The homemade pickles were to die for. Learned that they were a family recipe.

Next it was off to the W in Westwood. Gigi^* at the front desk noticed the note B put in the reservation (that it was our wedding night), and upgraded us to the WOW Suite. Oh my! WOW!! It had a living room, a separate study, along with a separate bedroom and bath. We had views of UCLA and the pool. You could actually see clear to the ocean. The weather in LA on Wednesday was 80F. Can't believe we left our swimsuits back at the house. Oh well. Next time.

We had dinner at a lovely place in Santa Monica. We got their early so stopped at RiteAide to get some cough syrup for me. I am still sick. Somehow the staff at the restaurant thought it was our anniversary. They sent over a plate of cookies with a candle. We didn't correct them. Technically it was the anniversary of our first kiss (that links to the story if you missed it).

________________________________________
^* She was also the first person to officially call me Mrs. Go aloud when she called to check on how we liked the room.

Tags: all good things must come to an end, long engagements, rule makers, weddings
Current Location: los angeles county
i am feeling: happy
background noise: london rain, heather nova

If you would like a holiday card, please fill out the survey below. Only I can see your responses. I am not one of those people who only sends cards to those who reciprocate, but I do love getting cards and would love to show B's Mom that we are loved, so here is our address (friends only, sorry).

Poll #1310440 it's the most wonderful time of the year
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: None, participants: 7

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip & Country (if outside US):

Which winter holiday(s) you celebrate?

Tags: address request, holiday cards, it's that time of year, tis the season
Current Location: los angeles county
i am feeling: hopeful
background noise: free falling, john mayer

I made it back through 688 posts, but I think it is time for bed.

I am doing NaBloPoMo on my blog. You can get the feed, beyondtheloop, if you like.

I am also Tweeting away.

Tags: my blog, twitter
Current Location: los angeles county
background noise: random noises

My LiveJournal Trick-or-Treat Haul
sweet_pickles goes trick-or-treating, dressed up as little red riding hood.
apel gives you 3 white orange-flavoured gummy bats.
arbus tricks you! You lose 1 pieces of candy!
bravestgirl gives you 17 teal grapefruit-flavoured pieces of chewing gum.
browniecow tricks you! You lose 1 pieces of candy!
faeriekissed gives you 16 brown licorice-flavoured pieces of bubblegum.
hurricane_amy gives you 12 purple passionfruit-flavoured pieces of bubblegum.
mforbes321 gives you 6 mauve evil-flavoured jawbreakers.
onetakemovie tricks you! You lose 21 pieces of candy!
princess_molly gives you 7 dark green raspberry-flavoured wafers.
sueg tricks you! You get a block of wood.
sweet_pickles ends up with 38 pieces of candy, and a block of wood.
Go trick-or-treating! Username:
Another fun meme brought to you by rfreebern.

Interesting - princess_molly usually tricks people in this meme. And onetakemovie got me back for eating his candy. ;)

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!! I had brownies for breakfast!!!

Tags: happy halloween, memes, trick or treat
Current Location: los angeles county
background noise: duffy

This month has flown by. How can Halloween be tomorrow?

We got candy for potential Trick-or-Treaters. Last year we got three kids and had no candy, so were forced to shut the lights off and hide upstairs. This year we decided to be prepared, just in case.

We bought some candy a few weeks back and HID it so we would not eat it before Halloween. Apparently we hid it really well. B found it this morning, looking for Target bags, and hid it again.

I found it and opened the bags and put in a plastic pumpkin I picked up for $1.29. I joked that the monster under the stairs who lives in the room we call the Harry Potter chamber, took the candy. I said we were now forced to wrap ourselves in tin foil and hit all the Chipotle restaurants we could, until we exploded. They are giving away food if you show up dressed like a burrito (or taco) - but you can't just put foil on your head and claim to be a burrito. Given the price of aluminum foil, you would have to hit two stores to break even on that deal.

A neighbor has a "yes on prop 8" sign in their yard. They also have two male scarecrows. I suggested setting up a wedding for Halloween. B said I was a troublemaker.

Meanwhile the neighbor to the back had a little grass fire over the weekend. They were not home when it happened. B noticed the smoke while he was in the shower.

Another neighbor rang our doorbell to alert us to the fire. He went back and checked to see what was happening (by climbing on the fence). There is a ravine filled with trees between the two fences, so it was impossible for us to get to. I told B to call 911.

He got disconnected during the transfer to the fire department. Meanwhile I tried to find (the front of) the house behind us. That sounds like it would be easy, but they are in a different development, and you can't just drive around the corner. As I headed back, I saw two large fire trucks pull up to the house along with support trucks. They went back in the yard and determined it was a grass fire and then used laminated paper maps to find the house.

Shortly after the fire trucks headed out, two Sheriff Department cars pulled up. We directed them to the fire. Thankfully it was minor, but given that it was over 90F, the Santa Ana winds were blowing, and we were under red flag alert, I know we did the right thing calling. Why none of the other neighbors thought this way is beyond me and honestly frightening.

Tags: 911 calls, candy, chipotle, dress like a burrito, fire, halloween, lafd, neighbors, no on prop 8
Current Location: los angeles county
i am feeling: mischievous
background noise: getting scared, imogen heap

Happy Birthday whatilove!!! Wishing you much happiness and love in the year ahead and always!!! Love how things are unfolding in your life and hope they continue to bring goodness and grace.

Tags: happy birthday, kiki, they say it's your birthday
Current Location: los angeles county
i am feeling: excited
background noise: happy birthday