The Disappearance of the Sun and Sunny

Dear faithful readers,

Sorry, I totally bailed on you this last month.  It has been a tough one and let me tell you why.

#1.  The sun disappeared.  The sun rises at 8:30 (after the kids are at school), and sunset begins at 2:00 with complete darkness by 4:15 and we haven't even hit winter solstice yet.  I am feeling weird, like I live in a cave and it is bumming me out.  Even when the sun is up, our house is so so dark.  And because this is Europe and my electricity is run by garden gnomes pushing cogs and wheels I have to use the lowest watt energy saver bulbs, and even those burn out.  I can't see during the day it is just too dark around here.

True story: never ruined any electronics from surges in Manila, in Brussels I have lost a 6 year old computer to an electric surge despite it being plugged into a surge protector.  Stupid.  Good thing I hated that computer anyway.

#2.  My house has a grave deep moat around in, an no they are not turning us into a castle.  I think it is to put our bodies in after they kill us from the noise that starts at 6:30 every morning, and don't get me started on the lack-of-parking situation.  It sucks, just leave it at that.  They are scheduled to be here until March.  It rumored to be gas people fixing it but I think it is the Grim Reaper and his helpers.

Stella and I had fun, Seth and Tiger were sick, sad, clowns.  

#3.  We went to Disney for Thanksgiving.  I am not a crazy Disney gal but I have now been to every Disney park but Tokyo.  It was not a good trip.  Seth ended up with a fever of 102 and Tiger was right there with him.  They were achy and sad and whiny and it was cold.  Little hint folks, when Disney offers an amazing deal in Disney Paris, it is because the park is unpleasantly cold.  Which is what it was.  Also, I'm going to level with you, the French are amazing for so many reason and in so many ways but smiling has never been their strong suit.  Going to the happiest place on earth without smiling employees makes you feel a bit jilted.  They just can't fake it, perhaps their smiling muscles are not exercised enough.  Whatever the deal, I don't think it works as well as other Disney places.  They should have built it in Spain or Italy, the Spanish are a happier lot (at least when it comes to showing their teeth and smiling).

#4.  I wrote a chapter for a book.  It is a foreign service moving thing and I contributed a chapter.  I felt like I couldn't blog until I got that thing finished, which I did, on the day it was due.  Some things never change.

#5.  Passing.  That's right suckas, I passed my French test.  Guess who caught up.  No courage comment this time.  Instead she said, "Tres bien, Sunny" which still irked me that I got any public commentary but what can you do, I can't change the world, I can just write about it.

#6.  Moving, French, Plans.  Faithful readers what do you think?  I like French, I have paid for next semester but I won't finish it and I will be in the middle of a move.  Do you think I should continue on studying French just for the joie de vivre or should I be realistic and quit and give myself free time again?  I need to decide this weekend because that is when registration is.  I am FINALLY getting to a point where I can talk like a person and not a caveman.  I just learned future tense and we are threatening to start past, once I have that I won't sound like such a present tense dork.  BUT...I am mentally checking out, I don't know if I can stay motivated.  Please include advice comments below.

#7.  Sinterklaas. The slightly racist saint of gift giving.  I can't get over his helper Zwarte Pietre (Black Peter), but I love how excited the kids get over this tradition.

Last night my babes put out their slippers (and one for Gary of course, not pictured)

Setting up for Sinterklaas.  Stella decorated and included our nativity scene.  Despite being a Saint, Sinterklaas does not deal with baby Jesus, but decorations always make things festive.  

Today they opened up a few gifts and ate chocolate for breakfast.

Tiger loving his new helicopter.

#8.  My annual cancer scare.  I had to go the doctor this month for some weird pain in the upper girls.  Turns out I don't have cancer but I do have a cyst and that's not cool.  The doctors are not worried but I don't like it one bit.  This has inspired me to get more healthy and eat and drink better which has led me to #9.

#9.  Quitting caffeine.  I know, right, a Mormon girl quitting caffeine should be easy.  I'm not a coffee drinker, right?  Right but I do get caffeine in me for the same reason you drink your coffee.  I have kids and I am under slept and overworked.  My drug of choice: chocolate and coke zero.  After the doctor visit I decided I want to reduce the stress in my life and apparently caffeine works as a simulated stressor to give you that energized feeling.  So, I decided to quit it.  Here's the thing though, it kinda sucks.  My head aches and I don't like it.  Not one bit.  I was a light caffeine drinker too, so I feel for those who are getting 300 mg of caffeine a day because my 100 mg habit is sucking to break.  

#10.  Christmas.  It's around the corner and I am excited but this year I am not feeling inspired like I did last year.  I might visit a market or two but I might not, it's just cold and dark and I am having a hard time feeling like I want to get cold and smell boiling wine to look at stuff I won't have room for in my future 1200 square foot DC home.  

#11.  Cruising.  The one thing getting me through this time is that we booked  a cruise before we leave. I am excited and can't wait to warm up in the Mediterranean.  If only I can get past Winter Solstice, then I will make it.