Just This Side of Normal

Forwarding Address

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Thank you all for your kind comments during this past month. I am feeling much better and am ready to start up again...

...so consider this your 'Notice of Forwarding Address' Card. Get ready to change links and update your readers and bookmarks.

Come join me at my new blog - But Do They Have Coffee?

See you there!

- The Cowgirl

Clearing the Dust

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:15:00 +0000

Who knew that an ear infection could turn you upside down for over a month...

This poor blog is full of dust and cobwebs. It's been neglected, just like my poor house that is also full of dust and cobwebs. In the end, I had a bad ear infection compounded by a cold virus. Basically, that equals 'I haven't been up to much of anything' for over a month. During free moments, not occupied by taking care of Little Man, I just sat and slept or rested. Reading proved a challenge because of the headaches that came from the ear pain...and therefore I haven't been commenting very much either. Essentially, I just shut down for a while.

But now, things are looking up. I am feeling better every day. And it's time for the blog to feel better too. Although, that involves a bit more work.

During my time off from blogging, I realized that Just This Side of Normal was in need of a change. A new start, just like me after this silly illness. But trying to decide exactly what that meant proved a struggle. Then it hit me...

...it's time to put Just This Side of Normal to rest and begin anew. Yes, my life is certainly just this side of normal, but while recuperating I realized there was something else that better explained my life and my attitude toward it. Like the proverbial light bulb in my head, I knew it was right.

And that's all I will share for now. You will have to wait for the name and URL just a bit longer while I clear some of this dust.

But what I really want to ask is - if I clear the dust and change a little, will you follow?

You Meant That Literally, Right?

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:50:00 +0000

While my writing abilities are still in recovery mode (along with the rest of me), I will share this with you. Yes, I've mentioned my obsession with A-ha and Morten Harket...and this had me rolling with laughter.

Pure 80s fun...

A tip of the hat to the talented artist and writer, Otis Frampton, for originally posting this today and making me smile...even in my current state of ill.

Current Addictions

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:02:00 +0000

The fog in my head is lifting slowly. I'm to the point now that I can actually sit and read or type on the computer and not crumple over. The ears aren't cleared up yet, but I can't help to think that the antibiotics are working their hardest.

Anyway...the lovely Kit, my virtual link to South Africa, has tagged me for a meme all about current addictions. Frankly, it was enough to pull me out of my blogging funk and bring me back to the keyboard. Thank you, Kit.

Current Addictions, The Rules:
* Write a post about five current addictions (with details)
* Mention the person who started this meme (Being Brazen) and also the person who just tagged you
* Title your post "Current Addictions"
* Tag at least two people and pass on the above rules

The Cowgirl's Current Addictions:

Pumpkin - It's officially fall and that means that my almost unnatural love for the flavor of pumpkin can be enjoyed without ridicule. The first batch of pumpkin cookies have been made and devoured. And since it's a cold and miserable day, I'm thinking either pumpkin bread or pumpkin muffins are in order. All hail the orange gourd!

German roasted nuts - Addiction is an accurate word for these. Any variety of nut roasted, coated with spice and sugar, then served warm in a paper cone. They are to die for. I can't go to a festival or pass a candy store without buying some. While almonds are an all time favorite, I am currently addicted to sunflower and pumpkin seeds served in this sugary manner.

German television shows - On the topic of things German, I have found myself sucked into German TV lately. Although I cannot understand 90% of what is being said, I will sit and watch German cooking shows and reality shows like a moth attracted to a flame. Funny thing is, I am not a real fan of American reality shows...it must be the cultural differences I am attracted to.

Africa - I've always been fascinated by the Dark Continent, but over the past few months I've been more drawn to it than normal. I just finished another fascinating book (Monique and The Mango Rains), watched a great movie (The Constant Gardener), and am getting hooked on African pop music (Dimanche a Bamako).

Letter from Egypt by Morten Harket - In the past I have professed my allegiance to the music of A-ha, but what I must also say is my adoration of Morten Harket's voice in general. Letter from Egypt is his new CD. Let me just say, even as he is approaching fifty (say it ain't so!), his voice is as clear as ever.

H.E. wouldn't let me put 'coffee' as a current addiction, as he pointed out that it's actually a lifelong addiction.

As far as tagging some willing participants (or not so willing)...I will tag Diane at Martinis for Two and Sabrina at Just Flossing the Teeth I Want to Keep. If anyone else wants to play along, feel free.

And I bet some of you thought this would be a post about me becoming addicted to my pain killer...

'Ears to Drugs!

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:37:00 +0000

Thank you all for your kind wishes and helpful advice. As an update, I can say it didn't take the doctor two seconds to look into my right ear and say, 'Yes, you have a really bad ear infection.' I am now the very thankful recipient/consumer of antibiotics and heavy duty pain killer.

In order to speed my recovery, the dear H.E. took Little Man to soccer on this brisk morning and let me stay in our warm cozy home to rest. Curling up on a couch with a blanket and a cup of coffee while watching 'Sex and the City: The Movie' is highly underrated as a medical remedy.

My dizziness comes and goes...and the painkiller occasionally fogs my mind...but I am on the mend. Thanks again for the well wishes. I will be returning soon.

I'm Not Normally This Ditsy...errr...Dizzy

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:50:00 +0000

Yes, I've been quieter than normal. I'm not posting much. I've been working on a post about California food for my other blog, heck - I've even got the photos edited and ready to go...but it's still not published. I'm not even very good about reading and commenting on other blogs. And I will tell you why...

...it's my stupid ears!

Little Man came down with a cold a couple of weeks ago. Being the good mother that I am, I let him share it with me. (I am sure this counts toward martyrdom or something.) However, he is currently (knock on wood) heading toward a full recovery. I, on the other hand, am not. Nope, I am plagued with something that I suspect is an ear or sinus infection. And you know it's bad, because I've actually made an appointment to see the doctor tomorrow.

And so, until my ears quit aching and my head stops spinning, I will continue to be a bit quiet.

Good health to you all.

Stupid Human Tricks

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 09:07:00 +0000

So we took Little Man home to the States so that he could spend quality time with family members he rarely gets to see. I had visions of stories being read to him, games of tag being played...instead this is what he learned...

Thanks to our dear cousins, who spent summers working on the northeastern seaboard selling lobsters, Little Man now knows the ancient art of how to lull a lobster to sleep. Which I guess, if you're a lobster, is a good thing to have happen prior to being placed into a pot of boiling water.

And so then we left the east coast for the west. I thought, a-ha! another chance for Little Man to experience quality family time with relatives he rarely sees. He can run and play. He can have stories read to him. He can...

...learn how to put a lizard to sleep.

Yep, our dear niece, a ranch/outdoor girl to the core, showed Little Man on our first day home how to hypnotize blue-bellied lizards.

Lest you think Little Man was deprived of the quality family time I envisioned, he was not. He had plenty of stories read. He played numerous games of tag. And he enjoyed it all. But if you ask what he learned while back in the States, chances are you will hear about sleeping lobsters and hypnotized lizards.

Note: No animals were harmed during the making of this post...well, except for the lobsters, but they were dinner. The lizards were allowed to wake up from their snooze and scampered away.

Cast of Characters

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:52:00 +0000

Okay, so the last post didn't include any cattle. But summer on the ranch means the cattle are off feeding on greener pastures.

However, that doesn't mean there is a lack of four-legged friends roaming around.

Let me introduce you to some of them...

This is Miss Pepper. Chances are she'd be the first you met. She's always around...usually under foot. While she technically belongs to one of my nieces, she has adopted my father as her favorite human. A morning doesn't officially begin until my dad meets her at the front door, picks her up like a child, and packs her to the barn for her breakfast. I tell you, for a man that was never a 'cat person', he sure has softened his stance over the years.

And then of course, there are the dogs. I've written a bit about them before. They are integral to the ranch, in many cases providing just as much support as another cowboy. But when they are not working cattle, it's a cushy life.

Finding them in the creek is no big surprise. Border Collies love water almost as much as they love working animals. For example, Rock (pictured here) took every opportunity to jump in and cool off.

I have a great relationship with the dogs, but this time around they weren't keen on my camera. Most pictures were like these...

A blurred one of Pete...as he tried to avoid me.

The momentary capture of Jet...before the shutter clicked and he ran.

And both Ben and Bandit trying desperately not to look directly at me.

The ranch isn't exclusively Border Collie territory. Years ago, my grandfather had Welsh Corgis. And now my sister-in-law raises them.

This is Duke. He's a doll of a dog and can work cattle or sheep with the best of them. He just wishes he had longer legs.

And then there are the long-eared dogs...err...I mean horses. While there are quite a few horses on the ranch, two of them secretly think of themselves are canines. José and Trigger must have been dogs in a previous life. You walk into their field and they follow you around, getting as close as possible, wanting a scratch behind the ear. Frankly, they are like overgrown children...and getting a photo that isn't a close-up of their nostrils is near impossible.

You will also see the sheep. A small herd. They keep the grass short and also supply meat. Let's just get this straight - I am not a big fan of sheep. It must be the whole rancher vs. sheepman thing. They just aren't the most brilliant animals on Earth. My brother has affectionately named one Stupid. She fits her name. While visiting, they needed to move the sheep to another area. I offered to follow along behind and help them along. When the sheep weren't moving as planned, I let out my normal 'hyah!'...it works just fine on cattle...but apparently not on sheep. Most of them begin to move, but Stupid spooked so bad at my command that she fell over on her back, kicking for a minute before she could right herself. Yep, that did nothing for my opinion of sheep...although it did provide a good laugh.

If you are lucky, you will also see Bugsy, the beautiful black rabbit. Seriously, sometimes it's almost like a zoo at the ranch.

Oh wait. I am sorry. There is one bovine that resides year-round at the ranch. His name is Dennis and he is my niece's pet steer. Starting his life as an orphan, my niece babied him along and then convinced my brother and father that she could keep him forever. Dennis originally lived in the orchard by the houses and my niece would play with him like a dog. But over time, he outgrew the area. At well over one thousand pounds, he now lives in one of the close fields. However, he's still just a big baby. When my niece calls his name, he comes running, bellering for her and waiting for some love.

So you see, even in the middle of summer, the ranch is never really quiet. Especially at night when coyotes come in too close to the houses and the dogs begin barking...and barking...and barking...and then my father yells at them to quiet down...but they are still awake because the moon is bright...and then the cats fight...and then....

The Ranch

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:16:00 +0000

Views from my beloved ranch.

And no, there are no cattle in the photos. They are all on summer pastures.

The Cow Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:43:00 +0000

Last year I shared two stories about roundup on my family's ranch. It takes place at the cow camp my family has used for generations. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it's like heaven on earth.

During our trip home, one of my stipulations was to go to the cow camp. I am forever telling Little Man stories of my summers spent there. Now that he is old enough to remember, I wanted him to see it first hand. We spent a day there - having a barbecue, wandering around, and playing in the swimming hole. Little Man loved it, just as I was hoping he would. Now he has a few memories too, a few of his own that he can recall when I am sharing mine.

And also for me was the chance to take pictures. An attempt to take a small piece of it home with me...

...and to share a little bit of it with you.

Entrance to meadow

Barn

Inside barn...this serves as the tack room and saddling area during roundup

Salt log for the cows...and the deer like it too

Swimming hole

Upside Down

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:44:00 +0000

Another pause from the US trip...

Do you ever feel like your life is upside down?

Perhaps you should live in this place...

Germany's Upside-Down House (courtesy of Foreign Policy's website)

Playing in the Water

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:25:00 +0000

H.E. and I both grew up playing in the water.

Two water babies.

The memories we have are similar. Riding out the long days of winter, knowing that summer would bring lazy hours in the sun. Time spent with family, splashing and laughing. Fond memories. And yet, while they are similar, the settings were drastically different.

See, neither one of us grew up with a pool at home. So playing in the water meant playing in nature's swimming pools. This is where our memories differed.

This is H.E.'s idea of water...

He thrives on the salty smell of it. Waves and currents were just an extension of the fun. It's part of their family DNA. His mom was even a beach lifeguard in her younger years.

This is my idea of water...

Five generations of my family have spent summers playing here. The water smells of almost nothing, sourced from snow and rain. The rocks making for natural slides and 'bathtubs'. This is kind of place where your wear cutoff jeans to swim.

We are still water babies. Finding ourselves drawn to these spots on our visit home. We didn't play in it quite like we used to, but we certainly enjoyed being near it.

And just for the heck of it...

These are my feet in the Long Island Sound.

These are my feet in a Sierra Nevada mountain creek.

And just in case you were wondering...both were cold.

Alone Time?

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:28:00 +0000

A momentary pause from photos and stories of home...

Little Man started school.

While talking to my mom about it the night before the 'big day', she asked if I was coping with this monumental leap.

"Oh yeah, no problems here. He's ready for it and so am I," I replied cheerfully.

Little Man, who apparently had been eavesdropping on the conversation, looked at me and said, "Because you want to be alone?"

Wow. That was a low blow.

(And no, that's not why we are sending him to school.)

Fast forward to the next morning. After telling me over and over how much he'd miss me, once Little Man walked into the classroom and saw some of his friends, it was over. He hugged my leg and said brightly, "See you later." Before I could respond, he had ran off to play.

No tears. No screaming. None of the drama that some parents experience. Nope, he was ready.

Maybe he just wanted to be alone...so to speak.

Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:46:00 +0000

Bubble floating above pool in New York

So Nice, They Named It Twice

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:45:00 +0000

Scenes from the Big Apple.

Unmistakably New York - the yellow cab.

Macy's flagship store.

The Flatiron, as seen from the Empire State Building.

Art deco design at its finest - the Chrysler Building.

Home...and The Space In Between

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:01:00 +0000

Where do you call home?

For us it is a mixed bag. Our home is mobile, wherever we may be stationed at the time. Though, at the same time, home is our place of origin. For H.E. it is Long Island. For me it is Northern California. For Little Man it is Germany, although he still thinks England is his real home.

For us, the term 'home' is more a state of mind than a location. It comes down to what we choose to define it as, not how someone else defines it. We were raised to think of home as a set place, a physical location. But in telling Little Man that we were going 'home for a visit,' he looked at us and said, 'what do you mean?' Ah yes, to him, home is that place where he is with mommy and daddy...and it changes...often. The traditional definition made no sense to him. Now we define 'home' differently.

37,000ft, somewhere over the United States

And so, we left our home in Germany to visit our other homes in the United States. One week in New York, one in California. And a lot of time spent in airports/airplanes.

The Beach, Long Island

It was fabulous. It was chaos. It was home. It was what was once home. It was what will always be home.

The Ranch, California

Back to my first question, strike that and answer this instead - how do you define home?

The Not-So-Zen Art of Unpacking

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:58:00 +0000

I am sitting in my house staring at full suitcases and a large stack of mail. We are home. Jetlag has a mighty grip on me. I will have photos and stories soon, but right now I need to pour a large cup of coffee and try to conquer the mess that surrounds me.

Until then, I will leave you with a few things I saw while on vacation...

* Way too many inappropriate travel outfits. It must be a female thing. Men were generally dressed comfortably, but the women obviously thought it a chance to strut their stuff. Who really thinks wearing a micro-mini on a 6 hour flight is comfortable?

* On the subject of dress...while driving at night through a quaint, sleepy little village near H.E.'s childhood home, we saw a young woman, rather scantly clad, leaning against a street light, reading a book. H.E. said, "That's something you don't see everyday." To which I responded, "She must be hookin' for books."

* Sign on side of car in my hometown...Square Dancing Lessons, No Partner Required.

* Celeb sighting while waiting for our flight at Heathrow...I swear I saw the actor John C. Reilly, I mean, he's got a face that you just can't miss. However, H.E. says I can't really count it because I was the only one who saw him. Note to self: next time, beat the husband awake so he can get a momentary glance of a movie star.

Okay, I have procrastinated long enough. Time to tackle the return to reality. I hope the coffee holds out.

Zen and the Art of Packing

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:31:00 +0000

Another view from Schloss Hohenheim.

Every once in a while I have a Zen moment.

Like when I load the dishwasher. That's a true art form. H.E. would call it a sickness, but we all know it's an art.

I also achieve a Zen-like state when I pack for travel.

I know I've said it before, but I used to travel a lot for business. For the sake of avoiding back strain, luggage hassle and general loss of sanity, I became an expert of efficient packing. Learning how to fold clothes to maximize space. Finding a balance between fashion and travel ease. I became a master. It's genetic actually, my mom is the queen of minimalist packing, so really I am just carrying on her teachings. Like her, I can pack for a week using only a small carry-on.

Today finds me striving for that Zen-state. We are packing for a much anticipated trip home. Yes, home to the States to visit our families. And we are traveling light...relatively. Two checked bags, plus three carry-ons. I was hoping for one checked bag, but weight restrictions are definitely a consideration these days. So two it is, with gifts taking up more space than our actual clothes.

And with that being said, I will also be on vacation from my blogs. While we will have internet access, I plan on using the time to reconnect with family and friends from whom I've been too long separated. I may pop in to read your posts, but on this side things will be quiet...until I return with photos and stories.

Enjoy your summer...I am off to pack.

Because You Can't Make This Stuff Up, Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:44:00 +0000

This gives new meaning to supporting undergarments.

From the BBC: Germany Hails New 'Bullet-Proof' Bra.

Because You Can't Make This Stuff Up

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:14:00 +0000

Hey, have you heard the one about the horse destroying a public toilet?

The answer is here.

Wouldn't You Go to School Here?

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:45:00 +0000

I went to an agricultural university...but it didn't look like this.

Schloss Hohenheim, a former palace that now houses Universität Hohenheim.

Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:35:00 +0000

Okay, it's hot.

Not just 'a nice warm day' hot, but really HOT. We've been hovering in the upper 80s to low 90s (or upper 20s to low 30s, if you prefer) this week. And no, it's not dry heat, it's humid. The kind of humidity where you sweat from just thinking about moving.

I guess nothing says summer like a good kick in the rear from a string of sweltering days. Well, maybe gooseberries do...but you'll have to go to to my other blog to read about that.

In the meantime, I'm having my caffeine iced today.

One More for the Cowgirl

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:15:00 +0000

A final thought on the Buddy Bears...

...the Argentinian bear pleased me. Gaucho, vaquero, buckaroo, paniolo, cowboy...they are the same the world over.

Buddy Bears

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:01:00 +0000

After yesterday's post, you are probably wondering where I found such an abundance of bear behinds.

Stuttgart has been invaded by the Buddy Bears!

A take on the now classic CowParade, Buddy Bears began in Berlin in 2001 to promote peace and tolerance in the world. Each bear represents a different country, a select few represent ideals and dreams. The artwork ranges from beautiful to bizarre. Here's just a taste...

Bolivia went for a beasty look, with the bear wearing a mask.

Benin used it's claim to fame of being the 'Land of Voodoo'. Check out those eyes.

Apparently bears smoke cigars in Cuba.

I cracked up at Moldova's bear. Hey, at least they can laugh at themselves.

Years ago, I met the Prime Minister of Namibia. At the end of our very brief conversation, he mentioned that I should visit his beautiful country. I've not had the chance to do so, but if this bear resembles anywhere near the beauty, then I must see it.

And finally, the Statue of Libearty.

Oh My!

noreply@blogger.com (Caffienated Cowgirl) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 18:42:00 +0000

Bears front...

Bear behinds...