This Time Next Week...

...I'll be sitting in my Oma and Opa's livingroom drinking amaretto and/or zambuka laughing and chatting with my family. I can't wait!

I'm starting to get excited now. I've even started packing, or well getting things together that I'm taking, and I've wrapped up all the gifts too. Very unlike me; usually I'm still packing about 10 minutes before leaving for the airport. This time though I'll be at work in the morning so won't really have that option.

I think it'll be strange to be on a plane with both my parents, I haven't flown with both of them together since 1982 when we moved to Canada, and I haven't flown with my mom since 1986 when my mom, sister and I went to Germany in the summer. After that I went to Germany twice with my sister and then 4 or 5 times on my own.

I haven't been to Germany since 2002 when I was at uni in Glasgow and I went over in April for my grandparents' 50th anniversary. My parents and sister met me there. That was one of the best things about the year in Glasgow. I was so close to Germany and it was so cheap to travel there...I flew over and surprised my oma for her birthday in October, spent a month there at Christmas and then went over again for several weeks for the anniversary.

The last time I saw my grandparents and aunt was when they were here in 2003 when Ty was born. So just over three years ago. It's amazing how time flies. I couldn't imagine living that far away from my family. It must have been hard on my Mom, and I certainly know it was hard for my Oma. I love spending time with my family over there, but the goodbyes are always so hard. I hate seeing my Oma cry and as the years move on it only gets harder. But I'm not thinking of the goodbyes yet, I'm going to have a great two weeks! My aunts a riot too, I'm sure we'll be enjoying a few fanta vodka's and going shopping once or twice...I wonder if Die Linie is still there...that's the bar my aunt and I frequented when I flew over the three times while I was living in Glasgow.

I'm rambling now.

Thanksgiving Weekend - today I went rollerblading at Couchiching Park with Heather and then we had lunch at The Soup Factory. I came home and convinced my Mom that we should rent some movies; we got "The Perfect Man", "11:14" and "BTK Killer".

Tomorrow my sister, Del and boys are coming over for Thanksgiving Dinner; my dad makes the best turkey ever!! I also need to get some things done (actually packing amongst other things) and I still have a lot of work to do that I brought home with me. I'm making sure all my advertising through to the end of November is completed before I go, all my reports for head office and I'm hoping my bank statement comes in so I can do the Gift Certificate reconciliation before I go. Also have to get the Christmas staff contracts and schedules done and other Christmas event stuff sorted. So my last 3 1/2 days of work are going to be BUSY! But that's alright, I enjoy busy.

Monday will be more work and getting things ready to leave on Friday.

I'm off. I'm going to read a bit, want to get my new Margaret Atwood book completed before the trip so I can take my other new book with me.