Another move

I've just realized how long it's been since I last posted. Sorry about that friends! Things have been pretty hectic, since I am right smack in the middle of a move! Yep that's right, heading out of Northern Virginia and spending the summer in good ole Missouri! I'll get to be with my parents, and my sister and her kids are out there as well! I can't wait for a summer of spending time with family (and saving money!).

The last week has pretty much been devoted to packing up and moving out, yesterday was the actually moving day (my stuff is basically in storage until it gets shipped overseas after the wedding). Some of my rowers were able to take the time yesterday to come out and help, it made the moving just fly by. Seriously. It took about 3 hours, and all it cost was the price of the rental truck and a pizza party at the end... one of the cheapest and easiest moves ever! A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out and helped!

Today will be my last day in Va. I am planning to go for a last run on my favorite trail around the local lake, then I'll be going to the end of the year banquet for the rowing team, after that I'll spend the night at a friends and start the drive tomorrow morning out to MO!

I'll catch up with everyone again when I get out there!

I'd like to Introduce...

I haven't had the chance yet this season to introduce you guys to the incredible group of athletes that I get to work with every day!

Many of you know that for the past couple of years I have been Head Women's Coach at Gar-Field High School in Northern Virginia. It has been an incredible experience and I have had the chance to work with a great group of coaches and a great group of kids!

Specifically I coach the Women's Varsity 8 (this is an 8 person boat, plus a coxswain). The other coaches on the Womens's side coach a Varsity 4 and a Novice 8.

I need to spend some time and brag about my athletes, they push themselves incredibly hard, have an unbelievable work ethic, and conduct themselves with a maturity that I hardly ever see among teenage girls this day. I personally think that I work with the best group of athletes in our area, and they make me proud every day!


I wanted to share some pics that have been taken of the team throughout the season, we have an alumni's parent that has been coming out to the races and taking pics of all the kids, so he put us together a CD and now I have some FANTASTIC pics to share of this incredible group of kids! There are lots of pics I hope you enjoy them!

Here is their boat...



And here is mine ('lil tinney' I like to call her)...

Discussing strategy...

Gearing up for the race {"push it, push it, to the limit, limit" ("louder!")}...

Heading down to the water (can't you just feel the focus!)...

Giving the "Blessing"...

Pushing them off the dock...

I have to explain their facial expressions in this next pic. After I push them off and they start on their way I usually yell (obnoxiously loud, for everyone to hear) "Have a good time out there. I LIKE YOU GUYS!!" They still think I'm a little wierd with that one (after three years), but it just wouldn't be the same without the line, it's tradition!

My job is done...now it's just time to wait for them to come down the course...

And they're ON THE COURSE!!

Some of the awesome coaches I work with!

And a beautiful shot of the water (you can see some weather coming in, we got pretty soaked that day!)...


Hope you enjoyed all the pics, I'm sure there will be some more. Not so many at one time again though! I just couldn't decide on which ones to share!

As promised...

Here are some pics of the new place! I love, love, love it! It looks like it is so bright and sunny. I don't think Matt was able to get pics of the living room or master bedroom because they were to big to capture, here are the shots he got though...



The Porch leading out the the backyard (Matt has some yard work to do!)


Part of the Kitchen.

One of the guest bedrooms (plenty of room for family and friends!)

The Bathroom. Seriously...

Hope you enjoyed the shots I will add more when Matt gets the chance to take more pics!

Finally!

Matt will no longer be "roughing it" at the BOQ's, he moves into the new place tomorrow. I love how he has described it and of course I can't wait to see it myself. I think he is going to try to get some pics tomorrow before the movers come, we shall see. If so I will definitely share them!

Things are going well for both of us. He is getting used to the new job and finding his way around Heidelberg really well. I have been busy with work, coaching, and trying to get some workouts in.

Unfortunately over the last couple of weeks Matt and I have not been able to talk too much, which makes me miss him. Our schedules have just been so opposite and with the time difference it hasn't helped much.

Oh well. I guess we will be sharing life together soon enough and this long distance thing will no longer be an issue.

I hope to be back updating you guys soon with pics of the new place.

. . . still waiting

Well, this is another post from Matt. As some of you know I recently left Schweinfurt and started work in Heidelberg. The job is going well and I'm learning a lot. I think it's going to be a good fit, but may take some getting used to running into the "big wigs" every day. Right now I'm staying in the BOQ in Heidelberg (it's like a hotel without the TV and maid service), so I at least have a place to put my head every night.

I FINALLY found an apartment. After looking at about 15 places I started to come to the realization that my old place in Alitzheim was pretty hard to beat, and that it would be tough finding a place that was even close to the quality and location that I had before. Finally on Monday I looked at a place I'd been waiting to see for a couple of weeks and it turned out GREAT.

It's in the small municipality of Angelbachtal. I like it because its got the feel of an old German town with a park and even a schloss, plus it has all the amenities like a bakery just down the street, a grocery store, even a gas station. My apartment is pretty nice too. It even has a two car garage, which is pretty hard to find in Germany!

Sorry I couldn't have my own personal pictures of the town. That's really for two reasons. One is that it's been rainy here for the past week or so and the other is that my favorite subject isn't around to be in the pictures for me! I promise to take some though as soon as the sun comes out even though Heather is still far away.

Well, I signed the lease today, but unfortunately I won't be able to move in until later on this month! I'm a little disappointed because I wanted to start getting moved in, but it looks like I'll stay in my "moving" status for a few weeks longer. I'm really ready to LIVE somewhere!

Anyway, just wanted to give you all the update. I hope everyone's doing well. Drop us a line when you can!

Making the Move

This is going to be a busy, busy two weeks for Matt. His orders to Heidelberg have come through and he basically has to be out of his place in Schweinfurt and in at Heidelberg in approximately 9 days! That is a LOT of work, especially since 4 of those days fall on the Easter holiday, I'm sad I'm not there to help him with the move and with the home hunt.

On that subject...Matt has already been able to go look at 5 places in Heidelberg, and on Monday he will be driving out there to look at 4 more. Both of us have been blown away by how helpful and professional the housing office has been in Heidelberg, they have been incredible at providing many options for us to look at, and have been especially helpful in trying to meet our needs. I am really hoping for a good sized kitchen with lots of storage and counter space, and Matt is really hoping to get a garage for the Porsche.

Ok, quick detour...I was really trying to figure out some kind of picture to add to this blog! Hence the Porsche pic. The last couple of entries have been so lame since I haven't had any pictures to share!

Back to moving and Heidelberg... I am so excited about how things are working out with this move, even though it seems a little rushed, it also seems to all be falling into place. I know Matt is going to do an amazing job in this new position too...since he is a pretty incredible guy and everything!

Wedding Weekend!!

Last weekend was a pretty exciting weekend. I gave myself a 4 day and drove up to the Cape so I could get some major wedding planning done. It was a long drive (8 hours), but driving my Mini usually makes it a little more fun, and a little more fast (kind of too fast, according to authority type people, though I don't feel like talking about that one...).

I sat down with all the different vendors taking part in putting the Megnia/Angliss wedding together! The trip ended up going great, I had meeting after meeting and it was exhausting, the sense of accomplishment though was well worth it!

Seeing family up on the the Cape was also pretty fantastic, it was fun spending time with everyone!