Thanksgiving Traditions

I tried my best to take in all that is **Thanksgiving** today since I won't be home for the holidays next year (maybe "I'll Be Home for Christmas" will finally begin to resonate with me?). I woke up early and watched Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while intermittently napping. I assisted with cooking, decorating and table setting. I ate more than is reasonable or responsible. I watched a little football and caught up with my family while simultaneously experiencing the unavoidable "awkward" that is our family. It was a very well-rounded, all-American holiday celebration! Though, I did have a little trouble getting into the holiday spirit with the weather being in the 80's...so strange!

After all of the Thanksgiving-ness, I hopped in the car with my friend Amanda and drove to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl tomorrow. Going tonight will help us avoid the certain-to-be-intense traffic in the morning. Thanksgiving weekend just wouldn't be right without the annual culmination of the biggest rivalry in college football. The stakes are even higher this year as Alabama is the defending National Champion and Auburn has a real shot at taking the title this season. It's going to be a great game - Roll Tide and Happy Thanksgiving!

Bavaria Bound

I'm moving and this time it's going to require more than a Uhaul to get my things and I to our new destination.  I've taken a job through the Department of Defense and will be moving to Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany for 13 months to work at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort.  Edelweiss is a US government owned and operated R&R facility for active and retired military and their families. It is about an hour South of Munich near the German border with Austria and Switzerland in the Alps. By all accounts, it's beautiful. I'm not sure what I'll be doing just yet, I'll know more when I arrive, but I'm excited for this adventure and for the doors this will hopefully open. 

I will be leaving from Birmingham on December 12th. Before that happens I have a lot of packing to do, some shopping (let's face it, I'm from Alabama - I'm not prepared for "real" winter!), visiting/goodbyes with friends, Thanksgiving, a Birthday, makeshift/early Christmas and who knows what else. I guess I also need to work on acquiring some followers for this little blog!