Incoherent Scribblings

Dear Short, Dark, and Creepy,

Do you make a habit of hitting on women while waiting for the subway? I was standing there fiddling with my mp3 player, had my subway face on, didn’t even look your way, and ignored you the first three or four times you said excuse me, so why couldn’t you take a subtle hint?

Thank you for your compliment and yes, I know that I have a wonderful body. But really, since when is that an appropriate pick-up line? I must tell you that it doesn’t sound any more sincere in German than it does in English. Did you really think I would fall for that? What kind of girls do you pick up anyway?

I’m sorry that I had to look down on you when I told you in my bitchiest voice that I am married, but since you were at least 3 three inches shorter than me, what could I do? And honestly, didn’t the ring on my finger give it away that I was probably spoken for?

However, I should thank you for making me realize that I can be just as bitchy in German as I can in English. I think that is a sure sign that my language skills have come a long way.

Sincerely,
Renée, the blondelibrarian

As planned, I met Susie today and we had a wonderful time! We went out for a Bavarian lunch and she brought me two gigantic jars of Skippy Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter, two new embroidery hoops, and a couple of pairs of kitty socks from America! It is like I had my own GISBE package delivered in person! We did our cross stitch shopping, she bought some Art Deco make-up, and then she was off to meet her hubby and I was on my way home… And that is when the real adventure started!

I hopped on the train to take me home and when we were three stops from Hauptbahnhof the announcer came over the loudspeaker and announced that my train was going to Pasing! My train doesn’t go to Pasing! It is in the opposite direction of where I live! Everyone on the train must have had the same thought because we all gave each other confused looks and then when we stopped, the entire train disembarked. As the train pulled away I was left standing there with two choices:

Number one; I could take the S8, the other train that goes in the direction of the airport (that is the direction in which I live). It goes around the opposite side of Munich, so when I get to the airport I then have to change trains to the one that comes back around to my side of Munich. I have done this before and it works; but it is the longer of my two options.

Number two; I could go back to Hauptbahnhof, take the subway to Feldmoching, and then take my regular train home. This is usually my “Plan B,” and when everything is working right is the shortest both time and distance-wise.

Well, I chose “Plan B.” Unfortunately though, the problem that redirected my train to Pasing was the result of a broken track between where I was thrown off the train and the end-station of the subway. We were told a train would be coming in about 15 minutes.

This week, spring is finally trying to peek through the left over snow and since it was so warm today I didn’t wear a coat, just a heavy long sleeved T-shirt. I was O.K. all afternoon, but unluckily for me, after the promised fifteen minutes had passed there was still no train and the sun was rapidly setting. I was getting chilly and since I knew I would be getting the peanut butter today I didn’t even have a book with me! (Huh?! A book adds weight to my bag… weight that the peanut butter replaced.)

Once again the loudspeaker came on and through the mumbling I understood that the train was delayed by fifteen minutes! Talk about déja vu! The man beside me grumbled, “Yeah, that’s what they said fifteen minutes ago!” My sentiments exactly!

About fifteen minutes later we were informed that the “express” train to Landshut would be coming in five minutes and then after that two trains going in the direction of the airport would be coming. Ten or fifteen minutes later, the “express” train crawled through the station and five or so minutes later the first train to the airport came.

By this time it was well into rush-hour and literally hundreds of people tried to cram into the train. I was chilly, but decided since I had waited that long I would just wait a few more minutes for the NEXT train. When it came, I got a seat and the rest of journey home was uneventful until we learned that between my stop and the airport there was another track malfunction and everyone going to the airport would have to wait for the next train! By that time I didn’t care though, we were at my stop and almost exactly two hours after I boarded my first train at Hauptbahnhof I walked in my door and kicked off my shoes. It was good to be home!

Nothing beats great S.E.X.(Stash Enhancement eXperience), does it? Boy after today’s expedition with my stitching buddy Susie (who used to live in Munich, moved back to the States, and is here this week for vacation) I think I need a cigarette! …And I haven’t smoked for years!

We started off with lunch (as it is always important to be well strengthened before embarking on any S.E.X.) and then hit all of the stitching shops in town!

First we went to a shop that mostly specializes in knitting, but has a little bit of cross stitch stuff. I bought a small kit of a cactus and Susie got a couple of season kits that looked very “German.”

After that, we went to the specialized stitching store where Susie found some German-themed cross stitch patterns and I found DMC’s “Flower Fairy Alphabet Book.” I also bought a pasta-themed chart I kept looking at, an alphabet book, and a book with small spring patterns in it.

Then we were off to the craft store where I bought the frame for “Precious Family.” We browsed the kits, the floss, and of course the patterns! Susie bought a couple more patterns books and got a good deal on one that contained “Milka”-themed patterns. (They had another… for three Euros I might have to go back and get it!) The book I bought has an exotic feel to it with patterns of elephants, zebras, toucans, and seahorses.

And finally we were off to the department store where I go if I just need a couple of floss colors or simple fabric. They had some Easter card kits on sale and I bought 2 pansy patterns and one with violets. All three are very small and should stitch up in an evening or two. There Susie bought some tea towels with Aida squares and a couple of kits.

By then the afternoon was rapidly turning into evening and since Susie is packing as much as possible into her Munich vacation, she had other things to go on and do. I then spent almost 2 hours trying to get home via Munich’s lovely public transportation system, but that is a story for my other blog!