A rare weekly market rendezvous…

Bill took the day off of work today. Our dog, Noyzi, needed some blood work done, and it was going to take a few hours. So, rather than come and go at work, or task me with the job of taking him, Bill stayed home. We did some boring housework, which you can read about on my main blog.

While Bill was at the vet, he ran into our neighbor, the veterinarian who owns the practice where we take our dogs. He immediately recognized Noyzi and gave him a pat. Sadly, Bill happened to be there as a family was saying goodbye to a much beloved family member. We lost our dogs, Zane and Arran, here; in fact, Zane’s anniversary is coming up on the 31st. 🕯️ I’m sending warm thoughts to that family. It’s so hard to say goodbye.

It was hard for Charlie to say goodbye to Bill and Noyzi… that’s for sure! He was really upset at being left home with me. He cried, barked, and stayed in the foyer, waiting for them to come back. However, unlike Noyzi, he doesn’t like car rides, and he hates the vet. I think he got the better end of the deal. Noyzi wasn’t thrilled to be at the vet’s today! But he did get a treat.

One unexpected thing that happened today is that I ended up ordering a new steam mop. The one I bought in late 2018, when we were fixing to move from Baden-Württemberg, seems to have bit the dust. It started to heat up, as usual, and then just kind of died. It didn’t die all of the way, mind you. The little green power light was on, and I could feel the electrics trying to heat up. But it just never got there.

I got tired of waiting for our old mop to try to heat up, and broke out the Tineco wet vacuum I bought a few years ago. I cleaned the floors with that. It does do a good job. But I still like having a lighter, less cumbersome steam mop for upstairs. So I ordered one from Paris that will probably get to me in a few days.

Then, after all of that stuff was done, we decided to go to the weekly market in our village. It just started up again after a brief summer pause.

I love the weekly market. One can purchase deli meets and cheeses, fresh breads, fresh vegetables, Middle Eastern goodies, and wine… The ice cream man also comes with his goodies. He has a good sense of humor, speaks English, and offers delicious ice creams. I think he gets a kick out of us, because when we first met him several weeks ago, we said we were hiding out in Germany.

Bill bought some cold cuts and cheeses from a Tyrolean farmer’s market seller. They had a nice conversation in English and German. An older gent asked us if we were British. We told them we’re American. I was flattered that it wasn’t obvious, in spite of my profane t-shirt…

*Look carefully. I should probably buy another one.*

We also bought a kilo of plums from the fruits and vegetables vendor. We would have bought bread, but the guy was busy, and Bill has an appointment with his Jungian analyst today. So we had some wine and ice cream from the friendly vendor…

And as we were enjoying the low key weekly market, which the city manager attended, I was thinking about how lucky we are to live here. People around here mostly know us, but even the ones who don’t are very nice.

The Metzgerei vendor asked if we were new, because he’d never seen us before. I think he’s different from the folks who used to come. We said we weren’t. He kind of good-naturedly ribbed Bill for his attempts at German, then sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, when he heard that I’m from Virginia. Of course, Virginia is NOT West Virginia… but that’s okay. It’s a great song. Besides, Bill Danoff, who mostly wrote that song, had not been to West Virginia when he wrote it. The song was actually inspired by drives in Maryland. Germans love it, though. Who wouldn’t love Germanic John Denver’s beautiful tenor voice?

Another elderly gent asked if we were Brits. We said no, we’re American. Bill told him where we live, and he said, “Please come back.”

I did notice that the weekly market seemed a bit sparse… but that might be because it’s August, and people tend to vacation in August. Also, they host it during working hours. It’s hard to go to the market when one doesn’t leave work until an hour before the market closes. But I guess the people who run it sell their wares at bigger markets on weekends, and no one wants to be hanging out on a town square during the dinner hour.

We also saw our old neighbor, Daniel, who stopped to pick up some vegetables. Daniel moved to a smaller, cheaper place following his divorce. He’s a very nice guy. We miss having him near, but it was nice to see him today.

Anyway… I do love our little village, and I’m grateful that we get to live here. We were very lucky, because this was the last house we toured when we were looking, and it popped up the day before we were heading back to Jettingen, back in November 2018, having come up here to look for a place to live. I suspect we were the only ones to tour it when it came up, and you’re damned right we snapped it up quickly. It’s been a GREAT place to live… both in terms of the house, and the town.

Below are a few photos from today.

Close-up of a cannabis leaf surrounded by green foliage

crime, German lifestyle, laws

Hey Siri! Can I legally have weed in Europe if I’m on SOFA status?

Every once in awhile, I like to write useful blog posts. Today is one of those days. This subject comes up as a result of a search I did yesterday, purely out of curiosity.

I had just watched a YouTube video by a lawyer named Hawk, who was explaining why Joe Rogan was pleading with Republicans in Texas to chill out, lest they turn the state blue in the midterms. Why? Because as of July 31, 2026, Texas has new draconian laws regarding possession marijuana and THC. Apparently, just having an illegal gummy in your possession can now send you to prison. 🤬

I don’t usually share political stuff on the travel blog, but this subject led me to read up on Germany’s laws on this… On another note, Texas is so FUCKED.

Since I happen to be a resident of Texas, at least technically, this topic is interesting to me. But I live in Germany, where, as of April 1, 2024, it is now legal to possess and use marijuana for recreational purposes. No, it’s not like going to Amsterdam and hitting up a coffee shop. Tourists are not allowed to buy marijuana here, and there are a lot of rules about how and where the pot can be purchased and consumed. But in spite of all of that, after years of arguing, Germany has finally legalized marijuana… or, at least it’s more legal than it was.

German citizens and legal residents, over the age of 18, are allowed to partake of weed. On July 1, 2024, Germany introduced Cannabis Social Clubs (CSCs), and this is how most people here can get their cannabis fix (they’ve got a club for EVERYTHING!). Folks are also allowed to grow marijuana plants for personal use. Check the above link for more specific information on this fairly new law.

Tourists and newcomers (arrived within six months) are not allowed to purchase cannabis in Germany. Edibles are also not legal in Germany, because the powers that be think edibles are more enticing to children and youth. In fact, marijuana is not permitted to be consumed in places where children are likely to be, like within proximity to schools or “kitas” (daycares). And… as I found out yesterday, people who live in Germany– or really, Europe as a whole– on SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) status, are forbidden from purchasing, possessing, or partaking of cannabis. 🥲

More info on this… for GERMANS. This is a pretty great video!

It does seem strange that I, as someone who has spent the last 12 years living in Germany, am not considered an ordinary resident… 🤭. Alas, those of us who live in Europe on SOFA status, don’t have ordinary resident status, and that means we aren’t allowed to enjoy cannabis as our German neighbors can.

Why not?

People who are affiliated with the US military, the Department of Defense, or other branches of the US government are strictly forbidden from using marijuana products or other recreational drugs. And since most of us are not considered ordinary residents by the German government, we might as well be living in the United States. There are a few exceptions– some Americans who work as contractors become residents and pay German taxes– however, they probably still would not be allowed to enjoy consuming weed due to policies set by their companies, which are employed by the US government.

What happens if you ignore the rules?

It depends on who you are, and where you work. If you are a member of the uniformed services, you will be subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Federal and branch-specific military regulations explicitly forbid controlled substances like THC. Violations can result in disciplinary action, non-judicial punishment, courts-martial, or termination of employment and revocation of SOFA privileges.

If you are working as a government employee, you’re not allowed pot because of the federal Controlled Substances Act. While marijuana is legal in some states, cannabis is classified as a controlled substance on the federal level. Executive Order 12564 mandates a drug-free federal workplace. You can be fired, lose your security clearance, or otherwise disciplined.

If you work as a contractor, you are subject to the same rules as government employees are, as well as any policies set by your company. If you get caught using drugs, your company may be forced to terminate your employment or move you somewhere else. The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires that any company that receives a federal contract of $100,000 or more must enforce drug free workplace policies. That law would apply to just about any government contractor operating in Europe.

What if you’re just a spouse?

Spouses are held to the same rules employees are, as are any other “dependents”. Spouses and other family members who use marijuana may be sent home (early return of dependents) at their own expense. Or they may lose their SOFA status, and lose installation access. Remember, the sponsor is responsible for the conduct of any of their dependents (ick)– so, even if you are just a spouse who is getting baked, you can still get your other half in hot water.

What if I just light up at home?

While it’s not exactly clear how these policies would apply to people who consume their pot at home, even off base houses are considered “islands of prohibition.” So, if you are a US citizen on SOFA status, and you get caught with marijuana at home, you can still get in big trouble, even if your German neighbors are lighting up in their backyards every night and grow their own weed.

You can read a lot more about this conundrum on Stripes.com, which has a great article about marijuana rules. It was written by journalist Alexander Riedel.

Personally, I think this particular rule should be relaxed, especially given that drinking alcohol is still fine, and alcohol arguably does a lot more damage on every level. But, what I think and a nickel will get you nowhere. 😏 Remember, this is a place where we Americans can get in deep shit for ordering coffee through the APO. They’re certainly not gonna let us have weed. 🤬

As for my personal thoughts on cannabis… Well, I’ve only tried it a couple of times. I went to The Netherlands for my 43rd birthday, back in 2015, and I enjoyed an edible or three. That was my first and, to date, only experience with marijuana. I did enjoy it, and would partake again, but I can certainly live without it. On the other hand, I’ve used hemp and CBD products with great success on my dogs, when they had cancer. I think people should have more access to weed based products that truly are health promoting.

I wouldn’t mind having access to marijuana. In fact, I’d probably prefer it to drinking beer. But even if it was available to me, I probably couldn’t be arsed to seek it out… and given that marijuana can make a person lazy, it’s probably better that I continue to avoid such things. I’m clearly not all that industrious under the best of circumstances. 🤭

REMEMBER— it doesn’t matter where you are in Europe. Even if marijuana is totally legal where you are, technically, it’s against US federal law for US citizens to partake, if they are living in Europe under Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) regulations. So there’s your answer… and your warning. Now, how often this particular rule is actually enforced is another matter, altogether. 🤔

German lifestyle, Hessen, YouTube

A kid friendly wine stand!

It was EXTREMELY hot last night. Nevertheless, Bill and I decided to attend last night’s wine stand in our Dorfplatz, which was hosted by the Förderverein der Kindergessettä of Wiesbaden-Breckenheim. Google Translate tells me this is an association dedicated to the promotion of children’s law. My German friend says it’s actually a Kita (daycare center).

In the spirit of being friendly to children and their welfare, this club provided the usual wine, along with a bouncy house and someone making kid tattoos! The ice cream guy was also there to sell his wares!

*The ad on one of the local Facebook pages for this event.*

Last night also happened to be the first day of Wiesbaden’s annual Rheingauer Weinwoche. I’m sure that event was packed, since it’s huge, and there are thousands of wines to be tasted, along with lots of food and entertainment. I’m sure Bill and I will pay a visit. It’ll probably happen tomorrow, since Bill has some chores he wants to do today. It’s also going to be hot again today. Maybe it’ll be less sticky tomorrow. I’m not holding my breath.

Bill and I were a little late last night, so our usual spots at the far back corner were already taken when we arrived. We ended up sitting at a front table close to the kiosk. It was a very HOT place to sit, as the sun beat down on the Dorfplatz. But it did give me a front row seat to the lively action at the bouncy house.

Wow!

Bill and I had wineschorles (wine spritzers) and steak sandwiches, as we chatted with a few people we know. Our new local friend, who grew up in West Berlin, came back and shared more about his experiences moving from there to Frankfurt in 1976! That was surely an experience… along with moving to a new city and having locals treat him like an Ausländer (foreigner).

We saw our American friends who have bought a house very close to where they currently rent. They won’t even need a moving truck to move into their new home, when the time comes in November.

I got some photos, too…

*Our village library. I probably should put a few English books in there.*

Although it was pretty hot, there was a nice sized crowd. In fact, I was glad it wasn’t super crowded. Then, as the neighborhood eccentric passed our table, the sun suddenly dropped low, and it got darker and cooler. That probably was the time we should have arrived… But Bill likes to do things early.

After a couple of hours, we decided to go home and enjoy some more conversation in our dining room. So ends another work week in Germany, and another fun wine stand in our village. I really enjoyed this one… the bouncy house was a great feature, not only for the kids, but for big kids like me. These days, I just watch the fun, though… I don’t miss the smell of plastic, mildew, sweat, feet, and the odd urinary accident. 😉

Edited to add: I took a couple of photos of the local ambulance service on Thursday. I’m not sure what was going on. They didn’t have a patient (which is why I took the pics). I did hear a lot of sirens on Thursday afternoon, hours after these pics were taken. It looked like maybe they were involved with the weekly market that started up on Thursday.

Hessen, YouTube

Yesterday’s solar eclipse…

The featured photo was taken from our backyard during last night’s partial eclipse.

I wanted to write a quick post about yesterday’s historic solar eclipse. I did actually witness it, although it was totally by happenstance.

A few days ago, Icelandair sent me an email encouraging me to fly to Reykjavik to witness the total eclipse. Spain and Iceland were places on Earth that were destined to be the best places to experience the solar eclipse that occurred yesterday evening.

Of course, I wasn’t in the position to jet off to Iceland on a whim. I’ve also experienced my share of eclipses in my lifetime. I disregarded the email and forgot about the then upcoming eclipse. Then, yesterday, I got another email from Icelandair expressing pity that I didn’t book a ticket to go to Iceland for the rare event. They joked that I could catch the next one, in 2196…

*Shucks… but I wouldn’t turn down a trip to Iceland in September, even if the weather is pretty dicey!*

I actually really enjoyed our flights on Icelandair. I would happily fly them again.

As for the eclipse, it was kind of a yawner here in Germany. We were sitting outside, enjoying the pleasant weather, and I noticed the sky dimming a bit earlier than usual. But it was about 8:00 PM, and in the States, that would be about right at this time of year. In Germany, it stays light for a long time in the summer months.

Then I noticed our landlord had company over, and they were in the backyard. I remembered the Icelandair emails, and said… “Oh shit… we’re having an eclipse!” 🤣

Unfortunately, from our backyard, which is pretty thick with hedges and a tall fence, it wasn’t easy to watch it. And you don’t want to stare at the sun, anyway. I sure don’t. Not with my aging eyes that are genetically prone to macular degeneration.

I took a photo, anyway, and it serves as today’s featured pic. No, it’s not very exciting, although the usual evening light was a bit eerie and dimmer earlier than usual. I’m sure there are much better photos on the Internet than mine. But you can’t say I didn’t report on it.

This is pretty cool…

trip planning

Planning our fall vacation…

Featured photo is of Bratislava Castle. I took the photo in late March 2015.

It’s that time again. Bill has the first 13 days of October off, while he’ll be doing a lot of business travel in September and November. We’re going to take the opportunity to go some places and, hopefully, enjoy a nice rest.

I think we’ve made up our minds to go to Slovakia… but I haven’t yet booked anything. Until I book something, that idea is subject to change. I was considering another trip to Austria, mainly because I want to go to a relaxing spa hotel. But I also want to go to a place I haven’t yet seen much of, and Slovakia fits the bill.

Actually, I have been to Slovakia before. I spent several nights in Zilina back in 1997, when I was meeting my friends Chris and Dawn for part of my train trip through Europe after my stint in the Peace Corps. Chris was getting some computer training at the university in that town, so I met them there while he finished his last couple of days. I took the train to Zilina via Bratislava, having arrived from Vienna.

Bill and I also visited Bratislava for a day back in the spring of 2015. It was a fun day, and I would have liked to have stayed overnight and done some shopping. I noticed they had a lot of cool art for sale there, as well as excellent beers.

Since then, we haven’t been back to Slovakia, and based on what I’ve found while researching, there’s a lot to see there. So… that is probably where we’ll end up going, because Bill wants to go somewhere with mountains and trees.

I had been thinking about maybe going to Malta, since we haven’t been, and October would probably be a good time for it. But I think we have too much time for a Malta trip, and Malta isn’t exactly known for having forests. Maybe we’ll go there in the winter.

The beauty of a trip to Slovakia is that we can stop in the Czech Republic either there or back, or we could go to Poland… Poland and the Czech Republic are also great places to buy art. Maybe we could even visit Auschwitz. I know that would be depressing, but I think it’s important to go there, especially given what’s happening in the United States right now.

Slovakia has a lot of things we like… like waterfalls, fall colors, castles, and wine. The wine is kind of sweet, though.

Anyway… I think today, I’m going to shop for accommodations. Once I figure things out, I’ll update here. Again… this isn’t yet set in stone. I might decide to just bag it and go to Austria, which has what we want, along with some really great looking hotels. We’ll see what happens.

Celebrations, German lifestyle, Hessen

Dorfplatzfest 2026…

It’s been pretty hot and dry lately. Bill has been very busy at work, so we haven’t been out and about. Actually, this summer has been pretty devoid of outings. I think part of it is that we’re both getting older and more tired, and going places can be exhausting. Bill and I both got sick in May, and Bill is still coughing a lot from that.

However, if there’s one thing Breckenheim is good for, it’s local events. This weekend, we’re having the Dorfplatzfest, which is a yearly party held in our little village square. This year’s fest started last night, and we had wine, beer, food, and live entertainment. Dr. Konrad Blendinger, our neighbor and veterinarian, was performing with his band.

We have never seen Dr. Konrad Blendinger for vet services, because he mostly works with animals intended for breeding. His wife, who is also a vet, has seen our dogs, as have most of the vets employed at the practice. But since he’s our neighbor, he’s seen Noyzi and Charlie in the neighborhood. I think he admires Noyzi, who can’t be bred, but strikes an impressive pose.

Dr. Blendinger plays guitar and sings, and he’s even written an original song about Breckenheim. I didn’t hear his song about Breckenheim last night, but there were some pretty good covers of classic American songs.

Bill and I didn’t eat at the fest last night, but we did enjoy beer and wine, and good conversation with Germans. One person who sat with us was a man we met several weeks ago. He brought his dog on that first encounter, but left her at home last night. It was pretty hot and busy, and she probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the party as much as we did.

As we were talking, we learned that our new friend grew up in West Berlin. Since he’s Bill’s age, he was born there during the Cold War, when the city was walled in. He said it was like growing up in a prison. I’m sure it wasn’t quite that extreme, but I got point he was trying to make. It was hard to drive anywhere without encountering the Berlin Wall.

Unfortunately, his English skills aren’t quite as extensive as he would have liked, and our German skills are even less sufficient. So it wasn’t easy to get too far in depth about what it was like to grow up when Germany was divided, and Berlin was split into two sections. Our friend also told us that his mother, who had come from Poland, managed to escape to the West by sheer luck. She got on a train before she could be stopped by the guard who had told her that her papers weren’t in order.

I really value conversations with people who have lived through that bygone era in Germany and other countries that were once behind the Iron Curtain. I fear that kind of totalitarianism could one day affect the United States, if we aren’t careful.

Another older man, whose name I didn’t catch, talked to Bill for a long time about traveling in the United States. He knew Gaby and Boris, a older German couple who don’t speak much English, but seem to like Bill and me. I wonder if it’s because we always get to the fests early and score a table. No one wants to sit with us, because we’re Americans, so they’re pretty much guaranteed a place to sit. 😁 I’m kidding, of course. They’re very nice folks, and we always enjoy practicing our crappy German skills with them. And yes, I know I should be fluent by now.

Bill wore a t-shirt I bought for him last year. There’s a picture of Socrates on it, and the quote “Meh… good enough” on it. Under the picture of the philosopher, it says “Mediocrates”. Another acquaintance asked Bill about the shirt, and he explained. I had totally forgotten that I bought him that shirt.

Below are some photos from last night…

I don’t think we meant to stay as long as we did. It really was fun, though, and it continues today, starting at 2 o’clock. However, it’s raining right now, so I’m not sure if or when we’ll attend. My liver might appreciate a break. Below are a couple of photos I took of my neighbor’s flowers this week. Sadly, they both now badly wilted because of the hot, dry weather.

The only other thing that happened this week was some random older guy dressed in white banged on the door. I had just gotten out of the shower and wasn’t dressed. I opened the door, and he started speaking rapid fire German. I said, “I’m sorry, I don’t understand you. I have to go.” Then I shut the door. I think I heard him cursing.

I always feel bad doing that, but people who randomly bang on the door are usually wanting to sell something, begging, casing, or otherwise being pests. I don’t like being rude to people, but if I’m at home, minding my own business, and the visitor doesn’t have an appointment to see me, I also don’t feel obligated to interact. Still, it goes against my raising to be so abrupt.

Anyway… we’ll see if we go to the fest today. We might decide to hole up at home and enjoy the rain. We really need it!

Celebrations, Hessen, Sundays

A summer visit to Villa im Tal…

Yesterday, Bill and I decided to go out to lunch at one of our favorite Wiesbaden area restaurants, Villa im Tal. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve visited this lovely place out in the woods. Every time we’ve gone there, we’ve had a good time, and enjoyed excellent service. Yesterday was no exception.

Our main reason for visiting Villa im Tal was to celebrate Bill’s birthday, which was on July 7th. We didn’t go out on the actual day because he was sick, and it was a work day. He was still sick last weekend, and not up to being around other people. Yesterday, he was feeling about 95 percent recovered from his latest respiratory viral illness, so we put on nice clothes and headed out to the bucolic restaurant where we get recognized by name.

I’m not sure, but I think there might have been some kind of an event going on in the main dining room, so we were seated in the back dining room. It adjoins to Villa im Tal’s lovely terrace, which has a retractable roof and walls. We didn’t want to sit outside, because oddly enough, it was actually kind of chilly yesterday. I brought a wrap with me to ward against the cool breezes that wafted into the dining room.

Below are some photos from yesterday’s delightful lunch. We had aperitifs– a non alcoholic house cocktail for Bill, and a limoncello spritz for me. I usually go for the boozy version of the house cocktail, but I wanted to try something different yesterday. I liked the spritz fine, but I think I prefer the house cocktail. The spritz was a little sweet. We also had the usual bread service with butter and Spundekäs.

I started with tiger shrimp and curry lentils, with cherry tomatoes, frisée, and spiced papada. Now that I’m looking at the menu, I see that they actually brought me the wrong thing. I had wanted a soup that had tiger shrimp in it. But I was definitely not disappointed in the tiger shrimp appetizer. The shrimps, in particular, were absolutely delicious.

Bill had ice cold watermelon with feta cheese, coconut flakes, Persian mint, and toasted flatbread. He really enjoyed that starter, remarking that it would be especially excellent on a very hot day.

Next came my entree of Iberico pork with celery puree and Mediterranean vegetables. Bill went for a vegetarian dish with mother-of-pearl barley risotto, avocado, sun dried tomatoes, curry lemongrass nage, and mangoes. I almost had that myself, as Bill eyed the surf and turf that was being offered. But since I wanted to try the pork, he opted for the vegetarian dish so I could try it.

We had a lovely Austrian pinot noir to go with lunch, and spent a couple of hours just enjoying ourselves, and the beautiful surroundings. The service was perfectly paced, relaxed, but very professional, as usual. And as we were about to order dessert, a pretty woman bearing flowers for the tables came in and smiled. She said, “You’re the Crossens, aren’t you?” Bwaahahahahaha! That doesn’t happen so often in Germany, but they always seem to remember us at Villa im Tal.

*This was a nice smokey pinot that went so well with the pork!*

For dessert, I had creme brulee with strawberry sorbet. Bill had an Albi-cup, with bourbon vanilla ice cream, pumpkin oil, and pumpkin seeds.

I always enjoy having a leisurely lunch with Bill, especially at a nice restaurant. We’re at a point in our lives when lunches are better than dinners, when we go out. Neither of us really enjoys late nights anymore. Besides, a lot of times, lunches are less expensive. As it was, yesterday’s repast set us back about 240 euros, before the tip.

I forgot to get a picture of the gorgeous building. We’ve gone to Villa im Tal so many times that I guess I’m not so dazzled by it anymore. I did notice that there weren’t a bunch of guys hanging out by the Adamsborn natural spring, yesterday (it’s also known as the Carl-von-Ibell-Quelle). They had been congregating there, trying to sell people containers for the water. But I also noticed that it didn’t look like the spring was running. Upon further investigation, I have discovered that the well is not working right now. Too bad, since the water is known for being very cold and free of charge. On the other hand, it’s nice not to have to dodge the guys who loiter there when it does run.

Anyway, that was our Sunday outing. We came home later and enjoyed the rest of the day listening to music, chatting, and drinking beer. Can’t beat that life, although in retrospect, maybe we should have taken a walk, instead. Maybe we’ll do that next weekend, if it’s not too hot.

Hessen, markets

A wine stand… and shopping at Fornara in Taunusstein…

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you might remember back in May, when Bill and I paid a visit to an Italian Feinkost called Fornara. I had discovered it a week prior, when Bill and I went to an Italian supermarket in Mainz-Kastel. I searched to see if there were other Italian markets near us. Fornara, which is a chain Feinkost, has a small satellite location near the train station in Wiesbaden.

After Bill and I shopped there, back in May, we decided we wanted to visit the flagship store in Taunusstein, located about 20 miles from us. The flagship store is much larger, and has space for events and classes.

I thought we’d get to Fornara’s flagship store before today, but then we got sick… and the fridge died… and we went to Switzerland. Thankfully, we now have a new refrigerator; we’re both over the sickness; and we had nothing else to do today. So Bill and I visited Fornara’s main location in Taunusstein, which is situated in a large industrial park with plenty of free parking.

I got some photos of the store, which looks like a larger version of the location in Wiesbaden. Once again, we enjoyed friendly service from an employee who speaks English. There’s also a restroom in the store, which they openly advertise. That’s a plus, although we didn’t avail ourselves of the WC today. Below are some photos. We came home with lots of wine, some olive oil, steaks, and Wagyu burgers.

*This is actually pretty close to where we live. It reminded me of living in Texas!*

As far as the shopping experience goes, I found the Fornara in Taunusstein to be very similar to the Wiesbaden location. It’s just a bigger space, and the parking lot is a little larger. They had many of the same products available. I probably wouldn’t go back to the Taunusstein location unless there was an event, or it happened to be handier than the Wiesbaden location.

On the other hand, the drive to Taunusstein is very pleasant. You go through forests and a cute little town with many buildings that still sport Fachwerk (timber framing). And you pass farms where you can pick up fresh items like eggs and wild meats, as well as an amusing graffiti project of a middle finger and the caption “Fuck the system”. To go to the location in Wiesbaden, you have to drive into the city, and it’s potentially more of a pain in the butt because of traffic.

Anyway, it’s nice to know that Fornara exists, especially for those who need special groceries or wines. I expect it’s going to expand in the future, which will be good for foodie snobs.

I also have some photos from last night’s wine stand. It was hosted by the local Volleyball Club, and was pretty well attended. It helped that we got a break in the temperature.

We saw our American friends, who told us they’d bought a house just across from where they are currently renting in our neighborhood. I think I also annoyed a crotchety old German lady, who gave me a dirty look as I spoke English to my friend. Sorry lady… I’d been mostly quiet during the two hours we were attending. If you were in the USA with one of your countrymen, you’d be speaking German, right?

Anyway… below are some photos. We had dinner there– We shared a pork sandwich and potatoes from Breck & Flame, which we couldn’t finish. I had ice cream in the afternoon, to celebrate the new fridge! The sandwich was really good, but it was a bit messy. The potatoes needed salt. But I would definitely get the pork sandwich again, only have them give me a plate, utensils, and the roll on the side. Also… plenty of napkins. One lady who witnessed my reaction to the messiness was laughing at me. Or… maybe it was because of my TRUMP SUCKS t-shirt. 😚

I’m not sure what we’ll do with the rest of the day. Maybe tomorrow we’ll have lunch somewhere. We’ll see.

Annoyances, gadgets, Hessen, services

A week of upgrades at home…

Phew… Featured photo is of the interior of the new fridge!

This week has been somewhat momentous in our household. We’ve made a couple of significant upgrades to certain essential and expensive electronic devices in our home.

On Monday, I got a brand new iMac desktop computer. I hadn’t really been planning to buy one in July, but my old computer was simply too full of data to use efficiently. It was driving me crazy, and I was wasting a lot of time finding things to delete so I’d have room for more stuff.

I bought the old computer in February 2023, so it’s disappointing that I needed to replace it so soon. But, in fairness, I am a power user, especially since I started making song parody videos, and I didn’t spring for generous storage or RAM when I bought that computer. This time, I decided to upgrade both RAM and storage, so this machine should be good for awhile.

I made my decision to upgrade about ten days ago, when I spent a couple of hours trying to find raw video footage I could part with so I could run Apple’s updates. It took FOREVER to finally hit that sweet spot of 14 GB available. And yes, I do have an external drive, but a lot of the stuff taking up space is stuff I can’t really put on an external drive.

I ordered the new computer on Monday morning, July 6th, and it arrived at about 11:30 AM on July 13th. It took the rest of the day to set it up, but it now feels both like I’ve really upped my game, and never stopped using the old computer. I have a lot more room on this new computer, but thanks to the migration assistant on Apple, it’s pretty easy to move everything. So I have pretty much all of my stuff from the old computer, and lots more room to grow on the new computer.

The physical setting up, though, was a bit of a pain. I bought a VESA arm for the last computer, because somehow I ended up ordering a VESA configuration. I didn’t even know what a VESA arm was when I got my computer with no stand! Now, after three years of using a VESA set up, I realize that I prefer it to the stand. For one thing, it takes up less space and gives me more room to put my crap. For another, it makes the display easier to adjust.

However, I had forgotten how the arm works, and didn’t realize that all you have to do is push on it to manipulate it. So I probably spent about 90 minutes trying to figure that out… And then there was the actual physical strength needed to hang the screen on the arm. It was a bit awkward and taxing. But… I did it! I only spent a few minutes wishing I’d opted for the stand, instead of the VESA arm.

Below are a couple of pictures of the new computer, as well as the VESA back. I’d take a photo of the computer on the arm, but it looks the same as the old one did.

The next big upgrade this week was our refrigerator. If you read this blog regularly, or you follow me on social media, you might know that on June 5, 2026, our landlord’s fridge finally died on us. I wrote about it here.

That old fridge, which was stowed inconspicuously in a cabinet, needed to croak. It was sitting on a rotting platform that needed to be repaired, but it was also just old and obsolete. Nevertheless, when it died, things became very inconvenient for us.

Fortunately, we did have a refrigerator that we bought when we moved to Jettingen in 2014. It’s not a great fridge, nor is it very big, but it was able to handle full refrigeration duties while our landlord tracked down our new refrigerator. We had false hopes in late June, when a fridge was brought to us, but our landlord rejected it because of a cosmetic defect. Plus, the platform needed to be repaired.

Last week, a couple of handymen came over and made the new platform. You can see the progression in the photos…

All week, we’ve had an empty space where the fridge usually goes. Then yesterday, a different appliance vendor brought us a brand new Liebherr refrigerator that would fit in that space. It cost about 2100 euros, and it’s a big improvement over the last fridge. However, I think the high cost comes from it being able to fit in a cupboard, rather than it having a lot of features. It doesn’t have an ice maker or a water line, for instance, for dispensing cold water. But then, the fridge is not actually based near a water source, anyway.

Below are a few photos of the new fridge. It has a touch screen that allows it to be turned on or off, special modes for different occasions, and it can be connected to the Internet. Also, if you leave the door open too long, the lights flash at you, and you get a little red nastygram that orders you to shut the door!

*It was a pain to take all of the plastic off of everything.*

I was wearing my TRUMP SUCKS t-shirt when the delivery guys came. I think they got a kick out of it. I heard them talking to the landlord about it… and the landlord also talked to me about “our president”… a man I don’t wish to claim as a leader.

They told me not to turn on the fridge for 24 hours, but I lasted about four hours before I turned it on. The 24 hour rule comes from the risk of the fridge lying on its side and not having the oils properly circulating in the compressor. Turning on the fridge too soon can lead to damage to the machine. But I don’t think this fridge was stored on its side or back. It definitely wasn’t delivered that way, and was already standing upright for some time before it got to us. So I turned it on, and later, the landlord saw Bill and asked if it was working okay. This morning, it was working fine, so I think I made the right call.

The delivery guys also warned me about the age of the cupboard, and that it wasn’t quite perfect anymore, due to “warping”. Because of the warping, the door might not close properly. I know… but it’s not my kitchen set up. It is an old set up that needs replacing, but I’m not sure the landlord is going to want to do that if the cupboards have now gone out of style. He just spent 2100 euros on this new fridge!

For those who don’t know… in many German rentals, people buy their own kitchen set ups and install them when they move into the house or apartment. This house came with a setup already installed, but it’s pretty old and needs to be updated.

We’re so grateful to have a fridge in the kitchen again. It’s a real pain to have to go up and down a flight of stairs to get food and drinks. However, Bill has admitted that doing that has helped him get his steps in this month… He’s also been sick, though, so the extra steps were especially vexing.

Our landlord apologized that it took so long to get the new fridge. I assured him it was okay, and of course he can’t control how long these things take. I’m just glad he didn’t yell at me when the fridge finally gave up the ghost. I fear that’s what would have happened in Jettingen. I know we pay a lot more to live in this house, but it’s worth every euro cent, simply because the landlord doesn’t act like a tyrranical asshole.

Tonight, we’ll have a wine stand, and I think Bill will want to go, if it’s not raining. We sure could use the rain! But it’s always fun to drink wine with the locals. And maybe this weekend, we’ll go out and have a proper celebration of Bill’s birthday, now that he’s not so sick.

Handwritten prescription for Amoxicillin 500mg for sinus infection with doctor and patient details

Health, medical

At least the ENT doc was professional…

AI image today…

Yesterday was a big day in our house. I got my new computer, and am now writing my very first blog post on it. It took hours to set everything up on it, mainly because I forgot how the VESA arm works. I was also alone, so I had to wrestle the screen on the faceplate by myself. Everything was made more difficult, because I forgot that the arm can be taken apart, and all you have to do to get the arm to function is just push hard on it.

It took several hours for my files to migrate from my old computer to my new one. As I sit here right now, I’m moving music onto the new computer and adding apps that had to be deleted from the old one for want of space. The new computer has twice the amount of space and twice the RAM, so it should be good for awhile.

Bill went to see an ear, nose, and throat doctor yesterday about his “extra juicy cough”. It was the same practice he visited last year, when his ears were bothering him. Last year, they discovered his ears were full of wax, so they cleaned them out for him, which ended with immediate relief.

This year, he saw a different doctor, who saw that he’d come in for ear cleaning last year. So the doctor cleaned the little bit of wax he saw. Then he ran a fiberoptic tube down Bill’s nose to look at his throat! 😳

Bill said the guy was actually very professional, and treated him respectfully. Originally, he tried to look at his throat via Bill’s mouth, but Bill has a strong gag reflex. So he sprayed anesthetic up the nose and Bill said he couldn’t even feel the tube until it got past the nose. The doctor showed Bill his voice box and everything… I think I would have fainted dead away!

He also got a blood test that required just one drop of blood. The blood test was slightly abnormal.

The results were that there is a slight bronchial infection, so the doctor prescribed antibiotics, which Bill doesn’t need to take until a week has passed. If he’s not better next week, he should fill the prescription and take the meds. If he improves, they aren’t going to be necessary.

The doc also prescribed a steroidal inhaler, which the local Apotheke didn’t have in stock, but will have acquired later today. And he got a scrip for more Bronchipret, which doesn’t actually require a prescription. I guess he said there’s a more powerful preparation he can get. All told, the exam cost 300 euros, which Bill paid on site. He can submit the bill to Tricare, if he wants to. I don’t know if he’ll bother.

As Bill was telling me about all of this, I couldn’t help but remember my shockingly bad experience with the German gastroenterologist two years ago. It’s good to know there are professional doctors in Germany. 😏 I know there are professional doctors here, but I seem to have a special knack for running into the jerks.

Anyway, I think the conclusion is to let Tricare help us find doctors here, and avoid going to the hospital. The Medicum next door seems to be better. In fact, they even had a nice waiting room, strictly for private insurance/private paying patients.

Bill was actually sounding somewhat better yesterday, before he saw the doctor, but he’s still got that wretched, noisy, annoying cough that doesn’t let him sleep and causes him to wake me up with his rattling lungs. All this, stemming from that TDY trip he took to Spain in late May! He’s really been sick all summer, and he got me sick, too. Fortunately, I eventually got over my sickness.

Bill still has an appointment next month with his “GP” at Landstuhl. Meanwhile, I probably should tend to my own health, but my mental state forbids it. So, I think I’ll search for a nice spa hotel to visit, next time we have some free time. Too bad we couldn’t take advantage of the July 4th long weekend.

I’m glad Bill managed to get competent, respectful, and effective help. I hope if I ever darken the door of a doctor’s office again, I might manage to score the same!

The Traveling Overeducated Housewife

…the wanderings and ramblings of a boring housewife…