Shifting Priorities.

RANDOM SUNDAY THOUGHTS:

So i have this friend whom i first met shortly before she announced her pregnancy. I'm calling her a "friend" because in my head more than a few conversations and laughs seem far more personal than "acquaintance".

We chit-chatted about life and did the obligatory 20 Questions & Answers to get a brief understanding of the other. This in turn influenced whether or not i thought we would get along.

We did. Well i think we did.

And in the close-to-three years that i've been living on this side of the world, i've learned how important Communication really is.

But apart from my sister and J, whom i can speak to about nearly anything and everything, there really isn't anybody else that i can run to should i need a shoulder to cry on.

Believe it or not, meeting people and feeling a deep connection with others is quite hard for me. Once again, i blame my nomad lifestyle.

So anyway, back to that "friend" of mine.

Earlier this year she had the baby and life for everyone including herself couldn't be any different. It's as if the world now evolves around her precious little being and that her "whole purpose in life was to have this child". I'm not exaggerating, that's what she said.

Her baby is cute, just as most babies are, but i doubt he's as "perfect" as she claims he is to be.

I believe, perfection is in the eye of the beholder.

OK so i don't have a child of my own... yet and probably won't understand the deep connection that a Mother & Child has for one another until i am a mother. But maybe some of my silent readers who are parents will agree with me when i say, i am insensitive or i simply just don't understand.

Just for the record, i have no issues knowing what her baby is up to.

In fact, i have no issues with her baby or with any babies for that matter. For instance, knowing more about my niece and how she's progressing in life makes me SO happy - i mean that in a non-sarcastic way by the way.

I love Mimi!

However, the difference is my sister and i can still have a "normal" conversation. One that doesn't include the mention of her offspring in every other sentence.

***

But then i think, it's no wonder there are many friendships out there that are suddenly put on a standstill.

We reach a point in our lives when our priorities shift. And the one common interest that once brought us together is no longer on the top of ones' agendas.

It's a fact of life, we all, eventually, move on.

And depending on the perspective, some move on faster than others.

Living Together and "Playing House".

It's Saturday and it's been snowing all morning. I really hope for J's sake the snow stops because he's in his car driving 180 km north. Yup, in the direction where apparently more snow has fallen and turned to ice.

His grandmother is showing early signs of Alzheimer's disease, so as the caring grandson that J is, he's gone up to go see how she is doing. Perhaps even discuss with her the option of moving into an old peoples' home which has 24/7 care or to hire someone to come by her place to help out with daily errands.

Oma M is a very independent lady and at 83 she still drives around in her car.

As for me, my weekend will most likely involve being trapped indoors. I have work to finish off and an apartment to sort though but as usual, distractions keep me busy.

But as of next week, i'll be busy as a bee.

On Monday we're planning on taking the train to Köln.

There's a train station just around the corner from our new place. If everything runs smoothly, it will take us approximately two hours to get there from here. Considering how iced over some of the roads are, choosing to go by train may end up being a wise choice. I just hope they're able to clear the snow off of the tracks by then.

But i bought the two-way tickets online the other day and it only cost us 48 Euros for the both of us. Tickets bought on the day would be about three times the price. So planning in advance does help.

So anyway, we've arranged with the young family who is currently living in the apartment that we would like to come by the place and measure out the space for the kitchen.

Apparently, they're only moving out on the 31st of December. Which means we have to make another trip down to collect the keys and possibly even paint some areas.

Ya, i know, on New Year's Eve.


But once my client finally pays me for several outstanding bills, our plan is to go to IKEA and begin the gruelling task of designing and picking out items for our very own kitchen.

My fingers are crossed that the bank processes the payments by this coming Tuesday or Wednesday.

The other week we so happened to be in IKEA and saw one kitchen layout that seemed to be within our budget. We're going to try and stick to a 1,500 Euro budget. I'm talking a full functional kitchen including a kitchen island. Minus an oven though because we already have one in storage.

But this move means investing a lot of hard earned money. In turn also means, i'm not moving for at least a few years!

It'll be the first time that J or i have bought a full-fledged kitchen unit.

Seriously, i feel so grown up.

And unlike most countries where kitchens are part of the rent, in Germany it is common that apartments come empty. Knowing our nomad lifestyles, we've been limited to finding places that come with a built-in kitchen and have been lucky so far to have moved into places that already have floors installed and wallpaper intact.

However, that said, we're moving into an apartment that has no kitchen simply because we fell in love with the overall place.

But it's no wonder people choose not to move apartments/cities or move out of their own parents' home. It's just plain expensive!

Living on this side of Europe is damn expensive full-stop.

***

But in a moment of procrastination, i was browsing through IKEA Hackers and came across one piece in particular that i'm liking. Siebrenna calls it the Bookcase with scratching post and hammock.

I need another bookcase in my work/guest room anyway. And considering our kitties spend most of their time in which ever room i'm in, i thought this would be perfect. Plus it looks rather simple to put together.

It only requires an Expedit Bookcase, a LACK Wall shelf, Shelves Carriers and Material from an old scratching post.

[source]

Luna and Yoshi are not huge fans of hammocks. But i may just install one anyway since my sister had bought one for them and they don't seem to know that they can lounge on it. I can hang it up and store all their toys in it.

Currently when their toys are not scattered everywhere, i put them all in an old cardboard box. The very same box that used to house both of them at the same time. Yoshi's now outgrown it but once in a while he tries to squeeze his butt in there.

Anyway once we get all the pieces, i'll be sure to post up the finished results.

***

But the best deal so far has to be the package deal that J was able to organise with the guy that plans on moving our things.

Not only will him and his team move the contents of our current home into our new place 164 km away but he's also going to pick up all the contents of our kitchen from IKEA, deliver it to our new place AND assemble it. All for a low price of 1,200 Euros.

Sounds expensive but with all that's included, it's a pretty damn good deal.

I guess that's one of the benefits of living in a smaller town, they tend to charge smaller rates.

***

12:30

7 days from now it will be Christmas. In 14 days it will be 2011 and in 16 days we will be in a new apartment unpacking boxes and starting a new chapter in yet another city.

So what are your plans for Christmas and New Year?