Clouds and silver linings

Have you ever had something which you thought might be bad happen to you and then it turns out to be a wonderful thing? And looking back you wonder why you were so worried. Ok, that might not make a lot of sense. Here is an example:
Say you know you are going to lose your job. You've been worrying over it and thinking it will be this horrible event and you'll be sad, angry etc. Well, then it happens and instead of being upset, you couldn't be happier? And you wonder why you were concerned about losing your job in the first place. And you see how losing your job is a blessing.
Anyway, I had one of those experiences this week (no, I didn't lose my job). I feel great. Fantastic even. Maybe it's the spring weather. Maybe it's because the day it happened I got to take home a fresh bouquet of flowers from a patient. And on the way home there was a rainbow. Whatever it was, I love when life surprises you like that.

I don't like posting anything without a picture, so here is a demotivator to inspire you:

Every dark cloud has a silver lining, but lightning kills hundreds of people each year who are trying to find it.

Another reason not to smoke...

is so your bathroom walls won't look like this:

(the worst I've seen it in months)

I've lived in my apt for 2 years. Before I moved in, the rental company put on a new coat of paint. I don't have a bathroom exhaust fan (it's an old apt), so every time there is a lot of steam in the bathroom, the nicotine seeps through and creates these lovely patterns on my walls. Gross. Really gross (luckily the stains wipe off easily with Clorox wipes). I think at this point I have scrubbed down all of the walls in the bathroom twice. I even keep the door open when the shower is on to help disperse the steam. Apparently a new coat of paint doesn't cover up the smoke damage. Fortunately the bathroom is the only room that has seen the yellow stains.

I know that cigarette smoke dissipates and that the previous owners clearly smoked inside, but since there is no end to the stains I think the old renters must have smoked in the bathroom. And that's trashy.

The point of this is: cigarettes+bathrooms=never ending stains.

Oh, and if you know of a more permanent solution for this, please let me know.

Germany: ich liebe es!

Last month I went to Germany and Austria. My friend Candace's aunt and uncle live in Frankfurt and were nice enough to host us. And when have I ever turned down a trip? So Kira, Candace and I flew over for spring break.

Bad Homberg

We found tiny doors all over

We drove along the Rhine river where there are castles at every turn

Like Burg Rhinestein

Burg Rhinestein

Later we went into Frankfurt

Heidelburg

Schloss Heidelburg

Entrance into Dachau concentration camp

Dachau. It was interesting, but very sad.

Our first glimpse of Neuschwanstein

Hohenschwangau Castle. King Ludwig's childhood home. My camera fell on the ground shortly after this picture was taken so I don't remember much from the tour. Except that the castle had secret passages between the king and queens bedroom.

View of Hohenschwangau from Neuschwanstein Castle

I was so excited when I saw the back side of the Neuschwanstein covered with scaffolding!
I mean really, couldn't they have just done part of it at a time and not the entire back side?

It is still beautiful, though

We then went to the top of Mt. Zugspitze, the tallest peak in Germany. As you may have guessed from the picture, it was freezing cold and windy on top.

I ate a brat. It was delicious. It might have been better if I hadn't scarfed it down in 3 minutes so I could board the bus.

In Austria, Aldi's is Hofer. (this is for my mom, who loves Aldi's)

Salzburg, Austria.
Mozart's birthplace and the city where the Sound of Music was filmed. We played silly American tourists and went on the grand tour of the film sites. It was fun thanks to our guide who mocked us and the movie most of the tour. Here are the highlights for anyone who has seen the movie more than 5 times (not me, I've only seen it 3 times):

The Von Trapp House

Where the backyard scenes were filmed (in the house across the lake)

The infamous gazebo. It was locked. According to our guide, some 80 year old lady was trying to jump to the different benches like in the movie, fell, broke her hip, and they had to lock it up.

Yes, those Von Trapp kids ran around this fountain.

Candace lost her right leg moments before while running through this pathway.

Do Re Mi steps

Entrance to Mirabell gardens (and also featured in the movie)

Rothenburg

Up inside the walkway around the wall. More cities need walls surrounding them.

Our last picture. Sad.