Currently Archives | North of Something

Currently… in Germany!

17/11/2014 by Jamie 29 Comments

I’m sitting here in the empty living room of our new house, lounging on a Tommy Bahama beach chair with Hawaiian sand still in the cup holder, wishing I hadn’t just devoured an entire bag of M&Ms. But here I am at 1:42am, hanging out with a jet-lagged 3 year old who is wondering why we haven’t seen Santa Claus here in Germany yet.

Thinking about | what this next year is going to look like, wondering how hard the European driving test is going to be, and hoping to find a preschool that has openings so I can take a full course load spring semester.

Reading | Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

Listening to | trains passing our house every 20 minutes or so. They are electric so it’s just a a low hum (no horns or whistles – take that Kent)! I also thought I heard a faint newborn cry. Could be my biological clock ticking, could be the neighbors… who knows.

Drinking | Lots and lots of water. I can’t wait to try all the different local beers, but for now I MUST REHYDRATE.

Thankful for | 2 playgrounds in walking distance of our new house – best thing ever!

Missing | my fam back in Washington. We got to stay there for 8 weeks between Hawaii and Germany and my son got used to having aunts, uncles, and grandparents around all the time. Maybe one day we can live in Washington again *sigh*

Loving | that my son calls our new house the stinky house (They just repainted and replaced the carpets.)

Well, that’s it for now. I gotta run because my son is calling from the other room that he is stuck in the laundry hamper (again). Hopefully he gets back to sleep before the sun rises in Germany – wish me luck!

Have you been to Germany before? What cities/castles/fests would you recommend seeing while we’re here?

Currently | Volume 3

28/09/2014 by Jamie 15 Comments

Well we had an AMAZING flight out of Hawaii and I can’t wait to write a post about it! Thanks to my BFF Nicole for the sweet glasses. I handed garbage to the flight attendant with a straight face with the glasses on. Nailed it.

Thinking about | The lady standing at a stoplight with a sign that said “Working, Struggling Mom. Just trying to make it to payday. Anything helps.” She didn’t look homeless, but she was definitely without hope. I was on my way to the grocery store so I picked up an extra loaf of bread, PB&J, and some bananas. I figured worst case scenario she would throw them back in my face and scream “WHERE’S THE CASH?! I NEED DRUGS!” But what if her and her kid were just out of cash till the end of the week? So I took a chance. She was very surprised and excited about the food. As she rummaged through the bag of groceries she just got more excited. I felt like a million bucks and hopefully some little kid is going to have a lunch to bring to school for the next few days. Or maybe she is out selling PB&J sandwiches for drugs… who knows. Anyway, I’ve had this saying/sign on my mind lately:

(Image Source)

Watching | The Season Premiere of Parenthood… OMG!

Thankful for | Spending a few weeks with my family (awwww).

Enjoying | Trader Joe’s food for almost every meal and snack. Yum.

Loving | The crisp fall air.

Listening to | The songs of birds that don’t sound anything like the birds in Hawaii. Chickadees, crows, the occasional seagull.

Drinking | Zevia (ginger ale sweetened with stevia). Thanks Christine for getting me hooked on it! ;)

Anticipating | All the fun get togethers and playdates I’m going to have with old friends over the next couple weeks.

That’s it for now! What are YOU up to currently?!

Currently | Volume 2

31/08/2014 by Jamie 12 Comments

My Brother-in-law and his girlfriend are in town visiting and we spent the day on the North Shore. Lots more photos to come in a post on the North Shore, but right now we are still busy exploring the island with them!

Watching | The Croods with my son. Sometimes the only chance I have to write is while he’s watching TV. Yes, I feel guilty about that!

Enjoying | My last couple weeks in Hawaii. Oh man, let me count how many days I have left… OMG 17 days left in paradise :(

Wishing | I could live in Hawaii forever.

Listening to | Still Coldplay… need to buy some more music asap

Drinking | Longboard beer. Well I had one last night, I’m not literally drinking one right now. It’s 7:15am.

Worried about | Literally everything that could wrong with the move. Most importantly, my spectacular book collection getting ruined. Also the fact that our things won’t arrive in Germany until mid-November *sigh*

Reading | Master the Basics of German. My mom found the book at the Friends of the Library sale at the Kapolei Library for $1.

Thankful for | time to learn German! Now that I’m not taking any classes this semester, I can spend any free time I have learning German. I love languages and I’m really looking forward to learning more about the German language!

Currently | Volume 1

17/08/2014 by Jamie 10 Comments

Thinking about | Our upcoming move and trying not to stress about it…

Reading | Finally catching up on my favorite blogs! My book club met last week and my next class doesn’t start for 9 more days so I’m blissfully not reading anything required. Spending all my extra time writing blog posts and hanging out on social media :)

Watching | I finally got to watch Divergent yesterday and loved it!

Thankful for | A weekend with zero requirements, schedules, appointments, or responsibilities. Loving. It.

Enjoying | Some alone time right now while my husband and son watch tv shows about cars :)

Loving | Twitter! I don’t know why it has taken me so long to join the crowd, but it has been so much fun. I had no idea how supportive the writing community was on twitter. Come say hello!

Wishing | my son’s sickness and my sister’s visit hadn’t both occurred at the same time last week. The photo above is when we went on a tour of Kualoa Ranch this past week. She/we would have had more fun if my son had been in a better mood…

Listening to | Coldplay’s new album… over and over, I can’t stop.

Drinking | Iced water. Finally got my ice maker fixed in my freezer and I’m loving crushed ice again!

Giving away | A Classic Red Radio Flyer Tricycle at The Dwelling Tree!