Vacation

We are getting closer to hammering out our vacation plans for Christmas. Of course we have amazing timing going to Europe when the dollar is at a historic low. One of the last times I was there, our nice hotel was $30 (although we usually just stayed in youth hostels). It seems like hotels are automatically 100 a night minimum no matter where you go (at least here in the Northeast). When we went to Newport once, we planned on camping. We decided to get a motel when it was really storming. We were on the RI coast in the middle of nowhere (with empty hotels), and they were asking 150 dollars (for a crappy old place). We ended up driving home. Germany may be an issue. Everything in Europe essentially shuts down for the holidays. We booked our hotel online (it is where Mike's aunt is having her bday party on the 26th) and I got a call from them that they are closed. We may not have much of a choice where we stay. I am starting to make some progress for Paris. Our next decision is whether we rent a car. It is pretty damn expensive too, but I am not sure we will be driving around enough for it to be worth it. We were thinking about renting in Germany and turning the car in when we get to Paris. We do not want the car when we are there or we may look like the European vacation driving scene. Maybe Mike can visit and I can take the econobox for a spin on the autobahn. Ja Ja!!!!!!!!!!

I finished my German lessons in the car, but I need a basic French crash course. Mike told me I should be in charge of French. Neither of us took French, and I can not hear words in there. I suck at French. German is not too bad. Some of it I can figure out. I really think I could pick it up if I moved there, but I would have to purge my basic Spanish out of there.

I have been busy at work, and I do not want anything hanging over my head before I leave. I think I need to buy a mask and goggles for work. I got sneezed on in the pool a bunch of times today. I am picking up new pool clients, and that caseload is getting pretty full. I just discharged on case on land and dropped another client, and I think I may replace them in the water. I am in the pool now on Monday nights and Wednesdays. I get energized by seeing the kids on Monday night after my regular day. It is actually fun and stimulating to my brain. Maybe they can start to pay me in Euros.

So as you can imagine, I have not starting Christmas shopping yet. No gifts within Mike's family due to the trip, but I need to start on my family. So let me know what you'all want.