Home Sweet Rom(ania)

Vila 40 got an iPhone photo shoot, after I finally got some schtuff on the walls. So without further ado, here's our home!

Meet: Gordon. Named by the neighbor boys.

Thanks to Carrie Smith, we can't forget our anniversary.
Or anyone else who comes here.

 Never had a coat rack before!

Proof we have family who likes us and sends us art.
Thank you Kelsey Hoehn.

Yoga room, and where Jillian Michaels kicks my a**
Behind the door?
Shower stall and sink of course (Jim's private bath).
Thank you Delta Waters.

N+1= ??
Mark's spinning room (aka garage).

No, I didn't pick these rugs out.

Yes, it's always this picked up.

Beer shrine. Thank you Bob, Suz, and Noe!

Okay people, we have a grill and empty chairs...
 Who's coming to visit?!
Joey Yoder? Pasquarellos? Linzattis? I 'm lookin at you!

Extra trash bins for recycling. YES!

Can you believe this stoopid sippy cup
cost us 13 bucks? But when you have no choice I guess...

Bere dupa bere va aduce placere!

Washer/Dryer. Word.
Thanks to Jennifer Marti!

 1st fl BR: Marble walls, floors, counters
apparently to decrease  lingering stink.

Bored with 1st floor?

Guest bathroom and guest bathrobe.

Guest bedroom and some Picasso. So hot right now.

Guest "queen" bed. 

You love that lamp don't you? Our bedroom.
It has a wall in it.

His 'n hers dressers. Please note I have party moustaches
taped to the wall in case of emergencies.
Thank you Jenna Riley.

His 'n hers sinks AND showers. True love.

View of farm from our balcony. I want to take a bb gun
and shoot the rooster who wakes up everyday at 3am.

What the farmer sees from his balcony, maybe? Lucky duck.

Deets' room!

Deets' private bathroom. Huh.

Dalek pennants.

Passed out bebe.

That about sums it up. I wanted to credit a few of the artists on our walls, because without you, it just wouldn't be the same. So thank you!

A Day in Snagov, Romania and Saving Someone Else's Dog

This morning I was reading about Lake Snagov, located just north of Bucharest. The guidebook spoke of alluring tales of lakeside walks, beach parties, and gorgeous views of an island monastery, apparently home to Dracula's tomb convincing me to check it out. I had visions of the Dirty Dancing water scene: Jim swan diving over Mark's head.

Alas, it was not meant to be as the country club we drove to was hibernating for the winter. The pool was frozen over. Winds ripped through our jackets, and there were no cute paddle boats, let alone people to be found; leaving hundreds of vacant, red chairs lonely for attention.

Not a stress or strain is found here for it must be said

No, I've never felt this way before

As we felt this magical fantasy

Summer days will soon be over

Back into the car we piled, disappointed by my lackluster Snagov visit. But it was very fortunate we took this trip, because on the way home we witnessed a heart wrenching and breathtaking accident on the road.  A yellow lab fell out of a truck right in front of us as the gate fell open, rolling her across the highway.  I quickly pulled over, where Mark scrambled to get the pup into our back seat. Deets was petting and comforting the dog as I frantically sped ahead to catch the driver who happened to have identifiable plates. Luckily we caught up to him a few miles ahead and returned the battered pooch to her owner.  We hugged and scratched Jim-dog extra today, grateful for another day with our own dog.

Narf?

Merry Christmas from Amstetten

Mark, Deets, and I were fortunate enough to celebrate Christmas with Christina’s family today. The five of us hopped into the car headed for a small village near Amstetten where we met an exceptional number of family members, who were gracious enough to share their Austrian Christmas traditions.  Our first stop was a holiday buffet in town complete with schnitzel, fried fish, garlic soup, cheese plates, and beer. That was only the first course…

Adequately stuffed, the Kahrers, Linzattis and Schlinks continued onto the Kahrer residence for a small gathering before moving onto the grandparents’ house. The gift exchange started with bottles of wine Mark picked out, along with a chocolate cake I picked out. They outmatched us with homemade cookies, spiced cider, coffee, digestifs and toys for Deets. Their hospitality was undeniable.

Sparklers in the tree! Totally awesome.

Mark's toy house, Deet's spiced cider.

Mark showing Deets how it's done.

Maria and Josef, married for 29 years and still madly in love.

Walking down the road to the grandparent’s party, we learned their home, which could be seen from the Kahrer’s, was about 300 years old. It was a gorgeous two story yellow house that was tucked behind a hill, on farmland that has been with the family for about the same time. Their dining room alone contained about forty family members, from 4 months to 80 years old. The children gave a mini violin/cello/flute recital and we all sang our version of Silent Night before they tore into their gifts. Needless to say, food was boundless along with beer and tuica. We were having a blast and it seemed the fun was just getting started as we bundled up Deets to head back to Vienna.

Bratislava Side Trip

Braving spitting rain and bum chafing cold, today we piled onto a train for Bratislava, for a quick and dirty tour of the city Mark once lived in. First thing we did was grab lunch in a local bar, known for traditional Slovak food: bryndzove halusky, a sheep-cheesey dumpling mush with fried fat. Apparently this hot, white mess is a favorite of his.  Me? Not so much. But I was treated to freaking awesome pilsner: Zlaty Bazant. According to Mark, it is considered a moderately decent pilsner but it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Definitely the best tasting pilsner I’ve ever had.

Baco-Bits and Chive. Hmm.

Mine.

With lucky timing, we watched the changing of the guards at Bratislava’s “White House” and meandered into the town center which was lively with Christmas cheer. Of course, we saw beautiful churches and buildings that my camera just couldn’t do justice. It was a mad dash to take it all in before we headed back to Vienna for date night!

Pink manly building.

I want to ride my bicycle.

St. Michael's

"White House" of Bratislava. Gorg!

Of note, the funeral of Vaclav Havel's was today, so flags were at half mast. He was president of Czechoslovakia after communism ended and presided over the Velvet Divorce creating the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

.

Wein and Dine

We were treated to a night off (Christina, you are full of awesomeness!) from parenting, so Mark and I headed downtown for Date Night! Getting our priorities straight, we started with booze infused caffeine, enjoying the historic novelty of Café Central. Outside, Christmas lights lit the way to Saint Stephan’s, where we began our search for food. I was in the mood for Indian, but our search was fruitless and hungry stomachs began to take charge. Thinking Italian would be a fall back plan, we chose a restaurant that had a handwritten menu on display, full of promising choices. Right? I mean, even the waitstaff spoke Italian and the place was half full.

After being curtly denied for sparkling wine by our angry server, I settled on a watery yet chilled Pinot while Mark ordered the special: beer. It had the undeniable flavor of skunk.  First course: Sahara textured bread without butter. Mark was served broccoli stump soup that he managed to glug down with about a half cup of pepper and heaps of gritty parmesan cheese. But he still had hope he reasoned, it’s hard to mess up pasta! Well second course came around:  green pepper ketchup lasagna for Mark and I had slug carcass tortellini in a gristly gray sauce. We each took a bite of our own and a bite of each other’s before asking for the bill. It was that bad. We got out of there as fast as we could, laughing the entire time. Guess we’d better stick to kasekreiner!

This man made our evening complete.
We ate "dinner" at nearly midnight and it was awesome.
Sausage and beer.

It was one of the best dates we have ever had.

A Day for Deets in Vienna

Feeling particularly chilly today, Mark and I decided to head indoors. Not sure of Deets would appreciate the depths the Leopold Museum or Mumok would have to offer, we settled on the Zoom Kindermuseum. He joined Team Zissou, exploring an ocean themed play-seum for a blissful afternoon. He was captivated, and quite frankly, so was I. It was well worth the 4 euros.

Sea snake: some species can dive up to 100 meters.

 Now, this might not be funny to anyone but me, and it’s a total non-sequitur but their bathroom had a VERY gender specific trash can. It reminded me of this clip from Flight of the Conchords. Thank you HBO!

Where a woman has women's needs.