Athens

We went on a vacation that we didn't drive to! Corey planned the whole thing and we had so much fun. Greece is amazing and I was surprised at how much I loved it. The people were friendlier than I expected, the food more fantastic and the scenery was pretty much what I expected from all the pictures I've seen online.
We stayed in Athens for 2 days and that was the perfect amount. It was really hot but I sweated through it and we easily got everything done that we had planned. We stayed at the Royal Olympic Hotel and I would recommend it if you're planning a trip to Athens. It was right by the City Sightseeing bus stop where you can hop on and off the bus for 2 days for only 18 euro a person. I would never want to drive there so this was an easy, convenient option.
We lucked out and got to see a demonstration but we were assured that the bomb sounds were only noise. This proves to the government that the people are serious about change...

The Changing of the Guards. They don't look as studly as the US Army.

Parliament where the guards are. Also where most of the demonstrations occur.

They can't move like the ones in England.

Pigeons. No, thanks.

Sexy, naked ruin.

A ruin...of something.

Athens seems to never end. 

The Parthenon that sits on top of the Akropolis that looks over all of Athens.

We're smiling from the heat stroke.

The hot ladies that protect Athens.

The Temple of Zeus (it was right next to our hotel).

Temple of Zeus.

America!!!

I am back in the states! I'm in Texas right now, but I got to spend a week in Colorado with some of my family. I can't believe I've been in Germany for almost 8 months already. The time is going by so fast, but at the same time I am missing my friends and family here. Last week went by so fast and I am already missing my family again. Visiting really doesn't help a lot. Haha. I wish I could take them with me everywhere I go. You can see how cute they are and why I want them around all the time.

My Mom took us to Ghost Town!

Cute kids with some thug dad in the background. Is that liquor in his back pocket? 

The kids were supposed to be behind me. 

It's so hard to get a good picture with 3 children. I feel for you moms out there.

I'm teaching them expert marksmanship so they can defend the Burt compound. Child soldiers.

Bradley

Jackson

Panning for gold. We need money to start this compound.

4 Countries in a Day

Germany is so centrally located that 4 countries in a day isn't hard to achieve. Here is France, Luxembourg and Belgium (we started and finished in Germany). It ended up being a 25 hour day but it was worth it!

St. Avold Cemetery, Lorraine, France
Click here to learn about Andrew Miller

St. Avold Cemetery

Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Cool terrace

Community chalkboards in Luxembourg

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, Belgium

Manneken Pis
 Click here to learn about this little peeing man

Broken in Brussels

My luck has been bipolar lately. One minute I'll have something really great happen (like a free flight to Denver to see my family!) then someone breaks my back window and steals muh stuff! The next minute I end up making a lot more money than I expected from a work trip, then I lose my husband's car key at the gym (I'm driving his since my window is busted). We also got a notice from the IRS that we owe our entire refund from 2010...I've never felt like such an adult. I hate dealing with real life trials and especially when Corey is not here!
As a young(er) adult, I frequently experienced mini anxiety attacks whenever I would think about being an adult and surviving in the real world. The years have helped me deal with the anxiety but every now and then I revert to feeling like a helpless child. Or rather, wishing I didn't have to deal with the current crisis. Crisis meaning any obstacle in my daily life.
I'm happy to conclude this story with these feats: My window is fixed, the car key is found and we don't owe the IRS sh!t! I still have to send them proof of that, but at least we figured out what the proof is.

I parked next to a cathedral and a bank...this is what I found after 2 hours in the city!

The Belgian police hooked us up with some plastic and tape. Awesome.

ADAC breaking into Corey's car so I could get my purse and keys out. Ugh.  Sorry about your door, babe. It leaks just a little now :)

Mixed Tape

I love making mixed tapes (more recently known as playlists) and regularly dedicate hours to making the perfect ones. I have made people cry with my amazing mixed tapes! My mixed tapes could bring world peace to the 21st century. My mixed tapes are used in the finest institutions as the preferred music therapy to heal the sick. The world's most interesting man doesn't always listen to mixed tapes, but when he does, it's one of mine.
Recently I invested a fair amount of money at iTunes for a killer new workout mixed tape and I can't wait to try it out. I've been running to the same playlist for about 6 months now and it's not working anymore. I keep skipping songs and dreading the next one that I know is coming. This latest creation isn't tried and true yet, but I have a good feeling about it.
I'm not claiming that these songs are great-it's a workout playlist. However, I think they will be great for keeping me motivated on the treadmill. Here's the list and after I run to it a few times, I'll let you know if it works. (Also, I might do some song rearranging to make sure the flow is right)

Telephone-Lady Gaga
Get the Party Started-Pink (the only song of hers I like)
Hello-Martin Solveig & Dragonette
Oops!...I Did It Again-Britney Spears (Oh young Britney...you were so cute)
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)-Kelly Clarkson (Chubby Kelly motivates me to keep running)
Undo It-Carrie Underwood (Sexy Carrie also motivates me)
What the Hell-Avril Lavigne
Satellite-Lena (My favorite German Idol artist)
TiK ToK-Ke$ha (Ugh, that dollar sign S is soooooo annoying)
Firework-Katy Perry
Just A Girl-No Doubt (Just A little obsessed with Gwen)
You Make Me Feel...(feat. Sabi)-Cobra Starship (I'm the baddest baby in the atmosphere...lyrical vomit but I love it!)
Rude Boy-Rihanna (Explicit lyrics...bad words help you keep going)
Titanium (feat. Sia)-David Guetta & Sia (I've never done ecstasy but this song makes me feel like it)
Lights-Ellie Goulding
Paris (Ooh La La)-Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
That's Not My Name-The Ting Tings (I added that one to make it 60 minutes)

I tried to use only songs by female artists (there's a couple with dudes in them). That's another part of the mixed tape obsession. There are rules to follow for each tape. It's a challenge. Did I miss any on this one? I need more suggestions.

Oman

After Bahrain, we flew to Salalah, Oman, picked up our sweet Land Cruiser (I now want another SUV more than a baby) and drove an hour through the effing craziest 2 lane winding mountain road to Thumrait. We worked there for a few days and tried to hang out in Salalah most of the time. Here are the things I noticed about Oman:

• Super nice people
• Women cover their entire face...they don't even show their eyes
• Men wear the cutest little hats
• Frankincense & Myrrh
• Date trees everywhere
• Really cheap gas
• Beautiful beaches
• HOT!
• Camels crossing the freeway

Bahrain

I lucked out and was selected to go on my shop's annual Bahrain/Oman trip. I'm in Bahrain this week and will be heading to Oman next. So, if you don't know where these countries are (I didn't really even know if they were cities, countries or amusement parks) here is a little help from our friend, a map.

Bahrain is a really small island in the Persian gulf and Oman is the bigger green country. Ironic because there is nothing green here...at all. I haven't and won't really do much here due to civil unrest and cops beating people in the streets. Just the usual. However, Bahrain is pretty cool and I would like to explore it a little. It is the pearl capital of the world and there are boat excursions you can take to go pearl farming and get your own little gem from the sea. I thought about it and decided I'd rather not be thrown into a pile of burning tires just to get my own pearl. Also, there is a nasty sand storm going on right now and it is not pretty. 

View from my hotel (before the sand storm)

I have been exploring Bahrain and the Saudi Arabian peninsula online (a safer method of travel) and found that the more adventurous Arabian people are really into driving on two wheels. They start swerving their vehicles violently and roll onto two wheels and then they show off their skills by changing a tire, smoking some huka, checking the engine. Hilarious! Check out this video: