My job... not always fun....

It's been so long since I've posted..... I know, I know... SHAME ON ME!    And now here I am, with a not-so-happy entry. 

First of all, let me explain my job (only 4 month left!). Some of you know it, most of you don't.  In spite of being an American citizen, I managed to get a job at the regional German FAA! For the past 16 years, I have been an aviation inspector. My job is primarily inspection the airfields within my jurisdiction (24), checking heli ports or advising hospitals planing to build one, check pilots credentials, attend airshows and see if they are doing everything according to the permission my office gave them, etc. etc. The airfields are small general aviation ones, not the biggies like Frankfurt.

Most of the time it was fun and interesting. But once in a while it's not so great, like when there's a crash. And last night we had a big one!

It was night, there were fog patches, The airfield (largest general aviation airfield in all Germany) has no instrument approach system. The reasons are many, including it's proximity to Frankfurt, not to mention an autobahn (highway) west of the field and a high-speed train railway in the east, right close to the eastern threshold.

A Citation 750x was arriving from Linz, Austria, and decided to try to land.... but instead crashed into a forest just east of the field. Because of it's high speed, it exploded and practically disentigrated!

So today I went first to the airfield, talking to the manager, checked the calibration of the PAPI approach lights (they were ok), then went to the talk to the police helicopter pilots next door. After that I went with the police to the crash site to meet up and talk to the guys from our NTSB (called BFU here).

I didn't take any pictures of the bodies.... believe me, you would not want to see them. They were still lying on the ground, and there wasn't a single one that was in one piece. The smell of fuel was in the air and the ground was covered with lots of debrise, from aircraft pieces, to books, coffee cups and paper plates, even metal knives and forks. Some pieces hung in the trees. It had flown through the tree tops for about 700 m.

While I was there the guys from the BFU found the black box. Here a few pictures I took. Yes, it has an American registration, we have lots of American registered airplanes over here (often for burocratic reasons).

So, sorry for this negative entry. Those who know me for some time know that my entries are usually full of smilies and fun.... I prefer to entertain my readers. But I think I need to write this down for my own sanity....

Dorrie

Watching the slow decay....

This entry I originally wrote in 2009, after visiting my mom and dad. My mom was showing her first serious signs of Alzheimers (well, the first I noticed, being so far away that I am). This was just the beginning......

January 1, 2009

Mom and I sit, as usual, in the living room. The television is on in the background. She’s sitting in “her” chair, located in front of her now seldom used computer. It’s an older model, one of dad’s “hand-me-downs”. 

I’m sitting next to her in dad’s big, comfy chair while he’s in the back room playing on his computer.

I arrived on New Years Day. Upon my arrival, mom knew who I was. Yet I have already noticed a few of her “slips” that my brother and his wife had warned me about.

Then she asks where I live. “Germany”, I answer. 

“Where are you going from here?” she asks.

I reply as neutral yet as truthful as possible, “Back home to Germany.”

“oh, Dorrie lived in Germany, but she moved. I have no idea where she is now.”  There is no point in trying to correct her.

An empty tissue box lies on the table in front of her. In it are a few papers, a framed picture of my niece, Cassie, and her boyfriend, Anthony, plus some pencils, pens, and small scissors. Mom points to the picture. 

“I don’t know the names. They left here and forgot to take the picture with them.”

“I think that’s Cassie and her boyfriend (who I haven’t met yet so I’m assuming.”

“They forgot to take it with them.” Mom insists.

“Mom, it was a present for you to keep.”

“Write the names down, I have to return it, they forgot it.” She hands me an empty envelope, I write down “Cassandra” and give it to her. She takes the picture together with the envelope and marches to the back room where dad is sitting.”

“I have to tell “that guy” (meaning dad).” Dad repeats what I had told her, but she won’t listen and gets mad because no one listens to her. 

“They gave it to you as a present, to hang up somewhere,” I repeat. “Let’s find a place where we can hang it.” 

“No! It’s not going here!” she then insists, since she doesn’t accept this place as her home. She then places it face down on her dresser, so it won’t get forgotten when she “goes home”.

She returns to her chair and her tissue box. She begins to sort the papers in the box. I also notice her placing the pencils and scissors into envelopes. I suggest she put them in the cup that sits next to the computer, together with other pens,.

“But then they’ll be forgotten when I go home,” she whines. I humor her by telling her that the cup can be taken home with her as well. She thinks about that for a moment and accepts, then continues sorting the stuff in the box.

Later I’m sitting, writing in a notepad. The lighting isn’t great and she asks, “How can you see there, Dorrie?”

She again recognized me.

my mom, 2009...

Cat Tales

It's been a while since I last posted....sorry. Blogger, WordPress, and KCL are just not JS.... God I miss that place!!!

As most of you know, I have been having "issues" with my cat, Shila. It started last December when I noticed her having eye problems. So I took her to the vet and then the fun started (giving her eye drops). At first the eye looked like it was getting better, but then it started getting bad again and our choices of treat ment were not many. You have to realise, Shila will be 17 in May, so she's pretty "aged", yet she is still fit like a teenager.

In the end, we decided to remove the bad eye...here she is just after the operation with her protection "bonnet".

That was an unexpected expense, right before Christmas.

This is Shila today....

She's guarding the puzzle I started (I used to puzzle a lot before the internet)...

Anyway, now her other eye has started. Some of the treatment is not possible since she only has one eye left. This time we took her to a special animal eye clinic (yes, such a thing really exists!). They said it was a typical old age thing for her race (Persian). I was given new eye drops, to be given 3 times a day, 2 different types of drops (so actually 6 times a day).

NO WAY!!! Shila has discovered her claws, and even wrapping her up in a blanket doesn't help. She gives me the evil eye and wiggles herself out. It's stress for her.... and for me. So far she still comes crawling back onto my lap for some loving.... *sigh*

So, soon I'll have to decide what to do. I'm thinking of just letting nature take it's course. So many people have told me that cats adjust to being blind, but I don't think it'd be good for her or for me. We shall see....

And so 2012 goes on....

This year for New Years Eve I had a party in my apartment for the first time. I invited my direct neighbors as well as two of my dancers. I set up a buffett and made a wine punch with berries. I had "normal" wine and beer available but my punch was the hit! No beer or wine bottle needed to be opened! One of the guests brought his collie dog (yes, he asked before hand). She was so well behaved! And Shila didn't seem to mind her, either. It was quite a nice start to the New Year.

The goodies...

 

We've been having the oddest weather in centuries. Much too mild temperatures... even some plants are beginning to blossom and the animals in the zoo are having trouble hybernating. Then the past days we had some strong storms passing through with hurricane force winds! 

So, with such crazy weather it's no wonder that many people are sick... including me. I've had such a hard dry cough the past days, last night it kept me awake. At times I cough so hard I feel I'm going to suffocate. So today I called in sick and the doc gave me some antibiotics and "ordered" me to rest... and signed me off work through next Wednesday! There is an event on Sunday, New Years reception of the local women's club and I'm a board member,  I so wanted to attend, yet I can't go.  DARN!  

Otherwise this year should end up pretty good.... I RETIRE on July 1! YAY!!

So, that was a short update. I read facebook, kcl, and blogger daily but don't write or comment much anymore.... I've just lost the blogging spirit....  

Christmas in my world 2011

Today is the 26th but in my world it's still Christmas. It's kind of odd that the main Christmas events, from church going to opening presents to big feast, are all done on Christmas Eve, making the other 2 days nothing except not having to work, shops ALL closed, and visiting relatives that were around on the Eve.

I must admit, my tree turned out pretty well this year....

I joined in the festivities at my daughter's home on Christmas Eve. I arrived while they were all at church at this quaint little village church where a children's service was going on...

Instead of Santa coming while the children are asleep, the "Christ Child" brings the presents. So, how to manage that without them catching on WHO really brought the presents? While they were all at church, I got the presents from their hiding places and placed them under my daughter's tree. Then I stopped at the church so the kids wouldn't catch on that I had been at the house. So, we got home and SURPRISE!

My camera's flash decided to act up so the following pictures are not too good. As you can see, Tamara liked her "wedding" dress so well she wore it again on Christmas.

My daughter and her little family....

Yesterday, the 25th, the kids spent with their dad while their mom and her new hubby came to my place for dinner. Later on today my son is coming with his girls to visit me, also for dinner. I think we have the whole family covered.....

Hope you all had a great one!!

Dorrie

Wedding Bells....

No, not for me... but my daughter once again has gotten married! It happened last Saturday and it was beautiful! SHE was beautiful! *brag*

 

and the girls looked cute, too.

 

Tamara (8) and Emely (6)

We laughed a lot.... there were no glitches. Even the weather held up... don't forget, this is December!

One "tradition" that was new for me... they had to cut out a heart using nail sissors...

and then her new hubby had to carry her through it (instead of over a threshold)!

It was a fun weekend..... and I wish them lots of joy for the future!

Justfly-ing around!

We actually met!! Justfly, KCL'er and former JS'er, flew with a friend to visit German Christmas markets. First stop was Frankfurt, and no way were we going to miss this opportunity.

Their adventures during the trip over (Jeanette getting trapped in a restroom, Justfly losing her luggage, etc.) I'll leave for Justfly to write about. I met them at their hotel, then we walked downtown. First stop was the top of one of Frankfurt's skyscrapers....

It was cold and windy but still groovy!

As the sun went down, and the Christmas lights became prettier, we walked to the Christmas market. They were awed at the crowds on a Thursday night! Of course they tried the "famous" German mulled wine.....

We had dinner at a typical German restaurant. Then we walked back to the hotel so they could crash... it had been a long day for them.

The next morning I returned to the hotel where I joined them for breakfast. We then packed their stuff into my car, drove to the airport to pick up Justfly's lost suitcase, then on the my quaint medieval village. First stop there.... my daughter's office so she could also meet them (kids were in school unfortunately)....

Then a walk through town...... here Justfly sitting on the "stocks" of the Witches Tower....

 After a stop at my apartment, then I took them to the train station so they could ride to their next stop, Nürnberg, to visit the famous Christkindl Market and after that, Munich.

It was such a FUN and lovely two days!!! I extremely enjoyed my time with them and hope we'll have a repeat visit some day, with more time to spend in MY world!!

Dorrie