Chris Cornell - You Know My Name

Well! We're in our new apartment, Leo started working for HP's B2B call center, and I've submitted all the paperwork for my visa. I still technically don't have internet though. We were supposed to have it by Friday, but they forgot to send us something, so we're not online yet. The missing part is supposed to arrive today, and I'll hopefully be able to finish the set-up once I get it (although I'm pretty crappy with electronics so I'll probably have to wait until Leo gets home). As of now though, I'm using my cell phone's internet as a hot spot BUT we live in a basement apartment, so we have HORRIBLE reception, which means this will likely not post on the first or second or even third attempt...
This (second!) move really set us back financially. It took us 10 months to save for the move to Germany. Within a month of my arrival, we had to move again, which meant we lost €900 of our security deposit, had to pay another €500 in moving costs and €700 for a security deposit on our current apartment. On top of that, we also didn't have any income for the month of June because we were both without work for all of May. Because we used a majority of our savings even getting to Germany, we ended up transferring money from the U.S. that was set aside for student loan payments, "borrowing" money from Leo's grandma and borrowing money from a friend. :( Despite money being tight right now, we're doing well. Leo is making more money, and our apartment costs less so we should be able to get back on track within just a couple of months

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I'm doing really well here. I love the apartment and location. We live in an upper middle class neighborhood, so there are always people out and about, playing with their kids or working on projects. There are also tons of fields and bike trails behind our apartment, so I can bike in semi-privacy without feeling stupid for being clumsy. (I have bruises ALL over my legs!) I can also go with Boogie and let him off his leash to run around and play. I think he loves it here, too. He runs around the apartment like a mad man and seems happier than in our last apartment. And when he's off his leash in the fields, he runs so fast, he's like a little furry torpedo. He comes home completely and utterly pooped!
I've also gotten into a good daily routine. Get up around 9 (which is a freaking wonder for this night owl!), drink coffee, (attempt to) surf the internet, go for a long walk with Boogie or a bike ride alone, eat lunch, run errands/tidy apartment, cook dinner. I'm proud of myself. I'm getting a lot more accomplished in a day than I used to and I'm getting some form of exercise in every day. I've even started feeling more energetic - like I have to move around or I'll go crazy. I used to be able to sit around all day and still sleep 10 hours everyday! Even on weekends, Leo and I have been trying to get out and do something active. This past weekend we walked around Boeblingen for a couple of hours on Saturday and went on a hike to the top of a low mountain on Sunday. Not only do I have lower leg muscles of steel, but I also have a very extreme sunburn on random parts of my upper torso. LOL
Side note: the missing part for the internet connection arrived, and surprise, surprise! It doesn't work! I am POSITIVE that I did everything correctly. The fuck-up is on Telekom's part.
I guess that's it. It's about that time to start tidying up the apartment. (A dog, no carpet and open windows means having to thoroughly sweep everyday!)
Here are some pictures from here in Ammerbuch and some more from other places near Schwalmtal, where we just moved from.

fin