Craziness! I bought ugly shoes! Ice Cream, New Names, Reba, Vacation and other bits and bobs

Whew, with a title like that you'd think it was Random Thoughts Tuesday, wouldn't you? Well, it's not. It's actually Friday, and normally I do a Dear So and So, but I've got too much going on today to gripe at all the idiots people that irritate me to no end. Seriously, things are going on. The first I find, well, distressing to be honest. I bought {hiding my head in shame} ugly shoes! Oh noes!!!!! Yes, it's true. Well, I guess not strictly true, because they're boots not shoes (semantics can be your friend) and they're not that ugly I guess, but they're not really, well, me. You know? They're kind of butch IMO. Check them out:



Why did I buy these less than attractive boots? Because we're going on vacation this week down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (try saying that fast 5 times) and M's "bro-friend" who will hence forth be known as "The Other Man" (or TOM for short, even though Tom is NOT his name) is already down there for a conference and his wife (TOM's Wife as she will now be known) told us that it's been raining there all week and to make sure we bring rain gear and waterproof shoes. Well, I do have my kick ass Timberlands, but they are heeled (of course) and probably not the best thing to wear on a trip where we will be exploring a huge gorge and navigating the crowds of Oktoberfest in Munich. I went through all my boots and the only pair I own without a heel are $300 Anne Kleins (no I did NOT pay that much for them, Mr. HH-as M will now be known-would kill me) and they are more like riding boots (not that I ride, but if the opportunity ever arrises, I've got the boots) and have absolutely no tread (as I found out in the snow last year). What to do? What to do? Our PX had some super key-ute pink (PINK!) Timberlands, but they did not have any in my size. Boo! Boo, I say! I went to a few German shoe stores and actually found them in my size and in pink, but they were CRAZY expensive. Crazy. Like 200 Euro crazy, and with the exchange rate being $1.50=1 Euro, they were $300! Um, no. Even though they called me (MIHH, buy us! We're ever so comfy! We're excellent for exploring and we're pink! PINK!!!!) I had to walk away. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on boots that I probably wouldn't wear that often, so I headed over to the sale section. I found the above boots, which were originally 80 Euro (no way would I pay 80 Euro for them, they're not even pretty!) but marked down to 25 Euro. At that price, I could justify taking them home with me. Sort of. They are pretty comfortable are real leather and have a nice fluffy lining, so...you know. Of course Mr. HH saw them and asked if I had bought yet another pair of boots and why on earth I needed them. I tried to explain, but he just shook his head. Men. Yes, I do in fact need 8 pairs of black boots! They're all different!
Anyhoo, after I made my purchase, I was a little down until Indy (who got an awesome new pair of bright blue Wellies) and I decided to go get some ice cream to cheer me up. Indy's all for anything that involves ice cream. I've never been a big ice cream fan and the only time I ever buy it to bring home is when we're doind something cake related, but there are a few ice creamy things that set my heart aflutter. A Magnum bar is one of them. I would have taken a photo of the actual bar, but by the time we got home, only the wrapper and a big smile on my face was left. Isn't the wrapper pretty though (even if it's a little crumpled)? The inside is gold! Gold! You know it's special.

What's inside this pretty wrapper? Heaven. On a stick. It's a lucious vanilla ice cream covered in the most decadent dark chocolate coating you can possibly imagine. The Magnum Classic, which is milk chocolate, is my go to, but when I come across an Ecuador Dark, my heart beats a little faster and my taste buds stand on high alert. I'm not a huge fan of milk chocolate (WHAT? I know, I know, milk chocolate is good, but dark chocolate is my true love), but the Magnum Classics are freaking amazing. Magnum bars (of any kind-classic, dark, classic with almonds, etc) are extremely rare in America, but if you ever see one, buy it (actually buy them all) and run home guarding it with your life, laughing like a lunatic all the way. Once you try it, you'll understand why. If I could send every one of my readers one, I would because I want you all to experience true happiness (which actually can be found in a Magnum bar). This cheered me up and the not so pretty shoes didn't look all that bad after all. Well, they did, but Magnum bars can make anything look better.

Now, onto the vacation. We're going down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (site of the 1936 Winter Olympic Games) as soon as Mr. HH gets home from work. TOM and his wife and girls are already there and tomorrow we're taking the train up to Munich for the opening of Oktoberfest (which is in September, not October) and then on Sundaywe're going to explore the Zugspitz (Germany's highest point, IRRC) the Partnach Gorge and the ruins of Castle Werdenfelds. On Monday we're going to Neuschwanstein Castle. Indy is crazy excited over that one. The photo below is of the hotel we're staying at in Garmisch. Isn't it pretty? This is from their website and I'm wondering how it will measure up IRL. I'll be sure to take lots of photos to let you see.



Finally, onto Reba. I know you're thinking, "huh? Reba? Reba, who?" Reba Mcentire the country singer/sit-com star, that's who. Why, you ask? Well, I was flipping through the channels the other day and other day when the phone rang. I stopped flipping and answered the phone. The channel was playing the show Reba (cause that's the kind of quality TV your armed forces and their families get to watch). When I got off the phone, Indy asked me what was with her. I asked what he meant and he said "Why does she talk like that? Does she have some sort of problem?" I cracked up laughing and explained that no, she did not have a problem, she merely had a really strong southern accent. He said he hoped he never talked like that.

So, now that I've rambled, I have to go down 4 flights of stairs to the dark, scary basement (jealous?) and see if our laundry is finished so I can pack for our trip. I'll try to post in the evenings with all the exciting things we'll be doing (while I wear my poor ugly boots). Or, maybe I'll just sleep. Who knows?