The Over-Reactor

"Mom, Lillie's knocked out!", is the phrase that I hear from down the hall while I am cleaning up the dishes from supper. Instantly, I have a lump in my throat and I am positive my blood pressure has gone up 10 points. I briskly run to the end of the hallway and my look must have said it all. Ainzli instantly apologizes to me and has this look on her face that says, "Please don't be so mad at me your vein pops out in your forehead." I told her that this would never be something that would be funny to me, don't ever do it again, this is once again "crying wolf" and she said ok; all the while stroking a few strands of hair against her face with the "deer in the headlight" look.

I am the Over-Reactor type of Mom. This is not a character trait I am proud of. My mind always goes to the worst and I tell myself this is so that when it isn't bad I was prepared. I just pray daily that I am never faced with "the worst".  It has had me thinking for quite awhile, how do I overcome this ridiculous flaw? I want to be cool, calm, collected all those reactions that should come naturally, but can you gain them like knowledge? I believe you can.

Take the "knockout" situation. I know even a year ago, and definitely two years ago I would have dropped a dish on the floor, been crying by the time I got to them, and been yelling like a crazed lunatic (the look on Ainzli face expected it) when I realized she had been "just joking". I don't honestly know how I have started to resolve this. Getting older, a rock under pressure husband, daily prayer, having situations arise that teach me; I think all of these are reasons I am becoming a better reactive person. I have mastered breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, this is deep breathing, fill your lungs, no kidding, it works. I make the girls do it too, when they get really upset. It is called "whoo-sah" at the Grismore abode.

I don't know what kind of a "reaction" person you are, but if you are my hero type, bless you. For the rest of us, we can work on this, overcome it, and be that person up front leading with grace under pressure. (too much, I think not, we all need positive reinforcement every now and again.)

This is one of the fun pictures from our shoot with Abby. Can you see the craze lunacy in my eyes? Hopefully not. :) 

Emillio Reggio

This is the view out of the 3rd story room in Italy. A Futbol field. I guess I just don't get it!

I suppose to the right person this would be a great view.......... either one of these!

I suppose to the country boy from Farmland these would seem like some of the coolest things! Let me tell you, Ainzli and I both went straight to the really cool carpet in the small triangle space to the left.

The girl's and I got a call last night with just opera music on the other end. Last night was the Brevini 50 year celebration. Shannon said they went and had pizza before hand and that was it. He seemed a little puzzled by the simpleness of that until................ the singing started. Spettacolare! Once again, no words.  Just pure and simple, magic. More to come...........later.

Meet Joe (in) Black

Yesterday was a wonderful day for Shannon, when I talked with him he sounded great. This is Johannes (from here forward know as "Joe"), he and Shannon have become good friends. When Joe was over here we took him out to Acton country and showed him around. Shannon took him a ride in the Camaro, Poppa's Corvette, and they took a four-wheeler ride down by the river. All of these confirm country boy from Farmland! We had a wonderful time that day and Joe is a great guy.
Joe returned the experience in grand proportions! Shannon was able to meet Bittina (wife), Rolf (son) and Joe's Mom. They toured the countryside, Joe's village, and went 165 Kilometers an hour on the Autoban. We will hear all about it when he gets home.

Shannon flew out at 10 am from Dusseldorf, on his way to Italy. He is now just 5 hours ahead of us, their daylight savings was this past Sunday. I have not spoken with him yet, but he was ready to get there. He will be with someone from Brevini most of the time he is in Italy. Shannon likes to be around people, so this trip has been challening on so many levels. Italy will be a completely different experience, he is getting picked up from the airport in a limo! What now, Shannon the Rockstar! I am looking forward to hearing from him today.

Meet Joe. This is his Ford Mondeo. Why can't we get that car here in the states? Very Volvo-esk. 

This is Joe's village. That is really all I know. Shannon didn't give me anymore information, but.........I can only imagine waking up every morning, pouring myself a cup of black coffee and heading out to my front porch (or this time of year, front picture window) and seeing this.  

Rolf: he is Joe's 14 month old son. Joe is a die-hard biker. So he started Rolf out early on the motorcycle! Rolf turned 1 year when Joe was over here. Joe travels for very long periods of time for his job. He was only home for 3 days and was willing to spend one with Shannon. I am forever grateful!

As for the girls and I, we are getting to hang out just the three of us. Last night we laid in Lillie's bed, all three of us, and just chatted. I just love my girls. We definitely miss him, but we look at it with a positive attitude.

Tonight, Ainzli is going to registration for the Royerton basketball league. I think she is a little nervous. I asked her about volleyball and she really has no interest. Soccer, no interest. Basketball, we will see.

Lillie had piano last night, and she got her first Christmas song to practice. She is so close to mastering Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Miss Kathy says she is doing great.

A Medieval City in the East

Shannon took an hour train ride south to the city of Koln.  Koln is located on the eastern side of Germany. It is much more touristy than Monchengladenbach, but still not much english spoken. He was excited to have an American burger at the Hard Rock Cafe, that was a menu he could read. The cathedral at Koln is said to be one of the most beautiful sights in Europe. It was originally constructed sometime in the 1500's. It took quite a beating during the second world war, and is going under some constructive surgery still. Shannon spent 4 or 5 hours in Koln, then headed back to Monchengladenbach. I am so proud of him, he is taking this opportunity that has been handed to him and living it to the fullest. He will be touring more of Germany tomorrow with Joe. Shannon and Joe became well acquainted here at Brevini, Joe set up the machine Shannon will eventually be running. I know he is probably labeling me as a "pest", but here are his favorites from his trip today.

Just a Couple

I asked Shannon to send me two of his favorite pictures from his trip so far, and this is what he sent me first. He took a train ride to Koln (Cologne) today. I am so excited to get his two favorite from that trip. He told me already that there is no website, picture, description that would do that city justice.

He took Brevini's point and shoot camera, so of course, I had to be sure that there was an image on it of his favorite girls. We were hanging out at the airport before it was time for him to board. Needless to say, there were some tears shed about 15 minutes after this was taken. 

I asked Abby to take some pictures of the girls and I so that I could make him a book to take with him. I was so gun-ho about just slipping it in his suitcase and him finding it once he was at his destination. So we were packing the night before and he mentioned taking pictures with him a couple of times. I gave in, so I went and got it from Grandma's buffet and handed it to him. He only looked at the cover and said he would view the rest when he got there. He loves it and the pictures are beautiful.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Abby.

This is the entrance to the restaurant on the ground floor of his hotel. This is where he eats the majority of the time.  At the left side of the picture is the portico where the picture of him was taken a couple of posts ago. He says the food here is amazing. I asked him if he could duplicate it.............. he said nothing. 

All Hallows Eve

I feel like Halloween has lasted for two whole weeks. The girls get invited, every year, to a Halloween party that takes place in our neighborhood. Shannon normally does the hayride for it, and it is a lot of fun. This year they had to have it early with the kids getting older, sports schedules, and this year, trick-or-treating. So we have had costumes ready for quite sometime. We have had so much time, Lillie was actually able to dress-up as two different things, she was a pumpkin for the the party and a ladybug for trick -or-treat.
Last night was trick-or-treating for Muncie, and we had a ball. Before hand, we went over to the Jackson's and had chili with friends and neighbors. We love our neighbors! The costumes were as follow's: Scarecrow, Ladybug, Best Friends Heart (Annie and McKenna were the two seperate sides), Storm Trooper, Ladybug(2), Chicago Bears Fan, and finally a little Kitty. We ventured out as a pack and had so much fun. There was plenty of candy collected, so our neighborhood was the extent of our trick-or-treating. When we were getting ready to go over to GG's, Ainzli wanted to know if we could hit up their neighborhood. Negative was the plain answer from this mean-o!
When we were growing up Mom and Poppa would only take us to people we knew, and so that is the way  it is done with our girls. Halloween was a big thing, Mom made the most elaborate costumes. One year, Audri was a Christmas tree, she actually lit up! Battery operated Christmas lights had just come out, and WOW! That is all I can say. The costume Ainzli is wearing is one Mom had made for Audri, Ainzli told everyone that her aunt had worn it. And of course, it looks like the real deal, so it was awesome. Thanks Mom!

Shannon Grismore: International Traveler

"What an experience!". I cannot tell you how many times I have heard that from him. Shannon started his new job with Brevini Wind on July 26 of this year knowing there would be some amazing opportunities granted to him. He is half way through one of them right now. He flew out of Indy on the 23rd to arrive in Dusseldorf, Germany 16 hours later. He was then picked up at the airport by a car service and dropped off in Monchengladenbach, Germany at a lovely motel downtown. Can we say country boy from Farmland, Indiana is feeling a little out of sorts........ absolutely! He started his training on that Monday and finished it at noon yesterday. He feels like it cannot be all he will get, there is just way to much, but it was a good start. Germany is six hours ahead of us, so when Shannon got done with training, he would come back to the room and we have been using Skype daily. It was perfect timing. What an amazing thing Skype is! Being all alone in a different country, and for the first time, I know being able to see our faces has been a huge relief.
His day would consist of someone from Dorries picking him up every morning, training, lunch (with 16 Chinese men who are there to train on another type of machine, and who do not speak a lick of English either, they had a translator traveling with them), more training in the afternoon, and then the rest of the day to himself.
He is truly looking forward to his travel to Italy. That is when he will tour Brevini, and get to see where it all began. That is so exciting. Brevini is striving to become a huge part of our community here at home and that makes us feel like Shannon has gotten a once in a lifetime opportunity to be apart of them getting their factory up and running.

This is just a view down a street in Monchengladenbach. He says they all pretty much look just like this. Amazing how clean it is. The natives tell him that this is not a pretty town at all. They keep telling him wait till he goes to Cologne!

"Secret Agent Man" standing outside of his hotel. He told me he would not have survived without 4 things: backpack, coat, phone, and computer. I suppose next time he can pack much lighter!