i did it

I finally drove on the autobahn! And I did it all by myself and I only wanted to flip off 2 people! I'm not sure that flipping people off here translates like it does in the States, though. I don't know why I was so scared. I mean, I've driven much faster than I drove today when I lived in California. Plus, the drivers here are much smarter and calmer than CA drivers... for the most part.

I had to go to IKEA (again) to pick a few things up that I just had to have so I packed up the babies and we went. If you go on a weekday, you get to park close to the store instead of having to park halfway to home like if you go on the weekends. So I decided it was better to go on a weekday when I didn't have to arm wrestle 3 other mothers to use the chair in the baby room instead of waiting until Saturday to have my husband drive us. This saved us an argument, too... well, until I inform him that he will be hanging more pictures this weekend.

I'm discovering that IKEA is a national pastime here. Friends were meeting at the entrance to go have their morning coffee and pastries at the cafe. Couples were carting their babies while carefully deciding which color curtain was exactly right for their room. The elderly were congregating outside to say goodbye to each other and to make plans to meet again the same time next week. Children were eagerly awaiting their turn to go into the children's center. Really, IKEA makes the world go round. It's consumerism at it's finest. That place gives you a high and just makes you happy. Maybe it's the fact that you can fill your cart until it's overflowing and still spend less than 200 Euro? Maybe it's the fact that there are so many things to choose from? I don't know. I just have to figure out how people here get their purchases home. Their cars are the size of the tires on most SUVs in the States. I'm assuming home delivery is a big business here.