Mom’s firm closed at the end of 2008 and even a country-wide search for a new full time position didn’t yield any results. So mom accepted the offer T-Systems in Berlin made and we are now planning our move to Germany. The house is on the market, the household pared down for a lighter-weight move and the apartment in Berlin Friedenau rented. The kids will attend John F. Kennedy in Zehlendorf and mom’s job will start mid July. Wish us luck!

After 2 years of begging and prodding, bribing and blackmailing the kids finally had me: I agreed to getting a cat last week. So Thursday we picked him up from the local anmal care center, our black and white 4 month old cuddler (well, the latter makes him supremely suitable to thrive in this family). Of course my resolution never to let him near my bedroom dissolved after about one and a half days and now Tommy wakes me up at around six by traipsing all over my face and poking his cold nose under my chin. His favorite toys are any kinds of strings and chains and his sleeping place at night is Sabrina’s covers. So it will surprise no-one that our household just got even livelier and more chaotic and the gender distribution is finally balanced.

It was a wonderful morning to wake up to. It had snowed about 5 inches and the sky was bright blue. It was also the first weekend after I was officially acknowledged as the new manager of an awesome team of 10 plucky developers at Lawson Products. I was trusted to lead Lawson IT’s brightest and most deserving of success, fun and rewards and I will do everything in my power to navigate us there.

So in very good spirits we shoveled snow, drove Sabrina to her appointment at the hair salon (very cute cut), went to Borders (to add to my collection of team building and leadership literature), stopped by Panera (first time this year, hmmm), got a few household goods at Linen ‘n Things and ended a most comfortable day at home by the fire, sipping tea and reading a good book.