Happy Living in Vienna

This is my first stab at a blog-not sure I am up to the challenge, but needed an outlet to journal during our two years in Vienna. I was having difficulty coming up with a title to this blog until I was peering out our apartment window and spotted the little shop called "Happy Living." The window was filled with many whimsical and colorful items. So, here's hoping for a few years of "Happy Living in Vienna."

It has been almost three weeks since our arrival. We have signed our names to oodles of papers and documents and have blisters on our feet from all the walking. We haven't discovered the "romantic" side of the city quite yet, but have high hopes that it is here awaiting us. We found a great apartment (much bigger and better than we thought possible!) It is on the second floor of a building built in 1900 that sports quite a colorful history. There were eleven Jews living in the building during WWII who had to flee for safety. We got quite an earful from an Austrian woman (in her broken English,) who has lived in the apartment above us for over 60 yrs. BTW, she did inform us that she speaks five languages and her daughter speaks eight. I can barely say good day and where's the water closet (toilet.) We're not sure we got all the facts straight, but something about an explosion in the building that took the life of a man who was in the bathtub. We will try to get the full story for future blogging.

So, here I am now for three weeks in DC with our daughter Amanda and family. Amanda is having a home birth and wanted me here to help. I am so honored to be here and am extremely excited about grandchild #11. Of course, keeping up with a two, three, and five yr. old is not as easy as when I was younger, but have to say I think I am managing fairly well so far.

Hope to hear from you, our family and friends, from time to time. We will miss you all, but feel sure two years will be gone before we know it.

Stay tune for more exciting adventures from Vienna!