A New Job and Update

Our attempt at a family photo in our St. Patty's shirts

I figured it's time for an update. Often times I have flashbacks to the German train stations or checking into a bed and breakfast and these small memories make me miss our German life quite a bit. It's memories and moments like those that we get to hold forever as we continue into the next chapter of our adventure together. The last few weeks have been busy but good. When it rains, it pours and Derek and I have been blessed with wonderful family, friends, and now, two jobs.

After a few months of resume editing, networking, emailing and job searching, I have a new job and start next week. As the Marketing Specialist at HCC Medical Insurance Services, I will have a wide array of responsibility including campaign management, vendor relations and public relations/media relations. As with many marketing positions, I'm sure my responsibilities with reflect the current task at hand and involve versatility and adaptability. That's what I love about marketing. The company sells travel insurance -  and most marketing campaigns revolve around different travel topics. It's a needed product, and the popularity of travel insurance is growing. As I told the team in my interview, this is my roundabout way of getting into the travel industry! Needless to say, I'm thrilled for this opportunity. I'm looking forward to getting back into the marketing and communications network in Indianapolis and beyond and continuing to grow and develop my skills.

In other news, my car died last Friday. That was great fun! Luckily, as my car started huffing and puffing, I was driving alongside a giant church parking lot and was able to pull in and keep my car in the parking lot overnight. Long story short, my car will soon be in its final resting place as a donation or junkyard scrap. After looking for new cars all weekend, we settled on a great Subaru find in Lafayette  We'll be returning on Friday to pick it up.

Last week Derek and I went wine tasting at a local wine store that offered free tastings from 11 Italian wine makers. The weekend before, Derek and I spent time in my hometown of Evansville - it's always nice to go home. Stuart and Simba are getting along much better, and seem to really enjoy each other's company. Until our next adventure...

Stuart's pretty sweet

Naptime for the boys

The new car

Experiment in the kitchen: Greek yogurt souffle (I got the recipe here. ) Great light dessert.

Experiment 2: Banana cupcakes with homemade cream cheese icing. One word: Delicious

A Visit to the Indy Craft Beer Scene

This past weekend I wanted to find something to do out of the house and in the city. With Derek's recent devotion to homebrewing, I figured a tour of a local craft brewery would be a great Saturday afternoon adventure. Via email I signed up for a 1:00 pm tour at FLAT12 Bierwerks located on the edge of downtown Indianapolis.

The tasting room had a warm, conventional feel and Derek and I were immediately offered free samples of the craft beer. Once the group was gathered for the tour, our tour guide shared with us the process and procedure for making beer at Flat 12. The coolest thing for me was to see how the company has grown. So many of the craft beers start as small batches brewed for taste testing and experiments. This brewery continues to grow and most recently, they started bottling. The labels are designed by a local artist and the brewery participates in local beer nights at restaurants and regional festivals.

The biggest difference between German and American beers is the type of ingredients. In Germany, the standard pils and weissen has four main ingredients: barley, wheat, hops and yeast. Here in America, we allow almost anything. At Flat12, the most interesting thing I remember was that they brewed one type in an old whiskey barrel with vanilla beans.

I'm no beer expert, and I won't try to be; I leave that to my husband. What I do think is cool, though, is the culture and entrepreneurial spirit of microbreweries in Indianapolis. According to the brewer and tour guide at Flat12, it's not a competition between breweries, but more like a club where brewers lend a helping hand to each other. Like many aspects of Indy that Derek and I are getting reacquainted with, the microbrewery sector is definitely on the list. And it's on the (long) list of places to take our German friends when they visit in May!

For more information on the microbreweries of Indianapolis, visit this list on VisitIndy.

"Please support your Indiana craft breweries."

The fermentation area

Derek and I with our sample favorites.

Derek bottled 70 beers this past Saturday. We'll have a tasting party in about two weeks!

Meet Stuart

Hey guys!

About two weeks ago I got a contagious urge that spread to my husband. I wanted a friend for Simba, a kitten that could snuggle and play with our large, still growing Maine Coon. Now I might sound like a crazy cat lady, and maybe I am, but there's something special about opening your family to a new member, to automatically feel a bond with a little being that solely relies on you. Derek and I found the perfect addition: Stuart.



I suppose it was meant to be. About two weeks Derek and I set out on a scavenger hunt, popping in and out of two humane societies and two Petsmarts to no avail. We were searching for a medium/long-haired kitten about 8 weeks old. The following week, I surveyed Indyhumane.org and waited for kittens to be posted to their list of adoptable cats. I revisited the Humane Society when a beautiful long-haired kitten was posted and as soon as I got there, the family right before me snatched the application. It wasn't meant to be.

Later the next week, I visited once again to find out that the adoption center is closed on Thursdays. So, on Friday three kittens were posted and I was waiting at the door for it to open at 1:00 pm. There was a very long line, with about 15 people waiting behind me. Once the doors opened, I saw the female medium-haired Simba look-alike (but with gray hair) and handed in my application. In addition to this adorable kitten, there was another heart-breaker that kept chasing his tail and falling off the shelf in his cage. He was so adorable, but I had already made up my mind. I was at the checkout counter, about to purchase a female, medium hair when the clerk informed me that my apartment complex would require an additional pet fee and deposit. Well, I wasn't planning on that, nor was I informed of that detail. I left in a hurry, and quite frustrated. Once home, I straightened things out with the apartment complex and then called Derek, who happened to be on his way home. He continued to drive straight to the Humane Society to see if the kitten was still available for adoption. She was not, but the cute, playful gray-haired male kitten was still available. And so, Derek brought home Stuart. After looking for awhile with no success, Stuart ended up in our home, and we couldn't be happier!

Stuart Guggenberger

Simba was a bit sour about the new kitten. He hissed and tried to claim his territory by always being on higher ground, but he's coming around. Today they wrestled a bit, but Simba really just looks like an older bully. He his four times Stuart's size, but can't help it. With time, they will be fine!

And so, there he is. Stuart Guggenberger. What a stud.

Snuggle time with mom

Watching the Today Show with mom

Simba's warming up to Stuart