The Apartment Stalker

Don't worry, we don't have a stalker creeping around the apartment.  The only stalker around here is me.  I am the lady who is constantly looking out her window seeing who/what I can see.  I watch the people going into the hotel, smoking outside the restaurant, and coming into the gym.  I actually can tell you who is at the gym by looking outside to see what cars are parked here.  That is how I decide if I want to go down there or not.  White truck man or blue Skoda guy are normal and don't stink.  Red VW man, or as I call him "Ab Man," is creepy and I like to avoid him when possible.  If the silver Megane hatchback guy is there, I am never to go down...he wears a unitard, smells horrible (like BO and farts), and always turns the music up way to loud.  But if my good friend, Blue car lady is there, I look forward to going down.

This week, as Kevin and I were pulling up to the apartment, we noticed the owner of the hotel and one of his workers were cutting down a big evergreen tree across from our apartment.  Once we made it upstairs, I headed straight for the window because I needed to see what was going on.  And I grabbed my camera on the way.  

Watching these two grown men cut down the tree with a little saw and ax, drag it to the edge of the road, and then run it across a busy street was quite entertaining.  I'm predicting they are using this tree as the Christmas Tree at the hotel, but I need to confirm this by actually going over there.

This is where the tree used to be (in the center of the picture).

It only took two guys to move it to the side of the road.

But they had to enlist the help of a third to get it across the street. 

This is just another day in my life...creeping the neighbors.  It's exciting, I know. 

My Life Summed Up in a Week (or Two)

It's been two weeks since I've arrived back in Vipiteno.  Slowly, but surely I'm getting back into the swing of things...eating dinner at 9:00, driving a stick, not knowing what anyone is saying, having shitty internet.  Along with getting used to all these things, this is what else I've been doing.  

1. I've caught up on all my episodes of Basketball Wives LA and Chrissy and Mr. Jones (I already know I have horrible taste when it comes to TV so feel free to judge me).  I like to save them all up and watch them back-to-back so I'm not left wanting more. 

2. All Baby Reiter's stuff is unpacked and put away.  I washed everything at home before I came so all I really needed to do was sort, fold, and find room for it once I got here.  Thanks to all my AMAZING family and friends at home, we have some great stuff to get us started. 

3. Things are starting to get real with this pregnancy.  I felt my first kick last Sunday.  At first it scared me (TMI-I thought maybe I was going to poop my pants or something), but then I realized what it was.  And in enough time that Kevin was able to feel it.  My belly button is on the verge of popping.  The top part is slowly making its way out.  I'm not looking forward to this and the only sick and twisted person that is excited about it is my cousin, Steph.  She will be the first person I call when it is fully out for the world to see.  And on a sad note...I went to get dressed on Friday night and my jeans wouldn't button.  I'm using the rubberband trick that my friend, Abbi, told me about for now.  I'm not putting on those maternity jeans until I have to.

4. I'm back to working out.  I took the summer off, which I know I shouldn't have done.  I like to use the excuse that I was pregnant and it was too hot to work out, but, in honesty, it was laziness (don't tell Kevin that I admitted to that).  Napping and watching Law and Order reruns just seemed like a better idea than working out.  But now I'm back in the gym.  My goal for this year is 4 days a week for at least 45 minutes a day.  I'm sticking strictly to riding the bike or walking on the treadmill (no running) for cardio and I'm only working on my arms and chest with weights.  Hopefully this will all help me during labor and when it's time to get my pre-baby body back.  Being back in the gym also gives me a chance to see all my friends and get weird stares from everyone.  

5. I'm actually making an effort to learn German this year.  I feel like I know so many words, but putting it all together is hard work.  I've actually used the Rosetta Stone more in the past two weeks than I did all of last year...so I'll give myself a pat on the back. 

All My Friends!

After a week of company and only one trip to the gym in 9 days, I've been trying to get back into my routine of working out this past week. I actually really missed my trips to the gym and seeing all my friends there. Okay...so I've never talked to anyone there and I have no idea what their names are, but I refer to them as friends and have come up with nicknames for most of the regulars I see.

First off, there is my best friend; I usually see him at least once a week. He speaks Italian, but always gives me a smile whenever he comes, goes, or walks past me and this is a big deal because people here aren't very friendly. I also like that he doesn't smell like body odor or wear spandex. Then we have Ab-man. He is a 50-something year old man with a sweet moustache, a gold hoop earring, and abs of steel. He likes to look at them in the mirror at least 10 times a workout and I have to admit they are impressive abs for an older gentleman. My least favorite person is Wife Beater and I don't call him that because of the tank tops he wears. Him and his gf/wife actually got into an argument one day at the gym and he grabbed her by the hair. She likes to comes watch him workout...weird. I just want to tell him what a douche he is with his spandex shorts and homemade tank tops, but I'm pretty sure we don't speak the same language. There is also Grandma, Smokey, the Three Amigos, Disney, and Austin.

I'm waiting for the day when someone tries to talks to me and I can't answer in "ja", "nein", or by using hand motions. But I've been practicing "Ich spreche kein Deutsch" (I do not speak German) and "Non parlo Italiano" (I do not speak Italian) so hopefully I can at least get one of those phrases out. For now, I'll just stick with "hallo" and "ciao" when seeing my friends.

The Sights at the Gym

Lately, I've been doing really well with getting to the gym at least four days a week. Most of the time, I really look forward to going, but not because I love the way I feel after a good workout or because I'm doing something productive. Instead, I love to people watch at the gym. Back home it is never this fun, but the gym here never disappoints.

The gym (located under our apartment) is pretty small. It has 3 treadmills, 3 bikes, and 1 elliptical. Plus, there are free weights and weight machines. There are also two large mirrors located by the free weights and the weight machines. No matter where you are, you can see everyone else in the gym. And this, I love!

In general, Europeans work out in the most random clothes ever. When we lived in England, I was baffled that people would work out in Keds or lift weights in jeans. Here in Italy, guys LOVE spandex and short shorts. And it seems as though women have never heard of sports bras. I know they have them here!

Last week, Kevin was at the rink and I headed down since it usually isn't busy in the afternoon. When I walked in, there was a younger couple. The guy had on his spandex and the girl had a full windbreaker warm up on. The whole time she was riding the bike, I kept wondering how hot she must be. Well, they left soon after I arrived...maybe they were tired of me staring at them. But I got a new Italian friend to watch so I didn't care. At first glance, he looked completely normal until he took off his jeans and sweater and revealed his unitard (with a t-shirt under it). But the head sweatband really made the outfit.

Not even Rob Pattinson would look good in one of these.

When Kevin got home, I couldn't wait to tell him. He didn't believe me though. He said I was a liar and there was no way someone would wear that to the gym. But today, Kevin had to eat his words when my Italian friend, complete with his unitard and head sweatband, showed up to the gym while we were there.