Hexenschuß

I know, you don't speak German. 

But you do know some German.  There are words that have good, direct translations, of course - Kindergarten comes to mind.  Or Hand (hand in English).  Or Finger (you can figure out that one).

But Hexenschuß? (Sounds like a good name for a rock band.)  Hexe=witch.  Schuß=shot. Shot of the witch? Witch's shot?  How about Nasty Mean Poke from Witch's Broomstick in Your Back Where it Really Hurts?  I'm choosing the latter.

If you hit the "translate" button, up comes "lumbago."  Really?  I thought that word went out with the first Great Depression!  But what it is, is a "little" muscle pull in the lower back that feels like someone (the witch) shot you and it leaves you limping and hanging out with heating pads and ibuprofen for several days.

That's me.  But not from lifting something heavy, just a wrong move while watering. Geeze.

But we were heading out to visit Amina for the weekend, so after a short session with the heating pad, Werner packed up and I sat in the shotgun seat, with the hot water bottle.

Of course, we were warmly greeting and got immediate "medication." That helped.

Then there was "school."  Opa had to do a dictation.  He was not perfect!  But a perfect chance for Amina to play teacher.

And then we proceeded to eat:  liver and onions.  What, me, liver?  Yes, I did.  And, all childhood prejudices aside, it was delicious.  I will certainly have it again.

Saturday we hung out with Amina while mom and dad worked.  That's never hard.  Watch a bit of TV.  Eat breakfast.  Go to the a mall and find a gym outfit for winter.  Buy a toy.  Go to the park.  Head home and put a little doll house together with Mama from shoe boxes for the new doll.  Eat.

Oh, yes, eat.  This time it was steaks, ribs, salad.  No danger of protein deprivation when we visit René.

Sunday after breakfast (I did the heart-shaped egg for Amina who was suitably unimpressed, though I thought it turned out great!), we did a round at the Schwarzberg Tierpark (The Black Hills Animal Park).


There were really hills !  What a surprise, here in our Flatland!  No terribly exotic animals, but local species interesting to look at, some to pet, lots to feed.

We left them there to head home, me with the hot water bottle strategically placed.  The "lumbago" will be better soon, but I think I won't be going to the gym this week ...... but the sauna might do me good.