Just some days ago the mailman actually made the trip up to the front porch and didn't run away, even when the two dogs, Mona and Rosie, were barking their heads off...
AND he was holding a package for ME!!! Packages are nothing unusual at this house but none have arrived for me so far...
T. and his parents had decided that I should get a birthday present after all, even though I told them that it wouldn't be necessary... well, quite modest of me, really, but I was exceptionally happy to receive my present!
I got a lovely shell ring, purchased, no doubt, at my new-favourite jewelry store in Enschede (thanks to MJ for dragging me in there!!) and cream-coloured, naturally grown pearl earings - both things really, really great!! I wear it whenever I get the chance and when I'm NOT holding the baby, since she would pull the pearls right out of my ear... yes, learning life-lessons over here...
Well, I guess all I want to say is thanks to E., F. and T. for not listening to me... just that one time ;-)
Monday, August 6, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
I'm walking...
Well, for some good old fashioned exercise, to get to know the neighbourhood and breathe some fresh air, I've decided to go for a walk this afternoon. Oh, and of course the fact that there was no car available and I really wanted to spend some money...;-)
L. told me about this art store that has prints of one of my favourite American artist. " It's really close by, only about half a mile to walk." Half a mile? That's nothing! Come on! Half a mile! I'm used to walking EVERYWHERE, hell, I'm used to biking EVERYWHERE, yes, in ALL weather conditions - I'm making myself out to be quite the outdoorsy type, exercise loving, constantly moving, quite funny if you think of the real me...(motto: I'm in no shape to exercise and let's take the car)
So, I've not only convinced L. that half a mile is nothing for me, but I actually believe it myself. After all, I have no clue just how far half a mile really is, and for all of you who jog thousands of miles in all weather and want to tell me just how many kilometers a mile is - DON'T!!
I don't want to know, and I want my suffering to be appreciated!
So I get changed and look all cute when I set out on my adventure!
This will be fun! Out without the kids, walking in the sunshine, enjoying the warm air, smiling to myself...oops, forgot the sunglasses, man, my eyes really start hurting, it is exceptionally bright today...no longer smiling, more squinting...
Once I've reached the main road my smile is gone...
WHAT was I thinking???? WALKING!!! It's hot, the sunshine is burning my nose and shoulders, the warm breeze has turned into exhaust wind. The smile is a frown and suddenly there is no more sidewalk! I'm walking on the street, cars beeping at me (I did look rather nice, if I may say so myself...) and strange men on benches, doing god only knows what, stare at me!
On top of that it's not NL we are talking about here folks! This is serious walking! Up and down hills! Don't ever wear flip-flops on an outing like that! Never! No matter how well they match your outfit! I was actually scared at one point that my shoes would fall off because the glue might melt or they might get stuck to the road because the road melted - this has really happened to L., so it's not too unreasonable for me to think that! But you do know how these nightmare thoughts suddenly pop up and you come up with these possible and impossible scenarios. I think it also didn't help that I wasn't sure if I was walking in the right direction... Left or right at the big crossing? Gosh I wish I would have paid attention to the instructions given by L. But all I EVER remember when somebody gives me instructions are the first 2 things: at the end of the street take a right, first stop sign left and then......peeeeeeeeeeep........lost me! Usually I just stop again and ask somebody else and that's what I keep doing till I've reached my destination. Not today though! I tell myself that I will wait and see if the store is just behind that next hill...and it is!
When I finally reach the shop and spend some money on something I feel relieved...aaaaahhh...it has all been worth it!!
Some of you might recognize the symptoms...yes, I AM A SHOPAHOLIC, and not ashamed to admit it! It has been too long! This was my first buy since the Ann Taylor all-on-sale-for-almost-nothing shopping spree 3 weeks ago!! Who can blame me!
After a cold beverage from our Starbucks friends (wink, J.) and some chocolate bar for the road -purchased at a pharmacy - (the things you can buy at a pharmacy!) I make my way home...
How come walking back is always faster? Or does it just seem faster to me, because I hold a chocolate bar in one hand and a shoping bag in the other?
Life is good...walking is fun, half a mile really isn't that far... I enjoy the sunshine, the warm breeze and I smile...
L. told me about this art store that has prints of one of my favourite American artist. " It's really close by, only about half a mile to walk." Half a mile? That's nothing! Come on! Half a mile! I'm used to walking EVERYWHERE, hell, I'm used to biking EVERYWHERE, yes, in ALL weather conditions - I'm making myself out to be quite the outdoorsy type, exercise loving, constantly moving, quite funny if you think of the real me...(motto: I'm in no shape to exercise and let's take the car)
So, I've not only convinced L. that half a mile is nothing for me, but I actually believe it myself. After all, I have no clue just how far half a mile really is, and for all of you who jog thousands of miles in all weather and want to tell me just how many kilometers a mile is - DON'T!!
I don't want to know, and I want my suffering to be appreciated!
So I get changed and look all cute when I set out on my adventure!
This will be fun! Out without the kids, walking in the sunshine, enjoying the warm air, smiling to myself...oops, forgot the sunglasses, man, my eyes really start hurting, it is exceptionally bright today...no longer smiling, more squinting...
Once I've reached the main road my smile is gone...
WHAT was I thinking???? WALKING!!! It's hot, the sunshine is burning my nose and shoulders, the warm breeze has turned into exhaust wind. The smile is a frown and suddenly there is no more sidewalk! I'm walking on the street, cars beeping at me (I did look rather nice, if I may say so myself...) and strange men on benches, doing god only knows what, stare at me!
On top of that it's not NL we are talking about here folks! This is serious walking! Up and down hills! Don't ever wear flip-flops on an outing like that! Never! No matter how well they match your outfit! I was actually scared at one point that my shoes would fall off because the glue might melt or they might get stuck to the road because the road melted - this has really happened to L., so it's not too unreasonable for me to think that! But you do know how these nightmare thoughts suddenly pop up and you come up with these possible and impossible scenarios. I think it also didn't help that I wasn't sure if I was walking in the right direction... Left or right at the big crossing? Gosh I wish I would have paid attention to the instructions given by L. But all I EVER remember when somebody gives me instructions are the first 2 things: at the end of the street take a right, first stop sign left and then......peeeeeeeeeeep........lost me! Usually I just stop again and ask somebody else and that's what I keep doing till I've reached my destination. Not today though! I tell myself that I will wait and see if the store is just behind that next hill...and it is!
When I finally reach the shop and spend some money on something I feel relieved...aaaaahhh...it has all been worth it!!
Some of you might recognize the symptoms...yes, I AM A SHOPAHOLIC, and not ashamed to admit it! It has been too long! This was my first buy since the Ann Taylor all-on-sale-for-almost-nothing shopping spree 3 weeks ago!! Who can blame me!
After a cold beverage from our Starbucks friends (wink, J.) and some chocolate bar for the road -purchased at a pharmacy - (the things you can buy at a pharmacy!) I make my way home...
How come walking back is always faster? Or does it just seem faster to me, because I hold a chocolate bar in one hand and a shoping bag in the other?
Life is good...walking is fun, half a mile really isn't that far... I enjoy the sunshine, the warm breeze and I smile...
central air....brrrr
Some of you have heard me complain about, or even suffered yourself, from the temperature in my house in NL: freezing cold in the winter (thanks heating blanket! BEST buy ever!) or the sauna it becomes once temperatures go up.
But this is nothing compared to the crazyness of CENTRAL AIR! For those of you not familiar with the term, let me explain: it's just like central heating, so there are vents in the floor in every room of the house and cold air comes out of them in summer, hot air in winter. One would think that I would quite enjoy that...NO!
It's aweful! Outside it is hot, hot, hotter, you sweat just bringing in the mail, but when you enter the house... within minutes I'm off to my room to put on socks and a warm sweater! I used to sleep with 5 (!) blankets at night until I covered the vent with towels. Entering any building in your summer clothes is just foolish! You immediately notice who works there (long pants, real shoes) and who just comes for a visit (shorts, flip-flops, rubbing arms to stay warm, blue faces).
Don't even get me started on the energy wasted on central air! Why would anybody need to keep it a crisp 67F in an office building at night when there is nobody in the building??
I do like my own ac to keep my bedroom from turning into an oven, but this is too much! I prefer to keep cool the old world way: open windows early in the morning, close shades and live in darkness inside the house all summer, create a breeze by opening all windows late in the evening, drink ice-cold gin and tonic ! The only way to really enjoy summer!
But this is nothing compared to the crazyness of CENTRAL AIR! For those of you not familiar with the term, let me explain: it's just like central heating, so there are vents in the floor in every room of the house and cold air comes out of them in summer, hot air in winter. One would think that I would quite enjoy that...NO!
It's aweful! Outside it is hot, hot, hotter, you sweat just bringing in the mail, but when you enter the house... within minutes I'm off to my room to put on socks and a warm sweater! I used to sleep with 5 (!) blankets at night until I covered the vent with towels. Entering any building in your summer clothes is just foolish! You immediately notice who works there (long pants, real shoes) and who just comes for a visit (shorts, flip-flops, rubbing arms to stay warm, blue faces).
Don't even get me started on the energy wasted on central air! Why would anybody need to keep it a crisp 67F in an office building at night when there is nobody in the building??
I do like my own ac to keep my bedroom from turning into an oven, but this is too much! I prefer to keep cool the old world way: open windows early in the morning, close shades and live in darkness inside the house all summer, create a breeze by opening all windows late in the evening, drink ice-cold gin and tonic ! The only way to really enjoy summer!
Monday, July 23, 2007
camping chaos
On Wednesday afternoon the whole family left for a camping trip to "Fall kreek falls " in Tennessee, just about two hours away from Nashville. L. thought a camping vacation would be great fun for everyone and also cheaper than a regular vacation...oh, well...they had to buy a big family tent (600$), mats to sleep on, a cooker, dishes, shoes, bagpacks and many other little things that just kept adding up!
This was a very short trip (4 days) to try everything out, see how camping works out and get away for a bit. But when I say they whole family went, I mean EVERYBODY: the parents, three boys, the baby, me, grandpa and the two dogs.
Before the big day things had to be bought, tried out, repacked, cleaned, organized...so L. was washing laundry non-stop and just being busy, busy, busy...
Of course, by the title, you can guess that things did not go as planned... All the camping stuff was in the garden airing out, when it started to rain ! Naturally we were all out of the house and everything, from the tent to underwear, was WET!
The next day we wanted to leave after lunch....done that, left at about 5pm...why? One of the reasons was that the rental car the family had for the trip decided to break down on a last-minute trip to the supermarket...
We arrived way too late to still set up tent, so everybody slept in the hotel.
The next couple of days are a blur of rain, rain, rain, fear of drowning in my own little (30 year old) tent, which was -what a suprise- not waterproof! At least not for the amount and strength of the everlasting rain! At one point I found myself alone and responsible for three 9 year olds, a 6 month old baby and a 70something grandfather who kept talking angrily in a strong eastern european accent about how he had told them where to put the tent... yep, the family tent got flooded too...
The parents just went down (did I mention we camped in the middle of the woods, far away from any...oh, well, not THAT far, but still!) to get firewood when this rain started, but when they returned I was SO glad! Fears about the baby swallowing something or grandpa slipping were just too much for me!
Of course the fun did not stop there! One of the dogs jumped after another dog and went flying of a cliff, hanging on a harness, suspended in mid air until it fell into poison ivy, L. locked the car keys inside the car with the lights on and had to get a park ranger to break into the car, H. broke a finger, Tilly got bitten by spiders...
BUT-there were good times too! Roasting marshmallows over the fire and...well, really, that's it ;-)
This was a very short trip (4 days) to try everything out, see how camping works out and get away for a bit. But when I say they whole family went, I mean EVERYBODY: the parents, three boys, the baby, me, grandpa and the two dogs.
Before the big day things had to be bought, tried out, repacked, cleaned, organized...so L. was washing laundry non-stop and just being busy, busy, busy...
Of course, by the title, you can guess that things did not go as planned... All the camping stuff was in the garden airing out, when it started to rain ! Naturally we were all out of the house and everything, from the tent to underwear, was WET!
The next day we wanted to leave after lunch....done that, left at about 5pm...why? One of the reasons was that the rental car the family had for the trip decided to break down on a last-minute trip to the supermarket...
We arrived way too late to still set up tent, so everybody slept in the hotel.
The next couple of days are a blur of rain, rain, rain, fear of drowning in my own little (30 year old) tent, which was -what a suprise- not waterproof! At least not for the amount and strength of the everlasting rain! At one point I found myself alone and responsible for three 9 year olds, a 6 month old baby and a 70something grandfather who kept talking angrily in a strong eastern european accent about how he had told them where to put the tent... yep, the family tent got flooded too...
The parents just went down (did I mention we camped in the middle of the woods, far away from any...oh, well, not THAT far, but still!) to get firewood when this rain started, but when they returned I was SO glad! Fears about the baby swallowing something or grandpa slipping were just too much for me!
Of course the fun did not stop there! One of the dogs jumped after another dog and went flying of a cliff, hanging on a harness, suspended in mid air until it fell into poison ivy, L. locked the car keys inside the car with the lights on and had to get a park ranger to break into the car, H. broke a finger, Tilly got bitten by spiders...
BUT-there were good times too! Roasting marshmallows over the fire and...well, really, that's it ;-)
Birthday and Harry Potter
First of all, thanks to all of you who have remembered my birthday (20st July) and sent me cards, flowers, emails and left me messages on the am !!!!
Don't worry if you have forgotten about it...just make it up to me with an extra special birthday present once I celebrate properly ;-)
The day was busy, busy, busy!!
In the morning all three boys came running down the stairs shouting and singing a happy birthday my way. L. and I picked them up around 11 am from climbing camp and after visiting the hospital for a check up (for Ni.) we went to the the movies and saw "Ratatoui". We had a nice dinner out at the "cheescake factory" which is a great place to eat out with kids since it's so busy and noisy there - nobody cares if kids get a bit louder or a baby cries. Taking home some delicious cheese cake was a must, even if 4 pieces came up to 27$...
The boys were great but also a bit sad, because they knew that I would go to the bookstore at night to pick up the new Harry Potter book. Of course they had seen the adds from the bookstore and read all about the party that would go on there that night. But L. and I kept telling them that they were way to young to be staying up that late...Once everybody was asleep however, we moved around the house searching for the boys old HP outfitts and wands.
At 9.45 L. went to wake them up saying " You're a wizard....". Ni. and H. looked at us and when I told them that they would get to go to the party and dress up, they flew down the stairs and excitement was in the air!
As for No...he was sooo sleepy! When we finally got him downstairs he wanted to go to the party in his PJ! All dressed up and driving to the store he kept asking if we could not just leave him in the car to sleep some more. Once he got out of the car and saw all the things going on in and around the book store he was wide awake!!
There were animals to look at and touch. you could get sorted into houses (Slytherin for me...oh, oh...), practice your beater abilities, tattoo the dark mark on your arm or have your furtune told...It was great!
We got my book at midnight and I read the first 3 pages to them. Of course at home I read on and finished the book on Saturday evening around 8pm...It was a great read and fortunately L. and Tom have also finished already so we can talk about it!
All in all it was a nice birthday, even though I missed celebrating at home with all my friends but I hope to be able to do that some weekend in September!
Don't worry if you have forgotten about it...just make it up to me with an extra special birthday present once I celebrate properly ;-)
The day was busy, busy, busy!!
In the morning all three boys came running down the stairs shouting and singing a happy birthday my way. L. and I picked them up around 11 am from climbing camp and after visiting the hospital for a check up (for Ni.) we went to the the movies and saw "Ratatoui". We had a nice dinner out at the "cheescake factory" which is a great place to eat out with kids since it's so busy and noisy there - nobody cares if kids get a bit louder or a baby cries. Taking home some delicious cheese cake was a must, even if 4 pieces came up to 27$...
The boys were great but also a bit sad, because they knew that I would go to the bookstore at night to pick up the new Harry Potter book. Of course they had seen the adds from the bookstore and read all about the party that would go on there that night. But L. and I kept telling them that they were way to young to be staying up that late...Once everybody was asleep however, we moved around the house searching for the boys old HP outfitts and wands.
At 9.45 L. went to wake them up saying " You're a wizard....". Ni. and H. looked at us and when I told them that they would get to go to the party and dress up, they flew down the stairs and excitement was in the air!
As for No...he was sooo sleepy! When we finally got him downstairs he wanted to go to the party in his PJ! All dressed up and driving to the store he kept asking if we could not just leave him in the car to sleep some more. Once he got out of the car and saw all the things going on in and around the book store he was wide awake!!
There were animals to look at and touch. you could get sorted into houses (Slytherin for me...oh, oh...), practice your beater abilities, tattoo the dark mark on your arm or have your furtune told...It was great!
We got my book at midnight and I read the first 3 pages to them. Of course at home I read on and finished the book on Saturday evening around 8pm...It was a great read and fortunately L. and Tom have also finished already so we can talk about it!
All in all it was a nice birthday, even though I missed celebrating at home with all my friends but I hope to be able to do that some weekend in September!
Friday, July 13, 2007
oh well...
The other day L. and I went out later in the evening to buy some flowers for my window...nice thought.
But we never actually made it into the flower shop...
Now, you wonder, how could that have happened...
Going down the rather old wooden stairs of the shop I slipped, popped my knee cap out and in and out and in, fell, landed on my bottom and hit the stairs with my lower back...
A very loud scream later I could hardly believe what had just happened, this was supposed to be a fun outing!
I sent L. off to get the things she wanted, but she returned not much later, insisting that we would go home immediately. She had to bring the car around, since I could not walk very well. Back at home I got pain killers and ice to put on my knee and A. searched the garage and found my crutches - which I only used that very night.
But, not to worry!!
I'm doing much better already! Since my knee had swollen to the size of a water melon (ok, some exaggeration here, for dramatic effect ;-) ) I did not drive for some days or try to chase the boys around. The swelling has gone down and the pain is reasonable. This unfortunately happens to me every once in a while and chances increase when I put on some more weight (more for my knees to support). So I guess I should really not join the boys in ice cream after dinner every night, chips for lunch and triple cheese sandwiches...
Hopefully I will be pain-free soon and able to walk normally. I do have health insurance while I'm here but I'd rather not have to use it, if you know what I mean. Normally I recover fast, but I expect it to take some more time, since I can't really rest my leg as well as I should.
So, that's that ! Got the drama over with, on to other things!
But we never actually made it into the flower shop...
Now, you wonder, how could that have happened...
Going down the rather old wooden stairs of the shop I slipped, popped my knee cap out and in and out and in, fell, landed on my bottom and hit the stairs with my lower back...
A very loud scream later I could hardly believe what had just happened, this was supposed to be a fun outing!
I sent L. off to get the things she wanted, but she returned not much later, insisting that we would go home immediately. She had to bring the car around, since I could not walk very well. Back at home I got pain killers and ice to put on my knee and A. searched the garage and found my crutches - which I only used that very night.
But, not to worry!!
I'm doing much better already! Since my knee had swollen to the size of a water melon (ok, some exaggeration here, for dramatic effect ;-) ) I did not drive for some days or try to chase the boys around. The swelling has gone down and the pain is reasonable. This unfortunately happens to me every once in a while and chances increase when I put on some more weight (more for my knees to support). So I guess I should really not join the boys in ice cream after dinner every night, chips for lunch and triple cheese sandwiches...
Hopefully I will be pain-free soon and able to walk normally. I do have health insurance while I'm here but I'd rather not have to use it, if you know what I mean. Normally I recover fast, but I expect it to take some more time, since I can't really rest my leg as well as I should.
So, that's that ! Got the drama over with, on to other things!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
4th of July
What a day, what a day...
All dressed in red and white we decorated the boys bikes and Tilly's stroller for the neighbourhood parade.
L. baked some cookies and everybody in the neighbourhood brings something to the parade. It's just kids on their bikes, with parents and their strollers walking up the street, turning around and walking back.
Of course there were lots of decorations and some people were dressed up from head to toe, with American flags, hats, earrings...
After the parade there was music and of course the singing of the national anthem. All food and drinks were free, so we had hotdogs, salads, cookies...basically too much of everything!
Around 5pm, after a break in the early afternoon, the whole family went to a BBQ at a friends house. There I had the chance to meet a Dutch couple again that works at Vanderbilt. An. and G.-J. are in Nashville since a year and live close to the A.'s. We already had them over for dinner one evening and had a nice time. They invited me over for a game night already...too bad Tom isn't here...
I could not eat much at the BBQ since I already had soooo much to eat in the morning, but I got the impression that the 4th of July is mostly about eating and drinking...;-)
Just after 9pm a small group of party guests decided to climb up a hill (mountain in NL :-0 ) to watch the fireworks downtown. It was worth all the trouble! The boys really enjoyed staying up late and they got to see the fireworks for the first time !!
All dressed in red and white we decorated the boys bikes and Tilly's stroller for the neighbourhood parade.
L. baked some cookies and everybody in the neighbourhood brings something to the parade. It's just kids on their bikes, with parents and their strollers walking up the street, turning around and walking back.
Of course there were lots of decorations and some people were dressed up from head to toe, with American flags, hats, earrings...
After the parade there was music and of course the singing of the national anthem. All food and drinks were free, so we had hotdogs, salads, cookies...basically too much of everything!
Around 5pm, after a break in the early afternoon, the whole family went to a BBQ at a friends house. There I had the chance to meet a Dutch couple again that works at Vanderbilt. An. and G.-J. are in Nashville since a year and live close to the A.'s. We already had them over for dinner one evening and had a nice time. They invited me over for a game night already...too bad Tom isn't here...
I could not eat much at the BBQ since I already had soooo much to eat in the morning, but I got the impression that the 4th of July is mostly about eating and drinking...;-)
Just after 9pm a small group of party guests decided to climb up a hill (mountain in NL :-0 ) to watch the fireworks downtown. It was worth all the trouble! The boys really enjoyed staying up late and they got to see the fireworks for the first time !!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
