My New Dutch Life

It's Not You, It's Me

2007-06-14T10:11:00.000+02:00

Blogger, you've been good to me. You give me near total control over my templates, and you don't complain about traffic or disk space. But the truth is, I've been seeing someone else. I was hanging out with my inner circle over at akaijen.Vox.com, and I dunno. I guess we just get along better. You can't control your feelings, ya know. I didn't mean to cheat on you. It's just that when Vox

Oh Oh Den Haag

2007-04-23T17:14:00.000+02:00

Since we'll be leaving soon(ish), we've started compiling a list of all the things we want to see or do before we leave - both in Holland and in Europe. Meanwhile, I'm snapping as many photos as seems reasonable to document our time here. I'll start sharing some of the more everyday things that we generally overlook like tram stops and such.But maybe I shouldn't bother, because this guy has not

Where Did April Go?

2007-04-18T09:23:00.000+02:00

Hey look at that - it's already April 18. Poof! Weeks gone in the blink of an eye. So, OK I've been back from Costa Rica for a week or so. Unfortunately, I returned to the final stretches of a freelance project, and I've been busy sorting that out along with immigration, scheduling yoga workshops, etc. Life happens, man.My trip was exactly what I needed to recharge. I have so much more

Change of Scenery

2007-03-29T18:46:00.000+02:00

Sorry I've been out of pocket a bit. It's been crazy. I'm writing this in a hurry, so my writing may be rougher than usual as I don't have time to edit and obsess. Also, I'm addicted to blogs after I followed Reid's advice and starting using Google Reader. And THANK You for the Comics Curmudgeon. Last week was my 3*cough* birthday. No worries if you didn't know, because I probably didn't

There's No Basement in the Alamo

2007-03-22T08:11:00.000+01:00

In case I was pining away for Texas, I could go here for my birthday dinner: Condor City. Heh. Yee Haw!One of my all time favorite movies has one of my all time favorite movie scenes. I could watch "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" any day just for the scene when Pee Wee goes to the Alamo looking for his stolen bike in the basement. Few movies feature the city I consider my home town (yes I get to

Happy O'Postraphe Day

2007-03-17T08:32:00.000+01:00

B- and I have decided not to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. We've redubbed it O'Postraphe Day in celebration of our Irishness, as opposed to a lasting symbol of British oppression.Confused?B- turns to me this morning and says, "what did St. Patrick do anyway?"Jen: "Ran the snakes out of Ireland. I dunno why we celebrate that though." Cue Wikipedia with the scoop on St. Patrick. Seems that Patty

To Wii or Not to Wii?

2007-03-16T16:47:00.000+01:00

Wii's are still in short supply and high demand over here in You're Up. The word on the street is that new shipments have come in here and there. Also, the PS3 makes it's European debut next week. I'm thinking PS3s might distract some potential Wii buyers, upping my odds of getting my grubby paws on Nintendo's new sensation. Awe yeah.But. But.Everyone knows that Euro TVs are different from

I Am The Paperwork Queen, I Can Do Anything

2007-03-15T08:21:00.000+01:00

As you all know, B- is not an American. He's the greatest in all other respects. But, he cannot just willy nilly fly back to the U.S. and stay longer than three months. In the eyes of the guvment, he is but a tourist.Thus begins immigration filing, round three. Let me type that again for effect. Round three. In little more than one year. I must have it out for myself. First, B- and I came

This is Kind Of Interesting

2007-03-12T10:15:00.000+01:00

I got sucked into MTV's "Made" last night, watching this chubby, ditsy blond girl try out for the girls soccer team, not unlike the chubby, goth girl who decided to be a cheerleader. How do they find these girls that cry on a dime? This show is only vaguely interesting but I did sit through a marathon one rainy weekend. What does it say about a person who's 3*cough* and still watches MTV?

Learn To Cook Update

2007-03-11T10:08:00.000+01:00

It's been a slow week with B- out of town. Still, I've been working on this whole cooking thing. Ever since B- and I took our first trip to Paris together a couple of years ago, I've been obsessed with "secret" ingredients. The French are masters of this. The best thing I ate that weekend were a couple slices of carrot and zucchini. They were infused with such complex flavors, and yet they

Dude, Where's My Market?

2007-03-09T08:36:00.000+01:00

Back in Autumn, a farmer's market sprung up on Thursdays across the street from our apartment. What better way to promote laziness than have a farmer's market set up shop right in front of you? This one featured local fruit and veggies, organic juices, farmhouse cheeses and deli items if you're into that. It wasn't big, but it was perfect for our neighborhood. Then one day this guy shows up

The Official Unofficial Withdrawal

2007-03-07T00:08:00.000+01:00

There's no other way to say it, so I'm just going to say it. B- and I are leaving Holland. Well it's about 95% certain that we're going to leave Holland, and... AND... we're going back to the USA. Yes! I'm so psyched.This is probably not a surprise to many of you. You can probably tell by now that we aren't exactly in love with the Netherlands. Some days, many days, I actually hate it here.

Do As I Say Not As I Do

2007-03-01T08:22:00.000+01:00

Et tu, Al?A one-man, conservative "think tank" got his paws on Al Gore's 2005 and 2006 utility bills and called foul this week. Seems that Al and Tipper Gore racked up a $30,000 utility bill in their Tennessee home(stead) last year. Yow! ABC News breaks down the figures. Nutjob uber-conservatives are using this information to call out the Gores for a hypocritical lifestyle. Be that as it may,

Help I've Fallen and I Can't Cook

2007-02-27T13:07:00.000+01:00

As a freelancer, I'm only one small step up from house wife. I don't even have a child around to explain why things don't get done. B- brings home the soy bacon, and my inner Betty Crocker is compelling me to fry it up in a pan. After all, I am home all day.B- is the better cook, though. As a student, he worked in a restaurant. I worked at Taco Bell. So, I can cook if by cooking you mean

Making the Best of a Tight Situation

2007-02-23T11:02:00.000+01:00

This one is for PK. I know I'm still on and off the wagon with posting, but I swear I have good excuses. Being out of town, busy and sick are all good reasons to lay low. But PK's right. The Netherlands' 16 million or so residents live in an area the size of two New Jerseys or Connecticut and Massachusetts combined. That's not really a lot of people, but it's not a lot of size either. Most

Why Oh Why?

2007-02-12T14:03:00.000+01:00

I couldn't decide what to write about today. It's not an especially newsworthy day. But two things stuck out as I scanned the headlines this morning.First: Sometime over the weekend, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard decided to poke his nose in U.S. presidential politics, specifically criticizing Barak Obama's position on Iraq. My somewhat half-assed Google search on "John Howard" with

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

2007-02-10T11:14:00.000+01:00

File this one under "I didn't see that one coming."I rarely talk about music anymore, but I'm breaking my silence because I'm just so surprised. To some of you, this may not be new, but in my non-English speaking corner of the world most news travels slowly. Except of course that I knew before most of you that Anna Nicole Smith left the land of the living the other night. Thanks to my Google

Duned

2007-02-07T17:30:00.000+01:00

This past weekend the Sun managed to beat down the Clouds here in the low country and we managed a whole Saturday's worth of sunshine. As I've hinted before, this is nothing short of monumental. In honor of the occasion our mini-daffodils bloomed early. How 'bout that? For a much-needed dose of Vitamin D, B- and I took Nigel to Oostduin Park for a bit of wandelen among the dunes. It's

It's Our Fault

2007-02-02T14:14:00.000+01:00

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the executive summary of its 4th assessment report today. B- says that the IPCC is generally pretty conservative with its findings, and yet the figures are shattering. Best case scenario, by the end of this century average worldwide temperatures will likely increase by 3.2-7.2 degrees F due to human activities. This means ever more

Poop Police

2007-02-01T19:36:00.001+01:00

Ok yeah so I didn't quite make it back on the blog wagon (blagon?) after my last post. Between working a lot (and by a lot I mean A LOT) and getting sucked into past seasons of Grey's Anatomy (thanks iTunes), and B- being out of town for work, and me being generally disgruntled, I didn't feel like blogging. Sorry folks - I'll snap out of it.B- and I are going through a "we hate it here" phase.

Bend it Like L. Ron

2007-01-13T09:09:00.000+01:00

This hit the wires yesterday, but I was too busy ranting about work to comment. Can Beckham sell the U.S. on soccer?Basically the story goes like this: David Beckham, one of the word's biggest soccer players, is losing his touch by European standards, and appears to be looking for a graceful exit from that stage. Even though Major League Soccer in the U.S. has managed to stay afloat for 11

Happy New Year and BTW CSS is a Major Letdown

2007-01-12T18:10:00.000+01:00

I know. I know. I'm very lame. I haven't posted for ages. I've been working for about ten days straight, including 12 hour days last weekend. We finally put away the mountain of clean laundry, but what's left of the Christmas tree still lurks in the corner. Oh, Happy New Year, btw!B- and I had a lovely, mellow Christmas and New Year and I promise to post photos of our trips to Vienna and

iRage

2006-12-21T09:58:00.000+01:00

Dad, who clearly needs a byline on my blog these days, pointed me to this tidbit on Slashdot yesterday:Mouse Rage Syndrome. Study finds that bad Web design can cause extreme stress and anxiety for Web users.At first I thought I'd never been afflicted by what I'm going to call iRageTM (it's not the mouse's fault). As a Web designer, I tend to make fun of badly designed Web sites rather than get

Sky High in a Puff of Smoke

2006-12-19T09:16:00.000+01:00

Good ole Dad, ever the planespotter, sent this one in:Smoke and enjoy the flightGerman wacko seeks funding for a new air carrier, Smoker's International Airline - Smintair. I know next to nothing about the airline industry other than most companies seem to be losing money. Yet, even I can't see how this guy's plan will take off. Here are the highlights: operate a fleet of 747 jets, with the

Desperation Shopping

2006-12-18T11:34:00.000+01:00

Christmas is a bit hit or miss with me. Some years, I rock and I make a list in November, and I get really into it. Other years, it sneaks up on me like moldy leftovers hiding in the back of the fridge. In spite of the fact that we went to Vienna a week ago, browsed several Christmas markets and could have bought presents for everyone we know, somehow we just didn't do it. We were too busy

It's Blowing You and Me

2006-12-14T14:53:00.000+01:00

Though the Netherlands is experiencing the warmest winter on record (they've been keeping records for 300 years) it doesn't mean that it isn't cold. The wind howls and howls all day and night. At times I feel cozy holed up in my apartment, and other times I feel super restless. I feel the same way about my blog lately. A year on, focusing just on living in Holland is restrictive. While

Say Yes & Go

2006-12-13T10:24:00.000+01:00

A lot of people questioned why B- and I decided not to get married in the Netherlands. We seriously looked into it, and even visited several ceremony and reception venues. However, there was certain something that turned us off to the idea of a wedding in Holland- something we couldn't quite put our finger on until now.Behold the newest concept in package weddings: Get married at the airport!

Hot Holiday Trends

2006-12-11T10:33:00.000+01:00

B- and I were in Vienna this past weekend. What a great city! High, high, high on my list of recommendations. We're coffee junkies and since Vienna is the birthplace of the coffee house, we were on cloud nine. One of the wonderful things about the German-speaking world is their love for Christmas. They really go all out in a way that is not cheap and commercial. Back in the 70s my parents

That's German for Six

2006-12-06T10:31:00.000+01:00

I started seriously collecting airline miles a few years ago when I traveled to South Africa for work. I've since traveled to South America twice and once to Australia on BA affiliates. But my massive accumulation of airlines miles really got going when I applied for the BA Visa last year.This, my friends, is the golden ticket. If you don't have a miles-earning credit card, you are, well,

Holiday Spirit

2006-12-05T14:08:00.000+01:00

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to indulge in a bit of olie bollen and drink mass quantities of mulled wine. You'll remember from my account last year that the holiday season in the Netherlands officially kicks off in November with the arrival of Sinterklaas. For a particularly entertaining take on Dutch Santa, check out the David Sedaris bit, "Six to Eight Black Men," set to scenes

What Government?

2006-11-24T16:18:00.000+01:00

Way way back in July, I may have mentioned something about the collapse of the Dutch government. Well, they finally got around to hosting their elections this week with an outcome that's no more certain than some recent U.S. elections. At the moment, Europe basically has the same problem we do - a largely divided electorate. I mean, how long did it take for Aaangerlaaah

Giving Thanks

2006-11-23T12:20:00.000+01:00

Wow has it really been a whole year since I left DC? Indeed, this time last year B- and I awoke on a borrowed air mattress on the floor of our empty condo. Our luggage was organized in a corner, and Nigel was obviously a bit nervous. Pets always know something is up. I dunno why we act so surprised.I think it goes without saying that this has probably been the most eventful year of my life.

Amelie for President

2006-11-17T12:38:00.000+01:00

I was going to detail the mundane activities as the first week of my new life as a huisvrouw comes to a close. The truth is, I'd bore you to tears. No, I haven't been watching episodes of "Neighbours" on BBC1 even though it brought fame and fortune to Kylie Minogue and may soon feature an appearance from David Beckham. I've just been doing stuff. Very uninteresting stuff.Thank goodness the

Early Christmas

2006-11-08T23:31:00.000+01:00

Who do I have to thank for today? Please let me kiss your toes.First the Democrats take the House, and now we are inching ever closer to a victory in the Senate. But the icing on the cake -- oh sweet, sweet cake -- is this:Rumsfeld to Step Down as Defense Secretary. Finally someone in the Bush administration gets axed for a shitty job. About time.

House Cleaning

2006-11-08T16:25:00.000+01:00

There's no secret to my politics. Since the last two election cycles brought me to tears and depression, I'm elated about the Democratic victory in the U.S. House of Representatives. I almost forgot what it means to win these things anymore. Now, if only Bill could run for prez again...My only regret is that I voted in Texas, where my family presently lives, instead of Virginia where I lived

Soap Box

2006-11-07T11:19:00.000+01:00

While I'm still on my high horse, I thought I'd rat out Bono.My pal, Hotrod, mentioned this story in his blog. I thought it was so despicable that I needed to mention it as well. Bono, Tax Avoider: The hypocrisy of U2.No, no I'm not off topic. This is even tangentially related to the Netherlands.

My Fellow Americans, Please Vote

2006-11-06T10:12:00.000+01:00

We finally got to see An Inconvenient Truth this weekend, you know the "Al Gore Climate Change" movie.In a word, the film was powerful. This says a lot coming from a person who spent the last 5 years in the communications department of an environmental NGO. I'm no stranger to the realities of climate change. But until this movie climatologists have been struggling to articulate not only the

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

2006-11-02T19:31:00.001+01:00

B- and are back from our honeymoon in Tanzania. One word: Awesome!Our plan to scale Mt. Kilimanjaro had two purposes: 1) Do something really, really memorable together.2) See the glaciers before they're gone. As B- is the in the climate change mitigation business and it's a particular hot button issue for me, I suspect that reason no. 2 weighed a little heavier.Not only did we summit Kili, but

Irreconcilable Differences

2006-10-10T11:25:00.000+02:00

I quit my job yesterday. Just like that.The easiest way to put it is that it wasn't really the job I thought it was. I gave it three months or so, and decided that there was no point staying on. I was dubious from the get go. When you are the first employee of a company, you really have to get along well with your boss. It's not that we didn't get along per se, but our personalities weren't

Homecoming

2006-10-05T11:11:00.000+02:00

Woo Hoo! B- was freed released from the hospital Monday afternoon. Nigel and I picked him up in our rental car (it was a Smart, more on that in a bit), which I'd rented for the express purpose of visiting him. Taxis are so expensive in Holland that one round trip to the hospital cost more than a day of rental car. It was a no brainer.He's doing much better overall, but is still a bit weak and

My New Old Man

2006-10-02T11:13:00.000+02:00

Well, we're back. B- and I are officially joined at the hip. We are having all of our pants altered to accommodate the new look. It's a good thing. Our wedding was perfect. Not perfect in the sense that every little detail was exactly as expected, but perfect in the sense that the setting and aura were exactly what we'd hoped for. It was cozy, beautiful, the food was awesome. We had blue

Yukky Dutch Word of the Day: Pindakaas

2006-09-14T23:53:00.000+02:00

So, tomorrow I leave to go get married. Just like that. Months and months of agonizing over where to have our wedding, wondering if our family and friends will hate us for making their lives difficult... It's strange that it will all be said and done in just an evening.For those of you who didn't RSVP - I assume you aren't coming to South Africa at the last minute. If you are coming, you

People Are Strange

2006-09-13T12:07:00.000+02:00

With less than a week to go before my wedding day, I feel like I'm having an out of body experience. It's weird to go about my usual routine when a major aspect of my life is about to change. No, I'm not nervous or scared. I have not a single doubt. It just feels weird. It's probably because we're going away to get married, so the family isn't arriving en masse bringing with them all sorts

Yes, We Have No Bananas

2006-09-07T15:58:00.000+02:00

Like most children of the 80s I relished in fashion. I was over the moon when my grandmother gave me a pair of parachute pants for my birthday. The more flaps and zippers, the better. Pastel pink and gray? Hooray! However, around 7th grade I shed my Madonna bracelets and tossed out my hot pink, lace hair bows for something a little darker. I pioneered the wedge haircut (a la Human League)

I Sit Therefore I Bike

2006-09-06T11:52:00.000+02:00

Nothing says "dork" like a recumbent bike. This image was posted on Flicker and is actually of Edinburgh, but you get the idea. Imagine seeing one of these things in the middle of a crowded city.

Like I Said, Strongish

2006-09-04T16:57:00.000+02:00

I have no excuse and yet one of the best excuses in the world... I'm sorry I've neglected you, faithful readers, but alas I've been busy. Not just any ole busy, but "trying to plan my wedding" busy. Not just any wedding, but a wedding that's a hemisphere away with a wedding planner who's idea of "planning" is to do it all at the last minute.But... I was going to tell you about my new job. So,

101 Posts and Still Going Strongish

2006-08-23T11:53:00.000+02:00

In the spirit of sitcoms, for my 101st post we look back on the best and worst of the first 8 months of My New Dutch Life. I began my adventure with Seriously Bad Weather which has proved to be the norm here. Isn't it funny how things just seem so novel in the beginning? As the last days of November 2005 passed by in near-total-darkness, I got an initial taste of the Dutch attitude towards

Google vs. Holland

2006-08-22T06:58:00.000+02:00

Found this gem on Expatica this morning:Dutch googelen falls foul of GoogleIt seems that Google doesn't want people to use its brand name as a verb, and they recently sent their laywers out on a letter-writing campaign to quell this trend.Now, I've been standing by Google for ages now, even as the sourgrapes gang has likened them to "the next Microsoft." I kinda thought they'd be flattered that

No, Not Mickey

2006-08-20T16:01:00.000+02:00

This morning we found a little mouse in our kitchen. Always un-nerving, but also unusual as we have a cat. Judging from Guy's prowess at catching crickets and other creep-crawlies, a mouse would be no match for him.The poor little mouse was stumbling around and bleeding from his lower orifice. As we watched him die, we speculated that our neighbors must have set out a poisonous trap. Frankly,

That Sucks

2006-08-18T11:56:00.000+02:00

This train wreck (Ouch!) occurred in downtown Den Haag. In fact, we were on that tram and felt not a thing. The funny thing was that they let us sit on the tram saying that we might only be delayed for about 15 minutes or so. We eventually left without giving a statement or our names or any record that we were ever there.I was once on a trolley in New Orleans that hit a car that tried to cut

Basting in Bouillon

2006-08-15T11:40:00.000+02:00

Mountains, even little ones, rule! Forests rule even more.Last weekend, B-, Nigel and I hiked in the Ardennes, just outside Bouillon, Belgium right near the border with France. Though the Ardennes may not be the Alps, the Rockies, or even the Appalachians, they still beat the pancake-flat landscape of The Netherlands. And they have trees too.Belgium's extensive network of hiking trials weave

Smile

2006-08-08T19:25:00.000+02:00

A couple lives prior to My New Dutch Life, I lived the life of a rock star secret hideout. After it all fell apart, I dug down deep to strike out on my own and came up empty handed. I even started working out beats and melodies with my pal, DJ Satori, but nothing flowed.Almost 5 years out and I think I know what my problem was. I really didn't want to pull some kind of Alanis Morissette and

Just One Month Out of Life

2006-08-04T08:22:00.000+02:00

Back in the 80's, Madonna encouraged nations around the world to take "just one day out of life" for a holiday. Sure, Holiday was a catchy hit, but I'm sure not just a few Europeans raised an eyebrow at the notion of a mere day of holiday. What they say is true; in August things shut down in Europe. Not everything, but quite a lot. We've taken to calling ahead before leaving the house.

Zomer's Over

2006-08-02T09:44:00.000+02:00

It seems that our 3 weeks of summer has come and gone. The days are noticeably shorter, it's about 35F degrees colder, and the monsoons have returned. Of course, this transformation took place just after we finally bought a fan and a couple of outdoor chairs for our balcony. Thank you, Murphy, for your stupid laws.Not only does this shift in weather bring about that unmistakable 'back to

Yukky Dutch Word of the Day: Stinkscooter

2006-08-01T07:43:00.000+02:00

In honor or my last intermediate Dutch class (where I have three papers due today and I'm still working on the last one), I give you another installment of Yukky Dutch Word of the Day.StinkscooterThis is exactly what you think is. All sorts of people buzz (literally) around town on two-wheeled scooters with little better than lawn mower engines to power them. They're really loud (proper noise

Today's Episode: At the Consulate

2006-07-25T07:21:00.000+02:00

My New Dutch life has a few subplots. No, not subplots per se, especially as the 'getting married' plot is why I'm here in the first place, but maybe I should say... more private plots. In less than two months! I'm getting married. While ticking off some of the remaining items on my to-do list, I realized that I needed to renew my passport. Our VISAs for Tanzania (honeymoon safari!!) require

Battle for Cute: Netherlands vs. Japan

2006-07-20T21:49:00.000+02:00

In the battle for societal obsession with cuteness, the Japanese have an unlikely contender: the Dutch. Huh? Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, J-? Ok here me out. Some languages have what linguists call 'diminutives' - words or add-ons to words that roughly mean 'little.' In English, we don't have diminutives per se, but we do use the word 'little' in the same way that the French might use the

We're Having a Heat Wave

2006-07-19T21:59:00.000+02:00

Now, I'm no stranger to hot weather. I grew up in the deep South and sweated it out in DC for ten years, I'm pretty used to high temperatures and it's nasty companion, humidity. Generally it doesn't bother me. However. In the U.S. you can escape it. We have, and use copiously, our A/C (AirCo as the Europeans call it). They have no such luxury here. Not in stores, not in homes. If you're

Winged Guitar Man

2006-07-17T18:38:00.000+02:00

Indeed, YouTube seriously rules.My pal Hotrod produced quite a find while trolling YouTube. I was immediately reminded of a music video they play at my gym, you know as a motivational tool. This guy is huge!You have to hold out for the second part of the song when he's starts to really get into it, complete with painted dancing girls and an orchestra. The chorus goes something like: Today is

Yukky Dutch Word of the Day: Puber

2006-07-17T10:19:00.000+02:00

I'm a bit low on time today as I catch up on my Dutch homework and some freelance work. Nigel and I hung out with B-'s boss and some of his family at their cottage on the lake. B-'s in China at the moment, and truth be told, I think his boss felt a little sorry for me being by myself for two weeks. Needless to say, a day of sailing and lounging in the sun has left me a bit behind...So, I give

Relax, I Just Ate a Tic-Tac

2006-07-14T09:04:00.001+02:00

More on the Kisses toilets. In yesterday's comments, a Dutch reader noted that the owner of the McDonald's with the mouth-shaped urinals is named Pijper* - apparently slang for blow job (Sorry Mom and W-! It's for the pursuit of the truth that I post such foul language). Ok that is really too HI-larious. It brings tears to my eyes. However base this whole topic is, this is truly one of the

Speaking of Pissoirs...

2006-07-13T10:56:00.000+02:00

I'm not the only American around here questioning Dutch urinal design. Seems a MacDonalds in southeast Netherlands thought it clever to install mouth-shaped urinals, which are unabashedly feminine despite what the woman who designed them claims. I'm sorry, lady, but if you don't know that's a female mouth you're seriously out to lunch. Expatica has the story in English. For more information

Love, Exciting and New

2006-07-10T17:15:00.000+02:00

Eat your heart out, dawgs!B-, Nigel and I ate a picnic dinner on the beach the other night to celebrate the day we met*. Sans naked people. With guy peeing in public nearby. What would a romantic dinner on the beach be without sea spray? OK, I've grossed myself out now... *Technically, Nigel was not there the day we met. I adopted him about a month later. He was there in spirit, I'm sure.

Mon Dieu!

2006-07-09T22:51:00.000+02:00

It's official. Any team that I want to win a world cup game loses. Imagine the havoc that I'll wreak when I'm actually at a game... you think you saw a lot of red cards this year... Watch out South Africa!My brothers and sisters in Australia, Ukraine, Germany and France... I feel your pain! We were all robbed. ROBBED!This world cup is an out and out travesty. Not only did a team win who

Oh Yeah, I Forgot to Mention That the Dutch Government Collapsed Last Week

2006-07-07T20:56:00.000+02:00

Proving that the Dutch can land themselves a high-profile spot in international media every now and then, they opted this time for governmental collapse - you know instead of marrying two women.In a nutshell, a small faction (3 people) of the ruling party's governing coalition resigned, leaving the PM without the necessary votes to enact legislation. See, in parliamentary systems the parties

If You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go

2006-07-07T10:38:00.000+02:00

Europeans have a different perspective on public toilets than the US. Whereas we don't really have them, Europeans push the the limits of modernism with innovations in lavatory design*. Paris features self-cleaning pay toilets. When you're done with your business and exit the WC, high-powered jets hose it down, disinfecting it for the next customer. The Swiss have a public toilet enclosed in

Two Days of Unemployment

2006-07-05T09:43:00.000+02:00

So unemployment is so far treating me well. The house is clean. The laundry is put away. I ate a proper lunch. I finished my Dutch homework. Best of all, I get to hang out with our pal, F-, who drove over from Germany. F-'s been on this side of the pond enjoying World Cup festivities for the past two weeks. He heads to Budapest after the final. Our first DC visitor - woo hoo!F- and I took

World Cup in Review

2006-07-03T07:54:00.000+02:00

Yeah yeah, I know it isn't over, but there comes a time with any major sporting event that runs over several weeks (Olympics, tennis, World Cup soccer) when you can barely muster any interest. When your first, second, and third choice teams have been knocked out, what do you do? With soccer, you're meant to enjoy the sheer beauty of the game, but I'll contend that this year's world cup finals

For Every One Good British Pop Star..

2006-06-26T15:08:00.000+02:00

...there are dozens that should be locked in a room and made to play their one hit to each other over and over again, in a round. For every flash of brilliance, there is also a warehouses full of cheese. Stinky, veiny cheese.This Jamie Cullum song is HUGE here. It haunts me, and I hate it. Does it make me feel any better that it was the hit song for one of the Bridget Jones movies? No, not

Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?

2006-06-25T22:47:00.000+02:00

We spotted this little garden plot in our neighbor's backyard.

PS...

2006-06-23T17:18:00.000+02:00

"They" called looking for Osama's mother today. Who are these women who can't keep their phone numbers current?

Introspection Day

2006-06-23T16:26:00.000+02:00

Where to begin... A lot has been happening lately. I guess the biggest news is that my last day of work is June 30th. I'll admit that I had it pretty good. I got to keep my good, rewarding, decently-paid job and telecommute from the Netherlands. On paper it seemed like a super deal, except for one key issue: the hours were terrible. I work a late shift from 1pm-8pm, leaving me little time

U.S.A.!

2006-06-12T17:48:00.000+02:00

All I have to say as I head back to the Netherlands after a nice long weekend in Vermont - can it get more American than that - is: GO LANDON!!!!GO KASEY!!!I'm so psyched that I get to watch the first half of the US - Czech game on my soil. Woohooo!!!!!

World Cup Fever

2006-06-06T14:18:00.000+02:00

So check this out, the US Men's soccer team heads into this year's World Cup championship in Fifth place, behind Brazil, Czech, Holland and Mexico. Not so incidentally, we were in fourth place two weeks ago. Still, we're three spots ahead of France who won the championship in 1998, eight spots ahead of Italy who usually make a run for the cup, and 14 spots over Germany who barely beat us last

BK Frogger

2006-06-05T13:35:00.000+02:00

Red Snapper sent in this gem, which appears only to have been reported in South African press:Frog found in Burger King saladSeems that creepy crawlies hop around Den Haag Centraal Station. Fancy finding a frog in your sla. I'll say that the food options at Centraal Station are pretty grim, especially the dodgy joints in the neighboring Babylon Mall. My guess is the frog escaped from the

The Continuing Saga of Ahmed's Mother

2006-05-31T08:35:00.000+02:00

We started getting wrong-number calls for Ahmed's mother again this week. They seem to be calling from his school, which begs the question: why don't they ask him what his phone number is? The third call was particularly annoying:Me: Hello?Woman on phone(in Dutch): blah blah blah moeder van Ahmed blah blah blahMe: Spreekt u engels?Woman on phone (with a big sigh and major attitude): Oooh, I

Lesson 2: The Dutch Mentality

2006-05-26T23:18:00.000+02:00

The second lesson in my intermediate Dutch class covered Dutch mentality. From news articles reprinted in my book, I learned that the Dutch admit to being: stingy, penny-pinching, know-it-alls, conceited, not very nice, rude behind the wheel of a car, really blunt, and they can't stand in lines. I've only really experienced the last two, but the rest are very common complaints from expats. On a

Studio Hair Gel

2006-05-25T13:05:00.000+02:00

The other day we came upon a present on my bicycle seat. Of course we were running late to an appointment.At first I didn't know what it was, but eventually saw the tub of hair gel in the street. I'd take it personally except that someone else's seat got it too. On related subject, one TV network has been running a Tom Cruise movie marathon for the past few weekends. The other night they

Verdonk Back In The News

2006-05-18T13:18:00.000+02:00

The Dutch seem born to follow rules. Nevermind that the rules change all the time, and often people aren't always up on the latest regulations, Dutch people will vehemently cite rules when making decisions.The latest round in the the battle to control Dutch borders again involves Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk, who really seems to lack a soul. After a series of high-profile deportations in

In The Land of Giants, This Lilliputian Walks Tall

2006-05-12T15:06:00.000+02:00

So I'm back from good ole U-S-of-A. As always, I mightily enjoyed the supreme weather in DC. I love sunny, 80-something days. I didn't have a huge shopping list this time but I was on a mission: to buy shoes.I have tiny feet. I mean really tiny feet. Yah, I know your sister wears size 6 and you think that's small. But since the fattening of America (and the unacknowledged update of sizing

That's What I Call Bucolic

2006-04-24T22:16:00.000+02:00

Many thanks to Doc Paradox for this hit:Today's NY Times reports: Advertiser Counts on Sheep to Pull Eyes Over the Wool."Early this month, Hotels.nl, a Dutch online reservations company, began displaying its corporate logo on royal blue waterproof blankets worn by sheep."YES!

Dental Update

2006-04-22T22:18:00.001+02:00

Many thanks to everyone who's emailed me about my tooth. Happily, it didn't end in me yanking my own tooth out with pliers. Sure that's a stupid idea now, but I did ponder the necessity of that particular tooth. It sits way in the back anyway. On Thursday afternoon I popped in on Dr. A- again. I told him about the pain and that it especially hurt b/c the filling seemed to be a bit too tall.

I'm Dumbfounded

2006-04-20T09:15:00.000+02:00

A root canal treatment involves the removal of the nerves and "stuff" that have been contaminated by bacteria in the roots of the tooth. From my vantage point in the chair, it looked like the dentist was cleaning the canal out with little, metal pipe cleaners. Since the nerves are removed, the post-procedure pain should be minimal. My pain seems to be getting worse and over-the-counter pain

How do you say, "tand gracht?*"

2006-04-18T15:15:00.000+02:00

I regret to inform you that today's original post will be rescheduled until tomorrow. I'm long on pain and short on time today. Saturday I suddenly remembered that my root canal was scheduled for today. The pre-canal treatment a month ago was a mere swabbing compared to the scraping and drilling I endured this morning. So stay tuned...* That doesn't actually mean 'root canal' - it's my made

Pasen the Dutchie

2006-04-13T14:34:00.000+02:00

So we rented a car this morning. Even in a Ford Ka, I like to drive. I like the open road. I like the "I can stop this moving vehicle if I damn well please" - freedom - of driving myself around. B- doesn't drive. Its scary and anyway his license just expired. Get your motor running... If Are Seven were here, he'd send me a kick-ass driving play list for my iPod... head out on the highway."So

24 Dutch Classes and I Can Read a Menu

2006-04-12T07:34:00.000+02:00

Ok technically I only attended 21 Dutch classes as I missed three for work. Considering that the class started with seven and ended today with two (one of them me), I think I did pretty well. I got a certificate and everything. :)So the big question is, of course, "Can you speak Dutch now?" On Day 1, our teacher taught us a little phrase and we all laughed and laughed b/c it was just so

Welcome to the 21st 20th Century

2006-04-11T10:18:00.000+02:00

Our local grocery store has discovered that people might like to buy food on Sundays. Until about a month ago, they closed at 8pm. This Sunday thing is nothing short of a miracle.We are continually astonished by how everything just shuts down here (even in Amsterdam). On Mondays, retail establishments and restaurants (restaurants with breakfast menus!) are closed until noon, ostensibly for

Little Red Caboose, Chug Chug Chug

2006-04-07T09:36:00.000+02:00

My dad recently sent over a stack of Samantha Brown's Passport to Europe episodes, and nothing feeds a travel bug more than travel shows. Now that the weather is getting a bit nicer, B- and I are keen to get out and see Europe. We'd especially like to take ole Nigel boy with us, especially since Europe is incredibly dog friendly. But, we suspect that after his trans-Atlantic flight, Nigel

Eskimo Winter

2006-04-04T10:47:00.000+02:00

The forecasted high this week is a whopping 47F, with lows dipping below freezing. Of course, there I was yesterday doing a little spring shopping downtown. Tried on a few skirts, eyed some cute sandals. 2004 was the "Summer of Jen," and I was gearing up for Part 2. There is nothing worse than shopping for clothes when you can't wear them yet. Bah! Grrrr!In the US, "Indian Summer" is when

Utrecht, oo yeah!

2006-04-02T09:53:00.000+02:00

B- and I took a trip to Utrecht yesterday. We went to check out a couple of museums to get some mileage out of our Museumkaart. Oddly enough they have a museum dedicated to aboriginal art from Australia, which I'll say is only worth it if you have a museumkaart.What Utrecht lacked in Australiana, it made up for in quaint Dutchness that blew us away. With 1,000 year old canals and cute shops,

Dooood, I'm from California

2006-03-31T20:28:00.000+02:00

Odd thing happened to me during my afternoon stroll with Nigel. It started off normal enough, I guess. This scruffy guy saw Nigel and immediately squatted down to make that kissing noise that dogs find irresistible. What is it about that smooch, smooch, smooch that they love so much? So, I'm happy to let people experience the joy of petting my dog. He really is incredibly cute, and I can't

What a Difference a Few Degrees Make

2006-03-30T08:34:00.000+02:00

Last weekend, Europe and the UK sprung forward to "summer time" (AKA daylight savings time) nearly a month ahead of the States. To that I say, "AWE YEAH!" The days were already getting longer, but now the sun sets closer 9pm and it's not even April.The extra boost of daylight is noticeably uplifting moods around town. The temperature is only about 5-10 degrees warmer than a week ago, and in

Groot Markt

2006-03-29T08:34:00.000+02:00

Sorry for the short delay in updating the ole blog here. You may be happy to know that I've been spending more of my time living life rather than sitting on the couch with the laptop. Well, that's part of it anyway.Last week I dropped my iBook on the floor, lid open. Ack! I spent the latter half of last week scrambling to buy a backup drive and a new power pack, which btw cost about half the

Right of Passage

2006-03-22T15:24:00.000+01:00

They say when you turn thirty, your body quits growing and begins its (hopefully) slow decline. A couple years ago when thirty loomed I felt besieged by the media. Everywhere I turned I was a reminded that my youth was officially over on March 22, 2004. But the truth is, that year may have been the best year of my life. So, take that National Magazine Company!So far my 30s aren't so bad, and

Loka Samasta Sukino Bavantu

2006-03-19T20:16:00.000+01:00

May all living beings be happy and free. May all living beings be happy and free. I'm trying to calm myself down.I just got back from a Bikram yoga class. Founded by Bikram Choudhury, this strict form of yoga is sometimes referred to as 'hot yoga' because they jack the heat up. Bikram himself is a very controversial figure in yoga circles. The Economist does a good job summing up his recent

Too Gross

2006-03-19T16:27:00.000+01:00

B- and I went to Amsterdam yesterday to visit the Van Gogh Museum. Good stuff. We definitely recommended it. I also highly recommend getting the audio sets. They did I really nice job with those.Naturally we took the train to and fro. As sometimes happens on the train, B- had to use the restroom. He returned to his seat looking a little alarmed. It seems that when he flushed the toilet, he

Talent for Causing Pain

2006-03-17T10:34:00.000+01:00

My tooth hurts. Really hurts. The pain shoots up into my cheek. Aleve alleviates it somewhat, and some days it doesn't even hurt at all. But I need to come to terms with reality. I need to find a dentist. Probably sooner rather than later. Am I afraid? Oh yes I am. I spent enough time in the dentist's and orthodontist's chair during childhood to last my whole life. The scrape, scrape

Europol Called

2006-03-16T14:56:00.000+01:00

Seriously. They called here. Looking for Sharif (sp?). I've mentioned Ahmed and his mother before, but occasionally we get calls for Sharif too. I figure they are all related. I knew that kid was bad.So the call goes something like this:Voice on Phone[sing-song tone]: Hallloooo.Me [Thinking it's B-]: Hey what's up?Voice on Phone: Oh? Do you speak Dutch?Me: No sorry. I thought you were

I Got Nothin'

2006-03-15T13:24:00.000+01:00

Ok, this is little more than a courtesy post because I really don't have much to say. Work has been crazy, and by crazy I mean busy. By busy, I mean working on the weekend. By working on the weekend, I mean haven't left the house except to go to Dutch class or walk Nigel in almost two weeks. So, unless you want a preview of my FY07 budget proposal, I got nothin'.So, enough about me... what

Driver's License Wanted

2006-03-12T11:00:00.000+01:00

Many thanks to El Cap-E-Tan for reminding me that I love to drive. Like I really love it. I'll happily drive most of the way on long road trips. I also really, really, abnormally loved my VW GTI. Its lime green stylings packed a big punch in an unassuming, little package. Dieter, my GTI, and I were like this, man. Like this. These new GTI ads rule - Holding it down on the German