tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45455155601763937682024-03-05T03:04:08.101-08:00Life in AmericaThe joys & tribulations of an international family (re)discovering America.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-38980797024753256582011-05-24T17:55:00.000-07:002011-05-24T19:24:05.368-07:00It's been awhileWhat has prompted my return to the blog? Well, someone I admire very much and that is unfortunately something I do not say often enough. Last week I had the pleasure of listening to and shaking the hand of Arianna Huffington. A winner. Someone who against the odds, moved to a foreign country with no money, studied hard enough to enter Cambridge and after a few ups and downs just sold her blog idea to AOL for more than 350M. Yes, I admire her for that and more. She speaks on behalf of the individual in all of us. She shows you through her life and her choices that anyone can succeed with perseverance, intelligence, and humour. She spoke at a conference I was at and it was not the greatest speech you ever heard, but it was true and heartfelt. I went up to her after the conference and let her know that she had fans everywhere, pointing to my badge, showing where I currently work, and that some of us are trying very hard to lead and make a difference where it is hardest to do so, where it matters. <br />
She looked at me, then the badge, then smiled and said, "Write about it." I was a little taken aback and merely said that if I could find a way to do so without my company firing me, I would and with that I left her to the throngs. <br />
I thought about that for awhile. We have been here in Texas for exactly 2 years now. 1 year longer than we wanted and thought we would last. It has not been all bad, but the continuous contentious atmosphere that I must work and live in daily has not allowed us to make many friends. <br />
It has been good for some things though. Liam has come into himself. His grades are excellent, he was elected class treasurer for next year and he is learning exactly what his future frenemies are all about. What better way to hone your political skills than to live amongst them? Angus has friends galore and sleepovers weekly. If we can just settle him into sports, that's the next piece of the puzzle. Jeroen has metamorphosed into an F level Information Architect with some serious muscle. I have met some great people and changed their lives, I hope, for the better. When I really think about me though, I cannot say I have evolved at all beyond the normal physical route that is. Grayer, stouter; yes. Smarter, different? No. I feel like I have been stuck for two years moving nowhere fast. The job is just that and the company commands no loyalty from me or others. It's hard working day to day without true interest, not that I recommend it, it's not really that fun and you have to have a very thick skin. <br />
I guess we will call this the blog that restarts some passion in me...since it's really a blog about nothing. Seinfeldish in its substance. However; if this gets me started again 'ranting' as my friend Jorrit once told me, then at least I will have found an outlet for my apathy. Let's hope.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-74546542038159798792010-01-12T19:48:00.000-08:002010-01-12T20:25:37.295-08:002010 - the year of truth, justice and my way<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;">5 months. 5 months. That is how long it has been since my last entry. Various reasons have attributed to this, but mainly my new job is to blame. Blame being perhaps an imperfect word.<br /><br />In my pursuit of doing the best I possibly can do for the largess my company sees fit to pay me, although many around me deem my paycheck normal, I, who have lived </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;">successfully one year, granted long ago, on only $4000 a year, like to keep things in perspective. Therefore, I have been dedicating myself 9 hours a day, 5 days a week to nothing but day in day out, cubicle work. While I enjoy helping others and take umbrage in the fact that what I do is a service that makes quite a difference in the world, especially when it involves services for safety software systems for refineries in the US, I feel quite warm knowing I did my best and it will positively effect hundreds perhaps thousands of lives. That makes it worthwhile. Mostly though, I spend my days explaining process to the hundreds of lost souls (myself included) that continue to be dazed by changing and challenging issues, some technical, some human contrived. As would be expected, the human contrived processes and changes thereof are the most complex to understand and therefore explain.<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PzsWom33mb7JWu1HDDV3gN89ukGL1U7xA1u0N12mLbbdMdKBDicPcSeCu6cQqAoCybbAhwLH5FH8JTGyY7Pj1SVlWu6XnOleoSpaZDNX9v3HbKDDx6mijazvkUuPPHFhhyphenhyphen5f2oHR7bJm/s1600-h/BizarroTexasCap.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PzsWom33mb7JWu1HDDV3gN89ukGL1U7xA1u0N12mLbbdMdKBDicPcSeCu6cQqAoCybbAhwLH5FH8JTGyY7Pj1SVlWu6XnOleoSpaZDNX9v3HbKDDx6mijazvkUuPPHFhhyphenhyphen5f2oHR7bJm/s320/BizarroTexasCap.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426071370372989394" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;">For the rest of the time, I have been doing my damn best to aid my family in acclimating to this truly if not godforsaken, then let us say intelligence</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;"> forsaken place some call Texas, but I like to lovingly refer to as Texass.<br /><br />Don't know why really, it just fits.<br /><br />It's been cold here lately, but not as cold as where we were this past Xmas. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My boys are doing well, excepting my biggest boy. He's homesick. After 3 1/2 years in the U.S., we treated ourselves to a fabulous 2 1/2 week, all expenses paid (by us) vacation back to The Netherlands. We stayed for free (paid for by my best of best friends, Angela) at her apartment, while she luxuriated on the Rio riviera costa del Brazil. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7aztAU_jzm6NkXqTCUYKiy8Tr5mvCW-c21-2Kh0oRnIc2G-E0RD78Dtd1KnhPjJasbLu19w64X8v_cl4KhgKdc1ViaqpHxhsFqG-2uaBKISIkChc2IiNJxt1hZ8nRGu79ZBR8nRJeBDx/s1600-h/bdm-20071220-006-fietser_in_de_sneeuw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7aztAU_jzm6NkXqTCUYKiy8Tr5mvCW-c21-2Kh0oRnIc2G-E0RD78Dtd1KnhPjJasbLu19w64X8v_cl4KhgKdc1ViaqpHxhsFqG-2uaBKISIkChc2IiNJxt1hZ8nRGu79ZBR8nRJeBDx/s320/bdm-20071220-006-fietser_in_de_sneeuw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426075135358231074" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;">Upon our arrival snow, and it would stay with us almost the whole time. Yes, it was gray. Yes, it was cold, fiercely so at times. Yes, it was home. Yes, the people bumped into you at every turn and never said excuse me. Yes, people cut in front of you on Christmas eve and never blinked. Yes, our family & friends were met, one and all, and everyone of them swore it was as if we had never left. We travelled often on the train, opting for not renting a car since parking in Europe, period, is never fun. Yes, it was pricey, but it was also calming. No rushing. Everything in it's time. I miss that. Hubby</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:webdings;"> misses that. The kids even miss that.<br /><br />But what we really miss the most is the walking. Steps away, the grocer, the baker, & I swear to god, the candlestick maker. The post office, the bank, the train station, restaurants etc... all within walking distance. All in all, we probably walked an average of 3-4 miles every day while we were there and it was wonderful. To be outside, in the cold, amongst the crowds, surrounded by ancient 500 year old buildings and grey skies. I guess the moral of this particular story is that homesickness is contagious and I have caught a bit of it myself.<br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-75296720642247990982009-08-05T19:46:00.001-07:002009-08-05T20:11:05.095-07:00The great health care debacle<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD15_Ma-geEwzQN2Q-t97eHNr8_8tkKLTqxy4Tl6T0EtVc8BWekxbAJCY7u958AwEpho8TU5aoOUu6NL3m14d81b9Roqyy5GzHNL4bVd6_lp9AkBpWMXLzP2Cy6kv0M8JFHfza1TEon4C/s1600-h/universal-health-care-cartoon.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVD15_Ma-geEwzQN2Q-t97eHNr8_8tkKLTqxy4Tl6T0EtVc8BWekxbAJCY7u958AwEpho8TU5aoOUu6NL3m14d81b9Roqyy5GzHNL4bVd6_lp9AkBpWMXLzP2Cy6kv0M8JFHfza1TEon4C/s400/universal-health-care-cartoon.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366682843258790674" border="0" /></a><br />One of the things I cannot fathom about American's is this innate fear of taxes. It's like the last 250 years never happened?! God forbid someone takes our guns, our shopping malls or our Big Gulps (2 liter cups filled with cola!) away, but god had better be looking out for anyone who hints at raising taxes. I bring this up because the main debate now { besides the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court Justice (I am for this, and any woman who is not, is mentally ill, in my very humble opinion!)} is the health care debate.<br /><br />Health care in the US sucks. Everyone admits to this but they blame the insurance companies. The insurance companies blame the pharmaceutical companies and the pharmaceutical companies are rich enough to not have to say anything. They know a good thing when they see it and they know they will always be necessary. Especially to the Americans. The fat, non-exercising Americans. The Americans who blame everyone for everything but take no responsibility for themselves. These Americans, and the last guestimate has it at about 35% of 281M people, these Americans will keep the pharmaceutical companies & the insurance companies rich forever. Don't get me wrong here, there is a movement I am noticing within the health care profession to change this behavior. I myself, heard my new doctor during my first ever physical (I am exceedingly healthy by the way!), yelling at a patient to tell his wife that she doesn't need the screening Dr. Phil recommends, she needs to eat less and walk more! Hurrah! I loved him at that moment. <br /><br />Getting back to these Americans, who undoubtedly still think the Red Threat is still real, they espouse the ideal that if health care is made available to all and 'reformed' that means more taxes for them. Yes, it probably does. They say that it means socialized medicine. Oh no, the "S" word. I hate to tell them, but after 3 years here and 14 years in Europe, guess what. Socialized medicine is already here. HMO's abound. Most company policies require a general physician to 'refer' to a specialist, exactly what the European systems have. Generic drugs are pushed in place of name brands. Again, socialized. Come out from the cupboards, silly people, in reality not much will change...except...<br /><br />When you go to the emergency room and see only illegal aliens surrounding you, you will be able to rest in the knowledge that you will no longer have to pay $1500 for a visit ($300-500) out of your own pocket, because you have a valid social security number and give your real name and address. Why? Because everyone will pay the same basic rate. Everyone.<br /><br />Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to monopolize and cartel together pricing as they have been doing for years. I bought insurance in for companies in the The Netherlands and I know they all know what each other does and bids. What a joke to think they don't. They do and they use it. With a 'social' health plan, they will now be regulated, out in the open, and unable to create crazy matrices that no one but the most skilled bridge players could possibly understand to confuse consumers. They will have guidelines and they will have to play ball or they will lose the game. I like this. This is American. Looking out for the little man and screw the insurance companies.<br /><br />Lastly, with health reform comes the comforting knowledge that everyone will receive at least basic health care. No longer will single mothers and fathers, kids and especially, the elderly giving up one meal a day so they can stay on their diabetes medication. That's the most important cause of all. Everyone still asks me if I want to go back to Europe and my answer is still unequivocally yes. If for nothing else, for the health safety net that saved my son's life 14 years ago and continues to be better than anything American has yet to offer.<br /><br />Having said that, my bonus next year will be spent on some land near Seattle. I seem to have left a piece of my heart back there and I intend to see it once in awhile.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-51608397603965402492009-06-22T20:04:00.000-07:002009-06-22T20:51:40.930-07:00The best laid plans of mice and me...Well, just sit right back and you'll hear a tale. A tale of a faithful trip. That started in Seattletown and ended in Texas.<br /><br />A few months ago I promised you pages regarding the differences separating Europe from the United States of America. Well, nothing can be more different than the sheer vastness of this country. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNzZY01ZYIGbZxCewpFZguSFtmhzEaNR7pOweVVAbT3l-G1kPBLmPdgqz3V3S2pRpSp-o1Alf8VWwon6A9OaGtygvyMzH2-b2tT54eJh2AWtKCp19pFGZdc8pbX3QsPyk_xFSCAvcXrna/s1600-h/DSCF3844.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNzZY01ZYIGbZxCewpFZguSFtmhzEaNR7pOweVVAbT3l-G1kPBLmPdgqz3V3S2pRpSp-o1Alf8VWwon6A9OaGtygvyMzH2-b2tT54eJh2AWtKCp19pFGZdc8pbX3QsPyk_xFSCAvcXrna/s320/DSCF3844.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350360273239735858" border="0" /></a>The distance that we traveled, 2300 miles or 3700 kilometers for my European friends, in a mere 8 days, raises eyebrows but not here. For a land where more than 70% of all gainfully <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXcNJp5q5l5TYcjJCfrlsivAh4qIHyVKbS7WXpDrY7lKxH-C2UnI12FLcFAfNKsmCsui1e8GgeAij-71135DDSMSvIzVgBHplj68XX81hxpZZC0SNGZOOWnjx9MywjJPTCgWhwQmuWyz0/s1600-h/DSCF3797.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXcNJp5q5l5TYcjJCfrlsivAh4qIHyVKbS7WXpDrY7lKxH-C2UnI12FLcFAfNKsmCsui1e8GgeAij-71135DDSMSvIzVgBHplj68XX81hxpZZC0SNGZOOWnjx9MywjJPTCgWhwQmuWyz0/s320/DSCF3797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350364319322590754" border="0" /></a>employed individuals still have and/or take less than 2 weeks vacation per year, this is normal. For us, it was tiring at best, necessary at worst. I will not turn this into a travelguide...boring!...but will try to highlight here some of the other differences we came upon on the road. Most of California is home to nothing but desert, prisons, and agriculture. It would be Spain if there was any culture, but there isn't. Los Angeles continues to be an over-exhorbitant pool of humanity, but since my last visit in 1997, I am pleased to report that the 'cess' in front of the 'pool' may now be left off. It's still random and a place without a true identity, but it's not greasy anymore, at least not to me. I could never live there, but after this trip, I kind of understand why some do. Kind of. Especially since I have now discovered family there. First cousins. Chad & Dean. Sons of Al & Barbara Restum; Al being the brother of my biological father, Willie Restum, whom I never met. I never regretted that decision but since meeting Al in 2006 in D.C., have wanted very much to meet my cousins. I don't have any on my mothers side. 2nd cousins, yes, but not first. Chad & Dean don't have any other firsts but me either. It was an intense and altogether monumental occasion for me. I hope the start of a wonderful relationship with them and their families, whom I also felt immediately at home with (thank you Justine & Alexis!!!) We even joked about being jarabs (jewish arabs) and I learned why I have been addicted to Hummus since the age of 10. It's in the blood.<br /><br />Legoland, Carlsbad, California is run with exactly the same amount of nonchalance that I expect from Legoland, Denmark. That was surprising. The service was there, but it was late or not in a hurry. Could be the Hispanic influence here, which brings up another point. God bless the Hispanics. When I look at the western European people en masse here in America, I can only be thankful that the immense blending of Hispanic blood with the Anglo-saxon blood here will save humanity as we know it. The people in San Diego are Hisposaxon, I suppose. They are healthy, multi-lingual, attractive and interesting. Growing up in Las Vegas in the 70's, I still remember being taught that a good American asked any Mexican looking individual to show their green card. I am not making this up. Probably the reason I became a Republican at 18, after such an indoctrination, who can blame me? It was my generation's McCarthyism.<br /><br />What we learned on this trip and here in Houston as well, is that we all need to be thankful for the mixing of the cultures. I truly believe that it will be the saving grace of this country and will hopefully obliterate the intolerant fundamentalist idiotic right that has taken over the Republican party once and for all. At least, I'm going to throw myself on this bandwagon and carry the tune as loudly and as far as I can. America is now more than ever a true melting pot and we are liking it. For the first time in years, this trip has opened my eyes to an America I thought long dead. One where people talk to each other on the streets about everything. Where conversation lives between old and young on corners everywhere while waiting for lights or in the line at the supermarket. I saw two perfectly coifed larger black women today with ice creams, and we joked for a few minutes about it as if we had been best friends forever. I love that. It makes me feel alive and I love sharing that feeling. I stood in line at Legoland and met a wonderful woman who after 10 minutes of talking, found out she lived 20 minutes from our new home in Texas and we exchanged cards. I will definitely be calling them. I have already been shown my realtor's new grandbaby's pictures and purchased 3 bouquets of flowers for those at work whom I feel have gone above and beyond the standard procedure for helping out a new hire. This openness of communication, I have always missed in Holland. Many times I have tried to start conversations, all over, only to be politely but decisively rebuffed. The dutch do not get it. The English, neither. Belgiums and south, yes, but the Americans, definitely, especially in the South. Oh, glory be, that's where we are. Maybe this will all turn out well, after all?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq18eA0NUGbdrIOaF85kWQ89XDioZnm1ZjurgwSZ_wDv3j81HLBUNYSMC3JFC_XjUQJekuFNZZsOifOL2a73eyMpCv6Jb4iiwBe8-Cgw7C2LVeiZmr0Yrynqkg6CvHR4vJ_TRQhyQ4BS1/s1600-h/DSCF3894.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdq18eA0NUGbdrIOaF85kWQ89XDioZnm1ZjurgwSZ_wDv3j81HLBUNYSMC3JFC_XjUQJekuFNZZsOifOL2a73eyMpCv6Jb4iiwBe8-Cgw7C2LVeiZmr0Yrynqkg6CvHR4vJ_TRQhyQ4BS1/s400/DSCF3894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350365174442765698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Before I go, I should get factual about something. The last blog was all about our new house. Well, scratch it all. Short but sweet, the story is as follows. The lenders in the US will indeed loan only the asking price/appraisal value of the house, so since that house needed new flooring and a pool still, I found another house that had both already done. Yes, pricier by $50K but no problem for the lender. I saw the house the day I flew back to Seattle and my awesome Realtor had the contract ready and waiting. House visit: 12p.m.. Contract signed: 1p.m.. Trip to Airport 3p.m.. Contract signed by Seller: 4p.m.. Cancellation contract signed and faxed to first house seller 5p.m.. Airplane boarded to Seattle 6p.m. It was a crazy day. Suffice it to say, we have signed for a gorgeous house, with pool and wood floors in my first choice neighbourhood. What more can I ask? Instead of pictures, I have included the link for the virtual tour. Enjoy and book your flight. We're hoping to be in there by the end of July...<br /><br />http://search.har.com/engine/harvirtualtour.cfm?mlnum=44981844&leadid=6Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-37103852450216167262009-06-06T20:01:00.001-07:002009-06-06T20:33:45.489-07:00First week in HoustonJune 6, 2009. One week later. The time flew by, literally. I know I promised in the beginning that this journal of mine would be a comparison between America and Europe. I think we need to add Texas. It will now be a comparison between America, Europe, & Texas. I have come to learn in just the short time I have been here, that Texas is indeed, not quite America. Definitely not Europe. Wait, stop. Before this all takes on a cynical or even negative vibe, let me end it. I have been thusfar, extremely & happily surprised by Texas, or at least Katy in general. I should say Houston, but since I have been existing on the edges of the city and mainly circling the Katy suburb in my efforts to find a house for the last week, while full-time working of course, I do not yet dare say anything about Houston. That will come next.<br /><br />Katy, however, is our suburb of choice. 10 miles from work. 10 miles from the biggest park I have seen in quite some time, the George HW Bush State Park, and my family's future home. Yes, as many of you are now aware, I am manic in my pursuit of anything. Once bitten, never shy. Oh no, all the more reason to get back on that horse and FLY! Nothing gets me going more than a challenge. Except perhaps 2 or 3 challenges all at the same time. Try to talk to me then! Oh, right, most of you have, sorry about those times, truly. After one week here, and looking at over 17 houses in 5 days, including 2 bids, I have a house. My family will NOT be sleeping under the bridge or panhandling along the freeway. This has concerned me, needless to say, to the point of only getting about 4 hours of sleep a night. By Thursday, I looked hellish, to say the least. Last night, however, I slept like a rose, for 8 hours straight. It was glorious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPE1wLb_ou7SAusy3kdMLVXM9proJCrHehhTQdWw4D_6tz0VO-ErXmQ_7SmqsEHK0T6SLmsr3jemJmswEE4IL08hAm0y3BUJbM8IXdk2R7tN9p8xLpfiaZ1so6QTZlgb9fxUkEgWexFKe/s1600-h/house+front.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPE1wLb_ou7SAusy3kdMLVXM9proJCrHehhTQdWw4D_6tz0VO-ErXmQ_7SmqsEHK0T6SLmsr3jemJmswEE4IL08hAm0y3BUJbM8IXdk2R7tN9p8xLpfiaZ1so6QTZlgb9fxUkEgWexFKe/s320/house+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344417547336525042" border="0" /></a>Anyway, here's my new home. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFpenDfrSxJmAcyXpErUlzraTbfldPSGITh3bve4eutJSsgjryc2LOMvolSPpc35PffspUe9lMXPqb2TYpHOtlEdtdy4ho9H2CwQq093BNkRIL66Vky0mswCwCR551WtRLMrN3JznCnTp/s1600-h/patio.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFpenDfrSxJmAcyXpErUlzraTbfldPSGITh3bve4eutJSsgjryc2LOMvolSPpc35PffspUe9lMXPqb2TYpHOtlEdtdy4ho9H2CwQq093BNkRIL66Vky0mswCwCR551WtRLMrN3JznCnTp/s320/patio.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344417754499816050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu-f-IuXpN77pzBCmmyydzyFhhoFDYEMwKTjbEvgvVDMCqVjVoi-aXeVYjbElpHqHBeONtVd23FAA8FGmte5smsuIeAaCtoAb4QhJmnqucYcbzc3GEgsjaqTPJVKtdk4h4nCmEYzbv4Va/s1600-h/backyard.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJu-f-IuXpN77pzBCmmyydzyFhhoFDYEMwKTjbEvgvVDMCqVjVoi-aXeVYjbElpHqHBeONtVd23FAA8FGmte5smsuIeAaCtoAb4QhJmnqucYcbzc3GEgsjaqTPJVKtdk4h4nCmEYzbv4Va/s320/backyard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344417753009356914" border="0" /></a>As long as the loan closes within the next 3 weeks, it will be ours by July 15th.<br /><br />It has 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms and a ginormous backyard. It's on a cul-de-sac and every other house has children. All this for 190K euro. What a life. It does not yet have a pool, but plenty of room to build our own. It needs some loving on the inside, all new flooring; must get rid of that beautiful light blue carpet circa 1993 that's begging to be put out of it's misery and we get a new fridge. Not bad. Plenty of room for all of you to come visit. What's that? You won't come to the hottest place on earth if there's no pool. Well, what if I were to tell you that we have 8 community pools. That's right, 8. Including this beach pool <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N6n06vb-Jbu6mtgtDOfslIf6RbLssY2evNDy0xewO2R8NrDjQwXs4HkcAznzRtjwSVbAOwiLklkK8WvF-pKmaXxSHTPDHvo46soAO2BHYCCFQjr_gR_WEpJNhI_8ga3hwpb6NJpjN1tL/s1600-h/community+beach+pool.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2N6n06vb-Jbu6mtgtDOfslIf6RbLssY2evNDy0xewO2R8NrDjQwXs4HkcAznzRtjwSVbAOwiLklkK8WvF-pKmaXxSHTPDHvo46soAO2BHYCCFQjr_gR_WEpJNhI_8ga3hwpb6NJpjN1tL/s320/community+beach+pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344417757814092466" border="0" /></a>which the powers of Cinco Ranch (our development area) deigned to make in order to ensure that we have everything we ever wanted, including a beach...in the middle of a lake. Whatever. Now that's America Goddamn it. A house like this in Holland would cost 4 times as much and forget the pools. Do they have outside pools still? There is one in Ijmuiden, so I guess they are around. I have to say I am more amused by it than anything else, but I will be utilizing the 'Beach' Pool, so I guess I support it as well, right? Anywho...no excuses, you're all coming to visit. End of discussion. Start booking the flights. It's 95/33 degrees here everyday, so what more incentive do you want?<br /><br />Work has been great so far, not that I've done much, but what a training! My new colleagues are wonderful and very professional. They all keep saying that I am fitting in just fine, and I must admit I didn't expect anything less, really. Thank god I really like people, right? Wait a second...Uhhhhh, sorry about that, just had to scratch one of the 4 new bug bites I received today on my feet. They love my feet and legs. Crazy. I cannot wait until my blood desugarizes enough so that they go somewhere else. Where was I, oh yes, work. There is a bit of the US vs them (UK) mentality going on and hopefully as a lost american european, I will be able to soothe the relationship somewhat. Wednesday I leave to go back to Seattle and get the boys. I have missed them but definitely did the right thing in coming down here the first 2 weeks alone. I would never have been able to achieve as much as I have with them here too.<br /><br />Looking forward to the trip very much. Hopefully, I will have time to update along the road. Jeroen actually mentioned. trying to Twitter. Boy, is that lost on me. I'm on it, but I have yet to use it. Seems so superfluous and silly, really.<br /><br />Oh, before I go, let me share the best part of my week. I walked over to the beautiful new fitness center my work sponsors and the girl (not above 25) looked at me when I asked for information, and said, well you won't need a physical assessment since you're obviously not over 40....I am still smiling.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-74824299232827162772009-05-26T09:39:00.000-07:002009-05-26T10:19:48.981-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6Z_-FcAcEQFffutLGx62zFRsKb9-meNLx7rMp01gnS3gUgdMVZegv-vFWo7eWo_hTPHoWa0hUPWwXaqb-n5C4_nrTOftROwK2x5QVRlzXyuNeCi1a-mBV9i1w-bnKSInvm1afrD3GAcS/s1600-h/P1020934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6Z_-FcAcEQFffutLGx62zFRsKb9-meNLx7rMp01gnS3gUgdMVZegv-vFWo7eWo_hTPHoWa0hUPWwXaqb-n5C4_nrTOftROwK2x5QVRlzXyuNeCi1a-mBV9i1w-bnKSInvm1afrD3GAcS/s400/P1020934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340173586301978770" border="0" /></a>My first day of not working. It feels great. I have taken the boys to school, done the dishes (by hand), packed two suitcases for the trip to Houston, cleared the storage room downstairs and it's 9.45a.m. What do people do with themselves when they retire? I think I'll volunteer with Greenpeace again and sail the South Pacific this time. Hopefully, that's still a ways away though.<br /><br />The picture I have added here is Harrison Lake in Canada. I spent a wonderful girls weekend away with 3 super colleagues & (I hope still) good friends from Weyerhaeuser. Why do I say "I hope still" good friends? Well, I am going to fast forward for a moment to explain. Yesterday the boys and I biked 6 miles down to the Chittendon Locks in Ballard. Same old locks, but they have been around since 1907 and were actually quite impressive. Water up, water down. hundreds of boats waiting to go in and go out, since it was actually above 75 degrees yesterday, that's 22 celsius for my european friends. Anyway, all four of us started to cross over the passenger bridge to the other side when one of the dockside Captains yelled to clear the bridge. I was in the front and not quite halfway across. I immediately turned around and said c'mon, we'd better hurry!<br />I then proceeded to jog across. When I reached the other side and the alarm signal started to go off to clear the pedestrian traffic, I turned for Angus and saw that Jeroen had brought them back to the other side. When I asked Jeroen later why he didn't continue on, he said he didn't think he'd make it. That never even entered my mind. I knew I would; simple as that. Time for a quiet epiphany I thought. Life is not usually easy for me. I am the overachiever trying so hard to please a world of folk who, for the most part, are not. I get that. I accept it. The problem in my life has always been getting others to accept this.<br /><br />Let's go back to the weekend. 4 very smart and more or less successful women. 4 very different women with me being, and this is not usual for me, the most liberal and least conservative of the bunch. I realized this weekend that many little things I take for granted, shouldn't be. I also realized, yet again, that people are so very complex, yet products of their environment. I believe strongly that people who travel are also more open for conflict and other views of life; this was also validated this weekend. I have always wondered how people can be so sure of themselves and so certain of their views when they lead secular lives? I try to understand that, but have come to acknowledge and I think accept that those are not the people I can be around. I just don't get it. The problem now comes in. I have also learned that it is very possible and in my case highly probable to care very much for such people. Feelings have no basis in fact and that is absolute. <br /><br />A discussion arose this weekend concerning the church and how this last year as parishioner's at Liam & Angus's school has absolutely convinced Jeroen of his Atheism. I must admit that the few times I went, I also felt a fake, just by sitting there.<br /><br />Where do we draw the line? Almost everyone we have met this past year was fantastic. They almost all believe exclusively that Jesus is their savior and that the Church is a good thing. How is it possible that I am able to have drinks, barbecues, auctions, etc... with them and enjoy myself when I completely disavow everything they believe in? How are they able to do the same with a non-congregational Jew who still is not sure that her traditional jewish values hold water?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Christian: I have Jesus in my heart.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">I'm sorry to hear that. I can't help you but I believe they're working on a cure.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Christian: No, I don't need to be cured, I have come to save you.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Ahh... That bad eh. It may be terminal then.</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Christian: Do you believe in God?</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Nope. I've been clean for 15 years. Now if only I could get rid of all my other addictions.</span><br /><br />Is it truly hypocritical or is it something new that globalization has brought along, enabling us all to work & live together more in harmony? Should it be like this? I think the mormons are killing this country. I don't think believing in an Alien creator and not drinking coke gives them a leg up. However, there is no denying that you or I have yet to meet a mormon on Welfare and I dare say not many of the homeless are of that sect. That could be because they kill them off behind the closed doors of their temples that we common non-mormon folk are not allowed into<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsIrNcfam3dqHxbMQNogQfqIbl-OqJKv6M3s7kkrRiosZlhcXNpGld0IQ69xOTH8uT78EAeI_lBzbdAELT45wPR-WFKLczzn8JsSen3haCxL8HaIYxkjBJPkW0SPTEITt0OULntGeZQTP/s1600-h/Mitt+Romney.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsIrNcfam3dqHxbMQNogQfqIbl-OqJKv6M3s7kkrRiosZlhcXNpGld0IQ69xOTH8uT78EAeI_lBzbdAELT45wPR-WFKLczzn8JsSen3haCxL8HaIYxkjBJPkW0SPTEITt0OULntGeZQTP/s320/Mitt+Romney.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340182275330807618" border="0" /></a>...who would know, right? Who would care actually? I mean one Mitt Romney is enough, right?<br /><br />Anyway, I do not mean to sound callous, but wait a second, maybe I do? That's my conundrum this week for sure. When have I said enough and when do I need to say it all?<br /><br />Next Monday, I start my new job and like any good soldier I will start out not quite as heated as usual, taking in the lay of the land before I start trying to change the world...again. I guess as long as I do not give up actually trying to change the world, to better the world as much as I can, I will be happy. I only hope I do not alienate too many people along the way...or do I actually hope that at all?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-72246420703732993172009-05-08T12:42:00.000-07:002009-05-08T13:13:31.173-07:00Yeeha, Texas here we come! (Shouldn't someone call and warn them?)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI9VaZk3iW3n5qTAaWbYp-4K3a6zB3bvRBGQgg4y9kmK7Dxm4K8VZFk61eDbKOnGZc1xnCi-06vuXJ6hfYev4-7gsbRytWt5xkCIuq66aNFl4Fp1z7s_uowuC4dU_UPknGWrnB4965xH9/s1600-h/P1020887.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI9VaZk3iW3n5qTAaWbYp-4K3a6zB3bvRBGQgg4y9kmK7Dxm4K8VZFk61eDbKOnGZc1xnCi-06vuXJ6hfYev4-7gsbRytWt5xkCIuq66aNFl4Fp1z7s_uowuC4dU_UPknGWrnB4965xH9/s400/P1020887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333546627399464338" border="0" /></a><br />I have been dropping hints here and there and for many of you this is no surprise.<br />Yes, the saga continues and we are moving on to the next State having already seen 20 in 3 years. It seems that there is a certain Energy company (largest UK company!) that believes I am exactly what they need in order to make a profound difference in their IT procurement department.<br />I am starting to get very excited and can only hope that I live up to their ideals. Actually, I am looking forward to the next part of my career and thankfully have a family that accede to my schedule and share my sense of adventure. Goodbye Seattle. We'll miss you so very much and all the wonderful friends we've made, but now at least our new friends stuck behind in indeed the gloomiest and rainiest city in the world!!, will have another warm weather destination for cheap vacations!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1olC_QG9lclubwUEMsDVK9AfBa6bNbnNA41bDM8dlKZam9uxVM_to8P_SQVpaoByYhHRjUXR3YAhcQR0GExyen0tx4VxTUnyuAr17V6MZUExtbBne5Np5afaMqZrN1xXbvY-rX0h2JGb/s1600-h/images.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1olC_QG9lclubwUEMsDVK9AfBa6bNbnNA41bDM8dlKZam9uxVM_to8P_SQVpaoByYhHRjUXR3YAhcQR0GExyen0tx4VxTUnyuAr17V6MZUExtbBne5Np5afaMqZrN1xXbvY-rX0h2JGb/s400/images.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333548194142467522" border="0" /></a><br />We are, of course, a little worried about how we are all going to fit in down there, but then again, with 5 million people, someone somewhere should be like us, right? My only fervent hope and desire is that this time, we manage to stay put for awhile. 4 moves in 4 years across half the world, well, even I am ready for a few years off.<br />We will be traveling to Houston, our new home, in June via California, Las Vegas, New Mexico and Texas. We will meet new family, see old friends and finally go to Legoland (at Angus's bequest!). We will have a house with a pool, I will be working long hours and traveling often. The boys will NOT develop an accent, and we will retain our liberal socio-economic beliefs. For the rest, the ball is in the air and we're open to anything.<br />Smile for us and remember the Alamo!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-82742404115506477662009-04-25T20:30:00.000-07:002009-04-25T22:49:51.953-07:00Canada, Oh CanadaAs you know, I'm not usually at a loss for words. However, today I am at a loss as to what to talk about. Not that there isn't an overabundance of subject material, it's just that. There IS an overabundance of subject material. Do I talk about how angry everyone seems to be getting? <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/TOBIAN%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipqyEp5MYBRT_QIDsXkqxpgMCN6Q8zepfrCFvNPipf8GAK-bfZ2CdhcTFWJpoMi82VV39EV_5ZyrrVMSiRH649_MGEc6NWPz8-Ge_l9M6ok0fzvYJ27rOwjV63fkKi2INWgGfiAPc2-rF/s1600-h/image.jpeg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 124px; height: 93px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipqyEp5MYBRT_QIDsXkqxpgMCN6Q8zepfrCFvNPipf8GAK-bfZ2CdhcTFWJpoMi82VV39EV_5ZyrrVMSiRH649_MGEc6NWPz8-Ge_l9M6ok0fzvYJ27rOwjV63fkKi2INWgGfiAPc2-rF/s400/image.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328856379837957138" border="0" /></a>From the homeless people standing at almost every corner with a stoplight in Seattle to the housewives shopping at Safeway trying to cram the day's shopping in and get the closest parking place, to the man standing at US Healthworks spewing forth his interpretation and disgust at the fact that his insurance company is charged double what people without insurance are charged. (Not quite true, by the way, it was only a weekly promotion but he was so far gone and so certain of his conviction and interpretation of the brochure, there was no turning back). I could talk about this but you and I know that this is an endless and never-ending discussion that, well, I just don't feel like getting into today, if that's okay with you.<br /><br />I could also talk about the disgusting display of chauvinistic enthusiasm which the coach and his 4 assistants (all fathers of budding Roberto Clemente's) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMm7AmXm0rlKBWDcMJPWOLtYPxUQm19ytXE2RgOcQrjrmZh076Y_gACfzYO5E1XC9kzB-QHQyjAEgrj3s_UCp7qkALp7r3WDZSAnw53aqZN_A2bErmOiBtm_koEB2NkM6mORdewUIAdAJ/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitMm7AmXm0rlKBWDcMJPWOLtYPxUQm19ytXE2RgOcQrjrmZh076Y_gACfzYO5E1XC9kzB-QHQyjAEgrj3s_UCp7qkALp7r3WDZSAnw53aqZN_A2bErmOiBtm_koEB2NkM6mORdewUIAdAJ/s320/Picture+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328867314647595154" border="0" /></a>put the rest of us through 2x a week on the little league baseball field here in Seattle. My son plays and so far enjoys it, but I am convinced that is only because I am there to shout out, do you best sweetheart, it's just a game and just swing Angus, it's almost over and we'll get ice cream in a few minutes! The looks and stares I get from the Britney Spears parent wannabe's would definitely make more than a few people cringe in terror, but no, I am thankfully made of sterner stuff. I just smile back, look as dazed as possible, open my eyes a little larger, look them straight in the eyes and say, What? as innocently as Sister Maria in the Sound of Music. Pure disgust in their eyes but laughter and amusement in mine. The day I let any of my children think that sports is more than an activity to enjoy and help them keep fit...Of course, if one of them showed a marked proclivity for baseball, tennis, golf, ping pong, whatever, I would encourage them and do everything necessary to see their dream through to fruition. So far nothing, however, and I am not pushy. Not very. Really. Alright, at least in this aspect of my life.<br /><br />What I will talk about is our trip to Vancouver. We have started to compile a list of things we want to do before we leave Seattle. Why we are leaving Seattle will have to wait just a few more days til the next blog - gives you a reason to come back!) Whale watching, travel to the Olympic Peninsula, take a Ducks tour of Seattle, visit the Burke museum and much more are on the list. For me, Vancouver was #1. I have always wanted to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge; it's on my list of things to do before I croak. Cross that one off, then. I booked a wonderful hotel, the Sutton Place with a 2 bedroom suite, pool, steam room, and the cast of Twilight staying. What more can you ask for? The hotel and staff were superb. As soon as we arrived in Vancouver, we got the bikes off the car and headed off to Stanley Park, a beautiful park encompassing the entire Western edge of downtown. We rode over the whole seawall and had a lovely few hours.<br /><br />After a quick swim and steam, we walked over to the one Belgian restaurant I could find in an area called Gastown. It's called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chambar</span> and is simply the best restaurant not only in Vancouver, but most probably in North America. Great staff, we spoke with almost all of them I think, and superb food, better than in Belgium...well, almost. The owner, chef, Nico is Belgian so that helps. We had the most wonderful mussels and frites, plus a lucious cheese board and a stiff Armagnac, pricy but lovely. Did I mention the beer? Oh, god, the taste of the Echte Kriek's I downed that night. The best part of all, the boys were with us and loving it all as well. It's a hip & trendy place, now, and they didn't seem too responsive to us at first when they saw the kids, but it was early and we were European (or in my case European enough!) & have something they all didn't, (besides Lyon, the waiter from France that was ready to move on...) and that was the absolute certainty that we should be there, as gastronomes if nothing else. I like to think we've now paved the road for other families to come, sit and relax for by the time we left, we were on a first name basis with everyone, I had exchanged cards and drinks with the two fabulous female lawyers sitting next to us, Grace and Marina a special hello to both of you!!! if only the US lawyers were as open and lovely as you both this country might have a fighting chance, and we had to take a cab home because the armagnac had done it's work and walking was no longer an option...for me.<br /><br />The next day was a shopping day. Here's comes a US/Canada comparison. Saw a gorgeous dress in the window on Granville Island. Walked in and saw Dries van Noten labels. Uh Oh. I have shopped actually, okay once, in the Drie van Noten flagship store in Antwerp and unfortunately know that he is not really in my price bracket anymore, okay, never was. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj_8MOoDegU01ZED-uae5vpVcV41uK3CVF0zkfnHXyN9ZFFqcCI08qnlcRmPCeG7A_k3vLIJV5bR-mW-8VjSg_L-QHbgiEcEUhpKuCS7SArtf8b8ZKPFm-D-N677cQ7GInCA-ZxmDbunp/s1600-h/P1020829.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibj_8MOoDegU01ZED-uae5vpVcV41uK3CVF0zkfnHXyN9ZFFqcCI08qnlcRmPCeG7A_k3vLIJV5bR-mW-8VjSg_L-QHbgiEcEUhpKuCS7SArtf8b8ZKPFm-D-N677cQ7GInCA-ZxmDbunp/s320/P1020829.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328869144601233298" border="0" /></a>Therefore the dress being marked $2300 was not really a big surprise for me. Standing in my black levi cords, North Face fleece jacket and new pink North Face wooly hat (I love this hat...see photo of me in it at Capilano here to the right!), I stood there thinking, I'm really glad the boys stayed outside and how do I get out of here nonchalantly looking casual but cool? No need to worry actually, because I was pretty much alone in the store and when I just mentioned to the saleswoman that the dress was a little risque for work (the design was tiny red legs attached to a lampshade!) as well as pricey, she actually agreed and understood. Uh, the european feel...alive in Canada. No snotty snooty salespeople here. Normal. Period. Did I mention she was also a good 50lbs. over her BMI? but still chique. Not many who can swing that. If I tried chatting like that in LA or NY looking like I did, I know I would have had 3 bouncers politely and silently tip me back outside of the store or would have been stared at by bulemic 90 lb. ghosts to the point of turning myself around and running for the doors. I think everyone should travel yearly to Canada, just to be treated like the star you are, without bells or ruffles. Excellent.<br /><br />Anyway, walking home from the aquabus, whom do we walk by but Mr. Robert Pattinson,<img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/TOBIAN%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /> latest heartthrob from the movie Twilight, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLINakWIuf1-McEcyZrAY53yWslQ0edBBToNiOU5dqFx5hOLwmBzPX_XQRo9VGDR2Pdpyskh9U0pQvKV-lBFxYfw4drdMowATSVXXaUmx_7kE_Ni1hrANa4V4YPIa4yJfFimPJ61wqoown/s1600-h/images.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 80px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLINakWIuf1-McEcyZrAY53yWslQ0edBBToNiOU5dqFx5hOLwmBzPX_XQRo9VGDR2Pdpyskh9U0pQvKV-lBFxYfw4drdMowATSVXXaUmx_7kE_Ni1hrANa4V4YPIa4yJfFimPJ61wqoown/s400/images.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328855799258321250" border="0" /></a>himself, racing down the street with a friend, laughing along the way. We know because Liam & I had to look twice, we were a bit shocked. He was superrrr skinny and all hunched over as if he was hoping, if I don't make eye contact, I should get to my destination without being approached. I felt a bit sorry for him and couldn't bring myself to ask him to sign the new Twilight dvd I had just purchased, burning a whole in my bag as I stared. I am waayyy too nice, I know, but all I could think of was calling his mother and asking her to come out and take care of him! He didn't look at all well, but maybe he was just stoned....and skinny. That much was certain. Starbucks does still serve muffins at least, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkSqVMOYRjkDD9rKEARUwBhF8PEoBCoPPvFnOHMJ7o8tZduxSycA9llk-VSMc4_OirfYPW8jzunMBelYPlZaXhQDCX5KmoYYSGb9fPbGSG_Dhw8npzoT4wTwt5km2pAajmkbbyXWBD9_K/s1600-h/P1020847.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhkSqVMOYRjkDD9rKEARUwBhF8PEoBCoPPvFnOHMJ7o8tZduxSycA9llk-VSMc4_OirfYPW8jzunMBelYPlZaXhQDCX5KmoYYSGb9fPbGSG_Dhw8npzoT4wTwt5km2pAajmkbbyXWBD9_K/s400/P1020847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328853491071268434" border="0" /></a>We had Subway sandwiches and biked to the beach to enjoy the 2 hours of Sun that had finally descended upon Vancouver. We made it the next day to Capilano and managed the rest of the day with poor Angus catching a virus but being a trooper and Jeroen catching it the next and again, being quite the trooper. Not quite like the Washington State Trooper who pulled up behind us after we reentered the U.S., when I had to pull over to let Jeroen chuck up on the side of the road. That's illegal in Washington, (not throwing up but stopping on the side of the highway!) but when I explained it nicely to the officer and he saw that Jeroen is not your typical frat boy or deviant from society, he simply smiled and said he'd stay with us til we were on our way. Now that's a normal reaction I hadn't prepared for. Maybe there's hope for this country yet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-68840970851783293112009-04-04T08:08:00.000-07:002009-04-04T08:39:37.869-07:00Freedom of Conscience<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbkFIFV3-y7Um6Y5qtUzc-qTlEueKX_MTdJnTIk0ZRkcfoOcD4fucc2bpzyv-MSLTmyfOeNm7rs8OYVONtLaFbTKPXEtojP7VnNUbQJeyIe_Qik6cV0qnCY9co-te_dfD2ppOlQ_VFPMs/s1600-h/images.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 90px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbkFIFV3-y7Um6Y5qtUzc-qTlEueKX_MTdJnTIk0ZRkcfoOcD4fucc2bpzyv-MSLTmyfOeNm7rs8OYVONtLaFbTKPXEtojP7VnNUbQJeyIe_Qik6cV0qnCY9co-te_dfD2ppOlQ_VFPMs/s400/images.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320859667880573762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />One of the sentiments I miss most after living in Europe for so long, is the normalcy that the general public have over simple facts of life. The acceptance that they have for situations; such as having quiet dignity when someone they love gets very sick, working with their ex-partner(s) when it comes to child custody and understanding that people are only human and mistakes will be made, such a serving hot coffee in a drive-thru and <span style="font-weight: bold;">NOT </span>allowing damages to be awarded for ridiculous amounts of money.<br /><br />It is still very distressing to me that so many Americans look to blame others for their own lack of self-discipline. God forbid we should accept responsibility for anything. No, it cannot be us, it must be them. Them, who? Well, that doesn't seem to really matter and if 'them' have some money in the bargain, then look out, it's definitely their fault. I remember talking to one of my favourite people in the world about this when I first arrived and we ended up agreeing to disagree. She's a lawyer, so prejudiced anyway, and had just taken on a case where a woman sprained her arm or something equally stupid by trying to reach up too high at a Walmart's to retrieve something she wanted to buy.<br /><br />Was there a warning sign there to ask someone for help? Yes, there was but since it was on the higher row and this woman was I suppose, unusually small, well, that was her case. The sign should have been lower. My friend was actually shocked that Walmart refused to make a deal <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyhpTxqvhdeStCNpZzmZirxQ4dE4AZTNuhu-U46dWZ6Rhoj9QJN-l0HQFLBq6sBhWSr_rZsLj9_zh7LM9y9RUV6Wn9zlluTGAdDp_bAMkrTRmD815bi07F98wiKRzAernlEwK-3CwoTBL/s1600-h/05.0107.cartoon_large.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyhpTxqvhdeStCNpZzmZirxQ4dE4AZTNuhu-U46dWZ6Rhoj9QJN-l0HQFLBq6sBhWSr_rZsLj9_zh7LM9y9RUV6Wn9zlluTGAdDp_bAMkrTRmD815bi07F98wiKRzAernlEwK-3CwoTBL/s400/05.0107.cartoon_large.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320861282117271250" border="0" /></a>and even though I am not on friendly terms with Walmart, I was actually pleased that they were willing to go to court over this. What jury of normal people would allow this type of stupid behavior to be rewarded? Are accidents not allowed to happen in the US? Funny, they happen everywhere else.<br /><br />This brings me back to my point. The Freedom of Conscience Act is very simple. It says:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">...it is the purpose of this act to prohibit all forms of discrimination, disqualification, coercion, disability, or liability upon such health care providers, institutions, and payers that decline to perform any health care service that violates their conscience.</span><br />Of course the catholics etc...are up in arms because any catholic hospital will no longer be able to deny birth control (of any type, pre or after) <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">if they take federal funds!!!!!<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> That's the key.<br />No one is saying that you violate the US constitution by demanding the hospitals go against their conscience. They're saying that if you do so, you will no longer get money from the Federal pot!!<br /><br />Here here. As a contract manager, I am always hearing here in America, at my job, our intent was...we meant...etc. This is something I never once had to do in Europe and boy do I miss that.<br />I spend 90% of my time reiterating the contract(s). What a bore, but let me expand on this since I am a tiny bit of an expert now. The intent of the forefathers, Jefferson, Madison, Washington etc... was to keep church and state separate. Period. This act validates that premise in every way.<br /><br />We need to get back to the reality of life; it is tough. It is yours to make of it what you will. So get out there and do something today that will make you feel good about yourself at the end of the day... and repeat daily as needed. Maybe if we do this, we'll be able to grab some of that joie de vivre that a lot of Europeans have found for themselves. That would be a great thing, wouldn't it?<br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-30493814318546285902009-04-01T07:54:00.001-07:002009-04-01T08:23:53.027-07:00Greed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiGRpejlX497hoEf1q_k7tJEX55_iNavdvftweDX8sSr7rcEKyfbunvNEZD3g1SA_EUstzBwkvq2XuA9hIxCs0_3HPkkyuJfuaq25auyULwbfyAb9nPzr2k33hRgqEokNjvMKmLIaChVM/s1600-h/3403488219_6e9e061d50.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319743256605229778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiGRpejlX497hoEf1q_k7tJEX55_iNavdvftweDX8sSr7rcEKyfbunvNEZD3g1SA_EUstzBwkvq2XuA9hIxCs0_3HPkkyuJfuaq25auyULwbfyAb9nPzr2k33hRgqEokNjvMKmLIaChVM/s200/3403488219_6e9e061d50.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I read something very interesting in the news this morning. The G20 forum in London is getting it's usual crowd of protesters, but they are getting louder and dare I hope, harder to avoid and impossible to sweep under the rug.<br />The following quote is indicative of the atmosphere that almost everyone I know feels right now, from Seattle to Amsterdam, it makes no difference.<br /><br /><em>"Every job I apply for there's already 150 people who have also applied," said protester Nathan Dean, 35, who lost his information technology job three weeks ago. "I have had to sign on to the dole (welfare) for the first time in my life. You end up having to pay your mortgage on your credit card and you fall into debt twice over."</em><br /><em></em><br />Driving home on the van pool yesterday, we were all joking about being on the 'lucky' van since all of us up til now still have our jobs. How lucky is that actually? When the question was put to one of my colleagues, "Are you okay?", his answer was, "I'm here but who can say if I am okay or not".<br /><br />This got me thinking about when we first arrived from the Netherlands in September 2006. We arrived with 40 boxes of LEGO, an antique trunk I could not bring myself to part with and more than 2000 books that had been to and from America a few times over. We were forced to spend close to $20,000 that first year just on furnishings, a car and daily necessities, from towels to dishes. Many $500 trips to Target, needless to say.<br /><br />I remember needing tools and things as well and right before we went to a Home Depot, I read an article that the CEO had received a $12M bonus. Nothing brought home quicker to me the fact that I had become more socialistic in my beliefs than my feeling at that moment that that seemed a bit over the top. That was nothing compared to my feeling the next day, yes the very next day, when that same CEO announced lay-offs of 3000. I was livid. I steadfastly from that moment on refused to go to Home Depot for anything. I was already sworn off Wal-Mart just for the fact that they include a clause in all of their contracts providing for 1-2 years of NO Competition in the county in which they build their store. Nothing to me could be more anti-American and yet people seem to not care; only looking at the short-term win, the cost and the convenience. It always seems to come back to convenience, doesn't it.<br /><br />I do not mean to go all tangential on you here, but it seems important to me that people are finally taking action again. 2 years ago when I began telling people of my refusal to do business with Home Depot or Wal-Mart, people just shrugged and let their apathy show. The G20, people camping outside of the AIG CEO's house, hundreds of victims turning up at Madoff's trial, the Royal Bank of Scotland's CEO being vilified. Good, I say. Less people are shrugging now, some actually show true interest in change and I am glad. This world belongs to all of us and if we do not stand up for it, who will?<br /><br />I will leave you with one more quote that I think is particularly opportune just now.<br /><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">"The greed that is driving people is tearing us apart,"</span> said Steve Lamont, 45, flanked by his family and protesters who were banging on bells, playing drums and blowing whistles.</em><br /><em></em><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Steve, I agree, so let's make sure we all think about this and watch out for it so that you can speak out against it as soon as you see it happen. My 13 year old son said last night at dinner that greed was natural to man in general. He's quite the philosopher. I disagreed vehemently but told him that it is up to us to remind those who forget to share that they are succumbing to the dark side (It's easier for my kids to understand if I throw in Star Wars metaphors). </span><br /><br />Remember, we all have a voice and if you do not believe yours is worth anything, go read Dr. Seuss's "Horton hears a Who" one more time. I think you'll get it in the end.<br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-82603272083134152362009-03-29T18:10:00.001-07:002009-03-29T18:33:46.411-07:00Coffee Huts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfctxiKcHHg0kzULLrd1KQGBBsHwX3z-4in3BO1KJ1KnlMJY9pBgm8otCGUZFWNz2_kZaeiJ7Q1nzeVEpm2V_DEs0kqaaRMVI8WQGI0Cc6Fk_kUFA15aO1n_K3J0hgoIcMMlcw649RqGgJ/s1600-h/cowgirls+espresso.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfctxiKcHHg0kzULLrd1KQGBBsHwX3z-4in3BO1KJ1KnlMJY9pBgm8otCGUZFWNz2_kZaeiJ7Q1nzeVEpm2V_DEs0kqaaRMVI8WQGI0Cc6Fk_kUFA15aO1n_K3J0hgoIcMMlcw649RqGgJ/s320/cowgirls+espresso.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318786297893083026" border="0" /></a>So I thought I would interrupt my second reading of "Twilight", yes I have been bitten by this particular bug as well; everyone does love a good love story, to illuminate everyone as to one particular "Americanism" of my day today.<br /><br />Something very American (I swear there are none of these in Europe), Pacific Northwesterny and perhaps even more specifically, very Washingtonian, are the Coffee huts. They are usually rooms no larger than 6ft x 10 ft (if they are lucky) and decorated in an assorted variety such as one being a Cowboy Hat, or a Cow, or even just a log cabinesque type box. From 5a.m. til 4p.m. ish mostly, you can drive thru by the huts and get coffees & teas in all their various forms, from expresso to macchiato to Chai, and usually snacks, because God forbid anyone should actually have to park their car, get out and move their bodies into an actual store area. This is America after all and <span style="font-style: italic;">convenience </span>is the main driver of life over here.<br /><br />In any case, driving across town to participate in Angus's friend, Preston's first communion this morning, and realizing we were still a bit early, we headed north 40-50 blocks and finally spied just such a hut. Dressed like a cow. Literally. See photo attached. Turning quickly left (over the double cross lines which everyone here still tries to tell me is illegal - don't they realize it's only illegal when the siren starts up immediately thereafter?) I pulled in and noticed quite large and rather striking words in front of me.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">SEXY</span> very large and in red rhinestones.<br /><br />My first clue this hut was perhaps a bit different than the usual. Guy in pick-up in front of me and big shock...guy in Trailblazer in front of him. Seeing that Angus was busy with his Nintendo DS and me truly relishing the thought of a double shot latte with a splash of peppermint on this fine Sunday at 9.30 a.m., I thought, "he'll never notice".<br /><br />Notice what, you may ask. Well, I was not really sure and it wasn't really bad. I am far from a prude so when I pulled up I was expecting Vegas tassles and a thong. What I got was a rather cute and clean looking co-ed type with a short bob dressed in a black boy's underwear short (yes with SEXY in rhinestones on her behind...) and a bra of some sort and rather small breasts barely covered by a short midrif top. Of course, true Cancer (mother to the world) that I am, I took one look after hearing her say hello and said, "Aren't you cold?". That's me, more concerned with her health than her nakedness. She said it was rather refreshing but she was having an allergy headache and we were off! We got so cozy after 5 minutes, she didn't even charge me for Angus's hot cocoa. I tipped her well. After all, we are in America. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4545515560176393768.post-37720930128511484622009-03-28T19:38:00.000-07:002009-03-28T21:12:10.770-07:00Bringing it all up to date.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY9cyPhny5rWhXgKV5-BqCfhgdYZsZjZMXf6z6n-L6iq1AHe3zwcYy-UuPHbOBXSq3SMkI2mugJsMQDlNMje_KwQTJgJHcMcGv2JI_hMGHCkTDufSWu2rZkZQvZm8izMSae6VV04hYh-U/s1600-h/DSCF3187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY9cyPhny5rWhXgKV5-BqCfhgdYZsZjZMXf6z6n-L6iq1AHe3zwcYy-UuPHbOBXSq3SMkI2mugJsMQDlNMje_KwQTJgJHcMcGv2JI_hMGHCkTDufSWu2rZkZQvZm8izMSae6VV04hYh-U/s200/DSCF3187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318439634763703298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJ2tIGVTbLVHg9vmRwH5G05jopKi_6SmPOC5sHOZPVoKNw2RQ9DyZJhK6-zfEo9jYzyQzuIioa-4rtGzeBVu_Dv_PK6WHfFeO_qrhZIMecS-fM0TzZViOFDLbhVvNfOe0HLdfFdZyo2Zu/s1600-h/DSCF3620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJ2tIGVTbLVHg9vmRwH5G05jopKi_6SmPOC5sHOZPVoKNw2RQ9DyZJhK6-zfEo9jYzyQzuIioa-4rtGzeBVu_Dv_PK6WHfFeO_qrhZIMecS-fM0TzZViOFDLbhVvNfOe0HLdfFdZyo2Zu/s200/DSCF3620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318439626247763234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mPwcRY_o5RoVLzx9tjxGk7olKuAMXHhz0tv0pL3VT2hbZ9hr2fEObsAxQP5YOkz8xhHda7zlY-noIy5GGd3d8Zk10SdWHY2OwqxgDEqSBEhMmjqMNyrppa9rAyWWaZfCyRNSUqm4cL8T/s1600-h/P1010330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mPwcRY_o5RoVLzx9tjxGk7olKuAMXHhz0tv0pL3VT2hbZ9hr2fEObsAxQP5YOkz8xhHda7zlY-noIy5GGd3d8Zk10SdWHY2OwqxgDEqSBEhMmjqMNyrppa9rAyWWaZfCyRNSUqm4cL8T/s200/P1010330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318439621801012162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66LWOMbfmJiLG7gvH_9lDcQUSX58m3UzvaqmWa4aJp3Os5IykJdEHi2kqaaz29RnuL_7xOzQBUMX6-nBHXV68Ac9oyCHStMG52MDZ1nRAP_ZE2KY085adh0ahS1Te6gN8_kXOLXkd_Wnr/s1600-h/DSCF3421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66LWOMbfmJiLG7gvH_9lDcQUSX58m3UzvaqmWa4aJp3Os5IykJdEHi2kqaaz29RnuL_7xOzQBUMX6-nBHXV68Ac9oyCHStMG52MDZ1nRAP_ZE2KY085adh0ahS1Te6gN8_kXOLXkd_Wnr/s200/DSCF3421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318439623048847618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x77WW_oOecBrbu13S623JjjRcvWZIHv1ddgiUPMdQ-5TZlv73fJI1QKLmflqCI0at1CfeVtQeCoQEPsERGWndN8LXzRMJr68OxA0c97ZNPPdOh82i3T5q2X4Am5VHZpHUeXJIB_I2IDC/s1600-h/P1010516.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x77WW_oOecBrbu13S623JjjRcvWZIHv1ddgiUPMdQ-5TZlv73fJI1QKLmflqCI0at1CfeVtQeCoQEPsERGWndN8LXzRMJr68OxA0c97ZNPPdOh82i3T5q2X4Am5VHZpHUeXJIB_I2IDC/s200/P1010516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318439616850682610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I decided it is about time I picked up my pen again, so to speak. So many changes are in the air, and before the choices get made, let's summarize.<br /><br />In September 2006, after 14 years in the Netherlands, my family and I, Jeroen, Liam & Angus decided to haul it over to the US to try our luck out as Americans, and see what the 'dream' was all about. We did not have a lot of expectations, but survival was definitely one of them. That was good, looking back, because we have survived rather well, but it's been a challenge we never truly thought would turn out the way it did.<br /><br />Living in Florida for 9 months and being bitten to smithereens, we decided to check out where I could get the best job. Turns out, that was Seattle, WA and in August 2007, that's where we went.<br /><br />During the first two years, I was able to show my dutch family so very much. Washington DC, Williamsburg, VA, Charleston, SC, Jekyll Island, GA, Key West, FL on the first trip in 2006. Driving from Hobe Sound, FL to Seattle, we passed through: Atlanta, GA, Chattanooga, TN, St. Louis, MO, Belleville, IL (yes, land of Wilco), Kansas City, KS, Rapid City, SD (Mt. Rushmore) and Paradise, MT. Within 2 years, my boys have been to admire over 20 states. Now, that's an experience of a lifetime, right?<br /><br />Anyway, working for probably one of the most conservative companies of the world, a once-upon-a-time family operated timber company has brought it's share of challenges with it, but also wonderful people and a new perspective on life.<br /><br />If there is any one place in America that may call itself European in it's thought processes, that would be Seattle. No judgments made here and gloriously enough absolutely NO prejudice, nor racism. Simply enjoying the beauty of the individual and the nature that abounds here. People still work hard, but not to the death. They enjoy life and enjoy who they are. Something very sweet about that.<br /><br />I've fallen for the people but more importantly, for the nature. The glorious forests are everywhere, flush with ferns, moss and wetness ensuring a proclivity of life for a long time after we will possibly all be long gone. We've been stocking up on the camping gear lately so that I can take my boys out onto the range, into the forests and show them the beauty I feel up close and personally. If only it will get a little warmer, yes I still have Florida blood but it will get better...<br /><br />I am hoping to start writing little bits of America that come up now and then from my point of view. I can certainly promise everyone that it will be honest, sincere and most probably to the point. I hope no one gets offended by anything I say but if so, get over it!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0