A Great Injustice

I've been thinking... I really haven't done enough to promote the children of my friends. You know... I'm talking about those friends who I beer-bonged with (not really Mom) and spent many hours discussing sex with (who KNEW it would come in so handy?)... friends who supported me through bad 80s perms and flourescent clothing. Friends who were there for me when Craig Hissong broke my heart and Garth joined a fraternity.

And now? (God help us) Now? They've procreated. (SEVERAL times... and I suspect 2 of them are not yet done.)

These babies need to be seen, admired, goo-gooed over, and just generally appreciated for their genetic superiority. :)

So, it's time for a little baby PR on this blog.

Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the awesomeness that is Rowan Drews!! (woooohhh... awwwww... wooooohhhh)

http://blog.gregdrews.com/

A lack of the good stuff

You know, this blog used to give me so much pleasure. I just loved looking around, seeing what was new and fresh in my environment and then tearing it apart bit by bit on this blog.

But as you all know, I've become a MAJOR blog slacker. Why is that exactly? Well, I do believe I have the answer.

I'm jaded.

Yup, that's it. The shine is off Holland. I know it here... its good parts (beer, cheese, rain that keeps the grass green)... its bad parts (beer hangovers, cheese that goes to my thighs, rain that keeps the grass green) and so all the new, shiny, interesting tidbits that I so lovingly related to you all a few (a lot) of months back, just don't give me the same zing.

So, I thought I'd follow a different route -- a route inspired by my friend B and her babies. They sent M and I an adorable, homemade wedding card. At the top of this card, plastered in huge, you-can't-miss-'em letters was the word "Gefeliciteerd." That means "congratulations" in Dutch. And you know what? I totally missed it. I'm so integrated into the Dutch speaking world that I missed for... oh... like... 2 months that my friend congratulated us in a different language. It wasn't until we pasted all the cards into our wedding album that I said to M "Hey... er.. hey! She wrote this in Dutch!"

Anyhoo... I thought I'd give you a list ('cause I ADORE lists) of the things I now take for granted, but might possibly still hold interest for you. Ready?

1) There are different types of rain that I'm willing to bike in. Now, if it's really pouring and going sort of sideways, forget it. I will not under any circumstances don a rainsuit and go out in that. I will either a) stay home b) whine to M that I need a ride or c) suck it up and take the bus.

Case in point -- This morning I had an appointment at 9am and, sure enough, when I peeked outside to guage the weather, the sky was gray and the cars looked suspiciously moist. I looked at Martijn, mouth set in a grim line, and mumbled "It's raining. sigh." "Well, how hard is it raining?" he asked. "Um, not too much, I think," I replied with a resigned air.

And do you know what I thought when I mounted my steel horse and rode off into the morning mist? Well, I thought just that -- ohhhhhh, it's only a heavy mist. This isn't bad at all. Nope, I'll just be a little wet when I get to my appointment. Noooo problem.

Almost two years ago I would've thought this: "Ack! Bleck! Ack! (expletive expletive!) Why must I bike in the RAIN!!??"

2) I take it for granted that every night after dinner, the dishes need to be done. Not rinsed off and put in the dishwasher but DONE. Rinsed, washed, dried, put back. Call me spoiled, but as an American, I got very used to having that nice handy machine in my kitchen that did this (damn) work for me.

3) Ditto for the washing machine. Right at this moment, my undies are flapping in an early September wind outside my window.

4) Coffee ordered in a restaurant comes with a cookie or a piece of chocolate. Always.

5) As a friend of mine said today "If the weatherman forecasts sun, Dutch people will get to the outside cafes early and just sit there waiting for it to appear." Because, by god, there's no better way to enjoy the sun than by getting drunk in it.

6) Black beans and sweet potatoes are more precious to me than gold. Do you KNOW how hard it is to find those things here?

7) At some point, about once every month, a black guy from one of the Dutch Antilles (Curacao, Aruba, Bonaire, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, or Saba) will notice my rather large butt and give me an appreciative smile and a "Haaaaaalllllloooooooo!"

See what cheese and donuts will do for you?

8) Queen's Day will come and with it the queens... I'll write sarcastic poems for Sinterklaas... There will be fireworks for New Year's... and there are usually two sets of lambs born every spring/early summer. (And I will look at Martijn and say "Awwww... look at the lambs!! Sooo cute... and soooo delicious!"

New Photos Posted!

Check out our photos for the wedding party we had here in Holland.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13308373@N00/sets/72157601802964177/

Because I am tapped of all creative energy...

... I'm going to simply post the weird creative efforts of others.

http://www.freakingnews.com/Partial-Face-Transplants-Pictures---1233.asp