I don't really have all that much to say but I've been told my posts are too sporadic and that I need to "get it together" so here we are. I've also been told that I need to come home and if I could leave Monday, I really would! Stamford needs me and I need Stamford!
Earlier as I walked to the supermarket nearby, 50 euros in various denominations fell out of my pocket. I realized I didn't have the cash when I got to Albert Heijn, but figured I'd left it at home somewhere. When I got back, I couldn't find it at all and thought I was losing my mind! A few hours later, on my way to get my bike from the shop, I find both 20s, and both 5s scattered about all down our street and the park across from us! I was shocked when I discovered the first 20 and couldn't believe my luck in finding all the rest. I hope this is a sign of future good fortune.
ALOE BLACC= my current musical OBSESSION. I've been listening to the album for the past few weeks and I love it wholeheartedly. Peep the song & video for "I Need a Dollar" and a bit of "So Hard":
In other news, I picked up our visas for Kenyeezy yesterday and soon we'll get shots. Mosquitoes have always found me irresistible but hopefully I'll be malaria and yellow fever free upon our return. It'll be grand to get away for a while and see a new part of this great big world. I can't believe we'll be there in less than a month!!! It'll be September when we're back and by then Lizzy will be back too, woo hoo!
Kettia arrived this morning! We had breakfast and lunch and she is now taking a nap. Perhaps later we'll have dinner in one of the many neighborhood parks on one of the canals and relax. Tomorrow we'll spend the day in the city center and exploring good old Rotterdam as a warm-up to Amsterdam this weekend! Maybe I'll finally get around to doing some touristy things like seeing Anne Frank house. But chances are we'll probably just meander about, making new friends, memories, and having strange encounters.
These next few weeks will be really good for my spirit. My recent high level of homesickness has left me feeling bamboozled because being here makes me happy and I'm getting to experience and see things that I've always wanted to. But being able to see friendly familiar faces and people I genuinely care for and love will be a welcome gift. Not to mention being able to get away with my Micky Mozzarella, seeing wild animals in their natural habitats and exploring a different culture. LIFE DOES NOT SUCK.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
i naenda Kenya!
I can't complain about life right now. I'm happy and healthy (if you disregard the alcohol we drink on the weekends, which is actually lessening so that's better for me). Mic is great and we're getting more and more settled in our life together. He still drives me crazy sometimes but I wouldn't have it any other way. The weather has been amazing which really does wonders for my mood and we just concluded the climactic 3rd season of The Wire which was great. The only thing that would make life even better is if we were living elsewhere. I'm feeling a bit stagnant and could do without some Dutch rules and regulations.
I miss my family and friends very much and wish I could add their names to my list of visitors this month. My dad and sister Sabine, are currently in Haiti visiting family members and I wish I could've gone. It'd be great if I could make it there within the next year but unfortunately, it's a lot easier said than done. Hopefully I'll be able to see my hometown loves around September/October but I also need to make my way back home sooner than later. I am dying to have shrimp and broccoli with white rice from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Stamford and happy hour at Kona. While we're on the subject of things I want, I've been dying to go to a wedding (I love reasons to get all dressed up and open bars). Lots of couples in Holland never marry so my chances are slim here, meaning you broads at home need to step your game up!! D, I'm tryna be a maid of honor so get it together!
Instead of spending my time doing productive things like working on my book, I spend it reading gossip blogs, researching more places to visit, reading news articles and browsing funny videos. This one has been cracking me up.. Enjoy!
Instead of spending my time doing productive things like working on my book, I spend it reading gossip blogs, researching more places to visit, reading news articles and browsing funny videos. This one has been cracking me up.. Enjoy!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
dropped you like a bar of soap, whooooops!
I couldn't think of a post title so I went with the last thing I heard that made me laugh. Martin will forever be one of my favorite shows.
Anyway, things on my end are going pretty well. I'm still very happy with my life here while simultaneously missing my family and friends back in the 203. I really need you all to get your money game right and book tickets out here ASAP before I have to come home and knock heads!
I've become more domesticated than I ever imagined. I'm cooking, cleaning and the other day I even trimmed the massive bush outside our front window. The latter wasn't my idea; apparently our bush was "impeding the path of crippled people trying to walk by". Granted it was a huge bush but hand to God, there was still a mile of sidewalk. We had a neighbor tell us that other neighbors complained to him, a letter was sent and eventually people from the town hall showed up. I kid you not. I initially wanted to keep it as big as possible out of spite but I'll probably plant some beautiful flowers next week. I've gone completely soft.
Mic and I are also obsessed with The Wire. We watch it everyday after work and stay up later than is wise because it's more entertaining than Lindsay Lohan acting for her LIFE during her hearing, and that's hard to beat. It was our anniversary and his birthday this past weekend which was fun and sexy. We kept it relatively quiet, celebrating alone which we both enjoyed.
What else is there to discuss.. um, the World Cup is full of surprises. Everyone is expecting me to support Holland but I'm not into bandwagoning.. I haven't supported their team from the beginning and I won't start now. None of my favorites are in the final so I really don't care who wins but I just can't bring myself to cheer Holland.. I think Spain has worked harder for their victories and has impressed me with their skills and playing style in previous games. & on a more personal note, those rat bastards knocked out my beloved Brazil so fuck em.
I recently read an article about the US Justice Department suing Arizona over their immigration law and a few weeks ago, one on the backlash in Fremont, Nebraska over the passing of their controversial immigration law prohibiting employers from hiring illegal immigrants and stopping landlords from renting to them. Um, perhaps I'm missing something here but how are these laws unfair?! I can see how people can spin the Arizona law as racist and discriminatory but if you're legally in this country, what is the real harm? We carry ID everyday so we're able to identify ourselves when needed. We have to show ID to get into clubs, buy cigarettes and alcohol, we have to present a valid driver's license when pulled over and we're even issued school IDs. There are a lot of things we can't partake in without identifying ourselves, and essentially being citizens/legal so why should illegals be allowed to partake in American freedoms? Why should they be allowed to work tax free or rent property if illegal immigration is against the law? Extending these privileges makes absolutely no sense to me.
To be clear, I'm not against immigration. My parents are immigrants and I was not born a US citizen. My parents had to endure the process of naturalizing our family and the same can be said for many immigrants. What I am against is people not going through the proper channels. I know it will raise the argument of how "tough" it is to become a citizen but the rules should be the same for everyone; no special advantages because of proximities to the US border, purposely overstaying a visa, etc.
But back to me. The book is coming along very slowly on account of me coming up with another idea which I'm also slowly but surely working on. Mic is away this weekend so I've been trying to use the extra time to get some writing done but we bought some new wine and shot glasses I wanted to test out and well.. I'm more drunk right now than productive. Writing this entry has just brought back so many college memories because I wrote countless papers while getting my drink on in preparation for Nickel Night at Huskies. Good times man.. good times. Until next time, lovebugs and solve this if you like:
Anyway, things on my end are going pretty well. I'm still very happy with my life here while simultaneously missing my family and friends back in the 203. I really need you all to get your money game right and book tickets out here ASAP before I have to come home and knock heads!
I've become more domesticated than I ever imagined. I'm cooking, cleaning and the other day I even trimmed the massive bush outside our front window. The latter wasn't my idea; apparently our bush was "impeding the path of crippled people trying to walk by". Granted it was a huge bush but hand to God, there was still a mile of sidewalk. We had a neighbor tell us that other neighbors complained to him, a letter was sent and eventually people from the town hall showed up. I kid you not. I initially wanted to keep it as big as possible out of spite but I'll probably plant some beautiful flowers next week. I've gone completely soft.
Mic and I are also obsessed with The Wire. We watch it everyday after work and stay up later than is wise because it's more entertaining than Lindsay Lohan acting for her LIFE during her hearing, and that's hard to beat. It was our anniversary and his birthday this past weekend which was fun and sexy. We kept it relatively quiet, celebrating alone which we both enjoyed.
What else is there to discuss.. um, the World Cup is full of surprises. Everyone is expecting me to support Holland but I'm not into bandwagoning.. I haven't supported their team from the beginning and I won't start now. None of my favorites are in the final so I really don't care who wins but I just can't bring myself to cheer Holland.. I think Spain has worked harder for their victories and has impressed me with their skills and playing style in previous games. & on a more personal note, those rat bastards knocked out my beloved Brazil so fuck em.
I recently read an article about the US Justice Department suing Arizona over their immigration law and a few weeks ago, one on the backlash in Fremont, Nebraska over the passing of their controversial immigration law prohibiting employers from hiring illegal immigrants and stopping landlords from renting to them. Um, perhaps I'm missing something here but how are these laws unfair?! I can see how people can spin the Arizona law as racist and discriminatory but if you're legally in this country, what is the real harm? We carry ID everyday so we're able to identify ourselves when needed. We have to show ID to get into clubs, buy cigarettes and alcohol, we have to present a valid driver's license when pulled over and we're even issued school IDs. There are a lot of things we can't partake in without identifying ourselves, and essentially being citizens/legal so why should illegals be allowed to partake in American freedoms? Why should they be allowed to work tax free or rent property if illegal immigration is against the law? Extending these privileges makes absolutely no sense to me.
To be clear, I'm not against immigration. My parents are immigrants and I was not born a US citizen. My parents had to endure the process of naturalizing our family and the same can be said for many immigrants. What I am against is people not going through the proper channels. I know it will raise the argument of how "tough" it is to become a citizen but the rules should be the same for everyone; no special advantages because of proximities to the US border, purposely overstaying a visa, etc.
But back to me. The book is coming along very slowly on account of me coming up with another idea which I'm also slowly but surely working on. Mic is away this weekend so I've been trying to use the extra time to get some writing done but we bought some new wine and shot glasses I wanted to test out and well.. I'm more drunk right now than productive. Writing this entry has just brought back so many college memories because I wrote countless papers while getting my drink on in preparation for Nickel Night at Huskies. Good times man.. good times. Until next time, lovebugs and solve this if you like: