"Hey! There's Liddy!"

I am a slacker. I know.
But in my defense for not posting much this past week, I have been worn out. I feel like I have done, done, done and gone, gone, gone this whole week. Maybe that is because we had a sick kid here in the house Monday and Tuesday, and then the other two were out of school today...

Anywho! Did I mention I started my Dutch classes? Yep... On Monday. I have class twice a week. Monday and Wednesday. And I can already tell you that I am the slowest (Dutch) learner in the class. For example, I am take Beginner's Dutch. So on Monday, the first class, I show up not knowing a word of Dutch. By the end of class, I realize that I am practically the only on who doesn't know how to count in Dutch already... Ummm... okay?! Maybe it is because everyone has lived here longer that I have and have, in turn, been able to pick up more of the language. But no matter what reason, I am still going to have to work that much harder. So my "slowness" paired with my strong Southern drawl just means I am going to have to study approximately 6-8 hours a week outside of class while everyone else is only doing 3-4. Yippee!*
*Sense the sarcasm.

You know, maybe I should focus less on Halloween and more on my Dutch... I mean, if I spent as much time practicing my Dutch as I have planning my costume or planning the kids' Halloween party, I'd be practically conversational by now! ...But then again, where is the fun in that?!

So yeah, I have pretty much been consumed with Halloween for the past few days. For some reason, I volunteered to head a festive celebration for the kids on Saturday. And that was yesterday that I volunteered. ...And tomorrow is Halloween. Short notice, much?! Either way, plans are coming together. As you may already know, we have been working on a pumpkin pinata... And though it is rather homely and crooked looking to say the least, it is coming together. If you squint--and look past the big dent in the side--it actually looks pretty good! But really, it is not like it makes much of a difference. The kids really only love the idea of busting it open to be showered with candy... But

Also on the agenda for tomorrow is a frightful lunch. The menu consists of:
-Worm Sandwiches (AKA long, skinny slices of ham in a pita)
-Witch's Fingers (AKA String Cheese carved up a bit with Bell Pepper "fingernail" bits on the ends)
-Goblin Eyes (AKA Boiled Eggs with filling topped with an olive)
-Witch's Warts (AKA peas)
-Ghost pops (AKA a white chocolate-covered banana half on a popsicle stick with raisins as eyes and mouths)
-And Witch's Brew Punch (AKA juice in a punch bowl with floating ice "hands" and ice cubes with gummy worms in them)
So we will surely feat liek ghouls!

And after the frighteningly delicious lunch, we'll play some games. The lineup thus far includes:
-Mummy Wrap
-Pin the nose on the Witch
-Bobbing for Apples
-Monster Dash
And then of course, the grand finale. ...Also known as the pinata! Please Esther and Stefan, do not kill me for all the sweeties the kids will end up with. That is pretty much my prayer right now. But nevertheless, as soon as the last Kit Kat falls, I am out of there. Done. Finito*. The sugar-induced frenzy that is sure to follow is not going to be my scene!
*Is that even a word?

But of course, I will blog to let you know about how it all goes. To be honest, I am actually excited about our little celebration tomorrow. I've been noticing that kids really do get the most joy out of the simplest things... Even if it is just the "There was an old woman of skin and bones" song that you teach them. But beware; The tune of this song will come back to haunt you!*. The kids will use it every chance they get to say anything and everything they want to convey.
*Pun intended! Heh

In other news...

I am in love with Stefan's Godfather?! ...Ahahah.... Stefan is the Dad. Tonight at dinner, we (adults) cracked open a bottle of wine, and he actually heard me say more that 5 sentences for the first time since I have been here. We talked about everything... From drinking games, to travels, to past employers--shout out to TSEP!--we covered it all. And somehow, we ended up talking about his Godfather who runs a chain of hospitals in Cambodia. This guy was pretty much one of the wealthiest doctors in Zurich--and who isn't wealthy in Zurich anyways?!--but he gave up his posh pediatric practice in Switzerland to build a better (non-profit) health system in Cambodia. (And anyone who is truly on BFF status with me knows that I really, really want to volunteer in Cambodia. It is one of the biggest things on my to-do list in the next 5 years.) So I was basically fascinated from the beginning. But the more I listened, the more I learned... And I was just so inspired by this one man! Yeah... Just thought I'd share...

And on a lighter note, something really funny happened on the way to piano. Well, maybe it wasn't really funny, but it was at least funny in a "late-night interstate conversations"* sort of way. (If you have no idea what that means, don't worry about it. It basically means that it was funny in a delirious kind of way.) Sara, Ian, and I were driving to piano so it was about 6 p.m.. At that time here during this season, it is pretty dark outside. It seems like 8 or so at night. So with all the darkness, it is pretty hard to really see well. And as we were driving, we started nearing a biker coming the opposite direction, and Ian yells, "Hey! That's Liddy!". (Liddy--she-- is the kids Dutch tutor.) And a few seconds later, we pass the biker, only to realize that it is actually a man! And we all die laughing! Just the fact that Ian confused Liddy with a man was hilarious--cause Liddy does have a "less-feminine" hairstyle. Like I said earlier, the simpliest things can bring the most joy! Boy, did we laugh--and then sing about it in the "There was an old lady of skin and bones" tune!
*You know what that means, Sarah and Faith!

Yeah...

But in case I don't get to tell you guys tomorrow, Happy Halloween!

I Won't Be...

Your Winter
Performed by Sister Hazel

The grey ceiling on the earth
Well it's lasted for a while
Take my thoughts for what they're worth
I've been acting like a child
In your opinion, and what is that?
It's just a different point of view

What else can I do?
I said I'm sorry, yeah I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry, but what for?
If I hurt you then I hate myself
Don't want to hate myself, don't want to hurt you
Why do you choose your pain?
If you only knew how much I love you, love you

I won't be your winter
I won't be anyone's excuse to cry
We can be forgivven
I will be here

The old picture on the shelf
Well it's been there for a while
A frozen image of ourselves
We were acting like a child
Innocent and in a trance
A dance that lasted for a while

You read my eyes just like your diary
Oh remember, please remember
Well, I'm not a beggar, but what's more
If I hurt you then I hate myself
And I don't wanna hate myself, don't wanna hurt you
Why do you choose that pain
If you only knew how much I love you

I won't be your winter
I won't be anyone's excuse to cry
We can be forgiven
I will be here

Pardon Me...

...But I am too tired to blog.
I'm a slacker, I know.

But I will post this lovely picture of me in my new Captain's hat (that I bought this past week--and no, it has nothing to do with my Halloween costume whatsoever.)


Your welcome, readers.

One

It's officially been a year...
...since that first date...
...when I had the best meal of my life--not to mention the amazing company...
...and you wore those silly white tennis shoes...
...and then later tried to pull some "tender" moves on me...

It's officially been a year...
...since you started changing my life.
:)

It's been a year...
...of good times...
...tough times...
...maturing...
...fights here and there...
...making back up...
..."happies"...
...sacrifices--though some times not enough...
...learning to not be so selfish...
...mustaches...
...trying my hand at cooking...
...not being so hot at keeping a clean house...
...compromise...

It's been a year...
...of love.

And to be quite honest, I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world--not even on the worst days.

I'm sorry...
...for the times I've taken you for granted...
...for letting my selfish pride get the better of me...
...for schoolin' you at putt-putt golf (ha!)...
...for some of the stupid decisions I've made...
...for not being there now...
...for not always showing you just how much I care...

But just know...
...that I love you...
...that you and David are a lot alike--and that's hot (ha!)...
...that I think you are the sexiest...
...that I respect you...
...that you still make those butterflies dance in my stomach...
...that I miss you...
...that I think you are awesome at all you do (minus the putt-putt golf--ha!)...
...that I want to be so much better for you...

Did I mention that I love you?

I have been truly blessed to have gotten to have you in my life this past year. You are one of my best friends. :) And like I've said before, God must have known what he was doing...
I can't wait to see what is to come...

Happy One.

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana?!

Hooray! Thursday is over! ...And I am alive!!!

From the time we got up, around 8 this morning, to the time Esther got home, about a half hour ago (21:30*), we have been going, going, and going...
*21:30 = 9:30 pm. They use "military time" here.

Three kids out of school + 1 additional friend over for the day = a whole lot of activity around the house. But luckily, I was able to keep all the ruckus to a dull roar--well, for at least most of the day.

And while we didn't get to carve pumpkins (because I didn't have a free moment to go hunt for them), we improvised and made do with what we had: Oranges! Or mandarins* to be exact. Though the smallness of our "jack'o'lanterns" was a bit tricky to work with, we still managed to come out with some coherent rather creative faces! ...And it tricked persuaded the kids into eating fruit for desert!
*Mandarin - noun; pronounced Man-da-rine by Ian.

Tomorrow we go swimming! Now if I can manage to survive that, I will be ready for the weekend!! Woo hoo!

Prayer For Thursday

Dear Lord,

Help me (and the kids) make it through tomorrow.
It is going to be a long day--over 12 hours. (But you already know that.)

Please help me to be patient... Understanding... Confident... Positive... And on their level.
Help me face everything that tomorrow brings, whether it be good or bad.

And take it easy on me, will ya?! Heh, just kidding... I know you wouldn't throw anything at me that I couldn't handle.

Amen.

Put A Smile On Your Face

As you know, this week the kids are out of school. That just means that I work twice as much and have to come up with ways to keep the kids occupied. Basically, my goal is to 1) Keep them from killing each other, 2) Keep them from burning the house down, and 3) Avoid any trips to the ER--all while trying to stay sane. Trust me, it sounds (and reads) easier than it actually is...

So in an attempt to keep the kids occupied, we did two special things today.

First, we started on our Halloween Pumpkin Pinata. While it may be a bit crazy to have initiated a project involving bowls upon bowls of sticky paste (in which the kids practically swim in), I think the end result will be worth it. (And luckilyhopefully for me, the paste will come out of sweatpants.) The main key (of my plan) is to let them bust the pinata during Halloween weekend... As in, when I am "off the clock" and the parents are in charge of coralling their hypo-hypo activity after they've stuffed there face with the sweeties*.
*Sweeties = what Rahel, Sara, and Ian call candy.

Secondly, we made Apple Smilies after dinner. (In case you don't know, an Apple Smilie is two slices of red apples with peanut butter spread on one side of each. Then there are a handful of marshmallows sandwiched between the apples, glued into place by the peanut butter, thus creating a big "smile".) The Apple Smilies were a good idea for several reasons: 1) It gave the kids incentive to finish their dinner, especially the veggies. 2) It incorporated fruit. 3) There is no chocolate involved, which means no hyper-active kids to put to bed afterwards. And 4) They are just fun and yummy! Apple Smilies were one of my favorite things to make as a kid, and fortunately, they seem to be universal. Rahel, Sara, and Ian loved them just as much as I do!

So all in all, today was a success...

Now what to do tomorrow? Carving pumpkins maybe?

I Love The '80s

So as we were all sitting around this morning doing different things--some of us crafting, some of us reading, and some of us dubiously hauling the ladder from the garage to the upstairs landing to check out the attic while they thought no one was looking....Sara--the radio was playing annoyingly softly in the background. And as you could probably guess if you have read my other blogs, it was a selection of '80s and '90s music.

For the longest time, I just set there helping Ian with his "Halloween snake" and tried to block out the terrible selection of music booming from the speakers. ...That is, until I heard the familiar, heavenly voice of Tina Turner. Granted I did not recognize the song, but I knew it was her because no one else says "Everybody sway with me tonight!" quite like Tina does...

So I am sitting there listening to this crazy song, and about a verse in, I realize it is a duet. It's with a guy... But who is it? It sounds so familiar, but I can not ,for the life of me, figure out who Tina is singing with...

So with it bugging the crap out of me and having no other option, I listen all the way through the song until the DJ comes on. And when he does, in all his Dutch-speaking glory, I am able to at least make out the other artist of the song...

Oh! That's who that was! I knew I knew that voice!
...It "remind[ed] me of the babe! What babe? Babe with the power. What Power? The Power of Voodoo. Who do? You do!"
[Start jamming here.]

For all you losers readers out there not familiar with the movie Labyrinth and who have yet to catch on to my rambling, the other singer was David Bowie...

Who knew David and Tina had a song together?! How freakin' random!

But in case you have nothing better to do--or listen to--go ahead and check it out here.

P.S. (In the video above,) Watching David Bowie and Tina Turner dance while the camera man simultaneously gets a close-up pelvic shot of a thrusting sax player is about as charming as the actual song itself...

A Taste of Home

So tonight, I finally had a "home-cooked" meal. Since the kids are out of school all week--lucky me--I had ten a few extra hours to decide what to make for dinner (and then prepare it). So I went with a personal favorite: yard bird*. (For all you non-country-hicks out there, that means chicken.) And adding my bit of "healthiness" into the meal, I decided to just add some veggies and make campfire chicken!
*A Shawn T. Vineyardo phrase

Yummmmm....

I have to admit, I was kind of scared when I started to season the chicken and it smelled nothing like the seasoning at home. But after putting the corn, carrots, potatoes, chicken, and spices into the foil and letting it cook for and hour, it turned out great. Believe me, it was soooo good. Best meal I have had here yet. And I actually left the dinner table feeling full. That is a first (here)!!

So thank goodness that Mary Harrison once tried to rip off a Cracker Barrel recipe! Because it has provided me such a delicious taste of home!

Gotta Love The Dutch!

So this weekend I stayed home here in Assen thinking I would get some peace and quiet from the comfort of my own room and catch up on some R&R. Unfortunately, I didn't realize there would be a concert blaring outside my window right at this very moment...

While the booming bass is pretty annoying, the music itself is... well, random. And thus entertaining. Let me just share a few of the songs I have heard thus far:

~Proud Mary (more of the Tina Turner version)
~The Yodeling Song from The Sound of Music
~I Want You To Want Me
~Lola--you know that one that goes "La-la-la-la-Lola"/Born to be Wild/I Love Rock'N'Roll medley
~Some Cranberries song that I can't think of the name...
~"And I would walk 500 miles, then I would walk 500 more"...

Yeah, I am going to have to let you hanging from there... I can't take much more of it, so I am going to pop in a movie.

Peace.

P.S.*

*Taken from my niece Maddie; it is her favorite Skype IM word.

Did anyone else notice I now have 7--count them: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7-- followers?! Hello!! That is more followers than fingers I have on one hand! Hold the applause, please.

Oh, and is it weird that I now think in "blog". Like walking down the street or driving, I just start planning out how my next blog will read (even though I more times than none forget it 5 minutes later). And I have also started using the phrase "I wanna blog about that!" in daily life.

Should we be worried??

Good, Better, Best

So, the good news: I have lost 2.5 kgs since I have been here.

The better news: 2.5 kgs is actually 5 and 1/2 pounds--and that just sounds so much better.

The best news (depending on how I look at it) : I haven't even started biking yet. Next week begins the much loathed anticipated Thursday biking days. Basically I get to drop the kids off, leave the car at school (so Esther can get it that afternoon), and then bike to the Center Station to catch a train home... Granted it may not be the worst terrain or longest distance, but it is still going to kick my a.. whip me into shape!

Romance Is In The Air

Yesterday morning, as the train was taking me away to Zwolle, I couldn't help but to look out the window and think: trains are so romantic. Who wants to see their lover off from an airport or a bus station when you could do it from the platform of a train station!

Dig if you will a picture:*
*Provided by Prince

Standing on the platform, their is time for one more kiss goodbye, then you must go. You board the train, [his] gaze never leaving you the whole time, and you take your seat. Looking out of your window, you see your love standing there on the platform, waving goodbye. [He] is more than reluctant to let you go, but [he] knows you have other places to be/see, so [he] does it for your sake. [He] waves goodbye with a smile on his face because he knows that is what you need. As your train pulls away, your beloved fades in to the backdrop of the station you're leaving, until finally you can see [him] no more. But it's okay. Because whether you can see [him] or not, the love is still there...

Cliche, Hollywood movies much?! Who cares! Deep down I am a romantic.

Who knows, maybe by the time I leave Assen, I'll have a beau to see me off romantically from the station...

...But I don't really want that. I just want to come home to [you].

And Heaven and Nature Sing

So before reading any of this post, just know that the new family van I am driving does not have good radio reception. It has gadgets and buttons for ever other accessory you could ever want, but it lacks a properly functioning radio. And it was driving me insane...

So this morning, after dropping the kids off from school, I hit the freeway, and something just wasn't right. It was too quite. So, having no radio, I decided to just start singing myself... (I am the biggest goober ever, I know.)

First, it started with show tunes. Typical Catherine. And then after I ran through all the lyrics of Rent that I could remember, I switched to love songs. To Make You Feel My Love (as done by Adele) is my latest crave. But after that, I drew a blank... I didn't know what to sing. Why Elton John or Beyonce didn't immediately come to mind, I don't know. But not being able to think of anything else, I started singing Sidonia Baptist Church hymns. From I'll Fly Away, to Amazing Grace, to that Whosoever Surely Meaneth Me song, and on to Victory in Jesus, I covered them all--or at least what I could remember of them anyways. Goh, I am so Tom Harrison's daughter and Mama Deanie's grandchild! Haha...

(Oh, and when you imagining all this in your mind, please do me a favor and imagine that my singing is not as tone deaf and off-key as it is in real life!!)

So yeah, the ride from Groningen to Assen pretty much turned into a Revival on Wheels*. And when I ran out of hymns and worship songs, I moved on to Christmas ones. And just as Joy to the World was wrapping up, I pulled into the driveway.
*If Tom Harrison ever reads this, he will try to use this saying.

So aren't you glad you weren't stuck in the car with me today?!

I'll Do Anything...

To Make You Feel My Love
Performed by Adele
Written by Bob Dylan

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I k now you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
Though winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love

To make you feel my love

Michelle Pfeiffer + Coolio

= my song of the moment:
(And yes, after looking back Over this, I do realize the movie that I was thinking of is Dangerous Minds, and not Suspicious minds, but oh well... I didn't have a good title anyways.

Suspicious Minds
By Elvis Presley

We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Why can't you see
What you're doing to me
When you can't believe a word I say

We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds

So, if an old friend I know
Stops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?

Here we go again
Asking where I've been
You can't see the tears are real
I'm crying

We can't go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams
On suspicious minds

Oh let our love survive
Or dry the tears from your eyes
Let's don't let a good thing die

When honey, you know
I've never lied to you
Mmm yeah, yeah

We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Why can't you see
What your doing to me
When you don't believe a word I say?

We're caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Don't you know I'm caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Don't you know I'm caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Don't you know I'm caught in a trap
I can't walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Hello, My Name Is Catherine...

...and I suck at Dutch parking garages.

Does anyone else have that problem?!

(In case you don't know about my previous parking garage skirmish, check it out here.)
But the parking saga continues...

Today, I had to take Rahel to the orthodontist in Groningen. Her orthodontist is actually located in the largest hospital in the city, and the majority of the parking is underneath the actual hospital. As you can imagine with it being the biggest Groningen hospital, it was super busy.

Well here I am in the new family bus van, inching my way into one of the two lines flowing into the parking garage. Suprisingly, I was weaseling in with ease. I should have known there was more to come. Inching my way down the ramp, I make it to the blockade of the ticket machine with about ten cars behind me. This is sounding good, right? And thinking I know exactly what I am doing, I press the round button. No ticket. I look up. The bar is still down and I can't get in. So I push the button again. Still no ticket. Then I realize that there are other slots on the ticket machine, and one is a credit card reader. But I have no card! And in looking more, there are no slots for euro coins or euro bills. Shit! Are you kidding me?! So starting to panic, I ask Rahel to please go talk to the man in the booth and ask him what to do... Being the ever-so-sociable typical 11 year old she is, she declined. So not knowing what else to do, I roll down the window, and flag the attendant over...

First thing out of my mouth: "Do you speak English??" Not really knowing whether he mumbled yes, no, or go to heck*, I immediately started spewing what I thought was going on. During all my frantic mumble, he just slowly walked over to the ticket machine, pressed the button, and Voila! There was a ticket!

What the...?!

Why couldn't the machine just have done that the 5 minutes before--you know, that time when those seven other cars breezed right on through the line beside me-- when I pushed the button?!

...Hopefully, that's the end of my garage woes, and I can park without problems from now on!


*A Shawn T. Vineyardo phrase

Have It Your Way

So Saturday night, after having quite the previous Friday night, Isis and I met up with Carlos, the only other American I know in the Netherlands, and had a chill night.

After finally getting out of bed at about 6 p.m., we were starving. And I needed hang-over food. So we headed to the greasiest place I knew of (in Groningen) : Burger King!

I had yet to try this Burger King but had passed it numerous time in the Central Station. So I really had no idea what to expect, but was ready for disappointment. However, the #1 I ordered actually tasted familiar--minus that flat tasting Sprite with no ice in the cup. But still! I was so happy to finally find a taste reminiscent of home--no matter how cheap, unhealthy, unappetizing, "fast" the food may actually be!

While dining there, the music video for Party In the USA came on. ...And at that moment, sitting in a Burger King, mouth full of Whopper, listening to Miley Cyrus, I felt like an American once again--Though I can't say it was actually a good feeling listening to Miley Cyrus.... And at that moment I thought, "No wonder Europeans have such crazy views of people from the States!"


...The moral of the story: "Yay!" for a Burger King that actually taste like a Burger King I know and love! And "Boo!" for Miley Cyrus.

¡No Mas Tequila, Por Favor!

Disclaimer: If for some unearthly reason you think I am a complete angel, stop reading here.
...Cause I'm no angel.

So, because I actually survived Hell Week, it was time to celebrate.

So Friday night, I hopped on a train to Groningen. (It was actually my second time doing this, but you readers wouldn't know that, because I never quite got around to finishing the post "Making Friends!"; it's still in the draft pile.) But at about 9:30, I caught the train to Groningen and then caught the connection to the Groningon Noord --or for all you English speakers out there, that's North. Anywho, I was running late. Imagine that. And everyone was waiting at Niek and Madina's house. (Niek and Madina are a couch surfing couple that I met the week before at the monthly Groningen couch surfing meeting.) There was a group of about 5 or 6 others who had pretty much been sipping on beer, waiting for me to get there so they could bring out the real stuff. ...Oh, it's only been a couple of weeks, yet they know me so well!!

Tequila!!

(Tequila, because my new friend Isis (from Mexico) and I realized last weekend that we both share the love for a grain of salt, slice of lime, and shot of Tequila!!)

So shot time it was... And by the time I finally arrived, everyone was ready for just that. So the others and I managed to get the party started and finish off a bottle of Sauza Gold--which by the way was so good.... It was probably--next to Pitron--the smoothest Tequila I have ever had! So do yourself a favor and go buy a bottle today!

So 5 or 6 shots later, the bottle was dry.

Good thing Madina is Russian! ...Because that meant good Vodka!

So then started the Astronaut shots. Don't know what that is? Don't worry, neither did I. But it is apparently how they drink it in Mexico, I think, because Isis schooled us on this, too.

What you do is take a slice lime and cover one half of it in sugar, and then the other side (or half) and cover it in coffee grounds. Sounds gross, I know. But bare with me. Before you take the shot of Vodka, bite into the lime (with the coffee and sugar), hold that juice in your mouth, and then shoot the vodka with it. It actually taste good delicious!

So we had what, 3 0r 4, of them?!

And at that point (after discussing Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, teaching everyone the Cha-Cha slide, and insisting on a wardrobe change), it was time to hit the bars. So by bike, we went!--Victoria, I am sure you can relate to that...

After making it to the City Center, it is all a blur from there. But some vague memories I do have consist of: 1) 2 more tequila shots. 2) Conning some poor guy into buying me a beer. 3) Using "Do you speak English" as a pick-up line on everyone. 4) Giving out my a phone number to new friends even though I don't know my number, nor did I have my phone. 5) Losing my friends. 6) Being relieved at finding my friends. 7) French fries. 8) Crying hysterical at bad news.

And somewhere around seven in the morning, we stumbled back to Isis's.

So yeah... Groningen is a blast!

Did I mention it is quickly becoming my weekend home-away-from-home?!

Do You Know...

....what it feels like when the one person you really and truly love can't doesn't have any faith in you and can't believe how much you really care for them??

It. Sucks.

Things I Learned Today:

1) If you come to the Netherlands and forget your raincoat, you're going to live to regret it.*

2) The fleece you wear (in place of the raincoat you forgot) is going to get wet.

3) When that fleece (you wore in place of the raincoat you forgot) gets wet, you will get cold--no matter how mild the temperature may be.

4) Standing under a tree (while wearing the wet fleece because you forgot to pack a raincoat) will not help. You will still get wet.

5) And when you are at your coldest, wettest moment waiting for the children at school, one of them will most likely take at least 15 minutes to track down.

Why? Because that is just how life works.

6) After waiting 15 minutes in the rain (while wearing the fleece that is wet because you forgot to bring a raincoat), one particular child (that took forever to find) will want to walk at a snail's pace to the car (in order to get out of the rain).


*So if you are reading this, Faith--and I know you are--please tell Tom Harrison to find my black northface raincoat and send it to me. (By the time you fold it up and fit it into a small box, shipping will be practically nothing.) I have the address and everything ready.

Positive Reinforcement

I think I can.

I think I can.

I think I can.

I thing I can.

I think I can.

I think I can...

A Spoon Full of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down

Day 1 of Hell Week: I survived!!
Other than a few short-lived temper-tamtrums here and there, we passed with flying 'progressively picking up speed 10 feet off the ground' colors.

At the end of the day, there is yet one major issue: my stomach. And to avoid being too explicit, I will only say that my stomach has been making the same noises that the Titanic did as she was sinking. Get it? (Sorry if that is still TMI for a blog... Oh, well. You'll live.)

Anywho, I decided to rise above the general embarrassment--yes, after 21 years of life, I am still not comfortable with these things-- of my situation, and ask Esther if there were any meds. After all... She's a doctor; she'll understand... She's a doctor; she'll have the meds lying around... Pepto's an international remedy, right?...

Wrong.
Not in this house anyways.

Upon asking for help, I was directed to the spice cabinet in the kitchen where I would find a bottle of herbs... I was directed to take this bottle, and add 15 drops of it to a spoonful of sugar. And swallow. ...That totally gave new meaning to Julie Andrew's famous Mary Poppins lyrics!

So in having no other option, I just tried the herbal remedy.

For those of you who are curious enough, the actual herb or extract I was consuming was:

Carmol
Tropfen/Gouttes

Not sure if it works yet, but I will let all of you know. That way, you can run out and replace all that Pepto in your medicine cabinet with Carmol. And remember, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...

the medicine go down...

the medicine go down...

Drowning My Sorrows in Music

Damn you "George"...

Damn you Norah...

Damn you Willie...

Are You Lonesome Tonight
Performed by Norah Jones

Are you lonesome tonight?
Do you miss me tonight?
Are you sorry we drifted apart?
Does your memory sway to a bright summer day
When I kissed you and called you sweetheart?

Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain?
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

Do the chairs in your parlor seem empty and bare?
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain?
Shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?

Always On My Mind
Performed by Willie Nelson

Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have

If I made you feel second best
Girl I'm sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

And maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine

Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind

Tell me,
Tell me that your sweet love hasn't died
Give me,
Give me one more chance to keep you satisfied
I'll keep you satisfied

Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind


(Haha! I have to laugh at myself at least a little for this post...)

Easy Breezy My A...

Hell week is upon me...

Amanda left this weekend, and "George" conveniently came to town.

...I'm scared shitless.

But if I can survive this, I can survive anything.

Prayer Ethics

Is it okay to ask God to help you remember something (for the next day) when you are praying?? Or is that too much of a small, trivial request?

Bless My Biking Heart

Okay... So because I have not religiously kept up with my blogging the past couple of days, you readers don't know about the car. So let me make a long story short and just give you some background info: Thursday morning, the car was dropped off at the mechanic for some maintenance. As a replacement for the day, they gave us a manual to drive. The problem: I don't drive a stick-shift. But luckily, Amanda's sister was in town visiting and did. Problem solved...

...At least until Friday evening--when I had to get Sara to piano.

So what does one in Assen do without a car?? Grab a bike! Lucky me!

So at a quarter til 6, Sara and I mounted our bikes and set off across town. 10 minutes later, we had to brake... for me to rest. One minute later, we were back to pedaling our hearts out. Boy we were on a roll!!--Until another 5 minutes later when we had to stop for my lard butt slighty out-of-shape self again... This pretty much continued until we finally made it to the Cultural Center at 10 after (6).

And I don't know about all you other Harrisons out there, but I know that I (along with others in the immediate family) get extremely flushed in the face whenever we exert even the slightest amount of physical energy. So feel free to try to imagine how lovely exhausted and beet-red I looked by the time we actually arrived at our destination!

...Poor Sara, having to stop every ten minutes and then show up with a red-faced side kick!

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, the ride back home was just as fun.

I Decided Long Ago Never To Walk In Anyone's Shadow

So this may be the craziest post I have ever written--or maybe not--, and I know I have some Oprah-hatin' blog readers out there, put I'm gonna post it anyways...

So I just watched the Whitney Houston-Oprah interview, and I actually related to Whitney... Should I be scared? But serisously, she made sense to me. Like, I could understand... And so now, I have a special little place in my heart labeled Love for Whitney. (Ha!)

So make that come back Whitney. Come on back, girl!


(P.S. If you are just looking for a good laugh, watch the end of the interview when Whitney actually performs and pay close attention to Oprah's reaction. ...If that it not funny then I don't know what is!!)

I'm in love...

...With IKEA!!

Back in the States, IKEA just seemed like a distant dream since the nearest one was in Atlanta (and I never could quite get Tom Harrison to go that far). But here, there is one in Groningen. And (though I am not sure how it compares to the ones at home,) it is awesome!!! Who knew that on top of selling everything practical for living, they also had a cafeteria and small grocery section?!

This morning, after dropping the kids off at school, Amanda, her sister, and I ventured to IKEA for a hearty breakfast. We got a mini baguette, croissant, cheese, egg, butter, jam, and coffee all for .50 euros!! (That is like 75 US cents!) Yumm. Money well spent, no doubt.

After eating, we decided to venture around the store so that I could actually see what IKEA had to offer. Once again, it was awesome!! Everything is so hip and chic... and best of all, relatively inexpensive! Why didn't I know this when I needed decor for my apartment?? From lighting, to book shelves, to pillows, to vases... I want it all.

And just walking around the store makes me genuinely happy. How weird! I guess that will be my new place of zen from now on. Having a bad day? Go to IKEA! That store also makes me want to be a housewife. I just want to go and buy pots and pans, aprons, and kitchen ware, then go (to my posh, IKEA decorated) home and cook! Wow, I cool!

But the moral of the blog is, if you haven't been to an IKEA, go right away! It's worth the (if living in West Tennessee, the 6-7 hour) drive! ...Well, maybe if you don't have to take all 4 of your kids with you, (Faith)... But defenitely go at some point in your life. Put it on your "Bucket List" if need be... And I promise you won't regret it!

Desperate, much?

Just in case [You] are out there reading this,

(Know) I hate the way things are.

(Know) I'm sorry.

(Know) I love you.

So please call--or in this case, just email.
Please.

Just In Case You Are Wondering...

...the song that I mentioned in my previous blog, I found out what/who it is. It is Three Days in a Row by the Dutch singer Anouk.

**Go ahead, Faith, and feel free to let me know on which episdoe of One Tree Hill you've heard this one one...**

And She's Dancing Like She's Never Danced Before!

First of all, I would like to go ahead and apologize to all you readers out there in BlogLand. 1) I have not been doing the best job of writing my usual witty posts on a daily (or even every-other-day-ly) basis. And 2) What I have posted has just been a crazy/emotional/confusing/depressing/hormonal/desperate/[enter better adjective here] wreck. But in my defense, I have no friends one here in Holland to vent to... except for you, my trusty readers. So just bear with me at least until I can actually find real people to talk to...

Now moving on...

This afternoon while looking in one of my old notebooks, I came across a quote that I had jotted down a few weeks ago while I was watching the most heart-wrenching of shows: Saved By the Bell. Seen it? Of course you have! And for those of you who have seen the episode where Jessie gets addicted to prescribed medication, you know just how wise that show can be. (Can we say, "She's a maniac... Maniac on the floor!) Anyway, probably being just as crazy/emotional/confused/hormonal/[enter better adjective here] at the time, this is what the quote was:

"Sometimes you have to let go of someone to find out if there is something to hold on to."

Now for those of you who haven't moved half-way across the world, thus losing "letting go" of everything--and everyone-- you once had (in your everyday life), this probably means nothing to you. But for those of us that have, it is exactly the kind of insight we needed...

So though it has undoubtfully been said before, I'll say it again: Thank you writers of Saved By the Bell!