Swimming again

Eileen and I got photos taken at the swimming pool last week with her friend Dieter and my friend Ashra. That is my hand above Eileen in the pool. All the other little kids sank into the water when their parents let go. Eileen started to tread water almost immediately, and resurfaced by herself without the aid of parent or instructor. I was proud and frustrated at the same time!

Meanwhile, the holidays are here. I managed to get every single card out by 9am this morning. Unfortunately, the mail truck left before then, so most of the cards are going to spend Christmas in Volkel before they arrive wherever they are going. Thank goodness I didn't mention which holiday -- so if you end up with one in time for Groundhog's day, you know that is what it meant (even with the Kwanzaa stamp on it) -- note, please do not be upset if you don't get a card. Clearly, I am not the paragon of organization -- send me a note and an address and I will see if I can remedy the oversight (again, please wait until about the first week in February).

Eric, Eileen, and I are looking forward to spending a couple of days together. We will be planning our next trip to the US in detail and feeding the single guys, the people who are working, and any families that have not yet moved into their homes who are part of our community on Christmas. It really does feel like a community. I am so proud of this place and all the hard work that so many people have done to make it feel like a community!!!!

We expect a photo of us (Eric and myself) from the Dutch Christmas party soon. I will post it. Yet again another lovely night at the Orangerie http://www.orangerie.nl/ -- The Dutch Air Force do throw a lovely ball. I felt slightly under dressed in my mid-calf formal. Many of the dresses were floor length Gala Gowns (think prom, but more grand).

delinquency, thy name is Karen

Okay, so I haven't been a faithful blogger. As we hit the 12 week mark of sickness in the house let's do a bit of recap.

Thanksgiving was with my parents. We fried a turkey, roasted sweet potatoes, made stuffing, and sang traditional Thanksgiving carols (okay, I don't even know what one of those would sound like - and I was so hoarse that everyone would have requested that I stop). I was sick enough that the actual night of Thanksgiving my parents got left-over couscous and I got matzos ball soup. On Thanksgiving, the table and food had to sparkle without my conversation. My parents only got to leave the house occasionally with me. We did enjoy the time and Eileen entertained them.

Leading into the Christmas party/holiday season. I made and sold many hats and a couple of scarves and some tiny crocheted flowers that can be added to store bought baby/girls clothes to make them semi-homemade at the first annual Christmas Bazaar on the base. While my healthy friends headed toward fantastic shopping experiences in Germany and in the caves at Valkenburg, I mostly stayed home. Eileen and Eric have both been sick off and on with me. Eileen, in fact, was running a high fever last night.

We have had five Eric-work related Christmas parties (one of which I was sorry to miss and the rest I have dragged myself to). Each has a different dress code. When did these dress codes proliferate? And how does 'Holiday Casual' relate to women wearing shiny cocktail dresses? (thank goodness I attended that one last year and discovered that misconception on my part -- I went shinier this year). The night after tomorrow is 'formal' but probably they don't mean 'cocktail' -- more likely 'gala.' Ah, how I miss Los Alamos where formal meant no holes in the jeans.

Anyway, not that it is New Year's -- but I have been sick since the Jewish one...so here is a quick resolution. I will try not to ignore my blog. Thanks to those of you who have e-mailed wondering where I am.