Karen's Air Force Adventure

birds

2012-01-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Well this is a post on several different types of birds. First up - the eagle. This is the insignia of full colonels in the US Air Force (and Army and Marines, they are Captains in the Navy, but they too wear the insignia). My husband was informed that he will one day get to pin on this rank. I am excited for him, and grateful to the outstanding leaders he has had over the years and the outstanding officers and NCOs and airmen that have served with him along the way-- all doing their jobs so well. I am also a bit sad that many very good officers did not appear on that list. But, mostly I feel lucky and incredibly proud of Eric.

Additionally, it is time to talk about the birds that live here in Wichita Falls. We have a corner near us that has approximately 6000 blackbirds roosting on the power lines and in the trees. I swear that one corner could have been the inspiration for the Hitchcock film "The Birds." They roost there from mid October through until spring. Makes you want to wash your car just driving by...and I can always hear their squawking no matter how much noise Eileen is making or what we are listening to inside the car.

Yet there are days of bird inspiration. Today was one of the few rainy days we have had here, and against that dark gray backdrop, I saw a single sea gull spreading wing. So lovely.

We often see single or groups of Hawks in the air near us - especially against the high blue cloudless skies.

Eileen and I walk a nature trail near our home and spot heron, ducks, and egrets as well. So, though I am not a birder, I have begun to appreciate them here....

Birthday....

2012-01-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

Every January, I start working on icings to try to get things in shape for Eileen's birthday. I must say that I stole my friend's Swiss Buttercream recipe and it was worthwhile. But, one of Eileen's favorite friends (in fact the boy she is 'in love' with -- as opposed to the one she plans to marry....both will be at her birthday party) is allergic to the following: eggs, milk, soy, nuts. Any suggestions for great icing would be appreciated. We have egg-substitute that might be okay for Will. I think I will be doing a lovely cake using the Swiss Buttercream, and hypoallergenic cupcakes (maybe using palm oil in place of butter/margarine).

If you are reading this and have suggestions, I would appreciate it!

Eileen turns 4 on 31 January.

Bad blogger -- no blogs in too long

2011-12-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

We traveled to Tuscon to visit my grand daughter (step-granddaughter???) and step daughter in December. Somehow in the tumult leading up to that trip that involved approximately 10 Christmas related events before 10 December, plus packing and nerve calming, I haven't been blogging. Sorry.

Eycis, the granddaughter is enjoying life as a 2 year old. She is adaptable and happily likes kid stuff so she and Eileen did reasonably well together. That allowed Tia to take her finals without needing to worry about keeping a 2 year old happy and studying at the same time.

Eric came with, so we turned it into a bit of a vacation, with museums, zoos, and good food. I wished we could have had more ethnic food, but we didn't want to tax Eycis who was already demonstrating gracious adaptability.

So, we are now more than half way through Channukah. I am loving lighting candles with Eileen nightly and watching her unwrap gifts.

Speaking of gifts, this year at my friend Julie's suggestion, we decided to forgo cookies or savory snacks and hand out mini-challah loaves (challah is a Jewish egg-bread that we make for holy days). I think it has been a hit, but I should have ordered a 25 pound sack of flour....21 loaves later we finally got to taste one.

Whew....lots of work -- but Officer's Spouses' Club worth it

2011-11-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

My friends. If you don't live as or with a member of the armed forces, you don't know what you have been missing. Sure we have lived 4 places in six years. And my three year old has had 3 homes on two continents. But, there is a built in community if you reach toward it. In the Netherlands, we had a Support Our Squadron group that was a great way to find other moms. A holiday party or many holiday parties. Here, I belong to both the Support Our Squadron and the Officer's Spouses' Club. I am a treasurer for both.

I have just returned from spending three days helping a lot of capable friends run a bazaar. We raised money for scholarships for locally assigned kids. We reached into the heart of the local community. I feel about 5.5 feet high (which for me is tall) and three days behind in sleep.

I am sorry for people who choose to hunker down and not reach for the community that exists for us on bases. I chose that for myself when we live in Colorado Springs. While I don't regret the friends I made there - the life I chose for myself there, I do regret the friends that I did not make.

That time of year

2011-11-10T15:12:00.000-08:00

Some how the time from Halloween to Christmas on the secular calendar is lived in fast forward. In the military world you expect 3 or 4 different Christmas events and two Thanksgiving ones...and then you have Veterans Day in the mix, which needs to be celebrated. Needless to say, it makes posting difficult.

Of course Eileen had a bunch of Halloween events and never turns down a chance to win prizes and be given sugar.

Now, I know you are remembering that I am not Christian, but 1) these are community building events and I am all for community building and 2) turns out I have friends who are.

So, if I don't post, it is merely because I am busy with the annual Hangar Holiday bazaar to raise money for local military dependent scholarships, or I am organizing a holiday education night, or I am baking holiday gifts....or I am taking a well earned nap.

Eileen in motion and rarely at rest

2011-11-06T11:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry for not posting more. Despite Eileen's assurances that she will be just fine biking by herself, I seem compelled to keep her company. We are up to riding about a mile at a go on the local bike path.

We made it through Sukkot. Some cold spells. Some warm spells (it is over 75 degrees out today). Halloween. Sugar ups and downs.

So, now it is a break neck rush to the winter holidays.

As Halloween approaches

2011-10-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Eileen, Eric and I have already attended our first Halloween party -- it was super fun. Eileen went as Rapunzel from the Disney version. The costume came with a two foot long wig that was discarded as soon as we arrived...and no one could really tell the difference :-P.

I was going to make her costume from scratch when it became clear that she would just change her mind 5 times and we would never get it done. Maybe someone can help me with ideas next year....please if you have dont this with preschoolers, I would love to make her outfit. I have a half decent sewing machine and that is about my level of sewing competence, but I am improving.

Thanks!

Communication -- what we lose and what we gain

2011-10-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

So I admit that I facebook. Perhaps too often. And I check my e-mail -- again, perhaps too often. I also admit that I am more likely to post on facebook or here than I am to send an e-mail or even more uncommon, to write a letter on stationary, or call someone. I do try to get to thank you notes in a timely fashion, but even there I am sometimes slow. But, otherwise, just writing letters? hardly even put pen to paper. In fact, if I didn't have a young pen pal, I might never put pen to paper.

So, now the question is: do I feel more or less connected to the world. Here I am able to share all these thoughts -- sometimes the worse for limited filtering involved. And, yet, it is a monologue. One where I rarely if ever interact with my audience. And so instead of making me feel connected, it merely fills time. So, then I find myself wondering why I spend my time and energy this way.

Just a Saturday night question.

On finding fitness - or at least my version of it

2011-09-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you who only see me electronically, let me tell you that I was not looking as heavy as I was feeling, so you didn't miss the visual cues. But, I must admit that the several months of transition to Wichita Falls from Volkel did add weight to me. So, for mother's day Eric bought me a new fitness thing for the WiiFit. While it didn't help, in response to the hot weather, the kind folk at the YMCA who watch Eileen free (with our membership dues) for two hours a day, and the new tool, I did find myself working out more. I can honestly say that I am feeling better for it.

Eric and I eventually found the right set of fitness stuff for each of us, and I do think that our stress level is a little lower going into the Jewish New Year.

By the way you should all have a wonderful 5772 on the Jewish calendar (holiday starts at sundown on Wednesday). Happy New Year!

school year is in swing

2011-09-21T13:48:00.000-07:00

You know your 3 year old is over scheduled when she has preschool daily, Suzuki violin (hers is 1/16 size...it is so adorable), tap and ballet (it is a combined class). We have her in extended care one day a week so I can catch up with several of the clubs that I am involved with.

I continue to be involved in Jewish education and the Officer's Spouses' club and the squadron's support our squadron group.

Eric is still working his crazy hours. I am so glad that we are now in the slow mode count down list (like, this is the last time we will be asked to do a Race for the Cure on Yom Kippur in Wichita Falls, rather than 100 days -- we won't do that count down until about 10 days out). Somehow it makes me both more tolerant and more nostalgic to allow myself to say 'I won't deal with that again.'

Music and Motion

2011-09-08T15:05:00.001-07:00

So, the heat wave broke last weekend. To celebrate, Eileen got her training wheels removed. She is still a little shaky starting and stopping, but otherwise, she is tooling around quite easily on her two wheeled bicycle.

Chicago - and a return to normalcy

2011-08-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

For those who didn't know where I disappeared to, the answer was a family reunion and a chance to remember how incredible my last remaining grandmother was - a life full of adventure and obstacles overcome with a smile, an ability to laugh off the tough times and create a positive future. She died with all three kids nearby and the three local grandkids and three or four great grand kids nearby. If I learn to become half the kind person Grandma Edie was, it will be a good thing. And, all of us Hirschs gather in Chicago for a memorial. Eileen had a great time playing with her cousins (first and more distant ones).

I know you are thinking that I would do anything to avoid the 100+ temperatures here, but in truth we are used to things here and there are some benefits to this summer. The bug population is sure a lot smaller. We got more time together as a family indoors doing things. Because I was out of town when the sign ups happened for Gymnastics, Eileen missed not just July (due to our vacation) but August. And so, she convinced me that Dance classes would be more appropriate.

That brings us to the school year (starting on Monday): School for Little People again, with some new faces and some old friends; Dance classes once a week; Violin classes once a week; and Sunday School.

For me, I am going to finally have time to get the house really clean, catch up with both Officers' Spouses' Club responsibilities and Support Our Squadron work. And I am thinking of research proposals again - thank goodness my brain is starting to kick in.

the cost of hot hot hot is hard on the wildlife

2011-07-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

Let's preface this with the statement that except for the people in the Northwest, we are all suffering from the heat, but with two animals dead from heat related issues in the past week in our tiny yard, I am feeling like we don't have the right to even complain. Not that it keeps me from complaining.

Eileen was a mess after going through two outdoor experiences today. Too much sun. Too hot. She has reached the point of preferring to swim at the indoor YMCA pool rather than outdoors.

return to hot hot hot

2011-07-25T14:47:00.000-07:00

So excited to spend time with our wonderful family. So glad that I didn't tear my eyes out during the six days of listening to the stories from "The House at Pooh Corner" close to non-stop. So glad that I am not planning on spending multiple days consecutively traveling with a 3.5 year old in the near future.

The trip was a success...and now it is time for us to be home -- where the temperatures sound more like FM Pop Radio Stations then actual temperatures. Nothing less than 100 for the foreseeable future.

At least we have air conditioning.

Eileen is already committed to spending time indoors somewhere. Tomorrow a movie and trip to the library.

Vacation from the hot hot hot

2011-07-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

Well, we will be headed off to what my brother lovingly calls oblication soon...but that isn't fair. I am really looking forward to seeing my mother-in-law and the five cousins on my husband's side of the family. I am also thrilled to be making a very overdue and far too brief visit to C. Springs. If I don't see you there, I apologize, it is an overnight mostly to check on that house we still own. I promise we will try to find a way to stay longer and see more people.

I know that it is in the 90s and miserable for the folk there, but I am looking forward to not worrying that Eileen has burned herself on car seat or car doors. I probably won't update for a couple of weeks....so stay safe, stay comfortable, and know I am missing my friends wherever you are!

Radio - where have you gone

2011-07-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

It is funny. Between music on the radio in the car in Europe, and everywhere we ate. We spent a lot of time at "the beach" -- Hemelrijk. And, there too the radio was on. So, I was at my Zumba Gold class on Friday and the Italian instructor asked if the song we were listening to was popular in the US. I realized that I had no idea. With the exception of NPR, I have my own personal soundtrack. We listen to lastradiofm at home...or CDs...we listen to books on CD in the car (or music that is on CDs or NPR). So -- I have no idea what Americans are listening to. Even when I listen to the radio it is usually Oldies, or Jazz, or classical...not pop. But, I am hardly ever subjected to radio in public (except for a Christian station at the YMCA in the weight room).

Hot hot hot

2011-06-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

So for those who have had real weather where you live, I apologize for both not posting more often and for complaining. The truth is that we have a lovely home not far from a YMCA with an outdoor pool...we are members of that YMCA. But, really 25 days over 100 degrees already this year??? And the small kid has limited thermal recognition, leading to forcing me to play kick ball in the blazing sun. Ugh.

Good thing that I have libraries, friends, and a world that is mostly temperature controlled!

Eileen in a reading program from the library

2011-06-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

The base library has a lovely reading program this summer. For the young kids they win a prize for every 10 books that they read (or are read to them). So far it is an eclectic mix of reading that we have recorded including the Berenstain Bears (whom I find insipid), a book about Cinco de Mayo, some fables, Edward Gorey, Winnie the Pooh, and the Knuffle Bunny trilogy by Mo Willems. Can't wait to see how far up her forehead the librarian can move those eyebrows (or perhaps she won't even glance...just tally and go).

Eileen school pics

2011-05-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

This was one of Eileen's school pictures from this year. She is 3 years old!

Shawl done!

2011-05-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a shawl I was working on for several weeks. The yarn is from Serenity Stitches a lovely Cashmere silk mix. The shiny or blurry things are class beads. Yes. All of them. Anyway, I have worked on this and on 4 pair of socks and a hat since I have been here. But, I think the move slow down has finally lifted and I will be sprinting through knit projects again soon. Eileen will be in school 5 days a week and I will continue to have at least two projects at once.

Living somewhere in the weather extremes

2011-05-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well, hail stayed most of the day on the ground. Temperatures were in the 50s. Yesterday, 90+ degree weather. I just cannot even imagine (though I know it to be true) that people who have no local relatives somehow dreamed of living here. The winds today were bad enough that I couldn't let Eileen open the car door (though same was true on Friday - with a wildfire within a mile of our house) for fear that it would be slammed on her by mother nature.

favorite times of day

2011-04-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Eileen and I have great and deep conversations in the car and in the bath we play fun games.
Yesterday in the bath, she played teacher and had me be a kid. I decided to ham it up and be a kid pretending to be a monkey. This leads naturally to amusing ways to correct unlady-like behavior...like "The Monkey Advisory Board (MAB) strongly protests the use of bath water as a drink. Such items might contain colors and/or soaps not advisable for consumption by monkey type creatures."
Recent car discussions have included her plans to attend medical school in Pittsburgh next year. She has heard that they have good libraries in medical school. So, Doogie Houser -- watch out. If she starts medical school at 3.5 years old, you can imagine where this will go.

News from the home front

2011-04-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

Eileen will be in preschool 5 days a week next year instead of her current 2 days. I can't wait. So, why am I interested in hiring someone to help clean my house? I think I have lost my mind.

Other signs include getting upset over a needle breaking at the end of a knitting project. Inviting my parents to stay with us for a weekend. Forgetting the date that Eric needed me for something. Singing with Eileen's electronic entertainment devices. Dayenu

Meanwhile, Passover in Wichita Falls is at best awful. To get Kosher for Passover Matzos takes looking in 5 shops. To get matzos meal required special ordering on line or driving more than 2 hours.

Haag Sameach everyone...from your whiny friend -- Karen

And then...Camp was Cancelled

2011-03-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

ARGH! Eileen and I were both thrilled with the idea of her spending Spring Break (yes, I was surprised to discover that preschools even have Spring Break) in gymnastics camp at the YMCA. Yesterday they canceled it for her age-group...and so, we awoke this morning with no actual plans. In fact, she knew it was canceled and chose not to sleep last night. Now I am scrambling on two fronts: 1) I had plans for every morning that she was supposed to be in camp -- including starting that famous Spring Clean and getting a hair cut...the first in many months and 2) she is bored stupid and driving me crazy. So, today, thankfully, her little friend invited us for lunch. Tues and Thurs we have swim lessons (and maybe a concert for Eileen on Tuesday and a mandatory evening out for me on Thursday) and Wednesday we have our usual gymnastics class and possibly a pool party.

So, as I grappled with this, we had friends for dinner. The daughter said that she too had been signed up for gymnastics camp years ago and had it canceled the day before with the Y. So now, do I trust them to actually make a camp happen if they advertise it??? Do I ask how many kids it takes for the class to 'make?' and then recruit them? Do I bite the bullet and go to a more expensive gym where things won't be as likely to get canceled at the last moment?

a new hobby?

2011-03-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I kept staring at my sewing machine that I have hardly used. It is time to admit that even when I did use it, I usually had to have someone better (like my husband) undo the damage. Yet, here I am with Eileen piecing our first joint project: Mom and daughter aprons (hers in brown and pink polka dots with pockets in the pink/brown harlequin fabric of mine). I have managed to lay out the pattern and cut on the lines and I am about ready to get it pinned for sewing. Ack...another time sink?

Drivers are wierd everywhere we go...

2011-02-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

So in the Netherlands, drivers tailgate, bikes are crazy, and the lanes are narrow. Here it is a good idea to turn into whatever lane you might eventually want -- right lane turning right into far left lane....go for it...just seems strange to me.

Here we also pay homage to my friend Reiner's observation of cars in New Mexico -- if the turn signal is on, the owner bought the car that way.

Otherwise, we are healthy and home from a second short weekend trip - this one to visit family in Chicago.

off to chicago --- this weekend

2011-02-14T11:26:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day my friends and bleaders. Eileen is just getting past a double ear infection (one week into the antibiotics we are both feeling less crabby). It looks like the snow and ice are done for a while. I hope that means that we will have a lovely visit with my family. As has been typical for a long time, Eileen and I will be doing this together. Does anyone need anything from the second city? humor? chocolate? hugs from Eileen's grandparents or great-grandma?

Me, I am hoping for a Greek meal, but will settle for Eileen having a Chicago Red Hot (a hotdog, but -- with capital letters) -- and maybe a slice of deep dish pizza.

weather in Texoma

2011-02-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

If I haven't mentioned the extremities in weather here, let's start with the wind. It is often in the 'howling' category...except during the sweltering summer. Apparently, we don't need wind if we are blessed with 114 degrees and 97% humidity. Well, now let's mention that we are located in the south. Our version of the recent 'blizzard' contained about .25 inches of lovely ice that is pretty solid...and 4 to 10 inches of snow on top of it. Then the temperature dropped (from 80 or so on Saturday) to single digits today. We have rolling blackouts going.

The base is closed for the second day in a row. Eileen spent yesterday morning playing in the snow with her daddy and getting sugared up on leftover cake...I spent it making home made chicken noodle soup and soaking beans for an unusual chili type soup today.

I secretly hope that everyone gets to go out tomorrow, but I am not holding my breath.

Third Birthday is upon us

2011-01-28T15:53:00.000-08:00

So, Sunday night is the birthday party. Sorry if we didn't invite you, but we know most of you are out of town that night. I am baking our traditional Anna's Chocolate cake -- but using a vanilla butter cream. I have even been practicing cake decorating and think it might come out looking nice. Anna was my mother's mother's cook/maid. Somehow it became a tradition for me to make it on birthdays - starting around age 7 for my mother. I always liked the dense chocolate layers more than the frosting. Additionally, we are making a lemon cake -- but using a recipe from Gourmet Magazine (may it rest in peace).

I am rolling out oodles of pasta and making the parents a lasagna and the kids noodles and a red sauce on the side.

Otherwise, should be mostly fresh veggies and fruit.

Oh, and the Tumblebus is coming. I can't wait to find out what it is!!!! The kids should love it. Pictures might follow if I ever become the organized person who not only takes pictures but also downloads them.

A trip home

2011-01-20T19:08:00.000-08:00

Well Los Alamos was too brief, but lovely. Thanks for all who took the time to see Eileen and me. Sorry for all the inconvenience to my lovely host who played endlessly with Eileen while I had stomach flu on my return travel day (thus I spent one more day there than planned, but trust me -- no one missed seeing me).

It is good to be home, but of course in our house it is always seemingly something. We arrived home for one night with my husband before he went on travel. He'll be back Saturday afternoon. Ah...the traveling life for me POSH (hint...a reference to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)

A Trip to Los Alamos

2011-01-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

For those who are in the habit of reading my life here, let me proclaim that if the weather behaves itself, Eileen and I will be traveling to see friends in Los Alamos in a week.

I have been planning a T'u B'Shvat Seder for the synagogue and enjoying that part of life.

Eileen is doing great at school.

Meanwhile, I am feeling like I am still behind. If I owe you a letter, I worry that I will never manage to mail it. Please know that it is me and not you.

Being Tired

2011-01-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hello my friends (and assorted random people who happen to read this blog);
It is time to admit what must be obvious from the outside. I am clearly exhausted. I don't know if it has anything to do with my wonderful daughter who has more energy than the sun. Or if it is the excitement of Eric's work and the life of an Air Force wife. Or if it is the excitement of 3 moves over the last 5 years. Or more than a month of discomfort as my new crowns settle in. Or if it is just living the good life. But the fact is that I am tired. So, if I have not been my chipper self, please do forgive me.

Eileen is thriving, though definitely confused, as she just spent a month learning the story of Christmas only to hear repeatedly that 1) we are Jewish and Santa doesn't visit most Jews, 2) while Jesus may indeed love her, historically we have in fact not seen that demonstrated to our people, and 3) if you want to tell a story about Joseph in the synagogue, it better have a multi-colored coat somewhere in it. We learned that this was a time of year that was special to our friends and extended family. That it involved a birthday. And that we are lucky to be able to celebrate with them.

We got to play with the grandkid in the end of December and that is good. Eileen was thrilled to have a pint sized playmate to push around...and started using the same nicknames that Tia and Nick (my step-daughter and son-in-law) use for their daughter. Cute photos abound and will be posted when they arrive here.

Meanwhile, if I have been an incompetent or uncommunicative friend, I apologize. I am sure that the second wind will come as the days get longer.

Christmas in lots of variations

2010-12-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

For the record, we are mostly through the Christmas parties. Eileen still has the preschool performance that she will attend on 16 December where her classmates will reenact the birth of Jesus. I am still working on myself and how I deal with this all. I had hoped that she would be older before the peer pressure of Santa and the rest of the season hit her.

Meanwhile, we are now queens of gingerbread houses. We have one more to make. Soooo excited, now that we know what we are doing.

Some recent photos

2010-11-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

These were done at a local park by a fantastic photography: Unique Images by Misty. So, there are some recent photos for people clambering for new photos of the family. Our house seems very empty as my parents and brother and his wife and son all left this morning. The last of the linens are now in the dryer...and life is getting back to normal - whatever that might mean :-)

Thanksgiving here

2010-11-19T20:18:00.000-08:00

Well for those brave readers wondering what is up, we hope to upload Halloween photos sometime soon. Meanwhile, my parents arrive on Tuesday and my brother, his wife, and their 4 year old arrive on Wednesday. We are very excited and can't wait to do lots of preschool art projects (like turkey napkin rings). Otherwise, life here stays busy.

We are through the first of my holiday events: a large bazaar called Hangar Holiday. The after action report reads like a need to have checklists to follow for each of the 10 plagues of Egypt. But I loved the people I worked with and will happily volunteer again next year if they need me.

Holiday parties 2 and 3 are next Friday and Saturday. Saturday afternoon we head to Dallas so that Eric can run his first marathon on Sunday morning.

brave new media?

2010-11-09T14:40:00.000-08:00

My friends, most of you know that I hover on facebook occasionally. I claim that this is to stay in touch with friends -- and usually I have kept it that way. But lately, I have had the crushing feeling of watching my friends' lives come apart in slow motion from a distance. I often feel like a voyeur. And, I must say, that despite the part of me that is curious, mostly I feel helpless and uncomfortable. These are certainly people I care about. But, that said, most of those 200 plus people who are my friends on facebook would not be close enough to me to call me in the middle of the night and tell me the details I have now got access to.

I know that I am on the far side of the facebook line, where I choose to share only the good and the happy and occasionally the outlandish...but would never share my problems with my mate in that forum (if there were any such problems....and here too, I prefer to resolve personal problems with the people themselves -- friends, mates, pets, and usually even Eileen). So, I am beginning to believe that I should be taking one day a week away from my computer. I feel like I would lose the rest of the world doing that. But, mostly I sit in silence, as people just need to vent sometimes, and mostly I grieve for them silently, too...as I don't think that they would actually want my grief or commiseration.

I am interested in hearing from friends who have resolved these issues without going cold turkey. I would love to continue to see photos of my small friends growing bigger, and hear of exciting happy news, and even be able to send a quick condolence for friends who have lost close family. I love being that close, even when the Air Force has played "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego" with our family often in the last 5 years.

whither halloween

2010-11-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have been gone for a couple of years. This is a gripe post, so skip it if you were in a cheery mood -- sorry for the Monday gripes. My mother-in-law admitted that adults and very old kids (i.e. obviously in high school) without costumes and without apology had trick or treated at her home, too. I can understand a bit if you are hungry. Or if you are walking your kid. Or even if your kid is sick (though bringing a photo of the kid). But didn't the Halloween that I grew up with involve little kids (i.e. ages in the single digits) dressing up adorably. And if the parents had a role at all (other than the hours of hand making the costume, then taking the kids out), it was adult parties.

When did this change? Discussion?

Our neighborhood yesterday was inundated with many many people that were not locals and not invited by locals. I went through seven large bags of candy. I don't even mind the kids that parents might have brought to a safer or nicer neighborhood as long as they were little kids. But for you guys who are older, without costume, what is your excuse?

Okay-- whew, I am through with my whining. Eileen had an awesome time. I hope to upload some photos soon. We'll see.

Super Jew in the wild west

2010-10-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

So, for those who are following my saga, you should already be familiar with the fact that my Judaism plays a large role in my life. Eileen has books with morning and evening prayers. I wasn't able to join our community 45 minutes away in the Netherlands as often as I wanted, but the language barrier and my lingering illnesses made it difficult. Here, though, there is a tiny, close knit community. We have a rabbi (he became ordained over the summer) and I am the Jewish education at the synagogue -- teaching an adult Hebrew letter learning class and a kids all-in-one, one schoolroom class (mostly bible stories and holidays). I am really enjoying all this. Especially, the participating in a community.

It's been a long time...too busy

2010-10-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

Well -- we are mostly moved into the house. My mother-in-law is coming to visit next week...coinciding with Eric being gone for yet another week. What a luxury to have help coming for me with Eileen. I am now wayyyy over committed through the holiday season. This means that I won't have time for my 40th birthday trip. Or much of anything else. I am helping with the major fundraiser for the Officer's Spouse's Club, the Holiday Party for the Kids, and the Squadron Holiday Party...and all of these things will be over by 4 December in the mid-afternoon.

Meanwhile, I am starting the entire education program for the synagogue -- that has been dormant for two decades. What am I thinking...especially since Eileen is only off of me for 5 hours a week. I think I am thinking that I really want to feel part of the community. Hope I get everything done for everyone and they are all still speaking to me afterward.

unpacking and a Sukkah

2010-09-20T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well, hopefully I will post a picture of it before the holiday is over...but we built most of our Sukkah yesterday. Usually Eric builds these beautiful pergolas (pergolai?) or other long term garden devices and then we toss on some temporary walls and a temporary roof...but this year we finally acknowledged that we have left one too many of those behind. So, now we have a lovely kit Sukkah that we put up yesterday. Today Eileen and I will be buying some burlap to make the roof. Got to say, it is not as secure looking as the pergola in C. Springs, but it is a thing of beauty that we can take with us. Anyway, the kit is from Sukkah Soul and looks like their advertising photo.

We had been at 49 boxes and holding for a while. But, yesterday evening Eric went through many boxes while I tried to convince Eileen to sleep...(which takes up approximately 3 hours of my waking day at this point...ARGH). He was looking for our irons (the back up that I bought awaiting his iron in C. Springs, and his iron. They were both in an office box of mine. But, we are definitely seeing progress on the boxes. Down to probably 40 book boxes and still have shelf room. YAY. But, we will need to construct a storage device in the garage for things like my old office files that I don't yet need access to, but might want at some point if I have a lot of work coming in.

For those who don't know or have forgotten, I have a love of ironing that seems irrational on many levels. Can't wait for freshly ironed sheets tonight!

the move that never ends

2010-09-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

We're all worn out here. We spent two weekends ago in San Diego with my family. Good times were had by all! (I hope -- and statute of limitations has run out if they weren't)

Eileen brought home her first little bug from school. Left her so drained one day she actually fell asleep standing up with her head resting on a chair (I was taking her temperature). Eric and I have been battling it too. Yuck.

Otherwise, we still can't get Eric's car in the garage because we have 48 book boxes there. Ugh. So today Eileen and I bought some shelves from an office supply store (I have had it with buying furniture grade shelves, they always warp if you will them with books -- apparently they are more made for housing your decorative tissue paper collection) which arrived today. I ran into the garage and cut open a box...no good, stuff from his office, not a clue what he wants done with that. Okay, another box...no good....geez -- 5 boxes later, I find one with some actual books in it (as opposed to old school notebooks or gifts for occasions when we don't have time to shop or something). So, I start to look at that and realize that most are his and I am perfectly willing to shelf them or not as he see fit. Here is to hoping that he can take a day off and I can park Eileen somewhere and we can just tear through those boxes.

a garageful of boxes

2010-09-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Eileen is potty trained. Okay, that has nothing to do with the garage, but it does in a way. She tried it three days before that shipment (including the washer and dryer arrived). She is still not sleeping...and really curious about everything. I am overwhelmed and making no progress. I guess I will put her in day care for a day next week -- between school, and doctor's appointments, and volunteer work, it looks like Friday...somehow these last 50 boxes are scarier than the ones from the Netherlands.

Since we left -- movers???

2010-08-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

So, Eric called to let the guys no that we had an address and could take delivery of our shipment of stuff we left behind: antique furniture, washer, dryer, vacuum...anything with an electric motor (or anything that I was unsure of) that remained in storage while we had our European sojourn. Well, they told us that it would be arriving no later than tomorrow. I called yesterday and heard that they would remove it from storage on Friday, but wait for a full van to send it our way. ACK! Eric, of course, knew how to phrase it so that the people understood that we had a real need...and it will arrive on Sunday. Meanwhile, I feel so horrible for all the junior people, or people who aren't as good at communicating. I think that the movers agreed to a contract that doesn't work for them.

More later.

Home again

2010-08-18T20:30:00.001-07:00

Well, it took more than 5 weeks, but with a waiver in hand, we found the perfect home for us. Our belongings from the Netherlands arrived last Wednesday and we have been racing through the unpacking. Down to fewer than ten boxes. We still have the non-temporary storage stuff that will be arriving at some point...and that contains the washer/dryer/vacuum/iron/mixer...in short the 110 V appliances. So, we are making progress...we have internet...we are starting to feel stable. And Eileen seems to think we are soon going to move to Texas. Poor kid!

More of the same - transitions in slow-mo

2010-08-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Eileen has started day care (which she loved the first week and now doesn't seem to like as much), fit kids, and gymnastics. She is a darling at the synagogue. In short, she is sort of settling into our unsettled life here.

We got a second car, last night (a brand new, just off the boat, 2010 Jetta TDI) and dropped the Subaru off for much needed love and attention. So, we are still temporarily a one car family -- though that will be fixed this weekend.

Still homeless. Still living from 3 suitcases and 3 carry-ons and a couple of boxes we mailed to ourselves. Still promised that the situation will be resolved soon. Not holding my breath. Still like Wichita Falls as a community. Still excited to be here. Just wish that the housing issue would be resolved soon...it's been 4 weeks in temporary lodging. My husband is wonderful - and patient - and willing to make sure we are taken care of....so really can't complain, but don't have much else to do.

stasis

2010-07-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Texas. We have been here about a week (okay exactly a week in TX, but only 6 days in Wichita Falls). What to say: 1) lodging doesn't have phone or internet in our area (so don't expect updates); 2) got new cell phones, first call happened before Eric's change of command (chatting with his Wing Commander) -- it was a bail bondsman; 3) Eileen is now pretty sure that Lodging is home...which is pretty much true; 4) it is about 100 degrees (F) and 90% humidity but our local friends say it will get hot in August. I think that is enough of an update. We don't have a feeling for when we will be in our actual house. So, for the time being, think happy thoughts. And, if you e-mail remember that I am only checking once every two days!

Happy 4th

2010-07-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

Eileen is getting much better with the time change 5:30 am today -- and she cuddled back to sleep until after 7am. She is so very happy to play with her cousins all the time. My sister-in-law better watch out or we might just add her to their lovely collection of kids (I think she is a saint for putting up with us, so I won't put her through a ransom of Red Chief situation).

Meanwhile, it is the 4th. We saw fireworks last night; except Eileen, who after hearing the first one, looked at me and said "too loud, must sleep now." It was nearly 10.30pm so it seemed a fair commentary on the whole situation, and she immediately fell asleep in her car seat. So, tonight, we clearly need to light things of our own. Eric went down to buy some fireworks. He saw that most of the stands had bottle rockets and some pretty high powered things and asked the guy who worked there if they were legal outside the Boise (or Nampa) city limits. The response was that they are not legal anywhere within the state (and you must sign a form acknowledging that). We are several hours from any other state....HMMMM... and these are the best selling fireworks...HMMM again.

We are still homeless but seem to be settling into a life of relaxation: eat, rest, play with kid, eat, nap, play with cousins, eat, play, sleep. Tomorrow, we will take Eileen to the Children's Museum in Boise in the morning.

Homeless in Idaho

2010-07-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

Friends, we are visiting with family in Idaho! We have landed successfully and hoping that we have only one or two jet lag days. Busily watching the Futball -- in my Orange Volkel shirt. Eileen is puzzling things out.

I'll probably write more at some point, but right now, just wanted to send a quick update. Mostly, getting used to the idea of not actually having a street address for the first time since going to graduate school in the first place.

Good Bye Again, so sorry that I'm leaving...

2010-06-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, gentle readers, we had a good bye party for Eric on Saturday night. Many Dutch and Americans came to wish us well and give us kind words and gifts. I couldn't believe how much thought was put into each gift -- from formal pens designed in France but imprinted with the Dutch Air Base logo, to a pewter plate with so many symbols on it that the person who usually does the etching actually commented, to a license plate with Eric's name and thoughtful messages from so many he has come to respect, to a tiled plaque with my name! (and lots of whiskey from my friend who knows what I drink). It was a night that was hard to say good bye.

Then today, there was a welcome to the lovely incoming spouse and a good bye for me. Again, so many thoughtful gifts including a photo book of our time here. I cannot recall the last time that I cried that I wasn't watching a chick flick...but it was a long time ago...and then today I actually did cry publicly. ACK! I didn't see too many flashes, but I hope that there are no bleary eyed photos of me lurking somewhere in cyber world.

Tomorrow is the change of command and a change of venue -- we will head to the airport hotel. I think it will be a good thing. But, I am heartsick leaving. So many things I wish I could have completed. In a lot of ways, I have actually done surprisingly well over the years -- making the most of the time and places I have lived. But, here, due to naps and Eric's long hours, I feel that I didn't even scratch the surface. Eric talks about 'when we come to visit.' I certainly hope that we do come back.

hotel life (2)

2010-06-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

So, we have a fashionable suite (meaning with refrigerator and microwave and a couple of glasses, plates, and the like) in the small town of Mill. Some quirks: the shower wall (which is in common with the room) is an opaque glass, so bathroom light fills the room if it is left on. It is in a piece of the hotel accessed by an elevator and then some steps down (after a long hallway) and then some back up. The sink in the bathroom is a faucet that goes over a sheer wall on one side (the side where the faucet is) and pours onto a large angled surface. The drain is a very long slot. So far, we have already lost a comb down the slot. Thank goodness that is the total loss to date.

Eileen is doing really well being put back in a crib. She knows she can get in and out, but as I pointed out, it was either her sleeping there or me, and we all know how crabby I get with no sleep. We have lots of toys and toddler snacks and brought her videos and a travel DVD player. In short, she is always in the same room as us (or at least me), but thus far, we aren't missing the other 3000 square feet of house.

Tonight is a goodbye dinner for Eric - but mostly we are enjoying a last weekend here.

hotel life

2010-06-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

For people not up to date on my life, let's just say that two days ago was chaos. I was busy packing for the hotel and doing laundry when the movers showed up. I had written down that they were coming the next day. The original plan had me packing, giving Eric the suitcases, while I took carry on bags and kid and last toddler snacks.

Instead, I had two trips in a borrowed car hauling large amounts of stuff. Happily the hotel took us a day early. I somehow hauled that stuff with a patient daughter in tow.

Now we are in a hotel. More to come.

the return of the computer

2010-06-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, Eileen decided to give my computer a bath about two weeks ago. Please forgive the absence, but not surprisingly, I had to wait until my computer was returned from the dead (thanks to the AMac store in Eindhoven and their wonderful tech guys). So, since the last post, we are still on borrowed furniture, with the house echoing. Our car was sent to the US, so we are on a borrowed car as well. I had hoped to do everything by bicycle, but the idea of loading luggage on this Thursday as well as baby on the bike was too much for me.

Meanwhile, we go out to play every day. Eileen has discovered that she loves to do watercolor (preferably all a murky brown). And the house gets emptier every day (I think that Eric is tired of 'freezer surprise' for dinner -- but it seems to be working).

Every day, Eileen and I venture out to play outdoors when the weather is good -- which it has been, thankfully.

Oh, and for those of you who thought I didn't notice, we hear lots of noise across the street as I type this...world cup and drinking at the bar there! I have a browser open and am watching bits and pieces stream across the screen occasionally as Eileen sleeps....go nederlands! (and the US was robbed the other night)

Ear Infection

2010-05-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

Well, my daughter is dealing with the longest lasting ear infection that I have ever heard of. So, we are staying close to home on a bed she detests (she really hates the borrowed furniture and keeps asking to move to the hotel). International moves are difficult with a toddler (I assume all moves are -- but imagine it taking 2+ months for your belongings and you to be in the same location again). So, we are keeping busy. Today IKEA. Usually at least out to the playground and time with friends.

So, we are going with the suggestion of "Karen's Air Force Adventure" but keeping the WWW.karenabroad.blogspot.com (since that is how you know where to find me).

Meanwhile, know that we are moving forward with things. The car ships on Tuesday. Between now and then, the house cleaning crew is coming by for the first time. Then a trip to the American cemetery in the NL (a World War II era cemetery) for the annual memorial day celebration. Then the car is being cleaned and prepped for the trip...then off to turn the car over to the military transport folks.

More biking and walks to the parks. Ah, at least it is finally summer like weather here.

Getting ready for more adventure

2010-05-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

For my friends and readers, we are still in transition. The pace is going more quickly. We effectively have three days until the movers arrive. We need to have out a month's worth of things (we have an air shipment going the end of June). We no longer have any house guests. But, we have an overnight in Germany between now and Tuesday when the mayhem starts. Including all that we need on vacation in July in Idaho and for our first couple of days/weeks in Texas.

Eileen has a week of grand days out planned for while the movers are here, but it is complicated. Eileen has a double ear infection at this point. The Dutch method of 'wait before antibiotics' ran its course by Monday, but it took until Wednesday before I realized that and just today was she finally in to see the doctor and put on antibiotics. So, I have not been particularly useful until today when suddenly the lists got written and Eric and I feel like we are finally in sync. (I am a list writer, and my husband is a doer...it is an amazing combination and I am lucky to have him).

I am taking a vote. Should I just change the name of the blog -- or do I need a new one for Texas (is Texas a reasonable location for karenabroad.blogspot.com) ?

the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine

2010-05-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Well, friends and curious folk, here is the next two weeks in a nutshell:
kid exchange for a couple of days this week, we are looking forward to playing with our good friend Zy for a couple of days, then a visit with another close buddy -- Dieter, then my close friend from the states is coming for a week long stay, he leaves and I have three days of move prep, then we host a bunch of folk in town for an Indonesian wedding, a birthday party, a day of playing with friend Dina, a Monday with the dentist and then the movers arrive (and we let Eileen play with Zy assuming that the kid exchange was positive for the girls). I am in the zone! But, if I don't respond to e-mail or external stimuli, know that I will once I can breath again.

Leaving here is as strange as coming. Again, we have two sets of movers (we had three for coming here and will have three for arriving there), so this is just the furniture, out of season or unnecessary things, and most of the kitchen.

Our car will leave on 1 June.

Then, Eileen and I will be oh, so Dutch, mostly, and bike or take bus/trains to places.

The last movers, the borrowed furniture (we will receive a couple of beds, a couch and table and chairs before the furniture is on the truck), and the home inspection aren't until 24 June. Then we move to a hotel here....you get the idea. At this point in the sales pitch, we would say, "And then the fun begins," but instead, we hit the US on 1 July to spend some time with family and a little time just to ourselves before Eric's next job starts in Wichita Falls.

This brings me to my next question for my friends out there -- what should I rename the blog come 13 July when we begin the next chapter in our Air Force adventure?

Germany and the Netherlands

2010-04-18T22:09:00.000-07:00

I live in a country the size of Maryland (and roughly the same population). Let's see. Here we love the Flemish speaking Belgians, dislike the French speaking Belgians, like the French and believe that they have good engineering (and that you should aspire to own a Peugot), and hate the Germans. For some reason, this all makes sense to me. The Netherlands has been overrun in turns by the Spanish, the French, and most recently and often the Germans.

So, what does not make sense to me is the equal hatred the Germans feel toward their next door neighbors, the Dutch. The two speak slightly different languages, but if you understand English and German, you can mostly understand the Dutch (though the grammar is different).

The Dutch, like the Germans are seen as truly industrious - for good reason. But, the Dutch are more mercantile. Makes sense considering their history.

Here are some recent snippets of conversation with friends: "In England if you go bald you buy a toupee, in the Netherlands, you sell your comb"; "The British are so undependable, if you call someone to provide a service they are just as likely to not arrive or to arrive late (my friend likened this to the Manana attitude in New Mexico without actually visiting New Mexico or experiencing that)". The things that get me thinking are hearing about the privations of either country after the war (I don't advertise my Judaism and just keep my mouth shut). My least favorite quote is the following "Under Hitler, we at least had full employment" (said by a friend of a German friend) -- which to me sounds as hollow as the Russians pining for the Stalin period.

I guess it makes sense that we are watching the European Union bedrock shake if they cannot get past their histories and animosities.

still learning new things

2010-04-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

So, I was with my good friend yesterday at an indoor play area. I have already noted that many children play rougher here than in the States. Yesterday, though, my friend explained that most people like us (parents with a 2 year old who are trying hard to teach manners early) would never take their tiny kids to a place like this (it was Hullie -- http://www.hullie.nl) or even let them use the indoor part of Hemelrijk because it really isn't monitored. The reason it looks like a scene from Lord of the Flies is not because of Dutch kids necessarily being more wild -- but rather the forum. Parents are encouraged to sit and relax while their kids play. So parents who are more interventionist just don't take their kids to places like that very often.

This of course makes it harder on me; though, as the weather starts to look a little better, I have more options. Eileen loves to play with other kids. My instincts that she could actually get hurt by the big kids are correct. But she needs some time to play hard and try to push her body. So, how to work it? Back to normal playgrounds with me sitting close by? That only works if it isn't 50 and rainy? Playgroups? We do them. Music? We do that. Dance? Yup. Swim? you get the picture....I am trolling for ideas!

Spring has sprung

2010-03-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Eileen now knows more names for flowers than I thought possible. She doesn't always apply them correctly, but she knows: daffodils, crocus (crocii), tulips (of course), iris, hydrangea, rhododendron...you get the idea. She also has a true Jewish love of pigs. We went to visit a neighbor's farm this past week. Eileen was introduced to a pair of pigs about 3 weeks old. She tried to climb into their enclosure. Pretty cute!

As my thoughts turn to the longer days, I am starting to think about the move. Eileen keeps asking whether we are going to Texas tomorrow. She has started slipping it into most conversations...but I can tell that she misses her buddies who have left here and she worries about the ones she will leave behind.

Really, she and I are just wandering along playing a bunch. We have started preparing for Seder, but without a huge amount of enthusiasm. We are looking forward to being in the states for it next year. I will be buying my fish for the gefilte fish on Monday morning. We will be doing a bit of touring and visiting over the holiday. Mostly, though, we are just trying to keep her busy with friends. She needs preschool.

Some Eating Thoughts

2010-03-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, as you probably have read, I find the culture here in the Netherlands fascinating. But, of course we are returning to the US. Land of 24 hour food availability, where only rarely will we be in restaurants that take 2 hours for a single meal. So, looking back on our time here: the Dutch love all you can eat. They will enjoy a buffet for Chinese/Indonesian food, or will stop by your table for a marked menu in a Sushi or Tapas restaurant. The Dutch also admire French, Italian, and Greek food. Despite my cooking a traditional Dutch dish, and despite their love of pancakes, the Dutch really don't usually buy Dutch food out (except the pancakes and of course all things fried -- from fast food type places).

So, we have no TGIFridays (I am sure there is one in Amsterdam) type eating options, but it has been wonderful to get to know life here in a day to day way. In some ways we are more Dutch than many of the other people Eric works with, as we eat in most of the week (except a coffee out occasionally and our date night) and hardly travel (except to the US for weddings). And basically live at home. I get the feeling that if we lived in a city, where we had less living space and more options out, that my understanding of Dutch life would be different. So, take my understanding of it, as my understanding of American life might be after spending several years in a town of 40,000 people. The only difference, is that in the US, this would be a suburb of Eindhoven.

My life: bits of past present and future

2010-03-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

Well, let's start with the news from the past. For those who don't remember, Eric and I left more than good friends and fond memories in Colorado Springs (and the remains of Samantha-cat). We left a home there. We left it in pretty good hands. Last month our tenants announced that they were purchasing a home and would be leaving at the end of February. We have new tenants starting by the end of this month. Once again, we are pretty happy with the whole situation. If we had to leave a property behind, best that we have good neighbor friends and a good property manager.

Now, here is the rest of the post: it is hard to keep your eyes on the present when 1) many of the folks who have been here and active are already either going or gone -- part of the joy of military life. I love the chance to meet the new folks and am always glad when I get to see my old friends or 'see' them via updated photos on facebook...and 2) for those who are not yet in the loop, Eric, Eileen, and I are planning on moving to Wichita Falls this summer to Sheppard Air Force Base, where Eric will again be a Squadron Commander. Eileen and I are planning on spending many happy hours at the YMCA and in other locations where toddler classes are available -- which of course means that I spend at least some of my day thinking about the next house, the move, a vacation between locations...and not about the shorter time frame stuff.

Enjoying Our Last Bits of Time Here

2010-02-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

Well, we know that we are going to Wichita Falls, Texas at some point this summer. So, that means that Eileen and I are shopping more and visiting more castles. And if you are planning on visiting, best to let us know soon!!! The hotel is filling up :-). I am still struggling with the lovely flip camera that Eric received for a holiday gift from my folks. I am sure that I will figure it out soon. Meanwhile, all is great. Today we went with friends to shop at a lovely little shop of wood toys. Eileen is soon to receive a wooden toy kitchen. Lucky girl!!!

We're home again

2010-02-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Well friends, we are still trying to convince the toddler that night is really night. But, otherwise, we are really glad that we went and saw family in the States. I can't believe how much family we managed to squeeze into a week. Congratulations to my new sister-in-law and my brother-in-law on their wedding! Yet another super-cool, fun, smart sister-in-law -- Yay for me (and thank you Joanne).

Hopefully, you see a video of Eileen with her second birthday cake. She now equates icing with cake (the other part, as you all know from being a kid yourself, is completely inedible and is solely a vehicle for delivering 'cake'). ****okay, I will need to try this again from Eric's computer, as the video did not upload****

We arrived home at the tail end of Kermis (Carnival or the festival leading into lent). That lead to an amusing train trip from Amsterdam, complete with a large marching band from Utrecht heading to festivities in Den Bosch. And, of course, for new readers, it lead to a repeat of the lovely bar-tractor mobiles!

off for our last long haul before the move (I hope)

2010-02-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Saturday we will dash across the Atlantic (Eileen and I will, anyway) for a quick midwestern February week. Going to see Great-grandma Edie (my grandmother), Grandma and Grandpa Hirsch, and oodles of Aunts and Uncles on the Hirsch side...then rush to Uncle Kirk Jackson's wedding to the future Aunt Kelly. Eileen has never had all the Jackson cousins in one place before. Should be a hoot...though we'll miss Eileen's big sister, brother-in-law, and niece. Sounds like everyone else from the immediate clan will be there!

Sorry for going quiet...and hoping to figure out how to upload video of the birthday girl blowing out her candles.

Birthday weekend for one to turn two

2010-01-30T06:36:00.000-08:00

As many loyal readers know, I have a toddler. A toddler who recites whole books and speaks full paragraphs. A toddler who only grudgingly wears pig tails. A toddler who loves the water, a good game of chase, songs, coloring, play dough...in short a happy healthy girl. Tomorrow, as in the blink of an eye (not literally, though, sometimes I feel like I could use two full years of sleep), she turns 2. We are celebrating by holding her close. Letting her open a couple of gifts. Perhaps sharing a cup of coffee with the neighbors. In short: no American style party...but probably a nice cuddly day!

A weekend that reminded me...

2010-01-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

I was once asked how I could possibly live in a small town (in this case, not the small town of Volkel). What could there possibly be to do there?

The answer is that even in small towns, you can have friends. If there is no place you want to eat out, you have your friends join you. You come up with unusual parties or themes or dinners. This is also true when you are poor and therefore can't afford to pay someone else to entertain you. Anyway, this weekend was a reminder of that.

Since Eric and I often go out on Saturday night (date night), it was a welcome change to have our home filled with friends for both Saturday night and Sunday. I have been lucky enough to have friends stop by for book club or play group -- but it is a rare pleasure to get to do that with Eric.

We had Thanksgiving in January at our house for some Dutch friends...followed by the 'oops -- wish we had baked these for Christmas' baking marathon with Eindhoven friends today -- though we opted for heart and flower cookie cutters, rather than Santa Claus.

I wouldn't have want to be so busy every weekend...and Eileen was kind of miffed that I was doing so much that really wasn't 2 year old related (she helped bake bread by glazing it and putting on sesame seeds -- and enjoyed the products of the baking day)....but it was a pleasure for a couple of days!! I do love seeing my friends. And, I really like entertaining with Eric.

The Recycling Mobile: aka the car

2010-01-14T22:19:00.000-08:00

So, just like I used to do in Colorado Springs, I seem to load the car with recycling on a regular basis. But, unlike C. Springs -- which had a centralized facility that was free and run by Waste Management (not that I am plugging for them, but it was a kind service they provided), here we have to go to several places: diapers go to behind the assisted living facility in Volkel; cans and electronics and car oil go to the Uden municipal recycling facility; glass comes in several varieties: some goes to the grocery for a redemption of a deposit (some wine bottles, but mostly beer bottles), the rest gets separated into its color group and dropped into bins outside the grocery store (this leads to back and forth as I was adjusting to the system); plastic: some goes back to the grocery for large deposit redemption and most just gets bagged and dragged curbside once a month (this is really new, we are in our 4th month of that); paper gets gathered and dragged curbside once a month; medicines go in the medicine recycling bin located at some grocery entrances; batteries go in the battery recycling bin located at many places that sell batteries (including grocery stores); clothing and shoes gets separated and bagged and dropped at clothes recycling locations; light bulbs and chemical waste (think that can of EZ-off oven cleaner) go to the municipal facility; cooking oil goes to a container outside the grocery. There is a charge for using some options, but not all, at the municipal facility. There is a similar facility down on the Army base at Schinnen that doesn't charge at all, but has funky opening hours.

So, slightly complex, no?

End result, my car often has a couple of bags in it destined for different locations. Often, it is because I was thwarted on my last attempt (e.g. the computers were down at the grocery last time I tried to drop the redemption from deposit stuff and the facility at the Army base was closed for their 3 hour lunch break while I was there yesterday).

Cold and Car

2010-01-09T05:34:00.000-08:00

Please, if you are reading this as a friend in the Western mountain region of the US, put down your drink to prevent damaging your computer. I am not responsible!!!! We have a major snow warning for two inches of snow today. I know what you are thinking. All I can say is that we already have a layer of ice on top of snow on top of ice. So, while the major roads are clear and not a problem, we are grateful for the Subaru on our completely flat driveway. Eileen can handle polysyllabic words now, but we have yet to teach her sublimation, as that is not a problem where we have 100% humidity all the time. Meaning, that if it is cold enough for the snow to stick, there is an icy build up under it by definition. So, stop smirking! (and you can pick your beverages back up now that you have stopped laughing so hard).

I went to get some work done on our car yesterday. Literally the first work other than an oil change since we arrived 1.5 years ago. Anyway, it needed a CV boot replaced. Happily, we caught it just as it failed, so nothing else needed to be done on it. So, oil changed here are about 200 euro (or about 350 dollars -- needless to say we do that ourselves), but all other work seems to be much much cheaper than in the US. Our CV boot was about 72 euro (or about 110 dollars). I am going to see if painting and body work is cheaper here, as that needs to be done at some point. Anyway, point is that changing oil, buying motor oil, disposing of it (unless it is back into the little oil bottles, in which case our recycling center takes it for free), even the filters, are unspeakably expensive, but apparently, one shouldn't take that as a metric for how much anything else would cost here.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T03:48:00.000-08:00

Here we are at one of the many Christmas festivities. This photo was taken by one of the people at Spangdahlem. We drove there to see Santa and some of Eric's coworkers on the American side.

We have had a busy holiday season with friends and parties and lots and lots of home baked stuff. I am, as is usual for this time of year, feeling over stuffed. I keep vowing to make up for it, but tonight will be roast duck. This after a breakfast of Cherry Vanilla Scones will probably not reduce my size any...

Ah well, at least we avoided the traditional Ollie Bollie (Dutch deep fried donuts -- spherical in shape and amazingly yummy served hot and drenched in powdered sugar).

Swimming again

2009-12-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-15T22:31:00.000-08:00

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.

Now is the winter of our...

2009-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

Parents arriving from the states is of course what Shakespeare was insinuating with that statement in Richard III. No, not really. Really it is lovely here. Great cocoa and hot tea weather and time to visit indoors. Mom and Dad are really looking forward to some great interaction time with Eileen. And she in turn is looking forward to even more people treating her as though she is the center of the universe. And smiling when she says 'cookie please.' We will probably explore Christmas markets in Germany and locally. Possibly see a couple of Castles decorated for the holidays.

So, there are some questions that you might have: 1) will you have Thanksgiving. The answer is yes! I bought our turkey a couple of weeks ago -- it is about 18 pounds and kosher -- and I bought it from the nearest US commissary*. 2) is it traditional here? No, neither Thanksgiving, nor enormous birds are traditional here -- even though many from the Mayflower started their journey from these shores. Final bonus question: yes, I am still sick, though my doctor claims that he no longer hears the seven dwarves hammering against my lungs with every ragged breath I try to draw. Eric and Eileen aren't much healthier. In fact, none of our friends are.

*Caveat: we are actually helping some of the single guys and new families with their Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving day, so ours will be on Friday night with a couple of Dutch friends and my parents.

As Fall Heads Toward Winter

2009-11-07T23:42:00.000-08:00

We live pretty close to Germany. In Germany from about the middle of November on, there are these things called Markets. They sell snacks (sweet and savory), hot beverages (with and without alcohol) and of course lovely things that could be gifts (ceramics and wood -- toys, household goods, etc. mostly 'hand made' or at least look that way).

We went to Germany yesterday to go to the nearest Sea Life Center. In case you don't know of Sea Life Center, here is their website http://www.sealifeeurope.com/ My toddler has become obsessed with Fish, so we went to a large shopping mall in Germany (Centro in Oberhausen) and also visited the Sea Life Center.

Backing up, Eileen likes to play on our Wii. We have a fishing game on that. She will run up to the TV and scream FISH at the top of her lungs any time we catch a fish on that game. Hence the need to visit some real life fish. I have been printing out fish coloring pages for her. Today, I am going to use some card stock and make her a fish hat to decorate. Before she goes to the swimming pool.

Now, back to the visit to Germany. I had not visited one of these markets before, but at the mall at Oberhausen, they were busy installing the little plywood huts for the Kerst Market. All I can say is it is like walking through a town designed for a child sized railroad. It should be fun when there are actually things to buy.

For those of you looking for a health update: 1) x-ray came back without much on it. 2) I am still coughing, though not as badly. 3) Eileen is now coughing and it seems like more than just imitating a sound she hears (e.g. she does it in her sleep).

Cough and Prague

2009-10-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

For those following the bronchitis: Bronchitis 25 Karen 0. Still working it. Still chasing Eileen. Still drinking tons of coffee to keep me vertical after all the other stuff I have been taking. Eric says that Saturday is sleep day.

We did a quick weekend trip to Prague last weekend. Fantastic city. LOVED it. The synagogue I visited was painted vibrant colors. We got to see an antique astronomical clock in action. We got to drink tasty hot alcoholic beverages (except Eileen who had hot pear juice with vanilla). We also got to spend about 20 hours on a bus for about 24 hours there...not a good ratio. And, for those wondering, there is no comfy way to sleep with a toddler on the bus (but extra points for Eric for trying so hard).

Chrismas in early October???

2009-10-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

So, the treats for Christmas are already out at the Grocery. Happily, no one is piping in Carols yet. But, without Halloween and Thanksgiving to delay the Christmas foods, it starts getting cold, and out they come. It also helps that, as we discussed last year at this time, the day that Santa visits the kids is 5 December, so twenty days earlier than here. At least for some of the festivities.

Eileen is already trying to grab at the candies as we walk by....goodness, shopping with toddlers is sporting.

For those not facebooking, I have been pretty ill since our return from my cousin's wedding in September. Hence the lack of useful posts. I am on antibiotics and keep hoping that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up without coughing, and able to hold thoughts in my head. The blog has definitely suffered.

A while since last post

2009-10-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of military life is that there are always new people arriving -- even if we have to say good bye to others too soon. So, I have been spending a bit more time on base meeting new folks and of course picking up our mail.

Otherwise, Eric is back in the US for the week, so Eileen and I are enjoying some great Mom-Daughter time (okay, we are enjoying some of that and some Mary Poppins -- her favorite movie).

Now is the time to explain that I don't really understand why UPS won't deliver to an APO. They won't. So if I am on-line shopping, there is a good chance that I cannot get whatever it is delivered here. But, with that small exception, I can get almost anything that I want sent here. Okay, not fresh green chile, but short of that need, almost anything else will arrive here.

The balance between tourist, resident, and Mom

2009-09-24T23:41:00.000-07:00

So, I am still working on the idea of balancing my life. I need to stay busy, since that is how I have always been. But, I need to allow Eileen the space to have play time and nap time. I need to see as much as I can, so that I don't kick myself for not doing more while living in Europe. I need to not drive myself crazy (which knowing me is likely no matter what I do).

This week, I had planned to go to the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam. It might have included a tour of the Portuguese Synagogue. I had lined up some friends to travel with me on the train. I figured it would take 3/4 of the day and screw up Eileen's nap schedule, but with Eric on travel for a couple of days, that would be for me to deal with -- so hopefully it would yield: fun for me, some fun and new stuff for Eileen, maybe some Channukah gifts, new stuff for my friend, and no down side for Eric. Then my friend was dealing with illness in her family (of the flu type), so suddenly, it became too much adventure for one parent to handle.

Wait, I hear you crying out: are you the same woman who willingly flies internationally with that baby/toddler? Did you not end up overnight in Dublin without planning it? Do you not manage yourself and Eileen fine over multiple flights into many cities, managing luggage, toddler, seat, and all and rental cars? Why would you be fine with all that, plus jet lag and not a 1.5 hour train ride each way to see a museum in Amsterdam. Good points all...

Yet, we spent the day playing at Hemelrijk in the morning and with the neighbor's dog in the afternoon.

I think part of the reason that I am not confident here has to do with the fact that we just don't use restaurants much. They are for date night and maybe for coffee/lunch. Hardly ever for dinner other than date night. So, I have to factor in that I will be cooking something. And usually (as in 19 out of 20 dinners or so) I do better than hot dogs or insta-dinner. So, if I am home, I am looking at spending at least some of my energy cooking something. That means conserving some energy.

Back here for the Jewish Holidays

2009-09-17T23:43:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from 9 days in the States with my little family attending my cousin Bonnie's lovely wedding weekend and seeing my Idaho in-laws.

The Jewish New Year starts this evening (all Jewish holidays start at sunset, unless they are minor fast days...but that is another story). I will probably spend tonight at home with a festive meal and my family -- this sounds more like a holiday than traveling to Tilburg either by myself or with a crabby toddler. Tomorrow I will go to Tilburg -- possibly by myself.

Somehow, holidays are a reminder of both the old family traditions (a sweet new year with Baskin Robbins at my grandparents' home in Chicago), and the fact that I am defining my Judaism as I go along.

To that end, I am planning a journey to the Amsterdam Jewish Museum for next week (I hope). This is a complex of Jewish sites that are no longer (with the exception of the Portuguese Synagogue) actively used. The Netherlands was very receptive to Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria at the beginning of the War, but by the end more than 80% of all Jews were dead. That means that there are an awful lot of Jewish sites that are now repurposed. That said, the Dutch have done a marvelous job of coming to terms with their past. There are monuments everywhere. They were at best embarrassed and mostly morally outraged that their tolerant society was overwhelmed by the Germans.

Some of my friends know that I am not really an Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jew -- I am about 1/4 that. The rest is either German or Spanish. I am at least Sephardic tracing through my Mother's line (Eric has been doing Genealogy) and possibly elsewhere as well. That line left the North West coast of the Netherlands some time in the 18th century. So, I guess some of my wish for traveling to the Jewish Museum is to find my roots.

Also, it is time for me to start looking for holiday gift ideas, as it takes a while for things to get back to the States.

Away again...

2009-09-03T13:18:00.001-07:00

I am heading off with the family for a wedding and a really quick turn in Idaho. I just downloaded my photos from Scotland tonight and they leave a lot to be desired (e.g. I have only one photo from Edinburgh -- the gate that I found interesting at the Botanic Gardens). I am hoping that Eric has better photos. Otherwise, we will just have to order some Scotland postcards for our scrap book :-)
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One of the great things about being associated with the American military overseas is the astounding generosity of people back home. The family received a care package from Project Mot today. They sent us one at Passover as well. We have honey and lots of other sweet treats for the new year. So, to those who donate to those care packages, know that they are appreciated wherever they fall.

GPS Addiction

2009-08-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well friends, today we needed to go to the nearest commissary to buy turkey bologna for a toddler who is addicted to the substance, and meat and canned goods and treats for the cat. Anyway, we decided to visit a Kasteel (castle) near the commissary. So, like a good trouper, I found a lovely one with a restaurant (usual Commissary run fare is Burger King) on the internet. No address on its site. So, I asked my GPS to find it. And, my GPS recognized the name. Off the three of us went -- yes, Eric was available and had an errand to run there. We followed the GPS. And again -- like our hunt for the famed winery of greater Arnhem -- we were left in the middle of a residential street. Based on street signs, we got near to the location, but clearly not near enough for us to see any sign of it.

Ah well, we'll find it another day!

Uden, our big city

2009-08-24T03:09:00.000-07:00

I have failed to write about Uden, our big city (Volkel is a village and is considered part of greater Uden). It is not that Uden isn't a wonderful town. And the people are amazingly friendly and warm. It is not that there are no good restaurants. It is that Operation Market Garden and the fact that the Luftwaffe was in Volkel mean that the whole area is new since 1945. So, despite market mornings and dappled sunlight, despite many parks, and people playing accordion in the streets, it lacks the physical charm of a city that survived WW II more in tact -- like Veghel, our near neighbor or Den Bosch.

Eileen and I go there often. The shops, like most places in the Netherlands (and like most places in the US) tend to be chain stores. Two of my favorite non-chain stores are going out of business...I assume that would be true in the US too. But, most days are like today. I managed in my mostly useful Nederlands to do errands and marketing. Eileen made such a big hit with the olive man that he gave her not just free samples there, but a goody bag to go home with (have I mentioned that the Dutch love kids).

So, I should tell you what the difference is between Volkel and Uden. Volkel has about 5 places to eat (two restaurants -- the rest snack bars or bars). Uden has more like 50 -- including ethnic restaurants (note: do not expect Mexican or South American food to taste authentic in mostly rural Europe). Uden has 6 or more grocery stores, to specialty fish stores, a specialty cheese store, at least one butcher, and at least four bakeries (possibly more). Volkel has a grocery store, a bakery, and a really nice butcher.

My love of Dairy continues to grow

2009-08-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

The other day Eileen and I met some friends in Eindhoven for lunch. I looked at the specials menu and saw a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream as a special. Now, I don't know if I have blogged about this, but Pancakes are a reasonable dinner here, sort of a flat crepe...they come sweet or savory. When we go for pancakes, Eileen often gets one with strawberries. So, I thought it would make a happy baby lunch.

Out came my smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese sandwich on a baguette and her lovely waffle.

My child ate about half my cream cheese and all of her whipped cream - except the tiny bit I tasted. Hoo boy...was that yummy. I think that most of the cows here are grass fed...and it comes out in all their dairy products. Butter, cheese, cream cheese, milk. So, it makes me wonder that most of my Dutch friends use diet margarine on their sandwiches.

In other news, I have figured out the bus system and the fact that in general, it isn't much cheaper than driving...but sometimes it is convenient not to have a car in places. The cheapest method of using the bus is to go to a grocery store, news stand, book store...and buy a multi-use pass (a stripkaart). Then you hop the bus, tell the driver where you want to get off, and s/he will mark your pass accordingly. Our closest bus stop is at the windmill -- about 1/4 mile from home. It will take us to Uden or to Eindhoven. I thought it would be fun...and allow me to interact with Eileen. It took about 1.75 times the amount of time hopping in the car and driving directly would...but made up for that by actually costing a bit more (if we had stayed longer, then it might have been cheaper since parking does cost in Eindhoven).

Another week in Germany

2009-08-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

I have been computer free for 3 days. Instead, I enjoyed some time with Eileen and Eric in Germany. We got Eileen vaccinated for 18 months. We took the shuttle bus places while singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and "3 Cheers for the Bus Driver." We were surprised that none of the bus drivers there had been serenaded with bus appropriate music before. We played on a playground or two. We enchanted Eric's leadership chain (okay, this was all Eileen...I was merely her roadie).

In short, I haven't blogged -- but not too much has happened.

returning again

2009-08-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

well, I am back. and of course, unpacked. Let's see...we took the overnight ferry to Newcastle, we spent a week in Edinburgh (slightly less), a night in Tongue, 6 days in Kirkwall, then an overnight visit with friends in Carlisle and chunnel back to home. Details and photos will follow.

News flash: baby has grown

2009-07-14T03:04:00.000-07:00

I postponed posting until after our visit to the wellness baby bureau today. Eileen is, surprise, wait for it....short! And a bit skinny. 9.9 kg and 78.5 cm. I will look on-line today and see if I can find a fill in the numbers growth chart so everyone can see that despite being a little short and slightly skinny, she is progressing just fine. She surprised the doctor today by following directions pretty well. Until it came time to give up a toy that she wanted to play with, when my child instead tried to distract the doctor by giving her other toys....

Ah...

At least other people are also noticing things about her. I am not just imagining that she is trying psychological tricks on them.

Today, she also experienced her first real fear at climbing something. Something she had climbed with no ill-effect many times. A ladder to a fort in Volkel. I don't know whether to chear that she finally is not willing to run to do something at the possible cost of plummeting to her death, or to mourn that she is now slightly afraid of heights (though still loves a great slide).

Strange observations

2009-07-05T12:06:00.000-07:00

No waterfountains (or drinking fountains or bubblers).

All beverages seem to be served in their own specific glass/cup/etc. E.g. ordering a water and a soda at a restaurant will result in two different types of glasses. Coffee is served in cups. Tea is served in glass cups. You would think that this would lead to an amazingly large array of barware, but as far as I can tell, it doesn't look too bad. Usually, your beer arrives in a glass that is even labeled by the brewery.

Camping usually means RVing.

Our house still doesn't have screens, but we have figured out to close our ventilators when the fans aren't blowing. So, the mosquitoes are not as plentiful as last year.
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Eric and I started having date night several months ago. Every Saturday night we try to go to a restaurant and go for a walk. After several weeks of thinking about it, we went to the Pool/Snooker hall in Veghel early on Saturday night (before dinner). Thankfully, we were the only ones there other than the bartender who looked about 60. We all got to enjoy techno and rap. This while Eric and I both remembered that it had been about 20 years since we had played with any regularity (and for me, that didn't mean that I played well). We were glad to not have an audience of people watching us as two games took over an hour (and I only one the second because Eric scratched on the 8 ball -- I still had four balls on the table). But, pool was a fun thing to do without the baby.

A sick week

2009-06-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

Eileen had her first major illness here between Monday night and Tuesday. She had a fever of 104. But, it came right down with acetaminophen. The next day we talked to the doc and she told us that it was likely a lower GI viral infection and would clear within a week. I caught it the next day, but for each of us, it was thankfully less than 48 hours till we were well.

So, then we played with friends in the sun, at the lake at Hemelrijk and the great play area in Handel. And of course, went to Schinnen...getting the car legal for the second half of our time here.

There you have my mindset. We are on the outbound side of this time. I need to spend it more productively, more friends, more adventures, more play. Less time in the house with a frustrated toddler.

Also, for those of you planning to come visit (you know who you are)...remember we are on that downward side of the time here.

playgrounds

2009-06-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

Eileen and I go to playgrounds. Last Thursday was indeed a three playground day. There are some things to note here. A playground never ever ever has a drinking fountain. In fact, they are scarce here. Perhaps an endangered species.

If a playground has a swing, it most certainly isn't meant for babies -- except in three locations near us...

All playgrounds must have at least one slide.

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Another thing to note. If the playground has a bunch of kids speaking Dutch (Nederlands), then the correct approach is to rapidly attack whatever you find interesting, even (or perhaps especially) if you must push the other kids out of the way to get there (or at least ignore them). But, if the kids are speaking English, this is rude...even at 16 months...so you should wait your turn.

Play is really a very complex thing. I don't remember it that way.

Anniversary and life

2009-06-13T04:24:00.000-07:00

Eric and I have lasted another year. So, year one we couldn't celebrate as the plane did not fly that week from Ascension (Eric missed Karl's wedding as a result). Year 2 was in C. Springs, at Cheyenne Mountain Resort. Year 3 was at Bella Italia here in Uden, with Eileen asleep on the chair next to me for the whole meal. And, this year, Eileen enjoyed a baby sitter (thanks Madeline!) and we went to Listers in Uden.

Other news: we are getting ready for vacation in Scotland.

I am still the least romantic person I know. I got Eric a couple of neat versions of things that he would enjoy (e.g. white chocolate, a place to store the cell phone while charging (thanks for that idea, Karl), a travel toothbrush holder that looks like a cow and mounts to the wall. Eric got me beautiful, pesticide free, lilies. Notice a discrepancy? Me neither!

Eileen and I joined friends for a trip to Utrecht on Friday. It was great. I got to see a bunch of things that were fun...and cannot wait to go back with Eric. Thursday we met my friend Meredith and baby Dina in the cute little town of Son en Breuge for lunch. We had an awesome lunch and time. Wish it had been longer, but we wore out our respective little ones.

Eileen is definitely pushing all the 2 year old buttons full force. We will see if I end up having a break down, but so far so good. Solutions for the tantrums include, putting her in her bed. Walking away. Giving hugs. Tickling. Blowing bubbles. Diming out the cat. I am open to other suggestions, as I am usually through that whole range before lunch!

Return to the Netherlands and a Blog

2009-06-06T05:10:00.000-07:00

We have spent two weeks in the US since I last posted. By we, I mean Eileen and me. Eric joined in for the last four days to see daughter number 1 happily wed to the father of her daughter. I enjoyed grandparent-a-looza part 1 2009, so thanks to everyone who joined us along the way!

Along the way, we had the ability to contemplate the kindness of strangers. Over the course of 6 flights, we were delayed by: 0 hrs, 26 hrs, 1.5 hrs, 2.5 hrs, 0 hrs, and 2 hrs. During those delays people helped me in various ways, whether watching the baby seat so that I could chase her in a play area, or hoisting my belongings (or occasionally baby and child seat) on my behalf, I must quote Tennessee Williams and state that I depended on the kindness of strangers.

On our return to the Netherlands, our good friend Sheila was visiting. A piece of her equipment was not working and we had to go to take it to be fixed. The young man that was working on the equipment spent at least an hour of his time on it, eventually figuring out that it was the charger, which he switched for one that they use as a diagnostic. He refused to charge for any of this or even take a tip. He used a very popular phrase here: no problem.

I have weaned Eileen and unpacked since our return...but not much else. I promise to try to write more soon!

News from NL

2009-05-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

Eileen and I have been having fun biking around. Playing at playgrounds. Buying gifts for daddy. Working on our Nederlands - which despite all that work is still abysmal. I worry that I will never be any good at it.

Meanwhile, we are about to be computer free for a couple of weeks. This sort of silence might be good for the soul -- and my grand-daughter's outfit for the wedding (to which I need only add some buttons and some trim) might finally be finished -- just in time for her parent's wedding.

Another Cultural Observation

2009-05-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I made observations about the culture here. I would say that Dutch people are lovely, honest and forthright. That said, they often wait for the newcomers to initiate a relationship. So, if they haven't interacted much with Americans, we must all seem rather rude. This is not because they don't want to be our friends, but rather because the onus is on the new comers to approach new neighbors and the like. But, of course as an American I am used to that being inverted in most places (except east coast synagogues and purportedly the whole state of Maine) -- where the people who are already residing in the neighborhood seem to do the welcoming. Now, add to that the discomfort of not speaking the language at all when I arrived and only speaking it marginally better now (most of the time people understand what I am requesting at this point -- but I don't do well with the 5-9 year old set, who think I am either stupid or dumb (in the traditional sense of the word)).

Eileen now has a tricycle -- which despite her best efforts is primary colors, and not pink.

I will send photos of her new raspberry colored jelly shoes. She chose them herself and is incredibly proud of them. Tonight is the first night we have managed to pry them off her feet and out of her hands for sleeping. She loves them!

Some appropriate photos

2009-05-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Being Lazy in the Spring

2009-04-28T08:48:00.000-07:00

Up until Monday the weather has been so glorious that the thought of staying inside long enough to blog wasn't high on my list of things to do. Eileen has learned the way to the nearest playground and our neighbor's homes. She willingly runs to the backpack to be taken for walks.

Now is our second day of cooler temps and some rain, and having played the let's get out aggressions out in the bath with a splash war -- and dragged her to the grocery and the fish monger and the yarn shop, I am now trying to remember how we survived the long, dark, cold winter. What did I do before we had bubbles?

Other news: as spring becomes late spring, I am looking sadly at the fact that some of my local friends will be departing, but others will be arriving. PCS season has already started!

We are getting ready for our trip to the US in less than 3 weeks. We will hit DC and Chicago. Daughter number 1 will be wed at the end of the month of May and then we will return to the Netherlands.

Eileen --- Parks and the fearless baby

2009-04-18T02:16:00.000-07:00

I am hardpressed to call Eileen a baby as anything more than a force of habit at this point. She tantrums. She uses words when she wants to (though lately we are grunting more and enunciating less). She runs, climbs, giggles.

As a woman living with her baby in the Netherlands, I have already told you that I have a bike seat for Eileen. We bike on a regular basis. Often to the park. This leads to the inevitable occasional tantrum while I am dutifully trying to put her into her bike seat and helmet to return home or run another errand.

But, this post is really about our visits to Uden's big park. As you recall, I live in the small town of Volkel -- a village, really. It has several playgrounds, but there is a giant series of playgrounds down Sportlaan in Uden. There are slides, a toddler area that is all in sand, a bunch of swings (though none of them baby swings), climbing equipment, even a fort on a tiny island with a wet moat that you must ford by rope bridge or single rope with a place for your hands. Not surprisingly, Eileen adores the place. Last week, we drove to the toddler area and met an Oma (grandma) and her granddaughter Millou. She said they went most days. So, we returned on Wednesday.

Too late, though, since school was out. So, Eileen, who like all toddlers is drawn to whatever the big kids are doing, faked me out, and ran for the 15 foot high ladder to the slide. ACK. So now she is ahead of me and on the third rung of the ladder with a bunch of school aged kids clambering up behind her. I had to push them out of the way to get to her, but that is fair considering how often she and I have been pushed aside by other school aged kids. We went down the slide together: whee!!!! Again, again. Twice more then we rode on to downtown in search of ice cream in a cupje (little cup) since it was still Passover. We failed and went home to our ice cream at home.

So, the question is, is there a switch in the head that will let her know when she is truly beyond her depth? If so, when does it switch on?

She has made the move to toddler swim class. And one of the little girls in the class runs fearlessly and flings herself into the water, even without her parent there. I know that Eileen would do the same if I didn't hold on ever so tightly to her wriggly little self.

Eileen grows and thrives

2009-04-09T03:09:00.001-07:00

Happy Pesach or Chag Sameach gentle readers. Eileen went to visit her friend Doctor Jose Kokxhoorn at the Consultatiebureau for her 14 month well baby check this week. She is doing great. Pretty quick on the uptake. In fact, she raced all over the doctor's office trying to open drawers and grab mats and toys. She is now 19 pounds 5 1/2 ounces or 8775 grams. And she is 29.92 inches (or .76 meters -- roughly half my height).

I have discovered that the nursery school won't take Eileen until she is 2 years old, and since by then we will be worrying about our next duty assignment, I am instead looking to put her into day care for a half day 2 days a week. I could luxuriate in time to do laundry and clean house with out 'help' -- and even get to use chemicals to clean the bathrooms without major fear.

I must admit that since I did not ask for someone to watch Eileen this week, my house is not really kashered for the holiday. Instead we are just ignoring what Mom didn't get to do. The crackers and things are still on the shelves, so we just ignore the chammetz. Not a great solution, but it is what we did this year. Hopefully next year I will have her in the above-mentioned day care, and that will allow me to clean my little heart out. For those who don't know me that well, I really do like to clean my home, especially the deep clean for the holidays.

Scouts and Easter Flowers

2009-04-04T08:23:00.000-07:00

My neighbors, specifically the buurvrouwen (the ladies of the neighborhood), have started doing flower arrangements twice a year together -- Easter and Christmas. So, Friday night I joined in arranging flowers. It was nice to actually understand a bit more than I did at Christmas, that said, most of the words that I recognized were not the ones with big impact (I recognized things like names, pronouns, definite and indefinite articles...an occasional verb). But, the flowers are lovely. They are in the laundry room, as that is somewhere Eileen can't reach them.

On our way back (at 10.30pm) from the neighbor's home, we found a bunch of 11 year old scouts roaming the neighborhood on some sort of treasure hunt. There was a candle signifying some sort of hint, clue, or token, right along the street. The kids were armed with a couple of flashlights. And they were about 1/4 mile from the scout house. But, it was something that I don't recall seeing even in our very safe suburbs growing up. Instead, I remember a similar scavenger/treasure hunt at night at O'Hare Field (back when you could go back to the gates, and when there were lockers in different wings and before the United Terminal 1 was built).

Doo Doo Doo Looking out my window

2009-03-29T01:43:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned that sometimes see odd things out the windows of the house: e.g. the man on a bike pulling the pony along - or the bar-mobiles. Yesterday some sort of event happened. There were upwards of sixty bike riders, all dressed in warm orange coats, all with balloons tied to the back of their bikes. They road by my house toward town, then I saw them coming back by the house, then once more out past my house toward the windmill.

I have no idea who they were or what they were riding for. Perhaps it was a fund raiser. My friend Yvette mentioned that she had seen them at the local amusement park - Hemelrijk.

Orange is the color that people in the Netherlands wear to show nationalism (their flag, like the French and the British and many others -- including ours -- is Red, White, and Blue -- in fact their flag looks like a sideways version of France's (or perhaps France's is the one that is 90 degrees out of phase)). So, if you are watching a football match or the Olympics, most of the people supporting the Netherlands are wearing Orange and carrying the flag.

Anyway, it was 49 degrees and hailing and/or raining, so Eileen and I enjoyed watching from the living room window. Yeah for heat and a roof!

Comfort foods in a distant land

2009-03-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Every culture has comfort foods. For me, a chicken broth with dumplings or noodles or matzos balls (or even Pho) works wonders on days like this, 46 and rainy outside and 103.5 inside (with babies running in circles).

The Dutch comfort foods tend to be hearty stews with meat and/or sausage, pancakes (which come with cheese, bacon, etc. cooked into them -- or various fruits -- see paragraph below), and white fish.

So, I am of course making Avago-Lemono soup (Greek Egg Lemon Soup).

More on Pancakes. Eileen and I joined a bunch of friends for pancake supper this past week. She and I split a pancake with cheese, leek, and pineapple (which was quite tasty!) and a strawberry sundae for dessert. I am already planning my next trip back there!

Thinking about culture

2009-03-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

When we moved here, we heard that it was common to walk your guests to their cars. It turns out that if that were once true, it isn't true this century. I wonder how many other things that we were told are not true. I wonder what the purpose of telling us these untrue things is. Could it be that this person wants to live in a country where people do walk each other out to their cars? Is it all an elaborate game of trick the visitors?

Anyway, those are my cultural thoughts for right now.

too long without blog

2009-03-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Hello blog readers. I have missed you. My parents came for a visit. It was lovely. My father took lots of photos and as they arrive here, I will post them (with his permission). We visited the grave of my paternal grandfather who died as a US Army Air Corps bombardier in WWII. He is buried in Belgium. Otherwise, we mostly stayed close to home except for two days which we spent in Amsterdam.

Eileen reveled in the extra attention and love. We even had a day at the local play area called Hemelrijk. It turns out that if you have a country that is cloudy and rainy and cool much of the year, there is a real need for indoor play parks...sort of like the McDonald's Playland, only usually much bigger and with more screaming children, and usually beer and wine to allow the parents to cope with the large number of screaming kids. Hemelrijk is walking distance from our house and has two large indoor play areas that compliment the smallish lake, waterslides, and other fun outdoor activities that they have. Here is a link http://www.billybird.nl/. Even mom and dad, aka Grandma and Grandpa, took the huge slide!

Amsterdam felt less festive than last time we were there, despite staying at the edge of the Leidseplein (which is full of restaurants and shops) -- right near the museum district. Eileen enjoyed the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum and the family now sports museum cards (museumkaarts) - so we can go to all sorts of museums.

Then, once Mom and Dad were en route to Pittsburgh, we rushed off to Tilburg to put on a dragon costume for Eileen and enjoy a Purim Shpiel in Dutch (Haman is still pronounced Haman -- so we did alright!).

I can finally feel a bit of spring in the air. Crocuses are popping up in the medians.

Speaking of flowers, Eric has planted all my favorites here (or they already existed) - Irises, Hydrangea, Rhododendron, Calla Lilly, tulips...and we have started a few of the veggies inside -- including artichokes! I am really excited to watch the strawberries bloom and have our own fresh produce. Until then, I hit the market.

This week, I finally broke out the hand-me-down bags (5 of them). Eileen has more clothes than she can go through in a week. And we hit market day and bought her a beautiful pair of all purpose shoes for 10 euro.

Swimming is still part of our life, and now I have some American friends joining me for it. I am bummed to have left the Friday group and my friend Ashra and her son Dieter, but we try to meet them after swimming on Fridays. All of the baby swim classes are much more popular than they were six months ago.

I don't know if Flikr will allow me to link to my father's photos with all right reserved to him, but here is the URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/klh2009/