Amsterdam Cloggers

2003-01-21T06:11:00.000-08:00

Okay, so, I'm back in DC, we have a great apt. in Chevy Chase (nice, old WWII buildings with hardwood floors, lots of character, extremely well kept, 3 blocks from metro), and this is my third week back to work. Nice that we had yesterday off for MLK Day.

It's funny, I thought I'd be much more bummed out coming back to the States, but I'm happy to be back. I thought I'd miss Utrecht more than I do.

Some of this could perhaps be that I quickly became sick of being broke on just one paycheck...nice to be back to work and earning a living!!!

Unfortunately, the cast of characters in my life now--and this isn't a cut on ANY friends and family--aren't quite as "colorful" as those in the Netherlands, but I'm sure I'll have stories to tell.

2002-12-27T03:50:00.000-08:00

Well, my days here are coming to an end. I feel very sad about leaving Utrecht, though I am excited to resume my life back in DC...not to mention getting a regular paycheck again! I am pretty much packed up, and will finish up tomorrow. My plans leaves very early on Sunday...I will need to wake at the crack of dawn. Will be a very busy week this week, what with flying in on Sunday, driving down to DC Monday, and pounding the pavement to find us a place to live (the plan is to secure something BEFORE New Years so I can go back up to NJ on Thurs.). Whew! I will be all in a tizzy by the time Chris flies in on Friday. And assuming I get us a place, we will have to move all of our stuff out of my parents' basement and back down to NJ next weekend. It's the reverse whirlwind of when we left!

Christmas was quiet and lazy this year, what with no little girls under foot and no family obligations. We sure did miss Chris's rug rats though...we spoke with them for awhile on Christmas and we are all very excited to be together once again for the weekend of 10 Jan.

Oh, I got pictures of the crazy little man and the psychic bartender from Christmas Day at TWP (Chris, me, and the young American trombone player who lives upstairs from us went to TWP and got reeeeaaaaaally drunk...very fun!). I will post those photos after I get home. Hilarious. In his drunken state, the crazy little man told us that he was basically a delinquent as a child and was in reform school, that he set his parents' house on fire as a teenager, and is now estranged from them because his gay brother, in an attempt to throw his parents off of the fact that HE is gay, told his parents that Jack, who lives with a man, is gay. I asked him point blank if he is gay, and he said no, though later in the evening he said he had to leave because his mate expected him home at 8:30pm and it was 11:30pm...that sounded a little gay to me.

Anyway, these past three months have been some of the most magical of my life. I am really going to miss the Netherlands.

2002-12-24T05:57:00.000-08:00

So I'm going back to the States early...this Sunday! Must find a place for us to live. Can't believe it is basically over! And yet another New Year's apart from Chris. Someday we'll get our kiss at midnight. But at least we have Christmas, and he doesn't have to work the rest of the week.

Merry Christmas everyone!

2002-12-18T04:38:00.000-08:00

Never thought I'd say this, but I am actually getting a little bored. All our guests have come and gone, the "newness" of Utrecht has worn off...I think 3 months was perfect. I'm ready to get back to "real life," start working again and making some MONEY!

Chris's company Xmas party is tomorrow night, and we have to bake a cake, American style. His mother gave us a recipe for Texas Sheet Cake, which we plan to decorate with George Bush faces and the infamous "Don't Mess With Texas." Seems pretty appropriate to bring something Texas to an international party. I can't think of anything Jersey, unfortunately. We have to bake it tonight. Should be interesting, considering neither one of us really cooks!

2002-12-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

Nope, no soccer game. Pinching pennies these last few weeks until we go back and I start working again. Many expenses coming up and only one income...things are really winding up here. I cannot believe how quickly it went!

Chris and I went to TWP for some beers last night. We walked out into the rain and started to jog up the street...and flew past a drunken crazy little man (Jack) staggering around on the corner. We had to laugh because he showed up in TWP later and was at the end of the bar still drinking! I found out dirt on him from the psychic bartender, as well as from Paul, the owner of the building. The psychic bartender said he has some kind of condition that effects his lungs (remember when the cops came that night they played their music loudly and I said I thought I heard a woman arguing with them...it was JACK!) and his growth (thus why he is so small). And Paul, when he came to fix the heat in our place when Chris's parents were here, gave me his direct number, saying that Jack is NOT the super of the building! This whole time we thought he was some sort of maintenance guy for the building...but never saw him fixing anything...which makes sense because he's just a tenant!!! Paul said Jack always introduces himself to new tenants as the maintenance guy or whatever, and Paul cannot stand it. I really need to get a pic of him before we leave.....

2002-12-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

I think we may try to go to an Amsterdam Ajax soccer game on Sunday...it is the last one of the season! We don't have tickets but were told we can scalp. Chris bought an Ajax ball cap the other day in A'dam (when we went in with his parents) and I bought a ski cap (warm).

Otherwise, LOW KEY WEEKEND!

I've really sort of gotten my head around going back to DC. This place is great, and I will miss it, but there's a lot to look forward to in the States. I miss Chris's girls very much, I miss my kitties, I miss my friends and family, Chris and I have a new life to start there. It'll be good!

2002-12-12T08:01:00.000-08:00

For the first time, my hands are FREEZING in this place. I sweated my butt off almost the entire time here, and now when it's like 24 degrees out, this place is like a meat locker.

Anyway, Chris's parents left this morning after being here for a week. I know, I know, hanging with the in-laws for a week, cooped up in the same apartment day after day could be sheer hell for many, but....believe it or not....I had a really great time with his folks. They are really down-to-earth, no-pressure types. They didn't have a huge agenda for their visit, but really just wanted to get to know their new daughter-in-law. They also let me sleep in until 11:30am! We didn't really travel around a lot, preferring to take it easy, read, talk talk talk talk, play games, cook at home. It was nice. I just got an email from Chris saying his mom told him she just "adores me"...I am in like Flynn! His mom is a real kick in the butt...she and I have very similar senses of humour. It's hard to believe she is 69! Just a very funny lady. And his dad is about the sweetest, most easy-going man. Very genuine and sincere, as well. Just goes with the flow. I am VERY glad I had this time to really get to know them. (Photos from their visit at http://photos.yahoo.com/kathrant).

So some highlights from Kaysha and Vanessa's visit (from where I left off):

* T-giving Day: No T-giving here, but we did have pumpkin soup at my fave restaurant here, Aan Tafel. There's a cutie Euro waiter there...he and his g-friend own it together, and he is always so nice and gives us good advice on places to go and things to do in the NL.
* 28 Nov: Went to Amsterdam and were driven to the museums by a "salsa taxi driver" who gave us his card if we wanted to go to a good salsa club that night. We ate at a small restaurant nearby called Cafe Hansel & Gretel or something, where a crazy French people likely on some kind of drugs sat near us at the bar. She had a severe haircut: straight, short black hair, blunt bangs, and wore funky glasses...and didn't say a word. The man's mobile kept ringing and he talked loudly and quickly in French and sometimes English, saying "The location has changed, the location has changed," and constantly looked out the window (paranoid). He also answered his phone, "Sex police..." Went through Van Gogh, sat in the smallest pub in A'dam and listened to '80s music, then went to a coffeeshop. All I will say about the coffeeshop is: 1) a guy wore a Pee Wee Herman sweatshirt that I HAD TO HAVE, 2) the time between 7:00pm and 7:10pm seemed like an hour, and 3) turning my head to look across the bar and feeling like it was in slow-motion was reeeeeeaalllly funny. Oh, and the Lionel Ritchie LIVE! broadcast at the falafel place we ate was fuuuuunnnnny, too.
* 29 Nov: Amsterdam again. Anne Frank house, "wonderful" canal tour in which after our first stop, the driver announced he was being relieved for the day and we had to switch boats...the one we were stuck on was cold with hard chairs, no lights inside, no guided tour (as promised when we paid). Hysterical because everyone looked just miserable (thus, the Les Mis photo in my photo album). Red Light District: found out that while most of it is women in windows, on the side-streets it gets seedier with men in drag. Also, funny to watch packs of men, mostly Asian, gawking (particularly at 2 blondes dressed up as nurses). Gross: saw a man walking out the door from behind a curtain and thanking his lover. Um, what else? Oh, passing by the "Casanova" sex show, there is a huge penis fountain with balls that rotate around and around. Later, on the way back to the train, we ventured into a sex shop. Among the things we giggled about: 1) butt plug (and not just any ordinary butt plug...this one had a pump to make it larger), 2) swing with instruction manual, 3) vibrating female parts and mouth/lips, 4) naughty magazines (big, BIG boobs, teenagers--though they looked to be 35, hands/fists in places you can't even begin to imagine--or maybe you can)...Vanessa got busted by the store manager for "reading" a mag featuring old ladies. He told her the place was too crowded for reading, 5) hot booby oil, 6) dominatrix gear, 7) Japanese porno cartoon peep show. Hey, I'm just an innocent Jersey girl (is that an oxymoron?)...this stuff was WEIRD! Okay, and so walking around A'dam at night, the whole place smells of marijuana. Even on the train! Going back to Utrecht that night, 2 young guys decided to toke up on the train (no windows open), so everyone in our car was, well, silly. Once back, we thought we'd try Tivoli, a popular Utrecht club. Big mistake. A popular Dutch Eminen wanna-be, Brainpower, had played, so after we paid and got in the club, we looked around to see TONS of 15-16 year old boys. Ugh. So we tried to get our money back, but they could only stamp us so we could come back later after the "kids" left...the bouncers tried to pull a power trip and not stamp us, so I gave them huge attitude, saying "There's 15 year old KIDS in there...I'm 30! Like I'm really trying to 'sneak in' without paying!" So back to The Warm Place (TWP) where we encountered the "psychic bartender": this bartender works there all the time, real friendly, came and talked to us...and it was WEIRD, he knew a ton of stuff about us without us telling him anything! Now, sober, it doesn't seem quite as creepy, but at the time, we were all amazed. He knew who the Goofy Finn who told the bad jokes was, without my even describing him or saying his name (the bartender said, "Oh yeah, that is probably Mika" after we told him the bad joke)...he brought up Kaysha's fave John Irving book...he knew I wasn't (originally) from DC and that Kaysha and Vanessa were...I dunno just strange. We closed the place (4am).
* 30 Nov: Rotterdam. Kaysha announced early that there had been no rain...so of course it POURED. We passed the town of Gouda (yeah, like Gouda cheese, except the nice woman on the train actually pronounced it CORRECTLY for us...it's like a hard, gutteral "ch" sound at the beginning). No umbrellas, so we were completely soaked walking around Rotterdam. Took us awhile but we finally found the vintage store section and bought funky shirts. Later, we wanted to find the "old section" of Rotterdam, and wandered in the cold rain looking for a cab...took FOREVER, everyone's miserable. But we found one and went to a restaurant in the Delftshaven (old) section. The 3 of us and another table of 4 closed the place, and it got weird outside. One man asked us where we were from, and when we said America, one of his crazy companions, a black woman with dreds who was impossible to understand (no idea what language she was speaking...could have been tongues) asked Vanessa where her parents were from. When she said Germany and Peru, the woman laughed in the way only an insane person can, and told her to "shut up" and "F off"....that she's not American if her parents are from Germany and Peru. Then she stood near me, too close, and somehow I wound up saying I was living in Utrecht and she laughed and ordered me to take cab from there to Utrecht, to which I said, "Yeah, I'm a foreigner, but I'm not stupid." Thankfully, the cab came to get us before any more exchanges happened with this freak. She was out of control. We gave our cabbie a good laugh with that story on the way to the train station.

Anyway, phew, I think that's about it. Kaysha and Vanessa's basic question was, "What is wrong with the Netherlands?" Most places have a fatal flaw, but not here. This is the land of happy, beautiful people on bikes, where no one is fat, gorgeous flowers sold everywhere, legal pot, chilled out, no rush, no traffic. Granted, it rains A LOT and is now freezing cold, but...this place is great.

Tired of writing...more tomorrow.

2002-12-06T04:45:00.000-08:00

Haven't had a chance to sit down and write since Chris's parents arrived on Weds. It's gonna take me FOREVER to go back through Kaysha and Vanessa's visit, plus now with his parents. I'm gonna try to escape for awhile and be alone tomorrow or Sunday, so hopefully then I'll be able to put in the time!

2002-12-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Pics from friends' visit up on http://photos.yahoo.com/kathrant......

2002-12-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, here we go.

Kaysha and Vanessa arrived on Weds. 26 Nov. early in the a.m. Things went much more smoothly for them than for my parents! We took the train back to Utrecht, dropped our things, and went back out shopping and exploring. The girls were really excited to check out the shopping district here, and we all fell in love with H&M (dept. store)...has quality clothes/good prices. After eating lunch at a cute little pub called De Witte Cafe, they started to lose steam, so we went back to my place to nap (I had more work to do for my job, so gave me a chance to do it!). Since we ate such a late lunch, we weren't really hungry for dinner, so I took them over to The Warm Place (or TWC, as the pub across the street is now called) for "a beer," which turned into several. The girls loved sitting in TWC by the fire, drinking the REALLY GOOD BEER here.

I found out that my Finn friends were going to be at the bar where I met them the first time, so we went over there later. We met up with the youngest of the group, who was soooooooo sweet and sat with us most of the night. I kept making him pronounce my last name in his little Finnish accent (the way it SHOULD be pronounced, not with the horrible American accent). Then Mika came in. When I met him the last time, we hit it off really well and I thought he was pretty cool. Oh boy was I wrong. First of all, I immediately thought he was acting kinda goofy. When he shook hands with Kaysha and Vanessa, he did it in that 7th grade boy way, pumping their hands really fast over and over again. Then I heard him mention to his friend something about his girlfriend being there, and when I asked where she was, he waved his hand dismissively toward the other side of the bar and said, "Oh, I left her over there," or something like that. Very pompous, like he's sooooooo cool.

But it all went downhill when after a couple more beers he decided to tell "jokes." Good Lord, it was awful. Here it goes:

A bear walks into a bar in Montana. He orders a beer, and the bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve beers to bears in bars." The bear notices a woman in the corner of the bar and says, "If you don't serve me a beer, I'm going to eat that woman in the corner." The bartender says, "I'm sorry, but we just don't serve beers to bears." So the bear goes and eats the woman, then says, "Now you better give me a beer!" and the bartender says, "Sorry, we don't serve beers to bears on drugs." The bear says, "What do you mean, I didn't take any drugs!" and the bartender says, "That woman in the corner you ate was on drugs."

Okaaaaaay. I'm sitting here laughing just thinking about it (maybe you had to be there). I did a courtesy laugh, Kaysha did not even try to be courteous and told him she didn't get it, and Vanessa just looked confused. If any of you know this joke, or know it correctly, or can explain it, please email me, because the humour was lost on all of us. Then he told another one, which I can't even remember now. I got that "embarrassed feeling" that you get for people who are acting goofy or dorky.

During his joke-telling, his girlfriend, a Dutch girl, came to sit down. Now, when I first met him, he told me they were living together in Germany, and when I asked if he was going to marry her, he said, "Um, no." So the girl comes over, and I mean, she wasn't a GREAT looker, but really, we were like, "What the hell is she doing with him?" She seemed really cool.

The cute little Finn was leaving over the weekend for a job he had accepted in Germany...he is definitely a cool guy (Vanessa has a crush on him!). He has a friend in Alexandria, VA, so we are going to invite him to come for a visit. He is now called The Cute Finn. Mika is The Goofy Finn.

The beers really hit us a) because we hadn't eaten and b) because Belgian beers especially have a higher alcohol content, so we set out to find food, but nothing stays open late-night down by me, so we actually in desperation made pasta at home. Pasta never tasted so good.

Feeling lazy right now......will write more about their visit tomorrow!

2002-12-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, will update my blog tomorrow about my friends' visit...lots of stories from the past six days!

God, only one more month until we leave. :-(

2002-11-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've EVER worked this late at night! It's only because of the time difference with East Coast, but still. Had to email a work assignment off and am back at the cafe at 10pm! This is unheard of normally.

2002-11-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

Posted the pics of Rob Sterling and me from A'dam, but he wanted me to insert this HTML...my blog is being weird and not updating on the site now, but here goes:

src="http://www.robsterling.com/graphics/112-1248_IMG_sm.jpg">
src="http://www.robsterling.com/graphics/112-1246_IMG_sm.jpg">

2002-11-26T06:27:00.000-08:00

"All by myself/don't wanna be/all by myself"

Well, not for long. Chris left this morning, and I thought Kaysha and Vanessa didn't get here until Thurs. morning, but actually they get in TOMORROW morning. Sooooo psyched!!! I am really excited to see good friends and have some girlie time. Plus they will want to tour around and be out late every night, so will be a total blast!

Since I couldn't go to Chris' family reunion/party thing for his dad, I made him a surprise instead. Chris had taken this really nice pic of me on my 30th bday, and I had it blown up, then cut out my face only, glued it to a piece of cardboard, and attached a fly swatter as a stick. Now he can carry it around the party and introduce his new wifey! Plus I'll be silent the entire time, which is probably a blessing in disguise. Thought his fam would get a kick out of that. I told him that it is his job to make sure his troublemaker brothers don't use the "Kate face" to do anything degrading or lewd. Should be a challenge.

2002-11-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

Chris leaves tomorrow for the States until 6 Dec. His family is having a big surprise party for his father's 75th bday. It's the first time his entire family has gotten together in 20 years (mother, father, seven brothers, one sister, plus grandchildren). I, as "the new wife," am pretty sorry I can't be there, but then his parents arrive next week anyway for a week-long visit so...it's all good.

Chris is in the doghouse. His trip doesn't get him back until 6 Dec. (only one day earlier than originally...remember, this was his boneheaded error), and his folks arrive 4 Dec. So two days with HIS parents! Guess I'll get to know them pretty quickly, huh, since I've only met them once. He owes me...big.

Just went shopping a little earlier for his daughter Erin's 5th bday. Her bday is just after he leaves to come back, unfortunately. Anyway, found the HIPPEST outfit...little demin bellbottoms and a flowy red sparkley top! Will look adorable.

2002-11-25T06:41:00.000-08:00

Oh, it is official...my job is taking me back in January! I got word from my boss agreeing that I will return to work on 6 Jan. 2003. This is a BIG relief, not only because the job market sucks so bad, but because I really enjoyed that office (nice change for me!) and the people I worked with. Much, MUCH more positive atmosphere than working at Autism Society of America. Anyway, I'm very excited that I was able to do this trip, and still have a job to come back to.

2002-11-25T05:37:00.000-08:00

So I have to be honest about my hair. When I said I got my hair cut on Friday, this was an understatement..she scalped me! And oh God did she color it. I said blonde, but Jesus! First of all, the chemicals were burning my scalp so much that I had to ask for rubber gloves so I could massage my scalp. Then I had to make her wash it out because it just hurt. My hair was platinum. Bright, bright platinum. Awful. I almost cried. I looked like a boy or Joan of Arc or something. So I went through the day, but then bought some color in a box, a little darker, but it still wasn't right. So I let the weekend go by, then got some more color in a box this morning, and dyed it a darker blonde...so it really looks like my natural. Ugh. Figure I'll wait a couple weeks, give it a rest, then go to another salon to get HIGHLIGHTS. Never ends with my hair! I needed my trusted little gay hairdresser dude.

2002-11-25T05:15:00.000-08:00

Brugge, Belgium. It's like entering another century.

We left Utrecht on Sat. morning, not realizing that we had to take 4 different trains to get to Brugge. Not only that, we missed our connecting train in Antwerpen to Brugge, so the trip was about 4 hrs. Had an interesting experience on the train from Rotterdam to Antwerpen. The conductor came by to check tickets, and I had my feet propped up on the edge of the seat in front of me (2 sets of seats facing each other). He apparently ordered something to me in Dutch. I knew enough to remove my feet, but he stood there and ordered something else, to which I said I didn't understand. He said it again, sternly, and added, "Now!" I looked at Chris and he was like, "Sir, we are not from this country, we do not understand." Then he pointed to where my feet had been and said, "You must wipe that off, now!" I couldn't believe it. I felt like I was being interrogated by the Gestapo or something. It was all very German. So I swiped the seat, then snatched the tickets back out of his hand, snapping, "Well, I am so sorry I didn't understand what you were saying"...then adding as he walked away a term used to describe the male genetalia. Ugly American, yes. But Jesus, did he have to be such a prick?

But a cool thing about the train is that from Utrecht to Rotterdam, we got to talk with a Dutch woman about Dutch culture, from smoking to Black Pete to Sept. 11. Smoking: She surprisingly was not a smoker, but never ever ever EVER would ask someone to put out a cigarette, well, anywhere. Black Pete: It is Dutch tradition. They do not see it as racist because it is just a totally different culture. She even said that the black people here really do not seem to voice offense because it is such an ingrained Dutch tradition. She also said that in her mind, in America people can't say anything without offending someone. I could not argue with that. Sept. 11: She said it was like watching a Hollywood movie, and even though America seems so far away from here, it really isn't. They, like us, were wondering about what was going to happen next. She was amazed that we are from DC, and were there when the Pentagon was hit.

Anyway...so we got to Brugge and checked into our hotel (Chris had forgotten to bring our hotel info, and guessed off the top of his head the name, and unbelievably, he got it right for the cabbie), then went exploring. As we walked out of our hotel, Brugge's Sinterklaas parade was passing by, so we ran up the street and caught up with it. (Yes, more great pics of that.) The parade stopped in front of the oldest theatre in Brugge (actually one of the oldest theatres in Europe, I believe is what the cabbie said), where a crowd of parents and children gathered to listen to the marching band and watch Black Peter dance around merrily. Chris must have stood out because he's so tall...Black Pete threw him a piece of candy!

We then went to the top of a bell tower (getting great exercise climbing all these flights of stairs in these various European towers)...breathtaking. The city is absolutely breathtaking. Red roofs sprawling as far as you can see. Many, many churches/steeples as well. Cobblestone streets, canals running throughout. The whole place really looks like something out ancient times.

After the tower, we poked around the various shops. Brugge is known for its lace, so we bought souveniers...I found the most adorable, beautiful lace dresses for little girls, and wanted so much to buy them for Chris' daughters for our wedding. How special would that be? However, at prices of like 120+ euro, just not doable, especially since the little girls will likely spill all over them. Perhaps I can find something *like* them but for less money.

We ate an early dinner at a pancake house (very intimate and festive place...Christmas decorations up, fire burning). Belgium/the Netherlands have this unique way of making pancakes, where they make one large, thin pancake, and it tastes more salty than sweet, and you can get any combination of topping (like cheese and ham or bacon or whatever). Very yummy. The weather by this time had turned and it was very cold and pouring down rain...when we went in search of a place to hang out for the night, we found a great club right around the corner from the hotel called Lunatic. We got there a little early, and people were just kinda hanging out listening to music, but as the night went on, it got more and more crowded, and the dancing began. The highlight: they played "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi!!! A little bit of Jersey in Brugge, Belgium. There were these two girls sitting not far away and when the song came on and I screamed, then sang at the top of my lungs, they either laughed because they thought it was funny or they were laughing at me. Probably the latter. They were just jealous because I could sing all the words to most every song played there, as it was mostly American pop and retro.

The next morning we woke to Sunday morning bells and chimes and it sounded just lovely. Beautiful way to wake up. We took a canal tour of the city, and just shook our heads at the beauty. Some of the "homes" right there on the canal were just amazingly gorgeous, with unique chimneys and roof-work. I love that everything is brick or stone, and nothing pre-fab or cookie-cutter, like in the US. Everything has character. Everything.

Afterwards, we just poked around for awhile in the shops and took pictures everywhere we went. We were going to tour some of the churches, but we were quickly running out of time and decided to save it for either when Chris' parents are here, or another time before we leave. We definitely want to return there.

I bought the most gorgeous, handmade ring in a quaint little trinket shop. The saleswoman said a little eccentric man from Paris, now living in Brugge, makes this jewelry, all sparkling and looking very 1930s. I would love to buy a couple more things when we go back. The jewelry is just so unique and beautiful.

Our trip back to Utrecht was interesting. First, while waiting in the train station in Brugge, this surly station worker was cleaning the floors. Earlier, Chris was at the soda machine with a group of children, and the guy came barreling through the small crowd, scattering everyone away. Couldn't go around them, couldn't politely ask them to move, just forged right through. Then, after he had made some rounds, his course took him past where we were sitting. Now, he insisted on pushing past as close to the chairs as possible. When he started, I went to just put my feet up so he could get by, but he forced me with a wave and mean expression to get up out of my seat and move. I made some surly face back at him, and was tempted to spill some of Chris' soda right where he had cleaned. But then I thought he'd murder me or something.

On the train from Brugge to Antwerpen, we found seats sitting across from each other, and the people next to us were like amazed by us. I felt as if I were some zoo animal or something. Chris had to dig in his bag for his book and glasses, and he was standing to the side of his seat in the aisle, and the look on these people's faces was like they had never seen someone looking through a bag. We were both stifling laughter, but then couldn't contain it when these same people were getting up to exit the train at a later stop, and I looked on in exaggerated amazement, like seeing people gathering their things was something new to me, and was caught by one of the women.

We once again missed our connecting train from Antwerpen to Rotterdam (our own stupidity). Then on the train from Rotterdam to Utrecht, the conductor started questioning our tickets. When I bought the tickets, the woman at the counter gave me some "weekend rate"...considerably less, so I of course didn't argue. Well, the woman conductor was going on and on about how we had to show some "rate card" and her colleagues along our entire trip had apparently overlooked this. At this point, we were both at our wits end with all of this nonsense (she was treating us like we had somehow done something wrong or were trying to rip off the train system). After asking her several times to explain what she meant and trying to find out what she expected us to do, Chris got snappy with her, and I told her that I had no idea what she was talking about, that the woman at the station in Utrecht printed out the ticket and never mentioned any card. The woman just would not get it so we started to just okay her and ignore her. Finally she walked away. I think she is either new and eager, or she is looking for a promotion.

Brugge--great. Train trip--not so great. Hey, makes for good stories, no?

2002-11-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

Oooooh boy, I suddenly have the urge to get my drink on tonight.

Some guilty pleasure songs/artists I dig as a result of watching MTV Europe (where they actually play music videos):
Missy Elliott, "Work It"
New J. Lo song (with Ben Affleck in video)...VERY cheezy but God help me, it's catchy
Kylie
Justin Timberlake, "Like I Love You"...I really have no excuses for this one, as his voice annoys the hell out of me and the video is embarrassing for him (as if he's a real "bad ass"), but the rap part is good

2002-11-22T05:37:00.000-08:00

Got my hair cut and colored today...when short my hair grows reeeeeaaally fast. It's pretty punky still, and now blonde, blonde, blonde. I am not used to it at all, but I'm sure I will be in a couple days. Short hair is so wonderful. I should have done this years ago.

Anyway, when she bleached it, I could not STAND how it felt on my scalp. It itched so much I had to ask her for rubber gloves so I could sit there and massage my scalp. The stuff needed to be in about 10-15 mins. longer but I couldn't take it anymore and made her wash it out. (My little gay hairdresser guy was on vaca, so a girl with purple hair did it instead.) She reminded me of Kelly Osbourne. Cool chick, sang along with the Mel C. CD they had blasting, and even rapped the part by the late Lisa Left-Eye Lopez. She seemed to like talking about the States and how much she wants to go there.

We're going to Bruges, Belgium tomorrow. All set with hotel, just need to get train tix. I'm excited to go somewhere new!!!

I've been really moody lately, and for no specific reason. Gotta snap out of it!

Still reading Anne Frank. I had started another book, a 1,500 pager called "A Suitable Boy," about families in India. I thought this would be the perfect time to tackle such a looooong book, but...alas...it has not kept my attention. I keep stumbling over names and places, and the plot has not snagged me (plus I don't care that much about the characters, and that's a problem), though I got over 100 pages in. I dunno, maybe I'll try again.

The weeks are flying by! Someone please stop it!!!!

2002-11-21T07:28:00.000-08:00

This annoying guy sitting at the computer opposite me keeps stretching out his legs and kicking me with his feet. I just moved my foot like I was switching positions and kicked him hard on the foot so he'd move it. I mean, you cannot stretch your legs out here! The space is cramped!

Argh, there he goes again! I kicked him again...didn't do any good. Jerk!

And he has really ugly shoes, too.

2002-11-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

So Chris and I are planning to go to Bruges, Belgium this weekend. It should be a really fun trip...the place is apparently amazingly gorgeous. It's so easy to plan these things with the Internet, PLUS hotels are really cheap right now. Off-season and all.

Not much new to report, actually. Oh, remember how I said they strung Christmas lights from our building to the one across the street? Well, the lights are now working on every single block...except ours. I have no idea why, but our lights are the last set and have not been on since they were strung.

Well, I guess I can officially announce it now: Chris has accepted a job with WWF Netherlands, but will be working out of the DC office. Without going into *too* much detail, WWF US is in the tank to the tune of millions, and tons of employees were laid off. As a result, Chris' position he held before leaving for the Netherlands was eliminated. Yeah, so basically, they waited until he was off to another country before laying him off, and even then, his squirrely boss freaking EMAILS him about it. Didn't even have the decency to call him on the phone. This after almost TEN YEARS of service to them. So this was almost a really bad situation, but thankfully he had decided to go for the Netherlands position before learning about the elimination of his job in the US office...so now he remains gainfully employed. BASTARDS!

I miss my kitties!

I called Chris' daughters this past Sunday, hadn't talked with them since mid-Oct. (Chris talks to them at least twice a week). In typical kid fashion, his oldest daughter Grace talked to me, but was also watching TV, so I'd ask a question and there'd be huge pauses, and then "What?" His youngest, Erin, wouldn't even get on the phone. Ah, the innocence of youth...someday it'll be fun to tease them about how "Rolie, Polie, Olie" was more important than a call from Daddy and Katie in the Netherlands!!

2002-11-20T05:42:00.000-08:00

I just spent over an hour looking up apartments in the Washington City Paper online. Ugh. I don't even want to think about going back to the States. I have to be honest, there is not much about DC that I miss aside from friends and family. I really, reeeeeeeally like it here. I just adore Utrecht, and it's so very cool not living in the States right now. I was telling Chris last night that I feel like things are so weird over there, with 9/11, War on Terrorism, George Bush, sniper in DC...I dunno, I just get a very negative vibe when I think of the US these days. I am quite happy keeping my distance right now.

I'm gonna be pretty bummed when we pack it in here.

Anywhoo...my friend Kaysha from DC comes in on 26 Nov. Wooohoooooo! Her friend Vanessa (who I also know well) is coming the next day. Chris will be out of town in the States during their stay, so it'll be a girls' week! I'm really looking forward to their arrival. Who knows what trouble we'll get into. hehehe

My fantasy football team, now named the Amsterdam Potheads, not only trounced its opponent this past weekend, but had THE MOST points out of the whole league! Don't know what got into my players, but I'll take it. I'm no longer in dead last, but have 2 or 3 teams under me, which is a relief!

Started reading "The Diary of Anne Frank." I never did read it in school for some reason. Now that I've been to the house, it's nice to get to know her.

I ordered funky glasses from a shop here. I don't like the glasses I have, and wanted to get some cool ones. Nice alternative to contacts, which get irritating.

Chris made a boo-boo. A big boo-boo. His parents are scheduled to come for a visit on 4 Dec. and his trip to the States, not well planned out, had him coming back here on the morning of 7 Dec. Obviously, some changes need to be made to this.

I had lunch yesterday with Chris' boss' wife, Kath. She and her hubby (Jamie) have a 11 mo. old girl named Jen. She is just the most adorable baby. Laughs a lot and can easily get her to smile. She let me hold her yesterday and didn't even whimper. Kath and Jamie are Aussie, so it's so cool to listen to her speak. I love their slang, too. We talked about a lot of weird cultural things here, like the fact that they keep stores/shops at a stiflingly hot temp, the whole Black Peter thing (turns out WWF has a Sinterklaas thing at their offices for employees' children, and Kath has decided she is offended by BP and will not attend with Jen), that they don't have screens on any windows so bugs always fly in, that all stores including the grocery are closed on Sundays, etc.

I told her of my impending doom of going back to DC, and she said of any place in the world, the last place she'd want to live is the States. Encouraging, eh?

2002-11-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

I put some photos up. Go to http://photos.yahoo.com/kathrant.

Haven't had time to write today...will write more tomorrow!

2002-11-18T04:45:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am setting up a Yahoo photo album.

http://photos.yahoo.com/kathrant

Nothing's in there yet, but will upload some pics ASAP.

2002-11-18T04:07:00.000-08:00

It turns out that Utrecht, too, has a Red Light district. Chris and I went to the movies last night, at a theatre we had not be to yet (though I had walked down that street in the daylight). We were about a block away from the theatre, and saw the infamous red neon lights in some of the windows. Sure enough, some ladies were sitting in them. We also passed numerous coffeeshops, the smell of marijuana seeping out onto the street. I thought this was a "nice" city.

The city strung Christmas lights right outside our flat to the building across the street. Very cool. Of course, as of yesterday, all the lights on every block were turned on except the ones outside our window.

I was alone for a bit at the pub across the street on Sat. night and was accosted by the weird little man. He bought me a glass of wine. Charming. He has no top teeth at all. He talked again about the techno night when the police came. He said the dude next door to us is a "snob," a kid from money who is now a dentist. I have to admit, he is not wrong about the guy being a snob...I would definitely call him unfriendly. I have passed him numerous times in the hall and on the stairs and the most we've mumbled is "hi." Though he may find me to be unfriendly, too, but I don't care. (I did escape the weird little man as quickly as I could, but hey, it was a free glass of wine!)

MTV Europe had its Video Music Awards on Friday night, which was hilarious because P. Diddy hosted it, and most of the winners were American. And when they went through the actual non-American winners (from various countries around the world), they just sped through it, like an overview. Then just like MTV in the U.S., they played it over and over and over again all weekend. How pathetic is it that Eminem LIP-SYNCHED his ever-popular "Cleanin' Out My Closet" hit? Not only that, Christina Aguliera, not to be outdone by Britney Spears, performed practically naked. That chick is just a skank. Period.

2002-11-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

So I couldn't sleep last night and wound up watching some late night Dutch TV. Scary. I stumbled on some light porn, and actually watched it. Never done that before. It was hilarious. The "plot" seemed to be about these couples on vacation on a boat. When I tuned in, they were all sitting in a common room, exchanging erotic stories. This Pam Anderson looking woman with big fake boobies was describing her hot encounter with another woman (avec visuals, of course). But the funniest was later, when this one couple was back in their room and got into an argument...she storms out and goes into the bathroom, supposedly to splash cold water on her face, but then she realizes that the bathroom is "steamy" because someone's in the shower. So of course she has to strip and go see who's in there...it happens to be the captain of the ship. They do it. Then in the next scene, she makes up with her husband, and they decide to bail from the boat, and wind up doing it in a public restroom. How can people seriously be turned on by this stuff?

When I could stand no more, I switched channels and found "Easy Rider." I think everyone involved with the making of that movie was stoned and/or tripping throughout the entire production.

2002-11-16T06:24:00.000-08:00

This also from the Onion:
According to Burdon, key to his decision to choose Diet Coke was the memory of a 1994 television spot featuring model-actor Lucky Vanous as a construction worker who excites young, single women by shirtlessly consuming a can of the soft drink.

Hey, I interviewed that dude during my summer internship at the TV station in Lebanon, PA. His success was short-lived, eh?

2002-11-16T06:21:00.000-08:00

From the Onion...laughing out loud:

Senator Mix-A-Lot Sponsors Titties-On-Glass Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC—Seeking to stem a four-year decline in freaky Yolandas throwing they titties on U.S. glass, U.S. Sen. Mix-A-Lot (B-WA) introduced sweeping new putting-'em-on-glass legislation Tuesday. "Now listen up, Uncle Sam / I wanna see soul sistas pressin' that ham / Make me say damn / I wanna rear-end 'em / So I'm callin' a Senate referendum / Bounce by the ounce don't make no fun / I'll take 'em by the ton, son," Mix-A-Lot said. "Don't hand this bill down to no committees / 'Cause Mix don't wait on monster titties / Note to my colleague Tom Daschle / That if the babies be gettin' bashful / No melons droppin' on my windshield / So get them nudie laws repealed." Mix-A-Lot then gave props to the authors of H.R. 1610, from which several key clauses were sampled.

2002-11-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

For the love...out of the corner of my eye, I saw a dark face, and seriously thought a Black Pete had wandered in here after the parade, but it was an honest-to-God black man. This is just wrong!!! hehe

2002-11-16T05:48:00.000-08:00

Oh my dear God in heaven. Well, Sinterklaas just rode through town on horseback, surrounded by his Black Petes...indeed, white folks in black face, big red lips painted on, and clown costumes. There had to have been 100 of them. I got photos. Oh yes I did.

It is FREEZING outside. I can barely type right now my hands are so cold.

This has to be the strangest holiday tradition I've ever heard of. The parade was fun to watch though...streets are teeming with children, all excited about Sinterklaas' arrival from Spain. You can't help but get excited too, when the drums start beating and the kids jump up and down and cheer.

I think something else is going on today/this weekend, something about bands playing in all the pubs. Playing love songs. I have to find out more about that.

2002-11-16T04:49:00.000-08:00

The Black Petes are coming! The Black Petes are coming!

Parade starting soon in Utrecht. Tons of people on the street. I have my camera ready...

2002-11-15T05:05:00.000-08:00

So I met up with Robert Sterling in Amsterdam yesterday. For you non-Lacey Twp. folks, his younger sister Meredith is a longtime childhood friend of mine (was in her wedding just before we left for the Netherlands), so I have known Robert just as long as I've known Mer. Anyway, he was in London visiting some friends, and came over to see Amsterdam this week (and to meet up with a distant cousin, a very interesting older lady who was great about sharing/explaining Dutch culture). She took us to Amsterdam's equivalent of, say, Neiman Marcus, called the Beehive, where they have displayed their traditional Dutch Christmas decorations...the climbing Black Petes. I really have to set up a Yahoo photo album and upload the pics I took. They are these huge Black Pete puppets suspended on thick wires, and they climb up toward the ceiling and back down toward the floor. There had to be 6 of them. Rob and I were scandalized. We tried to explain to the cousin just how un-PC this is...as Robert put it, it would almost be less shocking to see a 5-year-old molested in front of us than these dangling Black Petes, with their big red smiling lips and clown outfits. I don't think she quite understood how dead you'd be in the U.S. if you displayed these cheerful chaps. Apparently, there are some who are trying to rid the Dutch culture of this Christmas tradition, and a couple of years ago the Beehive did not have the climbing Petes, but then so many people complained, they were brought back. You have to see it to believe it.

It was really cool to hang out with Rob. I realized before going to meet him that this would be the first time EVER that we hung out just the two of us...but I guess all those years growing up I was just his little sister's punk friend, and he was Meredith's annoying big bro who teased me incessantly. But anyone who knows Rob, and me for that matter, knows that there was never a struggle for conversation. After the cousin left us, we went to a bar and had some dinner and beers. Meredith and Robert BOTH amaze me with their memories and recollections of childhood. I mean, remembering random kids' names who lived on their block but moved away...even the last name! I do remember a lot of things, but not in nearly the detail that they do. It was fun because it jogged my memory and much of it was still there somewhere, just had to clear the cobwebs (i.e., the boy who lived at the end of the block named A.J. Totally remember him now, but never ever would have called up the memory on my own.).

Anyway...was really a lot of fun. Thanks Rob!

The train ride back was interesting. I caught a 10pm-ish train, and it seemed that everyone was drunk. A guy with dreads came onto the train with a big can of Heinekin and was saying "bitch" over and over again (presumably, he was drowning his women troubles in Heinies). He popped another beer, and it spilled all over the seat and floor in front of him...he then guzzled some and promptly passed out. Another guy near him was pounding beers (alone) as well, and smoking a stanky cigar that gave me a headache. Best of all, a young woman was sitting opposite me, clearly wasted, blowing bubbles. Literally. After observing this circus, I just stuck my nose in my "In Style" magazine.

2002-11-14T04:04:00.000-08:00

Oh YES! Rantapalooza clothing!!!!!!!!!

http://www.cafeshops.com/cp/store.aspx?s=rantapalooza

2002-11-14T03:59:00.000-08:00

Hey, check this out!

http://www.rantapalooza.com/

2002-11-14T03:33:00.000-08:00

I think there are some young adults with autism here. My 9-month stint at Autism Society of America gave me the ability to pick 'em out. Flapping their hands, making high-pitched sounds, speaking loudly, etc. No offense to my good friends at ASA (of which I am a member and still very much care about the cause), but SO glad I don't work there anymore!

2002-11-14T02:54:00.000-08:00

Great, just getting over this stomach bug, and now I hear all this phlemy coughing and sneezing around me. Grody.

So yeah, the nose ring was kinda stupid. I took it out this morning. My face looks better without it. At least I have proof...a small hole you have to look very closely to see, and the stud itself.

I am in the process of proving that anyone in my profession can do this job from anywhere, as long as you have Internet access. I had to do follow-up work for my job, and all it took was some Internet searches to find what I needed. Someday businesses will realize they don't need their writers and editors IN the office. Am VERY glad to have some work to do though.

2002-11-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Oh, after doing a Web search on Ralph Fiennes (didn't know much about him), I found out that he is appearing on the London stage in "The Talking Cure" in December! So, now thinking about doing Christmas in London instead of Paris (and going to Paris for a weekend this month instead) and seeing RF live. Yum!

2002-11-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

Been thinking...I think I may hyphenate my name when we get back to the States. I like Ranta, but also want to use Chris' name, so...Kate Ranta-Williams. I never thought I'd be a hyphenating kind of girl, but I think that is gonna be it. Chris didn't really mind in the first place if I kept my name. He's likes Ranta. But, I think it might be nice for his daughters if their step-monster had the same last name as theirs. So Ranta-Williams is probably best of both worlds. Plus, my cat Zack is Zachary Ranta, and the kitten Ricky is Ricky Williams, so it combines both.

I'm a dork.

2002-11-13T05:47:00.001-08:00

Oh no, she's back.

2002-11-13T05:47:00.000-08:00

For the first time, a smelly female sitting next to me...oh thank GOD, she just got up and left. I almost had to move to another computer again. Just a tip: perfume does NOT cover up B.O. God, the smell lingers. Gag.

2002-11-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Oh my God, photos someone took from the Sinterklaas parade...read her comments! LOL

http://www.hansonrefuge.com/sintpix.htm

2002-11-13T05:23:00.000-08:00

And this:

In the Netherlands (or Holland), Santa Claus doesn't visit as he does in other parts of the world. His cousin, Sinterklaas, brings presents on December 5th. He has helpers named Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) who have gotten dirty by crawling through the chimneys bringing gifts to children. Sinterklaus wears a red bishop´s hat, a red bishop´s cloak and has white hair and a white beard.

Okay, so technically, Black Pete is not a person of color. He's a helper who got dirty in the chimneys. Oooooooh, okaaaaaay.

All I have to say is, I don't care what the tradition here is, I am celebrating Christmas on Dec. 25. Hey, I should tell Chris...double the presents. We have two celebrations.

2002-11-13T05:18:00.000-08:00

Oh boy, check this out:

On the last Saturday of November, St. Nicholas, accompanied by his servant, Black Pete, arrives by steamer in Amsterdam. Along with him he brings his white horse and dozens of his helpers, "Zwarte Piets", (Black Pete). As he rides down the street on his white horse, he distributes gifts to the people, who chant "St. Nicholas is coming!"

Before Sinterklaas Day on December 5th, small children try to be very good. If they are naughty, Zwarte Piet may swat them with a birch stick or worse yet, take them away to Spain in his big bag. During this time, adulta and older children are busy preparing surprise gifts for the family. The presents are wrapped in funny, unusual ways with special notes written in verse. The gifts are then hidden away until Sinterklaas Day.

NOTE: First sentence...his SERVANT! Oh my.

2002-11-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

Saw "Red Dragon" last night. The book was much better, though two of my Hollywood faves were in the movie: Ralph Fiennes and Ed Norton. RF is freaking HOT. And his bod rocks in this movie...lots of nice butt shots (and even a quick shot, if you look closely, of his wanker!). Both are fabulous actors.

I think I discovered the reasoning behind Hollywood showing full-frontal nudity of women but not men. I thought it was a big double standard, which it undoubtedly is, however...think about it. Willies come in different sizes, and men are VERY insecure about whether size matters. If you have "big" stars like Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford, George Clooney, etc. and they have little willies, it may shatter their image and star power. And then the comparisons, like "David Duchovney's is HUGE!" (which according to H'wood rumour is true), while "Oh my God, Leo DiCaprio's is an acorn!" (I don't know whether this is true, though it seems like it would be, doesn't it?) Anyway, point being...get over it! Let's see whatcha got!

So Chris and I have had a big culture shock here with a Dutch Christmas tradition: Sinterklaas and "Black Pete." Oh boy, talk about un-PC. Black Pete is one of Santa's helpers who is, literally, black. During a Christmas parade in early Dec., Santa sits on a float or rides a horse, and Black Pete walks next to him...a white person in black face, big red lips, white teeth, gold hoop earrings. I actually bought SC and BP dolls over the weekend. I guess they don't have to be as sensitive here as in the States (though I think I've seen all of 10 black people the entire time I've been here). I guess the issues of African Americans are not the same everywhere. I will take lots of pictures when I see the parade. This I have to witness. You should see all the shop windows...Black Pete is actually more popular than Santa Claus. He's everywhere! (I will try and find a web site for folks to check out more.)

2002-11-12T07:02:00.001-08:00

Oh, and Dad called my nose ring a "booger" all weekend, and constantly offered me tissues.

2002-11-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

Well, the parental units are back safely in Jersey. Their plane finally arrived Thurs. around 2:30pm...they had been at Newark from 6pm until 2:15am when the plane finally took off. Actually, their original plane had taken off on time, but had to turn around as they couldn't get the landing gear up. So literally they were IN THE AIR and were turned around to land. They were basketcases once we finally met up. My dad asked if I had any of Zack's "kitty Prozac" to give my mother.

On Friday we toured around Utrecht and finally went up in the big cathedral here. It was a great tour, and we had to huff and puff up small little stairs (Chris and I made it all the way to the tip-top). We also went to the national clock/musical museum, which was really unique. They had all kinds of player pianos and "jukeboxes" with real instruments in them...the best one was the one that had three violins. Never seen anything like it. The best part was that while waiting for the tour to start, Chris put money in one of the machines and a polka started playing, so we started dancing around the lobby. Well, a man who identified himself as the director of the museum approached Chris and me and asked where we were from, and we said America, to which he said, "I thought the way you were hopping about that you were American, but I didn't want to say so"...but it proved to be good that our inate Americanness escaped us because the director took us over to an old bell piano type thing (it has a name but can't think of it now) and played it for us personally. He played "God Bless America!!!!" Then, because my dad has played the piano, he and my dad teamed up and played a little something together!

So we ventured into Amsterdam (first time for Chris and I, I'm embarrassed to say) on Saturday, and went through the Rijksmuseum (basically their national art gallery) where we viewed Rembrandts (honestly, and I know it's probably sacralidge, but I didn't like his stuff that much) and other Dutch artists. Then we went into the Van Gogh museum, which was just wonderful. I love his Impressionist stuff...when you look closely, it looks like a random bunch of bright colours, but when you back up, the picture comes into focus. There was one I'd never seen, a landscape of Paris, and it was just gorgeous. Ironically, the museum now has a feature exhibition called "American Beauty" with various American artists, which we of course wandered through. We took an evening canal tour that pointed out highlights of the city...the townhouses that line the canals are unbelievable. I couldn't stop peeking into them as we went by, and I even saw an Ugly Naked Guy. Seriously, just standing there in front of the big window in all his nekkid glory. Yucky. Have to remind myself that anything goes in Amsterdam.

Sunday we went back into Amsterdam and went immediately to the Anne Frank house. It was absolutely chilling to be in the house where her diary entries took place, not to mention just horrifying to see how small an area they had to live in for 25 months...not even able to go outside. Plus, they had covered all the windows in the secret annex, so even natural light didn't enter the place. It was truly moving. In her actual room, they had preserved the movie magazine pictures she had cut out and taped to her walls. They also had her first diary on display. By far, this was my favorite "tourist attraction."

After Anne Frank, we went and found Cafe Chris, the oldest pub in Amsterdam. Had several beers there, and of course acted like the obnoxious American tourists, taking lots of photos of Chris in "his" pub. With a good buzz on, we walked in the posh shopping district, in the POURING DOWN RAIN (it rained almost every day my parents were here), and finally wandered into a coffeehouse (yes, one of *those* coffeehouses). They have separate drink menus...those with hash and those without. Mom and Dad of course stuck to the "virgin" stuff, hot cocoa and cappacino. Chris and I, however, walked on the wild side and drank banana shakes with hash. Didn't feel a thing though. Also on the menus were various types of hash and marijuana...the noteworthiest one was The Big Joint. I can only imagine. (I just have to say here that when I was a teenager, if someone told me I would in the future be in a drug place in Amsterdam with my parents, I would have laughed in her face.) Along the streets in this area were tons of head shops selling bongs and big Middle Eastern pipes and marijuana pipes of all sizes and shapes.

Once "drugged" up, we wandered the streets trying to find the Red Light District. Interestingly, my father the ring leader in this, determined not to go back to the US having not seen Amsterdam's infamous sex district. Leave it to us, we took off in the wrong direction and wandered aimlessly for probably at least 45 mins. But eventually we found it, and it is a WEIRD place. Girls in windows wearing underwear...so weird, they stare right at you, and do not discriminate between men and women. TONS of sex shops with various paraphernalia in the windows (the one that caught my eye was a huge fist the size of a man's). Again, funny to be walking amongst this seedy stuff with my parents.

Mom and Dad left in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. But Mom definitely left her mark on Utrecht. Their first morning here, they got up before Chris and me, and Mom began her 2 hour hair-drying routine...except I didn't tell her the night before to set my dryer on LOW, as the currents here are stronger than in the USA (well, the standards are different). If you put my dryer on HIGH, it will basically blow up. So she started drying, my dryer started smoking and sparking, but she kept it going. Well, she not only blew out the fuses in our flat, but our next-door neighbors, as well. Chris had to get dressed and go wake up the weird little man downstairs and tell him our power was out (he was kind and didn't blame his mother-in-law)...the guy answered the door in his dirty underwear, of course, which disturbed Chris (this after seeing him in our "warm pub" across the street the night before, where he accosted Chris and talked to him for like 10 mins.). Anyway, so the weird little man had to call the owner of the building to come fix things, which he did, except the power was still off in the kitchen and bathroom. So we were peeing by candlelight. It was finally all fixed yesterday.

So Mom blew out the whole floor doing her beauty regime. I'm sure the owner were thinking, "Damned Americans."

2002-11-07T02:39:00.000-08:00

Chris doesn't like the nose ring too much. It's not that he hates it and wishes I would remove it, but...like most men, he has an issue with change, so it will probably take some getting used to. I felt a little stupid about it last night, but this morning I shined it up and cleaned it and it really looks cute. Think I'll keep it for awhile.

So my parents damned plane was delayed FIVE HOURS. My cell phone rang around 6am our time, so midnight in NJ, and the plane had a "mechanical failure," so wouldn't be taking off until like 2am. They are gonna be tired pups when they get here this afternoon. I'm bummed because they are only here till Monday, so today was supposed to be nearly a full day. But I guess I'd rather them ground the plane for mechanical failure than discover it while in the air. I am sure my Mom was a ball of stress about it. She'll be bouncing off the walls when they finally land. She really doesn't like to fly in the first place.

Well, it also gave me time to do last minute cleaning/straightening up in the apt. Anyone who knows my Dad knows how anal he is about everything being in its place. I usually leave something askew on purpose though to see how long it takes for him to fix it.

2002-11-06T05:44:00.000-08:00

So I now have a silver stud in my nose. It hurt like hell, but it was just like half a second. My eyes teared up and my outstretched legs involuntarily curled up towards my chest, but this was nothing compared to the pain of the tatoo on my back. Anyway...yes, this was just a whim. I pass this piercing parlour every day, and I never, ever thought I'd want anything pierced, other than my ears. There was a hostess in Faccia Luna (in Arlington) who had a small stud in her nose and I thought it looked really cute. It was in the back of my mind for awhile, and just randomly entered my head last night while falling off to sleep. So I went and did it.

My parents are gonna die when they see me tomorrow. Mom will go, "Oh, Katie, why did you do that?" (like she did when I dyed my hair black). Dad will just shake his head and go, "Jesus," and relentlessly tease me about it the whole time they're here. Chris doesn't even know yet. Keeping it a surprise for when he gets home later.

I wish I could figure out how to post a photo on this thing so y'all can see it.....working on it.

2002-11-06T03:14:00.000-08:00

Checking the election results...looks like Marylanders have voted in a Nazi for their governor.

2002-11-06T02:40:00.000-08:00

I completed today my first freelance assignment for my job back in DC. Things are looking really, really good that I'll have my job there when I get back, which is wonderful news. I had another assignment waiting that I'll start today. I don't miss the work grind, but I have to say that it was nice to use that part of my brain again after 6 weeks away from the office.

I noticed another weird thing. You know how I said everyone rides bikes? Well, the first thing is that children do not wear helmets (which is fine...I didn't wear a helmet as a kid either). However, today a woman rode past me with her tiny, newborn baby just strapped against her chest, riding with one hand on the handlebars, one on the baby. I dunno, maybe I'm overly cautious, but there's no way I'd do that. The other thing is that these bikers will kill you! At first I thought it was endearing that everyone rode bikes, but now I think it's just a big pain in the ass. When crossing a street, you not only have to look both ways for cars, but for speeding bikes. And just because a car stops does not mean that the bikes will...in fact, they don't. They don't even slow down. Bikers have their own lanes here, but sometimes they'll come up onto the sidewalk, too, and won't move out of your way. I hate them. I have to avoid getting hit by a bike daily.

I am getting my nose pierced in a couple hours.

2002-11-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

Oh, and the owner of the coffeehouse is Finnish. I'll have to meet her next time.

2002-11-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

So I just sat in a coffeehouse (no, not *that* kind of coffeehouse) for the last couple hours, talking to a girl I met while sitting there. She's a drama major at Utrecht Univ. and is from Mexico. Her mom is Mexican, father Dutch. Exotic mix. She was very open and cool, something I have found with most people here. I was thinking how nice it is to just strike up a conversation with someone, especially another woman, which does not happen often in the States. People are much more guarded, in general, in the USA, especially East Coast. If I sat in a bar and randomly started talking to another woman in DC, she would think I was either a freak or hitting on her, or both. Here, people just seem much more open and interested in talking, and are not suspicious as to motive. The cool thing is that the drama dept. is putting on a show in English in Dec. that we will be able to go see.

Oh, and she, too, thinks very little of George Bush. I'm telling you, I have yet to meet someone here who respects him. This girl, and I quote, said, "He's an ass. He could care less about the two most important things in the world: humanity and the environment." She also held the same opinion of the infamous Clinton scandal: WHO CARES??? People here think it is really funny how uptight Americans were about that whole thing.

I just love talking to non-Americans.

2002-11-05T04:52:00.000-08:00

Watched a little pre-election coverage on CNN this morning. Larry King talking with Dan Rather. DR is a disturbing looking man. He has no neck and his shoulders look to be shrugging constantly. Also watched an Animal Planet show called "Emergency Vet" and was traumatized by seeing a poor old dog who got hit by a car, and they couldn't save him. The owners were hysterically crying because the dog's back was broken and he had to be put to sleep. I had to turn the channel because the tears were just streaming down.

Another show I have become obsessed with: Crocodile Hunter. In the States, I usually watched maybe 5 mins. and changed the channel, but it is one of the better programs on Dutch TV and is on all the time. He's crazy. And hysterical. Today he roped a camel in the Australian Outback. The guy will do anything.

Oh, when we had drinks with that couple I mentioned on Friday, I asked the husband (who is Dutch) why they spell coffee "koffie" here...I mean, they pronounce it like the English word, why do they have to spell it differently? They all laughed.

I found some Liquid Dran-o type stuff here at a hardware store for the slow-drain in the shower. The stuff was basically acid. When I funnelled it down, smoke and fumes rose up. I was scared.

Yesterday evening I went on a quest to find bell-bottom jeans, and went into Esprit. Found a cool pair, tried em on, they fit, so I paid for them. I paid with Chris' Visa check card. Unfortunately for me, his signature on the back has rubbed off from use, so then the cashier asked for other ID. Well, I am not Chris Williams, so she had to call her manager over, and then they made all these phone calls. I was eight shades of red. After the last phone call, she said the guy on the phone told her that no, the card is not stolen, but that she should take the card from me. I had kept my cool until then. I burst out in tears, begged her not to take it as it is our only way to retrieve our money. I think she was scared by the crazy American, and gave it back. Guess I won't be going into Esprit again.

I think I figured out a big reason why people stink here...the deodorant is not anti-perspirant, but just deodorant. So it is essentially "covering up" smell (not very well, mind you), and not preventing it.

Oh, weird coincidence: Chris and I were shopping recently and bought some CDs for our place. I came across Run DMC's "Raising Hell" from 1986, and had to have it. The next day I heard about the shooting death of Jam Master Jay. Spooky. MTV Netherlands was reporting on his death, but I of course can't understand what the VJ was saying...the only thing I could make out was "East Coast/West Coast" and "Tupac and Notorious B.I.G." Guess a West Coast rapper is gonna die next.

2002-11-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

Oh for Christ's sake! Techno music is SUCH CRAP! Now I've heard it all. There is this ridiculous song on that is basically the techno beat with a "squeak toy" sound in the background. Like those toys you give a dog or a child. For the love....

2002-11-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

Okay, that's a little better. There's still a general foul fume in the air, but at least it is not directly next to me.

Chris and I ordered our wedding rings from a local Utrecht jeweler this weekend. Thought it'd be kinda nice to know our rings are from here. They're very basic...white gold, plain, classic (I do not like yellow gold, never have). Looks like we'll probably have to push the wedding ceremony off again until early March. Was going to be Feb. 22, but Chris I think has to be in S. Africa for work over that weekend. The date that is set in March will be IT.

Annoying techno music blasting in here. That repetitive techno beat with a voice bellowing over and over again, "Say yeah!....Here we go!"

Another vice I have picked up: sleeping. I love to sleep. (Diet Coke was always a vice, but the amount of consumption has quadrupled since being here.) I don't think I've ever slept as much or as long/late, college included, as I have been here. It's real bad. I get at the very least 10 hours of sleep a night. I stir for awhile when Chris is getting ready for work, but as soon as the door closes I'm out again. At first I reasoned it was okay because of jet lag, but well, we have been here for over a month. Unlikely it's jet lag anymore.

BUT, I have also quadrupled the amount of time I spend reading, so...in my mind, this cancels out the sleeping/lazy vice.

Wish I was independently wealthy. I don't miss the work grind in the least.

2002-11-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

So is everyone ready to vote on the 6th? I forgot to get an absentee ballot, but honestly it doesn't really matter because right now I have no real home state. I moved out of the District when leaving for the Netherlands. Was just reading on MSNBC about the tight races around the country, including Jersey. Oh, and how funny would it be if Jeb Bush lost in Florida??!?!

(It smells like a friggin' locker room in here. Another smelly, sour B.O. guy next to me. I cannot escape it. Just peered around and nowhere to even move. And even if I did move I'd just wind up next to another stank-ass guy, so...this is so offensive.)

I am addicted to Diet Coke. It has reached epidemic proportions. I drink it more than anything else.

Okay, I really have to find another spot here. I am going to puke if I don't get away from this guy. Every time he moves, a stench just wafts over me.

2002-11-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

Oh, and another thing. You cannot say you are American here without the very next comment/question being about stooooopid G.W. Bush. They hate him here, seriously. Every person I have talked to sings praises for Clinton, and thinks Bush is just a boob. Can't really argue. I noticed a magazine in Paris that had a big close up of Bush on the cover, and said, en francais of course, "BUSH: Is He a Dangerous Man?" It's kind of embarrassing.

2002-11-02T07:22:00.000-08:00

Oh, and they don't celebrate Hween here! I mean, I know it's an American thing, but apparently lots of other countries have jumped on the bandwagon with it. I saw one child bike by with his face painted. Otherwise, any other day.

2002-11-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

We had our first social engagement last night. One of the "ladies who lunch" called and asked if Chris and I wanted to have beers with her and her husband (a Dutchman). They live just across the park from us, so we went and hung out with them last night. Very nice people. She is an American from Seattle (she went to Univ. of Washington around the same time Chris did...and they both were history majors!) and he is from the Netherlands, near the Belgium border. He teaches biology here at the Utrecht Univ. Nice to get out and talk with new friends.

Ummm....unfortunately, not much else to report these last couple days. My parents are flying in on Wednesday, and I am very excited to see them and take them around the Netherlands. They are in Florida right now with my brother, and they wrote saying that temps are in the high 80s, low 90s and they are both very tan. They will be in for a surprise when they come to the chilly, rainy weather here!

2002-10-31T07:10:00.000-08:00

I feel old.

2002-10-31T07:08:00.000-08:00

Oh God...I can hear a young American male student talking into his cell phone in that young American male student voice. He just said, "stoked" followed by "dude."

2002-10-31T06:07:00.000-08:00

(Phew, Yahoo taken care of. So annoying.)

Where was I? Oh, the rude French bakery lady. So we went in various wrong directions (as is typical with Wrong Way Chris and Kate), but then found the WWF office, which was pretty, well, stuffy and cramped and beaten down compared to the WWF US posh new offices (too bad they spent the millions on that and now have to lay off tons of employees). But I digress...

Chris' colleague, Regis (I never actually knew/met/heard of someone with this name aside from the obvious), was very helpful to me, telling me precisely which metros to take to get to Notre Dame and the other "tourist" sites I was bent on seeing in the few short hours I had to explore by myself. I was happy about this not only because I would be alone in a new city, but because I didn't want to have to ask for directions for obvious reasons. I bade farewell to Chris, who was stuck inside all the beautiful, sunny day long giving a presentation, and struck out on my own.

I metroed to the Hotel de Ville stop, which Regis explained is Paris' "town hall." When I emerged from the metro, I was greeted immediately by a disarmingly enormous and asthetically pleasing Old World structure that made the "town hall" translation seem...comical. The municipal building in Lacey Township, NJ, is a town hall: small, brick, sterile. This was just palatial: high towers, gray stone/brick, French flags billowing, gargoyles, statues built into the building itself, vast grounds, huge doors. It literally took my breath away, stretching for what seemed like at least two city blocks.

Then I crossed the River Sienne and headed to Notre Dame. I am not sure what I expected, but when I turned the corner and was faced with the cathedral...again, I had to stop and stare. It is the most ornately decorated/detailed cathedral I have ever seen. And the size! Before exploring inside and around, I grabbed a bagette and Coca-Cola Light and sat on a wall in the sun, right in front of Notre Dame. I looked down next to me where someone had left a scrap of something, and two little mice were nibbling on it! I've never actually seen mice come right out in the open like that. I guess they couldn't help themselves, what with a hunk of French pastry just left there. My friends created quite a scene...next thing I knew, a crowd had gathered to watch them dart in and out of the bushes, and some where even taking video of it. Hateful of crowds as it is, I became uncomfortable and annoyed, as I was trying to enjoy the scenery and my bagette. Then something put me over the top. An Asian woman chattering away to her infant daughter and pointing to the mice, decided she would try to capture one so her baby could get a closer look (I'm thinking, "Hello, lady! Plague!"...I know the rats brought the Great Plague, but still). She pulled out a plastic Tupperware thing and with lightening speed was able to trap one of the babies. I saw his poor little pink fingers and part of his tail sticking out from the side! I rolled my eyes and got up, shooting the woman a dirty look.

Inside Notre Dame could convert even the biggest religious cynic...not that I found God there, just trying to express a moving experience. The ceiling of the cathedral seemed miles above. It was dark and quiet, the only sounds heard being feet on the stone floors. The sun shone through stained glass windows, casting colors and light across the cathedral. I have never claimed to be the best Protestant in the world, and I have not been to church regularly since childhood, but the environment was so chilling, that I was compelled to light candles for my loved ones and say quick prayers. I felt strangely haunted when I lit a candle for my friend Lisa, who died almost 2 years ago of cancer. I know she heard my words.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take an actual tour...I would love to hear about the legend of the Hunchback and actually BE in the cathedral while it was being told. But that will have to be on a return visit.

Regis had said to follow the River Sienne, which would take me from the Hotel de Ville/Notre Dame down to the Louvre. The river glistened in the sun, and a pleasant breeze blew up off the water. I could not have asked for a better day to see Paris. Not in a rush, I strolled along the river, soaking in the architecture and just pure "oldness" of the city. America is still such a new country, it is just amazing to be somewhere that has such a long, rich history. Incidentally, I took a picture of myself with the Sienne in the background, just to show that I actually was there.

When I thought previously of the Louvre, I knew it was a large museum that held some of the most beautiful, valuable, respected (to say the very least) art in the world. But I had no idea that it would be so, well, huge! I don't have a thesaurus with me, so I cannot look up a better word...huge is all I can think of at the moment. And it still does not describe the Louvre and its grounds. Again, unfortunately I just did not have the time to go through the actual museum, which will also be done on a return trip (I was almost salivating to see the art). But I did get to walk through the grounds cutting through the museum.

Walking away from the Louvre, I met up immediately with the Arc de Triumph, where I was nearly accosted by two Arab men who were working some scam (not literally accosted, just bothered). I am sure I was picked out because I was female and alone, but I am glad other people were around. He approached me as soon as I came through the Arc, asking me if I spoke English. My first mistake was that I said yes. Then he started in on his pitch, saying he is an "artist" and that he and his friend--gesturing over to another man standing with a camera--are taking photos and I'm just so beautiful they chose me. I was like, "Nah, I'm meeting someone in like 2 minutes," to which he continued to try and be charming, but I kept going. Then I saw him approach someone else. I'm sure it was a tag team scam, and I do worry about those who fall for it.

With only about an hour left until I had to meet Chris, I sped up the pace and headed toward the Eiffel Tower, determined to go to the top. I was, of course to my chagrin, met with a long, snaking line. I could have hoofed it to the 1st floor, but after walking around for 4 hours straight, I did not have much interest or inclination to do that. So I waited. The pan-handlers really know where to go, and apparently I had "pan-handle me" on my forehead, because each one approached me. From the previous experience, I knew to shake my head no when they asked if I spoke English. About 40 minutes later, I was on a tram car to the 2nd floor of the tower, having run out of time to wait to get to the top. Ah well, the 2nd floor was just fine, and was open air, unlike the top. The city was just sprawling from that vantage point. I was able to make out where I had been, and could see parts of the city that I knew I'd never make it to. I hit up another tourist to take a picture of me, for proof.

So basically, I kicked Paris' ass in 4 hours!

Chris and I met up at our hotel and went out for dinner and drinks. The hotel desk reps were extremely rude, not helpful at all in recommending a nice French restaurant (in fact, when I checked in, the man seemed completely annoyed by me for no reason at all, and then gave me a hard time because I had booked a "single room," yet two of us were staying there--I was mistaken, thinking I had booked it for two...apparently you can't make mistakes in France). Anyway, the restaurant. They sent us around the corner to a restaurant I'm sure they send all their tourists, which at a little after 6pm had not begun serving. The waiter said we were welcome to sit down and have a drink and wait until they began serving, so we said fine, taking a look at the menu. Next thing we knew, he had turned on music...COUNTRY music! So here we are, two Americans in Paris, looking for an authentic French meal, and this guy turns on American country music of all things. When the waiter went back downstairs, we quickly left.

After a death march of about half an hour through Paris' swanky shopping district, we asked in another hotel for an elegant restaurant, having passed more pubs/diners/pizza joints than we ever imagined we would in this seemingly upscale area of town. We finally wound up in a nice French restaurant, where the wait staff definitely looked at us as quaint Americans...thankfully, the service was friendly and attentive though. Chris and I both had filet de bouef, which was melt-in-your-mouth tender with amazing sauce. Satisfied after a "low-cal" dessert, we crashed for the night.

On the train back the next day sat the most annoying human being I have encountered in a long time. Fortunately, he sat several seats away from us, but we could still hear him screaming into his cell phone the entire ride. This guy looked like someone's weird, gay uncle. Distinctly French, big puffy yucky lips, glasses with blue lenses, black tight shirt all ripped open, cell phone permanently cemented to his ear...and OLD. I could not put my finger on what Hollywood movie character he reminded me of, but this guy would be a comedy writer's dream character. Like, the finicky French movie director. He had not one, but two cell phones out on the table in front of him, and they rang incessantly. And he did not just talk on them, he screamed into them. Chris was tempted to take out his cell phone and yell into it with a thick Texas accent, "I don't care, Clyde, you best start drillin' tomorrow. Those enviros can kiss my lily white American ass, I want oil!" I think the poor people sitting directly across from the guy finally asked him to tone it down because finally he lowered his voice, though the phones continued their incessant jingles.

And it's not over yet. So we had to change trains in Rotterdam to get to Utrecht. The train arrived, we loaded in, and sat back for the half hour ride. Well, when we reached Utrecht and went to grab our bags down, we were missing one: Chris' briefcase, which contained his work computer. Gone. We did not leave it in Rotterdam. Someone pinched it right out from under us. We probably had big targets on us because we were laughing and not really paying attention. It would have been easy for someone departing the train at one of the stops to just pinch it and leave quickly without our noticing. So thus ended our trip to Paris.

Chris' work was cool about it. Apparently many others have had laptops stolen as well. Pretty common, unfortunately.

Today is Halloween. I think Chris and I might go down into the city centre here in Utrecht tonight to see if anyone's dressed up at the pubs. I don't think Hween is very popular here, but it is a university town, so the students might get into it. Boo!

2002-10-31T03:59:00.000-08:00

So annoyed right now...I swear, nothing is free anymore. Came in to check my email after being away a few days, only to have a nice message from Yahoo that I'm "over my limit" for space in my account, and of course wanting me to PAY for more storage space. So I went and deleted everything out of my account, everything, and it still will not let me send any emails (and I don't even want to think about the number of emails that have not reached me these past few days). I guess I'm going to have to break down and pay for space. I love how these sites claim to be *FREE* yet find ways to make you pay somehow.

Anyway....

Paris. The train from Utrecht to Paris is about 4 hours door to door, not bad at all. That's what is so cool about living in Europe...I can get to another country in the time it takes me to drive from DC to NJ. After trying unsuccessfully to figure out the metro system ourselves, we broke down and asked a "friendly" information attendant which subway we needed to take. Once pointed in the right direction, and once we got on the correct train, it was actually easy to figure out. Those metro/subway maps are never very helpful for some reason. When we emerged from the metro, we did not know in which direction to go to get to the WWF office, so popped into a bakery to inquire. Chris tried, he really did. He asked, en francais, "Ou es la Rue de la Rougette?" Apparently, because he did not speak "native" French, she was unwilling to help us, and just brushed us off briskly and dismissively. We did find the street, and it was right around the corner from the bakery. And the French wonder why they have such a bad rep in general.

2002-10-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Yeah, yeah, I'm still here. Okay, it is the MEN that stink here. Not the women. Now there is an old man sitting next to me, seems sweet enough, but MAN he stinks. He is trying to cover up a strong cigarette smell with a pungent (sp?), cheap cologne. I have to get outta here. I think his smell is going to waft into my clothes and hang on me. Plus the cologne is giving me a splitting headache.

2002-10-28T07:44:00.000-08:00

I need to get a life. I'm still sitting in this stuffy Internet cafe.

Random: There is an Aboriginal Art Museum here in Utrecht. Why there is an Aboriginal Art Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands is beyond me. I passed it today while trying to find the "real" Utrecht museums, which, ironically, I could not find. Maybe I'll go to this seemingly misplaced museum later in the week. I'm curious.

Also: Don't bother seeing "Road to Perdition." The only reason critics did not absolutely pan it is because Tom Hanks is so beloved. Chris said he read that one overly enthusiastic critic likened it to "The Godfather" (a comment for which said critic should probably never write another review). Whatever. Predictable, terribly written plot.

2002-10-28T05:38:00.000-08:00

A smelly dude sitting next to me right now has headphones on and I thought was listening to rap or something, but then I realized he is blasting the new Justin Timberlake song and bopping his head. THANK GOD he just left!

Why oh why does everyone STINK so freaking bad??!?!?!?! Is it so hard to take a daily shower????

2002-10-28T05:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we had the worst weather imaginable, followed by the most gorgeous day yet today! I have never experienced as blustery a day as yesterday. I wish I knew exactly how fast the winds were blowing, but I can describe it only like the winds of a hurricane. No exaggeration. The wind was shaking our apartment, rattling the windows, blowing people on bikes over practically (those who were brave enough to venture out), forcing down large tree limbs. Winds were so strong that, in a display I have never before witnessed, our threadbare wall-to-wall "carpeting" (it's more like the wirey linoleum of the screened-in porch of my childhood home), which should be securely fastened to the floor, actually billowed. The day started out sunny but windy, and then the clouds rolled in and sleet/hail mixed in with the raindrops. Chris and I were about ready to burst by 7pm since we were housebound all day and, Dutch TV being what it is, were extremely punchy. We braved the blasting winds and torrents of rain and went out to dinner across the park, about a 5 min. walk. The backs of our pants were soaked, but otherwise we made it intact.

But to make the day even more interesting...our crazy little "caretaker" of the apartment building (whom we have yet to see take care of anything) heard us open our door to go to dinner, and stuck his weasely head out the door to warn us of the wind. By the time we got to the bottom of the stairs, he had emerged from his apartment, wearing a ratty, yellowed T-shirt, and those tight boxer brief tighty-whiteys. Nothing else. The man is probably 5'2'' and weighs maybe 90 pounds dripping wet. He looks unbathed, and we are convinced the sort of mildewy stench when first entering our building comes from him (thankfully our apartment remains stench-free). I have never looked at him very closely, but if he has any teeth, they are most certainly brown and not all there, and his hair sticks up as if not washed for years. Disgusting bed head. To make matters worse, he was three sheets to the wind. I am much more rude than Chris, so I just kind of brushed passed him, trying not to look, and murmered, "Hi," and kept going, but he followed Chris at his heels, blabbering incoherently about the wind (I think he has a crush on Chris. I am around all day and never see the guy, but he always appears when Chris is around. Also, he has an equally ratty-looking "friend" who is often seen around the premises). He could barely stand up, propping himself against the wall. Somehow Chris shook him, in a much more pleasant manner, of course. I had been contemplating last week approaching the little freak to fix the slow drain in our shower, but after this encounter, will try to find some Liquid Draino or some European equivalent and leave it at that.

Oh, and another weird thing: We went to the movies to see "Road to Perdition" (Sat. weather was not much better), and several things were strange. The first was that they "ran out of popcorn." We could not believe it, a first for both of us. The second thing was that they had assigned seats in the theatre. You could not just sit where you wanted, and they packed everyone toward the back. Lastly, they have an intermission in the middle of the movie! They actually stop the momentum of the movie so people can go to the bathroom, which I guess is okay, but it is still pretty weird. (Oh, and they also serve BEER!!!)

Tomorrow: Paris trip. Can't wait to report on that.

2002-10-26T05:33:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, and as I type, the popular songstresses of the late '80s, Wilson Phillips (or, as I have heard them referred to in the past, Two Babes and a Cow), are singing their inspirational ballad "Hold On."

I know that there is pain
But ya
Hold on for one more day
And ya
Break free from the chains

I'm getting chills. Almost as inspiring as that song from the Gulf War that they changed to fit the events of Sept. 11, "Proud to be an American."

2002-10-26T05:25:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so Chris and I just spent two hours in this pub est. in 1606 (they even had a "bar kitty," an orange tabby who loved our affectionate attention). We're drinking Heinekins and hanging out, BSing and laughing, and they are playing all kinds of music, including weird Euro-dance mixes of various Madonna songs, when suddenly a moving Elvis rendition of "America, the Beautiful" blasts out. We raised our glasses in a mock toast, and I asked the bartender if he played it for us. The irony that we were the only 2 patrons in this Holland pub, and Americans at that, was not missed.

2002-10-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

The rest of the week has been pretty quiet. I finished the very long novel "Sophie's Choice," having never seen the movie in the '80s. Heavy. Very heavy. I will probably read it again once it sinks in a little. There is a great used book store across the street from the apartment, and I have gotten some really good books from there. I bought Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea," today, which I was supposed to have read in high school, but am pretty sure I either skimmed or read the Cliff notes. I also bought a book of Faulkner's short stories. So even though I graduated with an English degree, soon I will truly be "well read." The Europeans do it right: people wait a couple of years after high school to go to college. I think I would have appreciated my education more had I been a little older.

(Man, it STINKS in this cafe! I think the stereotype of Europeans not showering is TRUE! There is this pervasive stench of sour B.O. and stale cigar surrounding me as I type.)

Chris and I continue to play fantasy football even while overseas. We have sorely missed American football and have not been able to find ANY pubs that broadcast it...there is, however, no shortage of soccer, though it is mind-numbingly BORING to watch. My team in the league that matters (read: the one with money on it) remains solidly in last. Ah well, it's my first year playing, so this is my "learning curve" and I will kick ass next year, knowing the players better. I'm also in another league where you pick which teams will win each week and assign confidence points to each pick (i.e., how confident I am that the team I picked will win). I was in first for many weeks, but after some bad choices dropped down to second last week. I think I will be victorious again this week though!

I think we are planning a day trip to Amsterdam tomorrow. We have yet to go there! We were going to do an overnight there this weekend, but I decided I would rather instead accompany Chris to Paris next week! He has to go for a meeting, and is taking the train. So I will keep him company, and then wander the streets of Paris on my own for 6 or 7 hours until he is finished for the day. Can't wait to see, well, everything! Especially the Louvre and Notre Dame. Oh man, I have wanted to see Paris for so, so long. I am poised to have lots of commentary on Paris and Parisians for my journal!

My Mom writes me daily about, among other things, our kitties, Zack and Ricky. Zack went through a very traumatic "adjustment period" (he is a very dramatic, sensitive soul), where he stopped eating and was throwing up nothing. Luckily, I brought his Kitty Prozac with me, and after administering it to him for several days (after a $300 visit to the vet!!!), he has come around and is back to his cute, loveable self...purring and giving kisses. Mom says Ricky has gotten much bigger since we left. He was only a little over 4 months old when we left, so I'm sure he is noticeably bigger now. I ACHE I miss them so much!

I am relieved that they have nabbed the S.O.B. sniper in DC. I have to read more details today, but it really seems like he had much more control than the police did for awhile there, and it was getting frustrating how they just could not snag him. If it were the DC police, that I would understand (these are the same "investigators" who could not find Chandra Levy's body in freaking Rock Creek Park, until a random civilian found her enormous leg bone). But with MD and VA police, plus FBI, it was hard to understand. My friend and co-worker Mary likened it to the police work of Barney Fife.

Anyway, more next week!

2002-10-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

I now have an authentic, punky European hairdo for my bday. I went to this funky salon I always walk past called Kinki...the decor is tres '70s, with multi-colored "pillowed" walls in squares and circles, vinyl chair covers, and gay mohawked stylists. Mine was a 22-year-old, can't remember his name, but he was all excited when I told him to just cut it and go to town, to which he said, "I will have a surprise for you...a great new hairdo!" His English wasn't as far along as others I've met here, so I had to explain a lot of words, like when I said many American parents "shelter" their children (overprotective) and how much more open Europeans are compared to "prudy" Americans (uptight). It was a fun conversation. He talked about his boyfriend, had photos of men in drag, was flouncing around to the blasting techo music (I think there is some kind of techno theme to my bday or something). He cut my hair very short, VERY short in the back but a bit longer on top. It's like of Winona Ryder-esque when she had short, short hair. I dig it...a real Euro-do.

2002-10-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

Da-na-na-na-na-na You say it's your birthday! Da-na-na-na-na-na It's my birthday, too, yeah! BIG 3-0!!! Thirty. Damn.

Reflections on my 20s:

1) 20-22: College. Lots of fun. Finally became the social, fun-loving, partying chick I knew I had the potential to be in high school, but never had the opportunity to be. No idea who I was or what I wanted to do with my life. Highly insecure about decision-making. After teen years of little experience in dating, finally became noticeable to men, but had no idea what to do with it. Many, many mistakes. No regrets though, it's all a learning process.

2) 23-27: Graduated from F&M. Floundered from job to job, still no idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Moved to California with Steve. Got engaged. Moved back to DC. Married Steve. Bought a house. Got divorced. Went through downward spiral of depression. That is a lot of living in a very short amount of time for someone so young. Things I learned: trust my instincts, listen to my gut, follow my heart (yep, all those dandy cliches), take care of myself. Advice to anyone who will listen: marriage is nothing to take lightly, despite the many people who do it. If you don't feel it in your heart, if the chemistry is not there, marriage will not change that. People should wait until their 30s to get married. There is too much learning and growing to be done in your 20s. Figure out who you are first and what you want out of a relationship before making that kind of committment.

3) 27-29: Picked up the pieces. Found true love at last. Tough, tough road for Chris and me, but we made it. Now I know what they mean when they say with true love, you just know. Chris is everything to me, and I am so lucky to be one of the few people who finds their perfect match. Oh yes, we have our battles...any passionate couple would. But we are fortunate to have a very strong foundation built on strong emotion and chemistry that will see us through. Now I'm a step-mom, too! Career: I am okay with the idea of being a writer/editor. I am actually more than okay with that. I spent my 20s being wishy-washy about this career track, and it was my job at Autism Society, and then most recently at FPS & Assoc. that showed me the rewards of this career. And frankly, I am good at it. Next up, writing the prize-winning novel!

I am very happy (understatement) with the road life has taken me down now, and I enter my 30s a much more mature, secure, stable woman. It is not healthy to regret any decisions made in life, but I must say that I am looking forward to my 30s, and am happy to close the chapter on my 20s. And hell, you are only as old as you feel. I have lots of life left in me!

Funny story:

Chris and I were awaken last night to our neighbors blaring eurotrash techno music at 2:00am. Constant thump-thump-thumping, weird synthesizers...it was like we were right next to a club. Pissed off, I was putting on jeans and ready to go pound on the door when the buzzer to our apartment rang, and then I heard loud voices and stomping up the stairs...and then pounding and "Politie! Politie!" (Police, obviously.) The police literally had to pound as hard as they could for our respectful neighbors to respond. You cannot even imagine how loud the music was when they opened the door...I mean, how dumb can you be? They didn't even turn it down when the police were announcing their presence. I wish to GOD I spoke Dutch because there seemed to be a lot of negotiating and yelling back and forth, a woman getting very shrill. You would think that the conversation would be something like, "Police! You need to turn the music off, you are disturbing the entire neighborhood. Do it now," and "Oh, I'm sorry officer. We were just having some fun. Will do." But this negotiation went on for easily 10 mins. during which time I remained planted in front of our door, ear plastered to it. Of course, I had no idea what they were saying to each other. Then the music stopped and the police descended the stairs. The weird thing is, I have seen our neighbor, who seemed to me a soft-spoken, 30ish, preppy/writer-type man who rarely ventures out of his apartment and from whom I have never heard a peep. I am going to try to find out the scoop from our weird little apartment manager guy, as I am sure he was the one who called the cops (he once came flying out of his downstairs apartment one time when Chris was bounding down the stairs, asking him to walk more quietly on the stairs).

We laughed for awhile, as I told Chris I was ready to go out there and unleash some Jersey on them, and said I was instrumental in busting them. I think I wanted to embellish my role in this early-morning excitement.

Hey, helluva way to ring in your 30th birthday, huh?

2002-10-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

Oh, another funny thing I thought of from Geneva...the first night, a gaggle of drunken French-speaking chicks woke us up by their screaming and laughing at the tops of their lungs at 4:30am (clubs stay open practically all night here). It felt like they were in the room with us. I almost got up and screamed out the window "FERMEZ VOTRE F-ING BOUCHE!!!!" but was too lazy. Then I hear our neighbours come stumbling into their room, all loud and drunk, and about 15 minutes later, the moaning starts. He's grunting, she's oh-oh-OOOOHHHH-ing...and talking dirty (probably) in FRENCH! "Oui...oui...OUI!!!!" I covered my head with the pillow, but it still sounded like they were in bed with us. Unfortunately, I did not get a look at them the next day. I would've smirked and winked.

2002-10-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I have become a social butterfly here in Utrecht. Tired of spending days alone, I decided to do an Internet search and find social groups in the city...I found two! One is an international social group through Utrecht Univ. that meets every Weds. night at a pub just 5 mins. from my apt. So of course, I went last night. Age range was 22-40ish, some grad/post doc students, some employees of the univ. I was the only American. I felt like a dweeb at first...I got there "too early" and there were only 2 people there. When I walked in, I took one look, scoped out the scene, and walked back out. I got half-way up the block, then said "No, Kate, you are going in there." So I turned on my heel, walked back in, and went and sat right down. After I downed one beer, more and more people began filtering in. I'd say there wound up being about 20 people altogether by the end. Anyway, I met a guy from Australia and another guy from the German side of Switzerland; a girl from Norway (she was the typical blonde/blue eyes, but had this kinda 'tude, as if from NYC or Wash. DC or something); a girl from Hungary (who got all pissed off at her Bulgarian boyfriend who was talking to the Norwegian and me when she walked in...he had to chase her down as she stormed out!); a girl from Israel (who spent a year at a public school in Princeton, NJ, when she was 10, has family in the Boston area, and lived with her family in Bethesda, MD, for a time--small world); and BEST of ALL...a bunch of FINNS!!!

I couldn't believe it! I spent 18 years of my life as the ONLY Scandanavian/Finn in Lanoka Harbor, NJ, surrounded by Italians and not fitting in, and here were 4 Finnish guys right in one bar. They taught me Finnish swear words! The one, named Miko, had the quintessential Finnish look--chubby cheeks, full lips, blonde/blue eyes, short. He had just published his doctural thesis, and invited us to his "book publishing party" Nov. 1. It was just very nice to be with "like people"...even though I'm American, my Finnish roots are strong.

I also found an International Women's Contact group in Utrecht, and went today to a lunch gathering at a restaurant called Havana (a wanna-be spicy/Caribbean place). There were 6 ladies there, most of them in their 40s, though I understand that others are in their late 20s/30s. Four of us were American (one from San Fran via NJ, one from Seattle area, who Chris and I will get together with next week, and one from the BRONX of all places...accent and all). Another was from Vancouver and another from Britain. They have meetings once a month, and many activities in-between, like these lunches, coffee mornings, wine/cheese parties, girls' night out, etc. It was really nice to get tips about the area from people who have been here for several years.

So one club will be my drinking club, the other my "ladies who lunch" club.

I think this weekend we will explore Utrecht, and maybe go into Amsterdam on Sat. or Sun. I'm sure I'll have stories from there! Then Tues. is my big 3-0!!! I'm ready for my 30s...

2002-10-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

We are back in Utrecht, after an amazing weekend in Geneva. Both of us were thoroughly enchanted by that city.

We had quite a dinner adventure in our last evening in Gland. One of Chris' co-workers, Denney (extremely proud French-speaking Swiss with a dry sense of humour), took the group 6,000 ft. up in the mountains to a "restaurant" to eat traditional Swiss fondue. We lost the group traveling in the car behind us, and went out of our way to find them...meanwhile, they had gone miles and miles in the wrong direction and were in some random town in the clouds. We managed to connect via cell phone (who knows how we would've met back up pre-cell phone), then after several wrong turns down dirt roads with no guard rails, wound our way up the mountain to this farm house/log cabin...literally, these people live here and serve food in their home. It was very cold up on the mountain, and when you walked into this place, they had the stove on so you could warm your hands. We had numerous bottles of wine, and fresh bread to dip into steaming cheese (served in '70s orange fondue pots, of course). It was like nothing I've ever tasted. Just wonderful.

Chris and I took the train into Geneva on Friday, and we wandered around until we found a place to eat dinner, which wound up being a Mediterranean place with low tables and chairs...and the Buddha right next to us. Euro trash everywhere, and music from '80s, to weird African bongos. Saturday (Chris' bday) we walked for hours and hours around Geneva. Basically, it's broken up into 2 parts, the old and new cities, split by the lake. We stayed on the old side, which was much more quaint of course. You walk across a bridge to get from one side of the lake to the other, to continue walking around the lake. We made it pretty far around the lake, and sat in the sun in front of an old palace that now houses the Museum of Sciences. We walked back to the old section and found the shopping district (yippee!)...by which time my feet were throbbing from walking all day in my boots. So I HAD to buy new walking shoes of course.

The shopping/restaurant section of Geneva is full of cobblestoned squares and fountains and old, old gray buildings. The St. Pierre Chapel rises above all, probably the most amazing chapel I've seen yet. We decided to wait until Sunday to explore the chapel, and instead set back to the hotel, freshened up, and went out to dinner for Chris' bday at a warm, cozy French restaurant...then (upon recommendation from a young local) went to a discotechque called XS. You had to ring a doorbell to get in. The place was underground and dark, with leather chairs and benches around the perimeter. The music was okay, though we felt we needed to make a few suggestions to the DJ. We drank Long Island iced teas out of these...not sure what you'd call them...kind of like martini shakers. We met 2 guys from Britain and a girl from Sweden (named Marie of all things)...I've noticed Europeans generally are much more open and friendly than Americans, kissing 3 times on the cheek, starting up conversation, being generally pleasant and helpful.

Yesterday we poked around St. Pierre Chapel, and it took my breath away. The sites from the top tower were unlike any other. It was a clear, perfect day, so the Swiss Alps were peeking out. I could see their snow-capped peaks. These will be some of our best photos from our trip. The chapel dates back to like the 4th century or something. You have to climb narrow stone spiral stairs to get to the top. Just don't find things that old in the USA.

Chris said this was the best bday of his life. I'm very happy about that. I can say that the weekend in Geneva ranks up there for me, too.

2002-10-10T07:52:00.000-07:00

It's harder to keep up with this than I thought it would be...that's what happens when you have to do all of your computer work on various computers at various times. Anyway, Chris and I are all settled into a wonderful apartment in Utrecht. Utrecht is a pretty big city, with lots of old buildings, small pubs and cafes, and best of all...lots of SHOPPING. Our apartment is a 10 minute walk to the city centre, and very close to a small park surrounding a lake. Everything is SO green and lush. It's so wonderful living abroad...I just mentioned to Chris yesterday that I do not miss the States at all. Does that make me un-American??

I've noticed that people generally do not smub me for being American and not speaking the language. I thought that I'd be a little "embarrassed" to speak, with my "harsh" east coast accent, but people in Holland speak English extremely well, and have been nothing but helpful and nice. They're also all tall, blonde, thin, and beautiful...and smoke A LOT.

Chris and I are actually right now in Switzerland. WWF Netherlands is here working on some environmental living waters thing or another, and I tagged along. We arrived in Geneva yesterday morning, and the WWFers went directly into meetings. Meanwhile, I caught a train to a nearby town called Nyon (pronounced "neon" but with a nasal French accent). Everyone here speaks French and very broken English...at least the locals do. Nyon was amazing. Words cannot even describe. It's a charming town on Lake Leman with beautiful, bright flowers everywhere, big trees, narrow, cobblestone streets, old architecture, adorable homes. It was just gorgeous. I found myself wandering down near the lake, and found a sunny spot right near a Conservatory, and could hear music as I sat near a dock. It's hard to get my head around that I was sitting on the lake in Switzerland.

I also made some friends before boarding my train back to meet Chris. I was sitting at a pub by the station, drinking a beer and reading, and these "young folks" called me over to talk and hang out. They bought me beers and chatted it up about the States. One girl's name was Nilou, a 24-year-old from Vancouver. Another was an African guy named Poulet (yes, "chicken" in English). They wanted to meet up this weekend, but Chris and I are to go to Geneva so....probably not. But still so nice to meet new people who were so friendly.

Also went to a vinyard last night where we ate delicious cheese (including brie) and fresh bread...and sampled the winery's vin. All were tipsy when we got the actual tour of the wine cellar. Thank you World Wildlife Fund!!!

Must sign off now...Chris has to use this computer to do actual work.

2002-10-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Arrived yesterday. Explored little town of Zeist, had dinner in a wonderful little European restaurant, visited porno shop, went looking for cash machine, grocery shopped...oh, you're curious about the porno shop?

It's next to our hotel and it is very classy, the woman-sucking-horse's-wanker videos are tastefully displayed, and the whack-off booths are discreetly placed in the back. I bought a lovely latex nightie, and Chris and I played "who's your dominatrix?" until the wee hours. It was a good start to our trip!!

2002-09-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

it's truly not fair. not fair at all.

2002-09-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

9-26-02

Going crazy preparing to leave. Will be a MIRACLE if I can keep my wheels on until Sunday at 10pm!