Its that day again....
I know. I know. I’ve abandoned my dear ol’ blog.
But here I am. Back. And ready to rock and roll!
Life has been crazy. Crazy busy. From Dec 24th until 2 weeks ago I was working 7 days a week! The weekends were full, filming a cheesy (ok fine, very cheesy) Canadian talk/game show that was being filmed and produced here in Holland. The cash was great, the people even greater, and all in all was a once in a life time experience!
But more important news: today’s my birthday. Yep, it’s a big one. Eeekk 27! When I think back to all I wanted to accomplish at 27, wow, how naïve was I! But, that being said I’m definitely proud of what I have accomplished and where I currently am in my life. I think those wacky ideas of having a truck load (or in Holland, a bike load) of babies by my 27th birthday was worth striking off the list, for now. And the first million by my 30th?...hihihi...looks like I still have 3 years to go!
Thanks to everyone for all the very sweet birthday wishes, and cards, and prezzies! Much appreciated. And much Love.
This weekend I will celebrate in Style. Bring out the bowling shoes!!
And now, to end with a list (b/c if you know me, you know I love a good list), the top 7 things I plan to do in my 27th year:
1. Love more. Laugh more.
2. Take that long overdue trip to Morocco
3. Go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, arrive at work earlier, and leave work earlier. See a pattern here? EARLIER!
4. Go on a mother/daughter trip (i.e. Yoga Retreat??)
5. Get some sort of 2 year plan
6. Finally visit Vancouver with the big M
7. Appreciate every moment I have. Always.
There you have it :)
For Grandma:
Last night I was telling Moses my favourite Grandma Irene memories---and there were so many...
As a kid, and even teenager, there was nothing better than spending a "sleepover weekend" at Grandma's. I remember Mom and Dad dropping me off and reminding Grandma that I should not drink coke, eat chocolate, go to bed late, etc. etc. Grandma would nod accordingly, and as soon as the door would shut she would turn around with a devious grin and we would both break into laughter as she pulled out the chocolate bars (she certainly loved her chocolate), sour candies, and ice cream. We'd spend the days playing cards (Rummy was our favourite game), swimming in the pool, going to the Zoo, or watching late (late) night TV together. The biggest treat was when she'd make Kyle and I her speciality---nachos in the microwave. (Kyle and I didn't yet have a microwave at home, and we marveled at the incredible nachos she'd prepare. Still to this day, I make those very same nachos and think of her).
My earliest memory of Grandma is quite a funny one. I remember being around 4 years old, and had a favourite doll, who was black. I called her quite simply "black baby" and I remember one day Grandma saying to me that I couldn't call her that anymore; "she needed a real name, afterall, I didn't call all my other dolls "white baby", now did I?" This point made sense to my four-year-old-self, so together we decided to rename her "Suzy Q". A silly memory, but a telling one. Grandma had a special way of teaching all of her grandchildren things in a playful kind manner.
I also remember being very young and Grandma rolling around on all fours with Kyle and I on the floor of her apartment--- playing our favourite game "cats". We'd play that game for hours, and she always seemed to be just as amused as we were!
I always thought of Grandma as very glamorous. She would let me organize her jewelry box for her, which was full of exotic earrings, rings, and necklaces from her travels. She had a great set of shoes and matching purses, which she would let me line up along her bed. I loved when she would paint our nails, matching pink. And later, when she was in Rosewood and could no longer do it herself, I would return the favour, and do her hair and paint her nails on our back deck. Even then, she loved it! Always a real lady! Mom and I would giggle uncontrollably every time an older man in the elevator or a restaurant would say something like "Wow, doesn't your sister look great!" She was done with all that "men stuff" (her words) but we'd love to tease her and call her a "real looker!!".
When she got older, and her memory wasn't very good, Mom and I still knew how to light up her day. We'd take her out for lunch ---which had to include a coffee and some sort of chocolate for desert. We’d all giggle together as she'd say over and over "this is heaven"!! She always appreciated the small things in life, and even up to a year ago she'd still get excited when we'd bring her chocolates or a coffee to the home.
Grandma was an enormous part of my life, right up until today. I will miss her but I am happy to know that she is at peace and in a better place.
Everyone should be as lucky as we were to have known someone so special. I only hope that I can have a percentage of her kindness, love, enthusiasm, and above all infectious "joie de vivre"!
Love you, Granny!
Happy SinterKlaas Day to you!!
I thought today I’d be like the good ol’ Dutch,
And write a Sinterklaas poem for the man I love very much.
So here we are, living in the land below sea
The D.I.N.K.-y* dream, just you and me.
Working together was such a breeze,
It was only those uptight crazies we had to appease!
2006 brought many highs and some lows,
With nutty bosses, business plans and, best of all, a Popcorn CEO!
Rain or shine, I’d live with you anywhere,
Just bring the good times & laughter and I’ll be there!
Now here’s a clue for the Sinterklaas prezzie for you:
Tomorrow night at Waterlooplien and please bring your tutu
*Double Income No Kids: inside joke ;)
Is the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition finally dissipating?!
Almost a year ago today I posted about the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas and his band of merry helpers, the Zwarte Piets. I discussed the tradition and its inappropriate racial connotations in today’s multi-cultural Dutch society (in 2006, 20% of the Netherlands population was "non-Dutch").
To briefly summarize for those of you unfamiliar with the tradition, in Holland, Sinterklaas is celebrated on December 5th. On this evening, Dutch children put out their shoes for Sinterklaas to fill with treats. Sinterklaas live in Spain and ever December travels to Holland via ship. He then rides through the streets on horse-back accompnied by his helpers. Sounds like a nice litte story, eh? Well, it is, apart from the fact that SinterKlaas’s helpers are Zwarte Piets (Black Peters)--men depicted in jolly outfits, large red lips, curly afros, and very black skin. This image might be acceptable in a storybook setting (though I somehow even doubt that), but it is even more disturbing when re-enacted in the streets of Holland by White Dutch folk clad in afro wigs, red lipstick, and black face makeup.
BUT...this post isn’t another negative one, critizing this arachic tradition! No, this post is actually meant to celebrate that the times they might be a changin’ in Holland!! As reported by various Dutch new sources today, “The Sinterklaas tradition appears to be gradually fading in the multicultural Dutch society in the face of rising criticism to the saint's helpers, 'Zwarte Pieten'”.
Every year the Dutch public broadcaster, NOS, reports on the arrival of SinterKlaas to the Dutch cities. This year however, the NOS reported that “the steamboat sailed into a rainbow on the way to the Netherlands.[And] as a result, the Zwarte Pieten have blue, green, yellow and red faces this year.” (Link to the full article)
Could it be true? Might we be spared the shameful black-faces this year and instead be treated to a much more politically correct ensemble of Rainbow Piets???!
To those who made this decision: hats off!!
Catching Up
Me again :)
What can I say, its been a busy couple of weeks! The highlights?? I’d thought you’d never ask!
1. Last weekend we went to Copenhagen with some friends. The ride there was long (I think 11 hours in total), but definitely worth the effort. Denmark was great --the people were incredibly friendly, the city beautiful, and the coastline breathtaking!! We visited Hamlet’s castle, the Modern art museum "Louisiana" (saw a fabulous exhibition by artist Keith Tyson), tried our hand at the shooting gallery (and lost miserably), amongst other games, at Tivoli, and did a ton of great eating! Plus--who knew a ferry could be so much fun?! Me and the other 5- years-olds (also first-timers on a Ferry) were very excited :P
2. On Friday we went over to my friend Miranda’s for a Thanksgiving dinner (yes, a month late in Canadian terms. But better late than never!). I made my Grandma’s Thanksgiving coleslaw and Miranda prepared-- FROM SCRATCH-- an entire meal of turkey, stuffing, homemade pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, etc. for 9 hungry folks!! I marvelled at her skills, and contemplated the impossible-ness of one dish, let alone a dozen!
3. On Saturday I went to an Anouk concert for my friend and colleague Jami’s birthday. (Anouk is a very popular Dutch pop/rock star here in Holland). Jami’s husband works with Anouk (guitar specialist) so we scored VIP tickets to the sushi and alcohol filled backstage VIP lounge --definitely my kind of place. hihihi ;) She was great. Much better live than I would ever imagine. Am now an even bigger fan!
4. I have a "casting" this week to be a host for a Canadian game show being filmed in Amsterdam (and shown across Canada). Don’t ask!!! A friend recommended me, so I decided to give it a try for kicks! Truly hilarious, and if it happens, its going to be ridiculously funny!
5. The next month’s travel agenda is action packed (both work and personal trips). In the next month I’ll be in Paris, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and London. M and I have decided to go London for New Years Eve. I figured if I must (just kiddin’ Mo!) stay in Europe for the holidays, I might as well get some great shopping, greasy food and cheesy musicals crammed in there as well!
Alrighty. Got that off my chest!
Hugs,
xxoo
On Beauty...
Am lovin' the new Dove advertising campaign. (Love a campaign with a solid message).
Hmm....speaking of Dove.....maybe I need to buy myself some new Dove body wash...
Dammit!! Clever "advertising" wins again! (Advertising: 1 point, Colleen: Nil) ;)
UPDATE:
Just found out that this commercial is the brainchild of a Canadian based ad agency (in Toronto). Of course, now I love it even more!!!!!!
Trick or Treat?
It's funny, Halloween is the time of the year that I get the most home sick. I’m not sure why exactly that is. Maybe it’s because I have so many great memories of Halloween back home: painfully cold nights of trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins with Dad, putting together costumes with mum, high school house parties, the "Spice Girls" era, stealing Kyle's year-old uneaten candy....and so on. Or maybe its because Halloween is essentially non-existent here in Holland, and it just feels like something is, well, missing.
Last night I caught myself bragging to Mo (yes, bragging!) about how "In Canada, everything would be decorated this weekend for Halloween. Shops, restaurants, houses, you name it!" I’m not sure why I felt the need to brag about this fact, as truth be told I was never overly fond of the orange and black theme that decked most places this time of year, but living in a foreign country can do strange things to you...
"Did you hear me? I said, everything in Winnipeg would be decorated this weekend for Halloween!"
Silence
And finally...
"Decorated, like how?"
"Spoooooky. Decorated spooky! Like carved pumpkins, and ghosts in the trees, and witches, and haunted houses!"
"Hmmmm..." He glanced up from his laptop and muttered "um.... cool, I guess".
I’m not sure what I expected his response to be (poor man!).Or why I was even trying to start a quasi-argument about the proliferation of Halloween decorations in Canada, but I managed to catch myself and change the subject before I started down my "Canada is freaking great" speech or worse yet, the "I only live here for you" speech (which BTW isn’t at all how I feel at rational moments). Those speeches tend to rear their ugly heads at the moments I am feeling the most homesick, and apparently Halloween is one of them.
But don’t worry--there is a solution! My company organizes a Halloween bash for English-speakers living in Amsterdam---so I’m going to deck out of work early, and put those final touches on my costume! I’ve managed to rope a good crowd of friends into coming along---‘cause regardless of where I’m living’, I’m certainly not giving up this good ol’ fashion fun!
p.s. just noticed the pic above, appears to have Abraham Lincoln's face in it? Not sure why....but no time to change it. Spooky though, eh?
