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 :)

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!

*Double Income No Kids: inside joke ;)

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!!

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

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!!!!!!

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?

Paris...What can I say? It was surprisingly painless. No jaw popping incidents, no self-inflicted flames, no knock down overly dramatic situations. Just great food, great company, and great times. Of course there was loads of work, which thus resulted in loads of celebratory shopping, at the completion of this work. And, more than once a day I found myself day-dreaming again about returning, on a more permanent basis, to the city of lights.

I feel at home in France, in a way I never will in Holland. I love the food, the culture, the history, the fashion, the architecture, the film, the people (yes, the people! For all of those who find the French arrogant or rude. I’ve never. Never once. Of course they think very highly of their country, of their culinary accomplishments, of their artists, their writers, their poets. But why shouldn’t they? Isn’t it for all those reasons why literally millons of people flock to France each year? Those who find them rude are perhaps misinterpreting their lack of ability in English for rudeness. But trust me, if you think the French are rude! Hah! Try living in Holland! You ain’t seen nothing’ yet baby!! I digress...)

But above all, I love France’s ever-present "joie de vivre". Nobody seems to enjoy the simple pleasures of life more than the French.

I'll stay put in Amsterdam for now, after all, as Ernest Hemingway once said, "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast".

Kinda makes you feel rude, eh? Like your taking a look up someone's skirt! Not my intention, I promise!!

Quick happy birthday greetings to the Bro (and brotherly blogger, StungEye), and of course the one and only Daddio (who for some reason isn't enamoured by his affectionate nickname Paps).

Too much work to Blog!

Love from Par-ee!
~Dazzle

It looks like its going to be an eventful day! It’s only 11 am and already I’ve chased a man on a bike for 2 blocks who was "in possession" of my purse. Yes, as Mo was happy to remind me again today, these things only happen to me!

So, as I was driving to work this morning, my purse (which was strapped onto the back of my bike) fell off while crossing an intersection. I noticed once I had gotten to the other side of the street, but at that point cars were already whizzing by.

As the traffic slowed down, I watched as a man on a bicycle, in one quick graceful movement, scooped up my purse and cycled off into the distance. By the time the traffic finally stopped, I managed to get a glimpse of him, a block away, turning a corner. Huffing and puffing (and thanks to my brand-spanking-new tires) I sped off after him. After a block or so I managed to pull up beside him and say, out of breath: "Hi...ummm...that’s my bag".

He looked startled to see a sweaty, dishevelled me pulling up beside him, but quickly explained how he saw the purse, was late for work, and decided the "right thing" was to quickly drop it off at a neighbouring police station. I thanked him and we both happily rode off. As I turned around I saw Mo driving towards me, panicked, "Are you crazy?!?!" he yelled.

Apparently all he had seen "was his girlfriend bolt off in the opposite direction of work, yelling and chasing a Dutch man on a bike". He said he figured I had a good reason, but then again (given my track record) wasn’t entirely sure!

"I'm not crazy, baby. Crazy things just happen to me!"

"Really..."

...

...

P.S. Am off to Paris for a month tomorrow

P.P.S. Above pic by Flee. Check out his beautiful series of Amsterdam bike pics at www.flee.com.

You laugh as I cry shamelessly at a scene on television. "It’s a recap-show!" you howl. "I can’t believe you’re crying at a recap show! You’ve already seen this seen before, and you’re still crying?!"

And you ask, "Are you always going to be like this?"
"Are you going to cry like this when you’re a mother?"
"What about when you’re 30?!"

And I answer, "I hope so."
"I hope I never lose my passion, good or bad. Sure, maybe sometimes it’s too much, too rash, too harsh, too weak, too telling, too carefree, too heartfelt, too hurtful. Maybe I go through intense bouts of obsession, of introspection, of jubilation, of confession. But it’s true, and it’s me."

And you say: "That’s why I love you."

And we sit, and we smile, and we breathe...and you laugh.

And we laugh.

(And that’s why, I love you).

...

- Applied for visa
- Was rejected for no apparent reason
- Have now gone through 3 lawyers.
- Filled an appeal on Feb 14th (yep, Valentine’s day, how ironic?)
- Appeal decision is allowed to legally take a maximum of 10 weeks
- Has now been 27 weeks (no exaggeration, almost 3 times their self imposed maximum)

Conversation with IND today:

Me: Its now been 27 weeks, can you give me the status or ANY information on my case?
IND: No
Me: Is there anyone I can talk to?
IND: No
Me: Can I make an appt to meet with someone about my case?
IND: No
Me: Can you at least tell me when you think they might have a decision?
IND: Ummm, No.
Me: So, I can’t talk to anyone, talk write to anyone, can’t have an apt with anyone, and can’t have any information on my case?
IND: Yes
Me: And do you think it’s a bit strange that your maximum is 10 weeks, and its been 27 weeks and there is no solution in sight.
IND: No, not really
Me: Can I file a complaint about the delay?
IND: Technically yes, but...there is a current delay in the complaints department, and they won’t receive your complaint for an average of 6 weeks.
Me: Which will probably be more like 12 weeks right?
IND: Right.

Oh well no worries, right, 'cause tonight is M-A-D-O-N-N-A!!!!!

Just a quick, middle of the night, post to let you all know that I haven't completely dropped off the face of the universe (and will shortly be resurfacing in Holland). I've now been in Canada for just over 2 weeks and it's been everything I've hoped for---beautiful weather, great company, and fun-filled days and evenings (to early mornings) spent with my fabulous friends and family.

I just got back from a few days at the lake. The ride down was nothing short of picturesque; farmer's fields dotted with familiar yellow and purple crops complemented by perfectly blue skies. Forget canals, and mountains, and downtown skylines, and valleys...I'll always be a prairie girl at heart.

In less than a week’s time M and I have managed to watch 23 episodes of Lost. Yes, you heard right, the entire first season in practically one sitting. I admit it. I have a full fledge addiction. (I’ve decided it’s my new part-time job (aka "Lost watcher"), since it did take over 20 hours of my time this week). Of course it was a good week to waste here in Holland. Since last Monday it has been nothing but rain, rain and more rain in the "only had 3-weeks-of-summer" city of Amsterdam.

No matter what drama is currently happening in my life, it is nothing compared to the ups and downs of the 40 some odd characters trapped on this mysterious island. If you haven’t yet seen it, the show is absolutely fabulous! I can’t remember the last TV show I watched that was so compelling and utterly addictive. I’ll admit I may also have a small "non-sexual crush" (common, you know the kind) on Evangeline Lily. She’s the best and the kind of star Hollywood needs more of:

Lost's Evangeline Lilly has recently reprimanded the lazy and selfish socialites of the world too concerned about themselves to give to others in need. "I need to help people or I'd be no better than the Paris Hiltons of the world, waltzing around with their Louis Vuitton bags and their little dogs," said the 27-year-old Alberta native. "Those people couldn't give a rat's a*s if somebody was starving in the street next to them."

Go Lily! Makin’ us Canadians proud!!

I now need to catch up on a few shows from the second season, which will hopefully tide me over until the 3rd season starts in the fall.

So folks, my advice to you is simple: Watch it. Or die.