Dutch word of the day

Zwanger

If you are unsure of what the answer is look below

 

 

 

 

That’s right “zwanger” means pregnant and that’s what I am

I’m due in the beginning of January and so far things have been just fine!  No morning sickness or nausea granted now that I said that I’m sure I’ve cursed myself and will wake up puking tomorrow.  I feel good so far, except for being tired and the occasional crabbiness but that isn’t any different from any other day hee hee. 

We are excited and have two ultrasounds so far.  I’m not far enough along to find out the sex but as soon as I know I’ll be sure to announce it. 

Here is one picture of the bean…

 

The lady doing the ultrasound was very nice but every time we saw a good picture she would take it just after the fact.  The little bean was moving like he/she had too much coffee!  Which by the way I’ve been clean and sober of any coffee or tea for the last two months.. *sigh*.

We are excited about the new addition and it give me a great excuse to shop!  We will stay in this house for another year or so then move to a bigger one… once I get another job since Resources decided not to renew my contract.  Ya that’s a whole other bleeping story!

But as for right now we are excited since my parents are becoming first time grandparents and my nonna is becoming a great grandmother.  Also it has been a while since a new baby has been in the family so this should be fun.

Ok.. I know this is a really short ending to this blog but read above about being tired.  Right now I’m forcing myself to stay awake long enough to type this.  9:48pm and I’m ready to crash!

The bean or rather the fig since it should be about that size it is right now and I say “Goodnight”.

Garden of Eden… well ok.. our Eden

I meant to post this a little sooner, but it got a bit busy and I just never found the time to sit and type.  Now as I wait for Frank to fire up the bbq and get dinner going, I’ll get some blogging done. 

Last year we started to do some work on the backyard,  but unfortunately the summer wasn’t the best for us to work in and we really didn’t get a lot done except I did manage to grow a few beans and a couple tomatoes.  The flower side never really amounted to much because the sun is blocked by these hideous trees that are between the two houses.   The patio area had my huge herb garden; which I did get some good use out of, but that was the extent of it. 

This year we decided to dump some money into the garden since we are going to be here for at least another year, and we both enjoy sitting in the backyard when the weather is nice.  We still have a garden with just tomatoes and beans, but we made it a bit bigger and so far so good.  I took the lavender out of the “flower garden” and put that into my big herb pot, then moved my herbs into two smaller pots.  I have to say my favourite part of the garden is the new “rock garden” where the flowers use to be.  Since nothing grew there to begin with we decided to just cover the area with rocks and put some nice decorative lanterns and keep the raspberry bush and bleeding heart bush.  The two top pictures are the work in progress.

Here is the finished rock garden… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think Frank did a great job with the backyard and we definitelyenjoying it, at least when I don’t have laundry hanging up!   But new we like to sit in the back and read or listen to music and more then once we will have dinner outside, especially if it’s bbq.  

I would like to get a statue or something else for the rock garden, but nothing has caught my eye just yet.  But I’m sure that very soon Praxis will have a sale and I’ll see the pièce de résistance and add it to the garden.  But as for now it’s nice to see Stoney follow the sun around the yard and try to get to the warm spots.   After a hard day’s work, he found a comfy spot on Frank.

The Prince and the Pea

We brought the cushions in from the outdoor furniture because it is raining.  So we just pile them on the floor in the living room for a temporary solution since we don’t have a shed in the backyard.   Well Stoney has taken to sleeping on the cushions.  He reminds me of the story, “The Princess and the Pea”, only my little Prince isn’t so delicate!   But I have to admit, he’s still adorable.  It is funny watching make is nest on the cushions, then turning around 5-10 times before he plops his little butt down and passes out cold for his nap. 

OH MY GOD!!

My friend Danielle sent me this website!  I don’t know how many other Canadian expats have seen it but it’s my first time and I’m in an online Heaven!!

http://www.canadaonly.ca/

mmmmm… coffee crisp…… ketchup chips… lime doritos….

Moederdag

Today is Mother’s day around the world, and here in the Netherlands it isn’t any different.  This is my first real Mother’s day here since last year I had gone back to Canada for a short visit. 

This morning I woke up to Ashley and Brianna bringing me breakfast in bed, a kaas broodje cut into the shape of a heart,  a glass of orange juice and a card they made from the two of them thanking me for everything.  Then once I was able to wake up fully we went downstairs and they had presents for me.  Brianna bought me two very cute photo albums and a little make up kit which will be great to keep in my purse.  Ashley bought me a bath backscrubby thing and bath gel, plus a red rose.

I was very nice and sweet for the girls to think of me today.   Afterward they went out the day and Frank and I stayed home enjoying the sunshine.   I managed to get the laundry done and he finished off the backyard, pictures and blog to come!

It was a very nice mellow Mother’s day and two sweet girls helped make it that way.

Apeldoorn

Yesterday Frank and I took off to Apeldoorn.  A great city located about an hour by train from us.  Located in the Gelderland province, Apeldoorn has a population of roughly 137,000.    The first time I was there was in 1995 with the 48th Highlanders of Canada, for the 50th Liberation Celebrations.  The next time I went was 2006, my first vacation in long time.  A friend basically gave me a tour of Gelderland while I was there.  He and his wife later came to Canada but I was only able to take them for dinner.   But either way I’ve never been toPaleis Het Loo (pronounced “low” not LOOO like a British toilet) But either way… in 1995 I know we went there but we didn’t get to really see anything and in 2006 I got up to the gates and shot a few pictures but never made inside.  So Frank had this planned but he just had to make sure the kids were going to go somewhere for the day and well.. they did.

Unfortunately we weren’t able to take pictures inside, I wanted to sneak a few but Frank wouldn’t let me.  So I had to settle with just taking pictures of the gardens.  The cost was 10 euros a piece and the walk through took us about an hour and a bit depending on how much of the reading you wanted to do.  You could also rent the headphones for 2 euros but I decided against that, I would just read the place cards.   It was really interesting going through and seeing all the old furniture and learning about who was who in the royal family,  unlike the British Royals, the Dutch Royals aren’t very well known and neither is the history behind them.  

After going through the house we headed to the gardens in the back.  They remind me of the gardens in Versailles.  Intricate patterns made by the hedges and flowers planted in between with gravel path ways and fountains.   I was able to get a few pictures in before my batteries died…yes I know.. BAD TOURIST!!  Trust me I wasn’t impressed, especially since the gift shop didn’t tell batteries.   

After walking around the gardens and the museum, it was time to head in to the centre for some lunch.   We walked  over to the bus stop and as we were waiting we noticed that there were police EVERYWHERE!!  All stationed on this one intersection.  Frank thought maybe Royalty was coming…. I had no idea.  But it was just strange having 2 cops standing there with cameras, and one van packed to the roof with 5 cops.   But after waiting for approximately 20 minutes we had our answer, sort of… a huge motorcycle convoy came rumbling through.  There was at least 100 bikes that came rumbling by.  Now I was really pissed my camera had died on me!

After having a longish lunch in the city centre we wandered around the stores to “browse”.  While Frank was in the computer store I went in to a home decorating store.  At first it really didn’t look like there was much that would catch my eye and I was about to leave, but then I turned around and something caught my eye.  I couldn’t say no, especially since the price was 50% off!!  So I snatched it!  

For those who personally know me, you will understand why I was so geeked to get this statue.  Especially since I’m not a dust collector type of person (we can thank mom for that ).

I love my new statue though, and it looks great on my new coffee table. 

All in all we had a great time and I was able to get a few pictures of the gardens before the batteries died.  To see the remainder of the pics you can just go on my flickr site and check them out there!

Ok… signing off now, hopefully I can be a little more vigilant when it comes to writing in the blog.  I’ve been bad lately *hangs head* sorry!

A commerical break

Ok… not really I know…

I haven’t had much time to blog.  It might have to do with the fact I’m usually in bed by 9:30 (21:30 for you Europeans out there).   It isn’t the job that is tiring, but the getting up at 6 so that I can get the 7:30 train into Utrecht.  The actual commute doesn’t bother me either because I can read and listen to my music (and no I didn’t copy yours, Robbie on the ipod… mine’s purple ).  It’s the 6am part. 

So once I get use to this ungodly hour, I’ll be able to write my little ditties here again. 

Coming soon…. My trip to Canada in a short story (kidding.. more like a few lines)

Ok.. need to put on my make up and do my hair… only 30 minutes left before I have to leave.

Stupidity… unfortunately this is just across the Canadian border.

It is unfortunate that people like this are allowed to be on television and I think Fox needs to rethink who they hire to represent them.   The disrespect for our Canadian soldiers, especially when just recently we lost 4 more in Afghanistan is unbelievable.   We went there to support them, we have supported them, we still are supporting them.  Our troops are in one of the most volatile areas of Afghanistan, and this asshole thinks it’s ok to slam the Canadians who risk their lives daily. 

Watch the clip if you can stomach it.  Below is the news article from the Toronto Star stating his apology.   Maybe instead of sitting there looking pretty on camera, he should grab a gun and join the troops… any country…. pick one…and see exactly what they go through. 

Here is what the Toronto Star had to say about the apology.

OTTAWA – The host of a Fox News show has apologized for bashing the contribution of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, saying his “satirical take” on daily news events has been misunderstood.

Greg Gutfeld, host of “Red Eye” was responding to outrage north of the border about a March 17 segment that aired in the early morning hours but sparked a diplomatic flap when it surfaced on YouTube over the weekend, following the death of four Canadian soldiers in Kandahar.

The show’s panelists took a number of shots at Canada and the military, with one saying he didn’t know the country had even deployed troops in Afghanistan.

Another said the only reason the military could pull its soldiers out of the NATO-led mission was because it relies heavily for security on the United States.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay launched the counterattack on Fox’s Gutfeld, saying the comments were in poor taste and requesting an apology.

“I think it is a very limited, uninformed view. It is crass. It is insensitive and it is in fact disgusting given the timing, where Canada is just receiving back four fallen heroes … at CFB Trenton,” MacKay told CTV Newsnet shortly before travelling to the military base where the latest four soldiers to be killed in Afghanistan arrived today.

MacKay said that the views expressed on the show do not reflect those of the U.S. government, which has been effusive in its praise of Canada, nor the “vast majority of Americans.”

Fox offered up an apology a few hours later saying comments on the show were “in no way an attempt to make light of troop efforts.”

“I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize. Red Eye is a satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner,” Gutfeld’s statement read.

 

The late-night show, “Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld,” featured a panel that took turns bashing Canada. One panelist said he didn’t even know Canada had troops in Afghanistan and another said the only reason the military could pull its troops out of the NATO-led mission was because it relies heavily for security on the United States.

A clip of the segment, which aired last week in the early morning hours, surfaced on YouTube over the weekend and kicked off the diplomatic flap.

Dan Dugas, a spokesperson for MacKay, said earlier today that “no one is laughing and they owe Canada — and, more importantly, the families of each one of our fallen heroes — an apology for their ill-informed mistakes.”

Canadian soldiers have been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001 and have spent the last four years in the country’s most violent region.

Canada has lost 116 soldiers in Afghanistan.

The country has said it will pull out most of its 2,500 troops in Kandahar when its current combat mission expires in 2011.

News of that impending withdrawal, and the army chief’s comments that the military would need a year’s hiatus to regroup and refurbish, served as the launching pad for members of the Fox panel to mock Canada.

I think they need to fire his dumb ass.

It only took me 20+ years to finally go!

My sweet brother took me to a Detroit Red Wings game tonight!  I love the Red Wings…. always have…. Ok, in all honesty I am madly in love with Steve Yzerman.   But I am a Red Wings fan in general.  Steve no longer plays with the “Wings” as he retired in 2006 after a glorious 23 season career.   But still I finally got to see my team play live.  Sad I know, but I guess living in Toronto for 15 years made it a bit hard to get to Detroit for a game.

Anyways… tonight they played the Flyers… and let me tell ya, the passing sucked rocks but all in all they WON!  So I’m really not going to write a whole lot on the game since I’m sure most aren’t interested, but I’ll post a few pictures of the 71 that I took including 3 videos.  Yes I know, I’m pathetic! 

This is Yzerman’s number.. they retired it last year.  He’s hanging up there with some of the greats like Gordie Howe #9.

Some of the Cup Banners.

Warm up

This was the final score… I took this right after the 3 goal was scored but the Flyers never came back to beat Detroit so 3-2 Detroit!!! 

 

I had such a great time, even though there were a few moments I wanted to go on the ice and shake them!!  I also may have suffered a minor coronary on a few of the shots.  But what matters is… THEY WON!!  WOOT!!!

 

Look on my flickr site (side bar) and there the videos and more pictures.

120-105= me getting ripped off.

I’ve had contact lenses for the better part of 18 years now and because my eyes are sensitive, I had to use the gas permeable contacts.  Which I love, I find them to be comfortable and easy to take care of, plus long lasting. 

Now those that wear contacts, know that solution isn’t cheap and we go through a fair amount of solution.  So in the end that’s a good size chunk of change that comes out of our pockets and goes into the contact solution companies.   So we like to save every last drop of solution and be as stingy as we can, because we know that the next bottle will cost us a kidney or a “donation” of some sort (use your imagination there people).

Therefore, imagine my surprise and disgust when I went to my local drug store here in Canada to purchase my solution so that I can bring some back to NL and I see a new bottle with LESS product but for MORE money!!!  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….

So this prompted me to write to the company and complain, below you will find my email:

Hello,

 

I’m sure I’m not the first to make mention of this, and if I am then I’m sure there will be others who will follow suit concerning your new bottles that you have out for the Boston contact solution (all different varieties).  I noticed that not only are the bottles 15ml smaller then the old ones but the price has increased by 2 dollars for most stores. 

 

I thought that ok… maybe they are trying to save money, but when I saw the increase of price and the decrease of product I realized that you aren’t trying to save money but instead rip off your customers.  How do you justify taking away 15ml of solution for a “New Look”, but yet you hike the price?  Now really if I’m paying the extra 2.00 per bottle because your budget went a little over when trying to design the snazzy new flip tops; then for the most part I can understand that.  BUT why are you reducing the amount of solution in the bottle?  OH wait… don’t tell me, you are trying to save on packaging.  Got it. No problem.  But, and yes of course there will be a “but”, that means less packaging, less product to bottle the solution in, less money spent to bottle the solution, more space when shipping since you can fit more on a pallet thanks to the new sleek design, less cost for shipping, more money in the company.  So then since there is more money in the company why are you now charging an extra 2.00 a bottle?? I mean you just went through a massive reconstruction of the bottle design and cardboard box design so that you can make the consumer THINK they are still getting the 120ml in a bottle.  But in fact they are only getting 105ml in a bottle.  So where exactly is the extra 2.00 going if not in the bottle?

 

Slush fund for the CEO’s vacation? 

 

Either way I’m not impressed.  I’ve been using your product for the better part of 18 years.  I knew what bottle I had to buy and I knew how long each bottle would last.  Now with this new bottle and the 15ml less, I’m at a loss.  I have no idea if I’m going to be able to handle the flip top with out injury, or if the new “round” bottle will easily slip from my grasp landing on my dog’s head causing severe brain damage, or if the 15ml less product will turn my contact wearing life into turmoil because I might run out – no I will run out earlier then anticipated, or maybe in this economic crisis I will have to declare bankruptcy because the additional 2.00 per bottle will drain my savings.  Who knows what is going to happen, all I know is that after all these years of using your product, and I feel cheated.

 

I understand that companies are looking for a way to save money, but don’t rip us off by giving us less product and hiking the price in the process.  You want to save money, then find a way to do it on the inside with in the company.  Not by reaching into our pockets to compensate your budget problems.  The consumer is what keeps the company going, and if you start to take away then we are only going to find another product to go with, however inferior the product maybe.  I’m not happy in the least about this, and I’m sure you can figure out the math where you are going to gain in this and I’m going to loose. 

 

Feel free to contact me, I’ll try my best to read the reply if my internet doesn’t get shut off because of an unpaid bill.  The things I have to sacrifice to be able to see.

Now to see if I actually get a reply.  I doubt it, they are probably too busy counting my twoonies they reefed from me.

*EDIT*

Well I got a reply…from the sounds of it they have their standard template all ready for this type of thing.

Dear Melissa,

 

Thank you for contacting Bausch & Lomb Canada.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your concern with us. 

Bausch & Lomb’s global manufacturing has decided to use the new bottles in order to have one type of bottle used world wide.

Where as before many different countries had different bottle types.  

As for the new prices at retail, we needed to make a price adjustment. We had not had a price increase for over ten years on the Boston products.

With the high cost of gas and transportation, we believe the price adjustment is justified.

If you can forward us your mailing address, we will gladly send you some rebate coupons.

 

Needless to say… I’m taking the coupons!!!!