Need a name

Well I’ve decided to start another blog.  It may not be as interesting as the one I had before, but I enjoy writing and posting on here so with the encouragement of fellow bloggers I’ll give it a go.  But now the hard part… I need a new name for my blog.   I’m totally drawing a blank here.  I have nothing…. NOTHING I TELL YOU NOTHING!!!  Ok…sorry about that, I think the fact it’s 12:50am might be getting to me.

I can’t think of anything to start a new blog with….I would like something that includes Isabella in the name and the only thing I got was “My life in a diaper bag”  sad … pathetic… ya I know.

So here is a public plea……..HELP ME!!

She’s got the look!

I’ve decided to try out a new theme.  I’m not too sure if I like this one or not, but I’ll give it a go for a few weeks to see if I warm up to it.    I am also not sure if I want to stay with WordPress or go over to blogspot so that I can use the widget to see where my readers are coming from.  I really like this option and so far I can’t find it on WordPress.  Now if there is an option and I just can’t see it, please tell me and show me where!

I also noticed on blogspot there are more options on peoples sites to add things like ads, or their Etsy.com listing (for example).   I’m not looking to place and ad on here, I was just commenting on what seems to be more options. 

Anyways… we’ll see if this layout lasts or not…. 😉

Our own “There I fixed it”

This is what happens when you have a computer geek in the house and he can’t find the tie for the curtains.

*sigh*

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!!!!

Taking into consideration the country I live in….

see more dog and puppy pictures

NS can kus my butt!!

My trip home start off pretty uneventful, I got a ride to the station so that saved me a 20 minute bus ride.  Then getting to the station I stopped off at AH (Albert Heijn) so that I can pick up bacon, milk, and some other small things since it’s Thursday and we had our usual… pannenkoeken (pancakes).  Dutch pancakes are a little different then what most North Americans are use to.  In this picture (taken at a restaurant),  I had Brie cheese on my pancake.  But back to the story….

I do my shopping and I head over to the station and take a peek to see which spoor (platform) my train is leaving from and what train I’m going to catch.  Ok… quick NS lesson about the trains…. Intercity means that it goes to the the major cities but skips the small towns along the way, stoptrein means that it hits all the little towns along the way.  So I see that my Intercity to Schothorst is at spoor 11 and is due to leave at 18.01… that gives me 10 minutes to get to my spoor…perfect!   I make it to the platform with 5 minutes to spare (trust me – rush hour at Utrecht Station is like the 401 in Ontario).   All of a sudden I hear the PA system go off and I’m informed the train will be 10 minutes late.  Ok… no biggie… I’m use to that.  BUT…. BUT!!!  Not 5 minutes later I hear another announcement and the 10 minutes have now turned to 20!  GRRRRRRR!!!   And there’s no point trying to catch a different train on another platform, they are all delayed.    

Finally my train shows up and I board, only to have to cram in because now there are twice the amount of people because of the delay.   As we chug and I mean literally chug… I could have walked faster… towards Schothorst I sit back and try to read.   Finally we hit Amersfoort station and wait while everyone rushes like pigs to a feeding trough to get off the train, so that we can continue to the last stop and I can finally go home.   But why would it be THAT easy??  Suddenly another announcement, this time ON the train….this train is going to ROTTERDAM!!  That would be the OTHER end of the Netherlands.  UGH!!  You have to be kidding me, so as we grab our stuff as fast as we can to get off before it leaves,  this time the mad rush includes me and being short in the land of tall I had a couple of elbows and bags jab into me.   Then I have to follow the mass up the stairs and over to another spoor to get the right train home.

At last my train arrived and I made it to my station…. only 2 hours AFTER I got out of work.  But of course my luck didn’t end there… it has to be raining when I stepped out of the station… of course… rain…. cold rain…. cold hurts your face as you bike into it rain….. rain…..

Awesome Video!

 

For those who understand Italian…have a great laugh.  For those who don’t understand, just watch the video and listen carefully you can get the idea and still have a great laugh!

Here fishy fishy fishy…..

Since the kids are heading to their grandparents today for their grandfather’s birthday, I thought I would make fish for dinner.  I found a really nice sounding, can’t say tasting as I haven’t made it yet, recipe in one of my books.

Orange Crumb Salmon

3oz fresh breadcrumbs – how can it be fresh? I thought breadcrumbs were made from stale bread.

2 tbsp olive oil plus extra for greasing

finely grated zest and juice of one orange

4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

4 boneless skinless salmon fillets (only 2 for us)

9 new potatoes (side dish – but I think I’ll do rice)

3 tbsp mayonnaise.

Mix all the ingredients together to make the crust and put on the fish packing it down.  Make sure to drizzle some oil on the pan so it doesn’t stick and then put it in the oven for 20 mins at 200C  (or until done).  Take some parsley and orange juice and mix with the mayo for a dip.

The mayonnaise with some parsley and orange juice is used as a dip on the side.. hmmm.. interesting.  So anyhow that’s what we are having for supper tonight.   I’ll have two great little cook books that I ordered from England, one is  “101 cheap eats” and the second is  “101 one pot meals”.  Both books have some really good things to make that are pretty quick too.   Also because it is an English book they have some typical English recipes, just shortened to make the cooking time faster.  I’m not sure what I’m making for the rest of the weekend, maybe another chicken pie with puff pastry like I did a few weeks ago.   But we’ll see where my creative juices or rather creative reading and following skills take me.

On another note:  The Dutch lessons are coming along, I’d like to say rather nicely but that would be a lie.. they are coming along though.   I’ve increased my time in the class room by going for 4 hours instead of 2 when they have the time available.  If I can’t go in 2 hours early then I can stay for an hour after my class has ended.  I find the 2 hours sitting there and listening to the computer doesn’t give me enough time to get into the lesson.  I like to repeat certain parts of it, sometimes a few times (those damn negatives!!) to understand where everything goes.  The grammar is not the easiest to get!  I understand 90% of what I am reading, I can write 85% of it with out having to look back at things, but to speak it I’m only at 30%.  I have to get over the fear of speaking a new language… or speaking a different language all together (yes mom I know).  Unfortunately that will be my downfall with Dutch. 

I have my resume into about 6 or 7 different agencies right now for work, but since I’m going back to Canada in March for nearly 3 weeks, it puts a damper on any prospects.  So I’m going to have to hold off until I return before I can start hitting the pavement again.  It’s unfortunate because I think I would have been able to get a good job in Amsterdam, but they wanted someone for 3 solid months before giving them the position, which is understandable.  But I have to go home and visit… it’s time to go home and visit… I’m running out of Bath and Body stuff!  Oh and Target has been calling my name, ok… I don’t have the money for it but still I can go browse.

Well I guess I should get going and head over to the store before the skies decide to open up again.  It’s calling for rain for the rest of the weekend,  I would rather take the snow!

Update: the salmon was great!!  Too bad the price of it was so expensive otherwise we’d eat it more often.

Ik ben Melissa. Ik woon in Amersfoort. I ben going mental!

Well… I started my Inburgeringcurses yesterday… and…. and…ya.  I’m doing the type where you sit there with headphones on and go through the lessons on an individual basis (Talenpracticum).  I’m also apparently taking a bit harder exam then the normal one given, don’t ask, I don’t know, all I know it’s called the “staatsexam”.  I have to finish these courses and take my test with in the three and a half year mark of living in the Netherlands other wise I can be fined.  I have to “work with them” on this, yes that was in the letter they gave us, well me actually not Frank since HE doesn’t HAVE to do this! (Jealously showing).  

I’ve been given two books to follow along on the tapes and also for homework purposes.  Great no problem… so yesterday I head off to my course, which is on the other end of the city basically and it would take longer by bus then by bike,  and I get there 10 minutes early.  Being the good pupil.  Well that was a waste of time since you can’t even talk the secretary until your allotted time.  PERFECT since I needed to ask questions.  So I waited and watched people come and go, and waited, and watched more people come and go…. finally the teacher came and got me.  I felt so special… or rather singled out since she flat out announced this was my first day and I had to sit at the front of the class…. great considering there were already two other people there and I had to sit in between them.  To give you an idea of how much space you have, try fitting the large eggs into the carton that is marked small.  Hmmmm yes… comfortable.   So then she starts to speak Dutch to me,  I’m sure the blank gaze I gave her was the dead give away that I didn’t understand.  Ok.. I did understand but I wasn’t going to make my head hurt by making sure I was translating it properly in my head.   I was then given Lesson 2 or for you smart ass already know Dutch people Les 2.   HEY!! WHAT HAPPENED TO LESSON 1??  I guess since I did SO well on the pre-tests for someone who has no clue with the language I can skip lesson 1.   When I say well, I mean I actually got some answers right on all 3 tests that I had to do. 

Now I’m settled in my seat and I have my two pretty red books in front of me,  she sets me up on Lesson 2 and  shows me the earphones I’m supposed to use.  I don’t think she was amused that I took out a kleenex with a dab of antibacterial cleaner on it to wipe them down.   And I settle in for my first lesson!  WHOOHOOO!!  Here’s your example of what I listened too, and repeated for an hour…

Ik woon in Amsterdam.

Ben u student?

Ja, ik ben student.

Ik studeer Engels.

Hè, dat is mijn taal.

Now… here’s the thing… luckily I understand what I was reading and repeating, but nowhere was there a translation or the teacher offering a translation.  I pretty much could have been repeating Greek and not having a clue what it meant.   Now this is pretty basic and most people can get the just of it, but at the end of this I had to listen to some sentences and write them down…. ok…. um…. That wouldn’t be a problem if it was what we just studied, but it wasn’t… needless to say I guessed on most and got nearly all wrong.  Not impressed by that.  I did however do the listen for  “i” sound as in pit and the “e” sound as in pet part perfectly.  Trust me it was harder then you think. 

Once I got home I had about 6 pages of homework to do.  I had to take the word given and write the plural.  No problem, except again I didn’t know what I was reading and I want to know the English word so next time I’ll remember.  My homework that should have only have taken 30 minutes took and hour because of all the translating I did on top of the original work.   Oh and I’m still not done, I still have 2 more pages to do.  *sigh*  Well it’s a matter of “suck it up buttercup” because I don’t have a choice but to do these courses.  So I might as well just get it done and over with now.

Oh and for anyone questioning why I took the classes this way and not in a regular class setting, I’m on the job hunt.  So if I get a job I can easily switch these classes to the night and not worry about losing out on lessons.  Plus these classes are fairly flexible so I can change times even for the day if I can’t make my normal time.  That’s the only reason why I did it this way, otherwise I would have opted for a normal class room setting.

I have classes now every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for only 2 hours a day.  I’m not too sure what’s going to happen when I leave in March to go back to Canada for a visit.  Maybe I can double up on the lessons so I don’t fall behind.   The bike ride is about 15-20 minutes depending on the wind.  Oh that reminds me I need to get a rain cape, I have a jacket but it doesn’t cover my legs and it’s so bloody annoying having wet pants!

Other then that, New Years was an experience I don’t think I’d like to repeat.  At least not when I have Stoney still around.  The fireworks were great but they left the poor dog shaking for a week and unable to go outside and go to the bathroom properly.  I had to drug him the night of the fireworks and even then it really didn’t help too much.  The Dutch LOVE their fireworks, and well our neighbours obviously do too since it was 4 am by the time they put out the lovely bonfire in the middle of the parking lot and stopped setting them off.   The thing with the fireworks is that hey started in November and continued right through until the 3 day in January.  After nearly two months of it you just get tired of listening to them.  The fun of watching them is gone.  

I think next year I’ll find out what my aunt in Italy is doing and go visit her with Stoney!!  I know she loves him since the last time she was in Canada she gave him a bath…. and I heard about it until she left to go back to Italy…God love her 😀