Amsterdam

It seems I've started and saved this post several times, but when I come back, it's gone, and I'm usually too wiped out to hassle with writing coherent thoughts. I am exhausted daily, but loving every minute of it. As we rode the train to Amsterdam Tuesday morning, it occurred to me that many of the experiences I find remarkable, the folks here think of as commonplace. That's a good thing, so long as they remember to appreciate them; for instance, the train ride itself, on a functional and efficient public transit system. The development of the auto and US highway system over the years has brought many improvements to our quality of life, but at the expense of reliable public transportation options in all but the largest cities. Rural America is left in the lurch, needing expensive cars and expensive fuel, when perhaps our resources could be better invested elsewhere.
We got to Amsterdam and wandered around at a leisurely pace. We checked out some public squares with street performers and buskers, and went to the Rijksmuseum. Neither the iPastor nor I are well-schooled in the fine arts, but even we could appreciate the talent of Rembrandt and the other Dutch masters on display. The Rijksmuseum wins for being highly accessible to noobs. :)
Afterwards, we headed for Vondelpark, both for historic/sightseeing significance, and to check out some sights from John Green's latest book, _The Fault in Our Stars_. He's a family favorite, so I needed some pictures for the Things at home. The man singing to the ducks made the trip worthwhile all on his own. We walked back and visited the Anne Frank House. The line to get in was daunting, but it actually moved along quickly, yet didn't feel too rushed once we were inside. Visiting a place that one reads about is an interesting experience anyway, but the gravity of the story of the Hidden Annex made it all the more surreal. We walked back up near the train station, and took a canal tour. We'd been walking past and over them all day, so it was quite interesting to see the city from the opposite view.
Afterwards, we headed back to 't Goy and settled in for the evening.

Day 3: Antwerp

We headed out with both DDs for a day trip to Antwerpen, Belgium. Couldn't be this close and not sneak one more country in. Did the sightseeing thing, ate, walked, ate more, and just had fun visiting with our girls. :). Have to steal pics from the iPastor. He was far better with the camera thani was today. We visited a lovely cathedral and the "Hidden Street," as well as an America Today store, where we could purchase Mountain Dew for DD#1. It was rainy but still pleasant, and the highlight of the day was just knocking around with our girls. They hadn't met before, and it was fun for them, I think, to compare "war stories" of their time in Minnesota. We made our back to Holland, and put DD#1 on a train back to Vlissingen, while we headed back to 't Goy.

Day Two

After going 36 hours straight, I finally crashed about 8pm local, only to wake at 4 am. We had a little Skype session home, then managed to go back to bed for a while. We headed to Vlissingen where DD (Dutch Daughter) #2's parents are vacationing, and where DD #1 lives. We had a quick visit with the parents at the beach, then we're off to celebrate our Dutch Granddaughter's 5th birthday. She was outside waiting for us to pull up, and I was greeted for the first time by shrieks of "Grandma!!" it was a little disconcerting, but I could get used to it. We were awash in babies and adorable children who I will not plaster on the Internet, but suffice it to say the extended family and friends were warm and gracious, and a loud time was had by all.
Supper was takeout from the local fry shop, which was a hit with adults and kids alike. We wound down with some Dutch and American TV.

And we're off!

Greeting from 't Goy, Netherlands. It's rainy and too cool for July here. But we are here to spend time with our kids, and weather be damned. Our flights were blessedly uneventful, uncrowded and smooth. I read 1 1/2 books of the Hunger Games trilogy, and tried unsuccessfully to sleep on the plane. We were picked up at the airport by Dutch Daughter #2, who took us home to feed us and let us grab a quick shower, then we were off to explore old Utrecht with her sister. We wandered the old downtown and the open air market, then toured a museum of old carillions and mechanical orchestras and hurdy gurdys, which was surprisingly charming. She brought us home and fed us yet again, and we are currently in danger of lapsing into a food coma. It won't be long before jet lag has its wicked way with me, so I'll leave you with a couple of photos.

Twinkle

Most years, when we have no big 4th of July plans, we watch the fireworks in a small town on the other side of the county.  Their Lion's Club puts on a nice show, and it's a low-stress, enjoyable time. As one would expect, traffic streams out of town afterwards, concentrated on the two main routes.   I scoot across the intersection instead of turning with the rest of the cars, and take the county roads home.  When I come to a certain intersection every year, I look to the southeast corner.  I don't know what made me notice, but one year on this trek I saw the entire ditch there, well sheltered by brush, was alight with lightning bugs.  Over the years, it's become my habit to check out that intersection on late summer nights, usually on Independence Day holidays.  They've never disappointed.  I don't know if it's a phenomenon of temperature, climate, or just happenstance, but every time, lightning bugs blink a friendly greeting from that particular intersection.
Tonight, I visited a winery on that same side of the county.  A dear friend took ill last Monday.  Upon inspection, it became apparent she had actually been ill for quite some time.  She made the decision to take hospice by Friday, and left us on Sunday.  Her husband opted to hold her memorial at a place she loved, drinking wine and sharing music and stories on a beautiful summer night.  As I drove home, I made my way back to my comfortable county road, and came upon "my" intersection.  It was positively blazing, the lightning bugs blinking fast and staccato.  I lingered at the stop sign, no country traffic to prod me forward, and enjoyed the show for a moment, thinking what a kick my friend would get out of the story.  She must have agreed.  As I let out the clutch and made my way through the gears, Owl City's "Fireflies" began to play on the radio.
Godspeed, Sharon.  You were a bright soul in our midst and your absence is deeply felt.

No more pencils...

The end of this school year has me just as anxious as my students.  Yet another one of my Things walks through graduation this year.  The Norwegian Afro and the Italian Songstress, who've spent all year becoming part of our family, will turn around and head home.  I have to make it through several more concerts, awards nights and meetings, then school's out for summer.  This year I am more antsy about the whole process.  I finally got full-time hours by taking on a new content area, and the resultant learning curve has me weary.  We're working hard to find homes for exchange students, and it feels like that's harder this year, too.  But mostly I am giddy like a kid in a candy store, because come July, I finally get to turn the tables and go abroad for the first time in 20+ years.  I can't wait.

Hmmm, a little dusty in here...

So, I've been unfaithful to my blog with Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr (though I ended that crazy thing with MySpace years ago).  I've been reflecting on social media platforms, and their place in my life, and I do think it's time to come back here for more long-form musings.  I enjoy the challenge of condensing a thought to 140 characters, and Tumblr is great for sharing little gems I find along my internet wanderings.  Facebook has been a slick tool for reconnecting with folks.   I have some things perking in my brain, though, and some events to document.
Wayyyyyy back when the internetz were new, I had fantasies of my kids finding my blog like grandma's diary in an attic, and learning about me.  As I reflect on what I've posted all over the ether, I'm not ashamed of what they'd find, but it certainly doesn't plumb too deep. I do hope, however, that they won't need the internet to know who I am.

Riddle me this...

As we drove home from the airport Saturday, my daughter was sipping tamarind soda from a plastic cup. She exclaimed a couple times that she got a tiny little shock on her lip when the soda touched it. This led to passing the cup around the car and everyone having the same phenomenon. We wondered how soda from a plastic bottle could be poured into a plastic cup and generate a static charge. Any science type folks wanna do some 'splaining?

I had an idea like that once...

Go here




Laugh a lot.  Check out the previous 4 similar posts.  :)

Frazzled?

Summer is crazy. By the end of the school year, I'm just as excited as the kids about break. This summer has seemed like more work than the school year, with less to show for it. Here's to gathering my wits and having a more productive second half. :)

technology

Setting up as many ways as possible to post here, in hopes that I might actually do it!

Correcting essay tests in flight draws some good attention. Glad to be representing those who work even harder than I do so kids can learn!

I'm really thinking this will be my next writing assignment. But for now, to in-flight grading...

Objective: Students will express an idea completely, effectively, and intelligently in 140 (160?) characters, without resorting to abbreviations or netspeak...

Headed to Vegas for EF regional mtg. Good time to catch up on blogging. Character limit is an interesting writing exercize. I feel a lesson plan perking...

I hope I never become blase about the wonder of the view from 37k feet. Grain elevator/bin complexes and drainage systems are easily ID'd up here. Yay farmers!

the limitation of posting via text is the restiction of 140 characters. I could not decide on a book to bring, so I am reduced to amusing myself with my palm.

Although it won't send until I have wireless access, I write from 37000 feet enroute from FSD to Dallas. To my dear reader, Cliff, I waved as we passed over!

Insert your favorite cliche about the swift passage of time here.

Holy cow.  Almost February.  We have several milestones here.  The first semester of the 2010-11 school year is over, here in the frozen tundra where the legie says we can't start until after Labor Day.  In that time we crammed in a long weekend in the Black Hills, a ski trip in Mankato for the teens while Mom and Dad went to meetings, and the normal Thanksmas and Christmas mayhem.  That means my eldest is half done with her senior year.  The first semester spreads over 5 moths with the various holidays and breaks, but the last is crammed into four, and will fly by.  I have to plan a graduation party.  Memorial Weekend, Saturday.  Bring a salad and stop by :)
It's also time for our first half-year exchange student to return home, which no-one is happy about.  We liked her so much we took on another half-year, a He-wi to replace our She-wi, currently staying with a welcome family until she departs.  Silly state department, not letting us have more than two in the house (we have a full year German with us as well.)  Shameless plug:  we've been hosting for nearly 10 years, we love it.  You should try it.  Go to effoundation.org to check it out!
The first of the foot dragging daughters finally got her driver's license, and had her first accident (minor) within eight days.  Nothing hurt but pride, and a dented door.  And a side-effect of a mother wistful for the days of toddling and tricycles.
So, we gather up to launch into the new month, new semester, and new family dynamic.  I'll send a postcard now and then.

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Whoa, I really need to sweep out the cobwebs around here.  Got some really good intentions about writing more.  I keep waiting for the time to sit down and crank out a massive post, but I need to let that go and just get some words out of me.  For now, though, I need to go tend to my poor neglected house and children.