081003 - Farewell

081003 - Up and walked in to work, my legs are killing me for all the walking I've been doing. Really fast day, got stuff cleaned up. After work nearly everyone from work went to a bowling alley in Almere. we had some drinks, bowled some games and then had an interesting dinner where u had to grill your own food. The evening included frequent trips outside with the smokers where I tried to defend 'the American way of life' and preach to all the atheists I work with. It was a very good time and nice to see these people who have worked together from all over the world for many years outside of the office. The main event, and reason for the party, was to say goodbye to Atno & Naill, the founders of this once 2 man company. Many toasts were given, the most memorable and honest by Michael who said 'Working with you guys, was like pissing in your trousers, and not telling anybody!' After some dessert people started to fade off until only a small group was left. It was very hard saying goodbye to these guys, they are good friends now. I wish them all the best, and hope our paths will cross again.  Lori called just as we were leaving. She had the natives at the park and was heading to the movie store to get tonights entertainment for them.  I made the short walk to the hotel, thinking of all the good times.

081001 - Anniversary

081001 - Up in the morning and tooka cab to work as it was raining. Had a pretty full day. Took a lunch break and the guys conceeded to have Burger King for the American. I checked www.wingercam.com to see if anyone was around yet. There was Lori having her breakfast all by herself so I gave her a call. Dylan was off at school, Jack was wacthing cartoons and Grant was still sleeping and we had a nice chat. Today is our 14th wedding anniversary, and the first time in those 14 years we have not been together on that day. I am so far away, but so lucky to have her.
After work I was picked by Arno and we headed into Almere to meet Niall for dinner. The food was great, but the two Europeans grilled me for two hours about how for the sake of the rest of the world I had to vote for Obama in 5 weeks. The also debated why I would own a gun, drive a big car and anything else they generally could think of that was considered American. But I am use to defending the USA whe I am abroad and it was a stimulating conversation. I was able to ask them how it felt to be unemployed and worth millions of dollars, as yesterday was their last day working for the company they started nearly 20 years ago and had recently sold. Neither seemed too excited and they asked ME to buy dinner! Cheap rich idiots! Hahahaha
We said goodnight and I walked back to the hotel. I called Lori to finish my day.
I love you Lori, wish I was home with you!

080930 - Mini Meij

080930 - After work I was lucky enough to be invited home with Andre for dinner. We stopped off at the house his family is building in Leleystad. It is very nice, large, energy efficient and has a thatch room. It isn't done but it will be very cool. We then went to his home where I me Orean River Meij (www.mini-meij.nl) for the first time. She looks very much like her mom with redish hair and blue eyes and she smiles non stop. I held her a bit, tickled her and just watched her. She is doing all kind of fun stuff. Andre and Nicole make great parent and we talked and talked about how cool kids are. We had some good conversation and chinese for dinner. After some more conversing Andre drove me back to the hotel in their electric car! It does take some gas, and we stopped to fill it up. It took 60 Euros for the 40 liters to fill it. If you do the math, now please sit down as this will certianly show you what is coming..., 40 liters is roughly 10 gallons: 60 Euros is roeghly $100 US: that is $10/Gallon! Think about that next time you fill up your tank!
Back to the hotel and my luggage was in my room! I called L to finish the dayand it seems the light fixture went out that I installed right before I left... Jim the neighbor checked it out and didn't see anything wrong, but it made me too nervous that a new fixture wan't working so I had him take it down. He tested the fixture and it was bad, shew...

080930 - Holland Rain

080930 - Up and typical Dutch fashon it is raining... They tell me the weather is usually very sunny and nice here. I don't believe them, every trip I have made it has rained for at least some part of the day... I had bfast and then took a cab to the office. I had a full day and got a lot arranged for the rest of the week.
080929 - Well my 13hr trip has now turned into a 22 hour fiasco... I arrived in Amsterdam at 6pm, with NO luggage! I had to wait around another hour while they tried to find it but no luck... I jumped the train to Almere and then walked to the office from there. When I got there only a few people were left. But I talked Rob into driving me back to the hotel and having dinner. Exhausted I called Lori to finish my day.