Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Cooking and recipes...

I used to be a happy cook. And I say used to be because that was back in the day when there were still kids living at my house and I had people to cook for ;) Nowadays I still cook for myself but you know how it goes with for example Lasagna... you just can't make a 1 person portion so I end up eating the same for 3 days or so.

Have to say: I don't really like that :p But since I am just starting up a household of my own I still don't have a freezer which kind of limits my possibilities. I wouldn't mind cooking up a batch of Lasagna or Chili con Carne and freeze at least 2 portions of it...the smallest amounts of food I cook are based on a 3 person household. And the way Chi eats it would probably be just 2 :D

I know I promised recipes. I think I have a whole lot of them somewhere, maybe on my External HardDisk if I didn't throw them away during the divorce-rage :p In the restaurant we used to have cooking workshops and I always wrote the recipes for them, nicely illustrated and everything. At one point I even thought of bundling them into a cook book! Never happened of course...

All the recipes are written in Dutch though, so I'd have to do a lot of translating and, for my American readers: a lot of converting! So they will appear here in English, with both the metric and American measurements. I have done some shopping in Chicago but usually for fun things to bring home like Liquid Smoke and stuff like that. So I'd have to talk to Chi also to see if the ingredients we use here can also be easily bought in the USA, and for some: what would the names be.

But I really promise to look into that this week and pass the ingredients by Chi this weekend so I can start posting recipes. And I'll also try to take pics of food I made and post them too. I have to warn you all though: in my kitchen cooking isn't an exact science, one of the main ingredients in all recipes is LOVE and I use a lot of pinches and little bits of this and that ;) And a lot of my cooking is quite basic...but tasty! Oh, and Italian :')
Last time I was in Chicago Chi gave me a Polish cook book and I am looking into that too, and I have a lot of  Indonesian and Surinam recipes too.

So now I make a new promise: starting next week I will post some of my biggest successes, on a separate page, with pictures! I hope you'll enjoy them...

And now I have to go grocery shopping. I kinda feel like experimenting today so I think I'll try to make Golabki (cabbage rolls) today, with mushroom sauce, from Chi's cook book. I know he really likes them and since the way to a man's heart goes through his stomach I guess I better learn to make them good ;)

Have a nice day, cooking and shopping and whatnot...

Friday, October 22, 2010

Tasting chocolate *sigh*

I have the enormous task of tasting 5 bags of chocolate/caramel before October 27th :p Today the box was delivered... What a punishment! Hahaha...

When I still lived in Wageningen I worked for a company that organized different tastings. It was great fun, I got to taste stuff for free, filled in some questionnaires and got money too! One of my friends worked there too so we often went together.

One time we got to taste a totally new product, some flavoured yoghurt with a layer of fruitpreserve. We got little buckets of the stuff, 5 different flavours of which 4 were so absolutely YUMMY! Usually we got to take the stuff that was left home and we hoped this time we got that chance too. The representative of the yoghurt firm was running late and our boss tried to call her... Well he got her on her mobile and she said it was absolutely forbidden to take the yoghurt home, it was a new product in development and very hush hush... No need to say all tasters went home with belly aches from eating waaaaaaay too much yoghurt!

Too bad I moved, that would have been my dream job really! Oh well, I am getting to do some tasting now too every now and then, I already received a bottle of some kind of soda a while back and of course now the chocolate ;)

So I guess I better get to it! If you don't hear from me soon I must be in a sugar coma ;)

Have a great day!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Friends & Foes

If you have a wonderful man, who helps balance your whole world...who isn't perfect, but is perfect for you...who works hard and would do anything for you...that makes you laugh...who is your best friend...who you want to grow old with...and who you are thankful for...every day...then, post this as your status. I just did. :)

Another thing I found on FaceBook. And since I think I found such a man, of course I posted it as my status! I really thank the Lord on my bare knees for helping me find a guy like Chitown. He has proven to be a valuable friend when I needed one most and I have fallen head over heels in love with him. It seems that I am a lot more 'relaxed' ever since my divorce, people noticed that and told me. And I thank my darling for that too! Luvya sweetheart! :^


And then there was the loooong discussion with one of my blog-collegues! There is a program on the Dutch television, BNTM or Benelux Next Top Model. One of the judges, I won't name names for legal reasons ;), told a beautiful slender 16 year old contestant that it was clear she sucked her gut in, or else her tummy would be hanging on her knees. Excuse me?


This judge is kinda 'big boned' himself. He's a self proclaimed 'Famous Dutchy', and a stylist whitout any style for himself left, judging from the way he dresses. And he has the NERVE to call an almost size 0 aspiring model FAT? Does he realize how many girls watch that show, and think they are fat too now? And does he realize the dangers of anorexia nervosa? Guess not.


My friend got kicked out of this guys friends list on FaceBook and even got an email from his lawyer! Apparently, as she said, because she made a spelling mistake in the name of the show. Well boohoohoo! Really, I don't understand what such a sad example of a human being has to do judging others...

Another friend of mine is having problems with the UK government... They are cutting back BIG on defense and it looks like the base where he works and bought a house near, is gonna close. He won't be out of a job but still... His house will be worth sh*t soon, and has the government even thought of what closing the base will do to the economy in the vicinity? Again: guess not...

Lol, I was gonna skip Christmas again this year. Like, I don't have any money to celebrate or people to celebrate with (well, people close :p). That's what I thought at least ;) Yesterday my son came by and we were talking and suddenly he said: yeah I need to know what you do for Christmas, I wanna be here with you for one day! So he's coming by and we'll be probably watching movies or something... but I won't be alone ;)


And I was at the garden centre today, guess what. They're preparing for Christmas already! People, it's OCTOBER!! Saint Nicolas hasn't even entered the country yet :p Oh well, by the time it really is Christmas we'll all be sick and tired of all the stuff :')


Ho ho ho, have a great day ;)

Monday, October 18, 2010

The world's a beautiful place....

...it's just the people that muck it up!

Haha, okay, I see you guessing: what's she on about? Well a friend of mine wrote on FaceBook that she thinks this world really stinks! And it might be, if you look at all the wars going on and poverty and whatnot. But really, is that the fault of 'the world'? Of course not! It's the fault of some people that think they're right and that they have all the power... and so they ruin it for the rest of us :p This world is beautiful, and it would be a much better place if all people worked together instead of against eachother!

Another thing I read on FaceBook this week that really touched me. (It touched me so much that I copied and pasted it as was asked!) :
My parents were MEAN to me when I was a kid! They made me do chores, go to school and help others. They gave me a curfew, made me get a job and work for the things I wanted. They insisted that I did my best at school  and job and took pride in my work. I grew up with morals, a good work ethic and respect for the law. I thank God every day for my MEAN parents! (copy and paste, if you agree)
 
Didn't we all have days that we thought our parents were mean to us? I know I did and I am sure my kids thought at times I was the biggest sorry b*tch around! Because I was the 'oldfashioned' parent, and I really tried to bring up my kids the way I was brought up. I don't wanna point fingers or name names but we all see not everybody is doing the same! I see so many kids today that are really spoiled, they have mobile phones, computers and/or laptops and loads of other stuff they never had to lift a finger for, just whine long enough!
 
The 'world' has really changed since when I was a kid. I remember us kids playing outside in the sandbox without any parents present...they were just a shout away at home. We didn't need to be watched all the time. Now many kids hardly ever play outside, they are glued to their computers playing videogames, or even worse: surfing the net or chatting. Their parents think they're safe so often they don't even supervise what their kids are doing. Do I really have to point out the dangers of the internet?
 
I pride myself in having brought up two beautiful kids, and they grew up to be nice, respectful and responsible adults! They're 26 and 22 now so it won't be too long before they may get kids of their own. I really hope they will be 'MEAN' parents too...
 
You know what they say: Change the world...and start with yourself!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Woohoo I have my REAL computer back!

Finally, after two months of absence, I have my computer back. It once was a really good one, fast and heavy enough to play games on. It belonged to my son, and when it got a bit old-ish for him he bought a new one and gave me his. I was thrilled to get it because it was so much better than my old computer :p Like, it had Windows XP! Lol...

At the beginning of this year, when I was still employed, I bought a laptop, thought I needed that for my studies. I got a real nice one, on sale, because it was from the summer before. It still had Windows Vista but I got a free upgrade to Windows 7 with it and I had enough money to buy me Office too (especially since Social Services chipped in as well ;) ) And I got a cute little laptop mouse, and a pretty bag, and a very pretty laptop cover...

I did use it for my studies. Wasn't really needed, like, not like I had to bring it or anything... And I took it with me to Chicago, to store the pictures I'd be making, watch a movie on DVD when bored and to enjoy the free WiFi at MacDonalds during breakfast, a perfect time to connect with my relatives at home. Somehow I managed to forget my mouse so I had to learn to make do with the mousepad. And as a prezzy from Chi I got mobile internet for my stay there too! Which I used to the last bit of course :p

When I got home my pc started to bug a little. Nothing major, it just protested whenever I turned it on. So...I never turned it off again. Until I had to go to my mom's place for a week (with the laptop). I got home again and my pc was...dead. Or at least terminally ill I thought. So I contacted 'our' pc guy and he came to the rescue! Initially it looked like it was the motherboard that broke, and apparently it was so old that it couldn't be replaced with a new one.

Luckily it turned out to be the video card, that could be replaced quite easily and, very important: cheaply! Pc guy made a special price for me that I can even pay in rates so no worries. (Of course I hope I get a job soon so I can pay it all at once ;) ) He installed the pc for me so I am back in business!

In the time my pc was gone, I was 'forced' to use the laptop fulltime. And although I was having some difficulty adapting to the 'straight' keyboard opposed to the ergonomic one I use with my pc, it was a good experience. I almost thought I'd tell pc guy to retire my pc! I had everything on it backed up on my external HD, so I wouldn't miss it too much. I got really used to the laptop and Windows 7! But my pc has an older version of Messenger for example, something Chi and I like very much because we can just use the webcams without having to resort to videochat immediately.

So I have a choice again! And my laptop can go back in its cover soon ;) So I can take it to my friend Syllie to show my vacation pictures:p

Have a great day, on your laptop or on your pc :D

Friday, October 15, 2010

Just put a catchy title here ;)

Sorry I didn't write yesterday... I found out that I officially live under the poverty line and I was kinda overwhelmed by that news since I have never been poor in my whole life and it scared me to even think of myself as poor :p Of course I know I only get about half of minimum wages over here and I know too that I'd like to get 1.25/1.5 times of that same minimum wage to live quite comfortably but poor... BRRRR...I was imagining myself as a bag lady or morningstar already :')

Luckily for me Chi had his day off yesterday so I spent most of the day whining at him on Messenger, poor guy. He is so patient! And tries to lift me up when I'm really down... Very sweet but unnecessary because it's just something I have to go through. I like to just go with it for a bit and come out good again. And today I am feeling a lot better and more determined than ever to find a job. I sent my case manager an email telling her about the ProRail job being filled in already and my doubts about the WerkCenter and she sent me back an uplifting email. Even though I think I am really alone, there are people out there thinking of me! Which includes of course all my readers here :)

Yesterday I also emailed a friend of mine. I haven't seen her since February and had brief contact with her at times via text or email so I wanted to know where this friendship was going really. She hasn't even seen my vacation pictures yet and I've been back a while :p Well, much to my surprise she called me today. We talked for about half an hour and I asked her rather direct if she's avoiding me because the restaurant (my ex and I owned) still is a client of their accountancy firm, or because I am 'poor':p

Well, seems like the bad economy is good for them, they got a lot more work and of course she is busy with the kids and grandkids and her husband. She's going on vacation to Thailand in November and has a lot of work to finish before that. So from her side it's just lack of time. She asked me why I didn't come to their October 3rd party (ehm, I wasn't invited?). So there's a little lack of communication there too... I don't wanna impose but maybe I should just pass by her place some weekend. She's gonna try to make some free time to spend with me real soon though ;)

Always good news to get from a friend. And as I always say: 'A person that asks gets answers'. If I wanna know something, be sure I'll ask. And I don't mind whether I like the answer I get or I don't, at least I know where I stand!

And I finally got good news about my computer! Of course you don't know this but I am using my laptop ever since 'the big one' broke down. It's coming home tomorrow, with a new video card and one less physical HD. Computerguy even made me a nice price since I have been totally honest about my situation. Been missing my pc for over 2 months now. In a way I am glad though because I had to get used to my laptop and the 'straight' keyboard (I have an ergonomic keyboard on the pc).

So after one day of total sh*t life is surely looking better already :p And I wish all of you a great life too, or at least a great day ;)

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Shopping therapy!

After a few quite shitty days, I decided it was time to cheer me up again. And how better than with 'shopping therapy'! Ok, this will take some explaining, because people that know me well do also know I hate shopping! I only like grocery shopping, and the best grocery shopping is in a supermarket abroad. If Chi ever wants his hands free for several hours when I am in Chicago, he can drop me off at Dominick's and I'll be as happy as a bug in a rug :p

But sometimes, when I am really depressed, shopping therapy can help. It's always better than binge eating ;) (Yes, I have B.E.D., binge eating disorder). I do have one little problem though: hardly any money :') And waaaaaay too many clothes and shoes! So I decided to look online at the websites of the cheapass supermarkets I frequent and bingo! One of them had some great deals! So I took some extra cash out of my Cash Cow (well it's a piggy bank in the form of a cow, hence the name I gave it :p) and jumped on my scooter. With the firm belief I was gonna be a good girl and only get what I really needed.

On the website I saw that they had tableware I bought last year and I broke two bowls of. Too bad the bowls were all gone but they had a new pattern plate and mug. And this year they even had aprons and potholders in matching patterns! So I am the proud owner of a shocking pink apron with white polka dots and the potholders to go with it. Yay! 

And the little plastic baskets were on sale too, so I got a set of 3 silver ones. They also had mixers and baking tins, guess what? Got a mixer, a cake tin, a pie tin and a muffin tin :D And they had the scented candles I like so much too so I got one of those and a totally useless thing: a scented battery operated LED candle :') Hey, you HAVE to get something useless when on shopping therapy, right?

Of course I also got some groceries and at the cash register I noticed I was €5 over budget. But I did have fun! And I'll go even back on Saturday to get the cookie sheet :p Poor Cash Cow will have to cough up the extra €5 so I can get my cigarettes :p 

But it was totally worth it! I am feeling way better now and I am gonna try out my new mixer and bake a batch of brownies! (And call my babygirl to ask her if she wants some I guess :p) At least I have the 'courage' now to send some mails around to my case manager at Social Services, and to a 'friend' that I feel left me hanging.

My day is half over already, but it's a good one! And I wish all of you a great day too!!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Sad day :(

Yesterday I got the news that the cat of my babygirl and her boyfriend was ill. Toby, that's the cat's name, was in the animal hospital here in Leiderdorp... He had an IV and was in an incubator. He had severe renal problems, infections in his mouth, and was totally lethargic. According to babygirl he just laid on the floor with his little nose to the ground. I texted for news last night and heard his temperature was ok again and that they would get more news in the morning. And this morning I got the dreaded text: Toby is no longer with us :(

Tomorrow babygirl and her boyfriend are gonna get Toby from the animal hospital and bury him in their -and his!- backyard. Toby was a really funny cat. Like, he didn't drink his water from a bowl next to his food like most cats, noooo... mr. Toby wanted his water in a glass, far away from his food :) I once looked after him when babygirl and boyfriend were on vacation. He came running in when he heard my scooter after a day or two. I fed him, and we played a little. Usually when I returned home, he came back out with me too :)


In a way it's a blessing Toby died. He was a real outside cat and next summer babygirl and boyfriend are moving to the apartment they bought. This way Toby won't have to adapt...and he can play outside in Kitty Heaven for all eternity! RIP sweet Toby! I am sure you'll be missed...

My interview with the job hunter didn't go too well. The kind of jobs I want I don't have experience in and the kind of jobs I do have experience in I shouldn't even want :s I really wanna look at the bright side of things but it is getting a little bit hard. It seems I am at the wrong place for a medical administrative position here, people that want them just fill the job with 2 or 3 medical students from the university. But hey, I am flexible! My CV apparently needs some work too. He was missing my competencies and my ' real'  schooling and work experience. Like, I shouldn't leave a hole but fill in that I took care of my kids full time. And even though I didn't graduate, I should also put in I did 3 years of gymnasium (highest level of education with Latin and old Greek) at high school. I graduated on a lower level because I totally sucked at math and the other exact subjects :p But he IS gonna look into it, change my CV with my approval and I will hear from him.

After I got home I had to go out to get groceries. Thought I'd ' treat'  myself to my fave supermarket, and not the cheap one :p So I got some Pastrami and delicious bread and some other stuff I needed. But when I finally got home and unpacked my groceries, I found out the little bucket of my fave blueberry muffin yoghurt was broken :( *Sigh* Blueberry muffin yoghurt everywhere... Sad ending to a sad day!

You all have a way better one please ;) Cya soon!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

So, who is reading all of this anyway?

Another beautiful Sunday. Been out to get some fresh air and sun, and I have a load of laundry going. Good little housewife huh? :') 

Today I read Solomon Burke died, here in the Netherlands. He just got off a plane coming in from LA, and he was here for some concerts with a Dutch band called De Dijk (The Dike :p) with whom he made a record. And I was shocked by the news of the suicide of a Dutch actor I liked. He was only 44, and leaves 2 small children and a wife. I kinda liked him, saw him grow as an actor. Seems he suffered of severe depressions...

Yesterday a friend of mine got married. He left for Canada to be with his true love and they ' finally'  tied the knot. Of course I am very happy for him and his new wife but I can't help feeling a little pinch of jealousy :p I know, I am a bad girl! Anyway, my darling and I dedicated this song to them, as a little wedding present : True Love - Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly

I'm really wondering who all are reading my blog. My sweetheart says he does but he never leaves any comments ;) The group at FaceBook has 37 members already...but are they all reading me? I wouldn't mind some feedback you know... ;) And I was thinking...as some of you know I am not a bad cook, would you like me to share some of my recipes? On a different page of course ;) Let me know!

And let me know what else you wanna know about me... I'll just go along babbling like I have been doing the past week in the meantime ;)

Hmm laundry is ready, let me get to that now... Y'all have a great day, I hope your Sunday is as pretty as mine :)

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Boooooooooring....

*Sigh*...I am so bored :') The problem with living below the poverty-line (and I am, I read that to my horror in a magazine!) is that you don't have any money to go out and do stuff, like go to Bagels&Beans for a nice Latte and some cheesecake.

I could do something at home, but my arts&crafts materials are still at 'the old house' and guess what: no money to buy new stuff :') Well, I guess I could bake cookies or brownies? But I am alone, so will I eat them?

I really need a job. And not just for the money, but to fight the boredom! Money is a nice bonus (and a very welcome one too :p). I remember when I was working at the call center, every Saturday I had to do all my shopping and Sunday was laundry and cleaning day. I didn't even have time to get bored then! After I got laid off I was busy studying and preparing for my exams and my trip to Chicago. But now...

Oh well, Monday is job hunter day. I know there's a job for me, ANY job, right around the corner! I don't know how or if I can prepare for the interview with the job hunter ...guess I still have a lot to learn. I never had to apply for a job really, I just knew the right people and they gave me jobs :p

And during this weekend...well I can always bug my sweetheart on Messenger, and do laundry of course...or watch some telly. You know what the weirdest thing is? I always needed 'alone time' but now that the only people I speak to are the cashiers at the supermarket...I think I need 'people time' :')

Have a great day...and don't get bored ;)

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Why are plane tickets so expensive?

Hmmm the real question is: Why the heck did I have to fall in love with a guy that lives in Chicago? ;) Silly, silly me! It's costing me an arm and a leg every time I wanna go see (hm, well, touch!) him.

I met this wonderful man about 4 or 5 years ago, in an online role playing game called Omerta. He had a lot of spare time then, he was out of a job at the moment. And I am a real nightowl so it didn't really matter to me he was online late usually. We happened to be in the same family (Omerta is a mafia game so the players are organised in families) and we chatted a lot in the family channel on irc. I have to admit that at the time I had quite a short fuse and could blow up about almost everything. And always there was this guy around, Chitown, who could calm me down and make me see things differently.

We talked a lot, about life, cooking, the game...and somehow we became close friends, for as far as that is possible on the internet. For example, I like to be honest about myself, or better: I am too lazy to come up with a bunch of lies having to remember what I told to whom and why. But I know there are a lot of people out there that DO make themselves look a lot better than they think they really are. And who was to say Chitown wasn't one of those people?

Oh well...I had overcome a lot of health problems and was promised a vacation on my own, anywhere I wanted to go. And for some strange reason I decided to go visit Chitown. You know, just to go visit a friend. 
There was another friend of ours, Kiemlicz- my brother in the game, that said he'd fly over for a few days too. 

So there I went, on a two week vacation to Chicago. And I have to say, I fell in love immediately...with the city :) Don't know why but I felt so at home in Chicago! Chitown was a wonderful host. He had to work but after work he took me out to dinner and in the weekends we went to Millennium Park and Navy Pier and so on. Kiemlicz joined us for 3 days and we had loads of fun! I ate my very first lobster ever, we went to a jazz club...I had the time of my life!

And I went home again after a wonderful vacation. We lost touch with Kiemlicz, alas. But Chitown and I became even better friends. And I mean: friends. No 'benefits' or anything :p

The year after that vacation was rather tumultuous. My (ex)husband and I were building an apartment over our restaurant, we moved there to live together after having lived apart for over 10 years, and we ended up divorcing after having been together for 28 years, after 21 years of marriage.

So that was quite a shock! I had no friends here to talk with, only had my online friends Andrea and of course Chitown. And although my feelings for him had grown a little before the divorce, when I was 'free' I fell truly madly, deeply in love with the friend that was always ready for a chat, always had good advice...

So this summer I returned to Chicago. This time for 3 weeks. I had finished my studies and done the exams and I wanted to be far away from home on my birthday. 

Again, I had a wonderful time in Chicago. For me, mostly, because I could finally be with my 'boyfriend'. We have done a lot of nice things again, a lot of 'firsts' for me like my first rootbeer (you guys do know it tastes like mouthwash, right? ). On my birthday my darling took me to Medieval Times, in a limo! I kinda felt like Cinderella :)

After 3 weeks I went back home. But I left my heart in Chicago! And I have to go back there as often as possible to see if my sweetheart is taking good care of it ;) I am already looking forward to my next vacation! I wanna go in spring because I have seen Chicago both in summer and in fall now.

You know, I think I could live there... But I'd have to get a visa and that's not so easy. So for now I have to settle with vacations. Maybe if I get a job I can save enough to go twice a year. Because one thing is sure: Chicago is my kinda town ;) And not only because I fell in love with one of it's inhabitants!

Y'all have a great day!


Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Karma's a b*tch :p

*Sigh*... Got an email today from ProRail, remember, I applied for a job there. Well 'the job was recently filled in' and they would keep me informed about any other jobs that fit my profile in the future. Yeah, great. I bet they say that to all appliants :p

But I have to stay positive right? I know my sweetheart has taken all my bad Karma for October and November (I told him not to do that, I think that's just dangerous!) so probably this was Karma's way to tell me there are better jobs around for me and I have a date with the job hunter of WerkCenter on Monday so all is good really?

Darling told me today he thought the title 'job hunter' was funny, that it usually applies to the people that are looking for jobs. Well, I do partially agree with him, I call myself a job hunter too, but this person professionally hunts for jobs for people like me (idiots that can't find a job by themselves :p). Oh well, I do have some excuses, like my age (like it or not I AM middle-aged :p) and the bad economy at the moment. And the fact I don't have any experience in the field I am trying for doesn't really help either of course.

But, I am flexible. At the moment I'd go for any job really, as long as it pays at least minimum wage (which happens to be twice as much as I am getting from Social Services!). I'd even go back in the hotel/restaurant world...

Guess I should try very hard to make the most of my 'no bad Karma days.' Haha, maybe I should even buy a lottery ticket ;) Who knows, I might even win a little something! I just hope it doesn't backfire on my darling...

I'll just go on job hunting for now...and for all of you: have a great day!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Reintegrating...

Today I had an appointment at the reintegration bureau for Leiderdorp. Kerstin, my reintegration casemanager at Social Services 'finally' set the date for it, although I am still waiting for the answer on my appliance at ProRail ( I applied there for a job as travel informer, sounds good: different shifts, nice pay...).

So I had to be at WerkCenter at Voorschoten at 10 am. Voorschoten is a little town at about 9 kilometers from Leiderdorp. I was sure I could do it in half an hour on my scooter with the directions I got from the internet but to be on the safe side I left at 09:15. Well, the directions totally sucked! Took me 50 minutes to get there, was lost and stuff...*sigh*. Luckily the lady I was going to see was otherwise engaged when I arrived so she didn't notice me being late ;)

We had a nice talk. For starters: they don't make garden fences there, as I was told :p Seems they do packaging and shipping and work for DHL. Not really the kind of jobs I want on my CV of course ;) She asked me about my motivation, my life as it is now (seems it takes 3 years to get over a divorce, yeah, like I have that kind of time!), and how I see things for the future.

Told her I prefer a job in the medical administrative profession, but that I'd also do other jobs working for or with other people, things like for example receptionist. Also told her I don't have a 9-to-5 mentality, that I can work at odd hours.

She told me she doesn't really see a future for me directly at WerkCenter but that she will put a job hunter on my case. I have an appointment with him next Monday at 14:30. After that they will decide whether to offer me the ' A-contract' (3 months, mostly mediation) or the ' B-contract' (12 months, work at WerkCenter and get a real job out of there). Personally I'd go for the ' A-contract' but we'll see what the job hunter decides.

Of course I am really still hoping that ProRail will at least ask me to come for an interview so I can bedazzle them with my wonderful communicative skills and my 5 languages ;)

I was so nervous last night that I didn't sleep a wink...Well, I slept for an hour and a half almost. So after I got home (wonderful trip, just took me half an hour :p) I went grocery shopping, had coffee with my darling and crashed...Slept for 3 hours, made something to eat, writing this blog and I feel a crash coming on pretty soon  really :') Good to find out I had nothing to be nervous about!

Ok, as I said I feel a crash coming on so I think I'll lie a bit on the couch with my book... Have a nice day!

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Dax girls

Ever since my divorce about a year ago I have been living at my son's apartment, getting a house here is a real drag, especially if you're still job hunting like I am... My son went to live with his dad in the beautiful apartment over the restaurant. 

But I am not living here all on my own, I share the house with 'the Dax girls', Ezri and Jadzia. Two cats, totally different in appearance and character, but loads of fun (most of the time :p). Here, I'll show a pic of both, Ezri in her signature 'facepalm' sleeping position and Jadzia...well camouflaged ;) :

I think this already gives away a lot of their character, Ezri a bit messy but sleeping soundly on my bed (always on the blankie like I taught her!) and Jadzia camouflaged, one eye open, ready to jump anything that moves ;)

Their names come from the Star Trek Deep Space 9 series. Jadzia and Ezri were the 8th and 9th hosts of the Trill symbiont Dax. These symbionts can live for hundreds of years inside humanoid Trill bodies, but when the host dies, the symbiont has to be 'implanted' in another body. The hosts share their memories with the symbiont. My son is, like me, a Trekkie...So it figured he gave his cats Star Trek names ;)

Strangely enough (?) the kitties share some of their character feats with their 'name givers', like Ezri is the more insecure cat and Jadzia is wiser and more 'fun-loving'.

Ezri was the first to come live at my son's house. She was born in a loving home and she grew out to be the big black-and-white bunch of cuddles she is today. She does have issues though, for some weird reason she thinks she has to pee in the hallway. At first we thought it was because the girls shared a litter box, so I bought a second one. That helped for a bit. Then we thought it was because the boxes were dirty, so I clean them every day instead of every 2-3 days. But she still keeps on doing it, now my guess is she doesn't like to be bossed around by little Jadzia. Nothing I can do about that though....
She's the more social cat. Likes to sleep on the foot end of my bed on the blanket I put there and loves it when the pillows are put there too. And she really likes company, and loads of cuddles. She'll jump anyone that visits here, begging for hugs...Ezri is also a bit of a scaredycat though. When the girls were still allowed to go outside, Ezri would just walk around in the garden and maybe pay a little visit to the neighbours. And she was always the first to be inside again :)

Jadzia...ooooh Jadzia ;) She's our little street slut. Her color here is called tortoise. And it's perfect camouflage! As we heard from the people my son got her from, she was found in the streets when she was 3 weeks old. Her behavior was immediately sooooo different from Ezri's! Even though she came in a few weeks after Ezri, she tried to establish her dominance and believe me, she won! Jadzia is the inquisitive type. When people come to visit, she'll try to jump into their bags or coats, to see if there's anything in there she fancies. And just try to take it from her if she found something! She likes cuddles too, but on her time. She'll never come to beg, if she wants attention, she'll just jump on your lap and will make sure you'll do whatever she wants!

When I was in Chicago this year, my son took the kitties to the vet and they told him Jadzia wasn't too healthy. She has a heart murmur. Which she can grow VERY old with, since she's active enough! It does have some less nice sides though. Like, my son wanted both cats to be sterilized, but Jadzia may not survive the operation. So they're not allowed out anymore. Ezri doesn't mind much, homely girl as she is, but Jadzia is really really pissed. She'll be mewing really loud in front of the doors or the open window (which has a kitty proof grating :p) and when in heat she'll try anything to escape. That is quite easy since she's really small and super fast! Once outside she'll roam the streets...Luckily, when she's close enough to hear me, she'll come when I call her name ;). Inside it's hard to find her sometimes. I found out she likes to sleep on top of the coatrack for example, and on the digital decoder for the telly, or just well camouflaged on my son's old desk inbetween the magazines and DVDs.

So, now you know the ladies I live with a bit better and you won't be surprised to find their names in my blog. And yeah, they do make my life a living hell at times, but they have also kept me company in one of the harder times in my life...I will sure miss them once I find a place of my own! 

Have a great day and permit me to quit for today, the Dax girls are having a fight and I need to intervene!





Sunday, October 3, 2010

Beautiful Sunday...

It's a lovely day today, really. Sunny, 23C (that's about 73F), hardly any wind...just...lovely.
I'm glad for the inhabitants of Leiden, makes their yearly festivities so much better. They're celebrating that about 400 years ago the city got liberated from the Spanish invaders. And they do so eating herring and white bread, hutspot (that's a root vegetable mash: carrots, onions and potatoes) and drinking looots of beer. There's a lot going on in Leiden today, but since it's not my party (I only live here for about a year and a half) and since I don't like crowds very much, I just stay home with the kitties and my sweet love on Messenger ;)

My son came to see me today. He's been in Ireland on vacation, Cork to be precise. He's been back for a bit but he's a lot like me, so he waited 'til he had time... He said Ireland is damned expensive, like a bottle of wine in a supermarket costs about €20. That's insane! Well, the prezzy he brought me sure didn't cost that much, sweetheart left the pricetag on :') But that's how I like it! (And so does he.) He got me a fridge magnet with a Claddagh, a real four leaf clover or Shamrock, and a very sweet text: 'Mothers hold their children's hands a while and their hearts forever' Here, I made a pic of it:
At least the Claddagh and Shamrock show, I tried so hard to get the text clear too but alas! I just love it, it's a nice little keepsake I will treasure forever... On the back it says 'A Little Irish Luck', haha, I'll need that ;)

He said he'll be going back to Ireland one day, it's a beautiful country. But first he's going to New Zealand in 2012 with a friend, for about a month, and he's getting his thigh all tattooed then, one of those special tattoos they do there. Kid's addicted to ink ;)

Well, I think I'm done for today. Can't tell everything in one day, right? Remind me to tell something about the kitties that make my life a living hell soon! Have a great day!!!

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Ok, I finally did it :')

I've been thinking a lot about this, had some valuable opinions and information from friends and family...
And now here it is, my own blog!

Have to say, I started it, did some designing on it, but don't have a single friggin' clue about...WHAT TO WRITE!!!!

But I'm sure that'll come to me soon enough...like, I am still job hunting and can elaborate about my adventures in that... I still have kids (hahaha and they'll NEVER go away ;) ), I have friends, a relationship...

See? Enough to write about really... and I can always 'bother' you readers with my opinions on the news, like how that guy Emmanuel is doing in his run to mayor of Chicago for example ;)

Just let me think a little bit, let me make a profile for this blog, get the feeling of the whole thing... And I am sure the writers juices will start flowing!

Thanks a lot for reading this already _o_