(no subject)

Talked to Oma today, after not getting ahold of her....called mom, asked if I should be worried...nope! She has been out puttering in her garden most days. Aww. We might not always see eye to eye, but she is my Oma.

Mom hinted that if enid's "religiousity" is an issue, then maybe doing a course in Amsterdam, and staying with Leticia? in Haarlem, is an option. I know haarlem to amsterdam by train, so yeah, that's an idea.

I will probably make my course choice after dragoncon. by then the spring schedules should be up.

(no subject)

Talked to Oma today, after not getting ahold of her....called mom, asked if I should be worried...nope! She has been out puttering in her garden most days. Aww. We might not always see eye to eye, but she is my Oma.

Mom hinted that if enid's "religiousity" is an issue, then maybe doing a course in Amsterdam, and staying with Leticia? in Haarlem, is an option. I know haarlem to amsterdam by train, so yeah, that's an idea.

I will probably make my course choice after dragoncon. by then the spring schedules should be up.

(no subject)

[Poll #1601450]

Nijmegen: family home town, population 350k? or so, lots of family in bemmel, andelst, Oosterhout-Nord, and predominantly dutch speaking, most people know english but dutch is used even if you're using english. It's about an hour by train to Amsterdam.

Pros: the class schedule I'm looking at gives me 4 day weekends for wandering.
Con: it's small. and the religious aunt thing...

Amsterdam: ok, we ALL know it. easier for those alternating weekends out of the country. Damily in Haarlem, a suburb so to speak. I haven't MET them, but Mom said she'd put in a word for me.
Con: english is more widely spoken, getting a full immersion experience, well I might have to get a button for my coat that says "I'm learning, please speak dutch to me!"

i am looking at 10-12 week programs in either. There's an abundance, with the newish "plz learn a bit of the language, newcomers" laws.

Hmm.....

(no subject)

[Poll #1601450]

Nijmegen: family home town, population 350k? or so, lots of family in bemmel, andelst, Oosterhout-Nord, and predominantly dutch speaking, most people know english but dutch is used even if you're using english. It's about an hour by train to Amsterdam.

Pros: the class schedule I'm looking at gives me 4 day weekends for wandering.
Con: it's small. and the religious aunt thing...

Amsterdam: ok, we ALL know it. easier for those alternating weekends out of the country. Damily in Haarlem, a suburb so to speak. I haven't MET them, but Mom said she'd put in a word for me.
Con: english is more widely spoken, getting a full immersion experience, well I might have to get a button for my coat that says "I'm learning, please speak dutch to me!"

i am looking at 10-12 week programs in either. There's an abundance, with the newish "plz learn a bit of the language, newcomers" laws.

Hmm.....

(no subject)

soshilust medicine! death panel!

oh, no, wait...An expansion of our heathcare system's benefits ( fook yeah!) and an appointment two weeks ago, I now have a specialist's appt in sept for the sinus hell, 6 weeks from now.

SIX WEEKS OMG!

Well, that isn't that bad. I likely will get surgery before the end of the year for a relatively non-critical issue, that in all, I could muddle along with for another couple years if I had to.

COst: taxi fare? some magazines to read? OH THE HORRORS

I'll be depositing my HST hush money to use for the enameling kiln and dcon prep, the second of the hush checks ( a rebate on the HST when I rarely spend hahahaha win!) will go to the old back tax from 2006.

Leaning towards amsterdam as a home base only because I am a big city lass, and I totally will get a button that says "I'm learning, please speak dutch!" for real. haha. There will BE several weekends in nijmegen anyway.

And amsterdam is closer for departures for weekends away. ( alt weekends in netherlands and out).

It does come down to what course options I find...I have a couple to consider in Nijmegen..more research to follow.

Anyway. Back to mine pliers.

We have a dog-resort to leave sera at with heaps o other dogs, which will do well for her social skills.

We had a rousing game of hedgehog-ball where she did play-bite at my knees.weirdo. She's not usually "bitey", but she's never ever bit in anything but that playful grazing. Apparently at Paullette's a 5 year old and sera had just the most fantastic time. She really is extremely gentle with kids.

(no subject)

soshilust medicine! death panel!

oh, no, wait...An expansion of our heathcare system's benefits ( fook yeah!) and an appointment two weeks ago, I now have a specialist's appt in sept for the sinus hell, 6 weeks from now.

SIX WEEKS OMG!

Well, that isn't that bad. I likely will get surgery before the end of the year for a relatively non-critical issue, that in all, I could muddle along with for another couple years if I had to.

COst: taxi fare? some magazines to read? OH THE HORRORS

I'll be depositing my HST hush money to use for the enameling kiln and dcon prep, the second of the hush checks ( a rebate on the HST when I rarely spend hahahaha win!) will go to the old back tax from 2006.

Leaning towards amsterdam as a home base only because I am a big city lass, and I totally will get a button that says "I'm learning, please speak dutch!" for real. haha. There will BE several weekends in nijmegen anyway.

And amsterdam is closer for departures for weekends away. ( alt weekends in netherlands and out).

It does come down to what course options I find...I have a couple to consider in Nijmegen..more research to follow.

Anyway. Back to mine pliers.

We have a dog-resort to leave sera at with heaps o other dogs, which will do well for her social skills.

We had a rousing game of hedgehog-ball where she did play-bite at my knees.weirdo. She's not usually "bitey", but she's never ever bit in anything but that playful grazing. Apparently at Paullette's a 5 year old and sera had just the most fantastic time. She really is extremely gentle with kids.