random bits #1

today's post has no main theme - no catchy bits or attempts at comedy. just some musings from the past week that really don't fit anywhere else.

this week was actually a bit on the dull side - both kids were ill with fevers on different days so we had 2 days where we pretty much did nothing. we went back to the library on tuesday for storytime but had to leave as soon as it was over because naomi was lethargic and clearly needed to be in bed. we did manage to get some good new books include Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which david is just in love with. oh, and i love the library's book check in system in which you slide a book into a conveyor belt and it scans it and then it disappears. and since we left early we didn't get to sample the cafe's offering.. oh well, next week.

the weather has been pretty warm but very wet. there was one day that would have been perfect for a canal tour that we had planned but illness kept us from doing that.

i went to another playdate - mostly dutch women who were all friendly and welcoming. we biked there in the rain and i almost dumped the bike making too sharp of a turn. we biked through vondel park afterward and i know we will be going there a lot more when the weather is dryer.

mike is on his way back here now - taking a night train from dresden. i couldnt hear him well on the phone but i did get that he was really really glad to have a first class sleeper cabin because he could not imagine what a second class cabin would be like. i saw on CNN that the dresden area is refered to as 'silicon saxony' due to the number of semiconductor facilities it had. just thought i would share that little info nugget with you.

i have been keeping up on LOST and American Idol due to my speedy internet connection!

a very large boat docked across the canal from us. just the other day i was looking at the empty space and wondering why there was no boat there. i am not sure how the spaces are doled out - sold? rented? but not 24 hours after wondering i saw them docking this very large boat that had 3 kids in it. hmmm, potential playmates for mine? we shall see.

i am still totally in love with this houseboat. it is so pleasant and peaceful to be in and has everything we need. the kids love feeding the ducks that come to our window. i like watching the flow of the canal change direction as the tide changes. i like how in the middle of the night the water is completely calm and like glass. i love the simplicity of basically a single rectangle with 2 partitions for bedrooms. i like the little bridge, just 1 boat over, that is all lit up. however, i am looking forward to being able to take a stand up shower again.

my coffee consumption has increased 2 fold.. i know, that isn't very good for me but my coffee making system here produces awesome coffee and i just can't seem to stop drinking it. but i wonder how much caffeine i am really taking in because i had 2 cups in the afternoon and then promptly took a short nap while cuddling with the kids.

i am looking into a conversational dutch tutor. you can get by on zero dutch here - not even pleasantries in a restaurant so if i am going to pick up any it will have to be with a class or tutor.

i read in another blog that the dutch like clean windows so i cleaned the exterior of most of the windows. i have to say, they look quite nice. david was watching people cleaning windows on the 4th story of a building with a massive hose on a pole and declared he wanted to be a window washer when he grew up. aim high kid, aim high.