boat

saves the day – saves the dog

Who knows… it’s noon and I hear someone yelling from outside our boat. It’s in Dutch of German or something I can’t place because I’m asleep. I say, “what… huh? ok.” And then she says in clear English, “Over here!” while waving from the window. This is the last clear English she will speak. “oh… yes…” I answer putting on my glasses and walking to the window. I thought it was about the trash outside in the can. I don’t know when trash day is. Then I thought it was about the keys that have been in the door since last night – apparently. And then I realize it is about the dog, that is barking, and has been barking for an hour, and occasionally woke me up, but not enough to do anything about. She leads me across the road to a cool little boxer/mix that is tied to a very short leash up against a fence. But, if abandoned, the owners did a great job showing love by leaving a box of water near her mouth. (since trampled […]

Assimilation

The whole houseboat is IKEA! We’re in a neighborhood a bit outside of Central Amsterdam. Although it’s only a 30-minute walk or an easy tram or bus ride into the center of it all, we are far enough away to feel more local. Buying a cup of coffee yesterday down the road, a man asked, “Did you guys just move in?” “Nope, here for three weeks though, we’ll see you soon,” I say “Cope back,” He answers, “We have great food.” This windmill is down the road. Day one – Philly to Amsterdam. Departed at 6pm – landed at 830am. Our trip started in Philly thumbing our way onto an eastbound flight to Amsterdam… Although there were still a few seats in the back open, we dropped a hundred bucks on the upgrades to sit up front. Awkward though as passengers walked by to their seats in steerage making comments about the first class ‘accommodations.’ “Could you imagine spending a thousand dollars more to sit up here?” They didn’t know about the dessert choices. I kept reading my complimentary copy

The summer of fun just got ‘funner’

With her off for the summer, I ‘bid’ to have some weeks off with her. I was awarded six weeks from the end of June through early August. Eager to kick the summer off, I asked for—and was granted—a drop of a trip at the end of June that leads up to my vacation. Now, I have the last ten days of June off, effectively extending my six-week vacation by an additional ten days! Our plans include a few days in upstate New York with her family in an area she discovered on the show “Cash and Treasures.” We’ll follow that with three weeks on a houseboat in Amsterdam, where we plan to relax, see some good shows, and enjoy great food. Then, we’ll top it off with a week in Reno with my family, running around dude ranches and the like. And then—still a few weeks at home in the new house!

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