We had a great time visiting friends and family in Los Angeles. It's always bittersweet coming back, and I often wish Europe hadn't separated from North America billions of years ago following a major earthquake which helped create the Atlantic Ocean. Spending ten days in shorts and flip-flops, receiving great service often raises "What if?" scenarios in my mind. The hardest part of living abroad, I think, is not having the comfort of having loved ones around and knowing they feel the same way. There's something about the bond of relationships that span not just time, but phases of life. Then I sit in traffic, hear about 10 days for vacation, and realize Fox News is the main source of education, reminding me why I live in Europe.
I was hoping to post a few pictures of cats, but most stay indoors, their owners fearing they'll end up a coyote`s dinner or road kill if they roam too much. So here's a picture of some local wild life found in Southern Californian back yards: humming birds. And something you don't see in Holland - brown mountains and flat houses, in this case my grand mother's neighbor the San Gabriel Foothills. Although, I hear there's talk about the Netherlands, doing something typically Dutch, and building themselves a mountain. Our taxi driver told us there's a saying here: Give the Dutch France, and they'll build paradise.
Glad it's warm and sunny here in Alkmaar to held ease the transition.
Two pictures today in case I don't get a chance to post next week.
We discovered Henry is really a Henrietta, and man, does Rembrandt have a serious crush on her. She came by the other day and they spent the best part of three hours tussling around the house from the attic down the stairs and into the garden. She hasn't been back since, and Rembrandt spends many afternoons staring longingly out the patio window, meowing. I think he goes searching for her on his daily wanders. He always comes back a little long in the face in need of some lap time.
We're off to sunny LA on Monday for my grandmother's birthday. Two weeks of Mexican food and cheap sushi, family and friends. Should be a good time. It also means I have to make a CD for a friend of mine. A love of new music is one of the few things we have in common, and we've been exchanging mixes since the days of tapes. There really is an art, I think, to making a good mix from the order of the songs to the tunes chosen, so that means this weekend I'll be losing myself in the new additions to my music library, putting something together. It's one of the real pleasures in life.
One of the things I find interesting is each year a new city seems to be producing the bulk of the great music. This year San Francisco is the king so far. My taste tends to lean to the heavy and punk side which is why my better half generally makes me wear headphones. The alien, on the other hand, loves pulsating drums and wailing guitars. We usually spend about an hour a day listening to music. She gets a wild look in her eye and says, "I'm going crazy, hé" as Rembrandt jumps in the air and claps. Anyway, here are some youtube videos to a few of the songs I'm putting on the mix.
Honey Bunny by Girls, album Father, Son, Holy Ghost. From San Fran. I'm a sucker for surf guitar.
Don't Go to Liverpool by Times New Viking album Dancer Equired. From Ohio, a state also producing great music.
Finally, Cage by Dier En Grey. This particular song isn't on the mix. But you gotta see the crazy Japanese kids live, although they aren't quite as thematic as in the past.
Looking to find some authentic Dutch windmills? If you're planning on visiting Alkmaar, I'd recommend getting off at the Alkmaar Noord (north) train station and taking a stroll through the Oudorperhout. The first thing you'll see is a row of windmills, hence the name of the street. Each one is operational and sometimes you can visit if there's a white flag flying.
In addition to the windmills, the area offers green pastures where cows and sheep graze and is a popular place for birds, especially herens and geese. If you listen closely, you can often hear a cuckcoo.
To get from the train station to the area is easy. Once you walk out of the entrance (not the one with bike parking), cross the street and you are there. It's about a half-hour walk to the city center.And the best way to get there is follow the main bike path until it ends near a pond, take a right and then a left on Munnikenweg (You'll see a windmill)
Rembrandt is back and no longer a kitten but a rebellious adolsecent who spends most of his time outside, getting into trouble. He's favorite activity is climbing trees and doing his best to annoy the other cats.He's also an expert hunter of flies now. He's still a psycotic ninja who climbs walls and jumps into people's arms with claws out, looking for a hug.
I was hoping to post a few pictures of cats, but most stay indoors, their owners fearing they'll end up a coyote`s dinner or road kill if they roam too much. So here's a picture of some local wild life found in Southern Californian back yards: humming birds. And something you don't see in Holland - brown mountains and flat houses, in this case my grand mother's neighbor the San Gabriel Foothills. Although, I hear there's talk about the Netherlands, doing something typically Dutch, and building themselves a mountain. Our taxi driver told us there's a saying here: Give the Dutch France, and they'll build paradise.
