Home Sweet Home

Gosh, it's nice to be home. It was a good trip to the U.S., but gosh, was I ready to get back to Holland!

It was wonderful to see my parents and especially to have their undivided attention for five days so we could enjoy each others' company uninterrupted. It's never quite that way when my brother and sister (and spouses/kid) are at home. I had some great, deep conversations with my mother about our family "dynamics", which is incredibly valuable in both explaining the past as well as helping me to understand who I am today. Also did some great shopping (mostly shoes and clothes - so much cheaper than in the U.S. and they actually have my size!). Not to mention both my mother's WONDERFUL cooking and some great restaurant outings. Thanks, Mom & Dad for a great time, and see you next month for Heidi's wedding (my sister is getting married at the end of May in the mountains of Colorado, so I'm logging a lot of family time this spring!).

Vegas was nice. Great weather... not too hot and not too chilly. Things I did:

• Went on a time-share tour of the Marriott Le Grand Chateau. Maybe...
• Gambled with acceptable losses
• Got a Sony Vaio TX770P. VERY powerful & tiny laptop with built-in GSM modem!
• Worked hard at the National Association of Broadcasters trade show
• Met two really nice guys in Las Vegas who I hope to maintain a friendship with. Thanks for the great chats/meals, Chris & Vincent!
• Went to a great variety show at the V Theater in the Aladdin. Very funny!
• Ate prime rib THREE times, including twice at my favorite restaurant in the whole world, Blackstones in the Monte Carlo. We don't generally have prime rib in Holland, so it's always a special meal for me.

The trip home was crap. United Airlines flies a lousy 767 on the Chicago-Amsterdam route, and the business class seats are so narrow I can barely sit in them. The economy flight from Las Vegas to Chicago was more comfortable. Even the First Class cabin isn't up to KLM 747 standards. It really sucked and I got very little rest. But I got home, got some good sleep, and am starting to get my energy back. All in all, a very fun but very expensive trip!