Just the way I am...

A telling exchange between me and a colleague:

Christopher: "This whole project is going to be really complicated."
Susan: "Why don't you do something easy?"
Christopher: "Since when do I do easy?"

More Weekend Pictures

At Starbucks, which opened last week at Schiphol Airport. This has the distinction of being the first Starbucks in Holland open to the general public. The other two are at Nike Headquarters in Hilversum and past the security checkpoint at the airport (which means you only get your latte with a a valid plane ticket). This is one of the largest ones I've ever seen, with an impressive extended seating area. WiFi available, but expensive. €12 for 90 minutes, if I remember correctly.

My colleague Karen at work, who has the distinction of being the only other Iowan working at my company. One of my staff refers to the two of us as "Children of the Corn"! :-) This was at the same company outing as with the owl (see below).

Smile for the birdy!

Here I'm getting up close and personal with a huge owl at a company outing on the Dutch island of Terschelling. It was my first trip there, and despite excessive and unannounced sportiness being required of me, I had a great time with my colleagues.

Late Trick Or Treat!

I just got these gorgeous pictures of my niece and nephew Cristián and Merrick from Boston. My nephew was born about 9 weeks prematurely last summer, but doesn't he look FABULOUS next to his blood-sucking big sister? :-) We can't wait to see them at Christmas!

Let the java flow!

From Michael (regarding an earlier post about the Starbucks behind immigration at Schiphol):

Well, after waiting a few months they are finaly opening up 2 more Starbucks in front of security at Schiphol Plaza. One is across from the Burger King, next to Per Tutti, the other (larger) one will be to the far left at arrivals 3 across from the AH and Hema.They are supposed ot open up this Thurseday, November 15th.

I can tell you that this has created quite a bit of excitement within my team at work. We're all Starbucks slaves and love it! And now I have an excuse to take the train to work every day and get some additional exercise by walking to and from the station... and getting off at the airport to go pick up my daily latte (skinny, of course!).

Book Suggestion

One of my best friends from college, Mike (a.k.a. Sister Jennifur Sledge), is partnered with one of the most bitingly funny yet sweet people I think I've ever met, Joel, and he expresses that unique combination of virtues through many different things, including musical theater, teaching, aerobics, go-go dancing, and writing hysterically funny books. His first book, Gay Haiku, was SO funny to ready, it had me in stitches forever, and I hate poetry. A sample:

I don't understand.

You love it when I do that-

Wait, no. That's Stephen.

Well, now he has a new book coming out in May 2008 (see left). I seriously suggest you pre-order it on Amazon and check it out!

You can also check out his website.

Funny Square Bug

Funny Square Bug
Originally uploaded by Krishiqua

I came across this while wandering through the National Botanical Gardens in Singapore. I have never seen anything like it before. Can anyone identify what kind of bug it is?

Ouch!

Makes you wish your name was Vanessa...

Wedding Painting... Finally...

The quality of the photo could be better, but this is our painting that our guests helped paint at our wedding in June, finally hanging on the wall in our living room. The mirror around the outside is our "guest book", signed by everyone who attended our wedding party later that night. We love the fact that we'll be reminded of that special day and our friends and family on a daily basis, and we love Jasper's design, which was then split up into 18 pieces, and one or two of our guests each painted one of the panels (based on a small postage stamp-sized model they had to copy), not knowing what the whole original was supposed to look like. The result was great, but a little uneven, so it's slightly retouched; but the foundation was still made by our loved ones! Thanks to Jasper, Bries, Felix at the Kunstenarij for leading this special activity!