language (is not a virus)

Sometimes I encounter certain things that can only be expressed in one of the languages I know- makes me wonder what would be available to me if I knew more languages, for those moments when I am at a loss for words. Sometimes things just sound better in one language than another. For instance, the German 'ruhig', if pronounced correctly, is a beautiful word compared to the throaty Dutch 'rustig' (in my humble opinion, but I am partial to German, if not to the German grammar).

Nowadays I mostly read, speak, think, write, in English. Few people would understand me in Dutch or German (besides my family and select friends). And have you ever noticed how certain jokes are cultural references?

I would like to tell you that I have made a nice (if partial to this point) recovery, because I took 'uitzieken' seriously this time (I've had the flu once before and it took me way longer then because I was very resistant to the whole idea of taking my rest/fluids/time to properly ban the nasty thing out of my system). How to explain this Dutch idea of 'uit- zieken'?  Ich habe keine Ahnung! (Je ne sais quois).

Clearly, we have had some fun with words on our fridge (the kids may be relieved that I am not showing the more dubious ones). Tomorrow night, I hope to be able to attend my first Haggis-festivities, who knows what language jewels I will be able to collect from that traditional Scottish experience?

yuck

Today I'm spending some time with my favorite quilt, lots of water, occasionally working on another knitted tie. Not by choice though, but because I have the flu.

It is apparently quite the epidemic- the hospitals where I work have restricted visitation and will not let anyone in the doors without using hand sanitizer. Flu shots were mandatory for employees. Still, I got it. Which prompted my manager to use the word 'yuck' in an email, and that pretty much sums it up.

So I will tell you about happier days this past weekend, much more fun to focus on! My little boy Thijs turned 19 years old, and we celebrated with a yummie dinner at an Indian restaurant.

Raise your water glasses! Happy birthday!

Thijs and  Lauren

On Sunday, we left really early (not even bright and early, because it was still dark) for the big city, where Vera and Emma attended workshops at one of the major art colleges in the country, I attended the parent program, and Thijs and Lauren attended the aquarium. The girls, Kevin, and I walked around the city for a little bit but it was bitterly cold.

my favorite Charlie-spot, his two-colored ear

A great start of the week, and then unfortunately, the chills and aches got me yesterday, on our anniversary. Not that we usually celebrate that particular day, however this turned out to be a special day for my love to express his care- he let me curl up on the couch while cooking a healthy dinner for us. He is really a better and more creative cook than I am. Flu and all, I still consider myself a very lucky girl.

ice ice, baby

My daughters have that special twin thing going. Not a secret language, but a bond so strong that you can call them the proverbial 'two peas in a pod'- which they actually were of course, a split pea if you want to carry the pea-analogy. So when one is in trouble, the other covers automatically, no matter what. This bond has developed and matured over the years (there certainly was sibling rivalry and also major struggles for separate identities).

I know, I know, that's two pods.

So when Vera had slipped on a  treacherous icy road with the car last night, she called Emma. And Emma immediately asked if Vera was alright (yes, physically), never mind the car, and then took control in supporting her sister, any way she could.

I can only hope that this bond will last their lifetime, and that some of this sibling love will extend to their brother. Blood is thicker than water. Or ice.

So we took our best shot at figuring it out, and that's what we will continue to do. A car is just a car, although I sure wish it wasn't so essential to getting around in the suburbs.

taking a moment

Today, I'm taking a few moments for myself. That  involves some staring into space, some processing of thoughts and feelings, some household chores, some catching up on favorite blogs, etc. Perhaps even re-starting work on the quilt for Thijs!

I slept in - which always seems like a good idea the night before but usually leaves me groggy and with huge bags under my eyes for the rest of the day- and had too much coffee. It was a grey gray morning and being the amateur photographer that I am, I struggled to make it look beautiful in the pictures from my walk-about.

left over snow man made by Thijs and Lauren on new year's eve

In Dutch, we call the above 'elven bankjes' (not the official name, I'm sure) which means elf-sofas. We've got a tree full of these, perhaps I should camp out and attempt to snap some elf-pictures?

The sun is shining now but that does not really make the left-overs drenched in fallen leaves look any better in the yard.

back side

I finally finished one of the Christmas presents I was knitting (another one in the works, now that I know what I am doing). It is a knitted tie! Our friend Jake loves ties and had asked for a knitted one last year, I mean, two years ago...Pattern found on Ravelry.

I am very happy to have a job and more requests for supplementing than I can handle (sometimes), but today I needed to catch up with myself. Lucky me!

roots

Just went on my first -tiny, snowy- walk-about of the year. Lucy went with me and she must be a far descendant of the Siberian tiger.

New Year's Eve was as always bitter sweet to celebrate in a country that is not my motherland (or fatherland, in German it is better said with Heimat). For the most part we have assimilated or acculturated  quite well, but New Year always feels 'off' to me. We have developed  traditions- some old, some new- for instance the blasting of U2's New Year's Day after the ball drops on Times Square (old) and having chocolate fondue for dessert (new).

I do not have any resolutions but many hopes.

I hope that Robert and I will continue learning and growing in our jobs. I hope that Vera and Emma will enjoy their studies at the college of their choice, wherever that may be, and that Thijs will continue to enjoy his study, and that all three will be happy and healthy. I hope to be able to visit with family and friends and find them happy and healthy.

I hope to find a balance between work and home so I can spend time with my feline friends and take time to produce something out of fabric and yarn.

Have a happy healthy courageous new year!