This is How Rumors Get Started

Ding dong. Ok, more of bzzz.

Quickly find keys. Stampede down the 30+ stairs. Try to beat the next bzzzzzz.

Turn on light so I don't fall down the last 17 stairs.

10 more stairs to go. bzzzzz. phooey. I lost to the doorbell.

9-year old eyes staring at me through the door's window.

Unlock door. Open it to the young boy.

*Insert 2 minutes of Dutch dialogue here*

"Ik spreek Engels," I say at the first chance I have.

"OK," he says, "Me...uhhh...koran...uhhh....Christmas...money." At least that's what I heard.

I don't see how these things go together. But I could make up a story.

What Kind of Weather is This?

An e-mail from my dad this weekend, per weatherunderground.com...

"Light Small Hail Snow Showers is what your weather report says..,. That is quite a mouthful!"

And that is exactly the weather we were having. The weather here is something to experience!

Feestdagen

Celebration Days (Holidays) are here. I can tell because the grocery stores here are filled to the brim with Feestdagen sweets and treats. I don't think Atkins had a very big market here, from what I can see, either. Feestdagen sweets and treats are mostly bread related. There are oliebollen outside the store and inside there are almond breads, krenten breads, oozing frosting breads, twisty breads, and M-shaped breads. There are fudge and chocolates for sale everywhere. But no candy canes. The funny thing is, when polling Dutch-people on what we can have that is "Dutch" and Christmas at our Christmas party, they cannot come up with anything. I mention oliebollen, and they say, "No! That's for New Year's!" Oh, yeah, new year.

Cell Phones and Bikes

I'm glad only about 5 people have my cell phone number.

Sailing

There are lots - I'd say 50-75 - sailboats on the lake right now. Who plans to have sailing events on December 4 at a latitude comparable to Calgary (or something like that)?