New Project to get me writing.

My new project involves reading an article from the BBC, every day and writing about it.

As my first article I choose something related to India since my sister will be leaving for India to complete a year of study this coming August.

On Friday it was reported that 13 pregnant women have died from IV Fluid that was contaminated. According to the article India also possesses the largest number of pregnancy deaths due to complications. The hospital explained that the IV fluids that could be causing the most recent problems including hemorrhaging have been tested and the glucose showed indications of contamination.

The article is completed with the statement that "campaigners say that most deaths are needless and could easily be prevented if more care and attention was given to the treatment " however, I do not see how nurses and doctors are expected to give more care and attention to IV fluids that should be safe to administer to patients.

Furthermore, according to an article titled "the pros and cons of IV fluids during labor" shed light on the fact that too much of the IV fluids can cause a number of complications for both the mother and the baby, and that some nurses and doctors are even allowing a "hep-lock," open line to allow an IV if needed, but giving the mother sips of water instead if needed.

Regardless of the need for an IV or not, those fluids should be certified safe when they arrive at the hospital. Doctors and Nurses have more to deal with than continually testing the fluids that are administered to patients. Medicine, Blood and Fluids should be safe for patients, in the US, India, Africa, Europe....Everywhere!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12575389

http://www.helium.com/items/720040-the-pros-and-cons-of-iv-fluids-during-labor

Its my Birthday.

Today is my 25th birthday!! YAY! Half-way to 50!!

Bryan turned 24 on wednesday and I threw him an impromptu dinner party. We had GF Chicken Pot Pie, Raspberry Passion Fruit tart and LOTS of 2002 german white wine. (which bryan didn't drink, but we opened 3 bottles of...lol) We listened to our friends sing Happy Birthday in English and then in Dutch. It was a good night and we had a lot of fun. I continue to find out what is dutch tradition with every event I go to. Like that the birthday person CUTS EVERYONES piece, not just their own. And that we talk about EVERYTHING, no matter how embarrassing and we just talk about what we actually feel, no matter the implications. lol.

So tonight started off not so awesome. First B and I didn't know where we wanted to go and when we decided it was to the Greek restaurant in Geldermalsen. When we got there the guy told us there was a 40 minute wait, so we went to the bar next door and I had a glass of wine while bryan sipped on his usual "sinas"

After 40 minutes, we went back to the Greek place and were offered to wait another 5 minutes at their bar, where we were each given an 'on-the-house' shot of licorice liquor. I drank it, B wouldnt even taste it.

Upon sitting down, I realized that I could no longer eat tatziki because you usually enjoy it on pita. Upon my exclamation of this fact...Bryan tells me "Maybe you should just try it and see what happens." I have been off gluten for 7 months now and broke it tonight. It was the best dinner. Not worrying about what was in my food, eating as I pleased....dipping garlic butter pita into my tomato soup....eating SOUP IN A RESTAURANT!

But I digress....

I was bad.

Durring dinner Bryan informs me that he thinks the status of the couple next to us is less than normal. He thought they were trashy. I informed them that "trashy people" have a name here, Tokies. haha. Shortly after passing these messages to me over his phone, he begins to realize that they are talking shit about us in Dutch because they think we only speak English. Time passes and we both go on, Bryan making rude little comments with complex english words or things they wouldn't understand like "Indeed, I agree they would be good for Springer" every so often. Then their dinner comes, then ours. Bryan doesnt take his first bite before her food is flying from a skewer, thudding Bryan in the leg and landing on the floor. The couple begin to laugh hysterically , and she apologizes profusely through embarrassed chuckels. Bryan begins to laugh and sees this as the perfect opportunity to tell them, I understand your dutch, by exclaiming "Ik denk deze stuk leeft nog" (I think that piece is still alive!) - The crap talk came to an abrupt halt at that point and our dinners continued separately.

We breifly stopped by Mandy's work, the local bar we tend to frequent on our lazy sunday nights. Its the place we go when we feel the need to leave the house after only watching movies all day. haha. We left shortly after arriving because of how tired we were and because Bryan was suffering with a bit of indigestion.

Upon arriving to the rotunda down the street from our house we see cops surrounding it. I know its a check point and exclaim so. Bryan doesn't think so at first then realizes it is. We pull up, window down, the cop says good evening, shoves a device in the car and says to Bryan "Blow". I think this is the only time Bryan will agree to put his lips around a small cylindrical thing and 'blow' upon another mans request. (sorry B had to put that in there, you would have done the same.....LMAO). Needless to say, Bryan blew....Into the tube that is....for the breathalizer....I SWEAR! I was there...watching. The test was normal, we made our left around the rotunda and made it home.

After a not so great day of having to work and feeling tired, it was an eventful night. OH AND, Mandy and Sanea bought me a book to help me with my dutch studies....and there is something else on the way? Im excited!!

I also thought of something today....Im one of those ladys who makes the triangle in the toilet paper at the hotels. LOL.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Brighter Horizions

Being that my last blog was an emotional rant and rave, and a while ago, I think it is high time for a new posting of my life.
I have been back from Cali now for 2.5 weeks and have been readjusting back into all of the Netherlands again. Lora and Arie have been going to Germany for 1-2 weeks at a time, and its been quite around here. Bryan and I even took the Cats (Red Cat & Prutzer) for a walk, since the dogs usually go to Germany too.

I have been working on finding a job, building a new business (www.picpolish.com) and developing a new website for Shani Studios and for Pic Polish, all since I have been back from the U.S. and though I haven't been completely successful on the job part, I do have a really great prospect that I fit perfectly with. Im just waiting for the call. Now that I have my permit, I'm under a lot of pressure to quickly find a job, and even though its pressure, I enjoy it, because it gets me more motivated than I am on my own sometimes. I think I work well under pressure, in the right ways....

Shani Studios new website will launch this week and by next week I will have the job I'm banking on in Amsterdam.

My posts may still be far and few between because Im trying to learn Dutch (an hour a night), teach Bryan Photoshop (2 hours a night), get Shani Studios up and find a job....But I will try to post as much as I can, about new and awesome things.

For my readers, if you have a Gmail account PLEASE click "follow blog," as I enjoy knowing I have readers. Also, most of my blogs allow comments...Id love to hear comments from everyone on my new websites and anything else you may want to say to me!

Until Next time....

Christmas List - For those who dono what to get me, but want to

- Ugg like slippers, dont have to be uggs, I just need something to slip on after going out in the snow and need to take my boots off.

- Robe (silky, something light I can just wear to the toilet in the middle of the night)

- Light V-neck or slope neck sweaters (I need to put my snow jacket over them, so not too heavy) Any color and cute styles.

- Ski/wool socks (ITS COLD HERE!!!)

- Toms Shoes

- 8 gb CF card

- Fitted Black Snow Jacket with Fur hood (not slick but slightly waterproof), like a down

jacket.... Large I think...

- Leather Jackie-O style gloves, size 8.5

- Yoga Pants

- Yoga mat

- Snow boots --- WANT THESE!!! Click on the underlined link to see them.

- Thick, wide cable scarf , 1 foot wide.

- Black low top converse

- White girly beanie

Ill think of more if this doesn't help. Love and Thanks. xoxox

Update -- Fuckh8 t-shirt. Maybe the "some girls f* girls" t-shirt. $20 dollars on fuckh8.com

http://fckh8.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/womens-fitted-black-american-apparel-tri-blend-fckh8-1 - Large Please!!

European Plug Chi Hair Straightener

Pair of Skull Candy Headphones (The over the ear type, not ear buds) ....Red Green or Blue please! Pink is okay too!

Last Day Alone, Vrijdag

So they are coming home today. Bryan, Arie and Lora that is. I have been alone at the house since tuesday and still didnt find time to write even short blogs.... Or I was just being L.A.Z.Y (shhhhh....).

I put up the Christmas Tree...

Which I was bummed about but now like seeing it every morning.

And today I scanned a bunch of photos of Bryan when he was a baby. So adorable!

Het Sneuwt

The first frost of the season occurred yesterday.


I woke up to see almost everything frozen, but still no snow. Though, in some locations (heading towards Tiel) It appeared that it had snowed (a mere 5 miles from our house). It was freezing though. Like just a blast of coldness that makes your skin instantly dry. I’ve been itching for 2 days now. But I got a new coat, that when paired with a sweater, keeps me amazingly warm. It was well worth the €7,-- I paid for it. I think it was lightly used.

Then today happened. I diligently called all the people I needed to, including the IND and found out that my ID card was ready to be picked up. 20 minutes later, the power went out. Since neither of us could work with the power out, I asked Bryan to drive me to ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Which I learned to spell properly today!) to pick up my card. YAY!!

Then this afternoon Bryan called me up, while he was working in the back of the building and asked “have you looked outside?” I said no as I walked to the living room to peak outside. It was snowing and sticking. The ground was lightly dusted with white. As it got dark the house lights shined on the snowflakes like glitter falling from the sky.

A lot of little things have happened since I wrote last, but the first snow of the season and my ID is way worth mentioning. Unfortunately the internet is being fidgety, but I am going to try to write a short blurb everyday from now on. I don’t get out of the house much for some reason though…maybe its because im afraid to drive here…dono.

OH! We had a Thanksgiving party. All our friends were there Hanneke’s family, Arno’s Family, William, Irene, Mandy and Sauna. Jorit helped me wrap up the cooking, which made their kitchen look like a tornado went through it and then all the guys helped Mandy and Sauna do the first clean up. It was really adorable! I was so pooped though by the time dinner was over, and didn’t really enjoy eating because I had stressed myself out so much that eating made me feel sick. I made all the food and threw in some last minute Hors d’oeuvres. There is a recipe on my GFKB site for my new GF Spinach dip, which is really good with gluten free white bread. The GF rendition of my moms Pomegranate Cheese Cake was a HUGE hit, though the Gluten Free Goddess’ Vegan pumpkin pies weren’t a big hit, even with me, and I LOVE PUMPKIN PIE.

Bryan and I visited Germany for a week and I found a new Sushi Restaurant that is Gluten free Savvy! The only restaurant we went to where they didn’t look at me crossed eyed at the mention of GF, he even told me that they had Tamari “So I could enjoy my sushi there, too” lol. The Guy behind the bar was so sweet and kept watching to make sure I was okay. Bryan and I REALLY enjoyed it (Bryan even ate 3 rolls!! ...though they were California and shrimp rolls….)

If I get this online, Ill post the photos tomorrow, but Bryan is heading off to Germany without me in the morning, so ill be alone for 3 days….just me and the animals. I get to decorate for Christmas though….alone…WOOO HOOOO….not really. Oh well.

In Germany...

No Halloween?

Okay, So there is no Halloween here in Holland. What the hell? I thought that earth based religions were started in Europe...

*Rant*

(I mean wasnt that the reason the whole witch hunts here started?...Which is a whole other story for American history...Weren't the pilgrims running from religious persecution when they went to the states....and then they had the gaul to persecute men and women believed to be practicing witchcraft, which btw still hasnt changed and never has been worship of the devil.)

*Rant complete*

But anyways I was extremely disappointed to find that all hallows eve was not celebrated. Nor was halloween. Then I started noticing Jack-o-Lanterns. I asked everyone, why are there those if you dont celebrate. "Well, I dont know" was the common response. Ive seen signs for Halloween parties and Bryan has heard event promos on the radio for Halloween eve parties. "Must have some American influence..." - That I dont believe, I think there are people out there who just know what the holiday is, American influence or not. I mean Halloween doesnt have to be kids running around in costume, that I think is the American part. But why not freak yourself out? Why not indulge in scary movies? tours or haunted houses?

Well the haunted house bit is exactly what I plan to do, and guess what I found in my research. THERE ARE HAUNTED TOURS and SCARY STORIES through this ONE CASTLE, and not only in ONE PLACE, but multiple are doing it. Strange for a country who doesnt celebrate halloween huh? or maybe its that American influence.

So the question is; what am I going to do?

There is a castle 1/2 hour from us in Waardenberg.

Photo credit to Waardenburg Castle Website

This place has been around since the 1200 and though it was owned by multiple owners and has seen 2 wars, both of which lead to major reconstruction, it also housed a famous sorcerer, Dr. Johann Georg Faust. Evidentially he sold his soul to the devil and for some reason the Devil severed him for 7 years as a servant. Weather Faust was aware that his servant was in fact the devil or not, was not told in the story I read. Faust was very awful to this servant, Joost and made him do things like build a road only to tear it up again or dump a bag of bird seed into thorn bushes to make him refill the bag.

After 7 years, evidentially the Devil took what was due. He grabbed faust by the ankle, threw him against the stone wall of his study, splattering his brains across the walls, only to drag his body through barred windows and "drag his soul to hell."

Note* Do I believe this? No. I don't believe in the Devil, but I do believe in Evil, and I think his servant was fed up and murdered his master. Legends are made out of the unexplainable evil one person can conjure up.

Unfortunately this castle is not open to public inspection, but does have A LOT of ghostly activity, evidently.

Second Choice

Museum De Heksenwaag

I may be able to do this, on the way to another place, but its something I want to do regardless of Halloween. There is a museum in Oudewater (my friend Alicia found it first...but I think its awesome) where you can be weighed as a test of witchery or not.

This was an actual test during the witch hunts in the 17th century given to the town by the Emperor Karel V. This was the only fair weighing process given to any european city. Luckily, it was fair because no one was ever convicted.

I want my certificate.

Third Choice

Photo Compliments of Google Search of Maastricht Underground.

Maastricht; Mergelmaand

This is an underground tour, starting at 7:30 or 9:00 pm. They will be telling a ghost story about "The lost girl" while giving a tour of this castles underground tunnels. The city was attacked so many times through seven centuries that there was constant reconstruction and better tactics laid out. Eventually this underground system was developed to surprise attack the enemy. The underground passages were build to house 5000 military men.

Later the cities underground system was used as air-raid shelters to protect the cities peoples during World War II and the Cold War.

I have found a few other haunted castles, their tour-ability, unknown. Their spookiness...not as thrilling as the one that is not too far from us. One even has a ghost horse that supposedly took a hunter who tried to kill him to hell. OOoooOOoooOOO....

This is my, Im not impressed face....