Monthly Archives: January 2019
Let there be snow!
Guess who got her first snow day? Whoop whoop! Badger and I joined friends for breakfast, then we walked the park and had fun watching the kids pummel each other with snowballs, came home, cleaned, sipped tea with Chris, and totally just enjoyed being alive and home on a cold, wet winter day.
It’s so beautiful, especially early morning. Now, that the day is almost over it’s slush and dirt snow.
Lol, that said, the dog isn’t a fan of the cold. To get his perspective click on his pic below. 
As usual, I’ve been busy with work and fun. Before Kyle and Kendra flew back to Arizona we got to see the Niki de Saint Phalle exhibit at the museum across the street from me and the weirdest performance (think fantasy characters on acid) at the Collegial. Both were a lovely way to end our time together, and I was melancholic when they left. I so miss spending regular time with my babies. I love this life of mine, but, well, you know, I want both worlds together.
Last weekend I spent in Amsterdam playing with friends. I finally got to visit the Moco museum, which I’ve been wanting to tour forever. I highly recommend.
Sorry, turns out I didn’t snap too many pics, but here are few Amstie goodies for you. Never a dull time there!
We also had our own Yellow Jacket protest here in Mons. Laura and I were walking Cupcake and Badger and ran right into their parade. We brought our dogs home to avoid the noise, and the protesters ended up walking right under my window. No violence, just noise.
It’s an interesting time to be aging. So much anger and disappointment among many. There’s a lot to be angry about. I hope/pray/dance/beg/whatever it takes for my species to figure its shit out. We have oh so much to be thankful for and in love with; may we remember that before we destroy it all. {this is what happens when I have a day off to also sip tea and reflect]
My man is in the states, returning here March 1. I’m not going to lie: I LOVE having time alone (don’t worry I also miss him and love our time together too). He’s catching up with friends and family while getting some of his stuff taken care of. He finally got to meet Kaylene’s baby, and never has he looked sexier to me than in this pic right here…
Torin says, “Badger you’ve got competition. I’ve got him wrapped too!”
Next week I’ll be at The Hague all week watching some of our students play out their roles in Model United Nations. It ought to be a great thing to witness — if teenagers only knew how much hope they feed me. Keep it up, kids.
Well, it’s getting dark and drafty in my apartment. Time to up the heat, light the candles, pour a hot bath and settle back into work-night mode. Before I know it, it’ll be time for summer vacation again, and I’ll be back to cackling with my kids and friends.
Here’s to our crazy pool time together, which will be here in a few blinks!
um, p.s., Snow Gods: I’m totally good if you want to give us another Snow Day. The pool can wait for that.
Happy New Year!
New Year’s Eve bubbly on Brussel’s Grand Place
This time next week Kyle and Kendra will be back in Arizona, Joe will be on a plane headed to Arizona (for a two month visit), and I will be busy at work. BUT, that’s next week. This week I’m still on holiday getting all snuggly with part of my family.
We’ve been busy living it up. We’ve done weekends in Amsterdam, Paris, Cologne and Brussels, along with showing off Mons and Brugge — including lots of good cheer with friends.
We’ve imbibed in a lot of goodness! And, the obligatory tourist shots!
We also got to witness a little bit of the Yellow Jacket ruckus in Paris. Our tour guide was more a fan of the protests than telling us interesting bits about the city, but it’s all good since it’s now part of our story.
The city was way less crowded than normal, and we saw the remnants of the violence that erupted prior to our visit, but we were lucky that no projectiles or fires took off where we were — just people chanting and parading for their something better.
We also got to celebrate Lorayne’s birthday sipping champagne at the top of the Eiffel tower, so our story is always more full of happiness than its antonym.
On New Year’s Eve we joined the party at the Atomium, which was fun until, well, it wasn’t, but that too turned out okay.
The aerial dancers, music and fireworks show was amazing — and free to enter! But, the trip home was insane. I love Belgium, and I get it has its kinks, but promising free public transportation after midnight (in Brussels) and then not planning on crowd control eeze a problame!
We got to the Tram station only to find a swarm of people like us trying to figure out where the damn line to get into the station was — instead it was just a mosh pit of hats and scarves pushing our way forward only to learn that the corner of the crowd we were in was ‘closed.’ Wtf did that even mean? Long story short we have no idea what was going on inside the tram station, only that our asses weren’t getting in. So, Kyle took over the GPS and we began the alleged 1.5 hour walk to our hotel. The goal was to hail a cab or jump on a bus or try out another metro station along the way. LOL, but every bus that passed us was so packed with people their faces were literally squished against the windows. They would have flipped us the bird — since we laughed at the insanity of it — but they were too packed in to be able to lift their hands. I wasn’t handling the whole thing very well and was really pissed, but then it started raining, and I just gave in to it because what can you do? Walk in, hopefully, the right direction, while packed taxis and busses pass you by — until Kyle managed to hail us our miracle cab.
So, we brought in 2019 with amazing fireworks, a bit of a “wtf do we do now” panic, then relief thanks to a stranger, and then, finally, oh thank God we’re home. That pretty much sums up our years, doesn’t it?
It’s all good because our story will always move forward, and that’s a great thing. Cheers to all of you and all that the new year will bring us!
And Auf Wiedersehen to the holiday season — we’ll catch you again in 11 months!
bettina without borders 