Friday, December 23, 2005

Olso Hop


Oslo ski jump
Originally uploaded by j_kleitsch.

Jeg er ved oslo hop med familien. (Even (age 9) helped me with that sentence - i think i wrote "I am at Olso Hop with my family")

We are having a great time in Norway with the extended family. All the kids are playing, watching Harry Potter and decorating the xmas tree.

We have been on several hikes in the woods behind the house. There is a very steep hill - at the top is a rope swing and camp fire for roasting "polse".

The food here has been THE BEST! We had rummagrut (spelling?), smoked salmon with eggs, goat cheese on rolls, lefse, glogg (warm wine with almonds and rasins thrown in), homemade moose sausage... i mean 'cmon, can it get any better than this!?!?

Emerson College @ Kastel Well


2nd Moat
Originally uploaded by Andy Kleitsch.

In 1991 I spent 3 months at Kastel Well in the Netherlands. I was there to study... but, hummm... i cant remember much about my studies, but i sure can remember the parties, traveling throughout Europe and my college friends.

I really wanted to visit my old college kastel, so I rented a car in Amsterdam and started driving (without a map). I was only lost for 3 hours, but i eventually found Kastel Well. I missed all the students by 1 day! The Kastel was empty, except for a few workers cleaning up the mess.

Cafe Vink - Well, Netherlands


Cafe Vink
Originally uploaded by Andy Kleitsch.

What a flashback... I spent many nights at Cafe Vink while attending Emerson College in the Netherlands. Now, 15 years later, I returned to Cafe vink for Brand Beer, Frits Special and good company.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

My afternoon...2 pukes, missing bike part, dead mouse

3:40pm I remember the kitty hat: I called the botanical garden this morning, they found Britta’s pink kitty hat! (Yes, I was actually calling people looking for a pink kitty hat – what has become of me?!) I looked at my watch – 3:40pm. The botanical garden closes at 4:00pm. Can I dress the kids (it’s frickin cold here), put the rain bubble on the bike (yup, cold and raining) and ride 10 minutes to the garden before 4pm? I was willing to give it a try. What the hell, why not.

3:53 unlocked the mom bike.

4:03pm botanical garden: Yes! They’re still open. The very gay cashier informed me that the pink kitty hat looks really good on him. Uhh… great.

4:04pm back on bike: I’m feeling adventuresome now that the rain has slowed down. I take the kids on a tour through the edge of the red light district. Some pot fumes, more tourists – and we end up at Dam square.

4-5pm hanging at Dam: We grab some cookies from Santa and his Pete’s. Karsten rides the kid cars. I lose 7 euros – somewhere! Must have dropped them while running after Britta.

5ish riding home: Britta is finally asleep. all hunched over in her baby bubble.

5-6ish eating pizza at our local spot: Karsten and I split a cheese pizza. Britta slept the entire time.

6:30pm back home: Damn. As soon as I got home I remembered my bike rain cover… I left it on the bike next to mine! In my big hurry to rescue the kitty hat, I left it sitting on the bike next to ours. It’s gone. Damn!

6:30-8 trying to feed Britta: She had a few bites of spaghetti. That’s it.

8pm the first puke: Britta threw her sippy cup over the edge of the couch and SPLASH! The lip popped off! Britta!! (scowl) . I grab paper towels from the kitchen, and while I was sopping up the water puddle I saw a half-eaten cereal bar on the bookshelf. Hummm. That looks pretty new… here Britta, eat this. (at this point I’m trying to feed Britta anything) She takes one big bite, and… pukes! Greeeaaaat.

8:45 second dinner for Karsten: Karsten climbed down the stairs and said he was starving. I served up Brittas reheated spaghetti. That worked like a charm. Britta took one bite of banana.

9:45 second puke: While rocking Britta to sleep she gagged on milk/snot/sick-stuff and did a nice projectile puke on me, and everything. Change of outfits needed (Britta and Dad).

10:30 Britta is out: I went right for the Johnny Walker Red Label and popped in my DVD rental Kalifornia.

Midnight: OMG! There’s a live mouse flopping around in the other room RIGHT NOW!! My mouse trap went off but didn’t kill him! He’s frickin squeeking!! Oh man… I don’t want a LIVE mouse… UGGGG!!

Day One: 1pm Update

Breakfast: Kids didn't really eat much breakfast, but i did get Karsten to try something new - Toasted O's with MILK! He's a purist. Likes dry cereal. But we made a deal "daddy will buy you Snap Crackle Pop cereal if you try O's with milk!" It actually worked.

10:45: Quincy and his mom (Shea) took Karsten to Tun Fun & pizza… Shea said she would return Karsten “full and tired”. She’s a saint.

11:30: Britta goes down for a nap.

11:40: Britta is awake. Crying like crazy. After one hour of re-nap attempts (milk, rocking, laying in our bed, more milk) it’s official, nap time is over.

1:30: Oh! It’s lunch time! Almost forgot… hummm. Karsten is out, so I just need to feed Britta.

    Lunch Menu
  • First course: Pancakes w/ peanut butter. Britta took one bite.
  • Second course: Stew from last night. Britta ate 3 carrot slices.
  • Third course: cheese sandwich. Britta threw the bread, ate the cheese. Daddy offers second slice of cheese – Britta throws it.
  • Fourth course: Cereal ball. Two bites.

Have fun Jana, but come home soon!

Jana is traveling with a group of Amsterdam moms… she’s on a 2 day shopping and drinking spree in Germany!

Me? I’m at home with the kids. Talk about total role reversal.

I know it’s ‘wrong’ to say this, but I have not been looking forward to it. Just me and the kids for 48 hours. Who approved this?!

Can kids survive on herring and chocolate milk?

I’ll keep you updated.