We Crossed Oceans To Find Each Other

I have a whole lot to tell today! When I went to the temp agency to file my hour sheet I noticed that Gordon Ramsay was holding a book signing at Bijenkorf (a large department store). I read about his new book “World Dishes” and I guess people wanted to have a signed edition! It was really cool to see him ‘live’ (even though it was through a window).

At work I had a quick meeting with one of the desk managers of a department that creates applications in Microsoft Office. They are hiring and I told him that I was interested in a position. Today I explained him my experience, but they were looking for someone being really experienced in MS Access. Although I have done pretty well the past few months, I am really not that experienced yet. He did tell me that I could use him as a point of reference for job positions and even questions I might have. I might actually make use of that.

Last Sunday I celebrated my birthday. I am very happy with the gift that I received. My gifts were a pen, an USB stick, a green screen and a little bit of money. Thanks everyone for bringing those gifts . The party was nice. Pictures are available by clicking here. We had plenty of food, even after all the guests left. We could actually hold another party!! . Today I handed out cakes at work, so most of my birthday things are behind me now. Fortunately!

I just came home from work and I have a short break from work. My work does not start again before next week Tuesday. Tomorrow is my regular day off and I took the Thursday off. On Good Friday all banks are closed and everything else is also closed on Easter Monday. I look forward to the break! . I am not sure yet what we are going to do… but a lot of it is relaxing!!!

So… now you’re up to date again

The past few days work has been really interesting for me. I seriously enjoy creating database applications and make things happen in that. The reason for me enjoying it so much, is because I get to learn new things… even now. It confirms what I felt last year when I was laid off: things will turn for the better and everything will fall in place. Eventually they do. I already look forward to next week, although I only work two days next week. The short break will be nice, as well.

This weekend we’ll celebrate my upcoming birthday. We’ll get the groceries and Leann will bake the cakes. I planned to have it small this year, because a lot of other things are going on at the same time. It’s amazing that I turn 38 already. In due time I really have to use Oil of Ulaz to keep my appearance young . So, today we’ll be party prepping.

I am thinking of another career change. Thinking is all it is right now, because this is not something I can do on a whim. I have to really plan this. I have found the right pace for teaching Dutch. Since languages are not really a challenge for me, especially Dutch and English, I am considering to go back to school to get my teaching credential in either or both these subjects. Hopefully with the experience I already have, I find a school that is willing me to hire without my credential so that while teaching, I can get the credential. First I plan to finish my work at my current assignment, though, before anything else.

Now… it’s 7:15am. Hopefully the sun will come out a little…. it would be nice

I just noticed that spring training just started to show on our ESPN Network. Finally!! It also looks like that college Basketball is in it’s final episodes. No offense, but college Basketball is simply not my thing. So, let’s revisit last year’s World Series. It was the Yankees who won the World Series after a serious louzy season start. I have to think which team to root for this year. Last year Leann’s Dad was rooting for the Cubs, still, I believe. During last NFL’s season he moved from the Colts to the Titans. I wonder if he changed to a new MLB team, too (White Sox?? ducks!).

Tomorrow I am going to watch the first spring training game

I have been debating on a grammar rule in English that I can’t figure out. I am too lazy to find it online, because Leann’s Mom has an English degree. Ha! The question is about the past tense of cancel. Is it cancelled (doube L) or canceled (one L). Could you tell me what the grammar rule is?

Vandaag was de hypotheekrenteaftrek weer in het nieuws. Er zijn politieke partijen die de hypotheekrente aftrek willen beperken of afschaffen en andere partijen willen daar niet aan. Zelf ben ik een voorstander van beperken en dan afschaffen. Ik heb echter nog niet de redenen op het nieuws gehoord, die ik heb voor het beperken en afschaffen van de hypotheekrenteaftrek.

Allereerst ben ik voor het afschaffen van de hypotheekrenteaftrek voor bedragen boven € 500.000. Daarnaast zie ik graag dat de hypotheekrenteaftrek over de komende 30 jaar verder wordt afgeschaft tot 0%. Waarom?

1. Iedereen heeft het over hoeveel meer euro’s mensen maandelijks gaan betalen. Echter, het beperken en afschaffen van de hypotheekrenteaftrek leidt volgens mij tot een prijzencorrectie van huizen tot een niveau waarop huizen ‘werkelijk’ waard zijn. Huizenprijzen nu zijn idioot hoog en dat wordt gestimuleerd door de hypotheekrenteaftrek. Iedereen wil immers zoveel mogelijk kunnen lenen om zo ruim mogelijk te leven.
   
2. De hypotheekrente op zich gaat gecorrigeerd worden omdat anders niemand zich meer een huis kan veroorloven. Daarmee worden de banken gecorrigeerd en dat is ook geen slechte zaak. Wanneer niemand meer komt lenen, gaan de ‘prijzen’ (lees: rente) vanzelf omlaag.
   
3. Wanneer de huizenprijzen dalen, zal per saldo ook de WOZ waarde van woningen dalen. Daarmee wordt een deel van de hypotheekrenteaftrek in de vorm van een lagere OZB aanslag gecorrigeerd (voorwaarde is wel dat de gemeente de aanslag niet verhogen)

English version

Work is going awesome. Today I received two new assignments to work on. One of those projects is very interesting, because it allows me to work on something on a more visionary level. It works well. I already look forward to my work tomorrow. It’s a good thing, too, because I will have to get up early and start early, too since I came home early today.

Dutch lessons yesterday was fun. I am really getting the hang of teaching the people that I have in my class. Next week Wednesday I have a meeting with someone of the foundation that organizes this training. We plan to discuss if and how I can do this same trick next year. Stay tuned for more information.

The weather is really pretty… or rather…. it was. The weather forecast for the coming few days isn’t as good, but at least the snow is gone and that’s what matters.

All in all things are looking up. In a next entry I plan to write something about a tax break that home owners get now and that might be cancelled by the Government.

The title says a lot: it’s been a full day. It started with sleeping in for a bit and then get started to get Leann’s second food video done. It’s easier when I help her with that. Today’s video is about banana bread. That’s all I say about it! The video will probably be online tomorrow, so stay tuned.

After getting most of the video done my parents came to visit us. It was nice to have them and to talk to them. I told them my latest news (contact extension) and we talked a bit about computer software. After my parents left it was time to get some groceries. It looks like people are allergic to paying with their debit cards. We have separate lines for debit card payments that go faster, yet the ‘cash’ lines were longer.

The evening was filled with dinner at acquaintances. It’s been a while since we visited them and talked to them. They have been a bit more closed since their baby was born. Now that the baby is older, they have decided to start seeing people again. It was an awesome evening, really. They always spoil their guests with good food and nice conversations. We hope to see these people some time soon again. So, we had our share of babies tonight (actually this girl was a toddler, I think, that’s what you call it).

For those that are expecting invitations for my birthday party: there will be none. This year I don’t plan to celebrate my birthday that BIG. I invited my parents, my brothers and their families and I will keep it that small. Stay tuned for Leann’s birthday party, though. It’ll be around the beginning of June. That will be the time that we’ll organize a real party! The weather will be better then anyways . Keep you agendas empty around that time . We’ll keep you posted

Yesterday I found out that the political party that I voted for in the city council will probably join the daily city administration. That annoys me, because they are a fairly small party and they definitely are the smallest party in the coalition / daily administration. This means that their hands are tight a little bit and that they have to support decisions once the daily administration made up their mind. I’d rather would have wanted them to join the opposition.

Yesterday was a busy day. It started with an appointment at the mouth hygienist for both Leann and me and I had an appointment with the dentist to fill a hole in my teeth. It worked well. After that I helped someone setting up their wireless network. The reason for that not working well was a faulty wire. I asked them to replace the wire. In the afternoon we went downtown. I had an appointment with a temp agency and we walked around some. Leann bought new indoor slippers, which was very necessary.

My teaching starts to work very well for me. I have an appointment set up for March 31st to see what the possibilities are to do this again next season. I would like to change a few things, though to make things easier for me. I hope that they will be open-minded towards my suggestions.

I saved the best news for last: today I learned that my assignment at the bank that I work for will be extended for at least another three months, till the end of June. I am very happy with that decision, because it will be a pain to find something else right now and to set up unemployment and all that. By the end of June things will financially better in general for us. There’s a lot of bigger bills coming at us the coming two months.

Things are looking up. I am very excited! The work I do right now is really awesome most of the time and I have learned so much. To be continued…

The importance of tihs article is more important in The Netherlands than outside. This is why the article is in Dutch. An English might follow later after the Dutch version, behind the cut.

De afgelopen weken heeft er een politieke aardverschuiving plaatsgevonden. Het “sprookje” begon met het feit dat Balkenende direct na de val van het kabinet opnieuw tot lijsttrekker werd gebombardeerd. Na de verkiezingen van de gemeenteraad verdween Agnes Kant van het politieke toneel, waarna ook Camiel Eurlings de handdoek in de ring gooide. Afgelopen vrijdag heeft Wouter Bos aangegeven zich niet meer verkiesbaar te stellen en werd burgermeester Job Cohen de nieuwe aanvoerder van de PvdA. In één woord: s-p-e-c-t-a-c-u-l-a-i-r!!!

Ik heb mij de afgelopen dagen een mening gevormd over deze situatie. Om bij het CDA te beginnen: het irriteert mij mateloos dat Balkenende na vier mislukte kabinetten door het CDA weer als lijsttrekker naar voren is geschoven. Jan-Peter Balkenende is volstrekt ongeschikt als minister president en ik wil hem ook niet meer als premier terugzien. De irritatie wordt versterkt doordat Balkenende niet in de kamer zou willen zitten, wanneer het CDA niet de grootste partij wordt. Wat een farce!

Blijven we bij het CDA. Camiel Eurlings stapt vervolgens op en stelt zich niet meer verkiesbaar. Ik kan mij dat goed voorstellenvnadat Balkenende geen plaats maakte. Ik denk dat Eurlings een zeer goede lijsttrekker had geweest. “Voor familie,” vertelde Eurlings. Dikke lul, drie bier! Ik geloof er geen bal van!

Dan naar de SP. Agnes Kant gooit de handdoek in de ring na de verkiezingen van de gemeenteraad. Niet verassend want Jan Marijnissen opvolgen was een onmogelijke taak. Neemt niet weg dat een opmerkelijke persoonlijkheid ook aan die kant de politiek verlaat. We blijven bij de socialisten wanneer Wouter Bos afgelopen vrijdag bekendmaakt dat ook hij de politiek zal verlaten. Dat was misschien nog wel de grootste verassing. Het is mij niet duidelijk wat zijn échte reden is om te vertrekken. Ik kan mij niet voorstellen dat met het premierschap in zicht, hij op deze manier stopt. Ik vind het jammer dat hij stopt. Ik ben geen PvdA’er, maar Wouter Bos heeft de afgelopen jaren een aantal dingen wél goed gezien en volgens mij prima en adequaat opgelost. Respect hiervoor. Ik had wel geloofd in een Wouter Bos als premier, met daarachter een aantal sterke politieke partijen.

De opvolger van Wouter Bos wordt Job Cohen; nu burgemeester van Amsterdam. Job Cohen wordt vaak verweten dat hij teveel thee drinkt met allochtone criminelen en te weinig doet om de criminaliteit écht op te lossen. Dat beeld leeft ook bij mij en is erg sterk. Ik heb om die reden absoluut geen vertrouwen in Job Cohen en ik zou het niet fijn vinden wanneer hij met zijn reputatie premier wordt. Ik ben wel benieuwd naar de debatten die Cohen moet gaan voeren met onder andere Pechthold, Halsema en niet te vergeten Wilders. Vooral Wilders zal het beeld “theedrinken” van Cohen blijven gebruiken. Ik ben benieuwd hoe Cohen dit beeld gaat bijstellen, áls hij het al zal bijstellen.

Met een aantal kopstukken van het politieke toneel zitten we dus met de volgende situatie: Balkenende heeft ervaring als premier, maar ik vind hem ongeschikt. Het idee dat Wilders premier wordt is erg eng. Ik denk dat met Job Cohen als premier de spanning tussen diverse bevolkingsgroepen in Nederland verder zal oplopen. Vreemdelingenhaat en intolerantie zal, mede door de invloed van Geert Wilders, daardoor verder toenemen. Tenzij Job Cohen uit een ander vaatje gaat tappen met integratie, is hij wat mij betreft geen optie als premier. Daarmee hebben we de drie grootste partijen in de peilingen gehad. Dat vind ik erg verontrustend. Zijn er dan helemaal geen alternatieven?

Ik steek niet onder stoelen of banken dat ik tegenwoordig D66 een warm hart toedraag. Alexander Pechthold heeft wat mij betreft de nodige dossierkennis en heeft aantoonbaar bewezen dat hij zijn zaken goed voor elkaar heeft. Hij heeft zelfs vaak hét antwoord op Wilders. Hij zou wat mij betreft een prima premier zijn. Een tweede persoon waarvan ik denk dat die zaken voor elkaar gaat krijgen is Femke Halsema. Dat gaat overigens alleen werken wanneer zij ‘beteugeld’ wordt door een aantal sterke politieke kopstukken. Ik ben benieuwd wat er zou gebeuren wanneer Groen Links en D66 samen in een regering zouden zitten.

Eén ding staat als een paal boven water: de campagnes zullen over lijken gaan. Het vormen van een nieuwe regering zal één van Nederlands’ grootste uitdagingen worden. Dagblad De Pers publiceerde afgelopen vrijdag dit artikel. Het artikel is zo gek nog niet.

This morning we walked to my brother Geoffrey, because he celebrated his birthday party today. I decided to take my camera with me to take some more pictures, since the weather and the lighting was pretty good. The pictures are here. The birthday party was nice. Geoffrey had everything well planned, which was awesome. We chatted a little with the family and I took a few more pictures.

Last nigh Leann created a video of her cooking garlic cheese biscuits. As soon as this baby comes online I’ll post the video on here. Leann also learned how to edit videos, which is awesome, because that way she can create her own videos eventually.

Tomorrow I’ll be teaching Dutch again, which I look forward to. On Wednesday I’ll have my day off again. It’ll be a busy day, because I have a dentist appointment and I have an appointment with the mouth hygienist. I also need to start talking to temp agencies again, so there’s enough to do.

Enjoy the pictures!

It’s been a while since we updated. This week is kind of slow for us. It’s a nice change after busier weeks earlier. Work is going well. I am still getting new assignments in my current position, so I am sure that I will manage through March and probably April, as well.

My voluntary work is also going well. I finally have settled well into my voluntary work. It has become easier to teach Dutch to the foreigners. I am considering to do this work next year, as well. I am working on the pros and cons in this, so I can make a sound decision. The voluntary work I do on Wednesday is not very busy. Right now I use the time to prepare for my Monday class. It’s a good combination.

Spring is slowly kicking in. We’re seeing more flowers, the mornings are brighter and I can hear more birds singing. It’s nice and it makes it easier to get up in the morning.

This weekend will be busy. My brother Geoffrey will celebrate his 28th birthday. I will definitely go to the ballpark to see a practise game baseball or two. Besides that it’ll be grocery shopping. So… it’s a full weekend