Category ~ Michelle
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Breaking Up is...
Hard to do... I'm such a wimp when it comes to good-byes. Really, I hate them. I could get all emotional and weepy and say what a blast and privilege it's been hanging here with all the cool chiclets, and...Posted by Michelle at 2:45 PM | Comments (4)
My Ten Cent's Worth
Is it trivial of me, do you think? Okay, so I have a problem with supermarkets and store discount cards. I never ever these days have a store discount card, even when I can do "buy one get one free,"...Posted by Michelle at 3:11 PM | Comments (3)
Flight Delays and 'Flu!
Is bad travel Karma catching, do you think? I'm beginning to suspect that this is the case, because: Picture this... It was the end of the college year, and No Longer Teenager No #1 flew to Britain two weeks ago...Posted by Michelle at 12:05 PM | Comments (6)
The Land of Oz
And handy travel tips A few weeks ago my brother-in-law and his wife were blessed with a new addition to the family - a lovely baby boy. We know he's lovely, because due to the marvels of science and technology...Posted by Michelle at 9:03 AM | Comments (7)
Romantic moments!
And why I am convinced that Lani and I are related. So, if you read Lani and Fish's anniversary story, here, that pretty much sums up Oh Patient One and I. We're hopeless when it comes to dates, and have...Posted by Michelle at 2:37 PM | Comments (4)
Unbelievable!
Will it ever end? Mes cheres poussaines (because I am, inexplicably, in a French kind of mood today), would you believe me if I said that Oh Patient One and I went to the UK last weekend to visit family,...Posted by Michelle at 1:31 PM | Comments (6)
Animals and Silly Game!
Because I feel like it! So, here I am in Rotterdam with a sinus infection and, as the day progresses, a lot of a headache and a bit of a fever. Which is why (because of being a bit out...Posted by Michelle at 3:57 PM | Comments (11)
Ten Things I Hate
Or rather, ten things I either hate or that make me squirm There I was in the kitchen earlier planning what to cook for dinner (the chicken thing--don't ask) and as I used a sharp knife to pierce the pack...Posted by Michelle at 12:06 PM | Comments (11)
Babies, Passports and Glitter
Not exactly a match made in Heaven? A BIG HELLO from Sheffield, dear Chicklets, where I am currently spending quality time with Super Mum and the rest of my Sheffield Family! (And eating fish and chips, cheese and Branston pickle...Posted by Michelle at 4:09 PM | Comments (4)
All That Glitters...
Might not be gold, but... ...Glam Rock! I'm sure you're all way too young to remember glam rock, lol. Of course, I was only a wee girl myself when it was all the rage in the 70's. But this week...Posted by Michelle at 11:00 AM | Comments (9)
Ghost in the Machine?
Karma Computer? You know, I've never felt the urge to have a Tarot card reading, or my palm read, or my fortune told, or consult a psychic, or to go to a seance. It's just not my cup of Earl...Posted by Michelle at 12:38 PM | Comments (7)
Car Trouble: The Sequel
And is it just me, or what? Yes, it's time for one of those Michelle tales where I really do wonder if it is just me, or what. Really, sometimes I wonder if the universe has it in for me...Posted by Michelle at 2:55 PM | Comments (7)
Car Trouble!
Don't forget to check your oil! And your gas! Yes, despite our euphoria at acquiring our very own wheels after a two-year period of no car, trouble was bound to follow... To set the scene, picture this: Rewind a few...Posted by Michelle at 7:55 AM | Comments (6)
My Most Exciting Experience of the Year So Far...
Today, I went supermarket shopping in our very own car! Yes, we have a car! Oh Patient One's new job is located out of Rotterdam, therefore after two whole years of being car-less due to living in a city center...Posted by Michelle at 8:43 AM | Comments (5)
Tongue Blands!
Yes, it’s that time of year, again. That time when I am revisiting one of my love-to-hate topics. That good old bad old phenomenon that is Spam (but oh so early in the year, I hear you all cry? What...Posted by Michelle at 2:33 PM | Comments (7)
I Vow Not To Vow
Vows! Like Lani, I don't remember the specific vows Oh Patient One and I made all those years ago, although I do remember that they involved loving, cherishing, and honoring in sickness and in health. But here are some of...Posted by Michelle at 1:31 PM | Comments (3)
Christmas and New Year Come But Once A Year!
I love them, but thank goodness they're over (giving waistline and wallet a whole year to recover)! Christmas and New Year Chez Cunnah featured (as I am sure it did in a lot of households) a very eaty, drinky, watch...Posted by Michelle at 11:58 AM | Comments (2)
To All Our Chicklets and Chickfellas!
And why my Christmas is going to be a very merry one! It's been a hectic time over the past few days chez Cunnah (and just do not ask about the number of trips my faithful shopping trolly Dolly and...Posted by Michelle at 1:53 PM | Comments (2)
Care and Feeding, Part VI, by Oh Patient One
The secret of keeping her happy as deadline approaches... So, it’s still the middle of the morning for you guys in the US but I’ve already had time to check email (send email to brother in Australia, Teenager No #1...Posted by Michelle at 10:29 AM | Comments (15)
Travel Troubles. Again!
And why I am convinced that I should never travel without Oh Patient One… So, based on this story and this story, you would think that by now I would just somehow accept that The Travel Gods have it in...Posted by Michelle at 4:10 PM | Comments (7)
Spam Again!
And how I have absolute proof that there IS an afterlife… Happy Thanksgiving for yesterday to all of our American chicklets! (And a huge thank you for the laughs from Lani and Fish.) Here in Rotterdam it was, sniffle, a...Posted by Michelle at 10:25 AM | Comments (17)
Opposites Attract!
So, science… Yes, yes, we all know that I am not a genius when it comes to science. But I am hugely interested in it, and try to remember to thank it daily for all the ways it makes my...Posted by Michelle at 8:21 AM | Comments (9)
The Little Girl Who Santa Forgot
Or so I thought... Way back in the depths of time (and I'm not going to say how far back), when I was four years old, we moved to a new house. And while my parents were worrying about trivial...Posted by Michelle at 8:41 AM | Comments (5)
Teacher Knows Best!
But maybe not all of the time… Way back when in the not-too-distant mists of time, when I was in high school (and thanks to my completely wonderful grandmother) I discovered the general wonderfullness of… The Romance Novel....Posted by Michelle at 1:44 PM | Comments (4)
Upgraded!
So, where's my champagne? Greetings, dear Chicklets, I'm just back from my New Jersey trip, where I got to hang with all my New Jersey friends, as well as Lani, Alesia, and a whole host of other buddies, and I'm...Posted by Michelle at 8:32 AM | Comments (8)
Fishing!
And how Super Mum saved my blog... So, I have nothing for you today. I haven't had any bridge incidents, or technological disasters, or travel emergencies, because I am currently working hard on my first Young Adult book (and playing...Posted by Michelle at 12:00 AM | Comments (10)
Paris, and Pissoirs: Le Sequel
Urban myth? Recently, a friend visited us here in Rotterdam. I was still in a state of delirious excitement after discovering that the strange object on the corner opposite my apartment is not a superlarge traffic cone, or a superly...Posted by Michelle at 4:51 AM | Comments (6)
I used to...
...but I don't now... Bonjour, mes Chicklets (je am still being all Francaises after my Paris trip). Oui, I know I promised you Paris (we'll always have Paris), and I know I promised Pissoir: Le Sequel. More to come on...Posted by Michelle at 2:03 PM | Comments (3)
Monobrow: The Sequel
Today, a little tale of a mini disaster because it's been so long since we had one around here... I know, I know, I promised you the scoop on Paris (heavenly) and Pissoirs: Le Sequel (a gripping tale not to...Posted by Michelle at 12:13 PM | Comments (11)
A Little Cultural Review
In other words, interesting things in Rotterdam... So, it's fairly common knowledge that technology and I are not a match made in heaven, but I recently learned how to upload pix from the digital camera onto my computer, how to...Posted by Michelle at 12:00 AM | Comments (6)
The Spookiest Puzzle In The Entire World!
Or, at least I think so... So, Oh Patient One was very naughty this week, because he sent me a link to a very spookily odd computer puzzle. Naughty, because he has distracted me from my current writing-at-top-speed project, and...Posted by Michelle at 1:00 PM | Comments (13)
The Secret Lives of Butterflies!!
And why, apparently, I resemble an insect of the Order Lepidoptera... I hardly ever use salt when I cook, or add it to my food afterwards (although I am a huge ground pepper freak). So every now and then (especially...Posted by Michelle at 12:12 PM | Comments (14)
Getting Connected
It's good to talk! And we have certainly done a lot of talking since we arrived here at RWA! And for the first time ever at a conference, I am connecting in other ways, too......Posted by Michelle at 2:18 PM | Comments (0)
Summertime!
And this year, I am happy to say, we have "real" summer in Rotterdam People say that the British are obsessed with the weather and talk about it all of the time. Even the British say this. And it's true...Posted by Michelle at 8:41 AM | Comments (10)
Seven Ways To Lose Your Lover
Well, for Oh Patient One and I over the years, sometimes almost... And this is all absolutely true. :-) 1. I FORGOT YOU! My dear mother-in-law (DMIL, whom I love very muchly) has recounted this tale on numerous occasions. Back...Posted by Michelle at 1:35 PM | Comments (0)
Where The Hell Are We?
And the trials and tribulations of navigating unfamiliar territory So, when we were on vacation in England nearly two weeks ago (sob, is it that long ago?), we went somewhere we hadn't been to before, as you do. We went...Posted by Michelle at 12:35 PM | Comments (7)
Wish You Were Here...
So, I'm on vacation at the moment and... Something I've always wanted to be able to say is this: "Of course I've partaken of the waters in Bath, darlink." You know, like the characters out of a Jane Austen book....Posted by Michelle at 6:45 PM | Comments (5)
DVD Times Three?
The curse of the electronic gadgetry strikes again! Our DVD machine died a few weeks ago, so you know what that meant, don't you? Yes, Les Cunnahs were obliged once more to visit the electronics store.But how hard could it...Posted by Michelle at 5:00 PM | Comments (6)
Cell Phones: The Sequel
...and the ensuing red tape (because there's always red tape)! It has taken approximately twenty long months for me to acquire a fully functioning cell phone that works wherever I happen to be in the world. Yes, you read that...Posted by Michelle at 11:41 AM | Comments (5)
On Keyboards...
..and the power of four! So, while I am sitting here right now, Oh Patient One is in the kitchen plotting The Downfall Of Humanity, Teenager #1 (who is, yay!, staying with us for the summer) is watching an X...Posted by Michelle at 2:06 PM | Comments (10)
Serendipitously Yours
It's a little mixed bag from me today because... ...although my body clock has readjusted to Central European Time since my arrival back in the Netherlands yesterday morning, therefore six hours later than Eastern Standard Time, my brain is still...Posted by Michelle at 11:33 AM | Comments (4)
Come Back And Kiss Me
It's a little short one from me today because as we speak I am getting ready to head to the airport to come to America! Let's hope there are no cows on the train line, or public transport strikes, or...Posted by Michelle at 2:06 AM | Comments (5)
The Things We Do For Love
But sometimes it's the little things in life... Back in our early days, before we were officially a couple, Oh Patient One sang to me. In those days we wore a lot of black leather with studs in because we...Posted by Michelle at 2:32 PM | Comments (5)
Bad Manners!
And what it takes to make my blood boil and my ears steam... "Michelle, you are too laid back and polite," some of my friends have been know to say to me. Frequently. And it's true, I know. There have...Posted by Michelle at 7:11 AM | Comments (12)
Favorite Foods
And why Oh Patient One has never bought me a box of chocolates. Not because he is mean or is trying (subliminally) to send me a message about weight loss or anything, but because I just am not a chocolate...Posted by Michelle at 1:22 PM | Comments (7)
Cars!
So, we live in the city center and we don't need an actual, you know, car. We walk. A lot. We cycle (although I personally am not currently cycling since that horrible, nasty person with the metal cutters ruthlessly...Posted by Michelle at 2:08 PM | Comments (3)
Vive La Difference!
Battle Of The Sexes, or Minor Skirmish Which Might Or Might Not Be Gender Related? I'm all Squealy Giggly over here in Rotterdam today because Jenny and Bob are here! Sigh. Plus, my copy of Don't Look Down is on...Posted by Michelle at 5:02 AM | Comments (10)
A Bit Of A Do
...And Why I Never Meant To Get Married... Yes, you read that right. I never meant to get married. Oh, not for a minute am I not romantic. I LOVE romance. In fact, I met Oh Patient One (tres romantically)...Posted by Michelle at 3:24 PM | Comments (11)
Gone Phishing!
...and I don't mean the slippery things with gills that live in water kind of phis Of course, I'm referring to Internet phishing where a Horrible, Bad, Criminal deviously imitates a well-respected company's website in a bid to squeeze passwords...Posted by Michelle at 3:29 PM | Comments (7)
Indestructible Food
...Like Dwarf Bread, Except Much Tastier So, anyone here a Terry Pratchett fan? Every member of my household is a total devotee, and we always buy God Terry's latest book in hardback because we cannot, cannot wait until the paperback...Posted by Michelle at 11:04 AM | Comments (6)
Famous People...
...Who Come From My City So, as you might have guessed by now, I am a big music lover. And no, I don't just mean Led Zeppelin (although those Led Zep boys are, and will always be to me, my...Posted by Michelle at 3:35 PM | Comments (10)
The Truth About Cats And Dogs
'Cept only a teeny bit... So, I love cats and dogs, but the truth is that I love cats just a teeny bit more than I love dogs simply because......Posted by Michelle at 12:47 PM | Comments (7)
Much Ado About Nothing Very Much
So, my non-eventful week... Thus far: No telemarketers have called me to try and force me buy something I absolutely do not want. (Actually, I'm feeling a bit neglected...) No streetmarketers have stopped me to sell me something I defintely...Posted by Michelle at 3:08 PM | Comments (9)
Misbehaving Nuns?
So, language... I warn you now, if you are in any way fainthearted and disapprove wildly of bad language, do not click the "continue reading Misbehaving Nuns" link below. Do not read on then blame me for corrupting you. Do...Posted by Michelle at 8:28 AM | Comments (7)
Monobrow!
So, facial hair... This is a conversation I had with Oh Patient One the other day......Posted by Michelle at 9:02 AM | Comments (14)
I'm Late, I'm Late...
From Michelle, The Rotterdam White Rabbit You know, I really am anal about being late. I never mind if someone else is late, but I hate it, I absolutely hate it if it's me, because I always start out with...Posted by Michelle at 9:29 AM | Comments (10)
And Here We Have...
From Michelle, completely in awe... ..My God, I still don't believe it, yet, but we have, we really, really have... Whitney Gaskell! Now, there's a bit of a story here. In 2003, there I was in Barnes & Noble, casually...Posted by Michelle at 3:09 PM | Comments (5)
Green Card!
From Michelle, considering geography... So, did you all have a lovely, lovely holiday? Hope so! We did, and thankfully nothing eventfully disastrous to report. No cars got glass showered on them from four stories up, which is always a bonus,...Posted by Michelle at 6:00 PM | Comments (1)
The Window, Again!
From Michelle, looking forward to the end of 2005... So, 2005. Not the best year of my life as some of you may have guessed by now. Remember when this happened to my window? Well, you are not going to...Posted by Michelle at 1:24 PM | Comments (2)
The Key Issue
From Michelle, seething with frustration over something that should not involve any seething whatsoever... So, the other day Oh Patient One lost his keys to the apartment. "No problem," said I, "I'll get a new set organized for you. Really....Posted by Michelle at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
...and only in New York...
From Michelle, missing her Alesia and Lani big time... ...do you accidentally catch a bicycle rickshaw, because it's raining cats and dogs and there is no taxi to be found anywhere in the whole of the city... ...so I was...Posted by Michelle at 4:02 PM | Comments (2)
Bad Hair and "Delicate" Music...
From Michelle, handy with the scissors so it would seem... So, you know I told you about this when my sister and I had a bad hair day and decided to get handy with the scissors? Well......Posted by Michelle at 2:45 PM | Comments (3)
Three Sisters
From Michelle, Reminiscing in Rotterdam... No, not the Checkhov kind of 3 sisters where all they seem to do is hang around trying to fill their empty days with meaning until they can finally return to Moscow, I'm talking about......Posted by Michelle at 10:29 AM | Comments (2)
Confessions of a Serial Nondater
From Michelle, Gnashing Teeth in Rotterdam... Yes, gnashing teeth because yet again, I have been technologically challenged! Who knows why computers suddenly start being all prima donnaish not doing the stuff they are supposed to do... And yay, the other...Posted by Michelle at 12:38 PM | Comments (2)
The Naked Truth About Michelle
From Michelle, Blushing in Rotterdam... One of the great things about being Alesia's friend and co-Literary Chick is (apart from the fact that I get to hang with her) I get to read her fabulous books before they're published, mwahahahaha....Posted by Michelle at 11:10 AM | Comments (4)
Flirting With...Children's TV
From Michelle, Laughing in Rotterdam... A short one from me today because I'm totally distracted by (a) the two new books I am working on, and (b) because the sun is shining and Oh Patient One and I have some...Posted by Michelle at 6:33 AM | Comments (1)
Flirting With...Red Tape. Again!
From Michelle, Frustrated in Rotterdam... Yes, once again I am doing battle with Dutch Red Tape. But why, I hear you all cry? We thought you'd sorted out all that pesky red tape here and here. It's a long story....Posted by Michelle at 6:29 AM | Comments (3)
Flirting with My Name
From Michelle, Reflecting in Rotterdam... So, I've been away for a bit... I was in America, yay, and I had a lovely, lovely time hanging with Teenager #1 who has just started college in America, and also I had a...Posted by Michelle at 6:14 AM | Comments (5)
Flitten en Flirten
From Michelle, Flirten in Rotterdam... Flirten Met Hoogmoed En Vooroordeel. My favorite new Dutch words of the month. But just don't ask me to pronounce them, LOL. Owkey - go on then - I will! Roughly, it's Flirten Met Hoechmood...Posted by Michelle at 11:11 AM | Comments (2)
My New Best Friend!
From Michelle, Revoluntionized in Rotterdam... So, a while back as you all know - because I went on and on and on about it in detail and at length - some horrible, thieving, nasty, bad person with a pair of...Posted by Michelle at 5:49 PM | Comments (2)
Garden Gnomes
From Michelle in a Gnome-Free Rotterdam Appartment... So, about garden gnomes... I don't possess any garden gnomes, but that doesn't mean that I don't really have a secret fondness for them (as is demonstrated by the gnome theft incidents in...Posted by Michelle at 10:58 AM | Comments (3)
Bad Hair Days
From Michelle in Bad-Hair Rotterdam... So, bad hair days. You see this picture of me right here --> Well, I don't usually look like that any more. Actually, that's a lie. I usually look like that until The Minute I...Posted by Michelle at 12:45 PM | Comments (2)
Pigs, Cows and Beer!
From Michelle in (yet again!) Rainy Rotterdam... So while Alesia is contending with The Move, and while Lani is Finishing The Book, and while I am Struggling With That Thing Called The High Level Concept, here are several things about...Posted by Michelle at 9:58 AM | Comments (0)
The Curious Incident of the Purse in the Night-Time
From Rotterdam With Lipstick... This weekend, because Oh Patient One was in Copenhagen for work, I decided to go out and join him for a couple of days. And it really was like the song - Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen! It...Posted by Michelle at 7:12 AM | Comments (0)
Dude, Where's My Bike?
From Michelle, muttering curse words under her breath in Rotterdam... I love Brenda. I really, really love Brenda. Brenda and I go everywhere together. She is one faithful constant in my life. I totally depend on her. We go to...Posted by Michelle at 1:44 PM | Comments (1)
Falconry: The Sequel
From Michelle, Partying in Rotterdam... Yes, partying I am, it's absolutely true! I am celebrating with a nice glass or two of Shiraz because a friend of mine heard about her first book deal at the RWA conference in Reno,...Posted by Michelle at 9:16 AM | Comments (3)
Vacation, Yay!!
From Michelle, Recovering in Rotterdam... What happened to that third literary chick? I hear you all cry. Where did she disappear to? Did Scotty beam her up? Did she click her heels together three times and get whisked to Kansas...Posted by Michelle at 11:08 AM | Comments (2)
Trains and Where Where You, Yesterday?
http://www.live8live.comFrom Michelle, Rushing Around Like a Headless Chicken in Rotterdam... Okiday. Bizzy day today, so little short entry from me because, as you all know, multitasking is just not me :-) Why am I dashing around like a headless chicken?...Posted by Michelle at 4:20 PM | Comments (0)
Hey, Bank! Where's My Money?
From Michelle, Relieved in Rotterdam... So. The Totally Incompetent Company Teenager #1 has been temping with in the UK keeps making mistakes with her wages. When I say mistakes, I mean that TIC keeps forgetting to pay her. And I...Posted by Michelle at 9:07 AM | Comments (1)
Ein Bier, Bitte!
From Michelle, Roasting in Rotterdam... So. Last weekend I went to Hamburg for a minibreak with Oh Patient One and Teenager #2. "That's sounds fabulous," I hear you all cry, and, indeed, it was. Hamburg is a gorgeously pretty city...Posted by Michelle at 9:06 AM | Comments (2)
Hamburgers!
From Michelle, Cooked Rare in Rotterdam... A short one from me today, because tomorrow I am going to be a Hamburger. I kid you not. I will be surrounded by Hamburgers for the whole weekend, whether rare, medium or well...Posted by Michelle at 1:12 PM | Comments (0)
Nasty Reviews, Gods Among Men, Birthdays and Nekkid Bike Riding!
From Michelle, Rambling Again in Rotterdam... So, it's been an interesting few days... On the life-throwing-you-lemons side, it featured a nasty newspaper review of a new chick lit novel. It was reviewed by a Woman Literary Author. We're all entitled...Posted by Michelle at 8:24 AM | Comments (1)
Brainfried!
From Michelle, Rambling in Rotterdam... They say that fact is stranger than fiction, but is it true? And what about those garden gnomes?...Posted by Michelle at 1:10 PM | Comments (0)
Shopping!
From Michelle, bargainless in Rotterdam... I haven't really done any clothes shopping since we moved here because, apart from the fact that I miss the designer outlets and designer bargains at, well, really bargain prices, I've just been too busy....Posted by Michelle at 12:02 PM | Comments (2)
More Red Tape!
From Michelle, yet again battling Red Tape in Rotterdam... Before I tell you my latest little tale of red-tape disaster, here's an exciting (well to me, at any rate) little secret...the first chapter of my August book, Confessions of a...Posted by Michelle at 8:49 AM | Comments (2)
A Bit About Stuff
From Michelle, thoughtful in Rotterdam I sometimes wish I was a bit more organized. Actually, more than sometimes and more than just a bit, so while I was thinking about how I could achieve a bit more organzation, I realized...Posted by Michelle at 1:33 PM
Phones, Trams, and The Internet
From Michelle, Wondering Why Me? Ever so long ago, I did several blogs about my trouble with trams, phones, and just about everything else going wrong that could go wrong with anything when you are in a new country and...Posted by Michelle at 11:57 AM
Reviewing The Reviewers
From Michelle, Whimsical in Rotterdam... You know that saying about when life throws lemons at you, you can either (a) sink into the deepest darkest pit of doom and despair, or (b) make lemonade? Well, today I choose lemonade making....Posted by Michelle at 12:26 PM
Because I said so
From Michelle, No matter how lovely they are all kids will push you when you say no to something that they either (a) want to possess or (b) want to do, with that endlessly repeated question designed especially for parental...Posted by Michelle at 1:04 PM
The Truth about Teenagers
From Michelle, Broke in Rotterdam... Motherly love is......Posted by Michelle at 10:33 AM
Highs and Lows
From Michelle, Recovering in Rotterdam. . . Finally, I'm back from the hiatus of my American trip to St Louis. Yes, I am slow catching up (as usual), but things have been manic since I arrived home. It was so...Posted by Michelle at 11:37 AM
Shameful Food
From Michelle, wishing junk food didn't taste as good as the healthy stuff... While we're doing shameful, here are a few less than popular foods that I secretly love (but shhsshh, don't tell anyone!) Spam......Posted by Michelle at 2:07 PM
Another Shameless One!
From Michelle, Revealing All (well, nearly...) As Beth, Alesia and Lani have all given up some of their deepest, darkest, shame-inducing secrets, here are a few from me... When I was young, I was totally in love, completely infatuated with,...Posted by Michelle at 9:55 AM
More Trouble With Phones, Trams and Trains!
From Michelle, doing a lot of walking these days... So last Friday Oh Patient One and I had to go to the American Embassy in Amsterdam to get our house sale documents notarized. Also, I needed to go to the...Posted by Michelle at 4:31 AM
Goo Goo Dolls!
From Michelle, sick and dull in Rotterdam... I'm just not feeling like myself today. I have no clue who it is I actually do feel like--mebbe I'll remember once this horrible cold has gone... In the meantime, I dropped by...Posted by Michelle at 6:05 PM
Cackling!
From Michelle, in Surprisingly Sunny Rotterdam... Spring has sprung, the sun is shining, and I'm off out into town in a minute (with trusty streetmarketer avoidance map). But before I go, here are a few favorite new possibly rude-sounding Dutch...Posted by Michelle at 1:35 PM
Betty The Beauty
From Michelle, A Propos of Absolutely Nothing Last night as Oh Patient One and I were chatting, and as I was opening a bottle of wine, he noticed that I was wrestling with the bottle because the corkscrew now only...Posted by Michelle at 12:06 PM | Comments (3)
Magpies!
From Michelle, being just a bit superstitious... Yes, I know it's silly to be superstitious but what can I say? It's a hard habit to break years of being indoctrinated by folklore. When I spill salt I always throw a...Posted by Michelle at 1:01 PM | Comments (0)
Flessenlikker!
From Michelle, scraping the bottom of the barrel... So there I was in a typical Dutch store, casuallly minding my own business as I had a good browse, when I came across something I'd not seen before--the flessenlikker! No, this...Posted by Michelle at 6:11 AM | Comments (0)
Goats, More Trams, and More About TV!
From Michelle, in Rotterdam, where Spring has finally sprung... Yes, it's true, Spring is springing around Rotterdam at the moment. The sun is shining and it's warm enough not to wear a big coat, although I have no idea how...Posted by Michelle at 12:05 PM | Comments (2)
Monday, Monday...
From Michelle in Rotterdam, the biggest, hugest port in Europe... Same old, same old Monday for me... 1. Get up at 7 am so can get Teenager #1 out of bed, push him into shower and then on his way...Posted by Michelle at 2:34 PM | Comments (3)
Television Land!
Michelle, Addicted to Adverts... Yes. it's absolutely true. I've become a TV addict solely due to the vastly entertaining nature of the advertisements. Here are two more, and for once they do not feature either nekkid people or condoms. But...Posted by Michelle at 7:34 AM | Comments (0)
Cartoons!
Michelle, round-eyed in Rotterdam... A shorty entry from me today because I'm dashing around like a headless chicken with this and that, but earlier I just happened to be in the living room and there was this cartoon (tekenfilm in...Posted by Michelle at 2:07 PM | Comments (5)
And now...The moment you've all been waiting for...
From Michelle, Introducing The Wonderful Stephanie Lehmann! Well, we've been teasing you for a bit about the identity of our first mysterious guest, and now the cat's out of the bag! What can I tell you about Stephanie? Well, apart...Posted by Michelle at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
Taxing Tasks
From Michelle, Ruminating in Rotterdam... Well, it's that time of year when we have to think about the dreaded "T" word. I hardly dare say it aloud... Owkey, I'll stop being a wimp. Taxes. There, I said it. But before...Posted by Michelle at 12:05 AM | Comments (3)
The Magically Disappearing Woman
From Michelle, Apparently Invisible In Rotterdam... Just to add to Lani's teasing comment about our mystery guest literary chick--all I can say is that she's absolutely fabulous, and we can't wait to let you in on the secret. Stay tuned...Posted by Michelle at 11:40 AM | Comments (3)
Telemarketers!
From Michelle, Tortured in Rotterdam... A little while ago some of you might remember that I developed a little plan to avoid all the streetmarketers in Rotterdam, because they somehow know on sight that I will be an easy target...Posted by Michelle at 1:23 PM | Comments (2)
Valentine Virtuoso!
From Michelle, flying solo in Rotterdam... Well, it's That Day, and Oh Patient One flew off to London this morning, and Teenager #1 flew off to the USA this morning, and Teenager #2 is out at a Valentine's disco, and...Posted by Michelle at 3:24 PM | Comments (0)
Magical Mystery Tour!
From Michelle, on the never-ending tram ride... Is It Just Me, or What? Yes, here I am again with another little tale to regale. Not exactly a disaster, just one of those little curve balls (or should I say curve...Posted by Michelle at 4:23 AM | Comments (0)
Is It Just Me, Or What?
From Michelle, Who Seemingly Never Gets to See Movies at the Actual Movies... While Alesia is doing her wonderful Friday Writer's Corner, and Lani is regaling us with her fabulous Lani's Unpublished Stories, what is that other literary chick planning,...Posted by Michelle at 6:39 PM | Comments (4)
Rainforest!
From Michelle, currently generating oxygen and single-handedly saving the world! I'm currently a bit distracted because Teenager #1 is over for a visit. Now, Teenager #1 is also a writer. And so, of course, we talk about writing. A lot....Posted by Michelle at 3:00 PM | Comments (0)
Beans!
From Michelle, a bit late... Just before Christmas Teenager #2 came home with some beans. No, not the Jack and the Beanstalk, go out to sell a cow and come back with magic beans kind of beans, but the kind...Posted by Michelle at 2:02 AM | Comments (0)
The Window, The Supermarket and The Courier
From Michelle, particularly paranoid in Rotterdam... So there we were the other morning at 5am, fast asleep in our beds as people are wont to be at that time of day, casually dreaming our own dreams, not bothering anyone, when,...Posted by Michelle at 7:15 AM | Comments (4)
Spam, Identity Forgery and June Died
From Michelle, the real Michelle, and not that horrible, evil, wicked bloody spammer pretending to be me... I am usually quite a happy kinda gal--you know--glass half full rather than glass half empty. But today I am feeling just a...Posted by Michelle at 2:04 PM | Comments (3)
My Christmas, The Goats and The Sound of Music
From Michelle, Mistress of Modern Technology... ...Owkey, mebbe "Mistress" is a bit of an overstatement. A bit of an overexaggeration. Alrighty. Lani and Alesia, you can stop laughing now! I confess, I am a complete nincompoop when it comes to...Posted by Michelle at 6:44 AM | Comments (2)
Some Choppy Thoughts
From Michelle, pretending to be Lani... Lovely Lani is Internet inaccessible at the moment so just for today, I am pretending to be her with some Choppy Thoughts... CROSSWORD PUZZLES I love doing crossword puzzles and other types of word...Posted by Michelle at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
The Sound of Claxons
From Michelle, dicing with dangerous manmade constructions... So there I was the other day, casually strolling down the road, totally in a little world of my own, completely minding my own business, so not bothering anyone, when all of a...Posted by Michelle at 2:01 PM | Comments (2)
Trams, Christmas trees and TV signals...
From Michelle, who is no longer in the Internet cafe but is at home WITH HER OWN INTERNET CONNECTION, yeah! Yes, after four months in the Internet cafe I can finally log on without having to get dressed, force my...Posted by Michelle at 5:23 AM | Comments (0)
In The Blink of an Eye (or Five Millions Blinks)
From Michelle, the slakker blogger in Rotterdam... After a three week hiatus involving (a) moving into my permanent apartment, (b) unpacking gazillions (feels like) of boxes and squeezing the contents into my apartment, and (c) attempting the impossible task of...Posted by Michelle at 10:51 AM | Comments (2)
Bridget's Scary Knickers and Freaky Friday...
From Michelle, the disaster area... Well, I had a bit of an eventful weekend. When I say eventful, I don't mean it in a crazy, wacky, go-to-fun-parties kind of way. I mean in a why-do-these-things-always-happen-to-me kind of way. First disaster...Posted by Michelle at 8:44 AM | Comments (1)
The 11th Hour...
from Michelle, quietly reflective in Rotterdam... This morning at 11 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time--the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month--I kept a 2 minute silence as Big Ben finished bonging the time from Westminster. I have...Posted by Michelle at 10:15 AM | Comments (1)
Spam!
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... Did you know that spam is speedily gaining popularity and is getting to be the new "in" thing? It's absolutely true! But I don't mean the Internet variety, I mean the meat variety that comes...Posted by Michelle at 8:31 AM | Comments (3)
The Full Monty
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... Sheffield, the jewel in the crown of the north of England. Home to The Full Monty, and also home to my family! I didn't see any nekkid steel workers while I was there this last...Posted by Michelle at 10:18 AM | Comments (2)
Strippen Kaart
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a nekkid card game? No! Strippen Kaart is......Posted by Michelle at 8:39 AM | Comments (0)
Why I don't yet have, and may never, ever have...
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... ...a car! Not because I am suddenly anti car, because I'm not, and, in fact, I developed quite close relationships with my previous cars... But two fairly big reasons for this carlessness might be:...Posted by Michelle at 11:14 AM | Comments (1)
Fortunately/Unfortunately
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... Hello my lovelies! Well, I'm finally back from my 2-week hiatus of Hardly Any Internet Cafe! Hardly Any Internet Cafe because (a) I went to America, and (b) I've been cutting a swathe through Dutch...Posted by Michelle at 9:55 AM | Comments (1)
Lekker!
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... Lekker, my favorite new Dutch word of the day! New friend Stephen told me that it means delicious, or tasty, in a wine or hamburger describing kind of way. But it can also be used...Posted by Michelle at 10:15 AM | Comments (2)
Why I Love Dutch Adverts...
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... So I was watching some Dutch TV last night in my quest to better understand the Dutch language, and also because this is the Netherlands so a lot of TV is in Dutch. And I...Posted by Michelle at 8:02 AM | Comments (4)
Telemarketer Torture
From Michelle, in the Slagroom... Not that I don't like telemarketers personally, because they are usually nice people, but I so hate having to say "no" and hang up the telephone, because it's rude, and it must be such a...Posted by Michelle at 8:05 AM | Comments (2)
Knickers & Dimples
Michelle, from lovely Rotterdam... Am meeting Oh Patient One shortly in quest to become semi-real persons, i.e., we're heading to cell phone shop in order to throw lots of EEE (Euros) at salesperson and hopefully purchase international cell phone, so...Posted by Michelle at 8:54 AM | Comments (0)
Slagroom and Red Tape...
From Michelle, in deepest, darkest Rotterdam... Actually, the sun just came out so is not at all dark. In fact, it's very nice outside, today). A little while ago I promised to reveal the secrets of slagroom and, sigh, the...Posted by Michelle at 11:39 AM | Comments (5)
Disorder in the House...
From Michelle, in lovely Rotterdam... Whilst in the midst of The Move from New Jersey to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, I kept a little journal of all the things sent to, um, try my patience...and my sanity... Read on for my...Posted by Michelle at 8:04 AM | Comments (1)
Fiets and Feets...
A few days ago I promised to fill you in on my wacky move to Rotterdam, a cautionary tale about everything that could, and, in fact, did go wrong in the middle of a move. I will indeed do this...Posted by Michelle at 11:41 AM | Comments (1)
From Rotterdam, With Love...
Hello to you all from an Internet cafe Somewhere in Rotterdam :-) I'm still zonked from the frantic business of the last few weeks planning and then doing the move, so have just dropped by for a quick chat before...Posted by Michelle at 9:52 AM | Comments (1)
SkipperSkadder
Lani, writing from the very glamorous closet... For those of you wondering what's going on with the "virate" part of the triumvirate, Michelle has been "moving house" as the Brits say, from New Jersey to The Netherlands. I secretly believe...Posted by Lani at 7:09 AM | Comments (0)
Introducing me...by Michelle
Hi Everyone! You found us early, but early in a great kind of way, and we're so happy that you did! Welcome aboard! As I type this entry, I am surrounded by last-minute emergency contact papers, must-pay-right-now bills, a swamping...Posted by Michelle at 2:55 AM | Comments (0)
