Gotta Love Big Lebowski!

Have you seen it!? You need to, if you haven't. Donny, this isn't Nam! There are rules here!

Check out my bro's site, it's all Lebowski!

http://sweb1.dmit.nait.ca/~vgondziola1/BigLebowskiFanSite/

Bike, bike, everywhere a bike...

In Holland there are hundreds of cyclists biking around the cities, going to and from their destinations regularly. They have bike lanes galore, bike racks everywhere and the right of way as far as pedestrians are concerned. If you're walking around in Holland, you best be watching your step, cause the bikes won't stop for you. So, it can be a bit dangerous as a pedestrian, but as long as you watch, then you're fine. I think it's great how many people incorporate exercise and environmentally friendly transportation into their lives over there! Fantastic!









Sung to the tune "Signs", originally sung by The Five Man Electrical Band, here's my new version of the chorus, I call it "Bikes".

Bike, bike, everywhere a bike
Riding on the road, breaking my stride
Stop here, watch there, hey, can't you see the bike?!

The gong show of trains, planes and automobiles!

We are home after a trying day of traveling. It began with waking up at 6 am in Den Hague Holland. As we are packing the last of our things, having a quick bite and getting organized for the day of travel that's ahead of us, the phone rings, our taxi cab arrived 15 minutes earlier than we ordered it for and he's now waiting for us! Ahhhh! I hate rushing! Even if it's not my fault that he's there early, I still know he's waiting and feel the need to hurry up. So, we rush out of our hotel room and get driven to the train station. Our cab driver was a very happy man, for the record. That was nice. :)

Upon arriving at the train station we go to buy our tickets and the machine won't take our credit cards. We stand in line, buy tickets from a teller and search for someone to tell us where to go. We find out that the train to the airport has been delayed, and we are instructed to train it to another town, where as it turned out, was also delayed! Apparently if the train tracks are even dusted with snow in Holland, everything slows down and delays start happening. There on the platform we stood, with the morning commuters, waiting, slowly being surrounded by more and more eager people. Our big bags on our backs, other bags in hand. Listening to the Dutch announcements about the delay and watching the expressions of the faces around me to tell me what it is saying. I'm frustrated and feeling the need to warp to the airport, because we are already supposed to be there 10 minutes ago and we aren't even on the train! "We can't control this, there's nothing we can do, so no use getting worried." Dan says to me in his usual calm manner. He's got the right attitude about these sorts of things. If we can't change it, and it's not our fault, then getting upset only makes things harder. It calms me down, for the moment.

Arriving at the airport 10 minutes before our boarding time gives us enough time to check in and head to the gate. We arrive at the boarding gate just on time. Then we end up standing in their security/boarding line for an hour and a half, while each passenger talks to the security guards anywhere from about 3-7 minutes!! Oh my god, this is crazy! so inefficient! Are they doing security via the trust route? Have a deep conversation with all the passengers and then decide who can go through the next phase? Which is, the full body scan and x ray of luggage.

Our flight out is now delayed and we only have a 2 hour layover in Seattle! Again, Zen Dan is not worried. This wouldn't all matter so much if Dan and I didn't have to be home in enough time to repack, only to leave again, this time for Hawaii, one and half days after we are set to arrive in Edmonton. If it was just a matter of getting home and sitting there until next year, delay me all you want! But, I can't miss this flight!

After some maintenance issues and waiting to get all the passengers past the tea party that might as well have been happening out there at security, we finally boarded. The 10 hour flight was really great! I didn't sleep, I watched movies, drank free beer, ate good food and talked with Dan.

Landing in Seattle was a gong show from the moment our wheels touched the ground. We had to wait for the plane that was currently in our spot to get a piece of something or other attached to it so it could get pushed out. With only an hour to spare and a major bathroom break to be taken, I was feeling the stress again!

We pulled in, and went through US customs, the first time. While waiting to pick up our bags Dan and I took turns asking people what we are supposed to do once we have the bags. Which exit do we take? Which train? Will we have enough time? To which the lady, who worked there and was standing there to help people, pointed me toward the electric message board to find my answers... it only had what gate we needed, which meant very little since I didn't know how to get there. Another lady came around wanting to see our customs cards, again. I told her about our flight boarding in just a few minutes, to which she said, "good luck."

After getting our bags, finally!, we went through customs again (??) and then dropped our luggage off on the connecting flights belt 20 minutes after our connection flight started boarding. They told us it was fine and that we had enough time. I told Dan, our bags aren't going to make it. Next, we had to go through US security, getting a body scan, again. Keeping in mind we have not left a secure area since the last body scan. We had to then take 2 trains and literally run to our gate to catch our flight. They paged us on the intercom. We made it.

We finally arrive in Edmonton, only to find out, understandably so, that our ride isn't coming because of the terrible road conditions! We'll have to shuttle it in. After the day we have had, it's fitting that our luggage doesn't show up. So, we wait half an hour to file a missing luggage claim, because there were that many people in front of us doing the same thing! The airport staff member is complaining as we fill our forms out, saying she can't believe this is happening on a day when she took a shift for another co-worker. We are making a lot of work for her! Yes, she was really complaining to us that our luggage was lost and now she has to deal with this!

ANYWAAAAYSSS... We take an hour long shuttle ride to a downtown hotel, "At least we don't have our big heavy bags to carry!", I say honestly.

We walk to the grocery store to get something for dinner and walk home, eat, watch The Office and go to sleep. phew! After 21 hours of travel and 23 hours of no sleep, I slept for 5 hours and am now awake, at 4 am... happy to be home. :)

Dan has just woken up, it's now 5:20 am... oh jet lag!

Seein' Red!

We've all heard about Amsterdam's Red Light District, but to see it with one's own eyes puts a whole new spin on it. Legalized prostitution.



Prostitution has been more or less accepted at various times throughout history in the Netherlands, but prostitution and brothels were not fully legalized until the year 2000. It was at that time they entered into a world of regulations and taxes.

With more than 75% of Dutch citizens recognizing prostitution to be a job no different than any other profession, the government got on board with the attitude and decided that if it's going to happen anyways, as it has been for centuries, why not make it legal?! At least this way the government can implement some regulations in an attempt to keep it a safer and more profitable industry.





For example, the licensed workers must undergo std testing, pay taxes, produce their license when the authorities come knocking and along with being asked to show their license they are also asked if they are there of their own free will and if all is well. There are also age restrictions; the workers must be at least 18 and the clients at least 16.



As Dan and I walked the beautiful canals of the RLD, we noticed the waters lined with swans and the first and second floors of the buildings filled with half naked women peering out of their windows, lit with, of course, red lights! Sometimes the curtains to a ladies room were drawn and we could only assume why that was. But, if the curtain wasn't closed, then there would be a woman standing there.

It's a strange feeling walking by these windows, just a few feet away from these women, face to face, eyeball to eyeball! I found making eye contact for longer than 1 second to be uncomfortable and intimidating. I smiled at them as I walked by. They didn't much care to smile back most times. But then again, I usually averted my eyes before they could likely have a chance to smile back.

The faces of these women are a mix of emotions. Some look like they could care less about being there. Slumped over on their stool, in an unflattering position, texting a friend, or playing a game on their cell, (who knows!?) Those ones kinda glanced up once in a while, taking a drag off their smoke and then looking back at their phone. Those ones looked a little sad, bored, tired or something.

There were others who stood, or sat, there laughing while talking to the girl next to them, or while talking on the phone. They'd be talking up a storm, just like how I would have been chatting it up with a co worker when I worked at Finning or Shoppers Drug Mart! As we walked along the canals, looking at the women I'd say to Dan "I wonder what they're talking about?" or "I wonder what she is thinking about right now..."

Many of them tap on the windows, like crazy, as the men passed by. The girls would smile, blow kisses and wave the men in with their hand or index fingers. You could hear the sound of something metal tapping on their glass doors all throughout the canals. Sometimes there were propositions being made, most times it was just a little window shopping. And, boy were there window shoppers, by the dozens. The amount of men vs women walking around that street was seriously disproportionate. I'd say 6 men to 1 woman and that might be an understatement.

Dan and I saw a couple exiting the woman's room, smiling. "Quick!! Let's follow them and hear what they're saying!" I said to Dan. So we did. They were speaking German as they both lit a cigarette.

One of the working ladies threw a glass of water in a man's face as she said "There!!! Maybe now you leave!!" But, he didn't. He stood there for quite a while.

I know that it is frowned upon to take any pictures along this district so I didn't really... but I did take two picture from afar, just to show the set up of the scene. The pictures are blurry, because I was scared I would get tossed into the canal if I got caught, sorry!





These were just a few of my observations of the red light district.

Now that's some gouda cheese!

As we wandered around the streets of Amsterdam the other day we passed a store front lined with giant rounds of gouda cheese, row by row, all gouda! "Let's go in!" I said to Dan. We entered and much to my delight there were stands everywhere filled with different cheeses and what's better is that there were samples of all sorts for us to try! We went from stand to stand, circling our way around each one sampling the cheeses.


"Oh! Try this one! This one is great!"


"Try it with this mustard on top! yum!"

So, we ate cheese to our belly's content. After snack time I bought a little jar of Dutch honey mustard to take home with me and we continued on our way. The town of Gouda is here in Holland and boy oh boy they sure make a mean gouda cheese!

Fair trade?

Indulge yourselves. You always do.

We mostly work hard and we hardly play.

In this hopeless position it feels like we’ll stay.

I wish you could know,

Or more precisely, try fathom,

the first thing about hunger and pain

Sickness and rain,

that fell so hard and so much that it swept my grass house away.

You come to look and bargain and steal.

You think it’s fair, that it’s a good deal.

You think you know how we must feel.

Have you ever really missed a meal?

Poor, shmore, tough luck!

Suck it up! Here’s a buck!

I guess you’re hoping for my heart to melt?

These are the cards that I was dealt.

And I can’t really say,

that I know how you felt,

Or how you must still feel

How you probably always will.

I’m entitled and I work hard too.

I earn mine and I do what I do.

Never mind you!

Ok. Indulge some more, you always do.

Can’t you give up your cushions to give me a shoe?

Or two?

What about the shirt off your back?

I’m not trying to beg here,

It’s not like it’s for crack.

I’m just so hungry and I’m sick and I’m tired.

A new company’s in town and we all just got hired.

We work twenty-hour shifts,

On our feet the whole time.

The heat is unbearable,

Is your air-con comparable?

Gotta meet this deadline,

And all for a dime.

I could quit if I want,

But that won’t bring home the bacon.

I’m breaking my soul,

While you’re out fakin’ bakin’.

I just want you to think and to look and to see

If there is anything you can do, to try and help me.

From person to person,

One soul to another,

Can’t you please help out a brother?

Imagine if I was your mother.

Doesn't that sound nice?

“OUCH!”

“Oops, I’m sorry, did I hurt you? It was an accident.”
That’s what she said. Then she turned her head and walked away.
She went to think of the difference between knowing when to hold them or fold them.
Knowing when to shut it or vent it.
Cabin or tent it.
Buy it or rent it.

She now sits under the cloudy and cool night time sky and thinks about the difference between a man and a woman.
We'll call all the differences ,"it".
What is "it" really?
Can you ever really put "it" into words? Can"it" ever be fully understood?
You are either one or the other. And if you are both, you are still neither one, per say,
but rather, it would make you a whole new thing to understand.
So, yes then! She understands that she will never understand all of the differences between a man and a woman.
But, one things for sure is she knows there are differences.

So, she goes to her lab.
Get's her things ready.
She's scared, but she's ready.

"Footprint, on my heart.
Nice and deep, from the start.
Wet cement, big man shoe,
step and press and stamp me too."

Toad’s leg, bat’s eye,
Pick the heart and the guy,
Newt’s tongue, snake skin,
Be sure to love from deep within.

She stands there stirring up the pot,
Ready is the potion shot.
Plug your nose and brace yourself,
Take that love life off the shelf.

Hearts in eyes and butterflies.

Heads will turn and loins will burn.

True love comes and enters self,
Forever changed, it's off the shelf.

Full of new thoughts and dreams.
And a new life to amalgamate her’s with.
Someone with new ideas about why they’re there.
Someone who’s a little different than she is.
As are all people different than her, as all are from others.
We are all here together. As one.
Differences or not.
We at least all have that in common.
There is something more than special about that.

It’s unity at it’s finest. It’s the largest group she knows of.
It’s humanity and those that make it so.

It’s wonderful and sad at the same time.
The inequalities are what makes her so sad.
But they may be necessary. This is something she’s yet to understand.
But she’s trying.

She does think that some people just need a sip of that love potion she whipped up,
Love potion, the world’s cure?
Deep and pure.
True and real.

"Doesn’t that sound nice?"