Is the grass really greener?

Today, I updated my blog with places I have been over the past few months since my keyboard has been out of commission. Ok, Allison, my math orientated friend, it has been more than a couple months, try 7. ;)

As many of you many know I have a big adventure coming up that I will post more about when it is final. If you don't know what I am talking about and you would like to know just email me. I will let you know what is up.

With this next new adventure and at that, any new adventure, I believe we naturally take some time to be introspective and look at our life. Which brings me to the title of this entry. Is the grass really greener? Do you know what the other side looks like? I would say it is tempting to look for answers on the unknown other side, but it is better to find them right where you are.

A few weeks back I was chatting (online) with an old college friend and he was a bit shocked to find out I still live overseas. The last time we talked I was in Japan (where he still thought I was) and now I am in the Netherlands. He typed something that I have thought about since that day. He typed, "I bet the people at home think you are crazy. I bet they wonder why you don't have 2.5 kids, a husband, a dog and a house." I chatted back and said yeah, you're right, people probably wonder what I am doing, moving to a new country every few years, no husband, no kids, no house. Then I wrote maybe in time, right now I am happy with what I am doing. We chatted on and said our goodbyes to the tune of catch up with you in two more years on here and both signed off.

So, what does this all mean? The grass is green, on my side of the fence, and it is a great place to be. I love what I do, I love working with military families, living in Europe is awesome, having wonderful supportive friends all over the globe is grand, having a family that supports my dreams is admirable, and having the confidence to follow my dreams to make the best life I could ever dream of is the best feeling.

When I look over the fence and see wonderful Families with the 2.5 kids, husband, dog, and house, I think some year. When it is meant to be it will be. Until then I will live in the moment, continue to grow and most of all do it with a smile, at least most of the time.

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Harriet Tubman

Roots-Reek, The Netherlands

Ironically, my blog is called Roots and Wings and the two values conflicted about a month ago.

Traveling the world and living aboard is most definitely a Wings period of my life, but you never know how close your wings will bring you to your roots.

I moved here to the Netherlands last winter after being here for a while I noticed little things that came from my mom's Dutch roots. Putting your shoes by the door for St. Nick, eating gravy on a piece of bread with lettuce and being cheap are a few. :)

I found out the village my ancestors lived in is only about an hour and a half from my house, so when my cousins Johnny and Ross where here visiting we set out to have a look.

Reek, The Netherlands is still a sleepy town 130 years later. There was really nothing there. We went in a community center full of old men, in a church and a cemetery to find evidence of our heritage. We struck out, no names on graves or any signs of what use to be the home of our family.

It was fun though. We were on a weird wild goose chase. It was a great day with Ross and Johnny.

Off to Norway next... Hopefully.

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. ~Marcus Garvey

Blind Booking

Blind Booking is an interesting system used by cheap airlines here in Europe. As you all know there is so much to see here, so many sights and history. For 19.95 Euro one way you can do a blind booking. It is a good way for the cheap airlines to fill seats.

How is works: you go online and select party, beach, shopping, eastern Europe or western Europe. Each of the categories has 5 cities listed under as destinations. You enter your travel days and they give you flights to one of the 5 place.

Casey and I did this. It was a wild feeling we were hovering around my computer as it selected our destination.

We got Berlin. Neither of us are history buffs, so were were like cool Berlin, but what to do there for 2 days.

We got online and the top rated attraction was Segway tours of the city. So, we booked a tour. Segways are the little scooter things mail cops drive. They are totally controlled by balance,which was weird at first. We had training then we were off. Below is our tour guide Waid and the remaining section of the Berlin wall.

Below is me rocking my Segway in front of the Berlin Dome. The Segways were a blast and we were still laughing about them the following day. Unfortunately, the guy in front of me crashed HARD. I barely avoided him. I got lucky. Casey witnessed it all and we laugh about it to this day.

I am standing in front of the Check Point Charlie replica, which divided communist East Berlin from democratic West Berlin. Note, that I am wearing my back pack on the front. Berlin is known pickpockets and gypsies. Not Cool.

Our last night we decided on Kebabs from a street food stand and large beers. We ate in front of fountain in East Berlin right under the famous TV tower.

"The value of experience is not in seeing much, but in seeing wisely." ~William Osler

Haarlem

After our days in AMS we went to Haarlem. I am posting this because Haarlem, was a beautiful quiet town. Not really a must see, but I am glad we went there. If you had a family and did not want to deal with the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, Haarlem is only a 30 min train ride a way and is beautiful.

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child. and the smiling faces. Smell the rain and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams. ~ Ashley Smith

Amsterdam

This summer I finally made it to Amsterdam. My friend Casey came over to Europe to visit and since Amsterdam is a must see tourist spot we went there for two days. Like any big city with a ton of history, 2 days was good, but I could have stayed longer. It is a must see city.

We stayed at a nice hotel in the Museum area. I highly recommend this area. It is close to all the must see sights, but it is quiet.

We got a 24 hour pass on the canal boat system, which I highly recommend. It was a great way to see the city and it was like an all in one taxi. So, how does that work? Well there are stops all along the canals and you can hop on and off whenever or where ever you would like in a 24hour period.

We went to the Van Gogh Museum which was amazing he was quite an artist, but I will have to say, he was quite crazy. Never the less he produced quite a collection of masterpieces.

Another must see in AMS is the Anne Frank House. I hope everyone reading this is familiar with Anne Frank's Diary entries. The museum is the original house persevered. Talk about a gut check. All the Nazi prosecution took place not too long ago. Yikes.

We went to the Heineken Brewery, which was a highlight for me as Heineken Light is one of my favorite beers.

We walked a lot, saw a lot and ate a lot. All qualities of a prefect outing.

When night fell we went to the Red Light district. It is strange how it seemed somewhat normal because no one makes a big deal out of the prostitution. It is excepted. My over all impression of the red light district was different than I thought it would be. Smell like fresh pot smoke(normal here), the girls were pretty (shocking) and the tourist were tourist.

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” - Robert Lewis Stevenson

My Computer is Back

After many, many, long months, I finally took my computer in to get fixed. It is so nice to have it back. I can't believe I put it off for so long. Amazing, all the keys work. I am in the process of retraining my brain not to cut and paste when I need to use the letter a. I am super thankful that the backspace works now. Oh the simple things.

And it was all cover under the Apple Care Plan. I didn't have to pay anything. I love Apple!

"Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task." ~William James