Happy Holiday & Hall of Friends

Wow, yet another year has passed! Who pressed the fast-forward button, huh? WHO? And what a turbulent one it was, for me at least.
But, I cannot deny that it also has been an uplifting one; who knew what you could still learn at the age of 30 the age of 26!

And because of this, I want to commemorate those dearest to my heart, and without whom I wouldn't be the (most excellent) person I am today!!

In loving memory of Max(i-pooh) 3-3-10

The Mothership :)

Karina & I: 2 wild 'n crazy gals!!

MartySmarty

My sister Sytje, aka Piglet.

My sister Natasja, aka Midget or "The Midge".

The 2 Twitards, me & Jo, frolicking in the snow.

I'm really looking forward to my new friends I'll be seeing in the new year!

Wishing you all a happy Twenty-Eleven, may it be fun (and frolicking, :P Sytje) and friend filled!!

Bah Humbug

Well, my "life as Liz" hasn't been all the glamour could've been or rather should've been lately.

"But Liz, how is this possible?" I hear you ask. Unfortunately my trip to London was cancelled, I think a nerve was hit when I gave blood almost 2 weeks ago (still bruised up and got me a tingly sensation in my right arm/hand now) and a few other things have been going on that would make any person a real Scrooge.

Free snowmen, assembly required.

 

On the upside, we got snow again today, I received an unexpected Christmas card with a bar of chocolate from my Austrian friend Ursula, I also received a "Perfect Petzz" kitty that purrs from a former neighbour, who saw it and thought I just *had* to have it!

Look and learn, Phoenix...

I finally got around to writing a new pen pal in Wales (not to be confused with whales, the mammals), made a new friend in the UK (you know who you are, island-dweller) and I decided to put some Christmas decorations up.

Annnd I also got the official 'Eclipse' dvd with ginormous poster (I need more walls) from my friend Jo, and another friend has really came through and helped me with some of my personal drama that's going on. I mean, what would a queen like me be without the drama part?


Another thing that is really keeping me going, is my birthday, or date of birth. Not because this is such a fantastic most joyous day because I was born (although it is) but, and this is a big butt, I will be going to a concert of a band I've recently fallen in love with: Hurts. I had told a friend about their visiting Holland, and initially thought they would be performing in the most desolate northern part of Holland. He texted me back saying that they will also be in Amsterdam. I told him that I'd have to keep it in mind as my pot of gold is running low. I then got a message saying that he already bought the tickets and that the show was on the 19th of March. I was all: PERFECT!!!! *Happy Dance!*

And oh yeah, I get to go to the Efteling again with my friend Karina and her family :D


What can I say? The Dudette Abides ;)

Oh Happy Days: Kat von D!!!

Ooooh mah gawd! Oh em gee!
I spent a most cold yet uber COOL afternoon in our capitol, Amsterdam. And not just for any reason, noooo I was on a mission. To see Kat von D.

For those of you who have been living under a rock and have never seen the tv reality shows Miami Ink and/or LA Ink, Kat von D is a (in my opinion) b-e-a-uuutiful young woman who is a very talented tattooer. I totally dig her, and her work.

She has just come out with her second book, and a few months ago she announced she would be doing a European tour. Amsterdam is in Europe. I am 45 minutes away from Amsterdam.
It was then that I *knew* that I would meet her. Birds fly, fish swim, I would meet Kat.
Turned out that it was a very smart move of me to be there wayyy before time; everyone had to get a number and we'd be let in by groups of tens and twenty's. I had number 133. People who showed up a few hours later left with numbers in the 400's.


Eventually they started letting people in, and I have to say, I didn't have to wait as long as I had suspected. About an hour later, I was up.

We were told to have our cameras and books at the ready, and before I knew it, the moment had really arrived. Showtime.

 
Kat complemented me on my hair (there goes my debating whether or not I should cut it!) and thanked me for showing up and waiting in the cold. I told her I was from Minnesota and that I was used to far worse and that I was well prepared (I was wearing like a zillion layers of clothing). She said she had been there too and knew what I was talking about. I told her it was totally worth the wait, she 'awww-ed' and I thanked her. She said if she were ever in MN again, she would tell them 'hi' for me :D All too soon the moment was gone, and we had a hug and a goodbye.

Awesomeness, or as Kat would say: Gnarly!! And truly, it was. I heart you Kat!

The Dudette Abides

Couple of days ago I watched "The Big Lebowski" with a good friend of mine. My god, I love that movie. It's basically about, well, a rug. That gets stolen.
 

And even though the story isn't really about anything but misunderstandings, a rug that "really tied the room together", bowling, Donny having to stfu, and entering worlds of pain, I believe there is a lesson to be learned. The Dude abides.


No matter how much crap The Dude was going through (and it's alot) he would keep on keeping on. His rug gets peed on and stolen, his car gets stolen, peed in and set on fire, a 'marmot' is thrown into the bathtub with him, and he gets beaten up by the chief of police. Yet The Dude does not rest till he gets his rug back. I totally admire that. And all agree, that rug really tied the room together.


In conclusion: 
The Stranger: Take it easy Dude, I know that you will.
The Dude: Yeah, well. The Dude abides.
The Stranger: The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh. I sure hope he makes the finals. 




 

Oh Happy Days: Twilight Party!

Also on my to-do list, was to throw an epic Twilight party.

The reason for the season!

The Twi-shrine. BOW DOWN TO IT!

Had a lil accident in the shower, Psycho style.

    

 I got my place all pretty and cosy looking, and around 6 p.m., when Karina arrived with the chocolate cake, the partay could officially begin.

"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?"

   

"Edible art?"

     

So, for the occasion my mom, Jolanda and I dragged my heavenly but oh so heavy matress to the living room, where Karina and my mom parked it. Jo and I settled in on the couch, and with the "edible art" and Ranch Dip, Chocolate ice cream and cake, Twizzlers and blood red drinks, we were good to go!








During 'New moon' we got to talking for a while, which was great. But since the ladies didn't know that I had gotten my hands on a decent copy of 'Eclipse', they chattered on for what seemed like forever. So finally I decided i'd shut them up and let them in on my surprise. We finished New Moon, and moved on to Eclipse. I don't think any of us made it past the first hour, and we all passed out. I had considered spiking their drinks with Red Bull, but since it was not doing any wonders for me, I didn't.

Even though we didn't watch all the movies, it sure was a really fun evening, and I intend to hold one now every 6 months. You are warned ;)

The Dream team passed out too. Wimps.

Next on my list: Meet and greet with the legandary Kat von D next week Tuesday in Amsterdam!

Oh Happy Days: Day at the Efteling!

As I mentioned in my previous post, going to the Efteling with my sister was on top of my to-do list. And boy, did we ace that one.

Initially we had both thought about cancelling, but since the tickets were already paid for, we went anyways. We left at around 10, and got there about an hour later.
We sold the third ticket to a lucky lady who was at the right place at the right time.


Our first stop was at the Fata Morgana, a relaxing boat ride through an Arabianesque city. To get on these boats you first have to step on to this platform that rotates. A man who worked there came up to us when it was our turn to hop a boat, and asked if he could ask us something: if we were students. "Yes of coooourse we are!" He then escorted both of us on each arm to our boat, and I thanked the noble sir for his kind deed.

Poffertjes

After that we went on a few more rides, ate 'poffertjes' (tiny fluffy pancakes) and went to the "Fairytale Forest". This is how this amusement park had started out as, and grown incredibly the last 50+ years. The Fairytale Forest is easily one of my favorites, simply because it's so frikkin cute! I love the Efteling so much, I even bought the cd with all the songs and music they use in the park. I particularly love the "Haunted Castle" and the musical mushrooms are my fave, and I will not reach nirvana till I own one.

What a joy to dispose of your garbage this way!

Freaky talking tree.

The Flying Fakir.

Yay, the colored pigeons where there again!

Wow, I really got a bargain on this pic, two asses ;)

We tried nibbling on her house, but it was stale.

One of my goals in life: to have hair this long!

Don't try to steal his pot of gold!

Villa Volta: it'll spin you right 'round, baby right 'round!

I just love what they did with the place...

Vogelrok: Rollercoaster in the dark!

The Flying Dutchman!

Ok, now for this part I gotta tell ya, it took us by surprise. Before we went onto "Joris and the Dragon" rollercoaster, we had just been on the "Anaconda", a rollercoaster that turns your entrails into extrails. We kinda had a headache, but wanted to give the wooden rollercoaster a chance.
You could chose between 2 entrances: water or fire. We had chosen fire.
Best. Ride. EVER. We had no idea what to expect from it, but I tell you, don't judge a rollercoaster by its architecture! We were even stalked by 2 guys for a while, which made it extra freaky.

We ended up going on this ride 5 times. In a row.

Fiaah or wataaaah?

My beloved musical shrooms!

It is incredible how much fun my sister and I can have, I can't even begin to tell you how often we laughed, to tears even. We are both big on quoting things from movies, and could easily hold a whole conversation using only quotes. That day's favorite was from the movie 'Signs': 'Vamanos children!' <3






Hasta la vista, babies!