03.21.08
Posted in Food, General at 22:08 by Staci
I realize most of you will be quite shocked to learn that we have actually started cooking here in Europe. Yep, the Queen and King of Take Out now use their kitchen for something other than clutter, take out cartons and cat food stations (but oh how I miss the kitties, sigh!).
We cook at home regularly, but our menu is not too diverse. We have 5 main meal nights:
Asian (yes, this could mean so many things as my sister the chef reminds me, but we do noodles/veggies/meat or tofu)
Taco night (which is really burrito night with my kick-ass guacamole)
Italian (umh, yeah you guessed it, pasta with red, butter, or pesto sauce/veggies/meat or soy)
American (mashed potatoes/corn/chicken or soy chicken)
Misc (couscous, veggies and soy for me, Jeff has meat and probably more meat)
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03.16.08
Posted in General at 23:00 by Staci
A coastal holiday. Ah, what a relaxing and European way to spend a weekend. Ok, so maybe we took this vacation all the way back in September. Figured it was about time I write about it. Albeit briefly, since I don’t remember a lot of names and details:-)
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03.05.08
Posted in General at 00:04 by Staci
We experienced our first snow in Amsterdam. Sure, there was a heavy frost the day we left to come home for the holidays (but that wasn’t really snow). There has been the occasional hail/almost snow moments. But tonight, we had snow!!!
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02.03.08
Posted in General at 00:28 by Staci
Well, I have some news!!! I am going to China! My research project will be in south central China on a biodiversity restoration project with the ultimate goal of reintroducing the Indochinese Tiger! Yep, a tiger reintroduction project!
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01.22.08
Posted in Amsterdam at 21:45 by Staci
Ok, so this post is technically a month late, but hey I am working on my Masters and was a bit busy in the month of December!!! Cut a girl some slack! My Environmental and Energy Policy Tools course was wrapping up with an intensive group project on “Alternative Management Strategies for Mitigating the Human-Lion Conflict in Cameroon” which involved multi-criteria analysis and a lengthy report. Add on top of that studying for a comprehensive exam covering techniques from GIS to cost-benefit analysis and stakeholder participation, and needless to say December kept me busy.
But, Jeff and I did find a little time to get into the holiday spirit. One day while at the University canteen, I heard Christmas music (back home traditional music) and woah did that ever put me in the spirit. I started singing right there! My countdown to coming home, seeing family & friends, kitties, and hopefully snow (got that wish) began!
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01.16.08
Posted in Travel at 22:33 by Jeff
Ed. Note: The following post is very long and detailed. If you have a hard time reading, or get bored easily, or heard this in person, you may want to skip it.
With the holidays behind us, and a couple of weeks to cool off, I can now write about our journey to (and from) the U.S. for Christmas and New Year’s. And what an ordeal that was.
Staci & I take the train to the airport, get checked in and grab something to eat before our long day of traveling. We find a spot at the gate and relax while waiting to board. (This would be the last bit of serenity for the next couple of days.) Things are a little behind due to a snow storm and freeze moving through northern Europe, but nothing too bad (so we thought.) After ~45min delay, we finally get boarded and depart.
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12.12.07
Posted in Amstelveen, Food, Personal at 16:41 by Jeff
If I don’t get it off my chest now, I’m afraid I may never have the chance. Here goes:
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12.11.07
Posted in Amstelveen, Netherlands, Trivia at 14:47 by Jeff
I’ve been meaning to make these trivia posts more frequently, but I’m lazy and forgetful. (Did you notice I didn’t post at all in October? You should have. I mentioned it in November.)
Anyways, for Trivia Time #2 we’re going to talk about fall weather, location and daylight.
In the fall, it rains. A lot. Not torrential rains or constant down pours, though that happens, but more light rain and drizzle. It’s overcast most of the time, too. It’s a lot like Ohio, but not as crazy. Where in Ohio it’ll go from 40°F to 65°F to 38°F over the course of 3 days, in Amstelveen it’ll go from 6°C & overcast to 7°C & sunny to 7°C.
On the globe, Amstelveen is located:
Altitude: -4m (-16') 1
Latitude: 52° 17' 60N (52.3000)
Longitude: 4° 52' 0E (4.8667)
Latitudinally (yes, that’s a word), Amstelveen is roughly the same as Berlin, Germany; Shannon, Ireland; Warsaw, Poland; and Birmingham, England. Longitudinally (yup, this is also a word), Amstelveen is roughly even with Brussels, Belgium and Lyon, France.
In comparison, Columbus, OH is located:
Altitude: 234m (770')
Latitude: 39° 57' 40N (39.9611)
Longitude: 82° 59' 56W (-82.9989)
Because Amstelveen is ~12.5°N of Columbus, in the summer we enjoy more sunlight. However, as expected, we get less in the winter. A comparison2 of the longest and shortest days of the year reveals:
|
Amstelveen, NL |
Columbus, OH |
|
June 21, 2007 |
Dec 22, 2007 |
June 21, 2007 |
Dec 22, 2007 |
| Sunrise |
05:17 |
08:47 |
06:03 |
07:50 |
| Sunset |
22:05 |
16:27 |
21:04 |
17:09 |
| Sunlight |
16h 48m |
7h 40m |
15h 1m |
9h 19m |
And that concludes today’s lesson on fall weather, location and daylight. Next time, we’ll be talking about recycling, marijuana laws and booze.3
1. Yes, that’s a -4m (-16') for altitude. Below sea level. When global warming melts the ice caps and raises the oceans, this place will probably be underwater baring some great engineering achievements. ↩
2. Information found at sunrisesunset.com ↩
3. I’m pretty lazy, as you can tell from the length of time between each of the trivia posts thus far, so don’t think that I’ve actually planned out the next Trivia Time post. Those might be the topics or they might not. (Ooh, suspense!) You’ll have to come back to see for yourself. ↩
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12.02.07
Posted in Belgium, Fun, Sport at 13:16 by Jeff
One of the great things about being a Buckeye is that you get to yell O-H! just about anywhere in Columbus and someone will respond I-O! That doesn’t happen here in Amsterdam, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the game (Staci would say I enjoyed it a little TOO much, but that’s not important right now) with some fellow Buckeyes (ok, so it’s Jon & CJ again, but so what.)
Like the Buckeyes, we traveled to a distant location for this game, though unlike the Buckeyes, it was a friendly field (Jon & CJ’s in Belgium.) Following the concert, we stayed with them. We awoke at the crack of 10A for Kegs & Eggs. Yup, Kegs & Eggs, and the beer wasn’t shitty Milwaukee’s Best or Bud Light. We started the morning with Jon making some bacon and eggs just like they do at the campus bars: cold and tasteless, while enjoying some Stellas. CJ didn’t, as she seemed it was important or necessary or something to remain sober for the sake of their 10mth old son, Marcus. (They’re coddling this kid. Hows he every going to make it if he doesn’t learn to do things for himself.)
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11.28.07
Posted in General at 22:19 by Staci
Just a reminder that Clan McLennan* will be back in Columbus from December 21-January 3 to celebrate the holidays with family and friends. When I am not annoying my cats by hugging them incessantly, I (and yes, Jeff) will be available for social gatherings to catch up on what has been happening in your lives since we left 4 months ago! So, if you want to meet for a meal, coffee, adult beverages, or just to chat, send us an email and let us know what dates work for you.
We are so looking forward to seeing everyone, and hugging kitties, eating Chipotle, hugging kitties, drinking at BWs, cuddling kitties and hitting Don Pablo’s happy hour. Yes, I miss my kitties! And all of you too of course:-)
Peace out!
*Jeff has decided we are no longer Team McLennan, rather Clan McLennan, so as to get back to his Scottish roots. (Yeah, after a few years of marriage you pick your battles and don’t ask questions when you won’t understand the answer anyways:-)). Anywho, I will do my best to keep him out of a kilt!
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