Sunday, July 3, 2011

Trip to Tenerife


I've been to Tenerife before, in fact, one of my first blog posts was about that trip! Well, we went back again, and this time I got the opportunity to take some pictures of the local wildlife! This mostly includes a few crabs and some lizards (that I bated with a ripe banana, which worked a treat!), but it was a lot of fun!

I'm pretty sure these two were having a little fun...

Crabs!


Garden Party

First of all, I'd like to say sorry for the long absence. I honestly don't have much of an excuse, work kept me busy for a while, but for better or worse that is no longer the case (though it was my decision).

Onto the garden party in St. Boniface! I'm afraid I'm pretty unaware of upcoming events, so these things tend to sneak up on me, though they are always fun. In the morning they started putting grass/turf all over the street and they had already hung mock-laundry between the buildings. A DJ set up, there were drink stands and the part started in the afternoon.

Once the party really got started in the evening, I have to say, it was eclectic. I saw people of all ages, all races, all sexual orientations just having a good old time. Had I not over-indulged the night before (jello shots are dangerous, people) I would have joined right in!

Events like this are what really keep Brussels interesting and fun. You just never know when there will be a party on your doorstep!

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Only in Belgium

Taken from Brussels Unlimited:

Demands for Courthouse Scaffolding to be Removed

The city authorities have orderede the removal of scaffolding at the Palais de Justice, one of Brussels' landmark buildings.

The demand comes amid warnings that the rusting scaffolding has been in place so long it is in danger of collapse.

It was erected several months ago (I think they mean years) as part of the ongoing restoration work. Deadlines for its removal have come and gone with no sign of it being removed.

A spokesman for the committee responsible for the restorations said: "The scaffolding has been there so long now that a whole generation has never seen the Palais de Justice without it."

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Of Beards and Boats

It occurs to me that I never posted about my Thanksgiving back in the good old US of A! Of course the meal was delicious, my dad and I cooked up a storm and fun was had by all. I could go on more, but I think it might be better to let the few pictures I have speak for me.
Dad and I were co-chefs, in the past I had the title of sous-chef, but he said I graduated to executive chef this year... :)

The pies weren't the most beautiful things I've ever seen, but YUM. Pecan and caramel pumpkin... how can you go wrong?





The gigantic turkey on its rotisserie on the grill. THIS is the way to make tasty turkey!
Our awesome turkey-timer was in the shape of a turkey and it's legs stick up in the air when the turkey is done! (it also looks like the mini-turkey is saying toouuuuuuuuchhh dooowwwwwwnnnnn!!!) P.S. This turkey timer was later eaten by the mice that live in the snack drawer.
Dad with the done turkey, post pomegranate-black pepper glaze. Seriously. Best. Turkey. Ever.
After dinner things got a bit silly...
And it only continued from there. That's my brother, Jake.
He has kind of a hard time growing a beard, so Mom tried to help him out. I think he looks a little amish in this one.
See how much fun aluminum foil can be? Now it's ears!
Then of course Nana had to get in on the fun! As you can see, we all take Thanksgiving very seriously.
Finally, the foil turned into a boat for squash.
And here are the chefs the next day... still looking a little silly.

The end.

*Addendum*
Mom has pointed out to me that she cooked too! (Though she couldn't remember what...)

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Summer Moon


Well, it's not exactly summer, in fact, the bitter cold and humidity make that painfully obvious, but in trying to figure out what to post I came across this picture from this past July.
This is the view from my bedroom window, and I have to say, it's pretty freakin nice. Brussels may not be the ideal travel destination for many people, and dealing with the bureaucracy if you live here can be a nightmare (19 mayors in Brussels and no national government?? Really??), but on certain summer nights it's grand to be in old Belgique.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Trying to see a movie in Brussels

It's another lazy Sunday, and Miguel and I are thinking of seeing a movie, so while having coffee over at Blomqvist's, we check out the movie schedule at the UGC on his blackberry. There was one I had been thinking of seeing for a while called "Another Year," though for the life of me I couldn't remember what it was about, so we clicked the title to look at the synopsis. This is what it said:


Printemps, été, automne et hiver. La famille et l'amitié. Amour et réconfort. Joie et peine. Espoir et découragement. La fraternité. La solitude. Une naissance. Une mort. Le temps passe...

Spring, summer, autumn and winter. Family and friendship. Love and comfort. Joy and Pain. Hope and discouragement. Brotherhood. Solitude. A birth. A death. The passing of time...

Riiiiight, so this could be just about any movie ever made. Awesome. On to imdb...

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Of Rain and Umbrellas


First of all, I wanted to apologize. I have been a very neglectful blogger lately. I guess working 40(+) hours a week in addition to being in the middle of the cold, gray, rainy Belgian winter takes the energy right out of me. Sometimes I think the endless clouds, rain and milder temperatures are worse than the bitter cold with the possibility of snow and/or sun, but what do I know?

I complain about the rain, but it does make the city shine and sparkle at night. The drops hit the street where a car's headlights are shining and it looks like glitter is falling rather than rain. But then, of course, a big drop falls on your head, or you step in a previously unnoticed puddle and the magic is gone. The rain sucks again.


The rain coupled with the constant (and powerful) wind just outside the escalator to the Porte de Namur metro have created an umbrella graveyard along the sidewalk and in the square. Mangled skeletons of umbrellas turned inside-out one too many times litter the area. The smart (if damp) people close their umbrellas before reaching the square risking their comfort to save their umbrellas. Selfless, really.

Since I don't have any pictures of the umbrellas to share for the moment, I will leave you with a picture I took late in the year in 2010. I think it's the appropriate color...


When the winter rains come pouring down on that new home of mine, Will I still be in your eyes and on your mind?