Donner Lake (26-30 January)

My body hurts all over but I feel content.

Maarten finally understands the 'wedge' technique, he does some turning now and then and he agrees that learning to stop may be useful occasionally. One can call this a huge step forwards. Last year speed was all that mattered.


Even now he still gets upset if I try to control his speed but there is some awareness rising in our little man, even it is still a very slight one. Besides that he likes to impress girls with his ski style and he definitely hates to fall when they're watching!

PS: Please turn off the PC - speaker!!!

Let's Keep Hope Alive

Today is the inauguration of the U.S. president, Barack H. Obama.
We are all full of hope and even though we do not officially belong to this country, U.S. policy always has a huge influence internationally, no matter which country you belong to.
Obama is also the first elected black president. Or was it John Hanson? That doesn't really matter right now.

I was not aware that some may still have a problem with the president's skin colour.
Anyhow just a day before the inauguration the whole country celebrated the achievements of racial unity and harmony in America accomplished by Martin Luther King Jr.

On Sunday night, I watched the movie Crash confronting me with racial prejudice in Los Angeles' neighbourhoods. I didn't choose this particular movie on purpose, bearing in mind this week's events. My sister recently recommended it to me as a 'thrilling movie' and they had it at the local library. Only a coincidence. That's it.

I was shocked and sad at the same time.
I know it's only a movie but there is probably some truth behind it.
Every place has its dark heart, even California. Though till now this state has appeared to me as a paradise for every nationality or race, who lives next to each other in peace and respect.
Just have a look at Maarten's preschool!

There may be some truth about the remark I got a couple of months ago.
Do we really live here in a kind of golden cage not seeing the 'real American life'?

Racism is everywhere.
I don't see it as an American-only problem.
Unfortunately.

School Slippers

It's pretty common and, as I remember, even mandatory to change into slippers at Czech schools.
Not only at school but most of the Czechs wear slippers at home as well.
I noticed this seemed to be kind of a strange habit for the Dutch, there was not much difference in Belgium, nor here in the U.S.

Till Maarten brought this note home from his teachers.
He should bring slippers to school to wear during class-time.
What a step towards comfort and hygiene! It can be a long day wearing shoes.

After school Maarten is used to going barefoot as often as the weather allows.
But he is going to start an extended day program beginning in March and the slippers may really be useful.

Any suggestions where to get them?!

Na Nový rok o slepičí krok, o zaječí skok.

OK, I guess I should finally write something.
I don't know where to start, even though we did so much during the holidays.
Maybe that's the reason.

There was no school and Rob was home from work too.
You may ask why Rob gets so many days off (51 for this year to be exact!) while this is not common in the U.S.
Well, he still works for the Belgium sector and therefore, he gets the Belgian employee benefits.
The problem is when he actually wants to use them. It may, by de facto , not be a possibility to take all his days off.
And no, there is not the option of getting the unused days paid out as we used to in Europe.
So, he does his best to use them all.
And naturally it's a pleasure to plan vacations...

As I mentioned in my last post it was pretty cold before Christmas but we had some warm days as well.
Like during our climb to Las Trampas Ridge; it was not only the elevation that made us sweat.

On our way down I taughed Maarten how to 'válet sudy', the Czech way of rolling down hills. Those who know Maarten will understand that he had a blast. Never mind all the cow pies.


There was not much action at Año Nuevo this year. At least not during our visit. It was cold, but sunny and this would be the reason why the bulls were laying down flat, scattered around the sandy dunes. The nice weather would be the reason for the male's laziness. We should have called before to check the local weather, since rain, wind and cold means the most action, according to Bob, the guide.
It wouldn't be so special to spot a coyote in this country (they wake me up during the night pretty often) but we'd never seen them before sneaking around the elephant seals trying to get their newborn pups. One of the coyotes was lucky, feeding on a poor baby seal right in front of our eyes.


I was saving the tickets (Thank you Maria!) for a rainy day. Although this particular rainy day just hasn't come and it would be a shame to let the tickets expire of course.
I didn't have any expectations of the Lawrence Hall of Science but it is a place to return to. Especially the boys were excited. To be honest I was in bad pain, therefore rambling from one exhibit or lab to another was pretty tiring. We spent almost the whole day there by exploring, building, weighing, racing, lifting, pressing...should I go on?
We will sure be back.

After becoming parents our 'Silvestr' (New Years Eve) is almost like any other evening, except for a special dinner then. Knowing that Maarten would wake us up before six anyway, sleeping through it is the most practical and enjoyable way.


I shouldn't forget to mention that after some-years pause Rob made his own oliebollen. Those fried dough balls are a Dutch pastry traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve.


And with the new year finally came some rain. Even though only for a day.


There are no New Years resolutions for us only a wish for health. You may know, that under the circumstances there is a true reason for that...