First Holland Holiday (5)
The night before was pretty draining, so all I wanted to do this entire day was lay there with Marco. Which we happily did. The
only thing I did do was take a shower. No makeup, had my hair hanging in my face, and was laying around in my bathrobe all damn
day. I loved it! We played online, watched tv, played some board games, overall just had a wonderful day being together. I was
perfectly content with looking like a bum from the time I woke up until the time we went to bed.
Which reminds me. You know those cartoon strips where you see the man sitting on the sofa, drinking a beer, watching sports on
tv. And as the woman is doing any and everything she can in front of him to 'get him in the mood', he just leans over to the side to
see the game around her? Well, meet the prototype for that comic strip, Marco Koning. Like I've said before, Marco LOVES friggin
soccer. And having satellite tv, you can turn it on at any time, day or night, and find a damn game. Booooooring! So I of course
would ummm want to do other things besides watch soccer. And as much as he will bitch and moan, telling you that I ALWAYS
interrupted his tv time, don't let him fool you. Because as that tv was being turned off, so we could do 'other things', he sure as hell
wasn't bitching then! Moaning maybe, but definitely not bitching! hahaha And yes, I will admit, I 'interrupted' his tv time quite a lot
while I was there! But I REALLY don't think he minded as much as he tries to say he did! hahaha
About 7pm there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was Conny or Jan, I figured, shit - I look like crap, but oh well - the first
time they saw me was after a 30+ hour road trip, so it's ok. I heard Marco open the door and start talking in Dutch to someone, the
other voice was male, so it must have been Jan. Oh no, no such luck. Remember this is my life you're reading about, so of course it
wouldn't be that simple. In walks Marco as he introduces me to Peter, his best friend. Yay, I got to meet Peter for the first time. Not
only got to meet him, but got to do it as I sat there in my robe with no makeup and hair that hadn't been brushed since the morning.
Did ya catch the sarcasm there? (Ok Gawd - joke's over, you win, time to turn in your comedian hat and go back to watching over
people.)
As soon as Peter walked in, I stayed long enough to say "Hi, nice to meet you", then took my ass straight to the bathroom to dress
and do the quickest makeover in history. When I went back to the living room, they were in the middle of laughing and talking (in
Dutch). I had no idea what they were saying, but they were having a good time, which is all that mattered. Before I sat down I asked
them if they wanted something to drink and Marco asked me if I would please make some coffee. I said sure, and went off to make it.
I could hear them as I was in the kitchen. My Gawd they talked fast, but I loved listening to him when he spoke Dutch. I don't know
why, I just get a kick out of it. It's like an entire side of him that I will never know. Sometimes it bothers me, that by me not speaking
the language, there will always be a huge part of his life that I can't be involved in. Like what if we ended up being together forever,
and he got old and got Alzheimers? What if it caused him to forgot how to speak English? I'd be screwed. (Shaddup, this is the kind
of stuff I think about! LoL) But anyway, most of the time I just look at it as some mysterious part of him that I will always wonder
about.
As I stood there getting the cups to go with the matching saucers, I thought to myself, "Oh geezus, what am I doing? I'm like some
happy little homemaker in the kitchen, preparing refreshments, as the men sit in the living room having a good time! Holy shit, I'm
June Cleaver!" Ummm ok this is something I NEVER pictured myself doing. As far as I'm concerned, if someone wants something,
espsecially in their own home, then their ass best be getting up to get it themselves! But there I stood, for whatever strange reason,
happily making their coffee.
As I gave them their coffee, Marco had the biggest smile on his face. As if to say, "this is great having a slave around!" hahaha
Totally Just Kidding! I sat down and just listened to them talk for a little bit. This was when I decided that I liked Peter, a lot. You
see, any other time Marco and I were alone, he always spoke English. (which is a good thing, or I would have no friggin clue what
he was saying) But, if we were around others .... sometimes he would forget that I didn't understand Dutch, and get involved in a
conversation that would last anywhere from 2 - 10 minutes, as I just sat there. I realize that if the conversation didn't involve me,
there was really no reason to speak in English, so I never got upset. But even so, it was still a little uncomfortable for me. With
Peter it was different. Marco would start the conversation speaking Dutch and if I was out of the room, Peter would of course
respond in Dutch. But anytime, and I mean anytime - even if I only walked into the room for 30 seconds to get something and then
left again, anytime I was there, Peter would only speak in English. Even if he was in the middle of saying something in Dutch, the
second I walked into the room, he would switch to English. I noticed this immediately, and it made me feel so good that he would
have enough respect for me to do that. Marco on the other hand, didn't catch on so quickly! hahaha He would still try to start off in
Dutch, and eventually when Peter was sticking with English, would switch also. =P~~ (He's still so cute)
When the coffee was done, we switched to beer, whiskey, and apple schnapps. Yay! We spent the rest of the evening laughing and
having a great time. Peter and I were swapping "Marco stories" which is always fun =P~ Peter's girlfriend, Wilma, was at home
watching "Big Brother" which he can't stand. So his plan was to stay out as long as he could so he wouldn't have to watch or hear
about it. I think he stayed long enough for 3 episodes to have been shown LoL But I didn't mind, he was really nice and I was
enjoying getting to know him. Eventually Marco called him a cab and he left for home. I was very glad that he came over to break
up our day-of-being-bums. He made an incredibly good first impression, and I was very glad that he and Marco were friends. =))
We did one of my favorite things ever the following day. We shopped! Yay! Marco took me into the city and we spent the day
walking from store to store. I only had 2 days left, and had finished about half of my souvenir shopping while we were in
Amsterdam, so I had to finish the rest today. One of the things I needed to buy were stroopwafles (I think I spelled it wrong, but oh
well). So we headed into the candy store and looked around. I actually bought more here than I had anywhere else. I wanted to be
sure that everyone was able to taste some of Holland's famous treats. So I loaded up my basket, and then noticed the entire wall full
of JellyBelly jellybeans. I had told Marco about them and promised that I would send him some when I got home. So instead, I told
him to fill the bag as full as he wanted and I would get them for him here. (This started my habit of mailing him jellybellies
whenever I see them in the store) We had a wonderful day in the city. And as much as Marco complains about me "shopping all the
damn time", I think he enjoyed it as well. =P~ Continue
only thing I did do was take a shower. No makeup, had my hair hanging in my face, and was laying around in my bathrobe all damn
day. I loved it! We played online, watched tv, played some board games, overall just had a wonderful day being together. I was
perfectly content with looking like a bum from the time I woke up until the time we went to bed.
Which reminds me. You know those cartoon strips where you see the man sitting on the sofa, drinking a beer, watching sports on
tv. And as the woman is doing any and everything she can in front of him to 'get him in the mood', he just leans over to the side to
see the game around her? Well, meet the prototype for that comic strip, Marco Koning. Like I've said before, Marco LOVES friggin
soccer. And having satellite tv, you can turn it on at any time, day or night, and find a damn game. Booooooring! So I of course
would ummm want to do other things besides watch soccer. And as much as he will bitch and moan, telling you that I ALWAYS
interrupted his tv time, don't let him fool you. Because as that tv was being turned off, so we could do 'other things', he sure as hell
wasn't bitching then! Moaning maybe, but definitely not bitching! hahaha And yes, I will admit, I 'interrupted' his tv time quite a lot
while I was there! But I REALLY don't think he minded as much as he tries to say he did! hahaha
About 7pm there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was Conny or Jan, I figured, shit - I look like crap, but oh well - the first
time they saw me was after a 30+ hour road trip, so it's ok. I heard Marco open the door and start talking in Dutch to someone, the
other voice was male, so it must have been Jan. Oh no, no such luck. Remember this is my life you're reading about, so of course it
wouldn't be that simple. In walks Marco as he introduces me to Peter, his best friend. Yay, I got to meet Peter for the first time. Not
only got to meet him, but got to do it as I sat there in my robe with no makeup and hair that hadn't been brushed since the morning.
Did ya catch the sarcasm there? (Ok Gawd - joke's over, you win, time to turn in your comedian hat and go back to watching over
people.)
As soon as Peter walked in, I stayed long enough to say "Hi, nice to meet you", then took my ass straight to the bathroom to dress
and do the quickest makeover in history. When I went back to the living room, they were in the middle of laughing and talking (in
Dutch). I had no idea what they were saying, but they were having a good time, which is all that mattered. Before I sat down I asked
them if they wanted something to drink and Marco asked me if I would please make some coffee. I said sure, and went off to make it.
I could hear them as I was in the kitchen. My Gawd they talked fast, but I loved listening to him when he spoke Dutch. I don't know
why, I just get a kick out of it. It's like an entire side of him that I will never know. Sometimes it bothers me, that by me not speaking
the language, there will always be a huge part of his life that I can't be involved in. Like what if we ended up being together forever,
and he got old and got Alzheimers? What if it caused him to forgot how to speak English? I'd be screwed. (Shaddup, this is the kind
of stuff I think about! LoL) But anyway, most of the time I just look at it as some mysterious part of him that I will always wonder
about.
As I stood there getting the cups to go with the matching saucers, I thought to myself, "Oh geezus, what am I doing? I'm like some
happy little homemaker in the kitchen, preparing refreshments, as the men sit in the living room having a good time! Holy shit, I'm
June Cleaver!" Ummm ok this is something I NEVER pictured myself doing. As far as I'm concerned, if someone wants something,
espsecially in their own home, then their ass best be getting up to get it themselves! But there I stood, for whatever strange reason,
happily making their coffee.
As I gave them their coffee, Marco had the biggest smile on his face. As if to say, "this is great having a slave around!" hahaha
Totally Just Kidding! I sat down and just listened to them talk for a little bit. This was when I decided that I liked Peter, a lot. You
see, any other time Marco and I were alone, he always spoke English. (which is a good thing, or I would have no friggin clue what
he was saying) But, if we were around others .... sometimes he would forget that I didn't understand Dutch, and get involved in a
conversation that would last anywhere from 2 - 10 minutes, as I just sat there. I realize that if the conversation didn't involve me,
there was really no reason to speak in English, so I never got upset. But even so, it was still a little uncomfortable for me. With
Peter it was different. Marco would start the conversation speaking Dutch and if I was out of the room, Peter would of course
respond in Dutch. But anytime, and I mean anytime - even if I only walked into the room for 30 seconds to get something and then
left again, anytime I was there, Peter would only speak in English. Even if he was in the middle of saying something in Dutch, the
second I walked into the room, he would switch to English. I noticed this immediately, and it made me feel so good that he would
have enough respect for me to do that. Marco on the other hand, didn't catch on so quickly! hahaha He would still try to start off in
Dutch, and eventually when Peter was sticking with English, would switch also. =P~~ (He's still so cute)
When the coffee was done, we switched to beer, whiskey, and apple schnapps. Yay! We spent the rest of the evening laughing and
having a great time. Peter and I were swapping "Marco stories" which is always fun =P~ Peter's girlfriend, Wilma, was at home
watching "Big Brother" which he can't stand. So his plan was to stay out as long as he could so he wouldn't have to watch or hear
about it. I think he stayed long enough for 3 episodes to have been shown LoL But I didn't mind, he was really nice and I was
enjoying getting to know him. Eventually Marco called him a cab and he left for home. I was very glad that he came over to break
up our day-of-being-bums. He made an incredibly good first impression, and I was very glad that he and Marco were friends. =))
We did one of my favorite things ever the following day. We shopped! Yay! Marco took me into the city and we spent the day
walking from store to store. I only had 2 days left, and had finished about half of my souvenir shopping while we were in
Amsterdam, so I had to finish the rest today. One of the things I needed to buy were stroopwafles (I think I spelled it wrong, but oh
well). So we headed into the candy store and looked around. I actually bought more here than I had anywhere else. I wanted to be
sure that everyone was able to taste some of Holland's famous treats. So I loaded up my basket, and then noticed the entire wall full
of JellyBelly jellybeans. I had told Marco about them and promised that I would send him some when I got home. So instead, I told
him to fill the bag as full as he wanted and I would get them for him here. (This started my habit of mailing him jellybellies
whenever I see them in the store) We had a wonderful day in the city. And as much as Marco complains about me "shopping all the
damn time", I think he enjoyed it as well. =P~ Continue
