When I went to the post office (a room with shelves, a couple filing cabinets, and lots of boxes) yesterday to pick up packages, I was told I would need the hand truck. That is good news! I received two larges boxes – one from Operation Shoebox in New Jersey and one from my friends at SBHS. This is the third package I received from Operation Shoebox. My name was put in by a friend of ours and students in Scotch Plains are really keeping us happy. I was able to hand out individual boxes to people in the office and it was like Christmas, so I’m told. We had enough stuff to fix up a package for Canada House, my Thursday night place to be. My Canadian friends, Paul and Bob, were quick to point out that they and other countries do not have the support via letters and care packages that we get from our citizens. If you have been following my posts, you know how important our support from home is. It is warming to know that people back home are thinking about us, even people we have never met.
My package from SBHS not only had lots of goodies, but a number of paper-products. Apparently, I have been forwarded a number of biology and chemistry papers to grade, there was even a calculus sheet in there; don’t know what’s up with that. Anyway, you shouldn’t expect them back anytime soon, or anytime at all. There were some memos that I promptly ignored, just like if I was back home. There were also some filled-out disciplinary forms on some people and I am still laughing about those. They will be routed up to the appropriate people. I may even submit the pay voucher for my time. Many thanks to all who had a hand in getting the package to me. Along with regular packages from my sister and other friends, we have set up quite a site in our office for sharing of food and other sundries.
On April 30 we celebrated the Dutch National Day, Queen’s Day. They honour their Queen, Queen Beatrix of the House of Orange. It’s an interesting history, which I won’t get into now, but you should look up if so inclined. They decorated our garden area in orange and built some structures for traditional games. The Taliband played, Dutch food was served, and it was a fun evening. They worked harder on this national day than any others I have witnessed thus far.
I was able to Skype with Stacey and Aaron today and that makes any day perfect. Aaron talked to me more than usual. My partial day-off ended sharing some beers with my Canadian brothers. Another week down, another week begins.
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13 comments:
I'm glad you enjoyed the package from the Science Department. Sorry the Passover stuff didn't arrive on time, but hopefully it helped bring a little of home to you and yours over there.
From one of yours over here,
Jane
Happy Queens Day. Is there some food that you eat for that day besides Oranges? I hope the macaroons in the SBHS package were decent. Frankly, Passover food has never thrilled me. Enjoy the treasures.
Karen
The food was interesting, they did the best they could under the circumstances. Herring is a big thing and these little pancakes with butter and powdered sugar were good. There was also a fried ball of dough with meat, very delicious. The SBHS Passover Pack went over well. The office is enjoying the matzah. One of the Dutch officers said mazel tov when he had some.
A herring! A big schmaltz herring, on a big roll, with poppy seeds and AN ONION!
(ok, a bit of an odd reference...just ask my former US II Honors kids and they'll describe the Onion Lady)
Herring besides, were there any other culinary delights your Dutch pals shared that would be an interest to me? You do know it's all about me, right?
Will be pursuing shared goals this week.
Sean
There was no way I was going to post to your last entry, maybe Donna will.
By my calculations, you average more than one holiday per week. Of course the head of our math department has asked me to stick to algebra and calculus and not try arithmetic. I can’t remember if that means I’m a good math-er or math doer.
Yesterday was the Regatta; the first time in many years I did not race. You probably remember the date of that first race better than I. Both of my regular partners were not available, and I didn’t want to pay the extra insurance fee (too complicated to go into here). To help the chair, Sandy Powell, I agreed to be a safety boat in my kayak. I paddled to the first bridge, watched most boats go by and then paddled along to offer assistance where necessary. That meant assisting one of the Girl Scout boats twice. It’s always great to see the “Mean Green” team in their aluminum boats with alligators painted on the side. One team had a toy alligator lashed to a thwart. By the way, Sandy and Jim’s son Ricky missed the Olympics in C-2 (whitewater) by 1 second. Ricky was at the Regatta and helped me put my boat on the car. Donna and I together can barely lift the boat high enough. He just picked it up and put it on the rack.
Glad you got the package. We had fun with it. Terry is the culprit behind much of the paperwork. I had to fill out a few of those for real last week.
Was there Dutch chocolate and beer on Orange Day? Those are the only two food groups that really interest me.
Another Sunday night. That means that sure to follow...another Monday morning!
Take care,
Kathy
Hi Ithan,
I don’t like the color orange. I don’t even like to peel oranges.
Beatrix sounds like a Harry Potter character.
8 hours at Rutgers today for blah, blah blah!
2.5 hrs. at the dress shop on Saturday.
My student’s final exam grades are “ in the terlet” (Archie Bunker).
I wouldn’t trade a bad weekend in the USA for one of your good ones.
Glad I made you laugh with the disciplinary forms.
Miss ya,
Terry
Ithan-
It sounds like there is no shortage of food over there. Your desk is fully and solidly assembled, hopefully meeting original specs for assembly. Ask Stacey to tell you Aaron's game with his doctor's kit and injections - it's very funny. I am chaperoning the senior prom next Saturday, May 10. Hopefully, Stacey won't go to the hospital while I'm cruising in New York harbor. It's getting close.
How come dmz doesn't seem to answer the particular post his comment goes on and it always seems to drift to mathematics which only he and you understand. I think its because he 's always off on a tangent somewhere. That's enough Math for me.
I hope you spread all the goodies among as many different country groups as you could . Maybe that will help to show them what we really are like. It's a shame that some of their people don't support the troops the way we do! Most of us that is! When they get home I hope they tell all good stories about their friendly and generous American allies.
I dont know if I wrote as I have been so busy lately, but Aarons bday party was so much fun! He definitely had a blast and I did too. I crawled on the floor with him where ever he wanted to go. I asked him if I was too big for something and he said no, so I climbed up there with him. It is so much fun!
I understand "there is fish in that herring!"
In regards to Mitch's comments about your last post, with two brothers in the family, I believe Stacey got the better deal. When did you become such a good housewife? You know how often Mitch changed diapers when the kids were young, and his idea of vacuuming is once every six months.
I mailed out a package to you last week. I hope it doesn't take as long in transit as your Passover package, although, it doesn't sound like you are about to run out of food.
Donna
Thanks for all the great comments. My computer is down right now, very bad timing considering baby will arrive any day. Don't even ask where I am posting from now. I was hoping someone would point out there is fish in the herring. Ironically, the Dutch can't drink here, so no alcohol was served. We average less than a party a week, but I think we deserve the distraction for a couple hours. With around 37 countries or so, I would think we could have more parties. Hope to have the computer fixed at some point soon. Yes, we are doing incredibly well with the care packages. Carey just received a couple cases of Girl Scout cookies.
Hey Ithan,
If you are reading this, somehow your IT guys got to your computer faster than our guys got to the one in my classroom.
Ah the miracle of the Military!!
Karen
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