Brugge Pictures

Brugge City Hall
I love that these are normal Brugge residential areas!
Daniel in back of St. Salvatore Cathedral where we lit Grandma Iris a candle.
Brugge, Belgium City Square
Brugge City Square

Once a week Daniel gets a full day off from practice so we venture off to a surrounding city! To date our 'day-trips' include Amsterdam, NL and Antwerp, Belgium (the most), Rotterdam NL, Cologne Germany, Breda NL, and most recently Brugge, Belgium. The pictures above are of Brugge, pronounced Broohay, and it was the most enchanting medieval city located in the Northeastern Flemish region. We were so excited to see the beautiful medieval architecture as the city dates its charter to 1128! It is hard to believe that in less than two hours time we can walk a city square that once was home to exiled English Kings Richard III, Edward IV, and Charles II.

The pictures on the left of the page has a tall church tower under preservation. That church is Church of our Lady standing 401 feet high, the second tallest brick tower in the world! The Church is home to the famous sculpture 'Madonna and her child' created by Michelangelo in 1504.

The center photo of a tower is the 'Belfry' of Brugge located in the town center as a one-time watch tower, treasury hall, and now a backdrop for city theatre and festivals. The tower was built in 1240 initially to spot danger approaching the city. It has been been rebuilt three times due to fire and a lightening strike which took down a prominent sculpture of St. Michael.

The other center photo is a Flemish festival we stumbled upon with live music! As I add pictures the formatting seems to get tricky, my apologies. Overall the city with canal ways and rich grey brick buildings along the streets is known for being the Venice of the North and also home to the College of Europe. Photos on another posting.

Comic Relief

I have not posted a blog in about a decade, and for that I am not sorry to anyone but myself. There may not have been words posted, but they were nonetheless trapped in my wondering brain, itching and screaming to get out. Finally they are released, and it feels oh so good. I wonder how much weight I will lose. Its like Tom Petty and Heartbreakers and I just had coffee and I feel creatively born again.

Instead of diving into the darker and deeper thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, I want to dive into the events that seem to discombobulate my mind even more than when I leave my front door in Holland. First off of you ever been to Europe, or if you have watched a Lady GaGa video, you know that stupid mail hair styles really exist. I'm talking about grown men with hair shaved on both sides then a long strip like a paved rode in the center that goes from forehead to neck. Sometimes its even curly. Picture Rihanna's hair. It really is scary when one of those hair-dos is on a bike heading towards you. What I don't do, but suggest, is duck for cover immediately and then yell and point 'even out' so maybe just maybe they will realize that their hair is is no way acceptable and must grow on all sides of the head. If I saw an ignorant American duck and perform such an act toward an over metro european man I would probably be "rontsl"- rolling on the ground snort-laughing.

What also boggles my little mind is that old Dutch people ride bikes better than Lance Armstrong. I am dead serious the old folk of Holland and Belgium can still locate their quads. They probably have better quad definition than most fraternity guys I know, and well, they take themselves seriously in the looks department. Lance Armstrong may be able to zip through France, but I'm talking casual riding with groceries piled on the back, cars everywhere, and pedestrians like myself trying to enjoy the one day of sunlight mother nature blessed me with. These old men and women may be the most talented athletes on the planet, yet they receive no recognition. If yours truly were one of these stallions I would be mad ticked off, I mean PEEVED that curling is an Olympic sport and what I do is overlooked. I've been thinking about getting a petition signed and making this a competitive sport, giving the Dutch another reason to drink Heineken. Imagine: Ages 65 and up, grocery bag on top of back tire, grandchild sitting on front handles, 4 lb coat and boots on, bike weaving through cars, town centers, and parks competition. I mean I would pay serious money and require they were singlets to really show what time and cycling can do for a person.

On a more serious note I want to talk about the fact that I think Europeans are all alcoholics, thus making them free spirits who don't give a you know what. Not only are there bars located every two to three blocks, but all stores and workplaces close at 5pm so these people can go indulge. I'm sure they eat too, but more importantly is that stores are only open from 9-5 maybe 6 everyday...and nothing is opened on Sundays. This is brilliant and why the Dutch are incredibly nice. Imagine if you never had a late shift and the only people who have late shifts are bartenders, and lets get real most bartenders I know sip sip too. For some reason there is a correlation between them not working much, and drinking mucho, and not judging the incredible old people-cycling antics that occur. You would be darned by some of the ridiculous concoctions that appear in broad daylight and no one even looks such as the man probably 60 yrs old carrying a 12ft ladder in one arm and riding his bike through the town center. I'm telling you folk, there are some things that only happen in Europe and the locals have no idea how great it is.

A little look at humor.

Often throughout my life I have tried to deflect serious events, conversations, and decisions through humor. I also hate silence and become very awkward, therefore paralyzing my view of the present. When this happens another joke or pointless story is told and I am surrounded by laughter or a much longer silence. For some reason I find that sound of any is better than the sound of stillness. To me, that quiet silence is a reflection of emptiness or a negativity of some sort. Some silence of course is calming and much needed when I am reading, but more so it triggers a memory of a long night in the library when I was cramming for a test... For whatever reason instead of igniting conversation by a question or statement about a current event, I try and search for anything funny to say. The cliche "laughter is the best medicine" proves pertinent, essentially being my dosage for the illness or sickness that is the silence. Besides silences, the other "s" word triggers the need for humor- serious. Serious is such a broad word that I personally apply to a plethora of events and/or conversations and thoughts. Its like I scare myself and then cancel it out by making joke about what initially I was turning serious. Whatever the case humor is a scapegoat ad a safe haven for all the problems I seem to not be able to fix at that particular time. Surely, humor derives from the distracted minds and imaginations that can put a twist on even the most simplest of ideas. Even if you can only make yourself laugh, its better than holding on to a dull subject for too long into boredom.

Looking Ahead with a smile

It is safe to say my thoughts are as scattered as a deck of cards thrown up in the air. Like that deck of cards has the same count in each suit, two color groupings, and four of each number or face card- there is also consistency amongst my scattered thoughts. I have come to that conclusion after trying to focus on one central topic to write about for this piece. However, in each assessment of my thoughts, right when I am determined to really dissect that central topic further to put down on paper, my mind files it and opens up a new file. Sticking to the reference of cards before, it's like right when I find 50 cards and am about to pick up the next 2, I throw the deck up again. Amongst the craziness that is my scattered brain I find that all the topics concern my future. Whether it be what I want to do as far as a career, what I am going to make for dinner, or what workout I should do; all I do is dream, wonder, and fantasize about what is to come of me, not what I have already done. Surely, I find myself thinking about the past, but majority of the time I find that I am in such a place of choice and freedom of what to do and who to become. I think it is safe to say that most recent college graduates are stuck in a place like this, yet I also think that people of all ages have the same thoughts. Are we truly satisfied with our present place? I think it is how you personally view your current existence. Overall I am extremely happy and more specifically am referring to my recent freedom of where to go from this point on.

If you woke up one day and knew exactly what you wanted to do, as far as a profession, then I can't relate to you. It may be because an array of subjects and careers always interested me, but not long enough to channel that direction solely. See spending most of time thinking about the future and what was to come overrode the time I could have spent planning about it. I more so relate to all the people you meet who say "I'm 47 and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up." I hear this statement from people at all random ages and think to myself either they hit a rest stop that they thought was worth making the destination point, or too many outside factors affected their original plan. Whatever the case this happens to many people and that rest stop turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to them.

After graduating from college in May and having what was to be my "first career move" as a professional volleyball player not happen has been the most exhilarating feeling. At the same time it is also the most terrifying feeling. I have heard that this feeling occurs well throughout your adult life. The day comes where you close the chapter on school, say good-bye to relying on parents for paying necessities and say good-bye to their insurance, and all alone in the world you are your own person. You are an adult who will soon have a mortgage, a retirement plan, and soon enough your own kids to provide for.

For me playing volleyball and submerging into different activities always occupied my time. When they all finally reached an end point it didn't hit me right away. Even graduating altogether didn't hit me until recently. I was consumed with thinking about what was to come and that now as I am in it, I really don't know what to do. This is specifically referring to the freedom I have to make choices about where I am really going and what life am I about to lead.

Fortunately, I am a dreamer and more importantly a believer. I see many options and more so the problem is that I have never had more freedom or choice in my entire life. I was an athlete and “involved”. Therefore, my college days didn’t have enough time in them to even get what I needed done! Dating back to elementary school I just wanted to play volleyball or at that time basketball, but also be in the school Christmas play. Up to this last summer I was still playing volleyball and this last semester of school helping younger friends get re-elected for Senate. Now, I am in the unknown. I have to search deep inside to categorize, visualize, and channel all of my energy and newly found open doors to the “real world” and not just UNM. I have to ask myself not what I want to do for a career, but HOW I am going to get there. Like practicing for a game, or studying for a test- what now is the game plan? I want so much of myself because isn’t a life of fulfillment one which is full of giving to others, work that you love, and people to influence?

What I do have for guidance is the trust and faith of God in the journey of life. My boyfriend always tells me to not base the success I want in life on how much money I will make, but rather on my relationship with God. With that I have to remind myself that I really have never questioned my parents happiness. They don’t complain really ever about their careers- other than when they get overly passionate. They make good money but after years of hard work and good ethics. Lastly, they have strong relationships with God. This alone gives me a great firsthand visual of motivation and guidance.

The other working aide on my journey that I think can help others is that nothing ever happens to you as much as you happen to something. This may sound confusing. More specifically, it’s like the movie the Pursuit of Happyness or Rudy. In order to get what we want whether it be a promotion, more playing time, or simply happiness at all in life- we must go get it or figure out a way to make it happen. I remember many games when I felt I wasn’t contributing and I felt like I couldn’t control it. I would look the sideline and be told “I don’t care what you do, figure out a way!” I would then resort to overly obnoxious cheering, waving my hands in the air when the opponent had serve, tell a player a joke if they were struggling, and a few times I would step in front of players and steal the dig. I didn’t like playing out of position all the time nor did I like resorting to foolish tricks to help my team. However, when we feel stuck, bored, at a plateau and/or simply unfilled playing out of position is the best cure to upward contentment. You must find a way and I must find a way. Nothing shows up on a silver platter unpaid for.

So into the unknown “real world” I venture. With me I have faith in God, solid visualizations, the understanding of work ethic, and enormous motivation. Surely, I have butterflies and wide-eyes of amazement of all the possibilities, paths, and places I could go. I look forward mostly to people I will meet, laughs I hope to fuel, and when all else fails the God I am closer to meeting.

(Hey, I do know if there is something missed along the journey I wanted to explore- I will just open a book or watch a movie! What a cool option, chaaa?)

Oh the Power of...yourself!

When we seek outside support, motivation, or encouragement we get an array of advice. From simple cliches like "everything happens for a reason" or your wise grandmother telling you to recite a prayer- at times it's just hard to live strong and move on. We want to feel sorry for ourselves and instead of applying outside advice to our mental wounds, we want to self-deteriorate. In times like this we can eat the pain away, become negative, complain, and become someone no one wants to be around. For it's not a simple life we lead- its hard, and sometimes it hits us like a train out of the dark forest. Other times, we let it slowly poke us day after day. Pain that affects our emotions occurs within, and thats where it can also be fixed.

The power of the mind can hurt us, but more so, it can help us get through whatever we are facing oh so negatively. If you can't support yourself mentally then who wants to be a teammate for life with you? Self-support is the best support. Train your mind for positivity all of the time because like a simply cliche reads "you only live once" and no one wants to regret time wasted not supporting yourself. Self support as I call it, or developing a positive mindset, is like growing a healthy confidence tree inside your brain and also your heart. You have the right to choose how you treat others, but remember you can also choose how to develop yourself, most importantly your thoughts and actions. I find that those who think and act with good intention a little over half the time of their day are more enjoyable to be around, probably sleep better at night, and will go further in life. There are many aspects of life that take natural courses. Time passes and kids grow up, school is over, your company plateaus, and the weather changes. However, how you respond to all of the aspects out of your control is all up to you. For we are one person, with one mind, one heart, and one life. Why not self-support yourself in the best possible way?

No one like negative Nancy all of the time, only sometimes to fuel a joke. Don't fuel your own mind and heart with useless negative ideas and thoughts. Just because life can hurt sometimes like being hit by a train, doesn't mean let the train hit you everyday. Practice self-support. If you don't want to help yourself become great to be around, who is going to? Seeking outside advice is only helpful for so long before you have to look in the mirror see that what is going help you the most is the mind and heart of the beautiful person staring right back at you.

Self-support- training of the mind and the heart to create the best path for you.

Why we do the things we do.

Now that many should be caught up by reading the never-ending post about my travels, I will now write just to write. This is going to be more of my journal of thoughts, but no so personal of course.

The other day my boyfriend Daniel and I made a trip to Amsterdam. Living in the town of Bergen op Zoom, this was like venturing from a mountain-top village to the over-populated city. Although Amsterdam fulfilled the authenticity of Europe with its architecture, the city contained much more out of this world aspects that even I could not fathom. The red light district, which we took a quick walk through, did serve to be as immoral and by United States standards had more illegal substances (legally) for sale and in windows than a club in NYC. Not that I would know otherwise, but that is the best analogy I could think of. It was as insane as you could imagine and I thought I was filming a documentary for the craziest places to visit in flesh. Overwhelmed and slightly amused we needed to get back to out mountain-top village and see the beauty of life through simplicity and that we did.

This brings me to think of all the people who hold such stereotypical and narrow views of the way other people live. Generalizations are engrained to us as children and we believe some forever, and others we adjust through experiences. Walking through Amsterdam I saw people of all emotions just as I would see anywhere else. Couples, children, groups of friends, and tourists. To those that were residents I am sure life isn't weird, but normal. So why was I to judge their lifestyle? I am perfectly fine in my own and maybe they are too.

Too many times throughout our lives we have disagreements and arguments with people based on factors that our out of our control. People may travel to Amsterdam and love it and many hate it leaving them to judge and put their nose in the air. The best thing about it is that you can have your own opinion. The worst thing about it is to go about telling others what they should do or how they should feel. Its like a breakup. Friends offer advice, but at the end of the day the one person who has to get through it only has them self, their emotions, and their life to live. Its okay to form an opinion, but how are we going about influencing others? Are we judging to make ourselves feel better than the guy next to us, or are we wanting to make people good people based on our standards? I have no idea; and that is something to think about.