I picked Eva up at work today. Not because we simply can, but because we thought we might head into Brussels to pick up Eva's radio. We didn't get in touch with the people so it literally was simply a pick up. (which is also fun!)

We came home and I was ready to make Thai when I realized I didn't have any beans. So instead, we splurged and bought fries with the last few coins we could scrape up. I must admit that Jennifer's generosity came in handy, and I suppose I should tell her so. If they had not bought nearly every one of our meals while they were here (something we were not keen on taking advantage of, but she insisted as a way to show thanks for the guiding and shelter) then we would be more than poor at this very moment. There are a few freelance projects I've done as of late, that should be finalized soon, and since the beginning of the month always symbolizes a fresh bank account and meal vouchers, we should be breathing easily soon. (one would hope!)

After dinner Eva and I took a nap. We haven't done that for awhile. It didn't start off as a nap, of course, it started out with my reading a children's book in Dutch, and the sentence structure was horrifically kort (short) and seemingly more difficult than regular sentences. I suppose I should take to reading Wablief again. Yes, maybe I should. I wish I could stumble upon a nice job prospect in Belgium that would force me to get my Flemish act together. Nothing like a date looming in the future to usher me into the next round of language knowledge!

After the nap (I hate falling asleep in my contacts and furthermore, I'm not a fan of falling asleep in our loft-bed with the lights just feet away from my face) I woke up cranky and yet motivated. Eva called Leila and did one of their string and can conversations and I begged Eva to simply ask Leila over. To which she declined. (I'm not sure who declined, Eva and her asking or Leila and her coming over.)

Eva remarked on the entry of yesterday and her knowing what I meant about having a group of friends. And even at the frituur there was a group of three people huddled over their fritjes gossiping and having what, in my mind, I would consider to be a good time. I can't blame it on hormones, this sudden overwhelmingness of friend-want, but I suppose it doesn't help that Nichole and Jennifer just left on Sunday. Though they were staying with us, and not people I can simply call and say, "Let's meet for fries," I thoroughly enjoyed their company, and our late-night last conversation was second to none as far as quality goes.

Eva was busy doing what Eva does best during idle moments; surfing. I decided to load up some new music and go for a walk. I've taken a late-night walk by myself twice in the last week. The city seems so mysterious and comforting late at night. I know Eva doesn't really want me to go alone, but she "let's" me in some sort of gesture for me to have some "work-out" time to myself. It's true I think about an assortment of things, lip-sync to the music, and turn the volume up more than I would normally do. I suppose I might eventually end up taking the car out for drives, but sometimes I fear I might end up in Germany at the end of my drive. Or somewhere in France or the Netherlands. When I'm thinking so hard, it's hard to tell where I could end up and if I'd be awake enough to make it back.

I came home and searched through countless online job listings and then got caught up in photo slide-show of the war. Forgive me for saying this, but I must admit that, minus sandstorms and death, the army looks pretty cool. I suppose that's what they are half-heartedly trying to do. When else does a person get to load themselves up with ridiculous gear and carry a big gun? Let alone use it. I suppose that is something a lot of service people are figuring out right now. It's "great" to be using the skills you never thought you'd have to use, but the firing on people part, well that probably really make a person crazy. And then to imagine taking these people back into normal society minus sandstorms and no heavy gear, just the occasional fanny pack and water bottle when a guy takes his family to Disney World or the laptop bag the lady takes from her house to her car to her office very working day, or the assembly-line guy who has to wear safety-goggles and those sound-less ear-muffs. To think that all of these men and women are a flight-home from Wal-Marts, Dairy Queens, Applebee's and regular oil-changes on their family cars. Something about that boggles my mind.

I stumbled upon another photo I'm hoping to use in a new project. It's simply two Iraqi men watching TV in their favorite coffeeshop. It's so ordinary and beautiful at the same time. I have to do something with it.

IN THE NEWS:
I can't find it. I know that I either heard it on the BBC or I read it online. Somewhere I heard that the US was thinking about using it's own chemical weapons in Iraq; it was some sort of breach of international law, and a completely hypocritical thing to do. Now if I could only support this thing I heard with a nice quote...if not, I'll try to remove it. No need to sending about false information.

ALSO:
The man who confessed to killing Dutch anti-immigration politician Pim Fortuyn told a panel of judges Thursday that he acted out of concern for the country's Muslim minority.