Adventures in Tulipland

Look for me on MySpace now

Michelle — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:26:12 +0000

As you can see I haven’t posted on here in ages. I created this blog for my move to Holland and now that I am back in America I feel like this blog is done. I ended up starting a MySpace page and have been using that blog. This is my last post on this blog. You can find me now at: http://www.myspace.com/pokerchic35.

P.S. It is my birthday today – I can’t believe I am 36! Crazy!

It’s Official

Michelle — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:12:04 +0000

I am a Bartender! I passed my written final today with a 98% and made 12 drinks in 6 minutes and 40 seconds. I had 8 minutes to do it. So was very, very happy with that time. 3 other classmates also passed today. I got the highest grade on the written test though!

I have been working on a cover letter and resume tonight and applied for one job I found online. Most of them are asking for experience so I am going to have to sell myself to them in person. I can’t wait to get behind a bar though – I really love it! Thanks to everyone that came over the last two weekends and helped me by drinking drinks and quizzing me. It really helped a lot!

Here I am

Michelle — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:11:41 +0000

Sorry I haven’t posted in almost a month - I have had so much going on day and night. Bartending school is going great! I love it! I had my midterm today and got a 91%! Thank you so much to everyone that came over on Saturday night and let me make drinks for them and help me study my recipes!!! I am going to do it again this Saturday. My final is next Monday. I found out today they offer a “Flair” class – which is learning how to do all the cool tricks they did in the movie Cocktail. I definitely want to take that class as well. A guy from my class and I went to a bar after class last Friday and sat at the bar and ordered drinks and asked the bartender questions. This was only a small neighborhood sports bar and she said she makes $22 an hour on an average day and makes around $32 an hour on weekend nights. That is great money! She was having so much fun too.

I started working out with a trainer last week. I was so sore all week. It really feels good to be working out again. I am determined to make this the year I lose all the weight I have been trying to lose for over 10 years. I am tired of being a thick woman! I want to be able to shop in any store I go to. Plus I keep hearing over and over how bad belly fat is for your health and that is where I have most of my weight. I want a flat stomach. I don’t think I have had a flat stomach since high school. It is time!!!!

I’ve been going to the casino and playing poker 2-3 days a week as well. Haven’t been doing so good the last couple weeks. I will be up in chips and think to myself I should go home now and then don’t; and then end up going home almost broke or broke. I’m playing limit now and it is so hard to get people out of a hand in limit. I would like to be able to play 5/150 again, but I just can’t afford it. I think I might start playing more online again. I used to play a lot online, but enjoy going to the casino. I can get a lot more practice in if I play online. The only way to get better is to play.

New Career

Michelle — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:35:32 +0000

Well I have been back for about 2 weeks now and have been trying to figure out what I am going to do here. Something caught my eye that sounded fun and that was becoming a bartender! I have heard they make great money with the tips and it is a real social job. I asked a few people what they thought of the idea and they said I would be perfect for that kind of job. I really want to do something different than working in an office and being a bartender is the most different I can get. So I’m going for it and I signed up to go to bartending school! I start on January 22nd. It is two weeks long and then I take a test and once I pass they help me find a job. I’m not a big drinker which I think is a good thing as far as being in that business. I am also looking into this cool internet business that I think I am going to do. I’ll share more about that later.

Also, I have decided to get a roommate, so if you know anyone looking for a room please pass on my email address: sasyblond@msn.com. Thank you!

Happy New Year!

Michelle — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:43:24 +0000

It feels good being in Arizona to celebrate the new year. I’m looking forward to 2008. I think it is going to be a year of adventures for me. I’ve decided not to make any new years resolutions this year. I’m just going to let the year unfold as it is supposed too with no expectations. I’ve been thinking about it a lot the last couple of days and am feeling like my heart wants to be in Arizona. Things didn’t work out in Holland for a reason. I’m not sure what that reason is at this moment; but I took a risk and tried and am very proud of myself for that. I think I am going to take my condo off the market. It has been on the market for over 8 months and hasn’t sold for a reason as well. Lots of people have looked at it even though the market sucks, so it could have sold but didn’t. I feel like my life is supposed to continue here, but in a new direction. I’m considering getting a roommate to help out with bills. It would be very easy for someone to move in since my house is empty. If you know anyone looking for a room, please pass on my information.

Happy New Year to all my friends and family! I wish you much happiness, love and prosperity in 2008!

I’m Back

Michelle — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:28:58 +0000

Sorry for the delay in posting since I have been back. Been on the go a lot and am finally settled back in my condo. The flight back was a nightmare. We had to be diverted to this tiny airport in Bangor, Maine because of a medical emergency which turned into maintenance problems. We sat on the plane for 2 hours after landing then were taken into the airport about 5:30pm and held in a room because we couldn’t clear customs there. They flew a plane in from Boston but 10 people couldn’t get on because there wasn’t enough room. I ended up volunteering to stay in Bangor for the night which was the best decision. I was in my hotel room by 9pm on Christmas Eve and the others didn’t get to Philly until 12:30 in the morning and had to stay in a hotel there. I flew into Philly at 8am the next day and landed in Phoenix at 1pm on Christmas Day. I stayed with my sister for 3 days. We had a nice time. My niece had her 13th birthday on the 27th, so my sister and I spend the whole day with her doing things. My sister got some bad news that day. She has to have a 3rd back surgery. She is finally recovering from the second one and now she has to have another one. It’s a good thing I came back, she really needs me right now.

The first thing I noticed was how rude people are here. I do feel more comfortable here which I think is just because is it more familiar and everyone speaks my language. However, I am missing my family in Holland. Truthfully, I am feeling a lost and not sure what I am supposed to do with my life at this point. Hopefully, the answers will come soon.

Last Day in Holland

Michelle — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 10:35:23 +0000

Today is my last full day here. I saw my uncle yesterday and went to dinner with my sister. My aunt is having a birthday party for her son Michael today where I’ll see her family. My father and his wife will be there as well as my uncle and grandmother. I’m taking 4 more boxes of stuff to her house. So she has a total of 6 boxes of stuff and one suitcase full of summer clothing. Boy I accumulated a bunch of stuff while I was here. I am checking 3 suitcases and will have 3 carry-ons. I’ll have to pay for one of the suitcases. I leave here at 12:30pm tomorrow, lose 8 hours, stop in Philly for 3 hours and get home at 10pm. I’m having mixed feelings about leaving. A little sad about leaving my family here, but looking forward to seeing my family and friends there and seeing how I feel in America. I think it will answer a lot of questions for me. I’m definitely looking forward to the warmer weather. It is 20 degrees warmer there – which I am sure will be a huge difference to me.

It Snowed!

Michelle — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:57:50 +0000

I just woke up to find out it snowed over night!!! It is so beautiful! I took some pictures of my backyard and posted them in my gallery. I haven’t seen snow in maybe 10 years. I checked the weather and it doesn’t show any snow again. I’m so excited I got to see it before I left!

The Berlin pictures are posted now also. I had some troubles with my pictures being dark, so a lot didn’t turn out. Holland has some others on her camera she is going to send me when she gets back home.

My father’s brother Eric is here from Spain for Christmas. I haven’t seen him since 1998. He is going to come by tomorrow for coffee. He is a real spiritual guy and always has some interesting insights into things. I can’t wait to see him!