an american in belgië

07 January 2012

My weather log

On our recent visit home for Christmas, one of my brothers asked me what one thing in Belgium had been the most challenging to get used to.

I had to say the weather.

Despite the red tape, metrics, and the language, it is still the loooong summer days, the short winter days, and well, the rain that challenges me every day.

In our first year I was convinced it

- rained all the time

- with a constant cloud cover

- and it was always cold.

In our second year I was convinced it

- rained a lot

- it was cloudy a lot

- it was not always cold

- and it was never hot.

Now, as we are half way through our third year, I am convinced this climate is actually not half bad. I've also become much more appreciative of a really beautiful day.

So I've decided to keep a "weather log" to further convince myself that the rain stops occasionally and there are many days when there's not a cloud in the sky.

So far in 2012, it has rained every day with an average temperature of 45F. The sun shone for almost a 1/2 hour on Wednesday. I was out the door soaking it up . . . with umbrella in hand :)

But come April to October . . . the days will get longer and longer and the temperature may reach 80F. Could make one forget all about those short, wet winter days.

06 January 2012

Thinking small

I have a tendency to "think small". Like when I see the statistic that Exxon Mobil made $30.46 billion last year, it really doesn't mean that much to my small mindedness.

If you break that down, it's something like $58,000 a minute - every minute - all year.

In plain English and even without "socialism", the U.S. government spends a $#*+load of money every second.

Belgium is probably no better, but Belgium is so small it usually doesn't even make the radar when European financials make the news.

Of course, some of us (definitely me) can't wrap our head around the amount of money it takes to run a country. If we think it's as simple as taxing the rich we probably think just cutting out a little Medicare, Social Security, some military or electing someone new to work their magic is simple too.

I read the proposed budget for 2012 is $3.7 trillion. I think that's like over $7 billion a minute. Boy, even all of Exxon Mobil's money wouldn't make a dent in that.

Fed Chair Ben Bernanke stated in January 2007: "The longer we wait, the more severe, the more draconian, the more difficult the objectives are going to be. I think the right time to start was about 10 years ago."

Thanks to Ross for showing me this video. It illustrates just how much a $#*+load really is.

05 January 2012

1997 was a good year

This is a picture of the roof of my car, covered in dust and cobwebs, just before we went through the car wash.

It had been sitting, undisturbed, for over 2 years in this warehouse.

After charging the 5-year old battery (old by battery standards), my 1997 Acura, with over 230,000 miles and all its original parts, started and ran like a top on 2 year old vintage gas and oil, for the remaining 2 weeks of our visit to the States. We did have to buy a couple more tanks of new gas.

Jim's 1996 Toyota 4-Runner, with similar mileage and original parts, has a similar story.

We have, from time to time, considered selling both our old cars since we have to maintain registration and insurance on them, but after this . . . I'm convinced our cars may be like wine.

04 January 2012

24/7

Did you know Lake Superior State University has been compiling a list for the past 37 years of overused words that should be banished?

Okay, not only did I not know this, I've also never heard of Lake Superior State University. It's located (as you may have guessed) in Michigan and has about 2500 students. This list (and hunting unicorns) may be all they're famous for unless, of course, you count a few hockey championships. Hockey. Soccer. Whatever (banned in 1997).

It seems we haven't taken the banishments very seriously. Here are just a few (including the year of proposed banishment) that I have used and may accidentally use again despite their banishment status:

As if - banned in 1997. Really? (banned in 1979). That long ago.

Awesome - banned in 1984 and again in 2007. Seriously? (not on the list . . . yet).

Sucks - banned in 1995. I never used this one much so I guess I won't miss it now that I know it's been banned for the last decade and a half.

Thinking outside the box - banned in 2000. Bummer (not on the list. Really? - still banned since 1979), I really liked that one.

And then there are some that were banned before I ever knew they existed (or tried to forget they existed) . . . like:

Staycation - banned in 2009. I must get out more. Quit staycationing?

Orientate - banned in 1988. Right up there with irregardless (banned in 1979 and again in 1988) :-|

Thirty-seven years makes this list go way back to 1976 when I was still in high school so I suppose I really show my age when using words like scenario (banned in 1976) and surely (banned in 1980).

I notice 24/24 from time to time on signs around Belgium and I wondered why Belgium didn't know it was 24/7 (banned in 2000).

Well, if you think about it, I believe the Belgians may have it right.

24/7 (banned in 2000) = 3.42857143

24/24 (not on the list) = 1

But . . . it is what it is - banned in 2008.

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