Touring the tourist

on the last leg of this business rush thru northern Europe and I can defintitely say I have a new appreciation for this part of the world. We work with some very interesting people and while we were in Bremen, Germany we visited with a competitor that we have a very close relationship with, Klaus. While we were there we got to watch Germany beat Turkey in the semifinal of Eurocup 2008, which is a huge deal. Also, met a very babe bartender named Kim (not sure how German that is....)...slipped her a kiss for the camera!

Anyway, left there and headed to a town called Emmen in the Netherlands (after a 4 hour window repair job). From there, straight to an interesting town called Arnhem. The next day to Amsterdam for an evening and the following day to tour the city. Enough of that place...headed to Antwerp Saturday afternoon and had a great time there Sat and Sun. GREAT city.

Now we are down in Maastricht and I have taken approximately 200 photos (make that KEPT 200 photos!)....heading back home Wednesday afternoon, and ready for my bed!

smiles and frowns

I've been busy lately but it has flown by without much immediate memory. It looks like the house is all set to close shortly after I get back into town in a few weeks. Very excited to finally have room and something to work on. Should be some fun improvement/updating projects in this place that will make it an easy sell in a few years.

The weather broke last week on Thursday and reminded me why this is the best place in the world to live....
http://picasaweb.google.com/volpenhein17/20080608RandomSunsetIshPhotos/photo#5212349545117424098

it only takes one of these sunsets at 10pm to sink in...I'd have to admit, the two weeks prior were quite terrible (for the start of the summer that is) being in the 50's and cloudy...but like I said, there is no doubt once you are reminded of the mystical feel of this part of the world. I'm keen to find a better region to live/be in, but for now it is holding its claim!

Need to find a flight to Beijing b/c I am still not sure what is going on with work that week. I will just book something and get reimbursed should something pop up for work...wont be a problem.

Here is a view;
http://www.muljatgroup.com/28068786
simple and comfortable - just straight out of the 80s!

Moore St no more

I bailed on the house on Moore St. They weren't willing to do anything to improve the condition of the place (floor boards, roof, knob & tube electrical work, furnace, etc) so I walked away.

By the end of that day I had an offer on the house on Patton St-inspection Friday...will know much more soon!

Today around sunset...

inspections & such

next step is the inspection. after that i will have some real decisions to make. i am pretty sure there will be something in the inspection that will give me an "out" so i will have to decide if i am for real about this place or not...

if i am, crap.

if i'm not, crap.

the plan would be;
new shower, buy washer & dryer, put up window finishing, install fence and parking area in the backyard, grade and layout new patio area, move sink in kitchen, start looking at how I can put in a half bath upstairs...not TOO much!

either way - the weather has been crappy this week but walt and i have had a good run every day so far....so that's good

houses and photos

wondering if I could ever make a living off of photography...that is, selling, buying, printing, publishing, etc...

either way, offer was accepted for a house today, yikes...I might have a serious mortgage on my hands in the next couple weeks...ohhh well - should be exciting

hi again

back on my, "home for a while" cycle and plan to take full advantage of it

putting offers on houses left and right so we will see what happens...will keep ya updated on that front!

photos from baker lake

http://picasaweb.google.com/volpenhein17/20080504BakerLake

bunch of pictures from Baker Lake...neat place