Theme: Writing on the Wall

Amsterdam is a charming and picturesque place, but it's also a gritty city covered in graffiti and street art.

My brother spotted this musician at worm's eye view and got this shot:

He also took this photo:

See more of his brilliant work here.

In an alleyway named Gebed Zonder End, or "prayer without end," someone simplified things:

Random:

The humble potato appears twice-fried in these masterpieces, painted on a frites stand outside of the Westerkerk:

This skeleton says it all: about life, about death, about Amsterdam:

I took this heart picture for my friend, Terri:

Theme: Canals

Of course, canals.

Theme: Bikes

Brian and I spent nine days in the Netherlands. Never have I seen so many bikes.

My photographs of bicycles as still lifes might make the scene seem serene, but in reality it was really hectic! This video of rush hour is more like it. Scroll down.

The One with the Waggly Tail

This adorable doggy was sitting in the window of a home in Amsterdam. The note on the sill says, "Please send the picture you take of me to doginamsterdam(at)gmail(dot)com." I did, and she wrote back.

Her name is Jayda Tum Tum Queen of the Pillow van der Meulen van Berkum Koster Cenn.

Between the Lines

I am lucky enough to belong to a lovely group of ladies who meet once a month for bookclub. Last night we discussed Anna Quindlen's Every Last One. I read it last Sunday on a seven hour flight; it was the perfect read for a single sitting. We had so much to say about this pick; it's a book I can't quite put my finger on, but I liked it- the slow and easy character development and then an unexpected shock (at least to me because I never read a jacket). Some of us have already lent our copy out (to our mothers, mostly).

I also liked the chocolate covered nougat our hostess offered, I ate a ton of it.

Today's Forecast: Sunny

My brother played this video clip for me in the airport, I just about collapsed it is so funny. I'm a little bit behind on Sunny...

A is for Aardvark

Brian surprised me with this cutie pie, an orange aardvark named Courdey Roy. He is so cuddly and so my favorite color. We gave one to our new neighbor, too; he is just born and perfectly amazing.