# So. How have y'all been? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2005, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026 "2005-09-23T09:10:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/1 "2005-09-23T09:10:37Z")
Hey hey, kids! šŸ˜ƒ Iā€™ve been off the boards for a little while, keeping more than busy with real life stuff, such as my lovely wife, work, travel, et cetera. But I thought Iā€™d pop by and see whatā€™s going on in this joint. Itā€™s been a while since I hung up my moderator clogs, and frankly, I needed a bit of a break from this place - thereā€™s only so much SDMB a person can handle - but it seems my systemā€™s been cleaned, and the SDMB lures me once more. šŸ™‚ During the past couple of months, quite a few things happened. First and foremost, me and **Heloise** are still doing great together. Sheā€™s settling in nicely in this weird country here: she started Dutch classes last week and is making unbelievable progress. A complete language talent, that one. Amazing. The classes are quite labour intensive (16-20 hours a week), so she doesnā€™t have a job on the side yet. Sheā€™s thinking about starting her own catering business soon, though, so that should be interesting. Seeing as sheā€™s an absolute super chef. šŸ™‚ With me, work things have been rather demanding. Since february, Iā€™m a manager, in addition to the tasks I already had. Quite a difficult group of people, even though thereā€™s only 5 of them. Bit of a challenge, but Iā€™ll manage. My boss seems to be happy enough with me, and a pay rise is on the way in a few months. Groovy. We just got back from a short holiday to China. It was beautiful! After which I also went on a short city trip to Florence with my mates, much to **Heloise** ā€™s chagrin. šŸ˜ƒ Our two cats are doing great, although one of them needs knee surgery soon. And yes, thatā€™s all the family we have right now. No kids, nor are there any plans. Oh, we also bought [a new car](http://coldfire.50megs.com/Alfa%20166%20web/AlfaRomeo166.html) recently. OK, new to _us_, but itā€™s only got 82,000 kmā€™s on it so far, and has all the luxury in the world. Weā€™re very pleased with it. šŸ˜ƒ Still dreaming about a new motorbike as well, but I guess thatā€™ll have to wait until we get a house with a garage. The Diversionā€™s getting a little long in the teeth, but it still manages just fine. Itā€™s just getting a little boring to ride, as my skills (slowly!) improve. What else? I dunno for now. Why donā€™t youse guys tell me whatā€™s up in your lives! Any Euro DopeFests planned in the near future??? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/2 "2005-09-23T10:40:21Z")
Hiya **Coldie**! Great to hear everything is going so well. Iā€™d love to hear **Heloise** ā€™s outsiders perspective on our Dutch language. How is she doing with the hard ā€œgā€, that guttural sound English speakers never can seem to get right? Meanwhile, back at this here ranch, Amsterdam-based **gum** has been away a while too, but sheā€™s back. And Iā€™ve managed to lure Almere based **Arwin** to Maastricht-city to love and live with me, and I consider him the catch of the century. šŸ™‚šŸ™‚šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/3 "2005-09-23T10:57:46Z")
'Ang on there, loveā€¦ **Arwin** and you are an item, now? Fer real? Man, these boards are dangerous. šŸ™‚ **Heloise** is doing all right with the hard ā€œGā€, although sheā€™s got a bad example in me, being a native _Brabander_ and all. But sheā€™s got quite a bit of Scotish blood in her, which might explain why the Dutch ā€œGā€ works fine for her. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/4 "2005-09-23T11:03:43Z")
Hey, good to hear from you. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/5 "2005-09-23T11:09:02Z")
Good to hear from you again mate. I reckoned you were gone for good. Things sound good in Clogland. Here in Paddyland alls basically running the same as usual. Just had a holiday in Asia as well. 3 weeks in Vietnam was heavenly. Thereā€™s actually a piss up happening here this weekend as a paulbeserker coming over. We had a mini one last week as **jsafricanus** was over. Bit of a journey for you but itā€™s the best I can do šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/6 "2005-09-23T11:20:48Z")
Gone for good? No fricking way mate! šŸ™‚ **Heloise** has been badgering me for months to take her to Ireland. See, sheā€™s got some Irish blood in her, too. Although you wouldnā€™t guess ā€œIrishā€ when you saw her. šŸ˜ƒ So who knows, perhaps a little weekend trip to your fair island is in order later this year, or perhaps in Spring. One can never visit Dublin too many times, eh?? Twisty still around? Ruadh? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/7 "2005-09-23T11:42:25Z")
Yep, both still around but havenā€™t seen **ruadh** for a while. Some lucky fella managed to land her so sheā€™s had other things on her mind no doubt šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/8 "2005-09-23T11:48:24Z")
I used to know a little dutch, my sonā€™s first wife was from Slovaing (I doubt Iā€™ve spelled it correctly, I certainly was never able to pronounce it correctly.) I spent 10 days in The Hague many years ago. What a beautiful place! Iā€™m glad to hear youā€™re doing well. We hope you wonā€™t be a stranger. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/9 "2005-09-23T11:51:05Z")
Howdy to you and yer babe (it is babe, isnā€™t it?)! Glad to hear things are doing fine and dandy. Nice car! I might pop up there for business and/or pleasure sometime this winter. Iā€™m working hard, but I feel I need a weekend break filled with flowers and weed. Take care- -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/10 "2005-09-23T11:52:48Z")
The Hagueā€™s pretty, but a tad boring. Well, itā€™s the governmentā€™s town, what do you expect? šŸ™‚ Slovaingā€¦ unsure what town name youā€™re going for, here. Sleeuwijk? Amstelveen? Going on phonetics here. šŸ™‚ Yojimbo: good to hear ruadhā€™s been spoken for. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/11 "2005-09-23T11:54:24Z")
Hey, TC! Howā€™s life in the East? Yes, **Heloise** sure is a babe, and can rightly be qualified as such on private forums such as the SDMB. šŸ˜ƒ Whenever you come over to Amsterdam, let us know - youā€™ll have a place to crash. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/12 "2005-09-23T12:20:46Z")
As of 15 August I became a Staff Sergeant. Legally. However, in typical Guard fashion, not only was I not made aware of this fact, but I canā€™t wear my stripes yet. Why, you ask? Because due to the pomp and circumstance that comes with becoming an NCO in my unit, there has to be a pin-on ceremony. Unfortunately, being in a Guard unit means that those ceremonies only occur once a month during UTA (Drill) weekends. My turn in the spotlight comes next month, so until then I get to receive Staff Sergeant pay and all correspondence comes with SSgt on it but Iā€™m still a Senior Airman to anybody who sees my uniform. :smack: So, help me celebrate my promotion-but-not-yet. Itā€™s not prematureā€¦ at least, I donā€™t think so. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/13 "2005-09-23T12:24:58Z")
In football news (U-17 WYC), if the Dutch can beat Gambia by 2 in the last game, and Brazil win heavy over Qatar, then you might face the USA in the next round. Would be fun, no? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/14 "2005-09-23T12:28:34Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#): > > As of 15 August I became a Staff Sergeant. Legally. > > However, in typical Guard fashion, not only was I not made aware of this fact, but I canā€™t wear my stripes yet. Why, you ask? Because due to the pomp and circumstance that comes with becoming an NCO in my unit, there has to be a pin-on ceremony. Unfortunately, being in a Guard unit means that those ceremonies only occur once a month during UTA (Drill) weekends. My turn in the spotlight comes next month, so until then I get to receive Staff Sergeant pay and all correspondence comes with SSgt on it but Iā€™m still a Senior Airman to anybody who sees my uniform. :smack: > > So, help me celebrate my promotion-but-not-yet. Itā€™s not prematureā€¦ at least, I donā€™t think so. OK, this is the second time Iā€™ve done this recently. My apologies to **Coldfire** , welcome back, and give **Heloise** my best. I shall now go away and repost this in shame. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/15 "2005-09-23T12:30:30Z")
HOORAY!!! **Coldie** hath returned! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/16 "2005-09-23T13:09:01Z")
> [@Coldfire](#): > > We just got back from a short holiday to China. Of frickinā€™ great, Clogboy comes to China. Probably gets ripped off and the clap but does he let anyone know heā€™s coming and maybe should be shown around to where to buy the really good fake golf clubs. Nooooooooooooooooo. Sheesh, some people. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/17 "2005-09-23T13:10:41Z")
> [@Coldfire](#): > > The Hagueā€™s pretty, but a tad boring. Well, itā€™s the governmentā€™s town, what do you expect? šŸ™‚ > > Slovaingā€¦ unsure what town name youā€™re going for, here. Sleeuwijk? Amstelveen? Going on phonetics here. šŸ™‚ > > Yojimbo: good to hear ruadhā€™s been spoken for. šŸ˜ƒ I think Iā€™m confused, having placed a little bavarian village from central California to the coast of the North Sea. The place is, I believe, part of The Hague. Its on the North Sea, thereā€™s a big (I think old) casino on the beach. Thereā€™s a pier thatā€™s way tall. If I wasnā€™t so lazy, Iā€™d go up and look for some pictures. We got some pictures of a bronze statue on the boardwalk. If memory serves, my DIL, while trying to help me pronounce it, said S(l)a-van-ing. I enjoyed Amsterdam much more. Unfortunately, I was traveling with a 40 year old virgin, who still lived with her parents. While in Amsterdam, we decided to do our own walking tour. Do you know the Red Light district isnā€™t always on the tourist maps? We got a little lost :rolleyes: The side walks were so narrow we walked single file, she behind me. All the way back to the main streets, I kept hearing her whisper, ā€œOh my.ā€ :eek: The topless women hanging out the second floor windows were almost more than she could handle. Of course the sex toys in the shop windows didnā€™t help. We spent the rest of our holiday in The Hague. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/18 "2005-09-23T13:19:13Z")
Scheveningen. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/19 "2005-09-23T13:23:20Z")
> [@China Guy](#): > > Of frickinā€™ great, Clogboy comes to China. Probably gets ripped off and the clap but does he let anyone know heā€™s coming and maybe should be shown around to where to buy the really good fake golf clubs. Nooooooooooooooooo. Sheesh, some people. Man, the idea of a Beijing dopefest never occured to me! But youā€™re right, thatā€™s a missed opportunity right there. If it makes you feel any better, we got plenty of fake goods, no doubt for ridiculous prices. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026/20 "2005-09-23T14:11:44Z")
> [@Coldfire](#): > > **Heloise** is doing all right with the hard ā€œGā€, although sheā€™s got a bad example in me, being a native _Brabander_ and all. But sheā€™s got quite a bit of Scotish blood in her, which might explain why the Dutch ā€œGā€ works fine for her. šŸ˜ƒ Hi **Coldie**. ā€œGroetjesā€ to you and **Heloise**! Does this mean youā€™re teaching her the Brabants ā€œzachte gā€ or does she sound like sheā€™s hocking up loogies, the way she should. Also, since youā€™re in Amsterdam, have you had a chance to teach her any Jordaans yet? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-have-yall-been/323026.md?page=2)