I took yesterday off from work and Mom & I went to Amsterdam. Mom was so hungry when we got to the station, she needed an ice cream. I will have to remember tht one.

We checked into a very Jetzens hotel called Citizen M. It had an automatic rainforest shower, , circular enclosure for a wc, a wall-to wall- fabulous bed , room darkening shades and a programable rainforest wakeup- complete with trumpeting elephants. Mom tried HARD to ignore those.
Anyway....Then we took a train to Central Amsterdam and hopped onto a Canal tour boat. We saw Anne Frank's house and then got off at the Museum quarter. Mom bought us a hot dog with kraut and mustard, relisha and onions. We did a little shoping. Mom got great shoes. Then we went to the Van Gough museum. We pre-bought tickets and skipped the LONG line :). We spend 2.5 hours with Vincent. Mom said she had never done anything like that before. She is so into art, she read about method and brush strokes, and all the stories behind his work It was so cool to see what someone can do when they just decide to. Van Gough had no training and he wasn't sure he had any talent. He just wanted to be an artist and found a way.

We found our way back to the station and wandered into a few shops. Then settled for a nice Italian meal. Mom said the stairs to the bathroom where crazy- steep, narrow, winding and with a swaying banister. I decided to hold it. While I paid the bill, mom ran next door and got our b-day dessert and a little something for the morning. She painted b- day numbers and stuck them in the pastry- adorable!! She gave me Lisa's card and wished me happy birthday. I have a fabulous painting she did just for me and some 4711 that I love. It was a very good day. We showered and snuggled in for our last night . The bed was so big, 4 people could sleep in it. But I am glad they didn't. In the morning, we had coffee and split a SWEET waffle . Then we walked over to the airport. Before I knew it, a stern man was telling me I was not allowed past the line and Mom was gone. I turned away and thought of a dozen things that could go wrong. We both started crying when we hugged. I think that surprised us both.I cried almost the whole train ride to Eindhoven.

The guys at work strung colorful streamers and bought me these amazing flowers. Thanks, guys!! Before the end of the day, Mom arrived safe and sound. Lisa and I pulled ourselves together. Mom was greeted by her loving daughters and everything was all right.