Fourier Analysis is a mathematical tool which can do a number of things: separate out signals from noise; help identify patterns or trends in data; filter out all unwanted data and focus on a single signal; use approximations to make generalizations; make approximations of real world signals (think electronic music); combine harmonics to get a stronger signal. That's what I'll be trying to do here!! Won't you join me with your comments?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Getting back on the horse...

I know. I've been gone. A while. Sorry. It was a lot longer than I expected. But tbh I just have not had the energy to do more than hold my life together with chewing gum and baling wire (at least that's how we fix things in Texas and that's how I feel like I've been surviving so far).

But if a life crisis has drawn me away from blogging, a mini-crisis has drawn me back. You see, I am losing one of my best mates here. And while we have not had the almost daily interaction that we once had as she already left me once to move a 40+ min drive away, I did get to see her on a regular basis and now I face the prospect that this will no longer be the case. And believe me I am kicking myself that I did not make more of the time in the past year to avail myself of her physical presence. Most of you readers know her just from the virtual world. I was blessed to play with her IRL. And believe me, you come away with your face hurting from smiling, your sides hurting from laughing, and your perspective on the world slightly askew just because she has made you see things in a different way.

One of the things she has opened my eyes to since I have known her is just how much my life here as an ex-pat is different from what it would be in the US. Her blog has basically been about her own experiences here and I identified with her a lot and also saw so much more of how I have adapted to my surroundings after 20+ years overseas. Some things are very frustrating and are part of the usual rants that ex-pats share when they get together. Others are very unique and enriching experiences that add so much to our lives.

So while I can in no way follow in the footsteps of my dear Jenn, one of the things she has taught me is that maybe I too have "Something to Say...".

So if you are here my dear readers.... "she's back!!"

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Out of the mouths of babes....

During our recent visit to Texas, my Netherlands-born children made some very astute observations about how different it is to the country they live in.

  • DD2 said, "Mom, in Holland they have their flowers in the fields but in Texas they have them on the sides of the road and in the middle." For those of you who have not experienced Texas in the springtime, you don't know what you are missing!

  • DD1 observed, "In the Netherlands and Germany you can always tell which buildings are the churches, they are always decorated and built different. But in Texas they all look like the Walmart." While she is not completely correct in her observation, her comment is a lot closer to the truth than I had realized. I didn't point out to her that Walmart is often where families go on Sunday instead of church...

  • DD2 asked, "Mom, how come the cows in Texas are only one color?" Tbh, this is something I would have never noticed!

8 comments:

Jenn in Holland said...

Oh my darlin' FA, thank you for this lovely note. I suppose if my leaving is the impetus to getting to hear from you via the blogosphere (meaning that others too get to benefit from your re-entrance) then I can assign a sweet meaning to the departure. You know that I will miss your very presence and the essence of all that is the wonderful you. I am deeply emotional about this move, if only that the leaving means leaving my friends, my cohorts, my supporters, my heart behind.
S'pose I should write my own damn blog post about this.
I love you.

Robin said...

Welcome back FA, what a lovely surprise to see you blogging again.

We've been keeping your seat warm for you.

soccer mom in denial said...

I - for one - am thrilled to see these new words from you. Your girls' observations are a hoot (while in Tennenssee seeing yet another set of 3/4 story tall trio of crosses led one boy to yelp "what is with these CROSSES?!?!?!?").

Yeah! Welcome back. Even for a short visit. But I hope not.

Jen said...

Just one word: YAY!

Welcome back!

Goofball said...

yeaaaaay you are back!!! So cool to hear from you again.

Yes Jenn will be greatly missed. Poooh :( :( :(

your children's comments crack me up but I totally see their point about churches!

CableGirl said...

It's good to see you back in action!

Leslie said...

You're back! Yay! I'm glad. I've missed you!

Fourier Analyst said...

I guess I can't hide from you guys for very long! Thanks for the supportive comments and I hope my future posts will live up to your expectations and the high standards you all set on your blogs. You have no idea how some of your posts have kept me going...and still do! Hugs to you all!!