April 2nd

SANY1386
Originally uploaded by sarahkatina

I mark this day (all these days, really) with a white stone. That's what Lewis Carroll said about days that were really perfect some way or another. Yesterday was the first tangible spring. Occasional drizzle, of course ("April does what it wants."), but a lot of sun and ridiculous cloudscapes, a soft twilight that lasted until 8, etcetera.

Had tea as per usual, fresh mint this time which is a brilliant green color, and Christy and Nate had open-faced sandwiches as well which are always delicious. I did not have one because I had cheesecake, which was also delicious. There was lemon yogurt on top!

Witnessed an anticlimactic bike-on-pedestrian collision - the cyclist rolled his eyes and the pedestrian laughed and stepped back up to the curb, cigarette still in hand. No words were had, and no one fell over. I guess my bike-on-pedestrian collision was dramatic because I am incompetent, and because we both fell over.

Wandered down de Warmoestraat and Zeedijk, which are very close-together streets, narrow with tall buildings, so you feel like you're in a city fortress. Passed the Chinese bakery which was, once again, closed. Passed a place where they have dim sum! Passed the place where we once ate waffles dripping in pink frosting and chocolate sauce. Stepped out into Nieuwmarkt, which is a pretty big deal (but I had never been there). There is a lot of open space and a big church, and some mosaiced benches that look like they belong in Barcelona. Sat on one of said benches for some time, and looked at the happy group of Dutch ragamuffins sitting across from us, juggling and rolling a joint. Some bicycle police came by and talked to them sternly for a while, but then they got derailed by another pair of bicycle police and all stood around in a jolly circle and did nothing. Both the juggling and the joint-rolling continued.

Walked to the OBA, stood at the cafe's roof-deck and soaked in the wonderful evening. Took lots of photos, including this one of the Nemo (there's a science museum in there). If you look closely between the masts of the pirate ship you will see the windmill. That means home! The light was beautiful, the library was beautiful, the clouds were beautiful, the water was beautiful, the company was beautiful. Came home and watched "Martian Child," which was also beautiful. John Cusack as adoptive father of dysfunctional child. Glued the sole of my boot back together. Bed.