DL,
You enlightened me today. You are the first person I've ever heard use the word "northface" and not be referring to a very expensive, albeit apparently high-quality, article of outerwear. Thank you. I was thus able to appropriately describe by bikeride home from the Stone Arch Bridge this afternoon.
Oh, and thank you for your work on the back steps and under the bathroom sink.
Admirably,
Julie
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Patricia
Dear Patricia,
Thank you for your thorough assistance with our taxes. As you can well imagine, we are very grateful to have them done and very grateful to be receiving a refund from our dear Uncle Sam. Your obvious dedication to the study of tax preparation laws and guidelines has certainly paid off (pun intended) for the Oostras - and it only took two hours and seventeen minutes to boot!
Thank you also for your proselytizing efforts - they were well recognized by my husband and I. I did want to put your heart at ease and make it clear that we are on the same team, so to speak. While we probably won't be stopping by your church - as you so graciously invited us to do - it's not because we're pagans. Just the opposite in fact; we attend a different church here in Minneapolis.
I hope the rest of tax season isn't too busy for you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.
Sincerely,
Julie Oostra
P.S. Do you, by any chance, charge by the hour for your services?
Thank you for your thorough assistance with our taxes. As you can well imagine, we are very grateful to have them done and very grateful to be receiving a refund from our dear Uncle Sam. Your obvious dedication to the study of tax preparation laws and guidelines has certainly paid off (pun intended) for the Oostras - and it only took two hours and seventeen minutes to boot!
Thank you also for your proselytizing efforts - they were well recognized by my husband and I. I did want to put your heart at ease and make it clear that we are on the same team, so to speak. While we probably won't be stopping by your church - as you so graciously invited us to do - it's not because we're pagans. Just the opposite in fact; we attend a different church here in Minneapolis.
I hope the rest of tax season isn't too busy for you. It was a pleasure doing business with you.
Sincerely,
Julie Oostra
P.S. Do you, by any chance, charge by the hour for your services?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Branson, MO
Dear Branson Missouri,
I regret to inform you that I cannot take advantage of your once-in-a-lifetime offer to come visit. While I was persuaded by your lovely sales associate, my husband was not. You see, he's Dutch, and according to my father, Dutch folks are known for their frugality. So, while I was most definitely on board for this hardly-cost-us-a-thing-outta-pocket getaway, my husband was not.
Please extend my sincere gratitude to your sales representative once again for her willingness to try and make this vacation work. She was quite convincing, not to mention maternalistic and empathetic. The lengths that she went to to try and make this amazing vacation a possibility for Kyle and I was admirable - and her love for the sights and sounds of Branson was clearly evident. I had no idea that Branson was the second most popular destination for first anniversary vacations! As she said, "What could be more lovely that Missouri in August?" Also, while I didn't have the heart to mention this to her on the phone, we're not really country music fans, but I was very excited to hear that there are a wide variety of performances to choose from in Branson that appeal to every taste.
As I write this, I'm hit with a pang of regret for missing this opportunity. Perhaps I should have heeded your sales lady's advice and "asked for forgiveness instead of permission" of my husband. But alas, it looks as though we will be spending our first anniversay this side of the Mason Dixon Line.
Regretfully,
Julie Oostra
I regret to inform you that I cannot take advantage of your once-in-a-lifetime offer to come visit. While I was persuaded by your lovely sales associate, my husband was not. You see, he's Dutch, and according to my father, Dutch folks are known for their frugality. So, while I was most definitely on board for this hardly-cost-us-a-thing-outta-pocket getaway, my husband was not.
Please extend my sincere gratitude to your sales representative once again for her willingness to try and make this vacation work. She was quite convincing, not to mention maternalistic and empathetic. The lengths that she went to to try and make this amazing vacation a possibility for Kyle and I was admirable - and her love for the sights and sounds of Branson was clearly evident. I had no idea that Branson was the second most popular destination for first anniversary vacations! As she said, "What could be more lovely that Missouri in August?" Also, while I didn't have the heart to mention this to her on the phone, we're not really country music fans, but I was very excited to hear that there are a wide variety of performances to choose from in Branson that appeal to every taste.
As I write this, I'm hit with a pang of regret for missing this opportunity. Perhaps I should have heeded your sales lady's advice and "asked for forgiveness instead of permission" of my husband. But alas, it looks as though we will be spending our first anniversay this side of the Mason Dixon Line.
Regretfully,
Julie Oostra
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Girl at the Laundromat
Dear Girl at the Laundromat,
I'm of the belief that if something is stuck in someone's teeth, they should know about it sooner than later. In fact, I would consider it a sign of true friendship if someone (hopefully discreetly) informed me that I had a piece of food in my teeth.
With that, I feel obligated to politely inform you that you have a fanny pack stuck on your back that I'm sure you would like to discreetly remove.
Please don't misunderstand, I regretfully do see the functionality of these unfortunate accessories, however there are other options: small backpack, pockets, across the shoulder strapped purse, etc. I too, can understand the specific temptation to don such an item when going to the laundromat ("it frees up my hands", "I always know where my quarters are"), however I assure you the risk is not worth the reward. Don't think that I don't see that lovely skull and crossbones decal on your fanny pack - I do! Unfortunately it seems that you have bought into the lie that if it has a cool, slightly edgy design on it, it's ok. Oh, dear friend, please hear me: fanny packs are NEVER ok. Acid-washed denim, flourescent pink, skull and crossbones - they're all the same!
I hope that you will heed my fervent warning and I trust that one day you will even be thankful for it.
Most Sincerely,
Fellow Laundry-Doer
I'm of the belief that if something is stuck in someone's teeth, they should know about it sooner than later. In fact, I would consider it a sign of true friendship if someone (hopefully discreetly) informed me that I had a piece of food in my teeth.
With that, I feel obligated to politely inform you that you have a fanny pack stuck on your back that I'm sure you would like to discreetly remove.
Please don't misunderstand, I regretfully do see the functionality of these unfortunate accessories, however there are other options: small backpack, pockets, across the shoulder strapped purse, etc. I too, can understand the specific temptation to don such an item when going to the laundromat ("it frees up my hands", "I always know where my quarters are"), however I assure you the risk is not worth the reward. Don't think that I don't see that lovely skull and crossbones decal on your fanny pack - I do! Unfortunately it seems that you have bought into the lie that if it has a cool, slightly edgy design on it, it's ok. Oh, dear friend, please hear me: fanny packs are NEVER ok. Acid-washed denim, flourescent pink, skull and crossbones - they're all the same!
I hope that you will heed my fervent warning and I trust that one day you will even be thankful for it.
Most Sincerely,
Fellow Laundry-Doer
Friday, February 19, 2010
Lindsey Vonn
Dear Lindsey,
You da (wo)man.
As a fellow Minnesotan, let me congratulate you on your amazing performance in the downhill; that - was - gutsy. I admire your mental focus after so many wipe-outs preceding your race. And I can't imagine the pain that you were in with your shin injury.
I wish you all the best on your next events, and hope that you're not too disappointed in the fall yesterday. At least you went down swinging, so to speak.
I was hoping that once your schedule opens up after the Olympics we could try and meet up sometime - perhaps during a visit to your old stomping grounds? I'd be happy to buy you coffee (or a protein smoothie) in exchange for your signature on the cover of my Sports Illustrated.
Your #1 Fan,
Julie Oostra
P.S. Do you have any old skis lying around that you don't use? I wear a size 8.5 shoe...
You da (wo)man.
As a fellow Minnesotan, let me congratulate you on your amazing performance in the downhill; that - was - gutsy. I admire your mental focus after so many wipe-outs preceding your race. And I can't imagine the pain that you were in with your shin injury.
I wish you all the best on your next events, and hope that you're not too disappointed in the fall yesterday. At least you went down swinging, so to speak.
I was hoping that once your schedule opens up after the Olympics we could try and meet up sometime - perhaps during a visit to your old stomping grounds? I'd be happy to buy you coffee (or a protein smoothie) in exchange for your signature on the cover of my Sports Illustrated.
Your #1 Fan,
Julie Oostra
P.S. Do you have any old skis lying around that you don't use? I wear a size 8.5 shoe...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Blogging World
Dear Blogging World,
In the words of a wise sister (literally, she's a nun), "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". Here I am, joining. The blogging world that is.
I've been skeptical, hesitant, even critical of you bloggers at times. I didn't get it. Maybe I still don't. It still seems an awful lot like posting one's diary entries on a billboard for all to see - and worse yet, comment on! That might be the equivalent of allowing a Q and A time after someone shares their testimony (insert previous blog post link here - oh wait, this is my first).
But I'm here. I've been the occasional blog follower for almost a year now, and have decided to take the plunge into blogger. As the title explains, I'll be using this space to write some letters to friends. I've always been a believer in the art of letter writing as well as the power of words. I've written many a letter to friends as well as government officials and corporations as a means of encouragement and exhortation. (M&M Mars Corp. responded to my letter with a letter AND complimentary M&M's!)
So my first letter, as you can see, is to you, the blogging world. My apologies for my skepticism, I hope we can be friends.
Except that I don't really know how you'll find me. I didn't take the time to take the tutorial that was offered me as I set up this account, so I'm pretty sure no one knows I have a blog.
Hmm.... Maybe I'll mail you all a quick note and let you know of my blog.
Fondly,
Julie
In the words of a wise sister (literally, she's a nun), "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". Here I am, joining. The blogging world that is.
I've been skeptical, hesitant, even critical of you bloggers at times. I didn't get it. Maybe I still don't. It still seems an awful lot like posting one's diary entries on a billboard for all to see - and worse yet, comment on! That might be the equivalent of allowing a Q and A time after someone shares their testimony (insert previous blog post link here - oh wait, this is my first).
But I'm here. I've been the occasional blog follower for almost a year now, and have decided to take the plunge into blogger. As the title explains, I'll be using this space to write some letters to friends. I've always been a believer in the art of letter writing as well as the power of words. I've written many a letter to friends as well as government officials and corporations as a means of encouragement and exhortation. (M&M Mars Corp. responded to my letter with a letter AND complimentary M&M's!)
So my first letter, as you can see, is to you, the blogging world. My apologies for my skepticism, I hope we can be friends.
Except that I don't really know how you'll find me. I didn't take the time to take the tutorial that was offered me as I set up this account, so I'm pretty sure no one knows I have a blog.
Hmm.... Maybe I'll mail you all a quick note and let you know of my blog.
Fondly,
Julie
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