Nick

Hello familia,

I have been putting off writing a post for way too long. So this September 13th, 2007, I will undo that. Currently I am employed and not going to school and I will procede to explain. During the summer I was offered a job with a land surveying company, and I enjoyed every minute of it, So I decided that my career is going to be in surveying. Sorry to all those that I led astray by telling them I was going to be a teacher, I apologize. I’m sure teaching is a good profession. So the plan is to work in Red Deer a year and next September go to school in Edmonton for Geomatics Technician which is a two year program. So that means at least a few more years in sunny Alberta. That’s the current plan but it is subject to change.

That was my hot and heavy news, the rest is light. All those who only care for heavy news can tune out now and procede to surf the interweb, fine with me. For those who care to hear a little more, I enjoy the company. This Tuesday I am going to see an Edmonton Oilers pre season game. Against the Maple Leafs!!! Yeah, I’m sure you guys are as excited as me. I had to pay a bit extra to get those tickets because everyone wants to see the Leafs, but I’m sure it will be worth it. I’ve started a countdown to the regular season and am really looking forward to it. Last night we had frost, so I’m sure the snow is coming soon- that means outdoor rinks in the near future. I’m thinking next week. That was sarcasm for anyone who didn’t catch it, but there really was frost. Anyways, as you can see most of my post is just filler banter because I don’t have plans to get married just yet and I don’t have any kids on the way. I’m sorry my news can’t be as exciting as the rest of yours, just bear with me. This past summer I did alot of camping, which is much more exciting than Ontario camping. One campsite we had was half an hour up a mountain outside of Canmore. Simply beautiful. I’m going to a Matthew Good concert on the 22nd of September for anyone who cares. I guess that’s news. Um, I just bought a chocolate bar from the kids who were selling them at the door. Oh boy, I’m really reaching. Anyways, good night and good luck.

Nicholas, but you can call me Nick

Hey familia!

Im not gonna say “nothing new” ’cause everyone says nothing new and they always end up saying nothing new. So, I got something new! Show melted here! Take that Ontario! HA! Ice rinks are gone, there’s a few puddles, and very little snow. It was pretty much the perfect winter here. A bit long, no big snowstorms and the perfect amount of snow. It was awesome.

So, I’m staying the summer here, much to the dismay of mom. I got a job surveying for the summer. Outdoor surveying, not door to door to avoid confusion. I got offered the job from a guy on my hockey team, so I took it. Simple as that. So sorry to those who were looking forward to seeing me this summer, I can’t be everywhere. Haha. I will be coming home for my final school year at Waterloo in September, and then it’s probably on to Teacher’s College. Exciting, eh? Like we needed more teachers in the family. Sheesh. Kidding. So that’s what’s up. Please feel free to visit if you wish, the door is always open.

I love to see all the pictures on the website. I think it’s very interesting to see what everybody’s up to. Keep it coming. Oh, has that milk can been returned yet? I wonder where it is. Haha.

Nick

Good day familia,

So it’s been a while since the last time I wrote, so today I decided to change that. The reason for not writing is because I believe that not much is exciting in my life, everything is fairly normal. But on the other hand, some say that any news is good news, so I’ll tell you some good news.

Hockey is what fills my days up, besides school and work. I told you that Red Deer has numerous outdoor rinks scattered around town, and each one is now fully operational. It is glorious. Any time of the day, before 11 PM, you can go for a skate and play hockey. It is a dream come true. The other day, the Los Angeles Kings came and had a practice in Red Deer on an otdoor rink, right near our church. No lies.

School is going better than expected. Again, I am writing this to procrastinate from regurgitating another essay. I have so many essays to do, you should feel sorry for me. Not as much work as the last semester so now I have more time for the outdoor rinks. Yes!

This Friday, the youth group in our church has our own potluck. Last names starting from N-Z have to bring a main course dish made by ourselves. I hope everyone likes peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

So… until next time, familia
Nick
P.S. I might have some information on the milk can, but it will come at a price.

So, hello again to this good looking family,

I don’t have a whole lot to say, most people will like it that way anyway. This past Thursday I had an experience at work. It was a first for me. You know how firsts can be real sentimentel, you remember them a long time, and they hold a special place in your heart. Something like first kiss or first car. Well I had a first this past Thursday. My first bone broken in my body. Yep, that’s all. Hope you weren’t expecting more. I broke the top part of my thumb, sorry to any doctors or nurses - I don’t know the technical term of the bone. I went to the doctor, they took some x rays, put a splint on me, I grabbed a Tims coffee, and I was back home. Simple as that. Some of you are asking, “How did you break it, Nick?” I will tell you. I was unloading plywood off a truck onto a pile on the ground. One piece kicked back and jammed my thumb. I then writhed in pain, yelling profanities I’ve never even heard of before, I’m just kidding. But that’s how it happened.

So, here I am. Typing is difficult, but my family needs to know. Homework has been put on the backburner because I feel sorry for myself. Anyway… on to happier things.

I saw the new Bond film yester nigh, entitled Casino Royale. I encourage everyone to go see it, it has been the best Bond film I have ever seen with my peepers. If anyone didn’t know, Pierce Brosnan has stepped down as Bond and Daniel Craig has stepped in. Do not worry, this is for the best. Please, go see it, you will not be disappointed, and if you are just put the blame on me. I will then blame it on drugs, for the copius amounts of Tylenol I am taking for my thumb. It’s win-win!

Anyhoo…I will be bidding you adieu
Nick

Hello Family, I welcome you to read another post,

So, this is another post in the same fashion of nothing exciting to write, but it’s been too long without an update. Nothing real entertaining has been going on according to me, but some of you might want to read about what I do.

I’m still playing hockey in Red Deer and our team is 2-3. Let me explain aboout our horrible record before you make any judgements. Our team is old, and with old usually comes slow and tired. If that’s not enough, our goalie couldn’t save a beach ball, and I mean that literally. He’s the definition of a seive. And Jay Vedder is not pulling his weight, someone has to tell him to step it up a notch. Just kidding.

School is not all its cracked up to be, well not Distance Education. Some of you might say, “But Nick, you get to sleep in and do your homework on your own time,” but this isn’t the case. I find that its harder than actually going to class. If you want to do it properly, there is alot of work that goes into it. Anyway, the real reason I’m writing this blog is because of procrastination. I have a research project to do, but I don’t feel like doing it. Alas…

Another friend has come to live with us in Red Deer. Brian, my friend from high school, came down on Halloween and is now living with us. It’s nice to have another friendly face that we know here. He’s a good asset to the house because he brought a projector to watch TV on. Our TV screen is now huge, massive, really big, about 5 feet by 7 feet- I can’t go back.

Another thing to mention about Red Deer, they don’t mess around with their outdoor rinks. They have full boards built out of wood, not just plywood, but like a fence around the whole rink. And they’re huge! And they’re numerous! I love this place, hockey player’s heaven. Oh, the weather still sucks. We’ve had a layer of snow since a week before Halloween and it’s stayed since then. They don’t plow the roads either, just sand them. The residential roads are a sheet of ice. It’s very dangerous driving here.

Anyway, I want to mention that I’m not becoming a hick like some people believe. I do watch Corner Gas and My Name is Earl, but that’s as far as my hick-ness goes. I do not wear boots or cowboy hat, thank you very much. And country music sucks. (Sorry if I offended anyone who likes country music, which an oxy-moron by the way)

The Nick Show has plenty of ideas this time around. Uncle Ype volunteered to be part of it again. After a sub-par performance in the last show, Ype has alot to prove this time around. Thanks for volunteering Ype. I also think I know who’s going to be the musical guest this time around, haha.

So, now you know about my life, so it’s time for the quiz.

1) What is our hockey team’s record?
a)4-2
b)3-3
c)hockey sucks!

2) What are the two shows that border on hick-ness that I watch?
a)Hockey Night in Canada
b)My Name is Corner Gas
c)CSI:Miami (Horatio freaks me out)

If you completed this quiz, give yourself a zero, and now go do something useful. Haha.

Until next time, family!

Nick
(Keep your stick on the ice)

So… it snowed today… and it stayed. Blah. Stupid Alberta weather. Hahaha. Anyways, I’ve been sick for the past few days so please feel free to send some chicken soup and toast to Red Deer, please. With some ginger ale. It would be much appreciated. Don’t worry mom, I’ll be alright.

Enough jokes, let’s get to the facts. I will be coming home to Ontario for Christmas and me and Tony will be doing the next edition of the Nick Show. Sorry for the unexpected news, Tone, but that’s the way it has to be. I will accepting some input on what should be in the next Nick Show, and maybe I can implement it. But it has to be something different from the last two times, I’m thinking a cooking show? Give me your thoughts.

Just to clarify about my last hockey game, we did lose 7-3. Yes, it does sound bad but I had one assist and was a plus 1. So you have to put away your jokes. Umm, I don’t know how to put this but I’m becoming a bit of an Edmonton Oilers fan as well. I don’t know what to say, I’m sorry.

Anyhoo, nothing else to say, other than I really, really like this website and I want to hear from everyone. Thanks Deb and Brian.

Talk to you later,
Nick

Hello, fellow Vander Veens from coast to coast. If anyone didn’t know I’m now living in Red Deer, Alberta with my friend Dave and his family. His dad is a pastor and got called to Red Deer. He wanted Dave to come, so I came as well. We moved at the beginning of September. Dave and I both had to drive our cars out here, so we made a road trip out of it and invited two friends. We took five days to get here and did a bit of sight seeing on the way. We took a detour and drove through the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

So far I’m loving it here. We joined the Young Adults group and are meeting new people, playing on the Red Deer CRC hockey team with Jay Vedder, patiently waiting for cold weather to play on outdoor rinks, and loving the cheap tax. The only thing that sucks so far is the rain, it rains like every other day here. Ugh!

I’m taking Distance Education courses from the University of Waterloo and am working part time at the Red Deer Co-op Home Centre. That’s what fills my days. Keeps me really busy.

So that pretty much sums up my last two months. A couple weeks ago I went to a Who concert in Edmonton. I have a friend who works for a radio station in Edmonton and gets free tickets for us. This past weekend I went canoeing down the Red Deer River with the young adults and played our first hockey game. We lost 7-3 and I almost threw up. Usually happens the first game of the season.

That’s what I’m up to. A temporary change of pace for me in beautiful Alberta. My e-mail address is nvanderv@msn.com if anyone wants to know, and feel free to visit.

Talk to ya later family,
Nick