Holida-aaaay

Yesyes, it's true: I'm officially beginning my 9 day weekend ;-)

Since daycare is closed for 3 weeks, someone has to stay with little Count Cuteness over here, so I've got a week off, then he goes to grandmère for a week, then the BF stays home for the last week. So, a week off, what to do? Besides taking care of W, not very much to do during the day besides domesticalities (is that a word?), but evenings & weekends... I'm totally free! So if anyone has any ideas... :-)

In other news, in about a week's time, I'm finally starting my driving lessons... To be continued ;-)

I recently rediscovered an artist I didn't like too much, Sam Sparro. The only think I knew( and thus disliked) of him, was this:


You see what I meen? Wannabe... Reminds me of Pretty Fly for a White Guy ;-)

But now, he released this amazing new can't-sit-still-must-get-freak-on-single:


It's been on 'repeat' all day in my head. Damn. I want to go out dancing!! ;-)

Ice ice baby (e-eeh)

What a strange weather today, one minute it's 35 degrees out there, the next minute it's a thunderstorm.
Kinda like... my head, right now? ;-)

Some people just have TOO MUCH TIME on their hands!!!

I got this link from a friend who discovered there are people remaking entire music video's in SIM's-versions... Try youtube'ing 'sims music video' and have fun ;-)

Why, oh why...??

Tell me why...

In other words: my collegues and I were all in quite a state this morning... :-D
That's mondays for you...

Things are looking up

Ah, don't really know what came over me today, but I'm suddenly in a much happier mood than I've been in for the last few weeks.

On saturday, I had a "date" with my ex (read: have a drink and catch up, no funny stuff) and: he stood me up. Stood. ME. Up. That had never, ever happened before in my entire life. OK, the man had an excuse (missing cellphone, I meen, if that were to happen to me I woulnd't have anyone's number either) but still I felt quite stupid standing on the Groenplaats for an hour thinking he was running late.

But, as expected, apologies were offered to my address in the form of a new date, in about two weeks, going to the Moeze as I've been been planning to do for... how long do we know eachother? I think it will be 6 years this year. So I will finally be able to take him there, although lately it seems to be a forgotten place where it's only population me (and D) between the hours of 23 and 01...

Today, with all of my emotions bubbling up inside me lately with nowhere to go, I confided in a collegue of mine who'd seemingly had a similar experience in her past, and when I told her in little words what was bugging me, she seemed to understand it AND have some rational things to say about it, too. It made me feel a lot better, and it dawned on me it was about time I told someone inpartial (impartial?) who could just say: what I see is this, what I think about it is that.
Just aknowledging the feeling and telling me I was dealing quite well - by actually not dealing with it at all, by letting it be and see what time will bring me ;-D

Anyway. She cheered me right up. Thanks Val ;-)

Moon River - part two

As promised...

Old? Nope. Classic.

I know, why all the cornyness these days, it's just in the air I guess.
I'm just a sucker when it comes to Mancini... Gotta love the 60's ;-)
Last weekend I was stupid enough to say some things out loud I'd rather kept quiet (that happens too frequently these days, sometimes bubbly feelings are best kept to yourself) - and for some reason, all of sunday I caught myself humming this tune:


It's been some confusing days and weeks, and I still feel like scrambled eggs on toast :-)
I never thought 24 was one of them Important Identity Crisis-ages, doesn't that normally come at about 30?

Anyhow, that's what's been going on. I haven't quite been myself lately, and apparently I can't cover it all up with fake smiles and loads of concealer, if now my collegues start to notice it too.
For all you peeps out there thinking about having kids: it's a bliss, I wouldn't trade it for a gazillion dollars, life with a baby is filled with moments to remember and you notice something amazing about 'em everyday - just don't hope of being a parent ànd someones partner. Not if you are both parenting the same child anyway ;-) It's nonsense that you can cope with a fulltime job, a baby, a mortgage, (at least) two families, hobbies, friends, a husband and hopefully some alonetime. Nonsense I tell you! ;-) The expectations are too freakin' high and frankly, I ain't ashamed to admit that I _can't_ cope. Feel like taking my baby and moving to planet ALONE.

OK, now I can't overexaggerate: I'm SUPERhappy I decided to have kids this early on; in about 3 years when school starts, I'll have the majority of my life back and will only be 27. At about 35 he'll be in highschool, and by the time he moves out I'll only be 40something. But, on the downside: having a baby and a relationship that's not going the way it should be going, scares the crap (is that Walter? sorry, inside joke for all you Jeff Dunham fans out there) out of me.

Blèh. Wish I had a fortune telling mirror or something.

Mixed Up, Shook Up

Never mind the corny video's, you know with me it's al about the lyrics:


Voila!! My level of cornyness for one day is oficcially reached ;-)
God, I feel like being fifteen hanging posters over my bed of popstar crushes :-ssss

Uncharted Territory

Another night to remember yesterday, as I went out to party with some people dear to me, to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Although many of the invitees dind't make it, the most important people were allmost all there, and it was a great night, with some strange events that keep me wondering (don't they always).

It' strange, but when I was planning this party, looking over the people I was inviting, it suddenly dawned (or how do you write it?) on me that two of my close friends would be a perfect match for eachother - and I don't meen romantically :-) It's just, these two guys are made from the same wood. Being with eather one of them gives me that strange kind of butterflies you only get with those strange kind of friendships. And my instincts turned out to be correct, as they found quite some common grounds to talk about, for example about weird psychic links with me :-)

Ever since last night and its numerous Moments To Remember, this song's been stuck in my head:


Completely unrelated, since D gave me some episodes of a new series called Dexter. After seeing 9 episodes in 1 week, I can oficcially call myself an addict ;-)
Check it out if you have the possibility, it's great...

John James Preston

And finally, something worth mentioning on my blog (I know, it's been a while): the Sex & The City movie is coming out this week!

After 6 seasons, watched over and over again, the long awaited movie is finally there. The trailer is very promising, although I found it quite a turnoff to hear what Big's real name is. At the end of season 6, we discovered that his first name was John (how original), but John James Preston? Sounds like an American Pie character to me ;-)

I'm very curious to see what will happen in the lives of my 4 fave women, as at the end of S6 everything ws seemingly perfect in all of their lives. But, being a SATC adept, I know very well that life (and love for that matter) isn't lways as perfect as it seems.

I myself have been going through some rough weeks, with the death of a dear friend of the family that shook me to my core; he died of a very agressive form of cancer and left a son my brother's age behind. Life is strange sometimes, and apparently too short. Choices have to be made quick in those situations, and don't always leave you time to think.

I on the other hand have had a lot of stuff to think about over the las few weeks, feeling very uneasy and unhappy in my skin but I coulnd't put my finger on it. After some painful discussions this week I finally decided and put some aspects of my life on hold for the next coming weeks to see where everything and everyone is going.

It was very strange: have you ever had a dream so vivid you still believed it to be true hours after waking up? I woke up at 2AM this morning, soaking wet with sweat, after having the strangest dream ever. Someone close to me came talking to me in my sleep, telling me to stand up for what I felt was right, taking time off everything and making some well-thought decisions about my life. The conversation was so confronting and real, I fainted. In my dream. I felt it coming on, seeing spots, feeling woozy and all, and I fainted. In this persons arms. And then I woke up. I realised it was a dream but couldn't shake the feeling of being very connected with this person, off me. Eventually I fell back asleep, and there was this person again!! "You back allready?" *huh?* and the conversation continued. Creeeeeeee-py. Fckng scary, too.

I don't know what it all meens - having practiced Magick (yes, yes) for quite a while in my past I remember that you can summon up (summumup?) people in your sleep, if they are also asleep, if it's really necessary that you talk to them. Anyway, your unconciousness can. But still, I've never experienced it quite so real.

Hah, you guys now have had another little peek into my thoughts, I think I'm gonna call it a night.

Hah, a treat!!

Look at what I'll be treating myself to tomorrow...
My mother-in-law had a burglar last week, who took her phone amongst other things.
Being an ex-Belcompany-member, my knowledge & passion of mobile phones is very big, as is my collection of 'em :-s
So, I'll be giving her one of my spare (!) ones, and giving one back to the shop in exchange for a nice discount for this baby.
Hey, I earned 400€ last weekend! :-) for once I can bragg about having cash :-)

Superheroes

I recently discovered FaceBook, and all of it's funny applications. I'd never heard of it, and in one week me & my colleagues are addicted with sending eachother online gifts, dropping elephants on eachothers heads or sharing Muppets. Apparently everything is possible.
One of the funniest options, the SuperHero patch, lets us fight eachother with superpowers. For now, I've lost all of the fights I was in, but I'm not losing hope :-)

This got me contemplating some issues. Some superhero I am: in a week's time, I've had two people dear to me who were struggling with some issues, feelings, unhappy stuff - and no matter how big my mouth is sometimes, when I see friends get totally sad about something, I lose all my superheropowers. There's only one thing worse than going through something yourself: seeing someone else go through something they can't cope with by themselves, and not being able to _do_ anything.

My dear friend-from-a-long-long-time-ago L. is thinking about leaving the BF she's been with for over 7 years. It's turned in a brother-sister situation, and as she's only 27, she feels it's time to do it now before he starts to think about marriage & kids. But how do you tell someone it's over? How do you admit to yourself that you're not going to fight anymore?
I tried to reason, follow her way of thinking, enabling her, but no matter what I did, the tears didn't go away. It's very hard for her to think about facing everybody after the decision has been made; it's not because she wants to end it, that she isn't hurting...
She was feeling supersad when I heared her on thursday, and it eats me up inside that I can't DO anything. Seeing people I love get sad makes _me_ want to cry.

Yesterday, I went to a won-der-ful party at the Noorderterras in Antwerp (70s-80s-90s, in other words: getting my groove on, dancing to the music I otherwise wouldn't admit to know, let alone know the lyrics from!!). And again, at the end of the evening, my friend was experiencing something making him supersad. And although we can normally almost read each others minds sometimes (or does that meen that we're predictable?), I found it very difficult to find a proper way to make him feel better. Besides trying to keep my mouth shut and listening to what he was feeling, I again felt very powerless...
All day today, it was on my mind, I was trying to think of something to do or say to make m feel better but - I got nothing. Damn.

...

All in all, I'd like to change the tone of this message back to a happy one since I'm still high on endorfines from yesterday's party:

Questionnaire!!!

Shamelessly stolen from D’s blog (this makes me feel like I’m in highschool again … :p): a questionnaire! Feel free to shamelessly steal it here to and post it on yours!

[one] are you gay?
hah! nope.

[two] where is your default picture taken?
my bed.

[three] are you missing someone?
ow yes.

[four] what color do you like the most?
pink!

[five] does your crush like you back?
if I knew… it wouldn’t be a crush anymore, now would it?

[six] what is your current mood?
still half asleep. it’s not even 9AM, come on!

[seven] what color underwear are you wearing?
eh… let me check (still half asleep when I got dressed, too)… black and green

[eight] what makes you happy?
people that make me smile. no matter how.

[nine] look at a picture/poster in your room, who’s on it ?
some moron callcenter chick.

[ten] if you could go back in time and change something, what would you?
have the courage do follow my heart in stead of my mind!

[eleven] if you could be an animal which one would it be ?
a dolphin! definately.

[twelve] ever had a near death experience?
nope.

[thirteen] what did you do tonite?
tonight? IT’S NOT EVEN 9AM!!!

[fourteen] the song stuck in your head?
Nooooooooo don’t remind me! Something terrible from highschool

[fifteen] what is your desktop background?
boring company default blue.

[sixteen] what are you wearing?
besides the obvious (clothes!) the most fun-kay boots EVER.

[seventeen] when was the last time you cried?
the day before yesterday.

[eighteen] have you ever sung in front of a large audience?
yep. what a thrill.

[nineteen] if you could have one super power what would it be?
flying!

[twenty] what’s one part of the opposite sex that you find sexy?
Eyes, build, and I don’t know if it’s the same in English: cupid’s arch (the curvy part of the upper lip ;-D)

[twenty-one] what do you usually order from Starbucks? ’
a blueberry muffin and a cuppa tea

[twenty-two] what’s your biggest secret?
i’ll never tee-eeell…

[twenty-three] favorite show?
House MD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twenty-four] is it sunny or raining?
sunny! shining in my eyes, actually.

[twenty-five] do you still watch kiddy movies or TV shows?
yep! with a six-month-old-baby in the house… bumba has no secrets for me.

[twenty-six] what are you eating or drinking at the moment?
nothing! better hurry and make me something.

[twenty-eight] what’s your favorite animal?
dolphin (didn’t I answer this one already?)

[twenty-nine] if you could describe yourself in one word what would it be?
unbelievable

[thirty] when was the last time you received a hug?
hmmm… saturday night? sunday morning?

[thirty-one] have you ever kissed in the rain?
yes…

[thirty-two] what/who are you thinking about right now?
the kiss in the rain, duh

[thirty-three] what should you be doing?
working

[thirty-four] what was the last thing to make u mad/angry?
BS with the BF!

[thirty-five] how often are you laughing?
constantly.

[thirty-six] do you like working in the yard?
nope! thank god our building has a gardener.

[thirty-seven] if you could have any last name in the world, what would it be?
anything but my own!

[thirty-eight] do you act differently around your crush/significant other?
eh, probably, i guess I make a complete fool of myself every time.

[thirty-nine] when was the last time you were thrilled?
last weekend

Butterfly part three

Almost forgot: a little dedication to my fave future-midlife-crisis-biker :-)

Butterfly part two

As we were joined by some of D's friends, it was for me an unexpected opportunity to find out things about him. I wasn't fishing, but as the conversation went on, I heard some interesting things that totally changed whatever image I had of him :-)))

I got home at about 4 in the morning, still not tired at all. What a difference with my alter ego who goes to bed together with The Baby at about 21h !

I told the BF that I felt like I've really missed out on some good parties these last years as he's not really one to go out and dance, but he just said: if you have someone(s) that want to take you dancing... have fun!

So, it's official:



For the moment (Blogspot doesn't have these mood-indicators I like on Myspace) I'm... puzzled. What do you do with the things you need to get off your chest but can't post on your blog? Make it into a message in a bottle and throw it away?

My overseas-friend had a similar thing on her blog: if you have very mixed emotions, if you are surprised by your own thoughts and feelings, the sensation that you dó know better but your heart tells you you want something... You need to talk about it, but you can't tell your friends or post it on our blog because of the instant judgement. But, as we say in Dutch (this might sound silly in English): where do you leave your egg??

Butterfly part one

What a strange combo of events for one saturday...

I left Antwerp around noon with my make-up-artist-collegue K-CO (lol) to drive to Nieuwpoort. We were asked to do the make-up at the Miss Coast Belgium-padget.

An hour and a half of Alcazar, Steps and Mariah Carey later (he had some "cool" CD's in the car, I can tell you that), we arrived in Nieuwpoort. If you hear the title "Miss Coast Belgium", you'd expect it to be a Miss Oostende versus Miss Blankenberghe, but no, apparently contestants from all over Belgium could enter. Strange.

Beautypadgetcontestants are all they're told to be. Too skinny, too blond, not of the most intelligent kind and very demanding. Anyway, after 3 hours of non-stop painting faces, We continued our journey back to Antwerp.

As I was going out later that night, I rushed into the appartment, threw donw my suitcase, hopped in the shower, got dressed (I'd just gotten a big load of new clothes & shoes from my shopaholic auntie, so I can say for once I was looking quite fun-kay), gave the BF a kiss and popped out again to catch a bus downtown.

From beautypadgets to Den Aalmoezenier: a cultureshock :-) The bar I used to spend my fridays & saturdays still looked the same, some minor adjustments left aside, and it was a true trip down memory lane. Even the people there were still the same, as I experienced a small encounter of the ex-flirt-kind. Strange to see that he was still exàctly the same, whereas I have been trough quite a lot of change these last 5 years.

The party starded véry slow, where D and I were the only people on the dancefloor, but ended with a nice crowd and a mix of very good and very bad music.

(to be continued)

C.R.A.P.

In the old days, when you have an evaluationinterview with your boss, you're asked to make a SWOT analysis of your project, your company or your team. In SWOT (and no, not SWAT, all you Colin Farrell-lovers out there) the abbreviation stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
Els and I decided we'd make a CRAP analysis, that would stand for Customer-orientation, Recruitment, Administration and Posting jobs online. Not bad, don't you think?

I had my very own CRAP moment today (literally than): I was taking a picture of my office (@ the company I work at part-time as an inhouse-consultant), when my ex-dad passed me in the hallway, only to enter MY office (ok, the other side of it) moments later. Apparently he's working there. At MY company, in MY hallway. (mine, mine :p)

I ran, I took my phone and I ran, to the ladies' room and I literally hid in one of the toilets (ok, not IN, ...) I called the BF who didn't pick up, I called V. who didn't pick up, I called D. who picked up (thankjoe) and when I calmed down I walked head down to my office and hid behind the newly-placed stickers on my glass walls. And than I started calling people again :-) I just could NOT get over the fact that, of all the companies in the world, he's working there.

The idea of having to work with him in the same building, I can handle (a little. I think. Maybe.). But being there every monday when he comes for his contract in MY office? Don't think so. I've asked V. to change shifts which she agreed, thankyouverymuch.

It's strange to realise that someone you haven't spoken to in almost 10 years, is working there where you are. It shook me to the core. I hate that he still has this effect on me after so long, but I can't help it. I really cried my eyes out from being in shock, and I didn't do that since... I had the guts to pack my stuff and leave his home.

It's a lazy, no-good, manipulative, lying, spineless, pathetic, weak, poor-excuse-for-a-human-being LOSER.

And half my genes are his.

The votes of the Belgian jury...

I had my exam for the degree of "Master Make-Up Artist" today, and... I passed!!!!!
In two weeks I get my official diploma and my exact grade + feedback on my work, I can't wait...

My model was (what did you expect?), of course Els, who looked stunning in the assymetric, gothic, futuristic creation I made. Professional pictures were taken, which I should get in about a week, but until then you can check out a few snapshots on my Telenet-foto account: http://foto.telenet.be/caramellie (in an hour or so, they are loading as we speak but it's sloooooooow)

Just what the Doc ordered.

After the BS on thursday I was in the mood for some ME-time today. Luckily, the BF was away all day, Warre was with his grand-mère (yep, a whole day of French!), and I was meeting my supermodel Els at two o'clock so... I got up early, took a bus into town and went shopping... Nothing can lift your spirits like blazing around town waving with your Mastercard!!!

I was in desperate need of some jeans, since all of my trousers B.C. (before child) are a wishfull-thinking-size-38 in which I'll never fit again (but are now fostercared over by Els :p). The last 10 weeks I've been wearing 42's, but to my great surprize they absolutely don't fit me anymore since I've apparently lost quite some weight since January. So, I treated myself to some fabulous blue jeans from Mango and to a pair of black jeans from H&M. What a relief to discover that I can fit in to semi-skinny jeans again :-)

Ow, before I forget to mention it: the BS with the BF is completely resolved by the way. I discovered a new funny side of him, actually. I was announcing that (for the first time in god-only-knows-how-long) I'm going to party @ Den Aalmoezenier next weekend (for the ones who remember; my Vampire-days... :p). With one or two colleagues. Without him.

You would expect a tad suspicion, jealousy maybe? Nope, not him. He was glàd. Glad I'd found someone who was crazy enough to go dancing with me.
As Den Aalmoezenier is not his style of people, nor music, he was just glad I dind't plan on dragging him there.

His comment was literally: have fun, go crazy, do as you like, I don't need to know all the juicy details, you can stay in bed 'till noon the next day, and you can do whatever you want with whomever you want as long as you come home to sleep. And reinact the specifics the next day. :-p

Now thàts what I call a healthy relationship. How lucky am I ;-)

So next weekend, my funcky new jeans & myself will be partying like it's 1999 :-)

Damn...

I'm really, really in a bad mood now.

I just spent an hour on my exam sketch (a draft of the overall look I will be creating on my model (Els) on sunday when I have my master make-up artist exam). It looked super. Even after some BS with the BF, I managed to focus and get it right.

I have to say: it looked super, something a tad goth with a futuristic twist in it. I like it.

But, then... I remember someone gave me the tip of fixating my sketch with hairspray so the sticky products would't soil the other pages of my sketch book... You can imagine what happened, I suppose? The entire sketch is ruined. I can do everything over again... On saturday, because now I'm REALLY not in the mood to start sketching all over again. Blèch.

Me so sad.

:-(

Some important questions...

... like: where is the lid?

C.H.A.O.S

Currently, my house is in C.H.A.O.S. – also known as: Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. How did this happen? When Hamsters marry Hamsters…

I am the school example of a Hamster: I keep *everything* that reminds me of *anything*. A postcard, a sticker, a piece of clothing, a book, a note, anything.

When whe moved from Ghent to Antwerp, I cleaned up my mess. I started packing, carefully looking at each item, thinking what it reminded me of, and if it was a memory I wanted to keep alive. With the succesfull mantra “when in doubt, throw it out” I managed to shrink my pile of junk into ’just a few boxes’.

Then, there’s my Dear Husband. He’s even a bigger hamster then me: he does not only keep everything thatreminds him of anything, but also all the things he thins might have a use… someday. This can go from microwaves (we already have one!) to mirrors. You name it, he has it (or at least two of them).

So, same story when we moved: when in doubt, throw it out.

Somehow, after throwing out everything we were doubting about, our place is still a mess. Since my beautybusiness started (a girl can never have enough make-up, especially not if you are a make-up artist ;p), my piles have gotten bigger and bigger, and then there’s the Tupperware…

Luckily, the Visible Rooms (living, kitchen, Warre's bedroom) are tidy and (most important) clean. But our bedroom and the office-slash-beautyspace are still... a mess.

So my C.H.A.O.S still isn’t over, and I have to make a one-legged-leap over two boxes, half a table and a piano to get to the PC to type this message. I'm working on it...

El Puerto

Last Friday, the Good Collegues (*!*), some partners and myself went to El Puerto on the Waalse Kaai to eat tapas. I cannot remember all the things I ate, but I call tell you: enough to last me till next easter. It was delicious.

You can see the silly pics of this very nice evening @ http://foto.telenet.be/caramellie

ENJOY!!

Dedications, part two

I forgot one very important dedication... Myself
Els will get this one.
The absolute all time favourite - if my life were a soap opera, this would be the theme song.

Dedications

Copyright to D, because I copied this idea from his blog.

For all my past & present loves & crushes... Here are some dedications.
Never mind the bad video's, it's all about the lyrics.

For the one who opened my eyes & ears to Meaningful Lyrics:


For the one who rescued me:


For the one who still doesn't get it:


And last but not least: (could not find the actual video, but it's the right version...)

Mr Big...

That's one way to talk about heart surgery...

YouTube For Dummies

Or should I say: YouTube for babies?

Besides numerous ways to entertain myself, I found a new use for YouTube: entertaining The Baby!!! He absolutely LOVES Bumba, apparently. I just melt watching him giggle and chuckle when he's glued to the screen, waving with his teeny weeny arms every time the parade begins...

So, for the die-hard Bumba-fans:

More Useless Tests To Post On Your Blog:

Your Leprechaun Name Is:

Lucky Greenknickers

What's Your Leprechaun Name?

You Are a Smiley Face Cookie

You're happy go lucky. So happy, in fact, it's a little past the point of normal sanity. You usually make those around you smile ... when you're not creeping them out!

What Kind of Cookie Are You?

And this one I find surprising:

You Are Loafers

You are confident, powerful, and successful. Hard working and business like, you always dress and act appropriately. You are consistent and a bit conservative. You aren't really susceptible to trends, although you always dress well. While you tend to be formal, you know how to adapt to your surroundings. So are professional at work... but more laid back when your with your friends. You should live: In a huge city You should work: In a competitive field where you can rise to the top

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

Who knew... Loafers.

Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Yes, people, it exists... And apparently I am... Big Bird!!!! (or as we say in Flanders: PINO!)

You Are Big Bird

Talented, smart, and friendly... you're also one of the sanest people around. You are usually feeling: Happy. From riding a unicycle to writing poetry, you have plenty of hobbies to keep you busy. You are famous for: Being a friend to everyone. Even the grumpiest person gets along with you. How you life your life: Joyfully. "Super. Duper. Flooper."

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

Whaaaaaaa

I just got this amazing email: a media company from Brussels wants me to come and give a make-up seminar to their employees to teach them how to use make-up on their clients!!!!!!!!!
All I can say is...

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Eighties Els!

You have to admit: some spandex, some legwarmers, she fits right in!

(This is what happens if you say yes to being model-for-a-day at my school ...)

Kickin' Ass

Yowyowyow

Kalson! Un coca s'il vous plaît.

This is one the abroadies aren't going to understand (Dutch language joke) so I'me posting it in Dutch...

Gisteren op de cursus: foute eighties make-up. Ik post later de schittenrende transformatie van Els in eighties-chick nog.

Enfin, we praten over mode uit de 80's: epauletten, spandex, beenwarmers, haarbanden en... calleçons. Also known as: leggings. Maar Tessa, mijn Hollands collega'tje, kende duidelijk het woord calleçon niet. Want, zei ze: is dat niet wat jullie op café naar de ober roepen als jullie nog een pintje bij willen?

:-)))))))))))))))

Copy-Paste

... what to do if you have a bad case of Writer's Block?
Use the Copy-Paste buttons!
Especially to just-about spoil it for *some*:

- "Slippery slope -- today we withhold porn, tomorrow it’s clean bandages."
- "You wanna know every place your mom’s thumb has been?"
- "Lies are like children: they’re hard work, but it’s worth it because the future depends on them."
- "The problem with sleeping with strangers is… they’re strange."
- “Minus five for ingratitude. No ‘Thank you, Doctor,’ ‘Here’s a bottle of codeine for your troubles, Doctor.’”

... muhaha!

Hmmm

It's awfully quiet here.
Writer's block, I suppose.
...
Yep, that's it.

Sophisticated Fool

Plastic Dashboard Jesus

My friend Els gave me some great news today: the ticketsale for Bon Jovi's belgian performance has (at last) begun! I know, a lot of my friends now go: Bon Jovi? Yaikes! But I really am a sucker if it comes to him. I just love his songs, although one of my dear friends calls his music recycled pop with some leftover guitars as a side dish ;-D
What can I say, les gouts et les couleurs...

I can remember last time we went to see him: I think I just turned 19, our friends chipped in for my ticket as it was my birthday in that period (this year, again, 2 days before my birthday), and off we went: we took the train way too early and began queueing (here's that funny word again) at the back of the very long line. We hung around, listened to the other bands (Arid and Peter Evrard), until it was time for The Big Entrance. We pretended we saw one of our friends in front of the crowd and pushed our way to the front ("sorry! coming through! there she is, over there!"). We were so close, if he'd spat (haha), it would have hit us.

It was a great concert, and we learned that his guitar player Richie Sambora is an even better singer than him! ;-) It was such a nice day, Els even bought me a t-shirt for my birthday there (I wonder if it would still fit me this year...), we had the best of times AND found seating on the train back!

So this year, I hope she'll join me for even more "ambiance", although I was shocked by the ticket prices: the best places (standing) are 100€, the best places sitting down are €85. I think I'll start saving for the €85's (who the hell would pay extra to NOT get a chair?) - what the hell, he's like the 29th of february: only comes around once every 4 years.

Celebs!

Hah, just got some great news: some of the names of the cast members of the movie "Aquarelle" (I'll be doing the make-up there on saturday) have been released to us today... We finally know who the actors are. Not a lot of big names, but I at least know some of them: www.aquarelledefilm.be

For single use only

(Inside joke: there's a free sample of lubricant and a small sex toy with my favourite magazine this week, and on the package it says: FOR SINGLE USE ONLY. Well, I've tried that, but these silicone penis rings work better if you let your man play along you know...)
___________________________________________________

I just noticed: I'm not single anymore.

This may sound absolutely insane, and I meen no disrespect whatsoever to my hubbie (and he knows that, don't you sweety ;p) - but my mind sometimes forgets being married and having a son. It's really strange, when people talk about "married women with kids", I never once have felt like, oh wait, that's me!

A couple of days ago I was talking to a friend I hadn't heard in a while, and he was asking about my life on the Married Side. He was surprised I was so happy with being "tied down" as he would call it. I never, ever feel like I'm being tied down whatsoever, "ik kan mn pollekes kussen" as we say here in Antwerp (something like... I can really count my blessings) with a guy like mine. Not many married women with a baby can say they work 40 hrs a week while their husband is a stay-at-home-dad for a couple of months, right? Apparently, not many people understand, but then again, me & my husband are one special couple.

Still, as I was saying: sometimes, my mind just continues as it was before this relationship: if I meet a nice guy, someone I have an instant click with (and then I meen on a friendship-level), I'll just start flirting. Sometimes I'll notice it, sometimes I won't. Not that I want to date him, not that I want to cheat, not that I'm looking for an affair, it's just, I think it's in my genes or something. Apparently my mind doesn't get the fact that it can stop looking for boyfriends and can continue looking for friends.

As I was talking to my collegues today, I noticed I sometimes miss my single, or my before-married self. I couldn't be happier with my life, I absolutely love my husband and adore my son (he ís ever so cute you know), but when I heard them talking today, it was weird. One of them is on that crucial phase in the relationship: Planning To Move In Together. The other one is single, another one was talking about how he was going to name his future son, another one was talking about (pardon my french :p) how he was planning to score this weekend ;-)))))

It's strange to realise: all of these people are older than me, at least 5-8 years, but on that level, I'm way ahead of them. And on moments like this: it makes me feel really old!

Memories, all alone in the moonlight...

Sometimes... a memory is just a memory: it passes on, it flickers through your mind, you smile in retrospect, and it eases away without leaving a trace.

My memories this afternoon were of the complete opposite kind: I had one of our candidates on the phone, who's voice & accent are the EXACT same as my mr. Big's. (For the non-SATC-addicts: every girl has a mr. Big, which has nothing to do with size(!), but with that one great, lost love you'e gotten over some time ago but always seems to pop up in your mind when you don't want it to).

Really, the accent, the voice, the choice of words, the tone, it's just totally creepy. It's him, if I close my eyes, if I hear without listening: it's him, and it scares the living daylights out of me.

It took me, I think, 3 years to get over That Guy (haha). I can honestly say now that I'm over him, but it was one hell of a journey geting here. I made a complete fool of myself so many times, analysing what went wrong, thinking of all the things I still wanted to tell him, how I'd tell him, writing him emails and then not sending them, or sending them and immediately after: regretting I'd sent them :-)

It was just one of those very unhealthy, forbidden loves: they get under your skin, they absorb you, you dissapear, you breathe that other person, you lose track of yourself, you push yourself aside to Love the other one. And you don't even mind: the sleepless nights, the bad eating, the pushing yourself to the limit just to have 5' together, and worst of all: the lies, the terrible lies you tell yourself and everyone around you, just to get through the day.

Memories, this afternoon: I'd just spent 2 hours queueing (is that even a word?) at my local union office to get some paperwork done, I got back at the office when he called to inform about some stupid appointmentthingie. And I only heared half the things he said: that voice, that so-familiar-but-you-know-it's-not-him-sensation, it just creeped me out.

I had a discussion with my colleague the other day: is the grass always greener in your mind? With me it is, because I started to remember all the nice things, the feeling of being swept away and treated like a princess, when all he really left me with was a bunch of unanswered questions and a mild depression.

90 day Jane

Creepy, creepy, creepy.
(for the dutch peeps amongst you: I promised a friend I'd continue in English from now on so my abroadies can read this stuff too...)

I found this absolutely crazy blog online today: http://90dayjane.blogspot.com/

This lady is going to kill herself. In 90 days. She does't want pity, compassion, understanding or help; she wants people to read her last thoughts and give her tips on the 'best way to go'. I am so struck by this idea: she's not depressed, she doesn't believe in any god, but still she thinks life just hasn't got anything left to offer her. She's taking 90 days to figure out all the details (how will she do it? who will find her? how will she let the readers know she's dead?) and then she' just going to do it.

I'm not sure it's true or some terrible joke, but I know one thing for sure: I know what I'll be reading the next 3 months.

By the way: I can also be found on MySpace from now on, but not under the same name (where else will I post all the things that are better said anonymously ;-p)

Hmm...

Afgekeken van Dean zijn blog, damn, I'm like the opposite of you! (voor het linkse deel dan toch zeker).

Jaja naast groentjes nu ook... fruitpap!

Hi & Goodbye

Het was weer vrijdag vandaag. Geen hijgers, geen explosieven, maar enkel: nieuws dat insloeg als een bom. Een van mijn collega's (die op interimbasis werkt) is vrijdag doodleuk meegedeeld dat ze maandag niet meer moet komen. Ze was even niet op haar plek (in gesprek met de verantwoordelijke, denk ik) toen er een mailtje binnenrolde met daarin de aankondiging dat er vanaf maandag bij ons een nieuwe collega start in haar plaats. Nog half verdwaasd aan het lezen (hoezo, en zij dan?) - komt ze de trap afgelopen en neemt zonder iets te zeggen haar jas en loopt buiten. Ze had net het nieuws gekregen. Nu werk ik daar ocharme net een maand, maar zie, daar KRIJG ik het dus van he. Wij wisten van niets, nog steeds niet trouwens, geen reden waarom, geen waarschuwing voor haar dat ze misschien haar job niet goed deed? Communicatie, mensen!
Nu soit, ik ben geen HRverantwoordelijke en de beslissing zal wel een gegronde reden hebben maar ik ben er toch serieus van aangedaan. Zeker als zo'n dingen onverwachts gebeuren. Ik had haar graag, en ondanks dat collega's niet altijd 100% tevreden waren over haar werk, vond ik dat ze potentieel had, en (voor zover ik zicht had op wat ze deed) ze erg haar best deed - voor mijn afdeling althans. One of those days he, maar het doet mij weer even stilstaan bij het feit dat iedereen vervangbaar is, en dat ik mij eigenlijk heel snel aan mensen & situaties hecht. Ben benieuwd voor De Nieuwe, maandag, wat voor iemand dat gaat zijn.

Voor de rest: woensdagavond nog eens naar De Fez (laaaaang geleden) met twee collega'tjes. Tangine met kip & abrikozen & walnootjes, here I come!

Silence!

De Collega's en ik zijn al enkele dagen in de ban van een Al Qaida-terrorist, genaamd Achmed.

Nee, ik ben niet compleet kierewiet geworden en nee, dieje bom van vrijdag heeft geen nieuwe opportuniteiten voor ons opgeleverd :-)

Het gaat om een schitterende buikspreker (Jeff nogiets) met de meest geslaagde act _ever_.

Dus, je kan je al inbeelden, gaat dat bij ons de hele dag:
"Silence! I kill you!"
"Goddamned! Oh sorry, I meen: Allahdamned!"
"There's something wrong with my ass!"
"How do you spell Achmed?" "It's Accchhhkkkmed: A, C, Pleghm..."

Wham, bam

Het was weer eens vrijdag. Opgestaan na meermaals gepord te zijn geweest ("jaja, jaja k ben wakker!"... not!) door mijn lieftallige echtgenoot, douchke in, mmm ik ben precies wat duizelig vandaag, misschien even mijn bloeddruk nemen just to be sure: 85/49. Nu ben ik genen dokter maar ik herinner mij vaag dat het eerste getal best uit minstens 3 cijfers bestaat en dan het weede getal best minstens met een 7 begint.
Laag dus.
Okee, niet met de tram maar met de auto naart werk (we zouden toch ni willen flauwvallen in de metro ofzo). We passeren langs t kantoor maar rijden ietske door om te draaien (A'pencentrum, slecht idee met de auto), ik zie vaag 'iets' vor de deur vant werk liggen, ach ja, der zal wel weer een zatlap in ons portaal geslapen hebben en zijn lege pint achtergelaten hebben zeker?

Ik kom toe, blijkt da pintje geen pintje te zijn maar, u leest het goed, een bom. Mijn collega's hadden gelukkig de politie al gebeld, die meteen een stuk straat afzetten en er DOVO bijhaalden. T bleek geen vals alarm te zijn, ze spraken van een ontploffingskracht met een straal van 20m die alle glas had doen springen (glas doen springen? en wij dan?) - zoals één van mijn uitzendkrachtjes zou zeggen: toftof!
Tja, en wa doet ne mens als hij moet wachten... Gratis ontbijt op café he. Ja, technisch werkloos...

Fijner nieuws: mijn dear vriendinneke Els begint maandag bij ons opt werk!
Ik ben benieuwd wat voor citaten er bij op onze muur gaan komen :-)

Feng Shui

T is weer 'one of those days' vandaag: klaagzangen en zaagklanken gemengd met een portie koppijn, een goeie dosis moeilijkdoende vrouwelijke hormonen... Pfft.

Om niet in total selfpity te vervallen, hier het prachtige lichtpuntje van mijn dag: mijn ventje had heel lekker gekookt (3 gangen begot!) toen ik thuiskwam, onze recent heringerichte (!!) living opgeruimd, kaarsjes angestoken, badje laten lopen (ook hier kaarsjes)... I felt like a princess :)

Echt, k mag van geluk spreken dat k thuis zo ne vent heb zitten hoor. Gisteren heeft hij in een feng-shui-attack onze living heringericht. Het klonk heel eng aan de telefoon, maar het ziet er echt goed uit: mega gezellig en raar genoeg: groter.

Morgen uitgebreider geblog, nu hoofdpijn en bed in, snorry :-)

Ook ne goeiemorgen!

Vrijdagochtens, 7u47, ik sta op mijn bus te wachten als mijn gsm gaat. Nummer onbekend (wie zou er mij om dit uur bellen die ik niet ken?). Ik neem, slim, niet op met mijn naam maar met een simpele 'hallo'.

Zit daar aan de andere kant van de lijn ne perverse vetzak te hijgen en te kreunen. Echt. Je kon alles goed horen :-) Ik was echt verschoten (ik was zéker een uur wakker), en wou ophangen toen ik hem nog net hoorde zeggen: "Ik ben lekker met mezelf aant spelen, je vindt dat toch niet erg he?"...

**goor**

Achteraf denk ik dan: ik had een snappy comeback moeten maken, en vooral niet geshockeerd moeten zijn (daar kicken die venten naart schijnt op) - maar iets belachelijks zeggen en hem gewoon uitlachen. Maar daar denk je dan pas achteraf aan, he.

De rest van de dag stond in het teken van mijn psychopaat du jour; ik heb nog een weirdo op gesprek gehad die mij vertelde wat een zalig paradijs er mij na mijn dood zou te wachten staan (pech hoor, k blijf tot dan gewoon werken) en nog een vreselijk dominante vent op mijn gesprekstoeltje gehad die bijna kwaad werd toen k ni wou inboeten in dominantie (haha).

Voor degenen die gewaarschuwd willen zijn: vanaf nu is 25 januari de Dag van de Mottige Kerels.

We love you Ebay, we do...

Ik kon het echt niet laten vandaag.

Deze middag snel nog even de Meir overgelopen (gevaarlijk, gevaarlijk, op de Frankrijklei werken...) om lastminutesolden te doen, maar eigenlijk vond ik niets naar mijn zin. Spijtig, want (dit zullen de dames zeker beamen) soms kan je gewoon een on-weer-staan-bare drang hebben om iéts te kopen. En als je dan nis naar je goesting vindt ... :-)

Pech dus, dacht ik, maar toen ik thuiskwam kon ik het tóch niet laten van heel eventjes op Ebay te snollen, en jawel hoor, ik heb wat gekocht:



- een set van 8 M.A.C.-borstels, (retail geschat €250 gok ik?) - ik betaalde £9,50 en dat zou ongeveer €15 zijn volgens mij;


- de Large Duo Fibre Brush van M.A.C. (retail €45 euro) - ik betaalde £1,70 dus dat is omgerekend ongeveer €3 misschien?

(Even een side note voor de non-visagisten onder jullie: M.A.C. is zowat de Rolls Royce onder de make-upmerken, niet te betalen in vergelijking met andere professionele isagistenmerken maar oooooooooh zo geweldige producten... En borstels van M.A.C. zijn de droom van àlle visagisten.)

Lachwekkend toch, die prijzen? Mijn mede-Brushketiers zullen begrijpen in wat voor een extase ik momenteel verkeer...

Ik heb dus net ongeveer € 280 uitgespaard of zo. Als dàt geen solden zijn!!!

Warre Friemelpoep!!

Ik zet onze Warre in zijn park vandaag, met een steun in zijn rug (dat hij ons kon zien) en plots valt hij voorover, dubbelgeplooid dus. Ik wil hem terug recht gaan zetten maar nee, meneertje rechtte zijn rug zélf terug naar zit. Klinkt misschien niet méga spectaculair maarre... dat kon hij gisteren nog niet zenne ;-) *trotse mama*

Speciaal voor Niche Dean ;-) (you can die in peace now, lol)

Houseism Du Jour (2)

Cuddy: “Why did you…”
House: “Why does a dog lick its workplace-acceptable euphemism for testicles?”
- Meaning

Poef, cinq!

Relax, take it easy

Eindelijk was het weer zondag, moment van totale ontspanning, verstand op nul en creativiteit ten top: mijn wekelijkse lesdag Master Make-Up Artist.

Zo relax zou ik het eigenlijk niet hebben durven noemen: vandaag was de opdracht een callsheet: 3 looks op telkens een half uur, ouch. Doorwerken dus, en niet te veel tetteren (zéér moeilijke opdracht voor mij, dat had je vast al door).

Ik werkte samen met Kristof vandaag (alles voor de Brushketiers he), wat de nodige hilariteit opleverde... Altijd leuk om een man als een vrouw te mogen opmaken he.

Toen onze docente dan nog meedeelde dat de derde look smokey eyes & valse wimpers inhield... hebben we ons alletwee eens goed laten gaan ;)

Tot zover het weekend, morgen back to work! (Hah wat ben ik blij dat te kunnen zeggen ;-p)

Someone Else Always Says It Better

Hah, net onze Bruce weer eens op de radio horen passeren met zijn levenswijsheden, wat is het weer perfect van toepassing ;-)

Well now I'm no hero
That's understood
All the redemption I can offer
Is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window
And let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's busting open
These two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting down on the tracks...

Houseism Du Jour (1)

Cuddy: ”Dr. House! Need you here.”
House: ”No thanks. Lotta sick people. I might catch something.”
- Kids

Scherven brengen geluk

Hoe verlos je ondergetekende van de hik, les één.

Mijn kersverse collega -zelf verantwoordelijk voor mijn hikbuien met zijn zalige onnozeliteiten de hele dag ;p- had vrijdag de onweerstaanbare drang, of zeg ik beter: roeping, om mij van de hik af te helpen. "Ik zal u eens goed doen verschieten", jaja.

Gewapend met een schoteltje en met een mes (oei dit is spannend! ik moet jullie teleurstellen, t loopt niet bloederig af) zette hij zich achter mij met (I can only imagine) het plan om eens veel lawaai te maken door met dat mes op dat schoteltje te kloppen. But no, his evil plan backfired: schoteltje in stukken, en ik zat scherfjes porselein uit mijn decolleté te vissen.

Anyway, de slappe lach en knalrode koppen later, zal the Dean of St. Easily Bored (voor de vrienden :-)) dan toch voor eeuwig in mijn geheugen gegrift blijven staan als àllereerste man die aan diggelen gaat (slaat?) voor mij.

EN voor diegenen die het zich afvroegen: mijn hik was nog steeds niet over.

The Return

Een nieuw jaar, goede voornemens: je kent het wel. Een waslijst onhaalbare items die Mijn Leven zouden moeten verbeteren. Bridget Jones deed het ons voor en sindsdien vinden alle chicklitlezende, sexandthecityverslaafde meisjes (ondergetekende incluis) dat het rond 01/01 weer eens tijd wordt om hun leven te beteren.

Vorig jaar ben ik er in geslaagd om voor 7 jaar ineens te voorzien, kwestie van geen half werk te doen en mijn eigen gezever een tijdje niet te moeten aanhoren:
- een auto kopen;
- een appartement kopen;
- trouwen;
- zwanger geraken;
- ne gezonde kleine op de wereld zetten;
- eindelijk op reis met mijn ventje;
- nieuw werk vinden.

Tot zover dus het succesvol gedeelte.
Wat mij vorig jaar niet gelukt is, is regelmatig mijn blog updaten en de wereld op de hoogte houden van de avonturen van MegaMellie ;-) Enfin, het wereldwijdeweb heeft daarom blijkbaar besloten dat mijn blog gedoemd was om in het niets te verdwijnen, want toen ik er gisteren op wou inloggen was hij verdwenen.

Hopeijk ziet deze blog mij ietsiepietsie liever ;-)

Op hoop van zege, here we go again!