Changes
So… It’s June.
2011 June.
I guess it was time I updated you all.
What do you want to know?
The Boyfriend?
So yeah, Wim and I are still happy together, deeply in love, and crazy about each other. Couldn’t be better.
We’re together for 11 months now. And both still feel butterflies.
Brilliant.
Didn’t expect that to ever happen again 
The House?
Uhm, yeah… Wim and I bought a house. In the spur of a moment.
We stumbled upon a picture online of a kitchen, a kitchen in a house for sale. We were only together for a couple of months back then so we hadn’t even talked about buying a house at all, but since we didn’t have anything to do on a certain Sunday, we decided to go take a look at that kitchen. Just for fun. To fill up a day.
After seeing the house and leaving it we looked at eachother, and said almost together ‘I want it.’
Then we took an option, called the bank, and the day after the deal was sealed. We bought it.
All happened kinda fast. But it was a joy.
Now we’re almost completely moved in (still waiting for some pieces of furniture) and happy to live in the heart of Antwerp again.
For me, that’s going back to my roots.
The family?
Happy you ask, never been better.
Since moving back to Antwerp, the contact with my family is better than ever, and I hope to keep it that way.
In the end, one can keep fighting battles or one could go for peace, and believe me, peace is the best option. And I’m enjoying every moment that I spend with family again
Oh, and Wim’s family is cool too I get along on that side as well :p
Work?
After buying the house I requested to move stores again, and that happened.
So after Sint-Niklaas, Wetteren and Aalst, I’m now working in Wilrijk.
Still the same company I’ve worked at for years, just yet again a different location. And I’m enjoying myself there.
It’s totally different from the three other stores, again, but that’s what makes it most fun.
Vacation?
What vacation?
Summer In The City?
Not going this year, practical reasons. Can’t take time off then. But I’ll try and be there again next year!
America?
Where do you think I have the money for vacations?
Well, as a matter of fact, I’ll be in the US again this year, but only for a few days for a wedding, that’s all. Consider it a mini-vacation with more jetlag than vacation prolly 
Youtube stuff?
Hmmm… Let’s move on, shall we?
Twitter?
Oh please…
Computer stuff?
Okay, okay, the reason I’ve hardly been online these past months is simple. Don’t fret about it.
My computer broke down in the beginning of the year, and I haven’t bought a new one yet. Moving house kinda cost a lot of money and until we can save up a bit again I’m just using Wim’s Macbook from time to time, and my phone. But that’s kind of the reason you’ve seen me online way less.
That’ll prolly change again when I have my own pc again of course… :p At some point.
The book? Peter The Pirate Cat?
I still got copies, if you want to buy one, let me know or go to peterthepiratecat.com to order one online.
You better have this book. It’s awesome.
Anything else?
Don’t think I have anything else to add. I think we’ve pretty much catched up now.
My life the past months has only consisted of House.Work.House.Work. so yeah…
When is your next blog?
Don’t push it.
<3
MMXI
It’s 2011.
Hello again. Hello world. Hello reader.
I know it’s been a while, let’s not focus on that, let’s focus on the positive! It’s a new blog from me
So, what’s been happening?
Last Thursday I went to Jelle Cleymans’ concert with Wim, one of his Christmas gifts for me. And can I just say, it was great! Jelle is chubbier in person than I imagined, but his voice is as great live as it is on the cd. Oh, and he still is kinda cute-ish.
The passion for the dutch song and for performing was obviously clear, and despite a whole lot of technical issues that night, his spontaneity saved the day. Or night. It was a night to remember, and the best proof there is that he’s a talented performer that should not be dismissed due to his former successes as an actor in children’s tv series.
Best moments of the night? When his soundcheck device failed to work, his spare one didn’t function either, and while waiting on another spare one he asked the audience if we knew what the thing was. One person shouted ‘a bomb!’, to which he responded, laughingly, ‘yes, and that’s why we’re gonna play a game of pass-it-on now, you can start.’
Other great moments include his love for Antwerp – in joke and song – and my favorite song ‘Labiel’ (=’Retarded’). Which is kinda jokingly my theme song
It was a great concert overall, a great homage to the dutch song, and a fun night out with my boy.
The weekend before that Wim and I went to see Burlesque. A movie I wanted to see the moment the trailer came out. I mean, Christina and Cher… Come on, do you need any more reasons?
Frightened that it would be a cheesy fail-movie without proper storyline I found myself happily pleased at the end of the movie. Christina is a solid actress, and brought the house down performing song after song in this americanized Moulin Rouge vs generic woman-pursuing-dreams movie. Cher only performed two songs, but nailed them both. Best song of the movie is by her… ‘You haven’t seen the last of me’ was a clear statement that the woman still has it.
Great one liners included ‘At least this farm girl recognizes a cow when it sees one so go boo at someone else’ and ‘a wig can transform you completely, I’m wearing one right now’. And to be honest, the tease and tell of Cam Gigandet – who’s super cute in the movie – was pretty good too :p
To conclude, it was a great Sunday-evening movie that didn’t require too much thinking and was enjoyable and fun to watch. No award-material, but a lovely guilty pleasure to have on dvd when it comes out.
Work-wise I got transfered to a bigger store last week, to grow and develop my managing skills even more, and it’s been a rough but good week. Even though I miss my former store and the people in it, I’m starting to see what others have liked about this store and told me about. A new challenge, but one I’m completely taking and will work hard for to bring to a good end.
The holidays were great for me, as I got to spend them with my boy, his family, and my family. A warm and loving atmosphere, which I’m really glad there is, as it has been different in the past. Life is great, and can only get better and better. Gift wise Wim and I gave each other a ton of gifts, but all of the small and practical kind. Which was a blast. We still got two Bongo’s to plan out, I bet we’ll get to that soonish.
For those who didn’t know, my children’s book ‘Peter The Pirate Cat’ is still for sale at www.peterthepiratecat.com – currently only in English, as the Dutch version is out of stock and I’ve been having insane troubles trying to get some more stock of them. So go buy it. Now.
And also, Vloggersoftheweek started again, and I’ve been having fun with it. www.youtube.com/vloggersoftheweek is where you can find that. We started it 3-4 years ago, and after a long hiatus we’ve started back up, because we missed each other
See you in a next blog, when I get to it
Comment. Love. Share. <3
Random thing I saw today: a Wizards of Waverly Place marathon on Disney Channel. Don’t judge me.
Random thing I tasted today: Freshly made ‘lost bread’, which is basically bread that’s been dropped in a mix of milk, eggs and sugar and then thrown in a pan.
Random thing I smelled today: A delightful Nespresso while having breakfast in bed.
Random Question for you: What are you looking most forward to in 2011?
Disliking the resting.
You know what’s frustrating?
Telling me to rest for a whole week.
I know I should.
And I am.
But it frustrates me.
I’m not one to sit still.
Nor one to stay in bed.
I’m a workaholic.
An Energizer bunny.
And that bloody leg of mine,
with that ripped muscle,
that is slowly healing itself,
that bloody leg,
which dooms me to this faith.
Screw it.
I dislike it.
Enormously.
But.
I know I need to rest,
or I will be chained to the bed even longer.
So I weep,
I commit,
and I rest.
But I still don’t like it.
So yeah, I ripped a muscle in my leg over a week ago, rested it well, the muscle itself has reconnected by now, but I need to rest for another week to make sure it’s completely healed. And I don’t like resting, I like being active, but I’m not allowed to be. For now. Le sigh.
Random thing I saw today: Red and white pills on tv that supposedly make you lose weight magically. I bet they don’t work.
Random thing I tasted today: Gingerbread that I dropped in a hot cup of milk.
Random thing I smelled today: The melon in my room that I look forward to eating soon.
Random Question for you: Are you an active or a passive person? And how would you deal with it when you’re told to rest and do nothing for a whole week?
When good things happen to other people
You know that feeling of proudness that can just pop up inside you when someone you like reaches opportunities they deserve, that warm burst of happiness because they get to do amazing stuff you’ve always hoped they would?
No?
Sucks for you because it’s an amazing feeling
Now you’re wondering why I’m telling you this?
Well, if you know me by any means chances are huge that I’ve already told you about Lisa Lavie, if I haven’t then you either don’t talk to me enough or you’re in desperate need of a refreshing introduction.
Lisa is a girl, a stunning woman, who sings. Many people sing, or think they can, but very few sing like Lisa.
I discovered her back in the day on YouTube when she had less than 50 subscribers, and was instantly captivated by her talent. Fan of the first hour for sure. And ever since that day I’ve seen her grow, well as far as one can see someone grow from the other side of the ocean.
In the years that passed Lisa grew out to become one of YouTube’s finest people to watch, never shy of a collaboration with other artists, and always in touch with her fan base. Yes, just like back in the day she still comments back on great amounts of comments given to her, if not all. I have to once again commend her on that, not many people do.
Now, if that doesn’t make you excited about her, check out youtube.com/lisalavie1 and watch her sing. You’ll be instantly addicted. And once you’re at it, buy her first album on itunes, you’ll love it, it’s a gem.
Did all that? Okay, then let’s get back to the point of this blog.
Earlier today Lisa announced that she’ll be touring South America together with Yanni. And if there’s one thing I’ve always hoped on, it is that she’d get the opportunity to showcase her talent not only online but also offline, not only to headhunters but also to passionate music insiders, not only to fans, but also to soon-to-be-fans. And it makes me so happy that she got this opportunity to tour alongside Yanni, since it’ll give her so much more… not only chances, but also experience. Experience that she’ll put to good use I’m sure. And well, having been there from the beginning… it’s kinda like seeing your small girl grow up, and it makes me so proud of her
It makes me happy when people who deserve it are happy. And I’m sure she is. And I can’t wait for tour footage
Now go out and spread the word my minions, cause you know she deserves to be known.
Peace.
Question time!
- what are you proud of today?
- what’s your favorite song of Lisa’s?
- have you already hugged someone today? Because you should.
Busy day off
So today was my day off, as it usually is on thursdays. And now that Wim is working again and even has a long day of work on thursdays it means that these days will be spend as me-time, relaxing, grocery shopping, working on side projects,… the things you do when the boyfriend isn’t around. Kind of like every Thursday was before I met Wim
Today was a busy day though… I woke up early to finish some cleaning up as my new dryer would be delivered in the morning.
Around 10.30 the lift arrives, as big things need to be delivered trough my window because of the very small spinal stairs, and after about 20 minutes of waiting the dryer finally arrives, and luckily all goes well.
New Miele dryer, check.
Side note: I’m on a train at the moment, and there are three old men in my carriage, and they’re annoyingly loud. Kids yesterday, old people today, and then people tell me I’m wrong when I tell them that those two groups of people should be abandoned from eyesight…
Anyway, so after the dryer got delivered I for some reason decided that it should be in a different spot than I originally intended. Which resulted in me moving all the furniture again. At first so I could clean and mop behind them, but when I honestly look back at it it was the interior designer bitch that lives inside me that was on the loose again.
A couple of hours, and lots of moving and cleaning, later I noticed I had missed my train.
I had arranged to meet Anne in Antwerp for Starbucks at 4. It was 3.50. That was a problem.
I notified her of my delay and jumped into the first pair of shoes I could find, ran to the train station, and arrived in Antwerp at 4.30. Only half an hour late, score!
I hate running late, but seeing Anne again made me forget about it. Hugs and Starbucks later all was epic happy times, and then Wim told me he was on his way.
For those who haven’t noticed, I’m kinda addicted to my boyfriend. And I hadn’t seen him for almost two days, which is relatively long, given that we’ve been seeing each other almost daily for the past month or so.
So Anne and I head to the Melkmarkt, where we sit down on the terrace of The Muse and where Wim joins us minutes later. Hunger is rising though and we go on a hunt for food, which we found on the Groenplaats.
Anne then left us, and Wim and I headed to ‘t Zuid because tomorrow morning Wim is leading a group of kids around ‘t Zuid in a scavenger hunt, and he wanted to try the directions to make sure it’s all clear.
About an hour later and a lovely walk trough Antwerp with my boy in hand we finished the tour and agreed that it was clear and would be no problem for the kids tomorrow. Yay for combining fun things with productive things
After that we returned to Antwerp Central, where he took the metro to his car and I took the train home. Due to his early rise because of the scavenger hunt he’s not staying the night… /insert sadface. He will tomorrow though, and me likey
And by now I’m home, and I’m glad my day went so well.
I didn’t make it to the hair dresser though, will need to do that soon. I also need to get me a new pack of trash bags. But yeah, I need to do more stuff too… /ignores huge to do list.
Questions of the day:
- How often do you move furniture?
- Have you ever done a scavenger hunt?
- How big is your to do list?
