TT #64: random

Thirteen random things I want to share So much to tell, so little time to blog... Friday last week I broke down. I cried and let it all out. Let's face it; I have another depression. That makes two of us here at home, not the nicest situation. But somehow we'll come through this helping each other along the way. We were supposed to go to a fair in Alkmaar on Saturday and we had also planned to go to the belated Halloween party of friends in Den Haag in the evening. We decided to cancel everything so I could rest and charge my battery. Not an easy decision, but it was the good one. I slept a lot and did close to nothing. I'm still not back to "normal", but it's getting better. Baby Dominique has come home to her mother Monique. She was doing so well she could leave the hospital early. She has grown a lot, although to me she's still so tiny! (pics by IJs) My brother and his girlfriend have a puppy, a Border Collie named Doggy. She is such a cutie!! During the day Gerard takes the little one with him to his work. We visited them last week. We played until she fell asleep on my hand. When Sylvia celebrated her birthday at home I saw Doggy again. I think I'm in love... ;-) This saturday there is a meeting of the Ara-group. We are going to dye our robes. I still hadn't finished the sewing though. I don't like it, I'm not good at it, it isn't and will never be my hobby! The stress of wanting to do it perfect nevertheless was killing me. Ron took matters out of my hand and put the robe together with his sewing machine. On one hand I'm a bit disappointed because I wanted to do it by hand, but on the other hand I'm soooo happy it's done! I didn't want net curtains in front of the kitchen window, but I also didn't like the fact that passers-by could look right at what's on our kitchen unit. Gerard made a special sticker screen that does let light in, but keeps out the glancing. To break the line there's a cat too; it looks great! See from the outside and inside. Wonder and I are busy planning a special meeting for Beltane 2008. Together with Mol and Aphro we are making planns. The location has already been booked. It will be two days: Wednesday April 30 and Thursday May 1. For my birthday money I bought a planner for 2008 with a beautiful leather binder. The planner is from Seasons of the Witch, with colourful pages and gorgeous images. I had seen the binder on their website a long time ago and it never left my mind. It was expensive, but worth every cent! If you live outside the USA I wouldn't recommend ordering the binder though: I had to pay almost € 35 import duty to customs! We are invited at the home of Ron's eldest sister for Christmas. The rest of the family will be there too. It's going to be a brunch and thank goddess the dresscode is casual. Some time ago I bought the CD/DVD Forever Cool featuring Dean Martin together with a selection of artists, singing his songs together. Among them Robbie Williams (a big fan of Dino) on "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone", but also Joss Stone, Kevin Spacey, Charles Aznavour, etc. I listen to it a lot! If you click the link you can listen to samples of the songs. The DVD contains 25 minutes "making of" and interviews. I bought 2 new DVDs last week: The Jungle Book and Harry Potter 5. We have watched them both. Jungle Book will always be one of my favourite Disney-movies, I love it! Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was good. I'm looking forward to 6 and the final year! Over here in The Netherlands the little children are excited, because Sinterklaas has arrived. On December 5th he brings all of them presents. I wrote a TT about the tradition of Sinterklaas last year. The Christmas rush has already started too, but it only gets going after Sinterklaas. I love wordgames and puzzles. I've been addicted to games like Tetris and Mahjongg. For some time I've been playing BookWorm online in Dutch and English, but now I have BookWorm DeLuxe and I just can't stop. It's a bit like Tetris with letters. You are supposed to make words. I received another postcard for my bloggers' postcard exchange. If you like to send and receive real postcards from around the world, feel free to join in! If you send me a postcard from your town/region of residence, I'll send you one from mine. Send me an e-mail through the link on my site to exchange addresses and we'll have a deal! ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Holly ~*~ Mocha Mom ~*~ Mar ~*~ Nap Warden ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ Amy Ruttan ~*~ Joyismygoal ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ The Gal Herself ~*~ Yuriko ~*~ shesawriter ~*~ thecabinet ~*~ Nicole ~*~ Lori ~*~ Greatfullivin' ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Janet ~*~ Rae ~*~ Wacky Mommy ~*~ grace ~*~ Gattina ~*~ Sassy Lucy ~*~ Robin ~*~ Dallas Meow ~*~ Kate ~*~ Darla ~*~ Kat ~*~ betty ~*~ Aline ~*~ Di ~*~ Natalie ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Iamthediva ~*~ cajunvegan ~*~ Tina Kubala ~*~ Yummy! ~*~ Damozel ~*~ Candy Minx ~*~ Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Bloggers Postcard Exchange

In May this year I joined the Bloggers Postcard Exchange, a worldwide swap of local postcards by bloggers. I have sent out 8 cards of IJmuiden and so far received 5 cards in return. After mum's death it was calm for a while. Last week I got a card of Brisbane from Tey. I had already sent out my card to her. I'd love to exchange more cards with my blogging friends, so:

Do you have a blog? Blogspot, web-log, LiveJournal, doesn't matter where. I'd be happy to exchange postcards with you and link back to your log on my website. Just send me an e-mail to swap addresses!

You can see all of my cards at the special page I made for this exchange on my website.

Postcard exchange

Two weeks ago I was going through my favourite blogs to keep pace with what's happening. I stumbled upon pictures/scans of postcards from around the world. It turned out to be a worldwide swap of local postcards by bloggers. I offered to take part and sent out cards from IJmuiden, The Netherlands. I already got three in return:

1. St. Louis, Missouri, USA from Mumbo Jumbo
2. Manila, Philippines from Viamarie
3. Melbourne, Australia from Meow

I added the exchange to a new page of my website.

Do you want to exchange postcards with me? Just leave a comment or e-mail me and we'll work it out!