Catching up

A lot is happening, I've been busy. The usual clichés but true nevertheless. What have I been doing...

Saturday I went shopping with Wonder in the old city centre of Utrecht. The weather was great and I love the historic character of the inner city. The canals have platforms almost on water level. The wharfs are still in use as store rooms, for little shops and restaurants. On top of the embarkment walls the main street is built with shops and houses. We lit candles for our parents in the beautiful Dom Church. I didn't buy much, just one book! Later two friends joined us. Afterwards we went home with them to Nieuwegein, where Ron joined us too.

Sunday was a difficult day. It would have been mom's 72nd birthday... So strange; you can't celebrate, but it also isn't and will never be just another day... In the evening we went out for dinner in her honour with my sister, brother and partners in restaurant De Stal (the stable) in Spaarnwoude. It's Ron's favourite restaurant, because they have very good, very big T-bone steaks. We had a wonderful time.

Yesterday we were busy, but also found time for a hike on the beach with the dogs. We walked around the inner lake on the beach. Boris went for a swim several times, he loves that. The weather was very good, almost spring: sunny and warm for the time of year. We walked for one and a half hour. I was exhausted, but still loved it!

Today is Foofur's birthday. He is 9 years old now. I bought big bones for him and Boris. I still remember meeting him for the first time, when I was at work in the pet shelter 9 years ago. It was love on first sight! Ron had to get used to a little dog, but loves him just as much now. Here's a picture of the birthday boy, made in 2003:

TT #73: quotes by the Dalai Lama

Thirteen quotes by His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso (born 1935) is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. He is often referred to simply as the Dalai Lama. The title "Dalai Lama" is granted to each of the spiritual leader's successive incarnations. In 1989 he was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. Here are 13 of his (many) quotes: All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness. The important thing is they should be part of our daily lives. In the society is too much violence. Now the national leaders are very much involved to do something about these things. But unless something comes within ourselves, within people themselves, the government or the law or constitution and police forces cannot do much. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness. There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace. We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace within ourselves. I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it's okay to remain a radical atheist. It's absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart -- then no problem. We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection. It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them. In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher. Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life. Sleep is the best meditation. sources: Brainy Quote, ThinkExist ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Sue ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ pussreboots ~*~ Rhonda ~*~ Sandee ~*~ SusieJ ~*~ JoyIsMyGoal ~*~ the teach ~*~ The Gal Herself ~*~ Candy ~*~ MamaGeek ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Joely Sue ~*~ Alasandra ~*~ Cricket's Hearth ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Sandy Carlson ~*~ Michelle ~*~ Miranda ~*~ pjazzypar ~*~ Brenda ND ~*~ mom huebert ~*~ byrningbunny ~*~ Adelle ~*~ Babystepper ~*~ Buck Naked Politics ~*~ Open Grove Claudia ~*~ Nicole Austin ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ infinitygoods ~*~ Ivan Girl ~*~ The Bluest Butterfly ~*~ xakara ~*~ Lisa ~*~ suchsimplepleasures ~*~ Darla ~*~ Kat's Krackerbox ~*~ fullbodytransplant ~*~ Janet ~*~ storyteller ~*~ Robin ~*~ OneLuvGurl ~*~ Lara Angelina ~*~ Nancy Lindquist-Liedel ~*~ YummY! ~*~ Melissa ~*~ Starrlight ~*~ damozel ~*~ Jen ~*~ Tasina ~*~ Melanie ~*~ chanpheng ~*~ Christina ~*~ Yertle ~*~ 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

COT #10: cats & computers

CATS ON TUESDAY is a group of cat lovers

who share pictures and/or stories about their cats once a week,

hosted by Gattina.

~*~*~*~

Cats and computers are a great combination.
Well, most of the time anyway.... ;-)
I'm a big fan of cat-blogs and all kinds of cat-sites!


On a random search I've found this:
USB Kitty with two infrared sensors to help its master to alert any intruders by shaking its head and producing many different sounds. When you walk away from your computer and there is somebody want to touch your PC, it will meow, hiss and sing melodies in order to scare away the intruders.


My own cats have a love-hate relationship with my desktop and laptop. They are very interested, but hate it when I'm busy too long! Then they try everything to get me to pause and pay attention to them!

Snoopy (still dearly missed...) just jumped on my desk and occupied the keyboard!


Bastet likes to chase the cursor all around the screen!


Maia is very interested in just about anything that's on the screen!


Another nice thingy I found here:


Happy (Cats on) Tuesday!

Natalee Holloway - case solved?

This case got worldwide media attention for almost three years now and I followed it all that time. I just watched Peter R. de Vries' astonishing coverage in which he reveals how he got Joran van der Sloot's full confession. You can read the whole story here.
I was shocked by the way Joran told his story to a friend. He just sat there looking and acting completely indifferent. He didn't even check if she was really dead. He didn't even lose any sleep over it. He doesn't feel guilty. I don't have words for this... As Natalee's mother Beth said in the report: "I hope his living hell is about to begin."
I hope Beth and the rest of Natalee's family and friends will find a way to cope with this awful outcome. They have my deepest sympathy...

TT #72: in my fridge

Thirteen things in my refrigerator Too late for Cats on Tuesday, too busy to blog... Sorry, this is a "quickie" of a TT! Old IJmuiden cheese - actually this is a special edition of my favourite Old Amsterdam cheese fresh milk - half-fat, tastier than low-fat and healthier than full-fat winter carrots - extra big carrots, used as a late-night snack freshly squeezed kiwi-juice - hurray for Jack La Lanne's Power Juicer! freshly squeezed Granny Smith apple juice - again the power juicer, yummy! squeeze-bottles - ketchup, mayonaise, currygewürz, garlic sauce new-laid eggs - free-range eggs of course Yakult Light - Yakult is a probiotic drink, good bacteria that supplement the natural bacteria in your gut; it works for me, and I like the taste very much! pickles - gherkins, pearl onions, etc. and pickled herring salad dressing - based on yoghurt butter products: spread, oils, margarine, etc. Coca Cola Zero and Diet Coke with Lime - lots! sandwich filling: ham, chicken, smoke-dried beef, roast beef, etc. ... and lots more! :-) ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Sandy Carlson ~*~ ellen b. ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Claudia ~*~ Natalie ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ Journeywoman ~*~ Deb Maydak ~*~ Gattina ~*~ Nancy Liedel ~*~ JoyIsMyGoal ~*~ Darla ~*~ Penelope Anne ~*~ AtomiK Kitten ~*~ Candy Minx ~*~ Angelle ~*~ emeraldcityguy ~*~ Julia ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Jehara ~*~ storyteller ~*~ 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

Guided Tour

Our friend and neighbour Monique works for Menzies Aviation Netherlands at Schiphol Airport. Today was a special day for family and friends. We got a guided tour around the company premises. It was very interesting and nice to see these things so close: air cargo, import/export, transport, very big sheds/hangars, etc. The last part and for me highlight of the tour was a demonstration by Diag-Nose with search dogs. Really amazing what they do! The dogs are very enthusiastic, weel-trained and loved by their human collegues. They really see the dogs as co-workers and obviously care about them very much. We also got a demonstration of a new technique called RASCargO, where the dogs don't even have to go into the cargo sheds. Again, amazing! The guided tour lasted more than two hours of walking-standing still-walking, etc. Very tiring, but very worthwhile!

Yippee-kai-yay!!!

Today Ron got the long-awaited letter from the CBR and........ he is declared unlimited fit to drive a truck!!! He can go to the cityhall and renew his driver's license for all categories he had before. Woohoo!!! *happy dance* :-D
The odds this would happen were very little (because of his burn-out and depression, and European legislation), but we kept the faith and won! If I ever doubted whether magic works, that's over now.

TT #71: thirteen titles

Thirteen books with 'thirteen' in the title This week I'm sharing 13 books with 'thirteen' in the title. The links lead you to the book on Amazon.com. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich - Number 13 in the Stephanie Plum series: New secrets, old flames, and hidden agendas are about to send bounty hunter Stephanie Plum on her most outrageous adventure yet. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - Reclusive author Vida Winter, famous for her collection of twelve enchantingstories, has spent the past six decades penning a series of alternate livesfor herself. Now old and ailing, she is ready to reveal the truth about her extraordinary existence and the violent and tragic past she has kept secret for so long to Margaret Lea, a young biographer, who is troubled by her own painful history. Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier - Frazier, author of the widely applauded Cold Mountain (1997), remains true to the historical fiction vein. The author's second outing finds grounding in a timeless theme: a grand old man remembering his glory days. 13: Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen by James Howe (editor) - In this wide-ranging collection, familiar authors for young adults contribute short fiction about 13-year-old characters who are experiencing bewildering feelings, making discoveries, or undergoing the embarrassments typical of the age. Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back by Joseph Bruchac - The 13 cycles of the moon represent the changing seasons and the passage of time. Each moon has its own special name that, while varying among the Native American tribes, is consistent with the legend that the 13 scales on Old Turtle's back hold the key to these moons. The author presents 13 poems that take readers through the year. The Thirteen Apostles by J. Ellsworth Kalas - This book focuses on the disciples and Kalas uses his typical style of hitting the subject matter from a unique angle that surely engages and causes one to think "outside the box". A quick grasp and overview of the disciples, great Sunday School lesson material. The Thirteen Petalled Rose by Adin Steinsaltz - Written by a world-renowned scholar rabbi, this book is based on the structures and assumptions of the kabbalah. Steinsaltz does a magnificent job of peeling the layers back to get at the core of the meaning of concepts relating to life. History of the Thirteen by Honore de Balzac - A definitive contrast between the men called the Thirteen and social life in Paris at the beginning of the 19th century. On one hand, men are dedicated to their principles and goals, and on the other hand, a declining noble society is only busy with itself and its past glory. In the meantime you can feel how the less glamorous society is evolving and maturing. The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams - Through the experiences of the archetypal 13 Original Clan Mothers, you are guided through life's lessons. Native American wisdom through parables focusing on attaining the road to spirituality and oneness with all life. An eye-opener to the sacredness and lessons to be learned all around us. Thirteen Steps Down by Ruth Rendell - A chilling novel about obsession, superstition, and violence, set in Rendell’s darkly atmospheric London. Mix Cellini is superstitious about the number 13. In musty old St. Blaise House, where he is the lodger, there are thirteen steps down to the landing below his rooms, which he keeps spick and span. His elderly landlady, Gwendolen Chawcer, was born in St. Blaise House, and lives her life almost exclusively through her library of books, so cannot see the decay and neglect around her. Thirteen Years at the Russian Court by Pierre Gilliard - This book goes into fantastic detail about the children of Tsar Nicholas II. Gilliard was their private tutor, so this is a very intimate portrait of their lives from about 1909 or so until they died. A must read for anyone interested in Russian history. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie - A collection of Miss Marple stories. The setup is a get-together of friends and family for an evening of fun and games. When one guest proposes that each person present a 'problem' for the others to solve, the game is underway. When each little problem is presented, only Miss Marple can see her way through to the solution. C-Train and Thirteen Mexicans by Jimmy Santiago Baca - C-Train is a heartstopping series of episodes from the life of Dream-boy, a young man who finds himself seduced, and later enslaved, by the siren song of cocaine. In Thirteen Mexicans, Baca writes of the Chicano community and the gulf between the American dream and American reality. Can you guess which books I've read or own? ~~~I read them all, but don't own any of them (exceptional in my case!)! ~~~ ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ Sandee ~*~ ellen b. ~*~ Greatfullivin ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Sandy Carlson ~*~ Cricket’s Hearth ~*~ Open Grove Claudia ~*~ Natalie ~*~ journeywoman ~*~ Angela ~*~ Zenmomma ~*~ Robin ~*~ Dazeree Joan ~*~ Nancy Liedel ~*~ Darla ~*~ Lazy Daisy ~*~ Neen ~*~ JoyIsMyGoal ~*~ Nancy J. Bond ~*~ Celticlibrarian ~*~ storyteller ~*~ 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

Shadow Workshop

This weekend (friday-saturday-sunday) I attended a workshop by Phyllis Curott for the Ara Lowlands group in Otterlo. The theme was "Dancing with your shadow". In this case shadow stands for the not-so-positive parts of your personality: vices, "negative" emotions, things you hide or deny. Phyllis taught us exercises and gave us tools to retrace, face and embrace them. It was heavy stuff and hard work, but very rewarding! I really had a breakthrough in dealing with the ugly-me-monster. Where years of therapy didn't succeed in changing my distorted body image, a simple (though not easy...) exercise turned out to be the boost into the right direction. A major step. There's still a lot of work to be done in that area, but for the first time I believe I can beat this.
Alongside the hard work we had a great time too! It was good to see Phyllis again, to talk to her and work with her. During the first two workshops the groups were large, now we were with only nine (including Phyllis and our "goddess-mother"). Saturday night we did a wonderful ritual. It was the first time we wore our green robes. We also made several shamanic journeys.
We'll hear a.s.a.p. when the initiation will be. We hope in september / october, but it depends on the deadline of Phyllis' new book.
I was home at half past seven last night. I'm exhausted, but that was to be expected. The fabulous weekend was more than worth it!

Driver's license

Last Thursday Ron got another setback. We went to the cityhall to renew his driver's license. Ron also has a license for lorry/truck and trailer; in Dutch we say "groot rijbewijs" (big driver's license). The civil servant asked him if he had been examined. It is not commonly known, but for 2 years now it is obligatory to be examined for people renewing their "big license". It was a major blow, but at least we could make an appointment for an examination last Friday.
Ron was very nervous for the test, there was so much depending on it for him. Unfortunately his fear was grounded. Because of Ron's depression there's a very real possibility he can't renew his truck license! The burn-out and anti-depressants are no problem... Ron was devastated to hear that. His license has practical but also emotional value for him, because his father was a truckdriver. So stupid it will be difficult to renew! If he had renewed it before November (before the depression was diagnosed) everything would be fine for 10 years. It's just nor fair! Ron is a very good driver, car or truck. And it's not only me saying that!
Hopefully there is a way to try to prevent all this. Ron's psychiatrist will write a note saying his depression is due to his mother's death and he's doing better already. The anti-depressants have been subscribed because of the burn-out. The examination doctor said that with such a note he would make a chance. So... fingers crossed! If you can send energy, light a candle, etc... Please do so!

Last saturday I wrote and performed a ritual with Wonder at his place for Ron. It was very powerful. In a meditation we struggled with the demons in his head and defeated them. I wrote them down and burned it in the cauldron. Then we meditated on Ron getting better, healthier, working in a job he likes, etc. I carved a green candle and rubbed it with a special oil. I felt a lot better, the trust that everything will be okay is back. Ron has felt something (peace and quiet) too, directly after the ritual.

TT #70: expensive cities

The thirteen cities with most expensive cost of living Mercer's annual Cost of Living Survey covers 143 cities across six continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Base City is New York, USA (=100) which landed on 15th place. Due to the weak dollar no US-cities made the top rankings. I give you the Top 13 of 2007: Moscow - Russia - 134.4 London - United Kingdom - 126.3 Seoul - South Korea - 122.4 Tokyo - Japan - 122.1 Hong Kong - China - 119.4 Copenhagen - Denmark - 110.2 Geneva - Switzerland - 109.8 Osaka - Japan - 108.4 Zürich - Switzerland - 107.6 Oslo - Norway - 105.8 Milan - Italy - 104.4 St. Petersburg - Russia - 103.0 Paris - France - 101.4 Want to read more? Go here! ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Deb Maydak ~*~ Carolan Ivey ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Mama Pajama ~*~ Robin ~*~ Nap Warden ~*~ pjazzypar ~*~ Rian Fike ~*~ ellen b. ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Sandy Carlson ~*~ WAHM ~*~ Susan Helene ~*~ Open Grove Claudia ~*~ Crimson Wife ~*~ Cheerio ~*~ Dallas Meow ~*~ Susie J ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ Pussreboots ~*~ Lazy Daisy ~*~ Nadiah Alwi ~*~ damozel ~*~ Sarai ~*~ SuchSimplePleasures ~*~ Journeywoman ~*~ Gattina ~*~ NewRoad ~*~ forgetfulone ~*~ mar ~*~ JoyIsMyGoal ~*~ Natalie ~*~ Wolfie ~*~ Pretty Life Online ~*~ moondancerdrake ~*~ Darla ~*~ Mitchypoo ~*~ Di ~*~ Helene ~*~ Julia ~*~ Cindi ~*~ Cindy ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Jehara ~*~ Julia ~*~ 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

New start

The new year helped me to make a new start in eating. I finally succeeded in breaching the vicious circle, the binging... It is hard, very hard. I'm glad I did it though, it was about time to get a grip on myself!
I stepped on the scales last week, I'm back to 100++ kg... I expected that, I knew before I saw the figures. I can't blame anyone but myself. I don't want to linger on blaming myself. I know it so well and it doesn't work.
This new start is different new start than others in the past. I'm not setting any unreachable goals, I don't stop eating, I'm not putting myself on a killer diet. This time I'm doing it the right way. Start eating normally, change habits, stop fooling myself. So far it's going okay. Not perfect, but okay. That's good enough.
Last Thursday I went with Ron to his psychiatrist. She's good. I talked freely and told her about my feelings. She knows enough about eating disorders not to make the classic therapist mistakes, what a relief! She was honest enough to say that she doesn't know whether she can help me. That's fine. If she's willing to give it a try, so am I. This thursday is the next appointment.

COT #9: cats & dogs

CATS ON TUESDAY
is a group of cat lovers

who share pictures and/or stories about their cats once a week,

hosted by Gattina.

We've always had cats and dogs together. Never had any real problems. They accept each other, play and tease. They sleep together, wash each other... All the dogs and cats we had could happily live together.
Freyja & Bastet like Foofur and Boris a lot. Especially Bastet, who loves to wash them and sleep closely against them. Maia is curious after the dogs, but still keeps her distance.
Here are some of the many pics of our dogs and cats together:

TT #69: resolutions again!

Thirteen attainable resolutions Last week I reviewed my 2007 resolutions. I decided not to make resolutions this year. Still, I couldn't resist... This time they will be done for sure though! ;-) buy books eat chocolate spoil my pets no alcohol no smoking read more extra computer time do voluntary work watch more tv celebrate my 40th tell Ron I love him every day drink more Diet Coke do witchy stuff I can do this!!! *LOL* ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ SusieJ ~*~ Robin ~*~ pjazzypar ~*~ ellen b. ~*~ SJ Reidhead ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Sandy Carlson ~*~ Joely Sue ~*~ Greatfullivin ~*~ Rae ~*~ Lazy Daisy ~*~ Wani ~*~ Janet ~*~ Lori ~*~ armywife ~*~ Gattina ~*~ Wacky Mommy ~*~ Yuriko ~*~ Shesawriter ~*~ damozel ~*~ cajunvegan ~*~ Yen ~*~ Joyismygoal ~*~ Kristie ~*~ Sarah ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Darla ~*~ Linda ~*~ Nancy ~*~ 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

Happy New Year!

(art: Fireworks Finale by Lesley)

All the best for the New Year

to all my blogging friends around the world!!

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
(Alfred Lord Tennyson)