Quit Smoking - lesson IV

Stay positive. Think of the benefits you will enjoy after you quit. Benefits of quitting tobacco are unlimited! Here are some benefits expressed by others:

• Every breath I take feels so clean and refreshing
• I'm not tired during the day...yet I sleep like a rock at night
• I have more stamina, endurance, and confidence
• More cash in my pocket
• My clothes don't stink
• I'm not ashamed of smoking anymore
• My anxiety level has gone way, way down
• I can breathe!
• I'm working out like a champ
• I am in control of ME
• No more coughing
• I'm eating better--I used to substitute cigarettes for food a lot
• I can smell again
• My complexion is much better
• My heart feels relaxed...like it can do more work with less effort now
• Less heartburn and indigestion
• More respect for myself
• No need to worry about attending events where I can't smoke
• My house smells good! My car smells good!
• No more fear of fire caused by smoking
• I spend money on my health now, like working out at a health club
• My sinus problems are gone!
• My allergies and asthma have improved
• I don't feel like a hypocrite
• I can sing again!
• No more time wasted smoking
• Whiter teeth
• Fresh breath
• Sharper thinking
• Pride in myself
• No more guilt about exposing family and friends to secondhand smoke
• Confidence in my ability to achieve whatever goal I set for myself

Quit Smoking 101 – lesson III

Lesson 3 is al about the health risks of smoking. There are a lot of pictures of blackened lungs, cancers and bad arteries. There is also a lot to read about all the cancers you can get. No really new material or things I didn’t know about.

No assignment to do today. Or exploring the medical side of smoking must count as an assignment. Well, I’ve read all the nasty stuff, so I guess I’m done for today!

Quit smoking 101 - lesson II

Start writing.

A quit smoking journal is a tool that's worth its weight in gold. Your reasons to quit are a great way to get your diary underway. Use it also to answer some questions:

• If you've quit smoking before, what worked well for you and what didn't? I have quit before but I don’t know what helped me then. Candy? Water? Liquorice? I guess it was pure willpower and strength. And the people around me helped and supported me a lot. Nowadays a lot of people don’t even know I smoke again so I will not get their support. I’ve to do this more or less on my own. Maybe I just have to rely on my own willpower. I know it is strong enough to overcome the worst shit.
• What improvements and changes can you make? I don’t want to eat and snack so much. The last time I gained 20 kilo’s and I did not like that. It has taken me along time to get that weight off and I want to keep it off. So this time candy as little as possible and exercise more… so I have to increase my exercise schedule.
• What will be your most challenging situations, and how do you plan to handle them?
Because a lot of people don’t know that I smoke, I’m used to not smoke on a lot of occasions. Most challenging will be when I meet one of my ex b- friends. He and I used to smoke a lot when I we where together. We still meet on a regular basis and last time he already noticed I smoked less then I used to. I can expect some comments from him. I probably won’t see him for a while. When I’m more confident as a non-smoker I’ll meet him again and explain what my reasons for quitting are. I know he will understand :)
• What can you do to change your environment to promote breaking the associations you have to smoking? Get rid of ashtrays, lighters, everything that has to do with smoking cigarettes, tobacco.
• What do you like about smoking? Nothing!
• What do you hate about your addiction? The addiction, the dependencies, the feeling that I must smoke, get tobacco, light up.
• What benefits do you envison in your smoke free life? I will smell nicer, have more energy, breath more easily, like food more, smell and taste more, enjoy life more, feel better, feel free, stop coughing, save money, don’t feel so stressed all the time, be relaxed, healthier, prettier (my skin will improve).

Set your quit smoking date: September 1, 2005 That is within 2 days. So I took the advice. I didn’t pick a quitting date weeks from now!

Quit smoking 101

I received my first lesson just a few moments ago. The focus of today’s lesson is on thinking about why you want to quit smoking. Why do you want to quit smoking tobacco? What are your reasons? Making a list of reasons for quitting is the first step toward successful smoking cessation.

My list:
* I don’t want to be a nicotine junkie anymore.
* Cigarettes taste disgusting.
* Smoke stinks and so do smokers!
* I want more energy.
* If I don’t smoke my hay fever will improve.
* Why do I want to ruin a perfectly healthy lifestyle by smoking?
* My skin will improve just as my sense of smell and taste.
* I hate that constant coppery, ashy taste in my mouth.
* I want to be able to relax and not always feeling in need of something.
* I hate getting smoke in my eyes.
* I don’t like to smoke or be a smoker!
* I don’t like the stained teeth and fingers.
* I don’t want to get sick!
* I don’t want to cough in the mornings.
* I want to be as healthy as possible
* Smoking cost too much
* I don’t want to sponsor the state by paying tobacco taxes.
* I don’t want to worry about being able to smoke
* I don’t want to stand outside because I can’t smoke somewhere
* I don’t want to feel like a loser.
* I want to be free

Stinkende stokken III

Okay, ik ben er inmiddels achter dat ik niet zo’n moeite heb met het stoppen op zich, maar meer met het gestopt blijven of, anders gezegd, het niet meer gaan roken.

Met gemak maak ik de zoveelste “laatste” peuk uit en ga er volledig voor er nooit meer 1 op te steken. Dat gaat heel lang goed. Ik kan de volgende dag uit bed komen en helemaal niet het idee hebben dat ik er weer 1 MOET opsteken. Ik ben zelfs trots op mezelf dat ik geen behoefte aan roken heb. Ik voel me meestal lekkerder, frisser en beter.

Dat gaat lang goed, maar dan (op een gegeven moment) komen de eerste gedachten weer mijn hoofd binnensluipen. Ach, als je het niet redt dan kan je straks toch altijd nog wat te roken gaan halen. Je hebt nou al zo lang niet gerookt, dat is eigenlijk toch al best goed. Je hebt nou toch al weer bewezen dat je zonder kan. Pffff…. Dat nicotinemonster is echt een bitch en ik een slappe hap. Want iedere keer verlies ik het gevecht. Ga ik toch weer naar de winkel voor een nieuw pakje shag/sigaretten. Gek word ik er van. Ik heb gisteren even gekeken wat die nico-pleisters kosten en daar schrok ik toch wel van € 37,--. Dan zeggen ze wel dat je niet naar dat bedrag moet kijken, want dat zou je ander immers oproken…. ik zou wel heel lang kunnen roken van 37 euries hoor.

Maarja, ik geef nog niet op. En zo lang ik probeer te stoppen is er nog altijd een kans dat het me lukt. Doorgaan met roken kan altijd nog. Nu probeer ik het via Quit Smoking 101. Gedurende 10 dagen krijg ik per e-mail informatie over hoe te stoppen en vooral over hoe de eerste week door te komen. Wish me strength, courage and wisdom!

43 Places/43Plaatsen

Vertel verhalen over leuke plekken in je woonplaats of over plaatsen over de hele wereld.

Reizen verandert mensen. Of het nu om het vinden van een nieuw restaurant in de stad of een levensveranderende reis rond de wereld is, het ontdekken van nieuwe plekken maakt de mens gelukkiger. 43 Plaatsen laat je een lijst maken van 43 leuke plekken die je nog wilt bezoeken en laat je verhalen vertellen over de plaatsen waar je al bent geweest.

In eerste instantie vond ik deze sidekick van 43Things helemaal niks. Ik zag er niet zo het nut van in. Zeker omdat ik momenteel helemaal niet (financieel) in de gelegenheid ben om te reizen. Toch heb ik me nu op de site gestort onder het mom van… ik kan nu niet reizen maar in de toekomst toch zeker wel. En ik heb nog zat dingen op mijn verlanglijstje staan. Recent heb ik weer een aantal leuke dingen toegevoegd: varen met de Hurtigurten in Noorwegen, hiken langs de Hadrian Wall in Engeland en slapen in de Vuurtoren van Harlingen.
Ookal ga ik niet op reis, het is wel super om allemaal dingen te researchen.

In het verleden heb ik aardig wel veel gereisd en wie ver reist kan veel verhalen. Ik blader weer eens door mijn fotoboeken, herbeleef dingen en deel mijn verhalen en zo ben ik toch eigenlijk weer constant op reis. Lekker hoor! Ik geniet en ik hoef er niet eens koffer voor te pakken.

15 theme songs for myself

#11 Keep on movin' - Five
I hate to admit it, but this song always gets me up when I’m really down.
I woke up today with this feeling
That better things are coming my way (way)
And if the sunshine has a meaning
Telling me not to let things get in my way
When the rainy days are dying
Gotta keep on, keep on trying
All the bees and birds are flying (ahh ahh ahh)
Never let go, gotta hold on in
Non-stop ‘til the break of dawnin’
Keep on movin’ don’t stop rockin’ (ahh ahh ahh)
Get on up when you’re down
Baby, take a good look around
I know it’s not much, but it’s okay
Keep on moving anyway

#12 Greeneyes - Coldplay
In honour of my own green(/grey) eyes :)
That green eyes, yeah the spotlight,
shines upon you
And how could, anybody, deny you

I came here with a load
And it feels so much lighter, now I’ve met you
And honey you should know, that I could never go on without you

#13 Video - India Arie
Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don’t
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won’t
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul
I’m not the average girl from your video
and I ain’t built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I’m not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I’m wearing I will always be ……………..me!
I’ve learned to love myself… and it feels great.

#14 Everything - Alanis Morissette

I can be an asshole of the grandest kind
I can withhold like it’s going out of style
I can be the moodiest baby that you’ve ever seen
And you’ve never met anyone
Who is as positive as I am sometimes
I am the wisest woman you’ve ever met.
I am the kindest soul with whom you’ve connected.
I have the bravest heart that you’ve ever seen
And you’ve never met anyone
Who’s as positive as I am sometimes.
Like most people I can be everything… good/bad, down/up, high/low, positive/negative. You name it, it’s in here somewhere. Guess I’m human :)

#15 If only I could - Sydney Youngblood
Everybody all around the world, stand up all my brothers
Joining our hands, united we’re stronger
Fighting for peace, caring about our loved ones
Trusting ourselves, sharing our feeling, believe me

If only I could I’d make this world a better place
If only I could I’d make this world a better place
Oh believe me, believe
Believe me, believe, if only I could
If only I could…. With a little help from the good people here on 43things…………. I can!.

15 theme songs for myself

#8 Everybody hurts - R.E.M.
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don’t let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.

Sometimes everything is wrong.
Now it’s time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you’ve had too much of this life, well hang on.
Just to remember that everyone has good and bad days.

#9 Healing Room - Sinead O'Connor
I have a universe inside me
Where I can go and spirit guides me
There I can ask oh any question
I get the answers if I listen
I have a healing room inside me
The loving healers there they feed me
They make me happy with their laughter
They kiss and tell me I’m their daughter
I believe everybody has a healing room and a strong inner voice. You just need to learn how to access it or hear it.

#10 No More Rain (in this cloud) - Angie Stone
I think it’s the ultimate “I’m soooooo over you” song :)
My sunshine has come
And I’m all cried out
And there’s no more rain in this cloud
There’s no hiding place
When someone has hurt you
It’s written on your face, and it reads
“Broken spirit, lost and confused”
“Empty, scared, used and abused, a fool”
Oh, ain’t it funny that the way you feel
Shows on your face(It’s written all over your face, yeah)
And the smile you used to wear
Seems a little bit out of place(Tracks of your tears)
People oh, hold on
In time it gets a little better, whoa

Terug naar vroegâh!

Want vroegâh was alles beter. Neeeuh onzin, vroeger was veel anders maar zeker niet beter.
Maar waarom en hoe dan terug naar vroeger….heel simpel omdat ik weer, net als toen ik klein was, ga sparen in een spaarvarken.

Een paar jaar geleden heb ik van Sinterklaas een spaarvarken gekregen. Volgens mij een stille hint!. Ik had destijds namelijk een gat in mijn hand zo groot dat ik me soms wel eens afvroeg of ik nog wel een hand had. Maakte niet zoveel uit, geld genoeg destijds. Nu is dat totaal het tegenovergestelde en eigenlijk leef ik zuiniger dan ooit tevoren. Van het kleine beetje geld dat er maandelijks binnenkomt spaar ik zelfs maandelijks een klein bedrag. Tis ongelooflijk, zeker als je weet dat ik nooit een grote spaarSTER ben geweest. Klaarblijkelijk word je zuiniger als je minder hebt :)

Nu dacht ik, als ik dan blijkbaar toch kan sparen, waarom dan niet mijn spaarvarken gebruiken? Aan het eind van iedere week deponeer ik al het losse geld uit mijn knip in mijn pig en dan maar eens kijken wat er over een tijdje in zit. Van het geld ga ik iets leuks doen… wat weet ik nog niet dat zal afhangen van het bedrag, maar een ijsje kopen van je zelf gespaarde geld is toch ook al leuk :)

15 theme songs for myself

#3 Selective memorie - Eels
Part of the lyrics:
i wish i could remember
but my selective memorywon’t let me

When I was a kid some nasty shit happened to me. Because of those things there are a lot of stuff I don’t remember or I have erased completely. Good and bad memories. It is a shame; I still would want to remember some of the good things and I’m working on that

#4 Back to life - Soul II Soul
I heard this song for the first time, when I was on a plane going home after the fist holiday/vacation without my parents. Part of the lyrics (Back to life, Back to reality, Back to the here and now, Back to life, Back to the present time, Back from the fantasy) stayed with me ever since then. I know this song is about something completely different but it is still my going home song. After a great holiday I’m still going home to life, reality, the here and now and leaving a fantastic fantasy behind.

#5 Single - Natasha Bedingfield
Part of the lyrics:
I’m not waitin’ around for a man to save me(Cos I’m happy where I am)
Don’t depend on a guy to validate me(No no)
I don’t need to be anyone’s baby(Is that so hard to understand?)
No I don’t need another half to make me whole

Don’t need to be on somebody’s arm to look good(I like who I am)
I’m not saying I don’t wanna fall in love ‘cos I would
I’m not gonna get hooked up just ‘cos you say I should(Can’t romance on demand)
I’m gonna wait so I’m sorry if you misunderstood

I think the lyrics say it all. I’m single at the moment and I really enjoy my current single status, my declaration of independence.

#6 Love you more - Racoon
Part of the lyrics:
Clouds above go sailing by
I found my meaning in this life
clear white is flying in my eyes,underneath a blue, blue sky
The waves come rolling in with the tide.

I’ve been away too long
and everyday I missed you more.
You look like you did before
only prettier.
Everyday I love you more.

All the people rushing by, by, by
looking for meaning in this life
so used up, and blinded by lies,
They’re underneath the blue, blue sky
the way they seldom seem to smileI don’t know why.

’Cause I’ve been away too long
and everyday I missed you more.
You look like you did before,only prettier.

A beautiful song. I pick this one because there was a time I was lost, gone, down and depressed, but now I’m back. So I could say: I’ve been away to long, and every day I missed myself more, I look like I did before, only prettier… and every day I love myself more.

#7 You don't know me - Armand van Helden
I really don’t understand why people have to be so judgmental. I’ve decided to be strong. I’m not afraid of what others say about or think of me. It’s my life, and I’m living it now. Well the lyrics say it all.

I don’t ask for nothing
I’m always holding my own
Every time I turn around, there’s something
People talking ‘bout what they don’t know
And when I try to move on up
They’re always pullin’ me down
I’m tired and I’ve had enough
It’s my life, and i’m living it now

You don’t even know me
You say that I’m not living right
You don’t understand me
So why do you judge my life?
You don’t even know me
You say that I’m not living right
You don’t understand me
So why do you judge my life?

I always wonder why
People try to hurt me
No happiness in their own lives
So they act out all their jealousy
Who are you to say that I’m living wrong?
Always telling me what to do
I’ve decided that I gotta be strong
What makes you think that I needed you?
You don’t know me

FFWD (FastForWardDanceparade) Rotterdam 2005

Approximately 400000 Party people had a blast. The weather was reasonable, the bass was pounding, the people were smiling and having fun. And we all danced, danced…. danced!

Chicklit II

Zojuist gelezen en een echte aanrader:

Husband (is one ever enough) - Adele Parks
Bella secretly married her childhood sweetheart, Stevie, over a decade ago; they were at university, two big kids playing at being grownups. When it all unravelled and reality hit, Bella simply got up and left. And the secret remained a secret.;Years later, Bella meets Philip and, despite her vow never to marry again, she can't resist him. He is a catch. Funny, charming, interesting and kind. Only hitch is, she's still (technically, anyway) married to Stevie. Bella, typically, just ignores the problem. And the moment to tell Philip never quite seems to arrive.;So Bella plans never to reveal her secret after all, it's just a silly piece of paper, lodged at a registrar's office in Aberdeen, isn't it? She hasn't seen Stevie for years probably never will again. Except that Bella's best friend Laura has fallen in love, and when she introduces her new man to the gang it is none other than Stevie. Could things get any more complicated? Only if Bella and Stevie fall in love with each other again

Volgens mij is hij nog niet in het Nederlands verschenen, dat is jammer maar misschien is hij juist in de originele taal veel leuker.

Muggen….wat moet je er mee?

Voor veel insecten heb ik redelijk veel begrip. Van vele snap ik zelfs waarom ze bestaan, maar voor een aantal heb ik helemaal geen begrip. Wat moet de mensheid met een wesp, die toch eigenlijk niks meer of minder doet dan mensen steken. Okay, sommige wespen bestuiven bloemen, sluipwespen helpen bij de biologische bestrijding van plaaginsecten en dat is cool, maar de meeste doen toen echt helemaal niks zinnigs.

Een ander insect waar ik weinig van snap is de mug. Wat doet een mug nou helemaal op deze planeet. Zoemt een beetje rond, de mannetjes eten hier en daar wat plantensappen zoals nectar en de vrouwtjes steken hier en daar een mens en zuigen bloed. En waarom? Alleen maar omdat ze uit het bloed de voedingstoffen haalt die ze nodig heeft voor het leggen van eitjes. Dus eigenlijk houdt de mensheid zelf de muggenpopulatie in stand. Tja, omdat we niet zonder bloed door het leven kunnen, zullen we waarschijnlijk nooit van de muggen afkomen.

Eigenlijk vind ik het beestje op zich helemaal nog niet zo irri. Wat ik wel irritant vind is haar hinderlijke gezoem. Nog hinderlijker is het gezoem bij of in je oor. Grrrrr….het beest heeft een hele kamer om in te zoemen en wat doet ze…bij voorkeur zoemen in de nabijheid van oren. Gek word ik er van, nu helemaal omdat dit jaar de muggenpopulatie groter is dan andere jaren. Kunnen ze muggen niet genetisch manipuleren zodat ze niet meer zoemen? Hmmz.. het zal wel niet. Nou, dan maar hopen op een retestrenge winter met sneeuw, Elfstedentocht, snert, wanten en sjaals, alles erop en eraan. Dat is dubbel leuk voor de mensheid. A) We hebben dan eindelijk eens een keer een echte winter en B) volgende zomer zijn er veeeeeeel minder insecten. Ik ga vast duimen!

Mocht het duimen toch niet helpen dan is er toch nog wel het e.e.a. te doen tegen muggen. Zorg altijd voor een slipper, opgevouwen krant of vliegenmepper binnen handbereik. Een dode mug kan niet zoemen of steken. Plaats een ‘citroenplant’, zorg voor tocht of plaats een ventilator (pas op dat je zelf geen stijve rug/nek krijgt), was je voeten voor het slapengaan want muggen zijn dol op zweetvoeten, of gebruik een middel met DEET erin. Met dat laatste moet je echter oppassen. Bij hoge concentraties tast dit namelijk de slijmvliezen aan. Om van het hinderlijke gezoem af te komen kan je je natuurlijk ook laten steken. Een vrouwelijke mug stopt namelijk met haar bloedzoektocht als ze verzadigd is. Ook kan ze zich maar 1 keer in een aantal dagen volzuigen. Zodra ze voldaan is, houdt ze op met zoemen. Wellicht is naakt in je slaapkamer gaan staan en luidkeels roepen: “Steek me, steek me dan” een oplossing. Misschien ook niet. Zal je altijd zien A) het beest weigert te steken en B) de buren kijken je wel heel vreemd aan de volgende dag!

15 theme songs for myself

#1 Always look on the bright side of life – Monty Python.
I’m a born pessimist but the last few years I’m being much more optimistic. Even on some days, when I think the whole world is against me, I can shrug my shoulders and get on with loving life.

Part of the lyrics:
Some things in life are bad
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse.
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle
Don’t grumble, give a whistle
And this’ll help things turn out for the best…
And…always look on the bright side of life…
Always look on the light side of life…

# 2 K's Choice - Dad
Part of the lyrics:
You never told me that you loved me
I know you didn’t know how
I guess that shows we’re much the same‘cause I love you too
and until nowI’ve never said those words out loud
I hope you’re proud
To be my dad

What are your secrets,
do you pray
Is there a God that shows your way
I wish I knew…
Do you have crazy fantasies
What happens in your dreams
I want to know…

I guess you’ll always be a mystery to me
But you taught me how to value life
and what else do I need
i have a dad who watches over me

My dad died many years ago and I guess that’s why I consider this one of my theme songs. I think I know a lot about my dad and the life he lived but every now and then I wonder about things. Did he have crazy fantasies? What where his secrets? I guess I never know. What I know for sure is this: He loved me, I’m proud to be his daughter, He taught me how to value life and I (still) have a dad who watches over me.

Soms moet er ff gelachen worden :) of gehuild ;)

If you want to do something different

How about a message in a barrel. I came across a this website. It’s really sounds like fun. Just check it out!

Message in a bottle

This is one of my 43things. It sounds simple, drink a bottle of wine, write a message, put it in a bottle and throw the thing in the sea. On 43things however I found a description of how to go about this the best way. Maybe you want too do this to so here is the advice:

Message in a bottle.
So, you want to send a message in a bottle? I would advise doing it like this: Get a good and sturdy bottle. Determine the message that you want to make. Write it down in clear block printed letters. Get contact paper or laminate the paper. If you want to be contacted, make sure that you give an address or email address that is going to be good for a long, long time. It can take years for your bottle to be found. Make sure that the bottle is completely dry on the inside. It will be exposed to water and any moisture could destroy the contents. Now, roll your paper up, and insert it into the bottle. Here is the fun part. I always put things into my bottle to gather the attention of people on the shore. Glitter, ribbons on the INSIDE of the bottle (Safe for fish and turtles and such) and even a small prize like a whistle or something. Think flashy. You want to attract attention. Seal your bottle. Attach the lid. Close it over with duct tape. You may want to pour melted wax over the bottle after, make sure it only goes over the lid. Drop it in the large body of water and begin your wait!

I’m still thinking about the message I want to send. Should it be something inspirational, something personal or just a nice letter? Maybe a note with the lines “Congratulations, you’ve just found a message in bottle” is enough. I’ve still got some thinking (and drinking) to do. But one thing I know for sure… I’m going to complete this thing because every time i’ve gone to the beach i’ve thought about how cool it would be to find one message in a bottle …so maybe I can make someone’s day for no real reason…

Chicklit

Eerst was ik helemaal niet geïnteresseerd in dit genre. Boeken die ik probeerde vond ik erg oppervlakkig, een beetje vluchtig geneuzel in de ruimte. De hoofdrollerettes waren mij te blond en te shallow. Dat soort dames, zonder enige diepgang, bestonden toch niet echt? Umm… no comment! Al vrij snel liet ik de hele chicklithype links liggen. Er was zoveel beters te lezen.

Tijdens een depriperiode was ik op zoek naar wat lichter leeswerk en al vrij snel kwam ik weer uit bij chicklit. Toch nog maar een keer een poging wagen dan! Ik koos voor Jill Mansell’s: Good at Games. Met de volgende tekst op de achterkant van het boek kan het toch eigenlijk niet meer mis gaan: “Suzy fell for Harry the moment she showed him her husband's sperm sample. It didn't really belong to her husband though because she wasn't married, and the sperm sample was really just the dregs from her milk carton, but when you're trying to get off a speeding charge, you have to improvise, right?” Dit boek kon toch niet anders dan humorvol zijn en dat was het ook. Inmiddels heb al diverse boeken van Jill’s hand gelezen en ik moet er iedere keer nog hardop om lachen. Soms sta ik echt versteld van de snelheid van dialogen en de adremheid van de hoofdpersonen. Daar zou je als lezerrette nog wat van kunnen leren. Ik neem me ook iedere keer voor uitspraken te onthouden en te gaan gebruiken. Alleen stapelen de leuke quotes zich op en voor ik het weet ben ik de meeste alweer vergeten.

Bij voorkeur lees ik deze boeken in het engels. Onvertaald komen de engelse (woord)grappen toch het beste tot zijn recht. Een aantal aanraders:

- The one you really want (2004)
It all starts with a shiny, red, sit-on lawnmower. When Nancy spies her Christmas present from her husband sitting on the lawn, she realises the jewellery she thought was for her must be sitting on someone else. Her best friend Carmen isn't surprised (she never liked Jonathan) and persuades Nancy to leave Edinburgh and come and stay in her luxury London flat - far too vast for Carmen since her husband, millionaire rock star Spike Todd, died. Soon Nancy's met gorgeous Connor O'Shea, who lives next door, and his daughter Mia is matchmaking - not least because she'd like to see the back of Connor's current pushy girlfriend. Meanwhile Carmen, who's always been certain she doesn't want another man in her life, feels a spark when a handsome charity worker called Joe calls round. But Joe's not quite all he seems...
- Nadia knows best
Twenty-something Nadia is happily involved with long-term boyfriend Laurie when she is rescued from her broken-down car by Jay and ends up spending the night with him, entirely platonically - not that she isn't tempted, and who would know about it?
- Good at games

Harry Potter 6

Gimme, gimme, gimme.......Harry Potter 7 please! I can’t believe I have to wait so long (2 years is it?) for the concluding part of the story. I’m totally in the story now and I want to know how it ends right about……NOW! :) I can't wait...but I don't think they are willing to publish the book sooner just because some readers want to know how it ends. BUMMER! Well, I guess we have something to look forward too.

Great read! No other comments at the moment, I don’t want to spoil the fun for people who still want to read it.

Happy birthday!

Vandaag is mijn schoonzusje jarig en werd meteen de verjaardag van mijn broer gevierd..... feessie, party, eten...fun!

Gefelicitaart en nog vele jaren!

Thursday August 4, 2005 – Mission accomplished.

I only did it the other way around… from Noordwijk to Scheveningen.
I woke up early and after I had my morning dose of coffee and breakfast I took the bus, subway, train and again the bus to Noordwijk. Reading this, it looks like I traveled for hours on end but that’s not the case.

At a local Noordwijk bakery I bought some buns filled with currants, sultanas, muesli, sunflower seeds and nuts. Funny, they were called beachbuns :) So with my lunch (water, buns, fruit and a ChupaChups) in my backpack I began my 20 kilometer hike!

The weather was just right. Not to hot, light breeze, sunshine, some clouds, plenty of blue skies and not to much people. I’ve really enjoyed myself. Met some nice people (with and without dogs). Saw children having a great (first) time on the beach with their buckets and spades. And saw some of nature’s beauties. I’ve posted some pictures on flickr.

It took me 4 and half hours to reach the Kurhaus Hotel Scheveningen. Not bad, seeing as people walk an average of 5 kilometer an hour.

I’ve had this plan for a couple of years and I’m glad I’ve finally done this…. I had a fabulous time.

Eén ding op mijn 43dingen lijstje is:

Walk along the beach between Scheveningen en Noordwijk. (of Noordwijk en Scheveningen dat hangt af van de windrichting :)).

Deze week beloofde het een aantal dagen mooi weer te worden, dus ik had al helemaal gepland dit ding vandaag ff (nouja ff) te doen. Sinds het weekend houd ik de weersverwachtingen nauwgezet in de gaten en steeds leek woensdag de mooiste dag te worden. Nou mooi niet dus! Ik had natuurlijk beter moeten weten, ik woon immers in Nederland. Sinds gisterenmiddag voorspellen ze niets anders dan regen voor vandaag. Lekker is dat! Hmmmz… misschien voor de tuin maar niet voor mij. Wie gaat er nou voor zijn plezier een uurtje of 3 in de regen lopen? Ikke niet! En ik weet het, ik smelt niet van regen, maar toch… niet mijn meest favo ding om te doen. Jammer hoor, ik had me er echt op verheugd. Tegen beter weten in was ik vanmorgen toch vroeg opgestaan. De zon scheen maar in de verte heerst er een grijze gloed over het blauw. Tja… het zal dus echt wel regen worden. BUMMER! *zucht* Deze task wordt dus wederom uitgesteld tot een latere datum.

Lose weight and keep it off.

I lost 20 kilo’s (or 44 pounds as they say in other places around the world). I did this some time ago but I’m still proud of the result because after all this time I’m still on my goal weight.

Some hints & tips that might help others:

Don’t diet. Since I don’t believe in diets, I achieved this without one. So, whatever you do, don’t go on a diet. Diets make you lose weight quickly but once you resume your normal eating habits, you gain the weight back quicker then you lost it, plus some extra kilo’s or pounds. I tried and tested that, so I know what I’m talking about. Your best bet is to change your lifestyle, one baby step at a time.

Make your own plan. Specify how much weight you want to lose, set a realistic timeline. Don’t expect to see huge results over night.

Exercise. If you don’t exercise, start now! Try new things. Walk, swim, ride a bike, fitness, run, dance whatever…if you move, you burn calories (your metabolism speeds up) and fat. I figured out what sort of exercise I liked and then made a 30 minute routine out of it. Another way to go is walk. 30 minutes each day will make a great difference. Especially as you, like me, never exercised that much.

Drink water. Drinking water cleans your system. It also gives you a full feeling so you don’t feel so hungry all the time. It’s best to drink 8 glasses or 2 liters a day. If you don’t like plane water, ad some lime or lemon.

Food. Sugar is a big no no! The same goes for fried food and fast food. Vegetables, fish, small portions of meat, fruits and fibers are great. Same goes for spices. Try new things, you might be amazed! Eat smaller portions. If you like big plates stashed with food, get smaller plates. Stop eating when you are full even if there is still food left on your plate. Be aware of every bite that you put in your mouth, taste the food. If you focus on your food you will feel full earlier. And shut down your eating at least two hours before bedtime.

Weigh. Weigh and measure yourself on the same day and the same time every week. Don’t go near the scales if it’s not your weigh day. Your weight may fluctuate on a daily basis so it may only discourage you.

And above all…..see this experience as an adventure and enjoy the ride! Even weight loss can be fun!