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Just wanted to share this with all of you. It's for a good cause.
Jess

12:08 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Hair
Category: Life

Okay, a strange title for a blog, but it's something I was thinking about yesterday.   Probably because I went to the hairdressers the day before  ...
First there's the hair on your head. Personally I'm a woman with short hair. Because I find that the easiest thing: when you wash it, you just dry it with a towel, take a comb thorugh it and then let it dry on it's own. But when you have short hair and you go to the hairdresser things become a bit more difficult. I don't know if you ever looked through a book with different hairstyles for women. Just try and find more then one or two examples in their of women with short hair. I can garantuee you did will be difficult. For some reason, most of those books have a majority of long hair styles and very, very few of short hair. So mostly, I just go with my own idea, and don't choose anything from the books, simply because the examples in there are too long for my liking.
And then the cutting of the hair itself starts. I've been going to the same hairdresser for quite a few years now, so that doesn't give too many problems anymore. But whenever you go somewhere else, and you say you want your hair cut really short, they always look at you as if you're not sure what you want. It's very hard to find someone who's willing to cut it really short from the first cut. Usually, when everything is cut, they ask me if it's to my liking, and I have to tell them I still want it a bit shorter. I wonder if men ever have that same problem, or if hairdressers just cut their hair short from the beginning.
I know, most women prefer long hair, but when I come in, they can already see that I wear my hair short. So if I ask for it to be cut short, they should realize that I really mean short and not just a centimeter shorter than what I came in with.

The second thing, is colouring your hair. I think there's nothing wrong with colouring your hair, if you do it because you yourself want it. If you don't like the colour you have, if you want something different, ... But a lot of women seem to do it because it's something society prefers. And then I'm of course talking about women that are getting a bit older (or maybe not) and that are starting to turn grey. Why is it that you hardly ever see a woman with naturally grey hair? If you don't like it yourself, fine, just colour your hair. (I'm not saying I won't do that when I reach that stage.) But from the conversations I've heard, at work and at home, most of the women colour their grey hair because their husbands want them to. It seems like a man does not want his wife walking next to him with grey hair. I don't see what's wrong with grey hair. It's a natural process. Everyone ages and your hair turning grey is part of that. But apparently women have to hide their grey hairs, while men don't have to. When a man turns grey, it's often described as being sofiticated, but when a woman turns grey, she's just getting old.

And then there is of course body hair. Back in the sixties, women didn't shave their legs or arm pits. But today, if you don't shave your legs, you're a rarety. I admit, I shave my legs as well, but only when I decide to wear something that will show my legs (and I can assure you that doesn't happen very often). I hardly ever shave my arm pits (I think it maybe happens once or twice a year). I just don't like to do that. I always say that the hair is there for a reason. I ride my bike a lot (to and from work , but also in my spare time), and I can assure you that the hair underneath your arms is there for a very good reason.
I wonder if there are women that enjoy all the shaving. Or if all of us just do it because society tells us it looks better. You must admit, it takes some time to do and it grows back just as fast. Okay, there are technics to have it 'permanently' removed, but those bring about risks, that I'm not willing to take.
In winter I don't shave my legs, ever. If I do, and and I'm on my bike when it's cold, my legs get cold. The hair on there is a sort of protection. And I don't care if other people don't like the look of it. They don't get to see it anyway.

8:31 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

I sometimes wonder ...
Category: Life

When I was a child I went to a local school at walking distance from my home. This was a mixed school, so both boys and girls were in the same class. When I went to high school, I choose a school nearby with a good reputation (okay, not something I was thinking about at that moment, I probably made that choice because one of my best friends would be going there as well). The first two years I went to a departement of the school near by, the other four to one a few kilometers farther (in American terms probably still very, very close to home, since it would take about 30 to 40 minutes by bike).
This was an all-girls school. Especially the first two years, there were no boys, just one or two male teachers. The other four, the school was slowly admitting boys as well. At first only in a few educational fields (not the right word, I know, but I don't know how to say it otherwise. Here in Belgium, they make classes according to what you study. So for your whole career in high school, you're in a class with the same people, who all study the same thing. So far six years, you spend day in, day out with the same people, except when someone decides to change their field of study.) but later on they accepted boys everywhere. Unfortunately only in the years after the one that I was in.
And now, all those years later, I sometimes wonder if I didn't miss out on things because of that. During those crucial years of growing up, I had almost no contact with boys, seeing as I don't have a brother either. And in those years you start to develop a way to interact with the opposite sex. I never had that.
Most of the time, I don't really spend much thought in this subject, excepts when (in a weak moment ) I'm watching one of those teenage romance movies (yes, I admit, I can sometimes enjoy that kind of movie). Then you see all those kids in high school, doing things I never got to do. And that makes me wonder ...

6:19 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Olympic medals
Category: Sports

We had to wait until the past two days, but Belgium did get two medals at the Olympic games. Yesterdays, the Belgian girls were second in the 4 x 100 m. And today, Tia Hellebout, won the gold medal for the high jump. Before these two medals, we had a few good results as well (we became forth in the soccer competition for the men), but those medals made our weekend!
So, congratulations to all the Belgian atlethes that have competed in the different sports over the past weeks, and especially to our medal winners.
Jess

5:36 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

The Olympic games and other sports :)
Category: Sports

This year has been a great year for sport lovers. First there was the European Championship of football (or soccer, depending on where you live of course), then there was the Tour de France, and now the Olympic Games.
If I'm honest I have to admit that I'm getting a bit addicted to watching sports on television. In my own defense, I have to say that I do practice a little sport myself (I ride my bike as much as possible, and as fast as possible, but that's for another day).
Here in Belgium we have had some great people in different sports, but at the moment we're laying low (to use a bit of a different expression) so I have to cheer for other countries and other people.
When it comes to soccer I'm a big fan of the Italian national team. They look great, but they have some seriously talented players as well. Whenever they have to play, my heartbeat goes up a little.
Now for the Olympics, which is the reason for this blog, this is the greatest event there is. Here you can find something for everyone's liking. So many different sports, and styles. Just too bad that I have to work all day, so I only get to see small parts when I'm back home. Although Saturday and Sunday, I have spend most of the day in front of the television. Saturday I woke up when the men where riding the bike ride on the road. Sanchez (from Spain) won, Rebellin (Italy, and it was his birthday on Saturday) took the silver medal, and Chancellara (the only rider for Switserland) was the Bronze winner. First man from Belgium, Mario Aerts crossed the finish as number 8, which is great. I always like it when our men do a good job (and this was better than expected, since he only got selected a few weeks before the beginning of the Olympic games!).
And a few minutes ago, I saw the 4x100m swimming, where the American team (after a very exciting race) got the gold medal. This means that Phelps is still on track if he wants to get his 8 olden medals. I don't know much about swimming, but seeing him go through the water, is pure poetry. (Which I could swim like that, but I would probably just sink to the bottom since it has been more than 10 years since I last saw a swimming pool.)
At the Olympic games there is pure joy, but also tragedy. All the people competing have done their absolute best to get there in China, and when something goes wrong, that's always heartbreaking. There can only be one winner, so there's one person who's on top of the world, and the others follow behind, sometimes disappointed, sometimes surprised that they got to where they are.
I just love sports!

Jess

5:44 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Writing
Category: Blogging

When I was a kid, I used to have a diary. I wrote in it as often as I felt the need, which meand that sometimes months would go by before I wrote something new in it. We always want our lifes to be interesting, but to be honest, nothing much happened in mine and mostly it still doesn't.
Then when I was in high school, I stopped writing all together. I didn't feel the need for it, and there wasn't anything of interest to report any way. But after my first year at univeristy, I had a bad time. The first year didn't go as I wanted it to, and I got a bit depressed. To get out of that little 'depression', I saw a psychologist for about a year. Turns out I had a lot to talk about, and talking did help. After about a year I felt a lot better again. 
And I started writing again. No more diaries, but just little stories. This has become a sort of an outlet for me. Whenever I'm worried, or things aren't the way I want them to be (but I can't change them either), I just get my pen and paper out and start writing. And it always makes me feel better. Like there's too much energy inside me, and it needs a creative way to get out.

When I was a kid, and we had to write essays in school (both primary and high school), I always used to get the comment that I didn't have enough imagination. I never got good scores for them. My mum always thought it was strange that I got the comment 'not enough imagination', since I used to read a lot from the time I first learned to read, and there was a lot going on in my head. But apparently I didn't know how to put it all down on paper.
And then at uni, for one of our very last exams, we had to write an essay. We could choose between three different titles, two were more theoretical, and for the third one you had to really use your imagionation. The theory of the course had to be integrated in the essay, but for the rest, you were completely free. So I choose the third title and just let my imagination run free, and write in my own style. Later on, when I saw the professor we had to write the essay for, he told me he had really enjoyed reading it, and that he liked my style very much. That was the best compliment he could ever have given me.

Today, I still write, but mostly just for myself. I hardly ever let any one read anything I've written (except for the very few things I have posted on my blog). I guess I'm afraid people will tell me it's rubish and neither the story nor the style are any good. Yet, it is still a secret dream of mine to one day write (and publish) a book. I love writing and I would like it very much if other people would enjoy reading what I write. But I also realize this might never happen. A lot of people have the ambition of writing a book, that will actually get sold, and most of those 'projects' eventually end up in a rubbish bin somewhere. It's very hard to become a published writer, and living in a small country as I do, probably doesn't help either. I won't stop writing though, you never know what could happen. Even if I'm the only one who will ever read it, I know I will have the joy of having written something.

Jess

5:40 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

A love story ... (part 35)
Category: Writing and Poetry

Seeing that look in James' eyes that night broke my heart. And I did the only thing I could do in that situation - I packed my bags. He came back before I was finished. He saw what I was doing and he begged me to stop. He said he was sorry for what he happened, and he swore that it would never happen again. He would tell me everything I wanted to know. He loved me. I couldn't just leave like that, he said. I didn't stop crying all the time he was there. I still loved him so it was really hard for me. But I didn't trust him anymore, so there was no way that I could stay.
I finished packing and walked to the door. There I turned around and he was right behind me. He looked into my eyes and touched my face, brushing away my tears. I just ook a deep breath, said goodbye and left. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do. At the moment he looked into my eyes, it would have been so easy to forget what had happened, kiss him and just stay. But I just couldn't.
I had no where to go, so I just walked around until I came to a hotel. I checked in and ended up living there for a few weeks. I couldn't stay in that city - it was just too painful, full of memories - so I quit my job and made arrangements to move elsewhere. I never saw James again - I went back to the appartement when I knew he wouldn't be there to pick up my paintings and some of the things I couldn't take the first time - and I don't know what became of him. I did send the police officer that matchbook with the phone number. I don't know if it was of any importance, but I couldn't just throw it away either when I came across it while sorting through some stuff.
Having read all this, you probably think I'm crazy. I won't blame you if you do. Because of what happened, I have been a mess for a long time and I can't promise it's all behind me now. My heart was broken and it's a slow healing process. Like they say, I'm damaged. I will understand if I never hear from you again. If that's what you decide, I just want to tell you that you've been a good friend and that I enjoyed your company. And I wish you all the best for the future.
                                                                         Bye,
                                                                           Allie


(Sorry it took me so long to post the next part of the story. There is more to come, but you'll have to be patient.)

9:55 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Working out
Category: Life

After high school, I had almost no excercise what so ever, for about five years. I never liked gym class at high school, so when I was finally free from that, I kind of let my self go. No obligation to move if I didn't want to.

And after a while, that started to show, as could be expected. I have never been skinny, my sister was the skinny one. When I was in high school I used to go by bike almost every day, and then there were the two hours a week of gym. But when university arrived, I went by train (just the one year I went to Ghent), or by buss. And at uni, there wasn't much movement required either. So after almost five years of doing only the necessary, I had gained quite a few pounds.

So by the time I was about to graduate from uni, I decided it was time to do something about it. By that time, my sister was going to the gym with some of her friends, and she asked if I would like to come to. That got me started again. I went once a week (I know, going once isn't enough, but that's all I wanted to make time for). I did that for about two years: going to the gym and working out there for about two hours. Riding on the bikes, running (or maybe I should say: walking fast) on the treadmill, and doing excercises to build some muscles. Not easy at first, since I was rather a lot over-weight. But after a while, I started to enjoy it, especially since slowly the results were showing.

But after about two years of going regularly, I stopped, because I had started work and I didn't seem to find the time anymore. (The gym isn't close by, so it would take about twenty minutes by car to get there, and then twenty minutes to get back home. That would mean about three hours away every time I went to the gym, and after having work till about 4.30 pm, I didn't feel up to that anymore.) In exchange I did start going to work on my bike. At first, that was only about 18km every day. But after a bit more than a year, I tranferred (within the same company) to an office a bit farther from home. So now I get a daily bike ride of about 31 km. It doesn't seem much, especially since it's done half of it in the morning and the other half in the evening. But I enjoy it. And especially the last 6 months or so, I noticed that my fysical condition has improved. I can ride faster and my hearth rate has gone down.

In fact I did a test of my fysical condition a while ago, and after that I got a training program for 12 weeks. If you stick to that, you should have improved if you take the test again after those 12 weeks. And, much to my surprise, it did indeed work. I took a second test a bit more than two weeks ago, and it was better, even more than with the average person. So now I have a new program for the next 12 weeks   The good thing about the program is, that you can do the kind of excercise you want to do. You get a certain amount of points for every ten or thirty minutes of sport. You can choose the things you like best, between walking, running, riding your bike, going to the gym, and a lot more. That's the kind of thing I prefer. Nobody tells you what to do, you just have to try and get your points every week, and you don't have to do any kind of sport that you don't like.

Next to that, I try to do my sit-ups every day. Just to get a firmer tummy. I have lost a lot of weight, but I'm stll not happy with every part of my body. But then again, who ever is  I feel better, and that's what's important.

10:18 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Random Ramblings
Category: Life

Summer has finally arrived. Nice, hot weather, and the occasional thunderstorms. Personally I prefer winter time, the cold, the snow (when it does fall), but summer has it's good sides as well. People are usually in a better mood, time to put on the lighter clothing, open shoes, water games, ...
Talking about the weather is something of a national sport here (in Belgium). The past few weeks people were saying that it felt like summer would never come. We had 'cold' days, not the 20 to 25 ° Celsius people want when it's summer, a lot of rain, just the dark days that people don't associate with summer. But now, for the past four or five days the weather has been a lot better. Hot and sunny. And what do you get then? Yes, you guessed. After just a few days people are already starting to complaint that it's too hot. Looks like people are never satisfied when it comes to weather ...
 
Another thing I associate with summer is the 'Tour de France', the world's largest and probably most known cycling competition. Three weeks of watching the pros ride through France: flat stages, time trials, stages in the mountains. Today was the last stage, and one of our Belgian riders has won the last sprint on the Champs Elysées. We're always happy when one of our country men manages to win a stage! Carlos Sastre won the yellow jersy, Oscar Freire the green won (for points, mostly awarded for the man winning the stage and most points can be won in the flat stages. So this jersey usually goes to one of the sprinters), Andy Schleck won the white jersey (for best young rider), and the jersey for best guy in  the mountains went to Kohl. Luckilly, this year there were less doping scandals.
And now on to the next big sport event, the Olympic Games.

10:46 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

The Dark Knight
Current mood: sad
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

I just saw The Dark Knight this afternoon (yes, afternoon, because I couldn't wait till the evening), and I loved it. I'm not really a fan of Batman movies, although I think I saw almost all of them, but I just had to see this one. I admit, most of all because Heath Ledger played the part of The Joker, and he was one of the best actors around.
The story: Batman has been doing his best over the past few years to help clear the streets of Gotham city of criminals. Some like him, others don't. Now that the new District Attorney appears on the scene, Bruce Wayne sees this as a chance to let him do the work and maybe finally say goodbye to his alter-ego. But then The Joker appears in Gotham city. He's different from the other criminals, since he's not in crime to make money or anything like that, he just likes to torture the city. And he gives Batman an ultimatum: he takes of his disguise, or The Joker will kill someone every day or so as long as he doesn't reveal to the world who he really is. If you want to know the rest, go and see the movie, I don't want to spoil it here for you.
My thoughts: great movie. Although it's 153 minutes long, you will barely notice that. Time flies when you're having fun :) Christian Bale delivers a solid performance as Batman, and Michael Cain is excellent as Alfred. But, like all the critics have said, Heath Ledger steals the show as The Joker. Most people probably remember Jack Nicholson's Joker, but this one is completely different. A criminal with different layers. A complex, tormented man, who enjoys hurting other people. Heath managed to not make a caricature of the Joker, but a real person with a complex personality. He plays a great villain, and I doubt if anyone can ever do any better.
This is a movie you should definitely see!

On a personal note, I made it through the whole movie without thinking too much about Heath's tragic fate. But I did feel sad when the credits rolled, thinking this was one of the last times I would ever see him on the big screen. He was a great actor, with a lot of talent, and it's a loss to the whole movie world that he died so young. He will be remembered for a long time yet to come!

11:50 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment