Fatty Pierre

Can you imagine my astonishment, when you told me you and your boyfriend had come up with a different nickname for me? I burst out in laughter and at the same time I was offended by the idea. Go figure! You had been reading some posts I had written on the diabetesforum and you were talking to your boyfriend about it. He wasn't too sure about the contents and he told you not to trust the Internet. After all, we don't know who's behind the nickname, right? When your partner told you, this "meurtelken" person could be a totally different person in real life, you were a bit shocked. Maybe the She was not a she, but a he. Maybe the She was a enormous fat and lonely guy, looking for some companionship. OMG... He even named me Fatty Pierre! But then again.. he's right. You never know who's behind a nickname. A picture doesn't say it all. It's so easy to copy someone else's picture and pretend it's you. I know I have thought the same about other people I met online. They would always stay away from meetings so it made us wonder if the online person was truly the person he claimed to be. Be careful, when you're out there surfing the net. Be careful when you are confiding in people you've never met. I'm sure there are plenty of Fatty Pierres and Creepy Carolines online. Trust your own instinct and check out who you've been talking to... It might lead to a new friendship or it might teach you a lesson in life.

Dog-Shaming.com

Inthe

There's a really great group on Facebook, called Dog-Shaming. It's a group where dog owners can post pictures of their dogs misbehaving. It's hilarious at times - although we would probably not laugh if it were our dogs... I think I could post some pictures of our dogs as well.. They have ruined the couch, eaten my glasses and laptop charger, one stole my grilled tuna steak off the stove, and guess what? They look soooo innocent when you see them. But when you come home after they have been into trouble, they know! They try to hide and give me their best look ever, but immediately I smell their mischief. The problem is that you can never catch them by surprise. They behave when you are around, but if they are all by themselves? ttsss....

Today I would like to post a picture of our Rebba, for keeping us awake at night with her barking sessions. There are no medical problems and having sleepovers at other people's houses give no problems: in fact, they are like angels in someone else's house?! We could do with some rest at night.

Rebba

So this is the Shame Board for Inthe: I dug a hole in the couch, so I can rest my head when I want to take a nap.

The Shame hat for Rebba to wear: I love to call my peeps in the middle of the night. I make sure they pity me. It's great to see them downstairs whenever I bark.

Technology

I love technology! Well, that is, if someone else installs it for me or reads the manuals or guidelines. I don't like the technical part of technology. It's great when things work, but I get really frustrated if I cannot open my mail account for some reason. It takes time to figure things out and solve the problem and guess what? I'm not that patient! Most of the times, I caused the problem.. I want to try out new apps and tools and then things happen that I didn't foresee. It took me some time yesterday and this morning to re-install my mail accounts, but I think I managed. So maybe I'm not as stupid as I thought..

Pinterest

It is addictive. My friend should never have pointed it out. I had found some great ideas on organizing items around the house, when she told me to look for more ideas on Pinterest. I knew it! I had to forbid myself to google it. But it's too late: I'm hooked.. What a great site! How could I have overlooked it? Whenever I see something I like, I want to get to it right away. Maybe I should copy the links I like and save them in a special folder? I could make a DIY folder, a recipes folder, a... aaarrrgghhh... why did I give in??? Don't check it out. Just don't. I'm warning you! Don't say I didn't tell you...

Bedtime reading

Some people like to read a book in bed, before they turn off the light and close their eyes. But how about reading your friend's messages on Facebook before you head off to bed? Isn't that the modern version of bedtime reading? I like to check the statuses of my friends on Facebook at night. We like to chat and tell one another about our day. It's rather addictive to check Facebook. You keep pushing that refresh button to see if anything has changed. Isn't that silly? On the other hand, you get in touch with people that you never would have talked to without FB. For instance, other diabetics, who live all over the world. I like to read about their way of diabetes treatment and how they motivate each other.
I need to find the balance between bedtime reading books and bedtime reading facebook. How easy the days were, when we were young and facebook was not even in sight..

That is music to my ears

I went completely nuts! My computer refused the password I typed to open my account. I tried several times more, but it kept ignoring my attempts. Aarrgghhhh! I truly suck when it comes to being patient with computers. They only do what you tell them to do. They do not have a mind of their own as I may think. So calm down, take a deep breath and try to figure out why it's not accepting my password.. My daughter asked if I had spilled something on the keyboard. No??? Hubby opted the possibility that one of the letters wasn't working properly. As if.. But I typed the password letter by letter and honestly: the E and the D didn't appear on the screen. I tried the rest of the buttons and the 3 was a no-no as well. One would think the next in line - the C - wouldn't work either, but nothing was wrong with that key. Hmhm.. that was tricky. I was lucky to have the iPad within reach so I tried to look up the problem and the possible solution. I read I might need a new keyboard. Some stupid cost of 70 euros.. pfff... Darn. And how long would it take to have that fixed??? I need my laptop! I know it's getting older and I know its best years were some time ago. New laptops cost money though. My cell phone needs to be replaced as well and hubby needs a new car and the kids want to go to Bali.. Aaarrrgghhh... money money money. It's always about money.

A friend read about my frustration on a social network site. He asked me to calm down and see what the problem was. Sorry, but I'm a total nitwit when it comes to computers in general. And as I have stated before: I have no patience at all. He asked me to get my installation CD's and see if they could solve the problem. I was a bit too fast and kept clicking MOVE ON because I wanted the problem to be solved ASAP. That was not the plan. He was giving me guidelines and I was supposed to hear him out. So we started again. The girls were giving me this look like as they wanted to say: mom, that keyboard is so old, it just needs to be trashed.. But hey!!! why not give those CD's a chance to see what they could come up with?

It took a while and I needed to install that second CD twice, but hey! Guess what!!! My three failing keys are working again!!! How about that? I didn't need to panic at all. I didn't need a new keyboard. This notebook will last some more months before it finally decides to quit for good. I hope it will give me the time to look out for a decent replacement. Now let's get some updates and install the programs I'm still missing. I'm happy I'm no longer cut off from the rest of the world.

Let's take a plane

Planes are fast, planes are an easy way to travel. Sometimes it's the only way to get to your destination.
We planned our trip months ago. The plan was to fly to Atlanta and then take a connecting flight to Orlando. Our first plane had a one hour delay and we were not looking forward to missing our next flight. There was only 1 hour 40 minutes between both flights and landing in Atlanta means all passengers with connecting flights need to pick up their luggage and check them in again. We were fortunate that the Delta Airlines staff gave us an orange card, meaning we didn't have to wait in line. Nevertheless, half an hour was not enough to catch a plane. We ran and rushed and did the best we could. Our hearts were pounding in our bodies.
The last stop was the security check. Again, we had to unpack our backpacks and put all electronic devices in special bins. There was a lady in front of me, all dressed in a special uniform. Lana thought she had joined a jamboree meeting abroad. It took some time for her to get patted down by the security staff. We grabbed our belongings and continued the rush to the next gate. We were so lucky to get there in time! We had made it! Too bad the connecting flight wasn't ready for take off. Due to thunderstorms, the airplane was not allowed to leave the airport. There was a 2 hour delay..

We picked up our rental car - we got a way too expensive Jeep SUV instead of the car we had ordered - and drove to the resort in Kissimmee. We unpacked the luggage and I unpacked my bags to get my notebook. I had promised some people to let them know we were fine.

I opened my notebook and to my surprise, my desktop was different. There was also a sticker with some phonenumber on the screen. You have got to be kidding!!! This was not my notebook!!! I was lucky that the owner had not logged out. So I opened his Facebook and asked him to contact me. He did pretty fast, leaving me a message on my facebook wall. Apparently, I had not logged out either.. He and his mom had come back from Sweden, where they had attended a.. Jamboree meeting.. I remembered the lady in Atlanta right away. So that's where the owners left for different destinations in the possession of the wrong laptops..

We'll sort things out. We have been in touch and in some days time, he will have his notebook back and I'll be typing on my own device. Thank you Facebook! Thank you stranger!

There's nothing you can't be

My little girl is growing up so fast.. Sometimes I still see her as the little girl she once was, but then again, I have to let go of that phantasy and come back to Earth, to see the beautiful young woman she has become.

You have changed so much in the last two years. Being in boarding school, we didn't see that much of each other as I wanted to. I'm sure we missed out on a lot of your activities and we didn't always know what kept you going.

You showed me one of your blogs you're keeping. I was truly stunned.. Wow girlie! You are truly amazing! Congratulations! There's nothing you can't be! I had a great time reading your blog and I will be a follower from now on. I'm proud of you! You are very versatile and your talents are worth mentioning: drawing, designing clothes, making great pictures, being a fashionista and a good friend..
I'm so happy to read you and the fact that you let me in to your blog world, means a lot to me. Keep it up sweetie. You're doing a great job! xxx

Photo by Eva Joos

Dog 'O' Nine Tails

I got to know Lisa Rees on Facebook. Just like us, she adores greyhounds, whippets and all sighthounds. Since she has a webshop, I had already purchased some phone charms with little whippet heads as decoration.

Last week, I ordered two new collars and matching leashes for Rebba and Inthe. They are custom made by Lisa and I must say: she does a very good job! You get to pick the fabric and the width and I asked for matching leashes and to my surprise, not even one week later, the martingales (that's how you call those greyhound collars) and the leashes got here.

The dogs went frantic over their new gadgets and they were ready to go for a walk right there on the spot. I'm real happy with the handmade martingales. The dogs will look their best!

Take a look at Lisa's webshop. Or make her your friend on Facebook: Dog 'O' Nine Tails Store. She's truly amazing!

Mystery solved?

Most of you readers are familiar with Facebook, aren't you? It's a good way to find old friends and to keep up with friends and family that don't live that nearby. Every now and then though, strangers try to contact you. You have never heard of them but still they want to be your friend? I find that very weird and it rarely happens that I let them in. I mean, after all, I do know my friends and if you're not one of them or if I'm not ready to get to know you, why would I add you to my list of friends? I don't get that.. I see people who have 400 Facebook friends, but how many of those do they actually know? 10? 25?

There was this person who tried to contact me. Her profile showed a little white dog. I had no idea who she was (maybe it wasn't even a she but a he??), but she (let's assume it was a she) claimed she knew me. How she knew me, was not something she wanted to share. Hello? Does my forehead read STUPID? So I declined her friendship request. I don't like it when people play games with me.

To my surprise, she contacted my diabetic friends and many of them added her to their friendship list. For the simply reason she told them she knew me? How sick is that? I asked around and nobody who added her actually knew who she was. No more information than that she knew me (which she doesn't). Internet is a terrific way to go around, but it also attracts weird people, that enjoy intruding the life of others...

Flipz.. are you flipping out?

I encountered a new way of online shopping. At least, that's what I thought it would be like. The company compares itself to eBay, but better. I don't know whether you have heard about flipz before? Maybe you should check it out and find out for yourself.. Make up your mind!

This is the concept: using Paypal, you buy "flipz". That's the virtual money you will need to bid on the auctions presented by the website. Unlike the items on eBay, flipz.be promises new products for ridiculous prices. So you buy flipz. Depending on the amount of flipz you buy, one flipz is worth between 0.42 and 0.56 euro a piece. You cannot start to bid on the products, before you have purchased a number of flipz's. Once you're settled with your flipz-money in your account (assume you have bought € 100 worth of flipz's - that equals 200 flipz), you can check out the auctions and decide what products you would like to bid on. The product says how much the minimum price is and how long you have for the auction to begin. This is the tricky part! Assume one auction shows: 3 minutes left, it doesn't mean the auction will end in 3 minutes! Beware! It means the bidders will play it hard from then on. You bid and so many others bid as well. Once you start the bidding, you're not very willing to give up (if you do stop, you loose all the money you have used bidding so far!). It won't be a surprise to you that you spend € 100 in very little time. So you go back to Paypal to purchase some more flipz-money. And you go on bidding.. and so do the other bidders. After all, the homepage gives you the impression that the eventual prices for the products offered, are ridiculously low. And indeed: 34 euros for a brandnew iPhone4 is an offer you can't refuse. So you keep bidding.. Until you run out of flipz-money (again) and you need to refuel (again). And then, all of a sudden, the game's over. One person wins the auction, the others are left with a big hole in their wallet and major disappointment. No iPhone4, no more flipz's. Only a loss of over 400 euros. Because that's what happens when you are not the winner. The homepage does not say: iPhone4 auction € 34 + € 400.

It says: 2011-03-09 21:08:20

Apple iPhone 4

€ 34.12 (i.p.v. € 659.00)
door brennan7

or

2011-03-06 17:22:06

Apple iPhone 4

€ 10.20 (i.p.v. € 659.00)
door Diablo

People who are not familiar with this kind of online shopping, will be tricked for sure. They will assume they are able to buy an iPhone4 (worth € 659) for no more than € 34 or even € 10! But what the site doesn't say, is the amount of flipz's the bidders have bought in advance in order to be able to bid on these auctions. This is no more than a gambling site, trying to trick people into buying a bucket full of virtual money to play an auction they are very unlikely to win. In the end, you will have lost a lot of money and you still won't have the product you were bidding on. Don't make flipz.be your favorite website. In fact, you should ban it from your computer!

If you have not been able to resist the temptation and you feel like you have been taken advantage of, don't hesitate to serve your complaint with eCops. They are familiar with these circumstances and they can give you advise.

Justice

Els Clottemans

Els Clottemans has been convicted of the murder of her best friend, Els Van Dooren. She allegedly murdered her friend, by cutting the straps of her parachute. I say: allegedly, because there is no proof. There are allegations that point in her direction, but there is no proof whatsoever. Did she or did she not commit the murder? We don't know. Nobody knows, but the person who did it.

I'm truly disgusted by the aggression in the voice of some that believe she did it. Did they witness her committing the crime? Or were they influenced by the media circus? Would they share the same opinion if it were their own child? What if they were to be convicted of committing a crime they didn't do? It makes me sick to my stomach that someone is sentenced to a vast number of years in prison, not knowing for sure that person is actually guilty. It's just so medieval. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?

I feel sorry for the family of Els Van Dooren. They have lost a wife, a mother, a relative.
I feel sorry for the family of Els Clottemans. They know their daughter. They are convinced she didn't do it.

Els Van Dooren

I feel sorry for anybody out there, who is so blind sighted to any other option. They have made up their minds. There's no opening for any other reality. They play their own judge. They feel they have the right to decide about someone else's life and future, like the killer decided to end the life of Els Van Dooren. There are other explanations possible. Maybe Els Van Dooren couldn't take it anymore. Maybe she decided to end her own life. Or how about the lover? Who says he's not guilty of the crime?

Did she get a fair trial? No, she didn't. Even the people that believe she's guilty, can't say her trial was fair. The media made the trial for us. Times are changing. The media is everywhere. They create a story and stories sell well, don't forget that. People want to share their opinions. They want to take sides. Either they believe she did it, or they are convinced she didn't do it. The truth may be somewhere in the middle. I won't say she didn't do it. And I refuse to say she did it. I have an opinion of my own. I just believe it's not righteous to sentence someone to serve time in jail, without proof. That's what this blog is about.. And I'm sorry if you don't approve. You are entitled to your opinions. Let me be entitled to mine.

Farmville

Farmville is an online game where you can farm with your friends. It is an application on the social-networking website Facebook. You are given the opportunity to manage a virtual farm by planting, growing and harvesting crops and trees as well as raising your very own virtual cattle.

Some friends of mine are true Farmville fanatics. They talk about "their" farm as it were their very own real life farm. They ask for food for their livestock or wooden boards to mend the stables. I have not put one foot in Farmville and I'm not planning on doing so either. It's really not my cup of tea, sorry. So please stop sending me invitations for this virtual game?

It was funny though, to see in my blog analytics, that I have a follower on my blog from.. yes.. Farmville. Go figure!