31 Jul 2008
by irenein Health
Wii Fit requires goal setting during registration. My goal is to shed some pounds (kilos) therefore lowering my already good BMI (Body Mass Index). I will not be too far from being overweight if I don’t take care of my 37 year old body. Gone are the days where I can consume a lot and stay slim. On the other end, my man’s Wii Fit goal is the same yet a complete opposite of mine. He is underweight and has been all his skinny life. He needs to increase his BMI. We are both aiming for a BMI reading of 20-22. For me that is a decrease, for him a significant increase. Hence, conflicting BMI goals.
We live in the same household, eat the same food yet are moving towards our own BMI goals respectively. Strange, weird, confusing but I am not going to complain!
30 Jul 2008
by irenein Happenings
During
After
These pictures were taken from the apartment window which overlooks the parking lot of Bij Sint Jacobs (St. Jacob’s Place). It was quite busy and noisy for 10 days straight. Have to say that the noise didn’t bother us that much. And parking wasn’t as scary as presumed.
The view from the apartment looks into the barricaded area of the back stage. I have seen the performers practicing, socializing, drinking, smoking and meeting the fans here. Quite a different and interesting back stage access. 
29 Jul 2008
by irenein Happenings
There were lots of people partying at St. Jacob’s Place when I woke up at 4am this morning. Wanted to take a picture of the scene but was too lazy and sleepy. Later I found out that people were actually partying till 10am. Some people are not letting go of the festival until it is absolutely beyond their physical and mental capacities.
I didn’t do grocery at my usual morning hours. I figured that there will be a lot of trash and the workers will be busy cleaning up. I looked out the window once a while to see if they are taking any of the booths, stages, stands down but nothing so far.
Got out of the apartment at 2pm for fresh bread and something for dinner. The purple colored bakery is closed today. Hmm…I thought they only close on Mondays, probably summer vacation then? Oh well, off to my favourite bakery then. The 102 year old bakery has a name that starts with an H. For the strangest reason, I can never remember it. Might need to associate it with some naughty words so that it will be forever imprinted into my brain. 
Saw quite a number of people coming out from hotels with their luggage, probably dragging themselves to the tram station and leaving lovely Gent. Oh, I am so glad I live in this beautiful city. There’s young people who just spontaneously dance on the streets to music in their heads. Not ready to give up on Gentse Feesten yet. The weirdest sight was a 30-something year old man who was singing very loudly to whatever he was playing on his music player. A few garbage trucks showed up at 4pm and got busy. Cleaning up all this mess would probably take a few days.
Gent is very quiet right now. Wonder how long it will take me to get use to normalcy… I need my iPod to kill some of this silence.
28 Jul 2008
by irenein Jibber Jabber
Guppies are horrible parents. They think their babies are fish food. Only 4 (out of the 15 I’ve counted last weekend) survived being with the adults. This is guppy tragedy!
Now let’s hope that the remaining 4 will make it till next weekend. And that the babies in the nursery will grow up fast enough before my boyfriend loses his patience. 
27 Jul 2008
by irenein Happenings
I’ve genuinely enjoyed the performance of Lady Linn and Her Magnificent Seven.
Lady Linn has a terrific voice which is full, passionate and deeply enticing. Would really loved to hear her sing some classic jazz, but that’s just my personal preferences. Given that she is just starting out in her singing career, the Lady is probably trying out different niches therefore singing everything from Jazz to DJ music.
Lady Linn was taken aback by the large turnout for the 11pm performance. The audience at St. Jacob’s Place really enjoyed the show. People were dancing, swaying or singing along. One can never go wrong with Jazz and a beautiful voice like that…
I would honestly admit that this is the highlight of my Gentse Feesten experience. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of good stuff to be had at the festival. Having mussels with the family was great, riding bumper cars was fun, good food, many a happy drinks, free open-aired concerts, there nothing to complain about!
26 Jul 2008
by irenein Movies, Books & TV Shows
Just finished watching He Was A Quiet Man. I have to admit I’ve enjoyed the movie even though it was depressing to realize that a lot of the things depicted in the movie actually happen in real life.
I haven’t been out of the rat race long enough to forget what it feels like to worked in cubicles, and having to deal with rotten personalities. It is horrific to be spending 8 hours everyday with assholes, brown nosers, disgruntled bottom feeders and worst of all incompetent managers!
I guess to keep ourselves sane, all we have to do is remind ourselves that work is work. There’s more to life than that. And what is to stop us from redesigning our lives? I for one left the rat race (for now…) and trying to make the best of my new beginning. So, I do not have a lucrative income as a senior designer anymore, but who is to say that I won’t in the future. Got to live life. Besides…who in their right minds say no to Europe?
25 Jul 2008
by irenein Malaysia
Started using a program known as Gizmo since 2007 (or was it earlier?). One of the many good stuff introduced to me by my favourite geek.
Because of Gentse Feesten, a fair now sits on the St. Jacob’s Square in place of the weekly Friday Market. Visiting the Friday Market (farmers’ market) is my weekly routine since moving to Gent in February. With that activity off my schedule today, I decided to call my mom…
My first question as always ‘How’s everyone at home in Lahad Datu?’ Then comes the typical answers to my one question: Allyson grew bigger and stronger, she started making cute baby talks, dad is still mowing the lawn like a mad man, Joun complained about the rain which is too much water on the oil palm plantation, mom still busy with our family’s insurance policies. Esther and Mike called home from the US and say that they are doing well in Seattle.
In the middle of the phone conversation. Allyson walked up (with help of baby walker) wanting some attention. The adults think she would not forget me that easily if I talk to her. Give the baby a break, I was back in LD for 4 months and she was only 7 months old when I left. However, I did what a sensible 30 something would…’Auntie Irene here. Gent to Lahad Datu. How’s the mother ship Allyson? Copy that? 10-4!’. Nah…I called Allyson’s name repeatedly for half a minute and baby looked at the phone trying to find the mini person who is making that sound. She did replied though in baby talk ‘come out from the phone little person so I can eat you’. Ha!
Lahad Datu is still the same. How else would it be? Everyone is doing the same old stuff they were doing when I was there for 4 months. Mom did mention that my observations and remarks did her a lot of good. I am glad I have been useful.
24 Jul 2008
by irenein Happenings
AND … the stand is back up in less than 24 hours! It is much less extravagant than before. The previous version has working spits cooking away on the roof top. Talk about attention getter.
Oh by the way, I finally gave in to temptation, the beenhesp on wheat bread was delicious. I figure a few Wii Fit Hoola Hoops and Jogging should balance it out. The guilt was completely wiped off when boyfriend’s parents approved my action with enthusiastic ‘ja’s.
23 Jul 2008
by irenein Happenings
Here‘s what happened at 5am this morning a few blocks from where I live. According to the article, 7 people were hurt. At 1pm, the news was featured on a Dutch news channel. Last I heard, 2 people are still in hospital. 
Boyfriend and I passed by this location many times during Gentse Feesten. Just last night at 11pm, we went for a night walk and bought an oven baked pastry to try out. The pastry stall is just a few meters away from the current explosion site.
It is fortunate that the incident occurred at 5am in the morning. There would have been more injuries if the blaze happened when the square is fill with people. Not far from the stand, children entertainment like puppet shows, clown acts and magic shows are presented during the day. During meal times (which is almost always), there are always long lines at the food stalls. And this particular hamburger stand is popular for its warme beenhesp (warm ham).
On my way to grocery shopping today, I went to take a look at the site and also to take a few pictures. The authorities have cleaned it up quite good. Rumor has it that they will be opened for business later today. Amai…
22 Jul 2008
by irenein Health
What an invention!
Today is my 10th day using the Wii Fit. My objective is to lose 5Kg in a month time. Think I’ve already lose 2Kg or so.
Had a jumbo hot dog last night, which I think made my weight loss goal a bit harder to reach. However, I am not the type who deny myself life’s little pleasures just because I want to lose a Kg. I will just have to work a little harder. Besides, it was my dinner and not a big sinful snack.
I did the Penquin Slide today which I think was rather silly. Didn’t do too bad on that bubble balance thing but the illustrations on the sides distracted me quite a bit – being a visual person. Yoga and muscle toning are good. I know from experience that these 2 will be the most beneficial to me. Oh, and I suck at tightrope. Hehe!
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