Friday, March 23, 2007

TT#8 Countries I like


Thirteen Things about countries I like


1. The Netherlands, because my family lives there. And the best cheese comes from the Netherlands, as everybody knows (besides the French).

2. Australia, because of the wide open spaces, the many hours of sun and the awesome wildlife.

3. Spain, because of the flamenco (I love to dance the flamenco), the tapas, the beautiful cities and the Sierra the Gredos.

4. Costa Rica, because of the fantastic wonders of nature and the friendly people. Not for the food, which is mainly rice, black beans and egg or chicken. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. But who cares, when there are vulcano's to visit, canopy walks to make and slots to find?

5. Ireland, because the Irish are the friendliest people in Europe and the country is all lush green hills and rocky cliffs, surrounded by wild sea. Did I mention the Irish pubs and the catchy music?

6. Scotland, because of the awe inspiring mountains to hike in, Edinburgh and Inverness, the great Aberlour whisky, blokes in kilts, bagpipes and the best English accent. I must have been Scottish in a former life.

7. Norway, because of the vast emptiness, the fjords, the best hikes and Knivskjelodden.

8. Finland, because of the sauna's, the snow and the hot lunches.

9. Slovakia, because of the Male Fatra and the High Tatra and all the other mountains to hike. Nice people, not a great kitchen, unless you like schnitzel and cabbage every day.

10. Zimbabwe, because of the enormous amount of wildlife and the most beautiful jacaranda's I have ever seen anywhere.

11. Fiji, because of the guys in sulu's, the gorgeous food, the colourful corals and fish and the lush rainforests. And the seasnakes can't bite, or so they tell you (I have my doubts on this).

12. Belgium, because of the 24 screen cinema in Antwerp, the Belgian fries with tartare sauce and the nice language.

13. Canada, because of the Rocky Mountains, Vancouver Island and the fabulous hot springs.

Can we do 26 instead of 13??? Could easily go on for a bit here. :-)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Tink
2. ancsweetnsassygal



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!



Thursday, March 15, 2007

TT#7 To TT or not to TT

Thirteen Things about not TT-ing


Yes, I have not been TT-ing for a few weeks and here are the reasons why, in green of course cause it is almost St Paddy's Day.

1. The last time I tried, I was working for over an hour listing my 13 biggest frustrations, when after no. 10 I apparently pushed a wrong buttong, so the whole thing was gone. Talk about frustration: that totally did it for me. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!! &*^%$(!!! So, no 13 then. Only later it occurred to me I could have only done the last 3 and explain why there were no first 10. More frustration in retrospect! This time I save this post as a draft every 10 minutes.

2. The week after I was still cross with myself, the computer, blogging in general and TT-ing in particular, so no TT.

3. Then I was way to busy starting up the new semester at uni. Even lectures I have given before still take a surprising amount of time to prepare, due to my stupid inhibition to always try and make it better than it was the first time. Years ago I was taking a course in 'teaching for higher education' and one of my fellow students proudly mentioned that he had been teaching the exact same course for 10 years now, same material, books, jokes and all. Needless to say this left me stunned for a minute. After which I just had to ask why he thought this was something to be proud of. After which followed a heated discussion. Why can I never keep my mouth shut at appropriate times? (maybe a good topic for another TT?)

4. Let me think what my next excuse was, ah, being away for the weekend. In my time zone I cannot get started on the TT until Friday, because during my Thursday it is not opened up yet. And Friday is almost weekend, so when going away. (Bit weak, isn't it?)

5. I had spend so much time online for work and study, that just the thought of getting behind the computer to do some blogging made me feel tired and totally not in the mood. And then I thought: well, nobody is reading it anyway, so why bother? I know, I know: write and thou shall be read (and at least the opposite is true).

6. Gee, when I started this one I thought I had lots of great excuses for not being here doing this, but it turns out te be a rather meagre lot. Hm, I felt out of touch for a few weeks and had a hard time getting back in. But hey, here I am. :-)

7. I am reading this great book by Adam Williams, The Palace of Heavenly Pleasure, that I wanted to finish first. And no, I haven't yet, but this weekend will be the moment that I know how the British will end up in China (probably dead).

8. Friday last when we came home we found my cousin from the Netherlands on our driveway, sleeping in his car after driving for 25 hours. Lots of catching up to do and we had to show him the good side of Canberra/Australia. That was great by the way, cause we felt like we were on a holiday too, at least until Monday morning when we had to get to work, while he was lazing around, reading books and soaking up the sun. But again, no TT-ing time anywhere to be found. He is packing up as I am typing this, headed for the Snowy Mountains.

9. I just did not have any inspiration. Every week I'm totally amazed by people who come up with these really original TT's. Love Tinkerbell's this week: 13 things in my purse. I've seen it in a magazine once, photo's of what women carry (read: drag) around in their handbags. Unbelievable and yet familiar at the same time. I wonder how many women do also carry around their hubby's stuff (because he doesn't want to be found dead with a purse or handbag): keys, wallet, phone, etc. "Hey hon, could you put this in your bag???" Big sigh, because you know it is no use to ask why he cannot just get his own bag and carry his own stuff around.

10. Uh, maybe we can shrink this to a Thursday Ten?? You could still keep the TT going .....

11. Seriously though, I think the 'feeling out of the loop' thing does count for a lot of not TT-ing on my part. I don't feel I belong to the incrowd yet and I am sensitive about that. As a kid I was often an outsider and it doesn't take a lot for me to feel like that again, as I realise now. But it is all in my own mind, right? NLP and all that. Just keep on going and see it as an exercise in expressing myself on the web.

12. I spend lots of time going to the physio, then a sportsphysician, then the physio again, for 2 unrelated injuries that just drag on forever. One since April and one since October. Take it from me: if people tell you to be patient, go to a physiotherapist instead and start getting better earlier and faster!

13. The main reason I do sit down now, although I should be preparing my lecture for next week and could easily defend not having the time, is that I love the way the TT-thing is forcing me to write in English and stretch my brain a bit. Make that a lot. So there you have it.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. Selena Kitt 2.Kathy 3. Cutie Some people did not leave a link, so I have no clue how to add them??
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!