Vladivos

...but now for the next 10!

The eventual goal is to lose 60 pounds, but I’ve cut up this goal in 6. 15 months ago

I’m busy knitting my first pair of socks. Had to start over a couple of times because my knitting book forget to inform me about something pretty basic and essential. But I figured it out and am on my way! 15 months ago

Five pounds down, five to go! 16 months ago

Will start this up again as soon as I can. Keep wanting to do this, but bouts of flu get in my way. 16 months ago

...are gone :)

Ofcourse when you need to loose a lot of weight the first pounds are the easiest ones to get rid of, but itdoes help with motivation to be off to a flying start. 16 months ago

Going to start knitting my brother a pair of socks on wednesday. Just waiting for the wool I ordered to arrive. It looks complicated, but I think with patience I can do it. 16 months ago

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets :) 16 months ago

I know it’s difficult, I need to lose 80 pounds myself to get back to a healthy weight, but I chop it up in small portions. It helps to accept yourself as you are now, it made me want to treat myself better. Again, good luck! 16 months ago

Still reading Battle cry, but going to add some light reading too. I’m going to re-read the Harry Potter series. So this week I’ll read Philosopher’s Stone (and probably Secret Chamber too). 16 months ago

Weighed myself today. Want to lose about 5 pounds in 4 weeks. Eating healthy, getting as much excercise as my constant bouts of flu will allow me and we’ll see what has happened come februari 13. 16 months ago

This is going great. Unfortunately I’m still sick from getting my flu shots (not sure they’re called that in English). Because of that my better eating habits have not yet made me able to say that I feel healthier. 16 months ago

1.How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? 

30, I turned 32 in October, but I keep forgetting.

2.Which is worse, failing or never trying?

Failing at something that’s very important to you could be devastating I think. Living with the bitterness of that could be hard. Never trying is not an option. Balance is key. 

3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?

Because it’s possible to get some kind of satisfaction out of everything we do. Doing your duty, doing what needs to be done has its own rewards.

4.When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

The balance will probably be around 60-40 (talk the talk vs. walk the walk). I have a lot of ideas and dreams and I’m not expecting to have the time to live them all.

5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?

Honest pay for honest work.

6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

I’d still teach, just not full time. The rest of my time I’d write children’s books.

7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

I’m doing what I believe in. 

8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

Not. I’m truly content with my life. 

9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

To an extreme degree. I was born in poverty, in an unhappy home. I payed for my own education, an education of my own choice, made a happy home with the man of my choice, have the job I set out to get when I realised it was what I wanted, do my job on my own terms and live the way I want to live.

10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

Doing the right things. Ethical and moral behaviour is extremely important to me. 

11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?

I defend my friend, people make mistakes, but I won’t respect and admire these three people after this. 

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Be kind, considerate and compassionate.

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?

It really depends on the kind of lawbreaking. I would not want to hurt someone in any way.

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

No. 

15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?

I’m extremely principled. My husband must truly love me for it isn’t easy to live with that. 

16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?

I’m not sure if that’s true. I believe that humans are connected by the basics, things that sorrow them and those which make them happy. To be loved, to be able to do what you love, to feel accepted, appreciated, to love others, I think these are things that make everyone happy.

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?

Go backpacking. I’ll never do this, my health and my husbands health, well, they’re just not good enough to go do something like that and never will be. But there are good alternatives to explore.

18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

Not anymore.

19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

Tough one, there are so many beautiful places in the world! I think the United States would be a good option, so many different wonders in nature, lots of diversity in culture.

20.Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

No.

21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

Worried genius, I like understanding. I could probably reason myself out of worrying.

22. Why are you, you?

I don’t know. There are things my mother imprinted on me, but there are lots of things that seem to come out of nowhere. Life happens too. 

23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

Not always. 

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

Losing touch.

25. What are you most grateful for?

My husband.

26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

Lose my old memories. The best part of my life is still ahead of me.

27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

Yes, philosophically speaking there are basic truths. It’s why we have a conscience/inner voice. From a scientific point of view: no.

28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?

No.

29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  

I haven’t been extremely upset for 8 years.

30. Does it really matter now?

-

31. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?

It’s hard to choose. I did not have a fairytale childhood, it was rough, we were very poor, my father was an alcoholic, I got bullied, but my mom created lots of magical moments. I loved going with her to the library to get new books, I loved working in the garden with her, playing in our beautiful garden things like that.

32. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

I have my moments every day. Teaching and succeeding in that makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.

33. If not now, then when?

You’ll know. 

34. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

Nothing, that’s why I’m trying.

35. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

No. Nothing is not enough, I need a few words.

36. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

Without religion there would be wars too. There have always been wars, with or without religion. I think it must be part of the human condition.

37. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

Yes, but that doesn’t mean there are no grey areas too.

38. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

No, but I would work less.

39. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

More work I enjoy doing.

40. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?

Yes, but the day is a very good day.

41. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

So often, I think the last time was this week.

42. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

My family: parents, brothers, sister and my husand’s parents and sister, all with my husand. 

43. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

No, fame would not agree with me and I’m attractive enough.

44. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

Being aware of the moment.

45. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

About 80% of the time. 

46. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?

Because we pressure eachother to keep up appearances.

47. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

Nothing.

48. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

Answering these questions, becaus I’m in bed and the world around me is real quiet.

49. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

I love my husband, our life together, our families and what I do for a living. My actions are inspired by this love. 

50. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?

No, just the general feel of being content, happy, satisfied.

51. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

I always ask myself: is this something I have control over? If yes, then get involved, if not, don’t sweat it. 16 months ago

Got the equivalent of an A- for my fairytale. The teacher’s commentary was really encouraging and kind. 16 months ago

This is actually going really well, but I’ve decided not to write about it. Somehow it feels strange to record my secret acts of kindness and beauty. I just do stuff and it’s working out nicely. 16 months ago

This friday a friend is going to show me how to knit socks. I’m going to get supplies tomorrow. The first person I’m going to knit socks for is my brother because no-one has knit him socks so far and you should always have at least one pair of socks that were knitted especially for you. 16 months ago

I’m knitting! I’ll cross this goal of my list as soon as I’ve finished my first pair of socks :) 16 months ago

is completed. I had to rewrite a fairytal in my own words. I chose Rumpelstiltskin. My husband and brother enjoyed it, now for my teacher. 16 months ago

Eating the usual. Got the flu. Feel like crap. 16 months ago

For your insight into this book. As a Dutch person I don’t quite grasp the way American history has become politically charged and how I should avoid writers who (ab)use history for politics. I picked this book of the reading list because it was published by Oxford University press and I choose to trust them with history. It’s good to read that McPherson aimed for a thorough discussion. 16 months ago

This was my New Year’s resolution from last year. It feels really good to do and I want to keep it up. When I’m busy it’s easy for me to forget these kinds of things. 16 months ago

James McPherson – Battle cry of freedom.

I’m reading this book in conjunction with an Open Yale Course The Civil War and Reconstruction Era

This one will probably take more than a week to read. 16 months ago