Master or Waster? That is the Question...

Time = Life, Therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.  ~~~Alan Lakein

Hey all,

The quote above says it all for me.  I hate, hate, hate wasting time and try and make every minute count.  And as I come down to the last few days in Antwerp, I ponder the time I've had here and wonder what I missed and how I could have done things differently.

Don't get me wrong.  I enjoyed my time here.  I saw great churches, wandered the streets and took thousands of pics of beautiful old buildings.  I drank beer by the gallons, nibbled on some of the best chocolate in the world and even tried the famous Belgium mussels.

I wrote out a book about a beer brewer and a chocolatier--my first historical--and hope to finish that in the next couple weeks.

I traveled out of Antwerp, seeing several other towns here in western Belgium, including Mechelen, Ghent, Brugges and Brussels.

I saw art by the masters, giggled over sculptures and art I'm not sure I would call art.  Listened to some great street performers and walked probably 250 miles as I did all of the above.

So was my visit here successful?  Yes.  I would say very much so.  I tried to take advantage of the time I had here and wring every drop of enjoyment out of my daily meanderings. 

 I did this by scheduling out what I wanted to do and when.  And I tried to follow it as best I could.  But I also gave myself permission to be distracted and do something else when the wind called me!

I do have some regrets.  I would have liked to ride bikes more (couldn't because of the miserable weather), do a castle tour (can't because of time and money), and go to a play or an opera here in town (couldn't because they don't HAVE cultural entertainment here in the summer--go figure).

But overall, I am happy with my time here.  I mastered it, I didn't waste much of it.  And what I did waste, I did as a choice.  Knowing I could never call that moment in time back.  But as Bertrand Russell says...

The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

What's your favorite way to waste time?  Let me know in the comments below!  

Until Friday!

Hugs,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

 

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Hey all,

Yesterday was a sad day in a way.  It was our last show in Antwerp.  And while we are always looking forward to a new city, it's a little hard to walk away from a place where you've spent so much time.  Especially when you've enjoyed yourself.

Antwerp wasn't the biggest or most spectacular of cities, but I really enjoyed it here.  There were museums and churches and great day trips to go on.  The people were friendly, the beer delicious and the chocolates... Well...they're Belgium...need I say more?  

I would love to spend more time in Belgium and am looking forward to the week we have between cities to explore more of the country.  We are going to see a couple of parks, go on several scenic drives and explore some historical castles and battlegrounds. 

Since Jonathon is a WWII buff, we are going to visit the Battle of the Bulge memorial--in the town of Bastogne.  And I want to drop by the area of Waterloo where that battle was fought.  I've read so much about it in romance novels I'm curious to see what it looks like.

We have our trip slightly mapped out, but we wind up getting distracted quite a bit, so who knows what we'll end up seeing.  *smile*  But to paraphrase J.R.R. Tolkien, just because we wander, doesn't mean we're lost!

But for now, during these final few days here in Antwerp, I'll be doing some last minute things.  Shopping, visiting a few other lesser known churches, and just wandering.  The final days in a city are bittersweet--who knows if I'll ever be able to come back again--so I try and wring every drop of fun out of them before I go.

We leave out of here on Friday.  Pick up our car and head out of town as soon as Jonathon finishes up.  There is a slight chance we'll leave Thursday, but it just depends on how fast the final breakdown goes. 

I'll keep up the blog--put it up ahead of time, and I'll be sharing where I THINK we'll be on the days it publishes.  But don't be surprised if when we finally arrive in Zurich the next blog I write states we went somewhere completely different!!!  We get distracted quite easily!  LOL

Let me leave you with one last quote, this one by Henry Miller...  One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.

Until Wednesday!

Hugs,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

WTF? Art? Or Something Else?

Hey all,

As promised, today's blog is all about art.  Well...at least it's about what people think is art.  I'm not so sure.  But if I've learned anything in my forays into art museums, it's this.  Art doesn't have to be pretty.  It doesn't have to make sense.  It doesn't even have to be made by someone with "talent".  All it takes to make something ART is the effect it has on the person looking at it.

Really, it's true.  How else can something as exquisite as a Monet or Rubens painting be lumped together with a painting done by tossing a rock into a bucket next to the canvas and calling the resulting painting, art?

Or, and while I have to admit this guy has talent, his gimmick is something quite unique.  And it was in the Photo Museum here in Antwerp, so it must be art...right?  Or does the gimmick itself elevate this man's painting to art?  You decide.  (not for children's eyes)  

Now I have to admit, when I saw this, I was fascinated.  Not just by the medium, but the fact it was in a high class museum.  And while I believe Pricasso has some talent, I more enjoyed the faces of those who watched the video of him doing the painting.  It obviously got a reaction, so it passed the test for being art.  I guess.  If you'd like to see more, check out these links...

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/2752d3c72e/pricasso-paints-a-portrait-of-john-mccain-and-barack-obama-from-prthatrocks

http://vimeo.com/36265371

There is other art I just don't see as "art", but it did touch something inside me.  Sometimes it was awe, sometimes disbelief that someone would call it art in the first place.

For example, at the Contemporary Museum here in town, they had a special exhibit by a man called Jimmie Durham.  And while some of his work I did like (for some reason I can't really explain), some of it was just weird and creepy.  But it definitely produced a reaction.  See what I mean in this picture to the left.  Dead deer bones and paint hanging from the ceiling.

Art?  You decide.

Yet I found myself strangely fascinated by this as well as the dozen or more other bone sculptures from this artist.  Would I put them in my home?  No bloody way.  But I did like them.  I just can't figure out why.  This one was my favorite.  I may use it in a book.  As a monster in a nightmare!  LOL

And yet there were others by this same artist that were, IMHO, ridiculous.  A handful of glass on an old TV tray.  A group of broken and smashed TVs all lined up in a row.  Those produced a reaction in me as well. 

Amusement.

Not for the artist.  I figure they have a right to make anything they want.  But I was amused that people looked at those things and saw them as art in the first place.

Then there was this photograph I saw in the Photo Museum.  Another fascinating piece of art, but I saw it as more shake-my-head-are-you-out-of-your-mind-crazy, than true art.  Why would you do this?  Seriously.  An obsession you can't hide?  Because it's more than showing the "beauty of the human form."  (another not for children) Click to see it full size.

He had other art, too.  Cocks on computer keyboards, naked guys taking flash pics of themselves and a couple others.  If you google the artist, Frank Schallmaier, you can see his work.  And you can decide for yourself.  Is it art or is it something else?  Let me know what you think in the comments below!!!

Until Monday!  You all have a great weekend!

Hugs,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

 

Coffee, Tea or Me?

Hey all,

I'm giving up coffee.

That's right.  Me.  The coffee queen who LOVES the stuff.  But it's for exactly that reason I'm giving it up.  Because I love it.

And I can't find any coffee here that is worth getting up in the morning for.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm sure there is good coffee here in Europe.  I can go out to restaurants and get it, but when you live in a hotel and all you have is a hotpot to warm water for instant coffee, your choices are severely limited.

I've tried.  I swear I have.  I've bought the cheap coffee...and it was like dishwater.  I've bought the expensive coffee and guess what?  It tasted like dishwater, too!  Instant coffee just sucks.

Period.  End of story.

So, since I'm not willing to carry around a drip coffee maker, nor am I prepared to stumble off to Starbucks or some other coffee shop every morning, I only have one thing left to do.  Don't drink the stuff in the first place.

*sigh*

It will be healthier for me.  I know that.  But when I'm crawling out of bed and wishing for that caffeine kick, I won't be happy to be healthy.  I'll more likely to bite someone's head off even if they commiserate with me.

I know...  Maybe I'll make it an adventure.  Find the best TEA available in Europe.  I do like tea, drink it often in the wintertime.  So maybe I'll be able to substitute tea for coffee.  Nothing will have changed.  I'll still be able to look forward to that first cuppa in the morning.

And maybe Adam Sandler can take the place of Sean Connery as James Bond.

*snort*  Sure...that'll happen!

See you on Friday, when, sans coffee, I'll be back with a humorous look at sex in museums.

Hugs,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

A Lifetime of Training for Just Ten Seconds

Hey all,

If you don't know it, the title is a quote by the great athlete, Jesse Owens, speaking of his incredible performance at the 1936 Summer Olympics.  And while not every event lasts only ten seconds, you understand his point.  So much work for such a small moment in time.

I love the Olympics.  Watch them as much as I can, wherever we are.  I love seeing the different events, groan along with the athletes when they don't make the grade, and cheer when an athlete does something particularly spectacular.

I enjoy both the winter and summer games, and while I am athletic, I wouldn't call myself an athlete.  To me there is a distinction.  I can play baseball, football, badminton, and ping pong.  I can kayak, ski, skate, and shoot both a gun and a bow.  I can run distances and do hurdles.  I can do just about every event possible in the Olympics.  But it's not my life.

And for athletes...for Olympians it is.  It's just that simple.

Along with most of the rest of the world, I watched the opening ceremonies on Friday night.  I laughed at Mr. Bean's antics and grinned at Daniel Craig's Bond and the "Queen" jumping out of a helicopter.  

I sat amazed at the dancing and overall light spectacle and scratched my head over the giant baby. (just what WAS that???)  I cried as I watched the hand off of torches from the old guard to the new, and cheered when the USA made their presence known on the field.  All 500+ of them.

I watched the faces of those athletes who were able to attend the opening ceremonies.  (Personally, I think it's wrong to schedule events so late and so early so they CAN'T attend.  It's part of the Olympic experience and all should be able to be there.)  Each one of them had so much excitement...so much joy on their faces.  To be a part of the Olympics, even once, has got to be a life changing experience.

I've read stories about those who put their hearts and souls into becoming an Olympian.  And I wish, with all my soul that their experience is everything they dreamed of.  The work...the sacrifice...the time away from loved ones to make it happen, those are already signs of a champion, whether they bring the medal home or not.

I honor them for that.  It's certainly not something I'd want to do.  I don't care enough.  But they do.  You can see it in their eyes.  It's need, pure and simple that burns there.  A need to do their best...to be the best they can be.

An Olympic Champion.

There are so many events...so many sports.  And while I don't agree with all the actual "sports" they have at the Olympics, I honor those who put everything they have into whatever they do.

As I'm writing this, I'm watching sculling, the bike race, badminton, swimming, gymnastics, dressage and judo.  I love to see the crowds cheering for their country.  In a way it brings us all together.  This sporting event where we are in direct competition with each other actually draws us closer as human beings.  We really are all the same.  Even though we may look very different, our hearts beat the same way.  Whether it's the agony of defeat or the thrill of victory, each of us want the athletes to do their best.  To be the best they can be.

And isn't that what the Greeks wished for the games in the first place?

Do you have a favorite sport in the Olympics?  One that makes your heart beat fast?  Did you enjoy the Opening Ceremony?  What did you like or dislike?  Share your thoughts on the 2012 Olympics in the comments below!

Hugs,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

The Lighter Side of Ice Cream

Hey all,

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month?  And since this Friday is the last day in July, I thought I'd take the time to honor what is probably my all time favorite dessert.

I love ice cream.  Regular ice cream, gelato, custard, frozen yogurt, sherbets or sorbet, I'll eat them all.  I adore home made ice cream and am enamored of anything Italian.  I've tried ice cream in every country I've been in and enjoyed them all.  

To this day when I hear the tinkling bell of an ice cream truck, I stop dead in my tracks and search for my own very heaven on wheels!

My favorite memory as a child is sitting on the porch in Bass Lake and eating Dewar's Famous Ice Cream.  It was the best, and to this day my mouth waters just thinking about the delicious taste.  Eating ice cream while we watched Fourth of July fireworks over the lake is something I'll never forget.

Recipes that have ice cream in them are some of my favorite desserts.  And, since I have to be careful of my sugar content, when I do have ice cream I want to make sure it counts!  So, in honor of this most delicious dessert, I've included a few recipes of my favorite ice cream desserts!  Something to enjoy during this summer weather.  (Since I'm in Belgium, not so much summer weather here, so I'm living vicariously through all of you!  LOL)

Now, while these are all made with store bought ice cream, using home made will make them even tastier!

Ready?  Let's start with a dessert that is perfect for tea time or a light after meal treat.

Mini Ice Cream Cakes

 

Use any ice cream or frozen yogurt to tailor it to your own preference. You can assemble and freeze the cakes up to a day in advance.

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter, softened 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 cups strawberry ice cream, softened 
• 1 1/2 cups fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 tablespoon red maraschino cherry juice (optional)
• 12 red maraschino cherries with stems, drained

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Coat a 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan with cooking spray; line bottom of pan with wax paper. Coat wax paper with cooking spray; set aside.
3. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 5 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition. Beat in extracts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sharply tap pan once on counter to remove air bubbles. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Carefully peel off wax paper; cool completely on wire rack. Place cake on a large platter or cutting board; refrigerate until cold (about 2 hours).
5. Spread ice cream evenly over top of cake; cover with plastic wrap. Freeze until firm (6 hours to overnight).
6. Uncover cake. Cut cake with a 2-inch round cutter into 24 cake rounds. Discard scraps. Working quickly, place one cake round, ice cream side up, in a paper muffin cup liner; top with another cake round, ice cream side down. Repeat procedure with remaining cake rounds to form 12 filled ice-cream cakes.
7. Combine whipped topping and cherry juice, if desired. Top each cake with 2 tablespoons whipped topping; arrange 1 maraschino cherry on each cake. Freeze until ready to serve. Let ice-cream cakes stand at room temperature 5 minutes before serving. 

I love this at tea time for a unique and unexpected treat! Serve it instead of cookies along with your delicious scones and jam.

This next recipe is one of my favorites.  Chocolate and more chocolate. 

Buster Bar Ice Cream Dessert

Just like my favorite dessert at Dairy Queen. Yum!!

Ingredients

• 1 pound chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream  (or if you're a chocoholic like me, chocolate or dark fudge ice cream)
• 1 1/2 cups spanish peanuts

Preparation

1. Combined crushed cookies and melted margarine and press into a 9x13 inch dish. Chill 1 hour in refrigerator.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine confectioners' sugar, evaporated milk, chocolate chips and 1/2 cup margarine. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, and boil 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Set aside to cool.
3. Slice vanilla ice cream into 3/4 inch slices, and place them in a single layer over the chilled crust. Smooth the seams. Sprinkle the peanuts over the ice cream. Top with the cooled chocolate sauce. 
4. Cover and freeze 8 hours or overnight.  

 

This is beyond good.  One of my all time favorites and you can swap ice cream and nuts to give this dessert a twist.  How about Maple Nut ice cream with walnuts or pecans.  Your creation...your choice.

 

 

And this last one will make you think of songs around a campfire!"She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes..."

S'Mores Coffee and Fudge Ice Cream Cake

A decadent, impressive dessert that appeals to everyone's inner Boy Scout or Girl Scout. Begin preparing this a day ahead.

Ingredients

• 16 whole graham crackers (about 8 ounces)
  
• 1 cup whole almonds, toasted
  
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  
• 1 1/2 quarts coffee ice cream (or chocolate if you don't like coffee), softened until spreadable
  
• fudge sauce
  
• 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
  
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Finely grind graham crackers, toasted almonds and 3 tablespoons sugar in processor or blender.  Add 1/2 cup melted butter and process mixture until moist crumbs form.
3. Press graham cracker mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan (if you have one) with 2 3/4 inch sides.
4. Bake crust until edges ar golden, about 12 minutes.  Cool crust.
5. Spread 2 cups softened ice cream in crust.  Spoon 3/4 cup cooled fudge sauce over it.  Freeze until sauce is just set, about 10 minutes.  (Refrigerate or freeze remaining ice cream as necessary to prevent ice cream from melting.)
6. Repeat layering with 2 cups ice cream, then 3/4 cup sauce.  Freeze until sauce is just set, another 10 minutes, then spread remaining 2 cups ice cream over it.
7. Cover and freeze overnight.  Refrigerate remaining fudge sauce.
8. Preheat broiler.  Warm remaining fudge sauce in small saucepan over low heat.  Remove from heat.  
9. While sauce is warming, place cake on baking sheet.  Spread marshmallow creme over top of cake.  Sprinkle miniature marshmallows over in single layer.  Broil just until marshmallows are golden brown.  Watch carefully so they don't burn, about 1 minute.  
10. Run knife between pan and cake to loosen.  Remove pan sides or carefully remove cake from pan.  
11. Cut cake into wedges.  Serve immediately with warm fudge sauce trickled over top.

OMG, is this good!!!!  A little extra effort, but it is absolutely delicious!

Well, there you go!  A few recipes to celebrate a most excellent month.  Now go grab an ice cream or the ice cream man!  Whichever you prefer!  LOL

Until Monday!

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

The Politics of a Tragedy

Hey all,

Before I go on, let me say that what has happened in Aurora, Colorado sickened me to my very soul.  It made me weep for those who lost their lives and for those heartbroken family members that were left behind.  I wanted to do permanent damage to the gunman, yet I felt for his parents and what they must be going through.

I won't blog specifically about this horrible affair.  So many others have done it and probably better than I would.  I've read several blogs, seen the news articles and memorials on FaceBook, and I know that it made a tremendous impact on many people, both in the United States and the world.

But I couldn't help being bothered by the fact that the politicians, while they too might have been horrified, used this as a platform to tout their different views.  Gun control vs the right to bear arms seems to be the hot topic and everyone is jumping on one bandwagon or another.  

The fact that the man was looney-tunes doesn't seem to be as important as what he used to do the deed.  And I firmly believe that if he hadn't been able to find a gun, he'd have still massacred those people, albeit differently.  Crazy people will find a way to make their fantasy a reality.  So leave the politics of gun control out of it.  Use your time and energy in a wiser way.  Help the victims...help the town.

I was pleased, but it didn't surprise me that both Romney and Obama pulled their ads in Colorado.  While I'd like to believe the sensitive gesture was because they are two great guys, more likely they (or their campaign people) saw the political value in keeping their usual campaign nastiness away from a grieving town.  

But just think... If you pull an advertisement because it may be negative and insensitive, why are you doing the ad in the first place?

Call me cynical, but I'm pretty sure no matter how despicable the tragedy, a politician always measures his emotions and words before he says them.  And using this episode as a way to get airtime makes a politician as much of a bad guy as the dude who pulled the trigger.

Instead, make a simple statement and then SHUT UP!!!  Let the newsies focus on the ones who died.  Not some politician hoping to score a few extra votes by showing how sorry he is that it happened.

I know he's the president, but I have to say it bothered me that Obama is going to go visit the families of those who died.  I thought about it long and hard when I read the news.  I know I wouldn't want him anywhere near me if I was a family member.   For several reasons...

One)  I'm grieving.  I just lost someone I loved.  President or not, he's a stranger.  Someone I don't know and who sure as hell doesn't know me.  I don't need to play hostess to the leader of the free world when I'm going through something like this.  I truly doubt any of them are going to feel all better about losing a loved one just because Obama visited them.

Two)  Having him go to Aurora turns the world's attention towards him and away from what should be more important.  Those who died.  So why is he there?  Politically motivated?  You bet!

Three)  Does he visit other murder victim's families?  Why are these heartbroken and suffering people people more important than, for example, the family of Russell Sneiderman who was killed in 2010 in Georgia by another crazy person minutes after dropping his son off at daycare.  Is it the number who died?  The horrifying venue?  The innocence lost?  Or could it be it's just more newsworthy?

Do I sound disgusted?  You bet I am.  I'm disgusted with the politicians who are using this heartbreaking event for themselves.  I'm disgusted with the media who are like ravening wolves, scenting fresh blood and hoping for the right angle to show how the candidates are reacting.  And finally, I'm disgusted with people who will spout off with negative words about the victims, the families (both victim's and the perpetrator's) and the town as if this tragedy was their fault.

I'm not naive.  I know that neither Romney or Obama could or even should ignore this.  But how they handled it was a test of the kind of men they were.  How many of their kind and generous words were from the heart and how much were written by their speech writers?  Did they sit down with their campaign people and take a poll on what to do, or did they just do what they thought was right?  

And most importantly, did they think of the victims and their families as they made their decisions on how to act, or did they think about how they'd look while doing it?

James Freeman Clarke said it better than I ever could...

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.

Makes you wonder just what Obama, Romney and other politicians are thinking of, doesn't it?

Okay...rant over.  Let me know what you think in the comment section.

I'll lighten things up a bit on Friday when I share some great summer dessert recipes.

Hugs,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

All Dressed Up And No Place To Go

Hey all,

Not living in the USA can be an adventure.  You don't realize until you don't, just how trained we are about specific things.  Take holidays for example.  Most of my childhood revolved around what days we'd get off from school, and then later on, as an adult, I knew from experience when a holiday was ready to roll around.

But it's not like that overseas.  I may still remember when Independence Day and Thanksgiving are, but since they aren't celebrated in whatever country I'm in, it's not the same thing.  And even more to the point, I don't know the holidays that ARE celebrated here.  It can be fun and frustrating at the same time.

Case in point...Saturday.

I had a list of errands I needed to do and was so proud of myself for heading out early to do them.  I mean I'm NOT a morning person and I have this great list of why I can't go out of the hotel until after noon.  But today, I tossed all of them aside, girded my loins, and strode out into the world to have at 'em.

And that's where everything started to go horribly wrong!!!!

My first stop was the Local Market--what they call an exotic market which is like a flea market targeted at specific things.  It is only on Saturdays between 8-1 so I knew I needed to get on the ball and go early.  I wasn't exactly sure where it was, but I had the directions, and followed them easily.  

But when I got to the square where it should be, the area was empty. 

I blinked, thought maybe I was wrong, so I wandered a bit looking for the market.  Saw some umbrellas and hotfooted it that way, only to discover it was a pub with an outside seating area.  So I dug out my map to see where I'd gone wrong.

But I was exactly where I was supposed to be.  It was the market that was missing.  So I scratched my head, shrugged and headed off to destination number two, Beads & Beyond, a jewelry supply shop.  Again, I followed the directions and this time arrived exactly where I was supposed to.

To find it closed. 

Not only was the store closed...it was closed down.  For good.  And by the looks of the empty space, it had been that way for a while. Seems they forgot that little tidbit on the website.  *snarl* 

Now I'm getting a little irritated.  I hate wasting time and so far it was Antwerp - 2, CJ - 0!  But I do have another jewelry shop I can try, so I dig out those directions and head that way.  Only to find... 

Yep...you guessed it.  This shop was closed too! 

I was so frustrated, I wanted to pound on the window.  I looked at my notes.  It SHOULD be open.  The website said it would be.  There was a notice on the door that agreed.  Open Saturday from 10-6.  So, what is going on?  Where is everyone?  Did the rapture come and I get left behind? 

I checked my watch.  It was about 1:15pm, so maybe the owner was taking a long lunch.  (After dealing with the siestas in Barcelona, I know anything is possible!)

So I figured I'd check back at 2:00pm and see if the shop, Zahia, was open.  I had seen a beautiful church a few blocks away and it opened at 1:45pm, so, hope springing eternal, I figured I could walk on back there, see the church and THEN come on back and look at the store.

Luckily (this was the only part of the day that went right) the church was open and I spent an excellent hour wandering through and taking pictures.  Saint George's was lovely inside, and the artwork and architecture was outstanding.  And to add to the gorgeous church, on the way back to the shop, I discovered the National Bank building, another architectural dream I couldn't take enough pictures of.  (see pic below)

But that was the end of my good fortune.  The shop was still closed when I got back to it, and I had this niggling feeling something just wasn't right.  But I'd given up.  Obviously I wasn't meant to do any of the things on my list.  Time to go to the grocery store and head for home.

Yet that niggling feeling kept getting stronger.  And as I walked towards the bus stop at Groenplaats (the original stop being torn up by road construction) I noted that a LOT of the shops were closed.  And while I hadn't worried about that in the more quiet part of town, Groenplaats is one of the big tourist areas and stores being closed didn't make any sense.

And when--going on a hunch--I checked and saw that the biggest grocery store in town was closed, I knew that some how...some way...

Nothing was open because it was a public holiday!  

So there I was, out and about, but with no place to go, because I didn't know that July 21 was some sort of holiday.  It was very depressing. 

I did find a small express market store that I could get some groceries at.  Otherwise, I might have just punched a wall or something.  I did find out later when I googled, that the holiday was National Day for Belgium.  It commemorates when Leopold I, first king of the Belgians, took the constitutional oath in 1831. 

Yay for Leopold.  Not so much for me.  But it taught me a lesson.  I went home and looked up all public holidays in Belgium (no more during the short time we have left here) and Switzerland.   

Next time I'm dressed up, I WILL have somewhere to go!!! 

Until Wednesday,

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

Another Look at the Lighter Side of Signage

Hey all,

One of my favorite blog topics are the signs and displays I find in my travels.  Some are fan-yourself-hot, some are weird, some are hysterical and some you just wonder, WTF is that about.  So let's take a look at my latest finds, shall we?  And enjoy!!!

Obviously sex sells here in Europe.  This is not the first sexy sign I've seen.  What does it say?  Can you guess?  LOL  That's right...  SALE.  I know I'd take a second look at what HE had for sale under that sign.  Oddly enough though, when I tried to translate the word, it doesn't come up in any Google language.  I had to go surfing to find it out what it actually meant.

Finding funny signs like this always makes my day, even when it translates to something perfectly normal.   However, I'm still not sure about this one.  Apparently it says, "Gay Video store is looking to buy or rent."  Hmmm....

Another sexy sign to sell something.  This one is quite beautiful in my opinion.  Except for the water droplets at his groin.  Those could have gone away.  JMHO.  *grin* 

This one was awesome!!!  Not the sign itself, it's one of our usual Corteo signs with my friend Robert on it.  It's where it was that was unusual and made us all laugh like crazy.  We found this poster in Ghent, Belgium in a back alley ON A TRASH CAN!!!  Can you say blanketed marketing or what?  ROTFL

And this was the crowning touch of my day.  I laughed until I cried.  Seriously?  What marketing genius came up with this?  It's clever, I have to say, but I'm not sure I'd want to have my product linked with dropping your pants and then dropping a load.  Lowered prices or not.  Just sayin'.

Anyway, there you have your Lighter Side of Signage.  The ongoing saga of what I find that's odd, funny and sometimes downright scary!

Until Monday!

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/

If It's Raining, It Must Be Belgium

Hey all,

I know, I know.  I just mangled a great title, but I swear to you, the writers of the movie, If it's Tuesday, it Must be Belgium, sure didn't know anything about global warming when they made the picture.

Seriously, I've heard all kinds of weather reports across the globe and I am still baffled by the change in our weather patterns.  I know it's a scientific fact that something is going on, and I'm sure we, as people, with all our "stuff", are probably the culprits, but I feel as if suddenly all the changes went from meandering to speeding down the track to the finish line.

Isn't 2012 the year the Mayans say we all are going to die?  The weather sometimes sure makes me wonder.

Case in point is here in Belgium.  It's the middle of July and I can count on one hand the number of days we've seen the sun.  I'm not kidding.  We've been here since the middle of June and I'm tempted to go to a tanning salon just so I don't look like a corpse any more!  

And on those very few, infrequent days we do get some sun, it usually rains all day and THEN sometime between 5:00pm and 6:00pm, just when everyone is ready to head home, the sun breaks through.  I can set my watch on it.  I see the sun, I think, "Oh...must be after five!"

Now I don't want to get into a debate over whether global warming is real.  I've heard the arguments for and against, and in all honesty, they just irritate me.  Look outside your window, people.  Something IS going on.  Arguing that it isn't won't make it go away.

I've heard of crazy weather everywhere.  Drought conditions in the US, avalanches in the French Alps, freak tornadoes in Poland.  You can't open up a news bulletin without seeing something.

Was it this way back in the day?  Has the weather always been slowly disintegrating and we didn't know it?  Or have we as a species actually changed the weather patterns of the planet?

Tell me what you think in the comments below!!!

Hugs and see you on Friday.  Boy...do I have some new and interesting signage to show you this time!  LOL

CJ England

 

Follow Your Dreams

http://cjengland.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CJsaysFollowYourDreams/