Corne van Dooren - (Multimedia) Designer

July 24, 2008

Hello again! Glad I've got a minute to catch up with you all. I've been so busy that it was difficult to find time to reflect on anything that has been happening lately.

Although I've been busy I made time to work out on the Wii Fit every day. I'm now at day 14. My BMI (Body Mass Index) is totally perfect at 22.00 now. I've been sweating a lot. Can't really say you can spot a difference just yet though...

Tomorrow is gonna be a busy day. I have to do a lot in the household, go to Optical Express for my possibly last checkup on the eyes and most importantly buy some clothes for the holiday.

I bought some clothes some time ago, but after just showing them to Nadine she insists I get some new - better looking - clothes. So tomorrow I've gotta make sure I find some new pants, a cap and water-shoes.

Thankfully I only have to work three more days until my holiday. Great feeling! My brother is actually in Egypt already. He and his girlfriend had planned a trip to that wonderful country too - not knowing me and Nadine would go too. We won't meet up over there by the way. He's planned a trip through major parts of the country.

Me and Nadine will be staying in Hurghada, but also travel to all the popular and well-known spots. I can't wait... Can you tell? Gheghe.

Well, take care and speak soon.

July 18, 2008

Only two more weeks of work before my holiday starts. I am so ready for it, you wouldn't believe.

I've been working at 200% for a few months now and its slowly but surely becoming too much to take. So my upcoming holiday to wonderful Egypt is much awaited.

During my holiday I will think about my plans for the next year. I definately do not want to work at 200% much longer. I have absolutely no problems with doing a bit of overtime and working hard, but there is a limit to it all. So during my holiday I want to look at all the options I have to make sure I don't get an emotional and physical overload.

As for now, I am counting down the days to my holiday. I have always wanted to visit Egypt. In the past everytime I wanted to go, something happened. Only a few years ago me and Nadine were planning to go. We had even booked a trip. A few weeks before going our travel agency stated Egypt was not safe and offered us an alternative trip to Mauritius.

I will never forget that trip to Mauritius, it was truly amazing. But I have to say I am also quite excited that my trip to Egypt is finally going to happen. I only have to keep my fingers crossed for two more weeks...

Next Friday I also have to make a stop at Optical Express. I have another checkup on my eyes. Its the half-year checkup. Can't believe its already been half a year since I had my eyes lasered.

Anyway, gotta go. Off to a wedding of an uncle of mine. Hope you all have a good weekend. I know I will.

Take care.

July 13, 2008

Pfew, I've had a major shock. Last week I finally managed to get my hands on a Wii Fit. I knew my condition wouldn't be as good as it used to be, when I still did some sports.

According to the Wii my Body Mass Index is excellent at 22.15, but my fitness level is of a 33-year old. Sjeez. I have played the Wii Fit for just over an hour on Friday, 45 minutes yesterday and today I played it for 20 minutes.

My upper body muscles and stomach muscles are hurting. After my first workout I thought I was having a heart-attack! I am totally shocked by my own condition. But as of now I am planning to do 20 minutes of exercise every day, increasing that time whenever I feel I'm ready for more.

It hurts right now, so its working! Its too late for this summer, but maybe this time next year I can impress everyone at the beach with a six-pack. Okay... Maybe give me two years to be sure...

Take care.

July 11, 2008

Last year a horrible crime made the papers in The Netherlands. An American who was over in The Netherlands wanted to axe down a soldier as a statement.

Because the soldiers obviously couldn't be taken down easily he fled. Only to appear a bit later at the train station. Over there he attacked a student, 22, from the back and immediately planted the axe in the poor student's head. He repeatedly bashed into the guy.

Yesterday the punishment for the American Idiot was pronounced. He only has to serve 15 years in jail! 15 years! 15 years for taking the life of a young guy in a horrible, horrible and cowardly way!

Personally I am starting to get really bugged by all the low sentences in The Netherlands. I am slowly starting to be for the death penalty. If you take life in such a way - the only sentence should be the death penalty.

This statement may offend you. But then think. A 42-year old idiot kills a young guy by planting an axe in his head, from the back, because he is a fucking coward and failed to do what he first intended to do (kill a soldier - but they were too strong). This man serves 15 years. Thats not even the age of the killed student. Is that fair? Hell no.

The guy should have at least been in prison for the rest of his stupid little life. Then give the inmates an axe...

Also in the news was the killing of a female cop (28 years old) by a drunken idiot (49 year old Aruban). The cop stopped the drunk driver and when he opened the window he immediately opened fire. Is The Netherlands slowly but surely going crazy? And more importantly: where the fuck is our government acting on all this shit happening?

Thank God its weekend. I'll let you know whether I survived the jungle over here.

Take care.

July 8, 2008

Pfew, its been a week since my last post. Sorry once more for the lack of news... I have been extremely busy lately. No worries though - after my summer holiday (August) I am planning to drop some projects to create more personal time for myself.

I am currently also looking at my personal work. My family is doing a family expo where I am supposed to show some work too. Its difficult to say which works I want to use.

My work has been shown in print, online and much more. Even on cinema screens. But that work was mostly casual enough or for a specific audience. I have absolutely no idea who would visit a family expo. I am also trying to get a DVD with work done by that time (October), but its more under the rule "if I make it - great, if I don't - no worries".

Ah well, I'll come up with something in the end. I always seem to do...

Gotta go now. Take care.

July 1, 2008

Today a lot of rules have kicked in over here in The Netherlands. As of today smoking in all public places is illegal. As I don't smoke thats no problem to me, but I can imagine smokers not being happy with it.

If anyone wants to smoke to relax or reset the mind I have no problems with that at all. Its just a rather silly rule... But there's more to it! Because smokers pay lots of money for the cigarettes the government makes a lot of money. That money will now be less, because more smokers will smoke less of even quit.

So as of today the standard costs for every Dutch family have gone up too. Hey, they have to make up for the loss of money on the cigarettes. Duh!

It has been calculated that the everage Dutch family has an extra 50 euros on the monthly costs like gas, electricity and such. That means 600 euros a year! Thats quite a lot of money and many families will get into trouble. We already paid the highest price in Europe and now that has even gone up!

This government is just plain rubbish (and thats putting it very, very nicely). Instead of making it easier on everyone they increase the amount of problems. Yesterday the news even showed that many kids can't do sports because their parents can't afford the costs of the clubs. Ridiculous! These families have to now save 600 euros somewhere?!

The saddest thing is that these rules are made by the CDA and PvdA parties over here. And the simple fact is that they win at every election because there's loads of ignorant people voting for them.

Ah well, in ten years time you just have to be a millionaire to live in The Netherlands...

Take care and feel lucky that you're not Dutch!

Corne van Dooren, Multimedia Designer