Life and its little pleasures

Babe's new book jacket unveiled on live TV!!!

So the project that aged my future husband by 10 years and sprouted some grey hairs here and there has finally (almost) come to an end! Yay!
But it was some project: design the jacket for Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol.
Now, when he started on the project, he didn't know the title, hadn't read the manuscript and had no idea what the book was about... Finally, after 6 months and 68 versions, they let him read the script in the privacy of his office and after signing the necessary NDAs. Another thirty something version later, the final result was unveiled on yesterday's Today show on NBC (Matt Lauer!!!).
Let's hope for him, the next book cover will be less of a "design by committee" enterprise...

This is the cover, what do you think?

See video of the unveiling!!!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I couldn't resist...

Have a great life, Eskimos

Tja... a new baby on the way and off she goes.
And a new girlfriend and off he goes too...

Thank you, Nicodemus and Little Q for the years of interesting posts on robots, atheism, politics and web stuff. May you have a wonderful life in Belgium, the UK or Australia. I for one will miss reading your insights.

RIP Belgium?

If you are one of those people that says that Belgium is an artificial state of Walloon and Flemish people (and some Germans) forced together, I suggest you read up on your Belgian history.
Or better yet, read "Een geschiedenis van Belgie", by Marc Reynebeau. Yes, a book... one of those things you find in a library...

It's sad to hear that the voices that scream for a separation of my home country won the recent elections... And after everything they and their conservative colleagues did in the last 2 years to fuck up my country, they got rewarded... What does that say about my fellow Belgians?

I just don't understand it anymore. Am I, as a proud Belgian, a dying breed?

Football racism

Kuddos for Onyewu to take this further. If it turns out that that Anderlecht player indeed called him a dirty monkey several times in the first playoff of this year's title fight, then Van Damme should be brought to justice. I don't know the details of the anti-racism law in Belgium, but I really do hope that he can be prosecuted.
I'm sick and tired of hearing the argument that in football things get yelled at each other to intimidate the other player. There is no excuse, NO EXCUSE for using racial slurs in any game. And if you do use it, then be prepared for the consequences. Too many talented players have just swallowed their pride and listened to the abuse for years. I hope that more victims of this blatant racism fight back with every weapon the legal system offers them. Onyewu, I think you are a hero.

And no, this has nothing to do with my everlasting love for the team of Liege. It just makes me more proud that it's one of the Rouches that fights back.

Oh, and WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO, we won the championship again!!!!

Present to the guys

For all you lovely readers that are male, click here.

You're welcome.

Picture updates

Too sick to write a lot of stuff... So here are some picture updates from my trip back home to Riemst in April and Memorial Day Weekend in Mansfield, Ohio at Mike's mom's house.

New York holiday

If you are looking for a recession proof holiday in New York, look no further! I'm subletting my apartment until the end of August, so if you are interested, give me a shout.
150 USD/night or if you take it for longer than a week, the price goes down to 3,500 USD/month.
More info of the apartment here, but if you contact me directly, there is no agency fee!

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Aldo, how to deal with unsatisfied customers

A few days ago I posted a rant on this blog after a horrible experience at the local Aldo store in Queens (about 3 minutes walk from my new home). Yesterday I received an email via my Facebook account from Mr. M. V., district sales manager for Aldo in Queens. I quote from his mail:

I just read your blog post about your experience there on Sunday.
I'm really embarrassed.
...
I work really hard to train and motivate people to offer a great shopping experience.
Your feedback was really disappointing to read - especially since in a crowded store - you weren't the only customer poorly serviced on that Sunday.
The experience you had in the store is totally ridiculous and I'd like to be able to make it up to you - if you'll let me.

He continues his mail by offering me a 50% discount on the shoes I bought and a plea to let me have him personally restore my image of the Aldo store. (Not sure what he means by that!)

I have to say that at first I was a little bit shocked that my rant made it to someone in Aldo (and then I was a little bit proud that it did...).

Mr. V, thank you for your kind response. You could have chosen to simple ignore it, but you didn't. I appreciate that you find it important enough to try and change my opinion of the brand you work for, especially since I am just one of many, many customers worldwide. I have to say that it worked. I will not stop shopping at your store and every time I go there, I will think of the how you went out of your way to try and make up for my bad experience.

I did buy the shoes back then and I love them (even though they hurt like hell, like all gorgeous shoes). Thank you for offering to pay me back 50% of them, but I cannot accept your offer. I didn't start this rant in the hope of getting something out of it. I'm just really glad it might prevent another customer from experiencing the same.

Have a nice holiday weekend everyone.

Whirl

My drum teacher has a band... check them out. Can't wait to start my lessons again as soon as I figure out the job situation...