Just looking

This is Antwerp, Belgium

45 min from Leuven

This is Brugge, Belgium

1.5 hrs from Leuven

This is Maastricht, Netherlands

1 hr from Leuven

This is Ghent, Belgium

1 hr from Leuven

This is Brussels, Belgium

30 min from Leuven

This is Leuven, Belgium where Ross lives.

I'm just wondering what the odds are of finding his and Jim's bike.

Maybe as good as . . .

a Brit winning Wimbledon?

a snowball's chance in hell?

seeing the Pope in a Speedo?

I'm gonna go with "all of the above".

Pot calling the kettle black

I will assume you know what that idiom means. Okay, in case you don't . . . it means accusing someone of a fault the accuser shares.

I read an article recently that began . . .

"If slavery was America's original sin, Puritanism was its original curse." I don't know about that, but . . .

Just this week, David Wu, an Oregon lawmaker resigned amid allegations of unwanted sexual advances. He also emailed a picture of himself in a tiger costume. Now that is just . . .

adorable. I wonder where he got that.

Anyway, Mr. Wu joins a long list of lawmakers with lapses in judgement like:

- Chris Lee (New York), resigned after sending bare-chested photos to a woman he met on Craig's List

Perhaps I should have uploaded this photo.

- John Ensign (Nevada), resigned after having an affair with his best friend's wife then trying to cover it up

Apparently his best friend had a problem with that.

- Anthony Weiner (New York), resigned after sending pictures of his genitals on Twitter

I decided not to upload this photo. You're welcome.

And that's just so far this year.

You may also remember:

- Mark Souder (Indiana), extramarital affair with staffer; ironically, he and she made a public video about the virtues of sexual abstinence

I love it when I get to use the word hypocrite.

- John Edwards (North Carolina), extramarital affair with campaign worker, denied it as long as possible, indicted in 2011 for using $1 million in campaign funds to hide the affair

A million dollars. It just doesn't buy what it used to.

- David Vitter (Louisiana), admitted to adultery after his name was discovered in the DC Madam's address book ; ironically Vitter took over Robert Livingston's House seat who resigned due to extramarital affair

Louisiana. My home state. Motto: Union, Justice, Confidence. It doesn't mean all of them at once.

- Bill Clinton (President), impeached by House and acquitted by Senate for engaging in oral sex with a White House intern

I wonder if Linda Tripp still thinks it was worth it.

- Newt Gingrich (Georgia), resigned from House due to extramarital affair with intern; ironically while leading the impeachment of Bill Clinton

I believe that defines the pot/kettle idiom.

- Ken Calvert (California), arrested for soliciting a prostitute; ironically received a 100% approval rating by the Christian Coalition

I'm not sure if this rating was before or after . . . need to check that.

I could actually go on, but I won't. As a matter of fact, this list could go on and on, going way back in time, but it's probably best to keep those still on a pedestal, on a pedestal. I guess we can be thankful the internet is less than 50 years old.

I started to think about this long, incomplete list of public figures who've done some seriously stupid things, but here's the thing - most are not illegal.

I'm from the "old school" by today's standards, but I still have to wonder if we could lighten up just a bit. Frankly, I'm impressed they know how to text a photo of themselves. Did I say that right?

Yes, we may be disgusted by some of these lapses in judgement, but if they haven't done anything illegal, should it really be the scandal it usually turns into? It seems their biggest mistake was not being discreet.

Should what they do in their private lives with another consenting adult be just that - private? There are some things we really don't need to know.

However, for those few days of full blown media attention, it does distract the general public from the serious issues facing our lawmakers. You can just hear them saying "Thanks for falling on your sword. There is a God." . . . while hoping for that next distraction.

Kilos

I finally bought one.

A scale.

I've completely lost track of my weight since moving to Belgium. Pounds mean nothing anymore. Over the years I've gained and lost, but on average stayed pretty average. With most of my weight in my brain and my butt, I try not to beat myself up too much when I put on a pound or two :)

These new scales are fantastic though and I highly recommend them. Here's why. They read your weight in kilos.

These new scales make me weigh in double digits rather than triple. You have to weigh 220+ lbs to even get into double digits in kilos. Anything in the 50's range is acceptable! Is this great or what?

Keep in mind that this is only good for Americans because as you know, Canada, France, Mexico, Germany, China, and . . . well, the rest of the world, use metrics.

I've never enjoyed stepping on the scales as much. You should try it or at least use this handy calculator to begin thinking of your weight in kilos.

Not only will you feel as scrawny as a fifth grader, you will no longer associate kilos strictly with cocaine.

GroupOff

Have you purchased a discount coupon from GroupOn yet?

We have.

You've practically got to be at your computer at all times to make a reasonable purchase because you only have 24 hours. Starting now.

They seem like a good deal and usually are, but our experiences have been similar to the experiences I've read about from others. Most often it's simply letting the coupon expire, but sometimes it's the feeling of being a cheapskate when you actually try to use it.

You generally have from 3 to 6 months to redeem and although that seems like a long time, it goes by fast!

Our only purchases have been for one car wash and dinner at two restaurants here in Hasselt. Dining out here is quite expensive and we enjoy having dinner out so this was a win-win for us.

First was "Dinner for 2 at Mexico", one of the few Mexican restaurants here. It was about half the price of their normal menu and included 2 margaritas. Talk about win-win! I drank them both.

Just kidding.

The only problem was that we didn't call ahead for a reservation which the coupon clearly stated - in Dutch. We just didn't read it. The waitress said it was okay, but we sort of felt like we were cheating them out of something.

Anyway, next was "Dinner for 2 at Burger Lounge". This restaurant serves a bonafide American hamburger and they. are. good.

The only problem was that we showed up at a time when the "full menu" wasn't available - like 3:00 p.m. The waitress/cashier/cook attempted to explain it to us in English and in our attempt to figure out what we could order at 3:00 p.m., we sort of felt like we had made a new enemy.

I read an article recently that GroupOn is facing a class action lawsuit seeking to apply the state laws that regulate gift-cards to GroupOn coupons.

First, this is good news as I did not know of such a state law. That's very interesting because I've certainly bought gift cards at local establishments in Louisiana that clearly had an expiration date of less than 5 years. Texas, you're not so lucky.

And there's more good news out there. If you have buyer's remorse, just sell your mistake to someone else. That's right. Apparently a secondary market has blossomed and there are now several sites - Lifesta, DealsGoRound, Takemycoupons, and Sellmydeal - that will sell your lapse in judgement for a small fee and it's all electronic.

I don't know much about how all this works, but if I pay $25 for a $50 meal and GroupOn keeps half my $25, the restaurant owner has just discounted his menu by 75%. So he just sold that $50 meal for $12.50. Yes, he may get a repeat customer, but with restaurants typically profiting about 10%, he better hope I come back several times to make up for what he just gave me.

Whatever eventually happens with GroupOn, we've decided it's really not worth it and instead, should just eat out less often. I wonder what conclusion restaurants will eventually draw.

Giving new life to your stilettos

I occasionally peruse the local newspaper online. I can't read very much of it, but it's good practice just to try. I'm also occasionally surprised (not shocked anymore) with some of the articles I come across. Like this one. Lest you be out of the loop with the newest fashion trends, here's a head's up.

If you don't read Dutch . . . translation below.

Hielencondooms de nieuwste modehype?

21 juli 2011 - Een hoesje voor naaldhakken, dat idee kwam uit de koker van de Puerto Ricaanse ontwerpster Sandrysabel Ortiz. Het hoesje moet de hak zogezegd beschermen bij een wandeling over kasseien of andere ongelijke ondergrond.

Uiteraard zijn het geen echte condooms die Ortiz daar voor gebruikt, maar het bekt wel aantrekkelijker: hielencondooms of - in de taal van de mode - heel condoms.

Je kan er versleten pumps een tweede leven mee schenken. Of gewood heel erg opvallen. De hoesjes dragen veren, een strik of een motief dat eruit ziet als savooikool. Bekijks gegarandeerd.

Ze zijn online te koop op exclusieve-accessoires.nl en kosten 25 euro per paar.

~~~~~

Literal Google TRANSLATION:

Condoms Heels Latest Fashion Hype?

Remember, sometimes a little is lost in translation . . .

A case for high heels, that idea came from the pen of Puerto Rican designer Sandrysabel Ortiz. The cover should protect the heel, so to speak, with a walk on cobblestones or uneven surfaces. Obviously not a real Ortiz uses for condoms, but it is attractive snarled: condoms for heels - in the language of fashion - all condoms. You can wear high heels half lifetime gift (Google probably meant to translate something more like give your heels a second life or give these as a gift). Or just really stand out. The covers wear feathers, a bow or a motif that looks like savoy cabbage. View guaranteed. They can be purchased online at exclusieve-accessoires.nl and cost 25 euro per pair.

~~~~~

With all the cobblestones around here, this may catch on. Especially when you've just paid €129.99 for these Steve Madden stilettos, a tribute to Belgian National Day - July 21st (Belgium's equivalent to America's July 4th). In the colors of the Belgian flag. Of course.

I can't really picture that savoy cabbage on these though. Is there a leafy yellow vegetable option, I wonder?

The Belgian Burqa Ban

First and foremost, having nothing to do with Belgium, burqas or bans, but having everything to do with birthdays, I'd like to wish my mother-in-law (aka Mrs. Frazier & Mae Mae) a very happy birthday. I won't tell you how old she is . . . well, because you aren't supposed to and because you wouldn't believe me anyway. I don't know her secret, but she hasn't changed a bit and I've known her for nearly 35 years! Happy Birthday!

***

Belgium. Burqas. Bans.

Belgium is one of the most liberal countries in the world. Issues that beleaguer other countries like . . .

> abortion - fully legal since 1990

> marijuana - not legal, but up to 3 grams is tolerated

> same-sex marriage - legal since 2003

> drinking age - 16 - driving age is 18

> death penalty - outlawed in 1996, but the last person executed in Belgium was the German war criminal and commander of the concentration camp Fort Breendonk, Philipp Schmitt, in 1950

I guess that's why Saturday's enforcement of a new law is so ironic.

Belgium now has a burqa ban. From July 23, 2011 a women can face a fine of, strangely enough,€137.50 and up to seven days in jail for wearing it.

Daniel Bacquelaine, a liberal with the Belgian Reformist Movement party and who introduced the burqa ban bill, said: "It is necessary that the law forbids the wearing of clothes that totally mask and enclose an individual. Wearing the burqa in public is not compatible with an open, liberal, tolerant society."

Was that an oxymoron?

Isabelle Praille, Vice President of the Muslim Executive of Belgium, said "Today it's the full-face veil. Tomorrow the veil, the day after it will be Sikh turbans, and then perhaps it will be miniskirts."

Point taken.

Some see it as a progressive move for Muslim women while many see it as polarizing and extreme. Perhaps it could be both, but it is most surely discrimination.

Although very few women wear the full body/face covering, Belgium joins France as the second EU nation to forbid full body burqa and full niqab veils in public.

For an open, liberal, tolerant society it seems two steps back.

"In time we hate that which we often fear." William Shakespeare

Amusing

Occasionally I see a video (mostly thanks to Ross :) that makes me laugh and spurs me to watch it again. These are a few of them.

Take One

Remember Sarah Palin? Well, perhaps this video will jog your memory.

My favorite comment on this video:

They're a lovely couple! But one question, if they got divorced would they still be brother and sister?

Classic.

Take Two

This next video is Hank Johnson, a U.S. Congressman from Georgia, discussing adding more troops to the island of Guam with Admiral Robert Willard, who commands the Navy's Pacific Fleet. If this doesn't make you laugh, you need a drink.

Like all other islands, Guam is still attached to the ocean floor, right?

Take Three

We once had a swarm of bees in a tree in our yard. We called the City Administration where we lived at the time and they sent a beekeeper to our house. He used the smoke method to coax every bee into a box and drove away, bees in box and leaving our tree intact. It was the most amazing thing. Of course, this next video from a news station in Albany, Georgia proves there are alternative methods to remove bees as well as your only shade tree.

I've gotta hand it to them. WALB-News 10 was all over this. They've earned their slogan: Live. Local. Latebreaking.

Take Four

PRUDE ALERT: If you cringe at hearing the "F" word repeated (I understand - I've been there), then you will want to skip this one. You will, of course, miss Anna's ingenuity and humor, but . . . fair warning.

My name is Anna and this is my final for a college level sign language class. I am not deaf and still learning sign language and encourage others to learn sign language as well! Thank you so much for all the love.

See, now you know how to sign . . . baby.

Prettig weekend :)

De Fiets Thief

Both Ross's and Jim's bikes (fiets) were stolen last week. Right from in front of Ross's apartment where they were securely locked.

I guess it was only a matter of time. Our neighbors had already warned us of the rampant crime here in Belgium. Well, at least the crime of bicycle theft which as it turns out, is probably also the most prevalent crime in Belgium.

The U.S. has about 4 times the crime per capita as Belgium which has about the same crime rate as Canada.

We've heard that when your bike is stolen it's best to go right away to the train station because often someone steals your bike strictly for transportation to the station. Then they ditch it. We decided that probably wasn't the motive in this case since it was in the middle of the night and they came packing bolt cutters.

And why not steal these two fine bikes? I still have mine that I paid €50 for, but Jim and Ross ride their bikes a lot more and had much nicer bikes each costing 10x that. Ross had the good idea of looking on Kapaza (Belgium's equivalent to Craig's List) to see if anyone tried to sell them. They haven't yet.

There are tens of thousands of bikes in Belgium. If you have two working legs, you own a bike. It's mandatory for getting around. Every street here - highways, country roads, city streets - all have a bike lane and often on both sides of the road.

While the U.S. is expanding their highway systems and spreading their cities out, Europe seems to be doing just the opposite - making it nearly impossible to drive a car - at least in the city. Narrow cobblestone streets, numerous one ways, barriers to certain streets at certain times, parking spaces at a premium . . . bikes and trains and busses are much easier and cheaper.

Well, unless someone steals your bike.

Ross filed a police report and when he left the police station they told him 'let us know if you see them'.

The Straight and Narrow . . . minded?

The world is not flat, but apparently there was a time when we thought it was.

We don't always understand everything and sometimes we're just wrong.

If you know me very well, you know I've got an opinion on just about everything. Well, that's not what this is - it's not just an opinion. This post has been a long time coming, I suppose.

One of the hot topics in American politics is gay marriage. Perhaps a distraction from real issues like education, the economy, unemployment, healthcare . . .

In the recent NY Senate decision, the last Republican to cast the deciding vote seems to believe his vote places him on the right side of history.

I agree.

I recently posted this photo and the caption that went along with it after the landmark event in NY.

This April 12, 2011 picture provided by Freedom to Marry shows Richard Dorr, 84, left, and John Mace, 91, at their home in New York City where they both work as voice teachers. They have been partners for 61 years, and have been hoping that legislation passes that would enable them to get married in New York. (AP Photo/Freedom to Marry, EqualityPhotography.com, Jamie McGonnigal)

These two men, ages 84 and 91, have been partners since 1950:

1950.

That's . . .

- a decade before I was born

- before the Vietnam War and Sputnik

- when there were only 48 U.S. states

- before Hula Hoops and Barbie

- when the average annual salary was $3,000

- before the polio vaccine and Tupperware

- when a new house cost $8,450

- before I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke

- when a postage stamp was 3¢

- before color TV and integration and interstates . . .

Since 1950.

I believe Mr. Dorr and Mr. Mace deserve the right to make decisions for themselves. And furthermore, to have all the rights afforded every other married couple.

Although gay marriage is legal in some states, most federal benefits and advantages enjoyed by married couples now, are still denied to gay couples due to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

For example, even with the new NY law, if Mr. Dorr (age 84) outlives Mr. Mace (age 91), estate taxes will be over 50% for Mr. Dorr (it would be zero for me), and hope they don't have to move because that marriage will be null and void (we can move anywhere we like). There's something like 1000 federal benefits that I'm entitled to that Mr. Dorr and Mr. Mace are not.

A recent Gallup poll indicates 53% of Americans are in favor of gay marriage. I wonder if there are those who simply don't have an opinion. Don't feel the need to form an opinion.

Personally, if it has absolutely nothing to do with me, doesn't affect my personal life, isn't costing me anything, I simply don't see how I need to be making decisions for other people.

And when it does affect me personally, I'm not sure the general public can help me.

In Belgium, gay marriage is a non-issue. Legal since 2003. It may surprise you that there have been no plagues or wars or protests. It is a non-issue.

The Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage a decade ago. Belgium followed as the second country in 2003, then Spain in 2005 just 17 days ahead of Canada. Currently legal in 10 countries - including parts of the U. S., civil unions and registered partnerships are also legal in about 30 additional countries.

So what happens when gay marriage is legal?

Where we are now is a long way from where we were and I'm grateful. Perhaps the biggest reason is how common it is now to realize we know and love someone who is gay.

You've heard a lot of theories about being gay and although I don't know all there is to know, I do know this . . . if you think being gay is "caused by" or "associated with" some thing or event, or that being gay is a choice a person makes, I'd like to set you straight.

I, for one, know it's as much a choice as your eye color or your height.

Worth repeating.

Being gay is as much a choice as your eye color or your height.

If you don't understand or accept this, it may be because you haven't let yourself. And you may never completely understand, but the only lifestyle they want is very similar to yours . . . to get a good education, maybe buy a house, have a good job, get married, raise children, get a dog, have friends over for dinner . . .

Don't we all deserve the right to choose that lifestyle?

You know, it's not really even about being gay or gay marriage, it's really about equality and fairness and Basic. Human. Rights.

Hear, hear

Established in 1961 by an Executive Order signed by President John F. Kennedy.

Over 10,000 Americans apply each year - approximately 1 out of 4 are selected.

Since 1961, over 200,000 Americans have served in 139 countries.

Their mission:

To promote world peace and friendship ..., which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower.

I guess this pretty much says it all:

"After 3+ months of getting together my application, background checks, transcripts, reference letters, and an hour-long web interview this afternoon – I have officially been nominated as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer for French-West Sub-Saharan Africa in Business Advising & Development for June 2012."

Ross Frazier

The application process is not yet complete, but a nomination has been presented and accepted. We are very happy and proud parents. Anxious (we are parents, after all). Mostly just proud :) Congratulations, Ross!

That Doggy in the Window

After the war, WWII that is, nearly 13 million servicemen/women returned from the war. Many had the same dream - to buy a house in suburbia and raise a family. So the GI Bill of Rights helped make that dream come true with low interest loans and 30 year mortgages. And with the promise of interstates and highways, families could live away from town. A pasture or corn field was cheap.

In 1950, more than 1.5 million homes were built in the States. Perhaps the most notable developers were Alfred and William Levitt who built assembly-line homes in rural areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

That's right - the suburbs.

Tony Linck, for Life Magazine, Aerial View of Levittown, June, 1948

Suburbia - where everyone is of similar income, age, education, race - sprang up all across the country. Sprawling neighborhoods with curving streets and cul-de-sacs.

The first of these suburban homes were 800 sq. ft. and cost $7,000. This dream home would have only one story (no stairs), a washer and dryer, a big refrigerator, preferably a garage or at least a carport, a big yard for the kids.

That's right - the economical ranch.

A rectangle with an L-shaped living/dining/small open kitchen, one bath and 2 or 3 bedrooms. Features included aluminum framed windows, an 8 foot ceiling, sliding patio door, and the obligatory picture window.

Yes, the picture window.

The first house Jim and I lived in had a picture window. Funny thing is, I never considered using it for display. What a missed ornamental opportunity.

This is the only picture I have of the front of our first house. Perhaps you can see the picture window. This event is Randi's first birthday.

Here in Belgium, picture windows abound and the Belgs are adept at making the most of their decorative-potential space.

Spring is here! This little waving, panting Westie stuffed into a teal ceramic, zippered satchel with the bonus bouquet in a "Westie" hue is perfect to welcome the vernal equinox.

And how can you not love this combo? A contemplative Target dog and a bug-eyed, flabbergasted chihuahua, plus the gold-plated gilding is like gravy. Not sure which one is life-size, but pretty sure they can't both be.

One of my favorites is this one. Since you probably already have a glycerin chihuahua (who doesn't?), adding the stick-on chicks is quick, easy and affordable.

Depending on your picture window status, feel free to use these ideas, if you will, for your next DIY fandangle faux pas.

Fiesta Europa

This past weekend Hasselt held Fiesta Europa - a market where traders bring typical products from their homeland to sell.

Places like Finland, Hungary, Spain, Austria, Poland, Italy, Netherlands, France, Germany, and England.

The first thing I noticed as I approached was the American and British flags. The booth, which, strangely enough, incorporated both countries, was selling . . . can you guess?

Not clam chowder, apple pie or hot dogs.

Not fish 'n' chips, black pudding or crumpets.

I'll give you a chance to think about it.

Some of the booths were really beautiful like this one.

Others not so much. I think this booth was German. This really smelled good, but I couldn't bring myself to actually eat that.

These are cherries grown just a few kilometers from our house. We definitely bought some of them.

Jim really likes this dried sausage.

Several countries were offering it - Spain, Italy, France. We bought some from this French guy.

And here's what was sold at the USA/UK booth - FUDGE. Surprised? Fudge is impossible to purchase here and nearly impossible to make too. I love the fudge made with marshmallow creme and chocolate chips - neither of which are available here. With all the chocolate, I guess they just don't need fudge.

Smakelijk!