Balkenende II is no longer.

We are without a government.

The house of cards has come tumbling down.

Yesterday evening our Cabinet "fell down" (in good dutch).

As the Cabinet does not have an official "Mission" anymore, you'd expect chaos. Well, there won't be - only the most necesary files will be handled and finished, and I get the idea that we're going to have a spectecular Summer, without any awkward noises coming down from our government.

If you're Dutch, any idea who will get your vote?

Today Sofie, Michiel and I have officially launched our own organisation: Three-Dimensional VZW.

Soon we will offer various webhost solutions to our members.

If you are interested, why not visit our official website, or send an email (info@three-dimensional.net).

Fresh starter/side salad (4-6 people).

Ingredients:

• 200 gr. green asparagus (preferably the mini type)
• 200 gr. haricots verts
• 1 red onion
• 6 stoneleeks
  
• ½ red pepper (take out seeds)
• 4 tomatoes
• 6 strips of bacon
• 2 cloves of garlic (slice until mushy)
  
• oil
• lime juice (1 lime)

Parboil asparagus and haricots verts and cool down quickly in ice water.

Finely chop onion and stoneleeks. Slice asparagus and haricots verts in half (roughly same size). Slice and deseed tomatoes. Finely slice red pepper (julienne). Mix in bowl.

Bake bacon until very crispy and let strips cool.

Mix olive oil, lime juice and garlic.

Arrange salad on plate, add a bit of the olive oil dressing, break bacon in small bits and add to platter.

Normally I do not care much for football, but now with the World Cup fever all around us, I cannot help but root for my team: NL.

Tomorrow night NL is playing against Argentina. Always a heavy game, but with both teams secure in their place in the next round, no one seems to know what kind of game we can expect.

Thanks to my mom, I even have 3 NL team gadgets: Wuppies!

[more wuppies from me and others on Flickr, tagged "Wuppie"]

[Vacationing in your own country]

Life's good when you're off work and the weather cooperates.

So far my vacation is wonderful - I've slept in late, I've eaten very well/good food and I've spent time with people who are very dear to me.

Summary of my vacation so far:

Only 4 more hours at work tomorrow, and then I'm off on vacation for 2 weeks.

Yay! I'm very much dead tired each day, and this vacation is sorely needed.

I won't be going abroad, but I'll be house-sitting my parents' house :) I'll have the use of 3 floors, a new kitchen, a small garden and a car.

Plans:

• staying with friends
• have friends stay with me
• join other friends for dinner
• go to dinner with grandmother
• back to the office for a farewell party of colleague (remember: do not come early, do not work!)
• get together with some family members to brainstorm about wedding
• clean house before parents get back
• make story boards for 2 websites
• work on contracts for webhosting company
• try out fun recipes (on unsuspecting friends)

[via Katie]

Actually, this is more a Wish Item :)

As I am saving my money for a (hopefully in the near future) move from a rented room to a rented little house/apartment, I can only wish/hope for a price or a lottery win to buy what I want.

I want a cool, semi-professional camera.

Preferably a Canon (sorry Arancha!).

Prefereably a Canon EOS 350D.

Or a Canon EOS 300D.

Perhaps even a Canon EOS 30D (although this camera is more expensive).

So for all those wealthy people out there ... BIG SMILE!

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Created dotted image borders with background images

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Finally finished: The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

Wow what a read! Haven't had a good chance to talk to my aunt about this book (she gave it as a birthday present to me), but it had me hooked for a good time!

As I ended up reading this book while in bed before sleeping, I frequently ended up putting it down, because it was sometimes very spooky and terrifying. But well worth it!

I can recommend this to anyone who's interested in history, but also to readers who enjoy a good vampire story.

Found a great site with wonderful recipes: Simply Recipes Food and Cooking Blog

Some that I have bookmarked:

• Shrimp Ceviche
• Chicken with Mushroom Cream Sauce
• Strawberry White Chocolate Mousse Recipe
• Red Chili Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

I've tried out the Shrimp Ceviche on my parents and they seemed to like it (even though there might have been a bit too much lemon/lime acidity).

Can't wait to try out the Red Chili Chicken recipe, but as I have decided yesterday to start watching what I eat, I'm afraid it's going to have to wait ;)

Strawberry Tiramisu — 6-8 people

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of strawberries (buy plenty)
• 1 cup of mascarpone cheese
• quart liter of cream
• 1 pack of sponge fingers
• 2 table spoons of white caster sugar, mixed with some vanilla sugar
• 1 egg
• crème de casis

Wash the strawberry, remove the green and cut them in halves.
Mix the mascarpone, 1 table spoon of sugar and the egg in a bowl for 5 minutes.
Whip cream with 1 table spoon of sugar, until good and firm.
Mix mascarpone and cream carefully - folding them together.
Pour a layer of the crème de casis onto a plate and roll the sponge fingers one by one, layering a dish (oven dish). After one layer, add the mix of mascarpone and cream, then a layer of strawberries. Continue to layer these ingredients in this order until the dish is filled.

Leave in the fridge for about 3 hours.

Serve with a nice desert wine.

[] I've studied hard for a test and got a bad grade.

[41] I've not studied at all for a test and aced it.

[] I've hugged my mom within the past 24 hrs.

[] I've hugged my dad within the past 24 hours.

[42] I've met a celebrity/music artist.

[43] I've written poetry.

[] I've been arrested.

[44] I've been attracted to someone much older than me.

[45] I've been tickled till I've cried.

[46] I've tickled someone else until they cried.

[47] I've had/have siblings.

[48] I've been to a rock concert.

[49] I've listened to classical music and enjoyed it.

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[via clare]

[1] I have read a lot of books.

[2] I have been on some sort of varsity team.

[] I have run more than 2 miles without stopping.

[] I have been to Canada.

[3] I have been to Europe.

[4] I have watched cartoons for hours.

[5] I have tripped UP the stairs.

[] I have fallen down an entire flight of stairs.

[6] I have been snowboarding/skiing.

[7] I have played ping pong.

[8] I swam in the ocean.

[] I have been on a whale watch.

[9] I have seen fireworks.

[] I have seen a shooting star.

[10] I have seen a meteor shower.

[] I have almost drowned.

[11] I have been so embarrassed I wanted to disappear.

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