Slacking

We'll I'm slacking on blogging lately...

I'm just so tired at the moment, in a mental way. I really have the feeling that my life is a routine now and I don't like that.  Weeks are flying by and I notice it barely. The only thing I'm looking forward to these days are Fridays. Why? Because then I have my horse riding lesson. It's really fun to learn new stuff and try to work more together with "my" pony.

Lately I'm jealous quickly, but I don't know why...  perhaps because I think my life is boring at the moment? I have no clue... I can't find any music to cheer me up and normally I would have gone with "my" pony to the forest tomorrow, but since she is stiff in her right upper leg, it won't happen. I know if I'll go to the forest with her, she will want to gallop, but that would burden her leg too much.

I think I need to get some changes in my life... but I don't know what I can change right now.

(and damn, what a post to be the 100th)

The first Harry Potter 7 pt 2 trailer

This trailer is surely worth a blog post! I had goosebumps from the first second to the last!

I must warn people: this trailer contains spoilers, also for people who read the books! (plot changes)

Addicted to Dragon Age

Well I bought this rpg a while ago and started to play it. The only problem I had was that I didn't like the partybased set-up. But now I love it! I have no idea what changed my mind but I'm really happy I still have the game!

Dragon Age: Origins is the best RPG I have played so far. Why? Because your choices influence all the game! you can make a very friendly character or an evil one! You can even start a relationship with one of your companions... how nice is that?
I really want to finish this game and then import my save into Dragon Age II.
For rpg lovers: you should really try this game! It's worth it!

In need of inspiration for a tattoo

For a while I've been thinking to get a tattoo. I don't want a gigantic tattoo that is difficult to cover up.
The reason behind the tattoo I want is: my teenager years. Since February this year they were officially over and it was a great time.
Those ten years are, I think, very special to your life. These are the years you get influenced the most and that you make choices that can influence the rest of your life (school, friends...). I'm not saying that they will be the most important period of my life, but I just don't want to forget them.

Now the hard part: how do I represent this period in a tattoo?
I've been thinking about this for weeks and weeks and finally I might have found something!
For ten years 'from my 10th until my 20th birthday, there always have been something to do around Harry Potter. If it wasn't a movie, then it was a book. For ten years I've been waiting for the next book and next movie until it ends this summer.

So I decided to take something Harry Potter related, but now the question is: what?

I have googled some stuff and I found some very nice tattoos:

“Of course is it happening inside your head, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” (HP7, Quote of Dumbledore)

I love the above tattoo so much! But it's pretty big xD

I've always love this sentence... 

<3

This sentence is so true. I really believe it....

The pictures of above tattoos are taken from this blog

The Deadly Hallows (source: google)

I think it will be a very difficult choice since there are so many quotes, metaphors, events, "things" and characters in the books and movies. I have time until autumn/winter. 

  

Within Temptation - The Unforgiving

I decided to put down my thought and opinion about the new album of Within Temptation: The Unforgiving.
I'm not going to review since this album is a concept album based on a comic and I haven't read the comic yet.


1. Why Not Me?

I really like the intro. It's very mysterious. The voice and the music seems to fit really good together.

2. Shot in the Dark

I love the beginning of the song! It sounds like music from a game or film. I really like Sharon her voice although I prefer higher womens voices. The song is pretty catchy because of the rhythm and the easy words.  The bridge is okay, but nothing to special. I do like the guitar solo, but I almost like very guitar solo on the album :)

3. In the Middle of the Night

I love the music of the song so much! It has a small symphonic touch to it and I like that. The chorus is a bit too catchy for me, but the music makes it good. Sharon sings very low in this song and it sounds good.

4. Faster

I think this is the song on the album I like the least. It's a bit boring and sounds so much as Wicked Games by H.I.M (but I believe they covered it). What I like about the song is the sound of the keyboard in the chorus.
The rhythm is okay, but again too catchy.

5. Fire and Ice

I love this song! The intro sounds a bit dark, but beautiful. Than you hear the piano and Sharon voices. In the background you hear an orchestra. After the chorus  the drums and guitars can be heard. It makes it a little bit more "heavy" but it still stays a ballad. Well the vocals are low again, but hey, she sings really well! I think this is, for now, my favorite song. I really love the lyrics!
The end is really nice. Just a piano and Sharon singing the sentence where she started the song with.

6. Iron

This is a really up tempo song. It gives me a good feeling! It makes me want to stand up and move! I love the part where she sings "Oh damn!...." and I love the chorus!The guitar solo is AWESOME!  I don't have much to say about this song, but I really like it!

7. Where is the Edge

I've heard this song before and I didn't liked it but now I like it! In the beginning Sharon sings "Oeoehoehoe" pretty high! The song has an electric undertone, but it fits.  I like the tempo, it's not slow nor fast. This song makes me wonder if Within Temptation will ever make a instrumental album. I really like Sharon's voice, but I even like the music better!

8. Sinéad

It starts very classical and Sharon sings at a neutral tone. I really like the drums in this song. At the chorus we get the guitars and a catchy tempo and her voice goes down. The song is pretty good, but to my opinion it would be a bit better if the chorus was less catchy. I like it that she sings a bit higher her and there in the song, because that's something I really miss in this album.

9. Lost

This a ballad again, with acoustic guitars and orchestra. I love the chorus so much! I really like the part where she sings "Help me I'm buried alive!" It gives me goosebumps. This is a song that would have fit on The Heart of Everything as well. I really like it! Well I like all the ballads! But if you like Within Temptation you really should check this song out!

10. Murder

This songs sounds very familiar but I have no clue why. I only like the chorus of the song.

11. A Demon's Fate

Starts very electrical with a touch of classical music. I really like it! A lot of orchestra in this song! The music is awesome! In the bridge she sings pretty high. I really love the "Ohoo ohooo" in the background between pieces of lyrics. Again an awesome guitar solo!

12. Stairway to the Skies 

I love this song. I love the rhythm so much. It has a very nice tempo although it's a ballad. Vocal wise I think this is, in my eyes, the best song of the album. This is a song I would love to hear live, but the concert in Brussels is sold out for quite a while and it's postponed till Autumn.
I really enjoy this song so much that I forgive them that they made a lot of catchy songs.


If I had to rate this album I would give them a 6/10 I think...

A very nice day!

I had a very nice day today!

First my sweet teddy bear went to pick up my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 1 and he brought back a gift (a stuffed bear). We had breakfast together, took the bus to Berendrecht were Amber lives. I did some work with Amber.We are starting to becoming a very good team! She is getting a bit more balanced and more agile.
We still need to work a bit on her left gallop, which is a bit too stiff and clumsy. Also after the gallop she too forward, only wanting to gallop.
After the work we went to dike and then we went home again. we watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 1.

I still think it is an amazing movie! I love the special effects, the dark and a bit dramatic touch and the humor. Disc two, with the extra's, is a bit disappointing though. I expected more behind the scenes material.

And now I am writing this complete useless and boring blog xD

Oblivion

I found this game on Graveyard Picnick and it seemed a lot of fun and since I was bored... I had the feeling my windows media player is a big fan of Within Temptation and Hammerfall...


1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag 15 friends.
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY? Dead Promises (The Rasmus)
2. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Revelation (Symphony X)
3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? Lappi (Lapland): Witchdrums (Nightwish)
4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? En Natt I Nord (Midnattsol)
5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Something for the Ages (Hammerfall)
6. IF SOMEONE ASKED 'ARE YOU IN LOVE?' WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? Forgive Me (Evanescence)
7. WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO? Where is the Edge (Within Temptation)
8. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? In Memoriam (Garden of Delight)
9. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Puzzled (Manic Movement)
10. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Living Shields (After Forever)
11. WHAT IS 2 + 2? All I Need (Within Temptation)
12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? It's the Fear (Within Temptation)
13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Never, Ever (Hammerfall)
14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? The Pendulous Fall (Kamelot)
15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? I Will Live Again (Arch Eemy)
16. WHAT SONG WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Born in a Mourning Hall (Blind Guardian)
17. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Hearts on Fire (Hammerfall)
18. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Calling (Sengir)
19. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? Opheliac (Emilie Autumn)
20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Fly (Blind Guardian)
21. WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW? Walking in the Air (Nightwish)
22. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? If Tomorrow Came (Kamelot)
23. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS? Oblivion (Lacuna Coil) 

Tim Flach: Animals at their best

It's been a while since I've posted about photography and I just found out the name of a photographer I had forgotten. I discovered about two or three years ago when I looked into his book Equus at the "Boekenbeurs" The book was way to expensive for me (about  50 euro's) but I never saw such beautiful and artistic photographs of animals before. I wrote down his name but lost the paper. Today I finally came across the book again on the internet and I want to buy all of his books starting with Equus.

I have tons and tons of respect for good animal photographers because you need to have so much patience to work with those animals and it is really difficult to get the result that you have in mind. You have to be ready to take a picture at all times because it about capturing the right moment.

Just look at this amazing picture of the dog. It doesn't even looks like a dog like this! The black against the white works so good! I love the lighting! There is only a bit shadow at the right side of the dogs "fur".
The teeth and nose caught my attention very fast. It's a small but very important detail. The eyes are hard to see, but they are there!

I'm in love with this picture. The pony you see on this picture is a Haflinger and the roots of this breed lie in Austria. I love it how the color of the pony is in contrast with the white, grey and pale blue of the background. The pony only takes in a very small part of the picture and the surroundings dominated it. Because it is at the front, the accent lies on the pony.

This is a picture I want to have on my wall in a really big size. I just love it so much!

Here we have Islander ponies. Again this is a portrait of a horse in his natural environment. The ponies are relaxed because they are cuddling. The clouds begin at a 3th of the picture The rule of the golden mean (that what google made of Gulden snede). The ponies are in the front and because of that the stress is lied on them.
Again you have the color contrast which makes it peaceful and relaxing. 

Below you find some more pictures without my boring commentary

                                           

 

All above pictures are made by Tim Flach. I don't have any rights on them. 

Some videos I've found about his pictures:

A piece of text

I've written the original of the this piece of text at least three years ago or something. Now I did a few edits and I kind of like it. Some don't read very fluently (to my feeling), but I think it's not too bad. Any advise is welcome, but I will delete flames because they are useless to me.

De zon was onder en de Nacht heerste over het land. Het was donker, donkerder dan anders. Geen sterren of maan die voor een beetje geruststellend licht zorgde.
De stad leek wel verlaten want niemand durfde op dit nachtelijke uur buiten te komen. De Nacht was te sterk om je tegen te verzetten, hij zou onschuldige in enkele snelle bewegingen verslinden. Zijn handlangers lagen op de loer, wachtend op een onvoorzichtig slachtoffer.

Toch was er één man die door de duistere, verlaten straten wandelden. De man liep zelfverzekerd naar zijn doel. Hij vreesde de Nacht niet omdat hij zich tegen hem kon verdedigen. De Nacht had hem gemaakt tot wie hij nu was. Een onderdaan die zich tegen de Nacht had gekeerd.

The rough translation: (thanks to google translator) 

The sun had set and the Night ruled the Land. It was dark, darker than usual. No stars nor moonlight that shone reassuring.
The city  seemed deserted because no one dared to get out at this nightly hour. The Night was too strong for you to resist, he would devour innocent in a few quick moves. Hishenchmen were lurking, waiting for a careless victim.

Yet there was a man that walked in the dark, deserted streets. The man walked confidentlyto his goal. He feared no night because he could defend himself against him. The night had made ​​him who he was. A rebelling accomplice.

Note that the pieces of text that are written above are mine and may not be copied in anyway or used without my permission. 

Sentences on sheets of paper: I've wrote a book!

Recently it came to my attention that a lot of young people (people from around my age that is) have very high ambitions. But I have the impression that some people think that it will all go by it selfs, that there skills are already high enough to fulfill their ambitions.

In my opinion a lot of young people are a bit naive. Why do I have this opinion? Because of the stuff I read around the internet.

It seems that a lot of people want to publish a book. I want to write a book someday and it will be awesome that it will be published, but I doubt it. I don't think I write well enough for that.
But some people think that they can write good enough to be able to publish a book.
Everyone can write a book. But not everyone can write a good book. You need to have enough knowledge from the language you're writing in so you won't make style mistakes, you use enough synonyms and that you can describes stuff without making it boring. If you can do that, you really should be able to make a good story: a interesting plot, credible characters (not mary sue types) and be able to hold on a good tempo through your whole story.


Ever since I started to read the Harry Potter series, I wanted to write and perhaps publish a book if I become good enough. I started to write a massive amount of fanfiction and posted it on forums so I had some feedback. I improved so much by just doing that and following the advice I have gotten. 
At the moment, I am trying to write some kind of story, made up by me with non excising characters, and I must say that it is a very hard thing to do. Especially creating an interesting plot that is original (okay, everything has been done before, but I don't want a copy of a book that already exists or some books mixed together.)

Also I am thinking to write some more before I start on my "book" and post it around the internet. Perhaps here... But it will be in dutch then because my English isn't good enough to write in. I might post a translation as well, but that will probably be horrible!

100 days to go...

Today is just 100 more days until 13 July. 100 days until it all ends....
100 days until the magic of J.K Rowlings masterpiece dies.

I think it will be very weird that there won't be any Harry Potter related stuff to wait for. It's been 10 years full of Harry Potter magic for me. That's half my life that was filled with it.
I can still remember that day that I've read the very last sentence of the very last page of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I cried. I cried because I hated the ending, I cried because it was over.
I've been a big fan for years now. I even still have patches from the first movie! Their 10 years old!

SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!

The clip below is a tribute to one of my favorites chapters and characters. The songs fits him perfectly, like it was written for him. R.I.P S.S

Without you there is no beauty

I'm addicted to this song. I love the beat, the voice and the lyrics. I love the sentence:

What if I just lay down and close my eyes? Would I wake up to a new day?  What if I just don't want the second price. Without you there is no beauty.

The sentence sounds so familiar. I felt like this a lot already. Way too much if you ask me. Damn, for some reason I can find myself in a lot of Lauri's lyrics. Especially the Hide From the Sun onces.
No wonder The Rasmus is my favorite band and Lauri my favorite artist.