Flipper follow up

I felt kind of stupid after reading “Swissfondue’s” links & comment on the Flipper post.

I honestly thought dolphins were treated good in facilities like Sea World and Marine World. I thought they wouldn’t do the tricks the do if they weren’t happy. For some silly reason I even thought they liked to swim with humans too.

I was appalled to read that dolphins in the wild can live up to 50 years… and in captivity they will die before they’re even 6 years.

Also, the diseases and microbe bacteria thingies humans carry with them can be deadly to dolphins. So we decided to not do a Dolphin Discovery. Not now. Not ever. I encourage everyone that’s considering swimming with dolphins to visit the following websites. And than decide if you still want to do a Dolphin Discovery or visit an aquarium for that matter.

In the wild, dolphins can live to be 25 to 50 years old. Male orcas live between 50 and 60 years, females between 80 and 90 years. But orcas at Sea World and other marine parks rarely survive more than 10 years in captivity. More than half of all dolphins die within the first two years of captivity; the remaining dolphins live an average of only six years. One Canadian research team found that captivity shortens an orca's life by as much as 43 years, and a dolphin's life by up to 15 years.

Read more

And about Six Flags Marine World?

In March 2001, two former Marine World employees filed a report with the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging animal beatings, neglect, suffering, and terror caused by inadequate veterinary care, improper housing, mishandling by untrained and unqualified personnel, and exposure to noise from thrill rides and growing crowds at the park.

Read more.

The Humane Society of the US

What's Wrong With Swimming With Dolphins?

Okay that was probably more peta than you can handle. I’ll stop here. Many thanks to Swissfondue for sending me the links. I would have hated myself for swimming with the dolphins if I had founded out about all this later.

Oooh.. and of course I'll leave one last message on the Six Flags Marine Wolrd answering machine. "Thank you for not calling me back. It gave me some time to find out that what I thought would be a wonderful experience, is in fact a crime to sea animals. Instead of paying 150$ per person to 'enjoy' your Flippers, I'll donate it to an organisation that will stop it."

Caption Time!

Flipper?

Six Flags Marine World
Dolphin Discovery Department
San Francisco, California

Dear mister or misses Dolphin Discovery,

On your message machine you say: “…..please leave a message and your phone number and we’ll call you back as soon as possible.”

I’m not sure what ASAP is in Marine World, but I'm starting to lose my patience. Because in the last three weeks? We’ve left you at least 5 or 6 messages.

Six expensive phone calls to make reservations for your even more expensive Dolphin Discovery.

I am begging you: please let us spend 300$ for a 2 person Dolphin Discovery. PLEASE. PLEASE take our business. Call us back.

Thanks,

Sweety & FreezeM

(BTW: for references: Flipper can call our pets any time. They will confirm we’re very kind to animals.)

This totally explains my wardrobe

Shamelessly stolen from J-A...

I am a hybrid of: Uptown Girl Progressive Girl Click on the pictures below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Tonight's the night

Finally TONIGHT we're going to see Adam Levine Maroon5! Woohoo!

Cleaning...

The itsy bitsy spider went up Sweety’s favourite chair
Down came the vacuum cleaner and ate the spider, so unfair

I hope he doesn’t crawl out to get his big cousin.

Pimp my Mini Couper

I live in a very, very, VERY small country:

AMSTERDAM — Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are generally considered a desirable status symbol, but they might become rarer than the dodo in the eastern Dutch city of Nijmegen if local councillors have their way. A city council majority backed on Wednesday a parking ban on the four-wheel drive vehicles.

Read entire article at Expatica.com

How can that be legal?

Do illiterate people get the full effect of alphabet soup?

Question. Do - crazy, in public, to themselves talking, people - realize that they’re talking to themselves?

Like today riding the tram home, there was a man, a little crazy. He got my attention because he was talking to himself. Or to the imaginary person next to him. I’m still not quit sure. He was not only talking, at some point he started screaming. And then he whispered.

Do people like that realize everybody looks at them? Or don’t they? Or do they just don’t care? And if they do realize.. what ARE they thinking? Do they have some sort of blackout? Do they actually see this imaginary person? Don’t they hear themselves screaming??

I’m guilty of it too. NOT in public. I hope.

I talk to my computer “effin Windows”
To some of my emails “hahahahaha”
To some of my work emails “F off”
To our cats “Simba, don’t put your nails in my new sweater”
To our bunnies “Heeeeeeeere’s a little carrot”
To my coughing manager I whisper “Please do smoke another cigarette…”
To our television “Noooo WAY”..
To the dishes “I hate you”
To the laundry “You AGAIN”
To that cat puke on the floor I say “Mr. Sweety will clean you up in a bit”.
To the tram I always miss in the morning: “Asshole!”
To all the people reading this blog I say “Hi ya’all!”
And this list goes on and on and on and on.

But I hope I’ll never start talking to an imaginary person in public transport. So em.bar.ras.sing. Except when you don’t realize it. But do you?

And the title? No idea. Just a crazy thought. To match the crazy post.

Caption Time!

Come on, make me laugh!

Don' t stop movin' baby Tutti frutti Drive me crazy

Last night me, Mr. Sweety and D@n went out clubbing. We had fun although it was like WAY too busy. Busy? Shoulder to shoulder dancing THAT busy. Besides having fun, drinks & dances, I came to the conclusion I might be getting over this clubbing thing. Staying nights out, coming home at 6 AM. Recuperating from a hangover on Sunday’s.

I must be getting old because there was a time I felt the world would come to an end if I didn’t go out & dance. It’s the weirdest feeling ever, and although I like to hold on to my clubbing times (jeeeez I sound like I’m 80) it’s not me anymore. I’ve moved on.

OMG. OK. Before I totally have a mental breakdown over this I want to share with you a little story about my assistant. My former assistant. There are a few things to be said about my former assistant.

#1 He has the weirdest name ever. I make a good habit out of not posting real life names here. So I’ll give you a clue! You can guess. Remember the Outhere Brothers?? Think wayyyy back.. Remember now? Okay, sing-a-long:

"..... it. Just a little bit. I wanna see you ..... it. Just a little bit” and “Don’t stop ..... ....." .

Fill in the dots and you have his name. His name becomes even more funny after reading #2.

#2 While he worked for our organisation, colleagues of mine came up to me. They asked me if he (meaning my assistant) appeared in a TV show. “What show?” I asked. “That STRIPPER contest!!” they replied, as they bursted out in hysterical laughter. So I asked my assistant. “Hey, do you by any chance appear in a tv show?“ And he confirmed. He did not win the show, nor did I ever watch it.

#3 He screwed up many many many many, did I say MANY times.

#4 I don’t usually have an assistant. I was flooded in work, so a temp was hired to help me out.

Okay WHY am I bringing this up? Well at the club yesterday, me and Mr. Sweety went up to get some drinks. And there he was! He was working as a bartender. A very nervous one for that matter. He gave us the drinks that someone else had ordered. He got someone else angry for having to wait to long. He looked so nervous I thought he was going to explode. I don’t think he even recognized me. It looked like it was his first day at work.

And if it wasn’t his first day? Than I’d like to give Mr. W little advice: pursue a career as a stripper. You already have a great stage name. BIAAAAATCH!

The Ass has gone mad

Let it be, Let it be, Let it be oooooohoooo, Let it be #10

Something scary happened today. More than ones actually. My manager (aka The Ass) was … was… he.. was.. I can’t say it in one sentence. “He” ehm. was friendly.

First, he noticed I was there after being home sick for two days. He asked how I was doing and if I was feeling okay. Later he asked how my study is going along and he asked me if I had dyed my hair. At lunch time he asked me & a few other colleagues to join him for lunch. He almost agreed on me moving to another room where a very cool colleague works and when he left, he said “Have a wonderful weekend”.

He has never asked me how I’m doing. He never asks anyone. And today he was just someone else. There is no way in the world a person can do a 180 like this. He NEVER says goodbye when he leaves.

What made him do this my suspicious mind asks itself …..what made him turn to from the anti Christ into Mr. nice guy??? My genius grey matter came with the following possibilities:

1. He was kidnapped by a bunch of Care Bears and was beamed into friendliness. It was the pink one. I swear.
2. His wife finally gave him sex after 3 years of abstinence.
3. He needs something from me. What I have yet to find out.
4. He read my post about Mayo the other day. He decided to buy a Mayo managers book and he now is a perfect Human Relations manager.
5. He’s jelly pot glasses gone foggy and he has mistaken me from being his boss.
6. He was struck by lightning and his evil brain side was severely damaged.
7. His alter –more friendly like- ego finally popped out and won the multi personality battle. We will not refer to this side as The Ass, but as The Heart, ‘cuz my manager CARES for his people. Don’t you say otherwise!! Hallelujah!
8. He has read “How to make friends and influence people”.
9. He was abducted by aliens, they sucked out his soul and now E.T. has taken over his body.
10. He has found another job.

PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAASE!!!!!!!!! I’m begging!!!! Let it be no. 10!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeassse!

Uhm. Act like you’re normal Sweety.

Sam

Sam is my colleague
Sam is 25.
Sam’s smart and funny.
Sam has a bachelor degree in international business communications.
Sam isn’t allowed to go abroad to pursue her career or dream.
Sam says going abroad as a woman doesn’t fit in her culture.
Sam’s a Muslim.
Sam will be a virgin until she’ll get married.
Sam must wear a veil to cover her hair.
Sam will live with her parents until she marries.
Sam isn’t allowed to go out with her friends at night.
Sam has an evening curfew.
Sam avoids being around people who smoke.
Sam’s afraid when her parents smell smoke on her, she’ll get punished.
Sam is sad because she hasn’t found a man yet.
Sam has to marry a Muslim man.
Sam attended her cousin’s wedding a few weeks ago.
Sam’s cousin was send back to her parents by her new husband.
Sam’s cousin was accused of not being a virgin anymore.
Sam took her cousin to the doctor.
Sam’s cousin was still a virgin.
Sam was standing outside with a Dutch colleague some time ago.
Sam was just talking
Hooker! She was called by a couple of Moroccan guys who saw her talking to this “white guy”.

I wrote this because I talk to Sam 4 days a week. And it breaks my heart to see her pain. To see a girl having to choose between freedom and family. But Sam’s not alone. Many thousands of young Muslim women in The Netherlands experience the same thing. However, it’s still not something that we can all chat about in this country. We like to pretend things like this only happen in Afghanistan, Iraq or Iran. Not in The Netherlands! Sssssssh.

I’m sorry if I in anyway offended anyone with this post. That was not my intention.

Calling the Service Desk

Please hold..

Please hold..

Please hold..

Please hold..

Beep Beep..

“John”: John
Me: Hi John, this is Sweety from room 1234. I want to report a broke heater.
“John”: Oh.
{Pause}
Me: Oh?
“John”: …
Me: Will you send someone up to fix it? It’s getting kind off cold in here.
“John”: No
Me: No???
“John”: I’ll register your complaint in the computer.
Me: … and than?
“John”: ….
Me: How long will it take for someone to get over here and help me?
“John”: I don’t know.
Me: You DON’t know.
“John”: ….
Me: You’re not being very helpful “John”.
“John”: You’re not the only one with this problem, ya know.

Now “John”, next time try:

“John”: Service desk. This is John, how can I help you?
Me: Hi John, this is Sweety from room 1234. I want to report a broke heater.
“John”: I’m very sorry; the heater unfortunately broke down in the entire building. We don’t know how long it will take, but we’re doing everything we can.
Me: Thank you John.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I’m freezing!

Mayonaise

I have been really busy the last couple of weeks (read: ever since I started school). School is going very well, tho I still have to get used to the rhythm: work – social life- study – sleep - work – study – social life – sleep – study – study – social life (yay!)– sleep – work –study - study.

This semester I have 4 courses: Dutch (writing skills), English (grammar & presentation), Organisation & Management and Introduction to Communication. I like it all, although Organisation & Management is a LOT. And I’m convinced I now know more about managing than my own *cough* ass hole*cough* manager.

To share my new knowledge, I’m thinking about writing something on his whiteboard, to give him some managing advice, like “More Mayo please!”.
Elton Mayo was able to prove that employees did react better when they had good relationships with the management that they worked with. If management would treat the employees with respect and give them the attention at the work place that they needed, then the workers would be more willing to work harder for the employer.. More…

....Okay I WON’T actually write that on his whiteboard...

I had an English presentation last Tuesday. It was a 5 minute presentation and the topic was free of choice. When I finished the teacher said: “I have no comments, it was that good”. I was in shock, because this man ALWAYS has comments on presentations. He said “It looked like you were having lots of fun up there”. Well, I wasn’t having fun! I was SO nervous. I’m glad that didn’t show. Still, I feel a little bit more confident about my real (for a grade) presentation in November.

Also my class is pretty cool. I already met some awesome people.

I’m definitely happy with my decision to go back to school.

Caption Time!

Woof!

Pinky, I’ve found the ultimate way to conquer the universe!

Mr. Sweety and I often discus the possibilities to move to the US… and get a permit (which ain’t easy). A few minutes ago I was surfing on a website of National Park Service and see the page: “volunteers in parks”. V.O.L.U.N.T.E.E.R. That’s it! Or so I thought, for a VERY brief second…

Me: Eureka!
Mr. Sweety: Huh?
Me: Imagine… we move to the US to do volunteer work!
Pinky: That’s BRILLIANT Brain!
Me: Wouldn’t that give us…
Mr: Sweety: …hunger?
Me: party pooper

... probably not the most noble reason to volunteer either.

Anyways, this weekend I’ll be applying for a job in LA, California. Which, of course, is a far better way to follow our dreams. Cross fingers!

Sex and the City Absolutely Fabulous

Imaging Queen of England Elizabeth II and President Bush having a role in the royal hay.

….

The expression on your face? Is probably similar of the expression on my English teacher’s face when heard MY English. Not my English alone, there was something ‘wrong’ with the entire class. Between high school and university (for me 8 years, for others a bit longer) we all created a new language: a combo of US English and Queen’s English. QUUS English. Britus English. Ameritain English.

This of course can totally be blamed on television (like everything else in this world: violence, criminality, suicides, mass murder, etc.). I blame Friends, Beverly Hills 90210, The Cosby Show, Frasier, CSI, Home Improvement, Oprah, Dr. Phil, Roseanne, As The World Turns, The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, The Bold & The Beautiful, Sex & The City, Will & Grace, 24, MTV, Larry King and all the TV shows I’m forgetting. And the movies. And all my American blog friends. Yes YOU! You’re de-royaliting my English!!!

There’s good news though: the teacher allows us to either use British English or US English. But under NO (heaven forbid) circumstances can it be a mix. Since I’ve had British English in high school, that’s probably easiest for me.

In case you’re wondering where I mix the 2 “languages”. It’s in the grammar and also with words like holiday & vacation, elevator & lift. Or realize & realise. Neighbor & neighbour. But the hardest is the past tense. “I bought the book” in opposite to “I have bought the book”. Why do the English put all the “haves” in the sentences???

The funniest thing so far was that our teacher HAS taught us that Dutch use a lot of non existing English words. Like for the word “transparencies” (you know, what you use for presentations and stuff).

At high school they taught me those were called: “overhead sheets”. (Stop laughing!) Every Dutchman calls those things “overhead sheets”. OVERHEAD sheets. I never thought about it twice.

Anyways, I’m having A LOT of fun at school! Which, is also the reason I have been a bit quiet on my (and yours) blog lately. I still have to get used to going to school AND doing homework.

Comments please in your best Royal English!!!