Monday 7 August 2006: As time goes by...Sarah puts on many different faces as Heidi flees the rain...

Sarah says:
Have had fun dressing up today! My daughter and I had a ball! Here are some sample pictures. I wish I could look different every day! Life could be so fun that way. It's been a reall lazy day today. Slept late. Hung around. Shopped. Ate. Shall watch some movies. Tomorrow my buddy BL who used to live in Antartica and now lives in Florida will come to visit. She'll be a guest here at Face the Day for sure! I called Heidi today but didn't get to speak to her! Hi Heidi!!!!

Heidi says: The belgian weather has turned into REAL belgian weather; which means: grey sky, a little bit of sun every now and then, a little bit of rain every now and then. I tried to sit outside, but had to flee cause it started to rain. Some relaxation exercises then?

Sunday 6 August 2006: What a joy to be outside when the sun is shining - and in a plane when cloudy...

Sarah says:
Wow Heidi! YOu have grown my dear! You look fab!
Didn't get any good photos today really -- was in a plane mostly -- hence these ones above. Left L.A. for Miami. What you see is somewhere between the two from the plane window. Vacation is almost over -- boo-hoo! Gotta make the most of these final days!

Heidi says: Lovely Belgian weather today! Perfect temperatures and a very friendly sun! Now THAT makes me happy! Oh, and baby of course! She kicked me so hard this afternoon that I felt my ribs crack :))...

Bellyshot! Finally!

Heidi in Costa Rica...

Saturday 5 August 2006: Heidi is very tired and Sarah gets to see her GREAT AUNT Pauline!

Sarah says:
Last day in L.A. and we went to Dana Point to meet up with my 87-year old aunt Pauline! She is an amazing person and a role-model! It was great to see her. I don't get to see her very often! Not too long ago -- when she turned 85 -- she decided to skydive out of a plane.
This is from an article:
"Pauline Mirkin reports that she not only survived her first skydiving adventure – in tandem with her son-in-law in Florida – on her 85th birthday, but her derring-do made the local news. "Would you believe," she exclaims, "it was on 'Good Morning America' . . . I was a 15-minute celebrity." Mirkin, by the way, declared her virgin jump "awesome." The San Diego grandmother says she looks forward to sky diving on her next visit to Florida."
She told us today that she would now like to experience high-speed car racing! I hope I have that much energy and joy for life when I reach her age. I wish I had it now! Don't you see some family resemblance in this photo? In some of the photos I took of her and me I think we look a bit alike in terms of facial features.
You can also see by brother and sister-in-law's cute dog Kibble above fresh from a bath. We have enjoyed him this visit! And you can see a great mountain-sea view behind me at the place we ate at between L.A. and San Diego.
Sad to be leaving California tomorrow -- it's been great! Off to Miami for a few days and then back to Belgium.

Heidi says: I think the baby is really growing hard. She is lying on my bowels and makes them feel irritated. Because of that, I cannot sleep at night, especially this night, so now I am really tired... Maybe I'll have a good sleep tonight! :))
Go baby go!!!

Friday 4 August 2006: W.E.E.K.E.N.D for Heidi and Sarah and the end of a great week for Sarah in San Fran - having fun with a VERY BIG tree!!!

Sorry -- had to add this photo above taken of me at the Muir Woods as well -- having a good time and my way with a very well-hung tree!

Sarah says:
Great day in San Fran and Muir Woods! Those houses are the ones you see in that show Full House and there's San Fran behind me. There's also a picture of little me in the big woods with some tall-ass trees all around! Now it's after 2:00 and we're just back from driving from San Fran to L.A. It's been a great couple of days!

Heidi says: what does the word weekend mean for someone who isn't working? It means: not being home alone, other TV-programs (more shit), more visits, faster minutes and hours... A good thing, I'd say! :) This is the first time in 6 weeks that I am wearing long sleeves! Shall I celebrate or cry now?

Thursday 3 August 2006: Today is another day for Heidi and a steep bridge day for Sarah...

Sarah says:
San Fran is SUCH A GREAT CITY! It has so may things to offer. Loving it! Today we saw a lot of neighborhoods way up on hills. My brother drove us down the steepest street here-- Filbert Street. It was so cool! You can't see how steep it is until you go down. Your belly drops like when you are on a roller-coaster. You wonder if the breaks will work! Very exciting!!!! In one photo above you can see some stairs behind me. In San Fran there are so may places that have stairs instead of streets because streets can't be built there due to steepness and hills and twists and stuff. So all over you find stairs and stairs and more stairs. You can take hikes of stairs. I can't of course because of my stupid back but I have seen a lot and am loving it! In the other picture, you see the famous Golden Gate Bridge behind me. There are great views all over this city! Great food too and great shops!
By the way Heidi -- I didn't open the album but I am guessing you are in there. I'm keeping it wrapped up as is for you. Tell W all the Madonna shirts here are way way too gay and/or too big. But I did find an older one that I bought for him. I think he'll like it -- it's his color for sure and it can be worn by a guy and it is small. Now we are off to Golden gate park and will then head back to Hermosa beach in L.A. and then back to Miami!

Heidi says: This is a better day than yesterday. I am not totally happy but at least I don't feel the urge to 'wank' ;-) I know why I am doing this!! FOR THE BABY!

Wednesday 2 August 2006: Heidi is sick of it and Sarah is sad to hear that but has something to perhaps make Heidi happy!

Will this typical Castro San Fran thingy make Heidi happy?
Do you like Sarah's new shirt? It's the latest craze here! Daddy doesn't only love Greyn! Daddy is obsessed with Greyn!
That's Sarah with the famous San Fran Seals in the back at Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf.
This will probably make Heidi very happy! Sarah hopes so! This and a bunch of other things Sarah picked up for Heiditje!
Sarah says:
Hi Heidi! Sorry to hear you aren't feeling that great today!!! Indeed it will pass but that doesn't really help you now! Maybe you'll find something in the photos to make you happy! I hope so! You choose! The album or the big gay San Fran willy! We were in the gay Castro area today and TC was all happy because men were checking him out left and right! This place is special to say the least! I wish I felt better and didn't have so much pain because I could enjoy things more - but alas and c'est la vie and all that! Hope you feel better! Time will fly!!!!

Heidi says: Okay, this time I have to be totally honest. I am sick of it! The world is going to the spinning lesson, is having barbeques, is going out, is seeing concerts, is shopping, is walking through the city or the woods, ... And i am stuck here, in my bed, with my stupid television that cannot give me any consolation cause it's boring, women's magazines that show the latest fashion for which i am too fat right now and in the next months and nice make up that I don't need cause I don't have to look good and fresh in my bed... I have a book that I am reading, which gives me some satisfaction (usually more than just some but the last three days my eyes have been stinging and my head has been hurting). It is clear that it is all too much right now and this the one time I need to complain. I cannot stop myself. As you can see, I even cried it out today. It is too much. I need my life back. I am not made to lie around with nothing to do. I want action, control, i want to organise and not see my friends do all that nice stuff without me. Not that I would stop them, but I simply want to be part of it! I know that the days are passing and that time isn't standing still, but right now one day seems like an eternal see of time to me. I hope that changes soon... I need to be a month further. Then I'll be okay!

Tuesday 1 August 2006: Another day has passed...Heidi's nails are almost as long as the trees Sarah saw after visiting CK and before seeing bro SM!

Sarah says:
Above is a photo of me with two of my brothers in San Fran. Check out NM putting on his usual photo face and SM looking years younger with a haircut he badly needed! There I am with my American buddy CK in Monterey, where she now lives since leaving Belgium. She's living in such a great and pretty place. It was so great to see where she is at now -- just too bad there was so little time! Thanks for having us and making us such good food CK!
The next photo is of Redwood trees in a beautiful place on the way to San Fran. These trees are so old and so huge -- quite amazing to see. So fantastic. Makes you feel so very small.

Heidi says: This is what pregnancy does to your nails! I have real strong nails!

Monday 31 July 2006: A stressful day inside for Heid and a relaxing day outside for Sarah -- hope you feel better heidi!!!

Sarah says:
Look where I have been today and what I have seen! LOVELY! This is the life! Heidi -- tell Wout I took that Madonna photo for him. Hope Heidi's day got better! Mine was good and now I am at CK's house in Monterey. It's great to see her. Tomorrow she'll be a guest here. Time for bed after a lovely drive along the coast from Los Angeles to Monterey via Santa Barbara and Big Sur to name just a few glorious places!


Heidi says: My friend Wout just visited me and calmed me down after a morning full of stress. It's my own fault, I did some stupid things and it stressed me out so I had t deal with the consequences. I took my picture right after he left, and I can see that I am calm now. Thank you Woutie!
Sarah, I want that black and white striped bag with scull on it, behind that girl fom Llle! (just joking!) And I like your new hat!

Sunday 30 July 2006: Here she is: Heidi!!!!! And here is Sarah in her new hat with a girl from Lille in a shop Heidi would love called RE:STYLE...

Sarah says:
Hi Heidi!!! EVERYWHERE I GO THERE ARE THINGS YOU WOULD LOVE! Seriously -- a million shops with a trillion things you would LOVE!!! It's hard not to buy you everything! Same goes for your future baby! Today in a shop called RE:STYLE in Hermosa Beach I saw a thousand things Heidi would die for but I bought myself something instead of her. See my new hat there? Nice, eh! The funny thing is that the woman in the photo with me who works at Re:style is from Lille France! Her name is Kati and she has lived in California for 5 years. It's a small world after all!

Heidi says: Don't worry! I'm not in the hospital yet! Sarah seems to panic when she doesn't see me for 2 days, and probably thinks that I am giving birth already, but I can reassure her right here right now. I am not planning to give birth too early; I hope my body follows my plans. :)
The heatwave is taking a turn and I am afraid we'll see a lot of clouds this week. Television time!
By the way, my sister Nathalie gave me the seeds for this very nice sunflower. The seeds were accompanied by a tiny little pot and some turf, and now we have huge sunflowers. I love that present. It gives beauty after taking care of it for a couple of months (Nico was the caretaker!).
Sarah adds:
Here's my favorite Postsecret entry this week about illness. Illness and pain suck! I am hating the limits my back pain is putting on me here! Yesterday just walking on the beach sand for just a little while hurt my back so I have had to be careful all day today! When you feel badly and you aren't alone -- when there are people around you -- you can sometimes wonder if they are wondering if your back pain or whatever is just an excuse! It makes you even ask yourself that question sometimes -- is this real, is it as bad as it feels, has this become something I use -- in the end the answer is always -- yes my pain is real -- yes it is what is making me tired and unable to do everything I want to and unable to always decide what I can take and what I can't take -- but it is a struggle to get to that conclusion sometimes. When you feel less than good, you feel guilty here and there and that sucks because it can make you feel worse. I really don't want my kid to grow up with an ill mom who has back pain all the time. Sometimes already she'll say her back hurts. Generally it doesn't actually hurt -- but it is what she knows and what she sees. It's complex but I have to get better! I have to get this operation and I have to hope and trust it will give me more ability to do the things I used to be able to do. I am sick of having to measure and think twice about everything so carefully!

Saturday 29 July 2006: Sarah spends the day at Hermosa Beach watching volleyball, waves and sand...WHERE IS HEIDI????

Sarah says:
It was a day at Hermosa beach for me today. Lots of sun and sand and volleyball. We also saw a famous person - that guy from The Cosby Show - Malcolm Jamal Warner
Check out this strange only-in America thingy! Americans can certainly overdo the germs thing! You find these Sanicart Wipes outside grocery stores all over this country!

Friday 28 July 2006: Sarah sees the Wild West and makes a new friend...

Heidi says: This is my Saturday picture! This time difference between Sarah and me is way too difficult... Sunny and hot and holiday feelings... and not a lot to say either!

Sarah says:
Today we went to the American West Museum. Above is the friend I made there. I'm tired now and don't have a lot to say.

Thursday 27 July 2006: Sarah wonders when Heidi will reappear to see her with blond hair at the California sea...

Heidi says: Hi Sarah! Too bad about the haircolor! I like it much more when it's dark. I hope you change colors before you come back to Belgium!
I am a little bored today. I don't know why, it just happens sometimes, I'm afraid...
Today I miss spinning and shopping and biking and going to my friends' and parents' houses and ...
Oh well, tomorrow is another day and probably a better one!

Sarah says:
Heidi isn't here today I guess since it's bed time in Belgium already today. My day is about to end here in L.A. -- after a good afternoon of checking out Venice Beach and another beach as well. I SAW A SEA LION AND DOLPHINS SWIMMING WILD IN THE OCEAN! That was so cool!
I also changed my hair color to blond to fit in better here in California and I got a boob job -- 3 sizes bigger.

Wednesday 26 July 2006: Pffffff...and Sarah finally makes it to Hollywood...

Heidi says: pfffff...
Sarah says:
Hi Heidi! The doll indeed arrived. The question now is -- how do I get it home without damaging the box!? Saw the Keds too but have to buy them still if they have your size.
So today we went to the beach and saw some siliconed tatten about! We went to Hollywood -- nothing special there! And we went to Amoeba Music, which Heidi would go nuts in! Best record shop I have ever been in! L.A. is nothing to write home about yet. There's a lot of traffic and the hyped up things are no big deal when you finally see them. But it's good to be here and to be so close to the Pacific ocean. In the above photo you can just barely see the Hollywood sign up in the hills behind me. In the photo below you can see all my new Hollywood friends.
I hope it cools down for you Heidi! It's hot as a mofo here too!

Tuesday 25 July 2006: Sarah is a Southern Belle swimming her days away and wondering where Heidi is? Paging Heidi -- report please? All okay babe?

Heidi says: Hi! this heatwave in Belgium is going on and on! It's madness! Today is the first day in three that I didn't fall asleep every two hours. I read the last 170 pages of my book. Time for a new one! The tenth that will be! Glad to see that Sarah is doing ok! Hi Sarahtje! (has my barbie arrived yet?)

Sarah says:
Oh Heiditje -- where are you? All all right meisje? I'm having a swimmingly good time here in Miami! We are off to L.A. soon, where we'll be for several days till we head to San Fran. Hey SNOWBRO -- I'll be passing through your neck of the woods today. I'll send you some sasquatch girl brainwaves from above!

The above photo reflects something fun -- that my mom has loads of wigs and dress-up clothes that I can use for Face The Day shots today and when I return after California. Here I am a Southern Belle. I think I have found my look.
Below is less lovely though very lovely in a way -- swimming everyday in the hot sun is fantastic -- just wish I looked better in a bathing suit! Isn't my face just gross here? Well -- I love it!

By the way - woke up today and watched Capote -- another great thing about being on vacation -- swimmimg, eating, sleeping, sunning, watching movies. You can start to see healthy in my face again a bit. That's because I am finally getting some much needed rest!

HEIDI --- HOW ARE YOU GIRLY? IS THERE STILL A HEATWAVE THERE?