Monday 14 August 2006: Sarah is sleep-walking on this horrid rainy Belgian day and ready to chop her head off and Heidi is crazy!

Heidi says: Yeah yeah, Belgian weather... Oh well, if that is the only bad thing about Belgium, we have nothing to complain about, right?

Sarah says:
Man I am tired. Here we go again!!! Back to life and back to reality and all that. And of course it's an awful rainy day in Belgium -- makes me want to fly back right away to Miami and L.A. and go swimming in the sunshine!!!!

Here's my favorite Post Secret entry this week about summer in the past and summer now. Sometimes I long for the good old days of summer and all that. Three weeks is long for a vacation -- I know I know-- I shouldn't complain at all but I can't help it. I could use another whole three weeks like back in the day -- I mean I has summer jobs always but it was like camp -- easy stuff, fun stuff. With all that said, I'm sure I'd get bored very fast of always being on vacation so...

Sunday 13 August 2006: ...Sarah's jetlag is no good and making her see night critters -- AHHHHH!!!!

Sarah says:
Last night or this morning rather - I -- and my family woke up at 1:00 in the morning and stayed up till around 5:00 in the morning! Jetlag at its worst I guess! We got out of bed and qte at 3:00 - hence the clock photo! The other one is of me earlier in the day. I am very very tired today. AND -- last night we learned that we aren't at all alone in our home!!!! There was a creature running across the kitchen floor! Yuck!!! We hqve to get rid of this creature and the other ones that surely are lurking in the walls; when we left -- it was ants and now THIS!!!!! Arghhh!!!!! Anyway -- we'll survive a few night critters if they GO AWAY SOON!!!!

Heidi says: ...

Saturday 12 August 2006: Something different from Heidi to celebrate the homecoming of Sarah!!! Yippie!!!!

Heidi says: SHE IS BACK! FINALLY!!!!!!

Heidi says: this photo is from exactly one year ago!!!


Heidi says: She's coming back! She's coming back!!! Yahoo!!!! Sarah is coming back!!!!! Happy happy happy!!! Celebrate!!!!

Friday 11 August 2006: Sarah hangs out with Cheech and Chong at a sing-along in Miami and Heidi got a nice present!

Heidi says: Look what my dear friend Katrijn brought me today! It's so cute! This one is cominng with me to the hospital, so it will be one of the first pieces of clothing my baby will wear. She will be adorable! Thank you Katrijn!

Sarah says:
Meet Don Hyink and Josh Aberman -- two friends of my mom's in Miami -- both musicians, both fun to hang out with and have a sing-along-jam with on my last night in Florida. Don has a studio called Blackstar Studio here in Miami. So if anyone out there neeeds to make a recording in a Miami recording studio, contact Don. He's your man! He's a whole lot of fun and a good guitar-player and singer at that! He and his partner Rosa will come to belgium next year perhaps so some of you Face the Day viewers will meet them.
On the other side of me in the photo above is Josh Aberman -- a bass player in a classic rock-blues coverband called Outta Nowhere along with his wife Susan, whom sang along tonight. Their band plays in Miami so contact them if you are looking for a classic rock and blues cover band! They sound good!
So that is it from Miami I think though tomorrow's photo will take place here I suppose as all things carry-on now have to be in stowed luggage on the plane, including cameras and more importantly all things liquid! It will be a busy travel day tomorrow due to all the stuff going on at airports. I wish I could just snap my fingers and just be back home!!! Time for bed!!! It's 2:14 in the morning here!!! I need some sleep fast.

Thursday 10 August 2006: Viva la mama! Viva la Fej a.k.a JB a.k.a our man from PDX

Sarah says:
JB!!!!!!! You are amazing! You sent me what I was going to buy tomorrow on route to the airport! The new Ani Difranco CD that just came out!!!!! Woo hoo! And I got that from you without even having called you yet for a chat! You are the best and I suck Fej! Well I don't suck Fej I just suck! I'm a bad friend! I haven't even called any friends since I have been here for three weeks!!! None! I am like hiding out -- just soaking up all the rest and the laziness and the shutting down that I can to get me through the next months... It's not dramatic or anything and I admit it sounds like one big fat excuse as usual but I just take my quiet and alone time for what it is where as I would have filled it up with phone calls to friends in the past. Can't really explain all this well. but thanks so much JB for thinking about me and knowing what I like and sending it to me -- that's really really nice of you! You are swell!

Heidi says: My mother cleaned our house today and she also brought us meals for two days. And she invited my friends Wout and Alexander to have coffee and cake this afternoon! Ain't she purrrrrfect?
Here she is! Applause!!!!!


Sarah adds:
Here's my favorite Post Secret entry this week. I have eaten so much this vacation which contrasts big time with what I was eating before I started vacation -- when I was sucessfully dieting because I HAVE TO before my surgery in December for my back. I was on a good track but went way off track whilst vacationing. I have to start dieting again as soon as I return. Body image is so screwed up for a lot of us. I know it is for me. The strange thing is if I see pictures of me in my bathing suit from the last few days, I am surprised at how non-fat I appear. Why do I see myself as okay today after eating so badly and so much for three weeks and often see myself as really fat when hardly eating anything! The mind is so odd. I hope for a healthy body image one day. This postcard from postsecret has some of that in it I think...

Wednesday 9 August 2006: Heidi is happy with her unexpected guests and Sarah says bye to her guest Bevin...

Heidi says: What a nice surprise to see my friend Barbara and her cute daughter Nora! We had a lot to catch up, but on the other hand talked like we see each other every day. We have a big history together and that will never ever disappear and that makes me happy! Thank you Babs for the nice visit!!!! And thank you Nora for showing me again why i am lying in my bed these three months! :)
Sarah says:
I forgot to take photo today so this was the only one I had from today -- again with Bevin, who left at noon after swimming. It was so great to hang with B! After she left, I hung around with my daughter and was very lazy all day. It was nice! I did already pack our bags though even though we have two more days here. Tomorrow we go the the Sequarium, which should be really fun!

Tuesday 8 August 2006: sssst... Heidi is reading and Sarah is hanging with her old pal Bevin from her New Paltz days.. check out this old and new pic!

Sarah says:
Meet my buddy Bevin Lynch who drove 5 hours down from Gainesville to Miami to hang out for one night! We have known each other since 1989 when we were roommates and drinking and smoking buddies at S.U.N.Y. New Paltz. Bevin joined the NAVY and spent a few years living and working in Antarctica where she fell in love with a guy named Steve who she is now married to. Today bevin and I have been catching up, playimg with puppets and wearing wigs. If the rain would stop, we might swim. Check out the second photo above from the summer of 1989 when we first met. That was the first day we met actually at New paltz orientation. Check out Bevin's huge rockstar hair and my pj shorts and ugly head! What were we thinking?!!! That feels like so long ago. It's so great to see Bevin again now! Heidi has even met Bevin and we all played Kolinistan together. Bevin brought her game here and we may play it tonight. Bevin says hello to Heidi and Nico and wants to know if y'all got wood?

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!