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“Don’t live just for yourself, but also live to be there for others. Don’t take just for yourself, but also give to others.”
Anonymous

My parents imposed a curfew on me when I was a teenager. Even up until I left for college, I had to be home at 1 AM on a Saturday night. And just as any other teenager, I was not happy about it. I got into many arguments with my parents about my curfew. But despite those arguments, I respected their decision and always made sure I got home in time.

Except that one time… As usual, I left the party just in time to get home in time. But I ran into problems with my bike. I had to stop several time to fix my bike. I got home 10 minutes after my curfew: my hands all greasy and dirty, sweat dripping down my chin from pedaling has hard as I could. My parents were upset because I was late. And they were worried. I can understand and respect that. I got grounded for a couple of weeks after this little incident. I guess that is understandable. I guess I would ground my children too if they were late.

But I didn’t understand that they didn’t believe me when I explained what happened. And I still don’t understand. And to make matters worse, this story kept haunting me for many years. Every once in while, my parents told that story to friends and family. Mostly to tease me I guess. But what they didn’t see was that it hurt me every time they told it. It was and still is pretty humiliating to have to sit and listen to that story. Did they not have more respect for me?

You know, a lot of people are talking about respect these days. Many people complain about others not having enough respect for them. People ask me to show a bit of respect and do or not do stuff for them. But if, 15 minutes later, I ask that same person to do something for me, they slam the door in my face. I listen and learn when colleagues critique my photos. And yet, those same folks get very upset when I try to help them improve their photos. I have learned to shut up and let other people talk in meetings. But I still get brutally interrupted when I want to express my opinion. And of course there is that little matter of promises and appointments bein’ broken just as easy as they are made. Hey, some are even try to buy my respect and loyalty!

Where is the respect in all of that? But I guess I’m not perfect. And I could show a little more respect too. I start with that… Can all you all do the same?

Just a random pic of Anna shot at PhotoVaganza 5. I kinda like it, so I thought I’d share it.

I am getting very offensive text messages and phone calls from some anonymous guy. I’ve been getting them for over a year now. They come off and on. At first, it didn’t bother me too much. I thought that it was just gonna go away. But the messages kept coming. And so did the calls.

So, I filed a complaint. At first with the BIPT, which resulted in nothing. And a couple of months ago, I filed a complaint with the local police.  Fortunately, they take my complaint serious. But I don’t have high hopes. The wheels of justice grind at very slow pace.

And a couple of days ago, I got an e-mail from people I don’t know who claimed I contacted them on a community website.  I had never heard of that website. I have never heard of those people. So I wonder if it is just another way of trying to harass me. And if so, I am afraid of what’s gonna happen next.

Apparently, I am not his only victim. But the bad thing is: I should not have anything to do with all of it. These messages aren’t even about me. He’s just trying to hurt someone else.

Some of my friends describe me as sweet and patient. Well, I’ve run out of patience! I want it to stop! I have nothing to do with that shit! Leave me be! Go bug someone else! YES!!! I AM PISSED OFF!!!

Some people seem to believe I don’t have my priorities straight. But I guess I have never made it clear what my priority list is. So to be on the safe side… My priority list:

1. Me
2. My house
3. My love for Bruce Springsteen’s music
4. My close friends
5. Photography
6. My Job
7. Everything else

If you believe this list is wrong, you could try to convince me to change it. Bribing me is not the way to go. And lying isn’t either.

Shot the Geel Triathlon with my buddy Glenn. He got us press passes to the event, and me and my big mouth got me a ride in the dinghy of the Geel fire brigade to shoot the swim competition.

There’s impressions of the race in this album, and here are a couple of shots for you.

Sofie Goos smiles as she crosses the finish line victorious in the women’s 1/4 triathlon.

Stijn Goris rounds the 1st corner in the cycling part of the men’s 1/4 triathlon and becomes the winner in that event.

Ifhegemeia is one of the best fetish models, I’ve worked with. I worked with her for the 1st time in 2008; it was a very intense shoot. And the results for that shoot were the max. When I asked her to join me for this month Apertura shoot, she immediately said yes. I was thrilled, ’cause I knew it would turn out to become a great shoot. And as you can see from the shots above, I was right.

Thanks for the shoot girl! Once again, you were awesome!

Hot of the press: Bruce Springsteen is to release London Calling: Live in Hyde Park DVD on june 22. A 163 minutes, 26 tracks of the best rock music I can imagine. This is how Springsteen’s website describes the release: “London Calling: Live In Hyde Park conveys both the experience of being on-stage and the vast crowd experience of the festival environment. Viewers are able to see Springsteen spontaneously directing the E Street Band and shaping the show as it evolves.”

It was a nice day, great food, sweeeeet cocktails and great music in Hyde Park last year, as I recall it. I’m really lookin’ forward to this release. This is gonna end up on my iPhone for sure. Whiiii… I’m gonna be on TV!

A little sneak peak… Springsteen opened the show with London Calling and that looked like this:

(video courtesy of brucespringsteen.net)

I come across a lot of dead animals on the side of the road the last couple of weeks: foxes, martens, squirels, a badger too. And cats. A lot of cats. Too many cats.

Tonight as I drove home, I came across a little kitten laying in the middle of the road. Severly wounded, but still alive. I guess it was hit by a car not long before. Maybe like 10 or 15 minutes before. There was nothing I could do for the poor little animal. I only could put it out of it’s misery. And as I put my car in reverse to do so, I could feel my heart break. I hate having to do something like that so much.

So floks, please be extra careful and watch out for animals crossing the road. Especially at night.

“Trust breeds trust.”
Anonymous