Trying on shoes...
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He really wouldn't survive a day outside of the house
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Friday, December 28, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Merry X-mas
Well, I guess we are entering what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Let me wish everyone a lovely Christmas. With dreams coming true and everything.Because I won’t be home too much these Holidays and even out of the country with the turn of the year (I’ll be in Berlin with friends) I wasn’t sure whether to buy a tree or not. Finally I did and I even got some extra lights in it. And what a good choice it was. Because he is on my balcony it’s not easy to get a good picture, but you get the idea. Isn’t he really nice (T.)?
Of course no one can beat the Christmas tree that’s is on the ‘Grote Markt’ this year. Luckily the morans that pulled off some branches didn’t do too much damage. He is truly beautiful, especially in the evenings with the lights shining brightly.
The other day my parents and I went to have a look at it together. I told my mom that she and my father should go see it, because I know she likes these sort of things. Of course my mother responded immediately by declaring that ‘it would be ever so nice’ if I was to join them on that. So the three of us went in town for a cup of coffee.And that was actually pretty good. Especially considering the fact that my father was having a really bad time in hospital only a few weeks ago.
What will Christmas bring this year? I don’t know.
My favorite pub was close to burning down just two days ago. I wasn't there that night (I was... well let’s not get into that...) and was woken up Friday morning by someone texting me that there had been a fire at my hangout. My own newspaper reported that the damage was big enough to keep the place closed for at least a couple of days.
A few hours later I had my friend E. on the phone who works there. She told me that things looked a lot better than was suggested in the paper. The cafe would be open as nothing had happened. Was there a Christmas angel involved?
I myself will spend the first day of Christmas with my parents at my sister’s. For the second day B. from Wilmington invited me to have a nice Christmas meal with some friends at his place. I’m looking forward to that.
Furthermore: I will be dreaming Christmas dreams for sure. And I suggest you do the same. Merry X-mas!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Badly bruised
I didn’t think much of it when it happened, but... God I’m hurting!
I had a little accident last Tuesday, when I was stupid enough to climb on a desk chair (with wheels!) to reach for something. An all too sudden move was enough to have me falling, by which I landed with my chest on the edge of the file cabinet.
It really didn’t hurt that much at the time. The pain is increasing every day though. And now, five days later, my right side aches like hell. I mean really LIKE HELL!
I don’t know how to sit or lie down anymore and when I do I hardly can get up later. Coughing and even breathing is painful, sneezing feels like being shot by a firing-squad. You can imagine I didn’t get much sleep last night.
Now my internet doctor tells me that it will take about six weeks for bruised ribs to heal. SIX weeks!! Man, am I screwed.
I had a little accident last Tuesday, when I was stupid enough to climb on a desk chair (with wheels!) to reach for something. An all too sudden move was enough to have me falling, by which I landed with my chest on the edge of the file cabinet.
It really didn’t hurt that much at the time. The pain is increasing every day though. And now, five days later, my right side aches like hell. I mean really LIKE HELL!
I don’t know how to sit or lie down anymore and when I do I hardly can get up later. Coughing and even breathing is painful, sneezing feels like being shot by a firing-squad. You can imagine I didn’t get much sleep last night.
Now my internet doctor tells me that it will take about six weeks for bruised ribs to heal. SIX weeks!! Man, am I screwed.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Human Rights Day
"Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home—so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person: The neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world."
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962)
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Story about a mouse
Did I ever tell you the story of the little mouse that lived with me? It crossed my mind when I saw the huge defense system my co-workers in Alkmaar have built to get rid of just one mouse. See here.
I lived in a very small apartment on the ground floor at the time. It wasn’t even a real apartment, it was actually a small office space. I had about 18 square meter to my disposal including a kitchenette and a lavatory. There was no shower. I had to wash at the sink, but was lucky to have a swimming pool in my neighbourhood. I also had a little garden.
For about six years I lived in my humble estate on the eastside of Haarlem and was pretty happy with it.
At one evening, while watching TV from my couch, which was also my bed, I suddenly saw a little mouse crawling from under the gas heater. After some hesitations he trip stepped alongside the wall right in front of me, got underneath my work desk and got around the plywood wall that separated my ‘living-room’ from the kitchenette/bathroom. On the other side of that wall he found mice heaven between the spilled crumbs on the floor.
It became a daily routine for him, and for me that was fun to watch. Now and then I blocked his way with a shoe or a book just to see him consulting himself on how to deal with this strange and new obstacle. The first time I did this it scared him so much that he literally jumped up and raced back to his hiding place under the heater.
Meanwhile I realized that my tailed little house friend could not stay here for ever. I enjoyed his company but feared the day that he would bring his entire family and his friends with him. I decided that I had to catch him and put him outside. Off course I made this decision on a Saturday night after all the shops had closed for the weekend. So I had to make my own mouse trap, and I did so with the cardboard box of my chessmen, a rook, a piece of string and some cookie crumbs.
I didn’t have to wait very long before my little friend showed up, with his nose sniffing in the air. The smell of crumbs was irresistible. One pull on the string and he was trapped under the lid.
But now what? Ho did I get him from there? I realized that my plan had failed. I let him go.
A few days later I bought a mouse trap – a humane one! – I filled it with the most delicious mix of crumbs I could think of. But he didn’t bother. From now on he would only have crumbs that had no roof!
Weeks went by. My little mouse didn’t bring any friends or relatives and I let him. Until one night I woke up from a strange noise that came from under the kitchen sink.
I got up and soon found out that my little friend had gotten into the cupboard and had himself trapped in the space between the backside of the cupboard and the wall behind. He must have fallen in there through one of the pipe holes. There was no way he would get out of there by himself and he would surely die a horrifying death if I didn’t do something. But what?
I had to make a hole in the backside at the bottom of the cupboard. So I got a torchlight, a screwdriver and a hammer and I got in.
After a few bangs I had made a little hole. When I pulled back the screwdriver to have a better look, immediately my little friend stuck his nose through the hole and started to gnaw his way out. From that moment on – I know this sounds very Disney-like, but it really happened – he and I worked together making the gap big enough for him to get out.
When the hole was almost big enough, I decided he was to finish the job on his own. I very cleverly put the humane mousetrap in front of the opening and went back to bed.
The next morning I heard some clattering noises coming from the kitchen. I got up, opened the cupboard door and saw that my friend had gotten out, but also had managed to get passed the trap.
But he was exhausted! The little fellow had fought for his live all night long and could hardly stand on his tiny feet anymore. He didn’t even have the strength to get away when I reached out my hand to grab him. And there I held him… Until he bit me in the finger and would not let go! Ouch!!
Now there was a dilemma. What do you do when a mouse is biting your finger and you don’t really want to hurt him? I didn’t want to squeeze him to death… I don’t know how it got into to me, but I decided to bite him back. I bit him in his neck.
(This is usually the part where the lovely girl that till now has been listening to my story with a melting heart suddenly looks at me with great disgust).
It worked. He let go of my finger and I put him in the trap, where he stayed until I was sure he was recovered enough to take care of himelf again.
That night I took him outside and set him free.
So let that be a lesson: You CAN catch a mouse in a friendly way!
I lived in a very small apartment on the ground floor at the time. It wasn’t even a real apartment, it was actually a small office space. I had about 18 square meter to my disposal including a kitchenette and a lavatory. There was no shower. I had to wash at the sink, but was lucky to have a swimming pool in my neighbourhood. I also had a little garden.
For about six years I lived in my humble estate on the eastside of Haarlem and was pretty happy with it.
At one evening, while watching TV from my couch, which was also my bed, I suddenly saw a little mouse crawling from under the gas heater. After some hesitations he trip stepped alongside the wall right in front of me, got underneath my work desk and got around the plywood wall that separated my ‘living-room’ from the kitchenette/bathroom. On the other side of that wall he found mice heaven between the spilled crumbs on the floor.
It became a daily routine for him, and for me that was fun to watch. Now and then I blocked his way with a shoe or a book just to see him consulting himself on how to deal with this strange and new obstacle. The first time I did this it scared him so much that he literally jumped up and raced back to his hiding place under the heater.
Meanwhile I realized that my tailed little house friend could not stay here for ever. I enjoyed his company but feared the day that he would bring his entire family and his friends with him. I decided that I had to catch him and put him outside. Off course I made this decision on a Saturday night after all the shops had closed for the weekend. So I had to make my own mouse trap, and I did so with the cardboard box of my chessmen, a rook, a piece of string and some cookie crumbs.
I didn’t have to wait very long before my little friend showed up, with his nose sniffing in the air. The smell of crumbs was irresistible. One pull on the string and he was trapped under the lid.
But now what? Ho did I get him from there? I realized that my plan had failed. I let him go.
A few days later I bought a mouse trap – a humane one! – I filled it with the most delicious mix of crumbs I could think of. But he didn’t bother. From now on he would only have crumbs that had no roof!
Weeks went by. My little mouse didn’t bring any friends or relatives and I let him. Until one night I woke up from a strange noise that came from under the kitchen sink.
I got up and soon found out that my little friend had gotten into the cupboard and had himself trapped in the space between the backside of the cupboard and the wall behind. He must have fallen in there through one of the pipe holes. There was no way he would get out of there by himself and he would surely die a horrifying death if I didn’t do something. But what?
I had to make a hole in the backside at the bottom of the cupboard. So I got a torchlight, a screwdriver and a hammer and I got in.
After a few bangs I had made a little hole. When I pulled back the screwdriver to have a better look, immediately my little friend stuck his nose through the hole and started to gnaw his way out. From that moment on – I know this sounds very Disney-like, but it really happened – he and I worked together making the gap big enough for him to get out.
When the hole was almost big enough, I decided he was to finish the job on his own. I very cleverly put the humane mousetrap in front of the opening and went back to bed.
The next morning I heard some clattering noises coming from the kitchen. I got up, opened the cupboard door and saw that my friend had gotten out, but also had managed to get passed the trap.
But he was exhausted! The little fellow had fought for his live all night long and could hardly stand on his tiny feet anymore. He didn’t even have the strength to get away when I reached out my hand to grab him. And there I held him… Until he bit me in the finger and would not let go! Ouch!!
Now there was a dilemma. What do you do when a mouse is biting your finger and you don’t really want to hurt him? I didn’t want to squeeze him to death… I don’t know how it got into to me, but I decided to bite him back. I bit him in his neck.
(This is usually the part where the lovely girl that till now has been listening to my story with a melting heart suddenly looks at me with great disgust).
It worked. He let go of my finger and I put him in the trap, where he stayed until I was sure he was recovered enough to take care of himelf again.
That night I took him outside and set him free.
So let that be a lesson: You CAN catch a mouse in a friendly way!
Sunday, December 02, 2007
And the winner is…
Me!!! I bought myself the Canon EF-S 17-85 mm f4-5.6 IS USM. After hours of thorough investigation I decided that given my budget this was the best lens for me. I thereby found a big photoshop in Rotterdam that had this lens temporarily for sale for only 349 euro, which is 100 to 150 euros less then anywhere else. On top of that Canon will give me a 30 euro refund when I send them the barcode and my receipt within three weeks.
And what a great lens it is! It is raining cats and dogs today, but soon I’ll show you what this baby brings.
After my trip to Rotterdam yesterday I helped E moving again. That’s sort of an annual thing, really.
After that, I talked to a guy who told me everything about brewing beer. Not that I wanted to know really. He was only to tell me about a certain building on the Spaarne riverside that used to be a brewery, because I’m planning to do a story on it. Unfortunately he couldn’t tell me a lot more about that building than I already knew and I guess I’ve forgotten close to everything he told me about that history of beer brewing.
As I’m writing this I am still soaking wet because of a job I had to do earlier today in Schalkwijk. All the way to and from that, while riding my bike, I kept telling myself: ‘You are saving the environment! Al Gore will be proud of you!’
I have exactly one hour before I have to get back into the rain again. What can one do? But hey, I just got the nicest text message: someone got me a present (don't know what)! And it’s not even Christmas…
And what a great lens it is! It is raining cats and dogs today, but soon I’ll show you what this baby brings.
After my trip to Rotterdam yesterday I helped E moving again. That’s sort of an annual thing, really.
After that, I talked to a guy who told me everything about brewing beer. Not that I wanted to know really. He was only to tell me about a certain building on the Spaarne riverside that used to be a brewery, because I’m planning to do a story on it. Unfortunately he couldn’t tell me a lot more about that building than I already knew and I guess I’ve forgotten close to everything he told me about that history of beer brewing.
As I’m writing this I am still soaking wet because of a job I had to do earlier today in Schalkwijk. All the way to and from that, while riding my bike, I kept telling myself: ‘You are saving the environment! Al Gore will be proud of you!’
I have exactly one hour before I have to get back into the rain again. What can one do? But hey, I just got the nicest text message: someone got me a present (don't know what)! And it’s not even Christmas…
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
My brown eyed squirrel
Hey where did we go,
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow,
Playin' a new game,
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed squirrel,
You my brown eyed squirrel.
Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing,
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall,
Slipping and sliding
All along the water fall, with you
My brown eyed squirrel,
You my brown eyed squirrel.
Do you remember when we used to sing,
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
So hard to find my way,
Now that I'm all on my own.
I saw you just the other day
My how you have grown,
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometime I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown eyed squirrel
You my (green-*)brown eyed squirrel
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da.
(*it's actually brown-greenish, but what did VanTheMan know?)
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow,
Playin' a new game,
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed squirrel,
You my brown eyed squirrel.
Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing,
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall,
Slipping and sliding
All along the water fall, with you
My brown eyed squirrel,
You my brown eyed squirrel.
Do you remember when we used to sing,
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
So hard to find my way,
Now that I'm all on my own.
I saw you just the other day
My how you have grown,
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometime I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown eyed squirrel
You my (green-*)brown eyed squirrel
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da.
(*it's actually brown-greenish, but what did VanTheMan know?)
Monday, November 12, 2007
Choices
I have come to the next big choice of my life. Am I going to spend way too much money and get myself a new lens for my camera, or don't I? And if, which one?
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM (on the left) or the Sigma DC 3,5-6,3/18-200 OS C/AF (on the right)?
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM (on the left) or the Sigma DC 3,5-6,3/18-200 OS C/AF (on the right)?
Monday, November 05, 2007
Autumn Blues? (No squirrel in sight)
I had this great weekend planned for me. Instead I spend most of my time at home feeling bored, alone, restless and very tired. Did I get hit by Autumn Blues? That would be something. Fall is supposed to make me feel extra good, it’s my favorite time of the year. That lovely smell of rotten leaves in the gutter – wow! Yes, I’m the kind that loves to go strolling through the fields and forests on a nice Autumn Sunday. But this weekend? Well, not on my own. And there was not a squirrel in sight… (Huh?!)
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Most Beautiful Squirrel
Could U be
The Most Beautiful Squirrel in the World
It's plain 2 see
U're the reason that God made a squirrel
When the day turns into the last day of all time
I can say, I hope U are in these arms of mine
And when the night falls before that day I will cry
I will cry tears of joy cause after U all one can do is die
Could U be
The Most Beautiful Squirrel in the World
Could U be
It's plain 2 see
U're the reason that God made a squirrel
Oh yes U are
The Most Beautiful Squirrel in the World
It's plain 2 see
U're the reason that God made a squirrel
When the day turns into the last day of all time
I can say, I hope U are in these arms of mine
And when the night falls before that day I will cry
I will cry tears of joy cause after U all one can do is die
Could U be
The Most Beautiful Squirrel in the World
Could U be
It's plain 2 see
U're the reason that God made a squirrel
Oh yes U are
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Sunday Morning
It is still to be decided: Dutch or English? The recent referendum on this issue has not yes had the response I had hoped for. Meanwhile it has come to my attention that our trusty reader from Wilmington (UK) has moved to Amsterdam and that his knowledge of the Dutch language is already at children’s book’s level…
But let us start this Sunday with a fact of the day, shall we?
Today it is 121 years ago that the Statue of Liberty (or better: La liberté éclairant le monde or Liberty Enlightening the World) was dedicated in the harbor of New York City. Lady Liberty is een creation of Frédéric Bartholdi. Gustave Eiffel (of the Eiffel Tower) designed the inner construction that holds some 300 massive copper plates that together form the Lady. It is true: Lady Liberty is in fact a jigsaw puzzle. Living in 2007 it is not too hard to see the unmeant symbolism in that, is it?
I woke up very early this morning. That has to have something to do with the ending of Daylight Saving Time or Summer Time last night at 3. Going back to Winter Time should mean an hour of sleep more since the clock is set back, but for some reason I always seem to lose at least two hours. I mean, I woke up at seven witch would have been 8 only yesterday, while I really won’t open my eyes before 9 at any given Sunday.
Still, it is going to be a real Sunday’s Sunday, that much is clear. It’s 10.30 now and I have already:
- Vacuumed the living room
- Done my laundry
- Read the paper
- AND HAD A MORNING WALK ALONG THE SPAARNE RIVER!!
It is true! Although I must add that my walk wasn’t without all purposes. Next month I will continue my series for the paper about the Spaarne River and I had to do some field work.
How will this Sunday proceed? Well, as soon a I have finished this blog entrée I will make coffee, listen to the second hour of a radio program called ‘OVT’ about historical facts, watch the political TV-show ‘Buitenhof’, listen to the soccer reports on the radio, make myself a typical Dutch ‘hodgepodge’ (with potatoes, carrots, unions and beef). In between I will phone my father in the hospital (he’s doing pretty good by the way, we hope to have him home by Wednesday).
This Sunday will at least last till 7.
But let us start this Sunday with a fact of the day, shall we?
Today it is 121 years ago that the Statue of Liberty (or better: La liberté éclairant le monde or Liberty Enlightening the World) was dedicated in the harbor of New York City. Lady Liberty is een creation of Frédéric Bartholdi. Gustave Eiffel (of the Eiffel Tower) designed the inner construction that holds some 300 massive copper plates that together form the Lady. It is true: Lady Liberty is in fact a jigsaw puzzle. Living in 2007 it is not too hard to see the unmeant symbolism in that, is it?
I woke up very early this morning. That has to have something to do with the ending of Daylight Saving Time or Summer Time last night at 3. Going back to Winter Time should mean an hour of sleep more since the clock is set back, but for some reason I always seem to lose at least two hours. I mean, I woke up at seven witch would have been 8 only yesterday, while I really won’t open my eyes before 9 at any given Sunday.
Still, it is going to be a real Sunday’s Sunday, that much is clear. It’s 10.30 now and I have already:
- Vacuumed the living room
- Done my laundry
- Read the paper
- AND HAD A MORNING WALK ALONG THE SPAARNE RIVER!!
It is true! Although I must add that my walk wasn’t without all purposes. Next month I will continue my series for the paper about the Spaarne River and I had to do some field work.
How will this Sunday proceed? Well, as soon a I have finished this blog entrée I will make coffee, listen to the second hour of a radio program called ‘OVT’ about historical facts, watch the political TV-show ‘Buitenhof’, listen to the soccer reports on the radio, make myself a typical Dutch ‘hodgepodge’ (with potatoes, carrots, unions and beef). In between I will phone my father in the hospital (he’s doing pretty good by the way, we hope to have him home by Wednesday).
This Sunday will at least last till 7.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Squirrel
Squirrel squirrel squirrel
When I hear you talk
Ooh my mind gets blocked squirrel
.
Speak up 'cause my jaw is locked
Which is good, good for me squirrel
It hides like a warning sign
But I'm too blind to see
.
Speak up yes
I'm coming down
With an ice cold fever
Ice cold fever Ice cold fever
.
Still got my hands they're clinging
So I just keep going
I don't know where I belong
Could I belong to you
No I don't know where I belong
Could I belong
.
Squirrel squirrel squirrel
Get it while it's hot they say
You see I'm burning up here
I want to but I just can't stop
And it hurts
It hurts like hell squirrel
.
You turn me inside out and upside down
Ooh you got me head over heels
I'm stuck
Yes I'm coming down with an ice cold fever
Ice cold fever
Ice cold fever, aha
When I hear you talk
Ooh my mind gets blocked squirrel
.
Speak up 'cause my jaw is locked
Which is good, good for me squirrel
It hides like a warning sign
But I'm too blind to see
.
Speak up yes
I'm coming down
With an ice cold fever
Ice cold fever Ice cold fever
.
Still got my hands they're clinging
So I just keep going
I don't know where I belong
Could I belong to you
No I don't know where I belong
Could I belong
.
Squirrel squirrel squirrel
Get it while it's hot they say
You see I'm burning up here
I want to but I just can't stop
And it hurts
It hurts like hell squirrel
.
You turn me inside out and upside down
Ooh you got me head over heels
I'm stuck
Yes I'm coming down with an ice cold fever
Ice cold fever
Ice cold fever, aha
Monday, October 22, 2007
The Good Live
It’s two weeks now that my father (79) is in hospital. He suffered some severe intestinal pain caused by a huge inflammation that clogged the whole system. Together with the medical staff we hoped that it would get better by just resting, and indeed his situation seemed to get a little better every day, until Friday night when his belly swelled up so rapidly that he felt like he would literally burst. So Saturday they performed surgery on him in which they took out a part of his intestine and created a temporary stoma.
Me and my mom saw him couple of hours after the operation. We expected to find him all dozy and sleepy but to our surprise he was crystal clear. He even made a joke: ,,This stoma thing could come in handy on long car trips when we are on vacation, honey’’, he said to my mother. And to the nurse: ,,I always have to go on the most inconvenient moments, you see.’’
But he was very emotional too. The hard part must be that he realizes that he reached an age where he has to let go of certain things bit by bit.
He made some decisions, he said. ,,I’m going to throw away my old bike and just use the new one.’’ He bought this new one a couple of months ago because his old one is falling apart really, but he still saves it for nice bike trips on sunny afternoons.
He also said he would stop ice skating. Now that is a tough one. My father is a ice skate fanatic. He takes his sport very serious. He loves the ice. Just a week ago he grumbled that it would be useless now to get a season-ticket for the ice skate stadium, because he would never be fit in time to make it worth while. ,,I’m going to make it a goodbye in style’’, he told us Saturday.
With tears in his eyes he told my mother that she was the first on his mind when he woke up after surgery. He said that he had been thinking about all the places they had visit and the many vacations they had enjoyed – together and with their children. ,,I forget to think about these things when running around in daily live, while I know that they are so imported’’, he said. ,,We had a very good live, didn’t we? We did.’’
That’s when Richard couldn’t hold back his tears and grabbed his hand…
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Reet Petite (The Finest Squirrel You Ever Wanna Meet)
Well, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell, lookabell
Oooooh Weeeeee
Lookabell, lookabell, lookabell
Oooooo Weeee
Oh, ah, oh, ah, oh wee
Well, she's so fine, fine, fine
She's so fine fa-fine
She's so fi-iii-ine
She's so fine, fine, fine
She's really sweet
The finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Rrrrrrrr Reet Petite
The finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Well, have you ever seen a squirrel for whom your soul you'd give
For whom you'd fight for
Die for, pray to God you'd lie for
She's so fine, she's so fine, she's really sweet
The finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Well, she really thrills me so
from her head to toe
I want the world to know
I love her,love her so
She's alright,she's alright
She's alrighty
You know to me it has to be at night
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Rrrr Reet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Ohhhhh
Well, she's like honey from a bees
And like bees from a tree
I love her, need her
She bez' so buzzin'
She's alright, she's got what it takes
She's got what it takes and to me she really rates
Well, Oh now she's my cutey, my tuttu fruity
My heart, my love, my bathin' beauty
She's alright
She's got just what it takes
She's got what it takes
And to me she a- really rates
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh oh oh oh
RrrReet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
RrrReet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
RrrReet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Oooooh Weeeeee
Lookabell, lookabell, lookabell
Oooooo Weeee
Oh, ah, oh, ah, oh wee
Well, she's so fine, fine, fine
She's so fine fa-fine
She's so fi-iii-ine
She's so fine, fine, fine
She's really sweet
The finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Rrrrrrrr Reet Petite
The finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Well, have you ever seen a squirrel for whom your soul you'd give
For whom you'd fight for
Die for, pray to God you'd lie for
She's so fine, she's so fine, she's really sweet
The finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Well, she really thrills me so
from her head to toe
I want the world to know
I love her,love her so
She's alright,she's alright
She's alrighty
You know to me it has to be at night
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Rrrr Reet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Ohhhhh
Well, she's like honey from a bees
And like bees from a tree
I love her, need her
She bez' so buzzin'
She's alright, she's got what it takes
She's got what it takes and to me she really rates
Well, Oh now she's my cutey, my tuttu fruity
My heart, my love, my bathin' beauty
She's alright
She's got just what it takes
She's got what it takes
And to me she a- really rates
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh oh oh oh
RrrReet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
RrrReet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
RrrReet Petite the finest squirrel you ever wanna meet
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Talkin' 'bout my squirrel
I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May.
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My squirrel. (My squirrel, my squirrel)
Talkin' 'bout my squirrel. (My squirrel)
(... and a lot of dots to follow)
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May.
Well, I guess you'll say
What can make me feel this way?
My squirrel. (My squirrel, my squirrel)
Talkin' 'bout my squirrel. (My squirrel)
(... and a lot of dots to follow)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
We consider going Dutch
I’ve been asking myself quite some time now: why is this blog in English? I do like to write in English but off course my native language is Dutch. It’s true that I consider the internet as a medium without national boundaries that requires a language that can be understood all around the globe. But on the other hand, let’s face it: the amount of readers of this blog from outside the Netherlands have been decreasing dramatically over the last few years.
So maybe it is better to focus more on the readers from inside this beautiful country along the Northsea coast.
Now I couldn’t make such a big change without consulting YOU. YOU are still the last chosen person of the year, remember?
So tell me, do you want me to:
- keep this blog in English
- change to Dutch
- go bilingual
You must know that I don’t really believe in democracy and I’m truly convinced that referenda are for losers, so I honestly cannot promise you that the majority will be heared after this. I mean, I have to be considerate to my very trusty readers from Wilmington (UK), even if they are a chanceless minority – I do. But still, let’s give it a try, okay?
So maybe it is better to focus more on the readers from inside this beautiful country along the Northsea coast.
Now I couldn’t make such a big change without consulting YOU. YOU are still the last chosen person of the year, remember?
So tell me, do you want me to:
- keep this blog in English
- change to Dutch
- go bilingual
You must know that I don’t really believe in democracy and I’m truly convinced that referenda are for losers, so I honestly cannot promise you that the majority will be heared after this. I mean, I have to be considerate to my very trusty readers from Wilmington (UK), even if they are a chanceless minority – I do. But still, let’s give it a try, okay?
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Back!
Back from Harlem to Haarlem. That is about 6.200 km, a seven hour flight (and almost three hours of my life at JFK, an airport that I’m starting to hate more and more) and an 'a' extra.
It was good to be in NYC again. But it was nice coming home again too. Hey, I do have a lot to come home for! :-)
It was good to be in NYC again. But it was nice coming home again too. Hey, I do have a lot to come home for! :-)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Not really gone
These two weeks you can visit me for updates at www.teruginnewyork.blogspot.com (in Dutch)
Sunday, September 09, 2007
To New York
So much for summer in Holland, I think. After all that rain we had in June and July, I was hoping for a long and summerlike September/October. It seems to be nothing more than wishful thinking. Since a few days there’s a chill in the air and it is here to stay. Some two weeks ago Bies stated on his blog that autumn had set in. It’s true what they say about the shifting of the seasons, he said. He was right.
Don’t get me wrong: I like autumn. It might even be my favorite season of the year, provided that it brings heavy showers with some lovely sunshine in between. I love the smell of rotten leaves in the gutter and long autumn dawning at the beginning of the evening.
But, on the risk to being called a hypocrite after just proclaiming this, with great contentment I find that hi-temperatures in New York in the upcoming week will be between 26 and 29 ˚C and I will enjoy every summerday I can get these next two weeks! On the other hand: there will be showers and possible t-storms, the weatherman of the New York Times tells me.
But the main thing New York has to do for me is get my mind of off work. And she will do that. In her own overwhelming way.
It will be good to be back in The Apple. Although I will be on my own again, which shouldn’t be the case really. But D., as you know, left me (and is now for some reason crying out how she loves England). And my dear friends E. and M., who tell me every year when I come back from NYC that they will definitely go with me next year again had to cancel on me when the chance came up (with very good reasons by the way).
But I won’t be alone, don’t worry. In New York Manhattan is my mistress. And she is truly a handful.
I will stroll along the rivers and get dazzled again by the sight of that beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. I will hang around Little West 12, drink coffee in Little Italy, wander through Soho and Greenwich, go see a movie at the Angelika at Houston Street, enjoy the street markets of China Town, find myself a delicious coconut popstickle in Battery Park (why don’t they have those here in Holland?!). I will see some shows at the Bowery Ballroom, Knitting Factory or where ever the Village Voice will bring me. I will visit Joe in the Red Lion bar in Bleecker and Lach with his weekly antihoot in the East Village. I will smile at the squirrels and be nice to the homeless. And off course there is Gee and my good friends Roger and Miss Blue. New York will be New York for me. Although I could think of one that I would very much like to share her with...
See u in 2 weeks!
Don’t get me wrong: I like autumn. It might even be my favorite season of the year, provided that it brings heavy showers with some lovely sunshine in between. I love the smell of rotten leaves in the gutter and long autumn dawning at the beginning of the evening.
But, on the risk to being called a hypocrite after just proclaiming this, with great contentment I find that hi-temperatures in New York in the upcoming week will be between 26 and 29 ˚C and I will enjoy every summerday I can get these next two weeks! On the other hand: there will be showers and possible t-storms, the weatherman of the New York Times tells me.
But the main thing New York has to do for me is get my mind of off work. And she will do that. In her own overwhelming way.
It will be good to be back in The Apple. Although I will be on my own again, which shouldn’t be the case really. But D., as you know, left me (and is now for some reason crying out how she loves England). And my dear friends E. and M., who tell me every year when I come back from NYC that they will definitely go with me next year again had to cancel on me when the chance came up (with very good reasons by the way).
But I won’t be alone, don’t worry. In New York Manhattan is my mistress. And she is truly a handful.
I will stroll along the rivers and get dazzled again by the sight of that beautiful Brooklyn Bridge. I will hang around Little West 12, drink coffee in Little Italy, wander through Soho and Greenwich, go see a movie at the Angelika at Houston Street, enjoy the street markets of China Town, find myself a delicious coconut popstickle in Battery Park (why don’t they have those here in Holland?!). I will see some shows at the Bowery Ballroom, Knitting Factory or where ever the Village Voice will bring me. I will visit Joe in the Red Lion bar in Bleecker and Lach with his weekly antihoot in the East Village. I will smile at the squirrels and be nice to the homeless. And off course there is Gee and my good friends Roger and Miss Blue. New York will be New York for me. Although I could think of one that I would very much like to share her with...
See u in 2 weeks!
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Vacation is work!
My house is still not clean! I have been cleaning all day now and still I haven’t even got to the kitchen nor my work-room. There is dust everywhere. Am I a pig?
I promised E. to get the house nice and clean before my vacation because she will stay here to look after Oeps while I’m gone.
I should clean more often, I got that clear!
There is probably a more organized way to do this, I’m sure.
I had planned to start tidying up on Thursday, but the little birthday get-together I held the day before was still going on till early on that morning. And after that some serious sleeping was in order. So I lost a day.
The birthday party was very good by the way. Nice people, good laughs, lovely presents and – except maybe for too long of a discussion about the new city-slogan – nice conversations. It felt good!
Okay, one more day to get the house and me ready!
I promised E. to get the house nice and clean before my vacation because she will stay here to look after Oeps while I’m gone.
I should clean more often, I got that clear!
There is probably a more organized way to do this, I’m sure.
I had planned to start tidying up on Thursday, but the little birthday get-together I held the day before was still going on till early on that morning. And after that some serious sleeping was in order. So I lost a day.
The birthday party was very good by the way. Nice people, good laughs, lovely presents and – except maybe for too long of a discussion about the new city-slogan – nice conversations. It felt good!
Okay, one more day to get the house and me ready!
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Dreamer
You may say I’m dreamer. But I’m not the only one...
I guess there’s all types of dreamers. You have the kind that dream of world peace and equal rights and chances for all human beings. The kind that dream of the world to become one. They are the ‘heroic dreamers’.
I am a dreamer, but not like that. My dreams are not meant as a statement. They don’t symbolize a vision on a better future for everyone. They are not flags to be carried on some sort of battlefield, nor contain ethical guidelines to become a better person.
I’m no John Lennon and no Martin Luther King for that matter.
My dreams benefit only a very small world: mine.
So: You may say I’m selfish . But I’m not the only one…
There’s more of us, I’m sure. And I don’t think my dreams will hurt anyone. At least I hope so. Because my dreams are only meant to bend reality and make things right or at least bearable for me. To tie all good and pretty things, that in real life I find shattered everywhere and so often get lost between impossibilities, responsibilities, securities and fear, closely together so they can be enjoyed as one lovely and magical picture – a fantasy as you like.
That might make me a foolish dreamer or a dreamer without a cause. But that is who I am.
Sometimes the dream gets smashed, though. Reality got too close and that is, as everyone knows, deadly to all dreams. I usually try to fix the dream then, apparently out of some strange and almost self destructive urge to endlessly hang on to it.
Until there is really not much left of it. Not enough to hang on to, that is.
Those are the bad times.
When they have arrived, for dreamers like me there’s not much else to do than to find another dream to survive.
Keep on dreaming!
I guess there’s all types of dreamers. You have the kind that dream of world peace and equal rights and chances for all human beings. The kind that dream of the world to become one. They are the ‘heroic dreamers’.
I am a dreamer, but not like that. My dreams are not meant as a statement. They don’t symbolize a vision on a better future for everyone. They are not flags to be carried on some sort of battlefield, nor contain ethical guidelines to become a better person.
I’m no John Lennon and no Martin Luther King for that matter.
My dreams benefit only a very small world: mine.
So: You may say I’m selfish . But I’m not the only one…
There’s more of us, I’m sure. And I don’t think my dreams will hurt anyone. At least I hope so. Because my dreams are only meant to bend reality and make things right or at least bearable for me. To tie all good and pretty things, that in real life I find shattered everywhere and so often get lost between impossibilities, responsibilities, securities and fear, closely together so they can be enjoyed as one lovely and magical picture – a fantasy as you like.
That might make me a foolish dreamer or a dreamer without a cause. But that is who I am.
Sometimes the dream gets smashed, though. Reality got too close and that is, as everyone knows, deadly to all dreams. I usually try to fix the dream then, apparently out of some strange and almost self destructive urge to endlessly hang on to it.
Until there is really not much left of it. Not enough to hang on to, that is.
Those are the bad times.
When they have arrived, for dreamers like me there’s not much else to do than to find another dream to survive.
Keep on dreaming!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Accidents will happen (With update)
I had a slow day so far. And I have my day off, so there shouldn’t be a problem. Apart from the fact that I have so much work to get done before my so desired vacation.
I had a pretty good start. I worked a weekend-shift last weekend and today I got up at a very reasonable time to go to the office and return the company’s mobile phone. I remember thinking: Now I got the whole day for me to just get a lot of stuff done. And that was a good thought!
Maybe it was the fact that, while returning that damn phone, one of my co-workers very casually asked me if I had been boozing the other night. No I Had Not! But... I mean... I did feel a little bit tired. And now I felt like a wreck!
Anyway I spend most I my day doing everything and nothing around the house and behind my computer not getting any work done. My mind had a good reason for wandering off, I must add. And the reason was mailable too… (Does this make any sense?!! Sorry.)
Then, when I finally felt ready to get busy, accidents happened. Right under my work room window. Traffic accidents that is.
First an old lady on a mobility scooter got hit by a car at the crossing on the right side of my house. She was badly injured I believe. A trauma helicopter had to come to get her to a hospital.
Just three hours later there was another hit, at the crossing left of me. A moped ran into a little taxi van.
How am I supposed to get any work done when people keep running into cars all the time right under my window? O sure, the mind is wandering off again…
Update: the old lady did not survive her injuries.
I had a pretty good start. I worked a weekend-shift last weekend and today I got up at a very reasonable time to go to the office and return the company’s mobile phone. I remember thinking: Now I got the whole day for me to just get a lot of stuff done. And that was a good thought!
Maybe it was the fact that, while returning that damn phone, one of my co-workers very casually asked me if I had been boozing the other night. No I Had Not! But... I mean... I did feel a little bit tired. And now I felt like a wreck!
Anyway I spend most I my day doing everything and nothing around the house and behind my computer not getting any work done. My mind had a good reason for wandering off, I must add. And the reason was mailable too… (Does this make any sense?!! Sorry.)
Then, when I finally felt ready to get busy, accidents happened. Right under my work room window. Traffic accidents that is.
First an old lady on a mobility scooter got hit by a car at the crossing on the right side of my house. She was badly injured I believe. A trauma helicopter had to come to get her to a hospital.
Just three hours later there was another hit, at the crossing left of me. A moped ran into a little taxi van.
How am I supposed to get any work done when people keep running into cars all the time right under my window? O sure, the mind is wandering off again…
Update: the old lady did not survive her injuries.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
And counting
It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back, they say. Well it is the last couple of weeks before my vacation that bring me in a shitty mood. I feel tired, I don’t want to go to work in the morning, I can’t stand the taste of the coffee from that damn machine anymore, and I’m really fed up with all those hey-I’m-just-back-from-a-relaxing-vacation-and let me-tell-you-all-about-it faces that I see everywhere around me.
But I’m almost there. There’s only ten more working days to go. And less than eighteen-and-a-half days before I will get on my plane to NYC. O yeah, I’m counting.
In between there is my birthday, which I decided to not let go by just like that this year. Although that gives me also headaches, because I really just want to invite only a few people for a small get together, but now I’m worried others will feel left out.
I’ll have to think about how to trigger that one.
There will be one very strict rule: no co-workers at my birthday this time. Not that I don’t like them but my birthday will be the first day of my vacation and I don’t want to hear, see or scent anything work related that day. Let that be my birthday gift to me.
Is work that bad Richard, I never heard you complain that strongly about your job? Hmmm, I hear you.
No, it is not all bad. I still enjoy the series that I’m doing on the Spaarne river. I’m walking downstream and write about the things I come across on my way. We weren’t sure on whether to do only a part of the river or the river as a whole. I’m glad that this week my boss agreed on going all the way. To the sluice of Spaarndam that is!
Today my series brought me to a small biological dynamic farm called Vrij (=Free) Waterland. It’s used for educational purposes by an elementary/secundary school nearby.
I must admit that it is far from bad to find yourself strolling through blackberry- and raspberry bushes, fields with leeks and bean bushes and apple trees. There was even a bee house.
Tonite I'm having a wonderful salad with biological dynamic grown tomatos and cucumber. So..
But oooh, how that even more makes you long for a nice vacation away from it all… O yeah, I'm so counting.
But I’m almost there. There’s only ten more working days to go. And less than eighteen-and-a-half days before I will get on my plane to NYC. O yeah, I’m counting.
In between there is my birthday, which I decided to not let go by just like that this year. Although that gives me also headaches, because I really just want to invite only a few people for a small get together, but now I’m worried others will feel left out.
I’ll have to think about how to trigger that one.
There will be one very strict rule: no co-workers at my birthday this time. Not that I don’t like them but my birthday will be the first day of my vacation and I don’t want to hear, see or scent anything work related that day. Let that be my birthday gift to me.
Is work that bad Richard, I never heard you complain that strongly about your job? Hmmm, I hear you.
No, it is not all bad. I still enjoy the series that I’m doing on the Spaarne river. I’m walking downstream and write about the things I come across on my way. We weren’t sure on whether to do only a part of the river or the river as a whole. I’m glad that this week my boss agreed on going all the way. To the sluice of Spaarndam that is!
Today my series brought me to a small biological dynamic farm called Vrij (=Free) Waterland. It’s used for educational purposes by an elementary/secundary school nearby.
I must admit that it is far from bad to find yourself strolling through blackberry- and raspberry bushes, fields with leeks and bean bushes and apple trees. There was even a bee house.
Tonite I'm having a wonderful salad with biological dynamic grown tomatos and cucumber. So..
But oooh, how that even more makes you long for a nice vacation away from it all… O yeah, I'm so counting.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Desk supply
When at home sitting behind the computer, for instance to update this blog, there is little chance that I am alone. Oeps loves to keep me company. Even when his company is really not appreciated because he is too distracting as a desk supply.
But you got to admit, he is kind of cute too when crawling for attention.
But you got to admit, he is kind of cute too when crawling for attention.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Cocooning II (outdoors)
To be honest: I might have bend the rules of cocooning a little bit today. I went outside. But, in my defense: the weather was just too beautiful to stay in, and I avoided most human contact.
I took a big risk though - I dared to walk right through city center where this weekend a very big culinary festival is happening. Still, I managed to get to the other end without any real cracks in the cocoon. Okay, I did ran into L., but apparently for very clear cocoon-related reasons it took me almost two seconds to realize it was her. We said hello, smiled and no damage to the cocoon was ever done.
After that it went all smoothly. I reached the old dunes, where I wandered for hours. Was I alone? No. I came across a family of swans, I saw and heard birds, bees and crickets, and there were flowers and plants and trees whispering in the wind. I was – so to say - Part Of Nature! All that under a brilliantly shining sun.
I even took some pictures:
Only pictures? No, but thanks for asking. I also managed to produce and direct my second mobile phone made Dogma film, titled: Outdoors Cocooning.
What do you mean, boring? It's a DOGMA film, stupid!!
Anyway, when I got home I made myself a nice and nutricious dinner which I had on my balcony.
And thus come my cocooning days to an end, I guess. Z. is back in town. I think I'll take her out for a nice glass of wine somewhere tomorrow.
I took a big risk though - I dared to walk right through city center where this weekend a very big culinary festival is happening. Still, I managed to get to the other end without any real cracks in the cocoon. Okay, I did ran into L., but apparently for very clear cocoon-related reasons it took me almost two seconds to realize it was her. We said hello, smiled and no damage to the cocoon was ever done.
After that it went all smoothly. I reached the old dunes, where I wandered for hours. Was I alone? No. I came across a family of swans, I saw and heard birds, bees and crickets, and there were flowers and plants and trees whispering in the wind. I was – so to say - Part Of Nature! All that under a brilliantly shining sun.
I even took some pictures:
Only pictures? No, but thanks for asking. I also managed to produce and direct my second mobile phone made Dogma film, titled: Outdoors Cocooning.
What do you mean, boring? It's a DOGMA film, stupid!!
Anyway, when I got home I made myself a nice and nutricious dinner which I had on my balcony.
And thus come my cocooning days to an end, I guess. Z. is back in town. I think I'll take her out for a nice glass of wine somewhere tomorrow.
Cocooning
Once in a while I have to be just by myself. Having me around me can be handful and then I can’t have anyone else around. This weekend is turning out to be like that. My thoughts are with a lot of people that I truly care for, but I will be with only me. I’m cocooning.
And off course this is after some week. First of all there were these three far too nice evenings in the city with too many nice people (some of them that I hadn’t seen in ages) and far too much to drink.
There was Monday, when all of a sudden Bies turned up in Koops. He just got back from a vacation and looked just like people look when they come home after a nice three weeks stay in France. On top of that he introduced us to his new girlfriend, who was very nice. So although we were clearly good to go home, we sat, drank and talked. After that I found myself with Peter in De Waag where we met Nuel. And again there was talking and drinking. It must have been near to midnight when I realized that I completely forgot about having dinner. How did I get home anyway?
There was Tuesday, when I went to Koops for just one beer and to bring L. the photo’s of her cats that I promised her. All too soon it became clear that one beer would become a lot more, when again Bies came round and then Renee and Hakim and even Wiebe Hartog, who is an old friend of Lennaert Nijgh and who I hadn’t seen in I think two years.
There was Wednesday when I had dinner with my parents and had a long talk with my father about his involvements in the rescue of some very fortunate people that survived the disaster with the Neutron in New Guinea fifty years ago.
There was Thursday when I just went out in the city to have a quick drink with lovely E. but soon after that found myself having a very good time drinking till we dropped with M.A. and my colleague and friend C.
Earlier this week I got some very sad news from my dearest M. and ever since I feel bad that I cannot be there for her, although I know that she knows I’m there for her in thought and heart.
And off course there was D. who was on my mind.
All and all that took a lot of energy.
So I spend my day quietly - doing some groceries, some reading, sitting on my balcony, doing some thinking and making plans. And that was pretty good. I’m thinking about throwing a nice birthday party next month when I’m turning 38. And I’m planning something nice for my parents next week. I also thought of some stories I want to do for the paper the upcoming days. I’m reloading and I think that is exactly what I’m going to do tomorrow. For now: I'm off to bed.
And off course this is after some week. First of all there were these three far too nice evenings in the city with too many nice people (some of them that I hadn’t seen in ages) and far too much to drink.
There was Monday, when all of a sudden Bies turned up in Koops. He just got back from a vacation and looked just like people look when they come home after a nice three weeks stay in France. On top of that he introduced us to his new girlfriend, who was very nice. So although we were clearly good to go home, we sat, drank and talked. After that I found myself with Peter in De Waag where we met Nuel. And again there was talking and drinking. It must have been near to midnight when I realized that I completely forgot about having dinner. How did I get home anyway?
There was Tuesday, when I went to Koops for just one beer and to bring L. the photo’s of her cats that I promised her. All too soon it became clear that one beer would become a lot more, when again Bies came round and then Renee and Hakim and even Wiebe Hartog, who is an old friend of Lennaert Nijgh and who I hadn’t seen in I think two years.
There was Wednesday when I had dinner with my parents and had a long talk with my father about his involvements in the rescue of some very fortunate people that survived the disaster with the Neutron in New Guinea fifty years ago.
There was Thursday when I just went out in the city to have a quick drink with lovely E. but soon after that found myself having a very good time drinking till we dropped with M.A. and my colleague and friend C.
Earlier this week I got some very sad news from my dearest M. and ever since I feel bad that I cannot be there for her, although I know that she knows I’m there for her in thought and heart.
And off course there was D. who was on my mind.
All and all that took a lot of energy.
So I spend my day quietly - doing some groceries, some reading, sitting on my balcony, doing some thinking and making plans. And that was pretty good. I’m thinking about throwing a nice birthday party next month when I’m turning 38. And I’m planning something nice for my parents next week. I also thought of some stories I want to do for the paper the upcoming days. I’m reloading and I think that is exactly what I’m going to do tomorrow. For now: I'm off to bed.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!
I'm ready for take off! Well, I still have to wait a little before I can go, but booking two vacations on one day does give a thrill.
Two? That's right, two!
I just booked my flight to New York in September to begin with. I'll be there two whole weeks. I can
hardly wait to be back in the city
of my heart. Not in the least because of my two friends Gg and Roger
There was quite some shocking news from Manhattan the other week, did you hear about that? An old steam pipe exploded nearby Grand Central Terminal. I did't think too much of it when I first heard of it, until I saw the pictures on the New York Times website. What a blast! One man even died in the event, having a heart attack. It must have been a pretty scary site.
Let's hope the other pipes will last, especially in September...
My other trip will be with a couple of friends. We decided to spend New Year's Eve in Berlin. We won't stay too long, I just booked us rooms for only three days. Although I'm considering to stay a little longer myself if possible.
Anyway, there is reason enough to play that old Leonard Cohen song out loud, right?
Is there any more news? Hmmm, let me think... D. called last Friday and it was good to hear her voice again. I didn't hear from her too much these last couple of weeks.
We didn't talk long. She had a very exciting story about going under cover at the Scientology Church to do a journalistic report. One day later she gave me a message that she wouldn't go through with it though. Maybe for the better. I don't know if she thought her plans through very well, and it is certainly not without risks to try and pull a trick on these guys.
I still miss D. to be honest. Especially on days like these, when I'm all excited about something. But she prefers to be somewhere else, so what can one do? That's her choice.
More? Not much. I got a new hat. I lost two in just five weeks. This one comes from a internet store in Finland. Although the label inside says: 'Made in Nepal'...
Two? That's right, two!
I just booked my flight to New York in September to begin with. I'll be there two whole weeks. I can
hardly wait to be back in the cityof my heart. Not in the least because of my two friends Gg and Roger
There was quite some shocking news from Manhattan the other week, did you hear about that? An old steam pipe exploded nearby Grand Central Terminal. I did't think too much of it when I first heard of it, until I saw the pictures on the New York Times website. What a blast! One man even died in the event, having a heart attack. It must have been a pretty scary site.
Let's hope the other pipes will last, especially in September...
My other trip will be with a couple of friends. We decided to spend New Year's Eve in Berlin. We won't stay too long, I just booked us rooms for only three days. Although I'm considering to stay a little longer myself if possible.
Anyway, there is reason enough to play that old Leonard Cohen song out loud, right?
Is there any more news? Hmmm, let me think... D. called last Friday and it was good to hear her voice again. I didn't hear from her too much these last couple of weeks.
We didn't talk long. She had a very exciting story about going under cover at the Scientology Church to do a journalistic report. One day later she gave me a message that she wouldn't go through with it though. Maybe for the better. I don't know if she thought her plans through very well, and it is certainly not without risks to try and pull a trick on these guys.
I still miss D. to be honest. Especially on days like these, when I'm all excited about something. But she prefers to be somewhere else, so what can one do? That's her choice.
More? Not much. I got a new hat. I lost two in just five weeks. This one comes from a internet store in Finland. Although the label inside says: 'Made in Nepal'...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
I shot a frog (again)
Don't worry, I won't make this a frog blog. But I have to show the picture I took yesterday of this little green friend. Because it is a slightly better picture than the one I showed earlier. And he is green! (Click to see it BIG!!)
.
Or what to think of this little inmate?
And these two troopers?
.
Or what to think of this little inmate?
And these two troopers?
.
.
Monday, July 16, 2007
54th
Today is my parents' 54th wedding anniversary. That’s right, there 54th...
It’s getting more difficult to get them a nice present for this day every year. Last year I had this pretty brilliant idea of giving them a tour in Haarlem’s ancient city hall, where they once married. I couldn’t do wrong for months!
It had to be something with a bit of a nostalgic twist again, so much was clear. So my brother and sister and I came up with the idea to just take ‘m out for a fancy but nice dinner in Stempels, which is situated in the 18th century’s former Royal printing-office of Joh. Enschedé and sons. They used to print bank notes here. And, between 1737 and 1940, the paper that I work for!
The nostalgic part was more about being with just the five of us though. No spouces, no girlfriend and no further offspring - just the happily married couple and their three kids.
We took them yesterday. I believe they liked it very much. And the food was really nice.
The only thing that was bothering me: it was so damn hot yesterday, with on top of that very high humidity. And that is just the kind of weather that kills me. I hope I wasn’t too bad company.
After we kissed and hugged goodbye I thought I’d cool down a little with a cold beer in Koops. But the sidewalk café was crowded and inside was like an oven. So I went home and poured myself a nice refreshing class of rose and sat down on my balcony gazing at a lonely star in the sky and some planes going by. And that was pretty near to perfection. There was even a little breeze!
It’s getting more difficult to get them a nice present for this day every year. Last year I had this pretty brilliant idea of giving them a tour in Haarlem’s ancient city hall, where they once married. I couldn’t do wrong for months!
It had to be something with a bit of a nostalgic twist again, so much was clear. So my brother and sister and I came up with the idea to just take ‘m out for a fancy but nice dinner in Stempels, which is situated in the 18th century’s former Royal printing-office of Joh. Enschedé and sons. They used to print bank notes here. And, between 1737 and 1940, the paper that I work for!
The nostalgic part was more about being with just the five of us though. No spouces, no girlfriend and no further offspring - just the happily married couple and their three kids.
We took them yesterday. I believe they liked it very much. And the food was really nice.
The only thing that was bothering me: it was so damn hot yesterday, with on top of that very high humidity. And that is just the kind of weather that kills me. I hope I wasn’t too bad company.
After we kissed and hugged goodbye I thought I’d cool down a little with a cold beer in Koops. But the sidewalk café was crowded and inside was like an oven. So I went home and poured myself a nice refreshing class of rose and sat down on my balcony gazing at a lonely star in the sky and some planes going by. And that was pretty near to perfection. There was even a little breeze!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
I shot a frog
Yep, I did it!! Remember D. took me to look for frogs some three months ago? You don’t? Hmmm, that’s odd… (look here)
Anyway, we didn’t find them then. Which was a pity, because I really wanted to take a picture of one of Kermit’s relatives. I guess we were to early.
Meanwhile D. did get to take a picture of a frog. And hers can’t be beaten really. She made a great picture. And her frog is green! (look here)
Still, I’m not all that unhappy with the picture I finally got to make today. That’s right: I shot a frog! Two actually!! Frogs are awesome.
Anyway, we didn’t find them then. Which was a pity, because I really wanted to take a picture of one of Kermit’s relatives. I guess we were to early.
Meanwhile D. did get to take a picture of a frog. And hers can’t be beaten really. She made a great picture. And her frog is green! (look here)
Still, I’m not all that unhappy with the picture I finally got to make today. That’s right: I shot a frog! Two actually!! Frogs are awesome.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Be a Simpson
In Holland it never really happened to me that someone, a total stranger, came up to me, smiling in the most friendly way, and than told me: ‘You look like Sideshow Bob’. When I’m in New York it happens to me at least once in the two weeks that I usually stay there.
Now I do agree that because of my hair there is some comparison between me and Sideshow Bob. Although I wouldn't think of killing Bart Simpson or any of his family members. No way.
The Simpsons is one of my favorite TV-shows ever. My dear Miss D. knows that, and from her I got the tip that on the Simpsons movie website you can now make your own Simpsons character . Heehee...!!
I would say, I could do the part of Sideshow Bob's nicer cousin...
Now I do agree that because of my hair there is some comparison between me and Sideshow Bob. Although I wouldn't think of killing Bart Simpson or any of his family members. No way.
The Simpsons is one of my favorite TV-shows ever. My dear Miss D. knows that, and from her I got the tip that on the Simpsons movie website you can now make your own Simpsons character . Heehee...!!
I would say, I could do the part of Sideshow Bob's nicer cousin...
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
In Your Eyes (under a beautiful bright rainbow)
Yesterday I went to see Peter Gabriel in concert in the Westerpark in Amsterdam. PB took me. It’s not going to be on top of my concerts-of-the-year-list in December, but it was nice to see Gabriel again.
It must have been some 12 or 13 years ago that I saw him. With M., in The Hague! That was a pretty expensive and long evening, as I remember. M. and I missed our last train back to Haarlem by just one minute or so. There were still trains going to Utrecht where she lived (and still lives), but her dog Lucky was at my place. So there was not much else we could do than to just wait for, I think, an hour to get a train to Schiphol and from there take a taxi home.
To be honest: after all those years I don’t remember much of the concert, but I do recall our long ride home…
Peter Gabriel was in town to play a few fan favorites. It was a bit boring in the beginning to be honest. The evening hadn’t fallen in, we already had some rain and the show wasn't the least overwhelming.
In fact the beautiful, complete, and very bright rainbow (there was even a double rainbow at one point) that hang over the field for almost half an hour was much more impressive than Peter Gabriel and his band.
But still, as the last sunlight slowly disappeared, leaving only that typical Dutch dark cloudy and magnificent sky behind as a perfect stage for a couple of the very best of PG’s songs, there was enough to be thankful for.
Solsbury Hill is a song I could have placed in my list of happy songs a few days ago on this blog.
And although this year it’s 30 years ago already that the South African political activist Steve Biko was killed, the monumental protest song that Gabriel wrote shortly after that hasn’t lost any of it’s power, as I know now. A bit to my surprise, honestly, but I hadn’t heard the song in ages. It must be the bagpipes in this song, they’re the strongest weapon on earth as my friend L. used to say. When Gabriel played Biko yesterday, there were even some fists raised in the air as token of solidarity. Pretty cool, come to think of it.
There was In Your Eyes to truly be grateful for. Not a song you need to hear every day. Once a year will do just fine. And if you want to skip a year, it’s even better. Because then, when you hear it again…Oh, go play it…! (But do take the special mix version, please!)
I want to stand and stare again…
It must have been some 12 or 13 years ago that I saw him. With M., in The Hague! That was a pretty expensive and long evening, as I remember. M. and I missed our last train back to Haarlem by just one minute or so. There were still trains going to Utrecht where she lived (and still lives), but her dog Lucky was at my place. So there was not much else we could do than to just wait for, I think, an hour to get a train to Schiphol and from there take a taxi home.
To be honest: after all those years I don’t remember much of the concert, but I do recall our long ride home…
Peter Gabriel was in town to play a few fan favorites. It was a bit boring in the beginning to be honest. The evening hadn’t fallen in, we already had some rain and the show wasn't the least overwhelming.
In fact the beautiful, complete, and very bright rainbow (there was even a double rainbow at one point) that hang over the field for almost half an hour was much more impressive than Peter Gabriel and his band.
But still, as the last sunlight slowly disappeared, leaving only that typical Dutch dark cloudy and magnificent sky behind as a perfect stage for a couple of the very best of PG’s songs, there was enough to be thankful for.
Solsbury Hill is a song I could have placed in my list of happy songs a few days ago on this blog.
And although this year it’s 30 years ago already that the South African political activist Steve Biko was killed, the monumental protest song that Gabriel wrote shortly after that hasn’t lost any of it’s power, as I know now. A bit to my surprise, honestly, but I hadn’t heard the song in ages. It must be the bagpipes in this song, they’re the strongest weapon on earth as my friend L. used to say. When Gabriel played Biko yesterday, there were even some fists raised in the air as token of solidarity. Pretty cool, come to think of it.
There was In Your Eyes to truly be grateful for. Not a song you need to hear every day. Once a year will do just fine. And if you want to skip a year, it’s even better. Because then, when you hear it again…Oh, go play it…! (But do take the special mix version, please!)
I want to stand and stare again…
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
A New Neighbour
I had already taken a few sips of a very hot but good cup of coffee when I suddenly felt like I was being watched. But by whom?
Okay, I don’t always lock the front door at night, but I was pretty sure that by now I would have noticed if someone had sneaked in, since I was out of bed for at least an hour and my house isn’t that big.
I looked around. There was no one on the balcony. Oeps, my cat, was nowhere to be seen - probably still asleep. Still I felt like someone was watching every single move I made.
And then I saw her. I had a new neighbour. She had made her home just outside my living room window and now she was sitting proudly in the middle of her self-build palace of sticky threads observing her new surroundings. I have no idea where she comes from and no clue about how long she's going to stay, but she didn't look like too much trouble to me. So despite the fact that I am not that neighbourly in general and because I was in a very good mood I raised my cup of coffee with a big smile and wished her 'a very good catch!'.
Okay, I don’t always lock the front door at night, but I was pretty sure that by now I would have noticed if someone had sneaked in, since I was out of bed for at least an hour and my house isn’t that big.
I looked around. There was no one on the balcony. Oeps, my cat, was nowhere to be seen - probably still asleep. Still I felt like someone was watching every single move I made.
And then I saw her. I had a new neighbour. She had made her home just outside my living room window and now she was sitting proudly in the middle of her self-build palace of sticky threads observing her new surroundings. I have no idea where she comes from and no clue about how long she's going to stay, but she didn't look like too much trouble to me. So despite the fact that I am not that neighbourly in general and because I was in a very good mood I raised my cup of coffee with a big smile and wished her 'a very good catch!'.
This weekend I am kind of stuck to home because of my weekend shift. I have to be stand by. Yesterday that meant not much more than just waiting for the alarm telephone to ring, which happened only ones and it didn’t cost a lot to find out that the alarm was false.
Being more or less forced to spend a day around the house I took the opportunity to seriously listen to some music for a whole afternoon, evening and even a part of the night. Complete albums this time, some of which I hadn’t heard in years.
It was pretty good actually, something I should give myself time for more often. Just me, some burning candles, a beer and... Music.
Here’s what I played:
Inside In/Inside Out – The Kooks (2006)
Pretty In Black – Raveonettes (2005)
The Futureheads – The Futureheads (2004)
We Have Sound – Tom Vek (2005)
Big City – Zita Swoon (2007)
Derdang Derdang – Archie Bronson Outfit (2006)
Love Is Here – Starsailor (2001)
Beautiful Freak – Eels (1996)
The Triumphs & Travails Of Orphan Mae – Laura Veirs (2005)
Is This Desire? – PJ Harvey (1998)
Low – David Bowie (1977)
Meat Is Murder – The Smiths (1985)
OK Computer – Radiohead (1997)
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Sweet dreams
I had the weirdest dream last night. I woke up a little dizzy because of it. Let me try to get some loose pieces together.
First off all there was D., who literally sucked off the thumb of my right hand (!). That caused some stress because my right hand is also my writing hand and I do write a lot (and not only behind a computer). D. stayed very calm about it though.
For those who are curious: according to this dream a sucked off thumb appears to be a very strange experience. It's not bleedy or really painful or anything, not at all in fact. It looks very clean, with just two slightly scraped surfaces on either side. The main problem is really that you are stuck with a loose body part. I kept it in my mouth for a while. That is what you read about, don't you: that you have to keep it in your mouth to enlarge the chance of succesfully sewing it back on...
Anyway, for reasons I don’t know I temporarily stayed in a small and messy apartment building that had some likeness of my old home at the Amsterdamse Vaart, where I lived some ten years ago, and I do remember there where some people I knew back then - like JL’s old girlfriend T - walking around in this dream.
It became violent when I had broken in someone’s house carrying a gun. I remember being mad at somebody. When I almost got caught there was a shooting. And I think I killed someone.
I flew and found myself on a ferry. On board there was a mix of people I know from the past and present. Sitting on a bench on the deck of the ship, I was trying to hide a bag with two guns in it. To my surprise I had my thumb sewed on again, showing only a vague scar. My right hand did feel a little numb, but it was okay, I think…
First off all there was D., who literally sucked off the thumb of my right hand (!). That caused some stress because my right hand is also my writing hand and I do write a lot (and not only behind a computer). D. stayed very calm about it though.
For those who are curious: according to this dream a sucked off thumb appears to be a very strange experience. It's not bleedy or really painful or anything, not at all in fact. It looks very clean, with just two slightly scraped surfaces on either side. The main problem is really that you are stuck with a loose body part. I kept it in my mouth for a while. That is what you read about, don't you: that you have to keep it in your mouth to enlarge the chance of succesfully sewing it back on...
Anyway, for reasons I don’t know I temporarily stayed in a small and messy apartment building that had some likeness of my old home at the Amsterdamse Vaart, where I lived some ten years ago, and I do remember there where some people I knew back then - like JL’s old girlfriend T - walking around in this dream.
It became violent when I had broken in someone’s house carrying a gun. I remember being mad at somebody. When I almost got caught there was a shooting. And I think I killed someone.
I flew and found myself on a ferry. On board there was a mix of people I know from the past and present. Sitting on a bench on the deck of the ship, I was trying to hide a bag with two guns in it. To my surprise I had my thumb sewed on again, showing only a vague scar. My right hand did feel a little numb, but it was okay, I think…
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
'Sparendam'
While in Spaarndam – on the northeast side of Haarlem – on a sunny Sunday a couple weeks ago I came across a local painter named Remco Haantjens. He was working. The picturesque village center around the ‘Kolk’ provided him a perfect scenery for a new painting. And with his jaunty black hat and coat, his neatly trimmed grey little beard and long blue woolen shawl he fitted in so perfectly, that I asked him if could take some pictures of him. He agreed, and asked me in return if I could send him some of them afterwards. Well, okay!
Back home, when I was looking on his website for an email address, I not only saw his work, but found out a little bit more about who he was as well. I learned for example that despite his very Dutch name he was born and raised in Bolivia.
I mailed him a few of my pictures, and he replied wih a big 'thank you!'. He also promised me to send me a picture of the Spaarndam painting back as soon as he had finished it.
Back home, when I was looking on his website for an email address, I not only saw his work, but found out a little bit more about who he was as well. I learned for example that despite his very Dutch name he was born and raised in Bolivia.
I mailed him a few of my pictures, and he replied wih a big 'thank you!'. He also promised me to send me a picture of the Spaarndam painting back as soon as he had finished it.
The next day already I got the promised picture.
Now, apart from the fact that this is not the kind of painting that I would hang above my couch, there is something intriguing about it. It had me puzzled to be honest. It is the title: Sparendam. (See left bottom corner)
According to his other work he must live in Haarlem or nearby for quite some years now – I mean, he is no stranger. And his style of painting requires a sharp eye for details. Then why miss-spelling the name of the village after you spend an entire Sunday painting its scenery?
Btw: One of the pictures I send him is on his website now
According to his other work he must live in Haarlem or nearby for quite some years now – I mean, he is no stranger. And his style of painting requires a sharp eye for details. Then why miss-spelling the name of the village after you spend an entire Sunday painting its scenery?
Btw: One of the pictures I send him is on his website now
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