2-1

Hollanda infeliz tudo sobre... *snif*
Portugal: congratulations... *snif*

 

This s*cks!

Whenever I do my laundry, I pair up my socks first before I throw them in the machine. Just in case. Not just to check if my Love has used the 'official' laundry basket this time for all his dirty clothes - underneath the bed or in the back of the closet are favorite locations for stray socks... - But also, because I want to be absolutely sure of the fact that I did in fact chuck two socks-of-one-kind in there. 'Cause sometimes, only one sock comes out. His (or her) partner is nowhere to be found. It's gone, absolutely gone.

This morning it happened again, only a month after the last unsolved disappearance, 5 months since the one before that one. I disassembled the machine as much as possible, but found no trace of the missing sock. Nor any evidence of a crime: not a piece of the fabric, not a thread. I am one hundred percent sure that I started out with a pair.

This gives rise to suspicions: does the washing-machine want a payment for its work? Is this the industrial answer to the virgin-offers to volcanoes? Is my favorite home appliance in fact nothing more than a serial killer?! And when will it strike again? Should I wash my socks by hand now?

I have paired up the widowed socks with each other, but I can feel their pain, their distress. They have permanent trauma, they envy the happy couples. Does anyone know a therapist for them, a conversation group?

 

Secret fire

No talk about football, today I am gonna share a secret with you. It's very personal and kinda embarrassing, so don't tell others about this. I have an addiction. It's not big or injuring my health but it IS an addiction. And the worst thing is: I don't want to quit it!

Though I have a masters-degree and a shelf filled with literature, I really need a Harlequin book every now and again. I love to immerse myself in historic romance: knights and ladies, witches and lords, captains at sea and female stowaways... *sighs*... Depending on my mood and presence of my Love, it can be one Johanna Lindsey per month or a daily dose of Kathleen Woodiwiss... Am I the only one or do others share this "problem"?

 

The day after the night before

A Monday that feels like a Sunday... See here why!

 

Rock, dance and theater

In the South of the Netherlands AND nothing to do today? Visit Breda Barst!

 

Forza!

I do have to admit, that I did not believe it - victory - at the start of the shoot-out series. The EURO '92 semi-final against Denmark; the EURO '96 quarter-final against France; the 1998 FIFA World Cup semi-final against Brazil; the UEFA EURO 2000 semi-final against Italy; all were lost by the Dutch in penalty contests...

I did not watch the first penalties. My face was hidden behind my hands, my friends backs. I could hear the reactions of the crowd: the cheering, the "no!" at Cocu's miss. Finally I peaked. I saw how Larsson missed his one. I felt the tension of the supporters, saw the crossed fingers, heard the quick-prayers...And then: Robben scored!!! Cheering, hugging, kissing.

Oranje finally laid to rest their spot-kick hoodoo! Chased away the penalty-ghost! Semi-finals next, Portugal: beware!

 

A piece of wisdom

"If you ever find yourself in a tender embrace with the toilet bowl, curse your drinking pal...Or your cook"

 

Fun on Friday (2)

Thinking about a career switch?
Thinking about starting your own company?
Ever considered becoming a plumber?

 

Send it like Beckham...

...England was robbed from winning goal!
...David Beckham must never go near a penalty again after yet another miss!
...The England captain's penalty flies into orbit!

Missed it - the match I mean? Read the (slightly English coloured) match report here.

 

#76

love (luv) n. 1 A strong complex emotion or feeling, causing one to appreciate, delight in, and crave the presence or possession of another and to please or promote the welfare of the other; devoted affection or attachment. 2 Specifically, such feeling between husband and wife or lover and sweetheart. 3 One who is beloved: a sweetheart. 4 Sexual passion, or the gratification of it.

 

Relief:

"Schade Deutschland, alles ist vorbei!!!"

 

Above average, but...

Thanks for all the support - again - but I did not make it - again... I did score above average - 73 correct ones (the average was around 60) out of 100 sums - but it was not good enough for the job... I did have a great conversation with the recruiter afterwards, though!

Anyway, continue the crossing of fingers for the Dutch again. (I know, I ask a lot from you lately). In order to continue to the quarterfinals, Oranje will have to beat or draw with Latvia and in the meantime, Czechia has to beat Germany... Let's hope the guys perform above average and get the job done tonight!

 

Summer?

Are we absolutely sure that it aint autumn yet?



I guess that the Southern Hemisphere ('bloody Aussies!') stole our summer!

 

The good, the bad and the ugly

Good news: I have been invited for a job interview!!!
Bad news: the interview is tomorrow, so I have very little time to prepare properly...
Ugly news: before the interview, I have to do some tests:
"...18 analytical questions in 10 minutes, multiple choice. 22 arithmetic series to finish in 10 minutes, multiple choice. 12 minutes of mental arithmetic, no scrap paper: 100 sums, including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication and fractions."
Oh, oh... Arithmetic... One hundred sums?! Fractions?! Without a calculator?!Can anyone still remember how to do them? Fast?

 

Baby don't drive no car...

You can all continue the crossing of fingers for the Dutch soccer team again... I failed my drivers exam... $^**@~!!! "I did not anticipate enough at the other traffic", according to the examiner. Sure, I did not hit anything, I did not speed, I looked around, in my mirrors, I was sober... But I forgot to "think ahead". *sigh* Better luck next time.

 

Request

Could you all pause the crossing of fingers for the Dutch soccer team (see: here) and please cross them in support of me for the next, say, four hours? I will have to take my drivers exam this morning and as only 30% of the candidates pass their first try, I need all the help I can get! (Yes, I already lit a candle...)

 

Summer!

It's now officially summer! (I was woken up by birds celebrating this fact... grmble)

 

Pessimism

I now know how the English fans felt after the last minute defeat of their team... Disillusioned and a terrible hangover...

But still: last night's Oranje vs Czech Republic game started so well: Germany drew with Latvia, 2-0 ahead 20 minutes into the game (Bouma 7', van Nistelrooy 19') and then... Cocu f***ed up, and coach Advocaat made an inexplicable substitution. Robben out?! After that, everything that could go wrong, went wrong. A messy defense, the Czechs stormed back - first through Jan Koller at half-time and then the equaliser from Baros with 19 minutes left into the game. I personally had already settled for a draw, but then... Heitinga got sent off for a second yellow card before the Czechs grabbed their late winner. Damn Smicer!!

The Quarter finals are far away now. We have to defeat the Latvian team, AND Germany has to lose from Czechia next Wednesday. I cross my fingers, how about you?

 

Fun on Friday (1)

I've had it with the 'moaning on Monday morning'-topics (I will now nag and moan about THAT day on a less regular basis ;-D), so I think it's time for a new weekly recurring item: Fun on Friday! In anticipation of two days off, release yourself from the stressful working week!

What better way to end your busy week and start your (football-filled) weekend than with this sing-along Beer-song!

 

Porn 4 pandas

This headline is funnier* than the story, but still... Panda pregnant after watching porn

(*Personally, I think that news agency's have a whole separate headline department. The only thing they do all day is think up catchy heads for the stories written by their journalists. Or am I just silly to even think up this theory?)

 

Who is Solly?

Solly is Offline (strangely enough)
Solly is drinking too much of the black stuff on her stay in Ireland (...)
Solly is right (always; ask my love)
Solly is mathematically challenged (...true)
Solly is the first brand in India capitalising on the `big' trend (yippy! I am a brand!)
Solly is my great grandmother who married into the family (at 28?)
Solly is dead at 53 (so I still have... - see 3 lines above this one)
Solly is sent to a Hitler Youth school (hmmm...)
Solly is poisoned during dessert at her engagement party (mental note: no engagement party)
Solly is the worst child ever (anything positive, please?)
Solly is your typical Neanderthal sex goddess (:-D)

Solvalou found 89 ways to describe what Solly is. (source)

 

More sports

I am lazy by nature. I am naturally thin, so no need to exercise. I used to maintain my figure without doing anything special for it. In fact, I used to sport out of guilt. So people thought I did do something. I picked the less-sweaty-yet-still-active-enough sport of all: long distance walking. Exercise, fun, and meditation. All in one.
Unfortunately, I got older and my body too. My "winter kilo" did not magically disappear this Spring, like it used to do in the years before. Damn. So now I walk with a one extra reason! Getting that fat of my behind!
If these extra kilometers don't work, I will take serious measures: Tel Sell stuff. Windsor Pilates, Ab Tronics, Reduce Fat fast... "It really works!!!" is promised by the super-sculpted bodies on TV... We'll see. It's only a last resort.

 

Optimism

Everyone in this tiny country is going slightly crazy: everything is decorated orange. Bars, streets, houses, people... It seems like tonight's game is the only game that matters this Euro 2004.

HOLLAND!!! HOLLAND!!!

update @ 23:00 PM: pffff... devastating first half, Germany had the better team, 0-1 behind, some major changes in the Dutch team at half time resulted in 1-1 at 80 minutes. Nerve wrecking last 10 minutes, though, with lots of chances for both teams! A draw, fair enough, but who do you think was the better team?

 

"One moment, please"

Bear with me, please. Love has to finish reports for school and apparently needs both computers to do so... Anyway, he's on a coffee break now, which gives me just enough time to insert this test card...

 

Shock

I love football.
Here, I said it. Loud and proud. My coming out. Cool (...) My love hates football...

Anyway, the European Championship has started Saturday and since then I haven't missed one single game! Obviously, I can't choose only one team to support. Sure, if 'we'- the Netherlands - play, I will cheer for them, but I am already in Olympic spirit: may the best team win.
Yesterday's early evening was kinda busy, but Formula One proved to be more interesting than Croatia - Switzerland... France - England on the other hand was a true thriller. 0-1 ahead, Beckham misses a penalty, but all's still fine and then... your worst nightmare: extra time, Zidane, and penalties and a 2-1 loss. I am starting to fear tomorrow's Netherlands - Germany game. Also great players and arch-rivals... Place your bets NOW!

 

Sunday morning:

"Could some one PLEASE turn off those church bells?!"

(and I promise I won't nag about tomorrow-morning...okay?)

 

More Pingu?!

Nothing to do this afternoon? Finish your week with a funny game! Japanese Pinguins, Ninja's and a cool housy background tune!

 

Yes, no, left, right...

Today is an important day for Democracy. Today we can vote for a new European Parliament... I don't believe in the Europarliament - 750 people of 25 different nationalities cannot make fast or strong decisions, they have to compromise. But I strongly believe in the fact, that you can't complain about politics if you haven't voted. So I vote.
According to the polls, I am an exception. Only 30 % of people that can vote, will actually do so. Schocking! Furthermore, I know exactly which party will get my vote. I did some tests and research, and I have made up my mind. This virtually makes me a rarity! I know who I am going to vote on already?! No 'eany-meany-miney-moe' in the voting booth?! Anyway, I aint gonna share my political preference with you, it's personal. Gotto go and save democracy, now!

 

Theme song

"It's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright
Anyway my eyes are not accustomed to this light
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete

Counting flowers on the wall
That don't bother me at all
Playing solitaire till dawn with a deck of 51
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo
So don't tell me I've nothing to do!"

The last verse + chorus of a great Statler Brothers song. Normally, country's really not my cup of tea, but this one sounds like a soundtrack for all nightflowers, longsleepers and people with too much spare time hence students and the jobless... pom pom pom...

 

Parklife (2)

  'The sun is shining, the weather is sweet...''Summertime, and living is easy' In short: Solly has left the building and settled somewhere in 'her' park. PS. Unemployment sucks... Not today!

 

MVEMJSUNP

Venus is on its transit across the sun while I am writing this. And I saw 'her' ! Well, I saw a tiny black dot at the base of the sun, which I have decided to be the "home planet of women" ;-) NASA has a cool site that explains all about the this special event...
Anyway, I knew my 1999 solar eclipse specs would come in handy someday- always wear protection!

 

Ode to B.P.

*sighs* I - and two girl friends - finally went to see Troy last night.*sighs* We don't care if Brad had a 'leg double', as long a his torso was real! *sighs* The scenes where you see him a-good-as-naked... *sighs* Do you think Jennifer Aniston still pinches herself in her arm every now and again? "I have in my bed the man whom the worlds adult female population gag for!" *sighs*

 

All you need is

Love - or more specific: to be in love with, and loved back by another human being - is the greatest feeling of them all. Sometimes I take my love for granted, because he's been with me for a while. Most of the times I know our love is special, because it has survived study, going abroad, work and unemployment. We still argue, cry, sleep and most of all laugh together...

For some of my friends, love is not that simple. They don't take it for granted, like I do, in fact, for some it's some sort of Holy Grail. They search all around, get close to it, yet never find the real thing. One of my single friends has been signed up (by another friend) for a TV-show: "the Perfect Partner". She has to do a screentest today and I join her for mental support. I really hope she makes it to the show and finds true love. She definitely deserves it!

ps. I dressed up a bit too. I won't be screen tested, but you never know who I might meet in a TV studio... A director in search of new talent? Here I am! :-)

 

22-2-1974 Martijn 03-06-2000

"I can feel the air I breathe
I can see we all agree
Unwilling to change for society
We'll be who we wanna be"
(from the obituary card)

4 Years already? How time flies... I can still remember your smile, your honesty, your love for Nouk... The adventures, skipping school. "Look: I have a new piercing!" #7 or #8. How you untied my shoe laces at the Lowlands Festival, because you thought the shoes were uncomfortable... Sweetie!

You asked us to "never compromise, and you will never live a lie". I try every day. Knowing you watch over me like a guardian angel is comforting. Sweet dreams forever, Grote Tijn.

 

Doh!

It is raining. Grey outside, dark inside. I considered closing the curtains and going back to bed, but I have too much to do today ;-D. So I decided that a happy scent would improve the depressing atmosphere in the house. I took one of my "Roses and Violins Violets" incense sticks from the cupboard, placed the back of it in my mouth, lit the stick and inhaled...
*sighs* Once an addict...

 

Upside down and round and round

Bored with existing rollercoasters? Build your own Barf bag express!

 

I don't like Mondays (part 3)

I know, I know... It's Tuesday. But thanks to the Whit weekend AND the fact that it's a new month, it does feel like an M-day. Crappy.