Just a thought

Why does the winter season always seems to be is longer than autumn, spring or summer?

 

Outback Jack: the finale

As I told you earlier, I was hooked on Outback Jack - the TV show, not the guy himself.
Tonight was the finale... and, to my delight,Jack picked Natalie!!! I did not like Marissa at all, and I really considered 'princess' Natalie to be the right gal for Jack so... Hooray! May they live happily ever after!

To see if they really did live happily ever after - together! - here's an update on Natalie and Outback Jack

 

Only a translation thing...

MyLove finished his internship two weeks ago and is due to hand in his report tomorrow. He typed his a*s off and showed 3 preliminary versions to his supervisors - at his internship company and at college - for reviewing. Not big problems, only small remarks. MyLove handed in another - nearly final - version to his supervisors last Friday. "You study International Fashion Management," both his supervisors said in their comments - as if they had consulted each other! - "So your internship should be in English."

What?!
Couldn't they have told him this, say, at version number ONE?!

"It's only a translation thing, there's tools for that on the internet," one of them dared to say. It is NOT just a 'translation thing', you can't just use a simple 'translation tool'. It's not that difficult to write a report in English, yet it IS difficult to translate a Dutch report into English, because you have to change the structure of every sentence. Incredibly frustrating, too.
He spend the past days - including his birthday, no one was allowed to visit - re-writing the whole darn thing.
Progress is slow and he was afraid he would not make it in time, so I offered to help him in the translation-reconstruction process.
One positive thing: I know everything about ERP now...

update 24/02/05 @ 13 PM: We typed all day and all night and we we're finished right on time. He handed it in this morning, and he just received his grade: 8 out of 10. Pffff. Sleep now...

 

Birthday dilemma

It's MyLove's Birthday today and I don't have a real present. (everybody gasps out of shock). I really tried to, but his 'Birthday Present Wish List 2005' included a car, a beamer, the newer version of Final Scratch, a sound card (and several other computer related bits and pieces) and new clothes. See the difficulties? All of it is too expensive, except for the last item - but buying clothes for MyLove is a very tricky thing. Too tricky.

So this year I give money. Plain, ironed, crisp Euro notes. Romantic isn't it? I don't consider a birthday a real birthday if you don't have anything to unwrap. Therefore, I have wrapped a packet of cigarettes - yep, he still smokes - and the latest issue of his favorite computer magazine. Well, at least it looks better on the photo's...

 

Inter-dad (2)

My dad installed Acrobat Reader on his own! Well, I had to talk him through the steps by phone, but he did all the clicking and stuff all by himself!

 

Awakenings

I just showered, had some breakfast and a cup of tea. I'll brush my teeth and I'm off to bed... It's been a long night!

update @ 16:00 PM: It was a great techno night at the old 'Gas-holder' of Amsterdam! A circular-shaped venue, so a bit tricky to find the toilets, bar or friends (click here for pics. Chris Liebing and Speedy J hit us with some 'bass in our face', Chris Hope made me dance when I thought I could dance no more, indoor fireworks, great atmosphere, lots and lots of friends; to name just a few of the highlights. I danced from midnight till 6:30 AM... I was sooo tired this morning. Now, I feel much better, but my legs still hurt like I ran a marathon!

 

Inter-dad

My dad discovers and/or accepts technology a bit later than the rest of the world. He bought a video player in 2000 and his first CD in 2002 - we gave him the CD-player for his birthday in 1995... Anyway, he bought a second hand computer 2 years ago and figured out how it worked last year. Now he's ready for more: The Internet- yep, with capitals, in his case!

So, like the loving kid and son-in-law we are, me and MyLove installed DSL at my parents place. Then we installed Kaspersky Antivirus and Internet Security, downloaded every Windows Update we could find and configured his Outlook Express. "Have fun!", we shouted to Dad when we left the place.

Five minutes later my mobile phone rang. Dad.
"What now?" he asked, "How do I get on The Internet?"
"Doh!", I thought, remembering the mouse-click incident - my dad could not remember if he has to right, left or double click (and with which button, in that matter) - and the 'How does Word work for absolute and utter dummies' campaign.
"I'll write you a manual," I answered, "You'll have it by next weekend, and you'll be able to surf the net safely next week."

For the past week I have adapted several internet and e-mail courses that were originally developed for the first grades of primary school - which equals my dad's computer literacy level...- for Dad's manual. I'll give it to him later today, so he can read it thoroughly tonight.

I'm a bit curious what he'll think of it. And when I'll get the first 'Help! The manual says this, but I can't find it.'- phone call...

(I don't want to brag or anything, but the manual is so clear - it's written in simple language with lots of illustrations -, that I'm thinking about selling it to homes for the elderly or senior-clubs, so they can learn how to use the internet, too!)

 

Straight out of bed

The best thing to start your day with: coffee. The second best thing to start your day with: brand new hair!

Still sleepy you arrive at the hair stylist. "Coffee?", he asks. You just nod. One shot of caffeine later, his assistant takes you to the washstand. "Take a seat," and places a towel in your neck. "Tilt your head back, and relax." He did not have to add "Enjoy!", 'cause you will, automatically. Nothing beats getting your hair washed by a professional. Thorough shampooing followed by a 5 minute massage of the scalp to rub in the conditioner. You doze away... A towel is wrapped around your head. "Follow me to your seat". The hair stylist circles around you, without cutting. He lifts up parts of your hair, combs them with his fingers to the front or to the back of your head. "Short or keep it longer?" "Not too short, shoulder length." He nods. "Trendy, but not extreme." Then he starts cutting, slowly yet determined. Tiny bits of hair tickle your nose, bundles of hair falls to the floor. You see the shape of your new coupe. You start smiling, anxious to see the end result. He uses the blow-dryer to get rid of the last bits of cut hair. A bit of shaper... He holds the mirror behind your head, moves it around. "Voilá!" You look, and smile. "Perfect!" You pay, and leave the salon.

Nothing beats brand new hair to boost your ego! It is one of the luxeries I won't give up, no matter how broke I am. A visit to the hair stylist might cost a few euros, but you feel like a brand new person afterwards.

 

What?!

A musical condom has been invented that gets louder as the sex gets more passionate. Different sexual positions determine what tune is played by the condom reports The Sun. The contraceptive has tiny sensors connected to a mini electronic device that produces the sounds. Ukrainian inventor Dr Grigoriy Chausovskiy said: "There is no danger of being electrocuted." They will cost 20 per cent more than normal condoms. "But people will pay for the extra stimulation," he added. (source)

I wonder which song it plays.... Any suggestions?

 

Valentine

*'My first, my last, my everything' by Barry White playing*
I've circled this date on the calendar.
I've added a warning in MyLove's Outlook-agenda.
I've given him hints - very obvious hints.
This morning, when he left for work, I kissed him tenderly and said "Happy Valentine's Day, sweetie".
"I thought we decided not to celebrate Valentine's day this year?"
*sound of needle scratching on vinyl*
"What?"
"After 7 years, do we really need a day introduced by Hallmark to show our love to each other?"
"..."
MyLove kissed me goodbye and left me standing - completely flabbergasted.
His speech better be a decoy of some sort, to make sure I will be absolutely surprised when he returns home tonight with a dozen of roses and a little present.
If not, he's in trouble. Big trouble!

update @ 6 PM: He's not in trouble... he is sweet *sighs*.

 

Hey!

One of the best Dutch techno DJ's - if not THE BEST: Michel de Hey played a four hour set during Spektrum @ Club MeZZ last night. He was brilliant! The crowd loved him and his music, and I personally had a blast. I like DJ's who enjoy their job and play their records with a smile on their faces. Anyway, pictures of this memorable night filled with beats, bass and bums can be found here (as usual). Next weekend: Awakenings!

 

...and it's raining, too

The phone rang. I checked the number: Mom.
'Hi Mom'
'Sorry, Kris, I think I dialed the wrong number, I need Solly'
'It is me, Mom, Solly!'
'Really?'
'Mom!'
'You do sound very much like your brother today...'

No, my mom does not have Alzheimer, I woke up this morning with a running nose, popping ears, a sore throat and a very sexy (ugh) low voice. Yep, Common cold, what a lovely souvenir from Rome.

 

Wow!

Emily and Richard separated!
Luke kissed Lorelai!
Rory slept with Dean!
I'm so glad I taped last nights episode of the Gilmore Girls!

Rome was nice, too. ;-)
A bit cold, but blue skies and lots of sun. Visited the Spanish steps, Plazzo Populi, Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, Saint Peters Basilica, Castillo Saint Angelo, Pantheon, Forum Romanum, Collosseum, Circus Maximus. Bought books about Rome and pink (fake CC) sun glasses. Seen 'stuff' made by Romans, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Bernini (a lot)... Suffered from a cultural overdose. Ate pizza, pasta, gelato senza zucchero. Drank Chianti, Sambuca and Vecchia. Definitely need to go back another time!

 

When in Rome...

... I can't blog.
See you next Wednesday!

 

Me too!

I got tickets for U2! You don't? Ha! Read and weep:
This morning, I got up at 4 AM and arrived at the ticket office at 4:30 AM. The ticket sale was supposed to commence at 10 AM, so I thought I would be one of the first. I wasn't. In fact, I was number 27. Every one in front of me wanted 6 field tickets. If this was the same at each of the 200 pre-sale offices, it was gonna be tricky to get one of the 10.000 field tickets (200*27*6=32.400...). I hoped for the best: if the field would be sold out, at least I could get one of the 40.000 remaining seats in the stadium (again, maths).

The stressful waiting begun. I drank some coffee, I read the paper, I talked to strangers (sorry Mom). I walked a bit, 'cause temperatures had dropped below zero and I was freezing. The queue got larger and larger. Time seemed to slow down near 10 AM. The doors opened a 9:55 AM. A guy walked out and told us the procedure ('Enter in groups of five, 6 tickets per person blah, blah'). Oh, and by the way, 'U2 have added two more dates in Amsterdam'. 'Did we hear that right?' Yep! 'I knew it all a long', a guy 10 persons behind me bragged. Couldn't he have told me earlier, then I would have had a normal heart rate for those passed hours!
Anyway, at 10 AM sharp, the ticket sale for the first concert commenced. Unfortunately, I had been right - calculus wise. The field tickets sold out after only 15 people - 10 minutes. I waited and let people in front of me, who wanted to have seats. The first concert sold out in 20 minutes. I crossed my fingers, and slowly got closer to the counter.

I got my field tickets for the 2nd concert - at 15 July - at 10:25 AM. I cheered. Out loud.

I just heard on the Dutch news, that all three concerts (150.000 tickets!) were sold out completely after only 1 and a half hours...

 

Primitive Art

Made by Sonne, 9 months (click on image to enlarge!)

 

Souvenir

"I'm leaving for my holiday in Goa, India in two weeks. Can I bring you anything?" our down stairs neighbor asked. I looked outside. Rain poured down, grey skies, grumpy looking people with black umbrellas hiding in their grey coats. "Some sun, palm trees, blue skies and smiling people dressed in colourful clothes would be nice", I thought, remembering my time in India. I dreamt away, on a nice stroll down memory lane.
"Solly!",
the down stairs neighbor rudely called me back to the present, "Anything at all?"

I sighed and I gave him a list of book titles. Australian or English books that are rather difficult to buy here, because they are not yet translated or published in Europe are easy to get in India. Indian publishers do cheap reprints of Western bestsellers. 'To be sold on the Indian subcontinent only' for less than half of the normal price. A perfect souvenir, as you bring the 'Indian feeling' here. Hopefully, I will return to India in the near future!

 

Ode to February

Hurray! 1/12th of 2005 gone.
I blinked once or twice and: *poof* it's February already. Thank goodness, cos January s*cks a bit. January is post-Christmas, post-New Year, full of 'OMG! I broke my New Year's resolutions again'-traumas. February is cool. It has Carnival, Valentine's day, MyLove's Birthday, our Anniversary... More daylight, less days...
Goodbye January, hello February!