Solly as a Rock!!

Quite funny to check out other people’s blogs (via the weblog directory Blogarama for example). See what they write about, what their blog looks like and which script they’re using. Though I ám starting to get more comfortable with HTML and scripts, I don’t feel confident enough to use “real” weblog tools like Perl, Greymatter or Moveble Type. I think I’ll stick with Blogger for now.

Anyway, because I was peeking in to other people’s lifes – and enjoying it a lot- I decided that others should get that opportunity too! So, I am now listed in the directory. I am curious who’s gonna peek into my life…

But now I’m back! A new and improved Solly. Well, you might not notice any difference but I changed to another server and I’ll have to admit: the whole process (not only technically, but the paperwork also) went very smoothly!

Today is the start of the year 4701 or year of the Monkey, according to the Chinese Zodiac. To be more specific: it’s the year the Wood/Green Monkey “Jia Shen”. A Year of movement, discussion and the exchange of ideas.

While each sign repeats every 12 years, the specific combination of Sign (earthly branch) and element (heavenly stem) occur only once every 60 years. The Wood element represents the first 12 years of life, the time of rapid development, idealism and youthful innocence. Where there is recession, this Monkey year will tend to halt it in it’s tracks (good news for me, then!).

However… 60 years ago, 1944′s Wood Monkey brought a climactic year of the second world war and Monkey years have also brought their share of natural disasters, as the high strung Yang+ Monkey ushers in it’s naughty mix of deception and environmental temper tantrums.

Anyway, 2004 is gonna be the best for Snakes and a very good year for Rats and Dragons (that would be me!). For Goats, Rabbits, Oxen and Monkeys it could be better. It’s gonna be a complex year for Roosters and Horses and difficult for Tigers, Pigs and Dogs.

Wanna check under which sign of the Chinese Zodiac you were born? Or a more extensive view on 4701? This Chinese astrology page has all the answers!

Who said, that being unemployed ment sitting on the sofa watching soaps all day long?! I am busier today, than I ever was when I still had a job! The “worse” are friends and family, who know I can’t use the “busy, work” -excuse when they need an extra hand during moves or renovations. So if you’ll excuse me: I have to install someones stereosystem!

ps. Nowadays, I always start to giggle when I hear or see George “double-you” on tv and this site is to blame for that smile.

“At least four wild Asiatic elephants that went amok after getting drunk on rice beer were electrocuted in Meghalaya, Northeast India. A forest official said the herd went on the rampage on Sunday night, looking for their favourite tipple, in a remote area in the West Garo Hills district. ‘The elephants, after getting high on rice beer, started dashing against an electric pole,’ the official said. ‘A live wire fell, killing four elephants instantly,’ he added. The casualties could have been more but some 20 elephants moved away from the site sensing danger.”

Hmm, the locally brewed rice beer must be really good if the elephants go that far for it….

Wanna know more? Read the complete article here.

While I am here, in this “lovely” weather:

my man, presently in India, is enjoying this:

mental note:

Do not check India weather on rainy monday morning, instead check New York weather on this site.

I have just discovered a part-of-a-day that I had not seen in a while: Sunday morning. Strangely enough, the only way to find it, is if you miss out on another part-of-a-day: Saturday night. The two are completely opposite to one another: dark, vibrant, noisy versus light, quiet, silent. Everything happens on a Saturday night, nothing ever happens on a Sunday morning. Jing and yang to the max…

I have been outdoor all day long, defying Dutch winter weather (gale, rain, cold) to provide the long-distance walkers participating in my marching club’s walking event with hot drinks, halfway on their route. So if y’all will excuse me: I’ll be in my NEW bed with Nicci French’s Secret Smile.

This is my new bed:



It is the “Lillehammer” from IKEA (by the way, have you ever got the feeling, when browsing through the IKEA catalog, that you are actually checking out male escorts, because half of their stuff is named Billy or Ivar or Stan?).

Anyway, I assembled the bed all by myself! Ok, it took me two hours, and i now have three blisters on the palm of my right hand… but: hey! I thought we agreed yesterday that i am genial, not technical.

(C) Intermediair magazine #03 2004