2012

Keep Drawing

keep drawing from studio shelter on Vimeo.

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The Morgy-Porgy or something else

After extensive internet search in cocktail databases, I have concluded that the juice & spirit mix to which I refer in the title does not as such 'already exist'. Making it my invention and earning me the right to name it.

Below is a recipe, even further below a shortlist of titles.

1/4 Drambuie

1/4 Gin

1/2 Orange Juice

Add orange zest, ice cubes, pink straw(s) and lemon juice to taste.

Shortlist: The Morgy-Porgy, Morgieporgie, Morbo, Ghent Cathedral

On the list

Right before the holiday shopping frenzy breaks out, it's hard to say the following wish / want list is without particular end. It is however to be understood more as a reminder to myself.

• CD Spinvis
• CD C W Stoneking
• iPad
• a few new pairs of jeans
• scented candles
• pink underwear
• cotton socks
• photography books

Rant X (oh yes, very)

I've been in an increasingly bad mood for the past week and there are only trifles and my bad character that I can blame for it.

Combined with a continuing dissatisfaction of not knowing how to interact socially at work and a close friend/ house mate having an accident (drunk on a motercycle) thus ruining my weekend; I'm abot ready to explode and turn once again in the couch gremlin.

It had better not rain tomorrow, and there had better be chocolate left in the cupboard.

Rant X (but not quite)

It has been too long without updates on my personal live.

Of all the logs, blogs, journals and diaries I keep; this is the one place where I can be intentionally vague without being blamed, in fact I feel that it is almost expected of me.

Well I daresay you will not have to wait long before I fall (desperately) in love and I shall need to moan and complain about why the feeling is never ever returned. The person on whom I have set the hopes of my misery and wailing inspiration is a colleague. About my height, dressed casually, nice haircut, hipster glasses, soft voice and timid charachter. But younger and very much taken.

You see my falling for him completely and ensuing heartbreak are inevitable.

Not for daltonists

I am one!

A month ago, coming within three years of my third decade on this planet; I thought myself (and not before time) too old to be falling in and out of bubbly love and unreasonable hate with every change of season. Too old to chase after cute specimens of my kind, too old to still want and desire.

And yet there is hope in my heart. Unfounded delirious joyful hope where all hope should be crushed, dead, extinguished. Hope.

As a wise men said:

"Yes, McCoy. Hope is a human emotion. But after many years in their
continious company I can't escape being tainted. And hope is an emotion I will
not be ashamed of, considered it is turned to good."*

* attributed to Mr. Spock, more or less

Just another blog/internet-thingie

My answers are in the comments!

Nailpolish Medicine

I have before today blogged about how happy painting my toenails makes me. But I daresay there is yet some scientific study and experimentation necessary on it's use as an influenza-medicine; I swear I felt better the second my toes were green.

A poor lonesome house mate

I used to think that I was a loner, since almost everything I like doing (reading, writing, showering, drawing, knitting, ...) is doable alone and I'm never at ease in company. Never.

Until for the first time in a long while I found myself alone at home with no plans and/or intentions. I f*****g hate it. I need people to talk to, to enjoy my food, my wine, my movies, my books, breakfast and newspaper.

Edit: Just realised one thing that is good about having the house to myself: singing along tacky (and not so tacky) music. Very very loudly.

Kuh Kuh Kuh Kuh Kowkayne

While my house mates are slaving to keep the house clean and free of fleas, on the verge of influenza or abroad getting drunk more slowly and expensively then would be possible in governmentless Belgium; I go to work and come home bubbling with joy.

Mostly because I've allowed myself to crush on a colleague, mostly to escape the love sickness of a heart broken in the last year; and which will soon enough case me despair.

I must be honest it is almost alien to me to type theoppostie of hope; I can't yet imagine what horror and sadness and grief I feel when I'm not in this mood and I've been this bubbly for so long I'm starting to suspect my housemates of putting cocaïne in my food. The only reason I know this cannot be possible is that all of them would rather snobble (sic) the fairy dust themselves.

Who put amphetamines in my food?

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday to me

Happy Birthday Moheli

Happy Birthday to me*

27! But I don't feel in the least bit old, merely extremely excited and hoping for either the stripper that I asked for yeserday OR a sports ' enthousiast who'll take me for a quick quarter-thriathlon to pop by. My level of energy is ridiculousy high.

Anyway: thank you everyone for attending; the memory of your company and your (cute) presents will forever be cherished. Anyone who missed it is welcome for tea and leftovers this afternoon/evening.

*lyrics curtesy of Eeyore

Le waste of time

Today I spent 6 hours in meetings. Six.

That's about 5 hours more than I 'm prepared to sit in an uncomfortable chair, listening to management decisions that not in the least concern me. And the one gathering that was actually interesting and interactive was a mixed succes.

Mixed since

a) I wished I would not have had to put up with the blabbing of colleagues/attention whores.

b) I took on some extra-operational responsabilities of which I have ofyet no clue how I'm going to manage them.

Ohne booze

"Ich brauche zeit,

kein Kaffein

kein Alkohol

kein Nikotin"

I'm not entirely sure but considering the stupid things I've said today and how I feel right now; I think giving up alcohol for another year isn't really that bad an idea.

The web is also the ocean

For a while (a time period roughly corresponding with the time in which this blog has been free of vague meanderings and lack-of-love induced laments) I have been wondering about some unsolicited romantic advice. The tip was unasked for AND unwelcome as I took it to be both an accusation and an insult.

To be short it was proposed that I find a potential mate on-line. Much as I like and enjoy my 'connection' with W3 I made it perfectly clear that I prefered my personal relationships to start in real life. And yet every now and then I hear arguments in favour of the suggestion, and never any against.

It is true that I might enjoy a somebody to share my life with but I resent the implicit message that I MUST HAVE a partner to appeciate life to the fullest, even more it annoys me that I am considered to awkward to meet people through day-to-day interaction - even though this is probably true. Since I have given up the wish and hope for a child of my own, I'm in no hurry to lose whatever freedom I have left.

Red is the colour

Is there a greater joy than to have to most perfectly brighly painted toe nails? As summer draws to a close I flaunt the happy footsies for as long as I can.

You've said it Lucy van Pelt

Quote #47

It's been so spot-on my exact feelings so often in my life that I find the saying deserves a better title than 'Quote #47', but I can't think of one.

Though it might not be literally true and though I can't be certain (yet) that he loves her, or she him; this is why I want to cry right now.

The hardest thing you'll ever do is seeing the one you love, love somebody else.

Anonymous

Jerome

Un-notice the garage and mind the basket that I installed myself.

Needless to say I'm very pleased with my new bike, though not so much with the name.

Marshmellow Chocolate

I know it is the so manieth post of which the main volume comprises a picture rather than the digital equivalent of my pen's wanderings but I spend most of my days now organising prose in the following template;

"Dear xxx,

Please blah blah blah.

Kind Regards,

MMM"

and am left with little to no words left for the creation of verbal beauty. Because I wouldn't want to deprive you of what little joy you can gather from thisahere blog, I can only advise you to make some hot chocolate wile it rains. Don't forget to add marshmellows. Plenty of them.

Regional Holiday

I just love excuses for parties. Don't confuse me with the people who would like to call today 'National Holiday'.

The Facebook Dilemma

In a previous post I have announced my goodbye and resolution never again to be part of the curses and blessings of Facebook. Being now over a year clean and untainted by my previous obsession I am however in doubt. I have no wish to join the circus again, but that it may be the only way to contact a cute ex-colleague.

Message in a Bottle

I tend to write down my frustrations, in order to be able to let go of them. Being confused in the last few months about two relatively recent crushes, I had decided to simply write them. Since actually sending the letters might be too confrontational, I'm sending the letters by bottle. The river runs past both their houses so...

51°02'N, 03°42'E

I seem to not be able to help it. Once again I've been asked to contribute to a shared blog, and of course I've said yes. It's public so feel free to visit. I should warn thee all that it's in Dutch though.For those who speak the language, it's pretty obvious what my column title is. Feedback will as always be appreciated.

Want

Too cool!

Get well soon

See how sad and ill I look. Now there's nothing for me to do but sip tea and sing Janis Joplin.

iMac

What's not to like?

Challenge Accepted

I've challenged myself today. Can someone remind me on July 17?

Underwear

Lately I received a twitter request for a picure of my underwear. since I have no high opinion of the petitioner's mastery of the English language; I'm not sure weither there is meant a picture of my lingerie drawer or a picture of me in negligé (a sight too horrid for even my practiced eyes). But either way a positive answer is unimaginable. The illustration above will have to suffice.

All coming back I hope

Every morning to work I cross at least three duck and geese families, all made up of a mother and three to seven littluns. Since I pass hardly any considerable ponds or ditches and ride along quite a lot of busy streets and highways I consider a near miracle that I never so any of them (being) harmed.

I wish the same could be said of hedgehogs and babybirds.

The Receiver of Gifts

Isn't this gorgeous? I really hope I found it at my doorstep because it was intended as a gift for me and not because somebody accidentally lost it there. I should very much like to keep it.

Early to rise...

Wanting to be early at work but not wanting to disturb the guests asleep in the room adjacent to the nearest bathing space, I opted to use the bathroom on the ground floor. Because this bathroom also has in-house access only via someone's sleeping space I chose to enter it by the door from the garden. For which of course I have to get into the garden first and I was bubbling with joy to re-realise how wonderfull early mornings can be.

Morning Has Broken

Labour Day - 2011 Edition

A yearly tradition that I am not ready to give up. Happy Labour Day, comrades!

The Giver of Gifts

It is well-know and therewith I mean: often and generally presumed that the exercising of a virtue is beneficial not only to the soul but also the humour of the virtuous. I can vouch for part of the truth in this matter.

Whilst stumbling of late I came accross an on-line vintage T-shirt dealer and thinking it too long to wait for a certain someone's birthday I decided to simply gift her a dress piece of no particular reason.

Though it cost me, the financial aspect fell into nothing compared with my joy upon observing her joy. Within minutes though I started feeling guilty for not getting my other house mates some gifts also.

Words to live by

This Be The Verse

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
 They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
 And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
 By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
 And half at one another's throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
 It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
 And don't have any kids yourself.

Philip Larkin

Ice-cold indeed

I've always known I had a penguin connection.

You Are Antarctica

You are tough, adventurous, and a survivor. You don't let your fears ever hold you back. You like to challenge yourself in all arenas. You want to see the world and make new discoveries. People seem you as distant and even cold... and you admit that this can be true at times. Your own dreams and thoughts are so interesting that they make most other people seem very dull.

What Continent Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

295 days later...

Bubbles books and sunshine.

I have had a lot of inspiration. Or more precisely I've had a lot of ideas for new blog subjects and too little time to write or rather not enough time in front of my computer. The past few days have been rather wonderfull as far as weather and reading is concerned. I have not to complain about food and drink lately but deliciously though I have been fed, it stings that I did not create all those gorgeous goodies.

More to the point with al the warm weather of March a lot of people, including half my house mates have called 'spring' and 'summer'. For me it is only so once we've had the first spring shower. Having had it and having cycled through it for the half hour that it lasted noting will deter me from enjoying time in my garden in the sun.

The professor

Anyone following me on Goodreads, or even simply keeps an eye on my twitter- updates is by now aware that I'm reading 'The Professor' by Charlotte Brönte. In a classic Brönte style, neither language nor plot can be called extraordinary; but one thing puzzles me exceedingly... the attitude of the main charachter towards Belgium, Brussels and the 'Flamands'. Where it not that there is never mentioning (so far) of 'Wallons', as all the native French speakers appear to be either French or Swiss. I might have suspected Charlotte of Southern Belgian sympathies. :-)

Bed Linnen

All morning I had been in doubt about what to do. After waiting an entire morning for at least one channel to show 'Snooker: China Open' only to see Robertson lose :-(, I decided it was time for me to head outdoors. As I had no business in the city centre and no immediate grocery shopping to do, I prepared for a trip to IKEA, where else?

Where I bought the long anticipated, much discussed new bedlinnen of which you see a sample in the lefthand corner. If this wouldn't have made my day, three cups of free coffee, having a chat with some Russian tourists about what streetcar line to take to the inner city and new stationary would have.

Had I not come home to the understandable yet unanticipated cold shoulder of a house mate, it would have been the perfect last day of March.

The Cat Returns (aka Rant VIII)

The cat was lost. Or so I was told. As this did not spark in me inconsolable grief, in fact as this did spark in me only pure rage for everyone who has only time to come to me with troubles and problems almost accusing me to be the cause or expecting an immediate remedy of/for them. The unspoken accusation that I cared nothing for those animals that I call my children, only fuelled my anger (as you can imagine).

In the meanwhile, the cat has returned (as I assumed, where could she rather be, than home?) and if it wasn't for my unforgiving charachter we might forget all about the episode.

The Return of bedside treasures

The title pretty much sums it up really, but I thought I might announce my revenge now I'm at it. The guilty one may check the living room for treasure maps and prepare to hunt and explore.

My future garden (see pic)°

It was a nervous and early friday and saturday or at least a lot more nervous and early than I've been used to the last 10 months, but let's not get into too much detail. The great garden clear-up has commenced and I believe we might be well halfway with the pruning, chopping, sawing and mowing.

In between scratches of dried off branches, stepping into planks with rusty nails, and getting a rosethorn splinter in my left thumb I also heard my job interview was no succes (not the succes I imagined at any rate). Objectively: not the best start for a weekend, but to see my (MY) garden transformed from ugly plastic littered, unpenetrable jungle to patches of shade and sunshine, new delights in every corner,... I daresay there have been worse ends -of-the-day.

° just kidding

International Women's Day

Happy Women's Day! Were I a more engaged and/or political writer today might have been a time to man the barricades and cry for worldwide equal rights. Or shout for action against domestic violence, clitoridectomy, arranged/forced marriages and what not. But I am lazy and suffer none of the above. I wish merely that all my ladyfriends may be happy healthy and well.

Be careful what you wish for...

For very nearly a year, I've wanted you to feel like this. And then when you did, it broke my heart.*


* because it wasn't me

Writing Letters

Forever I have had pen friends, very few have lasted for more than years and even fewer the once I'm still writing. And only one friend have I ever stopped writing to resume sending letters two years later and actually getting a reply.

The joy, as you may imagine is hard to fathom. But even more than finding a message only for me in the postbox I enjoy the act of writing. And I will happily indulge.

Phoneless no more

You may have been notified on Twitter, read it on the Facebook page of a friend/ house mate, guessed it or received a text message from yours truly; if none of the above apply you know now: I have a working cell phone once more.

A long anticipated event, what I did not anticipate was how I managed to live nearly three months without, hardly ever to miss it, but the very minute connection with the network was acknowledged I started to wonder why nobody was calling me. Funny how the mind works.

Sitting on Babies

Finally another blogpost that I haven't stolen. Though I fear it will not be of interest to my younger and/ or male readers.

Babysitting. As a teenager this mainly meant getting paid to stay up late to sit on my aunt's couch, reading her weekly magazines and send my younger cousins to bed around 10pm. Money that, though I may have had the cheapest hobby of all my classmates, I badly needed to build my own library.

Ten years later, also known as the present. Babysitting is still very much a case of couchlounging, drinking, eating and watching television. The akward part for me is when people still want to pay me for my troubles.

Skandal (Skandal)

Other than that I was recently reminded of how much I love this song there is no, I repeat NO to post the folling, but I' ve done it anyway.

Also I haven't bothered much about lyric lay-out. Who speaks German anyway?

In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus
Doch Freudenhäuser müssen raus,
Damit in dieser schönen Stadt
Das Laster keine Chance hat!
Doch jeder ist gut informiert
Weil Rosie täglich inseriert
Und wenn dich deine Frau nicht liebt
Wie gut, daß es die Rosi gibt!
Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt!
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal
Skandal um Rosie!
Ja Rosie hat ein Telefon
Auch ich hab' ihre Nummer schon.
Unter 32-16-8
Herrscht Konjunktur die ganze Nacht.
Und draußen im Hotel d'Amour
Langweilen sich die Damen nur,
Weil jeder den die Sehnsucht quält
Ganz einfach Rosies Nummer wählt.
Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt!
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal
Skandal um Rosie!
Ja Rosie hat ein Telefon
Auch ich hab' ihre Nummer schon.
Unter 32-16-8
Herrscht Konjunktur die ganze Nacht.
Und draußen im Hotel d'Amour
Langweilen sich die Damen nur,
Weil jeder den die Sehnsucht quält
Ganz einfach Rosies Nummer wählt.
Und draußen vor der großen Stadt
Stehen die Nutten sich die Füße platt!
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal (Skandal)
Im Sperrbezirk
Skandal
Skandal um Rosie!
Moral
Skandal
Moral
Skandal
..
Skandal um Rosie!

Style?

Your Style is Bohemian

When it comes to fashion, anything goes for you... especially if it's whimsical and fun. You draw your style influences from all over, and you are a pro at mixing and matching. You believe that fashion rules are meant to be broken. You don't need anyone to tell you what looks good. You rock your own unique and free spirited style. And many people secretly envy you for it.

What's Your Style Type?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

One thing is certain, if (and I do say IF) I am envied IS in secret.

Concerning Paper Handkerchiefs

(To the wider public known and addressed as 'tissues'. )

Having just recovered from a little cold, ( Read having lived in denial of my illness for three days, only to feel more miserable every day and spending the weekend certain of my soon demise) I noticed while looking for something to blow my nose in, the following:

1) All the fabric handkerchiefs I have are child sized and dito decorated.
2) I have enormous amounts of packs of tissues from which only one was ever used. This lead to the conclusion that I have a lot of available tissues and that ...
3) Paper once designed in colour, touch and smell to relieve the headached and worn-out ill masses may in less than two years completely dry out and metamorphose in vile squares of newspaper paper texture and stiffness.

Happy 2011 Valentine

Since there will always be at least one reader who is into mushy commercial holidays :

To everyone else and especially the pining lover, who the horoscope of Flair predicts will tell me of his/her love: I have spent all the years that I might have cared for Valentines gifts single, the caring is over but I intend to be single for a little while longer so don't bother getting me something.

2011 updates -part I

Dear Reader,

To the right of your screen (formerly known as 'the other left') you will see a change in the way I have chosen to share with you my love of books. And may I once again urge you all to join Goodreads.

Thank you!

Quote #46

I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven't got the guts to bite people themselves.

August Strindberg

I'll it know that the above is no expression of my personal opinion though.

Poor Piglet

Another Swine Flue victim.

Jump Up Jump Up and...

... get down. But not so fast.

Another long overdue update on the view from our kitchen. Feel free to come over, put on your bouncing shoes and hop around.

Tea List - January 2011

Long overdue, but here it is.

Loose Tea

• Mattheus B -Black & Ginger
• Mattheus B -Nightpearls
• Mattheus B -Violets
• Mattheus B -Malsala Indian Chaï
• Uji no Tsuyu - Sencha
• Ikea - Vanilla and Rhubarb
• Ikea - Blueberry
• Javana - Jasmin
• Simon Lévelt - Summer Harvest
• Simon Lévelt - Honey-Caramel
• Anhui Famous tea - Oolong
• Sprouting - Jasmin & Hibiscus
• Delicious - China Gunpowder
• Wu Lung Cha - Oolong
• Jacob Hooy - Marigold
• Kwong Song - Raspberry
• Onan - Ballasord
• Hemp
• Shepperd's purse
• Oak
• Liquorice
• Lavender
• Cardemon
• St John's Worth
• Rooibos Fire Tea
• Homely Aladin Blend

Powdered

• Lezzo Apple
• Frothy Ginger Tea
• Marayama Nori Chazen
• Ricola Bonne Nuit
• Hawasu Oolong
• Pandan
• Lezzo Pommegranate

Bags

• Celestial Seasonings Indian Spice Chai
• Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice
• Celestial Seasonings Honey Lemon Ginseng Green Tea
• Celestial Seasonings Wild Berry Zinger
• Celestial Seasonings Organic Mango Darjeeling
• Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger
• Pukka Nighttime
• Pukka Three Mint
• Delhaize Citrus
• Delhaize Apple Rhubarb
• Delhaize Raspberry
• Delhaize Lind - honey
• Delhaize No Stress
• Clipper Dandelion
• Clipper Sleep Easy
• Lipton Mint
• Lipton Lind
• Lipton Lemon
• Lipton Green Tea Mint
• Lipton Verbena
• Lipton Kericho Estate Tea
• Rituals Emperors Dreams
• Dr. Stuart Skin Purify
• Kneipp Nettle
• Twinings Prince of Wales
• Yogi Tea Lotus
• Duchy Originals Organic Darjeeling
• Tazo wild Sweet Orange
• Jacksons Sencha
• Albert Heijn Morning Mix
• Albert Heijn Evening Mix
• Benediktus Wild Cherries
  

Soup for the soul

First of all; I may have stolen the title of this post from a famous movie script writer but I can't remember so if anyone feels like complaining about it. Just let me know I'll change it.

Secondly, I don't know if the soup currently brewing in my cauldron is actually good for the soul. I just had a lot of carrots and felt a little hungry.


Ingredients

• 3 parts carrots
• 1 part onions
• 2 parts dried green lentils
• 1 clove of garlic per 500 grams of vegetables
• 1 teaspoon of thai green curry paste per 500 grams of vegetables
  
• lump of butter

Way of the chef
Wash and dice your vegetables. Bronw butter on medium heat in a big enough pot. Chuck in all ingredients and about 1 litre of water for every kilogram of solids. Boil away.

Forget about mixing, season with grated parmezan.

Quote #45

I -totally- second this.

I always find it more difficult to say the things I mean than the things I don't.
W. Somerset Maugham

Phone-/Lifeless part two aka Rant VII

In case you had not noticed from my absence the past two weeks. I suck at communication. I have been without mobile phone for about three weeks now, and I daresay there has only been one instant so far that I actually missed it. I have also been without access to my google account (including e-mail) for about a week and again I barely missed it. True it was rather inconvenient for the people that have wanted to contact me but as far as I figured; I almost couldn't care less.

Except of course that it has been impossible for everyone to contact me. Everyone including him. Him being the one person I never declared myself in love with despite being hot wax in his warm loving hands. And it drives me crazy. Crazy that it takes me almost two years to realise that it doesn't feel like any crush before because they were in fact crushes and he isn't. It's different. Totally different. Completely different.

New Year's Resolutions

To that I will add one of my own. Say goodbye to self hate, self loathing, self pity and feeling miserable for no other reason than that I think too much.

You Should Make 1 Resolution

Reduce Stress Overall

What Should You Resolve to Change Next Year?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!