Happy Birthday

Sweat dreams and best wishes, my darlings.

Keep Drawing

keep drawing from studio shelter on Vimeo.

Spread the love.

Resolutions- part XII

• get a part-time job if need be
• love life more
• indulge
• learn proper sewing
• finish all those bright ideas for projects
• not go on shopping sprees
• wrap up all presents (in time)
• keep reading
• keep writing
  

For a very special girl...

I know it's not your favourite artist but I daresay you appreciate the effort. Best wishes and all my love.

Gelukkige Verjaardag Mama!

Resolutions-part IX

• read more
• write more
• not buy beauty products
• throw one hell of a birthday party
• take life lightly
• take work seriously
• love passionately
• hate moderately
• invite (girl)friends over for tea and pedicures
  

Birthday Wishlist

Since I prefer to avoid people asking me directly what I would or would not like for a birthday present, I annually publish a wishlist a month in advance. So here it goes:

• tea
• colour contacts
• books
• helping hands at moving out
• dieting tips
• a firm sturdy shoulder to cry on
• a new laptop
  

Resolutions -Part V

• not drink any alcohol
• seduce or learn how to
• leave soon
• read more
• write more
• love always

Resolutions- Part Three

• not drink any alcohol
• do the best I can training my successor
• book tickets to the East and/or West
• keep up the reading; it really does make me happier and balanced
• not fall in love

Resolutions 2010 - part I

• not drink any alcohol
• buy trainers and cotton underwear during Sales
• nag less
• keep reading
• keep writing

Merry Christmas

I fear that may have reached the age at which all festive activities become obligatory circus acts predictable from beginning to the end. From this not necessarily follows that the occasion is an unpleasant one, merely that I could think of activities as pleasant with the added bonus of being cost-and frustrationless.

Have I become to critical of family traditions? Or am I just grumpy for the lack of snow? Or am I longing for a childhood when christmas was something magical? I'll deny any charges whenever they are launched at me and take this opportunity to wish everyone a pleasant Yule-Tide.

An Alternative Easter Bunny

Happy Easter everyone!

Resolutions '09

Last year I made two resolutions. That were actually wishes in disguise. One wish has remained a wish and the other most important one has been granted twice. To keep things in balance I have for this year only one resolution: To be nice. And also one wish: Let there be love. And I have a feeling, call it a hunch that there will be.

Happy 2009 everyone!

Make A Wish

Looks like someting I wish I had cartloads of, just so I could make everyone I love a little happier.

The Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should he have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

Unknown author

Eloquency

Once upon a time, even before I had fallen in love twice, I overheard a conversation between two very dear girls. One lamented the loss of a no longer specifiable Hindu god locker/charm, before the other could offer comfort, she sighed 'but it's ok because now I have this!' proffering a flacon of soap bubble water in the form of a yellow ducky. I knew there and then I had found my people. Now both the ladies are young independent women, close friends, utterly loveable and though a little too normal still so very much en vibe with me that that both are able not merely to accept eloquence as a solid argument but even offer it. I really could not love them more.

Don't stay on the beach/ under palm trees/ in the arms of well-tanned men too long darlings, I'll miss you both too much.

Ear Piercing Shrieks

Meet me in front of Vooruit, coming Saturday at 2pm. Bring a camera and some small change to get us a cup of hot chocolate afterwards.

Free Hugs

There may have been times that I could have used a hug and didn't get one. but for the times I got one unsollicited this is a little thank-you-all cartoon.

Happy Birthday III

Somebody still owes me a toy tank. I love reminding people what they owe me. But today I just owe him the best wishes for a splendid 23th birthday and a very very happy 24th year on earth.

Mann Booker Prize

A Prize that I intend to win one day and while I am not winning it, I'm reading a sample of what a great mind that has received the honour (and rightfully so) is capable of.