Halfway Sugarfree

Halfway today.

A large milestone that would have been more impressive if I hadn't been cheating once or twice, but it can be said without exageration that my sugar intake has been seriously reduced and that I an happier and more energetic for it.

If only I could get myself to wake up earlier and go for a run every now and then... I might actually get in shape before the summer. but who am I really kidding. I may have left a grand desire for sweetness behind, I'm alrady hooked on an equally addictive substance: dragonslaying. 

No more sugar

It has been previously announced that 2015 would be a year of limitations for me.

After a severe quota on the amount of books I am allowed to read this year. And a self-inflicted  shop-stop when it comes to office or artist supplies. And the long announced alcohol-dry year with which I conclude every lustrum. There comes yet another addictive substance of which I believe I can do without.

In Belgium there has been the last few months a small craze  around the 30-days-without-sugar-challenge. Not just no sugar in your coffee, no unnatural or added sugar whatsoever.

For me it starts today. The small consolation is that this ordeal at least I won't have to submit to alone.

No more office supplies

Dear dear reader,

The yet-another-limitation of which I will speak now, has been set a few weeks ago, but since it is one I find very difficult to keep, I have been silent for now.

The thing is that I'm trying to save some money for the ultimate box of pencils (and/or the ultimate box of water soluble wax pastels) and the only expense left to economise on is purchase of office and art supplies. It makes great sense to not spend anything before I can spend it on the last thing I will ever need or want (or so I think).

Dream with me....

No more books

Dear reader,

I refer to the previous entry in this on-line journal. if it had not been made sufficiently clear in the near ten year existence of this blog : I love books.

Not 'like', not my hobby is 'reading', no 'I wish I had more time to read'. NO.

I love books. I devour them. And of all the challenges and limitations I've set myself for 2015*, accepting the challenge of not reading 100 books a year, this year was perhaps the one challenge I should have thought over. I cringed and gasped for air at the mere sugestion. Of course. But nonetheless I accepted.

Mr. T is hopefully near because I am indeed a fool and need to be pitied.

*more on challenges and limitations in future blogs

A far harder test

One house mate gives up internet for a week. Another drinking alcohol.

I have considered giving up on my greatest addiction i.e. reading but I might die during the process. So Monday hence I will not eat any cookies/ biscuits/ cakes/ etc. For a week.

But no more than a week.

I am Charlie - I follow Charlie

It is no secret that I live in a country geographically, politically and culturally near France. And as 99,99% of my country men, I dare say my fellow Europeans I was utterly shocked by Wednesday's news of an attack on the redaction of the French political magazine 'Charlie Hebdo'. Shocked twofold.

First of course because of the attack itself. Even though I regret to say such a thing is to be expected, every religious, political or cultural view (for lack of a better word I had nearly written 'genre') has it's fanatics and it is only luck that most extremists are simply too stupid to organise their thoughts into actions that saves us from an attack/ killing spree/ threat of violence every day. But I like independent journalism and I'm an artist (though be it in training), it is almost as if some far of relative or that guy you used to know but never kept in touch with just died. You fear for the end of everything you think important or take for granted.

Secondly the reactions to the attack. When a killing spree of this size is claimed by any organisation or made in the name of such and such beliefs a strong antipathy against that group is the usual and predictable response. And it has been so now,... marginally. Marginally from my point of view.  Even in the non-extremist camp of the intellectual spectrum the stupid are in a vast majority but no longer overwhelmingly so and what pleases me most. The media are seen to write sense.

#jesuischarlie = I am Charlie and for me means that I feel for every family member, every colleague, every friend lost to a lack of selflessness.

#jesuischarlie = I follow Charlie and that means for me be bold. Be bolder than ever, fight with words, with pictures, with laughter, with music with everything you have. Fight for ever against violence unprovoked by other violence.

Resolutions - 2015 edition

• not buy any more typewriters
• not drink alcohol
• run 10 miles every week
• buy a house
• finish a 30 day without sugar challenge
• balance reading, drawing and watching Dr Who

Not overly ambitious but well, life can't be hard work all the time.

Dear Granddad

This is perhaps to personal a letter to just throw on the world wide web. Disregarding the fact that you never spent any time on-line and don't know English. I'm confident enough in my own unimportance to address you one last time without fearing for my privacy.

You were the last grandparent I had. And it frightens me a little to feel the links with my past weakened. But I'm not sad. You loved so much and were always surrounded with people that loved you.To the last day.

I can't be sure that you didn't suffer and I can't be sure that you were proud of us and happy with us, but I know that you cared. And since you use to care so much I promise I'll eat my soup next Sunday. And every Sunday after that.

The very best and safe journey!

The Last Man Standing

My last remaining grandparent died last night.

It seems unreal. I've always thought of my grandfather as a grumpy but well-meaning giant. A Giant.

And he was old and so far as I can tell he's had a good life but all the same it means goodbye.

And what does goodbye really mean when there won't ever be a next time?

Red Ribbon

A classic sight on this website, on this day every year, a red ribbon. Because the fight continues, because postponing isn't good enough, because no one chooses to be sick, because every one must be aware of the risks and be taught how to keep safe, because giving up is too easy.

We have a winner

Once again. And I'm proud to announce that this year it took me a great deal less effort than it has the years before. I'm starting to find my groove I think. And for those who are curious about the word count it's 55077. Of which about 2/3 is doomed once editing December comes around the corner. Also the official website puts my word count at 55171 after validation. But I've decided to believe my word processor.

For every still typing away: best of luck!

From... to Stereo

This may seem like a normal, even a little outdated loudspeaker. For me and five house mates it's spells the horizon of a new era.

Until now, our kitchen has been if not under the reign of silence indeed devoid of ballads, battle screams and epic rock. But we will suffer no more. Whatever vinyl selected it will sound everywhere and the poor volunteer that has to check the oven for pizza's is now greeted with the sound that he left behind in the living room and not by bleak silence.

All is well.

A truth unacknowledged.

Writing provokes more writing.

It is as simple as that. It sounds contradictory but such are my paradoxical findings. When confronted with writer’s block in one project/ article/ book/ paper, ... just start working on something else! This spells unfinished project in mile high letters on bare hill sides. I am aware of that. But that is more a matter of discipline. This blog post for example is not written so much for the purpose of getting aforementioned hypothesis across but to keep me writing. Inevitably when I press the orange 'publish' button, I must continue writing and thus shall be compelled nay forced to continue the quest for 3000 words.

#NaNoWriMo FTW!

The writing bug - revisited

In so much that the previous post did not make it clear: contrary to what I have announced on this very blog a week since. I am one of those idiots seeking to distil a plot from thin air and not being able to close my eyes for the shortest of naps as  long as my word count is under par.

%sigh%

Any source of caffeine or inspiration is most welcome.

I'm a cheat

Check my word count!

If you are not one of us. Don't bother trying to make sense out of it. Some people grow a moustache in November. Some people write novels.

Halloweeeeeeeeen

Happy All Hallows' Eve. Or not.
Make it as scary as you like. But don't forget to have comfort food ready. I recommend  thick pumpkin soup,fried proteins and lots of warm milk, hot tea and biscuits.

Rant XII

My faithful readers know enough of my character to think that the description of me as a person lacking patience is, if not accurate, at least an understatement.
A lack which I believe has been less and less apparent in the years wherein the posts on this blog have been increasingly few in number, but not solely because the quick temper was less often expressed. I pride myself on being very near the most balanced person that I can be. Very near indeed. If you, my dear dear reader are aware of faults in your own character, of which you know that with continuing self-restraint AND self-discipline you may lessen their evil influence over your actions and more importantly reactions, would it not hurt you in no small part to notice that hard work being undone by a source outside of yourself?

For that is what for ten months now haunts me.

I might never wake up happy, but nonetheless I wake up often enough well-rested and contented, vigorous and with a myriad  creative ideas to occupy my time outside the dull four walls of office space, but every day by lunchtime all my vigour, patience and determination are sapped. Sapped clear and dry (not sure if this is a proper english-language expression) because it takes whatever energy I can muster to keep my temper under control while my good intentions and clear instructions are being mocked and met with disdain and puzzled looks.

First Impressions

It's nothing serious, rest assured that my heart is in no danger of any hurt you might imagine befalling one in love. I'm not in love. But it isn't so very often a guy makes an impression this lasting in just a few hours.

-
age
name
reads thrillers

0
accent
general geographical location

+
well-groomed
strong hands (with clean fingernails)
plays a teamsport that isn't football
actually has a zombie apocalyps plan

 

For Shirahime

A healthy, fun-filled, exciting ride on tramway 3!

The Writing Bug

Not as exciting to watch or as entertaining to partake in as the jitterbug, I should imagine. Sure it excites and entertains ME to be creating a story all in my head and then pour in on page after page but I can not expect the entire world to share my enthousiasm.

A week from now (or thereabouts); on the first of November: is NaNoWriMo -time again. And it pains me to admit that I will not be a part of it this year. Four three-hour evening classes a week and  classical concertladen weekends make it quite impossible. To complete the challenge I've set myself: one complete A4 drawing every day and 50 bonus drawings on a smaller page size, will be quite enough to occupy my scarce free moments.

However Herculean the task, it stings a little NOT to subject myself to a very strict deadline and a lot of stress, my stomach is grateful for all the caffeine I shall not be neccitated to consume and my heart bleeds and rejoices for the brave souls that take up arms.

Good hunting all, and may the plot be with you.