Cartoon Tuesday: Love and Marriage?! (2)

I had a dream.

I know there is nothing special about having a dream, I have them all the time, but there was a special aspect to this dream. I dreamed in words again (yeah, I’ve done it before). Odd, isn’t it? Well, I think it’s kind of odd when I don’t dream in pictures but in words. It’s like reading a couple of books in my sleep.

I don’t know why I dream in words now. When I did it before I could explain it (at least to myself), I was very involved, or practically addicted to all (of course not all…. but a lot of) the instant messaging and chat programs out there. It’s kind of sad, I admit it, but I think most people go through such a phase (and if not, please don’t tell me ;)). I was working with fonts, typefaces, text and styles most of the days and next to that I was an exorbitant bookworm. So my world practically consisted only of words and fonts all day every day. Keeping that in mind, it wasn’t so strange that my dreams changed into words too. But this time around I don’t understand it. I still read a lot, but that’s all. No more fooling around with instant messaging, there is no need to play with fonts all day and I don’t even spend that much time online these days. So I have actually no idea what is going on this time around. Maybe I am losing my marbles, maybe my brain is acting up, who knows……At least I am certain of one thing, it will all end again (one day) just as it did the last time :)

Heavenly 100.

Every year one of the Dutch radio stations airs the Heavenly 100, a list of the greatest albums ever made. The station doesn’t make the list, the listeners do. They are asked to vote for their favourite albums, so it’s actually a people’s choice list. This was yesterday’s official top 10:

1. Pearl Jam – Ten
2. Nirvana – Nevermind
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
4. Radiohead – O.K. Computer
5. Coldplay – A Rush of blood to the head
6. Metallica – Metallica (black album)
7. Live – Throwing Copper
8. U2 – Joshua Tree
9. Coldplay – X & Y
10. Greenday – American Idiot

In my list you would find the following albums:

1. Air – Moonsafari
2. Faithless – Forever Faithless
3. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
4. Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams
5. Jamie Cullum – 20 Something
6. Lamb – Fear of Fours
7. Live – Awake
8. U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind
9. Sting – All This Time
10. Keane - Hopes and Fears

Now, I am curious (surprise, surprise :)), what would be in your top 10?

I believe I can fly.

A few weeks ago I wrote a little post about four little Peregrine Falcons living on top of a radio/TV Tower. Well, these four birdies aren’t as little anymore and they are getting ready to fly. You can follow their progress here. Enjoy :)

A little piece about coffee, lifestyle, speed dating, women, men and rudeness. Interested yet?

Last night, one of my friends stopped by for a cup of coffee. “Just one cup” she said as she entered, because she had a thing she had to go to. “A thing?” I asked. “Yes, a thing!” Ever curious, I couldn’t help myself; I asked her what that thing was. Usually she’s not so secretive about her life, so this behaviour was a bit odd. It took some pushing and pulling but in the end she gave in.
She was going to a speed date event. She was? Yes!! Can you believe it? I was totally flabbergasted, because I couldn’t comprehend why this beautiful girl was going to speed date. First of all, the last time I saw her she was a lesbian and secondly, she doesn’t need an organised event to pick someone up. So, what was going on here? Did she change her orientation to men again, or was she going for the bi lifestyle now? Could be! It seems that more and more girls (funny, I rarely hear about men who do) swing both ways nowadays, it’s almost like it is kind of fashionable now (Oh! Granny is speaking ;)). Okay, but I wasn’t talking about lifestyles, I was talking about speed dating.
As it turned out my friend has been visiting speed date evenings for research purposes only :) She is a freelance writer and she is going to write a column about it. Inquisitive as always, I asked her what it was like.
According to her, it actually was quite nice. A lot of people who attend these events are seriously looking for a relationship, but of course there are fun shoppers and players too. And there is a fourth group: The rude and ill-mannered, lowbred men. You don’t believe the things they have said to her. Things like:
- “Are you prepared to get a boob job? They are not the size I like”
- “I’m sorry I must have missed that…..I only listen to intelligent women”
How rude!! The nastiest thing a guy ever said to me is probably this “I like you just the way you are, but could you please gain 10 kilos or so and grow your hair longer” Not the thing you want to hear when you have just lost 20 kilos and cut your hair short :(
Men *sigh*

Cartoon Tuesday: Love and Marriage?! (1)

12 Questions - Heart and Soul MeMe.

1. Are you superstitious?
Nope!
2. Do you believe in telepathy?
Yes, I believe that people can communicate information from one mind to another.
3. Do you have recurring dreams which keep your mind busy?
Check this
4. Did you ever wanted something with all your heart and soul? If yes, when and what was it?
Yes, now! I want that job!! :)
5. If you were another person would you be friends with you?
Yup… absolutely :)
6. Let’s imagine that the world end tonight. Who would you visit and what would you tell them?
There are so many people to choose from. Can I have a party and invite them all? No? Oh! Well, I guess I would visit one of my male friends. I don’t see him a lot but he is very dear to me. I really think he changed my life for the better.
7. Did you meet your soulmate?
Looking back, I think I did, but it was so scary I ran the other way. Well, I was only 16 at the time :)
8. If you could live your life again, would you do it differently?
This is a tough question, but I wouldn't change a thing. All the things I did, made me the person I am today and I like me!:)
9.What do you regret most?
Smoking!
10. Do you pray?
No, I am not religious.
11. When did you last cry?
Two weeks ago and it felt great.
12. What are you passionate about?
Life!

Don’t just Google, Gwigle instead!

This is an educational game to help you use Google more efficiently :) Your job: Figure out what is being searched for by looking at the results? Have fun!

An alternative lifestyle?

Today I received an email. Oh, how surprising! No, it is not a surprise, I receive a lot of emails but this one wasn’t intended for me and I don’t get those a lot. One of the reunion people accidentally (or not) included my name in the “send to” list.

You can find out funny (or not) things about yourself when you get these kind of emails. For instance, I found out that there has been a whole discussion going on about me. How boring! I can come up with hundred other, much more interesting topics, but they seem to think otherwise. The second thing I found out is that I seem to have an alternative lifestyle :| I do?? I don’t think so, but again others seem to think otherwise.

So, what counts as an alternative lifestyle:
- Unusual relationships (for example polyamory) or community living (such as communes)
- Unusual sexual lifestyle (such as bondage, homosexuality or swinging)
- Unusual cultural focus (such as furry fandom)
- Avoidance of traditional path (people who might be said to become lifestyle travellers, like backpackers)
- Vegetarianism or veganism
- Alternative spirituality practices.

Hmm…. I don’t see it. I don’t qualify for any of these categories. So just because:
- I live my life the way I want to live it,
- I don’t have many regrets,
- I don’t settle for second best,
- I don’t like to be put in a box,
- I don’t stay in relationship because it is ooooh soooo easy and comfortable,
- I am happy I loved the guys I loved,
- I’ve been depressed,
- I am positive,
- I am passionate about life,

I seem to have an alternative lifestyle. In my opinion everybody should live the life they want to live, they shouldn’t have many regrets, they should be positive, take chances, and above all…… everybody should live passionately. You only get one shot at this. So, grab it and live it!

Cartoon Tuesday: acceptance!

The Mole

Yesterday I watched the finale episode of The Mole. “Players (in the Dutch version the players are Dutch celebrities) in The Mole must work together to complete various physical and mental challenges to build up a significant cash prize for the winner. One of them, however, is actually a double-agent (the mole) hired by the producers to sabotage the efforts of the group. The mole must be careful to avoid drawing suspicion. Using journals, players must track vast amounts of minutiae about the person(s) they suspect of being the mole, such as seating positions, clothing colors, minor discussion topics, and so on. The quiz at the end of each episode tests players' knowledge of the mole, and determines by lowest score (or slowest time, in the event of a tie) who is eliminated from the game.” (from Wikipedia)

It was kind of strange and emotional to watch this series because one of the female contesters, Frédérique Huydts age 38, passed away when the show was being aired. I didn’t actually know her before this show aired and it was so strange….. I really started to like her and love her bubbly and energetic personality and at the same time I knew she had passed away. Before she died, they had asked her about this series. Should it be aired or not and she insisted on it because she was so proud of her accomplishment and she had every right to be proud. As it turned out she had won the game. Well done!!

At the end of the final episode there was this short spoken message from Frédérique, probably taped while she was in hospital, and it brought a tear to my eye. It’s useless to quote everything she said, but there is one line I want to share with you:

“That’s how it should be, life! A festive and passionate game, played with new and old friends” - Frédérique Huydts

Fabchannel wins Webby Award.

On the 9th of May it was announced, one of the Dutch music sites, Fabchannel.com, has won a Webby Award - category Music in New York. Great isn’t it?
So what is Fabchannel? A fun place if you love live music. It’s one of the biggest concert libraries of the world and you can watch live and on demand music concerts from the famous Paradiso and Melkweg (the Milky way) in Amsterdam. Fabchannel.com brings you a wide variety of live music in sound and vision. From upcoming acts to big stars playing rock, hiphop, folk, avant-garde and everything in between. Check it out!

Smile, laugh, or whatever........It's Friday :)

To start the weekend off right…… a 6 minute video for your entertainment.

I think it’s very funny! Remember how many of these you have done!
Judson Laipply is dancing.

What? No laughter? Not even a smile? Well how about this then?











Have a great Friday night.....Enjoy :)

80's Week

My favourite radio station is having an 80’s request week and that means they play only 80’s music, talk about 80’s news, gadgets and movies. It got me thinking about that strange, weird and wonderful decade. Ehmm, on second thought, I am not quite sure about the wonderful, though ;) Weird and strange it was! Was there, for instance, any other decade were a person could be a young, rich, sad muppet with no friends, and call themselves a Yuppie? Only then!

Other unforgettable stuff of the decade, in random order:
- MC Hammer parachute pants,
- Enormous shoulder pads made fashionable by Dynasty and Dallas,
- Legwarmers and headbands made popular by Flashdance and Fame,
- All those Miami Vice wannabees, a.k.a guys in horrible shiny suits or jackets,
- Punk and its counterpart New Romantic,
- The Ray Ban Wayfarer and later, the ‘Aviator’ worn by Tom Cruise in Top Gun,
- Converse, Adidas,
- Michael Jackson still had some colour; Madonna was getting pretty popular,
- Big hair or cemented hair,
- Shoulder length earrings,
- A fish called Wanda, Back to future, Beverly Hills Cop, War Games, Friday the 13^th, Indiana Jones, Top Gun, E.T, Nightmare on Elm Street, Rambo, Ferris Bueller’s Day off, The Goonies,
- The Commodore 64,
- Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Super Mario,
- AIDS,
- LiveAid,
- MacGyver & The A-Team, Cheers, The Cosby show, Family Ties, The Golden Girls, Transformers,
- Sega, Nintendo, Atari,
- Rubik´s Cube, BMX Bikes,
- Walkman’s, CD’s and VCR’s,
- Nuclear disaster Chernobyl, the fall of the Berlin Wall, plane crash Lockerbie, protest on Tiananmen Square, the Space Shuttle disaster, the end of the Cold War and the Rainbow Warrior sunk, The assassination of John Lennon and Olof Palme.

Some popular bands at the time: Mr. Mister, INXs, Chris Isaak, Red Hot Chili Peppers, De La Soul, Kate Bush, OMD, Tears for fears, Midnight Oil, Eurythmics, Duran Duran, Waterboys, Depeche Mode, New Order, Bronski Beat, Water Boys, Salt N Pepa, Cyndi Lauper, Bryan Adams, Dexy´s Midnight Runners, Adam Ant, U2, Cult, Queen, Men at Work, Alphaville, Talk Talk, Don Henley, Soft Cell, Bon Jovi, Bangles, Madness, Clash, Simple Minds, Genesis, Smiths, Bob Marley, Killing Joke, Prince, A-HA, Cure and many, many more.

And what was I doing in the 80’s? Who me? I wasn’t even born yet!! Just kidding...... I finished school, got my first real fulltime job, started dating, partied till dawn, learned how to smoke, moved out, found the man of my dreams (NOT!, but I was convinced of it at the time :)) and much, much more which I don’t remember or don’t want to remember. Oh, a selective memory can come in handy at times ;)

Picture available - for limited time only.

Yesterday I went to town hall to apply for my ID card and I’m sorry (or glad…. still not sure about that) to say that they accepted my photos. So I am going to be stuck with the terrible pic for 5 years. However, a friend showed me his ID card and I noticed that they make (Photoshop?) the photo a lot lighter/brighter and smaller on the actual card. So, who knows, maybe it will not be that bad. I’ll know more next week; the 18^th is going to be ID pick up day :|

Earlier this week, Kat had a very similar photo experience and in the comment section of Mondays post I challenged her to post her so called horrible pictures. Of course she isn’t going to do that (so, I won’t either :)), but she did post an old one. Well she showed me hers, so now I am going to show her mine. Prepare yourself to be shocked ;) Tadadaaaaaaa, drum roll, ladies and gentlemen, here for limited time only……one of my old pic's :)

Cartoon Tuesday: Love?!

Stuck with it for five years.

I needed to get my picture taken because I have to get a new ID card this week. In my opinion there is nothing worse then having your picture taken. Okay, there are things, far worse, but I can't help it, I really, really hate the whole process because I always, okay not always, end up with stupid and awful pictures.

Saturday I was feeling quite optimistic though. I had a good hair day, my skin looked at its best, the sun was shining and the birds were singing, so what could go wrong on such a beautiful day. I jumped on my bike and went to the photo shop. Unfortunately they don’t allow photo booth photos on official document here. Before entering the shop I checked my hair and face and I was feeling very confident about the whole experience. Saturday was going to be a good day for a picture.

I entered the shop and went straight for the counter and said that I needed some pictures for my new ID card. A very bored looking guy asked me to follow him and we went into a little, non inspiring, room with a digital camera, a stool and a screen. While I was sitting down, the guy gave me instructions like “Back straight, shoulders back, look straight at the camera”. I just sat down and started to ask him something when I heard a click. Me: ‘you didn’t take the photo already now, did you?’ He: ‘Yes, it is on the screen now’. And indeed, my face was shown on the screen. Eyes almost closed, mouth open! Foh! Me: ‘You can take another one now surely?’ He: ‘Oh, you don’t like this one? Well, I take another’. Take two came by surprise too……result eyes completely closed. Still hopeful I said to myself: Third times a charm! I inhaled, exhaled……click! Damn……horrified I looked at the screen! There I was, with puffy cheeks. This wasn’t happening…… not today! But of course it was and the guy suggested that I should keep this one; at least my eyes were open! Me: ‘You’ve got to be kidding, right?’ But he wasn’t! I persuaded him to give it another try and he did. Result? Again terrible!! The lighting: really bad, my skin tone: much darker then I actually am, it looks like I have cheekbone implants, my eyes have a strange, somewhat annoyed, expression and my mouth ….. well, I actually can’t find words for the look. I was so fed up with the whole experience that I, in a momentary lapse of reason, agreed to these pictures. I paid my € 7.95 and left the shop with my photos, which I actually almost forgot.

I have looked at the photos a couple of times and I still think they are hideous and I am not even sure if they (municipal officials) are going to accept these dark pictures. If they don’t accept these I have to go through the whole ordeal again and if they do I’m stuck with this picture for five years. I am still not quite sure which is worse :)

Four little birdies.

About three weeks ago these four little Peregrine Falcons were born and now you can watch them live. Their parents build a nest in a nest box, 127 meters above ground, on top of a radio/TV tower and are now very busy keeping four hungry mouths fed. They are on a non-stop cycle of hunting, gathering and feeding.

Remembrance of the Dead

Today it’s kind of a special day over here. Today we remember all those who have died for our freedom. Officially (and in Dutch) it’s called Dodenherdenking (Remembrance of the Dead) and it is a commemoration annually held on May 4 to remember all members of the armed forces and civilians of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who died in war situations or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of the Second World War.

As usual we have a main ceremony in Amsterdam at the national monument (which they are cleaning as I write this, to make it the cleanest spot in the Netherlands) on the Dam Square. This ceremony is going to be on TV tonight and is usually attended by members of the royal family and the cabinet as well as military leaders and representatives of the resistance movement and other social groups. At 8.00 p.m., two minutes of silence are observed. Since May 4 1994, the flags are hissed to the sounds of the Wilhelmus, the Dutch national anthem.

There are ceremonies also in other cities and places, such as the Waalsdorpervlakte near The Hague where many Dutch resistance fighters were executed during the war. Although most of the media focus on the main celebrations, there are two minutes of silence throughout the entire Netherlands. In many towns people still gather around a monument, make speeches and lay down flowers to remember the dead right before or right after the two minutes of silence.

And after all that, life goes on as normal. Well normal? Tomorrow we have liberation day, the day we celebrate the liberation from the German occupation between 1940 and 1945.

It has been suggested to abolish both days because the war ended so long ago, but today there was some surprising news. A research bureau did a poll and it showed that 91 % of the Dutch folks still observe the two minutes of silence and 70% thinks that these days are (very) important. I think they are here to stay.

Hi, my name is Dakota and I am a bikeaholic!

Lately the weather has been pretty nice around here, so I’ve been riding my bicycle a lot. Who would have thought I would really enjoy it one day…… I surely did not! I started using my bike again a few years ago and discovered it was a nice way to get from point A to point B and back to A again. But this year it is getting pretty ridiculous. I am not only using my bike for short trips, I am also riding my bike for hours on bike trails. And today I even invented a trip to a “far away” supermarket just because they had French Beans on offer! How silly is that!? While I was riding my bike, enjoying the sunshine and warm weather, I started to wonder about this whole daft thing. Could biking be as addictive as, for instance, running?

I know that those who run produce addictive substances called Beta-endorphins. These hormones are known to block pain, decrease appetite, decrease anxiety and induce feelings of euphoria. Not so strange when you consider the fact that endorphins are chemically related to the drug morphine. Morphine is extremely addicting. Morphine relieves pain and produces euphoric feelings. "Endorphin" actually means "endogenous morphine." Endorphins and morphine both bind to the same chemical receptors in the brain and produce similar responses. During a long run, some runners gradually lose the ability to feel pain and experience a thrill as their bodies are filled with exhilarating energy. This is called a "runner's high".

I am really starting to believe I get a “biker’s high” when I am on my bike. The freedom, the rotating of the pedals, the humming of the wheels, the wind blowing through my hair, the birds, nature, the sunshine on my bare skin, it just makes me feel so cheerful, elated and energetic…….it is almost scary ;) Oh well, I could be addicted to worse substances I guess :) So I’ll admit it……I am Dakota and I am a bikeaholic!!

Cartoon Tuesday: Happy Single!

Oops, I totally forgot to post the answer.

A while back I posted the Virgin Music brainteaser and totally forgot to post the answer afterwards. So, If you are interested…….here are the 70 bands in the picture :)

50 cent, Alice in chains, Black Crows, Black Flag, Blind Melon, Blondie, Blur, Cornershop, Cowboy Junkies, Crowded House, Cypress Hill, Dead Kennedys, Deep Purple, Dinosaur Junior, Eels, Eminem, Garbage, Gorillaz, Great White, Green Day, Guns N’Rose, Hole, Iron Maiden, Jewel, Kiss, Korn, Led Zeplin, Lemonheads, Madonna, Manic Street Preachers, Matchbox 20, New York Dolls, Nine Inch Nails, Pavement, Phish, Pink, Prince, Queen, Radio Head, Ratt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Man at Work, Scissor Sisters, Seal, Sex Pistols, Smashing Pumpkins, Spoon, Subways, Talking Heads, The B-52s, The Beach Boys, ,The Bee Gees The Cars, The Cranberries, The Doors, The Eagles, The Killers, The Pixies, The Police, The Postal Service, The Rolling Stones, Trio, Bush, The Vines, The White stripes, Twisted Sister, U2, White Zombie, White Snake, Yellowman.

Monday video: Free Photo Booth :)