Recently a relative of mine found out some more interesting details
about our families genealogy.
There's a distinct posibility that we descend from a Transylvanian family.
Explains a lot for me...
A close friend pointed out to me that I should stop looking for "The One"
and go for "second best".
I know he's right and only one can be the one and therefore all the others
are second best. But still.
Just read an article about Guantanamo Bay by Ted Conover. You wreckon
American citizens are told what's going on in this from Cuba rented piece
of land? A serious infringement on human rights. That's what's going on.
Fridaynight I went to the pub with my best friend.
Saturday my son and I went swimming with my cardclub-friend Bas and his wife Elsa.
Afterwards we had dinner at my moms where also my brother had come with his family.
Sunday there was a CastratedGood-meeting. Later that day I went to pick up my son
from his gran so I could take him to the little piece of paradise
occupied by my friend Carmen and her boy-friend.
Monday was my son's first schoolday after the summer holidays.
Whils most kids sat in the classroom a bit gloomfully Ferdinand seemed
happy and chatting away. I'm a lucky parent with a kid who doesn't mind school. Yet.
In stead of going to Schiphol-Airpot to pick up my friend Daniëlle, returning from her stay in
the States, I helped out a friend with his computer and some problems
he got involved in with his ex.
That evening neighbour Angèlique read to me almost the complete book
by Sándor Márai called Gloed while she gave me a Thai massage so I had
to explain to a friend I had on the phone why I was producing
such explicit sounds...;-)
Tuesday neighbour Johanna (my son's mom) came looking for the keys she thought she had left with me.
Aparrently they weren't at her boyfriend's, neighbour Dudo.
My friend Thura came for dinner and we on our search we found this jewel of a Italian
takeaway less than five minutes walk from my place! Excellent food and cheap too!
Before we could put on the rental "Die Blechtrommel" after a novel by Günter Grass, neighbour
Janine came for a little chat. She and Thura get along just fine and I get along
with both so that was rather nice.
Wednesday turned out to be a nice quiet day so I finally found time
to do some back-paperwork'n stuff.
Thursday my son made me breakfast and after taking him to school I finished
working on my friend Pieter's computer. When I got home I found
neighbour Angèlique behind my ironing-board. She was touching up her make-up with
some of my eyeliner and nailpolish when neighbour Petra came by
to thank me for some help I offered her the other day.
Later that night Erwin aka Axl came for coffee and neighbour Miriam
asked me to babysit her daughters. Later that night also neighbour
Angèlique came to visit and Erwin decided to stay for the night.

Friday was the day the news about "the Big Blackout" also hit our country faster
than you can say "It is not a terrorist attack."
The North-East region of the USA and a part of Canada is covered in darkness.
In New York, Detroit, Ottawa and several other cities there will
be a major baby-boom expected to arrive in april 2004. An unprecedented
power outage is causin' people to get really really bored.
And what do people do when it's dark and they cannot work, watch tv
or read a book?
I took my mom shopping for shoes and got myself some new underwear,
enyoing the seemingly everlasting sales.
Meanwhile waiting for my friend Daniëlle to arrive who will be staying
the weekend and might be joined by a friend of hers.
With some luck also my daughter Eva will be spending the weekend at her dad's.
Those of you who are a bit opposed above "telegram-style" of writing
and/or like to know more than just these basic facts can Learn Dutch
and read my Dutch Weblog.
G'day!

Every now and then you can't help to frown by looking at the search-requests
by which people find your site. My Dutch blog is often found by people
who type the search-string "female neighbours voyeurism". Don't ask...
There is a site nowedays where you can post such unusual searches.
And how'about knowing how many countries have been bombed by the USA-government
since WWII?
Is there anybody interested why the IMF changed the description
for "bankruptcy" in order to prevent having to call America bankrupt?
Elections are coming up and Al Gore has thrown the first mudball.
He says he won't be running for the presidency but I'll have to see it
to believe it.
Well, my daughter did spend the weekend at my place, I'm pleased to inform you
and we had a ball! Fun and laughter all'round...
Monday I went down to Thura's houseboat to help her with her son and
household-thingies. She is suffering from a back-injury and can't do much
that involves bending and lifting. Which pretty much excludes anything
she can do. The poor lass.
She'll be fine though. She's tough.
Tuesday Ferdinand and I went to Ghent, Belgium, on invitation of Marjan
and her son Matthijs. Really great to be in a country where courtesy
is a virtue, not a curse...
We saw a few castles, ice-cream parlors and other neat things such
as an almost Kafka'esk display of a Dalmatian (one of those white dogs with black spots,
for those with less canine knowledge than my goldfish) running around loose, wearing
a black necktie.
Wednesday-evening we had returned home from my son's first trip abroad
since het got his own passport.
Thursday he went for a casting. It was for a commercial for a Dutch
cleaning-company. Let's wait to see if they pick him or not.
Should be fun, my son on telly.
I know he's looking forward to it.
And besides: the money is welcome too, since he's saving for a new bike.
Friday (today that is) I'll be helping a friend with his computer
and my favorite political party with unloading a new stack
of anti-government leaflets.
Like to know what else's on my mind? Check the dream-section of my regular website.
Enjoy yourselves!

That was fun! Started with doing my make-up at Thura's where I also saw her
son Noah, his father Jurre, the latter's sister Hinde as well as their friend
Marcus. Their houseboat is on the edge of the Amsterdam Red Light District
so with walking towards the tramstop, leaving the boat, I passed the working ladies as well as the boys'n girls being on their stag-night
and I also saw a few of the more...colourful people this great city has to offer.
At Medusa I soon got to meet Agnes, with whom I'd been in touch
over the performance due to be held at that particular venue.
Together with neighbours Janine and Miriam (who also happens to be my daughters mom)
we will bring a performance to the lovely audience in the gothic-club
situated in Amsterdam-East. So my visit wasn't totally for my personal enjoyment but also
to check the lair so to speak.
Agnes didn't seem at all surprised to see that the barlady, Lucia, and I were already
acquainted. Not entirely to my surprise I saw Yvet there.
A friend from the time I lived in that area of town.
I was young, she was even younger and Yvet and Vincent were a few of our regular guests.
Vincent, whom today I meet (like every sunday-evening) for our "Magic The Gathering" card-game, was also at Medusa
last saturday. So was Guillaume, who happens to be not only a friend of Vincent's but also
of Marian, who is a fellow board-member of the Dutch Rocky Horror Club.
We exchanged numbers for he will be making me a nice leather skirt one of these days.
To give you an idea of Medusa: it is a former lasertag-labyrinth, transformed ("trancended" might be a better description) into a club.
Quit dark, just as its monthly inhabitants. They play music with
titles like "I've never been so constipated in my life" and it can be
difficult to distinguish the guys from the girls 'cause they are both seen
wearing dresses. Mind you: I've seen some prime examples of the better
halve of the human species. Blimey!
Had a bit difficulty walking home in a straight line.
It might have had to do with the beer, the vodka and the absinth.
First taste of the stuff i've had since last halloween.
And where else would you find a club where total strangers help a guy up in his
wheelchair so he can have a rockin' good time too?
A very friendly environment to be in, if you ask me.
No matter the dark clothes and the matching make-up:
It's still the inside that counts...
Suppose the article about the 2002 elections is true,
what would that mean to the voters?
Sit back, relax, wait and see...
How many of you ever heard of the United Fruit Company (later Chiquita)
and its involvment in (amongst other things) the Cuba-situation?
Read, wheep and think. Please. And don't forget to check out Misleader...
The past week saw me at a meeting of the Dutch Socialist party, nice surprises in the form of a present from my neighbour Angèlique, an unexpected e-mail from a young lady who was once known as Wondrous and tours Britain as (assistent?) Company Manager, a card send to me from America by my friend Daniëlle and a visit from my friend Marjan and her son Matthijs.
One of my exes (and still friend) Zanne will be one of the VJ's at the closing-party of this weekend's Gay Pride event.
Don't know yet whether I'll be able to attend or not. We'll see...
It all depends a bit on the fact if my daughter, Eva will be spending the weekend at my place or not.