Well!

Not a notebook...

2009-11-09T19:50:34Z

When work offers to buy you a shiny new notebook it is time to be careful. Why do they think you need one?

"Well Marie, we think it is important you have a nice notebook to work from home with."

Aha! Currently I work from home one weekend every nine weeks. We all take turns working the weekend shift. Why is it so important that I specifically have a nice computer to work from home with? They are luring me into working evenings and weekends with a shiny new notebook. A pretty plum coloured one. Or would I prefer Midnight Blue? Evil! Evil!

*sigh* "Midnight Blue please. Thank you."

I'm weak.

My Clean Goth Castle

2009-11-01T15:52:28Z

Today, for the very first time, I paid someone to clean my house for me. My grandmother would be so proud! Everyone else probably thinks I am decadent.

While the maid cleaned the house I added a whole chapter to the story I am writing so I have not been lazy! I feel the need to defend the fact that I hire someone to do work I don't like doing. Strange, isn't it? I don't think anyone in the olden days would have felt that need.

Anyway, my house is cleaner than it has ever been! I am very happy.

Writer's Block: Pecking Order

2009-08-19T19:46:43Z

Are you an oldest, youngest, middle, or only child? How do you think it has influenced your personality?

View 538 Answers

I am the eldest. I am the boss.

Myn Lief ik min uw. Dus mijn lieve leve seyde.

2009-08-13T17:22:42Z

When I go to work I pass a building that has the first line of a poem written on it in huge lettering. I have seen it often and I always thought them so lovely. Today I decided to look up the poem. Here it is. It was written by Maria Tesselschade a very long time ago.

Myn Lief ik min uw. Dus mijn lieve leve seyde,

Mit dat mijn lippen van haer lieve lippe scheyde.

Geen meerder soetigheyd ter voren inne quam:

Dan als sy my dat gaf, het geen ick haer ontnam.

Onthout die toontjes ey! ick bid uw Cupidootje

Gy kleyne Sielen-vooght, gy machtigh wonder Goodtje!

En steltse in mijn borst op sulken even maet,

Dat daer op pols, en mild, hert, longh, en lever slaet.

Gebied, hier door, mijn Siel aen 't Lichaem 't sijn te geven,

En stadigh dat te voen met sulk een lieve leven;

En seggen dan: mijn lief ik min uw, liefste mijn :

Gy sult altoos, ô lief, mijn lieve leven sijn!

More on the stolen bicycle...

2009-07-29T16:01:54Z

So...that bicycle that got stolen. The one that was gone after I came home from my holiday with skwashy. You remember? Yes, that bicycle.

I found it.

Ahem...yes...so...I went to the supermarket by bicycle, something I very rarely do. It is just around the corner so I usually walk. Today I got it into my head to go there straight from work. I had to park my bicycle somewhere near the supermarket. Parking in this city is a hassle and it makes no difference whether you are by car or bicycle. So I parked on the other side of the street and fetched my groceries. When I walked back I was looking for my bicycle in the mass of bicycles and there it was...my old bicycle. The one I thought was gone never to be seen again, stolen by someone in dire need of heroine or beer. You know, the truly needy.

I parked it there before I went on a holiday and forgot to take it home when I came out of the supermarket. It could happen to anyone. It could happen to you...right? I mean, I know I am aging and that I forgot the code of my bank card recently but this is not a sign of deterioration, is it? I don't think so. Let's never mention this again.

I bought strawberries. Would you like some?

New Bicycle

2009-07-25T16:44:21Z

Yesterday, after work, I went to buy a bicycle. I visited a repair shop not far from here a couple of times last week and each time I was there the owner promised me he'd have a nice second hand bicycle for me that he said would be very ugly. The owner is a refugee, an enormous black man with big bulging muscles. It has become custom here to teach refugees who are allowed to stay here how to fix bicycles. Everyone rides bicycles and there are never enough bicycle shops. I remember I had a flat tire once and I went to three different bicycle repair shops and they all looked at me as if I asked something really strange. "Can you fix my tire for me? This is a bicycle repair shop, is it not?" There are so few bicycle repair shops that the repair men will only fix your bicycle for you if you bought your bicycle in that very shop. You get a membership sticker on your bicycle when you buy it.

*sigh* What is this country coming to?

BUT, for me this problem was fixed as soon as the big muscled man established his shop in this neighbourhood. Of course he kept promising me an ugly bicycle and each time I came he didn't have one. But last Friday this problem was solved. He said: "You really want an ugly bicycle?" "Yes, I want an ugly bicycle." He thought it very amusing. I am very serious about the ugliness of my bicycles. You see, bicycles get stolen. Especially pretty ones. Ugly bicycles get stolen too, but I always hope that it will last me a little longer than a pretty bicycle. Also ugly bicycles are cheaper. Since bicycles are a yearly expense I'd rather not buy an expensive one.

So now I have an ugly bicycle and a very fancy new lock. I have a rusty piece of iron with two wheels and a shiny, pretty lock. A lock that cost me almost as much as the bicycle itself.

Today I cycled to the city center to buy black trousers. On my way back I passed the bicycle shop and the big muscled man stood outside, smiling. He waved at me with his tools, laughed and asked how I liked my ugly bicycle. I waved back and said I adored my ugly bicycle. I really do.

Will the person who stole my bicycle please return it to me?

2009-07-15T19:49:07Z

I need it to go to work in a healthy way.

*sigh*

I arrived home from my wonderful vacation in San Francisco yesterday evening. (Sob...I'm sad to be home.) Today I wanted to go and buy some groceries. Not only could I no longer remember the code of my bank card but also it appeared my bicycle had gone missing. Stolen. Bicycles get stolen here all the time, I'm sure it was just my turn but I hate it all the same. It was a very good bicycle. A very old one, a very ugly one but a good one.

So I walked to my friend Anne's who had been taking care of my darling monster cats to pick them up. They are home now but don't seem to recognise me. I wanted to pet Adelheid but she got up and sat down again just out of reach for me and looked away from me.

My garden is dead. Three weeks of fierce sun without watering turned my plant babies into parchment. I have to start all over again.

It is hard to adjust to being home. I liked being in San Francisco with my dearest skwashy. She posted pictures.

*weep*

Writer's Block: All-Nighter

2009-06-25T15:16:48Z

When was the last time you stayed up all night? What were you doing?

View 505 Answers

That was last Sunday when I was waiting for a connecting flight at Heathrow Airport. I spent my time drinking coffee at Starbuck's, playing games on my sister's Nintendo DS and writing. It was a very long night.

But I am in San Francisco now and enjoying myself immensely. My hands are manicured, my feet are pedicured, my hair is curled and I am having such fun!

My friend skwashy is at work now. I'll go walk the dog, bring her jacket to the dry cleaner's and write postcards with pretty views of the Golden Gate Bridge at night/in the fog/from a pretty angle. Later I'll go and buy her a latte for lunch and then explore the city. Yay!

After a long silence...

2009-06-18T18:38:21Z

I thought it would be time to write something again.

Work is going very well. When I get home in the evening I am exhausted but happy to have learned many new things. Tomorrow is my last day at work before going on a holiday to visit skwashy and Mrs. Skwashy.

I believe I have come very close to reaching the goals I set myself for the three weeks that I worked. Yesterday I was told that my probation period is over so I am quite certain there will still be a job waiting for me when I get home. Whew!

Yes, things are going well.

And now! Holiday time! Yay! I am slowly starting the process of packing. Finally. Tomorrow my friend Anne will come to pick up my evil cats. She loves them. I have no idea why. They are furry, big-eyed, soft, purring, cuddly monsters of destruction.

*happy*

Writer's Block: Grimm Question

2009-06-04T18:57:40Z

What was your favorite fairy tale as a child?

Submitted By wolfy284

View 503 Answers

Little Red Riding Hood

I have no idea why.

Writer's Block: Multilingual

2009-05-30T12:42:52Z

How many languages do you speak?

Submitted By 40alatariel

View 503 Answers

Dutch and English are the languages I can safely say I speak. But what is "speaking a language"? I am pretty certain I can keep up a conversation in German and the French will understand me as long as I stick to general touristy inquiries and ordering food. I once spoke a few sentences of Italian that were of use. All I remember now are a few opera lyrics that I do not believe I shall be using any time soon if ever.

Nessun dorma!
Guardi le stelle che tremano d'amore.
Il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia!

*sigh*

That's where each and ev'ry Lulubelle goes...

2009-05-29T22:04:04Z

Thees will be amusing...

Rejoice!

2009-05-28T13:18:45Z

Good news about the job sitch.

The company who decided not to hire me decided to hire me after all. I had a talk with them today and somehow I managed to convince them that I am worth a gamble. They are pretty nervous about it but they believe in me. I've been told to prepare for three extremely hard weeks. Before I go on a holiday they will squeeze all the working juice out of me.

That's fine. I love working hard. I am glad they changed their minds. This is an excellent career opportunity for me and incidentally I shall also be able to pay the rent.

/me heaves sigh of relief.

Trouble

2009-05-27T16:22:36Z

*sigh*

These have been a hard few days. There is a very great chance I will be out of a job soon. The past few days I have spent working towards a solution to this rather sudden and scary situation. I managed to get the problem from "certainly out of a job next Monday" to "maybe not out of a job next Monday but certainly probably out of a job in three weeks". It's not much, but it's something.

I am panicking and tired and simply scared. I need a new job.

Workout

2009-05-24T14:10:08Z

I was supposed to get myself on a bicycle and off to the beach today. But I didn't feel like it. Instead I did a 15 minute gospel dance workout I found on Youtube. Yes. Ahem. I nearly died. I am still sweating.

I know I should have vacuumed the house *before* working out. Deep in my soul I knew that a workout would tire me a bit and that I wouldn't feel like vacuuming afterward. So I'll sit here with my feet on the cat hair covered floor. The cats don't mind.

.

Communist Pine Nuts

2009-05-21T18:07:34Z

I have a bad taste in my mouth.

YUCK

I have tried brushing my teeth a zillion times a day but it doesn't work. Every time I eat something it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I like food. I used to like it anyway. Now I don't. Food is evil.

After two days of thinking someone is poisoning my sammies, salads and coffee I decided to google "bad taste in mouth".

I have found the cause of my suffering.

COMMUNIST PINE NUTS

The Italian salad I ate three days ago did not contain Italian pine nuts but Chinese pine nuts. According to the Dutch National Health Department Chinese pine nuts contain a certain unknown (communist)substance that 'might' cause people to have a bad taste in their mouth for several days up to two weeks.

Who'd have thought they'd try to take over the world by sending out pine nuts that cause people to have a bad taste when they eat. What are they trying to do? Starve me to death?

Damn those commies!

*whine* I'm hungry.

Writer's Block: Space Wars

2009-05-19T07:59:47Z

Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Serenity, Alien, 2001—there is a long list of movies and TV shows that take place in space. Which is your favorite?

View 501 Answers

Start Trek Voyager.

Yay Janeway!

Meme

2009-05-17T18:47:43Z

Stolen from princesslucia

Your result for The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)...

The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF)

Quirky Liberal Alpha Female

The hardest part about being the Renn. Faire Wench is that people often mistake you for a beta female. This is not so. You might be quite flirtatious, but you are hardly relient on men. You like to do things the mainstream would consider weird, (like dress in costume, perhaps?). Eat, drink, and be merry, but make sure whoever you date respects you and does not take advantage of your laid-back attitude. (BTW, you are likely the only type who can see That Creepy Guy (NLBM) for who he is, helping him to bring out the Manga Geek (QLBM) inside. This does not mean you have to date one, however. You are quite flexible and can enjoy the company of many of the types.)

You are more QUIRKY than NORMAL.

You are more LIBERAL than TRADITIONAL.

You are more DOMINANT than PASSIVE.

When picking a date, consider: The Lord of the Misfits (QLAM), The Fratt Boy (NLAM), The Snowball's Chance in Hell (QTBM), The Manga Geek (QLBM), or That Creepy Guy (NLBM).

(Image from http://www.buycostumes.com/Lock-Lace-Bodice-Navy-Renaissance-Collection-Adult/27296/ProductDetail.aspx )

Take The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?) at HelloQuizzy

Things that make me happy 8 of 9

2009-05-17T18:32:55Z

Language makes me happy. I love it. I love it when people speak correctly. I love knowing the story of language. Where do words come from. What did they mean two hundred years ago? Did they exist two hundred years ago? Five hundred years ago? How did we come to speak this language. Why do people in England speak a Germanic language instead of a Celtic language? Why did Latin die? I love it when someone writes a beautiful sentence. skwashy is very good at writing beautiful sentences. Skwashy darling! Please write me a beautiful sentence. Make me happy!

Things that make me happy 7 of 9

2009-05-17T18:19:58Z

This weekend I visited my mother so I'm one behind on my happy things posts. So two in one today!

Music makes me happy. I am so glad that there is such a thing as music. I do not have a very defined taste when it comes to music. If there is something beautiful or interesting about a song I will love it no matter the style or genre. Music has played an important role in my life. I played the clarinet as a child. Very badly. In my teens I suddenly decided I liked classical music. My parents were not pleased. I used to sing in a choir and at together with friends at school events. When I was at university I started playing the cello. Reasonably well. In the meanwhile I listened to all kinds of music. To display how my tastes can vary I will post two music videos.

Janet Baker. How pretty she looks, how lovely she sings.

This song fascinates me. It's unusual and it has a nice bass. The text translates as: "Come on bunny do jiggle. Come on bunny do jiggle, skip. Skip as if you're in the forest." The grammar is not fabulous.

Things that make me happy 6 of 9

2009-05-15T22:46:19Z

New challenges make me happy. I am curious and want to learn new things. I want to experience new things. This doesn't go very well with my need for rest but it makes me happy all the same. When I was 21 I decided I wanted to learn how to play the cello. I was fascinated by the instrument and by orchestras. My goal was to play in a symphony orchestra before my 31st birthday. I did it. I can play the cello and I know about playing music in orchestras and ensembles. I know lots about music and the classical music scene.

Now I know about all that so I subconsciously was looking for a new challenge. The new thing turned out to be writing. Now I write stories. I want to write a book at some point. I want to know what it is like to do that. To write a book and be happy with the result. Trying to find a way to publish it and to see if people want to buy it. I suppose that if I have done that I shall move on to a new challenge. I have no illusions. I am not the next Toni Morrison. I just like learning about new things and doing new things.

Fascinate me!

Writer's Block: Word for Word

2009-05-14T10:18:28Z

How many (if any) songs do you know by heart? What are they?

View 504 Answers

I know a few songs by heart but this one I really like.

Sonntag

So hab’ ich doch die ganze Woche
Mein feines Liebchen nicht geseh’n,
Ich sah es an einem Sonntag
Wohl vor der Türe steh’n:
Das tausendschöne Jungfräulein,
Das tausendschöne Herzelein,
Wollte Gott, wollte Gott, ich wär’ heute bei ihr!

So will mir doch die ganze Woche
Das Lachen nicht vergeh’n,
Ich sah es an einem Sonntag
Wohl in die Kirche geh’n:
Das tausendschöne Jungfräulein,
Das tausendschöne Herzelein,
Wollte Gott, wollte Gott, ich wär’ heute bei ihr!

I had intended to embed a wonderful youtube kinnie of Lotte Lehman teaching a girl how it's done but it can't be embedded. If follow this link you should get there too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHyXlpeCmyw

I also know the lyrics to all the Jesus Christ Superstar songs. Actually I can even hum along all the bass lines. Now all there is left to do is learn the dance. Shake it!

Things that make me happy 4 of 9 AND 5 of 9

2009-05-14T09:09:54Z

I noticed yesterday that very often it is things I hate that signify the things I love. I hate it when for some unclear reason the city is full of cars and it takes me 30 minutes to get from one traffic light to the next. I hate it when I can't find a place to park in my neighbourhood because of the bad bad parking regime that was supposed to make us able to find a place to park the car. It is all such a dreadful waste of time. Now, on to the thing that makes me happy.

It makes me happy to be able to travel fast and without problems, waiting time or hold ups. In this country it is pure magic if such a thing happens. I remember one time when a rather complex travel schedule worked out perfectly. I was traveling from London back to my home in the Hague. It involved driving a car in London, catching an airplane, taking the train to the city where I live and then the tram to my house. For some incredibly reason traffic in London was reasonable so I caught my airplane in good time without need to worry. The airplane left 15 minutes EARLY (!) because everyone who was supposed to be in it was in it. The airplane arrived 30 minutes EARLY in Amsterdam. I walked over to the luggage belt where my suitcase just popped out of the thingy. I picked it up. Bought a train ticket walked to the platform where my train appeared as if it knew I was coming and it brought me to the city where I hopped on the tram that took me home. It was pure bliss. From London City to my home in less than three hours. Traveling can make a girl so tired but after this trip I felt like I could clean the house, cook, cycle to the beach and have a wild night out that same day. Of course I didn't do anything of the sort. I just dropped myself on the sofa and enjoyed the experience.

Another thing I hate is when internet connections don't work or sites that I want or need are down. It can be so frustrating! Especially for a girl hooked on her her ordie like I am. Yesterday I just could not get lj to work for me. That is why Happy 4 and Happy 5 are squished into one post.

New internet connections are always a battle. I currently have three internet connections. An old one which I had canceled as of the first of May. A new, wireless one that was connected to my downstairs neighbours instead of me and which only works in one (rather inconvenient) corner of my apartment and another new one that I just can't seem to get to work because it will not accept a password that it says I can choose myself. There are only two requirements. More than 6 letters and less than 32. I can count so I can deal with these restrictions. The new internet provider cannot count and has some issues. I called to ask if they could fix it.

Chap on phone: "Usually I would be able to fix this for you but right now that particular system is down."
Me: "All right. So when *can* you fix this."
Chap on phone: "I don't know."
Me: "Why is it giving me trouble anyway. I am doing everything right."
Chap on phone: "I don't know. It just does that sometimes."
Me: "How inconvenient. And you really don't know when this system of yours is fixed."
Chap on phone: "No"
Me: "So what am I looking at? Hours, days, weeks...months?"
Chap on phone (hesitantly): "Um...it *should* be back up later this afternoon."

And this was after wading through a complex menu full of loops and dead ends. Dial 8 for.... *sigh*

So here I am with three internet connections. Two new ones that don't work and one old one that isn't supposed to work because I cancelled it but which is the only usable one. Usable is the only good thing about it. It is my old cable connection. The one I had in the apartment downstairs. Currently the cable runs from my old apartment downstairs through the hallway up the stairs into my hallway into the new apartment. It has been that ways since April.

The thing that makes me happy is actually a thing that *would* make me happy. It would make me very very very happy if internet connections would just work. I am really not very silly. I can install these things. I really can! I can drill holes in walls so I can plug in a few cables connected to a modem. I can! But for some reason installing internet is never straightforward. I move often and every time I move I have to go thought this ordeal again. I have NEVER had internet simply work after following the instructions. It just doesn't happen. Why? Why do they connect my internet to the neighbours? Why does the installation program not accept my perfectly reasonable password? Why do they not simply cut off my connection when I ask them to? Why in the name of the goddess of intertubes am I paying for THREE internet connections just to get ONE signal that I don't even really want?

I am going insane! Please make me happy! Please make it all right.

/me crawls into a corner sobbing and pulling her hair.

.

Writer's Block: Dream On

2009-05-14T06:49:48Z

Do you ever have recurring dreams? If so, are they good dreams or nightmares?

View 502 Answers

There are recurring themes and locations in my dreams. They are anxiety dreams.

The most important recurring dream that I have is the one in which I want to go home but just can't seem to get there. It will always be that moment of day when it is getting dark and everyone is going home or has just arrived home. Usually I have to go home by public transport but something always goes wrong. I catch the wrong bus, can't find the right bus, miss a connection, can't find the right train, the right train has just departed and it was the last one of the day, I miss the bus/train by a second, the bus is so full that it won't let in any more people. There is always something and it will be cold and dark and I so desperately want to go home.

I have had this dream since I was a child. I dreamed about this for the first time when I had started taking the bus all by myself to visit my cousin in the next town. He lived right beside the bus station. I told my mother about the dream and she decided that it meant I was too young to take the bus by myself after all. Interestingly enough my dreams very often revolve around this particular bus station and bus line. It really must have made an impact since I am still dreaming about it.

I also dream about an amusement park called Efteling. This one occurs in my labyrinth dreams. I think these labyrinth dreams are a variation on my public transport dreams. I will be stuck in this amusement park unable to find my way out. It will be closing time and everyone is going home. Sometimes it is not closing time and I am wandering around trying to have a good time but they changed all the rides and they are ugly, scary, cheap, dangerous...you name it. I always end up wanting to leave and not being able to find my way out. Sometimes I do find my way out in the dream but then I find myself stuck on the parking lot having missed the last bus home. This is where the public transport dream starts again. Always the same. *sigh*

I wish I had better dreams.

Things that make me happy 4 of 9

2009-05-12T10:10:39Z

Mail from friends. I love getting postcards and letters. It is always so wonderful to find a pretty card under that horrid pile of bills and advertisements.

My dear friend skwashy sends me care packages every now and again. She knits me beautiful hats and scarfs and buys me maple syrup. She sends me music she likes and goo for my hair that will make my curls prettier. I never even heard of sun protection factor 70 but Skwashy sent it to me so evil uv rays will bounce right off my pale skin.* She takes such good care of me. If I didn't have Skwashy I would run around bare headed without a scarf with a tan face and sagged curls. And I would have pancakes with apple syrup instead of maple syrup. I like maple syrup much better. (Smooch darling!)

*I worked with Koreans some time ago. They were very surprised when I arrived at work one day with a face all red from sun burn. They honestly thought that the paleness of my skin would reflect the light and that I was therefore immune to sunburn. I wish.

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