the summer light

Have not been in a very Bloggy mood this week as evident from my silence. But, it's the last Friday in April, and my summer, which I consider to commence with my birthday weekend in Porto, is in view, a mere 7 days away. I can almost feel the sunshine and warmth of both weather and upcoming company.

I just had a thought about the role Amsterdam Schiphol airport plays in my life. It is in fact, the gateway to and from all things fabulous (well, except Paris of course, thank you NS) but without Schiphol banality and mundaneness would definitely be rule rather exception.

EEP just realised the time, must jet. TBC.

mad mad mad mad MAD world

Although April has been physcially stationary, it has been a veritable rollercoaster of life events, unfortunately more downs than ups, today being no exception. It has not in essence been my own personal ride, but watching others plummet and rise and fall again has been excrutiating.

I don't have too much more to say on it other than I think I will have wine for dinner.

let the summer maintenance begin

Summer, in all it's splendid glory, is a challenging season, in all manner of aesthetic upkeep and associated finances that go along with it. No more hiding under bulky clothes and blaming bad hair on the winter dryness/humidity/snow/rain/cold etc etc. It's time to EMERGE from that winter egg and be reborn anew.

This of COURSE necessitates, to all who pay attention to such things, an extreme notch kicking to the hair/skin/clothes/feet/nails/hair removal/tanning regime. And NOW. Will we be PASTY? NO! Will we be HAIRY? NO! Will we have pretty feet and tanned skin and fabulous soft highlighted hair? YES! YES WE WILL! Will we need a bank loan? See previous.

It is no wonder that the female self-maintenance/betterment market is a billion dollar worldwide industry. Tanning package, 70 euros; hair trimmed and highlighted, 50 euros; summer hair products to dissuade frizziness, 50 euros; eyebrow and other assorted waxing, 32 euros; pedicure, 25 euros; summer skin moisturizers and tanning lotions, 25 euros; seasonal make-up and wardrobe upgrades, I hate to think; feeling like a supermodel throughout another summer in Europe and all that it promises....priceless. The Aveda salon owns my soul.

And, it's FUN! Well ok the waxing part maybe not so much but the rest most def.

AND, it's OFFICIAL: M&D are on their way! I booked the tix myself. And not only will there be more than ample time to explore the wonders (?) of the Netherlands, I have personally booked what will be a GLORIOUS 3 nights/4 days in Paris!! OOOOOH GIBBLED! JUST GIBBLED! I even found a new restaurant/bar so insanely trendy and hip I can barely stand to look at the website without going blind with happiness. Hehehe I am sure there will be both shock and horror associated with the price of a hip and trendy European dining experience, but whatEV it's Paris in the summer. AND mumsy's birthday - what better reason to celebrate?

...tonight will mark the first trip to the hospital...am at loss for words..

In the meantime, am suffering many ill effects from hidden onions in various tapas of last night's dinner. Super double ugh. I feel like I ate a basketball, and might as well have.

in one month

It is April 19. In one month, I will celebrate the passing of another year and in usual form take stock of what was and wasn't and contemplate on what will be. I was tempted to launch into a "where was I a year ago" memior this morning (tae bo procrastination) however I think I will leave that until the actual day, although I can't help but think that it's been a whole year since my Keane Chicago extravaGANZA. Mmmmgooooodbirthdaytimes.

I'm tired. And SO wish I was jumping into a plate of Stella's french toast rather than jumping around the living room with Billy Blanks - I'm starving! And not too motivated. OOOOh my NEW workout DVD should be arriving to the office this week - I hope its proclomations hold true and that "high intensity" doesn't just mean a lot of effortless shuffling to AM Gold Radio Hits (I believe the title of this new one is Solid Gold workout or something...God let's hope it's not some sort of Richard Simmons-esque Sweatin' to the Oldies spin-off...).

Speaking of off, I am. Feeling the caffeine tabs kicking in.

no comment

Sometimes bad things happen and they really tick you off and you complain and get over it. Then, sometimes truly bad things happen, so beyond worth contemplating let alone complaining about that silence becomes your only option, aside from as many heartfelt supportive and consoling words you can muster to those who need it. I prefer to tackle these situations in practical manners - tell me what I can DO to help, meaning of course easing in any way possible the ongoings of outside daily life knowing full well that I can DO nothing to change things or (as is my personal belief) alter the course of what is to come. That is not to say my absolute best thoughts/hopes/support/encouragement/solidarity are not with those affected, but I am not one to consider myself capable of steering the course of fate by any personal means.

I suppose I did have a comment after all.

In other news, in one short little week we will welcome a superduper friend and former IPSFer from last year who I haven't seen since Cairo way back a million years ago. SfS will grant us with his presence for a mere 2 nights but that should be ample time partaking of good food and drink and company. Feel the love...good times.

I still have quite present in my mind The Opportunity, although was also enlightened of similar if not as readily available situations from T. Eye on the prize...baby steps...

Phone ringing...work calling (literally)

for the love of god i just wanted the Fruit 'n Fibre

But what I GOT was a bottle of red wine vinegar careening out of the cupboard to smash on the floor scattering shards of glass and red wine all over the kitchen, open air living room, my flip-flopped feet, and my favourite snowman jammies.(REVELATION [pun intended] - a flood of red wine vinegar on lo' this Easter Saturday...how...apropos). BOB L'ÉPONGE!

Anyway, after dousing the kitchen in various cleansers extraordinaire there is still l'aire vinaigrette in here but I figure with enough candles and open windows eventually it will clear out.

There is also l'aire d'amour around the flat as roommate X (NOT a pseudonym, believe it or not, hehehehe) has welcomed Sweetie Pie P for a week of trippin' and their own Barcelona b-day celebrations. Quite cute, they are.

As for me, I hope I can kick this long-standing headache before the tentatively-still-on trip to A'dam this aft. OOOh speaking of which I better call the gallery to see if it's open...

do i smell spring?

On the walk to work this morning I am quite certain I smelled freshly cut grass (and not old repulsive cut and bagged grass reminiscent of a horrible summer spent cutting lawns), which is quite unusual considering the lack of grass in the city (relative to where I hail from, that is) and especially along the cobbled/concrete path that is the way work. But it smelled fresh and nice and was quite a welcome reminder that it is Easter and spring and summer is just around the corner (despite the fact its still freezing here, relative to where I prefer to hail from, that is, hehehehe). Although now the clouds have moved in and it is windy. MEH.

I am dabbling in alternative music selections this morning. I woke up in an Elvis mood and decided to tune into an all King radio station but this morning they seemed to be focused on Gospel Elvis rather than the personally preferred Blue Hawaii Elvis so I have now switched over to the 80's station where Jon Bon is telling me that we're half way there and we gotta hold on to what we got...ahhh take me back Jon. And PLEASE be sporting the pink snake skin pants and rocker hair.

Last night was a very weird night, apropos for the week I suppose. It ended with a not entirely unwelcome but not entirely welcome or invited or at all expected overnight guest. I am beginning to think this is my destiny at 171 Da Costastraat, being falsely hospitable to not entirely unwelcome but not entirely welcome/invited guests. If I had to adopt a personal phrase for the current home situation which would become my immediate response to all manner of "good morning/good night/slaap lekker/is there anything on tv" it would be: WHY are you here? You don't live here. Please stop talking to me.

Hmm it may be spring out but I don't seem to be demonstrating too many warm and fuzzy thoughts this morning, am I? Plus my lunch date got postponed, quel tristesse, but it is absolutely for the better and will only make the time better when it happens.

GP, as of these last few days or the day to come, should be picking up what is to become one of my most favouritest things ever in that non-stop-action-packed-one-of-the-best-cities-in-the-world venue of NYC. And I said, what about, breakfast at Tiffany's? And he said, I think I remember the film....I'm ALL about the lyrics today. Much is missed between here and there but in 42 days all will be remedied.

But in a mere 21 days I will set forth on what I am most confident will be one of the best pre-joint-birthday parties of the past 28 years, EVEN surpassing last year's celebration with Keane. How can it not be? I'm going to yet another one of the best cities in the world to meet some of the most FABULOUS people in the world for FUN and MERRIMENT and PICNICS and MARTINIS! Throw your hands up, it IS your birthday!

Well, I better get down to work. And by work I mean plotting fabulous locales on a map of Barcelona for X's trip. Ahhhh, the planning of good times....how I love it so...

what a STUPID week

That's pretty much all i have to say at the moment.

PostBlog: Saturday will be fabulous, and 23/43 days to ultimate celebratory greatness.

saturday morning fun house

Mmmmmm it's Saturday. I tried very hard to stay in bed but the sleeping sickness of last week that had me in bed for 9 (NINE!) hours at a time seems to have spontaneously resolved, as am back to the personal normality of finding even 6 hours a stretch. Not only that, I think I pulled something in tae bo yesterday and have some very significant discomfort in my side (lateral pec?) when attempts are made to move.

I have purposely not commented on the results and developments of the week that was, wrt The Opportunity. They have not been bad, by any means, and in fact stomach-jittery rocket-exciting potential for greatness still exists but there are complexities and not so easy decisions involved. Such is life, n'est pas?

I have made a boring/exciting purchase. Boring in its function but exciting in its style, one might say. The purchase was a result of not being able to find a toothbrush like that to which I MOST enjoy from home. So, rather than expend a month's worth of energy to find the Colgate Super Brush, I settled upon one from the competitor Aquafresh - the Addidas of toothbrushes, if you will - that promises, with not only bristles but "specially designed soft rubber polishing cones" to dramatically whiten teeth. I can't say that last two days have or will produce any results but in the meantime I am enjoying the proclaimed "space age technology".

I think breakfast calls. They were out of Kellogg's Bran Flakes so I had to settle for the EXTRA fibrous All Bran Buds, suggests one may be better off gnawing on a card board box. Maybe a banana will help...will report back.

three days and counting

It has been three whole days since The Opportunity has presented itself...three whole days that I have not been dwelling on it. OK, I suppose if you consider that my inquiry was in all likelihood not discovered until yesterday, AT earliest, then it has been a mere 34 hours that it has gone unacknowledged. ERM so I hear....as it were. Will be sending a further expression of interest tomorrow, to ensure my first was received in good order.

I have consumed a litre and a half of Diet Coke today stewing over it...and more than that in coffee I am sure. And I question the origin of my jitters...

However, WAS reminded today that I am loved by at least one BCN inhabitant which always bodes for a happy time to follow. Mmmm and a trip to NYC will bring a MOST awaited present, almost two years in the making. Cannot go wrong with that classic blue box with a bow. At breakfast or otherwise.

Today plans for the summer got ever more interesting and exciting! After over 2 years, it seems as though M&D are FINALLY making the trip over. WHEEE!! Ohhh the places we'll go! Aside from the New Homeland (NL) there will be Paris and perhaps a trek to the latest favourite, or two. And aside from that, contemplated making a short trip to Porto to celebrate in fashion-trendy-chic style with 2 of 3 GBF's, also May Babies. We'll see how it turns out...

Well, off to scrounge some dinner I suppose. Bag o' sla. I am far from enthused...especially since I ran out of Bag o' Sla accessories (read: cherry tomatoes). Hmmmmm Turkish pizza shop right across the street.....

like a big pizza pie

Well, it's 10h45 on a Sunday morning and as usual the church next door is ringing its bells in hopes of enticing (read: guilting) people into interrupting their lazy Sunday mornings in favour or repentence and the quest for spiritual guidance and betterment. Today, however, as I in usual fashion neglect to heed their call, can't help but think that the clanging tune sounds much like That's Amore. Hardly apropos for a House of God, I am thinking. I for a moment entertained the notion that it may be Dean Martin's birthday (it is not, which is June 7, 1917, thank you Google) and that the church was somehow following modern rote and capitlising on celebrtiy endorsement, but alas, not so. Hmmm, they have as such stopped.

Yesterday, I came across a most exceptional opportunity. SO opportune, in fact, that if realised in any fashion will be life changing. One is also trying not to dwell too much on it, as the Masters of Fate seem to steer things in alternative directions if One hopes with all fibre of One's being for one path over another. That being said, One can't help but feel jittery with anticipation of feedback to a forwarded inquiry.

Also tainting the weekend is more than sad news about post-congress travel plans. Disappointment is a most unpleasant sentiment. Worse than sadness I would say, for with disappointment one can't help but dwell (there's One dwelling again) on what MAY have been, and the fabulousness associated with plans never to be realised. But, such is life, many would say.

So, on this rainy blahh day I will do what is best done on rainy, blah days: take residence on couch and watch Bridget. And definitely not dwell.