On Saturday night, the boyfriend and I went to Rotterdam, to the famour concert hall called 'de doelen'. It's just as ugly as the Philharmonie in Berlin - maybe a tad bit uglier. But the sound was pretty neat.
Beethoven Ouverture Die Weihe des Hauses
Kurtág Songs of Sorrow and Despair
Beethoven Symfonie nr.9
Die Weihe des Hauses - we missed part of it cause we were a tad bit late. But at least we got pretty seats because of it - last box on the right. Great view, great sound.
Songs of Sorrow and Despair by Kurtag...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurtag - yeah, sorry, but that contemporary stuff isn't for me. I might have to listen to it a few more times, but jesus, tough on the ears.
I love Beethoven's Nr. 9, I love classical orchestra music. If you compare the regular pop music to classical orchestra music, it's like 1-D vs. 3-D.
I mean, look at it - in Popmusic, there's a few bits you punch into your pc (I know, I know, it's not THAT easy) and then, on the other side, it's a new song. Tadaa! Here we go, who do we make famous today? I do like popmusic, don't mind a bit of 'Barbie Girl' or 'Hit me baby one more time'.
But it just doesn't move me like classical music - when the strings dwell up to make you feel like you're drowning in sound, it tingles your spine and I feel like I'm hugged by music, so tight that it makes me dwell up.
The Moldau, by Smetana, is one of my favorites. Close your eyes and let the music take you on a journey. The way Smetana makes you feel like you're floating on the Moldau, how the scenery changes with the difference in sounds and instruments...how the emotions change.
These guys, these composers where truly genius. If you ever get the chance to look at scores for big orchestras and choirs, it's amazing how they managed to make it all sound so amazing. So perfect.
I need to get back into the routine of enjoying at least one classical concert per month. In Berlin it was the season ticket to the Opera, let's see what I can find here.
Take the time to listen to classical music and let it give you goosebumps and tingles in your spine...start with easy composers, not the heavy Wagner things. Maybe Bach, maybe Beethoven. It's beautiful, and uplifting. True work of art.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Oh, and...
I'd like to welcome my first follower, Jules. Stay tuned, I'll try to inspire you every day. As always. I'm good at that, right?
...or shall we just go shopping?
Miss you!
...or shall we just go shopping?
Miss you!
Happy Birthday Germany...
it's German Reunification Day...amazing, how I was born into a world of cold war and a parted Germany, and now it's the 20th time that we celebrate the wall coming down. Despite all the Nay-sayers and the definite downsides the Reunification had for the former Western part of Germany, and all the former Eastern Germans who still believe that their regime rocked their socks off - I am a sucker for reunions, and love it.
I loved living in Berlin, it was great to be right in the middle, to breath and live in recent history.
Happy Birthday, Germany. I'm proud of you, and I love being German.
I celebrated the German Reunification Day in Rotterdam with a beautiful, beautiful concert http://www.dedoelen.nl/concertgebouw/index.php?go=agenda.showAgendaDetail&idnr=4262
(Kurtág Songs of Sorrow and Despair were a bit tough on the ear, but other than that, it was fantastic...)
I loved living in Berlin, it was great to be right in the middle, to breath and live in recent history.
Happy Birthday, Germany. I'm proud of you, and I love being German.
I celebrated the German Reunification Day in Rotterdam with a beautiful, beautiful concert http://www.dedoelen.nl/concertgebouw/index.php?go=agenda.showAgendaDetail&idnr=4262
(Kurtág Songs of Sorrow and Despair were a bit tough on the ear, but other than that, it was fantastic...)
Friday, October 2, 2009
An Ode to my friends
I'm sitting on my couch, the apartment is pretty much finished (yes yes, apart from the bathroom, but that will come) and I'm watching 'What happens in vegas'
It's a funny-ish movie, I do like Cameron Diaz. Ashton Kutcher...yeah, well.
I missed the very beginning of the movie, but then they started with partying in Vegas. I realized how much I miss partying with my friends, specially my girlfriends. I remember the days (Gosh, I'm old!) when we went from party to party. Or jesus, the long weekend in Cancun (back when I lived in NC)...totally crazy, but so.much.fun.
Or the festivals I used to go to -no shower but so much fun for 4 days. God, I loved it.
Moving countries is fun, cause you always meet new people - a lot enrich your life, some are like white noise that fades away quite quickly. Some stay, some don't.
Lately, I miss having my girls around. I love my boyfriend, he is my best friend - just not one of the girls.
Having great friends is amazing - but it hurts when they are far away. It's like a part of me is missing.
I remember the time I had my first motorbike -and my best friend rode bitch and her parents weren't allowed to know. When I had my car driving license - the freedom we felt! The world was our playground - although we didn't manage to get further than the next big town...
These experiences together are memories that shaped me. Made me into who I am.
The worry in my friends' faces when my parents picked me up at a party when I was so drunk (for the first time) that I could barely stand.
The big world-destroying fights we had, the days of silence that felt like weeks, months, if not lifetimes.
The understanding without words, the laughing fits we had for no reason other than being silly girls. Making movies while sitting on the grounds, pretending like we have a camera in our hands: oh looks, butts and knees and feet and butts and feet and knees... again, followed by hysterical laughing fits.
Making first contact with losing a close friend was tough, and still makes me sad when I think about it. They were to young to go- I guess these days where the time when I first started thinking about the religion and faith I was brought up to believe in, and then deciding that it's not for me, and that it's all rubbish.
The unconditional love for and from the people I call friends.
I didn't care about where they came from, whether they were rich or poor, stupid or smart (ok, I never had patience for stupid arrogant people, I'll admit that), what political interests they had and whether they'll ever get outside the country. We lived for the weekends, who cared about school and careers and all that? Ok, yes, some of them did, but they were the boring ones....let's face it.
Life was simple then.
Yes, as probably everyone, I got disappointed and betrayed by someone I thought was my friend - hurting so deeply, literally feeling like I hit the wall at full speed. Again, this shaped me, too.
Getting drunk on one drink (that was bottomless, though) at a bar around the corner, until 3:30 am in the morning on a Wednesday...just because we could. Going clubbing until the birds started singing.
Sleeping until 4pm on a Sunday in the middle of summer cause we went out until stupid o'clock.
I am what I am because of the people surrounding me.
I don't have many friends, but the few people I call friends are treasured and loved and cared for. No matter where I am.
Being an only child, the people I call my friends are my family, my siblings.
It is hard to make new friends because not many can reach to my standards - the standards I have now because I have had the chance to meet great people, and be part of their lifes.
It is important for me to remember that once in a while - or rather, I remember it all the time, yet forget to tell them as much as I should. Life's too short to not tell people you love them.
It's a funny-ish movie, I do like Cameron Diaz. Ashton Kutcher...yeah, well.
I missed the very beginning of the movie, but then they started with partying in Vegas. I realized how much I miss partying with my friends, specially my girlfriends. I remember the days (Gosh, I'm old!) when we went from party to party. Or jesus, the long weekend in Cancun (back when I lived in NC)...totally crazy, but so.much.fun.
Or the festivals I used to go to -no shower but so much fun for 4 days. God, I loved it.
Moving countries is fun, cause you always meet new people - a lot enrich your life, some are like white noise that fades away quite quickly. Some stay, some don't.
Lately, I miss having my girls around. I love my boyfriend, he is my best friend - just not one of the girls.
Having great friends is amazing - but it hurts when they are far away. It's like a part of me is missing.
I remember the time I had my first motorbike -and my best friend rode bitch and her parents weren't allowed to know. When I had my car driving license - the freedom we felt! The world was our playground - although we didn't manage to get further than the next big town...
These experiences together are memories that shaped me. Made me into who I am.
The worry in my friends' faces when my parents picked me up at a party when I was so drunk (for the first time) that I could barely stand.
The big world-destroying fights we had, the days of silence that felt like weeks, months, if not lifetimes.
The understanding without words, the laughing fits we had for no reason other than being silly girls. Making movies while sitting on the grounds, pretending like we have a camera in our hands: oh looks, butts and knees and feet and butts and feet and knees... again, followed by hysterical laughing fits.
Making first contact with losing a close friend was tough, and still makes me sad when I think about it. They were to young to go- I guess these days where the time when I first started thinking about the religion and faith I was brought up to believe in, and then deciding that it's not for me, and that it's all rubbish.
The unconditional love for and from the people I call friends.
I didn't care about where they came from, whether they were rich or poor, stupid or smart (ok, I never had patience for stupid arrogant people, I'll admit that), what political interests they had and whether they'll ever get outside the country. We lived for the weekends, who cared about school and careers and all that? Ok, yes, some of them did, but they were the boring ones....let's face it.
Life was simple then.
Yes, as probably everyone, I got disappointed and betrayed by someone I thought was my friend - hurting so deeply, literally feeling like I hit the wall at full speed. Again, this shaped me, too.
Getting drunk on one drink (that was bottomless, though) at a bar around the corner, until 3:30 am in the morning on a Wednesday...just because we could. Going clubbing until the birds started singing.
Sleeping until 4pm on a Sunday in the middle of summer cause we went out until stupid o'clock.
I am what I am because of the people surrounding me.
I don't have many friends, but the few people I call friends are treasured and loved and cared for. No matter where I am.
Being an only child, the people I call my friends are my family, my siblings.
It is hard to make new friends because not many can reach to my standards - the standards I have now because I have had the chance to meet great people, and be part of their lifes.
It is important for me to remember that once in a while - or rather, I remember it all the time, yet forget to tell them as much as I should. Life's too short to not tell people you love them.
I'm ecstatic!!
It is finally done. All doors are fixed, they open AND CLOSE properly, I have a ladder into the attic that doesn't threaten to break in half due to being to short every time you look at it and the open fireplace is finished and so pretty. YESSS.
I'm happy. Now it's just small bits and bobs to fix.
Like a new bathroom.
I'm happy. Now it's just small bits and bobs to fix.
Like a new bathroom.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Life is good!
We picked up the boyfriends car from the garage tonight, as it had decided to be a real biatch on the ride home from Germany last Sunday. Imagine you had a lovely yet VERY EXHAUSTING long family reunion weekend, and you're looking forward to a swift 3 to 4 hour ride home so you can enjoy a cup of tea at the beach before the new busy week starts. You leave the family at around 3:30pm because you want to avoid crazy traffic. As we all know, Dutch motorists suck at driving, and Germans are just totally mental on the Autobahn. So - it's always a risk. But what can one do...
Anyways, so, imagine you're exhausted thanks to lack of sleep and slight family overload. You get on the motorway, put cruise control on and cruise gently along the Autobahn.
Until...all of a sudden, there's a lamp on the dashboard that didn't light up before. Hmmm...hey, boyfriend, what's that little sign there? No idea, so let's stop at the next rest area.
Ok, we did. And read the manual. Bought a magazine (shiny, me), candy (me), drinks (me) and motoroil (the boyfriend). Filled up the oil (boyfriend) and ripped open the candy so it was all over the car (well, me).
Then I tried to start the car again, and it started to die again right away. Question mark in the face of my boyfriend who was standing outside to listen to the sounds and stare the problem down. Retry the start. Same again. I panick A BIT, call my dad, he says: let the car sit for 20 minutes and try again. Ok, I try again after 20 minutes (and all the candy) and it starts, but is really not steady. We manage to head out. Then, we analyze and realize that we can't stop. Even with the clutch down all the way, the car will stall and then just not start again for 20 minutes. Maybe more, maybe less. FUN! And so no pressure.
Ok, we drive. There's a traffic jam coming up. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! I exit the motorway, manage to take the detour and navigate through lovely little towns, always on the edge and SLIGHTLY panicky with a valium-infusing boyfriend on the side. I manage well under pressure, just DON'T TALK TO ME OR ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS. So, we drive in circles for roughly an hour, then the boyfriend takes over, we figured out what to do to avoid it stalling (switch ac off, and open the windows - it was bloody warm still!).
We were home at 10:30pm. Another 7 hours on the road. It's a tad bit fast than last time, when we needed 7.5hrs.
Aaanyways, back to the title story.
We picked up the lovely car from the garage after the boyfriend was done with work (thank Smart Betty is so reliable), took the bus into town, went shopping (almost all for boyfriend, just so you know!!), then had lovely sushi, walked around town for a bit (I paraded around in my fancy schmancy new jeans) and then took the bus home.
Now I'm sitting on the couch, enjoying a cup of tea and loving my life.
Anyways, so, imagine you're exhausted thanks to lack of sleep and slight family overload. You get on the motorway, put cruise control on and cruise gently along the Autobahn.
Until...all of a sudden, there's a lamp on the dashboard that didn't light up before. Hmmm...hey, boyfriend, what's that little sign there? No idea, so let's stop at the next rest area.
Ok, we did. And read the manual. Bought a magazine (shiny, me), candy (me), drinks (me) and motoroil (the boyfriend). Filled up the oil (boyfriend) and ripped open the candy so it was all over the car (well, me).
Then I tried to start the car again, and it started to die again right away. Question mark in the face of my boyfriend who was standing outside to listen to the sounds and stare the problem down. Retry the start. Same again. I panick A BIT, call my dad, he says: let the car sit for 20 minutes and try again. Ok, I try again after 20 minutes (and all the candy) and it starts, but is really not steady. We manage to head out. Then, we analyze and realize that we can't stop. Even with the clutch down all the way, the car will stall and then just not start again for 20 minutes. Maybe more, maybe less. FUN! And so no pressure.
Ok, we drive. There's a traffic jam coming up. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! I exit the motorway, manage to take the detour and navigate through lovely little towns, always on the edge and SLIGHTLY panicky with a valium-infusing boyfriend on the side. I manage well under pressure, just DON'T TALK TO ME OR ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS. So, we drive in circles for roughly an hour, then the boyfriend takes over, we figured out what to do to avoid it stalling (switch ac off, and open the windows - it was bloody warm still!).
We were home at 10:30pm. Another 7 hours on the road. It's a tad bit fast than last time, when we needed 7.5hrs.
Aaanyways, back to the title story.
We picked up the lovely car from the garage after the boyfriend was done with work (thank Smart Betty is so reliable), took the bus into town, went shopping (almost all for boyfriend, just so you know!!), then had lovely sushi, walked around town for a bit (I paraded around in my fancy schmancy new jeans) and then took the bus home.
Now I'm sitting on the couch, enjoying a cup of tea and loving my life.
Ahh the excitement...
...of sorting through months of unfiled papers. As my internet is NOT working today and I'm not really in the mood for stealing internet off other people in the neighbourhood, I am being productive.
TV down yesterday (at least today I get my fix of homeshopping channels), Internet AND phone down today. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
TV down yesterday (at least today I get my fix of homeshopping channels), Internet AND phone down today. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
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