January

Janus Head - In Greek mythology, Janus was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. His most prominent remnants in modern culture are his namesakes: the month of January, which begins the New Year, and the janitor, who is a caretaker of doors and halls. (from sublimethings blog)

That’s a good concept to start off with. And work on the God given day of Sunday. What a pity, I say. What will they do if they run out of the Sunday as well? Will they come up with a small day in between? The Somday. We’ll be forced to work on the Somday to make up for all the in-between-mistakes of IT or solve any other issue that cannot be dealt with on a normal working day… Anyhow, the good news about it was that we ended up the week with a team dinner at a Lebanese resto. Had some good mezza’s, though didn’t trust the raw lamb. Mistrust anything raw that made sound once and just sits on your plate! Or bring on more wine. That we did. Talked about not having a speech and about news on tv. Like on the 72-year old mother. I’m happy she’s still getting some. Water pipe was needed to keep the conversation going after this one. Then we remembered youthful drunkenness stories of party, disaster, joy and faith no one will notice what you’ve been doing one night before. Few of us standing went for some other beers at Leidseplein. Though the tram should have come, it didn’t. Every one else gave hope on it. I walked home for a change. Very refreshing, especially since I was off the next day.

I’m drumming my evenings away and building condition on Enter Sandman. It’s so damn difficult to keep up the toms going again and again throughout.. how does Lars do it?! He’s so strong and beautiful. I think I’m in love.

We’re having parents over for dinner. I’m not sure why we always end up having some conversation that embarrasses one of the persons at the table. It must be a family thing. Always one. Or the other. The beauty of it is that you almost never know whom the next one it’s going to be. Hopefully not you. In a starting family it’s always good you don’t think yet.. or you don’t realize, like when you’re 2. We went to visit friends who already have 2 children. One of 2 and one just born. The kids don’t even know what their parents are up to.. the one who can play, plays with the iron.. he could come over to my place – loads of ironing to do! Then he plays on with everything else that moves, while our friend shows us the newly acquired bed that moves around to accommodate different sex positions. We retire to the living room, my Russian friend is cooking again big time, it always feels like home and Sailorboy always feels like too much whiskey. Modern couples drink too much whiskey and red wine – hi and her respectively. It’s a couple disease. When you’re out in public you drink cocktails and beer. But we all know what you drank last night ;)

Monday is the Quiz Monday. Quiz Monday is the Monday you embarrass yourself in public for all the years you partied hard instead of reading a book or two. Unless you’re with your friend the Walking Encyclopedia. Then you really get a chance. The more smart friends you have, the better. So we actually got to the point where we were winning on general knowledge questions. Until we failed big time on the TMF music round. Then we realize we also need stupid friends who just dumbly watch the garbage on tv nowadays. We’ll do better next time!

The highlight of the month was shopping in Paris in between a training session and a train back home. Back home to Amsterdam, ‘cause I’ve celebrated 3 years of being here. That’s a lifetime! That’s something to remember.. about when I started this blog.. oh stop being such a sentimental fool! Just want to say: I’m still lovin’ it!!

To celebrate once more, I went to an Amsterdam Klezmer Band concert. Brilliant Dutch music with a Jewish twist and a hoopla-hoopla feeling swarming around ‘til your clothes get wet. The orchestra was so close to us and their shiny shoes so kitschy, we were one big family and a Balkan-Western nation. Good tunes, good vibes! I want more!