Things that make you go hmmm..., vol. II

Tragedy

What has happened to New Orleans and the states around really is a tragedy. It amazes me though that with all the storms hitting the US more and more and stronger and stronger there still is no public discussion about the possibility (at least) of the current climate changes inflicted by civilisation. No talks about the 'Kyoto Protocol', SUV's for inner-city soccer moms or life with or without airconditioned doghouses.... At all.

I don't want to sound like a tree-hugging green activist here, but I do think some common sense would be appreciated. And it's okay if the discussion starts after the whole mess-up is cleared. If it starts.

This whole thing makes me go hmmm..., big time!

10 things that make you realise you’re actually becoming old (like 40+ or something)

10. Half of the music they’re playing on Einslive you don’t know and the other half you don’t like. You prefer ‘spoken-word-only-radio’ like WDR 5.

9. All of a sudden I find myself thinking that the new Volkswagen Passat is a ‘good looking and reasonable car’

8. When waking up I sometimes need assistance to get out of bed. And my back hurts.

7. Hair start growing in weird places

6. ‘Going out’ means having a decent dinner somewhere civilised. And not hanging out in club until 4 am, going homes pissed and smelling like an ashtray the next morning.

5. I’m getting married. Like, soon!

4. Having a cup of coffee with your old man does not estrange you

3. You miss the sound of ripping off the shrink-wrapping around a brandnew 12”. The Thompson Twins or so.

2. Two thirds of the bars and clubs of your hometown are completely unknown to you

1. Thinking about retireing. And speaking about it not only with your accountant (Hi, R.!) but also with your bank. Pension funds and stuff. Must be the wedding…

Nothing

Nothing new.

Nothing special has happened.

Nothing to blog about.

...but while you're here, feel free to comment to each other!

Chick flick

After 'Batman Begins', 'Fantastic Four' and 'Sin City' we had to go to the movies yesterday and watch a girlie movie:

'Must love dogs'.

Here's my review: Good looking kindergarden teacher (very realistic! as if...) goes online to find her a new love after just being divorced. John Cusack who plays a boat builder that has never sold a boat (yet lives a very cool 'loft-like' appartment - very realistic! I 'd start building boats right now if those places come with the job) falls in love with her. She needs to hop into bed first with (very realistic!) super-good looking in-trailer-park-living Dermot Mulroney and gets 'used by him. Turns out he's a dog (very surprising plot twist!). They finally meet again and this time it's real love! (Insert tears here and there, you'll recognise the 'sentimental' bits when the soundtrack gets moody!)

Guys, let me put it that way: the three movies we saw before were as realistic as this rom-com but much better photographed! And my comicbook heroes at least had sex!

Mein Nachname

Hilft bei diesem Wetter auch nicht weiter. Egal wie oft ich das " Sommer, heissen Sie? Dann sorgen Sie doch mal für entsprechendes Wetter..." höre - ich kann nix fürs Wetter!

Und wenn - glaubt jemand ich hätte an so einem Sch***-Wetter Spass?

I want to believe

After last Fridays investigative meeting with the priest, a brief exchange with G. on the other blog about religion I think I finally found something: The First United Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Now I'm reconsidering - maybe I should become a 'Pastafari'? Does anyone know one of their priests?

The Naked Chef

I wish she was. But - apart from cooking dressed mostly - The Girl does cook as 'formidable' as Jamie Oliver. Who also happens to be one of her favourite and main sources for finding new recipes. Everytime I go to England I try to bring back at least one Jamie DVD or some cooking magazine or book for her. It still amazes me that a person can find so much satisfaction and relaxation in putting together the most complicated and tasteful dishes. And look so slim and fit after cooking all these great things...

For example on an average weekend like this I was treated to lovely homemade pesto (We were invited last Friday. Pasta with Pesto at C+C's place. A shame C. still has to learn how properly cook pasta. Buddy, it's called 'al dente'!), Saturday evening she tried some 'Vietnamese caramelised Red Snapper' on Basmati rice and to top that all off we had 'Spicy Chicken salad on Glassnoodles and Cucumber' yesterday evening. No wonder I need to be on diet again Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the coming next weeks...

As the German saying goes: " Liebe geht durch den Magen!"

Very basic, very relaxing weekend

* Friday really was the start for the meeting since I took a 'home office' day. Which is always something to look forward to. Basically: my coffeemachine, my music, my schedule (i.e. very early start without traffic). Main reason for the 'home office' day though was an appointment around noon with the vicar. Pre-Marriage counseling. Read all about it here.

* Saturday came with a late late breakfast for The Girl which then had to head for town to help a friend cooking. So finally I had the Little F***er all for myself. Some speeding here and some speeding there and I also went into town for some shopping: running gear, travel guides, magazines and renting some DVDs. Speaking of DVDs -I just had to rent One night in Paris for pure curiosity. And now that we've seen it I can honestly tell you that is sooo dull. Seeing a 19 year old girl performing oral sex on her boyfriend - mostly filmed in nightvision mode - made us think of The Blair Witch Project mostly. Which is not a good thing when watching homemade porn. There were much better things happening that Saturday (no pun intended!). C. came over and finally introduced us to his new girlfriend and she was a very nice and very good looking girl. Plus the The Girl treated me to a lovely 'Vietnamese Caramel Snapper' which was absolutelz gorgeous...

* Today we had yet another relaxing start and I doubt that any of the rest of the day is going to be different!

Currently playing (a lot!)

Last WinterISPO we exhibited in the 'posh' fashion area of that tradeshow. Along with the premium competition twice a day came a fashion show in the main area in which all brands were given the chance to display their latest collections. Not that the show was that exciting - but there was one track that they played that kept haunting me. After finding out - with the help from the Vodafone data bank! - which record it was, the scavenger hunt began. (click on pics to enlarge)

* Lemuria was a 16 member 'funk ensemble' from Hawaii(!) and 'Hunk of Heaven' was their only minor hit back in 1978. Don't ask me how this track made into the boxes of well known funk and soul DJs but it obviously did. It is however a killer track: funk, disco and soul all in one infectious blend and a song with a hookline that makes you smile and dance!

* The hunt was on. MP3 doesn't cut it for me and the original vinyl was a) too rare and b) way too expensive (although I was tempted!) I found the track then on an obscure soul & funk compilation by DJ Spinna named 'Strange Games and Things' but unfortunately Amazon was never able to deliver it to me! So if someone finds this CD - I'll take it!

* Finally last Tuesday in Hamburg I managed to find some time and browse through the excellent CD section of the Saturn store there. AND - to my absolute delight - the good people of Jazzman Records have decided to bring out a compilation named HunkOfHeaven with - of couse - the Lemuria track as the header. ....I haven't stopped playing it ever since!

Ihre Vermählung geben bekannt...

 

Bin ich froh, dass wir ganz einfach 'Sommer' heissen werden! Immer noch, und immer mehr Infos zur Hochzeit des Jahres auf  'Al und die Pixelschubse'...