Accidents happen...

Tonight while cooking, I heard a loud noise. Like something breaking, real broken.

I looked out the window and saw a girl lying on the pavement, oranges, vegetables and a scooter scattered in six parts.

After staring for a while, I realised what happend. A good ol´ traffic accident. Nothing strange. However I found it my duty to investigate (see my previous post with fascination with medical detectives!).

After speaking to the girl and the "apparent" guilty boy on the scooter, I produced my last band-aid and cotton wool with tape as emergency measures.

Back in my apartment I mulled over the thought of checking to see if everything (especially the girl) was okay.

I decided to take out the trash.

The girl was gone, but in the dark alley next to my house I found two boys desperately trying to fix a scooter in the dark.

It made me wonder:

Where is the police?

When are they coming to fix the sign?

PS. I know the pic is out of focus... It adds to the dramatic effect!

My mind

I have adopted a true Dutch way of thinking. Not everyone will agree, but my thinking has changed so much since I have been living here.

I have learned to switch off lights as I go – my father would be proud. I remember big printed signs on the back of the garage door in our home saying “Switch the light off!”. However it never got through to me. And at the enlightening age of 30, and also after receiving an electricity bill of 650 euros, I get it.

Crime has always been an interest of mine. Which is strange, because I am such a scaredy cat, and not fond of bullet holes or blood. I had a Forensic Detectives phase, which lead to Medical Detectives, and eventually for the mass market, CSI Miami, New York and Las Vegas! I devoured it. That has since passed, but still the interest for true crime remains. When a new book came on the market here, Woensdag Gehaktdag (meaning Wednesday, Minceday) about a guy who was suspected of mincing his wife in a meat mince machine, I was on the case! I watched the interview, looked for the book online and was determined to buy it. Then social responsibility (a fairly new feeling for me) stepped in. After having lost everything to drinking and gambling and sitting many years in prison for the admitted murder of his wife (though not with a mincer), this guy has got no money. And no job. And I will literally be paying him a salary when I buy the book. (I am not even doing him a favour with a link to his name). Up to this day, my curiosity has never gotten the better of me, and I remain faithful to my new belief of not helping criminals.

The same thought-pattern followed when I saw the new O.J Simpson book on the shelf. Fondly remembering watching the trail on TV way past my bedtime with my father, I reached out for the hardcover. And retreated.

It may sound pretentious, I know, but I do find it refreshing to think about things now that has never crossed my mind.

In the same spirit, I have read this book. What is the What by Dave Eggers.

I do my washing on 30 degrees instead of 60. I try to print only when necessary at home. I am still not succeeding in that at work. I recycle. Glass with glass. Paper with paper. I take the tram and the train– partly due to not having a parking permit, but I do feel like I am earning 5 extra points in the climate debate.

I guess living so closely with each other in this miniscule country must have taught the Dutch something about tolerance and being responsible.

And I am a patient student.

Free time

Having to entertain myself quite a lot while Jaco is away, I have become a big youtube fan.
Not only does it provide unlimited entertainment until 2am on a Monday morning, it also is amazing to see what other people do in their free time.

I have picked some current favourites:

Margarita Pracatan

Margarita Pracatan is a Cuban novelty singer, who found success in the 1990s when Clive James had her perform live on his TV show on numerous occasions. Radio DJ Martin Kelner also played her frequently on his BBC Night Network and BBC Radio 2 programmes.
According to her website, Clive James discovered her Manhattan Public Access program and invited her to the UK to appear on his show. He sweet-talked her into believing he was serious, and she signed up. Not once on the show did he make it overt that he knew what he was doing, but his introductions to her end-of-show performances contained a tiny amount of teasing irony.
- Wikipedia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8iZ0AIEWH8

Also with Liza Minelli watching...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hpkP2mb4SA&feature=related


Check also her other videos amongst others Mamma Mia from Abba!
I can see her walking through Heathrow with a feather boa dragging the keyboard through security!


Living in pancakeland:

This one is extra special for me...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG5gO4nlLRQ


Plain White T´s:

The new Weird Al´Yankowich!!! How I miss him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMqTKA8BxvE

That is all for now, I prefer writing to posting links as you know, but this was too good to leave.