Muffles writings

Tree

Tue, 26 May 2009 09:58:27 GMT

There is a tree and I call it a witch tree at work. Why? well it looks like a dead tree and it's all covered with white fiber from a caterpillar. As I read online it doesn't hurt the tree, but it does give the tree an aerie look. It looks like it stepped out of a fantasy book and maybe in the nights faeries dance around it.
This morning I read more about the same phenomenon. More trees are covered in different places and also one car has become the victim of these caterpillars. It makes great photos, but I wonder if the owner of the car think the same thing.
While we as humans are still busy with our lives and hardly notice what's else around us, nature still does her own thing. I am glad. Mother nature still loves herself.

Dancing

Sat, 02 May 2009 13:37:45 GMT

It was a free day and thus a crowded day. The sun was flooding the filled streets of my little town. Sometimes a few white fluffy clouds floated in front of the golden rays, making the streets a bit colder. But with a solid 18 degrees Celsius it was still a nice day to shop and that was exactly what I was doing. Saturdays are lazy days. That is if I don't have other plans like going to the movies and out to dinner with friends. And I didn't. So shopping it was.
I walked through town, bought some small things like socks, discount books and a soup to eat. And finally I arrived at the supermarket for my butter. I am on a diet, but according to people with knowledge I should keep eating my bread with butter, so I'm obeying - which is easy since to me bread without butter is like a french movie without the subtitles; I need both for the complete experience.
I walked through the supermarket. It was crowded and I was annoyed. The market was small and many people were in the way. I tried to stay relaxed and thought about the sun outside and imagined myself on a desolated beach with my girl and a pina colada in one hand. It worked for a while, but not enough. I wanted to get out and go home and then, all of a sudden, my eyes caught her. She was dancing and waving her little hands, as the world around her didn't matter at all. In fact the world around her was like a big happy playing ground and her mom next to her a safe haven. She was dancing and smiling and I was thinking how my life was as a kid. I felt a smile creeping up. She was right. There is no care in the world when you are happy with yourself. I left the supermarket. I was still smiling and looked up. It was a good day and in my head I started dancing too.

Pigeons

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:11:17 GMT

During my eight hour working cycle I like to take an hour and a half lunch break. The company I work for is located in a area where more companies have their residence, so there is less room for entertaining things like shops and restaurants. There is a McDonalds, a gas station with sandwiches and a shop where they sell kitchen appliances and home made sandwiches (for a extreme high price I might add). In the passed 4 years I've already been to every one of them, so nowadays I just walk and eat my own sandwich from home.
The walk takes 30 minutes and takes me to a road, several companies and some greens with rabbits. I like rabbits and when there's sun my mind takes me away to different, far away places and filters out the noises of traffic. It's a way to try to relax in busy times.
So sometime ago I was walking. The sky was blue, there was sun, but the temperature was still only a bit passed the zero mark. A good day to get a fresh nose.
I was looking at the rabbits when I all of a sudden saw the pigeon sitting there. he (or she) wasn't sitting in the grass, but just on the pavement. I was also walking there, so I suspected it would fly away after seeing me. But
it didn't. I love animals of all kinds, but I also like to make myself believe wild animals are only wild for others and not for me. So I tried to approach it and see how close I could get. I called it. I am not good in the pigeon language, but birds always whistle, so I was sure the pigeon would understand my dialect (what is a world without dreaming). I approached it very slowly and it was still sitting there. maybe it was hurt, I thought. So I imagined what to do. I could bring it to my work, but where to put it and how would my boss react on it? All questions without a real answer, so I proceeded walking towards the bird and all of a sudden I saw a second pigeon.
It was sitting next to the one I saw previously and it looked like they were keeping each other warm, feather in feather. The bigger one seemed to hug the smaller one and wasn't about to let go, only because that big human was walking there too. but the big human was curious and bowed it's body to look closer. The bigger pigeon sighed and let go. Stupid human, he was thinking. I am here with my woman, so buzz off. I oughta.. you ugly human. And both birds flew away.
My dream was shattered. I couldn't talk to animals. I was just a big ugly human. I continued my way and despite the disappointment I smiled. Good to see love on a cold day.

Peanut butter sandwich

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:51:33 GMT

In a pitiful attempt to replace my girlfriend in her cooking (since she's gone for a few months) I listed myself as an contender at a cooking course. At home I already tried to imitate her tomato soup, which wasn't half bad. Of course hers was sweet and had flavor, while mine was well tomato-like and not sweet at all. The recipe is pretty easy. Just add butter, sliced tomatoes in the water and boil until it's all mashed up. I added some tomato paste and soy sauce for flavor, but still it didn't work. I will continue soon.
But for the rest of the cooking I needed a course. That's what I figured anyways.
Yesterday I went to the classroom and the nice Chinese woman explained in broken Dutch her recipes. It sounded easy. One group was in control of slicing the vegetables and the other group, called 'Brown Bears', were there to cut the meat, which later would all be mixed up in the right order to create the dishes. The system worked and within no time we had all the ingredients ready for our cooking lesson. The teacher turned on the gas and noticed there was no gas at all. So other people tried again and all we could make was a little fire which wasn't even hot enough to boil an egg.
Did we do something wrong? That was the question, but one of the volunteers in the building told us we did everything right. So we had no gas and no fire. And those two are pretty essential when it comes to cooking.
We drank wine and ate the oranges and melon. No dinner, just the dessert.
I was glad I already ate before I entered the building.
In a few weeks we'll try again. For now I will make another peanut butter sandwich.
I miss her food.

Missing

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:01:11 GMT

I hate to loose something what I usually tend to take for granted. But soon it will happen. My girlfriend needs to leave for China again. And even though we still have a week together, I already miss her dearly. I loved the time we've been together. We were like a real married couple. I know in September that will be happening for real. I used to be afraid, but I am not anymore, or at least not at the moment. She is perfect or rather as perfect as someone can be for me and in my eyes. She has been great the past three months. But I didn't miss her. I loved her and love her, but I took all for granted. I knew she would be there for me when I came home. But after next week, she won't be there for me. At least not at home, but instead she will be in a country many thousands of kilometers away and this makes the missing real. Instead of the 'married couple' we'll be the 'Living Apart Together couple' and I'm not sure if I like that. Not anymore anyways. I want to be with her.
So I hope September will come very soon. I will be going to China again and see her and her family again. I will be able to kiss her again and also marry her. So this is the thought I will use to keep me floating for the next couple of months.
I love you, baby! I'll be missing you. I will count the days.

Photo's

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:12:19 GMT

I make photo's. It's a hobby, but deep inside I do hope I make some money out of it and even deeper inside I hope I can make, well maybe, a job out of it.
Last week I got a mail from paypal. They wired me 29,95 in euros and I was wondering why. Now I know. I make photo's and placed some of them on a website, for people to buy them as a stock photo or whatever. I'm listed as a photographer there for maybe a year and never sold anything. And now, without warning, I sold one.
I am happy. I am the man.
Look at nationale beeldbank. It's Dutch.

Cake

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:39:39 GMT

My mom made a cake. It could be because I was just too cheap to buy a pie or two or maybe three for work. But it could also because I like my moms cake and I usually never like cake. Usually the cake is too dry, not too sweet and in general just not my taste. But I like my moms cake. So I asked for it, so i could treat my co-workers. Ever since I was a kid my dad always took the cake to his work. I know it was born because of a lack of money, but it stayed because everyone liked it so much.
Today i treated my co-worker on cake because a few weeks ago i engaged myself with my lovely girlfriend. I September there will be a wedding and I will attend. It will be scary, but I will marry. It will be held in China, so there won't be cake. But next year, I am sure, I will try to make my own cake for special occasions, so my kids can treat their dads cake when they are older. It's a good tradition to keep.

Tag.. you're it!!

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:28:17 GMT

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

1. I value my friends and love my girlfriend, but I am sometimes taking things for granted too

2. I sometimes live in the past and believe everything used to be better. I'm just getting old

3. I love making photo's and you can see them on www.flickr.com/photos/muffles. Commenst are always welcome

4.I like making games and hope to start again

5. Still deciding what kind of job I want in life

6. I am engaged :) And she is a lovely Chinese girl

7. I love sushi and I also learned to make it myself

8. I need to be more serious about losing weight. Hard, since I do like food

9. Sometimes I have a hard time concentrating myself, so in those times I like to be quiet and can get irritated with noise or other distractions

10. Food is my hobby

11. I am a very curious person and believe it is a good way to discover new things in life. Yet I am also kinda conservative and cling on to some things I'm familiair with

12. I love traveling and so far have been to America, France, Spain, China, Denmark, Germany and England

13. I love to be right hehe

14. I like cola, but love fruit juices and such. I don't really drink alcohol. Although I do like cocktails

15. I don't like computers. It's just a tool and necessary evil sometimes hehe

16. Did I already say i love food? I like all kinds, but especially sushi, burgers, Spanish food, salads, nuts and probably a whole lot more. I don't really have a favorite. Well maybe except the potato salad of my mom and her split pea soup

17. I always wanted to be a movie director. I failed, but who knows.. maybe someday :)

18. I don't really care for money. It's good to have for doing a few nice things, but i never had big wishes in my life.. well except the traveling part. But i rather share what i have with the people I love

19. I will be married in China. I will will make this step the 9th of September in the year 2009 :) I will be 40 and the '9' is a good number in China

20. My favorite holiday of the year is Christmas.

21. I am very sentimental and emotional. I love daydreaming

21. I love the sun. I also like snow, but not the cold

22. I hate lies and always try to tell the truth myself. I have a hard time telling a lie, I would feel guilty all the time about it cause my conscience won’t allow it!

23. I love animals

24.I love watching movies

25. Life will take a turn this year, so I am excited and scred about it. But I will keep going on and see what it will bring

Ice fun

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:07:29 GMT

Ice fun
Originally uploaded by Muffles

The daughter of my sister is 11 and she never saw real ice. And with real ice I mean the frozen rivers, lakes and other natural water substances of which Holland has many.
She's 11 and only the past two weeks the temperature has been below zero. Enough to turn the water into ice. And enough to make people want to skate the ice again.
As a little boy I used to remember how to ice skate too. I was never a natural, but it has always been part of the raising of a child in Holland. Two things always have been important. The first being teaching your spouts to swim and the second to learn them to skate the ice.
But now there's been a whole new generation of kids never being able to skate natural waters since the winters never've been as strong as it has been the past two weeks. Of course in decades before, the weather have been producing much stronger winters then this one, but at least the past weeks have been giving us the frozen rivers, lakes and other natural water substances of which Holland has many.
The daughter of my sister has been ice skating and with her did many. I saw many happy faces. I saw many red cheeks and I heard many laughter. I was never big on ice skating myself, but I do hope - for them - the frost will return and turn Holland, even for a little while, in the Holland of my youth. The Holland I used to love.

Writings

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:06:52 GMT

As it turns out, I have a big family. My mom is pretty active in finding, to me, unknown family members. My last name is pretty interesting and in Holland not a very common thing, so it stands out.
Recently she told me there's a writer in the family. I never heard of her before, but ever since my moms news I looked it up on the mighty Internet and found a few interesting pieces of info and, which is more interesting, tidbits of her writings. I was mostly pleased with 'The diary of Daffodil' (Dutch link). It's a story of a young girl struggling with her weight and the illness of her mother.
I write too. Not as inspiring as Debora, but I do like my writings (when I'm in a positive day) and I certainly love the daydreams I get after reading some of my work. I see myself rich, famous and happy. And of course only being happy is important.
Maybe one day my book will be ready. I keep on dreaming. But I have my family as my inspiration now :)

Happy

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:32:30 GMT

I am happy. Of course there are many things in life to be happy about, but it all depends on noticing it and most of the time I don't (a side note is that I will work in 2009 on my ability to see happiness more often and try to enjoy the simple things in life a lot more then I did in my head). But aside from that I can say I am happy my cat is better again.
The past few days have been a nightmare. I was sick and at present time I still am, however not as much as I used to be. My cat has been sick too. She threw up, didn't eat for 5 days, sat quietly in a dark corner and made me all worried.
Finally I visited the vet and she said her stomach was upset and gave me pills, a few injections and shot water in my cat because she was dehydrated. And now - luckily - she seems better. I am glad because getting liquid food into her mouth has been a challenge. I still need to clean the walls with the light brown goo. I pity all the moms trying to feed their offspring with the food from a jar. I can honestly say I wouldn't be a good mom, so I praise you all.
I am happy.

The Best Wishes

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:45:13 GMT

With the start of a new year, we, in Holland, also have the new years tradition of wishing everyone you see the best wishes for the new year. This sealed with the shake of a hand, or -in the case of a woman - three pleasant kisses on the cheeks.
So here's mine to everyone: The Best Wishes for 2009. And let's shake on the promise of making 2009 the best of years, the year happiness conquers sadness, the year love kicks the butt of war (despite the already on going wars), the year wishes find a way to come somewhat true, the year the air will get cleaner (because of the awareness we're all living on a planet worth saving), the year people get less stressed out and more tolerant. And the year I will make my own new adventures.
I wish all well.

Jamie

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:12:46 GMT

Jamie
Originally uploaded by Muffles

Every morning she stands there. She cries, she talks and looks at me with her big brown eyes. Jamie likes food, but she is a picky cat, so she only likes certain food (but never cares to share with me exactly which food she likes). I am picky when it comes to money, especially since I don't have much of it, so I give her cheap food. Not all the time though. I just make a good variation of the cheaper and bit more expensive food. She also gets cat treats, but she's still picky.
This morning Jamie was looking at me and saying:'Dad, I want to eat, now. I do like you, but please give me something I like.'
I cannot blame her complaining though. I also complain. So she learned it probably from me. I am picky too.
I petted her head this morning and Jamie said:'Thank you dad.'
She is like me. So a hug is as good as food.

Wishing you a great 2009

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:24:45 GMT

The company is closed. Not in a permanent way, but today is the beginning of the last week of the year 2008 and most companies have closed their doors and send their workers home to be with their loved ones.
We are open. Just a few people here. We are tough and sit here for the clients with urgent questions. We don't mind. It's pretty quiet and a good time to think about the year almost past. Was it as I expected? Did any of my New years resolutions come true? I can for sure say 2008 has been the year of being in love, so I know 2009 can only become even better :)
From this place I want to wish everyone a happy 2009, filled with love, warmth, happiness, kindness and joys.

Proud

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:46:01 GMT

As a beauty in my bed she's sleeping. It has been two weeks and already my girlfriend tried many typical Dutch dishes and liked it. It amazes me how much she has adapted to the Dutch way of life. I am glad, but I know I would take a much longer time to adapt to her Chinese life, even though I think her life is great.
She has a loving and caring family and a few close friends. And the past weeks my family has been nice to her also. My girlfriend likes my 'Oma' (grandma) and she survived a family birthday with many smiles.
This week we've also been to a restaurant for the annual company Christmas party. It was in a Belgium restaurant hidden deep down in Amsterdam. A bit hard to find, but when we got there, everyone introduced him- or herself to my girl and smiled.
The food was nice. Many small samples we shared with everyone. There was fish, fries, ice cream and much more. All had typical Belgium names and there were of course also Belgium beers. Belgium has a rich beer tradition, so many co-workers loved it.
My boss was sitting across the table and talked to my girlfriend. He made jokes and she laughed. In fact I think most people laughed. It was a nice evening and my girlfriend had a very good time.
So my girlfriend likes Holland. Mainly because I am Dutch, but I am proud of what she already achieved. I am proud of my girl.

My lovely girlfriend in Holland

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:14:24 GMT

My lovely girlfriend in Holland
Originally uploaded by Muffles

My girlfriend is in Holland and so far she's loving it. She even loves the Dutch food. I personally hoped for her Chinese influences, but so far most we eat is Dutch. But for integration this is of course perfect. I guess I should start cooking some Chinese food myself :)
She's been in Holland ftor only a week and already she can find her way with many things. This makes me very proud of her. She is very much my girl.
I, on the other hand, am struggling with a serious cold and I feel my nose running all over the place. So I will return when I've found him again.

First snow

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:16:43 GMT

First snow
Originally uploaded by Muffles

Snow.
I honestly can say I love snow. Those little white flakes always make my heart jump for joy and my stomach scream for more. So when ever I see the white flurries falling from the light grey skies, I'm there.

This weekend was a cold weekend in Holland. But today it finally happened. We had snow. It was the wet variation, but still it was snow. So I took a photo to give me that special feeling again.

The season of joy starts again. So I hope this will bring you in the right happy mood. Joy to everyone!

Pink

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:36:27 GMT

I saw her in the train a few days ago. The train was packed, as usual, but I had a seat. Every station more people entered. It's my usual start of the working day. But it was one of the few times I had a seat, so I was relaxed.
I looked around. I could only see faces and bodies packed up together, but suddenly I saw two pink shoes; two high heeled pink shoes. I looked up and a Chinese girl was standing there within the mass of people. She looked like a colorful lotus flower between the standard dandelions. She also had a pink briefcase. It was too much pink for me, but all in all a nice refreshment nevertheless in my usual boring morning train.
I smiled and wondered where she would be going with all that pinkness. I wondered if her car would also be pink.
I looked away and thought about my girlfriend. I smiled to myself; not many days before we would meet again.

Matties

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:28:38 GMT

Holland is a mish-mash of many cultures. As I heard somewhere there are maybe around 150 flavors in one big colorful pie. In my opinion many flavors give a great taste, so I am happy with the cultural differences.
The youth here usually seem to use a language combined of Dutch (of course) mixed with words of Moroccan, Turkish and Suriname. Especially in and around Amsterdam this street talk can be heard.
This morning I was in the metro going to work and I noticed a Chinese guy. There are around 60.000 Chinese people living in Holland and most use their own language and own customs, but when I heard the guy picking up his phone I was surprised to hear the common street talk coming out of his mouth. He used words like 'Doekoe' (money) and 'Matti' (friend). It was rather amusing to hear him talk like that, as I never figured he would.
As I also noticed myself, it is sometimes hard to integrate well within a different culture. I am open to many things, but sometimes I also miss the things more common to me, when visiting a different country. I am not a big fan of the Dutch food, but here breakfast is a sandwich with usually something like cheese and this can be totally different in other countries. So sometimes I missed that sandwich.
But when I saw this guy I thought about the youth having an easier time adopting to new things. So I think the future will be even more colorful then it already is.
So 'matties', I hope you will have a great day today :)

Snow

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:18:03 GMT

This weekend we had snow in Holland. Where I lived it wasn't as much as I hoped for. Little white flakes were slowly falling, but turned into water by the time they reached the warmer streets. However, since the prediction of real snow stays on, I still have high hopes for a white Holland.
Next week my girlfriend will arrive. I hope she will also experience snow. Where she's coming from there isn't snow. I still remember how my cats first reacted on it. They jumped in the air to catch the flakes and with big and careful steps they walked the fully covered grass. Really adorable. I know my girlfriend won't do that though, but she will be adorable nevertheless :) And I know she will experience many thiongs for the first time. I hope it will be a time to remember for her.

Bond

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:16:38 GMT

Me and dad, youth
Originally uploaded by Muffles

I am a product of the late 60s, but my active memory has been formed in the 80s. So all I can remember is from that time and up. My first ice skating event, the taking care of little ducklings I found abandoned by their mom, the numerous boat trips with the self made boat of my dad, the fights with my sister, the times at school, the listening to r'n b in it's original form, the watching tv on a small black and white television, the first discovering of my sexual needs and the 80s blockbusters like ET, Annie and the James Bond movies.
Yesterday I saw 'Octopussy'. The first Bond movie I saw in the movie theater was 'For your eyes only', but 'Octopussy' is the next best thing. For me Roger Moore was and is James Bond. I know some will argue, but that's probably because they are from the Sean Connery era.
So yesterday I had the 80s blues. My mind wondered away while watching the antics of Mr. Bond in far far India.
I loved my trip down Memory Lane.
As I get older I feel a yearning inside my body, a missing. It is something I never understood about my parents, but now - as I am close to the age they used to be - I can say I know what they meant. I think it's all about growing older. As a kid it's easier to adapt to new situations and everything seems interesting. It's the best way to learn in life, in my opinion. But as an adult things take up more of the time. And thus seem harder.

I like my future, but I will keep a place in my heart for all that has passed. Those memories deserve a place too.
Thanks Bond.

Rabbits

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:27:28 GMT

Hey
- Ehrm.. hey
So how are you today?
- Dunno.. Ok I guess. Nothing happened so far
How are the kids?
- Well you have to ask the misses, but I think all 13 are fine.
Nice day isn't?
- Yeah I guess so. It's sunny at least. Good for the fur. I'm trying to tan.
Well I like your color. It blends well.
- Thank you. Yea.
So how long do you think we have to sit here?
- Dunno.. maybe until those two humans behind that window leave?
Yea.. we better. I bet they wonder what were doing here all day.
- Yea.. humans are strange creatures. Like they are doing something useful. They are just standing there looking at two rabbits. It's not what I call a productive moment.
Your right.. look at us.. I mean my wife says I'm pretty productive.
- Haha.. yea. I have 13 kids to count for.
Oh look they are gone.
- 'K.. well I think I will hop inside again. Getting productive, ya know.
Yea.. good idea. See you later. I will try to work on my tan.
- Later dude.

Busy

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:02:12 GMT

Life has been busy and without inspiration, so I apologize for the lack of news. Of course I can write about how Obama won the American elections, which I'm glad about, and how it influences the rest of the world. Or about me reading a new book again by Charles de Lint, called Blue Girl. But I have the idea all is not that interesting. I must say I am enjoying the reading again. I love fantasy. It's good for my mind and gives me energy. So who knows.. maybe soon I will have some topics again.
I can write about the rabbits I see outside the window, near my work. Hmm.. let me think.. I will keep you posted.

Chivalry

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:32:30 GMT

I've seen him often. He was a blind man and always taking the metro. Because he did it so often he always could find the escalators. I admired his independence. I always wondered what I would do in the case of being blind. For now I can only conclude I would be scared to death.
So he was walking there with his cane. He seemed happy.
All of a sudden a woman grabbed his arm and directed him into the right way. He didn't mind. At first I thought the two knew each other, but later I realized it was just a total stranger helping out a fellow human. I was glad. There is still something like chivalry in this world and it made me smile.

Amsterdam

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:01:42 GMT

Amsterdam is a town with its own identity. More like a country within a country. General rules but different explanations. So in Amsterdam you can see things you probably won't see in other parts of Holland.
Yesterday I was on my way to the train station and there is was.. something I'd never seen before somewhere else.
I saw a girl riding her bike and next to her she had her dog running. He was on a leash and it seemed he liked running because he was doing it almost faster then the girl on the bike. But the curious thing was that the dog had two little bags on his back. Here in Holland you can sit on the back of a bike, but you are also able to put two bags on it for all your groceries. Very nifty, so I have it too. But I never saw it worn by a dog.
I didn't know what to think, but I can only conclude.. it can only happen in Amsterdam.