The Lady Grey Suite

this is it..

2009-08-05T16:34:00.002+02:00

www.nyjolenegrey.com

it's far from done, but when is a site ever done.
However, this is where I'll be jotting down whatsnots from now on.

:)
Nyj.

Sounds in the Attic

2009-07-23T15:46:00.002+02:00

Ok, so my website isn't done yet, but since a few days I'm working on a project that I want to share with y'all and I can't wait till my site is done to do it.

I'm busy making songs that are completely produced and sung by me.

*mega grin*

It is soooo much fun!

The songs are a little basic and simple, cause I'm kinda new at this. But my music program has lots of samples that I can use, and I try to 'compose' things that I can't find but want to hear.

So far I've been able to keep most of my songs close to the original idea I have in my head, and that's really inspiring.

Anyway, the songs i've uploaded on my hyves, so if you're curious, you can hear them there.

The first 3 songs (of Sounds in the Attic)

enjoy!

PS: Naturally, when my site is done, you'll find them there too.

my website

2009-06-21T01:21:00.002+02:00

Haven't been here for a while, cause I'm moving out...

I'm working on my new home... it's far from done, but when it is (or at least presentable), I'll post the location here.

Ciao

Happy day...

2009-06-07T23:26:00.002+02:00

My hubby found me this website: www.happynews.nl Yeah!
Started my little girl's second Scrapbook.
My Gilmore Boxset came in (no more downloaded episodes!!)
Had a fantastic evening with a girlfriend in Utrecht...
Just heard the song 'I Do Worship' a song a covered in a Gospel Choir that I left in 2005. I dropped all things Christian after I left, but the emotion behind the song still brings tears to my eyes...

Life is beautiful...

Gilmore Craze...

2009-06-06T22:44:00.005+02:00

I'm starting to sound like Lorelai.
It's pretty serious. At work today I couldn't stop ranting.
I know I talk a lot, but today...non-stop. Like a big pink bouncy ball that won't stop bouncing.
Or.... like Lorelai. She has the longest monologues a person can have. Now I am no Gemini, and according to my Gemini friend Lorelai represents one, but I am a Capricorn, and all the Capricorns at ABC talk... a lot. Anyway, guess what, I'm ranting now...

I always do that!
I get so caught up in a character, that I start copying things.
I remember when Beverly Hills 90210 was on tv, I was ehm young... dunno how young, I'd say in my early teens, and I loved 'Brenda'... before I knew it, I was raising my eyebrow at anyone who said anything I didn't agree with (excluding my parents).
Then when Clueless came, the eyebrow was replaced with a 'Whatever...'
And after that I got hooked on Ally McBeal, and got lost in the whole 'I'm weird and do funny dances and talk to things that aren't real'-craze, and now... I rant, and my sarcasm is right up there at the personal nr. 1 spot of recognizable Nyjolene characteristics. Lorelai-ism...

I need help...

(Can't stop watching though.... refuse to stop... no matter what they say... won't do it... can't do it.... it's not that bad.... really!.... it'll go in time... just can't give it up.... won't.... refuse to... can't make me... please don't make me... No!... ...)

Mr. Jose Abreu, I Solute You...

2009-06-05T15:11:00.001+02:00

http://www.ted.com/talks/jose_abreu_on_kids_transformed_by_music.html

I just listened to this.
That was simply beautiful.
Gotta share...

Only Just Discovered....

2009-05-29T15:51:00.002+02:00

Fun Lovin' Criminals....

(Don't Laugh...)

Anyway...

Enjoying...

A week filled with music, Saturday

2009-05-25T00:28:00.003+02:00

My booking agency is run by 2 people. One of them had a 40th Surprise Party.
There would be a cover band (Jewelste), and artists were asked to sing a song with that band if they wanted to. Naturally I wanted to, so I received a list with songs that they could play.
Scanning through it, I didn't know any of the songs very well.... except Valerie, and.... Britney Spears' first single....
Let's just say I had a 'Blink' moment. Instead of choosing Valerie, a song I've performed before, and I know well enough.... I chose Britney.
Later I called my other booking agent (who was organizing it) and checked what he thought of the choice. He had to speak in code, (she was in the office) but the message was clear... Green Light.
It seemed funny at the time...
Singing... 'Hit Me Baby One More Time...'
By Saturday I'd lost that feeling completely. However, I decided on a 'Melissa Etheridge' approach to the song. At work that day, I ran the idea by 2 of my colleagues.... I believe one instantly cracked up, but both had a strong air of disbelief that any approach could make that song even remotely ok...
So I want to the venue, still not quit believing I was really going to do this. As I had to work, I didn't get to soundcheck, so it was all going to be one big surprise.
I checked the setlist... I was half way down, so I used that time to loose my nerves in 2 glasses of gin-tonic.
The party was so much fun, that by the time it was my turn, I didn't care anymore. I mixed up the energy of Melissa with the vocals of Britney, without the nerves to stand in my way, and...
ripped it up.... :D
It was a total success!
Thank God for 'Blink'-moments!
The Birthday girl loved it, the audience loved it... and quit frankly, I loved it...
It was really cool!

I promised Ester (one of the disbelievers) that if I'd pull it off, I'd blog it. So here it is... :)
Now I'm gonna get some sleep...
(on vacation tomorrow, and I've still got lots to do)

A week filled with music, Friday

2009-05-25T00:25:00.003+02:00

I got a call Friday from Kemna Casting (Casting agency for Joop v/d Ende), asking if I'd like to audition fro Hairspray in Germany.

However honored that I was called, I had to decline....

A week filled with music, Wednesday

2009-05-25T00:23:00.001+02:00

So then Wednesday I get a call from a girlfriend who I haven't seen in ages, telling me there's 'The Hague Jazz' warm up in The Hague, and Frank McComb is playing.
Now, some people love Luther Vandross, some love Barry White, some love Marvin Gaye, some love Prince.... I love Frank McComb (Ok, I love Prince too, but you know what I mean...). He has written songs that have touched me to my core, in ways that gives me goose bumps time & time again. He moves me. I played his song when I lost my son. His voice is like a mix between Donny Hathaway & Stevie Wonder, and then that taken to another level...
Anyway,
The first time I ever saw him perform, in Paradiso, he was playing my favorite song, so here I am, in the audience, eyes closed, swaying to this song, and in the middle of his piano solo he says: "Yeah, you get your groove on girl." It didn't really register, certainly didn't think he was referring to me. But then he said, "Yeah, you with the glasses on..." So I look up, and he's actually looking at me!.... That night I went home a happy chick.
Then in Feb. 2007 I went to Java Jazz in Jakarta with 'Daughters of Soul', and I met him. ( I don't think he knew I was that same girl, though.... :-)
We were singing with Lalah Hathaway (daughter of Donny) as she was one of the Daughters, and they are friends, so I got to meet him. (I also got to chill in the hotel room of Chaka Khan!!!!!! at a sort of 'after party'.... looking back it seems like another life) anyway...
Me and Deidre, one of the backing vocalists, were both nuts about his voice, so we went to check out his rehearsal with the band, & later had a bite to eat with them, crazy...
That's 2 years ago. Now last year, I went to check his show in Amsterdam. After the show he came to the lobby and I bought the CD's I didn't have yet, & had him sign them, it kinda felt like the groupie stalking the celeb-thing, so I kept it short.

But now Wednesday, I'm here 'op t Plein' in the Hague, waiting for this show to start, and I'm chatting with my friends while waiting, and I look up, and Frank is there looking at me, like 'is that you?' Baffled that he'd spot me 'in a crowd' while he's on stage I couldn't help but grin, so he goes: "See! I knew it was you! How are you!" Still a little shocked I mumbled something, close to a "Great & you?" and then made myself as small as i could, as he continued with the set up.
Half way the show, he says to the audience: "What song do you want me to sing... 'Keep Pushing on?' Then he turns to me (I kid you not..) and asks, "What song do you want to hear?" Now, 'Keep Pushing On' was that favorite song, so naturally I said 'Keep Pushing On'...
Inwardly grinning the compete rest of the show.
After the show he even came to the 'front' and gave me and my girlfriend (who in a way looks like Deidre who he met in Jakarta, so I think he got them mixed up) a quick hug before running off again.

Once again I went home a happy chick.

A week filled with music, Tuesday

2009-05-24T23:21:00.004+02:00

Tuesday a friend of ours popped by unexpected to show of his new motorbike. He and I are also working together on a music project, so after my hubby & he had spent some time outside admiring his Ducati he came in for a drink. (The bike is bright Red with Black & White.... As flashy as a Ferrari on 2 wheels... Pretty Cool.... Have I ever mentioned someone gave me a ride in a bright Red Ferrari? It only took about 5 minutes, but a nice memory none the less)

So even though he'd meant for it to be a short visit... we got talking about the song we're working on, came up with some new ideas... it was fun.

The great thing about it is. The style of music is, well, I guess... Trance. Not the kind of music I generally listen to, but it seems I've heard it enough to understand it & to create the vocals that fit a trance song. It's really been fun. This is the second song we're working on and it's really catchy. It's so different lyrically from my own style, that it makes me feel 'proud' that I can pull it off... Kinda like vocal-acting.

Grey Day Today...

2009-05-17T15:16:00.003+02:00

There's something lovely about a grey day in Spring.

When you're at home all day in your PJ's, sipping a warm cup of tea & reading a book,
while you're little girl is listening to reggae music in her rocking chair &
you're hubby is taking a nap, 'cause he had a 'late night with the boys', and needs to catch up on some sleep...

Who needs the sun all day every day?
Nothing wrong with Grey ;-)

Over-Qualified

2009-05-14T22:09:00.002+02:00

Yesterday I was part of a singing contest at the CKC in Sweet Lake City (where I follow singing lessons).

It's my first year and this is my first contest. So I signed up.

I want to improve my technique, so I try to sing songs by women that vocally intimidate me, like Christina, Whitney, Beyonce, Mariah....

So for this contest my teacher suggested I sing 'Beautiful'. Great song, but the bridge is killing. I did my best at the contest, hit some interesting off-key notes and at times sounded like a kettle with boiling hot water, but apart from the bridge, it went well, so I was pleased.

Today I got the call..... They kicked me out of the contest.

(They brought it as subtle as they could, and hoped I understood, which I did.... still do...)

See, before you start singing, they ask you how long have you had singing lessons (since September) and do you intend to go pro (well, more like continue what I'm doing, but work on my technique).

So after hearing me, they decided that as I was more or less pro already, I was out of balance with the other contestants....

Hmmm....

I didn't really enter to compete, I just wanted to challenge myself, so I don't mind not getting the chance to 'go to the finals'. It's a compliment really. I mean, I was worried that I wouldn't make the next level due to the awful notes I hit in the bridge....

So initially I was cool with it.

But now that I've had 2 glasses of Grappa, and watched 2 episodes of Gilmore Girls (feeling a lot more honest), I do find it a little shame.

I guess if you can't test your abilities at the school where you're trying to grow, (some kids had 5-6 years of singing lessons...) it seems the only option is to throw your face on tv and compete with people that are trying to be famous... A bit too grand scale for me, with way too many side effects that I'm not too keen on.

Guess I'll continue practicing in my classroom.

Just for the record, I hope to one day sing:

-'Listen' from Beyonce

-'You Put a move on my heart' from Tamia

-'One moment in time' from Whitney

So after 'Beautiful' that's what I'm going for.

If you have any suggestions for challenging songs, let me know.

I'll diligently and silently work on them in my classroom.

Kind regards,

A somewhat sad Nyjolene...

(Time for 3rd episode of Gilmore Girls.... then 'bed'... need to be on time for work tomorrow)

A month later...

2009-05-12T22:48:00.003+02:00

.... never did mention if the bread was good.
(It was!!!!)
I didn't make 6 loves, just 2, and it was really good.
Really filling too.

It was my intention to repeat this bread-making success last Sunday at Billekens-Fennema Residence, as I had been informed that there's a pretty good bread baker there.
But when I got to the Hague (don't ask how, the trip was disastrous), and had settled a little (changed diaper, fed hungry baby and had a cup of tea), we decided that a stroll to the private Billekens-Fennema Garden Complex was a better idea.
(Why bake bread when you can relax in the sun & watch friends plant carrots & onions & clean out weed & such).
It was perfect. The garden is bigger than I imagined, and filled with all kind of plants & flowers & strawberries to be (wild & tamed). There was even a plant that smelt like Maggie (the weirdest, never heard of it before).
There's still lots to be planted & maintained & grown, but it looks 'lived in'. Like a home you've just moved into, you're still working on, but already feels cozy.
We (Deyora & I) enjoyed watching them (Bart, SophieB & Liels) work away while we sat in the shade, humming & relaxing.

As much as I'd like to bake bread there one day, I really look forward to spending an afternoon in their garden again.

Baking Bread...

2009-04-15T22:31:00.003+02:00

There's something satisfying about it...

My cousin called me the other day from Ireland.

She mentioned that she'd just finished baking bread.

I (stupidly) asked... "with a bread machine?"

"Bread machine?? No Man!" was the very Jamaican accented reply.

I couldn't understand how she did it, she's got 3 very active boys and a full time job as 'something in architecture'... dunno exactly, but buildings become very interesting and artistic when she speaks about them.

Anyway,

turns out she bakes 6 loaves of bread every Sunday, for her family.

No buying bread, no bread machine, just good old fashion kneading by hand, every week...

Respect....

So I asked her to give me the recipe...

"Recipe?? was the very Jamaican accented reply...

"There's no recipe, love, you just bake it as is family tradition...."

Now I must say, my dad and my sisters used to bake bread...

But I hadn't.

The whole kneading thing put me off.

I'd tried it an odd time after I'd left home, but it didn't 'double in size' no matter how long I left it to rise, was rock hard and, well, not worth repeating.

So I asked her to pass on this tradition verbally so I could give it a try.

Off by heart she passed on the ingredients, amounts and how to do it...

Ok...

So I looked at the piece of paper with the notes I jotted down, for a few days,

then brought myself to buy the ingredients so I could bake it with Easter...

Didn't....

And so, tonight, after putting D to bed, and kissing my hubby goodnight (he needs to wake at 3 am, poor thing) I went into the kitchen, and started to bake...

Kneading the flour into dough is a very intense process!

The amount of flour in my bowl was daunting.. (my bowl was way too small and I'd used my biggest) so I split the dry ingredients, then added the 'luke warm' water and just pushed my hands in the gooey sticky stuff, trusting that at some point it would stop sticking to my hands and actually start looking like something I could knead.

Thank God the structure changed, and I was able to knead it on the table.

It was a great feeling! Really working the dough, and letting your mind drift while your busy.

It was fun! and not half as difficult as I remembered.

So now I'm gonna let it rise over night (I vaguely remember someone saying that leaving it that long is no problem).

Tomorrow I hope it has risen and then I'll knead it again and bake it.

I really hope it tastes ok... but even if it doesn't,

I'll soon try again, till I get it right.... the experience was too fun to leave as a one timer.

Iron Man...

2009-04-14T15:35:00.002+02:00

Oeh yeah baby :D!

This film was a win,win,win compilation all round!
For one, it was a great film! The story works, it was entertaining and not too serious.
Secondly, it was Marvel! that alone would make me want to see it.
Thirdly.... Helloooooo Terrence!!!
And last but not least.... My reason for watching Ally McBeal (After Ling, naturally), Robert Downey Jr..... Hubba...
The great thing is, he doesn't over do it.
He doesn't do a Hugh Jackman, (who kinda overworks the I-didn't-put-much-effort-into-looking-this-hot- look), but still you watch the film and you melt!
I don't go for big muscles, but in the odd scene, here and there.... Check Out The Arms!!!! Hubba...

I'm not a Gweneth fan (at all!!!) but even she was cool in the film.
And a tiny fun suprise, Leslie Bibb from Popular was in it!
(Popular= weird Ally McBeal-like series that I used to watch when it was on tv)

I'd seen the film in the cinema in England last year, but I had a terrible stomach-ache and was unable to really enjoy it. As my hubby hadn't seen it yet and wanted to, he bought it, and we watched it together.... Yep... a keeper...

I'm reading again!

2009-04-05T14:21:00.002+02:00

Lots & lots....

I've started this vampire series (Marked, Chosen, Untamed... ) by mother and daughter Cast.

And it's soooo much fun!

I tried the whole Twilight craze, but after browsing a few pages, I decided that it was as terrible as Outlander (who wrote that again SophieB?)...

Not my style. I'm thinking of checking the film, but only cause my sweet SophieB saw the film, then desperately ripped up a brand new GQ magazine to swoon over actor's face every time she opens her locker. And even though our taste in books is as close as black and white, our taste in men is more or less the same.

However the book 'Marked' caught my eye, so I started reading.

It's young.... the main character is about 17, but I won't let my kid read that book at 17 lest she gets any crazy ideas about love, lust, men and such....

It's a fun read. And even though the vocab is a 2008/2009 version of clueless (not a problem) and just about, not as bad as Gossip Girl (a problem), I want to know how it all ends.

So, while I'm waiting for 'Hunted' (part 5 already!) I'm reading a biography of Ella Fitzgerald.

Superb! The person who wrote it is really interested in who she was, recognizes her brilliance, but doesn't turn her in to a goddess (like they turned Louis Armstrong in to a god in a biography I was (therefore) unable to finish, and like Gandhi turned himself into a Saint-from-birth-tainted-by-this-wicked-world-and-it's-sins in his autobiography, which I was therefore also unable to take seriously or read for more than a few chapters.)

But that's not all!

I also read a thriller!!!! Haahahah Finally!

It's a chick-lit murder, with no real investigation, or gory blood scenes, just 2 nosy lady-friends trying to solve a murder case. (Kinda like Rita Mae Brown, but without the cats).

It's called Death By a Dryer (as I said, far from serious, but much fun to read!) By Simon Brett.

Oeh, and I almost forgot..... (here it comes)

I read a fiction book..... in fact, turns out it came from SophieB's section, so that makes it a romance book (but not half as terrible as Outlander hahahaha)

So I actually enjoyed a romance! Who would have thought.

It's 31 Dream Street... can't remember who wrote it... it was a reject without a back, so after I read it, I threw it away... but it was entertaining!

As soon as Hunted comes in, I'll drop Ella and continue my vampire story, but after I've finished that, I'll try another thriller/chick-lit, or who knows... another fiction/romance book...

A message from Canada

2009-03-23T16:32:00.002+01:00

My grandma called!
Totally out of the blue.
Well, not totally.
She'd called my big sis, as she's just had a son, and then asked her for my number and called me too!
It was so cool to hear her ask: "How is Carmel doing?" As I'd named Deyora after my grandma (Carmel). It was really great speaking to her.

Almost 6 months...

2009-03-18T19:44:00.002+01:00

Time really does fly.
Our little girl is nearly 6 months old! It's been an interesting 6 months.
I've grown & developed so much in these passing months, it's really insane.
It's been an ongoing challenge to find harmony in so many chaotic changes.
It's true that the moment you have a child to take care of, everything changes.
Your character, your relationship, your time and how you spend it...
How you look at 'problems', your morals... Pfff... Everything.
Not to mention the ongoing changes your child goes through.
Just today, we discovered that she can sit, without help (and then ungraciously fall over onto the bed). She's very into snuggling on the couch and she's only just started eating different fruits & veggies.
Every new stage is still 'scary', but we really are a team of 3. We all see things differently in the beginning, (trust me, 'Little Miss' has a very clear opinion on things), but then we work it out together, we find this 'new rhythm' to life that works, until the next fase pops up.
It's intense, but 'dealing with it' makes me feel very capable & somewhat in control of things.
It's like I know there is this note to every aspect of my life and it's an ongoing challenge to create a beautiful song with all those notes & the instruments at my disposal. So far I'm liking the sound of things (disregarding the few 'off' notes I've heard along the way).

Writing of music, that's really been my thing these last few weeks.
I'm sorting out all my CDs plus all the music I have on the computer. On my free evenings I copy all my CDs onto my computer, then listen to them, deleting songs I don't like anymore, and putting the rest on alphabetical order by song.... Very much a 'Nyjolene Neurotic Project' but it makes me happy.

A friend of mine once gave me all the CD's Stevie Wonder ever made in mps form. I never took the time to listen to everything, until now. That guy has a way of hitting some interesting notes when he sings! You can also 'feel' his journey through music. He has truly explored all kinds of creative worlds. Not everything is my thing, but it was great to hear.
There was this song: Come Back As A Flower (I think that's what it's called), he doesn't sing it, I think his daughter does... not sure, but it's soooooooo pure. I never knew I had that!
Then I'm also checking my hubbies music in the process, just so I don't miss any good stuff.
He has a lot of funky songs by musicians I've never heard of, that are great to listen to.....
But he also has music that is ... well... to put it mildly, not my style.
He has some heavy metal music in his collection that my brain can not handle for much longer than 2 seconds, tops. I'm sure there's some great artistic music somewhere in between all that noise, but I simply can't find it.
Anyway, some songs I've loved forever, all of a sudden don't do much for me, and I throw out, and things I haven't heard in ages, gives me pos. goose bumps when I hear it again.
Now listening to Bilal: All That I Am. Delicious groove, feel good vibe, mind blowing notes...
One of the few songs on his album that I actually kept...

A Blue Day

2009-02-08T01:37:00.002+01:00

This is one of those days when so much has happened, that I’ve become a little numb to it all.You just want the day to pass as quick as possible, so you can forget it.
The fantastic thing was however that I was early for work. A great accomplishment.
Another good thing was that, due to the fact that I’m not often ‘out of it’, all my collegues were understanding and gave me space on my ‘Blue Day’.
My boss was kind enough to let me leave at 18:00 sharp, even though she’d scheduled me for a 18:15 shift.
I found out that my daughter picked up her soother and put it in her mouth by herself (first time!)
I tasted a wicked chicken and chutney sandwich.
Then tasted a really good nasi when I got home (like the one he cooked for me just before we got together ;-)
I felt my daughter cuddle up in my arms while I carried her to bed… that always feels special…She fell asleep without a fuss.
I had some great conversations with some beautiful people.
My mom told me she loves me…

Looking at it that way, it’s a pretty good Blue Day….

You Don't Know Nothin'...

2009-02-07T11:24:00.002+01:00

I just spent a half an hour, listening over & over again to You Don't Know Nothin' from For Real...
That is one of the most delicious songs to listen to.
I remember when I'd seen it for the first time on Mtv, and almost died.... then waited day after day till it would come again so I could record it in my video tape.
The years later, I lost the tape & desparately tried to buy the CD somewhere. By that time it was hard to find, cause the didn't become very big.
At 18 I went to America to visit my Aunt & Uncle in Atlanta.... and in her CD collection I find..... For Real. Inspired by another song on that CD, I wrote a song: How, that was later used on the 1st album of the gospel choir Inside Out.
I tried to buy the CD in America, but couldn't find it.
When I returned, I tried in Holland, but it was only available on Amazon.... & I didn't have a creditcard, nor did anyone I know... so I gave up.
I don't remember how I finally did get the CD, but it was years later and I was thrilled.
It's not a very good album, in fact it's pretty boring, but it had that song!
Then in 2007 when we lived in the Hague... a box of CD's was stolen from our apartment... We'd just moved, and the house was filled with boxes. Our land lord had given copies of our key to so many different 'handymen' that came to fix stuff in our home, when we found out the box was missing, we changed the locks, but that didn't get me back my CD's.
Anyway,
Miss Ann (from Wicked) and I one day decided that we wanted to write songs together...
We were brainstorming on the songs that were special to us and she mentioned For Real.... I was esstatic (?) turns out she had the song, the breakdown of the different voices & all that....
She sent them to me somewhere last year...
Now, cleaning up my gmail... I found the song....
Nostalgia.....
Listened to it over, and over again....

Sense & Sensibility....

2009-01-27T22:21:00.005+01:00

I know...
But I can explain.

We have a stack of old video's in our house, and yes, Sense & Sensibility is one of them. I once bought it for 5 euro's in a cheap store close to my work, but never watched it. It was more a nostalgia thing, I'd seen it once in the past on TV, knew it was a classic, liked the actors, so bought it. Many many many years later, we decided to ditch all our video's and buy back the good ones as DVD. To truely judge what is (still) good, we decided to watch them all.
Now I'm home, my little girl is in bed, I'm re-platting my hair and can only listen to music or.... continue with our video project.
I'd already been surprised by what was staying and what was going.
I parted with Bad Boys (till then in my top 5 films because of some really goodlooking scenes that unfortunately now adays doesn't so much as make my heart skip a beat) and found that The Rock truely is a classic and worth having on DVD.
The Golden Child was great to watch again but not nesseccerily to posses on DVD, and The Lion King has every right to join the DVD collection, but not for the price that you have to pay for it these days. (second hand about 60 euro's....)
So I truely didn't know what to expect. Well.... it's kind of a Golden Child story, in fact, Eddie and 'brother Numspa' are far more entertaining than Hugie in S&S. He's terrible! Unbearibly soft, and has none of the charm he has in Bridget Jones Diary, About a Boy or Music and Lyrics)Thank God for Alan Rickman, who I've been in love with ever since Robin Hood, right up to Harry Potter (including the video clip with the Texas-girl, not including him as Snape).

Anyway, I enjoyed it.... don't need to see it again.
I'm more of Clueless girl (that my sweet little-known-facts-expert girlfirend pointed out to me, is based on Emma).
That film has remained in my top 5 for about 13 years now. I've seen it a gazilion times, can almost quote every line and, it's linked to memories of hilarious sleepovers, and my vocabulary slash dresscode at 16. It even inspired me to put all my clothes in the computer and combine them to 'set outfits'.
I wish I could say I'm less neurottic these days...
At least my vocab improved...
Can't remember the last time I said 'whatever'...
Yet, everytime I use the word 'sporadically', I flash back to the movie...
Or everytime I hear 'All By Myself'
Or see Brittany Murphy in any film...
Or watch Legally Blond...
Or....
...

Dit moet eff in t nederlands

2009-01-26T23:43:00.002+01:00

Ok,
Vandaag was een zware dag. D. had niet al te best geslapen, dus na t werk was ik kapot.
Toen moest ik m'n kleine nog bij oma halen, en t was voorbij d'r bed tijd, dus ze was erg overstuur toen ze m'n stem hoorde...
Was wel lief, zodra ze in d'r maxi zat (moest echt vechten om haar er in te krijgen) toen was ze ineens rustig... die wist meteen... ik ga naar huis!!
Thuis was ze dus ook weer relaxed. Ze is na haar ritueeltje rustig gaan slapen en heeft niet meer gejammert (de laatste tijd jammert ze nog even een poosje door voordat ze echt inslaap valt, en slaapt dan ook onrustig de rest van de nacht).
Toen ze in bed lag belde m'n mannetje even om te kijken hoe alles was gegaan, en lichte nog even uit dat America's Next Top Model op tv was.
Ik was net optijd voor t laatste stukje, en omdat de tv toch al aan was en ik nog moest eten besloot ik ook Project Runway te kijken.... en Janice Dick-nogwat- Agency, en pas bij Beauty And The Best realiseerde ik me dat ik geen tv hoefte te kijken (ik ben niet echt een Janice fan.... ik vind d'r een beetje eng), maar wilde wel wakker blijven tot m'n mannetje thuis zou komen.
Dus om 23:30 komt de lieverd binnen, we kletsen een beetje over de dag en nogwat, ik geef aan dat ik toch echt ga slapen want ik ben zo gaar als wat... er valt zo'n duffe stilte omdat we beide moe zijn en ineens zegt ie:

"Die blonde lag er bijna uit he?"..........

Oh! Hij revereerde naar America's Next Top Model, een programma die hij totaal niet boeiend vind! T klonk zo raar uit zijn mond, omdat ie echt geboeid had zitten kijken (op z'n werk)...
Hij had er ook echt een mening over.... Hij vond die blonde echt stom, maar begreep Tyra wel met haar keuze.....

*stilte*
En toen schoot ik kei hard in de lach....

Toch leuk als je mannetje zich zo verdiept in je favoriete maar onzinnige tv programmas.
Wat wil een chicka nog meer ;-)

Lunch with my little bro...

2009-01-24T15:45:00.003+01:00

My little bro came by the store yesterday at lunchtime, so we grabbed a bite to eat at V&D.
It was great talking to him cause we don't see each other much. He's busy with school & recording his second album with F, and I've been busy with D. He gave me a compliment/ advise though, that left me giddy all day.He said I pull away too fast (in general) for fear of critisizm, and I needed to get over that cause it was my only flaw...... GRIN!!!!

Naturally, I focused on the word 'only' instead of 'flaw', and was, as I said, giddy for the longest.
But the message was clear....It gave me something to think about...

I've got a great brother.... :)

Blown away...

2009-01-20T22:50:00.004+01:00

A friend of mine sent me a card with Christmas.
She is about 6 months older than my little brother, and I’ve known her since she was very young. She was part of a singing group I set up in my late teens, she was a member of the youth group in our church when I was leader, and when I left, we stayed in touch.

She’s a scatterbrain of sorts, with her own timing to life and always busy with her personal(ity) development. Once in a while we meet up, talk for hours and hours and then go about our own lives again. She has a beautiful, creative and unique personality, that she's 'growing into', and I love talking to her, cause she speaks as she thinks and that leaves no space for pretence or ego.

As I said, she sent me a card with Christmas, wishing me and my family the best for 2009 and then she added something along the lines of: “I hope I won’t blow you away with this, but I really see you as “A Master of Life Art” (een Levenskunst Meester)
At all the important moments in her life, I had been there to help her through them…

……

Needless to say she blew me away….

The compliment was so big, that it had me off balance for the longest.
How do you deal with such a beautiful statement.
In flashes I feared that she’d greatly misjudged me and expected something from me as a person that I could not live up to. I went down the mental lane of…. I Haven’t Done Anything! We’ve had great conversations about all kind of aspects of life, it felt good to know each other, but ‘Levenskunst Meester’…. Pfffff…. All we do is talk!!
In a way Ialmost feel ashamed to write about it, cause it meant so much to me…. but feels so BIG.
I’m all for complimenting people, but this….. was just a little too BIG to just gracefully accept and say: ‘Thank you darling, you’re too kind.’
You know?

On the other hand, I was very passionate about that youth group and their development when I was their leader. Even though the age difference was no bigger than a few years, they kinda felt like my kids, and I put a lot of energy into our time together.

So when you get that kind of feedback, I guess you really should just smile, give the darling a big hug and thank her…. If you’ve made such a difference in someone’s life, and they see you that way, It’s only beautiful, even if it is a bit overwhelming…

zo moeder, zo dochter....

2009-01-12T15:31:00.004+01:00

Every once in a while at a family gathering, we go down memorylane...
A family member is chosen, usually due to a comment they make that serves as a trigger, and every crazy, stupid, cute and funny thing about them is called back to life.

Thanks to these 'get togethers' I remember that my first songs were based on the theme of "Mariannetje zo zwart als roet" ( I just googled that... it's "Moriaantje zo zwart als roet" it's a very short song, but my version had a gazillion verses... I could spend my sundays trotting through the house making up verse after verse after verse after verse and driving my sisters MAD) and the tune of the 'Bounty' advert that was on TV at that time...possibly in the days of 'Sky Channel.... (remember Sky Channel????) all I know is, it sterted with "When I look into your eyes, I can see Paradise...." after those 2 lines I was offf... making up al kinds of sentences that I felt fit with the song. And as with "Moriaantje" every time I sang it, the story would be different.

Round about those same years, my sisters and I would make up stories at night before going to bed. The eldest one would begin, and tell a really exciting one, then the second would follow, and then they'd brace themselves for my story.
They tried to listen for about 5 minutes max. then they'd be asleep. This wasn't because my sisters were extremily cruel and didn't want to hear my adventures, but because my stories (as my songs) went on FOREVER.... all glued together with the phrase "En Toen..." which I used very very often, hoping this would keep the story interesting..... it didn't...

Terribly sidetracked... the reason I brought this up, is because even before I could talk and make up songs, I was forever humming. All day, everyday I would hummmm....
And, last night, I heared my little girl hummmmm... for the first time.
*smile*

so how do you like being a mother, then? :-)

2009-01-10T14:59:00.003+01:00

Easier to reply here as my answer was getting longer and longer....

It's life defining..., It's like the biggest project I've ever started, and every second is thrilling.
It's challenging, in many ways. Giving people space to take a part in her life for instance isn't easy at first. You have an opinion about, well... everything that happens around her.
The first few days I had to stay in the hospital, and was surrounded by nurses and other moms, and I had little privacy to settle into my new family.
Ed was only aloud to be there at visiting hours (we broke that rule almost immediately) and even though there were lots of people there, checking if you ate well or changing your baby's diper, not much was really explained, the nurses were always busy, so I felt very lost.
They did have time however to open my curtains ever so often, so I could 'mingle', and comment on how chubby & big our little girl was....
With all the eating disorder in our world, and the gazillion people with some form of a physical complex, the last thing I want is for people to go on about the chubbiness of our new born.
However, as it happened regularly, I had to get over it, so I did.
As I had to get over a nurse arguing with a mother in our room while holding my daughter.
As I had to get over the ever famous comment: "Let her cry a little, it's good for her".
People will always have advise, and I will always listen & even give things a try, cause I don't know everything, & people mean well, but it's not always easy.
Now that she spends lots of time with family and at the creche, you have to let go, and be less of a control freak. Trust that people know what they are doing, and that if something is done different to your own ideas, that it won't cause everlasting scars, and if it does, then that's ok.
As much as I want to protect our daughter from any form of unnesseccery discomfort, she's gonna experience a few, some by my own doing, even if unintentional... and that thougth (stupid as it may sound) is tough.
Thank goodness I seldom dwell on these thoughts, most of the time I am enjoying her smile (she smiles a lot) or her new sounds (she was hocked on "huuuuuurrrrrrrrrr" for a while, but now everything starts with a 'bff' or 'pff' accompanied by lots of drooling), or the changes in her face.
The hide and seek she likes to play with one parent, while in the arms of the other, her long conversations with 'whom ever will listen' in the dark while the rest of SweetLake is sleeping.
Or the warmth I feel when I simple hold her close...
She's beautiful....

I'm Back!!!!!!!!

2009-01-09T14:54:00.003+01:00

I'm afraid I'll never be frequent, but....

It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new year.....

So I'll try.

I HAVE THE COOLEST DAUGHTER ON EARTH....

Yes, I'm the typical mom, my daughter is the cutest, sweetest most adorable little angel ever...
Chances are, all I'll write about is her LOL.

But yes... I'm back at work, so in my break I have time to blog....
And so far I love being back... however, leaving the house for the first time after D was born was the weirdest. I truely felt like the world had changed. Everyone was odd. And manouvering among 'the living' with a buggy in front of me was scary! Certainly if she'd start to whine.

I'm over that now. I'd love to say that everything is back in balance, but it isn't.
Nothing is more comfronting to your character and life style than having a kid.
It starts when you're pregnant... you change!
I look back at my last blog & think... Who Was That???
The crunchy sound of sand makes you want to eat it????.............. Right......
So most of that is back to normal. I'm back to my old size (with a slightly bigger belly). I have no longings for sand, salt or Rennie for that matter, but one thing stuck....
I still speak my mind.... Frequently.... That little bit of subtleness I was hoping to get back after pregnance has evaporated. I'm not rude, in fact I'm still very polite, but, its more like 'when something buggs me, someone's going to hear about it'...
Life is too short to keep it all in, and some people just take too many liberties.
(b.t.w. this computer has no spelling check on it, so forgive me if you find a gazillion mistakes)

Funnily enough while I was being blunt and quarrelsome during my 9 months, lots of friends and family pointed out that they actually liked this version more.... It was more, well ballanced.
However, I still feel far from ballanced.
It's like you are forced to be 'more real' and closer to your feelings when you have a kid.
I had forgotten how riggid I could be, or how emotional ... I'd tucked al that away, but I'm so passionate about my kid that I've become more passionate about my life, myself & everybody else. You become very protective of your 'happy home', your kid, your man, & yourself.
I don't know to what degree that effects my surroundings, but another thing I've got is: It's ok.
No need to stress or worry about those things....
I guess some of my hubby's 'Leo'-ness is rubbing off... He worries very little about the thoughts of people around him, and yet he's the sweetest guy I know. So not worrying about those things doesn't nesseccerily make you 'less of a beautiful person' it just makes you more human & more real.

Oeh... breaks over, gotta go...

My pregnancy weirdness

2008-07-19T13:43:00.002+02:00

I thought I was doing really well,
No desire for sour food, or chicken & chips everyday (like my sister)
Nope, I was really normal....
Till about 3 weeks ago...
I tried to deny it. Ignore it... but it keeps getting stronger...
I love.... sand...
Yes... I said sand....
The grainy stony stuff, that sound Delicious under your feet,
and makes me desire something, though I'm not sure what...

It started with heartburn... I have a tablet for that called 'Rennie'... you can have about 16 of those per 24 hours, and although I keep it at a minimum, it's a delight everytime I taste it. Cause it's crunchy, and grainy and stony like sand. It has a mint flavour that's good too, but it's not the mint, cause peppermints do me nothing...
So then i figured it was a lack of calcuim, my mom had a fettish for calcium when she was pregnant.... so she got me some chewy calcium tablets, but they didn't do the trick either...
Then one day, after work I was standing outside the backdoor, and I saw a pile of sand on the floor. So I impulsively stood on it... then I started doing the twist, almost unconciously, and I felt delighted! It felt so good!... Since that moment I've been dancing on sand when I see a tempting anount on the street, or I stamp in the sand in our garden barefoot (before my hubby puts tiles over it... he's rebuilding the garden). I love it dry or wet... both versions have their own sensation... and whenever I am crushing sand under my feet I feel like I wanna taste something, but I don't know what. Whatever it is.. it's in Rennie.
Besides the sand thing, I've also fallen in love with nature... I LOVE this summer, due to the amount of rain that falls, the way the garden smells, the smell of the ocean when it rains at work... It makes me want to go outside and dance around... Then there's the wind... It feels so good! It always did to me, but it's stronger now.
I still don't like insects though, but they don't bother me (besides the spider, naturally, and even those I can catch and set free in my garden, as long as they aren't too big).
I seem to be in love with life more... Somehow it feels special in a mysterious way...
And due to a challenge I've set for my self, I'm more within my own life, so to speak.

See, I had this talk with my soulsister Vera, and she has (practically) mastered the art of letting go. While we were talking I was inspired to reach the same goal, as so many things bug me lately.
As she puts it, the moment you get that frustrated feeling, you're simply holding on to something... find what it is, and let it go...
Well, in trying to put that into practise, I'm letting go of words I usually hold back. So now if something bugs me, someone, somewhere is gonna hear it... I try hard to let it be the person that's bugging me, and otherwise it's my mom or my hubby.
I figure that in explaining my frustration to the inflicting person, I give them the value they deserve. It's a form of respect for me. Usually I don't 'waste my energy' on making my frustration clear, I just mentally dismiss you, but not before I fire up inside.
Not very nice... but it works for me... worked...
I expect that after I learn to voice what I dislike, the next step is to not even let it bug me... but I'm not there yet...
Naturally I also say all the nice things that I hold in, even though that can be as scary.
On the whole, I'm showing more of myself to the people around me...
Challenging... Sacry, but in my opinion a step in the right direction...

Officially Engaged!

2008-06-21T15:34:00.003+02:00

My delicious hubby (to be) asked me to marry him while we were on vacation.
It's a whole story, that I don't have time to share... (break's over)
But I'll tell you some time when I see you. (then I can also show my beautiful ring that goes with it).

As for when the big day is.... not any time soon.
We're talking years from now.
We both desire our little one to be aware of what's going on, be able to show of her cute little dress, and verbally share her opinions of the day.

So no hurries...

Oeh... I'm late... gotta go..

Thoughts on life....

2008-06-20T14:53:00.002+02:00

Oeh,
Just got back from Greece (Kos), and read a lot of good books there.
One of them was 'The Witch of Portobello' and Paulo once again had me hooked.
But the one that left a bigger impression was 'One' from Richard Bach.
My Saggi/Horse collegue once advised me to read it, and so I bought it a while a go.
It's great. It's not so much the contence as it is the concept.
It discribes the matrix of different worlds all co-exsiting 'now'. It's done in a novel type way and it got me thinking about the world we live in at the moment.
A lot of people say that things in general are getting worse. And 'terror' is being spread all around to imply that these people are right. But some how I don't believe it anymore. I think we are doing a lot better. It seems like Humanity is rediscovering it's mind. In the past there have been 'genious' ' that influenced our thinking, but now it seems the doors are opening to all of us.
There's a lot of distrust towards different cultures and different parts of the world. But if you think about it, how long have we known these other cultures? In the past there was a lot of civil war in the now so called developed countries, but now we're learning to understand each other.
Wars within the West has now shifted to West vs. East wars. The west among each other are getting along a lot better now... 'we know what we can expect from our neighbour'...
Somehow I think we'll one day 'know what to expect from the East' and the whole 'terror-campaign' will fail to work.
I saw a film last night 'Mighty Heart'. Great film. It taught me a very valuable thing.
Where ever there is conflict, there will be 'terrorists', people that feed on the conflict and exploit it in various ways. I've never heard a better definition of the word. It's become clear to me who I consider a terrorist, and what the word means.
It also combined with this new look I have on wars, has given me the reasurence that it can't go on forever. At some point I expect a solution, new understanding, harmony, peace....
Nice thought.
I'd love to say more about the book One, cause I didn't really go in to it (kinda side tracked) but that will have to wait till some other time.
My break's over :(

www.ratje.kindjeopkomst.nl

2008-05-24T14:48:00.003+02:00

Oh Yeah,

Coming tuesday I'm six months pregnant! And DeeDee won't stop moving!
It's a crazy (new) feeling that there is constant movement inside you.
My Cancer-Ox collegue can't get over the 'alien' idea of having something grow within you.
It never bothered me before, but I'm starting to feel the weirdness of it now.

I've started a website for her (it's in Dutch):
www.ratje.kindjeopkomst.nl
I tried DeeDee in the name, but that was already taken. Funnily enough ratje was stil available. Guess no-one wants to cal their baby-site 'little rat'... understandable.
It's only cause D will be born in the rat year, and I love the characteristics of 'the chinese rat' that I decided to make it her site name.
I could have done her 'official' name, but it seemed so boring.

I've also started her very first baby book.
I've decorated quite a few pages with pictures and stickers and a little story around it all...
If she turns out to be a boy after all, I'll just have to write a big OEPS on the next blank page and continue the book for a boy. Kinda funny if your baby book so obviously reveals that your parents had your sex wrong.

Oeh, gotta get back to work...
X
Nyj.....

I'm terrible

2008-04-25T14:46:00.002+02:00

That's 4 months ago...

Today I decided to check out blogs of friends, and ended up checking my own....
I'm terrible...
So now, even though I don't have a real subject, I just decided to jot down whats on my mind these days.... anything.... 4 months... that's really bad...

Ok, nr. 1 I'm pregnant!!! Yes, this is a really good thing. What is even better is that I haven't had any scary cramps or other unpleasant feelings in my basketball, apart from nausia... for some reason that won't stop. But as that's not a bad thing, I'm happily keeping my fingers crossed and enjoying every odd little movement or thump that I feel.

I've been preforming a lot this last month, unfortunately that also meant many late nights, and midnight drophomes by either my hubby, my agent or the Sweet Lake City Taxi Cab.
I was so busy that I missed all the Aries birthdays... (Sister S, Sister Z, Big Bro D, Little friend N, Big friend R) Sorry!!!
Last night was one of the last late escapades, it didn't need to be, but when traveling back from a gig in Nijmegen, there was a hold up in Utrecht. The train was on time and could have left, but NS decided to wait for some passengers that came from Brussels and 'needed' to catch this train to get to The Hague. This meant a 10 minute delay, causing me to miss the last train in Gouda to take me to Sweet Lake City.... When I found out that I'd missed the train I burst into tears. I was soooooo angry!
So the conducter tried to calm me. He told me to take the train to the Hague and on the way he'd arrange for the train to stop in Sweet Lake (there were more people that were stuck due to the 10 minute delay). In the end he was unable to stop the train, so he arranged a cab to pick us up at The Hague and drive us back to Sweet Lake. By the time I got home it was 2 AM, but the cabby brought me to my door, which was sweet.

I'd continue sharing, but my breaks over....
Time to get back to my bookies...
I love my job...

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T15:30:00.000+01:00

(I'me sure ninty percent of the first blogs in 2008 have a similar title, but never the less I sinscerely wish to everyone)

Soooooooo,
I've seen about 3 music dvd's since the year began. (U2, Christina Aguilera and Destiny's Child). I think someone's sending me a message :D
I do have some big themes for 2008 and music is one of them. I don't like the words 'new year's resolutions' cause they are somehow linked in my head to 'only lasted a week or so'.
But I do have a process I go through every year.
Somewhere around November I become very critical of my life and spend the whole month thinking how I want to fashion my future. In December I have a few similar moments but usually I'm too busy with Christmas and all that goes with it. Yet after Christmas I start to make concrete plans for the new year and on the last day I write them down.
So today (on my birthday) I have many plans for this year.
One is to dress a little more feminine. It's not that I dislike feminine clothes, but I like to 'hide' in wide jumpers and messy jeans with Crocs on. Not only that but I've buit up a fobia for the summer due to all the unflattering and styleless comments one gets the moment you don't 'hide in wide clothing'.
Well, this year I have decided to 'get over it'. I love looking good too much to not do it for a life time for fear hoochie-cootchie remarks that foolish and often distastefull men can not seem to keep to themselves.

It's a new dawn... it's a new day... it's a new year.... for me, and I'm feeling GOOD.

PS: this is only one of my plans, I'd love to share more, but I need to do a little shopping for my hubby before my break is over.... so I guess more will folow next time.

Officially a Jazz Singer

2007-12-22T14:18:00.000+01:00

I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!I DID IT!!!!!

I am sooooo relieved & so happy! But let me start from the begining.
3 weeks ago my booking agent called me up. A potential client had seen me perform and wanted to book 'Lady Grey' for the 21 of December with a Jazz Combo. Now booking The Lady Grey act is no problem, but I didn't have a Jazz Combo. Still, my agent confidently told the client that it would be no problem to book Lady Grey with Jazz Combo for the 21st of December if she was was not committed elsewere. So Carola (my booking agent) calls me up and asks me if I'm free the 21st (I was) then ever so carefully adds that I've been booked with a Jazz Combo. We both new I didn't a Jazz Combo, and after a streched silence in which I wondered how on earth was I going to get a Jazz Combo together in 3 weeks to play at this gig (at that time I thought it would be a gig of an hour.... little did I know...), I let her know we'd arrange it some how.
So I started calling all the people I wanted to work with, that liked Jazz and would enjoy the gig, but EVERYONE was busy, no one could make it. Then I got nervous. this meant I had to go up a notch... I had a few people I could call, but these were astablished guys. I knew I could call them if I'd do my own thing, but for a cover gig I wasn't sure. I started with the easiest aproachable person, Richard Heijerman. His a drummer I worked with in the Blues Brothers. He plays a lot and is very good, but still easy going. I called him, and he was all for it. Then I let him know who else I intended to call. See the threshold wasn't only the fact that I looked up to these people, but that they had to know Jazz. A few people in a jazz setting would turn it in to rock or soul and loose the Jazzy feeling I needed to create. I had a bass player in mind the only one I know that plays a Doublebass, turns out Rich plays with him all the time, so I called him. He loved the idea! He also recomended a piano guy he loved playing with who loves Jazz, so my Combo was together. After that I had to break the news to them that it was 3x40 minutes and not just an hour, but they didn't mind (too much).
Seeing as 3x40 is a lot of songs, I wanted to make it as easy for them as possible, so I made a list of every Jazz song I had on CD and sent it to them saying: "I can sing this, let me know of these songs what you can play, and we'll take it from there. Turns out they knew about 33 songs on my list, so they were set. I sent them the songs on a CD as an extra refrence and added al the sheets that I had too. Then the learning began. By the time I had every thing aranged, I had 4 days to learn 33 songs. Fortunately I'd selected songs that I always liked the sound of, or always wanted to be able to sing. About 7 I'd sung before but that left me 25. My hubby was an angel during these days. He must have heared my rehearsing CD a gazillion times, but he never complained. (He did at some point start drilling in the wall, but it wasn't out of frustration)
On the day itself I still had 4 songs to go, so I was working on them in the car. When I got there I felt nervous, but confident. I'd learned all the songs, so now I just hoped I wouldn't get a blackout on stage.
The guys were very supportive. I'd never met musicians that easy-going, and yet professional at the same time. The made me feel so relaxed, and they were SO GOOD!!!!
As a result, the show was teriffic. I sang so freely that I suprised myself, I even scatted on some of the songs. It was a great success all round. The piano guy (Guus) even told me he'd recognized Ella in my singing!!!!!! That blew me, cause I LOVE the way Ella sings. I think I've never sung better Jazz in my life. So I now officially regard myself a Jazz Singer. And it feels sooooo goood!!!!!!

Happy Joy Joy Moments...

2007-12-08T15:04:00.000+01:00

1) It's official, I need not have an operation (no 6 weeks doing nothing with heavy belly pains)
2) It's official, We have the key to our new home. We started moving yesterday (Little things)... It looks really cozy already...
3) It's official, My Hubby's a reader... Terry Goodkind tickled his fancy, so now he's reading his first fantasy series... If it's good, I'll start it in English too, so we can chat about it before going to bed.
4) It's official, 'The Secret' has grabbed and changed more lives within my family than just my own.... I'm not the sole believer in the 'Law of attraction'.
5) It's official, my little brother will be the opening act of GOLDEN EARING!!!!!!! on the 15th of december. Unfortunately I have a gig myself that day, and can not be there to make pictures and support him, but I'm Sooooooooooooooooooooo proud!!!

:)

The Year Zero

2007-11-29T15:24:00.000+01:00

I'm reading this dutch book called 'De Maya-profetieen' by Wiek Lenssen.
He made a 'film' called 'The Year Zero' and this book explains all that happened before, during and after.

I borrowed this book from a friend of mine (Mark) and wanted a copy for myself, and one for a friend (Bart). But while reading it I started to doubt if i wanted to pass this on to anyone.
So much seemed like such hogwash... Now I must say that all the hogwash was in relation to one character in the book. But as he dominates a great part of the book, it's hard to read past it. The writer however sounds a lot more sincere, and when he reflects on his own thoughts and not on the 'teachings' of his 'friend' he feels right. If this was a fiction book, I'd think from moment one that this 'friend' is 'the wolf in sheeps clothing' and not to be trusted... but it's not fiction... so I'm not sure how everything will unfold.
Now that I've read about 2/5 of the book I think it might be a keeper. The writer is reflecting on truth. He shares his thoughts about reality and how we see reality through our own eyes, making it our reality. He even broke it down to quantumphysics, (that's when I decided it was a keeper).
If you break down atoms to the smallest visible elements: the quarks, then you find that the way they act is totally dependent on the observer.
So each person creates what they see. This explains how I can see A, and proof of A in the world, while you clearly see B and proof of B in the world....
I've been playing with that thought for a while now, so finding it in this book, is a sign for me to keep on reading....
I'll let you know when I've finished it.

Something in the air...

2007-11-28T17:15:00.000+01:00

Someone once told me that there are organizations that deliberately pollute our air...
I didn't know what to think of that statement at the time, and now still don't know.
It wouldn't surprise me, but it's the kind of thing you don't really what to think about.

It would make sense, a lot of money must be earned of people that are ill. All the medicines going around are making some people lots of money. I'm sure a very big part of the economy if not the complete economy as we know it now would crumble if we were all healthy people (both physically and mentally). So it's not in the best interest of 'those who govern' (infront of or behind the scenes) that we are healthy. I'm just speculating here. Why else are all 'healthy' products so much more expensive than fast food, or the regular quality-less food you find in your average supermarket.

I think that most of the time when the choice should be made between healthy vs. easy, easy is chosen. I just wonder how much (moral) we've lost in this ongoing process.
Now that more and more people want to go back to the healthy option, THAT is making lots of money, cause health is expensive, but those who want to be healthy again are willing to pay.

There's so much on the matter I haven't touched yet.
I always feel that way once I start thinking about our society...
It's a never ending thriller story, with sooo many secrets and scandals it would make crappy soaps look good.
There's no way I can find out everything, or even scratch the surface in a lifetime.
But now and then, when I feel a little uneasy in my skin, and people around me say the same thing, and my head feels a little heavy...
I wonder...

Remember me?

2007-11-27T14:08:00.000+01:00

(After writing the title, I had to think of this song.... The chorus starts with 'Remember me' but it's impossible to understand the words that follow. I think it's a trance-ie song, where the words don't matter as much as the 'vibe')

Thursday I cousin calls me out of the blue, to see how I'm doing. (Last time I saw her was May 2006)
Friday, a mate of mine stayed over, that I hadn't seen in ages.
Saterday I saw old childhood friends I haven't seen in years.
Sunday I bump into one of the first guys I used to work for when I was sixteen, who turns out to play the trumpet and who I had a great chat with.
And today I bump into a 'lower-school' girlfriend in the supermarket, (Parveen!) who I haven't seen in the longest...
That's a lot of 'past related contacts' in one week!

PS: Ed's eye has gone from blue to purple... close to black...

The Short Version

2007-11-25T18:32:00.000+01:00

Yesterday,

My Hubby was in a fight and now has a blue eye.

I visited the church of my youth for the last time, as it will be broken down one of these days.
I went back in time, cried my eyes out, re-connected so closely with the people that have know me all my younger years, that it became clear to me, that those people are my family.

Re-embraced my oldest friendship (with Jessie). Cried and talked about the loss of Joyce
(her twin sister; a girl that could imitate any riff Mariah Carey sang and on the same key; The first person I ever sang my own songs with; With whom I never really past the 'barbie-faze' even when we were older....; With whom I always sang 'One Sweet Day' everytime we were in a 'singing mood' (always)....; ironic, if you consider the lyrics...)
In fact, thinking about Joyce & Jessie took up the rest of my evening till I went to bed...

It really is a strange feeling to lose someone that you would still want to have so many talks with. To not know for sure if she was happy, living the life she did...
The should have-could have-would have's play in my mind everytime I think of her.
I'm not gonna let my friendship with Jessie slip away too... Life really is to short.
And beautiful people are too precious...

Chocolate heaven.....

2007-11-19T22:50:00.000+01:00

I just made the BEST EVER chocolate cookies....
Yes seriously.... the best....

I also made roasted broccoli with rice....
Broccoli, tossed in cumin, coriander, 5 garlic cloves (crushed) and chili powder....
(no salt....)
In the oven... 22 minutes.
Then rice, made with a lot of olive oil, some salt and seasoning from Greece (hahahaha, ok or any other seasoning you use when making rice)

You're in heaven... I guarantee.
If it fails, come over and I'll make it for you....

(the recipe for the cookies I ain't givin' :D, but I'll make them for you on request...)

I hope he doesn't get kicked out of the band again...

2007-11-18T23:50:00.000+01:00

We painted the new house today!

Should have made pictures but I didn't.

No worries, tomorrow I will.

We didn't plan it this way, but it turns out that the living room is going to be a somewhat 'Rastafarian room'. (Yes, red, yellow, and green) It's not the bright versions of these colours though.

The red's rather terra, the green is very green though, but the yellow is more of an 'old' yellow.

It's nice. The living room has a warm feel to it. It's not done yet, but we're ahead of schedule, so that's good.

After the painting I had a reunion rehearsal with the very first choir I ever sang in. The choir my dad sang in, my mom sang in, and all my sisters sang in. It was a really good reunion. Everything came back so easily; the songs, the feeling, the pleasure... like nothing or no-one had changed.

The reason for this reunion is, that the church that I was brought up in, where I spent a great deal of my childhood and holds a lot of memories, is going to be broken down. A good reason to get back together one more time. It was special.

After the rehearsal, my mom took me to see a show in 'The Anton Philip Zaal'. I'd never gone to see a show there, and didn't know which show I was going to see, but mom asked me to join her and I hadn't had a night out with mom in ages, in fact, just her and me, I think this was the first time.

When we got there the music sounded rather 'fusion-ie'. To be honest I wasn't sure if this was going to be my kind of music, but we went in as open minded as possible, and decided we could always leave early if we wanted to.

We stayed till the end. Well, until DJ Maestro started playing, we didn't stay for that, cause by then it was rather late. It was terrific. Not only was it terrific, but I recognized the guy on Trombone (Patrick).

Patrick used to be in a band called 'Olabola'. He played trombone in that band and it was clear he loved the music. His eyes would close and he'd just literally dive into the sound, loose himself in the groove, and do it in a such a way that you felt where he was.

He grabbed your attention. And the beautiful thing was the he wasn't trying, he was just enjoying the vibe.

At some point he was 'kicked out of that band'. The attention he got, caused friction, and that was the result.

After this happened, I was fortunate to see him at another show and we got the chance to talk. I'd worked with some of the people of this show, as I had done with some of the people in 'Olabola'. I knew I'd still see them, but after this show (which was kind of a one off) the chances of me seeing him were slim to none. So we exchanged numbers. I told him I was working on some stuff and if ever I needed a trombone player I'd be sure to call him.

5 years pass, and I find myself in 'The Anton Philip Zaal' looking at a band with Patrick in it!

As I said, the show was terrific. They had 5 horns, 3 on percussion and one on guitar. It was wicked.

Beats were changing rhythms were impossible to follow and the vibe was good.

The show was about James Carter, JC meets Suriname.

And James Carter was interesting, did some very creative things, but my attention was more on Patrick. I was feeling everyone and everyone was good, but Patrick was Patrick.

I saw him disappear in the music again, and just PLAY. He was making music; harmonizing; adding little riffs and notes.... but inside the music, not onto the song, if you know what I mean...

He kept it relatively humble, till he played his own solo.... LOVEly. Simple, but special, you just FELT him. Superb.

Now, what put me off James Carter was his ego. I can put it another way, but that's the truth.

I know musicians 'battle' in music, but this wasn't a 'battle' kind of show. Yet the next solo was for James, and you heard, felt and saw him prove a point. As much respect as all the other horn's gave him, he did not give any back. The feeling of 'making wonderful music together' was not there.

After the show Patrick walked up to us to thank us for the 'giving back' and enjoying the show so much. He hadn't recognized me yet, so I referred to Olabola. He looked, smiled, and said.

"I still have your number in my phone. You said you'd call whenever you'd do something, and you never did!"

I was dumbstruck. We'd only had 1 talk, 5 years ago, and here he was, showing me my name in his phone (yes: Grey, Nyjolene that was me... and I hadn't said my name) with my old phone number.

We didn't talk long, but I gave him my new number, took his, and promised that I really would call when I'd put up something jazzy.

It's a small world, but it's really cool if within that small world, even the people that hardly talked, still stay connected. Now I've got to keep my promise...

I feel another project in the air..... hahahah

Tooooo long ago!

2007-11-17T15:59:00.000+01:00

Oh my!

I was listening to my songs on the net. I hadn't done that in a year or more.
Listening brings up so many memories and emotions.... fantastic!
In case you don't know where to find this link, I've pasted the link.
Hearing them, I know it's time to make some new suff to share.

http://missn.hyves.nl/

19 Years of Friendship!

2007-11-17T15:42:00.000+01:00

words can't express how that feels....
but yesterday we tried.

LOVE YOU MAR!!!

hahahaha

I FEEL GOOD!!!!!

2007-11-16T19:43:00.000+01:00

Hahahahahhaa

You know those days when you hug your colleagues cause you feel like it and all of a sudden know they really don't mind...
You see 2 kids that you've know all their life and reminisce on 'the good old days' telling them you love them every 10 minutes or so, but they know you so it's ok...
You have lots and lots of energy, and feel like singing: It's A New Dawn, It's A New Day, It's A New Life, for me. And I'm Feeling Goooooooood.....
You do just that...
You bump into your little brother at the station and share a a ride of one stop with him, before he jumps out and goes back to the station cause he actually was on his way to school...
You realise that the two kids you saw that day, are both his (female) baby mate, and his best mate.
You call your other siblings and say you love m. (and don't mind if they ask you what brought this on)...
You think about your parents and are soooooo grateful for all they gave you... (and still do)
You look at the world and think... I'll give you my best, who knows what I can bring to the table.
You debate and negotiate about free days with your boss in the most hectic months and realise how much she's thinking with you to make it work...
You realise that you've got such a terrific job, with such special people and such an enormous supply of knowledge, that you feel like one of the most blessed people in the world.
You receive an email from your old boss asking how you are doing, and can't stop smiling.
You have a sense of peace, safety, tranquility and serenity within your home that you thought never was possible, and thank God for the gift of your husband's love.
You love everyone and everything (glimpsing the world through God's eyes?)
You are SOOOO GRATEFUL FOR LIFE.
You sigh....

Yes, I feel Good...

Can't Wait!

2007-11-13T15:26:00.000+01:00

December the 6th we're moving to Zoetermeer.
We'll have our own home with a garden, an attic & lots & lots of space!
You've get the ground floor, with an open kitchen and a cozy little corner where you can put your dining table. Then you have the living room and behind that the garden. Just behind our garden is a park, so when you sit outside, all you see is GREEN....
Then on the 1st floor you have the bathroom, the bedroom, the (wait for it...) walk-in-closet AND (I'm terrible) The Library, hahahahahaha. I can not wait to design that room! Naturally when the time is right (by God's grace) these rooms will at some point be clamed by little demanding raskals, but till then.....
But wait, we have one more floor to go.... the attic. Seperated into 2 rooms. One will be the computer room and one the 'storage' room.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

I'll be painting and decorating and unpacking and sorting out stuff to my heart's delight....
Life is beautiful...

Never Again

2007-11-10T15:43:00.001+01:00

This gig was shaky on so many sides it was bound to fall apart. It did just that.
I could go into depths explaining what went wrong, but there's no need.
It wasn't right, sounded wrong, felt negative and needs no repeating.
Me and Frankie are good though, but this formation was not good.
C'est la vie. I'm gonna chill now. Most likely turn of my brain & download cool pictures of the net. (Like how some people sit down on the couch and watch something silly on TV to relax... I download fashion pictures and stick m in picture books....)
With a cup a tea and a piece a chocolate to dip in it... Heaven...

Running & Running & Running....

2007-11-10T00:06:00.000+01:00

Oh my oh my...
Wednesday I had a rehearsal with a girlfriend of mine called Frankie.
I met Frankie years ago in the American Book Center.
I was at the cash register playing Jill Scott's first album & singin' along while doing my work. All of a sudden I hear this 'sista' singing along too. That's Jill Scott playing. So I looked up, saw who it was. She didn't look up or anything, just casually checking the magazines while she sang. So I went up a note and harmonized to what she was doing. That's when she looked up :D.
We had to laugh cause something like that doesn't happen often.
She asked me what I did musically, and told me a little about herself. We decided to hook up one day. So shortly after I visited her at her home. She let me hear her music and I sang a few lines of 'I'm going down' (Mary J... killer song). So she told me, she recognized my voice but didn't know from where. After guessing for a few minutes on where she could have met me, she found out I sang in the band 'Rose'. She had seen me do a gig in 'Greve' (One of my sweetest memories... I sang the Longest, most soulful version of 'Brown Skin' and made my best friend Marlies cry who was there to support me). Apparently Frankie had been there too.
Ever since she had been trying to find out who I was, and how she could get a hold of me, but she didn't get far, cause she didn't remember my name (She thought it was Desree).
And now here I was on her couch singing and chatting link we'd known each other for years. It was great.
Anyway, tomorrow afternoon we have a gig in Utrecht to sing a few gospel songs, and we rehearsed for it Wednesday. But Thursday I also had to sing in Utrecht as 'Lady Grey'. Then today, I didn't have to work (good thing) but I had to prepare for this gig in Zaandam with 'Wicked Lite' and the girls would have a rehearsal at my place before we went there.
(So I spent the whole morning sorting out CD's and tidying up the place.)
We went with public transport and while rehearsing difficult songs in the train we gained an audience that asked us to sing all kind of songs accapella till we reached our destined station.
From the train we switched to a bus, and traveled to our final destination. It really did feel like our Final Destination. It was dark all over, and we got of at this deserted stop, trying to find our way. We started out in the wrong direction, where the road just stopped at some point and we actually walked through wet grass and mud for a while. (It was very cold and raining, and I actually slipped and fell the moment I said: "Wouldn't it be terrible if I were now to slip and--- AAhhh!)
We turned back, realizing this could NEVER be the right road, and finally called Carola (from our booking agency) to come save us. It turned out we were very close.

The gig itself went fab. The set list is beyond challenging, but somehow I was able to hit (almost) every note that was needed and although I lost my voice straight after singing 'Think' (the 4th song) I still was able to put up a good show with the girls (Lots of dancing on stage and laughing).
Now I'm of to bed, cause tomorrow is the gospel act in Utrecht with Frankie.
Sunday: Back to work....

I love my life....

I've started!

2007-11-07T14:42:00.000+01:00

Ha!
583 words last night.
Feels very much like NaNoWriMo. (But it's not Sophie! :-)
I started within 'the Dragon Kingdom'.
It was lovely. This morning I was stalking my Hubby with 'all the things that are still going to happen' while he was getting ready. He's really into it. The story is really strong, but it's a challenge to be able to write it.
I know I was gonna research a little more first, but the links are smaller than I thought.
I'm still reading on the subject though.
Just writing at the same time.

Funny, today our Penguin Representative came by to discuss new titles. He asked me how I was doing and my GREAT! was so enthusiastic that he wanted to know more. So I told him, I'm writing a book. Usually he checks how the singing is going, so to here that this was book related was a suprise, but he liked it.
Who knows when it's done he might want to read it, he might have some tips on getting it 'published' who knows?
But I'm way ahead of myself. I only have 5oo+ words and a head full of ideas.
Still, it never hurts to dream...

2012

2007-11-06T14:40:00.000+01:00

I've started reading on the subject.
I want to implement some factors of the Mayan Prophesies, into my story, or better said. I have an idea of how the story should go, and I believe some aspects are the same as the Mayan beliefs. But I'm not sure so I needed to do some extra research.
Having started solely to gather information for my book, I hit me yesterday, that this is AN ACTUAL DATE IN TIME (December 21 2012), 5 years from now. Regardless of whether I believe the prophesies or not, it's not a bad idea for me to find out what they are saying. So now before writing my book, I'm first going to delve into the mayan history and philosophy. If there is a train to catch, I want to know, and then find out if it matches the ticket I hold in my hand.

'The Secret of Life' & 'The Secret Life of David Mandell'

2007-11-05T18:32:00.000+01:00

A few days ago I had a dream. What I remember of it is very short, but when I woke I decided to put the dream to use by building a story around it. I started writing in my breaks at work, but I couldn't grasp the essence of the story. Not only that, but in the back of my head I kept thinking of all the stories I'd started and never finished. I had about 6 synopsis' on my computer and so I tried linking this story to an older one. That didn't go smoothly either and I was still only writing about 5 lines an hour, trying to 'feel' where it needed to go.
Then due to a conversation I had with two friends of mine (Bart and Sophie) last night, another old story came to mind. I hadn't thought of it before, cause I didn't think my dream would make a very deep or heavy story, and the story that came back to me last night I consider my masterpiece in the making. Beliefs, reality and fiction are so interlinked in it, that I never dared write it for fear of misinterpretation. Now I feel I can handle that possibility. Also, I'd thought & spoken about it for years with a few friends, but it never had enough substance to really begin. Now it does. I was up all night thinking up the clue, the beginning, what beliefs to consider and which to discard, becoming reacquainted with the characters, and thinking up new ones... It was great. I'm tired now, but it was worth it.
It's not for nothing the work title of both books are so similar. They needed to be combined.
So I guess it's time to write my masterpiece... :D
I'll speak to you in about 4 years when it's done :D

A lesson I'm still learning

2007-11-03T14:18:00.000+01:00

The last few days or possibly weeks, my character has changed a little. I won't call it growth. It's not a step further into adulthood, but more like a step back to learn the lessons I tried to skip in the past. In the past, I was very passionate about things. as a result, when things didn't happen the way I anticipated them, my world would crumble and I would be terribly hurt. As this characteristic wasn't serving me, but hard to shed. I worked around it, by only becoming passionate about things I could control. All other engagements were met with a distance that only left when I fully trusted all people involved and (almost) all actions could be anticipated. I am realizing now that I am missing out on a lot of special experiences by having such an approach. I'm also slowly starting to believe that when things that I am passionate about don't go as I would want them to, that this will not kill me (As a child I guarded my enthusiasm as if disappointment really could kill).
So slowly I'm finding more joy in things that are not solely under my control, instead of seeing them as things that just need to be done, and I can at all times do without if needs be.
Beautiful things have come of this.
One is, I've decided to stay in the band called Rose, instead of running away when the smallest of problems arise. Opening up to the band and not just the music has shown me how much they value my presence. I've 'let them in' and there not taring up the place so to speak.
But it also means that disappointment has returned again. I am more involved in the things I do, and so the Capricorn in me needs to find a balance when things don't happen as I feel they should. I'm still learning, but I've found out aloofness is not the answer.

Can I use that title again?

2007-11-02T09:10:00.000+01:00

Yeah, it was yet again a perfect night out.

Now it's not that I visit concerts every night, in fact, most of the time I'm at home busy with one of my million personal projects that define my life. But this month a lot of good artists that I'm into decided to perform. And I've learned something from all acts.
Marcus Miller loves to challenge his band. They get to improvise during songs, and he'll keep coming back to you if he knows there's more to be given. It's great to see. He'll just gesture to you and you start playing, or scatting. Then he'll come with a counter riff on his bass and it's your turn again, or that of someone else. It's not really a battle, but more the thrill of discovering what is in you, together.
Then there was Frank McComb, were the band rehearsal had been the night before and very short. He still got them to relax on stage and give it everything. The communication was fantastic. So was the vibe, the were laughing and making jokes as if they'd been playing together for a lot longer than one night.
And last night I invited my dad to see Maceo with Ed & me. That was great! The crowd was far from great, and mostly just loud for no positive reason, but Maceo made me smile, laugh even and groove like crazy. Generally when people say they love you on stage, I believe it (they love their fans) but it feels different with Maceo's band. They all smile, all have that 'lets share music together' energy. With Maceo ' We Love You ' is the theme of his show. (The groove is the core, love for music is the soul). He keeps on saying it, and I feel it everytime. He doesn't love 'his fans', he loves people. Loves sharing music. It's not about his story that he needs to tell, its not a 'Him to the Audience' thing. It's a 'Listen to this Groove, can you feel it?' vibe.
Or better said: 'Got Funk?'
Hahahaha, I love that shirt. I bought it in Tilburg at his show a year ago.
This year I bribed my way into getting a short sleeved one that simply says: Maceo.
To me that name say it all.
I took pictures like crazy. It was hard to get good ones, they might be a little dark, but they reflect the vibe, and hopefully one is good enough to blow up and hang on my wall at home.
It was good!
Anytime he comes to Holland, We'll be checking out the show.
(And I'll be going home with a new shirt :D )

PS: I chose the font: Georgia....
You should've seen him with his shades on, doin' a Ray. Shoulda heard him sing it (disregarding the noise around you). Respect.

A perfect night out.

2007-11-01T09:06:00.000+01:00

I went to see Frank McComb in Amsterdam yesterday.
He gave a show in the werktheater.
I'd raced from work to the location, calling to let them know I was running late.
They asked me t call again when I was at the door, as the door bell was very loud and they didn't want to disturb the show. So when I arrived I called and they let me in, but the cash register had already been closed. So as a result, I got a free ticket!
Not only that, but he had just started, so I hadn't missed a thing.
That set the mood. I knew it was gonna be a good evening.

When I walked in it turned out to be more of a theatre room than a dance-club-kinda venue.
Thinking of that now, I should remember to check out that place if ever I do my own show.
They had rows of wooden chairs and everyone was sitting. Here and there a few people stood due to lack of space. I happily joined the people standing, choosing an angle that gave me a good view, but didn't disturb the show, and went straight for my camera.
I know the guy on bass, as he plays in the band 'Rose' with me. I was so proud seeing him on stage. He was really doing a good job. I'd never heard him play like that. The rest of that band was great too. And needless to say, so was Frank.
I made a few pictures, after checking with the same sweet lady if making pictures was OK, and then just danced the whole show threw.
Frank had planted a little break in the middle of the show, and in that break I walked over to Glen (the guy on bass) to tell him how great he was doing, when I feel someone tickle my neck.
I turn round and Joanne is grinning from ear to ear. I think I squealed, and then gave her a big hug.
Joanne and I did our first 2 Blues Brother tours together. Everyone that was a part of that tour is connected for life, no matter how rarely you see each other. I couldn't believe my luck. It had been years. So we chatted a little, and then I excused myself, cause I wanted to TCB as quickly as possible and get back to my comfortable spot before the show would start again.
While looking extremely lost, searching for the ladies room, I hear someone call out: " Oh no Nyjolene, you are not passing me by like that..." I turn round to see my Jamaican angel Leonna grinning (yes from ear to ear). I'm guessing my grin was as big. We hugged and chatted a little, but only after that show got the chance to really talk.
Leonna and I did the last Blues Brother tour together, where she sang the parts that Joanne had done in the previous tours.
It was this big get together how have you been night.
I saw a guy who used to play the keys in a gospel choir I was a part of a few years ago.
I saw my ex-singing teacher, who I'd been trying to contact for weeks.
Everything felt so good!
I bought the last 3 CD's of Franks collection that I didn't have yet. Had him sign them. Had the longest talk with Leonna, deepening the friendship we have. Then she dropped me of at Amsterdam Central on her bike. We made plans for a concert she wanted us to check out together. Beth Heart. I don't know her, but Leonna says she's really good.
My train was ready to go when I got in, the taxi in the Hague aloud me to pay a little less for the ride home as it was his last shift, and I was 2 euro's short of the normal fee, and when I came home I must have hugged Ed for hours telling him all about the evening, before letting him go back to bed. (2 am?)
In short, I had a perfect night out.