About a boy

Yesterday I watched About A Boy. I didn't think it was as good as the book, but I liked it anyway. I have to admit that I also think Hugh Grant is a good actor. He has a lot of charm.

Afterwards, I was quite shocked to hear from a friend about the shooting that took place in Laramie two weeks ago. I have very good memories of studying in that town and, what's more, most of the action in the novel I'm trying to write takes place there. So weird.

Today was not a very good writing day. I hope wednesday will be better.

Music for a lazy Sunday afternoon

Looks like it's going to rain today, so I'm in doubt whether I should go outside to get some fresh air or just stay in and read. In the meantime I'm listening to a beautiful roots/country/bluegrass record by Jan Smith that I have to review. I had never heard of this singer from Charlotsville, Viriginia, but I have to say that she's an exceptional talent.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

Tonight is the first evening in ten days that I did not spent in the park, though it's still hot outside. Instead I went into town to fetch my copy of Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which had finally arrived at the bookstore! This will definitely be the next book I'm going to read, after I have finished the hilariously funny Everything Is Illuminated.

Furthermore, I also bought A History of God by Karen Armstrong.

Sorry for not expanding on the question why I bought these books... Just don't feel like righting all that down. ;-)

Brandi Carlile

Listening to one of the best cd's I have bought this year, so far: the self-titled debut of Brandi Carlile. A very young, but also extremely talented singer/songwriter. Unbelievable that this cd did not get an official release in Holland yet, but on the other hand, I'm not surprised about that anymore... Luckily, there's the internet.

Today was another hot day, but I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy the airco system of the Department of Justice. For tomorrow I foresee a terrible hot day in the book department... This weather is just not meant for working... It's excellent for the park though. ;-)

Records I should listen to more often...

Today was just too hot to work. Unfortunately, I still had to. It wasn't too bad though, because I had quite some different stuff to do and learn.

Spent another evening in the park and rediscovered Kim Richey's Rise when I got back home. A wonderful record that I should really listen more often. The same goes however for loads of other cd's and lp's. I'm not sure if there's to little hours in one day or that I just have to much records... :s

Finally: For Me, It's You!!!

Woohoo!!! Today For Me, It's You arrived in the mail! I listened to it in the park tonight and I have to say it's even better in cd-quality!

Worked another day at the Department of Justice where it was nice and cool because of their excellent airco system. It felt good to be back.

Elephant

Yesterday I watched a very, very disturbing film: Elephant by Gus van Sant, director of one of my favorite movies ever: Good Will Hunting. It's based on the Columbine High School shootings and it tells of the last day of the killers and the students they killed. The most disturbing thing is that it never becomes clear WHY these guys do this.

However, I think this is also the main reason why it's really a great film. Some things are better not to be understood.

Frisbee

And another tropical day! This really must be the hottest summer in a long time. Work was ok, listening to Camera Obscura in the park was great. Advised a friend whose frisbee was got stuck high up a tree. It didn't work, so it's probably still hanging there... Which reminds me that I should buy myself a frisbee!

Tropicana

And another tropical day. Had planned to do a lot of writing, but it was simply to hot to concentrate. So I spent a lot of time in the park, made myself a member of the Hyves community and accidentily set fire to a towel (I put it on the stove without noticing there was a fire burning... :s)

In the park I listened to another great summer-cd 1972 by Josh Rouse. Tonight I gave the new Camara Obscura record another spin. I keep on falling in love with that one, it is so beautiful!

Have to work again tomorrow. Can't see I'm looking forward to it very much, because of the heat, but on the other hand it will be interesting as well. And unlike when I was younger I can stand the heat very well these days. Well anyway, I hope I can start writing again soon!

Everything is illuminated

Today was the first day at my new job and it was way too hot. It was hard to concentrate, though the work is ok. On the way home it was even hotter, but not as hot as in my room. So I spent another very nice evening in the park, thinking about my own novel and reading some pages of Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. My first impression is that it is very good.

Heatwave

Spent a lovely weekend at my parents place. I loved being in my canoe again and just enjoying the sunshine. Here in the city it's harder to bear the heat, but tonight I will escape to the park again!

Finished About A Boy. I just couldn't quit reading... It may not among the best books I have ever read, but I find it very enjoyable. Tonight I will finally start with Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, which I should have read for a university course, almost three years ago...

In the train back home today I listened to Drops Of Jupiter by Train. I still think it's amazing how long it took me to like this wonderful record. If I was going to a desert island and was allowed to take only three records this, or My Private Nation (I hope I never have to make that choice ;-) , would definitely be among them. I also listened to Josh Rouse's 1972 which is one the best records ever to listen to during a heatwave...

Enjoying the wonderful weather

Spending a long weekend at my parent's place. Enjoying the weather, floating in my canoe, reading About A Boy, and, like right now, allowing Last.fm radio to surprise me with good music.

Yesterday I traded in some cd's for some new ones: Scarlet's Walk by Tori Amos and Peddler's Dream by Maria McKee. Lately I have really rediscovered Tori Amos. Until four years ago or something, she used to be one of my favorite artists, but I somehow lost track of her then. This cd's has some wonderful songs, such as Strange and Virginia.

Ok, have to go and find my canoe!

Alarm!

So today was my last day at the Department of Justice. And a fun day it was, because there was a test alarm, so everybody had to get out of the building. Which meant that 2000 people (the Department of Internal Affairs also had to evacuate...) were crowding the streets in front of the building! A good opportunity to get to know some people a little better.

After work I went shopping, but couldn't find what I wanted. Since I have developed something of my own personal taste I find it even harder to buy clothes and shoes than when I didn't care about those things at all. ;-)

Well, tomorrow is another day.

Right now listening to Scenes From A Memory by Dream Theater. It used to be one of my top 10 favorite albums, but I guess it must have been maybe three years or more since I last listened to it... It's just not the music I listen to anymore, but it's nice to find out that I still like it.

Ok, have to go and try to finish The Mill On The Floss today! No park tonight, cause it's too windy. Will spent the whole weekend in the countryside, so there's a good chance of picking up some sunshine there. :-)

Life is so sweet to me

Just got got back from my favorite park, where I listened to this wonderful Counting Crows cd and read some more of The Mill On The Floss.

Lately I don't seem to do very much more than working and sitting in the park... I feel very lucky with my nice job and fun collegues, so it's kind of sad that tomorrow is my last day. However, my new job will start next week!

Hopefully I will have time to write again as well by then.

Ice cream

Went to the park yesterday after work and became best friends with a little girl of two or three who liked to play with my pencil and paper. Was rewarded for my small efforts as a nanny with some nice ice cream by her parents. ;-)

Also did some reading is this beautiful novel by George Eliot which I hope to finish soon.

Ok, time to go to work!

Groundhog day

Yesterday I rewatched Groundhog Day and I loved it even more than the first time. It's brilliant! And Bill Murray is a great actor.

Right now listening to 30 #1 Hits by Elvis Presley. It took me quite some time to get into his music and I still wouldn't call myself a fan, but it's very good music to listen to once in a while.

The weather is not as good as it was supposed to be, so I don't know whether I will go to the park, which was my plan for today. Maybe I just stay in listening to music and reading The Mill On The Floss which is a great novel.

I'm going to see Bruce Springsteen live!!!

This morning I succeeded in ordering tickets for the Bruce Springsteen concert in Rotterdam in October! It will be the first time I'm going to see my greatest musical hero, so I am very excited about it! Woohoo!!

I think 2006 will be my best concert year since 2003 (when I saw Train, The Counting Crows, REM, Starsailor, The Levellers and many more great bands), because I have already seen Josh Ritter and The Juliana Theory and I also have tickets for Pearl Jam and Nick Cave! I would also like to go to the Flevo Festival where Switchfoot will be performing and the Lowlands Festival (Twilight Singers, Martha Wainwright among others), but I don't know if I have money for that left...

Some new cd's

Went into town to buy new shoes and clothes but couldn't find what I want and came home with two new cd's...

Unchained by Johnny Cash and Gold by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The first one is possibly my favorite Johnny Cash record. I used to listen to my dad's copy, but I'm glad I have my own now. And Smokey Robinson is also great music!

About a boy

Went to the American Book Center after work today and brought two British books: About A Boy by Nick Hornby and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Look forword to reading both!

Spent another evening in the park. It started raining when I biked home...

Just a nice picture

I made this picture more than a year ago, just before I moved out of my parents house. It's part of a series on the countryside where I grew up in. I rediscovered it in my computer the other day.

It's my own shadow, in case you didn't notice. ;)

Will buy my own digital camera soon.

A Hundred Highways

So in the end I decided to watch Ghost World! Second time I saw it and I think I liked it even better than the first time. Once upon a time I thought I would become like that Seymour... Thank God I'm not like that anymore.

Anyway, yesterday I downloaded the last Johnny Cash cd: American V: A Hundred Highways. My first impression is that it is a beautiful record. Better than American III and IV. Think I'm going to buy it for my dad's birthday.

Guess I will spent another afternoon in the park today, listening to a special cd with songs to relax I made for someone. But first I want to work on my story a bit. Solved a very important problem yesterday while enjoying the weather.

Another day in the park

The weather is really hot these days, so I spent another day in the park. Today Travis' The Invisible Band was the right cd at the right time.

This morning I bought a book by Hemingway and an lp by David Sylvian (the beautiful Secrets Of The Beehive) on the market.

And tonight I think I am going to rewatch a Scarlett Johannsen movie. Not sure though if it's going to be Lost In Translation or Ghost World...