May 1, 2008
Two weeks of fun and relaxation
Well I've been back now for a little over three days and here is the proof that indeed I was there:
Posted at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 15, 2004
Back home
Now that I am finally back home it is hard to believe that I have been away.
The only proof is a few nice memories and a pretty bad case of jetlag that refuses to go away.
You can read all entries covering my trip to California by clicking here.
Posted at 9:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 13, 2004
Accelerated darkness
After nearly two weeks of acclimated myself to this time zone, my
biorhythm has finally adapted completely to the Californian ways of day and night.
Tomorrow it's back to Holland again, meaning another nine-hour jump,
this time in the clockwise direction.
As the flight proceeds through the night of accelerated darkness, I
will attempt to catch some shuteye in order to make my reentry a little
bit more gradual.
Posted at 8:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Parasitic movements
This is the dream I had.
While shaving in front of the mirror, I noticed a slight blemish on my left cheekbone just below the eye. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that it was a pimple ready to be popped.
I squeezed the pimple as hard as I could between my thumb and
forefinger. Slowly but surely, this tubular thing rose out due to the
pressure. It fell in my palm, and there was this deep hole left in my
face.
This thing made me feel nauseous, and when it started to move I felt
sick. From with the translucent tube there emerged some insect parasite with long feelers and veined wings.
The insect or whatever it was emerged as if from a cocoon, wiggled and flapped its wings around for a bit. When all the gestation tissue and mucous evaporated, it just flew away. Just like that.
I could not believe it that something had been living in my face for so long without me having noticed it earlier.
How long had it been there? What would have happened had I not forced
it out? How did it get there and what was it doing?
Posted at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 12, 2004
Real tear-jerkers
After having seen a whole hour of those real tear-jerker stories on the Oprah Winfrey Show, I am starting to really miss my family. I cannot wait to get back.
Only two more days.
Posted at 9:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Drive by shooting
There has been yet another drive by shooting, this time in front of the local high school.
Some young boy was crossing the street, and then out of the blue he was attacked by three gang members who shot him down in revenge for something or other.
According to the news, the poor soul was shot multiple times: in the neck, back, lower abdomen and buttocks. Fortunately, he is now out of danger, recovering slowly and will live.
Posted at 9:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 11, 2004
Old pictures
Having spent nearly three hours straight looking through all of the old photo albums with my mother, there are still alot of memories that need some sinking in. It will take me about a day or two to absorb it all again.
Back then, everything seemed like a big deal, when in fact those moments were to be enjoyed to the fullest without remorse.
This should be a good lesson for living in the now, alright?
Posted at 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
It might rain today
Everyone here is tremendously disappointed whenever it appears that there is a small chance of rain. The weatherman has announced at the end of the evening news that the clouds are coming, so watch out.
The slightly overcast skies the next morning only confirm everyone's worst fears, and people are already feeling depressed the moment they first walk outside. Oh no, it's going to rain, what lousy weather. The addicts of sunshine are having a difficult time. Hands are poised next to the steering wheels ready to flip on the windshield wipers at a moment's notice.
Although there are many patches of open sky, with more than half of the high canopy exposed to the blue behind it, and it is pretty much dry wherever I look, more than half of the people carry umbrellas with them, just in case. Up and down the streets, folks are walking quickly from here to there in order not to be exposed too long to the open sky that threatens to cause a drizzle at the throw of the dice.
Even when you walk in stores or happen to meet an acquaintance outside on the sidewalk, the so-called lousy weather is the main topic of conversation. Pretty bad weather today. Sure getting cold and dismal. What a shame.
(It's November for heaven's sake, and it's supposed to be this way)
When later in the day it starts to drizzle ever so slightly, the streets empty in just less than five seconds. Everyone ducks down and dashes for cover. It's almost as if there is a mortar attack or some poisonous spray is falling down. Get out of the way!
One old lady over there spends ten minutes affixing this big plastic shopping bag just right over her head. The inverted upside-down letters show through, with her ears poking out comically from the open handles. So her fancy hairdo isn't ruined. It's only five feet from the overhang to her parked car, so I don't know why the big deal and all the extra work. Three drops could make the difference between life and death.
So what do I do? Well, I just stand there in the middle of the parking lot, raise my hands to the sky and let all that wonderful moisture cover every square millimeter of my person. My face is moist and my hands are waving around, in tribute and obedience to the big bad rain god up there. In defiance, I raise my voice slightly and give out a gleeful and somewhat crazy-sounding laugh, because I am being touched by nature herself.
That's when I notice the cop standing over there in front of his black-and-white CHP vehicle, looking at me curiously. Big belly hanging out, sunglasses staring, cup of Starbucks coffee in his right hand, a silver and black gun hanging from his side. Sobered out in a second (or less), I lower my face and arms and continue my way.
Can't I have a little fun and relaxation in the rain? Actually, it's not even raining, it's a very slight drizzle, and so what's the big deal?
Posted at 10:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 10, 2004
Jogging at midnight
Taking the nine hour time difference into account, my thirty minute run through the Monterey hills at three o'clock was the equivalent of a nice long midnight jog, if I were running at the exact same time in Gouda.
Posted at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Many car accidents
At first glance it appears that everyone here drives so relaxed and slow. At each intersection, people stop and let you go first with a polite smile and a wave of their hand.
That is why it is so surprising to read in the newspaper each day that there have been a number of accidents, some with fatal consequences. On average, I see five accidents.
I am told that road rage is the latest thing but have yet to discover it myself.
Just the other day, this colored guy rammed the backside of my car. When I got out to inspect the possible damage, he came running to me with a grinning apologetic face in order to reassure me that nothing was wrong.
"My foot just slipped off of the brake," he told me as if it had happened before.
Indeed, there was no visible damage incurred and with my speeded up heart beat slowing down, I drove away resisting all urges to participate in this road rage fashion.
Posted at 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 9, 2004
Radio nederland
It must have been my eleventh birthday when I received the fancy radio that was a combination AM, FM, short- and long-wave gizmo of which I was very proud.
In the evenings, I would scan slowly through the various frequencies, turning the knob on the side ever so carefully. I would zoom in on Russia, China, someplace where they spoke what sounded like Arabic, and the interference was so bad that it sounded like it could have been coming from a spaceship or another planet.
One day I happened to come upon this one English-speaking station that came across the Atlantic and was amazingly clear. It was called Radio Nederland and the read letters from listeners around the world, played requested music and conducted talk shows about this and that.
I would listen to it every week, and on the radio dial I had scratched in a pen mark that indicated the exact position I had to turn the knob in order for the best reception.
I had absolutely no idea where this place called Nederland was, except that it was located somewhere in northern Europe and that it was a small country. Could it be coincidence or an insight flash-forward into the ways of things to come?
One fun thing they did was read off your name for your birthday and they would play your favorite song. So about six months in advance, I sent them a letter request, hoping and waiting until the big day would come.
Lo and behold, on my birthday evening I nervously tuned in and listened with anxious ears. I turned on the recorder and waited. They had also received a letter from someone from California and it was his birthday. They announced my name and I was excited beyond words.
The song I had requested was Cracklin' Rosie by Neil Diamond:
Cracklin' rosie, make me a smile
Girl if it lasts for an hour, that's all right
We got all night
To set the world right
Find us a dream that don't ask no question, yeah...
Now here I am having lived for twenty-two years in Holland, the country from which those tunes of Radio Nederland emanated, way back then.
Little did I know nor think nor realize during that momentous birthday that I was touching the future for a short moment.
Posted at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
KSBW channel
For the latest news, weather and sports about the Monterey Bay area, you can have a look at the KSBW Channel.
Posted at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 8, 2004
Fast eaters
People here eat real fast. There is not much time left over to sit down and relax and have a normal conversation.
At home, my family views me as the one who completely lacks manners, eats too quickly, smacks too loudly, and talks with my mouth full.
Ironically, while eating with family and friends, I am nearly always the one with only half his plate finished before the waitress comes and takes the other plates away, dropping the receipt on the table.
The Americans have perfected the fine art of carrying on pseudo-conversation and forking down mountains of Mexican food at the same time.
I love it.
Posted at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 7, 2004
Running in the hills
After more than a week bumming around, I decided to reward myself with a good old run through the hills.
Having managed to hold out for nearly thirty minutes without stopping, I arrived back atop the hill to my mother's house sweating like a maniac. A tough way to end, uphill.
The dog Zoö could not keep herself off of me, and licked away most of the sweat dripping off my arms, legs and forehead.
Running up and down those hills is quite a different story, when I have been so used to the Dutch flatlands where the only slight obstacles are occasional bridges over the canal.
Of course, the wind there in Holland is ten times worse, so perhaps both types of runs are in the end an equal match.
Posted at 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Everything erased
Turns out that it wasn't such a great idea bringing my fancy Palm T3 electronic agenda with me.
Something must have short-circuited or a misbehaved application caused me to do a hard reset. All of the data was erased in the process, thereby making that wonderful modern tool completely useless.
(Who needs modern technology during vacation anyway?)
Now I can have a fully fun and relaxing time without having constantly to consult all my important appointments, etc.
Posted at 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 6, 2004
Lifelong friends
This morning in the Monterey Herald newspaper, an article appeared on a back page (B4) that hit me kind of hard. The title:
"Lifelong friends die together in Iraq"
They played together in childhood, wrestled together in high school and joined the Marines together after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (...)
In the article, the story is told about two friend who had grown up together in a typical small Californian town. After the 9/11 attacks, they wanted to do something for their country, so they joined the marines in an act of patriotism. During their second tour of duty in Iraq they were rejoined. While on tour in a place called Anbar province, they were ambushed and killed (just like that).
Here is where life is so comfortable and unreal, far away from the ravages of an unjust and awful war. Echoes of sadness and death sometimes trickle into the daily lives of folks who do not even think about life and death matters.
Why would something so important be hidden in the back of the newspaper and not on the front page?
Two lives less.
Posted at 7:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 5, 2004
French toast
My mother just happens to make the best French toast in the world.
Just because she is my mother, and the fact that I was raised on this fine cuisine, has nothing to do with my judgment on this matter (now does it).
Maybe the fact that she comes from France is a good reason for this, although after having spent most of her life here, she has developed a slightly Americanized, tempered and variegated version of this fine delicatessen.
Whatever, my breakfast this early Californian morning began with this nice treat.
Hopefully I will not get too fat these two weeks (don't want to be a part of more than half of those fellow Americans waddling and jiggling around me).
Posted at 6:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 4, 2004
Surprise birthday lunch
I had a fun, surprise birthday lunch with my old buddy Dave who I have known since I was six, way back in the Stockton days, nineteen sixty whatever.
Hey, that's forty years ago. For a few moments, I would be the same age as Dave. I was darn determined to be there and experience it with him for the first time since who knows when.
What I did was drop in his office in Carmel, chat and reminisce about the good old days. Nothing has changed really as we have remained pretty much the same. It's only that the world around us keeps on moving and pulling us along.
Had a wonderful lunch at this place down the road called Piatti's, which has great BLT sandwiches. That stands for Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato. At the end they surprised him with dessert topped with a burning candle and the whole restaurant sang Happy Birthday.
Poor Dave was pretty embarrassed, and I have never seen someone's face turn so red. Glowing like a tomato. Rather than thank me, he commented: "I'm glad the restaurant isn't that busy."
On the way back home I cranked up an old Led Zeppelin CD I had purchased the day before and enjoyed my favorite view of the coast while coming over the hill.
Posted at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Change of weather
Alright, so what if it is a little cloudy one day. Everyone was so letdown and almost apologetic to me.
"Sorry, not very nice weather today, now is it."
When as a Californian you are so used to it being sunny and warm the whole year round, a slight dip in the temperature or a couple raindrops hitting the windshield can be depressing.
The day is ruined, and hopefully tomorrow it will clear up...
And believe it or not, that's exactly what happened. The sun is shining from just over the mountain tops over there and most all of the sky is blue.
There is still hope.
Posted at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 3, 2004
Bush wins
The following news just came in. "Kerry concedes election victory to Bush."
That's too bad...
The Europeans will not be happy with that at all. Whose side are the Americans on nowadays anyway?
There's the president sitting comfortably in his big sofa chair, with a big fat smirk stretched across his face.
Posted at 5:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Nice feeling
As proof of my visit to the Pacific coast, I had to take off my shoes, roll up my pant legs and run in the ocean water barefoot.
The water was cold, but not unbearably so. This was just enough to tickle my toes and make me aware that yes indeed I was where I thought I was.
Scraping all the sand from my feet and from between my toes helped some, but I could still feel the ocean on my feet for the rest of the day.
Nice feeling.
Posted at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 2, 2004
Voting is underway
By the end of the day, they should know for sure who will be the next president of the United States. Will it be Kerry or will it be Bush? It will be a close call.
All there is now on the television is (you guessed it) voting, voting and more voting. Droves of people in Columbus, Ohio lining up to exercise their right to vote and thereby influence American policy one way or the other. The race is very close now, neck-to-neck, and because of the electoral system, the end result is pretty unpredictable.
All it takes is one middle-sized state in the Midwest to sway to one side or the other and it's all over. One wonders why then the vote of the people really matters. They are thinking of abolishing this system by the next election.
The voting has gotten underway, and unfortunately there has been a number of voting irregularities detected. Because most of the time it is done electronically, there is no paper trail. This means that if there is a dispute it will be impossible to do a dependable recount. This is all kind of scary when you really think deep down about it.
Who is "really" controlling this election? Is there some kind of illicit way to influence results without the people knowing it? Groups of voters are complaining and surrounding government buildings. What if there are revolts? Sounds like those faked elections you read about in the Middle east or African countries. But it couldn't happen here now, could it?
Well whatever goes on, I will take a pilgrimage along the Pacific and enjoy the beaches and rocky coast. This afternoon will be time for some (boring) videos of ocean waves and mountain ranges. They predict heavy rains coming in by tomorrow afternoon, so I might as well get some good shots while I can. That way when I go back home I can be reminded of that place where I came from more than twenty years ago. As far as the nature is concerned, not much if any at all has changed.
Posted at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
November 1, 2004
Sleeping away my vacation
One might think that sleeping away one's vacation is perhaps a big waste of time. However, last night's eleven hour slumber was a much needed recovery from an acute case of jetlag. The time difference between here and Gouda is nine-hours plus the one hour fall back into winter time.
My mother and I did our best staying awake to watch that video documentary we rented, but by nine we were both snoring loudly and in unison in our comfortable chairs. Michael Moore's (somewhat) whiney voice is what woke me up right in time to hear the tradgedy of 9/11 in pure blackness. Sweet dreams (hopefully) and time to go to bed.
Now that I am fully recovered with an overdose of sleep, it's time to experience the vacation pleasures in top form. Though it is not so much a vacation as it is a subtle reliving of things past.
The weather is amazingly sunny and warm for the first day of November, compared to my Dutch hometown of Gouda where it is getting pretty dang cold. I was sweating when I entered the car and had to flip on the air-conditioning in order to drive.
Shopping, shopping, shopping. Well not that much done nor actually purchased, but we ran around a few stores anyway and got an idea or two or three. There's enough time to think about the ideal vacation souvenirs for the kids without getting all stressed out (like my Mom almost gets).
By the by, computers and other electronic gadgets are much more expensive here. If you want DSL, be prepared to fork out alot of money -- if it just happens to be available in your area, not. Mobile phones (for some reason) feel like thick bricks when compared to the European equivalents, maybe because in the States everything has to be big and heavy as proof of quality and worth.
The cap sizes have been converted from centimeters to inches, the sweatshirts are out there somewhere, but I didn't come here to spend all my fun and relaxation hours buying presents ad infinitum. My family will hopefully be happy with their limited number of gifts.
However, there is a ton of candies (alot of discounted leftovers from Halloween) for the kids. I will have to get an extra suitcase I can fill up with all the unhealthy junk. Fill it up, please.
In half an hour its off to the dog show, I mean dog training course. It should be quite interesting, although I will feel uneasy being surrounded by all those unpredictable canine critters.
Two days down and twelve to go.
Posted at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
October 31, 2004
Made it back
After a long flight (actually not that bad, a direct flight of eleven hours or so), I made it back to good old California. Rented a car for two weeks and made it down to Monterey in no time.
Not much has changed, and it feels great being back in familiar territory. What a relief it is being able to speak only (American) English again -- and having everyone understand all of what I am saying.
Of course, the BEST thing of all is seeing my mother again. She is the same old happy, active and "talkative" mother. Not bad for a grandma. The (puppy) Zoö was wild and crazy in the beginning, but has settled down. Enough now to just lie at my feet in the living room so I can read next to the window with the morning sun shining in.
I kind of miss Thea and the kids, but still plan to make the most of these two weeks, just hanging around and doing nothing in particular. Excercising the mind by enjoying this pilgrimage to its fullest will be well worth it.
It's off to Lover's Point for a picnic with the Frenchies from Albi who are paying homage to the explorer Jean-François de Galoup, Comte de La Pérouse who came to the Carmel mission and was born in Albi.
"Bonjour, ça va? Oui, ça va bien merci..."
Posted at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
