Dear Diary

Dear Diary,
B. and I are getting things together to travel to Thomasville, GA. We lived there for 20+ years...have friends. Wednesday night we go to Tallahassee, FL to watch the Florida State Seminoles basketball team (men). Then two days back in Thomasville. I think I will have Dean, the barber, cut my hair (around the sides). Maybe I can see Larry Green. He earned his doctorate and became Superintendent of schools. I would have loved to have worked for him. We will probably walk through town like we use to. Try new and old restaurants. Visit with the Shanks...special people who almost single-handedly created a positive atmosphere for Jews in this south Georgia community. Maybe Di who's daughter is trying to become a country singer. Also, one of the farming families who were so nice to me when I was yet single.

Then back to Tallahassee for the Saturday noon game. Afterwards, we will head north through Albany, then Columbus, followed by Hwy 27 to Rome.

(25.02)

bold little kid ten years old or so can guess the daft punk techno track roaring in the background in the coffeeplace-pub when dared by elastic guy big eyes bulging out their sockets he's moving everywhere arms, legs, mouth, talking rough, sharp, edgy even now that he's all relaxed and matey (looking like a hooligan) the music pounds and pounds behind me a french guy zays that he'z "had enough, of thiz waiting and coffee drinking always coffee drinking and i am tired of it and of zpending ze money waiting you know" the poster says dont attack iraq features a bulky vertical bomb big cross, eighties fashion is back in here in a big way, bring on the black t-shirt with random band cheesy image cut open in a DIY looking way to get big cleavage at odd angle the guy behind the bar with her is wearing a "houston oilers" t-shirt, on sale next to the brownies and smoothies are "crap valentines cards" for a quid and "crap cars" (toy cars) for two more and near the door a machine where if you slide in a quid like in the chewing gum machines you usta find out in the street attached to random neighbourhood buildings you can pull out, instead of gum or condoms a random improvised art object -

this brick lane still is in hindi girls in colorful skirts over trousers gathered excitedly in hallway of stores the boys in cars stationary with radio blasting a garage/2-step track thats got bollywood singing over it but all the "leather fashion" dump-store looking shops the indians usta run seem to have made way for restaurants, from dodgy to brand new and ultra-smooth, contrasts are immense even from house to house the old brewery still has all the industrial pipings but inside hip and glamorous fashion and haircutting stores just behind the lane though there's a green with in it an island of old building it says "old st patricks school" but now has five tattered paper nametags at the doorbells on the wall the graffiti says "reclaim brick lane" and if you walk up past the tired-looking mini-childrens farm ("this project financed by the European Commission") you get to the blackest, ugliest, dirtiest pedestrian overpass across train tracks you've ever seen black as in burnt, thats what it looks like, garbage and used condoms and cans strewn over it, turn left there's a cute hip coffee store and from the phonebooth next to it a guy is coming out swearing at his girlfriend about the "stupid ****" who didnt fcking show up, the **** - little while down the street past where the streetname in hindi and english, grimsby street for example, is something in hindi too, is adorned with a few tiny children topping it, there's the indian pakistani grocery store with more of everything than i could imagine so many herbs so many spices so many sweets and pappadums and food colourings and more and more i couldnt choose anything i didnt buy anything i was too overwhelmed by it by it all which is the story of the day (or two) here today there is so much of everything here - in the streets people, traffic, everyone rushed determined purposeful and confidently sharply edged in yelling to each other, even in the supermarket, sainsburys, there's five of everything any albert heyn has one of and one of countless things we dont have at all, all this overwhelming supply - a starbucks, pret or cafe nero at every single streetcorner one of each guaranteed in every two blocks and everybody sits alone and eats his or her sandwich with the mocchacino this people must eat sandwiches non-stop all the time every second streetfront enterprise is a sandwich place chicken avocado cheese lettuce cream anything who has so much hunger?! but then the buildings are high and whatsmore they are arbitrarily built demolished replaced london HAS no architecture its the oddest mishmash find and replace mixup of brand new recent fifties and old, house per house and block by block buildings have been taken out replaced without discretion or selection london is NOT a pretty town it seems to think of no history, has no time for history has too much work to do in those giant new riverfront monsters of enterprise and ties and suits metal and glass the street behind will have a fifties apartment block - in a bad state, an original eastend house - restored with camera surveillance, and one next to it thats all but falling apart with behind that a random empty space and next to that a newly built luxury construction while the community centre says: saturday not open due to lack of volunteers, and one building stands out, an ugly old great ambitious old-town git from the early sixties or so, gallery flat adorned with near-soc-real wallfront figures of people workers in some forward-looking way but now the building is old reminds me of my family, with tiny garden plots in a puzzle of green out in front, a girl in high boots short black skirt and big arms yells "patrick!" while she walks to the building from afar, up at one of those balconies, "patrick" again and again as she comes closer and nobody ever yells back.

Dear Diary, Sorry to say, Mr Rogers passed away yesterday at the young age of 74. Many of our younger generation grew up watching this gentle giant. We are all saddened by his passing. c.i.

Haven't talked to a diary before, but I'll give it a try. It's raining & cold here in Texas and I'm lonesome for Las Vegas where we spent last week when our son was married there. Beautiful, wonderful place, Las Vegas. Don't know what I expected but it is so gosh-darn rich thanks to all the losers of money in the provided shiney brightly colored gambling machines.

My daughter-in-law is very beautiful, an attorney from Mexico. Both in 2nd marriage. Nice to see some old friends and get to know her family. We didn't care where we were but I loved Las Vegas, walking in the warm sunshine, looking at all that incredible STUFF there in those hotels and other buildings that appear as the seven hills of Rome. Nice to see crowded sidewalks, feeling safe around a million people.

Well, that wasn't too difficult. Maybe I'll visit The Diary again. Thanks.

Tex-Star

Dear Diary,

March 1 - only 30 days till our Florida vacation. And I have three days off next week for my birthday. As every year on Ash Wednesday the Red Cross is holding a blood drive in Balingen next week so this will be my birthday present to everybody else.

I had a very good week with time for Stefan on Monday night, the gym on Tuesday, swimming on Wednesday and a wonderful wine tasting on Thursday. A doctor's visit on Friday morning - oh, my back feels so much better! And the plan for tonight is dragging Susan to La Pergola so she will see some normal people for a change. Wait a second - normal people at La Pergola? I think I got something wrong here. Well, let's rephrase that - to have some fun at La Pergola. There - that's better. But to do that I have to reach her and she doesn't answer the phone... Oh well, I'll keep trying.

Dear Diary,

it's my birthday! Officially, I took today, tomorrow and Friday off. Inofficially, I went to the office this morning to get some stuff published on our intranet. Then I spent the lunchbreak with Katja which was very nice. Went to donate blood. Now I am getting ready to go to dinner with my ex-colleagues. I like birthdays :-)

And tomorrow looks like another nice day. Let's see - go to the gym, get a massage, spend time with Stefan and the cats, go out to dinner (again!) with ex-colleagues (from another job this time). The weather is supposed to be good so I guess I'll take a walk also. Oh, life is good!

Gotta get dressed for dinner!

Dear Diary,
I was pleased to see Tex-Star. We crossed paths in another life.

The average temps are slowly rising to mid-50s, sometimes 60s. When the wind doesn't blow, it is comfortable working in the yard. Although my back voices opposition, I still enjoy puttering around in the out-of-doors.

Today is my all day volunteering time: listen to 5th graders reading, followed by lunch with Clint (mentoring) then off to meet Olin, my adult literacy student. I still enjoy teaching, especially, when I set the time.

I will be joining some members in Coacoa Beach at the first of April. Maybe Bigdice and Urs can tell me the secrets of Germany.

Cheers

Dear Diary,

I'm in the process of applying for the Santa Clara County grand jury, but certain conditions are required before I will volunteer. The most important one being that my wife and I have already made reservations for a Trans-Cananda Train Tour for August of this year. Can't sacrifice over seven grand to do volunteer work. c.i.

Your trans-Canada train trip sounds terrific! Better stick to that plan.

C>I> perhaps the Santa Clara County grand jury will do their biz on the same train as you and your lady wife are riding. Seven grand, blimey and strewf, that's a lot dosh, one heck of an arm and a leg as we over here would say.

oak, That'a a whole lot of beans in our neck of the woods too! LOL c.i.

oak, That'a a whole lot of beans in our neck of the woods too! LOL c.i.

oak, BTW, Did I tell you about the A2K London Gathering on March 20 at the Oak? c.i.

Dear Diary
Capurgana (Choco department, Colombia) was terrific. You get there from Medellin in a Twin Otter. Boy those things don't need much runway! Good thing cause there isn't much in Cap. There are no vehicle capable roads connecting it to anywhere else just horse cart and foot trails so there are no cars at all. There are two motorcycles I'm told but one is broke. The people are as friendly as can be and everyone will return a "buenos dias". I had a three hour scuba diving class including an ocean dive and it cost $27 US. We took a twenty minute launch ride to the first Panamanian pueblo up the coast. It was a sorry little place. In Capurgana there is actually a "botanical garden" fifteen minutes walk into the jungle from the landing strip. The trees have their common names tacked on and I blissfully watched a Turqoise-Browed Mot Mot for about fifteen minutes. They really are exotic creatures. Of course there were toucans and parrots passing overhead regularly.

We went on an all inclusive plan from Cali that included air, nice hotel on the beach, three elegant meals a day and national brand beer and liquor all day untill midnight. The cost for two for seven nights came to $950 US.

Pitter,
Where have you been?

Mapleleaf, the secrets of Germany? We will do our very best!

Dear Diary,

had a nice workout at the gym today. Then the massage - hmmmmm!

How nice to have a day off!

Now what's happening to you, Diary? Nobody wants to write anything? Well, well...

I can't believe it's Wednesday already. We had a two-day meeting Monday and Tuesday - the European HR managers. Interesting but also exhausting. So now my boss took three days off. I wish his phone was on vacation also.

Nothing really happened these last days. I was too tired. But tonight I will go swimming. Have to keep moving and trying to get in shape for our Florida trip. Oh, it's getting closer so fast. BigDice keeps asking 'Are we going tomorrow?' I am so looking forward to it. How exciting to meet all the A2K people.

DD,

I can't wait for the Florida gathering. It will be so good to get away with friends and to leave the world behind for a few days.

Not much going on right now--just wanted to check in and say hi to all the lovely dear diary people.

DD, sorry have been avoiding you - thanks Diane for making me aware!!!

So I am still exhausted and with paint marks still on my body (no it was not anything kinky which I was doing). I had been redecorating and extending my house. Extending was fine, the builders were doing it anyways, but I decided to give the great British (since I am one now) tradition of DIY a go so I wielded a paint brush and painted one bedroom - and by the time I finished it, I could hardly lift my arm. You see, I am not used to the to and fro motion of the arm too much :p So the last thing I did with that arm before slipping into a hot bubble bath, to call the company which I use for decorating, and asked them to send a man over to do the rest of the painting. So much for DIY !! LOL. But now I am a proud owner of a 4 bedroom house. Don't ask me why, I think I just ran out of space to keep all the stuff which I have accumulated. And the bank account is looking in very poor shape !! Apart from the extension, I got the bedrooms, hall and landing painted - it is looking very nice now. I decided to go for a Mediterranean look in my kitchen and painted it in a color called "Polar Flame" - my decorator recommended it, but that experiment failed miserably. You see, when the sun is shining it looks pretty great, but when it is not (which in London is the majority of time) it looks darkish and the walls seem to be closing in. Ahh well, I guess it will just take getting used to it probably. But it is not all over as yet. This Friday the painter is coming in to do the new bedroom, then on Saturday workmen are coming in to lay a wooden floor in the new bedroom and on Sunday a new carpet is being laid on the staircase, and movers are coming in to move furniture and assemble it for the new bedroom. Phew, it is tough work supervising so many people - everyone wants something all the time, and I have lost count of the number of teas I had to make during the week. But my house is now looking gorgeous (I think) and the value of it has also gone up due to the virtue of it being a 4 bedroom house. The next big project is to redecorate my study (put new bookshelves and buy a new table/chair) and do my garden in preparation for the spring/summer. I am planning to turn all my flower beds into a rock garden, with flowers growing in decorated pots only - easier to maintain. The landscape guy in over on Saturday to advise me on it. So as you can see how busy I have been )But not to say that I did not get enough eye candy during that week, specially my painter. My legs almost gave away when I saw him for the first time ROFL !!!

So I had a summit meeting with my boss last week, and told him how p*ssed I am not getting a bonus/stock option this year and how the department has sent out a clear message to me that I am not wanted here. But my boss is so sweet that he agreed with almost everything I said, though he did say that no such message was sent, it is just that money is a bit tight this year. But I did tell him (and he deserved to be told) that I will start looking for another job and would like to leave as soon as I got one. And he was pretty okay abt it, saying how he understood my frustration, even though he is disappointed by my decision, but he will not stop me should I decide to go. But he has also said that he will have a conversation with his supervisor abt this, and see if they can do anything at all to keep me here. I told him that the chances to that happening are very slim, but I will keep an open mind. But I picked up the phone to work my network, and the first person I spoke to offered me a job. But as you know, I have my sights set on bigger things...

Apart from that it has been cricket !! India thrashed the Pakistan team in their league match, and as far as us Indians are concerned, we have won the world cup. We have progressed to the next round of the tournament, and our entry into the semis looks pretty certain, so there are exciting times ahead.

One of my very close friends got a baby girl last week and I am so thrilled for them and for becoming an uncle LOL. She is absolutely gorgeous, small and pink. But the only thing she does is sleep and feed, and I am dying to hold her - soon when she awakes to do more that just feed LOL

Dear Diary

I enjoyed reading about Gautam's redecorating adventures. I have been doing a lot of the same, but on an entirely different scale! His house sounds so HUGE, while mine is a little Victorian doll's house. But it's mine & I love it. Particularly all the space outside. Creating a new garden is soooooooo exciting!
But speaking of scale: one of the most difficult things for me was deciding what to keep & what to discard. There was simply not enough space to keep all the things I'd accumulated over the years. Funny, it seemed so difficult to get rid of so much at the time, but now these THINGS seem so unimportant.

I'd like to Gautam to tell us what colour "Polar Flame" is, or resembles. (A cold pinky colour?) Was it finally replaced with another colour?