Noordwijkerhout

Tuesday, May 24th (12:14 a.m. Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands)

Today started strange and just keep getting stranger. I got out of bed at 8:27, showered, packed and caught my 12:00 noon flight to Dallas, via Detroit, via Amsterdam... from Köln. After checking in, I watched the second season finally of Deadwood (damn straight great, by the way) that finished downloading the night before.

Then I waited some more.

Then the lady came.

The lady announced that the plane was late 'due to some technical difficulties' and that any missed connection issues would be dealt with in Amsterdam.

Understandably, some people did not like this situation —at all. Times like this, where unexpected monkey wrenches get tossed into the plans people make really separate the how-dare-you-mess-up my-lifers from the huh-...-wonder-how-this-turns-outers

Amsterdam Schiphol was an aggravated sea of pissed off people. At it happened, the Air Traffic Control system had a glitch, and the missed flights tumbled down like dominoes. People got bitchy and took out their fustration on the airline staff that was trying to help. In situations
like this, I -- not unlike my father -- dive right into the churning chaos.

No flights out to the States this day, so everything was rescheduled for the next day, and I was kindly put up in a nice 4 star hotel, taxied there and given a handful of other little tings to ease my travel pains and —such as being upgraded to business class. On a 13 hour flight a few extra inches makes all the difference.

To be honest I was all giddy with 'oh boy, a Amsterbaden night on the teat of KLM! Well they shipped me instead to this sleepy seaside town called Noordwijkerhout. So amongst the tulips and half excited half grumpy co-passengers, we all started to 'deal with it'.

I checked in, showered, asked for a map and headed to the sea. Weather was sloppy, but I found what I was looking for: A walk along the ocean eating oorlog frijts (french fry war).

Then a mini adventure transpired like a blur, but went something like this:
Long walk...
Asked a kite surfer dude if there where any Coffeehouses in the area.
More walking, then ran into this dude named Lodi.
He invites me to his pad where we sat around and talked.
Lodi's friend came over and we visit he backpacker hostel for Happy Hour
Meet more people
Watch an intense game of Chess
Walked home

Drink my free drink, informed my pickup buddy I will be a day late Ok, I have an ass-crack-of-dawn wakeup call I need to get ready for.

4:30 am wakeup, showered and checked out. 5:30 buss ride driven my some type of demon driver whipping through those round-a-bouts like a man possessed. Normally something I find enjoyable-- the bit-to-fast curve--just not while eating my good-morning yogurt.

Nice that KLM could get me back to the airport on time for my flight. Plenty of time. One might even say way too much time. Good thing AMS has an abundant supply of eye candy.

Punta Mita, Mexico

First time in Mexico. I have lived in LA and Dallas and driven near the border more than a few times. I know all the Spanish words needed to prevent getting oneself killed in a Mexican restaurant. I have flown over this land on my way to Guatemala, but this marks the first time I crossed the border. For the next few days I am working at the Four Seasons in Punta Mita, Mexico. Posh? Very much indeed. Satisfying work in a luxurious environment--I hope I don't get use to this as it would be hard to top. At this writing I have garnished at least two good stories, one of which entails me being pulled over by a Mexican police for 'speeding and swerving', earning me the nickname of 'Autobahn.' Gotta run, more to come.

Click to Enlarage

"Dearest of my friends" - Dirk Worring

Evil Dirk. This guy is my German brother. Our kids will raise some hell together, of that I am sure. One of the many reasons I toy with the idea of getting my tubes tied.

Dirk is also the greatest contributer to my "Wine Bottle Corks" collection. That he will die before me, of this I am certain. If what Morrissey said is true, it's nice to know someone will be there reserving the good seats.

O happy day! > email ahoy from yer ol pal baden

Ok, ok, ok... it seems I have been more than a bit remiss at staying in touch. It is simply not in my nature... and I've been a busy boy lately. And aren't we all. Busy that is—naturally not the boy part. Please forgive the not-so-tailored-to-you mass email-o-gram. As always, these things are intended only as something to nibble, not unlike the fist full of m&m's dispensed from the unhygienic catch of a coin operated machine. Also, if you have (or wish you had) forgotten me... well then you should know that I am not the sort that would put a soggy wet mitten in your lunch bag.

I am returning to the states May 24 - June 22ish for another whirlwind business / pleasure / friends-n-family tour. If you are in, or are going to be in: Dallas, Sacramento, Tuscon, S.F., L.A., Punta Mita or the far North West corner of Washington State—chances are it is to visit you. As my robot monkey is not fully operational yet, I am still lacking my complete set of organizational skills... however I do have a loose schedule starting to take form. So then, who wants to buy me lunch? I will regale you with stories culled from events loosely based on fact and undoubtedly embellished... any takers?

Now I shall return to whatever it was I was doing previous to this. In closing, I have included some links that someone might-could find interesting. Can't get enough of that might-could business, It just kills me. It's my new favorite expression.

<tech>
Windows has released a new version of there Windows Mobile. Smart phones are one of the fastest-growing segments of the tech industry with sales expected to increase 67 per cent this year (32.2 million units). It seems people will be needing/wanting applications that run on this handy platform, no? Hmmm.
http://digital-lifestyles.info/display_page.asp?section=platforms&id=2206
</tech>

<geek>
I found a great little website (with firefox extension) called bug-me-not. Basically a huge annoyance saver every time one is asked to 'register' for free access to a website (i.e. NY Times). Simple, straight forward and free. Should have though of this back in the CLBN 'psychographical profiling' years.
</geek>

<tunes>
Not really a link, but I though I would list some great music to check out if you have not already. Iron and Wine (great cover of Such Great Heights by The Postal Service.) If you don't like the writing or voice of Ben Gibbard from The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie, I assume you have never enjoyed road trips. Oh the joy of The Ditty Bops... or anyone that wants to 'shimmy like sister Kate'. Finally, there is Ryan...that's Ryan with an 'R' Adams. Check out his version of Wonderwall.
</tunes>

Warmest regards, after all...
it's Springtime...
for Baden...
in Germany

Broke Another Mirror...

...and maybe I am turning into something I am not.

Living in Germany the last few years has offered many worthwhile challenges. A new language, for one. Not that I will ever speak it beyond the eloquence of a five-year-old, but still—it is communication of a sort. The down side to this is less obvious; what passed as my spoken English has taking quite a beating. It is surprising how many gems in my mother-tongue vernacular need a good polishing.

Maybe I am addicted to what my father calls “The Order of Chaos.” Just leaping into the fray, and navigating by feel. It is exciting and rewarding... but it is not really the kind of skill one brags about on a resume.

The mirror is only cracked, and still usable. Could just be that the daily loop was getting too predicable for my little addiction, and I needed another ingredient of chaos added into the mix.

Jet Lag

I recently returned from an transatlantic trip. Well, not exactly recently... I have been back for a week already. One might think, that after a week's time, that whole whacked out bio-clock thing would get with the new-old program. When the waking hours are filled with stifled yawns and sleep peppered with same—no fun, no fun at all.

But on a more medically intriguing note: I have discovered a new kind of cramp! There is apparently some muscle that is located just back under the chin, and when that baby starts to cramp up during a yawn, better hang on tight for one painful ride. I would rather be stabbed through the knee with a pair of rusty garden shears then another lower mandibular yawn cramp.

I blame KLM and there Oompa Loompa designed Boeing 777.

Monkeys

Monkeys are fast. You can't catch a monkey, they are very fast.
You might can try, and even feel that you are closing in on sucess--but no.
They are only toying with you.

Unless of course you happen to be a pirate. Pirates have a special power over the monkey.

So, if you are lacking pirate blood, don't wast time trying to catch your own monkey.
A better idea would build your own robot monkey.
Saves on the poop flinging bills too.