Cookie Jar...

I would turn on the TV but it's so embarrasing

To see all the other people I don't know that they mean

It was magic at first when they spoke without sound

And now this world is gonna hurt you better turn that thing down

Turn it around

"It wasn't me", says the boy with the gun

"Sure I pulled the trigger but it needed to be done

Cause life's been killing me ever since it begun

You cant blame me cause I'm too young"

"You can't blame me sure the killer was my son

But I didn't teach him to pull the trigger of the gun

It's the killer on this TV screen

You cant blame me its those images he seen

Well "You can't blame me", says the media man

Well "I wasn't the one who came up with the plan

I just point my camera at what the people want to see

Man it's a two way mirror and you cant blame me"

"You can't blame me", says the singer of the song

Or the maker of the movie which he based his life on

"It's only entertainment and as anyone can see

The smoke machines and makeup

Hey you cant fool me

"It was you it was me it was every man

We've all got the blood on our hands

We only receive what we demand

And if we want hell then hells what well have

And I would turn on the TV

But its so embarrasing

To see all the other people

I don't even know that they mean

And it was magic at first

But it let everyone down

And now this world is gonna hurt

You better turn it around

Turn it around

Gone...

Look at all those fancy clothes,

But these could keep us warm just like those.

And what about your soul? Is it cold?

Is it straight from the mold, and ready to be sold?

And cars and phones and diamond rings,

Bling, bling, because those are only removable things.

And what about your mind? Does it shine?

Are there things that concern you, more than your time?

Gone, going.

Gone, everything.

Gone, don’t give a damn.

Gone, be the birds, when they don’t wanna sing.

Gone, people, all awkward with their things,

Gone.

Look at you, out to make a deal.

You try to be appealing, but you lose your appeal.

And what about those shoes you’re in today?

They’ll do no good, on the bridges you burnt along the way.

And you're willing to sell, anything?

Gone, with your head.

Leave your footprints,

And we’ll shame them with our words.

Gone, people, all careless and consumed, gone

Gone, goin,

Gone, everything.

Gone, don’t give a damn.

Gone, be the birds, if they don’t wanna sing.

Gone, people, all awkward with their things,

Gone.

Jack Johnson...

Listening to Jack Johnson a lot lately. I love his songs, beautiful sober and great lyrics. The songs reflect what I'm thinking and how I feel these days...

Flake

I know she said it's alright

But you can make it up next time

I know she knows it's not right

There ain't no use in lying

Maybe she thinks I know something

Maybe maybe she thinks its fine

Maybe she knows something I don't

I'm so, I'm so tired, I'm so tired of trying

It seems to me that maybe

It pretty much always means no

So don't tell me you might just let it go

And often times we're lazy

It seems to stand in my way

Cause no one no not no one

Likes to be let down

I know she loves the sunrise

No longer sees it with her sleeping eyes

And I know that when she said she's gonna try

Well it might not work because of other ties and

I know she usually has some other ties

And I wouldn't want to break 'em, nah, I wouldn't want to break 'em

Maybe she'll help me to untie this but

Until then well, I'm gonna have to lie too

It seems to me that maybe

It pretty much always means no

So don't tell me you might just let it go

And often times we're lazy

It seems to stand in my way

Cause no one no not no one

Likes to be let down

It seems to me that maybe

It pretty much always means no

So don't tell me you might just let it go

The harder that you try baby, the further you'll fall

Even with all the money in the whole wide world

Please please please don't pass me

Please please please don't pass me

Please please please don't pass me by

Everything you know about me now baby you gonna have to change

You gonna have to call it by a brand new name

Please please please don't drag me

Please please please don't drag me

Please please please don't drag me down

Just like a tree down by the water baby I shall not move

Even after all the silly things you do

Please please please don't drag me

Please please please don't drag me

Please please please don't drag me down

Valentines day one year ago...

This morning at 10.00 am, last year I arrived in Madrid :) One year ago, well actually yesterday was my one year anniversary! Funny, as I never wouldhave guessed to be in Spain for one year. Strange feeling though, living here for one year now and still not sure how I have to behave in a way that the Spanish people understand me. I guess this is also a never ending journey, every day I am searching, looking, seeing and discovering new things about my team, the country, city and myself. Another country where I have lived for more than a year. After South Corea, The Netherlands, Belgium, The Netherlands again, and now Spain. Maybe next year another country, that would be awesome.

So what can I say about Madrid... It's an interesting city, actually I consider it like a small city or village. Everything is in the center, office, appartment and life. I invite you to find out for yourself, Madrid, and Spanish culture has many interesting things to offer!

See ya in Madrid...

Future plans...

February is definately the time that many people I know are looking for their next plan. It's so cool to see that so many people I have met in the last two years are now MCP, MCVP, MC international and some are applying for AI.

Congratulations to everybody! And for those I know that are still in the assessment, all the best and good luck!

See ya somewhere sometime some place!!

Personal coaching...

Yeaaaah! Last week we finally started our personal coaching sessions with our national HR partner. A few months later than planned but well the first session (it took more than 6 hours!!) looks promising. Let's see how the progress will be over time...

New year, for what it's worth yeah right...

Wow, this year must have been the worst start of any year ever! Haven't been this unlucky in ages and I always thought bad luck has been part of me since I was born. After a month I'm actually in the state where nothing surprises me anymore, and the only thing I think is "well it can't be that bad as I'm still living!". If 2006 does not improve soon, I think this must be one of those years that it's better not to do too much.

It all started after new year, when Victor and I wanted to travel around Spain (since we both internationals on the Spanish MC haven't been travelling much this year). Anywas, we couldn't as it appeared that the girl's bathroom floor was about to collapse. The neighbour downstairs brought the alarming news. Suddenly all our plans down the drain. At that time I was still able to laugh, since we have two bathrooms, nothing's wrong yet.

One week later, the ceiling in the corridor comes down, since everybody was working in the office, no one got hurt. The mess was incredible, with the celing all the dust came down as well. After staying in a hostal for a few days, we could go back since they stabilised the house. Not only the ceiling in the corridor was dangerous, also the ceiling in the kitchen, men's bathroom, and one bedroom was about to come down. Latest news is that the construction will only start in weeks!! Anyways, still laughing, I'm still standing and we are able to live in our house.

Last week I went back to The Netherlands, some problems with my room and I was invited to facilitate during NATCO II in Utrecht. I actually got the best reverse culture schock upon arrival. I got robbed, lost everything! Still laughing, couldn't do anything else at that time, it already happened. Had to request a new passport, the town council made mistake and my request took longer than the usual process. And if that's not enough, I found out that my sweet former flat mates fucked me and I got some major bills, I need to pay and try to get the money back somehow. Now I'm actually at the point of losing hope in humankind...

And then, the application for MC in Hong Kong, it almost went wrong as I sent my application to three persons, and nobody received anything although I got confirmations.

One month, and it already was worse than all bad things of last year and the years before. I wonder what awaits me for the rest of the 11 months to follow?

Life sucks at times, but still laughing (at least sometimes)...