Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that’s necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

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Never Too Old To Hug Mom

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Yesterday evening the long awaited annual academy party, theme ‘Oriental’. Everyone was dressed up and we even had a belly dance workshop! It’s all about coordination and balance, the graceful lady said. Do you realize how hard it is to move your feet, shake your hips and graciously wave your arm at the same time?! How I thanked my karate training 😉 But we had so much fun and danced all night long. Later this week I hope to publish some photos. The least embarrassing ones.

This lovely lady is my mother, and tomorrow we will drive south to celebrate her birthday with her and Dad. The hunt for a nice gift for Mom led us on a shopping spree this afternoon. Then later my partner took his father and me out for a candle-light dinner.

My sons will be very grateful tomorrow morning… once they taste their grandmother’s cherry pie and cake. But until that moment they will want their beds in stead of sitting in the back of my car.

A happy weekend. I hope you are having one too! 🙂

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Art

Pavement Art

Posted on January 26, 2012January 31, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Take a look. Then take another look. Perhaps even watch closely thrice. Is it real, or is it an illusion…?

Fascinating!

I started a small investigation on the internet, where soon the name of Julian Beever swam to the surface. And all I can say is WOW.

Julian Beever has made pavement drawings for over twenty years. He has worked all over the world. The pavement drawings have included both renderings of old masters plus a wealth of original inventive pieces of work. There are large pastel portraits in homage to or in obituary to the famous. But the most amazing ones are anamorphic illusions drawn in a special distortion in order to create an impression of three dimensions when seen from one particular viewpoint.

There are many art pieces to be shown, but these I like the best. Just click on an image to start the slideshow.

Batman

Cascade

Coke

Dungeon

Fountain

Frog

Grasshopper

Lobster

Newt

Snail

Sosie

Timesquare

Waterfall

Are you as pleasantly surprised as I am? Then you may find even more art on Julian Beever’s website.

I’m especially charmed by the grasshopper. And the snail. Plus the coke. Hehehe, seems I can’t choose. Which pavement drawing is your favorite?

Music

Music: Nightwish

Posted on January 24, 2012January 31, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Are you ready for the Finnish band Nightwish? Then hold on tight!

Nightwish is a symphonic metal band that was formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former classical vocalist Tarja Turunen. They gained international fame with their album Oceanborn and once Once was released in 2004, even got their video clips on MTV. Nightwish’ music is also used as movie sound tracks, for example Nemo.

Here is Over The Hills And Far Away

Nemo, the most famous one I guess

It’s not easy to find good quality clips, but here’s my favorite, Ghost Love Score. Because of the changes in tempo. Because of the story telling. It is an orchestral version and brings out epic images and feelings in me.

A siren from the deep came to me
Sang my name my longing
Still I write my songs about that dream of mine
Worth everything I may ever be

In 2005 Tarja left the band. To hear and watch Nightwish in Storytime and Amaranth with the new lead singer Anette Olzon, for me is a disappointment. The music is as epic as before, but Anette’s voice is by far not strong enough, she is too ‘girly’.

I really love the original Nightwish combination in the albums Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Century Child and Once. And those are within hand’s reach.

Culture/History, Humour

Wordless Fun: The Mayans’ Countdown

Posted on January 23, 2012February 1, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Made by Cara!

Music

Music: Soulmate

Posted on January 23, 2012January 31, 2012 by Marion Driessen

We all need a soulmate, someone to come home to. To be at ease, to be understood. A kindred spirit, a friend who knows and loves you no matter what.

This song is very special to me. If you are still searching for a soulmate, this song is dedicated to you.

Natasha Bedingfield: Soulmate

Incompatible, it don’t matter though
’cause someone’s bound to hear my cry
Speak out if you do
You’re not easy to find

Is it possible Mr. Loveable
Is already in my life?
Right in front of me
Or maybe you’re in disguise

Who doesn’t long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I’m on my own
If there’s a soulmate for everyone

Here we are again, circles never end
How do I find the perfect fit
There’s enough for everyone
But I’m still waiting in line

Who doesn’t long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I’m on my own
If there’s a soulmate for everyone
If there’s a soulmate for everyone

Most relationships seem so transitory
They’re all good but not the permanent one

Who doesn’t long for someone to hold
Who knows how to love you without being told
Somebody tell me why I’m on my own
If there’s a soulmate for everyone

D&D, Six Word Saturday

Dragon Fire

Posted on January 20, 2012January 31, 2012 by Marion Driessen

Six Word Saturday. Want to play along? All that’s necessary to participate is to describe your life (or something) in a phrase using just six words.

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Dragon Fire Panacea Against Exam Stress

This is an early ‘Saturday’ post. Still three more hours to go ’till midnight, but by then I will probably have passed out on the couch. Or halfway up the stairs, in a desperate attempt to reach my bed. The first exam week of the second period is over, and it was exhausting. Students can relax for two days, and so can we. Next week, two more written exams and then back to lessons for eight weeks. After which the whole circus starts anew.

No matter how well everything has been organized, there will always be unexpected events. PC tests that decide to block all students, profiles that are corrupt and suddenly crash, traffic jams causing students to be late, uncertainty about the right location. With me running back and forth to try and solve the problems. And all of this under the highest stress, since so much depends on the results. The management has forbidden me to ever take a day off, let alone plan a holiday, during the exam periods. And I’m dreaming of nothing else.

But for now the stress is gone. And the excitement of the weekend is building up. I won’t be able to post much, because I’ll be cruising the Dutch roads to the north. A road trip that will take me to the dark caverns and uncanny places of the Underdark. Another weekend of fooling around with imaginary Dungeons & Dragons. In D&D: Drow of the Underdark I have explained a bit about this wonderful Role Playing Game (RPG). And if you are not geeked out after reading it, you can follow our Underdark adventures in my D&D blog Dungeon Dutchess.

Above all though, this weekend will be filled with friendship, hanging out with four wonderful people whom I have know for ten years now. And though we live ‘far’ apart – what is ‘far’ in a tiny country like Holland? – and are far apart in age (twenty years), we still meet every two months to roll the dice, to make up creative adventures, have dinner together, watch movies and talk about past, present and future. Friends through thick and thin.