Attack from inner space

I haven’t been posting for a couple of days and this time I have a valid excuse: I’ve been sick! And I’m not talking “bit-of-a-headache-and-running-nose”sick. As you know last week I was supposed to work with my colleagues in Offenbach who will be my German back office for the next 2 years. On Tuesday I thought ‘Man, I don’t feel too good’, so I went back to the hotel. Then everything happened rather quickly: fever, more fever, headache and even skin ache! It was evident that I had managed to catch the flu that’s all over Germany at the moment. I wanted to go and see the doc, but I couldn't’t, because moving seemed to be a bad idea in general. I didn’t even have a bathtub at that bloody hotel room, hence I ended up sitting under the boiling shower for an hour or so to try and activate those white forces within me. Let’s say I wasn’t too successful. I was stuck in that little room until Friday when I finally managed to drive home. It was only a 2 hour drive, but when you have fever 2 hours can be veeeeeeeery long! I had planned to meet some friends during those few days in Gelsenkirchen, but I cancelled everything and nursed my tormented lounges. Today, exactly 7 days after all that started, I’m ok(ish) again. Still a bit off lane, but should be fine in one or two more days.
This whole episode made me think about the impact of little things. I’ve never been a big fan of theories such as the butterfly-effect or that one voice speaking up can actually change something. However, a tiny little virus made its way through my vanes, entered a cell, dumped its DNA there and forced it to be the new center of production for the viral forces which would do exactly the same with other cells. This microscopic piece of protein managed to take me out of the game for a whole week! If a virus can do this, imagine what a single person can do when it knows the system it’s working in and how to work it. Maybe small things can make a change after all.

Revelations

Went out with 2 of my cousins tonight to a club I've been to 5 years ago. The whole thing is divided in 2 areas - kiddies and adults. 27 is a funny age: You're too old to party with the kiddies (have I ever been 18?) and too young to disco-fox the night away with the older ones.
Apart from that the club is located in the center of the Ruhrgebiet, the area I grew up. Tonight, more than ever, it showed that I have outgrown all this. The people here are very down to earth, which is a good thing to start with, but I feel like I don't belong here anymore. This will always be the home of my family, but my home? Don't think so. It is a bit like the first time you beat your parents playing cards without them letting you win - there's not much significance to the single event, however something changes and will never be the same. Tonight I came to the conclusion that I will never come back and settle down here. I knew that before, but now it seems irreversible. It is a bit sad, especially because I don't know where I'm going and seeing that I don't even have a physical home at the moment (will be end of March before I finish traveling and get myself an apartment). But maybe that's normal and the way things go?!? Hence I'll move around as long as it takes to find a place I feel at home.
However, tomorrow is "Altweiber" where giant groups of girls all over Germany swarm out to get drunk and enjoy themselves - I'll join in and see if a few pro mill change my point of view.

Let's face the music and dance

I'm back from my Germany/Spain holiday trip. What can I say?!? It was GREAT!
I started my tour at Munich with a 'girls night out', getting tipsy and talking the night away. The weekend was very relaxed and I took the time catching up with my friends. Monday I drove over to Heimertingen to see Torsten and get my financials in order. We had planned to spend Monday and Tuesday until noon on my investment stuff, but that was somewhat interrupted by his girlfriend who went into labour that night and gave birth to a littl baby girl. Congrats my friend, she's a beauty! Tuesday and Wednesday were spent at Nürnberg with Chris and Ela who were once more the great hosts they are. On Thursday I drove up to Frankfurt Hahn for my flight to Valencia. Unfortunately I picked a day where Europa was struggeling with the side effects of winter aka. snow. Took me 4 hours to get to the airport which were followed by a 2hrs delayed departure, a more than bumpy flight that took me back to my severely neglected christian roots (means I was praying for survival) and another 45 minutes on the plane after landing waiting for a bus to take me to the terminal. However, my stay at Spain outweight the hassle of getting there BY FAR! Thanks to a great host I has a lovely time, enjoying the local food, the sun, the mountains and the company. Completely recharged my batteries.
So what's next? Will see some friends in Gelsenkirchen these days, Saturday a b-day party of one of Niek's mates at Cologne (kindly no phone calls on Sunday before 2pm!). Monday I'll be off to Offenbach to meet my backoffice team for my France project and then back to Gelsenkirchen for the weekend. After that 4 days Paris, one week Bahrain and then: my site. To be quite frank: I'm a bit nervous. But there's no way back so I'll see it through and kick ass ;-)

BACK!

After 30hrs on the road I'm back home with 2 1/2 weeks of hoidays ahead. Time to lean back, relax and do nothing...
Or not: Tomorrow I'll be off to Munich for the weekend - everybody's there and has time, so I decided to squeeze that in. Monday/Tuesday I'll visit Torsten in Heimertingen to get my financials in order. Tuesday evening I'll crush in on Chris' and Ela's place in Nürnberg, Wednesday a SHORT visit of my backoffice in Erlangen, then back to Nürnberg, Thursday I'll be on my way to Frankfurt to catch the plane to Valencia where I'll stay from 8th till 13th. Then back home for 2 days, then a short trip to the suburbs of Amsterdam (Niek, hope that weekend's fine with you?!?).
...at least I can't be blamed for wasting time ;-)