Don's Theatre

Good luck!

2008-11-04T09:27:00.001-06:00

Today is election day in the USA.

I can only hop people use their brains and vote wisely.

It's between the old man and the hockey mom,
and the dynamic and distingished.

Chapea Obama and Biden for the way you both took the elections to a higher standard.

For the world, I hope you win.

.

Fundraising and shopping in one.

2008-11-03T06:42:00.004-06:00

Fundraising and shopping are a good combination.
I buy special stamps to raise funds for projects for children, I buy gifts at a special shop where a percentage is put aside for hygeniec projects in Africa.

Now I've found a means to do the same when shopping online.

All what needs to be done is downloading a small piece of software called AidMaker.
I'm paying the normal store price for a product but the retailer donates part of the purchase to the cause I have choosen. 75 percent of the total purchase price will then go to charity.
It automatically starts, so nothing else needs to be done after installing. When you want to change things, you can do so.

5000 online stores take part.

It's organised by aGoodCause.com.
This is a global partnership between 700 of the worlds most important NGOs - charities like Save the Children, Red Cross, Amnesty International, OXFAM and many others aimed at improving animal welfare, human rights, poverty and climate.

aGoodCause is a global system, launched now in 8 countries.

To take part, go to www.eengoedezaak.nl, and choose your country at the top right.
USA and England are included, as are Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Italy, The Netherlands and France.

I can't think of a better way to shop online.

a halloween after all

2008-11-01T06:37:00.002-06:00

We're not used to celebrating halloween here, so it was no problem when I got a last moment invite to play at a halloween party.

I was asked to enter the building from a backyard gate and a kitchendoor, so people wouldn't see me in my normal outfit.

Within 20 minutes I was changed into an ugly looking vampire, and within half an hour I was rehearsing a couple of songs with weird texts.

They were written in a large font and glued on the floor, so I could have a peek when performing.

The girl and guys of the band were very professional so when we went on stage we all felt confident.

We made the performance into a real blast.

I had such a good time that I stayed there until the end.

Leaving through the front door, just as all the other ghosts and gouls.

I've changed

2008-10-28T09:42:00.002-06:00

Many things have changed the past year and I didn't like it.

There was not enough room to do what I really like and what I'm good in.

I loved teaching, in a way.

It was dealing with young people I liked, but the whole schoolbusiness with all the meetings, took to much from me.

Another problem was that it didn't pay too well, so I had to get a second job to pay my bills.

Last month I decided to take up my former life of a full time musician and I've spend a lot of time to get new contracts.

I succeeded and I'll be on the road again.

In the meantime I've also decided to start giving music lessons to young people to teach them the joy of creative expression.

I know my former pupils will regret I'm leaving school, but I have to do it to stay true to myself.

Helping the elderly

2008-10-27T10:19:00.002-06:00

The weather is changing and it's getting colder.

I've helped the old people in the street the last weeks to get their gardens ready.

A lot of pruning needed to be done.

I can't understand their families won't take one saturday afternoon off to do it all together.
It's fun.

Because I didn't want any payment, I got a couple of free meals.
I've eaten things I haven't had in ages, because some things one doesn't cook just for one person.

I didn't know it would be such a good experience.

unconscious mutterings 300

2008-10-26T09:48:00.001-06:00

Contemplate :: thinking deep

In the house :: there's the mouse

Classical :: music

Quest :: for life

Best friend :: my music

1991 :: got a new guitar then

Never will :: stop making music

Fool :: on the hill

Unhappy :: happy

Best man :: I was a few months ago

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posting by mail

2008-10-25T10:31:00.001-06:00

Posting by mail didn't work for me.

I must have done something wrong, or the gods were just against me.

I've saved the texts, so I'll put them here.

Feels silly.

Now I have to find out what has gone wrong.
When anyone has dealt with the same, please let me know your findings.

Got a gig

2008-10-24T10:23:00.000-06:00

I managed to get a gig in a town nearby.

Extra income! Woohoo!

I haven't seen some friends in ages, so I called a friend who lives there and he offered me a sleepingplace too.
So there won't be a need to go home in the middle of the night.

This feels so good and I'm looking forward to it.

unconscious mutterings 299

2008-10-18T09:51:00.000-06:00

Magical :: Illusion

Shrimp :: and shromp

Project Runway :: uh?

Economy :: The macro economy isn't doing well.

Porch :: and porc

State of affairs :: situation

.com :: dot com

Fifty cents :: good music at times

Ripping :: yea, they're ripping me those taxpeople

Bull :: and cow

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Trains

2008-10-15T10:27:00.001-06:00

I've been lucky last week.

For my work I had to go to a meeting in the west of the country. By train.

There was some delay because there was work done at the railway over rather a long stretch, so I missed the next train.

I was lucky.

The train I was supposed to take had a painful confrontation with another train, and even though no people were injured, I would have had an even longer delay.

Now we were informed on the station and they told us precisely how to travel the fastest.

The son of a friend saw the collision happen and he told me all about it.
Didn't stop.

(I hope he won't read this.)

unconscious mutterings 298

2008-10-11T09:55:00.000-06:00

Zoo :: Life is a zoo

Neighborhood :: Mine is OK

Salute :: Say hello

Immortality :: Will we ever get immortal?

Dominion :: Owned land

Rhonda :: Jackson

Parties :: with life music

Prince of Darkness :: and the Queen of Light

Garbage :: rubbish

Standard :: Norm

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3 applepies

2008-10-03T10:42:00.001-06:00

I've spend quite some time making applepies.

One of the neighbours gave me such a great load of apples I had to do something with them.

I don't have a cellar to keep them, like we used to do when I was young.

So I put some music on, got a sharp knife and started working.

I had enough dough for three pies.

One I brought to the happy giver.
He joked that he now had his own apples back and that that was not his intention.
But it was a good reason to invite his grandkids.

For the other I invited some friends for dinner.
We had the applepie for dessert.

The third, the one with the extra cinnamon I divided in half.

One half is frozen and the other half will be eaten soon.

Found a new teacher

2008-09-29T10:37:00.001-06:00

I've been looking for someone who wants to take over my job and I've already found someone who is very enthousiastic.

Lucky me.

The principal will be seeing him next week and take a decision as soon as possible.

The guy can start straightaway, so that means I will tell him everything I know about the job and then he can take it over.

What a relief!!

I'm sure the kids will be surprised, but I'm sure they'll understand.

Insurance will stop

2008-09-26T10:33:00.002-06:00

I've decided to stop with teaching at the school.

Had a long talk with the principal who was reluctant to let me go, but I've convinced him he had no other option.

Ofcourse I'll work until they have found someone else.

During the meeting he informed me that I have to take care of the health insurance the first day after my last working month.

I hope I won't forget.
I'm not as careful with my agenda since I started at school.

In a way I could be lazy, because social securities and insurances were arranged autimatically.

Well, there are pros and cons to everything.

a best man and a wedding

2008-09-06T09:58:00.003-06:00

I've been the best man at the wedding of a good friend.
It was rather a large wedding and I was glad a whole professional team orchestrated the day, so all I had to do was mingle with the people and make them at home.
And ofcourse I had to take part in the official and traditional part of the whole experience.

The bride was gorgeous!

I sure know that my bride to be has to wear what I want her to wear. :-)

She looked like she was on a cloud of lace. Resting on lace, because she kept smiling.
The groom was nice too, but I'm not so interested in him as long as he keeps her happy.

They were married at a small castle where they arrived in a carriage with 4 horses.
The bride nearly broke her ancle getting on the ground again. She was so shaken in the carriage that she didn't feel well, but that soon disappeared when she walked over the bridge.
Her veil was caught by the wind and it looked amazing!

The people waiting for them generated one big sight.

When the wedding was over and the party started they had their first dance walsing through a large hall.
It was a fairytale.

After that we all toasted and then the bride disappeared.
We all though it a bit strange, but when she came back she had dressed herself in another outfit which still marked her as the bride, but it was far more convenient to party.

The castle was a good place for her wedding, because there were different rooms where people could be.

The old people had their own room to sit and sip liquor, the young kids could play outside or in a playroom and they had chips and fried and cola.

It got very late that night, but it didn't matter at all, because each and every minute was pure happiness and joy.

What a way to start wedded life.

reflection on the last summervacation

2008-08-28T10:14:00.001-06:00

This last summervacation hasn't been a success.

because I worked at the school I missed gigs and performances with orchestras, and I didn't have to money to follow the music.
So I missed friend at festivals.

School will start soon and as soon as the admins are open I'll make an appointment with the principal to talk things through.

This is not the way I want to live.

Grand Theft Auto IV

2008-05-14T15:44:00.004-06:00

Recently, meaning on April 29, Rockstar Games presented the eleventh game in a series of Grant Theft Games: Grand Theft Auto IV for Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION®3.
In case you're not sure:
Yes, it's also called GTA IV or GTA 4.

Fans had to wait a while, but now the first one of the fourth generation of GTA games is available.
More than thousand people united their efforts to create this game that uses RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Gaming Engine).

The result is awesome!!

The graphics are the best untill now, and they are far more realistic.
I like the fact that the individual persons are unique individuals, so you won't see the same "person" over and over again, like in the former editions, which gives a far more realistic feel too.

There are far more functions available.
Like the former versions one can play the game solo or with multiple players.

To me GTA 4 eh...Grand Theft Auto 4 is a game to be proud of and a pleasure to play.

Have a try yourself!

Disasters

2008-05-13T16:51:00.002-06:00

I'm really shocked by the disasters that hapened this week.

All those people in Birma who can get no aid, or almost none.

And the people in China, who were confronted with a huge earthquake, killing whole families and even whole villages.

That so many people died in such a short time... awful!

best May weather ever

2008-05-11T16:00:00.002-06:00

We're exoeriencing the best may weather ever.

It's unbelievable!
A few weeks ago we were still shivering with caps and gloves and sjawls.

Now we're dealing summertemperatures.

It's too much at once.

This afternoon I went for a box of icecreams and they were sold out.

Well, the weatherstation has announced more good days.
The watrmest maydays in history.

unconscious mutterings

2008-05-10T16:05:00.001-06:00

Track :: route

Snake :: poison

Assignment :: homework

Blockbuster :: movie

Bombastic :: loud and noisy

Adventure :: expedition

First time :: prime time

Aged :: old

Grip :: get one!

Shortcut :: fast route

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Almost the last schoolday

2008-05-04T16:09:00.003-06:00

One of my groups at school is almost celebrating the last schoolday.
Just a couple of days and I'm sure they have quite a few surprises ready for us, teachers.
I'm not sure if I'll be glad with it.

But I'm sure the day will take their mind of the stress of the final exams.

Two weeks to go and they will all be quiet cattle.
It's always amazing to see how the most noisy figures change into friendly and quiet persons, writing their fingers full of blisters in an attempt to get a high score.

Their ambition is questionable.

Why?

They just want to leave school and move forward.

unconscious mutterings

2008-05-04T16:07:00.000-06:00

State :: statistic

Lively :: energetic

Valet :: Mikkie

Traction :: pull

Official :: legal

Red hot :: Chili Peppers

Powder :: pepper

Replies :: answers

Flagrant :: flamboyant

Tweet :: tweety

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Hurraines in Virginia

2008-04-29T11:38:00.002-06:00

It is terrible what has happened in Virginia.

The force of nature never stops.
It pops-up just at a random place, for no reason.

unconscious mutterings

2008-04-26T01:48:00.001-06:00

Thug :: not my type

Slurp :: not a nice sound

Alley :: backstreet

Sweater vest :: old fashioned

Targeted :: aimed at

Snazzy :: fancy

Oy! :: vey!

Jury duty :: not for me

Low fat :: and you believe that?

Responsibility :: some people don't know what that is.

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rehearsals have started

2008-04-23T01:40:00.002-06:00

Rehearsals have started for some major concertos.

I haven't seen the names of the artists, but I've been told some rumors, and when they are right, we're in for a good season.

It's nice to see people again.

The winterstop makes one realise how fast time and people changes.

One of my collegues has grown a beard so long, while another is almost bald now.

My agenda is on the table again.

Í'm looking forward to a far less settled life.

I love adventure and changes, and performing brings that to me.