I've moved

fromto

After I've fully realized what that all meant, I will summarize my Seattle experiences, which will be the final chapter of this blog. Who knows, I might start a new one. I'm not really a blogger, but it's always fun to throw some thoughts out there, and even more to read them afterwards. Anyway, now too busy with adapting to my new situation. Being on the road is exhausting. Stijn

Reaching out...

One last visit to Bank of America

Stijn walks in right before closing time (1pm), half asleep, with trashy pants, messy hair and a pounding headache. He's welcomed by perfect-colgate-smile-way-too-frenetic Amy, who has put on more make-up today than my grandmother in entire lifetime, and still, doesn't look any better than my grandmother (and she's 80+).

She kicks off with the habitual: "How are you today ?"
"I feel great, never felt so great before" I reply. With a look as if I'm about to commit suicide.
"What can I do for you today ?" At this point, her smile starts hurting my eyes, and my jaw.
"I need a cash advance converted into a cashier check to The Carroll Apartments"
"Awesome, I'll take care of that for you right away. Do you have an account with us ?"
"Yes, here's my card and ID" She grabs both with the eager look of a kid sticking both hands in the cookie jar. A passport means foreigner. As exotic as an extra terrestrial.
"Excellent ! Wow, Belgium? Cool! For how much would you like your check ?"
"Nine ninety five"
"9.95 ?"
"No, nine hundred ninety five"
"995 ! Awesome" (What the f*** is so awesome about 995 ?)
"Ok, great ! Just a second, your check is printing. Cool ! Here you go Stin. Do I pronounce that correctly, Stin ?"
"Stan"
"Stan ? Awesome, Stan. Here's your check. Perfect! Anything else I can do for you on this beautiful day ?"
"Yes. Well........actually, no. Thanks."
"Awesome. Have a great day Stan! And enjoy your Labor day weekend! "
"Yeah.....you too"

American customer service. Wonderful.

3 weeks

I'm ending this blog as I started it: writing frequently.

3 hectic weeks ahead - wrapping up, often saying "see you soon", dinners, visits of "a last time", nostalgic glimpses and drive-by's...

looking at the city with different eyes - similar to the "new" eyes of the first weeks, but different: seeing the beauty in the ugly, the remarkable in the common, the uniqueness in the dull. Grasping the memory of a city I want to leave but got to love.

Oh and by the way...

I feel great. Really great. My inner emotional status has always been a rollercoaster, partly fuelled or controlled by my willingness, or better said willpower, but it's still difficult to climb out of a dip, or hold on to a high. In these hectic times I've decided to try some new approaches to life and all the new challenges, doubts and worries on my path. And it seems to work because I feel wonderful, and alive, and optimistic. Let's go for it !

Let me add...

4. Passion.
Yes, definitely. Passie, Passion, Pasión !
Hello everybody. Heeeellllooooooooooooooooo ! Wake up !

Top 3 English words

My favorite words
- Integrity: virtue of basing actions on an internally-consistent framework of principles
- Joy: emotion of great happiness
- Love: yes !

Countdown has begun

I'm leaving Seattle on Sept 17th, after nearly 3 years in the "Emerald City".
There's not much time left to contemplate about my mixed feelings -I feel joy and sadness at the same time - so better get the max out of every day. Life is short. No regrets.

The first black president of the United States

In dark times of recession, an endless war in Iraq, skyrocketing food and energy prices and the increasing threath of global warming, the world is longing for a radical change. It is amazing with what an ease Obama seems to ride the high profile wave that will bring him to the never explored shore of becoming the first black president in the history of the United States. Armed with tons of charisma, rhetoric eloquence and unmatched dynamism, he came from nowhere and has won the hearts and minds of millions. He's facing tough times, and he will very much need his self-claimed "superior judgement" to tackle the numerous problems he's inheriting from the Bush administration, but he might be the chosen one. A new JFK. An example to me as I like to draw a parallel with my own life: it's time for a change, it's time to overthrow the old-fashioned, narrow-minded established order of morons. With endless enthusiasm, yet patience and focus, success is possible. Who else will save this country ? Who else will save my destiny ?

Needless to say, Seattle is a paradise for liberal minded Americans and world citizen pacifists, like myself. Obama is omnipresent...

Return to the old continent

I haven't been blogging for a while, partly because a big share of my thoughts are already back in Europe, as my return is approaching. So the plan is to write a few stories, wrapping up my stay here in the land of dreams, even if it was only for myself, for future reference.
Write soon,
Stijn
PS: the world according to some Americans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQuqg3PDfew

MOBY kicks ass

Legendary NEUMOS was too small. A packed SHOWBOX featured Moby, in a terrific DJ-set. The NY-dude with strong Belgian ties, is still at the cutting edge of electronic music and delighted an outraged crowd with a fast, smooth, pumping 2 hours of climaxing beats, rarely witnessed in "grungy" Seattle. It had been since Decibel last October that I hadn't felt this kind of energy rushing through my body. And then the rare Seattle advantage of hanging out till the end: you get to get close, really close...

Kiss me kiss me kiss me

My first CD ever. I love The Cure even more now then I did as a teenager.

4th live concert, after a gap of more than 10 years, and possibly the last (Robert Smith's condition is not that great anymore...).

But the music is still mindblowing. Extraordinary. Sasquatch 2008. I was right there, near the stage (the picture is my copyright :-))

Life

The Stijn-in-Seattle is still having mixed feelings about the -in-Seattle part. It's just a matter of time. However, the best of Seattle is yet to come, as the summer arrives, so I might end up writing a little more again. 

Recently, I've been reminded of a few life rules, important for me but fainting in my sleepy and ever more americanized mind. 

- no regrets, and therefore live accordingly (max)

- one is responsible for the impact on others of what one says and does, regardless of the intention

- if you want God to laugh at you, tell Him your plans

- optimism, a smile and a positive attitude are tools to blend the energy field following the governing dynamics theory

- change is good, change is a necessity

- love is the most important asset of life

 

Smiles and love,

Stijn

Black holes

Black hole: apart from being one of those fascinating topics in advanced Hawkins-Einstein physics, it's also known as that period after completing an intense phase, or project, or any entirely-absorbing-your-day-in-day-out-life activity. In my case I've reached the end of our task: designing, developing, calculating and certifying a metallic structure, used in the wing of the 787 dreamliner. The last couple of weeks were crazy, with too many days not leaving the office till well after midnight. But we're there, 2 years and more than 1000 pages of calcs later... It feels good to be able to look back and proudly go watch the parts on the plane in real life, but the slow period we ended up in is not my kind of pie. The black hole, just like it's physical counterpart, sucks away my energy, creativity and drive for (social) life with all its fascinating aspects. Something has got to happen soon, change is good ! And after another birthday, I can start building on a vast base of experience and savvyness. An adventure is around the corner, I just have to start putting that raincoat on and slip into the walking boots, as I'm wading through the mudpool of this downtown Seattle black hole....

P.S. In case you wondered...no, the dreamliner hasn't flown yet :-(, this is how it looks nowadays at the assembly line of the largest factory in the world:

Life, timing, future, dreams.

God, it seems ages since I've logged in to this page and shared some of my thoughts and adventures, crappy articles or idealistic fantasies. Sometimes I ask myself why I keep this blog. I don't really need it, it doesn't really satisfy any need for attention or ego-boosting-narcism, and I definitely don't need to do it to keep people notified of what I've been up to. I guess it's more of a track-keeping record of some random events, some important and others not, which somehow ended up connecting to my path of life. Needless to say, motivation to keep it up-to-date has reached an all time low, and it's only because I'm ill with fever in bed and bored to death that I've decided to do a little effort and increase the amount of garbage published on the web. The end of this blog is near, as we're running towards the end of a project (although Boeing is facing serious delays) and Stijn-in-Seattle will then likely be Stijn-back-home. 'Home' off course is a relative concept, especially for people like me, bragging about being world citizens and all, but being so well traveled and lived through so many pack-and-unpack episodes, that the reference system of where we really belong has been shaken and affected. I don't really know where home is anymore. It seems that I could live anywhere, as long as I'm wanting it and surrounded by the people I want to be part of my life. So I got back from Brazil, with tons and tons of energy. That's what a country as lively and frenetic as Brazil does to someone who's already high on life-adrenalin. The trip was amazing, and especially from a meeting and (re)discovering friends/friendships perspective, an absolute success. A trip that helped me to recalibrate my inner compass, and determine a strategy for the times ahead. I found happiness again, where it has always been, inside myself.  Major issues lay ahead, and no matter good or wrong, I know that I'll make the decision as making the decision itself will be key to my happiness.

....to be continued

Seattle. Back

BACK. New. Ready.

Happy New Year from Brazil

Dear all, I had planned to make a nice NewYear card, but access to internet is limited, and my brain is dead of the heat and the lack of sleep. Nevertheless, I wish you all only the very best in 2008, I've got a good feeling about this year and I'm sure it will bring a lot of happiness as long as we send out positive vibes of energy. I enjoyed New Year's eve on the beach of Copacabana, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil...and was among the ten thousands of whitely dressed watching the fire works and offering flowers to Iemanja, the goddess of the sea. A very different way of stepping into a new year, but very impressive and touching. From here I continue my travels in this huge country, where nature is astonishing and people enjoy life at fullest. Have a great 2008 !

Communication

is everything. After trust.

Consider this experiment

You've travelled the world. Often alone. Meeting new people is no big deal. As long as it is in a tropical country and you're hauling a huge back pack. This weekend I ended up alone in "my" Seattle. Everybody's gone, tired, working or too bored/boring to dig the nightlife. So I decided to go for walks and see what the night would bring. Yesterday, and today, I pushed myself and followed my nose. Friday ended up as a fun, crazy night, bumping into my Japanese neighbor and her friends. Other acquaintances showed up and I met tons of new people. With no food in my stomach, 2 whisky-cokes shot me right to the stars and I got me right where I wanted to be: comfortable among a bunch of outgoing nutsters. Today was no different, the hip hop clubbing night got canceled, the Spanish were inspirationless, so I closed my door at midnight and decided to enter the bar with the loudest music (the Comet made it, easily). In between the loud Gibson noises, I picked up some Flemish, my native tongue. And so I met Hendrik, the other half of Arsenal, and John. Apparently Arsenal (http://www.arsenal-music.com/) is really big in Belgium, playing 4 years in a row on the biggest music festival in Belgium (and acclaimed the best in Europe). But I never heard of it, to their surprise (I was like an alien to them). Woestijnvis, documentary, cameras, DVD recording, new album, .....the whole shit. So basically I hung out with two rockstars (or hip hop - Brazilian tunes - stars or so). I took some pics with my new toy, the mini digital camera I bought today for 10 bucks. One shows Hendrik filming for their DVD. Then walking home, I bumped into Katie again (I kicked her ass earlier today playing tennis), so....you see....FUCKING GOVERNING DYNAMICS.....everywhere. I love it.

Kanye West - Flashing Lights ft Dwele - fan made Music Video

Hip hop and my love for music

I like to walk through life as a centipede, a renaissance homo universalis: sticking my greedy finger in as many honey pots as a lifetime will allow. As a major component of my love for life, I enjoy trying out, discovering new techniques, arts, sports,...whatever...I want do it all ! Needless to say, this has driven many of my partners to crazyness, because I often transmit this restless image of instability, focussing obsessively on one interest, before moving to the other. My interests in music are no different: I had my new wave period transitioning to grunge, relaxing into reggae, speeding up to techno and returning to rock. Now: hip hop. Where else a better time to dig this than here, in the US, the craddle. I know nothing about it. Absolutely nothing. But I enjoy the beats, and dancing to it: the sweat and the energy, the rythm and the lyrics. Last week I had my first hip hop dance class. Little did I know that hip hop has it's roots in break dance, so with an ex-Michael Jackson co-dancer being our teacher, we got a crash course in some basic "robot" moves. I totally sucked: out of 20 I was by far the worst, but I had SO MUCH FUN ! I found the tune we danced to on the web, a fan made nice music video around it, click on the vido above. Writing this article, I looked on the web for some background info.
Some recurring topics:
the 4 elements of hip hop:
1. Breakdancing
2. Graffiti art
3. DJing
4. MCing

origin: USA, African Americans
reach: global
opinions: Israeli vs Palestinian hip hop
outside US: France, Germany, UK, Caribbean
definition US dep of state: the center of a mega music and fashion industry around the world, crossing social barriers and cuts across racial lines.
definition by National Geographic: the world's favorite youth culture in which just about every country on the planet seems to have developed its own local rap scene. Known to cause violence with the main topic of drugs, sex, violence. (hmmm...it doesn't really do that to me.....but...)

Ok, here we go, let's shake that booty !!!

My beautiful little country Belgium

Right at the top of BBC world headlines, together with the protest in Myanmar, is the on-going turmoil in my home country. I figured that if the Belgian political news makes headlines on the international BBC channel, devoting 15 minutes of radio prime time, it should meet my blog entry criteria, too ;-)

Logically, everyone feels a certain pride or at least strong bond with the country they grew up in. However, for Belgium, it’s somewhat different. Rarely, you’ll find a Belgian to be very proud of his/her roots. Belgium is too little to mean anything on the international scene, and little has happened in our history that would generate extreme patriotic feelings. We have adapted to this situation: Belgians are generally easy going folks, tolerant, multilingual with an international focus, and being the heart of Europe, reputed as master negotiators and deal makers.
However, within our “artificial” federal country, North-South relations are pretty fucked up. The North, Flanders, is economically strong and modern, and home to the Flemish speaking majority (6/10). The Flemish symbol is the lion. The South, Wallonia, is economically weak and hopelessly outdated, home to the French speaking minority. The Walloon symbol is the rooster. Every year billions of Euros “flow” from North to South as we share one social security system, pension plan, etc. Once, the roles were reversed, and this legacy explains why the French part still has a strong grip and major role in every socio-economical decision. Nevertheless, every year the gap widens, culturally, economically, linguistically (English is more and more preferred as second language instead of Flemish/French).

Now, they can’t agree on a government, more than 4 months after elections ! The nationalistic voices scream for a “velvet” divorce, splitting the tiny country in half. But Brussels, as independent 3rd region, is the heart of Belgium (and Europe), belonging to both communities and officially “bilingual”. Obviously both sides want to keep Brussels. And off course there is still the king. The king of Belgium. It almost sounds funny….

From a distance I follow all this quarrelling and bickering…I doubt anything radical will happen, it’s not in our blood. I find it ridiculously amusing, short sighted and unfortunate for a nation that was among the founders of modern Europe. Living abroad for over 6 years in total, has made me realize how beautiful Belgium is, and how great the people are who live there. It shares the joy of life with the Mediterranean countries, ranks among the best in innovation and technology and boosts one of the most advanced welfare and social security systems in the world. Quality of life ranks among the top 10, up there with Scandinavia. It’s a cozy, warm and (although people like to complain a lot) friendly nation of good-hearted, open-minded folks.

Therefore, although I am a proud Flemish, I find all this childish struggle for power such a waste of time. More than anything I feel a citizen of the world, above being European, Belgian or Flemish. More than one Belgium, or one Europe, it’s time for one world ! I know how optimistic and idealistic all this sounds, but what today can be of more importance than saving our beautiful planet, fighting injustice, child abuse, poverty and just getting along with each other, as we are all the same in all our differences ? I condemn myself, thinking about my own attitude and criticism towards different cultures and opinions. If there is anything I want to be or to become, it is someone who can overcome those invisible barriers, act upon them and make this a better place for all of us. At least I don’t need to defend the pride of Belgium, so that would give me a head start, wouldn’t it ? :-) Power to WTO ! Power to the UN ! Power to a global, planet Earth government ! Enjoy the weekend. Stijn

Music weekend - part 2 - DJ Speedy J at DECIBEL

www.decibelfestival.com
Bliep - Bang - Bliepbliep - Bang - TsjTsj - Bang BANG BANG
Needless to say. Switched off the autopilot and let the music control my body.
Orgasmic.

Music weekend - part 1 - The f******* SMASHING PUMPKINS

Today is the greatest
Day I ’ve ever kown
Can’t live for tomorrow
Tomorrow’s much too long

I burn my eyes out
Before I get out
I wanted more
Than life could ever grant
Bored by the chore
Of saving face

Today is the greatest
Day I have ever known
Can’t wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I’ll tear my heart out
Before I get out

Pink ribbon scars
That never forget
I’ve tried so hard
To cleanse these regrets
My angel wings
Were bruised and restrained
My belly stings

Today is
Today is
Today is
The greatest day
That I have ever known

You never fully recover

Another 2 ideas out of Before Sunset make the combo complete

To have defined ones best self. To pursue that best self, even if it is overwriting your honest self. You just have to commit yourself to it.

Unfortunately, in all our weakness, that's what's likely to happen. Is realizing it the first step ?

This is life. This is it. It's happening now. Live it as if every day is your last. What is important ? What do you want ? What do you have to do ?

This should be then the second step. It's all perfectly in line with the GD theory, and the multiple "highest gradient tumbling-ball paths", you just have to give it that little push into one or another. What is lost is lost. You can never fully recover.

GOD and REINCARNATION

I just saw Before Sunrise. Two ideas I connected to:

I believe if there's any kind of God it wouldn't be in any of us, not you or me but just this little space in between. If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.

Do you believe in reincarnation?
Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting.
Yeah, right. Well, most people, you know, a lot of people talk about past lives and things like that, you know? And even if they don't believe it in some specific way, you know, people have some kind of notion of an eternal soul, right?
Yeah.
OK, well this was my thought: 50,000 years ago, there are not even a million people on the planet. 10,000 years ago, there's, like, two million people on the planet. Now there's between five and six billion people on the planet, right? Now, if we all have our own, like, individual, unique soul, right, where do they all come from? You know, are modern souls only a fraction of the original souls? 'Cause if they are, that represents a 5,000 to 1 split of each soul in the last 50,000 years, which is, like, a blip in the Earth's time. You know, so at best we're like these tiny fractions of people, you know, walking... I mean, is that why we're so scattered? You know, is that why we're all so specialized?
I don't know. Wait a minute, I'm not sure... I don't...
Yeah, hang on, hang on. It's a, it's a totally scattered thought. It... which is kind of why it makes sense.

Sometimes parties happen....

No comment needed....

An old love rediscovered

I'd never really been an outdoors fanatic. Yes, sure I enjoyed the beach, and the woods, and dining outside in the garden, but I always got bored quickly and needed "something else" to feel completely fullfilled. Traveling has changed that somewhat. The week in Sapa mountains, Northern Vietnam, living among the tribes, and climbing Bromo in Java have made me realize that I do enjoy nature a lot. Very often even more than history and culture, both scarce here in the US ;-). The beautiful Northwest compensates generously with some of the most amazing sceneries on the planet. So, recently, I've been catching up with that and I've done a good part of outdoor hiking and local sightseeing. It does indeed "complete" somehow this stay in Seattle. Winter is around the corner again, soon I'll start my 3rd year...it's time to move. It has been a wonderful experience, but my destiny lays elsewhere.

In order of appearance:

- Crater Lake, OR

- Dunes, OR

- Hurricane Ridge, WA

(more pics on picasa)

Life is a journey. Happiness and love are the destination. The journey is the destination.

Governing Dynamics and touching the bottom of your own soul to bend the energies

I got the term from "A beautiful mind", mixed it with concepts so vividly described by Spinoza, and transformed it with my own beliefs to this energetic wave theory of life. Those of you who know me best have heard me debate about this, or lyricly sing to the beauty of it (alcohol really helps me then). For the other unfortunate mortals: you should get me to do so. This is another of those moments, where a lot is happening for me, and I feel the energy flowing, splashing, leading and pushing. I've learned to control aspects of it, learned to surf others. I've decided on many life determining issues, and faced the dilemmas currently paralyzing most of my generation. I'm happy to find a strong, elastic and confident reaction to difficult and painful events. I'm glad to be the person I am now, and I juggle with determination, believe and joy - it's all positive and I feel I'm on the right path. That doesn't mean it's easy though. I have to soul-battle hard and deep, be brave and push through pain and sadness, but it's with strength and a confident focus so I know I will succeed. Then, again it's up to GD to generate my happiness.

Stijn in his business jet

Yeah. I wish....dreaming keeps us alive, doesn't it ?