In the spirit of popular lists and travel magazines I'm here revealing my "secret" top 10 favorite travel destinations:
1. Sydney, Australia - What is all this 'down-under' hype about? We are going for Thankgiving to find out.
2. Rioja, Spain - The greatest wine-making region in the world. The combination of Rioja and Cordero Asado is killer.
3. Cuba - It's all cause of the cigars, the salsa, the food and the Guayabera-shirts.
4. Punta del Este, Uruguay - It's the riviera of South America. Tanned people, cool drinks and suave music. What else do you need?
5. Buenos Aires, Argentina - Only for the Tango and the excellent steaks.
6. Mozambique - To enjoy the cool beaches and the great dark African vibe.
7. Vietnam - The food, the culture and the mystique.
8. Isle of Islay, Scotland - 9 Malt Whiskey breweries in 3 days. And you think Napa can kick your ass?
9. Phuket, Thailand - I'd like to see where the James Bond-movie "The Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed and compare the original Thai-food to Churchill Arm's in London, England.
10. Morocco - Great rugs. Interesting food. New bacteria culture.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Home Alone
I'm home alone this week. Have actually been alone since the missus left for Salt Lake City and Puerto Rico last Tuesday.
One would assume that one would fall back into pre-maritial routines such as not shaving, not showering and only working, watching DVD's and single-team the wine fridge. One is very correct. That is pretty much what I have done the whole weekend.
Right now I'm watching "The Bridge on The River Kwai", drinking a Torres Mas la Plana from 1995 and drafting strategy plans for our business unit. One might think: "What a weird combination!".
I would strongly disagree and I am. The only thing I'm lacking is a cigar and that might happen sooner than one thinks. Non-Cuban, of course.
Most strategies are designed to win or protect and derives from thousands of years of war strategy practices. A lot of the terminology used in the business world today are military terms: overtake, conquer, defeat, surrender, guerilla, hostage et cetera. The military metaphors have become a common way to illustrate strategies or desirable results in todays business life.
The ability to create strategies and think strategic is powerful but nothing beats a shower and a shave when the missus returns.
One would assume that one would fall back into pre-maritial routines such as not shaving, not showering and only working, watching DVD's and single-team the wine fridge. One is very correct. That is pretty much what I have done the whole weekend.
Right now I'm watching "The Bridge on The River Kwai", drinking a Torres Mas la Plana from 1995 and drafting strategy plans for our business unit. One might think: "What a weird combination!".
I would strongly disagree and I am. The only thing I'm lacking is a cigar and that might happen sooner than one thinks. Non-Cuban, of course.
Most strategies are designed to win or protect and derives from thousands of years of war strategy practices. A lot of the terminology used in the business world today are military terms: overtake, conquer, defeat, surrender, guerilla, hostage et cetera. The military metaphors have become a common way to illustrate strategies or desirable results in todays business life.
The ability to create strategies and think strategic is powerful but nothing beats a shower and a shave when the missus returns.
Monday, October 11, 2004
I, Glass Collector
I did not know that I was going to be such a world-class glass collector when I got married. It's my missus that has brought out this talent.
We have developed an excellent team work. She places glasses in the most interesting areas across our pad and I collect them and return them to their origin.
An untrained eye would argue that the glasses are just casually put down when either empty or when the phone rings. I would disagree. They are thoughfully placed in all parts of the apartment: bathroom, bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchen. They are mostly placed, or at least found, close to the edge of a sink or a table. Sometimes half-full and sometimes completely empty.
The content differs as well which always tickles my fancy. Mostly wine, orange juice and coffee. But I have to admit that I have found glasses with water - both still and sparkling - as well.
This glass ritual has evolved to be the perfect analogy for a strong marriage: We are here for each other and build on our strengths. Not weaknesses. I'm an excellent, neurotic passiv-aggressive European and the missus is a very easy-loving, care-free American hedonist. The best of both worlds!
We have developed an excellent team work. She places glasses in the most interesting areas across our pad and I collect them and return them to their origin.
An untrained eye would argue that the glasses are just casually put down when either empty or when the phone rings. I would disagree. They are thoughfully placed in all parts of the apartment: bathroom, bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchen. They are mostly placed, or at least found, close to the edge of a sink or a table. Sometimes half-full and sometimes completely empty.
The content differs as well which always tickles my fancy. Mostly wine, orange juice and coffee. But I have to admit that I have found glasses with water - both still and sparkling - as well.
This glass ritual has evolved to be the perfect analogy for a strong marriage: We are here for each other and build on our strengths. Not weaknesses. I'm an excellent, neurotic passiv-aggressive European and the missus is a very easy-loving, care-free American hedonist. The best of both worlds!
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Papa Got a Brand New Bed
I feeeel good. Dobedobedobido. Like I should. Bodebodibodibop. Sooooo good. Bobop. So Good. Bobop. Bobodibodibop.
Finally - we got my act together and went down to Mattress Discounters on Van Ness to get ourselves a brand new bed. I had never bought a bed before and felt a little lost. Probably the main reason for the procastination that had been going on in my mind. The last bed I had - my pre-maritial bed as I now prefer to call it - I got from my parents 10 years ago when I moved into my first house.
In London I slept on a Futon for years which sucked. I don't care what people say - a Futon is not made for humans with self-respect and / or self-love.
In San Francisco I slept in Erin's bed which was a full size. Not big enough for a man like me. I need to roll around, stretch (the manly exercise of moaning and grunting while stretching your body as far and wide as possible) and have enough space for my physical delight as well as ego.
So we bought a king size Sealy Posturepedic and had it delivered within 48 hours. I have to say that the whole process - from decision-making to delivery really impressed me. I've always seen these "Discount" shops with a very sceptical eye - promising big to make you sign but once done delivering small. In this case they exceeded my expectations. The salesman promised that the delivery guys would call the same day to give us the 4-hour window for delivery. They did. The sales man then promised that the delivery guys would call 1-hour before delivery. They did.
The first thing they did when they came was to ask me where I wanted the bed, if the should dump the old bed et cetera. It wasn't just dump and go. I felt that they really cared about my needs and their business. The delivery guys had the bed unpacked, assembled and our old bed taken-away within 15 minutes. You could tell that these guys had done this before and had the whole process nailed down in detail. These guys where focused and on a mission. They were so damned impressive that I'm writing about it in my blog.
The bed itself is fantstic. It's like a newborn cloud floating around in the sky with the only mission to please it's master. I'm actually writing this story from this soft, warm, comforting.... Zzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Finally - we got my act together and went down to Mattress Discounters on Van Ness to get ourselves a brand new bed. I had never bought a bed before and felt a little lost. Probably the main reason for the procastination that had been going on in my mind. The last bed I had - my pre-maritial bed as I now prefer to call it - I got from my parents 10 years ago when I moved into my first house.
In London I slept on a Futon for years which sucked. I don't care what people say - a Futon is not made for humans with self-respect and / or self-love.
In San Francisco I slept in Erin's bed which was a full size. Not big enough for a man like me. I need to roll around, stretch (the manly exercise of moaning and grunting while stretching your body as far and wide as possible) and have enough space for my physical delight as well as ego.
So we bought a king size Sealy Posturepedic and had it delivered within 48 hours. I have to say that the whole process - from decision-making to delivery really impressed me. I've always seen these "Discount" shops with a very sceptical eye - promising big to make you sign but once done delivering small. In this case they exceeded my expectations. The salesman promised that the delivery guys would call the same day to give us the 4-hour window for delivery. They did. The sales man then promised that the delivery guys would call 1-hour before delivery. They did.
The first thing they did when they came was to ask me where I wanted the bed, if the should dump the old bed et cetera. It wasn't just dump and go. I felt that they really cared about my needs and their business. The delivery guys had the bed unpacked, assembled and our old bed taken-away within 15 minutes. You could tell that these guys had done this before and had the whole process nailed down in detail. These guys where focused and on a mission. They were so damned impressive that I'm writing about it in my blog.
The bed itself is fantstic. It's like a newborn cloud floating around in the sky with the only mission to please it's master. I'm actually writing this story from this soft, warm, comforting.... Zzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Finding Credo
"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" - I wish that was my credo. But fortunately AC/DC nicked it for their 1981 album with the same name. So my search for a powerful credo goes on.
The credo I'm looking for is very much like a motto but stronger and with more oumpfh. Motto is what Boy Scouts have ("Be Prepared."), Olympians ("Citius, Altius, Fortius" => Faster, Higher, Braver), James Bond ("The World Is Not Enough") or Obelix ("Ils sont fous ces Romains!" => These Romans are crazy!).
A motto is a simple statement to live by while credo is a statement to die for. A motte is more generous while a credo is definite. A credo is a strong personal mission statement in just a few simple words.
Nike's "Just Do It!" is a great credo. Powerful. Genial. Probably the best one out there. I'm looking for something like that but with a tad more arrogance.
END - Part I.
The credo I'm looking for is very much like a motto but stronger and with more oumpfh. Motto is what Boy Scouts have ("Be Prepared."), Olympians ("Citius, Altius, Fortius" => Faster, Higher, Braver), James Bond ("The World Is Not Enough") or Obelix ("Ils sont fous ces Romains!" => These Romans are crazy!).
A motto is a simple statement to live by while credo is a statement to die for. A motte is more generous while a credo is definite. A credo is a strong personal mission statement in just a few simple words.
Nike's "Just Do It!" is a great credo. Powerful. Genial. Probably the best one out there. I'm looking for something like that but with a tad more arrogance.
END - Part I.
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