How's YOUR eco-karma?

A few days ago I pedalled to the local so-called beach. The road's only four kilometers, but during that short ride I got, plainly spoken, pissed at every car driver speeding past me. I got obsessed with the thought of bringing a big sign with me next time: "Why don't you move that pork instead? It's only 4 km for God's sake!"

Do I have a problem or do I have a point here?

My obsession with the placard continued. Maybe it should say how many calories you burn during the ride or how the planet escapes your carbon dioxide? Should it show how much money you save by not driving those eight kilometers?

C'mon people, biking is cool! Being environmentally conscious is "in"!

I don't own a car. I don't need a car at the moment. But people in this village claim that they "must" have a car because they find the distances so long. Nonsense! The most visited place by these people is the city which is 25 kilometers from here. That means a little less than one hour by bike (or make it one and a half if you've been partying the day before or if you have other "injuries"). Our society advocates youth, efficiency and speed. Hence the vehicles are better the fancier, the bigger and the faster they are. According to me, one America is already too much for mother Earth...

You have the time to enjoy the surroundings...

You get a nice tan and a fit body...

You don't have problems with parking your vehicle...

Victory! For both you and nature!

Español, por favor!

I obviously overestimated myself, because I'd always thought of myself as a social person with lots of foreign contacts. But it seems like a few are not enough in this world - at least not in the work- searching world. My mission now is to figure out how to find a job abroad. Abroad meaning a country which can give me something I need for my career: Spain. Ever since I was a kid I've loved the Spanish language, Spanish people and culture, so now I think it's about time I get a chance to learn more about these - in authentic surroundings so to speak. Unfortunately, the very first line on a page for working in Spain and such, pulls down my self-confidence: "Knowledge in Spanish is required for working in Spain." What the hell? I mean, that can't be true. I'm aware of the fact that most people don't speak English very well, but what about the Balearic Islands for example? It shouldn't be too hard for someone who speaks English (not to mention German, another popular tourist language) to find a job at a hotel full of Britons, right? Otherwise I better be quick... Pick up that old Spanish book again... "Buenos días! Usted es de aquí?"

Nathalie is listening to her childhood favorite latino song: Lambada

The day after yesterday

Before I went to town yesterday, I thought to myself that those white cute shoes of mine were damn durable, since I bought them last year and they still looked kinda clean and fresh (not to mention white)... I have no idea what was exceptional about last night, because looking at my shoes now, they are scratched, covered with oil spots (don't even ask) and the heels are even worn down. Maybe it wasn't good for them dancing on + falling down from that unsteady table at the pre-party...

According to photo evidence my shoes were still white at 01:37...

This is just one of those things which make you regret that you even touched a bottle of homemade "raspberry juice" the previous night. The pain in every inch of your body, the spirit smell, the bruises and your returning memory ("I did what?!") are other examples on this. On the other hand, these incidents can be pretty entertaining, like the green ink tattoo on my right arm (depicting a naked woman) or the hilarious (and mysterious - "Who took these!?") pictures on my camera... After a night like this, I always wake up thinking "Never again, I swear, never again!", but five hours, a shower, and a meal later, I'm back on track. At the moment, I can't imagine doing what I planned doing tonight: being home alone with my cat, watching a movie and getting at least eight hours of sleep. That's for grannies, right?

Inspirerad av Alkos hälsobroschyrer...

... har jag på allvar börjat fundera på om jag ska bli nykterist. Men vaddå, ett glas eller två då och då är väl inte så farligt? Nej, kanske inte, men om man som jag har svårt för att sluta när man en gång börjat borde det ju vara bäst att helt vara utan. Jag har absolut inget emot att vara full och allt vad det innebär (skämma ut mig - so what?, krapula - har inte riktigt förstått vad det är att klaga över) - nej, det är av hälsoskäl jag är orolig. Vet inte hur lätt levern tar stryk, men att dricka stora mängder en eller två gånger per vecka är knappast nyttigt. Hemmafester må vara ekonomiska i denna tid av I-landsfattigdom, men mängden alkohol som förtärs ökar ju därmed rejält... Jag är och har alltid varit lite av ett hälsofreak, fastän det inte syns. Ärligt talat så frossar jag i artiklar om hur man ska "bli av med sju kilo på sju veckor" och "hur man får hyn att stråla med hjälp av antioxidanter". Motivationen finns liksom där, både när det gäller mat- och dryckesvanor och motion...

Om jag tänker rationellt så vet jag att alkoholförtäringen är så gott som omöjlig för mig att lämna bort nu. I alla fall med tanke på allt som hänt under den senaste månaden. Dessutom får jag, som evig singel, en stor dos självsäkerhet och ro av att "supa" med mina älskade kompisar. Månne går vår generation ett sorgligt öde till mötes? Något hälsofrämjande som dock vore lätt för mig att genomföra är att börja idrotta igen. Lite väl sent påtänkt kanske? Jag har ju nog hunnit styvna under åren och vem ska man spela med? Allt vore lättare om jag gillade självständiga sporter, men nej, teamwork för hela slanten måste det vara. Borde jag kanske samla ihop alla mina alkoholiserade kompisar och se vem av dem som ens har ett uns av intresse för att spela fotboll eller basket?

Det dolda sockret: Även lemonad är ett big no-no!