Jeffersoned

Minor disaster... our COC has to attend a comission meeting... now we have to bump everyone op one scale... Should be ok as we are all in unison to have a great regional... Off for an early night as I have 3 days leave and lots to do. This song from Roxette resembles somewhat what has happened to our planning...
Jefferson - Roxette
Jefferson was always out of luck
I remember when we both grew up
Jefferson got hit by a westbound truck
I guess that didn't make him look like a million bucks
That night when Sally really stole the show
And every boy was captured diggin' for gold
Poor old Jefferson was left in the snow

I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul

Jefferson is always on my mind
When him and me were runnin' out of time
Jefferson was sure enough left be behind
The cops came in and took him by surprise
That night when Sally really showed her game
The neighbourhood would never be the same
Poor old Jefferson got the blame

Ooooh
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
Yeah
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I do believe he didn't do wrong
I say a prayer for someone I care for

I do believe he didn't do wrong
I say a prayer for someone I care for

That night where Sally really gave it all
And made us small boys look quite tall
Poor old Jefferson left the ball

Yeah
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
I'm gonna pray for Jefferson
Pray for Jefferson's soul
a-a-a-a-ah
I have activated Blogger dot Com's latest toy, feel free to e-mail the link for any posting you like to a friend. The little envelope does the trick...
"To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself." Albert Einstein 1879 - 1955

Tell Laura I love her...

Laura Branigan dies at 47 - 29/08/2004 11:53 - (SA)
New York - Laura Branigan, a Grammy-nominated pop singer best known for her 1982 platinum hit Gloria, has died. She was 47.
Branigan died of a brain aneurysm on Thursday in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, said her brother Mark Branigan. He said she had complained to a friend of a headache for about two weeks before she died, but had not sought medical attention.
Gloria, a signature song from her debut album Branigan, stayed atop the pop charts for 36 weeks and earned her a Grammy nomination for best female pop vocalist, the first of four nominations in her career.
She also made television appearances, including guest spots on CHiPs, and in the films Mugsy's Girls and Backstage.
Branigan released seven albums after her debut Branigan, including Solitaire, Self Control, and How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, which was co-written with Michael Bolton. Her songs also appeared on soundtracks for the films Flashdance and Ghostbusters.
Branigan was born on July 3 1957, and grew up in Brewster, New York. She attended the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan. During the late 1970s, she toured Europe as a backing vocalist for Canadian singer and songwriter Leonard Cohen. She signed as a solo artist with Atlantic Records in 1982.
After her run of success in the 1980s, her releases in the early 1990s attracted little attention. In 1994, she sang a duet with David Hasselhoff called I Believe for the soundtrack of the television show Baywatch. She released a 13-track Best of Branigan LP the next year.
After the death of her husband, Lawrence Kruteck, in 1996, Branigan stopped performing but returned to the stage in 2001.
In 2002 she starred as Janis Joplin in the off-Broadway musical Love, Janis which earned her rave reviews.
Branigan recently had been working on material for a new release.
UPDATE:



Her new material has been released on a cd called Remember Me, the track The Challenge is brilliant.










She is survived by her mother, two brothers and a sister. Funeral services were scheduled for Monday.
Such sad news, I love her music. I think these words from The Corrs song Angel, are very apt for today.
Angel - The Corrs
She lived like she knew nothing lasts
Didn't care to look like anyone else
And she was beautiful, so beautiful
I still hear her laugh like she's here

Shower it down on all the young
It isn't so wrong to have such fun...

Forever angel, I hope they love you like we do
Forever angel, I'll be proud to be like you
Be like you (I'll be proud to be like you)

Does the sun shine up at you when you're looking down?
Do you get along with the others around?

It's got to be better than before
You don't need to worry now you're gone...

Forever angel, I hope they love you like we do
Forever angel, I'll be proud to be like you
Be like you, just like you...

And when I go to sleep at night
I'll thank you for each blessed thing surrounding me
For every fall I'll ever break
Each moment's breath I wanna taste
Confidence and conscience, decadent extravangance
Never ending providence, for loving when I had the chance

(Tin whistle interlude)

Angel, I hope they love you like we do
Forever angel, I'll be proud to be like you
Forever angel, I'll be proud to be like you
Be like you
I'll be proud to be like you
Apart from this, today was monday as usual... too much to do and too little time. Good story in Cold Case again and the music is once again quite impresive... Indigo Girls Closer To Fine, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Free Falling, Cowboy Junkies Sweet Jane, Poison Every Rose Has It's Thorn, Aerosmith Love In an Elevator, Roxette Listen To Your Heart, Tears For Fears Sowing The Seeds of Love, The Bangles Eternal Flame.
I am skipping the recipe tonight due to the theme, will do another double helping next week... be there!
"I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself." Marlene Dietrich 1901 - 1992

Quick Brown Fox...

I am making no apology for another short one... I am pooped! but the grounds and pits look great even though it still looks like winter...
Winamp is upbeat tonight... been playing a lot of Techno, Euro beat and dance stuff, sure is helping me stay awake an get the blog done, trying to think what would be suitable for tonight's lyric bit... Aha! Got this amazing song the other day by Ana Johnson, from the Spiderman 2 soundtrack... real powerful lyrics and a great piece and well sung... Although I don't think one should compare her with Avril Lavine...
We Are - Ana Johnsson
See the devil on the doorstep now (my oh my)
Telling everybody oh just how to live their lives
Sliding down the information highway
Buying in just like a bunch of fools
Time is ticking and we can't go back (my oh my)

What about the world today
What about the place that we call home
We've never been so many
And we've never been so alone

(Chorus)
You keep watching from your picket fence
You keep talking but it makes no sense
You say we're not responsible
But we are, we are
You wash your hands and come out clean
Fail to recognise the enemies within
You say we're not responsible
But we are, we are, we are, we are

One step forward making two steps back (my oh my)
Riding piggy on the bad boys back for life
Lining up for the grand illusion
No answers for no questions asked
Lining up for the execution
Without knowing why

(Chorus)

It's all about power then
Take control
Breaking the rule
Breaking the soul
They suck us dry till there's nothing left
My oh my, my oh my

What about the world today
What about the place that we call home
We' ve never been so many
And we've never been so alone.... so alone

(Chorus)

It's all about power then (we are)
Take control (we are)
Breaking the rule (we are, we are)
Breaking the soul (we are)
They suck us dry till there's nothing left (we are, we are)
My oh my, my oh my

We are
We are (its all )
We are
We are, we are (take control)
We are
We are
It's all about power
Then take control
The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog... glad to see the family in Natal is back on line, that sentence is always used by net techies to test a line for dropouts and make sure the connection is solid...
"Who makes quick use of the moment is a genius of prudence." Johann Kaspar Lavater

Losers

Had a great day out at the track... got a lot done and the grounds and track proper look good... Then it was on to the Prowlers Poker Run prizegiving to support my friends and who was there? Looking stunning! and in the company of probably the biggest loser this side of the Sahara... (jealousy rearing its ugly head), why does it bother me? I really do not know.. In any case here is the result of tonight's interlude...
Loser - Robert Le Noury
Loser
What does he have that I do not
What does he do that I have not
What does he feel that I do not
What?

Loser
When will he be the one to feel the pain
When will you see that none gain
When will you see that you are the agony
When?

Loser
You had my heart
You had it all in the palms...
My scorned and scorched heart
Why?

Loser
Still I care
Hoping, even dare
Maybe you care...
Who?

Loser
When will you see?
What must I do?
Why should I care?
Who loves you no matter what?
I do...

You are lost... I am found
wanting, waiting
forever aching for you.

Losers never win...
but who is lost
who is found?
Am I the loser or are you?
Well, off to bed to try and recover from my memories and get some rest before we go trackside...
**If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.** Bill Lyon
Edited in retrospect...

Off Line

The network is down and it is late... just got back from helping Anton assemble his sons 125... hope it runs ok tomorrow... Will post this when the net is up again...
"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996)

The wall

Just a short note as I head for bed... I need an early night tonight, feel as if I have hit the wall. I need to recharge...
Somehow I feel as if I have done all of the following this week...
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects.
Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love".
Billy Joel's River of Dreams is playing now, quite apt as I do feel like I am sleepwalking..
In the middle of the...I go walkin in the (3X)
In the middle of the night, I go walkin in my sleep
From the mountains of faith, to a river so deep.
I must be looking for something, something sacred I lost
But the river is wide, and it's too hard to cross
And even though I know the river is wide
I walk down every evening and stand on the shore
And try to cross to the opposite side
So I can finally find out what I've been looking for
In the middle of the night,
I go walking in my sleep
Through the valley of fear, to a river so deep
And I've been searching for something, taken out of my soul
Something I would never lose, something somebody stole.
I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is that I've been looking for.
In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep
Through the jungle of doubt, to a river so deep
I know I'm searching for something, something so undefined
That it can only be seen, by the eyes of the blind
In the middle of the night.I'm not sure about life after this
God knows I've never been a spiritual man
Baptized by the fire, I wade into the river
That runs to the promised land
In the middle of the night, I go walking in my sleep
Through the desert of truth, to the river so deep
We all end in the ocean, we all start in the streams
We're all carried along, by the river of dreams
In the middle of the night.

"Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. This you cannot do without temperance."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

ESP or Intuition

I was worried today, I been having this sense of impending doom for a few days now and it is not PTSD or related to the robbery on monday, it is just a feeling that something is not as it should be, got a call from I and my feelings were confirmed, all is not well with her, she is still suffering from this stomach thing, how does one tell a friend they should stop smoking and stop stressing so much? I cannot explain this at all, never before have I had this almost pshycic ability to know that something is wrong and exactly what and who... I really hope that the therapist can help next week... will miss her at the regional though... will have to dig up an extra scorer somwhere.
Tidied up my dot net front page today, I must say I quite like the simple layout and will keep the KISS theme on the rest of the site from now on... Will be culling some pages and a heap of images as well...
Music playing now is really cool... once again the PC seems to be doing its own ESP thing and playing the right song for the mood... This was one of them...
THE PEACEMAKER - Albert Hammond / Mike Hazlewood
Get out, damn it
Close the door, don't slam it
Let me be alone a while
To give my nerves a rest
Whatever you do I love you
No matter what you do I love you
And I want to run after you
But I don't know what's best

If you will take good care of me, I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker
If you will take good care of me then I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker

Hours later I hear the key in the front door
We look each other in the eye
A timid sorry pair
There's a little more conversation
Just a little more conversation
A battle's lost, a war is won
I think we've cleared the air

If you will take good care of me, I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker
If you will take good care of me then I'll be your caretaker
You'll be the maker of the peace, I'll be the peacemaker ....
Well it has been quite a day, rain for the track, a long meeting with all the bike shop owners and intuition helping me guide proceedings... now my intuition tells me to get some rest...
**Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the extrasensory perception of reality** Alexis Carrel

Bridges...

Sms mystery cleared up today, it was all about a proposal to do a Rock Concert at our track next month... talk about cryptic "can I have your place for some rock and roll... call me tomorrow". I seem to be collecting a lot of contacts lately, never used to be into this networking thing but I must say it has it's good points especially when trying to tie loose ends for an event. Building briges is sometimes very interesting and fun.
I hve been watching Survivor All-Stars (dont click on the link if you don't wanna know the result!) tonight, Richard da nude irritates me no end... hope they vote him out at the first opportunity, come to think of it tonight will be the last time I watch the present series, I wish they could get hold of some of my ex army buddies and then we will see who are real survivors... As far as I am concerned the whole show has run out of ideas and is boring me to tears.
My Winamp is in an oldie mood tonight, Unchained melody by The Righteous Brothers, Dont get me wrong by The Pretenders, Wheel in the sky by Journey... when does a song become a Oldie? in my book 10 years sounds sufficient. Reminds me of a Seven Single I bought... Burning Briges by Mike Curb Congregation from the film Kelly's Heroes as I recall and the result of my movie date with a girl called, well, lets just call her A, we had some great times, she taught me to dance the twist and the two-step, she was my Matric Dance date as well... last I heard she was in Carnavon in the middle of the Karoo. One bridge I burnt or did I get burnt? I think it was the latter...
Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation
Friends all tried to warn me
But I held my head up high
All the time they warned me
But I only passed them by
They all tried to tell me
But I guess I didn't care
I turned my back and
Left them standing there

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Joey tried to help me find a job a while ago
When I finally got it I didn't want to go
The party Mary gave for me
When I just walked away
Now there's nothing left for me to say

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Years have passed and I keep thinking
What a fool I've been
I look back into the past and
Think of way back then
I know that I lost everything I thought I that could win
I guess I should have listened to my friends

All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
Burning bridges lost forevermore
Burning bridges lost forevermore

Wow, heavy words when you come to think of it, somehow I do not see myself in the picture, I tend to open doors and leave them open these days... you never know when you have to duck and run through one... probably my inquisitive but mischievious nature... however there may be one or two bridges I should mend from my bridge burning days...

**When you build bridges you can keep crossing them.** Rick Pitino

Mysterious Times

Today we wus robbed... wel not me personally but one of the tellers in the same complex where I have my office... why was I not on time today? I got up early but something just seemed to make me waste a bit of time, made 2 cups of coffee instead of the usual one, decided to change my shoes to sneakers, forgot the car keys after locking the door... I shudder to think what would have happened if I was on time... criminals would not understand that I have nothing to do with the Tellers! Amazing how we are protected by Angels but once you know they are at work it is nothing more than a miracle! Miracles are but a coincedences in laymans terms, but I know better. Truly Mysterious Times...
Lots of blame and fingers being pointed today after the robbery, the fact is the whole setup was ill though and no research was done nor were the promised security systems put in place... More mystery...
Got quite a bit to arrange but tonight I want to chill out and relax and contemplate my next move so to speak... Cold Case is on again and tonights case music has been pretty good. The episode is titled "Greed" and features Culture Club Karma Chameleon Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule The World ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man Journey Separate Ways Talk Talk It's My Life Kurtis Blow AJ Scratch Thompson Twins In The Name Of Love Tina Turner Better Be Good To Me Don Henley Dirty Laundry Cyndi Lauper All Through The Night. However I think the lyrics to suit the theme is this one from Sash!
Mysterious Times - Sash!
Life
Mysterious life
Where we're moving around, dancing the rhythm of life.
Time
Mysterious time
Where we're counting the hours and days to the end of our time.

And we're feeling the change and we don't know why
Choose one direction just one more time
Don't say I'm thinking too much if you see what's behind.

[Chorus]
And these are Mysterious Times
Mysterious Times
No trick of the mind
For this moment I feel like we live in Mysterious Times.
If you see what's behind, these are Mysterious Times.

SoulI
feel my soul
For this moment nobody can stop me from flying so high.

Real
Nothing is real
In a world of illusion you only see what you feel.

And we're feeling the change and we don't know why
Choose one direction just one more time
Don't say I'm thinking too much if you see what's behind.

[Chorus]
If you see what's behind, these are Mysterious Times.

Here is the recipe for Track Potjie:
Ingredients
This was for a No 3 pot.
2 Kg lamb or sheep stewing meat, knuckles, neck and any bit not braaiworthy. Not too much fat.
1 Large onion
1 pack Potjie vegetables
1 can tomato & onion mix
1 can 200g tomato paste
2 cans mushrooms in brine, the stalk and offcut type is ok
Some olive oil
Pack fresh herbs for lamb
Pack Maggi Hearty Stew flavouring

Method
Put the pot over a few coals on your braai, have a seperate bank of coals to add from if needed.
Put about 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pot and as soon as it is hot enough start adding the meat and brown.
Add onions after meat has browned.
Add the herbs, throw out the woody bits though.
Add the veggies, add the flavouring and pour the can of paste and tomato mix as well, do not stir!
After 30 min add the mushrooms, brine and all.
Let the pot talk to the coals for at least an hour, add water if needed, the mushroom's should have added enough though. The pot should be ready about 2 hours from when you started. Serve with rice and a salad. Enjoy!

More mystery is the sms I got a while ago... will have to follow it up in the morning, maybe the path is not as rocky as I thought.
"It is better to obey the mysterious direction, without any fuss, when it points to a new road, however strange that road may be. There is probably as much reason for it, if the truth were known, as for anything
else." H. M. Tomlinson

Track Potjie

Here is the recipe for Track Potjie: Originally posted on the link above...
Ingredients
This was for a No 3 pot.
2 Kg lamb or sheep stewing meat, knuckles, neck and any bit not braaiworthy. Not too much fat.
1 Large onion
1 pack Potjie vegetables
1 can tomato & onion mix
1 can 200g tomato paste
2 cans mushrooms in brine, the stalk and offcut type is ok
Some olive oil
Pack fresh herbs for lamb
Pack Maggi Hearty Stew flavouring

Method
Put the pot over a few coals on your braai, have a seperate bank of coals to add from if needed.
Put about 2 tablespoons olive oil in the pot and as soon as it is hot enough start adding the meat and brown.
Add onions after meat has browned.
Add the herbs, throw out the woody bits though.
Add the veggies, add the flavouring and pour the can of paste and tomato mix as well, do not stir!
After 30 min add the mushrooms, brine and all.
Let the pot talk to the coals for at least an hour, add water if needed, the mushroom's should have added enough though. The pot should be ready about 2 hours from when you started. Serve with rice and a salad. Enjoy!

Sideways

Sideways... over our biggest jump! Now this is awesome! The track is 99% done and is going to impress all riders! We also had a cookout for the guys doing the work this weekend and all enjoyed the Potjie, Rice and Salad, the exact recipe will be posted on Monday. Thanks for the help D and D!
As far as the rest of my weekend went, sideways is also an apt description, some call it "on hold" I call it sideways. Not that I am complaining, just strange that things have this tendency to hit the Doldrums from time to time, maybe things will pick up next week... Once again watching 007 is saving the day in Tomorrow Never Dies on e-TV's Bond Festival, my favourite is Pierce Brosnan... the best Bond by far imho... No music while I enjoy the movie but here are some lyrics:
I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
I walked along the avenue.
I never thought I'd meet a girl like you;
Meet a girl like you.
With auburn hair and tawny eyes;
The kind of eyes that hypnotize me through;
Hypnotize me through.

Chorus
And I ran, I ran so far away.
I just ran, I ran all night and day.
I couldn't get away.

A cloud appears above your head;
A beam of light comes shining down on you,
Shining down on you.
The cloud is moving nearer still.
Aurora borealis comes in view;
Aurora comes in view.

Chorus

Reached out a hand to touch your face;
You're slowly disappearing from my view;
Disappearing from my view.
Reached out a hand to try again;
I'm floating in a beam of light with you;
A beam of light with you.

Chorus

And I ran, I ran so far away.
I just ran, I couldn't get away..
Why these lyrics? Cos my biorythms suck! I seem to be in one of those horrid cycles when one aspect is positive and the rest negative... So time to get out the PIP manual to flush out these negative thoughts. The only "sideways" quote was this rather good one...
**Forgiveness is the healing of wounds caused by another. You choose to let go of a past wrong and no longer be hurt by it. Forgiveness is a strong move to make, like turning your shoulders sideways to walk quickly on a crowded sidewalk. It's your move.** RealLivePreacher.com Weblog, July 7, 2003.

Boys will be boys

Today was great! A was in his element! two tractors and two front end loaders to play with, we bit the bullet and took the two machines because next weekend is on month end and most operators do not work on month end weekend... we have finished about 80% of what we wanted to do... the rest should be done by tomorrow... yeah... motocrossers build tracks on Sundays and boys will be boys... It's just the size of the toys!
Winamp is doing it's thing as I write and once again suitable to the mood... Bee Gees, Saturday night fever as I feel my face is slightly sunburnt... I must get myself a decent hat before summer arrives! Will have to be up bright and early again tomorrow to get all the things organised for our day at the track, I will be doing my Jamie Oliver thing behind a pot of Potjiekos... I may just have the recipe up on Monday's blog. Will have some pics of the trackbuilding up by then as well.
Oh yes! I almost forgot! The Boys came through in Durban! We are the champions! Go Bokke! and more medals in Athens!
Lyrics for the day come from our national anthem as sung at the begining of the game in Durban...
Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika
(Xhosa and Zulu)
Nkosi SikeleliAfrika
Maluphakanyiswu phondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu.
Nkosi sikelela
Thina lu sapholwayo.
(Sotho)
Morena boloka Sechaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho.
O se boloke O se boloke.
SeChaba sa heso.
SeChaba sa.
South Afrika, South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die dieptevan ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes waar die kranse antwoord gee.
Sounds the call to come toghether, and united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom in South Africa, our land.
**I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.** Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

Africa... is not for sissies...

Today was awe inspiring, another medal at the Olympics and proof that Africa is not for sissies, we grow 'em tough! Although we won't be ranking top ten I do believe we are puting up a fine performance in Athens.
Just a short one today, maybe only published by Saturday due to time constraints, got to be at the track before 7 am for some serious track building... just hope more rain falls as the track needs all it can get. All this reminds me of Bonnie Tyler and Holding on for a Hero... here is the chourus:
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
So here is to our heroes in Athens and hopefully tomorrow our Rugby heroes in Durban and all the heroes that have come to the party by helping us out tomorrow.
**Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.** Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

You are here

Something I have always found amusing is Existentialism... I mean when you look up at the stars how can you not know that the universe is rational. Enough philosophy, lets get on with reality I say.
Winamp has been in a quite mood as I wach the Olympics, Enya, Storms in Africa is playing as I type. I have always liked her music, another in the same genre is Deep Forest of wich the best known is Freedom Cry. Now it has switched to Vanessa Carlton and Sway, her rendition of Paint It Black of the Rolling Stones is one of the best versions ever.
Paint It Black - Jagger/Richards
I see a red door and I want it painted black
no colors anymore, I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars and they are painted black
with flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
like a new born baby it just happens every day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it's heading into black
maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
it's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

I wanna see it painted painted, painted black, oh baby
I wanna see it painted painted, painted black, oh baby

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
my love will laugh with me before the morning comes

I wanna see it painted, painted black, oh
black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted from the sky
painted, painted, painted black oh baby
painted painted, painted black
Poiniant and sad... a song I relate to and gives me a chill when I hear it. Here is a short poem I wrote in memory of the lady this song reminds me of.
The Gift - Robert Le Noury
You showed that life is today,
not tomorrow,
not yesterday.
Wear your heart for the world to see,
for tomorrow it may have faded.
Tell me you love me now,
dont hesitate,
for tomorrow is but a mirage,
yesterday was a golden memory.
I will always cherish the short time I had with Inge, a very special lady lent from heaven for us. Always ready with a smile and always game for anything. Sometimes one does not need a lifetime to learn from a friend.
"I have an existential map. It has 'You are here' written all over it." Steven Wright - 1955 -

Have you ever noticed?

that life has a way of repeating itself? I am in a closed loop of everchanging situations! For the fourth time in as many years I will be getting a new boss, but changing departments, the work will still be the same though, just the scenery will change! Now for a repeat of last years reports and job descriptions... this time I am slipping in a few reccomendations... fax and new printer please!
Had a great MX co-oordination meeting, will be doing some major changes at the track, lots of work to promote the event as well...
Just heard that Earth Wind and Fire will be in SA! I thought they were done for ages ago... just been listening to Let's Groove... R&B and Disco era music, on the same note I notice that '70's music is being redone, reborn, reissued a lot these days, it really was a great period! Although I must say some of todays music is quite palatable, ATB gets a 10/10 for his music. André Tanneberger has great talent and his latest cd Ecstacy is very uplifting dance and the lyrics for the day.
Ecstacy - ATB
Have you ever noticed,
That I'm not acting as I used to do before?
Have you ever wondered,
Why I always keep on coming back for more?

What have you done to me,
I'll never be the same I'll tell you for sure

I'll never be the same I'll tell you for sure
I'll never be the same I'll tell you for sure

You really are my ecstasy,
My real life fantasy, oh yeah

You really are my ecstasy,
My real life fantasy, oh yeah

Not that I'm complaining,
A more beautiful vision - I have never seen
If you don't mind me saying,
A life of ambition to fulfill my dream
007 on e-TV again tonight, Solitaire, what I notice is the way everything looks so dated, have I forgotten so much of how we lived and looked 30 years ago! Well enough of that, a long day awaits me in the morrow. Some words of wisdom I learnt again the past few days...
"I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that."

So you wanna be a Botanist?

I have decided... next year I am starting a degree course... will be doing an aptitude test to make sure my choice is compatible with my abilities... crazy? Botany would be my first choice but let us see what the experts say...
I was wondering today why I felt so tired, obviously the weekend had taken its toll but it seems more than that, then I checked my biorythm... waay down the scale... ah well they start turning upside next week, so there is something to look foreward to again. The older I get the more I come to realise there is more out there than meets the eye.

This image reminds me of Tree63 and The Darkness Between the Stars, or even Roxette and Stars in any case the Universe is an awesome place, interesting to hear that some astrophysicists believe that our solar system is unique... makes me think that the Bible has more truth in than most people believe. David wrote in Psalm 8:3, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained." and Psalm 147:4 tells us that "He counts the number of the stars, He calls them all by name." It is impossible for mankind to know how many stars there are, not to mention the *name* of every star! Yet God does. Amazing concept! Amazing truth!
Stars - Roxette
You keep on walkin' on the other side
Other side, other side
You keep on walkin' on the other side
Other side, other side
Wherever you go, I'm going with you
Shouldn't you know I'm bound to follow
Whatever you say, whatever you do I give you a clue,
I'm gonna follow

And the stars will show
Where the waters flow
Where the gardens grow
That's where I'll meet you

Why don't you let me, let me come along
Na na na, na na na
Why don't you open, make me come along
Na na na, na na na
Wherever you go, I'm going for you
Oh, I was truly born to follow
Like fire and wood and paper and glue
Only a few were born to follow

And the stars will show
Where the waters flow
Where the gardens grow
That's where I'll meet you
And the sun will glow
Melting all the snow
Knowing all I know
That's where I'll meet you

Stars will show
Where the waters flow
Where the gardens grow
That's where I'll meet you
And the sun will glow
Melting all the snow
Knowing all I know
That's where I'll meet you

And the stars will show
Every breeze will blow
Knowing all I know
That's where I'll meet you
By the way... I fixed the comments section, you do not need to belong to Blogger.com to send me a comment...
**The wisest mind has something yet to learn.**
George Santayana (1863 - 1952)

Meatballs in Tomato sauce:

This is an easy recipe that I knock together in about half an hour and serves around 6 people.
Meatballs in Tomato sauce:
Ingredients:
1 kg mince
3 large eggs
3 slices brown bread, not fresh
1 large onion
1 can tomato paste
1 can tomato and onion mix
1 clove garlic
2 serving spoons peppadew
Itallian herbs
Barbeque spice
Any other spices you prefer
3 Serving spoons of your favourite chutney
Olive oil for baking pan and saucepan.
Method
Crumb the bread into a large mixing bowl, dice the onion and add to breadcrumbs, add spices/herbs to taste and crushed garlic if used, add the mince, chutney and 3 eggs and mix until evenly distributed. Form balls from mixture and place in lightly oiled baking pan. Place under griller for 10 miutes a side while preparing the sauce.
The Sauce
A dash of olive oil in a saucepan, saute onions and add peppadew, add tomato paste, can of tomato and onion and a dash of Italian herbs, simmer slowly while you make sure the meatbals brown under the griller.

When meatballs are brown add the sauce to the baking pan and let them all simmer in a 300C oven for 30 minutes.
Serve on a bed of spagetti with a tossed salad.

Double Helping Please

Here are the promised recipes:
This is an easy recipe that I knock together in about half an hour and serves around 6 people.
Meatballs in Tomato sauce:
Ingredients:
1 kg mince
3 large eggs
3 slices brown bread, not fresh
1 large onion
1 can tomato paste
1 can tomato and onion mix
1 clove garlic
2 serving spoons peppadew
Itallian herbs
Barbeque spice
Any other spices you prefer
3 Serving spoons of your favourite chutney
Olive oil for baking pan and saucepan.
Method
Crumb the bread into a large mixing bowl, dice the onion and add to breadcrumbs, add spices/herbs to taste and crushed garlic if used, add the mince, chutney and 3 eggs and mix until evenly distributed. Form balls from mixture and place in lightly oiled baking pan. Place under griller for 10 miutes a side while preparing the sauce.
The Sauce
A dash of olive oil in a saucepan, saute onions and add peppadew, add tomato paste, can of tomato and onion and a dash of Italian herbs, simmer slowly while you make sure the meatbals brown under the griller.

When meatballs are brown add the sauce to the baking pan and let them all simmer in a 300C oven for 30 minutes.
Serve on a bed of spagetti with a tossed salad.

Hasta la pasta
Ok, I am cheating a bit, this is just my way of cooking spaghetti.
Take your favourite pasta pot, any large pot that holds at least 4 litres is fine, I have a cool one that has a built in strainer.
Fill with warm water (speeds up things) and add 2 herb and garlic stock cubes and get it boiling, add a dash of olive oil and then the pasta as soon as the water is boiling vigourously. Stir a few times to prevent pasta sticking and cook for around 20 minutes until al dente.
Serve with your favourite dish like my meatballs or bolognaise.

As you all know by know I am a music nut/freak/aficinado and I think I was born 35 years too soon... I have this thing these days for techno/rave/dance/house music, some say it is boring but I find a lot of it very uplifting and energetic. Tonight on Cold Case they had some playing as well, Angelic I'ts my turn as well as some other fine music Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac Dreams - The Cranberries Hey Jealousy - The Gin Blossoms What's Going On - 4 Non Blondes Can't Do A Thing To Stop Me - Chris Isaak Ordinary World - Duran Duran. But here is my choice for tonights lyrics:
Close to the edge - Solex
Do you feel for me, what I feel for you?
Now you're turnin' on this electricity
Runnin' through my veins, pulse begins to rest
Come on satisfy my curiousity

Keep imagining, what it would be like
Got the power to make this reality
You're so close to me, almost taste your lips
Flyin' high can't you feel this intensity?
Only one way to go

When you're on the outside lookin' in
Tell me what I need to know
Don't recognise my own reflection
When I'm in this state of mind
State of mind..
tate of mind..
ohh..
ooh..

I'm, close to the edge
I wanna fall, all the way down
I'm, close to the edge
I wanna fall, all the way down

I'm, close to the edge
Open my eyes, walk straight ahead
I wanna fall, all the way down
I'm gonna run, when I hit the ground

You're takin' me, close to the edge
Open my eyes, walk straight ahead
I wanna fall, all the way down
I'm gonna run, when I hit the ground..

I'm, close to the edge
I wanna fall, all the way down
I'm, close to the edge
I wanna fall, all the way down

Are you readin' me, like I'm reading you?
Are we transmitting on other frequency?
Hear it loud and clear, message understood
Chain reaction 'cause we got a chemistry

Now I'm standing here, with my world below
Body shakin', is this how it's meant to be?
But I'm not afraid, 'cause I'm not alone
Hear you breathin', I feel you inside of me

Only one way to go
When you're on the outside lookin' in
Tell me what I need to know
Don't recognise my own reflection
When I'm in this state of mind
State of mind..
State of mind..
The quote for the day is quite true... I have always loved felines and find it strange that some humans hate them, I don't dislike dogs but prefer the independent nature of cats...
**How you behave toward cats here below determines your status in Heaven.** Robert A. Heinlein

Retro

Looking back over the weekend I discovered I had forgotten to publish my last two Blogs! amongst other things... Just got back from a great evening out at the local Spur... They have this Sunday special on burgers, I still think the idea is to get people to spend money on other items though... well it was a fun evening with friends, so glad the events of the weekend are forgotten... true friends never bear grudges... The music was great and we had fun singing along... must find out who the lad was that was singing, may just be an idea to get him to entertain the crowd at our next event... One of the songs was an Afrikaans song made famous by Theuns Jordaan, a great South African singer and songwriter but the song Beautiful in Beaufort-Wes was written by Gert Vlok Nel, here is the Chorus:

Ek kon nie meer slaap nie.
Nie nie meer lag nie,
nie meer iets vir mekaar doen nie
en nooit ooit weer vir jou soen nie.
Translated:
I could not sleep any anymore
Not laugh anymore
Not do anything for one another again
and never ever kiss you again
I really enjoy his songs as well as most of our Afrikaans singers these days, just a pity most of the world does not understand the words!
**As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.**
Leonardo da Vinci(1452 - 1519), The Notebooks

Eating dirt

What a day, wind wind wind and dust, this must go down as one of our windiest days ever, it did not help track conditions at all and the races had to be shortened due to all the time lost in keeping the dust under controll, then we ran out of water! Murpy at his best... Had a slight argument over the shortening of the event due to conditions... Safety first I say... As this has been a long day I have decided to just ramble on and get to bed.
**Performance is directly affected by the perversity of inanimate objects.**

Friday... wus it the 13th?

This day flew by in a microsecond, barely touched ground what with all the final arrangements for tomorrows event. I just hope the track will be wet enough and that we have no wind tomorrow. Lyrics for today are from Roxette and Sleeping Single.
Here's the house.
Here's the city and the stream.
Here's the father to my dream.
Here's the lost and lonely look in your eyes.
When you leave I will break down and cry.

Sleeping single -
I will wait for you.
I'm sleeping single -
'til you change your mind.
Sleeping single -
I will wait for you 'til time
has gone by.

I'll pay the price
for all the love you poured like rain
"toujours l'amour" over again,
but the midnight chills are getting so rough
and the bed is big enough for both of us.

Sleeping single -
I would die for you.
I'm sleeping single -
won't you change your way.
Sleeping single -
I will pray for you to stay,
he-he-hey...he-he-hey...
So without any further ado I am off to bed.
"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travelling."