Season's Greetings

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Another year is about to end and once more we are wondering whether the speed of time passing by is exponentially increasing with the sum of years that we are leaving behind us.



The grand theatre of 2006 staged innumerable episodes of the "clear and present danger" - starring (amongst others):

1.) the year's most efficient, and probably least expensive, pharmaceutical marketing campaign (Bird flu)

2.) the year's most influencial (but probably unintended) media marketing campaign; agitating thousands of people without being exposed to it (Muhammad caricatures)

3.) Germany's most emotional moment after losing it's beloved Deutsche Mark (FIFA World Cup)

4.) the year's most important unfilled vacancy (Pope's advisor - also respsonsible for reviewing his speeches)

5.) the year's most important filled vacancy (Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense)

and last, but not least

6.) ever fighting Tom & Jerry (this year disguising as Ismail Haniyeh & Mahmud Abbas)

But coming back to a more personal review of the last year, quite a lot has happened - good and bad. Putting it all in a nutshell, I can say that my personal motto "no risk, no fun" has proven me right, since without the will to risk something you cherish, you will not be able to progress. You might end up falling back where you were, or even further behind, but at least you can say that you have tried.

All this is only possible for me, because I know I have my friends - you!

Thus I am lifting my imaginary glass wishing you (-choose your wish-)

- a belated merry christmas
- all the best for the upcoming new year 2007
- eid mubarak

"See you next year"

hopes
Memonji

Coming Home

A glass of chilled orange juice, a bowl of cereals and a freshly brewed coffee can do wonders in the morning. The combination of vitamins, carbs and caffeine has been the only thing that is able to get me running at the beginning of the day. With Bob Sentosa on 102.10FM in the background I put on my coat, grab my laptop, the keys that are lying on the table and make my move. And yeah, ... not to forget to pick up the completely rainwater-soaked newspaper from the doorstep. Just another day.

Again major delays on the interstate - as usual. Why the heck does everyone have to get back home at the same time? Again I'm having this I-knew-it-but-still-wanted-to-give-it-a-shot feeling. I should seriously start thinking about taking the subway. There's a cute brunette chic in an white Altima next to me. She's singing along with the radio, so I try to find the same station, but to no avail. Finally I have reached home and am fiddling in the laptgop case looking for the keys - ah, got them. I insert the doorkey into the lock and turn. It doesn't open. One more time. The key wouldn't turn. I check whether I am using the right key and try again. Nothing. I peep through the kitchen window and realise that nothing appears to be familiar. And still I am sure this is the place I left this morning. I turn right to look at the place where I had put up my name, next to the doorbell. Nothing.




An empty space ...

instead of
Memonji