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I’ve successfully managed to get myself through the first day at work, it actually wasn’t that hard to change back to working mode after the time off. 🙂

It was really nice to meet and talk to my former colleagues, who have become my new colleagues! Been busy arranging things like the entrance pass to the building, etc. and had a first meeting with my new boss. We have started to define what I should actually do here hehe:).

The job title is Program Manager Customer Satisfaction, so I will be responsible for satisfying our customers…uhhhh, in every way?!? Aahhhh! 🙂

It involves working within the company to streamline inter-departmental workprocesses (high attention for customer focussed business practises) and it also means going out to the customers (UN, NATO, WHO to name a few!) and get a good understanding for their needs, points to improve, issues to take care of etc. in ALL phases of our (satellite) service delivery (Sales, Project implementation and Operations). Verrrry interesting and challenging!

Directly after I arrived at Willy and Katka’s place yesterday, we went to the ‘Byfesten‘ in Lillestrom. Literally byfesten means ‘city party’…basically it’s all about drinking beer and see bands performing on a big stage in the city center…guess it’s a good way to start my integration process 🙂

It was absolutely great to see the 80’s hardrock band TNT…big hair, high pitched voices and raging guitarsolos! A trip back to the days of Headbangers Ball with Adam Curry everrrryyybody, yeah!!

Am leaving NOW…on my way to future! 🙂

Today is my last ‘official’ day as ‘Koos Werkeloos‘ (‘Joe Unemployed’? :))…mixed feelings in a way, but totally ready for the next step; will fly to Norway tomorrow and am gonna start my new job this Monday!

It seems my blog is becoming a movie-blog huh? Well, it won’t! 🙂

Anyway, I went to Death Proof, the new Tarantino yesterday…terrific! Typical Tarantino movie with ‘a lot about nothing’ dialogues, cult-style editing and right on the bone action, I loved it!!

The movie is part of the double feature Grindhouse, can’t wait to see Robert Rodriguez part ‘Planet Terror‘.

Finally (!) saw Micheal Moore’s Bowling for Columbine last night, impressive! The movie has been high on my ‘to-watch’ list for a long time and not without reason…I think everyone agrees that it paints a pretty good picture on the problems US society has with their (constitutional) right for everyone to possess guns. South Parks American History (on YouTube) explains it all…FEAR, definately not good for living a relaxed life.

Marilyn Mansons take on it (also on YouTube) was probably a revelation for most people.

At the end of the interview Micheal Moore asks: ‘If you were to talk directly to the kids at Columbine and the people in that community, what would you say to them if they were here right now?’

Marilyn Manson responds with: “I wouldn’t say a single word to them, I would listen to what they have to say and that’s what no one did!”. Wow!

A 5:15 minute Bowling for Columbine summary (YouTube):

It (finally? :)) occured to me that for some reason I don’t blog in the weekends?!? A bit strange since this blog *is* personal and I *do* live seven days a week, eh? So, decided that I’ll write in the weekends too, time permitted and if there is anything worth writing about obviously…that shouldn’t be a problem, the internet is ‘on’ 24/7…:)

I also noticed that (coincidentally!) I started my ‘blogging week’ throughout the last weeks with a Quote Of The Day on Mondays, perhaps to glue blogging on weekdays and non-blogging in the weekend?!? I didn’t post a QOTD yesterday though…will put one up in a minute!

Just this week is left over of the time off I took from my working life, totally about three months (!), they passed by like a breeze…I guess that says it all; it has been GREAT. I will make the best out of the days left over, totally relax and ready to rock at work! Still plenty of things left to do in preparation for Norway, never a dull moment. 🙂

Gone for the weekend, camping with the family in Heino (East NL). Weather is supposed to be hot, humid and a thunderstorm late Sunday afternoon…hehe, better make sure we have the tent packed by then! 🙂

The weather ain’t all that good for working in the house prepping the big move out to Norway;

Sun is all over the place, temperature over 25 degrees and I’m stuck in the attic sorting out my old stuff collected in the past 10…20…uhh, 35 years orso, damn!

Just bought the new Marilyn Manson album ‘Eat me, Drink me‘…it took him (/her/it? :)) four years after ‘The Golden Age of Grotesque‘.

So far it has been worth the wait! Then again, I’d probably never be disappointed by the personification of my dark side, eh? 🙂

The next step in Google’s siege to conquer the (Microsoft Windows controlled) desktop market; Google Gears.

It’s an opensource browser extension and will let you run web-based apps even when you’re not connected to the web! Not a brand new idea or invention, but this one will have a big impact on the use of Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, Docs & Spreadsheets, Reader, Notebook.

The first application to be made available ‘offline’ is Reader, I expect the others to follow soon! Just imagine; no more need for MS Outlook, Word, Excel or drafting your ideas in Notepad when you’re on the road and/or without an internet connection!

Yesterday everything fell on its place…I signed up for a job *and* a house, all in one day! The job was in the works for months really, the house popped up only last Monday.

As yesterdays header graphic already showed, future is Norway…Oslo to be precise! A perfect next step and most of all challenging, both professionally and personally. Kissy also can't wait, so…ho, ho, here we go!

I'll go first and start working June 18 (sjeez, that's in TWO weeks…darn, I knew there would come an end to my extended time off…). Will be back home the month of July to prepare the move and hey, I can't miss Pohoda, can I? 🙂

The farewell party and true move out will be end August/September…exciting!

Back home…expect an announcement tomorrow! 🙂

I haven't signed a contract yet, but when I do, I will start June 18 (!). Not much time left…and since these days having the longer (Whitsunday) weekend were the most convenient for *both* of us, Kristel and I are on house-hunt at the moment!

Can't tell whereabout till I have signed, most likely later this week if we get the last things settled…exciting!! 🙂

Traveling for almost a month in April and working with heavy, loud machinery in the house this month (prepping it for renting it out) didn't really help in catching up with Adam Curry's Daily Source Code, my *favorite* podcast! Being on my 'road to future' the last days finally made it possible to speed up the catch-up; I listened to 12 episodes (wow!) and arrived at DSC #600 FINALLY…am still over a week behind, but getting there…

Hehe, finally found out what the whole 'Savants' thing is about being part of Adam's new format, which he started on April 23rd (DSC #586)…my Birthday! Nice timing dude, am digging it! Have a listen for yourself, the Savants are cool and interesting. Hmm, would I be able to make it to an official DSC-savant, in early podcast adoption perhaps?!? 🙂

I noticed that the 'Post Comment' button was not available on all computers (got grayed out)…this has to do with the need to have Javascript enabled for the anti-comment-spam method (Hashcash) used in my weblog tool (Pivot). Sorry for anyone who wanted to post a comment and couldn't, I changed it now, so, the Hashcash is disabled and you're free to comment! I'll keep an eye on things and see how things are doing. You'd better believe the Hashcash will be back if I receive *any* comment-spam! 🙂

Am not at home these days, instead I'm 'on da road' heading towards a new future life. In practice this means discussing/negotiating conditions of the next step in my professional life!

As mentioned before, this means leaving NL!! Verrry interesting, but…the package must be right! In the end it is *me* who's in control of my future…:)

Damn, I really wanted to go to Pinkpop this year (coming weekend). Kinda *had* to go since Marilyn Manson and the Smashing Pumpkins will be there, but…no one to go with 🙁

hehe, it sucks to have no friends 🙂 

The line-up is great though; besides MM and the Pumpkins they got Good Charlotte, Within Temptation, Snow Patrol, Muse, Korn, Evanescence, Linkin Park and more!!

Anyone? 🙂

Huh, just found an email in my (Gmail) spam-folder, coming from…Google!! I know their spam-filters are strict, but I never expected them to even block one of their own emails! Funky 🙂

The email itself announced the new version of Google Analytics, a bit old news since I was able to access the new version for over a week, but thx anyway.