Citizen Reporter

Woke up this morning feeling just as hazy as last night, yet somehow I did everything I’m supposed to do on monday morning. Struggling through the morning, trying not to make eye contact with anyone because they’ll see the tired eyes. I’m pretty sure I dotted all my I’s and crossed all the T’s, but I’ll be damned if I remember half the conversations I had this morning at work. At some point as the employees wandered into the kitchen, all the ladies we’re standing their reading each other’s palms. Like an amused toddler I held out my palm as if to say “read mine.. read mine!” They barely seemed to notice me, and I thought “make your mat? kid, and get out of here before you say something stupid.” Note to self: Sunday nights should never be mistaken for Friday nights.

So with its mountains of opium, Afghanistan has now become the world’s leading narco state. Move over Colombia, there’s a new junky in town! I’ve been reading the Afghanistan Watch blog and I was looking at photos of the plant in this week’s Parool Magazine, man is that a pretty flower, no wonder they grow it – makes an otherwise grey landscape look dreamy. “The hills are alive, with the scent of opium!”

Went browsing Harper’s Magazine, Znet, and American Prospect, which I haven’t done in a while. At Harper’s I finally read the article on how to become an expat. (not that I don’t already know from experience) At Znet I was engrossed in Robert Fisk’s piece on Arafat and the interview with my professor and friend-for-life Steve Shalom about parapolitics. He used to urge me to write something for ZNET, and somehow my lazy ass never did, opting instead to stick to blogging only.

Ms Thingk handed me a lovely gift today, the Garden State Soundtrack, which I’m loving. This will have to hold me over until the movie finally arrives in the NL. Zach Braf, director/actor/blogger, recently announced on his garden state blog that its now available on DVD.

Today’s Sounds: Off the Hook – www.2600.com

And then sometimes you find yourself in Antwerp, with good friends from Philly and the most wonderful ms. thingk, wandering the diamond district on the Sabbath, when all is closed. It’s a beautiful and under-rated city, even in the cold november rain. Complete with its infamous port where the spoils of the former Belgian Congo once arrived. My guests reminded me of the excesses of Belgian life; waffles, beer, french fries, and – ouch my teeth – chocolate. I usually don’t remember these things as I go about my seasonal family business in Brussels, but today I had some of each (cept no waffles). The other themes that dominated the visit were Paul Rubens the Belgian impressionist vs. Paul Rubens the big adventurist. I’d say that for today, PeeWee won… as nocoins repeatedly screamed about the secret word.

Ms. Thingk brought up a good discussion topic as I was dozing off, leaning in her direction, on the train home: Male vs. Female main characters. She asked me if I could name my favorite male actor and then mr favorite female. Of course I named Denzel, Dustin Hoffman, and Ralph Fines.. but then when it got to females I got choked up. I tried to do the usual Natalie Portman, which she rightfully pointed out – is typical. But otherwise, I struggled to name Carrie Anne-Moss and Dame Judie Densh. Ms. Thingk’s point was the fact that men stick out as main actors more than women. And how if you have a film, the best way to market it is to have a male in the lead role. While if you put only women in the lead roles, it gets dubbed a “chick-flick,” thus limiting the audience. I wondered about this… now I want to go around seeing how fast people can name their favorite actresses.. just to see if I’m the only involuntary-sexist-film-lover.

Other shocking news… ms. thingk will be leaving for DC in a month. Joining the capital crew… who knows, she might become the next wonkette or – gasp – washingtonienne.

Today’s Sounds: Decemberists – Castaways and Cutouts