Monthly Archives: February 2009

Syntax Overdrive

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I’m tired… because I have been working till 05.00 in the morning three days in a row. I’m coding a form that needs to send and retrieve data from a database from within a secure CMS and I’m this *showing about 2mm between thumb and index to you* close to getting it to work… *aargh* The problem is that somehow jQuery/Ajax is not triggered or the database is not triggered and I really really really don’t like debugging. I’m obsessed now with solving the problem because I’m so close and such a determined stubborn goat.

I don’t mind coding but when I get like this it just reminds me again why I am a designer: it’s safer for me because I don’t spend that many nights in obsessed-work-mode getting five hours of sleep or less. Nor does my brain go into overdrive not knowing where the breaks are, seeing endless lines of syntax in my thoughts and looking for solutions. Today I’ll focus on the design again, it’s instant result which is what I’m in desperate need of at the moment and a codeine for my triggered-by-a-lack-of-sleep headache.

Time to be good to me: a break and a Thai noodle soup…

Yes I heard some of you dearies out there but you know what I’m like… *hehe* thanks for your concern!

Farewell Old Pub

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I got an email in two days ago through one of those social networking websites that I try so hard to avoid because I don’t feel the need to expose myself in a way like some of my friends do. I’m cautious about certain things and when I notice some of them mix work with pleasure, publish phone numbers, addresses, bank account numbers, job history and what viral diseases they have conquered over the years, it truly makes me wonder if they realise that ignorance ain’t bliss in this case: there are sickos online cruising for this kind of stuff.

Anyway… The email was from my friend B. one of my former Rietveld students. The reason why I mention this is because she told me some disturbing news. My all-time favourite -best Irish pub in Amsterdam- ‘the Tig’ has closed, the place where I would have a meal and meet up with friends. Where I knew some of the regulars, the owner and the manager: both would always say hi and have a chat with me. The pub that was my second home, served the best salads, English breakfast, roasted potato wedges and battered shrimps in town.

(…)

All those little gems that were mine to treasure and share with friends, hidden away from the annoying tourists, the yuppies and the crowds, the spots that make Amsterdam my home, all seem to slowly disappear. B. wrote me: a shame really because it was such a nice place and it always reminded me of you and all the wonderful times we had there… Indeed, good times we had… Farewell my dear old pub, I will always have the wonderful memories of happiness, friends, too many whiskies and trying to cycle home in an intoxicated state.

My birthday at the Tig, one of many happy, fun and hilarious moments there…