The following email which I received this morning looks really authentic, so should I respond in order to find out more?

I am Captain Ted Anderson of the US Marine Corps (U.S.M.C.) On a Monitoring and Peace-keeping mission in Baghdad-Iraq. Please there is a serious business I have for you. There's a consignment I want you to receive on my behalf. I shall give more information when I hear from you.Thank you and keep it secret.
Regards, Capt Ted Anderson

Well for the time being I'm not really up to any so-called serious business, sorry.

What could be funner on a beautiful and sunny day than painting the dormer? In Dutch it's called a "dakkappel" which when translated literally means "roof kappel."

As you can see, this activity is not without risks considering the height and the occasional gust of wind which can surprise those unprepared for disaster.

By doing it myself, and perhaps risking a broken bone or two, I am saving us alot of money, so it's worth it.

• This morning when I was in a hurry to get to work, I hastily tied my shoes with too much strength and both of my shoelaces snapped;

• This afternoon on my way back home from work, I fell asleep in the train and missed my last stop, so I had to get out at the next stop and come back, wasting about an hour; and,

• This evening when I finally arrived at my destination, I went to my bike which should have been parked at the back of the train station where I always leave it. That's when I realized I had inadvertently left my key chain in the lock in the morning, meaning that someone had stolen my bike along with my keys (bike, home, car and work cabinet) and my nice rain gear snugly packed in the side bag.
  

There he is again that guy I have been telling you about all along.

He is walking down the stairs and will continue his journey back up again and finally along the street which leads to the center of town.

After that I am not quite sure which direction he will choose, but that does not matter.

At least not for now.

What really matters is when I will see him again, that moment in time when our paths intersect.

This will probably not happen within the next few days, but more than likely I will see that guy again next month or so.

When that happens.

Those kinds of pants are the ones I really like, because they stretch nicely over your belly giving you the false impression that you are not really getting fat at all.

When you think that you have nearly arrived at your destination, stop for a couple minutes and look around.

What is it that you see?

More than likely it is not what you expected, but you will continue to the end no matter how slight this last obstacle in your path may appear.

They said at the beginning that it would not be easy, that one should not take things lightly, as if it didn't matter when it really did.

Whatever you do, do NOT turn back.

We are not quite sure why not, why this innate desire to make it all the way has been drilled into our minds, but we listen anyway. Not only do we listen, but we do it as well.

The couple minutes have passed, so please continue.

(No matter what)

I am beginning to look like a reborn hippie, so I will have to go to the local barber and get all of my golden locks chopped off leaving just enough hair on top of my translucent dome so that I don't end up looking too bald.

When I called up to make an appointment, the soothing female voice on the other side asked me the name of the girl I preferred.

I couldn't remember her name, but I said that I knew what she looked like (she had long blond hair, average face, some makeup and not too thin).

"What does she look like then?"

I didn't want to say that she was that one, so I hesitated slightly thinking how I could describe her best without being perceived as rude.

"Does she have black hair?"

"No, she has long blond hair, and ..."

"Oh then you mean ... then?"

Yes, that's the one.

Once you are sitting in the train you are accepting totally that it will take you somewhere, preferably to the specified destination. Call it faith, call it surrender, belief in the unknown, or whatever. So when you wake up, you are not quite sure anymore what is happening, where you are now, what you should do next. Of course, no one is preventing you from getting out at the following stop. If you are impatient and feel a little adventurous, you can always crank down the window and jump out (though this is not recommended procedure). But if you choose to do that then what next? It all depends on the velocity and direction and the general orientation of things.

This cannot be true. Or can it?

Perhaps this year around I will finally have to give in and attend my class reunion. You know, check out all the old acquaintances, reminisce about the good old days, and catch-up on lost time.

Too bad that Maarten's birthday will be at the same time.

I will have to make a difficult choice, though I already know that my son's birthday is a thousand times more important than some old folks get together.

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Favorite memories: "Jogging in the foothills, firing golf balls with my 3-iron down Donnor hallway, the epic journey, Neil Young, Dr. J, the Oasis, getting into SAE, getting rejected from medical school."

Student activities/clubs: "SAE fraternity, golf, beer-drinking, ad infinitum."