Whenever...

Whenever you start something new...you stop something else. Everything has two sides. I am looking very much forward to my next step and new adventure, but very sad leaving all behind here. Am I doing the right thing? I am! Am I going to regret leaving everything behind here? Maybe! But you know...I left my city many times before and it never turned its back on me, en contraire, it opened its arms even more each time I came back.

Whenever you leave someone,...you meet someone new. Will I miss my friends? Of course I will...but I know that I will see or hear them sooner than later. Will I feel lonely? Maybe some nights I will sit at home and envy the fun the others have together the exact same moment over here. Will I meet new people? Of course I will, and I am sure that they will be just as great as the ones I left behind.

Whenever you question an idea...you are on a good way. Nothing is perfect and never fool yourself. Will I work more than I worked before? Sure I will, and I will enjoy every second of it! Will I succeed? I never doubt my talent and drive to reach my goals - not even one day! Will I have a nervous breakdown one day? I guess not, and in case I should...I want you to be with me and get drunk on the beach!

Whenever you are not sure if you are on the right way...just keep going, because you never know where you might end up or who you might meet. Never doubt your talent or yourself, stay positive and enjoy every second you can. Trust your strength and optimism and you will be happy. Dont let judgement by others come in between you and your dreams. Remember: You have only one life...live it to its fullest!

Wheel of fortune

I sometimes wonder if there is such a thing as a bad decision. Well, ok, one should not kill someone or try to drown a goldfish, but as long as one does not really decide to do something, you will never know if the decision itself would have been a good one or a bad one. But lets just say we decided to do it, and it turns out bad, how should we know what it would have turned out if we would not have done it? Does a negative outcome of one decision automatically means that it would have turned out positive or better if we would have done it the other way?

..tic tac tic tac...beim nächsten Ton sind Sie 29!

"Mensch bist du groß geworden...ich kenne dich da warst du noch sooooo klein....."

Wie oft musste ich mir diesen Satz schon anhören...von irgendwelchen Omas, Opas, Onkeln, Tanten und für mich wildfremden Personen. Was sagt man in so einer Situation? "Tja, ich habe ja auch immer artig meinen Haferbrei aufgegessen"? Einfach lieb gucken und dumm lächeln? "Boah - bist du aber alt geworden!"? Gar nix? Irgendwie ist alles immer falsch. Aber in einem haben die Verwandten und Bekannten immer recht...man ist wirklich gewachsen.

Dabei gehts es mir weniger um die Zentimeter die man in die Höhe oder Breite geschossen ist, sondern mehr um das Erwachsen werden an sich. Genauso wie ein Einzelner Mensch sich verändert und erwachsener werden kann, können sich ganze Rudel transformieren. Von einstigen Partygängern und Punks zu Werbeyuppies und Gallerinas. Damals noch von ewiger Freiheit und grenzenlosem Spaß geträumt, heute von einem ruhigen Wochenende mit den Liebsten zu hause Tatort schauen oder neuen Teelichtern und Bambusstäbchen von Ikea.

Ich muss gestehen das mein Akku auch nicht mehr so geladen ist wie noch vor einigen Jahren. Damals konnte ich ohne Probleme von Donnerstag bis Sonntag durchfeiern und fand sogar noch die Zeit zwischendurch zu studieren, arbeiten und gelegentliches einnicken. Mittlerweile freue ich mich wenn ich mal meine Ruhe haben kann und ein wildes Wochenende begrenzt sich auf einen Tag feiern bis ungf 03:00 Uhr Morgens und dann wieder früh aufzustehen um entweder zum Sport, Frühstück oder Flohmarkt zu gehen. Ich erwische mich beim sagen von Sätzen wie: "Ach, wie schön, wenn man so früh aufsteht dann hat man richtig was vom Tag!" Ich könnte kotzen.

Aber warum stört es mich überhaupt? Liegt es daran das ich Angst vor dem älter werden habe? Bin ich vielleicht noch nicht reif genug? Bin ich noch zu sehr Kind um fast 30 zu sein? Warum fühle ich mich im Kopf oft wie Anfang 20 und benehme mich dann doch oft wie Ende 30? Meine erste Midlife Crisis? Ich denke so schlimm ist es zum Glück noch nicht, und wenn doch wäre es sehr traurig da ich noch zu arm bin um mir nen Porsche leisten zu können und somit nichts zum kompensieren hätte...oh wei, welch kleiner Shaygets ich doch bin.

Aber was will ich mich beklagen...die letzten 28 Jahre haben mir viele schöne Momente, Erlebnisse und Freude beschert. Ich habe das große Glück eine tolle Familie zu haben (auch wenn Sie unendlich nervig sein kann...), wahre Freunde gefunden zu haben (ja ich meine Euch!) und mir selber immer treu geblieben zu sein. Ich habe bereits vieles im Leben durchmachen müssen und bin oft auf die Fresse geflogen, aber wenn ich eine Sache nie aufgegeben habe dann ist es die Freude am Leben und all seinen Schwierigkeiten. Aus jeder Scheiße das Beste mitnehmen und daraus ein Mousse au Chocolat zaubern!

In diesem Sinne...the big 30 can you hear me? You better be prepared for next year, cause I aint stoppin´ now!

Der 12. Mann aus der Provinz.

Eines der bekanntesten Tore Deutschlands kommt aus Berlin...leider hat es weniger mit der Hertha als mit der Geschichte der Stadt zu tun...
In den letzten Monate haben mehr Leute das Brandenburger Tor gesehen als nen Treffer im Olympiastadion. Die Gründe dafür sind allseits bekannt und müssen hier nicht weiter analysiert werden. Worauf man aber näher eingehen könnte ist der 12. Mann.

Wie jedes Wochenende freue ich mich auf die Bundesliga und versuche so viele Spiele wie möglich live oder zumindestens in ner Fussballkneipe unter Freunden zu erleben.
Was mir jedoch mehr und mehr auffällt ist das ich sehr oft der Einzige Hertha-Fan bin. In manchen Bars ist die komplette Provinz vertreten...und ich. Es gibt sogar Fans aus Mönchengladbach, Bochum oder Hoffenheim...ich weiss noch nicht ein Mal wo diese Orte liegen.

Oft werde ich vorgestellt als "Ivo - er ist Hertha Fan", darauf kommt meisstens ein "Oh - sorry" oder "Es gibt Hertha Fans?". Am Anfang bin ich auf solche Sprüche noch eingegangen und habe mich herrlich über die Arroganz der Zugezogenen aufgeregt. Heutzutage gehe ich es lockerer an. Ob es daran liegt das ich im Gegensatz zu den Kleinstad Klub Fans den Luxus geniessen kann jedes zweite Wochenende meine Mannschafft live zu sehen, oder ob es mir mitlerweile einfach egal geworden ist, weiss ich nicht wirklich. Eine wahre Gefahr, sportlich gesehen, sind wir Herthaner ohnehin nicht...und richtig polarisiert haben wir auch nie. Ein Traditionsverein in der Hauptstadt. Eigentlich braucht man nichts mehr um eine riesige Heerscharr an Fans und Freunden zu gewinnen. Doch warum klappt es bei der Hertha nicht?

Meiner Meinung nach liegt es an 3 Gründen:

1. Der Erfolg - oder eher, der fehlende Erfolg. Wir wurden zwar "bereits" zweimal Deutscher Meister, doch das letzte Mal liegt bereits 70 Jahre zurück. Besonders konstant sind wir auch im nicht erreichen der Europaleague oder gar Championsleague Plätze. Bei den Pokalspielen ist auch sehr oft das Ende bereits in der zweiten Runde.

2. Das Stadion - Das Olympiastadtion ist nicht nur geschichtlich gesehen ein hingucker, sondern auch architektonisch. Kaum eine Stadt hat so ein beeindruckendes Stadion wie Berlin. Stadion ja - Fussballstadion nein. Denn so schön es als Stadion auch ist, so schlecht ist es als Fussballstadion. Die Hertha blaue Tartanbahn trennt die Fans eher von dem Spielfeld als Sie zu vereinen...und wenn nicht mindestens 40.000 Leute im Stadion sind, hat man das Gefühl alleine da zu sein. Freie Sitzplatzwahl inkl. Man braucht ewig zu den Toiletten, zum Bier oder zu den Bratwürsten...und eine richtige Stimmung kommt nur sehr selten hoch.

3. Die Stadt - Neben dem Stadion ist die Stadt "mitschuld". Berlin hat sehr viel zu bieten, vor allem im Sportbereich. Mit den Eisbären und Alba sogar zwei Dauermeister im Eishockey und Basketball. Nun auch noch einen erstligisten im Handball mit den Füchsen. Die Auswahl ist zu gross um mit durchschnittlicher Leistung Fans zu gewinnen. Das es auch anders geht haben wir letzte Saison gesehen...mit dem Erfolg kamen die Fans...die ganze Stadt schien "Hertha" zu sein!

Wer weiss...vielleicht schaffen wir es in Zukunft irgendwann aus der alten Dame einen Sexy Hasen zu machen und so mehr Fans anzulocken...vielleicht könnten wir mal die großen Vereine ärgern oder sogar international mitreden...vielleicht vielleicht vielleicht. Bis dahin heisst es aber Daumen drücken und HA HO HE!

Bühne frei für die Kinder der Nacht.

Vor einigen Tagen habe ich mich mit ner Freundin zum Kaffee getroffen. Wir hatten uns schon lange nicht mehr gesehen und hatten uns somit auch einiges zu erzählen. Die größten Updates waren schnell vollbracht und schwupdiwupp wurden wir nostalgisch und erzählten uns die lustigsten Anekdoten aus unserer gemeinsamen Partyzeit im Berliner Nachtleben. Mir fiel ein wie Sie nem Barman Ihre Brüste zeigte damit wir die Drinks umsonst bekommen...Ihr fiel ein wie ich nem Türsteher auf die Schuhe pinkelte weil er mich nicht vordrängeln lies. Good ol´times...

Das Berliner Nachtleben hat schon einiges zu bieten...vor allem komische und verrückte Gestalten. Was ich in dem letzten Jahrzehnt schon alles in Berlin an Kuriositäten erlebt habe füllt ganze Bibliotheken. Von irgendwelchen Hinterhof Parties im Prenzlberg der 90er Jahre bis hin zu den Champagnerduschen im 90° zu seinen guten Zeiten...vom Tresor in der Leipziger bis hin zum Cookies in der Saarbrücker. Wie ich mit irgendwelchen Leuten morgens um fünf am Kotti türkisch lernte - nix als fluchen natürlich - oder in Friedrichshain mit Chinesen zu russischem Ska tanzte.

Das waren alles tolle, komische, interessante und skurrile Momente. Bei einigen bin ich mir nicht sicher ob Sie wirklich passiert sind oder nur ein Streich meiner nächtlichen Phantasie und des Alkohols waren...naja, ich war jung und bla bla.

Alle diese Momente prägen einen und die Beziehung die man zu "seiner" Stadt aufbaut. Einige gehen unter...andere blühen auf. Diese vielen Erlebnisse haben mir nicht nur unbeschreibliche Gefühle und Erfahrungen geschenkt, sonder vor allem auch tolle Menschen. Die Stadt ist nur so gut wie die Menschen die sie bewohnen - und ich, ich liebe Sie. Berlin ist die Bühne und wir seine Schauspieler. Vorhang auf: es ist Wochenende in der Hauptstadt!

Wenn Mitte-Models auf italienische Gurken treffen.

"Woher kommst Du?", wurde ich erst neulich von einer jungen Dame in einer Berliner Bar beim gewöhnlichen Samstag-Abend-An-Der-Bar-Stehend-Und-Auf-Die-Extrem-Selbstverliebte-Bardame-Mit-Meinem-Drink-Wartend gefragt..."Aus Berlin", meinte ich schon etwas genervt weil um 23:30 noch zu nüchtern um diese ganzen Mitte Yuppies und Hippies ernsthaft ertragen zu können. "Nein wirklich?" fragte sie hinterher. "Wie? Wirklich?" fragte ich Sie verdutzt und immernoch auf meinen Hendrick´s Tonic wartend. "Na, wirklich halt. Woher kommen deine Eltern?". Ich war etwas verwirrt und erschrocken über diese Frage. Nicht der Frage wegen, die habe ich schon oft genug gehört, aber weil das junge Ding, jenseits von irgendwelchem Anstand und Scham, einfach davon ausging das ich kein Berliner sein kann, da meine Eltern wohlmöglich nicht aus Berlin stammen. "Charlottenburg" meinte ich trotzig und mit meinen Händen Richtung Barfrau wild gestikulierend. Ich bin zwar in Charlottenburg aufgewachsen, aber meine Eltern kommen beide aus Kroatien. Das wollte ich Ihr aber nicht sagen. Nicht weil ich mich schämte, dafür habe ich überhaupt keinen Grund. Ich hatte auch keine Angst oder etwas dergleichen, aber ich wollte Ihr einfach nicht die Genugtuung geben das Sie "Recht" haben könnte. "Oh" seufzte Sie schon fast enttäuscht. "Wieso oh?" fragte ich fast schon etwas sauer über meine eigene kindische Art. "Naja, siehst halt nicht aus wie ein Deutscher, dachte du wärst Italiener oder so was..dabei kommste aus dem Westen". Ich wusste nicht wirklich wie ich das verstehen sollte. Mein Drink war endlich da. Ich habe mir gleich noch 2 Shots bestellt. "Weil ich aus dem Westen komme, könnte ich somit kein Italiener sein, weil alle Italiener aus dem Süden kommen?" fragte ich etwas sarkastisch. "Ja." meinte Sie nur kalt und nuckelte an Ihrem Martini Glas. Die Shots waren da. Ich nahm einen...der Erste schmeckt nie. Mit leicht verzogenem Gesicht frage ich "Das heisst jemand aus Spandau ist Berliner weil es geografisch im Westen der Stadt liegt, aber jemand aus Neukölln könnte auch Italiener sein weil es südlicher liegt?". Die Frage war total bekloppt und ich musste selber lachen...ich dachte mir: hey, lass uns einfach die Situation etwas auflockern und so hässlich war Sie ja nun auch nicht. Stattdessen meinte Sie nur "Das ist ja absoluter Blödsinn!". Sie schaute mich an als hätte ich von nix ne Ahnung und würde nur noch darauf warten das Sie mir die Welt erklärt, "Die können niemals Italiener sein, da Sie ja schon Türken sind." Ich habe innerlich die Sekunden gezählt und auf eine Revision oder ein "war ja nur Spass" von Ihr gewartet, aber da kam nichts. Die meinte das tatsächlich ernst. Ich schoss mir den zweiten Shot runter, griff nach meinem Drink und meinte nur "Also, nun muss ich aber weiter bevor Sie die Grenzgänge wieder schliessen und es morgen statt lecker Bananensplit nur wässrigen Gurkensalat gibt." Sie sagte noch irgendwas wie "ich mag auch Bananen lieber als Gurken" aber mir war das vollkommen egal da ich wusste das ich keine weitere Minute mit diesem One-Minute-Brain von der Mitte Academy ausgehalten hätte. Ich sah bereits die Schlagzeilen in der Bild "Der Ausländer Ivo P. erstach das junge hübsche nachwuchsmodel Emma mit der Gurke aus seinem Hendrick´s Tonic". Ich hätte alles auf die Italiener geschoben..die mag spätestens kurz vor dem WM eh keiner.

Lucky us!

Sometimes it takes more than just good talks and various experiences to realize just how lucky you actually are. Being able to not just live but really enjoy life is a gift that is too often seen by too many as normal. In fact we are very fortunate and should embrace this luck with more than just two hands.

Instead of complaining we should help those who really need it. We do not need it, we are just too often too stupid and too selfish to realize it. It is time to wake up!

Entschuldigung...ich phasiere gerade!

Das Leben ist keine Gerade, kein Spiel und schon gar nicht eine einfache Sache. Ganz im Gegenteil. Das Leben lässt sich auch nicht wie Perlen an einer Kette langziehen. Das Leben besteht aus verschiedenen Phasen.

Es gibt Phasen bei denen man sehr viel um die Häuser zieht, bei denen man auf fast jedes Konzert geht, bei denen man am liebsten gar nicht vom Sofa will, jeden Tag zum Sport rennt oder sich von Buch zu Buch durch die Geschichte liest. Es gibt Phasen in denen man sehr traurig ist und Phasen in denen man alle umarmen möchte.

Ich denke das ist auch alles in Ordnung so. Man brauch immer mal wieder Extreme um sich entweder von dem Einen zu erholen oder das Andere nachzuholen. Es wäre ja auch langweilig wenn man immer nur das Gleiche machen würde. Oder bedeutet das nur das wir angst haben etwas zu verpassen? Immer auf der Suche nach dem neusten Kick?

Was mich mehr beschäfftig ist die Frage ob es richtig ist auch bei Freunden und Bekannten dieses Phasen-System zu haben?

Manche Leute trifft man permanent für eine gewisse Zeit...andere gar nicht. Es entstehen temporäre Klicken...die genauso schnell auseinander gehen wie sie sich gefunden haben. Aber warum ist es das unsere Generation so sehr Probleme damit hat sich mit dem was man hat zufrieden zu geben? Warum muss man immer alles verändern und anpassen? Ich bin kein gutes Vorbild für eine Veränderung...

Ich wollte immer einen festen kleinen Freundeskreis haben...wie bei der Sitcom "Friends". Am besten leben wir auch alle im gleichen Gebäude. Ich hatte schon oft einen kleinen Kreis von Leuten mit denen es auch temporär funktionierte...aber halt nur temporär. Warum? Nun oft lag es nicht daran das wir uns verstritten hätten oder etwas dergleichen, sonder das wir einfach in verschiedene Städte gezogen sind oder sogar Länder. Es gab natürlich auch solche Klicken die auseinander gegangen sind weil innerhalb des kleinen Kosmoses sich Beziehungen gebildet und wieder getrennt haben. So etwas überlebt keine Klicke...

Die Frage bleibt, sind es die Freunde welche die Phase in der wir uns befinden bestimmen, oder ist die Phase die unsere Mitmenschen bestimmt? Können wir überhaupt verschiedene Freundes- und Bekanntenkreise gleichzeitig jonglieren? Was wenn verschiedene Freunde sich in verschiedenen Phasen befinden?

Wichtiger als die ganzen Theorien und Phasen sind die wenigen Freunde die einen das ganze Leben begleiten. Egal ob man sich nun über Monate oder gar Jahre nicht gesehen oder gesprochen hat. Die verzeihen einem auch ausrutscher und komische Phasen. Danke Euch!

Was wäre wenn?

Was wäre wenn wir damals nicht nach rechts sondern nach links gegangen wären? Was wäre wenn wir nicht nach Rom sonder nach Madrid gezogen wären? Was wäre wenn wir anstatt mit Ihr mit der der Anderen geschlafen hätten? So viele Fragen und keine Antworten...

Wie oft habt Ihr Euch schon die Frage gestellt "was wäre wenn"? Es gibt verschiedene Situationen in denen man sich diese Frage stellt und das ist auch vielleicht interessanter als die Frage selbst! Was sind es für Situationen in denen wir uns befinden wenn wir uns diese Frage stellen? Sind wir zufrienden mit der Situation, mit unserem Leben oder den Weg den wir eingeschlagen haben? Stimmt es wirklich das eine Entscheidung das ganze Leben verändern kann? Sowohl zum Guten als auch zum Schlechten?

Wir werden wohl nie eine Antwort auf diese Frage habe, denn selbst wenn wir uns für "die andere" Wahl entscheiden würden, würde die Frage die gleiche bleiben. Somit ist das ganze Leben nichts weiter als eine Gabelung. Ob nun der eine Weg zum Glück und der andere ins Verderben führt bleibt zur Debatte offen. Hauptsache man entscheidet sich am Ende für einen der beiden Wege, denn nichts ist schlimmer als Stillstand.

Ich möchte diesen Gedanken mit einem schönen Zitat von Hans Krailsheimer beenden das ich heute hörte: "Zu mancher richtigen Entscheidung kam es nur, weil der Weg zur falschen gerade nicht frei war."

Bist du nicht befreundet mit...?

Die Welt ist ein Dorf und wir sind die Einwohner.

Egal wieviele Einwohner es gibt, egal in welcher Stadt man lebt oder wen man gerade kennenlernt...über irgendwelche Ecken und Kanten kennt man sich bereits oder hat den gleiche Freundeskreis. Manchmal ist man sogar verwandt miteinander.

Wie oft ist es Euch bereits passiert das Ihr in irgendeiner Bar gesessen habt...am Ende der Welt...in ein Gespräch kommt mit einer Person die Ihr zuvor noch nie gesehen habt und plötzlich feststellt: Ihr kennt die gleichen Leute, habt den gleichen Zahnarzt, wart auf der gleichen Uni etc. In genau diesem Augenblick passiert was wunderbares. Auch wenn man sich theoretisch erst seit 5-10 Minuten kennt, hat man das Gefühl von Vertrautheit und Freundschaft. Es ist als würde man 20 Stufen zur Freundschaft mit einem Sprung überspringen.

So schön das auch sein mag, so gefährlich ist es auch...
Denkt mal darüber nach: nur weil man die gleiche Person kennt, muss das nicht umbedingt positiv sein. Wer weiss was da zwischen denen abläuft, abgelaufen ist etc.
Nun wird es richtig kompliziert, denn einerseits hat man bereits dieses Gefühl der Vertrautheit entwickelt und möchte ganz offen sprechen, aber andererseits macht man sich nun auch Gedanken darüber wie weit man gehen darf, was man sagen darf und hören sollte. Es wird somit fast schon verkrampfter als zu Beginn als man sich gar nicht kannte.

Das sind natürlich alles Extremfälle und müssen nicht auf jede Begegnung zurückgeführt werden.

Mir ist diese Situation schon sehr oft im Leben passiert. Eigentlich bin ich auch ein großer Fan von solchen Situationen, da ich nicht besonders gut im Smalltalk/Flirt Gebiet bin, andererseits muss man nun auch immer wieder darauf achten was man wem sagt...es schränkt einen sozusagen sehr ein. Man weiß ja nie wer wen kennt. Aber was soll´s, ich bin es gewohnt in Fettnäpfchen zu treten und somit auch schon oft auf die Fresse geflogen. Am Ende sage ich lieber immer das was ich denke als mich für irgendjemanden verbiegen zu müssen...entweder die Person mag einen so wie man ist, oder sucht das Weite.

Also, wenn Ihr das nächste mal in eine Bar, Restaurant, Party, Club etc geht, schaut Euch mal um und denkt darüber nach, wieviele von den Anwesenden kennt Ihr eigentlich indirekt?

Hooray I found a hobby!

"So what´s your hobby?"

I can not even remember how often I was asked this question. At a job interview, by strangers, friends, family or some highly intelligent parrot...they all wanted to know!

But it did not matter how often I was asked, I was never able to find an answer. When checking on Wikipedia for the definition of hobby, I was told that "...a hobby is an activity or interest that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, often in one´s spare time...".

My spare time? What do I do when I have time off...? Usually I meet friends for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. So is my hobby eating? Not really, since we also drink alot. So it´s drinking! Lucky, or unfortunately, not. Are my friends my hobby? Too easy for an answer and too complicated not to be. If friends are your hobby, then I do not want to know what your definition of friendship is. Also I do not want to be considered a friend of yours, since I do not want to be a hobby myself!

Usually sports are considered a hobby. I have not done sports in a long time and going to the gym is not considered a hobby in my terms. Even though I go there frequently, it is not that I am a huge fan of it. So it is good and often relaxing but not my favourite thing to do in my spare time. So what else is there? I did beach volleyball or sailing for a while, but was not committed enought to really consider it a hobby. I am too poor to say shopping, not creative enough to say handicrafts or drawing, too intelligent to say TV and too honest to say reading.

But everyone has a hobby. This made me think: What is it that you do often, enjoy it and do not even realize that it might be considered a hobby? And there it was, it hit me like a ton of bricks - walking and taking pictures!

Even though I should have been excited about the fact that I finally found a hobby, I must admit that I was a bit dissapointed as well. C´mon...walking and taking pictures? Am I that boring? In fact I am, but then again...what for some might seem boring, for me seems fun.

I always have my camera with me...it does not matter where I go. I always find something that catches my interest and I must take a picture. For what reason? I do not know, but it makes me happy and I guess that is all that matters. In combination with walking you can find the best motives. I am actually one of those people who enter buildings, backyards, tunnels and so on, if I only assume that there might be something of my interest.

Looking at most of my pictures I realized that there is even a pattern. Who would have guessed?! I am not too much into taking pictures of people, but rather buildings, signs, nature and anything else that does not seem staged. But here are some examples and judge for yourself if it is of any good or if I should quickly find some new hobby...

Whats all that love about?

Even though we have the coldest and harshest winter since decades, I have the feeling this week some of us already caught some spring fever. There were sparks all over the place. A very flirtatious thunderstorm that blew through the streets of my beloved home town.
Maybe it was an attempt to heaten up the cold outside or just a part of the traditional "I dont want to be alone during the cold winter time and like to find me someone to cuddle with" period, which I always seem to forget or ignore.

I am not really known to be the "cuddle type". Intimacy is one think, but cuddling another. I need my freedom - also physically. The so-called "Ivo space". The mac fans may call it iSPACE.
However this week it seemed that I was the only member of iSPACE. Everyone else was flirting, cuddling, kissing and who knows what else...

For example last Friday. I was at a bar with friends and had the pleasure to experience first hand the different aspects of relationships. Two couples and plenty of singles were part of our little group. One couple is enjoying the bless of commitment since only a couple months, the other since years. As the first one was holding hands, touching and kissing each other pretty much every second, the second one had a least three tables seperating them from each other.

The lovebirds were sitting right across from me and as much as I like them, I could not stand watching the scenario any longer and started to talk to the girl to my left. She was the female part of the other couple that night. What striked me most was the fact how open she spoke about her relationship and troubled sex life. After being in a relationship for such a long time, she had the feeling that it got boring and repetitive. I did not know what to say, since I have never been in that sort of situation. My longest relationship was about 8 months long.

Somehow I felt the urge to warn the two lovebirds and tell them instead of "wasting" all their sexual energy tonight, rather spread it over the upcoming years...you never know when the last spark dissapears. But another drink later I had more fun watching the singles flirting with each other. The entire room was more like a battlefield. Singles and couples fighting for attention, territory, love and hope.

As H.L. Mencken already once said "Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence" I started to wonder: Is it all worth fighting for? What is better: being in a relationship and constantly have to work on it and fight for its survival or going out all the time and boxing its way through the dating and small talk bullshit before you can have your go and get laid or maybe find true love? Is being single and therefore by yourself the only alternative to all this fighting? Not really, since by being single you are fighting with yourself and your feelings.Is there a solution to this issue? I do not know, and I guess there can not be the same solution for each and everyone but rather a complex amount of smaller solutions and comibations were you can pick and chose from. More like finding the perfect excuse for the right solution. It is not that we do not know what would be best for us and therefore the correct solution, but that we do not want to accept the problem.

My problem that night was that I was too drunk to have the nerve to listen to any further relationship problems by others and far to drunk to pick up some girl and show her my opinion of a happily-ever-after...which lasts till breakfast.

Joan Baez found the right words in order to describe the situation perfectly: "The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one".

So off I went to grab a cab and get lost in the city of singles just to get back home and wake up alone. It felt great.

www.lostincyberspace.com

Our planet has about a gazillion inhabitants. It is almost impossible to not meet, see, hear or smell another person. Even if you are staying at home all day, you can hear them walking in their flat above you, in the hallway, on the sidewalk, you can hear them talk, laugh, scream. Furthermore, just turn on your TV or radio. There are plenty of people often pretending to be some other people. Just like, see one - see another one for free!

But since a couple of years there has been a new way of social interaction which you can not escape...the cyber space! Better known as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, asmallword etc. You have now the chance to interact with as many people at once as you want. Only one....maybe two, or if you prefer around 4.6 million.

Years ago, your small little opinion would have not bothered anyone...noone would have even known about you. Thesedays you can express whatever you feel and desire and everyone around the globe can like, dislike, agree, not agree, report abuse or comment...

Is this the pure version of democracy? Finally we all have our say and are not just a little voice but rather a big roar. Who wants to be a kitten if you can be the lion?!

I would rather call it democraZy...

Within seconds demonstrations are organised, flashmobs created, groups gathered and think-alikes found. There are all kinds of online revolutions going on - and thats one of the problems...they stay online!

With this new technology and possibility we have all won so much freedom that we do not even realize how much we are actually locked away! Everything became so convenient and easy that noone really does anything. Of course there are others who truly unterstood how to use the "new cyber society" as a tool to make a change and fight against the big ones, ie governments, cooperations etc, or for a change in environement, human rights etc, but most of us are simply as shallow and ignorant as before, if not even worse.

We loose the true connection to problems and every solution seems just a click away.

Click. No more world hunger. Click. Cure against aids. Click. Brangelina stay together.

The gift, that we have actually the chance to finally connect and do something together for the good, is the biggest burden we have. We became so overfed with potential ideas and functions that all we have achieved over the last years is that we became extremely lazy and spoiled. I dislike.

"Donate for Haiti!" - I like...."Stop Genocide" - I like..."Facebook against world hunger" - I like...

Do people not realise that simply hitting the "I like" button will actually not do anything? The only thing that they achieve by doing so is to feel better about themselves....especially because everybody else saw that you are against genocide or think that it is a good idea to donate for Haiti. However probably not even 2% of them who hit the "I like" button actually do anything!

Hey - but is sooooo convenient...and looks very good...

Is this maybe our new way to confess our sins?

"I drank all night, than drove home by car, ran over a cat and feel awful...I better go online and hit the "I like" button for some good cause, so I feel better and my sin will be paid off!"

Sounds tempting, I must admit. Is it that easy? All I need to find out is a cat...

I confess that I am an internet whore. I was addicted from the first second I got a connection in the early 90s. I am on facebook almost every day and am addicted to checking my mails as I once was to cigarettes. It took me a while to just realize how addictive online social networking can be. I am not a saint or better than most of the other internet users, but since a while I am starting to take a step back and look at it from a different approach. It is like stepping back into "real life" and watching other people communicate only via posts, threads, mails...etc. I must say it is frightening to see how much information some of us share with the entire globe. The internet never forgets - and someone is always watching.

There is one term that really hits my nerve everytime I see it on Facebook. "Friends". Right now I can say that I have the proud number of 377 friends on Facebook. Funny enough I have many more on asmallworld and much less on pages like decayenne etc...even though the same people are members of all these pages as well. Does that mean that we are only friends on one networking site and not on the other? Sounds rather stupid - but it is a good question since it makes one really think - who are all these people and are they my "friends"? Think about it, how many of these "friends" can you really call when you need someone to talk to? When you have a real problem and need help? Do you even have their phone number? You can add friends to your list just as easy as cucumbers to your basket while grocery shopping...

Many of you will now say "ah, c´mon Ivo, you know that they are not friends, are you that ignorant or naive?". Of course I am not. But think about it...why are you connected? Have you actually ever talked with each other? Have you ever met? Do you know anything about this person except the name, date of birth and high score on farmville? What is the reason that you are "friends"?

Is this really the new definition of friends?

I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people. Six degrees of separation between us and everyone else on this planet...to me, this sounds scary.

Do I really want only that few people between me and Osama bin Laden or George W. Bush or even Kathy Griffin?

These are just some thoughts of mine...feel free to express your opinion and thoughts about this topic. I will log off now and go back to "real life" just so that I can fall asleep and enter my dream.

As Andrew Brown once said: "Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life."

Eurotrip 2.0.!

I love to travel and conquer the world. There is nothing more exciting to me than seeing new places, getting to know people and learn about different cultures and languages.
No wonder that I said "of course" when a friend asked me to join him for a roadtrip through France. Oh dear...little did I know what I got myself into....

Three weeks ago it all started.
The car was filled with our luggage, a tent, 2 Michael Jackson CD´s, and plenty of food...
It took us 8 hours to drive from Berlin to Paris. It was a geographical pop quiz for me...we passed so many places I heard of but had no idea where they were...east Germany or west Germany? Who cares anyway...all that matters is Berlin....

...back to topic...

We finally arrived in Paris! We were guests in a Parisian flatshare. I instantly realized that we have alot in common...the love for good food, good wine and good time! I felt a bit like a supporting actor in a "L´auberge espagnol" sequel, but cooler - of course. Merci - and you are welcome in Berlin anytime!

The days were filled with sightseeing and alot of walking....the evenings with caves pop (caves populaire) - my favourite place in Paris. Thanks to two German friends of mine, Mlle T. and Princess S.,I was shown a nice place for lunch and a great place for dinner as well...especially if you like your steak to be close to sushi rare....hm, yummy.

Next stop: Versailles.
By the way, its my new summer house in case you are wondering. I think of changing the furniture and add a spa and gym area. Maybe change the park a bit...a pool would be nice. How about a gamble room? Or a Disco with a Pole?
Anyhow, I need people who will take care of my new house...in exchange I will not pay you and treat you badly. Please apply via mail.

Fontainebleau, Saint Santur, Nevers, Magny Cours, Moulins, Saint German Lespinasse...all places we have been to within a week. I must say France is a very beautiful and welcoming country. The people are all very nice and the food taste amazing...I was swimming in the Loire and strolled around little villages and...but enough of this poetic blah blah...the highlite was Magny Cours. Perfect timing...just as we arrived there were test drives going on. We were standing next to the cars and drivers and could watch, listen and learn. Unforunately I was not aloud to drive...maybe better, for them and my insurance...

Long story short...my trip through France ended just upon arrival in Lyon...
The so called friend, all of sudden realized that he needs to do some soul searching..."who am I? what should I do? What do I want?" Yadi-yadi-yada....
Me being around would harm and interrupt his "journey to his true self"...basically he kicked me out, but of course " it has nothing to do with you...it is me that needs space for myself"....
I felt like being part of something between a bad brazilian telenovela and american sitcom...with a pinch of Brüno.

Needless to say I was pretty pissed and we are not friends anymore.

Now, Ivo alone in Lyon, was running from ticket counter to ticket counter at the Lyon airport
trying to get a ticket to somewhere...and ended up later that day in Madrid. For the first time I wanted to be economical and save some Euros...and took the Metro. It was the most expensive Metro ride I ever had...some bandidos stole my iPhone. Stupid me!
So I was in Madrid, for the first time in my life, supposed to meet my fellow flatmate from Rome - Lady A., who is living here now and offered me to stay over. She introduced me to some great friends of hers and of course her Dalmatian "Dotsy" (I hope I remembered correctly...). Gracias!

A day later, and three hours train ride, I arrived in Malaga. A friend of mine was already expecting me and off we were towards Marbella. ....finally holiday started...
Within the next 12 days all we did was lay in the sun...play backgammon, drink Rosé, Mojitos, Daiquiris...eat...and played "bartender" each friday. Thanks again Sparky Marky for being a great host and an even better friend!

One day we spent in Gibraltar...which was really strange...little Britain with sunshine and monkeys?

Anyhow...I am back in Berlin now and must say:
I have a learned alot about friendship and Rosé, seen so many new places and met amazing people who I hope to stay in contact with for more than just a summer memory.

I am already curious to see where I will be going next and who knows...maybe it is you I will call when stranded somewhere...mwaahhhh....

tbc.

Coming soon: more overrated crap in a town near you!

Everything nowadays is always hyped up to some high degree and people get psyched. And finally the day has arrived and we can purchase "it", see "it", taste "it" or touch "it", it is often a complete waste of time and money...

A classic are movie sequels....Terminator, Batman, Matrix, American Pie, I know what you did last summer...just to mention a few that could not stop but had to reproduce like rabbits on a cocktail of viagra and speed. Well, it is not that the first one was so great that we "needed" more, often the first one sucked ass already and nobody could understand where the sense was behind producing a second, or even third, fourth or fifth part!?


Next to movies there are plenty of bands which are clearly overrated!!!
Who needs all these boybands, girlbands, popstars, pop-idols, superstars, casting whores anyhow?
98% of them can not sing anyway - all they do is sing the same sounding songs over and over again, the guys dance like they have some mycosis, the girls dance like they are some cheap hookers, their managers tell them what to say and do, and in most cases, the guys are all gay and the girls get knocked up before turning 20.
And what about all these "The" bands...all they do is sing in high tunes, wear skinny jeans and obviously dont shower for weeks...

....which brings me to toiletries. Dont get me wrong, I am a big fan of showers and showering, especially since I got my new "Tropical Shower" installed in my bathroom...(Yeah baby, yeah!),but there are people that need ages in the bathroom. I am not sure what exactly they are doing...but what I have seen is that they have tons and tons of body care products. What does "Combination Skin" means and who cares? How can you have dry and oily skin at the same time? Why do you need 4 types of cremes and 15 perfumes? What are you, some sort of Zombie trying to cover up your true identity?



Next one up in my list of overrated things is: Status updates!
Ok ok, I do it myself, however I will go in rehab and hopefully will be cured of the instant urge telling everyone what I am actually doing right now. Why? Because who the fuck cares!! If I want to know where you are right now or what you are doing right now, what you had for dinner or how it felt digesting it, I will ask you directly! I do not need to know that you are sitting on your sofa, or just had to laugh out loud ("LOL" is another thing i hate!)...and I am pretty sure that nobody else cares about it either.

Oh man,....there are so many more things that are overrated...lets just sum them up:
StudiVZ, ChaiTea, American Apparel, Financial Crisis, Fashionshows, Apple, Ikea, Celebrities, Philosophy, Wii, Reality TV, MTV, Curling, Susan Boyle ...etc.

Feel free to let us know what you think is overrated...

The goal of being individual.

We all like to believe that we are unique.
That there is noone else in the world like us.
We have our own character, style and mind...that is what we think. We are all something special, a gift,...that is what we believe.

But still, when walking down the streets of the "it" places in town, or going out to the "hot spots" at night...dont the people somehow all look the same? Everybody is trying so hard to look individual, that in fact they all look alike.

Others are trying so hard to express their "lonely rider" character, that they actually do look not just individual - but also completely ridiculous.


My mom tells me I am something special...


Now, if you are asking yourself, who am I to judge the others...I am still Ivo, this is my blog and thats all that matters.

Back to the story...

I am a T-shirt fan. I like to wear them. They are comfortable and easy to handle. T-Shirts are also the most used piece of cloth in order to express the personality. Some have slogans on them, others a brand name, some are plein and others have all kinds of colours on them.

It is a classical way to tell all the others what kind of person you are, without saying a word or doing a thing. A T-Shirt can say it all.

So next time you are in town, take a look around you. You will see alot of "unique-looking-individuals-that-all-look-alike", you will see even more hip people wearing the same clothes from the famous swedish brand with two letters, and occasionally you will see something completely different, that is so unique that it is going to be marked as uncool and freaky, until it has so many followers that it becomes cool and "individual".

Enough for now, I am gonna put my "I -heart- Berlin" T-shirt on and am done for today.
Remember, individuality does not come from the clothes you wear, but the character you have.



As the famous philosopher..ahem, starlet Hilary Duff already said:

"Mom always tell me to celebrate everyone´s uniqueness. I like the way that sounds."

Next stop - fantasy station...

Every morning I leave the house...walk a couple meters, cross the river, and there it is...the Station. I must say I am lucky to have at least a nice station..even though there a pigeons everywhere, and one has to be careful not to be the victim of some flying rat with digestive trouble...

As I am not into commitment in any way...I do not have a monthly travel card, but buy myself each day a new ticket. I know what you are thinking...an NO, leave me alone...I dont care!

Now - what the funny thing about travelling every day with the same train at the same time is, is not the ride itself...but the people you travel with.

There are certain people that you see each day. You enter the train and know already that there ll be there. Some you have seen that often that you already know their wardrobe...

Sometimes, when you catch their eye, or vice versa, you feel like smiling or saying "hello, how are you today" or simply nod. There is a certain familiarity that is difficult to explain. Often I wonder where they are traveling to or what they actually do.

But the fantasy behind it, the unknown, is often far more interesting and sexy than the truth. So best is to leave it this way and when entering the train simply look at someone and imagine what story hides behind that face...

Tolerance day 2009.

Political correctnes is completely overrated and so 90s. C´mon people, dont fool yourself, I know that you often think different than what you actually say....

"Oh, this poor homeless person, certainly it is the economy and those greedy bankers that took his home....wife...rolex...dignity....I wish I could help him, but unfortunately just right now I do not have one cent on me..."

let me translate:

"What the fuck smells like shit here...?! Damn, can someone get this fucking importunate beggar out of my postal code!? I bet all he does during the day is drink, piss, vomit and then sleep in it...maybe he even bat his wife! What the hell...stop starring at my rolex! I have 100€ in my wallet and another 10k on my account and still wont give you a cent!"

Would not life be much easier if we would be all simply honest to oneself and each other? Maybe even actually say what we really think? I dont know if it will make our life less complicated, but for sure more interesting!

Another example:

"Oh sweetie, what a lovely new african-american boyfriend you have! He looks so clever and behaves so nice. He has lovely table manners and treats you well. I am happy for you and welcome him in our family."

translation:

"You stupid piece of shit bringing us some nigga´boy in the house. He looks like he is about to rob our house! He is most likely already checking out whats of value! At least during dinner he did shut up so I did not have to listen to his ghetto slang....I bet he is gonna beat you...or even force you to prostitute yourself!! Either you leave him or your are not our daughter any longer!"

Now, having studied politics myself, I know that these two examples might sound a bit harsh, but c´mon, you probably know already at least one person who fits this criteria.

All Polish people steal...all Indian smell, all American are fat and dumb, all English are fat and dumb and have a stick up their arse, ...Brasilians are all sexy models, Arabs are all terrorists, Jews are all rich and have big noses and Japanese hard working perverts.

So, how about we have a global "tolerance day". One day, of course we dont have to go to work that day..., where we tell everyone what we actually think of her/him. Since it is "tolerance day" the other person has to tolerate your opinion and can tell you afterwards what she/he thinks of you as well.

Would not that be nice?

...oh well, and so what the day after you have around 200 people less in your facebook account, a broken nose and low self-esteem... - you had a day off of work!

To finish it up...here a nice quote by Heinrich Heine:

"Be entirely tolerant or not at all"

An ode to Silvio...

Buongiorno Italia gli spaghetti al dente un partigiano come presidente, con l'autoradio sempre nella mano destra un canarino sopra la finestra.

ah...la dolce vita in bella Italia. With its vino, pasta and amore it is fascinating us all. Who has not dreamed at some point in his/her life to move there and enjoy a nice cappuccino on the spanish steps while whistling at the belle donne passing by.

I have been there and done all that...and maybe even more.
But still I have the feeling that I was missing out...as if I have not lived to the fullest.

And damn was I right!!

If you are in Rome do as the Romans, they say...WRONG!
If you are in Rome...do as Silvio Berlusconi!

He is a hero! Not only is he the Italian Prime Minister, for the second time, but furthermore he is the founder of Fininvest, main shareholder of Mediaset and owner of the AC Milan!

What more can a boy wish for...power,porn and football!
And if that was not enough, now he has an 18 year old Neapolitan cupcake.

Dear God, Buddha, Allah, Varuna or even Captain Crunch...when I die, I want to reincarnate as Silvio. Or even better make me Silvio now...just younger, smarter and more handsome..so I can enjoy longer!

To sum it up...here my favourite Silvio quote:

Only Napoleon did more than I have done. But I am definitely taller.

Viva Italia!

Silver is the new Gold!

Ah yes....we men are just like wine...the older the better. At least thats what I keep on telling myself. Who cares about the little wrinkles around your eyes...or forehead...or wherever. A little stomach is considered as a sign of healthy and good living instead of too much beer and burgers.

This, however, was working for 2.000 years...and then came the 90s. All of sudden we had "male sex symbols" to fight against. Big posters looking down on us from Time Square telling us "we are fat and lazy". All of sudden men were buying anti-aging cremes, running to plastic surgeons and started extreme sports with the age of 50 in order to impress the young ladies. It was not enough anymore to have a swiss bank account or at least humour, now we also needed a six-pack (no - not the beer) and love kids (not the Michael Jackson kind of love).

BUT - just as the 90s passed and everybody was trying to look like a never-aging twenty something, our beloved friends from the "Planet Marketing" came up with a new idea!

...the Silver Surfer....or even better: Best Ager!


I wonder how many friends he has on Facebook?

So after almost twenty years of telling us that we need to stay young in order to belong to the "best", the game twisted. Now if you turn 50 you belong to the new "in-crowd" of Best Agers...
Grandmas´ are the new it-girls, grandpas´the new/old sugga daddys. Being "experienced" and wise is sexy, grey hair is the new preoxide blonde and you get a reserved seat in any public transport.

Around 40% of Germans are 50 or older...and the number is rising. Despite of being confused if I now look more forward to get older or not...at least I know that the older I get the more "attractive" I am for the economy.

But who cares? Give this thing a couple more years and then we ll have something new coming along...like "Chimponomy", where smart chimps rule the market (or Bush already did) or how about "The Hilton - less is more?".

So whats all the fuzz about...as Groucho Marx already said:

Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.

So as I said at the beginning...men are like wine the older they get...ah who cares, lets open a bottle and get drunk!