... as in the Dutch live version of Bushwalla's "Tiger Spots" (to be uploaded by Emile).
It all started with this:
Billy and I have just set a new date for my LRC in Amsterdam: 31 october He'll be in Europe till half novemberThat was posted by Emile in RKOP back in July.
Time warp. 30 October.
A girl packs up her things having "ants in her pants", like my old Biology teacher used to say.
The next day.
6 o'clock. Alarm bell. Gosh, so early. Who cares...
I left the house around 8 and prayed that neither the bus nor the train would be delayed, 'cause I still had to get the tickets and money at the Frankfurt main station. They weren't and I was happy. I stepped into the train, had a moment of embarassment like every other day when I asked the waiter in the train about my ticket (why the heck do they all wear the same uniforms? So contraproductive.) Found and empty seat, sat down and started my laptop in order to catch up with "Heroes" again, I had forgotten so much. Another moment of embarassment when Nikki/Jessica was taking her clothes off in the show - I bet the guy next to me thought "What the heck???". Ah, doesn't matter. Another funny anecdote: The Dutch train official guy made me pay the child's fee from the boarder to Utrecht, which cracked me up. How humbling. I texted Emile and that was when he shot me back that I had to keep my eyes open for Billy and Bruski riding bikes in the city.
Train ride was great. I actually wanted to sleep, because I stayed up so late the night before, but I just couldn't. The Pilot episode was very long and I didn't want to miss the Utrecht station.
I arrived at about 1 o'clock. Took my stuff and made my way through the insanely strange station, it's hard to explain why it is so strange, you'd have to go see yourself. Here's a small impression:
Weird lighting, too, but I love it nonetheless.On with the story. I strolled through town and saw all those little shops, brick walls and cobblestone streets. Very pretty. Then I came to the canal. I didn't find out if there is only one or a few ones, because there was also one passing Emile's house more or less. The small streets on both sides were very crowded, especially people riding bikes dominated my vision. So "Be on the lookout for Billy and Bruski" turned out to be harder than I would've thought. I visited the church and spent quite some time listening to the choir in there. It was a very mixed one, from little girls to older ladies and men accompanied by a great string and horn arrangement.
I had some Dutch fries with mayo after that and then sat down to rest my feet and my shoulders, because they were starting to hurt from the long walk with my heavy bag. I loved watching people pass by and seeing a bit of the life in this beautiful town.
After some text messages back and forth and another journey through the station, Emile and Lisa picked me up with the car and we drove to Emile's parents' house. I stepped in and immediately felt at home. What a nice welcome by the whole family. We all set down and had a few Proseccos, which ironically helped my headache, and talked about anything and everything. Emile told me that Billy'd still be asleep due to the jetlag and stuff. He showed up about half an hour later totally sleepy and with bed hair, so funny. First thing, he gave out hugs to everyone and turning to me a "I like your shirt." It didn't feel weird at all. I wasn't exited or anything. It was so casual. A few people sitting in a living room together and chatting, as easy as that.
I told Billy about Julz and a few incredible coincidences, how my mum loves "Self Deprecating Hip-Hop", we discussed the meaning of it a bit, he said that he'll sport Elfish ears that night and that Lord of the Rings puts him to sleep, that Jon Marro is writing a movie script about a horn fish (or what was it called, Emile?), he told us about his first record he recorded with Jason before "Waiting For My Record To Come", about the house in San Diego and the hot tub, the cats and the Avocado trees...
We had an amazing dinner after that, Emile's dad had been hunting and his mom made pastry. We also had pumpkin soup from the pumpkins Lisa and Emile prepared for downstairs.
See the pumpkins? =)There had already been a few people gathered, more or less all of them from the Dutch Mraz message board. It was very nice meeting people, they were all incredibly friendly. Even though they spoke their language most of the time, it didn't get boring... Klaartje was always there to translate for me when a joke was told.
Billy came downstairs at around 8.30 after meditating and doing yoga for half an hour, what he told us during breakfast the next day. He started off with a nice poem and a few jokes which Emile translated into Dutch beforehand. I didn't get anything but everyone was dying laughing, so I couldn't help it. Apparently he said of himself that he was cheaper than a Polish hooker (did I get that right?) and stuff... hilarious.
He played two sets of more than 60 minutes. Great. I didn't smile and laugh that much in a long time, that guy is so addicting. At the end of the first set he payed "Self-Deprecating Hi-Hop" which he dedicated to my mum, so funny, I cracked up. You can check out the video here:
Billy came downstairs at around 8.30 after meditating and doing yoga for half an hour, what he told us during breakfast the next day. He started off with a nice poem and a few jokes which Emile translated into Dutch beforehand. I didn't get anything but everyone was dying laughing, so I couldn't help it. Apparently he said of himself that he was cheaper than a Polish hooker (did I get that right?) and stuff... hilarious.
He played two sets of more than 60 minutes. Great. I didn't smile and laugh that much in a long time, that guy is so addicting. At the end of the first set he payed "Self-Deprecating Hi-Hop" which he dedicated to my mum, so funny, I cracked up. You can check out the video here:
He also played "Jesus Bo Beezus", a total audience pleaser I guess.
After a short break he continued the fun. It was all about participation now. I got to play the flute for him - or with him, Tim took over his guitar and Billy freestyled, Klaartje sang "Mayhem Is Beautiful" with him, Spiders Doing Pushups and stuff, Emile and Billy juggling together... it was SO much fun. Of course he also did his balloon tricks and the guitar balancing on his chin. Here are some pics:
He closed the show with "Fall Through Glass" and a last joke.
Most of the people left pretty fast, I enjoyed talking to Emile after that and Billy telling us about and playing some new songs, which he said doesn't really like yet. I thought they were amazing. He gave me his guitar a little later, but I couldn't think of what to play, so I just played the "Beautiful Mess" intro, earning a "Hey, I know that song!" and a funny story about how somebody once wanted him to sing Mraz songs in a coffee shop or something.
When everyone was gone, we went up to the living room again, where Bruski entertained us with his stories. Darn, this guy has a lot to tell! He explained how Billy's former last name was Polish for "Without a nose - but in a cute way", haha, from now on Billy will always Mr. "Without a nose - but in a cute way". However, I felt my eyes closing little by little. We agreed to get up at around 9 to still have time for breakfast before Billy and I had to leave for the station.
The next morning Emile's mum amused Billy and me with these sugar drops that you put on bread. Never seen or tasted anything like that before, very funny. But it was good! We also had her amazing cheescake. Geez... What a wonderful woman. It was great being surrounded by incredibly friendly, polite and welcoming persons.
But then unfortunately the time had come to leave for the station, Billy took off for the airport from there and I back home. In the car he told us how he loved the European weather during fall, because they didn't have weather like that in California. Also the town and all the little details. I felt the same.
We took this photo and accompanied Billy to his platform, hugged and said goodbye to each other... My train left at 1, so I still had time to get confused in this station. Awesome.
The ride back home was nice, but I was pretty exhausted and fired up at the same time. Strange feeling.
It was a perfect weekend with stunning people. Thank you. I will be back in two weeks. And when I say I will be back, I WILL be back. =)
With much love&gratitude,
Antonia
"It's about time to give my love away. It's the right time for you to come and stay. You are alone, I feel your pain, so come back."
After a short break he continued the fun. It was all about participation now. I got to play the flute for him - or with him, Tim took over his guitar and Billy freestyled, Klaartje sang "Mayhem Is Beautiful" with him, Spiders Doing Pushups and stuff, Emile and Billy juggling together... it was SO much fun. Of course he also did his balloon tricks and the guitar balancing on his chin. Here are some pics:
He closed the show with "Fall Through Glass" and a last joke.
Most of the people left pretty fast, I enjoyed talking to Emile after that and Billy telling us about and playing some new songs, which he said doesn't really like yet. I thought they were amazing. He gave me his guitar a little later, but I couldn't think of what to play, so I just played the "Beautiful Mess" intro, earning a "Hey, I know that song!" and a funny story about how somebody once wanted him to sing Mraz songs in a coffee shop or something.
When everyone was gone, we went up to the living room again, where Bruski entertained us with his stories. Darn, this guy has a lot to tell! He explained how Billy's former last name was Polish for "Without a nose - but in a cute way", haha, from now on Billy will always Mr. "Without a nose - but in a cute way". However, I felt my eyes closing little by little. We agreed to get up at around 9 to still have time for breakfast before Billy and I had to leave for the station.
The next morning Emile's mum amused Billy and me with these sugar drops that you put on bread. Never seen or tasted anything like that before, very funny. But it was good! We also had her amazing cheescake. Geez... What a wonderful woman. It was great being surrounded by incredibly friendly, polite and welcoming persons.
But then unfortunately the time had come to leave for the station, Billy took off for the airport from there and I back home. In the car he told us how he loved the European weather during fall, because they didn't have weather like that in California. Also the town and all the little details. I felt the same.
We took this photo and accompanied Billy to his platform, hugged and said goodbye to each other... My train left at 1, so I still had time to get confused in this station. Awesome.
The ride back home was nice, but I was pretty exhausted and fired up at the same time. Strange feeling.
It was a perfect weekend with stunning people. Thank you. I will be back in two weeks. And when I say I will be back, I WILL be back. =)
With much love&gratitude,
Antonia
"It's about time to give my love away. It's the right time for you to come and stay. You are alone, I feel your pain, so come back."
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