Wolfsheim (Schiller feat Heppner) - Dream of You

I heard this track for the first time earlier this evening and felt an immediate connection to it :) and had to find out the name ...

Wolfsheim - Dream of You

Here's a bit of background on the artist if you don't already know ...

Wolfsheim was a synthpop band (a subgenre of New Wave in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument) from Hamburg, Germany.

The band was founded in 1987 by Markus Reinhardt and Pompejo Ricciardi. They were inspired by the name of a fictional character from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Wolfsheim's style takes cues from the 1980s New Romantics and New Wave; their lyrics tend to be melancholic, but at the same time modernist.

Now as I mentioned before - I'm not much one for lyrics - I prefer to listen to beats ... and this tune had it 'all' ... some wickedly sensual beats, deep lyrics and an intensity that I just don't know how to explain.

I got home a little while ago and went on the hunt for the lyrics - and thanks to the gods of google, a couple of key words - and voila ! On first reading - the words don't mean so much - and it feels sort of 'low', 'depressed', .. you get my drift ?

By the time I had found the lyrics - I'd also managed to download the actual song and find the youtube video ... and before you roll your eyeballs ... I've paid for enough CD's over the last decade !!

I played the track with the head phones on, closed my eyes, letting my fingers find a life of their own .. and here's the product ......
... my fingers type words that I do not know .. a shudder going through my blood cells with a tingle all the way down to my toes ... it's making me dizzy ... I'm spinning .. I can actually feel myself get lost to the beats and the bass ... my breath has become shallow .. paced .. my mind is a whirlwind of activity ... no .... energy would be the right word ... the rhythm behind those beats combined with the way the words have been used .. it engulfs me - taking my breath away !

Daaammnn ... pretty emotive for someone who was typing with their eyes closed ... hmmm ... you will just have to hear the track the way I have to possibly understand what I'm trying to explain here ...

It's a pretty upbeat start to the track which automatically gets your toes tapping :) If you enjoy listening to beats then this is definitely a track you need to hear ... Extremely uplifting ... it'll make you smile .. even if you aren't a 'house / trance' type of person ... The beats and the lyrics are quite contradictory actually when you think about it ...

We've all always been here all along and each of us has been at some point or the other - in search of that someone ... you have a vision - 'dream' as the lyrics go - of what this person is going to be like .. how compatible they are going to be to your life .. and perhaps whilst we are going about our daily lives and just living life as it is our very last day ... there come days when you wonder why there is that 'something lacking' feeling ? Despite the fullness you have around you - there is some small part of you - no matter how deeply hidden away - that is floating in loneliness ...

It's kinda obvious that we as humans need someone at some point or the other to share our lives with .. more so - we need that significant other - who is able to dig into your soul and see what no other can see about you ... Is that the vision you have ? Is that the vibes the beats are giving off ?

I'm now hearing this track for the fourth time as I ramble on .. and I'm thoroughly enjoying it .. I'm smiling, tapping my feet, grooving even :) It's one of those tracks that I can see myself completely letting go to at a club ... The rhythm just makes you want to sway your body in time with the beats ...

I've been here all the time
As far as I know doing right
I've always waited for the moment
That you would come through my door

But this brought loneliness so far
I lay my hand onto my heart
Is this a life I want to live?
Is this the dream I had of you? (2x)

Now I'm standing here alone
Waiting on my own
For something that will fill the emptiness inside
The moment that you're mine
But this is loneliness I know
I lay my hand onto my soul
Is this what life has got to give?
Is this the dream I had of you?

... the dream I had of you?

Teachers

Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.

-- Unknown

Could you teach a classroom full of children ? or pre-teens ? teenagers ? and what about the late teens early 20’s age group ? Do you think you could handle that ? What does a teacher go through ?

We look at schools today and may point fingers at the teachers who are helping ‘mould’ the new generations … but do we really ever think about what they go through or endure through trying times of modern day education ?

A teacher has to not only look after the course curricular but also has the added emotional burdens that come along with the job.

In a classroom environment – you have the shy kids, the spoiled kids, the trouble makers and the nerdy ones. The nerdy ones are probably getting a lot of grief from the trouble makers – and their only way out is to go and talk to the teacher. So one of the things a teacher has to do is actually open their mind and heart to hearing this child talk through their problems and try to help them get out of the rut.

There’s a significant amount of emotional involvement when it comes to teaching. I don’t know much about teaching – never done that professionally but I used to tutor 2 children for a period of 1 year and I ended up getting very close to them.

Talk to a teacher, any teacher, and they’ll have a story to tell. Whether it’s a quick anecdote about a single student or a sprawling epic about the challenges and rewards of life as a teacher, you can be sure of one thing: it won’t be dull.

Since I was always the student but never the teacher (in a school environment that is hehe) – here are some of the fond memories that I have with my teachers.

I’ve had some brilliant teachers who till date – 10 years after I have finished high school – I make a point to be in touch with. I want them to know that even after all these years I have not forgotten them - that they were partly responsible for making me enjoy my school days.

I still remember my 3^rd grade teacher from back in 1990. That lady was like an angel – she was tall, slim, fair skinned, soft spoken and had a certain charm about her that always had me going back to see her year after year even after I changed schools. One day, just as I was coming to my own high school graduation, I decided that I must visit her to let her know that I’m FINALLY finishing high school. I went over to my old school and walked up to her classroom and the look of JOY on her face when I told her that I was officially about to graduate and make my way into the big bad world of University and Colleges.

She introduced me to her current 3^rd grade class and told them all who I was, that I was an old student of hers who hadn’t forgotten her teacher. And I just had to stand there with a look of pride and a sort of smugness on my face (even though they were 3^rd graders!) thinking… I wonder which of them would do what I was doing. Perhaps they will do this – and others might be doing this too – but at the moment – I felt like I was the only one from that batch who had done that.

There’s another teacher of mine that I have only fond memories of – my Arabic teacher from Grade 7 till Grade 10. That lady was just hilarious and super trendy. Here’s an incident I can recall all too clearly …. We were sitting in our home-room which also happened to substitute as the Physics laboratory – and my Arabic teacher was substituting for our regular teacher. I noticed a gorgeous bracelet on her wrist – shining silver, with a snakes head on end and the other side a slight coil to represent the tail – and I asked her where she got it from. She was quite aware of my fancy of all silver jewellery and without hesitation took it off her wrist, handed it across to me and whilst I was looking at it more closely – she told me to try it on (which I more than happily did). Before I could even take it off – she smiled at me with a twinkle in her eye and told me that the bracelet looked very good on me – and that I should keep it.

I wore that bracelet every day from 1994 all the way till about 9 months ago on my left wrist without fail. It’s one of my favourite pieces of jewellery to wear. The only reason I stopped was because work has been getting very hectic and I don’t want to get scratches on any of my jewellery pieces.

This very same teacher – has invited her whole class to her home for a traditional dinner – we used to out once a semester on her personal time for mini-excursions around the city exploring the traditional ways of the Middle East. There was this one time, we went on a lovely Dhow Cruise with a typical Arabic buffet meal followed by some delicious ‘kahwah’ – Arabic coffee at her home.

Nowadays – 10 years after I have finished school – and 13 years after since when she first began teaching me – I drop her an email or make a personal visit to school when I am in the Middle East. Her kids are now about to graduate – I remember the times when they would come up to us in the corridors and treat us 8^th graders as their older siblings – as they saw us at their home so often !

Speaking of trendy – not very many could beat my French teacher –now that lady was all about being Euro-chic !

So a big round of applause to all those men and women who I spent the better half of my school years referring to as ‘Sir / Ma’am’ … thank you for your part in shaping me during my formation years !

Candy Floss for Brains ...

Can you think of anyone who would actually use that phrase on another person ? on public television ?

Come on .. give it a think ... who else could do this ... ? Think of all the TV hosts for game shows ... now think of trivia shows .... yes you're almost there .. you know that woman ... you can just picture her right now and her name is at the tip of your tongue ......

You got it ! Anne Robinson of The Weakest Link !!




Whilst flicking channels, caught the show and decided to stay tuned .. and during the debating round for who is the weakest link, she comes out with the above line ...Who has Candy Floss for Brains ?

Priceless ! I quite enjoyed that phrase and couldn't help but laugh out loud :) You see I have a very sarcastic sense of humour - and I really can relate to her verbal bashing ! Don't get me wrong - some of her comments are very offensive and really don't need to be said to a stranger on television.

However credit must be given - she's managed to say things on TV to a millions of people - which probably none of us will ever be able to 'really' do. I say this because most of us are too socially & politically correct to engage in a battle of sarcasm wittiness heaven fobid we might actually offend anybody !

Now no one really wants to go out and intentionally offend another human being - but with the way life goes - there comes a time when all of us have offended someone unintentionally ... having said this - we have also intentionally gone out of our way to ensure that the other person knows what's coming to them.

Think back to some incidents in your life .. perhaps the last 3 months .. what kind of people did you meet and interact with on a regular basis ? did you meet anyone that you would never want to meet again ? did you ever have a conversation with someone who just made you want to scream and tear your hair out in frustration because they just didn't have the mental capacity to comprehend what you were saying ???

And what did you do about it ? Could you say anything to them ? Or were you not able to express your true feelings because you'd just end up having to 'explain' to this person the 'meaning' of what you said !

Here are some quotes that I came across which I think would very aptly describe some of the encounters I've had with people ... I really can't believe that such dimwitted primitive type of individuals still exist out there ...

• Who has a room temperature IQ?
• Who at this early stage is already suffering from a lack of brain power?
• Whose all pastry and no filling ?
• Who is all talk but no answers ?
• Whose mouth is in gear, but brain is in neutral ?
• Whose mouth & brain are getting divorced ?
• Who has the knowledge of an empty hole ?

Are you able to relate to these phrases ? Do you say what's on your mind no-matter how harsh or do you save those zingers for when you just can't take it anymore and you feel like your intake of garbage and nonsense has reached a choking point ?

I'm quite an upfront in-your-face type person .. I have known to be 'rude' (as my cousin tends to point out) to a point where my poor cousin has had her jaw drop to the ground. She often tells me that I need to tone it down a notch or two .. but really I just can't .. I can't help react in a certain way especially when the person opposite me is the one causing such an outburst.

I don't think I am as sarcastic / mean / cut-throat as Anne Robinson here .. but I think she'll be proud of my one-line zingers - if you know what I mean ;)

Chivalry : Dead, Alive or Abused ?

How is chivalry best described ?

I did an online search and found these definitions :

1.	the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms.

2.	the rules and customs of medieval knighthood.

3.	the medieval system or institution of knighthood.

4.	a group of knights.

5.	gallant warriors or gentlemen: fair ladies and noble chivalry.

6.	Archaic. a chivalrous act; gallant deed.

There was also :
kindness and courteousness especially towards women or the weak

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There you have it ... definitions for the word chivalry.

I was chatting to a friend of mine last night and during our lengthy conversation, the subtle hints of how 'chivalry' is being abused came up. We didn't get into detail on this - but I thought about this some more and realised it's something that has come up in various conversations I have had over the past few years with people, and it's an issue that needs to be addressed.

As an independent working female, I have no qualms on fending for myself. I don't necessarily 'need' someone to go out of their way and be 'kind or courteous' to me just because I am a female.

Chivalry applies to both men and women. It is not just a man's role to be chivalrous towards women - but also for women to return the courtesy in kind to both men and women too.

My friend was telling me about how he had met up with some of his lady friends and had gone out to watch a live performance. To cut a long story short - he had paid for the tickets - and his female friends offered to pay him back for the purchase of the tickets - all save for one of them. He went on to tell me how this particular female was concerned of how she were to get home at night - and he had offered to drop her home and then take a cab back to his own place after dropping her.

I think that's so sweet and very considerate of him to do so - not everyone looks out for the well being of others - and he is one of those souls. Now as he went on to tell me of his experiences, I was fuming at the complete disregard and selfish attitude of this 'female'. She wanted to go and eat, and asked him to stop for food - and instead of paying for the food that SHE was craving - HE ended up paying for it.

Now he's not a cheapskate or anything like that - hardly frugal - however the very least she could have done was at least 'offer' to pay - especially when HE was NOT eating !! He did this for a female that was a) not his girlfriend b) not his good friend - he did it because he's quite the gentleman that way.

This is an example of chivalry being abused and it's not really fair. Perhaps this is why, men nowadays have stopped being chivalrous towards women - they might feel that they are just being taken for granted ??

There was this other scene that unfolded before me last week at a popular nightclub. I notice this girl sashay her way over to a guy and his friends, starts chatting with them, laughing with them, introduces her other friend to them - and they all get to dancing. During this whole time, she's quite flirty with one of the guys, and of course he ends up buying her AND her friend a few drinks (and this nightclub is not cheap!!). A bit later in the night, I notice, that whenever the guy tries to dance with just her, she would make some sort of excuse and move away from him. I bumped into this girl in the washroom with her friend - and they were laughing about how they got these guys to buy them drinks and how they weren't going to have spend any money that night !

That kind of attitude and behaviour is repulsive. If you don't want to be around a group of guys - then why flirt with them, get them to buy you drinks, and then give them a rejection. That's sending out mixed signals - which is not fair to the other party involved. (mind you I've also seen guys doing this to a group of high spending ladies). If you don't have the money to spend, be honest about it - and either don't go out or don't have expectations for someone else to pay for you.

Almost everyone within your own social circles would now be working and earning a decent amount of money - enough for them to maintain a particular lifestyle. It's considered 'normal' to 'split' the bill when out with friends at a restaurant or a bar - or just take turns in covering the bill when out with a common group of friends.

Personally, with my friends - we don't keep 'tabs' on who has paid for what - but we make it a point to at least offer to pay part of the bill that's shown on the table. It might be the case, that today, I pay for a meal, and tomorrow my friend will pay for drinks at a club.

Or it could be the case, whereby I once invited a guy to a bar for a drink to say thanks for going out of his way to give my cousin & me directions - and instead of letting me pay for the drink that I invited him inside for - he paid for it. I thought that was really nice of him to do so especially since I'd made it clear that I was inviting him for the drink.

It's simple things that I have noticed that are really get on my nerves. At work the other day, I came in from the rain, and was carrying my laptop, my handbag, notebook in hand as well as a yoga mat .. the man ahead of me saw me struggling with all of this as he was entering the doorway - and instead of holding the door open - just let it shut !! And I was thinking - what a bloody idiot !

It's not like I asked him to carry my things - I am more than capable of doing that - it's just the simple gesture of holding the door open - considering I was right behind him ! I have done that for tons of people - be it men or women. If I'm about to walk out a door - I always hold it open if I know someone is behind me - and it doesn't stop me from doing so just because there's a man behind me. The same way, when on the UK underground or on the bus, I get up when I see an elderly man / woman or pregnant lady needing a seat. I'm young, fit and healthy, I don't need to sit down - therefore I see no reason why I shouldn't offer my seat to someone who's older than me.

Imagine, in the same office space, there are other men like my colleagues, who will always allow me to go through the door first, or hold the door open until I catch up to them. My cubicle buddy - is quite a few years older than me, and yet he calls me 'ma'am' when greeting me .. and I tease him and tell him not to make me feel like an aunty !

I meet so many people each week - especially at nightclubs - and some of these guys and girls have become 'friends' in a way to me. The guys who barely know me, will offer to buy me a drink - not because they are trying to get me into bed - but because they are just being decent and asking me if I'd like a drink. I don't read too much into these things. In return, when I see them without a drink, and I'm about to order one for myself, I will always ask them if they would like a refill. It's just about being courteous.

Now I'm just ranting and I could go on and on about this .. what I'm trying to say is that ..

Chivalry still exists out there somewhere amongst a certain group of people.

Chivalry is being abused by both men and women in some way and form at different levels as well.

Unfortunately, most people now think of chivalry being dead because the bulk of the people one comes across - are so selfish and pigheaded that they only seem to care for themselves and not those around them.

Just remember .. be courteous ... and courtesy will follow you everywhere.