Velica

Sciency nerdy friends, I've created a page with some science-related cartoons on facebook.

Visit at www.facebook.com/pedromics

This November I will be entering "Movember" where one grows a moustache for charity. I chose this because I can not run marathons or sing or do anything worth sponsoring - but I can get my upper lip area to be very hairy.

If you would like to sponsor my social-suicide please visit my Movember page: mobro.co/pedrovelica

More about Movember here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movember and here: uk.movember.com/about/

Thank you!

I sit down with my drawing pad, my pencils, my pens, my stiffened brush. I turn on the lamp and take a glimpse at the porcelain cat I bought as a joke. I put my forearms on top of the clever Ikea table that folds and unfolds according to my modern personal needs. I adjust my bottom on the uncomfortable chair, cross my legs, then put them straight again. I shuffle through my music as if browsing for inspiration but the collection is too diverse.

I'm forcing myself to be creative. To do something clever, something artistic.

But my head is a sprinkler instead of a quiet stream. Thoughts bounce erratically: the new gas and electricity bill, the presentation on wednesday, should I change job, am I in good health, am I giving attention to all my loved ones or are relationships deteriorating, will the war in Libya resolve, is Portugal going to come out of this swamp, should I be protesting against the cuts in the NHS.

The pencil touches the void but nothing flows.
I go to bed and have a troubled light sleep.

I have broken the glass and pressed the big red emergency stop button. "Stop this life, I want to get out!"

So I jumped off the train and took control of my life again.

I am happier then ever.

(dot dot dot)

When the plane takes off you fall asleep. Under your feet, miles and miles of cities, villages, farms, forests, rivers and oceans go past as if it was a dream. When you touch the ground again it seems like the friends who had been drinking with you in the pub the night before are just behind the corner. Then you set your watch to the new time zone. And your brain. You change your language, change your currency and change your clothes. The first week goes by. The first month goes by.

The hugs, the kisses, the laughters fade away. Never mind the chat rooms, the webcams and the high speed internet connections.

me: hey
they: yo, whats up?
me: not much
they: cool, gotta go! bye!!
me: bye

...