Peter Voegtli - Plinky Answers

The Best Musical Performance I've Attended

2011-05-07T10:18:19-06:00

August 1994. Pink Floyd concert in Basel. 50'000 people around me. When they played "Teacher, leave us kids alone", the whole crowd sang with them and I had 3 inch goose pimples.

I'd pick the Army justice department

2009-09-28T13:16:56-06:00

Because when I was drafted (a long time ago) they put me in infantry. And we walked and walked and walked. For miles, many miles. I am still tired today. The people in the Army justice department never walk, They sit behind desks, And if they have to go somewhere, they do it with a car.

The breakup (there was not even a start)

2009-03-21T00:53:51-06:00

I was perhaps 15 years old. I was in love with Anne-Marie. We went to the same school, we were in the same class. Anne-Marie sat three rows ahead of me and had long auburn hair.

Some or our lessons took place in another school. I carried her bag. In summer I bought ice-cream for her. When it was raining, I carried her umbrella. And Anne-Marie always smiled at me.

Every year we had a one day school trip to some place. Either we went to the alps. Or to a museum. Or to the public swimming pool. And Anne-Marie always sat with me. She made sandwiches for me.

She was lovely and I loved her. And I wanted to tell her. But I was shy. And I did not tell her. But I thought that she might be in love with me too. After all, we were always sticking together and she was so sweet with me.

And then came the day. We had a school party, in the afternoon, in a nice little dancing which had been made available for us. We only drank soft drinks and did not smoke. Nothing, no cigarettes, no wee.

The party was going on, we danced, we had fun.And then, after having danced some "smoochy, smoochy" with Anne-Marie, we sat down and she looked at me. With the sweetest smile you can imgagine. She came closer to me and said: "Peter, I would like to tell you something".

I started to climb towards heaven. And Anne-Marie said: "Peter, you have always been so nice with me, I feel good when I am with you. I am shy about it, but you know, I have to tell you. I am madly in love with Kurt. As he is your best friend, could you not hint it to him. I am so afraid that he will reject me".

Well, heaven turned into hell. And this was the first time in my life I had a broken heart.

It was not the last time.

In defense of my vice:

2009-03-12T03:56:30-06:00

My biggest vice is my smoking. I started when I was 15. Today, I am 65. Yeah! Celebration: 50 years of smoking.

I know, I should not. But I can't quit. I am weak. I tried many times. As of now, my doctor did not tell me to quit. But the day he says I should quit, I will change the doctor.

I enjoy smoking. When I have stress (which is seldom) I cool down with a cigarette. Or when I have to think, it goes better with a smoke. And after a meail, how nice to have a pull.

But I am a decent smoker. In a restaurant (the very few ones that are left where you can smoke), I would never light a cigarette when I see that the people at the next table are eating. And at home I do not want to incomodate my family with my smoking. That is why I smoke on the balcony. Even in the harshest winter. That is why I bought a coat with which I could go to the North Pole.

Well, that is my little defense of my vice. Now, I will not go and smoke one. Because I smoked when I wrote this. In my office. Which is not the same place where my family is.

When I started using the Internet

2009-03-12T01:18:25-06:00

I don't remember exactly, but it was right at the beginning when it was commercially available in Switzerland, I think in 1993.

With a 9.6 modem, then a 19.2 moden, after a 33 modem, followed by a 56 modem and then the jump to ADSL at various speeds.

I remember when it took long, long hours to download 5 megabytes. Now it takes minutes to download 500 meagbytes.

I also remember when, shortly after making my contract, my provider wrote an email to say "now we are 5'000". Three month later we were 7'000 and another three month later we were 25'000. And today, the provider has 3.5 million customers. Out of a total population of 7.7 million.

And so, I am a happy "interneter". Well, some times not so much. When I am living in a place where the technical facilities are not so brilliant.

But I will be happy anyway. The most important is to be on the web. Even, if sometimes, it is a bit.........

This would go in my care package to a homesick overseas friend

2009-03-12T01:06:53-06:00

A bottle of "Bordeaux" wine, if he is from France
He would appreciate to drink something else than water.

A "Grison nut cake", if he is from Switzerland
It will remind him of his Grison mountains but has the risk of making him more homesick.

A can of "Tomato Paste", if he is from Italy
To make him feel good to eat "Spaghetti Napolitana".

A real "Coca Cola, if he is from the US.
Because, if he is in some lost place, he will not need "Diet Coke"

A "Bratwurst", if he is from Germany
Then, even if he is only drinking water, he can imagine that he is at the "Oktoberfest".