New Maid dress Release today. ‘Marchen maid’
Entry model price! only 100L$. 10color release!

*Edelweiss*@LE.LOOK!

Moeka Kohime
Edelweiss

SWISS/Edelweiss planned service to Calgary and Vancouver starting 31MAY10, is now bookable. Flight number is LX8006/WK006

Hace unos diías, un amigo me mandó esta historia en un power point. Como el tema que trata es muy especial decidí mandárselo a unos cuantos amigos para conocer su opinión al respecto. La respuesta de uno de ellos me ha animado a hacer este post.

Espero que os guste y que haga reflexionar a más de uno para que estas cosas no vuelvan a suceder.

Westerbork, Holanda. Judíos abordando un tren de deportación a Auschwitz-Birkenau

Nuestra historia se inicia en el año 1939 , poco antes del comienzo de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Vivíamos en Austria , un pais cubierto por flores , mis padres , mi hermano y yo. Eramos la imagen de la familia feliz y unida, y entre nosotros reinaba la certeza de que nada en la vida nos consiguiría separar.  Más no fué así …

Mi papá era un cirujano de renombre , mi mamá una profesora de ley y muy  dedicada , que daba lecciones por puro amor a sus alumnos…

Yo tenía entonces diez años y mi hermano quince. Nuestras noches y nuestros días eran muy alegres. Nuestros padres tenían el hábito , que despues de cenar , nos llevaran a la baranda de nuestra casa , para ver las estrellas , y cuando hacíamos eso , cada uno iba contando las cosas buenas que habían sucedido en el día….

 

Casa en el prado

No es que no pudiesemos contar los pesares , mas en aquella época de nuestras vidas,  era todo color de rosa . No recuerdo haber visto a ellos en algun día , estar tristes….

Despues que contábamos todo y que admirabamos bastante a las estrellas , cantábamos al compás del violín de mi hermano. La primera canción era EDELWEISS , hermosa , sonora , melancólica , traia paz a nuestros corazones.

Ah! como era bueno cantar EDELWEISS junto a mi família  debajo de las estrellas, yo tenía la sensación que podría hacer esto toda mi vida…

Pero el tiempo fué pasando y vino la guerra . Sólo se oía hablar de Hitler y no entendía bien que hombre sería aquel y que representaba .

Y entonces yo continuaba todas las noches mirando a las estrellas   junto a las personas que  más amaba…

Un día , en un terrible mes de diciembre que jamás olvidaré , tuvimos que partir. Recuerdo que mi papá nos dijo delicadamente :

“Vamos a tener que pasar algún tiempo sin ver las estrellas en el cielo “

Fuimos arrancados de nuestra casa por soldados , fuimos llevados a un lugar que pasaría a ser nuestra nueva casa , que se llamaba Campo de Concentración …

Allá perdimos la felicidad , y pude ver por primera vez el semblante triste de mi familia . No parecian aquellas personas adorables que compartían conmigo aquella baranda…

 

Todas las noches  le decía a mi madre que quería ver a las estrellas , cantar sobre ellas , y ella me respondía con lágrimas en los ojos , que durante un pequeño período la única estrella que podía ver , era la de seis puntas que traía colgada en el cuello, tan linda como las que brillaban en el cielo …

Entrada crematorio Auschwitz

Ocurre que mi madre se engañó , porque no fué un período tan corto el que estuvimos por allí . Con el tiempo nos fueron llevando muchas más cosas que las estrellas del cielo , nos fueron llevando todo…

 

Me llevaron la estrella del cuello también . Llevaron a mis padres a un baño , del cual nunca regresaron…

Llevaron a mi hermano dentro de un tren , que yo nunca más supe a donde fué . Llevaron mi sonrisa ,  mi alegría de vivir , llevaron  mi infancia…

Interior Cámara Gas Auschwitz

Sólo no llevaron a mi voz , y por eso todas las noches al acostarme ,

cerraba los ojos y cantaba bajito EDELWEISS , y allí  podía ver a las estrellas , a mi papá , a mi mamá,  a mi hermano,  y  la baranda de nuestra casa. A mi imaginación y pensamiento tampoco  ellos

pudieron jamás llevarmelos…

Hoy tengo la absoluta seguridad , que nunca estaría cansada de cantar en la baranda con mi familia, y que de ninguna forma abandonaría a mi pais . Que mi mamá fué la persona más dulce que conocí , que mi papá fué la imagen de la dignidad , y que mi hermano , fué el más grande compañero y que tocaba el violín como nadie…

Hoy se  la verdadera razón de las lágrimas de mis padres , cuando se despidieron de mi, al ir a tomar el baño , y el emotivo abrazo tan apretado que mi hermano me dió aquella tarde cuando fué colocado en aquel tren …

Hoy se de tantas cosas que no quería saber . Se que los hombres pueden actuar como animales feroces. Se que razas , credos , religiones , son apenas subterfugios que los hombres usan para despertar al lobo feroz que existe dentro de ellos  …

Hoy se que el tiempo es poderoso , pero no como  para que pueda olvidar,  tanto los muy lindos momentos, como los muy malos …

Hoy se  finalmente,  que la nostalgia es el Campo de Concentración del corazón…

 

Flor Edelweiss

Como el amor, la flor EDELWEISS espera en algún lugar recóndito y prácticamente inaccesible a que alguien la descubra para llevársela a casa. Aunque son tantos los que la persiguen, que corre el riesgo de extinguirse y ha tenido que ser declarada especie protegida.

Su belleza y fortaleza han alimentado una leyenda viva que esconde ciertos misterios. Crece en alturas de los Alpes Suizos-Austríacos.

Fuente: Viajando por el mundo

Como el amor, la flor del edelweiss espera en algún lugar recóndito y prácticamente inaccesible a que alguien la descubra para llevársela a casa. Aunque son tantos los que la persiguen, que corre el riesgo de extinguirse y ha tenido que ser declarada especie protegida. Su belleza y fortaleza han alimentado una leyenda viva que esconde ciertos misterios.Su nombre científico es Leontopodium alpinum, proviene del griego y significa ‘pie de león de los Alpes’. El tamaño puede variar entre 2,5 y 10 cm, pero su aparente fragilidad sólo es un espejismo tras el que se oculta una flor increíblemente resistente, capaz de sobrevivir a más de 3.000 metros de altitud y soportar las temperaturas extremas de las montañas alpinas.

En realidad, ésas son las condiciones adecuadas para su desarrollo, ya que sólo crece de forma natural por encima de los 1.500 metros, en paredes y pendientes calcáreas o sobre rocas, en aquellas hendiduras que reciben una pequeña dosis de luz solar. Una fibra vegetal la protege de las heladas y las radiaciones ultravioleta. Florece entre julio y septiembre y sus hojas pueden ser de color blanco, grisáceo o ligeramente amarillento.

Es una especie oriunda de las regiones montañosas europeas, su hábitat se extiende desde los Cárpatos hasta los Pirineos, aunque abunda especialmente en los Alpes austriacos y suizos. Se puede encontrar en España, en la parte centro-occidental de los Pirineos, desde el alto Aragón hasta Cataluña. También es posible encontrarla en algunas cordilleras asiáticas muy elevadas como la del Himalaya.

El secreto
El solo hecho de tener que escalar montañas, y alcanzar difíciles recovecos para conseguir un ejemplar, casi justifica por sí sólo las múltiples historias y leyendas que se han generado en torno a ella. Pero aún hay más.

La edelweiss vive camuflada. Se esconde bajo la apariencia de una sola flor, cuando en realidad es un conjunto de diminutas florecillas que han evolucionado y crecen agrupadas para sobrevivir.

Los elementos centrales de color amarillo son capítulos, donde se agrupan flores tanto de género masculino como femenino; y lo que parecen pétalos blancos, en realidad, son brácteas, estructuras que la protegen durante su desarrollo.

Historias de una flor
La flor de edelweiss es actualmente una especie protegida. Se ha llegado a vender seca, incluso como souvenir, porque los turistas siempre han mostrado un gran interés por las historias de amor y aventura que lleva aparejadas.

Se la considera un símbolo de valor y coraje. La leyenda más extendida cuenta que los hombres que pretendían probar su amor tenían que subir más de 2.000 metros para conseguir una y entregarla a su amada.

También se dice que tomó su color de la luna, y que es capaz de huir de los esfuerzos de los hombres que la persiguen, elevándose cada vez más en la montaña. Representa el honor, el mundo de los sueños y el amor eterno, que nunca se secará. Su imagen es considerada como el reflejo perfecto de una belleza extraña y sosegada. En el lenguaje de las flores, edelweiss significa ‘escríbeme’.

Por fin domesticada
Desde el año 2.000 se cultiva a menor altura, en una plantación del cantón de Valais, al suroeste de Suiza. Utilizan semillas seleccionadas y la cosecha, que dura unos ocho días, debe recogerse a mano, flor a flor.

La edelweiss se utiliza, principalmente, para elaborar productos de cosmética, ya que contribuye a ralentizar el envejecimiento de la piel; pero también es apreciada por sus propiedades medicinales contra las afecciones estomacales.

Fuente: Tusplantas.com

Danke schön, liebe Freunde und Freundesfreunde, für Anwesenheit, gute Wünsche, Einführung, Anekdoten, Kopfnicken, Blumen, Schmunzler, Lacher, Vorbereitung, Presse, Bücherkauf, Bücherstand, Glückwünsche, Musik, Bestätigung, Karten und Applaus. Es war ein wundervoller und unvergesslicher Abend für mich – dank Euch. (Und natürlich meinem Liebsten, der das Baby gehütet hat.)

I warn people who are going to Austria that they will leave their heart there. The human heart can resist quite a lot, but if you walk away from the home of Edelweiss without a smidge of attachment you prove only that you have no soul.

Austria is rightly named by both Europeans and non-Europeans as the most beautiful place on the continent. The friendly slopes of the Alps cry out to be hiked in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and invite skiers and snowboarders in the Winter.

And if the great outdoors don’t give you the warm woozies, the food will. I can’t talk about it for too long or I will start crying, so brief descriptions will have to do:

• Apfelstrudel: A delicious apple pastry comparable to apple danish but far less sweet and far more appley.
• Sachertorte: The ultimate cake for chocolate lovers. Picture this: two layers of rich, not oversweet chocolate, a smidge of apricot jam, and chocolate icing.
• Almdudler: A soft drink similar to Ginger Ale but with a fruitier flavor.

A surprising fact about the country may be that the song “Edelweiss” did not originate in Austria. It was written by Americans but has now been adopted by the natives. As an American who was once transplanted there, I envy the song. Everyone should have a chance to be adopted to that wonderful country.

On a recent visit to Salzburg we went on a train journey and visited the village of Hallstatt, which claims to be the most attractive place in all of Austria.  We were delighted to find that the carriage was one with individual compartments because these are our favourites and we settled in for the ride.  There were only six seats in the compartment and there were seven of us but this didn’t matter and we took it in turns to either sit or stand in the corridor to enjoy the view. 

At the town of Attnang-Puchheim we left the express train and changed to a slow, stop at all stations, variety that travelled in a southerly direction into the mountains and towards our destination (or so we thought).  The lady at the train ticket office in Salzburg had thoughtfully provided us with a timetable that included an explanation that the final part of the journey would be by bus because the line was closed for repairs but as it was in German we hadn’t fully understood the significance of this until it was explained to us by the ticket collector (also in German of course, which didn’t exactly make it a great deal clearer).

The first stop was at a place with the unfortunate name of Wankham and this reminded me that place names in Germany and Austria can be a bit of a challenge and it can be difficult grappling with places that might possibly have been named by somebody suffering from tourettes syndrome; places like Wolfswinkel, Alpfahrt, Fuchs and Koch (all genuine I assure you).

The scenery was spectacular now and as we moved further into the Salzkammergut (see what I mean about a challenge?) the railway line followed the western shore of Lake Traunsee and then the River Traun into the Alps.  This is an area of outstanding natural beauty that stretches from Salzburg to the Dachstein mountain range and spans the federal states of Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria. The name Salzkammergut means ‘Estate of the Salt Chamber’ and derives from the name of the state authority that managed the precious salt mines here in the time of the Habsburg Empire.

The journey came to an end at the spa town of Bad Ischl, which is where the Emperor of Austria-Hungary Franz Josef had his summer residence and here we were decanted with some confusion onto a bus for the remainder of the journey.  As the bus was replacing a train it did not go directly to Hallstatt but had to detour several times to stations along the way so this journey took longer than might have been reasonably expected.

Finally Lake Halstättersee came into view and it was delightful with a calm, glass like surface and reflections of the autumnal mountains dancing on the water.  It was only a narrow road because until as recently as the late nineteenth century it was only possible to reach Hallstatt by boat or by narrow trails.  The land between the lake and mountains is sparse and precious and the town itself has exhausted every free patch of it and the first road to Hallstatt was only built in 1890.  The bus arrived in the village through tunnels blasted out of the rocks and dropped us off at the southern end of the village.  The village was thoroughly charming and I was immediately prepared to accept its most attractive village in Austria claim.

The village is set on piles driven into the lake with an intricate system of intersecting timber ramps, butresses and ascending terraces like hanging gardens creating an air of mystery and the eeriness of mirage, a village that seems to be almost lost in the middle-mist of folklore and fable.  The mountain flanks rise sheer from the lake, leaving no room for a road and all but the smallest of vehicles are prohibited from entering the centre of the village.  We walked through streets with houses sometimes built into the mountain, sometimes hanging on to the mountain and at other times on top of the mountain and on the other side they were built right up to the edge of the lake. 

The walk into the village along the water’s edge took us past some modern art sculptures floating on the lake that were interesting but seemed out of place and I was pleased that they were only temporary and then we began to climb towards the centre of the village.  It seemed quiet and deserted but as we reached the central square it became busier, mostly with children on school visits.  It was lunchtime so we were all getting hungry so we choose a café and stopped for some refreshment.  After soup and cakes we returned to the streets where it started to spit with rain but it blew over quite quickly and the skies started to clear and then we saw the first of the sun beginning to poke through.

Although this was October there were still flowers growing in the gardens and by the side of the road but we didn’t see any Lentropodium Alpinium because this is a summer flowering plant.  Lentropodium Alpinium? Well, that is Edelweiss to you and me and is considered to be something special in Austria.  So special in fact that it is a protected species and picking of Edelweiss is a crime and can result in an on the spot fine if caught.  The most reliable place to see it is on the reverse side of the Austrian two-cent euro coin.

By the time we returned to the bus stop the sun was shining and there were some great views of the village sitting next to its reflection at the side of the lake and we were all sorry to leave.  We boarded the bus that had plenty of spare seats and set off back to Bad Ischl but then at the first stop were ordered off the bus onto another with no spare seats and full of teenage children on the way home.  None of had really expected to have to take a ride on a school bus as a part of our excursion today  and we were glad when we arrived back at the station.

The train was waiting for the bus connection and as soon as everyone was on board it left quickly with some time to make up if it was to make the connection at Attnang-Puchheim.  It was a bit late but the Austrian railway system seemed to have all of this under control and the departure of the train for Salzburg was held back for ten minutes so that those who needed to could make the connection. 

Happy Halloween one and all!  I’m a huge huge huge Halloween fan.  While I was out and about this morning I realized some people were still scurrying about for a costume for the many parties that are going on about the grid.  So here I am to show off what some of us here at Phantom’s Republic are wearing this weekend.

This first pic is of none other than the fabulously talented Phantom.  Phan is dressed for the Costa Rica event.  He’s wearing a fabulously baroque outfit from Gentleman House.  The shoes also were purchased there.  The hair is from Sky Everett Designs and the mask is from Illusions.

Harper chose to be a mummy for this shoot.  Yes I swear that is our ever glamorous Harper under all that.  This mummy is really well done and from hO wEAr.  The straps are flexi and the eyes creeped me out a bit.  I suggested she wear that to hair fair next year as the ARC was fantastically low.

My boyfriend and I usually do a couples costume.  We think it makes the holiday a bit more fun but also a bit more challenging in find something we agree on and that both costumes are quality.  This year after much consideration we chose Alice in Wonderland.  My Alice outfit is from Edelweiss it includes the tights.  The shoes I dyed to match are from HOC and the hair is a usual for me from Armidi.  The Mad Hatter outfit Charlz is wearing came from Mire.  It is really lovely and came with the hair and all seen (as you can see he’s shoeless so you’ll need to buy some if you want to wear any).  I gave him a lovely pair  Jeepers Creepers that worked really well.

Lastly, the fun props and background is a freebie from iTutu.  It doesn’t have any poses in it….but as you can see it makes for fantastic photos.

Happy Halloween everyone!

-Fi

Edelweiss, edelweiss,

Every morning you greet me

Small and white,

Clean and bright,

You look happy to meet me

Blossom of snow

May you bloom and grow,

Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss, edelweiss,

Bless my homeland forever.

]]> http://airlineroute.net/2009/10/27/lxwk-codeshare-yvryyc/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:43:49 +0000 jimyvr http://airlineroute.net/2009/10/27/lxwk-codeshare-yvryyc/

SWISS announced it’ll be codesharing with subsidiary Edelweiss in Summer 2010 for service on Zurich – Calgary – Vancouver – Zurich.

Service operates on Day 1 from Zurich from 31MAY10 to 14SEP10, with A330-200 (C32Y275)

martes, oktubre 13, 2009…alas dos ng hapon.

katatapos lang ng lunch namin nang napagpasiyahan kung maglakad-lakad sa labas ng hotel na kung saan malapit sa isang catholic shrine…1,590 m. above sea level. … naka-winter jacket …. lumusong ako pababa at sinundan ko ang isang daan patungo sa kakahuyan….mga kinse mintuos na akong naglalakad ng masumpungan ko ang isang bahay na abandonado….akmang babalik na sana ako ng biglang may tumawag sa aking pansin…isang bulaklak na puti na ang tawag dito ay stella alpina (alpine star)…sabi ko sa aking sarili…swerte ko ito…rare opportunity ika nga…ang tawag rin dito ay edelweiss ……. tumutubo sa matataas na bahagi ng kabundukan at pinagbabawal ang pamimitas nito…

babae: bago ka dito?

blu: (lumingon akong bahagya para tingnan ang pinanggalingan ng boses)….nope…second time ko na dito…

babae: sabi ko na nga ikaw si blu?….sabi mo nga isang araw magbabalik ka…

blu: sorry po….di ko po kayo kilala…..at bakit alam nyo pong isang araw ay magbabalik ako dito?

babae:  nagkausap na tayo….at sabi mo noon may hinahanap ka?…na kung ano di pa malinaw sa iyo!

blu:…. wait ….1994…oo… April….natatandaan ko na….( pero di ko pa rin matandaan ang mukha ng babaeng kaharap ko).

babae: alam ko natagpuan mo na…

blu: natagpuan ko na?

babae: sayang kung buhay lang sana si Joshua….sana katulad mo…..naabot nya na rin ang pangarap niya…

blu: ….si Joshua?

babae:..anak ko….matagal na siyang namatay….doon sa paanan ng bundok na iyon natagpuan ang kanyang bangkay…

blu:…sori po….

babae…wala na yun….matagal na akong nagpatawad….pero mahal ako ng Diyos…kasi binigyan pa nya ako ng isang anak sa aking katandaan…si Jude..

blu: si Jude po anak nyo rin?

babae: hindi…pinahiram lang sandali…….para alagaan….isang buwan na siya ngayong namatay sa kanser…

blu: …..hmmm.

babae:….. si Jude ang aksidenteng nakabaril kay Joshua….labing-walong taon nyang pinagdusahan ito sa kulungan….isang araw….dumating na lang sa aking bahay….humihingi ng tawad….napalabas na pala sa kulungan…..pero ng mga oras na iyon hindi galit ang nanaig sa akin kundi awa at pagpapatawad…

babae:….tinanggap ko siya sa aking pamamahay …pinatulog sa mismong kuwarto ni Joshua….tinuring na parang isang tunay na anak…alam ko hindi siya si joshua….pero….batid ko para siyang anak na matagal na nawalay sa akin…

di pa rin makapaniwala sa aking mga naririnig…wari ko ako’y parang dinuduyan sa isang kawalan…dakilang nilalang…dakilang pag-ibig…nang ako ay mahimasmasan…nawala na rin ang babae sa aking harapan…tuliro man….pinilit kong binagtas ang daan paakyat sa hotel…

Aldo (front desk officer): Ciao blu!….stella alpina….saan mo nakuha?

blu: natagpuan ko doon malapit sa isang abandoned house….may nakausap rin akong babae doon….(at ikinumento ko kay Aldo ang lahat na aming pinag-usapan)…

Aldo:…. Edelweiss…..nagpakita sa iyo si Maria Weissenstein!….

Blu:….Maria Weissenstein?

sabado, oktubre 17, 2009, alas otso ng umaga

kahapon bago ako umuwi….dumaan ako saglit sa catholic shrine para magdasal…maraming tao….kahit noong nakaraang gabi ay nag-snow……Maria Weissenstein….nakaukit ito sa labas ng shrine.

Edelweiss in 2009/10 Winter season is including Goa in India to its service to Maldives. Routing operate as Zurich – Goa – Male – Zurich. Service operates once a week.

WK058/LX8058 ZRH1740 – 0700+1GOI0800+1 – 0940+1MLE1110+1 – 1725+1ZRH 332 7

It’ll also operate 2 weekly nonstop service on Zurich – Male service
WK066/LX8056 ZRH1750 – 0720+1MLE 332 6
WK060/LX8052 ZRH1810 – 0740+1MLE 332 5

WK067/LX8057 MLE0920 – 1540ZRH 332 7
WK061/LX8053 MLE0930 – 1550ZRH 332 6

- nej, det tror jag inte. I helgen planterade jag äntligen den edelweiss jag fick av A. på jobbet för några veckor sedan. Den har varit nöjd och glad på min balkong trots frost och blåst, och nu fick den en varm och skyddad placering i en vrå intill österväggen vid planteringslådan, bredvid backsippan. Jorden är grusig och väldränerad – där borde den trivas.

Lördagen var koloniföreningens sista arbetsdag för säsongen, strålande vacker och vindstilla. Jag hann få mycket gjort i min egen trädgård. Skogen av jordärtskockor i grönsakslandet grävdes upp, och förhoppningsvis finns inga knölar kvar i jorden i år. De fyllde ledigt upp en stor plastkasse, trots att jag slängde massor. Blasten tog jag av och grävde ner i landet, men de 2-3 meter höga, tjocka, bambulika stjälkarna var för hårda och kraftiga för att klippas ner i komposten. Jag har travat dem på hög till valborgsmässobrasan nästa år.

Eftersom jag ändå stökade runt så mycket i landet klippte jag ner övriga skörderester (squash, misslyckad majs, trädgårdsmålla, de sista rödbetorna sonm bara blev blast…) och  höstgrävde hela landet. Det är egentligen för tidigt, men skönt att få det gjort. När jag tog bort gångbräderna ur landet såg jag att fullt med småsniglar redan boat in sig för vintern på undersidan. Jag mosade dem skoningslöst med en särskilt kraftig jordärtskocka som mordvapen.

Tömde vattentunnan som var bräddfull – ett trist, slaskigt, tungt och kallt jobb, men vattnet var tillfruset på ytan och det har varit ner till sex minusgrader ett par nätter, så det kändes ändå som om det var dags att få undan tunnan för vintern. Jag kånkade runt  med den fyllda vattenkannan i trädgården och tömde den där jag trodde att det kunde göra mest nytta – hos  rosorna, rosenflockel, gullstav och flikflädrarna.

Plockade en (sista?) kasse plommon och lite äpplen, och sågade eller knipsade bort risiga grenar ur plommonträdet. Även körsbärskornellen friserade jag lite. Ett lass dåliga plommon och mögliga äpplen körde jag iväg till komposten.

Vattnet stängdes av idag, och jag stängde till min egen huvudkran och hällde för säkerhets skull lite frostskyddsmedel i avloppet. Stängde till fönsterluckorna på husets baksida och skruvade till alla ventiler så att mössen får jobba hårdare om de tänker ta sig in.  Jag har, peppar peppar, inte haft möss i huset under de år jag har ägt det. Kanske helt enkelt för att jag inte har värme på under vintern.

Drog upp växtstöd och pulade in dem i boden, dit också trädgårdsstolar och trädgårdsbordet fick flytta in. Räfsade lite löv och täckte den japanska starren, men för övrigt väntar jag med täckning. Det får bli bra mycket kallare först. Detsamma gäller kupning av rosorna. En del småsaker finns också kvar. Tömma lavendel- och citronmelisskrukan, städa boden, lite höstbeskärning av den gulbladiga flikflädern, få in skottkärra och det runda trädgårdsbordet, skruva fast presenningen framför farstudörröppningen. Men mycket mer än så är det inte kvar av arbetsåret. Faktiskt ganska skönt!

Strandiris och gulltörel i höstdräkt

The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Many songs from the musical have become standards, including the title song “The Sound of Music“, “Edelweiss“, “My Favorite Things“, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “Do-Re-Mi“.-wiki

The original Broadway production, starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, opened in November 1959, and the show has enjoyed numerous productions and revivals since then. It has also been made into an Academy Award-winning 1965 film musical. The Sound of Music was the final musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein; Hammerstein died of cancer nine months after the Broadway premiere.-wiki

After viewing The Trapp Family, a 1956 Austrian film about the von Trapp family, and its 1958 sequel, The Trapp Family in America (Die Trapp-Familie in Amerika), stage director Vincent J. Donehue thought that the project would be perfect for his friend Mary Martin; Broadway producers Leland Hayward and Richard Halliday (Martin’s husband) agreed. The producers originally envisioned a nonmusical play that would be written by Lindsay and Crouse and that would feature songs from the repertoire of the Trapp Family Singers. Then they decided to add an original song or two, perhaps by Rodgers and Hammerstein. But it was soon agreed that the project should feature all new songs and be a musical rather than a play.^[1]-wiki

Details of the history of the von Trapp family were altered for the musical. Georg Ludwig von Trapp lived with his family in a villa in Aigen, a suburb of Salzburg. The real Maria von Trapp was sent to be a tutor to one of the children, not a governess to all of them. The Captain’s oldest child was a boy, not a girl, and the names of the children were changed (at least partly to avoid confusion: the Captain’s second eldest daughter, the third of the seven, was also called Maria). The von Trapps spent some years in Austria after Maria and the Captain married – they did not have to flee right away – and they fled to Italy, not Switzerland. Maria von Trapp is said to have been unhappy with the movie’s portrayal of her husband as having been cold and stern prior to her arrival, which she and their children strongly dispute.^[2]-wiki

During the Cold War, the BBC planned to broadcast The Sound of Music on radio in the event of a nuclear strike on the United Kingdom. The broadcast would be part of an emergency timetable of programs designed to “reassure” the public in the aftermath of the attack.^[3]-wiki

Historical accuracy

The musical presents a history of the von Trapp family, albeit one that is not completely accurate: Georg Ludwig von Trapp, who was in fact anti-Nazi, lived with his family in a villa in a district of Salzburg, called Aigen. Maria and Georg had been married 10 years before the Anschluss and had two of their three children before that time. Georg had actually considered a position in the Kriegsmarine, but ultimately decided to emigrate.^[26] The children’s names are different, at least part of the reason being that a daughter from von Trapp’s first marriage was also called Maria.

While the von Trapp family hikes over the Alps to Switzerland, in reality they walked to the local train station and boarded the next train to Italy, from which they fled to London and ultimately the United States.^[26] Salzburg is only a few miles away from the Austrian-German border, and is much too far from either the Swiss or Italian borders for a family to escape by walking. Had the von Trapps hiked over the mountains, they would have in all likelihood ended up in Germany, near the Kehlsteinhaus, Hitler’s mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden.-wiki

its been 15 days now since i have quit smoking and i am happy that i have stuck to my resolution of keeping away from smokes. today after 15 days and having saved almost 500 bucks i feel a great sense of relieve, satisfaction and pride that i have stuck to my word. Its amazing to notice that my energy level has gone up tremendously and some how i am not getting an opportuniy to let go of that energy. I had purchased a running shoe 5 days ago but it is a different story now. Another thing I have noticed is that I have become more social since the fear of people finding out or the fear of people not responding to me due to smoke breath has completely gone away. Infact the very fact of going to the pan shop and smoking irritates and troubles me.  I faced my biggest trigger this sunday when i sat with chotu for a drink. I dont remember having a single sip in my life without a burning ciggaeraate in my hand. smoking always used to be an integral part of my drinking. I remember enjoying that one cigg after finishing drinks and calling it a day, to which i always used to look forward to and this time I had 2 patiyalas and still did not lit up. I think I had just passed my largest trigger for smoke.

I had a dream last night. It was in early morning. I saw it was almost 9 and i was getting late for office. I had to be there in 15 min and the minimum time it takes me to reach office is 90 min. i got tensed. my blood pressure rose. a strange feeling of fear ran inside me, that i will be late and the result would be disastorous. i was scared. then my eyes suddenly opened. it was 8 and i had an hour to reach office. i was no longer working with edelweiss now. i was working with capgemini. my office wasnt at nariman point. my office was at vikhroli. it doesnt take me 90 min to reach office now, it takes me 15 min and I smiled.

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Das Münchner Oktoberfest steht vor der Tür – und in Bayern wird seit Wochen um die stylischsten Wiesn-Outfits und Accessoires gewetteifert. Alles schön und gut – aber wie schaut’s mit Eurem Lieblings-Gadget aus?

Die Lösung: Der “Elektropulli” aus trendigem Filz schützt Euer iPhone in entsprechend stylischer Manier vor dem Geschüttel auf diversen Fahrgeschäften. So RICHTIG Wiesn-tauglich jedoch wird der Elektropulli mit dem Trachten-Upgrade* von Alpenflüstern:

Ein Elekropulli-Case schützt Euer iPhone und hält das Display zudem mit dem speziellen Innenfutter sauber. Wiesn-schick werden die Cases mit den bayerischen Anhängern von Alpenflüstern*.

Die Cases aus Filz bekommt Ihr im Online-Shop von Elektropulli für 23,80 Euro. Die Anhänger gibt es separat online bei Alpenflüstern ab 7,90 Euro. Während dem Oktoberfest verlosen wir auf iPhone Love die obigen Cases – also: Augen aufhalten und unseren Newsletter abonnieren!

Übrigens, der Elektropulli wird mit “Klimapflaster” ausgeliefert: Für jede verkaufte Tasche werden Klimaschutzprojekte unterstützt. Diese sparen genau soviel CO2 ein, wie für Produktion und Betrieb des iPhones oder des iPods nötig sind.

*Die Loden-Cases haben wir extra für diesen Artikel mit den Oktoberfest-Anhängern gepimpt: Einfach mit einer Lochzange ein kleines Loch in das Loden-Case Stanzen und den Anhänger befestigen – hält prima und sieht gut aus!

I want to visit Austria and stand in this very field. Uploaded by 1.bp.blogspot.com (Gannett News Service/Fox Video).

There aren’t many good musicals made anymore, probably because they don’t typically involve explosions, aliens, or extensive computer graphics that appeal to males under 25. But there was a time, not that long ago, when musicals were among the best movies made. Singin’ in the Rain. Oliver. And one of the best of all time, The Sound of Music.

Based on the stage musical by Rogers and Hammerstein (Great American Things No. 92) The Sound of Music tells the story of Austria’s von Trapp family as they broke in a new governess (Julie Andrews) and reclaimed a brokenhearted father (Christopher Plummer). It’s filled with wonderful songs – “Climb Every Mountain,” “Do Re Mi,” “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” and of course, “The Sound of Music.”

One bit of trivia I find interesting is that “Edelweiss” is not the traditional song of the Austrian homeland as portrayed in the movie. In fact, it was written by Oscar Hammerstein and was entirely unknown in Austria before the movie. The country has embraced it wholeheartedly now, as you might imagine.

Other casting facts: Although Mary Martin originated the role on Broadway (that’s some resume, along with South Pacific and Peter Pan), Audrey Hepburn was the first actress considered for the role of Maria… Sean Connery and Richard Burton were considered for the role of Captain von Trapp… Actors who auditioned for one of the child roles include Richard Dreyfuss, Kurt Russell, Patty Duke, and most of the Osmond family.

Adjusted for inflation, The Sound of Music is the third-highest-grossing film of all time, behind Gone with the Wind and Star Wars. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture. In 2007, The American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies ranked it number 40 all time, and gave it the number four spot on its 100 Musicals list.

Here’s a common experience for American expats moving to German-speaking Europe. Also a topic specific in particular to women from my generation. (*Note – I retitled this after I couldn’t shake the feeling that “Small and White, Clean and Bright” had racists undertones and Nazi echoes… which it might have, given the topic of the film. Either way, it’s much more provocative now, don’t you think?)

I came across a Sound of Music discussion online that led me down a path here. What caught my attention was a youtube video of the Edelweiss song. If you can stand to hear about it, read on.

Ah the Edelweiss song.

Imagine for a moment: you grew up watching that movie (all chopped to hell on non-cable TV but whatever).

You drowned in the eyes of Captain von Trapp and then dutifully also developed a crush in the more appropriate young Rolf (who in real life also painted your parents’ house, hows that for Hollywood glamour?).

Many years later you grow up and fall for a tall blond German with a strong jaw and blue eyes.

You go to visit him for the first time and drive straight to Austria, through Salzburg, to the alps where the famous flower grows along the roadside.

And then, as you’re there getting to know one another, BAM! You learn, no one’s  seen or even heard of  the damn movie over there and the friggen song is a Rogers and Hammerstein concoction for the film.

Ok, in reality it’s not like this movie was a true defining point in my life, nor was it the reason I ended up here. In fact it only occurred to me much much later that had I really had a super-duper crush on Rolf like some of the girls in my class, this would have been a funny addition to my story.

But you can’t ignore the fact that this movie played like every summer and every Thanksgiving on TV in California. It had a big influence on Americans’ impressions of Germany (so much so in fact that Americans mostly missed the fact that Germany and Austria were not all one country…which was apparently also Germany’s problem in this movie. This continues on today…how often do people ask the Germans what they think of Schwarzenegger being in Governor California? Lots.)

So it was a little deflating to learn that one of the few things to that shaped a lot of American’s impressions of  “Germany” was so completely unknown over here that I couldn’t even make cultural references and be understood.

“I’m waiting for you like an empty page” gets zero response.

##

By the way, for those of you who remember and are fond of the movie, here’s a typical California end-note on the actor who played Rolf. At some point after the film, he was helping his dad out with his housepainting business and wound up painting my parents’ house. Later on he gave acting and voice lessons that a school friend attended. This last bit came to light at school when someone talked about the movie (as every grade school-aged girl will have done at least once in our generation), I proudly contributed that he painted my house and then my friend Beth totally trumped me with the fact that he was her singing coach. Bitch.

I just did a little search on him to see what he’s up to and found that TSOM was his first and last film (flash in the pan) and he kept a relatively low profile after that. This didn’t discourage a few nut jobs who went looking for him online (present company excluded of course), made a freaky website in his honor, declaring their love (also here), and posted tiny insignificant details about the poor man’s activities in order to make some connection to their lives….. Hmmm.

Ah. Whatever. If you’re looking for him though, looks like he might be in North Carolina, and if you want to hear his voice today, click here for a recording of his Ode to Studebackers, a labor of love for the American automobile.

Sending him love from Down Under!

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