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Patellas 4 Sale

paiutewovoka — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:08:39 +0000

Review: Tuesdays With Morrie

mylifemoreordinary — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:38:50 +0000

I love teachers. My aunt and uncle are both examples of the best kind of teachers, those with whom the best lessons are learned outside the classroom – you have not truly experienced a historic site until you have visited it with my aunt (an English teacher) or read a New Scientist magazine until it has been shared with my uncle (a maths teacher). For those not so lucky to have teachers in their lives, there are many willing to reach out to the world at large. One of the best examples in Randy Pausch. He was an American computer sciences lecturer whose college had a tradition of inviting academic to present a ‘Last Lecture’ – a hypothetical “final talk” on what really matters to them. However, for Pausch, this was not so hypothetical – he was dying of pancreatic cancer. Someone recorded his lecture and posted in on YouTube, leading to a flurry of media appearances culminating in the publication of his book ‘The Last Lecture‘, based on his presentation. I own this book and love it – it is one I have returned to several times to be touched by his simple wisdom.

However, Randy Pausch is not the first to recognise the potency of the wisdom of a dying teacher. ‘Tuesdays with Morrie‘ by Mitch Ablom recounts the conversations the author had with his college professor Morrie Schwartz as the latter was dying from motor neurone disease. This is one of those books I have always meant to read, but with summer holiday finally upon me I seized the moment and borrowed it from the library when I was there the other day. The book was not exactly what I expected – for starters, it is very short. But don’t hold this against it, it still packs a punch. It is also much more … well, ordinary, than I expected. Morrie’s wisdom is about the everyday and the personal – love, family, forgiveness – and is emphasised by Ablom’s contrasting recounts of the news stories from the time, most prominently the OJ Simpson trial. Yet I can’t help feeling that if everyone put a little a few of Morrie’s small-scale ways of thinking into practice, in might produce pronounced change in our world.

Ablom is a beautiful writer and was clearly wasted in his previous career as a sports columnist. A hibiscus plant serves as a simple yet potent metaphor for Morrie’s decline, whilst vivid descriptions of food illustrate Mitch’s efforts to hold onto the man he once knew. I think I will have to read this book again to fully appreciate the complexity buried in its simple words and tale, but this is something I look forward to.

One section of this book spoke particularly strongly to me as I try and build my new ‘life more ordinary’ around the realities of my life. Morrie is asked what he would do if granted one final 24 hours of perfect health. His answer seems so ordinary – nice food, time with family and friends, enjoying nature and dancing are the main features – leaving Mitch to ponder;

That’s it? … It was so simple. So average. I was actually a little disappointed. I figured he’d fly to Italy or have lunch with the President or romp on the seashore or try every exotic thing he could think of. After all these months, lying there, unable to move a lg or a foot – how could he fins perfection in such an average day?

Then I realise this was the whole point

This is a passage that I, and I hope you, will keep in mind in the quest to find the truly extraordinary nature of the seemingly ordinary.

PS: Stay tuned later this week for my first ever attempt at Christmas cooking – chop-peppermint truffles

Phone Fuss

dearJ — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:09:29 +0000

Dear J-

We spent the morning working our way through IKEA; the thousand steps you end up taking are all painful when your companion is prone on the floor after the slightest slight (“Hey, let’s keep going” “NOOOOOOO!”). Thankfully, most of the people passing by were more amused than horrified (strangely enough, the parents in the crowd seemed to recognize the face-on-the-floor tantrums: one in every room of the pretend houses, and one at the foot of the stairs, too, for good measure). It did make for a pretty quick way to pass the time, though I think we’ll be banned from IKEA if we keep going back (especially if we break stuff like we did today).

We live in a wonderful place, where we can decide to head off to the Zoo at a moment’s notice (so to speak) to watch the lights; though I know she’s getting sick (you can tell by how crabby she is) the one thing that’s going to perk her up is having the chance to stare at Christmas lights and stay out later than usual, even if we’re going to pay for it in further anger (best not to wake a sleeping figgy, and best not to keep her much beyond bedtime).

We woke up disoriented from a call from work this morning — the joke that that place can’t run without me came ironically true — and I thought about calling in to offer my services later (whether over the phone, in the afternoon, or tomorrow), but I just got over twelve days in a row and the batteries were flat. Instead, we spent the day we needed — starting out I wouldn’t have predicted it would turn out to be a perfect day, between early morning interruptions and all day fuss, but somewhere between splashing in puddles and plucking a sleepy figgy out of her seat, we make it work out perfectly. Again.

Mike

Pardon My Sobbing

miss F — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:20:57 +0000

The much awaited day has finally come. My 3rd semester’s result was out and I pass with distinction! I was simply content. The joy in my parents’ faces describes how proud they are and I’m thankful for that.

The night was full of fun. A perfect day for me. To make it even better I got a call from my thousand miles away boyfriend. Yay!

We talked like adults because there was no nasty arguments nor any tears of hateful. I was close to dozing of when our conversation ended. Thanks a million to my sweetheart BUT (here comes the nasty part. hahaha) there was something in his voice that left me feeling concerned.

He sounded so sad. I asked him and he said “nothing”. Me was displeased and asked him again (sorry dear for being pushy) and he finally answered “It’s really nothing but I miss you”. (Okay that IS sad because I miss you too, I miss you badly)

I was moved to tears but managed to remain calm until we finally hung up. I tried to sleep but to no avail. I wanted to weep so badly but the reasonable part of me said NO!

I switched the lights on and searched for my DVD collections. A tear-jerker movie was all I need. I didn’t want to weep for no reason because it was too pathetic (although I admit I am)

I cried my eyes out watching ‘If Only’. I finally fell into uneasy sleep.

If Only

The reason for my sobbing was because I find it hard to be in a long distance relationship. I am afraid of the future. Will we be able to go through this hardship for several years ahead? God knows how scared I am.

To come clean to my sweetheart would mean that I am being insensitive. I know it is a hard work for both of us to keep this relationship going. It is painful for both of us. Being a medical student is hard enough for him, let alone to deal with my silly never-ending insecurities.

Sweetheart, go and realize your dreams. Your success is also mine. Trials and tribulations are part of life and I am sure we can go through this together as long as we love each other.

I Love You dearly.
Hugs and Kisses from your thousand-miles away sweetie.

Perfect Day.

Soul Surfers — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:10:00 +0000

“It’s such a perfect day.

I’m glad I spent it with you.

Oh, such a perfect day.

You just keep me hanging on”.

From “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed.

I spent a couple of hours on the bean bags and graffitied old choir seats in my favourite cafe the other week. We made ourselves at home and enjoyed the crepes and coffees of the Tubestation whilst watching surf videos on the big screen, listening to some mellow sounds and perusing the leaflets and literature lying around.

I had a really encouraging and affirming chat with Henry and Kris who run the place. Whilst in many ways, I barely know them I feel very connected with them and on the same wavelength. I will, therefore, always be part of the cheer-section for what is happening there.

Refreshed and re-energised I clambered into my wetsuit for the first time since June. I’ve been nursing a knee injury for some time now, but the physiotherapist has given me permission to get back on my surfboard for no more than 30 minutes at a time.

So, after proper stretching and warming up on Polzeath beach, I walked into the sea audibly singing outloud with a heart full of joy. Pushing my board against the whitewater and feeling my feet take on the firm sandbar, it wasn’t long till I was paddling out and trying gingerly to catch a few dumpy waves, unsure of how my knee would hold up.

It may not have been the least sketchy or most well styled surf session, but it felt great to be immersed afresh. As I peeled my way out of a cold, clingy, wet suit in the car park, the backdrop was a perfectly arched rainbow.

Praise be!

A Perfect Day in Gastown

Tourism Vancouver — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:50:40 +0000

The following post was contributed by Carrie Leung, Tourism Vancouver’s Client Manager for the Chicago, Midwest and Western US markets. Read about her perfect day in her favourite neighbourhood, Gastown.

One of the many things that make Vancouver unique are the diverse neighborhoods, perfect for sightseeing and shopping. Gastown, a unique neighborhood in the downtown core and the original city of Vancouver, is by far one of my favourites. I love wandering along the cobble stone streets that reflect a refreshing mix of old and new. To start my afternoon of re-discovering Gastown I drop into the Canadian Maple Delights Gourmet Bistro & Shoppe for a latte and maple sugar cookie. Yummy!

Along Water Street I pass by beautiful heritage buildings that now house galleries, designer furniture and clothing stores, cafes, and restaurants. Local designers who display their clothing at Dream, 212 and One of a Few are stores I always have to visit while in Gastown. At each quarter hour I can hear the faint chimes of the famous Gastown Steam Clock. Tourist – and locals alike – love to stand on the corner of Cambie and Water Street waiting to take a photo of the clock blowing its steam and to hear the magical chimes.

After an exciting day of window shopping and exploring I like to end the day hanging out with my friends at the Irish Heather, a casual local pub. With so many restaurants to choose from in the area it’s always difficult to decide, but two of my favourites are So.Cial At Le Magasin and Cobre Restaurant. So.Cial At Le Magasin features contemporary Canadian cuisine with a casual ambiance. Cobre Restaurant, an intimate restaurant that seats 90 people on two levels, blends flavors from all over South and Central American in their sharing tapas plates. My evening in Gastown wouldn’t be complete with out a stop at Salt Tasting Room, a dynamic wine and charcuterie venue.

Gastown is truly a one of a kind neighborhood that reminds me how much fun it is to spend time in my home town… Vancouver!

CLASSIC ON AIR: "Perfect Day" - Lou Reed

zirconet — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:47:59 +0000

Lou Reed

Perfect Day

Transformer (1972)

Just A Perfect Day,

Drink Sangria In The Park,

And Then Later, When It Gets Dark,

We Go Home.

Just A Perfect Day,

Feed Animals In The Zoo

Then Later, A Movie, Too,

And Then Home.

Oh It’s Such A Perfect Day,

I’m Glad I Spent It With You.

Oh Such A Perfect Day,

You Just Keep Me Hanging On,

You Just Keep Me Hanging On.

Just A Perfect Day,

Problems All Left Alone,

Weekenders On Our Own.

It’s Such Fun.Just A Perfect Day,

You Made Me Forget Myself.

I Thought I Was Someone Else,

Someone Good.

Oh It’s Such A Perfect Day,

I’m Glad I Spent It With You.

Oh Such A Perfect Day,

You Just Keep Me Hanging On,

You Just Keep Me Hanging On.

You’re Going To Reap

Just What You Sow,

You’re Going To Reap

Just What You Sow,

You’re Going To Reap

Just What You Sow,

You’re Going To Reap

Just What You Sow…

Il diciassette novembre duemilanove è stato un giorno strano, perfetto, di quelli che si ricordano per tutta la vita. Era un martedì un giorno della settimana che come ho letto da qualche parte solitamente non prendiamo tanto in considerazione. E’ stato invece il giorno in cui ho preso grandi decisioni. In quelli precedenti mille dubbi e ore passate a trovare le controindicazioni a una decisione in realtà già presa. Come avrei potuto rimanere nello stato letargico nel quale vivacchiavo da più di un decennio, senza prendere la palla al balzo e cercare di riscattarmi dall’inedia?

Non serve lamentarsi di non essere ciò che vorremmo, dobbiamo fare di tutto per realizzare i nostri sogni. Solo allora non ci sarà uomo davanti al quale abbasseremo lo sguardo, perché forti di aver sempre dimostrato di essere degni della nostra umanità. La vita è qualcosa di complicato che s’impara solo a proprie spese, mettendosi in gioco ogni giorno. S’inizia a morire dal giorno in cui non si hanno più ambizioni. Possiamo leggere e discutere di altre vite, ma senza mai conoscerle veramente poiché appartengono ad altri. Abbiamo una sola occasione eppure spesso ce ne dimentichiamo e la diamo per scontata riducendoci a consumarla più in fretta che possiamo quando siamo giovani e più lentamente ci è consentito dalla natura quando invecchiamo.

Vorrei un giorno potermi guardare indietro senza alcun rimpianto; orgoglioso sia delle vittorie ottenute così come delle sconfitte patite. Mi piacerebbe essere allora tanto indulgente verso i miei errori quanto modesto per i miei successi. Mentre i primi mi saranno stati utili a vivere i secondi saranno stati tanto futili quanto effimeri. E quando rivolgerò lo sguardo al diciassette novembre duemilanove spero tanto di essere fiero delle scelte da me compiute in quelle ore perché sebbene sofferte e in apparenza figlie di mille pensieri sono state il frutto di un moto di ribellione di quel ragazzo che aveva tanti sogni e che pensavo ormai di aver sepolto in fondo all’anima. Quel giorno mi sono sentito padrone del mio destino e tanto vivo che ricorderò per sempre il sapore incandescente dell’aria di quella notte.

E se anche le cose non saranno andate come avevo sperato in quella notte, giuro che ne sarà valsa comunque la pena. Sempre.

Day 21 - A Perfect Day

caitlynjames — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:39:38 +0000

Perfect Day At work the other day someone was encouraging Tanya (you met her yesterday, she’s

Time Warp!

Anna Mannino — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:01:07 +0000

Old Songs -S Club 7 -Hoku -TLC -Dream -Eiffel 65 Beyonce’ – Video Phone Ren Fest Too muc

0...Si a fost lansat

sunetnuzgomot — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:16:19 +0000

Pe 04.11.2009 s-a lansat primul album PUBLIKA.

”Unde esti” este un album de debut care se vrea un boom in peisajul pop-rock-ului romanesc.

Totodata a fost lansat si clip-ul 3 ”Yesterday” o continuare la “Perfect day”. Trei clip-uri in mai putin de un an, e ceva.

Lansarea a fost incendiara, trupa in forma de zile mari. Jack Daniels si-a facut simtita prezenta din plin. Ce mai distractie la maxim. ROCK !!! Nu avea cum sa iasa altfel cind faci eveniment la Music Club.

Cu aceasta ocazie multumesc trupei pentru autografele date pe cd-ul pe care l-am primit de la ei!!!

Ca pe vremurile demult apuse ”Traiasca si infloreasca” bla, bla, bla ca ramine la fel.

Boomm, zdrang, scirt…

Lou Reed - "Perfect Day" (1972)

msotd — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:47:10 +0000

Feeling good, yet melancholy? Here is the song for you. That is where I am. And here is why…

I went to a class run by my friend about being environmentally friendly, living with less stuff, sustainability, etc. etc. (…more on the content another time…) It was fun, good and invigorating, but yet there is that tinge of hopelessness I could not help but feel once I returned home and realized the issues are huge. Monumental in fact. And they are getting worse, not better, even despite increased awareness. Yes there are things that can be done by individuals such as myself, but it is probably easier to move mountains than it is to change the masses. One rock at a time I guess. One rock at a time.

The one thing I will tell you all is you need to watch “The Story of Stuff” if you haven’t already.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Art Rock

Click here for more info on Lou Reed – Transformer – “Perfect Day”.

The MP3 may be purchased here:

Lou Reed - Transformer

Domestic bliss? Perhaps

theburntchop — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:21:32 +0000

I must say I hesitate to write this and even now am not sure I’m actually going to do it but today was pretty much a perfect day. Now I’m not saying I had the best sex of my life and won several million dollars because obviously that would be right up there but within the realms of possibility (a much narrower sphere) it was a perfect day. The weather wasn’t great and we did get rained on at the dog park but none of that mattered. We walked, talked, laughed our way up to one end of the park and back while Leo was much admired and regained some of his self esteem (after the bad hair cut and the arrival of the younger model). When we got home Leo actually went and looked for Xander, not to kill him but just to say hi. The girls asked to do craft so I set them up at the table and left them to it while I put on ABBA Gold and pottered in the kitchen. Two hours later (without one single fight or unreasonable request) I had made enough pesto for three meals and the girls had created these fantastic collages. No2’s was entitled “A Buety Show” and No1’s was basically a fantasy of a walk in wardrobe (God it’s scary when you realise how much your children are like you).

After that my friend and her Superbloke came over with their kids. We sat outside talking all sorts of crap while Superbloke did the mowing (bless his cotton socks). Again lots of laughing happened – I bloody love laughing and I don’t think there are many things better than a really good laugh). When they left, the girls and I settled in to watch Monsters Inc and have dinner. Books were read, more artwork was created, bedtime arrived. Now they’re asleep and both dogs are asleep on the floor near me. I have a purifying face mask on and a glass of red next to me and here I am talking to you. See? Bliss.

The only problem I can see is that if things stay this calm I’ll really have to pack up my blog and move away because how goddamn boring is it going to be if I don’t have any more disasters? Oh I really forgot myself there for a moment. I mean this is me we’re talking about and this is my life we’re discussing – there’ll be another distaster as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow (whether we can see it or not). Absolutely nothing to worry about, just relax and watch this space ……

As for gratitude – a thousand thanks for this moment of peace and calm. Knowing it won’t last makes it even more precious.

P.S. Please now relax completely. Just as I was publishing this post the doorbell rang – rather disconcerting as no-one I know would pop around now without calling first. Cast your mind back to the end of para 2 where I mention the face mask, I neglected to mention that it’s a greenish white colour and that I’m also wearing an old clear plastic shower cap with droopy elastic. When the doorbell rang I was forced to open it like that as it was my next door neighbour (I called out “who is it?” first so I knew) and with the way my mind works I leapt straight into presuming a medical emergency. So I ripped the door open, snapped the light on and jumped out the door – to a small crowd of the neighbours’ friends farewelling them outside my gate. Everybody laughed, really hard. Turns out I’d left my light on in the car. Thanks.

Just like Heaven

thecappuccinodiaries — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:38:40 +0000

Ahhh, Yesterday was a wonderful day. My computer wouldn’t let me on our management system in the morning so I had tons of work to do in the afternoon. However, Mr. Twitter cam and took us to lunch and we had so much fun. We went to “the Thai place” as we call it and just talked and schmoozed. Yesterday, things were different. I feel like something changed yesterday, for the best.

One day, someone will change your life for the better, and the day you realize that, you’ll never look back.

Today, not so exciting. Everyday can’t be perfect though, we would forget to appreciate the good days.

Perfect Day.

Soul Surfers — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:10:40 +0000

“It’s such a perfect day.

I’m glad I spent it with you.

Oh, such a perfect day.

You just keep me hanging on”.

From “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed.

So, after proper stretching and warming up on Polzeath beach, I walked into the sea audibly singing my praise. Pushing my board against the whitewater and feeling my feet take on the firm sandbar, it wasn’t long till I was paddling out and trying gingerly to catch a few dumpy waves, unsure of how my knee would hold up.

Praise be!

Sailing South for the Winter Part I

wenchhandle — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:40:56 +0000

It was the middle of November and we were already off to a late start for heading south. The temperatures at night had dipped into the low 40’s. A sure sign that colder weather was on its’ way. People were applying for the position of crew, to sail to the west coast of Florida from the outer banks of North Carolina. This would be a situation where the crew member paid for their passage way in exchange for experience on the 45′ single masted, sloop rig sailboat. A colorful selection of people were willing to go, but only a very few seemed reliable. The Flying Dutchman was a comfortable boat with three staterooms , two heads, a large saloon and workable galley. This would be a trip of comfort mainly. All that was required was someone to man the wheel on a regular schedule and we broke it down into shifts. Three people were committed for the trip. There was Bruce and Felicia, a mid-aged couple from New England, and a young solid, muscular lady named Linda from North Carolina, along with the Captain Michael and myself. I was mainly a deck hand due to the limited amount of time I had spent on the water.

A time was arranged for everyone to meet on the Flying Dutchman at 6pm , the night before departure. Each of us filtered on board, one by one, introducing ourselves to each other. We were all feeling a bit apprehensive about the long journey ahead. Bruce brought on board several expensive nautical “toys”/electronics and was overjoyed and eager to share them with the Captain. Linda’s nervousness had surfaced by her quick, constant chatter and Michael was geared up and had already started telling stories of “I remember when and what to expect ahead”. I began looking around for Bruce’s wife, Felicia, who was no where in site. When I discovered a pause in conversation I jumped in to ask “Where is Felicia?”. It was then that Bruce broke the news that she had been ill and would meet us later on the trip. Michael wasn’t too happy to have just learned that he was one crew member short and was contemplating finding her replacement but decided against it.

The following morning I was awaken by the sound of the engine running and people moving around on deck. As I made way up top, I was just in time to see Michael on the wheel and Bruce tossing the lines from the pilings on deck. Our journey had begun. The first day we made it as far as Beuford, North Carolina. It was a salty looking water town with many boats that looked like they had been at anchor for a long time. We dropped the hook as well, had dinner and off to bed. The next morning was much like the first. The men were up early and ready to roll. The day before we had traveled down the Pamlico Sound. Today we would go out thru the channel to the Atlantic Ocean and go on the outside all the way to Charleston, SC. The weather had been great so far and this day was no exception. The temperature was in the 60’s and the sun felt good. It was one of those feelings again where you could sit on the front of the deck, smell the salt air and watch the world go by. Sailing was better than any dope you could buy and the feeling of freedom made me want to lay down and take a nap, I’ve said that before. I must admit, that life on land conditioned my mind to go fast. Everything was go, go, go. This trip had of way of forcing me to slow down. It was tough to do at first, but I adapted quickly. When we arrived at our destination for that evening, it was at a marina where the people were very hospitable. When the sun went down it was cold and your winter coat was in order. There was a deck hand to greet us that took our lines, tied up the boat and then proceeded to tell us what was in the area. Bruce had arranged for Falicia to meet us there. When she arrived we all decided to go to a nice seafood restaurant and have dinner. The restaurant had a delivery service where they would come to you and pick you up and then bring you back. The moment we got into the car and began ridding, I had a feeling of dizziness and felt like we were speeding excessively down the road. I leaned over to Michael and said “Geez, how fast are we going?”. Michael laughed and said “Not even 40 mph”. Motoring and sailing all day we never exceeded 8 mph, talk about slowing your mind down, and that was two days of sailing that got me to that point. Our dinner was enjoyable and getting off of the boat for a short while was a nice diversion.

6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…..LANSARE !!!

sunetnuzgomot — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:06:41 +0000

Cam asa….mai sunt sase zile pina la lansarea primului album PUBLIKA.

Opt piese incediare, opt piese PUBLIKA. Albumul se va numi ‘’UNDE ESTI’’.

Lansarea va avea loc la MUSIC CLUB ( str.Baratiei 31, in spatele magazinului Cocor). Lume multa, presa, vip-uri, cu invitatie sau fara invitatie, va asteptam la ora 21.00.

Va spun un mic secret : baietii repeta de zor pentru lansare, intrare in scena, intro-uri, legaturi intre piese, finaluri, ce mai incolo si-ncoace munca multa si nu degeaba. Pina atunci se munceste de zor la montarea ultimului videoclip filmat de PUBLIKA, ‘’YESTERDAY’’, a carui difuzare va incepe odata cu lansarea albumului. Iata si citeva fotografii de la filmare. Sa nu uit … filmarile au fost facute la MUSIC CLUB.

Ar fi multe de povestit dar asta dupa lansare, promit !!!

Weekend Cruise

wenchhandle — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:23:57 +0000

The time of year was Autumn, ironically, and this was going to be my first “long trip” cruise. We were headed to a place that would take six hours by water. Didn’t need to bring much in the way of clothing; extra shirt, jeans, warm jacket and rain gear. So it didn’t take me long to get ready. As for Michael, the captain of the “Flying Dutchman”, 45′ Sailboat, he had more to attend to than I was aware of, such as checking over the engine, batteries, filling the water tanks and I can’t leave out socializing with all the other neighborhood boaters. Upon my arrival I was handed a handful of cash and was asked to run to the store for food. He said pick up anything, I like about everything. (His famous last words.) When I returned with the groceries it became evident that he didn’t like most of everything I bought. He was a good sport about it and said hop on board and grab a line. Then we were off.

It was a gorgeous day. You know how vivid blue the sky gets in the autumn and how the trees will turn bright yellow, orange, red and hot pink, right before they fall off the trees? Well it was that kind of day. We headed out into the Roanoke Island Sound. It was wider than any river or lake I had ever seen and there was no one else in sight. Such a rare experience for a landlubber. Not many places you can go where there isn’t someone else around. I loved it! As we headed around the port island and turned the nose to the north, the sails were pulled out and the southwest wind filled both sails. Then it was time to turn off the engine. The only sound now was the wind and boat moving thru the water and the occasional seagull or osprey. The boat was large enough that you could talk awhile, wander to another part of the boat and soak in all that the wind, water, and sky had to offer. It was difficult to not take a nap. Funny how nature alone can make you forget all the loud noise in your head. The time went by quickly.

As the sun was going down we were approaching the 65′ bridge that spanned the outer banks to the mainland. Being that Michael had a wicked since of humor, while studying the chart, he told me that the mast on the boat was too tall to go under the bridge and we were approaching the bridge at a good clip. My stress-less day just came to an end and I began to get a mind picture of the mast hitting the bridge, the boat sinking and us swimming to shore. As the mast approached the bridge it looked as tho the radio antenna, at least, was going to hit the bridge. But we passed smoothly without a collision. I can still see Michael now with that big “shit eating” grin.

On approach to the town of Edenton, the sun set and the sky was filled with streaks of colors of red, yellows, orange and grays. Once it got dark, it seemed to take us forever to get to where we were going. Eventually the moon came up, the lights on shore came on, making it difficult to see the markers. Navigation at night became a whole different set of rules. Thankfully, Michael had done this before and navigated his way to the town docks. We had arrived.

After spending two nights at Michael’s sisters beautiful Victorian Home, and one day touring the quaint sound-side town, we were back on the boat early headed back to Roanoke Island. While underway I went below and fixed myself a bowl of cerial, went back up on deck, sat down and ate. I remember thinking ” I could do this everyday”. The freedom that I felt went down to my core. I could feel it in my veins. Sounds silly, but the feeling was Real. We took our time sailing back that day. On a scale of 1 to 10, the day was another 10. The wind was on our side.

Michael took the opportunity to tell me a few things about sailing such as navigation, man overboard drills and weather. At one point he was so into what he was doing that he turned the wheel hard to the right and until the boat was turning in a large circle, after all we were the only ones out there so it seemed. It wasn’t too long until we heard, over the vhf radio, someone hailing the sailboat asking if we were alright. We knew then that we weren’t alone. In a way it was good to know incase we ran into trouble.

Later that day we arrived back at our home port, Roanoke Island. As we approached the dock, I grabbed a line and took a turn on a piling, then the next piling, while Michael at the wheel turned off the engine and the electronics. We stepped off of the boat and walked down the dock. It was then that I felt like I had left a part of myself behind on the boat. Once again, we had a perfect day.

Perfect Day!

dodobirdsrcool — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:48:39 +0000

What’s up with the title, you must be wondering.

For one, I had a perfect day today! More on it tomorrow, I promise… But for now, I’m happy to just write a short entry to spread my sentiments of bliss. The awesome company of people I hold close to my heart, a beautiful movie, a yummilicious dinner… What more can I ask for?

Also, here is one of my favorite Christian songs, “Perfect Day”. No this is not an evangelism blog. But it’s just that this song expresses my current sentiments very aptly!

Things in my life can probably be better. But, I love the wonderful people in my life and I love the peace of mind from knowing that God is watching over me.

Till the next time, cheerios! Meanwhile, smile and the world smiles with you!

just a perfect day for love 22

gala — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:28:37 +0000

PS what about your perfect day for love?

Day 10 - the smell of success

amikim — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:25:11 +0000

Warning: New Age-y post ahead. Exercise caution.

Today, let’s try to make sense of scents. :)

Specifically, my guided journal suggests thinking about the smells in your life – which ones do you love, and which ones do you hate? Do they trigger memories or feelings? I must admit, this prompt made me nervous about blogging. Not because I have traumatic associations with smell, but because I couldn’t figure out how to connect a smell exercise with my search for a calling. But at this point, 10 days into my 40 days, I’m still exploring. This is a time for opening ears, eyes and heart, for being open to messages, both open and hidden. So I’ll accept the possibility that I may not make a connection between smells and my quest for a calling and hope you, clever readers, will forgive the lack of thematic consistency.

Smells can open a doorway to discovery. Smells are an important component of my perfect day. Your ability to smell is seated in that most primitive, reptilian part of your brain. And smells can evoke memories and emotions in a way that no other sense can do. Marcel Proust wrote about how the smell of madeleines reminded him of childhood memories. Proust’s piece, which I read many, many years ago in a French class, has stuck with me, even though I could not remember a single French word of it (other than madeleines), it stuck with me for the emotion and the sensory experience. And so with the activity of recording loved and unloved scents. Suspend disbelief and accept that thinking and writing about smells and memories will awaken and perhaps amplify that mysterious and elusive internal voice. Hello? Internal voice? Wake up, dangit, we got company.

Quick exercise: write down 5 smells you love and 5 you hate. What memories do you associate with those smells?

I could write forever about the smells I loved, ranging from lavender to citrus to bacon! to baking turkey to onion and garlic sautéing to fresh laundry to great coffee to warm husband. I could write for somewhat less time about smells I disliked, from portapotties to cat boxes to mold/mildew to stale rooms without circulating air to nursing homes to heavy perfume/cologne. But what I found as I wrote was that the memory of the smell itself was fleeting, the memory of the emotion and the experience attached to the smell remained. I remember feeling an epiphany when one of my dearest high school friends told me, “I love the smell of a man’s sweat.” Whoa! The idea that one could love a smell that was not cookies or flowers or perfume was so eye-opening to my teenage mind. The suggestion that, maybe, all the commercials about being hyper clean, sterile, and smell-less might not accurately depict the ideal astonished me. Today, I wonder if our emphasis on cleanliness and sterility, in ads for deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, an entire universe of feminine hygiene products, and antibacterial everything threatens to weaken our instincts about our own health and true natures, replacing it with anxiety about our smell. I learned many years ago that some doctors will use their noses as part of their evaluation of patients, perhaps checking to see if a wound is healing properly by its smell. What revolutionaries – to get closer to their patients, to touch and smell them, rather than simply reviewing charts and numbers to make a diagnosis!

I know from personal experience what a difference smell can make on mood and comfort. Pregnant women develop supersonic noses, and things must smell just so or mama will not be happy. I remember burying my nose in a jar of lavender balm when I was in labor – thankfully I remember that more than I remember the pain of having a baby. Have you ever walked into a new friend’s house and the smell alone just made you feel so comfortable and at home? What did it smell like? How about walking into a home where the smell made you uncomfortable? Realtors often recommend that people trying to sell their houses use vanilla to make their homes smell like baking cookies in order to make buyers feel comfortable. On the flip side, hospitals can make me uncomfortable, partly because the jarring mix of smells of cleaning fluids, antiseptic and urine or sweat.

So, what can we make of all this? (drumroll please) First, I think I will work on infusing my home and work spaces with the smells that make me feel focused and happy. This means making sure the air is circulating freely and the area smells clean and fresh, perhaps a very light citrus smell (citrus is supposed to wake you up). Second, I will continue to explore those memories and feelings that smells bring up, to see what insights and lessons I derived. Hopefully the process of exploration will energize my intuition, which will move me further along in my search for my vocation.

How about you? Have you experienced any strong emotions or memories involving smell? Take a look at an excerpt (English) of Proust. It’s a lovely and short read. Francophiles can try this version.

if you like the blog, please consider sharing it with your friends

Day 9 - checklist for a perfect day

amikim — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:35:21 +0000

immerse yourself in the moment

Today the question is, what does a perfect day look like?

When I saw the question, my mind immediately leapt to my “to do” list, which would be completely done at the end of a perfect day. Or would it? Would it really be a perfect day because I returned all our library books (on time), walked the dog, ran 4 miles, cleaned out my email box, fixed dinner, helped the kids with their homework, vacuumed the rug, wrote a paper, washed the dishes? Perhaps after completing the “to dos” I’d feel a temporary sense of relief. Temporary. But wouldn’t the list – complete with the attendant anxiety – simply re-populate the next day? How is that perfect? Maybe that’s the point. Finishing one’s “to dos” doesnt make for a perfect day. Even if it were possible to finish every task on the list (I have some very high achieving friends, I’m certain they finish their to dos. Every. Single. Day. (bless their pointy little heads)), it’s not the finishing, the final checkmark or strikethrough that makes the day perfect.

So, what then?

On further reflection, it seems to me that the perfect day requires a certain state of mind, a state of mind that must be cultivated, slowly, bit-by-bit, over time. This state of mind manifests in each major area of my life (remember, this is a perfect day we’re talking about, I’m not claiming that I’m there right now). So here is my checklist:

1. A feeling of accomplishment in work done well, work that:

stretches the mind
requires creativity
requires deep effort
encourages risk taking
provides great value to others
(note that none of this has anything to do with checking off to do lists)

2. A feeling of connection to friends and family, rooted in:

meaningful conversations and interactions
intimacy
joy and frequent laughter, silliness
authenticity

3. A feeling of peace and comfort in my home and environment, based on:

the sight, feeling, smell of freshness and cleanliness (a girl can dream, even with 3 kids, a decrepit cat and a big dog)
the abundance of beautiful, warm light
a sense of peace and quiet (well, occasionally. note that this may conflict with bullet the third relating to connections to friends/family – but again, this is the perfect day, not necessarily logical reality). Serenity.
the marriage of simplicity and abundance

4. Finally, a connection to the divine, meaning that, in my work, my relationships, and my home, everything I do brings me a tiny bit closer to God.

Yes, I think if I got all of these things on my list, that would be a perfect day. And I can work a little bit on all of these things – every single day.

So, how about you? What’s on your checklist for a perfect day? Take 2 minutes RIGHT NOW to write down the things that would make your day perfect. Perfect. Don’t let the list get too long! Work on it a little every day. Don’t defer being happy for when the to do list is done. It’ll never be done. But just doing the work – working on Your perfect checklist – a little bit every day – might be enough.

P.s. - another way to think of this is to imagine today is your last day on earth. Knowing this, what would you do to make the most of it?

Music Monday

dragnew — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:31:11 +0000

Yes indeed, it’s that time of the week again. Time for Music Monday! Music I’ve been listening to or music that I feel fits my state of mind. What to choose this week…

O zi perfecta

mirceaelisei — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:30:59 +0000

E genial sa te poti trezi zambind. E genial sa zambesti de fiecare data cand vrei. Este genial ca atunci cand ai milioane de lucruri de facut si nu ai timp de nimic sa te opresti brusc si sa zambesti.

Mi s-a intamplat asta de multe ori iar acum cand lucrez la o campanie care spune NU exceselor parca o fac din ce in ce mai des. Poate deveni un exces dar cred ca este singurul pe care mi-l pot permite fara remuscari.

Cati dintre voi pot zambi cand isi doresc sa ridice mana sus! Pardon…comentariul sus!

Va doresc o zi…PERFECTA!