Siberian Cold - I welcome you!

Looking out the window, I see big flakes of wet snow falling. From my window in Spain! From my window in the southern corner of Europe where it's supposed to be warm all year round. (I've unveiled a myth.) Touching the snow falling makes me feel at home, remembering all the snowmen I've made through the years. Although I'm sure it will disappear ones it hits the ground.

This is just surreal.

Old people are beautiful

Old people know how to appreciate the small (and important) things in life. They generally are very wise and can tell you the most amazing stories from a long life. They can also teach you a thing or two.




Here are a few descriptions of old people I have seen this past week.

The week started with a small lady and her dressed up Chihuahua. Since it is so cold here, I thought it very responsible to make sure the dog wasn't freezing as well. Stopping in front of the bank, the lady began singing to her dog. The dog sat down and began wagging its tail, clearly enjoying it.

As I walked to the university one day, I saw an old man with his daughter. They were giggling a lot, and all of a sudden the old man began running! He sure proved he was in very good shape, and I couldn't help smiling. His handsome wrinkled face beamed back at me with a nearly toothless smile.

Calling my own grandmother the other day, made me feel much loved. She was thanking me for calling her all the way from Spain, and made me believe this was her highlight of the day. She told me about how much she likes her weekly trip to the local café with a friend. She gets to go out, meet people and feel part of the society.

Riding the bus yesterday, my mind being elsewhere, an old man with a barrette and a green coat sat down next to me. He began talking to me, telling me about his favourite movie. Then he asked me how old I thought he was. Taking some time to think, I told him perhaps 70. This made him so pleased, while it proved that exercising had helped keeping him young. He could tell me I was wrong by 7 years. He was very much interested in the Vikings, and made me tell him about then. The long bus ride seemed to be over before it had even started. He got off and 2 stops later I got off. I was left with a feeling of having met someone interesting.




What always makes me happy is seeing old couples walking hand in hand or kissing like the couple I saw the other day wearing identical training suits and snickers. They seemed to be very much in love, something giving me a lot of faith for the future.

Old people are beautiful.

A new morning has been born

When I woke up this morning, it was hard to let go of my dream. I had spent the night meditating in the Rocky Mountains. I had seen sunrises and sunsets, and had never imagined how beautiful the Rockies could be. There was silence, peace, fresh air, a place for filling up on energies...




Looking out the window, I saw 10 hot air balloons. Pinching my arm, I discovered it had to be real. Going out on the balcony to see them better, a man waved down at me from the nearest one. And I waved back.

I normally wouldn't respond to this, but....

I've been tagged by Call if you need me.

Here are the rules of the game:
1. The tagged victim has to come up with 8 different points of their perfect lover.
2. Need to mention the sex of the target.
3. Tag 8 victims to join this game & leave a comment on their blog saying they've been tagged.
4. If tagged the 2nd time, there's no need to post again.

My perfect lover is a male who...

1. Dances merengue.
2. Eats vegetables.
3. Does his best to make the world a little bit better.
4. Talks about "us" rather than "me" and "you".
5. Shares my future hopes and desires.
6. Makes me become a better person.
7. Is beautiful.
8. Is magic...

Oh, whaddayaknow, I think I've just described Tito! ;o)

I choose to tag... CattyCanadian, Mildrid, Skaperen and
Vox Cani.

A tidal wave

Stress, nervousness, lack of sleep, inadequateness, unwellness, a mountain of heavy schoolwork due, frustrations, despair... All washed away.

Reading makes magic

Reading makes magic by Wendy Christensen

Willow loves reading fiction.
Willow has exams within a 3 weeks time.

Question 1: Should Willow be allowed to spend part of her spare time reading something she truly enjoys, something magic?

Question 2: Would reading something pleasant actually motivate Willow to more efficient studying for her exams afterwards?

And that was the end of winter and snow

Unfortunately all good things have an end. So do Christmas vaccations. Being on the move for 16 hours took me back to the Warm South (that is not all that warm.) It's good to be back, although I'm left with a feeling of emptyness where my family, friends back home and Tito have been. Does anyone want to keep me company?

Happy New Year 2006!

There is no such thing as cold weather - just inapropiate clothing

It's been cold, but that could not keep the two ski-enthusiasts away from the forest!

-16 degrees. Powdery snow. Silence. Frost smoke. A few other skiers greeting you. A hot tea and packed lunch break in the middle of the forest. A low, shining sun. Glitter on snow. Hills. A few falls in the soft snow... Skiing into the sunset at 3:00pm. Two big smiles packed in under thick scarves and woolen hats.



And hot chocolate by the fireplace afterwards. A wondrous day!

Merry Christmas!

Special thoughts go out to all our loved ones. May you be happy and successful in all your doings. Hugs&Kisses

Tito&Willow

Ginger, chocolate and love

Creating a future tradition
Constructing a home
Building a gingerbread cookiehouse.
Tito & Willow

Home at last!

Surrounded by Tito's arms, I'm right where I want to be. Looking forward to spend a wonderful Christmas together, I feel fortunate, happy and loved.

Cups of coffee

Being the second last day of school before the holidays, people seem to be in a very good mood. Personally I feel very ready for going home to be with my family, my friends, and most importantly with Tito. Only 4 students showed up at today's final class, so our professor invited us for coffee in the university cafeteria. I had brought ginger cookies. Sharing stories about language, about archaeological fieldtrips to France and our study, I was enjoying myself a lot. I have great fellow students and great professors.

Santa Lucia

December 13th is a date I associate with joy and expectations. When I was a little girl we used to celebrate the day of Santa Lucia every year, dressing up in white robes and glitter. Our parents helped us make some special yellow cakes with saffron that we put in a basket. With cakes and a lit candlelight, we would go out in the snow after dark. Then we would knock on all our neighbours' doors and sing the Lucia-song when they opened. We would give them a cake and got sweets, cookies and mandarins in return. Such nice memories.

3rd Sunday of Advent

I love sleepy Sundays. This one I plan to spend relaxing on the sofa with a good book. I'll have tea and cookies, and my candle is already lit. What's your Sunday like?

Going away for a few days to Lisbon with friends

Lessons learned:

1. Make sure to ask at any transit bus station if the city has more than one station!





2. If you happen not to ask, don't despair if you are stranded in an unknown city in the middle of the night - there is always a way out.


3. The value of having a network can never be underestimated: If you make a nightly emergency-call to the only person you know in the city, and you're told that "no problem, you can crash at my place for the night," you feel very grateful. Thank you, Chris!!!


4. Dancing Merengue can make you feel better no matter how tired, stressed and hungry you are.


5. A Spanish tortilla tastes like the most amazing thing you've ever had when you're tired, stressed and hungry at 4:00 am.


6. An extra blanket will help you freeze less during the night.


7. Don't despair if you're made to wait and wait and wait, while given a thousand contradictory messages at the bus station the morning after you should have left.


8. A call from Tito telling you everything will be all right while waiting for further notice, can almost make you cry. And as usual, Tito is not wrong. Your ticket, that you were told was lost several times before, is finally changed. You can lean back, start breathing again and enjoy the 6 hours bus-ride to Lisbon.

Highlights:

1. The castles of Sintra.


2. The amazing greenness of the region (green grass, green trees and green bushes as far as you can see.)


3. Having an authentic bacalao with port-wine.


4. The view from the São Jorge castle.


5. 17 degrees in December.


6. Meeting lots of great people.

2nd Sunday of Advent

I forgot the last one, but this one I made sure to remember. Getting up at 8:00am, I went to the living room wearing my overly sweet teddybear-patterned pyjamas. Cuddling myself up in the sofa under a thick blanket, with my breakfast and a cup of lovely lemon-tea, I was ready for a day of pure enjoyment. Turning on the TV, I watched cartoons for a couple of hours - just like I used to do when I was a child. Some things you just never grow too old for, and I did enjoy every minute of it. Lighting my apple-scented candle, I started writing Christmas cards. I love the tradition of sending (and receiving!) cards to my loved ones.




Feeling a touch of Christmas spirit (as a result of a txt from my family telling me they were making gingerbread cookies), I too decided to make cookies. And, without any false modesty, they turned out pretty damn delicious! Anyone wants to taste?

Sensing India

When I go with Kim and the Tibetan holy lama on the te-rain to Benares, I can almost hear India. When Kim changes his Sahib schoolboy clothes for the attire of a low-caste Hindi boy, I can almost see India. When he licks his finger after having consumed a greasy mutton with cabbage accompanied by rice with a scent of cardamom, I can almost taste India. When Kim has run away from the infantry and is enjoying his freedom on the road, I can almost feel India.

Reading a good book is a wonderful thing, and the reality-escape is even better. Does your book take you to far away places where you forget everything about time and space?

A blue ship

When Willow woke up from a nap between the two towers of her university one day, the big Roman-arched windows gave her a beautiful view over her new city. The landscape was covered by a soft coat of fog, and this in turn resulted in a rather blue colour. Way out there, Willow had her eyes fixed on a big, blue cargo ship. It was loaded with containers, right next to the tall pipe. It seemed lying so peacefully at the dock, caressed by the fog. It made Willow feel calm as well. But only for a moment. She suddenly remembered that she could not possibly be looking at a ship, as the ocean happened to be miles and miles away. A port was also out of the question. Realizing that she must have been a whole lot more tired and overworked than she had thought, she started to worry.

When I woke up this morning...

...I put on my helmet and started the engine of my little plane. I needed some fresh air and a new perspective, so I decided to fly away. With the cool, fresh air in my face, I looked down on golden fields of corn, enormous forests where deer were grassing, I saw farmers taking a break in the middle of the day and neighbours chatting together. I went over the wild mountains, and it started snowing. But as my little plane is a very good one, it didn't matter. Feeling free like a bird, I took another round. Hearing nothing but the noise coming from my engine, my thoughts sailed away on waves. Flying through a beautiful rainbow I had nearly reached my destination. Ones down on the ground, I was greeted by a "Hello Willow", a kiss and a warm big hug. "I've been missing you, Tito", I said. On my way home in my little plane, I felt butterflies in my stomach.