Although relying on them in the long run kills the natural ability that we all have -if not anywhere else very deep inside- to find our own way to do things. And if "the fun is in the process" why to reduce it to simply follow instructions? I, the prototype militant of a high context culture, simply cannnnnnnot! I still purchase an artefact, figure how to assemble it and then, only then, realize there where leaflets with step to step guides and "how tos." (My next post on high and low culture contexts, I will not procrastinate any longer!) THIS characteristic I greatly appreciate for it does not mean indiscipline but resourcefulness. It all depends how to look at it, right? Anyway it is hard to share a life with a low context culture icon who still consults the map to go to work every morning, and builds up his schedule around the weather channel recommendations... On the other hand, when even creative processes become rationalized, explained, organized, and almost legislated nothing out of the ordinary remains in them. Any activity devaluates when it is put into a catalogue, a yellow and black for dummies book, and compilations "in a nut shell." I am disappointed at the mere thought of finding a manual to make blogs popular or interesting. Are not blogs precisely about being whatever it is not already defined? I do not want to see the decline of the spirit of blogging. Popular or not, with traffic or without, green, yellow and daring pink as well! Uniformity, standardization and commonalities should not be promoted in this spaces that are created in strict exercise of the freedom of expression!
Today I was feeling in the clouds thinking in clichés and friendship, love and human kind-kind and then received a crushing email that literally transpired rage. It was not about me, nor against me but it completely turned me off. Words have the power of transmitting emotions, and emotions can be contagious! No more listening to The Carpenters or Air Supply today (How could I dare anyway???) But I am not angry, just turned off. Down to earth...Why she is doing that anyway???
This sampler is brought from Italy and hangs at Lula´s place. She is the one that teaches Roman mosaic techniques. She also collects heads and limbs made of clay, displayed around her house in little urns, waiting for me to take discrete pictures one of these days.
CASO 1: El caso es que la gente sigue histérica con la campaña de personalidades que mantiene el país en el vilo de la incertidumbre emocional, por que la polémica (como casi todo en España) está sentada sobre la base de lo que se siente y no de lo que se razona, y por que no existen nociones generalizadas (algunos, sin mucha audiencia si que las tienen y muy claras) sobre lo que es mejor para el país. Los periodistas, histriónicos y posudos, siguen siendo los que peor informan sobre la situación nacional, mas enfocados en su protagonismo que en las expectativas de los "patriarcas" aspirantes a presidente para el próximo período y como siempre dándole mas importancia de la que tiene a las palabras fuera de contexto, a los moderadores de debates, a los modelitos de cada noticiario o a los escenarios televisivos y las condescendientes observaciones de los políticos que saben muy bien que es lo que juegan. Aqui se juega el juego de gustarle a los medios. El contenido de las propuestas de los partidos ya no es sustantivo. Reitero, me reitero!, enfatizo y sigo con mi impopular línea de pensamiento: Los españoles no piensan a la hora de participar. Se relacionan a nivel del cerebelum. Se casan con los partidos políticos, se lanzan en conjeturas, se enamoran de las imágenes que proyectan los implicados y se limitan al anecdotario personal: "Es que pago mucho mas por la leche de lo que pagaba hace un año y dos y cuatro!". Parece que este se convirtió en el problema nacional prioritario... ¿Será que necesitan un presidente que ponga la leche a un buen precio y nada mas? ¿En que planeta viven? ¿Acaso es distinto en alguna otra parte del mundo?. El universo son ellos! Como los teocráticos. Para cada uno de los españoles su tragedia es la que el gobierno tiene que atender y no otra. Una respuesta típica que le darían a lo que refiero aquí sería mas o menos como sigue: -¿Y de donde eres tu? (si, tutean a todo el mundo, así es la usanza), -Echando mano a las irrelevancias de siempre, lo no argumentativo- No eres de America del Sur? -Saben muy bien que si, que soy colombiana, por mi acento único y característico, pese a lo cual les concedo el beneficio de la duda y respondo con un escueto si, soy suramericana! -Pues en tu país tiene que ser peor! SIEMPRE me hacen el mismo comentario estos sofistas empedernidos, escapistas profesionales, etnocéntricos en crónica negación, ¿Pero qué tendra esto que ver? ¿Pero quién dijo que tenía que ser peor en cualquier otra parte y como los consuela semejante especulación? ¿Será simplemente un intento racionalizador??? Si yo fuera igual de simplista no optaría por el candidato PATERFAMILIAS que juega a estar indignado por todo, el que tan tranquilamente ha triturado la confianza de los ciudadanos en el gobierno, que sea como haya sido debió haber recibido apoyo en lo fundamental. El gobierno socialista que no me representa, ni es de ideas que comparta sin objeciónes ha sido obstaculizado por una oposición en campaña hace ya cuatro años. En el plano no político pero consumible, y consumido igual (o más) existen personajes como Maria Patiño o Karmele, pseudo periodistas que los seres pensantes no sabemos como catalogar mas alla de su penosa apariencia física, y exclusivamente por que eso es lo que mas parece importarles. Lo peor es que convocan! Esto solo demuestra mi tésis sobre la antropología cultural española. De razonamientos nada de nada!
CASO 2: El caso es que siguen llamando consumición al consumo, incidencia al incidente y reclamo a la publicidad. Aceptados por la Real Academia o no estos son los términos HORROR del lenguaje. Si éste tiene que evolucionar por que lo tiene que hacer en esa dirección? De dequeismo negativo ni hablo. "Estoy seguro que" ignorando que a la pregunta ¿DE que estas seguro? la respuesta acertada sería: "Estoy seguro DE que....y blablablabla... No soy experta pero si doliente, hispanoparlante. Me equivoco y mucho pero rectifico en lo posible.
CASO 3: Joonas va a cumplir tres años y no deja de llamar LULILA a la libélula, TALALA a la ensalada o AGGGRRRO al arroz. ¿ En que momento es oportuno consultar a un fonoaudiólogo?
La foto es de Carolina mi cuñada y Valentina su hija en La Finca La Picona, La Pintada, Antioquia, Colombia. La criatura que protagoniza la imagen es Emilio, y no, no vuela, es perro!
1. I bought a seasonal magazine (Much more thematic than February ELLE) 2. I plan to visit the Cathedral of LUGO (Have I mentioned earlier how very little I appreciate these type of edifices?) 3. I read and spoke about Isabel la Católica, and even tried to find something positive about her adventures in foreign policy and other"wise," 4. I will try to eat more fish despite its escalating market value (Fresh MERLUZA at the unprecedented price of 116EUR per kilo in the closest shop which by the way I thought was a discount food chain (¿?STILL PUZZLED¿?), 5. I am using mostly PURPLE in our new blog ( www.maromasdeltorpe.blogspot.com). Is not purple a lenty-like color? It is not an easter one, certainly...mmmhhh... 6. I am making discrete sacrifices daily. For example, yesterday I refrained from making a fabulous chocolate cake; it was too easy. I decided to make it later, and much more complicated, 7. I have noticed it at all ( YES! LENT!) despite the negligible impact it has always had on my practical life (It did disturbed me a little not to be able to dispute the imposition of the wet ashes cross on my clean forehead when I was a child. I did not carry it with grace...I must admit though, that some classmates seemed more beautiful with that "symbol on top" -more than without-)
Not too many, just enough, but I still can apply for redemption later.
Driving every day along the Potomac River Josefina Alexandria´s pier and Art Studios Ice creams on lazy Sunday Afternoons (In Alexandria!) Living in a quiet street of Mclean, only half hour away from Middlesburg A community center where I could purchase virtually any magazine for 10cents a piece Book fairs at the same community center Toddler group meetings Colourful gardens Playgrounds A very International Community The Mongolian Barbecue Estate sales Barnes and Nobel in "M" street open every day of the week until midnight Its coffee shop Good deals any time, anywhere Traffic rules that make sense Careful driving Sutton place´s roast beef sandwiches Reasonable utility bills Barbara and the girls A newborn Juulia "Sequoia" Weekend Brunches in the Kennedy Center The Washington College of Law
JAAN: I too miss things from Washington: Cactus Cantina on Wisconcin Ave. Sam Adams beer Brickskeller Public golf course at Potomac river Cherry blossoms around National Cathedral area list will be updated...
Adivina cual es diferente de las otras, antes que termine de cantar...
Todas estas fotos son del album de Marrakech, pero aunque repetidas me encantan por que se ven tan contentos...son niños felices! Sobre el espíritu de la cuaresma aqui, por que tenemos un nuevo blog, un experimento! Para los que tengan tiempo y/o interes en leer mas allá de ésto! http://maromasdeltorpe.blogspot.com/
On an attic, in Lyon, France. Then displayed on "her" ryad in Marrakesh, where we stayed last January. The painting impressed me because of the precarious state in which men where fighting during that war (WWI). Not that war is a safe activity ever, but the first image portrays in a pathetic way what being a soldier meant at the time. He is there all alone and his life rests on his back. The second photo is a card that shows the fights of armed and empowered men. They are more violent, for the struggle is manifest, but contrary to the other, it shows power, strength and vitality. The tragic war and the art of war.
Pero no resisto una pelea mas por comida. Con el niño de esta casa es imposible relajarse; no sirve ninguna regla, no hay táctica ni política que funcione por que es una persona completamente fuera de lo común, increiblemente obstinada, y con una voluntad y un orgullo como el que no he conocido en mis casi 40 años de vida. Con el no se razona ni se logra compromiso alguno. La lista de no quiero/no me gusta/no voy a comer eso fue aplicada esta semana a los siguientes grupos alimenticios: Cereales no: avena, arroz, maiz, pan integral, galletas integrales Lacteos no: leche, queso blanco, queso havarti, queso feta, mantequilla Proteinas ni riesgos: huevos/pescados por ningun motivo y todo lo anterior Frutas jamás: naranja, kiwi, uva Otros productos no: sopas de cualquier tipo (lo favorito por los últimos 12 meses de su corta vida), pasta, mayonesa, salsas, condimentos, etc. Comió: pasas. Tomó: Agua y jugo de melocotón. Leyó: Trenes, de Richard Scarry "Busytown"; Durmió muy bien.
Yo, por mi parte encontraría consuelo en una receta como estacomo solía en Washington DC.
Y si, claro que sigo con el mosaico. Esta semana después de 5 meses de intenso trabajose ve el pobre todavia muy a medias y asi:
Brainstorm in their most memorable moments: the videos of "My star," and "maybe." I could not find the song they play in "Lotte" but sooner or later I will. For those from the other side of the Atlantic: They are the signature band of Latvian pop music, although probably they would rather be in the rock, more traditional side...or would have, it has seemed to me. In any case, Emil likes them and the rest of us sort of enjoy their music also...but the very best ones are more recent such as the two at the end of this post: "a thunder without rain" and "a day before tomorrow." Enjoy!
I have no idea what I should be starting with today, I am not a reliable narrator. Thoughts cling in between lines, and the events get lost in badly choosen expressions. I have a terrible English day! But my mind is imploding and I will give it a try given that we have not been very communicative lately; Without any special introduction let´s say that it was Saturday, very late in the evening when my deepest thoughts then immersed in a festive decorating mood, a real wave of creativity and daydreaming collided with real life concerns. First of them (chronologically speaking, for it was not the most important matter of the past week) a coughing attack; A late indication of the respiratory condition of Joonas...The three children, in mathematical sequence, got ill and incorporated their cranky beings to my daily (on duty 24 hours) routine. They are afflicted by bronchitis. The second, more compelling and thought provoking, a terrible case of domestic abuse. I was swimming in a pool of illustrations, prints and drawings, surfing the internet and bookmarking inspiring sites, reading decorating dramas on the web and touched by remodelling experiences for less than 500EUR (A self induced nirvana for the kind, my kind), when a woman who was in down town Madrid, with a one year old baby in her arms, trying to escape her abusive partner, with no more than 2EUR in her pocket called to J. She was sore and bruised all over her body and had just arrived in a train from a different province of the country. She wanted to go back to Estonia and feared that the man, like he had done before in 2 occasions, would find them and bring them back home by the hair only to recruit her back as his personal slave. There are too many details to the story but surely not needed to reflect on what that meant to us. This entry is not about her story but about the moral dilemma that situations like these pose to people who´s lives are disrupted only by heavy traffic, a rude neighbour, or a dish too salty. How to define social responsibility, or else, whatever it is that a person who lives a comfortable, if not a perfect life has to assume when there is a call from someone in need? It does not have to be a telephone call, as we received, it could very well be a realization of the ridicule one could perform if letting small constrains and negligible mishaps disturb us. People suffer, really suffer very much and about most of that suffering we cannot do much. Sudan is too far, the Bosnian victims unreachable, we have no call to go on missions or to participate in charitable events. Some of us do not march against terrorism, but we could do something else. It is not about morals alone, but about practical living. The world would be better if we cared a bit more for the happiness (satisfaction?) of those around us. Why we afford depriving close relatives and friends from the minimum care and affection? Why we get busy with crap (most TV programming for example, gossiping, being mean and resentful, etc.) instead of sharing more of our time and efforts in constructive deeds? What a boring living room, an old sofa or an unsymmetrical wall mean when people suffer such tragedies? Can one be absent from the world miseries and concentrate in those small, superfluous details? Should one not be at least, if not engaged with projects or charity directly, be more concious, kinder, solidary, generous and at least less frivolous when choosing how to spend our worrying energy about? This case completely removed me from the decoration emergency I was experiencing, and up to now I have been unable to get into cool design or wonderful cuisine blogs again. The woman and the child stayed with us a couple of days (It was not only shocking but also very educational to Emil, Juulia and even Joonas who showed excess attention withdrawal symptoms) and finally was escorted to the plane by J. this morning. Her tragedy is far from over. A woman who enters and stays years in an abusive relationship thinks very little about her self and has plenty of self esteem issues to deal with before she recovers her dignity and can manage to establish healthy relationships. Now, even more than before, stripped from self worth she is vulnerable to fall into another abusive cycle. People like her are struggling a lifetime with these problems, often with very little help/support. Others spend (waste?) years of their lives worrying about things: clothes, furniture, ornaments, cosmetics, wall paper, etc... and get sponsored, endorsed, and admired. I like objects as well, beautiful ones. I tend to like them too much, and I feel sorry to concentrate on that exclusively, sometimes. It really happens only sometimes. I am taking pictures of the letter E to use later in print, maybe even to include them in the book that one day I hope to publish with Emil´s recipes. I had taken many, but they are lost with the laptop´s hard drive. I was left with only with these 3:
As announced, Brainstorm again. More "mature" and consolidated 1. Thunder without rain and 2. A day before tomorrow:
