Akne(15) AKA Emil(15)

Life with a 15 year old. To be translated, soon...

Image procured from Postimees, by his observing father.

Geddafi/Kadafi is at home

Or so it appeared in my window to the world: NHK World, with an umbrella. Was it really rainy in Tripoli or was it another sign of Geddafi/Kadafi disctinctive style? Just the same we experienced in Lombardy, rain and much rain!
Above, the mini-mini Fiat 500 o new version of the former Topolino that we could rent to go to the lakes, A view from Bergamo and a flower I am determined to plant in my garden as soon as I can figure what it is, and irressistible olives at a huge market in Brescia on Sta.Lucia´s day.

A real update, a matter of fact or the import of yet more problems into Latin America?

Illustrating the similarities. Just to clarify: they are of different age and born in distant continents.

Can Latin America swallow Venezuela identifying, protecting and patronizing a Lybian dictator with a poker face? What a mishap for the neighboring countries, I really thought Hugo could no no worse to his country and the continent. Will we see his fall also some years from now?

Y va Libia!

Cambios de regimen o de personajes, la cuestion es que la ola de oposicion productiva sigue. Ojala que Yemen no se quede atras. Todos los regimenes desesperan, y que tomen nota los que aunque alejados podrian terminar igual: Rusia, Venezuela, Corea del Norte y demas. El momento de la caida llega para todos y esos lideres intocables terminan huyendo. Por que la gente no perdona el autoritarismo nisiquiera el que conduce al progreso: Iran, Egipto, CHILE??? Que humanidad la nuestra. No se entiende. Y el multiculturalismo que no funciona, y tanto expansionismo comercial que trivializa el sufrimiento de la gran mayoria, y las cosas de todos los dias...las que parecen irrelevantes.
Y que el calentamiento global me lo explique alguien por que lo que esta pasando y siendo presentado como la via a una era glacial en Estonia es que nos despertamos a -30 grados centigrados. Las tuberias estan congeladas, hasta dejamos a Kyoko entrar en la casa...QUE LLEGUE LA PRIMAVERA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
De Italia, buenos recuerdos y algunas fotos de los dias lluviosos que nos tocaron. Pronto. Mucho trabajo. Ya casi. A Estocolmo. En unos dias.

Wise steps to take ahead

HEYYYY, just a minute!

What regime now will be really democratic? Egypt without Mubarak needs too many changes so this unprecedented step would not be a waste (possible only in there, what would happen if anything like that would have taken place in Libya, Jordan, Morocco or Saudi Arabia instead? Do not they want, need or deserve the so call democracy that Egyptians claim to request?). What Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, Nicaraguans and Bolivians think about this?

Has democracy been achieved? This massive hysteria seems very scary to me, specially if after few years something like the rise of fundamentalism also takes place in that country. What will happen with the peace processes advanced with Israel?

Hopefully the very best for that country, region and people' s will follow. This is REALLY a renewal year, the one of the rabbit/cat.

Estonica

This is a good source of information about Estonia, an On-line Encyclopedia.

This is a Web-comic that I could identify with today. Oatmeal is the name of the site. Title on the post: "If you do this in an Email I will hate you:"

Agotador

Y sectario como a los que mas critica. El fundamentalista mayor, con el discurso mas poco creible de toda Espana simplemente por lo emocional y poco objetivo. No verifica ni evoluciona, no balancea su repertorio de datos, insulta, pero triztemente se siente el vengador de las causas -todas-, e injustamente descalificado. Calma! Ojala no le dieran tal relevancia, para que la polarizacion se redujera. Por que hay que ser una cosa o la otra? Es que el que no es derechista es izquierdista y por ende cabalga en las filas del comunismo y es aliado intelectual de Kim-JongII? Es Rodriguez Z. realmente el mas anomalo e incapaz de los lideres politicos que ha pasado por el gobierno espanol? A casi todos los observadores nos parece un normalisimo y predecible socialista. Liquidarlo politicamente es una tarea imposible! Este es Hermann Tertsch, a secas. Su linaje a estas alturas no importa. Describe a su pais como se imagina uno la tribu ultima neardental y todo el merito de su posicion se empobrece con esta propuesta de terminologia extremista. Como todo!

Seguimoscoleccionandoimagenesdeabsolut

Stretching the joy

Juulia made a felt brooch for me today. I wish I had the time to make beautiful things hand made jewelry like that or objects that are simply beautiful, like the pin cushions above by piece of cake felting projects. But what to do with them next? Where to keep them? How long this indie fashion of DIY and handmade artsy stuff will last?

Image by Pille from her fantastic blog nami nami. Find her recipes on the link to your right!

Mango lassi cheesecake by Heidi Park, from morning to evening. Recommended. It may be the best cheese cake I have tried so far, and the baker also prepares AREQUIPE (with all the letters) cheesecakes. Shaking off the Colombian experience is difficult! She visited and brought a bit of its flavor back with her all the way into ESTONIA! I also had luck this evening with an avocado. Very seldom I cut open one so ripe and mellow, evenly ready, delicious, we combined it daringly with rattatuille a la Jaan. the combination was really a match!

I knew it, anything with a good avocado becomes heavenly, does not it?

News. Egyptian democracy?

From the same website

The Super Bowl in USA: Distracting for fewer than suspected. The spectacle of the year, a great revenue for TV producers...Nothing else matters there. THERE. Here, plenty more is taking place.

The newly discovered relevance of an otherwise confused constituency in Egypt? People need to have a say, but democracy is NOT THE RULE OF THE MOB. It is also fallacious to think that the popular will struggles for the general welfare. Mobs are emotional and polluted by distress and desperation. Objectivity is absent from their claims. Democracy in this country will not be created with an act or two. The process that this requires must follow the established rules, the procedural justice, what the emotional discourse of socialists from far Europe do not consider, the rule of law, the basic doctrine of their staple/favorite system: democracy. However none thinks about alternatives, and much less about the consequences of the Egyptian irrational -even if justified- widespread hysteria. Looking a step or two ahead would be much more responsible that claiming an abstract and detached support for this uprising.

Why no journalist asks one of the demonstrators -or several of them- what do they want? What are their expectations? Beyond the stereotypical and thoughtless chant-like answer: "Mubarak out and fuck America," they have NOTHING to say. They do not know.

And who says that every country would be better off becoming democratic? Is not this something that the same constituency must figure on its own?

Distraida/Too distracted to be able to work

What is in a Greek yogurt that the others cannot match? Unavailable in Estonia...

Hoy sigo en las nubes ahora pensando en un yogurt griego con higos y melocotones, ademas de miel y exracto de vainilla....

Can't concentrate in anything else but rich creamy, fatty Greek yogurt (like creme fraiche) with caramelized figs (self made), peaches or apricots and honey. Vanilla extract would also help adding flavor to this craving.

Being European

Seems to signify that by default, a person needs to be anti American. I find the attitude difficult to understand. Public and categoric statements about detesting the American culture and people or lifestyle in TV, by journalists and politicians have to sound inappropriate to any person with a little bit of perspective and multicultural training. Pilar Boyero, for example, maybe (?) a great singer, but nothing else. In the thinking she should be no leader. I could barely assign any worth to her many many comments during a recent broadcast in the Extremadura channel on satelite TV. If I were in charge of her image, my recommendation would be to talk more intelligently -or to stick to singing copla-

Now that in NY smoking is being prohibited in the parks and beaches, most media personalities use the opportunity to expose the topical opinions, the cliches and criticism about excessive control (Excess regulation they speak from the paradigmatic region of the complicated procedures, The EU!). Can't anybody see the merit of prohibiting cigarette buds contaminating the environment, impregnated in nicotine that every toddler finds and sucks while parents sunbathe during the Summer months? I applaud the message although regret that people have to be told something so common sensical: Cigarette buds are polluting, dangerous, gross, and should be disposed of properly. In Estonia I have had evil thoughts about those who care little for their beautiful beaches as well. So many leave their 2 lt plastic bottles behind, but will we have to prohibit drinking any beverage by the sea? Interesting idea if sanctions consisted of cleaning public spaces, for free, several months in a row...Forced labor that is, but we are all forced to recycle for example. I DO SEE THE CONNECTION! :)

I was appalled by the image of downtown cafeterias and coffee bars in Madrid. Never before I went to any place where people in disregard of basic manners, threw the garbage to the floor. Any of these establishments in the capital of Spain hoarded at the time, innumerable napkins, residue of food and cigarette waste all over, except from counter and table tops.

I was the most surprised when after politely daring to ask once, Why littering was allowed? and Why not to place some bins to dispose of the trash? (the barman noticed my south American accent) the answer was: But where are you coming from? Colombia? Do not tell me that you do any better! Colombians must be much dirtier than us! What a display of talent...I was not going to try convincing this anonymous guy on that in fact this was really an authentic/indigenous Spanish habit (left from Madrid 3 years ago, maybe it all has changed). One that is difficult to get used to. However, foreigners love Spain, and I have not heard anybody claiming that they are nasty people. Why Europeans like to pick on Americans so much? Who does not have "RABO DE PAJA?"

LET'S OBJECTIFY OR AT LEAST BALANCE THAT! If there was only a bit of diversity and few anti Venezuelan, some anti Chinese, several anti North Korean. Or what about not committing so hard and definitively to anything so abstract as hating an entire culture/country? Being nice to people and working hard makes up for an empty mind. Shake off the stereotypical politic views and just live.

Dia mundial contra el cancer

Chocolates fuera del alcance de Joonas, El establo en Purtse, 2009

Comer sano, superar dificultades, relajarse simplificando la vida, tranquilidad, silencio, recato, deteccion precoz o cuidados profilacticos, hacer ejercicio, algo de buena suerte, asistencia medica profesional, terapias complementarias, apoyo, dedicacion, acompanamiento, buenos amigos, alejarse por completo del cigarrillo, y en resumen vivir una buena vida.

Casi todo posible. Aveces el cancer nos despierta del letargo de la vida comoda y el sinsentido pero no deberiamos necesitar una tragedia para vivir bien. En los ultimos anos muchas personas que conocemos y queremos han sufrido de cancer. Las historias tragicas abundan y nos hacen tambalear en la propia lucha, la de Jaan y de esta familia que ha tenido una leucemia que enfrentar. No hay victorias definitivas sino pequenos logros que tenemos que apreciar. Unos meses mas de vida, tratamientos que nos dan esperanza, aprecio por lo cotidiano, emociones renovadas, desprendimientos positivos. Hay cosas que agradecer, que sigue vivo hoy, y esperemos que por mucho tiempo, el suficiente para tener experencias gratificantes, para crear recuerdos felices.

Todos podemos vivir mejor

En los burdeles de Venecia tambien se daba de comer. Alli como tentempie se creo el famosisimo tiramisu, por los anos 50. Aqui hablamos de la receta de Emil, de cuando cocinaba (durante la adolescencia los intereses se suspenden...). Hoy les recuerdo lo facil que se hace, para endulzar este fin de semana y vivir mejor:

Huevos, azucar y mascarpone mezclados con fuerza hasta espumarlos (separadamente). 4 huevos, 200g de azucar, y 500g del queso. Homogenizar a mano. Las galletas deditos (lady fingers/savoiardi/soletillas) se remojan en cafe con licor de almendra o amaretto, al gusto, y se comienza a organizar el postre en capas. Se refrigera y se pone al servir con cacao espolvoreado por encima o chocolate en trocitos. A mi me gusta con ambos y el chocolae con naranja. Jaffa! Lo voy a hacer manana para todos, por la vida de Jaan, de Veronica, de mi papa, y todos los que con tanta dignidad han vivido esta enfermedad, y los que los hemos acompanado.

When things are not discussed early, clearly with the rigth people

Calligraphic art by Margaret Shepherd

Disputes take place. Disagreement is better than misunderstandings and what they may cause.
Conflict is not bad, it could be a great opportunity to review positions, relationships, attitudes, opinions. To transform, evolve, progress.
Constructive conflict management is a skill as useful as good reading. Sometimes the problems lie exclusively in the way people interpret signs.

Dormir en la cama de los padres

J. se fue para USA y me quedo con los ninos hasta tardisimo en la cama, Joonas se queda conmigo. Lo disfruto, ahora mas cuando comienzo a sentir que Emil va desprendiendose de todo, del "nosotros" 5, de los programas de fin de semana, de las opiniones familiares, ya no hablamos con certeza en nombre de todos. Somos Emil, y los otros 4. No crece mas, pero se independiza. Me aferro entonces a Joonas que todavia piensa solo en sus papas y en complacer a la mama siendo el nino mas bueno, mas fuerte y mas sabido del mundo, es que lo es. Febrero parece lejano y lo del transplante inefinido. La acumulacion de hierro en el higado crea un riesgo que no parecen estar dispuestos a correr en Estocolmo. Esta ha sido una historia larga de muchisimo suspenso. Continuara.

Sigo queriendo un ex/libris tipo sello y si consiguiera material esculpible y cincelitos lo haria muy simple. Aqui de navidad, como siempre llegaron muchos libros mas, para J. por ejemplo, SNOW COUNTRY. Hermoso, japones, famoso, elegante.

Fotos, los hijos comiendo muchisimo, sabado en la cocina de la casa. Cerdo, papas con crema, queso y brocoli, torta de chocolate, galletas de avena y morcilla estonia de navidad con repollo agrio.

Felices en esta navidad

Por que va a haber un bebe nuevo en la familia. Por que Jaan sigue hasta ahora en remision y con la posibilidad real de un transplante. Hoy todo parece perfecto.

A reason to attend one's life

Another blue house for my collection of images with blue houses :). This time by kukuxumusu. Needless to say I want to paint this house blue. DARK cobalt blue. On the outside. I think my neighbors could not cope with such decision. Lucky them I have no time to deal with it.

I was going to have visitors today. MANY. I had not even paid attention to this place around me for a couple of months. A LOT. I had to work on rebuilding a normal living space, clean, cozy and family friendly (with food, for instance) for the past 8 hours. I have not finished, but everything begins seeming normal. NOT TOO GOOD. Just OK. Dinner is ready with pluses, the air smells cake and quiche, the sanitation of the house was excellent corner by corner. I spent a bit of my cherished pine cleaner and Marsella soap for the walls and furniture. I placed candles  strategically and planned for the snacks and dips while in the meantime I received mobile messages and emails from the group. I noticed them a minute ago. They cannot come. NONE. It is snowy, cold, someone has fever, the other emotional exhaustion, a fourth remembered a previous engagement, and there are few who did not explain why. It does not matter. I could have read a book but I am glad I did not.

I have had a terrible week, of course not the worst of this horrible year. This day has been useful to get my home back. It was not a waste but I do not think I will be volunteering for the a sewing evening anytime soon.

Things to change

Why my 14 year old believes (with cult/like passion) that he needs a phone that could overtake his life and simplify every possible activity to the point of turning him into an inert entity, unable to operate, survive and be satisfied without the object (the phone) that provides him with instant satisfaction and accessibility to everything at any time, anywhere? Every other child in this country is spoiled with the most advanced technology at such age. What they will be even able to desire few years later, if anything? I predict a short span of attention, very little satisfaction, lack of appreciation of what really matters, reduced emphaty, and insatiable appetite for gadgets. This is all programming them to have unlimited money *needs* and therefore to turn their parents into slaves to their demands.
Why people do not notice this happening? It seems that I am the only one around refusing to purchase an iphone or a nokia N900 while I still keep my many years old simple calling device...
Instead I wish to go to the Autumn show at the Kyoto palace in Japan, also to Spain to see our friend Eva and her family. Jaan hopes to make the pilgrimage to Santiago, and Joonas is OK with a chocolate candy every evening. Juulia cannot make up her mind, she is at the threshold of adolescence sometimes happy with very little and others feeling terrible for the misfortune of everyday routines but in general, she finds comfort in anime drawing and crafting. It is the boy, at 14 who out of the sudden wants nothing else but things, very expensive and unnecessary ones.

Dream Eater Merry will be turned into anime, at last. Maria watches over us is a best selling manga that has been turned into a real life characters movie. We like it!
Not understanding the appeal of the works by kengo Hanazawa. Just too tragic to comment on the lousiness of loosers and other ordinary people...Should this be funny?

No, the blog is not abandoned

We had 6 weeks of happy reunion with laabueladeemil. Here having a view of Russia, from the Estonian border.

We are just postponing. 2010 continues being a challenging year. No planning possible. Just waiting to see how things are week by week. I am, for example, 5 weeks away from finishing the semester! Wishing to be in Spain again, happy and hopeful. Unaware.

Thinking a lot about friends and family even in the absence of letters and phone-calls. We are busy beyond words.

Want to stitch more, learn how to sew, eat food prepared by someone else, have a dust free house, my own business connected to books somehow, travel to Spain, the UK, and stop aging so fast. There is plenty to do but just one very complicated life to schedule it all.

Recuerdos

Un insuperable recuerdo de un quesito envuelto en hoja de platano -Uno de los mejores y mas escasos (hasta en Medellin) sabores del pasado-, los pasteles del tejadito (todavia existe? En miami abrieron alguno -Autentica colonizacion paisa en USA-), la pizza de rumo's, las jugadas de catapis de segundo de primaria a "primero de bachillerato," las finquiadas en todos los niveles de comodidad o incomodidad posibles, las levantadas con olor a arepa donde fuera, obleas con arequipe, chitos de los de Jack snacks cuando salian tostados, morenitas de la rosa, sapitos del Astor, las lejanisimas crispetas dulces y empanadas de la iglesia Santa Teresita, los primeros palitos de queso de solo frutas, salpicones de la primera frutera; con de todo y miel, perritos calientes con guacamole de San Diego, eran los 80s!!!! El olor de la costa despues de 6 horas de viaje en carro, si aire acondicionado, el fresco de la noche en Cartagena, pescado frito con nada mas que limon, patacones!!!!!!!! Kola Roman o Premio (ya no lo venden?), los cuadernos nuevos el primer dia de colegio, los prismacolors con las puntas irremediablemente quebradas, los borradores rompehojas, mis primeras cosas de Sanrio en los 70s, con Little Twin Stars y My Melody, colecciones de calcomanias, plaza sesamo con Abelardo, los que no podian botar la basura en la caneca, el waltz del minuto y el conde contar, no con Big Bird, Elmo y Co. , mi primera "mejor amiga" en la que todavia pienso hoy, los papas perfectos que le iban a durar a uno toda la vida...la niñez.

Joonas, acumulando los propios recuerdos. Verano, 2010, Purtse, Ida Virumaa, Estonia.

Many more suns

Joonas at Kristi's too self concious already to allow a natural capture

Juulia at Kristi's unaware of the camera, concentrating

Joonas, Juulia, Jaan last Sunday

30-32 degrees in here. We are enjoying another Summer with J. while others are never to be seen again. I have a sore throat from last week despite the temperatures. No interesting events other than having a full house with 3 kids at home permanently for the next 2 months. We have survived 6 weeks, done everything possible at our reach, including dentist visits, baking, gardening, hiking and sleeping far too long and counting...