Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Escrever

Writing (escrever) was not something that was natural in our house. I did not do any creative writing. But because I like to be a part of my girls' learning at school, I am reading this book and applying some of the ideas.

I am more confident. I am writting.

It's actually fun. And I can now help my young students with their writing assignments.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Women in politics

The mind balks at taking its measure


I heard someone say this on NPR. It struck me as an ultimate statement appropriate at times as we analyse current or past events, personal or otherwise. My mind does balk at times, as I attempt to understand things that come to light.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Friday, September 26, 2008

Warm and Fuzzy

The colors of Fall

The freshly painted door.

It's a Fall look lasting beyond October 31st.


Now, imagine this everywhere.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Be Conscious


We must now surrender to the obligation to understand and to care.


We must surrender ourselves to becoming conscious, thinking members of the human race. We must put down the temptation to powerlessness and surrender to the questions of the moment.
- Joan Chittister

In the arms of an angel

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance
For the break that will make it ok
There's always some reason to feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction oh beautiful release
Memories seep from my veins
They may be empty and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an Angel fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here
So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference, escaping one last time It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of an Angel far away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
In the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here
For when we need that angel. Sarah did.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Creations

I think I would have liked to create things like this, just like the character in "Hunt for Red October" would have liked to have lived in Montana.





Art in the desert.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Pimentos verdes

My first exposure to vegetable gardens was in Mozambique as far back into my childhood as I can go. My very industrious butcher by profession neighbor liked growing his own food. I think he was probably continuing in this colony, a way of life he once had in some remote part of Portugal. I remember chickens, rabbits and lucious green patches of vegetables.



Well, so here I present my current version of a vegetable garden.




I placed the pot in a shady spot. Can you see the pepper?

Friday, September 12, 2008

It's my birthday...

I'm 46.
I am happy.
I am grateful.
I have a wonderful loving husband and daughters.
I have sisters.
I have friends.
I love my hobbies and many interests.
I love God.
I love my now gone parents.
I have a job.
I have a car.
I will do one more something good for my self this year.
I had a wonderful conversation with my Godchild today.
I got happy birthday wishes all the way from Portugal.
Life is good.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Infinite Justice


The only dream worth having ... is to dream that you will live while you’re alive and die only when you’re dead ... To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or to complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.
- Arundhati Roy
From her book, The Algebra of Infinite Justice

The day it all changed

It seemed very surreal to me, watching this place I knew so well fall apart. The Northeast was in upheaval, but I watched it on TV from the desert.

My family was OK, my co-workers were worried about their loved ones, but OK.


I felt far, angry, and helpless.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Monday, September 08, 2008

In all I do I honor you

"Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king, would die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true
Its my joy to honor you
Amazing love, how can it be?
That you, my king would die for me
Amazing love I know it's true
Its my joy to honor you
In all I do I honor you"
From the song "You are my king"

Thursday, September 04, 2008

The Hunger Site

The Hunger Site is owned and operated by Tim Kunin and Greg Hesterberg, co-owners of CharityUSA.com. Long-time friends and activists, they bought The Hunger Site in mid-August of 2001. Greg and Tim are dedicated to maintaining the site's position as a leader in online activism and a dynamic force in the fight to end world hunger.Originally launched in June 1999, The Hunger Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific humanitarian need; the eradication of world hunger. On average, over 220,000 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the "give free food" button and help feed the hungry.The Hunger Site was the first online activism site on the Web. To date more that 200 million visitors have given more than 300 million cups of staple food.


I click that link everyday and ordered this cool casual T-Shirt.
Feed the world!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Mother Teresa


Give until it hurts, because real love hurts.
- Mother Teresa

Fruit under the microscope

Plants will do intricate things to ensure survival.  Take a look at this amazing video and see how.