Passion & Moleskines

One of my favorite websites to visit occasionally is Moleskinerie and just last week a contest was set into place and a question was asked, "What's your passion?" and here was my response:

MUSIC!

Music is my passion!

Music is a universal language

and one that can bring people together.

I attended an Ottmar Liebert concert last month

and not only was I charged by his music,

I was charged by the people in attendance.

People from all walks of life..old and young!

I have an ecclectic CD collection from Vivaldi to U2

to Mary Chapin-Carpenter to Shakira to Rahim AlHaj.

Music is all around me…at work, at home, at play and in the car.

I cannot imagine life without music!

My moleskine is full of song lyrics

and notes about future songs to listen to

and/or download on my iPod or to buy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Needless to say, I didn't win the contest but I really enjoyed reading all the posts about what each person's passion was. If you have some time be sure to check out the responses. My favorite was by Amy (3rd post) and as it turned out she won the contest. I'd be interested to hear about what your passion is as well.

Anniversarius

Word of the Day: Anniversarius (Latin)

Music: August Moon, Ottmar Liebert

Anniversarius

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The word for year and to turn meaning-

(re)turning yearly...is a day that commemorates

and/or celebrates a past event that occurred

on the same day of the year as the

initial event.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special thanks as always to Boris who

was first to comment on my blog and

an even bigger "Thank You" to all others

who have commented in the past two years.

Nuevo Mexico (Part 1)

Nuevo Mexico(Luz)
Originally uploaded by mRio.

This had been about my third trip to New Mexcio and regretably each visit has been very short and this past trip/vacation was only about a 48 hour stay! Much too short! :-( However, we (Mario & I) packed a lot into our trip.

Friday morning 8/6, we flew into Albuquerque and rented a car for the drive up to Santa Fe, and Mario was my co-pilot providing me with directions the old fashioned way--map reading! NO GPS here! Instead it was an MPS! ;-)

We spend the early afternoon at the usual tourist locale in Santa Fe--the Plaza Square. The weather couldn't have been better! Cool, crisp, blue skies with intermittant clouds, rain and temps in the low 70's! AHHHH!!! No heat and humidity! We were both in heaven. We found a great little cafe to enjoy a wonderful cup of Cafe Amaretto and it just happened that our server was from Texas and wearing a UT cap. He was all to happy to chat with a fellow Texan. I would've loved to go back for another cup of coffee the day after and the day after that and so forth! As we walked the Plaza we accidently found the Santa Fe School of Cooking of which our fellow fanmenco Kym had always talked about. The aroama from that stairway was to die for and how I would've loved to take a walk through the school. Next time! So c'mon Kym, we'll be waiting for you to join us!

Maria's New Mexican Restaurant (voted Best in Santa Fe--11 years in a row) was our next stop for a late lunch! What a lunch and the restaurant boasts of the "Great Margarita List" with over 100 Margaritas to choose from! Decisions, decisions! I decided to try the Pomengranate Margarita, which is made with 100% fresh pomengranate juice and Cuervo Gold tequila which is blended to smooth perfection and frozen! As Kym would say, WOW! Maria's Margarita list, stated it was one of the healthiest margaritas to drink--so how could I resist! BTW, I conveniently brought the list home with me as a souvenir and will tuck it away in my LE box. If I lived in Santa Fe, I would be sure to go back every week and try a different margarita! Thanks for the recommendation, Ottmar!

Time Flies

.

Yes, Mario time does fly! It seems like just yesterday we took our whirlwind trip to New Mexico! A 48 hour whirlwind trip to be exact!

I'm still trying to recuperate and catch up with my sleep! Getting back to work today was a bit of a drag! I so wanted to be back in New Mexico! Thanks for posting such a wondeful picture. I will blog more about the trip in the next day or two.

Numbers....

97

.23

1.618

13-3-2-21-1-1-8-5

71

34

6

114

14

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Numbers! So many numbers! They rules our lives! If we let them! Wikipedia states that: A number is a mathematical concept used to describe and assess quantity. Yes, that ever popular subject of Math rules our lives every day! Still, I cannot convey enough to my students that Math is part of every day life!

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Anyway, what do the numbers above mean for me!? Well, one is the amount of money I have left in my main checking account--I don't get paid till Monday! :-( I have another checking account for rainy days but it's not raining today and I've been depleting that account too much of late too! One number is the temperature of what it feels like outside at this very hour that I am typing and we're not even at the peak of afternoon hours as it's only 11:30 that I am typing this. One number is the number to my office of which I will be spending quite a bit of time in the upcoming month. This past Thursday, I didn't get off work till after 9:00 p.m. A few of the other numbers are related to the current book that I am reading. Anyone care to guess what book that is?! Hint--Phi! Yes, I"m late reading it but better late than never!

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Finally, one of the above is the number of days left until I take a quick trip to New Mexico--of which I cannot wait for. It will be a very quick trip but I plan to enjoy every minute of it! It will be a Fanmencotastic time! Now back to the other thing that rules my life--CLEANING! I love Wikipedia! BTW, what numbers rule your life?!

Ogre Achiever

Ogre Achiever
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Believe in Yourself!
Pass it on!

Obviously not my photo but coming home from work today, I saw a billboard that had a picture of Shrek with the above words on the billboard! I was laughing the rest of the way home! I'm thinking I might print this out and hang it in my office to motivate some of my students as well as share a little laughter. :-)

I just learned that the billboard is courtesy of "The Foundation for a Better Life". Check out the billboard here! They have some awesome billboards! Thanks, MJ.

Peace on Earth

Listen, children, to a story

That was written long ago,

'Bout a kingdom on a mountain

And the valley-folk below.

On the mountain was a treasure

Buried deep beneath the stone,

And the valley-people swore

They'd have it for their very own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So the people of the valley

Sent a message up the hill,

Asking for the buried treasure,

Tons of gold for which they'd kill.

Came an answer from the kingdom,

"With our brothers we will share

All the secrets of our mountain,

All the riches buried there."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now the valley cried with anger,

"Mount your horses! Draw your swords!"

And they killed the mountain-people,

So they won their just reward.

Now they stood beside the treasure,

On the mountain, dark and red.

Turned the stone and looked beneath it...

"Peace on Earth" was all it said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,

Go ahead and cheat a friend.

Do it in the name of Heaven,

You can justify it in the end.

but there won't be any trumpets blowing

'Come the judgement day,

On the bloody morning after....One tin soldier rides away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was listening to this song on the way home from work this afternoon. Can anyone name the movie it comes from? I came home and searched the internet for the lyrics and found this story by John Luke which can be found here....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

....The song was written during the anti-war movement of the late 60's. Also going on at that time was the Six Day War of 1967 in Israel. The "Kingdom on a mountain" is none other than The Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It sits on Mt. Moriah. The people of the valley are the Muslim or Palestinian people who live in the Kidron Valley adjacent to Mt. Moriah. The Stone with the treasure underneath it is the stone that the Muslims claim Mohammed ascended and the Jews claim was the base in The Holy of Holies. The treasure underneath "the stone" which is up to 120ft.under the Temple mount is where the supposed hidden treasure of the Jewish treasury was. The Templars of the early 1000 a.d. were said to have found this treasure. The song closely discusses details of "The Crusades". The people of the Valley who did not want to share was none other than the leader of the Muslims, Saladin the Turkish leader who had restricted visitation of other religions to Jerusalem which in turn intitiated the crusades. Saladin(the Muslims) did regain the Temple Mount. So, the song's message is that we fight wars and shed blood for greed in the name of our God's but God just wants "Peace on Earth" as was written on the stone when it was turned over. The One Tin Soldier riding away just says that masses die in war on both sides and only one or a few are left. It sarcastically says go ahead and do evil but you will not escape your deeds on Judgment Day.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ironically, while riding home and listening to the song, I thought about the battles occuring overseas in the Middle East & SE Asia and the killing for today's gold (land, oil, religion, etc...) and then I come home and find the story above. How many bloody mornings after can we as humans endure and inflict on one another in the name of Heaven before there can be "Peace on Earth"? And now, comes word that Israeli children have been writing words of praise on the bombs that are being dropped in Lebanon. Just sickening!

Ant(s)

Word of the Day:

Ant(s)

````````````

Wikipedia states that: As of 2006,

there are 11,880 known ant species,

most of which reside in hot climates

and that Ants have colonized almost every

landmass on Earth.

....including my bathroom shower!

`````````````````````````

I've been trying to figure out where the heck they are coming in from and I've yet to pinpoint the point of entry! UGH! :-( The temperature s outside have been hovering in the mid 90's and when you factor in the humidity that spikes up the temps to over 100 and with no rain! Thus, the ants have decided to come marching inside! They seem to be everywhere...at the office, bathrooms and kitchens! Any suggestions for how to get rid of them!?

...Update! I found the culprit and reason for the ants which were sugar ants who appeared because I started using a sugar scrub from Bath & Body Works. I pulled the scrub jar from the shower and POOF...ants are gone! I also found their point of entry and exit! I still want to keep using my sugar scrub and thus have Windex and cinnamon readily available. If need be, I will mix the boric acid too! Matt...still looking to get some Avon Skin So Soft! Thanks for all the suggestions!

Life planning

Daily Libra Forecast:

Quickie: You've done excellent planning, so enjoy watching everything run like clockwork.
Overview: Are your goals, plans and dreams the same now as they were five years ago? Hopefully the answer is no -- life is far too rich and interesting to stay in the same spot. It's time to redefine your ambitions.

My thoughts: Don't know what the quickie is all about...me plan!? The overview is interesting though. Life is far too rich but sure would help if I felt the same richness in my pocketbook!

Jubilee

Jubilee
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

I can tell by the way you're walking
That you don't want company
So I'll let you alone and I'll let you walk on
And in your own good time you'll be
Back where the sun can find you
Under the wise wishing tree
And with all of them made we'll lie under the shade and call it a jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're talking
That the past isnt letting you go
There's only so long you can take it all on
And then the wrong's gotta be on its own
And when you're ready to leave it behind you
You'll look back and all that you'll see
Is the wreckage and rust that you left in the dust
On your way to the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're listening
That you're still expecting to hear
Your name being called like a summons to all
Who have failed to account for their doubts and their fears
They can't add up to much without you
And so if it were just up to me
I'd take hold of your hand, saying come hear the band
Play your song at the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're searching
For something you can't even name
That you haven't been able to come to the table
Simply glad that you came
When you feel like this try to imagine
That we're all like frail boats on the sea
Just scanning the night for that great guiding light
Announcing the jubilee

And I can tell by the way you're standing
With your eyes filling with tears
That it's habit alone keeps you turning for home
Even though your home is right here
Where the people who love you are gathered
Under the wise wishing tree
May we all be considered then straight on delivered
Down to the jubilee
Because the people who love you are waiting
And they'll wait just as long as need be
When we look back and say those were halcyon days
We're talking about jubilee.

Music & words by the great Mary Chapin-Carpenter and her words have been hitting really close to home these days. I've been drifting of late and it's easier to do when you're on vacation but as vacation comes to an end, I want to hear my name being called like a summons and listen to the band playing.

Piles....

Music: The Longest Night, Ottmar Liebert

Mood: Frustrated!

Word of the Day...

PILE(s)

yes, piles...

as in piles of laundry

piles of magazines and books to read

piles of CD's to sort and play

piles of bills to pay

piles of paper

a pile of dirt

a pile of trash

piles of shoes

a pile of this and that

a pile in that corner and this corner

piles in my closet

I'm beginning to loathe piles!!

___________________________

I'm on vacation this week and one of the things on my list of things to do is to sort through all my piles of crap! I should be out having fun on vacation! I could be reading a book or I could be watching a movie but no, all the piles need to be sorted as they are stacking up higher and higher and controlling my life! UGH! Enough venting and playing on the computer...time to get back to my piles! I'm curious for any passerby...

What's in your pile? Oh well, at the least the music is good! Nothing like Holiday music to while away the hours in the heat of summer!

___________________________

...Progress-in the hour since I've typed this...I got rid of one pile! Well, most of it!! I did move some of it to my other piles but the night is still young! :-)

Delivered!

ready and waiting
Originally uploaded by ochazuke.

A very special thank you to Yumiko for the wonderful gift. I shall treasure it and tomorrow, I am going to buy a frame for this to hang in my office! Fanmenco fans are the best!

Happy Furry Friday

Is anybody there!?
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

...and even better-

Vacation

YEAH!!!!!

Winter Blue

Today is the 25th day

of the 6th month

of the year 2006

and 6 months from today another

Winter Blue will be upon us.

Thanks Ottmar for your beautiful music

which is welcomed anytime of the year

especially when in hibernation from the

heat of summer.

GOAAAAAAAAAL

Word of the day: Goal
Music: Twilight in Galisteo, Ottmar Liebert

********

Goal

With the frenzy of World Cup Soccer

and the NHL Stanley Cup Finals

of which I've been hooked on TV watching

the drama unfold, today's word seemed appropiate!

********

Actually, today's word of the day should be RAIN!

Houston recieved almost 10 inches of rain

in less than 10 hours. Thankfully, our side of town fared better

than others but still I feel for those who had water

in their homes and autos. The good news was that

I got a day off work as most workplaces were closed. :-)

Hibernation

Underwater lullaby
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

Word of the day: Hibernation
Mood: Cranky...it's too hot outside!

If I could, I'd like to hibernate for the whole summer under the cool, refreshing blue waters of la la land! Of course, it would help if I could swim! The dog days of summer are here and it seems as though there is no end in sight!

Of note, I brewed some tea yesterday and made a refreshing mix of Hibiscus & Green tea and poured it over ice! I couldn't get enough of it and I finished the whole batch of it by day's end!

RIP Angel

RIP Angel
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

The above pic is not my photo but I borrowed it from Yahoo photos. The little blue & white parakeet reminds me of my little one-Angel that died yesterday. She...rather he had been sick and finally passed on. He was rather a mean budgie but still I will miss him. I still have the other parakeet-Cutie who is getting a new friend this evening as a friend is letting me have one of his female budgies!

060606

Today is Tuesday

the sixth day

of the sixth month

of the sixth year

of the 21st century.

Nice symmetry.

~~~~~~~~

I'm being a copycat here and

borrowing words from Ottmar Liebert's blog.

I had intended on saying something similar

but he took the words right out of my mouth. ;-)

Bread

Word of the Day: Bread
Music: Baby, I'm a Want You, by Bread

During the past few days I've been eating so much bread of late and especially while in NYC where I partaked in some wonderful pizza, bagels, and baked bread. Actually, I started before vacation as the Culinary Department where I work was selling some scrumptious Raisin bread. Since I was leaving town, I ended up freezing the slices which I have now been enjoying with my morning coffee or tea.

Ironically, while in NYC we went to the Virgin Megastore and I came across a classic CD by the 70's rock band: Bread. The CD was a steal @ $8. I have been playing it nonstop since I got back. The music is timeless!

Regretably, by the end of the week my partaking of bread will come almost to a halt as too much bread adds too much unwanted rolls. :-(

Traveling

052906_19071.jpg
Originally uploaded by nieve44.

In the past two months, I've done more traveling than I have in the past year! First, there was Seattle in April to see Ottmar Liebert and just got back from NYC. Tomorrow, I'm off to a quick trip to Corpus Christi. I've enjoyed my travels but it's always nice to come back home to family, friends and loved ones. Visiting NYC was great...
especially with pictures like this!