Me either!

Do You Really Wanna Know?!

Never watched the show but I did like the theme song and Fox Mulder was a fox indeed and I always wanted to join the FBI and yes, inquiring minds really wanna know! ;-)

Simple Minds - Don't you Forget About Me (The Breakfast Club)

Dear Mr. Vernon:

We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us... In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain... ...and an athlete... ...and a basket case... ...a princess... ...and a criminal.

Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club

I was a BIG fan of the movie, The Breakfast Club and can't believe it's been 30 years since it came out. The directing was genius and the acting was brilliant.  This song became the anthem of a generation and definitely a cry out song in the 80's and even now some 30 years later.  I could listen to song endlessly and watch the movie over and over.  If you've never seen the movie -by all means reach out and rent it!!

Four/IV/Quadri

Ok, so there are five of us that make our newly formed women's group that we call the Chino-Latino Posse.  We are new travel buds and this was our first get-together after our European trip last month. We're already making plans for next series of trips that could include India, and Cuba just to name a few places.  I am so happy to have met these four special women who are educated, talented and beautiful with such diverse backgrounds.  One from Chile, one from China and two from Mexico. Except for Yan we are educators with a zest for exploring and experiencing various cultures from around the globe.  

I always did like the number four and even more so now.  Some things about that magic number that I found on Wiki...

• Four is the sacred number of the Zia, an indigenous tribe located in the U.S. State of New Mexico.
• in Buddhism there are 
• Four Noble Truths
• Dukkha – The Noble Truth of Suffering
• Samudaya – The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
• Nirodha – The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
• Magga – The Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering

There are four great elements that have special meaning to me and it exists in my backyard  and there are four corners of white concrete blocks that pay homage to the four elements of earth, fire, water, air as well as the four cardinal directions of east, south, west and north.

Four primary elements[edit]

In canonical texts, the four Great Elements refer to elements that are both "external" (that is, outside the body, such as a river) and "internal" (that is, of the body, such as blood). These elements are described as follows:

• Earth element (pruṭhavī-dhātu)
  Earth element represents the quality of solidity or attractive forces. 

• Water (or liquid) element (āpa-dhātu)
  Water element represents the quality of Liquidity or relative motion.

• Fire element (teja-dhātu)
  Fire element represents the quality of heat or energy. 

• Air (or wind) element (vāyu-dhātu)
  Air element represents the quality of expansion or repulsive forces. 

Thus, it is no wonder that I feel a special bond for my four friends.  Of special note there are...

Fifth and sixth elements[edit]

In addition to the above four elements of underived matter, two other elements are occasionally found in the Pali Canon:^[11]

• Space element (ākāsa-dhātu)

• Consciousness element (viññāṇa-dhātu)

 The fifth element is also important as in the photo linked above in the text- my sis Kym (twin sisters of different mothers) is pictured as she joined our possee last month while traveling to Holland and Germany! Thus four became six and our consciousness element was enlightened.  I am forever grateful for the light they each give.  

Turning the page!

Buddha's Flower - 4 My Sister

Title appropriately borrowed from song by Ottmar Liebert



So on day two in Holland, I met up with my fanmenco sis Kym.    We trekked by train and bus to get to Keukenhof where this photo was taken by some Asian sisters who asked that we take their photo for them.  I wonder where they were from?  Our boots were made for walking and after Keukenhof we hopped a train and spent the afternoon in Utrecht.

Needless to say my trip had come full circle in that meeting up with Kym was the intent of my return to Europe.  Kym and I go way back and Ottmar Liebert is the reason we became friends back in 2004 and we met up in Seattle in Spring 2006 for an Ottmar Liebert concert. She's been to Houston twice and so I promised a trip to Holland as I had been looking for a reason to return to Europe.  Last summer a co-worker and I began talking about traveling to Europe in summer 2015 but summer is peak travel season and thus Spring become the next option.  Also, our travel group quickly grew to five--the more the merrier!  Originally, I only wanted to travel through Holland and Germany for a ten day trip but we got such a bargain money wise for our trip and all the planning beforehand came to fruition in our seven days of travel.   I convinced Kym to join us in traveling to Cologne, Germany and six of us gals laughing, drinking and sightseeing not to mention partaking in the wonderful food was such a blast.  Blessed to have such great friends/sisters near and far and thankful such wonderful memories from our trip.

Netherlands - Dan Fogelberg

I was totally obsessed with Dan Fogelberg way back when!  He was just so dreamy with his poetic music and such a talent!  I didn't know that the album title is a play on Nederland, Colorado, the location of one of the studios used to record the album. Nederland is the Dutchname for the country known in English as the Netherlands.  Seems like everything is coming up Netherlands these days! ;-)

Transcendental Reunion

Transatlantic Sessions 6 - Mary Chapin Carpenter - with Aoife O'Donovan ...

from twenty thousand feet high, I saw the lights below me twinkling just like Christmas. 

 We descended slowly and the curve of the world passed 

with all of that flying above a mighty ocean and now we all are arriving. 

 Grab the carry on baggage and join the herd for the mad line 

to take our place-but where does everyone come from?  

Now I'm stamped and waived through and say my prayers and sing a hymn to the faithful...  

Finally, the tears and embracing that leap over hemispheres 

toward that transcendental reunion where all borders vanish, 

we are all travelers traveling, we are gypsies together, we are going and coming

 and we are  just finding our way to our next destination from night into day. 

 In giant birds belly, I flew over the ocean and from twenty thousand feet high

 and how the lights were glowing toward that transcendental reunion.

The last weekend of March ended with a bang as on Friday, I traveled to Galveston with a friend to see one of my favorite performers- the incomparable Mary Chapin Carpenter perform at the beautiful Opera house.  She sang this song (video linked above) which she wrote when she was traveling to Europe.  The past few years or so, I've been wanting to return to Europe and visit a dear friend and finally all that planning came to fruition on Monday, 3/30/15.  Thus, in a giant bird's belly, (KLM 747) I returned to Europe some 30+ years later and landed in Amsterdam just after 6:30 a.m. (Holland time)  and 11:30 p.m. Houston time.  I was a traveler once again travelling to a far away country with four girlfriends and the adventure began! 

Lakmé, Act I : Flower Duet - Fifty Shades of Grey : The Classical Album ...

One of the greatest pieces of classical music around and no, I didn't discover it because of the book or the movie as I had heard of this piece previously.  Yes, I read the book and saw the movie and while it was interesting it was the music I enjoyed the most.  I downloaded the soundtrack to the movie as well as the classical album released just after the book came out and created my own playlist which has  been on constant replay mode.  Again some really beautiful pieces.....



Spem

Marcello

Bachianas Brasilerias -Aria



Pour a glass of wine, sit back and enjoy!

Pi Day!

This will be the greatest Pi Day ever in the American history, spread the word! pic.twitter.com/am1fdrmZyu
— SciencePorn (@SciencePorn) March 6, 2015

Sugar

Yes, please!!!  This is such a cool song and video by Maroon 5 and just love Adam Levine!  Yes, I need a little sweetness in my life, so come and put it down on me! ;-)

Rise

I remember when this song came out--I was obsessed!  Just magical music and on this song it's all about that BASS!!  ;-)  I've always been a fan of Herb Alpert especially when he played with the Tijuana Brass.

I will not....

Powerful statement indeed!!!

Sara Bareilles - Cassiopeia Lyrics (HD)

Cannot get enough of this song--such beautiful imagery and lyrics put into a song with such a wonderful voice from Sara--just love her!!

Yo Te Amo (Do I Love You)

For the two passengers on bus #8 -it was destiny and may your love continue to grow.

Selena - Si Una Vez (HD)

Still can't believe she's gone--she was gonna be a star!!!  Making plans to attend the Fiesta de la Flor in Corpus Christi in April commentating the 20th anniversary of her passing.  

My Fire

Still learning but getting closer to my fire!

Como Han Pasado Los Años

Sweet memories from this beautiful Spanish song which was played at my parents 50th Golden Wedding Anniversary in Corpus Christi eight years ago on this date.  Back then they were still in their prime and it was a special day for our family and friends who came. What I would give for a piece of that amazing cake from that day!  I will never forget the two of them dancing together and the tears flowing that evening.   It was such an honor to plan that day for them that was two years in the making and God willing, I'm going to start planning for their 60th Wedding anniversary here in Houston in 2017.  My thanks to all who those who played a special part to make that day so special.

For those that don't speak Spanish the title of the song means something like this...

My how the years have changed

How things have changed and what a different world

but we are still here side by side like two young lovers

Feels like just yesterday that we stood side by side dancing 

and saying "I love you"and we promised that nothing would separate us.

Be Merry

I think this is my favorite Santa of all time--just love the face!! He leads into photos from my first ever Christmas party on 12/21/2014, "Christmas Around the World".  Much joy, merriment, and cheer was shared with neighbors and friends from as far away as Central America, China, Pakistan & Turkey.  It really was a wonderful party and many compliments were received as the food, and decorations were really a knockout! Special appreciation for the roaring fire--inside and out! ;-) Thanks to all who came and to Michelle, Annie & Ugur for their creative input, bar-tending by Nima, and the out of the world Tres Leches cake by Jane!!! Till next year-Be Merry!!

Joy

Joy from Ohio to Texas.  When I was in Ohio back in October Kim and I bought these ornaments at the county fair.  I wanted the white one which reminded me of the color of snow and I bought her the red one. We wrote a special message on the back of each-others ornament  Thus, on this month of December-the last month of the year finding Joy in our friendship and in the beautiful music by George Winston and his beautiful cd, "December", which can be heard in its entirety on YouTube... www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5qGUhWPi6w

Finally, Today is 12/13/14 the last sequential date in our lives:

1/2/3 2/3/4 3/4/5 4/5/6 5/6/7 6/7/8 7/8/9 8/9/10 9/10/11 10/11/12 11/12/13 12/13/14

as posted on the website... www.fightforthefuture.org