Dreams 4 an Insomniac

To see a Beatle

2009-08-02T13:44:00.008-04:00

To see one of the Beatles play live is a dream come true, but that he was still so incredibly good, was even better!

I was expecting British punctuality, but he made us wait: a whole hour and a half! Sir Paul did compensate by giving us almost 3 hours of great music and entertainment. He seemed very down to earth and easy to relate to, as if he didn't have a 40 year long music career filled with money, fame and unprecedented success. He reminded the audience that the first concert The Beatles gave in the United States was in Washington DC. That day, the girls were screaming so loudly that they could not hear themselves play at the Washington Colosseum. Of course that comment got nothing short of an avalanche of screams for him, yet again.

McCartney masterfully combined songs from The Beatles catalog, songs from Wings, and his more recent solo career including his latest CD under the "Fireman" pseudonym. He gave us a wonderful rendition of George's Something played in a ukelele the late singer gave him as a present, and also a song he wrote for Lenon when he died, Here Today. That was the most sentimental moment in the night.

Unexpectedly, we even got some pyrotecnics when he played Live and Let Die. And got got not one, but two encores! Finally sending us home after saying goodbye the Sargent Pepper's way.

I had to pinch myself several times during the evening and til now, I can't stop smiling. This has been without a doubt the best concert of this summer and very possible the best one I've ever seen.

Here is the full Set List from the August1, 2009 concert in Washington DC

1.Drive My Car
2.Jet
3.Only Mama Knows
4.Flaming Pie
5.Got To Get You Into My Life
6.Let Me Roll It / Foxy Lady
7.Highway
8.The Long and Winding Road
9.My Love
10.Blackbird
11.Michelle
12.Here Today
13.Dance Tonight
14.Calico Skies
15.Mrs Vanderbilt
16.Eleanor Rigby
17.Sing the Changes
18.Band on the Run
19.Back in the U.S.S.R.
20.I'm Down
21.Something
22.I Got A Feeling
23.Paperback Writer
24.A Day In The Life
25.Give Peace A Chance
26.Let It Be
27.Live and Let Die
28.Hey Jude

Encore:

29.Day Tripper
30.Lady Madonna
31.I Saw Her Standing There

Encore 2:

32.Yesterday
33.Helter Skelter
34.Get Back
35.Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
36.The End Play Video

I found some good videos online:

Drive My Car ~ video
Let it be ~video
Hey Jude ~video
Elenor Rigby ~video
Get Back ~video
Band on the Run ~ video
Back in the USSR ~videoDay Tripper ~ video
Blackbird ~video
Live and Let Die ~ video

Original Beatles concert in Washington DC 1964 footage

Wonderland Trailer

2009-07-24T10:47:00.001-04:00

Coming attraction: Falling down a Creepy Rabbit Hole

2009-07-21T09:04:00.008-04:00

On July 4th, 2009 Disney released the first images of their future movie "Alice in Wonderland".
As anything created by Tim Burton they have that bizarre, almost twisted but totally unique quality. Not surprisingly, Johnny Depp (as the Mad Hatter) and Helena Bonham Carter (as the Queen of Hearts) work with him in yet another production; this time they are joined by Anne Hathaway and Christopher Lee.
Definitely a very particular take on a classic story, according to USAToday: "The traditional tale has been freshened with a blast of girl power, courtesy of writer Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast). Alice, 17, attends a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types. Off she runs, following a white rabbit into a hole and ending up in Wonderland, a place she visited 10 years before yet doesn't remember."

The movie will hit the theaters on March 5th, 2010.
Already, I can't wait!

click on the images to make them bigger

Here is an interview with J.Depp about the Mad Hatter

Three was not enough

2009-07-20T12:51:00.013-04:00

In keeping with my tradition of winning stuff on the radio, I just landed myself two tickets to go see Depeche Mode next week. It's hilarious because I wouldn't pay to go see them, but a free concert sounds pretty good! Seems like my habit of listening to the Jack Diamond Morning Show has paid off.

I guess three concerts this summer was not enough...

UPDATE: Concert was really interesting. Weird to see the somewhat older crowds, and the bizarre characters on stage. They also had incredible image/multimedia displayed on the screens. Definitely glad I could go, specially for free. :)
Cat, thanks for being such a trouper about all of it.

Video ~ Home
Video ~ Enjoy the Silence
Video ~ It's no good (same tour but this is Montreal a couple of days before)

Summer Concert Series

2009-07-12T12:04:00.011-04:00

It has begun... Last night I went to the first out of three memorable concerts I will attend this summer.

It rocked!

In spite of a little drama when Elton's piano wasn't rigged properly and he stormed out of the stage. Billy and his crew saved the day and "improvised". The grand finale with both playing together was sooo good! It's hard to decide between Piano Man and Tiny Dancer; they were unbelievable.

So the countdown until the next summer concert starts. Next on the list is Sir Paul McCartney. Two British lords in less than a month!

Drama at the beginning~Bad quality
Don't let the sun go down ~played by both
Piano Man ~ played by both
*Photo from AOL Music

Virginian Treasures

2009-07-11T15:43:00.012-04:00

Scanning the TV guide in order to spot my top 100 movies, I ran into a title that caught my eye: "Shenandoah" (1965). Being that I spent some very happy moments there when I lived in Charlottesville, VA, I checked it out. I read the description and it sounded a lot like "The Patriot". However, it featured none other that James Stewart, whom I have discovered myself to be fond of; so curious about it I decided to record it.

It was quite a surprise!

A couple of quotes:

Charlie Anderson: It's no easy job, Sam, to take care of a woman.
Lt. Sam: No, sir.
Charlie Anderson: They expect things they never ask for. And when they don't get them, they ask you why. Sometimes they don't ask... and then they just go ahead and punish you for not doing something you didn't know you were supposed to do in the first place.
Lt. Sam: What for instance, Sir?
Charlie Anderson: That's a very difficult question to answer, Sam. You're never quite sure...it's just that it's sort of you might say... relative.
Lt. Sam: Relative to what, Sir?
Charlie Anderson: To how they are feeling at the moment.
Lt. Sam: And how is that?
Charlie Anderson: You never know.
Lt. Sam: I don't believe I really understand what you are trying to tell me, Sir.
Charlie Anderson: I know, I know. I never understood it myself. I never understood it. It's just one of those things, Sam...

Charlie Anderson: Do you like her?
Lt. Sam: Well, I just said I...
Charlie Anderson: No, no. You just said you loved her. There's some difference between lovin' and likin'. When I married Jennie's mother, I-I didn't love her - I liked her... I liked her a whole lot. I liked Martha for at least three years after we were married and then one day it just dawned on me I loved her. I still do... I still do. You see, Sam, when you love a woman without likin' her, the night can be long and cold, and contempt comes up with the sun...

Gotta love Jimmy!

Movie Trailer on TCM

Where we start from

2009-07-07T18:55:00.015-04:00

"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." Louis L'Amour

These first seven days of July have been filled with beginnings and ends. Some are just a memory, but others are very much the present. A week of mixed emotions and bitter-sweet feelings. And of course with every end, comes a new beginning.

I hope I can focus on the positive and embrace all the new possibilities.

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from". T.S. Elliot

Arches

2009-07-07T18:05:00.006-04:00

I recently had the privilege to visit Arches National Park, UT, one of those places where you feel the need to be quiet, still, because you realize how small and unimportant you are... a place were you can almost hear God whispering.

The Dewey Color System

2009-05-21T13:46:00.009-04:00

I found this "silly" career color test online. I decided to take it and see what the results were. Believe it or not the results actually made a lot of sense.

It's very interesting that they can come up with all this by just having me pick what colors i like and dislike. I took a whole semester in color psychology so the power of colors does not surprise me, but that does not make it any less puzzling and amazing!

What follows is the mini report I got. I didn't want to pay to get the full report. I think those of you who know me will see my point in thinking it matches me very well.

Introduction

The Dewey Color System® is the world's first and only validated, color-based personality career testing instrument. Based on our experience and your interests, your best suited occupations are listed below.

Best Occupational Category
You're a CREATOR
Key Words:
Nonconforming, Impulsive, Expressive, Romantic, Intuitive, Sensitive, and Emotional

These original types place a high value on aesthetic qualities and have a great need for self-expression. They enjoy working independently, being creative, using their imagination, and constantly learning something new. Fields of interest are art, drama, music, and writing or places where they can express, assemble, or implement creative ideas.

CREATOR OCCUPATIONS
Suggested careers are Advertising Executive, Architect, Web Designer, Creative Director, Public Relations, Fine or Commercial Artist, Interior Decorator, Lawyer, Librarian, Musician, Reporter, Art Teacher, Broadcaster, Technical Writer, English Teacher, Architect, Photographer, Medical Illustrator, Corporate Trainer, Author, Editor, Landscape Architect, Exhibit Builder, and Package Designer.

CREATOR WORKPLACES
Consider workplaces where you can create and improve beauty and aesthetic qualities. Unstructured, flexible organizations that allow self-expression work best with your free-spirited nature.

Suggested Creator workplaces are advertising, public relations, and interior decorating firms; artistic studios, theaters and concert halls; institutions that teach crafts, universities, music, and dance schools. Other workplaces to consider are art institutes, museums, libraries, and galleries.

2nd Best Occupational Category
You're a PERSUADER
Key Words:
Witty, Competitive, Sociable, Talkative, Ambitious, Argumentative, and Aggressive

These enterprising types sell, persuade, and lead others. Positions of leadership, power, and status are usually their ultimate goal. Persuasive people like to take financial and interpersonal risks and to participate in competitive activities. They enjoy working with others inside organizations to accomplish goals and achieve economic success.

Want to take the test yourself? Click here. Please let me know if you agree with your results.

Half-way there

2009-05-16T20:42:00.002-04:00

Tengo dos dias buscando la imagen adecuada...
At this point I do not care anymore. I have made it to the half-way point!

I'm totally excited that I've seen over 50% of the AFI 100 top movies...
Can't say I've liked all of them; but at least I know what the fuss is all about!
Thanks again to Miss Alice and the Mad Hatter, who started me on this path.

1960. Madison Avenue, NY

2009-05-05T22:21:00.009-04:00

I'm a Maddict. This TV series has been my latest discovery. I'm totally hooked, maybe because I have worked in the Ad industry, maybe because I love the vintage costumes...

From the station's website:

"Set in 1960s New York, the sexy, stylized and provocative AMC drama Mad Men follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising, an ego-driven world where key players make an art of the sell."

"The series revolves around the conflicted world of Don Draper, the biggest ad man (and ladies man) in the business, and his colleagues at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. As Don makes the plays in the boardroom and the bedroom, he struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels. The series also depicts authentically the roles of men and women in this era while exploring the true human nature beneath the guise of 1960s traditional family values."

Watch Espisode 1: Pilot

...but not forgotten

2009-04-30T12:35:00.014-04:00

For a couple of days now I've been thinking about writing something about all those people that i deeply care about and with whom i am no longer in touch, or I'm barely in touch with. As I've said before, I am terrible at letting go. I think the main issue is that I do not want to let go of you if you meant something in my life. The other reason is my memory: I'll remember bizarre pieces of information, most times useless, for quite some time -hard to forget you when I think about you often.

Friends, lovers, relatives... if I once cared, odds are I'll care forever.

I often think of friends I lost track of; coworkers that were a giant chunk of my everyday; cousins that were almost my siblings; lovers that shared my most darkest secrets... Some of them I've recently found again, but I feel I'm still separated from them by a huge God-knows-what that keeps me on the other side of a glass window, craving for them to reopen the door into their lives.

It pains me to feel the lack of interest, the apathy from these people that mean so much to me. I know people's life changes and they move on. I know there are new friends and coworkers and lovers in their life and mine, but I guess in my mind and in my heart no one gets replaced. So I expect the same treatment. Again, if you earned my love, you'll most likely have it always.

On the other hand, there are few joys like reconnecting with someone and feeling they are as excited as you are to be in touch again. It truly makes me feel like, somehow, somewhere I have left a tiny footprint in my path through life. It has been worth it.

...and so, I sometimes wonder if I should give up and let go...

If they don't care, does it mean I shouldn't bother trying anymore? How much trying is enough trying? Is this one of the lessons I'm supposed to learn in life? Any thoughts?

Day Dreaming

2009-04-29T10:57:00.004-04:00

I found a cool hiking meet up. They plan a ton of outings. I do not own hiking boots.
This many events make it worth spending the money on the boots, now. So, I went into the REI site today looking for them...

Found more reasons to day dream!

Conclusion: I need a better paying job with more days off! :)

Enjoy!

Argentina and Chile: Wine Roads of the Andes Cycle

Days: 10
Price: $4,399
Activity Level:
Activity: Cycling, Walking

Explore the finest restaurants, wineries and accommodations in the celebrated wine country of Argentina and Chile on this relaxing cycling adventure that caters to the gourmet palate.

Glover's Reef & River of Caves Multisport

Days: 9
Price: $1,798
Activity Level:
Activity: Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling, Hiking, Mayan Cave Exploring

Thirty-six miles offshore of the Belize mainland lie a group of tropical islands cradled within a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by a living coral reef. Glover's Reef Atoll is considered to be one of the richest tropical marine environments in the entire Caribbean. We'll combine this with an opportunity to experience the diversity of the rainforest and the rich Mayan culture of Belize.

Italy: Cinque Terre Hike

Days: 7
Price: $2,799
Activity Level:
Activity: Hiking

From tiny, color fishing villages perched on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean to sun-washed jetset resorts, our hiking adventure spans some of the most glorious coastal terrain in all of Italy. View Slideshow

Tuscan Hilltowns Hike

Days: 8
Price: $2,899
Activity Level:
Activity: Hiking

From Florence to Siena, we'll see the finest expressions of Renaissance culture, and hike in beautiful areas of countryside beloved by local Tuscans. View Slideshow

http://www.rei.com/adventures

AFI II - Clearing up the confusion

2009-02-22T14:22:00.060-05:00

I was trying to update my post with the latest movies I have seen, when I noticed something odd. After further examination I found out the reason for my confusion: There are two different AFI 100 movie lists. The first one was published in 1998, and in 2007 they published the 10th Anniversary version of it. This discovery posed an interesting question: Which ones was I trying to see?

Although my original enterprise was daunting enough, I am going to try to see ALL of them... it comes down to about 123 (because some of the movies in the old list were replaced with newer movies for the anniversary list)

So here's where I stand right now.

Original 100 years 100 movies list (released in 1998)

1.Citizen Kane (1941)
2.Casablanca (1942)
3.Godfather, The (1972)
4.Gone With The Wind (1939)
5.Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
6.Wizard Of Oz, The (1939)
7.Graduate, The (1967)
8.On The Waterfront (1954)
9.Schindler's List (1993)
10.Singin' In The Rain (1952)
11.It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
12.Sunset Boulevard (1950)
13.Bridge On The River Kwai, The (1957)
14.Some Like It Hot (1959)
15.Star Wars (1977)
16.All About Eve (1950)
17.African Queen, The (1951)
18.Psycho (1960)
19.Chinatown (1974)
20.One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
21.Grapes Of Wrath, The (1940)
22.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
23.Maltese Falcon, The (1941)
24.Raging Bull (1980)
25.E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
26.Dr. Strangelove (1964)
27.Bonnie & Clyde (1967)
28.Apocalypse Now (1979)
29.Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
30.Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)
31.Annie Hall (1977)
32.Godfather Part II, The (1974)
33.High Noon (1952)
34.To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
35.It Happened One Night (1934)
36.Midnight Cowboy (1969)
37.Best Years Of Our Lives, The (1946)
38.Double Indemnity (1944)
39.Doctor Zhivago (1965)
40.North By Northwest (1959)
41.West Side Story (1961)
42.Rear Window (1954)
43.King Kong (1933)
44.Birth Of A Nation, The (1915)
45.Streetcar Named Desire, A (1951)
46.Clockwork Orange, A (1971)
47.Taxi Driver (1976)
48.Jaws (1975)
49.Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
50.Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid (1969)
51.Philadelphia Story, The(1940)
52.From Here To Eternity (1953)
53.Amadeus (1984)
54.All Quiet On The Western Front (1930)
55.Sound Of Music, The (1965)
56.M*A*S*H(1970)
57.Third Man, The (1949)
58.Fantasia (1940)
59.Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
60.Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
61.Vertigo (1958)
62.Tootsie (1982
64.Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977)
65.Silence Of The Lambs, The (1991)
66.Network (1976)
67.Manchurian Candidate, The (1962)
68.American In Paris, An (1951)
69.Shane (1953)
70.French Connection, The (1971)
71.Forrest Gump (1994)
72.Ben-Hur (1959)
73.Wuthering Heights (1939)
74.Gold Rush, The (1925)
75.Dances With Wolves (1990)
76.City Lights (1931)
77.American Graffiti (1973)
78.Rocky (1976)
79.Deer Hunter, The (1978)
80.Wild Bunch, The (1969)
81.Modern Times (1936)
82.Giant (1956)
83.Platoon (1986)
84.Fargo (1996)
85.Duck Soup (1933)
86.Mutiny On The Bounty (1935)
87.Frankenstein (1931)
88.Easy Rider (1969)
89.Patton (1970)
90.Jazz Singer, The (1927)
91.My Fair Lady (1964)
92.Place In The Sun, A(1951)
93.Apartment, The (1960)
94.Goodfellas (1990)
95.Pulp Fiction (1994)
96.Searchers, The (1956)
97.Bringing Up Baby (1938)
98.Unforgiven (1992)
99.Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (1967)
100. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Viewed Total: 78

10th Aniversary List - 100 Years 100 Movies (Released In 2007)

1 Citizen Kane (1941)
2 Godfather, The (1972)
3 Casablanca (1942)
4 Raging Bull (1980)
5 Singin' In The Rain (1952)
6 Gone With The Wind (1939)
7 Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)
8 Schindler's List (1993)
9 Vertigo (1958)
10 Wizard Of Oz, The (1939)
11 City Lights (1931)
12 Searchers, The (1956)
13 Star Wars (1977)
14 Psycho (1960)
15 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
16 Sunset Blvd. (1950)
17 Graduate, The (1967)
18 General, The (1927) N/A
19 On The Waterfront (1954)
20 It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
21 Chinatown (1974) 19 -2
22 Some Like It Hot (1959)
23 Grapes Of Wrath, The (1940)
24 E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
25 To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)
26 Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)
27 High Noon (1952)
28 All About Eve (1950)
29 Double Indemnity (1944)
30 Apocalypse Now (1979)
31 Maltese Falcon, The (1941)
32 Godfather Part Ii, The (1974)
33 One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
34 Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)
35 Annie Hall (1977)
36 Bridge On The River Kwai, The (1957)
37 Best Years Of Our Lives, The (1946)
38 Treasure Of The Sierra Madre, The (1948)
39 Dr. Strangelove (1964)
40 Sound Of Music, The (1965)
41 King Kong (1933)
42 Bonnie And Clyde (1967)
43 Midnight Cowboy (1969)
44 Philadelphia Story, The (1940)
45 Shane (1953)
46 It Happened One Night (1934)
47 Streetcar Named Desire, A (1951)
48 Rear Window (1954)
49 Intolerance (1916) N/A
50 Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, The (2001) N/A
51 West Side Story (1961)
52 Taxi Driver (1976)
53 Deer Hunter, The (1978)
54 M*A*S*H (1970)
55 North By Northwest (1959)
56 Jaws (1975)
57 Rocky (1976)
58 Gold Rush, The (1925)
59 Nashville (1975) N/A
60 Duck Soup (1933)
61 Sullivan's Travels (1941) N/A
62 American Graffiti (1973)
63 Cabaret (1972) N/A
64 Network (1976)
65 African Queen, The (1951)
66 Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)
67 Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966) N/A
68 Unforgiven (1992)
69 Tootsie (1982)
70 Clockwork Orange, A (1971)
71 Saving Private Ryan (1998) N/A
72 Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) N/A
73 Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)
74 Silence Of The Lambs, The (1991)
75 In The Heat Of The Night (1967)
76 Forrest Gump (1994)
77 All The President's Men (1976) N/A
78 Modern Times (1936)
79 Wild Bunch, The (1969)
80 Apartment, The (1960)
81 Spartacus (1960) N/A
82 Sunrise (1927) N/A
83 Titanic (1997) N/A
84 Easy Rider (1969)
85 Night At The Opera, A (1935) N/A
86 Platoon (1986)
87 12 Angry Men (1957) N/A
88 Bringing Up Baby (1938)
89 Sixth Sense, The (1999) N/A
90 Swing Time (1936) N/A
91 Sophie's Choice (1982) N/A
92 Goodfellas (1990)
93 French Connection, The (1971)
94 Pulp Fiction (1994)
95 Last Picture Show, The (1971) N/A
96 Do The Right Thing (1989) N/A
97 Blade Runner (1982) N/A
98 Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
99 Toy Story (1995) N/A
100 Ben-Hur (1959)

So These Last Movies Were Added to the updated list:

18 General, The (1927) N/A
49 Intolerance (1916) N/A
50 Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, The (2001) N/A
59 Nashville (1975) N/A
61 Sullivan's Travels (1941) N/A63 Cabaret (1972) N/A
67 Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966) N/A
71 Saving Private Ryan (1998) N/A
72 Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) N/A
75 In The Heat Of The Night (1967) N/A
77 All The President's Men (1976) N/A
81 Spartacus (1960) N/A
82 Sunrise (1927) N/A
83 Titanic (1997) N/A
85 Night At The Opera, A (1935)
87 12 Angry Men (1957) N/A
89 Sixth Sense, The (1999) N/A
90 Swing Time (1936) N/A
91 Sophie's Choice (1982) N/A
95 Last Picture Show, The (1971) N/A
96 Do The Right Thing (1989) N/A
97 Blade Runner (1982) N/A
99 Toy Story (1995) N/A

Viewed total: +11

Total percentage: 72.4% viewed
Last updated on March 13th, 2010

Teresita

2009-02-20T13:32:00.011-05:00

Alguna vez, hace poco mas de cuatro años, tuve una mascota inolvidable...
En realidad era una mascota perfecta!
No habia que darle de comer, ni sacarla a pasear.
No hacia ruido, ni soltaba pelo por todos lados.
No habia que recojer sus "regalitos", ni buscar quien hiciera el pet-sitting.
El solo verla era suficiente para hacerme sonreir.

Se llamaba Teresita Perez-Sosa.

Esta es una foto de ella desde el balcon de mi apartamento en Las Esmeraldas.

(foto verdadera)

Solo quiero que sepas que no importa el tiempo ni la distancia, yo no te olvido...
Me acompañaste en la mejor epoca de mi vida!

(Especimen Similar)

Unexpected Valentine's

2009-02-15T00:10:00.005-05:00

So, today was another surprisingly good holiday.
Chocolate and wine tasting at Breaux, in the company of great friends.
Lots of good memories.

Family Circus

2009-02-11T10:24:00.005-05:00

Isn't it completely exhausting?
And, guess what...
You get to do it all over again tomorrow!

Memorable Conversations

2009-02-06T10:03:00.002-05:00

I heard the following dialogue in an episode of "Brothers & Sisters" a couple of weeks ago... It was a conversation between husband and wife, who used to worked together before they started dating.
It made me laugh and it made me sigh.
Here it is:

Kitty: That was nice, doing that again.
Robert: Again? I think you must be confusing me with a former boss, because I don’t recall us ever having sex in the office before.
Kitty: I was talking about the part before the sex.
Robert: Oh, discussing immigration reform.
Kitty: Well, not the topic, but the spirited …
Robert: Exchange of ideas.
Kitty: Verbal wrangling.
Robert: Fervent cogitation.
Kitty: Brain sex.

I guess there is a lot to be said about a conversation that gives so much satisfaction. ;)

Tomorrow

2009-02-03T15:24:00.004-05:00

Why are there days that I feel like crying for no reason other than I breathe?
Is it a condition inherent to being a woman, or am I just simply flawed somehow?
Is this sadness always there hidden under the surface?

It seems some days I wake up feeling completely blah, sunken heart, and eyes itching to cry...

I hope tomorrow is a better day.

Coming next

2009-01-25T14:36:00.007-05:00

Esto es lo que veo en mi futuro...

Am I not lucky to have to go to work in that?

Lastest Update:

(Washington, DC in the red square)

AFI movies

2009-01-13T11:56:00.019-05:00

Inspired by Miss Alice and the Mad Hatter, I've very slowly started my own enterprise of watching the AFI 100 best movies ever. Si, soy una copiona!!!

Unlike them, I have not found around here anyone that shares my passion for film; usually watching an "old" movie or a foreign film means I end up watching it by myself. Even current films like "the boy in the striped pajamas", I've watched alone at the theater on a wintery Sunday matinee.

I can't deny that having people -even if they are across the sea- to share opinions and thoughts about the movies is nice. I've realized that I lived most of my life in a very pampered way: surrounded by intellectual, knowledgeable people. People that I not only could have a great conversation with, but that I could learn some pretty cool stuff from. I kinda miss that feeling a little.

Anyways, taking advantage of cable and that wonderful invention called "DVR", I've recorded some of the movies and watched them in the comfort of my tiny studio. I have to confess that when the memory is low and i find myself having to delete something to be able to record my beloved TV series those "black and white movies" are the first to disappear - silly me! But I have managed to see a couple of them.

So here's the list of those I have yet to watch: (67)

Raging Bull (1980)

Gone with the Wind (1939) - in DVR now

The Wizard of Oz (1939) -watched bits and pieces.

Psycho (1960) -recorded and deleted before watching.

Sunset Boulevard (1950) - scheduled to be recorded

On the Waterfront (1954)

It's a Wonderful Life (1946) -recorded and deleted before watching.

Chinatown (1974)

Some Like It Hot (1959)

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - scheduled to be recorded.

High Noon (1952)

Double Indemnity (1944)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Shane (1953)

It Happened One Night (1934)

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Rear Window (1954)

West Side Story (1961)

Taxi Driver (1976)

The Deer Hunter (1978) -watched bits and pieces.

MASH (1970)

North by Northwest (1959) - scheduled to be recorded

Jaws (1975) -watched bits and pieces.

Nashville (1975)

Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Network (1976)

The African Queen (1951)

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Unforgiven (1992)

Tootsie (1982)

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

In the Heat of the Night (1967) -recorded and deleted before watching.

All the President's Men (1976)

Modern Times (1936)

The Wild Bunch (1969)

Spartacus (1960)

Easy Rider (1969)

Platoon (1986)

12 Angry Men (1957)

Goodfellas (1990)

The French Connection (1971)

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Do the Right Thing (1989)

Blade Runner (1982)

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

Dr. Zhivago (1965) - scheduled to be recorded

The Third Man (1949)

Stagecoach (1939)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) -recorded and deleted before watching.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - scheduled to be recorded

An American in Paris (1951)

Wuthering Heights (1939)

Modern Times (1936)

Giant (1956)

A Place in the Sun (1951)

And those I've already seen: (33)

Citizen Kane (1941)

The Godfather (1972)

Casablanca (1942)

Schindler's List (1993)

Star Wars (1977)

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

The Sound of Music (1965)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

American Graffiti (1973)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Titanic (1997)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Amadeus (1984)

Fantasia (1940)

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
Annie Hall (1977)
The Apartment (1960)
Rocky (1976)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
The Searchers (1956)
The Graduate (1967)

Hopefully the list will keep growing - sin prisa, pero sin pausa.

(For updatescheck out: http://dreams4aninsomniac.blogspot.com/2009/02/afi-ii-clearing-confusion.html)

The Walking City

2008-10-09T23:32:00.005-04:00

Today was one of those very special and rare days in which you see life through a lens that brightens and warms up everything.

After a pretty boring and ordinary trip into Boston last night, I woke up to a beautiful day: blue skies, warm temperature, a little breeze... A lazy morning sitting in the back porch was followed by a simple but delicious lunch: sandwiches filled with chicken-curry-apple-nuts-raisins salad. After that we headed out to the North Shore (for my first look at the ocean since Galveston last year, and totally missing the Caribbean).

Even though the fall colors are not yet at their height and still have not spread everywhere, the drive was colorful and pleasant. We arrived to the little town of Rockport and walked it's streets down to Bearskin Neck. We stopped at art galleries, crafts shops and eventually made our way to the Strudel place.

Stomachs filled with yummy treats, we went towards the ocean and took in the view. Picture perfect. It was surprising to picture images similar to the "Perfect Storm" anywhere near this place!

Having seen enough of that we drove to Halibut Point State Park. We hiked to the quarry, where you can see the quarry pool and just beyond, the Atlantic. If you gaze into the horizon on a clear day like today you even get to see Maine. Just a little down the street, we stopped at the Lobster Pool for an early dinner. New England Clam Chowder, Shrimp, Lobster... a meal that could not have been overlooked when you visit Cape Ann.

So, up until now the day has been amazing; out of a dream, but it is not over. We have tickets to see Kooza, the Cirque du Soleil show. As usual, a breathtaking show. The lights, colors, music and talent of the artists were unparalleled. Excellency, nothing less.

Tonight, I am going to bed -smile on my lips- looking forward to waking up for another day of exploring and fun in the Walking City.

Comatose Confusions

2008-09-25T22:34:00.019-04:00

For some weird reason, I love the movie "While You Were Sleeping". It probably has to do with memories of the first time I saw it. Happy times.

Anyways, there's a scene there that has been flashing in my mind very frequently lately: Lucy, Sandra Bullock, has saved Peter and is at the hospital with him at night. They are alone and it seems to be very late. She has been talking "to him" for quite a while and then she says: "Have you ever been so alone you spend the night confusing a man in a coma?"

And the thing is that it's actually very common. Well, not really talking to men in commas, but feeling that kind of loneliness.

It's surprising how many people suffer from this condition. So many call the psychic hot lines or the television shopping lines because they are alone and need to hear someone's voice. Others get involved in cyber-dating, or even settle for less-than-acceptable relationships just to run away from it. Jack Diamond (here I go again) commented last week on the several times during his career when he's gotten calls during his show from lonely suicidal people who have no one to talk to but the radio show guy.

Lonely people do bizarre things, like reach out to strangers. Besides our innate need for social interaction, we just don't really know how to handle being alone. We are born alone, we will die alone. How come we are not taught how to handle it? Why does society have to make us believe that being alone is bad? Because we have, indeed, been raised to believe that being alone is a sign of failure and rejection. Too many times we wrongly tie our self image and self value to someone else's opinion. People who are alone are flawed, or so their isolation leads them to conclude. We need to feel that we "belong" somewhere, in Lucy's case in Peter's and the Callahans' life. We are just "not good enough". Being alone makes us feel so rejected, hurt, alienated that we start feeling lonely. We feel defeated. Thus the despair.

Why the stigma? Can't we make a difference between solitude and loneliness? Can't we be alone without feeling lonely? Anyone that has ever felt loneliness can confirm that a million people can't make you feel it less. Nothing worse for lonely people than a crowd.

Solitude on the other hand is many a times positive. It can make us feel independent and empowered. It can make you recycle your energy and reconnect with your inner self. Nothing better to reconnect with others than to know yourself, truly, completely.

Maybe if we could teach our children the difference between solitude and loneliness there'd be less desperate people. Maybe we would not feel as lost when we are alone. We might even embrace our times of solitude, cherish them.

I guess my point is, after all the rambling, in a world that has been moving in a direction that isolates us more and more replacing physical interaction with instant telecommunication technologies, wouldn't it be beneficial to distinguish being alone from being lonely?

There will always be people that feel lonely, unfortunately, but tying loneliness and solitude together in one package creates more intense and frequent situations that sometimes end up calling for desperate measures, like comatose confusions.

Gracias Totales

2008-09-25T09:45:00.005-04:00

Hoy simplemente quiero dar las gracias al (selecto) grupo de quienes a través de sus blogs han pasado a formar parte me mis mañanas (junto con las noticias y el café), de las interminables horas de trabajo, y de las silenciosas noches en los "suburbs".

Thanks for the inspiration, for making me think, ponder, laugh, cry and remember...

Bernard Pivot's

2008-09-23T12:20:00.007-04:00

Following in the footsteps of the Mad Hatter and Miss A, I found my own questionnaire to answer and maybe start posting again...
So here it is: the famous questionnaire from Inside the Actor's Studio. These 10 questions originally came from a French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot.

What is your favorite word?
procrastination, enlightening, serendipity
What is your least favorite word?
imposed, rejection, inability
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
uniqueness, nature
What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
ignorance, crowds, hypocrisy, unfairness, cigarettes
What is your favorite curse word?
shit
What sound or noise do you love?
ocean waves and wind
What sound or noise do you hate?
amplifier's feedback, sirens, constant humming of machines
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Food/Restaurant critic
What profession would you not like to do?
Anything health related
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
"I've been waiting for you. You've certainly earned your share of paradise"

Every Breath

2008-09-11T15:10:00.015-04:00

Every morning driving to work I listen to the Jack Diamond Morning Show (a falta de Cesar Miguel y sus silencios elocuentes). Most days they just make me laugh, but every so often a comment made by Jack - isolated from all the nonesense his co-hosts say - strikes a cord and makes me think about some deep issue. Today the issue was, of course, 9/11. It was a date that changed the world, but only living here have a begun to understand the deep hurt this country feels. They are having a memorial at the Pentagon today, and that's how the conversation started.

But Jack's message, even though derived from this day in our past, was more related to our present and our future. He talked about how precious and unpredictable life is. This is something we all know but we'd arther forget and not ponder. It scares us way too much. "Living" is a great miracle. We take for granted every breath we take; every breath others take, and in the blink of and eye it could all be over.

Imagine how many people look upon that day with regrets! Some left their homes in a hurry that morning, not having kissed their spouse and children goodbye; Some had gotten in an argument the day before and didn't get a chance to say they were sorry; some hadn't called someone they loved in a while, and they never got around it.

So much left unsaid and undone...

How often do we put off important details like these because we think we don't have time now? We tell ourselves we'll do them tomorrow.

Tomorrow may never come.

Today could be our last chance.

Pictures of the memorial at Washingtonpost.com

Craving Caracas

2008-09-09T14:00:00.022-04:00

Top 10

Ver el Ávila todos los días, sobretodo tempranito en la mañana en un día soleado.
Sushi de Sushi Market o en realidad de cualquier lado, aquí es caaaaro y poco creativo.

Gelato - lo tenemos en cada esquina y estando allá nunca lo aprecié como debía.

Gasolina mas barata que el agua!!!

Un juguito de fruta fresca (no de concentrado) de parchita, de fresa, de mora...
Los festivales internacionales de cine y teatro.

Lo variado y moderno de la architectura -especialmente en las zonas residenciales.

Las salchichas de la Monserratina - Los mejores choripanes!

Los sandwiches de pernil del mocho en la Unión.

Los asquerocitos del maracucho en La Castellana.

Picture posted in flickr.com by:josemazcona

A day in the life...

2008-09-08T18:07:00.013-04:00

For three weeks now I've been working at this new law firm. Ever since my unmemorable predecessor moved out, I took over my new office space. I brought my radio/mp3 player alarm clock, a scented candle, my stash of chocolate, candy and chewing gum and, taking advantage of my wall to wall window, 2 decorative plants. For some, it might sound like an unconventional survivor kit, but it has worked very well so far.

Few thing are predictable in my phone-call-filled hectic days. However, everyday, before going up to the office I make a stop at the corner's Starbucks. It seems impossible to start my day without tall vanilla late (instead of "mi cafe con leche clarito"), and my new addiction, Madeleines. While I walk back I wonder whether I'll be willing to keep doing this in the winter -which comes at us faster than I would like.

I settle in, turn on the oldies station on the radio, and lit my "warm apple pie" scented candle. Lots of comments have derived from my lit candle, everything from how good it smells to what the hidden purpose of it is - I wonder if they think Venezuela is voodoo land or they just think I'm into the new age thing. But the truth is that these simple actions make me feel like i really "own" the space and get me in the right frame of mind for the day ahead. And so, another day gets rolling...

The next milestone in my day is a common activity for American's, that is as foreign to us as going to the bank and not having to stand in line: I have the responsibility of opening, sorting and distributing our mail. It sounds pretty simple, but it is just a convoluted, never ending process. Some of it goes to our D.C. office, some goes to our Maryland office; some is meant for the orchestra-man-attorney that rents some office space from us... Sometimes I even get to use my none-existent powers of divination to figure out who sends what.

Anyways, once that first sorting is done, and I'm already exhausted and my desk looks like a paper factory after a terrorist attack, I need to do the intra-office sorting and search for the file folders. Of course, again, there's open files, closed files, VIP files, submitted files, settled files... It almost feels like a scavanger's hunt with me running all over the place.

Predictably, there's always a couple of pieces of mail that I can't figure out. It was while trying to successfully place those rogue pieces of paper that I happen to set them on my table, on the right side of my monitor, right by... you got it!... right by my scented candle.

Five seconds later, the mail was ablaze! Here I am, almost burning settlement checks in a freaking building made by the second little piggy.... all wooden sticks and cardboard!

After stomping on papers, none of which turned out to be checks (Praise the Lord!), and keeping my fingers crossed for the fire alarm/sprinklers not to go off, I managed to control the disastrous situation... and save my job for at least for another Starbucks-and-mail-filled day.

Cosas de Petete

2008-09-06T16:05:00.018-04:00

While surfing the net in one of my breaks, I stumbled upon these terms.

Did you know there was a word for these?

The act of mentally undressing someone - apodyopsis
An overwhelming desire to kiss - basorexia
Having well-shaped buttocks - callipygean
An artfully veiled insult - charientism (Reminded me of he who is in LIMBO)
Being full of beer - gambrinous
The sensation that someone is mentally undressing you - gymnophoria
Letting one's eyes wander while assessing someone's charms - oculoplania
Flirtatious talk that leads nowhere - sphallolalia

I guess we can start calling things by their proper name...

Intense core wrapped in a happy-go-jolly package

2008-09-04T10:55:00.022-04:00

My Dear Friend,

What an addition have you made to my life! For months and months we shared our daily lives and you brightened my days, but even then, I just saw the tip of the iceberg.

I may have needed time and distance as catalysts to see beyond my nose. I believe I was also a little too self absorbed (not that i lacked reasons). There's soooo much more to you than what I had seen!

I knew you were absent minded, not as a trait, but as the consequence of your busy activity-filled life. You where everywhere doing everything, it seemed. I knew you were creative, and resourceful. I knew we shared a passion for books and foreign film. I had no doubt that your English was superb (and I won't ever get tired of saying it!). You could make difficult seem easy, and giggle your way though a long day. In summary, I knew you were special. But, boy was i nearsighted!

I had only taken a glimpse and not seen further into your inner world. I realize now how much I had missed.

I've found a sensitive, caring, free spirited young woman, wise beyond her years; an intellectual; a culturally savvy little head. Someone full of big words, who actually knows how to use them (and does not over do it). You might not be a lady, but who cares? I believe you are better off. Ser autentico no tiene precio... You have such a thirst for knowledge and a contagious joy of living! You have an intense core wrapped in a happy-go-jolly package.

Oh my dear, but what i really couldn't have imagined was how i was to fall in love with your friends. Reading their words is a great pleasure. I'm bewildered by how clearly they see the world and how cleverly they convey their ideas. What an enriching experience it must be to share your life with such people! Even from afar, you guys make an astounding bunch.

So, accept my compliments and admiration, and be proud of yourself. Furthermore, rest assured that you have made a meaningful difference in my life and I feel truly blessed to count you among my friends. I'll be forever grateful for that opportunity.

love ya, Co! ;)

The Stranger I've Become

2008-09-03T21:31:00.009-04:00

Have you ever looked back at your life and wondered when did you make that one decision that changed your course? When did you deviate from the path you had planned so carefully?

For a few days, I've been wondering how did that happen. And it's not that I regret what my life has become. It may not all be good, but I would certainly be a different person had the path to get here been different. And I wouldn't want to be anyone else.

I just wonder what happened. Call it, if you may, an irrational curiosity; or maybe nostalgia for the person I could have been. It has been indeed a little sad; almost like discovering that one of your childhood friends passed away without your knowing about it. It's a deep melancholic feeling produced by accepting a fact that can't be changed but that stirs important memories.

Today I look at a stranger's face when I look into the mirror. It takes me over for a few seconds and then I look into the familiar eyes staring back at me. Somehow my essence has survived. I'm still there, but where did my dreams go? Were they ever within my reach? Did I give up? or did they change and evolve? And if so, why does it hurt now to realize they are gone?

And so I grieve the dreams that will never come true.

Tomorrow, I'll joyously accept and cherish the woman I am. Again.

Weird Uses for Food

2008-09-03T09:36:00.011-04:00

Last week I ran across the most unusual article on AOL. Its title was "Weird Uses for Food". They encouraged people to share their tips and tricks, and you will not believe what people wrote! I picked my top 20 (random order).

1. "If you have a toothache, just put about 5 or 6 drops of Tabasco sauce on your aching tooth with a cotton swab. It numbs your tooth better than Orajel." -- Lexus

2. "If you have a CD with a scratch on it, just rub the mayo on the scratch. Let it sit for about 5 minutes, and then wipe off going from the center of the CD to the outside rim." -- Laura A

3. "So you've been out at the beach, and you are fried lobster red. Don't panic -- just take a potato and grate it (leaving peel and everything on it) and put it where you are burnt. Wait 30 minutes and remove the potato. Take a cool shower. Not only is the heat gone, but the next day so will be the pain and most of the red -- if not all." -- Juliana

4. "Have a boil or large pimple? Soak a small piece of bread in milk, attach the piece of bread over the boil using tape or another fastener, and the milk will dry out the boil, decreasing its size. Best if done overnight. Toothpaste can also be used to dry out pimples." -- Ben

5. "To keep bread fresh longer place a carrot in the bag. It will freshen bread like it was just baked." Joy Taylor

6. "An apple's ethylene gas will also help pears and avocados to ripen and bromeliad plants to bloom if they're placed together in a loosely-closed paper bag." -- Vee

7. "One 12 oz can of Coca-Cola ( not Pepsi ) in the wash will get rid of diesel smell in clothes." -- Chris

8."I spilled red wine on cream colored carpet, I immediately covered it with a box of salt. The next morning, I vacuumed it up. No stain was visible." -- Patty (Note - this also works for Kool-Aid stains.)

9. "Salt takes the smell of onions from your hands. Wet your hands, put a little salt in the palm of your hand, rub them together good and then rinse. Onion smell will be gone." -- Karen

10. "Baking soda & vinegar are my staple plumbing tools. Sprinkle baking soda in drains, then pour vinegar and voila! Your troubles literally bubble down the drain." -- PJ Hunt

11. "For athlete's foot relief, pour a cup of apple cider vinegar over foot morning and night for two days. Do not soak in it, just pour it over area. Stops itch immediately." -- Susan

12. "If you have a radiator leak, add pepper to the water in the radiator. The tiny grains of pepper will block the leak. It's only a temporary fix but it's a very good temporary fix." -- Dutchvrouw

13. "Try rubbing peanut butter on leather furniture to get out pen marks, grease and dirt stains. Works great on leather car seats as well." -- Rick

14. "If you're having trouble with mosquito bites, put a piece of raw onion on them for about 2 minutes. It stops the itch, and takes the redness away." -- Cher

15. "To take the smell out when painting a room inside the house, cut an onion in half and leave half each end of the room. The onion completely soaks up the paint odor and leaves the room without the smell of onion!" -- Lynda

16. "To remove rust stains from fabric, saturate the stain with fresh lemon juice, then cover with a layer of table salt. Rub the salt into the juice, making a thick paste. Wait for the juice to dry completely, then brush or wash the salt off. The rust will be gone." -- Rob

17. "Cinnamon works for repelling ants. If you find where they are coming in, sprinkle cinnamon on the trail and they will not go over it. It worked for me and I had no more ants in my kitchen." -- Raelene

18. "Plain old household mustard will take the burn out of a burn. So, next time you burn yourself taking a cake out of the oven, just dab some mustard on it and the burning sensation will go away. If the skin is broken, DO NOT use the mustard as an infection may occur." -- Sharon

19. "Corn starch can be used to save your suede dress, shoes or bag. Just sprinkle it on, rub it in, leave it for 24 hours and then lightly brush off. If the stain is not totally gone, repeat it. Most stains will be gone the first time if you do it right after you get the stain, even grease stains." -- Suzanne

20. "If you burn yourself while cooking or if you get burnt working at a fast food restaurant or even sunburned, pickle juice works! Soak a rag in a pickle jar and then lay the rag on the burn." -- Amanda

from Weird food uses on AOL

But the real question arises...

Which is more bizarre: the uses of the food or the people that come up with this ideas?

A quién se le ocurre ponerse mostaza en una quemada o pan mojado en leche sobre un zit?
Cómo se descubre que una zanahoria mantiene el pan fresco o que la mayonesa salva tus CDs de los rayones? A mi jamás se me hubiese pasado por la mente ninguna de estas "recetas".

Am I just too square?

The Madman

2008-09-03T00:20:00.009-04:00

By Kahlil Gibran (1918)

"You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen,—the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives,—I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, “Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves”.
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me.

And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house-top cried, “He is a madman.” I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, “Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks.”

Thus I became a madman.

And I have found both freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.
But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail isn't safe from another thief".

...and I ask myself, how many masks do I own? How frequently do I get to feel the sun kiss my face? Am I being called "madman" often enough?
As of lately, I've gotten better.

I'm starting to be a regular lunatic.

Most people, indeed, laugh or run in fear. Around me, just a few fellow madmen remain. And again I think - Blessed be the thieves!

Failure or Success?

2008-09-01T16:06:00.009-04:00

What do you write about when your heart, your soul, and your ego are so bruised that inspiration hides in the darkest, most distant corner of your mind?

How do you cope with finally picking up a pen after 1+ yrs of avoiding it, only to find that you grasp for words and your mind wanders in such a disarrayed way that it's almost as bad as if it were blank?
Where do you find solace and safety?

I'd given up. Totally; completely. However, a heroic team made out of an enlightened youngster and a stranger have stirred up that dormant element in my life.

Now, I wonder what to do with it. When everything hurts and aches so much, how do you cough it up in a way that is both beautiful and coherent? Where do you start?

And so I sit alone, listening to Albinoni, watching the tree leaves swing in the breeze and I debate whether to get a glass of wine to free the "uninhibited me"... and i come up with a page full of gibberish.

Do I take it as a failure or as success?

I wonder what they would think. Would they be proud or ashamed of this unannounced, unsolicited apprentice? Would they cheer me on, or just shrug and move on?

Mad Hatter, Miss Alice - Should i keep it up or quit while I'm ahead?