Nekko-do

It sprang into my head as an idea as clear as tap water pours into a glass. And it is as simple as it is genius. So much so that I suspect I'm not the first person to think of it.

Let us begin with the name. It means 'the way of the cat'. In Japanese. Why Japanese? Because it instantly sounds cool. It involves cats  and meditation and perfectioning one's mood, posture and attitude, so it might as wel have been inveted or first thought of in a remote zen buddhist cloister.

What you do is this: you sit in a chair or bench or grassy spot in the sun, it matters little as long as you are secluded from eletronic distractions and major city noise. Now sit perfectly still until a cat selects your lap for a little day time nap. Immediately you will experience the urge to reach for a book, a cup of tea, a glass of wine, you will think of a million chores and feel an irresistible urge to use the bathroom or some long postponed telephone calls. Ignore all these impulses. Slowly and deliberatly stroke the cat and clear your mind of anything but the purring of your feline friend. Continue unil the cat leaves voluntarily.

Et voila.

Martial vs marital matters

A long time ago, the fictional persona Werther pondered upon this 'Must it be that all that makes us  happy, be also the well of our unhappiness?' And since I first read it, it has been the question I regurlarly yet infrequently sigh over myself.

My year so far has been more like something of a dream. With a job that I am finally really enjoying, exams that went better than expected, new and inspiring friends and classes in art school, even -and I may regret ever confessing to this- some peace of mind that I thought I would never know. Except that the heart is not so calm. It still wants everything.

But  what the heart wants, and what the mind thinks is possible are very very far apart. I just wait for an artificial blood pump to become commercially available and then I'll trade mine for its weight in chocolate.

2012

I am one!

The web is also the ocean

For a while (a time period roughly corresponding with the time in which this blog has been free of vague meanderings and lack-of-love induced laments) I have been wondering about some unsolicited romantic advice. The tip was unasked for AND unwelcome as I took it to be both an accusation and an insult.

To be short it was proposed that I find a potential mate on-line. Much as I like and enjoy my 'connection' with W3 I made it perfectly clear that I prefered my personal relationships to start in real life. And yet every now and then I hear arguments in favour of the suggestion, and never any against.

It is true that I might enjoy a somebody to share my life with but I resent the implicit message that I MUST HAVE a partner to appeciate life to the fullest, even more it annoys me that I am considered to awkward to meet people through day-to-day interaction - even though this is probably true. Since I have given up the wish and hope for a child of my own, I'm in no hurry to lose whatever freedom I have left.

All coming back I hope

Every morning to work I cross at least three duck and geese families, all made up of a mother and three to seven littluns. Since I pass hardly any considerable ponds or ditches and ride along quite a lot of busy streets and highways I consider a near miracle that I never so any of them (being) harmed.

I wish the same could be said of hedgehogs and babybirds.

Labour Day - 2011 Edition

A yearly tradition that I am not ready to give up. Happy Labour Day, comrades!

The professor

Anyone following me on Goodreads, or even simply keeps an eye on my twitter- updates is by now aware that I'm reading 'The Professor' by Charlotte Brönte. In a classic Brönte style, neither language nor plot can be called extraordinary; but one thing puzzles me exceedingly... the attitude of the main charachter towards Belgium, Brussels and the 'Flamands'. Where it not that there is never mentioning (so far) of 'Wallons', as all the native French speakers appear to be either French or Swiss. I might have suspected Charlotte of Southern Belgian sympathies. :-)

Concerning Paper Handkerchiefs

(To the wider public known and addressed as 'tissues'. )

Having just recovered from a little cold, ( Read having lived in denial of my illness for three days, only to feel more miserable every day and spending the weekend certain of my soon demise) I noticed while looking for something to blow my nose in, the following:

1) All the fabric handkerchiefs I have are child sized and dito decorated.
2) I have enormous amounts of packs of tissues from which only one was ever used. This lead to the conclusion that I have a lot of available tissues and that ...
3) Paper once designed in colour, touch and smell to relieve the headached and worn-out ill masses may in less than two years completely dry out and metamorphose in vile squares of newspaper paper texture and stiffness.

Poor Piglet

Another Swine Flue victim.

Red Ribbon

I really shouldn't have to tell you what a Red Ribbon means.

Quote #40

I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized who was telling me this.

Emo Phillips

Wedding Night

As I write, mere hours before you read this I help out preparing the stage wedding of a friend's friends. Two people who are dear to each other and to me will be (fake-) wed.

I always thought I hated the fuss. Having recently seen one of my oldest college friends get married to a very handsome tall dark 'stranger' had -I thought- put me off quite a bit. I loved seeing him and her so happy and brave to simply say we'll face the world together from now on, but throughout the ceremony I felt that it would be impossible for me to vow love and fidelity eternally ( a leftover from having scarred my heart once too often). Combined with a great lack of interest for cake dresses, family festivities and fuss about my person, I concluded that I had better not marry.

However, even knowing that nothing of what will take place today is meant in earnest, I simply adore being involved. I have been wondering a full two weeks about what to wear. I will beam with joy and pride when I am complemented on the choice of corsage and bouquet. I think constantly of event-appropriate music. Had I time and an oven to spare I would without a doubt have volunteered to bake a wedding cake. Already I'm jealous thinking how they will look at each other and the children, with pride, love, warmth overflowing their hearts.

Now that I am well beyond the point of sentimentality I might as well mention that either one of my sort-of-single sisters must marry or the one man that may be mine (if there is such a man) will not escape nuptial frenzy. The official paperwork I can and could do without, but I'll have my damned party.

Bones

Since I am uncertain about copyright and I am hugely in favour of this website, I link rather than steal the pictures to make my own blog all the more popular. But please, watch and in enjoy (as far as the horror allows).

Uncried tears

I used to curse myself for not being able to control the relative dryness/wetness of my eyes. Right now, I'd give anything to be able to cry, it would be mightily embarrasing considering the company I will find myself in for at least another day but it would relieve me a little too.

I may be in need of more tea.

On-line Sanity Theft

Beware!

Beware!

It's true though. When no in the habbit of thinking, or when unable to entertain an idea only in the cofinement of your own brain, please refrain from reading. In fact ask to be excused from class when learning how to.

Road Trip

Yesterday, a thought looming in the back of my head for months has popped to surface: why don't I just give it up? Both work and house and start travelling? So far I'm thinking of popping by in Japan and California, US to say 'Hi' to some much missed friends and after that I want to hitchhike or backpack around New-Zealand.

Knowing myself, I will not pursue this plan fully, if I even make it to the first step but it goes to show that I am far from being as attached to my job as my bosses and co-workers would believe. I can't escape feeling slightly guilty, inspired by loyalty for bosses that don't seem to appreciate no matter what effort or result; but it fades quickly enough when I start equalling out the verbal abuse, the meagre paycheck, the lack of growth potential, and the numbing of my creativity.

In Memoriam

So far I have been spared any demises among my closest family members, but I read today that few of my friends have been this lucky (or at least, so it would seem). If I were a religious woman I would pray but I suppose my support,if that would be called for, is all I have to offer now.

Be strong for the sake of those who are weak and live on with the memory of a loved one firmly fixed in your heart.

Bussiness Idea

Many many months ago, it may even be years, we* had the brilliant brilliant bussiness idea of getting paid to 'fake' somebody's social networking. Apparently it's not such a bad idea: click here.


* a group of my friends who by their nicknames are known as; Yahweh, Pegasus, Rabbitine, Dr. Evil, 01, Swashbuckler, Gentle Man