Friday, October 31, 2008

waiting for midnight


deep into the darkness peering, long i stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. ~edgar allan poe

lovelies, do have a wonderful, dreamy, and imaginative halloween!
... and weekend.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

變動 ... crises/change

what do i know? i was talking to m. the other day. her son of 11 years old broke some growth bone in his writing hand. doctors said that they will have to treat and monitor it closely. it's unlike a normal broken finger, in that this part that has been broken has a thingy that is responsible for the growth of the hand. hmmm, never heard of it. so the thing is, if this is not treated properly then leo's hand will not grow properly. thankfully he is getting good care. one has to remind him that though his hand is in a cast, still be extra careful zooming the cars around the room...

his mother explained to me that sometimes he does get sad because he can't be as active as he would like to be. she has been thinking that she would like him to begin something new especially for this time, so that when he emerges from this difficult situation he will have some fond memories to go with it. i'm thinking that when something happens like this you never forget it. my mom still talks about the horrible itchyness she suffered that summer as a little girl in florida when she broke her finger. and leo's mother remembers when she broke her finger, she spent the time learning french.
it has been said that the symbol for crises in chinese is the same as the symbol for change, that out of crises change can come, a new beginning...

what a wonderful idea. since i know absolutely nothing about chinese, i looked the symbols up. they look different to me. but what do i know? it's still greek to me. Jorge if you happen to pop in, clue me in and let me know what you think...

still i must admit, i do like the idea that out of a crises, space can be created for a new beginning...

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

two moods at once...




yesterday all day i did not feel well. i took the day off from work, but in a way that did not make any sense. some guys showed up at my door to replace the heating radiators that should have been replaced a few months ago. i thought since they are here, i'd better let them do their job.

so i ventured out and left them inside to do the work they needed to do. i'm not sure if not having heat these past days have contributed to my not feeling well. so i was kind of left out in the big bad world on my own feeling all achy and weak. i thought 'where can i go for the day so as to come in from the chilliness of the day?' i found my way to the metropolitan museum. even there it was a bit taxing to walk up all those stairs. and to tell the truth once inside it was painful to walk around, but i pushed myself. and during this time i noticed that even though i did not feel well, it was really nice to be in the midst of such beautiful art works. i studied quietly the drawings and sketches. when i'm feeling good i don't have the patience for such detail. i meditated on the painted scrolls of ancient japan. i studied porcelain from germany, lost myself in the vastness of american landscape paintings, i touched and browsed through books in the metropolitan museum's bookshop. and when i thought i could use a break i wandered over to the cafeteria for soup and hot cider. there i spent time talking with a lovely lady about our favorite travels. soon afterward i spent some time browsing european paintings. i looked at my watch, only 3pm. the guys won't be finished in the apartment until about 6pm. i'm so tired, though the artworks are so lovely. what a mix of emotion. i wandered down to the lobby of the met and had a seat on one of those big sturdy wooden benches. what will i do for another 2 or so hours. to my surprise i sat there drifting in an out of sleep as the vast crowds made their way about the museum's lobby. but the sweet surprise was the rest and peace i felt not only drifting in and out of sleep, but witnessing the doings of many persons. listening to tourists plan the rest of their day in new york, seeing lovers smooch, watching the interesting fashion of passers by. sending love to the young lady who processed my admission ticket at 11am and is still on the job now close to 4...

rising up from my comfortable fascinating front row seat and the interesting doings of folk, i wandered out of the museum across central park. it was chilly and beautiful as the fall leaves created a flowering in the air blowing all around me, the lakes and gorgeous browns and greens and reds and yellows that painted the scenery before me. when i reached home a few minutes before 6, thinking i did not have the strength to wander about much more, the work guys were gone. the new heaters were installed, and the heat was on and the place was nice and quiet and cosy and warm. i showered, put on my pjs and curled under my covers deeply grateful. on television's entertainment tonight where they often talk about the lifestyles of the rich and famous, in that moment i felt i was the richest of all...

Sunday, October 19, 2008

11 things about moi..


thanks so much to Julianne at potpourri promenade for tagging me, i have the opportunity to share 11 things about me... how fun to consider....

1. clothes shop. i've a shop here in nyc called daffys. they sell discounted designer clothes. i mean really discounted. i can pay $12 for a silk blouse. my last purchase was a leather jacket for $99. i don't know what i would do without them since clothes can be so expensice now...
2. furniture shop. i heart the shabby chic shop by rachel ashwell.

3. sweet.german chocolate cake... love it!

4. city. tough tough question. if i have to choose i wouldn't mind exploring brussels.

5.drink non alchoholic.tea, i do love myself a nice cosy cup of tea...

6.music. i like very much the swedish songstress lisa ekdahl, her voice is so soft and playful.

7.television series. hmmm believe it or not '2 and a half men.' i like the crazy carefree life of the character charlie, though i would never want to be one of his 'girlfriends.'

8.film. wow, good question, i'd have to go with breakfast at tiffanys. i know how unoriginal of me, but it really is a lovely film.

9. workout. yoga

10.pastries. funny i know very little about pastries. i'd have to say those little sweet pastries, i think they are called baklava.

11 coffee, i actually can't drink coffee. it turns my stomach and gives me the shakes. though i envy those we can drink it, they seem to enjoy it so...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

tech stuff on the mend...

how sweet to read about your doings for the past weekend. i must admit i love all the details...

i've traveled to my local library as my internet does not seem to be working. i'm not sure if it is a small gliche or something where someone has to come out and have a look at it. i'll have to investigate...

in the meantime... have a wonderful week! i do hope to be back soon with all the tech gliches mended...

take most care lovelies!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

hello lovelies!


hope you have a pretty nice weekend...

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

love!


this past week i heard an actress who's work i admire answer that in her free time she likes to dream. she said she could just be walking along and in midstep her daydreaming begins... i thought that's me! i'm such a dreamer. sure it can be an escape mechanism, but i think also it is connected to my love and desire of imagining and creating stories.

sometimes i wonder if someones who may visit l'air du temps might think that i am this dreamy unsubstantial being with nothing of importance to say. i never get that sense from friends we pop in regularly, but i wonder for 'first timers,' what might their impressions be...

here i try to keep it light and insightful, and my more 'profound' thoughts, i like to think i do, i tend to do away from this space. but so often the not so light wants to say something, and finds its way here. it's been a mix of stuff. though i have been twisted in knots about all that is happening with the u.s. presidential campaign and new presidential election that will occur in a matter of days, and thinking so much not only of what is happening here in the u.s. but all the broken hearts and lives abroad in the middle of unjust and horrific happenings, and simply wanting and wishing that things were different... simply.

dear Lala wrote so wisely about what is happening in Rwanda in one of her posts from thursday, 2nd of October on her blog http://www.mycastleinspain.blogspot.com/

my heart always breaks in a million pieces where there is pain and injustice and i just want to run and hide. but i know that is not the answer and these days i ask myself what can i do, however small, that may contribute to healing and justice. these past days i have been rolling these thoughts over inside and though i still plan to do something more concrete to help as i can, this morning i woke up with one thought...

love!

how beautiful and much needed is love. how we need it in all relations, family, friendships, lovers, international affairs, love of neighbor...

i thought of the picture above. this was taken outside one of the museums in san francisco. this newly wed couple beside a chihuly art piece is incredibly striking. it speaks to me of love and relations and art and beauty. www.chihuly.com

below is a photo image of a program i have learned about called the barefoot college. their website is http://www.barefootcollege.org/

'the students are mostly women, some are grandmothers. hundreds have come through here from villages across india and a dozen other countries to learn how to install and maintain solar energy in rural villages.'


these ladies train and become solar technicians and return to their villages to install and share what they have learned with others and they work for themselves creating a good source of income for themselves.

and it reminds me that there is a way. there are many ways to care and protect and i think a big part of it is love. a desire for justice and well being for every being. i hope to add my little sprinkle to the pool of love...

Friday, October 3, 2008

london calling

i'll tell you a little secret. sometimes when i wake up in the morning i play a little game with myself. i ask myself if i were waking up in another city which would it be? this morning it was london. i wonder if it had anything to do with the overcast skies, and chill in the air... i thought i would love to tumble out of bed, find my way to a cafe with a little lovely book and have my morning tea...

in the spirit of my english cravings today i pulled up the guardian newspaper online and clicked onto the culture section. see, if i were in london i would have a better idea why this film, a remake of brideshead revisited, is being reviewed just now.


i am embarrased to admit that prior to some months ago i knew nothing of the previous films nor the much loved and celebrated novel by evelyn waugh. thing is, i saw this current remake of the film some months ago here in new york. it can't be that it is just being released in london now, could it be? i just assumed it was an english film. hmmm...

anywho, i thought, though visually the film is stunning with gorgeous actors, the film itself was a bit empty and boring. the writer in the guardian today wrote/asks...

why revisit it?
it's fundamentally uninspired.
it offers no compelling reasons for a screen revival.
the film fails to make us care about the people.

ouch! sad but my sentiments exactly. i understand that there is another film version of the novel that is quite excellent which i will seek out. and of course before? or after? i must now read the novel.

and my question for you today dear one is... whatcha readin'?

have a most wonderful cosy weekend.
these words are written while the soundtrack of the film love actually plays... in the spirit of all things english this day...

another question... is there a place you dream of de temps en temps? the dalai lama shares that we should live in the present moment, it helps to alleviate suffering and longing. i'm sure he's right... but dreaming can be so tempting at times.

bon week-end!

dreamlands

the 'worlds' most crooked street. i'm not sure if you can get a glimpse from this photo of this magnificent winding road. i wondered about the persons who live here in these beautiful homes. who are they? do they love it? what do they do for fun? how did they land such a gorgeous space? most fun was a lovely lady walking with her 2 little girls asking people where they were from. it turns out we were so many from so many different places; germany, india, japan...


like this house... who lives here?!

i'm especially attracted to doorways these days. i supposed as an opening, an invitation, a beginning (sometimes an ending) into... i like to hold my friend's dreams in my heart. together we talk and think and try to find a way to edge closer to our dreams. these days my friend h. is thinking of her 'next move.' what will it be, what will she do... she has some ideas, hopes, dreams... these days exactly she's waiting for a yes to begin her next 'project.' she's afraid and doubtful, i on the outside, maybe a bit more objective can see no reason why not, and almost every reason why she should receive a yes in response to her request. i am hoping she has a chance to walk through a new doorway and get closer to her dream...

love is an attempt to change a piece of a dream-world into reality. ~henry david thoreau