paper bag

so happy and excited about all the changes, I could use the one or other proverbial paper bag into. just on a separate note. check out Banksy, a UK street artist. fantastic.

one of those incredible days

Yesterday, 3 in one. Accept a new contract with a company, give notice, start a major teeth treatment. I am so excited I could squeak like clapping seal. I will be leaving Germany to live the truly european life I am supposed to live. no further comment.

Beady Belle

Beate and I one hour ago

Yeyyy, I saw them live!

Beady Belle. In my mind they are always next to a Fjord in Norway far far north. A couple of weeks ago, finally the alert that they will give a concert. First action in course: call my dear friend Hille, make sure no work plans screw up the evening and GO:

A small studio, not more than 100 people. A whisper and shout and all fabulous nuances in between wrapped in this awesome voice and groove.

A lot of their songs have accompanied me throughout the last years. "irony", "one and only", "bella"... if you have a chance to listen to them: GO :) I will try to join :)

Apparently, Youtube or the band is strict with publishing on youtube, I found two tracks for you guys out there.

hindsight

Ghosts

4.30 am - India

as promised, here are some stories related to the fotos I am putting into paper albums.

Yesterday, it was India´s turn. Every foto going into that album is full of colour, life, poverty, contradictions and opposites, joy, sorrow, you name it.

My trip to India took place in 1994. I was prepared for everything:
-hunger
-illness
-beggars
-insane circumstances
-clashes of any kind from a religious, ethnics and political perspective.

my journey took me from New Delhi to Agra, Jaipur, Darjeeling (some hiking), Calcutta, Goa and Bombay.

I will never forget the moment of setting foot into India by arriving in Bombay I think, where we took a flight to our first destination Delhi. The humidity in the air, the heat. The first rupies in Delhi, the almost violent smell that overran my processing capabilities in conjunction with masses of people, colours, language.

It is hard to describe this. But what surprised me personally the most: It felt familiar even though I knew the enormous amount of experiences to be had until the brain can even start to follow that intuition. Let alone the political situation, religious war paths and the worries about personal health. Mosquitos to the day terrify me since then, for a second only, but still...

Somebody in the Himalayas put a bindi on my forehead whilst blessing me. Such a touching gesture, that red dot left me with the sensation of a cold coloured circle on my skin. I left it on out of respect for the blessing that came with it, but it felt strange to have it in the first place. Back in the day I did not sufficiently about hinduism and it made me focus too much on its pure significance instead of enjoying the blessing. cold mass on skin.

We saw so many temples, forts, modern architecture, british influences, the Taj Mahal and yet there are thousands of miles to walk on indian grounds.

I mostly felt safer than in some areas in my world. And even though the colours, smell and (I forgot to mention the ever present) music was there, it had something clarifying about it. I do remember looking in people´s eyes and sometimes seeing a depth that might have been the result of their darkness. But put in combination with some people´s composure, and the fact that a greater part of these people did not know if they would have something to eat on that specific day, it simply - and still - humbles me.

I am a child of materialism. I am used to having the basics of life, and so much more than that. I do like dressing up, looking nice, I have a nice life style. But I have to admit that less choice would make things easier.

If anybody ever saw "before sunset", you will hear Julie Delpy´s character say something like: "I went to a communistic country, and after a few days, I had the clarity I have been missing for such a long time. I realized that I felt so focussed i could write again. and all of this beecause there were simply no distractions. No advertising, no bombardement with information you don´t want in the first place."

That´s what I am talking about.

Bea might remember my reaction when I came back to Germany. I got the cultural shock here. People with everything seemed in part so joyless to me. Frankfurt airport with the shiny floors, almost sterile. And up to the current day I don´t like those shops with too much nic-nac and bling bling.

Don´t get me wrong, there ARE shops I like, and I do have a hand for quality. It might be about clarity, and something missing a greater appreciation for what I have. I think I am aware of it sometimes.

Going to India has been the most rewarding trip I ever went on. I am being told that it has been changing a lot and I hope to go back to see the change.

I am sure that today is a special day where I will dedicate the dreams I will fall into within the next 30 minutes to remember and relive what I remember and like about life. And some images from that specific trip: The Himalayas, Nepal, Monsoon time, people we encountered and talked to.

I feel blessed for have seen India.
And for having seen and talked to some of you yesterday. i do miss you guys so you are spread all over the place.

I feel blessed for knowing all of you and so many more adventures to come.

A big hug,
B

update:

one of you guys just went running through the Alps for a couple of days

the same did start her new job in huge company, international waters and scary structures

another one just moved back to her hometown to start working and feel at ease in known surroundings

Sam is still whispering with the elephant, I think they are making fun of me in a great way, I am sitting on the sofa, legs in a knot, hair in bad shape and a big grin on my face

I am puzzled about having to drive a HUGE car for the next three months. Bothered would be another expression for it, Köln is not made for such stuff. but I started thinking of what could fit into a Toureg:
- a baby pony for a short ride
- a desk
- 50 liter of Pudding times ten
- 80 popes?
- 200 Editions of Julia Childs Cook books (hopefully that is not too heavy)
- Sam´s worldwide family member, imagine the furry chaos

- any other suggestions... here is the space to indicate me if you need my services :)
Love you guys,
Birgit

Now that´s what I am talking about :)

Dear all,

as already mentioned, Ray has started a great project and I am really thrilled for her!

If permaculture doesn´t ring a bell immediately, please don´t worry.

Well Ray has started this wonderful permaculture 2-year-adventure of changing the cultivation and allocation close to Rome, which is a hostel for pilgrims and I will keep you guys posted. Or.... oh, let her do it herself:

Ray´s blog

Pilgrims, friends, I am so excited about this project! If anybody wants to go there and see her and the work in progress: it´s not expensive for sure and I think that Ray will be happy to Welcome you :)

A big hug to all of you,

B

ps: Sam says hi, we went to Domburg in the Netherlands last week, just in case you were wondering :)

Das Leben der Anderen

All,

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has won the Oscar for the film The Other´s Life/the life of others. He had started his project with two ideas.

One of them: Lenin thought he would not finish his revolution if he continued hearing the Apassionata from Beethoven because it was too beautiful and made him caress people´s heads instead of chopping them.

Second idea: Somebody observing people has tears running down his cheeks because he is deeply impressed about what he hears from the supposed "enemy".

I am so happy for him, his dream came true! The fame-aspect is another thing I do not really know how to put, but anyway....

Congratulations!!!!

charlie brown and snoopy in the soonissimo mood?

Maybe, also Charly Brown was in the mood for changes or an adventure?

Well, then this dream came true, if adventure means talking dirty for once on-air. At least the cast for the US-show "scrubs" has put new -and not necessarily clean- words into their mouths, if oyu know the show, it´s even funnier: JD the Doctor(=newbie or Bambi) on intership aka Charlie Brown, Linus = attending Doctor Cox, Schröder and Lucy the couple Turk and Carla, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Of_mna-Rs

Watch this, and please keep children and sensitive people out for approximately 10 minutes ;-)

Huggies,
B

spooky gang

Yersterday, arriving home, Kitty Cat (see foto) was already giggling, there was something going on in my appartment....



My two buddies Harry (he is known for swallowing hot water and keeping me warm in winter time) and the permanently snoaring (!) sheep Snookles apparently had made their way into the kitchen to prepare themselves hot water at the water boiler, I guess they fell asleep again, aren´t they cute?




In the bathroom, Patuco the duck had left the top of the laundry machine and was singing the new song "finahally in the sink"




Samuel had decided to invade the living-room. sitting on the thickest books he could find, he was playing monkey serenades and Emilia the piano was really happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "oogaaah ga duh, lalalala, ogah dugahhh"





In the dormitory, Wombat and Enrique had a blast trying to come down from the closed, they were peprared to go into the patio.




All of them had heared about soonissimo and want to start the party!!!!! If I am very unfortunate, I will have to send them to Munich to the teddy-party-planner.... :-) Anyway, they already started stuff and so shall we! Enjoy life out there and have fun