Normalcy

Right across the corner from where we live (cc from Rene Schroeder)

Luebeck on top (cc from Gregorius Mundus)

Photo cc from avianto (I used to work (happily) in this building situated on the Luebeck harbour overlooking the city)

The ice is melting creating riverlettes of running water into flooded streets. It is so exciting to get back to "normal". Off walking with a friend. This is a complex activity of decision making (roads or muddy paths along the canal), lots of talking (getting-everything-off-your-chest sort of stuff), and a quick pit stop at a flower shop/café for a warm cup of hot chocolate. Ah, blissful normalcy.

A Graph is Worth a Thousand Words

My son sent me this graph (large format). If correct, the graph does put a lot of perspective on how effectively the present US administration is at rectifying matters; having been dealt a bad hand to start.

Life is a roller coaster ride these last weeks. There have been many highs: watching my daughter play her first sax solo, reading the first three exciting chapters of a dear friends book, seeing my son prepare madly for his final exams (Abitur), sharing some wonderful times with friends from "down south", slip-sliding-away on the icy streets of Luebeck. The troughs are best passed over. These are exceedingly busy times. I'm endeavouring, not always successfully, to raise my hands in the air and shriek with amazement rather than crouch down and hold on the the ridges with by the tips of my fearful fingertips.

Going Rouge

Bill Nighy stars in Robin Hood tax campaign

More than 50 charities are supporting the campaign to levy a Tobin tax on transactions between financial institutions, which can be used to help fight poverty, protect public services and tackle climate change.

This you've got to see! This idea is the type of "going rouge" that makes sense. Call me naive, but I think the idea is brilliant.

Lights of Vancouver

One of my sisters has lived in Vancouver for about 30 years now. My other sister moved British Columbia last week. She and her partner, or maybe it is just her partner, accepted a new job running an eight-unit motel situated in the mountains an hour outside of Vancouver. Another friend, K., was visiting friends in Vancouver two weekends ago. To them and all the rest of you, a beautiful time lapse film for you to enjoy. Stunning. It is not hard to imagine why Vancouver always rates as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The Geek In Me

My son sent me this link to photos of 25 great coffee cup designs. Though many of the cups are fun looking, I really got a hoot out of the one above. I was obviously channeling into my inner geek.

Crazy Neighbour

We just had another huge snowfall last night. Well, huge by northern German standards, which is admittedly a wimpy affair in comparison to what the east coast of Canada and the US are used to. Still, all very exciting for us indeed.

Our crazy neighbour was out last night until midnight shoveling the snow off the sidewalk in front of his apartment building.

Sara and I went for a walk to the train station this afternoon. What usually is a 10-15-minutes walk took more than 45 minutes. We slipped and slided (SP) as though we were trudging over loose sand dunes and not snow. We were planing on walking home, but took the bus instead. (I agree, we are not hardy troopers at all.)

The grant proposal for the new research project is sewed up and submitted. Think we've done a good job of capturing the scope of our vision. Please, can you all say your prayers or keep your fingers crossed that the foundation agrees to fund the project?

Onto The Next Round

Last Friday, we received the good news that our preliminary project proposal was accepted as one of the finalist in a research funding competition. After walking around with my head in the clouds the whole weekend, I sat down today and started working on the more detailed proposal we have to submit in a few days time. There are strict requirements about how long the text can be, so every word is weighed and every idea is examined closely before putting them down. My brain is mush.

Tangential Learning Through Gaming

Being the only person in this household who doesn't game, I've had plenty of time to witness the phenomena mentioned in this video: the wide gap between educational games and entertainment games. I found both the argument Daniel Floyd presented and the way he presented it very good. The only think that I wonder at, is why nearly all of his examples concern war and weaponry. Are the games only concerned with those matters?

Why has Mr. Obama not done, what he said he'd do?

I've followed Mr. Lessig's blog for many years and was very sorry to hear that he was distancing himself from the field of copyright law and moving towards corruption in the US Congress. Watching this presentation and hearing his arguments about why it has been so impossible for Mr. Obama's administration to "get things done", a lot became clear. I'm bias, but what he says sound convincing in my ears. Or, what do you think?

Needed Assistance

I just received the following bulletin from Rev. Wasike in Kimilili,

“Last night, we had an incident where thieves broke into the school office and took cereals and other things in the school. These things used to be kept at our neighbour’s home, but were transferred recently after the school had doors and windows installed. The school lost the following:

1. an old manual type writer donated to school last year by board member
2. maize and beans donated by guardians
3. a box of schoolbooks and teaching material

The matter has been reported and being investigated.”

The school management and the children are going to try and run a fund raising action to see if they can replenish their food supplies. If the children do not receive nourishment throughout the day, they will begin, as Rev. Wasike says, "to be absent in mind and body".

What is most needed are schoolbooks and teaching materials. If there is any possibility of you sending one or two primary school books or some notebooks, we would be ever so grateful. If you would like to contact us, please do. Rev. Wasike (cbsmkeny at yahoo dot com) or I (cbsmkenya at gmail dot com) will give you any information you might need. You can send the packages to:

Rev. Wasike Wilberforce Walubengo
P.O. Box 2099-00200, City Square
Nairobi 2099
KENYA

You can send books in English per post or in Kiswahili through mamamikes. We thank you for any assistance you can give.

Slowly getting back into gear

I am just about ready to crawl off the sofa and over the large pile of discarded books that I have consumed these last weeks... nearly three weeks of a book a day... most of them crime mysteries... all of their stories have haunted my dreams. My inner batteries have been recharged. Now it is time to get back into the grove of things.

Compassion

While thinking upon our actions of this past year and the goals we wish to set for the year to come, perhaps the words of the Charter for Compassion can move us towards peaceful action.



Last year, Karen Armstrong spoke to the TED community about her wish to make religion a force for harmony by creating with others the Charter for Compassion. She speaks well about how we are currently being summoned towards compassionate action; how we have to move away from toleration and towards appreciation of others.

Short Break

Short break to recover from a cold, the wonders of a big family Christmas celebration, and just time to wind down....

Courageous Heart

"Shaffi Mather explains why he left his first career to become a social entrepreneur, providing life-saving transportation with his company 1298 for Ambulance. Now, he has a new idea and plans to begin a company to fight the booming business of corruption in public service, eliminating it one bribe at a time."

What a fascinating concept. I wonder whether this might not be a new viable solution to a long tradition that needs to be eradicated.

If you want to know more about the Acumen Fund activities, please consider reading their blog.

Frozen Blossom

I wanted to write a poem of love revisited, but only struggled with a jumble of phrases whose pieces, no matter how placed, didn't mean anything of importance. So, instead, I surrender and just gift you the image of a frozen blossom.

It's Snowing

It's snowing in Luebeck and what a fine thing this is! Fairy lights and falling snowflakes and Christmas on the horizon. I wish I could sing this joyful feeling into a song. Instead, I made a collage for you.

My last day of work was Wednesday. Will take two weeks off and just enjoy the company of family and friends. Come January, I'll start looking for meaningful employment.

Pride

My grandmother took
Pride
In the fact that
We were
English.

In a French-speaking Canadian province, our family name
Stood
For all those great
Anglo Saxon
Values our
People
Grew up on.

I don't believe she ever visited
England in her
Lifetime.

As a child, I thought her
Pride
Was
Carved In Stone
And this made it hard for us to approach her in a
Heart-felt... manner.

As an adult, I wonder whether
It (that Pride)
Was rather a cloak
That covered an
Unspoken Yearning
To feel more important
Than she normally
Did.

Insignificant beings
That
We are.

Back on Key

I've got over my disappointment at having stupidly erased all my documents last month. The first change in activity was to make up a few collages.

This one was inspired by waves and wood. Many years ago, I had the thrilling experience of flying over Greenland while the sky was clear and springtime had just arrived. What was startling was to see the various wave motions embedded into the glacier formations. I had never thought that solid mass could be flowing movement as well.

Ghost from the Past

About 18 years ago, I became acquainted with a woman who had been laid off from the company I worked at. This short acquaintanceship taught me a painful lesson about naivety and ignorance.

After having met with her a few times, I hired her to come and clean my apartment once a week. She was very thankful for this additional source of income and all went well for a few months. After a while I began to miss a few items. Since I am a very forgetful type of person, I didn't think anything of it. It was only after she suddenly stopped coming to clean (having given the most weak of excuses) that I began to make the connection of missing items to times she came to clean.

A horrible moment of realisation about how stupidly naive I had been, came when I went into my cupboard and took down my jewelry box. It should have contained all the jewelery I received as a child in Venezuela and the pieces I had inherited from my grandmother. I found it empty.

I haven't thought of the lost jewelry in many years, until yesterday when the woman came into the Oxfam shop when I was working there. She didn't recognise me. It has been nearly twenty years after all. I'm probably only one of many people she stole from in her life. Yet, I recognized her for she's the only one whose stolen from me.

It would be nice to say that I felt forgiveness towards her, but I didn't. Instead, I just felt this leaden dullness in my heart. The whole episode was like a visit of a ghost from the past.

Breath of Winter

Winter breathes cold silver slivers upon the skeletons of grass blades and faded summer leaves.