The Simple Pleasures of Life

A glass of wine at the end of the day.
Snooping places noone else can see and taking pictures thereof...
Freshly painted, shiny toenails.
Wind messing with my hair.
Sun caressing my shoulders.
Fresh and crisp linens, even if the bed is not meant to be shared, tonight.
Work, results and pay.
Satisfaction of having done things, especially with our own hands and even more especially when we get this tangible, physical effect of a different kind of work for a change after a long time dedicated to purely intellectual efforts. Above all, especially if some nice people have said "you can't do it, pay to have it done..." :p
Cheese, bread and ... more cheese.
Recognition.
Company to talk to all night long.
Being alone and not having to explain anything.
Movies.
Books.
More books.
Information superhighway and silly people on the internet. So far away and so close.
Travels, travel agents and planning.
Anticipation. Fulfillment. Extasy.
Life... the greatest adventure :-)

Uniform and Beyond

I have a confessed soft spot for men in uniforms. In part it’s due to my grandfather, great-grandfather, great great-grandfather and many others in my male line having been military, by choice or need. The other part is archetype: The Emperor – the warrior, the very embodiment of courage and honour, someone you can trust, someone who is there to protect you – as long as you are on the same side, that is.

Courage, honour and that protective trust or trusted protection are more important traits of masculinity than a big dick. Obviously, many men who wear uniforms don’t live up to expectations, but one thing can be probably taken for granted – whiny bitches and crybabies don’t even make it through boot camp, that’s a start. Who needs a crybaby with a dick anyway? But I digress, point is… a man needs to be a man, and a man in uniform always looks promising in that department, at least that.

I believe I can fly...

I do, I still do, but the days after soaring high are hard, even if it's not a fall that follows just a reality check.

The adrenaline rush is the greatest thing on earth, coming back to normalcy is ... painful. An ilussionary pain, subjective, but pain nonetheless.

Emptiness.

Time to kill.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time, in a lovely kingdom by the ocean, there was a noble, brave man. Thanks to his military talents he quickly climbed the ranks and soon was the second in command responding only to the king himself. Our noble knight grew rich and powerful, his riches second greatest in the kingdom, as only the king was wealthier.

One day the noble knight decided to retire, to give away his possessions, to hang the sword and chainmail and to put on a humble brown habit of a Carmelite monk.

After a brilliant military career the Constable of the realm dedicated his life to the issues of the spirit and to charity.

What a contrast... today's rich and powerful couldn't be dragged away by wild horses from their chairs and desks, from their Swiss accounts and fringe benefits, from the thick manila envelopes. Shameless, greedy, despicable.

Maybe the knight was not really a saint, maybe the miracle was not a miracle, but somebody please make him a holy patron of the public servants to remind them it's possible to let go.
Oh, and someone please proclaim Nelson Mandela a saint too.

The silly season is over

From new Year's Eve to Valentine's Day to Carnaval - this silly season, when one needs to be merry by decree, while the real rites and traditions are forgotten.

OK, New Year is a moment of passage, in our part of the world and this version of calendar, but who said it requires doing stupid things like getting wasted, jumping up and down and dancing to bad music?
The day of mandatory "romance" is even worse - how bloody romantic it is to dine in a crowded restaurant because all the other romantic sheep had the same brilliant idea? Not to mention that one dinner changes nothing if the relationship is not going well, and it's meaningless for a true union. Real love needs no dates or overpriced teddy bears, if it's real it just is.
Carnaval, Mardi Gras - has deeper roots, but alas almost forgotten. The authenticity and cultural/anthropological meaning of putting a mask on to expell the last winter deamons and keep them at bay untill spring is nowhere to be seen in Rio's Sambodrome.

Life according to the ancient rhythm of the earth, festivals as old as maknind, the magic, the seasons - all these make more sense than we care to remember. It's so much easier to buy a pink teddy bear and get it done with.

Slumdogs and us

This is not a film-critic-cultural-event blog, but this time I have to.

I am disappointed with Bollywood "poor boy meets girl and wins lottery because he's nice" story getting 8 Oscars, I really am. The Academy took the feel good route and seriously overdid it with all the cheerful spirit for the times of crisis.
Best song? WTF?

"Milk" and "The Reader" were much more movie movies, "Benjamin Button" was not bad either, but nooo... the happy beggar wins. Bleh. I'm disappointed "Changeling" and "Revolutionary Road" didn't get the recognition they deserved.

As much as I loved Heath Ledger - enough is enough, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Michael Shannon were as good if not better, but alas, they are still alive. Extraordinary crop in secondary actress category - any one of them could have won.

Sean Penn was totally awesome in "Milk", no questions there (haven't seen "The Wrestler" yet, I admit). Between Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep - tough choice, everyone else was a class below at least, although Angelina in Changeling was surprisingly good (Mr. Eastwood has a hand for directing women, he really does).

"The Duchess" winning costume award was more than deserved as was makeup for "Benjamin Button", cinematography and art direction are debatable, as all nominated movies were great.
Editing could have gone to "Milk" or "Dark Knight", but in this case I'm OK with Slumdog winning - they were equals. For best score I was sort of rooting for "Defiance", but Mumbai folclore was the flavour of the day (night).

The "commie homo-loving sons of guns" must think that the right message for the tough times is that the kids in the slums are happy and lovely (unless someone takes their eyes or legs to make them more efficient beggars), when they grow up - despite malnutrition, lack of hygiene and dental/medical care of any sort - they will have lovely faces, clear skin, good hair and teeth, they will also learn good English and manners while stealing from tourists. And of course, life will reward them with the girl of their dreams (second-hand but still) and a significant monetary prize. Let's hold hands and do the happy Bollywood dance. Yay. Meanwhile, Obama will fix the world for us.

PS. Hugh Jackman can sing!

Focus focus focus...

Focus is essential, timing is everything.
To learn about the right time for everything important see: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"...

Now, focus is necessary to attain goals, and to get simple things done. Along the line of NY resolutions I scheduled a dentist appointment for next week, more medical professionals will follow *ack!* but what needs to be done, needs to be done.

Cleanining, decluttering, giving away stuff has started too. The "clean" feeling is just priceless, I hope this trend continues as I have too much of everything - clothes, shoes, handbags, cosmetics, papers, bills, prints, copies, useless machines & CDs, even books that have to be given away or traded. Should get it done by springtime :-)

Oh, and there's setting the scores and old accounts, fulfilling longtime dreams, decisions and changes, doors to be closed and windows to be open. It's time.