Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

From Japan... with Love

Last night I met with Megu and Sachi, two of Lilith's lovely Japanese friends. They came to Vienna to visit her grave. We had - despite the sad circumstances - a really nice evening but I'm gonna tell about that later. They even brought me presents...

They also brought a big card to the grave with messages from all staff members of Lilith's favourite club in Tokio, which they read to her at the grave. I have yet to go there. But I confess, I'm a bit scared of how (much) this will affect me...

© Alex Kaliwoda

Sound Garden...

It's such a beautiful song. I'm in the melancholy mood right now so...

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Ah, summer, what power you have 

to make us suffer and like it.  

~ Russel Baker ~

Save You

My favourite couple from my favourite TV show... Because I love everyting about Bones, down to the very last minor character... and because I just watched the last episode of season 6 yesterday and can't wait for the next one to start! And that song is just perfect. Plus, the quality and style of this video are lovely!

Music: Save You - by Matthew Perryman Jones

WeisHeiten

Das hab ich bei der lieben Priska gefunden... Und es war einfach zu genial, um es hier nicht noch einmal zu wiederholen: 

 [ via we ♥ it ]

Ihr Lieben

Falls auch ihr mit der perfekten Bikini- oder Badehosenfigur kämpft, habe ich hier die Lösung. Beim Einhalten dieser auf Elisabeth Ornauers Lebensfreudeblog entdeckten Kalorien-Regeln, kann dem Erfolg nichts mehr im Weg stehen...

1. Wenn du etwas isst und keiner sieht es, dann hat es keine Kalorien.

2. Wenn du eine Light-Limonade trinkst und dazu eine Tafel Schokolade isst, dann werden die Kalorien in der Schokolade von der Light-Limonade vernichtet.

3. Wenn du mit anderen zusammen isst, zählen nur die Kalorien, die du mehr isst als die anderen.

4. Essen, das zu medizinischen Zwecken eingenommen wird, z.B. heiße Schokolade, Rotwein, Cognac zählt NIE.

5. Je mehr du diejenigen mästest, die täglich rund um dich sind, desto schlanker wirkst du selbst.

6. Essen, das als ein Teil von Unterhaltung verzehrt wird (Popcorn, Erdnüsse, Limonade, Schokolade oder Zuckerln), beim Videoschauen oder beim Musikhören, enthält keine Kalorien, da es ja nicht als Nahrung aufgenommen wird, sondern nur als Teil der Unterhaltung.

7. Kuchenstücke oder Gebäck enthalten keine Kalorien, wenn sie gebrochen und Stück für Stück verzehrt werden, weil das Fett verdampft, wenn es aufgebrochen wird.

8. Alles was von Messern, aus Töpfen oder von Löffeln geleckt wird, während man Essen zubereitet, enthält keine Kalorien weil es ja ein Teil der Essenszubereitung ist.

9. Essen mit der gleichen Farbe hat auch den gleichen Kalorieninhalt (z.B. Tomaten und Erdbeermarmelade, Pilze und weiße Schokolade).

10. Speisen die eingefroren sind, enthalten keine Kalorien, da Kalorien ein Wärmeeinheit sind.

Na, wenn das so ist... dann Mahlzeit und genießt es! ^_^

[ via El Mundo De La Gitana ]

Morning Glory...

Good morning, everyone!

[ all images via we ♥ it ]

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

You've got a lot of choices.  

If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore 

and you're not smiling on a regular basis, 

try another choice.  

~ Steven D. Woodhull ~

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Don't be fooled by the calendar.  

There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. 

~ Charles Richards ~

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, 

never lose a chance to make them.  

~ Francesco Guicciardini ~

Pearl

[ via we ♥ it ]

Pearl by Katy Perry 

(from her album "Teenage Dreams)

She is a pyramid
But with him she's just a grain of sand
This loves too strong like mice and men
Squeezing out the life that should be let in

She was a hurricane
But now she's just a gust of wind
She used to set the sails of a thousand ships
Was a force to be reckoned with
 

She could be a statue of liberty
She could be Joan of Arc
But he’s scared of the light that’s inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark

Oh she used to be a pearl
Ohh yeah she used to rule the world
Ohhhh cant believe she’s become a shell of herself
Cause she used to be a pearl

She was unstoppable
Moved fast as like an avalanche
But now she’s stuck deep in some man
Wishing that they never ever met
She could be a statue of liberty
She could be a Joan of Arc
But he’s scared of the light that’s inside of her
So he keeps her in the dark

Oh She used to be a pearl
Ohh yeah she used to rule the world
Ohhhh can’t believe she’s become a shell of herself
Cause she used to be a

Do you know that there’s a way out
There’s a way out
There’s a way out
There’s a way out
You don’t have to be held down
Be held down
Be held down
Be held down

Cause I used to be a shell...
Yeah I let him rule my world
My world Ohhh yeah

But I woke up and grew strong and I can still go on
And No one can take my pearl
You don’t have to be a shell No
You’re the one that rules your world Ohh
You are strong and you’ll learn
That you can still go on
And you’ll always be a pearl
She is unstoppable

[via Direct Lyrics ]

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

The soul may sleep and the body still be happy, 

but only in youth.  

~ Mignon McLaughlin ~

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

The larger the mass of food, the more energy it will take 
to cook. This energy input should be distributed over a larger 
time period or the surface of the food will receive a 
disproportionate amount of that energy.

~ Albert Einstein ~

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

 The more studying you did for the exam, 

the less sure you are as to which answer they want.

~ Author Unknown ~

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Gardening requires lots of water

- most of it in the form of perspiration.  

~ Lou Erickson ~

Shoemanic...

OMG! They're shoes. They're high heels. They're pink. They're cute. With bows. I want them! I need them!

[ via Fashion-Мания ]

Little Adults

There was an article in today's Schaufenster about the children of rich Russians. German-Russian photographer Anna Skladmann put together an illustrated book about them. She also told about those shootings. Those little people, how they arrangewd and staged themselves... or how their parents did. I think those photographs are beautiful and terrible at the same time. None of these children actually looks happy. I'm a spoiled kid myself but looking at those sad and unhappy faces, I am once again lucky for what I had and still have. Money alone can't buy you happiness. I think the most valuable thing in my life is my sister - a no money in the world could replaced that. >> read full article...

Little Adults by Anna Skladmann 

(112 pages, 43 coloured photographs)

Kehrer Verlag, 36 Euro.

 [ via DiePresse ]

En Vogue...

From last week's Friday extra "Schaufenster" (meaning: shop window) of the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. That outfit is so cute! And I love the hair. Plus I want to have that old fashioned telephone...

[ via DiePresse ]

Sound Garden...

I was at my parents' place for lunch today. On the living room table I found my dad's latest musical accquisitions... He actually has a great taste in music. And he actually still buys CDs - while I happily use his credit card to download from iTunes Store...

(And my parents still have all their records at home. While my dad has the complete collection of Doctor Who and the likes, my mom owns a pretty remarkable collection of Tchaikovsky and Beethoven (who happen to be my favourites as well... I wonder if that's because I was listening to them throughout all my childhood). They usually do not listen to music together (not without a major fight about turning the volume up or down) although they have some common likes...)

Anyway I found this interesting album today. It's funny because I live in the Turkish area of Vienna now (16th district) which isn't quite so bad. Only I adapted some of their "language" already... meaning a kind of Viennese slang with Turkish-ly kind of pronounciation! I only use it for fun, though...

As for the music, it's instrumental only and kind of Turkish folklore... It won't make you jump up and dance, but it's quite relaxing to listen to. 

Son Köprü - The Last Bridge (Enstrümantal)

 

[ via amazon ]

So schmeckt Slowakisch 2011

Prezentácia pedagógov a študentov Inštitútu slavistiky Viedenskej univerzity "So schmeckt slowakisch II"

Yesterday we had a really cool event, organised by the Institut für Slawistik (where I study), Slovakisches Institut Wien and the Slovak Embassy in Vienna (Veľvyslanectvo Slovenskej republiky vo Viedni). We were invited to the home - and residence is much more suitable word in this context... really, you should have seen the house - of the Slovak Ambassador in Austria: Dr. Peter Lizak. The event was entitled "So schmeckt Slowakisch" (Taste of Slovakia / Tak chuti slovencina). They started it last year and it was huge success. So they did it again this year. Lucky me! I really enjoyed it!

First we did something like a little show. There were songs, poems, a short sketch (which I participated in) and a play based on the tale of "Red Riding Hood": Karkulka, alias Červená čiapočka a Mr. Wolf. In a modern version, in Slovak of course. So funny...

After that there was a huge buffet with typical Slovak food and refreshments and wine. We even got icecream later on. Overall it was a great evening. And a perfect opportunity to dress up! But my feet still hurt from standing around in my highheels all evening...

It also turned out the ambassador is fluent in Russian as well. I talked to him for a while. He started in Slovak which I understood quite well but I couldn't reply in Slovak because I can't put together one sentence... *shame on me* So out of habit I replied in Russian and then we continued to talk in Russian... Actually I could used German as well as he is fluent in that language, too... Never mind, though. It was good practice... At least I could say my Thank you's and Goodbye's in Slovak. That much I know... ^_^

And here are some pictures for you... (click here for more)

 me & "Mr. Wolf"

with some people from my Slovak class

Dreimäderlhaus: Emilia, me & Sylwia

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Cocktail party:  A gathering held to enable forty people 
to talk about themselves at the same time.  The man 
who remains after the liquor is gone is the host.  

~ Fred Allen ~

ВЕСНА

 [ via we ♥ it ]

Bсе нынешней весной особое.
Живее воробьев шумиха.
Я даже выразить не пробую,
Как на душе светло и тихо.
Иначе думается, пишется,
И громкою октавой в хоре
Земной могучий голос слышится
Освобожденных территорий.
Bесеннее дыханье родины
Смывает след зимы с пространства
И черные от слез обводины
С заплаканных очей славянства.
Везде трава готова вылезти,
И улицы старинной праги
Молчат, одна другой извилистей,
Но заиграют, как овраги.
Сказанья чехии, моравии
И сербии с весенней негой,
Сорвавши пелену бесправия,
Цветами выйдут из-под снега.
Все дымкой сказочной подернется,
Подобно завиткам по стенам
В боярской золоченой горнице
И на василии блаженном.
Мечтателю и полуночнику
Москва милей всего на свете.
Он дома, у первоисточника
Всего, чем будет цвесть столетье.

- Б. Пастернак, 1944

[ via stroki.net ]

Quote Garden

[ via i can relate ]

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Feeling of the Day...

[via we ♥ it ]

Do not stand at my grave and weep...

For Lilith...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush.

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there. I did not die.

 
- Mary Elizabeth Frye, 1932

Feeling of the Day...

[ via Tilly Bohl ]

Reverie is not a mind vacuum.  

It is rather the gift of an hour 

which knows the plenitude of the soul.  

~ Gaston Bachelard ~

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

Poetry is just the evidence of life.  

If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.  

~ Leonard Cohen ~

The Rabbit on the Moon

By Ichiro Okumura, OCD 

From the book: Awakening to Prayer

 [ via Carolyn Staley ]

In our day and age children no longer believe in rabbits on the moon. But all Japanese know the charming legend and still see in the shadows on the full moon a rabbit threshing his rice. I believe that other countries see a woman reading or the man in the moon. All these legends show us that our ancestors looked for meaning in the universe. Here is the Japanese legend: 

Once upon a time long ago, a monkey, a rabbit, and a fox lived together as friends. During the day they frolicked on the mountain; at night they went back to the forest. This went on for some years. The Lord of Heaven heard about it and wanted to see if it were really true. He went to them disguised as an old wanderer. "I have traveled through mountains and valleys and I am tired out. Could you give me something to eat?" said he, laying down his staff in order to rest. The monkey went off at once to gather nuts that he presented; the fox brought an offering from his fish trap in the river. The rabbit ran through the fields in every direction but came back with nothing. The monkey and the fox made fun of him: "You are really good for nothing." The little rabbit was so discouraged that he asked the monkey to gather some thistles and the fox to set fire to them. They did so. Then the little rabbit said to the old man, "Please eat me," and threw himself into the flames. The pilgrim was pierced to the heart by this sacrifice, and wept, saying, "Each one deserves praise; there are neither winners nor losers. But the little rabbit has given an exceptional proof of love." So saying, he restored the rabbit to his original form and took the little body to heaven to be buried in the palace of the moon.

The utter poverty of the little rabbit is like that of the child who said, "Pardon me, God, I have nothing to offer." Both exemplify the attitude from which true prayer arises. 

Whatever I offer God is really nothing in God's eyes: "Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (Jas 1:17).

For every wild animal of the forest is mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills....

If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for the world and all that is in it are mine. (Ps 50:10, 12)

The worthy offering is a sacrifice of thanksgiving, an appeal to God in the midst of suffering: "Then you will delight in right sacrifices" (Ps 51:19). The greatest thing we can offer or do is never more than a stone thrown high in the air that ultimately falls to earth. The renown of famous people is the same: Their exploits may flash across the history of humanity, but they soon fade away without leaving a trace.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away" (Mt 24:35). And what are these words that will live forever? "Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" (Jn 11:25 26).

Who could dare to speak such words? Christ, the incarnate Word, who said to his Father, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me" (Heb 10:5). 

This latter phrase is translated from the Greek of the Septuagint, but in Hebrew the psalm reads, "You have given me an open ear" (Ps 40:6). Christ, in taking flesh, like a slave whose earlobe is pierced, had as his food to do his Father's will and to accomplish his Father's works. "Then I said, See, God, I have come to do your will, O God,' as in the scroll of the book it is written of me" (Heb 10:7). "And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb 10:10).

This mystery of incarnation and of suffering is summed up in the "Amen" that concludes Christian prayer. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, "was not Yes and No'; but in him it is always Yes'. 'For this reason it is through him that we say the Amen,' to the glory of God" (2 Cor 1:19 20).

There is, of course, a long way to go before we can apply the legend of the moon rabbit to Christ. Our ancestors in the Far East expressed in this tale their deep desire for authentic love such as was fully realized in Christ. Perhaps we may say that the Christ whom they did not know reveals himself here as living in all persons of good will, as Paul says to the Colossians: "Your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). The child who begs pardon for having nothing to offer, the rabbit who can give nothing but himself, share in a certain way in the movement of Christ who, in his poverty, had nothing but his body to offer in sacrifice. In truth all real prayer, if it is rooted in our nothingness, includes at the same time the fathomless riches of Christ.

Copyright ICS Publications. 
Permission is hereby granted for any non-commercial use, 
if this copyright notice is included.

Feeling of the Day...

[ via we ♥ it ]

So bury me, wind, bury me

Хорони, хорони меня, ветер 

Хорони, хорони меня, ветер!
Родные мои не пришли,
Надо мной блуждающий вечер
И дыханье тихой земли.

Я была, как и ты, свободной,
Но я слишком хотела жить.
Видишь, ветер, мой труп холодный,
И некому руки сложить.

Закрой эту черную рану
Покровом вечерней тьмы
И вели голубому туману
Надо мною читать псалмы.

Чтобы мне легко, одинокой,
Отойти к последнему сну,
Прошуми высокой осокой
Про весну, про мою весну.

-А. Ахматова, 1909

[ via we ♥ it ]

So bury me, wind, bury me 

Alas, my loved ones did not come.   
Stray evening roams on paths still free, 
And calm earth's breath begins to hum.

Like you, I once was free and charmed;  
But I so madly wished to live.  
Do you see, wind, my cold corpse stiff,
With no one here to cross my arms?  

Now close and cloak this wound so black,
With evening's dark and baleful shroud;     
And bid blue mist to read aloud                  
Those psalms which fend off night's attack.

So that, alone, I might pass on
To that last dream which night may bring;
So rustle now the high sedge song
About the spring, about my spring.

-A. Akhmatova, 1909 

[ via deeblog ]