31st Dec 2011 Summing Up The Year Briefly ...

In the resume of the year, there have been events that have changed the course of the world, but not the memory of the smile of your beloved when the two of you met for the first time, the gingerly attempt of the first step your baby took, the good-bye you whispered watching the person you love walked away never to return ... We tend to hold on to intimate moments, not so much world shattering events, especially now in the days of anchor from which we launch ourselves on the onward journey of life, without being sure whether the water is too shallow or too deep & rocky for the boat to float on in safety. The only thing we know is that we must go on.

When much younger, like most, I made new year resolutions. Meticulously wrote down all the things I must do and the ones I must abandon. I can't recall one single year I had managed to carried out all the do's and don'ts, and the list, year after year, seemed to jeer at me so I didn't even bother to ever check back any more. 

I have learned that the most important thing is not making future plans as none of us can be sure of the future. It's the present that really matters. If we can achieve to live each day we can be content with, the future will be too, because the future, our own, is the accumulation of seconds, minutes and days in which we have or have not wasted, but lived the best we could.

It's almost a relief that I don't have a concrete plan. Who knows, opportunity might knock at my door later on today or tomorrow. If not, maybe it will the day after. One thing I am sure, I will be ready for it.

I am going out now to enjoy the evening. I will toast for your good health and wonderful life. See you all in 2012. 

Tags: summingup, 2011

Prev: 31st Welcoming 2012, Remembering 2008 ...

31st Dec 2011 Welcoming 2012, Remembering 2008 ...

This Blog was first posted on New Year's Eve, 2008, not long after I joined Multiply. I have a couple of new friends now who know little of New Year traditions and customs in Spain, so I thought: Why not, I will re-post this one for them. The traditions & customs have not changed, and people are still doing practically exactly the same things as all the years past, and most likely all the years to come.

Happy 2012 to you all, have lots of fun and be sure to keep safe.

 

*** The 12 Grapes of New Year (31st Dec 2008) *** 

 

Apart from a very few countries whose New Year's Day falls on different dates, to the majority it's right now that we are celebrating the New Year 2009. Well strictly speaking not until tomorrow, but we all with no exception start the celebration now on the Eve. The special meal for tonight has been planned well in advance, booked in restaurants, hotels or nearly ready for the oven at home. Champagne is being chilled, the best crockery, cutlery, Champagne and wine glasses are probably on the bright red table cloth already, with the magnificent floral centrepiece completing the table setting for the most important feast of the year. Oh, there are 12 fresh grapes too with a pretty ribbon round the stalk by each individual setting.

In Spain, the most significant ritual, apart from the countdown of the minutes and seconds at midnight, would be the eating of the 12 grapes that each diner is provided, be the meal served in a restaurant or at home, laid in front of you at your table place, together with the little bag of party delights, in which would be all sorts of merry making little bits and pieces, knick knacks, a whistle to make noise to save you from having to shout at the top of your lungs to show your enthusiasm in welcoming in the new year, and, of course, the party blower. After the meal, and before you can play with all that, you must first of all eat up your 12 grapes, each in tune to the striking of the last 12 seconds of the clock. If you complete it, eating the last grape at the last strike of the clock, you are supposed to have a fabulously lucky new year ahead.

 

That custom is responsible for all those years of bad luck I had, as I had never once been able to eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds!!! So that had stopped being fun for me, more like a torture, ever since my first failure to do so, and totally helpless and useless to try in the following yeas; it's just physically impossible. The other unwritten but customary requirements are much easier, and fun to observe, like wearing red panties - still not sure whether men are supposed to or not!! I was told they don't!

Dinner over, grapes swallowed whole seeds and all (how else can they do it?), comes now the dancing. On this night everybody but everybody is a great dancer, great in the sense of willingness and eagerness. Fortified no doubt by the over the limit consumption of alcohol. There are huge municipal sponsored and organised halls, and huge marquees, in every town and even the smallest villages, specially erected for this purpose. Nobody is supposed to leave till 5 or 6 in the New Year morning. After you are served an extra thick, extra hot, and extra sticky chocolate in a heavy cup; so thick it should coat the 'churros' - sort of deep fried crispy pastry in a twisted stick shape, with which you dip or dunk into the hot chocolate. That was always too sweet for me, but the ritual must be completed, especially by a foreigner like me. I ate it and was accepted almost as one who had passed the initiation with flying colours, to become a local.

 

In the last few years, as much as possible, I prefer not to go to these Do's. There are far too many crazy rules and rituals, far too much loud music, loud conversation, not to say drunken companions and the thick & sticky hot chocolate. But I must confess I miss the fun, in all it's other aspects.

Good health, peace and prosperity to you all, my dear friends. *** 

 

Tags: newyeareve

Prev: 31st Dec 2008 My New Year Resolution

Tags: 2008, 2012

Prev: 30th Dec 2011 Pyjama Party

30th Dec 2011 Pyjama Party

I got an invitation this morning to attend a pyjama party tomorrow night at the house of this lady I hardly know. Our 'friendship' has been sort of on and off for about 6 months, and limited so far to only occasional & casual chats when we bumped into each other in coffee shops. She is middle aged, normally the 'prim & proper' type; I was therefore rather surprised she would organised a pajama party for New Year's Eve.

The specification is that all invited guests must arrive in pyjamas, in fact her words were: 'Come exactly as you normally are just before hopping into bed.' Then, she added: 'Any imitators of Marilyn wearing only Channel N0.5 would not be admitted.' finishing her warning with a vigorously wagging finger.

 

I politely declined, with legitimate excuse that I will be going out with some friends for dinner. In Spain, and especially on New Year's Eve, dinner always means the whole night long. Her invitation however intrigues me. Not just because coming from a lady you would never have connected with a pyjama party, more like the type organising a group cook-out in the garden, or a proper dinner jacket and evening dress parties. Just to show you how unpredictable people could be and, appearances do often deceive.

As to her rule of coming to the party exactly as one always are normally, even she must realize that no one, especially ladies, she herself included, would appear just the same as they always do when going to sleep. Pyjamas, yes, but new and flimsy or sexy ones, hair carefully arranged to look casual, face made up to the nine, may even still be wearing false eyelashes, with 'kiss me now' glossy lips, and heavily perfumed. Men might be far more natural, but with certain expectation in mind no doubt, would have taken special care to at least look clean, shaven, and suitably cologned.

 

After plenty of new year drinks, the atmosphere surely warms up. Music is on, dancing is of course the main entertainment. Since everyone is already in pyjamas, bare feet I suppose (Can't wear shoes with pyjamas to attend the party, surely?) and dancing cheek to cheek breaks up the barrier that no one is a stranger any more. I might be quite happy up to that point, but what comes next is what I am not too keen to imagine. 

 

Tags: pyjamaparty

Prev: 30th Dec 2011 What My Mother Taught Me ...

30th Dec 2011 What My Mother Taught Me ...

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

 

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

"You’d better pray that will come out of the carpet."

 

3. My mother taught me TIME TRAVEL.

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

 

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.

" Because I said so, that's why."

 

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the shops with me."

 

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

 

7. My mother taught me IRONY.

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

 

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

 

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

 

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

 

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

 

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.

"If I’ve told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

 

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

 

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION.

"Stop acting like your father!"

 

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

 

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.

"Just wait until we get home."

 

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.

"You are going to get it when you get home!"

 

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

 

19. My mother taught me ESP.

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

 

20. My mother taught me HUMOUR.

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

 

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

 

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

"You're just like your father."

 

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

 

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.

"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

 

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE.

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you".

 

Tags: me, mother

Prev: 30th Dec 2011 Mystery Of The Raining Of Birds

30th Dec 2011 Mystery Of The Raining Of Birds

Anybody who navigate in the newspaper archives of Santa Cruz Sentinel, or in Internet, can ratify that on the 18th of August, 1961, the same day the California local paper published the news that a very strange phenomenon 'Rain of Birds' during the night, knocking at houses and buildings and by morning, the buildings and streets are full of thousands of dead birds and anchovies regurgitated. Alfred Hitchcock immediately phoned the newspaper from Hollywood asking for a copy. The British director wanted to add 'Raining birds' to the English saying 'Raining dogs & cats'.

The following day, the master of suspense, who had a house in the hills of Scott's Valley, telephoned the paper again saying that he would use the material of investigation for his next thriller, which ended up being the masterly 'Birds' (based also, although only in name and the idea of birds attacking humans, on the brief story of Daphne du Maurier).

 

What was not known scientifically until now is what had caused such an seemingly inexplicable phenomenon (the earliest article at the time attributed, wrongly, the fog which had disorientated the birds). An investigation published in Nature Geoscience had cleared up the doubts.

The study carried out by the Department of Oceanography of Louisiana State University had analysed samples extracted in 1961 from the stomachs of turtles and marine birds, and had found residues of alga that produced toxins in 79% of the plankton (microscopic organisms which live in water and serve as a basic food source for aquatic animals) which contained domoico acid that affected the nerve system and provoked the birds, who had consumed the already contaminated anchovies and tiny squids. They had nervous attacks, utter confusion, epileptic convulsions and even death. Similar toxic incident occurred in the same area in California in 1991, in that case it was the pelicans. But never till now identified with the birds that inspired Hitchcock.

 

In between, there was also a case in 1987, this time the intoxication was suffered by about 100 people in Canada, due to the consumption of mussels (some call them mollusks). It caused irreversible amnesia, even death. No doubt, Hitchcock could have made another marvellous thriller with mussels.

While writing this Blog now, I am also following the film 'The Tourist' and found it dead boring. It was a total waste of Johnny Depp's talent, and Angelina Jolie overacted her sophistication, arrogance and loftiness, but good fashion model. 

 

 

Tags: birds, hitchcock, tourist

Prev: 29th Dec 2011 Alternative Ways Of Looking At Things ...

29th Dec 2011 Alternative Ways Of Looking At Things ...

• A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
• The farther away the future is, the better it looks.
  If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
• America is a country where half the money is spent buying food, and the other half is spent trying to lose weight.
• The only knowledge that can hurt you is the knowledge you don't have.
• If corn oil comes from corn, where does baby oil come from?
• Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
• There are two kinds of people who don't say much: those who are quiet and those who talk a lot.
• Unless you're the lead dog, the view never changes.
• WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
• Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.
• He is depriving some poor village of its idiot.
• I love to give homemade gifts. Which one of my kids do you want?
• The knack of flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
• Regular naps prevent old age ... especially if you take them while driving.
• At every party there are two kinds of people: those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other.
• If you do a job too well, you will get stuck with it.
• Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
• Ham and Eggs: A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment for a pig.
• For every idiot proof system devised, a new, improved idiot will arise to overcome The difference between divorce and legal separation is that a legal separation gives a husband time to hide his money.
• I'd like to help you out, which way did you come in?
• My wife ran off with my best friend last week. I miss him!
• The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
• The best way to get over a guy is to get under another.

Tags: alternativeways

Prev: 29th Dec 2011 End Of The Year News Tip-Bits

29th Dec 2011 End Of The Year News Tip-Bits

** Habitual thief delivered himself to the Police (Spain)

The ongoing economic crises affected, to different extend, all sectors, including the delinquency. A many times backslider thief voluntarily enter the police station confessing to 7 thefts he committed in the same neighbourhood in the past weeks. He succeeded having himself detained, a speedy court appearance, and be put in jail on Tuesday - the sole reason for his confession. More surprising than giving himself up, he even phoned the police yesterday who arrested him, thanking him saying he now has adequate food, fairly comfortable bed and warm clothing, plus medical care & protection, so much better and safer than being in the street.

Something is wrong with the society or the systems, or both, when one has to commit crime to be able to eat and have a roof over one's head, be protected and cared for. At least that seems to be the message the society is getting.

** GoodBye to Chita, a famous movie star (Hollywood)

One of the most veteran and lovable animal stars, the chimpanzee Chita, died on Christmas Eve at the age of 80, having survived all the main actors of that popular 'Tarzan' series. 

Johnny Weismuller (Tarzan) died, turned mad, in 1984, four months before his 80th birthday. Maureen O'Sullivan (Jane) and later mother of Mia Farrow, died in 1998 just after completed 87 years. John Sheffield, the child actor who played Tarzan and Janes adopted son (adopted so as not to defy the moral code of the era as the couple of the jungle were not married!) died in 2010, although he had been then 50 years away from the movie business.

 

Tags: jane, chita, tarzan

Prev: 28th Dec 2011 Hachi - A Dog's Tale

28th Dec 2011 Hachi - A Dog's Tale

Saw another movie the other night 'Hachiko - A Dog's Story', a real tear jerker. Made in 2009, starred Richard Gere. It's a remake of a film of 1987, which was in turn based on a true story happened in Japan, a moving film about loyalty and the rare, invincible bonds that occasionally form almost instantaneously in the most unlikely people with animals.

An Asian breed Akita dog was being transported to the United States. During the journey it's cage fell off the vehicle and the dog roamed along the railway tracks and stations totally lost. A professor of music found him and decided to take him home and try to locate the owner, but failed. From the dog's collar, the professor learned the dog's given name Hachi. The relationship between the two greatly strengthened. The dog had adopted the custom of accompanying him everyday to the railway station where he boarded the train to go to work, and waited for him there until he returned.

One day, the professor didn't return ... nor the next day, and the day after that; but the dog went and waited there just the same everyday, rain or shine, even days of snow and blizzard - for 9 years, until he too, died.

The real Hachikō died in 1935. A photo of his statue in the Shibuya train station is the last image shown before the credits roll.

 

My friend laughed and said I am a real cry baby at my age. I am sure there are those out there, like me, who cry buckets while watching this film. I can't help it, nor am I ashamed of it. I cry when I am overjoyed and I cry when I am sad, or moved. Very occasionally, I even cry for I don't know what reason! The saving grace is, I laugh easily too. 

 

Tags: dogstory, hachi

Prev: 28th Dec 2011 Funny Coincidences

28th Dec 2011 Funny Coincidences

** Funny connection of Name and Job (Aptronyms or Aptonyms) ~

Have you ever received a letter where the signature at the bottom of the page accurately reflects the profession of the person writing it?

Fictional examples of aptronyms include Mr Talkative and Mr Worldly Wiseman in John Bunyan's classic book "The Pilgrim's Progress" written in 1678.

** The non-fictional name/profession ~

* Alan Ball - English footballer who played in England's 1966 World Cup winning team.

* Anna Smashnova - tennis player.

* Billy Drummond - American jazz drummer.

* Bob Flowerdew - gardener and Gardeners' Question Time panelist.

* Bob Rock - rock music producer, including Metallic and Bon Jovi.

* Brenda Song - singer.

* Cecil Fielder and his son Prince Fielder - baseball players.

* Chris Moneymaker - amateur winner of 2003 World Series of Poker, which earned him $2.5 million USD. (Also Jaime Gold who won in 2006)

* Chuck Long - former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams.

* Henry Head - an English neurologist.

* Igor Judge - Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

* Learned Hand - judge.

* Lord Brain - neurologist.

* Marc Rich - billionaire financier.

* Margaret Court - tennis player.

* Scott Free - defence attorney.

 

Tags: coincidences, aptronyms

Prev: 27th Dec 2011 Firefox, And Me

27th Dec 2011 Firefox, And Me ...

** Firefox, the film ~

During the Christmas holidays, in fact since mid December, just about all the films on TV are kiddish comedies, cartoons, or old movies all with X'mas themes. I was quite pleased to find this old one by Cline Eastwood, one of the Dirty Harry westerns. For me it's new for somehow I had missed it at the time. Though made in 1982, contains a lot of technologic elements and special effects. I am not usually fan of such artificial creations but to be fair, it's not exactly over used, not at the cost of minimizing the rather interesting plot.

The story: The Soviet Union had achieved constructing a sophisticated war plane, very much superior to those of the United States. It could reach astonishing speed, not visible nor detectable by radar, and operated by computer following the thinking of the pilot.

Realizing their own disadvantage against such powerful opponent, Pentagon sent out one of their best agents to try to steal it. One great attraction of the film, for me, is Nigel Hawthone, one of my most admired British actors. A good story plus competent director and actors are always the key notes for me to decide whether to see a film or not bother.

** And Me ~

My friend who saw the film with me said if only he had such a computer, that without him lifting a finger, all his thoughts and plans are carried out at the blink of an eye, all perfectly materialized to perfection. I, with my 'contrary character' (his words; not exactly true) would not like that. 

In certain things and aspects perhaps, like my desire for a fine meal magically appears on the table the minute I thought about it, or the laundry and ironing done, or the much coveted ticket for the concert in my hands without my having to queue for it ... etc. Things that really matter, to make them happen is the stimulating challenge and fun, and that very special feeling of satisfaction that I myself have achieved it, is priceless.

Tags: firefox, me

Prev: 27th Dec 2011 Golfing ...

27th Dec 2011 Golfing ...

* What is golf? ~

Somebody said If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf.

* Mr. Angry Golfing ~

A very angry golfer was on his way to carding a round of 150. He turned to his caddy and said," You must be the worst caddy in the world."

"That would be too much of a coincidence, sir," answered the caddy in a quiet voice.

* Golf - Below Par? ~

After a particularly bad round of golf, Robert decided not to go to the nineteenth hole (the clubhouse bar) and started to go straight home.

As he was walking to the car park to get his Range Rover, a policeman stopped him and asked,

"Did you tee off on the seventeenth hole about twenty minutes ago?"

"Yes,” Robert answered

"Did you happen to slice your ball so that it went over the trees and out of bounds and completely off the course?"

"Yes, I did. How did you know?" Robert questioned.

"Well," said the policeman gravely, "Your ball flew out onto the main road and crashed through the windscreen of a BMW. The car driver lost control and crashed into six other cars and a fire engine. The fire engine was unable to reach the fire in time and the building burned down. Now, what do you intend to do about it?"

Robert thought it over very carefully and responded, "I think I'll close my stance a little bit, tighten my grip and lower my right thumb."

* Golf Swindler ~

While sitting at a table in the clubhouse after a game, Padraig remarked to a fellow club member', I'm not going to play golf with Jim Lawler any more. He cheats.'

'Why do you say that?' asked his friend.
'Well, he found his lost ball two feet from the green', replied Padraig indignantly.
'That's entirely possible', commented his friend.
'Not when I had his golf ball in my pocket', retorted Padraig with finality.

* Golf Partner ~

Alex comes home after his regular Saturday golf game and his wife, Amanda asks why he doesn't include John Gumby in the games any more. Alex asks, 'Would you want to play with a guy who regularly cheats, swears outrageously over everything, lies about his score, and has nothing good to say about anyone else on the course?'
'Of course I wouldn't,' states Amanda.
'Well,' mutters Alex, 'neither would John Gumby.'

Tags: golfing

Prev: 26th Dec 2011 How They Forecast A Cold Winter

26th Dec 2011 How They Forecast A Cold Winter

One day in early September the chief of a Native American tribe was asked by his tribal elders if the winter of 2011/12 was going to be cold or mild. The chief asked his medicine man, but he too had lost touch with the reading signs from the natural world around the Great Lakes. 

 

In truth, neither of them had idea about how to predict the coming winter. However, the chief decided to take a modern approach, and the chief rang the National Weather Service in Gaylord Michigan.

'Yes, it is going to be a cold winter,' the meteorological officer told the chief. Consequently, he went back to his tribe and told the men to collect plenty of firewood. 

A fortnight later the chief called the Weather Service and asked for an update. 'Are you still forecasting a cold winter?' he asked. 'Yes, very cold', the weather officer told him.

As a result of this brief conversation the chief went back to the tribe and told his people to collect every bit of wood they could find. 

A month later the chief called the National Weather Service once more and asked about the coming winter. 'Yes,' he was told, 'it is going to be one of the coldest winters ever.'
 
'How can you be so sure?' the chief asked.
The weatherman replied: 'Because the Native Americans of the Great Lakes are collecting wood like crazy.'

Tags: forecastingwinter

Prev: 26th Dec 2011 Sarcasm Could Be Funny

26th Dec 2011 Sarcasm Can Be Funny

• Vegetarian: Native American definition for "lousy hunter".
• The easiest job in the world has to be coroner. Surgery on dead people. What's the worst thing that could happen? If everything went wrong maybe you'd get a pulse.
• The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it.
• Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are getting weak?
• 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. There are 5 people in my family so it must be one of them. It's either my mum or my dad. Or my older brother Colin. Or my younger brother Ho-Cha-Chu. But I think it's Colin.
• Two years ago I married a lovely young virgin and if that doesn't change soon I'm gonna divorce her.
• Alcohol is not the answer it just makes you forget the question.
• The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
• Only dead fish go with the flow.
• For every action there is a corresponding over-reaction.
• It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world everyday always just exactly fits the newspaper.
• What if there were no hypothetical questions?
• Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
• Only in America ... do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
• They call it "pms" because "mad cow disease" was already taken.

 

Tags: funnysarcasm

Prev: 25th Dec 2011 Half A Diet & Cost Of Marraige