február 26, 2007

weekend's over

This photo goes out to all those lovely blog-friends and other people who have successfully completed that bit-of-funny, bit-of-silly, lots-of-revealing test about me, myself and I. Click on it to enlarge its beauty. I captured this lovely creature on one of our hiking trips in April 2006 in the Matra hills. It just sat there right on the middle of road, soaking the sunshine in.


The below photo was also made on the same trip, near a small river. Somewhere in the middle there is my son. He tried to climb up on one of the trees. He climbs up just about everything he feels he needs to. Coloumns, monuments, hills, doors... When we hike and there's something high within reach one thing's for sure: he's into going up. And most of the times he really does - making some (unwanted) hot moments to all those people around...sometimes he gives it up, sometimes it takes a father-y tone to talk him into NOT-climbing...


But when he's up...I'm proud :)))


Oh yes, we, the family have reunited well. The kids teased each other as usually...The parents worked around the house. I planted 11 Anemone bulbs, but stepped back from the idea of sowing anything. It was way too cold. We loaded some firewood from here to there, made plans for the enlargened hens' running area. We are collecting eggs at the moment and are plannig to buy fertilized eggs to make our hens hatch those. This is our present stock.


From 1 o'clock, clockwise:

Hógolyó (Snow-ball), a young, meat-type hen. She already lays many eggs and has a perfect feather-composition for brooding. It means that she has lots of thick and fine under-feathers. Her body is strong and robust. Lepke (Butterfly), a special Hungarian breed called kopasznyakú (bald-necked?), she's middle aged and lays eggs, too. She is more the sturdy type. At 7 o'clock there's our rooster. He has no name yet, apart from Kakas (Rooster). He is young, too and is a good rooster. He's always looking at things and watches his females. His plumage is called kendermagos (speckled, but literally the name translates to 'covered with hempseeds' - it sounds strange to me). At 9 o'clock there's a very old good brooding Japanese hen called Hajas (Hairy). Her name was given for her having a little cap of black feathers on the top of her head. She has a very fragile body and falls onto the ground every time the Rooster springs on her. We all feel sorry for her for having such a heavy partner... And finally, at the middle of the imaginery clock there is Parázs (Live coal), a middle aged laying-type hen. I think the name speaks for itself. She has a thick body with glowing black plumage, with tan/orange feathers here and there.


They are in their small area, and we have to enlargen it if we are to house 20-30 animals in the near future. The area now is so small that we allow them wonder in the garden almost every day. They walk wherever they want. They spend their nights confined so as to protect them from predators.

And finally, here's a close up of the rooster, with Lepke and Hógolyó in the back.

február 23, 2007

family reunion !

Dear all, I think I'll be away for the weekend - those two who were missing are re-joining us on Saturday, and wel'll be working around the house Sunday.
On Monday however, a someone from my current job is coming over to talk about the job I had to undertake at the beginning of February. We'll talk about future possibilities, payment and my experiences. I think I've decided that which kind of tasks would I do and which would I rather not at this new job.

This co-worker is, as far as I suspect, is coming to convince me to accept and do online and on-phone customer service. Now, this I have done for a solid 3 years uninterrupted (except for a one-week holiday). And this type of job has driven me sometimes mad. People calling at all times. People complaining, people calling me bad names... I'm not telling you it was a horrible job. There were many, many bright moments in that past job of mine. People were thankful for the product, for the things we did, and even for me. Some people were really sorry when I had to leave. What upsets me is that when I remember that job only the bad moments pop into my mind, not the good ones... As if good memories had been taken away...

There might be circumstances *wink, wink* however, where I might be willing to do this type of job again... but...on the 'money vs. feeling normal' battle I think I let the second one win.

And finally, this will cheer anyone up - On with the speakers!

UPDATE: I can not embed the film, I'm sorry! Anyone possibly can help? As I usually have no problems embedding YouTube clips...
Anyway, this is a film on Atomfilms. One of my all-time favourites. This time it's nothing serious or spiritual. It is pure fun. Fun for fun. Enjoy.

február 22, 2007

someone's missing


I found your bed empty.
Well, I knew you went away, but secretly
was hoping to find you still there.
Now I see you're gone and so is the Sun
and the view from my window.
I look out to find my reflection on the glass -
nothing more.

some recent things - overcome and fulfilled

February 9.
to rest, to find solace in tranquility to let the burdens dissolve in quietness, in sleep is all I'm longing for so I fall into some subconsciuos drowsiness but the blaze at the back of my eyes awakes me and I stare bluntly ahead finding no peace -
February 14.
The Keeper of Fire spoke tenderly, her advice was scarcely audible -
After all, there is meaning.
There is wisdom
for those who seek and even for those who got tired, wated, exhausted and void in the search there is a weaver behind the carpet.
The pattern might seem unclear and devoid of any form or order. But it's because of its extent. and since puilling one single thread results in drawing numbers of other threads as well -finally the whole carpet becomes one entity. It breathes as one. Inhale and exhale. The heartbeats are all part of one single drum. You are woven into the carpet. You are the carpet and the carpet is you. Every part of it is part of you as well.
---

Absorbing these feelings she induced I hardly noticed that the Keeper of Fire has gone. It's not that she left me at all. It's only that she's got more importants duties. I'm done, my questions were answered, my nerves are calmed. She came and went as will be and is available in need. And that is comforting.

február 21, 2007

A tree - does that sound familiar?

a quiz that turned into a meme. For me, the disease all started with Chris. The next victim was Anniina, and now it's me. Have fun finding out how well you know little facts about me.
For the test, go here!

február 20, 2007

travelling inside - UPDATED entry

I am not being lazy, I was just occupied looking a bit inside.
In the period between 9 and 20 of February, I attended two kinesiology sessions (one for me, one for my son) and two meditations (one alone in a company of women and one in the same company, but taking my son with me as well.)
I do feel well.
And I sing a lot. I would switch to one of my favourite tunes and would sing along with the singer. One may laugh at me, but singing out loud does good to your soul. Provided that the neighbour does not hear you - so I watch myself so as not to outsing the original version :)
I think I will update sooner or later, but I'm off to do some cleaning in the house. - I'm done with that.
Kinesiology: I'm ever so glad I've started this. The therapist made me look into my past and see the reasons of some burdens I used to carry. For now I believe I have put them down. There are things at least that I can cope better with. Things that I can accept more. These alone were worth the money. It is clearly better for me and so for my family as well. My son? We'll see how he reacts and how he copes with the things he heard there. He takes the drops regularly and does the little mantras regularly, too.

Meditation: It was my 2nd and 3rd guided meditation. If that is what meditation is, then I've been doing it at some subconscious level since like ages :) Somewhere back in August 2006, I participated one guided meditation and now I had similar feelings, especially at the 3rd one, which one was on February 20, and where I took my 10-yo son as well. He did not want to take part, but I convinced him - 'how can you reject a good thing without even trying?' There were two parts and I told him he was allowed to leave in between - but surprise, surprise, he insisted to stay!
It was the kind of meditation when the whole group does the same thing. It is believed/supposed to make the meditation stronger. We both had strange and intense feelings.

Photos by me on January 27. Location: Pál-völgyi barlang, Budapest. Some of the inside photos show dripstone formations.
This is the second update to this single entry. I was thinking of doing this at all - but since I have no other form of written diary, it is inevitable. So, the part from now on is highly personal. You are welcomed to read, but consider yourself having been warned.

Kinesiology: I'm heading towards being content with being a woman. It was not always this way. My parents wanted a boy and although in a subtle and strange way, unfortunately they did express their dissatisfaction. As far as I recall I was made to believe that had I been born a boy, their marriage would have lasted for longer. Which is, as far as I know now is not true. My father and my mother married for they loved each other and love as such, blinded them both. They were unable to see the vast gap between them, in almost every aspect of life. Such is love. This love produced a baby, who thought she had to fit into the world as a boy. Secretly, though as obviously she was born with female organs and female disposition, including being attracted by (and to) men. Still, she thought she had to be and act like a man and befit to the role of a man. That is what she used to think. Now the kin. session has made me see that when I had been high above (pre-born), I had wanted to become a woman. So that's why I became the one who I became. What my parents wanted and wished for is not my trouble. They loved me, they did not love each other. They still do love me in their own special ways, and they still do not love each other. That's why they divorced when I was 12. But as I was upbrought by my mother, somehow, some of the programs of life she uses has been transferred to me. This is rather unfortunate as I have my own life. The second session was about a disposition I learned from my mother, unconsciously, during my years with her. This does not belong to me. My way of life, my loving is different and it should be. I'm still working on it and it helps over the bumps of our marriage we've been experienced in the past six-seven months. This session helps me overcome my jealousy... that tells it all...
Meditation: meditation is exhilarating. It either opens new horizons for me or simply releases the stress. I believe to have undergone an OBE in August 2006 and I think this is just what happened this time, February 19 2007. In the first part yesterday, we had to experience a path bordered by rose-shrubs that lead to a house. The door oopened and there was a man in the door, but I had to remove it as the leader of the maditaion spoke of no person inside. I reckon this as an excercise for sticking to the point. I saw the man, but I had to remove him from the meditation. Then we had to saw photos on the wall and again I saw pictures, but I had to sweep them away in exchange for the images we were told to see. This is did well. On the second part we had to relax at a side of a lake and then go uphill to meet a lama. This meditation was aimed at meeting him as a spiritual helper. We had to ask questions and had to wait and accept the answer. On the way to the hill we had to let go off our physical and emotional burdens in two steps. This is when I felt as if I had been shelled and only a light-brown inner self was left behind. Later on the brown had gone and only a white-ish body remained. It was me, but without the usual body. The outline was the same, but the flesh as seen by my everyday self has gone. It came so unexpectedly. I met the lama and put forth one of the questions (would the political and economical changes come true as it was foretold by the wise?) He said yes. Then I asked my second question (would our house be remodelled before the crisis?) he answered yes. Then I, slightly disappointed asked him whether he was able to say anything besides 'yes' to my questions. And began thinking of other q's. But first of all, one came into my mind. (would the relationship between me and my husband work out for good, finally?) I added that probably this is the most important question of all. And the lama said yes, this is the most important. He reassured me of this q being the most essential one, but he did not said yes or no. Maybe this was his answer that this is the question of questions and this has to be answered before anything. The tone he used suggested that it will be allright and right now we are working on it and that we have to work on it, putting everything else behind. Before the lama and I parted he (according to the instructor) gave me love energy from his heart-chakra. We were told to experience a light blue streak of energy. It came right as a punch into me, wow. Going down on the hill was an easy walk now. I enjoyed every moment of this meditation. And it is always so hard to get out of it - I wish I could stay longer...

If you have come to read this closing line, well, you know something more and something intimate about me. Use it wisely, my friend.
Be well and thanks again for the encouraging words.

február 15, 2007

a February evening at Poppy street


Pre-words:
I have found the above picture at this place. For more photos, visit IllMan. Thank you!

Take a deep breath and read. It won't take more of your time than writing took of mine. Where does it take me? I don't know. Maybe nowhere. Maybe nowhere else than I aready am. I might as well stop asking stupid questions. I might as well stop writing stupid words. Well, that's what I have.


But Mrs Hopkins, please! - exclaimed Mrs. Willows from the drawing room.
As there was not any answer from the kitchen, Mrs. Willows started looking for the maid in the kitchen, where she had been just a few seconds ago. In fact, it was a bit strange to call her a 'maid', as Mrs Hopkins has been serving the Willows for a good twenty years by now. She was in her late fifties, a well-kept, with a slim and short figure. Some neighbours kept telling there was a secret behind those perfect soufflés and pumpkin pudings, properly ironed and neatly folded clothes Mrs. Hopkins dazzled her bosses with - wherever she went, tidyness followed. Perfect food and clean house were her trademarks. Yet, there was something around her, something more than meets the eye... No one was sure who or where Mr Hopkins was, for example. If there was any at all... But those were just rumours babbled by those who do not have her in their house - assured Mrs Willows when convincing her husband about letting the maid into their old house in the first place. 'Harry, you're being suspicious, a maid is just a maid and this is just what we need at the moment.' - she told him twenty years ago in that foggy February evening.
'It is fog and February again' - Mrs Willows said it aloud, wondering, as if the words themselves, the voice would bring the maid back to the time and space where she had just been. 'But where is she now?' Mrs Willows arrived to the kitchen by now and to her surprise, found the back door ajar. It leaded to the other street behind their house. The lights in the street were already on as the Sun has began descending into obscurity. The door was open. Mrs. Willows stepped out, pulling her robe a bit tighter it was unexpectedly cold out in the evening. There were no traces of Mrs Hoopkins. No sign at all. Unpeopled the street as was, Mrs Willows turned back to the house.
She made her way back to he drawing room, collapsed into the armchair by the fire. She was still there, sleeping when the husband entered the house an hour later.
---
The lady and the maid were discussing details of the forthcoming birtday of Mr Willows. The maid, a Mrs Hopkins then entered the kitchen to shell almonds in the kitchen, and the lady in the drawing room returned to her previous occupation: she was busy calculating the expenses on the basis of her list. It all happened in a minute. First came that horrible stench of sulphur and then there was a sudden lighting. It all took less than a second. Mrs. Willows stood up from by the table and called for the maid. She hoped for some explanation. But there was not any, barring a faint howling and something that easily could be mistaken a laughter. A laughter by the maid? That was too much for Mrs. Willows. Never in the twenty years has she ever heard Mrs. Hopkins laughing. Neither has her husband. In fact, none of the households that took the advantage of having Mrs Hopkins as a helper has ever heard the maid laughing. Or even seen her smiling.

---
The houses of Poppy street were all silent. There wasn't anyone on the pavement or on the road. The new moon was pale. Competition with the gliding Sun was over too much for her fullness. She waited calmy for she knew there would be the time, her time, night time, when the black vastness over the world would be more than anything willing to accept her and her alone. Her time would soon come, she knew that and waited above.
---

február 13, 2007

no I'm not writing about tomorrow

Topic 1. - February 14.
partly because it is not a tradition in the culture where I grew up and partly because today it is creeping into our world as well, just along with many other, sometimes uselesess crap.
I reckon the day of tomorrow as another opportunity installed by the media into our slow-paced, love-filled normalcy as a reason for spending money and substitute real feelings and affection with artificial and non-wanted objects. Fakeness disgusts me.
I'm completely aware that showing our caring and love is essential in a relationship. Surprising the loved one with idle items, sweets and other delicacies might be something s/he just needs every now and then. But it should not be restricted to one *special* day. Love and show love whenever you can. Some people spend vast amounts of hardly-earned cash on presents for Christmas for someone in the family they do not really like. They buy presents b/c it is the habit. I am against that - and I have also written something similar during Christmas time.

Topic 2. - The Matra Hills
We had a day's hike in the nearby Matra Hills. We joined the group of parents and kids of the local Waldorf school. Some of you might remember that my son has been there for 1 and a half years and we keep the connections alive. We usually go to their hiking tours and visit the special occasions they have in the school.
The photos are of 2006, as I have no digital camera at the moment. Enjoy!
Last year, the tour was on 6 March. We had lots of snow. On Saturday there were patches of snow on the Northern slopes, but nothing serious. This is Rozi, lying in the snow. She would have enjoyed it this year, too.
There are pines near the peak, otherwise it's mainly oak and fir. The Matra is of volcanic origin. There are many villages, which mainly function as health and recreation resorts.
This is the main radio (and tv) transmitter of our country. It s funny how the clouds run behind the station and make the pole leaning towards the onlooker. It is not leaning towards anything of course as it is standing still, but the look gives you this strange feeling.

This is the Southern slope of the hill. It was our destination this Saturday and while the parents enjoyed a well-deserved hot soup in the small restaurant near the peak, the kids played sliding on the ice-covered slope.


This is the official highest point called Kékes. This is also the highest peak of the present Hungary is located in the Matra Hills. It measures 1014 metres. The link on the word 'present' takes the interested kind reader to a Hungarian page about Trianon. I've made this link so as not to forget about this shameful event that tore our many-thousand land apart. Ok, back, from politics - the final picture shows the Northern slope of the Kékes.

Hope you liked it!

Topic 3. My son is back again. For a few days or for more. For home-schooling again? Who knows? We are headed for another kinesiology session I assume. Either way - probably less time for blogging. Take care!

február 12, 2007

that's why I'm riding the rails

today I had a bad morning in the new job. I seriously questioned whether this kind of job is the one I'm longing for. Money is just face of the thing. I need money - who does not? But at what price? I became so frustrated and angry, too. On top of all, I kind of promised my little Rozi to be present at her swimming lesson at the pool - just as I did a week ago. She's afraid of swimming in the water, which is a bit cold and is past over her height. She's only 7. She needs encouragement. Her mother can't give it to her b/c her mother wants money and this is the job that is available at the moment. When I have translation jobs, I can fit almost anything into my days. I take my time. But this job requires that I spend certain times of the week in front of the computer. Not when I want to, but when I have to. And I hate restrictions. Or, rather put it another way: I hate when I can't feel the necessity of a restriction. Am I to do this job at all?
I have done something similar for three years. Was not that enough? Do I still have to? It feels like I'm returning to somewhere, to a state, to circumstances I've already left behind. I don't feel the need to re-run the sameness of a similar job, similar tasks. I feel confined.
Below is KDLang's 'Riding the rail' - and a compilation of a pictures of a family holiday somewhere in the USA. Hope you enjoy it, too. Her voice is flawlees in any kind of music.
My fav lines are: 'sixty seconds is all I stay' - ' only thing I'm scared of is standing still'
Sometimes I feel like this. Moving, and moving at all costs. No matter where and why - just go, just to be away.

február 09, 2007

an eco-terrorist in the making

My son came home with the idea of making a bomb by putting baking soda and vinegar into a shell of a Kinder-egg. I was not really surprised. His father used to make various kinds of bombs himself when being a bit tenderer in age - it's up to you to guess whether he (the father) has kept his past activities a secret from his eager son. Yes, the guess was right. He has not.
And so my son made his first bomb - it might be the last one though, he's not really the fighter-type. On a second thought...uhm...maybe... He put the ingredients into the shells, shook them and voilá - they really had sounds, well, not like a bomb, but more like a pop.
After he finished he came back to the kitchen and said one day he would become a terrorist who makes bombs - this is about what he knows about terrorists, anyway. It was me who suggested the idea of becoming an eco-terrorist: were I younger I might likely become one myself.
Below is a picture of him playing with friends in September 2006 - I choose the one blurry photo of this occassion in purpose.
Have you heard of making a bomb with everyday items? Have you made one? Or your kids?

február 07, 2007

Rozi and the world of stones

Above is a photo of my 7-yo daughter, who, using a flashlight is seeking to find interesting stones and rock formations. She turns 7 on March 25. As I wrote earlier, we visited two of the Budapest caves in January, 2007. Rozi (pronounce as you would say Rosy) enjoyed the first cave so much (she was tired by the time we reached the second) that seh kept running back and forth, lightening the walls every here and there and showing me, and to anyone around all the things she had just found. She was overpleased with just about anything that came into her sight. I love how easily she finds beauty whenever she goes, wherever she sets her eyes on. This disposition of hers is one of the things I adore about her. I wish I could be just as easygoing as she is...
Here, for example, she's pointing at a bright red stone beneath some other nondescript stones. For her of course, those were not *boring, or average ones*. She found them just as equally nice as she liked the red one.
This is a group of 'interestingly white stones' she found behind a larger stone beside the path.
This photo depicts the second cave (The cave of Pal valley, Pálvölgyi barlang), where there is a widening in the path as the stones inside are forming curves. The light comes from a certain point and Rozi soon discovered that she could play with the shadows. She became a dwarf of the cave within a wink of an eye and she began walking with bended back, hands up and curved - and she enjoyed the shadows she'd just created. The second photo shows that she bent her legs, too.
And on the last photo (made in the first cave - Szemlőhegyi barlang, the cave of the Szemlő hill) there are calcite formations that associate layers of other rocks. It looks just like a big zipper that seemingly pulls two sides of solid rock together. It is not a really good picture, the zipper is in the middle, a greyish-white vertical composition between the greenish stones. Trust me it looks better in reality.

Now, I'm off to work so as not to disappoint one of my friends - *winks into (?) PA*

And, there will be more of my photos of the caves. I hope you'll like them. Until that, you might watch some very good photos at the above links.

február 06, 2007

on light and belief

In one of her recent posts, Anniina has a great compilation of various folktales behind the phenomenon called Aurora Borealis, aka the Northern Light. If you need a whole bunch of scientific reasoning AND great photos, visit this.

This photo below below was copied from the page mentioned above. I chose this among the many wonderful images b/c it shows the constellation called 'Orion' as well. In our mythology, Orion is said to portray the ancient hunter, a leader of Hungarians. It is (also) called Nimrod.

If there has to be a spiritual explanation behind the phenomenon, it must surely be that of the Algonquin Indians'. I love that. The rest of the explanations (esp. those that speak of revenge and bad omen....) just can't be real :)))
I am positive that a belief reflects/describes the believer himself.
This is wrote with the intention of NOT hurting anyone practicing ANY faith - I wrote it as an interesting fact I found. People/nations are different in so many ways and so are their beliefs.

február 04, 2007

Kosztolányi Dezső - a translation from me


Dear all, I've come accross this short story a few days ago. It found me for no adequate reason so I decided that the encounter was because I had to share it with you. The writer is Kosztolányi Dezső and is called 'Öreg barackfa'. It is literature, although none of the words, word combinations or expressions differ significantly from the language we use everyday. I tried to give back the meaning on the surface and in behind - pls consider it as one of my attempts at translating Hungarian literature into English... Any suggestions grammatical- or otherwise are welcomed. Thanks. Kosztolányi Dezső, as you might have read in the Wikipedia was basically a poet. He did write poetry and although he is not my favourite poet at all, this piece of writing struck me in the heart. Update: Thanks Annina, for the grammatical and stylistic review.

Dezső Kosztolányi: An old apricot tree - a short story.

Mrs. Barber had the flat fixed up this autumn. When all the rooms have been re-painted and cleared up she noticed that the drawing room is still dark. In the courtyard, right in front of the window stood an old apricot. She made up her mind and called for a hand from the neighbours and addressed him:
- Cut this out.
The dayman leant a ladder to the tree and slowly began the sawing.
He started with the head. Large branches fell down, rattling, one after the other. Twigs uttered certain sighs of leaves.
This was when Mr. Barber arrived home.
- What is that you are getting done?
- I'm getting it cut out.
- Why?
- Because it took the light away. See how it becomes lighter already.
- Do you not regret the tree?
- The tree was old.
- How old it is?
- At least twenty.
- For how long do apricots live?
- I haven't the faintest idea.
Mr. Barber went into the library-room, fetched an encyclopaedia. He read out aloud:- 'Apricot. (Prunus Armeniaca). Has an average lifespan of thirty years.' So - he said thoughtfully -, it's just like as it was me.
-Tush!
-Yes, it is. I am now forty. First off comes my head, then my arms and thighs.
-It hardly had any fruits.
-But it blossomed.
-Oh, but you could not eat its fruits. Remember how small and sour those apricots were.
-Yet she bore them each year. Poor old lass. It was not her fault. She was quite diligent, you see. And do you believe that she does not feel all that's going on now?
-Perhaps.
-A scientist in India has discovered the central nervous system of trees. These can communicate. They use signs. It's only we that don't understand them...
The couple went out to the garden. The dayman was pulling out the trunk. The branches and twigs lay there on the ground, with leaves still green. The leaves whispered in the September wind.
- As if the tree was still alive - said the woman.
-It's the hair of the dead - said the man.
Later on, when the whole tree was chopped up and brought down to the basement as firewood for the winter, they both returned to the drawing room.
- It is definitely lighter here - added the woman - Isn't it?
- Sure.
- Positive! Be honest. Have you ever seen so clearly here at seven in the evening?
- No.
-Bessy! - Mrs. Barber called for the maid - It is lighter here, isn't it?
-Oh, really so, Madame.
-Well, wait for the winter. That's when we will really see.
Husband and wife settled in front of the window. They watched the space where the old apricot used to be and where only a fresh pile of ground heaped. They were speechless for a long time.
- Tell me - told the woman - isn't it lighter here?
- Absolutely - answered the man -, it is much lighter.
After that they stopped talking.
They both felt that it was much, much darker now.

február 02, 2007

new thing on the horizon

Two people called me in my house. We had a pre-set interview to talk about my potential new job. It seems similar to the one I'd been doing for 3 years for another company. It involves summarizing incoming orders, deciding on delivery routes and this is it for the beginning. I am unsure about whether I want another job like that again or not.
Thing is I've already accepted it, I'm on a 'trial' week - let's see how it goes. In the first period the job would take like 2 hours per week of my precious time.

Honestly I feel like this:



február 01, 2007

the hunter and the calling

UPDATE: Thanks Blogger's new version, thank you so very much. I can not make comment on my own site. Congrats, really. I hope it is a temporary thing - and anyway, it is free and what the heck can I do? So. I. Am. Content. I. L.O.V.E. Blogger. I do.
For a more serious update:
The first poemlet in this entry was inspired by a walk in the nearby forest. I love it to bits - the forest and the thing I wrote just equally :) The second one however, comes from somewhere deeper within. I feel that it has always been within me and that it is not the first and never near the last version of my verbalization of that feeling behind. For me it is clear that this time the song Barefoot evoke it. I also feel that it is not complete and not mature yet - but you know how is it with the full moon.... No, I'm not turning into a werewolf, thankyouverymuch. Hee-hee.
The hunter

the light's sliding down on the skin of trees
sharp shadows creep into the forest
the air settles into stillness
heartthrobs within awake me
doo-thump doo-thump-thump
dusk sets in among the barks
I feel hunger
gut evokes blood
vein urges muscles
my feet start to stir
and I rise quietly
heartthrobs within
doo-thump doo-thump-thump
the hunter has arisen
and off I go for another prey
in the deep
doo-thump doo-thump-thump

---
this is K.D. Lang singing Barefoot - the clip version.



---
The calling
I was lying comfortably after a good dinner
My body relaxed I watched around and blinked
I felt the stillness and peace of the night
And I felt prepared for the long rest
When in the blankness a calling is what I heard
a howling from behind the dense backwoods
I know I must be up and go
So I stretch my legs, sway my body with care
And start my path among the bushes towards the meadow to see
where the noise comes from
The trees unfold to let me pass
And the light gets ever stronger from above
From time to time I inhale the scent of the track
to see how far can I get, but it tells me it's all safe
So I gallop past the last few shrubs over the edge
to finally I reach where I was headed for
the open field is floating with glee
I find the source of light, a silver beam finds me too -
I sit on the ground to join my fellows

január 29, 2007

liberalism - what did you say what?

LanternLight might not really like my not letting go hold of some madman (?!?) and he might also dislike this entry, but I still don't see why was this fellow banned from boarding. Was it the cynicism? The 'bravery' to criticize someone who's at the very top? The political side of his views? Sorry, but do please throw some light on this matter. If I were an airport security officer I would laughed at him and let him go. He's crazy, we're all crazy, so what.
The above text is a copy of the comment I made over LanternLight's blog.
Your turn:
So what?
it seems that Blogger has decided to make my blog turn into the new version. Not caring about me not wanting it, me, being a maniac conservative about things. This pisses me off.
Would you like to have more photos from the Budapest cave?

január 28, 2007

wonders of caves


UPDATE: Now we all can spot the polar bear. The photo was made on January 27, in one of the caves of Budapest. According to experts, Budapest has so many caves underneath the city that it makes it the capital of caves, too. (Budapest is the capital of Hungary.)
This cave is called the 'Szemlőhegyi-barlang' (The cave of the Szemlő hill). The temperature is a perennial 12 degrees centigrade. The air is so clean and full of moist that it is suitable to cure asthma and other diseases of the respiratory system.



According to the international definition, these kind of stone formations are called 'popcorn-stones'. Hungarian scientist however, call these pea-stones, or cauliflower-stones. We walked for an hour among these beauties. Artificial light makes the stones even more wonderful. (and visible, because othervise there is totally dark inside here).


január 26, 2007

Hi out there,

how do you like me being a psycho?
Just after saying I will not be around for a while due to some inner reasons, I really will not be available, due to reasons beyond my control. Whoa!
You know I have a job to do, a translation. It's called Currently available educational and counseling services for farmers and whole-sale managers – an outline
Don't tell me it's not that you ever dreamed of getting know more precisely?
If you don't like the title I will post it in its entirety. It is 7 pages and I'm translating it from Hungarian to English.
In the meantime, I'm back to good old Janis. Enjoy while I'm working for money.
On Saturday we are visiting two of the Budapest caves. I hope to bring a photocamera along with me to share you the experience.
Take care.

január 25, 2007

crossroads


It seems that nothing makes sense, neither way is good.
It's either to wake up or to fall asleep. Sleepwalking is not a solution.
I have nothing else to say as of now. I will be away for a while.
This is what I'm listening at the moment. Melissa Etheridge: Breathe

január 24, 2007

a winter story

How and where I lost the track
that leads to you remains a mistery
I'm going round and round in
the fog seeing no sunshine over me

I slowly draw out my hands into space to feel
The warmth of love that used to be here
Blanketed in tears, embraced by fears I find
A shivering, frosty, empty me

január 22, 2007

on kinesiology

This entry should not in any way be considered as a scientific source of information in this subject. I am not a therapist! I was and still am a subject of this kind of therapy, though. That's why I'm writing this, mainly for one of my friends has asked me about it. This entry is based on my experiences.
What makes one undergo such a therapy?
Why do you seek professional help? Let's not discuss it here. Why did I choose this particular therapy? There have been great reflections on this kind of therapy within my greater family: They told me how effective it was, how everything went right so I felt comfortable with going to check for myself.
I also choose this b/c I do not really believe in modern psychiatry. When giving drugs is the only alternative (I'm making it too plain, I know) that is simply not a solution for me. Not an intelligent one at that.
I chose this b/c I believe in its deeper explanations.
What's the idea behind?
1. The things you do, experience by senses and otherwise, peoples and events - they do not leave you unaffected. The consequences are sometimes easy to detect sometimes more subtle.
2. When you find the root of a problem deep within, you yourself will be able to notice and detect it. The solution is within you but of course, you must cooperate. Surprisingly or not, your deep inner self is more often than not strives to lead a happy and fulfilling life. One that leads to the right development. The solution you find should and will come from yourself and from yourself alone, b/c one is able to heal him/herself.
3. We all have our deep opinion about things, ourselves, the way we act in certain situations, various people and facts, and so on. This opinion within us is not always clearly known even for ourselves. No matter how deep we try to hide, it's there. And can be shown with careful examination. Basic instincts, deep beliefs can be turned to the outside. Surprising but real facts.
4. It is not suitable for those who can not think beyond the restrictions of our humanly bodies. It does involve some spiritualism.
What do you do once you're there?
You come up with a problem and the therapist tries to find the reason. When and what went wrong? What happened? What impedes you from achieving this, understanding that and so on?
The therapist than tests your reaction. S/he may give you certain things. I've tried 4 therapists and they all had different methods. One operates with cards like a tarot card and together with the patient s/he describes the meaning. One gives Bach flower droplets to heal the 'wounds'. You might want to google on those homeopathic essences somewhere. My knowledge is limited. One combines more methods at a time, according to the patient's special need. Others work other ways. The method is always tested by the therapist.
The testing is based on a simple method. It is so simple that many people question its validity or credibility. For me, there are no questions regarding its being correct, but people are different. It goes like this. If you believe a statement to be true your muscles are firm. 'You stand out for your rights'. Disagreement on the other hand, implies withdrawal, rejection. Your muscles are released, loose. Most therapists use the arm or hand muscles.
When the solution is found you'll be given mantras (repetitive words or sentences) to keep you remember to develop yourself.
Any questions? Go ahead in the comments section.

re-doing the same, but improved test

Keda supplied me with more questions to the meme I've done a couple of days ago. Her list contains 150 questions. Some of my friends have already done this test, but now it is more complete. I re-wrote the answers, but for the original test, go over here.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain (some of the peaks of the High Tatras)
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive, no but drove a tractor.
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candle lit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
- yes……I've hugged many, but for most of the time, I'm just touching them as if holding hands with a person
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby's diaper

21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower - shooting stars are meteors, aren't they?
23. Been drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb - no, but piglets, hens and mice: yes
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day.
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states -I've covered like 20 I assume - I'm too lazy to calculate
41. Taken care of someone who was really drunk
42. Had amazing friends I still have
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales - do sealions count?
45. Stolen a sign - that is dangerous and is still is against the law. Were I born male, I would surely become a policeman.
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud - who did not in his/her childhood?
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight (it took me some time to figure out it is supposed to mean Dungeons and Dragons. I know the game from the book ET.)
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
- a home made one
74. Crashed a party
75. Been divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice - no, but I rode the motorized equivalent of it.
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River - no, but I'm planning to go rafting this spring
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Eaten fugu
89. Had a one night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship - I remember now, it was a sightseeing tour of Amsterdam.
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children - I'm not finished with it yet :)
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge - no, but have seen it in person
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication - does my blog count?
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
- those are unparrallelled!
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had surgery - I had my vermicular appendix removed when I was 13. It was decomposed to pieces.
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon - we did not have that much time and I am sorry for being such a lame and lazy ass.
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi.
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach - no, but in the University hostel we had tonnes of them. Ew.
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey.
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I, the butcheress do that regularly
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language at the Terra Madre event with someone who only spoke Spanish
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair - I wanted though when I was at the University
147. Been a DJ (backseat and private in my living room)
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident - no, but once I was hit by a car when I rode a bike
150. Saved someone's life
How long will I be around, counting days to come
turning my mind over and over -
I don't even think about it.
Upon hearing a cockoo in the woods
I do not wish to let it linger for ever
standing within the creek I listen and I know when it's over -
it's gone when it's not there anymore
andwhen the Sun rises
I do not ask where it comes from
the heat is there, the spirit is there with me
and that's all I have to know
and it's gone when it's not there anymore....
For he who starts searching me will reach me and he who knows my name will not ever loose me. The Keeper of Fires greated me with a smile -


First there was the silence
then I opened my eyes and began watching
the endless flickering of everything around
I grew hungry and wanted more
only to realize that
hunger has always been with me
and that it's not my first set of meals
not that it's the last one, either -
and so I started the journey
within and spaces beyond.

Photos were made in May 2006 by me in various places around lake Balaton. For more photos, you might want to go back to see the archives.

Some explanation to the texts above: The beginning of the past week found me depressed, again. I searched for the root and find that not seeing a clear purpose caused me the trouble. I felt pointless and hopelessly small. Then at some point I found that although the path is not clear I might as well enjoy treading it. No matter how blurred my vision is, I am on a path.

január 21, 2007

Weekend report

Part One:
War of Fortresses.
I lost. What else did you expect, really? 10 yo boys are brilliant at building and protecting fortresses - not meaning that they are bad at aiming guns and handling artillery in general. Not at all. They excel in those areas, too.
Part Two:
Saturday Meeting of Great Brains.
(the title of the event is given by me, although my-not-much-of-a-genius entity was present as well. But I don't matter much.)
My part: I cooked a meat soup (using a young rooster and lots of organic vegetables). I also brought some candles to represent the spiritual fire among the people. My active part sort of ended along these things.... I was in the same room with people whose books I read. What else can one possibly say? They discussed and talked about various things and I listened like a sponge. Wait, how exactly does a sponge listen? Nevermind.
My husband, who sometimes keeps lectures on similar issues was also so overwhelmed by the sensation that we were hardly able to sleep afterwards. We left the place a bit tired at 7pm, but were unable to fall asleep until 1,30 am in Sunday.
Part Three:
The butcheress
(tell me right if there's no such a word. And anyway, please correct my grammatical mistakes. I have to tell you though that I'm so in love with the word 'butcheress' that you've gotta have some serious reasoning to put me off.)
Earlier I had to slaughter some of our hens - some due to a predator's visit in December, some due to a sudden illness and so on. Those animals were somehow sick or misfitted into the bunch of our healthy flock. Now this rooster was old, but physically healthy. I had to say some prayers to relax my own nerves. But keeping animals for eating does involve some slaughter here and there. Take it or leave it. I had to accommodate to this and I did so. For the sake of the weak-hearted let's not get into more details, shall we?
Part Four:
Sleeping
What?
I fell asleep at 1,30 am and was awake by 4,30 to handle that little job with the rooster.

január 19, 2007

weekend forecast

Castle fight, cannonade. The aim is to kill all of the enemy's soldiers within its castle.
(photo was made on November 25, 2005.) Now the old flame has not perished: my kids love building and decorating wooden fortresses of various kinds just as much as they did one and a half years ago. We have tonnes of wooden particles and those millions of plastic animals serve as soldiers, commandants, artillerists and beautiful mademoiselles.
This is my basic forecast for this weekend.
Apart from the fight, there will be a big meeting of same minded people, a gathering, if you please, where we discuss various themes. It is rather an informal meeting, where we talk about Hungarian history, old religion and the things we do nowadays.
And on Sunday, we are going to buy a new rooster for our hens, as we want to replace the old one. Unfortunately I can not document it with photos, not yet. The old rooster is a Japanese one and it has to go. It will make a nice paprika stew. So, besides hosting the event and loading cannons in the war of fortresses I will also be the butcheress of the Japanese rooster.

január 18, 2007

credits go off to air

I don't remember where have I seen this. I'm sorry. The thing is that you bold the line that applies to you. I played with the thought of writing a similar, 100-item list, where I would bold every single line. I could not resist writing my comments in colors, though.
100 Things (I’ve done those in bold)


01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive - no, but drove a tractor!
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it!
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped

11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s nappy - hundreds of thousands times.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - only in a helicopter
22. Watched a meteor shower - no, but have seen a shooting star
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb - no, but piglets and hens, yes
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden on a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
9. Visited all 7 states and territories in Australia
40. Taken care of someone who was drunk (some can be hard work)
41. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
42. Watched wild whales
43. Stolen a sign - now, that is against the law.
44. Backpacked in Europe it1s not a big deal, I'm in Europe
45. Taken a road-trip
46. Gone rock climbing
47. Midnight walk on the beach
48. Gone sky diving
49. Taken a train through Europe
50. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
51. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table, and had a meal with them (no tables, what to do?)
52. Milked a cow - with a machine
53. Alphabetized your CDs - no, but my videotapes were once labelled according to codes
54. Sung karaoke
55. Lounged around in bed all day
56. Gone scuba diving
57. Kissed in the rain
58. Gone to a drive-in theatre
59. Started a business
60. Taken a martial arts class
61. Been in a movie - do home made ones count?
62. Crashed a party
63. Gone without food for 5 days - I sometimes do a fruit and juice day, though
64. Gotten a tattoo
65. Got flowers for no reason
66. Performed on stage - does prom dance count?
67. Been to Las Vegas
68. Recorded music - does a home microphone count?
69. Eaten shark - no, but had my share of an octopus
70. Buried one/both of your parents
71. Been on a cruise ship
72. Spoken more than one language fluently
73. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
74. Walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge
75. Had plastic surgery
76. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
77. Wrote articles for a large publication - does my blog count?
78. Lost over 50 kilo’s -oh, my.
79. Piloted an airplane
80. Petted a stingray
81. Broken someone’s heart
82. Broken a bone
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Parasailed
86. Skipped all your school reunions
87. Shaved your head
88. Caused a car accident
89. Pretended to be “sick”
90. Surfed in the ocean
91. Saved someone’s life
92. Fainted
93. Been in the room while someone is giving birth
94. Hitchhiked

95. Adopted a child
96. Been caught daydreaming
97. Been to Ayers Rock
98. Called off a wedding engagement
99. Donated your blood
100. Become a follower of Jesus Christ - I don't like this question.

január 17, 2007

and this is how yesterday I've stolen two kitchenclothes from the local tesco

Oh, yes.
As yesterday I was getting a lot better (physically speaking, of course) I decided to have a walk and headed for the nearby tesco. Now the word 'nearby' might refer to someting within a 15-minutes' reach, but hell no, this was a bit further away. First of all I guarded my almost 7-yo daughter to the kindergarten. Our way, as always, went through two meadows and a little forest. The frozen grass and fallen leaves sparkled in the faint Sunlight. In the morning frost I came to the conclusion that a little bit of exercise would not hurt me that much and also, I have to buy this and that so there I'm going. I crossed the town, as the named object is at the opposite end of it. From our little house I passed by little houses, then went accross the forest and then I saw larger houses, commnity buildings, railway lines, a bus station, large houses and small houses again until the very end - there we have it, the dreamland of all frustrated women: tesco.
Which of us would reject the idea of buying something when it does raise the level of those little hormones that make us a bit happier? A sort of false happyness, I know, but sometimes all that it takes to make us more cooperative and less depressed is a little bit of spending a larger bit of money. It was not a spending spree at all, though. I bought what I really wanted. With a pre-written list in my hand I was heading for certain sections of the shop. Wondering through the aisles I did picked one or two items that were not originally on my list. But who could resist a wonderful, non-coloured plasticine for example, when your kids are so found of forming the dough? Who would? Would you? And how about those kitchen clothes that you use for drying your hands after some kitchen-related job. You know the clothes that always hang here and there around and you do not seem to have enough of them. And there you have it in Indian quality and what a nice chequered pattern. It is actually not really beautiful, but they serve the purpose well. And they are cheap. Really so. There I went, picking up two of them, a red and a green one. And I went off in search of dried lentils, and some other trivia.
At the end of the line, when the cashier was pulling the items over the infra-red checker she asked me if I was buying two of these clothes or not. I was wondering at the meaning of this question. Can not this woman count, for God's sake? There's a green one and a red one. that makes like, two. But I was not a bit more surprised when she had problems with the camambert cheese. She looked into my face with those dreamy eyes and told me she was unable to check the cheese for it had no code on it. I bowed the inevitable and accepted the tesco having its way. Oh.
And if you're wondering how did I get home with my backpack, which became heavily packed by the end of this little shopping, well... I met someone and she took me home. So instead of walking another 5 kms I was just plain lazy in the front seat.
I'm still happy that she (the friend) did not carry me towards the tesco, however. I like walking and recuperation can involve a bit of an easy excercise as well.
End of story: at home, after sorting out things to the bathroom, kitchen, storage room etc. I noticed that the bunch of kitchen clothes feel somehow too thick. I lifted them only to find that of what I thought were two were four instead. I'm sorry tesco. Ok, not really.

január 15, 2007

I'm not an inch better, I'm just fed up with that bloody photo.
There are moments where I could chop an entiry human body with the nice little Fiskars axe we use to chop firewood with. If not in those moments, I think all I can do is lump down into a sheepskin in the sunlit room and sleep for like, hours. Please consider that I'm officially ill. I had a fever this morning. It went up as much as 37,0 degrees centigrade. I'm not doing good even when I'm bad. That's just my luck.
I have started collecting money to buy my digital camera. I do NOT accept donations, thanks for the offers. I work bloody hard to earn it. I'm in a bad-language mode so I just stop here my entry.
And before I'm saying a sickness-induced goodbye, here's a photo of our chainsaw. Never near as good as a real axe, I mean, to discharge your aggression, but still.

(This photo was made on December 4, 2006 in our new kitchen, which is, as you see is being under construction. Please note the somewhat high pile of firewood in the background. The bricks are there waiting to be built into a new chimney and we use the gas for cooking.)