Back to the start

I just really love this video and it maches perfectly to the music, Willie Nelson doing a cover of the Coldplay song The Scientist.

We're almost at 2013

So it's almost that time of "resolutions". The new year brings a sense of obligation to change things up and re-evaluate goals. There's always a bit of bullshit associated to making new years resolutions when you just seem to pull them out of thin air and think "I should be/do that thing this year" I hate the word should and think it's best eliminated from the vocabulary as soon as possible. So instead of what maybe you should do, here are my fave new years questions and goal help.

One of my fave blogs with a motto "a life less bullshit" has a template that I used last year, one important accomplishment for me was: 'Living in nature for six months'. Check out this post from NicoleIsBetter, and read her alternative method of setting reachable goals in buckets, along with a pretty worksheet that you can download for free.

Then something that I was turned onto a few years ago is fun to fill out with a friend and really nice to look back on throughout the year. This year my 'song of the year' was Vagabond by Wolfmother the verse I wanted to live like: "I'll tell you everything about living free". The year before that, it was Destination Calabria "I left my job, my boss, my car and my home, I'm leaving for a destination I still don't know" The jury is still out for my song for this year...

Questions for the New Year   

1. This year name one person that you will make the attempt to have a stronger relationship with?
2. This year what is one risk that you promise to take?
3. This year what is one aspect of your personality that you will be willing to change to make yourself more likeable?
4. This year, what is one daily ritual that you can commit to?
5. This year, what song could you choose to represent the year you are going to have and will you
download that song after reading these words?
6. This year, who is one civil servant that you will say hello to for the entire year?
7. This year, what is one body of water that you promise yourself you will swim in?
8. This year, name one person that you will truly thank who rarely gets thanked.
9. This year, what is an artistic experience that you promise to have?
10. This year, what is one argument that you will no longer have?
11. This year, what is one thing that you will do to give back to the world or community that you live in?
12. This year, what is one thing that you will learn?
13. This year, what is one thing you will let go of knowing you don't have the power to change it?
14. This year, where will your quiet place be?
15. This year, name three people you will surprise with a random gift?
16. This year, what is one thing that you will teach someone else?
17. This year, what is one fear that you will overcome?
18. This year, what is one food that you will eat more often?
19. This year, what is something wonderful about your personality that you promise to consciously appreciate?
20. This year, what will you do that you have always known you had to do?  

Same old, same old.

Everyone gets asked "How's it going?", and once you've fallen into a normal routine you can get by with saying "Oh, just the same old, same old".
You know, the whole waking up, checking the solar voltage while listening to the insane call of a huge male Montezuma Oropendola nearby, making coffee then enjoying it by the water's edge. Taking out two loveable and intelligent bulldogs to the back patch if jungle, and then feeding them a breakfast of eggs and potatoes. Say hello to Seabastian, Piti, and Benjamin, and see what work they're up to for the day. Open up the computer to see what the world outside the island of Bastimentos is up to.

Then look out at the water to decide what kind of day it is. Is it calm and clear enough for a snorkeling trip? Mild waves for a standup paddle board run? Is there a boat anchored to kayak up to? Maybe it's too rainy for all that and it's a writing day or time to curl up with the dogs and a good book or see what projects I can do around the house. Is it scorching sunny and a perfect day to do laundry? Is it a warm cloud covered day, good for a walk to a neighboring property? Maybe I'll go for a swim or eat a coconut.

Time for lunch and I say hello to Cruz or Marta depending on the day and ask them about their week. "Hi Marta, I heard you killed your pig on Monday, how did it go?" Cruz is great conversation while Marta is more timid. I call Marta the ghost as she comes in to work and moves around so quietly I never know when she's arrived and have to go seek her out to say hello.

Some days I go into town for supplies, or have visitors or day trips. I'm usually content to stay just where I am though, and find many little things to pass the day. Then it's sunset on the dock with pelicans and maybe a chat on skype. Dinner for the dogs and myself. A short night walk to the front beach and some moments spent looking up at the stars. I'm either in awe of the brightness of the moon, or in awe of the darkness that eats the light of my flashlight. Some nights it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. Some nights are so bright you can see clearly without any artificial light.

Then I think about the new things I've seen for the day. How many hummingbirds, snakes, butterflies, new bugs and fish crossed my path? Was the last time I saw a monkey really Tuesday? Has it been a whole month since I saw a dolphin jump?

Same old, same old is about to change a lot though. The owners of the house are back, the sit is over and guests are arriving soon. My hermit days are gone, and now I'll be with a bustle of people. On the dock with some wine and catching up of all things we had a very thought provoking conversation about what's next, what's possible in months to come...

I have a ticket home, and I can't commit to anything until I make it back home, make sure my head is screwed on right and see how I feel in a different environment surrounded by people who know me best. There's a strong pull though, maybe my year plus of traveling doesn't actually have to end just yet.

Tracy Chapman, I think I just got way more than one reason...

Andrew Bird & a Croque Madam s'il te plait

 I'm at my favourite cafe with internet (a.k.a the only place to get internet besides McDonalds) enjoying a Croque madam with Salad and a decent coffee.

A couple weeks ago now I went to a concert here in Paris for Andrew Bird. I bought his cd at the concert and have shared it with everyone in my dropbox because I really love sharing music and he's worth sharing. What makes Andrew different is he plays violin in a really neat way. The way people play spanish guitar he takes the same approach to the violin. He also loops tracks so within a song so he can play different instruments. I was also impressed with Martin Dosh who opened the show looping percussion. I can't really find a decent video to show their looping skills but click on their names to get directly to their music. I think these might be my three faves from "Break it yourself"

Women of HOPE

I absolutely love this powerful song.

I saw Morely a few years ago at the 'Global Health and Innovation Conference' hosted by Unite for Sight an amazing organization. There are volunteers that work in places like Ghana, Hunduras, and India with local eye doctors to gain support from the community and to help as many people as effectively as they can.

Something I never thought about before I came across Unite for Sight is the effect blindness has on a community. I did not know that there are simple eye infections caused by poor sanitation that are easily curable but go untreated and cause blindness worldwide. In a situation where one family member becomes blind, another now has to dedicate their life to the care of that person. So because of a simple problem that could have been easily cured two people are now unable to help with the growth of the community.

This whole venture was started by the amazing and inspiring Jennifer Staple. For me she's a celebrity, I got to shake her hand and say hello at the conference!

I also got to shake the hand of the beautifully spirited Morely, who was inspired to write this song by the words of Aung San Suu Kyi.

"Aung San Suu Kyi, living under house arrest, for her peaceful protest. When her people asked her for a message she said 'If you're feeling helpless, help someone'. "

I 'heart' Dan Mangan

"Sold" was my first favourite of his songs

His website is amazing and you can listen to whole albums

http://www.danmanganmusic.com

Hello (Out Now) - Martin Solveig & Dragonette

I would like to take this song as my theme song...

MY very own SONG!!!

My friend, the amazingly talented Tara Rice, wrote this song and then directed the music video with lots of red wine. I am so honoured!! I can't believe I have my own song. Top of my charts ;) Nothing can top the ridiculousness that was the making of, or the hangover that followed. Hehehe I think the video really keeps it true to my personal motto:

'As long as someones laughing' 

Hear more by the amazing Tara Rice at: http://www.tararice.com/
and check out her band at: http://www.myspace.com/5thPROJEKT

The Drums - When I come home

I can't get enough of this song...

Stereomood.com

Awesome way to find new music...
Click for my: "COOL FUN" playlist

Dirty Gold - California sunrise

This song makes me feel like it's summertime

Filing is Sexy

The sexiest thing I thought of this morning was a filing system for my ideas.
I have been thinking about this for quite sometime.

Before I was trying to categorize and alphabetize but as the names and concepts are always adapting and molding this method quickly became futile.

This morning it all came together.

Organize by date of conception.

Then make a table to cross reference

The 'name's/working titles' of my idea's are always changing. An alphabetized table listing all the names and what date and number they correspond to can be checked before looking into a file.

Then of course have the same system set up on my computer.

There are always a bajillion ways to do something but this seems like the most efficient way for now.

Wow, ideas on organizing a system for ideas... yup, that's pretty up there on my sexy-o-meter.


PS. While doing this post I looked up photos for 'Nerd Alert' obviously And I happened upon a BAND called NERD ALERT
They're punk/punk/punk and only have three songs up. Check It!

PSS. Saying 'Check It!' makes me think of
"The Dominant View" by King Prawn