What a doozy

Wow, today, September 24th marks the two year anniversary of jumping on that first one way plane ticket. I'm closing that chapter, the two year long journey, and I feel like I'm losing a part of myself. I accomplished things I desperately wanted, I found things I didn't know I needed, and made connections that will last a lifetime. To anyone who's considering dropping everything to chase a dream, I support that decision and wish you the time of your life. 

Sunset in Panama, Bocas del Toro

For a sense completion to this period I bought a round trip ticket for a visit to Toronto. I may take other short trips but I will stay living in Thunder Bay for a time, to live a quiet life and write. Write about my travels, some short stories, and other such things. I still have some blog posts to catch up on, like moving to Thunder Bay, the epic road trip with Jenn, and what it's like to move to Northern Ontario.

stand up paddle boarding with Angus

I can't help but feel a little startled by this pause. Just five months ago I was living in Panama with 'snorkeling' and 'jungle walk' on my to-do list. Now it's 'laundry' and 'clean the kitchen'. Three months ago I was living in a tent with my nightly check for ticks and night by a fire. Now it's checking that the door is locked and blowing out a few candles. A month ago I was on a road trip and didn't know where I was going to sleep or what State I was going to be in next. Now it's a trusty bed and a scheduled work week.

Sunset in Panama

It's true about the human condition, we can become accustomed to anything. I normalized the traveling lifestyle such that getting back to the norm is foreign. It's nice though, and Albert Einstein said "a quiet life stimulates the creative mind." which is just the environment I was seeking to focus on my writing.

Paris, photo credit Jenn

So far it's been a battle to write and set up a new apartment. My mind already wandering to living in Italy, backpacking in Thailand, and exploring New York. Spain calls, France tugs at my heart, Panamanian sunsets sit behind my eyelids...

So my friends, this two year stint of only buying one way tickets is officially at a close. It's a time to replenish funds, relive through writing, enjoy having my own apartment again and who's kidding who - planning the next adventure.

Anna Karenina By Leo Tolstoy

Well it's over, I'm done, I have finally finished the depressing Anna Karenina. I know my vocabulary has grown. Try saying these ten times fast:
Insouciance - casual lack of concern; indifference
Denouement- the final part of a play, etc.
Erroneousness - wrong; incorrect 
Polemical - controversial, engaging in disputation, a person who argues
Beatifically- blissfully happy; 'smiling beatifically'

I absolutely loved reading in four different languages, with easy to access annotations for translations in English. There were sentences and phrases kept in German, French, and Russian throughout the novel. I enjoyed seeing the parallels of Russian society in the 1800's, and how some things still haven't changed. The human condition of emotion is still rampant all over the world.

I could empathize with moments of desperation through the main character, Anna Karenina, but I can say with certainty that she's not someone I'd ever like to meet, unless I was a certified psychologist. (She's one mean, lonely, crazy woman). Levin and Kitty gave me warm fuzzy moments with their strained romance, every touch and thought was meaningful. 

But, not everything in life is warm and fuzzy, so of course, just as in life, there was suicide, infidelity, births, and deaths. A part of me wishes I had stopped at part four, for a Hollywood type ending, but I was committed to making it through all eight parts. I think it would have been more enjoyable to read it alongside someone else to discuss each part, as originally intended, but I'm glad I've finally seen what all the fuss was about.

There were too many quotes I enjoyed to share them all, which reminds me that it is a classic for a reason. I look forward to watching the movie now, and putting classic Russian literature behind me, at least for now. It was a beautifully told story, with the truth of the subtle and sensitive inner thoughts that everyone can empathize with, but I think I'll stick to my usual genres of business, biographies, modern fiction, and magic realism.

The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho

If you've read Paulo Cohlho, you know his style, and you either love it or hate it. It often has religion, a character that is on an inner or outer journey, someone gets to do some traveling, there's an old wise person minding their own business, and some spirits and angels somewhere. Yes, I've read a few of his books.

Although they are simply written, with simple truths, and have a clear cut signature of spoon-feeding, I still enjoy them. If you like mythology and those tales old women in villages tell travelers, then you might enjoy this book. It feels as though the author tried to cram as many 'stories with a moral' as he could, into one bigger tale, from old wives tales he picked up on the road.

I was sure I knew how it was going to end, but I was surprised, and found myself invested in what was going to happen next. It's a quick read, easy to pick up and finish by the next day. It's been on my shelf for a while, because I've been traveling, and because the first time I attempted to read it I wasn't in the mood for a P. Coelho book. It got me in the end though, and I used it as a fun way to pass the time on public transit. Thanks for being slow TTC. Here are some quotes:

" Then, in the distance she heard a clap of thunder, followed by another three. On the one hand, this simply meant that rain was on the way; on the other, if the old superstitions of the village were to be believed, the sound could be interpreted as the voice of an angry God, protesting that mankind had grown indifferent to His presence. ... "A thunderclap is an entirely natural phenomenon. If God wanted to talk to man, he wouldn't use such roundabout methods." "

"I'm going to ask you a riddle: of all the days in our life, which is the one that never comes? ... Tomorrow"

"...the man decided to look up every reference he could find to hell... (everything seemed to be seen in terms of society, rather than of the individual)."

Happy Valentines Day

The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud

I'm finishing this book exactly two years late. It was supposed to be the book that kicked off a book club in January 2011 when it was just made very popular. Its unconventional leather bound first run of print had it re-selling for over $100 on ebay, creating a nice buzz. Who were these people buying a simple novel, of a first time author for $100? The next popular acclaim was winning the 2010 Giller Prize

Due to many complications the proposed book club of 2011 dissolved before it even made it to it's first book discussion. I was relieved, because it's a sad book, with war and infidelity staining it's pages, so I stopped reading even though I was 3/4's in.

Going through my bookshelf, I decided now is as good a time as any to finish what was started. The imagery is so strong, that even two years later, I vividly remembered passages. I felt like it dragged on at the beginning (it starts in Fargo), but it's real life, written like real life.

It is sentimental, and saddening, with vivid imagery the whole way through. Here are some quotes I enjoyed:

"As though I could, if I wished, take myself apart like a Russian doll and find myself in layers there, each one smaller, and more hollowed than the last."

"...sometimes now I'm astonished by the audacity of any attempt, including my own, at understanding anything at all."

"We were just like elephants, crashing around. Elephants, working for the government. Wanting coffee and smokes"

"My stories are all and then, and then, and then, when it didn't happen like that to me"

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I want to right away say, Not my favorite book, as it took me a while to warm up to, but when I got to the end, and was flipping through revisiting some highlights, I realized it's brilliance.
I was recommended this a few years ago, after I had watched Catch-22, and think of it as a classic ant-war book.  
Slaughterhouse Five has a special style to it, and I like how time is mixed up and gives you a sense of the chaos a regular soldiers life can be riddled with. So it goes.
Throughout the book you might want to laugh and cry but can't, Vonnegut traps you in the sadness and humor of real life. It is so peppered with fact and farce, that I was constantly caught wondering where the truth stopped and started. 

I've read other Vonnegut and love his quotes. This book is no exception, there are many memorable quotes:

* "So it goes"

* "Like so many Americans, she was trying to construct a life that made sense from things she found in gift shops"

* " 'Why me'
'that's a very Earthling question to ask, Mr. Pilgrim. Why you? Why us for that matter? Why anything? Because this moment simply is. Have you ever seen bugs trapped in amber?'
'Yes.' Billy, in fact, had a paperweight in his office which was a blob of polished amber with three ladybugs embedded in it.
'Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why.' "

* "She was a dull person, but a sensational invitation to make babies."

* "Only on Earth is there any talk of free will."

Heart Thoughts by Louise L. Hay

This is the prettiest book I've read. It's filled with colour, swirly designs and flowers. I picked it up in Paris and have been happy to bring it along to Panama. It's really like a hug and a positive reboot if you're in need of one. One page that's dogeared is the 

freedom page: "You can choose to be that part of your spirit that is totally free. If you can be free in one area, you can be free in many areas. Be willing to be free." 'Learning to be Free' has been my theme for the year. This book reaffirmed a lot of the things I had already learned at TAC but as Louse Hay often says "The work you are doing on yourself is not a goal, it is a process- a lifetime process." It's always good to have an influence to remind you not to 'should' all over yourself, be kind to yourself no matter what stage you're at. You are the only person with yourself 24/7-forever so you better learn how to be nice or it's going to be a tough going. If you don't have very positive self talk there's no better time to start than now. This is one of many methods to get there. The first time I heard about looking at yourself in the mirror and saying "I love myself" was probably Brian Tracy sales techniques. Sometimes that's a big leap but starting with "I like myself" is doable. That little whisper of words can start to change a lot of things, starting with taking less crap from people, having more confidence, or generally feeling better. It's a long process but so far a worthwhile one for me. Even if you think words of affirmation are not high on your list of needs I invite you to speak more positively to yourself and those you love.

 

Black on White words

Tuesdays with Morrie

This book has been recommended to me by many people and was placed in my hands last week. I like to think books have a perfect timing of falling into your hands just when you need them. This 176 page story is a worthwhile investment of time. It took me less the three hours to read (my kobo keeps track of these things for me)

It has very sweet things to say with blatant truths that will help you in life. I was captivated from the first page and hope you give it a try next time you see it.
(Or message me and I'll send you the pdf)

My favourite quotes that cropped up in the book:

"Without love, we are birds with broken wings"- Morrie
"Love each other or perish" - Auden

And the best one of all:

"Love is the only rational act" - Levine.

How sweet our interactions would be if we could all live by that and show compassion in our actions.

                     ***

I am doing a book challenge this year, check out what I'll be reading along with a bunch of great nerdy book appreciation links here

This month I'm doing all book/reading quotes on my photo quotes blog:
"Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself; to multiply the ways in which he exists; to make his life full, significant, and interesting." 
--Aldous Huxley 

Happy Reading!

Immaculate Conception Day, Pasapalabra & Rum

This quote attributed to Winston Chrurchill was recently shared with me...

"Nowadays we have reduced the world to a twentieth of the size it was 100 years ago. People can rush about frantically through the air. They certainly do not see the beauties of the world, and it is surely their responsibility to show that they make it better. It is a delusion to think that being able to move rapidly about from place to place makes people happier or wiser. As for the advantages of travel, they may be greatly exaggerated. In order to know anything about a country you must walk through it. You must sleep on its soil, pluck its foliage with your fingers. You must light your fires by its fiords and streams, and watch the dawn break beyond strange mountains."

It fits beautifully with the way of life I experienced on the camino and the life I would like to strive for as I travel.

The past few weeks I have been relaxing here in the south of Spain. Spending a lot of time getting pushed around my Abuela's kitchen, having Spanish verbs corrected by cousins, and dipping my feet in the Mediterranean. This week has been especially busy, what with watching as the city workers tend to the palm trees, visiting a Medieval market set up near the beach, and observing two holidays! 'Constitution Day' a civic holiday that not everyone had off work and 'Immaculate Concepcion' day where the church bells rang and fireworks bursted.
Wednesday I dropped in on an acting class where I read the part of Dorthey Simple in the Tennesse Williams play, 'The case of the crushed petunias' it was a laugh and I learned a few Spanish acting warm-up games too! (I plan to go back every Wednesday I'm still in Almuñecar)
Also to help with my Spanish self-education I've been watching a game show called 'Pasapalabra' (pass the word) where two contestants compete against each other with two celebrities at their side answering word game related trivia questions to rack up time points. Then with those time points the contestants stand on their own and race the clock answering questions in an alphabetical order, saying Pasapalabra for the words they don't know and thus hopping over the letter of their alphabet circle. It's brilliant and I learn more words every episode. It's bliss when I actually understand the announcer (who speaks faster than an auctioneer) and can shout an answer at the tv.
To add to the busy week I've had a couple day trips. Yesterday I went to Malaga to visit family. Today I went to Motril, the city of the sugar cane. There I stopped at a museum and the Ron Montero where I tried their 'Superior Taste' Awarded rum with hot chocolate. It was velvety delicious and I can't believe as a cold Canadian I haven't always been spiking my hot chocolate!
Keep warm Toronto!

Excerpt from Anna Karenina

"Himmlisch ist's, wenn ich bezwungen

Meine irdishe Begier;

Aber doch wenn's nicht gelungen,

Hatt'ich auch recht hubsch Plaisir!"

Meaning:

Heavenly it would be to conquer

My earthly lusts;

But though I've not succeeded,

I still have lots of pleasure'

-Stanza from the libretto of Die Fledermaus

I recently purchased Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina translated by Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky. Penguin Classics donates 50% of profits to Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

Sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before Breakfast

I love this Alice in wonderland quote and thought it was a quite a cute way to display it.

found on Etsy

Embracing the April showers

and sing and dance and jump in puddles

black and white words

Words can be like hugs

Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle - Plat0

This is one of my favourite quotes...

abc's of happiness

Came across this from bon chic bon genre photo blog: http://encoreuneminute.tumblr.com/

Mark Twain Quote

this is from
http://lovebirdstationery.wordpress.com