The momentary cloudiness of a "dirty" mind

Till next time : )

2011-11-07T14:46:00.000+02:00

It has been a while since I last updated this blog. This is the 96th and final post to let my fellow bloggers know that I will not be posting anything else here, anymore.

It has been great reading your blogs and commenting on your wonderful thoughts, photos and videos.

For anyone interested out there...you can find me here!

Thank you blogger for offering me a great year of adventure in the blogiverse. Thank you followers for commenting on my posts with such kind words.

Till next time I wish for you all...

Love,
M.

So...

2010-08-08T20:34:00.006+03:00

...went to Istanbul (about 3 months ago) and had a great time.
The thing is that, once in Istanbul, it is cetrain you'll have a great time...

I will try to post some more later. I haven't been blogging much lately due to everyday issues like work and...anxiety about work. Then the Summer came and I have been trying to clear my head a little and rest, so that I will be ready for the difficult times that await all Greek people in September, with the new measures and all. But I am optimistic and I hope that we will fight this as we have so many things in the past.

For now another song that I learned its existance from my...students :)

Take care all and will try to 'see you' more in blog-land!
Health and happiness
xoxo

ISTANBUL HERE I COME!

2010-05-21T12:15:00.003+03:00

This is my 3rd time in this part of the world. There is something about Istanbul that makes you wanna return...again and again. Although it seems like going back to the same place, once you set foot to its grounds you know that something is different. Different place...different people...different you...

Take care and cu when I get back!
xoxo

Feeling good?

2010-05-10T10:19:00.001+03:00

How r u feeling today?

xoxo

Theme Thursday I'm back (I think)!!

2010-04-29T14:07:00.001+03:00

Hope you are all great! I had the perfect greek song for this theme so I give you 'the bicycle'! Enjoy the ride!!

Take care all
xoxo

BRING THEM BACK!

2010-04-19T11:40:00.003+03:00

Watch, think, forward...this is how we feel.

Take care
xoxo

Thank you my fellow blogger...

2010-03-14T22:16:00.002+02:00

...followers for following me still, even though I am the worst blogger lately.

My gosh it's been ages since I posted anything or commented. I tell you this year...good and bad for me. And then again...life is that way eh?

It feels like Greece has been the centre of...bad...attention lately and the economic crisis doesn't make it any easier. So in order to make things a bit optimistic I leave you with this quote...for now!

"If mistakes teach us lessons, then I am extremely well...educated" (written on a wall somewhere in Athens, Greece)!

OPA!!!

take care
xoxo

City Island (or a movie that makes me wish I was in New York NOW)

2010-02-11T11:45:00.006+02:00

I have been a movie...lover all my life. The first person that introduced me to the wonderful world of movies was my grandmother. We used to sit together and watch black and white Greek movies. Back in the 60s, movie going was the only entertainment for the people in my granny's village, so every time an old movie was on TV we would sit down and she'd tell me all these stories about how she and grandpa would go to spend their last money to watch Jenny Karezi and Melina Merkouri on screen.

Growing up I realised that I was as interested in the process of writing and making a movie as I was in watching the actual thing. So I took several courses in the university regarding films and the English language as well as subtitling courses.

All the above became just a memory once I started working. A memory that I had forgotten until I discovered Raymond De Felitta's blog. For the first time I was able to follow the steps of movie making, to 'master' the terminology and 'watch' the process of creating a movie from the beginning to the end result.

City Island is Raymond's gift to all of us movie goers and lovers. A su-real aspect of life as we (don't) know it (?).The creator offers us the ability to become voyeurs in someone else's family, a family that functions within the boundaries dysfunction(re)ality (or within dysfunctional societies, maybe?). Could this family be...our own :)?

I haven't watched city island (yet) but I envy all of you in the US and especially in NY that you get to watch the film open on March 19th. This post is my tribute to this film and if I informed even one of you blog friends to go watch it I am happy. Good luck City Island and Raymond! Let the blogathon...continue!!

I leave you with a clip from 'The Thing About Folks', a movie by Raymond De Felitta that I've bought, watched and enjoyed! Take care all!

Rumor has it that I'm obsessed

2010-01-22T20:00:00.001+02:00

Thanks to Megan and her wonderful blog post I figured It would be a good idea to write about my very own, lovely (or not) obsessions and explain myself and my blog-absence in the process. So here it goes :)

Work

image found here

Not an obsession per se. More like a passion that seems to be busier than ever this year. I love doing my job but the hours are long and truth be told when one deals with children (of all ages) you just can't leave your work...at work. They are people and you carry them with you. Actually my schedule is crazy on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and, my all time favorite, Thursdays (the reason why I miss out on the themes my fellow bloggers).

Spring Rolls

Actually any Chinese dish will do. Chi-ho If you're reading this I know what you're gonna say. They can't make a dissent plate of spring rolls in Greece but...we're trying :)

US TV Series about scientists and geeks who become spies

'Chuck' and 'The Big Bang Theory' air every Sunday afternoon in Greece and they crack me up every time I watch. Do you think that the Sheldon-character is...obsessive?!? Noooooooooooo.

Take care all
xoxoxo

Coffee with a view

2010-01-18T10:27:00.003+02:00

The Greek Parliament and winter sky

Every time I go to Athens (or any big city), no matter how many hours I've travelled or how tiring the trip was, I always relax and feel...happy. I love the rhythms of the city (when on vacation), the theaters, the crowd, the civilization. However, when it comes to having to work there I prefer my beautiful, smaller, 'uncivilized' hometown. Over there no matter how busy one is, he/she will find the time to see some friends, family and maybe...meet someone new :)

Have a great Monday and week
xoxo

Holiday's over...or not...

2010-01-07T20:10:00.008+02:00

Who says Christmas is over? Well apart from the fact that I got to get back to work tomorrow...Christmas is still here...in my mind (or better yet in my pictures) lol

New Year's dinner at grandma's

Would you like something to drink?

Oh dear, what is that brown-ish thing on the salad?!

Classic Greek salad...olive oil, tomato and cucumber mixed together...

Grandma and her cooking magic!

And finally traditional Greek Christmas dessert...kourabies and melomakarona!

Today I got back from my 5 day trip to Athens. But that is a whole different post ;)
Happy New Year all
Health and happiness
xoxo

Happy New Year!!!

2010-01-01T17:52:00.003+02:00

I wish for all my fellow bloggers worldwide to enjoy 2010. May you all be healthy and happy with your families and loved ones. Joy to the world with a traditional song from my part of the world, Thrace/Greece. Enjoy lol

Peace and love
Marianna

P.S video found here

Happy Holidays to all...and to all a good night!

2009-12-26T10:27:00.002+02:00

Happy holidays my dear fellow bloggers!

I wish for all of you health and happiness. May all your dreams come true and even if they don't...well don't stop dreaming because you never know!

Christmas in Greece translates into lots and lots of food (I'll post pictures later), wine and singing with friends and family for...15 days. What are you doing these days?

Take care all
peace and love
xoxo

Oh my has it been this long!?!?

2009-12-14T21:19:00.003+02:00

Dear fellow bloggers...
I know I am unforgivable!

What can I say, you know how life is like an Easter Egg...you never know what you're gonna get!
I am great (thank you for asking) just kinda busy.

image found on google image search

Will catch up on blogging during the holidays lol
Remember even if you don't see a comment it doesn't mean I haven't read it :)
Take care all
Talk soon
xoxo

My home is my castle (overused I know...but so Theme Thursday)!!

2009-11-04T22:41:00.006+02:00

Aloha dear bloggers and hope you enjoy your Thursday and everyday before and after that lol

So happy that I can finally play along and participate in today's theme! All is well and let the stories begin!

Once upon a time there was a little castle...

It was called the "river castle" because of its location. Its walls were strong, thick and kept its owners out of harms way. Word has it that during the crusades it was created by people from Genova (Italy) who came and conquered the area of Thrace (Greece) during the 4th crusade. Another story mentions that the castle was used to protect barons and other important people from raids during the 13th Century...

In 2009 this castle 'strangles' to survive in the world that we build around it. A world that doesn't stand still to listen to the history that these walls have to offer...

This is the story of my hometown's little castle...a castle neglected by governments and archaeologists today. People in cars pass it by, they don't stop to give it a second look. I thought I should learn a bit about it and pay a tribute to its history...that way this castle (what's left of it) will be remembered by us and will forever live in our little (but still big) blog sphere...

Pay a visit to the other castles here :)
xoxoxo

A Halloween gift for my blog-friends worldwide!

2009-10-31T19:42:00.005+02:00

Hello everyone!

In Greece we don't have Halloween...we have apokria. The literal meaning of the word means "an abstinence from meat". It is what we call a "moving holiday" meaning we don't celebrate it at the same time of year every year, as opposed to Christmas.

What I've always liked about Halloween, is the custom to curve pumpkins in any image and shape one can ever imagine. In my head I imagine that it must be beautiful at night with all these pumpkins lit up and the costumes and the candies...

We may not have the pumpkin-curving custom in my country but we know how to make and eat...pumpkin sweets! Here is the recipe in order to make a delicious, fat free, desert with the 'insides' of the pumpkin you curve lol

You'll need:
1 kilo of orange pumpkin
750 grams of sugar
1 glass of water (preferably a wine glass)
2 vanillas
1 spoon of lemon juice
a few white almonds (optional)

You'll do:
Clean the pumpkin in a way that you would clean a watermelon and cut the insides as if you were cutting potatoes to fry them (in long and-a bit-fat pieces).

Put the pumpkin-'potatoes' in boiling water, leave them in for two minutes and drain them.

Put the sugar and water in a pan (or pot), on the stove, and let them boil. When it starts boiling put the pumpkin pieces in and leave it like that for 20 minutes (in medium temperature) till the syrup is ready.

Before we finish boiling the fruit and the syrup together we add the vanilla (it is the powdery one, not the sticks) and the lemon juice.

When our sweet is cold you may add the almonds and put it in glass jars and in the fringe.

Tip: be careful, you don't wanna melt the pumpkin so if you think that the fruit is boiled and the syrup isn't done yet you can take out the fruit and leave the syrup boiling. Don't boil the syrup too much though because it is going to turn into a caramel.

image found on google image search, recipe after an on-line search and a talk with my grandmother :)

Happy Halloween
xoxo

Murphy's Law...

2009-10-15T22:00:00.003+03:00

I'm sitting in front of my computer trying to find the words to explain what happened to me these past 30 or so days...I'm trying to put it all together and figure out the beginning and end of my blog entry. Nothing...

Actually I have many excuses, and serious ones, for my blog-sphere absence. I don't know if anybody missed me but I missed all of you! I missed reading about your lives and thoughts! Missed theme Thursday! Missed a lot...

All I can say is that it was one of these months, when your life becomes a domino...up till now this domino was standing 'proudly', all colorful, in a great wavy shape until...something hit this domino so hard and...Murphy's law was revealed!

The bottom line is that when you hit rock bottom it suddenly becomes clear...there is nowhere else to go but up! And since health is the most important thing in the world I wish for us all to have a healthy life and enjoy everyday for every little thing it has to offer! My dad's near heart attack made me realise this...and I learned my lesson the hard way. I guess that is life for you...it gives you the test first and the lesson afterwards (or so I read).

xoxo

Rhythm-A Theme Thursday Post

2009-09-10T00:30:00.001+03:00

Not much to say today except...dance, dance, dance lol
Happy Theme Thursday and don't forget to...feel the rhythm :)

Take care all
xoxo

Beginning

2009-09-03T11:41:00.003+03:00

I'm all in for new beginnings. However this was not always the case. I remember when I was really really young, 5 or 6 years old, my mother and father would bring me a new pair of shoes or trousers and I would throw it away! I would cry and say "it doesn't fit, I want my old trousers!!". I always found this...aspect of my childhood character interesting, like the way I loved the old one, the one I 'knew' and resented anything new that came my way...

If you ask me now I'll say "new is good, old...bad"! I've come a long way that's for sure. When I think about my old habits I realise that small children are like everything small that comes into this life. They are fragile and scared and hide at the site of anything or anyone new. Take a small kitten for example and the way it hides if you leave it into a room it doesn't 'know'. That is the thing with children. They see things with their own eyes, taking their time to explore, touch, feel something. Once we grow up though we know what to expect, we know that life has so many many things to offer...thus we wanna experience EVERYTHING!

Happy TT everyone. Check all the new beginnings here :)

Take care
peace and love
xoxo

In Concert...

2009-09-01T19:34:00.005+03:00

Don't you just love concerts?

The emotions

Xaris Alexiou, Ferres 2009

The music

Despoina Vandi, Alexandroupolis 8/28/2009

The excitement

Scorpions, Xanthi 2009

the 'silence' in the end...

The summer of 2009 is officially over! Wish you all had a blast and let...autumn begin!

xoxo

Shadows and colours-A Theme Thursday Post...

2009-08-20T01:50:00.002+03:00

First of all Happy TT everyone!

I'll be out of town today so I had an early preparation for this Theme...

second of all I can't take any credit for today's post...all I did was embed this wonderful video, it was someone else's creation.

Finally I'll catch up with your..."shadowy" TT posts when I get back :)

Meanwhile enjoy this Subtitled Greek Song called "Shadows and Colours"...it is related to the Theme (I hope:)!

Video made by kirkh70! Visit her channel and view more of these wonderful videos!

xoxo to all!

Haris Alexiou...here I come!!

2009-08-15T14:07:00.003+03:00

Going to a concert today...probably the most-wanted-to-go concert in my life so far. Off to watch and hear Haris Alexiou, the Greatest Greek Singer ever, perform live! If you wanna know more just double click on the YouTube video and there is a nice summary of Haris in the info section (in English)...

How is you weekend so far dear fellow bloggers?

Take care!!
xoxo

Festival-Theme Thursday

2009-08-13T11:45:00.003+03:00

Every summer, since 1995, in the river Ardas (located in the north-eastern part of Greece) there is a festival. It is called a "youth meeting" and several Greek and Balkan Artists participate in the event.

I haven't actually been there (people say that the mosquitoes are the size of an airplane) but people who've camped there speak of a wild-wild event! Lots of drinking, dancing, singing, games and competitions! They are the four days of fun, when anything can happen. Kinda like Woodstock (minus the ideals though).

Back in the days, when the festival first started, there were more rock bands signing to sing. The past few years though, the festival lost its rock touch and became more...pop. This ardas website will show you what it is all about and also Picture this!!

This video is a bit shaky but it can give you an idea :) Enjoy this Greek Singer singing "Sweet Dreams". Thank you to the YouTube user Patsisnet for uploading the video.

Happy TT everyone and don't forget to check the other festivals around the world!
xoxo

Filia-A Theme Thursday post

2009-08-06T00:01:00.001+03:00

In Greek the word "filia" (the intonation on the a) means kisses. What I find interesting though is that if you change the intonation and stress the second I-filia-then you get the word "friendship"...hmmm I think I had a point at some point but then I...lost it...God it's hot here. How is the weather in your part of the world? OK...moving on...

I love this weeks theme and I love the fact that I went on YouTube and listened to songs I had forgotten, like "kiss me" by sixpence none the richer...

and remembered Rhett's kiss to Scarlett...

The thing I liked most was the fact that some people went to the trouble of making compilations of kisses from movies and TV shows. The outcome...a whole lot of kissing and hugging and well you get the idea. I give you one video I liked most, made by a YouTube user named "FirstTwinBorn"...Enjoy!!

Happy TT!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Let me take you far away...

2009-07-25T13:52:00.002+03:00

I know it's been a while since I posted anything, but what can I say...the Greek summer got to me!! The weather is wonderful, the sea is warm, the food is fresh and the drinks are cool! Come all I tell you...we'll have so much fan lol

The thing is that, apart from all the above, the Greek summer offers you a variety of cultural activities that happen once in a lifetime, for example...the Scorpions concert in Xanthi! Scorpions came to my part of the world and it was a breathtaking experience! This time they didn't just come to Athens. They chose 3-4 different Greek cities and they...rock and roll-ed us!!!!

For all my fellow bloggers who are currently on holidays, I wish you are having the summer-time of your life. For those of you who are working I hope you have plans to escape for a while...if not..."let me take you far away, you'd like a holiday"...

Love and kisses
xoxo

Stage-A Theme Thursday Post

2009-07-16T00:35:00.005+03:00

Irodio (ancient theatre located in Athens)

Source: www.gnto.gr (google image search)

Your heart is pounding so hard you can hear it's rhythm...your palms are all sweaty and you regret having to put all that make up on. Countless thoughts enter your troubled mind..."what if I forget what I'm supposed to say?" or "what if they don't understand me?"..."will they identify with me, will I reach them?"..."I mean can I do this?"...

But the time comes and you have to stand up there, reveal yourself and be judged by-what seems to be-a sea of colorful sets of eyes, looking, staring, 'hanging' by every word you'll say, monitoring your every move, sensing your anxiety and fears. They expect from you...to 'grab' their attention from the first minute. If they get bored you've lost them. If they like what you're saying and the way you're saying it they'll applaud you. If not they'll 'boo' you...

In the end you feel exhausted yet fulfilled. You know how you did by your audience's reaction. Some may come to you to talk, to clarify and discuss. Others choose to leave right away. You know how you did and you promise yourself this...no matter what, you'll keep on trying for the best. You may never reach perfection (is there such thing?) but tomorrow is another day. So you'll stand behind the desk...in front of your students and try to be the best teacher you can...for them...

This is how I felt the first time I had to go into a classroom and stand in front of all those children, looking, expecting, waiting for me to speak and set the tone. Did you think it was an actor getting ready to go up on a stage? Well that's how a teacher feels...sometimes (and I wouldn't trade these feelings for anything in the world:)

The following wonderful video was made by a YouTube user named kelanti. It's a great song about actors and acting. The video combines music and images perfectly plus it is subtitled in English for all of you to understand and...enjoy lol

Happy Theme Thursday and click here for other...'stage' players!!
xoxo

Blue Caves (Part 1)-A Late TT Update

2009-07-11T14:09:00.004+03:00

I made it (sort of)!!!

I finally managed to upload part of the video I was telling you about. Blogger gave me a hard time and I had to re-edit and divide it into 3 parts. So I give you the first part, the one with the blue caves! Hopefully I'll be able to upload the rest soon. I'm sorry for the bad quality of this video but I had to change its quality in order for it to be uploaded...enjoy!

Have a great weekend you all lol
xoxo

Ghosts from the past...

2009-07-09T16:01:00.006+03:00

Another Theme Thursday is upon us (in a good way:) with a topic that I found interesting and related to my...holiday (with a little imagination added:)!!

For me the word 'ghost' symbolises something that doesn't exist plus the fear of the unknown. So here it goes...

In Zakinthos I went for a swim in a place called "the blue caves". Blue because of the water and the way its color makes your body look...blue. The caves are holes, of all sizes, in rocks and you can even swim in them (my brave friend Maria went for it, I didn't). While in one of these caves the water still had its blue color only to be 'interrupted' by sades of 'black abyss', pieces of sea bottom where you couldn't tell what was down there. This image, enhanced by the sound of the water hitting the rocks and the deafening silence of the surrounding rocky walls, made the experience...ghostly awesome!

Of course every holiday isn't complete without a visit to a museum or two. One of my visits was to a museum in the island where you could find pictures and paintings from the Byzantine times, ruins that were salvaged from a big earthquake in the early 50s. Even though the church that was hosting these paintings doesn't exist, the walls were there to remind you that 50 something years ago they were part of a building filled with life...

My second visit was to the new museum of the Acropolis in Athens. Walking among the ancient statues and signs and reading the marbles that people used to write their daily activities on, had a...spooky effect on me. I always feel that every time archaeologists manage to find a part of past life is like we're searching among the ruins, chasing the ghosts of our past, trying to figure out who we truly are.

I have this little video to accompany the above words but blogger refused to upload it for me :( I'll try again later or I'll post it tomorrow.

Happy TT everyone! Don't forget to check out the other...Theme Thursday Posts!

xoxo

AWESOME-NESS (IS THAT EVEN A WORD?)

2009-07-05T21:39:00.006+03:00

I have been tagged by an awesome and dear fellow blogger, Brian Miller. Each of his blog posts is a journey that lasts a few minutes (till you read it) but the words stay with you! You learn and you laugh and you cry and you smile and you think...! Give it a...click and you'll see what I'm talking about!

So...it is awesome being a queen (thank you Brian)! I think-though-that there are pieces of that crown for 7 more people (only?!). OK there are some rules before I start handing out the pieces (and remember the central crown jewel is...mine! Heh heh kidding).

Rules
1. list 7 things that make you awesome (hmmm that is tough:)

2. Pass the award to 7 bloggers that I love (hmmm that's tougher...I love so many!)

3. Tag those bloggers to let them know they are now Queens too and link back the Queen (in this case a king:) who tagged you. (OK that's easy if I survive the first two:)

Get ready for awesome-ness lol
The seven things I like...about me (wait isn't this a song title...sort of?)

1) I like the fact that I managed to be surrounded by so many...awesome people. My family, friends and blogger friends are cool, honest, great, loving, caring people. So lucky to have that...it's awesome :)

2) I like the fact that I never betray a person's trust.

3) People say that I have a great voice and ask me "why don't you sing professionally?". I don't know...is that awesome?

4) I like the fact that I sometimes make people laugh with what I say. Laughter for me is what water is for the body. Essential :)

5) I like that people call me sometimes-during my radio show-to tell me a nice thing or a simple hello. Communication is such a great thing!

6) I love...to love! And love is awesome, ain't it?

7) I like the fact that I'm a rule breaker (they're meant to be broken after all). So if any one of my friends is reading this (the ones that know me in real life-or not:), could you fill the 7th spot? Oh and also could you verify facts number 2,3 and 4? Someone? Thank you lol

That's all folks! Now the hard part...tagging time. I'll try to tag people that I think haven't been tagged (if you have already been tagged, forgive me). If it was up to me I'd tag all the bloggers you see on my reading list lol So here it goes...

Subtorp77: Thank you for the awesome journeys subby!

Lisa: I love your awesome blog and the issues you raise!

Leah: The weather in...her blog is always warm, sunny and awesome!

The lair of the Silver Fox: Have you read his awesome writings? No? I think it's time to start :)

Mouse: The pictures, the quotes, the writing... they're awesome and beyond!

Liza: The company this blog keeps is...awesome!

Tom: This blog's awesome title says "[...] with a Twist", I say "on the rocks" because it...rocks!

This is it! Remember that for me...you are all kings and queens!
Have an...awesome week lol
xoxo

Fun-k(e)y...A Theme Thursday Post :)

2009-07-02T15:04:00.002+03:00

"Oh my" for today's theme!

There is one thing that came to mind and I'm gonna share with you. Funky Jazz!! I love to dance, watch other people dance, learn how to dance and so on. It is a form of expression that really makes me happy...I have fun and the last time I checked 'fun' is part of the word 'funky', isn't it?

Take a minute to enjoy a 'funky jazz' choreography, performed by two wonderful dancers, Natalie Fotopoulos and Zoi Tatopoulos. The video is taken from the Greek version of the show 'so you think you can dance' and it was uploaded by a YouTube user (many thanks to badmintonwinner:)...

Happy TT
xoxo

I'M HOME!!

2009-06-30T15:49:00.004+03:00

Hey all!

I'm back from my holiday! This is just a quick post to state that I had a lovely time (the proof will be posted later :) and to send each and everyone of you a big hug for the wonderful comments you left me the time I was away. It was so nice coming home and reading your words :)

I don't know where to begin really. So much has happened to me and around me these past 7 days! I guess that's life, things evolve and move on, even if you're taking a break! I will start organising things and a video-with some lovely images-will be up soon! I will start by reading your blogs, something that I missed a lot while away :)

View from a cafe in Zakinthos (just a little teaser :)

Take care! Glad to be back and missed you all lol
xoxo

Vacation Time!!!

2009-06-21T15:42:00.004+03:00

Off to Zakinthos, a wonderful Greek island, to visit my friend Maria! I'll be gone for a week so CU all when I get back with lots of pictures and stories and...well you know what I mean :)

Dedicated to you and you and you :)

Take care you all!
xoxo

A...roof with a view

2009-06-18T00:01:00.002+03:00

Food, Education, Health Care, Work, Roof. I would say that these five words include and sum up a person's vital needs and rights. The needs...one needs to fulfill in order for him/her to live a great life. A human and happy life...and then you start thinking...

This week's Theme Thursday made me think about homes and how important they are. How essential it is to have a roof over your head for you and your family. How a 2% of today's world population owns houses, when it is estimated that the number of people that own not even one house in Athens/ Greece is 11.000 and rising (I dare not to add the numbers for a worldwide example). How did a human right become an inhuman wrong?

I mean imagine a world that didn't sacrifice its basic human rights in the altar of consumerism and profit. A world where all people own a house, a regular sized one with solid foundation, secure doors and a roof that keeps nature out. With functional and usable rooms (not 30 bedrooms that no one will ever see their inside). And when I say all people I mean ALL people, no exceptions, no discrimination. And I start thinking again...how is it OK if one person owns a piece of land with a house the size of 5 (or more) houses when, at the same time, people live in a carton box? How is it OK to preserve endless fields for private use, like golf courses and 'hunting' areas, when at the same time there seems to be no place (a complete lie) to build a shelter? How is it OK for just 3 people to eat their 5-course meal in a room so big that they can't even see each other (!) when, at the same time, hundreds of people eat garbage, literally on each other?

Just thinking...just imagine...

The "Fiddler on the Roof" (musical: music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905) because the scene and the colors are unique.

Happy TT everyone and 'see you' all when I read your posts :)
xoxo

This past week...

2009-06-12T19:32:00.003+03:00

...the case is that for us Greek teachers it is an exam period (as I'm sure the same goes for many other colleagues abroad:). So this means hours in front of the computer, trying to figure out the perfect exercises for my students (ones that are both easy and complicated, valid and objective blah blah blah). Then there comes the grading part which is hard, considering that it is summer time and you wanna go to the beach and drink a mojito instead! Surprise, surprise your students wanna do that too (minus the mojito, hopefully:), so they didn't pay much attention in class and now you gotta figure out how to grade a paper, so that the particular child will have...a nice holiday with the parents and not a "you're going to summer school!!" one...

Apart from all the work (which is almost over), the week went from great (over the weekend) to something I'm still trying to recover from, get over, understand, forgive (or not)...

Something, that I can't call "person", poisoned our 10 year old dog. Flox has been a member of our family, keeping company to my grandma in our village, protecting the house from strangers and above all he was a good friend. I still can't believe that this happened in a neighbourhood filled with dogs (in every house), where people are around all kinds of animals every day...

While reading some blog posts this week, I found a meme on Leah's wonderful blog, an "I love-I hate" one...it said something about "most hated person". Well it is needless to say that the person I hate most right now is the one that did this to our dog...

"The Scientist" by Coldplay, cause I feel like crying...

PS My fellow bloggers I'm sorry I missed out on Theme Thursday and haven't been able to read your posts! I'll try to catch up over the weekend and play along next week! Wish you all to have a great weekend!

Peace and love
xoxo

"Same Time, Next Year"-A Theme Thursday Post

2009-06-04T12:26:00.005+03:00

Hello everyone! So today I noticed that this post is the 60th for this blog. Today's Theme Thursday is also "Clock" so I figured, 60th post+60 minutes (as in an hour)= important blogging moment :)

I thought about time and how we say it always passes so quickly or the opposite! Then two people came to mind. Two people that managed to 'fool' time and make it 'stop' even if it was just for two days, every year.

Of course I'm talking about my favorite theatre play (one of the many I enjoy). Its title is relevant to the theme, "same time, next year" (written by Bernard Slade). The 'people' I'm referring to are the heroes, George and Doris. Two characters living separate lives who, somehow, manage to make them parallel by meeting the same weekend of each year, in a hotel room.

The scene I found on YouTube (from the movie) is the reason I thought of this play for today. The fact that George's watch, when Doris asks the time, is "3 hours and 25 minutes fast"! Time is so relevant, isn't it? I mean would you wear a clock that doesn't work as it should? Are you obsessed with time or do you struggle to make time your friend?

The way I see it, one thing is certain. We can 'make time' by choosing what is important or not in our lives. Time keeps...ticking in that monotonous sound. However life is so much more than that and the sound is far from monotonous out there, in the real...clock!

Have a great day you all!
Peace and love
xoxo

Motocross or..."camera gone bad" (as in "fairytale gone bad":)

2009-06-01T23:08:00.012+03:00

Have you ever been to a motocross competition-/race? Well my friend Helen convinced us to go this Sunday and I have to tell you...I enjoyed it (thank you Helen)!! So I'm all excited to be around all these motorcycles and people with helmets and all the adrenaline! Got my camera with me to capture the event's most memorable moments! They start warming up and I'm all like "OK let me take a few pics, warm up the...camera".

So I take this small series of photos...

...and then the camera's batteries go from low to...dead!

Of course I missed capturing all the good parts of the race. But hey, later on we went walking next to a river (after getting back to civilization and...batteries) and found an abandoned tree house...that should count for something right?

Wish you all have a great week :)
xoxo

Is this suit-case gonna travel far? (A Theme Thursday Post)

2009-05-27T17:45:00.001+03:00

What's in a...case (as in "what's in a name")? If it is a suit-case, it helps us carry all our clothes (and many more) around, so that when we go to another place...we may be able to feel at home. For people who are practical by nature, a suitcase serves a...'light'-yet important-puspose. And then there is this other category of people, the ones with the...'heavy' load (in the literal sense:). However, heavy or light, big or small, black or white, practical or impractical, suitcases share a common starting point...going somewhere!

My intoduction on tommorow's (Thursday) Theme is kind of...misleading. I thought about suitcases, then about traveling, then about...cases! There are two 'cases' I'd like to mention today. This post is going somewhere so bear with me :)

(Suit) Case no 1: Pencils...

This was going to be a seperate post, then...life cought up with me and time 'travelled' fast! However, while pondering upon the theme on suitcases, it hit me. This 'special pencil-case' is going to be my 'suit-case'! Meaning...

One day, in early May, I was going through the wonderful blogs I read and found this great post in Mrsupole's place. I am around children all day and there is nothing better and more rewarding than the chance to teach (or rather...for children to teach you) the beauty of caring about and helping other people. So I told my youngest students that children...somewhere in this world... didn't have pens and pencils to write with. "Would you like to help out?", was my question..the response I got-and the lesson my students tought me that day-is in this little video I made (this is all the children's making, I just used the editing programme:)...

(Suit) Case no2: Message in a bottle...

Would you say that a message travels like a suitcase only...faster (well depends on the message)? What if I told you that I have a 'message in a bottle' kit!

I bought it to from a friend with a toy-store. Figured it would be cool to give to someone or even use it myself someday. Have you ever tried to think about writing a message for a bottle, when you are not in a desserted island and in no need to be rescued? Well it is HARD!

So here is my thought...there is nothing better than sharing and this one I wanna share with my fellow bloggers from around the world. Would you like to gather up messages (your messages) put them in the bottle, seal it and 'release' it out in the open sea? I mean what would you write? Who knows were it might end up? If you're with me, leave your message in the comment section and the rest is up to me. Of course I'll keep you post-ed and the 'release' date for our little bottle will be set soon!

So there you have it my dear TT, fellow bloggers! Off to read all the great posts out there!
Take care
xoxo

Vacation...a Theme Thursday post!

2009-05-21T00:51:00.007+03:00

Random shots of places not so random...

All the colors and laughter and relaxation and freedom...how can these fit into just one camera click! Oh they can...because every picture holds one important key. The key to your memories. All you have to do is look at it and...one thousand pictures flash before you!

So these are some photos taken in Manchester/ Salford/ UK and Thessaloniki/ Greece. I made a small compilation, because they remind me of two special vacations I spend there with a dear friend of mine. Wanted "New York State of Mind" as background music because...well, New York is one of my-many-dream destinations! Enjoy and here's to the vacations to come...

Oh and don't forget to check all the other wonderful posts on the theme!
xoxo

"Make a wish..."

2009-05-19T21:08:00.003+03:00

First of all I would like to thank all of you my fellow bloggers for leaving a comment wishing me happy birthday! It is so sweet that people care to come back and say such nice things.

Yesterday was a special day for me. Not only did I 'gain' one more year of wisdom and maturity (OK I'm a year older...or younger...who cares lol) but I realised that I got the best gift anyone can ever wish for. The gift of friendship!

There comes a time in one's life when one has to decide what (or who) is important in their life. What do we value more...our priorities? When my friends burst into the radio station today (I think I mentioned my radio show-just a hobby, not a job:) with a birthday cake, singing "happy birthday" I knew...all the money and presents and wealth in the world can't buy the feelings of love and friendship and care that one has for another human being...need I say what my wish was when I blew out the candle?

This year is also special cause I celebrate my birthday with my fellow bloggers as well. I wish health and happiness for our little blog world! The following is a funny version of the happy birthday song! Found it on You Tube and it is the song we all know just..."made in Greece". Hope it'll make you smile :)

Take care
xoxo

Saturday night (Eurovision) fever :)

2009-05-18T01:13:00.006+03:00

It was a big and event-full Saturday for Europe. You see the Eurovision song contest was on and people (at least in my country) stayed in, ordered some pizza, drunk (a bit or a lot) and listened to songs that made no sense (language wise). However, since music and art know no borders, who cares about understanding the lyrics!

So we deal with Eurovision the same way people deal with football games and major sports events which is OK, I guess, as long as we don't take it...too seriously. Anyway, Greece got 7th place and I think we deserved...less.There are countries that enter the contest singing songs in their own language. This year Greece participated with a song taken right out of a Britney Spears/Michael Jackson/Madonna concert which-is great on its own but-has nothing to do with Greek culture and our image as a country. So instead of showing you our song for the contest, I'll give you my favorite one...Patricia Kaas sang in french, put her soul and wonderful voice in it and the outcome is a simple and yet magnificent presentation of a song that touches you in many ways! Enjoy...

Take care you all and have a wonderful week :)
xoxo

Whoops...my bad :)

2009-05-14T10:11:00.004+03:00

photo from google search. The (famous) greek invention of a coffee also known as frape...

Today it's a regional type of holiday in my part of the world. Lots of celebrations going on, parades, schools and workplaces closed :) The sun is shining so...its the perfect day for a cup of Greek (or Turkish:) coffee! This is my time off...getting ready to go out with friends, cook and read all your wonderful TT posts on the most challenging theme of the week lol

I wouldn't say that this post is a (pure) TT one...it is more of a lazy kinda post from a blogger who wishes to all the wonderful blogging people out there to have a GREAT DAY lol lol

Happy (Whoopsy) Theme Thurs-day :)
Peace
xoxo

Wind of change...

2009-05-07T00:04:00.002+03:00

It is the first Thursday of May and a 'wind of change' is blowing...can you feel it? For me May is what January is for...the New Year. The first month of 'my' year, since my life started once upon a time, a cool, windy May day (oh dear I'm so dramatic :)...but enough about me.

This week's theme got me thinking. Bob Dylan...blowing in the wind...Scorpions...Dust in the Wind...Wind of change. I guess wind does change a lot...but what does 'wind' symbolize for you and you and you?

For me the "wind" is young people. The generations that are growing up, the generations to come, the generations that think they've grown but still got tons of things to learn. I' m surrounded by young people everyday, my students, and they never seize to amaze me...I give you an excerpt taken from an essay (unabridged and in its original version-uncorrected). It was written by a young girl aged 15, who I had the privilege of knowing and having in my class...

[...] As Helloween say in their song: "Life is too short to cry, long enough to try...our society is bad, war, lies, hypocricity, no one cares about the environment...." with a few words: just desperation! I want the world to be changed. That is just a dream that will not gonna be fulfiled but it's OK...when injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty [...].

I was the teacher in that class or wasn't I? I am not always sure who is teaching whom...

Sing along of you like Karaoke...I know I am and hope you can join me :)

Thank you to this wonderful karaoke channel I found on You Tube. Visit if you wanna sing your heart out!

Peace and love
xoxo

6 things you don't need to know about me (Vol II)

2009-05-04T23:53:00.006+03:00

My blog friend, Candie, must know that I'm a sucker for blog games and memes!

I've been tagged by her to write 6 unimportant things about me! If you wanna visit Candie's great blog just click...here!

Like every game, this one has a few rules:

1. Mention the person who tagged you on your blog
2. Use your creativity and write 6 things about you
3. Tag 6 more blog pals
4. Notify them by posting a comment or sending them an e-mail saying the words "you've been tagged!" (or however else you wanna express yourself really:)

Now, let's see...

1) I find it difficult to sleep while facing...up (on my back). I catch myself thinking in that position, which makes it kinda hard to concentrate on sleeping. However once I face my pillow its bye-bye thinking...hello 'Morpheas'!

2) I enjoy watching...blooper reels, 'making of's or reading books that deal with the process of writing books! While watching a movie, a series, a theatre play or even reading a book, I think about the people sitting behind the lense, behind the desk in front of a computer or behind the curtain of a stage. I enjoy the journey as much as enjoy the end result, I guess :)

3) I like rain and cloudy weather, something that my friends don't find...'normal'. They say sun=happy, rain=moody. I say..."says who?"...

4) You can tell what kind of music I enjoy listening to by the songs I put up here. However, if I listen to a song (any song) and its stuck in my head...I can go on singing it for days (no matter what type of music or which singer it is). In the latest 'song-in-my-head' playlist, a song that was brought to my attention by my students (aged 12-15). They wanted to let me know what song they liked these days and started singing...

What can I say...it is what my students listen to. Who am I to argue?

5) I have many badges. I love them! My favorite these days one that says "young. old. just words" lol

6) I hate...high heeled shoes, grrrr! I can stand them for like 1-2 hours, then I go barefoot. I mean they are so uncomfortable, aren't they?

That's all folks. I will tag...

The silver fox

Reyjr

Baino

Ronda

Leah

Jodi

I picked some of the great blogs I read. There are just too many out there. Sorry if you've been tagged before. I don't mean to bother anyone and, hey, if you don't feel like it...rules are meant to be broken :)

Take care
peace and love
xoxo

PS click here for Vol I :)

Newborn...

2009-05-03T22:33:00.006+03:00

Lots of first things these past couple of days...

1) A 'newborn' month with a very important day, May 1st!

Many people sacrificed their lives for better working and living conditions, human rights and ideals. I am not sure if we do much to honor them today...

2) Spring...sprung! This is the first beautiful rose, 'to be', from our garden!

Things look greener and more colorful...somehow. The first day of this month was rainy and cloudy for us. We usually go out to celebrate and honor labour day, then go to the countryside, pick some flowers, see the family. We 'catch' May (as we like to say). Well we didn't catch anything this time, the weather made other plans for us :)

3) Finally to complete my 'newborn list' I give you the newest members of our family. Our two lovely, little kittens our cat gave birth to last month. They are 2 weeks old and unfortunately we are giving one of them away. Wish we could keep them both but...

Look how cute they are, sleeping on my granny's lap :)

Care to name them?
Take care you all and have a great 'first' week of May!
xoxoxo

Water=life

2009-04-30T00:23:00.001+03:00

Another Theme Thursday is here!
I'm not going to write much (the video says it all:)

I found several pictures of mine (with water as-lets say-their main theme) from past and present trips. I wanted to show them to you so...enjoy!

Happy Theme Thursday everyone!
Peace and love
xoxo

"Sorry seems to be the hardest word"...

2009-04-26T23:14:00.003+03:00

Hello my fellow blogers!

I am officially back on track...the damage control on my good old laptop has been made, the weekend is over. Back to work tomorrow and a new week is about to begin. There is something that has been bothering me for sometime now and I wanna let it out, so here it goes...

Have you ever had the opportunity to have a random acquaintance, an encounter with a complete stranger that made a difference in your way of thinking?

The truth is that we are all travellers and visitors on this rock that we call Earth. We create our own small world. We interact with the people we wanna interact, let out as many information as we want about us, sleep, eat, love and care about certain things and people. Or at least this was the case until...the internet came into our lives and marked our little worlds for good. Now it is the time we all realise that 'it's a small world after all' (and the realisations keep on coming)!

I had an on-line 'encounter' a few months back, with a person that made me realise one thing. Sometimes we forget that behind the PC, there is a real life human being, with feelings. That behind the buttons and the clicks there is a person like you and me...the anonymity makes it hard to remember sometimes but it is there, it is true and when you forget it...it can hit you in the face.

I wanna say an 'I'm sorry' and a 'thank you' to that fellow human being. A sorry for the way I acted and a thank you because I realised many things about myself from our little encounter. I know I am not perfect (nobody is), I make mistakes...but the best thing about mistakes is that you can correct them, learn from them and...move on! This is a post I wanted to write so that I can look back at it and remember that a stanger someday, somewhere in the sphere we call 'the net' made me realise that there is more to it than just kilobites and pixels.
It is a great, big net-world :)

This song is for you fellow stranger (wherever you are)...and for you fellow bloggers!

Have a great week you all!
Peace and love
xoxo

My PC is on fire (literally)!

2009-04-23T10:59:00.004+03:00

Have you ever had one of those days ,when everything just go...wrong! Where the universe just doesn't conspire so that you can do whatever you want (I gotta read 'the alchemist' again to restore my faith:-)!

Well my computer broke down, I am officially 'internet homeless' and been taken in by a good friend of mine so that I can use their net and (maybe) try to revive my laptop :-). However I had thought about my TT post a few days back so I give you...fire!

My mother painted this when she decided to close up the fireplace (don't ask)! She wanted to create the illusion of a fire, something you can watch but not..touch (or the illusion is gone:-)!

It came out OK I guess. Or it could have been better (in my opinion). What do you think my Theme Thursday fellow bloggers?

I will come back to check all your posts in a day or two, when and if I get my PC fixed! Till then...

Take care you all
Peace and love
xoxo

Such sweet...sorrow :-)

2009-04-20T14:14:00.004+03:00

Well Easter is officially over for us here. Great time with family and A LOT of eating and drinking (as usual :-). The only thing we have to get used to now...going back to work lol

The above is a picture of my favorite Greek delight-/dessert. Fruit boiled in water and sugar (in this case orange and fig). The recipe is a bit more complicated than that but the bottom line...it is the perfect, light dessert. Good for the stomach (after a huge meal), good for a diet (no fat-just fruit and sugar), good for...everything (well it's sweet, what more can I say lol)

Have a SWEET day and week! I leave you with one of my favorite scenes from the movie 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'. It shows a 'normal' Easter day for us (the food and the amount of relatives gathered in a house to celebrate!). Have you had days like that? Enjoy :-)

Peace and love
xoxo

Easter Break and...a "hallelujah"!

2009-04-17T23:34:00.004+03:00

It is funny how one can wait for a holiday or a break from work and then when it comes...well one finds his/her hands with much more things to do (like me!). It is our Easter break (and weekend) now in Greece and I hear people (especially with stores) talking about how much work they have had in the past few days and how tired they are. One even told me .."I wish holidays are over soon so we can...rest"! I never realised what he was talking about till I saw my blog updates...none. I even missed out on Theme Thursday :-(

Well that is life, c' est la vie, ce sera sera (OK I stop now:-)

I wish you all to have a great, happy and good Easter and an unforgettable weekend!! Off to read as many remarkable blogs as I can. A song that has been on my mind these days...sing along if you know it!

Take care
Peace and love
xoxo

Are they peeling you EGGS or something?

2009-04-09T00:45:00.000+03:00

This Theme Thursday's post-title is a phrase (my, funny, translation) we use quite often in Greece and its story goes way back in time. Let me take you to ancient Rome, one sunny May day...

Once upon a time, the Romans-in order to honor Aphrodite and Dionysus-used to celebrate by doing something that was both 'crazy' and odd. Every year, on May 15th, people would go out on the streets and squares and start fighting by throwing...soft-boiled eggs at each other! Thousands of eggs would be used that day--for entertainment purposes only--and people used to laugh their hearts out! All this laughter would go on and on for weeks after the event...

This little...celebration was for everybody, with no exception of social status or rank and hierarchy. Even emperors would take their turn to throw...an egg at their empress. For example, it is said that this 'egg fight' was one of Neron's soft spots. He would even throw eggs at his army officers without it being the 'egg fighting' day!

Today this custom is long gone and doesn't exist (we opt for eating the eggs rather than throw them at somebody:-). However there is one thing that reminds us it existed...the interrogative phrase: "Are they peeling you eggs?" (Avga sou katharizoune;). We use it when we see someone laughing for no apparent reason or cause...much like this little fellow :-)

Other Greek egg-sayings or proverbs:

1. "I would rather have the egg today, than the hen tomorrow" (a proverb from Cyprus)

2. Take the egg and 'cut its hair' (The literal translation of a Greek saying. The metaphorical meaning is "anyway...". We use it when something makes no sense, is weird or when we wanna avoid talking about something :-)

That is all for today. Happy Theme Thursday everyone lol

Peace and love
xoxo

An award, a bloggathon and...well that's it :-)

2009-04-05T22:37:00.006+03:00

Another Sunday gone. In less than an hour a 'newborn' week will take it's first...minutes in my part of the world. I'll start my week with a bloggathon and a big smile, provoked by the kindness of a fellow blogger :-)

They say that in order to receive you have to give. First I'll tell you what I've received and then maybe try to give something back. Let's see...

Today I have received kindness when I least expected it. A wonderful and remarkable fellow blogger, Cinnamon (which by the way is my favorite of all spices lol), offered me the following "kind blogger award", which I accepted with great joy.

The difficult part though was how to figure out to which 4 bloggers to pass it on. At first I figured it's too hard and can't do it...there are so many many kind bloggers out there I wish to give it to! Then I thought that the 4 blogs I will pass the award on, will pass it on to 4 other blogs (each). S0 this means 16 more blogs will get it! Now (after clearing my conscience) I am happy to give this award to the following kind fellow bloggers...

Jodi (Thank you for everything you've done. It's been great 'meeting' you)

Tony (Thank you for being such a kind soul lol)

Lenola Daily Photo (I like the way you 'view' the world)

Subtorp77 (Thank you for the kindness you showed me)

Please pass it on to 4 more bloggers lol

Now on the 'giving' part of this post...

I have been a proud reader of Raymond De Felitta's blog. He is a director/musician/screenwriter from New York and he recently finished filming his movie "City Island" with Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies (and many other talented actors). Some of you living in NY may already know what I am about to...link you to!

I live far far away and don't know anyone (personally) living in, or the areas around and near, NY. I do, however, know that many of you, my dear fellow bloggers, come and blog from this (beautiful) part of the world. So in my attempt to participate in a peculiar bloggathon, I will post the link to a blog entry...If you wish to know how you can help Raymond and 'City Island' just click here...and you're there!

I leave you with a clip from the backstage of City Island. Let Andy Garcia entertain you and have a great week lol

Peace and love
xoxo

Ten=Rebirth

2009-04-02T13:33:00.004+03:00

Happy tenth week anniversary Theme Thursday!

What first came to mind after seeing today's theme was...numerology. I remembered a few months back I came across an article on numerology and it was fun learning about all these different interpretations of numbers and what they stand for. I remember reading that a first and loose interpretation of number '10' in numerology is 'rebirth'.

So Theme Thursday came full circle and is about to be reborn in a way...for new, interesting, worldwide adventures. I am glad I' m a part of this blogging adventure. Theme Thursday gave me the opportunity to 'meet' fellow bloggers from all around the world and I am thankful for that. In Greece we say "to deka to kalo" meaning "ten a good number" (literally). Metaphorically it means that something good has come your way...Theme Thursday is my "good number ten"!

To all the fellow bloggers out there, I dedicate the following instrumental song performed by a Greek band. The title is "to deka to kalo" so it is perfect for the occasion...

Take care
Peace and love
xoxo

The times are...a-changing

2009-03-30T22:48:00.004+03:00

Sunday (3/29) was the 'time a-change' for us.

We lost an hour of sleep, we 'earned' one hour of daylight and the promise of better, sunny, spring and summer days.

So the 'times are a-changing' and I wish for some extra 'sunlight' on everything bad in this life. I had a discussion today about how things are more 'less' today than they ever were. From 'wireless' phones to 'valueless' education (the incentive was an e-mail sent to me discussing that theme)...

Well I wanna believe that as long as the time will keep changing twice a year, in the literal sense...we must keep trying to change the times, in the metaphorical sense. I dedicate Bob Dylan to you and you and you...

Have a great great week
Peace and love
xoxo

Mineral Springs

2009-03-26T00:30:00.000+02:00

This is my mum's birthplace. A village named Loutra (The Springs)

And that's the place where people go to take a bath in...mineral water!

The name (Loutra aka Springs) is relevant to its history and the fact that there are mineral, thermal springs in the area. The mineral 'spa' is located near the ancient ruins of a city which was built by the Romans in 98-117 A.D.

The ancient Greeks used mineral springs and water for their health care. Today doctors claim that there are certain, special qualities in the water. It is said that the minerals contribute to the prevention and therapy of things like kidney stones or arthritis. I don't know about that, but I can tell you this. If you try to drink the water...the taste makes you say "No thanks. I'll just stick to the bathing part"!

Happy Theme Thursday everyone!
Peace and love
xoxo

LOST...IN TRANSLATION

2009-03-24T15:12:00.011+02:00

Greece without tourism is coffee without...coffee. Everywhere you go, especially the islands, you're destined to see and read bilingual messages (or tri-lingual and so on...)!

Someone send me an e-mail a few days ago with translations gone bad (in China)...

"Excuse me, where is the Gollum section, please?

"Our corporation knows all about good...behavior"

The truth is that I like noticing translated signs and leaflets. If you look and read closely you may discover some...interesting (and hilarious:-) things. There are numerous translations out there that were and are...too lost in their own meaning!

Now I am proud to present the Greek version...

....AND...FOOD?

It's a butcher's...paradise

Grammar...no! Food...YES lol

I love taking pictures like that. These are from Samos, a beautiful island I've been to last summer. Wonderful people and I tell you the food...yummy!

I remember signs like that, signs I didn't take pictures of and now I regret. However...

I'll tell you the story of a sweet and adorable street vendor (selling goodies like sweets and honey). Has this piece of carton where he writes the name of his products and their prices. It 's all great so far, till you reach the point where you want to know how much money you have to give for a big jar of honey. You search and read, but all you get is a "honig 5 Euros" and you are like "hmm, 'honig'...wonder what that is?!?!"

Take care
Peace and love
xoxo

New York State of Mind

2009-03-23T12:34:00.006+02:00

I would love to see...the world!

Traveling is such a great think to do, beneficial in so many many wonderful ways. The mind broadens, images spin around in your head, new faces, languages, words, food, buildings, history, customs...I could go on and on really.

There are so many places I wanna (and plan to) visit (health and money permit)! To name a few: France-Paris, Portugal, Spain-Barcelona, Italy -Tuscany/Venice/Rome, Hong-Kong (my friend Chi-ho!!), Australia-Sydney, San-Francisco, California-LA, Hawaii-Honolulu (aloha :-), and these are JUST a FEW! Which places do you want to visit?

Today however, I am in a New York state of mind!

I wanted to upload a version of "new york state of mind" by Joanna Wang but...I couldn't do it (if someone has any idea of how to 'put' a single song here feel free to help me...please:-).

However, I found something sweet and beautiful made by a musician on YouTube, TheMoss101, from the UK. This is his piano version of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind"!

Enjoy and have a great week lol
Peace and love
xoxo

Theme Thursday-Vegetables (or Fruit-opia)

2009-03-19T15:06:00.005+02:00

Fruitopia is a comic created in 1983 by Eugene Trivizas, a Greek children's books author. It goes like this...

Geography
Fruitopia is a land far far away, which borders with Eggnistan (in the west) and Pepperland (in the East). It is a land inhabited by fruit and vegetables. A land like no other. However this wasn't always the case...

The story behind the story
Back in the day, fruit and vegetables in Frutopia were under the rule and law of the greengrocers. However, it all started to change after the unexplained and sudden disappearance of Manolis, a well known and loved greengrocer.

Afraid that they were about to face the same fate, the rest of the greengrocers abandoned the country. The fruit and vegetables seized the golden opportunity, declared their independence, voted for Emilio the Apple to be their leader, organized an army (with Fonda the Tough Walnut) and swore they'd never let any greengrocer set foot in Frutopia again!

I grew up with this comic. It became a TV series hit when it came out back in the 80s and 90s. We would all sit and laugh with the adventures of the vegetables and fruit and the greengrocer's mysterious disappearance. For the record I think that the greengrocer was fine in the end, alive and well (maybe on vacation :-)

I leave you with the series' opening credits.

Happy Theme Thursday everyone!
Take care
peace and love
xoxo

I Survived Samaria G(e)orge...

2009-03-15T23:28:00.009+02:00

It is amazing how an experience, something you have done or someone you've met can make a difference in your life. It is the moment you realise you are strong and that if you can survive this...you can make it anywhere (or something like that :-).

My moment was three years ago, the summer of 2006. I tend to talk about that summer a lot. Apart from the fact that I had the time of my life, on a Greek island, with my uni friends, there is another great reason to remember this particular summer. THE GORGE...

We were staying in Chania (Crete). The locals informed us (but we already knew) that there was a great walkabout, a gorge that every visitor who respects himself and herself should try and cross. It is a 16 km, rocky-kind of ground, with wild animals and 'cliffs'...it wasn't so bad! Just 5-6 hours of walking, getting fresh air, cleaning the lungs and exercising (oh and time for female bonding-I mean a 6 hour-walk with friends, talk about hanging out together :-)

So we started walking...

and walking...

and then we walked some more...

and six hours after our non-stop walk...

Hallelujah!!

Every time I am up against something that stresses me or gives me a hard time, I try to remember the hours I spend in that gorge. I felt tired, hot, exhausted, excited, small and helpless facing nature in all its beauty and power. I also felt like I was part of a team, companion and friendship, like this gorge had power over us, it could give us a tiny part of its 'strength' if we let it.

I think I learned a bit more about myself that day. I reached my limits...only to find out that this wasn't my limit after all. I learned more about the choice I made when it comes to my friends and the people I choose to hold close to me. I liked what I saw, my choices couldn't have been better when it came to friends.

We are still friends with the girls I went walking in that gorge. When you reach the end of the trail you end up in a village that one can approach only by sea or by crossing this gorge. A boat is waiting for you to take you back home, this time you don't have to walk, you just sit on the boat and the engine does the work. All you can do is look back where you came from, look at you and your friends and realise that you entered one 'door' in the morning and exited another one in the afternoon...you are not the same. You are stronger.

My friend Sophia gave me a T-shirt as a memoir...it is one of these things you can get in order to remember where you've been. The T-shirt has a sentence on it..."I Survived Samaria George". We laughed at the spelling mistake...I still have that T-shirt, still laugh, still love that "george"!

Check it out if you like...

take care now
peace and love
xoxo

"The Animal Song"

2009-03-12T12:09:00.004+02:00

Thursday again (amazing how time flies by) and I am thinking about animals...

At first I thought I'd post pictures of my cat and dog but I already did in previous posts (I put the links here due to relevance on the subject).

Then I thought of how animals, and the way we treat them, can define who we are, as people and societies. Our character can be 'mapped' by the way we behave towards other living beings on this planet (a thing natural and sad if you consider how the situation is today). Brain or no brain, opposable thumb or not every living creature deserves a chance and if we want to call ourselves human beings we've got to take care of the 'chain' that holds us together!

Then a song came to mind..."do you know you make me cry....do you know you made me die...it's a lovely thing that we have, the animal, the animal instinct" (sing along if you like Cranberries :-).

I was going to post this song here but then it hit me...SAVAGE GARDEN!!

Happy Theme Thursday everyone...

TAG...(6 things you...don't need to know about me :-)

2009-03-08T20:35:00.007+02:00

OK I admit it...I LOVE blog games! I have been Tagged by Candie Bracci. Click on the name if you wanna visit her great blog!

Now the rules of this game...

1) Put the link of the person who tagged you on your blog
2) Write the rules
3) Mention 6 things or habits of no real importance about you
4) Tag 6 persons adding their links directly
5) Alert the persons that you tagged them

6 Things or habits (of no real importance) about me :-)

1) I love cold and snow and good a cloudy, rainy day. It makes my day and mood (I know what you are thinking--it's supposed to be the other way around--but it's just me:-)

2) I like going to the theatre (A LOT). If a play touches me I can go and re-watch it, no problem. My score is Bernard Slade's "Same Time Next Year" (4 times)...the last couple of times I didn't pay though (I had invitations for two:-).

3) I collect...things. The weirdest thing I have collected so far...bags (from shops I've shopped from or museums I've been to) during my one-year stay in Manchester/England (Don't ask).

4) I haven't watched Greek TV in two years now. One day I just...stopped watching. I prefer watching movies, and US TV series, when they come out on DVD. My favorites are LOST and House M.D.

5) When I was about 6 my father took me to the swimming pool to take swimming lessons. In one of these lessons I nearly drowned. Did that experience make me hate water? No. I continued my swimming lessons (for 9 years) and can't imagine living without the sea!

6) My father and mother share the same name: George and Georgia. My brother and I (almost) share the same birthday: 18th May (me), 21st May (bro)...my mum was born on May 30th!!

That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed it...

Now I will TAG...Megan, Meggie, Coffee Messiah, Raymond De Felitta, Tony, Lisa.

I wish I could tag more but...we have to go by the book :-)

Take care now
peace and love
xoxo

"The Glass Menagerie"

2009-03-05T12:18:00.004+02:00

When I saw the theme for today all I could think of is a little glass unicorn, Tennessee Williams and 'Tom Wingfield'. The Glass Menagerie is and always will be one of my favorite theater plays. I believe that its beauty comes from the way T.W portrayed his characters. They are 'made' of glass...

Glass is a controversial material in my opinion. It looks so delicate and easy to break and at the same time it can last (forever would be an overstatement), it has the 'ability' to harm and has got hidden strength. People can be like that, don't you think?

Tom is the character that I could relate to. His eagerness to get away from the small alley in St. Louis. To see the world and escape from, what he feels to be, his prison. Instead of reaching for the stars, he dreams of unknown worlds and 'travels' through the eyes of a camera...through the movies.

"I didn't go to the moon but much further-because time is the longest space dividing two places..." he says "I left Saint Louis..." (from 'The Glass Menagerie' by Tennessee Williams--my translation from the Greek version).

Happy Theme Thursday everyone
Take care
xoxo

"To Weigh and Consider" by Madhouse...

2009-03-03T16:58:00.004+02:00

OK so I found this blog game in one of my favorite blogs, who found it in another great blog and so on! You know how it is with blog games. So here it is...my band "Madhouse" and our new album entitled "to weigh and consider"!

Here are the game's 'how to' and rules! Enjoy :-)

1) BAND NAME Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random article” or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2) ALBUM TITLE Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3) COVER ART Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days

Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

Take care
peace and love
xoxo

Clean Monday!

2009-03-02T18:45:00.009+02:00

Clean Monday is a tradition that goes...way way back in my country. Forty days before Easter there is the Monday that declares the beginning of the fasting period in Greece. The 40 day fast is supposed to "clean" ones body (no eating meat or dairy) and soul. Greek people stop eating meat (and other non-fast food) and when Easter comes they EAT so much meat...till they burst!

The above description has to do with the religious aspect of Clean Monday. The thing is that today we honor the tradition but only a few people do it for religious purposes. Clean Monday is a day off everything (schools, stores, jobs, everything is closed), a day to be with ones family, dance and EAT A LOT. You see it doesn't matter if we can't eat meat. There is plenty of food out there that is good and 'legal' when it comes to fasting. Here is what people do in Greece today (in every village and in the countryside)...

Dancing (Opa!)

Eating and drinking (fish and retsina)

Serving and cooking food in squares and parks

Eating some more (taramas--the pink thing, olives, halvas,pickles and lagana-bread:-)

Dancing again (more opaaa!!)

I leave you with a traditional Greek song, lots of dancing and a wish for a great week!
Opaaaaa!!!

Play with me!

2009-02-26T16:50:00.003+02:00

Happy theme Thursday everyone!

I wish I could say that the toy in the picture is the first dolly I ever got as a present. Well it is not (though it looked like it :-). It is a doll given to me, 3 years ago, by a good friend of mine, to remind me that when I need a hug and someone to lean on, I can turn to this doll. It would be my 'hug' every time I needed a friend and he wasn't around.

I had it on a drawer hidden and forgotten, somewhere. This Theme Thursday made me look for it and remember the story behind it. I dedicate this "big hug" to everyone who wishes to remain young at heart! Toys may be for children but they are also for adults who have never forgotten what it felt like to play, to 'built' castles and stories, to fight imaginary wars with the sole purpose of good prevailing over evil.

Remember to 'play' with your children, nieces, nephews, the kid next door more often...those are the moments that a child will remember when he/she grows up.

A big hug to all!

MEET...FLOX!

2009-02-24T16:15:00.006+02:00

A few weeks ago I posted a blog entry featuring...my cat. Unfortunately the word got out, lots of gossip about it and now...my dog will not talk to me!

So everyone...this is Flox. He is a strange mix of dog races...you can not tell which or what. He has been with my grandmother for 10 years now. He barks for no reason all day and the only time he will stop is when...someone we don't know arrives at the door (it was supposed to be the other way around but...:-)

He always seems to be a little bored. He is a sweet old dog though!

Take care
peace and love
xoxo

"Rear Window"

2009-02-22T18:34:00.007+02:00

So I am home with the flu, haven't been out of the apartment for...3 days now(!!) and the only thing left for me to do, actually, is...stare out the window and think...

While sitting and starring (and coughing:-) I remembered something, someone I know, said to me once. "I believe that there is a 'Peeping Tom' hidden in all of us" he said. "Oh come on" I responded..."first of all define 'Peeping Tom' and second of all...what do you mean by that?". "Well" he said "take movies for instance...isn't that a way of 'looking' into somebody else's life, from a distance, in the safety of your couch. Isn't this a way of satisfying our need of knowing and taking a glimpse through the peephole, without feeling guilty that we are doing something wrong?"

OK, I don't remember how this conversation ended but I remembered 'Peeping Tom' now that I'm looking out of my window. I see all these apartments around me and the parallel lives of people living next to me. I see a woman putting her son down to sleep and I smile (such a pretty site), I see a man in his kitchen preparing dinner (wonder what it is-I'm a bit hungry), I see a...omg I am the 'Peeping Tom' my friend was talking about!!

OK maybe I'm not but you got my point. To prove my friend's point though I got the perfect man with the perfect story...Alfred Hitchcock said it before me and better than me. Here is the story of a man 'trapped' in his house with a broken leg (like me with the flu!). What he does to spend his time? He looks out the window. What he sees? Things that are beautiful, strange, funny, sad, interesting, bad, sweet, lonely. He glimpses at life unfolding, through the frame of his window (well he solves a murder case while he is at it but remember...that is why they are called movies ;-)

So what's happening outside your window?

Take care now
peace and love
xoxo

Libre-ria or...f-read-om

2009-02-19T12:51:00.005+02:00

Libraries, in my opinion, symbolize the freedom of the soul...

For example take the word itself. In Spanish "libre" means free. "Libreria" is a bookshop and it also means "freedom"...

Books contain thoughts, written words that will be forever. What is the expression in Latin? "Scripta mannet" ('the written word stays with you while spoken words fly away'-or something like that).

I love having conversations like the above with children. Love to talk to them about the freedom they will experience once they start reading a book or when they visit a library and smell, feel, touch an old book's cover. I still remember the first book my father gave me. I found it difficult to read at the time, since I was too little. I couldn't even understand what the title meant..."50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth"...

I still have that book...it reminds me of the days that parents bought books instead of dolls and children used to read more books and play less computer games. In the end I like to show this picture to my students and say..."reading is the way to freedom. Any thoughts why?"...

P.S The above is a picture I found while surfing on the net. It is from ABFFE (American Bookseller Foundation For Free Expression). I find it pretty clever and a nice stimulus for creative conversation.

Take care now
peace and love
xoxo

Greeklish and "pull over the donkey"!

2009-02-17T23:13:00.002+02:00

In the uni, while taking a subtitling/dubbing course we were told that one should look at and study the way imported audiovisual products are translated for a country. The choice will give us the degree of tolerance this country has towards the foreign and the unknown. Greece opts for subtitles over dubbing (your conclusions :-)...

Personally I am for preserving ones culture and protecting the things that make us different and constitute a country's history, whereas at the same time there is room left for openness and education on other cultures and customs and languages. Of course all the above can be accomplished in a somewhat ideal world that hasn't turned foreign language education into a profitable commodity (as is the case nowadays in my country). It is all in the balance and as a Greek philosopher once said "pan metron ariston" (excellence is in keeping and preserving the balance).

On a more funny and interesting note on the subject I give you our...greeklish (blend for Greek and English:-). I don't watch much TV but I love funny and clever advertisements. Here is one that proves my point that the English language is here to stay...

Info: This add is about a Greek cable TV channel (it shows all the US series like LOST, Prison Break, House, movies and many more). The concept is really funny. It's about a Greek police officer in a village, affected by all the TV series and action movies he watches. He tries to stop an old lady who "drives" a...donkey. Since the officer doesn' t know how to say 'donkey' in English he transfers the Greek word 'gaidaros' (donkey) into English thinking that it is OK. Of course the old lady has no idea what he is talking about so she says "officer why are you speaking in English?". He goes on (as you'll hear) "your papers or I'm gonna SHOOT" and the granny says "you SHOOT" (when we say 'shoot' in Greek we ask somebody to stop shouting or to be quiet-kinda like "shush") so again homophones get in the way for the funny effect!

L-O-V-E

2009-02-14T12:33:00.002+02:00

Love...kiss...hug (agapi...filia...agalia)

This music video is dedicated to all of you who feel and celebrate love. May your hearts be filled with this great sentiment everyday in your lives. It doesn't matter if you are "with" somebody or "alone". How can you be alone when you have a great family or friends by your side.

I discovered this YouTube page (SyrialovesGreece). Now how can one not celebrate when...love is all around (GreeceLovesSyriaToo :-).

Let Xaris Aleksiou (our loved and wonderful singer) take your minds far away, in a place where people strive to find love. Do they manage to find it in the end? That is the mystery of life and the secret is hidden, down there...at the bottom of the ocean (hence the title "Vythos"). Do not worry about the lyrics, music is a universal language...just listen...

Theme Thursday=fish

2009-02-12T00:01:00.005+02:00

I'm living in a country surrounded by the sea. Thus I feel a special connection to...fish. They are everywhere in our lives, habits and culture. Aquariums, taverns featuring fresh fish (yummy), lots of fishing boats (with interesting names) at the docks or ports and many many more. One thing I always found interesting when it comes to the subject though, is our sayings and proverbs (I am translating from Greek so bear with me :-)

1. "A Fish Stinks From the Head" (gr: Το ψάρι βρομάει από το κεφάλι)
- Meaning that the decomposition and corruption of an organism or group of people starts from the "head" i.e the leadership. This proverb is quite popular in the Balkans.

2. "If you are not soaked and wet up to your neck, you don't get to eat fish"
- As in "no pain, no gain".

3. "Eat fish with your eyes" (gr: φάτε μάτια ψάρια)
(This third is related to the cartoon above but I ended up being kinda lost in translation :-)

- Meaning that if one can't afford and acquire what he/she wants or needs (for various reasons), one can only look and not touch. As in a person who is hungry and can not eat, he tries to relief his hunger just by looking at the fish. It would be interesting to know the origins of this proverb. Since Greece has been through many wars and hardships and poverty in the past, I believe that people were trying to 'entertain' their hunger.

Finally there is this beautiful aquarium we have in Crete (Heraklion). This is a video I found on YouTube (made by freddy71165) that describes it better than words...Enjoy and relax (I find the music to be so calming).

"Monmartre...Paris"

2009-02-11T20:45:00.003+02:00

Ahhh, Paris...

My good friend Efi used to tell me wonderful stories about Paris. We used to plan where we we'd go and which places we would visit. We were students in Manchester then and she had already spent a good six months in this wonderful city. One of the things I remember vividly about her narrations, is the way her face would light up when she was referring to Monmartre. The street vendors and artists, the people passing by. Everything sounded so...magical!

I wish I could tell you this is my portrait being made by a street artist, one beautiful day, in Monmartre. Unfortunately, I never got to travel to Paris...one day I will (hopefully). However, part of the picture is true. This is actually a part of my face. I got no idea who is posing in my 'place' because this photo is a...fotofunia product. If you want to see what you can do with your face and a few PC clicks, just visit the link and enjoy!

Hm and tomorrow is Thursday. That means "theme Thursday" and a quite demanding subject, as I recall :-)

Take care now
peace and love
xoxo

"Saturday night...(greek) fever"

2009-02-07T19:51:00.004+02:00

So Saturday night is finally here.

When I was a student in high school I remember that Saturday night and coffee with friends was a BIG deal. Of course it wouldn't be a Saturday night out without the usual..."curfew", the "if it is 00:05 do not bother coming in the house!" or Mum sleeping on the sofa, waiting, pretending that she is reading an, up-side-down, book :-)

I remember all that today while getting ready to go out with my friends. I am meeting them in a few hours, in a Greek taverna (you know lots of meat, ouzo and opa-if you know what I mean). I am all grown up now (no need to ask for permission). However, I usually try to take these trips down memory lane, trying not to forget what it was like when I was a kid (helps me in my job, to get into my students' shoes, to remember how it was when I was their age:-)

Good times...

I wish you have a pleasant weekend and enjoy your nights out or in, with family or friends, alone or with a company. Try to treasure the moments cause they only last...for a moment. As for all the wonderful, hard-working parents out there...trust your children and the trust will come back to you (at least that is what my parents did...sort of :-)

This is a great video I found on youtube...does it make you wanna dance?

theme thursday=statue

2009-02-05T16:51:00.005+02:00

I thought a lot about this theme. Made me think about all the possible statues-landmarks that can be found in my hometown or in Greece in general. Their history or anything special or worth saying about them. However, I knew there was something that I was forgetting...two days later it hit me!

So I am in Crete (the biggest of the Greek islands) on holiday with my university girlfriends! We are strolling down the street, by the sea, amongst the tourists (it was August 2006). Suddenly we came across a huge building that used to be a church and it was now used for exhibitions about art...something like a museum.

We noticed people standing outside the beautiful building, admiring a Greek ancient statue. We figured it was something worth watching and photographing, so we took the above shot. It was late at night so I will help you with a closer look...

It looked so real and it was like the statues that one could find on the Acropolis, decorating the Parthenon! So we had to get close and take a better photo of the statue. It wasn't until we went close and stood there to take the picture, that we realised it was in fact...a person posing and standing still!

Remember now...it was late at night, dark and...well I am out of excuses :-)

That' s it. This is my first "theme Thursday" post. I hope it' s relevant to the subject and that you enjoyed it! Till next Thursday...

take care
peace and love
xoxo

It is never too late to post a...delayed entry

2009-02-03T10:51:00.004+02:00

I was so caught up in the activities of the past weekend (taking an exam for a permanent teaching job:-) and I realised that I have postponed some things that I wished to put up here. Since it is never too late...here they go.

Thanks to Meg and her beautiful blog I took part in a rather joyful blog game...the "interview me", game like, blog activity where one blogger sends 5 questions to another blogger and he/she answers them on his/her blog. I found it an interesting and great way to get to know each other a little better. So I did my share by letting Meg interview me (for my interview click here) and I also was the interviewer for two other fellow bloggers.

The first interview was for the great screenwriter, director, musician Raymond De Felitta, whose interview can be seen here. If you haven't watched his movies you better hurry. I recommend my favorite so far, 'the thing about my folks' and his new film that is bound to come out (hopefully soon) with Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies, which is called "City Island"! if you haven't visited his blog you should take a look. Educational, informative, fun to watch, historical, 'musical' (a few words that come to mind and characterize it).

The second interview was with my good blog friend, Jodi, who is a working mother with a great big happy family and two adorable children. Her blog can be seen here and her interview is quite interesting so go there in a 'click' second!

It is great that via blogs people from all around the world get together, share and realise the creativity, they didn' t know existed, in this vast and great world we live in. I think of several bloggers that I would most definitely want to read the answers to their interviews. If you wish to participate just comment on this post by saying "interview me" and will e-mail you asap! join in and have fun :-)

Meanwhile I give you a picture of a radio station's microphone (my 'link' to the listeners on my radio show). Since this interview game is an interview without physically seeing the other person, one could say that it is much rather like an on-air interview without...sound! The blogs are our 'microphones' so...let's have fun!

Take care now
peace and love
xoxo

Secret...four

2009-01-25T22:11:00.006+02:00

Remember the times when you were little and the world seemed so big and adventurous?

When I was a little girl I used to read Enid Blyton's books. Of course after the passing of the years ,and age ,I switched to Agatha (Long live Hercule!) but Enid holds a special place on my bookshelf and in my heart.

The story goes like this...I used to spend my weekends at my grandmother's house in a small village, about 20-30 minutes from the city I lived. I had a...small gang of friends there (some of them are still my friends). Inspired by Enid's "Secret Seven" we formed our own group of amateur detectives...we were the "secret four" (no surprises there:-). Every week we would meet at my grandmothers warehouse and discuss how we were going to save the world from the misfortunes and the bad people that were out there!

Now Enid Blyton's books were written in an English context and by context I mean the moody, wet, somewhat dark, misty, English weather and surroundings. Luckily in my country and village we got to have many different kinds of weather. In order for a good mystery to unfold and for us to "take matters into our own hands" autumn and winter was about the right time. So every time the season was right and the mood for a real nice mystery was set, we would be ready for any kind of stake out! Now you may not understand what I mean by that so I will provide some visual aids.

We would walk these roads searching for interesting and 'unusual' activities;-)

We would walk through these mountains...exploring (seriously we went up there!)

We would wait for the darkness to cover everything...in order for us to sneak out and do our thing (till our folks would come out, looking for us:-)

These are the places I grew up in...I am happy that they still exist in the way I left them. The only thing that is missing...a gang of four 10 year olds, walking, laughing, conspiring, imagining. I am guessing that they are inside right now watching TV...

Everything changes and yet some things remain the same...

2009-01-24T14:23:00.004+02:00

Like this tree for example...

This tree has been the view from the back window, in my grandmother's house for...ever (which is only natural because trees are supposed to live long). What hit me the other day though is the fact that this tree has been the 'landmark' of my childhood...something that never changed through the course of time...that has never betrayed me. This tree is always there, standing proud and still, addapting to the seasons, so beautiful looking...

So here is to changes and things that remain the same in order to help us bring back the lost innocence...the years when we all thought we could change the world and...the hope that we can still change it...

Take care now
peace and love
xoxo

A special mask made...by special people!

2009-01-17T13:51:00.005+02:00

Now I mentioned that I make plaster masks but never really got the chance to post any pictures. I'll get to it soon...I just have to get pictures and all.

However there is one special mask that I wish to post here.

My students had an idea. They had a lesson which dealt with carnivals all around the world and thought it would be interesting to create a mask and present it to class. They knew that I was into that kind of hobby so...they turned to me for help :-)

This is what we did. Now remember all I did was form the face...the painting and final creation is my students' work. Give it up for George and Rosalia (aged 10!).

Our (unnamed) cat!

2009-01-13T17:16:00.007+02:00

Here's my cat who wishes to say hi to all the pets owned by bloggers throughout the world!!

"Hello. I live in a greek village called "loutra" (spas) and I am the beloved friend and companion of a nice granny. I like hunting mice and teasing the family's dog, flox. I have no name but I don't know why exactly. All I want is a little attention. If you don't hurt me I will not hurt you. But if you don't play with me...well then...I'll do this...

This is our unnamed, beautiful, little cat. It is true that a few years back someone poissoned another cat-pet we had, named Toto. After Toto my granny was afraid of loosing another cat so we never got a new one. Up till the spring of 2008. I saw this baby cat in a friend's house (giving them away) and I had to have her! My granny was happy about it but she said she wouldn't name it (I guess the fear of loosing it and being close to it again). So this is our cute little pet...care to offer her a name?

Interview...

2009-01-13T15:53:00.010+02:00

These are the answers to the questions sent to me by Meggie, whose blog offers us many beautiful little treats of life :-)

I don't know who had the original and wonderful idea. I followed the tracks and this is as far as It took me (maybe I found it maybe not :-)

Enjoy!

1. If you could live in another country, which one would you choose? or would you prefer your own country?

Technically I have lived in another country for almost a year, during my MA studies. It was in the UK (Manchester). The thought crossed my mind before leaving Greece...that If I liked it there it would be nice to try and live there for a while. I mean it was such a big trip and I wouldn't want to waste it. I enjoyed every minute I spend in Manchester...I treasure the moments, the friends from other countries (some of them I still talk to regularly). Now you might say ok but...that is not the answer to the question.

Well my time there made me realise something...that I LOVE other cultures, civilizations, countries, people but...only if I know that I can come back home. So I would love to live in Greece (and be able to travel :-)

2. If you could spend a holiday in another country, which one would you choose?

I wanna go to Spain (Barchelona) and France (Paris). Me and my good friend Jim also dream about going to New York and Hong Kong (I have a dear friend living there) and...and...and...oh I want to go everywere!!!

3. Would you choose another career path, to the one you currently have? Why?

I have always wanted to be a teacher and I did everything I could in order to become one. My friends say I am the only one, they know, who knew exactly what she wanted. So...I love my job deeply and I can't imagine myself doing anything else. However, If I had the time and money I would also love to open a little shop-workshop, creating and selling my plaster masks and books (wouldn't mind if there were some of MY books on a shelf either :-)

4. What is your favourite colour, & why?

My favorite colour is blue.

I grew up in a town by the sea...my dad was born in Lesvos (a beautiful greek island) and I just think of the sea when I see all kinds of blue shades (which is funny because water is white! It's a good thing this 'interaction' with the light happens and we get that wonderful blue colour :-)

This is a picture of my hometown's little port...

5. Is there someone from your past you would like to meet up with again? Or not? & why?

Now that is an excellent question that needs thought...hmm I believe that people from our past stopped being with us, in any way, because...life happened. However, there are two people I would like to meet again :-)

The first one is Chi-ho. He is a great friend of mine and we met in Manchester during our MA studies. We became and still are friends but he is there (Hong Kong) and I am here now (Greece). Thanks to the internet we "talk" but it is not the same as having the person close, talking, touching, hearing and all. I wish that someday we will be able to meet again in person and talk like we did back then.

The second is my roomate from the university, sophia. We shared a house for three years and they were the best years of my life. We were like sisters and even though she is across the country now it would be nice to have a cup of coffee and talk like old times.

So that is all :-)

Hope you enjoyed it

Now here are the rules of the interview-game. I will post them and should anyone wishes to participate and continue this...it would be great!

1. Send me an e-mail or comment saying "interview me"

2. Then 5 questions will be e-mailed to you (questions I choose to ask you :-)

3. Answer them on your blog

4. Do not forget to re-post the rules along with your answers and offer to interview anyone else who e-mails you or comments that they wish to be interviewed!

take care now
peace and love
xoxo

The weight of the word..."child"

2009-01-12T10:29:00.006+02:00

"Αλάφρυνε σα φτερό η λέξη κι ας είναι βουτηγμένη στο αίμα. Όσοι καμώνονται ότι την κατανοούν και την υπερασπίζονται την έννοια παιδί, δεν κατέκλυσαν τους δρόμους της οικουμένης στο άκουσμα του βομβαρδισμού ενός σχολείου κι ενός νοσοκομείου γεμάτων με παιδιά. Κι όμως είναι οι ίδιοι άνθρωποι που κόπτονταν για τα παιδιά μόλις ένα μήνα πριν. Τα παιδιά της πέτρας, της αμφισβήτησης, της... του... Το παιδί γίνεται δυσθεώρητα αξιοσέβαστο στο δυτικό πολιτισμό μόνον όταν συνοδεύεται από κτητικές αντωνυμίες. Τα δικά μας. Το δικό μου. Αλλιώς αριθμοποιούνται, ταξινομούνται, ζυγίζονται σα λιπόσαρκα αρνάκια γάλακτος κι ύστερα βγαίνει ο λύκος και διευκρινίζει πως άμα το παιδί θεωρηθεί θώρακας ή ασπίδα του εχθρού, παύει να είναι παιδί και γίνεται απλώς χαλκομανία, αριθμός θυμάτων χαμένων στο σωρό."

Λιάνα Κανέλλη (για να διαβάσετε ολόκληρο το άρθρο πατήστε εδώ)

"A word as light as a feather though covered in blood. The concept of the word "child" [...] the children holding stones in their two little hands, the children of doubt, his...hers...The child becomes respectable in the western part of the wolrd only when followed by possessive pronouns. Ours...Mine... In any other occasion children are numbered, categorized, weigh out like fleshless baby lamps and then...there comes the big bad wolf to decide whether this or that child is an enemy 'protector' or shield. Then the child is no longer considered to be a child...it becomes just another number on the pile of the lost victims and "collateral damage"...

By Liana Kanelli (Greek Jurnalist, writer, activist)

Fight against war and repression...fight for the children of Palestine...The power is in our hands to try and raise our voices against the injustice and the murder of innocent people and children. Don't stay in and watch what is happening in front of your TV. Go out and become one with the voices that demand to...

"STOP THE WAR"

What is the purpose of your life? (Ποιός είναι ο σκοπός της ζωής σου;)

2009-01-02T12:24:00.000+02:00

(english version)

A question that simple and yet so complicated...

It is amazing how much energy, thinking and meditation is put in this-otherwise-ordinary day.

01/01/2009 and suddenly everyone starts thinking about their lives, dreams, hopes, aspirations, resolutions. We are happy the old has past and the new is here, we kiss whoever is standing next to us, we give presents, we celebrate, we remember people we never call...

01/02/2009 and suddenly everything goes back to normal. We sleep to regain the energy lost from the previous day, we stop meditating and thinking about our lives, dreams, hopes, aspirations and resolutions. We are neither happy nor sad and the new seems old somehow. We don't kiss whoever is standing next to us, got no money for more presents, we get back to work and we go back to calling only the 2-3 people we always call...

One of the interesting, yet difficult questions, I got the other day as regards the new year and life itself was this..."what is the purpose of your life?". At first I thought that the question is not fair...I mean we all have a purpose when we come into this world. It is there for us to discover it but life is not fair because a child born in Africa or Palaistine will never discover its true purpose...'life' will not let it happen. If the opportunities given in life are not the same and equal then how are we supposed to discover our true purpose? Then I started thinking about me and came down to this little conclusion...

We live in a world of our creation and we strive to find meaning in the little things it has to offer us...sometimes the smallest and meaningless thing (like a good word or jesture to somebody) can give you the biggest of pleasures. I don' t know were I am getting at with my life...all I know is that I want to try and start appreciating the small things and moments life has to offer. I' m afraid that if I miss these moments then...I miss my purpose in life itself!

Happy new 2009! Peace, love, health to all :-)

(Greek version)

Μια ερώτηση τόσο απλή αλλά ταυτόχρονα και τόσο περίπλοκη...

Είναι απίστευτο το πόση ενέργεια, σκέψη και περισυλλογή εναποθέτουμε σε αυτήν την--κατά τ' άλλα-- συνηθισμένη ημέρα.

01/01/2009 και ξαφνικά όλοι αρχίζουν να σκέφτονται για τις ζωές τους, τα όνειρα, τις ελπίδες, τις φιλοδοξίες και τις αποφάσεις τους. Είμαστε χαρούμενοι που το παλιό έχει περάσει και το νέο έχει καταφτάσει, φιλάμε όποιον έχουμε δίπλα μας, δίνουμε δώρα, το γιορτάζουμε, τηλεφωνούμε σε ανθρώπους με τους οποίους δεν συνηθίζουμε να επικοινωνούμε στην καθημερινότητα μας...

02/01/2009 και ξαφνικά όλα έρχονται στα ίσια τους. Κοιμόμαστε για να αναπληρώσουμε την ενέργεια που σπαταλήθηκε την προηγούμενη ημέρα. Σταματάμε την περισυλλογή και τις σκέψεις για τη ζωή, τα όνειρα, τις ελπίδες και τις αποφάσεις μας. Δεν είμαστε χαρούμενοι , αλλά ούτε και λυπημένοι, και το καινούριο φαντάζει παλιό κατά έναν περίεργο τρόπο. Δεν μοιράζουμε φιλιά από δω κι απο κεί και η τσέπη μας είναι άδεια για άλλα δώρα. Ετσι επιστρέφουμε στη δουλειά και στο να τηλεφωνούμε και πάλι τους 2-3 ανθρώπους με τους οποίους επικοινωνούμε σε καθημερινή βάση...

Μια από τις ποιό ενδιαφέρουσες και δύσκολες ερωτήσεις που μου έκαναν χτές, σ' ότι αφορά τον καινούριο χρόνο και τη ζωή μου, ήταν και η εξής..."Ποιός νομίζεις ότι είναι ο σκοπός της ζωής σου;". Στην αρχή σκέφτηκα ότι η ερώτηση δεν είναι δίκαιη...όλοι έχουμε έναν σκοπό όταν ερχόμαστε στη ζωή. Ο σκοπός αυτός είναι εκεί και μας περιμένει να τον ανακαλύψουμε αλλά η ζωή η ίδια μας βάζει τρικλοποδιές. Ενα παιδί που γεννήθηκε στην Αφρική ή την Παλαιστίνη δεν θα έχει την ευκαιρία να ανακαλύψει το δικό του σκοπό. Αν οι ευκαιρίες που δίνονται στη ζωή δεν είναι ίσες και ίδιες τότε πως υποτίθεται ότι θα ανακαλύψουμε τον πραγματικό σκοπό της ύπαρξης μας; Μετά άρχισα να σκέφτομαι για μένα και κατέληξα στο εξής συμπέρασμα...

Ζούμε σε έναν κόσμο που εμείς οι ίδιοι δημιούργήσαμε και παλεύουμε να βρούμε νόημα στα μικρά πράγματα που έχει να μας προσφέρει η ζωή. Μερικές φορές το πιο μικρό και χωρίς νόημα πράγμα (όπως μια κίνηση ή ένας καλός λόγος σε κάποιον) μπορεί να σου προσφέρει μεγάλη συγκίνηση και χαρά. Δεν έχω ιδέα που θα με βγάλει το μονοπάτι της ζωής μου...το μόνο που ξέρω είναι οτι θέλω να προσπαθήσω και να αρχίσω να απολαμβάνω τις μικρές χαρές και στιγμές που μου προσφέρονται. Φοβάμαι ότι αν χάσω αυτές τις στιγμές τότε...θα χάσω το νόημα της ίδιας μου της ζωής!

Καλή χρονιά! Ειρήνη, αγάπη, υγεία σε όλους :-)

HO HO HO...

2008-12-25T01:19:00.000+02:00

Merry Christmas everyone!! Enjoy the family times, be happy and...drive carefully :-)

Καλά Χριστούγεννα σε όλους!! Χαρείτε τις οικογενειακές στιγμές, να είστε ευτυχισμένοι και...να οδηγείτε προσεχτικά :-)

η ιστορία ενός...barcode

2008-12-02T00:12:00.000+02:00

Ήταν μια φορά κι έναν καιρό ένας άνθρωπος. Είχε δύο χέρια, δυο πόδια και ένα μυαλό που τον έκανε να ξεχωρίζει από τα άλλα έμψυχα και άψυχα όντα της γης.

Εν έτη 2008 και στο κατώφλι του 2009 ο άνθρωπος μας κοιμόταν, ξυπνούσε, έπινε καφέ, δούλευε, συζητούσε και έκανε γενικά όλα τα φυσιολογικά πράγματα που κάνει κάθε άλλο , όμοιο με αυτόν, ον. Το σημαντικότερο όμως κατόρθωμα του ... ο άνθρωπος αυτός κατανάλωνε.

Κατανάλωνε τα πάντα..."επένδυε" τα χρήματα του σε ότι έβρισκε και πίστευε ότι θα καλυτερέψει τη ζωή του. Εκεί όμως όπου έδινε τη μεγαλύτερη βάση...στα προϊόντα των Σούπερ Μάρκετ! Εκεί όπου τα προϊόντα έχουν το ράφι τους, είναι ταξινομημένα, με ταμπελάκια για να τα ξεχωρίζεις. Εκεί όπου υπάρχουν πολλές επιλογές και οι ζωή είναι εύκολη και γρήγορη κι αυτό...χάρη στα barcodes.

"Μεγάλη εφεύρεση το barcode" σκέφτηκε ο άνθρωπος μας. "Παλιότερα είχαμε τα μανάβικα και τα μπακάλικα. Σημειωματάριο, προσθέσεις και πάλι προσθέσεις. Τώρα; Τώρα φακελώνεις, κατηγοριοποιείς, τελείωσες. Μπιπ πάνω από το μηχάνημα και αυτό ήταν, έχεις όποια πληροφορία χρειάζεσαι".

Αυτό που δεν περίμενε ο άνθρωπος μας να συμβεί όμως με τίποτα...η απόκτηση του ολόδικου του barcode. Μια μέρα του είπαν ότι με αυτόν τον τρόπο θα γινόταν ευκολότερη η ζωή του. "Είμαστε τόσοι πολλοί πια στον κόσμο αυτό που είναι απαραίτητη η ταξινόμηση μας" του είπαν. "Έτσι θα μπορούμε να εξυπηρετήσουμε τον κόσμο ευκολότερα στις δημόσιες υπηρεσίες, τις δουλειές, σε εξετάσεις που πιθανόν να δώσουν ή να πάρουν". "Ναι αλλά τι στοιχεία θα υπάρχουν καταγεγραμμένα μέσα σε αυτό το barcode;" ρώτησε ο άνθρωπος μας. "Τα πάντα" του απάντησαν.

Ο άνθρωπος μας πήρε τον κωδικό του αδιαμαρτύρητα και ξεκίνησε τη μέρα του όπως κάθε άλλη φορά. Μπαίνοντας στο super market για τα καθιερωμένα ψώνια της ημέρας είδε στο ράφι ένα πακέτο μακαρόνια να του χαμογελάει πονηρά...έβγαλε από την τσέπη το barcode που είχε στο πορτοφόλι του και κοίταξε το προϊόν που τον 'κοιτούσε' επίμονα. "Τι κοιτάς!!" του φώναξε...

Μπιπ...μπιπ...μπιπ....μπιπ του χαμογέλασε εκείνο :-)

"Καλώς ήρθες στον αυτόματο και μηχανιστικό κόσμο μου...μη σκέφτεσαι πια...μόνο άκου"

Μπιπ...μπιπ...μπιπ...

σημείωση: εμπνευσμένο από το barcode που μοιράστηκε στους υποψηφίους που δώσανε το τεστ δεξιοτήτων του ΑΣΕΠ στις 30/11/2008.

Athens...by train!

2008-11-18T15:41:00.000+02:00

I went to Athens again this weekend. Saw my good friend Efi! We had a GREAT time!

One of the things we did was to take the train tour. The train takes you to places like Monastiraki, Thisio, Acropolis, Sintagma (the parliament is there).

Well it was great and I have the proof for it...enjoy a 'ride' downtown :-)

Αξιολόγηση Συμ-μόρφωσης και Εξευτελισμός Πτυχιούχων

2008-11-10T13:22:00.000+02:00

Στα γρανάζια της γραφειοκρατίας...

Υποψήφιος τίτλος για βιβλίο του Στίβεν Κινγκ και για sci-fi κινηματογραφικό θρίλερ. Στην ταινία η κάμερα 'εισβάλει' σε ένα κτίριο ψηλό και άχρωμο, γκρίζο με τοίχους βαμμένους με μπογιά (κόκκινη κατά προτίμηση). Το σύνθημα "θέλουμε δουλειά και όχι ανεργία". Το πλάνο συνεχίζει την πορεία του, περνάει την μεταλλική πόρτα και ο θεατής βλέπει ένα διάδρομο με καρέκλες και ένα τραπέζι στη μέση. Στον τοίχο τοιχοκολλημένες ανακοινώσεις, αιτήσεις, λίστες με δικαιολογητικά. Στη μέση του τραπεζιού κούτες με αιτήσεις που τις ξεχωρίζεις μόνο από τον αριθμό που έχουν πάνω τους (το 322 είναι γι' αυτό και το 321 για άλλο πράγμα).

Γύρω γύρω καθισμένοι άνθρωποι άγνωστοι μεταξύ τους να γράφουν ασταμάτητα. Το βλέμμα τους μαρτυρά αγανάκτηση, λύπη και κούραση μαζί. Μπορεί κανείς να τους παρομοιάσει με κάποιον που βρίσκεται κοντά στο να πάρει τη σύνταξη του. Έχει φτάσει στα 65, χαίρεται που έζησε για να πάρει αυτά που του αναλογούν (;) αλλά χρειάζεται να δουλέψει λίγο ακόμα για να φτάσει στο στόχο του. Πηγαίνει λοιπόν κάθε φορά στη δουλειά και κάνει αυτό που ξέρει να κάνει καλύτερα τόσα χρόνια αναμένοντας τις ώρες που θα σταματήσει και ... θα ξεκουραστεί.

Έτσι είναι και οι δικοί μας πρωταγωνιστές, καρικατούρες του εαυτού τους, κάποιοι σας εσένα κι εμένα που ξέρουν πολύ καλά την όλη διαδικασία (χαρτιά, επικυρώσεις, παράβολα, αιτήσεις). Η μόνη τους κοινωνικοποίηση και αυτό που τους δένει τη συγκεκριμένη στιγμή είναι η αίτηση..."να σε ρωτήσω κάτι κοπελιά; Εδώ το κουτάκι αυτό πως το συμπλήρωσες, κεφαλαία ή μικρά; Το όνομα σου;".

Η κάμερα συνεχίζει το δρόμο της για να συναντήσει κι άλλους ανθρώπους όλων των ηλικιών και των προσόντων να προσπαθούν να κάνουν το ίδιο πράγμα. Να αποδείξουν σε κάποιους που δεν θα νοιαστούν ποτέ γι' αυτούς...το πόσο αξίζουν. Το αν αξίζουν οι ίδιοι υπήρξε κάποια στιγμή στη ζωή τους που το ένιωθαν. Τότε, στην ορκωμοσία τους από τη σχολή, όπου όλοι τους έδιναν λουλούδια και συγχαρητήρια και η ζωή ήταν μπροστά τους στρωμένη με υποσχέσεις και αισιοδοξία. Τότε δεν έβλεπες κανένα τοίχο να υψώνεται μπροστά σου, κανένα εμπόδιο. Υπάρχει όμως κάτι για το οποίο δεν σε προετοιμάζει κανένα πανεπιστήμιο και καμία οικογένεια. Και αυτό είναι ο ΑΣΕΠ...

Ο ΑΣΕΠ είναι ένας οργανισμός που αξιολογεί αν τελικά αυτά που έμαθες και που οι καθηγητές σου πιστοποίησαν με τους βαθμούς τους (κι εσύ με την προσωπική σου προσπάθεια) είναι...αλήθεια. Τα θυμάσαι αυτά για τα οποία σπούδασες; Για να το πιστοποιήσει αυτό ο ΑΣΕΠ διεξάγει εξετάσεις, στις οποίες εξετάζει όχι μόνο τις γνώσεις άλλα και τα νεύρα και τις αντοχές σου. Έτσι βασικό μέρος τις όλης δοκιμασίας είναι και η συμπλήρωση των αιτήσεων για να λάβεις μέρος. Αν είσαι αρκετά παρατηρητικός και γνωρίζεις την επιστήμη της σημασιολογίας καταλαβαίνεις τι θέλει να πει η προκήρυξη. Αν έχεις καλό επικοινωνιακό στυλ και είσαι κοινωνικός θα τα καταφέρεις και θα βγάλεις άκρη με τα τηλέφωνα και το τμήμα ενημέρωσης του οργανισμού.

Όταν τελικά τελειώσεις από όλα αυτά σου μένει χρόνος (;) για διάβασμα και περισυλλογή, το τρέξιμο στα φροντιστήρια για να μπορέσεις να ανταπεξέλθεις και η απορία...γιατί ο ΑΣΕΠ έχει δικό του κωδικό τηλεφωνικού αριθμού και δεν ξεκινά με 210-... ; Σαν ένα άλλο Άγιο Όρος, ένα άλλο κράτος μέσα στο κράτος. Μια πόλη όπου κυβερνά η "γραφειοκρατία" κι όλοι εμείς είμαστε η πιστοί 'ψηφοφόροι' που δεχόμαστε τη μια και μοναδική μοναρχία που επικρατεί. Όπου δεχόμαστε την τακτική του "διαίρει και βασίλευε".

Τι έβαλες στο κουτάκι είπαμε...χ ή ν...;

ΤΕΛΟΣ ΕΠΟΧΗΣ

2008-10-31T22:28:00.000+02:00

Σήμερα κάποιος μου είπε ότι η εβδομάδα που μας έρχεται είναι και η τελευταία με καλό καιρό. Αν και άργησε λίγο να μας κρυώσει νομίζω...καιρός του ήτανε!

Οι εικόνες είναι από τον κήπο μας στο χωριό. Χαρακτηριστικά η γιαγιά μου είπε ότι λόγω καλοκαιρίας τα τριανταφυλλάκια μας κράτησαν περισσότερο...

καλό φθινόπωρο :-)

A TRIP DOWN TO MEMORY LANE...

2008-10-30T20:49:00.000+02:00

Η ΑΘΗΝΑ ΤΗ ΝΥΧΤΑ...

2008-10-30T00:25:00.000+02:00

Η ΑΘΗΝΑ ΤΗ ΝΥΧΤΑ...δεν μοιάζει με αρχόντισσα.

Η δική μου Αθήνα μοιάζει με περιστέρι. Κρύβει μια ελευθερία και μια πολυπλοκότητα, έχει τα φόντα για να "πετάξει" αλλά...δεν πάει μακριά, γυρνάει πάντα στο ίδιο σημείο, κοντά στον κόσμο και τη βαβούρα. Ζει από τα ψίχουλα και την καλοσύνη των άλλων, την αγάπη πολλών αλλά την προστασία λίγων. Είναι εκτεθειμένη μα και...καλομαθημένη. Έχει μια άγρια ομορφιά, μια γκρίζα μίξη χρωμάτων που την κάνουν μοναδική κι ας είναι...σκούρα και άχαρη.

Όταν ήμουν φοιτήτρια στη Θεσσαλονίκη στο δεύτερο έτος αποφάσισα να βρω συγκάτοικο και να μετακομίσουμε στο κέντρο της πόλης, πίσω από τη ροτόντα. Βρήκαμε ένα παμπάλαιο διαμέρισμα και χωρίς πολλά πολλά είπαμε το ναι. Κατά τη διάρκεια της μετακόμισης συνειδητοποιήσαμε ότι είχαμε ξεχάσει να κοιτάξουμε τα πίσω μπαλκονάκια του σπιτιού. Το λάθος ήταν ότι είχαμε ενθουσιαστεί τόσο με την ιδέα του κέντρου και της αμεσότητας που αυτό σου προσφέρει που είχαμε αγνοήσει εντελώς...τα περιστέρια που φώλιαζαν στο μπαλκόνι. Το καλοκαίρι η μυρωδιά και οι ακαθαρσίες ήταν τόσο έντονα που είχαμε απηυδήσει.

Λατρεύω τα περιστέρια αλλά μόνο για όσο διαρκεί μια βόλτα στην πλατεία συντάγματος. Λατρεύω την Αθήνα για τον ίδιο λόγο. Τα θέατρα, τον πολιτισμό, τον πλουραλισμό, την ανομοιογένεια, τους ανθρώπους αλλά...για πόσο; Τελικά είναι προτιμότερο να ζεις ή να επισκέπτεσαι; Να δουλεύεις εκεί ή να χαλαρώνεις σε διακοπές ενώ η δουλειά σου σε περιμένει αλλού; Ιδού η απορία...

όταν έφυγα από τη Θεσσαλονίκη και άφησα πίσω μου το σπίτι που πέρασα τρία ολόκληρα χρόνια μαζί με τα...περιστέρια...έκλαψα. Όσο κι αν χαιρόμουνα που δεν θα τα ξαναέβλεπα, που δεν θα ξανακαθάριζα ήξερα ότι θα μου λείψουν και ότι τουλάχιστον μια φορά το χρόνο...θα ήθελα να τα ξανάβλεπα. Εστω και για λίγο.

Αυτή είναι η Αθήνα για μένα λοιπόν...το δικό μου μεγάλο περιστέρι.

Till next time...καλή αντάμωση!

Αθήνα 26-28/10/2008

THE (SECOND) BEST PLAY I ' V SEEN SO FAR!!

2008-04-16T22:23:00.001+03:00

"Κάθε χρόνο ίδια μέρα" του Bernard Slade

Θέατρο Εγνατία-Θεσ/νικη (μέχρι και την επόμενη εβρομάδα).

'Πιθανώς η πιο πετυχημένη κωμωδία δύο χαρακτήρων που ανέβηκε ποτέ στο Μπροντγουαίη. Το "κάθε χρόνο ίδια μέρα" παίχτηκε για 1444 παραστάσεις και μαζί με το "Αρσενικό και Παλιά Δαντέλα" μοιράζεται την ένατη θέση στην κατάταξη των μακροβιότερων παραστάσεων.' - Από το πρόγραμμα της παράστασης.

Τώρα και στην Ελλάδα...

Μετάφραση ΜΙΧΑΛΗΣ ΠΑΠΑΜΙΧΑΛΗΣ

Σκηνοθεσία ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΑΡΖΟΓΛΟΥ

Παίζουν ΜΑΡΙΑΝΝΑ ΤΟΥΜΑΣΑΤΟΥ / ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ ΣΤΑΥΡΟΥ

ΣΠΕΥΣΑΤΕ!!!!!

ΟΙ ΕΚΛΟΓΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΝΣΠΟΥΔΑΣΤΙΚΗΣ!!!

2008-04-10T20:35:00.000+03:00

Well done PKS!!

Results coming up later...

caveman (εγώ κυνηγάει, εσύ μαζεύει)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-03-29T23:26:00.000+02:00

Αν τα θαυμαστικά υποδείκνυαν το πόσο καλή είναι αυτή η παράσταση τότε...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ο Χριστόδουλος Στυλιανού κεντάει. One man Show επί 2+ ώρες δεν είναι κι εύκολο πράγμα. Το κείμενο ατόφια...κωμωδία. Το κοινό (στην περίπτωση της Αλεξανδρούπολης) μουδιασμένο στην αρχή...όρθιο να χειροκροτεί για 5 λεπτά στο τέλος. Το ηθικό δίδαγμα..ότι οι άντρες τελικά..."δεν είναι μαλάκες"...απλά διαφορετικοί σε σχέση με τις γυναίκες.

Αυτός είναι ο caveman και όποιος δεν τον έχει γνωρίσει τουλάχιστον για μια φορά στη ζωή του...πρέπει ν' αρχίσει ν' ανησυχεί! Τρέξτε...περιοδεύει...και σε αφήνει άναυδο!

Υ.Γ Εγώ πάντως μετά από αυτό το 2ωρο έχω αλλάξει κοσμοθεωρία!

Ευρώπη...my a...s

2008-03-19T00:25:00.000+02:00

Θέλησα κι εγώ ν' αγοράσω ένα βιβλίο. Τι κάνεις σε αυτήν την περίπτωσή; Πας σε ένα βιβλιοπωλείο...όχι όμως αν κατάγεσαι από την όμορφη Αλεξ/πολη!

Πήγα λοιπόν σε όλα τα βιβλιοπωλεία...ρώτησα...παρακάλεσα...ικέτεψα τους κουστουμαρισμένους και ατσαλάκωτους "βιβλιοπωλητές" της πόλης αυτής να μου βρουν ένα αντίγραφο.

"Λυπάμαι πολύ αλλά το βιβλίο αυτό είναι αδύνατο να το βρούμε" ήταν η απάντηση. Το παίρνω κι εγώ απόφαση λοιπόν και στρέφομαι στο "θεό" του αιώνα που διανύουμε...το διαδίκτυο. Χρειάστηκαν 10 e-mail (5 δικά μου και 5 της συγγραφέως) και 6 ημέρες για να φτάσει το βιβλίο (με υπογραφή παρακαλώ) από την Καλιφόρνια.

Και ερωτώ:

Could we BE more medieval here in the beautiful town of Alexandroupolis?

Thank you Elizabeth Rosner I will never forget what you did for me!!!

"Ευρωπαϊκό όνειρο" ή εφιάλτης;

2008-03-16T20:44:00.000+02:00

Από τη Eurostat ανακοινώθηκε έκθεση για τη φτώχια στις χώρες της Ε.Ε., η οποία περιλαμβάνει στοιχεία φωτιά για τις υποτιθέμενες πλέον αναπτυγμένες χώρες:

78 εκατ. ζουν σε συνθήκες φτώχιας και το χάσμα μεταξύ πλουσίων και φτωχών διευρύνεται σε πολλά κράτη μέλη.

Η φτώχια και η ανισότητα επηρρεάζουν περισσότερο τις γυναίκες [το μέσο εισόδημά τους είναι το 55% του μέσου εισοδήματος των ανδρών], ενώ, ειδικά οι μεγαλύτερες, αποκτούν ολοένα και δυσκολότερη πρόσβαση στην αγορά εργασίας.

Τα παιδιά είναι τα πιο εκτεθειμένα στη φτώχια και τον κοινωνικό αποκλεισμό, αφού το 15% των μαθητών εγκαταλείπει το σχολείο [σε μερικές δε χώρες το 1/3].

Πάνω από 50 εκατ. πολίτες είναι άτομα με αναπηρία, το δε ποσοστό ανεργίας τους είναι διπλάσιο των μη αναπήρων.

Η φτώχια και η ανεργία συνδέονται με προβλήματα υγείας, που οφείλονται στην κακή διατροφή, στο υποβαθμισμένο περιβάλλον, την ακατάλληλη στέγαση και το άγχος.

Είναι πια πασιφανές και στους πιο δύσπιστους ποιο είναι το "όνειρο" που καλούμαστε να ζήσουμε. Μπορούμε να το αποδεχτούμε χωρίς αντίδραση και αγώνα για την ανατροπή αυτού του εφιαλτικού μέλλοντος;

Writers of the world unite...

2008-03-16T14:12:00.000+02:00

Their strike may be over...but the battle has just began...fight the future before it is too late!