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

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!?!?

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)!!

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!

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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!!

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

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

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...

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

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

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...

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?)

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 :)

"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!!

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!!!

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

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...

...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

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":)

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)

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!

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..."

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 :)

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 :)

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...

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)

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...

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

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"...

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)!

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 :-)

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"!

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?

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 :-)

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

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

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

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

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