One thing

taken from No Impact Man

One thing I can always do

People ask me all the time what they can do to help. I have a list of things that you can find here. But there are times when it seems like nothing I can possibly do on that list or any thing else help the world. I don't mean to sound pious, as if I spend all my days trying to figure out how to help--I don't.

But there are times when I become aware of so many things that seem to be going wrong and I feel powerless in the face of it all. At that moment, there seems like there is only one thing left I can do: I pray.

I know this might offend some people. It will offend some people because the idea that prayer is an answer to the world's problems sounds weak and overly supernatural. It will offend others because the idea that prayer is a last resort instead the first sounds like an error.

But I am not talking about what other people do or should do. I am not talking about how other people or even I should do things. I am just talking about what comes naturally to me.

When it seems like there is nothing left to do, I pray. And because I pray, I feel I am doing something that is, at least, better than nothing. There is always one thing left to do. And because I pray silently and privately, and because I know some other people do so too, I feel solidarity with them.

"Prayer" is just the way of talking about what I do from my own spiritual perspective. An agnostic or atheist, at that point, might simply hope or aspire. Perhaps a Buddhist would chant.

I know that I'm risking sounding like a crackpot to some people, that I'm taking the risk of sounding irrational. But here is the thing, I think we--meaning the human race--has come to depend too much on its rationality. We have come to worship our brains when what is best about us may be our heart. We imagine that intelligence is our highest function when, in fact, that status may belong to our compassion.

So I figure I should pray. Or hope. Or aspire. I'm not saying that I should stop doing everything else, but maybe there is something to the intentionality that comes when we privately aspire, through the function of our compassion, to do something great.

Anyone want to join in?

Chitty is alive

For those of you who never read his blog, it's still in the air...
don't lose the opportunity to visit Chitty's old posts
he's still uploading videos.

while

It's been a while. Oh I know, but hey, I've been working hard. Apart from that, I've been a busy bee for the last six months or so.

So, stay tuned. I´ll resume posting here soon.

metas

cuáles son las más importantes?
personales, laborales?
mix?

a dónde nos llevan?

brand new day

I can't think of a better time than today: it's a sunny day and I'm ready to be surprised. Three days away from my birthday, I'm singing and feeling happy.

And for once in my life, being thrilled about this brand new day depends on myself.

esas raras sensaciones navideñas

regalos, regalos, regalos.
sueño con no hacerlos, con no recibirlos.
sueño que dejaron de ser parte de la rutina.

pero la navidad tiene esa magia que a último momento te contagia, te despierta, te arranca una sonrisa.

feliz navidad a todos

heard it before

be patient!!!!!!

why do I have to hear that phrase over and over again???

sueño

uf, me estoy despertando casi todos los días a las 5 AM, alguien me puede dar su consejo sobre qué hace para seguir durmiendo?

¡muchas gracias!

techno girl? not in a million years, baby!

Belle de Jour explains how I also feel about technology much better than I would:
5 things I hate about technology:


* Ubiquity. Until 2002, I had no home computer and no home phone (or mobile). When circumstances forced otherwise, I realised I was losing my much-cherished Home As Hideaway ideal, and am still sad about that.
* Assumed ubiquity. I also hate how people assumed because I had neither a home computer nor a telephone I didn't know how to use one.
* Fakes, meta-fakes, and meta-meta-fakes. This bothers me more than a single bullet point's worth of summary, but ho hum. There are a shocking number of people who make money, not off developing technology or using it, but about talking about the people who develop technology or use it. Talking about the people who talk about developing technology or using it seems big these days. And those who discuss the cultural implications of talking about people who talk about the people who develop or use technology even seem to have their own conferences now. The content seems to me a lot like Wikipedia: broad, yet shallow. This makes me sad.
* Upgrades. I totally do not see the point of Microsoft Office and still wish for a word processor as good and with as many features as Wordperfect circa 1992. Yes, I also miss dot matrix printers, and those neat ones with little coloured pens. Sosueme.
* Cables. Ones I don't need or can't remember if I don't need them. Clogging up the place. Enough already. Mobile phone manufacturers, sort your shit out already. Everyone else, just start using Firewire and get it over with please.


5 things I love about technology:


* Multi-speed vibrators. So I don't use most of the settings, it's all about the fact that I could. This is truly the massaging shower head of now, amirite?
* Buying shit online. OMG, I can get a Jetboil replacement parts pack, an Elle Macpherson bra, and Life of Pi from the same website? Delivered tomorrow? Life. Is now. Complete.
* Never having to go to the periodicals section of a library ever again. Although I do resent the students of today for never having to know that particular form of torture.
* Spying on people I knew a long time ago. Way to go, Facebook. Now I need never give in to the urge to want to see them in person to discover how things turned out.
* Nanoparticles. Decades from now we will probably discover, too late, that they will kill us all. But fuckin' A. It's nice to live in an era where you can drop that word into conversation and people won't think you're a comic-reading nerd (even if you are)(fwiw I no longer have an active subscription to 2000 AD).

des-medida

Si la suerte es proporcional a lo que piso en la calle (sin detalles, se sobreentiende,¿no?), creo que tengo que tener mucha pero mucha suerte por lo menos por varios años seguidos.

es largo de contar

si escuchaste esta frase, acordate de mí: seguí escuchando atentamente... ¡¡¡escuchá!!!

porque si escuchás, vas a entender lo que el otro no te está diciendo.
porque si escuchás, vas a comprender desde otro lugar lo que sí te está diciendo y lo que está callando.

y recién después de mucho escuchar, pero después de mucho, mucho, mucho escuchar, recién en ese momento, te vas a dar cuenta si es para vos o no.

speechless

Listening to old songs, such as Careless Whisper makes me feel hopeless, to say the least (all the memories I wanted to bury are back, so back that I think it'll take me years to get over all this stuff).

Well, this may be a new song phase...
let's see...

adsense payments

After laughing for quite a long time, now I can share the info: the balance of my adsense account is USD8.5 (for 3 years)...


do they really think I'm going to spend time filling forms so that they can pay me that?

been there, done that?

Watching a Seinfeld's episode:

Elaine: Been a while?
Jerry: I have a vague recollection of doing something with someone, but it was a long, long time ago.
Elaine: I think my last time was in Rochester. My hair was a lot shorter.
Jerry: I remember that it's a good thing. Someday, I hope to do it again. (Jerry looks at Elaine)
Elaine: What?
Jerry: What?
Elaine: What was that look?
Jerry: What look?
Elaine: The look you just gave me.
Jerry: I gave a look?
Elaine: Yes.
Jerry: What kind of look?
Elaine: I know that look.
Jerry: Then what was it?
Elaine: Why should I tell you?
Jerry: Well, you're the big look expert. I wanna see how smart you are.
Elaine: Trust me. I know the look. (Pause) So...
Jerry: What?
Elaine: What about the look?
Jerry: I don't know.
Elaine: You got something on your mind?
Jerry: No. Things pop into your head. You?
Elaine: Things occur to me from time to time.
Jerry: Yeah, me too. Well, you can't expect to just forget the past completely.
Elaine: No, of course not.
Jerry: I mean, it was something we did. Probably about, what? Twenty-five times?
Elaine: Thirty-seven.
Jerry: Yeah, we pretty much know what we're doin' in there. (Points to bedroom)
Elaine: We know the terrain.
Jerry: No big surprises.
Elaine: Nope.
Jerry: What do you think?
Elaine: I don't know. What do you think?
Jerry: Well, it's something to consider.
Elaine: Yeah.
Jerry: I mean, let's say we did.
Elaine: What if.
Jerry: Is that like the end of the world or something?
Elaine: Certainly not.
Jerry: Why shouldn't we be able to do that once in a while if we want to?
Elaine: I know.
Jerry: I mean, really, what is the big deal? We go in there. (Points to the bedroom) We're in there for a while. We come right back out here. It's not complicated.
Elaine: It's almost stupid if we didn't.
Jerry: It's moronic.
Elaine: Absurd!
Jerry: Of course, I guess, maybe, some little problems could arise.
Elaine: We, there are always a few.
Jerry: I mean, if anything happened, and we couldn't be friends the way we are now, that would be really bad.
Elaine: Devastating.
Jerry: Because this is very good. (Points back and forth between them to indicate friendship)
Elaine: And that would be good. (Points to bedroom)
Jerry: That would be good too. The idea is combine the this and the that. But this cannot be disturbed.
Elaine: Yeah, we just wanna take this and add that.
Jerry: But of course, we'd have to figure out a way to avoid the things that cause the little problems. Maybe some rules or something.
Elaine: Huh.
Jerry: For example, now, I call you whenever I'm inclined and vice versa.
Elaine: Right.
Jerry: But if we did that, we might feel a certain obligation to call.
Elaine: Well why should that be? Oh, I have an idea. I have an idea. No call the day after that.
Jerry: Beautiful. Let's make it a rule.
Elaine: All right, sir.
Jerry: Now here's another little rule. When we see each other now, we retire to our separate quarters. But sometimes, when people get involved with that, they feel pressure to sleep over. When that is not really sleep. Sleep is separate from that. And I don't see why sleep got all tied up and connected with that.
Elaine: Okay, okay. Spending the night is optional!
Jerry: Well now we're gettin' somewhere.
Elaine: What about the kiss goodnight?
Jerry: Tough one. You're call.
Elaine: It's brug-wa (?).
Jerry: Fine. Well.
Elaine: Well.
Jerry: You ready?
Elaine: Ready.
Jerry: So think you can handle this?
Elaine: Definitely. (Runs into bookshelf)

In the same episode:

Jerry and George are at the store.
George: What about jewelry? That's very nice gift.
Jerry: No, no. I have to be very careful here. I don't want to send the wrong message. Especially after the other night.
George: Maybe I'll get her some jewelry.
Jerry: No, no. You can't get her anything better than me. Whatever I spend, you have to spend half.
George: What am I supposed to get, a bazooka?
Jerry: You don't understand. I'm in a very delicate position. Whatever I give her, she's going to be bringing in experts from all over the country to interpret the meaning behind it.
George: What does she need? Maybe there's something that she needs.
Jerry: I think I heard her say something about a bench.
George: A bench? What kind of a bench?
Jerry: I don't know, but she mentioned a bench.
George: What, like at a bus stop?
Jerry: I don't know.
George: Like a park bench?
Jerry: I have no idea.
George: Who puts a bench in their house?
Jerry: Forget the bench.
George: I got it. You wanna get her something nice? How 'bout a music box?
Jerry: No, too relationshippy. She opens it up, she hears that Laura's theme, I'm dead.
George: Okay, what about a nice frame? With a picture of another guy in it. Frame says I care for you, but if you wanna get serious, perhaps you'd be interested in someone like this.
Jerry: Nice looking fellow.
George: What about candle holders?
Jerry: Too romantic.
George: Lingerie?
Jerry: Too sexual.
George: Waffle maker.
Jerry: Too domestic.
George: Bust of Nelson Rockefeller.
Jerry: Too Gubernatorial. (?)
George: Let's work on the card.

Then:
Elaine: (Reading card) Think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such a friend.
Kramer: (To Jerry) Yates.
Elaine: Oh Kramer. (They embrace)
Jerry: Could you excuse us please?
Kramer: What?
Jerry: We're talking.
Kramer: Oh, the relationship. (He leaves)
Jerry: You know, we never had one fight before this deal.
Elaine: I know.
Jerry: Never.
Elaine: Ever.
Jerry: We got along beautifully.
Elaine: Like clams.
Jerry: It was wonderful.
Elaine: A pleasure.
Jerry: So I think we should just forget the whole deal, and go back to being friends.
Elaine: I can't do it.
Jerry: You what?
Elaine: I can't do that.
Jerry: You mean it's... (She nods) No this. No that. No this or that. Oh, boy. What do you want?
Elaine: This, that, and the other.
Jerry: Oh, sure. Of course, you're entitled. Who doesn't want this, that, and the other?
Elaine: You.
Jerry: (Starts to correct then realizes) Well...


Finally:
Elaine: All right, you can take the newspaper. But I want it back.

Kramer: Oh yeah. So, ah, what're you guys gonna do today?
Elaine: Ah, this. And that.
Jerry: And the other.
Kramer: Boy, I really liked the two of you much better when you weren't a couple. (He exits)

End.
(hey, this is fictional, please)...

comentarios

llevar a mi perra a pasear es toda una odisea, no solo porque su artrosis no le permite caminar bien, sino porque a cada paso las señoras de cierta edad me paran para hacerme algunos comentarios:

— ¡Te felicito que juntás lo que hace tu perra!

mi respuesta: mirada lacónica y sonrisa forzada (preferiría que en vez de felicitarme, siguieran caminando: no hago más que mi deber por tener una mascota).

— ¡Ojalá todos levantaran todo como vos!

respuesta similar...

pero siempre, siempre hay alguien que te hace cambiar de actitud: hoy una treintañera desde la ventanilla de su auto -el que detuvo solo para hacerme su comentario mientras se hacía una fila- me dijo:

— ¿No te da asco qu tu "perro" haga en el medio de la calle?-

(no era el medio de la calle, sino un costado del cordón)

y como decidí ignorar semejante comentario, siguió:

— ¡¿Escuchaste lo que te dije?!

esta vez, increíblemente, respondí:

— ¿Y vos viste las bolsitas que tengo para juntar lo que hace mi perra?

(entre nos, ¿será que podremos dejar de mirar lo que hace el otro para concentrarnos en lo que hacemos cada uno de nosotros como individuos? Parar el auto en una bocacalle para buscarle el "pero" al otro es algo totalmente inconcebible -sobre todo, si el otro es alguien responsable como yo-).

Vos, el de arriba, dame paciencia, mucha paciencia esta semana. Porque si la vuelvo a ver...

of all things

Though I can't explain myself clearly, I can say everything's changing.

may be a poem can give you an idea:

Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw--
For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.
He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:
For when they reach the scene of crime--Macavity's not there!

Macavity, Macavity, there's no on like Macavity,
He's broken every human law, he breaks the law of gravity.
His powers of levitation would make a fakir stare,
And when you reach the scene of crime--Macavity's not there!
You may seek him in the basement, you may look up in the air--
But I tell you once and once again, Macavity's not there!

Macavity's a ginger cat, he's very tall and thin;
You would know him if you saw him, for his eyes are sunken in.
His brow is deeply lined with thought, his head is highly doomed;
His coat is dusty from neglect, his whiskers are uncombed.
He sways his head from side to side, with movements like a snake;
And when you think he's half asleep, he's always wide awake.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macavity,
For he's a fiend in feline shape, a monster of depravity.
You may meet him in a by-street, you may see him in the square--
But when a crime's discovered, then Macavity's not there!

He's outwardly respectable. (They say he cheats at cards.)
And his footprints are not found in any file of Scotland Yard's.
And when the larder's looted, or the jewel-case is rifled,
Or when the milk is missing, or another Peke's been stifled,
Or the greenhouse glass is broken, and the trellis past repair--
Ay, there's the wonder of the thing! Macavity's not there!

And when the Foreign Office finds a Treaty's gone astray,
Or the Admiralty lose some plans and drawings by the way,
There may be a scap of paper in the hall or on the stair--
But it's useless of investigate--Macavity's not there!
And when the loss has been disclosed, the Secret Service say:
"It must have been Macavity!"--but he's a mile away.
You'll be sure to find him resting, or a-licking of his thumbs,
Or engaged in doing complicated long division sums.

Macavity, Macavity, there's no one like Macacity,
There never was a Cat of such deceitfulness and suavity.
He always has an alibit, or one or two to spare:
And whatever time the deed took place--MACAVITY WASN'T THERE!
And they say that all the Cats whose wicked deeds are widely known
(I might mention Mungojerrie, I might mention Griddlebone)
Are nothing more than agents for the Cat who all the time
Just controls their operations: the Napoleon of Crime!
The Mystery Cat, poem by T S Eliot

a way

Certain songs make me think of certain people... (hey, I warned you, song mode is over, but I'll keep on posting songs).

You've got a way with me
Somehow you got me to believe
In everything that I could be
I've gotta say, you really got a way.

You've got a way it seems
You gave me faith to find my dreams
You'll never know just what that means
Can't you see, you got a way with me.

It's in the way you want me
It's in the way you hold me
The way you show me just what love's made of
It's in the way we make love.

You've got a way with words
You get me smiling even when it hurts
There's no way to measure what your love is worth
I can't believe the way you get through to me.

Oh, how I adore you
Like no one before you
I love you just the way you are.

nuevos verbos pronominales

Yo cliqueo, tú cliqueas, pero, ¿cliqueame?, ¿te cliqueo?
Y... ¿te mensajeo? en vez de ¿te mando un mensaje?

¿no nos estamos yendo un poco lejos?
quizá todavía estoy un poco lenta para estos cambios...

longing

Ryan (my 8 year-old crush) is playing football in Germany and he says that Argentines play better, though Germans play well.


He doesn't know I'm taking his words so seriously. There's sth we do better. Amazing!

primavera

Supongamos que todavía la lluvia se refleja en mis pupilas.
Supongamos que los días de lluvia implican quedarse en casa.
O que de vez en cuando te toca salir.
Y mojarte.

Supongamos.

Ahora, también supongamos que mientras se te da vuelta el paraguas por enésima vez, decidís buscar un gorro para lluvia, aunque parezca tonto, y así ya no tener que depender del paraguas.
Supongamos que después de mucho buscar, lo encontrás.
Ahora, supongamos que increíblemente el tiempo cambia y todos los días de lluvia por delante se disiparon.
Supongamos que a partir de ahora, un nuevo elemento se cobija en tu cartera.
Pero sólo supongamos.
Porque la lluvia va a hacer su retorno triunfal.
Y cuando eso suceda, supongamos que voy a estar preparada.