This and that

You would have probably noticed by now that there is this weird weather system going on around the world. This is, by far, one of the coldest winters I have experienced. This makes me wonder, is there really global warming? I am no geological expert but my body certainly can tell it is not getting any warmer ... at least during this winter season. Sub-zero temperatures for more than a week is uncomfortable and unusual. And this comes from someone who is fortunate enough to be in a warm house (and grateful for it). I feel sorry for those who are homeless and those who have to work in horrendous icy temperatures because they do not have a choice.

On the positive side, I now have a huge freezer - my garden. If there is no place for food in the refrigerator, just put it out on the porch and it will be good the next day. I just need to make sure it is covered so that the neighbour's cat does not help himself to a frozen feast. Also, the garden looks pretty all white with snow (just ignore the plants that are trying to survive).

******************************************

Now, for a little walk down memory lane ... what were you doing in 1987? This only applies to those who remember 1987 for there is a possibility that some readers could have either been too young or too drunk to remember. :) One way I recall a piece of yesteryear is through music. Hearing a familiar song transports me back to a specific memory.

Here are a couple of Top 10s of 1987 that may jog your memory:

Billboard's Biggest Single

1. Faith by George Michael
2. Alone by Heart
3. I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
4. C'est La Vie by Robbie Nevil
5. Shake You Down by Gregory Abbot
6. La Bamba by Los Lobos
7. Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi
8. Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
9. Heaven is a Place On Earth by Belinda Carlisle
10. The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes

Most Watched TV Shows

1. The Cosby Show
2. A Different World
3. Cheers
4. The Golden Girls
5. Growing Pains
6. Who's The Boss
7. Night Court
8. 60 Minutes
9. Murder, She Wrote
10. Alf

Do any of these songs or TV shows bring back a specific memory?

Back to Life .. in Germany!

Happy New Year, y'all. I am back to blogging. It has certainly been a much enjoyed break. I am still busy with Facebook and see that as my first tool of communication these days but hope to be able to juggle blogging too.

By the way, I am back in Deutschland! We moved back here mid-December and hope to be around for a while. This time, we moved with a dog in tow. I thought it would be complicated to transport a dog ourselves but it turned out painless. Well, at least between USA and Germany. So, we saved a lot of $$$ taking care of it ourselves. I am hoping when it is time to return to the States, it would prove just as easy.

As I write this, Peanut is fast asleep on one of our recliners. He has learned that it is not so fun staying out too long in sub-zero temperatures. The pond in the garden of the house we are renting is frozen on top and am amazed that the fishes are still alive at the bottom. The landlord said that we do not have to feed them until they start swimming up and around.

We are waiting for the Germans (well ... the ones that affect our comfort) to get back to work. They take their holidays seriously and long, I might add. We arrived at a time when the country was in a holiday mood and some of them won't return to work till the 7th of January!! We need to get our internet connections and satellite ordered and set up.

The only reason I am able to get online these days is because the landlord's son was kind enough to lend us his web n' walk device (internet connection anywhere). He will need it when he goes back to work, though, and I worry that I may be off line for a week or two from the end of next week. I am getting too old for inconveniences like these. Oh wait ... I am getting too spoilt with the communication tools of today. I wonder how I got on without internet connection at home back in 2001. It was sufficient to just check emails every other day at the library. Keeping my fingers crossed all will work out for the best.

Now, if you will excuse me, Peanut needs a bathroom break and he has the whole garden to himself. Happy Freezing your ... off, boy! :D

A Wish For You

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

O Christmas Tree by Renie Britenbucher

Break Time!

Yes, I am on another break and will not be blogging for a while but I leave you with this ...

"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived." played by Patrick Stewart, from the film "Star Trek: Generations"

Curving gravel road through autumn countryside in Central Scotland
From website: http://www.wolforest.com

My Writuals

I was tagged sometime back by Elviza and was honoured to be counted as a writer in her eyes. I assure you I am anything but. Half the time, I do not know what to write about. What sounds good in my head is quite the opposite when it is typed out. That is when I imagine the reader having more interest in the writings of a struggling student in school.

Then again, I should not be too hard on myself. I have not been writing much because another social networking activity has distracted me on top of my other interests. My muse must be burnt out from multi-tasking in Facebook, my garden and kitchen.

So, what are my Writuals (when I am actually writing something other than e-mails)? Read on ...

Where are you?

In a semi-dark living room, TV switched off, with me sitting in my chair and the laptop on a stand in front of me.

What are you writing with?

The gifts of ten fingers (counting the days to arthiritis), a pair of eyes (which needed the help of spectacles 15 years ago) and a hand-me-down laptop.

(Everything's aching right now! yes, even the laptop - he acts erratically when I make him multi-task and expect him to process quickly. Typical male, no?).

What's the oddest object in front of you?

My pencil sharpener/holder which I use as a paper weight. I am not sticking the pencil in it. You know where it goes. :P
(I bought this more than a decade ago when I was working in Kuala Lumpur.)

What are you listening to?

Usually when I want to write, it has to be silent. When I am doing other things like banking and emailing, my TV would be on either the news channel, comedy channel or a current TV series.

Is there anyone else in the room?

My faithful four-legged companion, Peanut, that sleeps on the ottoman. Sometimes he shares the chair with me with his head on my lap.

What time of day is it?

To write - whenever.

Right now, I am taking a break from working in the garden - 5:45pm

What do you look at when you're looking for inspiration?

Outside where I see the road in a distance with cars and trucks zooming by occasionally on a 25mph street (where are the police when you need them?). Sometimes, I get up from my chair and look at my backyard. The green, the neighbour's horses and just the quiet of country life gives me some kind of inspiration.

What is guaranteed to remove your concentration?

1. The phone ringing - mostly from telemarketers.
2. The dog barking for no good reason, which is rare. He sleeps most of the time.
3. Husband walking into the room - suddenly I am not alone (don't count the dog, he does not speak!) :P