I was in the deep dark jungle at MGM Grand Thursday night. I was there to see Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, which was spectacular to behold, not to mention the amazing performances of all the cast. I really enjoyed watching the show. This magical jungle journey stimulated my imagination, and seemed to open entire new worlds of possiblity. I found myself trying to imagine what it would be like to be one of the performers, traveling from city to city as part of the show, and what it would be like to be a member of the Cirque Dreams community. And so, I imagined a completely different life for myself.
The imagination is a wonderful thing. With our imagination we can go to places we have never been, and may never go. We can live lives that are completely different from the actual lives we lead. This is one of the reasons I love to read. But every now and then, I am glad I am reminded that there are many roads that lead to wonder and the imagination. I am extremely grateful to Cirque Dreams for reminding me of this, and also to the friend who was kind enough to take me on this very colorful trip into the Jungle.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Homesick and Far from Home
I am from a place that is very far away. As they say in the state of Maine, you can't get there from here. I did most of my growing up in a small town not too far from here. But I came from a place that is in a parallel world, and it would be very difficult to go back. Maybe one day I will be able to, if only for a short time. But right now, that's not important.
It is never easy to leave your home behind, whether it is for a short, or long time. Homesickness is a powerful feeling. But as someone once said, Remember, wherever you go, there you are. And so, we strive (work hard; do our best) to make a home of where we are. And, of course, it is not always easy. Particularly if it's a new country, with a different culture, and a new language we must learn. But human beings are remarkable creatures. There is very little we cannot accomplish. I have learned to live in this world, and have both family and friends here. So although I miss my world, I have made a home here. And so, with a light heart, a smile and a laugh, here I will stay.
It is never easy to leave your home behind, whether it is for a short, or long time. Homesickness is a powerful feeling. But as someone once said, Remember, wherever you go, there you are. And so, we strive (work hard; do our best) to make a home of where we are. And, of course, it is not always easy. Particularly if it's a new country, with a different culture, and a new language we must learn. But human beings are remarkable creatures. There is very little we cannot accomplish. I have learned to live in this world, and have both family and friends here. So although I miss my world, I have made a home here. And so, with a light heart, a smile and a laugh, here I will stay.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Heat, Haircuts & Hilarity
What is the color of laughter? I would guess it's the same color as happiness, because if laughter is expressing anything, I believe it would be happiness. But how anyone could be happy in this warmth and humidity, I just don't know. I'm thinking of moving to northern Alaska. As long as I am nowhere near Palin country. Fear leads me to my next topic (subject of discussion).
And that would be haircuts. Being somewhat vain (yes, it's true, I am a bit vain), I do have a slight fear of getting a bad haircut. These days, however, the cost is also a factor. For many years I had my haircut by the same person, and he was very good, and also very popular. When he finally started charging me thirty dollars (not including tip) I started going to someone who was closer to home and only charged fifteen dollars (again, not including tip). This saved me even more money because I only had to drive fifteen minutes instead of thirty minutes. Then, a friend cut my hair for free, and her house was only a two minute drive. Now, the moral here is that one (me) can become spoiled (and greedy). So when she didn't have time to cut my hair, I waited. And I waited...and waited. Until my hair was everywhere. When I looked in the mirror, I couldn't see my face behind all the hair. It was very dangerous when I was driving. Finally, another friend said he would cut my hair, and told me to come by the next day. That night I had a terrible dream of getting a really scary looking haircut. So I got scared, and the next day I went back to the woman who had been cutting hair for fifteen dollars. Afterwards I told my friend that I was attacked on the street by three women. Two of them held me down while the third one cut my my hair. He told me I'd been out in the sun too long, but if it was true, he would like to know where to go so the three women could find him. I did tell him that I thought he could of done a better job of cutting my hair. He didn't believe I meant it. So, his daughter, who is also a friend of mine, cooked me some scrambled eggs, and I went home. It's good to have friends, but it'd also good to not take advantage of them.
So, stay out of the heat, only get haircuts when you have to, laugh as much as possible, & stay out of trouble...
And that would be haircuts. Being somewhat vain (yes, it's true, I am a bit vain), I do have a slight fear of getting a bad haircut. These days, however, the cost is also a factor. For many years I had my haircut by the same person, and he was very good, and also very popular. When he finally started charging me thirty dollars (not including tip) I started going to someone who was closer to home and only charged fifteen dollars (again, not including tip). This saved me even more money because I only had to drive fifteen minutes instead of thirty minutes. Then, a friend cut my hair for free, and her house was only a two minute drive. Now, the moral here is that one (me) can become spoiled (and greedy). So when she didn't have time to cut my hair, I waited. And I waited...and waited. Until my hair was everywhere. When I looked in the mirror, I couldn't see my face behind all the hair. It was very dangerous when I was driving. Finally, another friend said he would cut my hair, and told me to come by the next day. That night I had a terrible dream of getting a really scary looking haircut. So I got scared, and the next day I went back to the woman who had been cutting hair for fifteen dollars. Afterwards I told my friend that I was attacked on the street by three women. Two of them held me down while the third one cut my my hair. He told me I'd been out in the sun too long, but if it was true, he would like to know where to go so the three women could find him. I did tell him that I thought he could of done a better job of cutting my hair. He didn't believe I meant it. So, his daughter, who is also a friend of mine, cooked me some scrambled eggs, and I went home. It's good to have friends, but it'd also good to not take advantage of them.
So, stay out of the heat, only get haircuts when you have to, laugh as much as possible, & stay out of trouble...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Help! I'm beating myself up!
The secret to not becoming too content is to torture yourself whenever possible. So, after 2 months off, due to surgery and illness, this week I am easing my way back into exercising. But it is very far from easy, and most definitely not pain free. Exercise is, however, extremely important to me. It increases blood flow throughout the body, which includes the brain. When I am not exercising regularly, I begin to lose i.q. points. In other words, I get stupider than I already am, and I can't afford that. I really am already as stupid as I care to be. I also start to gain weight. I know it might not seem like much, but I gained a good 5 lbs. in those 2 months I wasn't exercising. That 5 lbs., however, felt like at least 10. I had to go down a notch fastening my belt. I was so disgusted with myself that I wanted to stop eating altogether. But that wasn't going to happen. I really don't want to give up eating. Life is too short.
So, back to exercising. I am sore and in pain. I have sore muscles that I had forgotten I even had. But where there is pain, there is life. So, not to stretch the point, but baby, without a doubt, I am alive! So please, try to excuse any moans or groans you may hear, and if I seem to be moving a bit slowly, and with a certain amount of stiffness, well, just do your best to overlook it. I'd appreciate it. This exercise thing is definitely not a piece of cake...
So, back to exercising. I am sore and in pain. I have sore muscles that I had forgotten I even had. But where there is pain, there is life. So, not to stretch the point, but baby, without a doubt, I am alive! So please, try to excuse any moans or groans you may hear, and if I seem to be moving a bit slowly, and with a certain amount of stiffness, well, just do your best to overlook it. I'd appreciate it. This exercise thing is definitely not a piece of cake...
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
If You Can't Stand the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen...
The world is burning up. I must get to the North Pole while there is still ice, because it's melting. "I'm melting, melting...what a world, what a world..."Sorry, that was a quote from the Wizard Of Oz, a true American classic movie.
A heat wave is 3 or more consecutive days of a temperature (in fahrenheit) of at least 90 degrees. Yes , we are in a heat wave here in Connecticut. It was a record 102 degrees yesterday, and will be (they say) at least 95 today. And the heat wave will continue for at least 1 or 2 days after that. I love the summer. That last was a sarcastic untruth (lie). The summer has never been a really good time for me. Actually, it's never been a good time of year for anyone in my family. I know, I'm complaining again. Can't help it. I really don't like hot and steamy (very humid tropical air flow) weather. If it wasn't for air conditioning I really would simply melt in a horrifying and extremely uncomfortable manner. Ah well. Winter's coming. I can't wait.
For those of you in this heat wave with me, be careful out there. The air quality is not healthy right now, and probably won't be until we are out of the tropical air flow coming up from the south. So stay out of the sun as much as you can, and try to be somewhere where there is air conditioning. The world itself may not be melting, but it certainly feels like it. Think I'll take a cold shower...
A heat wave is 3 or more consecutive days of a temperature (in fahrenheit) of at least 90 degrees. Yes , we are in a heat wave here in Connecticut. It was a record 102 degrees yesterday, and will be (they say) at least 95 today. And the heat wave will continue for at least 1 or 2 days after that. I love the summer. That last was a sarcastic untruth (lie). The summer has never been a really good time for me. Actually, it's never been a good time of year for anyone in my family. I know, I'm complaining again. Can't help it. I really don't like hot and steamy (very humid tropical air flow) weather. If it wasn't for air conditioning I really would simply melt in a horrifying and extremely uncomfortable manner. Ah well. Winter's coming. I can't wait.
For those of you in this heat wave with me, be careful out there. The air quality is not healthy right now, and probably won't be until we are out of the tropical air flow coming up from the south. So stay out of the sun as much as you can, and try to be somewhere where there is air conditioning. The world itself may not be melting, but it certainly feels like it. Think I'll take a cold shower...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Library, Life, Lunch, & Everything...
So, for everyone who wants to know, I will be in the Library tomorrow, Friday July 2nd. Unless, of course, a meteor (a rock traveling though space) falls on me, I am hit by a bus, or a rich beautiful woman asks me to fly away with her. The odds on all of those happening are pretty small. It will be good to be back. Life has been pretty dull recently. In fact, I would have to say that this past June might just be the worst June I have ever lived through. So, a new month, and a new lease on life. It's an expression.
I just got back from lunch with friends. One of the things we talked about was the difficulty of long distance relationships. There are many people who have to take a job away from home and don't get to see or be with their families for a week or more at a time. A very long time in some cases. It can be very hard on a family. It seems to be easier for some Chinese families to handle, I think because they tend to focus more on the future than most Americans, and because they seem to put a lot more importance on the value of family. It is still a difficult situation for anyone. But in this economy, jobs are not always close at hand, nor easy to come by. Life is not a bowl of cherries, and jobs, unfortunately, are not like apples waiting to be picked off the tree. So, for my last corny fruit analogy, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Actually, I like lemonade, and I like fruit. It's fruit analogies I don't like.
So, be strong, have hope, keep breathing, and stay out of trouble...
I just got back from lunch with friends. One of the things we talked about was the difficulty of long distance relationships. There are many people who have to take a job away from home and don't get to see or be with their families for a week or more at a time. A very long time in some cases. It can be very hard on a family. It seems to be easier for some Chinese families to handle, I think because they tend to focus more on the future than most Americans, and because they seem to put a lot more importance on the value of family. It is still a difficult situation for anyone. But in this economy, jobs are not always close at hand, nor easy to come by. Life is not a bowl of cherries, and jobs, unfortunately, are not like apples waiting to be picked off the tree. So, for my last corny fruit analogy, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Actually, I like lemonade, and I like fruit. It's fruit analogies I don't like.
So, be strong, have hope, keep breathing, and stay out of trouble...
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