What made you smile today?

cjhsa - haha!

Hey stasia, good to see you hanging about a2k a bit more.

Dag was indeed happy this a.m. Maybe the night out did you good?

thanks, little k - I'm in this part of my therapy where I'm forming my identity. (that from the TMI department) <giggles> It's fun being here ... but I'm putting off getting out in the real world. (Hence my signature) - I'm afraid of people now. (that from the "Bummer, Hal" department) <smiles>

What happened?

I think a great deal of it was culture shock. I had a bit of a breakdown. WHEW! The worst is over now. I never thought that moving to a foreign land would have such an effect. <shrugs>

I got a pretty serious diagnosis that was probably there before I came here - I mean, I didn't just move to Holland and go crazy. I'm apparently extremely sensitive. <winks>

ah, I'll remember that sensitive thing. I'm glad you're begining to feel better!

Culture shock is a Major Thing. I had it living in London, and that was just for 6 months, in an English-speaking country, with two American housemates.

Major culture shock for me when I moved to America from Ireland. I went from a party-good-time-gal to a live-in nanny in rural upstate New York that had to mind her language around young kids! Whew! I couldn't even eat the food for the first two weeks ... (unfortunately I adapted too quickly with that wouldn't you know!)

What made you smile today?
Hi Anastasia. Glad you're feeling better. By the way your name is also the name of one of my favorite films. It starred Ingrid Bergman and Yul Brynner. I put her name first because when she was on the screen I turned into silly putty.

Anyway the reason a had a smile today was early in the morning I hopped on the computer to check e-mail and a2k. I neglected to fill the birdfeeder located just outside the window so I can watch it while I'm on the computer. Pretty soon I heard a racket and looked out to see a lineup of the indgnant sparrows on the porch railing all yelling to be fed. Properly chastened I quickly filled and replaced the feeder. The rowdy crowd quickly ceased the birdy babble and chowed down. Another crisis averted. Whew!

Ooh and what made me smile today ... I had two banana margueritas with lunch and I feel good!

Serious culture shock over here as well. When I first came to the US, after first two weeks I though: Oh my, in this short time i have so many friends! Only to realize most of them don't even remember my name. People interact differently. Back at home it is much more obvious if someone is really interested to get to know you. Here I am still learning how to figure people out, there is much more 'show' even in interpersonal relations here.
Anastasia, LOVE that movie! L.O.V.E.!!!!!!!!!

It's funny you mention that, dag. I used to meet a fair amount of newly-arrived Eastern Europeans in bars in my brief sojourns in Chicago, and a lot of them seemed desperate to have a real, in-depth conversation with me. (It's not uncommon for me to end up next to people like this in bars; I don't know what it is -- perhaps I don't talk enough myself.) I'd sometimes listen to these guys (always guys, it seemed) for what seemed like hours... and I don't remember a single name, nor would I have the next morning if I had tried to remember it.


Hang in there, 'stasia -- periods of isolation can also be times when you listen to bits of yourself that might otherwise be lost in the roar and buzz of life habitually lived. (While I in my habitual dimly-lived life purport wisdom!)


I'm smiling back at the sun -- through a window, unfortunately. Three hours left...

What made you smile today?
Hi Dag. Wasn't it a great film? Many years ago my ex wife Solveig was coming home from Finland (I had already returned to work) with our two children Marc and Nina who were then seven and eight. They had to wait at the airport for the flight and the kids took off running to work off some high spirits. They slammed right into Ingrid Bergman. Solveig was really embarrassed. She couldn't have been nicer. She talked for a bit with Solveig and the kids and was perfectly at ease with them. Wish I could have been there.

Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman
let's go make a picture
On the island of Stromboli, Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman, you're so perty,
You'd make any mountain quiver
You'd make fire fly from the crater,

Ingrid Bergman

This old mountain it's been waiting
All its life for you to work it
For your hand to touch its hard rock,
Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman

If you'll walk across my camera,
I will flash the world your story,
I will pay you more than money,
Ingrid Bergman

Not by pennies dimes nor quarters,
but with happy sons and daughters,
And they'll sing around Stromboli,

Ingrid Bergman


This old mountain it's been waiting
All its life for you to work it
For your hand to touch its hard rock,

Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman
If you'll walk across my camera,
I will flash the world your story,
I will pay you more than money,
Ingrid Bergman

Not by pennies dimes nor quarters,
but with happy sons and daughters,
And they'll sing around Stromboli,
Ingrid Bergman

This old mountain it's been waiting
All its life for you to work it
For your hand to touch its hard rock,
Ingrid Bergman, Ingrid Bergman

Oooh.....

I was gonna say that I actually found myself agreeing with both
Frank Apisa and Scrat on another thread...(hell must be freezing over)...but this made me smile even more.

Thank you.

What made you smile today?
Thanks, Dag. You made my day!

That would be Woody Guthrie, the lyrics. Sung by Billy Brag I think, Mermain Avenue. Not bad either.

just bought that. haven't even listened to it yet.

you will like it. YOU BETTER DO!!!!

Billy Bragg and Wilco, Mermaid Avenue. It's such a beautiful album. Really good. The one that I liked most first, for obvious reasons, was "Christ for President". But over time it's another song that I've grown to love, that I keep humming to myself, sometimes for comfort, sometimes with intense melancholia as result: "California Stars".

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars

I'd love to feel your hand touching mine
And tell me why I must keep working on
Yes, I'd give my life to lay my head tonight
On a bed of California stars

I'd like to dream my troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed and make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes on vines that shine
And warm the lovers glass lke friendly wine
So, I'd give this world
just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

This is a good site on Woody Guthrie stuff, btw.

Well today's been kind of busy. Had an early meeting, and a graduation and then ran over to the community center \ foodbank building project. Today is a community volunteer workday. Anyway to shorten the story there's Norm 88 and Rose 75 years of age (hubby and wife). Preparing and serving a meal to about 25 volunteers. Pretty interesting watching those folks do their thing, I'm just certain that the younger folks had no idea of there ages. Just made me smile when I asked them there ages, and Rose bless her heart spouts out the ages without a second thought and keeps right on truck'n.