Earth Hour 2009

Last night was the third year of Earth Hour. I've taken part every year. This year I made a game out of it with the girls. At around 7:30 freshly bathed doodles were almost ready for bed when I told them we were going to play a game. I had them gather their pillows, blankets, and dolls and bring them downstairs. I told them to run around the house and turn off all the lights, unplug everything from the walls and turn down all the radiators. They came back downstairs to a candle lit living room. We played with their dolls, dressing them, undressing them, making up stories, naming them over and over again. With each new outfit they got a new name.
We survived over an hour and a half without any electricity of any kind. No phone, no TV, no computer (GASP!!!), no lights, no heat. We were having SO much fun the hour went by and then some before I realized Earth Hour was over. After that we snuggled on the couch and they fell asleep.

This morning Espi asked if we could play the lights out game again tonight. I so enjoyed the quality time I spent with them. I believe we will make this a weekly event rather than a yearly one. Off with the TV and computer and spend some time with your family. It restores the soul.

Living in the Grey

I've always wondered what it would be like to see the world through rose colored glasses. Lately, everything seems brighter, more alive. That could just be the coming of spring or my new found sense that most of my life I've lived in the grey. You know, that fine line between right and wrong, heaven and hell (if you believe in them), good and bad. If only I could figure out where that line begins on either side and maybe my life, the choices I've made, would be very different.
Lately, I've struggled. I've let my heart lead my life. But I'm an Aquarian. My passion is part of me. I've been told I'm too much. Of what, I've never known. I just am.
But last month, last month I found inspiration. I found my muse. But I found something that cannot be. So I am leaving the opposite sex for someone else to figure out. For now, I will take my love, my passion, my longing and channel it into my creating. I have many projects I've been planning, I will make time.
On my to do list for April:
*A new house means making room for a new garden. Herbs in the window boxes and tomatoes, soybeans, and peppers along the side of the house outside. Much work needs to be done, but I have two extra sets of little hands to help.
*A little spring cleaning is in order. Cleaning out the attic and organizing my craft stuff so I don't buy something I need, but already have. A yard sale and donating montessori/waldorf supplies the girls have outgrown to the montessori school here. Maybe I might send some more stuff to Iraq as well.
*I haven't done this in a few years, but the girls are wanting dresses this summer. Lots and lots of dresses. I see a flurry of sewing cutesy tops, capri pants (cause Izabel's scrawny waist only allows for elastic pants), and bright summer dresses and skirts. Some for them and maybe a few for me.
*I am planning to open my Etsy shop again. I have several ideas of what to include, but it's still in the works.
*Buying a pair of these.
But first, tonight, a bubble bath and a bottle of wine.

Dolomiti

My favorite little cafe here in Germany has got to be Dolomiti. It is in Landstuhl near the hospital and I discovered it one day by complete accident. If you are a crafty person you well know that finding craft stores here is near impossible. I found one while window shopping in Landstuhl. And across the street my little sanctuary:
And for all you that think you can only find amazing crepes in France.....
Banana and nutella with REAL cream. There is no way to describe how good they are. You just need to try them yourself.

UFC

I have been invited to a UFC fight in Koln (Cologne, Germany for all you Americans) in June. For those of you who know me well you know I kinda dig two even remotely hot guys fightin it out. I am an action flick junkie and I love me a good car chase and the occasional bloody violence. Now, having said that, if you just know me in passing you'll pick up on my Buddhist tendencies, peace, love, and all that crap. How can those two qualities be in the same person you ask??
I was briefly, and I mean BRIEFLY dating a guy who used to be part of the MMA. For how long or to what extent I will never know cause it really didn't go very far. Now I have a friend whose really cool and we have a lot in common (insert invite to UFC here) but let's just say I am keeping a distance. A few of you know why, but that's a whole other blog and I'm sure I would be called a few names. Crazy homewrecking bitch springs to mind but I assure you all those are not my intention. Ian, you can stop writing now, I get it. One of these days I will write about the entire account but as of now it does not have an ending. Yes, in this case, I am weak.
SO, back to UFC. I remember when I first heard about the UFC back in oh, 1998. One of my many ex's, Drew, sat down and we watched it, me mostly in horror at the violence. Then while I lived in Las Vegas I went to go see a fight there. Can't tell you who was fighting but I remember the guy I went with was a hottie and British. Maybe that is why I like Jason Statham so much.
I'm not sure when my attitude towards two guys beating each other up changed, but it was probably close to the time I became a veggie and adopted a more zen quality to my life. (I hear some of you snickering, but I swear my derailment is temporary.) Besides, if I can't do the fighting I might as well get some thrill out of watching it. And it does help that one tends to fantasize that the two dudes are fightin over you. That's Hawt!!
For all you men folk out there what does it mean when a guy asks you to something three months in advance?? Is it a date or is it as friends? I think it's the later, but he could just be a planner. On the other hand, he procrastinates like me. Case in point, I sewed his stripes on his shirt today for an inspection tomorrow morning.
Upcoming this week-photos to share of food and me....Jeremy, how did you like the ones I sent you??

Singing

The little one, Izabel, and I have a fondness for singing out loud, mostly in the car, but at home as well. I do not have the best voice but sometimes the meaning behind the words trumps the embarrassment of my off key vocals. Izabel, however, has a sweet little voice. I'm sure she gets it from her dad. He does a pretty good Frank Sinatra, hat and all. She told me today that she liked Santa because he gave her music, i.e. an IPOD shuffle. She carries it everywhere but flips through the 100+ songs I have put on it to find a few of her favorites. Oddly enough, she is not a fan of Hannah Montana or High School Musical. Izabel loves the soundtrack from Singin in the Rain and Easter Parade. These are also her favorite movies. I can imagine in a few years when her two left feet start talking to one another she will be a singing, tap dancing cutie as good as Debbie Reynolds.
Izabel favorite:
Moses

Moses suposes his toeses are roses
But Moses supposes erroneously
And Moses, he knowses his toeses aren't roses
As Moses supposes his toeses to be

Moses suposes his toeses are roses
But Moses supposes erroneously
A Rose is a rose
A Nose is a nose
A Toese is a toese

Hupidubidu! (ehehehehe)

Moses suposes his toeses are roses
But Moses supposes erroneously
And Moses, he knowses his toeses aren't roses
As Moses supposes his toeses to be

Now, the only way to get the full effect is to imagine Gene Kelly dancing around while you sing this. :)

My favorite today:

I woke up today
Woke up wide awake
In an empty bed
Staring at an empty room
I have myself to blame
For the state I'm in today
And now dying
Doesn't seem so cruel
You got what you deserved
Hope you're happy now
'Cause everytime I think of her with you
It's killing me
Inside, and
Now I dread each day
Knowing that I can't be saved
From the loneliness
Of living without you
And, oh
I don't know what to do
Not sure that I'll pull through
I wish you knew
I hate myself for losing you
I'm seeing it all so clear
What do you do when you look in the mirror
And staring at you is why he's not here?
What do you say when everything you said
Is the reason why he left you in the end?
How do you cry when every tear you shed
won't ever bring him back again?
I hate myself for loving you

This song says it all. And you know if it's directed at you.

Saying Goodbye

It's been almost a year since I threw myself into the world of blogging. Many things happened to steer me off course. What a crazy time it has been. I've recently (like within the last few months) started to keep a journal. And I'm thinking if I can do that I can make time to write about things that are important to me.
I live around and in a military community outside of the US. People are coming and going all the time. Saying goodbye to old friends and making new ones is part of the deal. I recently took someone to the airport to see them off knowing full well I would probably never see them again. It was heart wrenching. I sat there having coffee knowing it would be easier to get up and walk away but my brain and my feet would not coordinate themselves to do so. My heart was speaking much louder and controlling my every thought. A hug and I walked away. I swear it was if I could feel my heart break right then. Through a stable but uncommitted marriage, a pretty uncomplicated divorce, and lots of other stories in between I have never known such sadness.
Lately I feel like I'm always saying goodbye to good people. It is part of the deal. Everyone has one foot out the door. Self sufficiency and loneliness are my words for today.