Exotic Locales, Family, Humor and Iowa
19 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: Bahrain, christmas shopping, jewelry, Lucie in the Sky, purses, Saar, Tiny Us, With the Beatle, yoga
A Winter's Tale Bazar Nov 27 and 28
Christmas is coming. The goose is getting fat
Please put a dinar in the Presence School’s hat.
If you don’t have a dinar, a dollar will do.
If you don’t have a dollar, then God bless you.
Tiny Us will be at Mansoor Garden 6 Villa 38
Nov 27 10-12
Nov 28 9-12 then 6-9
12 Nov 2011 2 Comments
in Eye Candy - Art, The Most Interesting Roosters - People Tags: 11/11/11, building community, changing the world, Curly Girl Designs, Giza pyramids, Leigh Standley, positive thought, potential, social networking
Potential from 2009 Curly Girl Calendar
The boys’ friend had his 11th birthday on 11/11/11. That was cool. Besides the Egyptians choosing to close down the Giza pyramids for “maintenance” yesterday, nothing changed in my world. What about yours?
But Change is in the air.
I see it in the generation born in the 70s and 80s. They believe in their creative talents and are living their bliss. Using technology, they are building new communities based on shared passions and generosity of Spirit.
One of these 30 somethings is artist Leigh Standley. Her Curly Girl Designs’ collages and witty wisdom captured my attention.
If you look at her website and blog, you will discover her world, where these artists, mainly women, are living their dream. Building upon what they love, they have transformed their thoughts into things they can share/sell.
But they are doing it to create the world THEY WANT to live in: A world where people generously share their knowledge. A world where they congratulate each other on their achievements. A world where they believe the more you give, the more you will receive.
Leigh is the soul sister I never knew I had. Like me she enjoys traveling, old movies, singing, yoga and her family. Because of all her good qualities, I don’t hold it against her that she prefers Snickers to Bounty and her dog Lucy to our dog Max.
She believes in education and magic – just like me.
And she is quite certain that given a cape and a nice tiara, she could save the world.
I love these fearless women who are smart enough to pick up a cute pair of shoes when they head out to change a few things.
09 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Note to Self - Lessons, When Dragons and Rabbits Make Me Laugh - Humor Tags: being mortal, Bewitched, good advice, Humor, mascara, Samantha
Samantha and Darren York on Bewitched 1968
Getting “dressed” is not my favorite thing. If only I could be like Samantha the suburban housewife on Bewitched who snapped her fingers to work her magic.
I know I should be more current and wish to be Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place, but UNICEF ambassador, eco-clothes designer, singer Selena Gomez I am not. And Justin Bieber could learn from Mojo.
My Husband Mojo
I am quite certain that unlike Selena Gomez, I study the clock to figure out what is the last possible minute before I must get ready.
While my mind is distracted trying to create a matching ensemble, like unappreciated children, my makeup likes to gang up on me.
Usually my mascara is the rebel. The later I am, the more likely I sneeze as soon as I apply the mascara; or the wand flips onto my new dress; or I get a dot of black on my finger and smear it on my check; or I jab myself in the eye and I must put in a fresh contact lens and wipe off the black tears dripping down my face.
The other day I was in too much of a hurry to bother with the lighted mirror. I squinted into my makeup bag, pulled out a pencil and finished applying color to my eyebrows. The pencil glided over my brows so nicely. As I surveyed the end result, I thought, My – what dark eyebrows you have my dear.
I zoomed in closer.
My eyebrows were Slate Grey.
My eyeliner and eyebrow pencil have joined in the fun and pulled a “Parent Trap” on me.
Note to Self: Be thankful you still have eyebrows and eyelashes. Accept your mortal powers and give yourself an extra 15-minutes to get ready.
08 Nov 2011 5 Comments
in Healing - Self and the Earth, The Most Interesting Roosters - People, Where the Corn Grows - Iowa Tags: grandmother's wisdom, Helga Swanson, Iowa, Ostergotland, Stratford, Sweden, Swedish immigration
My Great Grandmother Helga Swanson. About age 15. I called her Morta-Mor, Swedish for grandmother.
My great-grandmother Helga Anderson was an OX born in Ostergotland, Sweden in 1901. As the world was poised at the threshold of WWI, in the spring of 1914, she and her family immigrated to Stratford, Iowa.
Without knowing a word of English and hoping to finish her education, she began school. Within a few months she saw her family needed support. She quit school, left her house and became a domestic for a neighboring farmer.
The blue-eyed, blond haired girl caught the attention of a local bachelor. He wrote a postcard to my great-grandfather Axel who was working in Philadelphia. The card said “New arrivals from Sweden. Come home quick before they are taken.”
As the war ended, 17-year old Helga became Axel Swanson’s wife legalizing her residency in the USA. A year later my grandmother was born.
And life continued on.
Her one regret was had she stayed in Sweden until she was fourteen she would have completed her confirmation studies in the Lutheran church. In the end she was confirmed in the Stratford Lutheran Church. She became a lifelong member.
Stratford Lutheran Church. Established 1859
A hundred years later, emails about 11/11/11 and 2012 missives warning me we are dangling on the brink of THE END flood my inbox. I think of my grandmother, the farmer’s wife whose life experiences reflected her time and place, but whose words reveal her profound knowing.
“Regardless of what you may want, the world will change and you will have to adapt to those changes.” Helga Swanson
Thank you for the wisdom Morta-Mor.
07 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Healing - Self and the Earth, Stories from Far Away Lands - Travel Tags: Buddha, Colorado, Eva Wong, feng shui, Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, kind words, Shambhala Mountain Center
Golden Buddha at the Shambhala Mountain Center, Colorado USA
My mother, daughter and I visited the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado a couple of summers ago.
It was a quiet day. Eva Wong’s Feng Shui workshop participants were just beginning to arrive so we had free run of the retreat center.
Since there were three of us we waited until the lone monk finished her prayers in the stupa. We looked at all the alters then sat down to meditate. 10-year old Susan finished first.
Later I asked her what happened during her prayer. She told me,
“I asked the golden woman, how is your life.”
“And what did she say?”
“She said Good. Then she told me she was happy I was here.”
As thousands prayed for their well-being at her feet, I wondered how many acknowledged Spirit and asked, “How are you today?”
When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. Buddha
The Great Stupa of Dharmakaya at Red Feather Lakes Colorado, USA
06 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Island Tales - Expatriate Living Tags: islamic museum, istanbul
Illustration of Mecca from the Islamic Museum in Istanbul
Mobiles across the world are sending texts wishing Eid Mubarak – Blessed Festival – after millions made their pilgrimage to Mecca.
Today we bought new clothes for the children and gave money to those who are less fortunate. Then we had lunch with our friends.
We beat the evening crowd to watch Ra.One. We were pleasantly surprised as the high pitched Indian ballads we remembered seeing have been replaced with songs in a scale Western ears like. The young dragons and rabbits enjoyed the nearly 3 hour movie about a family terrorized in London and Mumbai by a video game villain come to life. With dance numbers and sly innuendo there was a bit of something for everyone.
The English subtitles said Chammak Challo meant “striking Beauty”.
And I wish everyone Eid Mubarak during this very happy, special holiday.
05 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in Island Tales - Expatriate Living, The Most Interesting Roosters - People Tags: al riwaq, Bahrain Guide, block 338 Bahrain, Elham, Loredana Mantello, Melissa Van Maasdyk, red velvet cake, writers
Melissa's Bday Portrait by Loredana. In front of Al Riwaq, they are sitting on grass sofas by a local artist. Notice the mural of the women. Only in Bahrain will you see that.
“Please join me on the terrace of the Al Riwaq Gallery to celebrate my birthday with tea and cake – 10:30am”
Only my friend Melissa van Maasdyk could glam up her birthday in the morning. As I fooled around with the clock last night, Mojo asked, “You are setting your alarm on a holiday?”
“I don’t want to miss Melissa’s party,” I told him. “I’ll need time to get ready.”
Ready because I knew Melissa’s cafe table would be surrounded by a stylish coterie of interesting women.
Known as one of four original saviors of Bahrain’s Modern Art Scene, Melissa’s universe is filled with artists, writers, poets, musicians, photographers, architects, clothing designers, chefs and restaurateurs. She is a whirlwind of excitement and always has at least a dozen fantastically fun ideas on the tip of her tongue.
And her tongue is quick.
When I first met Melissa I could only stare her mouth trying to absorb her South African accent. Luckily she accommodated this aMERican and kept me as part of her circle of stylish, globe trotting friends.
A fellow Scorpio I appreciated Melissa’s choice of sitting outside on a BEAUTIFUL November morning in the slowly awakening 338 district which became more vibrant after everyone had their coffee.
Scene around Block 338 in November
Fellow spiritual seeker Dierdre and I helped light the candles on the two layer, red velvet cake as Melissa greeted a Kenyan friend who just returned from visiting monks in Tibet.
Pic as I arrive to the Birthday Tea - Melissa in front of Al Riwaq
The rest of the table was filled with Melissa’s group of working women: Amy the British CEO of a branding company, Nicola a fashion/style writer, Loredana the Italian photographer on call 24/7 for royal gatherings, and tri-lingual Salma, a Syrian who taught Melissa Arabic. BTW Salma’s gorgeous daughter is the lead in the upcoming Faulty Towers next week at the British Club.
And of course who arrived in gold high heels and a leopard skirt?
Maeve the Irish queen of storytelling and travel writer.
Melissa is nearly done with her new guide to everything modern and fashionable to do in Bahrain. No boredom allowed.
Accompanied by her photographer she has interviewed Bahrainis to find the best of the best. She sampled, tasted, and explored every alley to come up with this must have guide for anyone visiting Bahrain. Her city guide will reflect Melissa’s background as a food critic, style editor and travel writer for international magazines.
As Melissa’s ideas poured out, we laughed when we noticed each of us had pulled out a notebook to write down names and places.
This month Happy Birthday Melissa. Next Month HAPPY BOOK LAUNCH!
Tales of Dragons, Rabbits and Roosters 