This site makes me ever so happy. Silhouettes and cheeky humor... it's the best kind of combination.
another kind of masterpiece theatre
This site makes me ever so happy. Silhouettes and cheeky humor... it's the best kind of combination.
an irreverent welcome
{click for a larger view}
My mom just sent me a few pictures from when I arrived at the airport in Salt Lake just before Christmas. As per usual there were groups waiting for Mormon Missionaries returning home from their two year journey. Thanks to my brother, though, I had the best sign of the lot. As I passed one of the groups a woman enthusiastically asked where I had served my mission, apparently oblivious to my street clothing, pierced nose, and the bikini clad jell-o wrestlers adorning my welcome sign.
the last weekend
Tomorrow is March. Can you believe it?! Around here that means my roommate, Anne, is moving out. I already miss her. She's only moving a ten minute walk away, but it's much more appropriate to cross the hall half dressed to visit with her than crossing Hammerstraße.
Her and I spent our last weekend together as flatmates in Köln. First hitting up a Marit Larsen concert on Friday night. Afterwards, we wandered in the direction of the Altstadt with the hopes of dancing ourselves silly. That didn't happen. But we got a refreshing mix of bars to choose from. The first being the Bier Museum. From the name and principle alone I assumed it would be a winner as they had a huge selection of beers from the world over (unusual to find in Germany). But we were bombarded with an overly packed room of 40 year old men singing, no, belting out German folk music, David Hasselhoff, and..... well, we didn't stick around to find out what else.
Just two doors down we found an equally as crowded bar featuring a rockin' jazz band. From the moment we walked through those doors our evening just kept improving. The bar was also heavy on older men leering at us, but the music and few people there just to have fun made up for the awkwardness. As we got ready to look for somewhere to dance two Americans ended up talking with me and joined us for the rest of the evening. Something I was briefly worried about as Anne really hates speaking English. Before Friday I had heard maybe five sentences come from her mouth. But it all turned out to be beyond enjoyable. It was also nice to not be the one stumbling for words for a moment. :)
The next day was set aside for pure enjoyment. My heart never tires of the sight of the cathedral in Cologne. It's the most impressive piece of Gothic architecture I have yet seen. This time around I took the time to climb the south tower and it was absolutely worth it. Graced as we were with sun and sporadic clouds, we could see for miles. In the distance, mountains (the term being used here ever so loosely) which are missing from my everyday view. Inside we were lucky enough to witness a service of some sort. Aside from it being refreshing to see the place as more than a tourist trap, it was a beautiful experience to hear chanting and singing, the earthy scent of incense hanging in the air. The atmosphere commanded more calmness than I usually experience when there.
Though it's best known for it's Cathedral and partying, that's not all Cologne is about. Anne and I did our share of Stadtbummeln (bumming through the city) on Saturday. It was more aimless wandering than anything, but it was nice to have a beautiful spring-like day to celebrate and a fabulous friend to share it with. Delicious food, a small amount of shopping, and a good deal of time dedicated to strolling and resting along the Rhine were all on the agenda. I don't feel I got any real kind of feel of the pulse of the city, but the little pockets of energy felt were different than that of my little Münster and were therefore very welcome. Köln, I would come see you again.
Liebe Anne.... ich danke dir ganz Herzlich für deine Freundschaft und Unterstützung. Das Leben in Deutschland werde bestimmt schwererer sein wenn du nicht dabei wurdest. Das Wochenende war einen wunderschönen Abendteuer und ich bin so froh das ich mit dir alleine feiern könnte.
Her and I spent our last weekend together as flatmates in Köln. First hitting up a Marit Larsen concert on Friday night. Afterwards, we wandered in the direction of the Altstadt with the hopes of dancing ourselves silly. That didn't happen. But we got a refreshing mix of bars to choose from. The first being the Bier Museum. From the name and principle alone I assumed it would be a winner as they had a huge selection of beers from the world over (unusual to find in Germany). But we were bombarded with an overly packed room of 40 year old men singing, no, belting out German folk music, David Hasselhoff, and..... well, we didn't stick around to find out what else.
Just two doors down we found an equally as crowded bar featuring a rockin' jazz band. From the moment we walked through those doors our evening just kept improving. The bar was also heavy on older men leering at us, but the music and few people there just to have fun made up for the awkwardness. As we got ready to look for somewhere to dance two Americans ended up talking with me and joined us for the rest of the evening. Something I was briefly worried about as Anne really hates speaking English. Before Friday I had heard maybe five sentences come from her mouth. But it all turned out to be beyond enjoyable. It was also nice to not be the one stumbling for words for a moment. :)
The next day was set aside for pure enjoyment. My heart never tires of the sight of the cathedral in Cologne. It's the most impressive piece of Gothic architecture I have yet seen. This time around I took the time to climb the south tower and it was absolutely worth it. Graced as we were with sun and sporadic clouds, we could see for miles. In the distance, mountains (the term being used here ever so loosely) which are missing from my everyday view. Inside we were lucky enough to witness a service of some sort. Aside from it being refreshing to see the place as more than a tourist trap, it was a beautiful experience to hear chanting and singing, the earthy scent of incense hanging in the air. The atmosphere commanded more calmness than I usually experience when there.
Though it's best known for it's Cathedral and partying, that's not all Cologne is about. Anne and I did our share of Stadtbummeln (bumming through the city) on Saturday. It was more aimless wandering than anything, but it was nice to have a beautiful spring-like day to celebrate and a fabulous friend to share it with. Delicious food, a small amount of shopping, and a good deal of time dedicated to strolling and resting along the Rhine were all on the agenda. I don't feel I got any real kind of feel of the pulse of the city, but the little pockets of energy felt were different than that of my little Münster and were therefore very welcome. Köln, I would come see you again.
Liebe Anne.... ich danke dir ganz Herzlich für deine Freundschaft und Unterstützung. Das Leben in Deutschland werde bestimmt schwererer sein wenn du nicht dabei wurdest. Das Wochenende war einen wunderschönen Abendteuer und ich bin so froh das ich mit dir alleine feiern könnte.
Fachwerk:::Musik
It's been a few weeks now, but I was lucky enough to catch a show by Adam Acuragi and friends one Sunday afternoon. His music is amazing and the venue rocked. An old timbered house on the outskirts of the city, just on the edge of a forested area. His voice and presence dug right into the center of me and I loved seeing the banjo and slide guitar heavily featured in his songs. Three cheers for live music....
Sin is Just An Old Archery Term and The Belgian videos from One Take New York. Check out his Daytrotter Session and get a few songs of his. You won't be disappointed.
E-Werk Cologne:::Concert
I got back from Köln last night, the sole purpose of the trip was to catch Marit Larsen in concert. A Norwegian musician that my roommate simply adores. The music is sweet. Sometimes too sweet. But it was fun nonetheless and nice to have an excuse to have a small adventure with Anne. Check out her site, she's rather popular in Germany right now. All the boys crush on her. All the girls want to be her.
Desktop Gallery Love
Always looking for something silly and creative to do, I made new icons for my most used programs, creating a mini gallery on my desktop. I used photoshop to remove any unwanted backgrounds which makes the images really pop. And what's more... each time I click the icon to open the program it hops up and down in excitement, amusing me to no end.
Click the images for a slightly larger view.
the weeks top five
Some weeks I put my entire iTunes library on shuffle and enjoy what randomly plays. Other weeks a handful of songs that stick with me and I have to listen to them over and over again. This was such a week. Sometimes I just have a very specific taste for the time and sometimes there is something on my mind that music helps me work through. So these songs could mean nothing. They could mean everything. Either way, I am happy to have music to color my life. So here is what has been playing constantly this week:
- Chivalry Thao Nguyen
- Overlap Ani DiFranco
- The Way You Move Outkast
- Maybe You Can Owe Me Architecture in Helsinki
- Accidental Babies Damien Rice
I also must direct your attention to this amazing Beyonce cover of a Crazy in Love by Antony and the Johnsons.
What is your life soundtrack sounding like right now?
What is your life soundtrack sounding like right now?
a day of....
1. As good as heart can wish, 2. See my heart?, 3. Week 21/52: How can I follow my heart if it refuses to move on?, 4. It's raining hearts (365/351), 5. Day 111 12.11.08 my delicate heart..., 6. Black Heart Balloons (explored!!)
Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.
~Kahlil Gibran
blessed be...
Today, as I skipped by and glanced in my mailbox I spotted a letter just for me from one of my soul mates. Nothing feels better than a word or two from someone I love. And when it comes written and delivered by hand it's all the better. I slipped it in my pocket, next to my heart, so that I could open it and read it at the height of my relaxing walk. As I strolled through the park, hot cocoa in one hand, the letter in the other, I was brought to tears by the beauty (in it's words and timely appearance in my life) of this blessing:
For Longing
Blessed be the longing that brought you here
And quickens your soul with wonder.
May you have the courage to listen to the voice of desire
That disturbs you when you have settled for something safe.
May you have the wisdom to enter generously into your own unease
To discover the new direction your longing want you to take.
May the forms of your belonging - in love, creativity, and friendship -
Be equal to the grandeur and the call of your soul.
May the one you long for long for you.
May your dreams gradually reveal the destination of your desire.
May a secret Providence guide your thought and nurture your feeling.
May your mind inhabit your life with the sureness with which your body inhabits the world.
May your heart never be haunted by ghost-structures of old damage.
May you come to accept your longing as divine urgency.
May you know the urgency with which God longs for you.
~John O'Donohue
To Bless the Space Between Us
© John O’Donohue. All rights reserved
It's a blessing I wish you as well.
Thank you, my Allie.
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