.SOMETIMES RAW.

Hello and Happy Saturday! 

I just came back home, exhausted and dead tired from playing outside with Petit Joel all day long. His best friend Julius was out with him too. Whenever these two knuckleheads are together they are up to no good. Susi, Julius’s mom and I sat outside and talked while at the same time trying to watch the kids. Not an easy task and we both agreed that we cannot feel relaxed unless they are in bed at night. Out of the blue, Susi and Alex decided to BBQ – sounded good to moi. She made a plate of Caprese salad and we sat outside and enjoyed the evening. Finally, the kids started to get tired and calmed down a bit and we all ate in peace. All this made me realize how grateful I am to be here, to have amazing friends like Susi and Alex, to be able to sit outside and talk for hours and just to be healthy. Life is good. Think about the little things in life and remember others. 

Love. Reflect. It is important to listen. Ask questions. Remember a great book or an amazing movie you have seen. Be curious, discover, explore. Memorize things. Be kind, generous, spontaneous and thoughtful. Laugh. And be able to laugh at yourself. Be smart. Read. Be funny. Smile. Smile at others but also remember that you don’t have to smile if you don’t feel like it. Be excited and friendly. Be calm in stressful situations. Be quiet. Remember how good something tasted. Be honest and confident. Take long walks. Take a camera with you. Be sure about things. Remember where you come from and remember who you are. Be sweet but not too sweet. Remember to call someone back. Stay in touch with people. Spend time with people you can learn something from. Remember great places you have been. 

Remember the neighbors cat you cat-sitted. Remember the first NYC Subway ride. Be reasonable. Remember the last time I met you. Remember the smell of roses. Remember how beautiful evening primroses look. Remember to be strong, brave and who you are. Remember that things could always be worse and then keep going. 

Have a great Saturday! 

Hello and Happy Tuesday! 

“The important thing is moral choice. Evil has to exist along with good, in order that moral choice may operate. Life is sustained by the grinding opposition of moral entities.”

Last week we experienced rain only seven times. First three days, then four days. Argh! This weather is so weird. It is not cold, but this constant rain slightly gets on my nerves. Nonetheless, my son and I have these little backup plans we enjoy no matter what. We just have do more things indoors, unfortunately.

Yesterday, I wanted to see the play A Clockwork Orange but due to technical problems, it was cancelled. I wrote about it here. Nonetheless, the theater contacted me today to let me know that I can see the play today. Yay! 

Tonight, I was finally fortunate to attend the ballet version of A Clockwork Orange at the Landestheater in Coburg. Have you heard of Anthony Burgess novel that was published in 1962? Or the movie version, directed and produced by Stanley Kubrick? When I read the book a long time ago, I was shocked by this disturbing violence and had problems understanding the language. You think you know English? Read Anthony Burgess. A Clockwork Orange is about an extremely violent youth gang. The protagonist Alex narrates the story and his violent outbursts and later his experiences with police and other authorities who try to “reform” him. A lot of psychology, psychotherapy, prison,  morality and a look at society are some of the main themes of the book. You will also find out what manipulation and freedom mean.  Is the perpetrator indeed the victim here?

“Is it better for a man to have chosen evil than to have good imposed upon him?”

Yes, the bartender danced and performed with one ballet shoe and those black boots! Incredible! The droogs enjoy their milk. 

Choreographer Tara Yipp initiated this cultural shocker on stage through amazing dance, music and acting. The play depicts through dance what violence and counter violence means. Also, the really horrible scenes from the movie are not shown and left some room for imagination. Overall, it was an amazing stage performance. Definitely not a family play to see! 

Inspired? There are two additional performances in Coburg: June 30th, July 2nd and 3rd! Here the link to the Landestheater website. 

On a SideNote: 

While I waited for the performance to begin, I listened to a couple arguing right behind me. They talked about their recent wedding and advice that the couple had been given from friends and family. The uncle apparently said to the man that “he should get out while he still can” followed by tons of laughter. The woman was shocked by a lot of negativity that has been thrown their way. “How can our friends say those things? Don’t they see how happy we are,” she said while I wished for the play to start. “They only say those things because their marriages did not work out, ” he said annoyed. “So you think our marriage will fail as well! Exactly what your uncle said, “she said getting a little louder. “Don’t talk so loud for god’s sake. I don’t think our marriage will fail. Don’t listen to other people’s advice that is thrown at you. We just do what is best for us and we love each other,” he said. “Yeah, but did you hear when your aunt said that I should make sure you always have a warm dinner ready for you? She obviously assumes that I am not working, that I have nothing to do except cleaning and cooking all day waiting for my husband to come home. Also, she thinks that I cannot cook. But you probably did not even hear when she said that,” she replied, at this point really angry. “We just sit here now, enjoy this play and each other and don’t think about this shit anymore, ” he whispered calmly. “Exactly like your father. Always running away from problems and those type of conversations. Holy shit, and I married you. How dumb am I,” she said, got up and walked out. This show ended and A Clockwork Orange started.

Maybe they shouldn’t have married after all. She poisoned a pretty happy occasion I would say. A fight out of nowhere and about nothing. You want a piece of advice – crazy woman who fought behind me?  Stop listening to garbage. Do whatever makes you happy. And if you don’t want to cook dinner for your husband, then order a pizza. Aren’t you both in this together? You chose your own adventure and path. She missed the entire show but he enjoyed it. Maybe the uncle is right after all. 

Hello and Happy Sunday!

I just want to stop by here quickly after a long party-weekend at my sister’s  house and therefore, lack of sleep. Are you in the mood to read something funny? I just finished the Audiobook version of Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. I read all of Sedaris’ books but this one I enjoyed the most. I was able to hear and see him at a book reading in Boston a couple of years ago. It was fantastic. There I listened to men who sat behind me. They said that David Sedaris’s audiobooks are way better and so funny when you listen to him read. So I purchased the book. I am not a huge fan of audiobooks, but this one, wow -let me tell you, it is good. 

There are 25 stories, some shorter, some longer but easy to read. Sort of like “one more quick story and then I talk to you”. David Sedaris is very smart, funny and entertains the reader with awesome, hilarious stories. You will find out about the humiliation of learning French as an adult (my favorite story) when Sedaris moved from New York to Paris and needed to take French lessons. Annoying American tourists, teaching a writing course when you have no clue how to and many stories about his entertaining and funny father or learning how to play guitar from a sexist midget make Me Talk Pretty One Day one awesome read. I like how different stories and Sedaris’ changing mix in tone make some stories just laughing out loud funny while others have a somewhat deeper, more serious meaning. 

It just does not get boring to listen to David Sedaris speak – and especially not when he reads his own material. David Sedaris’s logic:

“I find it ridiculous to assign a gender to an inanimate object incapable of disrobing and making an occasional fool of itself. Why refer to lady crack pipe or good sir dishrag when these things could never live up to all that their sex implied?”

“I hate you’ she said to me one afternoon. ‘I really, really hate you.’ Call me sensitive, but I couldn’t help but take it personally.”

Highly recommended in audio format. Buy Me Talk Pretty One Day here and watch this awesome interview if you would like. Signing off for tonight. Have a great week.