Last Saturday we hosted our second movie night and we watched Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I had seen it for the first time about a year ago – and the first time I watched I immediately had to watch it a second time. One reason was that by the end of the movie my perspective on the beginning of the movie changed, so I had to go back and check it. But, in general, this is a movie that you need to watch more than once – and it bears watching more than once.
I’ll just mention one thing I appreciated about it: the movie is complicated and a little messy, and so is the relationship between the two main characters. In fact, it’s more than a little messy – it’s totally messed up. That resonates with me and my experience with real relationships. And I very much appreciate the conlusion of the movie, and how the characters “resolve” their relationship. But I won’t spoil it for you….
Here in Slovakia the custom is for those who have milestone birthdays (like the fiftieth) to throw a nice party for their friends. I decided to adopt this custom, and I had one objective for my party: that my guests enjoy themselves. I’m happy to report that (as near as I can tell) everyone had a blast. And, happily, my guests included some fine photographers. I’ll put a few teasers here (all from Ande), but to see all the goodies you have to join Facebook.
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What do you do when you have two sons that are this good looking?
BTW, this picture was taken by our friend Ande at my birthday party last night….
… and the reservations are made for a little celebration this evening. For today I turn fifty.
About 13 years ago I asked my friend Marcie to disciple me in drinking coffee. I had never in my life had a taste for it, but I found when I visited central Europe that in some homes I was offered a cup – or even given it without being asked. I also noticed that it had a strong social component, so I thought I would benefit from being able to at least tolerate it.
Marcie started off by picking up a mocha for me at Nabes in Las Cruces. We sat and drank together, and I was able to finish the whole cup. The sweetness and the chocolate helped me. A week later she brought me a second mocha. Not long after that I tried (and liked) a latte. Eventually I worked my way to cappuccino and even espresso. I went beyong tolerating the stuff to enjoying and even savoring it. (more…)
It’s satisfying to see your son grow up and establish his own family. It’s even more satisfying to see him enjoying them.
Happy birthday, Nicholas! I hope you have plenty of time to wrestle with Henrik today.
Thou hast made me, and shall Thy work decay?
Repair me now, for now mine end doth haste;
I run to death, and Death meets me as fast,
And all my pleasures are like yesterday.
I dare not move my dim eyes any way;
Despair behind, and Death before doth cast
Such terror, and my feeble flesh doth waste
By sin in it, which it towards hell doth weigh.
Only Thou art above, and when towards Thee
By Thy leave I can look, I rise again;
But our old subtle foe so tempteth me,
That not one hour myself I can sustain.
Thy grace may wing me to prevent his art
And thou like adamant draw mine iron heart.
~John Donne, 1635 (more…)
Something about this time of year makes me pensive. Perhaps it’s the long and chilly nights (the sun is down around 4:30 here nowadays, and snow is popping up in the forecast). Whatever the reason, late at night I often pick up Coleridge’s “Frost at Midnight,” and savor its delicious contemplation. Feel free to drop in some evening and ask me to read it to you while you sip a cup of my home-roasted coffee….
Until then, here’s Samuel Taylor Coleridge at his finest: (more…)
Today is a holiday in Slovakia. It’s the Slovak holiday that is most personal to me.
It’s the day we remember the Velvet Revolution. It’s odd to me that many of the Slovaks that I socialize and work with are too young to remember the events. But I will never forget those images on the television in 1989. Those were amazing times! And, in a way, they dramatically changed my life. Without that revolution, I suspect I wouldn’t be sitting here in Slovakia….
I’ve spent the week in Bulgaria, and I wish I had some pictures to show you the beautiful mountains that have greeted me each morning. Alas, all I have is the inelegant picture below of supreme efficiency: it shows my bathroom, in which I could shave, shower, and do all other necessary activities – and all without moving my feet!
