nochebuena

It is [..] the night when Santa Claus or his international variants, make their rounds giving gifts to good children.
In the Czech Republic, where St. Nicholas (sv. Mikuláš) gave his sweet gifts already more than two weeks earlier, is Ježíšek, that is Child Jesus, the Christmas gift-giver.
In Italy presents are opened on the morning of Christmas Eve, while in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Argentina, Portugal, Quebec and Poland, Christmas presents are opened on that evening, and in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, English Canada and Australia mostly on the morning of Christmas Day.
In Finland Joulupukki personally meets children and gives presents in the evening of Christmas Eve.
In most parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland Christmas presents are opened in the evening of December 24th ('Bescherung').
In Spain and Latin America gifts are opened on the morning of January 6, Epiphany day ("Día de Los Reyes"), tho in some other countries, like Argentina and Uruguay people received present in Christmas and on the moring of Epiphany day.
In Iceland Christmas starts at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Church bells ring at that time and people either sit down for holiday dinner at home or with closest family. After that they open gifts and spend the evening together.
In Slavic countries, it is known as Wygilia, and being invited to attend a Wygilia dinner with a family is considered a high honor.
In North America, there is a mixture of families opening gifts in the evening and, more commonly, on Christmas Day morning.
In Quebec and among many francophone families living in other provinces, the Réveillon is held on Christmas Eve with traditional food such as tourtière, attendance at Mass and the opening of gifts.
Olentzero is a Basque Christmas tradition. According to Basque traditions Olentzero comes to town late at night on the 24th Dec. to drop off presents for children. There are many variations of this old tradition. Over the centuries the "story" of Olentzero has been modified over and over again to adapt it to the new times. [...] The church wanted to turn the pagan custom related to the winter solstice into a Christian feast with a Christian-like hero. Basque nationlism wanted an alternative to the Spanish tradition of the Magi and the French and North European Père Noel and Santa Claus.

exclusivo, va.

1. adj. Que excluye o tiene fuerza y virtud para excluir.
2. adj. Único, solo, excluyendo a cualquier otro.
3. f. Privilegio o derecho en virtud del cual una persona o corporación puede hacer algo prohibido a las demás.
4. f. Noticia conseguida y publicada por un solo medio informativo, que se reserva los derechos de su difusión.
5. f. desus. Repulsa para no admitir a alguien en un empleo, comunidad, cargo, etc.

incompatibilidad de caracteres o de identidades?

santo tomas

caravaggio, grande
otras maneras de ver y celebrar

an old flame

back home, the good old family and friends, they are still there, always there, open arms even if tradition and culture dictate composture
stories start from scratch and re-energise you, subtly
because you were reminded of the flame, the one everybody but you can always see, the one that you have inside, that you need to tame, watch out! i'm learning and will back soon

careful what you ask

let's not talk about me, i might cry,
so just be careful dont' touch me or even ask me how am i doing, cos i might surprise you and me and start crying
possible and pausible reasons a few, but REALLY, no idea
and so, since you are asking, i am so so; i will tell you that i am running away from 'no idea', that in fact i am becoming really good at steping on other people's toes as i run away (AWAY AND FAR), my personal speciality if you need to know are the people i love the most.
if you saw me in an airport you would never be able to recognise me as i would be nice, chatty and smily; however, if you scratched, you only need to ask how are you, you'd realise that there is something else undefined, unknown, shapeless. I can get into conversations i don't really care about and offend someone; the fact that some people are easily offendable and proud doesn't make it any easier.... mirrors, families and generations, what a bloody combination if you ask me
anyway, none of this is the point, in fact there is not point at all
i voluntarily left an anchor that keep me stressed but sane and it is me who has to deal with it, even if i have no idea how to; i hope the patience and love of those around will help me find sanity in my still-stressing world
it is all about being and feeling centered; normally people would go to india, do a big yoga course and center themselves.
Others do bungy jumping with their daily routines in their city of residence. Some of those, as Foucault rightly pointed out, are kept in similarly looking 'houses' namely hospitals, schools and prisions 'cos discipline will straighten them'.

behind and ahead

a small hang over, a train ride, a panic attack and some TLC later
here i am, selling myself via letters, 'but i'm great, can't you see it?'
ahead of me, many trains, buses, planes and cars to take
a lot of food, a lot of drink, and a lot of smoke to process
seeing friends and family, the joys of the un-PC word Xmas
so be it, let's enjoy whatever ride!

sabor agridulce

el ultimo llego y se fue, is that it? por lo visto, por ahora, por un tiempo
dejar de mirar a una meta y empezar a mirar al horizonte, i'm out of practice!
que la confianza de los demas se transforme en la tuya, come on!
muchos abrazos despues, un sabor agridulce en la boca y el corazon

next chapter: location, location, location!

el ultimo dia

dejare un pedacito de mi corazon aca
escondido en partes de mi trabajo pasado,
tomare tambien un pedacito de corazon
que llevare conmigo a trabajos futuros,
tambien me llevo un libro, una planta y un cerdito
gordo, plateado y brillante

la verdad es que todavia no me imagino sin todo esto

my day's summary

few random thoughts:

• if they don't care, why should you?
• it's shame not to have more time to prepare
• to get to the final point, sometimes is easier via a detour; actually, what is the final point?
• a future date to pluck up the courage to Throw those silly little things that also make us
• being nice and beautiful involves writing long emails
• passion is a double edge sword i own; it inspires and uninspires equal number of people
• friends conquering they lazy nature: it's always nice to receive a thought

and THAT is from a pin-up girl

what a lovely time

5 hours of train
all well worth it;
to form the perfect bubble
in illness and in health;
kisses and soft skin
eyes and smiles

winter ball

gansta girls take a party by storm
helium voices sing abba
balloons and a checked floor
smart tree-huggers forget about the world and themselves

positive energy

It's great
when you leave
certain energies don't touch you anymore
so now i have my own
positive, big, increasing

and i'm ready for a party!

it is supposed to work like this

you do it, it hurts, you learn, you try not to repeat it
but there is always one day, when your defences are low and with an absent mind
you drink like there was no tomorrow (except there always is) with terrible results:
1.30 am you wake up gasping for water
3.00 am you do it again
5.30 am you wake up and you know you won't go back to sleep
7.30 am you get enough energy to take a shower
8.00 am you are back in bed nackered after all that exercise
9.30 am you arrive to work
10.17 am a few colleagues ask you whether you are actually awake

remember to remember not to do it again

what i know about eritrean food

eritrean food is served in one big plate, shared among all
the plate is covered by one big crepe-looking indian dosa-tasting mixture
a bit of chick pea dhal, some lovely vegetables, a bit of chicken, a bit of mince
tasty, very, all of it; eaten with the hands and the mixture (with no name so far)
to accompany it, some asmara beer and some eritrean and ethiopian music
(here it's allowed, there is not; we don't like them, they are not our friends you see, they are different!)

and someone that reminded you, again, that the world is your oyster

it's like hitch hiking

it's bizarre living in between
the boat that has been carrying you, for a long time now, is nearly crumbling under your feet
more than ever before, you can see its colours fading, the wooden planks rotting at places
the need for repairs is too obvious, but you no longer feel it's your responsibility and under a new light you realise that it requires a lot more; you get a feeling the machinery is about to suffer a cramp (can machines get a cramp? i guess not, but it's a great image)

on the other hand, you are trying to gaze through the midst the new boat that in theory is about to arrive, but you are still on the old one, and the midst is too thick at this time of the year
the only conclusion possible then it's to practice what this year taught you, patience

at the end of the day it's like hitch hiking, it's not about how many boats pass, only one matters, really, the one that takes you

dispersion

casi total
muchas pensamientos, en diferentes idiomas, en todas las direcciones
max attention span 2 min
you better be quick and it better be interesting

Le weekend

viernes
me duele la garganta asi que me quedo en casa
al lado del fuego

samedi
velazquez, vian et la divina comedia a londres
entre ami(e)s

sunday
home made sunday roast
just for us

pablo

marcame mi camino en tu arco de esperanza
y soltare en delirio mi bandada de flechas

pablo neruda