Forsaken Cowboy

An interesting instrumental song composed by a Norwegian group. It doesn't change a whole lot, but somehow it doesn't bore me. The continuity of the song gives it a lot of meaning, I think. ~Enjoy!

Note: you might not be able to watch it on my blog. If that's the case, click on the link to watch it on YouTube.

Winter Longing

Winter is white, blue, gray. Sometimes very orange and yellow, other times purple or pink.

Vull que torni l'hivern, amb els seus misteris i els seus secrets xiuxiuejats i revelats pel vent suau que parla a cau d'orella, o per la petjada cruixent sobre la neu fresca d'un matí asolellat.

Vull que torni l'hivern repartidor de nassos, galtes i orelles vermelles, aquell que concedeix floquets de neu per adornar les pestanyes rosses i ocasionalment, fosques, de la gent que camina respirant nuvolets blancs per la boca.

Vull que torni l'hivern fred que contrasta amb l'escalfor de l'amor de families i amistats que veuen te tots junts contemplant com la neu forma una cruixent catifa en la foscor exterior.

Vull tornar. Dubto, però, que aquest any tingui l'oportunitat de gaudir de la meravella que tothom denomina neu.

Late At Night

Having spent the whole day out celebrating my youngest brother's birthday, and having had only the last class yesterday, I still have some work left to prepare for tomorrow's English lesson.

I'm the teacher.

Hence, after coming home late with my family I started working on the computer, on my grammar/exercise book, etc. I'm still at it.

Now is when you say, frowning, So why are you writing a post on your blog instead of working on tomorrow's class, young lady?!
Now is when I answer... I don't know. [grin] Hehe, nah, don't worry. What I'm posting is part of my work. I'm making my student read Secret Garden for her Reading exercises. It's an English classic with quite an easy read, the structures being simple and, I find, very refreshing. It's not like, say, Jane Austen, another English classic, but which is much more complex to read. (Note: I'm not saying reading any of Jane Austen's books isn't refreshing).

Anyway, as I read the book I write down questions and words I find would be new to my student, but at the same time, I also read the book myself, and mostly, two, and even three, times every chapter. This way I notice plenty of things I wouldn't in only one read.

So far we're on the third and fourth chapter of the book. It's still not very positive nor happy, but I would like to share with you a couple of descriptions the writer makes of the environment and/or situation.

When describing the moors, "..it's just miles and miles and miles of wild land that nothing grows on but heather and gorse and broom, and nothing lives on but wild ponies and sheep."


Once Mary had entered the huge house where she was to live from then on, "...she looked a very small, odd little black figure, and she felt as small and lost and odd as she looked."


Knowing the little girl was nicknamed Mistress Mary Quite Contrary because of her attitude towards others, "...It was in this way Mistress Mary arrived at Misselthwait Manor and she had perhaps never felt quite so contrary in all her life."


There are also some words I write down for my student's vocabulary that in some way or other are special - either because of their sound, their spelling... it depends. Here are a few:

Glisten (noun): a sparkling light reflected from something wet.
Proper: suitable or appropiate; correct.
Whistle: a clear, high-pitched sound made by forcing breath through a small hole between partly closed lips, or between one's teeth.
Twinkle (verb): shine with a gleam that changes constantly from bright to faint.
Perhaps: expressing uncertainty or possibility.

[Sigh] Now that I've finished my work, I will proceed to walk up the stairs to my bedroom and my bed. I believe I deserve my rest.

And Now She's...

...back. Not dead. Really.

As a matter of fact, I'm pretty much as alive as I'll ever be. These past three weeks have been so full! Therefore, instead of writing a tremendously long post about all my endeavours (a word a friend once used to describe my ups and downs and which I really took a liking to) I will simply post a couple of pictures and leave the rest to your imagination.

No, this is definitely not laziness, just... being busy. As I write, I'm twenty minutes away of leaving with my family for a refreshing walk along the river/beach.

Montblanc, the day after Frank arrived. ♥

TREC picture. Also, following a "tradition" with Frank. Evening in les Fonts de Montjuïc.

TREC picture. Went to watch a hot-air balloon being blown up and leaving.

Family holidays! Albarracín.

Albarracín once more.

Teruel.

Teruel again.

Highest point near Bronchales. Sierra Alta.

TREC picture. Sunflower field.

El Castillo de Peracense.

El Castillo de Peracense again.

Molino de la Mancha.

Sorry about the "couple of pictures" thing. I guess I should have warned you there were more.

In any case, I'll still be busy in the future but no as much. Frank left early this afternoon, and I miss him! I teach English three hours to two different pupils every Tuesday and Thursday, plus I'm taking theory driving lessons. In about two or three weeks I'll be going back to school again, also. Is there anything else you would like to know?

Deuteronomy 10:21

"He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen."

Deuteronomy 10:21

Boig Per Tu

En la terra humida escric

"Nena, estic boig per tu"

Em passo els dies esperant la nit...

Com et puc estimar

Si de mi estàs tant lluny!

Servil i acabat, boig per tu.

Sé molt bé que des d'aquest bar

Jo no puc arribar on ets tu...

Però dins la meva copa veig

Reflexada la teva llum...

Me la beuré. 

Servil i acabat, boig per tu.

Quan no hi siguis al matí,

Les llàgrimes es perdran

Entre la pluja que caurà avui.

Em quedaré atrapat,

Ebri d'aquesta llum,

Servil i acabat, boig per tu.

Sé molt bé que des d'aquest bar

Jo no puc arribar on ets tu...

Però dins la meva copa veig

Reflexada la teva llum...

Me la beuré. 

Servil i acabat, boig per tu.

-  Boig per tu by SAU

England

"England is a magical kingdom where mystery and history blend with the prosaic and the present to create a realm which is unike. Wether the scene is a ruined castle or a bustling city street, a windswept moor or a lush green meadow, it has been permeated for centuries with the charm, serenity and excitement that make it peculiarly English. The land has an atmosphere which can be mistaken for that of nowhere else on Earth.

England is a country with many faces, warm and welcoming or proud and defiant. The eye can never tire of its beauty, nor the senses of its atmosphere. It is truly a magical land."

THE BRITISH ISLES, Colour Library Books

Reading an old entry in my diary, dated 3rd August 2009, I ran across this quote about the beauty of England. Doesn't it invite you to get on a plane and fly there this instant?!

Lotus by Secret Garden

Secret Garden has been one of my favourite "groups" of music to listen to for a very long time. It's incredibly relaxing, but happy at the same time. I can't say there's been a mood for which listening to Secret Garden hasn't suited!

I have just listened Secret Garden's Lotus, and thought I would share it with you. There are so many other beautiful songs that I can't really say it's my favourite. I would take a very long time trying to show all the songs I like from this group. Still... here's Lotus. :)

I'm My Own Grandpa

Curious case of family puzzle!

Cada Momento

"En mis angustias me ayudas, Jesús,

Sobre mi alma derramas tu luz;

Todos los días consuelo me das,

Cada momento conmigo Tú estás.

Cada momento me guardas, Señor,

Cada momento en tu gracia y tu amor;

Vida abundante yo tengo en Ti,

Cada momento Tú vives en mí.

¡Cristo, mi roca, mi libertador!

Tú eres mi escudo, mi gran defensor;

En mi conflicto yo te miraré

Cada momento, y salvado seré."

- Cada momento, 1, coro y 4

Dudo mucho que leas esto... pero me ha hecho pensar en ti. ♥

Anna At Seven a.m.

Once upon a time, a little eight year old boy walked up to her sister with a mischievous grin on his face. He loved her sister, and also loved her curly hair, which, I will add, messed up a lot during her sleep every night. All her family made jokes and teased her about it, and the said little boy was not to be left behind.

"Look, Anna! This is you at seven in the morning!"

Nothing else has to be said. That is enough. I will now proceed to hide under my pillow. [sigh]

*Breathes in and Prepares to Scream*

Yipee!

I am done with this school year!! I have officially finished all my final exams and, yesss, a long summer awaits for me!

What can I say? I had an amazing school year, thank God! I am so grateful for all the new people I've gotten to meet and for all the stuff I've learnt, as well as for all the awesome teachers I've had this year. I'm going to miss them during summer!

I'll see most of them again in September, though... and some of them sooner than that, hopefully! [I haz a happy!]


You'll see plenty of me from now on. :-) Stay tuned!

Final Race

This is actually how I looked yesterday night,
and how my desk is looking like right now. :P

Yes, I'm into the final race. Meaning I start my finals on Monday.

I'll be done with school on Friday the 3rd!

As of now, I'm studying hard, enjoying the weather, staying happy, munching on dried nuts and cold drinks, and man, ain't I thankful for a joyful attitude towards non-stop studying! [smile]

Just one week, and I'll start summer vacations. Yay! I hope my final exams go well, so I'd appreciate if you could pray about them. I have had an amazing time in school, but I'm ready for some free time to do my own projects. I have so many things planned for this summer! I'm very excited about it.

Have a nice weekend!

Cantique de Jean Racine

This is a beautiful piece a friend shared. Personally, I think the harp's sound is very gentle but at the same time it can be heard very well. Beautiful. Plus, the voices blend perfectly. Hope you enjoy it!

Dancing Fountains

While my very-new boyfriend spent some days here in Spain last week, I took him to see a very famous spot in Barcelona: the Montjuïc fountains. I was able to take a couple of videos. I hope you enjoy them, even though there isn't any sound in them

It is a very beautiful place, and worth seeing them. They dance to the sound of different kinds of music, from classics to OSTs to love songs. I wish you could hear the sound in the vids! Sorry about that.

A Thought

"One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 

Job 1:6-7

"For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." 

Revelation 12:10

Are we ready for this challenge?

Shibuhdee Kanuhna Phore!

Evening (In words of one syllable)

The day is past, the sun is set,

And the white stars are in the sky;

While the long grass with dew is wet,

And through the air the bats now fly.

The lambs have now lain down to sleep,

The birds have long since sought their nests;

The air is still, and dark, and deep

On the hill side the old wood rests.

Yet of the dark I have no fear,

But feel as safe as when 'tis light;

For I know God is with me there,

And He will guard me through the night.

For God is by me when I pray,

And when I close mine eyes in sleep,

I know that He will with me stay,

And will all night watch by me keep.

For He who rules the stars and sea,

Who makes the grass and trees to grow,

Will look on a poor child like me,

When on my knees I to Him bow.

He holds all things in His right hand,

The rich, the poor, the great, the small;

When we sleep, or sit, or stand,

Is with us, for He loves us all.

Thomas Miller

When I have a child of my own I will recite this poem to him when I tuck him to bed. :-)

Instrucciones para subir una escalera

"Las escaleras se suben de frente, pues hacia atrás o de costado resultan particularmente incómodas. La actitud natural consiste en mantenerse de pie, los brazos colgando sin esfuerzo, la cabeza erguida aunque no tanto que los ojos dejen de ver los peldaños inmediatamente superiores al que se pisa, y respirando lenta y regularmente. Para subir una escalera  se comienza por levantar esa parte del cuerpo situada a la derecha abajo, envuelta casi siempre en cuero o gamuza, y que a salvo de excepciones cae exactamente en el escalón. Puesta en el primer peldaño dicha parte, que para abreviar llamaremos pie, se recoge la parte equivalente de la izquierda (también llamada pie, pero que no ha de confundir-se con el pie antes citado), y llevándola a la altura del pie, se le hace seguir hasta colocarla en el segundo peldaño, con lo cual en este descansará el pie, y en el primero descansará el pie. (Los primeros peldaños son siempre los más difíciles, hasta adquirir la coordinación necesaria. La coincidencia del nombre entre el pie y el pie hace difícil la explicación. Cuídese especialmente de no levantar al mismo tiempo el pie y el pie.)

Llegado a esta forma al segundo peldaño, basta repetir alternadamente los movimientos hasta encontrarse con el final de la escalera. Se sale de ella fácilmente, con un ligero golpe de talón que la fija en su sitio, del que no se moverá hasta el momento del descanso."

Julio Cortázar, "Instrucciones para subir una escalera", en Historias de Cronopios y de Famas.

Beauty

Seaside Village by Thomas Kinkade

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"And this, our life, exempt from public haunt,

Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,

Sermons in the stones, and good in everything."

- As You Like It by William Shakespeare