Winter Days

This is a winter picture from Timisoara. This is kind of my feeling at the moment - the wintry road goes on and on and on and on! However, I'm trying to combat the feelings of frustration with trying to do a bit of hibernation - and by this I mean just relaxing into the weather because I can do nothing about it (Steve called in 'beavering' in his blog which made me thing of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Peter et. al. in that 'warm and cozy' cave hiding from the White Witch's secret police of wolves). Helping me ride it out is: good reading (Chesterton, Norris, Austen - a change from my normal winter reads of Dickens, Dostoyevsky -White Nights is a great winter read, and Flannery O'Conner all of which sort of depress me even more); good music (loads of Shins, Cary Brothers, Joshua Radin - 'Winter' is nice, Jack, John, Nora and Jose Gonzalez); and of course yummy food (big steaming bowels of chili and soups are always good comfort food!). The good thing about winter is that you make more of the indoor activities. This weekend, I made an attempt at celebrating St. Patty's day ( but I didn't plan enough in advance and we had neither Guinness or soda bread at our local shop) so it was a miserable failure. However, I unexpectedly took on kitchen duty at church and had a fun time serving tea and coffee and washing soup bowls with Papa Brower, JoJo, Gid, Olga, and Andy. It was so hot and the windows were so steamed from the hot water that we couldn't even see out - but the time flew as we chatted while we worked- sweating profusely and laughing about it all the while. In my mind are jumbled funny snippets of conversation about 'real men not wearing aprons', food conservation in soviet block countries (reminiscing about fighting over chicken organs in the soups and sucking marrow from overly boiled bones for a little more nutrition in empty bellies), and good books. That many people stuffed into a hot kitchen would never have happened in summer (we would have all had heat exhaustion!) and so for this I am thankful. Winter days have their moments...

Mavericks

I was recently shown some photos from the best surf competition in California by a friend who went this year. For those of you who don't know- Mavericks is a Nor Cal surf spot best loved and most dreaded by even the most experienced surfers. The day before the big event a San Francisco Paper says: "Mavericks Surf Contest, often labeled “the most dangerous surf contest on the globe,” will take place in just 24 hours... weather conditions enable the competition to be held this Tuesday, with world-class big-wave surfers flying in on a day’s notice." Mavericks is along very typical craggly Northern California coast line and often produces amazing waves (great for surfing). The area is also filled with jutting rock formations on the ocean floor along the rocky cliffs (not so good for surfing). Surfing Mavericks is not for the faint hearted. And Nor Cal surfers are most certainly not the faint of heart. They are a motley crew who often take great pride in "out-surfing" their more soft-shelled (yes- that is a nice way of saying PANSEY) So Cal competitors - ESPECIALLY on their own turf. For California surfers, Mavericks has always been the spot for showing off their prowess. Now, on the 5th annual contest, Mavericks is attracting world wide attention and bringing out the world's best surfers. The Nor Cal surfer favored to win this year (Anthony Tashnick- who won last year) was disqualified early on. But South Africa's Grant Baker won with a perfect score- that picture on the bottom is of him in the last heat. Here are some great pictures from this year - they bring me much pleasure- thought you might like them as well.

Silent Reflection

Geordan informed me that I'm slacking on my 'once a week' blog. Because life is busy, a quick update is all I can offer. Annoyingly, I woke up this morning with a cold. What was a sinus attack has turned into a throat thing as well. It was probably brought about by sitting at the Sheffield station in the cold for 1 1/2 hours as my train was cancelled. To recoup I've begun my usual measures of lots of tea with lemon and sitting by the radiator, reading. Geordan and I are reading Chesterton's "The Everlasting Man" amongst other things. He is so witty and cutting and interesting. Also continuing with "Just Peacemaking" by Glen H. Stassen.
Had a day in London last Thursday. I took a trip to the Romanian Consulate for more paperwork and to pick up my 'travel certificate' which authenticates my Romanian citizenship (even though I don't hold a current passport). I had loads of fun navigating the underground. Heard some lovely Vivaldi on the violin and clarinet in the bowels of those intricate tunnels. Also treated myself to Chinese in Chinatown at a little hole in the wall place Geordan and I always go to when in London. Overall, life is good. Geordan is really enjoying teaching his class with Dee. He comes home really energized and happy. Good thing he is in the right profession. I think it gives him a 'light at the end of the tunnel' in the midst of the archival/writing work- a way to see how all of the current work will bear fruit in the form of teaching. After the two days of snow, its nice to have rain again. I don't know why I feel that way because I LOVE the snow. Maybe its because it is one step closer to spring?