My Thoughts on… Me, My Kid and Life

Earlier in the year, I went searching to see what was out there. I went to one place looking for the big another place looking for the small. Then, I came home, took inventory and now realize I already had what I needed.

Words cannot express my gratitude and how completely humbled I feel for being giving such faith and trust with such precious work. I feel as though I should be coy or feel entitled but I don’t feel that way. I simply know how honored and happy I am to have such an opportunity to share such wonderful works. And to simply know that there is so much good work out there.

This is the world I want to live in…

For about 6-9 months now I’ve wanted to visit the local museum that has all the history about the cathedral. Honestly, it drives me nuts that the thing only has one steeple. It is clearly supposed to have two steeples. People spent something like 400 years building the damn thing. The least they could do is finish it!

Imagine living near the cathedral for your entire life and day-in and day-out hearing chizzling and pounding away at stone and brick while the cathedral was being built to never even see the completion of it but to know someday it would be complete and that it would bring beauty and joy to so many that would see it. Yet, to this day, the thing has never been completed.

Different people tell different stories. Some say all of Strasbourg would sink if the second steeple were built while others say it was a financial decision made by the government at the time.

Whatever the case may be, I still hadn’t been to the museum which holds the cathedral’s history and decided that was what I wanted to do for my birthday.

Well, we’ve been busy so time has been scarce. It has now been more than a month since the annual day when I celebrate my birth has passed.

Today, after an interview with a potential intern and a meeting with a fantastic pub while walking toward our lovely abode we walked by a museum and I said, “Hey! Let’s go!”

So we went to the Strasbourg History Museum.

(The red part of the map represents the oldest part of Strasbourg. That’s where we live. Pretty darn cool if you ask me!)

It was not the museum holding all the secrets of the steeple but it was a fun diversion and a delightful way to spend the afternoon.

Recently, someone referred to me as Goofy. I don’t think it was meant as a compliment but I was pleased as punch by the description.

Life is always so busy these days with things I care a lot about that seriousness seems to saturate most moments.

Goofy is Good!

Note: The hat I’m wearing is a traditional Alsacian woman’s hat. In each region of France there is a different style of hat. This is the ladies hat from times past…

Today is May 1st. May Day is a holiday in France. This means that all government offices are closed. Banks, markets, stores, transportation and anything else you can think of all shut down for the holiday.

Voila! My lunch. A pint of strawberries with what was left of the whipped cream. Whew! I was a little worried that I wouldn’t eat those puppies before they had expired. But, never fear, Machine Momma With Huge Desire To Eat Raw Food is here!

Last night I was watching a documentary on the health care system, dismissing it when it is not actually needed, and caring for ones own health. It totally inspired me to finish the rest of the perishables which have been tickin’ away like a 41-year-old woman’s time clock.

The last time Sophie spent the night in Basel, Switzerland we stayed at the Basel Back Pack Hostel.

In the past, we always stayed at the YMCA Basel Hostel but we were ready for a change and were delighted with our experience at this new experience. The Basel Back Pack Hostel is friendly, helpful, in an artsy sort of complex with character, taste and sophistication. There is a chic restuarant at the entrance of the complex. It appears the building used to be an old warehouse where some product was manufactured but has since been turned into a hip artistic complex.

The feel and vibe of the Basel Back Pack hostel is cool and easy. Sometimes, the YMCA Hostel would get a little uptight and cold in it’s vibe. This was not the case at all with the Basel Back Pack Hostel.

The hostel is slightly further away from the train station but still an easy walk through a lovely city. We saw people there of all ages. There were single women my age or old, couples my age, and plenty of younger, cool looking hosteling partying artsy types! I’m happy to say the environment so not stuffy at all. The hostel wasn’t filled with snooty freshman college students looking at you like you shouldn’t be there, or ‘residents’ who think they run the place. It was a hostel and felt like a friendly welcoming hostel.

The kitchen was fully equipped. Sophie made a wonderfully fresh pasta dinner with a homemade meat sauce. Easy and cheap. Switzerland is not cheap. It is a wealthy country. We found it impossible to eat at a resturant (other than McDonalds) for less than $75… and we don’t drink. Therefore, now we either eat at McDonalds or make our own food. I’m fortunate in that Sophie is such a wonderful cook and loves doing it!

If you look at the bottom left hand side of picture below, you will see a couple containers of things like pasta, oils, vinegar, spices, etc. These are free to use for the people staying at the hostel. We left our pasta in the container instead of bringing it on our travels. If you’re really cutting it close, or just want to save a buck, check out the ‘free’ container(s) in a hostel before going shopping. Please don’t eat other people’s food in the fridge or cupboards - that’s not free or available. But do know that you can cook your own meal and meet other travelers, if so you desire, and from our experience the Basel Back Pack Hostel is a great place to do it!

The Basel Back Pack hostel costs 22 euro per night and can be paid at time of arrive. I believe there is an additional fee if you use a credit card. The YMCA Basel Hostel is substantially higher at 29 euro per night.

I don’t know about you but it is hard for me to learn what I need to learn to move forward with a project, at times, but if I don’t do it who will? And if it’s my project then it is me who is not achieving my goals if I’m unwilling to figure out a workable game plan.

There is a project that is near and dear to me. I wanted to use an existing company to move forward with my idea and to implement it. Unfortunately none of the four companies I’ve approach are either interested or capable of creating this partnership. Therefore I am left with limited alternatives.
1. I can dump the project.
2. I can delay the project until next year or some distant time when I might have more time.
3. I can try to create a website myself to meet the needs for the project I am trying to create.

Okay, fear hits hard here. Fear of the unknown. I don’t know how to make webpages that you have to log into. I don’t know how to create an eCommerce site. I must stop there. I might actually know how to do the latter but it seems very overwhelming.

Fear grips us and we feel so overwhelmed when we don’t know how to do something. It is hard to move through that fear into a place of being able to achieve one’s goals. That’s where I am now. I’m scared and I want to run away. I’d like to hid under my pillow or snap my fingers and have it all magically created. Unfortunately, neither are reasonable solutions to my problem

What I Need To Do
I need to encode.
I need to create a log-in protected website.
I need to create an flexible integrated eCommerce aspect for the website.

That’s all. There. I said it. I’m not dead or eaten alive by the world’s blog of overwhelmism! Nope. I’m still here feeling a little lighter as not only know how to encode but I’ve done it several time and actually own all the necessary equipment. God, life is good! Thank god Sophie is a filmmaker!

Although I don’t know how to make a log-in protected website and it seems dauntingly difficult I also think it is probably rather simple and something that Yahoo Hosting has in their eCommerce package.

I already use more sophisticated eCommerce than I’ll need for the new project. So really, my fears of being overwhelmingly daunted are completely unfounded and unrealistic. Nonetheless, they are still kind of here. GO AWAY FEAR! I’M BUSY DAMN IT!!!

I only live once. If I am unwilling to move forward with my life due to fear I will lose out. Chances are others will lose out as well. When I achieve my goals and work toward the things that I love and make me happy in life, I am much more content and personally empowered. I know this… but, it’s a good day for me to remember it!

I have received my accreditation confirmation for the Cannes Film Festival.

The Cannes Film Festival was a great experience last year. (One of the two trips I took on my own in 2008. The other being Barcelona!) Most of my 5-day trip was spent at the Short Film Corner where I watched tons of short films from around the world.

The Short Film Corner was set up six years ago to allow a platform for short films - from around the world which are not involved in competition - to be shown and seen by potential buyers and festivals. I found several films at the that I thought would be a potentially good match for the Strasbourg International Film Festival.

It seemed as through the Short Film Corner was under-utilized. I suppose for some people it might not be the place to mingle and network as feature films have more flash and intrigue. If you are looking to find a global selection of short films in all styles and genres… if you are looking for find tomorrows filmmakers… if you are looking to see what is new and cutting edge in filmmaking then the Short Film Corner is a fine place to look. Perhaps not as good as our festival… but not bad for those of us looking to see what other festivals have to offer.

If you are a lover of the short film genre and have a little time on your hands while visiting the Cannes Film Festival take a spin around the world in one of the Short Film Corner booths. I almost hate to make the recommendation as I absolutely love the tranquility one can find at this short film oasis!

The center of Strasbourg has now been shut off to visitors. Residents can still move freely throughout the city center while carrying identification and a badge. Sophie and I went to the Marie (City Hall) yesterday and picked up our badges.

Sophie and her friends were thinking of participating in the NATO protest which many people will be attending from around the world but after yesterday’s riots in London they are having second thoughts.

The streets are rather calm and subdued. Residents stroll about on there way from here to there. The police are out in great force. Nowhere can a person look without seeing groups of policemen patrolling the quaintly quiet little streets of Strasbourg.

NATO has brought a calmness to the area. Strasbourg is pleasantly tranquil.

NATO badges will no longer be necessary after Sunday. Until then, I will enjoy the tranquility NATO has brought to the center ville of Strasbourg.

Some of Sophie’s friends will be meeting Obama. How nice is life when all of its excitement comes to your doorstep…

A couple months back I decided I needed a trim and proceeded to cut my hair very short. I cut it myself. Although the cut could have been worse, it was in need of a little shaping.

Yesterday, I stopped off at the local hair cutting school - here in Strasbourg a couple blocks from the train station - to have the cut refined. The 13 euro hair cut was cheap enough and simple enough. Apparently, I fall into the category of incredibly boring and traditional hair styles. Oh well. At least it’s all balanced out now!

It’s always hard to let your hair grow out when you keep cutting it! In the meantime, Sophie has made me some really cool shoulder length dreads. If my hair is long enough we’ll put them in!