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 |   Enga mellom fjella: where from across the meadow, poems sing from mountains and molehills. |
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Enga mellom Fjella  Sentinel Marked as if you own me I bow before the Bitterroots and just like you my rocky soil, my withered grass lays prey to the empty sky. © Kåre Enga 2007 "Sentinel"   Reader's Choice of Poems: "'heart's home'" "In the midst of silence" "A radiant moon has set" "Speak soft my name" "Mauve Mavis" Reader's Choice of blog entries from my old blog "L'aura del Campo" :"Death of Jeannie New Moon" "Winter: 18 Mas'il (December 29)" "Even in chaos ... More hockey poems." "A Thanksgiving Dinner poem and the WDC Zoo" "Guitarman, a gift for Gary. Aaron Marable's art." FACES     PLACES            Kåre  Enga~ until everything was rainbow, rainbow, rainbow! And I let the fish go. ~ Elizabeth Bishop The Fish |
| I have no idea of where I'll go after Japan... Yep. Bought my tickets. I'll be in Honolulu February 26th and Tokyo March 3rd. After that? Annabel mentioned New Zealand. Must consider it. I've gotten some encouragement from friends in Australia. There are reasonable flights between the two. But then back to Japan... or Korea? Onward to Lisbon or Northern Europe. Flights back? Cheap flights to Canada from Dublin. Cheap flight to Dublin from Oslo. Cheap flights... Yeah. I'm looking at my options. But... I'm leaving on a jet plane on February 26th. Might not get back before July. me: I'm okay. At least the stress of buying the first two tickets is over. That wasn't exactly fun. But I did it yesterday. 5 days in Hawai'i instead of 3? I'll cope somehow.  Mild temperatures and some sun. Winter isn't bad when the sidewalks are clear and it's calm and sunny. I like traveling by train but lots of places are cheaper by air! Printers were off line yesterday at the library. But I've got my e-mails and ticket codes. I really need to lose weight... again. 4 months of travel might slim me down. I think I know how to eat cheap in Japan. Can you say noodles? Like: ramen, udon, soba... I'll need to pre-pack soon to get my weight down. Unfortunately computers and notebooks weigh something... chuck the clothes?So... that's it for now. Have lots of work to do to plan next phase of the trip. Entire trip needs to be planned within a couple weeks. Well... the structure of it. The details will come later. But major airplane tickets must be bought a.s.a.p. Bon voyage! |
 I hang wet 'things' wherever I can. More nails? I don't have a smartphone. I use my Samsung 2 tablet when I travel; but... I need to look into a new travel computer. One that is faster and lighter. Plus, Samsung is cracked.  We could all use hugs, even those who resist them. There are times I could use two. I keep forgetting that I should plan a trip through Iceland... and stay for a few days. I forget as much or more that I remember these days. When (not if) I get to Ireland I must raise the flag of the McCarthy on the Cashel Rock!ME: Great lunch today for $4. Moroccan pork roast, couscous (with chickpeas and raisins), spinach salad (with dates and onion and mint). Over the top! I have wet 'things' like pants, shirts, towels, sheets hung all over the place. By evening everything should be dry. Montana is dry  ... and dusty  .I made progress on where and how to go if I decide to visit East Asia. No decisions quite yet. I'll let everyone know. And then I'll plan Norway. Want to revisit Portugal and it's a 101 euros flight from Lisbon to Oslo. Lovely .I forgot that the library was closed yesterday... my brain cells are aching. I now have limited computer access at the Senior center as they have decided to be fee based. Everything costs. |
 I made crunchy peanut butter fudge. It tasted fine and set up great. My neighbor really liked it. What kind of shoes to wear to Japan... if I get to Japan. I think something that would not have laces up to my knees might be wise! Like loafers... My phone balance is $55.88. That's $44 spent in 12 weeks. The pay-as-you-go phone plan is saving me money. Still not as convenient as I wish... Today they will spray the baseboards around the halls. Plus spray my bed and futon. We are nearing the end... I've been staying up too late, been too stressed to properly sleep. I set two alarms this morning and managed quite fine. That's my good news for the day... me: I finally have my rooms set up the way I want them. Kinda... I liked reading on the futon/couch last week. Like how the plants are arranged. Like having my kitchen table clear. After the exterminator leaves I can put it all back together again.  My place has finally gotten back to feeling like MY place... it's been depressing... since Summer of 2012. In other Snews... Hobie called yesterday and I answered (thankfully; it wasn't a day to use my phone). He had valuable insight in traveling in Japan. Like... don't go during Golden Week. Nara is great. Travel with a phrase book. Eat lunch, not supper (too expensive). Avoid August unless one visits the north. If I arrange to go I'll have to call him again. I had a great chat with Debra on Saturday. She's my age and easy to talk to. She'd love to have a trinket (like a brush) from Japan as she once worked for a Japanese fabric design company. Family is doing well. My mother is 92 and hoping to travel to my sister's this Summer. My sister is making progress with the family genealogy. Our great-great gran Julia McCarthy may have been born in May of 1844 in Tralee, Ireland. It would be so nice to have that confirmed before I go to Ireland... some day. 52,973 |
...soup. I have never been to Mexico. Very diverse country. I will go there if a friend visits and invites me to go with him. I met someone from East Anglia today. There were two Brits in the room at the same time! I introduced them to each other. Just ducky. I have plenty of money to travel... but for how long and how far? Still, I have plenty of money. I remember when I had absolutely nothing. Snow covered, of course. I'm ready to see trees that flower... with blooms! Yep. Soon I'll be dreaming of Spring. Me: I scored some chicken mushroom soup. Ab-fab. I played Chuzzle. It's addicting. Quit after 117,000 points. I really don't have the time to spare. Getting into the thick of my detective novel placed in Montmartre. I meet a friend at the bakery tomorrow; hopefully we talk haiku. The sun is out and I'm inside. Not much to say today. 52,960 |
...fog. Thinking of writing new lyrics to a tune I like. Unfortunately it's in a language I don't speak about a place I have only visited once.  I like spiders because they eat mosquitos. I really don't like dive-bombing buzzing mosquitos. Plus they carry dengue and chikungunya. I stole a candy bar from my friend Joyce just now. Stolen goods taste best! Thinking is good. Over-thinking isn't so good. Lost in thinking is annoying when I'm trying to fall asleep. "I see the ghost of you fishing with your sons. I can almost hear your laughter." A thought for a piece of writing.me: Not much to say today. I puttered around my place yesterday and my kitchen is looking a bit cleaner. Went through some papers. Got my Nick fix by going out to the Break Espresso. So thrilled he's serious about getting a passport and going to China. He says his family is xenophobic so he's definitely expanding everyone's comfort zones. My family wasn't overly xenophobic or racist or really opposed to much of anything (except my mother's disdain for Catholics). We just didn't have the means and unfortunately, my parents decided to raise us in a blue-collar suburb that was almost the death of me. I'm glad I left. Life is so much brighter not living under a basket. By-the-way... did you know how I choose the emoticons every day? Mostly random. I type {e: and see what comes up. {e:smirk} Ah... the fog is lifting... |
...and all-too-recent derailments. I've been avoiding cupcakes. I've gained 10 pounds. Maybe I should go on a cupcake only diet? I keep cards and gifts. Keep coming across cards sent to me from Mandy, Sheila and Linda. I have hats and scarfs that were gifted me... and notebooks (Teresa, Thomas...). I am blessed. I wonder whether my gifts are cherished. I suspect it depends on the person... and the gift. Some gifts like licorice or moose poop should be used... not "cherished".  I wish I could just ask and receive answers. Even with the internet this is tricky. I need to understand patience and that not all questions have answers.  Like... How do I travel with formal clothes yet only with a backpack? Hmm... Me: I remember the trains that went past my grandparent's place in the hollow in Penn, Pennsylvania. My mother's father would walk the tracks to work at the glass factory. When I was small they still had steam engines and the whistle was never as harsh as the diesel engines. Most of that is gone now. Missoula had the Great Northern and Milwaukee Road. The tracks in front of my place were taken out. The right-of-way became the bike path. The depot is still maintained and those who have seen my photos would recognize the tower. The Great Northern depot is still used as well. Burlington Northern uses those tracks as does Montana Rail. They are instituting new safety regulations for trains throughout the U.S. However, Montanan Rail is exempt. The problem? We've had a couple derailments near town. No major disaster... yet. Mostly coal wheat airplane parts go through here. But, I lived in a small town in Nebraska that has a fatal derailment of ammonia cars. Derailments need to be taken seriously. It is odd that in a time when the infrastructure of bridges, rails, roads, et cetera are deteriorating that the powers-that-be won't find the dough to fix this... and provide jobs as well. Waiting until the situation worsens and labor is more expensive doesn't make much sense to me. In other Snews: The gay marriage debate is winding down. The 5th Circuit may very well deny the bans in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. South Dakota's ban has been found unconstitutional. The Supremes may be ready to tackle the issue by choosing from 4 cases from the 6th Circuit (I'm betting on Michigan...). The situation in France is still looked upon as "freedom of the press". I still contend that the issue of respect needs to be explored. As to the violence? That thankfully is being condemned most everywhere. I haven't seen anything today about the Kardasians... or Beiber (what's his name). However, the NY Jets got a new coach (because my Buffalo Bills stole their old one!). In my sorry-so-called life: Good news. Got a notice under my door that they'll be in to spray on Monday the 19th. This is good because I'll be ready and then it'll be over. I need this bump in my mellow to be over... way over. Still no plans about traveling but maybe now I can focus on that. Same with writing. I've been editing a series of short poems and putting them at "L'aura del Campo" and making individual items and putting them in the folder "There comes a softening..." , like "[...to ice cream treats]" . Progress. Reading? Yeah... a detective novel set in Montmartre, Paris. Keeps me upright instead of merely sleeping the gloom away. By-the-way... the sun came out to play today! It's out there now. |
... ... ... Never enough places to hang stuff, especially damp clothes that need to dry. I keep a few silly things around to display outside the door to my room. It is best if they have no value whatsoever. The place I live in used to be the hotel for the Old Milwaukee Road railroad. They have talked about connecting us to train service again but still no definite plans. In other news the mini-price on the trains in Norway has gone done. Remind me that I need to sew some buttons on where they popped. And speaking of buttons... a young local writer has hilarious stories about the Button Prince. ME: Bingo... is far too loud. The Senior Center plants are watered. My friend Joyce is better but didn't come in due to a toothache so I water. The geranium is blooming and the peace lily will bloom soon. Some of the other plants don't look so well but this season is difficult due to the lack of sun. My geraniums are blooming as well. I have an old jade tree, Kenneth. Seems to like the new location better and is putting out new shoots. My cuttings and new plants from leaves grow slow but I have a dish that looks like a mini jade-forest. Went through dozens of pens. Most still have ink so that pleases me. I write in my journal daily and scribble in my notepad. I go through pens. Weather is mild. No complaints other than the lack of sun. Good walking weather except for the patches of ice. |
...are not always obvious either!  ...to my head. Under too much stress because I'm not finishing things! And decisions aren't yet made. I love having friends in other countries. I met Lisbeth in Poland but she's Swedish, now living in Holland. Traveling does expand one's knowledge and understanding.  I haven't looked into traveling by pirate ship yet... any suggestions? I love posting photos; love looking at photos. But beach photos just remind me that I shouldn't be here!  A local barista was an exchange student in Sweden. He visited Spain and saw Conchita Wurst in a bar in Barcelona. Today's news has her photo at the Golden Globes ...in green velvet. We chatted Saturday about how big Eurovision is. mmmmmme. I'm NOT done yet... this "incompletion" is harshing my mellow. Still, made good progress towards setting up my rooms in a workable way. The bookcase I salvaged fits books two deep! Really helped. And my futon/coach is comfy and looking good. No word when they will re-spray... I haven't seen any bugs in ages. I put stray items including books on the landing. The doll was still there but a plaque, a book and a radio alarm clock are gone. I believe in recycling rather than just tossing. Reading, reading, reading. Unfortunately, it helps me avoid chores. Fortunately, it may help with the depression and anxiety surrounding chores. Came across another photo of me at age 22 in Key West. And what I believe was my original passport photo from when I was 21. So much hair! Plus, I was a bit chubby in the face. I prefer my replacement photo taken in Peru when I was 22 and 30 pounds lighter. Still... the mop of brown hair!  |
| ...we usually have choices... ...not always good ones. Enough said. I didn't know this emoticon existed. I need to get back to writing short stories.  If I had wings I'd fly away. I'll be watching the Supreme Court this week. Will they? Won't they? I haven't finished my first coff... give me a bre...Me: This blog is near its 1,450 entry limit. I'll have to decide what to do with it. I can consolidate old entries, put them elsewhere and then continue with the added "space" or go back to "L'aura del Campo" which I am using as my plog. Or... I could start a new one by eliminating one of the "books" I'm not using. We have choices. Same with my travels. If I do not dedicate a session to buying tickets for my next trip I won't be going. It's that simple. I have choices. If I don't decide though I'm "stuck" here. I have felt overwhelmed rearranging my two rooms. The sun today may energize me. I didn't make my last goal but made excellent progress. My new goal is this Sunday. Unfortunately, this goal is more crucial. I'd rather be planning my next trip... and to tell the truth I'd rather be dreaming it. Dreams don't get things done however. 52,897 |
...normal? Stray thought... when and where did I last see seals? My mind is a warehouse of forgotten trivia. A ray of sunshine! Frosty is melting.  Always wanted to go to the Winter Olympics. Smaller than the Summer games. But... as they become more of an extravaganza I can't afford to go. Too bad Oslo withdrew their bid for the 2022 games but they didn't want to waste money. I wish... My green "stick plant" has small yellow flowers blooming at the end of stems. No leaves, just green sticks with golden tips.me: I'm okay... paid rent yesterday. Money isn't an issue. I say this only to remind me that once it was and to be thankful for the issues I don't have. Went out in the evening to Writers Anonymous at the library and learned about YA novels in verse. One guy is hilarious with his story about the Button prince with his Zipper brother and Velcro king.  Later... my Nick Fix. Nick's looking good. I'm encouraging him to apply for a 4 week Summer program in China through Law School. I think it would do him good. Build confidence if nothing else. My friend Joyce is healing fine (at age 84); my mother is doing well (at age 92). They make me feel young. Now if I could get a nice night's rest... gas and nightmares. At least my days have been fine in spite of the lousy weather. |
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