and a little boy was born

i was raised as a catholic
and even though my behavior inclines
more towards the sinner side than to the
holiness and respect of church and catholic rules
i do feel a profound respect for Jesus Christ
not so much for the church institution yet...

i don't question myself if he's the "one"
our "savior" or just another "prophet"
but i sure know he was one of the 'coolest' men
on Earth ever, and has influenced our culture
more than most historical characters

and sure why not? deep in my heart
when i struggle, i find myself, even to my own surprise
repeating his name

yes! i admire him and i am thankful to be able to celebrate
his birthday, that winter day when a little boy was born
to change the face of Earth

happy birthday little baby Jesus and
Merry Christmas to you all!

one of my favorite Christmas songs
by one of my favorite bands is this little song about
offering the little that you have in life with all
the love you can, just like this drummer boy
that has nothing else to offer but his drum playing



& also here my little Nativity scene
"Nacimiento" as we call it in Spanish
for days i've been so busy, & i keep on procrastinating
on decorating the little card-stock box that holds it
but about a week ago, i realized Jesus taught humility
so what can be more humble than a card-stock box
with some Mexican crafts representing the scene?



i am glad this year i placed my Nativity scene
and was able to share these cozy days with
my beloved mother and my two cats

¡Feliz Navidad!

i started writing this on December 24
but didn't add the photo until now
as usual, am a little late
hope you are having a good ending of 2010

wishlist 2010, item 3, Nadav Kander's Yangtze – The Long River

my third wish list item for this year's list
is yet another beautiful book
Nadav Kander: Yangtze, The Long River



this is a wish that might come true next year
depending on my economical situation
the book is not that expensive, but is not out yet in the US
actually, i would love to only be able to watch
the wonderful prints, more than even own the book



here some information on photographer Nadav Kander
and his website http://www.nadavkander.com/

The Guardian UK has a very interesting review of the book
"The river," writes Kander, "is embedded in the consciousness of the Chinese, even for those who live thousands of miles from it. It plays a significant role in the spiritual and physical life of the people."
read the whole article here

and to see some of the beautiful prints
visit this site
http://www.prixpictet.com/2009/view/605



now if you feel compelled to send this book as a
Christmas or New Year's gift for your friend blogger here
please send me an e-mail and i will send you back
my mailing address ;)

Christmas is almost here! and i still believe in Santa
i've been a good woman all year, so this book and the other
wishes from the list, might just appear at my doorstep
on Christmas morning, eh?

just like Christmas

enjoying these little Christmas chores:
writing cards for friends



Herr Gato playing with a little Rosemary tree



and listening to modern Christmas songs
from this lovely Low Christmas album



and so far this Christmas feels
yep, just like Christmas...

arbolito de Navidad, the little Christmas tree

my same old little Christmas tree
has been up for a couple of days now
Frau Kitty enjoys the Christmas spirit



and i found a Herr Gato's ornament!



but sadly, Herr Gato doesn't seem to be touched
by the kindness of Christmas
he killed yet another mouse...
somethings never change {ah sigh...}



i hope you enjoy a little Christmas too!
hanging a little ornament or two
is always a good thing
and don't follow psychokiller Gato's example!

wishlist 2010, item 2, A History of the World in 100 Objects book

this book is my 2nd item of the wishlist

A History of the World in 100 Objects
by Neil MacGregor, who has been Director of the British Museum since 2002

an incredible book based on the BBC radio show

(which i haven't listened to but sound wonderful)

here a review of the book

and more information about this exciting

compilation of the objects that have made us humans

do click on these samples of pages

they look better on bigger resolution

Synopsis from Penguin Books
A chipped stone that was one of the first things ever made by human hands; a clay tablet telling the story of the great flood centuries before the Bible; a broken hunter's spear dropped by one of the earliest settlers in America; a hoard of gold abandoned in the Wars of the Roses ... every object tells a story.

Neil MacGregor's radio series A History of the World in 100 Objects has been a unique event that has set a new benchmark for public service broadcasting in the UK and across the world. This book will be the tie-in to that event, faithfully reproducing the scripts describing the objects that made us who we are, with pictures of the objects themselves, as they were discussed in each episode. It will also be a kaleidoscopic book of history that tells the story of human civilization in an unprecedented way.

and why i keep this wonderful book as a wish
and not go ahead and buy it??
well, it's too big, and sort of expensive
and i don't have much space at home for bigger books anymore
nor much money, and what if i have to move next year?
will be another thing to drag
but i am looking forward to seeing it 'live'
with a good cup of coffee at Borders or Barnes & Noble soon

wishlist 2010

Wired magazined published the wishlist 2010
plenty of neat items
i already want item #1 of their list!
this lovely Hario V60 Buono Kettle
stylish, so pretty!



but i already have a kettle, so i won't buy it
nor request it
but i like the wishlist idea
i will keep on adding items from here to December
that i wish i had, but chances are i won't get
as gifts, nor i will buy
so they will always be that: wishes...

for once i will be unlike most Americans
i will wish, but not attempt to posses
only on the blog as pictures
very much like the lovely blog of our german lady friend
Geisslein, who updates every day her blog
with lovely images, stylish rooms, and products

Lennon days

yesterday watched Lennon Naked
this British documentary at PBS' Contemporary Masterpiece
interesting but nothing like tonight's edition
of American Masters
Lennon NYC, hope you are watching or watch too

amazing story, great interviews, Yoko included
of John's time in NYC and LA

what a wonderful man he was!
all genius, so sincere, what a big heart

Watch the full episode. See more American Masters.

Lennon on Sunday
Lennon on Monday
i could take it all days of all months
of all weeks

der Regen ist la Lluvia when it rains

masculine in German
feminine in Spanish
neutral auf Englisch

he/she/it has been installed in San Diego
for the weekend


la Lluvia


der Regen

& it rains rains rains

under construction

as my little life seems always to be
be be be, and then it bes again



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and a song to accompany the mood, sure thing!
another Arcade Fire, the Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)



this to honor the always-under-construction
neighborhood of my heart & souls
as it goes:

And if the snow buries my,
my neighborhood.
And if my parents are crying
then I’ll dig a tunnel
from my window to yours,
yeah a tunnel from my window to yours.
You climb out the chimney
and meet me in the middle,
the middle of town.
And since there’s no one else around,
we let our hair grow long
and forget all we used to know,
then our skin gets thicker
from living out in the snow.

You change all the lead
sleepin’ in my head,
as the day grows dim
I hear you sing a golden hymn.

Then we tried to name our babies,
but we forgot all the names that,
the names we used to know.
But sometimes, we remember our bedrooms,
and our parent’s bedrooms,
and the bedrooms of our friends.
Then we think of our parents,
well what ever happened to them?!

You change all the lead
sleepin’ in my head to gold,
as the day grows dim,
I hear you sing a golden hymn,
the song I’ve been trying to say.

Purify the colors, purify my mind.
Purify the colors, purify my mind,
and spread the ashes of the colors
over this heart of mine!

they are coming!

Mysterious Missile Launch Off California Coast

WASHINGTON - Whatever it was, it didn't represent a threat to the United States.

That's according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, about what appeared to be a missile launched Monday off the coast of Southern California.

The agency says there was no launch by any foreign military.

U.S. military officials say they're looking into a video that appears to show an object shooting across the sky and leaving a large vapor trail.

A Pentagon spokesman says nobody has been able to explain what the vapor trail is, or what caused it. He says "all indications" are that the Defense Department wasn't involved, and that it might have been created by something flown by a private company.

Missile tests are common off Southern California, from vessels and platforms. Normally, they would require notification so mariners and pilots could be warned.

A KCBS news helicopter crew captured footage late Monday of what appeared to be a missile in the sky northwest of Catalina Island. The video shows a point of light moving through the sky followed by a contrail, similar to a missile being launched.

"We're looking into it," said Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration. "We did not approve of any commercial launches in that area Monday."

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command issued a statement saying federal authorities were aware of the "unexplained contrail."

"At this time, we are unable to provide specific details, but we are working to determine the exact nature of this event," according to the statement. "We can confirm that there is no threat to our nation and from all indications this was not a launch by a foreign military. We will provide more information as it becomes available."

Officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Point Mugu told the Los Angeles Times they were not responsible for the launch.