Haiku world of Angelika

ARE MODELS 2 THIN

2006-11-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

Ana Carolina Reston, 21 died of heart failure during a fashion show. She weighed 88 pounds and was five feet eight inches tall. She and many models today have anorexia.

The sample size was "7" when i was a model. I weighed one hundred and ten pounds. I was not skinny and most of the other models were not either. Today, many designers are not looking for the super-skinny. They want to see healthy and slim young girls. It is good that this look is now again becoming the ideal, as it was years ago.

Today, the average model is five foot nine and weighs 114 pounds. BMI of 16.8

The average young woman is 5-4 and weighs 169. BMI of 29

BMI 24.9 is the high end of the healthy range and over 29 is considered obese.

On the cat walk
one by one the models go
thoughts of food

She struts her walk
on the runway
her hips sway

Her long hair
sways this way and that
long gliding steps
on the cat walk
in a bridal gown

2 BEE OR NOT 2 BEE

2006-11-13T04:54:00.000-08:00

There are a couple on Vancouver island who are the only Canadian distributors of organic manuka honey, a honey rich in antibacterial properties that has been shown to heal infections, prevent the spread of the super-bug MRSA in hospitals, heal ulcers and even fight gingivitis.

Their new product, honey-dew honey is derived from the sap of beech trees. The Maoris named it for the golden colour of the beech sap in the morning light, not for the green melon.

These honeys contain strong natural antiseptics that can be eaten, used on the skin, and also put in beer. It can be compared to phenol, a chemcal antiseptic. Manuka has about 19% phenol, and as it ages it gets stronger

It has not been known about in North America, but in France, England, Japan, Australia and New Zealand -- people take a teaspoon when they have a sore throat and put it on their children's scraped knees. They use it for acid reflux and for skin ulcers on those with diabetes. So, it is good for people like me who have diabetes.

In New Zealand the ancient Maoris have known of this honey and the powers it has.

In the morning light
beech trees run with golden sap
to ease a sore throat

Summer sunshine
your hair a golden glow
a honey bee alights

Fresh baked bread
a thick layer of honey
drip ,drop off chin

In the deep forest
beech trees surround
your silence

NOVEMBER 11

2006-11-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

"ThoughI attain Buddahood, I shall never be complete until people all over the world are influenced by my spirit of loving compassion".

--The Buddah

"Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who suround me; at his tabernacle will
I scarifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord".

--Psalm 27:6 of David

"This is the message you heard from the beginning; We should love one another".

--1 John 3:11

"Even if thou stretch forth thine hand against me to slay thee. Truly I fear God the Lord of the Worlds".

--The Koran

Dum Spiro Spero, While I Breathe I Hope.

Soft wind blows
the poppies here and there
among the crosses

DR. A IS IN LOVE WITH DR. Z

2006-11-09T05:21:00.000-08:00

I have a new computer!! It is a Scorpio Raidmax. It has a see- through side panel with a swirl design and a circle with a blue light behind it. The front panel has a letter Z also with a blue light behind it. Well you all know blue is my favourite colour, especially blue irises!!!! It is black, as is the Logitech keyboard, mouse, speakers, cam, and mic. So, i have named it Dr. Z!

I need to have all my old document, etc transferred from my old computer and that will take some time. I am in the middle of writing a book of tanka. I am also writing a book of short stories called, Blue Irises. It is based on the men with blue irises in my life. I have given Hugh the first one to edit for me and i hope he will help me with the others. His many years of teaching and his study of haiku and tanka is so valuable. He reads in Japanese, and that also helps a great deal with haiku and tanka.

The latest review of my book, Vancouver Island Poetry was done by the Journal of the British Haiku Society, Blithe Spirit. It was a vey positive, but it was memtioned that there was some duplication. Yes, i know that and will revise the book for the next printing.

In March i wrote haiku for 50 paintings by a local artist and now we are in the process of printing greeting cards with her paintings on front and my haiku inside. They are at the printer this week. I proposed a table top book a few months ago, but i have not had the time to chase down a publisher, so i came up with the idea of greeting cards for now. More on this when the project is done. I am in contact with the Hawaiian artist Christian Riese Lassen to see if he might like to do a similiar project. His sister has a houseboat here and she likes my book very much. I have admired his art since i met him on Maui in 1992. He was doing a commission for Peter Townsend and he introduced us, but i had just had a love/ hate relationship with another man named Peter and i just walked away...i told him one more Peter in my life was one too many!

Well, back to my darlink Dr. Z

November morning --
tropical fish swim before me
sound of fans

In the dark room --
the glow of blue lights
your irises

On top of the computer --
carved blue tropical fish
your long fingers

Your voice clip
Kona coffee is on the way
should reach you
by your
Birthday

CANNABIS USE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND

2006-11-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

53% of residents use cannabis on Vancouver island and in all of BC also. Health officials are very worried about this. On the other hand, magazines like Cannabis Health claim that is good for you in moderation. I found this magazine under a pile of travel brochures that i was showing to a friend from Jakarta. He started to laugh and told me he had no idea i such magazines around my house. Well, i don't where it came from...probably left behind when Maya stayed with me a few years ago. It is a very interesting magazine to read.

The possible medical benefits of Marijuana seem to be endless.

New Zealand has the highest rate of cannabis use, 80% of 21 year olds have tried it and also more than half of people aged 14-45 have tried it. They also have the highest rate of being arrested for using it.

So if you attend a large party here where 53% of them are using cannabis you have a risk of getting high on second-hand smoke. Just like our gold medal snowboarder!!

My horror-scope the other day:

In the next few weeks, you might feel vaguely irritable or uneasy. Be aware that childish behaviour on your part could suddenly errupt out of nowwhere (Embarassing but true) These undermining patterns from your past that you're hardley aware of!

November rain storm
she walks out without umbrella
much giggling (is that a word)?

October fest party --
beer and bratwurst
silly laughter

Large tomatoes --
she carves faces on them
before eating

Trying to open wine --
the cork slips into the bottle
felling corked

The family laugh at me for being unable to open a bottle of wine without help. This family has had one Chef and now has two Sommelier. So there is always help when needed. I learned to open my own bottle of bubbly from watching James Bond, and yes i can do it in the dark like he can.

Well no more silly stuff today, i feel irritable.

BETHLEHEM RETREAT

2006-11-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

Zesterdaz i spent the daz at the Bethlehem Retreat Centre. It was a daz of przer and complemtation. It rained the entire daz and so the lake was lost to mist and the cedars were onlz a green shadow. The nuns provided good plain food. The chapel was made of cedar with windows overlooking the grounds and the lake. A verz simple and sparse chapel.

After the rain finallz stopped i walked in the Labzrinth.

The Greek Mzth of Theseau, Adriadne and the Cretan LabrinthÖ

The ancient mzth of Minos, the King of Crete, created a wonderful, complex labzrinth for the monster, Minotaur. Each zear Minos demaned seven men and seven woemen from Greece whom would be sent to the labzrinth. None ever made it out alive until the hero Theseus, came along. Adriane, the daughter of Minos, fell in love with Theseus. She gave him a large ball of zarn and told him to unravel the thread as he entered the labzrinth so that after reaching the centre, he could find his waz back out alive. He then conquered the Minotaur at its center, and returned safelz out.

Medieval Cathedrals of EuropeÖ

In the medieval era, Christians used this Cretan mzth and made it an Easter mzsterz. Tehz acclaimed Jesus as the new Theseus, who descending into the labzrinth of death on Calvarz, conquered Satan and sin, and came back alive as the Risen Jesus, our Easter mzsterz. In the medieval era, manz European pilgrims made a vow considered unbreakable Ä to make a pilgramage to Jerusalem and visit the Holz Spulchre once during thier life.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame at Chartes still has an inlaid labzrith in the stone floor of its nave.
The center of the labzrinth, a sixßpetal rose, szmboliyed the New Jerusalem. Walking the labzrinth provided the pilgrims an experiential teaching about their own lifeäs journez as a pachal journez with the Risen Jesus.

Labzrinbths are a szmbol for unitz and wholeness. These circular imprints are found in numerous religious traditions around the world. Varied shapes were chiseled into stone slabs, constructed as subterranean graves, scratched on claz tablets and coinsö engraved on wallsö inlaid as Englandäs walled gardens mosaics in the floors of churches, and planted as hedges into Englandäs walled gardens.

oops, i have used the nonßEngish script on this and soeer i am too layz to go back and reßtzpe all this.

Free form haiku and tanka

Behind the grez lake
mist covers the cedars
an eagle circles

In the cedar chapel
the wooden cross beckons
nuns gather for prazer

Afte mz prazers
the mist lifts from the lake
two bleu herons
stand in the shallows
waiting for dinner

In her mind
blue irises appear
one by one

Morning sun´rise
skz and sea
peach and red
angels are
baking bread

Enjhoz zour Sundaz and praise God whoever zou imagine him-her to be!

Love,

Angelika

HAPPY NOVEMBER

2006-11-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

In November is my birthday and i share it with many other of my Sagittarius friends born late this month and in December. These friends and i do share many of the same interests and have similar traits. I am a Rat on the Chinese horoscope and yes i have those traits also, the good and the bad in equal measure.

My Sag friends far and wide:

Sam in Honolulu
Anders in Denmark
Daniel in Spain
Blair in Canada
Elizabeth in Canada
Kiyomi in Canada
Everett in Canada ( both of us on Nov. 23)
Mario in Canada

Today is All Saints Day and i will attend Holy Communion and share in the prayers to the memory of our loved ones now departed.

Blue and purple
stained glass window shines
Mary Magdalen's eyes

First frost
grass now white
old man's beard

November sunshine
rainbows on the
frozen grass

In St. Paul's
your voice strong
blue glow shines
through the stained
glass windows

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2006-10-31T08:01:00.000-08:00

Today children will dress up and go out and look for candy. Many large cities in Canada now have events in large malls and parents find this a better place to take thier kids without the worry going door to door can bring. In the last few years more and more adults are going out in costume to local clubs, bars, and pubs to join in the fun. It will be a clear, cool night today so it will be nice for the trick or treaters. A few years ago i dressed in a bright ornage sari like garment and went to a club in Victoria. There were wonderful, creative costumes and a prize was given to a couple who had authentic 18th century costumes on. They had made them with thier own hands. Victoria has so many creative people in all fields.

If i were in Victoria i would go to Swanns and Spinnnakers for some wonderful house brew to celebrate the night.

There is a couple of miles of county road outside of Nanaimo that has carved pumkins with candles inside sitting on both sides. It is a tradition to drive slowly along to view them. Tonight will be a good clear night to see them.

DarkHalloween night
three small witches dance alone --
cool blue-white moon shines

Large black cat
sits on top of pumpkins --
waiting

Along the old road
carved pumkins gleam --
cool October night

On the dock --
6 vampires and one witch
wait for the ferry

A knock on my door --
i open it to find
a carved pumkin

Behind the mask --
her brown eyes
now blue

#BALTIC HORSE SHOW IN KIEL

2006-10-30T10:54:00.000-08:00

BALTIC HORSE SHOW IN KIEL#

#SURF WORLD CUP IN SYLT

2006-10-30T10:53:00.000-08:00

#MUSIC IN OLD TOWN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

#VIKING DAY IN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:51:00.000-08:00

#POLO IN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:50:00.000-08:00

#MORE PARTY IN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:49:00.000-08:00

#RACE MEET IN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:48:00.000-08:00

#PARTY IN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

#KITE BUGGY IN FLENSBURG

2006-10-30T10:46:00.000-08:00

#DRAGON BOAT IN FLENSBURG, GERMANY

2006-10-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

#Dragon boat festival in flensburg, germany

GALSAN TSCHINAG

2006-10-28T03:29:00.000-07:00

Galsang Tschinag, chieftan of the Tuvan people in Mongolia is a shaman, storyteller, and poet. He was born in 1943 in the High Altai Mountains in a remote region of Mongolia. The Tuvans still live a nomadic life with their herds of yak, sheep and horses as did their ancient ancestors. A generation ago, the Tuvans lost their their land and thier herds, many started working in industrial jobs and then those were also lost. So, in 1995 Tschinag negotiated a land claim that allowed his people to retun to the Altai. With his earnings from his writings he he bought camels and horses for his impoverished people who were willing to return with him. At the time of his birth Mongolia was under the control of communist rule with anti-religious campaigns with mass executions of Lamaist monks and shamans and the destroying of the temples. Tschinag went to University in Eastern Germany and then wrote books, short fiction, and poetry in the German and Mongolian. His first autobiographical novel The Blue Sky has been translated into English. He is on tour in B.C. and Ontario, and in the United States. The book tells of his nomadic herding family and richly describes the landscape of his mountains and valleys. The Blue Sky was translated into English by B.C. English professor Katharina Rout, who travelled to Mongolia to meet Tschinag on location. The Blue Sky is the first book of Tschinag's to be translated into English.

Tanka (free form)

In the distance
snow-capped mountains
a poet sits in the silence
under a blue sky
his horse near by

Green-blue valleys
the smellof sage
inthe crisp Autumn air
the poet gazes
on a blank white page

The horses
sit and wait
a cloud of smoke
settles over
the still cool air

In Cental Asia
the sound of horses
fills the valleys
alpine blue lakes
deep as time

SOME FUN THINGS I HEARD OF

2006-10-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Gina Lollabrigida is getting married to Javier Rigau y Rafols of Barcelona.
She is 79 and he is 34 years younger. Gina embodied the essence of Italian beauty making films in Italy and brought to Hollywood by Howard Hughes. Love can happen at any ageand that makes me happy.

Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dedicated Virgin America Inc.'s new corporate aircraft named after the band Jefferrson Airplane. The "Jefferson Airplane" is the first of Virgin America's new fleet to be name. I would suggest the next one be named "Led Zepplin" with Robert's wonderful hair streaming on the side.

A new kind of mouse has been found on Cyprus with bigger head, ears, and teeth than other European mice. Genetic tests prove that this is indeed a new species and has been named Mus cypriacus, or the Cypriot mouse.

Botox injections can relieve depression!
Two months after the experiment preventing a patient from frowning and the patient's depression eased. So if you want to stay happy you will need a $400 shot of Botox every three months. Move over Prozac, et all.

Pink, grey Autumn sky --
fishing boats with Sockeye
life cycle ended

A FEW FUN THINGS I HEARD OF TODAY

2006-10-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Gina Lollabridgida is getting married to Javier Rigau y Rafols of Barcelona.
she is 79 and he is 34 years younger. Gina embodied the essence of Italian beauty making films in Italy and brough to Hollywood by Howard Hughes. They make a stunning couple.

Grace

A FEW SILLY THINGS I FOUND THIS WEEK SO FAR

2006-10-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Gina Lollabridgida is getting married to Javier Rigau y Rafols of Barcelona.

50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising

2006-10-23T07:36:00.001-07:00

October 23 - November 10, 1956

It was a Nationwide revolt against the Government and Soviet-imposed policies. It attracted thousands of students In Budapest who were fired upon with many dead. The revolt spread across Hungary. On November 4th a Soviet force invaded Budapest and thousands of civilians were killed and mass arrests began. About 200,000 Hungarians fled as refugees. 40,000 went to Canada.

In 1992 i went to Hungary for the first time. I felt an amazing sadness and joy at the same time ( a common aspect of the Hungarian nature) I call it the Czardas Syndrome. This rising and falling of tempo reflects the mood of the people. I walked the halls and entered the rooms of my ancestors. I walked the fields and the wood, swam in Lake Balaton, drank the wine, met the people and tasted the wonderful food. Ah, the music, especially of a certain black-eyed eyed young Gypsy who played a Brahms Hungarian dance for me in a small country inn for me and who would only accept a kiss on my hand as payment. That reminds me of how my Father courted my Mother in the age old tradition of having Gipsy musicians play under her window every night until she accepted his proposal of marriage.

There is a wonderful children's book that i bought for all the family one Christmas, The White Stag by Kate Seredy. The epic story of the migration of the Huns and Magyars from Asia to Europe.It is a book about the legends of the people and powerful God Nimrod, Mightly Hunter and Hador God of the Huns and Magyars. The story follows the trailing of the guide the, White Stag until it reaches Europe where the people finally settled.

"Upon this alter of Hadur, our Powerful God, with His sword in my hand hand, I swear to Hadur above, to the Sun in the east, to the Moon in the west, I swear to the stars in the north and the stars in the south, to protect and hold this land against all powers on earth, for my people."

Jo estet Attila and Viola and members of Magyarok A Vilaghalon

The follow the mystical stag
he shows them the way
to the rich new land

In the land of
the Magyar the wines
ready for harvest

In the streets
protest of young voices
on the day of
Rememberance
old eyes still weep

50th Anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising

2006-10-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

FREE FORM HAIKU AND TANKA WHILE I WAS IN CHILLIWACK

2006-10-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

Damp October morning
two squirrels chase
each other up and down
the old Maple tree
a cat silentley watching

In the dark night
the sound of a lawnmower
a drunk neighbour

I look up and see
his Finnish lake eyes
smiling into my dark ones
my heat feels
at home and safe

My hosts
buy me a cup
I'm not 40
I'm 18 with 22
years of experince

BACK FROM CHILLIWACK

2006-10-21T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well it is always nice to leave home but wonderful to get back.
It was a real rest and a forced escape from the technological world. There was no phone, no TV, no computer, there was a cell phone but it ended up in the bath tub and drowned. I enjoyed the country side, the large trees, the squirrel, the large , fat Calico cat that was chasing them. We went to Cultus Lake for an afternoon of Maya painting and the rest of us drinking beer on the dock under a Prussian sky. My bed was in front of the fire and it lulled me to sleep each night. i had a much needed rest, but i was glad to get home again to my ocean home.

Maya and Tyson smoke and i was bad and joined them on the proch for a few too.
She had cigs with German warnings. Sobranie of London kinds.

Rauchen kann die Spermatozoen schadigen und schrankt dir Fuchtbarkiet ein (It can lessen the sperm count and reduce fertility)

Rauchen fugt Ihnen und der Menschen in ihren Umgebung erheblichen Scahden zu ( Secpondf=hand smoke can be harmful)

Rachen sterben fruher (Smoking can kill you earlier than normal)

Rauchen kann todlich sein ( Smoking may kill you)

Well did it stop anyone...NO!! But all were only smoking on the front porch!

Hong Kong to ban public smoking

Hong Kong became the latest government to clamp down on tobacoo use Thursday when lawmakers voted to ban smoking in public places by next year.

GOING TO CHILLIWACK TODAY

2006-10-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

Last night's Creative Magic began after a pleasant Mingling, Appies and Music.
There was Storytelling, Poetry, Musical Drama, a Novel in progress excerpt, Myth telling, a Personal essay. Vancouver has many talented creative people in the arts. It is always a pleasure to see these wonderful people do their craft.

Later today i take the ferry to Vancouver and Maya and her new man will meet me at the other end of the ferry in Vancouver. It will not be hard to spot the new cherry red convertible. I like the idea of arriving in a new place in the dark. It is such fun to wake up in a brand new place and see it first thing in the morning. I can still recall the magic of arriving in Waikki Beach in the dark and drawing the drapes to see my first look at the blue-green, palm trred beach and that blue-green ocean. It took my breathe away and i fell in love with the colour, the soft trade winds, the people, the music and ignored the the consumerism. I look forward to seeing the Fraser Valley and we will also go the wine country near by. The harvest is one of the best in years.

I have packed a wondrful basket of house-warming goodies for my hosts. One important item is a Bodum coffee maker and my special organic roast beens from Saltspring Island. Danish butter and German rye bread, which Maya so loves. Opa Walter called her to remind her that i need 5 small meals a day to avoid falling into a Diabetic coma. Maya has learned to cook from his cook and now knows North European dishes and Hungarian one alos. I will be well fed and often! It will be a week of catching up on the last 3 years, even though we have talked on the phone daily. We will do "girlie" things while her bf is out doing some sort of acid testing on the wine. They have not set up thier pc yet so i will not be able to chat with my MSN and Yahoo friends and i will miss that.

One in particular on his small Finnish island.

His eyes like Lake Pielinen
tall as hill Koli
hair like Heinakuu en heinankorjuun (hay making time)

Yes Kim, i will miss you, miss you...

What can i say about not hearing your singing to me first thing in the morning, even Mischi waits for your voice and runs to the room from wherever she is in the house to hear you!

OMG IT IS FRIDAY THE 13TH

2006-10-13T05:14:00.000-07:00

Well, a Friday the 13th has always been a good day 4 me.

Tonight i go to an Arts, Music and Poetry event at the Art Gallery.

The Berlin opera house may yet perform the Mozart Idomeneo, even though it may provoke Muslim violence due to the scene with the severed heads of the Prophet Mohammad, Buddha and Jesus.
It seems to me the arts should not be afriad to perform work that may offend some people. The arts should be free of this kind of worry.

Turtle kissing is the new tree hugging! A woman was seen kissing a turtle during Saint Francis of Assisi festival in Lima. Well, i had a pet turtle when i was a child, but i do not remeber kissing it. My Brother had a pet chicken. My Father had a Doberman and i had a cat.. We at one time had a German Shepherd and both the cat and she had a litter at the same time. There were 4 puppies and 7 kittens in the house! 13 animals in the house at the same time. Oma, years later had a Doberman who though he was a lap dog and would jump on people's laps,
scaring the visitors. Also he would not really bark or bother quests but he would stand at the door and would not let any of them leave until Oma told him to let them go out. Oma had a friend visiting from Germany who had a leg prosthesis. One day the man took the leg off and hung it in a closet. During the night the Doberman took the leg and buried it in the garden. The family searched for that leg for hours! I will miss Mischi when i go to see Maya in Chilliwack, but she will be well taken care of by my Indonesian friend. Mischi is a little flirt and loves the men who come to visit. The last bird Oma had was a Cockatoo, he woudl fly into the quest bathroom into the shower and wait until she turned the shower on for him. He never liked me and would peck at me, perhaps it was the scent of my cat. Oma became very ill and had to be hospitalized, we think she had a form of bird flu. Here partner made her give the bird away, after that she was fine again. I was attacked by a rooster on my Oma's farm in Denmark and have a large long scar on my arm. I get my revenge on chickens everytime i go to KFC!

During the years
pets of every kind brought joy
the sound of ghostly paws
still echo on the
hardwood floors

MELITTA COMING FOR COFFEE

2006-10-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

Oma is coming over for coffee this afternoon with my sister Rosi, who is on a visit from Edmonton. Yes, Oma's name is Melitta like the coffee and that is the only coffee that she drinks!! I have made a Lime Meringue pie. I try to get the meringue like the Mile High pies that they have at Crouching Lion on Oahu, but there must be a secret to it. When Jeffrey was a little boy we would go to Oahu in August for his birthdays and we would always go and have pie there. I used to make Lemon Meringue but now i use fresh limes and we all now prefer that to lemon.

Oahu's North Shore --
the lure of Mile High pie,
on the rock a lion's face

BARONESSE MAYA, KIM AND MISCHI

2006-10-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

Kim and I as usual were on Cam and Mic, when Baroneese Maya, my German=Goulash Cousin called from Hamburg. Kim, as usual complaining in 5 languages over the fact that whenever we are in a conversation, Mya calls. Then Mischi came into the room demanding my attention also. Well it feels nice to be wanted. Mischi would not go away and kept up with her antics, then the phone went dead, i looked down and the cord was cut in two. The little monster Mischi had chewed the cord in half!! With a smirk, she ran out of the room.

Maya has just moved from Hamburg to Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley about an hour from Vancouver in a cute Gingerbread house with the new man in her life. I have not seen Mya in person for over 3 years due to my long bout of illness and that of Opa Walter's also. She will be coming to pick me up on Saturday for a week in her new Zoom, Zoom red convertible and i really am looking forward to it. The little monster will go to my friend Hungga while i am away. I hope Maya will be happy and content in her new home and not miss St. Pauli and the wild nightlife too much!

Dark Autumn morning --
my cold feet resting on a
blue-eyed soft monster

MARLEY FARM WINES

2006-10-10T06:27:00.000-07:00

I tried a wonderful, colourful and flavourful wine last night. It is made here on Vanocuver Island by a family that is related to Bob Marley. One berry wine is called Rastaberry! Bob lives on in so many ways!

Here are some wine and food quotes:

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience."
--Janes Beard

"The art of dining well is no slight art, the pleasure not a slight pleasure."
--Montaigne

"Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast."
--Epictetus

"Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly."
--M.F.K. Fisher

Jeffrey baked a wonderful apple strudel last night in honour of Opa Sandor's Vieenese Mother.

Autum evening--
apple and cinnamon surrounds,
crackle of the fire

THE CLANS GATHER FOR THANKSGIVING

2006-10-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

The family are meeting and having Thanksgiving Dinner at Oma's (Grandmother) house.

We have our roots from most corners of the world, from Central Asia, Japan, Europe: Germany Denmark, France, Hungary, England, Ireland and Wales. We are a true blend of Canada's multi-culteral blend that works so well in this wonderful country that we have all made our home. This week-end we give our prayers for all that The Great One has given us.

Clans:

von Beenfeldt
Martens
Kolompar
Renville
Imura
Johnson
Leeson
Heinrich
Bygott
Children: Mischi and Momo

We wish you all a wonderful and peaceful Thanksgiving filled with love and wonder.

Dark and grey Autumn --
rainy mist covers the small church,
joyous clarion sounds

sound of church bells

CHINESE MOON CAKE FESTIVAL

2006-10-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

tHE cHINESE mOON fESTIVAL IS ON THE 25TH DAY OF THE 8TH LUNAR MONTH.

The festival is full of legendary . This is one of them:

The earth at one time had ten suns, each taking his turn to shine. But one day all of them shone together and the earth was in great danger, so an archer Hou Yi shot down nine of them. But in fact he was a mean-hearted tryrant. He stole the elixir of life from one of the Goddesses. To save the people from this man, his wife Chang Er drank it herself. After she drank it, she found herself floating to the moon. Hou Ying did not shoot down the moon. During the Full Moon festival Chang Er can be seen dancing.

During this mid-Autumn festival people gather for family reunions, watchin gthe moon rise, and singing moon poems. It is also a romantic time for lovers to sit together and watch the moon. If a couple is not together they will still sit and watch the moon and think of each other where ever they may be.

Yesterday Beijing warned people of full-moon traffic madness!

Cars heading back near the end of the week-long National Day holidays as the rush home for the Moon Festival for family reunions and the eating of moon cakes and gazing at the full moon. But rain fell and no moon was seen.

330 million people were on the roads in China with many traffic accidents as is usual on these holday times. China has the most dangerous roads in the world, killing about 270 people a day! Most of these accidents are due to negligence.

So dear friends, sit and enjoy the moon tonight and do not drive!

Clear Autumn night --
her golden round face
shines on the silver sea

MEMORIES OF SINTRA, PORTUGAL

2006-10-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Sintra is 30 km Northwest of Lisbon. I took the train there and arrived in the small town. The Pena Palace a majestic building rising out of the mist. After an hour the mist lifted and the Sprin sun made it a new world. I went to the Lawrence Hotel, where Lord Byron stayed in 1809. I stayed in the room he used and looked for his name that he had carved on the windowsill with his diamond ring, probably one of many he owned. Yes it was there.
He loved and then hated Sintra. He wrote to his Mother, "it contains beauties of every description, natural and artifical." I enjoyed walking the road leading out of town. I passed palaces the sun shinning on these old buildings, it was a wondrful experience, but as usual my poor feet were giving me much trouble. Well, i no longer have too much feet problems since i bough my Holy plastic shoes. Crocs!! I wear them everywhere now. Not elegant, but i dont care.

Today my Putz-frau comes and poor Mischi will be hiding in one of the closets for 4 hours until Zonnie is done.
I am still waiting for the painter to finish the kitchen and bathrooms. What a mess the place is in. Poor Zonnie always wants to clean the three desks in my office, well thats impossible! The desks are all full and i dont want any of it touched. It may seem chaotic but ever piece of paper has a logic to the position it is in.

Early Autumn day --
wonderful piano music flows
from Norwegian Leif's hands

MICHAEL KAESHAMMER, A GERMAN PLAYING THE BLUES

2006-10-05T12:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry, in my usual hurry i left out the wonderful German's name who plays the Blues.
His movie-star looks and Rhine eyes distracted me!

His name is Michael Kaeshammer and will be in Nanaimo soon at the Port Theatre.
The venue is such a good one. The accoustics are wonderful.!!

Rhine-blue eyes --
memories of a river cruise
sound of singing

OTTMAR LIEBERT AND GERMANS SINGING THE BLUES

2006-10-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

A new Mount Sinai School of Medicine says that moderate drinking of red wine in the form of cabernet sauvignon may help reduce Alzheimer's Disease, well lab mice anyway.

David Suzuki says its fine with him if bloggers and others are using his information to build thier own environmental agenda. Take his reseach and go forth and do good things.

Jeffrey Renville told me about a new jazz man called Chris Botti. I told Kim about it and he fast as his hands could hit the keys sent me a few of his new songs. I thought they were wonderful. Old jazz classics. It is also nice that the man is tall, blonde and big blue-eyed whck makes a nice cd cover.

Ten years ago i met a German teen-ager who had just had a concert in a Victoria school gymnasium. He played Jazz, Blues and New Orleans boogie-woogie. I told him then that he would be well-known one day and he is. I sent an e-mail in 1996 to Ottmar Liebert and told him about this young man. Ottmar wrote back and said, "hm, German's playing the blues? This world is turning upside down and i dont't mind it at all."

Germans singing the Blues --
Autumn leaves falling down
to the music's beat

A PRAYER FOR THE AMISH GIRLS

2006-10-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

God had choosen his
special new Angels that day --
birds are now singing

For the 5 Amish little girls.

I said prayers for the girls now at peace and for thier friends and family and for that of the Charles Roberts family also.

WOKE UP 2 EALRY

2006-10-03T03:16:00.000-07:00

i WOKE UP AT 2:30 AM.

Went to bed at 11 pm. I try to stay awake until 1 am but find that hard. I can usually sleep for 5-6 hours whcih is enogh for me.

The full moon is on Saturday and i will stay up and celebrate the Chinese way with moon cakes and moon viewing. A friend of mine in Texas is also having sleeping problems tonight so there is a person to chat with on MSN. This haiku i wrote many years ago and is also in my Vancouver Island Poetry book.

Unable to stay asleep --
her kimono drags dust
from room to room

MY KOREAN STEP-MOTHER

2006-10-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

I just put on my wonderful Chanel jacket that i found in a thrift shop in Honolulu.
A button is missing. I miss my Korean Step-mother, she would go through my closets of clothes every season and check to see if they needed any sewing. I miss her silver needle and kim chee.

My Autumn clothes --
her silver needle doing magic
step-mother now gone

St. Francis of Assi Day Oct 1

2006-10-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

Blessing of the Animals at St. Paul's Anglican Church

I took Mischi to church for a blessing this afternoon. She hissed at every dog that went by for Father Brian to bless them. Then she moved around so much inside that the carrier fell on the floor. I kept her in her carrier. It was a lovely service. Dogs, cats and one hamster.

All things Bright and Beautiful, all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colours, he made thier tiny wings

OCTOBER 1

2006-10-01T05:48:00.000-07:00

i WAS AWAKE AT 4:00 A.M

I had almost 5 hours of sleep. The usual is 6 hours. I feel a restlessness that comes over me this time of year. I think it is the Magyar in me that recalls the moving of of the tribes to their Winter pastures. My ancien tpeople of the horse. It is a wonder i was not born with bowed legs. I fell in love with a beautiful Chestnut on the Royal Stud 5 years ago. He sensed that i was very unhappy. The first day i met him he came up to me over the fence and licked the tears off my face. In my book, Vancouver Island Poetry i wrote this haiku in memory of my Father.

Half of his ashes are buried in Cambridge. The other half are in a small Chinese temple in my livingroom. I like having him near me in this way. On day i will return some of the ashes to Mohacs, Hungary. He loved England and the English for their love of horses and good shoes. He judged women by thir fine turn of ankle, just like a good horse!

Restless river
the fire-coloured maple
beckons the Magyar

Last Day of September

2006-09-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

My how time flies!!

I had a Dragon Boat pratice last night. The weather was wondrful to start with, but when the boat went out of range of the sun it was very cool. We learned a new paddle techique. Bend forward as far as you can go then pull the paddle forward and back as far also. It makes for a faster speed. The team hope sto continue for another month, thenit will be too dark. We will then have a Sunday morning practise. But i go to church so i dont think i willdo that very often. Perhaps only once a month when we paddle across to Protection Islan d and go to the pub for lunch.

I need to do poetry readings soon. Itis fine to produce a book but i need to get the book known. The book has a few errors in it and i need to revise it again. I have learned what not to do. My editor and the printer and myself did not notice many things wrong with it.

Blithe Spirit, the Jornal of the British Haiku Society has done a review in the September issue. I was please with it. It did say there was duplication of poems and i need to fix that for the next printing.

Itis a grey morning and i need to get used to that for the next few months. I love the rain so thats not a problem. I can look out my widow while i am on my computer and see the many shades of grey in the ocean. Float planes land and take off, the ferries go by, fishing boatds and sailing crafts of all kinds are still here all Winter. Vancpuver Island has a mild climate and it does not snow very often and if it does it melts within a day.

Saturdays is my official GOOF OFF day. I do my rounds of the second book shops and music stores. I preview the latest top ten cd at the record store. I have lunch at the Lighthouse Pub which sits in the bay and has wonderful views and good Salmon fish and chips.

Last day of September --
on the small island red and gold
two men fishing

Test drive Mercedes Smart Car

2006-09-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Oh what fun!!!

I have been curious for sometime about these new cars that look like someone cut a normal car in two.

I have had my 1966 250 SE Mercedes since 1989. My uncle brough it over from Germany in 1966. I bought it from him in 1989, he had just reworked the engine and it ran like a new car. I have loved this old for many years, but during my illnees for 18 months, i nver started it. Then one day in Janaury when i was back to normal i went out to look at the car. There were two homeless people and all thier stuff living in it. I was clearin gout the back seat of blankets and as i wnet to take the blanket out my hand touched a head underneart, well i nearly had heart failure. I thought it was a dead body. Well the dead body started moving and jumped out and ran down the street. I had already made up my mind that for many reasons i did not want a car anymore. The cost of gas and the emissions are a drain on the environment. So now i walk everywhere, but there are times like this morning that i miss being able to jump in my car and go for a drive.

Another try at this blog thing

2006-09-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning!@!

As usual i felt the glow and stare of sky blue eyes staring at me in the dark. Then soft breathe and a fewlicks on my face. Ah, my beautiful siamese Mischi. What a nice way to wake up. She sleeps on the pillow next to mine.

Then to breakfast. After 3 cups of coffee i am ready for my day. First thing was that Kim was on MSN and we had the camon and video, but the sound quality was awful, so i phoned him and talked for a while. Itis still amazing to me that i canchat with him on my computer when he is on a small island in Finalnd and i am on my island in BC, Canada. Vancouver Island is a wonderful to be.

Here is my first haiku of the day

Early Autumn morning
stare of glowing sky blue eyes
wakes me up today