You Gotta See This - Part 2, Music Monday

Today's Music Monday found it's way to me from my new friend, Denise, who sent me this song saying "You gotta see this!"

okay, well she didn't actually say "you gotta see this" but that was the sentiment behind her recommendation

The song is lovely, but coupled with the images in the video it's like being transported to place like home places of dreams.

oh ya, and there's naked people in it.... you've been warned.

And her actual words were "I love it. I think you will too"

I spent a whole day listening to this one song.

I do love it too.

Thank you, Denise, for sharing this beautiful song!

Letters From Afar

In the first month of my travels in India I was very diligent about sending letters back home to my friends and family. I would often include drawings, little tid-bits of how my time was spent. At any rate, yesterday I got this picture from my friend Kirstie...

Apparently someone wanted the other three stamps that were originally on this envelope. I suppose that added to how many days, weeks, months it took to get to the intended destination.

WOW! Is about all I can say. I'd completely forgotten about this letter, and its contents. I'm very glad that it was finally received, almost a year later!

You Gotta See This - Part 1

Last week I was amazed at all the things my friends kept showing me.

Every day someone would come to me and say

"Ailen! You gotta see this!"

I feel very privileged to have such awesome friends.

Ones who know my taste in wine, music and blogs.

The first "You Gotta See This" moment was when our friend, Brent, took a few of us on a excursion through a vineyard.

We ended up on the edge of the cliffs, over looking Lake Okanagan,

sipping wine, smelling sage, and smiling.

It was a beautiful place to spend a few moments with my beautiful friends.

Thanks, Brent, for taking us to this place that you've gotta see!

Music Mondays: Hope With Tears

This song...

this song,

makes me weep.

I cannot think of a song more powerful. In melody. In lyric.
If you listen, really listen... if you listen with your soul. You will know, and you will weep at the truth, and the beauty.

Seth Avett
of the Avett Brothers
with The Ballad of Love & Hate

I gave you one of the live versions, I encourage you to listen to many other versions of this song, because there are beautiful little differences in each of them.

"patient and kind - as always-"

...because we are all 'Hate' sometimes, we are all 'Love' sometimes, and we need to help each other out.

"I'm your's and that's it... whatever.

...I'm your's and that's it, forever

See you're mine and that's it, forever."

ya..... about that....

Two Fridays ago, I posted about the strangest thing:

the mysterious postcard that showed up in my car.

Thanks to some creative and very clear thinking on behalf of my colleague, we were able to place the origin of the postcard, and I am quite pleased (or very sad) to report that: No, we have not discovered time travel.

Instead, in the Fall of 2009 I was a part of Calgary's Corporate Challenge scavenger hunt team.

The theme that year was Games.... any kind of games.

Board Games, Olympic Games, Mind Games...

We were awarded 10 points for every postcard we had that was

mailed from an Olympic city.

To secure 10 points for my team, I purchased the card and mailed it to myself.

I'm sure the people at the post office thought I was a nut.

I kinda think I'm a nut.

And no, we didn't win the scavenger hunt.

Snakes in The Water Day

Well there actually have been snakes in Calgary's water today. To find out more about that go here, to find out the Sister's definition of a "Snakes in the water day" go here... as in right here. Where you are now.

Over a year ago, both my sister and I, and our friends, and it seemed like everyone, was having a horrible day. That very day, two snakes escaped from their confines in the Calgary Zoo. The zoo was working with the city to check the water pipes for these snakes, one being the Malagasy Giant Hognosed snake. We then decided that the reason for the massively horrible day, is the fact that these snakes were in the water, and that any day henceforth that is the same, must be so because there are snakes in the water. They eventually found the snakes, and they were not that far from home. You can see these snakes at the Calgary Zoo anytime.

Anyways, anytime there are snakes in the water everyone needs a bit more beauty, and wonder. Here's a video of a a very talented craftsman creating a bench out of one piece of wood... amazing.

Music Monday - Vinyl

Moments make up a lifetime

I like the reliable, steady, daily moments (like 12:34 or 11:11)

I particularly like moments of unexpected surprises (these ones are sneaky)

I think the FIRST time anything happens is an unforgettable moment.

First step, first grade, first kiss...

and in my case...my first vinyl purchase

Coeur De Pirate is a tiny, talented French Canadian

and her raspy antique accented voice is perfect for the texture of sound on vinyl.

I'll always remember the first time I heard her play

I'll always remember my first vinyl purchase.

And thanks to her*, I have another moment to make wishes on..... 12:59

*12:59 Lullaby is a Bedouin Soundclash cover...

...but her version was the first time I'd heard this song