YES!!!!!!

I sat glued to my TV screen yesterday watching the inauguration of Barack Obama ... and at the risk of stating what has already been stated over and over again - this man mesmerizes me!!! He exudes charm, charisma, intelligence, confidence, compassion, energy ... the list could go on and on, and as an avid people-watcher this man fascinates me. I don't care too much about politics, although I think his polices are spot on, but as a person, as the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, he is totally unique.

Yesterday Ray and I listened as he delivered an amazingly strong and encouraging 18 mins. speech to the millions of people standing in Washington's bitter cold and the many more millions around the world watching on television, what an orator ... but it was what happened after that impressed me even more than the speech or it's delivery. As he turned away from the podium he bent to kiss his oldest daughter and she clearly said, "Good speech dad!" Dad and Daughter's eyes met and Obama automatically broke into his wonderfully wide grin, just like any father would at the amusingly under-stated praise from his precocious offspring ... and just for those split seconds he wasn't the President, he wasn't being watched by the world, he was simply a loving, caring dad. Then, the moment passed, he straightened up, his sober Presidential face returned and he resumed receiving congratulations from those around him. But, that moment made him 'real' for me. It said that this man is 'grounded', it said his daughter feels comfortable enough with him to comment at a time like that, that he has his priorities right, he'll be OK ... oh, if only every country in the world were as lucky to have such a leader!

Our own Prime Minister here in Canada leaves much to be desired, and I think a letter writer to one of today's national newspapers said it best:

"One cannot help but compare Obama's bright light with that of our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. Obama seeks to unite his nation while Harper practices the politics of division. Obama welcomes ideas and opinions in contrast to his own; Harper divides our nation into pieces: east vs west; French vs English; rich vs poor."

I pray to everything that's out there to keep him safe ...

Syllogomania

Did you relate at all to my previous blog on hoarding? I just found and watched a very well presented short video on my computer that I think has cured me for ever. Watch this and I guarantee you'll rush to de-clutter your entire home ... or, at least sit back and smugly realize that you're not so bad after all.

http://alexwrege.com/index.php/category/syllogomania

It's too bad such a horrible condition has such a neat sounding name ...

Seven Dumpsters and a Corpse

I watch much less TV than I used to, there seems like such rubbish on most days. So, I was not optimistic as I flipped the TV dials the other evening looking for something worth watching. The Documentary channel was just beginning a piece called "Seven Dumpsters and a Corpse" - now, who could resist peeking to see what that was all about?

The programme's storyline said:

"In this darkly comic and irreverent look at life and death, filmmaker Thomas Haemmerli is informed of his reclusive and somewhat estranged mother's demise on the eve of his 40th birthday. When he and his brother arrive at her flat they are horrified to discover that she was a pack rat of the worst order; her apartment is filthy and crammed with junk dating back more than 70 years."

I was a bit reluctant to watch at first, as I tend to be a bit of a hoarder myself ...hmmmm,in 30 some years will my sons arrive at my apartment to find bits of me rotting behind piles of old newspapers??? "Don't be silly Pauline", I sternly reprimanded myself, and bravely tuned in to watch the programme.

It was an amazing documentary!! Not so much for the content, but for the way Haemmerli had brilliantly edited all the many hours of recorded film. The reality was that their mother's small place in Switzerland was literally disgusting, and it actually took seven full dumpsters, plus much more burned in the fireplace, to clear out the apartment. The film shows the two bothers as they worked tirelessly for a full month at cleaning out the mess. But, another more enticing storyline wove through the film - their mother was an avid amateur photographer and the men found piles of old home movies and photographs from their childhood in the 60's and beyond, and these were intermittently shown as the brothers worked. Gazing into the eyes of the vibrant, happy woman on the screen there were few clues that she would end her life in such a dismal way ... alone, a rotting corpse, amongst the debris of her life.

Pretty depressing stuff, but totally fascinating at the same time. Old movies of her mother (their grandmother), a well-to-do Swiss Countess, showed her enjoying a full and joyous life, whilst their mother was languishing in a children's home after her father had died. Was this the beginning of her problems?

It seems hoarding rubbish actually has a medical name, 'syllogomania', and it is believed to be a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder - well, that makes sense! But, what about people like me who can't quite part with sentimental things ... cards which still bring tears to my eyes, little drawings my children did in primary school (I've boxes of those!) That's different, you say, "Ah, but is this the thin edge of the wedge???" What about my husband who saves every little bit of off-cut wood in case he needs it someday (Oh no, will we BOTH be found one day on the floor behind the newspapers, him clutching his wood and me my drawings?) Are we both aspiring syllogomaniacs??

When we moved from our last home, a very good friend helped me sort through the 22 years of typical family clutter I had accumulated whilst living there. She was great, as I picked up each item she sternly repeated the mantra, "Does it make you feel good?" I had to answer quickly, and only if it did was the piece put into the 'saved' pile. The only problem was, I ran out of time and with moving day fast approaching, I made the sweeping decision that everything that was left made me feel good and just dumped it all into a moving box and brought it here to the new house.

And here it all sits ... in boxes, in the basement, unopened for nearly eight years, silently gathering dust, staring reproachfully at me whenever I venture downstairs. Now you know why this film scared me so much.

Ummm, think I had better go and deal with some unfinished business ...!

Food ... Glorious Food!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Have you had enough of the fabulous rich food which we all tend to indulge in at holiday times? I certainly have ... or rather, my body is loudly, and in no uncertain terms, telling me I have. The scales say that I have gained 7lbs over the Christmas and New Year - yikes! Who can afford that many extra pounds? Certainly not me! However, it is a new year, and although I have decided NOT to make any resolutions for 2009 (because I never keep them and only end up feeling disappointed with myself) I really must get my regular diet back on track. So, that means no more rich desserts, luscious chocolates, huge brunch-style breakfasts with little exercise except lifting my knife and fork!!

Oh, but we did have a wonderful holiday with all the family here, and I hope you did too.

Talking of glorious food (do you remember that "Oliver Twist" song from the musical? - that was the first date my husband took me on in 1969 - but I digress ...) I just adore Thai food, and when we were in Thailand in Nov. one of our highlights was a full day spent at a cooking class. There were so many offered in Chiang Mai and I'm sure they are all good, but "A Lot Of Thai" was the one we chose, and mainly because it started with a trip to a local market, and the teacher, Yui, was so very interesting and informative - she just adores working with food and her enthusiasm was very contagious! I think I enjoyed the 2 hours we spent at the market almost as much as the actual cooking part later, as Yui led us from stall to stall introducing us to many spices and vegetables we had never used before, and giving many tips on their uses, etc. The variety available was amazing, and all so very fresh. The Market offered lots of prepared food for sale also, just as everywhere else in Thailand - on any street - you see simple carts set up with a brazier or propane burner and delicious smells wafting up from whatever is being cooked and offered for sale. A local Thai told me many of the people in the cities eat out all the time because most only live in simple rooms with no cooking facilities. With so much offered at such low prices, who needs to cook?

There were only eight of us in the class, we made six completely different Thai dishes, and of course got to eat our 'creations' after preparing each dish - they were delicious (if I do say so myself) How wonderful and easy it is to cook when all the ingredients are prepared for you, already measured and laid out in little dishes, vegetables cleaned, chopped and ready just to pop into the wok - I could get used to that - just like on the TV cooking shows ... plus there was no cleaning up afterwards as the dirty dishes 'magically' disappeared when we were eating, and clean ones set out in their place. Now, that's my idea of cooking!

I was surprised, and quite delighted, that Ray decided to join me at the cooking school, as he really enjoyed himself. Actually there were four men in our class, and I must say the men took it all way more seriously than we women did!

I wonder if that's why most of the world's top chefs are men? I used to love to cook, and when the children were young I was the regular 'earth-mother' making my own baby food, even making yogurt (so easy to do) delicious home-made granola muffins when they came home from school - oh yes, I did it all - but I've moved on and now only cook when I have to (like supper time every day!) But, cooking the Thai food was different and a lot of fun to do ...


... now, if I can just find someone to come and prepare all the vegetables, spices etc. - plus clean up after me - I would be very happy to throw it all into the wok and stir it for 5 minutes.

Hey presto, supper's ready!