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What's In A Tree? Life, Of Course!

Xmas2010

Well, it could be anything… anything at all from a birds-nest, to a proper tree-house, to an ornament.  Or many such ornaments.  🙂

Yes, I’m fully aware of the origins of the Christmas tree to be a symbol of a pagan winter festival and all, and yet I choose to associate it with the tradition of the season.  And although I might be labeled as just another victim of the rampant commercialism that this holiday reeks of, I still choose to make of my tree what I will… which is that it represents family and tradition in my house.

Each ornament on my tree has a story– of when it was bought, for whom, by whom, and from where.  That’s a lot of stories on that tree. 

Take a look, if you wish!

So, it’s ten days to Christmas from today– here’s wishing you a very merry one, and best wishes in the new year!

(And in case you’re wondering why this post has been housed here, this isn’t just a conglomeration of pictures of a christmas tree; it is the embodiment of a lifetime of christmases spent here in these great United States.  It is a show.  And it must go on.)

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Mark Zuckerberg – Person of the Year 2010

The face behind FB, and now TIME Magazine’s POY! (i guess i should go see that movie now…!)

Mark-zuckerberg-ceo-of-facebook

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How Facebook Is Corroding Civilization

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ummmm… actually, no, you may not! 🙂 although i *could* choose to ignore you if you do… which is what makes interaction on these social platforms oh-so-lovely… you can be engaged as much or as little as you wish. but people, please do mind your manners– it is after all, what makes us civilized. 🙂

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And Your Bird Can Sing

…but you don’t get me, you don’t get me!

Aybcs45

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Much Ado About Nothing

Muchadoaboutnothing

We’re not done with Shakespeare for the year just yet…

Last Saturday we attended a terrific production of Much Ado About Nothing put on by the University of Michigan’s Dept. of Theatre at the Power Center.

Want proof?  Click here!

 

 

 

 

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One Human Face

A Character
– William Wordsworth

Xmas2010

I marvel how Nature could ever find space
For so many strange contrasts in one human face:
There’s thought and no thought, and there’s paleness and bloom
And bustle and sluggishness, pleasure and gloom.

There’s weakness, and strength both redundant and vain;
Such strength as, if ever affliction and pain
Could pierce through a temper that’s soft to disease,
Would be rational peace–a philosopher’s ease.

There’s indifference, alike when he fails or succeeds,
And attention full ten times as much as there needs;
Pride where there’s no envy, there’s so much of joy;
And mildness, and spirit both forward and coy.

There’s freedom, and sometimes a diffident stare
Of shame scarcely seeming to know that she’s there,
There’s virtue, the title it surely may claim,
Yet wants heaven knows what to be worthy the name.

This picture from nature may seem to depart,
Yet the Man would at once run away with your heart;
And I for five centuries right gladly would be
Such an odd such a kind happy creature as he.

Note on the two pictures:  the one on top at the beginning of the poem was taken yesterday; the one here at the end of the poem was taken almost exactly to the day last year.  Both are self-portraits.
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East Meets West

Scrambledeggs

What’s that you say?  Dosas go only w/ sambar and chutneys and alu-masala?  Not if you’re in my house!

Especially not if it happens to be a snowy Sunday morning and you find yourself seated around my kitchen table for brunch.  What you might very easily find paired w/ the crispest and most delectable dosas are scrambled eggs– scrambled in desi-ghee, no less, and mini chicken-sausages made w/ spinach and asiago cheese.  Oh, and you might also find a jar of Kissan– the finest mixed-fruit jam from India, along w/ apricot jelly from Greece.

Yes, that’s what East meets West means.

Chickensausages

For a feast for the eyes, look no further! (That means click on that link for more pictures!)

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Google Zeitgeist 2010

What did *you* search for in 2010? 🙂

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