A person, a book, a song

A friend of mine posted this quote on her facebook page at a moment when I needed it most.  It’s perfect even on a regular day, however, so I decided to share.  The photo I chose to go along is from my trip to Old San Juan, a place I’d visit again in a heart beat.  Every Sunday in Old San Juan (weather permitting) you can see dozens and dozens of chiringas (kites) flying in the open area in front of El Morro.

“You live like this, sheltered, in a delicate world, and you believe you are living. Then you read a book… or you take a trip… and you discover that you are not living, that you are hibernating. The symptoms of hibernating are easily detectable: first, restlessness. The second symptom (when hibernating becomes dangerous and might degenerate into death): absence of pleasure. That is all. It appears like an innocuous illness. Monotony, boredom, death. Millions live like this (or die like this) without knowing it. They work in offices. They drive a car. They picnic with their families. They raise children. And then some shock treatment takes place, a person, a book, a song, and it awakens them and saves them from death. Some never awaken. ”
– Anais Nin

Old San Juan
Old San Juan

Instagram Interrupted My Omaha Dream

I was very disappointed when Instagram went down (Crashed) during my trip to Omaha.  It happened right after the fireworks display at my aunt’s 90th birthday party.  Omaha is such a great city and I was really looking forward to trying to capture, as closely as possible, something resembling the  romanticized images of my home town that appear sometimes in my dreams.  I often joke to my friends in Buffalo that Omaha is a perfect, wonderful, far off land that they should visit as soon as possible.  Here are 4 more shots I was able to take prior to and immediately following the crash, before heading back to Buffalo.  Venues pictured include, Film Streams, Homer’s Records, Fireworks at Ponca Hills Farm,  Caffeine Dreams.

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.
– Anais Nin

At Film Streams, Omaha, 2012
At Film Streams, Omaha, 2012
Homer's Records, Omaha, 2012
Homer’s Records, Omaha, 2012
Fireworks for Ann, 2012
Fireworks for Ann, 2012
Caffeine Dreams, Omaha, 2012
Caffeine Dreams, Omaha, 2012

Omaha: Home

I had a wonderful time back home in Omaha for a long weekend that started on Thursday.  It was magical for a number of reasons – not including the usual.  Sometimes the unexpected is the biggest gift of all.  A highlight was the occasion of my Great Aunt Ann’s 90th birthday which was marked by a fabulous party and fireworks show at Ponca Hills Farm.  I captured this Instagram shot shortly before the great Netflix, Pinterest, Instagram crash of 2012.

Little Beggars: Hyde Park London

“Sooner or later in life everyone discovers that perfect happiness is unrealizable, but there are few who stop to consider the antithesis; that perfect unhappiness is equally unattainable.”  Primo Levi

Swans in Hyde Park, London, 2012
Swans in Hyde Park, London, 2012

Coffee Syphon

On a recent trip to Toronto, Allen picked up a coffee syphon for my birthday.  I can’t say I’ve ever brewed a finer pot at home.  I’m pleased to report that in 27 easy steps, you too can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee.  Ok, it’s only 6 steps plus clean up, and all for a cup of coffee well worth any labor of love you put into it.   Below, check out the photos I took of my first time using the coffee syphon, step by step instructions and video footage.
  


Now that I’ve made coffee in it a few times, I have the process pretty much down to a science with just the right amount of grounds and boiling time for the taste I enjoy.  My particular coffee syphon was made in Taiwan and the message on the packaging is very cheerful, informative and encouraging:

Have a Nice Coffee Time!  What kind of coffee do you like?  French or American?  Strong or Mild?  Much or Little?  You can have any type using our Coffee Syphon.

Modify brewing time and amount / grind / flavor of coffee to suite your taste.  Practice makes perfect, you’ll soon be an expert!

Below is the 6 step process for making coffee in a coffee syphon.

Watch my (short)  YouTube Video: