My mother has a belief: when you have the impression that something totally wrong or strange happened to you, there is a reason, a new opportunity may lurking just around the corner. This may have to do with her optimism, she does believe that there is something good and wonderful in every little thing, and maybe this approach did rub off on me, I do my best to stay positive!

Picture from here

Yesterday I was supposed to leave for Estonia, but when I woke up in the morning I realised that I cannot, my cold was still present, I was having fever and my ear infection did not heal yet. Thus, I hoped that my boss will agree with me and let me skip this one meeting. I was rather anxious when I approached him and surprise, surprise he told me that actually this is a great thing, since I must attend a kick off meeting for my first new project!!! Yeah! After one year of co-managing one big project and doing some small ones on my one, he did trust me to entrust me one bigger project. I was so extatic that I guess my cold was taken by surprise and I could actually focus during the meeting and had some good results at the end.

For sure in the evening I had to take it easy and today I am resting at home (OK, I admit I do some work but just a bit).

But somehow I am happy, you know an opportunity did come and I did take it! 

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Beyond what we know 
To ponder and admire 
Heart, soul and mind.

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Motto:
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” 
by Oprah Winfrey

Sometimes there are words which just fit the mood, the day, the moment. Energy is this week's theme for The Writers' Post and it is the one thing which I miss, energy. I had some very hard days behind me, long working hours, very intense and my energy levels are dropping. I can feel it, but I cannot fight it. It may well be that it is linked with springtime, but it could only be that I am tired and that is that. Still, I have some tricks which do help to preserve even my low levels of energy.

The first you all know by now, even if I actually think that is actually does not help much, but my body is so used to caffeine that if I would not drink my 6 cups a day my brain will miss them.

Then I usually try to cook each evening, it relaxes my mind, I create something delicious (at least I hope so) and I have a reason to share my thoughts with my husband in a nice atmosphere. My plan for tonight is the following:

Recipe from here

On a lovely sunny day like today I go for a small walk, just to enjoy the nature, the blue sky, the fresh air, the early blossoms.

And one important activity, not be forgotten, sleep. When I am like this I tend to go early to bed, my opinion is if the body tells you to rest, then you better listen!

Any ideas you would like to share with me in order to get an energy boost? Happy Thursday and do not forget - Happy Woman's Day in many countries of this world, including Romania!

P.S. Just wanted to press post and what do I see? A sudden storm outside, this for sure brings some energy in my bones!

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This is Sidonie Gabriele's quote and one my favourite life mottos. It actually encompasses my inner belief that you should be happy as you are. When Jenny mentioned this week's theme for the Writers' Post, a page from my brag book, I wondered what could I share with you? My professional accomplishments? Well, they exist but they do not fully represent me. I am not yet a mother to be proud of my child. My knitting projects seemed trivial, so what to do? In the end I cold only tell you that I am at peace with myself, I reached a moment in time where I know what I want, where to go and to appreciate each second. Is this bragging? :) I think it is just the realization that life is good! Happy Thursday bloggy friends!

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Most of my time at work is spend in meetings, trying to solve problems which most likely should have been present if the counterparts would have thought of them at the right time.

Anyway I developed some methods in order to either avoid going crazy or to have the feeling that I do bring some added value.

To start with always speak up, say your opinion, but develop one prior to the meeting, if possible. So many times I enter a discussion with one agenda and end up talking about something else. Did this happen to you too? The only way to get by is to actually clarify from the beginning which are the objectives, what you are expected to deliver and to wrap up at the end the next actions.

If the meeting is boring and unproductive, I often try to make productive use of the time by writing down my goals, thoughts, plans, my to do list for the day. At least one useful thing!

In order to make meetings less painful, I typically observe people and try to predict their behavior. Specifically, I try to understand people and predict when and what they will interject into the meeting. In my experience, most meeting participants are talkers. There are few listeners. This means everyone is typically searching for an opportunity to state their position, rather than actually listening. These people simply listen in order to find an interjection point.. Thus I also do my best to involve all participants, even if I did not organise the meeting. 

As in most cases, the meeting will get off track, people will ramble on, and the vagueness will leave you wondering what people are actually talking about. A couple key phrases that I've found useful are the following: "Perhaps it's just me, but I'm unclear how this is related to that?" Of course, replace "this" and "that" with what's relevant for your meeting. If you're lucky enough to have an agenda for your meeting, you can simply ask, "Where are we on the agenda?"

If all else fails and you need to get out of there, leave for the bathroom. Doing this can buy you about 10 minutes of freedom, and hopefully when you return the meeting is wrapping up.

All in all I do try my best since I believe that if someone asked me to attend a discussion, they either expect my opinion or my approval or they need my presence there for other reasons (i.e. motivation, escape goat maybe?). I also do believe that face to face communication brings a lot of added value in difficult situations, thus you should at least make an effort. It is not always easy, thus sometimes I do revert to the bathroom or to do trick, hey, I am only human right? :)

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My all time favourite author is Agatha Christie, her books keep me fascinated after so many years, I always turn to her when I need to escape and immerge myself in a wonderful, exciting world.

While doing some reading on the world wide web, I found an interview taken in Slovenia in 1967 from which I would like to share some lines with you.

Would you mind telling us how the ideas are born and how do they develop into novel?

"So, how the ideas come?"

she slowly repeated the question, sitting in the chair and her fingers of right hand, as if they are searching something on the chair, wrinkle cover and move away a cup of tea.

(I could actually picture this)

"They come suddenly, I even don't know how. Whenever: when I am listening to opera, walking on the street hey come from everywhere! Also, when a smart idea falls into your head, which you like, you have to build a believable story from it. Suddenly faces grow as well, one by one. And then comes this unpleasant day, when you have to sit down and everything what had beautifully grown put on paper. Yes, the first part is much more fun!"

(so true, indeed writing is like this, I am sure we can all relate to this!)

Some writers of detective stories buy ideas. What about you? 

"No. I like ideas which fall into my head, that's more fun!"

"You can't imagine adds her husband how many letters we get: Here, an excellent idea for a novel! We answer: Then write it yourself!." 

(well, I guess they were right!)

For more please read here.

From her characters, I am mostly draw towards Poirot, he has so many traits which are so well create, his obsession for neatness, his 'grey cells', his speech.

And then, I stumbled upon this interview, where David Suchet (the best ever Poirot!) gave his view on his role:

In terms of approaching the character of Hercule Poirot, was it a conscious decision to soften the character's manner and develop him as a more well-rounded individual, as opposed to the more rigid character Christie wrote?

Please forgive me, but I think the premise is mistaken. When I was asked to play Poirot, the Agatha Christie estate made the point that she wrote a character who was far more full-dimensional than we had seen up to that time on the screen, where he had been turned into a kind of buffoon. Agatha Christie's fans would never have been gripped by someone like that. From my own reading of nearly every single word that she wrote about Poirot, I would agree. In some books, some short stories, yes, he's less developed than in others. But in books like Murder on the Orient Express, there are sections that point to a very perturbed inner life. This side of him was totally ignored in the 1974 Sidney Lumet film of Murder on the Orient Express. People who see Poirot as just one- or two-dimensional are those who are basing their opinions on the movies rather than the books.

What characteristics of Poirot have kept the public so captivated by him over the years?

It's different for so many people. But there's one thing that comes up again and again in my fan mail, and that is his kindness. People warm to his kindness, his gentility, his courtesy, and his manners.  

What is your favorite Poirot quirk?

His attention to detail is just wonderful. In Christie's books, he is always talking about the details, the details, the details. That is very ME as an actor and as a person; I'm an appreciator of detail. So I guess I have revealed one trait we have in common!

Conversely, which of his traits do you find most peeving?

He can be a bit of a pain in the backside, because of his overly tidiness. His dedicated bachelorhood is also something that I have to work hard at. Although I am tidy and I like to maintain a certain order in my life, it's nothing like his; his is almost clinical.

And now you know how much this subject is of interest for me! And guess what? Tonight I will re-read some chapters from Murder on the Orient Express, this will be fun!

(this was the best movie made after Agatha Christie's book, even if not with my favourite Poirot cast)

Happy Thursday!

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One of my earliest memory from my childhood is a walk in the park with paternal grandfather, we both aimed the playground. Picture a small three old blonde girl, with curly hair, blue eyes and an amazing yellow dress, my grandmother's gift (she is one of the best seamstresses I know!). Walking very proud, happy to show off my dress and constantly driving my grandfather crazy with never ending questions which stated most of the time with WHY! So here we were walking, I see the playground from the distance, start running, enjoying the view and expecting to see my friends and tell them of my new dress and the lovely white sandals. I stop, at the rim of the sandbox and suddenly I realize that I cannot play as I usually would, I could ruin the dress and the sandals. I ignored my friends, walked back towards my grandad and told him very resolute that today we will only walk. The lesson? Always dress to the occasion, my mom told me years after that it was after talking with my grandad that she realized that I will be a girlie girl ;) guess I am, but still don't like pink! Happy Friday!

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I had a lovely afternoon with a good friend, had some nice laughs and I thought that there is no better approach to this week's theme from The Writers' Post that to make you smile, my dear readers! Did I manage? :) Happy Thursday!

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And yes I've got the blues, missing is the word. Enjoy some of the best blues by Rolling Stones, the music did help a little bit to cope with my feelings. 





As I sit by the fire 
Of your warm desire 
I've got the blues for you, yeah 





I can see you're so far from home 
But it's no hanging matter
It's no capital crime 






(unreleased song till date)
I will haunt you baby 
Hope you know the reason why 
I Love you baby and I don't know the reason why 

Well, baby 
Can I have you for myself 
Yeah, if I can't have you, baby 
I don't want nobody else

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Censorship is a word of many meanings. In its broadest sense it refers to suppression of information, ideas, or artistic expression by anyone, whether government officials, church authorities, private pressure groups, or speakers, writers, and artists themselves.

These restraints have the effect of limiting the diversity that would otherwise be available in the marketplace of ideas and so may be considered censorship in its broadest sense. There are almost as many justifications offered for the suppression of communication but the root is always the same. It is a fear that the expression, if not curtailed, will do harm to individuals in its audience, or to society as a whole.

For example the so-called obscene material is attacked because of a fear that it will corrupt personal morality or perhaps even lead to deviant sexual acts. School textbooks and library materials are sought to be purged by groups who fear that they may inculcate subversive values in children. Information concerning national security is controlled by government, with particular severity in wartime, for fear that its revelation may aid an enemy. In the judicial system, pretrial publicity about a crime may jeopardize a fair trial. Publication of personal information by police (such as the names of victims) or by the press (such as one's sexual preferences) may seriously intrude on one's right to privacy. The fear of such consequences, real or imagined, is what drives the censorial impulse.

 But for me an important aspect is the one in respect to mental censorship. For me the freedom of speech and of thought is valuable, without it I cannot imagine living. In the end I am pretty lucky of living in a society where I am allowed to express my feelings and my ideas without the fear of being oppressed. What about you? What does the word censorship bring into your mind?

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Motto:
Sonnet #1
The days are darker with eyes open wide
I often close them in hopes of escape
For is seems my dreams are the only place to hide
Even then the angels begin to change shape
There is no good and evil
Only a lust for power
Greed will change people
True colors are shown in the darkest hour
The weight of the world has took its toll on my soul
I’m no longer the boy i used to be
“All that shines is not gold”
Has never meant more to me-
There’s nothing to believe in
Gone are the hearts of men
by William Shakespeare

Is ambition a way of anspiring to climb as high as you can? Of being the best you can be? Of achieving your dreams? Or is ambition only the drive within you which enables you to stay focused on your dreams? Is ambition related only to power, wealth and / or fame? In the end is ambition a positive or negative desire?

I guess like anything in life it depends on how you season it! If you take too much you most likely end up in being too eager, if you take too little you never try to grow.

Ambition is basically an instinct. No matter what background or age you are, you are surely ambitious in any way. This eagerness is a driving force for both individuals and society, since we set our goals and try to achieve them by being ambitious. Sometimes trying to reach our goals is a risky undertaking but only through this we find our talents, we become mature and we progress.

What is my ambition? To live as much as possible of what I dream with my eyes open, to enjoy life at its fullest and to make a mark in my environment as little as it may be. But somehow I never see my dreams as belonging only to me, since I see myself as part of a group, a circle (family, friends, work) and in the end they are a vital important part of my life. Plus I find my motivation, my reminder, my stability within this circle, you keep on walking since you feel backed up.

What about your ambition?

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Motto:
"We must become the change we want to see in the world."
by Gandhi

One of my new friends in Germany, B., is a lady who had some tough moments in herlife, but somehow she never lost her positive, healthy and sane way of thinking. She has a lovely family, two sons and two grandchildren, works as a technical assistant - one of the few people who can still draw technical items by hand. We met by chance, at the beginning of my lite in Germany, I did not have a car (still in Romania then), thus I had to travel by bus and train to work. And being a person with habits, I always took the train at the same hour in the morning (in the evenimg, well, you always know when you get to the office, but when you leave is another story!) And of course, B. is also a person with habits, so we shared the same train and with time we started to chat. And we did not yet stop ;) And I must say that she has my mom's age, so I guess that so ehow I am the daughter she never had and she is a kind of German mother, but nevertheless the friendship is there. She is warm and sweet, we meet now on a regilar basis, talk over coffee hours and hours not noticing how time flies.

But I digress.

B. told me one day that she thought that now that the sons are out of house, she has some time available, which she would like to invest. So she started helping at a food pantry, because she thinks that her small controbution brings some light into some people's lives. She already tells me stories about her regulars, there are so many people who had to overcome many hardships.

B.'s dedication may seem small, but for me she makes a difference and for this she has my respect and admiration. A role model in my eyes.

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A new year ahead - change.
Reflect, ponder, wonder why
Tranquility yes.

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Motto:

A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With dark green needled memories
Of childhood dreams and mysteries
Wrapped present-like in front of me.

A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
I glimpse a past wherein i see
The child that then grew into me
Not forward fast but haltingly.

A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
A time for being with family
A time that's gone so fleetingly
Yet lives for always deep in me.

A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
When twelfth night comes whole hauntingly
One lingered look and then i see
No Christmas tree where it would be.

A Christmas tree! A Christmas tree!
With feelings now felt longingly
No corner in my house to see
The magic of that Christmas tree.

by David Keig

When this week's theme was announced under The Writers' Post, my immediate thought was Christmas Tree. This is what brings the whole family together, we love to share ideas about decorations (I try to bring an extra thing each year, by having a different theme like blue and white, or multicolour), we gather around the tree to sing carols.

I cannot wait, one more week since we always start decorating the tree at Christmas Eve!

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Motto:

Celebrate good times, come on, let’s celebrate.
There’s a party going on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times and your laughter, too



Reason to celebrate tonight? Despite the cold (very annoying after its prolongued visit of 4 weeks), the long meetings (some lasting for a day!), and despite being away from home (but hey! back tomorrow), I had my yearly evaluation today and I am very pleased. It was very positive with remarks like good job, a true drive, clear project management skills proved. So I can dance :)

Feeling good about myself tonight!

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See you in a week :)

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Despite having a bad cold, I decided to travel to Estonia for a workshop organised for our current project. For me, being in a critical stage for the project implementation, I considered my attendance a priority and I was hoping to have some great insights and learn something useful.

Strangely enough I am dissapointed. Most likely due to my health and my unability to focus 100% but also because I am not actually seeing an added value after the first day. I do hope (cos hope dies last right?) that tomorrow it will better, both with my cold and also with the work aspects.

One thing I have taken with me after the day, I was reminded of this great story:

Four blind men encounter an elephant. One grabs the leg and concludes it is a tree trunk. One holds the tail thinking it is a whip. Another touches the elephant's trunk and decides it's a hose and the fourth man pats the side concluding it's a wall.

The wise man tells them, "All of you are right."



I hope you all are healthy and having a better Thursday, I would feel actually better knowing that!

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Motto:
Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. -Seneca

In 2 weeks we will be here:









Location? Lanzarote - Canary Islands!

Conclusion:
No matter what happens, travel gives you a story to tell. -Jewish Proverb

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While away to the 2 day Seminar in Niederwald, I discovered a wonderful location, Hotel Jagdschloss, where I would love to return for a weekend and discover the forest, the vineyards, the nature.

The magical forest



Discovering a house



Welcome



The castle



Lamp posts



The former gardner's house



Front view



Forest, hills, nature







I can imagine taking long walks, then a lovely candlelight dinner. A desirable location for a small break. Do you agree?

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A smile a day :)

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