Happy Halloween- I wish you no fear!

Thoughts from Ariane De Bonvoisin: (Post Peace Summit in Vancouver)

"If I could create a vaccine, instead of the flu one, I'd create one against fear. It's what holds us back, every one of us, in every area of our life. And, while we're holding back, time just moves on faster than ever. We are at a critical time in the evolution of our planet, a time where each one of us is waking up. We feel it. Our intuition is growing more acute. Our inner microphone, as I like to call it, is getting harder and harder to turn off, so that we can't just go along with our normal day. There's a rise in consciousness where we feel more connected to others, a part of something bigger going on, where we each have a role to play. The most important thing isn't to get the promotion, or stay in the marriage, or lose those 10 pounds. The most important thing is for us to remember who we are--why we are here--to do the inner work and find what are our "spiritual" reasons for being on the planet. Yes we do have something great to accomplish. Now. At any age. Wherever we are."

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ariane-de-bonvoisin/the-dalai-lamas-amazing-p_b_324760.html

Simple surprising pleasures

Riding in Bernie's car is like taking the opera train through Germany. Well actually she drives a cranberry red Chevy Malibu. And we're just going from the town of Vilseck to the base and back. So it's not a large area of Germany that we're covering. But still. She has Bocelli playing on the stereo. Sometimes with Sarah Brightman. Sometimes with himself.

It is delightful.

I may have to see an opera again.

Travel thoughts from Albert Camus

"What gives value to travel is fear. It is the fact that, at a certain moment, when we are so far from our own country we are seized by a vague fear, and an instinctive desire to go back to the protection of old habits. This is the most obvious benefit of travel. At that moment we are feverish but also porous, so that the slightest touch makes us quiver to the depths of our being. We come across a cascade of light, and there is eternity. This is why we should not say that we travel for pleasure."--- The Notebooks Albert Camus

Rental agreements and Herbert

I met my new landlords last night- Helga and Ernst- the sweetest people ever. They have three kids- the oldest a boy, 40 lives in Switz (and works a bit in Vancouver, BC), then two girls, one 100km away and another 6km away with two boys, 9 & 12. My lease is 600 euros per month for everything but electric- 90 days notice to vacate but four weeks is ok if I don't know in advance. I pay 900 euros in deposit. The square footage is 100m2 (1076sq ft) with one and a half baths and laundry. I have a garage with a clicker to open it. It's the nicest place I've seen in a really long time- a palace. I have no responsibilities for snow removal or gardening. The owners are total dolls--- mostly speak German but I can understand them pretty well. I should be moving in about Dec 1. Update from my shippers stated that my container was due to dock Nov 23.

John (the current renter who's returning to Minnesota) had arranged a translator for me to go over the lease- one of his colleagues at work. We went to the grocery store on the way back to my place, bought a few things and got matching shoe cleaners (that you set on the floor). I got a hedgehog which I named Herbert and he got a duck. He said he came here because he wanted to help with the war effort but he is Left-leaning, so he felt this was what he could do.

Another day of interesting events. I'm still feeling overwhelmed with happiness.


Herbert and Me. Okay I may have lost my marble.

Apt horoscope

Seeing as I'm embarking on a new job which is in an entirely different realm of anything I've previously done, this week's stars guiding me to question my current situation seem quite relevant.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): During this phase of your cycle, you'll generate good fortune if you brainstorm and meditate about your relationship with work. I urge you to empty your mind of everything you think you know about the subject. Adopt a fresh and innocent perspective. Here are some questions to prime your investigations. 1. What's the quality of the experience you want to have as you earn a living? 2. What gifts do you want to give to life as you toil at challenging tasks that are interesting to you? 3. What capacities do you want to develop in yourself while doing your work? (P.S. For your Halloween costume, why not pretend you'redoing your dream job?)

1. I want to have a good time, laugh and be light hearted while bringing sunshine and peace to others' days.
2. I want to see all perspectives, be open and nonjudgmental, while expanding my mind to its fullest capacities.
3. Openness, awareness, compassion.

My dream job I think would be something artistic- most likely repairing and remodeling houses if I am to be honest. I like manual labour and design.