I'm having a hard time with Hebrew, but I want to learn.

Yesh li zman kasheh im Ivrit, aval ani rotsah lilmod.

Michael Broodthaers

Let's get the Monday Writing Report (MWR) out of the way.  After my glorious time in Brussels, Aachen and Bruges, I'm having a hard time getting back into the writing project. I frittered all yesterday away.  Today I procrastinated throughout the morning.  After awhile I got into a negative frame of mind saying to no one in particular, "I'll never finish this." and "I suck" and "Why am I writing this stupid thing?  No one wants to read about this."  

At that point, I knew I wasn't moving in a good direction, so I decided to ask the internets about how I could make myself do something I didn't want to do. The internets told me stuff I already knew, like to use my timer and take small actions.  So I set the timer for small bits of time and got a little done, which is better than getting nothing done. 

And this leads me to the important conclusion for #OnANeedtoKnowBasis #BloggingChallenge. This is what people need to know. When you go on vacation, you should still work every day of your vacation on your project. Otherwise, you will just waste more time when you get home and try to get back into your project.  Better yet, don't take a vacation. Just keep working all the time.  That way, your brain never gets out of work mode and you'll be more productive.  Work every day until you die.  You need to know this because otherwise you'll go on vacations and you'll have bad working days when you get home, like I did today. I'm trying to help you.

I don't have many problems.

Tr:  Ein li harbe be'ayot.

I love this gal's hair so much.
Why can't my hair be springy?

We are home again and I'm glad to report that I'm participating in a February blog challenge created by Miscellaneous Missives.  Join in if you want. It should be fun.

It's about what people of all ages need to know.  I'm sub-titling this challenge "On a Need to Know Basis." Lots of potential for blog topics with this theme.  Add your own need-to-knows in the comments if you feel like it.

After seeing 12 Years a Slave, (very intense, very good, see it if you want) Husbandman and I wondered how many African Americans were free in the 1800s like Solomon Northrup?  Turns out there were quite a lot.  By the civil war time, 10% of African Americans (about half a million people) living in the U.S. were free and over half of these people lived in the south, mostly in cities. There were actually free black people in the U.S. from day one in the 1600's.  Pass this article along to anyone who you feels needs to know the complexities of our history, which is everybody.

Let's go.

Tr: Bo nelech.

We are in the Brussels airport.  A bunch of people at a nearby gate are going to Yaounde.  I have never heard of this place, and I blame my country's educational system for this deficit in my geographical knowledge.

There's an empty gate nearby and Husbandman and I are tempted to go use the microphone to make some playful announcements.  One announcement that could be fun would go something like this:

Airport passengers.  There is now an additional 20 Euro charge for all flights leaving Brussels within the next 2 hours.  If you are interested in boarding your flight, please bring 20 Euros in cash right away to Gate 38B.  We can not accept credit cards at this time.

Back to Haifa today, our home away from home.  Farewell, Belgium.  You're really doing a great job from what I can see.

Don't waste time talking about it, just do it (if you want to).

Tr: Chaval al ha'zman.  (I really don't think I'm translating this correctly, but the point is if you want to go to Belgium you should).

Bruges has been a treat.  Today I learned about St.Ursula.  We saw many pieces of art about St. Ursula.  She didn't want to marry a pagan king, but she got some pressure to do so, so she said okay, I'll marry the guy, but first I want to visit Rome and take my companions with me.  Her companions were 10,000 women who identified as virgins.  So she went to Rome with her pals and then she went back to Cologne and the Huns killed her and all her companions.  "I wonder why they wanted to kill her and her friends," I wondered. Husbandman responded, "Because they're Huns.  Did you not get that part?"  I don't really think that's a great answer to my query, but maybe he's right.  Another thing I learned about St. Ursula is she's a good saint to invoke when you have a headache.

Can't remember the artist's name, but I'll figure it out.

Now I have a good time.

Tr:  Akhshav yesh li zman tov. (This could be wrong).

Everything in Bruges is going pretty well so far. As you can see from the photo, Bruges is a very charming place. I like Bruges and I probably always will.

Update!  I forgot that yesterday was Creativity Share Thursday.  Yesterday I read the NYT on the train and knew what I wanted to share, but then later forgot about it. What with all the hullaballoo about arriving in Bruges.  So, I woke up and decided to remedy that situation.  I now share with you the coolest photography exhibit by Shannon Jensen called A Long Walk.  Jensen says these photographs are extremely simple, but received a lot of attention because they tell the refugee story more effectively than more sophisticated photos she has taken.   Check it out.

Crazy Fun

Tr:  Kef Lo Normali

Geezlouise, I went to a Carolus Thermen today.  I took the waters, so to speak.  I floated in various pools, some inside, some outside.  I got treatments known as massages and pedicures.  I went in some saunas.  In short, my day was spawsome.

What's the matter? Nothing.

Ma yesh?  Klum.

So far, so great in Aachen.  Spent many hours today walking to and fro, visiting museums, taking pictures, getting my hair cut, learning about Charlemagne.  Now I'm back at the hotel and I'm going to try to work a bit.  A day late on the Monday Writing Report (MWR) and so far, there's nothing to report.  Aachen's been a distraction, Not going to lie. 

At the Mighty Blacksmith's

Tr:  Zum Wehrhaften Schmied

We're in Aachen.  We took a train here today. There's something about riding the rails from one nation to the next that gives you a sense that you're on an adventure. Aachen is awesome. If you ever think, "Should I go to Aachen?" the answer is yes. I couldn't take pictures today because I had to keep my gloves on, but I might take a few tomorrow. There's a cathedral here that is extremely stunning. Come to find out, Charlemagne is buried there. Tonight we ate at Zum Wehrhaften Schmied.  We muddled through with our  language problems. I answered, "Ken," to some of the sweet server's queries, which means I am now an official Hebrew speaker.

If you're in Haifa, go see this exhibit at the Hecht Museum

Really?

Tr:  Be'emet?

 

 I'm in Brussels.  I don't have a lot of time here to bond with Brussels, but the city is beautiful, if a bit cold and rainy.  Brussels, you're a good egg.  Try to shape up on the weather.   

I'm here again because I need something.

Tr:  Ani po shuv ki ani tzarikh mashehu.

It's pack attack time. In the wee hours of the morning, we'll be heading to Brussels.  We'll then take a train to Aachen, Germany. Husbandman will work.  I'll walk around and have a fun day at a spa.  Then we'll take a train to Bruges, Belgium for 2 days of exploring.  It's going to be a quick trip, but probably a great one.

Have you ever heard of the Carmelite monks?  Well, the Carmelites started out right here in Haifa, a long time ago, maybe around 700.  Not sure. Anyway, we went to their monastery today and visited their beautiful church, Stella Maris.

And have you ever heard of the prophet Elijah?  From the Old Testament? He lived on Mt. Carmel in some caves.  This isn't his cave, but this cave is near his cave.  

And have you ever heard of ossuaries?  Ossuaries are little bone boxes.  After someone died way 

back when around the year 0, their family would bury their body and then about a year later take 

their bones and put them in an ossuary.  I like these ossuaries a lot.  I asked Husbandman if he could keep my bones in an ossuary and he just said, "Not going to happen," and walked off to look at something else.  We were in the glorious Hecht Museum.  

Not sure I've told you all how much I LOVE living in Haifa! The sentiment merits repeating.  Haifa Metzuyan!  (Haifa's excellent!)

Now I have to pack, which as you all know is an activity I do not care for.  Husbandman is being Mr. Perfect, and has packed already, which gets on my last nerve. 

Sankalpa Day 24

Napkin, Plate, Fork.  Tr:  Cake was excellent!

Landwoman brought us cake this afternoon.  This cake was something to behold. I decided to draw the empty plate next to me.  

Sankalpa challenge is coming to a close. I wish I had done more decluttering of computer files during these 24 days, but I'll keep working on that.  

Julia Cameron believes we should write affirmations and acknowledge that we already have the help we need. She has a model affirmation in her book which I will now borrow and personalize:

I'm creative and confident every day of my life.  Each day I'm shown which steps to take.  I'm supported fully and happily in my productive work.  I know exactly how to begin each day and what to do to begin correctly.  Through small exploratory actions, I decide the next right thoughts and actions to take to move my important work along to completion. 

I love the affirmative nature of the Sankalpa.  Basically, with sankalpa, you're thinking, It's in the bag!  I've got this. A nice way to start a new year.