Noury's Creative World…

By now you know that I think the most important institution in a community is its local library.  Today was a very special day for me…after getting my driver’s license yesterday, I went today to get my very important library card.  I consider it one of the most important cards in my purse.

I have always been in love with libraries.  “My library” has a small bookshop that has a great offering of used books.  The books are in super condition.  Magazines, and all kinds of book related items grace the shelves.  Hardbacks go for $2.50 and magazines for $0.50.  I found a treasure!!  I purchased 18 magazines about my community.  The covers are a piece of art and I have been looking for this magazine in the local stands, but no luck.  So imagine when I saw recent and past issues of this magazine at that price.  I made out like a bandit.  So, so happy.  Still I cannot believe my luck.  I also purchased “The Synonym Finder” book that should help me when I am trying to communicate with all of you.  Hopefully.

This was taken a few years ago when I was visiting with my lovely daughter in Washington D.C.  That’s the Library of Congress.  You know how emotional I get.  I was in total awe and for a moment I was a citizen of the Utopian Society of Book Lovers.  I am creating that group right now.  To be a member, all you have to do is love books.  The People’s Library, as the tour guide called it, has so much to offer, but it is extremely difficult to take advantage of its offerings.  I am just mentioning it.  Their Rare Book Collection can be visited, but you have to make an appointment first.  I did not have the time.  One of the things listed in my bucket list.  I should get another more sophisticated name for that list.  Bucket sounds kind of low life.  Sorry, bucketers out there.

So…it was today, 25 August, 2011…a day of visiting my very important local library…and being in book paradise.  I shall return next Monday…maybe I will have a name for that list, or not.

To all of you that will be exposed to Irene’s path, I send my best wishes for safety and well-being.

Your Happy Contessa

“Classic – a book which people praise and don’t read.”  Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), American author and humorist.  30 November, 1835 – 21 April, 1910.

The inevitable had to happen.  I became a full-fledged Floridian today.  New license plate, and a new so-so looking photo in my new Florida Driver’s license.  Couldn’t postpone it any longer.  It is funny…there’s a sign in front of you in the place where the pictures are taken.  It says in very big and bold letters…SMILE…and I thought, yeah, right, so all my lines, bags under my eyes and wrinkles will show on that photo.  No way!  So now I look depressed.  Cannot win it all.

Keeping an old plate saved me $250!  Moving is expensive.  Deposit for this, deposit for that and deposit for even having the privilege of driving on the roads of tropical Florida.  Might as well…there is no state income tax in Florida.  How nice and lovely.  I am not that naive.  In life you always pay, sooner,  later, at the arrival or at the departure.  There is a price for everything in life.  Nothing is free.

I remember the meaning of insanity…thinking that life should be without problems or taxes, even when they are hitting you right on your face.  I am happy with my new license, considering the no smile zone that I imposed on myself.  Also paid my first electric bill…not that bad considering my small condo is kept at a sauna’s temperature.  That’s why I moved here…love that heat…not so the humidity, but cannot have one without the other.

So it was today…24 August, 2011…a day of being initiated as a new Floridian and having a driver’s license that could look a bit better.

Your Happy Contessa

“I’ve learned not to worry about what might come next.”  Oprah Winfrey, American actress, producer and philanthropist.  29 January, 1954 – .

So now we have Irene approaching our mainland…and just early this afternoon a 5.8 earthquake hits the State of Virginia, spreading to North Carolina, and all the way up to Vermont.  The question is “what’s going on?”  Nothing much.  Nature reacting to whatever discomfort she/it has or maybe we are pushing her buttons too hard.

This is a subject to be much debated.  Are we affecting the environment so much that we are changing our natural conditions,  and making things happen as a consequence to our careless use of our beautiful and giving planet.  Every action has an equal or equivalent reaction.  Physics at its best.  I remember that class.  And the teacher also.

We sometimes forget the use of logic.  My friend, the one that recently visited with me,  and I were having this kind of conversation.  Sometimes we get so sophisticated in our way of thinking that we forget that the laws of nature have in the past, and will in the future, always rule.  Too much pressure on anything, and it will either explode or push back.  Pure logic.

Yes, the earthquakes come from down under, but what do we know about some groups experimenting with nuclear explosions just down under.  Everything always has a reason for being or happening.  Remember, it is what “they” don’t tell us that is of concern.  Just thinking.

That’s the way I think about Nature reacting to the ways our progress has forced us to do and use things that in some many ways destroy the environment that is so necessary for us to exist and make our sustenance.

If we only take and take, without bothering to replace and replenish, these are the effects we are seeing and feeling.  Let’s all be more conscious when it comes to the simplest ways that we could be doing that is affecting the environment.

So…it was today…23 August, 2011…a day to ponder about how I can reduce my footprints on the beautiful landscape of our Planet Earth.

Your Happy Contessa

“There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.”  Mohandas K. Gandhi, political and ideological leader of India during the Indian Independence Movement.  2 October, 1869 – 30 January, 1948.

Note:  Photo courtesy of NASA

I am facing the same situation twice this month…suddenly after having fun and happy company, then…there’s only me.

Very, very quiet.  No one to talk with, no one to go and help the economy with.  Just plain doing laundry, cleaning and facing the bills and everything else that was placed in a drawer until I had the time to look at it.  Show time, baby.  They are all staring at me and saying, just like those two egrets, what’s up!  Are you doing something about whatever it is you are supposed to do, or what.

Life is just like that.  Having a great time and then taking a break.  Everyday is not a holiday, my mother used to say.  If we don’t do the mundane, ordinary things, we cannot differentiate when the fabulous and spectacular come into our lives.

Have to be quiet, and work like a worker bee and get ready for whomever decide to show up at my door.  Reservations recommended, please.

So…it was today, 22 August, 2011…a day to plan to catch up with the pending things to do…and get ready for some more fun and excitement when the time arrives.

Your Happy Contessa

“Sometimes, silence is the most eloquent expression of our emotions.”  Happy Contessa.

The economists should be noticing a slight shift in the economy after this weekend.  My visiting dear friend and I went shopping until the credit cards were getting too thin to be processed.  Just kidding.  Those things never get too thin to be processed.  The power of the plastic money.

Shopped my village until they were calling us on first name basis.  My dear friend helped a woman buy a $185 overcoat to visit Chicago.  Then she in turn, bought the same coat, and got a 10% discount.  Karma all the way.

Had lunch at a Cuban cafe.  Cuban sandwich, also called Media Noche, fried yuca, fried ripe plantains (what else) and flan to make the extending waists so much happier.  Today, Sunday it was caramelized peaches with cranberries spinach salad.  I had the familiar caesar salad and we shared the five cheese, basil/tomatoes pizza on a wheat crust.  Making the elastic of the waist of our slacks happy, we had red velvet cake for dessert.  What a happy life!!!

Also, I am getting a free facial at a high-end retail store, when  I purchase products worth $125.  Nothing is for free in life.  What did you think?  My face is somewhat good-looking, but not that much to appeal to the kindness of the saleswoman to just volunteer out of the blue of the sky to just hand me a free facial.  My visiting friend will have to wait her turn.  She is skipping town on Monday.

The damage done with the stuffing our faces with food and libations were offset by the walking for hours in the mall and in the village.

And of course, there goes the train to make it just perfect!

Hope you have enjoyed the narration of our journey through the food alleys of somewhere in Florida.  We certainly did!!

So…it was today…21 August, 2011…another day of being grateful for the wonderful life I have and making a toast to my good fortune of having the greatest friends anyone can ask for.  Thanks dear friend,  and may our paths cross again soon.  In the meantime, may you experience much happiness and joy together with your lovely family.

Your Happy Contessa

“It is not how much you spend, but how you spend it.”  Happy Contessa, a happy American citizen, writer, philosopher and expert in happiness.  21 October…-

Today was a day for cats and dogs to fall from the heavens and totally drench us all in this neck of the woods.  My brain’s still driving in the most intense thunderstorm I have ever driven through in a long, long time.  I pretended to my visiting “snow bird” that I was with it.  No problem, I can do this.  I am not stopping to wait until the rain stops.  No…I am a cool chick.  Well…just a few minutes ago she said…”you still have to write your blog”…and I thought, what was that, again  What is she talking about?  Oh…yes, the blog!

The neurons are not even connecting with each other right now.  There were lightnings all around us trying to see if they could zap us.  Thanks God no luck for them this time.  I am still trying to add two plus two equals two plus two, right?  Whatever that means.

As you can deduct, not too much of a good luck today in my production of a decent literally piece to entertain us all.  I am trying really hard, but all I am doing right now is laughing at my efforts of being with the pains of labor to produce.  Producing nothing it is.

I guess this is going to be all for today.  There is a nebula surrounding my cranium right now and everything is very foggy.  Hopefully there will be more clarity tomorrow.

Thanks for reading this piece of words put together by the magic of a screen and fingers that type.

So…it was today…18 August, 2011…a day of navigating through the intense fog of inspiration and coming through with nothing much.

Your Happy Contessa

“A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new.”  Albert Einstein, German born theoretical physicist.  Developed the theory of general relativity.  14 March, 1879 – 18 April, 1955.

This is becoming a foodies blog…whatever gives, I’ll take.  Let me get going.

Lucy, a “snow bird” is visiting me during the heat of the summer.  She came out of the terminal with her hair looking all smooth and freely flowing, really a good hair moment…then by the time we were a bit far away from the airport, there goes the hair…up in a bun.  Humidity at its best.  So much for the freely flowing good hair.  You know how important is hair for me.

Enough of the hair issues.  I am very glad to have her come to visit me and check my new digs.  She approved of my new pad and…wait a minute, this posting is mainly supposed to be about the incredible tasting and great looking food showing on the picture above.

Someone had told me about this supermarket that caters mainly to the ever-growing Hispanic population in this area, but also they have a deli that really numbs your brain in trying to decide what are you going to have to eat.  Showing are the arroz con guandules, carne guisada, yuca encebollada, pollo horneado, platanos maduros y dulce de guayaba.  In same order, rice with pigeon peas, stewed beef, yuca is a tuber and it was prepared with onions; chicken rotiserie, and of course, ripe plantains.  Dessert was a form of cake mixture with guava paste.  I forgot to take a photo of the “tres leches, ” a dessert made with three different kinds of milk, one of them being condensed milk.  Sweet, but not overwhelmingly sweet.  Just perfecto!

They gave us enough to last for maybe three days.  Aside note, we did pay for it.  The generosity lasted just long enough to last Friday.  I am not complaining.  It was a pleasure to pay for today’s banquet.

All these foods and flavors brought so many memories.  I am finding all these unique places that will cater to my wants and needs without having to use the stove at all.  Hurray for that!!!!

So…it was today, 17 August, 2011, a day to enjoy my visiting “summer snow bird”…and tasting the so ever delicious Hispanic food…from my new neighborhoods.

Your Happy Contessa

“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”  James Beard, an American chef and food writer.  5 May, 1093 – 21 January, 1985.

Last Friday a friend of mine and I visited this supermarket, which I think is being used as a pilot program and training ground for future management trainees.  It is an older chain that has been upgraded.  Oh mine, what an upgrade.  From the moment you step inside, it is overwhelming with the sights, colors, aromas, and so much to choose from what to eat.  Yes, they do have all kinds of hot meals and cold salads, so much that there I was salivating and didn’t know where to start.  Then, to put the icing on the cake, the management is all over you, trying to make you very happy.  They make you feel important.  The state of our national economy is really working on people’s brains, and pocketbooks.

Meats looked so appealing, breads that tempt you to have a bite, and oh, forget about desserts.  After finally deciding on barbecued pulled pork, some red potatoes baked in lots of herbs, then right there together with these two sides, I scooped some bread pudding and put some banana custard right on top of it.  I started eating a little bit of everything at the same time.  No waiting on my account to follow the routine of waiting to the end to have dessert.  Oh, no!  This is the first time I have ever done this, and really…it felt pretty good.

Oh, I forgot.  My friend and I were fussing as to whom was going to pay for lunch.  In the meantime, one of the managers came by and used her card and paid for both of us, while we were still arguing.  We didn’t realize what had happened, until she told us to enjoy our lunch on her account.  Now, wait a minute.  Where are we?  Visiting another planet?  Yes…it happened and then there was free coffee.  So we went into this supermarket, had a free meal, and drink , and walked out without spending one cent.

On the way out, I tried to find some filters for my a/c unit, because I felt kind of guilty of not spending any money, but at $10 a piece, my generous spirit said that I should wait, and maybe in the future reciprocate the favor.

So…it was today…16 August, 2011…a day of describing another day in my life of unexpected blessings and having my dessert and eating it first too.

Your Happy Contessa

“If you are afraid of butter, use cream.”  Julia Childs, an American chef, author and television personality.  15 August, 1912 – 13 August, 2004.

Look at the splendor of these trees covered partially with Spanish moss.  There’s so much of it in this part of the South.  By now all of you know my admiration for all things dealing with nature, be it flora or fauna.  More inclined to flora, though.

This was in a hardware’s store parking place.  It seems that they built around all the trees and what you get when you are in the parking lot are all these trees covered with Spanish moss.  Just breathtaking.

This is a close-up of this incredible live organism.  It is a flowering plant that grows upon larger trees.  It gets its nutrients from the air and rainfall.  It rarely kills the trees, but it weakens them by reducing its exposure to the sun, thereby reducing photosynthesis, and weighing down and breaking the branches.  The circle of life once again.

And here’s one last shot.  Isn’t it all so grand.  I so love nature and how it connects with your spirit.  It gives me this incredible moment of identifying with something so much bigger than me.  It swells me with joy and gratitude to be able to witness the many miracles of creation and its Creator.

So it was today…15 August, 2011…a day of connecting with nature and of being grateful to be witness to wonder.

Your Happy Contessa

“But not only medicine, engineering, and painting are arts; living itself is an art.”  Erich Fromm, German-American-Jewish social psychologist, psychoanalyst.  23 March, 1900 – 18 March, 1980.

This past weekend I spent some time with some friends that I have known since mid-1990’s.  We shared stories, caught up with the world’s events, even though we have been doing that on a constant basis.  How can you not do that.  The magnitude of what’s going on cannot be ignored.  So after talking and some more talking, my friend showed me the piece of art with which I opened today’s post.  This was done by her husband maybe a year ago.  He built the base, the wings of the eagle are made of pieces of newspaper that he layered and layered until he achieved the results you see.  This piece of folk art, was conceived in his mind and was done totally by him, sanding wood, painting, in summary, this is his creation.  What a genius!  I was totally in awe and then she, (his wife) also showed me this…

What a beautiful winter scene!  Did you notice the different tones of gray? If you see the picture closer, you can notice the fine details this painting has.  I noticed also the color scheme that he used in the painting, from many years ago, he used the same coordination on the eagle piece of art showing at the beginning of the posting.  This one is one of the many paintings he has done throughout his lifetime.  What a talented individual he is.

I thought about all of us…how we sometimes do not realize the gifts that have been bestowed upon us.  Some of us are good at carpentry.  One of my friends once built a wooden boat all by hand.  By the way, Lindsay, whatever happened to that boat?  Some  of us are good at numbers, at decorating,  and making a place look warm and inviting and so on.  We need to remember that each one of us is very talented and validate our blessings,  and acknowledge the fact that each one of us is special in our own individual ways.  Do not underestimate how special you are.  I think that the circle of people we have surrounded ourselves with, or that have somehow showed up in our lives is to bring something to the table to make our lives complete.

So it was today…14 August, 2011…recognizing the uniqueness each one of us has.

Your Happy Contessa

“The quieter we become, the more we can hear.”  Baba Ram Dass, an American contemporary spiritual teacher, author of “Be here Now.”  6 April, 1931 -.