There is something about the instrument of the cello itself that speaks to the troubled soul. Or the soul that was once troubled and has seen the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.
I touched a cello once, in the still of the night. Bowed its strings with my eyes closed and listened to the solemn hum that buzzed from its wooden cavity into my own. Can there be anything more gut-stirring?
The two don't really go together. I think both are phenomenal though. Gal Costa brings me that Brazilian Bossa flavor that helps me zone out to the beach vacation in my mind. And beer, well, beer doesn't do that. Beer lately doesn't give me the headiness or "buzz" that wine or other sweet alcoholic drinks have done in the past.
It sure adds weight and poundage. Believe it or not, it has a taste that I not only appreciate, but somewhat long for. Strange, isn't it? Never was a Bud or MGD type of drinker. I like sweet and don't want to waste time or money on some cheap rail drink that just gives me a knocker of a headache in the morning.
The truth is, I'm drinking beer to help increase my milk supply due to the hops. The darker the beer, the better. Isn't that true in life about everything? The darker the better? My mother brought to my attention while observing my baked BBQ chicken dish that she prefers her chicken less charred. I was aghast. How could anyone want their chicken without some color? Lack of color equates to blah taste. Except for certain Chinese dishes like eternal Moo Goo Gai Pan, right? Steamed chicken is ok. But even I have to lather on the Teryaki or soy sauce. Please, people! So, Guiness, Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams holiday label and Tuppers Hot Pocket are very good.
By the way, all this talk about drinking (except he beer) was from almost 10 years ago. Yes, I have been somewhat sober for that long. A sort of self-imposed prohibition due to, well, lives that were growing in me. Not so much guilt, but more like fear. Fear that if I imbibed, my babies would be damaged for all eternity. For some, that is true. God willing for me and mine, that hasn't happened.
Back to Gal. Beautiful Gal. She may be in her 60s now. Her heyday was in the 60s/70s I believe. Brought her own touch to Jobim's bossa. Mi esposo actually enjoyed a few moments watching/listening to her at the Lisner Auditiorium, only because, she, as I bet most Brazilian singer/artists do, employ the "call" and "response" method to her music. She sings one line and invites the audience to fill in the next. Well, for a few songs that crowd actually covered most of the songs for her. Like the national theme song "Aquarela Do Brasil" and "Chega de Saudade." There was also Jobim's tunes "Girl from Ipanema," "Desafindo," "Una Samba Nota," "Dindi," and my fave-- "Wave." And people, lots of people sang. In harmony. I'll say it again. In harmony. I was impressed and so was hubby. But anyone raised on this kind of music has to have some innate gift for at least singing in tune. Below is a youtube clip from a 2009 concert. Maravilhoso!
I sang along too! Yes, I tried to blend in with the other Brazilian ex-pats living the in DC area. You see, I've had this recent ambition/dream to visit Brazil, specifically Salvador Bahia. Somehow or other, I think I'm going to find my retirement paradise there while my body remains as lithe and supple as it is in its 30s. Like I'm its long-lost daughter called home by the Yemanja over the seas.
In my quiet place, far from the rapid pace, God comes in the ebb and flows of my dream. One day into my waking...thank you for that moment Ms. Costa. Obrigado.
Ok. So it's been awhile since I've posted anything on this blog.
Had my 4th child last September. Baby boy. Growing up nicely. Not fussy like the rest. Am nursing him and still have my troubles with maintaining milk supply. Rented the Medela Symphony and it's quiet and efficient. A heavy thing that takes up the corner space on my ever-shrinking desktop. I need it though when I am out for a couple hours. I try to pump late at night when baby's asleep (and everyone else!).
Does anyone else have little mounds of yarn balls and skeins lying haphazardly around their house? I do. I've been promising myself a cream-colored crocheted beret about a month ago. I had to re-start it because I followed the instructions wrong. It started looking like a flower or a little doll dress. I just pulled it apart and began again. Alas though, it's been sitting on the floor of my bedroom near my nightstand.
I recently received as a gift a package on instant Vietnamese coffee. And it is yummy good! I then later bought a similar pack of Philippine instant coffee -- a B minus. The Vietnamese is the way to go!
So, I began my journey into the world of herbal medicine about a month or so ago with Susun Weed.
I've made allies with Nettle leaf and Red Clover. Every other day I drink a cup or more of one or the other herb infusion that I let sit overnight on my kitchen counter.
The nettle infusion is a bit grainy to the taste and little like spinach. Red clover is more like a lighter lipton tea. That's probably not an accurate description, but it's the closest I can think of.
Both are pretty tolerable without any sweetener.
Since I've been drinking them, my menstrual periods are not as severe. I had no cramps the last time, the duration was shorter, and my heaviest days were not as heavy as in the past.
For all women out there you might consider doing this.
I've also prepared an echinacea tincture to prepare for the cold/flu season.
The first photo is of the echinacea tincture. The next is of the red clover.
I might buy it off Amazon. But sounds like a good read.
As a side note, my own father (a Filipino that lived during the Japanese invasion) for years had a disdain for anything Japanese. He even disliked my taking a Japanese language class in college!
The photo is of Ben Steele as a POW at a Japanese coal mine prison camp in 1944. 25,000 Filipino soldiers and 1,500 American soldiers died during the Bataan Death March.
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