L.Y.M.I.

Something #17

2010-08-06T18:33:00.001+02:00

I opened another something the other night. By the outside of the envelope, I had a pretty good idea of what I was going to find inside.

A recipe!

YUM!

We are entering the last few days of being here in the apartment, and what also could be known as our salad days, simply because we have been eating so many salads and dishes that don't require too much effort on my part. It's time to start going through the cupboard and eating the food we already have on hand, and I happened to have a package of pasta that needed to be eaten. We always have cherry tomatoes on hand, same for arugula and garlic. Salt & pepper - check. Olive oil? Well, there's enough to finish the bottle.

The only ingredient that I didn't already have on hand was the goat cheese, so I decided to pick up a bottle of wine. Wine is ridiculously inexpensive here, and it's not bad either. Belgium is in such proximity to France, Italy, and Germany, it's not nearly as expensive to import. I picked up a nice bottle of Italian white for €4.95, about $6.50. More on that later.

I set my past to boil and added all of the ingredients in a bowl.

Added my pasta when it was done. I didn't rinse it by the way, I just scooped it from the pot and added it to the rest of my ingredients. So easy!

And delicious!

This is the wine I bought.

Orvieto Classico by Cardeto.

I think it's just a white table wine. It's pretty good, but the reason I bought this wine was the label.

The picture is of the Duomo di Orvieto, and I was totally there!

I looked through some of Jon's photos from Orvieto on Flickr. If you have time, check them out as they are really great as usual. There are some gorgeous shots, but he didn't get one of the cathedral façade from the front. Which is a pity, because the façade is beautiful. It has the most gorgeous craftsmanship and artistry that I have ever seen. The Duomo began construction in 1290, and I sat all three nights in Orvieto in front of this wonder, just staring at it.

I am so excited that you will be traveling soon, and especially to such far away destinations. It does amazing things for your soul. It will transform you and you will absolutely love it.

I played around with Photoshop today. Here are some more pics from the Duomo di Orvieto.

My first attempt stitching the Duomo - maybe a B- ?

My second attempt - much better. Definitely an A.

Last month Orvieto got a mention in GOOP. Even Gwyneth loves it!

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #16

2010-08-04T17:03:00.003+02:00

Ooops! I can't believe it's been 6 months since I last opened or posted another Something.

I am sorry.

Seems like so much has happened in the past 6 months, and in both of our lives!
First, I'd like to say congratulations on your job! Second, I'd like to say Woah! to your blog transformation! It's really cute and fun to read, and I can't wait to go thrifting with you when we get back to Dallas. Jon is really ready to get some new clothes and thrift stores will be the first place he hits, maybe you would like to help with this endeavor? But, I know you are a busy girl.

In the last post, I wrote that there were only 7 Somethings left. This may still be true, but I think that there are two more that I documented opening, but never posted.

Het spite me (I'm sorry in Dutch).

The good news is that I plan to remedy this in the remaining month.

Our last month here in Europe.

For now...

We'll see what the future has in store.

Want to see what I picked out to open today?

I love the textured sticker and glitter hearts. This taxi is headed in the right direction and sparkly love is flying out the back!

I like to think that this is symbolic of Jon and I (me?) when we are back in Dallas. We will be sort of wondering around aimlessly. We will be looking for a place to live in the beginning. We also hope to travel around in the United States, checking out a few places to see where we want to settle in the future - Dallas is not in the plans, but in this life I've learned that you never can know what life will bring you.

There are places we want to check out: we hope to make it to the west coast to see friends - Jon has a friend getting married and we have friends in the San Francisco area that we owe a visit. Jon has never been to New York, so we would like to combine a trip takes us to NYC, Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia and Annapolis. It would be nice to do this in the fall as the leaves change, something I witnessed here for the first time here in Leuven last fall. I also want to go to Chicago to see about the Art Therapy program at SAIC. I am scheduled to enroll fall, 2011. And then there is the question of where we will live in the future... Jon wants to check out Detroit. There could be a lot of opportunity there. These are all dreams and possibilities at this point. We'll see how these all pan out.

Je suis désolé (I'm sorry in French). I've digressed.

I opened the envelope.

This makes me smile.

You can't really make out this couple, but I immediately recognize them and their possibilities as I think about Jon and myself.

Is he wearing sunglasses?

If you remember, tell me about this photograph. Where did you get it? Why did you include it in my little package?

I turn the picture over to see if you've written anything on the back...

Nope, but there is the number four. This is perfect for today, as it's the 4th of August. It's also our last Wednesday in Leuven. Next Wednesday we will be in Amsterdam, then Vienna, then Munich, then on September 1st - Dallas. Jon thinks I am dramatic, but really I am just sentimental.

Ok, maybe also a bit dramatic.

Ok, maybe a lot.

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #15

2010-02-10T17:53:00.005+01:00

I have delayed on opening this something for a few reasons.

1. I am running out of somethings!

Look! Only 7 left! :-(

2. Things are pretty good here! I mean, my life is not perfect, but I am pretty pleased with the way things are going. Even if they are not going, life kind of gets stuck in a rut sometimes...

wash

wear

repeat

etc.

Life is good.

I get to stay in Belgium, can leave the country and now come back in! Jon is deep in research and his thesis. I am try to respect his study time and it's pretty quiet around our place in the evenings. We've been eating vegetarian and feeling great as a result. We still eat meat, I just haven't prepared it at home since the new year. The sun is starting to set later, and there is still light after 6 p.m. That makes such a huge impact on things. Spring is coming!!!! Really... it's the little things.

3. I've been very sick for over a week. I missed a few days from work last week and spent the weekend on the couch - so I was not one for productivity or conversation/blogversation.

I think I've been saving them also, afraid to run out.

I like the color of the envelope I selected. I pick it up, feel it... Not sure what's inside, but I especially like the drawing.

The drawing is the main reason I chose this something, because of the raft and the blue flag with my initial.

It's my boat! Where am I going? When I was in college I worked on a series of slab constructed canoes for ceramics class. They all had different textures and glazes on them. I had a pretty good body of work going for me at the time. I would like to get back into it some day. (sigh) Boats are my thing. I like the symbolism - cast your cares to the sea and set yourself adrift. Sometimes we encounter rough seas on our voyage, other times it's smooth sailing.

Anyway, let's open this baby up...

Can you read that?

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. "

Mark Twain

I love this quote.

When I stop and think about things right now, I can honestly say that I have no regrets for the life I am living.

I intend to travel more. I am sad realizing my days here are on the decline. I still have time, but fewer than 180 days.

We are going to Binche, Belgium next Saturday to experience Belgium Carnival and hope to get pelted by oranges. I leave for Amsterdam on Tuesday, and I hope to get to Paris again next month. I love Paris.

When are you going to come see me?

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #14

2010-01-16T23:05:00.003+01:00

It was my birthday yesterday. I had been waiting on opening up a little something for a week and a half. I knew which something I wanted to pick out. It was the large one, that is kind of flat, but looks fun because it has pink polka dots on it!

You know it?

It was kind of thick, but flat. I could squeeze it, and it would spring back to form.

It had practically opened itself. I think the radiators have something to do with that.

Ah!

Awesome!

What great inspiration to get me to the fabric store!

I have been dreaming a lot of fashion. There are so many cute simple things here, but I can't bring myself to buy anything because I am set on not spending extra money. I am saving my money to travel, but when I land back in the US, you bet I will be sewing up a storm. I've got a sketchbook full of ideas and I'm excited about that.

But who knows, I may give sewing a try here... Someone I know has to have a machine, right?

I do love the paper. I've seen lots of cool projects using old pattern paper, but I can't bring myself to tear it/cut it up.

I had a great birthday, and it was great to talk to you!

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #13

2009-12-25T21:47:00.005+01:00

I hope you had a good day today... Tell me about your holiday!

I opened some presents this morning. I got a necklace, a scarf, chocolate truffles, oil and vinegar, a digital picture frame with pics of the fam and..

A trip to Paris!

Although that's not all, since I was opening all of these packages, I thought it quite fitting to keep going, so I thought I would open a little something.

But first, a pic of the remaining little somethings... There are still quite a few.

So which one should I pick today?

Ultimately I decided to go with the one with the prettiest paper. It's red. white, blue and green and very Christmas-y.

I can already imagine the cranes I will make with this one.

Oooh! I will make two pretty cranes!

A nice flat package.

What's this?

Who?

What?

When?

Where did you get this?

Why?

It's lovely as it is. As soon as I return for my trip, I am hoping to place it in a frame with a black mat, kind of like this photo here. What do you think?

M e R r Y c H r I s T m A s !

~xoxo

LYMI

Thank you Internet!!!

2009-12-22T20:17:00.002+01:00

La loca:

Congratulations on Crystal City 1969!

Avatar

2009-12-20T18:39:00.003+01:00

I just saw this movie in 3D here in Leuven.

It was A M A Z I N G ! ! !

Absolutely stunning!

This is the future of movies. I am curious to know what you think.

Yes, it has been snowing here, it's so beautiful. Jon has the camera cord, otherwise I would post photos. Soon. I promise.

I think we are going to a country that rhymes with:

romance

and

dance

for Christmas.

Yay!

Jon is the best!

Something #12

2009-12-07T07:19:00.011+01:00

Last Friday, I pulled a little something off the shelf as I walked out the door. This day was going to be tough, Maggie was breaking her big cancer news to her class.

By the way, I snapped this shot for you of the center of Leuven. You had asked if it was getting Christmas-y here.

To which I say, yes, it is!

This is the little something I pulled. I like the sun.

Actually, I LOVE the sun. I miss the sun. It's been a dark time here, just a little rough with the constant gray clouds and also the situation in the classroom. Maggie is preparing to leave, and I ache for her. I am so sensitive, I can identify what she is going through to a degree and feel like there is nothing I can do. And there is impending change... I feel that I don't do well with change. (Even though I should be an expert at it by now.)

I waited until the end of the day to open this little something, because Jon and I were going to the Christmas Market in Brussels, and also... it was FRIDAY!

But first, a few shots as I walked to the gare (train station) in Waterloo.

I stopped in a chocolate shop and who should appear?

SINTERKLAAS!!!

And the sun came out!!!

Albeit for a minute, but STILL!!

I hopped on a train and went to Brussels to wait for Jon. We had a date and I was really excited. We planned to meet in a brasserie in Grand Place. I told him about my day and then pulled out the little something.

I asked him to take pictures while I opened #12, but he mistook that for, "open #12." So in this picture you actually see Jon's hands opening it up...

Tropics on the brain...

Yes indeed. I keep thinking about a certain sun...

"Whoa!"

Which cracked me up, I think he thought it was a nude photo.

But it was a thoughtful, sweet photo of you looking out across the ocean in Jamaica. I turned the photo over and read the note:

My co-worker Bethany and I planned this trip while working over a weekend on Raising Helen. They were repaving the road outside the editing rooms, BUT the editor INSISTED we work through. SO, Disney put up thick insulation over the windows and we worked all weekend in extra dark rooms with the low rumble of jackhammers outside. It was so ridiculous and unnecessary to work through the construction - all we could do was book a trip to the Caribbean! Ha ha!

I have several pictures from Mexico, and Something #12 prompted me to look through them all, which may explain the delay of this post.

You see, there are good parts and bad to that time in Mexico. Sometimes it is difficult to look at the past, but here is the good news: my finger has become friends with the delete button and I am not feeling guilt or pain as I select and edit. It's quite cathartic.

I think that there is a lot of editing and deleting that I need to do in my life.

I'm sure you've heard the quote, "time the great healer."

While it's always nice to put distance between events and people in life, it's a false comfort if you have not bid adieu to the situation. I am finding in these dark days in Belgium and as the first decade of the new millennium comes to a close that I have not really kissed a lot of these events and people properly good-bye.

That is a hard thing to admit.

I love this photo:
This is from my 32nd birthday that I spent all alone in Mexico, and was one of the best days in my life. That is a little dock about 20 yards from the shore. Isn't that so romantic? That day I wished someone was with me... to take a picture while I sunbathed by myself! Haha! No, seriously, I wished for what I have now.

This was my daily indulgence:
This was the show every night around the corner from my little studio apartment. I am glad that I took advantage of that time every night that I could.

Ok, back to reality. Back to Belgium, back to Brussels.

Here we are at the Christmas Market. Did you check out the post on my blog?

Jon took these photos. You should check out his Flickr page...

One more photo from that night that I wanted to share:
This is an installation from French photographer Thierry Bouët. It's from his series The First Hour where he took 50 portraits of babies in Paris the first hour that they were born. Check it out on the web, there are photos of babies everywhere if you google his name.

By the way, I do want to see those photographs.

Thanks for your patience, I hope you get a golden ticket because I would love for you to come visit.

xoxo

LYMI

Something #12

2009-12-07T00:06:00.004+01:00

I had meant to get to this earlier, but it's already past midnight. I will post more tomorrow.

Goodnight and Happy Sinterklaas!

xoxo

LYMI

Full Moon Over the Red Light District

2009-12-02T23:40:00.001+01:00

On the way home last night.

North BLX.

Something #11 LMAO!

2009-11-30T21:53:00.005+01:00

LMAO! I really detest acronyms like that, and LYMI for sure, but this little something had me laughing on a day when I really needed it.

I arrived in Waterloo ready to ride and take on the day, only to discover that my bike had been "tagged" with red permanent marker (no photo, sorry) AND I had a flat tire. Do you think these two incidents are related?

I walked my bike unsuccessfully through town only to discover that the air valve will not fit the valve on the air pump at the Auto Shop. (I am not even sure I am using the correct terminology.) AND I do not speak a lick of French! This all made for an interesting morning.

Also, school is kind of a bummer these days. The teacher I work with has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. She hasn't told the kids yet and she will have surgery two weeks from today. She is young, kind, a wife and mother. She is going through so much emotionally. We talk during the day and I've shared my experience with her, but she will soon find out for herself and have her own experiences.

When I talk with her, it all comes back to me and I wince at times from my memories of -

the sores in my mouth
the weakness
the aches
the nausea
the 30+ pounds I gained from the steroids

the two years it took to loose them

the chemical burns on my skin

the constipation
the hair loss

my cold head against the pillow
the fear
the constant tiredness
the exhaustion of people telling you everything will be ok over and over because it makes them feel better.

But I do hope everything is going to be ok...

Jon had a late night tonight, and I went to the International Short Film Festival in Leuven.

I wish you could have been here with me, but tonight's selection was so morbid and melancholy. The best short I saw was Wes Anderson's Hotel Chevalier.
Did you know it's a prologue to The Darjeeling Limited? Another film I saw out of the US, in Mexico...

I also saw this short:

I was a little depressed as I walked home tonight, not to mention I was FREEZING!

Thankfully, I had this at home to make me laugh:

Oh Steph! What did you do to this poor child?!

Just look at those cheeks!

I'm still cracking up...

xoxo

~LYMI

Legally Bonded!

2009-11-26T15:08:00.002+01:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to let you know, Jon and I just got back from city hall and I am good to stay in Belgium! (For now, but still!) Thanks for all of your support. Opening another LYMI in celebration. Will post later this weekend.

Promise.

xoxo

LYMI

Happy Birthday To You!

2009-11-25T00:45:00.012+01:00

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!

As I write this post, it's almost tomorrow here. Jon and I have been compiling all of our papers for our BIG appointment tomorrow.

I have a special gift - a post just for you. Something told me you were curious, and even if you weren't I thought you would enjoy it. I wanted to share a typical day in my life. You know, that *seemingly* Boring Beyond Belief Belgian life I've been talking about...

I'm warning you now, this post is long, but only because I took so many photos.

This was the scene outside my window on the train this morning. It had stormed pretty bad last night, and I wasn't expecting to see the sun at all today. But she came out for a bit just before 8:30 a.m.

Lovely, eh?

Now, let's go back to last week. I have been thinking about doing a post like this and had actually started to document my day sometime last week. I think this was last Wednesday or Friday, but the weather was cold and clear...

For this photo, I am standing where I usually catch the bus in Leuven. Our apartment is behind the St. Peter's church on the right. Everyday bells ring on the quarter hour, starting past 9:00 a.m.

The train station in Leuven, which is actually quite nice...

This is the train I take.

Do you see the number 2?

That's for second class passengers. Like me!

The train to Waterloo leaves Leuven on the :08's of every hour. I am scheduled to arrive in Waterloo 1 hour +12 minutes later. Lately, there have been consistent delays.

Here are some things I do to keep busy on my commute. First, I always check to see if Metro, the free paper has a Sudoku puzzle. I've gotten very fast, and they are mind numbingly addictive. I usually sip my cappuccino, typically my second of the day, while I knit, crochet or read. Occasionally I listen/watch my iPhone, which is now used like an iTouch. International roaming charges? No, thank you!

Here, I prepare a lesson for tomorrow's private English lesson and catch up on my 5th grade reading: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

I pass through Brussels everyday, blah, blah, blah.

However, I like this stop at a small station outside of Waterloo.

I like the shelters and the graffiti.

This is Waterloo Station:

Exciting, right?

I make my way to the bike parking to pick up Humphriet, my bright green bicycle.

Can you spot him?

There he is!

Before I ride, I don the latest cycling fashion. I am bringing back the tight-roll, but going a step further and pushing it inside my sock. I do this, so grease won't get on my pants.

FYI or TMI? Those socks are wool, and I am wearing wool leggings underneath my pants.

Now for Part II: the bicycle ride.

Parts of my ride are on the street:

Parts are on this skinny trail:

And some parts and walked because some people don't know how to park!

Finally, I arrive at my destination:
You know? A school is a school, no matter where you are. At least to me it is. It takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to ride to school from the train station, and about 15 - 25 on the way back.

I usually have some down time before I start, so I usually just sit in the lounge and drink another cappuccino. This day, I wanted some juice so I went to the cafeteria. Check out the decorations!
Also, note the trays and glasses that are set, waiting for the children. It sort of reminds me of IKEA.

Here are some high school art projects that decorate the cafeteria. I like these:

What do you think?

The kids are studying a unit on light and sound. These kids LOVE science! I can't get over it, I don't remember loving science this much. Today, the kids had presentation on light and color in the Performing Arts Center, which like Dallas' is also called PAC.

The set from the play The Canterbury Tales.

Of course the girls pleaded, "make it rainbow!"

My journey home is pretty much the same as my journey there, except there are screaming high school students the first twenty minutes or so, then the business traffic from Brussels push their way onto the train. I tried to take a picture of the Red Light district for you, but I wasn't close enough. That's about as exciting as it gets on the train.

We do make a stop at Brussels International Airport everyday.

Passengers get on and off with their luggage and inevitably I imagine all of the exotic locations people are going without me.

It's dark by the time I get home - but this is my favorite part of the day. I love, Love, LOVE walking off the bus, towards our apartment and seeing the old town hall.

Isn't it gorgeous?

We live above an olive/middle eastern import store and these creatures live in our stairwell. It's always fun to fumble in the dark and turn on the lights to see this:

Do you need 6 foot wooden psychedelic neon painted camel?

Typically, I cook, but tonight was a celebration in honor of you, and the fact that I couldn't stomach anymore leftovers. :)

We tried a restaurant called Dewerf.

Jon had a "man's meal," beef and baked apples served in a bread bowl.

I had the broccoli bacon quiche with a side salad.

Jon won tonight's plate challenge.

Lekker!

Because it was your birthday, and because you love chocolate cake so much, I ordered one in good faith that it would be the best chocolate cake I had ever tasted. After all, this is Belgium...

Alas, it was dry and hardly tasted of chocolate at all.

I stuck the Prince cookie on top symbolizing my wish for you... Someday, your prince will come. Or the artist formerly known as Prince will come.

Happy Birthday Steph!

I am truly enjoying this LYMI Belgian experience, and have you to thank for it. I wish you the best year of your life, continued success and creativity and strong poses. This is the time of our lives. Thanks for helping me enjoy mine.

Much love,

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #10 and Some Excuses

2009-11-19T15:51:00.005+01:00

Jon had a busy weekend last weekend, and I was a graduate school widow. Just kidding. It wasn't too bad. I had a ton of errands to run on Saturday, and did some traveling on Sunday.

But, I missed him.

So, I opened a special something:
It's flat and roughly the size of a photograph. What could it be? Also, the texture of the paper was a little rough as well. Similar to the paper that wrapped Something #3.

The creases on this paper are very nice:

It looks like a little street scene to me. In fact, as I write this post, I have an idea...

Ok, back to the something:
As I open it, I see and feel that it is not a photograph, but it is a note.

"Let your mind go and your body will follow."

I remember the movie LA Story. I remember Sarah Jessica Parker and Steve Martin roller skating in the LACMA.

Can you tell me a little bit more about this quote and what it means to you?

For the record, my response was:

Yes!

I think I will.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm sorry, I know I've been a little absent from the blogosphere these days, but I have my reasons...

Exhausted
Travel/commuting
Tales of the 5th Grade Nothing.
Lazy
Bored
Compiling documents for the Belgian government so that I may stay with my beloved.
I found a website where I can watch TV, thus begins my subcategory:

To make up for it and get my creative juices going, yesterday I started a special post about my typical day just for you, but I literally got derailed and will have to write and document another day. I'm going to pick up where I left off tomorrow.

Here is a sneak peak:
Will write more later, I promise!

I am off to tutor a Greek teen with his English, I am using a clip from Flight of the Conchords.

I'll let you know how that goes.

xoxo

LYMI

Something #9

2009-11-02T18:32:00.010+01:00

Ok. Here goes. First of all, let me apologize for the delay in this post. It's not that I don't have anything interesting to post, it's not that anything hasn't happened, it's just been a feeling of an underlying need to make things easier - simplify. I'm still in the process of getting all the papers in order to apply for a visa, but once everything is turned in I will be able to stay past November 30th, the date of my original airline ticket. Thanks to Jon and his tenacity, who went to city hall and asked all the questions with humor and sincerity. It looks like I will be stuck in Belgium as my visa gets processed, but that was the whole point of the application wasn't it?

Yes, it was. I am happy to stay here with Jon, and so glad that things are falling into place here. It's strange how life just keeps clicking right along: before you know it, things become mundane, everyday, and just life. But I still have to catch my breath every time I walk upon the city square here in Leuven. It's just beautiful, I could just pinch myself.

This is where I live?

Really?

Thank you life!

I opened a little package the other day, but as I mentioned in the post before one, it really had me stumped. I spent the next couple of days debating whether or not to open another one, eventually I wrapped up that little something (#8) and opened another one, #9.

I picked this one because of the blue speckled envelope paper. I knew when I held it in my hands it was another photograph, I really liked the way you turned an envelope inside out to wrap this little something.

I'm still knitting Jon's scarf, you can see it on the left. I proceeded to open the envelope:

I check out the back. It says,

"It's a big blue Spanish Sky, Lay on my back and watch the clouds roll by. I've got the time to wonder why, she left me. It's a slow, sad Spanish song, I knew the words but I sang them wrong. The one that I love has left and gone, without me."

~Chris Isaak

You underlined a few lines, as I think they really resonated with you.

I read them again.

Geez Steph, that is depressing.

But I do love clouds... they are wondrous. The way they form, come together and then dissipate. It is exactly like an intimate relationship isn't it?

I like your drawing on the inside of the envelope too. What was behind it?

Also, the date on the back of the photograph is from 1997.
Where is this from? Do you have lots of pictures of beautiful blue sky?

Would you believe I took this picture before I came home and opened this something?
It's ironic. I was feeling a little stumped creatively, without anything to blog about. Then I looked up and thought I would write about the Belgian sky...

The skies here are amazing, changing all the time:
(Actually, the above pic is from Rotterdam, not Belgium, but it shows the changing sky as I see it here.) One day it will be gray and rainy, cold and a little dreary.

Then the sun will peek out and you will hours of beautiful blue sky:

Antwerp

Also Antwerp

The skies are constantly changing and the weathers reciprocates. I am constantly changing. I can feel myself transforming, not physically, but mentally. I guess that's part of adapting to life far away. Maybe that was the source of my creative stump? I am learning to let myself go and become available to the changes that will come. It's exciting, but also a little unnerving at times. It was a tough week last week with a few cultural blips and bumps, but I survived and learned a few lessons a long the way.

I know more about the Belgian train system, a new Belgian town, am making friends and even have access to an English library. I am starting to look at boots in store windows and adapt to Belgian fashion, shop at specialty stores for meats, cheeses and fish. I think I will enroll in a language class next. It's a transformation... much like the season and the clouds.

Life is just rolling right along...

xoxo

LYMI

Something #'s 8 & 9

2009-10-29T18:41:00.003+01:00

I opened something... something #8. I've been in a little bit of a funk and this little something stumped me. That's why I wrote uninspired in my last post. I'm sorry. I wrapped it back up and placed it into the pile. I will reveal it when the time is right. I have to think about it.

Something #9

I opened another one just now, but really don't have time to blog about it until this weekend... but it's perfect. I will go ahead and say thank you, I took it as a sign that I am on the right track.

Stay tuned and I will fill you in.

Uninspired

2009-10-29T07:21:00.003+01:00

I am really feeling it these days.

Still waiting on my paper from the FBI.

It's almost November and I am in the 5th grade again.

Something #7

2009-10-21T20:24:00.003+02:00

Things have been going well. I am getting all of the paperwork in order for my visa, AND I have a meeting this Friday with the school for the job that I interviewed for last month. Things are looking up! But I am still having some anxiety induced dreams about not getting all of my paperwork in to the Belgian government, and I had to go to the doctor today.

I don't like to go to the doctor...

Even in Belgium.

But it wasn't that bad... Just a routine check-up and some tests. If all goes well, then I get my certificate of good health.

Yay!

I don't know when my fears started, but it seems that the longer I stay away from the doctor, the worse I feel about going. It must have to do with the cancer experience, and also the fact that I have no insurance. I never know how much things are going to cost, or if I am really being taken care of. Before she, the doctor, came to get me in the waiting room, I was shaking... That was alarming to me. I don't recall ever being that scared in a doctor's office before. Anyway, it was a painless, pleasant experience. The doctor took her time with me, conversing with me - something I don't really recall doing with too many doctors.

I felt good about going, but then my day seemed long as I sat alone at home and began to worry.

Why worry?

Because that's what I do...

Anyway, I pulled a little something out to distract me. I didn't even think about it, I just walked by the bookshelf and yanked out a package.

This is the one I got:

Again, I love your artistic expression, but I had no idea what this meant.

Until, I opened the envelope.

Gah, indeed! Casey wedding 99! Or something like that...

That jacket is way too big for me. How many years ago was that ? Didn't you go to a wedding this past weekend? How was it?

I wonder when the next Casey wedding will be...

I love the inside of this envelope. I love it A LOT! It is such a simple, texture... a beautiful pattern. I felt compelled to make something with it.

Another crane on the beginnings of Jon's scarf:

I added it to the collection.

xoxo

~LYMI

It could only mean one thing...

2009-10-21T16:48:00.003+02:00

I've opened something... I'll post something about it after dinner.

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #6

2009-10-16T10:52:00.009+02:00

Last Saturday I was feeling a little bit better. Jon was gone all day working in the studio, but we had planned to eat lunch together.

I rode my bike to Arenberg Castle which is the campus where Jon spends most of his time, I'd say 85% these days. Anyway, it's a nice bike ride away and there are trails behind the castle. I thought I would explore this area after lunch a bit and get that exercise we were chatting about the day before.

Here is a picture of the castle from Jon's Flickr page. You should check out his photos. I think they are really good~ wish I had a better word than "good," because most are beautiful, but there are over 1,000 of them. What can I say? The man loves to take pictures.

The following photos are mine. One thing I forgot to mention in the last post: as I was going through the photos from 2007, I realized that I was not that great of a photographer. I hope they have improved, but realize that there is still room to grow. Anyway...

At lunch time we ate in a conference room. I'm not sure if we were supposed to be in there eating, but it was a special experience. The castle was built in 1515. Can you imagine?

1515!

Detail of the sculpture just above the capitals of the columns.

Even this fireplace was installed and used before the US was established (!)

1775

There are frescoes on the ceilings.

And even more behind the layers of paint on the walls.

Pretty cool, huh? Not a bad place to have lunch.

Afterwards I set out on my bike...

Then I remembered your little something in my pocket. I like opening the somethings outside of my house, mainly because I think you would enjoy that too.

Here she is! Something #6. It's flat and the picture totally cracks me up. I like your use of mixed media and vanishing point.

Let's open her up, shall we?

Oooh! Yay! Pretty PINK paper!

and...

Matches!

Yippee! We totally need matches. Jon dropped this same book in the toilet the other day. Oh, wait, the matches are gone, but I do see a note. Clever packaging for a note Steph!

It's a note about Tex-Mex. I am missing aspects of Tex-Mex, really just the cheeses - queso fresco, queso blanco, Monterrey Jack, etc. I was having a hard time finding beans, particularly pinto and black beans. The only beans that are readily available in the grocery stores are garbanzo, white, kidney and a few other legumes. However, I did find an Indian store that carried pinto beans. Woo hoo! I have also found some decent tortillas and the avocados are great! I should look for salsa to see what they have. Jon was asking about tomatillo salsa the other day ~ ahhhhh. Tomatillos.... My mouth is watering just thinking about it. And, another odd thing is that I have a had a strong craving for tequilla a couple of times. It just kind of hits ya. So, I'll be looking forward to happy hour whenever I come home...

Whenever that is.

Something #5

2009-10-15T13:42:00.004+02:00

So, this post is a long time coming I think because I was having such a hard time that day. It was pretty shitty, the beginning of a weekend that stirred a lot of emotional doo-doo.

Let me preface this, by stating that the night before I opened this something, I had started dumping old photos onto my computer. These photos were from the summer of 2007. Literally, my life flashing before my eyes.

There was my trip to Portland to visit you.

There were pictures of him. (Eye roll).

Then there were pictures of Mexico.

It was weird. I have all of those memories in my head but don't call on them, because I have mixed feelings about that time in my life.

I loved the experience of Mexico and am so thankful for that opportunity, even though I was heartbroken at the time. I look back at who broke my heart, I never should have given him that much power.

I should have stuck it out in Mexico.

There I said it. That's very hard for me to admit, but it's true. I should have tried and I still carry that burden with me. I guess that's what was so upsetting, I feel like I failed at that part of life, and it added to my emotional stew.

Things are going really well here in Belgium. I'm so happy here with Jon. Happy doing things for him, happier than I ever thought I could be, and I don't want to lose this feeling or him. Deep down, I fear that I will feel like a failure if I am not able to stay with him, but I forget to look at the big picture. Some things are out of my control and all I have is this time with him right now, and it's happy. It's bliss. Really. He is so wonderful.

So, I took your little something with me to city hall last week to see about staying here for the year. I chose this something because it would fit in my purse, it was flat, and I liked the palm trees that you drew on the front. In my mind palm trees = Mexico, and I ♥ Mexico!

I took a number and I waited.

And waited,

and waited,

and waited.

Finally, I got some answers. Not exactly the answers I was looking for, but I know what I need to do. It's a long list, about 7 things long. Some of these items force me to deal with parts of my past that I wish were forgotten, but fortunately there is bureaucracy that records it bringing it all up again. I feel a headache coming on just thinking about it all. Anyway, all is not lost. I'll just check off the items off my list and hope for the best.

When I got home, I was upset, crying and feeling burdened. I had completely forgotten about the package.

I tearfully opened it and there we were.

When I opened this something I was online, my screen was telling me someone wanted to chat, and there you were.

xoxo

~LYMI

I know, I know...

2009-10-13T23:21:00.002+02:00

I am behind on my posts. I have limited bandwidth right now, and am trying to work around it all. But, I wanted to let you know that I sent an email, still waiting to hear back, and I owe you two posts.

xoxo

~LYMI

Something #4 (?)

2009-10-05T13:40:00.008+02:00

I opened a little package yesterday, due to my lousy experience at the Denon/Delhaize, my local grocery store.
It's always an experience when I go, I like to say as little as possible and it's worked about 50% of the time. However, last Saturday took the cake.

Incident #1) Jon wanted sausage. I happily obliged this request, except that I can't read Dutch, but I do know what sausage looks like:
I had asked the butcher for help and even though she spoke perfect English, she had little interest in helping as she was a vegetarian. "Sorry."

Looks like sausage to me, so I put it in my basket.

Fortunately I ran into a couple of friends, and I asked them to help me in the Deli section. Just to be sure...

They both shook their heads, "No, no, no, no, no. You don't want this. This is how do you say... the brains."

Oooooooooooooh! OMG! Gross!

Incident #2. Money is VERY tight here right now. So, the plan was for me to put the food on the credit card. Easy, right? Except, that they don't take credit cards. Only "bank contact" which is basically debit.

Shit...

The cashier looked at me as if I were pathetic and said, "No Euros?Bank contact?"

I didn't even have my wallet with me. So I had to leave MY bags of groceries and call Jon at the library, tell him I needed money that we didn't have, and it was 47 Euros, was that too much? Should I put stuff back? Blah, blah, blah. Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

Why do I have to FAIL every time I go to Delhaize?

I went home, calmed the *f* down, drank a beer and went to the ATM and took out some Euros. All was well. I went and paid, grabbed my loot and was on my merry way.

Incident #3. Maybe it was the beer? But, I blame it on my teeny-tiny kitchen and the fact that one more thing had to go wrong. As I was putting the groceries away, I had left a cabinet door open, and WHACK!

The cabinets on the wall moved.

My head was throbbing...

and BLEEDING!!!!

"Oh my god I need stitches! Am I about to pass out? I am all alone! I don't want to go to the hospital! and...."

It's all good, just a big nick and a bruise. Jon took me out for Ethiopian food.

This experience definitely warranted a little something, but I didn't want to open it at home. The next day I went solo to a craft fair in Bruges. I made a point of grabbing a flat package since you made a comment about it.

Once I was on the train, and my ticket was verified I pulled out the awesome red envelope.

So cute!

I like the blue star.

Opening the package very carefully...

What's this?

I can't see, I'm in a tunnel..

And in the light, I see it's a recipe for

Steph's "Throw it all in" 1 Pan Breakfast Scramble.

I don't even want to think about dinner, let alone going to the grocery sto... Wait!

I scan the ingredients.

I actually have all of these ingredients in my fridge right now, and I actually need to use the rest of the spinach before it wilts. And, I didn't know what I was going to make for dinner...

Thank you Steph!

When I get home, I assemble the ingredients.

I cut the potatoes, though these aren't "Idaho" potatoes. They're Belgian.

Anyway, I cut the potatoes and place them in a pan and cut the rest of my ingredients.

I also make a stamp, which you can see here.

When the potatoes are done, I throw in my ingredients with the only herbs I have ~ Italian.

Smells good!

Then I add the eggs, and a little crème fraiche, then scramble.

Finally, I added Parmesan cheese, and

Voilà!

It was mighty tasty, and easy too.

The perfect solution to dinner.

Thank you!

Now, what am I going to do with this paper?

Speaking of...

2009-10-01T23:12:00.004+02:00

Dave and I used to have a cat.

He lives with my friend Mark now.

Thank you Facebook for waking part of me that I thought was dead.

~LYMI

Do you know what day it is?

2009-09-29T12:48:00.003+02:00

Nine years ago, David passed away...
I just realized that.
Heavy...

Some lighter news:

This is what I'm reading.

I bought it yesterday at Fnac. I needed a new book to get lost in and inspire me. Have you read it?

Did you see the movie?
Last night I learned that this year she received an honorary doctorate from KU here in Leuven, where Jon is going to school.
What are you reading?

~LYMI

It chose me.

2009-09-29T10:12:00.012+02:00

I swear, I tried to hold off opening another something until I got some work done. "Work" that word in itself makes me want to open another something, or throw myself off a bridge. I heard from the Italian mother yesterday, she wrote that she was impressed, but was unable to hire me because of my status here in Belgium. Understandable, but it was still disappointing. All is not lost though, she wants to keep in touch, and who knows? Maybe I will work for her once I know a little more about my status. I need to go and inquire more about my situation at town hall, and I know I will need a little something for that, it's always stressful.

Also, I was in the middle of my day when Jon came home. I had not showered and was still in my pajamas. He could have cared less, but I was embarrassed. I was worried that it appeared that I hadn't done anything all day. Not true, I tell you. I was "working" on stuff. :)

Anyway, I got on with my day, ran the errands that needed running and pulled the package from the shelf, which now looks like this:
All pretty in a poppy satin ribbon. I love satin ribbon. I brought many colors with me for uses just like this!

Anyway, as soon as I pulled it out this little dear fell on the floor with a thud. Straight down I tell you.
It fell from the bottom of the pack.

Uh-oh. This totally messed me up. This was not the order I was opening them in! I had thought about putting it all back and getting back to my day, but took it as a sign.

It wanted to be opened.

It chose me.

Alright then, let's get on with it.

I savor the experience of opening these little somethings, they are all so intricately wrapped. It seems that it was probably time consuming, so I try to respect that. I cringe when people just tear the paper on gifts I wrap, "Hey! I put time, thought and effort into that!" Also, I think I can reuse the wrapping in some manner in the future.

I tried to carefully untie the twine, but it just slipped off.

Ditto with the pretty paper. You used a lot of tiny scotch tape squares, which were fun to peel.

Whoa! What's this, another package?

Interesting fabric. Looks like something tribal, African. What the heck were you doing with these scraps?

I feel something flexible. The word jangly comes to mind... Is that a word?

WOW!

How freaking cool!

I LOVE The beads!

Red, black and silver, that's so perfect for me.

These are so different!

Um...

What is it?

Ahhh, right.

I am supposed to figure that out.

I hold them for a while.

They are so pretty. Should I hang them on the wall? One earring? Take them apart? Make some kind of bookmark? (Not really into any books right now...)

Hmmmm. Then I had this idea.

I always wear the same jewelry, but I did happen to bring a piece I had made on an extra chain. Do you know what this is?

Also, I like the fabric.

I remember this. It's from a skirt you made in Portland, right? African... Ha! I have some holes in my coat pockets that need mending. This fabric will work PERFECTLY. Then you will be able to come with me where ever I go. There's talk of going to Munich or Rotterdam this weekend...

Finally, the paper - it has such a funky texture! Like masking tape with out the adhesive. I like the way it folds.

Do you remember my Sadako and crane making craze when I was in Mexico? Why didn't we read that book in school? Did you read it? Put it on your library list if you haven't. It's great. You can read it in an hour or two. Made me cry.

Anyway, when life hands you paper, make a crane:

and make a wish.

xoxo

~LYMI

Do you like my new necklace?

2009-09-28T17:24:00.001+02:00

I'll write more soon!

~LYMI

Postcards

2009-09-26T23:29:00.003+02:00

Some people don't think I should share these photos. But I hate to think that I took them and they are just going to sit in my computer...

From Brussels with love...

From Leuven with love...
It IS a college town. Hazing season has begun...

~LYMI

Luminous Tulle

2009-09-26T20:17:00.003+02:00

I saved the piece of tulle from the special somethings. I knew I could do something with it.

I bought this eucalyptus at the flower market the other day, and wrapped the bundle with the tulle.

I thought it would freshen up our teeny-tiny bathroom, which is a little bigger than an airline potty.

In situ in the shower, Eucalyptus' scent is activated by warm water for that fresh scent feeling.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

~LYMI

Something #2

2009-09-26T18:53:00.004+02:00

I like this something. I opened this when I found out that I would not get sponsored by a school to work here in Belgium (Monday, 14, September, 2009). I was beyond bummed.

Powerful,

Simple,

Understated.

Just like Steph.

I could not have opened this at a more perfect time. I was fret, fret, fretting over things that I could not and can not control. Opening and reading this little piece of paper was like a dose of snap-out-of-it medicine. Worrying and being upset is not the simple, creative action to take, and I think I am a pretty creative person. This is not rocket science and it's not complicated: either I will get the visa or I won't. Either I will get the job, or I won't. Everything else is abstract and not reality. I only have each day and this awesome opportunity.

I decided not to waste it.

Something #1

2009-09-26T12:48:00.007+02:00

There is a period of stress that accompanies acclimation when change occurs. For me, I had four major changes hitting me all at once. There was the move to another country, finding a place to live, finding work and moving-in/living with my boyfriend. Needless to say at about day 10, I was kind of stressed out. More than kind of... I have a tendency to stay in a negative place in my head, even though I am usually outwardly cheerful and optimistic. This catches up with me from time to time, and even I can't deal with myself. I was stressed from moving, disappointed with the bureaucracy that I might not be able to stay in Belgium for a year with Jon, tired of wondering, "what the hell am I doing here?", "what am I going to do here?" and just plain tired of it all. Sometimes we need a vacation from our vacation, and ourselves.

But, the next day we were settled and I had a few moments to myself in our new apartment. If ever I needed a little pick me up, it was then.

"It's time," I thought. I seized the package and slowly, carefully unwound the white luminous tulle that grew longer and longer with every twist and turn of my wrist.

What fun this was! And really quite meditative.

Some thoughts as I unwrapped:

Dang! Where did you find this long-ass piece of tulle?
How long did it take you to wrap all this?
How did you come up with this clever idea? Did someone do this for you?
This makes me feel special. Thanks.

Oh, and look! Little packages are starting to spill out!

(Instant smile.)

It was already working.

When the package was finally unwrapped and the tulle carefully folded and set aside, I looked at the pile on my lap. "Which one do I open first?" Oh, what a quandary!

Should I close my eyes and pick? Take the one of the top, the middle or the bottom? Wait, did she save the best for last?

Ultimately, I went with the one that rolled out - a little rectangular package wrapped and tied in a dusty rose scrap of fabric.

When I untied it, I noticed a little drawing on the fabric.

What does this mean? Wait, should I open this when it's raining? Belgium has a tendency to be a gray and dreary place. Something Steph can identify with since she used to live in the Pacific Northwest.
I thought about putting it back, but it was too late. There was no turning back now.

I can't express enough how exhilarating opening one little teeny-tiny package was.

Seriously folks, it's the little things...

And it was...

Perfume!

Fresh Sugar
"A delicious fragrance that combines sparkling citrus and sheer floral noes with warm gourmand flavors of caramel and vanilla."

Close your eyes and put your nose here:

Can you smell it? It's like a little piece of sunshine

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

~LYMI

Something Special

2009-09-25T23:42:00.003+02:00

I live in Belgium. Steph lives in Dallas. We have been friends since grade school, but it didn't start out that way...

The night before I left for Belgium she sent me off with one last margarita and queso from this place, where we both worked in high school.

She also gave me a gift, it came in a brown paper bag.

It had this homemade T-shirt:

Made of the finest North American jersey cotton, it's very comfy and cozy with a DIY silkscreen. I think the image is a face, Fall of Snow is her music project.

And, this gorgeously wrapped stack of many somethings:

Somethings I am supposed to open one at a time when I am feeling down, or missing home.

She had very strict instructions written on black glittery paper with a silver pen.
I must respect a silver pen on glittery black paper.

This blog is about these many somethings and 23 years of friendship, even though we've known each other for 24.

~LYMI