Autumn and my life cycle

Here it is: my happy poem, "An Ode to Autumn". Published in a community newsletter, slightly anonymized, but who cares. It's a start.

This poem chronicles a bit my experience in Switzerland over the last 9 years. I am getting a bit nostalgic as I approach my 10th anniversary in March 2013. Here's my (nearly) line-by-line breakdown:

• dusts, heroes of summer: think of "The Rising" Bruce Springsteen
• born: yes I mean literally. Some of the best people I know are born between Sept 21 and December 21, typical autumn in the Northern Hemisphere
• boys shooting: this refers to the autumnal festival called Knabbenschiessen, loosely translated as "boys shooting" in Zürich, where I lived for 5 years. The translation is quite funny. Recently though, a young Swiss girl has entered the competition and been a great success.
• Öpfelkiechli or (Öpfel Küchli): Swiss-German dialect for these lovely deep-fried battered apple rings at the Basel Autumn Fair, or Herbstmesse, coming soon end of October. Mmmm. There's a very specific stand, and a very specific lady who makes these. I won't eat any other!
• The bells of Switzerland: there are a lot. Not just church bells. Cow and sheep (and other mountain animals) bells, sleigh bells, door bells... I love them all. Saturday evening they ring for 10 minutes. Really. OK, church bells only.
• Been listening to a lot of R.E.M. lately. Three words from the album, Green (1988). Song: "You Are The Everything". Find it, buy it. Love it!

• OK, we didn't get married in Autumn, but we did get engaged. Friends of ours got married in Autumn. 
• I guess the ol' October 1st heating rule is quite old. Must also be a Zürich thing.
• Yeah, the Dragon / drago in Italian / Draco. Read what you will into that.
• There used to be a branch of the Swiss army that wore yellow berets.
• Yeah, there's always the end of year rush to get things done, not only in Switzerland, but everywhere. Post-its are like leaves...
• Odd use of winter as a "dénouement" is a bit circular ;)

I'm making my first recipe of pumpkin-apple strudel later on today. A variation of Jamie Oliver's Pumpkin Strudel but better. ;) Can't wait!!!

Later is better than never

It's true, our senses do become dulled by the stresses of our careers and personal lives. Today, I choose to go for a walk outdoors and let the cool autumnal breeze blow my cares away. Awaken Senses!! Rise and shine! I will do your bidding!!

I can still turn this thing around. I have to rely on my positive senses and be able to tone down the negatives. The feeling of soft petals breaking away in my hand as I snip away and prune the flower beds. Prune thoughts just like flowers and vegetable gardens. The dead and dying need to go so the lovely can come.

I've finally also named my computers. Newly christened and reborn are Leah and Beate, who have been my long-standing work colleagues. Without them, I don't think I could write so much :D so I appreciate them today, for supporting me throughout the past 4.5 and 2.5 years.

My stories have names and are like little kiwi chicks being incubated. Some will survive. Some may not. That's just life. Life is fun nevertheless. Celebrate those little chicks in the incubator!
All my projects have names too... some more complicated than others of course, but that's just how it works. Give it a happy name, a positive name, a successful sounding name.

It's all part of the process, one I feel like I neglected quite a bit until now. My two most important colleagues have been here, working, unappreciated, anonymously.

Yeay, for Beate and Leah! Hip Hip Hooray!!