Epiphany

Ideas can surface in one of two ways. One way is linear: your mind progresses in a direct fashion, one idea follows the next. The other way is more common among my pals: all of the ideas you have hit you at once & if the pattern is especially useful - Why, you've got yourself an epiphany.

In the old days, epiphany meant a manifestation of the divine (see more at m-w). I'm not making claims to the divine - but the series of events that have closed out 2005 come as close to that description as I may ever get.

The trip to Turkey was breathtaking - in both the literal & non-literal sense. Our journey was a pilgramage - to visit the tomb of Rumi and see the whirling dervishes on Shebi Arus.

It's difficult to track down the information to accompany the story of our trip. There were tourist bits, that's accounted for in the pictures I've got up now on Flickr. To see the set, go here.
I haven't had access to a computer to put up the rest of the photos - The Semahane in which we turned is represented in the photos linked to in the above paragraph, but not pictures of us turning - There are no pictures of Rumi's Tomb or the other items in the Rumi Museum - nothing from the Sema held in a giant stadium that was full both of the evenings we attended, yet anyway.

I've also not had time to post the details... which mosaic in the Hagia Sophia is Jesus the Pantocrator, which is Saint John Chrysostom. There is a kickin' Wiki entry tho that can fix my error here.

Unfortunately, I still don't have time, so this post will have to suffice. I hope to share my thoughts soon - for cryin' out loud.

Creakshow

It's just now warming up. With the chill in the air - I feel creaky. I've gone out to get more space heaters - and the furnace folk are scheduled to come at two this afternoon. Funny how constraining the cold is - I feel less able to think & certainly less motivated to do things.

I took a walk around the garden & into the greenhouse today. Talk about restoring yr spirit - It's raining and winter, so the plants in the food garden have mostly given up the ghost. I did walk by what looked like cilantro - still green and lovely, but can't be sure. Also, the blackberries don't seem to be weakening at all. There are some without thorns that are pretty weeds.

The laundry room needs cleaning and stat. I'll get back to that, but wanted to post some pics from the trip - (for the set, go here):

Smoky...

We are on our last evening in Turkey. The hotel in Istanbul is in the old part of town and our room overlooks the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

The air here is clear - it's ra?n?ng and the call to prayer has just begun. In Turkey, smoke is everywhere - whether in Konya, where it is equal parts coal fire and tobacco - or here in Istanbul, where it is more like the will of the people - the entire land is bathed in smoke.

One of the many highlights of the trip was our visit to Çatal Hoyük. This site is a very early example of migrating people shifting their way of life to one more agricultural.

This trip has been amazing - lovely people and gorgeous sites. I feel very grateful to have been here. I have photos and will post them as soon as I can.

Mile High City

Well, we've made it to Colorado intact. Frankfurt comes next. J's getting his shoeshine on & we've just had lunch.

I keep thinking if time rolled backwards - I could easily head back to March of this year and feel right at home. 2005 has been like living with a circus, lot's of moving parts and glitter - then hella hard work for the show to go on.

Seattle was cold this morning - we were on day 3 of no central heat. So, really, it was cold. Jema is off with a friendly sitter & folks will be stopping by to see to other details & to keep the house occuppied. When we get home, in addition to the gardening we want to dive into, it'll be time to get some of the home improvements going. Welcome to home ownership.

I'm hoping to slow down or at least centralize my efforts - maybe sticking around the house - for 2006. I do have a bunch of ideas, but am eager to walk instead of hover across this path.

Time's up. Next post will be from outside the US.

tpm = tasks per minute

Not much time to type - J and I are heading out to wrap up holiday shopping and get ready for the very soon to come trip to Turkey which is almost upon us.

There are people on this year's tour that are already in Konya - we're getting love letters everyday about this trip - it's beginning to feel real. Our passports arrived this week, both needed updating. Visas are $20 when we get to the airport in Istanbul.

I thought I'd drop a line before we get too far into the day (or week).

Yesterday I got to hang out with the Women in Black at Bellevue Square Mall. It was inclement, but wonderful to spend time with Lee. I did a queenly wave as folks went by - some not so pleased to see folks on the other side of their opinion, some happy to get support for their own line of thinking. A bespoke gentleman stopped us to thank us, his demeanor was distinguished & so it was a pleasure to hear the women there accepting his thanks.

Later, when I was home again, I tried to wrestle the guest room from the boxes that linger there with not much luck. I think I managed to get a bunch of magnets that used to be on our refrigerator unboxed.

Ah! My birthday came last week! It was a lovely non-affair - musicians came over for practice (that's about the best gift I could get anytime, live music in the house) and I put out oranges & water for folks to enjoy. Also got a book on Ed Abbey and other special items.

My position at the temp job is off for the remainder of the time before Turkey and for a bit after too. I have to automate a database in excel and so am still charged with that. Seems like it'll work out just fine overall.

It snowed this week - no pics are up yet, but J got some lovely shots of the yard. I got some too... lots of camera work these days (imagine what will go up in a few weeks!)

I better wrap up, it's almost two here & there's loads to be done!