Little Joys

The other day I was watching Amelie for the n^th time. One of the things I like about this film is the way the director introduces the characters, by what they like and dislike. The ways each of them find little joys in life, e.g.: by plunging their fingers on a bag of lentils, waxing the floor with a pair of slippers, taking old wallpaper of the wall, the sound water makes in a glass bowl. On the other hand, there are the ones that make you go mad: wrinkles on your finger after a bath, people who crack their fingers, etc. The uniqueness of these peculiarities makes you identify yourself with the movie. Well, at least I did.

Some of these little details that you enjoy or dislike tend to change with time. When I was growing up, the things I disliked were:

• People with cracked lips. I used to carry an extra lip gloss with me, in case anyone I saw had cracked lips. At first people that did not know me would be suspicious, especially boys, but as they realised it was part of my tics they will consent on putting it on.
• The sleeves of trouser (pants in American English) sticking in sneakers.
• Squeaky sounds (it does not include my voice).
• The smell of ketchup or tuna.
• People hugging me when they are sweaty.
  

Things I still enjoy:

• Smelling other people's clothes.
• Mushy textures on my hand, especially mud.
• Sitting on a coffee shop and watching passers by, when I was younger, it was on top of a tree.
• Finding different shadings of light.
• Skipping the cracks or separation on the floor.
• Walking on the ledge of the boardwalk.
  
• Putting my head on my dads belly and hearing all the sounds his stomach makes.
• Laying beside my mom when she is reading a book.
• Finding new hiding places.
• The face of people when I tell them my age, it cracks me up.
  

As I am writing this, I am wearing a scarf with my mom's smell, under the reflected shading of my nightlight covered by a palm hat, drinking a comforting cup of tea. Could this get any better?

Right in front of you.

For some time now i have consider that men cannot look for things around the house. They could live there, but that doesn't give them any reason to know where things are kept. I will give you some examples of my experience with men and there lack of capacity to search for things.

Example no. 1. My Dad.

Dad: Nalleli could you get me some batteries.
Me: Yeah dad, I'll be right back.

5 minutes later, my dad is nowhere to be seen. After waiting for more than 10 minutes for him, I decide to leave the batteries some where it would be obvious he will find them, INFRONT OF THE THING HE NEEDS THEM FOR (do not remember what it was).

30 minutes later

Dad: Nalleeeeeeeli (screaming), where have you been? Where are the batteries I asked for half and hour ago?
Me: Dad, I left them in front of the thing.
Dad: Well I can not find them (angry tone).

I walk to the place, very slowly pick up the batteries and hand them to him.

Dad: mmmmhhh ( blank look). Well, you should have told me you where going to leave them there.

As always they find an excuse to blame it on someone else.

Example no. 2. New Housemates.

Yuca: Where is the DVD control?
Mex: I do not know.
Yuca: I had it a minute ago, help me look for it?

10 minutes later

Yuca: where could i have put it?
Mex: Did you check under the sofa?
Yuca: Yes, i even moved it, and check between the cushions.
Mex: Well, we can not find it, it will reappear.

5 minutes later

Me: Did you find the control?
Yuca, Mex: NO
Me: But you did look for it?
Yuca, Mex: Yes, we just couldn't find it.

1 minute later

Me: Found it.
Yuca: Where was it?
Me: Under a piece of paper... (with a big smile).
Mex: What type of paper was it?
Yuca: But, we did look for it. (Bewildered complexion.)

Searching for somethings doesn't require any physical strength. They moved sofas and coaches to look for the control, when they only thing they needed was to move a piece of paper, a baby could do that.

Example no.3.

Sailor: Land ahead.
Crew: Hurray!!!

Cristopher: Where are we?
officer: I think its India.
Christopher: Why do u think it took us so long to get here?
Officer: dunno

A few hours or weeks or months later.

Christopher: I think this is not India?
Officer: So, where do u think we are?
Christopher: dunno.

If it wasn't that the damn continent was so big, I think America wouldn't have been discovered. Ohhh...but i forgot, they where not looking for that.

Men can be helpful: fixing things around the house (though if you want a good job, call professional help), killing bugs and carring heavy loads; but the moment you tell them to look for something, their observation skill and patience just isn't enough.

Good Beginning

After a week of changes in my residential status, thing are starting to settle down. I have a lot of work at school and I seem to make no progress. My new house is now taking the shape of a home and I am getting acquainted with my new housemates and their friends.

Today, after two, three or maybe four months of being a couch potatoe (pronounced like tomatoe with a british accent) i went for a swim. I have joined a charity thingy (to lazy to look up the name of the thingy). The goal is to swim the equivalent distance of the English channel in three months, 22 miles. I proudly can say, I swam 1200 m or 0.75 miles for non-metric folks, that leaves 34000 m (21.25 miles) to go.

If anyone is interesting in supporting this noble cause and give me some money, i will appreciate it. It will help with your Karma. And to prove to you that I am not conning you, I'll attach the page of the thingy.

http://www.aspire.org.uk/channelswim/