It has been about two months since I started walking dogs at the shelter. I have been test driving dogs to find a good fit for me. If the entire walk consists of me pulling the dog back, that is not much fun for anyone. So, I have found the perfect dog for me. His name is Bogar and they told me that he is one of their older, calmer dogs. He seems to recognize me and doesn't rush out of the gate like a race horse when they put the leash on him. He responds to his name, seems to like his head petted and knows the meaning of "nem" (no). So I am thinking about starting an exclusive relationship with him.
The goats and sheep have had babies in the last few weeks. They also have a new addition; a young deer with one deformed ear.
On Sundays there are lots of families visiting. They feed the goats and sheep and play with the dogs. Hopefully, the adoption rate is good, I have no way of knowing.
I have been very impressed with the cleanliness of the place and the devotion of the staff toward the dogs. When I indicated to this employee that I would like to take a picture of him and Bogart, he picked the dog up and beamed.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Berlin
My brother and his wife were in Berlin for a professional conference so we flew over to meet them. Kevin has been going to Berlin since 1990 (a year after the wall came down), so he has a historical perspective and is a great tour guide. Yes! It was really cold!
All of us in a certain age bracket remember studying about Berlin after WWII and then in 1960 when the wall was erected. So here we were staying in the Mitte which is smack dab in the middle of former E. Berlin!
My impressions of Berlin are that it is a vibrant and modern city. Due to the damage of the war, many of the old building in the area where we were staying had been leveled. So on a street you might see one obviously old building surrounded by these fabulous modern buildings. It had a totally different vibe than Budapest.
The first night we took a cab to where some of my brother's coworkers were having dinner. The cab let us off at the curb of this narrow street. We had to walk carefully (due to thick ice) through what appeared to be an abandoned lot toward what looked like an empty old building. We found some stairs which we presumed led to the entrance. Sure enough on the second floor of this old building (we were later told that it had been a post office) we found a dimly lit hallway and a hostess! She led us into an area at the end of the hallway that opened up into a dome with an intricate ceiling and about 15 long tables. What a venue!
The menu was in German but the waitress translated to the best of her ability. I ended up ordering the vegetarian menu. It came as the most beautifully presented dish that I had seen in months. The Hungarians are not into presentation. And the meal. . . fabulous! It was paired with some great wines of my brother's choosing. Since my brother works with the international community, that evening I had conversation with people from Taiwan, India, Brazil and Scotland. It was quite the eclectic group.
Our 3 1/2 days flew by and were filled with lots of sightseeing. We would go back to Berlin in a heartbeat, but, so many places and so little time!
All of us in a certain age bracket remember studying about Berlin after WWII and then in 1960 when the wall was erected. So here we were staying in the Mitte which is smack dab in the middle of former E. Berlin!
My impressions of Berlin are that it is a vibrant and modern city. Due to the damage of the war, many of the old building in the area where we were staying had been leveled. So on a street you might see one obviously old building surrounded by these fabulous modern buildings. It had a totally different vibe than Budapest.
The first night we took a cab to where some of my brother's coworkers were having dinner. The cab let us off at the curb of this narrow street. We had to walk carefully (due to thick ice) through what appeared to be an abandoned lot toward what looked like an empty old building. We found some stairs which we presumed led to the entrance. Sure enough on the second floor of this old building (we were later told that it had been a post office) we found a dimly lit hallway and a hostess! She led us into an area at the end of the hallway that opened up into a dome with an intricate ceiling and about 15 long tables. What a venue!
The menu was in German but the waitress translated to the best of her ability. I ended up ordering the vegetarian menu. It came as the most beautifully presented dish that I had seen in months. The Hungarians are not into presentation. And the meal. . . fabulous! It was paired with some great wines of my brother's choosing. Since my brother works with the international community, that evening I had conversation with people from Taiwan, India, Brazil and Scotland. It was quite the eclectic group.
Our 3 1/2 days flew by and were filled with lots of sightseeing. We would go back to Berlin in a heartbeat, but, so many places and so little time!
The Poetry Contest
Jack and I were judges in a poetry reading contest at a bilingual high school (Gimnasium) last week.
This was an event open to grades 9-12 and these kids were the finalists of each of their high schools. There were three judges, the two of us and a Scotsman who is a cop in Budapest. We were seated prominently in the front of the room (why didn't I dress up more) with the 17 contestants all seated in chairs. Surprisingly, there were an equal number of boys and girls. As I have mentioned before this country really appreciates poets and poetry. Each child had to recite a compulsory poem and a poem of their own choosing. We had scoring sheets and were directed to give three separate scores for their pronunciation, interpretation of the theme and dramatic effect. Here is the compulsory poem, I think that it is quite thought provoking.
WHICH ARE YOU? Ella Wheeler Wilcox
There are two kinds of people on earth today
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.
Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.
Wherever you go you will find the earth's masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.
And oddly enough, you will find too, I mean,
There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.
In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others share
Your portion of labor and worry and care?
Considering they were reciting in a language other than their mother tongue, I was really impressed with the performances. We awarded a tie for first place, a second and third prize. The kids were polite and appreciative. I am sure that I will never have this opportunity again!
This was an event open to grades 9-12 and these kids were the finalists of each of their high schools. There were three judges, the two of us and a Scotsman who is a cop in Budapest. We were seated prominently in the front of the room (why didn't I dress up more) with the 17 contestants all seated in chairs. Surprisingly, there were an equal number of boys and girls. As I have mentioned before this country really appreciates poets and poetry. Each child had to recite a compulsory poem and a poem of their own choosing. We had scoring sheets and were directed to give three separate scores for their pronunciation, interpretation of the theme and dramatic effect. Here is the compulsory poem, I think that it is quite thought provoking.
WHICH ARE YOU? Ella Wheeler Wilcox
There are two kinds of people on earth today
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.
Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.
Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.
Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.
No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.
Wherever you go you will find the earth's masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.
And oddly enough, you will find too, I mean,
There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.
In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?
Or are you a leaner who lets others share
Your portion of labor and worry and care?
Considering they were reciting in a language other than their mother tongue, I was really impressed with the performances. We awarded a tie for first place, a second and third prize. The kids were polite and appreciative. I am sure that I will never have this opportunity again!
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