Sansevieria

           A beautiful name for a magnificant plant. Sansevieris (also known as snake tongue, devil's tongue or mother in law's tongue - Polish name) from Africa (also found in Asia and Madagaskar). 

Just like Spathiphyllum this plant purifiers the air and is generally beneficial in the house. Just be careful if you have kids. The leaves are poisonous and children should not touch them.

The plant doen't need much water or sun - again perfect for those who forget to water ;)

People

                I was thinking about some people today. People that were so important some time ago in my life. I remember when I was so sad when some of them were clearly not so much interested in being good friends with me or at the beginning they seemed to be and later it all fall apart. I was wandering sometimes if that was my fault. I was taking the blame on me. Thinking that I’m not good enough to even be their friend anymore. It was happening for the last two years.

And somehow now I think that I don't need them anymore. I don't spend my time wandering what they are doing now or thinking if they will write me or not. I'm not waiting for them anymore. But I noticed that since the time they - to be melodramatic - broke my heart, I'm unable to make new friends. I don't know if I'm scared or if I don't care about new people in my life, but somehow there is this emptiness in me. And I on one hand don't care but on the other I'm so lonely.

It's difficult to be trapped in this world. It's like you want to get out of the glass house, but also too afraid to smash the door.

Dallas Buyers Club

         Once in w while a movie is made. An important movie, which deals with social issues, illnesses, poverty ... 2014 is a year of "Dallas Buyers Club" a movie which became a hit right away. And not only that. Additionally, it became recognized by critics. Sometimes those two - fame and recognition - do not go together.

           The last movie I remember (maybe my memory is not that good) which dealt with the AIDS issue was "Philadelphia" from 1993 with Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. 

            Both movies deal with a similar problem. There is a sick person, he tries to survive, he has to manage hatred, rejection, he has to live despite everything and everybody. He has to show others that he is worth something. The main character struggle through the movie to teach us that people who have HIV or AIDS are not to be ignored, that they want to lead a normal (despite the circumstances) lives.

            How is it possible that in 2014 we are still fascinated by such stories. Despite all the TV programs, all the campaigns, lessons at school we still want to know someting more about the people who are sentenced to death. The reviews and all the publicity after the movie came out made me wonder about the subject again.

              For me the movie was a bit hectic. I got lost sometimes, but nevertheless I enjoyed the story and acting of two great actors Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto (I have been particulary keeping my fingers crossed for him since "Requiem for a Dream").

              Maybe the movie will revive the discussion about those who suffer from AIDS and from society injustice.

OSCAR boys

I am beautiful

                When I was riding the bus from work today I was looking at people. All dressed in warm clothes because of Winter. All occupied by their own thoughts just like me.

              Then I saw this guy standing right next to me, he caught my eye right away but honestly I don't know why. I look at him and he smiled, not at me off course but at this girl who came up to him. They started talking and it was obvious that they knew each other. I couldn't see her face well but I assumed she was pretty. She had some make up, long, straight hair. He was drinking every word, looking at her enraptured. THERE - I thought. IF I WAS THAT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO ME TOO. DO I HAVE TO BE BEAUTIFUL TO BE HAPPY? 

                What is beautiful? How can we recognize it? How can we know and how can we be sure  that this beautiful person is good for us? How can you know that while talking to the beautiful person you are not wasting your time, because you should be talking to that girl next to you, who you will never notice because she becomes beautiful at the second glance?

Appalachian Trail

               Some time ago I read a great book by Bill Bryson entitled: "A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail". In it Bryson describes his and his friend's Matthew Angerer's hike along the beautiful but also exhausting Appalachian Trail. His description of the trip along with, the usual for Bryson, witty comments made me want to check the trail out (although only on Google now).

The man behind the idea of The Appalachian Trail was Benton MacKaye. He was passionate about nature and believed that balance between nature and human activity should be kept. He advocated this notion and wrote some articles to support his claims.

The Appalachian Trail is around 3,500 km long and extends from Katahdin Mount in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. While hiking the whole trail :) you can visit 14 States. Starting in Maine and moving South through Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and finally Georgia. Most of the trail is in the woods but occasionally you can pass through roads and towns. Apart from sleeping in a tent you can also stay in multiple shelters along the path.

The nonprofit organization Appalachian Trail Conservancy together with many trail clubs takes care of the trail. The National Park Service manages the work.

The trail is not easy. Many of the people who start it do not last long and drop out. But there are some brave souls, who not only finish the trail but even do it in one season.

If you like animals (especially bears :), plants, insects, rodents and spectacular views - then the trail is just for you.

The map of the trail



McAfee Knob

The trail



The trail

Donnie Darko

              I have heard about Donnie Darko many, many times from different sources. It appears on many lists as one of the best movies you must see and it already has the cult movie status.

                It stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone and more. It tells a story of a disturbed teenager, who has a strange vistion one night. He sees a rabit who introduces himself as Frank (reference to "Alice in Wanderland) and who informes Donnie that the world will end in 28 days. From then on Donnie sees and experiences many strange things, which lead to the discovery of the meaning of Frank's words.

                 The movie has a misterious and dark climate. It sucks you into the action almost immediately, and it makes you watch it till the least second just to see wether Donnie's visions were true or if they were just a product of his sick imagination. The ending is quite touching as well. 

Canary Island

             Although it is May winter will come to Europe and soon there will be a lot of the thing, which I don't like so much - snow. Sorry, but I don't like Winter and the cold and the snow and nothing connected to this time of year. Even Christmas is not a redeeming quality for Winter.

           On that time I always dream about vacation, beaches and sunny weather. I wish I could go somewhere warm, take of my big jacket and take of my heavy boots. Live is much simpler when you can put something light on and just go out. And comming home after a walk is easier too. No wet marks on the floor and gloves which we have to dry. No to mantion that winter clothes are not flattering anyone.

                 But, oh well, what can I do. I have to survive it somehow. And I will when I look ate the photos of Canary Islands. A place which I would like to visit sometime in the future (maybe this Winter). 

            The archipelago consists of islands from which Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote are the ones I associate the most. The weather is good throughout the year, the beaches are great and the nature is beautiful. I cannot wait :)