New Year in... 3, 2, 1

2012 is almost over, and looking back, I'd say that was the most challenging, trying, and mind screwing year so far. Hopefully 2013 will be at least a tad bit easier, and will give me some breaks I rather need.
Sometime ago either on-line, either in some magazine I've read this article on sleeping positions, and what they tell about you. Up until then I haven't had trouble at falling asleep, and I used to go out like almost the very moment my head'd hit a pillow to wake up to morning alarm in almost identical position and on the very same spot of my bed. Since I've read that article - or maybe that's just a coincidence - I have trouble getting comfortable, like the bed suddenly became hard or all possible sleeping positions uncomfortable, etc. Ah, if all was just about finding a new position or 'good' spot.
One year ago, right before Christmas 2011, we were told that our company is going to be sold. Now one year later we find ourselves sold for the second time in one year, and with things going downhill so fast it's really scary. 2012 was supposed to be the Year The World Ended. And in a way it did. Only on a much much lesser scale.
Same on personal side - all the ups of this year turned out to be the biggest falls and disappointments, so that finding inner poise was mission impossible. Starting with things which broke down out of the blue, ending with some relationships which burned to cinder in one go, I say 2012 was a truly nightmarish year, and as the year changes will gladly way it farewell, hoping the future is going to be brighter. If not... well, I might then buy some bright dyes and brighten it up all by myself ;)

First glimpse of winter

First snow. Just last Friday we've had enjoyed barbecue, and this Friday we have the first snow already. The contrast of bright yellow and white is overwhelming as is the understanding that winter is just around the corner.
Note to myself - Time to change car tires, and prepare for the winter. Every snowy morning means extra five or even more minutes to get ready to go to work, and white brushing off some snow is like nothing, scratching ice from car windows sucks.
Brightening the day. Trying to find as much joy as possible, though mostly the atmosphere at work heavily resembles the one in some funeral. If I see something nice and beautiful I point it out. Paying compliments pays back it lifts the heavy mood off, and brings some smiles on.

Days of Gold

Indian summer. For a week we were fortunate to enjoy a streak of really great weather with temperatures at day time rising as high as 19 C. The last of golden and crimson leaves paraded in front of one's eyes, calling to enjoy the rays of still bright sunshine, but reminding it would not last for long with every blow of the already cooling wind.
Together with colleagues at work we've hatched a plan to make the best of this almost summerish weather, and last Friday we've had a barbecue afternoon right outside our office building. Who could've thought that a small lot of grass could make such a nice place for BBQ party LOL.
Party muscles. On Saturday night we had a girls' night out. It's been a while since I last had such a crazy night in town literary visiting every single pub on our way until the three of us was were beat with tiredness and... of some happy-go-lucky liquid temptations ;)
Good all night long parties are usually always fun. Unfortunately, there is always a pay back time. For me it was Sunday. Did there really was one? Haven't even noticed it come and go. Clearly, I must've lost my party-all-night kind of muscles.

Obstacle Course

Golden, Crimson and Darkness. Maples are still bright with receding golden and crimson leaves, and an already thick carpet of leaves has formed on the ground. Evening jogging sessions in a nearby forest are now the ones in the fast ascending gloom, but until we go back to winter time there will be enough light for a stroll now and then. A few more weeks, then we we turn clocks back an hour, and the forest will be out of limits - it will be just too dark to go there. Well, at least for jogging.
Fallen leaves rustle under my feet, hop, there's a fallen tree on my way, then yet another - almost a real obstacle course. Ever since the Western roundabout construction has begun the forest has been left unattended by caretakers, so when a tree falls, it stays there for long. On the other hand, even this obstacle race in a fast growing gloom is so much better than running in circles in a nearby school track. Alas soon that track will become my temporary homage for evening exercise sessions. Forest paths and hills will be visited only on weekends at day time or when the first snow comes. Once snow covers all the paths it will once again be bright just enough to brave all the curves.
Obstacle Race as an Epitome of Today. This year our company has been put up for a sale. After many and many months while decisions were made and some hands were finally shaken closing the deal, we were finally informed how everything ended. But has it really ended? Nah, quite on the contrary. The new owner finally decided to come visit and to shed some light on his plans regarding us. Well, the news are with this double layer bottom - 'Sorry guys, we never really wanted you, we only bid for you to make sure we get Estonian company. What's gonna happen to you? Well... most probably we're gonna sell you.' And I can bet one million I don't even own that I know who this yet another buyer could be, and I already cringe with this very thought. So now it's an obstacle course, and the only question is, if we're running from a wolf to a bear, or am I over thinking this whole thing after all and all won't be as bad as I envision. Let's just wait and see.

Survival of the Fittest?

David and Goliath. The other day I've witnessed a fly get caught in a spider web. The fly was a fat one, and just as her legs got stuck on the web, she started to buzz angrily and fight hard to get away. Meanwhile, a tiny spider ran to the fly in anticipation of a big feast. But as the fly beat her wings and tried to wiggle away with all the force she had, spider would withdraw as if blown away by those attempts, then would try again and again to close on his pray. It rather reminded me of that biblical story of David and Goliath for some reason, though I really could not tell, who was who in this survival race.
The other time I went past that web, it was clear who've won the battle. Victor was nowhere in sight, but his feast leftovers were more than enough to tell the whole story.
In a way i find myself in a rather similar situation like that very fly - caught in a sticky spider web, and valiantly trying to getaway sound and free, only I cannot see the mastermind of that web, so cannot know if my attempts could get me anywhere or just worsen the predicament. One way or another it all will end soon. We're promised that at least.

Going Bollywood

Vilnius University Centre of Oriental Studies has organized this small Indian feature films festival to commemorate 20 years of establishment of Indo-Lithuanian diplomatic relationships.

Politics

Even if a minimum wage increases, it will still be just a minimum wage

Politics, politics, politics. Election to Lithuanian Parliament fast approaches, and political discussions/advertising/making of post-election promises get heated. Sometimes even trash bins become podiums for statements.

Like A...

 

...Rocky. Remember that old feature film 'Rocky' with Silvester Stallone? There is a scene in that movie, where Rocky victoriously runs up the many stairs and jumps a joy holding his arms up. Well, I've been jogging almost daily for a couple of past years, and once in a while I attempt to run up this one very steep hill non-stop. Uh-huh. So far not once I've managed to do that. Some way just past half of the ascend I run out of steam and just have to stop to catch my breath back or even to stop. But who knows maybe my jump a joy is just around a corner, and like Rocky one day I'll be all smiles on top of that damn hill :)

Doing it right

Just a thought I had watching some TV show. Kids have to rely to their parents, family like for everything, but as one grows there is less and less need for leaning on your family per se in a sense that one could not survive without this bond. And that's when it shows, if this all family and parenting thing ever worked well. If grown up kids still want to hang with their parents and family, then you were doing it right.

Re-post. Don't get lost

Re-post