"you don't just demand respect, you earn it"

After watching this clip I became a bit nostalgic about my finished-just-before-it-really-started career as a teacher. With "Mrs Gillis" as my role model to which I was consistently heading for I remember that from time to time I was acting exactly like "Ms. Virgin-ia Veruka Wobble" experiencing some similar situations. Nevertheless I miss those days and some of my students.

pass by

Ewa (dla przyjaciół "efcia", nie znosi jak się do niej mówi "Ewo") - team leader projektu w międzynarodowej korporacji, mieszka na "dalekiej Ochocie", w wolnym czasie biega na długie dystanse i kibicuje "jedynemu warszawskiemu klubowi piłkarskiemu", spotkana na ulicy Foksal

Ewa ("efcia" for friends, if you want to become one of them never ever say to her "Ewo") - team leader of the project in the international company, lives in far far end of Ochota (district in Warsaw), in her spare time runs long distances and cheers for "the only Warsaw's football club" , met at Foksal Street    

bus or tram?

car with a handsome guy as a driver

Serena or Venus?

the slim one

escalator or lift?

stairs because I'm training for half marathon

ground or top floor?

the top one of course, without neighbours walking on the ceiling, with glorious view from the huge window

boazeria czy tapeta?

?!

opera or ballet?

I'm obliged to say ballet

buttons or zipper?

zipper because it's faster

winter or summer?

I hate winter

autumn or spring?

May

do or make?

do the laundry and make me feel good

song for today
 

I look to you

Weekend in...Warsaw

Sobotnie popołudnie w Parku Szczęśliwickim.

Warsaw's Baker Street

It seems like we have our own Baker Street here in Warsaw but literally, with no references whatsoever to Sherlock Holmes or any that kind of persona as far as I know (by the way: had he ever visited Warsaw?). Still Senatorska Street, to which I'm referring to, is definitely not one of these streets that suffer from lack of the references, having quite a history and a bunch of significant buildings with their own history each. The Great Theatre is probably on the top of the list (being in fact the greatest one of them) but you may find all the other here with links to their photos and be very likely surprised how little you knew about them before (for me it was exceptionally striking because I'm passing different parts of this street practically every day on the way to my office). 

But it's not what I was going to write about. The thing that I dare to call Senatorska Street our Baker Street is that with newly open bakery shop after quick calculations there are four that kind of shops in the western part of the street. And when I give myself a moment to think I come with the conclusion that actually each one of them has something really special to offer amid wide rang of its high quality baker's good and pastry what sounds very promising for their coexistence in the future.

I will provide you with the details (maybe even with the pics of the specials I mentioned) very soon.

bold bolder boldest?

Cameron Silver, o którym więcej tutaj, pojawił się ostatnio na LAXART Ball OF Artists Event w Beverly Hills, California ubrany w dwuczęściowy kostium z wiosennej (damskiej!) kolekcji Mary Katrantzou, o której więcej tutaj. 

Cameron Silver and Mary Katrantzou

Spring 2012 by Mary Katrantzou

Uczciwie należałoby powiedzieć, że wspomniany kostium po koniecznych przeróbkach i odpowiednim dopasowaniu do sylwetki stał się dość pospolicie wyglądającym (oczywiście mówimy tylko o fasonie) męskim garniturem, tym samym lądując w zupełnie innej "szufladzie" niż prezentowany na pokazie kostium. O ostatecznym efekcie decyduje tu jednak nie fason rzecz jasna, tylko deseń jakim pokryty został materiał. Czy to jednak wystarcza, żeby uznać ten pomysł za odważny? Czy to może wciąż klasyczna elegancja tylko w wersji "wykopana w kosmos"? 

Oceniając obiektywnie, odwagi jest tu mało. Całość utrzymana jest w bardzo konwencjonalnej estetyce - kolorki się ładnie komponują, motyw ukwieconej łąki nadaje całości trójwymiarowej głębi, o samym fasonie już mówiłem.  Stylizacja wznosi się na nieco inny poziom dzięki muszce projektu Alexisa Mabille, która powinna gryźć się z resztą a jakoś się nie gryzie i to jest bardzo zaskakujące. Widok bezsprzecznie cieszący oczy, ale czy poza wizualnym (silnym) doznaniem jest tu co kontemplować? 

Możemy jednak zapomnieć o obiektywizmie w ocenie, gdyż mamy tu do czynienia z facetem, który nie dość, że przebiera się w damskie ciuszki (bo nie wchodząc w szczegóły tak właśnie jest) to jeszcze ma "odwagę" przekroczyć kanoniczną liczbę trzech kolorów w jednym stroju. I co by nie mówić to (nadal/jeszcze) jest jednak jakiś rodzaj odwagi. Ekh...

my latest affection

"tippy-toes, tippy-toes, pointy, pointy, floppy hands, step and smile"

"tego nie robi się kotu"

Nieprzyjazd mój do miasta N.
Odbył się punktualnie.

Zostałeś uprzedzony
niewysłanym listem.

Zdążyłeś nie przyjść
w przewidzianej porze.

Pociąg wjechał na peron trzeci.
Wysiadło dużo ludzi.

Uchodził w tłumie do wyjścia
Brak mojej osoby.

Kilka kobiet zastąpiło mnie
pośpiesznie
w tym pośpiechu.

Do jednej podbiegł
ktoś nie znany mi,
ale ona rozpoznała go
natychmiast.

Oboje wymienili
nie nasz pocałunek,
podczas czego zginęła
nie moja walizka.

Dworzec w mieście N.
dobrze zdał egzamin
z istnienia obiektywnego.

Całość stała na swoim miejscu.
Szczegóły poruszały się
po wyznaczonych torach.

Odbyło się nawet
umówione spotkanie.

Poza zasięgiem
naszej obecności.
 

W raju utraconym
prawdopodobieństwa.
 

Gdzie indziej.
Gdzie indziej.
Jak te słówka dźwięczą.

 
Wisława Szymborska (1923-2012)
 
 


 

what's up newbies? (part two)

Being maximalist is definitely a tough profession. It may become even tougher if you suddenly discover an inner desire for simplification. Louise Gray seems to be one of very few who can deal with that sort of situation beautifully. Her collection for Spring 2012 has all maximalism she is recognisable for (colours, patterns, layers are as always main ingredients of her crazy mix) despite the fact that if you look more carefully you may find some signs of pure simplicity within these pieces. Try to get rid of all the styling and finishings necessary for the runway and you will stay with couple of nice, simple, extremely wearable frocks and probably the coolest two-piece of the season (last pic). Is it possible to be cleverer in terms of establishing one's own label? I don't think so.

"Black swan" remake

This week has been fully packed with figure skating as two major competitions: European Championships and US Nationals have just ended today. There were as always ups and downs, kisses and cries, jumps and falls etc. and I must admit that personally I'm not so into it any more (at least comparing to my state of mind just a few years ago). Still there were moments to enjoy and definitely one of them was this adorable performance of newly crowned US Ladies' Champion - Ashley Wagner.



I always say that great pick of music is at least half of the final success in this sport - judges are people after all - and here music's choice was really great giving all every decent skating performance needs: growing tension, drama and grande finale. It's not enough of course, but if you add some nicely detailed elements to mark that you are actually skating in accordance with this great music you picked, you'll hit the nail right on the head. And she just did it by attaching for example this super original arms' movement during her spiral sequence or performing 'en pointe'-like little steps in the middle of the program.

For me this program seems to be also a bit "from the past" (and for the record I'm mentioning about it as its big advantage) being composed in a way to give the skater some moments to have a deep breath. Under the new judging system it means simply that there are less points to gain so it's quite unusual these days but thanks to that loss you gain something else. I would describe it as a certain glowing lightness (I know how it sounds but this is figure skating vocabulary so just bear it;-) which prevents you from being tired with the performance and helps you truly enjoy it. I'm sure that some judges might still have huge craving for that as well.

EDIT 14/02/2012: Ashley Wagner's lucky star keeps shining as she just won The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships gaining the international recognition with the best score of the season for the female skater and unexpectedly but evidently becoming one of the favourites to grab the world title.