To You

The song here is a love song, but I want to sing it to my daughter that tomorrow, at 7:14 am, will be 4 years old. It was after a long night under the sweet effect of the lovely Epidural, that she decided to finally come out, 9 days after the date that everyone was expecting her to show up. She didn't cry. 1 doctor and 3 nurses picked her up and I couldn't see what they were doing, I just remember telling my husband "Is not crying, is not crying". Must have been the most difficult 30 seconds of my life, until she cried. I cried too.

A TE (Jovanotti) A te che sei l’unico al mondo L’unica ragione per arrivare fino in fondo Ad ogni mio respiro Quando ti guardo Dopo un giorno pieno di parole Senza che tu mi dica niente Tutto si fa chiaro A te che mi hai trovato All’ angolo coi pugni chiusi Con le mie spalle contro il muro Pronto a difendermi Con gli occhi bassi Stavo in fila Con i disillusi Tu mi hai raccolto come un gatto E mi hai portato con te A te io canto una canzone Perche non ho altro Niente di meglio da offrirti Di tutto quello che ho Prendi il mio tempo E la magia Che con un solo salto Ci fa volare dentro all’aria Come bollicine A te che sei Semplicemente sei Sostanza dei giorni miei Sostanza dei giorni miei A te che sei il mio grande amore Ed il mio amore grande A te che hai preso la mia vita E ne hai fatto molto di più A te che hai dato senso al tempo Senza misurarlo A te che sei il mio amore grande Ed il mio grande amore A te che io Ti ho visto piangere nella mia mano Fragile che potevo ucciderti Stringendoti un po’ E poi ti ho visto Con la forza di un aeroplano Prendere in mano la tua vita E trascinarla in salvo A te che mi hai insegnato i sogni E l’arte dell’avventura A te che credi nel coraggio E anche nella paura A te che sei la miglior cosa Che mi sia successa A te che cambi tutti i giorni E resti sempre la stesso A te che sei Semplicemente sei Sostanza dei giorni miei Sostanza dei sogni miei A te che sei Essenzialmente sei Sostanza dei sogni miei Sostanza dei giorni miei A te che non ti piaci mai E sei una meraviglia Le forze della natura si concentrano in te Che sei una roccia sei una pianta sei un uragano Sei l’orizzonte che mi accoglie quando mi allontano A te che sei l’unico amico L’unico amore che vorrei Se io non ti avessi con me a te che hai reso la mia vita bella da morire, che riesci a render la fatica un' immenso piacere, a te che sei il mio grande amore ed il mio amore grande, a te che hai preso la mia vita e ne hai fatto molto di più, a te che hai dato senso al tempo senza misurarlo, a te che sei il mio amore grande ed il mio grande amore, a te che sei, semplicemente sei, sostanza dei giorni miei, sostanza dei sogni miei... e a te che sei, semplicemente sei, compagno dei giorni miei...sostanza dei giorni miei

TO YOU (Jovanotti) To you that are unique in the World The only reason to go to the end in every breath of mine When I see you after a day full of words without you saying anything all gets clear To you that have found me at the corner with closed fists With my shoulders against the wall Ready to defend myself With eyes looking down I was in line with the disappointed ones You picked me like a cat And took me with you To you I sing a song Because I have nothing better to give to you From everything I have take my time and the magic that with only one jump makes us fly in the air like bubbles To you that are Simply are The substance of my days The substance of my days To you that are my big love And the big love of mine To you that have taken my life And have done a lot more with it To you that have given meaning to time without measuring it To you that are my big love And the big love of mine To you that I have seen you crying in my hand Fragile that I could have killed you squeezing you a little bit And then I have seen you with the power of an airplane taking your life in your hands and move it where is safe To you that have taught me the dreams and the art of adventures To you that believe in courage and in the fear too To you that are the best thing that has happened to me To you that change all the days and stay always the same To you that are Simply are The substance of my days The substance of my dreams To you that are Essentially are The substance of my days The substance of my days To you that don’t like yourself But you are a miracle The powers of nature are inside you You are a rock, are a plant, Are a hurricane Are the horizon that invites me when I go away To you that are the only friend The only love I would want if I wouldn’t have you with me To you that have made my life so beautiful, that can make the fatigue be an immense pleasure, To you that are my big love And the big love of mine To you that have taken my life And have done a lot more with it To you that have given meaning to time Without measuring it To you that are my big love And the big love of mine To you that are Simply are The substance of my days The substance of my days To you that are Simply are The partner of my days The substance of my days

He says, She says

This German song, opened a discussion between a German friend of mine and myself. You can listen the song here and I hope you like the music. The words are translated below from him. The pictures are also from him. He told me that on the second and third picture, is the same guy but the pictures are taken in a 3 day time frame. Although the song gives the idea that the men are asked to fight in War, the idea behind is that the men are asked to fight for everything related to them, their home and their family. The song is not asking a woman to do that which opens the discussion - Why only men are the ones that fight? He says men are the the strong ones, the ones that are able to make a decision fast and the decision that will save life or at least will make the smallest damage. He says woman are the ones that think, that cool down and that makes them not able to fight. I say there are women in the army as well. The World would benefit if there were more women in power because will bring calm and logic to the decisions that will be made. At the end we both agree that in general, men are physically strong but women are the ones with sharper mind.
World needs strong men but they must be able to control their strength. A sharp knife that cuts a thin slice of bread is a good knife until it it put in our throat. Same with a strong man. Women are peace and logic. If I have to find a comparison with the knife, woman are like the sword of a Samurai that comes out only when necessary.
Well, here is the song, I'll leave it up to you to decide.

Xavier Naidoo Alle Männer müssen kämpfen Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen sagten sie mir Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen Das sag ich nur Dir. Viele Menschen werden sterben. Und ich bet ich wär nicht dabei Viele Männer werden sterben Und wenn's mich trifft hoff ich Du verzeihst Keiner weiss wer die Schlacht gewinnt Pass gut auf Dich auf und auf das ungeborene Kind Ich weiss noch nicht ob ich Dich wieder seh Auch weiss ich nicht, ob ich im Kampf besteh Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen sagten sie mir Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen Das sag ich nur Dir. Viele Menschen werden sterben. Und ich bet ich wär nicht dabei Viele Männer werden sterben Und wenn's mich trifft hoff ich Du verzeihst Ich warte Hier bis Du wiederkehrst Ich Glaube fest, dass Du Dich dem tod verwehrst Du wirst dein kind in meinen Armen sehen Denn Ich glaube fest, dass wir das überstehen Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen sagten sie mir Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen Das sag ich nur Dir. Viele Menschen werden sterben. Und ich bet ich wär nicht dabei Viele Männer werden sterben Und wenn's mich trifft hoff ich Du verzeihst Ich seh Dich an und ich glaub daran der krieg ist vorbei, ihrgendwann dann kehre ich wieder heim zu Frau und Kind Ich fände Euch, wär ich auch Taub und Blind Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen sagten sie mir Alle Männer müssen Kämpfen Das sag ich nur Dir. Viele Menschen werden sterben. Und ich bet ich wär nicht dabei Viele Männer werden sterben Und wenn's mich trifft hoff ich Du verzeihst Viele Männer werden sterben Ich muss Dich wiedersehen, ich muss dich wiedersehen. Der Krieg ist vorbei

Xavier Naidoo All men must fight (translated by Uwe) All men must fight they said to me “All men must fight” that is what I say now to you. Many humans will die and I do pray that I am not amongst the dead. Many men will die and if I will die I hope you will forgive. Nobody knows who wins the battle. Take care for you and on the unborn child. I do not know yet whether I see you again Also I do not know if I can survive the battle. All men must fight they said to me “All men must fight” that is what I say now to you. Many humans will die and I do pray that I am not amongst the dead. Many men will die and if I will die I hope you will forgive. (female voice) I wait here to you return I faith firmly, that you refuse yourself from death. You will see your child in my arms because I believe firmly that we get over that all. All men must fight they said to me “All men must fight” that is what I say now to you. Many humans will die and I do pray that I am not amongst the dead. Many men will die and if I will die I hope you will forgive. I see into your eyes and I believe that the war is past; sometimes you will turn again home to woman and child. I would find you, even when I would be deaf and blind. All men must fight they said to me “All men must fight” that is what I say now to you. Many humans will die and I do pray that I am not amongst the dead. Many men will die and if I will die I hope you will forgive. Many men will die. I have to see you again. I have to see you again The war is over

Leadership in Agenda

So again back to that show I watch once in a while, The Agenda. Today was Joseph Nye, a professor at Harvard University, and author of Powers to Lead.



There is some pages of the book where you will get hooked at the book. Find them here.
Was interesting guy, i liked how he spoke and the tone of his voice. Here a quick resume of the interview:

Great leaders are developed more than born.
Churchill was not a good leader until the war started so he got on top in the right context. If he had died earlier than the war, he wouldn't have gone down in history as a great leader. After war he was voted out because he was not the best leader to build the new England
Hitler was a good leader in the first decade but a bad person, so being a good or bad leader doesn't necessarily means they are good or bad people.
Bush is a decisioning decisive leader and if he keeps being decisive in the wrong direction he keeps making wrong decisions
Japanese leaders are not charismatics leaders and US and Canada leader are more and try more to be emotional. They must be able to reach out people, touch different levels of people and classes, have emotional intelligence
Now days we have mix leaders, old fashion (Zimbabwe) that give order and all follow, or the new type of giving order and cascade down
Best example of a leader today is Tony Blair, he draw people and rejuvenated his Party
Obama is good at that but maybe not sufficient to win elections
Leader is distributed in Democratic society, local schools, Party, reach out others, empower others and this is the kind of the leader now. Same in business :I'll give the order and you follow : is not sufficient anymore.
Contextual intelligence is important
The most disappointing leader is Nixon failed with emotional intelligence, was ahead of his time but no emotional intelligence, talks with kids and different people
If people will disagree with a leader, but he is able to work and reach them out, they might listen to him
Obama and McKain: who has better leader skills? - We don't know yet how can they lead large organizations, they come from different backgrounds and have made their way in different strategies
Obama has the ability to speak and reach out , he had the best speech in race since Luther King days. McKain can't give a speech to save his life

Just a song I had in mind today

Anyone that has listen a little bit of Italian music, knows who Adriano Celentano is. He had a nice album some years ago and this song just got stuck in me. I had it in my mind today and I though I can share it with you. He is handsome like a monkey but I love him :) Hope you like it too.

Gelosia Adriano Celentano Non ho nessuno a parte te che mi ha tradito come sai io mi sento un'auto che non ha, non ha più il motore e mi sento un uomo che vivrà, nel suo dolore nel dolore solo nel suo dolore ormai. Eppur mi sento forte, sai sarà perché non odio mai di certo non dovrei soffrir così, così inutilmente solamente perché hai detto un si stupidamente, stupidamente con il cervello assente. Amica mia, quanto costa una bugia un dolore che dividiamo in due, tra noi la gelosia quando arriva non va più via col silenzio tu mi rispondi che, col tuo pianto tu mi rispondi che coi tuoi occhi tu mi rispondi che lo sai. La gelosia più la scacci e più l'avrai tu eri mia di chi sei più no lo sai complicità ma che gran valore ha, sincerità che fortuna chi ce l'ha. E' qui il serpente, è arrivato è qui seduto in mezzo a noi lui ti mangia il cuore come fosse un pomodoro così diventi pazzo tu o come un toro come un toro purtroppo non ragioni più. Amica mia, quanto costa una bugia un dolore che dividiamo In due, tra noi la gelosia quando arriva non va più via col silenzio tu mi rispondi che, col tuo pianto tu mi rispondi che coi tuoi occhi tu mi rispondi che lo sai. La gelosia più la scacci e più l'avrai tu eri mia di chi sei più non lo sai complicità ma che gran valore ha, sincerità che fortuna chi ce l'ha.

Jealousy Adriano Celentano Don't know anyone else that has betrayed me like you I feel like a car that doesn't have doesn't have the engine anymore and I feel like a man that will live, in his pain in pain only on his pain from now on. But, you know, I feel strong it is because I never hate off course I don't have to suffer like this, uselessly like this only because you said a yes stupidly, stupidly, with an empty brain. My friend, how much costs a lie a pain that we share in two, between us the jealousy when arrives doesn't go away with silence you tell me that, with your cry you tell me that with your eyes you tell me that you know. The jealousy the more you kick it the more you have it you were mine don't know of whom you are now complicity what a great value has, sincerity how lucky who has it. The snake is here, has arrived and is sitting between us eats your heart like it was a tomato and so you become crazy and like a bull unfortunately can't use reason anymore. My friend, how much costs a lie a pain that we share in two, between us the jealousy when arrives doesn't go away with silence you tell me that, with your cry you tell me that with your eyes you tell me that you know. The jealousy the more you kick it the more you have it you were mine don't know of whom you are now complicity what a great value has, sincerity how lucky who has it.

Todler humor

Real story 1
My daughter now has all under control. We go to the store, pick up what we want, mom pays somehow and we bring things home. So one day she was looking at the ceiling fan.
L- Mommy what is that?
M- A fan, makes it cooler when it's hot.
L- Did grandma buy that?
M- No, actually was there when we bought the house.
L- Mommy, did you buy the house?
M- Yes.
L- Mommy, was the house heavy?

Real story 2
My brother had a small ice cream for my daughter.
B- If you want this ice cream, you have to kiss me
L- (Giggling) Why?
B- This is how I make the girls kiss me, I give them ice cream.
She went, kissed him, took the ice cream, started eating it and...
L- So mommy, when we want the guys to kiss us, we give them lollipops, right?

Real story 3
One night, I found a piece of old bread in her room. The closest place to through it was the toilet and that's what I did, but didn't flush. Next morning, she wakes up and goes to pee-pee. Right after she comes all excited and wakes me up
L- Mommy, mommy... come and see this
M- (Still eyes closed) What is it?
L- There is bread coming out of my bum!!

My Italian trip

My aunt lives in Milano and I had made plans to spent 3 days there and shop till I drop. When I talked with her son to plan my trip there, he told me that as a surprise, he had booked a hotel in the middle of the mountains in the border with Austria.
I kept my hopes open thinking that there might be a city close to the hotel where I could go and spent time shopping. But in reality, my cousins picked us up from the airport, drove for 3 hours, about 30 minutes was around a mountain and the car was not happy at all getting there. We went 1732 Km up the sea level, there was no cell phone reception, the house were we stayed was wired using a solar panel, the lake was gorgeous but cold.


There were maybe about 50 people there all together but my cousins said "Even less would have been better". For three days i was trapped there, did a little bit of Sun bath , some rumors about the cousins that were not there, small talk about our personal lives, ate a lot good food and rested.

After leaving that place, went to Milano taking the out-ring to avoid the traffic, had a shower and lunch at my aunt, visted my uncle for 30 minutes and left to catch the plain for Paris.
Was nice to see my aunt. Last time I was in Milano I had no intention to shop, I just visited around the mandatory places to go when you are there. This time I had full intention to shop but just didn't work. Still, Milano is not a place I would like to live so no surprises there.
In this small little trip I did see one car like mine in Italy!
Off course, even on top of the mountains, in the middle of nowhere, if you are in Italy, Ave Maria is with you. Here is the picture of a little church 1732 Km above sea level.

And Paris

Hmm Paris! So much movies and stories and songs that had made Paris the city of love and dreams for me. Because of this, I think I had the bar of expectations too high.
(You have all seen Eiffel Tower from all angles but this is a picture of it from under)

The hotel I had booked was bad and a little far from the center. I had to take the Metro for 30 minutes to get downtown. For 2 days I was there, the weather played with my feelings. Just when I wanted to stop and walk around a nice neighborhood, the rain would start and ruin the whole plan. On top of all this, people in Paris are very un-friendly and speak only French. Thank God I knew a little French and I made it to survive because with English you can't even find the bathroom there. The driver of a tourist guide bus refused to speak any work in English, only French. Agrrrrrr, so arrogant and annoying!
Now don't get me wrong, Paris is beautiful! The buildings are just gorgeous and everywhere you look is history, art and care for beauty. I went on top of the Eiffel tower and was really nice. I happened to be there when the bells of Notre Dame de Paris where ringing. Sorry about the quality, but I was on a moving double deck bus and the wind messes up the sound for a while.

It was raining when the tour bus went close to Moulin Rouge so I didn't stop.
I stopped for one hour to some stores at Champs Elise and bought some clothes but nothing to be proud of. The World capital of size petite had nothing but size medium and up, up to XL for woman!
In short, a lot of things went wrong for me in Paris so even thought I was in love with Paris, I found out that Paris doesn't love me and it broke my heart. I do not want to live there and I do not see my self as part of that city. Everyone I know tells me that the rest of the France is not like that and Parisiens create that bad image for all the French people. Probablement c'est vrais!
(This is the latest bridge of Paris, Charles de Gaule, like there are not enough places under his name already!)

One night at the TV, I watched a movie of Luis De Fune. Brought back memories from when I was a child and those were movies we could watch on the communist TV after they were modified for us. The funny thing was that my daughter laughed like silly with him as well. I guess a good-easy movie is good-easy at any time :)
I did not see any car like mine in Paris. It was expectable because was full of those ugly Renaults that look like the hats of French police men.
(A side of Paris from the top of Eiffel tower)