2009.12.31 13:00 - Insides, Outsides, Depths - Wild Things

The Guardian for this meeting was Calvino Rabeni. The comments are by Calvino Rabeni.

When I arrived, Liza and Aubergine were in the middle of a conversation already, which was not captured in the log.  A creative project is in the works, it seems.

Liza Deischer: hi cal
Aubergine Mint: i see
Liza Deischer: it is not very busy tonight
Liza Deischer: So Im trying to build an environment
Calvino Rabeni: Hi Liza, Aub
Liza Deischer: in which the can feel at home
Liza Deischer: and I think that sl offers ways
Liza Deischer: that arent possible in rl
Liza Deischer: anonimity is a part of it
Aubergine Mint: that sounds great
Liza Deischer: yes, but it is an awful lot of work
Aubergine Mint: I hope you succeed
Liza Deischer: and I can only work for 2, three hours a day

Editor's note to self - ask about this later...

Liza Deischer: so waht do you think about PaB
Liza Deischer: I have a feeling youre didnt make up your mind yet
Aubergine Mint: I have moments when I really like it and some when I don't see the point of it
Aubergine Mint: so i'm still making up my mind
Liza Deischer: Sometimes i see you don't connect with the group
Aubergine Mint: right
Aubergine Mint: it seems like a different group each time

Liza Deischer: maybe we should sit down, since were talking now
Aubergine Mint: so not sure where i fit in
Liza Deischer: can you give an example

What are we here for?  That question is somewhat disturbing, on several levels.  Aubergine I believe, is referencing a previous session where the question reared is unruly head. I remember the session, the question, and feel the questioning continue.  I don't mind projecting some of my own thoughts on what Aubergine is asking, allowing I don't know the other members' inside story of the discussion.

Just what is going on in these sessions?  What is "supposed to" be going on?  What is the point of it?  Are there expectations?  Is everyone on the same page (except perhaps, myself, one may think)?  If people don't speak, well, what is up with that?  This IS a discussion group, or at least, usually seems to be so.  Do they interpret silence according to some other invisible framework?  If so, what could it be?  Where does the "meaning" come from?  Do I have to understand it, or believe "in" it, to have a meaningful relationship?  Do I have to "subscribe" to something? 

Aubergine Mint: sure
Aubergine Mint: sometimes it seems that no one has anything to say
Liza Deischer: :-)
Aubergine Mint: and i'm not sure if everyone is meditating or what
Liza Deischer: you feel uncomfortable
Aubergine Mint: yes
Liza Deischer: when that happens i mean
Liza Deischer: youre not the only one
Aubergine Mint: that's nice to know
Aubergine Mint: I also don't have a Buddhist background so I don't get many of the references
Liza Deischer: I think that even the most of us feel a bit awkward when that happens
Liza Deischer: especially last time, when it took up half an hour
Aubergine Mint: :)
Liza Deischer: yes thats a problem
Liza Deischer: but being a buddhist myself
Aubergine Mint: but i'm starting to feel the rhythem of it
Liza Deischer: I've learned that any situation can show something
Liza Deischer: if you are willing to look at it
Aubergine Mint: yes
Liza Deischer: even if nobody says anything

Aubergine Mint: what makes you want to call yourself a Buddhist?
Liza Deischer: well Im afraid there is no way back for me anymore
Liza Deischer: took about all the vows there are
Liza Deischer: and the last until etairnity
Aubergine Mint: are there vows in Buddhism?
Liza Deischer: once you do an initiation in tantra
Liza Deischer: youre a buddhist
Liza Deischer: there is no other name for it anymore
Aubergine Mint: do you believe in the supernatural aspects also?
Liza Deischer: but Im glad I am
Liza Deischer: depends on what you mean with supernatural
Aubergine Mint: reincarnation for example
Liza Deischer: buddhisme is built on that aspect
Liza Deischer: but at the same time
Liza Deischer: I have no proof nor any experience that confirms it
Liza Deischer: my own teacher
Liza Deischer: a
Liza Deischer: Tibetan teacher
Liza Deischer: has questions about reincarnation too
Liza Deischer: he wasnt shy to tell us about it
Aubergine Mint: there are several forms of Buddhism if i'm not mistaken
Liza Deischer: so,in Buddhism nothing is what it seems to be
Liza Deischer: true
Aubergine Mint: have you decided on a particular form?
Liza Deischer: I dont know much about Zen
Liza Deischer: Tibetan
Aubergine Mint: how did you go about choosing that?
Liza Deischer: Tibetan Buddhism has four main schools
Liza Deischer: I'm Gelugpa
Liza Deischer: Storm is Kadampa

--BELL--
Liza Deischer: actually I didnt
Liza Deischer: I ran into a small group of people like here
Liza Deischer: who had all sorts of questions about religious items, about life
Liza Deischer: it wanst a buddhist group
Liza Deischer: but the 'teacher' herself happened to be a buddhist
Liza Deischer: slowly I started to get more interested
Liza Deischer: and found out that a lot of things I already had been thinking
Liza Deischer: somehow fitted in
Liza Deischer: later on I started to take teachings
Liza Deischer: and slowly I became a member of the buddhist group
Liza Deischer: when i took the initiation
Liza Deischer: i finally felt at ho,me
Liza Deischer: I dont know
Liza Deischer: Zen isnt for me
Aubergine Mint: what is the initiation process?
Liza Deischer: but maybe other schools would have suited me better
Liza Deischer: or other teachers (teachers are extremely important in Buddhism)
Liza Deischer: but i didnt have the energy to find out
Liza Deischer: so I stuck with what was offered
Aubergine Mint: how do you find a teacher you can trust?
Liza Deischer: but the whole process took over 10 years
Liza Deischer: there are rules for that
Aubergine Mint: oh wow i had no idea it took that long
Liza Deischer: you have a list of things you ask yourself to make it clear if he is your right teacher
Liza Deischer: it doesnt have to be
Liza Deischer: but it takes time to get the feeling of it
Liza Deischer: starting to understand what is really menat
Calvino Rabeni: Liza, for instance, can you tell what kind of things are on the list?
Liza Deischer: not just with your head
Liza Deischer: but also with your experiences
Liza Deischer: not all of it
Liza Deischer: but you make sure, that the teacher is somebody who is a real buddhist
Liza Deischer: and that he (mostly he, Im afraid) has more knowledge then you have
Liza Deischer: and that he is able to guide you through your process
Aubergine Mint: sounds difficult to determine that
Liza Deischer: yes and no
Liza Deischer: because most teachers are part of the lineage
Liza Deischer: which means that my teacher is a student of a student of a student of.........the buddha himself
Liza Deischer: they dont get just knowledge
Liza Deischer: but when they are ready
Liza Deischer: have experienced enough
Liza Deischer: they can become a teacher
Liza Deischer: So a teacher in the lineage
Liza Deischer: who is allowed to teach tantra (Vajrayana) has 'classified' as a good teacher
Liza Deischer: is
Liza Deischer: the only thing that is left: is he a good teacher for you
Liza Deischer: and you can have more teacher then one
Aubergine Mint: what is tantra?
Liza Deischer: my teacher has 42 teachers
Liza Deischer: not all alive anymore
Liza Deischer: Ive got 2
Liza Deischer: but before you take an initiation
Aubergine Mint: so you can have teachers that are not alive?
Aubergine Mint: through writings?
Liza Deischer: you need to ask the teacher if he is willing to give you one
Liza Deischer: no, they have been teacher
Liza Deischer: but died at a certain time
Eliza Madrigal: Hi! :)
Liza Deischer: maybe some do have contact with those kind of teachers
Aubergine Mint: what is a tantra initiation?
Aubergine Mint: hi Eliza
Liza Deischer: but Buddhist are very carefully with that kind of issues
Liza Deischer: hi Eliza
Liza Deischer: if you think somebody is contacting you, you just ask politely to go away
Liza Deischer: tantra is the fast way to heaven :-)
Aubergine Mint: a guarenteed entre?
Liza Deischer: to become enlightened and to becom a buddha (wich are two different things), it takes you life after life after life
Aubergine Mint: so is anyone enlightened?
--BELL--
Aubergine Mint: or is it an illusive goal?
Liza Deischer: not guarenteed, but it is said that you can become a buddha in just one lifetime doing tantra
Liza Deischer: I dont know
Liza Deischer: havent found out myself
Liza Deischer: yet
Aubergine Mint: and what is heaven?
Liza Deischer: heaven doesnt excist in buddhism, that why i put a :-)
Liza Deischer: behind it
Liza Deischer: There is samsara and nirvana
Liza Deischer: samsara is the cycle of life where we stay in because we are attached to it
Liza Deischer: nirvana is the way out
Liza Deischer: and yet.......
Liza Deischer: it is all not that simple
Aubergine Mint: of course
Liza Deischer: the question is if nirvana is so different from samsara
Liza Deischer: or that it is more the way you look at it
Aubergine Mint: but i appreciate your putting it simply
Liza Deischer: and in opposite to other religions
Aubergine Mint: so are these states of being earth bound?
Aubergine Mint: or other worldly?
Liza Deischer: buddhism doesnt have a concept of God
Liza Deischer: could be both I suppose
Aubergine Mint: do they have a creation story?
Liza Deischer: well, when you talk about reincarnation
Liza Deischer: you actually talk about buddhas or boddhisatva's
Liza Deischer: you dont talk about 'normal' people
Liza Deischer: we just get thrown out and in new lives
Liza Deischer: a reincarnation know he is reincarnated
Liza Deischer: and had a choice to do so
Liza Deischer: when walking on the earth
Liza Deischer: some of what his 'is' is earthbound
Liza Deischer: his body is equally put into time en space
Liza Deischer: and endures the consequences of that
Liza Deischer: sometimes you talk about a emination
Liza Deischer: which means that (as far as I understand it) certain energy gets embodyed
Liza Deischer: The Dala Lama is an emination of great love and
Liza Deischer: forgot the english word
Liza Deischer: forgot even the dutch word now :-)
Liza Deischer: and compassion
Liza Deischer: thats why he is not able
Aubergine Mint: how does he know that?
Liza Deischer: to get violent in any way
Liza Deischer: it is not in his system
Liza Deischer: reincarnations or eminations get confirmed by another reincarnation
Liza Deischer: for the Dala
Liza Deischer: Dalai Lama that is the Panchen Lama
Liza Deischer: and the other way around
Liza Deischer: but the Panchen Lama has been captured by the Chinese
Liza Deischer: so I dont know who is confirming the next Dalai Lama
Liza Deischer: if there is going to be one
Liza Deischer: And I dont know what he knows

Aubergine Mint: so do you keep studying?
Liza Deischer: have no clue whatsover
Liza Deischer: I try too
Liza Deischer: but with my fatigue
Liza Deischer: it is difficult
Aubergine Mint: is it a daily practive for you?
Aubergine Mint: are you not well?
Liza Deischer: it is even hard to get to my rl group
Liza Deischer: yes
Liza Deischer: I have a chronic fatigue
Aubergine Mint: i'm sorry to hear that
Liza Deischer: yes, so am i :-)
Liza Deischer: even my daily practice
Aubergine Mint: is there something you can do for that?
Liza Deischer: I cant do it the way I should like to do it
Liza Deischer: my chronic fatigue you mean?
Aubergine Mint: yes
Liza Deischer: well tried about everything
Liza Deischer: but in the end it comes from a deep trauma
Liza Deischer: that messed up my whole life
Liza Deischer: gave me several burnouts
Liza Deischer: 3 in total
Liza Deischer: Finally I found the right therapist
Liza Deischer: but if my body ever will recover, I dontknow
Aubergine Mint: i am so sorry to hear all that, i wish you a better 2010!
Liza Deischer: and I know there are more out there like me

Eliza Madrigal: there is a part in Zen Mind Beginners Mind which talks about the 'bad horse' being in some way better than the best horse... that there is a kind of material to work with, in trauma, in weakness, etc. not available when things come easily
Liza Deischer: thats why I want to put up the practice
--BELL--
Liza Deischer: that is true
Aubergine Mint: thank you for sharing so much with me today, i'm glad we had this time
Liza Deischer: your welcome
Liza Deischer: and thank you too
Aubergine Mint: you've been very kind and are a good teacher
Liza Deischer: But youre right Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: And thanks for letting me sit in, interesting talk :)
Liza Deischer: so I try to work with it
Liza Deischer: but sometimes its just hard
Eliza Madrigal nods. We have a bit in common, and yes I do understand
Liza Deischer: in comon?
Liza Deischer: common

Aubergine Mint: I need to go now, but truly hope you have a great new year, and you too Eliza and Cal, best wishes!
Aubergine Mint: bye for now
Eliza Madrigal: Happy New year Aubergine!
Liza Deischer: best wishes Aubergine
Calvino Rabeni: see you later, Aub

Eliza Madrigal: Mhm. I went through a rather dramatic time of illness years ago, and one might say there are still residues at times...
Liza Deischer: phisically or mentally, or both
Eliza Madrigal: So if I were to be labeled with something now, it would prob. be along the lines of chronic fatige or fibromyalgia... but thankfully work very well with it :)
Liza Deischer: thats great
Liza Deischer: and great to hear Im not the only one (not great to hear youre suffering from it too)
Eliza Madrigal: It seems many people arrive at dramatic spiritual places due to having had traumas and such. Strange to find yourself honestly thankful for those things, rather than just saying so as a matter of politeness :)
Liza Deischer: yes, I agree
Liza Deischer: and looking around me
Liza Deischer: somehow i think that spiritual questions are not the result of a trauma
Liza Deischer: but the way the trauma is received, includes spriritual questios
Liza Deischer: Im not quite sure about that
Liza Deischer: it a bit of a theory
Eliza Madrigal nods... yes some of the most spiritual and vibrant people I know seemed to have had perfectly normal experiences ... not necessarily 'trauma'
Liza Deischer: you're still alive Cal?
Calvino Rabeni: yep
Eliza Madrigal: though life itself could be seen to be traumatic... even birth :)
Calvino Rabeni: I was thinking about what you're saying
Liza Deischer: i was just teasing a bit
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Liza Deischer: Yes life is traumatic
Liza Deischer: thats why i think it is the other way around
Liza Deischer: for people having questions
Liza Deischer: getting traumatised is different
Liza Deischer: then when you think life is it
Liza Deischer: if you get my drift
Eliza Madrigal: I suppose I think about the things that bring one into therapy and such... usually not just questions but a sense of not being able to function, in a way....
Eliza Madrigal: it is a demand.. moreso than a curiosity...
Eliza Madrigal: often
Liza Deischer: yes exactly
Eliza Madrigal: so there is a certain end place one can begin from?
Liza Deischer: but the not functioning part is most of the time the result of having questions and being traumatised in some way
Liza Deischer: nicely put
Eliza Madrigal: Thank you. I know you understand, so it is interesting to talk about :)
Liza Deischer: If you dont understand the world around you and your in good health
Liza Deischer: you probably will find your way
Liza Deischer: it looks different
Liza Deischer: but when there is more then just not really understanding your environment
Liza Deischer: and youre selfesteem has been damaged
Liza Deischer: then suddenly the questions turn into feeling lonely
Liza Deischer: turn into some nightmare
Liza Deischer: in which you ask yourself over and over again
Liza Deischer: if there is something wrong with you
Liza Deischer: does that make sense?
Eliza Madrigal: hm, yes and perhaps few places to go for trusted guidance.. yes, I think so
Calvino Rabeni: This is very universal, although it seems personal to those who suffer
Eliza Madrigal nods
Liza Deischer: yes
--BELL--
Eliza Madrigal: Yes I'd hate to think it was necessary to traumatize my children in order for them to have a taste for spiritual things .. hah (not to make too light)

Liza Deischer: that makes it so hard
Liza Deischer: :-)
Liza Deischer: and actually
Liza Deischer: at that level
Liza Deischer: it is a personal thing
Liza Deischer: its you against life (or something like that)
Eliza Madrigal: Still, there is a kind of wonderfulness about having exhausted the illusion of 'options', which we all get to in various ways
Liza Deischer: yes
Liza Deischer: quite right
Eliza Madrigal: then finding that guides and help is 'everywhere'
Liza Deischer: if you get to the right path so to speak
Liza Deischer: it gets easier

Calvino Rabeni: What is one to do with the dark place in one's own soul?
Liza Deischer: and you meet the persons that can help you
Calvino Rabeni: I met a man recently - and I am glad I did
Eliza Madrigal: a teacher? Friend?
Calvino Rabeni: He is extremely disfigured - less than a meter in height, very twisted, must ride in a motorized cart
Calvino Rabeni: And he has beautiful clear eyes and a clear voice
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Calvino Rabeni: Is a teacher for a group of people - has spiritual power
Liza Deischer: those are beautiful persons
Calvino Rabeni: He can teach about suffering and disfigurment from experience
Calvino Rabeni: Not my teacher, but I had instant recognition and respect
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, resonating
Eliza Madrigal: that's a gift, when we meet those friends :)
Calvino Rabeni: And I think, learned a lesson or two, hopefully
Liza Deischer: you recognized him
Calvino Rabeni: yes
Liza Deischer: that in itself is a gift
Eliza Madrigal: I'm sure... about what is essential, important, true?
Eliza Madrigal: something you can't really 'say'
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Liza Deischer: if you get a bit out of our trauma or questions or whatever
Liza Deischer: the world looks different
Liza Deischer: you start to recognize things in people
Calvino Rabeni: yes, and what about the "dark side" which is a difficulty for people - by its nature
Liza Deischer: you didnt before
Liza Deischer: it still is for me, Im afraid
Liza Deischer: slowly I start to examine it
Liza Deischer: but I need al the help I can get
Eliza Madrigal: Well yes it is a good question... seems no one way to approach that, or one way of dealing with people in pain, even when the person is yourself
Eliza Madrigal: other than yes, to get some space around the pain, as I've heard it described
Calvino Rabeni: slow is good :)
Liza Deischer: it is probably dark because we dont know what is ther
Eliza Madrigal: I think we can do that for one another, for others, too
Liza Deischer: but is it a snake or some rope
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Writing is a good tool for work with the shadow creatures :)
Calvino Rabeni: It really is a snake, until you look at it :)
Liza Deischer: exactly
Liza Deischer: one teacher told me a story
Liza Deischer: but it is too big to tell it here
Eliza Madrigal: Oh darn :)
Liza Deischer: but I will make a notecard one of these days
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, great
Liza Deischer: and send it over to you
Eliza Madrigal: Thanks. What is it about, generally?
Liza Deischer: about the things we keep grapping
Liza Deischer: while there is a more easy way to deal with it
Liza Deischer: Im not going to give a way the whole point :-)
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Calvino Rabeni: Your help can come from unexpected quarters
Liza Deischer: but I think you will like the story
Eliza Madrigal: Thank you, I look forward to that
Eliza Madrigal: Stories have a way of staying with one
Calvino Rabeni: Yes
Eliza Madrigal: cropping up in various moments of life
Eliza Madrigal: Ty :)
Liza Deischer: yes, that is the nice thing about storys
Liza Deischer: stories
Eliza Madrigal: There is a children's book I've liked, which I think about all the time lately... not even sure why....
Eliza Madrigal: I suppose it will come clear eventually :)
Liza Deischer: yes, I think so too
--BELL--
Eliza Madrigal: It is called "Clown of God" and is about a juggler... and is not even in the context of faith in the way I've related to it (my practice is buddhist also), but still... something... in fact I will find it after I sign off here now. :D
Liza Deischer: probably :-)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Liza Deischer: well, talking about signing off
Liza Deischer: half an hour and it is new year here
Liza Deischer: so I need to go
Eliza Madrigal: Yes, Happy New Year Liza :) Great talking to you. Oh! Well Cheers then!
Calvino Rabeni: Cheers - happy new year.
Liza Deischer: Great talking to you
Calvino Rabeni: I like this session
Liza Deischer: it was a good night :-)
Eliza Madrigal: yes it was
Liza Deischer: see you next year
Calvino Rabeni: BFN Liza
Eliza Madrigal: See you in 2010
Eliza Madrigal: Interesting how some hang around after they've signed off, and thanks so much for the note earlier :)
Calvino Rabeni: YW
Eliza Madrigal: What time is it for you?
Calvino Rabeni: Sometimes I IM them on the way out.
Calvino Rabeni: It is SLT time for me
Calvino Rabeni: I mean, same as local time
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, so you have a while before the sun sets :)
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Calvino Rabeni: An hour or two at most.
Eliza Madrigal: For me it is 5:35, and I guess I should be buying Avatar tickets..heh
Calvino Rabeni: I almost went yesterday to do that
Eliza Madrigal: It does look incredible. We'll see. :)
Eliza Madrigal: Anyway, Happy New Year Calvino! It is very nice to have you at PaB, and I'll see you in 2010, too

Did that sound like farewell, and have some momentum behind it?  Yes, but things can turn around quickly. 

Time moves on, and as it is New Year's Eve, I almost imagine I hear a great and subtle scraping sound as the planet's odometer turns over.  Not quite feeling right with the inevitability of that image I suddenly had a "carpe diem" feeling and...

Calvino Rabeni: Tonight is a symbolic night, new year's eve
Eliza Madrigal: symbolic of what for you
Calvino Rabeni: TY
Eliza Madrigal: (she says lingering)
Calvino Rabeni: Tempted to stay :)
Eliza Madrigal: hahh
Eliza Madrigal: Well interest peaked...
Calvino Rabeni: The calendar is arbitrary, but one makes it into something real
Eliza Madrigal: yes, and yet I spent the morning thinking about death and birth...
Calvino Rabeni: as a symbol, new year stands for, a new life free of karma, fresh with potential
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, fresh with potential... :::inhales:::::
Calvino Rabeni: so one can drop "hey, that's impossible"
Calvino Rabeni: The symbol helps with a big "drop"
Eliza Madrigal: what if its all impossible?
Calvino Rabeni: It is, but not on new year's eve :)
Eliza Madrigal grins
Eliza Madrigal: And on a blue noon
Eliza Madrigal: Moon
Calvino Rabeni: It can be a time to drop all the idea of things being broken
Eliza Madrigal: Nice thought to sit with under that moon, perhaps
Calvino Rabeni: This is blue moon yes?
Eliza Madrigal: yes :)
Eliza Madrigal: In Asia and Europe it is more significan't somehow... a partial eclipse or something?
Eliza Madrigal: In the US we won't be able to see it that way
Calvino Rabeni: In this part of the country, the moon and stars are hidden typically
Calvino Rabeni: But if they do appear, it is memorable
Eliza Madrigal: :) Yes, here it is rather the same...
--BELL--
Eliza Madrigal: for the stars.. but the moon is often clear to view...

Eliza Madrigal: Where my mother lives, which is basically 'nowhere', the night puts any planetarium to shame :)

Calvino Rabeni: Where is no where?
Eliza Madrigal: Somehow there is something to see there :) She lives in a tiny town in Georgia... moved there about 15 years ago
Calvino Rabeni: What drew her to that place?
Eliza Madrigal: I think she was just tired :)
Eliza Madrigal: Tired of driving driving driving here. Miami can be chaotic :)
Calvino Rabeni: Quiet, cheap, good company - tell me if there is a place with all those attributes and I will go there :)
Eliza Madrigal: :) I'm sure there must be...
Eliza Madrigal: Her town is quiet, I will give it that :)
Calvino Rabeni: When people retire - they need a matchmaker service to find their community
Calvino Rabeni: Could be done by rebranding "match.com" and similar enterprises
Eliza Madrigal: Well now there are lists and such published ... online sites where you punch in your ideals
Eliza Madrigal: findyourspot.com is the one I looked at a few years ago
Calvino Rabeni: Specifically for finding, say, intentional communities?
Eliza Madrigal: I kept ending up in Oregon :)
Calvino Rabeni: Thanks, I will look there
Calvino Rabeni: Oregon has it
Eliza Madrigal: but it is quite limited, the site, that is
Calvino Rabeni: I have a house there, know people there
Eliza Madrigal: It seems a center for creativity... and a certain kind of outlook...
Calvino Rabeni: Yes it does have that "certain" something
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: I've been exploring my own backyard a bit more in the last few years... becoming reaquainted
Calvino Rabeni: Maybe I will go back there "down the road"
Calvino Rabeni: Literally ?
Eliza Madrigal: it takes a bit more effort, but there are many hidden treasures
Eliza Madrigal: :) Well... not quite literally... almost
Eliza Madrigal: More the areas I took for granted when I was younger... special parks and places

Calvino Rabeni: There are interesting wildlife creatures everywhere
Eliza Madrigal: yes indeed, like the anhinga bird :)
Calvino Rabeni: The bird that swims in the water and has a long neck like a snake
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Calvino Rabeni: Perhaps, can tie neck in a knot even?
Eliza Madrigal: haha, hope no one ever tries! :)
Eliza Madrigal: They are the most peculiar creatures really... see them out on the rocks, wings spread, in the sun....
Eliza Madrigal: they just play and bask...
Calvino Rabeni: They must spread out to dry. Like they are their own laundry
Eliza Madrigal: It must be nice to be a bird who flies and swims ... seems a bit rebellious
Eliza Madrigal: haha, yes exactly
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Mick!
Calvino Rabeni: I can show you wildlife from my back yard, literally
Mickorod Renard: Hello, how are you both?
Eliza Madrigal: We're talking about New Years, blue moons, and anhinga birds
Mickorod Renard: ahh,,nice
Calvino Rabeni: good, had a good session, now chat about places and animals
Eliza Madrigal: what are the common creatures Cal?
Calvino Rabeni: are you scared of what is in the dark :)
Calvino Rabeni: I am
Calvino Rabeni: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9956336@N03/4218755611/
Mickorod Renard: I may be if I think there is something to be scared of
Calvino Rabeni: I think you need a flickr account to see the photo

Eliza Madrigal: Yikes!
Eliza Madrigal: Is that in your yard!!
Calvino Rabeni: Indeed
Calvino Rabeni: Yes
Eliza Madrigal: goodness
Eliza Madrigal: he looks friendly...hah
--BELL--
Calvino Rabeni: He eats garbage most of the time.
Eliza Madrigal: So he is a regular then?
Mickorod Renard: what is it,,I dont have flikr
Calvino Rabeni: A family - three bears. The little one thinks my can is "just right"
Eliza Madrigal smiels
Mickorod Renard: wow
Eliza Madrigal: Smiles, too
Calvino Rabeni: Mick, it is a large bear that climbed a tree in back yard of house
Eliza Madrigal: he's a beautiful creatures though...
Mickorod Renard: wow cool
Eliza Madrigal: *one creature

Calvino Rabeni: Sometimes a fox looks in the glass door.
Eliza Madrigal: Foxes are the funniest to watch....
Eliza Madrigal: They tried to keep some in the zoo here (we have a very open zoo, but still a zoo) and the rascals refused to stay in whatever contraption or setting they came up with
Mickorod Renard: they are quite ruthless though,,when killing other animals
Calvino Rabeni: One night I heard a funny noise - looked all over the house - finally found an opossum under my bed :)
Eliza Madrigal: yes, these were tiny little things... not sure what kind
Eliza Madrigal: aaack
Calvino Rabeni: Indeed, somewhat shocking
Eliza Madrigal: I've not been friendly toward them since I snuck out of the house one night as a teen and looked up, in the dark, to see one on the phone chord, staring down....
Calvino Rabeni: And this is in a city - not in the middle of nowhere
Eliza Madrigal: it was sooo startling
Mickorod Renard: thats amazing Cal
Eliza Madrigal: I'm surprised the bears would be in the city?
Calvino Rabeni: Lots of garbage to eat - it probably smells a lot better than the berries
Mickorod Renard: I am supprised how much road kill we have here, compared with what I saw in france anyway
Calvino Rabeni: It is a town, actually, and they follow open space corridors such as parks, far into the interior of the town
Eliza Madrigal: brb
Mickorod Renard: lots of dead badgers, squirels, pheasants and indeed even deers here too
Calvino Rabeni: Is there less wildlife in france, or are they "wiser"?
Mickorod Renard: I think the hunters kill them into extinction
Calvino Rabeni: Sounds like the inside of a german pub, Mick :)
Mickorod Renard: wheras here in uk everyone see's them as cuddly creatures
Mickorod Renard: he he
Calvino Rabeni: So the hedgehog is a fierce creature ?
Mickorod Renard: yes it is
Calvino Rabeni: Parts of it are extremely sharp
Calvino Rabeni: Every creature has a depth of ferocity
Calvino Rabeni: I was attacked by a duck
Mickorod Renard: I had a nice family of hedgehog once,,in my garden,,but one morning I woke up and they were all torn to shreds by some other animal
Calvino Rabeni: And I learned to my surprise, it has a secret "duck fu" technique
Mickorod Renard: badger I think
Mickorod Renard: yes?
Calvino Rabeni: The racoons are tough characters
Mickorod Renard: I nearly ran one over near toronto once
Mickorod Renard: Iam thinking of getting stickers to put on my car,,like ww2 fighters had on their planes
Eliza Madrigal: hedgehogs are so sweet :)
Eliza Madrigal: haha Mick
Eliza Madrigal: (I just bought avatar tickets) :)
Mickorod Renard: wow,,I think I may have to see that one
Eliza Madrigal: rarely do I get tickled to see something like this, though I can't imagine the creatures in Pandora can live up to our bears and hedgehogs and anhingas
Eliza Madrigal: much less the platypus :)
Calvino Rabeni: The "duck fu" fighting technique involves a fierce "shout of death" :)
Mickorod Renard: I must admit to having lost my interest in most tv and movies
Calvino Rabeni: I can relate to that Mick
Mickorod Renard: who does the shouting Cal,,the duck or the one attacked?
Calvino Rabeni: The duck.
Mickorod Renard: ok,,am following it now
Mickorod Renard: he he
Mickorod Renard: geese are right devils
Eliza Madrigal: hahahah
Calvino Rabeni: Every animal practices a samurai art when they must
Mickorod Renard: many farmers here have them as guard dogs
Eliza Madrigal: :) yes geese can be visious
Calvino Rabeni: Of course, you can see it on youtube like everything.
--BELL--
Calvino Rabeni: They lower beak and charge
Eliza Madrigal: This has been fun. Nice to close out the PaB year with you guys.
Eliza Madrigal: I'd better go make myself fresh
Eliza Madrigal: haha
Calvino Rabeni: :) bye Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Blessings in the New Year. Namaste
Calvino Rabeni: _/!\_
Calvino Rabeni: Time for me to go also.
Mickorod Renard: missed eliza
Calvino Rabeni: Happy new year, Mick
Mickorod Renard: ok Cal,,good to see you
Calvino Rabeni: bye
Mickorod Renard: and you
Mickorod Renard: bye