The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.

Blossom-free zone.

Beautifulmarira Resident: 's current display-name is "Mari".
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: Hello Mari :)
Beautifulmarira Resident: Hello Storm
Bleu Oleander: 's current display-name is "Bleu".
Storm Nordwind: Hello Bleu :)
Bleu Oleander: hi Storm
Bleu Oleander: hi Mari
Beautifulmarira Resident: Hello Bleu
Storm Nordwind: How are you both today?
Beautifulmarira Resident: well
Bleu Oleander: very well thanks, u?
Bleu Oleander: warming up for you?
Storm Nordwind: Pretty good thank you.
Storm Nordwind: Yes. Though we have had a blossom-free Spring
Bleu Oleander: we will be up near 99F today
Bleu Oleander: lots of beautiful yellow blossoms in the desert in spring
Storm Nordwind: Yes I can imagine. The weather here stopped the blossom this year. Mrs. Storm cannot remember it ever happening before
Bleu Oleander: that's too bad ... I really love this time of year
Storm Nordwind: Soon it will be too hot anyway! ;-)
Bleu Oleander: ah yes sighs
Storm Nordwind: Sorry Mari, not trying to exclude you! I am just commenting on my Colorado morning. :)
Beautifulmarira Resident: that's ok :)
Bleu Oleander: what part of the world are you in Mari?
Beautifulmarira Resident: eastern Canada
Bleu Oleander: nice cooler there I'm sure
Beautifulmarira Resident: we are having thunder storms today

Fresh, open and humble.

Storm Nordwind: By the way, I'm a little out of touch with the weekly topics. Is this week's supposed to be "Freshness"?
Bleu Oleander: yes it is
Bleu Oleander: speaking about spring blossoms seems to fit in :)
Storm Nordwind: yes!
Storm Nordwind: I expect it has to do with the way one looks at the world, or one's experiences, or just every day?
Bleu Oleander: hmmm not sure if there is any specific interpretation
Storm Nordwind nods
Bleu Oleander: so we could look at it any way
Bleu Oleander: all of those could benefit from some freshness :)
Storm Nordwind: I'm sure Zen would bring up the phrase "beginner's mind" or somesuch
Bleu Oleander: not sure what that means exactly
Storm Nordwind: I believe... and in his absence I don't want to put words into his mouth... it means regarding each experience as fresh and new, dropping any preconceptions one might have about it
Bleu Oleander: ah ok
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: It doesn't mean throwing away previous experience, I don't think. But it does mean allowing oneself to be open to everything that is being offered.
Bleu Oleander: in theory that's nice, i'm not so sure it's that easy in practice
Storm Nordwind: I guess it's an openness combined with humility.
Bleu Oleander: yes

Jaded and weary.

Storm Nordwind: Well I feel fortunate to find myself in that state nearly all the time. Whether by accident, birth or design, I don't know.
Storm Nordwind: If it ever disappears, the jaded weariness that replaces it is horrible!
Bleu Oleander: how do you know that?
Beautifulmarira Resident: what does it feel like to be that way?
Storm Nordwind: Well I didn't know it was unusual for most of my life. And I suspect many thought I was just a naive soul! ;-)
Bleu Oleander: so would jaded weariness be the opposite of being open?
Beautifulmarira Resident: I have been told I am too trusting as I take people at face value and never look father within them is this similar?
Storm Nordwind: I'm not sure about "opposites". I suspect they can be misleading. But if I'm tired for some reason, and things are an effort, and my normal freshness isn't there, that's what seems to be there instead! ;)
Storm Nordwind: I don't think it's quite the same Mari. That freshness can look within too
Beautifulmarira Resident: k

Bottle it!

Bleu Oleander: is freshness a state one can cultivate if it doesn't come naturally to them?
Storm Nordwind: The trust can be there, but with me the trust is that whatever i see it's going to be OK, no matter how horrible an experience it becomes! :)
Storm Nordwind: I don't know Bleu
Storm Nordwind: I often wonder if the fortunate states of mind I find habitual can be "exported", as it were
Storm Nordwind: But so far I haven't presumed that anyone else might want them!
Bleu Oleander: you should bottle it!
Storm Nordwind: Well... maybe...
Storm Nordwind: Maybe that's why I have to write a book or two!
Bleu Oleander: yes! exactly
Yakuzza Lethecus: 's current display-name is "Yaku".
Bleu Oleander: hiya Yaku
Storm Nordwind: I sometimes wonder if it's just an accident of anatomy - some kind of fortuitous chemical balance. But if it could indeed be cultivated and passed on or taught, then perhaps others (some others at least) might be interested and might benefit.

No tux.

Beautifulmarira Resident: Hello Yaku
Storm Nordwind: Yaku!
Yakuzza Lethecus: good morning everyone
Bleu Oleander: how are u Yaku?
Bleu Oleander: ur looking very cute :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: i am fine, exept the rests of a cold, but it´s really almost gone
Storm Nordwind: Good morning. Your avatar is quite a departure from the smartly dressed young man I used to know. A 'fresh' approach. ;-)
Bleu Oleander: :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: what can be passed on ? i don´t want to interrupt
Yakuzza Lethecus: yes, i like this avatar a lot better then my tux
Storm Nordwind: Glad you're happy with it! :)
Storm Nordwind: We were just talking about "Freshness" and i was interpreting that theme as one's outlook on life experience.
Bleu Oleander: I was asking if it could be cultivated
--BELL--
Bleu Oleander: perhaps a Snoopy avatar helps lol

Reboot me.

Beautifulmarira Resident: sometimes stepping back and pausing allows for a fresh look at a situation, especially ones were emotions run high or are painful
Storm Nordwind: Yes. Sometimes walking away for a while or just "sleeping on it" can help that.
Beautifulmarira Resident: brb
Storm Nordwind: When we have a problem with a computer, we reboot it as a last resort - though that often works. I suspect we all benefit from a reboot like that sometimes! :)
Bleu Oleander: indeed!
Beautifulmarira Resident: back and yes I agree with that :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: coffee is helping to reboot after work :)
Storm Nordwind smiles
Beautifulmarira Resident: :)
--BELL--

Cream is good.

Storm Nordwind: In the UK it was 'traditional' for years to have powdered instant coffee. Then granules. That's all there was and I never liked either. I only discovered real coffee when traveling on business outside the UK. Now it's filtered Java Sumatra with heavy cream for me. ;-)
Bleu Oleander: :)
Beautifulmarira Resident: :)
Yakuzza Lethecus tries to avoid milk and cream, i used to have milk in my coffee but since i drink 2 liters per day i notice it´s effect
Storm Nordwind: What is the effect for you?
Yakuzza Lethecus: ha!
Bleu Oleander: turns you into Snoopy :)
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Yakuzza Lethecus: exactly, more soft and tender pillowbelly
Bleu Oleander: hehe
Storm Nordwind: The cream I drink helps my weight loss. Can't argue with 50 pounds in 6 months. :)
Bleu Oleander: the Atkins diet?
Beautifulmarira Resident: wow that is great Storm!! :) happy for you
Yakuzza Lethecus: oatmeal cream or what kind of cream is it ?
Storm Nordwind: Low-carb, yes. Whether Atkins, I have no idea. And thank you Mari :)
Storm Nordwind: I don't know what oatmeal cream is. In the UK it's called Double Cream. In the US it's Heavy Whipping Cream. Whatever it's called it's between 40-50% fat content.
Bleu Oleander: I used to use heavy cream and have switched to half and half
Storm Nordwind pulls a face
Bleu Oleander: lol
Bleu Oleander: funny how just the mention makes me want it again :)
Storm Nordwind: haha!
Bleu Oleander contemplates how this could be tied to freshness
Storm Nordwind: Well you wouldn't want rancid cream would you?! ;-)
Bleu Oleander: ok convinced
--BELL--

Building to do.

Storm Nordwind: Please excuse me friends. I must go and attend to a building matter. Please feel free to stay if you wish! And thank you for the company. :)
Beautifulmarira Resident: bye Storm
Yakuzza Lethecus: happy building
Bleu Oleander: take care all
Beautifulmarira Resident: Bye Bleu
Bleu Oleander: bye bye
Yakuzza Lethecus: be well you all
Beautifulmarira Resident: Bye Yaku
Beautifulmarira Resident: be well :)