PC Blues!

Since I’m a native of Chicago, I thought I'd attempt a Blues Poem. It's a form of American poetry with typical themes of struggle, despair or sex. Although they're often depressing, they also try to overcome their difficulties. I sort of followed the form of The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes. 

This poem is about my struggles with a new laptop. My old laptop’s display periodically goes out, and it’s very slow, so I decided to get a new laptop. LOL! We bought one this week. A bit challenging in another country. The German keyboard is different from the U.S. keyboard because of the accent marks used in the language, the ‘z’ and ‘y’ are swapped, and there are several other differences. Here is today’s attempt at a Blues Poem.

Lost System

Lights out on my temporal muse

Obeying a wide range of cues

      I wanted another to claim.

Flickering nonsense, they heard a moan

Tomorrow will bring a racy clone

      Blacked out for awhile…

      Blacked out for awhile…

Until the new one showed up that day.

Awake, it beckoned to extend its keep

For years of dedication, made me weep.

      Oh laptop!

Setting the new to learn my commands

The keyboard smiled with the wrong hands

      Old laptop!

Keys punched down with odd display

In a new language, foreign tongue betray

      Oh laptop!

Another dialect, and a mind of its own

Await system restore, knowing my day is blown

Tap, Tap, Tap with my native language of keys

The experience on my old muse is such a breeze

A lesson to be learned about the Old Land

Learn the language now, so you can take a stand.

Englisch and Deutsch,

Bea

On My Own

Happy New Year! I know it’s a few weeks into the year, but I just returned home this weekend from Christmas break. I am excited about a new year and the adventures, and struggles, which come with a fresh year.

Over Christmas break, I spent time with family and friends, catching up on what I missed since I live abroad. I found out about something that really bothers me so I’m sharing it with you. My cousin’s son serves in the military and is currently over in Afghanistan. If he wants internet access to Skype with his mother, wife and baby daughter, he has to pay $90.00 a month. I can’t believe our military would have to pay for anything while their risking their lives and sacrificing for OUR freedom. When I found this out, I was and still am infuriated that the U.S. government can’t give internet access to our troops. What is wrong with our government? Obama just signed a bill giving lifetime secret service protection to past President’s and their wives, but he can’t provide free Wi-Fi to our military?! It’s very disappointing to learn. And on top of that, my cousin’s son’s wife had to send him a pillow and blanket because he didn’t have one. A very sad thing I learned over Christmas break.

I didn't only hear about disappointing things. One of the many special moments I had was catching up with my niece and nephew, who have grown up so much. They are mature and I’m so proud of them. My nephew is working hard and going to school. My niece just finished beauty school and she cut and colored my hair while I was in town.

Another wonderful thing that happened over Christmas break was meeting up with an old friend. She found me on Facebook, so we made plans to get together. We hadn’t seen each other since we were 19. We were great friends, but like many relationships in life, something got in the way and we drifted apart. When we got together, it was like we picked up where we left off. There was no awkwardness, and we definitely didn’t run out of things to talk about. Now I have a new friendship with an old friend.

Lastly, I went to see Les Miserable at the movie theatres. I saw this musical twice on the stage and it’s my all time favorite musical to date. I went into the movie theatre thinking it was going to be horrible, but I loved it. Aside from Russell Crowe, I thought they all did a wonderful job and I couldn’t believe that the actors sang their own songs. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway were superb; both their acting and voices. Amanda Seyfried has a pretty voice, but Samantha Barks, who plays Eponine, made me wish Marius would change his mind and go with her. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys musicals.

I’ll leave you with this video from Les Meserable.

 

What did you do over the Christmas break?

Holidays and Family,

Bea