Dec 1, 2012

Plan B

I used to write daily - on the blog that is. And since I'm coming from ages when facebook was a synapse that didn't happen just yet, I used my blog for sharing beautiful music or any kind of interesting info I found on the mighty web.

Facebook happened, so, apart from important moments that required more than 2 lines of text, I didn't write much.

My cat's fall brought one of the ugliest weeks in my life. Re-arranged a lot. Changed the way I look at some people, proving, once again that cats are great teachers on human behaviour.

Last night I lost my iPhone, cause I'm not my usual self these days. Or I am my usual self just powerless and just tired. It's a bad moment. A bad year.

It's not about the phone. It's about waking up and figuring out plan B. Cause we all should have one. Just in case. Like - what do you use for the morning alarm? Remember alarm clocks? They run on batteries, without an USB. OMG!!!

It's a bad moment and it's ok to feel miserable. I can't help smiling though, on the thought that old habits die easy actually and all happens so that, in a while, we'll wonder about how we managed to pass through it all.

Life is good as long as it is and as long as plan B is not a scare.




Nov 24, 2012

Every superhero has his flaws.

Isn't it funny how life is?
Last night I was thankful for the love I receive. 

Tonight, my life companion, who is, like for most of us, ( I still hope - a minority ) , a cat or maybe a dog, believed he can fly from the 5th floor.

For those welcomed home by a small fluffy thing, that, in his alien language, argues with you, you know the panic. You know how your heart stops. It, fucking, painstakingly stops. 

Briefly, my cat flew from the 5th floor. But we're both born on the 13th. We're lucky bastards. 

I am truly thankful for the strangers that stopped tonight. For the strangers that helped me when I was frozen in pain and tears. For the strangers that called other unknown friends to make sure we get the best medical attention. For the strangers that carried us. For friends that came to our rescue. For friends that spent hours talking to us. For the unasked tenderness. For eye contact that spells more than words.

We are a family. We are Felipov Oana and Felipov Kiwi, we're superheroes and we both humbly bow before you - people we've met, some new, some old, tonight. I will bow more cause Kiwi has some broken bones. But he saw you. He knows.

We thank you. More than words can ever say. You make it worth caring, worth loving, worth giving.

P. S. We love Ortovet



Nov 23, 2012

I'm a slut for love.

I never cared much about celebrations. I mean the big ones that everyone makes such a big fuss about. I never completely got Valentines day, Halloween, Thanksgiving etc. Last year I declared the 27th of November as a personal celebration - something great happened to me so I decided to make it a big day.
I think we all should decide what to celebrate and when. I think we all should decide what traditions are worth keeping and which ones are not worth keeping.

Yesterday one of my friends passed me her ticket  to Macy Gray's concert and decided I'm going although I don't enjoy concerts alone. Today, one of my girlfriends texted me she's going as well so what it seemed like a solo night turned as a girl's night out.

My girlfriend, who's going through a nightmare breakup told me she missed me. And then, another beloved friend told me he missed me. And it's not about how awesome I am. It's about the warm, homey feeling that you get when you know you're truly missed.

And then gorgeous Macy Gray said something about Thanksgiving.

I had no clue what Thanksgiving is about so I wikied ( how wicked is that ) it.

Tonight I'm aware of how thankful I am. For the love I receive. The kind of love you're not asking for. The best love.

Go to sleep world, the apocalypse is not coming tonight.

Aug 31, 2012

Sa repetam impreuna de 10 ori. Inspira o generatie.

Am ramas socata azi cand unul dintre colegi a zis ca i se pare ca Jocurile Paralimpice sunt o prostie.
Suntem " disabled " doar pentru ca pe pasaport scrie Romania. Eu nu ma plang.

Sa faci performanta de orice fel, in tara asta, e un efort supraomenesc. Sportivii romani se antreneaza in conditii mizerabile si totusi reusesc sa ne rupa ne inimile si ochii cand, ca prin magie urca steagul sus si se aude "Desteapta-te romane".

Nu vreau sa incep sa-mi inchipui ce inseamna sa fii sportiv paralimpic in Romania. Nu vreau.

Si tocmai pentru ca, impotriva contextului nefericit, ei reusesc sa faca ceea ce fac, merita mai mult decat ceea ce cuvintele respect si admiratie pot exprima. Mult mai mult.

Si tocmai pentru ca tara e asa cum e, cred ca TVR putea sa faca efortul sa transmita Jocurile Paralimpice. Tocmai pentru a inspira o generatie. Pentru a ne face mai toleranti atunci cand intalnim persoane cu dizabilitati, mai umani, mai generosi, mai intelepti, pentru a ne scoate din apatia vietilor noastre pe care le vedem atat de imperfecte, din depresia  iminenta a zilei de nastere, pentru a ne face sa fim recunoscatori dar mai mult, si cel mai important pentru a da incredere si forta celor care s-au nascut sub o stea mai putin generoasa decat noi toti, normalii cu toate mainile, picioarele si, credem noi, toti neuronii acasa.

Desteapta-te romane din somnul cel de moarte. Cine a zis asta? Ca mi se pare destept tare.



Aug 23, 2012

I'm starting with the man in the mirror.

I think about death at least every 2 days. And don't get me wrong - I love life. Thinking about death makes me appreciate life even more. And I think all of us, sane people, we should exercise this. It gives an interesting perspective on priorities.

But when I die, cause like it or not that shit is coming, I want this song to be played. Make the effort and google the lyrics.

The post is really about inspiration and why I love Beyonce. I'm not trying to convince you to buy her music. Go beyond your musical genre and look at her, google her. She is a hell of a woman, a hell of an activist and yeah, a hell of a singer.

She did this for UN World Humanitarian Day - 19th of August and she recorded this.

Just look at her and feel inspired. Or maybe I just trust the human kind a bit too much, nevertheless, please chew on this:  "Do something good, no matter how big or small. For somebody else."

Cause at the end of the day, when the lights are off, we all want to fall asleep knowing that we made a difference, that we touched hearts, we brought someone to happiness, left this world a little better just because we were here.

Well, we all have to live with narcissism every day.

Aug 21, 2012

Death is like surgery.

You think you're a dog person. You're so convinced until a cat purrs itself into your life. You hear all those things about cats. That they will do and that they won't do this or that.

You get a cat. You're not very convinced. And then, out of the blue, you're lost. You have no clue when it happened. Next step, you take pictures of the sodding fluffy furry ball, you facebook, instagram them, cause, of course you see the universe in it. You think it teaches you stuff.

Truth is, the sodding, annoying thing teaches you stuff about truly embracing randomness, about precious love that is build in years, grace, perfume, indulgence, sleep, zen, you know, the Universe.

You like it when your friends get cats, you somehow feel connected once more cause you have another subject to marvel about.
It's wonderful.

Until your friend calls, crying and you can hear  e v e r y  f u c k i n g  cell of her heart tearing apart  when she says Tigra died. You feel the pain, it's so overwhelming, you get shivers down your spine.

The end.

You go and see your friend - it's a tragedy. It really is. You ponder about life and death, about friendship, guilt and so much more. The fluffy thing managed to get you wrapped around it's claws. And you realize you're a slave to love.

A cat will do that to you. Like it or not.

Jul 10, 2012

You don't need eyes to see, you need vision.

Am fost in week-end la Cupa de Vara Tribeach 2012. Un prilej de a contempla  frumusetea unor oameni. Recunosc fara nici o rusine ca am fost foarte atenta la probele masculine si nu ma interesau neaparat performantele lor sportive.

Insa lucrurile care imi rezoneaza in cap ( mai presus decat performantele personale sau medaliile castigate) si dupa 2-3 zile sunt altele. Sunt lucruri greu de spus intr-un singur post. Scot ideile principale si revin cu posturi dedicate. Dar pana atunci despre lucrurile care mi-au dat fiori pe spate.

Sunt de fiecare data uimita de Carmen Bunaciu si Anca Patrascoiu. Perseverenta si pasiunea pentru inot, naturaletea prin care se inconjoara de oameni, modestia, lumina pe care o radiaza, bijuterii pe care doar oamenii realmente mari le poseda, sunt intotdeauna o inspiratie. 
Pe langa faptul ca organizeaza ( impreuna cu Asociatia Municipala de Natatie Bucuresti si Clubul Tribeach Brasov ) aceasta competitie, pe langa faptul ca participa la concurs, au grija ca viitorul tarii sa sune cat mai bine posibil.

Duminica dimineata a inceput printr-o cursa speciala. 50m inotati de 4 campioni de care au grija Carmen si Anca. O demonstratie de putere, determinare, fair play, bunatate si atat de multe incat n-as avea loc sa le scriu pe toate. Cursa m-a lasat fara cuvinte. Am aplaudat pana cand nu-mi mai simteam palmele. Cei 4 copii cu deficiente au oferit o lectie blanda si frumoasa despre ... well, da - viata.

Iti vin in cap momentele in care te plangi ca nu mai poti sau ca iti e lene sa te misti la piscina, sala si de fapt la cam orice ti se pare greu de facut. Si iti dai seama cat de penibil si mic esti.

Keep calm and go swim.

Jun 29, 2012

Clara precum cristalul.

Toata seara m-am intrebat daca ar trebui sa scriu sau nu. Si daca o fac, cum sa spun sa se inteleaga pozitia mea.

Pe scurt, am fost la un eveniment unde studentii de la Arte - sectia moda, si-au prezentat colectiile de absolvire, MA si BA. A fost prima data si dureros. M-a durut mai putin cand am facut prima data sex - dar poate ca cerul a simtit sa-si ia revansa.

Am ajuns devreme intr-un loc in care nu mai fusesem, plin de oameni pe care nu-i cunosteam. Deci perfect sa ma uit cu atentie la ce vad.

In curtea scolii de arte decorative si design din capitala tarii noastre ( si stiu sa scriu cu majuscule ) tronau niste sarme cu niste hartie sub forma de rochii. M-am gandit ca erau pentru neinitiati. Sa stie unde au ajuns.

In desfasurare - o sesiune de hair styling ( o uniformizare infioratoare data de faptul ca toate modelele aveau aceeasi freza ) si repetitiile pentru prezentari.

La repetitii se remarca o doamna - despre care am aflat ulterior ca e o celebritate - care era imbracata cu o rochie, frumoasa de altfel, insa neadaptata unei chestiuni simple pe care corpul uman o face si anume ca se misca. Pe scurt, doamna, cu niste sani mici, dar un decolteu adanc, incerca sa dea indicatii, gesticuland. Rochia o trada aratandu-i sanii astfel ca doamna, constienta de vantul de vara care o mangaia obraznic, isi tinea cu o mana decolteul iar cu cealalta dadea directiuni, nervoasa.

Am crezut ca e o studenta senioara care e realmente nervoasa de ceva ce ar trebui sa marcheze un moment important in viata oricui. Absolvirea facultatii, asumarea profesiei alese. Primul pas spre maturizare.

Am ajuns la eveniment din cauza Dianei Bobina&Katiei Guzun, carora le vazusem un proiect care mi-a placut mult. Intrau in prezentare cu numarul 14, fiecare absolvent avand aprox 4-5 minute pentru prezentarea colectiei.

And then, hell unleashed. Am vazut primele 13 colectii despre care pot sa spun, apreciind tineretea creatorilor si locul nefericit in care s-au nascut, incercand in acelasi timp sa nu dau cu sabia cum usor mi-ar veni, ca au fost cel mult niste incercari, ebose, crochiuri. Muzica tare - foarte hip de altfel, haine prost croite din care nu am putut sa inteleg decat ca studentii de la moda stiu sa faca printuri digitale ( practic diferenta dintre acum 10 ani cand am terminat Artele, cand studentele de la moda vopseau boem materiale cu ceapa, cafea si daca aveau noroc, cirese amare, e ca imprimeul se face acum digital, deci mai precis, deci mai ochios )

Bobina&Guzun au ridicat atat de tare nivelul incat am plecat dupa prezentarea lor. Stiam sigur ca tot ce va urma, va fi suicid.

Colectia celor 2 moldovence a dat clasa. A aratat un concept simplu deci puternic care se comunica unitar prin toata colectia, executie ireprosabila ( am vazut hainele in backstage ), un interes real fata de tehnicile pe care le-au folosit, respect fata de materiale si ce a rezultat din procesul de productie a pieselor principale. Si in acelasi timp, o timiditate si un bun simt in fata carora nu pot decat sa ma inclin.

Daca pana la ele a mers Norzeatic si mult dubstep - ceea ce a facut lucrurile mai usor de suportat, prezentarea lor a fost aproape pe liniste. A existat momentum - in care te uitai la haine, la mersul incet si nesigur, natural al modelelor in picioarele goale si aveai fiori.

Am plecat de la eveniment cu tristetea unui om care, in proces de a deveni senior ( un om care spera, arogant, ca la un moment dat, va avea de impartasit lectii pretioase date de experienta ) recunoaste directia gresita in care juniorii tarii se dezvolta.

Am o voce puternica si cred ca conteaza ca oameni ca mine, in acelasi punct, proces, etc sa-si asume pozitia si sa spuna lucrurilor pe nume. Pana la urma progresul vine dupa dusuri reci.

Nu am vazut o directie mai gresita si mai ingusta la "Arte" de foarte mult timp. Mi se pare trist ca juniorii sunt fixati in manierisme mult prea devreme, ca sunt lipsiti - tocmai acum cand toata informatia e la picioarele lor - de un interes real fata de ce ar trebuie sa fie fashion. Fata de tehnicalitati, fata de metodologia lucrului facut bine, fata de conceptualizare profunda a profesiei pe care au ales-o.

Spre iesire, ascunsa de spectaculozitatea catwalk-ului am vazut si mi-a placut mult colectia de pantofi pe care Mihaela Glavan a facut-o pentru dizertatia de master. Extrem de bine documentata, perfect conceptualizata, minunat executata in tehnici greu de stapanit.

So, bottom line, not all hope is lost. Am vazut o colectie de haine care mi-a dat fiori si o instalatie cu pantofi bijuterie pe care imi venea sa-i iau acasa sa-i pun pe piedestal, scop in care au si fost creati.

O sa merg la acelasi eveniment si in 2013. Insa as vrea sa nu trebuiasca sa scot sabia si sa spun cuvinte urate. As vrea sa plec mai vesela decat am facut-o in seara asta.

Hai, ca se poate.

Let's all show some fucking passion. It makes all the difference.

LATER EDIT: Some ideas about graduating from brilliant James Victore.


May 21, 2012

Breaking news

The world belongs to those brazen.


Apr 19, 2012

Sparta versus Gomorra

While working on a bigger project, soon to be revealed, I played with my weapons and made this mini - collection of dresses. Inspired by beautiful pieces of history, by women being free, by embracing the sinner in you, while keeping it simple, this is an engineer's take on Sparta versus Gomorra.
I think they are awesome.


Apr 5, 2012

No hand of God

The power of habit is amazing. I have a new one. Every Tuesday I'm looking forward to James Victore's Q&A Tuesday or how he calls it, Meandyousday.

This Tuesday on greatness:

"Assume greatness. There is no hand of God who will come and touch you and make the phone ring. Don't wait for it. There is no secret handshake to greatness.
There is no party going on elsewhere that you're not part of. You are the party. You bring the party. You make the party. Assume greatness."


Apr 2, 2012

Gear is not important

When I swim I wear this Little black dress and I'm considering this one as well - ( their knee length makes me feel comfortable )
I have IMAX vision and they continue to be my choice after 1 year - but you should always try them on before buying.

I occasionally use these fins for building strong legs and I consider getting this for my arms.

I count my laps and other data using this.

I don't believe in dry hair when swimming so any cap will do.
I used to listen to music while swimming but it didn't help my focus so I stopped. I used this player but eventually the headphones got wet ( with all my special care ).

If you have questions or maybe other suggestions feel free to drop me a line.

Mar 19, 2012

Maps are overrated.

Who am I to tell you how to live your life? I don't like you telling me how to live mine.

But in order to really find out how we truly enjoy life, boyfriends, girlfriends, work, food, water temperature.... we need to take a step back and question our life's values, drives, engines and valves. Maybe on a regular basis.

I like people who do that. I reckon we all do it with death in mind, some deaths closer than others.
Here are 2 blogs that caught my eye and made me wonder about what was, is, might, should, could be worthy of interest.

Feb 8, 2012

Pools in Bucharest

I'm far from being a good swimmer. I just practice a lot.
But since swimming is an important part of my life, I've been frequently asked about the best pool&gear.
As far as I'm concerned, I've tried several over the years and what I seek in a pool is perfect clean water, clean lockers, and if it's crowded I prefer people who swim to people who chat&kiss at the end of the lane.
And one more little detail - I like my pool blue - cause there is a black one, for the real depressed but posh swimmers.

been there for a couple of times.
+'s - 25 m, clean, far from crowded ( price I reckon )
-'s - the rather long corridor between the pool and locker area, price.

used this one for 1.5 years
+'s - the price
-'s - 22m, really crowded if you go there to swim, crowded lockers as in walking naked silicon valley (boys, it's not pretty, trust me)

3. IDM - my recommendation
using it since November.
+'s - 25m, price, cleanest water ever, not crowded
-'s - the clerks.

++ 50m, great water.
I'd swim there everyday, but since it's out of town, it just counts as one of the coolest pools ever, not your everyday swim.
It's open to public but you need to call first.

5. Dinamo - outdoor
if you don't mind seeing the occasional leaf - from the trees near, it's perfect for summer week-days, early evening swims.
50m, clean water.
avoid during the week-end - it's very crowded.

Hope this is helpful.
I'll get back with a post about gear.