CYCLE

Out Of The Blue

Last year I was invited by the Blog Action Day to write about a very serious issue, water, and the consequences we will have to pay for it if or when there will be no more clean resources on Earth. That's when the story came "Out Of The Blue". I usually don't write in this genre (Sci-Fi) but when I do the pictures come into my mind so clearly as if it is a movie I am seeing, though I rarely know the end. It's an enigma for me. I always think I've got the story straight, that I have it all planned inside my head when, all of a sudden and out of the blue", here it comes an u-turn to change all the concepts and beliefs I had before.

It's a big mystery and surprise for me, really, how things turn out to be in the end, it's not I the author who is writing the story but it's the story that reveals itself for me. They say that Science Fiction is a good way to show the perspective of a reality that could pretty much come to fruition and it adverts or inverts us about things that can eventually happen. And that's so true. What would be of the world if not for the Sci-Fi authors, and I mean since the crazy adventures of Jules Vernes under the sea or out in the space, or even in the Amazon jungle, or the amazing discoveries of Mary Shelley's Doctor Frankenstein. Scientists do prove what the friction between reality and fiction comes from a thin fine line and some had already revealed them to be true. So here I am now contemplating another book that I just got in the mail: "Nice Guy Johnny" by Ed Burns and that's already resting (not for long) in my shelf and on line to be next ready to be read. And what does it have in common with my book? They are both dramedies, a genre on top now, a mixture of drama and comedy but that surprises by the honest approach. It makes you laugh and cry all at the same time, and how much I love to get that reaction from my fictions. I'm soon turning my book into a script and then to a movie. Here's the trailer to those who enjoys things artsy-fartsy:

BLOG ACTION DAY: Why "water" is a vital issue

The UN declared access to clean water and sanitation as a human right on July, 28th of this year (a day before my b'day, by the way!:) o what does that mean?? It means an effort and most of all a commitment for all governments... well, not all as some countries abstained their votes, mostly from the developed countries which claim they don't want to pay for the underdeveloped countries' toilet. Now the question is, "If there is no safe water to drink anywhere, how is it possible for anyone to have clean water in their own home if the planet is one? Do I make sense here. So instead of abstaining of taking action with a matter that is vital to ALL of US, and I say US as the whole world, shouldn't it be worried and help EVERYONE to live in a blue planet free from pollution and diseases?? Remember that SWINE FLUE that attacked not only Mexico but the whole planet not long ago? Yes, that was thanks for a bad sanitation that could be avoided by simply having access to clean water.

Search of the Blue Lagoon from Ana Antunes on Vimeo.

So instead of turning our heads and saying "That's nothing to do with me" let's face the problem and see that, YES, that has everything to do with you, with me, with all of us living in this amazing planet, which can and will provide all the resources if we use it wisely.

Water Resource on Planet Earth from Ana Antunes on Vimeo.

So finally here are some tips we can start right now to act:
Ask your government to take action now but stopping polluting our rivers and ocean with oil spills and other chemical substances that just deteriorate our beautiful planet Earth.

Don't use hot water when cleaning your clothes. They are well clean with just cold and besides the colours from your cool T-shirts won't be washed away if you use soft cycles.

Use the same water you shower yourself by having a recipient big enough to control the amount of water that goes out to flush the toilet, cleaning your backyard, your floor with what is called greywater.

When brushing your teeth or cleaning the dishes, don't spare water. Just use it when the whole ensemble are well brushed and wash it with conscience.

Actually every move you make with consciousness is a blessing to the entire world.

Green Christmas

Here are 5 tips in limericks (made by me) on how to spend Christmas in accordance with the Christmas spirit:

Tip number 1- Light
You don't want your house to burn,
thus are some lessons to learn.
Use lights instead of candle,
but if you cannot handle
the lights may electrify you in turn.


Tip number 2- Recycle
Make your own surprises from recycle stuff.
Buying them elsewhere is also good enough.
If the weather shifts
and the gift stiffs,
you can always say that was made rough.


Here's a sample of my recycling stuff, collars made with the covers of magazines

Tip number 3- Go Natural
Choose to adorn with natural tree,
which will remain longer for thee.
Knock on wood,
don't cut the mood.
And the entire planet will agree.

Here's an example of a natural tree (a ficcus) turned into a Christmas tree by adorning it with other plants and recycle papers.


Tip number 4- Having some decor
Decorate your house with leaves and pine cones,
they make awesome ornaments all of your owns.
But if you don't have any,
you might as well get plenty
of candies and fruits and magical stones.

Tip number 5- Christmas Cards
Reuse or recycle your Christmas cards
and you will win many rewards.
Don't throw them away,
make a pile if you may,
just don't leave them hanging in the yard.


My puppy barks, "Bow wow, now I believe in Santa Claws!"



Or make your own Christmas Card. Be inventive, that's part of the fun:
> ____________ _______*
> ____________ ______ °I°
> ____________ _____°Wish°
> ____________ __°Merry XMas°
> ____________° Filled With Hope°
> ___________ °Love°Success°Joy°
> __________°Health° Feast°Employ°
> _________°Harmony° Respect°Light°
> ________°Happiness° Dance°Delight°
> ______°Solidarity° Providence° Humility°
> _____°Music°Inspiration°Wisdom°Purity°
> ____°Optimism° Luck$°Friendship° Felicity°
> ___°Balance° Forgiveness °Faith° Fraternity°
> __°Compassion° Strenght°Freedom° Dignity°
> _°Kindness°Patience° Benevolence° Sincerity°
> v°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°00&00°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°v
> ____________ ___*PEACE* _________ ______
> As the Root to Sustain the Tree of Our Lives
> ******AND A HAPPY WORLD DERIVES *******

Live the present you were given.
Embrace the world you live in.
Put a big smile over your face.
Do take all with lots of grace.
Hear the music until it's done.
Have some fun before it's gone.
☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

(¯`v´¯)¤
.`•.¸.•´
¸.•´¸.•´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(`'·.Holiday¸.·'´)
(`'·.HUGFEST!¸.·'´)
¸.·*)*¸.·´¨)*´¨)¸.·*¨)
(¸.·(¸.·´ .·´¸¸.·´*´¨)
AND ((((( BRAZILIAN TROPICAL HUGS )))))

And all that just to wish you a refreshing, clean and clear "Merry Green Christmas"!

New Feature: Rat-a-Tat (Picture Book)

Rat-a-Tat

Rat-a-Tat is a silly rat who just loves to eat healthy. On his search for the right food he finds out that there is much more to share than just sneaking around. After an exciting travel he returns to his home, sweet home, with a new foundation, and learning much more than he could ever expect.

Rat-a-Tat
(Choose Options "Fulscreen" then "Book" to turn the pages)

Crack-a-Book
It was the beginning of colonization and many were put into test. And some were persecuted for their own beliefs. Two brave women stood for their own right with somewhat tragic consequences. A bilingual story told with rhymes and illustrations to show how discrimination, misundertanding and even cowardice played a big part in the intolerance of many to a few who faced opposition and persecution.

World Environment Day

The WE Day
"We are not apart from Nature.. we are part of Nature"

Today is the World Environment Day and this date started a long time ago. This year's slogan is "CO2, Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy."

Enhance your day with awareness about e-facts.
Come up with durable and plausible solutions.
Or Plant a tree (or many trees!:)
Now Recycle more...
Open a eco-store or work in a garden.
Mainly avoid using electricity or shut it asap
Insist on economy of water, energy supplies
Avoid driving, prefer public transportation, or even better, use a bicycle.

Let's give a possibility of a clean environment for our own generation!:)

Besides recycling everything, separating each material (plastics, cans, papers, tetrapaks, etc, etc) and getting them on a recycle center near home, I also use a medium tank in the shower so that I may recycle water as well. This way I flush the toilet, or I use it to water the garden, also recycle the seeds, and all vegetables left-overs, making compounds. In this matter I have now more than fifteen trees, small and big, to beautify my terrace, and that's only for I live in an apartment...or I would have an organic farm by now!

Ana is celebrating the World Environment Day by planting trees in her own terrace with the hope it will help combat the greenhouse effect during winter.

A Saint Paddy's Night

(Last night ended with a big hug in a HUGE tree with a Leprechaun and a Lion:) Then I woke up this morning with a music inside my head, just to create the lyrics to my new tune and is about a problem we all face today (but the Lyrics are in Portuguese): "ECHO"
O mundo todo anda zen,
Tudo em paz e tudo bem.
Tudo de bom pra voce
e pra mim tambem.

Hoje o mundo e tao igual,
Tudo mais e coisa e tal,
Tudo sorri pra voce
e pra mim tambem.

O mundo inteiro a girar
e a vida vai virar
muita sorte a voce
e a mim tambem.

(em tom solene:) E se o aquecimento continuar
nao havera onda sobre o mar
nao vai haver nem a voce
(em tom nostalgico) nem a mim tambem...




A Cosmic Vision
A Tribute to Sir Arthur C. Clarke​(sci-fi author) who just died this Tuesday

My Lyrics (published on the Sci-fi literary magazine "Aphelion" on 2007)
Mr Mc Naught,
You're so bright and so naughty!!



Last week, you appeared to me,

By the deep blue sea,

Just before I closed my eye

In a sunset, so red a sky...



Now I don't even know

If you are just an UFO

Or if you come back once again so fast,

For that's your first and perhaps your last!


ANOTHER SONG A Loony-Tune

It's cold outside and warm in here,

Don't ever let me go,

Because if you just love me dear,

You don't leave me in the snow.



It's cold outside and warm in here,

Don't ever leave me, girl,

Because if you just want me near,

You don't leave me in this world.



I know good God just wants you there,

before the flowers bloom,

But if you need someone to care,

Wait for me and I'll come... in your doom...


I'll be there soon

To meet you in the silver moon...

The only way is up!

A Flower in my Garden...


(This is the result of a seed I just planted a month ago)
I just planted a sunflower which is now as high as half meter. Its head created a beautifully constructed mosaic, spiralling upwards. I've got (and I just counted) seventeen sunflowers on its way to blossom as well. And on my recycling I have already got more than ten avocado trees more than two feet tall! What a reward for being angel/ecological.

Antarctic Treat: A Tetric Trick

It's freezing scary the reasons why so many eyes are into the North and South poles. I am now petrified by the fact that the news are announcing the resurrection of foreigners exploration interests on the Antarctic region for natural gas, oil (petroleum) and other mineral extractions. In an allusion to Pink "Flood" we should proclaim, "Leave the penguins all-one!!"

glitter-graphics.com
There are just so many ways to use the resources we are already using anyway, such as recycling and purifying natural elements to bother putting your teeth on the ice pudding. Knowing that the Antarctica Continent is the largest natural resource of clean, fresh and pure water to the entire planet, and that there is no limit to humans greed and ambitions with serious disastrous consequences to this unique ecosystem, the results of such enterprising would be catastrophic to all present humanity. After all, would you pour dirty water on your own tea?? I don't think so.

But the clock is tick(l)ing and the bomb will explode if we do not stop those staring eyes that were not satisfied to only contemplate but ate all the natural beauty...

Tic or Tea?? It's just a matter of time.



A dessert to deserters in the desert surges,
"I know your urges!
I am good meat,
So come and eat.”
One deserter with the eyes full of lust
asks, “can I trust?
My mind is fecund!”
“Not even a second!
I am just a mirage on the desert.
You are so pervert...”
He took a bite
with his tongue uptight.

All Mine!!

There she came showing off her flesh,

"I am so fresh,
I am so neat,
So come and eat.”

He stared at her, eyes full of lust,
"You became rust,
You're now all red..."
"Are you not glad??"

She sighed and into tears she burst,
"To Hell", she cursed,
Let drop or droop
He who's no dupe.

(A Minute to ponder on a metaphor
of what we've been doing to Mother Earth)

Ana Bowlova