When the airplane takes flight...

Jason Wheeler

...and you feel butterflies on your stomach over and over again!

When all you get for your birthday...

by Daniela Martins

...are not-expensive, meaningfull things.

A few days ago, I had my birthday. As you can imagine, I got some gifts both from family and friends.

But the ones I loved the most were those that cost more love and effort than money.

So I would like to thank for...

... a book that the writer gave to me. The last book of the trilogy "The Star of Nariën". It's a pity that it only exists in Portuguese...

... the picture of "Damon", that a friend drew. Afterall, I asked for a Damon for my birthday!

... the pink frame with meaningful pictures my best friend gave me.

... the dinner with my friends, the lunch with my family!

All these things made my birthday wonderful. Thank you!

:*
L

When, after quitting school because he didn't like it...

John Paul University

... he travels the world to learn.

My cousin dropped out of school because he didn't like it. Even before he finished all the mandatory years. As he is everything but lazy, he worked a lot as a mechanic.

Now, he is a taxi driver. He owns two vehicles and has people working for him. More than that, he has the house of my dreams! The only rooms missing are the extra office and the closet. Of course the house of my dreams will have a closet!

Last month, he went to Brazil for one month. He learnt a lot, he lived a lot and now, he is hungry for more. And that's why he wants to learn English.

:*
L

When, against all odds...

Bancada Directa

...Lara Logan doesn't quit.

The other day, I read a chronicle written by Clara Ferreira Alves about what happen to Lara Logan in Egypt.

Lara Logan is the Chief of Foreign Affairs Correspondent of CBS. This pretty South African blue eyed blonde could have been a model, but she decided to become a journalist instead. Addicted to adrenaline, she was constantly on the front line, spending a lot of time in Afghanistan, Egypt, etc. She even found love on the first one.

Last February, Logan was in the right place at the right time, covering the celebrations in Tahrir Square following Hosni Mubarak's resignation that day. But the wrong people was there.

They began to tear off her clothes and rape her with their hands, while taking photographs of her with their cellphones. They pulled her body in different directions, pulling her hair so hard she said it seemed they were trying to tear off chunks of her scalp. Believing she was dying, she was dragged along the square to where the crowd was stopped by a fence, alongside which a group of Egyptian women were camping. One woman, wearing a chador, put her arms around Logan, and the others closed ranks around her, while some men who were with the women threw water at the crowd. A group of Egyptian soldiers appeared, beat back the crowd with batons, and one of them threw Logan over his shoulder. She was flown back to the U.S. the next day, where she spent four days in hospital.

I don't know Logan, but her story (before the attack) made me admire her. If I could, I would like to thank the women that saved Lara from those monsters. Just because a woman is pretty, it doesn't mean she is "asking for it" or should be abused.

Logan won't give further interviews about the happening, as she doesn't want to be defined by it. Here, Lara will only be remembered by her courage to be in the frontline, being clear that it was even more dangerous to her than to other (usually male) journalists. Courage is the word I associate with her.

:*
L

When a couple of old people...

TechnOccult

...hold their hands.

 It reminds me that maybe... just maybe... love still exists and can actually last.

:*
L

When oldies remember their youth...

Alt Film Guide

...and suddenly become young again.

 Like Donna and the Dynamos in Mamma Mia.

Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won't feel blue
Like I always do
'Cause somewhere in the crowd
There's you

 :*

L

When people remember how great Portugal can be

That movie is about what Finish people should know about Portugal. But, in my opinion, everyone should know these things. Especially the 60% Americans that think that Portugal is a province of Spain...

But most important... We invented Pastéis de Nata!

It is inspiring to know how our people can do. The potencial has to remain around (or maybe it's just around the world, like most Portuguese...).

:*
L

When you remember your future is not linear...

Funny Tunky

...your future is what you make of it.

 This is a conforting idea. Especially when everything goes wrong...

:*
L

When birds are all you can hear

Animal Sites

Silence sounds wonderful sometimes.

When, at 80 years old...

Mordern Met

...my grandma is finally getting old.

 My Grandmother is my hero.

She is one of the daughters of the responsible to accompany the Royal Prince Luis Filipe in Cape Vert. Don't tell anyone: she is the smart one. The one that "can't cook" (that's what she says, not me).

When she was young, she was a really good student. Once, she even got money because of that. Do you know what she bought? Shoes. For her mother.

Then, she decided to go forward and study Chemical Engineering (yes, my worse nightmare - the irony!). Again, she was the best. She was even my Grandfather's professor before she finished the degree! After nailing it, she was one of the 2 portuguese women back then to get an internship (not paid, of course, she was not a man), got married, had three kids and became a widow really early, at 36.

She raised three children alone (with the help of a cleaning lady, that still works there), had two jobs and did yoga. One of her jobs required her to travel.

When I travelled for fun alone for the first time, I called her. I was so happy to tell her "Grannie, I am going to Madrid!" Her answer? "That's great, sweetie! I'm going to Athens..."

Now she goes, at least, twice a year to Paris, once to Mallorca on holidays, has english, ceramics and gymnastics classes and send e-mails.

She is truly a hero!

:*
L

When, after finding stability...

Leowpearse's Blog

... my cousin says "now, I want to learn two things: to speak english and to play the guitar".

In my opinion, quality of live (and I don't mean anything materialistic here) is like the moon: it only grows or decreases. Even if you just stay quiet, the tendency is for it to diminish.

If you just believe that you need constant learning, even if everything looks good enough, probabilities are that you will go far. Afterall, the world is too big and life is to short to stop learning new things at some point. There is not enough time and quitting is surely not an option!

I admire my cousin for that. For believing that enough is not enough, that the limits are not that close (but still exist), that you should never, ever stop learning.

:*
L

When a dog survives 15 days...

Zooclinica

... closed in a house only with potatoes and milk.

This happened to a dog in my mother's village. The house was my uncle's.

It's a small story of courage and fighting for your life. The fact that things are darker now, doesn't mean that in 15 days someone won't open the door and you will be free and happy. I take this as a life lesson. Don't give up, brighter days are to come!

Curiosity: nobody in the village knew the name of the dog... Not even the owners agreed!

:*
A

When my mom is singing

Jim Halpert

My mom is a bad singer. Probably because she almost never sings. When she does, I know she is happy and I want to capture that moment forever.

Once, she told me that, when I'll have kids, I will love them more than life. I asked her "Do you really think I will love them more than I love you?". She answer affirmativelly. And I believe her, in a way. I can't imagine that, though. Like one believes the Egiptians piramids are there, but no one knows for sure how were they built.

I love you mommy!

Happy Mother's day!

:*
L