It is wrong to assume that only powerful men should be feared. Weak men are just as dangerous. They do precisely the same things, but out of weakness.

Generally speaking, everyone possesses some sort of absolute power, therefore everyone can heal or hurt absolutely. Victory, revenge, atrocity and failure come in all forms and sizes. Just like salvation.

PS: Serge Gainsbourg‘s “Cannabis“ is one of the best instrumentals I’ve ever heard.

PS2: New drawing today: “The Secret”, ink and pen on paper, 18/24 cm.

Sometimes, now for example, it feels like the poor old world lives in the shadow of music. It is not us giving the sounds a chance, but the other way around. Music as a starting point for all feelings and all knowledge. The only still recognizable form of truth.

PS: Some new drawings have been uploaded. Ink on paper.

PS2: Enjoy some Loudon Wainwright witticism.

The painting above marks the end of an “era”. It is called “Too Many Worldviews”, oil on canvas (as usual), 130 / 55 cm (click it for the full-sized view). From now on I’ll let loose and paint like I never dared before.

Today’s dish is a typical holiday dish. It’s light, it’s fun, and it’s refreshing: elementarily summer-ish.

When prepared in mid-September, it’s somewhat nostalgic. I never give much faith to summer and typical summer affairs like sunbathing & related activities. As for September typical affairs, they make me overwhelmingly melancholic. It’s like within these very weeks the year fades out slowly, tenderly. There’s nothing risible about mid-September, yet there’s nothing sober and “self-pretending”; it’s all about  mild thoughtfulness, murmur, and long walks.

Conceptually speaking, today’s dish is very much out of the context; because of this unsuitability, it is symbolically  marked the end of  the strange conviction that summer is a self-regenerating thing.

In temperate zones of the world, the whole idea of the recoverability of good old summer days by taking time off and going to exotic vacations is annoyingly false. And ultimately offensive to both sides: us and the summer. When summer pleasures are  constantly prolonged and increasingly controlled by “rational decisions”, we lose the ability to reasonably cope with September nostalgia and November rain. The less we adjust to local times and seasons, the less we enjoy our outland escapades to sunny beaches.

Following the summer wherever it goes has to do with two things: financial potency and human impotence. Don’t get me wrong, the first thing is certainly good, and the second one is certainly normal. It is the combination of the two that is fatal. Why fatal? Because, paradoxically, it favors a sense of panic for the future, and a sense of failure regarding the past. And once you’ve started, you can’t stop. You keep hoping that the winter feeling is escapable. But neither global warming nor the cottage in Thailand can take the chill off the spine of a professional summer-seeker.

Curry Chicken with lime and Parmesan is summer’s last breath. So better take it as it comes.

You will need: the juice of 2-3 limes, about 400 g of Parmesan, 2 onions, 2 cloves of garlic, about 200g light cream or yogurt, broccoli, yellow curry, Basmati rice (preferably brown, but I couldn’t find any around the house), skinless, de-boned chicken breasts, one tablespoon of butter, fresh mint leaves, salt and pepper to taste.

The procedure is easy like a summer breeze: melt the butter in a pan, add the finely cut garlic and onions and stir until yellowish; add the cream/yogurt, then the juice of 1 lime and a half together with a few slices of lime if you want (but it will make the sauce slightly bitter), bring it to boil, add the Parmesan stirring continuously, then add the curry, salt to taste. Stir, stir, stir. Then put it aside.

I hope the oven is preheated (150 degrees Celsius) by now and the chicken (washed with cold water) already seasoned with salt, pepper, finely chopped mint leaves, and plenty of lime juice. Add some olive oil into the pan if you want. Keep it in the oven for about 20 minutes. Then pour the sauce all over the chicken and return the pan in the oven until the chicken is tender.

Meanwhile, boil the rice and steam the broccoli.  Set the table (presuming you also have a well-cooled dry white wine  at hand; and more limes for decorating the plates). Enjoy. Let the others do the dishes. Have a great summer whenever you want and wherever you are!

PS: Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood at your command. Let the summer of ’67 come in!

With time, you learn to keep your writing skills under severe control. The moment you feel that everything in your text is important, nothing is actually important. The moment you feel that every word or no word is vital, destroy the text and go away.

Only come back when you’re ready to merge some humble matters into your “work of art”. They will bring the fresh air in. And make some proper space for revelations.

PS: One of those songs you keep listening for years and years without actually realizing you know it by heart. Velvet Underground, “Candy Says“.

1. I’ve read your book published by Polirom and I was wandering if I should be expecting something new soon.

New book on death and dying  is ready to be published. I’ll let you know when is out. This one is thicker. And, to my own surprise, a lot better.

2. What are you working on at the moment? [i.e. field of work, I know you're doing some research or smth. Is it for your Ph.D - again, what's the subject of it?]
P.S. We spent our adolescence in the same little town and I remember you and your husband from when you were like 18-19 or smth. Time has done a great job with you!

Right now I’m working on something new involving death and the sacred. And struggling to finish the novel. And an article on some methodological matters. My field of research is where  sociology of religion, philology, philosophy and thanatology meet. Sort of.

And the PhD is already history. Thank God. I’m done with it.

I’m sure time has worked wonderfully on you too. Have a splendid Sunday evening.

I want to ask you how much do you weight and how tall are you. Thank you and have a nice day.

49-50 kg, 165cm.

How did you meet your husband and when?

14 years ago in a coffee shop. A friend introduced me to him. We three sat at the table and talked. It was awful.

And I want to ask something serious for the question section: what is the most annoying thing about yourself?

I’m very intransigent about household issues (the quality and the freshness of the food, cleaning products, garbage sorting, odors, light etc. etc. etc. etc.)

What are your favorite beauty products? If you use any…

It’s hard to talk about it. It would take hours. For the moment, I try to give up Clinique 3-step cleansing  system because of the percentage of sodium laureate, and Ultimate Wrinkle Restoring Serum from Dior (because of the shocking experience  I’ve got after checking the Cosmetic Safety reviews data base);  I still like Clinique Superdefence SPF 25 (it still works for my skin) and the whitening and anti-wrinkle lotions from Kanebo. I also like Kanebo shampoo, but from time to time I use home-made organic shampoos.  Recently I turned more to L’Occitane products, but they’re not as harmless and organic as I thought, so there are days when I end up using nothing but essential oils (almond, grape seeds, olive) and some home made stuff with clay and fruits.

Do you and your husband plan to have any children?

Private.

I could use some tips for meeting the love of my life. I’m asking you because you’re an intelligent young woman with an open mind, open heart and a lot of flair

Jogging in the park maybe? You see her today, you see her tomorrow, next time you smile, and by the end of the week you exchange iPods. (well, like question, like answer…; sorry, my “flair” is not working today.)

Why do you like old?

Old what?

I also have three questions: what is your favorite movie, what is your favorite band and why are you so thin?

I don’t know what my favorite movie is, and I’m not that thin. I don’t diet if that’s what you asked. And I am not good with movies actually. I could use some tips.

Talking about favorite music is difficult. I tend to be long and you’ll become really bored. The shortest version is this: my all time favorite singer/songwriter is David Bowie, followed closely by Leonard Cohen. Then comes Lou Reed, Ian Hunter, Rufus Wainwright, Regina Spektor, Helena Josefsson, Son of a Plumber, Mick Karn, Antony Hegarty. As for the bands, Beatles (now remastered!!!!) are irreplaceable, but I also like Small Faces a lot, Humble Pie, The Kinks, the old Rolling Stones (I love them in the iPod, they really start me up) and many little known old bands (garage bands, punk bands and such).

Choose between painting and writing

But I don’t want to.

Adela, I’m really curious about your hidden reasons for keeping a blog. After reading your book I really don’t understand much about your personality and the way you choose to expose yourself. Thank you.

If they’d be any hidden reasons, I wouldn’t tell you. I have a good control over my online exposure and over my let’s call it “hysterical side”. I don’t mind people knowing what music I listen to, what “beauty products” I use and what is my opinion on idiots, but I wouldn’t talk about self-reflective individual experiences though. I guess I’ am more “exposed” in my actual writings than in my online activity. But overall I’m often accused of not being open enough. And there’s something strange as well: I don’t particularly like to blog and, for me, it’s not a routine activity, which makes it even more challenging. And perhaps confusing.

What is your favorite thing to do when you’re free?

When I don’t have a deadline to meet, I work just as hard, but with a different attitude. Those are the times when I feel very fortunate and happy.

An exquisite dinner, good talk, good 60s music and good South African wine could also do wonders to my mood.

Do you own a flat or a house? Do you have any pets? Do you have a favorite female figure?

Yes. No. Dita Von Teese.

I also have a question if you don’t mind: if I’m not mistaken you write a novel. My question is WHY? Do you think you can’t get enough fame with research books? What do you think about others opinion about you?

I don’t know why I’m writing a novel and I hope you can put up with my lack of knowledge.

Fame? Are you serious?? That’s just a song by David Bowie.

I don’t know much about others opinion on me. I don’t know many people. And most of the ones I know are not on my liking. That’s why I’m extremely nice and polite with them. So they often end up thinking I’m a nice person. When I tell them I’m not, they wouldn’t listen…

Do you think cheating should be forgiven? Are you afraid your husband cheats you with one of his patients?

Can’t you ask normal questions? Cheating is a highly personal matter, involving highly personal factors. Cheating or faithfulness mean nothing for themselves. When out of the context, they’re just big words for small people.

Thank you all for following this blog and asking (more or less revelatory) questions. I hope I’ve answered all. If you didn’t find your question published together with the answer, let me know, I’ll double check the unpublished comments. Have a splendid Saturday, with or without a the help of “Chelsea Girls”.