The last day of January, 2012
Last night we went to the opening of an exhibition at the Tinguely Museum in Basel: Face to Face II, photographic portraits of artists by Vera Isler.
Vera Isler is a multitalented Swiss artist, born in Germany in 1931 and sent to Switzerland by her caring and worried parents in 1936. In 1980, due to a broken arm from a skating incident and being able to use only one hand, she started to photograph.
The present exhibition is a sequel to her 1992 exhibition “Face to Face”. It features 54 portraits of artists (also published in a book which is available at the Museum), she does not use a studio or sophisticated equipment but meets the artists in their ateliers or at exhibitions, catching them at their most natural or typical. The nearly life-sized black and white prints (175 x 115 cm) are on the beholder’s eye-level. Very impressive.
Do go and see this extraordinary exhibition at the Museum Tinguely, Paul Sacher-Anlage 2, 4002 Basel, opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11–18 h (Monday closed), the exhibition runs from February 1 – May 6, 2012.
We decided to go for a walk along the Rhine, winter has really settled in: temperatures around 0°C, it was softly snowing and the grounds rather slippery. Unique fairytale like scenery: sounds muffled by the snow, snowcapped bushes, spectacular views of the Rhine and the town’s silhouette.
We rewarded ourselves with a visit to the beautiful Restaurant Brauerei Enothek.
This is my Tuesday work-life balance account, well, more of a real life account. I find myself being caught up online far too much. And this is a fitting end for the month of January, 2012, do you not think so?
What is your recipe for your own work-life balance? How do you deal with the time demands of social media? What did you enjoy in January 2012?
Comments 32
I think you braved the cold and snow for a worthy cause…work / life balance is vital…and art always cheers you up. Wrap up warm x
@Lucylastica2 Hi Lucy,
You make me sound like a very courageous person, but you are right – I am, there was a moment when I wanted to turn back and head home, snuggle up on the sofa with a book …
We are all very courageous, you above all with your austerity challenge. I still need your address, I will add some food to the housewarming gift! xo
Hi Barbara,
You write to poetically! I really enjoy coming here!
It’s hard to believe January is finished! I’m still working on achieving this balance you speak of! Life seems to get busier and busier. Just yesterday I re-arranged my schedule AGAIN! I’m trying to get more done and take more pressure off at the same time. All that being said, we haven’t done a lot in January. It was mostly work-focused. But it’s been a good month. One thing we started and really enjoy is having supper with the computer (wait!!!) on the table where we can have an iChat with our two children who are in different places! It gives us a great chance to keep up with their news and to see them.
Now that the snow is falling prettily, and now that the January organizing is behind us ( ~whew ! ~) I think we’ll begin to enjoy the winter. It hasn’t been very good up to now and I’ve been missing my winter walks!
Lori
@Lori Hi Lori,
Wow, you make my day with your compliment – thank you so much!
In the end I am only talking about work/life balance, I find it very hard to get everything done, being left at the end of the day asking myself what I have achieved. Probably this is due to some feeling of inadequacy, would you believe it I am still managing my twitter account manually instead of dedicating a few hours to Hootsuite to master it.
You are so incredibly busy and yet you say “we haven’t done a lot in January”. And you got me with the computer on the table, I read it when I was in the tram and had to laugh out loud with people staring at the loony woman! Lovely to stay close to your children, even if it is only iChat.
Glad for you that the snow is finally falling in your place in Canada, enjoy it and I will send you all the snow from here as well!
Have a great snow walk!
Hey Barbara!
January is over 🙁 And I miss it! But I am trying to find the balance; my new job has shorter worker hours so I have time for myself now and I am enjoying it. Though with the contest going, social media is getting over my nerves; especially given the competition is so tough! 🙂
And yes, it reached 60 F here yesterday and we called that cold! It was breezy, believe me! 🙂
@Hajra Hey, Hajra!
January was your socialising month, I have noticed and stalked you! But you got a lot done in creative writing as well, I hope you are proud of it and celebrate it! Would you like to have weaker competition?
60° F – I agree with you, this is near cold and I would have worn some Cashmere sweater, 90° F + is my favourite temperature range, I know other people would call us nuts!
You have me very curious as to your new job, is this beside the writing job? …. ? …. ?
@Late_Bloomers Yup… I am a part time trainer .. though the job is all right ; it is not much of a learning experience; I still am looking for something better. The perfect job eludes me!
@Hajra It does not elude you, it will find you! If I sound like your mother, I am forgiven, my daughter is 24! Trainer in what?
@Late_Bloomers You do sound like my mother. Trainer in communication skills, stress management, time management … you get the flow… thought they aren’t letting me do much at the moment. That’s why I feel good as unemployed and frantically keep searching for something better!
@Hajra Hehehe! Cool, I need one, can you come over to Switzerland?
I have to admit I have no balance in my life when it comes to social media and I’ve given up worrying about it! LOL! Today I’m grateful to have the internet and to have people online that I consider my friends. BTW, those are some gorgeous photos! LOVE the top one! Glad you’re around, Barbara!
@BetsyKCross Hi Betsy, Thank you so much for your lovely comment, I am happy to have met you and gotten to know you better. You know I have put too much importance and spent too much time on social media these last months but always with a sense of unease. I’d rather be creative and take more picture and write more and cook more … and have less of a shiny vehicle to transport my creations, what do you think?
What beautiful photos! I’m always trying to find a good balance between obligations and fun. Unfortunately fun rarely comes out on top 🙁
@laliavoce Hey Lalia, Happy to see you here and I hope everything is fine with you! Thanks, I hope I was able to catch the special atmosphere of that evening in my pictures. Wish I had a recipe for the fun coming out on top, too 🙂
Ah, your weather is so very different from ours. It is about 80 degrees here and I am walking around in a t-shirt and shorts. In regards to social media I just do whatever feels right at a particular moment. it works for me.
@TheJackB Hi Jack! I’d end up with frost bites but would definitely prefer wearing t-shirt and shorts. You know I think I will emulate you and do whatever feels right and to hell with the rest. I admire your writing skills and ever so often I find myself without words worthy enough but I do read your posts. 😉
I’m on the other coast from Jack, but same scenario; I will be playing golf this afternoon in short pants and a short sleeve shirt. And I am not a cold weather guy, but the scene you described at your place sounded quite serene and lovely.
If you will buy me a ticket, I will come to the museum……….:).
Hope you have been well; this has been a crazy (but good) wk for me. Talk to you soon…..
@bdorman264 Hi Bill, so you enjoyed playing golf whilst I had to get a ton of snow off my car. And can somebody tell me why I managed to get half of it on me, my coat and boots? Definitely more challenged to build sand castles …
I am well, this morning’s temperature really made me wide awake: -19° C but it is gorgeous outside, crystal blue skies and sunshine on all that snow and ice.
Happy for you for having had a crazy but good week, you are busy and productive I’ve noticed.
Have a great weekend and see you around ….
Love this – very peaceful and your photos are a work of art. I personally have no workable recipe for balance. If anything, I’m unbalanced and chaotic. Lately, I’ve decided to forget about balance altogether and just accept and be okay with an off-kilter life. Acceptance feels less stressful 😉
@Rachelala Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, it comes at the right moment … You know, I have felt comfortable with chaos and being unbalanced but not so much any longer. Maybe this is a turning point and I will become a reformed character? With a proper schedule and to be ticked off lists? Sounds horrible.
Sounds like a glorious evening. Gorgeous photos, Barb. In January, I made some hard decisions that turned out to be the right things to do, spent as much time writing as I said I would, and made some real life connections that showed there is life outside of the the computer screen. It is hard striking a balance, and I’ve found the key is to be secure in knowing that the social media will be there as you left it when you get back! ;p
@sweepyjean Amen, Adrienne! But why is it so darned difficult and this feeling of inadequacy still lingers? Overachiever syndrome? I know why I keep dreaming of living a life close to nature … Social media seems like the dog chasing its tail!
Hi Barbara! Thanks for sharing your ‘peaceful’ time with us. This post felt so relaxing, especially your photos. It must be nice to be surrounded by such beautiful scenery and to not take it for granted. I bet they add to your pockets of serenity, giving you breathing spaces. Work-life balance? Well, that’s the problem. My work as a homemaker affords me no vacation or sick time and I don’t really know when my work days start or end. Social media like FB, Pinterest (and THANK YOU for introducing me to it, I LOVE IT!) do offer me some ‘me time’ so thank God for those!
@jpage.manuel Hi, Joy, I love your positive attitude towards Social Media, this is how it should be: fun and me-time. Thank you for this thought.
Yes, I find peace in real life activities and I am grateful for spending more time with taking pictures, it adds a new dimension to my awareness of my surroundings.
I can relate 100 % to your present life, it is like being on a ferris wheel and that darned thing never stops. But it will get better and then we will look back longingly …
Well, basel looks even colder than London…I am trying to get out of the house otherwise I would just curl up and watch some TV series.
So yesterday we went to visit the Tower Of London and under the snow it was even creepier!
@JSJ2020 HI, Muriel, I can assure you it IS colder. -19° C in the mornings for three days in a row and London? I checked and it is a heavenly +1° C – envious.
Speaking of creepy: did you ever get to see the dungeons? My daughter insisted on going there and had a hell of a time, me too! And afterwards, we walked through a graveyard (just next to the Thames) and a fox walked by, a mere 2 m away, spooky.
@Late_Bloomers we had a similar experience. No foxes, but lots of raven…a bit creepy, if you ask me! Basel seems like a safer option…
@JSJ2020 … our garden was once visited by a peacock and his two female companions and within 5 minutes they destroyed all the flowers, stupid creatures!
@Late_Bloomers We haven’t had a peacock in the garden yet…I am not sure that I would have reacted well to it…
Oh Barbara….when I read your posts and look at your gorgeous photography, I just want to run right over to Basel and try that life on for size…you share a life that seems sumptuous in culture, food, wine and art. I could SO fill my life with that, given the chance.
Thank you for this beautiful share. The photography is exquisite!!
xo
Claudia
@SocialMediaDDS Hey Claudia, Thank you so much for your lovely comment, is it not funny that when we have something in our hands, we do not value it as much as when we are looking at it from afar? I take much for granted, thank you for reminding me to appreciate what is in our reach.
Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you (still hope you can make it today!)
hugs, Barbara
Hi Barbara, gorgeous photos! For my work-life balance, I find myself at a good place but can’t be complacent about it. It’s not an end goal but something to be reminded of daily. One thing I do keep in mind is making sure that in a day, there is always something I enjoy doing. Life is no fun when it’s not enjoyable!