whew mes amis, sorry for the pause. first I was at chartres. then I was studying and taking a midterm exam. then I went to belgium for 2 days. and I just got back. also, my computer charger has decided to be spastic again and not work, so I'm on allison's computer, so my forays into the internet are a little less frequent.
belgium was awesome. first we went to bruges, a quaint little 15th century town. it was full full of people because we were there the day of the procession of the saint-sang, the holy blood of christ. the procession actually reminded me a lot of the mormon tradition of pageantry. it was really cool and clearly a strong part of the community and identity of this town. then we went to ghent, my favorite. hurlbut detailed the van eyck altarpiece for us - it really is incredible and inspiring. and we ate at a most excellent restaurant, hurlbut splurged, and I thoroughly enjoyed that meal. I savored every bite and lingered and talked with richelle and maren (we were talking boys) for a long time after. we spent the night there at a pretty sweet hotel, I was loving it, and I went to a little flea market this morning and got 2 silver rings and 2 records - buddy holly and the simon & garfunkel that mysteriously disappeared from our house a few years ago. we only spent a couple hours in brussels. I ate fries and bought chocolate. that's about it.
it was pretty cool to hear flemish instead of french. I didn't realize there was so much tension between the two sides. hurlbut actually advised us to speak english rather than french to the flemish because they learn english rather than french as a second language, as a matter of separatist pride.
I love road trips, especially in the comfort of a luxury "autocar" (charter bus). wish I'd had a pillow, though. had so much fun on this trip with richelle and maren, those girls are the best. we're going to normandy next weekend for 3 days and that should be equally fun and awesome. I can't wait!
on other matters, I sent another email. and I finally finally got one back. it was almost as wonderful as the first. now I'm waiting again. story of my life.
5.17.2009
home sweet home
places I would love to live in:
isn't the lack of stuff so refreshing?
I wish I could get by with a book, a notebook, a sketchbook,
a tea tray, a butterfly net, and a bed.
maybe someday.
5.14.2009
macrons & genie pants
so ... awhile back I kind of made fun of all those bloggers who were raving about "macrons" and how silly they were. well, I ate some. I ate six. and they were, quite possibly, the most exquisite things I have ever tasted. it was ... oh my goodness. incredible. I forgot to take a picture of my six little beautiful sandwich cookies in their laduree mint green box before I ate them ALL, but no worries, I will be going back and buying more in another adorable box and I will take a picture then.
I commend myself on my buying prowess of finding things on sale. so far I have hit up h&m, etam, camaieu, naf naf and jennyfer. still have a few more on the list of approved coolness to check out, and I'm sure I'll find some more. I am loving this. today I bought genie pants. they are so fun and comfortable and I absolutely love them. I get so much pleasure in little things. I wear my genie pants and everywhere I go, I realize about every five minutes, I am wearing genie pants, and suddenly I am so happy. I have fresh tulips on my desk and every time I glance that way, I am so happy. I bought the cutest water bottle today that I plan on reusing, and every time I get it out to take a sip, it just makes me so happy.
it probably has something to do with my hormones because other days, somebody says something, anything at all, and I will think they are the most annoying person in the world. IN THE WORLD. and usually I have a hard time containing those sorts of vibes. I may not say a thing, but people generally know when I am not liking them. I think I have such concentrated passions that people can't help knowing what's going on inside of me. and usually I don't mind.
I have been packing so much stuff into a day this week and it's taking it's toll. monday was class and st. denys. tuesday was class and 2 paris walks and the ballet. wednesday was the louvre and versailles. today was the louvre and 2 paris walks and shopping. I like going out and doing things, but a thing, maybe two, and then I am satisfied and ready to come home and rest. the last couple of days have been one thing after another all day long and I am so exhausted. tomorrow and saturday are early mornings for our castle excursions. I'm hoping the bus rides will be long and relaxing so the days don't feel too full.
I bought fresh carrots and apricots today. I hope they are delicious.
I commend myself on my buying prowess of finding things on sale. so far I have hit up h&m, etam, camaieu, naf naf and jennyfer. still have a few more on the list of approved coolness to check out, and I'm sure I'll find some more. I am loving this. today I bought genie pants. they are so fun and comfortable and I absolutely love them. I get so much pleasure in little things. I wear my genie pants and everywhere I go, I realize about every five minutes, I am wearing genie pants, and suddenly I am so happy. I have fresh tulips on my desk and every time I glance that way, I am so happy. I bought the cutest water bottle today that I plan on reusing, and every time I get it out to take a sip, it just makes me so happy.
it probably has something to do with my hormones because other days, somebody says something, anything at all, and I will think they are the most annoying person in the world. IN THE WORLD. and usually I have a hard time containing those sorts of vibes. I may not say a thing, but people generally know when I am not liking them. I think I have such concentrated passions that people can't help knowing what's going on inside of me. and usually I don't mind.
I have been packing so much stuff into a day this week and it's taking it's toll. monday was class and st. denys. tuesday was class and 2 paris walks and the ballet. wednesday was the louvre and versailles. today was the louvre and 2 paris walks and shopping. I like going out and doing things, but a thing, maybe two, and then I am satisfied and ready to come home and rest. the last couple of days have been one thing after another all day long and I am so exhausted. tomorrow and saturday are early mornings for our castle excursions. I'm hoping the bus rides will be long and relaxing so the days don't feel too full.
I bought fresh carrots and apricots today. I hope they are delicious.
5.11.2009
paper > pastries
the boy does not answer me
so I write pathetic poetry
and dream of him at night.
giving up would seem intelligent at this point,
but the thought makes me want to cry.
oceane does not answer me
so I spray her perfume in my room
so it will smell like her scarves that we share
and look for other dark-haired light blue-eyed frenchies.
there's quite a few.
I make myself feel better by buying office supplies.
there's (almost) nothing I love more than brand new office supplies:
a clairefontaine notebook
a new journal (mine is filling up faster than ever before)
2 mini rhodia notepads (one for vocab, one for notes)
loose sheets of french paper (oh how I love french paper)
cheap-o bic fountain pens
a real fountain pen (parker)
ink cartridges
books:
green guide to toulouse
another petit nicolas book
les fourberies de scapin by moliere (scapin was my absolute favorite of all of the plays charles did in high school. just recently discovered that it's a moliere ...)
and it's only the beginning, my friends. you can never never have too many notebooks. and with the volume of poetry I'm producing these days ... I'm gonna need them.
so I write pathetic poetry
and dream of him at night.
giving up would seem intelligent at this point,
but the thought makes me want to cry.
oceane does not answer me
so I spray her perfume in my room
so it will smell like her scarves that we share
and look for other dark-haired light blue-eyed frenchies.
there's quite a few.
I make myself feel better by buying office supplies.
there's (almost) nothing I love more than brand new office supplies:
a clairefontaine notebook
a new journal (mine is filling up faster than ever before)
2 mini rhodia notepads (one for vocab, one for notes)
loose sheets of french paper (oh how I love french paper)
cheap-o bic fountain pens
a real fountain pen (parker)
ink cartridges
books:
green guide to toulouse
another petit nicolas book
les fourberies de scapin by moliere (scapin was my absolute favorite of all of the plays charles did in high school. just recently discovered that it's a moliere ...)
and it's only the beginning, my friends. you can never never have too many notebooks. and with the volume of poetry I'm producing these days ... I'm gonna need them.
5.10.2009
5.09.2009
think happy thoughts
I'm sure some of these things are repeats, but I don't care. right now, I just want to think about the things that make me happy.
brand spanking new art supplies
orange sherbet
scarves
house slippers
feeling the raised ink on laserjet copies
jack johnson
dryer sheet smell
driving stick shift
curly hair
the mannerisms of a certain someone
singing singing singing
wind
feeling completely at ease
tartines in the morning
buying something you've been looking for
statues
paper and notebooks
ink on my fingers
when what I am wearing is exactly me
words that say just what I mean
ranunculus
parades
absorbing the echoes of a gothic church
orangina
names
lunch in the park
colors
genuine smiles
feeling at home somewhere
waking up to birdsong
and just for the record, something that does not make me happy:
cats. cats do not make me happy. in fact, I pretty much hate them.
brand spanking new art supplies
orange sherbet
scarves
house slippers
feeling the raised ink on laserjet copies
jack johnson
dryer sheet smell
driving stick shift
curly hair
the mannerisms of a certain someone
singing singing singing
wind
feeling completely at ease
tartines in the morning
buying something you've been looking for
statues
paper and notebooks
ink on my fingers
when what I am wearing is exactly me
words that say just what I mean
ranunculus
parades
absorbing the echoes of a gothic church
orangina
names
lunch in the park
colors
genuine smiles
feeling at home somewhere
waking up to birdsong
and just for the record, something that does not make me happy:
cats. cats do not make me happy. in fact, I pretty much hate them.
5.07.2009
waste
today was a wasted day. I hate those kinds of days.
the only things I accomplished that I needed to were:
1 go to monoprix to get groceries, nail polish remover and cotton balls (which apparently do not exist in france. I settled for cotton rounds)
2 edit my mother's 7 papers she needs to submit
and those things do not feel like much.
I read half of my book (In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan - most excellent, you should all read it) and took a nap for 2 or 3 hours, which made me feel like a lazy bum (probably because I am) and did not go to institute because I felt gross and didn't want to meet people.
I had all of these wonderful plans to have a good lazy day of taking my dinner to the bois de boulogne and reading and sketching in the park there. but no, I fell asleep and then ate too much dinner and then didn't feel like doing anything because it's too much effort to find a lovely place to go enjoy the lovely weather.
I have a wonderful talent of enjoying home and being alone, but it gets me into trouble when I don't have anyone adventurous around to get me into shenanigans. or at least get me out of the house.
I hate these kinds of days.
also, mme is gone for the weekend and put me in charge of the house and I don't know where the cat is and that worries me quite a bit.
the only things I accomplished that I needed to were:
1 go to monoprix to get groceries, nail polish remover and cotton balls (which apparently do not exist in france. I settled for cotton rounds)
2 edit my mother's 7 papers she needs to submit
and those things do not feel like much.
I read half of my book (In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan - most excellent, you should all read it) and took a nap for 2 or 3 hours, which made me feel like a lazy bum (probably because I am) and did not go to institute because I felt gross and didn't want to meet people.
I had all of these wonderful plans to have a good lazy day of taking my dinner to the bois de boulogne and reading and sketching in the park there. but no, I fell asleep and then ate too much dinner and then didn't feel like doing anything because it's too much effort to find a lovely place to go enjoy the lovely weather.
I have a wonderful talent of enjoying home and being alone, but it gets me into trouble when I don't have anyone adventurous around to get me into shenanigans. or at least get me out of the house.
I hate these kinds of days.
also, mme is gone for the weekend and put me in charge of the house and I don't know where the cat is and that worries me quite a bit.
5.05.2009
poem by nikki giovanni
though i do wonder
why you intrigue me
i recognize that an exceptional moth
is always drawn
to an exceptional flame
you're not at all what you appear
to be
though not so very different
I've not learned
the acceptable way of saying
you fascinate me
I've not even learned
how to say i like you
without frightening people
away
sometimes i see things
that aren't really there
like warmth and kindness
when people are mean
but sometimes i see things
like fear and want to soothe it
or fatigue and want to share it
or love and want to receive it
is that weird
you think everyone is weird
though you're not really hypocritical
you just practice not being
what you want to be
and fail to understand
how others would dare
to be otherwise
that's weird to me
flames don't flicker
forever
and moths are born to be burned
it's an unusual way
to start a friendship
but nothing lasts forever
why you intrigue me
i recognize that an exceptional moth
is always drawn
to an exceptional flame
you're not at all what you appear
to be
though not so very different
I've not learned
the acceptable way of saying
you fascinate me
I've not even learned
how to say i like you
without frightening people
away
sometimes i see things
that aren't really there
like warmth and kindness
when people are mean
but sometimes i see things
like fear and want to soothe it
or fatigue and want to share it
or love and want to receive it
is that weird
you think everyone is weird
though you're not really hypocritical
you just practice not being
what you want to be
and fail to understand
how others would dare
to be otherwise
that's weird to me
flames don't flicker
forever
and moths are born to be burned
it's an unusual way
to start a friendship
but nothing lasts forever
more wonderful
a summary:
- there is a lot more shopping going on here than I anticipated. (how naive, right?)
- strolling is the national pastime in france
- I was mistaken for une vraie francaise the other day. success!!!
- I find it hard to resist street musicians
- it is really quite hilarious to see the girls vying for fred's attentions. I'm hoping for some drama soon. drama is so funny when it's not happening to you.
- boulangeries/patisseries = heavenly
- everything is much closer together than I thought it was
just when I thought h&m couldn't possibly be any more wonderful ... h&m paris happened. and I don't know what to do with myself.
have put a ban on buying anything purple or gray because I'm in love with purple and gray. have now switched to pink and beige. at least it'll all look good together.
I have just about had it with dinners scheduled at 6h30 that don't take place until 8. I'm starving.
- there is a lot more shopping going on here than I anticipated. (how naive, right?)
- strolling is the national pastime in france
- I was mistaken for une vraie francaise the other day. success!!!
- I find it hard to resist street musicians
- it is really quite hilarious to see the girls vying for fred's attentions. I'm hoping for some drama soon. drama is so funny when it's not happening to you.
- boulangeries/patisseries = heavenly
- everything is much closer together than I thought it was
just when I thought h&m couldn't possibly be any more wonderful ... h&m paris happened. and I don't know what to do with myself.
have put a ban on buying anything purple or gray because I'm in love with purple and gray. have now switched to pink and beige. at least it'll all look good together.
I have just about had it with dinners scheduled at 6h30 that don't take place until 8. I'm starving.
5.02.2009
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