tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39782179167957798492024-03-13T09:54:58.707-07:00I feel like a newborn child.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-77034638011522577712012-03-16T09:20:00.001-07:002012-03-16T09:20:49.937-07:00<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nGxAUphrpi8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />this is a little different from the version on the newest album... but dang I love this! makes me want to start playing the ukulele again!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-82456213459621273842012-02-03T09:11:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:12:45.565-08:00blanketI have started my first crochet project. It is a blanket, and it's a lot larger than I thought it was going to be... It's going to be really epic, but it's also going to take forever. I will post pictures of my progress.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-58585662884867323552012-02-03T08:47:00.000-08:002012-02-03T09:08:48.747-08:00season of reasonIt has been a long time since I made a blog post. I am not going to make some false promise that I am going to start blogging more often, but as I am sitting in a dark back room of the Museum of Art at the IMU because my boss decided to schedule 3 people rather than 2 people to sit at the front desk on Fridays this semester... I have a lot of free time to sit and think and write and read and study. <br /><br />So let's start with that!<br /><br />I have a job, finally, AND it's at the Museum of Art that I have been trying to get a job at for the last year. I work 20 hours a week where I sit, read, and work on homework. However, I do have to give my first tour next week which is terrifying kind of.<br /><br />This semester is going to be significantly easier than last. I am only taking 4 classes, only 1 of which is an art history course. I am taking printmaking, which is fun, German online, and Interpretation of Literature, which I am finding very enjoyable. My teacher is into classical music, Cival War reenactments, birds and nature stuff, whaling (I assume as a consequence of his favorite book, Moby Dick), painting, and early 20th century literature. Also, he watches Downton Abbey, just like Ports and I!<br /><br />I applied to 7 graduate schools. I have heard back from one (Minnesota) that I did not get into. 6 more and hopefully one will be an acceptance, although I am not extremely optimistic about it now. If I had a preference, I would go to Northwestern, University of Chicago, or University of Michigan (in that order) because they offer straight Ph.D. tracks. The other three I am waiting to hear back from are University of Wisconsin, Indiana University, and University of Iowa. I am completely unsure how things will pan out with this whole situation, but I have recently realized that I will be fine no matter what happens, even if I don't get in anywhere. I suppose it's good to be prepared for anything, both in a literal sense and in an emotional sense, and I feel like I am getting to that point. <br />Honestly, I just want to know where I will be next Fall. Whether I am in a completely new place with no familiar faces, or still in Iowa City reapplying for graduate schools because I didn't get in anywhere... I just want to know!<br /><br />Anyway, I am getting tired of talking about graduate schools and I am sure everyone else is tired of hearing me talking about them. That was just my little two cents about how I am feeling. <br /><br />In other news, I went snowboarding over Christmas break and landed on my arm. It still hurts when I lay or sleep on it, but I am hoping it will go away soon enough. <br />I am going to Ames this weekend to play a show for the first time in several months. I wrote a new song, and I need to figure out means of recording it and some older songs which I have revised. I am playing a 15 minutes set tomorrow for the 4th Annual Anniversary of the Ames Progressive, or "The Space" as it goes by now. I am excited to drink lots of wine with ma and pa tonight and spend the day in Ames tomorrow. <br /><br />It is the season of engagements! Lots of friends have gotten engaged, including Layla, Elena, and Paige, and it is all very exciting! I know of many other people that are getting married or will be getting engaged (most likely) as well. It will be a nice spring and summer of wearing cute dresses and going to weddings without a date because Porter will probably be in Jerusalem doing a research thing through July and August, but hey, it's all good.<br /><br />I have recently been going through a time of missing people, especially Trey and Denise. I miss some of my Louisiana friends that I met this summer, and I would definitely be happy to see a whole handful of other people as well.<br />I am anxious to find out where I will be next Fall because it will probably also determine how much time I spend visiting people this summer. I definitely want to go to Portland, but for how long... I do not know. <br />http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif<br />On another note, I am taking a Modern Art class, and I have enjoyed learning even more about the art movements that I think I will continue to research and study including: Symbolism, Art Nouveau, and the many artists that are hybrids between the two. Perhaps I will right more about my artists of interest later.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">All in all, life is good and there are no complaints. Sometimes I feel like life is just kind of stagnant, but then I realize it's not and everything is going to be okay.</span>gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-17639685420182941222011-07-18T13:29:00.000-07:002011-07-18T13:52:22.494-07:00Odilon RedonI was just introduced to this artist last Wednesday via my art history class and I love him. I feel like I am finally figuring out what area of art that I like best! After like 10 art history classes, it took me being in Paris to find it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfLqhRyRNkY/TiSbSoqwTlI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/dppxTSPIzMo/s1600/smiling%2Bspider%2Bredon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfLqhRyRNkY/TiSbSoqwTlI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/dppxTSPIzMo/s400/smiling%2Bspider%2Bredon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630796178576658002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orFN7JXUC0A/TiSbSLkEzdI/AAAAAAAAAYI/BeZ0v60TAlo/s1600/mysery%2Bredon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orFN7JXUC0A/TiSbSLkEzdI/AAAAAAAAAYI/BeZ0v60TAlo/s400/mysery%2Bredon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630796170764013010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-025ujmSeX04/TiSbR7AgRsI/AAAAAAAAAYA/EGbDs5533ew/s1600/l%2527intelligence%2Bfut%2Ba%2Bmoi%2Bredon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-025ujmSeX04/TiSbR7AgRsI/AAAAAAAAAYA/EGbDs5533ew/s400/l%2527intelligence%2Bfut%2Ba%2Bmoi%2Bredon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630796166319851202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6u-PpEr6j_w/TiSbRsLTGrI/AAAAAAAAAX4/ftvhuQwyg5w/s1600/cyclops%2Bredon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6u-PpEr6j_w/TiSbRsLTGrI/AAAAAAAAAX4/ftvhuQwyg5w/s400/cyclops%2Bredon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630796162338593458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E3jE_YH5luI/TiSbRbRgqDI/AAAAAAAAAXw/JU51OxLKIEE/s1600/buddha%2Bredon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E3jE_YH5luI/TiSbRbRgqDI/AAAAAAAAAXw/JU51OxLKIEE/s400/buddha%2Bredon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630796157801244722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hl3dIbHVZ5Y/TiSb_lJV3jI/AAAAAAAAAYY/K1gWkvR6usI/s1600/guardian%2Bspirit%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bwaters%2Bredon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hl3dIbHVZ5Y/TiSb_lJV3jI/AAAAAAAAAYY/K1gWkvR6usI/s400/guardian%2Bspirit%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bwaters%2Bredon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630796950725320242" /></a>gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-88874019163239171142011-07-15T12:19:00.000-07:002011-07-15T12:58:35.883-07:00Deconstructivism.Today I visited two structures that might define as the opposite of Deconstructivism: The Arc de Triomphe and the Grande Arche at La Défense in Paris. They were really splendid, especially the Grande Arche. I found it ironic kind of that the Grande Arche was created as a monument of humanitarian ideals, rather than military victories... which is kind of what Arc de Triomphe was built for. <br /><br />ANYways, after all of that and researching the histories of the two structures, I found myself looking up this super rad park in Paris (Parc de la Vilette) that is apparently in the "Deconstructivism" style, which then launched me into a whole different train of Wikipedia articles. <br /><br />Many of the Deconstructivists were influenced by the ideas of French philosopher Jacques Derrida, which seemed weird to me at first, but after learning more, it sort of made sense. He and this architect became pretty good pals and developed the architectural philosophy that I THINK is something like... architecture is like presence in that both require the opposite to act against in order to exist. Absence requires the existence of presence in order to be a thing at all... much like Deconstruction requires the existence of Construction in order to act against it.<br /><br />Frank Gehry is the prototypical example of a Deconstructivist... especially in the work he did on his own home in Santa Monico.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g9gG_axpKo8/TiCY4DcTBNI/AAAAAAAAAXo/wiidhxlpIuc/s1600/Gehry%2BResidence%2B%2BBy%2BFrank%2BGehry-02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g9gG_axpKo8/TiCY4DcTBNI/AAAAAAAAAXo/wiidhxlpIuc/s400/Gehry%2BResidence%2B%2BBy%2BFrank%2BGehry-02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629667622977209554" /></a>What started out as a Suburban home, ended up like this! He took an actual house and changed it from the inside out. <br /><br />Other architectural structures of his include:<br /><br />Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bHTS4H-l2W4/TiCWWOJ0QFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/m_-2_3jZmk0/s1600/4530329450_7b6a84f75a_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bHTS4H-l2W4/TiCWWOJ0QFI/AAAAAAAAAXg/m_-2_3jZmk0/s400/4530329450_7b6a84f75a_b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629664842713677906" /></a><br />Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lGHDOYzmcWM/TiCWKh9uYiI/AAAAAAAAAXY/UrmIJSZVVyA/s1600/3424745763_9d8baed348_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lGHDOYzmcWM/TiCWKh9uYiI/AAAAAAAAAXY/UrmIJSZVVyA/s400/3424745763_9d8baed348_o.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629664641873240610" /></a><br />IAC Building, Chelsea NYC<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3468tqxhtE/TiCWB2wpt8I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/M_t0gfKSdH0/s1600/91917030.rTo6IVZ2.IMG_85411.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3468tqxhtE/TiCWB2wpt8I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/M_t0gfKSdH0/s400/91917030.rTo6IVZ2.IMG_85411.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629664492836730818" /></a><br />And my two personal favorites:<br /><br />Dancing House, Prague<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wOoWjfx4Es/TiCV1E50gsI/AAAAAAAAAXI/vAvgB4QBIrY/s1600/18473990.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8wOoWjfx4Es/TiCV1E50gsI/AAAAAAAAAXI/vAvgB4QBIrY/s400/18473990.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629664273294983874" /></a><br />Experience Music Project, Seattle<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oUAcBtIabqc/TiCVsHYJtDI/AAAAAAAAAXA/KbPRi1ZWJJU/s1600/800px-Aerial_view_of_EMPSFM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oUAcBtIabqc/TiCVsHYJtDI/AAAAAAAAAXA/KbPRi1ZWJJU/s400/800px-Aerial_view_of_EMPSFM.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629664119340250162" /></a><br />I had a revelation today that, as my friend DJ said, will probably pass in a week or so... but I decided I want to learn something every day. It sounds pretty simple, but I feel that there are probably days when I don't see anything cool or learn anything new, and that is a sad thing.<br /><br />Today it was Deconstructivism, tomorrow it will probably be Bean Sprouts or something. We will see where my mind takes me!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-4522562893326179582011-07-11T04:33:00.000-07:002011-07-11T04:35:41.798-07:00<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b2Mo7t-tur8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I don't like this version as much as the original, but I thought this video was better than watching a picture for 4 and a half minutes. <br /><br />I feel like I keep going back to these oldies. They are so great.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-4177618613393110312011-06-30T04:13:00.000-07:002011-06-30T04:15:34.432-07:00more nostalgia.<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/knU9gRUWCno" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I know I am a little late in the game on liking the Strokes... but I just love this. How did I not listen to them for so long?? I don't understand.<br /><br />This video makes me want to come home and hang out with friends, but I think that is the point.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-85620172618437222842011-06-21T03:32:00.001-07:002011-06-21T03:33:51.005-07:00<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5yvOYoNrzWM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />I can't stop listening to this song. My hope is to make a video of all of my Parisian adventures and put it to this song. We will see.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-22878712250707752982011-06-12T14:07:00.000-07:002011-06-12T14:25:34.124-07:00THE BELLS OF NOTRE DAME!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9l5iszE2zA/TfUtF_NJkwI/AAAAAAAAAVM/emCsu86eues/s1600/IMG_4539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9l5iszE2zA/TfUtF_NJkwI/AAAAAAAAAVM/emCsu86eues/s400/IMG_4539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617445691103744770" /></a>All I could think about was this song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I pictured Quasimodo with his gargoyle pals just hanging out in the bell tower. <br /><br /><iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tv4W0VkoUfM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I had heard that the Notre Dame is depressing on the inside, but I would have to disagree. It is absolutely breathtaking... just kind of dark. They had these angel choirs sounding through the whole Cathedral and it really just blew my mind. So neat!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-2499447747095543362011-06-09T11:58:00.001-07:002011-06-09T13:56:40.049-07:00Parisian Shenanigans.So, I have been in Paris for 2 weeks on Sunday, which means only 5 weeks left to hit the biggy's. Also, that means that I will be finishing with class in 5 weeks which seems ridiculous because it just started and I am already stressed that I have 2 tests and a 10-page paper to create within that time. Eek!<br /><br />I have decided to post a couple pictures showing the main "sight-seeing" places I have been to since in France.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXvB7U13Vyk/TfEYaVUKjMI/AAAAAAAAAUM/wimrEo2VBls/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXvB7U13Vyk/TfEYaVUKjMI/AAAAAAAAAUM/wimrEo2VBls/s400/IMG_4170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616297050985106626" /></a>This is a view from the top of the Lafayette Galleries, which is basically a giant Macy's. Apparently it's a big deal, but I thought it was lame, but this view was nice!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-him8N0mWQYQ/TfEx_MBkUPI/AAAAAAAAAUs/vtZxsq42h90/s1600/IMG_4238.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-him8N0mWQYQ/TfEx_MBkUPI/AAAAAAAAAUs/vtZxsq42h90/s400/IMG_4238.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616325171937038578" /></a>I went to Versailles last Friday with some of my gal pals from the FIAP. It was really beautiful but my feet hurt terribly when the day was done. Next time, I will bring more comfortable shoes and I will rent a bike to ride through the gardens. I will also arrive earlier, FOR SURE.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdVVLEpt9mw/TfEypN40KXI/AAAAAAAAAU0/rZOUwcWw6xQ/s1600/IMG_4384.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdVVLEpt9mw/TfEypN40KXI/AAAAAAAAAU0/rZOUwcWw6xQ/s400/IMG_4384.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616325893991704946" /></a>I went to the Louvre! It was really busy, but really nice. I bought a pass that will let me go whenever I want without waiting in line for the next year. I want to go at night because I think it would be very pleasant. I still have a lot to see too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpN3l3VgPHE/TfEzaA4_NqI/AAAAAAAAAU8/v655GPVlrKs/s1600/IMG_4433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VpN3l3VgPHE/TfEzaA4_NqI/AAAAAAAAAU8/v655GPVlrKs/s400/IMG_4433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616326732316358306" /></a>Annnnnd last but not least, I went to the Eiffel Tower yesterday! It was a beautiful day, but it got a little cloudy and cold by the time I got to the top.<br /><br />Yay Paris. I think I am going to Notre Dame tomorrow and I have a whole list of things still to do. I am going to Giverny on Monday with some classmates, so that should be NIFTY.<br /><br />PEACE.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-61770347560280646772011-06-06T00:50:00.001-07:002011-06-06T00:50:13.184-07:00<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/puSgWX4DbZ4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-11473538985894199472011-06-04T07:13:00.000-07:002011-06-04T07:15:27.077-07:00If you ever find yourself taking the Métro in Paris (and I am sure it is the same with many major subway/train stations) and you see a puddle on the ground, don't assume it is water and safe to walk through. No, I do not have any experience, but judging by the smell of the Métro stations... it's probably not water.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-51229240859633598922011-06-03T12:46:00.001-07:002011-06-03T12:46:53.961-07:00France Schmance. I would rather have a real friend to hang out with.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-61406101801132483342011-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:002011-06-02T09:43:26.668-07:00I saw a man get onto the Métro today that had an accordion. He played for nearly my entire trip to the Lafayette Galleries (which is basically a giant Macy's... not my thing). It was delightful!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-23478774582245222082011-06-01T08:59:00.000-07:002011-06-01T09:11:21.377-07:00I got on the Métro today to head to my first day of class. After a few stops, some man got into the entrance right next to me and started speaking something really loudly in French. I wondered what kinds of things he could be saying, because there was no possible way for me to know as I have studied zero French. <br /><br />I thought about the situation if it would have been in America. Sometimes people speak loudly/shout in public about religion and proclaim their beliefs-- some good, and some hurtful. I wondered if perhaps that was what was happening, though I assumed not. I knew he wasn't talking to one particular person although he started out saying "something something Madame," when he came onto the subway. I thought about how I have heard that guy rapping in the Ped Mall in Iowa City to himself, but it didn't seem like this guy was rapping. <br /><br />I concluded that he must have been reciting poetry that he had memorized or was making up on the spot. Perhaps this is because everything in French sounds like poetry.<br /><br />Whatever the situation was, it as kind of awkward and everyone generally ignored the gentleman, which is kind of sad.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-88072910569243406712011-05-30T12:07:00.000-07:002011-05-30T12:15:28.143-07:00coffee and wine.Now, after being in Paris for a full day and a half, I have some more realizations:<br /><br />-I am not sure how I will live without free coffee beverages (especially Americanos) at breakfast every morning when I return to the US.<br />-I am not sure how I will live without free wine at dinner when I return to the US.<br />-I am picking up on things quicker than I thought!<br /><br />Trey, this post goes out to you especially because I know you would love the free coffee and wine (not that anybody else wouldn't).<br /><br /><br />(PS. I only get free coffee and wine because I payed for a stupid meal plan with my place of residence. So, really, it isn't free, but I can have AS MUCH AS I WANT.)gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-80908727857926332372011-05-29T07:12:00.001-07:002011-05-29T07:20:28.673-07:00the city of love.Having been in Paris now for approximately 8 hours, I can already tell you that these stereotypes of France are true.<br /><br />-There are constantly people walking around after buying freshly baked baguettes. <br />-There are many adorable cafés and markets everywhere. The espresso is also better.<br />-It is generally really adorable.<br />-Everyone dresses nicely and is generally more attractive because they speak French (which is generally true for any European country, from my understanding).<br /><br />Also, I watched this group of elderly ladies gather for some type of reunion in the lobby of my residence hall (which is actually a hostel), aaaaaand hearing/seeing a bunch of French ladies speaking French is just wonderful. Aaaand hearing little children speak French is also wonderful.<br /><br />This is just a brief view of the lobby of the place I live in:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNzJZn_vE5s/TeJWCqi5uPI/AAAAAAAAAT8/HF3YiZ0dfsE/s1600/Photo%2B82.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WNzJZn_vE5s/TeJWCqi5uPI/AAAAAAAAAT8/HF3YiZ0dfsE/s400/Photo%2B82.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612142689437464818" /></a>gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-72540260631309955142011-05-28T14:14:00.001-07:002011-05-28T14:34:01.709-07:00airports.Having spent my whole day today at an airport (5 hour layover in Chicago before I actually fly to Paris at 6pm), I have made some observations:<br /><br />-Airports now have these crazy automatic toilet cover changers. All you have to do is press a button and it rotates it and it is NUTS! and awesome.<br />-You have to pay a decent amount of money to use the internet, which is dumb.<br />-International terminals of airports are super nifty. There are lots of people speaking different languages and I just assume that everybody is foreign and awesome in some way.<br />-I have a love/hate relationship with food courts and restaurants in airports. I don't really feel like eating when I am traveling, but they are everywhere and you want to eat everything. But then they are never really that good and you remember why you don't like eating when traveling.<br />-Walking on those conveyor belt things makes you feel like you are in the future.<br />-You can see lots of adorable old people traveling (especially on Memorial Day weekend).<br />-You should always weigh your suitcase before you attempt to check it. Otherwise you have to pay $200 dollars for an overweight bag OR check a second bag for $50, which I had to do today. Then you have to embarrassingly sort out all your stuff in the middle of an airport and it is just stressful!<br />-Traveling by yourself is kind of relaxing and empowering. But at the same time you don't have someone to hang out with, especially if you are not sociable and don't make friends with the people around you... <br />-I have very little idea of what I am doing!<br /><br />more to come...gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-32613386026736920592011-05-24T20:51:00.000-07:002011-05-24T20:53:57.841-07:00My sunburn makes it look like I am wearing white shorts when I am in fact, not wearing white shorts. I just love mowing the yard! (not sarcasm, although I don't enjoy having to constantly dodge small animals so I don't mow them... which totally happened to some guys FOOT on Mad Men in season 3. RIDICULOUS.)gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-72973427813418834562011-05-22T14:39:00.000-07:002011-05-22T14:40:30.101-07:00<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DwBirf4BWew" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Garage sale-ing yesterday with Sara was a COMPLETE success!!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-45477013578648824962011-05-21T22:34:00.000-07:002011-05-21T22:37:16.844-07:00Maybe this is because I am sleepy and everything seems to blur together, but the new Bon Iver album feels a lot like the most recent The National album when compared to previous albums. It's like... the same ratio of newness and difference from <span style="font-style:italic;">For Emma, Forever Ago</span> to this album as it is from <span style="font-style:italic;">Boxer</span> to <span style="font-style:italic;">High Violet</span>. Or something like that.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-67097672371652036662011-05-19T21:31:00.000-07:002011-05-19T21:33:53.890-07:00No matter how old I get, whenever I watch dish at my parents' house, I will always instinctually dial "170" for Nickelodeon. From there, I can find anything!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-5166378268258567582011-05-19T10:53:00.001-07:002011-05-24T20:56:37.560-07:00AmesThings I miss about Ames:<br /><br />Cafe Diem and their grilled chicken sandwiches<br />friendies<br />campus<br />riding my bike around campus at night<br />riding my bike around the parks<br />good crappy Chinese food<br />good Thai restaurants<br />the Ames Progressive<br />being close to family<br />Ames during the summer<br />living close to campus and Main street<br />the dollar theater<br />working at the copy center and the M-shop<br />the Ames Public Library and their graphic novel and dvd collections<br />Mortensen, Airport Rd, and South 16th <br />the general cheapness of living there in comparison to Iowa City<br /><br />to be continued...gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-29886192806910570762011-05-17T22:27:00.000-07:002011-05-17T22:32:58.031-07:00Sal's acting career.<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzmF-fflk-bYbOJA-MKoeEczMF8PAQmudFa9HR6FwKviU1nPxbdhUOE_NRhN6PxHIoQUEBCi6rEVEOxlB1UDg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Ahahahhahahahahaa... so great!<br /><br />This is my parents' hearing aid business. Those are my parents' friends. That is my brother's dog and house.<br /><br />We think this is the start of Salvador's acting career.gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3978217916795779849.post-30276729638013966462011-05-14T15:41:00.000-07:002011-05-14T15:43:04.317-07:00I used to love getting 32oz Fountain Mountain at Kum & Go during the summer for 54 cents. Now I love getting 22oz slushies for 99 cents!gighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849377980971155981noreply@blogger.com0