This phrase, "Note to Self" - I use it often. It's sort of my thing. I adamently refuse to use trendy business terms like "let's circle back" and "I'll keep that on my radar." So, instead, quite a while ago, I decided to use "Note to Self." It's good times, I like it. And I have now decided to use my phrase as a theme for occasional blogs. It will be like you'll reading my internal memos - sort of. So, anyway, to commence:
Note to Self:
-Don't dance in the hallway of your apartment when there is a risk that your cat could trip you and you could then slam into bathroom doorframe
-Finding a $20 on the sidewalk is just as cool at 26 as it was at 16
-Don't sit next to the crazy guy spouting Bible verses no matter how tired you are, or how inviting the empty seat looks on the bus...there is a reason it's the only one left
-Watching old episodes of Gossip Girl is not acceptable - no matter how bored you are (don't judge)
-Conjugating French verbs is just as hard at 26 as it was at 16
-Sometimes VH1 gets it right with "Emerging Artists," so stop whining everytime a "female singer-songwriter" comes on - remember the amazingness of Duffy - eventually they'll be another one just like her
-Parties in huge apartments overlooking Lake Michigan - go to more of them - they're awesome
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
"I cannot live without books."
Yeah, preach it Thomas Jefferson, I feel exactly the same way. Or as Katherine Hepburn said, "What in the world would we do without our libraries?" Well, I can answer that question - like I can't seem to stop doing, we would end up spending a large chunk of our paycheck at Barnes & Noble each week, that's what we would do.
But in all seriousness, "Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." (Thanks Mark Twain!)
I spent this past weekend in Indy, and part of that time was out in my grandmother's barn looking through the books that I had left there to pick out some that I would take back home. I have about 8 boxes of books still in storage and only managed to make it through a few. Nonetheless it was like Christmas! I had forgotten a few that I hadn't seen since grad school and boy, was it exciting! I only ended up taking about 30 back with me, but hopefully those 30 will keep me out of Barnes & Noble for awhile. Except for the fact that AS I'M WRITING this, I just received an e-mail coupon....curse you B&N!!
You see, books have become almost an obsession. I read all genres, but my favorite are the history and travel writing books. I can never get enough. In my apartment, I now have 4 bookshelves that are bulging with books, a desk that is covered in books, books on my nightstand, books in front of my nightsand, stacks of books on my coffee table, and books in the kitchen for awhile, but I moved those - my kitchen isn't that big. I think my cat may start feeling displaced fairly soon. I've acquired this multitude of books through my career as a liberal arts major, grad school, and my ill-conceived idea of working part-time at a bookstore in DC with the intention of making money...ahahaha.
Some, however, I've kept since childhood, and others I seem to have multiple editions when I forgot that I already owned it, or simply couldn't wait to read it a second time. All of them come with good memories, though, even the ones I may have bemoaned while still in school.
I recently finished for the sixth or seventh time Leon Uris' Exodus. I had been a fan of his work since reading QBVII in junior high, but until the summer of 2005, had never read what is probably his most popular work. Upon its release in 1958, it became the biggest bestseller in the United States since Gone with the Wind. Focused upon the founding of the state of Israel, Exodus is amazing for its seamless integration of fictional characters and true historic events. I bought this book while I was an intern at Wolf Trap Opera. I started reading it late during a tech week, and since the next day was my day off, I figured I would read until I couldn't keep my eyes open. That turned out to be 7AM - the book was so good, I read through the night to finish it. I LOVE it when I find a book that good. Stumbling downstairs afterwards, Ann, the owner of the house where I was staying, just shook her head and started laughing - she had already seen the pile of books that I had brought with me for the summer and knew exactly what I had been up to.
I guess the moral of this story is that I hear from most people I know that they simply don't have the time to read or don't find it entertaining. When I recover from the shock of this statement, my only feeling is pity. Regardless off the type of books one prefers, I always feel that reading allows one to escape for a while, learn something new, or just be entertained by a story that is not your own. I saw a billboard sign while I was home that said 1 out 5 people in Indiana cannot read this sign. I think that is extremely sad. I truly think that reading brings countless joys and I could not imagine life without it.
But, always use caution, because as Mark Twain notes, "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
Saturday, June 28, 2008
100 Things/10 Years
So, I'm jumping on the, what I've learned is an extremely popular, bandwagon of listing out 100 Things to Do Before I Die. But like others, I do better with limits - thus this list is for the next 10 years. I learned two key things during this process: 1) I've been extremely blessed (and fairly adventurous) in my first 26 years. While reading others' lists, I could usually name at least 30 things that I had already done. 2) If I let myself, all 100 goals would have involved some sort of travel.
As the illustrious Cecil Rhodes said on his deathbed, "So little done, so much to do." And this from a man who died at 48 having created his own empire of railroads, gold, and diamonds. Now if he thought that, surely I can fulfill 100 much smaller goals of my own.
They aren't in any kind of order, more like a stream of consciousness list.
1) Go on an African Safari
2) Adopt a dog from a shelter
3) Run a 1/2 marathon
4) Go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
5) Live abroad
6) Sing a solo at karaoke
7) Tip a really great waiter/waitress 100% of the bill
8) Protest for a cause
9) Get a second tattoo
10) Stay a night here
11) Take a camel ride to the Pyramids
12) Witness the Northern Lights
13) Watch every Oscar winner for best picture
14) Bungee jump off a bridge
15) Earn a business certificate in French
16) Take a pottery class
17) Write a children's book - attempt to get it published
18) Learn passable German
19) Get my palm read
20) Sit in the stands at Wimbledon
21) Have my picture painted
22) Live in an apartment with central air
23) Ride on a motorcycle
24) Go a whole weekend without using electricity
25) Own 50 opera recordings
26) Spend a night in a haunted hotel
27) Sit on the board of a theater
28) Ride in a tiny airplaine
29) Stand in the middle of the Acropolis as the sun sets
30) Be a member of the audience for a TV show
31) See Wagner's Ringcycle
32) Go to a shooting range - shoot something
33) Buy a piece of art from a gallery show
34) Have my own library with an overstuffed leather chair
35) Learn to meditate
36) Push a handcar down a railroad track
37) Lose 20 pounds
38) Create a photo album for someone for a gift
39) Help a perfect stranger
40) Learn how to use my camera, like really use it
41) Have a wine and cheese party
42) Read the Bible from cover to cover
43) Get a cake batter cake from Cold Stone Creamery
44) Ride a bike with no hands
45) See Auschwitz
46) Put all of my loose photos into photo albums
47) Drive a Smartcar
48) Go to a Renaissance Fair
49) Eat 2 funnel cakes at 1 State Fair all by myself
50) Go on a family vacation
51) Drive a tractor
52) Learn to take a compliment
53) Keep a journal everyday for a year
54) Drive across the US - coast to coast
55) Help a child to discover reading
56) Be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras
57) Get certified in CPR
58) Travel the entire distance of the Trans-Siberian Railroad
59) Make an enemy
60) See an opera at the Palais Garnier
61) Ride on a roller coaster
62) Become a mother
63) Go to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show
64) Get an expensive manicure and not ruin it within 2 days
65) Continue to see the Nutracker with my dad every year
66) Attend a musical still in previews
67) Make my own candle
68) Go camping
69) Buy a pair of glasses without looking at the price tag
70) Visit Jim Morrison's grave
71) Make creampuffs from scratch
72) Have my picture in a brochure
73) Memorize a poem and recite it in public
74) Paint a room green
75) Read an entire book in French - understand it
76) Visit Mackinac Island when the lilac trees are in full bloom
77) Pet a lion
78) Take the man I love to see Camera degli Sposi
79) Watch all six Star Wars movies in a row
80) Serve a meal at a homeless shelter
81) Bake someone a birthday cake
82) Visit 5 Civil War battle fields
83) Join a book club
84) Send handmade Christmas cards
85) Read Middlemarch, Atlas Shrugged, and Ulysses
86) Stay one night at the The Waldorf Astoria
87) Cross-stitch an entire picture
88) Create a Wikipedia entry
89) Visit the UN building
90) Buy a great piece of furniture that isn't used
91) Travel to Budapest
92) Help build a house through Habitat for Humanity
93) Get my third tattoo
94) Make copies of all of my grandma's photos
95) Play slot machines in Vegas
96) Go salsa dancing until the sun comes up
97) Read all of Shakespeare's works
98) Eat crepes in Paris (again)
99) Watch the sunset from inside the "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" dinosaur
100) Finish this list:)
As the illustrious Cecil Rhodes said on his deathbed, "So little done, so much to do." And this from a man who died at 48 having created his own empire of railroads, gold, and diamonds. Now if he thought that, surely I can fulfill 100 much smaller goals of my own.
They aren't in any kind of order, more like a stream of consciousness list.
1) Go on an African Safari
2) Adopt a dog from a shelter
3) Run a 1/2 marathon
4) Go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land
5) Live abroad
6) Sing a solo at karaoke
7) Tip a really great waiter/waitress 100% of the bill
8) Protest for a cause
9) Get a second tattoo
10) Stay a night here
11) Take a camel ride to the Pyramids
12) Witness the Northern Lights
13) Watch every Oscar winner for best picture
14) Bungee jump off a bridge
15) Earn a business certificate in French
16) Take a pottery class
17) Write a children's book - attempt to get it published
18) Learn passable German
19) Get my palm read
20) Sit in the stands at Wimbledon
21) Have my picture painted
22) Live in an apartment with central air
23) Ride on a motorcycle
24) Go a whole weekend without using electricity
25) Own 50 opera recordings
26) Spend a night in a haunted hotel
27) Sit on the board of a theater
28) Ride in a tiny airplaine
29) Stand in the middle of the Acropolis as the sun sets
30) Be a member of the audience for a TV show
31) See Wagner's Ringcycle
32) Go to a shooting range - shoot something
33) Buy a piece of art from a gallery show
34) Have my own library with an overstuffed leather chair
35) Learn to meditate
36) Push a handcar down a railroad track
37) Lose 20 pounds
38) Create a photo album for someone for a gift
39) Help a perfect stranger
40) Learn how to use my camera, like really use it
41) Have a wine and cheese party
42) Read the Bible from cover to cover
43) Get a cake batter cake from Cold Stone Creamery
44) Ride a bike with no hands
45) See Auschwitz
46) Put all of my loose photos into photo albums
47) Drive a Smartcar
48) Go to a Renaissance Fair
49) Eat 2 funnel cakes at 1 State Fair all by myself
50) Go on a family vacation
51) Drive a tractor
52) Learn to take a compliment
53) Keep a journal everyday for a year
54) Drive across the US - coast to coast
55) Help a child to discover reading
56) Be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras
57) Get certified in CPR
58) Travel the entire distance of the Trans-Siberian Railroad
59) Make an enemy
60) See an opera at the Palais Garnier
61) Ride on a roller coaster
62) Become a mother
63) Go to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show
64) Get an expensive manicure and not ruin it within 2 days
65) Continue to see the Nutracker with my dad every year
66) Attend a musical still in previews
67) Make my own candle
68) Go camping
69) Buy a pair of glasses without looking at the price tag
70) Visit Jim Morrison's grave
71) Make creampuffs from scratch
72) Have my picture in a brochure
73) Memorize a poem and recite it in public
74) Paint a room green
75) Read an entire book in French - understand it
76) Visit Mackinac Island when the lilac trees are in full bloom
77) Pet a lion
78) Take the man I love to see Camera degli Sposi
79) Watch all six Star Wars movies in a row
80) Serve a meal at a homeless shelter
81) Bake someone a birthday cake
82) Visit 5 Civil War battle fields
83) Join a book club
84) Send handmade Christmas cards
85) Read Middlemarch, Atlas Shrugged, and Ulysses
86) Stay one night at the The Waldorf Astoria
87) Cross-stitch an entire picture
88) Create a Wikipedia entry
89) Visit the UN building
90) Buy a great piece of furniture that isn't used
91) Travel to Budapest
92) Help build a house through Habitat for Humanity
93) Get my third tattoo
94) Make copies of all of my grandma's photos
95) Play slot machines in Vegas
96) Go salsa dancing until the sun comes up
97) Read all of Shakespeare's works
98) Eat crepes in Paris (again)
99) Watch the sunset from inside the "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" dinosaur
100) Finish this list:)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Here's what makes me mad...seriously
Why, for the love of all that is sacred and holy, is Bull Durham continuously ranked above Hoosiers on multiple lists of "Best Sports Movies Ever."
That's the case on aol.com, Sport Illustrated 2001 & 2003, ESPN Page 2, and Times Online UK. E-Online, bunch of idiots, has Bull Durham at 7/10 and Hoosiers ISN'T EVEN ON THE LIST. The same for Total Film Magazine which doesn't even have Hoosiers in it's Top 25!!!!
Really, were these people born in a barn?
ESPN even had a recent "Bull Durham" week to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the movie and highlighted how "Twenty years later, Bull Durham is still widely considered among the top sports movies ever made, and is BRAVO's choice for best comedy ever."
Blah, blah, blah.
Look, I've seen them both, and granted, I could, maybe, be biased as a basketball-loving Indiana girl. (Let's be clear - no US pro-basketball, which is practically a mockery of the true game).
But, really, I don't think so.
Bull Durham: Some guy educates another guy in a single A team about baseball, love, and some other stuff that I don't remember. Susan Sarandon blabs on about the "Church of Baseball," and teaches one of the guys about the joys of bondage and poetry.
Hoosiers: Small-town basketball at its best. Features a coach with a past that whips farm boys into the best basketball team in the state while also dealing with alchoholism, prejudice, death, and recovery (mental and phsyical). Plus, every time anyone ever watches it...they are inevitably still tense and nervous at the championship game - a testament to the brilliancy of both the acting and the score.
No contest - please, Hoosiers is hands down a better sports movie.
Besides, if I had to bet between Costner and Hackman - my money's on Hackman.
That's the case on aol.com, Sport Illustrated 2001 & 2003, ESPN Page 2, and Times Online UK. E-Online, bunch of idiots, has Bull Durham at 7/10 and Hoosiers ISN'T EVEN ON THE LIST. The same for Total Film Magazine which doesn't even have Hoosiers in it's Top 25!!!!
Really, were these people born in a barn?
ESPN even had a recent "Bull Durham" week to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the movie and highlighted how "Twenty years later, Bull Durham is still widely considered among the top sports movies ever made, and is BRAVO's choice for best comedy ever."
Blah, blah, blah.
Look, I've seen them both, and granted, I could, maybe, be biased as a basketball-loving Indiana girl. (Let's be clear - no US pro-basketball, which is practically a mockery of the true game).
But, really, I don't think so.
Bull Durham: Some guy educates another guy in a single A team about baseball, love, and some other stuff that I don't remember. Susan Sarandon blabs on about the "Church of Baseball," and teaches one of the guys about the joys of bondage and poetry.
Hoosiers: Small-town basketball at its best. Features a coach with a past that whips farm boys into the best basketball team in the state while also dealing with alchoholism, prejudice, death, and recovery (mental and phsyical). Plus, every time anyone ever watches it...they are inevitably still tense and nervous at the championship game - a testament to the brilliancy of both the acting and the score.
No contest - please, Hoosiers is hands down a better sports movie.
Besides, if I had to bet between Costner and Hackman - my money's on Hackman.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Sometimes I whine...
a lot...sorry Mom and Dad!
But I can't help it! See, I whine sometimes about living in America. Because, truthfully, I would much rather live in Europe - pretty much anywhere would do for this girl. I blame this urge on studying abroad in the spring of 2003 where Europe was my playground and pretty much any city was only a 30 euro plane ride away!
Alas, since 2003, I haven't been back there, and since 2004 I haven't been abroad! I know, that may sound spoiled, but for everything I do/am passionate about - traveling is definitely at the top. Way at the top - like, Ithinkaboutiteveryday-at-the-top
But, just when I was about drown my sorrows with cheap wine and the Travel Channel the other day, I came upon an article on MSN.com which was pretty fantastic about pointing out to me just how thankful I should be about all I've seen already.
The article was entitled "Europe's Must-See Landmarks." And I was thinking, "Man, I bet, I've only gotten to see a few of these." Insert :( here.
But, really, I had seen 10/19. And that's pretty cool. No, that's really cool. So below, I've listed all of them for your own perusal, highlighting the one's that I've been lucky enough to visit.
(Not in any sort of particular order)
1) Eiffel Tower, Paris, France - Paris, je t'aime. My favorite memory? My dad's attempt at la langue francaise by walking up to the ticket window and telling the man at the window, "I would like trois for the top!" Good times.
2) Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic - Good friends, really cold weather, and awesome photography on this Bridge. I still have a picture that I bought on it hanging in my apartment.
3) The Palace at Versailles, Versailles, France - Ugh, love that Hall of Mirrors! Rainy day, but my parents and I had the best time! The small chapel was probably my favorite room.
5) Buckingham Palace, London, England - Totally - great architecture, not as impressed with the changing of the guards as I thought I would be.
5) Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark - Nope, but I would sure love to go there!
6) Puerto del Sol, Madrid, Spain - Unfortunately, never made it to Spain.
7) Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain - See above
8) Hagia Sophia mosque, Instanbul, Turkey - Nuh uh, but this is near the top of my list - maybe next year I'll go to Instanbul and Budapest????
9) Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris, France - We went to the Easter mass there - just incredible...it's such an undescribable place, I almost cried when we went in.
10) Red Square, Moscow, Russia - Since when is Russia part of Europe?
11) St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy - Yes!!! Plus, I was there with friends on the day the Pope (John Paul II at the time) gave a blessing. Amazing, just amazing.
12) Piccadilly Circus, London, England - Actually cut through here everyday on my way to class.
13) Colosseum, Rome, Italy - Totes...even cooler in person, but give you the creeps to see where the slaves/animals were held.
14) Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England - Our whole program went out to see this monument. Unfortunately, you can no longer walk among the stones, because all of the footprints were softening the ground and causing the stones to shift slightly. But worth it, nonetheless.
15) Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany - Nope, but would love to!
16) Giants Causeway, ner Bushmills, Northern Ireland - Never made it past Dublin the weekend I was there - not enough time.
17) The Parthenon on the Acropolis, Athens, Greece - Sadly, the closest I've gotten is an obsession with Greek mythology and my 8th grade sugar cube replica.
18) Alhambra, Granada, Spain - See above one more time:)
19) Custom House, Dublin, Ireland - Saw it only from the outside, but that counts!
Well, there you have it, my friends. I've been really blessed to see all of these amazing places.
Not that I'll quit whining any time soon:)
But I can't help it! See, I whine sometimes about living in America. Because, truthfully, I would much rather live in Europe - pretty much anywhere would do for this girl. I blame this urge on studying abroad in the spring of 2003 where Europe was my playground and pretty much any city was only a 30 euro plane ride away!
Alas, since 2003, I haven't been back there, and since 2004 I haven't been abroad! I know, that may sound spoiled, but for everything I do/am passionate about - traveling is definitely at the top. Way at the top - like, Ithinkaboutiteveryday-at-the-top
But, just when I was about drown my sorrows with cheap wine and the Travel Channel the other day, I came upon an article on MSN.com which was pretty fantastic about pointing out to me just how thankful I should be about all I've seen already.
The article was entitled "Europe's Must-See Landmarks." And I was thinking, "Man, I bet, I've only gotten to see a few of these." Insert :( here.
But, really, I had seen 10/19. And that's pretty cool. No, that's really cool. So below, I've listed all of them for your own perusal, highlighting the one's that I've been lucky enough to visit.
(Not in any sort of particular order)
1) Eiffel Tower, Paris, France - Paris, je t'aime. My favorite memory? My dad's attempt at la langue francaise by walking up to the ticket window and telling the man at the window, "I would like trois for the top!" Good times.
2) Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic - Good friends, really cold weather, and awesome photography on this Bridge. I still have a picture that I bought on it hanging in my apartment.
3) The Palace at Versailles, Versailles, France - Ugh, love that Hall of Mirrors! Rainy day, but my parents and I had the best time! The small chapel was probably my favorite room.
5) Buckingham Palace, London, England - Totally - great architecture, not as impressed with the changing of the guards as I thought I would be.
5) Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark - Nope, but I would sure love to go there!
6) Puerto del Sol, Madrid, Spain - Unfortunately, never made it to Spain.
7) Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain - See above
8) Hagia Sophia mosque, Instanbul, Turkey - Nuh uh, but this is near the top of my list - maybe next year I'll go to Instanbul and Budapest????
9) Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, Paris, France - We went to the Easter mass there - just incredible...it's such an undescribable place, I almost cried when we went in.
10) Red Square, Moscow, Russia - Since when is Russia part of Europe?
11) St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy - Yes!!! Plus, I was there with friends on the day the Pope (John Paul II at the time) gave a blessing. Amazing, just amazing.
12) Piccadilly Circus, London, England - Actually cut through here everyday on my way to class.
13) Colosseum, Rome, Italy - Totes...even cooler in person, but give you the creeps to see where the slaves/animals were held.
14) Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England - Our whole program went out to see this monument. Unfortunately, you can no longer walk among the stones, because all of the footprints were softening the ground and causing the stones to shift slightly. But worth it, nonetheless.
15) Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany - Nope, but would love to!
16) Giants Causeway, ner Bushmills, Northern Ireland - Never made it past Dublin the weekend I was there - not enough time.
17) The Parthenon on the Acropolis, Athens, Greece - Sadly, the closest I've gotten is an obsession with Greek mythology and my 8th grade sugar cube replica.
18) Alhambra, Granada, Spain - See above one more time:)
19) Custom House, Dublin, Ireland - Saw it only from the outside, but that counts!
Well, there you have it, my friends. I've been really blessed to see all of these amazing places.
Not that I'll quit whining any time soon:)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
It's a teeny tiny world
Bonjour tout le monde! Hier soir, j'ai mangé avec mes amis de mon classe francaise. Nous sommes allés au bon restaurant Lebanese...
Oh, uh, excuse-moi, I didn't mean to start in la langue francaise, but I've been speaking so much of it lately!! Très bon, n'est-ce pas?
Oh, uh, excuse-moi, I didn't mean to start in la langue francaise, but I've been speaking so much of it lately!! Très bon, n'est-ce pas?
So, on Tuesday, my French class met up at an amazing Lebanese restaurant on the near north side to speak French outside of class, so we wouldn't lose our skills by the time class gears up again at the end of June.
And really, I don't have anything wildly interesting to say about that night aside from two things that stand out:
1) We managed to speak nothing but French for over an hour - pretty exciting!
2) We chatted with our waiter for a bit (in English) and it turns out he was born in Baghdad, lived for awhile in Tehran, moved here several years ago, hasn't seen is family (still in Iraq) since 1982, and his sister was 5 when he left and he's only spoken to her one the phone since then. Oh, and he speaks Arabic, Assyrian, Persian, English, a little French, and understands Greek. I am continuously amazed by the people I meet in Chicago, from those I know well, to those I meet purely on accident. Our waiter was incredibly nice - he mentioned that he hopes things are changing now, and how he hopes to see his family eventually in the next few years. For the most part, aside from reading the news, I feel very separated from what happens in the Middle East, but everyone once in awhile, thanks to events like this, the magnitude of what is going on is brought home to me.
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