Beyonce performing Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" at the Kennedy Center Honors.
Even though I don't at all care for Streisand or her work, it's always nice to see the softer side of Beyonce. She really is a dynamic performer.
10 years ago
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Why I Love Her So Much
Beyonce performing Barbra Streisand's "The Way We Were" at the Kennedy Center Honors.
Even though I don't at all care for Streisand or her work, it's always nice to see the softer side of Beyonce. She really is a dynamic performer.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Life Goes On...
So I decided to keep contributing to this blog, even though I have returned to the States for my last semester in school. Although there are many thoughts that I am not willing to share on the Internet, there are just as many that I don't mind sharing, and I think this blog is a good way to keep the writing juices flowing.
The past week has been a bit dull, as I have not been doing too much aside from catching up on bad American television and spending time with family members. You know how that goes. I did, however, catch a showing of Will Smith's new flick, Seven Pounds, which I loved despite the negative reviews. I've learned to make a stronger effort to think for myself and not rely so much on what other people have to say. In the end, it'll be me who reaps the rewards or suffers the consequences, so it stands to reason that I and I alone should be responsible for the actions that lead to those outcomes.
I have also restarted something of a fitness regime. We'll see how long I can keep that up. The last time I did any serious exercise was Sunday, November 23rd, when I thought it would be a good idea to go running in cold weather. Lance Armstrong I am not! I caught a really nasty cold that knocked me on my butt for a day or two. I exercised for the first time since then last Wednesday, doing a 45 minute fitness DVD. I exercised for an hour (cardio, strength training) on Friday, followed by more cardio (2 miles on treadmill) on Saturday. I did weights last night, and I think I may be game for hitting the treadmill tonight. We'll see how it goes.
Is losing weight a 2009 resolution? Perhaps, but I'm focusing more on finding the perfect job to await me after graduation. That would indeed be my top priority.
The past week has been a bit dull, as I have not been doing too much aside from catching up on bad American television and spending time with family members. You know how that goes. I did, however, catch a showing of Will Smith's new flick, Seven Pounds, which I loved despite the negative reviews. I've learned to make a stronger effort to think for myself and not rely so much on what other people have to say. In the end, it'll be me who reaps the rewards or suffers the consequences, so it stands to reason that I and I alone should be responsible for the actions that lead to those outcomes.
I have also restarted something of a fitness regime. We'll see how long I can keep that up. The last time I did any serious exercise was Sunday, November 23rd, when I thought it would be a good idea to go running in cold weather. Lance Armstrong I am not! I caught a really nasty cold that knocked me on my butt for a day or two. I exercised for the first time since then last Wednesday, doing a 45 minute fitness DVD. I exercised for an hour (cardio, strength training) on Friday, followed by more cardio (2 miles on treadmill) on Saturday. I did weights last night, and I think I may be game for hitting the treadmill tonight. We'll see how it goes.
Is losing weight a 2009 resolution? Perhaps, but I'm focusing more on finding the perfect job to await me after graduation. That would indeed be my top priority.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Man Shot During "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Check out this news link!
Pretty crazy stuff. I've always loved movies, and although I have in recent years cut down on my trips to the theater, putting a bullet in someone's arm is just all kinds of insane. That's why I always wait for the DVD release....
Pretty crazy stuff. I've always loved movies, and although I have in recent years cut down on my trips to the theater, putting a bullet in someone's arm is just all kinds of insane. That's why I always wait for the DVD release....
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Back in One Piece
Airports are pure craziness, I tell you. Everytime I am in an airport, I see people at their worst. Parents stomp around in a huff while barking at their kids to stay close. Businessmen talk furiously into their Bluetooth devices while waiting in the line at Starbucks, giving the barista an evil eye as they anxiously await their caffeine fix. Backpackers and students walk around with their eyes glazed, rendered ulle airport, situated a good 10 miles from the north of the city. After we hugged goodbye, I scrambled to the departure screen to find my flight, only to see that I was in the wrong terminal. Oops.
After I hit the CDG Val (a monorail that escorts visitors to one of the airport's three terminals), I found the line for my flight. Just as I made my way to the ticket counter, one of the airline representatives told me that there were no more seats and that I would have to fly out the next day.
I can only guess that from the look on my face, she thought she had to appease me in whatever way possible. It's funny because I wasn't at all mad. I was merely thinking, "Hooray! Another night in Paris. I never did get to say goodbye to my friend across the street."
That thought must have translated as frustration or displeasure on my face, because not only did the airline rep offer me a free hotel for the night (with meal vouchers), but a seat on a first class US-bound flight for the next day, AND an international travel voucher. Who's excited? Yes, that would be me.
I'm sure you're thinking that I could've just called my host mom and asked her to pick me up, and spared the airline the trouble of booking me a hotel. I even thought that myself. Yes, a small tiny voice inside my head told me, "They're already giving you a seat in first class tomorrow, and you got a travel voucher. Have some class." But then a louder, more familiar voice in my head said, "Screw that, ride this free horse till it buckles!"
So it turns out that the hotel was one of those airport hotels, so I didn't have to travel far to get to it. That turned out to be a much better solution because I could avoid inconveniencing Micheline by getting her to drive to and from the airport two days in a row. Plus, the hotel was awesome! As soon as I stepped in, I realized that although I had stayed in places that called themselves hotels, they were merely private rooms in a hostel, complete with uncomfortable beds, dirty floors, and bad television.
This one had all the trimmings, including a plush queen-sized bed and a television that offered channels from over a dozen countries. Turns out that world news is much more fascinating in Chinese. Imagine that.
But I digress. I put my things down, giddy at the thought of being in Paris for one more day, and headed straight for the hotel restaurant, lunch voucher in hand. I gorged myself on pasta, salmon, roast beef, chocolate mousse, fruit, and cheese. Luckily there was only one other couple dining, but I doubt I would've cared anyway. Eating for free is one of life's greatest pleasures, of this I am sure.
So after I ate and crashed for a few hours, I called up my former neighbor and met her at a party in the city (I never know which arrondissement I'm in, by the way). What I love most about house parties in Paris is that I always feel comfortable as I am. In the States, I would always feel out of place for not having the best clothes or the "flyest" pair of shoes or sunglasses on. Oh, and while I'm on that tip, WHO THE HELL thought wearing sunglasses inside was cool? I blame this trend on Jay-Z, Usher, and whoever else thought they looked cool wearing a frickin' pair of Ray Bans to a party.
After the party, we left with two of her friends to head to Montparnasse for one more Kebap! I'm gonna miss Parisian junk food, even though the American variety suits me just fine. I'm glad I got to go out in the city at least one more time before a nine hour flight in first class.
Ever flown first class? I doubt I'll ever be rich or picky enough to pay an extra $1,000-1,500 for a flight, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy sitting on a giant recliner chair, drinking wine while watching any one of various terrible movies. I didn't get a chance to watch Mamma Mia, which I heard was good, but I don't see myself watching Pineapple Express or The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ever again. In regards to the former, I really don't get fratboy humor, nor do I think Seth Rogen is funny. As for the latter, save for a cool fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Jet-Li, the film is devoid of redeeming values.
After I hit the CDG Val (a monorail that escorts visitors to one of the airport's three terminals), I found the line for my flight. Just as I made my way to the ticket counter, one of the airline representatives told me that there were no more seats and that I would have to fly out the next day.
I can only guess that from the look on my face, she thought she had to appease me in whatever way possible. It's funny because I wasn't at all mad. I was merely thinking, "Hooray! Another night in Paris. I never did get to say goodbye to my friend across the street."
That thought must have translated as frustration or displeasure on my face, because not only did the airline rep offer me a free hotel for the night (with meal vouchers), but a seat on a first class US-bound flight for the next day, AND an international travel voucher. Who's excited? Yes, that would be me.
I'm sure you're thinking that I could've just called my host mom and asked her to pick me up, and spared the airline the trouble of booking me a hotel. I even thought that myself. Yes, a small tiny voice inside my head told me, "They're already giving you a seat in first class tomorrow, and you got a travel voucher. Have some class." But then a louder, more familiar voice in my head said, "Screw that, ride this free horse till it buckles!"
So it turns out that the hotel was one of those airport hotels, so I didn't have to travel far to get to it. That turned out to be a much better solution because I could avoid inconveniencing Micheline by getting her to drive to and from the airport two days in a row. Plus, the hotel was awesome! As soon as I stepped in, I realized that although I had stayed in places that called themselves hotels, they were merely private rooms in a hostel, complete with uncomfortable beds, dirty floors, and bad television.
This one had all the trimmings, including a plush queen-sized bed and a television that offered channels from over a dozen countries. Turns out that world news is much more fascinating in Chinese. Imagine that.
But I digress. I put my things down, giddy at the thought of being in Paris for one more day, and headed straight for the hotel restaurant, lunch voucher in hand. I gorged myself on pasta, salmon, roast beef, chocolate mousse, fruit, and cheese. Luckily there was only one other couple dining, but I doubt I would've cared anyway. Eating for free is one of life's greatest pleasures, of this I am sure.
So after I ate and crashed for a few hours, I called up my former neighbor and met her at a party in the city (I never know which arrondissement I'm in, by the way). What I love most about house parties in Paris is that I always feel comfortable as I am. In the States, I would always feel out of place for not having the best clothes or the "flyest" pair of shoes or sunglasses on. Oh, and while I'm on that tip, WHO THE HELL thought wearing sunglasses inside was cool? I blame this trend on Jay-Z, Usher, and whoever else thought they looked cool wearing a frickin' pair of Ray Bans to a party.
After the party, we left with two of her friends to head to Montparnasse for one more Kebap! I'm gonna miss Parisian junk food, even though the American variety suits me just fine. I'm glad I got to go out in the city at least one more time before a nine hour flight in first class.
Ever flown first class? I doubt I'll ever be rich or picky enough to pay an extra $1,000-1,500 for a flight, but that's not to say I didn't enjoy sitting on a giant recliner chair, drinking wine while watching any one of various terrible movies. I didn't get a chance to watch Mamma Mia, which I heard was good, but I don't see myself watching Pineapple Express or The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor ever again. In regards to the former, I really don't get fratboy humor, nor do I think Seth Rogen is funny. As for the latter, save for a cool fight scene between Michelle Yeoh and Jet-Li, the film is devoid of redeeming values.
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Day Has Come
So long story short (and you'll get the long, as soon as I have the time, which seems to be never, I know), I have really grown comfortable with living here, and now that I have to leave, I'm as petulant as a cast member on "The Hills" or "Dawson's Creek." That's right, I'm pitchin' a fit cuz I don't wanna go!
I haven't posted any photos on here in quite a while (chiefly because anyone who reads this is likely to be friends with me on Facebook, where I put most of my photos anyway), but I hope to post a few here of:
- Rome
- Berlin
- Paris
- Dublin
Don't wanna go, don't wanna go, don't wanna goooooo...
I haven't posted any photos on here in quite a while (chiefly because anyone who reads this is likely to be friends with me on Facebook, where I put most of my photos anyway), but I hope to post a few here of:
- Rome
- Berlin
- Paris
- Dublin
Don't wanna go, don't wanna go, don't wanna goooooo...
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Une Petite Leçon Culturelle
French phrases commonly used in the English language
Even if you don't speak French, you can fake it :)
Even if you don't speak French, you can fake it :)
Fire Alarms in Winter? WTF
So I'm on Deezer, about to play "Put On" by Young Jeezy and Kanye West (I've recently become a big fan of rap, more on that later), and then I hear this crazy alarm sound. I thought, "I don't remember alarms in this song the last time I heard it." Turns out it was a fire alarm! Yes yes, it was someone's bright idea to have a fire alarm for the entire building in 33°F weather.
It suffices to say that I was not well amused, although it was funny to see half the employees of a six-story building take advantage of the brief recess to light up a cigarette on the Champs. And who says the French aren't optimistic?
It suffices to say that I was not well amused, although it was funny to see half the employees of a six-story building take advantage of the brief recess to light up a cigarette on the Champs. And who says the French aren't optimistic?
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