Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities

 

Don’t you just love Vahram Muratyan’s graphic design prints from his witty Paris vs. New York book?

These are some of my favorites:

 

This is definitely a book I should have in my library.

So, about life.

 

I’ve been so “weird” during the past few weeks. Honestly, I’ve been really sad about everything going on in the world lately. I know bad stuff happens everywhere, all the time- but lately it has really effected me. Between the poor kids walking past my house every day, the violence in Syria, and the anniversary of the Japanese Tsunami (among other things) I just haven’t been able to make myself sit down and say something positive.

Sooo…

Let’s talk about Pinterest.

Because that’s always cheery.

I think Pinterest signifies an interesting shift in the culture of social networking. Sites like Myspace and Facebook represent life as it is. Even if you could create a false identity, it’s pretty hard to change your character. Twitter is different because its not about sharing a running diary of life, but rather about sharing information and inspiration.

But Pinterest, that’s another story altogether.

Pinterest is about promoting ideals, rather than self-promotion. It’s pretty fascinating to think about.

You don’t see people as they are, but rather, what they aspire to be.

Promoting your dream life:

 

Organizing ideas for your home:

 

Or just simply sharing what makes you happy:

 

Pinterest is one of the few positive sources of enjoyment on social media…

I love it.

As the cravat begin to tighten around his neck…

Frankly, I wish more men still wore cravats.

I love old books.

 

Just a thought.

 

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” -Deuteronomy 4:2

I know lots of people who like the “diminish” part, but I’ve never heard anyone that understood the “add” part.

For extra effect:

“Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.”
-Ezra 6:11

 

Just a thought- for next time we assume that our own convictions trump the Bible.

11 things.

 

I discovered the adorable Connie this morning, and I thought it might be fun to do the 11 Random Things questionnaire. (Yes, I love these things.)

{1. Post these rules 2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things 3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post 4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them 5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.}

Sadly I have like zero recent pictures of myself, so I’m going with an oldie…

 

11 random things:

1. I love the smell of must. Musty basements, musty antique stores, musty garages. I was reminded of this on Friday when I was walking past an old motorcycle shop.

2. I hate wearing yellow. I feel like I should be the Easter bunny’s very own compadre when I wear yellow.

3. I have a 15” TV. We are still in the dark ages over here.

4. I’ve always had a creepily deep sense of roots. Some of my youngest memories are dreaming of going to Edinburgh, Scotland and Berne Switzerland, of all places in the world. Imagine my surprise when I walked into the National Gallery in Edinburgh and saw my uncles forever immortalized in stone. Records or no, I’m pretty sure that we’re somehow related to those guys. And I was even more shocked to find out that my Dad’s family has roots to the Celtic tribes around western Switzerland. By the 13th century they were well-entrenched around Thunersee, in the Canton of Berne.

5. My goal in life is to scare children.

6. I like to sit on craggy, North Carolina mountain peaks and meditate.

7. I was famous in my childhood for reading upside down. We have pictures. and videos.

8. I was also famously scared of toilets until I was about 16. That’s not to say I don’t freak out at high-powered toilets today. And no, I didn’t relieve myself in the woods or anything back then. I just flushed and fled. (Imagine my terror when my mom showed me how to clean a toilet. The Furies themselves couldn’t hold me.)

9. I once locked myself in a car and proceeded to burn my thumb with the lighter (back when cars had lighters.) My dad heard my screams over the lawn mower. I was six.

10. When I was a baby and toddler, I apparently took pleasure in giving EVERYONE the evil eye. Some things never change. And in case you are wondering, this is an evil eye:

I wish I could do a list of 100 random things, because I think you would find it most entertaining.
Let’s see, one more for the road:

11. I totally think the idea of reincarnation is awesome. Do I believe it? Nahh. Do I wish it? Yeahh.

11 questions answered:

1. Who do you most admire?

People who dare to cast away societal constructs and really be themselves. I have always felt very held back by the ideology and perceptions of the society I live in. I know being unique is my choice, but it’s hard when you live in the Bible belt and the threat is not something simple like being ignored around the punchbowl, but more like hellfire and brimstone. Talking to someone who will actually debate an issue is so refreshing. Around here, people just clam up. Maybe because they are scared of the truth?

2. What's one food will you NOT eat?

Sushi. Tried it. Twice. Gag reflex in motion…

3. What's something you love the most about yourself?

Everything. I really am one of these self adoring people in the most humble way possible. I figure that God gave me my body, my parents gave me my character, and my personality came from only God knows where, so why not embrace it? (This isn’t to say that I don’t lie on the floor bawling that I can’t be normal so that I don’t have to deal with question number 1.) And really, you knew this already. I’m a blogger after all. We blog because we like the sight of our own voice.

4. If you knew you had one day to live, what would you do?

I’m kind of wary about answering questions like this, as if it may jinx me. I’ll pass.

5. Where is your favorite place to be?

At home.

6. What new years resolution have you already broken?

I never officially published my resolutions because I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on
anything other than school or health until summer. So if you want to call that a resolution, then I guess I have kept all of them.

7. What moves your soul the most?

Celtic music. Old places. I’ve always been able to feel the presence of those gone before us.
And yes, in the creepiest way possible.

8. Why did you start blogging?

I mentioned before that I live somewhere in the mid-south. Ahem. I needed an outlet.

9. What's your most embarrassing moment?

Which one? I live for awkward situations. Last night I dumped a carafe of vinegar all over a restaurant. Last week the mail man caught me laying on the floor in the living room with a camera and a pair of shoes. It could be the time I was running naked past the front door on my way to get my clothes out of the dryer, only to realize that there was a car sitting outside, with the occupants looking in. Or what about my first experience with flatulence around my husband? It may also have been my synthetic fiber coat that forever retained the scent of oregano on my first trip to Europe, it made the entire bus sick. Oh, and I forgot the time that I got the bright idea to wear thigh highs that were a little too stretched out…the ordeal ended with me walking through the mall holding both of them up.

10. What's one of your biggest fears?

Coming to the end of my life and seeing that all I did was keep up with the Joneses. 3000 sq ft house, 2 cars, an RV, 2 kids and a dog. I’d rather live in a cardboard box than live the American dream.

11. If you could spend a day with anyone, past or present, who would it be?

This is why I read, so I can spend more than just a day with some of the greatest minds and characters in history.

11 questions for you to answer:

1. Do you like fiction or non-fiction, and why?
2. What is your biggest dream?
3. What were you scared of as a kid?
4. What is your favorite experience?
5. What’s your most embarrassing moment?
6. Who do you want to be like when you grow up?
7. Do you prefer cooking or baking?
8. What name did you always wish your parents had given you?
9. If you could be any animal, what would you be & why?
10. What inspires you?
11. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live,
and explain how it would improve your life.


I tag: you.

Why our system doesn’t work.

There are some great things about America.

Cornbread.
BBQ pulled pork.
Apple Pie.
Air conditioning.

And then there are some not so great things.

Like the cost of college and federal funding.

I get frustrated every time I hear someone complain about not being able to get Financial Aid for college, or
maybe just not as much as they wanted.

First, it makes me mad because our society believes that everything should be handed to them.

Secondly, it makes me mad because the only way I could really get FA is if I were:

a) African American or Hispanic or disabled
b) From a single-parent home
c) Irresponsible with my finances
d) lived on welfare
e) knocked up all the time by 5 different guys.

The way I see it, because I was born with the wrong color of skin (a), I have to pay a higher price for school. Because I was born to parents who work hard and stayed together (b), I have to pay a higher price for school.

and….I would get free school if:

I were irresponsible with my $$$ (c), didn’t pay any taxes (d), and had 5 different kids of from 5 different men (e).

The point of financial aid was to provide a way for the underprivileged to get a better chance at life.
But it didn’t work out that way.

And frankly, I find it insulting to minorities that they are basically looked upon by the establishment as being just as irresponsible and needy as c,d or e. If I were a minority, I would be speaking up against what is still a form of racism. To say that they need extra assistance is to say that they were somehow born with less ability or intelligence than their white peers. It’s ridiculous.

I don’t think that mere tweaking will create real change or success for higher education. We are very quickly falling behind our Asian peers, and something has to be done now if we want to maintain the level excellence that America has created over the past 250 years or so.

So my idea is that instead of trying to fix a broken system, we choose one of  two drastic options:

1. Drop financial aid and federal funding completely. We can be responsible for ourselves and either save money for college or get student loans. Result: College tuition will go down drastically and my taxes can go to something like bridges and interstates instead of the lazy bum down the street. This would also make college degrees more valuable, and less kids will graduate with worthless cookie cutter degrees.

or

2. Go Euro and make college free for everybody. The bum still gets free college, but at least I will too. My taxes will be split between us. Not ideal, but better than the current US higher education system.

I paint each of these options with a broad stroke, and they each have perks and pitfalls, but it’s better than status quo.

Finally, I will always support federal funding for higher education for our veterans. Anyone who puts their life on hold to protect my liberty deserves the best opportunities available.

My two cents.

“…” conversations

 

Me: “Why don’t we carry babies on our butt when we’re pregnant?”

Andraé: “…………”

Me: “It would be way better.”

-

Me: “I want to move.”

Andraé: “I’m sorry baby”

Me: “Ugh.”

Andraé: “Where do you want to move?”

Me: “Out of the country!”

Andraé: “…………”

-

Andraé: “Honey, would you like an Oreo?”

Me: “…………”

Andraé: (rummages through pantry.)

“Well goodnight, it looks like you already ate most of them.”

Me: “…………”

-

Me: “What would you like to drink?”

Andraé: “I’ll take water.”

Me: (Pour about an ounce of H2O into glass.)

Andraé: “…………”

 

As you can see, we have lots of “…………” moments.

The Online Search: Hotels

 

I think every traveler’s worst nightmare is arriving at a hotel (you know-- the one with gorgeous pictures), only to find a dumpy fleabag.

A dumpy, pre-paid fleabag.

And so, we head to the online reviews.

But, are they legit?

A good review could easily be written by the hotel, while a bad review written by a person with unrealistic expectations. (Like people who expect a fluffy bathrobe and chocolate on 50 bucks a night.)

So I thought I would share my tips for finding and reserving a hotel online.

I’ve planned quite a few group trips, plus my own trips, and I’ve always had great success with hotels.

Here goes:

1. Virtual Tourist

I use Virtual Tourist to get a realistic idea of what an area is like.
If you read through the categories, you can get a pretty
good idea of which neighborhoods to steer clear of, and which to
start looking in.

2. Google Maps

Find the neighborhood you’re looking in Google maps,
search “hotels” within the map area.

This is how I narrow down my choices.
Hotels within 5 minutes walk of subway stations are fair game in my book.

3. Google Reviews

Within Google maps, you can pull up a thumbnail, like below.
I first check to see if the hotel has a website.
It’s 2012, so if a hotel can’t spare the expense to put up a website,
then they probably won’t spare the expense to change the sheets.

4. Hotel Website

I start checking out the hotel’s website before I actually look at reviews.
Be wary of hotel’s with zero pictures of their rooms.

5. Online Reviews

After I’ve picked out some hotels that I like, I start googling the name of the hotel.
I don’t rely solely on reviews from big name websites like Virtual Tourist, Yelp or Trip Advisor,
because I think they are high on the hotelier’s target list for fraudulent reviews.
I try to look at all of them to get a well-rounded opinion.
It’s great to go to blogs or places like Rick Steves’ Graffiti Wall for more traveler reviews.

 

6. The 1:5 Ratio

I do stay at hotels with negative reviews, but I use a ratio for dealing with this.
For every bad review, there have to be at least 5 good reviews

7. Separate the good from the bad

I might have missed out on some wonderful hotels had I paid attention to inconsequential things like
water pressure, no elevator, or “lumpy bed”  reviews.

You have to give them some slack, especially with historic hotels.

8. Take a Walk

This final step is the most important in my opinion.

Take a walk around the hotel on Google Maps.

Check out the hotel and its neighbors, and you never know what else you might see:

 

 

These few steps have never failed me! We have stayed in some beautiful and fascinating places, and all on a budget!

In the past 4 days.

I haven’t blogged because:

I studied 26 hours for a calculus test.

Stayed up most of the night Saturday and all night Sunday night.

Monday I took my Calculus exam, went home, changed and drove to Nashvegas with the husband.

5 hour drive.

Dinner with Fab cousins.

2 hours with the man of my dreams. I’ll post more on that later.

5 hour drive home.

Bed at 3 am. Tuesday

Slept til noon.

Second Calculus exam.

Now Biology, Chemistry, and grillin’ steaks.

Oh. and Old Navy’s spring line is awesome. Just sayin’.

I never shop there, but I had to go while in Nashville after I spilled hot chocolate down the front of my shirt. lols.

I’ll be going back.

And did I mention that it’s been in the upper 80’s all week! That’s fab too.

Gladys

OMG. These videos are so funny.

I love Gladys.

If you can’t watch all of these, at least watch this first one, all the way through. It’s hilarious.

 

The next phone call…

Not a day over 800…

 

And I thought Ellen was funny.

#MARCHPHOTOADAY 4-8

I am so behind on the monthly photo challenge, but hey, I was busy thinking about bigger things.

Ya know, things like birth control. Oh wait, that was the GOP. My bad.

I was thinking about things like genocide, starvation, child soldiers, human rights violations, war with Iran.
This are little, miniscule subjects that presidential hopefuls would never waste time discussing.

So, I give you #Marchphotoaday:

My beds are patiently awaiting summer’s warm rays.

Sherman with his sheepish smile. No pun intended.

5pm = dinner time

 

These are my favorite shoes. They are pretty spectacular. But then, ALDO always is.
(And now my blog is probably going to show up on some porn site because
some weirdo likes high heels.)

 

My favorite window view.

Spring Fever.

It’s official- spring has sprung in East Tennessee.

You know what that means?

Going to bed early on Friday nights, so I can beat the
Farmer’s Market crowds on Saturday morning for fresh flowers.

Running grimy fingers through black dirt.

Eating grilled Tomato-Basil sandwiches as fast as I can pick tomatoes.

Riding my little red bicycle.

Sunshine.

Ok, so maybe I’m getting a little ahead of myself, since technically I won’t be picking any tomatoes
until June. But I can begin dreaming, right?

Scenes from last year:

My Lavender will hopefully recoup after last year’s transplant.

The motherload of goodness.

“No fingernails poked into corn.”

Free mint.

Gorgeous Clematis.

Doing my best to run over the fowl that play along the stream.

F.M. flowers.

Fresh from le jardin.

Sunny, “roll-your-windows-down” road trips.

Fresh herbs.

This is what spring means to me.

For more spring inspiration,
visit the Farmer’s Market with Heather Bullard.

My Challenge to the Kony Crowd

I wouldn’t be surprised to see my twitter/blogger following decrease after I post this, but I do hope that you will please thoroughly read it before either commenting or “unfollowing” me.

I watched the Kony 2012 video yesterday and was heartbroken by the reality of our world, but I also became very concerned about the viral reaction.

You see, I’ve known about Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army for a very long time.

Yesterday, I was disgusted by number of people who watched that video and suddenly considered themselves knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.

If yesterday was the first time that you had ever heard about Kony and the LRA, then frankly, you’ve had your head in the sand. And you’ve had it there for almost 30 years.

I think it’s a wonderful thing that Invisible Children is trying to broadcast this message, and I think it’s a wonderful thing that people were moved by that message. But my question is, what effect is it really going to have?

Americans often believe that by simply becoming “passionate or excited” about an issue, that we can change the world.

Lemme tell ya something: it doesn’t work that way.

Americans also believe that opening their checkbooks can change the world.

Lemme tell ya something else: it doesn’t work that way.

My biggest concern is that people will watch this video, feel pricked in their hearts, donate to Invisible Children, and then feel like they’ve done something great.

My second concern is the call for military support by the United States.

Do you realize that you are calling for war?

Do you realize the magnitude of that statement?

War may in fact be the only way to capture Joseph Kony, but I challenge you to take the time to really put yourself in their (innocent Africans) shoes before you begin writing letters to your congressmen.

If our government sends more military support (they have already sent drones), there will be increased bloodshed. In the meantime, you and I will still sit comfortably at home, never understanding the reality of our call for war.

So my challenge to you….

1. Support Invisible Children’s ad campaign in the US. Share the video.

2. Research ways to help fund the rehabilitation of child-soldiers in Uganda.
There are several well-established programs in Uganda who have been working with the
people longer than Invisible Children. Workers on the ground say that these programs actually
have a better hands-on record than Invisible Children. This is not to say that Invisible Children is
not doing a wonderful job, but that their reach may not be as wide.

3. Arm yourself with more information about the LRA and Joseph Kony before calling for military aid.
Uganda successfully destroyed the LRA network within the country in 2006. The LRA fled into neighboring countries. The misconception is that the LRA “grew” into these countries. In reality, the LRA is weaker than
it has been in 30 years.

4. Understand that there are men like Joseph Kony all over the world.
Don’t end your feel-good mission with Kony. There are people across the world who are struggling with fear and oppression under evil people.

5. Pray
As a Christian, I believe that prayer is the most powerful tool in our arsenal.

Pause.

I just can’t blog this week. I can’t post pictures.

Every time I sit down to write, or stop to take a picture, something catches my attention.

This video.

These pictures.

This problem.

Starving children. Mutilated bodies. Scared citizens.

I just can’t see posting cute pictures every day.

I just get depressed when I think about how much I complain about:

The weather
Clothes
Doing Dishes
School

And then I remember:

I don’t have to sleep in room with 200 other kids, hoping tonight isn’t the night that I get kidnapped.
I have clothes to wear.
I have food to eat.
I get to have an amazing education.

So forgive me if I don’t blog for awhile. It actually makes me sick to think about it.

Houston, we have a problem.

And the problem is…

I’m having too much fun doing NOTHING on my spring break. Which means that I’m already behind on my #MARCHPHOTOADAY …and it’s only day 6.

And that long post I’m working on…probably won’t get posted.

And any emails I need to reply to…Ha!

#MARCHPHOTOADAY 3

DAY 3:YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

“From the mountains, to the prairies…”

 

#MARCHPHOTOADAY 2

 

DAY 2: FRUIT

The real wolf in sheep’s clothes.
(My tomato has the bubonic plague)

 

KFC Chicken Pot Pie

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who watched
this 10 times and laughed every time.

#MARCHPHOTOADAY 1

 

DAY 1 : UP

You cannot elevate yourself beyond your station without learning.
Read. To. Rise. UP.