Late night+early morning+rush to finish paper,+TWO burnt pans of brownies(courtesy of bain-of-my-existence oven)+ one cut finger+car problems+too much homework = BLECH!
Here's hoping tomorrow is better. . .
. . .or at least tolerable.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
"When I first moved here, I loved to ride the elevated trains, especially at night, when I could glimpse the thousands of glowing windows, each an indication of a life or a cluster of lives, as rich and difficult and sweet as my own. Glimpsing inside, seeing the moment when the lights go on — or off — is a confirmation of our likenesses, our common depths."
I read this today in article about New York and it made me think of riding back to my homestay in Paris. Looking into the windows of the apartment buildings always gave me the feeling the author describes, but also something else. Dating back to my years living away from home in high school, a lit window seen from the street would strike me with a pang, reminding me more of the home I was missing then the place to which I was heading. I'd like to think that this feeling has lessened over the years, as my sense of home has expanded to fit the people and places that occupy a larger percentage of my life. And so luckily, with a few timely trips home, I can enjoy fully the cooling weather and the shortening days, and feel at home, even when away.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Back from break, heading into a busy week
I wanted to post a quick update along with all the photos I'm posting to my flickr saying I'm back from my spring break to Barcelona and Rome. It seemed like it flew by so quickly and was such a great time, but I'm still a little exhausted and hustling to finish the work coming due this week. This is another busy and short week, as I will be heading out again on Thursday to visit Greece with my friend Jessie. This week hasn't even started but I'm excited by the thought of having a very relaxing weekend going to the beach and eating lots of Greek food.
I really can't believe how little time I have left, and I'm in a bit of a panic whenever I think of all the things I want to squeeze in before I leave. I hate having to stay in and work this weekend but I hope to get as much as possible out of the way so that I can enjoy leisure time for my last few weeks. Its been a little cool here but once the warm weather comes back I will simply have to insist on working in a visit to the Jardin de Luxembourg everyday--it is too heartbreaking to think of how little time I have the opportunity! (By the way, once all my pictures are loaded I will try posting the link to my flickr page in the sidebar on the right to make it easy to access.) I'll be back soon with updates of all the work I've finished--I hope!
I really can't believe how little time I have left, and I'm in a bit of a panic whenever I think of all the things I want to squeeze in before I leave. I hate having to stay in and work this weekend but I hope to get as much as possible out of the way so that I can enjoy leisure time for my last few weeks. Its been a little cool here but once the warm weather comes back I will simply have to insist on working in a visit to the Jardin de Luxembourg everyday--it is too heartbreaking to think of how little time I have the opportunity! (By the way, once all my pictures are loaded I will try posting the link to my flickr page in the sidebar on the right to make it easy to access.) I'll be back soon with updates of all the work I've finished--I hope!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Playing Catch Up
So, I haven't done a very good job at updating this blog, but this week its down to business. I have a lot of school work to try and accomplish this week so I can enjoy the beautiful spring weather. After all, I've only got a month left! I can't believe it! I had a wonderful, albeit low key French birthday and thanks you for all the good wishes! I'm in the process of posting a number of new albums on flickr with a bunch of pictures and I'll be posting again soon this week. I've finally got my two trips planned--for spring break and easter weekend--and am working on planning mom's trip at the end of my program. Between that and registering for CofC classes and my schoolwork and trying to figure out a plan for the summer I've been busy busy busy, but I'm determined to better with this! I'll post again soon but in the meantime I'll leave you with a pretty bit of Eudora Welty that my friend Sara sent me and makes me think of home and summer and being out of the city:
I was born with the feeling that if time and
hurry were forgotten, something quiet and wonderful would happen in their place. Maybe because on summer nights in deep content and quiet, lying on the grass, unhurried and so in deepest waiting, that is when you see the shooting stars, and the touch is almost made between the sky and the earth. - June 24, 1942
I was born with the feeling that if time and
hurry were forgotten, something quiet and wonderful would happen in their place. Maybe because on summer nights in deep content and quiet, lying on the grass, unhurried and so in deepest waiting, that is when you see the shooting stars, and the touch is almost made between the sky and the earth. - June 24, 1942
Monday, February 21, 2011
Reporters sans Frontières
The weather went from mild back to dreadfully cold this week, which resulted in a general drop in activity and spirits. As it turns out, the grey days of February are pretty much as grey in Paris as anywhere else, but after having been shamefully lazy all week, I've gotten it all out of my system and am looking forward to a busy coming week. However, before I drifted into my haze, there were a couple of things I've done since my last post that I felt are worth going back to.
The first is a photographic exposition I saw last Sunday at the Petit Palais entitled Reporters sans Frontières. It was a show of work from two photographers--Pierre Boulat and his daughter Alexandra. I expected it to be quite dry but the exposition actually made a huge impression on me. I found it especially effective that it was staged so that the viewer could compare the work of the father--who took mostly black and white photographs mid-century of historic figures and events and was a prominent photographer for Life magazine--and the daughter--whose smaller body of work was no less moving with color photographs of more modern political and cultural conflicts, many set in the middle east. Alexandra's photographs were more emotionally striking, as can be seen by the photo most used in the promotional material for the exposition and set behind the title on the website here: http://petitpalais.paris.fr/en/expositions/reporters-sans-frontieres
My favorite were Pierre's, whose work serves as evidence of a bygone era. My favorite of his by far (for obvious reasons) was a story he did on West Point for Life in 1957 entitled "Beast Barracks." It, like many of his other works, show the perspective of a Frenchman on Americana culture, which I found fascinating and very charming. I have included my two favorite of these pictures below. Also, here is a interesting video, though it is narrated in French, that shows the difference between the two bodies of work: http://vimeo.com/14997444
The first is a photographic exposition I saw last Sunday at the Petit Palais entitled Reporters sans Frontières. It was a show of work from two photographers--Pierre Boulat and his daughter Alexandra. I expected it to be quite dry but the exposition actually made a huge impression on me. I found it especially effective that it was staged so that the viewer could compare the work of the father--who took mostly black and white photographs mid-century of historic figures and events and was a prominent photographer for Life magazine--and the daughter--whose smaller body of work was no less moving with color photographs of more modern political and cultural conflicts, many set in the middle east. Alexandra's photographs were more emotionally striking, as can be seen by the photo most used in the promotional material for the exposition and set behind the title on the website here: http://petitpalais.paris.fr/en/expositions/reporters-sans-frontieres
My favorite were Pierre's, whose work serves as evidence of a bygone era. My favorite of his by far (for obvious reasons) was a story he did on West Point for Life in 1957 entitled "Beast Barracks." It, like many of his other works, show the perspective of a Frenchman on Americana culture, which I found fascinating and very charming. I have included my two favorite of these pictures below. Also, here is a interesting video, though it is narrated in French, that shows the difference between the two bodies of work: http://vimeo.com/14997444
Pierre Boulat. Cadets of West Point ‘Beast Barracks’. USA. Dancing lesson. May , 1957
© Pierre Boulat / COSMOS
Pierre Boulat. Cadets of West Point ‘Beast Barracks’. USA. First day. May , 1957
"Tu as un mois pour perdre ton double mento.""Yes sir!"
© Pierre Boulat / COSMOS
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