|
making facebook professional
Employer: Academic Inspection of Besançon
Position: Miss Amélia, the English woman that stinks like a butt.
Description: Children:
Maitresse, he won't stop bothering me.
Maitresse, she wrote on my paper.
Maitresse, he kicked me three times.
But Maitresse, she kicked me five times.
Me: Ok everyone, I have had enough. Class is over for today. [all the whiners whine, good kids give me gueules] For our next class period let's reflect on how we can behave in class. Think about being quiet and especially about getting along with your classmates. Any questions?
Child: Maitresse, Kévin is kicking me.
par Amelia | le 2008-07-24 21:59:00 | PERMALIEN
|
Pas vrai.... or, This Jeans aren't going to fit around the junk in your big American trunk.
I spot some jeans I like on the rack outside some small expensive Luxeuil store that usually only has ugly middle aged teacher clothes (which are different from middle aged North American teacher clothes, but ugly all the same).
Since I just got paid I try them on. It goes something like this.
Me: Hello, could I try these on please?
Saleslady: Sure, what size do you have there?
Me: A 38.
Saleslady: Did you see any bigger sizes outside?
Me: There is a 34.... [crap, it's numbers and we're stumbling now.]
Saleslady: Well the reason I ask is because they are very small. But try them on anyway.
[I try them on. They are indeed too small. Which past tense to use?]
Me: You were right, they are too small. But thank you anyway.
Saleslady: Like I said.
par Amelia | le 2007-03-30 10:29:43 | PERMALIEN
|
The Little Black Dog
On the side of town I live on, within a radius of about a kilometer, lives a little black dog. He is very skinny and small and wears a red collar. He trots down the street very quickly with his head down.
The amazing thing about this dog is that I see him everywhere, at all hours of the day! Always walking quickly, always looking at the ground. I used to try to get his attention but he ignores me. In the afternoon he walks by the supermarket. When I am closing my blinds late at night, I see him out my window; he is crossing the street by the bar. In the early morning, he's going the opposite way as I walk to my school that is far away. On Friday evening, I was waiting at the train station and he was navigating the rond-point. Is it the end of the little black dog? People drive SO fast here, even around a rond-point. He navigated it carefully and at least two cars had to stop for him. I held my breath (and so did others) as we watched him run around it and cross onto the other side of the street.
I used to wonder if he doesn't have a home, but he's got a collar. I hope someone feeds him.
par Amelia | le 2007-02-19 06:55:52 | PERMALIEN
|
Effort to Blog More Frequently
I've been avoiding writing on here because I feel a need to explain how I got to where I am today, to summarize six-eight months of life... it's too overwhelming so I am just going to plunge right in!!! Now that the government has stopped jerking me around and given me my housing assitance, I decided I'd like to buy some perfume. I went down to Yves Rocher, which is sort of like a French Bath & Body Works + a low-moderately priced spa. The sales staff is aggressive and annoying. Herein lies a language challenge: in English, I know how to bat them off, refuse their advances, etc and remain POLITE and friendly. I am learning in French, but it comes out less than smooth. I had already turned down the salesperson once when she offered to "give me information" (what? sounds like something I don't want) so when she offered me a carte fidelité I said yes. Whatever. As long as it isn't a store credit card. She was very pretty and made up, par for the course for an employee of Yves Rocher. However, her LIPLINER literally looked like it was done in PENCIL by either a four year old or someone under the influence. It really was scribbled all over her lips. I was so absorbed by this that when she asked for my year of birth I totally blanked. Oh, my gosh. Mille.....how do I say 900.....and then there's the business of quatre-vingt OH MY G-D. I ended up GIGGLING and saying, "it's hard to say in French!" What an idiot. She offered me the form and I wrote it down. Now, I find that the only place I don't blank on difficult numbers is with my students. (Which, for all of you who take Spanish as a second language, I would like to tell you that French numbers are NOT like Spanish numbers. Something to do with French peasants counting on their toes, according to my mother. Very difficult. For example, let's take 80. In France (but not Switzerland, lucky Swiss) one says "four twenties." 90? Forming that requires adding "ten" to the "four twenties." Have fun saying a number like 97!!! "Four twenties seventeen." Ugh) THEN the free body wash I was supposed to get... they were out. No big deal I guess. I don't really need body wash.
So I stopped by the boulangerie and got a nice baguette, which went well.
I was almost home when a car pulled over asking me for directions. Now, I like being able to tell someone how to get somewhere in Luxeuil, because I know parts of the town well enough to be able to give good directions. However, like all my other interactions, I dread that moment where their expression changes when they hear my accent. "oh, where are you from?" "oh, are you English?" For some reason I am tired of telling people I'm an American. It's not that I'm ashamed, it's just that Americans (much like the French, I would like to point out) are not looked upon very favorably worldwide. And I have spent my share of time defending my country, my state, explaining how "I'm different, I don't eat at McDonalds, I didn't vote for you-know-who." So I'm sick of it, sick of making excuses, sick of hearing about how great Miami and New York are.
Anyway, there are two attractive young men in the car and they want to know how to get to the post office. I get two words out before I'm interrupted with "Are you German? Swiss?" I give a good glare, an "ugh" and ask if they want to know how to get to the post office. Yes! I used to be scared into telling people. Now I am getting good at being curt. I just think it's so rude to demand to know a stranger's origin. Especially since it had absolutely zero relevance to the situation. To my knowledge I have never asked anyone that. If we've become friends or if they offer up the information, of course I'm curious! But if we're strangers to each other it's NONE of my damn business why they speak English with an accent. In a similar vein, I had a friend in elementary school who, though being of a nearly identical ethnic background as this pale pale girl, had a dark complexion and appeared to be biracial. Strangers (adult strangers) took no shame in approaching her, a 12 year old, and asking all kinds of questions; "Are you Hawaiian? Filipina?" In one of my anthropology classes, my classmates of mixed race told us about the frequency of ridiculous questions about their ethnic background, how their parents met, WHY THEY LOOK THE WAY THEY DO. Come on, people. There is no reason you need to know. So someone has an accent. So you can't easily categorize their ethnicity. Big deal. You don't need to know everything about everyone. If you want to start a conversation, ask something a little less personal. There's my rant for the day.
par Amelia | le 2007-02-10 12:23:28 | PERMALIEN
|
Work Summer 2006, or What a BA Gets You These Days
Ways to Make Work More Fun.
by Amelia B.
1. Wear company badge on Mardi Gras beads.
2. Spend all my time checking flights to be taken on my days off.
3. Complain with co-workers.
4. Take second-hand smoke breaks.
5. Take random trips with people I just met.
6. When random trips turn out to be expensive, sign up for overtime.
7. Re: overtime- complain if I get it, complain double if I don't.
8. Run downstairs to the bathroom.
9. Wear long-wearing lipstick.
10. Wear my new blazer. With the built-in pocket handkerchief pulled out.
11. Swap the day's horror stories with co-workers.
12. Wear my Veronica name bar.
13. Answer to the name Veronica, always.
14. Obsessively check on my clocked hours to be sure I'm getting paid- this isn't volunteer work!
And the biggest way to make work fun:
15. Fantasize about buying a real plane ticket and yelling at fellow passengers that are rude to airline employees.
**DISCLAIMER: I'm a hard worker. And obviously, a good multitasker.**
par Amelia | le 2007-02-09 07:58:13 | PERMALIEN
|
Soon, this will all be a memory....
If I ever wanted to stop time, it's now. Five weeks left here? How can this be.... and how is it that time goes so slowly when you want it to speed by and vice versa? I look around at these people and realize that most of them are going to disperse all over the US come June 3rd. The rest are going to stay here, but when I leave, I'm really leaving.... flying into the Eastern Iowa Airport or coming up the most familiar stretch of Highway 30 just isn't part of my plan for the next few years. I'm gripping tightly at these relationships and these events, but they seem to keep ending.
par Amelia | le 2006-04-30 20:25:34 | PERMALIEN
|
Memory #2 (circa winter 2003)
Sophomore year, I met a boy at a New Year's Eve party at UW-River Falls. We went on a disastrous date to the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The Carnival was fun but the ride home was where the disaster started. I drove and he commented on my driving and how it was an example of women being bad drivers. Disliking sexist comments/jokes, I lost control of my hand and slapped his leg. Needless to say, things got awkward from there and there were no more dates.
par Amelia | le 2006-03-19 23:26:16 | PERMALIEN
|
Memory #1 (circa summer 2005)
One time I was working at first class (really easy, due to slightly less dumb customers and dramatically smaller amounts of them) and a large man in a suit came up and asked about procedures for a celebrity passenger. Turns out he was Michael Bolton's bodyguard. And when Michael Bolton flies, his assistant makes the reservation under the name Michael Boliton, not Michael Bolton, as to not attract attention.
par Amelia | le 2006-03-18 23:55:17 | PERMALIEN
|
to my fellow French 411 students....
We shower every three days.... as a reward for finishing our homework!
We cry during class...
Half of us have given up on makeup...
Pajamas and sweatpants have replaced anything cute we once wore...
We can barely speak a full sentence in either English or French.... c'est tout un melange!
Class discussions are our only semblance of a social life...
We've cut frivolous activities like eating breakfast and washing our faces out of our schedules....
We have passes to be in College Hall until 4 am....
We subsist on cookies, Hershey's kisses and whatever's fastest in Sodexho......
When our papers get really frustrating, we prefer to write in our bras and sweatpants....
BON COURAGE!
par Amelia | le 2006-01-20 19:06:20 | PERMALIEN
|
The beginning of the end
Oh my. SO glad to be done with work, it was SO heinously bad. I hate it. All the more reason to go to graduate school.
My ten days of being treated like poo for $10/hr were rewarded with a lovely four days in Topeka, Kansas, with my sweet boyfriend. Movies, food, the zoo, restaurants, cuddling, talking, good stuff. And no serious arguments. Just perfection.
But now I'm back here at school and..... Sarah's back in town! I have a lovely guest named Liz! And sadly- I got a B+ last block. All that work for nothing.
This block I'm in French Senior Sem. We have FOUR papers to write. I did that first block for anthropology theory and found it to be, well, crappy. And now they have to be in French. However, our professor did say today that it was not supposed to be a "torture chamber." So hopefully it won't be.
Also I need to take the GRE, January 25th, and apply for my first choice grad school. Along with be in a wedding party and do some important stuff for my clubs/groups.
Murh. No more posts for a while.
par Amelia | le 2006-01-09 20:25:02 | PERMALIEN
|
A Summary of Work-Related Events
So I had a lovely return to Customer Service Hell today. It wasn't bad, considering that everything that could go wrong did: no badges for me, badging place closed, no sign-in password, passengers checking in late for international flights, large groups checking in for international flights with three connections, passengers needing hotel vouchers, international passengers delayed on KLM needing hotel vouchers, overweight bag charges, unaccompanied minors, America West agents making stupid mistakes for me to fix, me forgetting how to fix their stupid mistakes.... all the stuff I could competently handle at the end of the summer that was a little difficult to figure out this time around. So I'm sitting with my feet up and relaxing....
Also, our living room is so decorated for Christmas, I think it looks the nicest I've ever seen it!
par Amelia | le 2005-12-23 21:55:25 | PERMALIEN
|
Almost break!
It's almost break and I need a 95% on my final to get an A- in Math 110: On the Shoulders of Giants.... Like the grade-obsessed pain in the ass that I am, I made my professor calculate that number for me. Then I told him I was going to study for 8 hours. Maybe that will get me an A- no matter what? Probably not- I don't think this is the humanities kind of thing where you sometimes get graded on your work ethic and intentions.
I am really looking forward to break. I have nearly secured temporary employment and am of course complaining about it. I would have complained more had I not nearly secured it, though.
Next semester is bringing two really important roommate-esqe girls back to campus: Sarah, my roomie of two years, and Liz, honorary alumna of the French club, who is going to live with me for one week while we take FRENCH 411 SENIOR SEM HOLY COW. So excited to have her around again. However, the end of this semester also means Ryan is leaving- the lunch table hasn't really been complete since sophomore year and won't be until both he and Sarah are back at the same time!
Things to do/eat over break: Fondue outing! Alcapulco (monster margaritas? queso?!) Pasta, brie, garlic bread, sledding, tubing, cross country skiing, SHOPPING (with some of my customer service slave earnings), sleeping, GRE-studying, best friend-cuddling, Luke-bothering, Levine-visiting, grad school-applying, church-attending, trendy haircut-getting HURRAH CHRISTMAS BREAK!
par Amelia | le 2005-12-20 10:08:40 | PERMALIEN
|
A long (and boring) December
Hmmm- maybe it's better that things are "winding down" at Cornell, so to speak... I think December is slow yet somehow stressful for everyone. My wonderful knot class is starting to suck, and we have a test tomorrow. Therefore we have the afternoon off and I plan to nap.
Good news: I get to work for a few days over our long-ish Christmas break. Bad news: 19% pay cut. It's still a lot of money per hour, but not enough for the crap up with which I will have to put.
I know she doesn't want to, but it is time for DR to come back and create some drama, distract me from my homework, plot and scheme, etc.
par Amelia | le 2005-12-13 12:33:08 | PERMALIEN
|
a poem by Lewis Alexander
Streets
Avenues of dreams
Boulevards of pain
Moving black streams
Shimmering like rain
par Amelia | le 2005-11-19 16:54:08 | PERMALIEN
|
What? A Post?
Not that anyone will read this, since I never write on here!
A short synopsis of my life between late June and mid-November:
July- worked in the lovely field of customer service in real, adult job. LOVE working. LOVE paychecks. May someday be workaholic. Went to beach obessively. Hung out with boyfriend in Minneapolis in apartment that smelled like rotten meat due to wealthy roommates who didn't know how to work a dishwasher.
August- continued to work. Work got dramatic. However, never cried at/after work, which means in some ways it wasn't as bad as the summer before. Played with friends- canoeing, more beach (obviously), drinking for free, no cover, at the Crabshack, downtown Stillwater (tripped in puke and fell on butt in front of high school nemesis). Shopped, ate good food. Developed unhealthy consumption of mozzerella sticks. Worked a million hours a week.
September- Due to obsession with the benefits of unionized labor (double time and half on national holidays!), skipped first day of History of Ethnological Theory (as dry as it sounds, but got an A!) to work some more. Beautiful weather in good ol' Mt. Vernon. Dealing with using the "g-word" (graduate).
October- Drama, drama, drama. Icky month. Month of poop. No rest on weekends. Busy fighting with someone or monitoring someone's fight, all the time. Went home twice, got new computer.
November- Much better! Ridiculous class, not much homework. (Must admit I wanted more- eee.) Got butt in gear, working on on application for teaching assistant position in France, thinking about grad school, looking at grad schools on internet. Setting goals, facebooking, playing (sometimes with my DR in DC!) Levine is moving away, but it will be good for him even if we get lonely sometimes. Can't wait for Thanksgiving in Aurora, IL with fun cousins and red wine. Every cousin on my mom's side, including my brother, has blond hair and green/blue eyes. I am the odd duck.
So that's my life in a nutshell. I think I will post more often.
par Amelia | le 2005-11-19 15:53:57 | PERMALIEN
|
when life gets confusing, take a nap in the Heavenly Bed (TM)
So, I am staying at this hotel in DTW courtesy of my new employer. They make a huge deal about their beds, calling it the Heavenly Bed (TM). Well, I'm used to cheap beds, and I did not think it was so heavenly when I woke up at 4 with a sore neck. However, today after eight hours of staring at a black computer screen with neon green writing while wearing dress clothes and trying not to eat or drink, I got neurotic about a five minute phone conversation and got confused about life in general. So I lied down in the Heavenly Bed (TM) and I was pleasantly drowsy. It has four pillows, two down and two regular, and one silly little long pillow that's not really for anything except maybe your neck. On top of the pillowy mattress is two nice cotton comforters in place of the usual nasty polyester comforter. And when I woke up, I was ready for pasta.
par Amelia | le 2005-06-21 21:51:18 | PERMALIEN
|
The Stalking Days of High School
Today I went to pick up my high school transcript (interesting how my grades are very similar to my college grades; also interesting how they charged me $2, thanks SAHS, I pay my taxes too) and I happened by three girls near the candy machine and for a couple minutes I was back in high school. They (here's the "stalking" part) were discussing a cute senior named John, describing him, and planning to get a yearbook so they could point him out to one another. Then they started talking about plans for the last night of school, which is of immense importance to most people, even in college- especially in college! One said she thought she might be grounded and the other commented on what she had done last year. As I picked out some Cheetos and Twix for Rat, I thought about how I had had those exact conversations and thoughts a few years ago, in those same halls, with my friends.
par Amelia | le 2005-06-06 16:39:08 | PERMALIEN
|
The Stalking Days of Junior High
In cleaning out my dresser, I found out that in 9th grade, I copied down onto paper my crush's AOL profile.
Wow.
par Amelia | le 2005-06-04 21:23:16 | PERMALIEN
|
Pain.
So I am feeling sorry for myself about my swollen jaw and the four bloody "sockets" in my gums. But then I think about my two friends who are seriously injured from (drunken) accidents. I think this is not as bad.
par Amelia | le 2005-05-31 18:22:46 | PERMALIEN
|
An online quiz
Well, I only post when I have papers, and I didn't have one last block, so that's why I'm posting now!
[1] What is your secret guaranteed weeping movie?
Legends of the Fall, The Outsiders
[2] If you could have plastic surgery, what would you have done?
Eh.... I am morally opposed to it. If I HAD to, it would be lipo off my stomach.
[3] Do you have a completely irrational fear?
Not really.
[4] What is the little physical habit that gives away your insecure moment?
Biting my thumbs off.
[5] Are you a pyromaniac?
Yes, I like to play with candle wax.
[6] Do you have too many love interests?
Nope!
[7] Do you know anyone famous?
No.
[8] Describe the bed you sleep in.
A really nice loft bed that I've been sleeping in since I was 4.
[9] Spontaneous or plan?
Plan, plan, plan! Sometimes I like a little spontaneity, though.
[10] Do you know how to play poker?
Not at all.
[11] What do you carry with you at all times?
Cell phone, water bottle.
[12] What do you miss most about being little?
Carefree summers!
[13] Are you happy with your given name?
Yeah, it's fine.
[14] How much money would it take to get you to give up the Internet for one year?
Wow, I think a TON of money. I need the internet to communicate.
[15] Do you like yourself?
Ah, sure.
[16] Do transient, homeless, or starving people bother you?
Yeah, they make me feel guilty and helpless.
[17] Do you consider yourself to be a nice person?
I try to be.
[18] Do you spend more time with your lover or your friends?
I think it's 50/50.
[19] What's one thing you wish you could do but can't?
Be really athletic.
[20] What is your ideal marriage location?
Minnesota, where else?
[21] Which musical instrument do you wish you could play?
Guitar.
[22]Favorite fabric?
Nice cotton sheets
[23] Something you love and hate?
Working.
[24] What kind of bedding do you use?
2 pillows and neat, tucked in sheets.
[25] Do you tell your friends about your sex life?
What?
[26] What's the one language you want to learn?
I think I had better learn Spanish but I don't really want to. What I would really like would be to be FLUENT in French.
[27] What do you order at a bar?
Delicious mixed drinks, now that I'm 21.
[28] Have you ever pierced your body parts?
My belly button!
[29] Do you have tattoos?
No.
[30] Do you drive stick?
Absolutely, I love it.
[31] What's one trait you hate in a person?
Smart people who don't try.
[32] What kind of watch(es) do you wear?
My Timex Indiglo that I am obsessed with. I can't live without it.
[33] Most frivolous purchase?
I bought pore strips...
[34] Do you consider yourself materialistic?
I struggle not to be, it's so hard.
[35] What do you cook the best?
Mmmmm.... pasta with olive oil and parmesan!
[36] Favorite writing instrument?
Ballpoint pens.
[37] Do you prefer to stand out or blend in?
It depends on who I am with.
[38] What kind of books do you like to read?
classics...like dickens, austen, etc.
[39] If you won the lottery, what would you do?
Pay off my education, get a PhD, buy a loft apartment in Minneapolis, get a new Honda, buy some purses, support NOW and Planned Parenthood and the DNC and the WWF and international relief ngos.
[40] What's one thing you're a sore loser at?
Board games.
[41] If you don't like a person, how do you show it?
It depends on who they are. Sometimes I ignore them or sometimes I fight with them.
[42] Do you cry in front of friends?
For sure.
[43] What kind of first impression do you think you give to people?
Friendly, hopefully!
[44] What's one thing you like to do alone?
Write papers.
[45] Are you a giver or a taker?
I think I am equally both.
[46] When's the last time you cried?
While fighting.
[47] Favorite communication method?
In person
[48] How many drinks before you're tipsy?
3. Coconut rum? 5.
[49] Favorite kind of porn?
Ew. I really do not like porn.
[50] Do you ever have to beg?
Sure.
[51] Have you ever done any illegal drugs?
Hum.
[52] Do you think you're cute?
Only when I'm being loud.
[53] Do you have problems changing clothes in front of friends?
No.
[54] What's the most painful experience you've ever had?
Passing out from a needle.
par Amelia | le 2005-05-21 18:26:47 | PERMALIEN
|
St. Patrick's Day Weekend.
Since I am supposed to be working on a science paper (shudder) right now, I am going to blog instead.
This week has been hectic!! Thursday was ridiculous; I pulled off the Free French Food on the OC quite nicely with Anna and Liz (and some much-appreciated assisstance from DR!) and then made some jello.
March 17th is Levine's and my anniversary and so we had a picnic with Wilbur on my bedroom floor.
Sarah's and my jello shot party went off without a hitch.... Best part of the party: Erin W, Erin L, and Emily show up and I tell them the alcohol's gone. "We know that!" they say, "We just wanted to see you and say hi!" How sweet! Levine got off work and helped Anna and I polish off a bottle of pineapple rum, and we headed down to Leland's birthday party to say hi to Sarah. I am proud of how nice I was to Leland- come on, it was his birthday!! He was nice back and tried to give me his beer because the keg was out; if you know about Leland's and my relationship, our treatment of each other was quite uncharacteristic that night.
Yesterday I worked hard all during afternoon class learning bones and muscles and trying to figure out how to write a science paper, the opposite kind of writing that I have spent college improving. How I miss literary analyses and trying to put a feminist spin on everything and using metaphors and writing in French! Oh, well, I think I have the hang of it. Passive voice is a must, and since we were strictly forbidden to use it in American Survey, I have a good handle on what it is!! Enough boring stuff about school.
Today, I am going to the Sponge Cute Boy Party with Sarah and then the New Active Date Party, put on by the wonderful new Delphi actives. I think they have some fun stuff planned! Last year the New Active Date Party was my first date with Levine. :-)
Paper calls!
par Amelia | le 2005-03-19 15:59:14 | PERMALIEN
|
A in English Survey 2!
Ahhhhh. Sigh of relief. Survey courses are done, and I exceeded my goals of getting A-'s in both of them.
Am now in easy Biology class. It's amazing the time I have to do things like work out, work at phone team, play with friends, nap, read magazines.... mmm.
This weekend looks exciting, lots of free time, punch party on Friday night as well as free viewing of Napolean Dynamite in the Ratt. I have been wanting Gretchen to see it but we just couldn't pay to rent it! The moral is- if you wait long enough, things become free.
I think I am going to henna my hair tomorrow. Red, of course.
I apologize to the three people and counting that I have given my deathly illness to.
How to get this illness: take hard class. Do homework constantly. Never work out, eat crappy Sodexho. Repeat twice. Instead of resting over block break, be Psuedo PM and be up at all hours of the day, running around in costumes that aren't warm enough.
How to get over this illness: Echinachea (sp?). 11.5 hours of sleep in one night. Lots of oranges, avoid dairy, drink water. :-)
par Amelia | le 2005-03-03 21:01:02 | PERMALIEN
|
A damn quiz to distract me from my paper...
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY: 1. Amelia 2. Emmie 3. Kettle
THREE SCREENNAMES YOU HAVE HAD: 1. peaceout8 2. cheers584 3. fastcat1984
THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF: 1. My long hair 2. My anal efforts to be financially responsible 3. My loud voice.
THREE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF: 1. When I don't put away my clothes 2. worrying/obsessing 3. being mean once I have a little alcohol in me... I'm getting better though!
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE: 1. Norwegian 2. German 3. Swiss
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU: 1. Getting in car accidents 2. The prospect of giving birth one day 3. Horror movies
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS: 1. Mascara!!! 2. Lip balm 3. Underwear
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW: 1. A green bandana 2. Pink Pumas from senior year 3. My trendy French bracelet
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS/ARTISTS: 1. Soul Asylum 2. Liz Phair 3. Golden Smog
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS: 1. Cartoon- Soul Asylum 2. Nashville- Liz Phair 3. Santa Monica- Everclear
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT YEAR: 1. Travel to Paris ALONE 2. Working my butt off and getting my GPA up 3. Party all the time with my friends (we only have another year and a half!)
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP: 1. Jonathan Levine 2. cuddling 3. respect/understanding
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE: 1. My Paper is Done. 2. I don't remember my last shower. 3. I can't wait for this class to be over.
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT APPEAL TO YOU ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX: 1. hands 2. nice hair 3. fun personality
THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN'T DO: 1. eat meat 2. watch scary movies without screaming 3. buy clothes
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES: 1. complaining 2. reading people's blogs 3. loving Wilbur
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO BE DOING REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW: 1. Brushing my teeth 2. Emailing my prof my finished paper 3. Talking to Levine
THREE CAREERS YOU ARE CONSIDERING: 1. marketer 2. elementary school teacher 3. speaking French
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION: 1. Paris 2. Hawaii 3. Goa
THREE KIDS' NAMES: 1. Holden 2. Audrey 3. Mary Elizabeth
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: 1. Travel to all the continents 2. Live with my friends and our kids and husbands, all on the same street 3. Attend Paris Fashion Week (this time as a guest, not a camera slave)
THREE WAYS YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A BOY: 1. I don't whine at my significant other 2. I like to sit in masculine ways 3. I like to drink G&T (maybe that is stereotypically an old man)
THREE WAYS YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GIRL: 1. As much as I lie about it, I love clothes and shoes, and I llike to shop for them, and read about them, and think about them. 2. I always wear mascara. 3. I have girly pretty things in my room.
THREE CELEBRITY CRUSHES: 1. Gaspard Ulliel 2. Simon Rex 3. Your Mom
THREE PEOPLE WHO MUST TAKE THIS QUIZ NOW: 1. Sarah K (I am SO glad you came this weekend) 2. Laura A (Same for you!) 3. Cara B.
Yes, I was at the Hilltop last night, after an awesome Bid Night, and I see two familiar looking girls at the door- none other than Sarah and Laura! I freaked out and told EVERYONE at the bar that they were here. Then I called DR and made her come to the bar and I covered her eyes and led her over to Laura and Sarah and then she screamed! It was hilariously exciting. I am excited about our bids- one of my Days buddies, Lindsey, is going to be pledging. Uh, what else. I don't even want to think about this paper, so I am not writing about it. Grrrr. I am almost 2/3 done with my English minor!
par Amelia | le 2005-02-20 18:40:56 | PERMALIEN
|
Triple Murh
I am working on my silly English paper. It is hard. It is due in 3 hours and twenty minutes.
Last night was a good ol' time! Liz, Anna, AND Jenny came to the 50 Year Class Reunion pre-pledge! Almost all the girls at the party were dressed in hilarious old lady gear. We had pink lemonade punch and danced around and tried to talk like old ladies.
Unfortunately, no wine was bonged by me last night. Oh, well. All the better to do my paper.
Tomorrow I may go to St. Louis and back to retrieve Levine's car with him. We'll see. How does one go about impressing parents of boyfriends? Hum.
par Amelia | le 2005-02-12 14:46:37 | PERMALIEN
|
yeah block break!
Ah yes, my final is done. All I need is a grade of a B- or higher and I've got an A- IN AMERICAN SURVEY!!! I am glad to be finished... but that sense of elation that I always got freshman year is kind of gone. I wonder why.
Plans for block break starting now:
-Clean apt.
-Watch movie, watch my friends get drunk.
-Aerobics.
-Dinner with drunk friends.
-Con Levine into seeing the Cornell opera.
-Delphi Kareoke time!
-Home to Minnesota.
So my parents recently bought a 2002 Honda CRV. Hmm. Needless to say, I can't wait to drive this thing when I get home! My family just doesn't like new cars, so this is unusual. Now we are the proud owners of THREE Hondas.
I've been watching (not in a creepy way) some of the international students while they are IMing with their friends back home. I see their faces and it reminds me of last semester, at the American Library, SO HAPPY to be in touch with people back here.... people have more in common than they realize.
par Amelia | le 2005-01-26 14:34:12 | PERMALIEN
|
technology is great
Today I got spam from MYSELF.
par Amelia | le 2005-01-13 12:58:03 | PERMALIEN
|
today I am trying to write a paper
So... I haven't posted in some while! Quick re-cap of Christmas break: played broomball after Christmas with my SCY friends (we played against a group of bleach blonde, trendy high school girls, boy did we school them!!) Levine visited me and passed the Mr and Mrs Brandt tests with flying colors. I introduced him to tubing and the idea of numb toes. Nicole, KJ, Luke and Dad came along. The scariest time was when I LOST my tube and it went down the hill in front of me, leaving me to slide down the steep hill on my butt, gripping onto Nicole's leg. After we had Noodles & Company, which I only ate once during break, kind of surprising! I also took Levine to Chiang Mai Thai in Uptown and was brave enough to eat Thai food. I am working on getting my German tastes used to food that isn't carbs. Abby had a Christmas party with boxed wine and games and we had a hilarious time playing games. New Year's Eve was a Blast. We went to Nicole's house and had wine and champagne and some dangerous spiced rum mixed drinks, poor Abby got very sick and nobody would touch the drinks after that. As the tradition of drinking at Nicole's goes, I ended up doing a little dance on the table and this time Abby and Nicole joined. I love parties but I think maybe the best ones are with just a few of your best friends. We played Party Mania, this interactive game from the early 90's in which you are trying to get ready for a party and your mom keeps calling and telling you to practice piano and stuff. The next day was one of the worst days of my life. I was up early and began the trek down to school in a caravan with Gretchen and our respective parents. The 4.5 hour trip from Minneapolis took 8.5 hours, complete with snow and sleet and ice and my windshield trim falling off and a mid-highway skid of 45 degrees and a near rearending by a semi. When I got to school we had a nice surprise of a beautiful, clean apartment! I love it so much here, it's great to cook food that isn't Sodexhell. (I am still on the 7-meal plan for social and convenience reasons, and also for stealing bananas) Last Monday was great, I saw so many people and hugged all of them. I am in American Survey now but it's ok because so are Becky, Lauren, Gretchen, Nicole Soboleski, and Kristin. Makes for a fun class, especially when the professor's name is Mr. Freeze! And you can bet he's Canadian! Ha ha. So I am working on this paper, and decided it's time to blog. The end.
par Amelia | le 2005-01-09 15:12:16 | PERMALIEN
|
You know you're in Minnesota (special Christmas edition)
You know you're in Minnesota when the front page of the Christmas Eve paper contains an article about the choice religious Vikings fans made: go to the big game or go to church?
par Amelia | le 2004-12-24 18:13:10 | PERMALIEN
|
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!
Today was eventful. I got up early and went to Ikea with Dad to meet Gretchen and her family. We were all set to get a bunk bed, but then we found lofts, and then we thought about how I already sleep in a loft, and Gretchen decided to just get a futon to put underneath, and then left me a very cute message later that day to tell me she found a good one! Good thing, the Ikea one was a little fugly.
Then I worked, it was thrilling. Well, not really, but I am glad to have earned around $55.
Tonight I went to the Withrow Ballroom to see the Dweebs, a cover band. Nicole, KJ, Darla, and Bill and I did lots of dancing and a little drinking. Bill and I spent a while rubbing the red 'x' on our hands and pouting, but then our friends got us drinks, so it all worked out.
Tomorrow I am baking some Christmas cookies! Mmm.
Two great songs I have discovered in my downloading/listening to good Twin Cities radio: "Helpless," by Ryan Adams, and "Step on my Old Size Nines," by Stereophonics.
par Amelia | le 2004-12-24 02:48:04 | PERMALIEN
|
it's damn cold!
Last night I went to Applebee's and got Nicole, who related some bar stories from the night before. Sigh... since this is Minnesota, not Mt Vernon, no bar for me! Liz and I have hot plans to sober drive the girls everywhere so they can be wild and we can.... have healthier livers? After we left Applebee's we went to Liz's house; the poor thing was drowning in papers and unread chapters with Monday as the light at the end of the tunnel.
Today has been spent at home trying to get rid of nasty shower scum and downloading songs, usually in various versions. Usually when I download a song I discover that it is in fact a cover, and of course I need to have ALL the versions.
Down in my room, I have been sorting through piles of A Nous Paris II (the free newspaper in the metro), Marie Claire, souvenirs, clothes, etc.... so much work! I think I am half done. I tried to work out today, but had some serious roadblocks: our treadmill is broken and when you walk on it sometimes your foot just sticks in one place and the belt doesn't move, Dad put my bike into the attic.... I thought about going for a run but it is ridiculously cold here. We have a crappy exercise bike that I could use, but how much fun would that be? I think not. Maybe I will wait til I get back to Cornell, apparently the new workout center in the Commons is fantastic. Better yet, Nikki took weight training and claims she can make my biceps stick out.
As to be expected, my posts may get a little boring. I am not in Paris anymore, I am sitting in my house in May township in the most mismatched clothes POSSIBLE- for example, right now I've got on snowman socks, fleece track pants, a long-sleeved tie dyed shirt, and a cream colored sweater that hits at the hip, bought at Costco in River Falls with Darla ("it's so cheap!"). So she already had one and we like to match, plus I was thinking that even if I was poor I should have a trendy sweater, and if it's four dollars, why not?
Well, I think that some bunny noodles are in order. Levine gave me David Sedaris' 'Me Talk Pretty One Day,' which is rather hilarious, and I think I will read it and eat my dinner.
Blast from the past: I am looking for how to make my hair have less split ends cheaply, hopefully with olive oil, but all I am finding is silly tips and links like: "Do you want Jennifer Aniston's haircut?" 1996?
I am making noodles in a CLEAN pot. I really am home.
par Amelia | le 2004-12-18 19:43:12 | PERMALIEN
|
Some quick thoughts
What I thought when I got to Ireland:
-My goodness, I cannot understand these people. I wish they were speaking French.
-Hmm, everyone is driving on the wrong side of the road.
What I thought when I got to Detroit:
-These security and ticket agent folks are awfully friendly.
-Hmm, this is a great CNN feature on the intricacies (sp) of the death penalty.
What I thought when I got to Minnesota:
-YEA, what a beautiful accent!
-There are indeed more overweight Americans than French.
What I think about a snotty flight attendant:
-As a matter of fact, it does NOT cost $37.50 for a standby passenger to sit in first class. Because of her I missed out on some mixed nuts and some special pretzels that taste like butter.
What I think about men who hit on flight attendants:
NOTHING GOOD!
What I think about Macs that won't space out my blog entries as I space them while I type them: NOTHING GOOD AT ALL
par Amelia | le 2004-12-18 02:08:14 | PERMALIEN
|
and you exploded into my heart...
Everyone should download Dire Straits' song 'Romeo and Juliet' because it is beautiful and I love to listen to it, depressing and romantic, what a combination!
I am on B in the Rolodex which is my last batch of addresses.
It is a gorgeous sunny day and I came into work early so I am leaving around 4! Plan for this afternoon:
1. Gorgeous Monmartre for a few souvenirs and poking around. Also I am going inside the beautiful Sacré Coeur again, a church in Byzantine style, so unusual, lots of mosaic inside...
2. Notre Dame area, souvenirs. And by the way, I haven't been inside yet.
3. Home to eat delicious noodles, I have perfected how to season them: salt, pepper, butter, olive oil, French lemon-flavored mayonnaise, garlic. Delicieux.
4. Louvre with Anna and Liz.
The funny thing about this song is that KJ used to play it in her car! There is an Indigo Girls version too.
So, Rolodex, anyone?
You can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold, you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold. You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin, yeah, now you just say 'Romeo, I used to have a scene with him.'
par Amelia | le 2004-12-03 07:06:27 | PERMALIEN
|
the office phone...
Is a scary thing. It rings, I freak out, let it ring again, I answer it, say "Fashion File" in a nice professional tone like I learned with phone team (pssh) and if it's Madeleine or Kasia I am happy but if someone starts rambling in French I DIE.
Except today I did rather well. I am getting good at my numbers.
Yesterday I had a Wednesday with Allison, Marissa's friend she met studying in Ireland. Liz, Anna and I took Allison to Monmartre because it is wonderful. Then we had dinner in a cafe, soupe a l'onion, mm. Then we had drinks in a bar with Karim and Natty.
Beaches of Normandy this weekend!
par Amelia | le 2004-12-02 07:30:28 | PERMALIEN
|
je me demande
So through work I have become familiar with the work of Karl Lagerfeld- he designed the Fendi logo, had a great collection for Lagerfeld Gallery with lots of cute little skirts and jackets and sassy hats (look at style.com) and the Chanel Red Carpet show, which I already blogged about.... so one would assume that when he makes clothing for H&M one should get VERY excited. As I did. WRONG! Long, ugly sweaters for men and women, black with some white piping. A strange black dress that is for the runway, not H&M shoppers, and some ugly flesh and black patterned underwear sets. The only cute thing is some silk tank tops and black tap pants... but you can find those everywhere! Harumph. And also the perfume he made for H&M- Anna and I decided it didn't even smell like perfume. It smelled like an attic. Pew.
It's a sunny day in Paris and I've eaten my lunch so that I can spend my whole break playing in the sun. No errands today, just walking. And maybe a treat. For working so hard. I am on the N's in Madeleine's address book!
Oh Wednesday.... you are tomorrow!
par Amelia | le 2004-11-30 07:34:53 | PERMALIEN
|
How I wish American boys dressed
Well I don't think I want to join this Xanga business.... it is all 13 year old girls who use funny IM abbreviations that my generation of IMers did not invent, like 'mi' for 'my.'
Classic cute French boy: tight fake vintage sweatshirt, tight flared, expensive-looking jeans, cute blazer, often cord or denim maybe, retro Pumas, and let's not forget a scarf!!!
I saw Le Dernier Jour again by myself, and it was great; nobody would go with me, but that's alright, I got to watch the beautiful Gaspard Ulliel all by myself!
The family went home, we had a great Thanksgiving dinner with Anna, Liz and her mom, and their French friend. It was the most delicious fondue ever!
Well, I might eat some noodles... expect regular posts as I am on the computer at work all day, sad meow.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-28 12:46:36 | PERMALIEN
|
What I ate for lunch
I got unnaturally hungry (my new task, enter 50000000 addresses into Palm Pilot via computer, may have made me hungrier and will hopefully only take the next two weeks. Only- ha!) and went to Bagel & Co, except even though I've been there twice I sort of, er, got lost. I had a nice tomato basil mozzerella sandwich and a fondant chocolat, which is cakey chocolate around some delicious saucy pudding. Mmm. Except..... this plus some chips was a whopping 11 euros. Uffda
Put family on Roissy Bus to airport extra early. We did lots of tourist things, like going up in the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe (amazing views).
Thanksgiving dinner at Maria's with all the kids! Hurrah!
par Amelia | le 2004-11-26 08:26:45 | PERMALIEN
|
The Boulanger and The Pug
Whee! I had a great day at work. I made up the archive folder for all the shows from Ready to Wear Spring/Summer 2005 (the way it works is the show the collections half a year before they are available in stores.) I went to FNAC (sort of like French Best Buy) and did research on Palm Pilots for Madeleine IN FRENCH and THEN I went back to the office and printed info off internet and highlighted the different features of the Palms, nice and organized. I like working.
The Boulanger- Yesterday Liz and I went to the little boulangerie in my metro station (I know, a little gross, but it's cheap and we were hungry.) And the man was sooo nice to us, he greeted us with 'Allo' which is how they say 'Hello' when speaking to Anglophones. And I responded in French and then he said we had good French and gave us free candy. It was lovely.
The Pug- Anna, Liz and I were hanging out in the Champs de Mars on Wednesday, the park near the Eiffel Tower. We are busy harassing/avoiding the pigeons when all of a sudden a pug puppy in a red sweatshirt RACES towards us. We get really excited and start playing with it. The sweatshirt has a screen print of a dog on the kangaroo pocket, located on the dog's back. Under the screen print it says 'Playdog,' just another example of them putting awkward English on clothing. So we are squealing and playing with this crazy dog and her owner comes and looks impatient, so we tell her to go away, in French, and she doesn't! She runs around our bench, away from the owner. He walks behind the bench and she DASHES under the bench and through Anna's legs. Ah, the hilarity of dogs.
So when I threw up at work, not only did Madeleine let me go home but she told me to have the next day off. She told me a story today about her daughter's friend who works for an anonymous fashion magazine. When this girl got sick at work, her boss told her to finish her work with a garbage can next to her desk. I am a lucky employee.
*A shout-out to Jan and the French 303 students! Salut mes amis!*
par Amelia | le 2004-11-19 11:39:06 | PERMALIEN
|
live from 17 avenue Matignon
Some exciting/strange things I've seen today so far: (also I am typing this AT WORK! Kind of like when I blogged when I was supposed to be lifeguarding, except now I am probably PAYING 11-odd dollars to be here, unpaid internship, what?)
A beautiful white wolf-like seeing eye dog in the metro.
A man jogging on the Champs-Elysées in a jacket that read 'U.S.A.A. Wash. DC'
Also the four flower beds around the rond-point (you know, those European roundabouts that are in place of four-way stops) now have pine trees on them sprayed white to look like snow. Personally, I'm disgusted, I see enough damn snow and also the flowers where still blooming until they were suffocated by that white stuff.
I think I am going to work on my special jobs now. Make labels for some video tapes using a spreadsheet and organize our copies of the transcripts and newspaper clippings on the shows that Fashion File covered.
Except wait! Last night Liz and I went to Musée d'Orsay and didn't have nearly enough time there. Free student night, and I am bringing the fam there I decided, next Thursday. Vanessa called us and invited us to the bar called 'Le Taxi Jaune' (Yellow Taxi) and said we had to speak french because she was bringing her friend Anne-Laure. Well Anne-Laure was wonderful and we had nice wine and she explained lots of grammar to us... the best part is I didn't feel like our evening was stilted by only speaking in French. Très cool.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-19 04:46:51 | PERMALIEN
|
Everything that is enjoyable is illegal, immoral, or makes one fat.
This quotation was scrawled on a metro advertisment for cake.
Well, today is Wednesday! I can barely contain my excitement.
Being away for so long makes me appreciate my friends more. Sometimes I think about funny things we've done together and laugh while I'm walking down the street. I did this yesterday while wearing sweatpants and flip flops in upscale Neuilly and got some strange looks.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-17 05:06:26 | PERMALIEN
|
Two really funny things
1. This weekend Liz was taking a picture of me after our lunch of half a jar of generic Nutella and half a baugette.
Amelia: I don't have any chocolate on my face, do I?
Liz: Nope, just zits!
2. Every week at Delphi meetings, we give out awards if someone has done something silly/kind/hilarious/under the influence.
I got a laugh out of two of the awards: one involved an anonymous Delphi peeing on Andy and the other involved two others "planning to attack Andy." I am surprised he dares show his face within 20 miles of Cornell. (I got an even better laugh out of them because this very same day I had been fantasizing about pouring a drink on his silly head on the (hopefully) off chance I run into him at the Hilltop.)
par Amelia | le 2004-11-16 17:46:58 | PERMALIEN
|
Dreary Paris
Yesterday I got sick at work yet again. Madeleine gave me today off, so I tried to be productive and stretch and eat two meals at home (so that I save money for the Lancel purse) and go to some required visits for class, but Basilique St-Denis was nowhere to be found, so I wandered in a cemetary for a while, I figure even though it wasn't the correct cemetary, where all the French kings are buried, I may just play dumb in my journal. Ha ha.
St-Denis, on the north end of Paris, is not a very nice area. In Paris, unlike the US, the suburbs are the unsavory, ugly, industrial areas. (Except for Neuilly, where I live. If Paris were the Twin Cities, Neuilly would be Edina. In other words, on my walk today, I saw lots of housewives with Gucci purses.) There is even a movie out about violence and gangs and it's called 'Banlieu 13' (Suburb 13). Hopefully I will not be seeing that!
I might sound grouchy but I had a really nice day hanging out with myself and now I am going to see an opera at Anna's theatre, and of course tomorrow is the lovely day of Wednesday! We have evening class and plan on doing some required visits, and hell, some shopping.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-16 12:14:29 | PERMALIEN
|
a dog's breakfast
This is a cute little thing that Madeleine says about difficult tasks, usually to be completed by me.
Well, I haven't posted since Black Tuesday.... I have one of two choices, I can tell you all about how I feel and what I did November 2nd and the day after and have it be a nice release, or, since this is MY blog, I can ignore reality and live in a lovely little state of denial, at least in blog-world, since I have already dealt with it in the real world, and maybe just write about it in my travel journal.
Denial.
Liz and I visited Kate in Metz last weekend and had a lovely time. She has met a bunch of kids, all of them teaching assisstant in French schools, something I am considering after I graduate. On Saturday night we made dinner in her friend's tiny little apartment (bedroom, baby kitchen, bathroom, toilet, closet, that's IT!) and hung out with all these crazy kids.
There were a couple of kids from la Louisiane and we spent a lot of time talking about our cultural differences and later when they had had some wine, a lovely gay boy named Bobby demonstrated to us how he disciplines the little French children when they won't pay attention. He would turn off the light in Kate's friend Victoria's bedroom (the only room that fit everyone) and dramatically raise his finger to his lips and say "J'attend la silence." (I am waiting for silence.) Then he would freak out and demonstrate how he threatens them about the directrice (principal) and we all died laughing. His friend was a charming little Southern belle, except she was actually a nice girl.
Also Kate took us to Luxembourg, 45 minutes by train, and we walked around the city of Luxembourg, lots of beautiful old German-style buildings, and a beautiful valley with a stream and lots of autumn trees. So completely relaxing, and nice to spend time just hanging out with Kate and Liz.
I used my food money to buy a cute green skirt at Mango with a bow on it. This food money deal is the BEST thing ever.
Some more things that are different about France:
-The toilets have just a teeny bit of water in them. Great for saving water, but leads to a very disgusting phenomenon involving "the little brush," an ever-present toilet brush. I don't want to describe, if you really need to know, ask me.
-Also the French love bureaucracy, almost to a hilarious level. Lines last for hours and hours and even Stephanie told me that postal workers take a long time because they don't feel like being efficient. Kate has tons of forms since she is getting things like social security, and each government worker she meets goes by different rules, she claims.
Favorite sight of the day: Japanese tourists in traditional spot in the middle of Champs-Elysees crosswalk, cars rushing by on either side, photographing the Arc de Triompe. But wait, why is her hand up in such a funny way? Wait, her boyfriend is photographing her hand 'holding' the giant 2-story Louis Vuitton luggage that covers up the store renovation. Sort of how people stand with their hand up next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa so it looks like they are holding it up.
Giant Louis Vuitton Luggage: The Japanese tourist's dream.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-09 11:51:46 | PERMALIEN
|
The Election is Today!
OMG.
I am wearing my Oust the Liar button, made by Jeanne and sent by Brian Dooley to Liz, who didn't want it and gave it to me.
I am going to try to do my homework questions but I really would rather blog and get ready to go to Joe Allen for fabulous 25 euro all-night election buffet. Madeleine is going to be there so I am limited to one glass of wine in interest of a nice recommendation on my CV. ('resumee' as the rest of the world calls it)
Also my journal is due tomorrow, and I am stressed that Maria will hate it. My classmates tell me that
a) While ambiguous, journal grading expectations are really not that big a deal.
b) I should calm down.
So yeah, I am thinking about my parents and grandparents going to vote today in the Great State of Minnesota, and I am thinking about all my friends at their schools and abroad who have sent in their absentee ballots marked John Kerry, and I am wondering when we will actually KNOW! I think it will be messy and I am not alone in this prediction.
Madeleine subscribes to a prophecy newsletter, and the Indian prophet said Kerry would win. In 2000 he said Bush would win so he sounds accurate!
Et alors.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-02 11:49:59 | PERMALIEN
|
THE ELECTION IS TOMORROW- VOTE AS IF THE FUTURE OF YOUR COUNTRY DEPENDS ON IT!
Wow, I thought this day would never come. My weekend was amazing.
Chocolate exposition- filled with sculptures in chocolate of the Eiffel Tower, chocolate fountains (one ofwhich I plan to have at my wedding) delicious samples of expensive chocolate, and a little house decorated with Lindt chocolates. In general, an awesome day with Liz and Anna. For some reason I was not stressed, which is unusual because always, in the back of my mind, I am worried about money, or food, or my feet hurt, or I am subconsciously hating my internship.
Then Sunday, Disneyland Paris with Deann. Felt so young, I loved the rides, I was worried they wouldn't be scary; I missed going to Valleyfair this year as a result of obsessive working, BUT Space Mountain was so cool, a rollercoaster in the dark!
Then celebrating of Halloween, complete with expensive beer and me begging the bartender, in French, to play Ignition. I am getting predictable.
As far as work, I have just a few videotapes left to do! Instead, for tomorrow, Madeleine asked me to copy and paste references to collections on all the different documents, and make five thousand lists.
Coming soon: my mocking version of a post-show interview.
A funny situation of this weekend.
American bar, Paris. Halloween night. Closing time. Flamboyant San Diego boy dressed as lumberjack engages in conversation with Amelia.
Boy: I'm from San Diego.
Amelia: I have totally been there, when I was three! I made a sandcastle!
Boy: Which beach? Amelia: I don't know, I was three!
-somehow, they get on the conversation of Tiajuana-
Boy: Oh, my GOD! My nanny was from there! My live-in was Mexican too, she taught me some Spanish!
Amelia (fed up because this snob didn't know anything about Minnesota): Oh, my GOD! My nanny was from there too! Yo hablo un poco de espanol!
Anna, quietly: Amelia, you didn't have a nanny.
Boy: Uh, you're wrong, it's pocito, Yo hablo un pocito de espanol.
conversation ends. Amelia and Anna laugh.
Well, I have a lot to say, but I have a bundle of nerves in my stomach over this election and Mon Histoire de France is calling my name.
Remember, people died so that you could vote. If you are a female, women spent nights in prison and suffered abuse, scorn, and social rejection so that you could vote. People in oppressed countries would and do kill to have the right to vote. Vote Kerry/Edwards 2004, set America on the correct path, and help the rest of the world breathe a sigh of relief.
par Amelia | le 2004-11-01 16:55:22 | PERMALIEN
|
strange things that are different in France
-doorknobs are shaped like ovals
-showers often don't have curtains and the water gets all over the bathroom floor
-tip is included which is cool when you are out with your friends but not cool when you have crappy service that leaves you wanting to leave a crappy tip- but don't worry, they already got their 20% included in the price.
-in general, milk is unrefrigerated. At Anna's house, the milk is in the... closet.
-when you get in an elevator, you nearly always say hello. However (in Paris anyway) if you meet someone's eye on the street, it is best to glare or look sad and glance away. If, however, they do smile at you, then the next words out of their mouth with be German or English.
-speaking of foreigners, after careful study, I have decided that Germans, Americans and Chinese families (not trendy young Chinese) are the loudest tourists EVER.
par Amelia | le 2004-10-30 05:47:00 | PERMALIEN
|
sobbingly romantic...
...even though I stole it from Anna's blog, and she had stolen it from someone else.
I asked you if you liked me, and you said no.
I asked you if I was pretty, and you said no.
I asked if I was in your heart and you said no.
I asked you if you'd cry if I walked away and you said no.
So I walked away.
You grabbed my arm and said: I don't like you, I love you.
You are not pretty, you are beautiful.
You are not in my heart, you are my heart.
I would not cry if you walked away-I would die.
par Amelia | le 2004-10-28 15:43:41 | PERMALIEN
|
The Election is just SIX days away
I recall saying that all summer, back when it was around 121 days.
I have been having the WEIRDEST dreams lately. The other night, I was in a dirty river with Nerdy Mike and Jenny, searching for Nerdy Mike's dad, and I didn't have my life jacket. Someone came and told us in French to leave and I explained that we were searching for Nerdy Mike's dad and that Jenny's dad had gotten lost in the river last year. Then a classmate from elementary school drove out of the river (?) in a green Volkswagen Golf (a car I love) and I noted how rude it was of him not to help us. Then his dad was behind us and yelled at us for talking abou this son, and then his wife came and said he's just grouchy, I married him for money and I'll get rid of him soon.
Then I had a dream about Jeanne, her dreadlocks were gone and her hair was dark gray with a white streak in the front and it was done up in an old-fashioned old lady style.
Wednesday, lovely Wednesday.
par Amelia | le 2004-10-27 05:08:42 | PERMALIEN
|
blog got a makeover!
Hmm. I don't know if I like it, though!
When I stepped out of my office building it was so beautiful that I decided to walk to the library, about 20 minutes. It's so fun to realize that I am understanding where the streets are and how to get places on foot without staring at a map!
Last night I went to do my reading in the living room while my host lady was watching TV. If it was French TV I could zone it out sense my reading is in French, and hey, I can't just understand French background noise quite yet! But once she started watching this show about spoiled American brats, I had to pay attention. Goodness, it's hard playing in the Hamptons at bars where bottles of wine start at $250 and there is a 2 bottle/table requirement. And the shopping, ugh! My host lady actually asked me if I knew any kids like that. I laughed and told her about a certain grocery-store brat from Stillwater, but she's really nothing close.
Then I decided that it's much more fun to ogle designer goods than to have them, (or maybe save your money to buy them. Now, this Lancel purse that I see every day as I walk to work went down in price by 50 euros today! Which is a lot! So I think we save our cash and buy it? It's brown and wonderful.) and much more fun to just hang out with whoever you like instead of worrying that they won't understand your loads of cash and all the heartache and papparazzi that come along with it. Therefore, I am a proud member of the middle class.
Lovely Wednesday tomorrow, hope the weather is nice! Ahh...
par Amelia | le 2004-10-26 11:47:13 | PERMALIEN
|
209.132.220.133 does not like recipient.
I tried to email Lindsey Netherly (a friend from high school) and got this response back from the mail delivery robot. How mean!
So today is lazy, lots of internet and VH1 countdowns because yesterday was nonstop! Liz and I went to the marché aux puces (flea market) again, NEVER AGAIN, bargains aren't worth the slimy men. One vendor refused to bargain with me and I was really offended, so I left, because the whole purpose of the flea market is bargaining.
Then we went to Galeries Lafayette, big department store, and tried on jeans, agh. Let's just say we left empty handed.
Also, beforehand, an adventure into Carrefour, like a super Walmart, only more giant and probably more ethical. But it's interesting because Carrefour is a hypermarché (hypermarket) and they don't really have anything that big in the states. Or maybe it's like Sam's club. We got some pizza at Carrefour and rested our tired legs in a nice park.
Then we saw a wacko Chinese movie called 2046, about the 1960's and the future (the 2046 part) and it was good, but way too long. It mostly consisted of this author breaking pretty women's hearts. And a guy in a train going to (or from?) the year 2046 and breaking pretty android's hearts.
We left confused.
Then metro line one, my line, broke, and I sat around at the bus stop for 45 minutes until the noctambus arrived at 1:30. It wasn't unsafe, though, at midnight the streets are as full as day, the French party late. Funny how in Minnesota it was a huge deal when they changed the law to have bars open until 2 am!
Minnesotan embarassment Jesse Ventura has endorsed Kerry, which is a good sign because independants in MN will go for that.
I think I really miss the country- today I was watching French Planète and they had a shot of a creek and it was so pretty I gasped. I wish I were at home playing outside in the trees and the grass and maybe even looking at the cornfields in Iowa.
par Amelia | le 2004-10-24 12:21:29 | PERMALIEN
|
So chocolate macaron...
is a fabulous amazing dessert that I've been ogling at Paul, this snooty boulangerie, every time I go to get my lunch sandwich (eggs, cheese, tomato, some kind of delicious mayo, which, by the way! I remember writing on my blog that I'd miss quality mayo. Boy did I have another think coming. This mayo at Paul tastes like, uh tuna, but I still like it, bad vegetarian. And the mayo I bought has a delicious lemon flavor. Ahhh.)
So anyway, finally today I bought this macaron thing- chocolate at its best, alternately gooey and flakey. Definitely on the list of delicious food to feed Mom and Luke when they get here!
Today is a gorgeous day, after all the clouds and rain: pure blue sky. I ran an errand at work, which I am growing to love (running errands, not work!) because I get away from transcribing.
I worked on the Chanel video today. I wish I could have gone to this show, it was by far the coolest I've seen, in respect to both presentation and clothing. Oh, the clothes- lots of little tweed suits, and dresses with pearls on them, and flowing dresses, and movie-star gowns. The hair was retro seventies, some of it 'done,' some long and flowing, so pretty. Also, the show was done on a red carpet, and there were extra camerapeople flashing, to make it very Hollywood, and the models acted like movie stars and waved and smiled at the audience. So I thoroughly enjoyed that.
I spent a second feeling intellectually superior to beautiful Shalom Harlow, as she said the word 'theirselves' in an interview.
AH- spontaneity! Liz and I may go to London on Sunday!
par Amelia | le 2004-10-21 12:03:55 | PERMALIEN
|
Articles 1 à 50 sur 136
Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
