Reasons why I love Alaska, despite all of my bitching and moaning about it:
1.) There is a full moon out right now, and it's literally lighting up the sky in a way I've never seen before -- the mountains are silhouetted, and the clouds are clearly discernible in the sky.
2.) The other night, on the drive home, we ran into some traffic (which is unheard of), and there was a flashing sign on the side of the road that read, "CAUTION BARN IN ROAD." At first this message seemed cryptic and I pondered the potential meaning of it, when out of nowhere, BAM. I see a big red barn sitting on a flatbed of a truck. Being reloacted from an unknown Point A to a Point B, traveling at approximately 2.5 mph. Don't believe me? Here: Mmmmmmyeah.
In other news, I can't believe classes start in a week. Two of my professors sent out emails saying that certain readings and texts will be needed for the first day of class, etc
What the fuck?
I never buy books for the first day of class. I'm not even going to be in the city until the evening before classes. And what is with overeager professors, seriously. Ugh. Gar. Blech!
I've never been that big of Rilo Kiley fan (Jenny Lewis is like a watered-down Neko Case), but interestingly enough, their new album (which apparently has been getting bad reviews from hardcore RK fans) has a few songs that are definitely hitting the spot for me. Case in point, Silver Lining: (the video is eh, but it's the only way I could get the song up)
In other news, it's a bit more frigid here than I'd like it to be........that is all.
I had finally summoned the willpower to stop blogging about the random - and, for the most part, pointless - goings-on in my life. I figured, why am I taking time out of my days to chronicle these trivial events, e.g. what I had for lunch, who I had lunch with, what I was thinking as I was walking through the park one day, etc etc etc.
And I did stop! For what, ten months? And I didn't even think twice about it. But it's always these times when I come back home, when I have nothing better to do but revisit old blogs (dangerous pastime), that I realize I somewhat enjoy going back and reading about myself (mmm, there's that old narcissism peeking its head out again) . Because on one hand, my long-term memory is shit for the most part; on the other hand, I revel in minute details when I'm piecing memories back together. So this cheesy little blog may come in quite handy one day when I write my memoirs, which will an exhilarating, mass accumulation of small, boring, detailed moments of my life.
Long story short: I'm back. For how long, who knows.
Since October (which feels like an eternity and a half ago), many many events have transpired, none of which I will delve into au moment. However, I will say that as of September, I will be living in my first apartment (cue SQUEAAAALLLL) with Elena, my ever-loyal roommate. 80th and 2nd, to be precise. And given all of the first-apartment-in-nyc-horror stories, I think our place is quite dapper. Hopefully apartment life will be favorable, although part of me is terrified, as this is a step towards becoming a real person.
Also, as of four days ago, I am 21 years old. GLORY.
I think I'll end my "prodigal son" (or I guess in my case, daughter) post here. Too much blogging after no blogging could send me into shock.
It seems like a bit of a miracle, how wonderful the weathers been since I've arrived. Mind you, its been a little more than a month. Sure there have been days where it'll be cloudless one minute and pouring rain the next, but even those days are great. The leaves a starting to turn, and I think I'm ready for the seasons to change.
Julia (roomie) got an invitation to a hardcore sample sale this Thursday. Wheeeeee excited.
Classes are more or less in full swing, and by full swing I mean nice and laid back. I only have classes Mon-Wed and even those three days aren't that hardcore at all. Classes themselves are good, although I'm a little disappointed with the teacher for my Expatriate Lit class. Oh well.
Ugh this internet cafe suddenly got crowded (it's funny that the Internet has become a luxury here - it's probably better that way.)
Been making pretty good use of my little black Moleskine notebook, so since I don't feel like doing a dry run-through of my days here, I'll just transfer stuff from the notebook.
- Static french flowing out of the intercom, mingling with the articulate barks of American CNN anchors - chatty college students' voices staccato surround sound - busy, busy, busy
- "Knockin on Heaven's Door" in the metro
- Saw a bunny cloud today (Amelie)
- The metro is breezy and smells like oregano
- 3:58 of "Blue Sky" Allman Brothers
- "All the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put baby together again" - Aimee Mann
- 02:58 of "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" Crosby Stills & Nash
- First line of "#41" DMB appx. 0:36.
- Aimee Mann "It's Not" orchestration at 1:25 could work for a trailer of some sort.
- "Poetry is either something that lives like fire inside you - like music to the musician or Marxism to the Communist - or else it's nothing, an empty, formalized bore, around which pedants can endlessly drone their notes and explanations. The Grecian Urn is unbearably beautiful, with every syllable as inevitable as the notes in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, or it's just something you don't understand. It is what it is because an extraordinary genius paused at that point in history and touched it." - F. Scott, The Crack-Up.
- "For awhile after you quit Keats all other poetry seems to be only whistling or humming." - F. Scott, The Crack-Up
Wrote a new piece, "Freefall." Not groundbreaking, but felt like I needed to just...keep writing.
I don't really have time to do a real update, so here's Paris on speed:
+ Tried escargot - not bad, basically just a lot of butter and garlic + Living in a cute converted convent with a nice family and a tres adorable cat. - Since the house is extremely old, it's no surprise that there are mice. This morning I went into the kitchen to find that one had eaten a chunk of my baguette. + Walking down the street with a fresh, warm baguette in hand - Somewhat disappointing coffee as of yet. + Paris metro = soooo much better than New York - Still, find myself missing New York...even the griminess of it. + So glad I brought Arrested Development and Sex and the City with me; have watched both sets of DVDs to death, and have asked my brother to send me more. + The Eiffel Tower aint so bad at night.
Okay, will update again when I have time, and access to Interet. For now, I'm off to a wine and cheese tasting. Ooh la la.
I've arrived in Paris, no luggage lost in the process of getting here which was a huge relief.
Been living in a hostel for the past few days with the rest of the program until we move into our homestays/apartments. My friend Julia and I are living with a family in the 12th arrondisement, near the Bastille. Four kids (ages 7 - 14), a cat, a garden, and we're living in the third floor of a converted convent. It's "quaint" and "has character" - basically, it's really old. And there's no Internet, so we might have to get it installed, etc. But we'll see how things go, I'm crossing my fingers that I'll pick up a wireless signal.
First few days have a been a bit stressful since its been chock full of orientation meetings about paying rent, opening bank accounts, getting cellphones, etc etc etc. Today I managed to walk into a cellphone store, talk to salesperson, and buy a cellphone. So, hurrah, my French isn't complete shit. Tonight I think I'll finally get a chance to relax, see Paris a bit. So far I've only seen the subways and our campus pretty much. (And by campus I mean small building)
I miss the city. I miss my family. I miss you guys. Paris is still very foreign so I feel a bit stranded, but hopefully things will get better as time goes on. Am rethinking going to Prague in the spring, because frankly the thought of going through this whole process again in a few months is a bit daunting, and I'm just not sure it's worth it. But we'll see.
Anyway, expect letters from me in the next few weeks. Will put up pictures when I get the Internet (I'm at an Internet cafe now so I'm typing as quickly as possible).
So that's all for now, I'll update again when I get the chance.
Mmmmmmyeah.
Mmmmmmyeah.
