Housing

Driving around after the perfect phone, I caught myself staring out the window and the same landscape I have been looking at since I've moved here. But something was different today. An old house, unlike all the other old houses in the South of France (example below) was missing.

Now I know this house had been empty for a long, long time. At least for the eleven years I've been here and even then it was pretty dilapidated. But it was always there, you know, like a trusty stone that has a mark that you can recognize on a long walk, or an old tree in the park you visit. This house was the house used by seemingly every pigeon and dove in the city and out, as a kind of safe house or a home to return to. Or at least I like to think of it that way for the thousands of pigeons that perched on that roof.
But now. It's gone. Torn down apparently, says my mother, in the two weeks that I was gone to class. Surprising, I thought at first, since it takes the French six years to even build a house and tearing anything down seems impossible (considering the ruin that is at this moment standing right in front of my house and is very decided to stay there forever, unused. It makes you wonder why people keep making new houses when they could just fix old ones, or at least let homeless people live in the empty stuff).
In any case, today, as we drove by, there were about twenty pigeons on the electric cord that hangs next to where their house used to be. Staring down into the empty lot. I couldn't help but feel bad for them. So for all those homeless pigeons I send out a silent good luck and hope that old ladies everywhere go sit on their benches and dispense some needed bread to our fluffy little friends.

Fine Dining

So if you are in Paris, and the cold air is chilling your bones and burning your cheeks, there is no better place to be than 'La Refuge Des Fondues'.
Fondue with an unreasonable amount of alcohol-check
Crazy walls that everyone, including yourself, has signed-check
An insane owner that might just spill on you-check
Wine served to you in a baby bottle-check

And that's not the best part, the space is so narrow that the tables are all scrunched up together and pushed up against the wall. How do you sit down you ask? Well this was my question exactly as the Maitre D led me and my friends to the table and stuck out a hand that I assumed I had to take. This only led to the man yanking me up on to the chair he had just pulled out and nudging me towards the small space he had made between the table and the wall. I proceeded to jump over the table and fall onto a small Swedish girl and apologize a few times as her Londoner boyfriend snickered.
The meal was delicious if not ripe with alcohol and the deserts were fantastic (which might have been because of the alcohol).

One small warning, they only take cash which our neighbors and ourselves found out as the maitre d shooed the men out the door to go get money. Entertaining though it was to see their indignant faces, please plan ahead.
And make sure you don't loose to much senses from the alcohol and step all over the table as was done by my dear friend.  

First Date

Have you ever been on a first date? I hadn't until two days ago.

Don't you feel that there is so much stress around one moment between two people that barely know each other to hit it off straight away. It's no wonder that most relationships start in school or at work where you get to know someone. Not that my date went wrong but if it does go wrong how do you know it wasn't just a bad day? (Of course if he's all hatchety murdery then RUN!)
Well it is an experience, and good or bad, experiences give you... well experience I guess.

I hope someone, hopefully many people, are having good dates out there.

Monday's recommendation

Having gone on my first 'first date' ever yesterday evening, I feel it is necessary to recommend to you something along the romantic, corny and generally amazing lines.

So for today:

The Undomestic Goddess
by Sophie Kinsella

This is the story of a woman, Samantha Sweeting, who leads a fast life in the London law firm Carter Spink. Business is her life and nothing much else matters. But when a deal falls through and she is going to be blamed for it, Samantha can't find anything else to do but run away. Soon enough she finds herself in the home of a nouveau riche lady in the countryside who believes her to be her new housekeeper. Unable to refuse, Samantha finds herself performing tasks that she probably understands less than her new employer. How will she get herself out of this one? And will the handsome gardener help her when he finds the mess she has made in the kitchen?

Recuparation part 2

 Before going to the Caveau we also passed by another little bar area 'the Frog & Princess'. The bar serves beers that are brewed on the spot and some hella good fries that me and Jess indulged on before our friends joined us to Jazz it up. The cocktails were high quality as well.
This gem is probably the cleanest place I have ever been to so if you cringe at the thought of using the WC in any bar then go to this one and leave your mind at ease. 
One thing I can say that isn't a high claiming praise? The prices were a bit higher than other places, but personally I think it was worth it. 

So although the first night was a house party and I can't share with you the awesomeness of that place I can already tell you that the people's house had a hand cranked elevator rack to bring books or anything between each floor, a cellar cave area that was someone's room and had the most impressive lighting/death scene stage area, a bathtub in the middle of the room on the second floor, and glass windows between each floor (on the ground) so you can look down/or up between each of them. Sufficient to say that that was possibly the raddest place on earth, if not a bit lacking in privacy.

Recuperating

After two nights in a row of going out on the town I think recuperation is needed. Especially for the voice that is now lost from the experience of 'Le Caveau des Oubliettes'.

This little Jazz bar says everything in the title. An old little room heats you up from the cold winter air and serves you a good beer before you are sent down some dodgy steps to what seems like Dracula's cavern. What we found there? An amazing little set up, bar on the left and music area on the right where a live band blasts a couple of righteous jazz tunes, set with the complete solos of every instrument and an amazing vocalist. In any case, the loss of my voice? A tiny set back to an amazing musical treat.

Little piece of a fail

A little bit of my editing, in trying to save a project that started off trying to save a really bad script.

Note: I do not own the copyright to this song, no copyright infringements intended and all rights belong to the creators and owners and such what.

The movies

If you didn't already know what actually goes on around a movie set then let me just give you a sneak peak.

I'll be sure to show you the real movie that was made during this madness after I've edited it.

Monday's recommendation

So I have just started to read a book. I just wanted to find a good pass time while I get all my stuff together for classes and all the christmas shopping and decorations, but then I bought this book. I was still under the impression that it was just a pass time when I purchased it, and then again when I arrived home. It was only in the train, where I decided a pass time was needed that I started reading the 'so-called' pass time. Then of course, I could not stop.

The End of Mr. Y
by Scarlett Thomas

Having just started this book I can't tell you my deepest and most developed thoughts about this particular story but I can tell you that it is a rare moment indeed when I get pulled into a story after a few chapters in, and it is even rarer when the book is neither Science Fiction/Fantasy or Romance. This particular little gem has a whole other world of meaning behind it and the metaphysical stuff that is thrown out here and there is just so much to wrap your mind around you can't help but delve into the world the writer has created for us.
We follow the story of our main character Ariel who is studying for her PhD and developing her studies on certain scientific ideas and especially the ideas and writings of Lumas. The interesting thing about Lumas is that his last book, 'The End of Mr. Y' is one of the rarest books of all time (only one copy is for sure in a safe in Germany) is rare for one very good reason. Everyone who reads this book, dies. Her teacher, supervising her PhD, disappears soon after he loses interest in Lumas or tries to make her lose interest in it. We find ourselves with her in a second-hand book store asking, out of pure habit, about Lumas only to discover one of the rare copies of the book.

Will she read it? Does she believe in the curse? And will it affect her?
What about the torn page in the last few chapters of the book?

Snowy Cottages

You know what, looking at this picture, don't you think that it would be awesome if you received Christmas presents in the mail? Of course saint Nick should not hold back on the tree presents but just the feeling of opening a mailbox and finding some presents inside would be marvelous! Kind of like finding an amazon shipment but without the actual paying going on.
In any case I think it would cushion the blow considerably, of not receiving presents in the mail that is, if I lived in one of these cottages. Don't you?

Window shopping

Don't you think that the best thing about window shopping is those great stores that just make the best window displays ever. It's like when Macy's is partnering up with the SPCA and you take a little detour to check out all the kitties and pupsters. Well I usually like taking a little detour by Anthropologie, because let's face it, it rocks.

Paris nights

So I just got off a train that seemingly crawled to the South of France from the North of France and it was a TGV (Train Grandes Vitesse or Really Fast Train if you prefer) so I don't want to imagine the state of the others. For this reason laziness has corrupted me and I will just show you what it's like to spend a night out in Paris. Or at least for me.

Dedications

I'd like to dedicate this post to the late, Leslie Nielson. I can't say that I have one specific favorite among actors but if you ever asked me who I could watch over and over without getting sick of it, I would have to say that he would be my best bet. Coupled with the fact that slapstick comedy, or at least 'older' slapstick comedy is my Achilles's heel there is just no way you can keep a straight face when watching him do his thing.
So there you have it, I dedicate this post to the late and great. You might know him from, Airplane!, Dracula Dead and Loving it, or of course from Naked Gun.

Monday's recommendation on Tuesday...

I don't suppose spending the weekend at school rather then at home is a good excuse for having forgotten to post, but perhaps having to do a couple of sheets of homework is.
In any case, let's stop with all the chit-chat and give you your recommendation!

The 'Warriors' series: Book 1-6
by Erin Hunter

Alright, alright, they are children's books! But what books they are! I just have to recommend the Warrior series. In the art of Jean de la Fontaine, Hunter creates a mirror society of our own in the clans of the wild cats. Discover the amazing world that lies right next to ours and what our cats really do when they slip out of the house for a couple days.
We follow our main character, an adorable house cat as he ventures forth into the unknown and somehow becomes Firepaw of the Thunderclan, an apprentice in training to become a warrior.

Just for shits and giggles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWw7MhLyztw

Just thought I might give this all to you for a good laugh and an excellent Sunday evening activity.

Gotta love those classes

I just have to say, modern dancing will forever remain a mystery to me. I really, really...Really, can't understand what the hell they are doing! Especially when you are musically inclined and they aren't moving in the right rhythm then you just feel like giving them a big wallop. But oh well, amazing painting, amazing sketches and all for free thanks to the loveliness of being young and being alive!

BTW

                                           HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

To make sure you know

Alright so I just need you all to know this. No matter what you hear, or where you heart it from. The Latest Harry Potter movie was... Brilliant! Beautiful cinematography and great development of half of a book I was really wondering how they were going to do. If you have read the books or not you will be touched by the human aspect of this movie and how well it describes the relationships between the characters after all the other adventures they had together and how they face the big bad. All I can say is a big thumbs up and a great cry of despair in having to wait for the next movie!

Monday's recommendation

I don't know if it's unorthodox to recommend a romance novel but gosh darn it I am going to recommend this one!

What an Earl wants
By Shirley Karr

This is the typical battle of the sexes story. Romance soars when our seductive hero, Quincy , gets hired by Lord Sinclair as his... Secretary? A job only given to men during this period piece but what Lord Sinclair doesn't know is that his new secretary isn't everything he... or she seems.
A great read and a really fun writing style, you'll be pulled in by the witty characters and the forever matchmaking household of Lord Sinclair.

Christmas!

Don't you love the Christmas season?! I (just a bit) go crazy for Christmas! This year I am going all the way with presents created by yours truly and decorations... Because apparently I don't have any homework (this is not true! I must be stopped!).
Anyway I thought I would share some thoughts on little amazing decorations that I was inspired by off of internet. I don't remember where exactly I got these but isn't it such a great idea? And it saves so much money on all those store bought decorations. Bring on the glue, newspapers and a whole lot of colors and props!

Class?

I've always been a bit wary of plays that are either recommended or forced to attend to by teachers. After having a couple of bad encounters with characters that would spit up blood and do other things that came out of their bodies...*shudder* I've always expected the worst.
Tonight however, I was pleasantly surprised and spent a nice time at a great play (even ending the play with Arcade of Fire). The play was an American turn on Julius Caesar by Shakespeare and kind of happens in the late sixties, everyone wearing suits. It was actually really well done and I recommend it to anyone in France, and I think is plays in the US too!

Haircuts, haircuts, haircuts

Doesn't getting a haircut seem like such a big deal when really it isn't.... completely. I'm pretty OK with the whole cut it all off till it's 'man' short even if it's super long, and even when I get those worried looks from the hairdresser and the couple dozens of times that they ask "Are you sure?" before they take that fatal first snip. I love short and long so the ginat leaps from one to another are fun more then disconcerting to me. The one thing that freaks me out is trying a new style...
You know when you think about, maybe I should get it more curly-like, and then you imagine yourself with a poodle on a head instead of your hair and you get those inner shivers that make your skin crawl. Then you want to be original but not to the point that you have to make an effort every morning and if you don't you're that creep that has 'that haircut' but doesn't take the time for it. Like the emo/punk only considered emo because his mohawk is hanging off of his nose. Sigh... perhaps I think too much. Instead! Look at someone who always looked good.
I've always wanted hair like hers... maybe I'll try it and describe the dire consequences of my actions to you later.

Birthday present

For my birthday my lovely friend Jess gave me a ticket to a wonderful musical show! I was so excited I ran through the metro to get there and bumped into a few very irritated gentlemen that were wooed with a bright smile of uncontainable joy. Funny how infectious that is. They all gave me a big smile and a little giggle.
The show itself, Mozart-L'opera rock, was awesome. Kind of a musical turn on the movie Amadeus, it told the story of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and I thought all the songs were superbly done. One in particular, although the subject was... well suicide, was a really good song and I am ever tempted to purchase it! hehehe

I must add however that sometimes you find yourself a bit confused and wondering why this person is singing and who this person even is. But the story quickly catches itself up to remind you what the hell it's on about.

Monday's recommendation

Everyone might already know this one but just in case you've heard of the series on HBO and not the book then I recommend to you, The Sookie Stackhouse series or True Blood

The first book of which being,
Dead Until Dark
by Charlaine Harris

Now if you know the series then let me just tell you that the book, to me, has a more interesting plot line. There are some changes in the series that didn't make sense and, a big plus in my opinion, there is a lot more Sookie then any other characters in the book. The plot has started really diverging from the book in the third season where things are happening that the director is just making up.

For those who have not read the book or seen the series.
This book is about a young waitress who lives in the South (of the US) in a town called Bon Temps. She lives with her brother and her grandmother, her parents having died in a tragic car accident when she was still young. What differs from our world and hers is that two years prior to the beginning of the story, vampires have 'come out' and revealed to humans their existence. The reason for their forward behavior being the invention of 'True Blood' a perfect synthetic blood developed by a Japanese company. There are some countries where the vampires are rejected but in others they are accepted with a strict set of laws that have to be followed.
What makes our hero so different from a usual girl in a world full of vampires is that she has the power to read minds. Her power however, does not work on the immortal vampires. She finds herself entranced by a new man that has just moved 'back' into her town after a couple hundred years of absence. She finds that the peace of mind that she feels around him is just too good a chance to miss.

Searching for the right stuff

Searching through the net as I do, (and you know you do too!) I came upon a store that my friend had talked to me about and decided to take a look. The name of the thing is Muji and if you know Kinokuniya, and I sincerely hope you do, then you will LOVE this store. Not only does it have similar paper and notepad sets as Kinokuniya this place also has sets of traveling goodies, fashion nonsense and useful little arranging tools.
On the search as I am for Christmas goodies to slip under the tree this shop struck me as a piece of luck. Hopefully it'll help you too.

Isn't this the best idea ever?

It's a wall mounted CD player! Just pull the cord to start the CD and there are small buttons on the top to switch songs.

Drinking is bad

Here's a work I made about 'not doing something' that my teacher said wasn't understandable so here you go. A failed piece of homework.

Four day weekend

As it was the beginning of a four day weekend Thursday past my mother, brother and I decided that Disneyland (on Thursday and Friday) was a necessary action. So off we went. I ask for forgiveness for not posting anything during my time there but, you have to pay for internet and everyone knows that Disneyland, although the happiest place on Earth, is not the cheapest.
BUT! What a great time we did have! Granted it was cold, rainy and generally grim (Disneyland in Paris can do that) it made for some general laughs as we tromped along in our amazing ponchos that my ever ready mother saw fit to bring along. It was my little brother's first visit! (that he can remember) and we had a great time as we froze in lines and spent time waiting for it to be time to use a fast pass haha. Freezing I say because my mother and I had a t-shirt, a shirt, a thick wool sweater, a little less thick wool sweater, a coat, gloves and a scarf and a poncho. I even got myself a cowboy hat, the best hat ever against rain! I never knew but there it is for you.
All in all we had a great time, saw a few great shows and witnessed the lighting of the Christmas tree and the castle at night.

Discoveries!

Found the most amazing little 'passage' with the greatest shops inside. The Passage Jouffroy leads through an array of books that cover the walls and tables that line the walls on either side. You continues up a set of stairs and arrive in another hall filled with the greatest sets of shops. A shop where they make hollow books to stash your treasures in, a shop for toy houses and creative accessories to make bears and such (which was the shop I was going to called Pain D'épices hehehe) and a great bakery. Not to mention shop after shop of Christmas Decorations!!! This is an event in France since they don't really doll anything up, santa-style, for the great occasion that is X-mas.
In short, Greatest Discovery EVER!

                                          Pain d'épices