Gay Pride

Just some pictures from the parade:

C'est la vie

So the past few days have been a little rough. Today was over the top with things that had gone wrong, but for the most part, I wasn't as peeved as I thought I'd be.

I don't really feel like writing actually, so I'm just going to post some pictures that I had used for my project:

Newpostnewpostnewpostnewpost

I was feeling weird last night and now I can't bear to have that as my most recent entry.

Here's a picture to forget:

(idk why I like this so much, but I do)

The End

The end.

I don't know what it is about relationships, whether I'm the one involved or a friend or a family member is but...I always get really low when I hear about things going downhill between the two people. I've always felt like this. I don't know if it's a way of making a crisis in my own life or what? Like if everything is alright with me and then something comes up with someone else, it kind of rocks my boat no matter what. I do know that before I was ever exposed to relationships, I felt upset when my brother broke up with his first serious girlfriend.

It had nothing to do with me. It never does. (that's been the theme recently- about friends)

Even if they're not feeling it or they don't express it as easily, I have felt sad for them.

I feel sad now.

This may not make any sense to anyone, but it's just a feeling. Do feelings ever make sense?

I'm tired.

dnE ehT

Chicken Soup

So- I have a cold and I have no energy to write anything sensible.

The only thing I wanted to make note of was...
1. Thank goodness for grocery stores and boxed soup.
2. I wish chicken soup had more noodles.

That's it.

I'll update in the future when I'm feeling better!

"These days man knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing."
-Oscar Wilde

Appreciation

One thing that's been a reoccurring theme or topic that's come up in class, at home, wherever, is the idea that we take things for granted way too often.

I know I'm guilty of doing it too, but I think every once in a while, we all just need a little push or a reminder to appreciate the things in our lives.

What really brought this up? We read an excerpt from the book: I, Pierre Seel, Deported Homosexual in class today about a homosexual man (Seel) that was placed in one of the Nazi concentration camps, and in it, he described the horrors of watching his partner get brutally murdered. Here are his words specifically; "Then the loudspeakers broadcast some noisy classical music while the SS stripped him naked and shoved a tin pail over his head. Next they sicced their ferocious German shepherds on him: the guard dogs first bit into his groin and thighs, then devoured him right in front of us. His shrieks of pain were distorted and amplified by the pail in which his head was trapped."

Well, there's the reminder/push.

Appreciate the loved ones, the freedom, the luxuries, the random acts of kindness; appreciate the sunny days after a week of rain, and the occasional silence in a city.

Appreciate life.

Holy shit! We're in Paris.

What do you feel when you let go of the wheel?
Can you take a leap of faith?
Will you face the change of pace?
There are worlds out there beyond compare.

Wonders never cease.

There are so many things to do. So many things to see. Sometimes I forget where I actually am and neglect to appreciate or enjoy my time here. It's already been a little over a week and we're technically a third of the way through class. Scary, especially since we haven't really gotten any grades for anything yet.

Anyway, my point is that I really need to focus on enjoying myself. I do have classwork, but I'm in PARIS! And thankfully, as Mark reminded me, I chose to be here. I was excited to come here and neglecting to stay enthused about this whole trip, will make me really regretful when I go back home.

So. Let's just not do that.

Today, my roommate and I decided to do at least 1 thing everyday that we would want to see or do, just to help make this trip memorable and fun.

A few pictures so far (not too pleased with some of them, but they'll do for now):

Mixed Emotions

A lot has been going on recently. Not really sure where to begin, but it's 1:30 am and now isn't the time to start.

I'll update soon. These are just a few pics from The Louvre. My favorite statues:

Pictures so far...

I don't have much time to write what's been going on, but I wanted to post a few pics of things I've seen so far! I'll write in this probably later today or tomorrow. <3

So Happy.

So so so so so so happy.

Playing with kitty after class = joyous

Café run to do homework = successful (for the most part, minus the smoking)

Overall good interactions w/French people + language usage = fortunate

Having wifi at the café for at least 5 minutes = lucky

Discovery of another grocery store = awesome (they sold tights there that were really fun/I must buy if I don't find them anywhere else)

Late night run to get food = delicious

Overall good day.

Some pics from photo expeditions:

Long Rant - Because I can

2 nights ago was kind of intense. Not in the go out, get drunk, have fun and party kind of intense, but the stay indoors, worry for hours kind of intense. You know, like the way our parents used to (or still do) stay up for hours worrying about us and our safe return home? Yeah...I felt like that last night.

My roommate decided to go for a "walk and to be back soon."

This was at 6 pm.

Several hours went by. A few silly comments and the occasional, "I hope he's ok," but nothing too serious.

11 pm hits.

He'd been gone for 5 hours? Ok, so maybe he got really lost or he took the wrong metro and he's trying to find his way back. My roommates and I started freaking out a little. Not only had we been told about how dangerous the bus gets at night or how it'd be necessary to avoid the metro after 10:30 pm, but it had been 5 hours; besides, who says they'd go for a walk and be back "soon," but still be gone for 5 hours?!!!!???!!

Going for a "walk" is different. That could last for hours. Coming back soon does not last as long.

12 am. Still no sign.

We contact our professor who tries to reassure us by telling us that he was probably just out having "fun."

1 am, 2 am, 3 am, 4 am.

Eventually one by one we decide to go to bed.

5 am.

Door opens and in he walks making all sorts of loud, rambunctious noise. Uh...so not only do you come in, 11 hours later than you said you would, but you're LOUD?? Thanks for being so considerate.

Next day. Our conversations are limited and one roommate mentions our worry for how late he was out etcetc. He laughs it off and doesn't really mention anything about it. Later, we found that his night went something like, as my roommate described it, "so you...met someone, had a cup of coffee, had a really good time, which later led to.....dinner and..........a movie...right?" Riiiiight.

So why am I complaining about all of this?

Well, if you haven't figured it out by now, basically don't say one thing and do another. I don't care what you're off doing for the night, just don't say that you'll be back soon and have us worrying about the endless possibilities of what could have happened to you. We're not here as your parents, just your caring roommates. Do what you want, but please be considerate. Is that too much to ask for?

Whew. With that said, I could go on about my misfortune with the metro pass, but I will save that for another day.

Here's to hoping the rest of this week gets better, not worse.

Love: Serious Bizzznaass

All I need's a word to get me started

All I need's a look

Is love forever?

What do I think of when I think of the French people?

At first, I was feeling pretty glum. I focused on the negatives.

A species of serious people with serious faces.

Their lack of eye contact.

The silence in the metro.

Their obsession with smoking.

Their aggressive driving.

I'm pretty sure I could continue. But...

There had to be some positives, right? There had to be a reason Paris was called the "City of Love."

So I decided to re-analyze my conclusions.

Here's what I found:

One of my goals for this month is to capture the "love" in Paris.

We'll see how it goes.