I go home in exactly 2 weeks.
I don't know if I'm ready for it...
It's starting to hit me how weird it's going to feel for a while. That's not to say that I want to be here longer or that I don't want to be home- I do- but I know that deep down, I'm a little different now. And everyone else will be too.
I've had nightmares for the past couple of nights about my family, about being home, and although the true cause of these is probably my lack of sleep, I think part of it is my worry that I've idealized home so much, it won't feel right when I finally get back.
I'm sure these are all gross exaggerations, but so much has happened.
I thought I was starting to pile up regrets recently- like not being able to see Italy or any of the other numerous places in Europe and surrounding areas that I've thought about visiting. But the truth is, I don't really care anymore. I miss people. Places are generally stagnant, but in these 5 months, my baby sister has grown taller than me, all the little ones are developing into bright, not-so-little adolescents and one of my favorite cousins is getting married. All the while, I am here, missing all of it. And so, I don't really care that I won't get to see more ancient ruins, extravagant palaces, etc. that I can't fully comprehend anyway. All of this would have meant so much more if I had been able to share it with the people I love.
I am excited to be home soon, I just hope things won't be too different. Because I'm tired of being an outsider.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Oops.
Sorry, loves. I haven't had time for updates lately. Due to the fact that I've been in Greece and England for the past week and a half. But I go back to Orleans tomorrow, so I should have loads of time then to get at least one entry posted. And I know I never even got to the rest of Barcelona/Madrid/Alcala, but I did write a little in my laptop notepad and I've written a little about Athens and London in small notebooks I have in my purse. Hopefully I'll be able to fill in the gaps, but knowing my hippocampus, I may have to invent some things.
Cheers! (can you tell I'm in London?)
Cheers! (can you tell I'm in London?)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wow....
http://amp.utdallas.edu/?storyid=2091
http://amp.utdallas.edu/?storyid=2201
Apparently UTD-sponsored hate crimes against Catholicism are okay now.
The things I'm missing out on while I'm in France...
http://amp.utdallas.edu/?storyid=2201
Apparently UTD-sponsored hate crimes against Catholicism are okay now.
The things I'm missing out on while I'm in France...
Monday, April 6, 2009
ADHD
Today I have the attention span of a 2-year-old on crack.
However, I did manage to create a new super hero in my grammar class:
Buttermantoastfeet (The name is in the works...As well as the hero...He was a little too much inspired by Powdered Toast Man from Ren & Stimpy...Anyway, he has a margarine-shaped head with, yes, toast for feet, and forks for arms! Slogan: "Spreading justice over baguettes of evil!")
And his arch nemeses:
Monsieur Hot Plate (all of my villains have been French lately...hmm...anyway- he has a mustache, but no motto yet)
&
Radioactive Bacon Man (He wears a beret...Slogan: "I'll clog your arteries AND give you cancer!!!")
I need help.
I should really be doing homework right now. But I have a hankering for some toast....I miss the days of toasters. I'm in France and I can't eat French toast. I'm making a skyscraper of toast when I get back. And then I'm going to IHOP at 3 in the morning just because I can.
However, I did manage to create a new super hero in my grammar class:
Buttermantoastfeet (The name is in the works...As well as the hero...He was a little too much inspired by Powdered Toast Man from Ren & Stimpy...Anyway, he has a margarine-shaped head with, yes, toast for feet, and forks for arms! Slogan: "Spreading justice over baguettes of evil!")
And his arch nemeses:
Monsieur Hot Plate (all of my villains have been French lately...hmm...anyway- he has a mustache, but no motto yet)
&
Radioactive Bacon Man (He wears a beret...Slogan: "I'll clog your arteries AND give you cancer!!!")
I need help.
I should really be doing homework right now. But I have a hankering for some toast....I miss the days of toasters. I'm in France and I can't eat French toast. I'm making a skyscraper of toast when I get back. And then I'm going to IHOP at 3 in the morning just because I can.
I can't wait to feel like a college student again!
Time to sign up for fall classes (assuming I don't get expelled for my grades this semester)!
Want to help me pick 'em? Here's a list of everything I'm considering. I'm already pretty positive about at least 4 of these because I either have to take them or I've been waiting to take them since freshman year, but I thought I'd get some perspective from other people before registering on the 13th.
ARTS 1316 DRAWING FOUNDATIONS
ARTS 2316 PAINTING FOUNDATIONS
ARTS 3340 PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA
ATEC 4346 STORY-TELLING FOR NEW MEDIA
CRIM 3324 GENDER, CRIME, & JUSTICE
CRWT 2301 INTRODUCTORY CREATIVE WRITING
CRWT 3307 CREATING SHORT STORIES
CRWT 4354 PLAYWRITING
EMAC 2321 WRITING & RESEARCH - NEW MEDIA
GERM 1311 BEGINNING GERMAN I
GST 4379 TOPICS IN GENDER STUDIES: WOMEN & ALCOHOL IN THE 20TH CENTURY
HIST 3369 UNITED STATES FOREIGN RELATION
HIST 6310 RELIGION IN EARLY AMERICA
LANG 1311 BEGINNING JAPANESE I
LIT 3312 PUNK TO CYBERSPACE
LIT 3315 CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
LIT 4348 TRANSLATION WORKSHOP
MUSI 3382 MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
MUSI 3385 CHAMBER SINGERS
MUSI 3388 PIANO II
PSCI 3327 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
PSCI 3328 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PSCI 4364 CIVIL RIGHTS LAW & SOCIETY
PSCI 3322 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
PSCI 4396 POLITICS OF EDUCATION
PSCI 4396 MODEL UN
PSCI 4396 MOCK TRIAL
PSY 3355 PSYCHOLOGY OF CREATIVITY
PSY 3393 EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS IN PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 4377 CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SOC 3333 RELIGION IN SOCIETY
I'm kind of hoping I can do Model UN and mock trial without taking the classes. It would just be so much easier because I pretty much want to take ALL of these. Can't I learn to draw, speak Japanese and sing on broadway at the same time as all of my major/minor stuff? Oh man, if only if only.
Want to help me pick 'em? Here's a list of everything I'm considering. I'm already pretty positive about at least 4 of these because I either have to take them or I've been waiting to take them since freshman year, but I thought I'd get some perspective from other people before registering on the 13th.
ARTS 1316 DRAWING FOUNDATIONS
ARTS 2316 PAINTING FOUNDATIONS
ARTS 3340 PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEW MEDIA
ATEC 4346 STORY-TELLING FOR NEW MEDIA
CRIM 3324 GENDER, CRIME, & JUSTICE
CRWT 2301 INTRODUCTORY CREATIVE WRITING
CRWT 3307 CREATING SHORT STORIES
CRWT 4354 PLAYWRITING
EMAC 2321 WRITING & RESEARCH - NEW MEDIA
GERM 1311 BEGINNING GERMAN I
GST 4379 TOPICS IN GENDER STUDIES: WOMEN & ALCOHOL IN THE 20TH CENTURY
HIST 3369 UNITED STATES FOREIGN RELATION
HIST 6310 RELIGION IN EARLY AMERICA
LANG 1311 BEGINNING JAPANESE I
LIT 3312 PUNK TO CYBERSPACE
LIT 3315 CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
LIT 4348 TRANSLATION WORKSHOP
MUSI 3382 MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
MUSI 3385 CHAMBER SINGERS
MUSI 3388 PIANO II
PSCI 3327 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
PSCI 3328 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
PSCI 4364 CIVIL RIGHTS LAW & SOCIETY
PSCI 3322 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
PSCI 4396 POLITICS OF EDUCATION
PSCI 4396 MODEL UN
PSCI 4396 MOCK TRIAL
PSY 3355 PSYCHOLOGY OF CREATIVITY
PSY 3393 EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS IN PSYCHOLOGY
PSY 4377 CONFLICT RESOLUTION
SOC 3333 RELIGION IN SOCIETY
I'm kind of hoping I can do Model UN and mock trial without taking the classes. It would just be so much easier because I pretty much want to take ALL of these. Can't I learn to draw, speak Japanese and sing on broadway at the same time as all of my major/minor stuff? Oh man, if only if only.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Parting is such sweet sorrow...
Dearest Pâte à Tartiner,
You know you have been my most beloved French friend from the moment I saw your cherry-red canister modestly resting amidst a sea of pricey Nutellas. In a time when I felt lost and alone after abandoning my poor, innocent Peter Pan, yours was the voice telling me I would eat sandwiches again —unimaginably delectable (and affordable!) sandwiches of strawberries and chocolate hazelnut. It was you who made me feel at home in a land so pretentious, so foreign.
Thus, it is with deepest sorrow and regret that I must end our special love affair. For the past several weeks, unbeknownst to you, I have been planning a trip to Greece — a kingdom filled with radiant sands and sunshine, and consequently trim, nearly nude beach-seekers. Hence, in order to protect my future seaside peers from complete repulsion at the sight of my lumpy bits in swimwear, I’m afraid we must part ways immediately.
It is imperative that you know I in no way blame you for your fatty composition—you would not be the delicacy I adore if you were any different. Truly it is my own severe lack of self-control obstructing our relationship. I wish I could be different, but after a tedious day in that hellish L’Institut de Français, when I see you sitting so cleverly next to my oh-so-soft wheat bread, I lose it.
So you see, we simply can’t be together if I am to slim down to a non-vomit-inducing bathing suit size. If there is any sense of justice in the world, we’ll reunite someday when physical appearances matter not and heart disease is merely a bully of the past. I hope when that day comes, you will have forgiven me and we can put all of this Greek nonsense behind us.
Goodbye, my love. May you always cherish the beautiful meals we have spent together.
You know you have been my most beloved French friend from the moment I saw your cherry-red canister modestly resting amidst a sea of pricey Nutellas. In a time when I felt lost and alone after abandoning my poor, innocent Peter Pan, yours was the voice telling me I would eat sandwiches again —unimaginably delectable (and affordable!) sandwiches of strawberries and chocolate hazelnut. It was you who made me feel at home in a land so pretentious, so foreign.
Thus, it is with deepest sorrow and regret that I must end our special love affair. For the past several weeks, unbeknownst to you, I have been planning a trip to Greece — a kingdom filled with radiant sands and sunshine, and consequently trim, nearly nude beach-seekers. Hence, in order to protect my future seaside peers from complete repulsion at the sight of my lumpy bits in swimwear, I’m afraid we must part ways immediately.
It is imperative that you know I in no way blame you for your fatty composition—you would not be the delicacy I adore if you were any different. Truly it is my own severe lack of self-control obstructing our relationship. I wish I could be different, but after a tedious day in that hellish L’Institut de Français, when I see you sitting so cleverly next to my oh-so-soft wheat bread, I lose it.
So you see, we simply can’t be together if I am to slim down to a non-vomit-inducing bathing suit size. If there is any sense of justice in the world, we’ll reunite someday when physical appearances matter not and heart disease is merely a bully of the past. I hope when that day comes, you will have forgiven me and we can put all of this Greek nonsense behind us.
Goodbye, my love. May you always cherish the beautiful meals we have spent together.
Yours apologetically,
Paige
Paige
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Just for Aunt Mary
For one of my loyal readers, I thought I would reply to all of her comments here.
1. I also wish we had a pedometer because we walked about a gazillion miles during the first half of our vacation. It would have been interesting to know. I'll just tell myself I walked a gazillion steps.
2. I'm sorry you hates me. You're going to hates me more when you see where I'm going next. (3 weeks till our next vacation!!!)
3. I don't know why I love the pot smell...It could easily induce vomiting, but I guess I associate it with our exciting trip to Amsterdam, sooo....uhthereyougo.
4. I was wondering where the Mary comments had gone- what were you doing in Mississippi?
5. I don't remember you talking about Miep Gies- that's incredible!!! We'll have to talk about that some more when I get back (in less than 2 months!!!)
6. The fact that I got to see Starry Night was definitely a little miracle. God has my bizzack. :)
7. I will definitely come back one day with the entire family!! It just isn't the same without you guys. Really. And hopefully I'll have some wisdom to share like how to keep us from spending money on silly tourist traps and how to navigate public transportation in various countries.
8. You didn't really convince me about the cowboy-roach dancers. Nope. haha
9. I don't want to translate that entry because it's just me whining.
10. I thought I should probably post that picture on xanga instead, but for some reason it's here...I guess I've been using the xanga for entries like "plein de tristesse" lately. Alas.
-----------------------------------------------------
Anyway, I think I've waited too long to write about the rest of my vacation and now I'm pretty sure I've forgotten many things. I'll do my best to fill in the blanks later, but I have 3 tests this week, so we'll see how much I can actually accomplish.
In other news, Julia Jay finally came to see me in Orleans!! We had superfuntimes eating lots of $.87 cake and watching movies/youtube clips all weekend. Haha- it only took about an hour to show her the highlights of Orleans, so we enjoyed taking it easy this weekend in my dorm. However, I did take her to the flamingo park on Saturday, and it turns out that the room for papillons (butterflies) is free with your admission! It was amazing. Almost as amazing as seeing one of the male peacocks open his tail feathers!!! I don't think I've ever seen that in person. BEAUTIFUL (although it looked a little painful). But I think we were distracting the mating ritual (they flare out their feathers to attract the gray lady peacocks) because he wouldn't turn around to face the female peacocks so they could see the plumage. Surely they won't swoon if they can only see the guy's butt. Anyway, at one point, a rooster (that we actually heard cock-a-doodle-doo) crawled under the fence into the peacock's area while he still had his feathers spread out, so the peacock walked over to the rooster and shook his feathery display, making it bend like an awning over the rooster. The general theory proposed for the existence of flamboyant peacock tail feathers is sexual selection, but methinks there could be an element of defensive intimidation in it too...It was pretty terrifying to behold.
On Saturday night we actually cooked dinner! Alfredo chicken pasta with green peppers and artichoke hearts. Mmmm mmm. And then we had caramel tea and more delicious marble cake. I'm going to die of a heart attack.
Our most important goal for this weekend, however, was to plan for our next 2 week vacation. Julia's begins a week before mine, but for her second week and my first, we're going to...drum roll please...GREECE! Athens + Santorini (island). OH MY GOSH! And although this isn't final yet, the plan for my second week is-----LONDON. The tickets are really cheap right now, so it's very probable that I'm going to England. I might pass out from excitement just thinking about all of this. EEE!!!
1. I also wish we had a pedometer because we walked about a gazillion miles during the first half of our vacation. It would have been interesting to know. I'll just tell myself I walked a gazillion steps.
2. I'm sorry you hates me. You're going to hates me more when you see where I'm going next. (3 weeks till our next vacation!!!)
3. I don't know why I love the pot smell...It could easily induce vomiting, but I guess I associate it with our exciting trip to Amsterdam, sooo....uhthereyougo.
4. I was wondering where the Mary comments had gone- what were you doing in Mississippi?
5. I don't remember you talking about Miep Gies- that's incredible!!! We'll have to talk about that some more when I get back (in less than 2 months!!!)
6. The fact that I got to see Starry Night was definitely a little miracle. God has my bizzack. :)
7. I will definitely come back one day with the entire family!! It just isn't the same without you guys. Really. And hopefully I'll have some wisdom to share like how to keep us from spending money on silly tourist traps and how to navigate public transportation in various countries.
8. You didn't really convince me about the cowboy-roach dancers. Nope. haha
9. I don't want to translate that entry because it's just me whining.
10. I thought I should probably post that picture on xanga instead, but for some reason it's here...I guess I've been using the xanga for entries like "plein de tristesse" lately. Alas.
-----------------------------------------------------
Anyway, I think I've waited too long to write about the rest of my vacation and now I'm pretty sure I've forgotten many things. I'll do my best to fill in the blanks later, but I have 3 tests this week, so we'll see how much I can actually accomplish.
In other news, Julia Jay finally came to see me in Orleans!! We had superfuntimes eating lots of $.87 cake and watching movies/youtube clips all weekend. Haha- it only took about an hour to show her the highlights of Orleans, so we enjoyed taking it easy this weekend in my dorm. However, I did take her to the flamingo park on Saturday, and it turns out that the room for papillons (butterflies) is free with your admission! It was amazing. Almost as amazing as seeing one of the male peacocks open his tail feathers!!! I don't think I've ever seen that in person. BEAUTIFUL (although it looked a little painful). But I think we were distracting the mating ritual (they flare out their feathers to attract the gray lady peacocks) because he wouldn't turn around to face the female peacocks so they could see the plumage. Surely they won't swoon if they can only see the guy's butt. Anyway, at one point, a rooster (that we actually heard cock-a-doodle-doo) crawled under the fence into the peacock's area while he still had his feathers spread out, so the peacock walked over to the rooster and shook his feathery display, making it bend like an awning over the rooster. The general theory proposed for the existence of flamboyant peacock tail feathers is sexual selection, but methinks there could be an element of defensive intimidation in it too...It was pretty terrifying to behold.
On Saturday night we actually cooked dinner! Alfredo chicken pasta with green peppers and artichoke hearts. Mmmm mmm. And then we had caramel tea and more delicious marble cake. I'm going to die of a heart attack.
Our most important goal for this weekend, however, was to plan for our next 2 week vacation. Julia's begins a week before mine, but for her second week and my first, we're going to...drum roll please...GREECE! Athens + Santorini (island). OH MY GOSH! And although this isn't final yet, the plan for my second week is-----LONDON. The tickets are really cheap right now, so it's very probable that I'm going to England. I might pass out from excitement just thinking about all of this. EEE!!!
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