December recap

This has been an insane month. Christmas has come and gone and I barely noticed it-working 2 jobs, housing issues, extreme dental work=good times all. I never saw the Rockefeller Christmas tree, and didn't have a tree in my apt. But I am still alive-almost daring to hope that things are soon going to get better. And at that point I will actually write something interesting, or maybe even post pictures, once I make it back to Utah for super-late fake Christmas extravaganza in maybe January or February. 

My highlights for the month:

I flew to Copenhagen for a two day layover, where I love the hotel, and the hot, tall Danish men.

I got to light a menorah for Hannukah. 

I had a lovely Christmas eve with friends here in New York, complete with delicious food, drink, and dessert, after which everyone (but me) wanted to go to sleep around 7:45 pm, but they all livened up and we then played a rousing game of Apples to Apples.

And that's all I can think of now-thanks for your Christmas letters, and happy holidays to everyone!

Halloween 2008 in Amsterdam

Okay, I know I'm a little late to be writing about Halloween, but I got pictures emailed to me, so I thought I'd put them up anyway. Halloween this year was surprisingly great, considering I was out of the country and didn't think they really celebrated in Amsterdam. But they DO! A girl I flew with brought costumes for several of us, and we went to the center of town, lots of people dressed up, contests for the best costume, met some Swedish guys, ended up having a great time.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

Last night I watched the election results at Adam Clayton Powell Square in Harlem. We were just going to stay in and watch it on tv, but they kept showing the huge party 3 blocks away. So three white girls from Utah walked past the ice sculptures at Sylvia's, high-fived people on the street, and bonded with a guy with an Obama doll. We got into the square and joined the party, watching the coverage, dancing, cheering, talking to reporters. There was everyone there-mostly black, but white, hispanic, young, old, children. When the race was called, everyone went crazy. The governor of New York spoke, and a hip hop guy, who I'm not familiar with. The sense of accomplishment was amazing. The issues are most important, and that is why I, and I believe most Americans voted for Barack Obama, but it is a historical time, and I think there is a lot to be proud of. In the speeches I heard, there were references to overcoming slavery, and the civil rights era, and it seems that everyone felt what a great victory this was. That things are now possible that people didn't believe were.

Most people who know me know I'm a pretty skeptical person. I don't give my support easily or blindly to anyone. So it felt unusual to me being there last night and actually feel hope, and pride for my country, which I haven't felt in a long time. When Obama came on to give his speech, I was again impressed by his humility, his non-divisive language, and his ability to inspire.

As I walked home in the middle of the street, part of a parade of people, cheering and dancing and feeling good about their country and their place in it, I've never been happier to live in Harlem.

Badly dressed in Milan

I went to Milan a couple days ago. Milan is a capitol of fashion. Usually I can do okay in this area, even if, tragically, I don't wear Prada and Gucci and look like this:



But on the day I went I was out of laundry. You know those times in your life when all you have are your ugly jeans, and shirts you don't really like, faded socks, and your least favorite underwear? That might be an okay time to run a few errands, go to the grocery store, etc. It was not the best time to walk around Milan. I felt like a big big dork. Like it was obvious that I was American and not a very well-dressed one.

I liked Milan though. Since my camera got stolen in Buenos Aires, I feel very naked when walking around beautiful places. I feel like if I don't have pictures of somewhere, then maybe I wasn't really there. I went to the Duomo, which I really didn't know anything about. It breath-taking. If I would have taken a picture, it would have looked like this:

Yes, I take pictures of pigs

Apparently I am doing ridiculous tags these days. This is a tag from Maigen, in which I was supposed to go to my fourth folder and post the fourth picture.



This is at Bunratty Castle in Ireland, in the summer of 2006. It was a realistic castle, complete with pigs. Why do I take these kind of pictures?

Tagged

8 Things Tag

I've been tagged, and I don't usually do these, but here goes:

8 things I am passionate about...

1. travel
2. family
3. friends
4. life
5. dogs
6. womens' issues
7. politics
8. fun

8 words or phrases I use often

(I really can't think of very many words or phrases I use often. And the ones I can think of, well, maybe it's best to not put them here) :)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

8 things I have learned from my past...

1. things will work out
2. the truth is the best answer
3. there are more options than you think there are
4. 30 is actually really young
5. i am capable of many things
6. be happy in the now
7. family and friends are really important
8. dating sucks

8 places I would love to go see or visit...

1. Africa
2. Eastern Europe
3. Greece
4. Japan
5. India
6. the Carribean
7. Spain
8. Florida

8 things I currently need or want...
1. MONEY
2. new clothes
3. a good man
4. a hot man
5. chairs for my apartment
6. decor for my apartment
7. a puppy
8. to not be sick right now

8 people I tag...
1. D'Arcy
2. Maigen
3. Jessica
4. Tacy
5. Alicia
6. Brian and Clara
7. Alisa
8. Amber

And you really don't have to do it if you don't want to. I don't know what came over me.

Gift baskets?

So I'm working with a friend of mine, helping him to get his new boutique together. It's in Soho, and is really nice. One of the things we are working on is putting together some cosmetics gift baskets to sell, both there and other places. It is high quality makeup, (called Motives Cosmetics) and many of the products are made of natural ingredients. So my question to all of you is: what would you want to see in a cosmetics gift bag? Whether you were to buy it, or get it for free, what items would you like? Any input would be helpful.

I'll be back

Yes, I realize I haven't blogged forever. I've been on vacae in BA, had my camera stolen, turned 31, and I will say something about all of these and more sometime in the near future. And now I'm leaving again on my third trip in a row. I've still been reading your blogs even if I haven't had much time to comment. Don't forget about me...

I heart Barcelona

I went to Barcelona a few weeks ago, which only confirmed my true love for Spain. The waves were perfect and we played in the water for a few hours. I accidentally got a few topless photos (of other people, not me!) but I won't post them here. :)

Rainy days and Mondays

I took this pic at the airport after we miraculously landed in a near thunderstorm.

Geneve, Switzerland

It was a perfect summer day today. They were having a carnival by the lake, which I walked pretty far around.


I wished I hadn't left my swim suit in my hotel room.


I love this fountain.



I just can't help reminding D'Arcy of Spain. Apologies. But seriously, this pot of paella was huge!


My one complaint is that there is NOTHING in English on TV. There are over 30 channels in my hotel room, and while I can watch sitcoms from Saudi Arabia (which are entertaining, don't get me wrong), there is nothing for little American me.

A tribute to Jamon

The first part of this post is for D'Arcy, though I hope the rest of you can enjoy these pictures as well. Spain has a national obsession with ham and after realizing this last year, some people have really come to hate ham. While walking though the streets of Madrid last night with 5 fabulous male flight attendants, I made them stop several times to take these pictures:




It was a great layover. Here are the boys:

And me with the boys, though this is not a great pic of me.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Spain. I decided yesterday that I am going to become fluent in Spanish. I have talked and talked about it for years, and then thought maybe I should learn French instead, but really, I know more Spanish already and for some reason have more of a connection to it. So I am going to really learn it.

Look at me! I'm a Prada model. Thanks to my natural good looks and D'Arcy's hair, makeup and photo talents. 

http://benincosaphotography.blogspot.com/2008/07/michelle-prada-pose.html
 

A room of my own

(yes D'Arcy, I sort of stole your title)

I am moving to my own place in a couple of weeks. I am very excited. I have had so many roommates (many of who have been wonderful) for the last 12 years, but I really think at 30 it is about time I am on my own. It's a studio and it's not big, but it will be just me. And whoever I invite over. I swear I am not moving for a couple of years!

Tori Spelling? Seriously?

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Genealogy research - Pedigree

Randomness and fun

Me with some guy's glasses at Temple Bar in Dublin

Everyone outside watching the EuroCup from their restaurant tables in Amsterdam


Maybe April needs to get her eyebrows waxed...

And her lip.

I can never get enough of Paris

Last week in Paris I went up to the Sacre Coeur area. None of my friends wanted to go out, so I just hopped on the metro (listening to my French language CD's, I am working on my French). I forgot how much I love this area! Everything there is so damn cute!

Geneva

I went to Geneva for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it. Here are some pics.




The famous clock tower in Geneva


St. Pierre Cathedral




One of my favorite things to do in European cities is visit old churches and climb the tower if they have one. St. Pierre's Cathedral in Geneva was beautiful and had amazing views of the city.




I kept on wandering and found beautiful gardens and this wall dedicated to those who assisted in the Reformation.

Spiderman!

Two crazy guys climbed the New York Times building today. Thus making it impossible for me to get to work on the bus because the entire street was closed off with people looking at him, ambulances and fire trucks. So I took a gypsy cab with some random guy and paid $45 bucks instead of my usual $8. Grr...


http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/man-scales-new-york-times-building/


(read the comments on the above story, they are funny)

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/05/man-scales-new-york-times-building/

Bikram yoga, or Sweat until you drop

Holy crap! I've never sweat so much in my life!

So last night I tried Bikram yoga. For the non-yogis out there, this is the kind where you do yoga in a hot room. A heated room, set to 100 degrees. I was pretty scared, having been told right before I left my house that it is worse than giving birth. I wasn't sure why I was trying it, other than I figure I'll try most things at least once. But I fully planned on hating it, and wanted to have done it at least once so that I could say, "I tried it and I wanted to die." That's the other thing I heard about it, it makes you dizzy, nauseous, and possibly wanting to die.

I went into it with very bad expectations. Most people who know me, know that I am not really a big workout person. I told my cousin Christine that I went running one day, and she asked if someone was chasing me. So I figured this kind of extreme physical activity would be too much for me. Plus I am not really a sweatter, I rarely perspire, but this, THIS was something else. Everyone in the room, including me, was soaked by the middle of class. After awhile, you are just used to being wet, like swimming. But the amazing thing was that I never wanted to die, or felt like I was going to. I just tried to focus, and rested a couple times for a minute if I felt dizzy. But I think I actually liked it! I felt great afterward, and will probably go again.

50 ways to help

Okay, this is a really great list of easy things you can do to help the earth, and be more environmentally friendly. Or if you don't care about the environment, these things will save you money. :)

http://www.50waystohelp.com/

And if you really want to go crazy, there's always the solar powered bikini:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/solar_powered_b.php

Also, I found this website where you can donate stuff to people, or you can get their used stuff. And it looks like a lot of it is nice and in good condition.

freecycle.org

i have cankles!

In case you didn't know, cankles are when your calves and your ankles melt into each other, and you can no longer tell which is which. I went to Long Beach over Memorial day weekend. It was a beautiful day, wasn't hot, wasn't cold. Just perfect to lie on the beach all day in the sun. Oh, I thought I was being good, used spray-on sunscreen a few times, in a haphazard manner. By the end of the day, I was starting to hurt, and on the way back on the train my legs were on fire. It is one of the worst sunburns of my life, and has apparently caused my ankles to swell up, changing my normal lovely legs into swollen sticks of pain. I did get enough sunscreen on parts of my body however, and you can see little spray marks on my skin where I didn't get burned because I used spray-on sunscreen. Sort of like a leopard.

the last month

Yes, yes, I'm still alive. I haven't blogged in over a month, because I don't know, I don't really have a good excuse. And yes, I know there are some of you I desperately need to hang out with next time I come to Utah and there is not a college graduation and baby blessing. Here are some pics of what I've been up to:




Alicia's graduation from Utah State

Baby Will got to come to the graduation, he was very excited


Dinner at a Korean restaurant afterwards



Then I got to sit next to Baby Will all the way home and make him smile at me. Which is pretty easy, since apparently he likes me, which is kind of reassuring, since I am not really a baby person, but my nephew likes me.



My mom, Grandma Starkey, and Alicia


Me holding Will


His first picnic



My mom holding Will

In case you think I only take pics of babies these days, my friends April and Cassie came to New York to visit me and we had tons of fun. I finally made it to Strawberry Fields in Central Park, to pay homage to John Lennon.


April was sure she could give me a piggy back ride. I still think I'm too old and too big for that sort of thing.