Fly Me to the Moon

Magical Mystery Tour

2009-11-25T05:58:00.006+03:30

This is for you Cindy.... :)

I have loved the Beatles since I was in high school, and have always wanted to go to Liverpool where they're from. So last week when I got a 2 day layover in Manchester was the perfect opportunity. I even took a tour bus, which I never do. Here are a few pics:

A John Lennon impersonator at the Cavern, where the Beatles used to play when they first started out

The street where Ringo Starr lived the first 2 years of his life. I swear we're related, I just haven't figured out how yet. :)

Albert Dock

Capitalism, A Love Story

2009-10-27T21:55:00.002+03:30

I saw Capitalism, A Love Story this weekend. There were a lot of things in the film that were shocking and depressing about unfettered capitalism. It made me outraged on so many levels, to see so much corruption and such an inherently harmful system in so many ways. Sometimes it seems like there is so much bad in the world it just seems impossible to make any sort of difference. But rather than spiraling down into a cycle of despair, cynicism and apathy, it seems better to do the few things I can do. First is just being the kind of ethical person I want to be and trying to make the world a better place in my immediate circle. Sometimes I wish I had money to throw at problems, but I definitely don't have that. So the next best thing I think is to support businesses who are ethical, which is difficult since so many seem to have shady practices, but at least I can try...so here are a few links I found that may be helpful...

Companies that bought life insurance policies on their employees (dead peasants insurance program). There are so many companies here it is probably difficult to avoid all of these, but I can try, and this does renew my determination not to shop at Wal-Mart.

Ethical companies of 2009. A good list of good companies, though a report from the WSJ does warn that this list has some conflicts of interest. Though so does the WSJ...

Does anyone else know of other good, ethical companies, that are not listed here? Or horrible ones to avoid? I'd love to hear about them.

Fall

2009-10-11T00:48:00.005+03:30

Ugh. It's now officially not summer anymore and I'm back to being on call. I just spent five whole days in New York, which hasn't happened for about 6 months. But if I'm willing to work weekends, I may actually work this winter. Birmingham tonight, hopefully I have a good crew! Going to attempt to blog more...here are a few pics of my most recent trips.

The lake in Hamburg

Paris, obviously.

A photo from an amazing outdoor photography exhibit I found in Paris while walking along the Seine.

Hong Kong

2009-08-29T01:04:00.002+04:30

I was somehow lucky enough to get a Hong Kong trip this month. I thought the flight would be horrible, but it actually wasn't bad at all and Hong Kong itself is awesome!

Here is a view of the city at night during the laser show:

Me at Victoria Peak:

Very authentic and delicious food:

Summer has gone so fast! This month I have been to Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Hong Kong, and I go to Rome tomorrow. I may be on call next month :( but at least I'm going out with a bang!

Kauai

2009-08-10T10:30:00.003+04:30

I went to Kauai a couple of weeks ago with my cousins Jessica and Allina. We had an amazing time. A few pictures:

Jones Beach-July 4, 2009

2009-07-08T06:34:00.004+04:30

Copenhagen layover

2009-06-17T07:56:00.004+04:30

the end of winter and the beginning of spring

2009-03-22T03:26:00.005+04:30

Last weekend I was in Utah for my nephew Will's first birthday.

I love getting lost in Central Park. Today I was so tired of sitting in my apartment on call so I went for a walk in the park.

If you have a little time...

2009-03-04T22:25:00.004+03:30

When I work at the boutique in Soho, I have a lot of down time. This is what has stood out to me today. Seriously, click on any of these links-at least the sleep walking dog. You won't be sorry.

Bizkit the sleep walking dog

So do you still want to date a banker?

The Daily Show

I'm just NOT into this movie

2009-02-11T00:44:00.009+03:30

I went to see "He's just not into you" last Friday. And I Hated it. That's right, hate, with a capital H. The two people I went to see it hated it too, though we are all in different relationship situations-single and dating, deep into a relationship that is breaking up, to married with a child. I couldn't figure out why I hated it so much. I think it's because I couldn't decide whether I bought into the premise or not. (plus there was the bad acting, too many sub-plots, etc, but that's not really the point of this post) I found this review about it online that I liked a lot. (fyi, there are some words that might offend some)

http://www.pajiba.com/hes-just-not-that-into-you-review.htm

What I finally got to thinking is that unless you do really psycho desperate stuff (some of which the girls in the movie did, and some people do in real life), I don't think it really matters what we do or don't do. If two people like each other, it works. If that "thing" is there, it's there, if not then it isn't. i don't like the way the book makes it seem like there are such exact rules. There may be for some people, but i don't really think all guys we are dealing with are that traditional. I'm so tired of analyzing texts and phone calls and phrases that people say in passing. There is a chance I may be delusional, but I really think for the modern world, in which many of us are attempting to not let traditions of the past unecessarily hold us captive, it's impossible to simplify things that much. I am going to stop thinking in such terms as "the girl does this" and "the guy does this," and try to attempt to relate to guys as if we are both people. Crazy? Maybe. I'll let you know...

Rainy Paris

2009-02-04T06:39:00.002+03:30

a little peace and quiet

2009-01-29T20:43:00.006+03:30

Is it too much to ask to have silence on the subway in the morning? The kind of ride where us snobby New Yorkers don't look at each other, and definitely don't talk to each other?

Because today's subway ride started out with a guy yelling crazy rants at people-something about finding religion and how we were all going to hell. When I changed trains, I was lucky enough to get on the one with a Mexican mariachi singer, and not a very good one at that. He got off, and I thought things were looking up, but then there was this "filmmaker" selling his animated movies for a dollar. And yelling about it at the top of his lungs.

My ears are still ringing from having my iPod turned up full volume.

December recap

2008-12-28T01:17:00.004+03:30

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

2008-11-07T23:27:00.004+03:30

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.

2008-11-05T21:52:00.007+03:30

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

2008-10-27T19:27:00.004+03:30

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

2008-10-13T22:22:00.004+03:30

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

2008-10-08T04:39:00.004+03:30

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?

2008-10-07T17:36:00.002+03:30

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

2008-09-24T21:38:00.005+03:30

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

2008-08-25T21:01:00.005+04:30

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

2008-08-12T20:38:00.002+04:30

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

Geneve, Switzerland

2008-08-05T23:19:00.003+04:30

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

2008-07-31T01:22:00.006+04:30

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.

2008-07-15T10:47:00.004+04:30

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

2008-07-03T22:32:00.004+04:30

(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?

2008-06-25T02:21:00.001+04:30

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Genealogy research - Pedigree

Randomness and fun

2008-06-24T02:51:00.005+04:30

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

2008-06-24T02:35:00.004+04:30

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

2008-06-23T00:00:00.008+04:30

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!

2008-06-06T04:18:00.003+04:30

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

2008-06-05T19:34:00.005+04:30

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

2008-05-29T08:25:00.004+04:30

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!

2008-05-27T21:42:00.004+04:30

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

2008-05-14T22:58:00.008+04:30

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.

hahahaha

2008-04-06T09:29:00.003+04:30

Online dating has to be one of the FUNNIEST things you can possibly do with your life. A guy messaged me today and wants me to guess what breed his horses are. How is a girl living in NYC supposed to do that? He lives on a farm, and likes to read by the fireplace (apparently that is the only place), and cannot spell. I would go on, there is much more fun to be had, but will stop because the reason why I am not able to find anyone to date may be related to my ability to pick apart their profiles in aforementioned manner.

I'm sorry, I can't resist. He has 17 dogs. Even for a girl who LOVES dogs, that is a LOT.

And den? And den? And den?

2008-04-06T02:25:00.003+04:30

I really really hope the pizza I just ordered makes it to my house. I gave my address AND phone number to the lady, I AM NOT KIDDING YOU, 10 times! And instead of saying the name of the street where I live (which sounds like where nuns stay), she kept saying "Convict Avenue." It is a fairly well-known street in the area, or so I thought. No lady, I do not live on CONVICT avenue. I thought we had everything straightened out, then she calls me back to get my address again, then passes the phone to another lady, who asks me what my phone number is. If you just called me, don't you already HAVE my phone number?

67 degrees

2008-04-02T08:12:00.001+04:30

today was almost like spring. to celebrate i wore flip-flops, and no coat all over the city. my nearly naked feet were so happy.

a little game we play

2008-03-29T03:13:00.006+04:30

A few weeks ago I flew with a friend who volunteers for the Hilary Clinton campaign in New York. He had a bunch of Hilary Clinton stickers. First I wanted one, just to have one for myself, as a souvenir. Even though I prefer Obama, by just a little, I still like Hilary. Then I got a brilliant plan. He gave me a few more, and I thought my dad might enjoy having them on his car. He he. It's actually pretty great, we have differing political views, but we are able to talk and joke about them. I didn't want to permanently put them on his car, so I just taped one to his steering wheel, so he'd see it right off. Then I taped one on the inside of the rearview mirror. My parents live in a very conservative area, so the thought of him driving anywhere with this made me laugh hard.

Apparently he thought it was very funny, and hasn't even removed the one on the back window yet! I just love to think of him driving around Davis County with "Vote Hilary 2008" on the back of his car. I'm surprised no one's said anything to him about it. Although it kind of reminds me of when he drove my brother's old car with the Beastie Boys sticker. I think the bumper stickers help keep him hip.

So a few days ago, he told me to look forward to something in my email and when I checked my email and received something from the Christian Coalition, I knew exactly where it had come from. There were all sorts of messages from my enemies (read post below about my grandma, if you don't understand this, and think I am really calling people my enemies, I am not). I learned about the horrors of the networks like ABC and CBS and FOX. I was really confused about this one, I thought the Christian Right liked Fox. I read about George Bush's outstanding judicial nominees, and how some very bad people don't want to confirm them. It was very educational. I can't wait for the next one.

2008-03-29T03:06:00.002+04:30

"The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs."-Charles DeGaulle

Brussels!!

2008-03-25T04:52:00.007+04:30

I went to Brussels this past weekend on a layover. A few pics:

Amazing displays of Easter candy.

Really pretty seafood and vegetable displays.

The belgian waffles are SO good!

2008-03-18T07:42:00.001+03:30

And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk to bloom. --Anais Nin

2008-03-18T07:40:00.000+03:30

I'm an aunt!

www.cbstarkey.blogspot.com

(i have tried and tried, but i CANNOT make the link work, so you'll have to do it yourself)

this is the grandma who wants me to pry out her gold teeth when she is in her coffin

2008-03-10T18:58:00.004+03:30

I was visiting with my grandma this past weekend. we had an interesting conversation, as we always do, and i thought i would share a few tidbits:

If times ever get REALLY hard, she plans to shoot the deer in the backyard. Apparently she doesn't even need to use a gun, because she knows a few people with bows and arrows (who are THOSE people?) I guess there is some sort of precedent for this in my family, as my great grandfather did this during the depression (killed deer out of season and ate it, though not with a bow and arrow, I assume). The famous "Uncle Sam's mutton" story, for any of you related to me...

Also along the "if times ever get REALLY hard" vein, Grandma is fresh off her first escargo experience, and figures she could duplicate it in her own yard. So she says if they ever don't have enough to eat, she will just round up some snails and cook them. Now Grandma and Grandpa have plenty of food and money, but she says "you never know."

Somehow the conversation went to politics, and the Clintons were brought up. I was saying something positive about Bill Clinton, and then my Grandpa, bless his heart, piped in about how we sure don't need Bill Clinton's wife in office. I started laughing, because he obviously hadn't been listening to anything I had been saying. My grandma knows my political views. My grandpa does not. So she says to him "don't talk to her about that. She's your enemy." Enemy? Wow. I'm now enemies with my grandpa. I didn't know that. I told her maybe that was a bit extreme. Maybe my grandpa and I don't have to be ENEMIES.

Yeah, my grandma is hilarious. She is one of a kind.

2008-03-04T23:34:00.002+03:30

Actually, Airborne makes me want to throw up.

Apparently it doesn't really work either.

http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2008/03/04/airborne/index.html

Feminist art at the Brooklyn Museum

2008-03-03T05:35:00.006+03:30

Yesterday Kelerie and I went to the Brooklyn museum. I have been wanting to go there for awhile. They have a fantastic feminist art exhibition that I totally loved. The big one that I had really been wanting to see was called "the Dinner Party." It has names and place settings of women throughout history for those who have been forgotten as well as symbollic imagery on the place settings, and names of women all over the floor as well. There was also an exhibit from Ghada Amer, an artist from Egypt, whose art was provoking and fascinating.

you go girl

2008-03-03T05:33:00.002+03:30

CONGRATULATIONS D'ARCY!!!! Way to start off with a big bang!

in case you were wondering

2008-02-29T04:56:00.003+03:30

Each US househould pays $138 a month to fund the war in Iraq. Wow. Good to know where my money is going. Soldiers in Iraq make about $40,000, while the contractors make $400,000. That makes perfect sense. Grrrr...

Articles are below:

http://www.quizlaw.com/blog/the_true_cost_of_war.php

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/28/iraq.afghanistan

Grrr...

2008-02-26T18:12:00.003+03:30

when i said i wanted to work today, i meant i wanted to WORK. Not get up before 7 am, put on a dirty uniform, and come to the crew room and sit airport alert, where they may or may not use me. By now I really don't want to go anywhere anyway. Now that I am here, I want to sleep, surf the internet, and maybe watch the Bourne Ultimatum I have been meaning to watch for 2 weeks from Netflix.

Persepolis

2008-02-26T17:44:00.000+03:30

I saw Persepolis the other night. LOVED it. Go see it. Or read it first.

some people are classy

2008-02-14T08:28:00.003+03:30

yesterday when we were on final approach, one of my fabulous flight attendant friends made me look at the guy in 26C. You know why? He was looking at porn. Casually looking at porn, in the aisle seat of the airplane. With a woman in the window seat. I actually think they were traveling together. What a pervert. Then when it was time to leave, he had the courtesy of leaving the magazine for us. How thoughtful. Guess what else he left? An entire bottle of soy sauce. SOY SAUCE. How on earth did they get through with a bottle of soy sauce? I can't even get through with my toothpaste without getting felt up and these people get through with large condiments!!!

Brainstorming

2008-02-08T19:30:00.001+03:30

I am kind of freaking out about all the airline merger talks, because if it happens, I would probably lose my job, eventually. And then I would need a new career. Sure, I could always go back to social work, but I don't think I really want to. Any ideas for ANOTHER career for me? Something that preferably doesn't involve major office hours, could involve travel and keeps me in New York. Hmmm....

Words I hate

2008-01-30T00:01:00.000+03:30

There are some words that I really hate. Mostly because they just don't seem to make any sense. They sound like they are covering up something, and I prefer just saying what you really mean. In recent discussions over the past few weeks, I have heard all these terms used, and I would like to see them NOT. USED. EVER. If you have just used any of these words, I still love you, I am just making fun of you, a little.

-expecting (as in a child) but couldn't you just as likely be expecting a surprise or a dog, or a birthday present

-pet-pet what? a dog? a cat? let's not use this to describe something that happens between two people

-neck-what does this even mean?!? every time I hear it I think of two people neck to neck, nuzzling, in the silliest way.

-courting-I think this is pretty much an eighteenth or ninetieth century word. I think the term now is DATING.

I'm sure there are more words I hate that I'm forgetting. What are your least favorite words? What words do you prefer in their place?

my hands are bananas

2008-01-13T07:00:00.000+03:30

So, my sister Alicia showed me this life-changing video at you-tube. You must watch it. Okay, it really won't change your life, it is really random, but you should watch it.

why can't I sit still?

2008-01-10T06:01:00.000+03:30

"comes over one an absolute necessity to move. And what is more, to move in some particular direction. A double necessity then: to get on the move, and to know whither"

D.H. Lawrence's Sea and Sardinia

in memory of Kristy

2008-01-07T22:34:00.000+03:30

I found out today that one of the sisters from my mission was killed by her husband in a church parking lot yesterday. Wow. We were never companions, never close friends or anything, but I did know her a little, and we had the shared experience of the same mission, working in the Bible Belt. We had some of the same companions. I have her in pictures. I remember her singing in zone conferences. I heard stories about her before I got there. So it so strange, and really really sad, that her husband decided to shoot her dead in the parking lot on her thirtieth BIRTHDAY while she was going to CHURCH. What would possess a person, who had shared a life with someone, had two children with someone, to then decide to kill them? It absolutely amazes and saddens me.

Happy New Year

2008-01-03T06:58:00.000+03:30

HI EVERYONE and WELCOME to my blog and New Years letter!
(regular blog readers just consider this a recap of the past year) :)

I had such good intentions of actually sending out a "Christmas letter." I even started writing it the beginning of December, unlike the past couple of years where I haven't written any letters, and I figure people will probably stop sending me their letters if I never actually make contact as well. That was the point of THIS letter, that I never got around to writing (too much holiday flying, so sorry). So this has turned a slightly belated New Years blog post, but it's better than nothing, I hope. Enough of the excuses...feel free say hello and to leave a comment at the end if you like.

I hope you are all well, I haven’t talked to some of you in quite a while, but thanks for keeping me up to date with Christmas letters and birth announcements and all. I really have appreciated you keeping in touch and have loved seeing what you are up to. I would, of course, have sent announcements to you if I had wed or birthed anyone. But instead, I will tell you what I HAVE been up to!!!

I am still working as an international flight attendant for Continental Airlines. I LOVE it. It’s crazy, I never would have guessed that I would have done this or liked it, but it is great and works for me.

A bit of what I have been up to the past year:

My sister Alicia came to visit me in January. It was very cold. Too bad she had to experience New York City for the first time in single digit temps.

In March I moved to from Newark to Harlem in New York City. If you don’t know NYC that well, it’s not scary like you might be imagining. It’s actually a really great place to live. I love living in New York, there’s always something to do, and I love all the culture and diversity here. I have been able to see lots of Broadway plays and take people around the city when they come to town. But I get to travel often and come back to Utah often too, so it’s nice, because then I don’t miss anywhere too much.

In April, my friend D’Arcy and I went to Spain for a whirlwind vacation. We forgot to plan time to eat or sleep. We drove throughout a good portion of Spain which was both beautiful and terrifying (really narrow roads). We went from Barcelona to Valencia to Granada to Tangier, Morocco to Cordoba to Toledo (where I drove on the smallest roads EVER) to El Escorial to Madrid, plus a bunch of other small cities, of which I do not remember their names. All we ate was JAMON (ham). My Spanish improved and I learned the importance of eating “para llevar” (to go). We were there during Holy Week, which is the busiest and most expensive time of year to go (brilliant choice of vacation time!), and we found ourselves forced to stay in 5-star hotels for a few nights because those were the only places that had vacancies. But I really, really loved Spain.

My friend April stayed with me for a little while and we went to Long Beach, New York.

In May, summer flying started. This basically means that I worked ALL the time, which since I like my job, is not too bad. I went to Stockholm, Sweden, where it stays light till almost midnight, and is one of the cleanest cities in the world. I went to Frankfurt, Brussels, and Lisbon, Portugal, where I kept getting upset that I couldn’t understand anything because Portuguese is close enough to Spanish where I think I should, but different enough that I can’t understand anything. Then in July and August, I just started going to Paris. I went there more than anywhere and realized I better learn more French. I also went to Rome with Clara and Brian for 5 days, since they moved there for the summer.

In between all of this, I also go to the UK and Ireland ALL the time, so much that I should have dual citizenship, or at least get a break on the horrible exchange rate or something.

I really love the Belgian Waffles in Belgium.

Me and my old roommate Laura on the metro in Paris. Laura LOVES public transportation.

In October, I went to Switzerland on vacation with D’Arcy. We went to the Alps, Zurich, and some other small towns that I can't pronounce or remember all of them, but I know they involve taking a very small cable car up a mountain.

In family news, my sister Alicia got married a year and a half ago to a fantastic guy named John, and my brother Brian’s wife Clara is pregnant, and having a boy in March. They don't have a name yet, so I’m calling him Maximo (they lived in Rome for the summer, so we've been thinking Italian). My parents are thrilled to be getting a grandchild, since I have not supplied them with one yet. I got Christmas off this year and was able to be home for a few days, which was fantastic.

I hope you are all doing well, thanks for the cards and email updates.

Love,

Michelle

Happy Christmas

2007-12-23T23:34:00.000+03:30

I went to a lovely Christmas service at St. Mary RedCliffe in Bristol tonight. I just love cathedrals, whether Catholic, Church of England or Episcopal. This church has beautiful sounding bells that ring and ring and ring. The inside of the church is beautiful, the huge vaulted ceilings and everything, and for much of the service the lights were off, except for a few free-standing candles, and then everyone holds their own candle. (it's a good idea really, you can't fall asleep in church with a candle-first there's the safety issue, plus fire is just too interesting) The candles are kind of magical and the whole thing has an aura that is different than when lights are at full bright, even when they turned them up so everyone could sing, it was still very soft and nice. The choir was amazing. There were lots of sing along moments, which I loved, because I love to sing. But did you know that a lot of the Christmas carols have the same words, but different tunes in England than in America? It's true. I had to be very careful. Fortunately Miss Jarman taught me how to sing like a British person back in high school (never thought I would thank her), so I fit in pretty good pronunciation-wise, except when they sang Beth-LE-hem.

they are winning

2007-12-22T10:55:00.000+03:30

don't ever say i am not creative. it is 2:30 am, and i just fashioned a window screen out of kleenex and paper tape. i think it is one of my stupider ideas. i imagine it will hold up for all of 10 minutes. sadly it keeps all the cold air outside (opposite of what i was going for), lets all the noise in (fine, i don't really care one way or they other), and i am pretty sure will do nothing about the DAMN flies!

Crab, Key Lime and Fondue

2007-12-19T06:30:00.000+03:30

Visiting Allina and Brianne this past weekend in Seattle. Here we are at the Crab Cracker. YUM!

Brianne was a really good sport going out with us, even though she was due to have her baby ANY minute. We figured crab could be her last meal (before she delivered). We tried to get her to go clubbing (ha!) and told her we could get her a baby doll dress, but she wasn't really into that idea. Okay, neither were we.

This is not a flattering picture of me. Allina really wanted to feed me chocolate fondue. I can't really explain it. You had to be there.
If you ever need reindeer antlers, they sell them at Pottery Barn.
Here is a cute pic of me and my nephew Riley. We were waiting for Brianne to have her baby. I had to take a flight in 2 hours. I told Brianne she had 2 hours to have baby Kaleb. She did not deliver. :( She did have him yesterday morning and they are both doing well. I can't believe I missed him by 20 hours!

someday i will unpack

2007-12-18T02:27:00.000+03:30

have just returned from a couple FABULOUS days in seattle with my cousins, one of whom i BARELY missed her giving birth to her first child. i have not even had 24 hours here in new york. now i am off to manchester. leaving behind me still boxes all over my apartment. i don't know where to put everything, where the nearest laundry is, or where to put the garbage or recycle-ables. i am fairly sure i better figure out all of those things pretty quick.
cheerio!

"don't be mad at me"

2007-12-13T01:51:00.000+03:30

i parked my car today. a little more in the ghetto, because let's face it, i live in a little shadier of a neighborhood. a guy came over to me, right up to my car, while i was still in it, and asked me for 20 or 30 cents. i told him i didn't have any money. which is the exact truth. i have the opposite of money. debt. i didn't go into all MY financial woes with him, because the poor man is probably living on the street, but i didn't give him anything either, just talked to him through the glass. "no i don't have any money" i said, "don't be mad, okay?" he said. "i'm not mad," says me. i thought, hey, as long as you're just asking me for some change, as opposed to actually robbing me or something, i'm not mad. "have a good day." i told him. "you too." he said.

home sweet home

2007-12-11T08:58:00.000+03:30

i have moved into new apartment. it is lovely. interesting (in a very good way). i have partially unpacked. at least to the point that i was able to set up my bed. and put my food away on very very high shelves. i have no idea what i'm doing up. it has almost been 24 hours. my 2nd wind has come and gone, and i have had another 10 winds. one which involved singing michael michlean and total eclipse of the heart with my new roommates. and the wind beneath my wings. i really hate that song. i am ready for bed. tomorrow: home shopping spree at target.

commitment issues

2007-12-06T10:20:00.000+03:30

whenever i have dreams of getting married (and they don't happen very often), i am always terrified, and i always am wondering why i am going through with it, although i have a pretty good idea. i never really know the guy, and i feel this momentum leading up to it and then i am like "oh crap."
this post has nothing to do with marriage. i am moving into a new apartment on saturday. we found it on monday, i think, and decided on tuesday. it's a great apartment, but this really freaked me out. not really my normal style of decision making. i like to see a lot of options, think about them, ask lots of questions, explore pros and cons, and then decide on something. okay, maybe this post has something to do with marriage. (or reasons why i am not. ha.) but against my normal way of doing things, and my perfectionist instinct that wants everything that i want, i have decided to go for it anyway. mostly because i know i can't have everything i want. and it's just an apartment, not a lifetime commitment, right?

first snow of the season

2007-12-03T03:47:00.001+03:30

when i woke up this morning it was snowing. i looked out the window and it was so beautiful i let out an audible sigh. it was the perfect powdery kind, that is easy to brush off your car.

someone at church today said that must be why everyone decided it was "super cute" sunday, because new york was so pretty, so they decided they wanted to be too.

i joined the choir for what will probably be my only rehearsal (i could make it to the performance, but who knows, probably not). but i love singing christmas songs. music does something all the talks in the world can't do.

glimmer of hope for mankind

2007-11-30T07:56:00.001+03:30

I went on a date tonight. It was fun. Who knows if there will be a 2nd date (it would be nice), but either way, he was normal (and cute, no lazy eye). It was nice to have a reminder that it is possible to have a good time with a normal guy and relate as human beings. I have wondered if it was actually possible.

New York City is so pretty

2007-11-29T05:18:00.001+03:30

Okay, so that is a dumb title, but the Christmas lights are on here too. Yay!
(I promise to write about something besides Christmas next. I promise.)

Limerick Layover

2007-11-29T04:28:00.001+03:30

The streets are all decked out in Limerick, Ireland

The Christmas tree in the center of town

An artist sells his paintings on the street

More Christmas Dedications

2007-11-29T04:09:00.000+03:30

(As requested)

To Nina: The Christmas version of "Hands" by Jewel, with you, holding the hands that have fallen off the little statue of Jesus. I miss those days, the ones where we lived in the same state.

To Alicia: I don't have a song for you. I'm real sorry. I don't. I have racked my brains. But let me just say that I remember you in MANY MANY concerts, singing Christmas songs, with your really cheesy stage smile and dance that we all love so much. That's what I miss from you.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC AND SO DO YOU

2007-11-28T00:29:00.000+03:30

I would like to dedicate 2 Christmas songs to 2 very special people...

"All I want for Christmas is you" goes to Nicole (in the memory of us dancing and singing it around our old apartment)

and

"Tiny Little Baby" sung by none other than Logan's finest Voice Male to D'Arcy

I'll be missing you on Christmas

2007-11-26T00:41:00.000+03:30

So I'm sitting in my bed, all cozy in my hotel room in Ireland. Feeling the Christmas spirit I decided now would be a great time to start working on my Christmas letter, and I have already wasted enough time on the internet. I am listening to yahoo launch cast music. And something suspicious comes on. Something that sounds a lot like my Christmases of junior high.
Yep. It was from these guys:

"I'll be missing you on Christmas". There's really nothing like the high notes of Joey McIntyre's pre-pubescent voice singing the sweet cadences of love lost at Christmastime (yeah, I still know his full name, what of it?)

i am the secret weapon

2007-11-24T23:20:00.000+03:30

Okay people, some of you may know, some of you may not, but I have been working on my third film. Okay, so that's a HUGE stretch to even talk about my ridiculously limited film experience like that, but my friends and I have been making a little movie, and hey, I would really like a listing at IMDB. I figure that I should be pretty close by now. Anyway, we finished filming our lingo and the editing is done as well. So here is our movie, i hope you like it...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G1Byv1ya2W0

Happy Scottish Thanksgiving!

2007-11-21T22:45:00.000+03:30

After my fake Thanksgiving in Utah, I went to Glasgow, Scotland for the real one. I figured we'd go out for fish and chips. But the hotel there is awesome and makes us food on American holidays! So we had turkey and gravy, and pecan pie and everything, with our Scottish co-workers from the airport. We explained to them about Thanksgiving, and I am getting better at clinking the glasses in toasting. Apparently it is VERY important to clink everyone's glass, even if you are drinking water.

fake Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-20T00:04:00.000+03:30

I learned a lot about my family this Thanksgiving weekend. I learned that if my sister were to name her car, she would name it Tyler. I learned my family thinks I am the most sarcastic person in the family. I wasn't quite sure what to think of this, but I guess I will take it as a compliment, because at least I am the most SOMETHING, and sarcasm is funny, even if SOME people say it is the lowest form of humor. We learned other funny things while playing the game "Loaded Questions," but I don't really remember what else we learned, other than we refuse to be serious, and mostly want to have a good time. Here are some pics of the actual dinner.

Everyone came over for faux Thanksgiving on Sunday. We had 24 people-roommates, girlfriends, children, boyfriends, as well as all the family. Some people came in their best dress or suit. Some people came in their pajamas. Other people came with a new hair color, yet again. Alicia and I made pies and everyone else made and brought stuff. It was all delicious and it didn't really matter if it was the real day or not, at least not to me, since I was not in the country for the real one.

i heart utah

2007-11-17T02:09:00.000+03:30

So I'm back in Utah for fake Thanksgiving, listening to country music again, eating home-cooked food, hanging out with family, in the land of the mountains and the pretty fall leaves. Loving it really.

My mom said she was shopping with my cousin who just went on a mission at the MISSIONARY MALL. Did you know there is a missionary mall in Provo? Apparently there is one for sisters and one for elders? With a huge blow-up elder standing outside? I told her she should have taken a picture. It sounds too good to be true. Sometimes I just forget they have things like this here.

My mom got a perfume sample there she said she'd give to me. I was excited about this-free travel-size perfume-great. Till I heard what it was called-"SWEET SPIRIT" No, I'm not kidding. I was pretty sure I didn't want it at that point, but I was morbidly curious. Yeah, it's one of those really cheap perfumes, I think the point is to actually repel the opposite sex.

your calendar for next year

2007-11-15T17:47:00.000+03:30

Okay, I know some people might be offended by this. But seriously, this is way funny. I had a bunch of people over last night and one of them just had to borrow my computer to look up this site, and we couldn't stop laughing about this, so I am posting it.

http://mormonsexposed.com/

Okay, by the link you might think its some anti-mo site or something, and no, it's not naked pics either. Just a bunch or RMs making a calendar...

Okay, and then it gets better, you can buy these shirts:

or these shirts:

It's called a Family Values T-shirt, people. In Palmyra pink. Okay, so I won't be actually buying one. But I have to give it to these people for creativity and all.

a chilly Sunday morning walk

2007-11-14T03:13:00.000+03:30

I was feeling restless and took a walk this past cold Sunday morning. This is what I saw.

Shopping Spree at Fairway

2007-11-08T15:51:00.000+03:30

So right before my fateful date mentioned below I had to make a choice. A choice I never like making. I had just come in from Oslo and I was really really tired and really really hungry. I chose sleep. I didn't know if we were eating on our date, but I guess it didn't matter either way, because all I had in my cupboard was a Toblerone, some cookies from Switzerland, and some random cooking ingredients that you can't just eat. So I went without, all the while being scolded by Allina that I really needed to buy some groceries. Duh.

So yesterday, for the first time since living in Manhattan, I drove to Fairway. Being a Fairway virgin, I was a little overwhelmed. For awhile, I just drove my empty cart around the store. Finally I started putting the stuff on my list in there. Then I started putting random stuff that looked good in there. Smoked salmon, butternut squash soup, random cheeses. At first I thought the store was all organic. I bought 3 boxes of organic Peace cereal, which I am happily eating right now. Who doesn't want their cereal to have quotes from Mahatma Ghandi on it? And the berries in the cereal taste just like fresh berries!

$113 later, I was all checked out. I figured it's okay, thinking of how I haven't gone grocery shopping for 6 months, and thinking of all the meals I've skipped because I didn't have food around. I took 2 trips hauling it up my 4 flights of stairs and set to eating. Yum.

You don't know a thing about me...

2007-11-08T15:16:00.000+03:30

Lately I have started feeling as though all men might be derranged. I know they're not. I know lots of wonderful guys. There are great guys in my family, at work, in my ward. Men I see on the street even appear to be well-adjusted individuals. All of these people have normal relationships with women, etc...But the ones who have been calling and contacting me lately have been doing some disturbed things. I am in a phase where I am a magnet for the weird ones and I am over it-get me out! It kind of makes it less enticing to actually make an effort to um, date.

I went on a date 2 nights ago. I was so traumatized by aforementioned date, that it has taken me a couple of days to write about it. Ever go on a date where it feels like you're on a quiz show? Question after question, and WEIRD questions too. Finally, when he had run out of questions, he asked me what else I wanted to know about him. NOTHING, I thought, I know all I need to know. But I came up with a few other questions, since that was what he was into. Finally, I just said, "what else do you want me to know about you?" He told me some more stuff, that I didn't really need to know, but whatever. Apparently he thought he was a lot more mature than he is, and he was telling me how he likes to date women older than him, lucky me, but I am thinking he should stick to girls his own age. And I should stick to guys my own age. Or older. I got to hear all about how he had been hurt in the past by some crazy girl and now he was just looking for a nice girl. He seemed to think I was that girl. But honestly, how could he know that? Anyone can be nice for a 2 hour dinner. In reality, I could be a total beotch. I'm usually not, but I could be. I just don't think it's really useful to start analyze someone's personality to them on the first, very short, date.

random sunday thoughts

2007-11-05T02:56:00.000+03:30

This week I've really felt like a New Yorker. Like a normal person. Not that those are one and the same really. They're probably not. But I've been off for a few days, and actually felt like I've lived in the city, and that has been nice. Doing normal people things. Waking up in the morning. Going to bed at a reasonable hour. Not ordering delivery every meal. Not flying anywhere, not driving back and forth to the airport or riding the bus where the mean man checks your ID even though you're in a FLIGHT ATTENDANT UNIFORM. Now I'm back at work, going to Oslo tonight, and it's like, 'oh yeah, I have a job.' I think it will be a little hard to get into work tonight. But I'm pretty sure I'll get into it quick cause I hear that those flights are CRAZY and the people are thirsty.

On another, unrelated note, on my way to church, I was driving along, enjoying the ride (perhaps too much), listening to music, and I guess I just went into autopilot. Apparently I thought I was going to work, and I took the exit for the George Washington Bridge. There is nowhere to turn around from that point on. So there I was, going across the bridge, into New Jersey, instead of North, to church, where I really wanted to be. So I exited at the first exit, the Palisades, and all I could think of was the Billy Joel song "See the Lights go Down on Broadway," but sadly, that song offered me no clues on how to get back to Manhattan. I drove around the Palisades for a few minutes, looking for signs back to the GW bridge, and eventually found my way back. Fortunately I had $6 to get across the bridge, because that's what it costs to enter my lovely island. Where else can you get lost and it costs you $6? As soon as I was driving back across the bridge I turned my radio back on and could see a lovely view of Manhattan. This is exactly what I heard on the radio: "if you're lost you will look and you can find it, time after time..." Seriously. Uncanny.

Conan

2007-11-03T18:31:00.001+03:30

Last night I went to see Conan O'Brien. It was awesome. The NBC people were really mean before you get into the show (have you ever taken a tour of their studios?), but once you get in there (does anyone want an extra large Conan T-shirt? Maybe I'll auction it off to the highest bidder on my blog) they are pretty nice and funny, and put on a good show. Conan is kind of a freak, but in a good way.

Jerry Seinfeld was on, he was way funny. There was a surprise visit by Larry King, who was only a few feet away from us in the audience, and somehow I felt like he was like my grandpa, or someone who I should know and should know me. Strangely, he didn't seem to recognize me...

Then Big Poppy or something like that from the Boston Red Sox (obviously I really follow baseball), but he was cool.

I love living in New York. In a couple of weeks I have Jon Stewart tickets. Yeah baby.

I don't need glass slippers, I just want some freakin' boots!

2007-11-02T01:48:00.001+03:30

so um, i woke up at 7 am today. and actually got up. it was a total switch from 2 pm yesterday, where i was a lazy sloth. but at least i have jet lag for an excuse. anyway, i immediately turned on my computer in red-hot pursuit of beautiful flat leather boots like the ones that had been in all the window displays in every store in Switzerland. Ha! Apparently my hopes were too high. Because all they make for Amazon women like me are horrendous items like these:

or these:

when what I really want is these:

or these:

Actually, these are not exactly what I want, but the ones I want are in SWITZERLAND. And ITALY. And actual stores. Not online. But at least these are closer. And like so many times before, I was in a rage that is only reserved for George Bush and shoe shopping. And somehow I happened upon a website and found myself emailing someone who makes hand-makes shoes for cross-dressers. Yeah, that's right. Chandler's dad had to go somewhere. You know, this is a market I may have to look into. Ah, the sad similarities...

Switzerland

2007-11-01T06:56:00.001+03:30

So D'Arcy and I went on a little fall vacae to Switzerland (I know, my life is rough). Here are some pics.

What I DID do in Switzerland:

ate fondue, rode the train, smiled at all the really hot, stylish Swiss guys, took a TON of pictures, re-enacted 007 in the rotating restaurant at the top of the Alps, bought clothes, burnt the hell out of my flat iron,

What I did NOT do in Switzerland (tragically, for the most part):

open a Swiss bank account, find a Swiss man to marry (they are all good looking and stylish) and therefore give me dual citizenship, buy really hot flat leather boots, find a Swiss man to have a fling with, learn German or French, have pretty hair

Bridge from the 1400's

Great view of Lucerne
Me, before European hair happened

They really like dogs here. As do I.

Really great lion sculpture.

Yummy swiss dinner

We happened upon a classical concert at this beautiful church

No, we didn't actually compete in the marathon.

View from the train to Murren

The Alps

I am a deep thinker
Old church that we climbed to the top of in Zurich

View from the top of the church in Zurich

For more pics and stories, go to D'Arcy's blog.

have you lost your teeth?

2007-10-28T06:21:00.000+03:30

So the other day I was working the flight to Glasgow when we found these:

on the floor by the lavatory. Yeah, that's right. Cause normally MY teeth fall right out of my mouth during a flight. I made an announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you have lost a "dental device," please notify a flight attendant, thank you."

I figured saying dental device might be less likely to embarrass the toothless person. That or confuse them. No one contacted us. We walked up and down the aisle, nonchalantly looking for people who looked like they might be missing their bottom teeth. The guy I was working with SWORE it was row 25. One girl even woke up a lady who was doing some suspicious sleep-chomping and asked if it was her, but she had most of her teeth, so no, not her. I made the same announcement right before landing. For once the annoying dinging of call bells was silent. So one of the flight attendants put on rubber gloves, put it in a plastic baggie and walked the dentures up the aisle. He got some looks, but no takers. By now it was a joke. I sat them beside me during deplaning. Lots of looks. But no one wanted them. The ground crew in Glasgow took turns shoving them in each others faces. Good times.

Reinventing myself

2007-10-22T20:13:00.000+03:30

I was in a room full of people recently when I realized that I don't think any of them know me very well. I don't really blame them for this, I blame me. And really, I just met half of them, so partly, I think I was just new. But I think often we edit ourselves somewhat, in order to create a persona that we think will be more acceptable in certain settings. In reality, we hide what we can really connect to others about. The people I really respect and admire in my life are the people who are truly themselves-whatever the consequences. They aren't always tactful, or even nice, (although they usually are). These are people I can relate to.

Last night it was announced that two people in the room were the biggest feminists in the room. One of them even happened to be male! What? I thought. This is a topic that I actually care deeply about and spend quite a bit of time reading and discussing. But of course, I couldn't vie for a position as one of the biggest feminists in the room because a) it's not really a contest b) that would be stupid c) no one even knew my views at all. Because I have kept them quiet, thinking that no one else thinks like me. Which is obviously not the case.

So I pose these questions to you: Do you edit yourself, reinvent yourself a bit for others at times? Or is it just me and the vastly different worlds I live in, Mormon activities, and hanging out with more worldly flight attendants? Or if you don't, is it because you naturally fit into one group more easily, or are just comfortable standing out alone or with others?

While attempting to edit this blog for mass market appeal-(okay really the three people who I know read this blog regularly), I have often made it boring and appeal to no one, including myself. So I announce I am a feminist. (since I didn't last night) and I plan to have more interesting topics on this blog. So there.

Ichabod! Ichabod!

2007-10-21T22:48:00.000+03:30

Saturday night we went to Sleepy Hollow for an enrichment activity. As in the Headless Horseman. It was cool! Here are some pics:

http://www.hudsonvalley.org/content/view/14/44/

stroop wafflen?

2007-10-21T08:38:00.000+03:30

there is something wrong when all i ever have to eat are stroop waffles from brussels from 3 months ago. they were stale then, they are staler now. i am not kidding. this is what i eat when i need a snack. i am hungry. time to go to the grocery store perhaps.

Overheard in New York

2007-10-17T07:18:00.000+03:30

You know when you are riding on the subway, or sitting in a restaurant, or pretty much anywhere in New York, and you think-MAN-there are some crazy people here! Well, this is a website devoted to the stupid things New Yorkers and the millions of tourists who come here are overheard to have said. (warning-it does contain some offensive language)

http://www.overheardinnewyork.com

a day in the life

2007-10-16T06:09:00.000+03:30

scene.

me-sitting in the london hilton crew room next to a couple of my gay flight attendant friends who are waiting for the hot zoom guys to come. one of them just did his hair.

one of the cheap british airlines has taken over the crew room and they are louder than us. they are drinking wine and screaming every word coming out of their mouths. 2 of them just got married. i think the guy is gay. he has on a bright pink shirt, funny shoes, and well, there is the career.

i am here surfing the internet. my life is so strange. i could go back to my room and watch crap tv, but i know all that is on is countdown, a show about a woman with an enlarged head (3 times too big), something about cancerous moles, and the neverending BBC. so i stay here, somehow still sober, and will wait for the hot zoom guys. maybe i will go do my hair. oh wait that would be pointless. where are all the straight guys?

scene.

p.s. i just looked up the flight info for when zoom is landing. i think i am encouraging something...well anyway...

Do not ever touch a flight attendant!

2007-10-08T23:48:00.000+03:30

Ever!! If you are on a flight and there is a flight attendant in front of you (or behind you or above you, or below you, or somehow within reach of your little fingers) and you have the urge to give a seemingly harmless tap on the shoulder to ask for something to eat-fight this urge! If you are sitting in a seat and there is a flight attendant's waist or butt (as in my case two days ago on a flight) within reach, and you think, 'I will just tap this servant of the airline, and therefore my servant, to get their attention, they won't really mind,' please refrain. Even if you are a seemingly harmless looking elderly lady in a pink tracksuit. You just might get punched in the face. Something about working in such close quarters with the public, barreling through the air in a metal tube, makes you really want to enforce your personal boundaries. Flight attendants do not want to be touched by you, the customer, at all, ever. It will only bring you dirty looks and bad service.
The exceptions to this rule are few and far between, and basically include BEING or appearing to be George Clooney or Brad Pitt.

Oh beautiful for spacious skies...

2007-09-29T02:10:00.000+03:30

Hey, if you want to find out if you would pass the new U.S. citizenship test, click here.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21017895/

I got 88%!! I would not be deported! I did however, forget how long the President of the United States serves, thinking it was how long the current one is in...I am a genius.

I'm a punk rocker

2007-09-28T23:44:00.001+03:30

Part I

So last night I went to this free concert in New York where the Teddybears were playing. I didn't know anything about them. I just thought, hey, it will be fun, hopefully. Or, it will suck, at that will be something to talk about too. It was at a really cool venue and once the screechy girl band before them stopped, it was really great.

So Teddybears comes out. And they are actually wearing teddy bear HEADS. As in the previous pictures are actually band members. And I have to say something about it was really cool. I really liked the fact that they were playing music and singing, with mean-looking bear heads.
So, yeah, go to their website to watch their video and see more giant bear heads. You won't be disappointed. It is: teddybearsrock.com

A few other things about the night:

1. I am not really good at ordering drinks at a bar, not being a seasoned bar-goer/alcoholic

2. Maybe, just maybe, I can dance okay, or at least enough to have a great time

3. There are some freaky, freaky looking people in New York

Part II

So we leave Hiro, and are STARVING from, you know dancing like maniacs, and there is the most fabulous place around the corner, crap, what's it called? Anyway, they serve these tiny cheeseburgers that are delicious. We decided it was time for another meal at 1:00. Apparently so had one of the cast from 30 Rock. I don't know his name. So we sat down at a table that had only one semi-hunky business guy sitting at it. His friend joined him, and after a few minutes, they decided to give us their hamburgers. (apparently we looked malnourished?) Ours weren't ready yet, and we protested that surely we would be fed soon, but they insisted. So we ate their burgers. Then we ended up talking to them for about an hour, during which conversation we realized that one of them was quite drunk, and could not follow our conversation. "Wait...so your IN the band? So you live in Utah?" The other guy was not so dense, and tried to assist his friend, but was not extremely successful. We gave them our burgers when they arrived, so it was a fairly even swap on the burgers. Then they ate all our fries, without really an invitation. Drunk guy offered to drive us home, (he had to drive to White Plains, I pray he and everyone else made it) but we declined and rode the subway. Too bad he didn't have that option.

2007-09-27T18:37:00.001+03:30

"people ask me "lewis, why are you angry all the time?" and i say, so i can be prepared when stories like THIS come along!!!---Lewis Black-the Jon Stewart Show

Aero Smith Jared!!

2007-09-24T19:42:00.000+03:30

One of the great reasons for traveling/living in the British Isles is the reappearance of the Absolut Vodka S&TC actor Smith Jared! I was just watching some crap TV in Dublin and all of the sudden, he appears on my screen, bare-chested and all, selling me Aero chocolate. Yes, I will partake!

now new new york can be like old amsterdam

2007-09-24T18:05:00.000+03:30

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/nyregion/23streetfuture.html

gentlemen prefer blondes

2007-09-23T03:24:00.000+03:30

Well, i don't know if they do. And do I really give a damn what they prefer anyway? Okay, well, maybe a little. But, anyway, people, I am blonde. Pictures are forthcoming...

embarrassed and intrigued

2007-09-20T05:22:00.001+03:30

um...so last night i started watching beauty and the geek...and i couldn't stop. i watched the whole pre-season kick-off, and the hour-long season premier and i am really embarrassed right now.
i hate reality shows. but there was something i liked about it. what is wrong with me?

how much do they think I weigh anyway?

2007-09-20T04:42:00.001+03:30

So I spent most of the day in my pajamas. Then my flight attendant uniform, which is about as attractive. Trying to decide what state to spend the next few days in. Not which mental state, but which state, geographically. My options being New York, Arizona, Washington, Utah and Texas. I also had a fleeting thought of going to Puerto Rico (yes, I know that isn't a state) and spending a few days there, but tragically, I don't really know anyone there.
But all of them have pros and cons, and people I love, not to mention some of the flights are full, and I would never get back to work. I realize this is not a conundrum most of you are faced with, and my life would be simpler if I was forced to stay in one place, or forced to plan ahead like regular people.

I decided on Utah. Or so I thought. I left at 3, only to come back by 9, because there was no room for me on the bloody plane. I almost got on the jumpseat, but it was weight restricted, so, back to NY. Now I get to get up at 4 to do it all over again. Oh joy.

What I really want right now is nutella. I don't think I have anything to put it on though. Would it be really gross if I just used my fingers? It is just so good...

London

2007-09-17T04:05:00.000+03:30

Pics of my last London layover

St. Paul's Cathedral
The Apostle Pub
A church
Cool old building
St. Paul's Cathedral

I am Marianne Dashwood!

2007-09-13T10:06:00.001+03:30

I took the quiz from D'Arcy's blog about "which Jane Austen character are you?" and yes, I wanted to be Elizabeth Bennet too, or actually in all honesty I really wanted to be Mark Darcy. Not in a cross dressing, creepy sort of way, just in a, I think that maybe my greatest faults are pride and vanity, same as his. But apparently the test did not agree, or did not have men's options. So here I am, the heroine of Sense and Sensibility. I can be quite happy with that. The best was the tie breaker at the end...which do I believe in more, the eternal nature of love, or my ability to learn languages? Um neither are very important to me...hmmm maybe a Jane Austen character is not right for me after all.

Which Jane Austen heroine are you?
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Take the Quiz here: http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=84984