Movies en France: Before Sunset

OK, I thought I'd start something new to a) keep the posts coming and b) talk about France! I thought I'd do a series of posts about my favorite movies that take place in France. France is the ideal situation for a drama or a romance, so it's not surprising that some of my favorite movies take place there.

Many of you will recognize Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy from the poignant Before Sunset. Like a lot of movies that I end up loving, I saw the sequel before I saw the prequel and had to go back and rent the prequel to make sure I didn't miss anything! In Before Sunrise, a Hawke, an American man, and Delpy, a French woman, meet on a train to Vienna and discover a connection. They spend one night together and agree to meet again 6 months later if they feel the same. They part without exchanging information (this was 1994, kids, WAY before e-mail and cellies were the norm). The sequel picks up 10 years later. He's a best-selling author doing a book tour and Paris is his last stop. It is painfully clear in the first 15 minutes of the movie that the two didn't end up meeting as he discusses his book, a "fictional" account of their meeting. She appears at the bookstore, startling him and they decide to walk and talk. We find out that he actually went back to the train station to meet her but unfortunately, her grandmother's death prevented her from meeting him. To make matters worse, we later learn that while he lived in NY, she also spent some time living in the city. The times when he thought he saw her, were not illusions. He actually saw her. To drive in the knife a little deeper, they talk about their current relationships. He is married with a child. She is dating but obviously not happy. They are both just existing. They've accepted that life is just what it is--not full of the hope and possibility that they once felt when they were young and could meet strangers on a train and fall in love. Life is full of monotony and responsibilities. They have both grown up. As you watch the discourse between them (it's less like a movie and more like eavesdropping) you feel a lot of different emotions. You go through the happiness and sadness that they both do. You feel something with this film.

I recently lent this to a friend and she just felt depressed after she watched it. It's definitely a little heavy, but the movie has a lot of humanistic value. I like the idea of meeting your soulmate in a totally random way: on a train in a foreign country. I totally believe in soulmates and it's kinda of cool to think that meeting him doesn't have to be this huge production. I don't have to get gussied up to go to a club and try to hypnotize him with my dancing. I could be sitting alongside a quai writing in my journal. Or I could be on a plane. Or in a cafe.

The movie ends on a hopeful yet open note. The director kind of leaves it up to your imagination to decide what's going to happen. In my version, he misses his plane back to the states. It's hard to imagine him giving up his wife and child but it's also hard to imagine him giving up his true love. If you get a chance, rent this movie. I'd love to hear what other people think about it.

Success!

I was offered two jobs today! One, I interviewed for last week and one I had the interview for today and was offered it right on the spot! Woo hoo! I can breathe a sigh of relief that I will have a little money coming in again. I think they will both be low stress and low key. I'll get into more detail after I know more about what I'll be doing.

God is good.

Happy Times

I know that Jackie O is the big sis that get's most of the attention, but I'm favoring Lee R more and more. Happy times documents Lee Radziwell's life in glossy pics. Trips to India and Conca. Beach house in the Hamptons. Diva style and attitude. Audrey Hepburn-like grace. You know, if someone reminds me of Audrey, chances are they are ok in my book! And I just love the the cover pic. Check it out if you're looking for a fun, frothy, light read. I'm definitely going to buy this book. It's one of the picture books by Assouline. This would make a great book for the coffee table.

Random Shot

I've been neglecting this blog as I get back into the swing of classes. Sincere apologies. Here's "Four Captives" from the Louvre. I'm a huge sculpture lover so many more of these to come!

Living for the future vs. living in the moment

I have an inability to focus on the present. I think it's a fault. Some peple would call me a planner or even better, a dreamer. But I think it's sorta excessive. Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe that you bring into your life the things you plan for and meditate on. (sorry to get new-agey) But, when what you want doesn't seem to be close, it makes you question if it will ever happen.

For instance, my wanting to get to France won't bring that goal into fruition until I get an opportunity to go. Like, I can't just pick up and fly to France tomorrow with no job and no official reason to go. Another one of my dreams is to live in Manhattan and live out my "Breakfast at Tiffany's fantasy." Again, not likely to happen tomorrow.

Something that I need to work on is being content with where I am. Even though I have all these goals and all these dreams, being frustrated with my current situation constantly isn't going to help me. In fact, that negative energy is pulling me down. I need to start thinking of how I can be better once I achieve my goals. It'd be nice to be thinner in France. I can work on that. Speaking French more fluently would be nice too. I can work on being more consistent with my French podcasts. I can try to read more to beef up my brain. I can try to paint and draw more to use my creative energy. I can try to love more to attract love to me. I can be more active and eat better to treat my body well.

I realize, that the present doesn't have to be as stale as it feels. There's a lot of "little" things I can do that will only enhance my future. Whining won't help. Looking wistfully at my Paris pics won't help. Being grateful for what I have right now? That might make the difference.

No white tablecloths or Bing Crosby playing a piano

So, I went home to Maryland for two weeks in December. My mother has a phobia of flying which she passed on to me. I don't really have a phobia, though. I've flown quite a few times and even went to Paris, but for some reason, my mother's voice is in the back of my mind when I'm maing travel arrangements.

Anyway, I made plans to take the Amtrak from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. The ride was supposed to take 8 hours. By the way, did I tell you I had to get from Ohio to P-burgh by bus because there is no train station close to me? Also, I should mention that the bus and train schedule aren't very compatible so I ended up at the Amtrak station at 11pm. . .waiting for the train to depart at 5:45 am. *deep sigh*

As I'm typing this, I know how ridiculous this sounds. Anyway, the train is delayed. Not 1 hour. Not even a semi-respectable 2 hours. The train doesn't leave until almost 9am!!!! I was so pissed. I wasted 10 hours of my life sitting in an Amtrak station in the middle of nowhere with bums waiting for the train. At one point, Pittsburgh's finest showed up to "escort" the non-passengers out of the station. I felt very unsafe sitting in the train station at that time of the night/morning. This obviously mentally disturbed guy kept trying to talk to me. I put my headphones on to tune him out. He didn't get the message cause he kept talking.

Anyway, by the time I got on the train, I was pretty much up. You know when you're so tired that the tiredness phase passes and your body just stays awake? I tried to find a plug for my laptop so I could at least watch movies, but unfortunately, there were none in the car. The Amtrak guy wasn't keen on letting me search for an outlet either. Eventually I fell asleep to be woken up about an hour later. The train had stopped and apparently it had broken down. I was delayed for ANOTHER hour. That train ride was without a doubt one of the most miserable experiences of my life. Now, I've made the journey from Ohio to NY and Ohio to DC by Greyhound. Although it's no picnic either, I tolerated it.

Well, suffice it to say, once I got to my destination, I cancelled my retun ticket. Once I got home, I booked a one way ticket home on Southwest. Total flight time? 1 hour and 30 minutes. Amount of sanity sacrificed? None. Amtrak is great: comfortable, roomy, clean. But Amtrak is ONLY for short trips (i.e. 4 hours or less). I would gladly take to train from DC to NY orNY to Boston. Never for trips longer than 4 hours, though.

If you're wondering about the title, it's from Sex and the City. Carrie and Samantha thought it would be old world romantic to take the train cross country. Upon realizing the reality of the situation, Carrie says, "I thought there'd be white tablecloths and Bing Crosby playing the piano." They took a flight back home, too.

I want. . .yogurt!

I'm craving Mamie Nova yogurt. In Pistachio. Yum.

New sneakers

I just got new sneakers. I'm not really a sneaker girl but I was looking for a new pair for working out (I'm starting my new year's fitness regimen tomorrow--eh hem, only 7 days late!).
I happened to be in Marshall's today, killing time and spotted these New Balances on the left for a mere $25 and the Avias on the right for a mere $19.99! The sneaker gods smiled on me because for someone who only wears sneakers to work out, I scoff at spending the 55 bucks the sneakers--on sale--cost. I ended up buying the second pair because I could see myself wearing these around town on my "off" days. Navy blue became my favorite color last year, and these NBs will looks good with jeans and sweats. The Avias are kinda blah, but who cares? They're for slaving away at the gym.

Today I submitted an application to adopt a cat. Sheesh, I feel like I'm adopting a child. I honestly don't know if I'm ready for it, but my friend who has a cat assures me they are self sufficient. I just feel like I need some life in my apartment. At first, I thought about getting a plant, but I have no window sills. Then I thought about fish, but I'm not a fish person really. They'd be merely for decoration, and I feel guilty about that. I'm a total dog person, but dogs require more time than I can give. So finally, I thought, what about a cat? I'm particular about what kind of cat I want (again, superficial reasons). But since I don't consider myself a cat person, I should get whatever cat that I will feel most comfortable with. I looked at a black cat and a gray cat today. I originally was going to look at the gray cat, but she was kind of frisky. (Maybe too much for a first time owner.) The black cat was very quiet and subdued. I basically put the names of both cats on the application and if I'm accepted, I guess I can make a decision then. I feel so grown up at the possibility of being responsible for another life! I'll (of course) update the blog when I know what the deal is. A tout a l'heure.

A few pics from DC

The pic came out blurry, but I love this quote.

Yes, this is the Ford theater where Lincoln was shot. I had a pic of the balcony where he was, but it came out too dark. It's set up like a shrine.

The National Portrait Gallery

At the metro, heading to downtown DC after a failed attempt to get to New York.

Back in class

Bleh. School is really starting to wear me down, now. I don't know how much more I can take. I told my sister that if I'd had an idea that I was going to become so addicted to travel and so intent on living in Europe, I should have gotten a law degree or an MBA instead. Then, I could have studied international law or finance and truly been a woman of the world. Ah well. No use crying about something you can't change. Besides, I think everything happens for a reason.

Tomorrow, I'll try and post pics from downtown DC.

Here's a pic from November when I was at Georgetown:

Pretty, right? Don't be fooled: the cobblestone streets are murder on your feet.

Red Square

Healy Circle/Building

Random shot

Outside the Louvre (pronounced LOOV). The setting of The Davinci Code which I haven't read and alas cannot watch for personal reasons. I must say I was highly tempted to watch the DVD when I discovered that Audrey Tatou (of Amelie fame) was in the movie. Tatou is my French girl crush. . .well, she would be if I liked women.

Anyway, the Louvre is HUGE. I don't know why I thought I could see it all in a day. And I made a valiant attempt, foolish girl that I am. I did manage to see a good deal of it. But by the time I got to the level that has Mona Lisa where paintings cover every square inch of the corridor walls, I got light headed. And for an art-phile (did I make that up?) like myself, that's not an easy feat. Ah well. I saw all the major works and Napoleon's gorgeous apartments.