Work update

I started my new job last week. Unfortuantely, my start coincided with a big snowstorm so I had to (gasp) call off on the third day. I'm not the type of person to do that and I felt really bad, so to make up for it, I went in on Thursday after I dug my car out of the mounds of snow. I didn't want to give my new boss the impression that I'm a slacker. I think the job will be ok. It's 4 hours a night and it pays relatively well. I think I'm only going to work 8 hours a week so my school work shouldn't suffer. I should be able to study between class and work and go to bed when I get home.

I am making progress towards my goal of moving to Europe. I have some news to share, but not right now. Just know that I am one step closer!

Ramdom Shot

I had to get a shot of all the scooters/mopeds/Vespas that people get around on in Paris. I've never taken a ride on one, but it is definitely something on my list to try.

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.