Break it, in threes.

In memory of the beautiful vase.

I took this picture to show my uncle my sweet find.

Now it rests in peace on this photo.

The easiest way to clear clutter is- wait for it.... break it! It started with the breaking of a drinking glass in the sink after washing. Then chipping one of my soup bowls in the sink after drying. And finally, knocking over my new beautiful vase I found at Emmaus (it's a great second-hand store). I thought good, I'm safe because things usually happen in threes, right? Wrong. I brought out the jar of yummy eggplant and garlic goodness my aunt made for me. I have been savoring it for longer than necessary. Not the kind of treat you want to eat in one sitting, ya know. So, naturally, I set it on the table and, just as naturally, I knocked it over onto the floor. Crushed. I should just get plastic cups.

I sometimes find it difficult

It's sometimes hard to come up with something to blog about. There are some things I think will be great and then I wonder, "Is this too personal?" "Should I be sharing this?" So, sorry if this year has been a little dry with updates. I have been working on some photos and wondering which will grace this blog. Tune in. See you soon.

Z Alpes

I spent New Years in the Alps. A friend has a chalet in a cute little village, and he opened up his home for a nice winter wonderland ski/snowboard trip. We had a really nice time! Here are some photos from my New Years weekend in the French Alps from the villages we passed through, to the slopes we ski/snowboarded on, and the ride home. 

I taught two of my friends how to snowboard. For each it was their first time, so you can imagine the kind of wipeouts I witnessed. One of my friends hurt her tailbone so bad she had to just walk the snowboard down the hill, she traded for skis. My other student on the other hand was very motivated to continue trying. I can't wait to go back and ride my heart out.

Local water hole

Above the clouds. Below, the visibility was 6 meters

Circular rainbow! It was a triple rainbow I think.

Chalet in the Alps

Etching in the snow

Sled dog!

On the drive back to the city

Scooter

My friend asked a favor of me. In fact, it was more of a great offer! It was more my pleasure than a personal favor in my opinion. Her boyfriend left his scooter at the train station when he went out of town, and so she asked me to ride his scooter home from the train station. I would follow her on her motorcycle. Yes guys, she has her own motorcycle, super cool. I was nervous, everyone says how dangerous they are especially in Marseille with crazy drivers and traffic patterns, but I was more excited than scared! The last time I drove was when I was in the States. This was to be an adventure! I have a serious need for speed and I was excited to spread my wings. I tried not to get my hopes up about driving, cause the let down could be so horrific. Oh goodness how I miss driving.

I get to the train station where she is waiting. She does a test run around the parking lot, comes around the bend onto the sidewalk and then says "go ahead now it's your turn, try it." I expect the scooter to be easy, but in fact it was too easy. No gears to be switched, just an accelerator and a pair of handle bar brakes. It was like a toy. I don't know why I expected anything different. Now I understand why those darn scooters are always revved so loudly, they are in risk of stalling if not constantly a livened with fuel. It made it easier to concentrate of the cars around me. It was so cool. I can't wait to do it again! She told me now we can do a ride along the corniche, I can't wait! Sunday here I come!

Amazing

It's so interesting explaining something you know so well to someone that it is completely foreign to. Helping them make connections to things they are familiar with. Putting the pieces together. It really puts a perspective on the things you actually do know. Sometimes, it's so easy to see the areas where you are weak and where you can improve, but when you get a glimpse of the basis of what it is you do know, you begin to appreciate yourself even more. Yes, yes you can always learn and know more, but do you ever look back and appreciate what it is you already know?

This realization may have come from a combination of events that occurred recently, including watching "Inception" for the first time, but I felt inclined to share.

This is going to be my last blog before 2011, thought I would complete this year with some excitement of what could be.

royal fireworks

Blue

On my walk on the Vieux Port in search of Pad Thai (I have had a hankering for 3 months), and still with no avail. Where art thou, Where art thou, O'Pad Thai. In the midst, I was drawn to blue lights and sound. A camel walked by. "What is going on," I think out loud. I see men dressed in costumes with their faces painted blue, Oh the "Blue Man Group!" ... not.  I look up and there is someone crawling down the building head first like he was a spider. What IS this?

Alright, what could this possibly be? I feel strange, a weird sense of hysteria. People are standing around, for what I can't quite place, they are waiting for something. Then I see a man in blue sitting at a table going through what seems to be an appointment book. I think it was the opening of a restaurant or an art show. A man in blue approached me passing me a book and asked, "sais-tu comment lire?" Baffled and repeating in my head, "did he just ask me if I can read?!"

So I reply, "bien sur!" Then he says in french "Would you give a lesson to the crowd?" Very strange, it tickled my curiosity. That was my cue to leave.

Christmas in France

statue, tree, ornament

tambourinaïre

dressed like santons

provencal costumes

one of my favorites, she spun around to smile for me. 

tambourinaïre

dancing 

chic woman in fake fur (I hope)