Looking forward to 2009.

Though I have a lot to be thankful for, I'm very happy that 2008 will soon be over. This year has been especially difficult for me . I got very sick, was diagnosed with several disorders, lost a family member, and recieved disappointing LSAT scores. TWICE. I'm now faced with the possibility of NOT going to law school in 2009 which was a completely devastating realization that I came to 2 days ago.

This is not to say that good things haven't happened. I have made several new friends, reconnected with old ones, managed to get a holiday bonus, and OBAMA won!

However, I hope that 2009 is a better year for me. And I think it will be. Tomorrow starts a new year, and {cliche alert} a new me.

Happy NYE!

<3 Danielle

Tintin: A European Hero

I love Tintin. Passed down from my parents (who are West Indian, therefore were under colonial rule during their young lives), my brothers and I read every Tintin comic book we could get our hands on. This year, I even got my brothers Tintin mugs for Christmas! It seems as if Tintin is making a comeback. And I like it.

Many people over here don't understand the cultural significance that Tintin has had over the years. A Belgian detective, Tintin is a plucky boy reporter who lives by a simple, ethical code. He protects the weak and stands up to bullies. With such wholesome qualities, what's not to love?

The Economist has a great story on Tintin's cultural significance in Europe, and how Tintin is coming to our shores. You should check it out.

Tintin forever!

Gaza: Ceasefire Now!

The continuing raids on Gaza are making me so upset. The Israeli attacks on Gaza have brought about 300 deaths, more than 50 of them civilians. This onslaught is the most aggressive and ferocious attack on Palestinians in decades.

As I see it, this crisis is going to spiral further and further out of control, which means that there will be further civilian suffering, and a growth in conflict. From where I stand right now, I can only see this conflict getting worse. There is so much instability in that region, that I'm afraid that these attacks are going to cause an all-out disaster. Much of the anger is also directed toward Egypt, a country where violence has become the norm.

In Gaza, all medical services are on the verge of collapse, as people struggle to care for more than 600 wounded people. I don't necessarily believe that Israel can justify these attacks, not this time. Across Gaza, there are families with no electricity or water, families who are just waiting to see where the next bomb drops.

I really do wish for world peace. Even if this is impossible. For now, I don't want this to happen.

Little Lucy June sings the blues {not really}.

{This is John's little tiny baby cousin.} Happy Christmastime!

GUESS WHERE I'M GOING?

The most thoughtful, sentimental, amazing gift I've ever gotten.

I get to go back to my favorite place in the entire world.

{Courtesy of the most amazing boyfriend in the universe}

<3 D

Merry Christmas! I hope you are having a wonderful, wonderful day.

The best Christmas song of all time.

This song is pretty much the best Christmas song EVER. And my gift to you:



A lot of people forget the musical genius of Mariah Carey circa 1994. Not only can nobody hate this song, this is a song that yes, Mariah wrote by herself, and you know what? It's damn good. Sure, Mariah circa 2008 has had 16000 meltdowns, is too blonde and generally wears at least 10 fashion no-nos at once, but let's not forget that Mariah herself was, once upon a time, pure as the driven snow.

Merry Christmas Eve!

<3 Danielle

Dear Office Christmas Cake {Part II}

Dear Office Christmas Cake,

I'm so glad we made up. I can't ever stay mad at you, you're so sweet and thoughtful. The way you went right along with my decaf coffee and hot chocolate mix without any complaining was SO nice.

It's true, we're made for one another. You and me, forever.

Love,

Danielle

Dear Office Christmas Cake.

Dear Office Christmas Cake,

This really hurts, but I think we're going to have to take a break. You see, time after time you promise me that you won't add on 5 pounds to my ass and thighs with every piece of you I take. However, as my jeans get tighter and I find myself having to unbutton the top of my pants once again, I realize that I cannot trust you.

YOU LIED TO ME, you with your sweet, cinnamon encrusted outside and your soft moist insides. You bastard. We're done.

No longer forever yours,

Danielle

P.S.- Maybe we can have a make-up session later this afternoon?

Freedom in the skies?

I was reading an article titled "Generation Faithful- In Booming Gulf, Some Arab Women Find Freedom in the Skies" in the New York Times, and didn't know what conclusion I should draw from it. The article is about young, unmarried Arab women have now found a career that lets them see the world. Yes, good, but it seems as if these women fit the archaic {albeit American} view of what a being a flight attendant means.

I get it. Being a flight attendant allows these Arab women to face new freedoms, but how much exactly? I can't claim that I understand any of this. I certainly don't. My view is very much an Americanized view of Women's Rights, but I can only imagine that these women who have decided to follow their ambitions and beliefs, have also alienated their families and their home countries. Is this a cost that Arab women are willing to take?

Being flight attendants, these women seem to become pigeonholed in two different ways:

"Some young women cope with their new lives away from home by becoming almost nunlike, keeping to themselves and remaining very observant Muslims, she said, while others quickly find themselves in the arms of unsuitable men. “With the Arabic girls who come to work here, you get two types,” the Egyptian woman said. “They’re either very closed up and scared and they don’t do anything, or else they’re not really thinking about flying — they’re just here to get their freedom. They’re really naughty and crazy.”"

I don't know. What are your thoughts? Steps ahead? Or steps backward?

Winter Wonderland

The winter storm that hit Massachusetts this past weekend was such a nuisance. I had decided to hole myself up this weekend and do nothing except for a tiny fact: Um, well, not so tiny. Christmas is less than a week away and presents were lacking underneath the tree, so John and I bundled ourselves into our winter clothes, and hit the town.


I must say, we did well! We did stop for a little break at Burdick's for some hot chocolate and some Luxembourgers {or, in France, les macarons }. Burdick's has the best hot chocolate, and on a snowy weekend, there's nothing better {except for eating them with someone you love}.

Afterwards, we came home and I made like an elf and wrapped all of our Christmas presents under the tree. They came out nicely! I still need some more ribbon for the gifts. I love, love, love wrapping presents, so this is never a chore for me.

Eeee! Presents!

John enjoys our MASSIVE tree {in fact, it's teensy tiny}.

John's sister Margaret enjoys the presents under our tree :)

John's sister Margaret and her boyfriend Greg also braved the shiteous conditions outside to come and visit from Providence.

Aren't they adorable?

We went out for dinner, came back and acted silly.

Today was even worse! Check out the wintry conditions we were up against:

Brr!Cambridge is a ghost town.John plays in the snow.

The weather didn't stop. What a weekend!

Wheee

Ok, so this is a slightly self-congratulatory post on the fact that my good deed got posted on one of my favorite blogs/websites to waste time on, NonSociety.com! So excited. Julia Allison (some of you may know her...and hate her, but I kind of love her), the founder of NonSociety chose my post to put on her blog! Here's what I wrote:

Reader Email: "I gave someone a hug. And it was my doorman."

From: Danielle
Date: December 17, 2008 9:02:00 AM EST
To: Julia Allison
Subject: Pay It Forward

Hi Julia,

My name is Danielle and I paid it forward today.

The strangest thing is that I paid it forward in a strange, and slightly awkward way. I gave someone a hug. And it was my doorman.

Nobody hugs their doorman. But me? I’ll do it every year.

Check it out!

It made me a little proud, you know?

<3

...Aaaaand another realization from Danielle Seaton

I am too old to go out past 11:00 on a weeknight and I cannot skip dinner.

I just have to say...

NO WORK TOMORROW BECAUSE OF SNOW!!!!

I love Massachusetts.

I love my job.

That is all.

Dreams of dancing and spinning around in circles.

SO. I took my first big step, and joined a ballet class today. I have been fascinated by ballet since I was a young girl, but I never followed up with it. As I grew up, more "important" things got in the way such as school, horseback riding, piano lessons, etc. However, I never lost my love for ballet.

I know that every girl enjoys dreaming about being a ballerina, but for most young girls, these dreams fade when they realize that they should have been en pointe since they were 8, and should have been watching their weight by age 10. Most ballerinas' careers are over by the time they are in their mid 20s, which I am.

However, I needed a hobby. I've always been a fan of dance, and actually, I'm not half bad! In college I ended up learning several types of dance including modern, hip hop, and my favorite, belly-dancing. However, I've always admired the discipline and structure of ballet, not to mention how beautiful it is. Therefore, after 24 years of not taking a single ballet class, I have signed up with the Cambridge Center for Adult Education for ballet classes starting January 12.

I am SO excited! I'm even excited to wear a leotard {shudder} as I extend {force} my body into 1st position, 5th position, 10000th position...

I can't wait. This is the first time that I've gotten over my fear of others judging me, and going for something that I've always wanted to do. You'll have to come to my recital to see the end result!

You'd best bet that I will perform this tonight.

Tonight is Google's Christmas party and you'd best bet that I will be performing the Soulja Boy dance. Perhaps like these little tykes:



All I can say is that I hope I get to do this in my adult ballet class.

Les Danseuses

So today I got a big fat bonus {okay, so not so big} and for the first time in about a year, I'll be able to pay off my bills AND have some money left. Therefore, I want some fabulous shoes. Repetto, I believe, is the greatest shoe company in the history of the world.

Of course, classically French, Repetto was a label that made premier ballet shoes for the ballet dancers that pranced down Rue de la Paix on the way to the Opera Garnier. Because I want to be a ballerina and I love La France. I think these shoes would make a perfect addition to my wardrobe. You can find them at the awesome store La Garconne.

Vive la France!

"Are you shaying I'm drunk?"

"As dessert ended, the woman in the red dress got up and stumbled toward the bathroom. Her husband, whose head had been sinking toward the bûche de Noël, put a clumsily lecherous arm around the reluctant hostess. As coffee splashed into porcelain demitasse cups, the woman in the red dress returned, sank sloppily into her chair and reached for the Courvoisier. Someone gently moved the bottle away. “Are you shaying I’m drunk?” she demanded. Even in the candlelight I noticed that the lipstick she had reapplied was slightly to the left of her lips."- NY Times

I used to think that getting drunk was normal. However, when does the age come when getting drunk is unacceptable? I'm starting to think sooner rather than later. I'm only 24, but I think I've already had enough of people being drunk. That's not to say that I haven't slipped up from time to time, but it's never so much that I'm blackout.

Maybe it's because though I thought I drank a lot in college, I really didn't. When I did, someone usually had to hold my hair back while I was sick in the street, bathroom, party, etc. Not exactly what I'd call a good time.

Don't get me wrong, I like having a glass of wine or a beer with pizza, but I rarely have the urge to go out and get absolutely shitfaced drunk. When I do see people my age and older getting that way in public, it's all I can do from tearing my hair out and going to beg them to please, just go home.

It's one thing to drink in your home with a few good friends. You're in a private sphere, with people you know and trust. Getting drunk in a bar? I don't know. I think I'm over it.

I think it's bizarre mostly when I see older men and women (in their 50s) get so drunk that they cannot control themselves. I don't know whether or not to think that they have an alcohol problem, or if they actually think that getting drunk at a party is an acceptable way to act. Haven't they learned their lessons? Or is alcohol a coping mechanism for a past that nobody knows about?

What are your thoughts?

Musings.

This weekend I played alone in Connecticut because John was busy visiting Jurassic Park in Florida. I hate that I get so lonely when John is gone and I have so many friends in the city, so this shouldn't be an issue! However loneliness struck, so I decided to hop in the car and drive down to Connecticut to see my mother sing, go to a friend's Christmas party, and try to finish my Christmas shopping so that I wouldn't have to spend the next week-and-a-half running around like a madwoman.

I managed to finish all these tasks with minimal bumps and bruises, and I'm hoping that the next few days fly by. I'm so ready for Christmas AND a break.

I was thinking about how I'd feel if I didn't see my family for Christmas. Fortunately, my family and John's family only live about 40 minutes apart, so we're able to see both families during the holidays. I'm not a person who can be very far from my family. This doesn't mean that I'm dependent on them for my own well-being, but I grew up separated from most of my relatives because my family moved so often, and now that my brothers and I have scattered to different parts of the country, it's important to me that we keep our bond.

I am determined to keep in touch with my parents and my brothers. My parents are so far away from their own families, and it's often hard for them, especially during the holidays. I don't want to have to be far away from my family. I want to be able to visit when I want, and spend as much time as possible with them.

I certainly have gotten the long end of the stick! Not only do I have my family, but I have John's family as well. They have welcomed me with open arms, something I was hesitant about because I was so nervous about "imposing" or encroaching myself on them. However, they've never been anything less than warm and loving. I'm looking forward to spending time with them during the holidays as well.

2 families, oh my! I can't wait for Christmas.

Back in ACTION...in a bit

My little brother told me that my "blog was getting lazy" and that I needed to write things that include my opinion and tidbits about my life.

I promise, dear readers (all 3 of you), that I will resume my regular blogging pattern in the coming weeks.

There were just a few things getting in the way (like LSATs and applying to law school. and Christmas. and yeah, I'm lazy.

For now, please enjoy my links and videos and pictures.

xx

It was his hair.

'Those of us who do not live in Illinois had generally not given much thought to Rod Blagojevich until this week. We had never wondered how a person with a 13 percent approval rating ever managed to get elected in the first place, though now I am personally leaning toward the theory that it was the hair. Blagojevich tossed his thick brown mane and the voters told each other: “Yes, he sounds a little dumb. But truly, this is the hair of a reformer.”' - NY Times

...And it's no longer the pop stars kids, it's all about the senate acting out.

50 years of songs condensed into single sentences.

Every single time I read an article in McSweeney's, I die of laughter.

FIFTY YEARS
OF POPULAR SONGS
CONDENSED INTO
SINGLE SENTENCES.

BY MARC HAYNES

- - - -

The Beatles, "I Want to Hold Your Hand"

I want to do it with you.

- - - -

Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get It On"

I want to do it with you.

- - - -

Led Zeppelin, "Whole Lotta Love"

I want to do it with you.

- - - -

James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"

I want to do it with you.

- - - -

Sir Mix-a-Lot, "Baby Got Back"

I want to do it.

- - - -

Elvis Presley, "Hound Dog"

You're doing it with everyone.

- - - -

R. Kelly, "I Believe I Can Fly"

I believe I want to do it with you.

- - - -

Patsy Cline, "Crazy"

I want to do it with you so much I'm going fucking nuts.

- - - -

Frank Sinatra, "Strangers in the Night"

I'm drunk and I want to do it with you.

- - - -

The White Stripes, "My Doorbell"

Using metaphor, I want to do it with you.

- - - -

Little Richard, "Good Golly Miss Molly"

I'm doing it with Miss Molly, and she's totally into it.

- - - -

Duran Duran, "Rio"

I'd love to do that chick dancing on the sand.

- - - -

The Beatles, "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?"

I'd like to do it with you right now.

- - - -

Carly Simon, "You're So Vain"

We used to do it, but then you did it with someone else, and now I'm not going to do it with you, although I wish we were still doing it.

- - - -

Pulp, "Common People"

I once met a stuck-up European who wanted to do it with me.

- - - -

Radiohead, "Creep"

I'm filled with self-loathing, and, though outwardly I hate everything you represent, I want to do it with you.

- - - -

Kate Bush, "Wuthering Heights"

I'm an 18th-century fictional character and I want to do it with another 18th-century fictional character.

- - - -

Bob Dylan, "Blowin' in the Wind"

The Man is currently doing it to you.

- - - -

Elvis Presley, "Jailhouse Rock"

Incarcerated men will on occasion do it with each other.

- - - -

Meat Loaf, "I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)"

Hey! You won't believe what this one chick said while I was doing it with her!

- - - -

Kings of Leon, "Sex on Fire"

I did it with you, and now it hurts when I pee.

- - - -

Céline Dion, "My Heart Will Go On"

Even your death has not stopped me wanting to do it with you.

- - - -

AC/DC, "You Shook Me All Night Long"

We did it yesterday.

Finding some good fodder today.

Wall-E Bento! I once tried to make sushi and it fell apart in my hands. This is SO great. Check out more pictures from kickintheheadcomic's photo stream.

Via Flickr

Hey Girl, Haaaaay

Can't you imagine one of the Jacksons saying that? Especially Tito.

Via Kottke via Life Magazine

Passive-Aggressive Notes

My friend Ingrid of The Scenic Route sent me a link to a website called Passive-Aggressive Notes.com which is, of course, about hilarious, painful and yes, passive-aggressive notes found all over.

The above note is from the post I'm Not a Doctor, but I was an Extra on ER Once?

"They are vexing and insolent."- Awesome.

Once Upon a Time

What a lovely, imaginative little girl.

{and yes, I know you've probably all seen this before, but I had to post it.}


Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo.

...And then I had some rice pudding

Christmas Tree Extravaganza

{Had a bit of fun with the camera and the tacky colored Christmas lights}

Watch:

The new commercial for Christian Dior's Miss Dior Cherie fragrance. It was directed by Sophia Coppola with model Maryna Linchuk and the lovely song "Moi Je Joue" by Brigitte Bardot.



My life will be like this one day. It already is to some extent.

How to pronounce Blagojevich

Hmm, let's see...

Um, id-ee-ot?

Name: Rod Blagojevich
Title: Governor of Illinois
Last Name Pronounced: "Bluh-GOY-uh-vich"

Check out Slate's article about how to pronounce Blagojevich, and how Blagojevich himself can't even pronounce his own name.

Hard Day

Sometimes there are days that knock you completely off your feet and spin you dizzily through the next few hours. These days can be either good or bad depending on the situation. Today is bad. I don't normally post touchy-feely "this is my life and this is why I'm cool/lame/important", but for some reason, I can't knock this completely disoriented feeling and the urge to write about all of my fears and problems in this post. Perhaps it's because John is going away for a few days. Most likely it's because I didn't get enough sleep. And my beautiful hat flew off my head this morning and was crushed by a car {I saved it...sort of}. It's also probably because I quit caffeine and am now reduced to drinking 1/2 decaf coffee and 1/2 hot chocolate {for the sweetness}. I don't know what it is, but I don't like it.

All I want to do today is decorate my Christmas tree, go by some art museums, and curl up on my couch with a bad book. And I want to annoy the boy in the picture above {who grew a ridiculous patch of facial hair just for a friend's birthday}.

UGH, life is so hard { but don't worry, I don't take myself that seriously}.

The Rico Mambo Dance!

My friend Andy sent this to me today. I can't stop watching.

iPod

Listening to my iPod in one ear so that I can keep the other one out for the phones. This works surprisingly well.

It might be time to get an iPod deck for my work desk.

Little Bit

Sweet voice and a sweet song.

My love of Shakespeare knows no bounds...

From McSweeney's. {Hee-larry-us}

HAMLET
(FACEBOOK NEWS
FEED EDITION).

BY SARAH SCHMELLING

- - - -

Horatio thinks he saw a ghost.

Hamlet thinks it's annoying when your uncle marries your mother right after your dad dies.

The king thinks Hamlet's annoying.

Laertes thinks Ophelia can do better.

Hamlet's father is now a zombie.

- - - -

The king poked the queen.

The queen poked the king back.

Hamlet and the queen are no longer friends.

Marcellus is pretty sure something's rotten around here.

Hamlet became a fan of daggers.

- - - -

Polonius says Hamlet's crazy ... crazy in love!

Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Hamlet are now friends.

Hamlet wonders if he should continue to exist. Or not.

Hamlet thinks Ophelia might be happier in a convent.

Ophelia removed "moody princes" from her interests.

Hamlet posted an event: A Play That's Totally Fictional and In No Way About My Family

The king commented on Hamlet's play: "What is wrong with you?"

Polonius thinks this curtain looks like a good thing to hide behind.

Polonius is no longer online.

- - - -

Hamlet added England to the Places I've Been application.

The queen is worried about Ophelia.

Ophelia loves flowers. Flowers flowers flowers flowers flowers. Oh, look, a river.

Ophelia joined the group Maidens Who Don't Float.

Laertes wonders what the hell happened while he was gone.

- - - -

The king sent Hamlet a goblet of wine.

The queen likes wine!

The king likes ... oh crap.

The queen, the king, Laertes, and Hamlet are now zombies.

Horatio says well that was tragic.

Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, says yes, tragic. We'll take it from here.

Denmark is now Norwegian.

Can't get you out of my mind.

I can't stop thinking about Meatloaf {the food, not the singer).

Why I'm excited for this weekend.

Snow Saturday night, Sunday, Sunday night. Heeeeee.

The Most Adorable Dear Prudence Ever.

From Slate.com

(My heart goes out to this poor guy)

Dear Prudence,
I have not told anyone this, but I am in love. I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. I have never had a problem talking to girls, except when it comes to this one. When I first saw her in the eighth grade, the first thought that came to my mind was, "I would marry that girl." I know that this just sounds like a crush, but the more I got to know her, the more I fell for her. Even though I have been out with plenty of other girls, I still can't get her off my mind. I feel nervous, shy, and unsure of myself when I see her. Though we say "Hi" to each other just about every day, I can't ever seem to get any further then that. I have lots of things going for me: I'm an athlete, do well in school, and have plenty of friends. I just can't find the words when I am around her. I just don't want to graduate this year, never see her again, move on with my life, and wonder "what if?"

—A Guy With a Girl Problem

Dear A Guy,
Every girl should be lucky enough to have a guy feel about her the way you do about this girl. And you're right—you can't let her get away without knowing whether she feels the same. It's possible that all these years, every time you've said "Hi," she senses the same spark but has had to conclude that you're really not interested in her because she's seen you go out with plenty of other girls. In my day, you actually had to screw up the courage to speak, either in person or on the phone, to the object of your desire. But your generation doesn't even have to do that. This MacArthur Foundation study has good things to say about how online communication allows teenagers to make romantic overtures that are so casual that no one gets embarrassed if the interest is not returned. It cites this successful opening e-mail gambit: "hey…hm. wut to say? iono lol/well I left you a comment…u sud feel SPECIAL haha." No, it's not "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" But it worked. And from your letter, it is clear you are capable of writing a message that's actually in English. So compose an e-mail—try asking what she thinks about something that happened in school, for instance. Then, after she answers you, and before the exchange peters out, make your move and ask her on a date. And maybe someday you will say to her, "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."

—Prudie

My Nightlight

via ffffound

I can't wait...

...for John to take me out on Saturday for Christmas tree decorations. :)

Young Arab Americans Talk About the Real Problems

Young Arab Americans Talk About the Real Problems

By Yasmine Farhang

While Sept. 11 gave long time prejudices a power that was unprecedented, it is important that we not forget that Muslims and Arabs were already struggling with racism.

Those of us who are not white Americans know what it is to have ourselves defined by a popular imagination that does not ask for our approval. For Muslims and Middle Easterners in the U.S., Sept. 11 meant an onslaught of external definition by politicians, the media, academics, and even our neighbors and friends. I was a high school junior in Manhattan when Sept. 11 happened. The candlelight vigils I attended continually at Union Square, while healing, kept me distracted from what was happening to so many Muslims and Arabs around me. Meanwhile, I brushed off as trivial the ignorant questions about Islam (to which I had no answers—my Iranian American family is devoutly agnostic), the terrorist jokes told in jest and the apparent need by white friends to analyze my appropriate racial category as though I were a jigsaw puzzle. It was tiring at best, and infuriating at worst. In his new book, How Does it Feel to be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America, Moustafa Bayoumi, an English professor at Brooklyn College, introduces readers to seven young people in Brooklyn who are all too familiar with being defined by others.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Fun Gift Ideas

I've started looking for fun, unconventional gifts to give to people for Christmas. I think this first selection of gifts are great! This post is geared more towards the men in my life (Dad, brothers, John), but these gifts can work for anyone!

From bottom up (because I like it that way):

The Keepsake USB Turntable ($149)- perfect for your little brother who dreams of being a DJ

Retroblock iPod Speaker ($25)- works with all iPods!

80's Rubix Cube Clock ($22)- twist the top row to switch between the date, time, temperature

Teach: Better Handwriting ($13.95)- no more chicken scratch to decipher!

Lomo Fisheye 2 Camera ($75)- I think these take really cool pictures

USB VHS Tape Converter ($249)- My Dad would love that he could convert our old home videos

iPod Ghetto Blaster ($249)- Oh hey, it's a giant boombox! If only I had a Kangol Hat and some
Adidas gear (preferably a sweatsuit)...

All pictures and gifts ideas are from Fred Flare.

Gift Guides

I have promised myself that I would do a few things before December 24th:

1) LSAT
2) Law school applications
3) Volunteer
4) Decorate my apartment
5) Buy awesome gifts!

I'm close to finishing the first four; LSAT on December 6th; law school apps...sometime soon; volunteering at Tufts for the Foster Children's Holiday Party; decorating the apartment-- well-- the tree's up!

However, I'm looking for really cool, unique gift ideas (not too expensive) for the people I love in my life. Therefore, for the next few weeks, I've decided to compile a comprehensive list of gifts for the holiday season. I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions as well, so please send them along!

Late Night

Oh, it's going to be a late one tonight...I wouldn't worry, except that the LSATs are on Saturday, and I would like some last minute study time. Trying not to panic, but the worry buttons are going off!

I need a blankie, some fuzzy socks, and some sushi right now.

Terrorism That's Personal

About 4 or 5 years ago, I performed a piece from the Vagina Monologues called "Memory of Her Face". I told the story of a young Pakistani woman who was burned with acid for going against her society's ingrained ideas about women. This is less of a story than an ignored reality. Thousands of women from Asia to Afghanistan are subject to acid attacks- attacks that leave women's faces hideously deformed.

I'm glad that the New York Times has decided to write an article about this. It's another injustice that should not be ignored.

Read the article here.

Picture is from the New York Times.

T-1

Tomorrow's the big day. During this holiday I wish you lots of love, happiness, and good food.

Will be back after the break.

India Calling

“WHAT are Papa and I doing here?”

These words, instant-messaged by my mother in a suburb of Washington, D.C., whizzed through the deep-ocean cables and came to me in the village where I’m now living, in the country that she left...

Which raises a heart-stirring question: If our parents left India and trudged westward for us, if they manufactured from scratch a new life there for us, if they slogged, saved, sacrificed to make our lives lighter than theirs, then what does it mean when we choose to migrate to the place they forsook?

If we are here, what are they doing there? "


I can't stop thinking about this article, and find it to be quite touching.

I also think there's something to be said about "Third-Culture" and "Second-Culture" kids. Where are our roots? Where do we settle down? In our parents' homeland? In the place(s) we lived when we were younger? Or do we continue the cycle and settle somewhere new and different?

Anyway, you should read the article. It's very well done.

T minus 2 days until my second favorite holiday!

I'm really excited for Thanksgiving this year. It's going to be a little chaotic, because this is the first year I'm attempting to do two Thanksgivings. John always comes to my house for Thanksgiving (and Christmas, for that matter), but we've been dating for a little over 3 years, and I think it's about time I let him know that I value his family as much as my own. Plus, the prospect of having 2 delicious Thanksgiving meals is way too good to pass up.

I'm going to attempt to make 2 batches of delicious treats, one for John's family and one for my own. This is dangerous because 1.) This means I have to get into the kitchen before my mother on Thurday morning, and 2.) My mother wakes up at 6 a.m. to prepare a meal that will inevitably be on the table by 9 p.m. Oh well, the chaos just adds to the warm and cozy setting of the house...I hope.

I'll be missing my older younger brother this year; he'll be staying in California until Christmas. He just moved out there, but holidays just aren't the same when your family can't be together. John's just going to have to pick up Adam's slack, something that I'm sure he'll be willing to do. John is the only person I know whose stomach seems to expand solely for the holidays. Last year, he had Thanksgiving dinner at his house (eating multiple portions), and then came down to my house (his family lives about 30 minutes away from mine in Connecticut) where he continued to eat. We had no turkey left by the end of the night.

I'm having a little get together on Friday with some old friends, which is nice because I haven't seen them in quite a while. Should be fun, with lots of drinks and catching up.

Saturday, John and I are going to his Aunt's birthday party, where we will have another feast and promptly pass out when we get home.

Sunday's home time, where I will try and convince John to decorate our apartment with Christmas knick knacks and doodads. It's going to be a busy, busy weekend, but so much fun!

What are you lovelies doing for the holidays? Do you have any delicious holiday recipes for me?

Er, this is interesting...

“Today we’re beginning this sexperiment, seven days of sex,” he said, with his characteristic mix of humor, showmanship and Scripture. “How to move from whining about the economy to whoopee!”

Read the whole article here.

"Congressional copulation" anyone?

I found these photos on smosch.com

I really like the chandelier in the first photo, and I find the composition of the second photo to be quite appealing.

Ah, the beautiful things you find in every day life.