Paris, je t’aime

I’ve had an infatuation with all things French and Parisian for quite some time now.  I have no idea what first piqued my interest, but something did and it’s only increased since.  Granted, my infatuation seems to decrease, or rather, I get busy and forget how much I love it from time to time.  Then, I see a movie or hear a song and I remember how much I love all things French.

A couple of weeks ago, I was lying in bed watching “Sabrina” thinking about how much I love Julia Ormond as an actress.  I did a quick IMDB (I love that site/app) search and realized that while I do in fact love Julia Ormond as an actress, I was thinking of Paris born, Juliette Binoche.  An IMDB search on Juliette Binoche showed me that I’ve seen quite a few of her movies, but there were many more of her French language or Parisian based films that I still needed to see (based on their reviews).  So I did what anyone would do: ordered them on Amazon.  Of course I couldn’t stop there though, I ordered a few other “we recommend” French or Paris based films.  And oh, I had to buy the highly rated “French in 10 Minutes a Day” book too.  Darn you, Amazon.  (And thank you.)  But I digress.

I was online for hours going back and forth between IMDB, Google, and inevitably Amazon looking up and purchasing the best French/Parisian films.  Lucky for me, I’d already seen several of the films on many lists I came across:

• Midnight in Paris

• Caché
• Paris, Je T'aime
• Chocolat
• Before Sunset
• 2 Days in Paris
• La Vie En Rose
• Amelie
• Paris

My freshman year of high school, when I had to take a language, I registered for French.  Unfortunately for me, my mom found out and switched me to Spanish because it was “more practical” and, all things considered, she was right.  Unfortunately for both of us, my school’s Spanish teacher’s first language was French; he spoke English 99.97% of the time he taught my class; and most assignments were to be written in English.  Needless to say, in two and a half years I learned absolutely no Spanish and no French.

Some years later, I went to Paris for about a week and officially fell in love.  The people, the culture, the language, the accent, I loved it all.  I was only there for a brief period of time, but after day one, I could see myself living there.  One day, perhaps.

Every time I start thinking about the next place I want to visit, I keep circling back around to Paris and other parts of France, but mainly Paris.  Yes, I’ve been there.  Yes, there are numerous other places I’d love to visit.  Yet and still, my heart lies in Paris.

Stumped

I’ve wanted to write a blog for a little while now, but haven’t had the time and now that I have a few minutes to spare, I can’t think of anything to write. A couple of ideas have crossed my mind when I’m drifting to sleep or when I’m unable to write them down, yet I now find my mind blank where this matter is concerned. I’ve started and stopped one idea after another and nothing seems to take. I mulled over writing random thoughts about dudes like:

• Some dude fell asleep at the wheel and rolled back into my brother’s car last night while he was waiting at a stop light; it seemed that no amount of honking my brother did could wake the guy. Dude got out of the car and had the nerve to ask him “What happened?” *blank stare* While my brother was looking at the car, the dude hopped back in his old school O.J. Simpson Bronco and sped off before my brother could get his information (I think the randomness of it all impaired my brother’s judgment which is why he didn’t immediately write down dude’s plates). At any rate, I have no clue why dude thought he’d be able to successfully outrun a fairly new Infiniti in an old, beat up Bronco. I mean, come on, guy. That must’ve been some nap he had. So anyway, my brother chased him down and got his plates in case there was any damage to his car (he couldn’t really tell because it was too dark), which fortunately, there wasn’t. Folks are a mess.

• Some dude jumped over the table and socked Leona Lewis at her book signing at some store in London for no apparent reason. What the heck has gotten into folks these days? Of all people to attack, Leona Lewis? Really?

• Some dude of a particular persuasion was walking around in a T-Shirt, shorts, and sandals like it’s nothing. It was like 32 degrees and windy at the time! I tell ya.

• Some dude … eh, I’m over it.

Then I started writing about this, that, and the other: I thought about just posting the lyrics to Jill Scott’s “Crown Royal” just because it’s a great two second song that I wish was longer. Come on now, you can’t say that you heard this song and didn’t instantly love it …

Your hands on my hips pull me right back to you

I catch that thrust, give it right back to you
You're in so deep, I'm breathing for you

You grab my braids arch my back high for you

Your diesel engine, I'm squirting mad oil
Down on the floor ‘til my speaker starts to boil
I flip s**t, quick slip, hip dip, and I'm twisted
In your hands and your lips and your tongue tricks
And you're so thick and you're so thick and you're so

Crown Royal on ice, Crown Royal on ice (On Ice)
Crown Royal on ice, Crown Royal on ice (On Ice)

Ah yeah, great song. If you haven’t actually heard her sing it –live or at least on the album-you’re trippin’. But anyway, I didn’t want to post a blog of song lyrics; maybe one of these days I will, but not today.

I thought that I’d write about that place where my mind always seems to rest as of late. The place it immediately drifts to when I’m not studying or at work or talking to someone (or even when I am) or doing something else. The place it’s been resting for a while now. I considered writing about that, but quickly realized that I didn’t want to go there today either. So I scrolled through a few of my older blogs and noticed that it’d been a while since I last wrote a “Things That Irk Me” and I thought about doing another one of those. That idea was nixed when I soon realized that there aren’t too many things that have irked me lately; I’ve eliminated most of the people and things from my life that inspired those blogs, and though there are things that bother me still, most of them would be redundant.

So I’m sitting here with an urge to write, but am at a loss as to what about …

Things That Irk Me: Vol. 2, Strictly People

Things that irk the hell out of me (in no particular order):

• Folks who can’t seem to return a call/text/email, but know how to make contact when they need something. You must be kidding …

• People who seemingly, inadvertently accuse you of something and then, when they realize their accusations are way off base, continue as if nothing happened. Umm, I’m going to need a couple of minutes …

• Those who make a mockery out of their religion. Who are a (fill in the blank) when it’s convenient to be and/or when they feel it will cause others to pay attention to them in some way. Those who MUST be at church every Sunday and at every Bible study, meeting, and play, but constantly sleep around something RIDICULOUS. Those who text and email Bible verses and post them on their page(s), but are in the club each and every weekend doing things that are too wild for “Girls (or Guys) Gone Wild.” Those who surely aren’t walking the walk or talking the talk. Stop being a hypocrite. Religion isn’t a joke. You are.

• People who initiate a text/email about some topic or another, and when asked about something they JUST mentioned, completely ignore the question –however simple it might be. Instead, they respond with a completely different message. Uhhh, huh? Did you really just completely disregard the question I asked about the topic that YOU brought up and expect me to reply to this new bit of nonsense? Riiiiiight.

• People who, whether they realize it or not, only call to complain about this, that, or the other. Ugh, leave me alone …

• Folks who have never been outside of the town in which they were born and yet for some reason, feel as though they’re an authority on the sorts of people who live in other places. Idiots.

• Those who call and/or text me after about 1:00 am during the week. Unless I was JUST talking to you or told you that I’d be up late, leave me alone. Yes, I’m usually up stupid late for no reason, but on the rare occasion that I’m actually in bed at a decent time, I don’t want to be jolted awake by the sound of my phone. I would just turn the thing off and keep it simple, but it serves as my alarm. And oh, if I called or texted you at like 10:00 pm, DON’T reply hours later. Goodness.

• People who act as though/seem to think that they’re the only ones EXTRA stressed out because of the recession. Get your head out of your ass and take a look around.

• Folks with no degree and next to no experience who quit their jobs (in these hard times) simply because they “don’t like it.” Really? Really? You deserve to not find another job for a good long while. Ugh.

• As of late, people in general …

To be continued …

• This I’ve mentioned before: People who have to send/post reminders for people to give them a shout out or to remind them of their birthday. Really? Really? Do you need attention that badly? If you have to remind your ‘friends’ that your birthday is coming up, there’s a problem. If you need attention that badly, there’s a problem. Really.

• Folks who send you a message telling you to “give [them] some support by leaving a comment every now and then.” Are you frikkin kidding me? You grown ass, needy ass, f*cking LOSER. Loser.

25 Random Things ...

Once you've been tagged you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you:

1) I’ve never been any good with numbers; that’s Randall’s thing.

2) To this day, white water rafting at UC Davis the summer before my junior year in high school is probably the most fun thing I’ve ever done.

3) I really wish I’d taken French and not Spanish in high school like I wanted to rather than listening to my mom (who minored in French in college, by the way) and counselor who advised me to take the latter.

4) The only person’s response/replies/advice that play in my mind in moments of doubt are Randall’s. He prevents me from doing or not doing anything that I might regret and when I remember his response to my actions or ideas, I know that I made the right choice.

5) Although it’s lessened over the past year or so and I am not at all afraid of them, after a rather unpleasant experience living with a roommate who had two dogs, I have an aversion for all animals –especially dogs.

6) I’m spontaneous and sometimes quick to assume, but what I’ve realized is that my first instinct is almost always right or inevitably what I wish I’d gone with.

7) I keep wanting to chop off my hair again. Then I’ll see a picture of how long it was and remember that I want it to grow to the length it was before I cut it.

8) I have nicknames for most people, but I won’t shorten a person’s name if that’s what most people do or would do. For example: I will rarely call Jennifer, ‘Jenn’.

9) Regardless of whether or not I meet a person or have them described or simply spoken of a time or two, I form opinions about them very quickly. I know the type of person they are (trustworthy, scheming, etc.) immediately and if hearing about them from someone, I’m sure to let that person know my thoughts on whomever they’re speaking of. I’ve yet to be proven wrong about any of my presumptions.

10) I still sleep with Big Foot, my stuffed bunny rabbit that I’ve had for longer than I can remember and I cried a few months ago when I thought I’d lost her.

11) Since moving to Pittsburgh, I’ve learned many things about myself and life in general that I know I would’ve never learned had I stayed home.

12) I’m not a big fan of dresses. Not because I don’t like them, but because the ones I like never properly fit both my top and bottom halves. I get too frustrated trying to find one that will.

13) I really need to go to church and I’m an idiot for scheduling a class on Wednesday nights when that’s when I like to go. I just don't seem to wake up on Sunday mornings to go -terrible, I know.

14) Dictionary.com, ‘Shift F7’, and the squiggly red line that often appears when I type are my best friends. I truly cannot spell and forget the different meanings of far too many words.

15) Next to Randall, my Sunday drives to San Diego to clear my head, relax, and escape at my aunt’s house are what I miss most about Southern California.

16) I love commas and will sometimes misuse them just because I like them so much. Many times, I will flip a sentence around just so that I have to use one.

17) I didn't really start drinking wine until I moved to Pittsburgh and I have my cousin to thank for my appreciation of it.

18) I love it when people, particularly older people, tell me that I’m a wonderful person solely because I love replying “Thank you; my parents raised me to be this way.”

19) For some reason, I love to repeat myself when I write. It doesn’t matter if the sentences are back-to-back or spread out in my ramblings, but for some reason, I love to repeat myself when I write.

20) I sometimes feel bad for people who aren’t twins because they’ll never know how great it is to be one.

21) I really don’t understand how some twins don’t get along. That’s just strange.

22) Though I still have my occasional moments, talking to and hanging out with people out here who fail to admit to themselves that they are insanely insecure, has rid me of the few insecurities I once had.

23) I get a kick out of the fact that I listen to country music so much at work that if a song comes on the radio, there’s a good chance I’ll know who is singing. 

24) Virtually every time I drive into the city, I realize one of the things that captivated me a couple of years ago and am reminded as to why I so easily moved out here.

25) I will see any movie with Rachel McAdams or Taraji P. Henson; I’ve yet to be disappointed by any of their movies that I've seen.

26) Even though I don’t regret moving here, I curse this place for one reason or another about five days a week.

27) I burst into song every time I’m talking to Bisha and only Bisha. I don’t know what it is, but I couldn’t help it if I tried.

28) One of the top five grammatical errors that drives me crazy is the incorrect use of 'to', 'two', and 'too'. 

29) I’ve never been any good with numbers.

Old Folks and Babies

• I still can’t figure out how elderly people and babies live in Pittsburgh, well, cold weather in general, I guess. I just don’t get it. All winter long, especially on the too frequent occasions that I have to step outside of my apartment, I’m trying to figure out how people get used to the madness that is this weather. I can’t imagine having to bundle up a little kid in 16 layers of clothes just to run to the grocery store. And those poor kids, they’re the ones that get to peel off that stuff when they get to school or wherever. Sucks for them. But then I think about retired folks or those who are past their prime and I think about how much I’d hate to have to take my slower self outside for any reason. Then last night, as my car was sliding around all over the place and my brakes were of no use as I drove home from work in beyond stupid weather, I realized that it sucks for people in the middle too (not babies and the elderly). I mean, we’re the ones that do a good deal of the driving and running of errands and whatnot. Nonsense.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know; people who grow up in snow or stupid cold weather are used to it. When peeling off layers of clothes is all they know as a kid, it’s just another part of life when they’re a teenager and adult. I guess they get used to carrying a ridiculously large bundle of a kid whenever they have them. I guess they get used to carrying their slightly frail body outside in their later years.

Whatever, this shit is for the birds. What’s that mean? No clue, really. Something my cousin said once (and many times since) that just … made sense.

Anyway, I can’t figure out how anyone ever gets used to this madness –babies, elderly, and folks in the middle.

Though it was nice for classes to be canceled today, this shit is for the birds.

• On another note, my frail twin, Superran, ran a dang half marathon last weekend. He ran the entire thing because it was 'easier to run than walk'. I need to get on his workout status. I keep meaning to ask if his roommate ran the entire thing too; though I assume his hyper go lucky ass did.

• I am so very happy that I have another place to stay the next time I’m back home. Shout out to G.G. for finding Bisha’s spot!

• I absolutely love my Management Sales and Strategies course. At least I do at the present time. Yesterday: personality analysis. Next week: analyzing high and low self-esteem. Great stuff. I had so many epiphanies about certain people while in class yesterday. It was ridiculously wonderful. I’m beginning to understand why some people are always such assholes/b!tches –and not in a ‘haha funny’ way. As of now though, those people still get on my last frikkin nerve. But yup, lovin’ the class.

• What is the deal with all these guys with the name ‘Eric/Erik’? My dad, brother, my sister’s guy, my cousin’s guy, the homie’s unofficial guy. The list goes on and on. Are there no other names out there?

• I got a text the other day that cracked me the hell up: “In 2008, if you have sent me chain texts, prayers, or promises, NONE OF THAT SHIT WORKED. In 2009 please send cash, food stamps, and gas cards.” Funniest text I’d gotten in a long while.

Things That Irk Me: Vol. 1, Everything

Things that irk the hell out of me (in no particular order):

♦ "Younger" people who insist on calling me and everyone else "Hun," "Sweetie," etc. "Hi Hun, I can help you." "Hey Sweetie, do you need anything?" Blah, blah, blah … Why the hell is your 25 year-old behind calling that 60 year-old woman "Hun?" Whatever happened to "Ma'am?" Goodness ...

♦ Those who find the need to text/email/call/etc. people when their birthday is coming up or has arrived. "Just a reminder, my birthday is in 17 days!" "The 'Countdown to my BIRTHDAY' has begun!" "Hey people, it's my birthday today!" Losers. What, are you afraid that the MySpace and Facebook birthday alerts won't be enough of a warning? If you have to tell folks it's your birthday in order to get that shout out that you're so desperately seeking, something's wrong. Losers ...

♦ People who can't seem to turn off their dang turn signal. I understand turning it on when switching lanes or veering to one direction and I thank you for that, but turn the sucker off once you've done one of those things. If you just switch lanes or veer to one direction when "turning," chances are that thing's NOT going to go off by itself. After 10, 15+ minutes of driving, why have you not figured out that you need to turn it off? I mean goodness, can you not seeing it blinking out the corner/bottom/top/whatever of your eyes? Idiots ...

♦ Idiots. I can't even elaborate on that ...

♦ Those birds perched in that tree RIGHT outside of my bedroom window that chirp their little hearts out at the crack of dawn EVERY doggone day. Those things sound like they're chillin' on the pillow next to me. Man, I wish they'd just wait until at least 9 ...

♦ People who take their jobs too seriously. Those who live and breathe work. Who have NO life outside of it. Get a hobby ... 

♦ People who can analyze and give the best advice/know what so and so should do in every situation, but are unable to take a deep look at themselves. Those who are unable to find ANY fault in themselves and who are unwilling to even listen to the opinions of others when it concerns them. No one said that they had to FOLLOW said advice/opinions, but they could at least listen ...

♦ When someone lacks a sense of humor. Crack a smile every now and then ...

♦ People, who when asked to pronounce their name, say "It doesn't matter …" How the hell does it NOT matter? Your parent(s) (whom I assume named you) pronounce it the "correct" way, right? So how does it not matter? I wish I would say "It doesn't matter" when people ask me that and then be called "Alecia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh)." *raised eyebrow* Uhhh, no ...

♦ Whatever the heck is outside that is rattling up again my bedroom wall and annoying THE HELL out of me every night ...

Life Goes On ...

It hurts like I’d imagine ripping duck take off my pubic area would. Oh wait, I guess that pretty much sums up waxing. Hmm, never mind. Scratch that thought.

It hurt, and I cried. It hurts and it’s going to for a good while longer. It’s only just begun …

This Usher cd knocks. I’m still stuck on that Hootie & the Blowfish cd, too. It’s Hootie in the car, Usher in the crib …

Not doing things that I’ve grown accustomed to doing for years now, is going to be extremely difficult. Breaking habits and steering clear of “the norm” will take some time to adjust to.

It’s going to be interesting and probably painful still, to see where things are in a few days/weeks/months …

I’m not mad; I just have nothing to say. Well there’s plenty that I’d like to say (most of which has already been said a few times already), but I’m tired of speaking only to have my words blocked by that invisible wall in front of your ears.

July 17th can’t come soon enough …

OT of that Pens game last night was crazy insane. I don’t even really watch hockey (which explains why I skipped all three periods of regulation), but sudden death, triple overtime, one game away from elimination in the Stanley Cup Finals! Yeah, those triple OT periods were rather entertaining.

Sex and the City was a really good movie. Yeah, I can stand to see that a few more times. I hope a few people I know take the time to see it too. One site said of the flick: “[I]t’s the perfect movie to possibly refresh your relationships with your girlfriends…” Ain’t that the truth? But yes, very good movie.

I’m so drained …

“Oh, but life goes on
And before too long
You figure out you're right where you belong …”

“Cinderella made me realize that I can’t trust white people. White people can’t even trust white people.” Lol! Sharee is too dang funny … and can break down a Disney flick like no one else. Really. Talk to her when you’re feeling down.

It hurt. It still does. There's nothing to compare it to.

I’m so ready to bounce back to reality in a month in a half. I miss hanging out with the family and friends who really know and appreciate me …

July 17th can’t come soon enough. But until then, it’s back to life, back to reality …