Day 23

A picture of your favorite book:

This was not very difficult. I don't want to say I don't read much but I really can't find the time during the school year to read non-academic works. So, my favorite book (and only book I have ever read more than once) is the Count of Monte Cristo. The movie sucks. The end.

Day 22

I realize I am approx. 10 days behind... at least. I'm in college, whatever.

A picture of something you wish you were better at:

I wish I were better at a lot of things--dance, French, cooking, remembering people's names, driving... the list goes on. The most significant thing I could come up with is linguistics. I feel like I've focused all of my energy in discourse analysis and sociolinguistics lately that I never really learned proper structural linguistics sufficiently. Syntax and Phonology still confuse the hell out of me and that is preeeeetty embarrassing considering I am about to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics.

Day 21

A picture of something you wish you could forget:

This one time, freshman year, Erin, Kate, and I went to a Rave in this Irish center. None of us was legal to drink, the music was terrible, and we never considered how we would get home. Kate stayed with her then-boyfriend, while Erin and I wandered on what we now call the "road to rape," (pictured below). It was insanely cold, Must have been November/December and we were wearing minimal clothing. No buses were running and we had NO idea where we were. We walked along a highway next to some woods and asked random bus drivers/CMU shuttles how we could get back. We ended up at a pharmacy  (to warm up) and JUST managed to gather our combined cash to pay for a taxi from there. Then it took us about an hour to warm up in socks and blankets. Worst. Night. Ever.

Day 20

A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel:

Obviously this was not an easy choice and I definitely cannot pick just one place but my current top choice is Alsace, France. The region has changed hands between Germany and France so many times in the past so the culture is an interesting mix of both. I just think there is something really special about a quaint part of eastern France--no hustle and bustle of Paris, just wine, cheese, German beer, and beautiful historic architecture.

Day 19

A picture and a letter

I wish I could dig up some of the letters Liya has sent me from the days when our snail mail correspondence was active but this was the best I could do. A pretty birthday card from Liya. I would like to take up writing snail mail again (I do have tons of stationery left, for one thing). It's so much more exciting to open up a letter than click on an inbox message.

Also, I do realize I am now at least a week behind, but I will finish this challenge so soon!

Day 18

Since I am so behind, I'm allowed to post as many times as I want in order to catch up, right?

A picture of your biggest insecurity: my nose.

This is a profile picture, which I really don't let people take (or post anywhere, rather). I am fully aware that my nose is the size of a boulder but, short of plastic surgery, I cannot do anything about it. It has a bump and it hurts immensely even if I lightly hit it. I blame my mother, because she got hit with a ball and it caused the bump on her nose. However, how that got transferred to me, I still cannot understand.

Day 17

This 30-day challenge has turned into a 3-month-challenge due to a combination of school and laziness.

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently:
Graduation

Since about December I have been considering what my life will be like in the next couple years. I have been applying to Graduate schools... halfheartedly. I'm not really sure what to do with a Master's in Linguistics and I am even more unsure if I actually want to go if I don't get any sort of funding. Besides the graduate school, I have been considering where I'm going to be living, with whom--will I be happy there? Where did the last four years go? I distinctly remember high school graduation and the excitement of going away to school. There are a lot of decisions to be made. I just hope to God I make the right ones.

Day 16

A picture of someone who inspires you:

My mom inspires me because she has been through so much to get to where she is today. She came to the States with my dad on practically no money and no promise of a future. She is the most organized, dedicated, honest and loyal person I have ever met. If I can manage to do all that she does when I am her age, I would consider myself successful.

Day 15

Great. I'm already behind almost a week.

Day 15 is "a picture of something you want to do before you die." Sorry, kids. This one will be anti-climactic. Though I have a very extensive bucket list, I have come up with this as the #1 at the moment: own a dog. I have never had a pet (other than a goldfish) in my life, nor do I have any siblings or a boyfriend that lives within a 50 mile radius.  I think having a dog would be like having a friend who is always loyal no matter what. Also, yorkshire terriers are adorable and do not get very big. I don't want it destroying things. But in a nutshell, I feel like a dog would make me much happier in the coming years.

Day 14

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

I've known Bill since I was about 9 years old. I don't have the time or energy to even begin the story of our friendship and later, relationship, but I simply don't know where I would be without him in my life. He is probably the only person who can listen to me vent and rant daily about unimportant things and deal with my infinite problems. All cheesiness aside, I kind of love him.

This seems to be a theme in this blog, but this is yet another picture from Paris.

Day 13

A picture of your favorite band or artist:

Michael Jackson. I have loved him since I was little. His televised concert was the reason my parents bought a color TV when I was young. Everything from his lyrics, voice, and dancing... and just the beat of every song gives me chills. His music is timeless. As for his personal life, I fully believe he is a kind-hearted and innocent human being. We have truly lost a legend. The picture below says, "Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone."

Day 12

A picture of something you love:

Museums. All kinds of museums. This picture is of a painting in the Louvre by Fragonard called "Le Verrou" (The Bolt) which is one of my favorites. Painted around the time of the French Revolution, two lovers frantically bolt the door in a moment of passion. After taking three art history courses (two at Pitt and one in Paris), I have become a total art nut. I love strolling through museums alone. It is a completely different experience when you go through at your own pace rather than with others which makes me feel quite detached from the art. My parents have been taking me to museums since I was little. We could be in a major metropolitan city or the tiniest town in nowheresville, Florida--we would still visit every museum in the town. In Paris, I took this matter into my own hands and visited lesser-known museums like the Musee de Carnivalet, Musee d'art moderne, Magic Museum (yes, it was awesome), Picasso Museum, Musee de la vie romantique, Perfume Museum, and there are still more that I have yet to visit.

Day 11

A picture of something you hate:

Unfortunately, I really hate a lot of things. However, I pride myself on hating things that I have actually tried so here is my pick-- skiing. I used to think I liked skiing and each time I went (a total of three times), I thought, "This could be ok." No. Every single time I went, the day after left me with muscle soreness from head to toe and a fever. Each time I go down the slope, I feel one step closer to death. I cannot control the speed as well as I would like and it is just too damn cold no matter how many layers I wear. So there. Skiing is the worst.

^Does this not look terrifying?!

Day 10

A picture of the person you do the most fucked up things with

This was a toughie considering, at 22, I feel like my do-stupid-shit phase has gone... or at least been kept to a minimum. That being said, I can't remember a time other than my semester in Paris that I did more random/stupid shit. Thank god for my dearest roommate there, Emily Wilson. Poor choices, dumb choices, fun choices--it was all an adventure. Every day's stories would be followed by a joint FML. This is why I love and miss you immensely, Em!

Day 9

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most:

Liyana-- we've only been friends forrrr 6ish years but she has dealt with my teenage angst and boy issues as well as stupid decisions in college. I can honestly say I could call at 4AM and she would answer with, "Ok let's hear it..."

This picture is from Bill's old Kings Park house (thus, not very recent)

Day 8

A picture that makes you laugh:

This was taken my freshman year of college, one of the weekends I randomly came home from Pittsburgh. Liya, Nika, Chris, Charlene and I hung out in the city. This picture is hilarious to me because it shows Chris talking on two phones at the same time, convincing Julie to come out to the city even though she had just landed from London. The whole scene was incredibly comical. The caption I have on facebook is, "Julie, we don't CARE if you smell like curry, right Liya?" 

Day 7

A picture of your most treasured item:

Easily, my iPod. 120GB of space to expand my music collection into the trendy and absurd. I currently have only 35GB (of music) but I will reach 120 someday. This thing has gotten me out of so many strange/dangerous situations. Example: I am walking down a sketchy street and a bum attempts to start conversation. "What? I'm sorry I can't hear you. Got my buds in" *keeps walking* Music makes my day better, and when you're taking the Pittsburgh Port Authority every day, you NEED pick-me-up.

Day 6

Of course I thought about what it would be like to be Lady Gaga for a day (pretty fabulous) but I didn't see the value in it besides wearing 6-inch heels and plastic clothes. So here goes my pick for today:

Day 6- a picture of a person you'd like to trade places with for a day

Paloma Herrera became the youngest principal dancer at ABT at only 19. Her stage presence, gorgeous arches, and poise are breathtaking to watch. If I could take the stage as Paloma for one day in front of thousands of people at Lincoln Center, I would be on top of the world. She is a true legend.

Day 5

This was quite difficult. After much deliberation, I decided that Paris as a whole is one of my favorite memories. Drinking wine on the Seine with amazing people and not having a care in the world is pretty much bliss. Here are Emily, Emily2, Gabby, Chris, Flori and I on the Seine after getting a bartender to open the bottle for us.

Day 5- a picture of your favorite memory

If I woke up every day and saw this, I couldn't ask for anything else.

Day 4

Day 4
A little late because the topic was "a picture of your night" and I obviously did not have access to a computer last night. Yesterday was a lot of fun-- I went to the Van Cleef & Arpels exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt. It's definitely a must-see! I have been coveting a gold necklace dripping in emeralds for a while now. Now the only thing left to do is become Princess of a small middle eastern country and shower in gold. No big. Saw Max for a bit after and spent the rest of the night with Nika, Andrey, and Djoana in Williamsburg. So here's a picture of me and Dj at a bar continuing to play Apples to Apples (after playing at Andrey's earlier). I kicked ass both times.

Day 4- A picture of your night

As for Day 5, I'll have to reflect a little and post later today. That's going to be a tough one.

Day 3

A picture of the cast from your favorite show

I am fully aware that Gossip Girl is a shallow, girly, soap opera-esque and overall lame show but I understand that and still love it. The cast is hot, the set is hot (NYC), the scenes are hot, and so is the fashion. The plot is humorously scandalous sometimes and that's pretty much my recipe for entertainment. :-)

Day 2

A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

That would be me and my dearest Julie. I've technically known her since 4th grade but we became close in middle school and moreso in high school. This picture is from our senior year-- we watched fireworks from her convertible in an amusement park parking lot. Summers on Long Island really are unbeatable :-)

Blog Shmog

Every time I have tried to keep a blog, it has eventually failed. I'm not saying this is going to be any different (I can almost guarantee I will quit soon) but I found this 30-day picture challenge and decided to give it a try.

I like taking pictures so it seems like fun. Yes, it's a little self-absorbed and you probably don't care what my favorite stuffed animal is but it's also a sort of digital scrapbook that I may look at in a year and get excited about. So here it goes:

Day 1, a picture of yourself with ten facts

1- I just got accepted to the University of Florida and am thus excited about the prospect of a real future next year.

2- I miss my family and friends every single day.

3- I love reading about Mormons.

4- I really really want a dog in the near future.

5- Every year, I make myself a Valentine's Day bouquet.
6- I hate all pasta, brownies, cupcakes, and french fries.
7- I adore New York City.
8- It takes me 10 minutes of staring at my closet to decide what to wear each day.
9- I have Raynaud's Syndrome.
10- I love going dancing more than anything.