Recommended Blog

Since part of this blog is dedicated to sharing new and interesting things, I thought I would share a recently developed blog by a friend of mine who is going on an astounding journey. I couldn't do her tale justice, with all the weight loss, preparations for a play she is sewing costumes for, her husband moving to Portland, and much, much more!

Her name is Amanda, I'd appreciate it if you'd give her blog a look-see, click here!

A special friend of mine introduced me to a new kind of inappropriate by the soundtrack of The Book Of Mormon [Explicit]. I'm especially obsessed with the track Hasa Diga Eebowai. That's not the best thing, considering I'm in Salt Lake City at the airport. Careful, this music is for big kiddies (hence the Explicit).

Salt Lake City

Just an update:

I am currently at Salt Lake City International Airport and I have a new best friend:

I hate flying

After spending a fabulous night stargazing with someone who shall remain nameless, I was forced to remain awake and journey to PDX. I love flying, traveling, anything of that sort. Actually, make that past tense: loved.

After my first leg of the journey was pushed back a half an hour and I was reduced to being bumped up to a flight that left in the next 40 minutes, I managed to make it safely on the plane. Upon arriving at Seatac International Airport, I learned that the next leg was delayed 3 hours - causing me to miss my next connection from Reykjavik, Iceland to Paris. After waiting in line for several hours and helping a french teen behind me understand what the ticket agents were trying to ask the crowd, and I must not forget going to the end of yet another line. My apologies for being less than eloquent, I had no concept of time until a few minutes ago when I checked my ipod.

I finally managed a new flight itinerary. I am now flying at 6am tomorrow to Salt Lake City. From there I will have to wait roughly 7 hours to then fly right into Paris (arriving at approx 11am). It was better than the alternative 15 hours in Reykjavik's airport.

With frazzled hair and fatigued eyes. I always have enough energy to enjoy pizza

I am currently at the hotel, where I just received my Domino's pizza and diet soda. It's delightful, sitting here in a king size bed and watching tv. Doesn't hurt talking to someone who calls you "ma petite caille". After struggling to handle both large suitcases and my decent size carry-on, I can only assume the concierge who took care of me felt bad - I ended up in a handicapped hotel room right across the hall from the elevator. It's the little things in life, you know?

6 Days!

It's less than a week until I leave. I am starting to realize just how much stuff I have to get done before then.  I have yet to even make a list of things I need to pack. I also have to start getting ready and do some party prep. But for right now, I wanted to share some photos that were taken of me by JaNae Kristine Photography. A lot of them are of me and my horse. He's pretty amazing if I do say so myself....

These are just some of the photos, I'm so grateful that Janae could come out and photograph me and my horse. I'm definitely framing at least one of these to take with me to France. I'm going to miss my horses terribly, but hopefully I will be able to find someone to ride for there.

Now, because I haven't made a list of what to pack, I'm going to make a list of things that need to be done today:
1. Wash dog check!
2. Zumba t 1:45 with Amanda!
3. Music at Charley's BBQ from 5-8
4. Date at 9:30 (movies)
5. Start writing a list of what to pack.... sometime today


NOW..... Which one should I choose to frame and bring to France? I was thinking either the 1st, 4th, or 5th one. What do you think? Let me know!

Perseid Meteor Shower

Even with the full moon tonight, I'm going to brave the cooler night air (which some might see as a relief with the weather we've been having lately) tonight when the Perseid Meteor shower reaches it's peak in the late hours of Friday and early hours of Saturday. Look at me... I sound like a news article.

Actual Perseid Meteor Shower

The meteor shower was viewable starting this past Wednesday, but the peak unfortunately coincides with the full moon so many are saying "just wait until another meteor shower comes around". I am foregoing these words of wisdom because.... well, because I can. I live out in the middle of nowhere, essentially, so the night sky will be pretty dark. I might be lucky enough to see several, and I can always admire the constellations. One benefit of living outside of town is illustrated as follows:

View of the sky from just outside a city (note that seeing stars within the city is much harder)

Night sky from the country

As the photos show, I get to behold a spectacular show every night just by looking up. Sometimes it's just nice to go lay out in my field, smell the coastal wind and all the scents it carries and relax while finding constellations. Then of course, curious horses wander over to see if I have any treats or not. For this meteor shower - if anyone finds themselves outside wondering which direction to look - you'll want to face northeast for this light show.

Of course if you're headed out to view the shower, be sure to bring plenty of blankets, maybe a chair or two, and lots of snacks and drinks. I definitely will be. No need for a telescope or anything of the sort (unless you want a real good look at Venus, Mars, Jupiter etc).

On a side note: 11 days. Maybe I should start a list of what I need to pack?

Ideas and Poitiers

Hey all! I am thinking about re-naming my blog. I want something catchy and I'm not sure that "The Life of a Perma-Tourist" is cutting it. I'd really love any ideas in the comments area below. What do you think? Is my current title doing the job, or should I rename it?

Now that I've gotten that out of the way..... I wanted you all to see a glimpse of where I'll be living for a year:

Of course I won't be living in that church, but you get the idea ;)

Here are some interesting facts about Poitiers:


1. Until 1857 Poitiers contained the ruins of a vast Roman amphitheatre larger than that of Nîmes.
2. The University of Poitiers was founded in 1431
3. Joan of Arc was subjected to a formal inquest in the town.

You don't know

  It's so easy for someone to say "If it makes you look good, get it" when they wear a size 2. I made a comment the other day to my mom about a top that I sort of liked, but I had to wear a XXL when I normally wear a large. I didn't get it partly because of that fact.
  I try my hardest to eat right and stay active and get confronted by my sister, who is a size 2, 5'8", 125lbs, and has a slender frame. She states she is tired of hearing about me not getting something because I have to ordered a size or three larger. She claims that if she was a size 10, or 16, or 20, she'd just get an item of clothing if it looked good. That's easy to say, but in reality, people who are bigger tend to have self esteem issues. A lot about the way you look is self confidence. I don't feel as confident in a XXL, so I don't get it. That's my thing, but apparently my sister feels as though it impacts her because she hears it for days on end. In reality, I mention that I'm not getting a top, and that's pretty much the end of it.
  My sister also commented that it's my responsibility to eat right and exercise, implying that I don't do either. Research shows that eating right is the majority of what is needed in order to lose weight. Exercise is a good way to maintain weight, not lose it.
  This isn't about exercise or weight loss, this is about people who are naturally slender (who have never been overweight in their life) who think they know what it's like to be larger or plus size. They believe they would act the same if they were larger. I believe some of my low self esteem comes from my sister criticizing me and telling me that the way I feel about clothes is ridiculous.

I'd love to hear what other people think on the situation. Am I wrong to think my sister would act differently if she were 6 or 8 sizes bigger than she is now? It seems pretty ignorant to think that she wouldn't act differently, because she has never been more than a size 4 (and that's with the discrepancy in different brands' sizing charts). I know in a perfect world, the phrase "if it looks good on you, get it, no matter what size it is" would work, but we don't live in a perfect world, and people have self esteem issues.