Wednesday, July 14, 2010

23! ...again

Today is my birthday. (Happy birthday to me!)

Last year was my 22nd birthday and it was really lame. Partly that was because I had moved to Jordan a few weeks before and got into the habit, at age 21, of telling cab drivers I was 23. I didn't ever consciously decide to be 23. It's just that one day a cabbie asked me my age and I blurted out 23, only to realize that I hadn't even turned 22 yet. What??

And then I did turn 22 and not a soul in the country knew about it. That was lame, but then again, how often do you get to celebrate your birthday in secret? I bought my friend Maranda dinner at the mall (Indian food!), and then we went shopping at Carrefour (oh man. if only you knew how funny that really is) where I bought myself The Alchemist and single-serving containers of ice cream, which we ate while watching the third Pirates of the Caribbean.
I think I'd have preferred ice cream cake, candles and celebratory comments, but it was alright. Indian food, ice cream and Johnny Depp really make for a great celebration :)

Today was much different. I was with a hundred other people with whom I've spent only the last 48 hours, and they were awesome! First thing this morning, they were sending me birthday wishes. This afternoon, they sang to me TWICE. And this evening, they bought me a little ice cream cake and lit a tealight on top. It was so sweet (and delicious!).

Oh yeah, and I'm in Prague right now. Here are three of today's pictures:





This city is beautiful. ♥ ♥


This is me and Jeanne:
She is Australian and over 60 and the coolest woman ever. She's here with her husband Bob, and last year she went to Peru and hike Machu Picchu! She's also spent a night in the Burj al-Arab. I adore her and wish I could take her home with me as a birthday gift for myself.

It's late now and I must wrap up this post. And since you all can't be here with me, I'll bring a bit of me to you:


Shirtless Europeans!!

♥,
Me

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

A few things about life that are cool

First of all, meet Kandee Johnson. She's a makeup artist/blogger/YouTube guru who is just so awesome that my usual emphasize-by-capitalization won't even do her justice (so I didn't even bother). She has lots of great videos, ladies, but I think my favorite is this one:



Be nice to yourself--and your skin--today and try the Lemon Trick. It's *so awesome*. And funny! For the Win! (I use fresh lemons on cotton rounds.)

She's also the one who taught me about the wonders of olive oil. She didn't lead me to this page, but something in one of her videos led me to do a search which ended in this page. So who, besides Genius Makeup Artist Extraordinaire Kandee, knew that olive oil actually helped cleanse your skin of OIL? How cool is that?! Guys, it's so cool that if you were here with me, in person, right now, I would totally let you caress my face. And yes, 'caress'. Because with skin this smooth and moisturized, it's all you would think to do. Mmmmmm.

Try that, too--the oil, I mean. (Caressing will come later.) I recommend doing it right after The Lemon Trick. Your skin will freaking glow! It's so awesome.

Second, last night was taco night and our friends made salsa. Made salsa. Mmmmmmmm.

Third, Toy Story 3. I saw it this weekend. As with the above, I will dispense with the usual hyperbole and write simply: Go see it.

Fourthly, Spain and Germany are playing tonight. I'm a little bothered that The World Cup has boiled down to three European teams, but you know what? Spain is in! And that's what counts. I can't wait to watch.

5thly, I'm getting an apartment this weekend. Or, more accurately, starting the month-long process that will end in the keys to a sweet new Dubai domicile. Yessss.

And finally, next week is my birthday. After another year of waiting, it's here again! And I will be spending it in Prague. Unfortunately, I'll be wrapped up in conference stuff all day, though that is decidedly better than being wrapped up in office stuff all day in the hot, humid university-by-the-landfill. I'll be in Prague! I hope I get to eat really good bread.

You know what else I hope to eat? Good vegetarian dishes. They asked me on the application if I had any special dietary needs and I said I was vegetarian.

I hope I don't regret it.


Love,
Me