I really did not want to be anything sexy, cutesy, or girly for this hallowe'en. [One friend tried to convince me to dress up by saying, "It'll probably be good for tips" which made me cringe.]
Have you seen this vid yet?
SO, after much debate the night before to even dress up, I've decided to go as a hipster dude, which kinda ended up looking more like a french farmer...
My reasoning for this costume and why it won out... Well, I recently got suspenders from a clothing swap and really wanted to wear them and a mustache. BUT ALSO because working at a bar/pub/restaurant I knew I'd be inviting certain attention had I dressed up as say... a catholic school girl just because I have the skirt.
It was suggested to me to be a Goth because that's pretty opposite my personality but it still holds sex appeal. If anyone deems this Hipster Dude/French Farmer costume sexy throughout the night it will be my personality, not my body on display. We don't live in a time yet where a woman dressing in a revealing outfit wont get you a certain kind of attention from certain kinds of people. Knowing full well that certain kinds of people are gonna be intoxicated and not necessarily on their best behavior and I wont be in control of the kind of people I'll be in contact with, I'm going for the most androgynous and let face itsilly costume.
I have finished the monstrosity that is the Steve Jobs Biography. The last chapter sounds like the pitch to publishers, and if you want the summary of the whole book that's all you need to read. I got through the obsessive repetition; exact sentences are copy-pasted throughout the whole book. Obviously there was a push to be on the market days after Jobs' death, but with his only perfection attitude, he's surely rolling in the grave. I was hoping it would end with 'he died on a Tuesday, yadda yadda, explain funeral, yadda yadda' but no, the ending is a disappointing drawn out recollection of mini uninteresting interviews with his kids followed by more bland summary description.
I enjoyed reading about Jobs' philosophy, the whole A players only want to play with A players, B players must not be tolerated. Then the idea that integrated systems is best, collaboration between each department creates a synergy for a product, and a reputation for excellence, nothing less. I've read a lot of business and management books, and Jobs' recipe is the opposite to a Politically Correct and Human Resources friendly work environment.
There are some good nuggets, like the Pixar story, dating Joan Baez, and finding out he had a sister when he finally sought out his birth mother, but unless like me, you love and are passionate about the intersection of art and technology, or leaving behind a corporate legacy, you'll probably rue the day you picked up this heavy book about the life of a narcissist. I look forward to a racy retelling or a handbook just filled with Steve Jobs quotes.
So it's almost that time of "resolutions". The new year brings a sense of obligation to change things up and re-evaluate goals. There's always a bit of bullshit associated to making new years resolutions when you just seem to pull them out of thin air and think "I should be/do that thingthis year" I hate the word should and think it's best eliminated from the vocabulary as soon as possible. So instead of what maybe you should do, here are my fave new years questions and goal help.
One of my fave blogs with a motto "a life less bullshit" has a template that I used last year, one important accomplishment for me was: 'Living in nature for six months'. Check out this post from NicoleIsBetter, and read her alternative method of setting reachable goals in buckets, along with a pretty worksheet that you can download for free.
Then something that I was turned onto a few years ago is fun to fill out with a friend and really nice to look back on throughout the year. This year my 'song of the year' was Vagabond by Wolfmother the verse I wanted to live like: "I'll tell you everything about living free". The year before that, it was Destination Calabria "I left my job, my boss, my car and my home, I'm leaving for a destination I still don't know" The jury is still out for my song for this year...
Questions for the New Year
1. This year name one person that you will make the attempt to have a stronger relationship with?
2. This year what is one risk that you promise to take?
3. This year what is one aspect of your personality that you will be willing to change to make yourself more likeable?
4. This year, what is one daily ritual that you can commit to?
5. This year, what song could you choose to represent the year you are going to have and will you
download that song after reading these words?
6. This year, who is one civil servant that you will say hello to for the entire year?
7. This year, what is one body of water that you promise yourself you will swim in?
8. This year, name one person that you will truly thank who rarely gets thanked.
9. This year, what is an artistic experience that you promise to have?
10. This year, what is one argument that you will no longer have?
11. This year, what is one thing that you will do to give back to the world or community that you live in?
12. This year, what is one thing that you will learn?
13. This year, what is one thing you will let go of knowing you don't have the power to change it?
14. This year, where will your quiet place be?
15. This year, name three people you will surprise with a random gift?
16. This year, what is one thing that you will teach someone else?
17. This year, what is one fear that you will overcome?
18. This year, what is one food that you will eat more often?
19. This year, what is something wonderful about your personality that you promise to consciously appreciate?
20. This year, what will you do that you have always known you had to do?
Since being here in Panama my friend Jenn and I decided it would be a good keepsake to take a quick video detailing the highlights and oddities of our days here in Panama. Neither of us have experienced life in the jungle before and want to remember each day! It's been a fun 23 days of vlogging so far. There's footage of howler monkeys, dolphins and our interactions with some BIG bugs.
I'm at my favourite cafe with internet (a.k.a the only place to get internet besides McDonalds) enjoying a Croque madam with Salad and a decent coffee.
A couple weeks ago now I went to a concert here in Paris for Andrew Bird. I bought his cd at the concert and have shared it with everyone in my dropbox because I really love sharing music and he's worth sharing. What makes Andrew different is he plays violin in a really neat way. The way people play spanish guitar he takes the same approach to the violin. He also loops tracks so within a song so he can play different instruments. I was also impressed with Martin Dosh who opened the show looping percussion. I can't really find a decent video to show their looping skills but click on their names to get directly to their music. I think these might be my three faves from "Break it yourself"
Today was the craziness that is the Spanish lottery and from nine till noon you could hear the voices of children singing lottery numbers and their corresponding jackpot amount. If you want to actually understand it go here for fun facts.
This is what happens when more then 1,000€ is drawn...
My friend, the amazingly talented Tara Rice, wrote this song and then directed the music video with lots of red wine. I am so honoured!! I can't believe I have my own song. Top of my charts ;) Nothing can top the ridiculousness that was the making of, or the hangover that followed. Hehehe
I think the video really keeps it true to my personal motto:
