hey! guess where I'm going today...

PARIS!

photo courtesy of betcheslovethis.com.

buttz

     No surprise here. I've been obsessed with butts for as long as I can remember and I love that Europeans have the proper admiration for said unappreciated body part. Especially in the fine arts. And as I am still [or really, I haven't even started yet] going through the photos I took in Lyon this past Sunday, this will have to do for now :]

Both photos were taken in the Musee de Beaux Arts in Lyon, France.

why I go to bed early, and wake up early...

to see this:

lazy dayz

    So I woke up at 10am [actually maybe 11am] this morning. But don't judge me too much for it. I need the sleep [je pense que j'ai un rhume] and I still got quite a bit done today! I found a new favorite place to eat, that makes veggie sandwiches and smoothies [but I admit it, I only found the place because SushiMe was closed] and ate my sandwich while listening to a live jazz band playing near Place Victor Hugo. Then I saw a bunch of cows at this cheese festival thing. and then I just walked around Grenoble. It was such an incredibly beautiful day. It would have been cool to make the trek to Lyon or Geneva this weekend, but with a plan to go hiking tomorrow with some friends, I think this was the perfect weekend to be lazy and embrace Grenoble :]

VACHE!

In case you were wondering what I was wearing when people thought I actually was french :]

le lever du soleil

This is what I saw out my window this morning. 

I can't believe how blessed I am to be here. 

be jealous ;]

the European appreciation of the female body

I love the fact that the French, really Europeans in general, are not afraid of the female body. Even publicly. In an age where girls are discovering and experimenting with their sexuality earlier and earlier, I'd like to see American society except the female form in all it's flaws and all it's beauty. I know that for me, growing up in a relatively small city in a small state in the US, I was taught [by society, not by my family] that the naked female body is something to be ashamed of and only seen by the woman herself or the person she chooses to spend her life with [of course, after publicly and formally announcing their love through marriage] in the privacy of their own home. And I can say that these societal norms have caused some embarrassment for me, as in always being afraid that my shirt is too revealing, my shorts too short, or a dress too tight, but worst of all is when these societal norms cause a woman [or man, it goes both ways] to be embarrassed of her body itself and the actions she makes with her body or regarding her body. I don't know if this makes sense or if I'm getting my feelings across correctly, but I just want each woman to take back control of her own body. It's our primary and ultimate tool for all things good: to express ourselves, to make art, to make love, to make babies.. we make physical things with our hands, we create stories and communicate with our mouths, we invent things never before thought possible with our minds. This body, this tool, that God gave us for absolutely no charge other than the promise to take care of it, is the most precious gift we have ever or will ever receive and I'm sick and tired of being afraid, ashamed, embarrassed of it, whether I'm fully clothed or not. So from now on, I will embrace my body, no matter the size, the shape or level of (un)dress. 

Join me?

the way Grenoble smells in da morning

     I know what you're thinking. Nobody likes the way a city smells. But if you honestly think that, you've never been in Grenoble in October after dark [or right as the sun is rising in the morning]. It smells like winter, it smells like cold, it smells like snow, it just plain smells fresh. Yes, I said it, a city that smells fresh. The only downside to this refreshing city aroma is that it already is getting pretty cold. It was just about 50 degrees Fahrenheit when I went to classes this morning, which isn't all that cold, but the absolutely clearness of this morning made it feel that much colder. Buuuut of course, there is always a bright side, and the bright side this morning [afternoon] was that the cold clearness set up some absolutely breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding the campus and the entire city of Grenoble. Today caused me to think yet again: I seriously get to live here for the next two months??


Here's what I mean:

This tram driver gave me such a weird look for taking this photo

I absolutely adore urban art!

golden Jesus.

yep. I definitely wasn't a real dog. 

sassy golden Jesus.

 PS: the giant spider my friend Catherine and I found on a jacket at a second-hand store. 

this baby girl

first photo, I think. ahha 

     My eldest sister Jessyka [of Life at Latitude 60.56 and soon-to-be newly restarted Let's Talk About Beer] and her husband Jonah have welcomed their first child into this crazy, crazy world! Harper Joyce Dart-Mclean is my first niece and the first grandbaby for my parents. Suffice it to say, we are all stoked on this lil babe. So far, none of us have had the pleasure of meeting the precious bundle of joy as my sister lives in Cordova, Alaska and thus gave birth in Anchorage. My parents are planning a trip up North soon, but myself being 4972.6 miles [8005.8 kilometers, if you like that sort of thing] in Grenoble, France, the soonest I'm seeing the babe is over winter break. 

So until then, these beautiful photos will have to do!

This photo is my phone background!

peek-a-boo!

I think she kind of looks like Will here!

So peaceful!

Happy family!

with her mama

love this photo, even if it's a little blurry.
it's so great to see that smile on her dad,
you can tell he's already completely in love! :]

Harper in her "leaving the hospital" onesie,
which was knitted entirely by her mama!
she's already the most stylish babe in Alaska!

She seems so sassy already!

Here are some links to Harper posts directly from the source [aka mama and papa!], avec plus de photos de ce bébé précieux:
-First Walk 14-10
-13-10 Harper's Way Into the World
-10-10 4 Days Old
-08-10 Harper Joyce Dart-Mclean