Le Day of Endings

Friday was my Day of Endings. I had my last day at work and then ran off to finish my National Novel Writing Month novel which I uploaded around 2.5 hours before the deadline. The last week of November was one of the hardest. I got sick again with a mutant earache and was very stressed about finishing everything, being broke and mostly about what will happen after this month. But once Friday hit so did Zen. I finished everything with ease and I felt like something new was about to begin. I even got a lovely text message from a Kind Soul that commemorated the ending:

I am so proud of you..congrats, not just this month but overcoming every obstacle that has come across your path with grace. 

I decided to take Saturday for myself and celebrate this new phase. I woke up to find out that I was getting a manicure and massage as an early holiday present, which was perfect. After the pampering, I continued my day by going to the Guggenheim Museum, doing some holiday shopping and then rounding it off with a Thank God it's Over Party in the Financial District. I loved going all over the city and just enjoying it. 

Today is the first day of snow in New York City and it's fab, but of course I would say that considering I haven't been outside yet. I am off to Brooklyn today and then off to Munich on Tuesday to see my family and friends after five months. I am very excited and trying not to worry about what happens afterwards. Hopefully this new phase will be a good one. By the way this weekend has been going, it sure looks like it. 

Love,

Breens

Le 50,024th Word

I began to get sentimental at word 48,465. I was almost afraid. What will I do with my life when I get to 50,000? I would have all that extra time, what if i felt empty? I almost stopped. But I kept going and when I got to the 50,000th word ("further" if you were wondering) I just knew. I knew exactly what must be done. Sleep.

Good night! Thanks to everyone for cheering my on and your support. I will reply to all my neglected emails this weekend.

[collapse]

Le 44014 words and Rainbow Brite

After hours of writing and transcribing what I wrote on my trip, I am to 44,014 words. And at this point, I not only see the light at the end of the tunnel, but Rainbow Brite. Do you remember her? I don't know if its an 80s thing or not. I had two of her dolls and one of them had two outfits. One was her normal shiny blue one and the other other pink pajamas and slippers with white fur. The slippers were really hard to put on her plump yellow feet and took forever. And my brain seems to be fried because I'm talking shit. Rainbow Brite and her plump feet?!?!? Oh Lordy, only 5,986 words to go. Let's hope I don't completely lose my mind till then.

Good night and sweet dreams!!!

Breens

Le 34,646 Words

Hey everyone! I'm back from my lovely vacation and can't wait to share it all with you, but unfortunately I have four days left to write 15,354 words for Nanowrimo. So this is a place holder until December when I will upload all my photos and stuff. Take care till then!

PS
When did Paris and Britney become friends??? You leave for one week and all of a sudden everything is different; Paris has a new BFF and Munich gets taken over by a fog. What is the world coming to? Sigh.

Le Desert Child

Louis Vuitton in the Desert. Courtesy of Live Journal


When my cousin first got here from Israel, she loved the rain. She would stand in front of an open window, lean her head back, close her eyes and let the wind and rain put out the sweltering heat she seemed to have brought with her from foreign lands, all the while exclaiming, "eh ze keff!" (oh how fun!). A desert child cooling herself with German winds.

When she went to the English Garden, out would come her Chesire cat smile. The river refreshed her sandy soul, and soothed her as it flowed by in rhythm, as rivers and streams do. The swings, on the other hand, brought out the child in her. She would grin, her eyes shining, as she went higher and higher.

It’s weird. When I saw her smile, her whole little face bright, I viewed her not as a child but as an 18 year old, remembering her time in Germany in patches. Her memory will be tainted with what parts she chooses to remember; the hours spent missing home, the moments spent staring intently at the river while the breeze plays with her hair. She won’t know how she once was, how she smiled, how she was a child. It might come back to her occasionally, perhaps while she fixes her hair, applies her make-up, dresses up and heads off into the night, enjoying her newborn adulthood.

PS
I introduced my 35 year old sister to youtube.com yesterday. A child of the 80s, she can't get enough :).

Le Bastille Day

Today is Bastille Day. I decided to celebrate by seizing the day during lunchtime. Somehow living for the moment and enjoying your lunch seems to epitomize the French spirit to me. I left work alone and walked to towards Blutenburgstrasse where I found a cozy little Italian Osteria with outside seating in the shade. I sat down at a worn square wooden table decorated with a water glass filled with daisies and a light blue wooden chair that reminded me of the pastel-colored buildings on the hillside at Cannes. I ordered a coke, which the friendly waitress brought in a Maxim’s glass. I placed my open book on my lap while I watched people go by, carrying groceries; children ate ice cream while adults went about their daily chores. I could smell musty books and wooden furniture as Frank Sinatra’s voice serenaded me through the open window of the restaurant. It’s moments like these when you pause life for a moment and allow yourself to take a peek.



I recently read an article on Korean photographer Atta Kim in the New York Times. He uses a special technique where he exposes film for long periods of time, which often results in blurred images. One photograph in particular stayed with me; a busy New York street corner exposed for eight hours showing nothing but buildings, traffic lights and the streets. Though they had passed through, people and cars barely left their trace. Here, life had taken place in between all the weddings, appointments, dates and planned vacations. It may be those moments we remember most, but it is the in betweens that take up most of our time. Just like white light is made up of several colors, this photograph documenting the action of a busy corner in the city that never sleeps is little more than blurry emptiness. Everything is nothingness.
Source: (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/12/arts/design/12atta.html?ex=1310356800&en=758dc92aebfc60f1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)

Have a beautiful weekend.
Breens

PS.
I also seized the day today to FINALLY purchase a camera ☺. Yes, after three months of trying to pick one, I decided on the Panasonic below. She is very beautiful. I haven’t tried her out yet, but I have decorated a Hello Kitty sticker on her so she’s pretty much good to go!