Highlights from 6459

Last week in San Diego before La Belle France, some highlights from home thus far...

I found my grandma napping when we were supposed to be shopping and found this fab pillow.

Mother

All that I am,

All that I hope to be

I owe to my mother.

(A joke gift from Aunt Lynn)

Stuffed Eggplant and Rice Pilaf at Athena... Yum!!

Power Outage in San Diego

My Grandma and I told ghost stories, did interpretive dances and contemplated the possibility of the outage being a government cover up or terrorist attack.... My grandma's suspicious..

Voila, c'est moi!

Vagina Flowers on my grandma's coffee table

Beach Reading

Kabuki Democracy: The System vs. Barack Obama

by Eric Alterman 

I highly recommend this book. He isn't as radical as someone like Chris Hedges, but important nonetheless. He discusses the media (Fox, MSNBC, CNN etc.) which was very interesting. Can't wait to finish!

Gigi, Vegan Cake, Quinoa :)

Gigi 

Delicious Vegan Cake

Peruvian Vegan Feast 

Gallery Visit with Merryl and Aaron

 Merryl Berner Cicourel with some of her pieces

When I was in San Francisco, I spent an evening in Berkeley with my friends Merryl and Aaron. Merryl is an artist, and Aaron is a cognitive science professor and lecturer at UC Berkeley. Merryl had an exhibit of her pieces, so we went to see them and then had a beautiful dinner at her house. 

To find Merryl on facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Merryl-Berner-Cicourel-Artist/130502197009689

Home.

I dropped off the map a bit... I arrived at my grandma's house in La Jolla, CA, and she doesn't have any internet. The best part of coming home is always seeing my grandma, but I also thoroughly enjoyed coming home to these furry critters. My grandma's dog is Dolce (sweet in Italian) and the cat is Baby. She killed two rats while I was home... yuck! She looks like a typical Halloween cat. I finished the first leg of my journey. I will be in San Francisco (LOVE) for the next five days then I'll go back to La Jolla.

Be Where You Are

From a Stormy Sunday Spent at Home...

I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend. I am spending my last weekend at Sarah Lawrence at home listening to the thunder storm outside... I return to California next Saturday for a quick trip to San Francisco and San Diego before leave for La Belle France. 

I found this fabulous article on leaving California only to discover the state's masked delights through Joan Didion. Read the article in it's entirety here:

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/08/18/california-girls/

Also a fabulous article about following your dreams at the expense of everything else!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/fashion/maybe-its-time-for-plan-c.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

Happy Weekend!

View of the stormy clouds

Our Current Job Market...

Help Wanted

Seeking highly qualified, motivated individual

Must be a self-starter, independent and have the ability to mutitask

To work 80-100 hours per week

In a dark cave without access to sunlight or other people, and without heat (please dress warmly)

 

Must be willing to do heavy lifting, some travel (by foot), some light cleaning (sweeping, mopping) and ocassionally dog walking. 

Must have a masters degree and at least three years experience

Must demonstrate a genuine interest and support in the company's mission

 

This is an unpaid internship- only qualified applicants will be contacted. No phone calls about this poster! Good luck. 

Blue Gold of Provence

Sault, France

On the 15th of August each year, tens of thousands of people flock to the picturesque postcard mountain village of Sault for the annual lavender festival. The closing of summer in mid-August brings with it copious amounts of celebrations to pay homage to the infinite fields of lavender. 

Sault is a gem of a town, purposefully tucked away. It is difficult to get to the ceaseless fields of blue gold. From the Mediterranean, one must take a train to Avignon and from there a bus to L’Isle sur la Sorgue before arriving at Sault.

Sault is an old fortified village that perches on a ridge overlooking a large valley peppered with lavender fields.

When tourists think of Provence, it is hard to not associate the area with the purple postcards that stick out at the tourist kiosks. No other plant evokes Provence better than lavender.

Lavender soaps, dried lavender flowers, lavender perfumes, and even lavender crepes, ice-cream and tea adorn the markets during the festival season.The entertainment during the festival includes a traditional parade, a horse show and concert. 

One lavender field remains open to the public for picking lavender. The field is lined with wooden carts with freshly harvested lavender. Vistors are encouraged to take from the wooden carts free of charge.

A midday meal, a “Repas Champetre” is served with products from the local marches. This year’s three-course meal included salads, vegetables, roast pork, goat cheese and fruit desserts.

Sault is one of the villages I have to visit while I am in Toulon. It will either be the first or last place I go. I personally like to think of it as the last place I’ll visit before returning to the United States. The reason I have to go in early fall or early spring is that I don’t think the lavendar will be adorned with their breathtaking purple blooms.

I’ve also decided (not to sound morbid) that I want my ashes scattered in the lavender fields of Sault. I still want them scattered in my garden at my home in La Jolla, but maybe part of me can go in the Land of Lavender. I couldn’t think of a prettier paradise to lie down, take off my shoes and rest...

 Miss Liberty on the Sault fountain.

Church of Notre Dame de la Tour in Sault.