To Blog or Not to Blog...

In the efforts of self-actualization and all that jazz, I've decided that maybe I should try to write some blogs again. Entries that aren't just about traveling (since my 'real job' has put the kibosh on that). I'm not exactly sure what I'll be writing...but a lot of things have been changing in my life, so a platform to explore these changes and analyze them will be helpful. A tantalizing preview:

1)Love.
2)School/Professional life.
3)Fitness

These are the three main themes in my life at the moment. Sometimes it's overwhelming to realize that I've almost certainly reached the end of the "fake adult" stage of life. There is potential and energy at work here that has been absent or muted in the past.

I'll start from the bottom: Fitness. I finally chained my lazy demons in March and started out on a fitness/health regime that has actually worked. The results are in! While I have more work to do, at the rate I've been going I should be at my goal around March/April of next year. While I did this for me (it has to be for oneself otherwise it just won't work in the long-term), there was another catalyst involved which leads me to a nice segue:

Love.

In a few weeks, more will be said on this subject. Suffice it to say for now, I believe that I'm on the track to have found a very special, very wonderful man. This is a man I can very easily image myself with for the rest of my life. Scary stuff, folks. For many who know me, I've always been of the "if and when I marry I'll probably be at least 30" mindset. But this relationship has made me realize that if it's right, it's right and there's no use placing artificial boundaries around something that feels natural.

School/Professional...

Still on the fence about a lot of this. I need to see where everything else is going before I make a decision. I know have support in whatever I do (which is so important), but the logistics of it have the potential to be sticky, so I need to do a lot of careful planning.

I feel more centered than I've ever felt in my entire life. I go through my days with a feeling of purpose (at the moment that's mostly just fitness, but it will be replaced by more professional/academic aspirations as time goes on) and surreal other-worldliness...which I attribute to my pretty much constant residence on cloud 9.

I can't wait to see where this is all going to go.

Hello, Goodbye

It seems that every time I post it's either because I'm leaving to go somewhere, or just returned. This is a leaving entry. Tomorrow I'm off for two months in Britain and France. I'll be in Paris for all of February to take an Alliance Francaise class. Instead of stagnating in a room somewhere, I opted to stay with a family. It's the best way to continue practicing a language long after class is over. That and it's the best way to view culture in action.

But first I'll be in London visiting family and...brace yourselves...seeing Patrick Stewart in Antony and Cleopatra *swoon*...Those of you who know me are aware of my obsession with Mr. Stewart...IJE;sfj;s... ok I'm ok now. Hehehe..... I'm also of course going to Scotland to see my grandfather and aunt. I hope it snows... this stupid 70 degree January here in MD is really irking me.

I will have my laptop with me. The Alliance Francaise has free wireless and there are lots of hotspots in Paris, London, etc. So hopefully I'll be able to keep an updated blog, including pictures. I'm trying to resurrect carolinehelms.com but having a bit of a problem with it.. keep checking :)

Take care all! And keep in touch.

Long time!

Wow, its been a long time. I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland at my cousin Amy's flat. It's lovely :) And its really great to be able to hang out with her after so long.. never really got a chance to bond with her since I never got the chance to visit her very much when I was younger. She has a really adorable son, Finn, who's five. He's precocious and intelligent. It can be unnerving to talk to him because he's so adult like in his speech. Amy just dotes on him :)

Tomorrow I leave for a seven day highland and island tour. Through the wilderness! Today Amy and I went to Holyrood. Lovely palace, but Mary Queen of Scots rooms were closed for renovation :( No bloodstained floor to see! (A myth, I believe lol) Anyway... I'll try to update againsoon. But I cant get my pictures onto this computer :( It'll have to wait till I get back in July.

Grrr...

Someone broke into my car last night and stole my ipod.. :( The police officer who took the report said he confiscates stolen ipods all the time, but I doubt I'm getting it back. I'm almost more upset about the case than the ipod.. it was custom made and I got it for christmas.. sigh. It was out of sight too, and whoever stole it tore up my glove compartment as well. What really gets me is that this happened at like 10:30 last night! One of my brothers friends came to the door last night around then and said he saw an interior light on, but it wasnt so I didn't think anything of it...the thief had popped my door open (without tampering with the lock, and without my alarm going off..argh!) and when he left it wasnt shut all the way..but the interior lights go off after about 10 minutes anyway.. sigh.. No one saw anything though. Grrr! Its so aggravating.

From Freedom Fries to Roses of the Prophet Muhammad...

Can anyone really take this seriously? It was laughable here and it will be laughable there...

Juste une pensée...

«La politesse est un mélange de discrétion, de civilité, de complaisance et de circonspection, accompagné d'un air galant répandu sur tout ce qu'on dit, et ce qu'on fait. Et comme tant de choses sont essentiellement nécessaires pour avoir de la politesse, il ne faut pas s'étonner si elle est si rare. »

-Charles de SAINT-ÉVREMOND

Sometimes the only response is "Duh!"

I haven't made a "political" post in quite some time, and after I read an article today on Denmark's surprise at being the targets of Muslim retaliation in the Middle East, I feel compelled to air my two cents.

First of all, two caveats. My parents lived and worked in the Middle East for many years, and I myself have (unlike most Americans) a working knowledge of what Islam is all about. Two: I also have no tolerance for stupid people whether they're rednecks or Muslims. But I do not call entire groups stupid, only individuals.

So on with my gripe.

Europe is often a progressive place, or at least it likes to think of itself that way. And nowhere moreso than Denmark. Mecca (no pun intended) for charity, socialism and really nice people. The article I read today was basically expressing shock of seeing the Danish flag being burnt in Muslim countries. Sure they're used to seeing the American or Israeli flag burnt, but surely not the Danish flag. It goes on to say that:

[There are] tensions for Muslims in a country where the prevailing secularity, liberal sexual mores and affection for beer are deeply at odds with Islam.

Now people, I ask you this: WHY MOVE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. If a country is KNOWN for being free, for liking beer and displaying prostitutes in shop-windows....why go there? Is it, dare I saw, for a free ride? To get government aid and subsidies and an education and the RIGHT to say "You are repressing me." How is a country that is so liberal "Repressing" anybody? If there are cultural differences I'm sure it must be very difficult to deal with, but why Denmark?? Why not someplace nice and Catholic where prostitution is illegal (Spain? Take back Alhambra! Just kidding....).

I think that its ridiculous to expect a country that has been around for hundreds of years with its own culture, its own history and its own mores to have to change itself to be palatable to a few thousand in the minority. I mean, call me inflammatory! But that's just how I feel.

I think that as long as they are free, aren't being rounded up and harrassed, and have access to public services there should be no griping. Especially in a place like Denmark where everyone is so darned nice!

Isn't it also a little disturbing that people go so ape-shit over a cartoon? Man if Bush did that every time he was lampooned there wouldn't be anything left to burn....