Apologies to the few that might actually check this blog on a regular basis. A former teacher of mine once said that artists are sexually frustrated. I will admit, I have neglected my journalistic duties in favor of a job search and social life.
The month of March has been momentous. Since mid-February, I have been in the process of making a very big and very difficult decision. A decision that required a change in paradigm, a commitment of faith and the courage to make my dreams reality- I decided to move to Cape Town (temporarily). I could rattle off a slew of reasons as to why this decision is the best for me at this point in my life, but let's not beat around the bush: I'm in love and I don't see an end.
Defying the laws of expiration dating was not something I had in mind when I disembarked for this trip abroad. I'll be honest, attaining a South African boyfriend was on my short list of "things to do." Not to mention an Afrikaans man would definitely earn bonus points. But I had ab.so.lute.ly no intention of anything developing into a serious, committed relationship.
I am well aware that this reality was and is one of my mother's worst fears. Her only daughter running off across the pond, falling in love, and paralleling the path of her older sister. Just like a classic novel reveals its ending in the first chapter so has Murphy's law made this fear into reality. Granted, I sympathize with my family and friends. How unfair it is to have someone you love and cherish (blush) start a new life to include a man you haven't met, in another hemisphere, and... and...
This is a choice I've made. It doesn't put anyone in harm, it offers me a new adventure in life and the opportunity to find happiness with another person. My "life partner" visa will last for three years, enough time for me to flesh out this relationship and determine my next step in life. But I'm really just in it for the world cup... (j/k)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Euphonicious: Assembly/Eskimo
I spent a weekend with E and his friend B from New Zealand. Everything was musically delicious. We started off Friday with sundowners at my house (what a joy it was to entertain again!!!) followed by a crazy night of live music and not so pretentious hipster-bar hopping (take that Gaines-vegas). Saturday would not be complete without some love food at the biscuit mill market as well as camping at a music festival. I <3 CT!!!
We are so fabulous, we ate at a sushi bar in the middle of the woods at music fest. GINGER!
My China Girl
These photos and more are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/Lauruhn/AssemblyEskimo02
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| From assembly/eskimo |
| From assembly/eskimo |
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| From assembly/eskimo |
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| From assembly/eskimo |
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| From assembly/eskimo |
We are so fabulous, we ate at a sushi bar in the middle of the woods at music fest. GINGER!
My China Girl
These photos and more are available at http://picasaweb.google.com/Lauruhn/AssemblyEskimo02
I swear I have a social life!!! (that includes my sister)
Breakfast with Leaza in Tokai
Braai Master E at his mother's birthday party (evidenced by the plethora of chicken satay)
Running into friends at the Old Biscuit Mill Market
"The Family" and my family at the market
Braai Master E at his mother's birthday party (evidenced by the plethora of chicken satay)
Running into friends at the Old Biscuit Mill Market
"The Family" and my family at the market
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Expiration Dating
It is not an uncommon phenomena among the jetset to engage in expiration dating i.e. To start a relationship that has a defined end date.* As an ED veteran, I can say the philosophy has served me well- settling with faults are never an issue when your calendar marks an end to madness. Additionally, breaking up can be amicable or an excuse for unforgivable hate-inducing behavior. Either way, both parties walk away with closure.
I am now in uncharted ED territory. In my current relationship there is no need for settling, he has no discernible faults, and enough serotonin to replicate MDMA brain scans. However, my plane ticket to Zurich on April 14 is glaring at us like a death sentence.
Ahh well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a long shelf life on this one.
*http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=expiration+dating
I am now in uncharted ED territory. In my current relationship there is no need for settling, he has no discernible faults, and enough serotonin to replicate MDMA brain scans. However, my plane ticket to Zurich on April 14 is glaring at us like a death sentence.
Ahh well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a long shelf life on this one.
*http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=expiration+dating
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Visual Ketchup
Amelie's School a half English half Afrikaans school.
Thumbprint security at her school
Amelie's First Day of School
Love those Eyes!!!
A day at the Waterfront
A thinner leg!!!
Totem Stettbacher!
Making friends
Music Appreciation
Encounter of a food kind.
Thumbprint security at her school
Amelie's First Day of School
Love those Eyes!!!
A day at the Waterfront
A thinner leg!!!
Totem Stettbacher!
Making friends
Music Appreciation
Encounter of a food kind.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Antidote to my Cabin Fever
Just when I was about to commit the final act of desperation i.e. posting an ad on Craigslist, I was invited out by a nearly random stranger.
God bless my neighbor who passed my number on to her friend's son, V last month. After two weeks of a silent phone, I gave up on the slight chance that a random guy would drive to the ends of the earth to take out some forlorn American.
But, he ended up coming through and I was most pleasantly surprised.
V picked me up for a night on the town with some mates. My first impression was extremely positive- his stereo played local hip hop in the vein of Spank Rock. It turns out his taste in music is keenly similar to mine, a rare and highly valued quality in my book. As my father says, "music is vibration- common interest is common vibration."
Not only was V a gentleman, his friends were quite the party. Comprised of designers, students, and hipsters, they lacked nothing in the spontaneity department. I didn't even have to be overly amicable to gain their favor.
A hot summer's night in Cape Town is sultry and balmy- a prescription for late night shenanigans such as drum circles, last call at psychedelic pizzerias and skinny dips with (near) strangers.
I can't tell you how happy I felt the next evening when I joined V and his crew for another jaunt. After sixth months sans Gainesville (more-so, anyone who identifies as the same brand of crazy), its so relieving to fall in with a great bunch. That night, a similar string of events ensued concluding with dancing at a lesbian bar in the pink district. Next weekend's activity: an overnight electronic music festival.
I think my fever has finally broke.
desperate times call for desperate measures
Its pretty well known that I am not a member of the church going community.
I went to church tonight.
And I have to say, the first 45 minutes were a bit awkward.
Raised Lutheran, the most conservative of Protestant faiths and schooled by Catholics, I am not accustomed to services led by 20-somethings with musical instruments. The band held the audience/congregation captive for the first half hour while prayers were sung and the tone was set for jiving with Jesus. I actually wondered if I stumbled onto the set of Saved as the crowd waved their hands up in the air and closed their eyes while the spirit of the Lord filled their aural pathways.
But the sermon was actually fantastic and made me reconsider my initial reactions. Perhaps there is more church in my future after all.
I went to church tonight.
And I have to say, the first 45 minutes were a bit awkward.
Raised Lutheran, the most conservative of Protestant faiths and schooled by Catholics, I am not accustomed to services led by 20-somethings with musical instruments. The band held the audience/congregation captive for the first half hour while prayers were sung and the tone was set for jiving with Jesus. I actually wondered if I stumbled onto the set of Saved as the crowd waved their hands up in the air and closed their eyes while the spirit of the Lord filled their aural pathways.
But the sermon was actually fantastic and made me reconsider my initial reactions. Perhaps there is more church in my future after all.
Scriing
Happily asleep, dreaming about the spa, cries of death enter the picture. My heart races. Amelie?! I jump out of bed to find the girl balling outside my door.
It's 2 am and I am so sure she has woken up the entire house if not the block that I close the windows.
Her scries (cry + scream) are due to a sore throat- trauma more intense than any other temper tantrum or missing daddy episode. I try consoling her, giving her a hug, etc. These things only amount to more tears and higher pitches.
By the time I've given up on sympathy there is no turning back for sleep.
20 minutes later her crying session has been replaced by her brother Laurent's. Great. a tag team.
30 minutes later she took over again. I assume he's feeding now.
-8 points
*I never, never wish sickness on any child. Its absolutely awful for them and even more for the parents.
It's 2 am and I am so sure she has woken up the entire house if not the block that I close the windows.
Her scries (cry + scream) are due to a sore throat- trauma more intense than any other temper tantrum or missing daddy episode. I try consoling her, giving her a hug, etc. These things only amount to more tears and higher pitches.
By the time I've given up on sympathy there is no turning back for sleep.
20 minutes later her crying session has been replaced by her brother Laurent's. Great. a tag team.
30 minutes later she took over again. I assume he's feeding now.
-8 points
*I never, never wish sickness on any child. Its absolutely awful for them and even more for the parents.
I'm the nun on the loveboat
Whenever I see a good looking guy, I'm reminded the toddler and infant accessories catapult me into a black hole of hotness.
I'm taking care to not appear like a mom. I've buried my favorite ring in my jewelry box so I won't give off the "engaged" signal. I'm so hungry for a once over that I make it a point to not have laurent over my shoulder when the pizza delivery boy (Butler's Pizza guys are always good looking and wear tuxedos) or our pool guy come to the door.
Everyone I know with the exception of the French surgeon downstairs, is in a relationship. I'm living in the geographic equivalent of the love boat!!!
I must resign myself to the fact that the probability of obtaining a South African lover is slim.
My brother-in-law mentioned that I no longer have my pick of strapping, young single men, but have moved into the divorcee set. shame.
I'm taking care to not appear like a mom. I've buried my favorite ring in my jewelry box so I won't give off the "engaged" signal. I'm so hungry for a once over that I make it a point to not have laurent over my shoulder when the pizza delivery boy (Butler's Pizza guys are always good looking and wear tuxedos) or our pool guy come to the door.
Everyone I know with the exception of the French surgeon downstairs, is in a relationship. I'm living in the geographic equivalent of the love boat!!!
I must resign myself to the fact that the probability of obtaining a South African lover is slim.
My brother-in-law mentioned that I no longer have my pick of strapping, young single men, but have moved into the divorcee set. shame.
Monday, January 21, 2008
knick knack
At my bohemian friends' party in a student borough, I realized I finally have the kiddie knack.
Two children, ages three and five were present. While the other 20-somethings interacted with the kids wearing expressions of confusion, apathy, or awe, I instinctually knew how to handle them and was not at all bothered by their demands.
Having envied the men and women who charm Amelie in two minutes, I have been waiting for this... knack... to develop for some time now. (It took two weeks for her to say my name and six weeks to achieve attachment.)
Procreation points: 5.25
As for Laurent...
he's getting bigger and smarter and fussier.
I must say God was smart to make babies so damn cute; otherwise the days of incessant crying would be enough to make me deny the existence of my reproductive system.
The crying I've endured this week is to the level that any minimization of hearing loss from not attending concerts or going to dance clubs is negated by the 64 decibel screaming baby attached to my shoulder for a good part of the day.
Procreation points: -3
Two children, ages three and five were present. While the other 20-somethings interacted with the kids wearing expressions of confusion, apathy, or awe, I instinctually knew how to handle them and was not at all bothered by their demands.
Having envied the men and women who charm Amelie in two minutes, I have been waiting for this... knack... to develop for some time now. (It took two weeks for her to say my name and six weeks to achieve attachment.)
Procreation points: 5.25
As for Laurent...
he's getting bigger and smarter and fussier.
I must say God was smart to make babies so damn cute; otherwise the days of incessant crying would be enough to make me deny the existence of my reproductive system.
The crying I've endured this week is to the level that any minimization of hearing loss from not attending concerts or going to dance clubs is negated by the 64 decibel screaming baby attached to my shoulder for a good part of the day.
Procreation points: -3
Sunday, January 20, 2008
To procreate or not procreate
A wise friend of mine said the best contraceptive is watching other people's children. Since then, I've been reminded by the cajoling of acquaintances if this experience will make me or break me as a potential mommy. Every day I find myself vacillating between the possibility of making a family and an all out moratorium on conception.
To numerically track my feelings I've devised a metric.
The system works as follows:
Negative Points
1-3: annoying but manageable
4-6: pulling my hair out
7-9: I'm considering women
10+: bring on menopause
Positive points
1-3: awww... how cute
4-6: Its my duty for the gene pool
7-9: the rewards outweigh the suffering
10+: I see a mini me in my future
To numerically track my feelings I've devised a metric.
The system works as follows:
Negative Points
1-3: annoying but manageable
4-6: pulling my hair out
7-9: I'm considering women
10+: bring on menopause
Positive points
1-3: awww... how cute
4-6: Its my duty for the gene pool
7-9: the rewards outweigh the suffering
10+: I see a mini me in my future
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