Thank you for these (His series 1933-35 Quattro Staggioni):
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| Primavera |
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| Estate |
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| Autumno |
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| Inverno |
Look Ma! Two posts in one day!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
In Memoriam
Rest in Peace, Cy Twombly.
Thank you for these (His series 1933-35 Quattro Staggioni):
Thank you for these (His series 1933-35 Quattro Staggioni):
Back...For Real...I Swear
Mark and I have been back from Spain for about 2 months now and since I'm AWESOME at blogging, I'm just getting around to the recaps now. My favorite blogging motto remains: Better Late than Never.
Our Spain trip began in the beautiful city of Barcelona. In my first art history class, my sophomore year of college, I vividly remember studying modern architecture--specifically Gaudi. Upon learning that most of his work was in Barcelona, I vowed I would get there before I die. Spending 3 months in Ireland put me on the right side of the ocean...now I just needed to get to Spain. Since Mark wanted to do the Camino I knew getting to Spain would be easy. BUT, the lovely city of Barcelona is not on the Camino. Commence Operation Detour. With small amounts of coercion I was able to convince Mark to start our Spain journey in Barcelona--where we could then pick up a train to Pamplona and begin the walk. Let me tell you: This detour was and still is one of my best ideas to date.
Barcelona definitely makes my top 5 list for most beautiful, fun, interesting and exciting cities. Mark and I were able to cover a lot of ground in just 3 short days so a play-by-play would make for a LONG blog post. Here were the highlights...
Palau Musica Catalana
Casa Battlo and Sagrada Familia
Inside Sagrada Familia--Absolutely BEAUTIFUL
The other side of Sagrada Familia and the entrance to Park Guell
Park Guell (looks like something out of Dr. Seuss, right?!), Mark and I in the Park and the view from the top
Mark at Poble Espanyol, view from the front of the art museum, and a cool sculpture in Miro Foundation park
The Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Mark and I at the botanical gardens, and me at a restaurant in Plaza Real with my own wine cooler
The Marina and Columbus Monument at night
As you can see, it is a great and beautiful city and I would LOVE to go back in the future. Three days was definitely not enough! On our 4th morning in Barcelona, Mark and I woke up and went to the train station and took a nice train ride to Pamplona. And thus, our camino had begun!
The posts for the next few weeks will mostly be about our camino, our walk, from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela! Stay tuned!
Our Spain trip began in the beautiful city of Barcelona. In my first art history class, my sophomore year of college, I vividly remember studying modern architecture--specifically Gaudi. Upon learning that most of his work was in Barcelona, I vowed I would get there before I die. Spending 3 months in Ireland put me on the right side of the ocean...now I just needed to get to Spain. Since Mark wanted to do the Camino I knew getting to Spain would be easy. BUT, the lovely city of Barcelona is not on the Camino. Commence Operation Detour. With small amounts of coercion I was able to convince Mark to start our Spain journey in Barcelona--where we could then pick up a train to Pamplona and begin the walk. Let me tell you: This detour was and still is one of my best ideas to date.
Barcelona definitely makes my top 5 list for most beautiful, fun, interesting and exciting cities. Mark and I were able to cover a lot of ground in just 3 short days so a play-by-play would make for a LONG blog post. Here were the highlights...
Palau Musica Catalana
Roy Lichtenstein sculpture by the water (at the end of Moll de la Fusta), one of the many crazy awesome street "artists" on La Ramblas, and Pulpo Carpaccio!
Casa Battlo and Sagrada Familia
Inside Sagrada Familia--Absolutely BEAUTIFUL
The other side of Sagrada Familia and the entrance to Park Guell
Park Guell (looks like something out of Dr. Seuss, right?!), Mark and I in the Park and the view from the top
Mark at Poble Espanyol, view from the front of the art museum, and a cool sculpture in Miro Foundation park
The Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Mark and I at the botanical gardens, and me at a restaurant in Plaza Real with my own wine cooler
The Marina and Columbus Monument at night
As you can see, it is a great and beautiful city and I would LOVE to go back in the future. Three days was definitely not enough! On our 4th morning in Barcelona, Mark and I woke up and went to the train station and took a nice train ride to Pamplona. And thus, our camino had begun!
The posts for the next few weeks will mostly be about our camino, our walk, from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela! Stay tuned!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Hiatus OVER!
I think the best way to reintroduce myself to the blogosphere is to post THIS:
More posting (especially ones of substantial content) to come!
More posting (especially ones of substantial content) to come!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
T. Bell
This post will be about Taco Bell.
And there may be some of you out there that think this post will be about how disgusting it is, how their meat isn't even graded, etc. And if you are one of those people then you are seriously mistaken.
There is that old adage "To know me is to love me." In my own personal case, I believe it is:
"To know me is to know I love Taco Bell."
I am writing this post at this particular time because:
a) my cravings have gotten so bad that last night I looked up international locations of T.Bells. There are none.
b) I would kill a small child for a Crunchwrap Supreme
c) I had an enlightening (and disturbing) conversation with my BFF Apple last night. Here is an excerpt, prepare to be appalled (also, sorry for the large amount of profanity):
3:06 AM me: we'll all figure it out. i really need to get some sleep though. all i want is sweaty betty's right now and it's not helping me.
haha
3:07 AM Ashley: ahahahaha
oh bettys.
or buccis.
me: seriously. don't even say taco bell to me
Ashley: coffeeee connection
wahaha
me: i'll kill a small child
Ashley: i'd throw up a small child if i had taco bell
me: i said taco bell to mark on the way home and he said "CRUNCHWRAP SUPREME!!!" and i said "SHUT THE FUCK UP BEFORE I THROW YOU INTO TRAFFIC"
3:08 AM Ashley: that's forever love.
me: i was serious. that's how serious the cravings are getting
i will kill someone
3:09 AM Ashley: hhahah
me: i am making mark's parents drive us to the nearest taco bell come may 18
Ashley: you're going to start seeing taco bells in the distance when you're walking in spain.
like they do in the desert.
me: start?! shit girl, i see a bell and i think of that safe haven of deliciousness
3:10 AM churches are fucking mirages. mirages of taco bell
if the hunchback of notre dame were the hunchback of galway, he'd be in big fucking trouble
Ashley: wahahahahahaha
me: "ring that bell that aint my taco bell one more time mother fucker..."
3:11 AM that's for real.
Ashley: ooc
wahahaha
3:12 AM i think you're channeling charmin right now. and i love it.
3:13 AM me: i know. i'm dying.
dying for TBell.
i need to go to bed before i kill someone.
love you apple.
Ashley: oh babe.
3:14 AM love you lemon.
have a good sleep.
me: i shall try. dreaming of bean burriots
*burritos
Ashley: ps: my charger won't get here UNTIL wed.
:(
me: BLASPHEME! SPELLING BURRITO WRONG
There is more, but I will spare you. Just know that my love for Taco Bell is forever. It is endless. It is as true as it comes. One day we will meet again my dear friend and, until that day, I shall think of you and your bean burritos fondly.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Accomplishments
So as our time in Galway comes to an abrupt close (sure, we've been here 3 months, but it seems like we arrived yesterday!), I have been trying to fit in as much as possible. Thankfully, the weather here has been gorgeous so I've been spending a lot of time outside, soaking up the Galway sights. When I'm not doing that, I am rushing to finish all the library books I checked out, watch all that I need to by way of online television/movies, and savor my last bits of Irish culture.
Here is what I've accomplished:
1. Last night I finished The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.
Suggestion #1: Read this book.
Suggestion #2: Do NOT read this book right after reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close because you will wonder if Jonny Boy and Nicki (that's what they're called IRL, I swear) are co-conspirators of one of the greatest literary schemes ever successfully pulled off. What masterful scheme do I speak of? Well, it's the one where they write the same book, changed the titles and the characters' names and then convince two different publishers that they have a truly unique and groundbreaking work on their hands. Well done Jonny Boy and Nicki K. I'm impressed and simultaneously disappointed. I'm not the only one that noticed either (although this article's author says Krauss' work is better, whereas I believe they are equally as good for varying reasons). Whatever the case, let it be known: The wool is not over my eyes!
You should read them and see for yourself. But beware...the ending of Krauss' is shockingly devastating. (Don't say I didn't warn you.)
2. I would consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to all things pop culture. I can name all the Spice Girls (REAL names, too--none of that Baby Spice business). I can sing pretty much every lyric to any song playing on the radio, whether I like it or not. I have seen quite a few movies, cult and otherwise (what up Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo).
But I will even admit that there has been a major gaping hole in my pop culture knowledge, and that hole was Star Wars.
Yes, Star Wars (which I shall now embolden for no particular reason other than it's Star Wars). I had not, until recently, seen Episodes IV, V, or VI. I have always known that this was a MAJOR faux pas on my part, but I just thought I'd missed the boat and that was that.
Enter Mark. He loves Star Wars. He read the novels, still to this day watches his DVD of Ewok adventures more than once a week, and knows the difference between each edition of the films. To be his mate, I had to swim to that long gone boat, hop on (whether the rebel alliance liked it or not) and finally watch these films.
As I'm sure you can expect, I loved them. I don't know why I didn't watch them sooner. They have everything you need. Great character development, exciting action scenes, a plot that gives the audience just the right amount of information, etc.
If for no other reason, you should watch Star Wars so that this commercial, while already brilliant and wonderful, can be that much more amazing.
By the way, the following commercial is equally important, but didn't get shown at the Superbowl, so you may not have seen it.
FYI, posting these videos is Accomplishment #3.
Just because this post is getting extremely long, I won't go on with Accomplishments 4-100, but suffice it to say, they're quite accomplished. (And no, I'm not using my post's length as a way to get out of addressing the fact that #1-3 is all I've accomplished since the last post. God, blog reader, you are so cynical!)
And with that, I'm off to accomplish more.
 |
| Told you I've been spending time outside! Look how happy I look! WARM WEATHER YOU ARE MY HEAVEN. |
Here is what I've accomplished:
1. Last night I finished The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.
 |
| I hope Mark wasn't too disturbed by the cover. If you know him, you know why. |
Suggestion #1: Read this book.
Suggestion #2: Do NOT read this book right after reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close because you will wonder if Jonny Boy and Nicki (that's what they're called IRL, I swear) are co-conspirators of one of the greatest literary schemes ever successfully pulled off. What masterful scheme do I speak of? Well, it's the one where they write the same book, changed the titles and the characters' names and then convince two different publishers that they have a truly unique and groundbreaking work on their hands. Well done Jonny Boy and Nicki K. I'm impressed and simultaneously disappointed. I'm not the only one that noticed either (although this article's author says Krauss' work is better, whereas I believe they are equally as good for varying reasons). Whatever the case, let it be known: The wool is not over my eyes!
 |
| Google Image Search: Wool Over Eyes. This is what comes up. I guess Jonny and Nicki get the last laugh. |
You should read them and see for yourself. But beware...the ending of Krauss' is shockingly devastating. (Don't say I didn't warn you.)
2. I would consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to all things pop culture. I can name all the Spice Girls (REAL names, too--none of that Baby Spice business). I can sing pretty much every lyric to any song playing on the radio, whether I like it or not. I have seen quite a few movies, cult and otherwise (what up Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo).
 | ||
| Oh Ozone. How I love thee. And I pretty much wanted to be Kelly growing up. |
But I will even admit that there has been a major gaping hole in my pop culture knowledge, and that hole was Star Wars.
Yes, Star Wars (which I shall now embolden for no particular reason other than it's Star Wars). I had not, until recently, seen Episodes IV, V, or VI. I have always known that this was a MAJOR faux pas on my part, but I just thought I'd missed the boat and that was that.
Enter Mark. He loves Star Wars. He read the novels, still to this day watches his DVD of Ewok adventures more than once a week, and knows the difference between each edition of the films. To be his mate, I had to swim to that long gone boat, hop on (whether the rebel alliance liked it or not) and finally watch these films.
As I'm sure you can expect, I loved them. I don't know why I didn't watch them sooner. They have everything you need. Great character development, exciting action scenes, a plot that gives the audience just the right amount of information, etc.
If for no other reason, you should watch Star Wars so that this commercial, while already brilliant and wonderful, can be that much more amazing.
By the way, the following commercial is equally important, but didn't get shown at the Superbowl, so you may not have seen it.
FYI, posting these videos is Accomplishment #3.
Just because this post is getting extremely long, I won't go on with Accomplishments 4-100, but suffice it to say, they're quite accomplished. (And no, I'm not using my post's length as a way to get out of addressing the fact that #1-3 is all I've accomplished since the last post. God, blog reader, you are so cynical!)
And with that, I'm off to accomplish more.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Where in the World Is...
...Jess Hotness and Mark Jay?!
Well, in a week, Mark and I will be embarking on a 48 day journey from Ireland to Spain. Whilst in Spain, Mark and I will be visiting Barcelona (a city I have been dying to go to for a long while now) before embarking on the Camino de Santiago.
Some of my you may have heard of this familiar pilgrimage route before, but most of you probably have not. Mark has been wanting to do this "walk" (I put walk in "" because walk seems too leisurely a term) since before I knew him and since we met he has been talking about wanting to do this. I am no equally as excited and we cannot wait to take on this journey.
For the benefit of our family and friends, I figured it would be wise to provide a map of all our upcoming travels. At first, I thought about getting a map of Spain and--using some Paint-like program--drawing a line across the North end of it. Mark and I will be walking 701.6 km or 435. 95 miles, so that's a lot of mapping. BUT, since I'm anal-retentive, I powered through and created a detailed Google Map.
For those of you not interested in checking out my sweet Google map, I will inundate you with computer screenshots that Map our our journey. I am so technologically savvy. (Sorry for the blurriness though--my savvy-ness is apparently not savvy enough.) NOTE: You can click on all these images to get a much clearer and detailed representation of what we're up to.
Although we may seem crazy, Mark and I are truly excited about this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We will obviously miss Galway and Ireland when we bid her adieu in a week, but Spain offers an opportunity like none other.
 |
| If only we had red trench coats with matching wide-brimmed hats. |
Well, in a week, Mark and I will be embarking on a 48 day journey from Ireland to Spain. Whilst in Spain, Mark and I will be visiting Barcelona (a city I have been dying to go to for a long while now) before embarking on the Camino de Santiago.
Some of my you may have heard of this familiar pilgrimage route before, but most of you probably have not. Mark has been wanting to do this "walk" (I put walk in "" because walk seems too leisurely a term) since before I knew him and since we met he has been talking about wanting to do this. I am no equally as excited and we cannot wait to take on this journey.
For the benefit of our family and friends, I figured it would be wise to provide a map of all our upcoming travels. At first, I thought about getting a map of Spain and--using some Paint-like program--drawing a line across the North end of it. Mark and I will be walking 701.6 km or 435. 95 miles, so that's a lot of mapping. BUT, since I'm anal-retentive, I powered through and created a detailed Google Map.
For those of you not interested in checking out my sweet Google map, I will inundate you with computer screenshots that Map our our journey. I am so technologically savvy. (Sorry for the blurriness though--my savvy-ness is apparently not savvy enough.) NOTE: You can click on all these images to get a much clearer and detailed representation of what we're up to.
 |
| Full Journey--From Galway to Dublin to Barcelona to Pamplona and on to the Camino. |
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| First Leg of Camino de Santiago |
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| Second Leg of Camino |
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| Third Leg of Camino |
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| Last Leg of the Camino. |
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| The Whole of the Pilgrimage, as spread out as I could get it on the screen. This is was 436 miles looks like on Google Maps, in case you were ever wondering. |
Although we may seem crazy, Mark and I are truly excited about this once-in-a-lifetime experience. We will obviously miss Galway and Ireland when we bid her adieu in a week, but Spain offers an opportunity like none other.
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