kindle fire

There are so many things that I want to write about that have been happening in recent weeks. I have this little list of topics waiting to be put to use. The problem is that my parents bought me a Kindle for my birthday in December. I have not been able to put it down. I love to read and being here in France, it's been very difficult to find books in English. Well, actually it's been impossible. The only books I can find are the super cliché ones we have all already read. Thus, I haven't been reading and have really missed it.


I had just been saying to my mom when she picked me up from the airport that some sort of tablet would be a really good solution for me. Little did I know, they had already purchased me one which was waiting at home to be opened. 


My Kindle Fire is so amazing. I am able to take it with me everywhere. It lights up so I can read it while in bed without needing a light. It has WiFi so I can look up recipes and with its vibrant colors I can enjoy the amazing images along with them. It is small and easy to sit right in my kitchen as I cook (I was previously lugging my MacBook around the kitchen with me). The battery lasts for a long time, too.


I have just finished reading two Nicholas Sparks books - Safe Haven and Best of Me. Before that I read Sarah's Key which was AMAZING and very moving story about the round-up of Jews in France *done by the French) during WWII. It is something that French people never talk about and also something that many of us don't even know about. I have been simultaneously reading What French Women Know which is a comparison of the lifestyles of French women and American women. 


I look forward to reading many more books and will soon download apps such as The New York Times.


This is such an amazing gift for someone being far from the world of English books. You have to purchase the books through Amazon which is why the Kindle Fire is so reasonably priced compared to an iPad. However, all of the books, magazines, music, and movies are super affordable as compared to buying paperbacks or hardcovers. Also, for someone constantly moving, lugging books around gets tiring and keeping them all together in one little device is genius. 


Well, I'm off, but I'll try to keep in better touch!


P.S. Saw J. Edgar Hoover at a theatre last weekend and it was really good. We love, love, love watching movies and I should get around to compiling a little list of some of the ones we recommend. Ta Ta for now!


What I'm listening to right now as I cook lunch:

-- can you ever go wrong with these Brits?

All you need is love.

Today is the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's death. It is no secret to my friends and family that I love The Beatles... and John Lennon is my favorite. I love his songs about love and his feelings about peace. I love that he was willing to have a voice and stand up for what he knew was right. John Lennon was a peacemaker, a lover, an artist, a friend, a father, and a spiritual person. Today, I salute you, Mr. Lennon.


And, it has me thinking about one of my favorite John Lennon songs - all you need is love.

This past year, I had the pleasure of meeting someone that I love and respect. It's not until you find someone that you truly love when you can listen to these song lyrics and really know what these artists were thinking and feeling. I truly believe it to be true... all you need is love. Finding someone that you love, that believes in you, that stands by your side through it all, someone you can laugh and cry with, someone you can confide in, someone that listens to you, someone that you want to listen to (the sexy accent is an added bonus), someone that motivates you, someone that you'll never get tired of looking at, someone that you don't mind being next to for hours on end even when you're doing nothing at all... someone that has you truly convinced that the sun shines out his ass... well, that is really rare. How did I get so lucky?

When I look back on flings I had in high school and college and boys I spent nights crying over, I wonder, what for? I have wasted too much time in my life sweating the small stuff and crying over spilled milk... I don't want to waste another moment. I realized recently that there is no reason to ever go to bed angry or sad. That's how I want to live the rest of my life. I want my love to be by my side. I want to smile every morning. I want to smile every night. And, I want my love to do the same. I want to be a better me so that I can be better to the people that love me.

"We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it." - John Lennon