Monday, January 31, 2011

Oh My Fickle Heart...

So earlier today, I waxed morose about the fact that I haven't been in a pool in a week. What!? That's a long time - pinky swear!
But then I saw this [!!!]


Head's up courtesy The Merits of the Scheme, via I'm Revolting.

I think I'm in love.... Yes. Skater tricks less the skater aesthetic. Bestill my SoCal, fashion conscious heart!

Hrumph...

Courtesy *We Live Young*

So I play water polo pretty much when and where ever I can... that means that I train at a local university (Technion!) and with my club team (Tivon!) and I'm also lucky enough to train with the Israeli National Women's Team.

All in one fell swoop, the fine folks at Technion went on mid-semester break and the National Team headed up to Europe for some games... and since my club team coach happens to also coach the National Team, I've been on water polo hiatus for exactly a week.

And I may be, correspondingly, a little grumpy. Excercise makes people happy.

People = aimee piper....

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Post It... Note.

The following images are excerpted from Things We Forget, a cool blog dedicated to the fate of post-it notes left in public spaces.

I think of them more as public service announcements, though.

I'm also incredibly glad that they have this little blog where you not only see their cool post-it designs up close and personal, but they show you where the post-it was, well... posted. In public. But so far that's only in Singapore.

The interwebs are incredibly public, though! So it's kind of like I'm there, in person, for the not-so-secret message. Also? It's like the creators (artists?) knew exactly what I needed to hear!

Oh! Side note before my notoriously child-sized attention span gets carried away... I went to the Israel National Museum in Jerusalem today. You guys!!! I saw the Dead Sea Scrolls!

In.Person! Okay... only part of them - but, you know... they're completely amazing! I hope to be able to share more soon - I finally finished my roll of film from last year. So I might have pictures soon-ish.

But I thought I'd toss it out there, in case something huge comes up and I forget. I saw the Dead Sea Scrolls!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Women Are Heroes...


TRAILER " WOMEN ARE HEROES"
Uploaded by JR. - Independent web videos.

I have seen trailers for this in French, and the message is so powerful that - even though I don't speak French - I was totally captivated and knew that I had to see this.

Thankfully, I've found an English language trailer to share with you all. I recommend that you look this movie up. ...and then spend some time with the heroes in your own life.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Try This at Home, Kids...


The contenders: Abi, Vahid, Mona, MaSovaida Y Yo.

The game: Mexican Train Dominoes.

The result: A night filled with strategery, shrimp & grits, fruit salad, scones, fun and laughter.

Fashion Faux Pas...

So my work environment is pretty formal... and we have an accordingly formal dress standard. Sometimes some of the young ladies I work with test the boundaries with this, however... particularly now that the rest of the world seems to think that leggings are pants [and that their kind of long boy-friend shirt is a dress.]


A friend recently gifted me with a lovely black dress that, on account of my not-inconsiderable height, falls about an inch or so above my knees. I've been layering it over a simple black turtle-neck sweater, black [fleece lined!] leggings, thick black knee-high socks and a pair of cognac colored boots (thanks, London!).


You guys... I shrunk it in the wash this week! Except I was running a little late because [my name is aimee piper] I made scones for some visiting consultants, and ran out the door with nary a look back. So here I am at work and notice that my dress barely hits my mid-thigh.

Crickets chirp.

I guess that leggings really ARE the new pants? {sigh.}

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Art of Friendship...

So I've recently become acquainted with artistic genius of Steve McCurry - and I'm particularly enamored of his musings on friendship. Below are two of my favorite photos from this post [online exhibit?] and the quotes he placed with them. Perfection.
We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed.
As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.
- Samuel Johnson -
Hold a true friend with both your hands.
- Nigerian Proverb -

I also love this quote from the Baha'i Writings concerning friendship:

Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path. - 'Abdu'l-Baha

Today I am feeling particularly thankful for the friends in my life. Cheers!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Second Star to the Left...

...and on 'til morning!

This is so amazing! I just saw this on WIRED, and the sports/tech fusion thing is really freaking cool! And just in case you don't click the link and read the article, this wave is somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-40 feet.

But seriously. Read the "how'd they DO that/techsplanation". It's worth it.

Mark Visser Rides JAWS at Night! from Fortrus Sports on Vimeo.

Also? Sorry my posts are leaning a little (okay, a lot...) towards "dude! this video is so rad! Check it out!" In future I'll try to be more articulate and less exclamation-point heavy. [!!!]

In the meantime, thanks for humoring my child-sized attention span?

E = Words to Live By...


Out of clutter, find simplicity.
From discord, find harmony.
In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

- Albert Einstein -

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Social Justice and Ecology...

Van Jones: The Economic Injustice of Plastic. Courtesy TED: Ideas Worth Sharing.

As you may remember, I've been giving considerable thought to this concept of what it means to "go green[er]". To try my best to eliminate unnecessary waste in my kitchen, for example, or to walk more, or to use public transportation....

But I had never considered the broader implications of my burgeoning sense of ecological responsibility. To think constructively about what disposable really means; and, more importantly, what it means to the planet and its inhabitants.

I feel like Mr. Jones is far more eloquent in this than I can be, particularly when we consider that to call my thoughts on this topic even 'half formed' would be a gross exaggeration. But do yourselves a favor. Watch the talk. It's worth it.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Holy Shhhhhh........!



Black*Eiffel (hey Rachel) always has the best finds for "music Monday"... but this Feist cover might be my favorite. So incredibly heavy! I love it!

This guy - James Blake - is the business. Get on that.

Ones and Twos...

Why is it well and past my optimum bed time? ...for several reasons, le sigh. BUT! It basically boils down to the fact that I've been exercising my inner-Timberland and playing around with my own "beat box band".
Yes... I feel incredibly bad-ass right now. But seriously. Try to create just one song. I triple dog dare you.
Courtesy Incredibox.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Worth A Thousand Words...

So I know that I said I'd be more conscious of living in the present tense, but I can't help but get excited for some long and short-term plans.


Image courtesy Little Brown Pen

Shhh... but I think I may have some more concrete ideas about what to do with my future self. It's still kind of secret, mostly because I'm nervous about thinking myself out of what could really make me really happy.

When I'm feeling braver, I'll put you in the loop.
Images, above and below, courtesy Oh Joy!
So I know that it's only January and totally not beach weather (not even here in comparably warm and sunny Haifa, Israel), but I've done some research into my little holiday situation. Friends, it's time to start planning. By my calculations, I have nearly 3 weeks of vacation to take!

I'm thinking to stay much closer to home than my last trip home to see the family in California. So far I've got my eye on Croatia, Brussels, Greece and Italy. I'm also tempted to just block out the time and go where the cheapest flights are going that very day!

What?! I can be spontaneous! *wink*

Particularly if I find a way to get my hot little hands on the lovely orangeness above and perfect bathing suits below.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

One, Two, Three...


Rachel of Black*Eiffel totally and pleasantly surprised me this week by going global with her "Music Monday" find. Meet the lovely Tammy Federman.

I'm not entirely sure about what the lyrics mean - my Hebrew is pretty limited to a water polo/public transportation vocabulary - but I'm getting there! It's actually really exciting for me to hear this and understand some of what she says.

If I figure it out, I'll keep you posted.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Preparing for the Future....


Soundtrack to my current situation here. I love when life throws a change-up.

If Money Grew on Trees....

Courtesy my brother's FB wall.

...I would totally go. Alas, Coachella, while only a 2 hour drive from my hometown, is on the other side of the planet from my current location.

[Crosses fingers.] Maybe there will soon be a EXME...

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

On Balance...

Head's up courtesy Melody Ehsani. This is really interesting. I (so far) don't have any ideas on how to acheive this balance. Well, certainly not any fresh ideas. But it certainly makes me think...!

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Imagination... On Construction

Head's up on this lovely little short courtesy Honestly...WTF. ...which is a consortium of rad. Trust me.

So when I was a kid I loved building things - Lincoln Logs, pillow forts, but especially legos. They were so amazing; I'll even go so far as to call construction materials the perfect toy. They are as interesting as you can make them, and only as boring as you'll let them be.

This video is like the homage I wish I'd thought of first!

Man... now I wish I had a set of legos to play with!

Whimsical...

Illustration courtesy Miss Capricho
...support the artist!

For my birthday in 2006, I wanted to have a masquerade party. Like something out of 17th century Venice. And that's what it looked like in my imagination. Of course in reality I got pneumonia only 6 weeks before my birthday and had barely recovered in time for my party. Maybe someday I'll host a do-over and wear this beautiful and colorful number.

Maybe it'll even transcend the pages of my imagination, this time. Who's in?!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

On Preferred Methods of Transportation...


So I know that I've resolved (out loud and in public!) to live in the present... but my preparing to have a long distance relationship with Israel is kind of a big deal. As is planning where to go next.

I'm investigating a few communities at the moment, and a commitment to efficient public transportation is high on my list of "yes please" criterion. Suggestions are, as usual, welcome.

A Day in His Life...


So you probably know that I have a giant soft spot in my heart for Scott Schumann, aka, The Sartorialist. I love how he has literally transformed a his passion into an art.

And if you ever play a friendly game of 'celebrity' with me... know that it's official.

I'm looking at you, DC.

Word of the Day...

So I love words - my dictionary is one of my favorite books... and I get a "word of the day" every day sent to my inbox. **Keep learning, kids. It's good for you.** Today's word is particularly curious. In fact, I'd never heard of it before.
Ahem: [Courtesy dictionary.com]

sockdolager
\sok-DOL-uh-jer\, noun:
1. A decisive reply, argument.
2. Something unusually large, heavy, etc.
3. A heavy, finishing blow.

Sockdolager is an odd American combination from the 1830s. Its probable components are sock, as in "striking a blow," and doxology, "a fervent hymn to god." Sockdolager is also possibly the last word Abraham Lincoln heard before he was assassinated.

The good people at dictionary(dot)com provide the following example from literature:
"WHACK! - bum! bum! bumble-umble-um-bum-bum-bum-bum - and the thunder would go rumbling and grumbling away, and quit - and then RIP comes another flash and another sockdolager."
-- Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

...but all I can think is "Homey Don't Play That".

Monday, January 3, 2011

Twenty Eleven...


Or, on resolutions....

This year I want to make a concerted effort to live in the present tense. I'll likely still consult the past and hope for the future, but I'd like to not get carried away... spinning fantasy worlds in my head.

This year I want to live a regret free life. What I mean by this is that I hope to live my life in such a way that is praiseworthy and dignified. And should something regretable happen - as I'm sure it will - then let me see it as a lesson; as a teachable moment. And then learn, grow, and transcend.

This year I want to be happy. I find that I'm generally a happy person. I would like to (ahem) 'keep up the good work'.

This year I want to be a better listener. ...not just silently think of what I should say when it is my turn to speak.

I hope that you all have a nice year, as well.
 
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