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....

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!

Horne Road, Singapore

Bedok South, Singapore

Ophir Road, Singapore

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!

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.

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.}

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!