Henry Rollins Strikes Again

Seriously love this guy. He's always got something beautiful/insightful to say.

Building a home?

I'm reading 'Art Deco' before it goes to first print and I came across this, which I hope to remember if I ever get around to building/renovating my own space:

“Demand that the bathroom, fully sunlit, be one of the largest rooms in the apartment, the old living room for example. With full-length windows, opening, if possible, onto a terrace for sunbathing, a porcelain washbasin, a bath-tub, showers, and gym equipment. In the adjacent room: a walk-in wardrobe for dressing and undressing. Do not undress in your bedroom. It is not very clean and it creates a distressing disorder. Demand one big room in place of all the living rooms. If you can, put the kitchen under the roof, to avoid odours. Demand a garage for cars, bicycles, and motorbikes from your owner, one per apartment. Ask for the servants’ quarters to be on the same floor. Do not pen your servants in under the roofs.” - Le Corbusier

Meanwhile, I just finished my first real book. The first one a six year old could have done, the second one big boss took over, and finally I got my own. The subject matter is erotic art in Berlin. Big boss kept checking on me because he thinks Americans are prude, but I think it went well. I hope he looks at it before he goes to France for two weeks so I can move on to the next step. If it's approved with few changes I'll get to do Amsterdam and Paris as well. I have to admit, however, I am a little weary and desensitised to looking at the business end of men and women and especially exaggerated orgies. All in a day's work.

Love!

What Happens When You Live Abroad

I don't know when I'm going to make it back to the States. Some days I'm not even sure I ever want to. The longer I'm gone, the smaller and further away it seems. I'm missing weddings, birthdays, babies - but none of it feels like enough to give this up.

If you're ever wondering what's really going though my head, check out this article and skim through some of the comments. I always thought all ex-pats had something at the core in common, this is just further proof.

Love.

Bronchitis and Freelancing

Bad news: Picked up bronchitis and have been out of commission since last Saturday. The doctor's ordered me not to go to work and everything. Pretty sure Big Boss is none too pleased with this, especially when he realises I've got firm plans to go to Thailand or Malaysia for a week in July... Time will tell. Also bad news, I'm going to have to sit out on this month's dOSe party - which is always so much fun. Sad times. Maybe we'll make it to Intercon Brunch this weekend, which would make up for all the other bad news.

Good news: Picked up a freelance editing gig for an American here who wrote a children's book. I'm having tons of fun working it in between naps, watching The Wire, and showering my fever away. It's my first proper freelance gig and she took my first quote with no negotiation (it would be unprofessional to further brag). I'm not going to make tons off of this project, but it'll give me extra cred and experience. And the character (a sixth grade smartie pants out to save the world from pollution) is a little riot. We could have been friends.

The writer is Jersey born and raised and moved to California when she was 25. She's been out here three years and is heading back for good at the end of the month. She's a free spirit and great to talk to, probably because we can relate to each other. I wish I'd met her sooner. If this book becomes anything, she plans to write more to the series, maybe she'll ask me to edit for her again. Michael said it would be funny if I was editing the next Harry Potter. Having read the Harry Potter series three times now, I highly doubt it, but that would be pretty amazing.

Love to all

Scrolling message across the screen

You know when you're watching television and a storm is coming from some far off place and a warning scrolls across the bottom of the screen? I find it very disconcerting that, that also happens here, but I have no idea what it's saying. "Lauren, come claim your 1,000,000,000 dong [which is about $47,000]! You have ten minutes or we give it to someone else." Oh, crap.

Russian Bar, I Feel Love

I know it's been ages and ages and I keep saying I'm going to update and I never do. But I will and I'll send a mass email out when that happens.

Until then get an inside view of nightlife here in Saigon - it's a video of the last night at the city's most popular after-hours bar. If you stick around until around 2:40 you'll catch a glimpse of Dan (the one in the cast, a story of which will be posted in my March backlog) and I.

Love to all <3 and a special shout out to Miss CMB for her birthday

Mama Said There'd Be Rain Like This

I tutor in the evenings after work 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I'm tired and don't feel like going and other times it's raining so badly (and I still have to go) that I feel the need to blog about it so here goes:

Emotions of Driving in a Saigon Rainstorm

Happy: I forgot to take my yoga clothes out of my bag, so I'll have something (albeit covered in yesterday's sweat) to change into. Also, there is 3/4 less traffic because why travel in the rain (on a motorbike, no less) when you don't have to? I realised there would be a lot less to contend with when driving through the street market - less motorbikes, less slow pedestrians, and wait.... NO BICYCLES AT ALL! (I've recently decided that I'm anti-bicyclists, at least here.)

Nostalgic: I was wearing this dress for my first major rainstorm in this city - it got soaked through that time, too. The children are running, laughing, and playing even though it seems as though the sky is falling.

Surprised: The mini floods are quite warm when they're splashed on your bare leg. (But definitely angry that I'm being splashed at all.)

Nervous: It's getting awfully windy out here... almost there, almost there!

Wistful: I wish I could go home and cuddle up with my book (The Beach), crank up the aircon, and wear sweatpants. (Yes, I know it all sounds counterproductive and is going to contribute to the ruining of the earth, but sometimes a girl just needs to cuddle up in sweats).

Proud: I was recently complimented on my driving skills and the rain appears to be making no difference in that department. I've also worked out all of the roads with the least flooding, so I'm not drowning up to my ankles.

Overjoyed: The bumpiest road with the most potholes in the existence of time has been paved! I'm no longer at risk of losing my front tire, or whole bike in one of them! Way to go Government; thanks for the awesome surprise!

Unamused: The rain. Has stopped. As I pull up to the gate where I tutor. Go figure.

Drama, guns, and Harry Potter ... oh my!

My English friend and colleague, Jenny, sent me this video TNT Knows Drama. I got a kick out of it ... until the end when the silly Europeans just stand there during the gun shots. Don't they know you're supposed to hit the ground or run off in a zigzagging motion (or is that only with bears?)?

Further, for all of you Harry Potter fans:
Lauren: I can't believe no one ducked or got nervous when there were gun shots. Is that showing my Americaness?
Jenny: I don't think us Europeans know how to act around guns.
Jenny: We probably think they're magic Harry Potter killing wands.
Lauren: I think an avada kedavra (which I spelled wrong by one letter! I'm both proud and ashamed) death would be worse than a gun death.
Jenny: Really? It's so quick and painless.
Lauren: But, if you had a wand, too, you could have deflected it.
Jenny: Nahhh it depends on your reactions, it's like a giant game of bop it.

Clearly, a lot of work is being done this afternoon. It's not even Friday. x

Inspiration

Rules to live by: 1. Don’t take anything personally 2. Don’t assume/judge 3. Stay true to your word 4. Always do your best

"Just let it be. You may as well; it is. Everything moves in and out at its own time. You have no control. You never did; you never will."

Don't ever give up on finding the love you deserve. And when you do, don't ever let anything or anyone come between it.

I've got to be true to myself cause I can't make you happy, unless I am-- Z.MARLEY

Thanks Miss Halley for always always sharing your positive messages and mantras.

Happy Easter and other things

Hi all, hope you had a wonderful Easter and Passover!

Nothing too exciting going on around here, just waiting for my shower heater to warm up after a very sweaty but incredible yoga session and before Ladies Night with the girls at Lush.

Wanted to note: Downward Facing Dog is a terrible terrible way to spend positioned for half an hour. However, few feelings are more rewarding (or make you feel as, excuse the lack of a less strong word, sexy) than a sweaty Warrior 2 pose at the end of an intense yoga session.

Here's an amazing cover by Florence that got me through hours and hours of looking at images of mosques, madrasahs, and minarets in Central Asia today: Florence and the Machine: Take Care (orig. Drake). After all of that, I think I need to go to Uzbekistan to see it for myself. Any takers?

In the meantime, there's a four day weekend at the end of the month. Aiming for southern Thailand, but considering popping over to Shanghai, Beijing, or Myanmar. Not sure if there's enough time to do those last three in four days. LoVe to all, x