Last night John Maeda saved my day… (with a conference)

I just wish I could’ve shared this experience with someone who also was interested in him and his work.

The “waiting” music in the room was just sooooo anguising (I mean, it probably is nice when you’re in a better mood).

Anyway, I had never heard John Maeda talk, and he’s great. Very motivating. Even entertaining. Humour wins me over, it never fails.

He spoke about his work and then focused on his current work on “Simplicity” and the 10 laws of simplicity. There’s a lot of delicious things to read on his blog. (His explanation & selection of his 10 laws slightly differ from the original thoughts on the blog, FYI)

And I have to admit that now that I’ve been to Japan and that I’ve started to figure out some of the Japanese culture (just the surface, there’s still so much to discover!), some examples were really precious to me.

I’m pretty sure I’ll be writing again about him.

Nouw I just would like to run around the office and let people know about what I heard last night, but sadly I believe people would just stare at me or kindly smile “until I’m done”. WHATEVER.

Of course, you can say it backwards, which is dociousaliexpilisticfragicalirupus, but that's going a bit too far, don't you think? (Mary Poppins)

I have never paid attention to that Ben Folds Five song on of my CDs until a few days ago. The song is called "don't change your plans". It's nice.

"(...) all i know is i've gotta be
where my heart says i oughta be
it often makes no sense
in fact,i never understand these things i feel

don't change your plans for me
i won't move to LA
the leaves are falling back east
that's where i'm gonna stay

you have made me smile again
in fact, i might be sore from it (...)"

Well besides that it now seems really really almost super sure that I'll be going to Shanghai (on holiday) this year for one week. Looking forward to my daily steamed dumplings.

Today...

...I ate spaghettis with chopsticks!

I need a massage. And Love. And more sleep. Or more Diet Coke Lime.

"Where is Waldo?" or "quiet shopping in Shibuya (Tokyo)"

In just 3 steps...

Arnall's worst day "formula" is ([W + (D-d)] x TQ) ÷ (M x NA)

My friend JC had mentioned this "worst day" theory to me, here's more.

Pertinence. Conspicuous. Ooooh words.

I'm now struggling with "myself" to decide if I should erase the previous post or not. What the hell am I trying to say. And why put this on my blog anyway?
Whatever.
I'll erase it later, if I'm still questioning the pertinence of the post.

Not that there are a gazillion people holding their breath for my posts.
Hee hee hee. (^^;)

"I don't care if she was abducted by leprechauns and whacked over the head with their shillelagh sticks!" (Ya-Ya Sisterhood)

My mom told me a little while ago that I've always been an idealist, even when I was very young. I would never accept things as they are.

An idealist is, if I check the definition, "one whose conduct is influenced by ideals that often conflict with practical considerations."
She says I have trouble accepting the reality.
Which is true.

On the subject of people/friends/coworkers/anyone I interact with, for example, I tend to have hope that the people are better than what they are. Sometimes, I'm right, and it's nice. Sometimes I'm wrong, but I keep thinking I'm right, and give the benefit of the doubt. I even remember a friend of mine insisting, showing me how one "friend" had just been more negative than positive for me (during some years), and that I had stuck along still, thinking things would just get better.
And then, finally, at one point, not always, I realize I was wrong. Nope, not all people are .... (fill in the blank with what your ideal is: perhaps generous, nice, thinks also of others, blah blah blah). And it's just so painful to be disapointed. Basically let's say it's really hard for me to admit defeat.
I don't think I'm being naive (I do have experience and critical judgement), I do have an idea of what's going on, it's just that I don't want to give up hope to quickly. I have my ideals. And, while it might make me sick to my stomach sometimes, or make me feel borderline silly, I'm not sure I want to change too much. I'm idealistic. It should pay off sometime, with some people, no? (There I go again hahaha)

My mom saw this ages ago. I've only realized this rather recently.

Moms are so powerful.

Musi. Musi.

Kind of good quote from a really bad movie

Jane Aubrey: What if my face was all scraped off and I was totally disfigured and had no arms and legs and I was completely paralyzed. Would you still love me?
Billy Chapel: No. ...But we could still be friends!

"No matter what the grief, its weight, we are obliged to carry it." (D. Laux)

I'm just so sad.
Some things are just "not fair".

America, wunderbach!

So yes I was in Florida for one whole week of holidays and it was lovely... Lovely weather and I had time to see my family, my godson (who is also the best looking little baby boy I've ever seen OF COURSE until I have a little boy myself one day), time to realx and read...

The soundtrack, well, actually the song that will be associated to these holidays is "One Night in Rio" (by Louie Austin?) thanks to my lovely Sqbiner cousins who are now living in Las Vegas (with the aformentionned lovely baby). We listened to that song while driving to Orlando to Disney World's MGM Studios, and it was just great.

I also read a few books during the holidays, some a bit silly like the latest Sophie Kinsella (which I really liked - perfect read for a long airplane ride), but also the Shanghai Lonely Planet in anticipation of a trip in a few month I do hope.
The inspirational read came froma gift from my cousin. It's a book of peotry called "Risking Everything (110 Poems of Love and Revelation)" and I'm really enjoying it. Makes me want to read more poetry.
And the I bought the book that is "inspired" by the PostSecret Blog. It's interesting, yet rarely cheerful.
More cheerful was the Dave Barry book I found at the used bookstore opposite the road of the Winn Dixie in Pinellas, was it? Anyway, it's "Dave Barry Does Japan" and it's one of the Dave Barry books I had never read, even though it's quite old, because I wasn't sure I'd like it so much not knowing much about Japan. But nooooooow with my little Japanese experience, I just had a lot of fun reading it. I mean it's the typical reactions you can have when discovering life in Japan, but it's nicely and funnily written.

Photos and more details on the trip itself to come...

Quote du jour (you should read it and think about it. Yes, you.)

(Suggested by Isabelle... Thanks!)

"Si une chose est vraie, elle est vraie. Elle ne devient pas le contraire de ce qu'elle a été sans raison apparente."

Rough translation in English:
"If something is true, it is true. It does not become the opposite of what it has been for no apparent reason."

This is from the play "Jean et Béatrice" by Carole Fréchette (and you know what, she's Canadian!)

Let's all congratulate us with another cup of tea... A very merry unbirthday to me!

Hey yesterday was my half year birthday, I turned exactly 28,5 years old!!!

(well actually, technically my half year birthday is on Feb 29, but that only appears every 4 years, argh)

Makes me think of the Disney "unbirthday song". Must also be because of my recent visit at DisneyWorld in Florida (more EXCITING, perhaps even BREATHTAKING details to come in the next few days - woohoo!).