Sad

I've been reminded today how many great song's Michael Jackson had, and what an important part they were in my life's soundtrack as a girl. It really is hard to pick a favorite but if I'm honest the one that I spent the most time listening to is fromf the Bad album - Dirty Diana.



I hope in the next life he can find a little peace. Pin It

Time

The time has finally arrived, in a few hours I'll head to the airport for the long journey home.  I love the feeling I get when I know I'm finally on my way home - the homecoming may be one of the reason I love to travel - you can't come home if you don't go away.

The trip home isn't easy:

• 2 hours or so at the Delhi airport - not my favorite place
• 15 1/2 hours on the plane from Delhi to Chicago
• a 5 hour lay-over in Chicago
• a 3 1/2 hour flight the rest of the way home

Add it up and that's 26 hours of travel and yet I get home about 12 hours later than I left - gotta love that time change.  The trip should give me plenty of time to read, listen to music and, hopefully catch up on a few movies (if there is anything decent playing on the plane.)

I've been listening to one of my favorite albums of the year today as I pack, Dido's "Safe Trip Home" it just seemed to be appropriate.  Here's a bit of one of my favorite songs - "Quiet Times:"

Pin It

Awkward

I wasted more time than I want to admit looking at Awkward Family Photos - but I couldn't stop laughing.

My favorite is a family the site calls the Bon Family - I think I might have gone to High School with this couple.


The name is obviously in honor of Bon Jovi, who thanks to an article I read today, I no longer need to be embarrassed to admit I love.

Pin It

Concerts

Thanks to Your Heart Out I got my hands on the line up for The Gallivan Center's 2009 Twilight Concert Series (it's in Salt Lake City for those of you outside of the great state of Utah.)

There are several acts I'd love to see - so this post is me searching for concert buddies.

I'll be in town and would love to see the following:

July 9 - Bon Iver & Jenny Lewis
July 23 - M. Ward & Land of Talk
July 30 - Sonic Youth & Awesome Color

A little something to tide you over til July.

Pin It

City

I loved the contradictions of the architecture in Dubai - some of the world's most beautiful modern architecture - including the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, and buildings such as my hotel built with a more traditional Arabic feel. I love seeing the two styles exist side by side.

Dubai is a city known for its shopping so it is no surprise they also have the world's largest shopping mall. I spent a day trying to see the entire mall and wasn't successful - but I sure enjoyed the attempt.


Best of all I enjoyed coming back to my hotel and relaxing in my beautiful room with the giant tub and heavenly bed.


Dubai probably isn't a city I would travel all the way from the US to see - but since I'm already over here it was well worth a weekends visit. I have a feeling I'll return again a time or two over the next 18 months - the shopping really was amazing.

Pin It

Walking

This weekend I finally finished a great book, "The Places in Between" by Rory Stewart. It was a recommendation from my friend K after I told her how much I loved "Three Cups of Tea."

It's the story of the author's quest to walk across Afghanistan in 2002. The book is beautifully written and gives the reader a view of a group of people and part of the world we rarely are able to see or understand.

I'll admit, I typically read fiction - mostly because I read as a way of escaping reality and a great thriller does it for me. But I do try and mix things up and add in a non-fiction book occasionally and for the past couple of years the non-fiction books have been about ordinary people taking on real life adventures where they are able, through determination and perseverance, to accomplish amazing things.

I'd love your recommendations to add to my reading list, so please comment if you've read something great lately you want to share.

I know it is a strange mix, but I love Patsy Cline and I found myself humming her classic, Walking After Midnight" as I read.

Pin It

Advice

Katie Couric spoke at Princeton's graduation recently (she was the first ever female speaker!) She took a minute to address the women in the audience and I love her advice so much I can't help but pass it on:

I'm sure you are all graduating with big career goals. You may also have a dream of being married and having a family, and at some point the career may take a backseat. There is no more challenging, rewarding or important job than being a mom. I just want to say this -- sometimes dreams of domestic bliss are interrupted by reality. People get divorced. People die. You need to protect yourself. I was very happily married to a wonderful man. He was diagnosed with colon cancer and nine months later, he was gone. I was a single mom with two very young children. This was not part of the plan. Luckily, I had a career and therefore the financial independence to support my children. Many women in my situation are not nearly as fortunate. And while I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, I want you all to be prepared for the unexpected and approach some of the big life decisions you'll be making with your eyes wide open.

Getting a good education and preparing for whatever may come your way is advice we need more often.

And because I first saw the quote on Entertainment Weekly's website where they used a headline with the phrase "single ladies" to introduce the story and now I can't get this song out of my head:



As a bonus you can practice your Portuguese as you watch/listen. Pin It