Sing Along Sunday: So Long Summer, Salut September

Hola mes amigos! It's been quite some time since I posted on here. I did like the French do and took a good month long break from blogging and signing into the social media giant, Facebook. Instead, I relished the summer days, took out a ton of books from the library, performed for the fifth time with my belly dance studio, Sahara Dance, drove four hours each way to the beach every weekend, and thanked the ocean for her ability to remind me that I am one little baby star in this big, confusing, ever-expanding Universe.

Not signing into Facebook was refreshing; the time way helped me reassess how I was spending my time previously. I expected the site to have a completely new look when I logged back in on September 1st, but nothing seemed all that different. Sure, I had a ton of notifications, tags, messages, and the like, but I can honestly say I didn't feel lost without it. Logging in once, or multiple times a day/week, changes nothing about my life perspective, confidence, or friendships. The people who wanted to stay in touch with me during my break did. I had a lot of support behind my decision to go off the radar and appreciate those who were so willing to cooperate with my missing digital self.

Ultimately what made my summer especially memorable was the amount of live music I experienced. I spent a lot of my evenings and weekends soaking up talent, old and new, with friends, family, and my good old self. As a result, this playlist explores artists who I was fortunate to see, who I will be seeing within the next few months, or who have recent released albums/have upcoming albums out this fall.

Jamie Cullum

Banks

C.J. Chenier and band warming up

XPoNential Festival 2014

Philly skyline from XPoNential Festival

Spoon

As a friendly reminder, in order to listen along with the song descriptions below, be sure to click on this link. You can also follow me on Spotify by clicking here. You will need a Spotify account in order to access the majority of the songs listed in the So Long Summer, Salut September playlist.

Amusez-vous! 

1. "Feels Like Fire" by Ryan Adams: Ryan was the Saturday night headliner for the XPoNential Festival this summer. His CDs soothed my soul while driving to and from the beach during my teenage years. The venue was a bit too large for his style of music in my humble opinion, but he rocked on stage nonetheless.
   
2. "Mess Is Mine" by Vance Joy: You may remember this Australian artist from my April playlist. His full length album finally came out, and it is brilliant. I hope to see him in October when he comes to town.
3. "Rabid Animal" by Lake Street Dive: Holy cow, this band is amazing. From the moment they stepped onto the stage at the XPoNential Festival, I could not stop grooving along to their music. That voice, the bassist's dance moves, the drummer's shout out to being home in Philly: their performance was, hands down, one of the top three during that three-day festival.
   
4. "Habits (Stay High)" by Tove Lo: I first heard the Hippie Sabotage remix version of this song way back in the winter. While the song isn't new, I couldn't stop hitting repeat on the original version this summer. The lyrics are raw, depressing even, but so truthful.
   
5. "Lost On The Way Home" by Chromeo, featuring Solange: While everyone was speculating about what went down in the elevator this summer, I was grooving to Solange. Little sister Knowles has got talent.
6. "Tough Love" by Jessie Ware: Jessie played at the nearby Fillmore last Halloween and I still regret not buying tickets to that show. While I'm currently obsessing over "Say You Love Me," I also love the lyrics and '80s vibe of this single off of her upcoming album.
7. "Lyin King" by Jhene Aiko: I've highlighted this West Coast R&B singer before in a previous playlist, but I can't get enough of her, plain and simple. Her lyrics are so well written and, more often than not, discuss her troubles finding a respectful man worth her time and heart. "Lyin King" is one of my favorite tracks off of her full-length album, which was just released last week.
8. "Next Time (Won't Give My Heart Away" by Keyshia Cole: I'm so happy Keyshia is back on the R&B scene. Her latest album will be out this fall. While she's already previewed three singles off of the new album, this one reminds me the most of her past work.
9. "Forever Don't Last" by Jazmine Sullivan: This song isn't on Spotify yet, but you can listen here on SoundCloud. If the first ten seconds don't have you catching your breath, I'm not sure what you think real music is these days.
10. "Made to Love" by John Legend: I've always loved John Legend's music, but I wish the radio would stop overplaying, "All of Me." This song deserves so much more play time. Plus, there's a magnificent crescendo: swoon.
11. "Rompe La Cintura" by Alexis & Fido: Okay, okay, this song is nowhere near new, but I've heard it so many times while out dancing earlier this summer that I had to add it to the list.
    
12. "Bailando" by Enrique Iglesias & Descemer Bueno: While this has certainly been overplayed on the local Spanish radio station, I find it super catchy. Plus, they sing slow enough that I can pretend I know what I'm saying in Spanish when I sing along.
    
13. "Omr Gedid" by Elissa: While I'm not a fan of the design of her latest CD, I am super excited about her new music. This is one of the better upbeat songs, although I also love the lyrics and sound of "Ana Nefssi."
14. "ave cesaria" by Stromae: I see him in less than a week and I could not be more excited. Every song off of his latest CD is parfaite.
15. "Forgive & Forget" by The Kooks: The switch thirty seconds into this song reminds me of Franz Ferdinand's original sound. I'm excited to hear the rest of their new album this fall. This song gets me on my feet and clapping in no time. Care to join me?
16. "Turn It Around" by Lucius: Unfortunately, I missed their time on stage at the XPoNential Festival, but my brother and sister had nothing but praise for this band.
17. "Look Out Mama" by "Hurray For The Riff Raff: I did, however, get to the stage just in time to see this New Orleans-based band do their thing. What a wonderful way to start my day of live music! I couldn't keep my eyes off of the fiddle.
18. "Au Contraire, Mon Frere" by C.J. Chenier: These guys know how to put on a show. (They started playing a full song during sound check when another artist was still on the other stage). While they didn't play this tune live, their washboard player did perform all sorts of splits and acrobatic movements while strumming along. I'm pretty sure I embarrassed my little brother with my dance moves...but zydeco music is meant for dancing.
19. "Head On [Hold On To Your Heart]" by Man Man: These guys are crazy! With fur coats on in the July heat, they had their hometown audience grooving to their ways. I love the lyrics to this song, although their more bizarre music truly portrays the essence of their group, Man Man.
    
20. "1998" by Chet Faker: The lyrics to this song are so applicable to today's dating world. If you have a chance to see this Aussie live, do it.
    
21. "Stolen Dance" by Milky Chance: First, it was the beat; next, it was the voice that caught my attention; but then, oh, but then, you listen closely to the lyrics and your mind is blown away.
22. "Time Machine" by Ingrid Michaelson: I haven't really been listening to Ingrid since late high school, but she was one of the better live performers at XPoNential Festival. She had the whole audience laughing with her stories and did a wonderful cover of Magic's "Rude."
    
23. "Little Numbers" by BOY: I think this was one of the most played songs in my car this summer.
24. "When I Get Famous" by Jamie Cullum: I'm still in shock that I was not only able to finally see this genius live, but that I was mere feet away from him. I cannot stress enough how amazing his live show was.
25. "Prendre Le Jour" by Melanie Pain: I've got to include another French song in here somewhere. This particular song was played a ton during summer thunderstorms and midday daydreams. I find it absolutely breathtaking and hope she comes around here one day.
26. "Under The Table" by Banks: While most people are just starting to recognize this talented gal, I've got to brag and tell you that I had the pleasure of seeing her live earlier this year before she started making appearances on national television. She seemed super nervous when she first came out onto the stage, but the nerves quickly disappeared when the whole audience starting singing along with her. While Banks is making a name for herself with her more electronic-based music, this song allows her voice to truly shine on its own.
27. "I Forget Where We Were" by Ben Howard: This man has gotten me through so many challenges over the past four or so years. I cannot contain my excitement to hear his new full-length album this fall. I hope he adds more US dates so I can see him live again. While I search for more praise to write, someone with this much musical talent doesn't really need any sort of description or explanation. Just listen.
    
28. "Outlier" by Spoon: Hallelujah, hallelujah, after thirteen years of being a Spoon fan, I finally got to see them live two weeks ago. They were, of course, marvelous. Two encores, over two hours of music, and beautiful on-stage lighting made this an amazing live show. This is my favorite song off of their most recent album.
29. "So Long, See You Tomorrow" by Bicycle Bombay Club: I'm in love with this song, this band, and their creative music videos.

There you have it, dear readers! Have any musical suggestions for me? Send me a message or comment below. Enjoy your week!

Bisous,

La petite pamplemousse

Sing Along Sunday: Just Be in July

Happy Sunday, readers!

Can you believe that tomorrow marks a full month into summer? July has brought many beautiful summer thunderstorms, resulting in a healthy patio garden for me! The grape tomatoes have been delicious so far. I love my little personal oasis right in the middle of the city. There's nothing more satisfying than watching the sunset surrounded by flowers, vegetables, and herbs you nurtured since late May.

Being able to sit back and physically look at what you've accomplished is a great way to calm down, especially after getting bad news. After waiting two years for a decision, I've finally got the verdict for my court case against my old employer in France (J'expliquerai plus en français un autre jour!). That very same day, I saw over half of my company laid off as a result of a recent merger. Emotions ran high that week. As a result, this month's playlist consists of old time favorites from past difficult chapters in my life as well as recent discoveries, including a few favorite, new dance songs. As I'm finally able to lock the door to the last chapter in my life, I continue to readjust my posture moving ahead: head up, heart open, and hair long.

To listen along with the song descriptions below, be sure to click on this link. You can also follow me on Spotify by clicking here. As a friendly reminder, you need a Spotify account in order to access my monthly playlists. I've included both the artists and song titles below, so if you're not keen on the idea of signing up for another music platform, you can always search and listen to these songs elsewhere.

Enjoy!

1. "I Couldn't Care Less" by Leslie Clio: Sometimes I have a really hard time discovering new music through Spotify's Discover tab, and other times, well, I find gems like this lady. I found a German playlist and was surprised to find this voice among all the rock and punk songs. 
2. "Worried About" by Lissie: While I first fell in love with this song after a break-up with an  ex-boyfriend, I now listen to it with a much different application. While only three years later (not four), I no longer have to worry about how my story with France and their judiciary system will finish.
3. "Just One Day" by Mighty Oaks: This is a refreshingly positive song that reminds you how much you're capable of in one day. The best part occurs at the 50 second mark. 
4. "Talk Show Host" by Radiohead: While Romeo & Juliet is not my favorite William Shakespeare play, the 1996 movie adaptation with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes is one of my all-time favorite movies. The application of the prose to modern sets, clothing, and culture proves that such a story continues and will always continue to be someone's true life no matter the year or city. The scene that this song plays in is breathtaking: a before the storm moment, where Romeo looks out at the beach, pondering life. They always say you never see love coming.
5. "East of the River Nile" by Augustus Pablo: A lovely song to play at the beach or while relaxing on a boat. How have I never heard of this Jamaican legend before?
6. "Take Me to Church" by Hozier: Holy mole, this song is powerful. I highly suggest watching the music video to get the full effect of Hozier's words. Listening to the song already gives me goosebumps every time, but the story shown in the video made me cry. 
7. "Coffee" by Sylvan Esso: Coincidentally, I heard this song playing on Spotify when I came back from getting a second cup of coffee at work. Apparently, I forgot to hit pause on the radio station I was listening to when I got up.
8. "Gooey" by Glass Animals: This song is so smooth. Hailing from Oxford, this group just put out their first full length album in early June. They're definitely on my "to watch out for" list!
9. "Female Robbery" by The Neighbourhood: The perfect song for when the wind starts howling warnings of a coming thunderstorm. The Neighbourhood show a dark, stormy side with these lyrics.
10. "Map Of The Problematique" by Muse: My obsession with Muse began towards the end of high school. Much to my dismay, their more recent albums have turned them more towards pop rock. (You can't head bang quite the same to "Madness" as you can to "Hysteria").  This will always be one of my favorites, not only for the beautifully written lyrics ("I can't get it right since I met you", "Why can't we see, That when we bleed we bleed the same"), but also because of the slow, progressive crescendo.
11. "Closer" by Kings of Leon: I wrote one of my favorite short stories in college while listening to this song on repeat. The story is as twisted as the song sounds.
12. "R U Mine?" by Arctic Monkeys: I love the band's latest CD, AM. While I thought I understood the entire song for once, I had to yet again look up the lyrics. 
13. "One Day I'll Be Rich" by Current Swell: As they sing, "Be careful what it is for which you dream." A lovely, honest song perfect for summer and traveling by bus or train.
14. "Doninké" by Knadia Kouyate: Now, away from the rock and onto African music! I came across this song after listening to Tinariwen. Knadia's voice blew me away.
15. "Watina (I Called Out)" by Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective: Andy came from Barranco, Belize, a city where the Garifuna language and its traditions still exist. The Garifuna culture stems from the mixture of two cultures: the Carib indigenous tribe and West Africans (who were were on their way to slavery when their ship sank by St. Vincent Island). Unfortunately, Andy pased away in 2008. I hope his legacy to preserve this culture continues to live on; the scenes in his music video intrigue me to learn more about them.
16. "Karibou Ya Bintou" by Baloji: My sister wrote her senior thesis on this Congolese musician. Naturally, I became interested in his work after listening to her explain her findings. For the music video with accompanying English subtitles, click here.
17. "Rude" by Magic!: The lyrics don't make all that much sense (Word choice: rude? Cruel, might have been better), but the vibe is pretty darn catchy. It'll soon be on your typical top 100 radio station if you haven't heard it played already.
18. "Elastic Heart" by Sia: I have listened to this song every single morning for the two weeks. Her lyrics are absolutely perfect. Sia's story is a beautiful one; I'm so glad she's found the strength to pull herself away from inner demons. Her new CD is equally as powerful lyrically as her first two.
19. "Changes" by Faul & Wad Ad: I came across this song after listening to way too much Avicii in one week. 
20. "Badri" by Dounia Batma: I was introduced to this singer a few months ago. She was runner-up during the first season of Arab Idol in 2011. While she hails from Moroccan, she often sings Khaliji songs. Can you believe she's only 23?
21. "Gharqan" by Rashid Al Majed & Mona Amarsha: Last month my belly dance teacher introduced us to Khaliji, a style of music and dance coming from countries in the Persian Gulf (think Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates). It wasn't until I started taking this folkloric class that I was really able to differentiate between the various styles of Arabic music. We danced to the remix version in class, but I prefer the one listed here. 
22. "Sodfa" by Yara: Yara is a Lebanese singer who also goes by her birth name, Carla Nazih Berkachi. She came out with a solely Khaliji album in 2009 which was, to many music producers surprise, a huge hit. 
23. "Neseeni" by Sherine Abdul Wahab: A Tunisian friend sent me a ton of Sherine's music a few years ago. I fell in love with her first single, "Ah Ya Leil" when I first started listening to Arabic music in France, but "Neseeni" is my latest go-to song. She has such a strong voice and does such a great job portraying the emotions of her lyrics.
24. "Bridges" by Broods: A duo out of New Zealand, Broods are a huge hit on the other side of the world, trailing right behind Lorde on the charts. I hope they come tour in America.
25. "Truth" by Alexander: Alexander is most commonly known for his hit "Home" produced with his group, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. I can never concentrate when I listen to any of his songs; it must be the whistling.
26. "Soft Shock" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It's Blitz! got me through a whole heck of a lot during my last year in college. This song always seems to calm me down, no matter the circumstances. 
27. "What Goes Around Comes Around" by Rebirth Brass Brand: It says it all in the title. Karma always gets you in the end, so remember to treat others how you want to be treated!

There you have it, folks! I hope you have a wonderful week! Enjoy this brief summer Polar Vortex before the humidity and heat come back to us.

Bises,

La petite pamplemousse

Virtually Friendless for Ten Days

Ten days ago, I decided to log out of Facebook. I didn't delete or suspend my account. I simply wrote a post explaining that if my friends wanted to follow the experiment, they could come here for updates on my life; then, I signed out. Originally, I thought I write about how I felt as a virtually friendless person every day. I imagined it would be quite a difficult feat, resisting the urge to start typing "face..." into my web browser. I had an idea in my head that I would track email reminders to sign in, or the number of times I went to the web page before realizing I shouldn't log into my account. Yet, I'm already over a week into this personal challenge, I haven't done any of that, and, truth be told, I don't feel all that different.

Meanwhile, the Internet continues to pump out more and more opinion pieces on the world's recent finding that Facebook conducted an "emotional manipulation" experiment on some 700,000 users. It seemed that all I came across were negative takes on the issue...that is until I found this PC Magazine article. John C. Dvorak brings up a very valid point in the third paragraph in regards to the public being malleable prior to Facebook or their experiment. While his tone borders the line of being a bit too sarcastic, his article did made me chuckle. I believe it's exactly what people need to read in order to get that this concept of being "manipulated" really isn't new.

Perhaps that's why I don't feel any different sans Facebook. I still get my daily dose of one-sided news stories through online newspapers, blogs, and radio. My emotions are still a reflection of what occurs in my immediate surroundings, virtual or physical. To put it bluntly, reading about Syrian women struggling to keep their families alive without a job, the recent admission of Apple using child labor as a means to build its products, or even the continuous coverage on young children crossing the Texan border in hopes of escaping a drug-gang run country makes me feel like a useless piece of shit.

While I may not feel changed emotionally thus far, I do see a slight improvement in how I handle my free time. I've returned to cranking out 300 plus page books like I once did in my undergraduate days. One of the two books I finished over the weekend was so hard to put down. Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House is Valerie Plame Wilson's memoir on the CIA scandal that took over her personal and professional life during President George W. Bush's administration. "Weapons of mass destruction" is a phrase we all ought to remember, for the "alleged" proof of their existence led to Bush's war on Iraq announcement in 2003. While I vaguely remember fighting with certain family members over the legitimacy of these claims, I do not recall the scandal that followed Valerie and her husband years after the original declaration of war. I'm not a huge memoir fan, but I would highly recommend this to anyone who thinks a Facebook experiment is detrimental to our civil rights. As I move onto my third book this week (Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East), I realize how much I've missed reading physical books. Taking those ten minutes I would have spent stalking my Facebook News Feed every few hours to read what actually interests me has been really refreshing. And, while I regrettably admit to missing out on friends' pictures and posts (especially those abroad who I can't see in person), I know a simple phone/Skype call or handwritten card goes a lot farther than pushing the Like button.

Out and over,

La petite pamplemousse

Farewell For Now, Facebook

Good evening!

I'm sitting here watching the sun set as I write to you; it's another beautiful pink-purple mix.

While I say goodbye to another day, I feel a sense of overwhelming change come upon me. I'm not sure what the change will bring, how it will alter my life, or even what it is, but my gut is telling me that a new path is starting to unfold before me and that I'm ready to take it. There's something in the breeze that reaffirms this truth. Nature often hands us clues about our lives; if only we would listen once in a while.

To start this new chapter off, I've decided to give good ole Facebook the boot. Like most twenty-somethings, I joined Facebook in order to make friends before the dreaded orientation week at my university. Back then, the site helped you establish contacts with those who would soon be in the same dorm, clubs, or even classes as you. You had to have an official email address hosted by your university to even register. Today, however, the scene has changed. Now relatives, young and old, near and far, are on the site posting new updates about their lives, while companies constantly try to catch my attention with their ads, paid posts, and the like.

Last week I got so sick of logging in for no good reason that I decided to run a personal experiment. I made a vow to myself that as of July 1st, I would no longer log into my account. I won't close my account permanently, I just won't allow myself to log in through my laptop, smartphone, or any other device I find in my hands. My goal is to stay disconnected from the virtual world until September 1st.

I'm looking forward to see how my mentality changes, how much I accomplish with those spare five or ten minutes I currently find myself wasting throughout the day, as well as how many emails I get notifying me of what's going on without me or asking me why I haven't been on in a while.

Ironically enough, a large number of news outlets, including sites such as Today.com and TechCrunch, ran stories on the negative reactions toward Facebook's manipulation of certain users' news feeds today. There have also been numerous videos highlighting the creepy factor of how the site works. One video you most likely watched that went viral under the name "Look Up" focused on social media in general and the influence of our smartphones on our lives. However, let's be clear: I'm not leaving and hoping to run into a future boyfriend because I'm not looking at my Facebook feed on my phone. I'm not taking a hiatus because I don't get as many likes or posts or comments as others. I'm taking a break because I want to see how productive I can be without the distractions, how much I can accomplish just being me in this physical world. I'm closing the door, but not locking it up (yet), in order to get closer to myself.

So follow along as I fight the urge to sign in and see what I discover along the way. Who knows, maybe there really is no way to live without being virtually connected 24/7 these days. Only the next two months will tell!

Until next time,

La petite pamplemousse

Sing Along Sunday: Jump Through June

Geez Louise did June fly by! I'm still trying to swallow the fact that I'm yet again one year older, let alone that it'll be four years this summer since I got my city assignment for my first teaching position in France. Since then, my life mentality has shifted, my naiveté of other cultures has slowly begun to diminish, and my need to please others before myself has certainly changed the most.

I find myself trying to avoid dwelling on the past in order to live in the present, but a look back at past versions of yourself is often necessary to push yourself forward to who you want to be. I spent a lot of this month imaging the future, analyzing the past, and trying to create a vision of who I want to be in order to make this year a successful one. These are a few of the songs I found myself listening to as I did just that.

In order to listen along with the descriptions below, be sure to click on the link. You can also follow me on Spotify by clicking here. Please note, you need a Spotify account in order to access my monthly playlists. I've included both the artists and song titles below, so feel free to listen with another app or music platform if you prefer.

Have a listen before we jump into July!

1. "Something's Got A Hold On Me" by Etta James: Most people recognize the first twenty seconds of this song because of Avicii's "Levels remix." Although I admit to signing that section as loud as I possibly can when his remix comes on the radio, the other two minutes and thirty seconds of the original song are what really get me grooving.
2. "Waves - Robin Schulz Radio Edit" by Mr. Probz: The repetitive beat in this song soothes my soul much like the physical waves of any beach.
3. "Stone Rollin'" by Raphael Saadiq: Step, tap, stir. Step, tap, stir, twirl. You'll catch me doing circles around myself while cooking to this one.
4. "Cut Your Teeth- Kygo Remix" by Kyla La Grange: As an aspiring bellydancer, I've been using this song to help with isolations, external hip circles, mayas, and shimmies.
5. "Say You'll Be There" by MO: An amazing cover of one of my favorite Spice Girls songs. This version sounds more dreamy and gives the lyrics a different vibe.
6. "Without Me" by Fantasia, Kelly Rowland, and Missy Elliott: I have heard this song on the radio dozens of times, but never had my phone close enough to use the app Shazam to figure out who was singing the first bit. What a wonderful, powerful trio of female artists.
7. "Gotta Work" by Amerie: This has always been one of my pump up jams to keep myself strong, centered, and working on what I truly want from my life.
8. "V.S.O.P" by K. Michelle: This lady always seems to have drama, but she also always gets me up dancing. Just wait for what I'm talking about; it happens right before the one minute mark.
9. "Get Free" by Major Lazer featuring Amber Coffman: For some odd reason, I'm just discovering this song. The lyrics, the vibe, the voice: woo-ee!
10. "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Gladys Knight & The Pips: I was in a Motown mood the second half of the month and had to include this one. What a classic!
11. "jasmine (demo)" by Jai Paul: This song was included on a CD mix my sister made for me. I've been listening to it on my drive to work ever since: no AC, windows all the way down, hair getting tangled the whole way there.
12. "Stay Ready (What A Life) by Jhene Aiko featuring Kendrick Lamar: Jhene's single, "The Worst," is all over the radio these days. This song deserves so much more national attention; although, admittedly, I'd love to keep it to myself.
13. "Jerk Ribs" by Kelis: She's moved from milkshakes to jerk ribs and the vibe is unbelievably groovy and, in my opinion, more natural for her voice. I'm loving her new CD, especially the songs that involve whistles!
14. "Be My Man" by Asa: Break out your tambourine again! I found this artist through Indila, a French singer I follow and who I mentioned in my last post.
15. "Upside Down" by Paloma Faith: A great, upbeat song that sounds like it should come out of a random jukebox in the middle of a city park.
16. "Kukere" by Iyanya: This was my wake up song last summer. I was all about the African playlists on 8tracks. I can't seem to get it out of my head a year later.
17. "Sing" by Ed Sheeran: I know, I know...what is this guy doing on one of my lists? I hit fast forward on every song I ever hear by him, but I'm guilty as charged of loving his latest single. I blame the catchy beat and refrain on Pharrell. The puppets that were in this music video, though, Lord that was freaky.
18. "Sweet About Me" by Gabriella Cilmi: I rediscovered this song when I popped an old summer CD mix in my car the other day. My Swedish coworkers sure knew what good music was all about, and, I'm sure still do.
19. "Back In The World" by David Gray: I'm so happy that David has a new CD out there this year; I wasn't a big fan of his last one. He's one of those artists I associate with a certain season. While I tend to only listen to him in that in between summer and fall time, this song was really calling to me this month.
20. "Hide" by Little May: Little May is an Australian trio of lovely ladies who follow up on every tweet of praise they receive. I reached out to them after listening to this song dozens of times a day for two weeks straight. Check out their music video for this song, as they're not yet on Spotify. I'm in love with what they did in this music video, especially the dance circle.
21. "Nirvana" by Sam Smith: This guy's voice is like buttercream icing: so damn smooth and sugary. While the acoustic version is worth a listen as well, something about the last twenty seconds of this song makes my heart skip a beat every time I listen to it.
22. "Try A Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding: Watching one of my studio's teachers perform a bellydance solo to this made me add this classic to the end of this month's list. The bellydance show included Korean pop, Bollywood music, and even old 1920s jazz. Creativity, emotions, and expression were abound that night.

There you have it folks! One more day and we're officially half way through 2014. Can you believe it? I certainly am struggling to accept how fast time is passing this year.

I'll be writing more frequently as I'll be doing a mini experiment the remainder of the summer. Stay tuned for the next post to learn more!

As always, have a wonderful week and stay true to you!

Bisous,

La petite pamplemousse

Think About It Thursday: Cycling Trivialities

I haven't posted on a Thursday in a while. As the title explains, Thursdays are reserved for deep thinking. Yet, I don't sit down and make myself think of a topic at a specific time or for a certain period of time; the thought process just happens, and bizarre as it is, usually on a Thursday. Perhaps, being closer to the end of the week, Thursday happens to be when all my thoughts reach the brim of what I can keep in internally, and a deluge of emotion is released. Whatever the scientific reasoning, I know that writing down my thoughts (preferably with a pen and paper) is much more therapeutic to my being than keeping everything in or explaining how I'm feeling to others verbally.

For most of the East Coast, today's forecast ain't lookin' too good. Showers upon showers, grey cloud after grey cloud, and a lowering of the recently high temperature. Personally, I love rainy days as much as sunny ones. The type and amount of rain really does determine everything for my day. On days like today, when the sun will never get the chance to peek through the clouds to say hello, I find myself either extremely motivated to work on my future, or extra nostalgic for all things, places, and people past. Somehow though, my reasoning always takes me back to square one and the need to focus on the current moment. 

This morning I decided to give Bon Iver another chance. I most certainly do not have anything against their talent; more so, this particular band reminds me of a very lost time in my life. Listening to any of the songs from the second album hits a switch in my brain, signaling that I should probably cry rivers and let snot fall from my nose like a waterfall. I most certainly am a sight when I cry, as I'm sure most of us all are. 

Why do I always cry, you wonder? I cry because I think of when I first started listening to the album. I was stressed out and exhausted and emotional. It was the week before Halloween and I was in charge of the school party. My computer died and I had no money nor insurance to fall back on in case of this quite normal circumstance. (Whose computer hasn't died on them before?) I had to rewrite all of my lesson plans, figure out Halloween games that were appropriate for three- to eleven-year-olds, prepare to have my classroom skills evaluated by the head of the English department, and return to the Préfecture to wait in line for my carte de séjour (which in the end, I never received). I immediately thought my life was awful, that I had the worst luck in the world, that I was having the worst week ever; the complaints continue. I had no idea what was coming. These were mere trivialities, arriving in one go, but trivialities nonetheless. The Apple staff in Lyon helped reprogram my computer for free. I made new lesson plans. Our school had its most successful Halloween party yet. I passed my evaluation with flying colors and received wonderful recommendations to even further improve my teaching skills. After four hours, I even received a new récépissé from the Préfecture. I made it through the week.

And then I received a call late at night. I didn't even hear my mom's voice before I realized why she was calling. My Mom-Mom was gone. 

Image courtesy of SlideShare

It will already be a month ago tomorrow that my Grandad passed away. This time death didn't come so suddenly, but it came and went nonetheless, taking another person I love and look up to, away. The weeks leading up to his death, I repeatedly listened to a song by Lord Huron, that now will be timestamped with those same feelings expressed earlier. One day last month, I called my Dad and explained how I felt too comfortable at my job, how I needed a new challenge, how I wanted to explore the world some more but didn't know where to start, and how I didn't know where exactly I wanted my life to go. Significant to one person, trivial compared to the entirety of the universe. A week after this phone call, my Dad courageously flew out to be with my Grandad while his spirit cautiously passed into the sky. Ever since, I've felt extremely guilty of even complaining about my life, of thinking, again, I had it bad; not because of my Grandad dying, but because I wasn't focusing on and recognizing each current moment as special, unique, and absolutely needed to prepare oneself for the future. Death always seems to reiterate the difference between the three tenses: past, present, and future.

Worrying about what is or is not to come is something we all struggle with, and I'm nowhere near achieving the ability to overcome that; but, I do try to remind myself that in the end, we must learn to trust our guts before allowing our reason to overtake each individual circumstance. On the same note, we can't wait around for anything to happen. Waiting produces more worry, more over thinking, more anxiety where anxiety has no place, yet or maybe even ever. We all need to dance, run, walk, do cartwheels, draw, write, or even take up the recorder again. We can't look back and worry about what was or should have been. We must accept the present, learn from the past, and look forward to, but try not stress, about the future. Most of the time what we stress about never happens. Plus, those who we miss are still with us, whether we can physically see them or not. In the end, we're just cycling trivialities.

Image courtesy of SlideShare

Until next time,

La petite pamplemousse

Sing Along Sunday: Mamacitas in May

Hello fair readers,

I hope you're enjoying this warmer weather! Today, I made my way to the local nursery and picked up new vegetable plants and flowers for my balcony. (This year's winter was certainly generous with snow; I'm actually glad now that I didn't keep any of my plants past October as I'm sure they wouldn't have made it). Anyway, I sit here, covered it dirt and sweat, and realize that I haven't posted in nearly a month. Eek!

 And what a weird month May has been. Lots of circles: emotionally, physically, and mentally. I swear that I started making a May playlist at the end of April, but my over-thinking got the best of me and I got lost in my mind for a while. A spring funk if you will. But hey, enough with the excuses, let's get down to business already, shall we?

As always, be sure to click on the link to access this month's playlist. You can also follow me on Spotify by clicking here. Please note, you need a Spotify account in order to access my monthly playlists. I've included both the artists and song titles below, so if you're not into Spotify, you can always check out my favorite women however your musical hearts desire.

Be warned, the emotions run high this month!

1. "Workin' Woman Blues" by Valerie June: Boy, does her voice gives me the chills. I feel my soul being transported to the Blue Ridge Mountains every time I hear this song.
2. "Just A Little Lovin'" by Carmen McRae: I rediscovered this song while compiling an all around American music mix for a friend.
3. "Heart Stops" by Anya Marina: I can never seem to play this song only once. You may have heard her voice before as she does the best cover of T.I.'s "Whatever You Like."
4. "Living Proof" by Cat Power: I grew very fond of Cat Power's music during my sophomore year of college. She's one of those artists that you listen to non-stop and then you give up for greener music scenes. Once you return to her music though, the sound still welcomes you with wide open arms. 
5. "Trace of You" by Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones: When musically-inclined step-sisters finally meet, their music takes on a whole new meaning. 
6. "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin: The soul, the sass, the class.
7. "Undone in Sorrow" by Crooked Still: Back to a misty meadow I go with this song. The burning ache to return to fiddle hits me every time I listen to this.
8. "Goddess" by Banks: This gal does something with her songs that is so bizarre, but feels so familiar. I can't explain it in words, though. I cannot wait to see her live next month.
9. "Dernière Danse" by Indila: I am obsessed with this gal's part in Soprano's "Hiro." I had no idea she had an album out on her own until my dear friend Soumia sent me a link to her latest hit. For a quick translation, go here.
10. "Sittin In Limbo" by Sarah Dugas: I first heard this song while driving to New Orleans. She sure knows how to sing about her sorrows.
11. "Listen With Your Heart" by Norah Jane Struthers: I really must have been missing the mountains when I made this playlist.
12. "Cry Me A River" by Julie London: Why don't songs talk about heartbreak anymore? It's just so beautiful and relatable (sorry, Ke$ha, you just don't do it for me).
13. "Merry Happy" by Kate Nash: British girls are the best at break-up songs, hands down. You always can learn something from what didn't work out.
14.  "Hurry On Now" by Alice Russell: Get ready for your troubles to melt away.
15. "Train In Vain" by Annie Lennox: Annie has been a favorite of mine since childhood.
16. "Adieu" by Coeur de Pirate: One of my go-to Canadian singers. If you would like a translation of this song, go here. 
17. "Sand in My Shoes" by Dido: I was obsessed with this song in my teenage years. As summer approaches, this song is perfect for those relationships that are effortless to get involved in, but oh-so-difficult to forget.
18. "Air Balloon" by Lily Allen: If there's a gal who doesn't give a flying f*** about anyone's opinions, it's Lily. With an album titled, "Sheezus," you have to give her props. Personally, I love her even more because of her music video parodies (check out "Hard Out Here").
19. "J'ai tant escamonté" by Zaz: This song is a dream, plain and simple.
20. "Criminal" by Fiona Apple: How could I make a female playlist without including this lady?
21. "My Blood" by Ellie Goulding: Personally, I think this tops "Burn" on any given day. Another dream-like, fluid composition.
22. "New Strings" by Miranda Lambert: I know, I know, I claim to hate country...but she's the one country singer that I do admit listening to (probably because of her kick ass attitude).
23. "My Moon My Man" by Feist: Last, but certainly not least, an old favorite which got me through many work shifts selling jewelry and all things Swedish.

If anything, I hope you have found a few new gals to check out further after this post.

On a side musical note, I was ecstatic to see Chet Faker live this past Thursday. He did a great job and got extra bonus points in my book after telling everyone: "Put down your fucking phones, there's already like 100 versions of this on YouTube. Just enjoy and dance." Preach! I know I got my dance on!

I hope you have a wonderful week!

A la prochaine,

La petite pamplemousse

Atlanta: Home of the 1996 Olympic Games, Largest Civil War Museum, and Margaret Mitchell

As promised, I have more to tell you about my days down in Atlanta, Georgia. If you missed my previous post on CNN Center and the World of Coca-Cola, be sure to read that post first!

As my friend took her midterm exams and handed in papers, I continued to explore the city on my own. On my third day there, I decided to learn more about the history of Atlanta. I took the MARTA and then a bus to get to the Atlanta History Center out past Peachtree. I felt a bit out of place walking on the side of the road with all of the BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Audi cars driving by me. After passing a few swanky bridal shops and hotels, I made it to my destination. 

First, I headed into the Centennial Olympic Games Museum. There I absorbed as much information as I possible could on the general history of the Olympic Games, Atlanta's bid to host, and what happened in each event during those 17 days in July 1996. I loved seeing how the number of athletes and events increased with each round of Olympic Games. It was also pretty cool to see each of the mascots and the cultural reasoning behind them all. I most definitely do not remember Izzy (aka Whatizit)! Most interesting of all though, was seeing how political tension between countries can change and even cancel the infamous international sporting event.

Examples of the Olympic medals handed out to athletes in 1996.

The flame was flown from Greece and then transported by train!

Next, I wandered through Turning Point: The American Civil War exhibit. One of the nation's largest and most complete exhibits, Turning Point boasts more than 1,500 artifacts, from both sides of the Civil War. Walking through the rooms, I learned about the complications and intricacies of firearms, what both Confederate and Union soldiers wore and carried with them, the importance of the Postal Service, and even how bank notes worked back in the 19th century. I easily spent two hours in that exhibit, soaking up as much American history as I possible could.

Old Civil War letters

Confederate bank notes

Largest collection of Civil War mortars

Oldest standing wagon from the Civil War

Next, I headed outside to wander the grounds. I walked through the old Smith family farm, which was built in the 1840s. The house was originally located outside of Atlanta, but was moved to its current spot in the 1970s. Surprisingly, unlike the rest of the city, the house survived both the Civil War and the Reconstruction era.

Original slave home from the Smith family farm

Modernity peeks out from behind an old well on the Smith family farm.

Spring is here!

Peace statue

I took my time following the little trail around the 22 acres of land the Atlanta History Center owns. I saved the Swan House for last. Edward Inman was the heir to a large cotton brokerage fortune in the post-Civil War era. After acquiring land in Buckhead, he hired the firm of Hentz, Reid, and Adler to design a home for his family. Philip Trammel Shutze designed the home and adapted Italian and English classical styles (which are quite apparent when you walk through the place.) There are swans throughout the home, as well as eagles, one of Mr. Inman's favorite animals. The Inmans moved into the house in 1928; sadly, just three years later, Mrs. Inman was left alone in the large house after her husband suffered from a heart attack. She lived in the house until 1965. The Atlanta Historical Society purchased the house, land, and furnishings a year later.

The Swan House

Hello lovely!

Walking up the back entrance

Tacky as anything!

Mrs. Inman's bathroom, which is covered with fake marble because she wasn't pleased with the real marble! 

Another tacky bedroom!

After a long walk through the gardens, I made my back to the bus stop and then back to Midtown. My ticket to enter the Atlanta History Center included entrance to Margaret Mitchell's old apartment which was located a convenient block or so from where I was staying. I just made it in time to catch the last tour of the day. Author of the classic Southern love novel, Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell was born and raised in Atlanta. A feisty little lady, Margaret claimed that Scarlett was in no way based off of her own life; however, my tour guide was sure to point out quite a few similarities. Supposedly, she had read all of the books in the local library that her husband told her it was time she wrote her own. Whenever company arrived unexpectedly, she would throw a towel over the typewriter to hide what she was working on; however, people talk and most of Atlanta knew she was up to something spectacular.

Margaret Mitchell lived on the first floor.

Mitchell's old apartment complex

After checking out Margaret's house and watching a short documentary on the trials and tribulations of making Gone With The Wind into a movie, I headed over to Piedmont Park. There I wandered the paths and stumbled across an odd-looking family of ducks. My phone conveniently died right around the time I was supposed to meet with my friend, but luckily I was able to plug my phone in at the Georgia Tech bookstore.

Atlanta has odd ducklings!

View from the park

I found my friend and we headed off to grab a quick bite to eat before seeing Aziz Ansari at the Fox Theater. Aziz admitted to being in a relationship during his show, which was extremely unexpected given his comedy shows usually revolve around the single, childless life. His jokes were just as hilarious as usual, but it was still a bit mind boggling to accept the now taken Aziz as reality. By the end of the night, my friend thought her spleen had burst;I was rubbing my cheeks because they hurt so much from laughing.

I loved the Middle Eastern decorations.

Inside the Fox Theater

This guy

He made me cry from laughter.

I must shamefully admit that I was unable to make it to the Martin Luther King Jr. historical site before it closed, but now I have an excuse to return back to this lovely city in the future.

The next morning we left bright and early for my favorite Southern city, New Orleans. I could not wait to revisit the Big Easy and see how far she had come since I last helped out as the JMU May ASB group leader. Tune in next week for my posts on New Orleans and the recent Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

Bonne fin de journée!

La petite pamplemousse

Sing Along Sunday: Alive and Active in April

Good afternoon,

I hope you're all enjoying your day and making the most of this much warmer weather! I am more than excited to see the sun stay up longer each day, especially after working the night shift last year. (Going to bed at 4 pm was not fun.) While a friend and I have been doing a great job of taking walks on Sundays, I'm hoping to switch completely out of the elliptical/treadmill mode and go explore the great outdoors now that running in a park no longer requires three or more layers!

Speaking of running, back in January I (like everyone else each New Year) vowed to take better care of myself. I realized that dancing 2-3 times a week wasn't enough for me. I also noticed that my eating habits weren't as consistently healthy as I thought. So I asked my super(fit)woman sister for some advice on where to start. She suggested starting with the 100 by VDay Challenge by the girls at Tone It Up. Not only did I stick to the routine, I completed more than 150 miles by February 14th. Like anyone who completes a goal, short or long term, I felt more determined, more confident, and more energetic as a result. I'm super excited to join their next challenge, the Bikini Series, and continue getting myself into tip top shape for summer.

On that note, this month's playlist revolves around being active and alive. The first ten songs I listen to when warming up. The middle ten or so songs I run to and are mostly comprised of club mixes to get my heart rate up. The remaining songs are used for a cool down or when I just want to get my dance on around my apartment. As always, you can subscribe to this particular playlist by going here, or you can follow me on Spotify by clicking on this link. You can also search for these songs on YouTube if you're not a fan/member of Spotify. Please note that two of these songs are not found on Spotify, so you'll have to click on the link below to have a listen!

Get ready to sweat your Sunday away!

1. "Never Go Back" by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals: I love doing a combination of 90s-style side steps and stretching to this song. 
2. "Shameless" by Lissie: Lissie has amazing lyrics, an incredible voice, and one heck of a kick ass attitude.
3. "I Follow Rivers" by Lykke Li: I'm anxiously awaiting Lykke Li's new album, I Never Learn, which is due to release on May 6th. She is by far one of my favorite Swedish artists who never fails to entertain with her lyrics, beats, or dance moves.
4. "Beat (Healthy, Life, and Fire)" by Thao with The Get Down Stay Down: When I listen to this song I imagine biking down a country road with flowers in my hair. In said daydream, I also imagine kicking my bike to the curb to jump (by tire swing) into a lake.
5. "Riptide" by Vance Joy: Gosh I love how he stresses the word "green." Despite the upbeat tempo, this song is quite depressing when you listen carefully to the lyrics. But hey, pass me a tambourine and let's go skipping around to this song in a field anyways! 
6. "This Head I Hold" by Electric Guest: Every time I listen to this song, I do the twist and imagine what my life would have been like if I lived in the 1950s. 
7. "Disparate Youth" by Santigold: I love the music video for this song! I've been a fan of Santigold ever since I saw her open for T.I. & Jay-Z back in 2007. If I ever go into urban belly dancing, I've decided this will be my first solo song. 
8. "Clap Your Hands" by Sia: Who doesn't get excited by a song asking you to clap your hands? 
9. "Carry Me" by Bombay Bicycle Club: For some reason my mind imagines the Blue Man Group banging their drums to this song, paint splattering everywhere. 
10. "Big Hoops (Bigger The Better)" by Nelly Furtado: This lady gets me. I always want to fly like a bird and definitely prefer big hoops to small ones.
11. "Black & Blue" by Miike Snow: I forgot about this song until I took a road trip to New Orleans with my best friend. We got a little too into harmonizing/air instrument playing during that drive, but seriously, why wouldn't you want to goof around to this song?
12. "La Réalité" by Amadou & Miriam: My Swedish friend turned me onto this song back in 2006. I remember this being one of our many closing shop songs, vodka and Redbull in hand. 
13. "Waves of Change (Kaskade Remix)" by Samantha James: This is a great song to listen to if you need a consistent beat to get through that one mile mark. 
14. "Blessed - Avicii Mix" by Tom Hangs: A great song to jump around to, especially when out in the club.
15. "Silhouettes" by Avicii: This song gets me up those hills! 
16. "Calinda" by Laurent Wolf: Can you feel the sunshine pouring through your eardrums? I sure can.
17. "Paris (Aeroplane Remix)" by Friendly Fires: This was my theme song in 2010. I applied to become a teaching assistant in France and played this song nonstop while waiting to see if I was accepted, hoping that my dream to live in France would come true. I still can't believe I've accomplished that dream already!
18. "You've Got The Love (XX Remix)" by Florence & The Machine:  This is my favorite song to do sprints to when outside. Just wait for the xylophone crescendo. Ah, music porn.
19. "As3ad Wa7da" by Elissa : I became obsessed with this song when I was in Tunisia for a wedding. Elissa's voice makes me want to pack up my stuff, run away, and fall in love with a stranger on the other side of the world. You can find the English translation here. 
20. "My Feelings For You" by Avicii, Sebastien Drums: I first heard this song in a club in France. Lots of posing involved when you dance along to the beat, but it also has a great tempo for running. 
21. "Something Good Can Work" by Two Door Cinema Club: I love this band and often listen to them to get pumped up for the weekend. Here's a remix of one of their most popular songs. Keep running!
22. "Lover to Lover" by Florence & The Machine: If I could belt this out while running, that would be something! But, typically you can find me twirling, clapping, and jumping around to this while cleaning or getting my weights out for my toning work out.
23. "Dancin' (KRONO Remix)" by Aaron Smith: He knows exactly how I feel about dance.
24. "Dedication To My Ex (Miss That)" by Lloyd, Andre 300, Lil' Wayne: Despite the dirty language, I can't help but love this song. Plus any song featuring Andre 3000 is golden in my humble opinion.
25. "Luv Back" by Jazmine Sullivan: This gal can sing and boy does she do a great job belting out her frustration with men! I dig the reggae vibe on this track.
26. "Nothing To Worry About" by Peter Bjorn and John: You might know have heard of these guys back when their hit, "Young Folks," was big. Their most recent albums have a more bizarre feel to them. Go ahead and clap the stress away with this song; you shouldn't worry about anything!
27. "Mamma Knows Best" by Jessie J: "Do It Like A Dude" is a classic work out song for me, however, I couldn't resist the temptation to add this to the list. The girl can rock it!
28. "Bumaye" by Major Lazer, Busy Signal: Oh how I love to get low to this song! (How can you not shake it when you hear that beat?) I go nuts when this comes on, whether at Zumba, in the club, or just at home. Be sure to check out the music video for some hard core Caribbean dance moves.
29. "Feel" by Bombay Bicycle Club: Here's another band that's got me in an obsessed daze. Their music videos are always so creative and this one takes the cake. I love how they always incorporate dancing no matter the tempo. 
30. "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin: This song makes me feel like I could burst from happiness. You could use this for running, for driving, or even a little interpretive dancing/air guitar. 
31. "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac: For some crazy reason, I think this song would be great for a dance duet, Dirty Dancing style.
32. "Like A Mighty River" by St. Paul & The Broken Bones: I was just recently introduced to this group. All I've got to say is sweet Jesus, that voice. 

I hope you enjoy this month's playlist. If you have any go-to running, dancing, or iron pumping songs, please let me know! I'm always looking for new tunes.

Enjoy your week and à très bientôt!

La petite pamplemousse

Atlanta: Home of CNN and Coca-Cola

Two weeks ago, I flew down to Atlanta, Georgia to visit a dear friend of mine. As I passed through security I came to realize that I hadn't been to a new city all on my own in over two years (when I still lived in Lyon, France and would regularly hop on a train or a plane to check out a new city once a month.) Much to my surprise, I learned that Atlanta is the world's busiest airport.

I was psyched to introduce my five senses to what Atlanta had to offer. I decided not to plan anything ahead of time, just where and when to meet my friend once I got off the MARTA. I didn't realize how much I missed being out in the unknown all alone.

I followed my friend to one of her urban planning classes at Georgia Tech once we met up. Sitting in on a class really made me miss school and realize that my current position does not push me as much as I need. It's funny to think about how much you complain about deadlines and work your entire time as a student, but once that's gone from your life, your desire for reading assignments, papers, and tests takes over your being. (Well, at least for me anyways). 

After her class we headed out to Lawrenceville where she works as an intern. I wandered the little town on my own for a few hours. I came across quite a few antique shops and a lovely sweets shop called Blue Rooster Bakery. I enjoyed an enormous chocolate chip whoopie cookie and free sweet tea as I revisited old stories I wrote during college. To say the least, I was finally motivated and inspired again. 

This picture does not do justice to the glorious sweets available at Blue Rooster.

NOM

Church

Civil War memorial

That night we met a high school friend at Takorea, a Korean-Mexican restaurant with quite nifty interior decorations. The food was delicious, but I, once again, didn't think to ask for sauce on the side. My tongue was on fire and I could barely get a word into the conversation because I was slurping down so much water. 

The following day I headed off to Five Points to check out the few main attractions Atlanta has to offer visitors. I first explored CNN Center. I got a bite to eat at the enormous food court as I waited for my tour to start. At the end of the tour, the guide asked me if I was grading her presentation as I walked out the door. "No, I'm just a mere editor interested in how things work on the TV side of things." She looked a bit relieved but still suspicious of all my note taking during the hour long tour. 

A few fun facts I learned:

• CNN started broadcasting in 1980; CNN.com launched in 1995; CNN en espagnol started in 1997.
• Prior to being their headquarters, CNN Center was formerly an enclosed theme park. The escalator going through the mini globe is the tallest escalator in the US, reaching 198 feet. The blue tiles on the floor of the food court make up the 7 continents. There are gold stars signifying where the main studios are located.
• Their main US studio offices are located in Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., but they have a total of 45 bureaus worldwide, including ones in London, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi.
• HLN used to be called CNN2. It was launched in 1982. 
• HLN focuses more on entertainment, sports, and opinion shows. It is a domestic only channel which airs Monday through Friday. Weekend episodes are pre-recorded.
• The camera in Studio 7 is worth $300,000 and, understandably, only one person has permission to use it.

Looking up from the food court

Love all the flags!

Outside of the headquarters

CNN newsroom

HLN newsroom

After I explored CNN Center, I wandered through Olympic Park to get to the World of Coca-Cola. There was a very cheery tour guide who started everything off with a quick introduction and brief film on the infamous polar bear family. Then, we were off to explore on our own. I took my time walking through the museum, intrigued by the ridicuously successful advertisement and marketing strategies Coca-Cola has maintained over so many years. I also jotted down a few facts during my self-guided tour.

• Did you know that during its first year, Coca-Cola sales averaged a mere 9 drinks a day?
• When the fizzy drink came to the market, the most popular flavors for fountain drinks were lemon, orange, vanilla, pineapple, strawberry, cherry, and chocolate. 
• In 1916, Coca-Cola introduced its contour bottle to assure customers that they were getting the real deal. A lot of bottling companies tried to recreate and sell their own versions, so clearly Coca-Cola had to do something about the knock-offs. 
• A WWII Russian general allegedly ordered clear Coca-Cola, as he "wouldn't be seen drinking an 'American' drink."
• Asa Griggs Candler bought the company for a mere $550.
• Candler also launched the marketing strategy which would transform the drink, adding the logo to everyday household items like serving trays and glasses. He also introduced the first widespread use of sampling coupons. By 1920, one in nine Americans had tried the drink for free!
• By 1930, there were 64 bottling plants in 27 countries. Each state had its own way of identifying where the drink had been bottled (usually by way of a stamp on the bottom of the bottle). 
• Today more than 70% of the company's revenue comes from outside of the United States.
• Did you know that Coca-Cola tried to change its formula in 1985? That move didn't go as well as planned and they quickly returned to the original recipe.
• The first mention of the infamous polar bear occurred in a French ad in 1922 (see below).
• Coca-Cola started sponsoring the Olympic Games in 1928. They currently have torches on display from a few of the most recent games, including one from this year's Sochi Games.
• Today, The Coca-Cola Company makes approximately 500 different drinks.

One of the original dispensers

First mention of the polar bear

Tasting room

 National Center for Civil and Human Rights soon to open across from the World of Coca-Cola

After my tour, I took my time walking back to my friend's apartment. I took in the sunshine, people watched, and got lost on purpose. Later that night we headed to Brick Store, which was absolutely fabulous. I felt like I was back in my favorite little bar in Lyon. The exposed brick, wood booths, delicious beers, and generally relaxed atmosphere fed my philosophical state-of-mind with more hunger to explore a variety of new topics spinning around up in that brain of mine.

One of the two main skylines

Don't worry, that's not all folks! I have a second exploration of Atlanta coming soon. (I simply have too many pictures for one post!) Stay tuned for Margaret Mitchell, the 1996 Olympic Games, Aziz Ansari, and the Civil War's impact on the "most Northern city of the South."

If you're in need of some musical inspiration until Sunday's Sing Along post, do check out my go to gal, Banks. I cannot wait to see her in concert this June.

Until then, cheers to the freakin' weekend!

Besos,

La petite pamplemousse