L'Italia, qui vengo!

When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure.

Alice Hoffman, 'Here on Earth'
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Exams are done! First-year is DONE! I can't believe how fast it went, and I'm going to ITALY!

...in three or so more days. I'm so excited! We're in Paris for a few days first, which will most likely be spent in the Louvre haha. You have no idea how much I want to go there, and the galleries in Italy (Uffizi!!!!). We're spending a week each in Rome, Florence, and Venice. I tried to convince them to spend more time in Florence, but oh well. They wanted to skip it and I was like "OMG WTF you can't just skip like -the- center of Renaissance art!!! I want to see David!!!" haha...it's all good though.

I went shopping yesterday with my sister, which was exciting because we haven't done that at all this year. I was supposed to get a halter for my dog, though. So we come across this pet store in the mall, and we went in and found the halters, and were about to buy one when I look over my shoulder and see this family looking at a lab puppy which an employee is holding. And then I look past them and see a cage crammed full of chihuahua puppies, and then three more rows filled with other dogs. Well, I walked out of there pretty fast. It ruined my whole day. I hope the family didn't buy a puppy, it'll probably get sick and die like I've seen so many petstore dogs do. I wanted to walk up to the store owner and say "So where do you get your puppies" to which they'll reply "Local breeders" "Oh, so you mean puppy mills?" God! These placed should be shut down. Honestly, I refuse to be a patron to anyone who has any part in keeping these puppy mills going.

Anyway, other than that it was ok. I realized how much I hate shopping lol.

I finally got my moleskine sketchbooks from amazon! Two of them! I needed them for Italy so I can do some stuff. A sketch/ ink/ painting a day. I want to bring my watercolours so bad, but I'm almost positive they'll get confiscated at the airport. I would use my pencils but I can never get a really rich colour from them. So hopefully I'll have some art to post when I get back. I need to brush up on my very limited knowledge of italian...I have a feeling the title is quite incorrect.

And I need to pick my concentrations before I leave! Tell me what to do! Please! I have no idea. I'm leaning towards art history/ drama medial, or geology. HELP! And, it's like summer here.

Anyway...Arrivederci amici! I'll be gone for about a month...seeing some amazing art, eating some delicious food, and drinking some fantastic wine. Jealous yet?
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Tea Quote of the Day:

Love and scandal are the best sweeteners of tea.

~Henry Fielding, "Love in Several Masques"

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Tea of the Day:

Lipton Chai Tea

For something totally different, try LIPTON Spiced Chai, an exotic blend of savory spices, rich, all natural Assam black tea leaves and a hint of ginger. Add milk to create a Chai Latte – a delicious treat. Plus, LIPTON Tea provides a healthy dose of protective flavonoid antioxidants.

From me: Mmm, chai latte.
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There are SO many blackbirds now that I can't even count. Not to mention the crows, morning doves, chickadees, woodpeckers, sparrows and finches.

Done. I fail.

It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated.
Alec Bourne

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Exams are officially OVER! Except for my art history paper, which isn't really a paper, just a bunch of questions. Chemistry = ultimate fail. Really, I could so easily fail the course it's not even funny. It's quite absurd really, I've never been this close to failing, nor have I ever failed, a class. I'm actually pretty smart...just not chemistry-wise (that and I'm sort of lazy). I just hate it, and when I hate something I won't apply myself.

Whatever. Grades aren't the only mark of intelligence. And the graders are not always the be all and end all of opinions...they can be wrong too.

Drama was decent enough. Most of it was crap, which they may or may not see through. I was all like "Yeah...um, Unity is about...unity...and, um, death?" Also, my directing assignment was apparently worth 75%. See how some people can be wrong? Silly TA, I can't believe you feel for that. I hate that feeling that always seems to accompany the end of an exam period, like I still have something to study for.

I only have a week until I leave for Paris/ Italy. It's so exciting! I bought two new moleskines just for the occasion. I need to pack, and shop, and get my hair done before I go. And it's 32C outside, really hot. I hate it, it makes me feel all gross (which is why I like winter).

I am almost on the verge of not making any more tea for the next few day. I kind of feel sick thinking about it...I just drank SO much during exams.

Oh, and there are so many Blackbirds now. I saw two doing a mating dance.
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Tea Quote of the Day

Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, doesn't try it on. ~Billy Connolly

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Tea of the Day

Kombucha Green Tea

Tea for your body – Defense 92% ORGANIC
CONTAINS CAFFEINE

GATHER YOUR STRENGTH WITH GREEN TEA KOMBUCHA
Our Green Tea Kombucha was inspired by a remedy dating back to ancient Russia, but updated for today’s lifestyle. This effective blend of green tea and kombucha will enhance your immune system, fight fatigue and detoxify your body. Not to mention that simply saying “kom-boo-chaw” will make you smile. The good feelings continue with the antioxidant benefits inherent in green tea.* Savor this distinctive herbal remedy while giving your body the tune-up it deserves.

GET THE MOST OUT OF EVERY CUP
Gain internal balance by drinking 1 to 3 cups of Green Tea Kombucha per day.* To avoid bitter taste, steep for 2 to 3 minutes in hot, not boiling, water.

INGREDIENTS
Organic Green Tea Leaf, Organic Lemongrass, Organic Spearmint Leaf, Natural Passion Fruit Flavor, Natural Plum Flavor, Kombucha.

CONTAINS CAFFEINE
Each tea bag contains approximately 30 mg of caffeine, as compared to approximately 90 mg in 8 oz of coffee.

From me: I love this tea! It's very refreshing and it comes with a little tag labelled with an inspirational quote. Yum!

African Grey

African grey's are shy? Pah! I've had two... not shy.
I am, though; actually, this is pretty accurate.

What kind of Parrot are you? African Grey You're a little shy, until you are comfortable. You are Super smart.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

P.S (edit) English was very easy, and it went well. The short essay question was to write two paragraphs explaining your favourite and least favourite from the semester. My least favourite was My Last Duchess by Robert Browning: I didn't understand it and I hated the character...so fake and arrogant. And favourite? Well, obviously Wuthering Heights! I had to refrain from filling the entire page with "omg I am like SOOO in love with Heathcliff he's like my favourite character ever he's SOOO awsome *squeal*". I didn't...I swear; I had to sound somewhat intelligent considering the prof is like an expert on it and pretty much Victorian lit in general. I also had to mention dear Prufrock and Goblin Market. I was smiling during that question because I love to talk about my favourite writing. It seemed very unconventional, but it was probably the most beneficial question to the students and herself...and she's awsome like that.
Now for drama and chemistry...*dies* No, really. Kill...me...now. Please.

P.P.S (edit edit) I made a whole pot of twinings Earl Grey to help me out a bit. It's loose leaf (yay!) but my Mom insisted on helping and then took over and ended making it too weak. I still got to use an adorable little leaf holder though, with a little china teacup at the end of the chain. I also convinced her to give me the elephant teapot we got at McNally Robinson (bookstore) a while ago for the apartment. She never drinks tea anyway!

On my second cup...it's stronger now, I've been letting it steep.

What tea am I? Oh my!

A tea quiz! I thought I would be green tea, but apparently not.

What kind of tea are you?

Earl Grey: Classy and smooth.
Take this quiz!








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Relax, Refresh, Rewind.

The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.

Barbara Hall, Northern Exposure, Rosebud, 1993
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I'm really tired and probably on the verge of a breakdown. I just found out that my chemistry exam is from 9:00 to 12:00, and -just my luck- my drama exam is at 2:00. What! I thought it was in the evening, so I'd at least have some time to recover and review. I am going to die. I honestly don't know what I'm doing in chemistry, I just don't get it. Drama is fine, but there is more material than I thought to cover.

I guess I'll alternate today between drama and english (english is tomorrow at 2:00), then alternate between drama an chem after english, use the Friday for chemistry, and hope that I've done enough for drama. I then have an art history paper due on the Monday, I have to get my hair done and go shopping before Italy, and I also have to pack. Oh, and declare my concentrations. I can't wait for the vacation, I need it so bad. This just never ends!

Ok, english study time. I don't really know how to study for it other than reading the poems over a few times. I don't know where my notes are for most of the lectures...uh oh. Whatever, I'll manage.
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Tea Quote of the Day:

The best quality tea must have creases like the leathern boot of Tartar horsemen, curl like the dewlap of a mighty bullock, unfold like a mist rising out of a ravine, gleam like a lake touched by a zephyr, and be wet and soft like a fine earth newly swept by rain.
~Lu Yu

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Tea of the Day:
Tetley Pure Green Tea



Savour the timeless taste of Tetley Pure Green Tea. Produced in Chinese tradition, the green tea leaves are gently and carefully steamed and rolled to provide the tea’s exquisite flavour and enticing, pale green hue.

Pure Green tea - 100% Pure and natural.

From me: This tea is always refreshing and relaxing. A little honey makes it just right. Green tea is my second favourite kind of tea. Also try their naturally decaffeinated pure green tea. Click the link to go to the Tetley website for more information.

Tea Party

Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
Henry Van Dyke

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Another beautiful day. I'm trying really hard to enjoy it, but the stress of knowing I have an english exam on Thursday, and chemistry and drama exams on Saturday, is making that difficult. I just feel very anxious about everything, and it's not only because of exams; there are other things which I just don't want to talk about.

Random: there's a stange cat walking along the outside of the fence, which I've never seen before. He (or she) looks like Patches, except more black. Maybe they're getting together to have a kitty tea-party!

Of course, there is the anxiety about having decided my concentrations, having renewed doubts, redeciding the concentrations, having more doubts, and ending up with a million options. Follow your heart, they say. Well, "they" have obviously never met me. Many people find one passion, and they can focus on that; however, I have at least four that I could follow into a career. I'm so jealous of people that know what they're doing. Maybe going on the Italy vacation will help, though I doubt it. It will probably make me more confused by renewing my art obsession. That, and there's the question of actual talent.

Well, there's nothing really new. I didn't go anywhere yesterday, just sat around trying to study and drinking too much tea. Who am I kidding? Too much tea...pah! Not possible.

There is now an abundance of morning doves in the yard, but still only two to four black birds.

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Tea Quote of the Day:

Tea does our fancy aid,

Repress those vapours which the head invade

And keeps that palace of the soul serene.

~Edmund Waller, "Of Tea"

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Tea of the Day:

Celestial Seasonings Perfectly Pear White Tea

Long ago in China, white tea was a rarity reserved for royalty. We celebrate
its unique flavour with the lusciously mellow sweetness of Perfectly
Pear White Tea. Natural pear and vanilla flavours perfectly enhance
the white tea's soft, flowery tones. Find a favourite place to enjoy
Perfectly Pear White Tea, hot or iced, and refine the moment especially for
you.

From me: I love this tea! It's perfect on its own, and the smell itself is enough to have any tea lover hooked. Click the title for a link to the website.

And did you know that white tea is one of the healthiest teas?http://www.betternutrition.com/document/466

Dear Deer

One of the deer which frequents our front yard. He's just a baby, and he was all alone. Photo taken by http://nebularhypothesis.blogspot.com/

Pictures of the crocuses I talked about in my last post.

Sprung fresh from the earth.












Patches of the previous post. How catty, climbing a tree (he did get stuck, and had to be brought down). I always say he's one of the most beautiful cat's I've ever seen, and a native Aussie, always outside stalking squirrels and sparrows.


Carl from the previous post. See? He really does look strange, almost maniacal. And yes, when I said rather large I meant very, very large. Also taken by http://nebularhypothesis.blogspot.com/

All of these were taken on one excursion in my backyard on a cloudy day, except for the last one of Carlton. I did take pictures of him, but none turned out. I had to resize to make them fit and the quality in some was distorted, unfortunately.

Ah, well. No black birds or Black birds or birds of any kind. The lens only goes to 55mm and the little things won't let me close enough.

(c) bellemerle.blogspot.com
All images, except where specified, were taken by me. Please do not use without written permission.

Good Day Sunshine

Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
Good day sunshine
I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about
I feel good, in a special way
I'm in love and it's a sunny day

-The Beatles, Good Day Sunshine

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It is such a beautiful day today. The snow melted back into the earth a few days ago with the rain, and now the backyard is is littered with dry leaves and squirrel seed. The air is still quite chilly, but I find it very refreshing. There are crocuses which seem to have sprung up with the knowledge of spring's arrival; two patches of vibrant purple and one of brilliant white. I have some pictures, which I'll post when my sister gets back (they're on her computer). I can actually see them from where I'm sitting, along with two of my cat's, who are out for an early morning prowl. Carlton, a rather large white and orange creature, is standing on the pool covering in about five or so inches of water; he's strange, and we have suspicions that he believes himself a dog. Patches, on the other hand, is about the cattiest cat that ever was. He's curious about the pool too, but, while Carlton wades in the water, Patches struts around the edge eying it with apprehension. Or, as it turns out, licking the pool covering? That's what he's doing now, though he'll soon be off stalking squirrels again, my little aussie hunter.

The sounds of the birds are everywhere, and it's very relaxing. I haven't seen any black birds, or Blackbirds, yet; however, I did see a pair or morning doves from my bedroom, who flew one after the other past my window. Their sorrowful coo's, like the ring-necked doves that would sit on my crib as a child, float into the chorus of chirping and chickadee-ing. It put me in mind of the novel I'm reading, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Love in the Time of Cholera. I've been trying to figure out why I thought of that, but I haven't been succesful. Though I often do see things that make me recall characters, plots, or observations from a book I've read. It's like Kathleen Kelly from You've Got Mail: "So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?" That's quite true, but somehow I find that I prefer it that way. I think books can teach you just as much or more about life; how do I know anything about Columbia, or Latin America, if not through the writing of Marquez, through the truthful eyes of someone born there? I've never been there in the physical sense, but in my mind I have.

Yesterday I watched The Notebook for about the tenth time. I try to hide behind a cynical and realistic mask, but the truth is I am a romantic at heart; I can't help it. There, I'm exposed. Truth be told, some of my favourite novels are classic love stories: Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, The Time Traveller's Wife. And not only romantic in the lovey dovey sense, but also the Romantic poet's: Wordsworth, Keats, Coleridge. I really admire the connection they were able to develop with nature. Truth be told, I think this may be why I love tea. Just the notion is romantic: sitting curled up in front of a window-seat, sipping from a teacup and completely submerged in one's own thoughts; dainty little tea-parties, with lace and scones and gossip; on a patio watching the people go about their hurried business, still for a moment as the world spins on around you. Or maybe it's simply a caffiene addiction.

I can see the black birds now; I suppose they are late sleepers.

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Tea Quote of the Day:

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.
~Thich Nat Hahn

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Tea of the Day:

Twinings Earl Grey Tea

A light & aromatic blend of fine black tea, scented with bergamot, a citrus fruit.

From me: This is a classic tea, from one of the oldest companies in the tea business. If you want quality tea, this is one for you. There are varying strenghts which you can experiment with to find the right one for you. They come in packaged and loose leaf, and for more information you can click the link in the title to go to Twinings website. I personally like this one either with milk and sugar, or just plain. I had it this morning, and let me say it is an excellent morning tea.

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It's time for me to start studying again. I have to do well on drama and english particularily, as I may be doing a medial degree of the two.

Wuthering Heights

"Be with me always- take any form- drive me mad! only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I cannot live without my life! I cannot live without my soul!"


This book defines me. I love it. People say it's a love story, but I think above all it's a book of passion (in every respect). I want to buy every single edition I can get my hands on.


Again, I should be studying, but I was on chapters.ca and I started reading reviews for my favourite books. I came across this one which made me laugh so hard I was almost crying.



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0 people found this helpful
Wuthering Heights
Emily Bronte , Trade Paperback Oxford University Press
Online Price: $5.28 irewards Price: $5.02
a must read if you've read twilight
April 8, 2008
i have to read this book i havent read it yet but i reallly want to it seems like a great book if bella from twilight likes it i bet i will too
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Unfortunately, no. This isn't a joke. Ok, I don't even know what to say...this pretty much speaks for itself. Yeah, I'm sure a person of your incredible intellect is going to be able to appreciate the genius of Emily Bronte's writing. To reinforce, there is this:


0 comments
0 people found this helpful
Twilight: A Novel
Stephenie Meyer , Hardcover
Online Price: $16.71 irewards Price: $15.87
ADDICTING
April 8, 2008
i found this book to be stunning it is amazing there are simply no words to describe it, but beware this book is adicting and may take over your life in a good way or mabey a bad dempends on who you are make sure your prepared for the consenquenes (sp?) or the benifiets (sp?) oh and buy new moon and eclipse so you dont have to wait for a book store to open

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O_o Right...what? Note a complete lack of any proper grammar. I am praying that this person is a bit illiterate or something. And don't even get me started on this new Twilight fandom.

I just needed to rant, and it's better here than losing control and screaming at the poor person.

Hello, black birds

If your success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not feel good in your heart, it is not success at all.

Anna Quindlen

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I can say I know what I'm doing with my life, but not with conviction. The truth: I am confused. I narrowed down possible paths, but ended up with more than I had started with. Here they are:

• Actor
• Art Historian
• Art Conservationist
• Geologist
• Artist
• Publisher or Editor

Seems very...varied, no? Well, that's me. I love drama, and art/history, I would love, love, love to work in the book industry, but geolgists are getting 100K job offers right out of school. I do love geology, but is that the kind of success I want? Would I be doing it for the right reasons?

I should be studying for exams right now. English, Chemistry, Drama. I'll get to that later. Ah, procrastination, the university student's worst enemy.


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And, as you may already have realized, I am big on quotes and big on tea. So, here is my daily quote on tea:

We had a kettle; we let it leak:
Our not repairing made it worse.
We haven't had any tea for a week...
The bottom is out of the Universe.

~Rudyard Kipling


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And my tea of the day, which happens to be my favourite kind of tea:

Rooibos Tea



Treat yourself to an authentic taste of exotic South Africa with this full bodied, slightly sweet 100% herbal tea.

Rooibos (pronounced roy-boss) is harvested from a red bush grown in the Cedarberg Mountains of the Southern Cape. Also known as "red tea", it has long been appreciated around the world.

All-natural. Naturally caffeine-free.


From me: Try it with just a little honey, it really enhances the natural sweet flavours.Click on the title for a link to Celestial Seasonings brands rooibos tea.


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I can see little black birds on the trees outside my window. Maybe not Blackbirds, but they're beautiful all the same.

Belle Merle

merle1 also merl (mûrl) n.
See blackbird.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin merulus, merula.]

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Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird fly,

Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night.

Black bird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly,

Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise,oh

You were only waiting for this moment to arise, oh

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

-Blackbird, The Beatles

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I like tea...and blackbirds.