Pere Lachaise Cemetary, the perfect combination of historical and macabre.

Montmarte. Amelie’s neighborhood! Topped by a beautiful, unique cathedral with amazing views of the city.

Notre Dame. I am not a religious person but the walking around inside the cathedral while a service was going on was very vibey.

Bread, cheese, wine and pastries.

Maoz Vegetarian, in the Latin Quarter. Falafel! This was a godsend for a broke vegetarian in Paris.

The walking tour in English. Very informative.

Yann Tiersen. His music just sounds like Paris.

*All photos taken by me!

“When good Americans die they go to Paris.”
-Oscar Wilde

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Favorite lines Mr. Mojo Risin’ ever penned or squealed:

Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?
“The Movie,” An American Prayer
Cryptic, yes, but this has basically been my life’s guiding principle since high school. I believe this was even my senior quote in the yearbook.

Blood in the streets of the town of New Haven;
Blood stains the roofs and the palm trees of Venice
Blood in my love in the terrible summer;
Bloody red sun of fantastic L.A.
Blood screams her brain as the chop off her fingers
Blood will be born in the birth of a nation;
Blood is the rose of mysterious union
“Peace Frog,” Morrison Hotel

The hostess is grinning, her guests sleep from sinning,
Hear me talk of sin and you know this is it
“Strange Days,” Strange Days

I’m a spy in the house of Love
I know the dream that you’re dreamin’ of;
I know the word that you long to hear
I know your deepest secret fear
“The Spy,” Morrison Hotel

When I woke up this morning I got myself a beer
The future is uncertain and the end is always near
“Roadhouse Blues,” Morrison Hotel
Yeah you did, Jim Morrison. Yes you did.

Cancel my subscription to the resurrection,
Send my credentials to the house of detention,
I got some friends inside
“When the Music’s Over,” Strange Days

The West is the best
The West is the best
Get here and we’ll do the rest
“The End,” The Doors

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New Orleans. This would not be that difficult to make happen but it seems like it’s always a bad time to go. It’s always hurricane season or the aftermath of a disaster. However, this is probably the number one place I’d like to go in the whole world, so it’s bound to happen at some time. I love the vibe and awesome people seem to flock there [awesome people meaning Trent Reznor and Brangelina].

Puerto Rico [I’m working off of an inclusive idea of the United States, here.]

Chicago. It’s super lame that I’ve never been there.

Nashville. I’ve tried made plans to visit here twice, but both times my plans were squandered by inclement weather/disastrous flooding. This might be a sign that I shouldn’t go there… but I’m probably going to ignore that.

New York City. I’ve been there before, but only for a day and a half, which is not nearly enough time to see NYC, so I’m including it.

DC. What kind of an American political science student has never been to the nation’s capital? [Answer: Most of the Poli Sci students at SF State. Oh snap!]

Virginia. I look on this state incredibly fondly even though I’ve never been there and I don’t like how they tend to vote, so I should probably go visit to find out why.

Yellowstone!

Miami. I never, ever wanted to go here before watching Dexter, which begs the question, “Why would you want to go to a city after watching a show about a serial killer in said city?” Shit, I don’t know. But I like Cuban food and music.

Wisconsin. I like cheese. A lot. And, I’ve heard Madison is cool. I dig surprise-cool cities, like Cincinnati. I had no idea that city was awesome until I went there.

Hrmph… There’s other places I’d like to visit too. But I told myself I’d limit lists to ten items.

New Hampshire, Colorado, Ann Arbor, Oregon, Minnesota [because they’re just so goddamn nice], the Salt Flats, Alaska [should probably see it before it melts away], Austin [people keep telling me it’s cool but I’m not really sure how that is, being that it’s in Texas, so I must see for myself]

“When you’re born you get a ticket to the freak show. When you’re born in America, you get a front row seat.” – George Carlin

The “Candy Colored Clown” scene from Blue Velvet. This probably doesn’t really count as a “dance scene,” since the chick on the top of the car is not the main element, but she’s got some awesome moves! I’ve been trying to imitate them all week.

The Tom Cruise dance during the credits of Tropic Thunder. It’s even funnier because you know crazy ass Tom Cruise had to have taken it totally seriously while filming too.

The Pulp Fiction dance. A classic. BTW, I think John Travolta is crazy too. Hrmm…

The group dance from Boogie Nights! This is only on this list because Boogie Nights is the greatest movie ever. And because I can’t listen to “Machine Gun” without thinking of it. [No, not the Jimi Hendrix “Machine Gun.” The Commodores’ “Machine Gun.”] And because Marky Mark is in it. And John C. Reilly is skinny. And Roller Girl is roller skating.

The Napoleon Dynamite Jamiroquai dance. If you’re of a certain age range you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

I realize this list is somewhat scarce, and I welcome your additions. I really just wanted to talk about the dancing lady from Blue Velvet because I saw that movie for the first time last week and her moves were so SWEET.

“If I can’t dance – I don’t want to be part of your revolution.” –Emma Goldman

::new additions::

OMG! I can’t believe I forgot “Dance Magic Dance” from the Labyrinth. What could be better than David Bowie, tights for pants, and Muppets? Thanks to Rob for pointing out my folly.

This guy is INTO IT, for reals.

These things are so cool, but I could not for the life of me find an adequately awesome demonstration on YouTube. Think the music playing during palace scenes in movies about old monarchs. Or, more embarrassingly, Tori Amos…

I have to admit that the only reason I chose this video over others was because it was an Asian dude playing it instead of some downtrodden southerner.

Come to think of it, it might be a little disjointed…

“If you can’t be sincere, be obscure.” – My dad

I would use that $ to make more $$$ by investing, brilliantly of course [which would in turn allow me to do the following things:]

Buy a house [multiple houses?] and remodel, decorate and green-ify with reckless abandon.

Take the Coachella family and some select others that could hang on an all expenses paid tour de force of festivals; Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, EDC, Outside Lands, and any others with a sweet lineup and/or in an exotic place.

Pay off student loans and any other debts [BORING].

Go back to school, forever. While I loved my PoliSci days, I always wish I could have fit in degrees in business, computer magic, history, the arts, creative writing, etc. Remember that car commercial where the girl complained about her date being a professional student? I thought that commercial sucked.

Have the best personal trainer, nutritionist, chef, and massage therapist at my constant beck and call so that I could give Kelly Ripa a run for her money.

Travel whenever possible.

Be involved in charities, either by donating massive sums or being involved in the administration, because most NPOs could really use some help when it comes to the business side of things. Not that I consider myself a brilliant businesswoman in real life, as I’m rather inexperienced in those matters. But remember that this is all taking place in a world where I brilliantly invested my lottery winnings to double (no, triple!) the original amount. So there.

Because this summer is a particularly dull one for me [besides all the sweet road trips across the USA… ok, maybe it hasn’t been so dull], I’ve come up with new ways of entertaining myself, one of which is to write down the lists I naturally make in my head and turn them into a blog.

I fully admit that this won’t be 100% lists. There will probably be some digital art, crafty things, political and other musings infused with the fervor for list-making. Having nothing to do and no set schedule has allowed me to rediscover my long lost creative side, and I’d like to share it with you. Hopefully it will provide some incentive for me to keep in touch with the creative side once 1L starts [this hope is completely unrealistic, but now is not the time to be cynical].

So, to the first [basic] lists:

I’m a born-and-raised California girl that just moved east.
I’m starting law school at the University of Toronto (that’s right, Canada) in September.
This is the first time since I was 16 that I was not working and/or in school, hence, the whole “not having anything to do” thing.
“Made with Real Lemons” is a pseudonym I’ve used in my creative endeavors on and off since high school.

Smart, interesting people who aren’t totally obsessed with themselves.
ANIMALS! Particularly the small, furry variety.
*If this list were to be organized in order of preference [which it is not, really] the above two items may have to be switched.
The macabre; Dia de los Muertos aesthetic, New Orleans voodoo, haunted places, old things, Jim Morrison mythology, creepy Catholic art, etc.
Bright, vibrant colors. There may be nothing that makes me happier than the color sample walls at home improvement stores.
Attaining good health; exercising, “green-ifying” my living space, abiding by the teachings of “Food, Inc.,” and eliminating carcinogenic chemicals from my cosmetics and soaps. But I’m no fitness Nazi [my favorite foods are macaroni and cheese and popcorn], don’t you worry.
Drag QUEEEEENz. (“It’s time to lipsynch for your LIFE!”)
Lost. This needs no explanation.

Answering the 800 # you call to complain about something I have no control over.
That many people in the United States seem to be of unfortunate mental capacity. Example: Tea-baggers.
That the cheapest and most delicious food is the worst for you.
Same as above with cosmetics. Well, in regards to cheapness, anyway. I haven’t ever eaten my cosmetics, except maybe some lip gloss.
Scary animals that want to bite and/or eat me: sharks, mosquitoes, spiders. Such jerks.

To keep up with it, even after school starts. Eek!
To somehow be coherent and not completely self-indulgent so that other people actually want to read it.
To limit lists to 10 items, because some could really go on forever.
To use it as a platform for learning/practicing HTML, CSS and graphic design.
To somehow make some money off of it? Unlikely, but I do have a CafePress store where you can buy shirts and other goodies with a design of my creation, if you feel so inclined…

The lists I post from now on will most likely seem completely random to you, if you are nice enough to read again. However, I do welcome list suggestion topics, as well as response lists (same topic, your own content) in the form of a comment.

“Boredom is the root of all evil – the despairing refusal to be oneself.” – Soren Kierkegaard