Joshua Tree National Park

San Diego

A good start on our California roadtrip...

Rudolph?

Transparencies

My new favorite artist is the impressionist Picabia. M and I witnessed an excellent art exhibition while we were in Malibu. with Picabia, Leger and Picasso. Some paintings from the exhibitions can be found on the website of the Getty Centre. Ther technique used by Picabia is called "transparancies".

The Treat?

Thinking about rewarding my hard work with this goodie...What do you think?

My God, Amazing That We Got This Far

So only two exams of five to go. This weekend was truly horrible. I slept 10 hours of pure depression, woke up with stomach ache and fever pushing myself to finish my paper in Economic Forecasting and prepare my exam in Financial Accounting (which by the way is one of my favorite subjects).

Although this has been a tough semester I am very grateful for this experience and I am amazed by the nice exchange students I met. Some courses have truly been a pleasure and I know more or less the change I want to lead after being here.

I cannot wait for Saturday to come when I will sit on a plane on my way to Los Angeles to spend one month with the love of my life. Although we spend most of the time apart M is the most supportive and unselfish man I have ever met. I know one day soon we will buy our favorite apartment in Zürich with a big bathtub and an amazing bed that for the first time is standing on legs. But until that day we will support each other dreams and honestly that is the only way to get this far.

Marching On

In moments of desperation there is not much more to do than to break something. I have been trying to throw things around me (mainly my cell phone on my bed), crying, and finally I found a satisfying way to handle my mix feelings; cut a pair of jeans a part.

I can assure you it was jeans that were supposed to be cut apart anyway but I must say it was a very satisfying feeling when your mind is racing.

So now I am back in the library with my 30 page long paper in how to forecast a stock index (or more why you cannot in the end), I am listening to this song thinking which foot I should move in front of the other….

One Republic – Marching On

For those days we felt like a mistake,
Those times when love’s what you hate,
Somehow,
We keep marching on

For those nights when I couldn’t be there,
I’ve made it harder to know that you know,
That somehow,
We’ll keep moving on

There’s so many wars we fought,
There’s so many things we’re not,
But with what we have,
I promise you that,
We’re marching on

For all of the plans we’ve made,
There isn’t a flag I’d wave,
Don’t care if we bend,
I’d sink us to swim,
We’re marching on

For those doubts that swirl all around us,
For those lives that tear at the seams,
We know,
We’re not what we’ve seen

For this dance we’ll move with each other.
There ain’t no other step than one foot,
Right in front of the other.

There’s so many wars we fought,
There’s so many things we’re not,
But with what we have,
I promise you that,
We’re marching on

We’ll have the days we break,
And we’ll have the scars to prove it,
We’ll have the bonds that we save,
But we’ll have the heart not to lose it

For all of the times we’ve stopped,
For all of the things I’m not

We put one foot in front of the other,
We move like we ain’t got no other,
We go when we go,
We’re marching on

Quotes

Here are some quotes I am currenlty using in my negotations paper - read and reflect:


"We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started"

Henry Ward Beecher


“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest”

Confucius


“We cannot negotiate with those who say, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is negotiable"”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy



“The long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead”

John Maynard Keynes´



“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom”

Thomas Jefferson

Things to Look Forward to

Helena 25 Years

Special thanks for all emails and cards... I hope to answer them soon!

50/50

I will surprise you with one more post and recommend the amazing movie 50/50 about a 27-year old man discovering he has cancer. Excellent performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The Problem With.... Bags

So while I am deeply in stressed with my entire 500 project for school I decided to stop for a while and think about something as superficial as bags. The reason is that I need a new bag… and being on travelling feet for some years now I do not carry around just any bag. I need a strong black leather bag that can hold all my books, computers and necessities. I do not want an overpriced designer bag unless someone pays me for doing the marketing. So no bag with an obvious brand and no plastic fantastic… I have no need to purchase my social identity – it’s created with memories and memories can be carried in just any bag.

I am telling you, it is not easy to buy a nice quality bag. If Veja was to produce a nice woman handbag I would be the first in line.

So guys, any suggestions?

Surviving Life

That how my life feels like now. While I am up over my ears in readings, group works and other projects I am trying to take one of the biggest decisions of my life. It’s not easy to cope with all the stress at once… But in three weeks this semester is over; and then I will look back and say I did it.

But right now I just have to do it…

Meet the New Me

New frames!!!

Toronto in Autumn Colors

Superwoman

Times like this requires an inspiring song - Superwoman

Everywhere I'm turning
Nothing seems complete
I stand up and I'm searching
For the better part of me
I hang my head from sorrow
state of humanity
I wear it on my shoulders
Gotta find the strength in me

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

For all the mothers fighting
For better days to come
And all my women, all my women sitting here trying
To come home before the sun
And all my sisters
Coming together
Say yes I will
Yes I can

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

When I'm breaking down
And I can't be found
And I start to get weak
Cause no one knows
Me underneath these clothes
But I can fly
We can fly, Oh

Cause I am a Superwoman
Yes I am
Yes she is
Even when I'm a mess
I still put on a vest
With an S on my chest
Oh yes
I'm a Superwoman

Me and My Camera

Toronto in Black and White

Veja

In my class ”Business Strategies for Sustainability” I came across a company called Veja, a pioneer in producing sustainable sneakers and accessories. The company was founded by two business students from Paris. Reading through the case I felt a stitch of envy – those people really do something they believe in, and one day I hope I will be in their position. Fantastic and inspiring company and I hope every man out there who needs new sneakers will take a look at their web-shop – Veja Store.

Truly inspiring words from their homepage:

Veja is just a drop in the ocean

5 years on - The world understands that social issues and environmental crisis are now matters of urgency.

Day after day, prophets of all kind are pulling the emergency cord, the entire economy is turning green and sustainable-developementising speeches are spreading around.

Actions remain scarce but words abound.

Beyond movies about the environment, beyond multinational companies building green windows to hide disasters, beyond the Copenhagen speeches filled with words and political promise….

Action.

And despite this green-fronted economy, let's try to offer a different vision which combines fair trade and ecology and links together economy, social initiatives and the environment.

A vision that proposes cultural change.

Transparency.

Traveler's Food

Sitting here eating my noodles I fantasies about the gourmet meal I had in the beginning of the week: pan-fried chicken, rice and sauce… For you probably the most uncomplicated dish ever, but for me changing kitchen every 4 months (together with refrigerator and tools) it was a real accomplishment.

Another classic dish, pasta, tomato sauce and bacon!

The true agony of living in a suitcase. And I do not see an end of it. When will I have stay in one place longer than 4 months? God only knows…

The Moment You All Been Waiting For

The address to my beautiful, brown, over-priced apartment on York University Campus:

Helena Hansson
You should have written this down by now

Toronto, Ontario

Canada

Canadian cell phone: You should have written this down by now (please check if you need additional international prefix before sending a text or giving a call, I believe it is 001)

Please note that my mail box is tiny winy and that I am vacating the apartment on the 17^th of December.

Icehockey

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston

Picture Proof of a Great Night

Picture borrowed from Hennessey Events

Me and P at The Roosevelt Room

Hangover

I was meaning to tell you about the very unexciting hockey game G and I watched yesterday when the Maple Leaves lost with 0-7 against Boston. But the evening got more interesting than so. It all started off with the fact that they actually served wine at the hockey game (I think G and I was the only ones drinking wine). Afterwards we went to an even organized by the Graduate Business Council here at Schulich at the Roosevelt Room in the entertainment district. An evening that started off with the phrase “just one drink” ended being “too many shoots” and now I am laying in my bed grateful for that the winter time is here (We gain one hour) and the fact that I still have 3 hours to recover before my group meeting.

Ah, the pain of turning 25 – diminishing returns on alcohol recovery

Anyway, a fantastic night all in all. Enjoy your Sunday!

Btw, yesterday there was a man coming up to me asking if I was married. I had noticed his eyes on me during the evening and I was quick to have a “replacement” for my "husband". I wonder why I just did not say no, haha! Further I was offered a drink by a guy named Omar – but I insisted on calling him Orvar. I never got the drink in the end – I wonder why…

Interesting Article on DN

IPCC is preparing a new report and it does not look promising. Read it here and realize what really matters in life.

Malibu Beach

The Brightest Stars of Them All

Only One Can Know How It Feels

Plain White T's- Hey There Delilah

Hey there Delilah
What's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away
But girl, tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
Times Square can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true

Hey there Delilah
Don't you worry about the distance
I'm right there if you get lonely
Give this song another listen
Close your eyes
Listen to my voice, it's my disguise
I'm by your side


Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me

Hey there Delilah
I know times are getting hard
But just believe me, girl
Someday I'll pay the bills with this guitar
We'll have it good
We'll have the life we knew we would
My word is good

Hey there Delilah
I've got so much left to say
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away
I'd write it all
Even more in love with me you'd fall
We'd have it all


Oh it's what you do to me

A thousand miles seems pretty far
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
Our friends would all make fun of us
and we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way
Delilah I can promise you
That by the time we get through
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame

Hey there Delilah
You be good and don't you miss me
Two more years and you'll be done with school 
And I'll be making history like I do
You'll know it's all because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Delilah here's to you
This one's for you

Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me.

Home Sweet Home?

Just arrived back from LA - a fantastic trip. It always breaks my heart to leave M, but I guess it is a good sign.

Goodnight to you all!

Living the Dream

Los Angeles

 – the city where everyone wants to make it but everyone don’t. The city where the gym is the new religion and Botox is as self-explanatory as facial cream. Where spending is the norm and another credit card is used to pay off the last one. Where fat-free and skinny latte is in favor. Where there are as many cars as inhabitants. Where there is no water in the rivers. Where people sell books in the café’s and sings in the street in the hope of being discovered – or is it to survive?

They are truly living the dream

(I was ordering a latte the other day and the female asked if I wanted normal milk – I said yes please – and she said good girl – I said I am a real woman)

Love in San Diego