Be Mine

 (picture found via MILK--one of my favorite blogs)

(Snoop Dogg and McD's found via Baubauhaus, another fav)

Notes about Valentine's Day in France:

1) It's only meant for couples; therefore, it's not celebrated in elementary schools like it is in the USA. No Valentine's Day decorated boxes for cards and candy.
2) The Valentine's Candy hearts don't exist. I should've asked someone to ship them over for class.
3) French people don't use XOXOXO to express kisses and hugs. Who would've known?

Tomorrow, I will make my students create "friendly" Valentine's cards. I think it will work with the 6th graders, but I doubt it will work with any grade that's older. The risk of vulgarity is too strong.

All Is Fair in Love and War

I told her, "Humans are the only animal that blushes, laughs, has religion, wages war, and kisses with lips. So in a way, the more you kiss with lips, the more human you are."

 

"And the more you wage war?"    

  Then I was the silent one.           



"I met an old lady once, almost one hundred years old, and she told me, 'There are only two questions that human beings have ever fought over, all through history.

How much do you love me? And...

  Who’s in charge?' "  (From Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert)

            "Did you know that in the last 3500 years there have been only 230 years of peace throughout the civilized world?"

            He said, "You tell me which 230 years and I'll believe you!"

 

           "I don't know which, but I know it's true." 

          "And where's this civilized world you're referring to?" 

 

       (first and last quote are from Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer)

V-Day

I see more posts on blogs about how much Valentine's Day sucks. I mean Valentine's day can be pretty lame, but I don't see what all the fuss is about. If you are single, why should such a silly day make you feel depressed about it? I just take it for what it is. Kind of like how Magnetic Fields cheekily took love songs for what they are and dedicated a huge album to the subject (the best work ever done about love):

So, I don't feel any bitter sentiments towards the day.For me, it is a sweet holiday about love in general. I would receive gifts from my parents, and my mom and dad would give each of us 3 girls a little something special. Like a huge Hershey's bar. Or an easel.

So, the holiday is a cute one for me. Here are some pictures that make me smile.

 

  

 

ELAINNEEEE! EEEELAINEEEE!

 

BENNNNNNN!

  

  

This is a new French brand, obviously a play on the word "couples." 

Thekooples.com. Just saw the new store in Paris.

They advertise with real couples who have been together "depuis..." (since...). Usually the couples are young, and haven't been together very long. Except this one:

 

Despite their age, it's young love. They have been together for only 2 years.
On the contrary...we have this couple:

 

Next, again on the contrary, or perhaps ironically (because of the tabloids), we have this couple. Breakup or no breakup, I always will adore these photos. Call me what you want...

 Love can be a beast...

 

or deathly...

 

  Or it can be like a bizarre fairy-tale:

Well despite which way you see love...

Happy Valentine's!! Or as Liz Lemon put it, "Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day to you Evelyn. A Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day to us all!"  (the famed American suffragette whose b-day is February 14th.)