This past week I went to the new museum for “primitive” art, Quai Branly, which just opened and has been called Chirac’s project. Interesting that he should go on about “dialogue” accross cultures while immigrants are being treated so badly in France and while legislation has been passed that students without papers in schools can be deported. I thought the special exhibtion of Chiwara masks spoke to this contradiction. The way they were displayed silhouetted them against a window through which you could view the Paris skyline. I think this is a metaphor for the treatment of the “other” in a northern/western postcolonial nation- separate, an object of interest, curiosity, desire and maybe study, part of the society, but only in specific ways which are defined by the majority, relegated to their own separate places, objects to admire but not see as participants in a dialogue, and still a bit mysterious, weird and strange. Wait, sounds a lot like colonial nations.

Right now cries of “Allez les bleues!” ring out from everywhere. There is a quiet tension building up for the match this evening. Some kids have proposed a huge critical mass style bike ride through Paris while the streets are empty due to everyone watching the game. I will be watching though and not riding as I am spending the weekend at my sister’s house 60 km outside of Paris.

Today I completely forgot the significance of today’s date for some people in the US until I sat down on Gael’s windowsill to write in my journal and wrote the date. Hah hah hah happy birthday US, or not, this probably being the best fourth of july I have ever spent since I don’t have to acknowledge it at all (and yet I am).

Speaking French is actually not that scary (speaking it correctly being another matter all together), but I am somewhat baffled that anyone could actually understand what I am saying and I know my pronounciation totaly sucks. An example of this being that I totaly confused a waistress in a sushi restaraunt by asking for “suelement concomber, pas de saumon” but my “seulement” (only) sounded too much like “saumon” (salmon) and so I ended up with salmon sushi, which I embarassingly had to explain why I could not eat. But I will always enounciate “seulement” from now on.

The other students at the language school are from countries all over the world, easing my fears somewhat that I would just be surrounded by a bunch of people from the US. It’s a nice challenge too because often French is the only language we really have in common and so if I want to have someone to talk to and eat lunch with I have to talk to people in French. It also automatically makes me really open and friendly with people, which is a nice feeling.

Now if only I could always use the correct tenses when I speak that would be awesome.

I have arrived and wandered around and felt out of it and then went to the bois de vincennes with gael and we ate sandwiches and looked at swans. So far the pace of Paris is to my liking. But tonight is the big France vs. Brazil game and though I do not plan to watch I am sure I will know about it either way.

IMG_2431
Originally uploaded by perilsmusic.

This is a picture from the recording session that Perils, the band I play in with my friends Tya, Maggie and Yumi, had last weekend in Maggie’s lovely apartment. Her awesome boyfriend Noah and two cats, Silver and Magic, were of great assistance. It was really nice to get some of our songs recorded before I leave for two months in Europe and hopefully they will be up on our myspace page soon. I am feeling overwhelmed before I go, but also really excited. It feels like a lot to leave behind here in Brooklyn, but I know it will all be here when I come back. This photo also shows off my new haircut. I showed the stylist at the Aveda institute a picture of Jean Seberg in Breathless and asked her to cut my hair like that. I think she did a great job. It’s nice and cool for the summer and what other kind of haircut would I want being a young American lady in Paris?
You can see more photos of the recording session on Flickr, under the name “perilsmusic.”

IMG_2316
Originally uploaded by killerfemme.

O. and I went on a trip to Fire Island this weekend. We sat on the beach and wandered around and felt a little out of place amongst the wealthy teens who seem to be let loose come Saturday night. Despite the fairly chilly evening we still wanted to each ice cream (or gelato in my case), though we winced at the $4 price tag. I also enjoy the patriotic cone wrapping, I often think of the glory of the US when ice cream is melting on my hands. Here’s to a lovely summer get away and also to being back in NYC where Italian Ices can be had for $1!

The other day during lunch at work I found a pirate name generator quiz. Here’s what I got:

Captain Jenny Flint
Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship,
everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. Like the
rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like
flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

In other news, I am going to be a reblogger for Eyebeam from June 12-25. So if you want to find out
some interesting art and technology tidbits I've hand picked, visit their reblog!

Last night my band Perils played a really fun show at the M Shanghai Den with fabulous 
Brooklyn ladies in Full Tank.  I realized it was my dream come true in a way- playing in a cramped basement in
an all girl band to our friends with other bands that all had girls in them too!  Full Tank just released a CD
and it's excellent, so I highly recomend checking them out.

In preparation for some serious traveling this summer, I thought I would create a new blog with an RSS feed and the ability to upload photos (gasp!), though right now I am just using it for some serious procrastination.

And while I am at it, here’s some stuff to check out:

!!! View the event flyers at http://www.rffrag.org !!!

1. riffRAG benefit @ snapshot, Tuesday, May 16th, Doors 9:30pm
2. URBAN LOG BOOKS @ Local Project, May 13 - May 20, opening Saturday
May 13, 6pm-10pm

MORE INFO BELOW:
*****************************************************************************
1. riffRAG benefit @ snapshot

Tuesday, May 16th
Doors 9:30pm
@ *snapshot*
35 E. 13th St/University Pl.
www.snapshotnyc.com

$7 at the door
10pm, sharp Queer Film Screening, including Cherry Bomb
10-11pm / 2 for 1 Drink Specials
Kissing Booth
riffRAG print version&merch
DJs on Both Floors
Roofdeck, Dancing

***SCREENING THE INFAMOUS Cherry Bomb**
(Ernesto M. Foronda, 29 min., 1998)

The band that started grrrl style revolution gets the rockumentary
treatment in Ernesto M. Foronda's "Cherry Bomb." Witness the band's
quick rise to fame and long-lasting impact on the feminist cultural
landscape; hear the sordid details of the band's inevitable flameout.
With appearances by Kathleen Hanna, The Need, The Butchies, Harum
Scarum, Third Sex, Tammy Rae Carland, among others. Best of all, see
the fans testify!

This is a rare New York screening of this controversial film, often
cited as a precursor to VH1's "Behind the Music" TV specials. Don't
miss it!

****Proceeds will support the production and operating costs of
riffRAG's second issue and opening event in the Fall 2006****

**********************************************************************************************************
2. URBAN LOG BOOKS @ Local Project
May 13 - May 20

opening saturday May 13
6:00pm - 10:00pm

closing event
saturday May 20
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Artists Books, Zines, DIY & Independent Publications,
Journals and
Sketchbooks lovers.

Featuring:

Fly
Riff Rag (with Cinemarosa)
Bian Hutzell
Brooke Baxter
Leola Bermanzohn
Renzo Ortega
Hot Food Zine
Marren "The Monster"
The Black Rat Collective
Misled-Youth

21-36 44road LIC, New York

7 train to 45road Court House Square
E train to 23rd Street Ely avenue
G train to Court House