Potpourri (...rotten jar?)

Here are some snippets of what's been running through my mind lately.

First of all, I can't explain it, but I feel this strong pull towards getting a tattoo. I know it's silly and permanent and generally spur-of-the-moment, but I have been thinking about this a lot. I've always thought, "If I get a tattoo, where would it be and what would it be?" Which was usually enough evidence to convince me I don't need one. But now, I know exactly what and where. Which is odd for someone like me, who changes her mind quite frequently. Long story short, I envision myself with a small and delicate fleur-de-lys (image above) on the lower back, towards one side.

It's not really the tattoo itself, but what it symbolizes. I know I'll never grow out of my adoration for all things French, and the lily definitely stands for that part of my heritage and life experiences. We'll see if it happens or not. My parents would flip, but they're threatening to cut me off financially, so that rules their opinions out! I'm only half kidding...

Next, I recently found out that I do not consume more than 1,100 calories on an average day and about 10-12 percent of that is my daily fat intake. Aimée directed me to this website with a download-able Excel chart to track your daily consumption. And it's not like I'm starving myself, that figure typically includes three meals, snacks and beverages.

Well, nights when I consume alcohol would probably exponentially spike my calorie and sugar count, but it's not like I'm at UCSB anymore. Those days are very rare and scattered throughout the month. Either way, after less than 1,000 calories today before my low-fat, low-sugar ice cream dessert treat, I feel extremely full.

My activity these days is quite mild, taking frequent walks and crunches every other day. For some reason, my knees can't handle running like they used to and I'm getting bored of the same route. Hopefully I'll find many enticing trails and routes to get me back to running when I'm in France!

And speaking of walking and France, I've decided to get back into my old French routine. When I lived in Nice two summers ago, all of my activities consisted of walking since parking, gas and cars are so scarce in the South of France. I had to walk 20-30 minutes to class each day and then walk to go out at night, walk to the beach (ok, two blocks from my apartment!), walk to the market for food and then walk to the shopping areas in Vieux Nice.

So remembering that, Antibes will most certainly be the same lifestyle. I've been preparing myself for those days again -- which I will probably have to attempt in work clothes and heels, yikes -- by walking anywhere I can. Lately, I've walked to get lunch, to the bank, to the grocery store, you name it. If it's less than a mile away, I'll walk it!

Here's to walking the many streets of the Côte d'Azur in 17 days!