Get in My Ear: Brazilian Girls

Brazilian Girls are neither
a) from Brazil
b) all girls

But that doesn't make me love them any less.  It's crazy that they're not super famous, eh?

What are you listening to these days?

True Story: I Have Herpes

This is one of many True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/challenging/amazing things. This is the story of 'Angela' and her experience with Herpes.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a normal, 20 something girl. I’m an economics major, sociology minor at a Midwest college. I party on weekends, serve at a local coffee shop for cash and love spending it all on shoes. I’m normal.

But I have herpes.

I grew up in a good home, in a middle class neighborhood and my parents are still together. Sex was never a taboo topic, and sexual health was never something I was shy about. I’ve had sex with ten men (only 2 of which I wasn’t in a relationship with), all of which I have used condoms with – most of the time.

For those of us who aren't sure, could you tell us what Herpes is?
Basically, herpes is a virus and once you have it, it’s yours for life. There are two types, Simplex 1 and 2. I have 1, which is the “lighter” version, that usual manifests as oral cold sores. However, I got it on my genitals, most likely after receiving oral sex from someone who has it. Simplex 2 is “stronger” and what most people show as genital herpes. Wikipedia explains more, as do numerous online sources (be sure to check references and always ask your doctor if your information is correct)

How did you get Herpes?
The crazy thing about herpes is, you never can be totally sure where you got it from.

My ex boyfriend from a few years ago, Chris, has herpes. He was completely honest about it with me from day one, and for that reason I still hold him in the highest regard. It was completely my decision to sleep with him full knowing the risk of catching it. We were always careful to use condoms. But not careful enough that the occasional night we would get caught up and not use one. But he’s had it for ten years and knows his body. He never once had sex with me when he thought there could be even the slightest risk. We had sex for over four years, and I never had a problem. We broke up last year.

How did you find out that you had it?
I had been seeing another guy, John, for a couple months about a year after Chris and I broke up. One night we had sex, and it was pretty rough (a trigger for a herpes outbreak). I woke up feeling sore, but thought it was just because we had gone at it pretty hard. A few days later we had sex again, and the next morning I woke up in unbearable pain. It felt like someone was stabbing me in the crotch, while giving me rug burn, while pouring acid over top. When I checked myself out, I saw a couple little sores. I freaked out and got to the doc that same day. He told me that it was just an allergic reaction to the condoms we used and gave me a cortisone cream. He still did an STI test, but I heard nothing back. 2 days later, the sores were everywhere, I couldn’t pee, or go to the bathroom, and couldn’t sleep or walk. New doc said it might be herpes, but didn’t test or give me anything for it. 2 days later I went to another doc.

This was possibly the worst experience of my life. I could barely open my legs I was in so much pain. He had to insert a speculum to do a swab, I was literally screaming and crying hysterically on the table. I was begging him to stop. He couldn’t finish swabbing because I was hurting so bad. He then had to scrap one of the sores to get cells for testing. Again, I was screaming and sobbing, but had to let him do it, because I had to know what was wrong with me. It was hell.

He prescribed me painkillers and Valtrex (an oral anti-viral for herpes). He said there was a chance it could be something else, but to be safe we’d start on Valtrex right away.

How did you feel when you found out?
I spent the week alone, at home, crying, sobbing. Anytime I would be wake up or feel the pain, I’d pop a pill and try to sleep. It was awful. My house fell apart, I stopped eating, I didn’t talk to anyone. I literally shut myself in.

I felt disgusting, and still do in a way. I felt like the light in me was turned off. I felt like the happy, bubbly, flirty, fun girl I used to be was killed. I was ashamed, I felt dirty, I felt like no one would love me again. When I told John, I watched the look in his eyes change. I haven’t heard from him since.

And although I have history of a sexual partner with herpes, that does NOT necessarily mean that Chris gave it to me. John could have given it to me just as easy. That’s the thing, you NEVER know. Chris has been a rock through this. I didn’t want to tell him, but I needed support. He has been amazing. In a weird way, it’s dissolved any remaining tension between us. And in another weird way, it cleared up any questions I had about John and the type of person he is. So, some good in the bad.

What sort of treatments have you tried? Have they been successful for you?
I have just been using Valtrex, and only when I feel an outbreak coming. I also avoid potential triggers, such as sun exposure and high stress situations. So far I’ve been successful in fighting this.

How has this affected your romantic life?
As I said, John and I broke up. To be honest, if a guy reacts like that, then I don’t want him in my life anyways.

I have not had any romantic partners since. I have been holding back on getting close with anyone because I am dreading the day I have to tell them.

Chris told me about his herpes about 2 months into our relationship, long before we had done more then make out. He trusted me not only to not tell anyone, but he also trusted that I would accept him for who he is, flaws and all. I remember that when he told me, I was not disgusted or even disappointed. If anything, I felt closer to him. And because of his honesty, I never had trust issues with him. So I hope the same will happen for me when I tell my next boyfriend. But if he can’t handle it, that’s fine too, because I don’t want to be with someone who won’t love me exactly the way I am.

And in a strange way, it’s almost a blessing… I won’t be sleeping with a guy I like right away, he now has to earn my trust.

What steps do you take to avoid giving Herpes to a partner?
The only sure fire way is not to have sex at all. Oral counts.

But if you and your partner are going to, and one of you is infected, you can take certain steps to be safer. Never, EVER have sex when there are sores present. Even in the healing stage, when they are no longer contagious, don’t have sex, it’s not worth the risk. Never have sex when you feel an outbreak about to happen (burning, itching, tingling). ALWAYS use a condom and a spermicide. Be open, honest and communicate. Trust your gut. Don’t take stupid risks. Continue to get screened. Make sure you always have a supply of Valtrex on hand just in case. But mainly, communicate honestly.

What advice would you give to someone who has just been diagnosed?
Before you’ve been diagnosed, if you feel that something “down there” is wrong, don’t wait. Go to a clinic right away and tell them what you think it is. I didn’t tell the first doc I thought it was herpes, because I didn’t want to believe it, I wanted it to just be a reaction to the condom. Get tested right away and get on medicine for it right away. Otherwise you’re in for a WORLD of pain.

Get a good drug plan. Always have a stash of meds just in case. Know your body and take extra good care of it. Do research, but don’t quote the internet. Talk to your doctor. Use the anonymous phone lines if you want to talk to someone. Always be open and honest with your partner. DON’T blame anyone. Accept that you chose to have sex in the first place, knowing that STIs ARE a possible outcome, and accept it. Never blame someone else, that will just kill you in the end.

What advice would you give to someone who's interested in a person who's been diagnosed?
Ask yourself if there is a future with this person. Ask your self if you are really willing to contract this virus that you will have forever. Don’t romance it. It HURTS, physically AND emotionally. What If you get it and you break up? Are you ready to be the one telling your new partner about it? Will you accept full responsibility if you get herpes? Or will you resent your partner? Beyond that, ask yourself how much you trust your partner. Will they be open and honest with you about the state of their health? Will they put you at risk if they’re horny one night? Will they respect you when you say no? If you can’t have an open and frank conversation with your partner about sex and STIs, whether or not either of you have one, I really think you need to reevaluate why you’re in that relationship in the first place.

Have you ever dated anyone with Herpes? Any (respectful!) questions for Angela?

Web Time Wasters

I recently realized that I would be remiss in my duties as your internet BFF if I kept posting Web Time Wasters on Fridays.  Because, you guys?  Sundays are a snooooooooze on the interwebz! Nobody's posting anything new, everybody's off brunching or nursing hangovers.  But come 3 p.m. you really kind of want to hunker down and look at funny pictures of cats and read cultural commentary, amiright?

On an vaguely related note, the above photo makes me think that I need to make a post entitled "Cute Baby Animals in Buckets.  Also: Drawers.  And Maybe Flower Pots."

Awesome stuff from the internet!

Help raise money for help victims of the Christchurch earthquake by taking part in this virtual 5k.  And my girl Alex is giving away copies of her Self-Promotion Toolbox to anyone who donates to the Red Cross. 

Exciting stuff over on the Yes and Yes Every Buddy Board!  Book recommendations, awesome (and bizarre) recipes, money saving techniques and beauty products we can't live without.

How have I been on this earth for 31 years and not known about Socially Awkward Penguin?!

Who doeesn't want to escape to a villa decorated like this in Spain or Greece?  Personal sidenote: Greece is one of the few travel destinations that I've ever been to that lived up to my (extremely high) expectations.  If you ever get a chance - go!

An interview with my girlfriend Mindy Kaling "I wanna have my own tv show, then be a movie star, then get super political, then when I’m old and irrelevant have my own tv show again.”

Barack Obama's thoughts on marriage. 

Holy wow!  Have you heard about the Google art project?  Explore museums all over the world and even zoom in (waaaay in) on your favorite works of ary.

Amy talks about childhood, judgement and winning at the losing (weight) game.

Awe.some.  Minibar For The Mind: conversation starters, collected thoughts, reading prescriptions, dreams and fears notebook!

These Happy Day/Crappy Day rings are a million times cooler than the mood ring I rocked in fifth grade.

You guys know I love lists.  I particularly loved this list of things that Andrea saw out the window of her train during an 18-hour, birtday trip.

Oh my.  These wearble planter necklaces are magical.

Super interesting!  What it's like to live on the road, in a hotel.

Do you think Jessica Simpson is stupid?  The media would certainly have us believe she is.  Yet girlfriend has a fashion empire that earns almost as much as Michael Kors.  Hmmm....

I knew there was a reason!  Why we all love websites and photos of neatly arranged stuff.

You may remember my daliances with online dating?  A good article on how to navigate match.com et al.

Illustrations of dogs wearing hats.  I'll take 15, please.

Kyla has a million great ideas.  I love this post on making your own mentor.

Life Lessons Learned From Literature

What does your desk space look like? Here's mine.  You can see the offices and desks of a Tina Fey, Woody Allen (oddly grandma-y), Al Gore (three computer screens/!) and many more at Desks of The Rich and Famous

Wow.  Lily lost her battle with Cyctic Fibrosis, but while she was alive she kept an amazing blog as a "resource for people living with serious illness and other health issues to help them lead fulfilling, positive lives. To help them look at the joy around them and to assist them in achieving their dreams and goals because I believe that your health should not hold you back, it just means you have to be a bit more CREATIVE!!"

Remember our discussion about Thai Ladyboys?  They usually have trouble finding work outside of the beauty and entertainment industries but now PC air (yes, that's really the name of the airline) is hiring transgendered flight attendents.

All the boyfriends I've ever had in chronilogical order.  Why is this so engrossing?!

Hooooray!  Half of women feel more successful than their man.  And it's no bigs.

The average face for women in 40 different countries.  Do you see yourself?  I feel like I look a bit Finnish or Swedish

1,200+ albums are for sale for $5 on Amazon!  Including the likes of Jay-Z, Phoenix, The Black Keys, Local Natives, Daft Punk, Best Coast, Arcade Fire, Freelance Whales, Neutral Milk Hotel, Matt & Kim, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Radiohead, Monsters of Folk, Destiny’s Child, MGMT. Gogogo!

Well, now I want to visit Cuba.

Actually...

Notes From The Road: You'll Love Laos

Though I only spent a week in Laos, I'm a little bit in love with it.  So much in love with it that I'm actively fantasizing about a life in which I "winter" in Luang Prabang.  I could tell you all the reasons why Loas is awesome (French-influenced food and architecture, lovely people, great exchange rate, green mountains, epic waterfalls) but sometimes pictures are more effective, no?

Yes, those are maggots.  And yes, they're for eating.  And no, 

I did not partake.

Have you ever been to Laos?  This was my first time!

Got the travelbug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making longterm travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

Calling All March Sponsors For Yes and Yes!

Well, now that I've whet your appetite with a video of a turtle objecting to an underwater wedding (and who can blame him really?) let's talk about March sponsorship.

Here's the dealio:

Sponsorships are available in one, two and three month packages with pricing discounts at two and three months.  Sponsors who sign up for a two month package with receive an introduction post and three month sponsors have the option of a giveaway, if they're interested.  Ads are shuffled mid month, so everybody gets a chance for the top spot.

Some facts about Yes and Yes?

Daily hits: 1,800 - 2,200 a day

Page views: 110,000+ per month

Twitter followers: 1,390+

Facebook fans: 990+

Google Page Rank: 4
Google reader subscribers: 4,000 +

I've got all kinds of cool stuff lined up for March!  My next ebook (Smart + Sassy + Solo: Adventures in Lady Travel), super cool guest bloggers, interviews with a phone sex worker and a performance artist and all sorts of other good stuff.

email me at sarah@yesandyes.org to set up a sponsorship!

Moments of Win!

Do you guys remember our lovely Flickr Pool Moments of Win? This is the place where you tuck that photo of you finishing your first triathlon, or holding your first successful souffle, or clutching your briefcase on the first day at that great new job.

Maybe these are not the world's most flattering photos (because who looks great finishing a triathlon?!) and they might not win photography awards but they capture moments that made you thrilled to be alive. Yes? Yes.

Let's look at some!

Erin
That trip to Thailand was part of my world trip in 2009 that I consider my first ultimate "moment" of win. I had been stuck in a boring job for two years and spent the last year of it daydreaming about traveling while I was still at a time in my life when I easily could .  I surprised myself by actually keeping a tight(ish) budget for about the last ten months I worked there and then things just fell into place.  About a week before I was laid off from that job (and 3 months before I intended on quitting) I met that handsome guy sitting next to me on the elephant.  He already had his own year long climbing trip planned for the same time, but we decided that combining our trips and traveling together was a much better idea than going solo and never seeing each other again.  Like any big, international trip, parts of it were trying, but my face on that elephant pretty much sums up the satisfaction I felt in doing exactly what I wanted to be doing right at that moment.

Renai
About halfway done with our 7 mile hike in 10 degree weather with -20 degree windchill. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!

Sarah Von

On Christmas Day, 2010 I found myself staying with a Nepali host family in the (rather dusty and destitute) border town of Birtamode. I was prepared to spend my holiday whimpering into a phone at the internet cafe, but my family and new friends took me the only church in town and showered me with gifts (a tiny laughing Buddha, two Ganesha statues, be-jeweled bangles and a tiny pastel purse). Then I cooked an American meal for them and we ate it on the rooftop terrace. I'm 90% sure that they didn't like the food, but they were so sweet not to turn down my chili-free meal. What a great way to spend Christmas!

Anna
My NaNoNovel arrived yesterday, I'm one happy camper! :D Thanks, Createspace!
Holly
I saw my niece move in my sister's belly!

Rachael

The view flying into Cork, Ireland. Goodness gracious, the beauty of that country comes through even from an airplane window. My whole life brought me to this moment. It was an enormous accomplishment getting there.

Genevieve

I really love the Eden project. It has a swirl of San Francisco and after living in the very conventional Essex for the past two years, is the closest I've felt to normal in ages!! ;) oh, and they served rooibos there. Some might think of it as a dorkotropolis, but to me it felt like home. Here you can be as unconventional, unique, and non-traditional as you like and they're down with that, and will still serve you a cream tea. Always nice for a transplanted Seattle girl.

Amelia

I've wanted to come to Peru for as long as I can remember, thanks to an overdose of Paddington Bear books in my childhood...okay, early teens! I finally started organising it once I finished studying, and decided that while I was over here, I wanted to do something that helped. After emailing Sarah (you!) about her experiences, I decided to go with CarismPeru and ended up chilling out with some of the coolest kids in the highlands. Their parents work all day, but they only go to school in the afternoons, so the Urpaycancha project is there to provide with a safe, supervised place to hang out, and maybe learn some English. We played volleyball, sang in English, brushed each others hair (they were quite dismayed not be able to get a comb through mine!), made necklaces and graffitied the whole place with colourful chalk! I miss them a lot, so I'm heading back there for December, and am even coming back in 2012 to play with them some more (as well as teaching teachers English!)

Go have a paddle through the Flickr pool and add your own Moments of Win photos!

Get In My Ear: Oh Land

I am really trying my hardest (so hard!) not to resent Oh Land for
a) looking like a model
b) writing and performing amazing songs
c) being the daughter of a Danish opera singer
d) taking promotional photos that prominently feature horse puppets.

Having all that talent?  And those looks?  Not.fair.  Good thing her songs are so awesome that I want to hug her and buy her a coffee rather than glower with jealousy.

Real Life Style Icon: Kyla of Blue Collar Catwalk

This is our (semi-regular) feature on smart, funny, lovely ladies whose brains we want to pick and closets we want to raid.  This week's Real Life Style Icon is Kyla of Blue Collar Catwalk, girlfriend looks like a million bucks on significantly less. See?

Name: Kyla
Age: Dirty 30, which is much older than I feel...
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Online haunts: blog, twitter, facebook

Three reasons that you're awesome:
I laugh at my own jokes when no one else does. I have dimples ... on my face. I'm a perpetual optimist.

Where do you find style inspiration?
Where don't I?  I'm always people watching, reading magazines, fashion books, and blogs, blogs and more blogs!

Where are your favorite places to shop?
These days, I've become a hard-core thrifter.  I'm trying to be more responsible when it comes to my buying habits, i.e. buying fewer items and buying used as much as possible.  Of course, I still love an occasionally trip to the Ann Taylor Loft clearance section.  In addition to my local Goodwill and vintage shop, I often rummage through places like Plato's Closet and sites like etsy and Smashion.  It's so much more fun to really search for exciting pieces.

When did you become interested in fashion?

I've always been a clothes horse, subscribing to fashion mags as long as I can remember.  However, watching Sex and the City in my mid-20's really lit a fire in me.  Ever since, I've been insatiable when it comes to outfit inspiration, hence the blogging.  Since documenting my own style over the last 2 years, I've had the incredibly fulfilling pleasure to really hone my own personal style.

How did you dress as a kid?

I don't know that I can sum it up in a singular phrase.  I went through very specific phases.  I was very matchy-matchy when I was very young, then moved into a hippie phase around 7th grade.  8th and 9th grades were heavily influenced by Drew Barrymore and My So-Called Life.  Awkwardness ensued.  But no matter what, I have never ever been afraid to wear what I love - trendy, hot or not.

Could you tell us your top three style tricks/DIYs?
One of my favorite DIY's is the tweed blazer to which I sewed cargo pockets.  Because I'm petite, I'm also manipulating clothing to get the right proportions, so I'm a big fan of rolling up sleeves and tying shirts at my waist - in addition to having to hem almost everything! 

I'm also a firm believer in the t-shirt.  You can dress them up, down and all around.  There's something really accessible about a great outfit built around a t-shirt.  They're also so easy to DIY with embellishments, drawing and dying.

Thanks so much Kyla!  Do you guys have any questions for the lovely lady?

Operation High Five!

This guest post comes via one of my favorite bloggers, Not That Kind of Girl. But I warn you, don't try to read her blog over your lunch break. Y'all need to devote a few hours on a Friday night and sink your teeth into that business.

I was strolling through Cambridge after work, breeze summer playlist in my ears, joy in my heart. As I walked toward the Harvard Yard, I spotted a dude my age walking alone. I picked up my pace and, a few feet away from him, “High five!” I grinned, putting my own hand out. “Uhhhhh, what?” he grunted as he walked toward me. Misfire.

On the next block, a middle-aged man walking alone, carrying an overloaded bookstore bag. Okay, sir! Gave it slightly more distance so he’d have time to react, then: “high five!” He gave a vague smile and raised his palm, but no significant follow through — my palm just pressed moistly into his. Good frig is that creepy. Is that what it feels like when I screw up a high five? (Nobody answer that.)

The next handful of attempts (pun noted but not intended) were actually pretty stellar: “High five!” I’d grin from five or six steps away, and dudes and ladies my age would, without hesitating, slap me a proper five, smiles on their faces.

After deeming it a success, decided to end the mission and grab dinner. As I crossed a crosswalk, though, saw a gentleman in one of those ubiquitous “Go Celtics, Beat LA (Again)” t-shirts. “GO CELTs!” I shouted; he high-fived me, hard, as he walked past and turned his head back in one fluid movement: “Windmill it!” and with nary a pause, extended my follow-through to a perfect Top Gun-style windmill high five.

I wanted to run after him, grab his sleeve and gush, “Dude! Dude! This is the only time I’ve ever been cool!” Instead, I grinned for three blocks and am, in fact, still grinning now.

My goodness, there’s nothing nicer than being a little extra-friendly to strangers in the summer! I’m always a fan of the beaming stranger-smile on the street, but this kicked it up a whole different level. The secret, it turns out, is choosing people who look engaged but who are not focusing on any thing in particular. And people who want to be happy, because random street camaraderie isn’t for dudes with heavy souls. Can’t say I’m going to become a serial high-fiver, but this single-handedly removed high-fivers from my “dorks not to lunch with” list ’cause, hey, maybe we can learn something from their joie de vivre.

Have you ever high-fived a stranger?

True Story: I'm Really, Really Tall

This is one of many True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/challenging/amazing things. This is Kim's story - she's 6'1"!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I was born in Ottawa, moved a few times, but always came back to the same house I was born into. I recently turned 29 and can't wait to make it to my 30's because I'm sure my 30's are going to be awesome.

I am a mother of 4 children aged 7 and under. During the day I stay home with my kids and also run a home daycare. During the school year, I still go into my job working in a hospital pharmacy as a technician, usually once a week. I volunteer with our local basketball association (yes, I can hear the stereotyping over the computer monitor already), I run the referee program, and I also run a spring league for youth players. In my spare time, I decided to attempt to achieve my BSc at university...it will be a long and difficult road for that one though.

Basically I spend my days and weekends running all over the city to various activities for my kids, and the evenings running around for my classes. P.s. I married an amazing man who puts up with all my craziness and is very involved in all our activities, otherwise I would be insane.

When did you begin to notice that you were taller than other people?
Honestly, I don't think I realized how much taller than people I was until high school. I was always on the tall side, but not the tallest in the class until about grade 10. But even now I'm sometimes shocked at how short other people are compared to me.

How did you feel about your height growing up? Are your siblings and parents tall?
I'm probably a rare case, but I was never self conscious about my height. In fact, I loved it and wanted to be taller, probably because I'm the shortest member of the family besides my mom. When I'm at home, I feel tiny. I have 3 brothers, 6'5", 6'7" and 6'8", my father is 6'6" and mom is 6'0".

Tell us about shopping for clothes. Is it hard to find pants that fit? Where do you shop?
Aha. You got me. Shopping for clothes is the bane of my existence. Try finding a pair of pants with a 36" inseam that doesn't cost at least $100. Buying cheap...or rather, affordable clothing is not an option.

Summer clothes aren't as bad because they're meant to look short, you just have to be careful not to go too short or you end up looking like a prostitute showing off her goods to the neighborhood. Long sleeved shirts are always about an inch and a half too short. The body tends to be just a little on the short side too, so if you stretch or move, your tummy pops out the bottom (lovely sight after having 4 kids I tell ya). Buying clothes is truly the one time I feel like a giant.

We are starting to have more options now, but again, they're usually a little more on the expensive side. In Canada we can shop at Tall Girl, which is dedicated to carrying only tall clothing. The downside of shopping there? Forget trying to get anything stylish or fashionable. Honestly half the time I'm there, I feel like I'm looking at clothes for my grandmother.

There are more places online now that we can buy, but I hate buying clothes without trying them on first. A lot of "regular" stores are carrying long pants, but their version of long still isn't quite long enough for me most of the time, they're aiming for the tall 5'10" girls, not even close for me. It's a hit and miss system, if they claim they have long, I still go and try...just in case.

Did your height affect your dating life at all?
I dated a guy who was shorter than me once. I gotta say it did bother me a bit, and I never did it again. Only 6'2" or taller please...but preferably taller. Since my brothers are all giants, and most of their friends were also taller than me, I just knew that tall guys would always be an option.

I know girls who dated shorter guys because they just figure that they won't ever meet a guy who is taller than them. The thing about being a tall girl, (at least for me anyway) is it's nice to feel small sometimes, it's nice to be able to put on a pair of 3" heels and walk around like you really needed those extra inches.

I'm pretty sure that men are intimidated by my height. Most of the ones close to my height feel the need to stand right beside me and measure up, which I find entertaining.

What are some of the most common comments that you get about your height?
"My God you're tall!" ...Really? Gee thanks for telling me, I had never noticed...by the way could you tie my shoes while you're down there?
"You must play basketball" ...I really wish I could answer no to that because every tall person in the world is asked that, but yes I do and I love it.
"You would be great at (enter sport here)" ....NO, I would not. Just because I'm tall doesn't mean I'm coordinated enough to play volleyball, or soccer, or whatever. Basketball is the only sport I'm good at.
"You have got the longest legs I've ever seen" ... sorta goes with the whole being tall thing. Thank you Captain Obvious!
"How's the weather up there?" ...Seriously? Dude, what are you from the 40's?
"Did you really have to wear heels?" ...Yes. I did. I may be tall, but I'm also a girl and heels are fun.
"I would KILL to have some of your height" ...Okay, I like that comment...a lot.

What are the benefits of being so tall? The drawbacks?
Benefits? There are SO many! When you're in a crowded place you can look over the top of everyone else and find who you're looking for. In my case there's usually another bunch of heads above the crowd I'm looking for! Everyone notices when a tall girl walks into a room...which I guess could also be a drawback. It takes me half the time and half the energy to walk places than my short friends! I can reach things that most people need step ladders to get to. It's very easy to describe myself to people that I'm meeting for the very first time, I let them find me. Everyone is always talking about what they can do to elongate their legs, I'm already there, no work needed. I just love being tall.

Drawbacks: Buying clothes is difficult. Everyone knows who I am, which is sometimes a benefit, but makes me feel like a jerk because I don't always know who they are. Airplanes in coach class are NOT the most comfortable rides, especially if the person in front of you decides to be sleeping the entire trip. Although for me I'm lucky that I'm skinny and flexible so it's not as bad to squeeze into smaller places. Why are toilets so close to the ground? I'm pretty sure people hang things from the ceiling just because they'd like to see us hit our heads on them. You have to put up with stupid people making obvious comments about the fact that you are so tall. Being tall makes you feel lanky, clumsy and awkward a lot of the time.

What advice would you give to someone who's unhappily tall?
Why be unhappy about being tall? There are so many other things to be unhappy about. Tall isn't something you can change about yourself so accept it and live life like you're short! There's always someone taller than you, unless you're the tallest person in the world, then I'm sorry, there isn't. Don't ask yourself why you're so tall, ask why is the rest of the world so short?

Are any of you particularly tall? How do you feel about your height? Any questions for Kim?

Blogs You Should Be Reading: Woo!

How can you not love a blog with an exclamation for a title? And all the better that it's the blogger's last name! Michelle Woo writes about adorable design, slippers and cake among other things. And she does it all with wit, self-deprecation and references to sparkly poo.

She's our people!

What's Inside You

Radio Yes! Risky Business

After approximately a million years, I've finally edited together another podcast! This edition of Radio Yes is an interview with my girl Alex of Unicorns for Socialism fame. We've both been known to engage in a bit of calculated risk-taking and we answer questions about chance, luck and risky business over the course of these 25 minutes.

We also talk about:
* involving other people in your risk-taking
* how to deal with nay-sayers
* how I fainted and stood in line at a fire hydrant for water to bathe with when I first moved to Taiwan
* how long to stick with a new situation that doesn't seem to be panning out
* how Alex ended up with bloody hands at her first job in Minnesota
* how to tell a good idea from a bad idea
* what happens when you move in with your boyfriend of three months. in a foreign country. when you just started graduate school
* what to do if the chance you took goes horribly wrong

You can listen to the podcast right here:


Or you can download it here.

Enjoy!

In Praise of The Melting Pot

If you live in America (or not under a rock) you've probably heard about Arizona's immigration policies.  Essentially, police are allowed to stop anyone they suspect to be in the country illegally and ask to see their documentation.  So anyone with brown skin and black hair can legally be stopped and hassled. 

Since I teach English to refugees, you can probably guess how I feel about this.  Some thoughts about the great American melting pot:

Your car is German.
Your vodka is Russian.
Your pizza is Italian.
Your kebab is Turkish.
Your democracy is Greek.
Your coffee is Brazilian.
Your movies are American.
Your tea is Tamil.
Your shirt is Indian.
Your oil is Saudi Arabian.
Your electronics are Chinese.
Your numbers are Arabic and  your letters Latin
Why shouldn't your neighbors and coworkers be?

How do you feel about immigration?  What's your ethnic background - and how do people react to it?  I'm a mix of Swedish, Norwegian, German, French, Scottish and Ojibwa!

* yes, you saw this floating around facebook.  I'd love to credit the author but I don't know who it is!

Introducing The Yes and Yes Every Buddy Message Board!

Friends!

Here are some things that I know about you:
1) you are smart
2) you are funny

3) you can appreciate the importance of giving back to your community, taking an interest in the world around you, managing your money wisely - but you also know that cute shoes and funny animal pictures are super important, too.

And because I know that y'all are (as a group) some of the coolest kids on the block, I thought that it was high time that there was a place where we could all mill about making jokes, trading tips on thrift stores and complimenting each other's outfits.  Like a dinner party!  But you don't have to worry that your ex is going to be there or that you'll get stuck sitting next to that guy with bad breath who hits on you in pig latin!

Our little place on the internet is called The Yes and Yes Every Buddy Board.  There are eight topic-related sections - Mixed Bag, Pretty Things, Working Girls, Cash Money, Domesticated, Grown Up Life, Wanderlust and Million Dollar Questions.  Everybody who registers is free to start threads of their own, comment on anything and do all of the usual message board stuff!

I've started several threads already and I'd love to hear what you guys think!  So why don't you pop over, have a look around and respond to my thread about my love to weird/ugly things?

Tell Me: Has The Network of Nice Worked For You?

Friends!  The Network of Nice has been clicking along for almost nine months now and I'd love to hear from those of you who have used it.  Did you meet any friends in your new city?  Did you go on the trip to Scotland that you got advice about?  Did you start writing to international pen pals? If you got a great hook-up out of the Network of Nice send me a 100-word write up at sarah (at) yesandyes (dot) org!

Notes From The Road: Splashing Out, Laos Style

Friends, I have been traveling for three and a half months now.  Three and a half months of sleeping on friends' couches, in refugee camps and on the floors of NGO offices.  The majority of my showers have come via bucket and I'd ask that you don't smell my scarf, as the adjective 'feral' might spring to mind.

Being slightly sleep deprived and a little bit dirty makes for a rather grouchy traveler.  If you would have greeted me in my Laos hostel, I probably would have pretended I didn't speak English, turned my ipod up  and glared at you over the top of my Beer Lao.

In summary, I was a surly, smelly mess.

So, I decided that after all that bucket-showering and floor-sleeping I would splash out on a little luxury for my last two days in Laos.  And by 'splash out' I mean "$24."  Twenty four dollars, yo! 

What did I get for $24?

For $24 I got a room in a palace.  The Chamapsak Palace Hotel

 was originally built as a palace for the king of Laos,  but after his 

death in exile, it was converted into a hotel.

You had me at "fresh baguettes."

Where do you stay when you travel - with friends? family? In hostels?  Hotels?  I'll stay anywhere, though I'm past the 'hostel dorm room' point in my life.

P.S. I uploaded heaps of travel photos to my flickr if you're curious to see what I look like in a salwaar kameez!

Got the travelbug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making longterm travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!