je vais où?

Because of technical reasons I’ve switched this blog over to annabrones.wordpress.com.

Update your links!  Cheers.

There’s been a lot of talk about Barack Obama’s trip to Europe last week and it has raised some interesting points in the U.S. versus the rest of the world debate. Call me crazy, but I personally don’t see why Obama being popular in Europe should be detrimental to his campaign on home ground… Shouldn’t we be stoked to have a presidential nominee that is appreciated on the global radar? In the words of John Stewart in reference to a video of Germans waving American flags during the Obama speech last week, “something is wrong with those flags… they’re not on fire!” (You can watch that whole episode here)

I am ready to have a President that is well-respected worldwide. Just take a look at this humorous post over at Matador Pulse. 25 different pictures of anti-Bush graffiti from around the world. Classic. Pass those photos around and then let’s focus on getting someone elected that actually has positive global image.

[photo via ngawangchodron]

It’s been a long and busy week… after an excellent re-launch party at Wend headquarters last night, I almost forgot to post this! But it’s still Friday west coast time which is all that matters… This shot is from last weekend, taken while driving home from Hood River on the Columbia River.

Friday Photo was such a good idea that we decided to use it over at Wend. Today’s is a shot from the Inca Trail taken by fellow travel writer and photographer Lola Akinmade. If you want to get on the Wend Friday Photo mailing list — meaning you get a sweet weekly shot in your inbox — send a shout out to fphoto[at]wendmag.com.

As of today Wend has a flickr account as well, and there’s even a Wend pool, which you can add photos to in the hopes that they get featured on the Wend blog. Check it all out here.

Taken in Vaughn, WA.

I went home for a couple of days this week and spent most of it sitting outside in the garden with a cup of coffee… glorious! There are a lot of foxgloves on my parents’ property and I always used to be intrigued by them as a child as they were so beautiful yet poisonous enough that I was afraid of touching them…

The summer issue of Wend is officially out. Some great articles including climbing in Halong Bay, Vietnam and surfing in Novia Scotia. For a limited time you can check out the whole issue online for free. Click here to start reading and dreaming about your next adventure.

If you just can’t get enough of Wend you should check out the blog… the best of the outdoor, travel, adventure, and environmental world from around the web.

Unfortunately I missed out on the Portland Bastille Day festivities this weekend, but I will make up for it by doing my own personal “quatorze juillet” celebration on my own this evening… Need tips on how to best celebrate the French national day? Go here. Hint: it includes drinking French wine, eating French cheese and possibly singing La Marseillaise.

[and I apologize for the quality of the photo… it’s from the study abroad archives; something that I had to scan in because it was taken in film form!]

It’s all about gourmet organic food (I’m a foodie, it can’t be helped) and weekend walks by the river; a good place to be this time of year. Clockwise from upper left hand corner: red quinoa salad with pecans, dried cranberries, bell pepper and greens; view of the east bank from the Hawthorne Bridge; vegetarian tostadas; boats moored in order to take in the scene and sounds at last weekend’s Waterfront Blues Fest.

Today marks the release of French First Lady, Carla Bruni’s third CD. Some are skeptical of the ex-supermodel turned politician’s wife’s artistic abilities, but I happened to be won over by her first CD Quelqu’un m’a dit. On top of it — even though I hate to admit it — I just can’t get enough of Bruni-Sarkozy gossip. I write about it frequently over at Gadling (this article for example).

I am therefore a little bitter about not being able to get Comme si de rien n’etait in the US yet… (American release date is set for July 22). But it’s on the list of things to look forward to.

Riverfront park in Sellwood, Portland. The lighting in this picture isn’t fabulous because that weird Portland, 4th of July weekend weather is officially upon us. But it’s not raining so I am going to keep from complaining.