Tag Archives: Greece

Tomorrow will be different because it’s mine

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 8 Comments

Tomorrow I’ll wake up less grumpy than today. The construction workers will be here at the crack of dawn and I’m going to pretend the early morning banging is opportunity knocking.

Tomorrow I’ll have breakfast before I start seeing black spots.

Tomorrow I’ll spend less time worrying about what to write and more time filling blank pages.

Tomorrow I’ll really look when my nephew screams: Look! Look! Eleni! Look at the castle! I’ll see the world through his eyes. It only takes a minute and it changes my perspective.

Tomorrow I’ll say thank you like I mean it. I’ll also say hello like I mean it. I’ll put some oomph into my voice, even if I can’t find it.

Tomorrow I’ll spend less time pinning style inspiration on Pinterest and more time mixing and matching the clothes I already have into new outfits. I’ve been collecting clothes for the last decade. I think it’s enough to get me started.

This also means that I’ll get out of my comfy Uggs and slip on my brogues. I’ll straighten my bangs instead of pinning them back. I’ll wear bright pink lipstick for no reason at all.

Tomorrow I’ll read the news instead of scanning the headlines. I won’t read comments under any articles about Greece. And if do read those comments that suggest that all Greeks are lazy, I’ll remind myself that people rely on stereotypes because their brains are overloaded with too much information. Stereotypes help us make judgments faster. So it’s not that these people are racist. It’s that they’re – oh, what’s the word? You know the one I mean? When you don’t want to exert yourself too much to think things through? Ah, I got it! They’re not racist, they’re just lazy.

Today was not a great day. It’s wasn’t the worst but it wasn’t the best. Tomorrow I’ll do things a little differently. Tomorrow is going to be a good day.

What will you do differently tomorrow?

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Popcorn

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 9 Comments

For a change I thought I’d complete Ten on Tuesday. Chelsea lists a set of question every Tuesday and everyone is welcome to play along. I love reading these when I spot them on blogs and I really loved the questions this week. (Except for one, but I won’t hold it against anyone.)

1. If you could watch only one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I can’t watch movies too many times over but I’ve watched A Few Good Men over 25 times. It’s so smart and Tom Cruise doesn’t annoy me (he’s actually funny) and Jack Nicholson is so proud and defensive. I’m a huge fan of courtroom dramas and there hasn’t been one since then that has captured me so completely.

2. Let’s say someone wrote a screenplay about you; what actor/actress would you choose to play you and why?
I mis-read the question as: who would you want to write a screenplay about you. So I’m going to answer that question first. I’d want Tina Fey and Aaron Sorkin together! Tina would bring the funny, plus she’s half Greek so she’d also bring the Greek. Aaron would write all the dialogue. Especially the moments in my life when I didn’t know what to say. He would put the best words in my mouth and I’d let him because no-one does smart retorts better than him.  Rachel Bilson would play me and Joshua Jackson would play my future boyfriend. (Could Joshua Jackson BE my future boyfriend?)

3. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in theaters?
Jurassic Park. And that began a ten year obsession with dinosaurs AND  a lifetime obsession with Jeff Goldblum.

4. Did you ever make out at the back of a movie theater in middle school/high school?
Nope, never. I go to the movies to watch the movie. I take my movies very seriously. Although there is something magical about sitting next to a man who you’ve not kissed yet in a movie theater and accidentally touching, isn’t there?

5. Are you a Netflix-er, Blockbuster-er or a Redbox-er? (Or none of the above?)
I can’t say what I am because I’m pretty sure it’s illegal.

6. Name one actor/actress who you would give anything to have a dinner date with.
Jennifer Aniston. And I’d want her to tell me all her secrets.

7. What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen?
My Life in Ruins. I’m looking at you Nia Vardalos. You still owe me €6.50 for the ticket. I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN. (Also, do you really want to put the word ‘ruin’ in the title? Really? Really?)

8. Do you sneak snacks into the theater when you go?
Nope. And if you sneak in actual food into a cinema, food that reeks, you should be shot. (WOW, I didn’t realize I had such strong feelings about this.)

9. Movie theater popcorn: love or hate it?
Let’s not speak of popcorn. SERIOUSLY? WHY DID YOU BRING THIS UP?

If we were to speak of popcorn, I’d remind you that it’s my favourite snack/food/meal of all time. It’s also strictly forbidden for people with Crohn’s disease. I haven’t touched the stuff in three years. Now I eat rice cakes. If I close my eyes, and squint my taste buds they almost passes for the real thing.

10. What is the all-time best Disney movie in your opinion?
The Little Mermaid.

Your turn? Who would play you in a movie?

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This week…in moods

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 3 Comments

…there was a lot of frustration and anger. I expressed it in this tribute to Angry Birds.

…there was confusion. I expressed it in writing.


…but there there was also spontaneous bursts of courage. I found it here.


…and more joy in taking baby steps in my new brogues.

How was YOUR week…in moods?

All photos were taken using my iPhone and the Instagram App. If you’re Instagramming your life too, let’s be friends! I’m @elenizoe.

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A Short History Of Eleni In Time

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 10 Comments

30 years ago… I was in my mother’s belly feeling antsy. Let’s do this thing already. She was lying in a hospital bed begging me not to come out until I was ready. I held out for another 11 days. So, you know, never say I don’t listen to my mother.

20 years ago…I wanted to be a paleontologist! No! An anthropologist! No, a detective! No, a teacher!  An air hostess!

15 years ago… I was a volatile, hormonal teenager telling anyone who would listen, “You don’t understand me! No-one understands me!”

10 years ago… I was living in England with my best friends, studying, partying, working and spending way too many hours drinking coffee and talking.

5 years ago… I couldn’t believe that I was turning 25. It felt like the world was ending. Turns out, the world didn’t end. Since then I’ve learned that there are worst things in life than getting a year older.

2 years ago…I was dating a man; we had tons in common but the attraction wasn’t there. We remained good friends. A few months later I met another man; one who I almost fell in love with except he dumped me exactly two nights after telling me that we were in serious relationship. Apparently, he couldn’t get over the fact that I’d dated the first man. Go figure.

1 year ago…I was still trying to get over that man.  I was looking for someone that could be half the man he had been. I couldn’t find anyone. I still can’t.  It took me ten months to get over a six week relationship. But I did. Eventually. The truth is, sometimes, a wave of sadness will wash over me when I think of the loss of all that potential.

Yesterday…I sent an email to an editor and checked and double checked and triple checked for spelling mistakes and typos. I was in the clear. It was only after I sent it that I realized I had one mistake. ON MY NAME.

Today…I’m focused on today and everything the present offers and…

Tomorrow…who knows?

(Original here)

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This week…in yes’s

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 4 Comments

(cough and last week which i missed for no good reason cough)

…Yes to food!

…Yes to brainstorming and planning and outlining!

…Yes to shopping! Yes to walking! Yes to sunsets!

…Yes to finding my 15 year-old bowler hat and wearing it all the time!

I also said some no’s but there are no photos of those, which just goes to show:

I should say yes more.

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This Week….

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 7 Comments

…started with snow. The southern parts of Athens haven’t seen snow since 2008 so when I woke up on Tuesday morning and saw snowflakes falling down, I shrieked, grabbed a shawl and stood outside for far longer than I probably should have. Snow is cold, yo. It all melted before it got a chance to really set, but for about an hour in March, my little neighbourhood was magical.

…watching the news finally paid off. I walked into my local Starbucks wishing the three baristas “Happy Birthday!” They looked at each other then back at me in confusion. “Um, it’s your 40th birthday this week? And you’ve got a spanking new logo to celebrate.” I said and glanced at their new cups.

Barista: That’s the reason I want to marry you! You’re so smart!

Me: Ha! I’m not smart, I’m sick. So I’ve spent the whole morning in front of the TV watching the news. Your CEO also said that you were giving away free pastries all week.

Manager: I don’t think we’re doing that in Greece.

Me: What? Then why was he on CNN International talking about it? That’s so mean.

Manager: You’re right, that was mean of him. So we’ll do you one better: your chai latte is on us today.

Me: Score!

…I started reading (and re-reading) books that have been on my nightstand for months. See, I’ve been secretly writing a novella over the last few months. A novella that I began almost two years ago and then stopped writing for no good reason. This week I realized that since I started writing, I’ve stopped reading. And since I stopped reading, my prose has stopped POPPING. Before reading, I was writing 200 poor words a day. This week I wrote 600+ awesome words a day. If I keep up this reading/writing pace, it will be done before I know it. Eek!

…the weekend began with news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. And I couldn’t help but remember the two weeks I spent teaching English to the most lovely Japanese teenagers back in 2004. To improve their writing skills, I’d asked them to write me a letter every day. And every evening, I’d sit at home and write back to all of them. Their letters were on the most beautiful and delicate paper I had ever seen. (I was so embarrassed by my lined and boring A4s.) I re-read their letters on Friday and in them they’ve shared their hopes and their dreams with me for the future. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by their words and their origami hearts; especially when I saw those tragic images on the news. I hope that each and every one of those 30 souls are safe and warm and loved.

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This Week…

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 12 Comments

…I remembered that I own two pairs of jeggings. I like jeggings, yo. I don’t get the reason people hate on them. I like them because I want to wear my boots over jeans. But if you’ve ever tried on a pair of skinny jeans and lived to tell the tale, then you’re skinny; you don’t have an ass; and you’re one of those people that believe you have to suffer for fashion. I’m not any of those.I like jeggings because I can tuck them into boots and still breath.

…I spent a lot of time with this little fella. This picture makes me laugh. That is all.

…I tried out one of the many new cupcakes shops that are popping up all over my city. Am I the only one that wants to spell cupcake shops like this: shoppes. Is it me or is that prettier? Anyway, I’m a vanilla girl so I chose the classic cupcake. It wasn’t very good. The frosting tasted solely of butter. Dislike.

…my brother in law made mille-feuille from scratch. Mille-feuille means a thousand layers. His had four. There were layers of fresh strawberries, fresh strawberry coulis and pasty cream in between puff pastry; it was heavenly. It also got me thinking: I probably haven’t found a guy I really like because my brother and brother in law are hard acts to follow. This also begs the question: if I’ve got these hardworking, romantic, talented, fun, funny, smart and dedicated men around me, why on earth do I always fall for the douchebags?

…one of the hotter baristas at my local Starbucks asked me out. I think. It was in a roundabout, jokey kind of way. Was he serious? I don’t know. I may have misunderstood. I always speak Greek to him but he knows that Greek is not my first language because I frequently stumble over my words. This reminds me: one time I double parked outside a store and when the man gave me dagger eyes I asked him, “Should I move my car?” Simple enough right? Nope. In Greek there are lots of different words for move. I used the wrong one. I used the one that means: ‘to pack up and move house’ and applied it to my car. His dagger eyes turned to this woman should be in a strait jacket eyes. My point is that when people become aware that I’m an English speaker they Anglo-size my name. Instead of calling me Eleni, they call me Helen. Hot Barista Guy calls me Helen.

How was your week?

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You, in Greece

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Eleni Zoe| 17 Comments

I found these great videos today produced by the Greek National Tourism Organisation. After I watched them, I melted with anticipation for the summer. The GNTO should be proud of themselves because usually, I actively despise the summer.

But this isn’t about the summer. This is about the country I choose to call home.

For those who don’t watch the news, Greece is going through really rough economic times. As I write this there is a transportation strike and more strikes scheduled for this week. Our government has passed serious austerity measures and well, a lot of people are unhappy. I’ve stopped watching the news because it’s all gloom, pointing fingers and ‘Oh my god, we’re screwed!’ I don’t have it in me to listen to them anymore.

Because see, I like my policy debates the way I like my relationship debates.

Honest, logical and with a dash of hope.

It’s always complicated, I get it. These new laws are unfair to a whole bunch of good people. But any lasting change requires some sacrifice, some patience and a whole lot of optimistic activism. The first thing I focus on when something is broken in a relationship, is to make the stuff that already works — better. I think the Greek National Tourism Organisation agrees me because the one thing that does work in Greece is…well, Greece!

Check out what I mean.

See? Don’t you want to be in Greece too?

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