i'm tired, but i feel like writing.

for some reason, right now i feel like writing. i know i just said that in the title, so it's redundant and annoying, but saying it twice emphasizes it.

we went to the louvre tonight. (the way that's spelled reminds me of brett favre, and i wanna say it "loo-vray" like i say "fav-ray.") it was, of course, gorgeous and overwhelming. so many artists have poured their heart and soul into things that i walk past and go, "ooo cool." i wish i knew more about art, so i could say something more intelligent than, "wow, that's so pretty." then again, memorizing stories and names and dates isn't really interesting to me.

but it wasn't the louvre that i came to write about. it's never the big things that inspire me most.

when we were walking down the champs elysees (er however you spell that), we stopped at a sandwich shop. when i ordered, i for some reason didn't even attempt french and just said what i wanted in english. the guy repeated it back to me all snotty and sing songy and goes, "ohhh you americans." i jokingly apologized and he goes, "don't apologize for what you are." in that instant, i felt this surge of american pride. "okay!" i wanted to shout. "i love being american! even if our president is a douche and our economy isn't doing so hot, i'm still so incredibly proud to call that country my home. U-S-A! ALL THE WAY!"

and it's true. i love being an american. i haven't gotten that much grief for it, and even when i do, i don't really care. it's not that i love the states for the opportunities i have there or because of the freedom the flag represents or any of that other cliché stuff. it's just an amazing place to live. i can smile at a stranger and get a hello back; i can joke with the grocery store cashier without getting a dirty look; i can buy things cheap (woot target dollar spot).

so i don't care if the french or the brits or the germans or the italians or the spanish look at me funny when i act like an american. i'll wear that label and be damn proud of it.


*steps down from soapbox*