He blesses me.
1. The weather here in Boston has been less than summery, which I’m not all that grateful for. However, on Sunday, we turned the whole grey, rainy, despair-inducing pattern to our advantage. Matt came to visit for the weekend and we slept in mightily. Coffee was made and fiction was read. Bread was baked and so were cookies, of the chocolate chip variety. Emily came by and read as well. Eventually we put on some Deadwood and sat, awash in the violent, profane and obscene, realizing that for all the funk of life, this is a story about people who love each other. John B got back from PA and joined us for Thai food and more Deadwood.
I climbed into bed early and full and pleased with a day spent entirely indoors.
2. My mom and dad are facing some tough realities about getting old and health and living and working and dying. Again, not all that grateful for that, though I can imagine a person of flintier character than my own mustering some gratitude for hard lessons being learned. My mom sent me an e-mail about the steps they might take to welcome others into their home, spending their “declining years” in close-knit community. She also wrote this:
We think when we live in our own little castle that we are immune to acting out our sinful nature...why test my patience with living with others when I can live alone and I only have myself to make happy or not happy?
She continued:
My Mom only had 4 more years of life when she was my age. I want them to be years filled with a deep connection with God and those around me.
I’m so incredibly impressed with and proud of my parents.
3. Max, my barista, teased me about getting the same damn thing everyday. Joy.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
No. 30
1. Dinner with Jon-Erik last night: our waiter gave us a free improv show, I ate a delicious sandwich, and I am now inspired to read books that intimidate me. Jon-Erik, who knows so much about this stuff, claims that many of the post-modern books that for whatever reason gain such a critical and pretentious following are actually very optimistic and genuine. I stand corrected for my skepticism, and am excited to redeem myself.
2. While in desperate search for a post-work cupcake this evening, I accidently stumbled into a poetry reading. The poetess must have been really legit because there were hoards of fancy-looking people there, but big surprise I hadn't heard of her. No matter; her imagery was very funny and made me chuckle from the back.
3. I made naan pizza (twice!) today and it was simple, warm, crisp, and beautiful. I topped a piece of whole-wheat naan with olive oil, tomato sauce, herbed goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, sauteed eggplant, and fresh mozzarella. The entire process of making it was so quiet and lovely: tasting as I added ingredients and using my hands to crumble the goat cheese and spread the sauce.
2. While in desperate search for a post-work cupcake this evening, I accidently stumbled into a poetry reading. The poetess must have been really legit because there were hoards of fancy-looking people there, but big surprise I hadn't heard of her. No matter; her imagery was very funny and made me chuckle from the back.
3. I made naan pizza (twice!) today and it was simple, warm, crisp, and beautiful. I topped a piece of whole-wheat naan with olive oil, tomato sauce, herbed goat cheese, roasted tomatoes, sauteed eggplant, and fresh mozzarella. The entire process of making it was so quiet and lovely: tasting as I added ingredients and using my hands to crumble the goat cheese and spread the sauce.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
No. 29
1. Finally saw "Away We Go" last night. What a lovely, sweet, endearing movie. It is not a film for the jaded, or the critical, which makes it delightfully refreshing. As Roger Ebert says, it's a film for nice people. And it reminded me of every definition of home that I have.
2. Man 1: Hey, how's your Pride going?
Man 2: My Pride's going great; how's your Pride?
Man 1: FANTASTIC!
Woman with Man 2: Did you know him?
Man 2: Nope!
3. Barah Sauer calling me during the Brandi Carlile/Indigo Girls concert to let me listen (via cell phone) to the most raw, elegant, heart-thumpingly-brilliant love song there ever was.
As far as I understand it, the lyrics and melody and vocal technicalities of this song completely step aside and make way for the emotion behind it all to completely take over. An emotion so powerful that it could be felt even over a crappy free cell phone.
I'm always talking about how when you kiss somebody and it's a fairly non-meaningful kiss, you are are aware of the anatomy involved--here are your lips, these are your teeth, this is your tongue: ew. But when it's an in love sort of kiss, you're not thinking about lips as lips and saliva as saliva--it's just all one big magic explosion sort of deal which completely transcends anatomy. That's how I feel about really good music. I mean it. You're not thinking about the instrumental elements involved or the word choice of lyrics...you're just laughing or crying or sighing or holding your breath.
When I hear a really good song that communicates emotion to me over anything else, to the point where I forget about the talent of the artist, THAT'S when I know that artist is truly talented.
And Brandi Carlile is friggin' talented y'all.
This performance of aforementioned "The Story" with The Seattle Symphony is so beautiful...
2. Man 1: Hey, how's your Pride going?
Man 2: My Pride's going great; how's your Pride?
Man 1: FANTASTIC!
Woman with Man 2: Did you know him?
Man 2: Nope!
3. Barah Sauer calling me during the Brandi Carlile/Indigo Girls concert to let me listen (via cell phone) to the most raw, elegant, heart-thumpingly-brilliant love song there ever was.
As far as I understand it, the lyrics and melody and vocal technicalities of this song completely step aside and make way for the emotion behind it all to completely take over. An emotion so powerful that it could be felt even over a crappy free cell phone.
I'm always talking about how when you kiss somebody and it's a fairly non-meaningful kiss, you are are aware of the anatomy involved--here are your lips, these are your teeth, this is your tongue: ew. But when it's an in love sort of kiss, you're not thinking about lips as lips and saliva as saliva--it's just all one big magic explosion sort of deal which completely transcends anatomy. That's how I feel about really good music. I mean it. You're not thinking about the instrumental elements involved or the word choice of lyrics...you're just laughing or crying or sighing or holding your breath.
When I hear a really good song that communicates emotion to me over anything else, to the point where I forget about the talent of the artist, THAT'S when I know that artist is truly talented.
And Brandi Carlile is friggin' talented y'all.
This performance of aforementioned "The Story" with The Seattle Symphony is so beautiful...
Saturday, June 27, 2009
No. 28
1. Bought two new books yesterday: Surprised by God (Danya Ruttenburg) and What to Eat (Marion Nestle). I'm trying to figure out how I can get myself a library card since I still don't have an official Chicago address, but in the meantime I love any excuse to buy a book; perhaps it's a consumerist tendency coming out but I just love owning a book as opposed to borrowing one. Maybe it's because I am so tactile and enjoy the crinkle sound of the pages so much that my books are completely worn out by the time I'm done with them; maybe it's because I always draw in the margins (though I've been known to do that with library books...don't tell Chicago).
Post-purchase excursion to Women and Children First (one of my favorite bookstores of all time), I showed my literary finds to Hannah, who exclaimed "Big surprise! Religious women and organic foods--your two favorite things!" I laughed and I loved this. If I'm going to be known for liking certain things, religious women and organic foods aren't the worst I could do. It feels good to feel known by a friend, and it sometimes it feels really good to be typical.
2. I sat on the beach last night in my new neighborhood. I love Rogers Park for its elegant architecture, distinct character, and its unassuming, breathtaking beach. It was such a warm, summery-cozy night with so much beautiful light and color I just had to stare and stare. Digging one's hands and feet in the sand is so remarkably pleasurable, and watching boats sail by is always a simple, peaceful surprise.
3. Deep, dreamful, uninterrupted sleep.
Post-purchase excursion to Women and Children First (one of my favorite bookstores of all time), I showed my literary finds to Hannah, who exclaimed "Big surprise! Religious women and organic foods--your two favorite things!" I laughed and I loved this. If I'm going to be known for liking certain things, religious women and organic foods aren't the worst I could do. It feels good to feel known by a friend, and it sometimes it feels really good to be typical.
2. I sat on the beach last night in my new neighborhood. I love Rogers Park for its elegant architecture, distinct character, and its unassuming, breathtaking beach. It was such a warm, summery-cozy night with so much beautiful light and color I just had to stare and stare. Digging one's hands and feet in the sand is so remarkably pleasurable, and watching boats sail by is always a simple, peaceful surprise.
3. Deep, dreamful, uninterrupted sleep.
Friday, June 26, 2009
No. 27
1. Enjoyed my favorite breakfast--coffee and a bagel--while writing a letter this sunny and warm (but not hot!) morning. There was a little spot of sunlight on the table and it reminded me of whatever J.D. Salinger book it is which talks about wanting to curl up in a small patch of warmth. Writing an epic letter to one of my very dearest friends helped me process and come to some valuable conclusions that I would not have reached writing to myself in my journal. Hip hip for interactive writing.
2. I love days when I don't work in the afternoon so I can talk with Kristina when she wakes up, and I'm doing something productively lazy like making eggs. Those are some of my favorite conversations I ever have with anyone, sitting at the table and talking until she has to leave.
3. Watched a middle-aged, mustached, collared-shirt-wearing bespectacled man eat breakfast with his pink-short-haired, skinny, mightily-tattooed daughter and her white-haired, skinny, and mightily-pierced girlfriend. It was a wonderful image and they were all completely delighting in each other, laughing a lot and eating French toast.
4. Raul put air conditioning in the dining room where I sleep. Praise Jesus for Raul. Praise Jesus for air conditioning.
2. I love days when I don't work in the afternoon so I can talk with Kristina when she wakes up, and I'm doing something productively lazy like making eggs. Those are some of my favorite conversations I ever have with anyone, sitting at the table and talking until she has to leave.
3. Watched a middle-aged, mustached, collared-shirt-wearing bespectacled man eat breakfast with his pink-short-haired, skinny, mightily-tattooed daughter and her white-haired, skinny, and mightily-pierced girlfriend. It was a wonderful image and they were all completely delighting in each other, laughing a lot and eating French toast.
4. Raul put air conditioning in the dining room where I sleep. Praise Jesus for Raul. Praise Jesus for air conditioning.
No. 26
1. Enjoyed my favorite breakfast--coffee and a bagel--while writing a letter this sunny and warm (but not hot!) morning. There was a little spot of sunlight on the table and it reminded me of whatever J.D. Salinger book it is which talks about wanting to curl up in a small patch of warmth. Writing an epic letter to one of my very dearest friends helped me process and come to some valuable conclusions that I would not have reached writing to myself in my journal. Hip hip for interactive writing.
2. I love days when I don't work in the afternoon so I can talk with Kristina when she wakes up, and I'm doing something productively lazy like making eggs. Those are some of my favorite conversations I ever have with anyone, sitting at the table and talking until she has to leave.
3. Watched a middle-aged, mustached, collared-shirt-wearing bespectacled man eat breakfast with his pink-short-haired, skinny, mightily-tattooed daughter and her white-haired, skinny, and mightily-pierced girlfriend. It was a wonderful image and they were all completely delighting in each other, laughing a lot and eating French toast.4. Raul put air conditioning in the dining room where I sleep. Praise Jesus for Raul. Praise Jesus for air conditioning.
2. I love days when I don't work in the afternoon so I can talk with Kristina when she wakes up, and I'm doing something productively lazy like making eggs. Those are some of my favorite conversations I ever have with anyone, sitting at the table and talking until she has to leave.
3. Watched a middle-aged, mustached, collared-shirt-wearing bespectacled man eat breakfast with his pink-short-haired, skinny, mightily-tattooed daughter and her white-haired, skinny, and mightily-pierced girlfriend. It was a wonderful image and they were all completely delighting in each other, laughing a lot and eating French toast.4. Raul put air conditioning in the dining room where I sleep. Praise Jesus for Raul. Praise Jesus for air conditioning.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
No. 25
1. Passing secret notes on a rainy afternoon
2. I got three compliments on my name today. [Big ups to the 'rents.]
3. Brought my iPod to work, played it through speakers and into the ears of cafe patrons. It is a tremendously intimate, and ergo intimidating thing for me to share music because it is so very personal. But customers were rocking out, and one even asked, "To whom do I owe the exquisite pleasure of listening to this fine playlist which was clearly crafted with much love and mega bucks spent on iTunes?" or something to that effect, and I was feeling much more motivated to work listening to my favored jams.
2. I got three compliments on my name today. [Big ups to the 'rents.]
3. Brought my iPod to work, played it through speakers and into the ears of cafe patrons. It is a tremendously intimate, and ergo intimidating thing for me to share music because it is so very personal. But customers were rocking out, and one even asked, "To whom do I owe the exquisite pleasure of listening to this fine playlist which was clearly crafted with much love and mega bucks spent on iTunes?" or something to that effect, and I was feeling much more motivated to work listening to my favored jams.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
