Sharing

 

 

I took this photo just over two years ago in Milan. This was with my old point and shoot, well before I started to get a little more knack for arranging a photo (not claiming to have much skill now, just saying only a few years ago I would throw that camera around snapping the shutter at highly sporadic intervals)<–[side note: might try to make “snapping the shutter” a new dance move soon].

Annnnyyyyyway, I just love this photo. I love how these two little kiddos are sharing this tiny drink; how they don’t care about personal space and are all up in each others business; their cRaZy curly hair that forms an fuzzy halo.

I suppose this picture reminds me of so many wonderful things about childhood, mostly the simplicity of it. Sometimes, I just want to be a kid again.

But mostly I’m very happy with where I am right now.

 

More Lasers

 

Don’t let the opening laser sequence discourage you (Matt), this song rules. It just happened to come on during my “shuffle” and helped build my yoga playlist yesterday afternoon. It is the perfect song to help me unwind–still a little upbeat to encourage me to relax, but not so zen that the act feels forced. Does that make sense? Didn’t think so. Picking yoga music for me is something that takes almost as long as the practice itself. And more often than not I get so in the grove that I forget to actually listen to the tuneage I put so much time into planning.

My practice yesterday somehow focused on upper body and now it’s difficult to lift my arms higher than my shoulders. Not sure how this is going to pan out at work today (what with 95% of my work requiring me to keep my hands up and dutifully surf the net or type all sorts of goodness), but I’m thinking it’s going to look like me swinging my arms up and hoping they land on the table.

 

Ahhh, it’s Wednesday.

 

Solo

My dance moves may not look quite like Robyn’s (less double-fist punching and rib twitching), but I too enjoy a good solo dance sesh. I probably won’t spend the weekend dancing on my own in the corner, but I will jam to this song. Thank you, Girls, for rejuvenating this tune.

 

What are you doing this magical Memorial Day weekend? We’re heading to the beach and I could not be more pumped. I’m also pretty psyched to bust out my red, white, and blues. Might have jumped the gun yesterday and donned white jeans, a blue top, and red shoes. Just saying it’s possible that it happened.

 

Have a glorious weekend!

 

Searching for Answers

My most recent (notable) search query:

“me going to harvard”

 

Not with that English.

 

Victory!

Something very exciting happened on Monday. I accomplished something big. Something huge. Something may-jah.

 

I completed my New Year’s Resolution.

I set a goal for myself to read at least 15 books for pleasure this year and I did it. Like a pro. Seems like I really set myself up for success on that one, but in all honesty, I thought it would be much more difficult than it was. Based on how many hours I spent cradling a book in my hands the first semester, I was anticipating a similar lack of free time. Alas, once you get the hang of Chaucer (or more accurately, the handy translations online, muahahaha), the readings just seem to complete themselves. <–that is a lie. It actually took me a while. For serious, though, I just didn’t have to read as much this past semester and was able to exercise much more control over how I spent my time reading, that is, what I poured into my noggin. While I forwent (?) the reviews this year, I did still keep a nice collection of what I read and can truthfully say I would recommend all of them.

Favorites include:

The Marriage Plot, Jeffrey Eugenides

Super Sad True Love Story, Gary Shteyngart

A Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood

A Visit from the Goon Squad, Jennifer Egan

image courtesy of goodreads.com

Now, I am back to Shteyngart with The Russian Debutante’s Handbook. I also checked out (at the library, what’s up?!) Nicole Krauss’ Great House. Other books that are on the shortlist include Catcher in the Rye (haaaaaayyyted it the first time, so I’m going to back to see how I think about it now that I’m all grown up and stuff) and Krauss’ The History of Love. I need something light in there or I’m going to get far too melancholic for the beach. Any suggestions?

 

By the way, what are you reading? Is it nourishing you?

It’s Finally Friday. Enough Said.

 

Whoa, radio silence!

Phil and Jill came in town and it was just as absolutelyoutofcontrolwonderful as I thought it would be. Jill remarked at one point that I was drunk on friendship and unquestionably I was. It was just pure pleasure to have two true friends here and I was out of my mind with delight.

Back to reality. I started my internship on Monday and it’s been quite an adjustment period. Now, I did come away with some pretty nice perks: I don’t have to be in until 10am; I can take a lunch break whenever I want and do whatever I want during it (barring hard drugs); and, according to one editor, I “can just leave whenever I want.” So, yes, it’s been pretty relaxed. But I have had to get used to doing work in clothing that involves a zipper and can’t shuffle around my apartment in slippers when I need a brain break. It’s all about the give and take, yes?

I can say, though, that I am certainly looking forward to the weekend. Work for the weekend, amIright?? Not really, but a little down time (read: recovery time) sounds juuuuuust right.

What are you doing this weekend? Having a garden party? I hope it’s marvelous.

 

Friends are Coming!

Phil and Jill are on their way here as we speak! Jill will be arriving from Chicago and Phil hails from Kansas City. Surprisingly, we all met in Zurich, Switzerland and have been insta-friends from the moment we first met. Adam and I can’t wait to show them around Charleston, fill them up with seafood, pour some drinks down their throat, throw them in the sun (where they will probably get a sunburn), and generally take care of them for a couple days. It’s going to be the best.

My least favorite part about living in Charleston is being so far away from all my friends and family (and for the record, my second favorite part is the cockroaches– just a couple weeks ago I killed a cucaracha the size of a small car who was walking across my living room floor like he lived here and was going to the kitchen for a glass of water ::shudder::). I just miss the comfort of being surrounded by those you love and care about. So when people come to visit, or I get to jet away for a quick weekend, I feel giddy and pre-adolescent (tween) excited. Hopefully we remember to take pictures this time so I have loads to share with you next week!

Have a wonderful weekend! I hope you do something that makes your heart swell.

The Ballet

I LOVE movies about dance. I am not talking Step Up: 1, 2, 3…154, because those are not real. Street dancing is cool and all (I’m looking at you, Stomp!), but for not having anything to do with dairy, those movies have such a high cheese factor I can’t sit through them.

I’m talking about dance dance. Like, ballet, which has to be one of the most gorgeous art forms in all the land. It’s graceful, yet powerful; it’s so full of emotion. The documentary First Position follows 6 young dancers as they try out for a spot in an elite company. The shots are gorgeous, the bodies have Gumby-like flexibility, and the process looks incredibly intense. Naturally, the movie has no plans to come to a theater near me so I might have to wait until iTunes releases it or I can find it somewhere else. Just watch the preview and you’ll see what I mean: stunning.

A Couple Notes From the Weekend

I’ve never tied a tie in my life and Saturday evening before our soiree I tied Adam’s new bow tie on my first try!! Doesn’t it look so great? He fits in perfectly as a Southern gentleman.

We went to A Charleston Affair on Saturday night, which is a huge cocktail party honoring the graduating seniors. Adam and I are neither graduating seniors nor alumni, but we did get a free ticket since I’m a graduate student, so we crashed it and had a ball. If you knew how long it’s taken me to compile this post and type the very small word count you might understand the thick head I am still sporting from Saturday night.

Prosecco and Bourbon never hurt anyone. Until the morning after…

 

 

The weekend culminated with a Beach House concert last night. They are so cool. She especially, with that cramazing (crazy+amazing) hair and rich, deep, soulful voice.

Book Break

I am currently reading this book, and it is delightful.

 

photo courtesy of allure.com

 

Not only is the book great (she’s one of the head writers for The Office, so if you’ve ever liked that show, you will probably enjoy much of her writing), but it feels so good to read something light and casual and not feel guilty about it. I may have taken it to the beach today (clouds, be darned) to ensure maximum relaxing and tranquil effects. It may have also induced the odd belly laugh or two, which is never a bad thing. Especially when you’re sitting alone and there are herds of just-graduated seniors who have smuggled beer and champagne to the beach surrounding you, enveloping themselves in nothing but good cheer and fuzziness. OK, I’m going to get back to reading…

 

Have a great weekend! I hope you are doing something divine.