Our Town

I took some photos on Saturday while I stood on the sidewalk waiting for Brian to get his hair cut. I liked loitering.

Factoid: Brian got his very first haircut (and every one since) at this same place, and until recently, by the same barber.

Day & Night

Have you gotten out to see Toy Story 3 yet? Did you catch the animated short before the show? Day & Night blew my mind- worth the price of admission alone. Here's the synopsis:

When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they discover each other's unique qualities- and come to realize that each of them offers a different window onto the same world- the friendship helps both to gain a new perspective.

Wear Fruit

I saved this fruit print skirt from the thrift shop. It's always been too big, until last year when it got too tight, but this summer it fits just right.

7 Up

I just caught up on Up. This documentary series tracks the lives of fourteen English school children every seven years since age seven (1964). Because I have a voyeuristic nature, I watched all of the discs no problem, while Brian declined the "depressing" footage. What struck me was how many of the subjects asked, "What is the point of this program?" To me, raised on reality tv, the point is peeking into other people's private lives, that simple. The producer's intent is to show how socio-economics predetermine Britain's future; this is evident in the first installment especially. And mostly it does, the rich stay rich, the not rich stay... not rich, but there are a few surprises. The two characters that touched me most are, Nick, a shy boy on a small farm who, despite the editor's suggestion that he would turn out to be pretty pathetic, grows up stable and super smart, and moves to America to teach engineering at a university, and Neil, a bright eyed, high spirited boy who goes nowhere and becomes mental and mostly breaks my heart. 56 Up is expected in late 2011, early 2012. Will you be watching?

Skirting the Issue

I felt sad last weekend so Brian bought me this skirt. It's swingy, has asymmetrical buttons, and makes me smile :-)

If I Only Had a...

heart pendant made of walnut.

Hot and Haze-y

Real Simple turned me on to Out of Print Clothing. I instantly ordered this (and another) tee. Nabokov's Lolita tickles me so much I have to stop reading it sometimes and shake.

Primo donna

Two feet of roast beef and cooper sharp on a sesame baguette, this is one of my favorite hoagies.

To a Tee Bag

My crossbody Baggalini was a perfect fit for traipsing around another country; it carried my Rick Steves, my Moleskine, a point & shoot, and a slew of personal items comfortably. Maybe not the most attractive or stylish bag I own (thanks to the great taste and generosity of my mother-in-law) but I've been carrying it every day anyway.

Patticake

This amateur snapshot does not do justice to my mom's knock-off-your-socks blueberry pancakes. Whenever I order them out I am bitterly disappointed because no one can duplicate the densely studded berries in a light, little bit sweet batter. Melt a pat of butter, sprinkle some powdered sugar, best summer breakfast ever.


Mmm, thanks Marmee.

The Post It with the Most It

My coworker surprised me yesterday with this cute stack of stickies sharing my sentiment on most indecipherable notes-to-self.

Fiesta for One

Last night I made tacos for dinner even though I was eating alone. They were so worth the trouble.

It's In the Bag

DwellStudio finally figured out that I am the kind of person who would like to look at their catalog. I don't need no (stinkin') diaper bag, but could I pass with this terrific print on a "weekender" bag for my grown up getaways? Methinks so.

Mood Swings

This month's issue of Real Simple (page 10) introduced me to stereomood.com, a "free radio website in tune with your emotions." This week I listened to Work, Writing, and Good Karma. Today I'm trying Well Read, Road Trip, and Sunny Day. I'm in a weekend state of mind :-)

I Like You Like You, Man

Finally, I like Rush. Sure, this clip cracks me up, but I was already a convert waiting to happen the first (and second) time I watched I Love You, Man. I thought I wanted in on a ticket purchase to their concert this summer. After taking the time to listen to an entire album in one sitting I changed my mind. That's more "slappin' da bass" than I can take. But I still like Rush. Finally.

Philly Pride

In Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir Committed, I read the following passage about her boyfriend's honest and hilarious sentiment on trading Bali for the suburbs of Philadelphia:

"I will never forget one of the last enchanting evenings that he and I spent together at his cottage there [in Bali]- sitting outside, barefoot and dewy-skinned from the warm November air, drinking wine and watching a sea of constellations flicker above rice fields. As the perfumed winds rustled the palm trees and as faint music from a distant temple ceremony floated on the breeze, Felipe looked at me, sighed, and said flatly, 'I'm so sick of this shit. I can't wait to go back to Philly.'"


Likewise, in a recent episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Charlie confesses to never having been outside of Philadelphia. While he admits to a "general fear of it" (leaving), "a fear of the unknown, a fear of change, a fear of... gypsies", he denies it to The Gang, saying, "I'm not scared, I just haven't left Philly ever. Why leave Philly, you know?"

Well said, guys.

In the Vase That You Bought Today

My hydrangea bush is covered in hundreds of small, sky-blue blossoms. I arranged a few in a Delf bud vase souvenir.

Learn to Fly

Last week I picked out this black bird ring and I've worn it almost every day since.

Dear Kitty

Before entering Anne Frank's secret annex, four large black and white prints are on prominent display. They took my breath away. In each one Anne has a candid expression, especially the last of the series in which she's occupied with some small thing in her hands. There is something so fresh and alive in these photographs of a young girl who perished long ago. For one euro I purchased a postcard to keep.

Oh, Brother!

One of my favorite pictures from my trip is not of the Netherlands, but my brother on a train to Belgium. I just love this shot because this is what he looked like a lot of the time: obscured, but seeing something no one else was seeing.

On our way back from Brussels, I heard the soft click of his camera a few rows up. He captured this:

Little Black Book

My Moleskine City Notebook made a great travel companion. I carried it all over and took brief notes on what we did which day. Now I know I should have used the map inside not just to navigate but to mark places to remember; I only wrote down a street address for one or two of our favorite places. In the back pocket I kept notes from a stranger, a sticker of a mushroom from a smart shop, a train ticket, and a tram pass.

So Dutch: Part 2

No junk mail!

Skinniest house in Amsterdam (red, right in the middle)

One of my favorite shots, just because it sums it all up: