At the market

Going to the market makes me terribly nervous. It's a nervous I love though. All my senses are overwhelmed and my heart races fast. Not in exctasy of love, but rather in fear of how self concious I feel. My habit of talking to myself gets worse and I look like Virginia Woolf in 'the Hours:'

"Somone has to die. Someone has to die. Will she die?"

but it's more like:

"Is 3.99 a sign of good or bad olive oil? Are they looking at the rib eye in my basket? How come everyone is beautiful here?"

Then it gets worse. You spot someone you know! Did they see you? Can you pretend your consumed by the raw walnuts? Oh merde, here she comes. Polite greetings. She smiles then slowly glances down to your basket and looks what you have. Her eyebrow raises. You try to hide your vice under green beans. Nope, not working. You move your basket close then say you have to run.

Next is the stress of checking out, which Trader Joes makes unbelievably easy, but I can't help but feel like my mother, debating over cash or check, coupons or none, etc etc, all flustered with the baggers rolling their eyes at me. I had this job when I was 14, so shut up and do what I say!!

Someday I'd like to go around and smile at everyone all while having a wheel of cheese, laxatives, an enema bag, Twinkies and chocolate bars in my basket.

Now my chance is OVER!

Want to know what Molly and I watched on repeat as children? On VHS? Taped off of TV? By Grandma?

Molly would make me do the head roll till I would see stars... try to STAY ALIVE in this cold!

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from iamjonsi

Who wants to go to Iceland with me?

Of a Tuesdie

So I just wrote this bloody long, eloquent, thoughtful, humble, amazing post about my sisters anniversary party with pictures and all and somehow deleted it. Oy! I'll see if I can muster up the strength to rewrite it.

For the time being I'll leave you with this. Who here likes Maria Bamford? Ever since those Target commercials I've been obsessed. This clip may come in handy for some of my friends. Friend. (hint: her name rhymes with Funnaya).

Mean Reds

Today was the ultimate Jonah Day.

Haïti

Working closely with the Haitian community for two years after high school, it's so sad to think this happened to such a sweet, humble and loving group of country men. My heart goes out to them.

These disasters always have a good way of putting things back into perspective.

his diminishing honours trailing away behind him like the tail of a comet

From Charleston. Something more Winter than Summer about this picture.

Boeuf A La Bourguignonne

Dinner this weekend was a success! Julia Child can't go wrong, especially a first edition wedding present stolen from your friend (Ruth you can say goodbye now). The lady who gave it to her obviously used it quite a bit and left her notes, which were quite useful.

Dinner was followed by a nice cold walk on the frozen pond.

Thank you Sarah for the loverly photos.

The Marble Faun is moving in.

Well, my computer's broke. Seems like a blogging epidemic. I'm on borrowed time with the present one, and have to start searching for a new one. PFFF...
It was nice these past few days not having one. My ADD seems to dissipate without a computer and I get so much done! What would happen if everyone's computer stopped working?

Side Note: I had a dream last night that I was in a movie turned real life with a crazy Bette Davis. Just before awakening, she killed herself in my hotel room to frame me as murderer. I need to get out more and change my queue around.

Иметь хорошие выходные

These amazing photographs from Imperial Russia tie in with my last post.

Having guests for dinner this weekend, and I notice myself turning into my mother. All I have to do now is brake a plate, swear at everyone, drive away crying, then come back and act like nothing happened. I'll keep you abreast.

Play the Ludic Game

So said the Colonel, head of the Imperial Circus in the glorious Nights at the Circus. He was imparting wisdom to the main character, Walser, a Yank reporter as he was about to join and chase after the star act, "The Cockney Venus," a six-foot blonde named Fevvers who sprouted wings during her bloom of youth.

I actually heard about this book from an interview I read with my favorite, Tim Walker. Walser and Fevvers live the wild and mysterious life with the circus at their heels. From Victorian London, then on to the stately homes of Imperial Saint Petersburg...
...to the shaman tribes of Siberia, I never failed to be rabidly engrossed.

So many sentences and paragraphs were so beautiful I felt the need to write them down.

"Petersburg, lovliest of all hallucinations, the shimmering mirage in the Northern wilderness glimsed for a breathless second between the black forest and the frozen sea...

At the command of the Prince, the rocks of the wilderness transformed--turned into palaces! The Prince stretched out his lordly hand, pulled down the Northern Lights, used them for chandeliers..."

Like all books I read about a foreign place, the need to buy a plane ticket there is killing me!

"The rare northern sunlight makes up in brilliance what it lacks in warmth"

-Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus

I must say, I'm much happier now that we have snow on the ground. It may be a nuisance and makes me look a fool on the way to the mailbox, but everything is so much brighter. There's nothing like waking up at dark and the snow still reflecting light into your nest.

In other news, I heard this story on NPR the other day driving home from work. So fascinating! Especially being one who chronically gets taken advantage of and not being money savvy, I learned so much. Not anything I normally talk about, but I thought I'd share the wealth. Give ear hither.

Gossip by candlelight

My dear Ladies & Gentlemen, Magpies & Fauns, Newsies & Milkmaids...it's been ages! I've missed you all dreadfully.

So much to gossip about with you and no idea of where to start! Did everyone have a relaxing time off? Hopefully you're looking well rested, rehydrated and bright-eyed. I spent most of my time reading good books, watching good movies, watching a bad movie (Avatar...don't EVEN get me started into how I was bamboozled into it) and knitting. These I shall talk about later, but let us start with what is fresh in my mind and the elixir to winter blues:

THE PROM GONE WRONG PARTY!

It was a wild time, and I'm so happy everyone really went all out with their costumes and regalia! I'll let the photos do the talking. (thank you sarah and micah for letting me use your photos!)



Micah and Jordan set up a great photobooth. Some of the results were real gems and had us laughing hysterically the next day.

Micah and Katie, Lord and Lady of the Solarium.
Jordan, Lenaya and Moi. Eternal Ménage à trois.
Dokolo and Magdalena. Foreigners, but we still love 'em.Adrienne and Samy, our Prom Royalty.
Miss Coco and Mr. James. Bon Vivant and Co.

Emi and Moi. I found my Shanghai Lil.

It was a wonderful time, and haven't danced that much in eons. I won't ever forget it, unlike my real prom which I didn't go to. Now I have to nurse my feet back to health, 6-inch platforms do a number.