tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33685710802883119582024-03-12T20:14:23.295-07:00G&M<center><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallimaufry">gallimaufry</a> and <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minutiae?show=0&t=1284078106">minutiae</a></center>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-89620737246217042152016-05-24T22:05:00.002-07:002016-05-24T22:05:59.273-07:00creation consumesI haven't written anything for so long, now.<br />
<br />
That's not true. I have written lots of things. 18,422 words in the last two weeks of the semester alone, in fact. But that's not what I meant - I meant that I had not written here, or anywhere, for myself, for a long time.<br />
<br />
Little bits of things keep bubbling up. Tiny scraps of not very good poetry, mostly. But even that is remarkable; I used to get words in my head all the time, but it hasn't happened for years. A decade, really. Which is sobering.<br />
<br />
The problem is that when one has intensely given oneself over to a particular creative endeavor, there isn't much room left for anything else. It consumes.<br />
<br />
But I have no creative endeavor imminent, and no school or job to suck all of that energy away (which is where most of it has been the last ten years, let's be honest). And so I find myself drawn back to this blog, and to my scraps of poetry, and to the 83,000 word first draft novel that's been gathering dust in my hard drives for five years. (Had a heck of a time finding it. I had named the files, unhelpfully, <i>2010 </i>and <i>Book 2</i>.)<br />
<br />
So I guess I'm reviving the blog, and maybe even finally editing the book. We'll see. But I'm almost excited about it, regardless. g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-47294757104883144142015-12-01T13:09:00.001-07:002015-12-01T13:09:30.986-07:00first snow<i>(would have been more appropriate a week ago, but since it's still on the ground I can justify it.)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The snow<br />
began here<br />
this morning and all day<br />
continued, its white<br />
rhetoric everywhere<br />
calling us back to <i>why, how,</i>
<i>whence</i> such beauty and <i>what</i>
the meaning; such<br />
an oracular fever! flowing<br />
past windows, an energy it seemed<br />
would never ebb, never settle<br />
less than lovely! and only now,<br />
deep into night,<br />
it has finally ended.<br />
The silence<br />
is immense,<br />
and the heavens still hold<br />
a million candles; nowhere<br />
the familiar things:<br />
stars, the moon,<br />
the darkness we expect<br />
and nightly turn from. Trees<br />
glitter like castles<br />
of ribbons, the broad fields<br />
smolder with light, a passing<br />
creekbed lies<br />
heaped with shining hills;<br />
and though the questions<br />
that have assailed us all day<br />
remain—not a single<br />
answer has been found—<br />
walking out now<br />
into the silence and the light<br />
under the trees,<br />
and through the fields,<br />
feels like one.</blockquote>
–Mary Oliverg+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-81006856846604078962015-11-17T10:00:00.000-07:002015-11-17T10:00:00.410-07:00advice<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>If you decide to be an actor, stick to your decision. The folks you meet in supposed positions of authority</i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span><i>critics, teachers, casting directors</i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><i>will, in the main, be your intellectual and moral inferiors. They will lack your imagination, which is why they became bureaucrats rather than artists; and they will lack your fortitude, having elected institutional support over a life of self-reliance. They spend their lives learning lessons very different from the ones you learn, and many or most of them will envy you and this envy will express itself as contempt. It's a cheap trick of unhappy people, and if you understand it for what it is, you need not adopt or be overly saddened by their view of you. It is the view of the folks on the verandah talking about the lazy slaves.</i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>There is nothing contemptible in the effort to learn and to practice the art of the actor</i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">—</span><i><b>irrespective of the success of such efforts</b></i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span><i>and anyone who suggests there is, who tries to control through scorn, contempt, condescension, and supposed (though undemonstrated) superior knowledge is a shameful exploiter. </i></blockquote>
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">—</span> David Mamet, <i>True and False: Heresy and Common Sense for the Actor</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
I haven't had to deal with this in awhile, but I will again, and it is a good reminder regardless. And it is applicable to all the arts (sub your own field in for "actor" at will).<br />
<br />
Emphasis is my own.g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-90893718887818026482015-11-10T22:18:00.000-07:002015-11-10T22:18:09.139-07:00skin careI am mildly obsessed with skincare.<br />
<br />
Some of this is not my fault - it turns out my skin has gotten progressively more sensitive as I've grown up. In middle and high school I got away with a cheap oil-free moisturizer with SPF 15 and a salicylic acid based overnight gel from the Clear Pore line. When those got discontinued I used the Biore Skin Preservation line, which then also got discontinued . . . and then I spent almost a year finding stuff that didn't break me out. I had pretty clear skin as a teenager, but my acne got progressively worse through my 20s, and I eventually figured out that it was because I was reacting to products.<br />
<br />
There were a few clear turning points in my skin care. The first was finally caving to buying La Roche Posay's <a href="http://www.cvs.com/shop/beauty/skin-care/face/la-roche-posay-toleriane-riche-soothing-protective-cream-skuid-339712" target="_blank">Toleraine Riche</a>, which had been so universally loved on <a href="http://intothegloss.com/" target="_blank">Into the Gloss</a> that I risked the price tag (at that point, the most I'd ever spent on a product). A large portion of my skincare now comes from LRP, and even when something of theirs doesn't fit my skin, it doesn't make me react. The second was a facialist (Karen at L Spa, if you're interested - she's wonderful) telling me that my skin seemed more dry than combo like I'd always assumed from my shiny nose and acne, which lead to me trying out the Josie Maran Argan Oil. My skin looked better that first day; my acne immediately calmed down and I stopped getting a shiny nose. I think some of why I was breaking out all those years just because my skin was over-producing oil to try to compensate for the dryness. Plus I seem to have an issue with cheap oil in cosmetics - that and certain fragrances.<br />
<br />
The third and fourth turning points are quicker to explain: washing my face better due to the Isabelle Bellis videos on ITG (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXloVFZ6r9s" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Pa7mbQY30" target="_blank">here</a>); and regular masking, specifically with Korean sheet masks.<br />
<br />
I've basically gotten my routine down, and when I break out now it's usually because I'm trying something new out.<br />
<br />
Day:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>LRP <a href="http://www.cvs.com/shop/beauty/skin-care/face/la-roche-posay-physiological-cleansing-gel-for-normal-to-combination-sensitive-skin-skuid-735743" target="_blank">Physiological Cleansing Gel</a> - I used the Toleriane wash for a long time, but was never quite happy with how it smeared my eye make up around. This is better, and smells pretty, too. </li>
<li>Almay <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=prod350063" target="_blank">Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover</a> - to get the rest. </li>
<li>Dermologica <a href="http://www.dermstore.com/product_AGE+Smart+Antioxidant+HydraMist_12293.htm" target="_blank">Antioxidant Hydromist</a> - as a toner - until it runs out, at least. I managed to get it on serious discount through Amazon, and it's lasted forever. </li>
<li>LRP <a href="http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3840061" target="_blank">Daily Renovating Salicylic Acne Treatment </a>- benzoyl peroxide has never worked well on me; this does.</li>
<li>Argan Oil - right now I'm using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Argan-Hair-Face-Skin/dp/B011LUCACS/ref=cm_wl_huc_item" target="_blank">this one</a> because it's the cheapest I could find, and it's also one of the best I've used, texture-wise. I stopped using the Josie Maran pretty quickly once I found other organic options - even Target has some, now. </li>
<li>LRP <a href="http://www.dermstore.com/product_Hydraphase+Intense+Eyes+_39184.htm" target="_blank">Hydrophase Intense Eyes</a> - for now. I prefer a cream to a gel, but its hard to find one that isn't super expensive, super fragranced, or super good at smearing makeup. I got this one very on sale. If I can't find a cream I like, I'll go back to my <a href="http://www.target.com/p/olay-age-defying-classic-eye-gel-5-oz/-/A-11036973#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=oil+of+olay+gel+eye" target="_blank">Oil of Olay gel</a> standby. </li>
<li>LRP <a href="http://www.dermstore.com/product_Anthelios+50+Daily+Anti-Aging+Primer+With+Sunscreen_39189.htm" target="_blank">Anthelios 50 Daily Anti-Aging Primer</a> - I've been using this for ages, now. The texture is great and the SPF wonderful. I can wear it swimming in full sun and it does fine. The packaging sucks, but I cut it open at the end and transfer it to a jar, and then I have another 6 week supply. (I always do that, by the way - although this primer is the worst about it, it's amazing how much product is left when you can't get any more out of the tube. This <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/s/need-it/health-beauty/every-drop-beauty-spatula/12d?productId=10032831&ci_src={ifpla:17588969}{ifpe:27500988}&ci_sku=10058086&srccode=cii_17588969&cpncode=42-108706161-2&utm_source=channelintelligence&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=google" target="_blank">thingamajig</a> helps, too.)</li>
<li>Jack Black <a href="http://www.sephora.com/intense-therapy-lip-balm-spf-25-P12573?skuId=1607456" target="_blank">Intense Therapy Lip Balm: Shea Butter & Vitamin E</a> - if there is only one product you consider trying after reading this, make it this one. I hate chapped lips, and I've probably tried thousands of different lip balms. This one is perfect. It doesn't have petroleum, so it sinks into your lips instead of sitting on top of them. I put it on once after my shower in the morning, once at night, and maybe once more during the day, and I'm good. Plus SPF again! </li>
</ul>
<div>
Night - Same as above without the primer, plus:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>ROC <a href="http://www.target.com/p/roc-retinol-correxion-deep-wrinkle-serum/-/A-11992267#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=roc+serum" target="_blank">Retinol Deep Wrinkle Correction Serum</a> - it took me a while to find a retinol that I could use without my skin freaking out. I've been using this for a couple of months and am pretty sure I see a difference in my forehead wrinkles, though I'm not sold on the cheap-shampoo fragrance.</li>
<li>Leftover serum from the most recent sheet mask (see below)</li>
<li>LRP Toleriane Riche - to seal everything in. I could go on about this moisturizer even more than I already have, but Into the Gloss has <a href="https://intothegloss.com/?s=toleriane+" target="_blank">done it </a>for me. When/if my skin gets more dry as the winter progresses, I'll add this in during the day, too. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Two to three times a week, some variation of a masking ritual:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>LRP <a href="http://www.cvs.com/shop/beauty/skin-care/face/la-roche-posay-physiological-ultra-fine-scrub-for-sensitive-skin-skuid-735741" target="_blank">Physiological Scrub</a> - I used to be good at doing this before a mask, but now it's just sort of whenever I remember.</li>
<li>Glossier <a href="https://www.glossier.com/#!/products/mega-greens-galaxy-pack" target="_blank">Mega Greens Galaxy Pack</a> - clay masks tend to freak my skin out (I think because they pull too much moisture), but I still want the pore-sucking powers to get the grossness out. This one is super gentle and I love it. Once a week I'll follow it with a <a href="http://www.target.com/p/biore-deep-cleansing-pore-strips-14-count-nose/-/A-12174329#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=biore+pore+strip" target="_blank">Biore Pore Strip</a>, which works so much better than the strip alone. </li>
<li>A Korean Sheet Mask - so these are my favorite things. You can buy them all over now for exorbitant prices, but TJ Maxx or Marshalls always has good ones for cheap, you just have to be discerning. I only buy ones made in Korea (which is renowned for its skincare, by the way), and I'll usually search the internet to see how reputable the brand is before I buy one I don't know. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dbeauty&field-keywords=masqueology" target="_blank">Masqueology</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dbeauty&field-keywords=biomiracle&rh=n%3A3760911%2Ck%3Abiomiracle" target="_blank">BioMiracle</a>, <a href="http://www.sephora.com/search/search.jsp?keyword=karuna&mode=all" target="_blank">Karuna</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dbeauty&field-keywords=leaders+insolution&rh=n%3A3760911%2Ck%3Aleaders+insolution" target="_blank">Leaders Insolution</a> are all great and show up at TJ Maxx fairly often. I also bought a pack from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BAM7F8C/ref=rr_xsim_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447209971&sr=0" target="_blank">Dermal Korea</a> off Amazon and loved them. Their primary function is moisturizing, but they can be infused with all sorts of things, so you can choose what you want based on whatever your skin happens to be doing that day. They also come with the added benefit of making you look like a serial killer while using them. I always save the extra serum in a little jar so I can use it later, and while I have the mask on I spread the excess on my neck, decolletage, and the backs of my hands. I leave them on as long as I can, rub the serum in, and put the Toleriane Riche over it to seal it in (and leave out the rest of the stuff I usually use at night).</li>
<li>Freeman <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Freeman-Facial-Brightening-Paper-Rose/dp/B00EXL1IZI/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1447210592&sr=1-1&keywords=freeman+rose+brightening+facial+paper+mask" target="_blank">Rose Brightening Facial Mask</a> - every once in awhile I'll use one of these if my skin is feeling lackluster. It's a mild (and cheap) AHA. </li>
</ul>
<div>
Body:</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Likas-Original-Papaya-Whitening-Soap/dp/B0054MS97A/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1447218017&sr=1-1&keywords=likas+papaya+soap" target="_blank">Likas Papaya Whitening Soap</a> - it's won all sorts of awards overseas. It seems to reduce the random pigmentation I get when I get razor burn or something, but mostly I use it because I like the smell. Tucson's Lee Lee Import Market had it for cheap, but somehow I doubt I'll find a supplier in Montana. Otherwise I just use <a href="http://www.target.com/p/dove-sensitive-skin-beauty-bar-4-oz-8-bar/-/A-11223553#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=dove+sensitive+bar" target="_blank">Dove Sensitive Skin</a>.</li>
<li>Curel <a href="http://www.target.com/p/curel-daily-moisture-lotion/-/A-12902842#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=curel+fragrance+free" target="_blank">Daily Moisture Fragrance Free</a> - yay simple stand-bys. </li>
<li>Aveeno <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aveeno-Active-Naturals-Moisturizing-Lotion/dp/B001IM2ZIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1447218500&sr=1-1&keywords=aveeno+daily+moisturizing+lotion+with+broad+spectrum+spf+15&pebp=1447218506592&perid=0D7CSCCA6BHY8T2GMJ2X" target="_blank">Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF</a> - I put it on my neck, chest, shoulders, arms, and hands - anywhere that might see sun. Trying to avoid that premature aging thing. Arizona has trained me well. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
So if you add all this up, it appears I spend a shitload of money on it. Which is true, but I don't spend as much as it looks - I never, ever buy stuff full price. CVS has great, stackable coupons, so I can often get La Roche Posay stuff for nearly half price (or at least I could, when the location near me stocked it - the one in Missoula doesn't, so now I have to factor in shipping). I price compare across several websites (Sephora, Dermstore, Ulta, CVS, Target, Amazon) to figure out the best deal, and I'll wait until a good coupon comes up and stock up when I find something particularly cheap. I got my next bottle of primer two months ago on clearance at Target for $10 - a quarter of what it usually retails for. I end up spending about $30-40 a month or so, since I don't run out of everything all at once.<br /><br />And if you've gotten all the way to the end of this and think I'm nuts, you're probably right - but keep in mind if I were Korean, I'd probably have at least <a href="http://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/tips/g8901/korean-beauty-skincare-routine-10-steps/?slide=1" target="_blank">three more steps</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-36183170611840827382015-11-01T23:16:00.000-07:002015-11-01T23:16:25.745-07:00two billion beats<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>I wondered how many rooms there were inside me that I'd yet to explore, how many doors still clicked closed, how many palindromes, how many people, how many worlds, and whether they would all be as beautiful as the stone in the sky we call earth: this planet holding oceans and fields and so many human hearts, each with two billion beats in a lifetime. That's what we get, two billion beats, not much more and sometimes much less. All humans, our hearts hammering on until one day they stop, and the body gets buried, and we go back to being atoms with their spinning centers, microscopic flecks of enormous energy and light, as though packed with all our lifetime love--its curves and caresses, its sudden surprises, its real revelations, its long-gone losses, its mourning melodies, its coconut-soup comfort--all of it happening in two billion beats of the human heart turning on our stone in the sky. </i></blockquote>
<br />
-- Lauren Slater, "Her Over Him," <i>Elle</i>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-22852687990086150632015-10-01T19:02:00.001-07:002015-10-01T19:39:48.866-07:00on missing Tucson<i>a list of things I wish I could have shipped to me from the Old Pueblo</i><br />
<ul>
<li>sunsets</li>
<li>weather warmer than 35 degrees in the morning</li>
<li>tortillas from the Anita Street Market</li>
<li>a drink from the St Charles Tavern and a whole bunch of Pillsbury Wine</li>
<li>Brooklyn Pizza . . . but the garlic knots even more</li>
<li>half the contents of Trader Joe's, but specifically the flower section, the frozen ready-to-bake croissants, and the pumpkin body butter </li>
<li>the Buffalo Exchange outlet (technically that's Nogales, but . . . )</li>
<li>my chiropractor, my mechanic, my hairdresser</li>
<li>the entire production (including hippie hill) of Love's Labors Lost</li>
<li>the All Soul's Procession</li>
<li>all my blues dancers</li>
<li>all the friends' babies I haven't gotten to kiss</li>
<li>all my dinner friends (you know . . . friends you invite to dinner). </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We love it here, but there are some things I miss an awful lot. </div>
g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-26548467362082427302015-08-19T23:21:00.002-07:002015-08-19T23:21:51.561-07:00on moving<i>a series of observations and anecdotes, roughly chronological, written with a gin & tonic in a crystal wine goblet in hand, one week after arriving in Missoula</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
About halfway through the loading the truck process, both the husband and I decided, entirely separately, that next time we are hiring people to pack and move our stuff, regardless of the cost. And despite the fact that we had ten lovely people helping us.<br />
<br />
When you come to visit us (you are coming to visit us, right?), and if you drive (why would you? Allegiant flies out of Mesa for ridiculously cheap), do NOT stop in Salt Lake City. There were plenty of lovely Mormon hamlets all through Utah that provide cute roadside inns. Salt Lake is quite possibly the ugliest, jankiest downtown I've ever seen. We were offered meth, and were quite surprised when both our car and moving truck were not broken into overnight, if that gives you any idea.<br />
<br />
Except for some boring parts in Idaho, the drive was quite pretty.<br />
<br />
The Budget truck we rented kept tripping the "stop" mechanism on the gas nozzles, unless they were long enough/had a complete enough seal. We had to drive around looking for a nozzle that would work at every single stop. We have several $0.72 gas charges as a result. The company refunded us $108 and chastised us for not calling roadside assistance.<br />
<br />
Utah apparently doesn't know how to set up road cones/barrels for construction purposes. We encountered one north of Page just sitting in the middle of the lane, its brothers all in a proper line on the shoulder. Both of us barely avoided that one. Later that night, with no warning or signs whatsoever, they took about four barrels to narrow the two lane road down to one. Colin (driving the truck) made the choice to sideswipe two barrels instead of jerking the truck too quickly. One of the barrels' rubber feet came flying toward the front of my car like an enormous frisbee, solidly hitting the bumper (though thankfully causing no damage). The entire night we were in Salt Lake, I dreamt over and over of watching Colin swerve in front of me, and then realizing that whatever was in the road was coming toward me too quick to avoid. Swerve, panic, brace for impact. Swerve, panic, brace for impact.<br />
<br />
Once we made it into town, we unloaded the truck with only one other adult for help in three hours. It was like a Christmas miracle.<br />
<br />
Missoula is unbearably gorgeous, even under the haze of smoke from all the nearby fires. We've eaten out for every meal thus far, and had a ridiculous amount of fantastic food, some of which I've posted. Tonight's, which I didn't post, was Brazilian bowls of rice and meat and toppings like chimichurri.<br />
<br />
The Mexican food situation is not as dire as I feared. I have had a decent huevos rancheros, and look forward to trying several more. Most places have something reasonably spicy on the menu, and we have tried the most highly recommended Mexican food place in town. The salsa was reasonably hot, the food delicious, and will definitely serve to satisfy cravings. However, due to the town's weird liquor restriction laws, they don't have any tequila at all . . . and thus make their margaritas with something called "agave wine." (Luckily this failing is easily remedied, because the best margaritas are made at home.)<br />
<br />
I had, stupidly, thought that the loading and driving would be the hard part. I was not anticipating the complete pit that the previous tenants/the management company had left our house for. The quick rundown: mouse feces, rotting food, and fruit flies in the kitchen; dog shit, maggots, hobo spiders, more mouse feces, and general filth and trash in the basement & garage; hobo spiders all over the outside as well; filth in more corners than you can count. We have been so occupied cleaning that we have not yet unpacked anything except our clothes.<br /><br />Nonetheless, we live in a section of town Colin keeps calling "the Shire." There is a fruit/veggie stand in the yard of a house just a block away. We saw a kid with an actual lemonade stand the other day. Most people don't even bother to fence their yards. Our neighbors all came out to say hi to us the second night we were here, and they're all great people.<br />
<br />
That said, people here are weird. They drive weird, they move their carts weird in Costco, a large number of them have very large, bulbous noses. And they are weirdly almost entirely white.<br /><br />I was not expecting things like just driving around town to be stressful. It's exhausting. And I have gone the wrong way down one way streets twice now.<br />
<br />
There are very few chain stores, which is awesome, but the ones that exist are almost entirely concentrated into one part of town and seem to be forced into direct competition. The traffic in this area of town is the absolute worst.<br />
<br />
There is no restriction on casinos, so there are tiny gas station/restaurant/casino hybrids everywhere. I always thought it was dumb that gambling was restricted so much, but the tiny casino things seem so trashy. And it's a stark contrast to the puritanical restriction on liquor sales. I'll take liquor over casinos any day.<br />
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The cats seem to have become closer as a result of the trauma of moving, and both they and the kid seem ecstatic to be here. I am waiting for the other shoe to fall.<br />
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The thrifting here is amazing.Think good thoughts for me about finding the perfect bike.<br />
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The first day we were here, it was in the high 90's. Since it has been 70s-80s. J keeps waking up, thinking it's cold, and putting on long sleeves and gloves.<br />
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Yelp and Zomato have been fantastic resources.<br />
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Our house will be amazing, once it's done. <br />
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<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-68175583486974034632015-07-14T11:10:00.000-07:002015-07-14T11:10:21.120-07:00on discourse and friendshipI remember the moments when my opinions on healthcare changed. There were two.<br />
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The first was early on in my teaching career. I avoided talking politics with my students - certainly current politics - but for some reason I was sitting at my desk and a student asked me what my opinion was on universal healthcare. I was slightly distracted, checking grades or something, and as she was right there and the class was doing something else, I answered honestly (and mostly parroting what my father believed): that I didn't know, that I was worried about what it would do to taxes and that I didn't trust the government to do a better job than what we currently have. My student, sharp as could be, said, "Miss, that's because you've never had to go without health insurance."<br />
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The other moment was not much longer later, when I was talking online to a friend that lives in Canada. He pointed out what I didn't know at the time, that the US is the only first world country that doesn't have universal health care.<br />
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These things gave me pause. They were major contributing factors to my changing my mind and the way I thought about the issue.<br />
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I have spent the last eight years teaching students how to think critically: how to take evidence as a whole and build a rational, logical argument based on that evidence, and how to determine what counts as quality evidence to begin with. I am routinely appalled by how many adults seem to have zero understanding of this process.<br />
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It used to be that when I disagreed with someone, particularly in the areas of religion or politics, I said nothing. Public conflict tends to make me deeply uncomfortable, and I told myself that there was no use discussing these topics - no one would change their minds and it would only succeed in making people angry.<br /><br />Teaching taught me otherwise. (It is remarkable how much one learns by teaching. Sometimes I think my students taught me more than I ever managed to teach them.) Most people have never had their thought processes challenged. Most people don't automatically check to see how valid a source is. Most people don't stop to ask themselves how much bias they have on a topic, and they don't stop to consider how their privilege or social standing is affecting their beliefs. Most people can't point out logical fallacies, and even if they can, they don't seem to understand that a logical fallacy means an argument is objectively invalid. And the only way to get most people thinking rationally is by pointing out when they are not, and hope that, in return, someone will do the same for you. (The way to fix this is by systemic, high-quality public education, but that's a topic for another post.)<br /><br />Put more simply: teaching taught me that if stupidity and ignorance isn't pointed out and something done to correct it, it grows exponentially.<br />
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There is a balance, though. It works best when the topic discussed is one that neither person is deeply emotionally connected to, as emotion essentially cancels out the rational thought processes of the frontal cortex. The problem is that the biggest social issues and the greatest founts of stupidity tend to be in places where people are deeply emotional. So you have a choice: you can either attempt to engage logically anyway, and hope that the logic triumphs once emotions have cooled, or you can not say anything on the big emotional topics and only start discourse on smaller issues. Sometimes thinking logically about something you're not emotional about can transfer over to things you <b>are</b> emotional about. And regardless, often the people who are watching the exchange benefit from it more than the ones involved.<br /><br />I believe, strongly, in public discourse. I believe that, for us to move forward as a species, we have to have discussions on topics that affect us deeply, or we are doomed. I believe that refusing to engage or sequestering yourself so that you only hear opinions that mirror your own is a sign of weakness - an inescapable tragic flaw.<br />
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And yet there are times when I choose not to say anything, because the person has expressed something so horrifyingly ignorant (and usually hateful) that I cannot trust myself to avoid the ad hominem attack. Sometimes I have enough history with a person that I am not willing to risk our entire relationship just to make a point. Sometimes I know the topic is so entrenched in personal identity that there is almost no hope of change, and I let it slide. Sometimes I hope that someone else will have the courage to say what I don't.<br />
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I agonize over those moments. When a cis-male spews hate about a MTF transperson, or when a missionary says that adults should pay for their own food and health care, I cringe. I write out possible responses. Sometimes I hit delete, and I wonder if the point where discourse seems impossible is the point when it is no longer worth remaining friends.<br />
<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-3774811511408373072015-01-03T20:45:00.001-07:002015-01-03T22:19:54.404-07:002015They're not resolutions. I hate resolutions. They're more like . . . guidelines.<div><br></div><div>From now on:</div><div>More dancing and walks</div><div>More water</div><div>Better food, less of it</div><div>More tea before bed</div><div>More time with people I care about</div><div>More baths</div><div>More breathing</div><div>More of the things that make me happy, and less of the things that don't. </div>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-22591989235330954492014-10-19T20:08:00.000-07:002014-10-19T20:08:20.673-07:00the dirty banana<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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The first full day we were in Jamaica, we asked one of our waitresses ("String Bean" read her name tag) what she recommended for a drink that was strong and wasn't too sweet. She suggested a Dirty Banana (which wasn't on the menu) and we said okay without asking what was in it - and it was perfect, and I drank about a million of them before we left, and I don't even like bananas.<br /><br />I made sure to spy on how they made it and wrote it down for when I came home - although since they just tended to throw ingredients together without measuring, it's taken me some time to perfect the proportions. Naturally the next step was to share them with you, dear reader.<br /><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Dirty Banana</b> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />2 oz gold or dark rum (we've been using <a href="http://www.totalwine.com/eng/product/appleton-special-rum/5158750" target="_blank">Appleton</a>)<br />2 oz rum cream (the Caribbean version of Bailey's - we brought <a href="https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-3286.aspx" target="_blank">Sangster's </a>back with us, but as it's not available in the States, you'll have to make do with whatever they have at <a href="http://www.totalwine.com/eng/search/rum_cream" target="_blank">Total Wine</a>)<br />1/2 oz creme de cacao<br />1/2 oz simple syrup<br />1/2 ripe banana<br />ice </blockquote>
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<i>Throw all ingredients in a blender. Add ice till the three cup mark; blend until smooth. Makes 2. </i></blockquote>
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<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-81220909215627522502014-08-31T18:50:00.000-07:002014-08-31T18:52:05.853-07:00on JamaicaWe'd long envisioned getting married on a beach, and the appeal of a beach in a foreign country was strong. We ended up picking Jamaica for a couple simple reasons: it was relatively cheap, and we had a friend who goes on an almost yearly basis, so we could (and did) harass her with whatever questions we thought up.<br />
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We stayed in Montego Bay, which is on the north end of the island and the second-largest city after Kingston. Jamaica is a huge tourist economy, but the season is November - April, so prices were much cheaper for us in June, and we didn't run into hardly any parties of frat boys (and no hurricanes, either).<br />
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On our friend's recommendation, we stayed at the <a href="http://www.decameron.co/promosite/index.php/decameron-hotels/royal-decameron-montego-beach-montego-bay-jamaica" target="_blank">Royal Decameron Montego Bay</a>, and after seeing several of the other resorts, were glad we did. For about $175 a night, we got a beach front room and all of the food and drinks we wanted (all the resorts we looked at were all-inclusive). The food was overall very good (local dishes and their take on other culture's cuisines - lots of fresh fish, lamb, chicken, steak), and the drinks were decent - and given what we drank while we were there, our liquor bill alone would have been at least that much anywhere else. My favorite drink was a dirty banana - blended rum, creme de cacao and fresh banana - but we had everything from straight rum to coffee with amaretto to old fashioneds (we had to explain how to make it, but they were game). You're also not expected to tip, and most people don't, but we found that leaving a dollar here and there got us significantly better service. While some of the other resorts were nicer, they were much further from town, and what we could have afforded would not have gotten us anything close to a beach view.<br />
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The trade off was that our room wasn't as nice - the bed was slightly hard, there was a water stain on the bathroom ceiling, and the water pressure in the shower was iffy - but we were fine with that given how great everything else was.<br />
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The food was served buffet-style, with many different options available. Colin hates buffets and he was fine with this because the food was so good. We ate with a beach view at every meal, a luxury that should not be underestimated. There is also a sit down restaurant you can make reservations for.<br />
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We found about a hundred different ways of doing pretty much nothing at all, which is exactly what we wanted. We'd wake up leisurely, meander down to breakfast, bring coffee back to our room, go down to the beach and read or swim for awhile, eat lunch, take a nap, spend more time on the beach, shower for dinner, eat more delicious food, get happily tipsy, fall asleep at the unheard of time of 10 pm, and do it again the next day. I finished three and a half books while were there and swam for at least an hour every day. Having nowhere to be and nothing we had to do was glorious. We would have had to pay for WiFi at the hotel, and there's no 3G access, so we had a nice break from electronic distractions as well.<br />
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We did about one thing differently every day, starting with a couple's massage in a cabana on the water, which was lovely.<br />
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We wandered into town a few times, which was easy to do on foot. The half-mile or so of the main road by the hotel is called the "hip strip," and its filled with tourist shops and bars, including a Margaritaville. The locals are very aggressive sales people - they call out to you from across the street to come into their stores and will keep pressing if you waver at all. Our friend had warned us beforehand, and a firm "no, thank you" worked just fine. We were disappointed in the cheesy made-in-China wares that most of the shops were selling, although we did find a good price on Appleton rum and Sangster's rum cream (like Bailey's, but even more delicious) in one of the little grocery stores. Also, if you're white, it's pretty obvious that you're a tourist, and you are therefore an easy target for less-than-legal substances. The second time we went into town Colin and I bet how many times we would be offered pot - he bet 5, I bet 10 - and it was 7 times total. Again, "no, thanks" worked just fine. Margaritaville was fun for the kitsch factor, but we didn't stay for more than a drink, as the appeal of free drinks back at the resort was too strong. They also offered yacht rides with loud 90s dance music, if that's your thing.<br />
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We asked one of the taxi drivers what we should see if we only saw one thing, and he recommended <a href="http://www.dunnsriverfallsja.com/index.php" target="_blank">Dunn's River Falls</a>, which is a long waterfall over 600 ft or so of rocks that you can climb. It was beautiful, but had been so mined for tourist purposes that we were somewhat disappointed. They had us climb the falls in long chains of 20 or so people, which was a pretty dumb idea, all things considered (and was frustrating for us, as we could have scaled it without help in about a third the time). They'd scraped the rocks of moss and carved footholds into some of them, and it was so swamped with people that it was hard to enjoy how pretty it was. I don't have any pictures of it - we didn't have a waterproof camera, and opted out of paying for their photos.<br />
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As the falls are near Ocho Rios, we did get to see a significant portion of the coastline and more rural areas as we went there and back, which was nice. We also stopped at a place near <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_Bay,_Jamaica" target="_blank">Discovery Bay</a> that had absolutely fantastic jerk chicken (possibly the best of the trip, although to be honest they were all so good that it would be hard to rank), and would have been worth the drive alone. It looked like they were smoking it on wood poles underneath a sheet of aluminum. (I had my camera on the nighttime setting or something, so apologies for the poor quality.)<br />
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After using the snorkels provided by the hotel and being amazed at just the little reefs in the water by the hotel beaches, we decided to take a glass-bottomed boat out to one of the larger reefs off shore.<br />
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I had trouble with my mask and didn't enjoy it as much as I could have, but Colin loved it. The reefs weren't as colorful as the pictures of the ones you see in Australia, but we saw a lot of cool coral and a bunch of different fish, and the water was incredibly clear. We were also surprised that it went so far out and was only about 10-15 feet deep, and when there aren't reefs (or the wake of the boat), you can see straight to the white sand at the bottom.<br />
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The water itself was incredibly beautiful. We spent most of our time on the furthest south beach, as it was the quietest. I didn't get over that perfect turquoise blue the entire time we were there. The sunsets were incredible, and the resort faces west, so we had a perfect view. The weather report told us it would be thunderstorms that week, and although it did tend to get cloudy toward the evening, we got sprinkled on for about five minutes once, and most of the daytime was clear.<br />
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Cultural notes: our experiences with the local culture were admittedly quite few - restricted to those working in the tourist trade, and whoever happened to be walking down the hip strip when we were (still mostly part of the tourist trade). Almost 20% of the island is living below the poverty line, which was fairly apparent when we drove through the more rural areas. I wish I had read up more on the country before we went - I didn't know until after we came home than Rastafarian is a religion (and not actually a big one - the island is very religious, but mostly of the Protestant variety - only somewhere between 1-5% of the population identifies as Rastafarian). The locals speak patois as well as English. There is definitely a cultural difference between what Americans would consider polite and what the locals do, but it's easy enough to get used to - and once it's clear you're not just another asshole tourist, they're more friendly.<br />
<br />
Our total cost for the vacation portion (read: non-wedding) was about $3300 (flights, hotel, taxis, non-hotel food, massage, excursion, souvenirs, etc). At least in the touristy areas, you can use Jamaican and American money interchangeably. They say the rate is 10 to 1, but it's actually 100 to 1 - 1000 Jamaican is 10 USD. We changed over about a third of our spending money into Jamaican. We also waited longer than we should have to buy our flights, which ended up costing us more than we planned - buy them early. Southwest also started flying in to Jamaica the day we left (we're pretty sure we saw the first plane come in), so there are probably cheaper options now than what we had. We decided to play it safe and get the CDC recommended shots beforehand, which was an additional $370 we didn't originally plan for.<br />
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To sum up: Jamaica is awesome and beautiful, and we are so glad we went.<br />
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p.s. I am working on a post on the wedding stuff for <a href="http://apracticalwedding.com/" target="_blank">A Practical Wedding</a>, and if they publish it I'll link to it here.g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-7403237079365794212014-05-31T15:34:00.000-07:002014-05-31T15:47:28.800-07:00on buying glasses onlineI've been looking to buy new glasses for several months, now. The ones I had were so old they were missing about 70% of the anti-reflective coating on the lenses, and small enough that I couldn't wear them outside because they didn't block enough light (and I didn't wear them often enough to bother getting prescription sunglasses). I wanted plastic frames this time, skewing more bookish-librarian or nerdy-girl-prior-to-prom-queen-transformation than hipster irony.<br />
<br />
So I begin poking around. My optometrist had fuck all; Costco had some that were tolerable, but none that I'd actually enjoy wearing. (The enjoyability factor is important: I spent half my childhood hating how I looked in glasses, and therefore have sacrificed my eye health for looks ever since I got contacts.) Enter <a href="http://www.warbyparker.com/" target="_blank">Warby Parker</a> - via facebook ad, I believe - with sexy models and reasonable, all-inclusive prices, and a try five at home for free program.<br />
<br />
I should preface this with the fact that I seem to have a hard-to-fit face for glasses. I'm of medium width measurement-wise, but I have a wide jaw and round cheeks, so what fits physically on my face often ends up looking too small visually. I also have a huge pet peeve about frames touching my cheeks, even if it's just when I smile. It takes trying on about a hundred pairs of sunglasses before I find ones I can stand; prescription glasses seem to be more on the order of two or three hundred. I should also mention that the last pair I had fitted (a decade ago, now) involved me having a melt-down in Costco about how unsymmetrical my face is. The poor woman who helped me clearly still remembers and is especially nice whenever I come through her check out line.<br />
<br />
But I use the "virtual try on" feature on Warby Parker, order five for my try on, and get them sent to me. I am excited. When they arrive, I tear them open, am impressed by the quality, and completely unimpressed with how any of them look on me. Glasses, it turns out, look very different in a photograph online - or superimposed over your photograph online - than they do in person. I play around with them awhile anyway, and drop them back in the mail five days later.<br />
<br />
Warby Parker also sends a barrage of friendly emails when you do a try on, encouraging you to post pictures on social media to get feedback, or to email them directly for advice. Nonplussed with my own selections, I send in photos of myself in the try on pairs by email (it's hard to take photos of yourself in glasses, I find), and get fairly helpful feedback that informs my next try on batch. When they come, they are better, but still nothing golden; mostly, still a touch too narrow for my face visually.<br />
<br />
I give up awhile, and then start poking around on <a href="http://rivetandsway.com/" target="_blank">Rivet and Sway</a> instead. Their styles are slightly more expensive and geared entirely for women, and they have a handy little survey to direct you toward frames you might like. I pay more attention to the measurement numbers this time, and end up with a batch of glasses that all almost-work, with one pair being the standout. I order, overjoyed.<br />
<br />
And when they arrive, they come in a very nice case with a beautiful, watercolor print cleaning cloth, but they fit absolutely nothing like the try on pair - they lean heavily on my cheeks and seem oddly angled downward. I email customer service, and they respond quickly and sympathetically, and promise to send a replacement pair. The second pair arrives, and it is (I swear) exactly the same pair as the original, except that they'd bent the arms up at the hinges violently, so that they are loose from the frames (like glasses get if someone sits on them) and incredibly crooked on my face. When I write a complaining email, requesting the no-questions-asked refund and pointing out that they said they'd *replace* the frames, the woman insists that they were replaced, but that all the frames had that inward tilt so their technician bent up the handles of the *new* pair of frames. Sigh. (Note for customer service people: better to tell the truth than lies that make no sense.)<br />
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Here's a shot of the "replacement" pair:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx448IKwuylUhUI5zgIcNozyY_ODpnZvn7ba9eO-khKRZsvIu4uiMPm79UzPNTu3x_jTKCZIcJl74ysWJzpF23ZGGM-N5gleZ7pDiRuH5SmSZygUyqAjNX19SEz_fo4NWCY_1LaP6iJHs/s1600/glasses.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx448IKwuylUhUI5zgIcNozyY_ODpnZvn7ba9eO-khKRZsvIu4uiMPm79UzPNTu3x_jTKCZIcJl74ysWJzpF23ZGGM-N5gleZ7pDiRuH5SmSZygUyqAjNX19SEz_fo4NWCY_1LaP6iJHs/s1600/glasses.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Back to the drawing board.<br />
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Meanwhile, I've taken so long with this process that Warby Parker has come out with a new season of frames, and armed with my newfound expertise, I pick out another five styles. I find another clear winner when the try ons arrive: the <a href="http://www.warbyparker.com/eyeglasses/women/dale#whiskey-tortoise" target="_blank">Dale</a>, in Whiskey Tortoise. I order them, slightly apprehensive, and hold on to the trial pairs until the prescription one comes, just in case they suffered the same problem (a three day weekend makes this possible, although I was still impressed by how quickly they shipped). They arrived, and fit exactly the same as the trial pair. Success! The hard case isn't as nice as Rivet and Sway's, and they only have a plain fabric case instead of a cleaning cloth, but the glasses themselves are much better quality (and were $50 cheaper).<br />
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I also discovered that my optometrist's office was willing to fit them on me for free (which was good, as I didn't want to trust myself to bend them).<br />
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I would absolutely recommend Warby Parker, though I would say ignore the virtual try on feature and start by emailing them for help, with pictures of you in your current frames for reference. I also had a friend that suffered from Bell's Palsy and had to buy glasses last minute, and she raved about how helpful and swift they were as well. They also donate a pair to someone needy for every pair purchased, so you get feel-good bonus points for buying from them.<br />
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Also: if you don't know what measurement numbers your current frames are, try some on in person somewhere. When you order your try ons, select frames that are a similar size. Glasses come with three measurement numbers (in order): the width of the lenses, the width of the bridge, and the length of the arms. Arms are less important (since they can be bent), but make sure the total of the lens + the bridge measurement is within a digit or two of your current pair. Don't bother with anything that isn't the right measurement, no matter how cute they are - you'll just end up sad that they don't fit.<br />
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And here's a selfie of a (finally) satisfied customer:<br />
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<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-47896723438267397982014-05-04T17:48:00.001-07:002014-05-04T17:48:18.774-07:00things i like, vol. 45<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxA5F2ArAxQE2VAkfAZXgQkwE_KgDM6I-OrggSJz1ZGUSscIacmpStQkZTB6s47Kk5f5OggW8Mehz8rysoPdGlWxO9efRa1rGpg6QUcc1lTvbI7Dt___LluTfQ3pe1Ts7CYO8S-gnyus/s1600/animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxA5F2ArAxQE2VAkfAZXgQkwE_KgDM6I-OrggSJz1ZGUSscIacmpStQkZTB6s47Kk5f5OggW8Mehz8rysoPdGlWxO9efRa1rGpg6QUcc1lTvbI7Dt___LluTfQ3pe1Ts7CYO8S-gnyus/s1600/animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova-14.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
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Babies, animals, lots of <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/animal-children-photography-elena-shumilova/" target="_blank">magic</a>.<br />
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. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgie4vw0vjdEw-Uo4xdAZmVhKvxinEwZ4R_QB1J6g2d1hKMUSggZDesklZolTHhZ_PiaXVwN-CBbvpC6uEbnhMKyY7duWi2AzgKj7V3Y2W_JKPBlM8jGv6amfYOu4xkBufDJFjIKSU4w80/s1600/bruno+walpoth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgie4vw0vjdEw-Uo4xdAZmVhKvxinEwZ4R_QB1J6g2d1hKMUSggZDesklZolTHhZ_PiaXVwN-CBbvpC6uEbnhMKyY7duWi2AzgKj7V3Y2W_JKPBlM8jGv6amfYOu4xkBufDJFjIKSU4w80/s1600/bruno+walpoth.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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Carved out of <a href="http://www.walpoth.com/wood.html" target="_blank">wood</a>.<br />
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. . .</div>
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How to make things <a href="http://afroginthefjord.com/2014/02/02/how-to-make-things-koselig/" target="_blank">koselig</a>: </div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">According to my experience in Norway, a koselig evening involves candles, good music and as least awkward silences as possible (Norwegians are very sensitive to awkward silences, more than any people I’ve lived with). Warm colors around you, a fire in the chimney, good food on the table, wine and people you like and feel comfortable with. Chatting away the evening and the night with a little drunkness and inner warmth.</span></blockquote>
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. . . </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6ftB5yV09hqcGwlPMSoYd6SF1DXiJciGtA2ZqkamlpTduo1Wrj27O5d1IPLEcXNjbAYzKkI69728nk5ThxEjOF7L9hQ74SeV0a9kQI27JlcQ3BL4RoQR-SR-yDo7hnCNcWqoLb22HVU/s1600/ludovic+florent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6ftB5yV09hqcGwlPMSoYd6SF1DXiJciGtA2ZqkamlpTduo1Wrj27O5d1IPLEcXNjbAYzKkI69728nk5ThxEjOF7L9hQ74SeV0a9kQI27JlcQ3BL4RoQR-SR-yDo7hnCNcWqoLb22HVU/s1600/ludovic+florent.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Nude <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/20/ludovic-florent_n_4811155.html" target="_blank">dancers</a>.<br /><br />
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. . .</div>
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<a href="http://www.anothermag.com/loves/view/26292/Nan_Goldin_Christine_Floating_in_the_Sea_St_Barths_1999" target="_blank">St. Barth's</a>.<br />
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. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FH5p-ROh6f0FdZMaNylYitEdryWVnOrsf1b-wK4AS6uMOaTBLceIiHOf8bm-6xHpGoh5dEgdSGQFzKk6gmXSDCF3VK-54G73F57zthx9uSb2x5HzIwKAZ9R2G3td__Qv_Et8EU1g-68/s1600/tippi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FH5p-ROh6f0FdZMaNylYitEdryWVnOrsf1b-wK4AS6uMOaTBLceIiHOf8bm-6xHpGoh5dEgdSGQFzKk6gmXSDCF3VK-54G73F57zthx9uSb2x5HzIwKAZ9R2G3td__Qv_Et8EU1g-68/s1600/tippi.jpg" height="640" width="592" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.anothermag.com/loves/view/25594/Tippi_and_Elephant" target="_blank">Love</a>.<br />
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. . . </div>
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In case you need to know what <a href="http://xkcd.com/1335/" target="_blank">time </a>it is in other parts of the world, as I often do and am hopeless at.</div>
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. . . </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqWpz7O8bjEkGjAlI4aoS0M13VXE_9ww3CHNg0gdXYC20Ae7nzqjJZ35UlMo2fJSAUhxCfvXO1izsh4jBG97jbrzFAvUDmvcCf8EnXlFiSdZ8JVBCZYgWfc5or91_SuLtUHwpFfoaJwE/s1600/weekend-inspiration_national-arts-club_saturday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqWpz7O8bjEkGjAlI4aoS0M13VXE_9ww3CHNg0gdXYC20Ae7nzqjJZ35UlMo2fJSAUhxCfvXO1izsh4jBG97jbrzFAvUDmvcCf8EnXlFiSdZ8JVBCZYgWfc5or91_SuLtUHwpFfoaJwE/s1600/weekend-inspiration_national-arts-club_saturday.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Perfectly <a href="http://www.garancedore.fr/en/2014/01/18/weekend-inspiration-138/" target="_blank">placed</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Iq4-vF-yxHWVizK8hiRwv4N6_GGZmQv1VidTe5obvHL0dedFlaKQdDN4usSuP48mmQlmgs8A2sfHv69TI5-ks2YiL5tzYOJ-9-WmOnGazdLxxIvu5_6a1E4JJGvaytJ-iLkofQ53vhE/s1600/postsecret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Iq4-vF-yxHWVizK8hiRwv4N6_GGZmQv1VidTe5obvHL0dedFlaKQdDN4usSuP48mmQlmgs8A2sfHv69TI5-ks2YiL5tzYOJ-9-WmOnGazdLxxIvu5_6a1E4JJGvaytJ-iLkofQ53vhE/s1600/postsecret.jpg" height="380" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://postsecret.com/" target="_blank">secret</a>. I feel it, too.<br /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-64565295841929866812014-04-29T21:28:00.000-07:002014-04-29T21:28:12.871-07:00what the living do<blockquote>Johnny, the kitchen sink has been clogged for days, some utensil probably fell down there.</br>
And the Drano won’t work but smells dangerous, and the crusty dishes have piled up</br></br>
waiting for the plumber I still haven’t called. This is the everyday we spoke of.</br>
It’s winter again: the sky’s a deep, headstrong blue, and the sunlight pours through</br>
</br>
the open living-room windows because the heat’s on too high in here and I can’t turn it off.</br>
For weeks now, driving, or dropping a bag of groceries in the street, the bag breaking,</br></br>
I’ve been thinking: This is what the living do. And yesterday, hurrying along those</br>
wobbly bricks in the Cambridge sidewalk, spilling my coffee down my wrist and sleeve,</br></br>
I thought it again, and again later, when buying a hairbrush: This is it.</br>
Parking. Slamming the car door shut in the cold. What you called that yearning.</br></br>
What you finally gave up. We want the spring to come and the winter to pass. We want</br>
whoever to call or not call, a letter, a kiss — we want more and more and then more of it.</br></br>
But there are moments, walking, when I catch a glimpse of myself in the window glass,</br>
say, the window of the corner video store, and I’m gripped by a cherishing so deep</br></br>
for my own blowing hair, chapped face, and unbuttoned coat that I’m speechless:</br>
I am living. I remember you.</blockquote>
</br>
- Marie Howe
g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-86532156945431630502014-03-29T21:15:00.000-07:002014-03-29T21:15:48.660-07:00i am a visitor here, i am not permanentMy good friend Sean passed away two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
I got the news - via facebook message - while I was helping two of my friends practice for their first dance at their wedding the following day. I cried after they left and tried hard not to think about it. And except for it creeping up on me when I least expected it a few times in the last week, I've done a pretty good job not thinking about it. Which meant that I had not prepared myself for his memorial service today as well as I might have liked. <br />
<br />
What was so nice about the service was how much emphasis was placed on Seany's music, and how much he loved it and loved sharing it. The gigs and gigs of music I have saved on my hard drive are due, almost entirely, to him. We didn't have exactly the same taste, but had much in common; he was responsible for a huge amount of my development as a music listener, and he grew to know my taste better than anyone. He would nearly pounce on me as soon as he'd found a new album he thought I'd love, and he was always right.<br />
<br />
Sean was always, always a good friend. He was always ready to listen whenever anyone needed it. He was a genuinely open and caring guy.<br />
<br />
We'd drifted apart the last few years - both busy with our jobs, I think, and not spending as much time chatting online (as we did all through college). I'd been meaning to text him for at least two weeks before he died, and was just too distracted to follow through. We'd planned to hang out when I was on spring break, and he was dead before that happened.<br />
<br />
At least he went while he was with friends. At least it was just as simple as falling asleep listening to Coldplay, one of his very favorite bands.<br />
<br />
I went back through emails we'd exchanged, and found a paper he'd written for a music course and sent me back in 2006: a list of his favorite albums of the moment - some of which are still my favorite albums, and ones I most associate with him, because he shared them with me - and an accompanying short analysis and his favorite bits. I thought, in the spirit of his musical generosity, that I'd share his list with you; especially if there are ones you are unfamiliar with, I'd strongly recommend you listen and lose yourself in some music for awhile.<br />
<br />
I love you lots, Seany. I miss you terribly, and I'm so sad we didn't hang out more the last few years.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:5FJTVcpDFYqlo7vjjHEA9V" width="300"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:2fGCAYUMssLKiUAoNdxGLx" width="300"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:4FtOLTQqwnxpaABrJWYdBy" width="300"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:7tTc46dNdE6GGuiQsssWxo" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:6aHBpqM0YAMfYxfTBjfmk1" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:6dNOe4WqRfhanMyxy9D6kH" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:0RHX9XECH8IVI3LNgWDpmQ" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:1t6v2wPeIEvmUmBxVCQRt5" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:0HcHPBu9aaF1MxOiZmUQTl" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:19AxGebIDoa4PrkvuZ2ACZ" width="300"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-43620727126606380452014-02-08T18:16:00.001-07:002014-02-08T18:19:45.025-07:00on weddingsWe're getting married, and I'm super excited. <br />
<br />
We've already arranged how it's going to happen - we're running off to Jamaica this summer, just the two of us, and getting married on a beach as close to sunset as we're legally allowed, and combining that with the honeymoon itself. And we'll have some sort of party when we come back to celebrate. I have my dress - from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CoralieBeatrix">here</a> - and pretty much the only thing we have left to do is buy the plane tickets.<br />
<br />
What weirds me out about the whole process is all the strange social constructs people have built up around weddings. We've inadvertently broken the mold - we're getting married entirely, proudly by ourselves, but we're telling everyone about it first. Apparently no one does this. Even on the "alternative wedding" websites, the most subversive thing you can do is elope. (What we're doing doesn't count as an elopement, since it's not at all secret.)<br />
<br />
But there's very little about a "traditional" wedding that appeals to me. For one, we've never been ones to stick to tradition - we've been living and raising a child together for years, now - but most wedding traditions seem particularly ludicrous to me, especially as so many of them are fed by centuries-old religion or misogyny (or, often, religious misogyny). No one really requires seeing bloody sheets any more - at least not in mainstream America - but how far off is the garter removal, really?<br />
<br />
And then there's the entire economy built around wedding planning - huge, overpriced, overblown, insane trappings that are different only in the minutiae that harried brides spend months obsessing about. Why do we get favors like we're attending a kid's birthday party? Why are there only round tables and two kinds of chairs used at receptions? Why do people pay $75 a plate when you can buy better entrees at Chili's for $15? Why in the world is every wedding dress for the past ten years strapless with a big skirt (and often thousands of dollars despite being made of polyester)? Just to be clear, I'm not judging people who have or enjoy these things - I'm judging our society for demanding that they are <i>necessary.</i><br />
<br />
I'm fully convinced that most people have a very, very hard time enjoying their weddings, and definitely don't enjoy the months leading up to them. I've watched enough of my friends go through the process to know how exhausting and unrewarding it can be.<br />
<br />
Instead, I spent a week and a half figuring out my dress, what hotel we'd stay at, and what wedding planner we'd pay to take care of the entire thing (photography included), and now I'm done. When we get back, I get to throw together a party without any pressure at all (since it's not tied to the wedding itself, there's no need for everything to be any more perfect or stressful than our <a href="http://gallimaufryandminutiae.blogspot.com/2012/01/how-to-host-party-t-style_18.html" target="_blank">usual fêtes</a>).<br />
<br />
And no, we're not having a sit-down reception. The details are sketchy as of yet, but it'll probably be in the vineyard, and there will be good wine and twinkle lights and hopefully a bonfire, and my biggest goal is to get everyone to have a good time, not just a good time for a wedding.<br />
<br />
Until then, I get to dream of beaches and happiness. <br />
<br />
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<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-5161810602601533272013-12-25T12:08:00.001-07:002013-12-25T12:08:14.996-07:00a very merry christmasto you and yours, from all of ours.<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtDXoERgWs8rHXh49QTib0zS3607Fhjw1rxCMPVxnBzjGUCy-khobA6UQ7EdyrSvSvtusJIf7IYcKmJC_kV5t9anZMXxiXP_q4ECgp8T6dGJlTW1KskKBLnkV6xpgqXQtF0vO0f9DHKQ/s640/blogger-image--910633074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtDXoERgWs8rHXh49QTib0zS3607Fhjw1rxCMPVxnBzjGUCy-khobA6UQ7EdyrSvSvtusJIf7IYcKmJC_kV5t9anZMXxiXP_q4ECgp8T6dGJlTW1KskKBLnkV6xpgqXQtF0vO0f9DHKQ/s640/blogger-image--910633074.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kM0zdfbXQP-asAPqLN2lXeas8o1A8XUqMn9v94U7Vh8rStZs50xmV6d4LzgAx3wPDxZsjDQnzvSgWbc6YjxSEeLgJU1AlG-gcctdMm2WtKXovZjHLZJ_BHjabXkUt7PGy0MKgGAkJhk/s640/blogger-image-621552068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kM0zdfbXQP-asAPqLN2lXeas8o1A8XUqMn9v94U7Vh8rStZs50xmV6d4LzgAx3wPDxZsjDQnzvSgWbc6YjxSEeLgJU1AlG-gcctdMm2WtKXovZjHLZJ_BHjabXkUt7PGy0MKgGAkJhk/s640/blogger-image-621552068.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lKl7B9qlv6_ypNnw5cON7qI8_5XvCZr9dwTCrG529XoYJsgRQmiCRmITAnezk3KDhrR7Ur7r5xlSRKkZau8goaxKpAOcHbKoDESl5u-CKHNhAYRCIY_26f8OcrpP8VFbtNs3ZMbRfLg/s640/blogger-image-879627713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lKl7B9qlv6_ypNnw5cON7qI8_5XvCZr9dwTCrG529XoYJsgRQmiCRmITAnezk3KDhrR7Ur7r5xlSRKkZau8goaxKpAOcHbKoDESl5u-CKHNhAYRCIY_26f8OcrpP8VFbtNs3ZMbRfLg/s640/blogger-image-879627713.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvqttu4HNCMwQwIwM5i2c7QYUjAfzgJzYATq6IvNrI0TW5feGR8lMMhXi3eQN1siiokZnM2ogtfBLWYMbDI1un_5x0BWnRV2fElLbS8HVlu_PuZPnTI1NbbDjMjqWqoW_zFkqefVtk6U/s640/blogger-image-1507981470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvqttu4HNCMwQwIwM5i2c7QYUjAfzgJzYATq6IvNrI0TW5feGR8lMMhXi3eQN1siiokZnM2ogtfBLWYMbDI1un_5x0BWnRV2fElLbS8HVlu_PuZPnTI1NbbDjMjqWqoW_zFkqefVtk6U/s640/blogger-image-1507981470.jpg"></a></div></div>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-38048907859323939942013-12-07T21:09:00.000-07:002013-12-07T21:11:23.048-07:00on the eve of my twenty-ninth birthday<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"That was the year, my twenty-eighth, when I was discovering that not all of the promises would be kept, that some things are in fact irrevocable and that it had counted after all, every evasion and every procrastination, every mistake, every word, all of it."</blockquote>
<br />and this: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">“I'm not telling you to make the world better, because I don't think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I'm just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment. And if you ask me why you should bother to do that, I could tell you that the grave's a fine and private place, but none I think do there embrace. Nor do they sing there, or write, or argue, or see the tidal bore on the Amazon, or touch their children. And that's what there is to do and get it while you can and good luck at it.”</blockquote><br /><br />both, <a href="http://intothegloss.com/2013/12/joan-didion-quotes/" target="_blank">Joan Didon</a>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-90556755846136903302013-11-20T20:12:00.000-07:002013-11-20T20:12:39.288-07:00the thankfulness postI hate what feel like cliched, false thank yous. I have gone so far as to "hide all posts from user" for people who are doing that awful "30 days of thankfulness" bit on facebook.<br />
<br />
That said, I am thankful, and moreso for the less-than-obvious things. So you're getting a list in a blog post.<br />
<br />
I am thankful for:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Pillsbury's Roan Red. It is my favorite, favorite wine. </li>
<li>Joley being a creative child, even though I spend not nearly enough time with her, and lord knows I need more patience, but she gave an impromptu concert on her guitar at school today, and she wore flowered leggings under a tutu, and she just wrote a story in which she accidentally hitched a ride on a bald eagle when she was trying to hug the ceiling of her house. </li>
<li>people listening when I talk about my program. I don't know how or why, but they listen, and I am grateful. </li>
<li>Colin's good taste in music. Not my taste, exactly, which I am also thankful for, but good taste.</li>
<li>the thank you I got from a student today.</li>
<li>unexpected houseguests.</li>
<li>turtleneck sweaters, especially in green. </li>
</ul>
g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-2087432388983861762013-11-09T14:53:00.001-07:002013-11-09T14:53:43.773-07:00things I like, vol. 44<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziWxDXZG-2PxNyQDUMAPU4Ys2ylfFuYayiaAhCqCAzryEFv8WF9zqXGK5wf8E1MseUqCdSusrvT33c4RnEiyb9wCsmGEZXTryGSnTxVgYr_dFgI6PYKsDGA0AeuVvIE-6qKCEUTcKR6k/s1600/acrobat+sublime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziWxDXZG-2PxNyQDUMAPU4Ys2ylfFuYayiaAhCqCAzryEFv8WF9zqXGK5wf8E1MseUqCdSusrvT33c4RnEiyb9wCsmGEZXTryGSnTxVgYr_dFgI6PYKsDGA0AeuVvIE-6qKCEUTcKR6k/s640/acrobat+sublime.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.anothermag.com/loves/view/25201/Acey_Harper_Privat_acts_The_Acrobat_Sublime" target="_blank">The Acrobat Sublime.</a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV5UMOS0sZ-AMQ0OfAS3ljC_r1IX4OYdIThXlUjL69QEJiERqHawa7pRTzXVEoxSsoyza5WYtLP1w923fpWYMHVY9_Uw8Jeh-uX0dr_qjF-mtlCGQ_fp6wG4Cbr6_YdwZ_Heypr2eZ_o/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglV5UMOS0sZ-AMQ0OfAS3ljC_r1IX4OYdIThXlUjL69QEJiERqHawa7pRTzXVEoxSsoyza5WYtLP1w923fpWYMHVY9_Uw8Jeh-uX0dr_qjF-mtlCGQ_fp6wG4Cbr6_YdwZ_Heypr2eZ_o/s640/clock.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
<br />
Much <a href="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/clocks/a-swedish-white-painted-and-parcel-gilt-longcase-clock-5721279-details.aspx?from=salesummary" target="_blank">better</a> than a grandfather clock.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
. . .</div>
<br />
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<b>Prospective Immigrants Please Note</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
by Adrienne Rich</div>
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<br /></div>
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Either you will</div>
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go through this door</div>
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or you will not go through.</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you go through</div>
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there is always the risk</div>
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of remembering your name.</div>
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Things look at you doubly</div>
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and you must look back</div>
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and let them happen.</div>
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If you do not go through</div>
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it is possible</div>
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to live worthily</div>
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<br /></div>
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to maintain your attitudes</div>
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to hold your position</div>
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to die bravely</div>
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but much will blind you,</div>
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much will evade you,</div>
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at what cost who knows?</div>
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The door itself makes no promises.</div>
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It is only a door.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJGnNP6276K4fd2y6ZTxOx5luEtcyUPpNPJZrgIeNGe3zE1qD6PBosoxvh8E6aN__mskXu6LvRrnZWYuIki5QtY5Nxe7V6Czl8j69Gm3sSTmM9vwekuM-RjapgFjYcscm89wEE56G2K8/s1600/front+row+society.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJGnNP6276K4fd2y6ZTxOx5luEtcyUPpNPJZrgIeNGe3zE1qD6PBosoxvh8E6aN__mskXu6LvRrnZWYuIki5QtY5Nxe7V6Czl8j69Gm3sSTmM9vwekuM-RjapgFjYcscm89wEE56G2K8/s640/front+row+society.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.frontrowsociety.com/" target="_blank">Scarves </a>(and other things) with crowdsourced designs. Found one today at Nordstrom's Rack; may not be able to take it off.<br />
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. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeroXgtt48SXcXeWNfXrBPyQoCPtg3GbI5iTc8icNTwNsySiJDK4NLHcEXbahPKbzc02hnl5mdGhKqpe2pBgQmSiMFmL5UtWNJbIHr3MrFsj0weOiKSxQfeKN51YxUul6Gq4LAz8BbpI/s1600/kishaniperera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeroXgtt48SXcXeWNfXrBPyQoCPtg3GbI5iTc8icNTwNsySiJDK4NLHcEXbahPKbzc02hnl5mdGhKqpe2pBgQmSiMFmL5UtWNJbIHr3MrFsj0weOiKSxQfeKN51YxUul6Gq4LAz8BbpI/s640/kishaniperera.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A bedroom <a href="http://www.desiretoinspire.net/blog/2013/11/6/kishani-perera-favourites.html" target="_blank">like a cocoon</a>, which is what I want. Minus the hydrangeas. I hate hydrangeas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW77HI8YBGviQ-lPB0DTTbB0y4b0M7F99K00YTGq1uyQrnYPCKn5pG0lCxyZ_rs5ITWZdQCwF9gFAJTklcNfKzvm8lb81c-k9Cw1NveI_A-XjqCUZjuwmS4RCKDpdUWA39JX_AFI4cJQ/s1600/paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuW77HI8YBGviQ-lPB0DTTbB0y4b0M7F99K00YTGq1uyQrnYPCKn5pG0lCxyZ_rs5ITWZdQCwF9gFAJTklcNfKzvm8lb81c-k9Cw1NveI_A-XjqCUZjuwmS4RCKDpdUWA39JX_AFI4cJQ/s640/paul.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Paul Newman <a href="http://www.anothermag.com/loves/view/24793/Paul_Newman_and_Joanne_Woodward" target="_blank">and</a> Joanne Woodward.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnkuORCE_Wiv1BX9DlyofUQnWQWRwlhxWO_XTo57_PQXJKYmMnD7Vmr6weV_d944BtHiTqmOHru9AOC2HG7MuTvzfiU59AZvrHTU10s_HA4DBDlJGWF5qvnaqygUThzGO_mtb9VjD010/s1600/sart+two+person+pose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnkuORCE_Wiv1BX9DlyofUQnWQWRwlhxWO_XTo57_PQXJKYmMnD7Vmr6weV_d944BtHiTqmOHru9AOC2HG7MuTvzfiU59AZvrHTU10s_HA4DBDlJGWF5qvnaqygUThzGO_mtb9VjD010/s640/sart+two+person+pose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A beautiful <a href="http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/on-the-street-b-khmelnytskogo-st-kiev-2/" target="_blank">catch </a>- the mirrored poses, the contrast between them - perfect.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://embed.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are.html" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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Long live Wonder Woman.<br />
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I feel like I really ought to go live in France to really master the <a href="http://winefolly.com/update/french-paradox-diet/" target="_blank">French Paradox diet</a>, but in the meantime, I'm using it as my excuse to keep drinking a lot of red wine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbrASxNqSE30LVMlGRf5an1wkz_kuh42N51J9QnK9HF3RUqfRtFGPlqlgzKbWYaUqjzFJwTQ2kkXhsqqhVoEeWbmc25h3PkKghIUDUaM2S7zVLcfql7cpM7BQwWYsGZfJfKoleoVJGQk/s1600/Bloom+sag+harbor+habituallychic+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbrASxNqSE30LVMlGRf5an1wkz_kuh42N51J9QnK9HF3RUqfRtFGPlqlgzKbWYaUqjzFJwTQ2kkXhsqqhVoEeWbmc25h3PkKghIUDUaM2S7zVLcfql7cpM7BQwWYsGZfJfKoleoVJGQk/s400/Bloom+sag+harbor+habituallychic+012.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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Like looking through <a href="http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2013/08/chic-in-sag-harbor-bloom.html" target="_blank">a window</a>.<br />
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. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANxi0qtBDoIQ208GZIuYuaJljhz7Hx-96EoJ_1dxUYUfsrXXTqkJ-GJMXh8XA8Ww93tuATIIlJxanZN49mAUu1hdc9PY3Wz_D-B3esRecscO3XiJj9aoGAwrIaN8jOp5qYLw2ph4g9ic/s1600/cherry+blossom+latte.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANxi0qtBDoIQ208GZIuYuaJljhz7Hx-96EoJ_1dxUYUfsrXXTqkJ-GJMXh8XA8Ww93tuATIIlJxanZN49mAUu1hdc9PY3Wz_D-B3esRecscO3XiJj9aoGAwrIaN8jOp5qYLw2ph4g9ic/s400/cherry+blossom+latte.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From <a href="http://www.anothermag.com/loves/view/23888/Up_all_night_to_get_lucky" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fnEOexDVvfvlQKyShd8Z06UiG4jyti0QpJoSFK2KP1KuHasv1xN0vGcpsGc7QbBcd-3KV9ydKKHlFk2tJOAHYKU0Mzq5L7zQpPrbsIzxRyVsaZ5yBsCggFKQw9FIe6barb0Akxc7OWA/s1600/hermes+scarves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fnEOexDVvfvlQKyShd8Z06UiG4jyti0QpJoSFK2KP1KuHasv1xN0vGcpsGc7QbBcd-3KV9ydKKHlFk2tJOAHYKU0Mzq5L7zQpPrbsIzxRyVsaZ5yBsCggFKQw9FIe6barb0Akxc7OWA/s640/hermes+scarves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cXerBs5bVPBJhcIBti3pJyM6SI08S1VaBip5R-61lRX5imX4lILgkFrnpHIygSdEEgijwbOR11MHrTQrXkoUwJW3ntEPrjWexgZ4zblK8X2qSo72ACjWkuKh_aQ-MJS9YDJMVhlpJQo/s1600/hermes+scarves+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cXerBs5bVPBJhcIBti3pJyM6SI08S1VaBip5R-61lRX5imX4lILgkFrnpHIygSdEEgijwbOR11MHrTQrXkoUwJW3ntEPrjWexgZ4zblK8X2qSo72ACjWkuKh_aQ-MJS9YDJMVhlpJQo/s640/hermes+scarves+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A beautiful article on how they make Hermès silk scarves. That's a hand-rolled hem, above.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMFNcURgUJxF5U4kwBph4lw9q0hX-OV8XGOD-CZoYmncyVnlsThkcJTlW2XjhJvxQdlgKjMtfPgepXW2-2WamwBF63nZYQ5uv_FcTznV8738fjcJgc1jzE_WEivcPgFG07Qi5ZIordsE/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMFNcURgUJxF5U4kwBph4lw9q0hX-OV8XGOD-CZoYmncyVnlsThkcJTlW2XjhJvxQdlgKjMtfPgepXW2-2WamwBF63nZYQ5uv_FcTznV8738fjcJgc1jzE_WEivcPgFG07Qi5ZIordsE/s400/image.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The adorable magnet the shopkeeper at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/RED-Elephant-ImportsGift-shop-potteryfurnitureAND-HOME-Decorations/183689658477167">Red Elephant Imports </a>gave J this morning. They had a really nice variety of items - lots of them from Latin America - but had pillows with Beatles portraits on them, too. It's a good place for Christmas presents, as we start approaching that season.<br />
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I'd always loved "Walk on the Wild Side," but I didn't really start to discover Lou Reed until after he died (the same way I discovered Vonnegut, incidentally). His <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/laurie-andersons-farewell-to-lou-reed-a-rolling-stone-exclusive-20131106" target="_blank">wife's tribute</a> in Rolling Stone is both heart-wrenching and beautiful:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I guess there are lots of ways to get married. Some people marry someone they hardly know – which can work out, too. When you marry your best friend of many years, there should be another name for it. But the thing that surprised me about getting married was the way it altered time. And also the way it added a tenderness that was somehow completely new. To paraphrase the great Willie Nelson: "Ninety percent of the people in the world end up with the wrong person. And that's what makes the jukebox spin." Lou's jukebox spun for love and many other things, too – beauty, pain, history, courage, mystery.</blockquote>
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There's been a lot of death in the world, lately.<br />
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<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-883612850257308412013-09-15T21:27:00.000-07:002013-09-15T21:27:46.359-07:00things I like, vol. 43 (art edition)I have been saving up for this post since May, apparently, which means I am officially taking the "this week" out of the title for good.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="390" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.cnevids.com/embed/51716fadc2b4c00c18e53ab0/5176e90368f9daff42000014" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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I adore Carey Mulligan, and the twenties, and Fitzgerald, and my only significant disappointment with the recent movie was Tobey Maguire's incessant whine (they really should've cast James McAvoy, who would've done it justice). The <a href="http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/great-expectations-carey-mulligan-as-daisy-buchanan-in-the-great-gatsby/#" target="_blank">Vogue article</a> about Carey was lovely, not just for the pictures but also for the insight into her character development; in the accompanying behind-the-scenes video, she reads in her natural accent one of <a href="http://gallimaufryandminutiae.blogspot.com/2012/04/on-graceful-exits.html" target="_blank">my favorite passages</a> from the book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEet1_QSPiY9hFaVUpW7fPQ1WJWID2g0vLCjeN7Fc7RBBn0yXU8F-MDG03IwfFDtPwVmJzaE0M9LdaM7-vlPhuuoDhEsdOLEgmJQtgw1VCTQVeLTO6kAWYI1QlhV5T76XfLNCbhnogeW8/s1600/hammock-bathtub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEet1_QSPiY9hFaVUpW7fPQ1WJWID2g0vLCjeN7Fc7RBBn0yXU8F-MDG03IwfFDtPwVmJzaE0M9LdaM7-vlPhuuoDhEsdOLEgmJQtgw1VCTQVeLTO6kAWYI1QlhV5T76XfLNCbhnogeW8/s640/hammock-bathtub.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is a bathtub <a href="http://uncrate.com/stuff/vessel-hammock-bathtub/" target="_blank">hammock</a>. Now if only it were accompanied by a <a href="http://gallimaufryandminutiae.blogspot.com/2010/11/fire-is-so-delightful.html" target="_blank">fireplace</a> . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gVmY5O9e70x3df0rcdG0POoMmVFaaYENUJ5F7spiIWZKMgksQwuyF-NHV8PKQAhsJ9Iex3Iw1eXMEeJtSQXA1b0XGL4H7xuV0W4NbbbU4fCYENHIx5tRJR7xo9QIHFZPecNu8N-CK3Y/s1600/david-hockney-10-grid-631x473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gVmY5O9e70x3df0rcdG0POoMmVFaaYENUJ5F7spiIWZKMgksQwuyF-NHV8PKQAhsJ9Iex3Iw1eXMEeJtSQXA1b0XGL4H7xuV0W4NbbbU4fCYENHIx5tRJR7xo9QIHFZPecNu8N-CK3Y/s640/david-hockney-10-grid-631x473.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Why-David-Hockney-Has-a-Love-Hate-Relationship-With-Technology-220569261.html#david-hockney-01-selfie-631x473.jpg" target="_blank">fascinating article</a> about David Hockney, who proposed that artists were using a lens to help them sketch images long before art history had traditionally acknowledged it.</div>
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Two of my favorite tango people, Homer and Christina. If you've ever struggled to put a visual to musicality, this is it. (It gets more impressive as it goes on, so keep watching.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOXHJaH-pQFgXbFmVPxQelKsvhzeRk5Bof4SyaZGLPZuNizaOTbJGPnffPTb-PHZNS6nJe7WDwWf6doC88zHqMc8bplC67nR6DiYKuGcYsYDgNJD0SHRwpEs1Jim_XlGSa6WgO1LZyW0/s1600/poppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGOXHJaH-pQFgXbFmVPxQelKsvhzeRk5Bof4SyaZGLPZuNizaOTbJGPnffPTb-PHZNS6nJe7WDwWf6doC88zHqMc8bplC67nR6DiYKuGcYsYDgNJD0SHRwpEs1Jim_XlGSa6WgO1LZyW0/s400/poppies.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSc6uPat3otvOl1KwDVPXIJ-x_l8OMXOG4f9c55085pUAoqGRj0al0hSg1GTr7J8qdFRnJQ2Cl8CGWVof6kjLcRZ4Sf4oXWs1JGD0UuF-KykCXzLjFEc3EQkw3pbKCruNNtMV3kJjbQOg/s1600/the+other+side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSc6uPat3otvOl1KwDVPXIJ-x_l8OMXOG4f9c55085pUAoqGRj0al0hSg1GTr7J8qdFRnJQ2Cl8CGWVof6kjLcRZ4Sf4oXWs1JGD0UuF-KykCXzLjFEc3EQkw3pbKCruNNtMV3kJjbQOg/s400/the+other+side.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ugallery.com/watercolor-painting-poppies-26552" target="_blank">Two</a> <a href="http://www.ugallery.com/mixed-media-artwork-the-other-side" target="_blank">paintings</a> from <a href="http://www.ugallery.com/" target="_blank">Ugallery.com</a>, which is devoted to providing an online gallery space for emerging artists (often university students).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cASqczpnzxz1jMnpot53tW7IQHw7VYpXcsVAaRFCfyQiFcy8Z86cmCDY_o1IB0NugcqmtXY2ktg4goAxolm7eZl5MIMlFHUJZpWZ0aj2lGUj8yYRArXbEKcqoD6x5fEGFqVXwL4b3zg/s1600/painted+person.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cASqczpnzxz1jMnpot53tW7IQHw7VYpXcsVAaRFCfyQiFcy8Z86cmCDY_o1IB0NugcqmtXY2ktg4goAxolm7eZl5MIMlFHUJZpWZ0aj2lGUj8yYRArXbEKcqoD6x5fEGFqVXwL4b3zg/s640/painted+person.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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A <a href="http://justimagine-ddoc.com/art/human-paintings/gallery/image/alexa1/" target="_blank">photograph</a> of a girl who has been painted on and placed in a milk bath. (more at the link)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8Y3lJdNsYUNbCsuNWgvCtNIzZDbWER0WHWHmcGsX17yyThU_1P6EGagiOhFa8C-zKhCPnRw_wjKstzcwH7KxJmj_aEyyU6_sDobrSXM4jCSvhQ8oGZ14EtQ7lUGv2gSh04nVpJ5rpi4/s1600/chain+link+fencing+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8Y3lJdNsYUNbCsuNWgvCtNIzZDbWER0WHWHmcGsX17yyThU_1P6EGagiOhFa8C-zKhCPnRw_wjKstzcwH7KxJmj_aEyyU6_sDobrSXM4jCSvhQ8oGZ14EtQ7lUGv2gSh04nVpJ5rpi4/s640/chain+link+fencing+art.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chain link fencing as art, from <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/art-installations-you-want-to-live-in" target="_blank">22 Dreamy Art Installations You Want to Live In</a>. <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/art-installations-you-want-to-live-in?s=mobile"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3-pSFoq03Gc0_v-rCMGvyfPz07-lA5IqMAza4imXK4dPpoWqjOKpilM4-Vs5INFBwJx2RLD7TbQrDjRsCC8prT2w0AeoQkXO21oPTcNCw39J0FD4rdwE_vJwjMFN5IeDWc0Y43FggTU/s1600/iceland+engagement+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3-pSFoq03Gc0_v-rCMGvyfPz07-lA5IqMAza4imXK4dPpoWqjOKpilM4-Vs5INFBwJx2RLD7TbQrDjRsCC8prT2w0AeoQkXO21oPTcNCw39J0FD4rdwE_vJwjMFN5IeDWc0Y43FggTU/s640/iceland+engagement+photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A stunningly beautiful set of <a href="http://irisandlight.net/2013/06/12/kathleen-stevens-iceland-engagement-photos/" target="_blank">engagement photos</a> in Iceland.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxbipFGvJlepMOtmC0L2rY79aZ1mr6foPF9pCgZxIZHJCz7IhfcyvCdC8Wt6uT7dgfPn-2N8XRxRWhuuoIPhJ6JMADo0jRrBM-PVUw5nNh5FuCV7IFhhypvoEtuAH5sdVxJ3zmpPsR8w/s1600/girl+1969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxbipFGvJlepMOtmC0L2rY79aZ1mr6foPF9pCgZxIZHJCz7IhfcyvCdC8Wt6uT7dgfPn-2N8XRxRWhuuoIPhJ6JMADo0jRrBM-PVUw5nNh5FuCV7IFhhypvoEtuAH5sdVxJ3zmpPsR8w/s640/girl+1969.jpg" width="630" /></a></div>
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What struck me most about <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/30-photos-of-new-york-city-in-the-summer-of-69" target="_blank">these pictures</a> is how modern they look, despite the four decades that have passed since they were taken. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzuuIch3hr0S9B-FWqm2rGzY036CbowZ0VqONP_gagrOd9gxg95zWsPREhp4aYUZku-2KxBy_qHoknybr8brAY4biW39B-21DhVClCVi1T7MmdpeTGieM0o18Sp-8LHfIVtZClCD_Pso/s1600/Crescent-Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzuuIch3hr0S9B-FWqm2rGzY036CbowZ0VqONP_gagrOd9gxg95zWsPREhp4aYUZku-2KxBy_qHoknybr8brAY4biW39B-21DhVClCVi1T7MmdpeTGieM0o18Sp-8LHfIVtZClCD_Pso/s400/Crescent-Moon.jpg" width="355" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGYCo4KOYBT9x26BRzbmW-pc59G1xoqGexU74vu5TL4uXs9eJBme92dV88wg5d15K_IL9h9HAkmtpvZvTDjCywz5wJxgFAvNv4reOaYz7bbDfmJEzuLSPPs7cyg9hQnBd1Si0CC6af4o/s1600/Fly-Me-To-The-Moon-Ebony-Wing-Earrings-Wing-Earrings-Gold-and-Diamonds1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGYCo4KOYBT9x26BRzbmW-pc59G1xoqGexU74vu5TL4uXs9eJBme92dV88wg5d15K_IL9h9HAkmtpvZvTDjCywz5wJxgFAvNv4reOaYz7bbDfmJEzuLSPPs7cyg9hQnBd1Si0CC6af4o/s400/Fly-Me-To-The-Moon-Ebony-Wing-Earrings-Wing-Earrings-Gold-and-Diamonds1.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQBT7c175uOfS6lrkno0AWCJ0NjYhQNpZeIHXN24sWZ-uTjud56rrAEoPRn5V4R5MDbmuA_WTGzVrdeh6OGuN3sTUZ5WuNcxvsPw3XgMtUABJE0hatpPI4Bm7b-gAoNG01-6ukXQXjE4/s1600/Rose-Gold-Macabre-Earring-combination-on-Grey21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQBT7c175uOfS6lrkno0AWCJ0NjYhQNpZeIHXN24sWZ-uTjud56rrAEoPRn5V4R5MDbmuA_WTGzVrdeh6OGuN3sTUZ5WuNcxvsPw3XgMtUABJE0hatpPI4Bm7b-gAoNG01-6ukXQXjE4/s400/Rose-Gold-Macabre-Earring-combination-on-Grey21.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>
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Yes, <a href="http://noorfares.com/collections/geometry-101/" target="_blank">please</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0flHKZFyFjsueT1BiUDnzQwC6F8OHBz6m8u8ULtrWWlNHJn5anfwDEI7ZdbqvFtussph-B2AcuDVjdCkxGnQMkIxcSeeGaAIiUKCA4YVSIxEFY0dBEBXLCYCbtH-DdwmsWv7B-Mx6_lM/s1600/walmart-library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0flHKZFyFjsueT1BiUDnzQwC6F8OHBz6m8u8ULtrWWlNHJn5anfwDEI7ZdbqvFtussph-B2AcuDVjdCkxGnQMkIxcSeeGaAIiUKCA4YVSIxEFY0dBEBXLCYCbtH-DdwmsWv7B-Mx6_lM/s640/walmart-library.jpg" width="521" /></a></div>
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The article title says it all: <a href="http://weburbanist.com/2012/09/04/abandoned-walmart-is-now-americas-largest-library/" target="_blank">Abandoned Walmart is Now America's Largest Library</a>. If only all our Walmarts were so magically transformed.<br />
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g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-4974189094547454062013-09-10T20:24:00.001-07:002013-09-10T20:24:18.196-07:00small happinessI find my self wanting simple happinesses, lately.<div><br></div><div>Warm cookies. Cuddles from puppies and small children. Rainy Saturdays with nowhere to go. A deep and complex purfume that smells of lily. Perfectly round and smooth hard boiled eggs, the yolk soft and fully yellow. Grass without bugs. The slight friction of my tango shoes on a wood floor. Deep temperate water in a clear pool. Warm sand to bury and unbury my toes in. Light watercolor patterned scarves. Wine as smooth as silk. </div><div><br></div><div>Enough sleep. So much of my mood depends on how much or little sleep I get, and I have not slept well since July. </div><div><br></div><div>And beneath that wish and my lack of sleep, much deeper, is the hollow fearful emptiness of loss and death, and the knowledge that my small happinesses would hardly mask it, even were I to obtain them all.</div>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-27111129309038940382013-08-30T19:26:00.000-07:002013-08-30T19:26:04.779-07:00still dreamingOn the southeast corner of Stone and Wetmore is a moveable sign of the sort often employed by churches and small businesses. It sits at the corner of what looks to be an office building, but seems to exist only to subject passerby to an often aggressive viewpoint, like an overgrown bumper sticker.<br />
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The first message I remember seeing on it was <br />
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NO INCUMBENTS <br />
THROW THEM ALL OUT</blockquote>
Another memorable one - which stayed up for some time - was <br />
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PHX BRICKYARD SELLS 3RD QUALITY BRICKS <br />
DON'T BUY EM</blockquote>
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When I drove by this Monday, it read <br />
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MLK AUG 28 1963 <br />
50 YEARS AND WE'RE STILL DREAMING</blockquote>
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Although the sign's rants often come off as paranoid and angry, this particular message resonated with me. I'm still dreaming, too, and I worry that fifty years is not half the time it'll take to rid this country of the prejudice that infects it.</div>
g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-23705632164920395892013-08-17T09:49:00.000-07:002013-08-17T09:49:27.822-07:00for brianApril 21, 1984 - August 10, 2013<br />
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To be, or not to be: that is the question:<br /> Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer<br /> The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,<br /> Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,<br /> And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;<br /> No more; and by a sleep to say we end<br /> The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks<br /> That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation<br /> Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;<br /> To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;<br /> For in that sleep of death what dreams may come<br /> When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,<br /> Must give us pause: there's the respect<br /> That makes calamity of so long life;<br /> For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,<br /> The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,<br /> The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,<br /> The insolence of office and the spurns<br /> That patient merit of the unworthy takes,<br /> When he himself might his quietus make<br /> With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,<br /> To grunt and sweat under a weary life,<br /> But that the dread of something after death,<br /> The undiscover'd country from whose bourn<br /> No traveller returns, puzzles the will<br /> And makes us rather bear those ills we have<br /> Than fly to others that we know not of?<br /> Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;<br /> And thus the native hue of resolution<br /> Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,<br /> And enterprises of great pith and moment<br /> With this regard their currents turn awry,<br /> And lose the name of action.</blockquote>
<br />g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3368571080288311958.post-77579482930466806542013-07-13T13:04:00.000-07:002013-07-13T13:04:25.962-07:00on argentine tangoI often find myself attempting to explain to people the <em>why</em> behind choosing to devote a significant portion of my free time to social dance, and Argentine tango* in particular<em>.</em> <br />
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Social partner dance is fun on a basic, human level: it's structured interaction with a variety of people, often from a great variety of backgrounds (both cultural and professional). There's the endorphin high from the exercise. There's the joy of movement connected to music, which is a way of experiencing two different kinds of art at once. And the lead-follow interaction is a form of physical communication you don't get many other ways.<br />
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Argentine tango is more, though. They say it's the hardest of the social dances to learn, for many reasons. There is no real basic step, no pattern inherent in the movement to hold on to. You could, hypothetically, go into any move in any rhythm at any point in the dance, which makes it even more essential than most dances to listen intently to - and match - whatever the music happens to be doing at the moment. It is danced almost entirely in closed embrace, with the leader's chest communicating the movement. There is often a shared point of balance between the dancers through that chest connection, which creates that upside-down V shape so characteristic of tango, and which requires a great deal of balance and strength on the part of the dancers. True tango is entirely improvisation, and the best dancers will even perform without having choreographed it first (as opposed to, say, ballroom, where couples rehearse the same three minute routine for months on end).<br />
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In most social dances you can attain proficiency in a couple of years at most (even less for simpler dances like two-step and blues), but two steady years of tango might put you at the low end of intermediate. And it is a perpetual challenge. As soon as you think you've mastered one aspect of it, you discover how much more you don't know. That challenge proves endlessly exciting to me. <br />
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There's also a ritualism to tango that doesn't exist in other dances. There's an entire culture of behavior that goes along with the dance - the codigos. They're mostly designed to make an evening of dancing as enjoyable as possible for everyone, but they add another layer of complexity to what is already a complex dance. As I've moved through other dance communities, I find I consistently prefer the rationale behind tango culture. <br />
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For example, tango is the only dance I'm aware of that routinely uses body language to request a dance, in what is called the cabeceo: two potential partners make eye contact; typically the lead nods, the follow returns the nod, and then the lead walks over to escort the follow to the floor. (Especially here and among friends, the nod can turn into wiggling eyebrows and silly expressions, and may be initiated by either partner, but the structure remains the same.) It saves many forms of embarrassment once you get the hang of it, as if you don't want to dance with someone you should be able to simply avoid eye contact with them, thereby skipping the awkwardness of an outright refusal. A verbal request seems gauche, even in other dances, after you've adapted to the cabeceo; it comes off as unnecessarily pushy, especially when the entire point of social dance is non-verbal communication. <br />
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The general tenor of the emotion in tango also greatly appeals to me. The "passion" that gets so over-blown in tango caricatures is, in the real dance, quite varied and often powerful. Even what sound like upbeat melodies often turn out to have <a href="http://poesiadegotan.com/" target="_blank">melancholy lyrics,</a> and the balance of that dichotomy I find endlessly interesting. <br />
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Although videos are generally inadequate and don't capture the true visual appeal of the dance when you watch it live - and certainly don't at all approximate the <em>feeling</em> of dancing it yourself - ending with a couple visual examples certainly can't hurt. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/D4lkxxYJazA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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The variance between her small adornos (decorations) and the energy at the end is awesome.<br />
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If any of this appeals to you, I strongly recommend taking some beginner classes in your area. Most places don't require that you bring a partner, and despite its difficulty, tango is incredibly rewarding. If you're in Tucson, we have a tango calendar of events: <a href="http://tucsontango.com/">http://tucsontango.com/</a>. The Phoenix calendar is <a href="http://www.tangoarizona.com/Phoenix/Phoenix%20tango%20dates.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. Elsewhere, a Google search of "argentine tango" and your city should bring up results. <br />
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Also, if you haven't seen them, I have a post about <a href="http://gallimaufryandminutiae.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-learning-social-dance.html" target="_blank">learning</a> a social dance and one on<a href="http://gallimaufryandminutiae.blogspot.com/2011/04/tango-shoe-post.html" target="_blank"> tango shoes</a> you might enjoy. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Note: American ballroom tango is something different, essentially a cheesy bastardization - that ridiculous stereotype of the man with the rose in his mouth - and is not at all what I'm talking about here.</span>g+mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16149708861591126952noreply@blogger.com1