Kids Get Creative

I am in awe of several of my friends and their children. In a world of video games and computers, these friends have managed to harness the analog creativity of their little ones. I have one friend whose philosophy is that it is good for kids to be bored, that it helps with their coping and creative thinking skills. I very much like this line of thinking -- while I have always liked electronics and what not, I am grateful that I grew up in a time where it wasn't super easy to get a hold of these things, and instead made up stories with my dolls, played on the swingset (we lived on a busy street so there was none of that front yard activity type stuff), or had to force my brother and cousins to play "house" with me. 

Recently, one of my friend's kids started a travel blog. She is four. She saw her mommy blogging and figured she had things to say. And thus, Bonjour Amigo was born. I am sure her mom is helping out with a few things, but it is enjoyable to read, and I am super impressed by the way it harnesses both the creative thinking side of things and plays to a kids fasciation with computers/electronics (oh, and it focuses on her travels, which is a whole other type of awesome). 

I sometimes worry about kids -- so many are just hooked on their various electronic devices and don't have the opportunity/desire to go outside/run around and also flex creative muscles. I don't think this is particularly new -- there were always kids obsessed with their board/card games or calculators or other indoor activities -- but it is all so much accessible now that, to me, it becomes more of a problem. So I really love seeing things like a kid's blog, or a fort they built, or a book of drawings documenting a recent event, or just them running around creating a new game...and just hope if and when I have kids of my own, I can keep these things in mind and inspire and harness their creativity.

It's So Quiet

I know, it's so quiet on here. Sorry 'bout it. Things have been going on...to make it up to vast audience (hi mom!), here are some of my 2014 YTD Instagram photos. Enjoy!

Let's Bowl Let's Bowl Let's Rock n Roll

A delight of potato, egg, and deliciousness at Bar Tartine

Very fancy poultry at Gary Danko

Trampoline at a winery? Don't mind if we do!

Love and surprises.

#iheartbeer

Love is all around us.

Brew Tour: Cellarmaker Brewing Company

Cellarmaker Brewing Company is the latest on the scene here in San Francisco. It's a definite local place, located off the beaten path in an old warehouse-type space in SoMA.

My friend E & I found ourselves there one mellow Saturday about two weeks after it opened, and it was love at first sight. The tasting room space isn't too huge, and at that point pretty much every table was full but there weren't too many others hovering for a spot (which, for me, I like...I don't like to feel the pressure to have to drink quickly).

The day we were there, they were pouring 8 types of beer -- all super fresh! We decided to taste them all -- which we did. For 20$ you can get a generous sampling of everything on tap. Make sure to save a clipboard listing the beers; there are good descriptions of each. Also, you may want to ask the server the best order in which to taste -- when we were there they gave us the beer in the order the menu listed them, which was not the best order to taste (i.e. you don't want to go from a Saison to a Porter then back to an IPA).

My personal favorite was the Coquette -- a Belgian-ish style, which I always like. Really, I enjoyed most of them, enough to take some home with me. The cool thing here is you can bring in any brewery's growler and they'll fill it, but they also offer two sizes of their own. I got a smaller one of the Coquette, and one of the Hop Slangin' IPA (mainly for my friend who would be visiting me the following week).

This place is definitely gaining popularity, so it'd be wise to get there early. While they don't offer any food on-site, they do have a variety of food trucks visit on the weekend.

Watch This: Friendship has no Bounds

Seriously, one of the cutest things ever.

She's Crafty: DIY Wall Decor

 I have been in the processes of redecorating my front room since sometime in early 2013. One thing I had decided to do was decorate wood letters with maps -- ideally, spelling HOME and showing all the places I've lived.

Doing this myself, I figured, would be the most cost-effective way of doing it (also, at that point I hadn't seen these in stores...that has since changed); it would also be the best way to personalize them.

The first thing I did was head to the craft store to find my wooden letters. I was a bit disappointed to see that the thick cut letters I wanted were not available in wood, so I had to go with paper mache. Ultimately, this was the better choice -- they were fairly inexpensive (plus my mom had coupons...thanks mom!), and they were super light to hang on the wall. Unfortunately, they were also out of the letter "H," which is a rather critical part of spelling HOME. So, I went with what was available, and spelled CASA...same meaning, different language.

Then,  I figured out what maps I wanted to use, which places I wanted to represent my life. I then ordered them from AAA, because, as a part of my membership, I get maps for free. I had some older ones, also, from these areas, so...recycling!

Next, I took a rather long hiatus. Funny how life gets in the way! I stared at those non-covered letters, and the maps sitting on my counter, for probably over three months. It got a little ridiculous!

Finally, I was fed up with the mess, the blankness, and, on a nice Sunday while watching football, I decided to tackle my project!

I took all the maps and laid them out, figured out the order, and then started cutting. There was a little bit of moving things around, and tilting the letters just so -- it was important to me to get particular towns/cities represented. I used a straight edge razor to cut the maps...if I were to do it again, I would use a razor pen; my lines were a little uneven and not as exact on the letters as I would have liked. Lessons learned.

I then painted the letters. I used a darker color -- the leftovers I had from painting my accent wall. I painted everything but the side that would be up against the wall. In doing this first, it added a background to the letters in the case my maps didn't fit perfectly (which, they don't) or I cut things a little off (which, I did).

After letting the paint dry, it was time to start putting the maps on. I used Modge Podge (leftover from a project I did a few years ago). I covered the front of the letters liberally, then worked quickly to get the maps lined up and stuck on. Modge Podge starts to dry quickly, so there isn't a lot of time for readjustments.

I quickly realized just how poor my cutting had been...because of this, I had to do a lot of trimming on the letters (I used a sharp pair of scissors, and snipped slowly). I also had to add a bit of map to parts where I had undercut. I tried to match the color/terrain/routes, but they are not perfect. I know this will end up bothering me, but I don't think it is super visible unless you're looking for it.

I again let this all dry before hanging it on my wall. To try to ensure that everything lined up correctly, I measured from the top of each letter, then poked a hole at the same spot on each letter. Actually hanging the darn things was tricky...being short and only having two hands made measuring a challenge. But I did my best to line them all up on the wall, and then center each letter.

I've got them up, and am going to let them sit for a bit before moving things. I am pretty sure my S is upside down, and they are a little more squished than I would have liked. But overall -- not too shabby!

Total cost: Approximately 15$.

Represented: San Leandro, San Luis Obispo, Sevilla, San Francisco

Best Things: Garmin GPS Watch

I have tried many different things to figure out my running pace -- various apps on my phone, pedometers, old-fashioned watches...but it was not until I got my Garmin GPS watch was I truly able to gauge and improve my times.

A year or so ago, I was somewhat pleased with the performance of one of my apps in telling me my time, distance, pace, and all that good stuff. However, I found that often times it had my route wildly wrong, the GPS having fallen out somewhere in the middle of my run, or I found myself constantly pulling out my phone (or wrenching my arm to see) what I was doing. I needed to find a different way.

I read a lot of reviews pointing me towards GPS watches, and my research landed me on the Garmin Forerunner 110. There are other models -- some more expensive, some that sync wirelessly to the computer, some that give a lot more details than this -- but this one hit had what I needed, and hit the right price point.

What did I need? I wanted to know how far I was going, and how quickly I was doing it. Added bonus of this watch was compatibility with a heart rate monitor, which helped me gauge my exertion at certain points in my run so I could adjust accordingly. This was definitely not necessary. The face was large enough for me to easily see things at a quick glance while I am running, and the wristband was small enough to fit on my wrist (I have rather narrow ones).

Pour a Perfect Pint

Most people who drink it will tell you, there is a real method behind pouring the perfect pint of Guinness, though, I would venture, not many of us know just what that method is aside from pour some, let it sit, pour some more. Then, of course, wait until it settles to drink it (or risk getting yelled at!).

If you visit Dublin, it is well worth it to visit the Guinness Storehouse and learn the exact science behind pouring a pint. The Guinness property spans many blocks -- on one side of Thomas Street you'll see the old factory buildings on one side, and the current factory on the other. It is quite amazing to think all of this is made so close to the City Centre (just a quick walk away).

As you walk up to the Guinness Storehouse to begin your tour, you'll be traveling across very old cobblestone streets. You'll also be dodging some horse-drawn carriages (and the treats they have left behind), so watch your step. Throughout the days I was there, I could often smell a heavy scent of yeast... if it turns your stomach a bit as it did mine, don't worry too much as it does let up once you get inside.

The tour experience itself is fine -- you start by looking at the 9,000 year lease that was signed (great rent control!), they have some cool motion-sensor story tellers, and you can walk through and read all about the various mechanisms used to make Guinness. Then, finally, you reach a floor where it is time to taste!

Despite my great concentration... I still messed up

We first went to the tasting room. It was a cool chamber wherein they first have you smell the various essences that make up Guinness, then give you a small glass of Guinness. As they talk, they ask you to taste -- very similar to a wine tasting...roll it around on your tongue, wait for the finish, etc. It was a cool little detour from the main event...

...of pouring the perfect pint! You stand in a quick-moving line, where they instruct you, several times, to write your name clearly on this little notepad they are handing out. The importance of this becomes apparent later. You end up in a group of about 16 people, and are soon directed to a bar counter with two working taps. The kind bartender explains the method to the madness, then a few volunteers get up to pour the first pints.

But, never fear, everyone in the group gets a chance. I guess I should have paid more attention, as I was the only one to get reprimanded for doing it wrong. Go figure.

About 5 minutes later, the pints are poured and settled, and we are all now certified Guinness pourers. Armed with this knowledge and our perfect pint (which...I pity the person who mistakenly took my pint because she didn't pay attention to where she set hers down, and moved to quickly for me to grab it out of her hand -- it probably didn't taste too good because of the aforementioned wrong pour), we were free to roam in this little pub-like space, or head upstairs to the bar.

I highly, highly recommend doing the latter. You will never get a view like that of Dublin, and being able to enjoy it with a pint of Dublin's city drink.

Dining Out in Dublin

I have never heard Dublin recognized as a city with great restaurant/food choices. So when heading out there for my last trip, I'll admit, my expectations were rather low. This is not always a bad thing -- in the immortal words of Lloyd Dobler, "If you expect the worst, everything else seems like a nice surprise."

So imagine my surprise when, on my recent trip to Dublin, we found not one, but two places serving good (non-pub) food in really cool spaces. My travel partner, A, who knows good food much better than I, gave these places his stamp of approval, as well!

Bear 
Things seem to close really early in Dublin, and on a Friday night, we found ourselves wandering in the City Centre, starving and being turned away from restaurant after restaurant. We were ready to give up, when straight ahead of us we saw a chic-looking place that appeared to: 1. Still be open, and 2. Still be serving food.

This is primarily a steak-house, with various cuts I'd never really heard of. We, of course, ordered one, but what really stood out were the sides. We started with the mushroom & thyme duxelle, which was delicious. I could have scraped the little jar clean. We followed with the beetroot salad and some onion rings -- I think we were a little ambitious but it was all really, really good.

Apparently Anthony Bourdain stopped by Bear, as well!

Fade Street Social - Gastro Bar
This one may have been my favorite meal. I had dined at Fade Street Social earlier in the week, but at the restaurant. I found the food there good, but it was really loud and service terribly slow. But, looking for a decent meal in a city I didn't know well proved tough, so we took a risk on the Gastro Bar.

We didn't really think we could top Bear from the night before -- in my opinion, we were wrong. The Gastro Bar offers a wide selection of small plates, and there is something for everyone's palate. The two special dishes to me were the lamb carpaccio and the Irish Mushroom with celeriac and cep dressing. The lamb was a totally new dish to me -- I am always a bit wary of carpaccios...could be because I spent so much of my life not eating meat that eating it raw seems strange, but also because it needs to be really high quality! This dish was spot on. Very well seasoned, perfect portion size. And the mushrooms, like those the night before, were perfectly done with some sort of pastry strip (or something) around it. To top it all off, they had a full cocktail menu, which was nice to take advantage of after a week of beer.


Last I was in Ireland, my diet mainly consisted of grilled cheese sandwiches and fries (or, chips, as they are called across the pond). What a change this was!

Reading is FUNdamental: 2012 Book Roll

2012 was, sadly, a very bad year for me and reading. It is true...no books since July! I am not sure what happened there.

January

• Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me?, Mindy Kaling
  One of the best books I read all year...loved it so much I wrote about it here!

February

• Bossypants, Tina Fey
  Another one of the funnier books I read this year! I started with the actual book form, but ended up listening to the audio book on a rather long drive. Am so glad I did! Listening to Tina Fey actually tell her own stories was really awesome. A really good overview of how she got into the business, the treatment of women versus men, and the walls that needed to be torn down in order for her & her female castmates to become so successful.
• Swamplandia, Karen Russell
  This was a strange book...recommended because I enjoyed Geek Love. It was a fairly engaging look at a family of crocodile wrestlers forced to give up their way of life because bigger attractions have come into the area. It got a little too weird for me towards the end, and very unsatisfying.
• The Paris Wife, Paula McClain
  A fictional look at Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley -- their meeting, courtship, marriage, and life together. It was a terrific novel, and a fun look at the Lost Generation and the bohemian lifestyle many of them led. Given then many stories we hear about Papa, I enjoyed seeing where he started.

March

• The Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins
  So, yeah, had to reread these ones before the movie came out. Again...a couple days, gone.

April

• A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway
  I was very interested in Hemingway after reading The Paris Wife, and this in book in particular, as it was Paula McClain's inspiration to write from Hadley's point of view. A Moveable Feast  was Hemingway's autobiography about his early years in Paris. It was very typically Lost Generation -- a little slow, very introspective -- but I enjoyed the contrast it provided to The Paris Wife.

May

• The Sun Also Rises, Ernest Hemingway
  Continuing with the Hemingway interest, this is one book I have been trying to read since about college. But god, is it slow. I came to the conclusion after reading this book that the Lost Generation would have LOVED twitter...and it may have helped them from being so verbose about how they ate breakfast. After reading both The Paris Wife and A Moveable Feast, I can see exactly what was going on in Hemingway's life at the point he wrote this, which was pretty awesome.

June

• Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver
  This came through on my Amazon recommendations, I assume because I liked the Hunger Games Trilogy. A teen lit book about a car accident and the actions that led up to it. It made me terribly sad.

July

• The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach
  I was looking for a good summer book that I could bring to the beach -- boy did I find it! A look at how one wrong pitch, can send a life tumbling the wrong direction, and how hard it can be to recover from that. A book about baseball and the paths it can open up, and how quickly it can all be taken away. I loved it.
• The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
  The last of my Lost Generation books of the year, I wanted to re-read this before the movie came out (which it still hasn't). I hadn't read it since high school, so it was a good refresher, and necessary given it's pop culture relevance. It's also a tough one to get through, because the people are so privileged and so selfish and sometimes you want to smack the self-indulgence right out of them.

I'm Sold: SPIbelt

There are a few things I can't do without when I run: comfortable shoes, my keys, a ponytail holder, and music. I generally try to have an ID or insurance card with me, as well, since the drivers in my town pay little attention to things like people crossing the street.

For the past few years, when I am on a solo (i.e. sans doggie) run or in a race, I've used an armband for my iPhone, and shoved my keys & cards in a small pocket in my pants, or perhaps in my socks, depending on what I was wearing. This started to become a less-than-ideal situation, since my armband seemed to start outgrowing my arms, meaning I often ended up carrying the armband-wrapped iPhone in my hands.

I don't really care to carry things in my hands while I run.

My friend A had been a long-time proponent of a little belt worn around her waist -- almost a fanny pack of sorts, at least to me. I generally don't like anything around my waist, either, but had gotten rather used to it since running with my dog using a hands-free leash. After one last time of my phone ending up around my wrist because I couldn't get the armband tight enough, I caved and bought myself one of these belt doo-hickies.

And I love it.

The SPIbelt is a belt outfitted with a small, neoprene pouch large enough to hold a phone, car key, money, and an ID or card or two. It sits very close to your body, and, the best thing, it doesn't move while you're running. It was so still, in fact, I often forgot I even had it on.

The size out of the package is deceiving...it is so small it's hard to believe it will hold all your goods. But hold them it does. I even had space to spare. And, despite being weighted down with all the goods, it didn't move, at all. I wore it just around my hips, and there it sat.

So call me a convert. How I got along without this gem of an accessory for so long I am not sure.

Listen Here: Love Love Love

I heard this song recently, either while I was listening to the album or to Songza (latest obsession, check it out), and it's been haunting me since.

I at first thought it was about an affair, but upon listening to it further, and looking up the lyrics, I don't think that's the case. I think, rather, it is a story of unrequited feelings, and one person taking advantage of the situation.

While it sounds better, methinks, on the album recording, I liked watching the live version so thought I would share.

To the sensitive and tender-hearted among us, I think it will resonate.

On Friendship

My love for Amy Poehler is seriously starting to have no bounds.

As the Miles Stretch...

This week (week 19*) on the BootsnAll Indie Travel Challenge: The Perfect Roadtrip

View from a road trip through the Andes

Anyone who knows me knows that my perfect road trip would involve me not being in a car. When 9/11 happened, I was in Atlanta, and two of my coworkers decided to rent a car to drive back to San Francisco. Someone smarter than me would have jumped into the car with them, since in the day or two after, we had no idea when planes would be up in the air again, if ever! I however, don't wish myself in a car for too long, under stress like that, on my worst enemy. (not to worry...I made it home safe and sound the Saturday after)

But, in the spirit of this challenge...a road trip. The great American dream. The open road full of potential. When I think of road trips I think of how lucky we are -- this country is so diverse, so full of natural and man-made beauty. And even just west of the Rockies, well...something surprising to me is that my bucket list may just include a trip, via a vehicle.

To me... I think the perfect road trip would consist of three people. Why three? I feel like four crowds the car too much, and two just heightens the risk of boredom. Three means one person drives, one person can nap, and one person can stay up and talk to the driver. As someone who cannot really sleep in the car, I find this to be key. Perhaps I am just jealous of those who can, but I find it rude if no one stays up with the driver. Oh, and it would be nice if all the people in the car were friends, but that's not necessary. Sometimes it's fun to go with someone who is more of an acquaintance, that way there is lots to learn. At the very least, everyone in the car should be willing to share and answer random questions, with no topics really off limits.

Best Things: Osprey Porter 46 Travel Pack

The first time I went to Europe, to live then travel, I brought two pieces of luggage -- a huge suitcase and a backpack I had borrowed from a friend. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I probably needed about 1/2 of what I brought, even though I would be over there for several months. But...travel & learn.

When it came time to actually travel, I left the big suitcase and went with the pack -- a nice and humongous Eagle Creek pack with a day pack attachment. The pack was made for someone at least 5'7", and again, was chock-full of my worldly possessions.

Flash forward 15 years -- many more trips, many roller suitcases, many cobbled streets, back injuries, tired arms from lugging said roller suitcases up staircases, and education about how backpacks should fit -- and finally I decided it was time to invest in a pack of my own.

I did a fair amount of research and knew what I wanted -- a pack small enough for me (5'4"), small enough to fit as a carryon, and large enough to fit all I'll need for at least a two week trip. A few months before I left for Colombia, I headed over to REI to see if they could suit me up.

And voila, suit me up they did. I was presented with the Osprey Porter 46, an awesome, compact pack that fit the bill. I promptly started to use the pack for all my weekend trips, and was amazed just how much could fit into the pack. It seemed to hold almost as much as my "carry-on" roller suitcase (I'll admit, it is rather large for a carry-on).  I could even just stuff a bunch of stuff in there sloppily, and then use the straps to squeeze it all in.

When it came time to pack for Colombia, I was easily able to get everything in there with extra space. Even as I jammed more in there, I could very easily fit it in every overhead bin I tried. While it didn't happen this trip, if I did need to check it, the straps can be hidden so as to comply with the regulations.

The only fault I can find with the bag is that the waist strap doesn't hold as tight as I would like, so that puts a little added pressure on my shoulders. This is fine for shorter jaunts, but does get tiring after a while.

Overall, though, I am super pleased. I only wish I had invested in something like this a long time ago!

Ready Ready Ready to Run

Whoo-hoo, we finished!

I did my first half marathon in 2004 -- the inaugural Nike Marathon for Women, and probably the toughest I have ever done (the hills! more hills! never-ending hills!). Since then, I have done several others, averaging about one a year. Each time, I say this will be my last, that my body can't take it, my knees hurt too much, it's too far... Each time, hoping to go out with a bang at a really awesome race.

And, each time, finding myself finishing and already thinking about what my next one will be. Most recently, by the time I crossed the finish line at the Healdsburg Half, I was already looking ahead to the next time I could make my body hurt so good.

I chose the Oakland Running Festival half marathon as my next. I had heard really good things about it from previous years, including that it ran by Farmer's Produce -- by dad's business and what ended up being the launch pad to his next journey. This was a daunting prospect as I hadn't been anywhere near there since the summer of 2010. I was drawn to it, however, because it was close to home and perhaps I'd see some familiar faces, both on the course and at the finish line.

As the day approached, the weather reports did not look so hot. I spent at least two days trying to figure out how to best dress for 2.5 hours of constant downpour...and was none too happy. When the day rolled around to go pick up our race packets, we were greeted with an unpleasantly cold rain. People tried to tell me running in the rain was GREAT! THE BEST. I respectfully disagreed.

But, when the morning of the race rolled around, the sun decided to fight through the clouds and send its rays down on us. Unfortunately, due to the forecast, many of the route bands and spectators stayed away (couldn't blame them), but those that were out there were awesome. We especially enjoyed the unexpected brownie bites from Brown Sugar Kitchen in West Oakland. Those should be required in every race!

Running past the market took me by surprise...thankfully my running partner kept talking as we went by and didn't get too weirded out by my sudden tears and inability to breathe. I was sure glad to get that over with.

That all said...eventually we finished, with my mom & aunt cheering us on at the finish line. Not anywhere near the time I would have liked, but, oh well, sometimes thems the breaks. Half Marathon #8 in the books, and I am, again, trying to figure out when my next 13.1 will be run!

On a Bad Day..

This makes everything better.

Running.

The other day I googled myself (as you do), and found that a lot of my results are times from races. This was rather cool...I can't remember all the races I've been in and certainly don't remember much about the times, unless I did really well (Santa Cruz 10K, I'm looking at you).

I am gearing up for my next 1/2 marathon, and really hoping to bring my time down from the last one. I feel like I have stagnated around the same time throughout my running days...however, finding these results, I can see there's been a definite improvement! And this has me totally inspired as I continue my training (ok, yeah, so I use training loosely).

The race where this is most evident is the Presidio10. I've participated in this race 4 times, with a 5th coming up this year, and loved it every time. Evidently, I've also improved my time!
2008 - 1:15.41
2009 - 1:08.56
2010 - 1:09.56 (the exception...I had arrived home from Costa Rica at about 1am that morning then ran...)
2011 - 59.51

Running is a solitary sport that, for someone like me, lacks the instant gratification of a team sport. I am never going to win first place, never break the ticker tape...so really my only gauge is how I do against my friends in the moment, and against the clocks of other races. So seeing these side by side is really a validation, for me, that whatever I am doing works.

Does this mean I'll do better in my upcoming 1/2? I have no idea...my friend Mark, who ran with me in Healdsburg, signed up to run with me again...he's a lot faster than me so hopefully that will push me like it did in October.

Read This: Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me?

I know have written a few times about how I wish I had to talent to make seemingly ordinary things read like they are extraordinary. I know this happened when I read  I was Told There'd be Cake. 


Actually, it happens pretty much every time I write here. Is what I am saying of interest to anyone? Do I much care? (while I tell myself this blog is a way to keep my writing skills on the semi-sharp side, as well as keep in touch with overseas friends...truth is, I would like it to be interesting, too!) 

When I saw Mindy Kaling was coming out with a book, I was pretty excited. She seems like a pretty normal person, despite the fact that her character in The Office is an outward expression, it seems, of all the parts of our personalities we try to keep hidden. She's a writer, not a glamour-puss...generally seems cool.

After reading this book, I am even more convinced of that. At times I was in hysterics (one of those times I was in an airport shuttle on my way to Disneyland...I am sure the older couple in the van with me thought I was cray), at times wondering how she was writing about my own life, and the rest trying to come up with a plan on how we could get her in my group of friends*.

There is an authenticity in this book that I don't often see. Kaling lays it all out there...from pictures of her as a youth with rather unfortunate haircuts and clothing, to the truth behind heartbreak, to her complete lack of ability to pull the most important of moves -- the Irish Goodbye. She also talks quite a bit about her early struggles as an actor and writer, with no sugar coating or rosy endings (I guess...except that her career turned out rather rosy, but she definitely had to work for it). Even the title is a question we don't like to admit we ask ourselves, but often do.

I was truly sad when this book ended...and again wondering if there was any way to make my life sound this interesting,.

* my friend A agrees that she would fit right in with us...at some point we'll figure out how to make it happen.

Listen Here: Everybody Hurts

For as long as I can remember, R.E.M. has been my favorite band. While they've been around my whole lifetime, I am not sure when I initially became conscious of them...I know I had tapes of their music, so it must have been after albums, but before CDs.

I wouldn't call myself a superfan by any means, I have always reserved that for very important bands like NKOTB. But there are very few songs by R.E.M. that I don't like. One of my favorite memories is driving up from my freshman year at college to see them, for the first time, with tickets my uncle got for me, on a road trip with my friend Houser. It was also the last time I got to see my grandmother, which makes the whole trip, and memory, more special. Later, Houser wrote out all the lyrics to What's the Frequency, Kenneth for me. I probably still have that somewhere.

They recently called it a career, and came out with a pretty awesome retrospective album, which I promptly downloaded (how about that; I have them on 3 mediums!)(not cool, I know). I play my music on shuffle, so never know what's coming  next.

The other day, Everybody Hurts popped on, and whoa, my mind went reeling. This song came out my senior year of high school, and I remember the first time I heard it was a few days before my senior retreat. I remember that because on the way to said retreat, I was told that one of the girls with us had tried to commit suicide a night or two before, and I remember wishing I could go buy the cassette single for her and let her know that she wasn't alone. (I am happy to report that said girl is alive and happy and well, and I have no clue if this rumor was true) This song got me through tough times, too, in that way that only a somber song can.

Week in Pictures: A Day in the Life

So I did a little better this week!

Next week: Around the 'hood

Wall of Fame 

Tree-line streets on the morning walk

Running errands and thinking of my pals in Sweden

Strolling down Fillmore Street

Lovely city views from the park