Tuesday, April 30, 2013

On What We Wear


Unfounded Judgement.

We can't help but judge a book by its cover in spite of our semi-conscious awareness that insignificant details frequently derail our otherwise informed perceptions of even the most credible of sources.  And so we conclude, crash, and counteract the inaccurate assumptions made in haste, in hopes that we'll think twice the next time around and bypass any victimization from fellow evaluations.  Enjoy!  

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

On Communal Suffering


The Miserable Race.  

Sharing stories of pain and suffering with friends, family, or mere acquaintances can conjure up comparative sob stories more quickly than an empathetic ear, as degrees of victimization and sorrow are stacked against each other in competition rather than cooperation.  Momentary reflection to remind ourselves to listen and learn instead of compare and complain makes us a better companion in the short and long run, when it's (eventually) our turn to unload onto moderately attentive ears. Enjoy! 

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Monday, April 29, 2013

On Being Cool With It


Well, Kinda Cool.

We claim we're cool with it when we're really not, gritting our teeth to hide our desperate attempt at going with the flow because otherwise we risk being uptight, unfair, and maybe even a little unreasonable.  So we grin and bear it, minimize the heavy sighs, stifle the side comments, knowing maybe (and hopefully) we won't care as much tomorrow as we do today.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.] 

Friday, April 26, 2013

On the Perfect Photo


(Photo Credit: 6am in Denver Today.)  

When my 5:30am alarm went off this morning, my tired legs cringed at the thought of another lengthier-than-usual daily run in preparation for our first (ever) half marathon next month.  Rolling out of bed, the warmer-than-usual temperature (44 degrees - finally!) made the challenge more bearable and, thirty minutes later when I met my running buddy at the park, our small talk on the first loop further distracted from our sunrise endeavor.  And then it happened.  Two loops later with less than one mile to go before we officially started our usual Friday morning routines, we came around a familiar bend to find the small pond on the north end of Wash(ington) Park - which typically signifies the final stretch - perfectly still and crisp, so clearly reflecting the imminent energy from the silent city around it.  We stopped, took a a moment to appreciate the picturesque scene, snapped a photo (see right hand side) and recharged to make the last loop count before the clock struck seven.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Thursday, April 25, 2013

On the (NYC) Stoop


Stoop Sales & Beyond.

Waking up on a late Saturday morning in Brooklyn, New York filled with endless possibilities in a five-hour span, stoop sales distract from brunch plans as extraneous vintage lampshades and pre-owned cowboy boots fill limited space in the cloth bag meant for Food Coop groceries.  The stoop is for sale-ing, for coffee breaks with girlfriends, for date night make-out sessions with new beaus, for jumping off steps and sliding down rails, for lemonade stands and elementary school bake sales, for blowing bubbles and smoking cigarettes, and all rights of passage and welcomed distractions from childhood to adulthood and everything in between.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

On Working From Home


Big Dreams, Small Realities.

Early morning rise with no pressure to self-manicure or check email at a reasonable hour with what feels like the whole day ahead of you, in pajamas or less.  A few emails quickly sent off create facades of satisfying productivity until mid-morning television combined with household chores distract from the once-promising dream of actually getting things done.  The joys of working from home quickly destroy daily evening rituals as workday responsibilities relentlessly seep into the night.  Enjoy! 

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

On Three Years Ago


(Today.)

[Happy Birthday, Blog!]

14 May 1905 

There is a place where time stands still. Raindrops hang motionless in air. Pendulums of clocks float mid-swing. Dogs raise their muzzl
es in silent howls. Pedestrians are frozen on the dusty streets, their legs cocked as if held by strings. The aromas of dates, mangoes, coriander, cumin are suspended in space.

As a traveler approaches this place from any direction, he moves more and more slowly. His heartbeats grow farther apart, his breathing slackens, his temperature drops, his thoughts diminish, until he reaches dead center and stops. For this is the center of time. From this place, time travels outward in concentric circlest rest at the center, slowly picking up speed at greater diameters.

Who would make pilgrimage to the center of time? Parents with children, and lovers.

And so, at the place where time stands still, one sees parents clutching their children, in a frozen embrace that will never let go. The beautiful young daughter with blue eyes and blond hair will never stop smiling the smile she smiles now, will never lose this soft pink glow on her cheeks, will never grow wrinkled or tired, will never get injured, will never unlearn what her parents have taught her, will never think thoughts that her parents don’t know, will never know evil, will never tell her parents that she does not love them, will never leave her room with the view of the ocean, will never stop touching her parents as she does now.

And at the place where time stands still, one sees lovers kissing in the shadows of buildings, in a frozen embrace that will never let go. The loved one will never take his arms from where they are now, will never give back the bracelet of memories, will never journey far from his lover, will never place himself in danger in self-sacrifice, will never fail to show his love, will never become jealous, will never fall in love with someone else, will never lose the passion of this instant in time.

One must consider that these statues are illuminated by only the most feeble red light, for light is diminished almost to nothing at the center of time, its vibrations slowed to echoes in vast canyons, its intensity reduced to the faint glow of fireflies.

Those not quite at dead center do indeed move, but at the pace of glaciers. A brush of the hair might take a year, a kiss might take a thousand. While a smile is returned, seasons pass in the outer world. While a child is hugged, bridges rise. While a goodbye is said, cities crumble and are forgotten.

And those who return to the outer world . . . Children grow rapidly, forget the centuries-long embrace from their parents, which to them lasted but seconds. Children become adults, live far from their parents, live in their own houses, learn ways of their own, suffer pain, grow old. Children curse their parents for trying to hold them forever, curse time for their own wrinkled skin and hoarse voices. These now old children also want to stop time, but at another time. They want to freeze their own children at the center of time.

Lovers who return find their friends are long gone. After all, lifetimes have passed. They move in a world they do not recognize. Lovers who return still embrace in the shadows of buildings, but now their embraces seem empty and alone. Soon they forget the centuries-long promises, which to them lasted only seconds. They become jealous even among strangers, say hateful things to each other, lose passion, drift apart, grow old and alone in a world they do not know.

Some say it is best not to go near the center of time. Life is a vessel of sadness, but it is noble to live life, and without time there is no life. Others disagree. They would rather have an eternity of contentment, even if that eternity were fixed and frozen, like a butterfly mounted in a case.

~Alan Lightman, Einstein’s Dreams.

Monday, April 22, 2013

On Unusual Dynamics


Cookie Cutter Families.

Whether we like it or not, we all have (unusual) family dynamics to shape and navigate in good times and in bad, and how we engage with and/or embrace these webs of personality and historical (dys)function is a reflection of the role we play within them.  From lifelong cheerleaders to borderline frenemies, we defy the cookie cutter familial facade for the truth that lies beneath.  Enjoy!    

 [Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Friday, April 19, 2013

On TGIF (Sort Of)


Smile? It's Friday!

It’s been one of those mornings where everything goes wrong, quickly goes right again, takes a turn for the worse, and bounces back seconds later.  And it’s little things, too, that shouldn’t matter in the grander scheme of life, love, pain, and happiness, but when 7:30am coffee routines are disrupted by coffee mugs being left home on the kitchen counter in a successful yet haphazard attempt to catch the 7:26a bus, the Friday morning high (TGIF!) begins to melt into a series of insignificant hardships.  But wait! – it’s Customer Appreciation Day at Starbucks today and, also, your co-worker is walking down the street (also rushing to work) and has offered to take on one of a series of cloth-filled bags which, up until now, have been spilling over onto public commuter patrons, Starbucks entryways, and the unpolished gutter, and life doesn't seem so bad after all, and don't forget it's Friday.  Enjoy!  

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Thursday, April 18, 2013

On Television Relationships


Spring Quarter.

Just as one season ends and heartache creeps in over the foreboded absence of  familiar faces (oh how I’ll miss William Macy’s haggard eyes, Don Cheadle’s smug disposition, and Lena Dunham’s nakedness!), the next round of beloved characters show up just in time to dab any errant tears.  Unanticipated satisfaction for recently forgotten yet equally-adored relationships lost (Don Draper! Tyrion Lannister! Cathy Jamison – The Big C) quickly occupy the temporary vacancy once feared to ruin the series of weekends to come.  Enjoy!    

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

On Not Believing


Horoscope Propaganda.

Every few months or so I take the plunge and look up my horoscope (just to see), even though I consider myself a non-believer. Today it claims (according to yahoo), You've got something serious to talk about -- so make sure that you're going about it the right way! Your energy is just right for accessing and communicating your feelings to others. I'm a Taurus, by the way, and quite frankly I always have something serious to talk about, and anyone who knows me well has probably engaged in a heart-to-heart, all-cards-on-the-table, communication ritual in which we both answer the most serious of inquiries at some point (usually early on) in our relationship, however long or short.  So is my horoscope today true?  It 'tis, today and always, but that doesn't mean I believe in it anymore than I did before I read this.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

On Saying Yesssssss...


...to the Dress!

With the exception of over-sized, tasteful, pastel-colored balloons, I've never been one to fantasize about my wedding day.  Until now, it was a far-off celebration in the eventual future that required little to no thought or consideration in advance.  So when  the day to scout out my (future) wedding dress approached, I only knew I didn't want to look like every other bride.  And while it wasn't the first dress I tried on or even immediately fell in love with, it fit like a glove and made me pause - big time.  And so the wedding planning began, and the dress measurements taken, and all of a sudden I'm counting down to the day I can re-try it on in the comforts of my own home and imagine what the big day will be like.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Monday, April 15, 2013

On Wanting Children


Deal Breaker.

Dinner conversation with (single or dating) girlfriends can lead to several rounds of welcomed red wine and multiple dessert options as details of Mr. Maybe(s) are exchanged, dissected, and discarded ad nauseam.  Until the baby conversation pops up over whether Mr. Right Now wants mini-hes not, and red flags inevitably raised for those respectable contenders waffling between definitely and I dont (think) know. Unpromising strategies are brainstormed to ensure minds will be changed, offspring eventually had, and happily-ever-afters a (not so) sure thing.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Friday, April 12, 2013

On Our Lasts


Living As If.

Every once in a while, we’re struck by an unexpected moment that reminds us to live each day and love each person as if.  And so – in those moments - we reevaluate our daily routines, our inability to express ourselves, our incognizant relationship to the things and people around us and vow to acknowledge and savior every breath and word and connection from here on in.  Until the urgency passes and the normalcy we once took for granted resumes, allowing us to exist as if everything will always be okay forever.  Enjoy!    

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Thursday, April 11, 2013

On Kind-of-Friends


"KOF."

In your 30s and 40s, plenty of new people enter your life, through work, children’s play dates and, of course, Facebook. But actual close friends — the kind you make in college, the kind you call in a crisis — those are in shorter supply. As people approach midlife, the days of youthful exploration, when life felt like one big blind date, are fading. Schedules compress, priorities change and people often become pickier in what they want in their friends.
--Alex Williams, Author of Attached Article

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

On Sundays in Brooklyn


Bagels & Papers.

Kitchen table covered with Brooklyn bagels, Philadelphia cream cheese, and the Sunday (New York) Times as school-age sisters argue over who gets to complete the maze on the back of the latest popular cereal box from the mid (to late) 80s.  Parent cuts bagels in thirds, toasting the perfectly-thinned middle section with minimal crust to eventually slather it in butter for the eldest, while youngest dips her fingers into the (butter) container for unadulterated samples.  Bagels are consumed in single breathes while Tropicana orange juices refilled, and the buzz of the weekend's end infiltrates this weekly family ritual.  Enjoy!  

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

On Infatuation


Things I'm Obsessed With:

Fleece blankets, Dave Eggers, jersey sheets, quinoa salads, snail mail,
picking out presents, (Italian) Greyhounds, Grey's Anatomy, HBO, never throwing up, fresh flowers, growing old, nurses, teachers, typewriters, the NYT Modern Love column, potlucks, personality theory, my family, my nephew, babies in general, parks, picnics, coffee, literary fiction, Victorian novels, algebra, balloons, Dawson's Creek, ravioli, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, independent films, summer camp, glitter, birthdays, breakfast, and romance. 

(What about you?)

(Enjoy.)
 
[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Monday, April 8, 2013

On Self-Protection


One Foot Out.

We create walls and barriers to protect ourselves from the inevitable heartbreak that comes along with letting others get close to us without acknowledging that it’s this very vulnerability that simultaneously makes life grand.  And when pain and suffering do infiltrate our tiny universe in spite of our persistent attempt to control the atomic molecules around us, we are reminded of our own stamina and strength that continue to reliably persevere, and that there is no gain without the accompanying (in)tolerable pain.  Enjoy! 

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Friday, April 5, 2013

On Personal Brands


Think Before We Act.

Every word, breath, and sigh represents the brand of our own selves in the world through which we navigate.  We must think before we act, pause before we step, and reflect before we resign, as the interpretation of our actions depends on the senses of the eyes and ears taking us in combined with our personal responsibility to reflect upon, mold, and change how we are embraced.  Enjoy!  

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Thursday, April 4, 2013

On Fighting Distraction


iPhone Off.

During my bus ride to work this morning, I made the conscious decision to fight the nagging impulse to check my email and text messages after each new stop sign or red light.  And so for the entirely of the twenty-minute commute, my mind was free to wander to the people in the seats around me (imagine that!), and wander it did.   I became hyper aware of the angst-ridden, puberty-stricken high school teenagers who filled the handicapped seats up front (reserved for people much older than them) who clearly take for granted that they can wear jeans and sweatpants to school with little to no consequence.  Some conversed about sports and upcoming assignments, while other hid behind hoods and headphones, tuning the world out until they had no choice.  I reminisced for a moment, envied their carelessness, and then moved on to bigger and better things: the Words With Friends game of my neighbor. Enjoy! 

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

On (After) the Breakup


Moving On.

For at least the second ten to twenty years of our lives (if not more), we torment ourselves over breakups and makeups, lost and unrequited loves, lust after people just out of (our) reach, and envy the rare few who make it appear easy during our initial (and latter) double digit life processes (our teens & adulthood), and maybe even divorce.  Until the day we don't, when we meet someone who makes the preceding relationships and non-relationships seem like rehearsals for the storm before the calm, when life and romance settle into something tangible and real, sensible and permanent, the part at the end of the movie where things really do work out after the closing credits and tissues are reserved for happiness.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

On Sugar Overload


Easter 101.

Until I moved to Denver, Easter references meant nothing. For me, Aprils have been marked by Passover seders and matzoh hunts, during which sparse pieces of salty parsley and bitter herbs were washed down with overly-sweetened red wine.  Now, after my second year of formal Easter celebrations (with my future in-laws), sugar overload and egg-dying competitions (between adults) make sense of the myriad of facebook references.  This year, the Easter bunny showered us with (literally) pounds of diverse candy (some of which is currently en route via snail mail to my favorite Jews on the east coast) and a 75-egg search & rescue meant only for the strong, with surprise glasses of Manischewitz in between hard-earned discoveries.  Enjoy!

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]

Monday, April 1, 2013

On Setting Limitations


One Juicer at a Time.

As I neurotically debate about whether to add a juicer to my wedding registry, fantasies of (potentially) relocating to a more crowded city with smaller (uninhabitable) living spaces (aka my former New York City apartment) flash before my hungry eyes.  Torn between my unrealistic fantasy of limitless portions of fruits and vegetables and the harsh reality of dusty clutter including a juicer that never actually left its box, I officially decide to add it to the list, leaving it in fates hands (or those of my matrimonial guests) to make the final decision for me: to juice or not to juice.  Enjoy!  

[Blog Reminder: Click on Subtitle Above for Article.]