Bossypants.

nothing like a good read + (decaf) coffee

I finished Year of Wonders (good read) last night and was therefore finally able to dive into Tina Fey's book today (which has been staring me down from the bookshelf for the last 2 weeks ever since it arrived from the good people at Amazon). 

Be careful if you're planning to read this book: it's quite addictive! Hard to get much else done around here with her witty, charming stories beckoning me. I feel like I can relate to so many of her observations and anecdotes, strangely enough: I, too, cursed my too-big/frizzy, non-blonde hair as child in a time when stick-straight, perfectly smooth golden locks ruled the world (I really just wanted to be Olivia Newton-John, or Crissy from Three's Company). And her story about being roped into a random night-hiking trek in the mountains of Virginia by her crush during her one-sided college romance? Umm, eerily similar to that time I was convinced by my crush/one-sided romance in college that night-hiking around Great Falls (also in Virginia!) would be "fun" and "adventurous" (only to discover too late, like Tina, that I wasn't the only one invited along on the "adventure"). The things you do for stupid boys. But see?? It's like we're the same!! 

Anyhoo, looking forward to more random, hilarious stories and anecdotes. In fact, I am itching to get some bedtime reading in right now, so I think it's time to go! Goodnight, all...

I want to read this...

Tina Fey's new memoir

So looking forward to getting my hands on this book. I would have bought it based on the cover alone (and the fact that I love a good memoir), but now all the buzz has really peaked my interest. Maybe once the craziness of life settles down a bit, I'll have time to read again. And blog. Won't that be fun? 

[goodnight]

The Strand Bookstore
Another cold day (WINTER again) and I am feeling under the weather (boo) so I think I will just post this here pretty pic of a pretty neat book shop in Union Square and call it a night. Sweeeeet dreeeeams, world.

Another long day...

brooklyn bridge
Forgot my camera today, so wasn't able to capture the beautiful light dusting of snow we had this morning. Or the dramatic electric-blue sky accented with smoky purple clouds that hovered around the top of the Empire State Building after sunset tonight.

So (therefore) I am posting this old picture instead (sorry). It was taken last summer, I think. One of our favorite things to do in warm weather is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and spend an afternoon wandering around Dumbo and Brooklyn Heights, daydreaming about living in one of those charming brownstones one day.

Not much more to say tonight. It was a long day. Again (I've had a lot of those lately). And I am so sleepy right now. Think I will go finish my book (which is one of the best I've read lately -- beautifully written, completely engrossing), then drift off to sleep.

Goodnight.

Book Love {Part 2}

Right now I am reading a book by Dean Koontz, an author I haven't read in years and don't think to pick up very often anymore. But I was done with my last book and in desperate need of a new one on my lunch break, and the little bookstore/newsstand in Grand Central Station had slim pickins that day. Revisiting this author who I used to enjoy so much in my younger days (Strangers, Watchers, etc.) has stirred up memories for other old favorites and has gotten me thinking: wouldn't it be fun to go back and read some of those old favorites? And not just those classic thrillers from my high school days (Koontz, Christopher Pike, Lois Duncan) but reaching back even further, to the books of my childhood that were such a part of me and those pivotal growing-up years.

Some that come to mind:
the Ramona books
Superfudge
Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself
Just as Long as We're Together
Bridge To Terabithia
Anne of Green Gables
Where the Red Fern Grows
Secret Garden
Stranger With My Face
Locked In Time
Last Act

Do kids today still read authors like Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary? Or classics such as Anne of Green Gables and Secret Garden? I was lucky to have an English major/teacher mom who started reading aloud to my brother and me at very young ages and introduced us to some great books, and also (fortunately) attended good public schools that highly encouraged reading.

Just writing this post has made me so nostalgic! It's been a looong time since I've visited these familiar titles. I think I might just need to go dig through my old trunks in the attic next time I am home and start making my way through this list of favorites again. You know you'll hear about it if I do :)

Book Love {Part 1}

When I was a kid I was quite the bookworm. I loooved books and everything about them. That musty library book smell, the way they felt in my little hands, the crinkly sound of those clear, plastic book jacket covers. Loved it all. And I was always so enchanted by the way a book could take me to some far-off place in an instant. I recall one family vacation, being so enthralled with my Sweet Valley Twins book as we drove through the countryside of Australia, that I not only missed my once in a lifetime chance to see such amazing scenery but also made myself thoroughly carsick by the time we reached our destination. So yes. I was a bookworm, through and through.

This love continued on through junior high and high school but began to seriously dwindle in college and beyond. It wasn't until I moved to New York that my love of books was rekindled and I began eating up fiction again like it was my job (ooh, could that be my job? hmmmm...).

I am convinced that books have transformed my daily life for the better in this (sometimes) tough-as-nails city. For example: 1) waiting on a platform for a train that WILL NOT come on a sweltering hot summer day is QUITE stressful and annoying, but much more bearable with a good book; 2) train rides can be a frickin' circus some days, but again, with a good book in hand, the crazy can be blocked out almost entirely (as long as I am physically able to open my book a crack since often times there are several thousand sweaty bodies participating in the hoopla that is NYC subway-riding; and 3) if I've had a bad day at the Day Job I can take my book down to a cafe on my lunch break and escape to some other time and place, briefly forgetting about all my boring office woes.

See? Books = Good.

Two of my recent favorites (aside from Firefly Lane which I wrote about here):

The Sonnet Lover by Carol Goodman (fantastic story. I am convinced this will make a brilliant film), and Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella (light and fun. a good beach read. also good for reading on the subway to make you feel like you *could* be on a beach instead of slowly inching your way down the bench from a man who smells like pee.)

Up next for me:

Either Ya-Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells or Swapping Lives by Jane Green (both good summer reads, I should think)

***
And while we're talking about books, I must say I am very excited for two book-to-film adaptations coming out soon, although I've not yet read either: Julie & Julia and The Time Traveler's Wife.

Especially Julie & Julia. I am completely prepared for an array of emotions and chords to be struck as I watch a familiar story unfold on the silver screen. Girl living in New York...pushing 30...trapped in a dumb administrative job...decides to spice things up with a project and a blog...and then (this is where we part ways) that blog is becomes a HUGE success transforming her from Office Drone to full-time writer and SUPERSTAR! Since I am feeling sensitive about this topic at the moment (my job, my direction, my "career" path, etc.) I am preparing myself for possible tears, maybe a minor meltdown, and hopefully a healthy does of butt-kickage. I am sure it will be good times all around.

'Firefly Lane,' Friendship, etc.

I interrupt my crazy, exhausting, blurry-whirl of a life (thanks to endless rehearsals -- another post for another day) to bring you this very important message about books (mmm, books). Well, A book, that is. This book:



There is not much to say...just read it :) (Okay, if you're a dude, you *may* not like it, so ladies, this post's for you). This book has honestly been my sanity-saver lately -- my "happy place" in the midst of chaos. I find myself constantly reaching for it, hungry for more pages, as I dash about the city from one thing to the next (which usually means reading standing up...on a moving train...with 25 of my fellow New Yorkers pressed up against me).

It's nothing super-fancy (literarialy speaking), just a simple and beautiful story about two friends who share the ups and downs of life for more than thirty years. It starts out in the summer of '74 and goes on from there. It made me miss my friends, especially those friends I've had for 25+ years (hi, Nancy :) and reminded me of the days of BFF necklaces, roller skating and games of freeze tag on warm summer nights. It also made me realize how incredibly lucky I've been when it comes to friendships. God has blessed me with so many amazing women and friendships over the years. I saw all of you in the pages of this book.

So, yeah -- go pick up Firefly Lane, curl up in your favorite chair, then call an old friend. That's all.

{Oh yeah, and also: FOUR MONTHS, PEOPLE! FOUR months 'til the BIG DAY! AHHHH! Thank God I will have my girls surrounding me on the most important day of my life :) Just like we promised each other in 7th grade, Nancy...remember? :)}

Lulu Meets God And Doubts Him

I almost missed my stop this morning -- the stop where I've gotten off e-v-e-r-y morning for the last two years -- b/c I was so involved in my book. It's been awhile since I've read a *really* good book that distracts me in such a way, so I am happy as a little book-worming clam right now. Lulu Meets God And Doubts Him. I know, quite a title. It is also the title of the fictional 9-by-12-foot painting that the storyline revolves around. The painting, a portrait of a young girl coming to terms with her creativity and finding God in that creative process, has this hypnotizing and profound affect on people...especially so when word gets out that the artist has suddenly and tragically died. 'Lulu' instantly becomes the center of attention in New York's elite art world and has collectors and dealers and artists all clawing and clamoring for a piece of it (as told from the perspective of unassuming and slightly jaded art gallery receptionist, Mia McMurray). Perhaps I am enjoying it so much b/c it reminds me of my days spent interning at a Chelsea art gallery (which feels like a lifetime ago), but I think most people would get enjoyment out of this refreshingly witty, quirky tale.

In other news, I had my first class last night (see previous post) and somehow feel both less scared (b/c the first class is always the hardest to get through) and more scared (b/c -- crap, what am I doing?!). It was stated last night that this was NOT a "remedial acting class for singers." Uh-oh. Let's review here how much acting experience I actually have: remember that 'intro to acting' class I took 5 minutes ago? Yep, that's it. But as we continued talking, it became clear that I was not the only one coming into this without much theater experience, and they emphasized that this is a class, and they (the teachers/directors) are there to help us learn. So, yeah, I think it will be okay. Actually I think it will be more than okay, I think it will be pretty dang amazing.

And tomorrow night I head out for an extended weekend of wedding festivities in D.C. -- the bride-to-be is one of my favoritist people in the Whole Wide World, my cousin Lauren, and I can't WAIT for the fun to begin! I am sure there will be lots o' lovely photos to share upon my return...

Creativity Boot Camp

Big FUN news (that I have somehow forgotten to mention until now): tonight is my first class with THE Creativity Guru and Expert of All Things Artistic, Ms. JULIA CAMERON...(!!) After reading Sound of Paper, (parts of) The Artist's Way, and her memoir (all of which I highly recommend), I decided to do a little googling, hoping that since she currently resides in New York that perhaps there would be a class or workshop I could sign up for. After doing a little digging, I found the The New York Open Center, a "non-profit holistic learning center," where Ms. Cameron teaches on a somewhat regular basis. And to think that just a few posts back I mentioned wanting to meet Julia one day. Crazy.

So tonight begins "Creativity Boot Camp," an "intensive four-week trek through her creative kingdom" (according to the website). Which sounds daunting -- and kinda scary. But Lord knows I need it. My creative well has officially run dry. I can't even remember how to write songs anymore!! (and I'd be embarrassed to share with you how long it has been since I have written a song). So my parched creative soul is desperately hoping to experience some refreshment and relief over the next four weeks. And what better person, really, to help with this sort of thing than JULIA CAMERON, the Unblocking Expert?! I feel incredibly blessed to have such an opportunity.

With that said, however, I must admit that when it came time to actually sign up for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I felt myself hesitate...apathy and laziness for sure, but I also think I'm a bit nervous to come face to face with this amazing woman -- someone whom I have held up as such a strong and prominent figure in the creative world and whose work I have admired for so long. Even now as I type this I am feeling the butterflies. But, I know this will be amazing, and that I need to take advantage of where I live and the opportunities that are available to me b/c of where I live. And so -- nerves and apathy and all -- I am taking myself down to Soho tonight at 7:30 sharp to learn from the master.

Oh, and did I mention that the Open Center is right down the street from Rice to Riches, one of my FAVORITE dessert places in ALL the WORLD? Well, it is...which helps. I mean, it's not like I based my decision on the fact that I can now enjoy a tasty rice pudding treat every week. Not completely. But I do love tasty rice pudding treats. So it's a win win.

it's the little things...

...like this yummy book that i LOVE. makes me want to travel and explore and live life to the fullest in my own God-given artist's skin.

...and the anticipation of breakfast-for-dinner tonight (yesss) with my roommate in front of the TV (which will be turned to Fox promptly at 8 for another entertaining evening with Simon, Randy and Paula).

...a spontaneously decided, real-deal New York kinda night tomorrow night with my girls -- a Knicks game and greasy b-ball food.

...warmer, sunnier weather that seems to be getting better every day.

...which leads to the anticipation of more moments like this.

...and, finally, a new episode (YESSSS!) of The Office on Thursday night. can't wait for those new, fresh moments of extreme awkwardness and crazy shenanigans.

yep. life is good.

Wonderful Tonight

This lovely book has been my traveling companion over the last several weeks, and I have to say, I've grown quite fond of her. We've ridden the rails of the Mighty Amtrak together, traveling to and from D.C. to see my family and beau...we've endured the stinky buses of New York together...and of course there were many journeys between the 86th Street Station and Grand Central as we commuted to work each day via the 4/5 train.

Tonight she was with me on a delayed/dysfunctional 6 train that carried me from Spring Street (after a lovely dinner with a dear friend) back to the Upper East Side. I was so lost in the world of Pattie Boyd, hanging onto every emotionally-charged word, that I didn't even realize or care that we were stopped at the 51st Street station for 10 minutes for no good reason (something that would normally irritate the pants off me). All that bothered me was the fact that I was getting closer and closer to the end, and not quite ready to say goodbye.

I don't know about you, but I tend to become quite immersed in whatever novel I am reading...so much so that I have to be very careful about what I choose to read. I take on stories/characters/emotions so easily that I have to make sure I don't read anything too dark or disturbing. My journey with Pattie Boyd (who was the inspiration behind two of my all time favorite songs: Something and Wonderful Tonight) has been an enriching and eye-opening experience, full of poignant and emotionally raw moments. Since I am such a HUGE Beatles fan and, therefore, a lover of all things Beatles-related, I had read several articles and snippets on the former Mrs. Harrison/Mrs. Clapton, but never realized all the trauma and darkness she endured. She has QUITE the story, and I would highly recommend to anyone who has an interest in autobiographies to take a chance on this hefty hardback. I have a new-found respect for Ms. Boyd, and am deeply moved by her honesty and all that she has been through. She is now on my list of Brave & Interesting Women That I Would Like To Meet One Day (also on that list: Julia Cameron, Boho Girl and Queen Elizabeth II -- you know, because she's the Queen and all...).

So now...I leave you with this -- a little glimpse into the life of Ms. Pattie Boyd:

Saturday thoughts...

The air outside has cooled down significantly in the last several hours, and with that (it appears), so have my emotions and moodiness. I am sitting in a coffee shop right now, and just overheard two girls commenting on their crabbiness of late: "I was in such a horrible mood yesterday! I don't know what the deal was." I wanted to jump in -- "Me too! Me too!" Seriously, maybe it's something in the air! For me, the crabbiness of yesterday carried itself right on over into today, and then morphed into contemplation and introspection. Silly thoughts like "What am I doing with my life?" and "Maybe I should move to Hawaii" and "What I am going to do with the rest of my weekend?" inevitably led to the big one: "I'm not getting any younger..." and, well...all of the fears and thoughts that are linked to that statement followed close behind. So I decided to get out of the apartment and go to Barnes & Noble to browse the new fiction tables and books on art and creativity and travel, etc. And now I feel MUCH better! I resisted the urge to buy more fiction books, since I haven't even read the ones from my last splurge, but allowed myself to buy a few non-fiction, creative-like books that make me feel all warm & fuzzy inside :) --> The Creative License, A Short Guide To A Happy Life, (which sounds very self help-y but isn't really), and Bohemian Manifesto. Now I am sitting in this here coffee shop (Stevie Wonder blasting overhead), typing away, getting ready to dive into my new books, and anticipating the rooftop party I will be attending later tonight. Spirits are lifting by the minute. Everything will be okay. It will. Really.

The Day Off

What a delightful Monday! Maybe that had something to do with the fact that I was given an Unexpected Day Off--maybe...(or maybe I am still reeling from such a great weekend: time spent away from the city in the heart of Amish Country, PA for some fresh air & stars, and a gig last night back in the city at The Bitter End, among other things). There are so many mornings that I walk by coffee shops and bookstores and think to myself, if only I didn't have to work... the possibilities and ideas of what I could do with my day are endless in those moments. So, given that I had been *given* this gift of a day off (thanks, bosses), I decided to actually do some of those things. Well, first, there was sleeping in. Then there was reading and journaling and cereal and coffee and emailing. Then, around 1ish, I decided it was time to be out and about (weather report: 71 degrees, mostly sunny = perfect). First stop: Serendipity's Nail & Spa for a pedicure -- summer is HERE people, gotta take care of those tootsies. Next stop: Barnes & Noble on E. 86th where 1 (one) book was purchased: Anne Rice's Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt. Then, I traveled down to Astor Place, a spot I have always wanted to explore, where I purchased 1 (one) pair of Rocket Dog sneakers (on sale for $19 - can't beat that) at a strange, goth/hippie kind of shop. Then I sat in a box of glass (the Astor Place Starbucks) at a very pinnacle point in the city: the point in which Astor, 3rd Ave., Cooper and St. Marks Place all converge. All sorts of people-watching to be done in this spot. Then it was off to Union Square (with a quick stop at Utrecht Art Supplies to buy some *special* pens), where I had some park meandering to do, and apparently some more book shopping to do, since I found myself in yet another Barnes & Noble (my favorite B&N in the city), where I purchased 3 (three!) more books and a beautiful, chunky, hand-made journal from Nepal. I am not really sure what happened or why I bought so much, but it seems I couldn't resist: Honeymoon With My Brother, Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy, and Delaying the Real World. From there, it was onto Carl Schultz Park which is right on the East River, where I sat on a bench and alternated between sketching in my new Nepali journal with my new *special* pens, and staring at the water. Heading home this evening, I rounded the corner of 2nd Avenue and 81st where a little girl of about 8 was teaching a couple of younger boys how to dance, specifically focusing on the Running Man and the Roger Rabbit. Needless to say, it was the perfect ending to the perfect day.