Thanksgiving.

Seven of us, each preparing their favorite "mom recipe". We ended up with a gourmet feast, which ended up with us scattered in the living room, sleeping. Marissa strums and hums on the guitar. The fire in the fireplace is crackling. More dessert. Scrabble. Nap.

A good, homey evening.

The next day, five of us packed in a car and headed for Vashon Island, or, debatably the most beautiful place on earth. A short drive and ferry ride later, we arrived. You could see the Sound from all sides on this 12-mile wide island. The homes are nestled in little pockets of forest so that you can only see them faintly through the trees. The homes themselves are straight from storybooks (and most have a barn of sorts). The small stretch of downtown goes like this: "Spice Route Indian Cuisine", "Monkey Tree Cafe", "Stranger Than Fiction Books", "King County Library", a bank or two, a grocery store and market or two, and "Vashon Island Books", and a tea shop or two. It is a magical place. We topped off our time there with a hike to the lighthouse and just sat for a bit.

A good weekend for giving thanks.

The most incredible concert of my life, period.

Words are too limited, I can't convey how incredible it was...how beautiful of an evening it was. It was perfect. When it would get quiet, you could feel the audience swoon and sigh. I'm still recovering.

The Swell Season

at The Paramount Theatre

November 22, 2009

Seattle, WA

Satisfied.

My idea of retail therapy is going to the Goodwill and shopping their "glasses/vases" section. there is something so beautiful about coloured glass. I added a lilac-coloured vase, a green goblet, a white bottle with tiny detail embossed, and a glass candleholder with a fleur de lys design on it.

And then coming home to a warm home and smiling faces, an oh-my-word, good meal with some of my amazing housemates. Now we're all sitting in the living room listening to some sweet melodies with about ten candles lit. We look up at each other from our laptops, where we busily write our papers. It is raining perfectly, and you can hear it trickle in the transition between songs. Sigur Ros, Ray LaMontagne, Iron & Wine, Wilco, Andrew Bird, The Swell Season, Sufjan Stevens, Explosions In The Sky. This is what I want every day.

I've had a fulfilling couple of days, and not due to any profound happenings:

"It isn’t the great big pleasures that count the most, it’s making a great deal out of the little ones—I’ve discovered the true secret of happiness, and that is to live in the now. Not to be forever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant…Well, I am going to have intensive living after this. I’m going to enjoy every second and I’m going to know I’m enjoying it while I’m enjoying it. Most people don’t live, they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out and it doesn’t make a difference whether they’ve reached the goal or not. I’ve decided to sit down by the way and pile up a lot of little happinesses."

Daddy-Long-Legs

(No, I won't ever stop quoting it.)

Question of the day.

Pooh Bear cookies.

This city is thriving, even as I am shut away from it in my busyness.

We took a different turn this morning, and found ourselves in yet another undiscovered corner of Seattle. Incredible markets, boutiques, Mom n' Pop shops, Italian coffeehouses, and a wildly eclectic crowd. I am amazed that after 2 1/2 years of living here, I still stare around me with wide eyes, jaw-dropped like a tourist.

I can't help it, I live in an incredible corner of the world.

P.S. Today is a good day for toasting pumpkin seeds. I think I will make my own muesli concoction this month. What else am I missing? Pumpkin seeds, toasted hazlenuts, chopped dried apricots, sunflower seeds, shredded wheat. I'm feeling a surge of creativity (and how can you not, after strolling through one of these Sunday markets?)

UCOR 3000

Because philosophy is starting to give me a headache.

I am usually semi-engaged, but today the whiteboard was full of unidentifiable abbreviations and arrows pointing every which way, and I just sat and stared blankly at it, wishing it all away. When I left the classroom after a merciless hour and twenty minutes of discussing the nature of the soul and whether or not non-reductive dualism is a valid argument, I automatically, VERY intentionally pushed it all to the back of my head.

I never want to visit it again. I don't want to care about this stuff. It's not something I care to be good at.

Paris, anyone?

Deep breath.

This week I will love louder

(and with my arms.)

I don't reach out enough, not as much as I want to.

I don't wonder enough at whether or not I'm making you feel loved.

So I will.

:)