across the pond
March 12, 2009
Words/phrases I am excited to use on my upcoming trip to London:
Queue
Mind the gap
Take away food
Footpath
Jacket Potato
Bloody hell
Jolly good
Using me instead of my – as in “this is me pub,” “this is me mum”
Mum
Wind cheater
Jumper
Cheerio
Pavement
*This list courtesy (mostly) of my aunt (and traveling companion), Tricia.
things i would like to give up for lent
February 25, 2009
1. My current hairstyle (which is not a style at all).
2. My student loan payment (ironic, when all I want to do is go back to school).
3. My car (every morning she reminds me that she needs a new transmission and a new rear passenger side door) .
4. Winter (can we just skip the next 4.5 months?).
5. My recent inability to get out of bed when my alarm goes off (this might have something to do with #4).
What do you want to give up?
“on the brink, on the brim, on the cusp”
January 20, 2009
Praise Song For The Day
Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.
Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.
A woman and her son wait for the bus.
A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”
We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.
We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”
We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.
Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.
Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.
Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”
Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.
What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.
In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.
On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp — praise song for walking forward in that light.
-Elizabeth Alexander (For Barack Obama’s Inauguration)
pros & cons
January 12, 2009
Good things about having a (foster) cat:
1. Someone is excited to see me everytime I come home.
2. Someone sleeps next to me every night.
Bad things about having a (foster) cat:
1. Buying cat food at the Ballard Safeway at 10:00 on a Monday night.
2. Yep, just that.
to boldly go…
January 11, 2009
As of today, the items listed in bold are the things I’ve done:
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (does Rock Band count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (I’ve petted one in the Lake District)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34.Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa (been to Pisa, but didn’t see the Tower)
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (waited in line for hours but didn’t get in…SO close)
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower (just a lovely picnic at the bottom)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie theatre
55. Been in a movie (Emerson Film Festival?)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the paper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
47/100…not bad for 23 years, I guess.
Thanks for the idea, Holly!
2008 in review
January 3, 2009
I’m back. I know you have ALL been waiting on the edge of your seat for my return to the blog world. To ease myself back in (and to try to remember the important things that happened last year), I give you my re-cap of 2008:
Here, there, Everywhere:
2008 brought trips both near and far. I traveled to San Diego (to visit KJ and Justin before they moved back to Seattle), Eugene (to see Mamma Mia on stage for the 5th time), Denver (to see my sister graduate!), Belize (for some much needed sun), just over the mountains (for a couple crazy camping trips), Salem (to see Mary & Nolan get married), New York City (to visit Kerry and live it up in the Big Apple), and finally Pittsburgh (right after Christmas for my grandpa’s funeral).
2008: The Year of Babies!
It really was. And it still kinda blows my mind that so many of my friends are now parents! Lillian Faye (born to Justin & Katrina on 7/1), Belle Bastille (born to my cousin Amy & Eric on 7/14), Kaden Drew (born to Scott & Amy on 8/27), and Saylor Reese (born to Ashley & Tyler on 9/23).
Super Shows:
I can think of few better ways to beat the Seattle blues (which take place from October-July) than seeing some of my favorite people in concert. Not to mention, the gorgeous Seattle summers are perfect for enjoying the awesome outdoor venues we have. Sia & Augustana at the Showbox, Sasquatch and Dave Matthews at the Gorge, Celine Dion at the Tacoma Dome, and Alanis Morissette at the Paramount.
Weddings, weddings, weddings:
My summer “wedding dress” got a lot of use: Holly & Dustin (6/28), Rachel & Ben (8/2), Mary & Nolan (8/22), Kimberly & Todd (9/6), Jessica & Anthony (9/12).
Big events in the life of Carly:
Moving into my apartment in Queen Anne, watching Barack Obama become our next President, celebrating Seder for the first time, seeing more snow in Seattle than ever before, having a “foster cat” for the last 4 months, Sex and the City & Mamma Mia coming to the big screen, seeing Tim Winton at Elliott Bay, starting a blog, turning my favorite number, wearing the best Halloween costume yet, and ringing in 2009 with so many of my friends.
So there you have it…what have I forgotten? Check out facebook for a visual version of 2008.
five?
October 1, 2008
I have probably lost nearly all of my readers as a result of my LONG hiatus from the blogosphere. But, in case there are even just five of you out there, watch this: 5 Friends.
It’s important.
words they used
September 8, 2008
Here’s a link for a crazy Monday morning. It is especially interesting to me because I love words and because I am attempting to be more balanced in my approach to the upcoming election in regards to what I read and watch.
Thanks, Marie, for this interesting and visually-appealing way to look at the recent conventions:
eight books that changed things for me
August 21, 2008
I stole this idea from Maggie at Mighty Girl (a current favorite blog). I would love to see your lists…so reply via the comment section or your own blog!
Here’s my eight, in the order that I read them:
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
I read this book in 9th grade English. We all were assigned partners and had to pick a book from a list and read it on our own and present it to the class. It was the first time I was really responsible for researching and gaining insight from a book on my own. It made me realize that I actually had my own opinions about literature.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Thanks to a wonderful high school English teacher, I actually understood and LIKED Shakespeare.
Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
The first time I ever read a book about faith that felt intelligent, true, and achingly real. It was hard not to put Bird by Bird on this list too.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
This is one of those books that completely sucks you into the world the author has created. And you can’t get it out of your head even weeks after you’ve finished it.
The End of The Affair by Graham Greene
One of the most creatively and brilliantly crafted books I’ve ever read. Plus, I read it in England, which makes it that much better.
Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
Ahhh…where to start? This is probably the only book I could read over and over and over again and love it more each time (reliving Cloudstreet, if you will). The language, characters, and themes are beautiful and timeless.
Literary Theory: An Anthology edited by Julie Rivkin & Michael Ryan
History of Literary Theory was one of my top 3 classes in college. I learned how to think about writing, books, and life in a new way and stretched my brain in ways I never thought possible.
Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The most uniquely formatted book I’ve ever read. It made me realize that any life is book-worthy and taught me to notice daily details in a new way.
