Cousin-in-law

Let me introduce you to my favorite person living in Worcester besides my cousin.  Justin and Trish were dating when I moved in, and he lived next door.  Whenever I mentioned "we" while living on the east coast, it was probably in reference to some combination of the three of us.  Justin is supportive, awesome, and enthusiastic.  I made him sit through a bunch of practice performances while I was prepping for auditions, and he never complained once. I liked sitting by him on the couch because it felt like snuggling up to a gigantic, personal bodyguard/teddy bear - he's very tall and has a protective aura.  He's a super smart teacher with loads of awesome stories and info to share about all his experiences.  Right before I left Worcester I helped him execute a grand proposal to Trish, and now they are engaged!  I'm so excited about it!  I just love him a lot, and know he will be such a great dad when Mo Jr eventually rolls into town (I think that name really has a nice ring to it...hehe).  

Here's a link to their save the date!  They made a video instead of sending out cards and it is the cutest thing ever.  This is also the first wedding I will ever be in;  I think it will be fun and exciting :)

Room Redo: Sneak Peak

During this time that I'm home, I want to help my parents redo some rooms of the house.  They're still busy finishing up the school year, so I am tackling my bedroom alone.  It was last decorated when we first moved, and I designed the whole room.  Not bad for a 6th grader, but it is in need of a serious update and clearing out.  It's turning into a major project because everything is changing - colors, furniture, room organization, etc.  Here's a sneak peak!  These are some fabrics I picked out, and below, a before and after of a piece of furniture I worked on.  It started out a bright and stained purple. Now it's...another bright color.  The room is really starting to come together and I'm excited about it; pics of the process and finished look will be posted :)

Ebooks

How do you guys feel about Ebooks?  I have to admit, I am not a fan.  My parents gave me a nook for Christmas in 2010, and I think I've used it a total of five times.  I was traveling a lot at that point and they thought it would be useful, so it was a nice sentiment.  But...wow, I just really don't like it.  I don't want to stare at a screen while I'm reading!  I love the smell and feel of paper and ink.  I like book bindings and jackets, the act of turning a page, choosing a physical bookmark.  I almost always throw a book into whatever bag I'm carrying as a "just in case", as over the years there have been too many occasions where I found myself thinking, "I wish I had a book right now."  Everyone kept telling me that Ebooks are convenient for that sort of thing, but I never found the original to be a hassle.  When I tried taking it around I was worried about it getting scratched or bumped, and then never wanted to read on it, so I just ended up reading less.  I like keeping my electronic gadgets at a minimum, and not having to travel with another charger or consider what happens if it all somehow gets lost or stolen.  I unpacked my box of books today and saw it sitting there, sadly unused.  I guess I might just give it away.  I will say, I get the appeal of its convenience in saving space and ease of access to a huge variety of things to read.  One of my friends wrote in a letter to me, "I broke down and bought a kindle.  The temptation of having a thousand books at my fingertips was too big to resist!"  Now that's an angle I can respect.  It's just not for me though, so I will stick to perusing the literal bookshelves.


Check out Maurice Sendak's thoughts on Ebooks.  I'm inclined to agree with him, haha.  That entire interview he did with Colbert was really great - look it up!

My Cousin

Here's my roommate, best friend and honorary sister from the past year!  Tricia is one of those really cool people; the type who always seems to be right where she wants to be, doing the best thing possible.  Or who walks into your closet to borrow some of your clothes, and then exits the room in an outfit you've worn, but somehow it's tweaked and suddenly looks like the most stylish thing ever.  We grew up far apart and only saw each other about once a year, but always felt very attached.  When the opportunity came to live together this past year, I jumped on it.  This was definitely a good decision, as I constantly felt surrounded by fun, love, and support.  She drove halfway across the country with me as I moved to Wisconsin, and she just left to go back to Massachusetts.  Now I'm feelin' a little low, but am trying to stay cheerful by daydreaming about future adventures together.  I love you, Trish!

"Road Trip"

Well, I've moved - again!  This past week my cousin and I rented a car, left Worcester, and drove back to my homeland, where I'll be living for the spring and summer.  Unfortunately it couldn't have the classic road trip vibe, as we just needed to reach our destination as quickly as possible.  We went straight from Worcester to Chicago in one day, whew.  Here's a tip for long drives:  it turns out that they don't feel that bad if you leave practically in the middle of the night.  My alarm went off at 3:20 and we were on the road by 4 am, ha.  We made really good time to Chicago and were able to go for a long walk around the city to admire the buildings and parks (Trish has never been there) before dinner, beers, and much needed sleep.  We also made a quick stop in Madison on the second day for caffeine.  I wanted her to experience Bradbury's, one of my favorite coffee and breakfast places, and it turns out they are giving away free espresso all through April.  Really good, you should probably stop by if you're in the area.  She's staying for a short visit in the midwest, so I'm showing her some of my favorite places in La Crosse, unpacking, and starting to look for a job.  Wisconsin continues to be one of the best states ever, and I'm looking forward to enjoying this time here.  Hopefully some exploring will reveal new sides of my hometown :)  


ps:  The picture of us at the bottom is, of course, at the Chicago bean.