"Don't Be Flip"

Last weekend was my first in Lexington, and I had been feeling very scattered and unsettled, when all of a sudden one of my best friends came for a quick, unplanned visit.  Nic (no photos of him from the weekend, but here he is scoping out some Parisian pants) is a very comforting presence, and in one weekend furniture was picked out, my apartment largely set up, and the city became a much more familiar place.  It seems to be full of colorful buildings and people.  When we stopped in at a secondhand furniture store, we purchased items from a woman who talked our ears off, and said things like, "I live down on 7th Street, on the nice end.  I mean, I thought I lived on the nice end, but I can't even get a pizza delivered to my house!"  And those first few photos are a wall of a coffeeshop that has potential for placement on the favorite-city-stops list.  We also went to an awesome restaurant called The Village Idiot, and ate things like "Devils on Horseback", which are dates stuffed with goat cheese and orange marmalade, wrapped in bacon, and drizzled with honey.  Good God!  

Nic and I share a common favorite poet, Todd Boss, who wrote, "Don't Be Flip when you drop your mate at the dock."   I really like that.  So, no coolness, no coyness, just many, many sincere thanks to my friend, who swooped in and made me feel relaxed about a major to-do list, and excited about moving to a new city!

A "Hooray!" Day

There are a couple things that call for an extra-satisfying, celebratory breakfast today (Mom's homemade quiche and toast with goat cheese and jam, yum).  The first is that this beautiful woman had her birthday yesterday!  We did the best we could with texts, phone calls, and online chats, and we will celebrate together in person next week when I go out to Massachusetts for a few days during my vacation, which includes her wedding shower, because yes!  there is a wedding happening in September!  So, another birthday wish and xoxo to Trish this morning, and sips from the twin mug made in her honor :) The other thing is that I finally found a place to live in Lexington, where I'm starting grad school in just a few weeks, and I think I'm going to love it.  It's a garage converted into an apartment, encompasses two floors, and was built by a Swedish psychology professor.  It's all wood paneling, and as far as I can tell, will feel like living in a log cabin.  There is also a little pool in the backyard.  Woohoo!  Looking for an apartment is always stressful, and it's such a relief when something is settled.  I move and start and school in 3 weeks, eek.  Feeling nervous and excited.


ps:  By the way, do you ever get tired of looking at tiny apartments when you're trying to find a new place?  I scrolled through a million crappy craigslist ads and almost didn't even respond to the one I ended up taking because it didn't give much information.  The whole process made me keep thinking of this Tom Robbins quote:  "Priscilla lived in a studio apartment.  It was called a 'studio' apartment because art is supposed to be glamorous and landlords have a vested interest in making us believe that artists prefer to sleep in their workrooms.  Real artists almost never live in studio apartments.  There isn't enough space, and the light is all wrong.  Clerks live in studio apartments.  File clerks, shop clerks, law clerks, community college students, elderly widows, and unmarried waitresses."  Ha!  And graduate students.  

I really wish...

...that all the people I loved in the world could live wherever I was living!  I moved around so much these past couple of years, and gradually it became more and more difficult for me to say goodbye whenever I had to leave anyone.  Living in different places is exciting, but it's also tiring to start over so many times, so now I'm happy to say that I'm moving to Lexington, KY to start a graduate program, and I will stay in the same city for two whole years.


These pictures are views from the balconies of my different homes in all my major moves - Costa Rica, Jerusalem, Worcester.  I was always surrounded by so much beautiful scenery; I love thinking back on it all.  And then, a shot of the cello, who is always willing to follow me around, no matter where I go :)  I wonder how we will get on together in Kentucky?

Welcome to Woo-stah

After a summer of anticipation, I made the move to Worcester this past weekend, and am now living on the top floor of this beautiful house with my cousin!  Just some pictures of the outside right now; it's a huge house in really good condition, and includes a little, outdoor back porch and an awesome garden and patio area that we share with our neighbors (whom we like, so it's a good share).  The inside is just as great as the outside - we're getting all set up and organized, so pics will be posted along the way.  Yup, good ol' 15 Home Street; stop by and visit any time :)

Small Things

After wandering around constantly for the past year, I'm really excited to be moving into an apartment this fall where I can bring all my more permanent home-y possessions:  kitchen supplies, bedding, some furniture, etc.  I picked up these coasters the other day at a little shop in Beacon, NY, which sells homemade, crafty goods.  From this really great business, they're made of felt, and when you lay them all next to each other, they show a complete picture of a tandem bike.  The small, useful things around the house that make you smile are the most satisfying :)