Fall:

Wool, corduroy, browns and tweed.

It’s my favorite season of all.

As of late

I’ve been having the greatest time catching up and hanging out with family, old friends, meeting new friends, eating and drinking plenty.

Favorite things

One of my favorite things to do lately (to avoid writing papers and other school responsibilies) has been to pop by the local drug store and load up on girly fashion magazines.

When I entered college, I made a vow to stop reading them because I didn’t want to waste my time reading fluff. But now, I love them. Sure, they’re still pretty cheesy at times, but I love the covers, all of the photographs, the layouts, the photoshoots and the wacky clothes the models sometimes wear, I like reading the health and skincare tips, the celebrity interviews, the Dos and Don’ts, among other things. I think a lot of this stems from my absolute love of magazines.

At the moment I currently have about a dozen or more magazines (girly and cerebral) scattered about my room. I can’t get enough.

Buying on the cheap

Recently, one of my favorite things to do has been to peruse the weekly grocery ads and make note of wicked deals. For example, today I bought a family-size box of Honey Nut Cheerios for $2.99 and a loaf of wheat bread for $1.89. Yippee!

I’m actually kind of enjoying having less disposible income since working fewer days because it’s enabled me to be more resourceful in my buying habits and it’s developed into a sort of game—like, “Hmm…let’s see how much less I can pay for this…” I’ve also had an easier time forgoing little luxury goods here and there because I’ve resolved that I can do without them. And of course I take advantage of student discounts where ever they are available (the downtown area is a cornucopia of student-friendly establishments). The best deal I’ve found so far has been the 40% off (plus an additional 10% with my frequent buyer card) I get at this frozen yogurt shop when I flash my student ID.

I have this new sense of greater simplicity in my life and I feel a lot more wise and in control of my spending, and I like that.

Penny pinching

This morning I found that it only takes me 20 minutes to walk to my work from school, so I’ll definitely be choosing this as my mode of travel when I need to go to class as I’ve lost my lightrail pass and I don’t want to continually pay the fare. I am going into super-frugal-savings mode.

Fabulous bookstore

Shakespeare and Company is an independent bookstore located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris’s Left Bank. It serves as a bookstore and also a lending library, specializing in English-language literature.

The upstairs also serves as a makeshift dormitory for travelers, known as “tumbleweeds,” who earn their keep by working in the shop for a couple of hours each day.

This is also the bookstore in the opening of Before Sunset.

It actually reminds me of a bookstore in San Francisco (whose name escapes me at the moment) between North Beach and Chinatown. I easily spend hours getting lost in the sea of books at these type of bookstores. They don’t have that same sort of antiseptic feel of, say, B&N or Borders—they’re cramped, dirty and chaotic. Pretty spectacular, don’t you think?

Mail-love

I wasn’t expecting to get Beach House’s new 7” in the mail so soon as the release date is October 21st, so I was pleasantly surprised to open my mailbox on Saturday and find this. Naturally, it’s been playing non-stop.

Fun, good things from the past few weekends

The end-of-the-week dinners with my cousin, Christy, that I always look forward to. And whatever shenanigans that eventually take place—you just never know.

Dragging my best friend Michelle out to temporarily cure her boy-woes with frozen yogurt and margaritas (which were a tad too strong, but maybe that was the point?)

Random drunk people at clubs who say weird things such as, “Girl, you phwazy!” (rhymes with ‘crazy’).

Bargin book sales at $5 a paperbag. Reliving one’s childhood by reading books you once loved. And having someone who shares the same joy.

I enjoyed some solitary time framing and hanging up artwork in my room, baking with pumpkins, installing yet another shelf, reading, watching movies and listening to new records.

Spending time with my mother and older sister’s friends and clients—all older woman—having a surprisingly great time, and being reminded of the value and absolute joy of female company and friendships, and that they should be cherished.

Indulging my five senses

Mini, bite-sized vanilla cupcakes.

Milan Kundera - The Unbearable Lightness of Being (beautiful)
Lillian Ross - Portrait of Hemingway
Nancy Milford - Savage Beauty: The Life of Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay - Fatal Interview: Sonnets

A fine, purple, wool dress.

Beach House on vinyl. It’s a sickness, I know.

Chloé by Chloé. Has a sweet, lychee-esque smell to it.

Reunions

I met up with some old high school folk last night, many of whom I had not seen in almost five years. It’s always great to see how everyone’s doing—people are either working or going back to school, and all are going on being their brilliant selves. And while much has changed in their lives (clothes, location, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc.) fundamentally they’re still the same people I enjoyed being around.

As much as I love reconnecting with people, I’m always a little wary of these reunions. Conversations inevitably lead to reminiscing about past people and events. Those were some of the happiest times in my life, to be sure, but I don’t like to dwell too much in nostalgia because it conjures up regrets for me. Also, talking too much about the past makes me feel as though I’m still stuck there, as though I haven’t fully moved on, yet (and I am constantly striving to ‘move on’). But I’ve realized that moving on from something shouldn’t automatically render it loathsome or irrelevant.

It’s only a minor aversion (a neurosis I just need work out on my own), though, one that is greatly outweighed by the stories and laughs exchanged between people whose company I enjoy. That, and delicious tofu.

Happenings from the weekend

On Friday, I ate a delicious veggie risotto and chocolate fondue after having ‘the talk’ with O. It’s always difficult and awkward, no matter how long you’ve been involved (in this case, just three dates), but these things are always best done in person, I think. And having been treated inconsiderately in the past has made me more adamant about how I don’t want to treat people.

Michelle dragged me out to the gym for the first time in a very, very long time.

Watched Jumper with sister and friends. It was awful! But unintentionally funny. Watched Persepolis a second time and I’m on my way to purchase a copy for myself. The animation is amazing, I really like that style of drawing.

My sister, friend and I headed to San Francisco on Saturday to attend the Renegade Craft Fair being held at Fort Mason. We saw so many great artists who were showcasing their amazing work. Elizabeth Soule, with her The Little Zoo series, was one of my favorites.

There was a lot of inspiring work at the fair. And once again, being in SF reinforced our desire to eventually move there. That city is so full of nonsense.

Festivals galore! We went to the Obon Festival in Japantown. It was a first for all of us. The best part was the food: tempura, chicken salad (teriyaki and sushi were sold out), root beer floats with strawberry shortcake to finish.

I’m hoping to head up to SF again this weekend to check out Julia Rothman’s (as well as Keegan’s, though I’m unfamiliar with most of her work) new work at Rare Device gallery. We’ll see!

Break time

There are so many things that I am looking forward to doing, by myself. I can’t wait to ride my bike more often, learn how to maintain and repair it, play my piano, rearrange my room a bit, hang out with Apricot and watch movies on my laptop and bake some cinnamon rolls, lemon madeleines and mac and cheese.

Boys, since the beginning of the year, have been too much of a distraction, not to mention a downer. I’m slightly sad, but, really, I’m jazzed to be by myself for a while.

This and that, and then this

I like having a boy to make plans with.

Weekend of fun

I ran Bay to Breakers with my two best friends from high school on Sunday in San Francisco. We dodged the naked people, laughed at the funny and clever costumes, resisted the free doughnuts during the run and ate gyros when it was all over. Next up: Muddy Buddy.

Eating frozen yogurt, taking naps, getting coffee, eating burritos, watching really bad movies, reading books, eating mac & cheese with noodles in the shape of Spiderman, watching cartoons on Adult Swim, playing wii mario kart, eating thai food, swinging in a hammock, taking bike rides around the block with b.