Desert Utopia

Dreaming about this place that exists somewhere in my future:


via Dwell

LOST

I'm so excited...I'm so excited... I'm so... scared. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE ISLAND.



"Gotta love Des."

Conan

Accidentally weeping in my bed because of this:

"To all the people watching, I can never ever thank you enough for the kindness to me, I'll think about it for the rest of my life. All I ask is one thing, and this is.. I'm asking this particularily of young people that watch: Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism - for the record it's my least favorite quality, it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen."

Good night!

Serious Shit

via aziz ansari

Coolest Houses

1. From excavation by spoonfuls








2. via cup of jo

My Back

via the selby

I'm back. My computer is back. We are back.

Look out, giraffes.

A Love Letter

A week before the battle of Bull Run Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd
Rhode Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield.

July 14,1861
Camp Clark, Washington DC

Dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. And lest I should not be able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

If I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name...

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!...

But, 0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest night... always, always. And when the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again...

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run.

via ginny branch and via here

Holy Hell of Beauty

via Once Wed

Mini Post Mini Day

Taking an unlikely sick half-day in the midst of the most chaotic month in recent history.

Watching this, occasionally playing this. Waiting for this to come and also waiting to feel like this.

10 Things About Me

So, here's the deal. My computer crashed last Friday. Or something like that. The video output was faltering. Common speak: my computer crashed. It's been in the shop since Saturday morning thanks to my getting it there by sprint-ing in freezing cold weather with an inflexible pair of tights under my jeans, only to find out that they weren't going to look at it until Monday morning. Only to then find out on Thursday that it would have to be mailed in to Apple for a repair. Only to find out that I wouldn't have it back for an addition 5-7 business days. So, that's my excuse for not blogging. I'm lucky enough to have e-mail access on my phone, or else this post would consist of me raging through the keyboard. What little time I have had on a computer has been spent doing really important things (like joining twitter.) And since my time is now limited, after having spent the last 3o minutes trying to figure this twitter thing out and calling my boyfriend for assistance, I have to be brief.

An update on all fronts:

1. I got a new job, kind of. I am assisting a working woman from her home on the UWS. The hours aren't secure yet, but I'm working on it. This is great news for many reasons. Cue sub-list:

a) because I have been looking for a job since mid-October

b) one of my resolutions was to start the new year with a new job

c) I am dead-broke, haven't even been able to properly buy groceries in nearly 3 weeks. Ate cereal for dinner several evenings in a row

d) I have estimated that I need to come up with $1500 to set aside throughout the course of the year to enable my yearning to embark on three trips: mid-winter Caribbean, Morocco (and maybe Israel!), and Burning Man.

2. I have been doing pretty, pretty, pretty well with some of my other resolutions (daily vitamins, exercising 4x/week)

3. I am taking 2 evening classes a week through Monday (and then one permanently). This makes me very busy and very tired.

4. I wrote and performed a monologue in one of these classes. And people laughed, so I think it was funny.

5. The other class makes me nervous as all hell.

6. Meryl & I have been writing together 2-3 times a week, doing our best to bring the world our first play. It's been very fun so far and we laugh a lot.

7. I am putting in extensive work on the cafe/boutique my family is opening in L.A. I am managing the design front (in-store and web), assisting plan the menu, and researching the merchandise for the boutique.

8. I took my fat cat to the vet. Finally. She weighs 18 lbs. and I can hear her snoring loudly from across the apartment as I type.

9. My boyfriend gifted me a beautiful guitar for the holidays. I am eager to start learning all of the Paul Simon songs in the world.

10. I have a gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma that I am keeping for myself as a little treat.

I am so looking forward to this weekend. I cannot wait to sleep in tomorrow and maybe cook myself a real meal. I will not have a computer in my possession at all times, so please excuse me if my presence over the next week or so will be slight. The absence of a computer is nice, I have to say. I watched a movie one night and read magazines in my bed another night. This week, I'm hoping to maybe finally get my hands on Celine and Julie Go Boating--a 1970s Jacques Rivette film I've been eager to see. Viva Vena Cava recently posted some photos from the film and re-inspired me to sit down and watch it. So, high hopes for the week to come. Maybe I'll even learn to play a little diddy.

Mid-Week Inspiration

photo via flickr

Whirlwind week! Sorry I've been away. Went from thinking I'd have nothing to keep busy week to running between auditions and appointments and classes. Speaking of which, I went to the most awe-inspiring exciting acting class this evening. Thrilled that I was able to participate! Felt as though I were coming upon a secret collective! I promise to be back this weekend.

Sneak Peak Keep

Here's a sneak peak into the Keep shoot I was just talking about...

Fatty 'Cue

Fatty 'Cue, a new Asian-BBQ spot that's been set to open for months now, is one block away from my apartment, making it the closest place for me to eat outside my kitchen. I'm hungry just looking at this video.

Fatty 'Cue: Smoking Fat Heritage Breeds & Malaysian Flavors on the Barbie from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.

It ain't gonna be easy passing this place on the way to the gym.

Colder Every Day

photo via flickr

Today I woke up super early to work my first freelance job of the new year. I had to be out of the house by 8am and the weather was so to make wear a pair of tights, leggings, socks, boots, two long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, coat, scarf, and wool hood. After the job, I braved through the snow on the Upper East Side intending to visit the Guggenheim Museum for the Anish Kapoor exhibit. However, I wasn't courageous enough to wait in the queue which circled the block, so I instead picked up some knives I had been wanting, some quirky groceries from Dean & Deluca, and eyed a pair of wallets I am wishing for. Now I'm cold and sleepy, resting on the couch after thoroughly cleaning my kitchen and dreaming of a day when I can play this song on my new guitar.

Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart

Not crazy about this video, but the song is my new jam.

On To The Next Year

Jay-Z - On To The Next One

Baby Elephants

Happy New Year!
May 2010 be ripe with curiosities and adventures! May it be full of love!

via mackenzie