G.H. Bass

G.H. Bass are the shoes of my elementary school/middle school years. I remember I had three pairs. All three of the above, but I rarely wore the black and white ones -- I had them for a couple shows I was in. The penny loafers I wore ALL the time. Mine were a really dark brown though.

And now I think I'm buying a pair. I love that they are coming back into style.

Oh, New York...

I spent a great 5 days in the city - exploring on my own, catching up with great friends, and taking in all the city has to offer. Loved it.

I found this beautiful little fountain as I walked west towards the MOMA at about 50th and 6th?

I found this artist and her special exhibit at the MOMA to be odd... She just sits in one of the foyers in the MOMA and asks patrons/guests to come sit with her - to experience what it is to be art??? You can read about her below...

I stopped in the MOMA store on my way out and she had a book available of her art. She basically goes around the world and poses nude in different scenarios under the pretense of how comfortable she is with her body to exhibit it. I guess NYC was taken to be too conservative (in comparison to her European exhibits) for her nude art.

Monet's water lilies was also a special exhibit at the MOMA. I had been to a lecture a couple nights prior at the Met by a former professor of my friend's. He presented his vast knowledge of Monet's gardens at Giverny and how he nurtured them for his paintings.

In Monet's later years his paintings became more and more abstract. This painting below is his famous Japanese bridge, but of course it differs greatly from the one familiar to us.

There was also a Tim Burton exhibit, which was interesting. And packed full of people.

Barnum and Bailey Circus was coming into town on Monday at midnight. They bring everything in gradually, I'm sure, but I guess in the last couple years they've kind of made a parade out of bringing in the elephants. It would have been really fun had it not been raining. I also was expecting more elephants. But what other time are you going to see elephants walking across 34th street? Turns out my friend Lauren was just a block away from where I was at 34th and Park waiting with her kids, but we didn't even know.

Lauren and I met up and headed for some lunch in Soho at the Spotted Pig. Delicious salad. Delicious burger.

On Wednesday I headed to Brooklyn to see my good friend Nicole. It was great to catch up and to see her new baby girl. Brooklyn is wonderful. We went to Prospect park and played with the kids. This beautiful building is at the edge of the park...it belongs to a historical society -- the name I do not remember.

I love Le Pain Quotidien. Simple. Delicious pear, apple turnover.

It's good to be back in VA though. I just don't know about work tomorrow.

I realize my blog isn't all that exciting, but at least you aren't getting lists, right?

My friend yesterday was making fun of me for my list making. I guess I've exposed it to her through this blog. I told her to stop though, because I'm not a frequent list maker. She agreed with this, but then told me when I did I was very thorough. Yes, yes. This is true. So I'm sorry for having exposed my lists; however, it's been a long time since I've made you read one. This one friend told me she's made a list of everything that's wrong with her and everything that's right about her. My response?

me: omg.

what does that even mean?

10:54 PM how can you say what's wrong with you?

the wrong things might actually be what allows the right things to exist.

Excited to go to Eastern Europe in June. Excited to start training for a sprint triathalon. Excited for my sister to have the baby.
Pictures of this adorable (I'm sure) baby are forthcoming!!!

My friend, Kate

Kate is my almost relative who let me stay with her in NYC while I was there last winter trying to make connections and find a job. NYC didn't work out, but I'm so glad Kate and I have become close friends.

She wrote an article for an online women's magazine called Hopscotch. Read it and see just how great she is.

Her concluding thought: "Germany ceased to be a distant, exotic place. I began to love and regard it as the familiar home of some of my own family, and as an essential piece of my history and identity."

Someone reminded me I had a blog...

So excited for spring break and to be in this park next week, and, hopefully, it won't be raining.

To finish reading this book:

To read this book:
And this one:

Do you have any other reading suggestions? I'm reading a book a month this year.

Kate and I are also going to ski at Hunter Mountain.

Broccoli or a banana?

I love food. As most people do, I realize.

I was once explaining to someone how I think about my daily food intake, and she acted like it was a new idea.

The food pyramid, people, has been around forever. I eat whatever I want to, because my body has become accustomed to a balanced diet. It craves the balance, and I feel sick if I don't provide it.

When I am hungry and thinking about what to put into my body, I think, "Have I had fruit today? How many? What does it make sense to eat right now?" If I haven't eaten anything green yet, I better eat something green.

And that's how it goes.

There is no need to diet whatsoever. All it takes is some time to make sure your fridge is stocked with fruit, veggies, dairy, whole grains. Of course, you can have a dessert. You need to have some fat in your diet. I fully believe ice cream can be counted as a dairy. Add some fresh fruit to it, and it'll be even healthier. Don't eat unsubstantial, high calorie potato chips, but rather those amazing root chips - the Terra ones that have sweet potato, red potato, and etc., etc. Yes, they will have some fat. That's okay! I also love the Food Should Taste Good brand of chips - the multi-grain chips are so good.

Also, there's a time and a place for fat-free/low-calorie items. FREQUENTLY, these items will just make you eat more because they DO not satisfy you. Examples...ice cream normally falls into this category, chips, and sour cream is just gross fat-free. Occasionally, I'll do lite cheese, but cheese is definitely good for you. It drives me crazy when people eliminate it from their diet.

Do NOTS: white bread (donuts, muffins, bagels), white tortillas, white rice (though I don't always follow this), and I'd also stay away from white sauces (but the big ones are listed first).

And REMEMBER: There is NOTHING wrong with a hamburger every now and then! (A good quality one...we aren't talking McDonald's here).

As an aside: Olive oil is good for you! You need to be cooking with olive oil!

Work Force

These people are part of the working force. First of all, why do we call it a "work force?" It's obviously because we are forced to be a part of it.

Second of all, does anyone find it paradoxical that everybody is smiling in the above picture?

Work, my friends, is not fun. Now, of course, I believe work can be gratifying and especially if you are in a profession in which you feel you can positively contribute for the betterment of our world.

What I find difficult is finding balance between work and personal life.

Spencer is frequently saying to me, "I just don't understand why Hunter doesn't date." Hunter DOES date (I'm sure he likes that I'm discussing this on the world wide). What Spencer does not understand is the stress of being in a job (where you, of course, continuously have to work your very hardest while being evaluated and judged) and then trying to have enough energy to interact with people who will also be evaluating and judging you. While I believe, Hunter is handling this duo, many men cannot. Spencer never experienced this pressure from both the workplace and his personal life at the same time.

Happiness is...

the following...

MY NEW JOB!!! I'll be a 1st and 2nd grade reading aid at this amazing school. I'm SO happy. Love the beautiful campus, and the friendly and smart faculty. The head of school is really amazing and I've enjoyed meeting with everybody so far at the school. I start Monday!

I was just leaving my friend Lauren's new house on the upper-east side of town in NYC on Friday when I checked my voicemail. I was expecting a call back from Langley because I'd interviewed with them several weeks prior, but I knew it was taking some time to get in touch with all my references. However, the position that I interviewed for was just an afterschool counselor position (it was all they had available). So, I call the director of academics back immediately and she tells me there's been some personnel changes (someone moved) and she offers me the position (as described above) right away. I accept the position right away. I can't even tell you what a weight was immediately lifted off my shoulders. I was elated all weekend. I LOVE this school.

And it may just be that my boyfriend in the 6th grade is a science teacher in the lower school (it's K-8). He was my first kiss. He's married now though, so no awkwardness.

And continuing my list of happiness...

Crisp air that fall in VA brings. How I love fall.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Indian food. Specifically chicken tikka masala and specifically restaurants in Murray Hill (NYC lower eastside).

Clear skin. I've discovered Philosophy's Purity. I really think it's got to be what's turned my skin around.

When pants feel lose. This hasn't happened in awhile. It's okay. I'll get it back.

My nieces and nephew yelling my name and running to hug me when I arrive at their house.

Sweet potato chips. LOVE.

Panera's Tomato Basil Soup

Trader Joe's Kettlecorn. It'll change your life. I love having it for movie night. And any other time.