The Dream Digger

Don't you love me, don't you want to look at me?
Oh, how handsome you are, damn you!
And I can no longer fly,
I who was winged from childhood.
A mist clouds my eyes,
Things and faces merge and flow,
And there is only the red tulip,
The tulip in your buttonhole.


~Anna Akhmatova

A Few of my Favorite Things

This is a really fun post for me to write.  Some of my favorite people in the world are appearing in commercials right now.  So, I thought I'd share them with you (and, I actually started my blog as a repository for all things I love, so this is as much for mw as it is for you).


First up is my friend, Laura-- or Larry, as I affectionately call her.  Laura was my roommate and BFF in NY.  She and I got into no end of trouble together and I miss her dearly (time and distance have worked their magic so that we don't talk so much anymore, but she still owns a piece of my heart)(She's the dark-haired beauty with blue eyes):



Next up is my other BFF, Corrie, who is currently in a McDonald's commercial (she's the workaholic in glasses).  Corrie is my saving grace, and if you read this blog with any frequency at all, you know her: 



AND, here's Corrie again, with another one of my favorite gals, Morgan.  Morgan and I went to college together, studied in Paris together, and shared wonderful times together in NY.  She's one of the best people I know.  Morgan is now a stylist in NY (she's super talented), and I'm happy to see things coming together for her.  I introduced her to my friend, Corrie, and now they're in a commercial together.  Also in the commercial are Morgan's boyfriend and sister.  Super cool!



Finally, here's my friend, Heather, in a Samsung commercial.  Heather and I studied together in college (Apparel Design 2002! and we studied in Paris together).  She's amazingly talented (she designs clothing, but can act, too).  You can also catch her in the first ever episode of Madmen.  Hey-hey, I miss you, my love! (She's the teacher here):


Isn't it fun to have such amazingly beautiful and talented friends?  Gals, I love you and miss you so much!  I would love to be in the same city, soaking up each other's light. 

Song

Pain will cease, do not grieve, do not grieve--
Friends will return, the heart will rest, do not grieve, do not grieve--
The wound will be made whole, do not grieve, do not grieve--
Day will come forth, do not grieve, do not grieve--
The cloud will open, night will decline, do not grieve, do not grieve--
The seasons will change, do not grieve, do not grieve.

~Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Shine, Perishing Republic

While this America settles in the mould of its vulgarity, heavily thickening 
   to empire
And protest, only a bubble in the molten mass, pops and sighs out, and the
   mass hardens,
I sadly smiling remember that the flower fades to make fruit, the fruit rots 
   to make earth.
Out of the mother; and through the spring exultances, ripeness and deca-
   dence; and home to the mother.

You making haste haste on decay: not blameworthy; life is good, be it stub-
   bornly long or suddenly
A mortal splendor: meteors are not needed less than mountains: 
   shine, perishing republic.
But for my children, I would have them keep their distance from the thick-
   ening center; corruption
Never has been compulsory, when the cities lie at the monster's feet there 
   are left the mountains.
And boys, be in nothing so moderate as in love of man, a clever servant, 
   insufferable master.
There is the trap that catches noblest spirits, that caught--they say--
   God, when he walked on earth. 


~Robinson Jeffers, Shine, Perishing Republic, 1925

Newark Symphony Concert Next Weekend

Add it to your calendar!  The Newark Symphony is performing next weekend.  We've been working hard to get this music together.  The Debussy piece is gorgeous (La Mer is French for the Sea and the piece does just that-- it captures all of the undulations of the ocean), but my favorite piece is the Totentanz by Liszt.  I hope to see you there!

5 Things I'm Grateful For Friday

1. Upcoming trip!  I'm flying out tomorrow to Los Angelas where I get to see my two best friends, Matt and Corrie.  I get to meet my Godson for the first time!  I also get to meet up with Miss Sunday-- my Australian roommate from my stint in Dubai-- and whom I haven't seen since January 2008.  And, I get to see Sierra (that's Sierra at right in the Prada campaign from 2000) and her husband Gabe and their sweet boy.  Yay for old friends! I am so grateful that I have the time and money to get out to California to see all of the people.

2. More modeling work!  Yesterday I completed my training at QVC to model in their fashion lines.  Now I have my own security badge and it looks like work will be picking up for me there.  I've scaled back my hours doing ESL at the University, but don't plan to give it up completely as I find it so rewarding.  I am excited to be doing more in what I consider my career! 

3. New friends!  I've been getting super involved with the Ron Paul for President campaign here in Delaware.  The past few weekends have been spent canvassing neighborhoods collecting signatures to get Dr. Paul on the primary ballot here.  It's good to be passionate about something-- in my case, the cause of Liberty-- and I've already met some amazing people.  I find that I enjoy politics, and think the only way we can make a difference is to get involved.  Maybe I'll even run for office one day! (And we found out yesterday that he will indeed be on the ballot in April!)

4. Beautiful sunny days!  It seems silly, but I'm often thankful for the weather.  I walk to and from work each day (about four miles roundtrip) and am immensely blessed to be out in nature.  I love the sunset, and the birds flying overhead, and the crisp, cool air.  I see God in it all and I am blessed.  I do enjoy the cooler weather, but the few days of sun we've had lately have been wonderful.

5. My Health!  After two colds in January, a mammogram this month to check out some lumps, I'm happy to report that I'm healthy.  I'm also mentally healthy and in a good place these days.  I'm thankful that I have the energy to get to the gym, that I have two good legs which enable me to walk to work.  I'm thankful for my counselor that I see who helps me process and work through things.  I'm taking care of me and I love it.

In Honor of Valentine's Day

"All love is sweet, Given or returned.  Common as light is love, And its familiar voice wearies not ever... They who inspire it most are fortunate, As I am now; but those who feel it most Are happier still."
~Percy Bysshe Shelley

List by Eero Saarinen of Aline Bernstein’s good qualities ca. 1954. Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press, all rights reserved. (via Abbey Goes Design Scouting)

I love this list sent from Eero Saarinen to his future wife New York Times art editor, Aline Bernstein.

Super cute print from n2design.  Available for purchase on Etsy.

Isn't this print cute?  One day I'll find a fella to have adventures with:)  Meanwhile, I'll just have to stick with my dear, dear friends.

And in honor of St. Valentine's Day, here's a little collage of couples I love.  Clockwise from top left: Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Julia and Paul Child, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and Abigail and John Adams.


H A P P Y V A L E N T I N E'S D A Y!

The Limits of my Mind

"The limits of my language are the limits of my mind.  All I know is what I have words for."

~Ludwig Wittgenstein, Philosophical Investigations, 1953