Diamondz ™

Since our market is tanking, I think we should start investing in diamondz. In these diamondz. Diamondz.

I know, I know, commodities, blah, Sierra Leone, etc, but just suspend those harsh (very true, I know) realities and think: do you want a stock that tanks, or a vehicle to pass on sparkles and prejudices to the younger generation?

(I'm a bit cracked now, just taking a break from My Moments of Being.)

Helvetica ~ Switzerland

This movie really got me going. Type, designers talking about type, history of the font along with its predecessors, driving score: very nice. Also, a bunch of contemporary design studios that I may order prints from for the new place. The only bad thing is that now I can't find Helvetica to use anywhere! Maybe I just have low-rent version of Word, but can't get it there, in MS Paint, even to post on this blog. And I was so excited about it too - why should American Apparel ads have all the fun when they so nasty?

What's Down?

So I was doing the waitressing thing last night and had a party of two come in around 7:30, without reservations. They were waiting for two more friends, seemed fairly commonplace, ordered some Coconut Curry Vegetable soup, etc. Once their friends got there, I went to the table with more menus, ice waters, and I think I said, "what's up". One of the newbies laughed towards the table at large and said, "what's down rather?!" He kept on laughing kind of maniacally after that and made some other "what's up" jokes. They then proceeded to order a bottle of Yalumba Y Series (a very nice wine from our "bottle list"). When I came to the table with it, they told me to forget about the whole pour-a-little, tasting-ritual-nicety and slog each of them a full glass. They ordered another bottle after that, but the atmosphere of the group seemed to lag a bit near the end. I noticed the other newbie guy staring off, away from the table, and they all tore into their food like people who are trying to forget other matters. That said, they made for great tippers.

Until I was laying in bed last night, I didn't realize the significance of the fact that they were talking about stocks and portfolios too. Looks like yesterdays 777.68-point drop in the stock market had gotten to 'em. Only 6.98% of the total though (not a record-breaker itself.)

So I Found My "First" on Facebook...

...and now I'm conflicted between wanting to contact him vs. wanting to preserve this wax-seal of restraint that has built up over six some-odd years of not communicating (after unanswering a barrage of 16 final calls in a row, from him.) Hmmm. There wouldn't be a quizzical wrinkle running down the middle of my forehead right now if Facebook didn't exist, but I guess the issue itself a product of the time and there's no use being nostalgic for an era that I'm not a part of. Hmmm encore.

There's many other places I could go with this (the cheap, petty irony of "Friending" people that you otherwise wouldn't be "friends" with, how the stomach reflects the state of the mind, the way a profile is just that - so harsh, but not now. Now I have to go sip a latte and read The Hours.)

Love,
A.

Mount Holyoke: Elevation. 940'

Happy Mountain Day! Now go climb that mountain or whatever!

This is the the kitchen and it's sooo delicious.

So the John and I are moving to the place attached to this kitchen, above and below, starting Nov. 1. I have been quelling little attacks of "I don't know about this" (the place being nicey-nice and making me feel fairly domestic and all) with the simple, solemn fact that we're renting it for nine simple months from a fresh, young couple that have decided to rent after not being able to sell the place for a while. I figure that nine months is long enough to survive winter/enjoy summer and to cull a little interior design habit whilst enjoying an aesthetically-pleasing livin' 'n workin' space. I also figure that it's short enough to not feel too tied down to [insert random anxiety-maker here.] In the end, the place is really lovely, full of character(s?), in mah current neighborhood, and has tomato plants outside along the walk. It feels as if things are boding bon.

Mrs. Mangonel Dalloway

This is odd.

Pretty-as-Pie Designs.

I liked everything I saw by Leanimal.

How Do You Say Ojibwe?

So the first session of volunteering went well yesterday. I spent a little over an hour with these two 4th graders, O** and A*****, during the classes regular "language arts" time right before their lunch period. I guess I must have learned like this too, but I couldn't believe that a class of roughly 15 (this is a downtown charter school with kids from all different counties) was learning by listening to a recording of some patronizing woman reading the book - it just seemed so sterile. That said, I guess I realize teachers would probably like the respite to grade papers or, I don't know, do whatever teachers do when they get a free moment at school (call their husbands? Check their email? Go to the bathroom?)

Anyways, both the kids seemed to benefit from the extra, close attention (we read a chapter out loud together and answered some comprehension and vocabulary questions.) God I know their type: smart, easily drop under the radar so they don't have to think too hard which they don't need to as they'll get good grades at a 4th grade level no matter what. Looking back on it, it's not surprising that there were a few semi-awkward moments of contention: A***** didn't like being reminded to not read ahead while someone else was reading out loud (I think he just processes words and doesn't quite get the meaning) and O** was kind of flabbergasted when I pointed out she was wrong by saying that Nokomis, the grandma in the story, wasn't weary as she had answered but wary of the bears in the forest. Funny stuff.

This is not by any stretch of the imagination a huge commitment for me, but still a nice little stimulating do-gooder activity that is, in fact, quite interesting. Also, an excuse to be downtown which I love, and to have something yum and probably unhealthy for lunch with real friends and the occasional ex-coworker that I feel kind of obligated to stay in touch with from my former job (like yesterday: spicy chilli at The Loon with Jane and Amanda.) Obligation Chili: like Hate Potatoes but not as hard to choke down.