Cottage Bound

[not an accurate representation of my weekend destination]

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

image source

Lately

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The Usual

I ordered a spinach salad with chicken today for lunch. The guy at the counter looked at me and smiled.

GUY: Didn't we do this earlier this week?

ME: Yep. I guess I'm pretty predictable.

GUY: But you were wearing something different.

Apparently take-out guys notice these things. I hope he liked Monday's dress. 'Cause today was a jeans day.

And while some gals would be unnerved by such observation (and subsequently persuaded to cut back on spinach salads), I'm considering this an opportunity to finally be a "regular" somewhere. Because my new work neighborhood is full of strangers. I miss the convenience-store man who used to ask my coworkers about me when I failed to visit his little haven of junk food and carbonated beverages.

It's fun to be known.

Little Joys

(via RedVelvetArt.com)

Two Truths, No Lie

(via most beautiful darling)

YouTube Tuesday: Motion City Soundtrack

This has been the summer of live-music bingeing and iPod dependency. For the past few weeks, Motion City Soundtrack has been slowly making its way into the "I heart" category.

Their MySpace bio won me over. I officially heart them.

Motion City Soundtrack, the most influential rock band in the history of the world, has been destroying the hopes and dreams of small children everywhere since 1997. This quintet of ex-Sears catalog hand models reside for the most part in Minneapolis, Minnesota; where it is always a pleasant 78 degrees and sunny. Errol Bumpstead, an 8 year old student at Wildwood Elementary school in Mahtomedi describes Motion City Soundtrack as, pretty good if you like that stuff. Justin Pierre, Josh Cain, Matt Taylor, Tony Thaxton, and Jesse Johnson comprise this feat of musical excellence. You, the reader of this brilliant paragraph of writing, formulated by a state college-paid education, can find out more about this academy award winning band as well as astrophysics and the whig party by visiting their website: www.motioncitysoundtrack.com. Enjoy yourself. - Nixon Fappleby

Charmed

(via Her Name Was Lola)

Song of the Day: Use Somebody

I don't know why I avoided the Kings of Leon bandwagon for so long. There was no real reason for holding out.

This song. I love it. So much.

Rock Star

image source: TADA's Revolution

Soggy Sunday

Boot Umbrella Stand

Song stuck in my head: Raining on Sunday. For a very obvious reason.

Today's adventure with preschoolers involved kazoos. I convinced them we were spies. And then we snuck up on the bad guys and terrified them with our awkward buzz-happy blasts. Very Gideon of us, no?

Quotes of the day:

BOY 1: This is my magical orange. It keeps saying, "Not a chance."

BOY 2: I like bread in my milkshake.

BOY 3: I don't want a cookie. I brushed my teeth really well this morning.

History, Fashion, Geography & Chuck

Rock On [ROM Edition]

I went to the ROM today with my parents to check out the Dead Sea Scrolls. If you like reading and learning and trying to wrap your head around history, I highly recommend it. I am perpetually humbled by how little I know about...everything.

Most surprising, though, was that my favorite exhibit ended up being the geology one. Maybe I'm becoming my dad. There's something about brightly colored rocks that inspires me. And I should probably start investing in gemstones. (For those not in the know, my dad was a geologist once upon a time. He still has the rock cabinet to prove it.)

Earlier in the day, as I was waiting for my parents outside the museum, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was one of my best friends from high school. With her husband. These random meetings happen a lot to me. I once ran into old youth-group friends on a street corner at 3 a.m. And I'm NEVER on a street corner at 3 a.m.

The Sartorialist Lite

As a follow up to this post, I'd like to reassure you all that I did survive my evening with Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist). I wore a dress. He did not scoff at me. Major win.

If I were to have a "What I Wore" style blog, it would be Poladroid-style. Because it redeems the non-amazing lighting situation in my living room. And gives me the hipster edge I need.

New Zealand...Rocks

I think I want one of these posters. Because I love Murray. I also love New Zealand. Probably. Note to self: Visit New Zealand and confirm this suspicion.

Nerd Herd Forever

And I'm excited for Chuck's third season. Behold the poster of awesomeness.

Almost Sisters

Canada Day at the farm.

Photo by Byron, another awesome cousin.

I went out for dinner this evening with my lovely cousin Grace. Conversation was effortless and real, the kind I'd imagine one has with a sister. Except that we don't fight over clothes or curfews. We were so wrapped up in conversation that, even seated beside a window, we didn't notice the sky grow dark. Or the turnover of diners around us. Suddenly it was 10:00.*

Sometimes you just need a heart-to-heart with your almost-sister. Tonight was one of those nights.

*We probably should have tipped better, considering we hogged a table for four hours. Or at least ordered dessert.

Nirvana vs. Rick Astley

This takes Rickrolling to entirely new level.

Three Cool Things

1. I'm going to meet the Sartorialist tomorrow. Yes, THE Sartorialist. The one who took this picture. Talk about fashion-brilliance pressure. Eek!
2. Sarah and Dave make me happy. Congrats, guys!
3. This movie has the potential to rock my nostalgic little world:

That is all. Carry on.

How Nadine Will Die

My impending death in one image:

Remember when I used to run? Yeah, I barely do. Since a total upheaval in my work life, I haven't had any sort of consistent exercise. At all. And my eating habits have fallen by the wayside. So I thought to myself, "Self, it's time to get your butt in gear." I recruited Jillian Michaels. And for 20 minutes this evening, I fantasized about being dead. Because she's killin' me, folks.

Oh. My. Word.

(No, I'm not trying to lose 20 pounds. So don't get all "losing weight is one thing, losing perspective is another" on me. I just want to not die of disuse atrophy.)

I'm typing this merely to hold myself accountable to taking care of myself. So I'll be jogging, "shredding," consuming massive quantities of veggies and pursuing a little more sleep in the coming weeks. You have permission to yank me away from the computer* and take the chocolate out of my hands. And are more than welcome to go for a nice long walk with me.

How long? This long.

*Unless I'm in the middle of typing the world's greatest sentence. Give me a minute to finish being brilliant, then pull me away.

You've Got Mail

A few evenings ago, as I was typing away (a habit of mine), I noticed that a new message was awaiting me in Gmail. And then another. So exciting.

Unfortunately, when I ventured over to my email account, the anticipation of a friendly hello or witty commentary came to a pathetic halt. My inbox was merely filling up with emails I had CCed myself on, sent from another account.

I email myself. So sad. So very sad. And then I forget about it. Also sad.

But the CCing was me being efficient and productive and professional. It's a lose-lose-win.

My memoirs are going to be fascinating. [Insert momentary sarcasm.]

Today: Dr. Draw

It's that time of year again: Beaches International Jazz Festival, anyone?

I'll be there. Today. Listening to this guy. Because he's amazing. And I like amazing people.

Lang vs. Keaggy

I love this for 3546.45 reasons. Here are of 3 of those reasons:

1. Jonny Lang + guitar = the way things are supposed to be
2. Phil Keaggy + guitar = legendary
3. "When Love Comes to Town" = U2 at their finest

I should crash GMA Music Week sometime. 

P.S. Some Johnny Lang guitar solos for you. I'm a bluesy mood this afternoon.

I Like Indie Flicks

And their soundtracks.

"At one point they put all the songs on top of each other... I didn't like it. At all."

~Bart Fogelaby, Rolling Stone

My Mother's Red Hat w/Alicia Silverstone & Alanis Morissette from Alicia Silverstone

Remember Gerbert?

I do.

That's all. Carry on.