Barcelona for the weekend! Me, Maria and sangria! =)
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January 2009
So, it's 2009 and I'm deciding again, to make this a year for ME. The original premise back in 2007 was to have a year of indulgence while living in Europe. Well, I'm still living in Europe and the idea of living independently and indulging in myself and my interests is still alive and kicking. This year, I've committed to taking much better care of myself.
I've hired a personal trainer.
I'm concentrating more disciplined time to my photography and to my writing.
I'm planning lots of travel with my best girl friends.
I'm committing to learning something totally new each week.
So far, I've been doing quite well on all four of these initiatives. I'm so so so sore from my Sunday workout. I've just completed my first photography book (waiting for it be sent to me in the mail to see if it's ready to publish). I'm off to Barcelona this weekend with Maria, and then Argentina next week for 10 days. And I am learning so much about the ads side of the business at work because I've transitioned into a new role.
With so much going on, I find myself completely exhausted by 10pm each night. It feels like I've lived to my capacity each day. It feels great. Whereas last year, I made it a goal to be out, running around in London almost every single night (lots of restaurants, bars, alcohol), this year is turning out to be much more mellow. We cook dinner in. We go for walks in the neighbourhood. We enjoy grocery shopping down the street. It's a very content and happy life, with random bits of crazy travel sprinkled on top!
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Cyn and I have decided on a mellow Friday night in. Dinner and groceries at Whole Foods. Now we’re sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking red wine, in our PJ’s, listening to Vanessa Mae and doing email. =) We have blueberries and toast, the lights are on, the candles a flicker and everything is just perfect perfect perfect. I am inspired and lifted. This weekend is for projects – photography, writing, reading, goal setting. I want to be doing something more, something bigger and this weekend, I’m going to plan. I’m going to plan my next move, my next destination, the next great adventure.
But first, living in the moment on this chilly Friday night in London.
Things to do to make you happy on a Friday evening:
- spend it with your best girl friend
- say no to parties and movies and other plans
- listen to violin music
- open a bottle of very good red wine just because
- make a list of all the great books you want to read
- make a list of all the places you want to see
- burn a scented candle
- stay cozy and warm
- munch on blueberries
- do the dishes by hand – it is so relaxing
- don’t do work email
- dance
- be thankful —- you are healthy, free and so so blessed
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Yesterday, I cancelled all my afternoon meetings. C and I packed up early – 3pm – to head over to K’s ridiculous flat in Earl’s Court, where we watched Barrack’s swearing-in on a wide screen projector in his home theatre.
There is nothing more amazingly attractive than an intelligent, confident, poised, well-spoken, inspired man. Barrack was unbelievable. Just stunning. No one breathed for the 10 minutes of his speech. My mouth was hanging open the entire time and I couldn’t hold back tears. So eloquent. So genuine. So powerful. They say that it was probably the most watched event in the history of the world. Isn’t that incredible? Years from now, we will be asking each other “Where were you when Obama became president?”. I have goosebumps just talking about it. What an inspiring, moving moment. It really does make you believe.
His speech was brilliantly executed. So full of tension, first highlighting the world crisis of war and recession. Then reminding us of America’s perseverance through hard times. Then highlighting the patchwork strength that comes from each individual contributor to the nation’s good. The rhythm, the push and pull, the tension and release. Oratory genius. He made me want to be American! Just incredible!
I’ve heard his chief speech writer is 27 years old! HOW HOW HOW can I get a date with him!??!?!?
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If you haven't already seen this film, go see it. It is gorgeous – visually stunning, fantastic music and really pulls at your heart strings. It gives an amazing view of life in India. Many aspects of it reminded me of life in the Philippines. It's the kind of movie that makes you want to stand outside in the pouring rain with your arms wide open. I'm not really sure why. It just is.
After A and I saw it, it rained cats and dogs in London. I have never seen it pour so hard in this city. My umbrella broke and we walked home totally soaked. Just beautiful.
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There are times, especially during periods of change, chasms of shift, when I need to delve into myself for a few days. When all I desire on a Friday night, is nothing more than solitude. It's cathartic. A cleansing of sorts – a time to reflect, to sort through the jumble of thoughts, emotions and to-do lists constantly floating around in my head. Solitude is healing, a time when I feel most at peace, at bliss, content.
I like beautiful music and beautiful prose. Jim Brickman – the pianist. Vanessa Mae – the violinist. Anne Michaels – the poet/novelist.
Anne Michaels.
She unstitches me. Fugitive Pieces, a book I first read in high school, still leaves me breathless, lifted, changed. I've read it a dozen times now, sometimes reading and re-reading a page over and over again, to hear the alliteration in my head, to sift through the layers of symbolism and metaphor. It is gorgeous prose.
I spent three hours last week sitting at the kitchen counter, piano music blaring, paging through the book, picking out my favourite lines. Below are a few of them:
Important lessons: look carefully; record what you see. Find a way to make beauty necessary; find a way to make necessity beautiful.
Meeting Alex at the music library was like a gift of a beautiful bird on the windowsill. She was like freedom just over a border, an oasis in the sand. She was all legs and arms, gangly and elegant, all bits and pieces with one united appeal. The teenager peeped from her face or limbs just when she was trying to be most sophisticated. This unsettled innocence was like iron filings to a magnet; she was everywhere on my heart, spiky and charged, itchy and there to stay.
In Michaela's favourite restaurant, I lift my glass and cutlery spills onto the expensive tiled floor. The sound crashes high as the skylight. Looking at me, Michaela pushes her own silverware over the edge.
I fell in love amid the clattering of spoons…When you are alone – at sea, in the polar dark – an absence can keep you alive. The one you love maintains your mind. But when she's merely across the city, this is an absence that eats you at the bone.
Go read it. It will change you.
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I know I’ve said this a million times before but again, I will have to say it tonight. London is like a magical little tickle trunk of people from every corner of the globe. Tonight, we went to Aphrodite Taverna, a tiny little Greek restaurant just up the block from my flat. There were 19 of us total, for a reservation of 15. Portuguese, German, French, Yugoslavian, Kiwi, Spanish, English, Greek, Canadian and Morroccan. We were loud, conversing in 5 different languages, a jumble of foreign words being thrown across tables all throughout the night. ”Sante! Yamas! Salut! Cheers!”. Wine, olives, kalamari, lamb…food food food…. talking talking talking…laughing laughing laughing. It was chaos and craziness and hugs and kisses and “Happy New Year’s” and good-to-see-you’s and laughter and gossip!
A friend told me a few weeks ago that in the 8 years that he has been in London, he has lived 2 lifetime’s worth of experiences and memories. Nights like these — where serendipitous meetings between friends of friends reveal just how small the world really is, where there is great food, great wine and great company, where language knows no boundaries and conversations are no-holds-barred — remind me why I’m here. It’s for the people. It’s for the moments when, in a tiny little Taverna in Notting Hill, bustling with bodies, everything suddenly goes in silent slow motion. You smile at the scene — at your friends, touched by gorgeous candlelight, mouths open, heads thrown back in laughter — and you think to yourself: this is perfect. I am happy right here, in this moment. This is bliss. And you are thankful.
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soooo cold. maria in town. dinner at m's. candles, music, youtube karaoke till 2am. home. neighbours having a bumpin' party till 4am. so tired i sleep through the thumping. shopping with mariaaaa. ken high street. snow. gaza protests. dresses, mossimo dutti jacket, tea and sandwiches. soooo cold. walk home. change. black dress, black boots. cute hair. back to m's for drinks and cocktails. greek taverna. loud loud loud. dancing dancing dancing. kick start to 2009. =)
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I landed in London just a few hours ago. And it's cold. Cold. Cold. Cold. My toes can't seem to get warm and the heating isn't doing much to circulate warm air in this flat. I was lucky enough to be upgraded to Business Class again today, which means I'm pretty well rested. It was much harder to leave home this time around. We had such a nice holiday — with family and friends in San Diego. Lots of food (I gained 3.5 pounds), lots of singing and lots of love. We took a boat ride around San Diego bay for Dad's surprise birthday celebration. Pictures from the holiday can be found here.
Home. Family. Love. I miss it today, on this cold London night.
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