turn up the quiet

how is it that i celebrate my holiday like every other american? eat turkey? check.  see loads of family? check.  watch football? check.  spend hours in traffic? check.  but i love it nonetheless.  the shouts rising from the men’s section of the table (yes, the women tend to flock to one another during this time of the year), the popped bottles of champagne and prosecco, the nursing of our food babies, the last-minute scramble to draw names for our christmas grab.  it’s all so comforting.  even the fact that we have the same varieties of wine on hand is nice, Chianti, Pinot grigio, Korbel.  nothing changes.  it’s a tradition.  perhaps the most comforting tradition i have.  but to be honest, this year was different.  my mother stayed in maine, while i made the trip to cambridge.  it was weird to be truthful.  unorthodox, and borderline painful.  but it was nice.  it gave me a wake up call, a vibrant one at the least saying, 2010 is almost over.  that’s true.  it is almost over.  time has sped up two or three notches since i’ve entered high school, and it’s crazy.  i realized that i have very little control over what happens and when things happen.  but i’m not bothered by that.  i may admit that i kinda sorta prefer it that way. 

but moving on.  my holiday was fantastic, how was yours? just as good i can only hope, or better! christmas is a month away, it’s been four years since my boston mom and dad tied the knot officially, and i’m very happy to see what the next three months bring.  december promises to be eventful.  spending the holidays (yes christmas and Chanukah) with loved ones, celebrating birthdays, making weekend trips to boston and the surrounding area, making the house festive, and working more than i want to.  it’s busy and wonderful.  my dearest buddy is coming up from florida right before christmas, and exams end on the 16th of december.  i can’t believe the semester is almost over (almost, perhaps i mean practically)? meredith is traveling up for new years and christmas from the dirty durham, and then of course, NEW YEARS EVE.  after that celebration there’s a mere five days until my birthday, and with that comes smiles and more trips to wonderful cities.  i have a feeling that this winter will be absolutely delightful in comparison to others.  but in the near future, i have lunch reservations at bistro du midi, right across from the boston commons, a mani/pedi appointment, an evening at the beach house, and then a reunion with someone who makes me very happy! what more can i ask for? … a bottle of wine or champagne? i don’t need em, things are going to swell for me to want more than what i need.

i’m going to go take a soak, read some of the alchemist, and maybe even start Tess of the d’Urbervilles but we’ll see.  it can probably be assumed that i’ll just pass out in my chair, even though i’ve consumed 10x the average amount of coffee i do on a day-to-day basis.  happy shopping for all those braving the black friday madness.  i’m ENTHRALLED that i’m not you. 

(nevermind the racy photo…)

eoxo

blue skies are calling

NO SCHOOL FOR 5 DAYS.  i’m in raptures to say the least, partly because i’ve had some vin blanc, and partly because i’m exhausted, but it’s so nice to know that i don’t have to worry about homework, about exams, about awkward situations, about waking up on time.  i can busy myself with trivial concerns like what should i pack for the holiday? when should i bake the cranberry currant tarte? what should my weekend consist of? the more trivial, the better i believe! i ought to express my sincere apologies for the lack of blogging on my end (but truth be told, i’m not too sorry).  lately my life has been consumed with occurrences, with new people, new places, new emotions.  i can’t say that i’d want it any other way, and to put it frankly, the upcoming times won’t allow me too much time to blog.  i’m not saying this is the end of floating over babylon.  BY NO MEANS is this the end.  i just can’t commit to posting every few days anymore, but at the same time, i do promise that i will do as much as i can.  i’ll jump the gun now, and tell you what the purpose of the post is.  ONE: recent happenings, TWO: TSA bullshit policy, THREE: reflections, FOUR: lookbook.

tonight was perfect.  i woke up and it was misty and mild, walked all the way to school and listened to noah and the whale and typhoon (good AM combo), finished the day, ran home, slept for five hours, ate some hummus, TRAVELED TO FIGA, and had a wonderful last meal with A.  we ran into some wonderful english teachers and spent a while engaged in a fulfilling conversation with them, and also chatted a great deal with an older couple who sat next to us.  we indulged in sev crusted scallops, wild boar rendang, tandoori chicken, meatloaf, a trio of creme brulees (lemongrass, orange cardamom, and chocolate espresso).  this past weekend i spent some much needed time with my little brother, ate a lot of cherry garcia, went roller skating, worked and decorated and produced/composed my first ever window display (GO LOOK AT IT), and had a movie marathon.  tomorrow: yoga, cranberry currant tarte, train to boston, family dinner, etc. etc. did i mention that i’m so incredibly happy?

screw the TSA.  i’m not one who travels too far during the holiday season ( thank god for new england ), but for the past three nights ABC news with diane sawyer has focused on the measures the TSA is taking this holiday season.  of course it’s wise to take precaution, especially since the threat of terror has been increased as of late, but the extent they’re taking it is RIDICULOUS.  this won’t be the most eloquent opinion i’ve ever put forth, but i need to get it out, so here goes nothing.  pat downs have existed for a very long time in the world, and ever since they were first used, nobody has enjoyed them.  but the new version of pat downs being used by the TSA are appalling.  they encroach on groping, and when a TSA employee is groping an 8 year old child, you know something is wrong.  they are invasive, and time consuming.  in addition, a TSA employee should be able to use their instinct and trust their intuition about a person.  surely it’s not common for a 65 year old woman is not a terrorist (then again, it is possible, but how many 65 year old women have you heard about that are terrorists? i can say i’ve never heard of a single one).  the lack of common sense in regards to the TSA’s new policies is what bothers me.  it’s both time consuming and overly cautious.  of course the safety of all should be put above convenience for a single person- but in other news, when has utilitarianism ever been important to the USA before now? let’s just use common sense and not strip an 8 year old girl down in the middle of an airport because her barrette set off the metal detector.  plus, who wants to be groped at any age? pas moi.

so as i mentioned, i am incredibly happy.  ridiculously happy that my head hurts, and that i can’t even figure out how i’ve gotten to this point in my life.  everything is right, everything makes sense.  i’m appreciating what i have, not thinking about what i don’t have.  my family is healthy, my friends are sane, and i’m being treated like i should have been a long time ago.  of course the only thing wrong is that i’ve been sleep deprived for the past three weeks or so.  but that’s curable.  sort of.  there are always hills and valleys in life, and currently, i’m walking up one of those really high hills that is promising and rewarding.  i’m flourishing in this new environment, and i’m thankful for all i have, for all i know, and for all to come.  connections are undeniable, emotions are not hindered, rather they are facilitated.  i’ve been able to cook, i’ve been able to clear my head.  i’ve just entered this new stage in life, and i’m so glad that it’s come now, rather than sooner or later.

i’ll leave you with this video- because it’s so good and you should watch it.  OH YEAH.  i’m reviving my lookbook, so get your hype on.  i’m sorry about the bad news in regards to a small amount of posting, but hopefully soon i’ll get my act together and update frequently.  i’ll make it clear when that will happen- perhaps 2011? a hiatus is sort of needed to be frank.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HOLIDAYS.

enfin smiles love and hugs.