Who thought a relationship that officially began while watching a film entitled The Fluffer would last for seven whole years, with marriage as the cherry on top? Well, folks, it's possible. In fact, it is happening to me right now.
Seven anniversaries ago on January 23rd, 2003, I started seeing this neat boy named Russell who I knew from the co-ops. He had great hair, a regal nose, and dressed like some kind of gentleman-gypsy-railroad-hopping-vagabond, which I still find enormously wonderful. He played guitar and told me once that he tried to live life as if it were a movie, making each aspect and detail important and beautiful as can be. (I might be putting words into his mouth, but you get my drift.) An Eagle Scout. A future professor. An artiste. Needless to say, this guy was a keeper. And I kept him!
Some things you might not have known about my relationship with Russell:
* We bonded largely over curious discussions about cannibalism
* Our largest fight to date was over whether I would kill a goat and eat it were I starving on an island. (I maintain that I would not kill said goat.)
* We spend about 99.9% of our free time together, most of which is spent discussing heady philosophical/spiritual topics or very base topic in a heady way. We've never run out of things to talk about.
* Strangers tend to take pictures of us when we're dressed up for an event.
* Our lives have coincided perfectly such that between moving from California to Illinois to France to Chicago and back again, we've remained extraordinarily intact.
* Gin & tonics made everything possible.
* I knew I loved Russell while I was waiting alone at a bus stop one day. I knew.
Here is to seven years spent with my true love, my best friend, and the best person I've ever EVER met in my life <3 <3 <3
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Hidden Place
One of my favorite things in the world is discovering things that are hidden to the common viewer, or the naked eye. In light of being immersed in The Fountainhead, I'm paying extra-close attention to architecture these days. Though I completely disagree with pretty much everything in the book, I am nonetheless compelled by it, and envision her description of Roark's buildings as being more Deco than Contemporary. It's Art Deco that really makes living in big cities worthwhile -- the clean lines, the elegant curves, and the odd futuristic quality to it have always held my interest. New York, Los Angeles, and oh yes, San Francisco, have lots of great Deco buildings tossed casually around the place.
Now, just the other day as I was walking to Montgomery BART on my way home from my new job, I noticed that along Montgomery Street, far away from the regular BART entrance, is a separate doorway down to the trains, as well as an apparent underground salon entitled "A Gentleman's Haircut." The frame of the entrance looks like shiny black marble, such that one cannot tell if it was created in the 80's or the 20's. Both decades seem to share a similar masculine quality that is virile yet debonair at the same time. In any case, it's easy to pretend that this offbeat hallway -- this secret hallway -- is a long, black, glossy relic from the era of speakeasies and gangsters.
It's small discoveries such as this that make me remember how cities are magick. Though humans can never outwit nature when it comes to creation, it is comforting somehow to feel embraced by and at home with the structures built by our fellow men and women.
Now, just the other day as I was walking to Montgomery BART on my way home from my new job, I noticed that along Montgomery Street, far away from the regular BART entrance, is a separate doorway down to the trains, as well as an apparent underground salon entitled "A Gentleman's Haircut." The frame of the entrance looks like shiny black marble, such that one cannot tell if it was created in the 80's or the 20's. Both decades seem to share a similar masculine quality that is virile yet debonair at the same time. In any case, it's easy to pretend that this offbeat hallway -- this secret hallway -- is a long, black, glossy relic from the era of speakeasies and gangsters.
It's small discoveries such as this that make me remember how cities are magick. Though humans can never outwit nature when it comes to creation, it is comforting somehow to feel embraced by and at home with the structures built by our fellow men and women.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Really? I mean...really?!?
Dudes, it seems that I've gotten myself a job!
This is how it went down: my awesome friend whom I'll call "A" has this great boyfriend, "C" who works at a theater company in SF. I mention to everyone I know that I'm looking for work, so C, in all of his extreme kindness and friendliness, told me that his company was maybe needing another person in a month or so. We've been talking back and forth for awhile now, sending resumes here and there and everywhere, and then just yesterday, I got a phone call!
They basically just need somebody in the box office to answer phone calls about this production of Peter Pan coming to SF, and for this after-school program called School of Rock happening in NYC, but feeding phone calls to SF. So that's going to be ME! 7 AM to 3 PM, bitches. I'm going to be up at the crack of dawn, but that is SO OKAY WITH ME RIGHT NOW. And it seems that I might even get to help out with other stuff around the office, too, so I can "build my skill set" and so forth.
Basically, I could not be more stoked with something to do right now. I'm THRILLED to get to work in The Arts, even if it's way super-duper-SUPER-back-end, and I'm excited to work in San Francisco, and I'm happy just to get to go to work at all!!!
I'm still going to be looking for work in editing/publishing, as I don't think this is a real "career" kind of opportunity, but the best part of the whole situation is: I DON'T HAVE TO APPLY FOR JOBS I DON'T WANT ANYMORE!!!
This all seems to good to be true, so I'm nearly expecting to find out that this dream will go up in smoke somehow. But I have a time and a location for this coming Monday, and they've told me they want me for three whole months, and maybe indefinitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK GODS!
This is how it went down: my awesome friend whom I'll call "A" has this great boyfriend, "C" who works at a theater company in SF. I mention to everyone I know that I'm looking for work, so C, in all of his extreme kindness and friendliness, told me that his company was maybe needing another person in a month or so. We've been talking back and forth for awhile now, sending resumes here and there and everywhere, and then just yesterday, I got a phone call!
They basically just need somebody in the box office to answer phone calls about this production of Peter Pan coming to SF, and for this after-school program called School of Rock happening in NYC, but feeding phone calls to SF. So that's going to be ME! 7 AM to 3 PM, bitches. I'm going to be up at the crack of dawn, but that is SO OKAY WITH ME RIGHT NOW. And it seems that I might even get to help out with other stuff around the office, too, so I can "build my skill set" and so forth.
Basically, I could not be more stoked with something to do right now. I'm THRILLED to get to work in The Arts, even if it's way super-duper-SUPER-back-end, and I'm excited to work in San Francisco, and I'm happy just to get to go to work at all!!!
I'm still going to be looking for work in editing/publishing, as I don't think this is a real "career" kind of opportunity, but the best part of the whole situation is: I DON'T HAVE TO APPLY FOR JOBS I DON'T WANT ANYMORE!!!
This all seems to good to be true, so I'm nearly expecting to find out that this dream will go up in smoke somehow. But I have a time and a location for this coming Monday, and they've told me they want me for three whole months, and maybe indefinitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK GODS!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Social
January sucks, it's pretty clear, yet it's turning out to be quite a month bejeweled with fun events and people.
Yesterday, for instance, we had 3 parties to go to, only one of which actually worked out, and which was preceded by a six-mile hike at Castle Rock and cake tasting of the gluten-free variety. The night before, my favorite and oldest friend with whom I'm actually still friends came over with her husband for dinner and spent the night. A few days before that, another friend just happened to be working in the East Bay and stopped over for a casual dinner, which is my all-time favorite, fun, easy thing to do.
Aside from all of this, we're going to both of the Gorey Ball events, including the "World's Fair" and then the "Edwardian Ball" in celebration of our 7-year anniversary, which is quite exciting. It will be our 3rd time attending the Edwardian portion of the event. We're also seeing a Brecht play, the ThreePenny Opera, which is playing practically across the street from us here in the Berkshires.
Today, I stayed in my pj's until about a half hour ago (5pm) and have spent all day chatting on the phone and doing wedding planning. Well...more of the former, less of the latter.
I really like it when you can take bad things (ie January) and turn them into good things (anti-hibernation mode). I should keep on doing this!
Yesterday, for instance, we had 3 parties to go to, only one of which actually worked out, and which was preceded by a six-mile hike at Castle Rock and cake tasting of the gluten-free variety. The night before, my favorite and oldest friend with whom I'm actually still friends came over with her husband for dinner and spent the night. A few days before that, another friend just happened to be working in the East Bay and stopped over for a casual dinner, which is my all-time favorite, fun, easy thing to do.
Aside from all of this, we're going to both of the Gorey Ball events, including the "World's Fair" and then the "Edwardian Ball" in celebration of our 7-year anniversary, which is quite exciting. It will be our 3rd time attending the Edwardian portion of the event. We're also seeing a Brecht play, the ThreePenny Opera, which is playing practically across the street from us here in the Berkshires.
Today, I stayed in my pj's until about a half hour ago (5pm) and have spent all day chatting on the phone and doing wedding planning. Well...more of the former, less of the latter.
I really like it when you can take bad things (ie January) and turn them into good things (anti-hibernation mode). I should keep on doing this!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Catching Up?
Umm, I am pretty sure I feel asleep at 9:30pm yesterday evening while reading The Fountainhead (which some people, who shall remain nameless, believe to be the biggest boner-killer ever, but it's kind of interesting so far...).
This means I got 10 hours of sleep last night. Is this normal/healthy? Something about the lack of a regular schedule is messing with my already-pitiful awakeness quotient...but then again, maybe I'm making up for all of that sleep I missed in college. Right?
One day (probably when I actually am an old lady) I'll stop acting like an old lady.
This means I got 10 hours of sleep last night. Is this normal/healthy? Something about the lack of a regular schedule is messing with my already-pitiful awakeness quotient...but then again, maybe I'm making up for all of that sleep I missed in college. Right?
One day (probably when I actually am an old lady) I'll stop acting like an old lady.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Ray of Light (Madonna-Style)
I just remembered that it's going to be SPRING one day, and that there will be sunlight from 6:30am to 6:30pm, and there will be that sweetness to the air that the French call douceur which just makes so much sense somehow. A feeling of being cloaked in the mildness of the air, protected by the blossoming earth, and an undeniable feeling of hope.
It's amazing how the desire to be warm & cozy shifts instantly to the desire to be free & easy once the holidays wear off. Normally, this time is spent by suffering through the still frigid (okay, "California frigid") days until the Spring Equinox, but maybe this year will be different. It would be nice to not have to suffer through a certain part of the year every year. Simple things like the manic drinking of tea, populating of my calendar with fun events, and cooking of new and interesting foods help me out a lot.
On a completely random side note, as a reminder to self, I really want to start listening to The Who. Something tells me they might be a musical missing puzzle piece in my life.
It's SO time to start doing/wearing/listening/thinking/eating/practicing/trying new things!!!
It's amazing how the desire to be warm & cozy shifts instantly to the desire to be free & easy once the holidays wear off. Normally, this time is spent by suffering through the still frigid (okay, "California frigid") days until the Spring Equinox, but maybe this year will be different. It would be nice to not have to suffer through a certain part of the year every year. Simple things like the manic drinking of tea, populating of my calendar with fun events, and cooking of new and interesting foods help me out a lot.
On a completely random side note, as a reminder to self, I really want to start listening to The Who. Something tells me they might be a musical missing puzzle piece in my life.
It's SO time to start doing/wearing/listening/thinking/eating/practicing/trying new things!!!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
What I Like About You
Tuesday Booze Cruise (aka Boatless Booze Cruise), our movement to get friends together every Tuesday for adventures and misadventures, had one of its greatest successes last night at the Albatross in Berkeley for a "game night." Somehow I got people to play Balderdash with me, which I can hardly EVER convince people of. It's a bit...involved...of a game, but when it goes well, it goes well.
The evening, therefore, included gin & tonic drinking in the Arts & Crafts-esque Albatross, sitting within sight of a roaring fire, snacking on popcorn, and seeing various friends gradually drift in to meet us. (One of the main reasons I <3 Berkeley is the Arts & Crafts style that pervades the town. It's so warm, comforting, and yet modern at the same time. It's the feeling of being safe and happy inside on a cold winter's day, which I enjoy quite thoroughly...especially in January!)
The game of Balderdash was bully, just bully! And by that, I mean that the participants were all creative, thoughtful, and hilarious in turn. (It's easy for a game to go horribly wrong if people aren't into creativity or innovation.) We laughed, laughed some more, drank some mulled wine, and headed home in time to get enough sleep for work tomorrow. I mean, for those who have to work today...
Leaving the warmth of the bar for the chilly winter evening outside, it occurred to me that I'd just had one of those St. Elmo's Fire-like post-college experiences that I'd always thought would populate my life, and I didn't even have to try to make it happen. It just did.
Here's to more camaraderie, community, and adventures in 2010!
The evening, therefore, included gin & tonic drinking in the Arts & Crafts-esque Albatross, sitting within sight of a roaring fire, snacking on popcorn, and seeing various friends gradually drift in to meet us. (One of the main reasons I <3 Berkeley is the Arts & Crafts style that pervades the town. It's so warm, comforting, and yet modern at the same time. It's the feeling of being safe and happy inside on a cold winter's day, which I enjoy quite thoroughly...especially in January!)
The game of Balderdash was bully, just bully! And by that, I mean that the participants were all creative, thoughtful, and hilarious in turn. (It's easy for a game to go horribly wrong if people aren't into creativity or innovation.) We laughed, laughed some more, drank some mulled wine, and headed home in time to get enough sleep for work tomorrow. I mean, for those who have to work today...
Leaving the warmth of the bar for the chilly winter evening outside, it occurred to me that I'd just had one of those St. Elmo's Fire-like post-college experiences that I'd always thought would populate my life, and I didn't even have to try to make it happen. It just did.
Here's to more camaraderie, community, and adventures in 2010!
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