12 July 2011

Simplify, Simplify!

Our life is frittered away by detail.

Henry David Thoreau wrote that. And he was a pretty smart dude. At least I think so. But then again, I like pretty much any transcendentalist. I remember reading Walden and Civil Disobedience in American Lit in high school, and they literally rocked my world. I especially remember our "Transcendental Picnic" we had out in the woods by our school. Now that totally rocked my socks (if I was wearing any, which I probably wasn't). But anyway, back to my real reason for this post -- I'm all about simplicity this summer. Well, I'm trying. Cooking from scratch. Choosing books over TV (which isn't hard to do in the summer). Walking instead of driving. I've even simplified my daily workouts. Run 2-3 miles. 100 pushups. 200 sit-ups. It's been great. Check out the links to an awesome program. I've never felt better. Thanks HDT!

10 July 2011

Hope Solo is my homegirl.

And not just because we have the same name...
The US Women's National Team keeper got the poetic justice she deserved today. Not to mention, she proved that she is the best goalie in the world. What a beautiful save during the shootout against today's match with Brazil. Just think, four years ago at this time she was kicked off the team. I think she put those demons to rest today. I was absolutely captivated by this game, and I can't wait to watch the USWNT take on France!

08 July 2011

Angst, Ennui, and the Wanderlust

In Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat Pray Love, she has a conversation with friends where they ask each other if you were a word, what word would you be? I read the book last year, but that question popped into my head today. Maybe I have too much time on my hands, I came up with three words (in alphabetical order):

angst. n. a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity.

When I say angst, I don't mean your typical punk rock teenage angst/melancholiness. I'm thinking more along the lines of Soren Kierkegaard and Franz Kafka. I'm thinking more along the lines of fearing failure and being frustrated by conflict between your responsibility to yourself, your principles, others, and God. I'm thinking Shostakovich. Mahler. Berg. Woody Guthrie. Bob Dylan.

ennui. n. a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction; boredom.

I first learned this word when studying the late 19th century/Victorian England/fin de siecle Europe. It popped up again in during the aftermath of World War One and the 1920s. I don't know what it is, but it generally describes me. I always want something more. I think mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal sums it up best, "we seek rest in a struggle against some obstacles. And when we have overcome these, rest proves unbearable because of the boredom it produces", and that ""only an infinite and immutable object – that is, God himself – can fill this infinite abyss."

wanderlust. n. a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

This might be my favorite word in the English language. Actually, we borrowed it from German Romanticism, so maybe that's why I like it. I definitely have a serious case of the wanderlust. I may have lived in the same town for my entire life, but there's nothing I would rather do than travel. I wish I could be a vagabond. I wish I could channel my inner Amelia Earhart and take off. Right now. With nothing but the clothes on my back and some money in my pocket. I want to see the world...all of it. Greece, Morocco, Italy, and Vietnam are tops on my list right now.

Elizabeth Gilbert's word may have been attraversiamo, or "let's cross over" in Italian, but those are my three words. Maybe one day I'll narrow it down.

What's your word?

07 July 2011

Love is real, real is love.


So, the selfish part of me has been debating whether I wanted to blog about this film and share it with the rest of the world, or if I wanted to keep it to myself. That's how much I love it. For Lovers Only by the Polish Brothers is hands down the best film I have seen in years. Shot completely in black and white, it is more art than it is film. It's raw. It's real. It's heartbreakingly beautiful. And it made me want to go to France -- that's saying something. It was shot completely on location in Paris, Avignon, Marseilles, Nice, Normandy, and Saint Tropez. I love the fact that the cast and crew were like vagabonds driving across France one summer. It's just as much a story about falling in love with France as it is about the love affair between the two protagonists. I wish a boy would drive me across Paris.

This is one of the most profound movies I have ever seen. A job well done to Michael and Mark Polish and Stana Katic!

06 July 2011

If loving breakfast cereal this much is wrong...

...then I don't want to be right.
I'm generally more of a Cinnamon Toast Crunch kinda gal, but these Corn Pops (yes, I got name brand cereal because it was on sale!) made my morning. It reminded me of the good old days when I was in high school and had to be in Calculus by 6:45 am every day.
Cereal in a cup, milk on the side (in a glass, of course). That's how I roll.