I like this place...it's not pretentious...

...this of course being my paraphrased attempt of quoting "Priceless," a beautiful and light movie starring the lovely Audrey Tautou. I love this movie because it makes me think of some of my old favorites, like "Charade" or "To Catch a Thief." I like that quote because it sums up my view of Chicago, a city that I've loved more and more only after I left it. Not that I didn't love it while I was there--I always felt lucky to be in or near Chicago, but New York was always the goal, the dream. I'm as close to that dream now as I could hope to be at 23, but Chicago has entered my heart and refuses to relinquish its grip. For one thing, Chicago is cleaner, more spread out, less chaotic--the people are nice and lack the pretension displayed by so many New Yorkers and their wannabe counterparts. Chicagoans have pride, but it's a pride in something real and seemingly more deserving...maybe it's hard work without the glitz or bright lights? I don't know, but it's this feeling that Chicago is a wonderful place, but it isn't all there is--there's a whole world outside of Chicago, one that people go out and explore. Chicago is the place that you return to, it's home. Some New Yorkers think that they are at the center of the world, not just part of it, giving them the false sense of worldliness, even if they never leave the island of Manhattan. Of course, not all New Yorkers are like that and not all Chicagoans are wonderful. New York will always have more than The Second City and I feel more connected to the history of the New York/New Jersey area then I ever will to the Midwest. But Chicago is a nice place, a place I hope to go back to at some point in my life.

Yes, I had a lovely visit to Chicago--I am always happy when I'm surrounded by friends and family, and I got a taste of both last weekend. Recapping it will just make me miss them more, so I'll just leave it at that for now.

On to this weekend, my independent/Italian weekend of randomness--"A Room with a View" (ah, Firenze!) on Friday night with some popcorn a la Sarah-style (kernels, oil, salt, oregano, paper bag, microwave, yum). Yesterday was organizing parts of my life and then a date with myself. I took myself to see "Gamorra" at the IFC center (stopped off for a peanut butter and nutella sandwich at Peanut Butter & Co. first). The movie was wonderful--dark and horrific, but beautifully shot and moving. The film looks at five different characters all attached in some way to the Camorra family (mafia) in Naples. The dialect was strong so I had to rely on the subtitles, but that made it all the more real. I think that's what was so troubling about it--I've seen plenty of violent films but over the top violence seems more like entertainment. I can watch it because I know it's not real. This violence, the killing and revenge and depravity of the whole situation was (and is) just so real. In any event, I'm glad I saw this movie, even if it wasn't uplifting at all.




Today was Italian mass (I love all of the old Italians and how they talk with their hands...their gestures are amusing and pleasant), a quick stop by the hairdresser's for a bangs trim and a visit to the bookstore for Ian McEwan's "Enduring Love" and Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited"--yes I have an illness called compulsive bookbuying...


...Weekend Anna

Happy Valentine's Day!

Photo courtesy of yoshiko314.

My Valentine's Day? Packing, flying to Chicago, fig and cashew butter sandwich and beer with Sarah at the Hopleaf!

The Black Keys...

I love live music. Nothing is better than being able to see, hear, smell and feel the music, especially when your whole body vibrates with the rhythm. I like that you can move and dance with no fear of looking like too much of an idiot because there is almost always someone else there dancing, swaying, breaking it down, in a much more idiotic fashion. It's liberating in a way, and so much more satisfying than dancing alone in a bedroom.

The weekend started out with a trip into the city to check out the Whitney Museum of American Art. It was a balmy 45 degrees or so and sunny, which made for lovely-walking-around-the-Upper-East-Side weather. The museum is small, but full of some very interesting pieces. My favorites included latex paint spilled on the floor (I really wanted to touch it), three video pieces (the room was dark and cool, and the only noise was the whirring of the film projectors, it was like a dream), and the exhibit of Alexander Calder's wire sculptures (his circus was so whimsical, so of course I loved it).


Today I continued my whimsy kick with the movie "Coraline"--it was beautiful, although the storyline itself wasn't developed too much. But it was worth it to see the animation. And then The Black Keys. I hadn't been to a concert since seeing Eddie Vedder in Chicago back in August. It was the prefect show--not too crowded but not dead, smallish venue and a great set list with a good mix out of their discography. The lovely RMB and I got there fairly early, bought some overpriced beer, and staked out our spot along the rail of the first raised level. We had a great view above the sea of plaid shirts (when did plaid become hipster? did I miss something?) and knit caps--overall, a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

I'm just trying not to think about the fact that the lovely RMB is leaving me and returning to Ohio...

Next up...Chicago!!!

...Weekend Anna

I'm going to Chicago!

It was one of those random whims that turned into reality because everything came together. I was sitting at work today, dreaming of the coming weekend--The Whitney as well as the Black Keys with the lovely Rebecca--when my mind started to wander to the following weekend...Valentine's Day weekend and President's Day weekend...which means no work on Monday...which means a three day weekend (the stuff that dreams are made on). I started to think about what I could do over those three days when it hit me--I could go somewhere, more specifically, I could go to Chicago. A quick survey of flights, a message to that beautiful Papermoon girl, and a click of a button, and I had myself a round trip ticket from Newark to O'Hare.

I'm so excited--Chicago means seeing dear friends, a trip to the Hopleaf, maybe a trip to the Unicorn Cafe in Evanston, and being in a familiar place, a place that feels like home.

I'm so excited...

...Weekend Anna

Lost and found

I found my necklace! And now there is much cause for rejoicing. I don't usually wear jewelery--maybe earrings once a week or some bracelets, and a necklace on special occasions. But this necklace, a small silver lower-case script "a" rarely left my throat and chest for roughly a year. Then came the packing and the leaving Chicago, the throwing of all my stuff in this box and that bin and these suitcases and those bags. Somewhere in all of that, my necklace was misplaced. I was surprised at how upset I was about it at first--I'd left earrings at friends' houses, lost bracelets in the ocean and my high school ring had disappeared about a month after I picked it up at school. I'm still not sure why this was different--it just was. After rooting through my sweater bin, the "a" is back around my neck.

This weekend was spent with my lovely Rebecca--I'm going to miss her so much when she returns to the Midwest...


...Weekend Anna

Baby, it's cold outside...

...and inside. I had to keep the heater on for two hours last night while I shivered in bed under five blankets. Although it may sound like it, this isn't complaining...it's just stating a fact. I actually love the cold--I don't pine for places south of Maryland or yearn for warmer temperatures. I like the biting cold that makes your whole body tingle and feel alive.

With that in mind, another weekend comes to a close. It was cold, it was gray, but it was fun! I only left my apartment for an hour today--a quick trip to Kings for some grocery and baking essentials (flour, baking powder, butter and milk for biscuits, along with greek yogurt, broccoli and of course, Mallomars), a stop at Starbucks, and a pizza pickup at Larry and Joe's. The morning was spent watching "Rome," cleaning the bathroom and crosswording! The evening, with Rebecca.

Yesterday I continued on my annual award season moving viewing kick--this time, it was "The Reader" (nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress for Kate Winslet). Not nearly as good as "Slumdog Millionaire", but beautiful filming and of course great acting. The story was unsettling though--it left me with a weird feeling that I couldn't describe. Later in the evening at a jazz bar in the West Village, it became clearer that maybe the weird feeling was that I felt bad for Kate Winslet's character, when I didn't want to. In any event, it was a good day full of films, Thai food, and jazz.

To close out the weekend, I'm listening to a classic that seems to be everywhere at Christmas, although I like to think it's more of a winter song:

I really can't stay - Baby it's cold outside
I've got to go away - Baby it's cold outside
This evening has been - Been hoping that you'd drop in
So very nice - I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice
My mother will start to worry - Beautiful, what's your hurry
My father will be pacing the floor - Listen to the fireplace roar
So really I'd better scurry - Beautiful, please don't hurry
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour

The neighbors might think - Baby, it's bad out there
Say, what's in this drink - No cabs to be had out there
I wish I knew how - Your eyes are like starlight
To break the spell - I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell
I ought to say no, no, no, sir - Mind if I move closer
At least I'm gonna say that I tried - What's the sense in hurting my pride?
I really can't stay - Baby don't hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

C'mon baby

I simply must go - Baby, it's cold outside
The answer is no - Ooh darling, it's cold outside
This welcome has been - I'm lucky that you dropped in
So nice and warm - Look out the window at that storm
My sister will be suspicious - Man, your lips look delicious
My brother will be there at the door - Waves upon a tropical shore
My maiden aunt's mind is vicious - Gosh your lips are delicious
Well maybe just a half a drink more - Never such a blizzard before

I've got to go home - Oh, baby, you'll freeze out there
Say, lend me your coat - It's up to your knees out there
You've really been grand - I thrill when you touch my hand
But don't you see - How can you do this thing to me?
There's bound to be talk tomorrow - Think of my life long sorrow
At least there will be plenty implied - If you caught pneumonia and died
I really can't stay - Get over that hold out
Ahh, but it's cold outside

...Weekend Anna

Bedtime

I never go to bed before midnight. I used to try--I'd slip under my piles of blankets at 10:30 or 11pm, but then I'd end up reading or staring at the ceiling until 12am. I've come to accept my late night tendencies, and tonight I decided to try something new. Around 10:30pm I started to try to calm down and unwind my mind.

Step One: Take a Bath
Using lavender Epsom salts and mint bubble bath (a lovely birthday gift from my dear friend Sarah), I relaxed in hot water, letting my mind wander. The last time I took a bath was about a year ago, in the apartment of another dear friend, Ms. Margaret Adsit (she's currently living her amazing life in Alaska). It was the height of thesis season--I was stressed beyond belief, wasn't sleeping more than 3 hours a night and the cold gray Chicago winter was getting to me. So, Margaret invited me over--we picked up pie, she drew me a bath, and for that night I let go of all of my obligations. Sitting in the water tonight, I started to miss her something terrible.


Step Two: Lotion
For some reason I've been shying away from lotion, except on my face. I changed it up tonight, using a lemongrass scented lotion I swiped from the hotel room my dad was staying in last week (he comes to New York for work once a month or so). The lotion feels refreshing...smooth.


Step Three: Tea
Instead of downing coffee immediately when I got home, I opted for water. And then before bed, tea. And appropriately named tea at that:


And now to bed...


....Sweet Dreams.