By the way, this is what I was listening to (and giggling, though I've heard it at least eight hundred times) while writing the post below.



Just thought you might like to share the joy.

I Heart the Classics

"Besides it serves as my induction/Into the literate world/I am a literate girl ..."

-- From the song, "Musician Please Take Heed," on the fantastic album, God Help the Girl, which Nathan got me for my birthday, and with which I am in love.
It's wonderful, and serves as the perfect introduction to this wonderful find: pretty Penguin clothbound classics at Anthropologie, found in their new and very cheeky "Marvels and Wonders" category. How adorable are these!?

I have copies (even multiple copies) of all of these, and yet I can't help wishing for these charming cloth-bound editions. What do you think: tempting?

This Makes Me Long for Road Trips

A band called Orba Squara set out on a ten-day mission to meet America and see what's out there. They journaled their trip here, and I have three observations: the graphics and design here are incredible. The guy who designed this should be working for Steve Jobs or someone really famous. Second, I want that album. Third, I want to see the south on a bus.

I Have Been Given Permission

to buy this on my way home tonight:

And I've been so looking forward to it, that I think I will, despite trying really hard lately not to spend money unnecessarily. It's gotten such good reviews. I ♥ regina!

And anyway, a celebration is in order: this is my 100th blog post!

Happy Valentine's Day.

It's been feeling more and more like spring where I live. The sun is warming up the air in the early afternoon, the birds are chirping happily in trees about to literally burst open with latent energy, and the light has that spring softness which puts haloes on things that grow.

I love the spring. When I began to sense this change in the air recently, I put a very special CD in my car so that I get to listen to it on the way to and from work. It's the CD that began the serious work of bringing my now-husband, then-crush, and I together. It's the first CD he ever gave me. He gave it to me in the spring, and we began dating that spring, and I fell in love with him that spring. And when I listen to it now, and sing along, it's uncanny how well I can remember what I thought and felt when I listened to it the first time. And all of those memories are tied to the season and the music and the atmosphere. And they make me feel whole and joyful and younger, somehow (even though that was only three years ago). Three years later, I still love the band to which he introduced me, and to which many parts of our combined history are strangely connected, and I love Nathan more. So very much more.

(A small note of explanation: I planned this incredibly mushy mass of observations for V-day, and meant to post it on Saturday, but we were so busy eating heart-shaped Krispy Kremes for breakfast and watching Rick Steves in Vienna and ordering pizza that I completely forgot. It doesn't matter much: everyday should be all about love. It's all you need.)