Leap Day

Today is the last day of February, all storming, hot, and angry on its way out. The thought of a day that only exists every four years is a confounding one. I feel that I'm operating outside of time today.

I got to have dinner Monday night with my niece

My nephew made this lizard yesterday and wrote "you are very very butuful" on the back.

Tanya took me out and talked me through some things that were bothering me (and took this hilarious picture). She knows that when I'm upset, all I really need is a good talk while laying in the grass.

These beautiful things are responsible for my itchy eyes and runny nose, but I love them anyways. Finally gave in and bought some allergy medicine today. Can't wait until the larger pieces of my furniture make it to my new house! I can't wait to plant all the new flowers I bought! I can't wait to vote for Ron Paul next Tuesday in the primaries! I can't wait to see Mumford & Sons that night!

We don't have to rush after it. It was there all the time and if we give it time, it will make itself known to us. -Thomas Merton

temps emprunté

So much moving. And we aren't nearly finished. But it was a good weekend.

My city

The generous sky

Luke brought foam swords to moving day-very helpful

Touche

1/6th of my books

Unravelled

My new home

Gabe's art hanging out with my boxes and the piano

Favorite antique doll

Madame Mermaid's new home in the kitchen

The view from my front porch

Sunset

Sunday afternoon Bongo Java-ing with Tanya

Our friend Jordan Hull's show

Gotta love Exit/In

Our friends "Night Beds"- amazing music As much as I wanted to see the Academy Awards, seeing so many of my friends playing/at the show was even better. But we all had our iPhones out to see what was happening at the Oscars in between acts. How wonderful that a film like The Artist was made and won (even if I was really rooting for The Tree of Life). So many great leading actress roles! So many great films! Christopher Plummer in Beginners!

Moonday morning

Gibson Girls for Ron Paul

I've been making these in my spare time. I LOVE Ron Paul. Just seeing his face gives me hope for the future of this country. Even if he doesn't win, and I SO hope that he does, it makes me so happy that a politician of his caliber exists.

chérie, j'aime un matin brumeux

The view from our house in Puerto Rico, 2009. I finally found the pictures to make them into a panorama.

Moving

This is the big week of moving. Tanya and I have been making trips back and forth between our respective current living places to our future living place downtown. We went out last night and bought tons of flower seeds/bulbs: I bought gladiolus, iris, sunflowers, pumpkins and foxglove; Tanya bought herbs (all of them). When I got to the house, she had already been cleaning (practical Romanian lady that she is), but when I arrived, we sat down on our porch with the most amazing view and day dreamed about the Spring in our own little house.

(Really crappy picture of our cabin. Who knew you could live in the forest in the city?!) Also exciting: Mumford and Sons at the Ryman in less than two weeks!

U2 - Bono & Edge on Ostia Beach Italy © Colm Henry, 1989

Save Me- Gotye

It's scary to realize that you have become a self-sustaining adult. When did that happen? How, exactly? It is a miraculous transformation.

Last night I tried to sneak up on sleep, sort of ninja-attack it. In my black pajamas, listening to Gotye, I sipped tea and stared at the patterns of light my beaded lamp was creating. Sleep is an evasive thing, and it descends upon you only when it decides to. My tactics weren't working so I wandered to my desk, hoping the glare of the computer would make me sleepy (it seems to at work . . .). It didn't. It only made my brain wander down 5.7 billion other paths-all leading away from sleep. I took some pictures, dressed as the ninja of sleep:

Even dressed as the ninja of sleep, I was wide awake. So I sat in my cozy bed and read by the light of the lamp and the next thing I knew it was Friday morning. Sleep is the sneakiest. I guess my mind is just full, spilling over. I'm excited about moving downtown. I'm excited about Spring. I'm giddy about the possibilities. I've finally, after two years of working, gotten into a good rhythm/balance with work and life. I'm excited about seeing one of my best friends, Aimee, while she's home from Lebanon this Summer, and seeing the West Coast again. I'm glad I can go running again. I'm excited that it's almost thunder-storm season here in the Heart-land. And for each of these good things, they come with their own worries, and I'm good at worrying, so what I need is: Peace.

My city

A bit of a portal

Chocolate covered strawberries for the kids and myself to snack on during the Grammys

Neveu

Some fine establishments on the way to work

A Valentine

Brother and I went last night to hang up the show my British Literature Professor set up for me. Just a few little finishing touches and it will be ready to go!