chased our pleasures here, dug our treasures there

as i take advantage of these opening days on campus to figure out my schedule and "shop" classes, one unfortunately unavoidable rite of passage is the awkward process of trying to force students to get better acquainted with one another. most teachers just make everyone offer up their name, year, major, and a reason for taking the class, but some people go a little overboard, making you play awful icebreaker games and answer bizarre questions.. not fun. luckily it's labor day, and i've got a bit of a reprieve from those forced interactions, but since i'm already in the habit of talking about myself in compact sound bytes, i figured i'd follow up on a tag that thread zeppelin tapped me to do awhile back.. ten things about little ol' me!

youn// road trips are my latest obsession.

i revealed in my last about me post that i'm terribly obsession-prone, latching on to some topic or other with fervent passion and pursuing it to insane lengths. my fixation of late began when i went up to burlington this past july to see bob dylan et. al, and i've yet to put it to rest. i'm currently in the market for a candy apple red vw van with redone interiors, ready to go cross country and back again, so any leads are much appreciated.

due// i can't drive. or ride a bike. or do pretty much anything involving wheels.

kind of casts that first fact in a new light, yeah? i suppose i was too busy reading copious amounts of books and dreaming up new ensembles for my barbies to remember to learn to ride a bike. in my defense, i took drivers' ed and did quite well in senior year of high school—i 've just been putting off the road test since then. i don't mind it so much, but i kind of don't want to be that lady without a driver's license when i'm say, forty-two, y'know?

trzy// i'm a terrible procrastinator.

i was going to elaborate on this and make an accompanying image, but then i realized i could do it later. suffice to say, i was tagged to do this post over two months ago.

fyra// i don't eat condiments.

this one really seems to throw people for a loop for some reason, though i'm not quite sure why. i don't eat ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing, barbecue sauce, sweet and sour sauce, sauce of any kind, gravy.. the list goes on. salt and pepper are okay though. it's something about putting semi-wet substances on top of more or less dry food that freaks me out a bit, but i swear when people find this out about me, it's like i've just told them i have two heads.

fimm// i didn't go to a concert until i was 17.

i blame my overprotective mother—she was convinced i'd end up trampled, crushed, or somehow dead if i set foot inside a concert venue, but she finally loosened up and drove taylor and i up to newport, rhode island to see jason mraz a few weeks after graduation. even though i got a pretty late start, i'd like to think i've racked up a pretty decent list of concerts in the past three or four years: vampire weekend, willie nelson, gavin degraw, sara bareilles, g love and special sauce, the beach boys (with john stamos, no less), the cool kids, ratatat, k'naan, the virgins, bob dylan, kanye west, third eye blind, kid sister, john mellencamp, black kids and jason mraz four times over.

seis// once i find a job i like, i keep it forever, more or less.

the facts: new york public library, started beginning of sophomore year, stayed until the day before i left for college. took up at a campus library pretty much the day i got to campus, where i still work. summer camp at my old high school, started the summer after junior year, still working there every summer. basically, don't hire me if you're not ready to commit to a long-term relationship.

seven// i've become a full-blown cat lady.

i put a self-imposed ban on dylan posts awhile back, but that did nothing to curb my day to day infatuations with my little feline friend. he's no longer a tiny little fluff of cuteness, but even as a young man of cat, i still regularly experience maternal-status freakouts over his most trivial movements and behaviors. luckily my roommates are just as in love with him as i am, so we gush over him on a daily basis.

acht// i speak spanish and french. or at least i did until i forgot it all.

four years of spanish in high school, and two years of french in college plus a summer in paris, and somehow it's all gone out the window. my mind is like a sieve, i swear.

neuf// i have a strange consumer relationship with paris hilton.

a friend of mine and fan of paris hilton's once dragged me to macy's in herald square because she was doing a signing, and bought me her book so i'd have something for her to sign, except that when we showed up it turned out you needed to buy her perfume in order to get through the door. not wanting to be a killjoy, i bought a bottle, met paris for a brief moment, who was pretty gracious and sweet, and received a signed photograph of her for my efforts. but just when i thought i'd closed the paris chapter of my life, a relative recently bought me some new paris hilton fragrance, probably as a result of seeing that first bottle lying around. go figure.

dez// i kind of suck at doing these types of tags.

and as a result, can't think of a tenth fact. happy labor day!

[image credit: google image search]

here's the thing

i don't want to be one of those annoying people going on and on about their pets all the livelong day, but when he does ridiculously cute things like this, i feel like it wouldn't be right to not share with you all.

but that's it! maybe sometime in the future i'll indulge myself with one entire post dedicated to the story of dylan, but i promise, after this there'll be no mention of him unless he does something directly related to the purpose of this blog, i.e. jumps into an outfit shot, eats my elizabeth&james tank dress, or starts wearing a miniature version of the new dior homme collection. seriously - i bought a ton of stuff yesterday, so there'll be outfit posts and other goodness galore to come, sans dylan.

the stylish wanderer recently tagged me to name six unimportant things that make me happy, i responded to the same tag once before, but hey, lots of things make me happy, so here's six more.

there's no better feeling than plopping a great new purchase down in front of the cashier, and watching the prices tally up, only to realize that you've been blessed with an unexpected discount.

without junk food, i probably would have wasted away to nothing long ago.

sweet store window displays are like a commercial spin on museums, without the obligatory "my kid could do that!" comments.

though i've probably never used a bit of their advice, i have a strange attraction to how-to books, but only for relatively unattainable goals, like becoming a bohemian or a bombshell.

the rare sunshower is my hands-down favorite form of precipitation.

and last, but not least, comments - i'll continue to write regardless, but especially love the feedback.

you know what to do.

OBAMA IS THE NEW DENZEL

via wwtdd

just sayin'.

i was tagged over at j'adore fashion to list seven personal details about myself so that readers can get to know me better. i'm pretty down with this tag because aside from the fact that i like fashion and all things vintage and wear black all the time, i'm starting to think it might be pretty easy to see me as a sort of one-trick pony, y'know? so without further ado, seven (basic) personal details about yours truly.

one// i was born and raised on staten island, new york.

if this draws a blank look from you, i don't blame you. if this draws a look of disdain from you, i still don't blame you. it's the fifth borough - they aren't actually numbered, but trust me, if they did, staten island would come in last. it's the least populated, least diverse (mostly italian), most suburban, and majorly lacking in cool points. i went to high school with hundreds of overly tanned, thickly accented girls with a penchant for acrylic nails, north face jackets, coach bags, nameplates and velour. most of their middle names were marie. the good news is, not only did i make it out unscathed with some great friends, i managed to retain a modicum of good taste, too. luckily for me, i'm a north shore resident, which is home to its own scrappy brand of indie cool, though it has yet to take up the hipster torch. i think the scene is improving, though, and i have dreams of coming back one day and revolutionizing the island, nightlife hotspot by nightlife hotspot. until then, you can find me on the ferry, making my way to manhattan.

deux// i spent fifteen years in catholic school. in uniform.

and i don't have nearly as many complexes as people expect me to because of it. despite my decidedly staten island high school experience, i generally enjoyed all of my pre-college education. i never got whacked over the knuckles with a ruler, and i can count on one hand how many nuns i've had as teachers. i don't even have that much catholic guilt - go figure. i will admit to one side effect of the experience: no matter how good some people look in jumpers or pleated plaid skirts, i just can't bring myself to try the trend. it just feels too like business as usual. been there, done that.

tre// i'm a junior at harvard majoring in english.

english and american literature and language, to be precise. i'm considering minoring in studies of women, gender, and sexuality, and over the summer i wrapped up my language citation in french (hah. i still get anxiety over formulating a sentence). before that i tried out a ton of other things, including social anthropology (eh) and economics (ugh). come to think of it, i have a penchant for doing things not according to plan. before harvard, i was dead-set on going to columbia and nyu was a close second. acceptance to the three schools was a clusterfuck the likes of which i haven't seen since, but when the smoke cleared, i was at the big h. it's quite an experience being here - i can't think of anywhere else where you have to navigate through throngs of tourists to get to class - and it stresses me out/drives me crazy at times, but i get by with a little help from my friends.

quattro// i'm terribly shy. except for those times when i'm not.

i've always been "painfully shy," as mamdukes likes to put it, but when i was little i had the weirdest habit of crying when showing up to a party with lots of strangers, for instance, but then crying at the end of the party because i'd gotten used to everyone and didn't want to leave. in the sixth grade, i made a concerted effort at learning to be more outgoing, and succeeded for all intents and purposes, but there's still no rhyme or reason to when i'll be a walflower or a chatty cathy. and being drunk has nothing to do with it - i don't drink.

cinco// i'm prone to obsessing over random things.

here's how it usually goes: something mildly interesting catches my eye (or ear). i think, 'whoa! why haven't i devoted inordinate amounts of time and effort to becoming an expert on this before?!' then i hunt down all kinds of related media and immerse myself in said topic. this has happened with: andy warhol, flappers, disney, assassins, lsd, astral projection, nancy drew, the sixties, fashion, charles manson, breakdancing, the fifties, elephants, bob dylan, vampires, the eighties, barbie, basquiat, the merry pranksters, vogue, las vegas, skateboarding, coco chanel, the olympics, the beatles, the bible, hippies, billie holiday, paris, hip hop, urban legends, audrey hepburn, the weather underground.. the list goes on. some topics have become lifelong interests, while others have faded into obscurity, but ask me sometime what my obsession du jour is, and i'll always be glad to spit some knowledge.

šest// i'm not very photogenic.

i don't know exactly what it is that makes some people come out fantastically in pictures all the time, but i can say without a doubt that i don't have it. i work hard to look presentable on film, and on this blog for that matter. that said, i've developed a sort of affinity for my ever-growing collection of quirky photos. find me on facebook and you'll see a ton of them. i don't believe in untagging.

sieben// i enjoy laughter more than shoes.

and that's saying a lot. make me laugh, and i'll be your best friend. seriously, that's pretty much all it takes.

i hope you all feel better acquainted with me now.. it was good for me, was it good for you? good. as always, i'm going to break the rules and open this tag up to anyone who would like to share a bit of themselves with the blogosphere.

andddd i'm out.

i've had dreams of boston all of my life

a false statement, but a fitting one, nevertheless, as i'm finally going to see vampire weekend (with the black kids) in concert tonight. back in june, they played for free in central park (with kid sister of all people!), but i was flying out to paris that morning. crestfallen in the city of lights, i learned that they were playing in paris during my time there, but as a part of a multi-day concert festival, my class schedule conflicted with that show, too. but after chasing them around the world, at last our schedules coincide! actually, not so much - i should probably be studying for my exam tomorrow, but hey, you only live once, right? right.

the lovely marina of still better and worse has tagged me to name six unimportant things that make me happy. i wrote them into a little piece about one fine day when i'm done with school and, if only for a little while, able to relax and enjoy life as it comes.

half past something and eyelids flutter open of their own volition, she hasn't yet bothered to acquire a clock and for the first time in years it doesn't matter. high ceilings and wide windows project boundless light onto pieces of yesterday strewn across hardwood, folded up in newsprint and hidden within envelopes. in a far corner, cedar contours on a pristine guitar quiver unsteadily, propped up against a stack of boxes. willing it from her bed to stay standing, she muses that perhaps today she'll finally learn a chord or two.

gathering her slim stack of mail from the floor, she tosses aside official-looking envelopes in favor of a postcard from overseas, thumbing the glossy side while rereading its short, sweet message. extracting the fashion & style section from the times, she notes that cathy's discerning eye is sharp as ever, but in need of something sentimental, she focuses on the modern love column. squinting in the sunlight, she absentmindedly plucks a pair of shades off her nightstand and sits them atop her nose. catching a glimpse of herself in the antique mirror on the wall, the haute/bas wayfarer and bed head look prompts a chuckle. the sun's momentarily gone behind a cloud and she transfers the sunglasses onto her stuffed bedfellow's snout, shielding its button eyes from what may come.

p.s.: as always, the tag is open to anyone and everyone!

you're it

i was tagged by the lovely ladies at a side order of style a little while ago, but it totally slipped my mind until now. and so, without further ado (and before i forget again),

six quirks - the rules:
1. link the person who tagged you.
2. mention the rules in your blog.
3. tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours (just six?).
4. tag six following bloggers by linking them.
5. leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers' blogs letting them know they've been tagged.

1. as anyone who reads this blog can tell, i have something of a disdain for uppercase letters, particularly when typing. i'm not sure why, there's something about them popping up after periods and whenever people use the word 'i' and proper nouns, it's downright incongruous. a string of lowercase letters just strikes me as more appealing and even calmer, if you will. all caps are acceptable for a word or sentence or two, but after that, it just seems alarming and urgent.

2. if there's one thing that everyone i know simply must comment on at some point, with varying degrees of politeness, it's my eating habits. first off, no condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressing, sauce of any kind.. the idea of placing a semi- to completely wet substance on top of my food and consuming it just doesn't sit well with it. for me, there's beverages, there's food, and no other middle ground. condiments need not apply. and then there's the very limited amount of foods that i actually like to eat: cucumbers, tomatoes, french fries, turkey burgers, cvs brand beach rings, sour cream & onion pringles.. and that's about it. i'm working on expanding my horizons.

3. and as for my drinking habits, i don't. alcohol, anyway. for which i get no end to the confused stares from my fellow drunken classmates.

4. though i think i had a moderately normal childhood, i somehow missed the climbing trees and riding bikes parts. as in i have never/don't know how to do either of these things. people never cease to be appalled by these tidbits.

5. going off on the childhood thing, i did preschool twice. because i was already reading at three, my mom enrolled me early, but when the year was over, the principal said that no kindergarten would take me until i turned five, so i did a second year. to say that i was a bored little student is an understatement, but it all worked out. i was quite fond of the class of 2006, and i'm enjoying my time with this class of 2010.

6. i like to exercise, but i hate to sweat, so every now and then i'll work out in the shower. i'm not kidding. exercise + shower - sweat = a good idea, right? is this logic flawed? oh, and to clarify, our shower this year is absolutely massive since we live in a handicap accessible room. i might have to give up this habit next year.

i considered making a collage for this, but i'm lazy and it's unnecessary. and as for tagging, i hate to be a rule-breaker, but i'm just going to make this an open invitation to any bloggers out there who feel so inclined to share their quirks, yeah? yeah.