Thoughts, Grey Tuesday

I've been thinking about what it means to write regularly about your daily life.

I really love to travel, and travel inspires my neurons to detect every last thing- scents, every inch of passerby, the light of each day. This overload of information (in a good way!) then is translated into a wealth of descriptions to use when writing. In other words, traveling gives me something to write about.

The protagonist Gil in "Midnights in Paris" is nostalgic for Paris in the twenties. He feels like that era was the perfect era for his own creative thoughts (he is a novelist), and feels like he was born too late. Not to spoil the movie, but a main part of the plot is his discovery of the magic of his everyday, 2010 world. Although lighthearted, the movie is a poignant look into the fact that we are always longing for something else- a different country, a different time...but, in fact, there is much to be inspired by everyday. This is very different from saying that we all need to accept our circumstances and not do anything to change them; what we need to do is believe that within our immediate surroundings is wonder.

So, as I write about daily life in Somerville, MA, I'm going to try to feel like a traveler, try to imagine what it would be like if I was a visitor here. I met a Serbian boy on the T yesterday, it was his first time in the United States. I wondered what the subway here looked like to him. It made me look at the T all over again.

Weekend in Review

Had a lovely, much needed weekend.

Saturday started off with a music festival in Harvard square. It was pretty hot this weekend, which I love- I really like feeling like my body is the same temperature as the air...feels somehow balanced (for me).

I sneakily took a picture of these street musicians...I wondered if they intentionally set up shop right near that minty green fire hydrant? The combination of the peachy-salmon of the man's shirt and woman's dress plus the minty green and metallic silver of the hydrant was just so summery. I'm taking a mental note...I think these colors would be great in an interior, maybe especially a bathroom, but not so much clothes, I think (lest it look too resort-y). Mini mint colored tiles with chrome fixtures and peachy walls? Yes!!

Right as we left the festival, it started pouring in the New England fashion. I love warm-weather rain...it makes you feel intrepid because you don't mind getting wet.

After the rain, met up with Elizabeth and James to have dinner in the North End. I think the North End and Charles St. Beacon Hill area are my two most favorite spots in Boston. They feel sort of out a storybook, maybe because they feel European to me. Brick sidewalks, outdoor patio cafes, crumbling stones and thriving window boxes. And, of course, the food is amazing!

The incredible black ink pasta at the Daily Catch. Afterwards, we went for gelato. I think wandering around a busy street on a balmy night is one of my favorite things to do.

Went to a cute pub with a patio overlooking the harbor...

On Sunday, went to go see "Midnight in Paris," directed by Woody Allen. A really cute story and some beautiful shots of Paris...makes me want to go back for more than just 2 days!! One can tell that Woody Allen must really love Europe (apparent in Vicky Christina Barcelona, too) but has a way of poking fun of wealthy American tourists in a way that is kind yet still truthful. After the movie, we had to continue the good mood and just pretend we were in Paris so went to Finale, a dessert place with THE best chocolate lava cakes, beautiful red velvet banquets, and gold-framed mirrors on the ceiling above where the chef creates your dessert...so you can see all of the beautiful delicious things that are coming together like artwork on your plate! Plus, they had a patio with twinkling lights- I love outdoor eating, especially in bustling areas, at all times of day.

The costumes in "Midnight in Paris" were also wonderful- because it was set in many different time periods, the designer was really able to go all out- with 20s dramatic sequined drop-waist dresses, to lavish ruffles and lace of la belle epoque. I think this movie made me change my mind about my general dislike for drop-waist things...or maybe it was Marion Cotillard that wore them so beautifully! Also, Carla Bruni, the first lady of France, plays a role in this movie, which is fun as well. I also really liked the music. I also like that the characters like warm rain. Apparently, what's not to like?