Call me grandma.

Yup, that's what I did last night. I picked up fixins for crockpot chili, then headed home for some Christmas gift making. It was awesome. I spent the night watching The New Girl and knitting, crocheting, drawing, and sewing. And, you know, making myself a sweatshirt.

Mike is really sick right now, with a fever of 102 F. It's reminding me of the days when he had mono, days when the distance is the absolute worst and I worry more than I ever thought I would bother. I just hope he's able to come home tomorrow so we can eat chili together and snuggle and I can be sure he's drinking enough water and not passed out in the bathroom from dehydration.

It always seems like this time of year goes fastest because it's all planned out, right down to the dates and times. I felt that way about this summer, too, as the weekends filled up months in advance. I just want to be sure that I leave room for plan changes, for flexibility, for whims.

Two more of these.

Phew. It's been a long day. I have quite a bit of work to squeeze into this gloriously abbreviated week, which I tried to get a nice jump on by waking up at the day's butt crack with Mike. If you're up after the end of Daylight Savings and the sun still hasn't risen, you deserve treats.

I stayed too late, then spent too much at Trader Joe's on the way home, and missed the bus to Inman. I also forgot my mittens. But all of that made changing into Mike's flannel pants and watching another chunk of Scream (I've been watching it in random short installments) on my phone while I ate leftovers that much sweeter. I've decided to put off making Mike and my stockings until tomorrow, and instead I'm going to stream some Mad Men and knit me a cowl.

This weekend felt shorter than it ought to have, but that's most likely due to our 10 PM bedtime on Friday and our action-packed Saturday and Sunday. We went for Friendsgiving to our friends Emily and Katie's house, where we had a real Thanksgiving meal and played Cranium (sans the crystallized clay) and watched SNL. We stayed the night, and in the morning we had bagels and watched Home Alone. It was perfect, and a great hurrah before their kitchen remodel began today. On Sunday, Mike carted me to Joann's Fabrics then made good on my (presumptuous) offer to drive Jenna and Ron to the airport. They're in Italy for Thanksgiving. Cyndi's in Turkey for the holiday. And yet, I couldn't be more thankful to be heading to Ludlow this Thursday. It's been years since I was able to head home or to my sister's in Virginia for Thanksgiving, and last year I spent the day mostly alone, making family recipes and watching Christmas movies on my computer. It was a good day, but I'm so looking forward to being surrounded by family and loud voices, stories on repeat, while I fight a food coma on the couch.

Christmas is on the brain these days, and I'm excited to say that I'm making the majority of my presents by hand. I always struggle with the feeling of giving-something-just-to-give, and so I've decided to put a little extra time and love into what I give this year. And I've resolved not to give anything that won't actually make someone's life a little better. For now, I'm making myself a little neckwarmer to wear on days that end up much colder than I anticipated when I left the house twelve hours before, you know, like today.

Do as you done.

This is a painting by the lovely Rebekka Seale of Dear Friend, -- which I love for the aesthetics and the friendly letter format. I love Flannery O'Connor, and as someone who calls Georgia home, I lovelovelove this! I'm heading home at the end of this month for a week, and I'm excited to be immersed in southern accents, warm-ish weather, and family. 

The sun is making its afternoon appearance. The past few days it's started out gray and rainy, then ends in partly clear skies and peeks of sunshine. Last night I stopped at Trader Joe's on Boylston after work, which was both a wonderful and horrible idea. It's a small store, and the after work crowd piles down into the store. You pretty much stand in a line that snakes through the store, shopping as you go. Despite the awe-inspiring line and new style of shopping, I got some pumpkin ice cream that made me talk to myself, and plenty of ingredients that make Vegetober not seem so daunting. Considering I ate ribs, roasted chicken, and a burger days before October began, I feel like I'll have meat in my system until the month is even over. 

This week is the first official week of Mike being my roommie. I get so giddy and warm when I think about it. Tomorrow's his first Wednesday of coming home, and I can't wait to make dinner and cuddle in the middle of the week. I made an eye appointment for Friday, and I'm so excited at the idea of new glasses with an updated prescription. I also ordered new boots from Target with my birthday money, so I'm pretty much living a life of luxury today.

Tuesday.

It's another beautiful day. I overslept and took full advantage of my ability to work from home. I keep taking sporadic breaks to clean up around the apartment. I'm rarely home these days, and when I am it's a few hours before bed or a few hours before work or eight hours during work, so I never feel like I get to enjoy the clean I try to keep. Hopefully after October life will slow down a bit and I can enjoy this space I pay so much stinkin' rent for.

The tree outside my window is taunting me with its yellow leaves. Come outside, it says. Go for a walk. Go apple-picking. I'm wearing leggings and a loose dress today, and I feel like I've finally given in to fall. There's so much promise today: A new book to pick, a day closer to birthday celebrations, hours alone at home to work and clean at will, tons and tons of homemade coffee.

Welcome, Fall.

A Big E teaser of next weekend.

I'm wearing a sweater right now that I stole from Mike's leftover-from-the-tag-sale pile. I made some extra cash selling old electronics we found in the living room closet at home and popcorn that Mike's parents set up. It was a busy weekend, going back and forth from the tag sale to the Big E and back again, but well worth it. We ate cheese curds, fried Oreos, poutine, veggie tempura, soft serve, mini donuts (melted in my mouth), kielbasa peirogi, a Craz-E burger, and a corn dog over the course of two nights. Don't worry, we shared with three others, but my insides are slowly purging the fair food. On the menu tonight is fresh rolls and lots of water.

I'm easing into Monday very slowly. We ended up staying in Ludlow an extra night because we won a cruise for two (with airfare!) at the Big E on Saturday night. The only catch was that we had to take a 90-minute tour of a timeshare in Lee, MA, yesterday. So about a year from now, we'll be cruising our way to the Bahamas for free. Can't beat that, can you?

I leave for New Orleans on Thursday, so I'm trying to get ahead on work. I've been feeling so scatterbrained lately, and a little less than myself. I'm hoping the incoming cool weather and the settling that happens with the approach of winter will help with that.

All you have to do is wake up in the morning.

Oh the difference a new day makes. Last night I was discouraged and deflated, due to a botched networking event I attended with Jenna. As usual, she was a natural and in her element, possibly landing a new VC for the start-up she works for. For me, the best part was catching up with an old friend who happened to also be at the event and eating free sushi. Oh, and I had a free Oktoberfest, too. That was nice.

The more I try to explore my businesswoman options, the more I'm faced with that sinking feeling that I don't belong here. I want to write a novel. I want to open a bakery, plant a garden, learn to make my own clothes because of the grim outlook of me ever being able to buy new ones. (Note to self: When trying to embrace a new day and a new outlook, don't start your workday by scheduling your student loan payments.) I would love to use my passion for words in a real life job, and it excites me to apply for jobs that hold those possibilities. (Hell, I'm even doing that in my current job, so I can't really complain. But when has that ever stopped anyone?)

I leave for Ludlow tomorrow afternoon, and I'm excited for a little change of scenery. Though I do fear that my constant disappearance from home and real life contributes to my lack of groundedness. I suppose we'll see after September, when I'm back and Mike's all moved in.

On a positive note, I started reading Tom Perotta's new novel The Leftovers this morning, and I can already tell that I love it. I met him last year at the Boston Book Festival, and I'm hoping I'll run into him again this year to tell him how great it is. Something about fall gets me itching for curling up with a good book (moreso than normal, I guess), and I'm feeling ready to revamp and restart with my book blog, The Things They Read. I want to start a whole site of The Things They... things, including my new and still budding write blog, The Things They Wrote. Hopefully my writing group meeting tonight will inspire me some more for this project.

xo, Mel.  

A day late and a dollar short.

Wow. I just met a deadline that I thought was tomorrow, but alas was today. It's been a strange transition, figuring out how to fit contract work into my already packed days, but it's been teaching me the value of a night to myself or a Sunday of wandering with friends.

This was my one weekend scheduled for Cambridge for September, and I soaked every bit of in. Saturday Mike and I hit up the lawn in front of the library for a final hurrah of board games, pumpkin spiced coffee, and more books than I can read before they're due. We were approached by puppies and stared shamelessly at tennis games and temperamental children. It was chilly, but we soldiered on until the sun started to set. Yesterday we made an epic brunch of stuffed french toast, eggs, and Mike's potato medley. Ten of us packed onto the porch for breakfast and coffee, then heading to SOWA open markets in the South End for grilled cheese and free samples. I'm writing an article for TNGG: Boston on Roxy's Grilled Cheese, so I got some photos and some delicious samples. We spent the night in, watching The Savages (so good), eating must-gos (Mike's name for leftovers), and getting all of our cuddling in before our week apart.

Excited for another evening in, getting my bearings and preparing for the week ahead, a day late.

xo, Mel.

Over the hump.

Today is a much better day than yesterday. I am more awake and much less overwhelmed. I have new deadlines, which stretch on past the next 24 hours. I have plans to make chili, and plans to make chili dogs, chili nachos, and more chili-related things for the days after. I'm just hoping the rainy weather lasts only as long as the chili does.

Last night I had my second TNGG: Boston meeting, met the new editor, and was assigned my second article! I'm excitedly awaiting feedback on my first article, and getting stoked because the research and interview for this next one involves grilled cheese. Yup.

After the meeting, I headed home, took off my rain-soaked shoes, and curled up on the chaise with a cup of chai and East of Eden. A bowl of coffee ice cream and an hour-long impromptu phone call with a friend were the perfect nightcaps. I love snuggling up in my bed after a long day of rain and wet feet.

Don't you just want to read short stories, eat soup, drink tea, and wear sweaters?! Me too.

xo, Mel.

I love the rain the most when it stops.

I woke up at 5:26 this morning to put the finishing touches on my first article for TNGG: Boston. I'm a mess of excitement and nervousness. It's one thing to send out a piece of fiction and hope for the best, but my experience in the areas of journalism is pretty confined to my day job, which is so far removed from my actual life. So this feels bigger. And the pizza my boss provided during our lunch meeting is sitting heavy in my stomach.

Labor Day weekend ran the gamut of emotions for me. I finally got to experience Festa, the Portuguese festival in Mike's hometown. I also learned new things about the way I react in certain situations. Have I mentioned before that Mike is my first boyfriend? I've dated, I've been enamored of men, but nothing ever like this. I am head over heels, and I finally understand that being in love involves two people. It is an exchange and an agreement.

We got more stuff moved into the apartment last night, and met the neighbors across the way. I was excited to learn that we had new neighbors, and then was again disappointed when my roommate informed me they were only there for a month. I'm worried about the fate of our apartment building, our apartment, and my living situation in the next year. I cannot wait for this anxiety to subside.

Today I'm tired and overwhelmed and listening to Joe Purdy on repeat. I look forward to a weekend in Cambridge, some coffee shop nights working on editing projects, and planning a trip home to Georgia. I feel like there is so much I have yet to do, and I eagerly await the feeling of completion that never really comes.

xo, Mel.

Oh, wait, I'm turning 25!

Today there is more of the Internet saga drama, but I won't bore you with that because I have forwarded my calls to my roommate and I am trusting that she will deal with it. If she doesn't, I will deal with it next week. (Update: Since I typed this paragraph, I have learned that Comcast can't hook up a cable, our building manager is not one of my favorite people, and I have submitted an order to Verizon. I have also cried, but what else is new?) Moving on...

For now, I'm listening to the Wild and Wily Ways of a Brunette Bombshell (seriously, one of the best blogs) September playlist. It's great, and the perfect addition to a sunny day working from home, sipping an iced coffee and digesting a pumpkin donut. (I woke up to said Internet drama and while I dealt with it, Mike went out to get us breakfast and coffee. I was smiling while on hold with Comcast, which never happens. He's a miracle-worker.)

Today I am still working on my 26 by 26 list (haha Cyndi so graciously pointed out that I was making a 25 before 25 list with merely a month before I turned 25...), working from home, and getting ready for my very first Festa. I have yet to shower or brush my teeth and it's almost lunchtime.

I saw this fill-in Friday and thought I'd join in:
One thing that is completely superfluous, but that I could never give up is reading blogs.

Getting bad customer service makes me feel awkward.

I can't go a day without listening to music and singing along.

Homemade hummus and carrots are my current favorite snack.

Lately I've been applying to new jobs and daydreaming about my future.

If at first you don't succeed then you are human. Keep at it.

Fall is like home to me.

Link up here if you'd like to join in on the fill in fun!

Happy weekend. 

xo, Mel.

It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to.

I've been a little quiet today (well, quieter than usual) because I've spent most of it frustrated. News from the Comcast man (who was supposed to be our Internet savior!) was not good: The cable to our apartment had been snipped (WTF!) and so we can't have Internet hooked up until a new one is run to our apartment. Then a phone call with our slightly rude landlord or building manager set me over the edge. I want to move. I want to find a new apartment, break our lease, and settle into a little bit cheaper place with my roommates and Mike. I accept that's probably not possible. One roommate absolutely doesn't want to move, and I don't know that I want to dedicate my energy to finding a new place, convincing my roommates it's the right thing to do, and well, moving. I just have this thick, sinking feeling that this is going to be a rough year at my living situation. I know it's my fault for taking this whole Internet saga as a bad omen. I just can't wait for Mike to be there, to feel like I actually live in that apartment more than just a few days during the week.

And, yes, I would love some cheese with my whine. That said, a perhaps exciting and remarkable thing is happening tonight. At least, I hope so. I applied to write for The Next Great Generation and tonight I'm heading downtown to meet with the team. I've been toying with the idea of freelancing, of pursuing a job that exercises my writing skills more acutely, of figuring out what the hell I'm actually doing with my life. So when Jenna sent me their ad looking for young writers, I jumped at the chance. I'm excited about meeting new people that are my age  and joining a team of other writers.

After reading Thursday's 29 before 29 list, I have all kinds of ideas swirling in my head for my own list in time for my 25th birthday at the end of September. I often get in my own way when it comes to things I want and getting out of my comfort zone, and I plan to make my 25th year the one that breaks the mold. Let's be honest guys, I'm not getting any younger. All that venting begs for a picture to make it right.

Mmm. 

Beautiful sunsets

I took these one night outside of Mike's parents' house in Ludlow. We had worked all day to get their yard ready for the big family party the next day, and as we were getting ready to head out to dinner, I noticed the most beautiful light against the trees across the street. It seemed to only get more beautiful as the evening went on, so I snapped photo after photo. Why is it that the brilliance can never quite be captured?

Today we're bracing ourselves for Miss Irene, who is following up this week's earthquake for strange northeast weather.

Novel, novel, on the wall.

So I mentioned at the start of the August Break that I want to start writing a novel. Let's just say, it's not so going well. I've begun; I have three characters and a setting, but that's all I have. I am currently rethinking my plan to just hack away at it, and let it become whatever it wants to be. That mumbo jumbo doesn't sound so promising when I'm sitting down to an empty page.

I recently read Susannah Conway's post on editing a book, and it got me excited, antsy for where I'll be in a year, two years, five. I want to immerse myself in the writing of this, but I can't seem to get past the first page. That's hardly enough to dunk my head in, and yet I still feel the early sensations of drowning. To make a long story short: BLEGH.

Any writers out there with tips for outlining a novel?

A break from the August Break.

It's Monday morning. I woke up in the bed of friends for whom I'm dogsitting, Mike right beside me. At 6:56 I'm up, grabbing a plastic bag and a leash. I love early mornings, so I don't mind walking alongside Sheba as she sniffs and squats, pauses and chases a bird up ahead.

Saturday was a beach day that reminded me of summer trips to Florida with my family, spending most of the day in the water, among the waves, boogie board strapped around my wrist, hair loose around my shoulders. When was it that I started to feel compelled to lie half-naked in the sun instead of diving into the waves? We climbed the nearby rock island that you can walk to in low tide. We watched the tide approach us as the sun circled overhead. We played bocce, tossing quick and hard with each new inch the shore gained on us. I read, I napped, I floated with my ears ducked into the ocean, watching the sky and feeling water moving all around. After a shower, heated fried rice, a big bowl of ice cream with sprinkles, and a movie that made me laugh so hard I cried, we napped on the couch until 1 am, legs intertwined.

Yesterday I took four separate naps, complete with drool and legs splayed across the couch and Mike's legs as he finished up school work. I woke around 5 for a shower, a walk with the dog, and a trip to downtown JP, where Mike and I had the best quesadilla either of us has ever had. Portobello mushrooms, baby spinach, jack cheese on a spinach tortilla -- who knew? I can't wait for the final wedge we saved for tonight. I photographed side streets of JP and Mike's closed eyes, then we headed back for Bananagrams and a card game. Mike stayed up watching the Red Sox/Yankee game while I napped for a fifth time on the couch, waking only to remind him to graze my legs with his fingertips.

I'm back in the office today, relishing the quiet and hoping the hours pass quickly so I can return to my little staycation.

Sweet caroline.

Today was our group outing for work, so we met up around Fenway for lunch then headed to the ballgame. Though my boyfriend is a PE teacher (his words: "Physical educator."), I'm not exactly crazy for sports. Don't get me wrong, I'll play any game any time, but watching sports on TV or even shelling out all that cash to head to a sports game never tops my list. Aside from not offering my own credit card for the experience, I do love it. When I was a bartender I realized that I love Red Sox fans, like Celtics fans, and couldn't care less for Bruins or Patriots fans. I'm sure there's overlap, but in a group, that's always how the cards fell.

I biked home (through the fans who all at once decided the street was their territory - I almost hit a girl listening to her iPod who walked into oncoming traffic), and found another prize from a giveaway I won and four packages from Snapfish. The film I sent off to be developed is here, and I'm excited about sorting through which ones to keep, hang up, and send off to friends who'll enjoy them.

Tomorrow Mike comes! We're going to get Indian buffet for lunch, and I've been looking forward to it all week. Last night I made my own version of Trader Joe's peanut butter goodies (my favorite cookies of all time), so that recipe is coming tomorrow.

Any big plans for the weekend?

On summer heat.

"I can see the sun, but even if I cannot see the sun, I know that it exists. And to know that the sun is there -- that is living." Fydor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Except today, and for the past several days, I can see the sun. I can feel it in the mornings before I am fully awake. The fan on full blast cannot keep up with the sweat my skin produces. I read about Mississippi in an oppressive time and an oppressive heat while I bake homemade Oreos in the kitchen. I imagine I live in a time before air conditioners, before escaping to a cool restaurant was an option, before frozen pizzas from Trader Joe's would have been my dinner. I imagine every summer night feeling like it does right now, two drinks - water and wine, and cookies cooling on the counter. I prop open the window ushering in the most breeze with a block of wood whose origins are a mystery. All I know is, wherever that wood came from, I am so glad it is here. I close my eyes against the breeze, however slight, before I must open the oven to retrieve the cookies before they burn. "If you can smell whatever's in the oven and it smells good, means it's about to burn," a woman in my family once told me.

Hitting the jackpot.

I'm a pretty lucky lady. I live in an adorable, quirky apartment in my favorite part of Cambridge; I have so many friends that live within fifteen minutes of me (one that shares a door with me); I have a full-time job with great benefits and a flexible schedule that allows me ample opportunity to see the next guy on this list; I have an amazing, generous boyfriend who makes me laugh and inspires me to be kinder; and I have a bike and a whole city at my disposal.

Sometimes, especially when I don't have any money gets tight, I get all woe is me. But the truth is, I'm in the top 99th percentile for fucking lucky people, so I need to cherish it and quit my whining. What do you need to stop and smell today?

Monday, Monday.

Good morning! I'm sitting at my desk in my nicely chilled room with my boyfriend sleeping soundly in my bed next to me. I have a homemade iced coffee and a currently-digesting whole wheat waffle with Nutella in my belly. All this after a wonderful weekend? What did I ever do!

This was a jam-packed, wonderful weekend, during which I forgot to take any pictures, so you'll just have to take my word for it. Mike's big family party was on Saturday, so I spent Friday working by his parents' pool. After work we finished setting up for the party then went to dinner and to a bar to play pool and 90s songs on the jukebox. On Saturday we set up the final touches for the party, and I went to pick up Meg from the bus station. The party started at two and we didn't leave until 1030. There were about 200 people there, and I finally got to meet more of Mike's family. I must say it feels amazing to actually know and love my boyfriend's family. I've been in some strange dating situations before, where I felt like a separate part of someone's life, and finally being with someone who is so excited to integrate me into their family is so refreshing.

We played Left/Right/Center, a gambling dice game, and I won the first round! Forty-eight bucks that went toward Mike's and my Sunday morning brunch. After brunch we headed over to Mike's aunt's house for a cousin's birthday. We played HORSE in the pool because they have a real basketball goal at the end of their pool, and I haven't had that much fun playing HORSE, uuum, ever. We got back last night and finished planning out the rest of our weekends for the summer. There's camping, Six Flags, and a trip to Rhode Island to visit his aunt (I'm all for free weekends!). I feel champagne drunk after such a wonderful weekend, which is taking the edge off of meeting my new landlord today, who is raising our rent by almost 50%.

How's your Monday shaping up?

PS - Thank you to everyone who followed the link to my first Sometimes Sweet journal entry on the one thing I know for sure! It's always encouraging to know I'm not the only one struggling with post-college WTFs.

Word-filled Wednesday.

I keep seeing Mostly Wordless Wednesday around my daily blog reads, but due to my lack of a sophisticated digital camera, I have to go the opposite direction and start my series of word-filled Wednesdays. 


I never thought I'd say this, but thank god for pop-in-your-window air conditioners. This has been the first week of complaint-worthy heat in Boston (although really, it's the first week of it so we still shouldn't complain), and it feels mighty fine to wake up dry rather than floating in a puddle of my own sweat. Besides, this way my comforter doesn't get all lonely and sad through the summer months, right? Okay, I'll turn it down next time. I know that this love affair will be less romantic once the electricity bill rolls in, but let a girl enjoy her summer fling for just a couple days. It's all I ask.

I also ask that the management company that just purchased my building be nice to us: Give us our current rent price for August; replace the broken screens in the kitchen; clean up the trash situation downstairs; send the rats and their babies on their way; fix the lock on the front door. Our rent is going up $600 in about a month (oh, so that's the downside to living month-to-month!), and I'm trying to stay on the bright side. Now we have a real resource to fix things rather than some guy who comes by once a month to pick up our checks in person. Yeah, it's a little shady. Maybe we'll even get a fan in our bathroom! (Massachusetts tenant law actually mandates this, isn't that awesome?) So despite the complete gap between expected rent in October when Mike moves in and reality, I'm trying not to think about how broke I'll be for the rest of my life. See? I'm thinking positive.

In other (good) news, I started The Help Kathryn Stockett on the train this morning. I'm only in the second chapter and already it feels like I've been having this conversation all my life. The narrator has a strong voice, and I look forward to all the others. The book came strongly recommended by my roommate Meg, so I'm glad that I actually like it. It would have made for a very awkward living situation if I hated it.

In the office today and very much looking forward to a drink at Tia's on the Water tomorrow night with old coworkers then heading to Western Mass for an early start to my weekend! How's the view from your hump day?

Daytrippin'

A couple months ago, Mike and I took a day trip up (over?) to Rockport, MA. He's lived in Western Mass for his entire life except for a brief stint in Rockport during middle school. It was a quick drive from Boston, and it felt like we'd traveled a little bit back in time. The busy summer season hadn't begun yet, so there weren't too many people to wade through as we explored Bearskin Neck (which I kept messing up and called Breakneck...) and the shops that were actually open. We ate at a little cafe (the cut off building in that first picture) before heading over to Halibut Point. One of my favorite parts about Massachusetts and New England in general is the range of experiences in such close proximity. I live in the city but quaint northeast towns such as Rockport are a quick drive away. 

Rockport's famous for Motif No.1, the red barn pictured above. It's featured in postcards, souvenirs, and beach condo paintings throughout the town. My favorite part were the boat name puns. This great view is courtesy of a little kitchen supply store's back porch. 

Mike and I walked around Rockport for a while and he showed me some of his old middle school stomping grounds like the park where he got hit in the face with a stick and lost his front tooth. After goofing off and reminiscing, we headed to Halibut Point. It's about a fifteen minute drive and it's well worth the trip. The reflections of the sky in the reservoir were breathtaking and there are so many spots to lie down and take in the view. And, you know, take pictures.

At Bearskin Neck.

Mike's taking some summer classes online for his Master's, and his most recent assignment was to create a newsletter telling the class about himself. One of my favorite quotes from it (I'm the resident proofreader) was, "While photography isn't really my thing, I love having goofy pictures taken of me." So, in case you didn't believe him.

I'm looking forward to more trips to the coastal towns in Massachusetts. I love the luxury of day trips, exploring without having to spring for a hotel or plane ticket. Hopefully next time we can bring our bikes and race around the reservoir.

What are some of your favorite local spots?