Livin Is (too) Easy

Since I have been home, I have done very few things. This is the problem with a vacation. I do some work, mainly on the curriculum that I'm designing, but other than that, I do a big wad of nothing all day. It has gotten difficult to rouse myself in the morning unless there are some kind of definite plans for the day. The only motivation when I'm at CA's is to leave and get something done before he returns HOME from work. If I'm at my place, I'll be lucky to go get a cup of coffee from the pot that turns on AUTOMATICALLY. I know, pathetic.

But, there have definitely been some highlights. First of all, let me ode my coffee pot which grinds and brews and has a thermal pot so that I don't have to worry about my coffee getting burned. It is delicious and mainly, when I wake up in the morning, I have something that gets me jazzed up about my day.

Secondly, I have been reading some really excellent books. I whirl-windedly finished a book called "The Writing Class" which was a great murder mystery and spoke about everything that one really does encounter in a writing class, even though this one was an extension class and not a college one. Either way, it fit perfectly. I also have been reading a piece called "The City of Dreaming Books" whose category I cannot yet name. Either way, it's amazing. It's about a dinosaur and a quest and a city made of books and a scary man made of books and catacombs and...well, it's got illustrations but it's for adults. It's really quite good.

Thirdly, I went to see the Coldplay concert on Tuesday night with CA. Initially, I was skeptical as Coldplay is listed as one of the things that "white people like" (which would also be a book that I recently read--the online list does not include Coldplay, cheese or spirituality, all three of which made me crack up and cringe simultaneously) and I was a late-comer to the Coldplay fandom. However, the concert was honestly one of the best shows that I've seen in years. I'm still unclear how the band was able to make the United Center feel like a small auditorium or why I am so easily seduced with good music and shiny lights (come on, they had lazers! but not corny ones, good ones...if that can be explained?). Either way, it was a great show and as the website predicts, we were one of many white people there. All dressed alike. I hate when I fall into my own stereotype.

Fourthly, The Dark Knight and all it's goddamn glory. Oh my god it was amazing. It took me almost a full day to process just how much I loved the movie. I walked out of there feeling totally comfortable with having spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon watching it. Moreover, I didn't feel like I knew the actors, at all. I felt like I knew the characters. No one was playing a part; they were a part. The build-up of Ledger was fine--because he was incredible. The gadgets were sweet (and speaking of gadgets, there was the absolutely awesome-looking preview for the next James Bond movie; I'm still unclear what "Quantum of Solace" means, but I'm okay with it for now) and everything felt real and believable. And crazy. (Ie who the hell puts a cell phone inside of a person?)

Fifthly (maybe I should have done this bullet-point style) and continuing on the things that I love that that stupid list tells me people love too was Juno. I watched it with KB the other day and cried, laughed and of course, was obsessed with the soundtrack and bought it on vinyl. The movie was really well done though, and made me pine for the days of fall.

Sixthly, things I have paid for or paid too much for and am completely content with the fact that I did:

• The books mentioned above (Writing Class, Dreaming Books) were both full-price hard-covers. But completely worth it.
• Gone out to lunch 10,000 times with KB.
• I got a lovely manicure and pedicure at nailbar and although I am SURE I paid way too much for it, it's been almost a week and neither has worn off, despite doing a grossly-couple-y thing and working out together with Craig several times this week.
• Vinyl records including an original of Bob Dylan's "Time's They Are a Changin'" and the soundtrack to Juno.
• Ticket to Atlanta for the FSU/GT game. I know, I know. But, it's the weekend of CA's birthday and this is what he wants to do. I am hoping I'll get to see SMB when I'm down there, and also importantly, I'll be meeting his friends. It's been almost two years and I've not really met any of his friends from "home."
• Gambling at the bluechip in Indiana. Trashtastic.

Seventhly, and finally, I watched the Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog which was incredible. Buy it on iTunes and watch it 10,000 times. It's hilarious. As S said, they were not prepared for their success, but it's hilarious nonetheless. Think Will Ferrell's The Landlord, but on a funnier, more massive scale. Just superb. The other superb thing about that night was hanging out with S. As always, she is incredible. And has a new blog. Which is awesome.

Okay, finally, for real, as much as I sometimes (okay, pretty much every much every month that he bills over 150 hours and is there all the time) rag on CA's job, lately it has been awesome--mainly because they're courting the summers. So there's been a swank-dinner (which involved lots of red wine and me talking to people who sit on the board at St. Ignatious--the private school I'd love to teach in if I ever left Jewish education/middle school), a cubs game (which is tomorrow!) and circ di solei (I know, I can't spell) and much more. Sometimes, there are benefits to the job. (Note, picture is not from this evening but from another evening of awesome).

Bascially, I'm trying to use up the summer. Hopefully, I'll continue to do it successfully.