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Monday morning

1. Obsessed with Amy Winehouse. She was very talented.

2. So happy it's raining. Finally.

3. Going to be a good week ... I hope!

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Italo

Italo and I went out for a ride tonight with a friend of a friend (who is now ... my friend?). It was such an awesome ride, I'm so happy. And tired. Too tired to write more, but will sleep hard dreaming of the next D.C. ride.

New Music

Oh, how could I have abandoned Pandora for so long?

I just heard this guy on Pandora this morning (my "Iron and Wine" channel). His name is Nick Takénobu Ogawa and he plays "modern cello" music. I really like it! It's him singing and playing cello. Quiet, minimalist, calming. This is for YOU, all you people studying for the bar.

Enjoy!

He has two albums out, of which you can hear one of them in full on his website.

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D.C. splatter

So much to say, and yet, I'm not sure if I want to say anything because I don't know where to start. So ... here's some mushy brain splatter:

Joined a gym. I'm just so thankful I can run in cool AC, I don't even care that I'm using a stinking treadmill. I actually think I am motivated to run longer because it means I get to stay in the coolness longer. Don't get me wrong. I still sweat like a maniac. The gym also has great perks: good hours, towels/bathroom stuff, yoga, bikes, spin, other classes, foam roller (My BFF), the - ahem - spa area: 3 separate saunas, this rock amphi-theatre seating thing that's heated rocks. I guess you lie on it and it feels good to have hard warm surface on your post-workout muscles? There is also this shower thing where you stand under the water but the faucet makes it feel like it's gently raining on you. There are hot and cold rain showers. A-mazing. Will try tomorrow and report back.

People here (in D.C.) ask weird questions and are super career-oriented. After work, people talk about work. People establish within 5 minutes what your job is, where you went to college, and what you see yourself doing in 5 years. I especially like, "What's your dream job?" Cookie-cutters make boring art. Not sure I'll fit in for the long haul, but still giving it a go for now.

I have been working hard to save money. This calls for drastic measures like no cheese or meat and lots of biking in absurdly hot 100 degree/80% humidity. Speaking of, I got a flat tire on Rhode Island Ave the other night as I was sprinting home in the first drops of a massive thunder/lightning storm. Made it home, but had to change the flat this morning. It was the back tire, too, so I was particularly proud of myself. Don't ask me how long it took.

Take note: when you live in a swamp and you leave your wet laundry in the washer overnight, it will smell like nasty mildew after you eventually take it out of the dryer. I had to wash it all again, it was so gross. Thankfully, laundry is free.

Our downstairs basement neighbors smoke pot and play video games all day. No really, ALL DAY. I can't believe anyone smokes pot that much. I now can believe, however, that video games lead to seriously violent people. The pot smell comes up through the vents to my 3rd floor bedroom. Unfortunately, very unfortunately, I have to walk through their apartment to get to the laundry. Most unfortunately, I saw the dude pulling up his pants and jump off the couch. Gross.

The all-important question: Do you have a job? No jobbie, yet. But I'm feeling encouraged after a few "nibbles", as my grandmother likes to call them. My grandma is 94, lives alone, is sharp as ever, but quite hard of hearing. This is how our phone conversations go:

G: Any good news?

C: No, nothing yet.

G: I said, did you have any nibbles?

C: Nope, no nibbles.

G: Huh?

C: Increased volume and slowed word speed. NOoooo.

G: Wait, hold on. High-pitched squeal of hearing aid tuning. Any good news?

C: Screaming as loud as possible, NO, I ... DON'T ... HAVE ... A JOB!, which, for the record, in one's own head sounds like "I ... AM ... A ... LOSER."

Good times.

In a word

As you know, I love words, linguistics, languages, puns, word games, etc. I used the word Trist today, and then realized I should look it up because I wasn't clear on its meaning. I was not disappointed! This is such an interesting word that inherently captures many complexities. I shall use it more liberally:

Trist

Trist\, n.

1. Trust.
2. A post, or station, in hunting.
3. A secret meeting, or the place of such meeting; a tryst.

Trist

Trist\, a.

1. Sad; sorrowful; gloomy.

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You try

" If you could send me your resume and a few lines describing your background and interests (two-three sentences is good :) ) that would be helpful!"

Hm. My whole life and future in 2-3 sentences? Tough assignment. My answer:

I am interested in the intersection of development and ethics (How can we ensure international development is done ethically? How can we help develop ethical people?). My interest has led me to work in different substantive fields, of which I am drawn most toward public health, economic, and political development.

You try. It's hard!

Economics & Ethics.

I think this guy is ridiculously smart and can communicate his ideas well. Some gems from this 24 minute lecture (although, I highly recommend you listen to it all):

• "Obviously these ideas may seem a bit unconventional" Response?: "I would hope so."
• Economics started as a subset of philosophy (e.g. When is it okay to steal?)
• Economic growth is a function of ethics (See Old Testament.)
• Personal ethics is vital to market & politics
• I would like to add a philosophical base to the market.
• The Greek word for "debt" is the same word for "sin" ... "so it's kind of funny that this happened to Greece."

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I have always loved this quote - saw it through a bakery window in Cambridge.


You know you're in Boston when...


Dad's flowers.


Cool bike. Would have been cooler without the three cars in the photo.



Love this photo of a perfect summer afternoon nap.


Home. 1639 is so old!


Found you, Mr. Snail! Probably the size of my pinkie fingernail.

Trash

I pick up trash when I'm out running. Usually, I do it on the Cape because it's pretty clean here and I want it to stay that way. I saw two people (men - one young, one old!) on my run this morning who had picked up trash while they were out for a walk. I dig it. Keeping it real...

...meanwhile, this running thing is kicking my butt. I love it.