Lunch with Friends. And, Coffee in a Mug.

I love having lunch with friends during the work day.  This is a lunch that I look forward to.  It reminds me that there is a world outside these walls, a world outside the career-hungry and the phones ringing off the hook and the endless inundation of emails.  It is at this lunch, where I feel most uninhibited; the hour is fleeting.

Coffee in a mug means that you are not on the go, you have the time to enjoy a cup of coffee in the comfort of your own home or the home of a dear friend.  It means you are not rushed, you are not getting back into the car to commute to some far-off place.

You are taking the time to drink this cup of coffee.  I add my cream, I add my sugar.

Gotta go.  Putting on a fresh pot.

The City and Country Beaux. And, COTW of TV.

The City and Country Beaux, Francis William Edmonds. [http://www.metmuseum.org/special/americanstories/objectView.aspx?oid=3&sid=3]

Consider the above painting (it's currently on exhibit at the LACMA). Reflective of society at the time, Edmonds' portrayal illustrated the rivalry that existed among the city and the countryside folk in the mid-19th century.

The woman has two suitors, the gentleman from the countryside sitting off to the side of the room, and the gentleman from the city off to the right, more sharply dressed. The orientation of the city gentleman in closer proximity to the woman, suggests that she may prefer the city man as opposed to the more brutish countryman, whom sits with a more crude posture and is juxtaposed next to the door, suggesting that he's likely on his way out.

Interesting. Something to think about.



COTW [crush-of-the-week] Stylewatch
The sources of inspiration for this edition of COTW has derived from fictional characters prevalent in television. Let's take a look, shall we?

Toofer, 30 Rock. Clean, sophisticated, fresh. Preppy. [Photo: http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/30-rock/photos/281135/95866]

Vincent Chase, Entourage. He doesn't make all the most fashionable choices, however, he is constantly rockin' the bedhead-and-I-did-not-put-any-effort-in-dressing-myself-yet-it-looks-nice-on-me look.  Must be the babe magnet quality of nonchalant confidence.

Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lots of black and leather. A tall glass of dark and brooding.

Shawn Hunter, Boy Meets World. It was the hair. All about the hair

On a completely unrelated note, Javier Bardem works at Porto's Bakery in Burbank. OKAY - it's not Javier, but someone who looks a lot like him. Is he attractive because he looks like Javier Bardem, or is Javier Bardem attractive only because he's Javier Bardem?

American Stories.

American Stories is currently on exhibit at the LACMA.

Lilly Martin Spencer, one of the few female painters whom rose to prominence in the 19th century, played with different roles of women in her work - not just depicting the idealized version heralded by society.

Turns out, she got married but still pursued her art career. Her husband, a tailor, basically gives up his job to help her in her professional endeavors. She struggled financially throughout her career, but did not stray. The stories she told in her work were witty, amusing, and held a deeper understanding than met the eye.
[Photo: http://www.metmuseum.org/special/americanstories/objectView.aspx?sid=3&oid=24]

COTW [crush-of-the-week]

Guys in the suit-and-sneakers combo. Fully decked out in the black-and-white suit, but paired with a set of clean kicks. Mixes the debonair and the sporty. Genius.

My friend tells me this is the historic brainchild of designer John Varvatos.

Going Against the Natural Order of Things.

I finished my session of improv class. It has been - a struggle, frankly, from start to finish.

My natural instincts tell me to sit back and watch someone else perform. They tell me not to get up on stage; I can feel my body and the core of my being having a visceral reaction - resisting, not wanting to be the center of attention. Yet I am still here; I have voluntarily put myself in a position of discomfort.
Crazy. Doesn't make any sense. For some reason my paths have led me here.

No pain, no gain, I suppose?

I won't know unless I try it. If there could be a mild version of cringing that happens internally, that's what I experienced. When you knowingly face adversity of some sort, or, get out of your comfort zone, it makes you feel nervous. Anxious, intimidated. A visibly discernible uphill battle looming before you.

People do that sometimes. Some people put you in an uncomfortable position, challenge you, or pressure you to be someone they can look up to. Others may dare you to make awkward conversation amidst moments of uneasiness.

Sometimes you can strike unlikely friendships that you'd never imagine coming into fruition, especially with personalities that stand in stark contrast to each other. Yet, somehow, it happens, defying expectations and logic.

I'd like to believe I'm the type of person to give things (and people) a chance, regardless of comfort level. That the impossible, and the unimaginable, are attainable.

Many things remain to be seen. Can't wait.

It's never too late to refute the natural order of things.

It's All Happening, and Focus, Baby!

What is going on? Stuff has been happening - all at the same time, of course.

My friend gets hit by a car. My other friend's father passes away. I catch a virus and I am 'man down' for nearly a week. Stay Healthy, Friends! (And Stay Home and Get Better!) Have been doing quite a bit of thinking (more than usual) which I think has me on cerebral overload.

[the situation]
So I finally get a chance to do small talk with 'Face.' He has changed his hair and now it's, well, not pretty. A dose of reality hits when the awkwardness of the conversation gets all up in there. Must find out if he has a girlfriend. And how old he is. But in the reverse order. Reminds of me of that "If...then" clause from algebra - or was it trig?

AND THEN 'Boy #2' steps in and we start chatting. Boy #2 is not my type, and you'd expect someone with his frame to be of a burly and belligerent disposition, however, this is not the case. I detect him carefully choosing his words for a moment, and I sense his serious and sensitive side. Whaaaaat ? I know! Didn't see that coming.

COTW [crush-of-the-week]
I've been paying more attention to the fact that there is at least one positive quality in every person that I meet, that I like about them. At least one trait that stands out, or that I think, in a way, fall in love with that they have this quality. This must be at least partially the source of my perpetually changing COTW, I suppose.

In other news, it has been brought to my attention that a certain birthday is approaching. I will have to adjust the age range of the profile of my current 'type' accordingly.

CWMM[conversations-with-my-mother]*new entry!
"Hello, daughter."
"Hi, Mom."
"Everything okay?"
"Yes, everything's fine. Everything okay with you and everyone back home?"
"Yeah, yeah. (pause) So, did you find a boy YET?" (Note: inflection is placed on the word "YET.")

And it starts.

Focus, Baby!
Much to do this week, researching a few professional arenas of my life, as well as doing some very well-procrastinated writing! Hoping to finish some projects for a couple of approaching deadlines.

Must cut back on fun, and put my nose back to the grindstone! So many distractions lately. Trying to remind myself: Writers write!
"So, you going to hang out with us?"
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I need to pursue my dreams."
"Oh. Can't you pursue your dreams during the week?"
"No. I cannot."