khaela & miranda.

It only makes sense that Miranda July and Khaela Maricich (The Blow) are good friends and stage ridiculously quirky and charming interviews with each other. Of course it also makes sense that Khaela interviews her song instead of, well...I don't know what.

And it makes sense that instead of doing the dishes and picking my perfect outfit to wear to see The Blow tonight, I am reading interviews and updating this.

It makes sense that on the day I am to see Khaela play, I also returned the Miranda July book to the library. Although some of the stories were much better than others, when I finished it I felt kind of sad. It was that whole What am I going to read now? feeling. (The New Yorker? Gosh, the New Yorker is like a second job.) And it's sad to return a book when you meant to write down more quotes from it to remember it by. I only got one:

Past a certain age, they give up on the name games, which is regrettable for someone like me who loves anything that involves going around a circle and saying something about yourself. I wish there was a class where we could just keep going around the circle, around and around, until we had finally said everything about ourselves.

[From No One Belongs Here More Than You, by Miranda July]

it's a little weird that you're so obsessed with squirrels.

You seem like a nice guy and all, and I hate to be the one to tell you this, but...well, here goes. It's a little weird that you're so obsessed with squirrels. Everyone has their interests, and sometimes quirky interests are endearing, but the squirrel obsession is a bit much. Sure, squirrels are kind of funny and entertaining, for a few minutes, but the average person's interest stops there. But not for you - you take pictures, you name them, you take some more pictures. It's like you don't realize that most squirrels look the same. What's even worse is that your obsession with photographing squirrels isn't a little-known secret on your hard drive, it's all over the internet, so anyone who comes across it knows you're crazy. Oh gee, I'm sorry. That's a little harsh. But it is a little weird, that's all I'm saying. Do you really want to be that guy who's obsessed with squirrels?

home stretch.

On running:
The marathon is now only 18 days away. Eeek. We finished our last long run, 20 miles, on Saturday. We ran (and ran and ran and ran) and reminisced about how far we've come. Remember that awful 12 mile run way back in July? I'll spare you from going into the super cheesy bit about how proud I am of myself and yadda yadda. As crazy as it sounds, getting up early on Saturdays to run a for few hours has become pretty normal and almost addicting. That said, I'm really happy to be getting a slight break from it. Only 10-12 miles this weekend! Woo!

On reading:
I signed up for a MPR membership way back in June, partly because I had been meaning to for a while, but mostly because I wanted a subscription to The New Yorker. And FINALLY, it's here...just when I have no time to read it. Never mind that I'd go to the library specifically to page through it over the summer....but it's still lovely to have around. I'm also working on No One Belongs Here More Than You (Miranda July). It's good before bed stuff.

Other:
Fall is almost here, so I guess that means it's the perfect time to get a cold. So. Awesome.

The fleeting colors of summer are just a reminder of what's to come. I can't wait.

open letters to food.

Dear Almonds,

You are so delicious, and yet you will prove to be the death of my bank account. I just can't help it. I always buy you from bulk bins for at least $8 a pound, and your goodness comes pouring out and before I know it, I've spent $11 on almonds that I can eat in a week! Why can't you be priced more like a peanut?

Yours for richer or poorer,
e


Dear Apples,

Sometimes I forget how delicious you are. I'm truly sorry for that. I also understand where the term "bad apple" comes from. But the apple I ate today, you are a good apple. I look forward to eating you while walking, because for some reason that is really fun. And sexy.

Fashionably,
e(ve)


Dear Grilled Cheese with Sharp Cheddar,

You are possibly the most versatile sandwich in the world. You are good with mustard, you are good with tomatoes, you are good with avocado, and you are splendid with the aforementioned apples. Is there anything you can't do?

Lovingly,
e


Dear Body,

Thank you for putting up with my many miles of running, which in turn lets me eat anything I want.

Gluttonly,
e

busy.

The problem with teaching is that you can prepare everything for the first day down to the minute, you can put on a cute outfit and actually wear makeup to work, and the end of it you can think to yourself, "well, that went pretty well." And it's not until 4:15, over 90 minutes since the kids left that you realize you still have the rest of the week, the rest of the month, the rest of the entire school year.

So, if any poor soul is wondering why this is never updated anymore, it's because I'm exhausted from working from 7-5 and then running afterward. Yawn.

I love it when my yahoo horoscope recommends that I exercise more. Hah!

aimless day.

The last day of summer, by my measurement, calls for bike rides to get brunch. It calls for biking fast down to the river. It calls for getting a mimosa with eggs even though that's a bit ridiculous. It does not call for my pedal falling off my bike on the way home. I could blame the situation on the less than stellar craigslist bike, but whatever, the story I'm sticking to is like this: DUDES. I biked so hard I broke my bike.

Other tidbits:
- I'm addicted to Scrabble on facebook.
- Running is sucking, and I miss it.
- Work, dear god. Goodbye, daytime internetting.