here i am

One of my biggest resolutions for 2011 (and hopefully forever) is to be present. To enjoy the place I'm in and the people I am with without distraction, devices, or diversions.

Image by Farouche

florida keys

Did you hear about the mysterious grand piano that has appeared on a sandbar in Biscayne Bay? No one knows how it got there. (Editorial note: this is not a photo of the piano in question, but it's what I was imagining.) See the full story on CNN.

Image via We Heart It

turn around bright eyes

"Total Eclipse of The Heart"-A Visual Guide. Love.

From here via Jezebel

turning pages

"Woke up this morning with a terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read."

-Raymond Carver

Image via We Heart It

let there be light

Edison lamps give off such a soft pretty light and I think it's about time I have one of my very own. Been eyeing this one of late.

rolling in the deep

Song of the day. From the fabulous Adele.

pho sure

Being sickedy sick sick for the last few days I keep turning to the healing powers of pho. The delicious Vietnamese noodle soup that I get to customize with lots of lime, basil, jalapenos, and enough sriracha to make your eyes water. I swear it can heal all the ails you. (Well, not quite as much as Carnegie Deli matzo ball soup, but a very close second.) A round-up:

Pho Cafe-My all time favorite and worth the pilgrimage to Silver Lake

Absolutely Phobulous-best for take out

Pho Saigon-Good no-nonsense spot close to home

9021pho-convenient spot to pop in for a weekend lunch

without a hitch

Tying the knot anytime soon? Some of my favorite ladies are putting on this bridal shindig out at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs in two weeks. It's going to be total wedding porn gorgeousness.

preemptive strike

Check out this sweetness. This guy is sending out notes to his future wife, whoever she may be. Some of my favorites:

AT THE MOVIES You can share my peanut M&M’s, but you better act fast.

USUAL If I’m coming to meet you or pick you up and I happen to stop for coffee, I’ll pick up your usual…with some extra of that stuff you put in it.

I CAN’T Time my airport pickup so you see me standing like an emo statue at the top of the escalator but I’ll be there, somewhere. Airports confuse me.

IT JUST SNOWED Walk in my footprints.

To My Wife via A Cup of Jo

ahem

I have that cold that everyone has so I'm not feeling so great. But I do kind of love what it's doing to my voice. There a nice grit to it, kind of like Phoebe had on "Friends" when she was singing her gravelly voiced version of Smelly Cat.

Hot Water Bottle Cover by Prudent Baby

sad days

On KCRW this morning they told the story of one of the victims of the terrible tragedy in Arizona, Dorwin Stoddard, and it moved me to tears. Mr. Stoddard was 76 years old and had married his wife when they were in their 60s after a lifetime of friendship. He died shielding her from the gunfire. My thoughts and heart go out to all the victims of this senseless act and their grieving families.

Image via Minnie Chan

old friends

Image via Nerd Boyfriend

a lyric a day

Love A Lyric a Day where every day artist Lukes Beard creates a new piece inspired by music.

Damien Rice, Radiohead and Pink Floyd images by Lukes Beard

this one has the magic

I just finished reading Patti Smith's memoir, "Just Kids", about her time living in Manhattan with Robert Mapplethorpe. Its a lyrical tale of their love and friendship, bohemian life at the Hotel Chelsea and the steps that led to their emergence as artists. Tender and honest, I tore through the book in a weekend and finished it with tears streaming down my face.

We used to laugh at our small selves, saying that I was a bad girl trying to be good and that he was a good boy trying to be bad. Through the years these roles would reverse, then reverse again, until we came to accept our dual natures. We contained opposing principles, light and dark.

-Patti Smith

Image via Darla Teagarden

the world spins madly on

Thanks to a lovely Christmas gift from my parents, I am the proud owner of a new record player. I went out yesterday to scour for albums at Amoeba and picked out some basics to get me started: Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Patsy Cline, The Beach Boys, Belle and Sebastian and Willie Nelson. There is something so comforting about putting a record on and just letting it play, not frantically shuffling through songs to get to what you are looking for. My ipod is going to take a break for awhile.

Image via We Heart It

rip kodachrome

Image by The Kodachrome Project

happy new year!

Cheers to 2011, lovelies!