day ten: a beautiful walk to the bus stop.
day ten: the bus stop.31 March 2009
29 March 2009
27 March 2009
love letter.
last weekend, emily, rachel & i spent the weekend in philly. i arrived via greyhound friday night and just as we started rolling in, i could feel the energy of the city. i hadn't felt that energy in too long, at least not since visiting chicago.
i've always been drawn to the energy of big cities, but will never reconcile my midwestern compassion and 'wholesomeness.' in the past, chicago has had my heart - and i think the most appealing thing to me was that it was in the midwest, thus close to my family. i've also been sort of a wanderer, according to my sister...always searching for something. the next big thing, i'd like to think. first, it was indianapolis, then back to iowa, then spain, then back to iowa...and now, the district. at this point, i don't see a move back to iowa on the horizon...or anywhere in my plan (though numerous visits every year will be an asbolute necessity in order to stay sane). i have recently been learning to live here. the spring breeze and sunshine have definitely shone a different light on our nation's capital. couple that with my wonderful boyfriend and beautiful friends, things get much, much brighter.
d.c. is much like a town...just bigger. it buzzes, but with a totally different energy than a big city. not good or bad, just different. philly gave off every vibe of being a big city. i had no expectations of philly, other than it would provide me with a really good time with two of my favorite people in the entire world. it was much bigger than i expected, artsier than i thought, funkier, cheaper, grittier, more beautiful...etc. it really surpassed any assumed expectations that could have possibly arisen on my first trip to philadelphia. philadelphia really won my heart over. i think for the first time, i can say that i am desperately enamored with philadelphia, p.a. yep, it's true. i said it.
i am no longer questioning why philly was so appealing to me when john & i were planning our escape route from iowa.
i've always been drawn to the energy of big cities, but will never reconcile my midwestern compassion and 'wholesomeness.' in the past, chicago has had my heart - and i think the most appealing thing to me was that it was in the midwest, thus close to my family. i've also been sort of a wanderer, according to my sister...always searching for something. the next big thing, i'd like to think. first, it was indianapolis, then back to iowa, then spain, then back to iowa...and now, the district. at this point, i don't see a move back to iowa on the horizon...or anywhere in my plan (though numerous visits every year will be an asbolute necessity in order to stay sane). i have recently been learning to live here. the spring breeze and sunshine have definitely shone a different light on our nation's capital. couple that with my wonderful boyfriend and beautiful friends, things get much, much brighter.
d.c. is much like a town...just bigger. it buzzes, but with a totally different energy than a big city. not good or bad, just different. philly gave off every vibe of being a big city. i had no expectations of philly, other than it would provide me with a really good time with two of my favorite people in the entire world. it was much bigger than i expected, artsier than i thought, funkier, cheaper, grittier, more beautiful...etc. it really surpassed any assumed expectations that could have possibly arisen on my first trip to philadelphia. philadelphia really won my heart over. i think for the first time, i can say that i am desperately enamored with philadelphia, p.a. yep, it's true. i said it.
i am no longer questioning why philly was so appealing to me when john & i were planning our escape route from iowa.
26 March 2009
25 March 2009
24 March 2009
23 March 2009
the 25th year.
saturday was my 24th birthday. happy birthday to me.
the 24 things i'd like to do before i turn 25, you ask?
1. take a photo a day for the next 365 days.
2. order moo minicards.
3. go to the dupont circle farmer's market.
4. have a little bonbons@ show.
5. volunteer at the SITAR arts center.
6. start an extended yogaworks teacher training.
7. open my sketchbook twice a week.
8. visit jaclyn.
9. carve out a place just to create.
10. get in a photobooth...somewhere, somehow.
11. spend ((another)) weekend in philadelphia with little sarah.
12. write in a journal. weekly, at least.
13. send mailart.
14. start my days with a yoga practice.
15. travel to iowa...twice, maybe even thrice.
16. see my brother tony after a 2-year hiatus.
17. sample all of the cupcake shops in d.c.
18. cough up the $24.95 for flickr pro.
19. dust off the polaroid and scrounge around for some film. use.
20. take on the 'agressive thrill rides at hershey park with the muskateers.
21. go to the roots picnic festival.
22. spend christmas in iowa.
23. figure out the next step.
24. go on a yoga retreat with mary beth.
inspired by the list-maker of all time, hulagirl.
the 24 things i'd like to do before i turn 25, you ask?
1. take a photo a day for the next 365 days.
2. order moo minicards.
3. go to the dupont circle farmer's market.
4. have a little bonbons@ show.
5. volunteer at the SITAR arts center.
6. start an extended yogaworks teacher training.
7. open my sketchbook twice a week.
8. visit jaclyn.
9. carve out a place just to create.
10. get in a photobooth...somewhere, somehow.
11. spend ((another)) weekend in philadelphia with little sarah.
12. write in a journal. weekly, at least.
13. send mailart.
14. start my days with a yoga practice.
15. travel to iowa...twice, maybe even thrice.
16. see my brother tony after a 2-year hiatus.
17. sample all of the cupcake shops in d.c.
18. cough up the $24.95 for flickr pro.
19. dust off the polaroid and scrounge around for some film. use.
20. take on the 'agressive thrill rides at hershey park with the muskateers.
21. go to the roots picnic festival.
22. spend christmas in iowa.
23. figure out the next step.
24. go on a yoga retreat with mary beth.
inspired by the list-maker of all time, hulagirl.
17 March 2009
i-80
please check out apartment therapy's post about the WORLD'S LARGEST TRUCK STOP...in IOWA!
i've always known about it, but for those of you who don't...bone up.
an iowan through and through.
i've always known about it, but for those of you who don't...bone up.
an iowan through and through.
11 March 2009
(( t o d a y ))
this walking wednesday turned out to be absolutely perfect. i have dedicated the last few wednesdays to walking (i ride my bike everywhere on any other given day) and i've found myself camped out at tryst, the hip(ster) coffee joint in adams morgan. it's really close to perfect (no coffee shop will ever top iowa city's java house) and i spend the day perusing the internet, doing what i call "research" and blogging. i thought today would be a different day. i have worked every day straight since last wednesday and my body was just exhausted. then i woke up with one of my wretched, paralyzing headaches, so i was convinced the day was over. after spending a couple more hours in bed, g-chatting and "researching," i put on my new boyfriend levi's, jewelry galore and red flats to meet one of my dearest friends, sara b., for lunch. i walked, because it's wednesday, and that's just what i do.
busboys and poets, it was. which made for the perfect lunch of girl-talk and an early birthday gift from sara to me. she found a print on etsy by an artist named jess gonacha and framed it. it is absolutely perfect and couldn't ask for a better friend. she knows me so well. strangely enough, i wrote a blog about jess gonacha last spring. her work is beautiful.
when i got home, i opened the mailbox, only to find another birthday gift:
(courtesy of the larues! and rose la biche)
thank you! thank you! thank you!
today was a good walking wednesday.
busboys and poets, it was. which made for the perfect lunch of girl-talk and an early birthday gift from sara to me. she found a print on etsy by an artist named jess gonacha and framed it. it is absolutely perfect and couldn't ask for a better friend. she knows me so well. strangely enough, i wrote a blog about jess gonacha last spring. her work is beautiful.
when i got home, i opened the mailbox, only to find another birthday gift:
(courtesy of the larues! and rose la biche)
thank you! thank you! thank you!
today was a good walking wednesday.
09 March 2009
25.
as the start of my 25th year of life quickly approaches ((next weekend)), i couldn't think of a better time to do this. so, here it is, 25 random things about yours truly.
1)) i was born 1 month and three days late, weighing over 10lbs.
2)) i am truly halfrican, or african & american...my mother is congolese (zaire) and my father is small town iowa.
3)) i have 30-year-old twin brothers that are strippers in vegas and whom i desperately wish were still a huge part of my life.
4)) i am the proud aunt of 4 nephews and a niece. i don't think i could love any child as much as i love these ones...
5)) 2 of the said children are actually my cousin's children, who by my congolese culture's standards, is my brother.
6)) my 33-year-old sister is my absolute best friend in the whole world and no one could fill her shoes.
7)) 25% of my left ear drum was ruptured in 8th grade and i am still hesitant when people talk to me on that side.
8)) my freshman and sophomore year of college, i wore double-popped-collar polo shirts, abercrombie jeans, and coach purses. then i transferred.
9)) i played d-1 volleyball, started in 31 of 32 games and averaged almost 4 digs per game, which put me at 9th on the single-season charts.
10) i never did my summer workouts like i was supposed to.
11) practicing yoga has honestly changed my life and perspective.
12) i don't think i have ever worn anything out (i.e. shoes, clothing, etc.) i usually have too many things to wear anything out.
13) i spent the first 2 months of my time in spain wishing i were back in iowa. after that and to this day, i can't think of a more majestic place.
15) one day, i hope to have an immaculate collection of scarves and shoes.
16) on most days, i would rather be sleeping.
17) every day i wish for my long, crazy hair.
18) if i could come back as another being, it would be a panda in nature.
19) i struggle daily with my personal style and look for inspiration everywhere.
20) i have 6 tattoos and only one that i think about transforming.
21) i don't drink much, but when i do, i usually drink too much whiskey.
22) on my 21st birthday, i walked home alone, bawling like i have never bawled before...and for no apparent reason.
23) i am learning to tone down my sarcasm, and if i ever offend you, it's totally unintentional and i apologize in advance.
24) when i was 3, i slid down the stairs and my sister pulled my arm out of its socket to stop me...as a result, i had to go to the "store" to get my arm fixed.
25) there is no day i love more than my birthday.
done and done.
to go along with my 25th year, i'll be writing 24 things i want to get done in my 25th year.
1)) i was born 1 month and three days late, weighing over 10lbs.
2)) i am truly halfrican, or african & american...my mother is congolese (zaire) and my father is small town iowa.
3)) i have 30-year-old twin brothers that are strippers in vegas and whom i desperately wish were still a huge part of my life.
4)) i am the proud aunt of 4 nephews and a niece. i don't think i could love any child as much as i love these ones...
5)) 2 of the said children are actually my cousin's children, who by my congolese culture's standards, is my brother.
6)) my 33-year-old sister is my absolute best friend in the whole world and no one could fill her shoes.
7)) 25% of my left ear drum was ruptured in 8th grade and i am still hesitant when people talk to me on that side.
8)) my freshman and sophomore year of college, i wore double-popped-collar polo shirts, abercrombie jeans, and coach purses. then i transferred.
9)) i played d-1 volleyball, started in 31 of 32 games and averaged almost 4 digs per game, which put me at 9th on the single-season charts.
10) i never did my summer workouts like i was supposed to.
11) practicing yoga has honestly changed my life and perspective.
12) i don't think i have ever worn anything out (i.e. shoes, clothing, etc.) i usually have too many things to wear anything out.
13) i spent the first 2 months of my time in spain wishing i were back in iowa. after that and to this day, i can't think of a more majestic place.
15) one day, i hope to have an immaculate collection of scarves and shoes.
16) on most days, i would rather be sleeping.
17) every day i wish for my long, crazy hair.
18) if i could come back as another being, it would be a panda in nature.
19) i struggle daily with my personal style and look for inspiration everywhere.
20) i have 6 tattoos and only one that i think about transforming.
21) i don't drink much, but when i do, i usually drink too much whiskey.
22) on my 21st birthday, i walked home alone, bawling like i have never bawled before...and for no apparent reason.
23) i am learning to tone down my sarcasm, and if i ever offend you, it's totally unintentional and i apologize in advance.
24) when i was 3, i slid down the stairs and my sister pulled my arm out of its socket to stop me...as a result, i had to go to the "store" to get my arm fixed.
25) there is no day i love more than my birthday.
done and done.
to go along with my 25th year, i'll be writing 24 things i want to get done in my 25th year.
04 March 2009
every day to-do.
inspired by keri smith's a list of things to do every day.
((a work in progress))
1) smile at everyone.
2) say 'i love you' when i mean it.
3) create.
4) start each day with my yoga practice.
5) see things in a different light.
6) live each day with satya, or truthfulness.
7) believe that i'm not always right. (added 3.5.09)
((a work in progress))
1) smile at everyone.
2) say 'i love you' when i mean it.
3) create.
4) start each day with my yoga practice.
5) see things in a different light.
6) live each day with satya, or truthfulness.
7) believe that i'm not always right. (added 3.5.09)
dedication
last night, we watched dedication with billy crudup and mandy moore. quite possibly the best film i've seen in a while. plus, a pretty great soundtrack.
Henry: You'll be fine. We'll both be fine Rudy.Rudy: That's life Henry...you know what life is?
Henry: Life is a horrible little giggle in the midst of a forced death march towards hell.
Rudy: No it isn't.
Henry: An interminable wale of grief...
Rudy: No. Life is a single skip for joy.
Henry: I know.
Henry: Life is nothing but the echo of joy disappearing into the great chasm of misery.
Rudy: ... You've had better.
Henry: Life is nothing but the occasional burst of laughter rising above the interminable wail of grief.
Rudy: That's my favorite.
Henry: It lives in truth, that's why.
Rudy: ... You've had better.
Henry: Life is nothing but the occasional burst of laughter rising above the interminable wail of grief.
Rudy: That's my favorite.
Henry: It lives in truth, that's why.
radical tuesdays
yesterday was a weird day. it started with mary beth (aka 'mary boose') and i planning to ride our bikes to work. only to come to the realization that it was 'iowa cold' here in washington, d.c. and layers of ice and snow covered the sidewalks and much of the streets. so mb says, 'hey, alyssa, guess what?! i'm going to treat us to a cab.' perfect, right? well, we thought so. but so did everyone else in washington, d.c., so after 10 minutes of hailing cabs on the corner, we decide to start walking to work (a good 2 miles from mb's apartment). no cabbies thought we were hot enough to dump their 'crecians' out and pick us up....so we ended up walking 2 miles, in the iowa cold, to work. luckily, on our way, we passed a 30-something man with a thinsulate fistful of snow, that he happened to be eating, happily.
now, we're at work.
it's slow in the store and not many washingtonians are willing to brave the cold (mostly because it's not native to this area, so anything colder than 30-degrees is equated with hell). our day consists of helping a few people try on some luon (stretchy pants) and an older woman who claimed that a pair of our pants (and given the nature of tight, stretchy pants) were too 'anatomically correct.' oh boy. we colored for our march window, played with chalk markers and added very significant birthdays to our calendar at the store, all in a hard day's work. then mb came up with a brilliant idea: pentagon city mall, off of the blue line. forever XXI awaited us.
so we walk over the bridge, to the metro and we imagine that we're in l.a., walking over the ocean*, me, with an afro, mb, with a hippie headband on, covered in bangles, maxi dresses and coral pedicures. but we snapped back to reality really quickly when the wind was so harsh we couldn't feel our faces. we got on a train full of unhappy commuters, that included a priest and a woman wearing 2 pair of glasses to read a book on the metro. mb decided we were probably the happiest people on the train, until i looked at the priest, who had his eyes closed accompanied with a silly grin on his face.
we decided to eat at the mall, because that's what you do - every mall has a fancy applebee's-like restaurant, so, of course, you go. in our case, it was harry's taproom, otherwise known as harry's idiot room because they claimed that malbec was fruity and berry-like. we ordered some very classy leese-fitch cab and baked brie. we were served by a small, sad young guy, who happened to think that we were miserable people, but it could have been because the 'cute' cook was staring and smiling at us and not him. the wine was decent, but the brie...resembled old garbage. literally.
mb rampaged forever XXI...then headed for another just as trashy, more expensive store next door. a guy, who happened to be there with his girlfriend, stared at us the whole time...then asked mb if we were models because we looked like some that were in his agency. weird, yes. at this point, i think it was safe to say our time at the mall was up. and it was, so we headed back to the city.
the jesus pant, by lululemon athletica.
yep, i said it...the JESUS pant. it inspires rhymes like lululemon and heaven, lycra and psych-ya. sheer brilliance, i tell you.
*i don't even know if you can walk on a bridge over the ocean in l.a., but we were imagining, okay?
now, we're at work.
it's slow in the store and not many washingtonians are willing to brave the cold (mostly because it's not native to this area, so anything colder than 30-degrees is equated with hell). our day consists of helping a few people try on some luon (stretchy pants) and an older woman who claimed that a pair of our pants (and given the nature of tight, stretchy pants) were too 'anatomically correct.' oh boy. we colored for our march window, played with chalk markers and added very significant birthdays to our calendar at the store, all in a hard day's work. then mb came up with a brilliant idea: pentagon city mall, off of the blue line. forever XXI awaited us.
so we walk over the bridge, to the metro and we imagine that we're in l.a., walking over the ocean*, me, with an afro, mb, with a hippie headband on, covered in bangles, maxi dresses and coral pedicures. but we snapped back to reality really quickly when the wind was so harsh we couldn't feel our faces. we got on a train full of unhappy commuters, that included a priest and a woman wearing 2 pair of glasses to read a book on the metro. mb decided we were probably the happiest people on the train, until i looked at the priest, who had his eyes closed accompanied with a silly grin on his face.
we decided to eat at the mall, because that's what you do - every mall has a fancy applebee's-like restaurant, so, of course, you go. in our case, it was harry's taproom, otherwise known as harry's idiot room because they claimed that malbec was fruity and berry-like. we ordered some very classy leese-fitch cab and baked brie. we were served by a small, sad young guy, who happened to think that we were miserable people, but it could have been because the 'cute' cook was staring and smiling at us and not him. the wine was decent, but the brie...resembled old garbage. literally.
mb rampaged forever XXI...then headed for another just as trashy, more expensive store next door. a guy, who happened to be there with his girlfriend, stared at us the whole time...then asked mb if we were models because we looked like some that were in his agency. weird, yes. at this point, i think it was safe to say our time at the mall was up. and it was, so we headed back to the city.
but the evening wasn't complete without a little rap about jesus, by the up-and-coming artist, b.m. eural. this artist's inspiration comes from her surroundings - really, everywhere, but most specifically from these:
the jesus pant, by lululemon athletica.
yep, i said it...the JESUS pant. it inspires rhymes like lululemon and heaven, lycra and psych-ya. sheer brilliance, i tell you.
*i don't even know if you can walk on a bridge over the ocean in l.a., but we were imagining, okay?
02 March 2009
tuesday's playlist
*revised wednesday, 3.4
- 'say hey (i love you),' michael franti ((all rebel rockers))*
- 'life is better,' q-tip feat. norah jones ((the renaissance))
- 'woods,' bon iver ((blood bank ep))
- 'my party,' kings of leon ((kenna & chad hugo remix))
- 'be somebody,' kings of leon ((only by the night))
- 'gettin' up,' q-tip ((the renaissance))
- 'bluebird,' one self ((children of possibility))
- 'yelling away,' zap mama ((ancestry in progress))
- 'i want you,' kings of leon ((only by the night))
- 'where do we go,' talib kweli feat. res ((quality))
- 'scythian empires,' andrew bird ((armchair apocrphya))
- 'tie my hands,' lil' wayne feat. robin thicke ((tha carter III))
- 'ask myself,' robin thicke ((the evolution of robin thicke))
- 'golden age,' tv on the radio ((dear science,))
- 'back in the day (puff),' erykah badu ((worldwide underground))
- 'rising up,' the roots feat. wale & chrisette michele ((rising down))
- 'high low,' michael franti feat. zap mama ((all rebel rockers))*
just a little bit...
here are a few newer pieces. ((and older ones in a new light))
the pearls are courtesy of my dear friend, jaclyn.
enjoy.
the pearls are courtesy of my dear friend, jaclyn.
enjoy.
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