Thoughts from a Seashore

A few random thoughts from today:

• It must not just be the swimming that I enjoy. I think I enjoy the repetitive motion of many activities that I like. Today we went for a fairly long bike ride and I had the same experience - where I could just put my body on autopilot and zone out, allowing myself to think and reflect and observe whatever I wanted.
• My father and I were walking on the beach. He picked up shells that were pretty (his word) and perfect (my word). I was looking for unique, interesting shells. I have a feeling that says a lot more about our differences than just our shell aesthetics.
• I never want to take the ocean for granted. I could sit and listen to and watch the waves for forever. Here are a few random shots just to make sure I don't take it for granted. (There are a bunch of other vacation photos here, too.)
  

Today's to-do list

• Cuddle with my nephew
• Hang out with parents, who I rarely get to see
• Drink diet coke
• Sit on deck listening to ocean
• Lay on beach reading a magazine and getting some sun
• Give hugs to Scott and Caryl for first time in 9 months.
  

Good stuff!

A Walk Across Philly

I love walking around cities/towns that I love. Yesterday, I spent all afternoon just walking across Philly, stopping wherever I wanted to check out a shop, get a manicure, have a mojito, take some pictures, whatever tickled my fancy. It was very hot, but I did get to at least go to Reading Terminal Market, Elfreth's Alley, Jeweler's Row and walk by Independence Hall and City Hall.

I realized that I really miss a few things about Philly. I miss the grit... the blue-collar working-class feeling you can get there. I mean I met a machinist one night. I can't imagine meeting a machinist in DC.

I also miss the rich, rich homegrown arts scene in Philly. One of the best orchestras in the world, dance companies, Curtis Institute, lots of visual artists, a culinary canvas to compete with any city... there is a lot to miss. Like many things in DC, the arts are often (or at least feel) imported. Of course, that's one of DC's strengths: an internationa population and attraction. Even for a city, I suppose one's strengths can be one's weaknesses.

Maybe, though, what I should really do, is make an effort to do a better job of living in DC... finding great restaurants, unique shops and neighborhoods that love me back. I mean I love my neighborhood, but there surely aren't any designer boutiques there. I should go find them. They're not going to come to me.

If only I could get Philly pretzels in DC!!

A Beautiful Mix

I am officially on vacation. Whooo! My first stop is Philadelphia. I arrived here yesterday for a 3-day visit to a city I loved while I lived here and continue to love since I left. Last night, I went and took some pictures of the cross-street signs at the first place I lived here. (see below) I'm working on an art/decor project with black and whites of the signs from all the intersections where I've lived... or at least lived somewhat recently. Then, I snabbed some chicken fried rice from the yummy little Chinese place right there. It was good, but not as good as I remembered. That's a good thing. It means that I don't have to fantasize about it anymore.
Today, I checked out my old church and nearly froze to death, then headed to Manayunk and nearly sizzled to death. Manayunk is this great little neighborhood of shops and restaurants and generally interesting things and people. However, it was very, very hot so I basically went in one or two of my favorite shops and then sat in a coffeeshop for a few minutes before heading back. I tried on this shirt of total awesomeness, but couldn't justify spending $70 on a trendy shirt that I would probably only be able to wear a few times. Maybe I should have bought it anyways. Too hot to sit out and people-watch or comfortably stroll along the canal.
Then, tonight, Missy was totally awesome and cooked a phenomenal meal for us and some mutual friends here in the area. She is a great, creative cook and, as always, whipped up something totally tasty and healthy. Oh, I almost forgot! She also made smoked paprika hummus for me!! How awesome is she! She saw it on my gchat status a few weeks ago and researched it. It was really good. Thanks Missy!
Good food, good people, no work... what more could I want?

Wow. Just wow.

Wow. Today's just one of those days. The sun is shining on me... both literally and metaphorically. I love my life. Ridiculously. sigh.

Now, if only I can actually get some sleep tonight.

Oh yeah, and also, Amy had her baby. He is CRAZY-cute. Seriously. And, newborns aren't supposed to be cute.

Dear dude on the Cue bus,

I'd prefer not to hear about your controlling ex-wife and the resulting divorce.
Thanks.

I can't believe I'm typing this....

There is a very good chance that today is the day that my Amy sees her baby for the first time. They decided to induce her and so if they can "fit her in", she'll be having a baby today. Holy crap! It seems like just yesterday that I was bonding over our latest crush or bad date on her futon and today, she and Luke are having a baby. Ok, so to be fair, "yesterday" really was only about 2 years ago (maybe even less), but still.
Anyways, if you think about it, send up good thoughts and prayers and stuff for Amy today. And, for the baby, of course, too. According to her blog, she's having a little freakout, but I feel like that is to be expected.
I love you Amy! Good luck!

Dear girl in front of me on the Cue bus,

If I can hear your phone conversation over Mahler, you are talking too loudly!

Thing 9

Thing 9: On one side of my extended family, there are lots of dairy farmers. As a result, I learned the proper way to "moo" as a child. Cows don't actually say "moo", you know. They make this other sound more like "mrrrrr". I used to say that my father made me moo the "right" way and I would get in trouble if I said "moo", but now I'm wondering if I didn't just make that up. Anyways, that's thing 9. I can (or at least could at one point) moo like a cow.

Unidentified Sport

So, today, I walked. A lot. And, along the way, I saw lots of interesting things. One of those things I have yet to identify. Perhaps you can help. It involved the following things:
1 - a game/sport of some kind
2 - six guys on bikes in what appeared to be two teams of three
3 - a long-handled hollow mallet type thing for hitting a ball
4 - a ball
5 - some cones that seemed to serve as goal markers

What IS this game??

31 year old resolutions

I like birthday resolutions. No pressure to make resolutions when everyone else does, plus it can be completely individual. I get a whole fresh year on a completely different day than everyone else. I like that. Anyways, so a few 31-year old resolutions.
1 - I'm going to start getting to work on time. As has been reiterated numerous times on this blog, I am NOT a morning person so my 90+ minute commute combined with the fact that the workday is supposed to start in the morning has not resulted in a very on-time Hyla. But, now I only commute 3 days a week so I need to make an effort to actually get there by 9am. Ok. I can do this. Strategy #1: earlier bedtimes.
2 - I think I will floss more. I like having good oral hygiene, but I haven't been flossing as much as I should. Yes, I will do that.
3 - While I'm thinking about body-things, I'm going to take better care of my skin. I'm not a spring chicken anymore... I should spring for some good age-defying something or other. Or, at least, moisturize regularly.
4 - I resolve to spend at least 4 hours a week intentionally alone. Not just time that I end up accidentally alone. And, sitting at Ebenezers hoping for someone to come along and talk to me so I don't actually have to be alone doesn't count. Doing house-stuff (condo-stuff) and running errands does. No making phone calls. (But, if someone calls me, that's not my fault!) I feel much more balanced when I have a little alone-time, but I just don't like it. I like the being productive and getting things in order part, but I just don't like the alone-part. But, I know it makes me a happier, healthier Hyla and that's what we need.

Thing 7 and Thing 8

7. I am physically incapable of standing still and brushing my teeth. Actually, I'm not very good at standing still at all. I even pace when I'm waiting for the train.

8. I have a little crush on Usher. Ok, not really on Usher so much as his music. I identify with his lyrics a little more than I should probably admit.

Thing 5 and Thing 6

Thing 5: I love being single.

Thing 6: I hate being single.

This wasn't in the fairytale

I'm going to do one of my typically cryptic personal posts. Today is Easter. Easter is supposed to be filled with joy. And, it was joyful. But there was some sorrow, too. Although, by the time I was 15 or so, I started to be disillusioned and began to perceive that there was some sort of uniqueness about me that was going to pervade my relational life, when I was a truly small girl, I thought the fairytale would be for me. The fairytale where you grow up (well-educated, strong-willed and totally capable of surviving on your own, of course), meet someone who "gets" you at the deepest level, get married, have/adopt an adorable, well-behaved child and live happily ever after. Of course, I believe Easter is about Christ, but after Christ, it's also about kids. But, my Easter activities were noticeably devoid of children and full of adults.

I also didn't know there would be so much heartache in the story. I never imagined that I would come home alone at 30, try to convince my mind to stop thinking and eventually fall asleep with tears in my eyes. I didn't think that love was complicated. I wish someone had told me that relationships can be really complicated and they may make your life less simple, even more difficult that it was previously. So, you should make very wise and prudent choices. And, then I think that I wouldn't want to trade any of my experiences away for the world.

When I was 25, I made a list of goals to accomplish by 30. One of the goals/hopes was to be married. I turn 31 this week. I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed! Don't get me wrong. There are many many days when I love being single and can appreciate all of the luxuries I have because I am single. It's just that today is not one of them.

Does still = still?

I am frequently accused (usually lovingly) of not being able to relax, to slow down, to just do nothing. And, I will admit that I can struggle with this. I like being productive, active, and busy. When I'm honest, I have to face the fact that sometimes this is my mechanism to avoid being alone with my thoughts. But, I think my personal time is just a little different than many other people's. Often, my alone time is not alone and my time being still isn't actually still. For example, I consider my commute to be alone time, even though I'm surrounded by "the masses" on trains and buses.
There is a verse (in Psalms?) that says, "Be still and know that I am God." This is a verse and a concept that I've thought about a lot. And, though, I understand that I do need to have a discipline of solitude and silence and stillness in my life (I'll blog about the great book that's from some other time), I can't help, but think that sometimes I am still without actually being physically still. I think the perfect example of this is my time in the swimming pool. I am alone. Sure there are other people swimming, but there is no interaction. I can't hear them. All I hear is the awesome, rhythmic sounds of the water and the thoughts inside my head. It is so repetitive that I find it to be almost therapeutic. And, once I hit my stride, I can just let my thoughts wander and pray and, well, "be still". In those times, I sense the power and wonder of our God. And, so I suggest, that even when I'm cutting through the water at blindingly fast speeds (what!? you've never seen me swim.... shush, Amy), I am, from time to time, still before my God.

Thing 4

I learned how to swing poi when I was in grad. school. I had a colleague/friend who performed with her boyfriend, a circus artist of sorts. She taught me how to swing and also that it can be a great escape to do something physical and repetitive when you are spending a lot of time in intense thought. I'm still not very good at swinging poi, but I enjoy it.

My new hair - the straight version

You can't see it all that great because of this shirt, but I wanted to show you anyways.