name (sake) game

This story must be told.
Last week, I was walking with some friends from the Charles River back to where our cars were parked by the church. My one friend is very very outgoing and as we passed this girl (who was coming from the church) she stopped her and asked her what her name was. The woman said her name was Chelee and my friend continued to ask her how she might know her...they were trying to make some connection naming universities they had attended, etc etc and finally decided that they must have just seen each other at church. Chelee said she went to SUU and was from Delta.
That caught my ear. I joined in the convo and told her that my mom was from Delta! I quickly threw out the names of my aunts and uncles and cousins who all still live in Delta and found out she was in the same ward as my uncle Clayton! So I asked her last name, wondering if my mom would know her family. She said it is Rawlinson.
I can't believe it---I tell her that I am named after Rachel Rawlinson!!
She tells me that her name is actually Rachel as well (but she goes by Chelee) and that she is named after Rachel Rawlinson Roper!
I know its the same person because Rachel Rawlinson Roper was my great grandmother! (her great aunt!) We are named after the same person!?!?!?! I wonder how often it happens that you are able to meet someone, 3,000 miles away from your respective homes, by the Charles River in Boston, who is named after the exact same person. I'm feeling like it doesn't happen that often. Maybe once in a lifetime? Gotta hunch that our wonderful namesake is looking out for us. thanks great-grandma.

don't stop imagining. the day that you do is the day that you die.

The Spirit of the Beehive

What an exquisite film.




There is a slow methodical feel to the entire movie even when it is infused with a rush of the unknown. The wardrobe is amazing (the little girls so cute, the mother's hair so wonderful) and I love a Spanish zeta. so very very beautiful and quite spooky (probably my limit of scary). Perfect for this time of year.

People are really great-Happy Halloween

Yesterday I spent the day having fun, by myself. I carved a pumpkin, baked a couple pumpkin pies, watched a movie, cut my hair, made some salsa and went to Savers. Since I moved, and don't have a real job, I've been trying to be really frugal. But last night I was so bored and really wanted to go walk around somewhere. So I made the frugal decision to go to Savers...I mean, I could've gone to Nordstrom. I haven't bought new clothes for a while now--2 months? That's a new record. I had so much fun perusing all the merchandise! I had a shopping cart full of crazy clothes and there is no dressing room limit at this Savers. Yes!

Last weekend when I went to Maine with my friend Jennie (see photo), we were driving in Portland and passed a little boutique with leather backpacks in the window sill. I almost made her stop so I could go in and buy one...but we couldn't find a parking spot (we even circled around once). Also I felt it wouldn't be wise for me to go in, since I would want to buy it (I've wanted a leather backpack since I lived in Spain 3 years ago!) and it would probably cost some exorbitant amount of money.
It was a wise decision, but I was a little saddened that the joy of owning a leather backpack once again evaded my grasp.
However! Last night at Savers I FOUND ONE! Exciting, right? Here's a photo.
Its better than I ever could have imagined and it was only $17. Totally within my budget.


I had a good time yesterday, but I'm reaching that point in my travels (that I always reach around 1-2 months) of craving for real conversation with people who know me well. I remember feeling the same way when I was in Denmark last year.

Friends mean so much to me and I am so grateful to all my friends who answer the phone whenever I call and spend hours talking to me. It makes this place feel a little bit more like home. That, and a Jack-o-lantern on the front porch. CHECK!

Whether (permitting) I go...

New England is treating me like one million dollars. I mailed off my grant applications today. I feel very grateful to the many people I have met in my life that were willing to support me in proposing my ideas to the arts council. Cross fingers my proposals get granted.
Good news! I have been wanting to see Mark Kozelek play a live show again (since the first time I saw him in 2005) but we are never in the same place at the same time. He is either touring in Europe when I'm in the states or he's playing on the east coast when I'm on the west. So when I saw on his website a couple weeks back that he would be playing in New Brunswick in Feb 2012, I thought, "Imma make a roadtrip up there and call it my birthday present/weekend!" The past two years I have given myself a trip to San Francisco, so this year I decided to go to Canada. Turns out this local Fredericton band holds a winter singer/song writer festival and Mark Kozelek was a headliner. I imagined driving through New Hampshire and Maine with the snow drifts on the side of the highway, staying in a bed & breakfast and enjoying hot tea and cocoa while watching the show at the Cathedral where it was scheduled. However, I also realized I could pay $50 for a weekend festival ticket and be snowed in!?! I have absolutely no certain way to tell that I will be able to make it on those winding roads all the way to New Brunswick in the middle of winter! I solicited friends' help to solve this quandary, but no one could tell me if there would be a blizzard that weekend. See photo:




Two days ago, I was thinking about this and looked at Sun Kil Moon's website again. I saw that a new show date had been added. What to my surprise!!! He is playing a few days before the Canada show in Cambridge, Massachusetts!! Just a block away from where I go to church every week at the First Church Congregational on Garden St. I was school-girl giddy, srsly. I set a reminder in my phone to buy a ticket the very day they are available and if it's bad weather, I can just take the train.

I can't wait until winter! (never thought I'd say those words)

L.O.V.E.

I'm in true love with this bike.

so cheap, so light weight, so beautiful. come to me. puhlease.