Why do I even bother trying to be friends with guys anymore? Rich or poor, hot or ugly, every guy I meet seems to think he's God's gift to the world. I'm really flabbergasted at the audacity of some of the things that come out of their mouths. Everyone's an expert at EVERYTHING. Mothers, why are we raising our boys to think they can do no wrong? A healthy bit of self-esteem never hurt anyone, but this is ridiculous. I've always countered with some mild teasing, but not anymore. Done, done, done.

Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.

Could I pull off Marilyn Monroe's glasses in "How to Marry a Millionaire"?

I must urge you to check out Maira Kalman's artsy blog for The Times. Her most recent entry is all about slow food and eating locally. She talks to Alice Waters and Michael Pollan, but it's her description of a Berkeley school class that makes me feel optimistic for the future. Her single entry made more of an impression on me than anything else I've seen or read on the matter. And most of all, it makes me happy.

Halloween Day 2009

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

George Eliot

I wanted to post photos of the apartment I've lived in for almost three months, but the cord that lets me upload photos from my camera to my computer has been missing for some time. Instead, here are some of my cell phone photos from the last few months. Way overdue.

Moving day:

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Bumpershoot:

And some randoms:

The last photo is a HUGE Lite Brite at Bumpershoot.

Also, please tell me something that will make me smile. I'm having a bit of a down night. Thanks.

When I tell you the story of the adorable boy riding a bicycle built for two back and forth down the rainblack street while I was walking home tonight, you hope that I'll say I called out, "Hey, you need someone else for that bike?" or even "Hi;" or that he pulled alongside the sidewalk and without a word I jumped on and we swerved off through the golden islands of streetlamp light. But what happened is this: I watched him ride past me four or five times as I walked, and stopped in the middle of the street to let him pass without a glance in my direction. I hope he has someone to ride that bike with him.

And the walls began to close in
And I felt so sad and frightened
I practically ran
From the living room
Out into the street.

Update coming soon

Receiving the Adoption News, originally uploaded by froggyboggler.

(One of my favorite children's book illustrations of all time, by Garth Williams from The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse. You would make that face too if you were raised by mice and were just finding out you were adopted).