Has ever a better movie been made?

Well, if I had to pick my all-time favorite, I might have to go with Sixteen Candles. But The Breakfast Club is pretty close to perfect. And in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the John Hughes masterpiece is being re-released this weekend at a theater near you.

Sweet Thanksgiving

So much to be grateful for this year. The family that has enveloped me in love for 42 years. My friends who have helped shape me into the person I am. My health. My good fortune. All my memories, dreams and opportunities from throughout the years. And my new family: my husband and this sweet little lamb.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. May your days be filled with love, wonder, copious amounts of food and whatever makes you happy and at peace. xo

A surreal existence

Amazing how quickly a week can pass. Especially given that life has become an hourly preoccupation: watching the clock to abide by Parker’s feeding schedule. Catching a 30, 60 or 90 minute nap when possible. And otherwise, just pretty much… watching her.

There are a lot of things I never knew about newborns. Like, 'cluster feeding' - those first few days when they want to feed hourly and are utterly insatiable and you start hallucinating at 4am because you’re on some weird spin cycle of nursing, again and again and again without any sleep.

That their 'daytime' is the middle of the night so everything is copacetic while the world is awake, and you’re all alone – and awake! sometimes hallucinating! – while the rest of the world sleeps.

I’ve been cycling between two sets of pajamas, I drink tea to stimulate milk production, I haven't touched makeup or hair products, and have been outside a total of probably 90 minutes in 10 days. It’s very surreal, indeed. 

That said, it, and she, is lovely. 

Parker has an awesome disposition and is sweet and adorable, with her little facial expressions and chicken legs. And as surreal as it all is, I’m loving it, exactly for what it is: this really bizarre, once-in-a-lifetime (in my case) phase where up is down and you're forgiven for losing touch with reality because there's nothing else you can do but tend to the needs of seven pounds of helplessness. Nothing is expected of you except being where you are, loving and caring for her.

This is life.

You know you're in Paris when...

The stairwells spiral like dizzying art.

The croissants are plentiful. And beautiful. And delicious. An everyday indulgence. 

There are gardens growing on building facades.

There is time to have a beer in the middle of the day.

The flowers. Are just. Gorgeous.

The cakes and pastries are displayed with such care and respect.

Hello, Paris. It's good to be back.

The View

Just came across the evening view from my apartment in Paris.

My heart skipped a beat.

Just because

I’ve been noticing the phrase “Just because” a lot lately. It reminded me that I used to post a lot using that label, and it’s actually a great way to live. I’ve barely come up for air this month, working a ton and hibernating from the cold. But it’s a good reminder to just do things, say things, even notice things just for the hell of it. To just hit pause and breathe and marvel and be alive. Bon vendredi, mes amis.

Live, from Brooklyn

So this is what much of 2014 has looked like.

Sweets. Milo. Cold. Sweets. Milo. Snow.

It’s just been a nasty winter. Lots of great reasons to stay put and keep warm.

That said, there has been a wee bit of culcha. A maiden visit to the very incredible Morgan Library. 

Seeing The Commons of Pensacola, which was a great play (go, Amanda Peet!). Plus visits with friends from Paris and San Francisco and great meals at Locande Verde, 606 R&D, Sunshine & Co and The London.

All in all, I could do with some kinder weather. Should probably pull back a little on the sweets. But I’m hoping for just as many visits with friends, moments with Milo, planned and spontaneous culture and maybe even a little progress on the wedding planning and book proposal fronts.

Waking up 41

Life has been pretty singularly focused these past two weeks. The new apartment.

A new neighborhood.

A new place to put my books.

It’s also been a time to reflect. How could it not be? Passages. They’re so bittersweet. I have so much to look forward to, and have said goodbye to so many other things, people and places.

In between getting settled in Brooklyn, I turned 41. I had a family reunion. I read a book about a wedding and saw a movie about life and love. I had this Colson Whitehead article bookmarked for some time and just got around to reading it, which seemed so appropriate.

I guess it’s all to say that life is so magnificent. So beautiful and so full of pain. So many little things and reasons to be filled with gratitude and love.

Love

It never gets old.

I absolutely adore these pictures from my trip to Paris last spring.

Love, not food

Instead of listing out edible contents of a Vegan Monday, I wanted to share another kind of inspirational log.

A good friend of mine recently fell madly in love, a love different from anything he's ever experienced. He's over the moon.
Another friend, married to a beautiful woman with a beautiful child, had an "awakening" after his wife pointed out they were in a rut. Needless to say, he's fixed it.
Two dear friends recently shared that they're pregnant.
Another good friend here in the city was ready to walk away from a relationship for the greener pastures of independence but stuck it out and is happy for it.
One beautiful friend's heart was broken by his love of over 10 years. 
My cousin got married last month and the whole family is still riding their high of love and happiness.

What's my point? None really. Except that all of our relationships go in cycles. Sometimes you just become aware of how happy and lucky you are. To be surrounded by love. To feel love. To be in love. To recognize the complexities and challenges and even the sorrows of love. It can be crushing and frightening, but mostly wildly wonderful. It can be the best part of life, love.

The week that flew by

What happened to this past week??

I'm working beaucoup, looking for contractors to renovate the new apartment, and getting ready to flee to the Cape next week for a one-week family vacation. Weeeee!


It's hot in the city. People were protesting the Zimmerman verdict in Union Square today. I'm wondering who's going to emerge as the obvious choice for our next mayor.

I started rewatching Sex and the City and, let me tell you, that show just doesn't get old. Nothing makes me happier than sitting down with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and laughing my head off. 

I haven't been to many new restaurants or any new movies or exhibitions as of late. It's just one of these phases where the days are slipping one into another. 

But little things like this just have to be shared.

Merci, Connie, for forwarding the link!

Paris. It never ceases to seduce.

There are signs. They are talking to you.

Are you listening??