On Repeat...

I "could drink a case" of this song....

James Blake covers Joni Mitchell's "A Case Of You"

There's just something about...

this song...

Phosphorescent "Song for Zula"

If I Had A Boat

Golden, golden, golden river run

to the East then drop beneath the sun.

And as the moon lies low and overhead

we're lost.

Burn slow, burning up the back wall.

Long roads, where the city meets the sky.

Most days, most days stay the sole same.

Please stay, for this fear it will not die.

If I had a boat, I would sail to you

hold you in my arms, ask you to be true.

Once I had a dream, it died long before.

Now I'm pointed north, hoping for the shore.

Down low, down amongst the thorn rows,

weeds grow, through the lilies and the vine.

Birds play, try to find their own way.

Soft clay, on your feet and under mine.

If I had a boat, I would sail to you

hold you in my arms, ask you to be true.

Once I had a dream, it died long before.

Now I'm pointed north, hoping for the shore.

Splitting at the seams

Heaving at the brace

Sheets all billowing

Breaking of the day

Sea is not my friend

And everyone conspires

Still I choose to swim

Slip beneath the tide.

Once I had a dream

Once I had a hope

That was yesterday

Not so long ago

This is not the end

This is just the world

Such a foolish thing

Such an honest girl.

If I had a boat, I would sail to you

hold you in my arms, ask you to be true.

Once I had a dream, it died long before.

Now I'm pointed north, hoping for the shore.

- James Vincent McMorrow

original photo

A Suspended Coffee

Photo by Kathreinerle Photography via Photisserie 

I came across this wonderful post on A Well Traveled Woman who reposted it from someone else, who reposted it from someone else and so on. Due to the viral nature of its sharing, I don't know the original source of the story below, but I was so affected by it that I had to share it here. 

Kindness in a cup of coffee...

"We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we’re approaching our table, two people come in and they go to the counter:

‘Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended’ They pay for their order, take the two and leave. 

I ask my friend: “What are those ‘suspended’ coffees?”
My friend: “Wait for it and you will see.”

Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers - three for them and four ‘suspended’. While I still wonder what’s the deal with those ‘suspended’ coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square infront of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in throught the door and kindly asks

‘Do you have a suspended coffee?’

It’s simple - people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm bevarage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwitch or a whole meal.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have such cafés or even grocery stores in every town where the less fortunate will find hope and support ? If you own a business why don’t you offer it to your clients… I am sure many of them will like it."

When I open my cafe someday, you can be certain...you'll be able to order a "suspended coffee."

Somethin' For The Soul

Sometimes there's nothing that can reach the soul quite like a voice speaking out through worn in speakers. This week I've been taken by some words and notes in the form of the following:


James Vincent McMorrow "We Don't Eat"


Swan Sessions: Melaena Cadiz "Neon Drag


Sun Kil Moon "I Know It's Pathetic But That Was The Greatest Night"

The Curious Eye

My morning routine thrives on two factors:
1. My morning coffee (Gimme Coffee in the Bialetti with almond milk...yum)
2. Selecting a podcast to play while I get myself gussied.

Currently the podcast pavilion consists of the following:
1. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (Can I please have Carl record my outgoing message?)
2. The Moth (Love the stories. Love the events. Love everything about The Moth basically.)
3. Stuff You Missed in History Class (From the Brontes to the Medicis to the 'real' Sherlock Holmes)
4. Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR "foursome of perfection" talk pop culture)
5. This American Life (Ira Glass...need I say more?)

Recently a This American Life episode aired titled "The Invisible Made Visible," which was recorded live on stage and simultaneously beamed into movie theaters around the country. I unfortunately was not able to be seated at one of these theaters during the broadcast, so I was thrilled to find out that the entire show is now available to download for only $5! Let me tell you, it's soooooooo worth it.

During the latter part of the program, Ira talks about "undiscovered" street photographer, Vivian Maier. I had never heard of this unearthed treasure trove of "on-the-street" photographs that Maier took predominantly during the 1950's and 60's, but I fell in love immediately with what I saw.

"The story of this nanny who has now wowed the world with her photography, and who incidentally recorded some of the most interesting marvels and peculiarities of Urban America in the second half of the twentieth century is seemingly beyond belief." - www.vivianmaier.com

This is the story of a photographer who never left the house without a camera by her side, who took pictures every day of everyday life....and never showed a soul. Her beautiful black and white documentations of "a moment in time" didn't see the light of day until 2007, when they were discovered at a local thrift auction house on Chicago’s Northwest Side after "one of Vivian’s storage lockers was auctioned off due to delinquent payments." One very lucky man found some buried treasure and decided to share it with the world...and I'm so grateful that he did.

Photos courtesy of The Maloof & Jeffrey Goldstein Collections. Found on Flickr.

I'm simply captivated by this woman's work. Her photography wasn't something for "show." These artistic explorations were for her. I think that's what lends such an authenticity to what she so adeptly captured. Makes me want to bust out the black and white film again. Immediately.

True Love Will Find You In The End

"True love will find you in the end.
You'll find out just who was your friend.
Don’t be sad, I know you will...
don’t give up until...
true love will find you in the end.

This is a promise with a catch.
Only if you're looking will it find you.
‘Cause true love is searching too
but how can it recognize you
unless you step out into the light?
Don’t be sad, I know you will,
but don’t give up until
true love finds you in the end."