I set a goal to read 50 books this year. That’s a book per week, with only two weeks off. I’ve finished one so far. It’s the middle of February, which means, according to the math, I’m five books behind. This information could be daunting, could mean that I’m already failing, that this goal isContinue reading "Do Something Impossible Every Day"

I strongly dislike umbrellas in the city. I see people treating umbrellas as if they are disposable products. You run out of the house in the morning, and it begins to drizzle. You realize you haven't packed your umbrella. So you buy one on the corner for five dollars. Umbrellas are light and cheap andContinue reading "On Buying and Carrying Umbrellas in the City: Please Don’t."

In the middle of last month, September, I started a bullet journal. I'm over 35 pages in, and it's been over a month, so I think it's fair to say the practice is working for me. I like the structure of it, the mindfulness that comes with writing and rewriting tasks (which I was before,Continue reading "The notebook and the calendar are a team"

I promised there would be a post about Spoke’n Hostel, and here it is. Perhaps the pictures will describe it better than I could with words. The whole place is filled with cycling memorabilia, and downstairs, not pictured, was a full kitchen, with beautiful hand-written signs saying things like “Please help yourself” and “everything onContinue reading "The kindness of others"

We were feeling good. The sun was shining (a little too brightly, it turns out, because even after applying and reapplying sunscreen I got a little burned on my forearms, thighs, and nose) and the terrain was mostly flat. This was a day I was sure we would make good time, maybe even make itContinue reading "The best made plans"

Today felt like the first real day on the trail. Yesterday was brutal. It was drizzing in the morning, and although we got an early start, the cold and the rain kept beating down on us. There was a fair amount of climbing to be done, too, and by the end of it, we wereContinue reading "Weather Dependent"

I'm on the plane now. Just finished up the last minute packing this morning, and had more than one logistical scare. As I pick up all this gear, and notice the amount of Stuff I have, I remind myself how lucky I am. I'm so glad to have worked at REI for as long asContinue reading "Here we go!"

Well, it happened. Against all odds, somehow, I got into Columbia. I've been here a semester, and things are booming. I'm working as a Literary Manager for an International Festival of New Plays, produced by Columbia's School of the Arts Faculty. I've acted in several student productions. I've made friends with a Playwright in theContinue reading "A Semester at a Close"

Today is my first day of Orientation at Columbia. I am over the moon, bouncing-off-the-walls, stupid excited about it. I have to leave in about 10 minutes, as soon as the laundry is done. This morning as I was sending some emails, I came across an old journal brainstorm to myself, which I must haveContinue reading "What for?"