S finished putting my bike together last week.

And the quality of my life has gone up one hundred fold.

I'll always love you, New York.

Let me count the ways.

1. Welcomings.
2. Late night visits.
3. Morning strolls.
4. Prospect Park. Central Park.
5. Bird watching.
6. Bike rides.
7. Pizza.
8. Crepes.
9. Brunch.
10. Cony Isle. Brighton Beach.
11. Faux Mr. Softee's.
12. My girls. 
13. Musical feasting (courtesy of Jess and Tommy).
14. Persian New Year.

+More.

10 Things I love(d) about Boston.

1. The baby shower celebrating one Merrimack Maple.
2. An actual high school musical (courtesy of Rosie).
3. Mormon church.
4. (Early) Equinox.
5. Vegan feasts: i.e., Veggie Planet, Grasshoppy, Spikes.
6. Non vegan feasts: i.e., North End canolis, Tuesday's brunch.
7. (Korean style) Karaoke!
8. Seven+ second hugs.
9. Nap time.
10. Pup time.

The happiest place in Boston.

Do Re Me Karaoke. As attested to by myself and Brian. (And maybe Katie?) As K said, we sang until there was no voice left.

It's the first day of spring, and my life is starting over again.

Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me in.

I'll see you in the morning time.

Rachie and Katie time. Rachie and Katie time. Rachie and Katie time. Rachie and Katie time.

"Oh schoolwork, where is thy sting?" or "God bless Spring Break."

Yesterday morning I found myself grinning wildly at odd intervals. What did it matter that I was about to give a 20 minute Nietzsche presentation that I may have been extremely nervous for? What did it matter that my paper proposal for that same class is more than one week late? What did it matter that my Kant paper is still to be (re)submitted between now and Monday? I WAS GOING TO BOSTON!

TODAY. I was going to Boston today. And I am here now, sitting on the couch of la Seawrights, and it is wonderful already.

My school is cool and Spencer's school is cool.

My school is cool because you can walk into a building called The Institute for Signifying Scripture and hear Richard Bushman speak on a 21st century reading of the Book of Mormon.

Spencer's school is cool because you can walk into an installation that makes you feel like you're in a meteor. Or a cave. Or a volcano.


California is cool because you can eat pizza in a park in March, and it is not too cold out.

Utah is lovely this time of year.

Something about the mountains, and the snow, and a dark green home by the lake, and another with a large front porch, and the public library with its ballroom, and hot chocolate at the hospital, and the people that I care about so deeply. I was filled with awe almost immediately upon landing in Salt Lake. During the drive to Provo I kept thinking, "The mountains are so beautiful. The mountains are so beautiful." Then when I arrived in Provo I was filled with love. So much love. Eden heralded my arrival by running up and down the stairs informing each person individually, "Rachel's here!" before proceeding to request my presence during every meal, every car ride, every dance, every watching of videos, every everything. Her commentary during the wedding may have been my favorite part (as sweet as the wedding was in itself). Mostly she would ask questions like, "Are they going to kiss?" and then add (when they did), "Oh, and they're hugging too." There was also something about how she hoped there would be music. Which there ultimately was. (Plus tea. Plus cake. Plus pastries. Plus yummy little sandwiches. Plus photobooths. Plus my nieces alternately running around as princesses and pirates. Plus toasts. Plus Charity catching the bouquet.) Both my brother and his new wife looked supremely happy. This made me happy, and grateful too. I am also thankful for my other siblings and siblings-in-law, who I do not get to see nearly enough, as well as for the wonderful traveling companions I had in my favorite architect and my favorite 92 year old grandma.

Thank you, Utah, for feeling like home.

My baby brother is getting married in the morning.

Huzzah!

When I was 26.

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

Today I love...

+Happy birthdays.
+Happy Valentines days.
+Individuals who gift Bright Eyes tickets for the first of those days.
+Friendship gatherings involving crepes.
+Black dresses.
+Pink tutus.
+Tulips.
+Heart shaped everything.
+Red and pink everything.
+Cupcakes for breakfast.
+Coconut water (also for breakfast).
+First day of Levinas class.
+Making a comment in that class, and feeling good about it after.
+Having Kant be okay today.
+Conversations over garden burgers.
+Peach pie.
+Lavender lemonade tea.
+Urth Caffe.
+Dining al fresco.

+More.

Self-knowledge.

1. I always want to go home.
2. I need so much silence.

(Non-belated) Most darling cover video.

Oh, my heart. Bless Katie-pup for sharing this with me.

Bless, bless, bless.

(Belated) Most darling Christmas video.

When it was December, I watched this over and over.

Within the last week, the following things fell apart:

+My car.
+Spencer's car (while I was driving it, on the freeway, at 2:30 am).
+My phone.
+Spencer's bike (while he was riding it the many, many miles to come to his car).
+My (favorite) sandals.

All but the first within 24 hours. I think that I am cursed.

(Belated) Fall reads.

Reading now:

Things that are winter.

Boston.
Blustery days.
Cold noses.
Breathing just to see your breath.
Wind chill.
Snowmen/snow angels/snowflakes/snow days.
Boots.
Hats and scarves and sweaters.
Stockings hung by the fire with care.
Hot chocolate.
Apple cider.
Cinnamon and nutmeg.

Pine trees and pine tree smells(!)

Advent calendar.
Christmas music.
Christmas lights/Temple lights(!)
Christmas Eve.
Waking up early Christmas morning.

Giving.

Family time.
Eggnog. Silk nog.
Wassail.
Ice skating.
Sledding.
Earlier sunsets.
Earlier bedtimes.
Closed windows.
Heaters turned on.
Blankets upon blankets.
New Years Eve.
New Years Day.
Predictions/resolutions.
The day of my birth.
This scene (painted by Jess Ecker after a winter visit to Boston Common):