Girl goes green for Earth Month!

I'm pretty green most of the time, but I try not to go off on "lunatic fringe" rants (because, when you do what I do during the day, you do get lumped into that category) too often because the guardians of the Internet tell me that running a blog means I have to have a limited number of categories. ;-)

An.y.way, there will be no rants this month. Instead, I will share...

• some awesome documentaries for the environmentally conscious;
• a couple of books that I think will appeal to everyone from your treehuggers to someone who just loves the outdoors;
• one of my favorite outdoor temples;
• another My Story As Told By Water; and
• what being "pretty green" means to me.

Let's figure out how you can embrace the planet in your own way this month!

Sharing is caring

Slide from Austin Kleon's SXSW 2014 Interactive keynote address.

Every now and then I find myself blown away at how much technology has done for our ability to connect and learn. Sure, I have moments where I'm overwhelmed by the self-imposed pressures of it all, and in many ways, I'm still very much an analog girl. However, have you ever stopped to marvel at how challenging it was just a few years ago to keep up with friends that moved or how in the dark you were when you couldn't attend a certain conference? Now I can stream Austin Kleon's keynote address at SXSW while walking around my apartment, follow #SXSW on Twitter to keep up with what's going on, and play NPR's Austin 100 online and convince myself it's okay that I'm not really there. Being able to do this absolutely got me over the hump today and motivated me to create.

In celebration of all that is lovely online, I'm going to shut up and share some of the things around the internet inspiring me in different ways.

Austin Kleon's SXSW Keynote - The folks at SXSW have streamed it twice now. I'm unsure if they'll post it permanently online, but if you have a chance to see it, give it a go. Subscribing to his newsletter is a safe bet for the periodic delivery of goodness to your inbox.


Slide from Austin Kleon's SXSW 2014 Interactive keynote address.

the art of working in public by Robin Sloan

Megan Ellison: Hollywood's latest player by Matthew Garrahan (recommended by Ann Friedman)

Anything featured in The Ann Friedman Weekly - Seriously, do yourself a favor and sign up for Ann's weekly newsletter. Smart, informative and everything I want a newsletter to be.

It's the year of the bush--time to rediscover all female body hair by Emer O'Toole - I can't be the only wondering whose brilliant idea it was to make the Brazilian bikini wax something we're all supposed to implement.

Sam Mendes's 25 Rules for Directors by Bennett Marcus

Bullet Journal - I'm currently using March as a trial run for this type of journal/list keeping. I'll let you know how it goes!

Kara Haupt's #babevibes on Twitter and Instagram - Part art project, self exploration, empowerment...whatever you want to label it, it's rad.

Kristin's essay on falling in love with Pittsburgh

Megan's DIY periodic table mirrors

Coup - A fast card game for fun on the fly. We played a few quick rounds over coffee at Northside Social this past weekend, and it was fun.

Behind-the-scenes photos from Freaks and Geeks

10 things we learned in our 30s

There aren't many things better in life than friends you've known for years, who you've built history with. You speak in the code of inside jokes, and it only takes a shared word or two to kill at Taboo. You fight. You love. The highs (you can't mainline Red Bull on your own) are exhilarating, and let's face it, the lows really aren't that bad. Roadtrips and concerts and TV show marathons and texts spent emotionally diagramming emails from boys. Twenty-first birthdays and college graduations and going away celebrations. It's all there, all good. And, when one of your best friends (a ya-ya sister) finally turns 30, you drop what you're doing and throw up your arms in celebration.

Happy birthday, Allie! In honor of the beginning of your 30th year, we* pulled together the top 10 things we learned and/or realized** in our 30s.

1 - Believe it or not, I eventually stopped wanting my house and my body to smell like a baked good.

2 - Confidence is an amazing aphrodisiac that cuts both ways.

3 - Always hire movers. It's worth it. Just do it.

4 - If you have to choose between highlighting your lips or eyes, make those peepers pop. You don't ever hear about someone getting lost in your lips.

5 - Always try to pee before leaving anywhere with a bathroom.

6 - The older you get the more timid and less adventurous you will feel about certain things. Ignore those feelings.

7 - Time is "money" so never spend your time doing something you don't want to do. Just say no.

8 - The rule of throwing out clothing you haven't worn in six months is horrible. Don't follow it.

9 - Always put sunscreen on your chest and hands. You'll thank yourself in 20 years.

10 - Don't try to drink as much as you did in your 20s. You can't. Start following that 1 drink=1 glass of water rule.

The Steven Darling Bonus Addition:

11 - Spend your time and your money wisely and on worthwhile things.

Corollary 1: Lots of people have lots of ideas on what is wise and worthwhile, so make sure it's wise and worthwhile for you.

Corollary 2: Be careful when listening to your own advice. Sometimes, what you think is wise and worthwhile for you is really peer pressure from yourself. Your pressuring self is taking what it thinks SHOULD be wise and worthwhile because it's what everyone thinks should be wise and worthwhile, and tricking you into thinking it's what you really want/need whether or not it's really the wise and worthwhile thing for you.

 

 

*Brought to you by Serena and Scarlet with a bonus round by Steven.
**Though you've always been savvy for your age, so I've got a feeling some of these have already been put into practice. ;-)

My reading year, 2013

Choosing my favorite reads of the year is far too difficult! However, if you were trapped on a desert island or holing up in a cabin for a reading vacation, I'd start with the titles highlighted with a larger font below. Each of these floated my boat in a major way and will be stories I remember for years to come.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

Midnight Rising by Tony Horowitz

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Two Graves by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved by Hunter S. Thompson

Lost Code by Kevin Emerson

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Pastoralia by George Saunders

Faithful Place by Tana French

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt

Parasite by Mira Grant

Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

The Returned by Jason Mott

Watergate by Thomas Mallon

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Mudbound by Hilary Jordan

Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Inspired by, and borrowed from, Austin Kleon

Best Reads of 2013: Scarlet's List

Only my friends would stage a photo shoot while we wait in the emergency room (photo from way back)


I love lists, and end-of-the-year round ups are no exception! I've asked a few of my friends to play along and join me in sharing lists of the best things they've read this year. All of this, of course, is a lead in to my own best reads of the year. Enjoy Scarlet's list below!
-------------------
As we approach the end of 2013, I am ready to admit that I have had a dreadfully light reading year. I’m not sure what happened since I didn’t have as many obligations as years past, but I read fewer books this year than in 2012 and 2011. Disappointing! The silver lining is that out of the books I did read, there were some spectacular gems! Books that have jumped onto my all time favorites list and books that I have recommended to anyone who will listen.  Not all were written in 2013, but they’re all pretty current. I don’t get to the backlist titles as often as I would like. (Never enough time!)
I can’t do a ranked list because that is just impossible so instead I’ll give my recommendations for several different categories.

Books That Made Me Cry:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- I read this while on vacation in Jamaica at the beginning of the year and when I finished it, just days after starting, all I could say was “Wow!” This book was like nothing I had ever read and the beauty of the words and the world created within in it was so magical. I can no longer drive past an ordinary circus without feeling sadness that it’s not black and white.

Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole- Prior to my dream come true vacation to Scotland back in October, I picked up this book solely because it takes place on the island of Skye. Eight hours later I finished it, with tears in my tired eyes, and a heart warm from the love story so beautifully told. I could not put this book down and the US Open was on so, for anyone who knows me, it was a big deal for me to concentrate more on a book than on tennis. This book is a gem and could easily be a bestseller so read it and spread the word! It’s told entirely in letters and takes place in the early 20th century, telling the story between a young poet in Scotland and the American who writes her a fan letter.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell- Without giving too much of the plot away, I was really worried for the main characters of this book until I had turned the last page. This is the sincere story of two high schoolers who share a bus seat and end up with a beautiful connection.
WTF Books:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn- I loved loved loved this book! It’s evil and has terrible characters, twists and turns, and a mystery that was like nothing I have read before. The only thing I will love more than this book will be the David Fincher adaptation starring Ben Affleck. Hot damn  will that be good!

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight- The perfect book to read after Gone Girl because of the mystery element and style of storytelling. Reconstructing Amelia stands well on its own, too, though. A mom begins to piece together the mystery of her daughter’s sudden death after receiving a tip that it was not a suicide. I loved how the story was told from multiple angles and even included text messages and Facebook posts.

In For The Series:

Level 2 (The Memory Chronicles #1) by Lenore Appelhans- I was at work one day at the bookstore when Lenore came in to sign her book so I bought it because I like to support YA authors! Plus, she was super nice and we connected on twitter later that day. She runs a fantastic YA review blog and clearly knows what she is doing because she wrote a great book! This is a book about a part of the afterlife where the dead spend their days watching their memories to pass the time until one of them goes missing and Felicia, the main character, finds out that there is way more going on in this world between worlds.

Someday, Someday Maybe by Lauren Graham- I love Lauren Graham! Have you listened to the podcast Serena and I do? Go ahead, check it out: Friday Night Dinner (link!) Lauren Graham is awesome because she seems like she is such a fun person and that characteristic comes through in all of her work, including her first novel. I really enjoyed this book and found myself giggling several times as I read. I love how the story takes place in the ‘90s because of the added struggles of answering machines, fax machines, and pay phones. Supposedly LG is working on a second book with the same main character. I don’t think it’s a sequel, but a standalone within the same world. I can’t wait!

Tandem (Many-Worlds #1) by Anna Jarzab- All Unquiet Things, the debut book by this author, is an  amazingly gorgeous and intricate book that is one of my favorite YA books out there. Tandem is also a great story with an original plot about parallel worlds and a main character who is kidnapped and forced to impersonate the missing princess who is the alternate version of herself. (Note: for an amazing book about Stockholm Syndrome, you have to read Stolen by Lucy Christopher. INCREDIBLE book!)

Pivot Point (Pivot Point #1) by Kasie West- Another cool book about an interesting world where everyone has super powers within a compound and the main character has to decide to stay there with her mom, or to move with her dad to a town of ‘norms’. What makes the choice completely fascinating is that Addison can see the future when faced with two potential outcomes.

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater- If you haven’t read The Raven Boys, you need to go NOW and catch up. Number two in the cycle (out of four) is told from Ronan’s point of view, which is a little unpredictable, a lot dangerous, and partly told while in a dream state. Crazy, right? This book, like all of Stiefvater’s is exquisitely written and filled to the brim with beautiful lines.

So, that’s it really. Unfortunately, my ‘currently reading’ list is way too long and not getting shorter so I don’t get to talk about how much I love Game of Thrones, even though it’s taking me forever to get through the book (it’s because I keep daydreaming about Jon Snow), how much I’m not sure about The Bone Season (but have been told the end is awesome), and how I still haven’t finished a few series I was fully into (Matched, Cahill Witch Chronicles, Unearthly, Under the Never Sky, just to name a few!)

Here’s to 2014 and more reading! (Hopefully!)

Favorite 2013 Gift Guides

I have a dirty little secret. I love gift guides and other people's "want" lists. I buy very little in the way of tangible things these days. Most of my (theoretically disposable) money goes to caffeine, books, sometimes art, and life experiences. I don't say this to brag. It's almost a problem. I have an eight-year old macbook (that I love). My iPhone has a thick, gray bar running down the left side of the screen from dropping it, and I refuse to replace it. My favorite suitcase is 15 years old and has traveled the world. My favorite cardigan was a good ten years old and had a hole in the arm for the past seven of those years. I only gave it up this year.

Still, I'm a shopper from way, way back, having spent all of my formative years in and around some of this country's greatest malls. I can want and desire with the best of them and dig well-crafted holiday gift guides with items I never knew I needed. I don't seek these guides out, but they are hard to miss this time of year. I've compiled a few of my favorites below.

Austin Kleon's 2013 Holiday Gift Guide
I generally dig the way Austin thinks and what he likes. Two standouts from his list that have made their way onto mine are Daily Rituals by Mason Currey and Palomino Blackwing pencils.

Smithsonian's Best Gifts to Give to the Traveler in Your Life
I'm thinking everyone on my team should have the CRKT Eat'N Tool Minimal Multi-Tool, and I suddenly need Art & Place: Site-Specific Art of the Americas and the scratch-off world map (note to self: also good brother gift).

NPR's Book Concierge
NPR helps you find a book from its selection of great 2013 reads? What could be better?!

November is my favorite month!

This is not one of those annoying posts where I apologize for not writing. I really dislike those posts. This, instead, is a post wherein I tell you about November.

For starters, it's my birthday month, and if you get anything from the early years of this blog, it's how much we dig birthdays* around here. I've also got a few other things on my mind this month, including finalizing plans for a two-month paid sabbatical that starts at the beginning of January. Holy cow! I really don't know how this control freak is not going to work for that long.

As you can see from the badge above, I'm also doing the whole NANOWRIMO thing for the second year in a row (motivation to write this post = procrastination). I'm cheating a bit because my goal is to finish the first draft of the novel I started last year at this time. Rather than get all weird about it, I just found it helpful to spend this month concentrating on writing (and limit any overthinking). This book will likely be well over 50K words, so don't think I'm taking it easy on myself.

My third goal for this month is to finish writing my first business plan. I'm going to be ridiculously vague, but basically, I feel like I have a good idea worth turning into an actual thing. I (and people I've talked to about it) think it's a good enough idea to warrant an actual plan.

So, yeah, November holds good things. I'm thankful. Very, very thankful. Now to schedule in some sleep.


*However, unless you are in my current immediate circle, I am horrible about remembering dates. I need you to be the kind of friend who reminds me, and then I'll make it as special as possible.

List: Articles Rocking My Socks, 08.08.13

Slate's Dan Kois is blogging his beach week mass-market reading marathon.

15-million year old whale skull found on banks of the Potomac.

Molly Crabapple has been knocking it out of the park with her court drawings and reporting. Her Paris Review piece on the Bradley Manning verdict.

NYT piece on history's well-known authors as marketers.

Elisabeth Donnelly creating a connection between a bat and Nathan Fillion that I didn't think possible.

Housekeeping: To check out the articles I'm reading in real time, you can always follow me on Scoop.It. Also, if you're really into lists and have more follow through than I do, check out the 30 Days of Lists project.

Inspired by the Slate Culture Gabfest endorsements (and the numerous other lists that circulate online).

Three rock star e-newsletters you should subscribe to now

I love email. Several of my favorite relationships went from average and satisfactory to having a real intimacy and closeness thanks to the conversations and dreaming we did over email. Of course, these days it can be hard to keep up with all of the email coming in. Up until three or four months ago, I was deleting 15 to 20 emails--ones like Groupon, Terrain, and Artomatic--every morning without even opening them. Fed up, I finally spent 30 minutes doing a digital purge and unsubscribing to all of the newsletters and updates I kept automatically deleting. I figure I'd given them enough of a chance to wow me.

Three fabulous newsletters that remain are listed below! When I see an update from these rock stars, I almost always stop what I'm doing and dig in. I draw inspiration from the links and thoughts they share, even if the topic may have nothing to do with whatever I'm currently working on. In fact, it's often better if it doesn't.

• Austin Kleon's dispatches tie directly back to what he's currently working on, reading, watching, etc. His voice is one that really resonates with me, and his reading recommendations never steer me wrong. 

• Marc Schiller's Bond/360 updates are letters chock full of advice from an experienced marketer. The best thing about Schiller is his no-nonsense, no-holds-barred attitude. He doesn't coddle and is most likely smarter than you. He is also one of the geniuses behind Wooster Collective. 

• Kam of Campfire Chic's newsletters are motivational. Her focus for the year is bravery, and she's pushing her followers to make their own brave choices. Stories of her outdoor adventures always encourage me to step away from the computer. 

The way in which these newsletters complement the authors' websites and/or other online outlets inspired me to try my hand at creating my own. I can't promise to keep a regular schedule (this might even be the only one), but I will try to keep it interesting and a bit more raw than the blog. I also like the idea of an outlet to talk about things that just may not be appropriate for this space. We'll see.

Sign up below to get the inaugural issue. I talk a bit about coping with shyness, as well as give you the low down on what I'm watching and listening to.


Subscribe here to receive my newsletter!

Another First Friday in Richmond

1. Happy hour at Penny Lane Pub
2. Dinner at Sticky Rice (the original is the best)
3. Galleries along Broad Street for Art Walk

Charting my coffee trail

Beach in Santa Barbara

You know I've got a caffeine problem when I'd rather talk to you about all the coffee shops I visited than the beaches I saw (not that they weren't spectacular). Let's list this one out!

1. Starbucks (a couple along the way)
2. Urban Coffee Lounge, Kirkland, WA. Love, love, loved this place. I'm so jealous that Terra essentially lives right above it. I would marry both the salted maple and the honey cinnamon lattes. They also have a fantastic looking selection of baked goods (including vegan and gluten-free offerings) and breakfast sandwiches (get the lumberjack).
3. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Portland, OR. Routinely on best coffee lists. I'd been here before and knew my stimulant needs would be solidly met.
4. The Human Bean, Grants Pass, OR. I wasn't impressed with the coffee, but it was inexpensive and got the job done. It was one of many coffee kiosks along the highways we drove. Such a fan of how they seemed to thrive along the west coast.
5. Java Hut, Crescent City, CA.
6. Pour Girls Coffee, Laytonville, CA. Solid coffee. Cute marketing.
7. Peet's Coffee & Tea, Palo Alto, CA. Good latte. A guy I used to work with always had coffee shipped from Peet's. It was fun to finally visit and give it a try myself.
8. The Cow's End Cafe, Marina Del Rey, CA. We thought we were in Venice. Oops. I couldn't really enjoy this cup because of how windy it was.
9. Silverlake Coffee Co., Los Angeles, CA. This cup tasted amazing. Perhaps this can be somewhat attributed to the fact it had been a couple of days since I'd had a cup.


Beach at Carmel-by-the-Sea

Day in the Life, 03.30.13

7:00 AM Driven out of bed by a sore back. Grab a bottle of water and settle on the couch to read.

9:00 AM Meet workout buddy at the gym for some treadmill time. As much as I hate to admit it, I always feel better after leaving the gym.



10:00 AM Firm up my afternoon plans and grab a venti soy latte to fuel me.



1:38 PM Waiting to watch the premiere of Sign Painters (much anticipated by me and so good) at Renwick Gallery!



3:30 PM Checking out some of the pieces in the Craft Gallery.



5:00 PM Late lunch/early dinner at Sweetgreen in the Reston Town Center. I'm a huge fan of their earth bowl.

6:15 PM Picking up groceries and other supplies for the week. Five days until Seattle!

7:45 PM The portraits on display at Renwick were really cool. My favorite was a somewhat austere woman seated beside a gigantic gray cat. It inspired me to pick back up my wacky portrait project. Stopped by Michaels to refresh my paint supply.

8:21 PM Pajamas, water, couch.

lately

1. DryBar as part of continued birthday celebrations for Scarlet
2. Steven's concert
3. DC on my way to Maryland
4. Calm before the storm; empty classroom before a Johns Hopkins University presentation
5. Maryland Board of Public Works meeting during "snowquestration"

List: Endorsed, 2.26.13

I did something to my back at the gym last week (let's keep the old comments to a minimum), so I spent large chunks of the weekend hanging out on my couch, catching up on my favorite shows and reading. I can't recommend the following pieces enough. Many of them are long, and most of them are certainly weighty, providing fuel for some of my better rants. All are certainly worth the investing the time in.

The Education of Michelle Rhee - She's definitely one of my heroes.

Bitter Pill: Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us - A really eye-opening piece that just might make you sick.

Flight of the Hipsters

Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure

The Secret Life of Scientists and Engineers: Mayim Bialik

Endorsed is inspired by the Slate Culture Gabfest (and the numerous other lists that circulate online).

First February

What my weekend looks like when I plan to be productive but just can't be bothered...

1. Coffee meet-ups and the matinee of Warm Bodies.
2. Being glad that they didn't show all the funny parts with the best friend in the trailers and that I only paid $5 for the show.
3. Death is a motherfucker.
4. Starting season two of The Walking Dead.
5. Snow flurries after dark, heated seats, and an awesome pal by my side.
6. Legitimate Irish pubs with friends I haven't seen for a while.
7. Exchanging pleasantries with Ripken the cat.
8. Sleeping in, a tiny bit of work, and chats with a friend.
9. Watching the rest of the second season of The Walking Dead.
10. Last half of the Super Bowl and feeling anxious about not working more.

My reading year*, 2012

Clearly, I don't inhale books in the way that I do movies. If movies are my fast food (cheap, lacking in nutritional value and quickly forgotten), the written word is a meal at The French Laundry. You don't want to shove it into your mouth while barreling down the road listening to a podcast. I can read quickly and spent many years mainlining books. At this point in my life, I just choose not to. Getting lost in a story and putting off the inevitable end are where it's at!

January 2012

The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir about Writing and Life by Ann Patchett
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

March 2012

Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

April 2012

Uncivil Seasons by Michael Malone
Time's Witness by Michael Malone

July 2012

Shadow of Night (All Soul's Trilogy #2) by Deborah Harkness
Blackout (Newsflesh Trilogy #3) by Mira Grant

September 2012

The Passage by Justin Cronin

October 2012

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan

*Inspired by, and borrowed from, Austin Kleon (one of my favorite, most enlightening people to follow).

My watching year*, 2012

What movies did I spend my money and time consuming in 2012**? See my full of titles below.

Favorites
Argo, Looper and Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter are battling it out for my top pick.

Secret loves I know you'll judge
Battleship, 21 Jump Street and Breaking Dawn Part II

You probably shouldn't waste your money
I love Johnny Depp, but I really regretted Dark Shadows.

Want to see last year's list?

Chronicle
This Means War
21 Jump Street
Hunger Games
Cabin in the Woods
Bernie
Avengers
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Dark Shadows
Battleship
MIB 3
Brave

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter 

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World
Magic Mike
Dark Knight Rises
Step Up 4
Paranorman
Looper
Pitch Perfect
Argo
Wreck-it Ralph
Breaking Dawn, Part II
Red Dawn
The Hobbit

*Inspired by, and borrowed from, Austin Kleon (one of my favorite, most enlightening people to follow).
**Only includes the movies I watched that debuted in 2012.

30 Days of Lists: Week 1

This month I managed to get my act together and register for 30 Days of Lists, created and organized by Kam and Amy. I've been meaning to do this for the past couple of rounds because, well, I like to make lists. However, I've always been hesitant because (1) the thought of adding even a 30-day challenge to my day was daunting and (2) I don't scrapbook or do any other paper journaling.

Despite what I just wrote, I signed up and even decided to make something tactile. I'm no art journaler, but I kind of enjoyed encouraging myself to express myself in this way.

On re-reading that embarrassing diary

There is no more humbling experience than looking back through past diary entries.

After seeing a “tweet” a couple of weeks ago from @amytschubert on pruning her archives, I found
myself revisiting my own early posts. Immediately, I was surprised to discover that I’ve kept this blog, posting off and on, for roughly eight years. Whoa.

I also quickly discovered how annoying the Serena of eight years ago was*. This space has always been a personal journal and place to tuck all of those thoughts and opinions away. Still, I found myself cringing at how much I whined and complained. I’m not talking about the political or social rants (I still stand by those) and am, instead, talking about the posts on people upsetting me or how tired I was or apologizing for not blogging. I painted such an unhappy picture of myself when, I know for a fact, I was having a blast.

While the little historian and archivist living inside me cringed a bit, I decided then and there that I was overdue for a little purging of my own. Even though the purging isn’t complete, it seems appropriate that I record the lessons I’ve learned or been reminded of.

• I used to go to a lot of concerts and listened to some mighty fine bands.
• Sometimes the extra money made working two jobs isn’t worth it. I contend that 90% of my perceived unhappiness at that time can be attributed to the fact I was sleeping roughly 3 hours a night and was constantly tired.
• Lots of goals, very little follow through. Finish things, McClain.
• Cut some of the younger folks a little slack in Twitter and on their blogs. Turns out, you were just as annoying as they can be. Everyone needs an opportunity to grow.
• That said, constantly complaining and apologizing for not blogging is a no. Keep it authentic, and don’t be afraid to be transparent with your feelings on occasion. That should be mandatory. However, just stop apologizing for not blogging, complaining about not blogging, etc.
• Looking back, the posts I’m the most proud of really do reflect the things I still enjoying writing about the most.

*Yeah, yeah. I’m still annoying. Whatever.

Road to Saint Paul, List #4: Photos I'd Like to Take

- fields of gold and green against a cloud-filled sky
- the inspirational church sign always m ssing a few let ers
- downtown main street
- the mighty Mississippi, the Chicago and other rivers
- the perfect antique mall along the side of the road with obscenely cheap prices
- a sick cup of coffee, gigantic ice cream cone and the perfect breakfast taco
- local street art, a charming backdrop and a sublime sunset