Cluttered with Memories

I really wish I could have a very simply decorated home.

But I know it will never happen. I have way too many keepsakes and decorations that will forever clutter my home.

I have a strong relationship with most of my belongings. They all have stories attached to them and reasons why they will never be discarded. I still have my first three dolls my mom gave me when I was a toddler, Annie, Amy and Old Amy, (I wasn't very clever.) and I don't think I could ever get rid of them.

{photo via potterybarn.com}

Sparking Blue Eyes

My favorite part about old time Hollywood is how everyone was charming. Paul Newman was especially.

I loved everything about him. His innocence and desire to always help others. ("I didn't turn in my citizenship card when I got my screen actor's card.") The way he respected and loved his family. His political activism. His eyes. Oh, his eyes.

I fell in love with Paul Newman a long time ago and I think others will to when they see his movies. There's a huge difference between Hollywood now and Hollywood 50 years ago. Watch one of his movies and you'll see easily.

A few of my favorite Paul Newman movies: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Nobody's Fool, Slap Shot, Cool Hand Luke and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Watch them. You'll be amazed and memorized.

"If my eyes should ever turn brown, my career is shot to hell." - Paul Newman.

{image via people.com}

Sometimes, I Get Annoyed

I really like reading and writing about what makes people happy, it puts me in a better mood; but let's face it, no one is always in a good mood. Sometimes things are frustrating and you have to vent. Here's my top ten list of things that tick me off.

1. People talking loudly on their phones or just being loud in general.
2. When people walk slow in front of you and you can't walk around.
3. Cars without turn signals.
4. People who are rude to others, especially waitresses.
5. Waiting in lines.
6. When my iPod dies 5 mins in to an hour train ride.
7. Loud neighbors.
8. People who don't know the difference between its/it's, their/they're/there and your/you're.
9. People who text/talk on the phone while driving.
10. When people don't replace the empty toilet paper roll.

What gets under your skin?

{photo via Flickr ificutmyhairirelandwillsink}

Cooking for Others

My brother-in-law Patrick is a chef at a classy wine and tapas place (though they also serve full meals). As the head chef, he is in charge of creating new plates and deciding the menu. This is perfect for him and my sister since he loves to cook and she's still learning.

I keep asking him to let me take over his kitchen and use it as my culinary laboratory, but it hasn't happened yet.

I'm not quite sure if others enjoy my cooking as much as I do though. I think I generally cook for my own taste and not others. I'll have to work on that, it'll be a fun experiment.

Classic Movie Nights

Last night I went to a Doc films showing of 'An Affair to Remember' at University of Chicago in Hyde Park.

Sounds amazing, right? It was, but wasn't.

This was the last movie showing of the series, sad. But because I love classic movies so much, I'm going to start my own film series. (These things are supposed to have themes, right? And names, have to work on that part still.) Instead of showing Cary Grant movies like the series I went to, I'm going to show all Humphrey Bogart films. I think we're going to start with 'The Big Sleep' and end with the greatest film ever made-- 'Casablanca.'

So far, the audience includes my mom and I. No tickets necessary.

Back to the Books

I haven't done a lot of reading lately, which is a shame considering it's one of my favorite activities.

I've just been too busy with class, appointments and other important, time-consuming things. (Or these are really just excuses.) But I recently began commuting by train everyday and have two hours with no Internet access. I didn't realize how relaxing that could be.

In the past few days commuting, I have already finished one book, The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.

While it isn't one of my favorites, it was a good story and a refreshing, relaxing change to my day.

Yes or No? Biking

I should really buy a bike. I haven't had one in years.

My friend and I were talking about biking the other day and we decided the only way to take a leisurely bike ride is through the English countryside on an old bike with a basket on the front.

But since that won't happen, maybe I should give a new bike and the city a try. (Even if it is a little scary.)

A lot of people biked to class in college and I constantly see people biking through the Loop in Chicago, but that's ridiculous and a little suicidal. I'll try the bike path.

{photo via dellsbells Flickr}

Photo of a Little Girl

I can't decide if this is a 'good' picture or not, but I like it.

Compiling Lists

I've been compiling a reading, viewing and cooking list for quite a while now. I'm waiting for the afternoon I can curl up in a lawn chair in my backyard and read, the evening I can spend in front of my stove creating a delicious meal and the night I can lay down with a relaxing movie.

What's on the list?

A few books:

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

Bombingham by Anthony Grooms

The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra

The Key to My Neighbor's House by Elizabeth Neuffer

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A few movies:

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

The Dirty Dozen

A Streetcar Named Desire

Rudy

A few meals:

Roasted eggplant

Lamb burgers

Sesame salmon steaks

(Or maybe I could finish the 100 Books List I mentioned before)

A Day on the Boat

My dad owns a nice boat but the poor thing hasn't felt the cool waves of Lake Michigan in a few years. I encourage him to take it out but lately he says it is too much work for just a day. I would love to tell him that I'll spend an afternoon reeling in perch and blue gills but the idea of fishing all day does not sound pleasant at all.

Maybe if he lets me bring a few books and a picnic basket? And doesn't make me touch the fish.

{photo via Jesper Hauge Flickr}