I’m hanging out with Danielle in my very blue room. We’re bored. So we’re both doing this on our blogs. It’s like middle school all over again! 

A – Available: for what?

B – Best Friend: danielle, DUH

C – Crush: currently? giraffes

D – Dad’s Name: Jim (this is a boring question)

E – Easiest Person To Talk To: myself, or my cat

F – Favorite Band: Radiohead

G – Gummy Bears Or Worms: bears CMON

H – Hometown: Northport

I – Instrument: Trumpet/Piano

J – Job: da Greatist (writer)

K – Kids: are small?

L – Longest Car Ride: NY to Chicago

M – Milk Flavor: …vanilla?

N – Number Of Siblings: one

O – One Wish: oh ya know..world peace.

P – Phobias: planes, bees, grizzly bears

Q – Favorite Quote: Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something (HDT)

R – Reason To Smile: giraffes, long runs, wandering,

S – Song You Last Heard: rocky racoon

T – Time You Woke Up: 7:55

U – Unknown Fact About Me: I once had a SEVER planter wart on my foot and named it after my coach…

V – Vegetable: Brussel Sprouts.

W – Worst Habits: biting nails, not sleeping enough

X – X-Rays You’ve Had: FOOT, wrist?

Y – Your Favorite Food: carrot cake. or hummus. pumpkin pie! OR MEAL: steak w/ roasted aspargaus, mashed potatoes and glass of cabernet

Z- Zodiac Sign: Aries (so I’m [apparently] independent, optimistic, self-involved, and moody).

Hi.

So Al and I just returned from our mini midwestern getaway. Overall, Chicago was a grand ol’ time; we experienced a nice balance of cultural, touristy stuff, social, alcoholic, and young rambunctious stuff (sort of), and absolutely nothing..stuff (took lots of naps).

Some highlights included going to the ZOO and seeing giraffes, tigers, weird birds, and christmas lights! We also went to the Chicago Art Institute which had an amazing new modern wing, along with some classic Monet and Van Gogh (beautiful) and African Art (obv the best). We dabbled in Millennium Park, waved to Lake Michigan, went to an incredible German Christmas market and drank mulled wine, frequently felt cold, played with a cat, watched Super Troopers, ate burritos the size of our heads (that’s what the restaurant was called..), saw live improv, went to a birthday party, saw a woman’s purse get stolen in Starbucks, witnessed a car accident, drank tequila, drank whiskey, spooned together in a freezing bedroom while pretending we were “camping,” lost my phone, found my phone, pretended my phone was still lost, oh—and stayed at the Pritzker household,  one of the richest families in the world who owns the Hyatt. I promise (but seriously). Also, made new friends. That was the best.

Since that was the longest list..ever, I’ll now interrupt myself with some photos for yr viewing pleasure:

Enough of that. Last call of duty: Spirit Airlines. Well…it didn’t take us long to figure out why flights were so… reasonable? We got on the plane only to learn there was no running water in the bathrooms, and the engine that controls the AC/Heat was broken (but don’t worry, that engine has nothing to do with the ones that make the plane fly. Cool). Nothing was complimentary: we splurged on the $8 combo for two drinks, pringles, and animal crackers. We also spent a good ten minutes failing to recline our seats (probably had to pay for that, too). The ride back was unfortunately worse. The flight attendants kept saying something about no one changing seats because the plane had to stay “balanced” (or what?), and while there indeed was running water this time, there was also a shit ton of turbulence. I had luckily just ordered myself two glasses of wine right as the plane was about to (in my head) nose dive into Lake Michigan. Panic stricken, I literally…chugged my wine as my hands were shaking and tears were falling down my face (not my best moment). Thankfully, we didn’t crash (if you hadn’t guessed) and after the turbulence passed, Ali and I listened to Countdown on repeat, wrote our new years resolutions, and were, well, really drunk. Not a bad way to depart the Windy City, if you ask me.

Name withheld.

Friend: everyone comes
and watches you?
like you have people come to share this moment
then they drop all this money on you
then ALL this attention is on you
omg the idea of walking down the aisle
everyone STARING at me
makes me want to piss my pants
and throw up
at the same time
and shit
while pissing and throwing up
but yeah. fucking weird man. i mean i guess when i get there at some point, i’ll be all excited for that or something
but my weddings gonna be cool
me: ok sub change
Friend: yea true
BABIES
HOW MANY BABIES DO YOU WANT!!!!!

One Last Shag

This bar in Bedstuy is filled
with locals in a foreign place.
Music and musk, warm
whiskey and wooden beads
on windows—misplaced precisely
as I am, a Sunday night
with disrupted rhythms
to a dizzying degree, tired eyes
pulled wide.
She strums on the
small stage. Her voice so soft
I can barely hear anything
else but phrases and breaths,
empty spaces separating sounds.
I’ve been here before, to this
bar in Bedstuy. I traveled over bridges
to these rooms that cupped the velvet
voices of angels, a black box so illuminating—
warmed by completed chords and
loose holds on wrists.
And they say these bridges connect
things that should fasten around fingers.
But I’m beginning to believe the opposite,
that I’ll run over wires to detach from
worn grass, to be here in this
foreign place, finally familiar.
No longer longing to leave.

Al and I spent all of Sunday together since we literally did not see each other once this week! We went on a dinner-date at The Lodge, which is by far my favorite restaurant in Williamsburg.

We were given this postcard, so we decided to write each other a little note…

…Sense a theme? 

People.

I genuinely enjoy connecting with others. I love having random conversations and learning life stories. I like to listen. And I, like most people, have been lucky enough to make unique and wonderful friendships throughout the 23 years, 7 months, and 30 days of my life (but who’s counting?).

And then, there is that other type of relationship: a connection we’ll have with a stranger or an acquaintance that’s short-lived. The random conversation you have with someone on a crowded bus, or on a line to buy movie tickets. The guy you buy coffee from every morning, or the old woman who lives upstairs. I find these connections just as beautiful and important as any family member or friend.

I talked about this with my friend Davey (heeey Davey!) over Ethiopian food last week. He told me about a hike he went on out West—he met up with some other backpackers and they spent the whole day traversing the red rocks. They got along excellently and could easily have turned into long-time pals. Yet when it was time to part ways…they did.

This story reminded me of a bus ride from D.C. to New York. I sat at a table with a father and his two grown children and the four of us spent the whooole northern journey playing gin-rummy and eating carrot cake cookies (i KNOW). I learned all about this quirky trio, and before we knew it, we were pulling over in midtown and set to go our separate ways. Part of me didn’t want to walk away—we just spent five hours together laughing and learning, and I knew I’d never see them again. Still, I simply remarked how great it was to meet them, and left.

I still think about this family and am reminded about how great that bus ride was. And Davey will remember that hike and those fellow backpackers. And you know what? That’s more than enough. I’ll continue to tell the bodega owner down the street “have a great day” when I purchase my coffee, and I’ll never forget to thank the woman who hands me a towel after I workout at the gym. The African laundry lady will always tell me a story when I pick up my clean clothes, and the guy who chops my salad will never stop asking what dressing I want (balsamic every time). 

I’ll never spend Christmas with these people, and I may never even learn their names. Yet if I couldn’t have random conversations and quick connections with strangers, I would feel devoid of something. And…and…I wonder what would happen if everyone valued and respected strangers as much as they did family and friends. At the very least, we’d all be a little happier, don’t you think?

Meet where I live. With Ali. In Brooklyn.
Also, the best part is when Ali tries to sing along with the music for a hot second…

As long as I can remember, I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge. I’d like to say it’s because I’m motivated and hard-working (lets be real, I’m just really stubborn), but nonetheless, I thrive off of pushing myself. Being the underdog. Choosing the road less traveled (#sorry).

An early example of this is me strapping on skis at the age of five and refusing help down the mountain. I wanted to figure it out myself, which resulted in zooming straight down the trail. I had no idea how to stop, so I just counted to five and… fell. (Mind you, this whole scenario was way more intense in my toddler mind).

I always root for the underdog in sports, because it’s way more exciting (and surprising) when they win. And out of all the sports I dabbled in as a kid, I’ve stuck with the one that (to me) is the most mentally and physically challenging: running. When going abroad, I chose Ghana. Why? Because Ghana is hard. I wanted to carry my own bathing water, rely on unreliable transportation, and learn to enjoy blobs of mashed plantain doused in oily fish stew for dinner (mmm).

But I thrive off that. I genuinely would rather sleep in a tent in the middle of the woods than in a 7-star hotel room. I’ll take four trains to a friends apartment instead of a cab. I’ll work overtime for a company I believe in over getting out at 5pm with the rest of the Suit-and-Tie world.

And I’m quickly realizing that working for a startup fits the way I function. Work can be hard— really really hard. But the challenges we face everyday make it all the more worthwhile. The beauty of pushing yourself and setting high limits is that you actually see your progress. Every single thing you do (or don’t do) affects a much larger goal, which in turn creates meaning for every action. And meaning is so, so beautiful.  

So yeah, embracing challenges often means fucking up and failing. But it’s been mulled over time and time again that failing is essential to learning and growing and eventually figuring it out. And had I been less curious as a kid, I probably would be leading a very safe, easy life.

And I wouldn’t be happy… like I am now. 

Homes

These keys are with me,

as I sit on subway stairways.

They fit in this house,

tight walls that gather

possessions, emotions.

A man sits by me, on these

stairs that no one sits on.

He paints people, sleeps

next to stencils—his home

wherever brushes stroke.

Perhaps these keys will fit

in his frames. He’ll draft

deadbolts and doors.

I’ll see where I feel safe.

Right now, I can’t seem to write poems or semi-witty things. No ideas, musings, or stupid stories are popping in my head.

So instead, read an updated version of Greatist’s manifesto. Much more interesting:

More must-read health & fitness news and information at Greatist.