I think, mostly-

That I need to slow down a little bit.

I have been working double shifts most days, if not every day this week and yeesh, do my feet hurt. But this all feels lovely right now. Today, I made a pot of coffee, a fancy omelette, and then spent two hours outside eating breakfast reading A Tree of Night. Then I watched Murder by Death, again, and laughed myself to sleep. Oh, afternoon naps! You remind me of passing out on my couch in my old college apartment with that Ella Fitzgerald record playing. Gosh, what else have I been doing? Pretty much making money, saving the bulk of it, and counting down the days 'til I move to sweet, sweet, Seattle. Lately my pastime has been watching what Houston calls "autumn" roll in just as September starts and all the little kiddos go back to school. Which doesn't feel as odd as I thought it would. I used to yearn for school to start, so I could bury my nose in books and sit in the front of the class and talktalktalk and then write essays on the importance of understanding conflict between sexes in other cultures residing in areas of the world i'd never been to. It was all so wonderful and naïve at the same time, but it's nice to have had my four years of that, and to be done with it, and to move on to one of the biggest decision i've made in my life... moving out of Texas. I can't wait to be back in Washington state. I already have my future address, where Vienna and I will live until March in Belltown. My first Christmas away from Texas is going to be scary, but i'm sure i'll find something beautiful to do. I am a little worried about packing enough sweaters to get me through my first cold months up North... I can already tell that the hot coffee and fresh old fashioned doughnuts from Top Pot on 5th street downtown will be a favorite of mine this December.

Well, enough of that. I'll leave you with a scene from one of my favorite films. Oh, my favorite part is when Maude starts dancing and you see it's a player piano, that cracks me up every time... look at me, ruining it for the lot of you. What a spoilsport I am. Someone smack me in the mouth!

I love you all dearly,
Amanda

101 degrees

The only thing that I've been able to stomach is tea.

I wish to not have a white girl's body

Sitting in my room eating a little bit of cheese on some crunchy bread, and hoping it will go directly to my bum. I don't even want to to pass through my body the way food normally does, the way you learn about in your kinder years. I'd just like for it to transform into a massive, cheeky, brazilian lady bum. That would be magnificent, as I am quite tired of my skinny white girl body lately.

When I was in Seattle (weeks ago, now!) Vienna and I were walking along midday, with the beast in tow on pink leash, when we saw this really gorgeous curvy black woman in a suit walking past. We were both so shocked by the enormousity of her bum (like a small ottoman it was!) that we started to gawk and gape and giggle and it was a miracle this lovely lady did not stop and turn around as to give us an incredulous look.

I just wanted to pat my hands on it, like a child at play.

I will never have a cool bum,
Love,
Amanda

Heaven

Was standing in the middle of Pike Street, listening to music I grew up on while the Seattle sky turned pink at 9:00 PM, & the rain started to fall lightly on my face. I wish my camera hadn't died, but it really doesn't matter. I felt like glowing all night.

I am a girl of simple pleasures

I have been spending the weekend at my Grandma's house in north Houston, and I can tell you, it's been absolutely deLIGHTful. My gram is the eptiome of the quick-witted Southern lady- I owe her a fortune for teaching me how to balance my charm and sass. This morning we woke up and had coffee, put on a Ornette Coleman record (she said she was feeling wild!), and made waffles topped with fresh Texas peaches I picked up from a stand on FM 1960 friday evening.

I love the way the inside of her house looks- I remember growing up here, with the giant pine trees in the backyard, the old, steep wooden staircase lined with framed photos and brass ornaments and dried flowers and lace. I've been helping her clean up the house and get rid of things since my grandfather died this spring, and she has so many tuxedoes, suits, cashmere coats and fur capes i'm helping her sell on Ebay. I was lucky enough to make off with some embroidered boots and a silk bathrobe she gave me! She also told me that i'd better take some things, even though I already have a beautiful brass floor lamp and a full-length mirror she gave me when I moved to Dallas. I took some pictures, and i'll upload them next week, I promise. Right now, i'm squealing at what a lucky girl I am to inherit this old rocking chair i'm sitting in with the cream crochet cushions, the wooden turntable that's sitting on a skinny hand-carved bedside table, her Singer from the 70s, all the little framed mirrors in the bathroom.

Tonight we're going out for dinner, but when we get home she'll probably want to make some fresh lemonade. We'll put it an ice cold pitcher with some Jim Bean, sit out on the back porch on the swing, have drinks, and watch the stars come out.

I'm down.

Lovelovelove,
Amanda

P.S. I told her all about Seattle, and she gave me a big thumbs up, y'all.

Seattle

I don't have a lot of time to update while i'm here, but i'll tell you kids right now. I've fallen in love, and my decision [between Chicago or Seattle] is clear- I am moving by the end of 2009.

Today will be a day of getting back to my roots. Of meditation.

That means: hemming two vintage dresses i'm bringing to Seattle with me. Sewing new buttons onto another one. Baking vegan banana bread I made two weeks ago that got eaten up in three days. Preparing the salmon for dinner tonight with some fam that's coming over. Preparing my cyanotypes to bring over to a gallery that might display them early this evening. For lunch I made roasted chicken sandwiches with portobellos and gruyeré cheese. Sometimes it's nice to pamper yourself.

"Rock Bottom Riser" by Smog