I don’t actually have a nightstand. I have a fairly deep window sash, upon which live my lamp and probably some spiders, and I have a portable air conditioner that cautions “Do not place items on top of air conditioner,” upon which I compromise by only putting items on it when it’s not shuddering from overuse. Generally, though, whatever book I’m currently reading is either in my purse or on top of my bed, and the books I’m also reading… Read more »
Posts By: Claire
O Pioneers
If I could choose a talent to wake up with one day it would be graphic design. What’s more fun than being supremely great at a never-ending game of “this thing looks like that other thing”? I have a few friends who are graphic designers and I’m always impressed by the balance of idea + execution. But if I think about an alternate career path, I nearly always consider epidemiology. I doubt I’ll actually go back to school for an MPH… Read more »
Possibilities.
Likelihoods I dislike: The threat of blood-borne pathogens and/or OSHA violations The probability of sunburn The risk of witnessing someone vomit The uncertainty of not knowing when you’ll be able to leave a function and go home Likelihoods I like: The chance that there will be pastries.
Walking down the street
Overheard: Person A: “I could make you a nice dinner.” Person B: “I think I’m kind of past the point of a nice dinner.” Sometimes you’re just past that point. “Stop it! Will you stop trying to do ear things to this chicken?” Perhaps instead you could make chicken a nice dinner. Interpret that as you wish. Father singing to his crying baby: “Pasta, pasta, pasta, pasta…” That is also what I want when I’m crying. “You can’t… Read more »
Collective Nouns
When I teach collective/uncountable nouns–usually as a consequence of teaching the distinction between “fewer” and “less,” and between “number” and “amount”–I find myself thinking “I should describe a collective noun as something you could take from your roommate without them noticing!” I would like to note that I don’t actually traffic in that practice unless one of my roommates offers (except for shampoo. It was an emergency), but that’s where my mind goes. A splash of milk? A palmful of conditioner?… Read more »
Mental Space
When I started high school I remember thinking that my whole life was going to change because….I would be falling asleep at night with the image of a different set of surroundings in my head (that is, the knowledge that I would be spending most of my hours in a different building than I had for my five years of middle school was a minimal but constant presence). I was thinking about that today because the yoga teacher who gave… Read more »
Triptychs
The other day in a yoga class the teacher said something about meditation/being present that I have never heard before, even though I live with a meditation teacher. It was something along the lines of “The present moment is the only moment in which we can be happy–if we’re stuck in the past, that’s depression; if we can only think about the future, that’s anxiety.” It made me go WOT. She attributed it to–well, she couldn’t quite remember, but she… Read more »
A Party of Parties
In the wake of the Olympics (sob), I had a weekend of various life-stage parties: a 10-year NYC anniversary (mine)/birthday (my roommate’s)/lease re-signing (my apartment’s) party, a 50th wedding anniversary bash, and a first birthday party. At our small house party someone arrived bearing (ha, ha–I promise that was accidental) vodka-infused gummy bears. I didn’t actually try any, but they did look colorful and intriguing. However, they are now in two jars in our kitchen and have taken the form… Read more »
Final Olympic Thoughts: Part 2
Track and Field I don’t fully understand why track and field is only appealing to me as an Olympic sport, why I would never watch the track and field world championships or any other major competitions. I guess it mostly hinges on how Olympic track and field fits into the greater Olympic narrative…for some reason all of the analogies coming to mind have to do with foods that I would eat in combination with other foods, but not on their own,… Read more »
Final Olympic Thoughts: Part 1
Gymnastics The event finals were the first time that the gymnastics crowd seemed anything other than supportive of all of the athletes. It was amazing to see two Brazilian men medal in the Floor event final, but when they were in second and third positions with one competitor left to go, the crowd actually booed during Sam Mikulak’s floor routine. Okay: if you boo at a hockey game you might get angry looks, but if you boo as someone is about… Read more »
