Hi. Wednesday. There was sun today for the first time, literally, in weeks. Tell me this, Internets, is it sunny where you are? And if so, is it often? I’m starting to get itchy feet. Hankering to be somewhere else maybe. Some place with more sun, more… I don’t know. If I were foot loose and fancy free I’d be tempted to do this. I’ve always wanted to write a story about big rig drivers. Cool, right?
Really though: do you love where you live? Tell me about it!
Also today: lots of revising and forward progress. Writing is a crazy making profession for sure. So much terror and doubt is there, every day, waiting in the margins, in the click of the space bar. During breaks today I was inspired by her beautiful aesthetic. And also this breathtaking art.
This super cool journal also caught my eye today. I love when image and story and news and ideas collide. It’s how it’s like inside my head.
Speaking of things that get inside my head–I loved reading this story in particular because it reminded me somehow very much of The Year of Silence by Kevin Brockmeier in the Best American, which was originally published here. I wish I could find a link for you to read it online–because then you’d see what I mean about these two pieces connecting. This picture in particular, of Sao Paolo stripped of visual pollution is just what I pictured when I imagined a city stripped of sound. It’s serene and calming and yet…I like a mess, which is why I liked how Brockmeier’s little piece ends immensely.
And finally, because I adore lists and am a total sucker for good food, Travelers Lunchbox delighted me so much today. Particularly this list of all foodie lists.
My short list of to die for food off the top of my head: cherry pie, pasta from Mezzaluna, lime gelato in the Piazza della Signoria, affogato, oysters with white wine and garlic butter.
Runners up: root beer floats, hot chocolate from Quebec served in a bowl, majool dates, fresh raspberries, steak frites, unagi sushi, raspberry sorbet, licorice, dark dark chocolate, caramel apples, dry packed scallops, Oh lord, I have started something I cannot stop. What are your top five and your runners up?
My to die for foods are a bit white trash:
Onion Rings from the Purple Turtle w/pink sauce
Molten Cake w/home-made vanilla bean icecream
Pesto Veggie Pizza
Shrimp Fetuccini Alfredo
Pulled Pork Salad with guacamole
Runners up: Pain au chocolat, cinnamon rolls, glazed pears, garlic roasted asparagus, sweet potato fries w/spicy mustard dipping sauce. You’re right it is hard to stop.
I love where I live, but this has been the wettest year I can remember. It’s nice to have had sun, at least a little bit, every day in July.
I love where I live as well, but part of the fun is complaining about the weather. Minnesota has all four seasons, and there are times like this evening; when the sun finally (finally!) came out and there was a cool (almost chilly) wind, all of my windows were open and I felt like snuggling, yet the summer still is very present…this is when I love it most. There are perfect moments, and perfect days among all of those that are far from perfect. It makes me appreciate them all the more. Like a cause for celebration. I grew up here, and I love that history. I can take my kids to the same park that I played at and show them where we used to make forts in the woods. My family and my husband’s family live near-by as well, so that support cushions the hard times and enriches the good.
Favorite Food? OH, MY. I don’t even know where to start. You really should have given a category. Well, I love Manicotti from DiNapoli’s in Downtown Minneapolis. Sabastion Joe’s chocolate ice cream, Cheddar cheese and sour cream baked potato chips with french onion dip, Zucchini, onion & potato tacos, broccoli with garlic and red pepper flakes, scalloped corn, mashed potatoes, fresh fruit pie, chocolate chip scones, really good muffins…. I couldn’t decide which ones were the top five and which ones were the runner’s up. (oh, monkey bread…can I add that too? And…fresh strawberries…)
Is it sunny here? Yes, too much so. Try 110+ºF for a month straight with only one half-day of sprinkles. We’re between 6.5 inches and 9 inches behind last year’s rainfall for our area. The lake is depressingly low.
Do I like living here? Yeah, Austin rocks and I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else, though there is so much more to explore though I’ve lived here for seven years.
I do not like to eat. I don’t. but since you asked, my top five — Fresh french bread dipped in homemade ranch dressing, Le Madeleine’s chicken salad croissant sandwiches, pecan pie, steak fajitas with fresh handmade tortillas, and my mom’s teriyaki steak skewers. Runners-up? this one – http://www.recipelink.com/mf/14/25684
my partner and i have hit the road in a vintage airstream trailer… so yea, right now i love where i live! at the moment, we are in Prince Edward Island.. very eastern Canada.
It seems NA wide, we are also having a cold wet summer. But even so, it’s breath takingly beautiful, so rainy and cold seem to take a back seat.
food… hmm
anything made by either of my two chef sons! craving my oldest’s risotto or couscous, and my youngest’s sweet potatoe crusted salmon, or veggie lasagna.
Interesting question, do you like where you live…it’s one we’ve contemplated A LOT lately.
I would have to say that I love our house, but I don’t like living in NJ. There I said it out loud. We are a shadow of NYC and it feels like that. I feel isolated and while I love the friends I’ve made here, it’s a decidedly middle-aged, grown-up existence and that’s not how I see myself or want to live!
I would love to move back into the city, but I’m sure my daughter wouldn’t. She needs grass and outdoors and I like the sense of community we have here, especially for her.
Which is why we want to move to L.A. Family close by, great weather and I love that you live in a house but you’re in a city. Ok, it’s not NYC, but there’s a lot happening creatively and artistically and for me, I live for the sea, so living closer to the beach would speak to my soul.
ack! I’m sure you didn’t expect me to write a mini novel here…foods I LOVE = pesto and avocados. If I have those 2 foods I’m set.
I live in central Florida, and I love it here. Lakes, rivers, freshwater springs and pine forests all within a few minutes; the beach within an hour. Plenty of sun and, this summer thankfully plenty of rain. We lose power frequently, and last night it was a tornado. We’re waiting for our first ‘named storm.’ But, we don’t have blizzards, ice outs or earthquakes. Its hot, the mosquitoes will carry you away, and our bugs are an adventure to newcomers. But, we put up with that for a few months out of the year for the 9 months of beautiful weather. I have a house and a little yard, but I’m definitely living an urban life. My city is small enough to really know it well, but large enough (and close enough to Orlando) to have plenty of opportunities for culture and education.
Corvallis, Oregon… Its amazing and wonderful and beautiful and green in more ways than one. Rent isn’t cheap like Iowa and it rains all winter, but if you don’t mind grey skies for 3 months straight, you would like it here. Ohh, and come with a job because you won’t find one here.
Favorite foods…hell I don’t know, I’m pregnant everything sounds good!
Washington DC – Oh Jeez! I don’t even know if I like it here.
Cons:
Tourists everywhere
I am probably the only person I know here who DOESN’T work in politics
Not much sporadic beauty
This place is the capital of Pretension
Pros:
Finally living in the same city as my man
Great career opportunities
One of the only places in the nation that isn’t feeling the recession
Close to beautiful areas of VA and MD
Some Southern vibe (magnolia trees, etc.)
As for my food must-haves:
watermelon
baguettes
ALL cheese
Bordeaux
prosciutto
Fave food? Target’s goat cheese/pesto/tomato pizza is very yummy.
Do I like where I live? I think so. I’ve lived here in south Florida for 20 years and I do love the sun shining 360 days a year and being only minutes from the ocean. The downside is tons of traffic and people rushing everywhere (and not always in a very friendly manner!) I’ve thought about moving elsewhere but would never leave my extended family, who are all here. So for now, I stay and am content in doing so.
i live in a tiny town called soap lake in washington state.
yes it is sunny here (we’re in the middle of the state, so its nothing like seattle’s weather)
i love living here.
its all desert and huge rock formations. not too far from anywhere i’d want to go.
I love where I live most of the time, except when we get a year of all rain & darkness…which sadly, happens a bit too often. However, once in awhile we get a year (or at least a summer) that makes up for it and hoo boy! are we having a great one now
Top 5:
My grandma’s soft gingersnaps
That chicken & artichoke dish from that mediterranean place in Chicago, whose name is escaping me
Shrimp tempura rolls from No Hana
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream
Barb-B-Cups (hope mom isn’t reading this, she’ll die laughing)
I didn’t know that São Paulo had undergone such a huge change. Amazing and quite thought provoking. Thanks for this post.
I’m replying late, but I liked your question, “Do you love where you live?” I do! We’re in a tiny town in the desert of Southern Utah. It’s hot and dry all summer and warm or slightly cool all winter. I love it. I love the sun, love the heat. We’re close to family. We’re minutes from Zion National Park and we love to go cool down up in that canyon. We can see so many stars at night. There’s no traffic or noise. Sometimes, however, I miss the benefits of the city: real shopping, a university, etc.