Ice Cream in the Cold

My last day of 2014 was spent enjoying the cold weather of Old City Philadelphia with my sister. We saw Big Eyes at the Ritz Five. She said I so loud during the movie--laughing, talking, exclaiming. I treated her so she should be nice. Afterwards, we got ice cream at Franklin Fountain. Yes, ice cream in the cold. But it wouldn't melt--that's good. My sister loved the little take-out ice cream container; it was a Chinese take-out container but with delicious ice cream in it. We rode the train for free on the way down (totally by accident but great nonetheless) and we were both tired by the time we got home at 4:30. Short day in the cold weather but I'd say it was good--we didn't fight at all.

What I'm Listening To: Vance Joy

It would be a understatement to say that I've been listening to Vance Joy and his album "Dream Your Life Away." Whenever I'm in the car, I listen to the album, on a very high volume. Usually, my music is low in the car. Not with Vance Joy. It is so loud. It must be because I sing along and I don't want to hear my off-tune voice. And "cause I'm going to sing the words wrong." I'm extremely bad with lyrics. But the whole album is amazing and so listen below. I don't think I could pick a favorite! Some of the lyrics are clever and lovely and great, like "I've been living on the crumbs of your love and I'm starving now." So give it a try.

Christmas Cousins

It's been a while since there were babies in the family. My sister is the youngest of the cousins so it's been 15 years or so. My two cousins recently had babies so Christmas was filled with games such as "Pass the Baby" and "The Silent Game" when the baby went to bed. But we weren't quiet at all. This baby was squirmy and chunky but he liked lying on me and the couch. Babies are weird. And people are weird when babies are around. Why? I guess babies are novel items before they turn terrible and then they grow up. Living vicariously through a 4 month old baby. Or maybe not.

Santa's Coming to Town

Merry Christmas! Time to spend time with family and eat food and share in the magic of the season.

Twice to Ambler in 24 Hours

Yesterday, I saw The Theory of Everything, about Steven Hawking and his relationship with his first wife, Jane. And then 22 hours later, I went with Dan and Nicole to see Force Majeure, a movie in Swedish/French/English about a family on a ski trip. So take a watch. I really like movies, especially at Ambler, because it's a chance for two hours to experience some other time and place with different people. This time in Cambridge and France.

St. Vincent

I think maybe a good tagline for St. Vincent would be "never judge a book by its cover." Or "everyone has something to offer." Or even "everyone has something going on so be nice to everyone because you don't know."

Essentially, old grumpy man befriends young boy. They hit it off. But there's a lot more behind the old man. His wife doesn't remember who he is and his vices are catching up to him. But once you get to know him, he's like everyone else. He has his flaws but he cares for some people. The young boy sees past the smoking, drunk, cranky old man and sees a modern day saint--hence, St. Vincent. It's a funny movie, with some poignant scenes and messages, and well worth your money (or free movie ticket in my case).

Art, Movie, and Adventure

Today's adventure centered around the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a movie at the Ritz at the Bourse. At PAFA, there was a really interesting exhibit by a former student David Lynch. A lot of images with words written on the canvas. Like the telephone painting below. The next spot of the day was a movie (St. Vincent). But with an hour and a half to kill, I got my picture with the Liberty Bell and visited the Liberty Museum. The movie was funny and sad and for another time. Shane's Confectionery (expensive) and Christ Church (I was already tired) wrapped up the afternoon.

A little bit of Rome in Philadelphia

Hello?

PAFA

Give me liberty!

Nachos and Basketball

I've been going to La Salle basketball games for my entire life. With my dad. And he always used to buy me nachos when we were there. He'd go down during a media timeout, buying himself a Coke and nachos for me. Almost every game. La Salle had the best nachos. I think maybe I was biased but the ones at the Palestra never measured up. These nachos are from the game last night. Even though the nachos used to be triangle chips and cheese in a cup, it still felt like old times. Tom Gola was empty, La Salle tied the game in a crazy play, and we had to sit there for 10 more minutes to watch them lose. Pretty typical of the first 18 years of me being a fan. But so I got my nachos and watched the game and I felt like I was 10 again. A glorious past.

Foxcatcher

Foxcatcher at Ambler this afternoon. A little slow in the beginning but it picked up. The old lady behind me ruined one of the plot twists by pretty much telling the whole theater what was happening next. Steve Carell was very creepy in his role, as he was supposed to. The whole story about the Schultz bothers and John du Pont and wrestling was informative and sparked some curiosity into the whole ordeal. The movie wasn't great--but the story is intriguing.

Pennypack Park Run

Well, it sure it nice to be running again. Although the weather isn't all that pleasant, I don't care--I'm running! My dad was running a race at Pennypack Park so my sister and I went down to run. Saw some cats, a lot of squirrels, a guy fishing. The trails were beautiful, the bike path was great, and I felt very sore afterwards. But it's the good kind of sore--of running hard kind of sore. And I managed to get a free t-shirt and a hot chocolate out of the morning.

The Little Prince

If only I knew French or if only there were subtitles. If only. Still excited nevertheless.

One Sunday morning, when I was in Rome, I headed to the market. One of the sellers had "The Little Prince" book but in Italian. I loved it in English so why not in Italian? It was a perfect match--the book about adventure coupled with my first full-fledged adventure spot.

The End

Some things or events just solidify the end. For the cross country season and the fall semester, it is always the cross country banquet. It's a nice two hours to forget about finals, dress up, and review the highs and lows of the season. While I only ran one race and spent almost the whole semester not running, the banquet was a nice way to close out the year. Near the end of the banquet, my coach said a few words about each of the seniors. For me: Katie is probably the smartest athlete I've ever coached. And she is willing to work hard, which may be the cause of her injury. And she's an expert in Hungary. Well, it's nice to know that someone notices and that I wasn't completely forgotten in the pool all semester. So I end this with some words of advice: don't get hurt because aqua jogging does not come even close to the fun of running. The End.

Art: Me in Three Items

Well, my experiment of art class is officially over. What was a random chance happening turned into a somewhat fun Monday night class. While I almost always complained that class was an hour too long or why weren't there any snacks, I really enjoyed the freedom that art class brought me. The only time I thought about class was in class. It was nice not having homework or having to worry about grades. I just went in and drew (and once painted) in a safe space and a creative outlet. And it definitely helped that I wasn't the worst in the class. 

So this was my last charcoal drawing. A reflection of me. So naturally I had my running watch, 6 minutes slow as usual. I got Dino, the green wax dinosaur, in Chicago this summer and it was the first time since then that we had some quality bonding time together. I'm not really interested in dinosaurs but I like them. Does that make sense? And my disposable camera, with two exposures left from Alabama. A delayed gratification mechanism. I think I picked some representative things, right?

What I'm Listening To: "Africa"

Okay, so "Africa" by Toto has been stuck in my head since Wednesday. The first time I heard it was on Halloween and the second time was Wednesday. So I'm not an expert at all means. It is just catchy, you know? And both nights were relatively great compared to some other days this year so it reminds me of some good times. So enjoy your trip to Africa and mix up the words as awful as I do.

Turkey Day--Two Days Late

I am thankful for my skills on the Etch-A-Sketch. They will not get me far in life but they are definitely a hit at family parties. And a hit with my dad's friends. So families and middle-aged guys. Great.

Breakfast for Lunch

"Thanks for not taking a before-and-after picture of me with food."

"Thanks for reminding me."

He's actually happy

Trolley Car Diner for lunch today. Pancakes and a milkshake for me. Burger and a milkshake for Adam. Full? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely. There's nothing like an impromptu lunch outing.

Monthly Walk: November

Awbury Arboretum

One Awbury Road

Philadelphia, PA 19138

Art Class Confidential

So I took an art class as a relaxing class. And it is. I show up on Mondays at 6 and leave at 9 and I don't think anything of it until the next week. So naturally I think I'm an artist. But not really. This week, we oil painted, which was vastly different from our usual charcoal. I really enjoyed the challenge that the paint brought--a lot more permanent than charcoal. But I'd say I did a "thumbs up" job.

What I'm Listening To: Year of the Wooden Horse

Check out this album. I don't know how to describe how I found it. A friend at school produces and makes, etc, music and it came up on social media the other day. It's very easy to listen to while doing work. I really don't know much about music and how to convince people to listen but just give it a try? I really like it. 

Halloweekend

I think I won Halloween this year. A garden gnome?? Heck yeah cutie. Also, who wore it better: KB or Flat Cody? It was super easy and warm and not scandalous. Winner winner chicken dinner. So my costume adventures included homework and a haunted house and candy and fun (of course!).

November Already

Well, time really flies. One week in November is almost gone. It's already Thursday. Halloween seems like forever ago (more on that later). While the crisp air is nice, it means the cold is coming which means December which means January which means...a lot. So I guess I just have to take it one day at a time and enjoy the little moments. And to not get caught up in school work--it will all work out. Like yesterday, when I created a whole presentation in 30 minutes, made it to class on time, and didn't make (much of) a fool of myself. All the work will get done in the end. Take some time to play.

Mischief Night Shenanigans

My mischief night?? Just some procrastination at its finest. You know, sometimes I can be crafty. Flat Cody is now ready to trick or treat OR hit up all the parties. Either or, of course. 

Gone Girl

I disappeared last night like Amy did. Except I told people I was leaving. I treated myself to an-always-nice movie at Ambler at 4:45 with all the old people. I love movies, especially seeing them in theaters, especially at Ambler. It's dark and big and it just transports me into the movie for 2 or 3 hours. The movies are a whole different world. With Gone Girl, there was so much creativity. First, who could ever think about writing that?? Second, how the heck could Amy think of that?? I guess I should have said at the beginning that this might contain spoilers but if you have been living under a rock for the past however long, shame on you for finding out via my blog. Anyway, I feel like everyone hated the characters. I did. I hate Nick and Flo, but Amy was absolutely amazing psychotically brilliant. So much work and dedication. Her plan (and backup plan) was so amazing. Yeah, she was manipulative and a little evil but she was super rational and sly and smart. The movie was pretty well-aligned with the book, although with some slight plot removals and addition of a kind of gruesome scene. It was creepy and interesting and just like I imagined. Please read the book and then see the movie. It's worth it.

Radio Star

Is it true that TV killed the radio star? Is it true that I'm awful on the radio? I'm not sure about the first but I'm 110% sure on the second. Tonight, I was a last-minute guest star on La Salle WEXP's show "Talking Points." I'm a pretty awkward person in general and the radio exponentially made it worse. I'm not good with banter! But Dan and Pat graciously had me on their show tonight (shout-out and thanks!).

I can now say I've been on the radio. I was super nervous about the whole thing. But we talked about my normal things, like aqua jogging, my senior seminar project, Habitat, Roslyn, Late Night, etc, etc. While I hate to admit that I have actually never listened to "Talking Points," I will definitely tune in next week for a listen. I may not have killed it, I may have actually killed the show (in a negative way), but at least I didn't kill Linda Van Morrisey of the Spanish Program.

Listen to "Talking Points" HERE on Tuesday nights at 7.

Running is Funning

I headed over to Belmont Plateau to watch a few races today. I've been running (when I am actually able to run) there since 6th grade so it has a special place in my heart. And I love cross country, especially on a day like today, in the crisp fall air. I always find it kind of sad going to any race where I'm not running. I just want to get out there and race but I can't. It actually stinks not even being able to run at all. But I'm still pushing forward. My friend said earlier today, "One race does not define you as a runner. Running does not define you as a person." While she said this in the context of not racing well, it is very applicable to me, as I struggle to not go crazy because I can't run. There are other, more important things out there. Which leads me to what our grad assistant from last year said to me yesterday: "The world can be very cruel and I know you did not deserve it. You just have too much good in this world, it can't handle it. This gives you time to focus on all the other things you are so talented at." Being hurt does give me time to focus on Habitat and school and the math club. And I'm doing a pretty good job at those thing and being a well-rounded runner.

Chicken Pot Pie for the Soul

So somehow I have gotten a bad rap for being a bad cook. What the heck people? I just take some shortcuts and liberties with and without recipes. I'm a girl on the go and a whole host of other things that make me a certain way when I cook. But today, I took it slow and I made chicken pot pie. Looks and tastes delicious. Take that all you haters. I guess this makes up for my awful breakfast quinoa I made yesterday. You win some and you lose some.

Men, Women and Children at the Ritz

Well, if that wasn't crazy, then I don't know what is. I joined the Film Society for the night so I could get free Septa tokens and a movie ticket to the Ritz East. The movie made me feel insignificant and very important, too open but not as much as others, etc etc on a lot of other contradictory feelings. Essentially, the movie's underlying premise was the effects of social media on relationships in a nondescript Texas town. There were people with too much control to prevent hurt (but actually caused the biggest hurt, in my opinion, in the whole movie) and too much blurring of what is right and wrong. I think one of the saddest parts of the whole movie is how much people gave up on themselves and others. There wasn't freedom to say what you wanted or to be comfortable in your own skin. Luckily for us, when the movie ended, we had the freedom to to leave the group for ice cream--and post on social media about it.

The Kooks

Just of bunch of kooks watching The Kooks at Union Transfer. Besides the rain and some indecision on my part, it was a great time. While I'm not much of a concert person (does that surprise anyone?), The Kooks put on a lively and great show last night. I don't even know how long I've been listening to The Kooks but it's been a while. Glad I could hear them live with friends. And it was my first time at Union Transfer, an intimate venue (I'm not an expert but it seemed like it), which added to whole atmosphere of the night.

First Friday

My first ever First Friday in Old City. The night started with dinner at the Revolution House, a hip little spot on the corner of 2nd and Market. While we had a few problems with dinner (buggy-looking quinoa and an undercooked burger), it was still a nice time with friends, who luckily have consciences to not dine-and-dash. As night settled in, 2nd street livened up with local artists and musicians, trying to earn a few bucks with their talents. We stopped in a few art galleries--one kept going on and on. To my surprise, there was a lot of things I liked, including city-scapes, both real and imaginary, and voodoo dolls. To cap off the night, we devoured Fro-yo and headed back on the subway. I know this won't be my only First Friday. 

The Small Stuff

I was recently given a book called "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and It's All Small Stuff." I guess I always sweat the small stuff? And people notice enough to indirectly tell me to stop? All remarks aside, I do think I sweat the small stuff all the time. I stress about being a minute late to class or when the pool is locked. The list could go on for a while. But now I whisper to myself "don't stress the small stuff" when I'm rushing to get places or when I'm in the pool. It has become my mantra. I have even started telling people to stop sweating the small stuff. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?!?

So a few days after I received the book, I headed down to South Campus. Usually I cut across the field because it is significantly shorter. However, when I got to the far gate, it was locked. Usually I would have been a little mad and flustered but that day I was much calmer. Backtracking wouldn't add much time to my trip so I took the glitch in stride and shrugged it off. See? I'm getting better at not stressing the small stuff.

Girls Go to College

"Girls go to college to get more knowledge; 

boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider."

Well, I may be childish--and I do look like a child--but I am in college. And I know that rhyme is grammatically incorrect. But most importantly, I know I am pretty smart because I picked these two as friends. And they are definitely very smart as well for two reasons. One, they were able to go to Honors Convocation and all the higher ups there said we were smart. And two, they picked me to be their friend. Best decision they ever made--and me too.

Free Museum Day

I think that anytime someone says the word "free," my ears perk up. Same with my brother. We were once described as "the two cheapest people" that someone knows. I'd say that the two of us take pride in that. Although we aren't that cheap. We just like free stuff a lot more than paying for it. So Saturday we naturally took advantage of College Day on the Parkway, aka free museums and free stuff. I'm disappointed that I didn't get another Septa t-shirt but I'd still say it was a successful day. My brother did some pull-ups and lied a little bit to get a water bottle. We saw some art. And he was confused on why it was even art and in the museum. We maneuvered between families and little kids in the Academy of Natural Sciences. I'm not even kitten. And I found out that Dr. James Bond was actually a scientist who lived next door to Ian Flemming. Who would have thought? The best parts were the free beautiful weather, the free bonding time with my brother, and the free ride we got back to school from our dad, aka no subway!

Muscles Magee

"like a fire that consumes all before it"

The Pool

Just keep swimming. Or rather, just keep aqua jogging.

Cookie Monster

Now this really is looking like I'm turning into a food blogger. I'm really not. I'm just expressing my creative juices in something different. Like making chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. With a lot of adaptations because we didn't have a few of the ingredients. They turned out well, considering how kitchen un-savvy I am. Who knew that brown sugar was different from regular sugar? Usually, I just leave out ingredients, thinking they really aren't important. For the most part, it works out okay. Like today, I left out vanilla extract. I used olive oil instead of canola. And it's weird for me because I'm the kind of person that follows directions perfectly. I can't deviate from plans. I freak out. I guess with food it is different--I know that I'd eat it no matter what. I'm both a cheapskate and food addict. I'm not fat; I just have a food baby.

Cooking Quinoa

Well, I feel like all those food bloggers. Does this make me one? I was excited to cook something other than spaghetti (according to Cody) and I found this recipe for Quinoa Mac and Cheese. I ran into some problems, like using cream of chicken instead of vegetable broth. Well, maybe just one problem. And then it took forever to cook and so many dishes. Really not that big of a problem. I guess if you want the recipe, just holler for a dollar? The bottom picture looks cool, maybe like a cell?

Belmont Plateau

I read an article this summer that described the best views of Philadelphia for certain types/groups of people. The last spot on the list was Belmont Plateau, the Philly view for true Philadelphians. I glowed with pride that my Belmont, that I have been running at once a week in the fall for the past 11 years, was the truest view in all of the city. Everyone always gives Belmont a bad rap, for how dirty or unkept it is, or how annoying or hard the course is. Nothing compares to a crisp afternoon of cross country racing at Belmont. And I hate that I'm currently not running. As my injury keeps me aqua jogging for days, I miss running, specifically at Belmont. It's the truest place I know--the toughest, most beautiful spot for watching cross country, for watching the city.

Mood Indigo

So Mood Indigo was a weird movie. The preview does not allude to that at all. Okay, maybe a little. And Adam warned me before we went. But still. It was also a little sad, as relationships deteriorated, the house began to get smaller and dirtier and darker. Nonetheless, some interesting scenes transported you to another world, like when they danced to Duke Ellington (their legs were elongated), when they had a picnic after their wedding (half rain, half sun), and when Colin played the piano and cocktails were created. Anyway, I knew it was going to be weird a minute into it. I also knew that it is pretty bad when I start recognizing French actors--I've seen too many quirky movies.

Tuesday Movie

I think one thing I can count on to always make me feel better is a movie at Ambler Theater. Everything about a trip there is wonderful: Ambler, the theater, the movie. Everything. Movies let me get lost in someone else's life for 90 minutes or two hours. I forgot about everything when I'm in the small theater three. And it doesn't hurt that I always get $5 movies. Adventures for $5, pretty much. 

Once A Month Walks

Along the Wissahickon Creek

"I pledge to take a long, leisurely walk once a month with my friend Cody, 

so we can relax and not worry about things for two hours of our day."

Just a new (school) year's resolution.

Camp Recap

Prior to the first day of classes, as a team, we ventured up to Bucks County for a nice weekend away, dedicated to running and team bonding. To put it bluntly, we mostly bonded on how awful it was there. I liked it--just being away from everything and not having to worry about things. There were bugs and rain and weird food but good friends and fun runs and ice cream. The bathroom was probably the worse part (see below) but we were only gone for about two whole days so who needed to shower anyway?

Calm Before The Storm

We have spent the weekend before school starts in Ocean City the past few years. It's has always been a nice time to relax before the grind of work and running and activities and friends begin again. Some highlights include seeing my cousins, seeing Cody, hermit crabs, Johnson's popcorn, FOOD in general, 5k race for Crohns, etc etc. A great time to re-energize before school. I really like it.