Ladies and Gents, My Favorite Part of "Hamilton"... King George

Current Mood

A Reasonable Life Philosophy

How I Feel After a Late Night Deadline

This has 400+ views. Half of those are me.

This is a Corgie Running. END SCENE.

Bye Bye Lil Sebastian: Life Lessons from Pawnee

I'm nursing a wicked case of food poisoning from my Oscar fete last night and I feel like I'm channeling Leslie Knope in "Flu Season."  Granted, I'm not wearing pants as a scarf but I do feel a lot like this:

However, that's given me some good, solid time to sit around watching old Parks and Recreation episodes, preparing for tomorrow's series finale.  This show has meant a lot to me over the years and I'm anxious and sad to say goodbye to it, to the point where the gif above still seems apropos (admittedly, I also think I'm suffering from some residual PTSD from the HIMYM finale last year.  #Neverforget).  While NBC has essentially burned through the final seasons' episodes, the writers behind Parks and Rec have tried to give us as satisfying of an end as possible, revisiting some of our favorite (and not-so-favorite) plotlines and characters.  It's been a grand farewell tour and love letter to the community we've come to be a part of over the past years.  While setting the final season several years in the future was a risky decision, it's had some creative payoffs with some emotional ones for the audience as well; after all, these characters have become an extended part of our families and when push comes to shove, you want to trust that the kids are alright and what better way to do that then to press fast forward and actually see it, rather than just hear about it or imagine it?

I didn't immediately latch on to Parks.  After an uneven first season where the writers seemed to be trying hard to make Leslie Knope the Female Coming of Michael Scott, the show did the seemingly impossible--it got better, and then it got great.  I grew really invested in the show when it was in its third season.  It was my first year truly away from my family and friends.  Months into my move to New York, I don't think I had a single, local friend and I was, to put it quite bluntly, unspeakably lonely and fiercely craving connection and community.  It took me awhile to find that here, and truthfully, I'm still looking, but back then, I found it in spades for 30 minutes a week in Pawnee.  After all, Parks and Recreation, is, amongst other things, about the power and importance of friendship (after all, it is the reason Galentine's Day is now in our lexicon).

I'd wager that the two most significant relationships on the show aren't actually romantic ones but are platonic--that between Ann and Leslie and Ron and Leslie (don't get me wrong, the Ben-Leslie romance is an amazingly written one, and if Ben Wyatt was a real human, I would track him down and marry him in a minute).  Ann and Leslie are teammates,almost from the very beginning, and their friendship could pass the Bechdel test easily--they see each other through personal and professional growth and their relationship is built on mutual support.  They're unabashedly vocal about their adoration for each other and these two were defining #relationshipgoals before that was even a thing.  Let me tell you. if you don't have your "own Ann" out there somewhere, you best go find one, because it makes such a difference in your life.

Then there's the ballad of Leslie and Ron, a complex relationship to be sure, but one just as significant as Ann and Leslie.  For once, the central focus of this friendship isn't whether men and women can be friends (Answer: they can, obviously, but that storyline is a little too on the nose for P&R and not nearly as interesting as other avenues).  Leslie and Ron are the yin and yang of this show; they have different values and often land on opposite sides of an argument.  Conflict doesn't have to breed contempt though and Parks makes a case for what happens when you align yourself with someone different than you and actually take the time to learn from them--you may not always change your mind but you're certainly better for having tried to see their side, and every once in awhile, you might actually see yourself shift as a result.  Friends who you respect, not just with whom you get along, are incredibly valuable, and are often the ones that push and challenge us to grow the most.

It's that very idea--that people--and places--can grow and change that fuels much of Parks' comedy. Leslie genuinely believes that change and improvement is possible.  She's incredibly optimistic and constantly working to make Pawnee--and the people in it--happier, healthier, and safer.  It's not surprising that Parks, which began in 2009, on the heels of Obama's first presidential win, originally centered so much on trying to elevate the role of public service and the idea of Hope.  What is surprising is that years later, in a much more politically and ideologically cynical environment, it still does those things.  Leslie loses plenty of battles--a gazebo she's trying to save gets knocked down; her application to clean up Pawnee River gets stalled' she gets recalled from office.  However, she doesn't let these failures define or deter her.  Furthermore, plenty of things she does go unnoticed or unappreciated but that doesn't make them unimportant.  Things not working out isn't necessarily a reason to stop working towards them entirely; it's just time to consider them from a new angle.  The show posits that hope and hard work aren't foolish (and might I add, neither, by god, is Leslie Knope).  Unlike so many of my favorite recent comedies (ex. 30 Rock, Seinfeld, Arrested Development), Parks' characters assume the best in others and this extends to the writers too--Parks writers assume the best in its audience; even when the humor is broad, it's never cynical or nasty.  These are all radical ideas that honestly, shouldn't feel so radical...but they are.  It begs the question--what if there were more Leslie Knopes in the world? 

On a related note, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least devote some time to discussing Leslie Knope as a feminist icon.  It's been interesting watching so many female protagonist led comedies--we've been blessed with a number of them as of late--but the most notable heroines are probably Liz Lemon and Leslie.  I've gotten compared to Liz Lemon plenty of times and most of the time I acknowledge it and embrace it--I can totally down a pizza in one sitting if I wanted (especially if I've got my eatin' pants on), my history with men is abysmal at best, and I'm honestly, a big ass geek.  Truthfully, I think a lot of us are like Liz Lemon; it's not a coincidence that there are plenty of dating bios that say "OMG, I'm like a real Liz Lemon"--she's a reflection of who many of us are most days.  However, I'd argue that Leslie is who we are on our best days, and who we should strive to be every day.  You see, Liz self-sabotages and while she's a feminist, she's also far more prone to call out her flaws and where she--or her life--falls short.  She talks a lot about feminism but there's a disconnect between her preaching and how she lives her life.  Leslie, on the other hand, is the opposite--here's a woman whose competence is central to everything she does and whose characterization is primarily focused on joy--her own, or that which she can bring to others.  Unlike Liz, she lives feminism and radiates love for herself and other women, and encourages others to do the same.  I fully believe there's a spark of genius in all of us (and there is in Liz too); the difference is, Leslie believes in--and follows--hers.

I hope that after Parks and Recreation airs its last episode tomorrow that we'll work to preserve its legacy--that we women will remember what goddesses we are, that we'll all fight for the people we love and work to see the best in each other and ourselves, and that we'll do our part to make a small change out there in the world.

SO YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED PARKS? 

How sad--but lucky--for you!  Here are my top 15 episodes to get you started.

Your Parks and Recreation Starter Kit:
1.  "Rock Show": Like I said, Season One is all over the place but the finale is a highlight.
2. "Pawnee Zoo": The first episode of the second season, and the one that really starts to right the ship.  Plus, gay penguins get married.
3. "Practice Date": Not only do you get to hear the list of incredibly creative ways Leslie has been broken up with, but Louis CK guest stars in this one, and we all know he is a great American, grumpy treasure.
4. "Telethon": A great showcase for the entire ensemble.  Also, a sleep deprived Leslie is the best kind of Leslie.
5. "Flu Season": This is an all around perfect 22 minutes of comedy. I have yet to see a "Best Of" list that doesn't feature this one.
6. "Ron and Tammy: Part Two": Real life married couple Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman get dirty, and he's in cornrows.
7. "Jerry's Painting": I love an episode that features some of our favorite Pawnee crazies and this one hits the spot.
8. "The Fight": Things get a little crazy when the gang gets drunk on Snake Juice.
9. "Roadtrip": I actually have this episode downloaded on my phone and pull it out whenever I need a pick me up.  I also think that Rob Lowe playing the imaginary banjo is LITERALLY the funniest thing I've ever seen.
10. "The Trial of Leslie Knope": Both an affirmation of love and the strength of this ensemble.
11. "Pawnee Rangers": I bring you "Treat Yo'Self."
12. "The Debate": Come for Paul Rudd's hilarious guest appearance.  Stay for Leslie's speech at the end.
13. "Win Lose or Draw":  If you don't shed a tear during this episode, I think it's quite likely you are a robot.
14. "Halloween Surprise": 5 Words.  Fart Attack.  Ben and Leslie.
15. "Leslie and Ron": Magical things happen when two frenemies are stuck in a room all night together. That sounds sexual.  It's not.

I Feel Like I Understand These Animals on a Spiritual Level

Applause For...

-The poor guy who thought I was winking/flirting with him this morning.  Sorry, dude, it's 5am and my contact got folded up in my eye. The only thing I'm trying to proposition is a bagel.  Plus, you're wearing a Looney Tunes shirt with the Tazmanian Devil on it, and I've always been more of a Marvin girl.

-LaGuardia Airport, who decided that blasting Phil Collins at the buttcrack of dawn was exactly what we needed to get this day off to the right start.

-Nikki Reed, for reminding me that Us Magazine is wrong.  Stars are not just like us.  Because I definitely did not look as good as she did this morning at the airport (Exhibit A: cream cheese in my hair from aforementioned bagel).

I'm Lovin It: Things I'm Digging This Week V. 9

Bonjour!  Bienvenue!  I just noticed that I'm getting a big spike in readers from France, so dear Frenchmen, I have no clue what's led you here, but welcome!  Stay awhile and make yourself comfortable.

Back to business.  When I was younger, my aunt had a dog named Tara.  Tara would sometimes break into her dog food stash and eat and eat...and eat and eat and eat.  Then, completely engorged and full, she'd crawl under my aunt's bed and cry to herself, completely having a pity party.  Today, fresh off the heels of two massive meals with folks I love, I kinda wanna do the same.  If I could figure out how to fit under my bed and cry, I totally would but for now, I'll have to settle for groaning away, looking up at my ceiling.  There's gotta be a word for this.  I feel like that girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory who they have to roll away.  All of that to say, I'm a little distracted (and honestly, a little drunk right now) but here are my top picks of the week:

• So, I think we've established by this point that I love me some Aaron Sorkin.  The only thing I like more than Aaron Sorkin is an Aaron Sorkin parody and Seth Meyers' this past week was top notch (though honestly, Seth, from me to you, why is the rest of your show not this funny? SHAME SHAME SHAME).  I've basically sent this to all the people I know who love The West Wing already, so some of you may have already seen this but damn, it's worth sharing out far and wide.
• I loved the story of Patrick, a deaf teen in Uganda.  For fifteen years, Patrick has not been able to communicate with his family, members of the community, other than through very rudimentary gestures because sign language isn't available/taught in his home.  This video shows footage of Patrick's very first sign language class, after a sign language teacher finally comes to his community in Africa.  I dare you to watch it without tearing up just a little.
• I kinda wish I could make this my ringtone.
• So a total confession about me: I LOVE messing with Siri on my phone.  It is by far one of the dorkiest, lamest things about me (which says plenty, just trust), but sometimes I will literally sit for 30 minutes just messing with her, asking her to be my friend, questioning whether she's Her, trying to do knock knock jokes with her, etc.  So Siri related humor is already up my alley.  Add Taylor Swift to that (yes, I know, I'm giving her another shout out here) and I'm all over it.
• These windshield wipers are the only reason I think I'd ever want to drive a car again.
• Haley Morris-Cafiero's art is so important--and pretty biting at that. Haley's angle: capturing and criticizing our society's way of interacting with and commenting on overweight/obese individuals.  Morris-Cafiero basically sets up cameras in public spaces to capture the looks that people give her regarding her size.  The results are pretty damning, really sad, and should make us all think twice about how we respond to people who are overweight.
• I think we all need just a small dose of panda triplets in our lives.
• My friend Sita has slowly turned me into a cat person.  I don't know how it happened!  But the transformation is complete.  I happened across this video this past week documenting what happened when researchers unleashed kittens on stressed out people!  (Someone find me one of these glass boxes, stat).
• My love of stationary and cards is pretty infamous amongst my group of friends; I get teased about it plenty but honestly, I have a pretty good sense of humor about it at this point.  Yes, I have a PaperSource problem and could probably take it down a notch when it comes to sending out cards to people with sentimental platitudes or ridiculous inside joke drawings.  No, I don't plan on changing my behavior or doing anything differently.  Anyway, I've been bugging out a little because I think I'm not going to send out Christmas cards this year; my friend Ryan sent this to me in response (I think, really as just torture.  Bad Ryan!)  There's some really funny ones here (I particularly like 5, 9, 10, and 24).

Party On, Guys

Y'all, few things are as satisfying as a pun as damn good as this one.

Verklempt

I've long waited for a moment where I could organically use "verklempt" to describe my personal state of being.  I blame this on my having watched way too much Coffee Talk as a child.

But I digress.

Today, I found out my favorite diner in New York City, the Edison Cafe, is closing its doors, likely within a month's time.  Naturally, the first thing I did was call my mother in a panic.  To most people, this reaction would probably seem weird (and maybe it is) but my mother understood it.  The Edison's a titan in the theatre district, an institution that's welcomed many of the theatre greats through its doors over the past twenty years.  Don't believe me?    Neil Simon literally wrote a play about it and Neil--he knows his stuff.

There's a part of me that's hugely sad to see such an important part of New York theatre history shut its doors; plus, I find something utterly charming and romantic about the rush and clanging noises of a great diner. More than that though, I'm sad to see this place go for personal reasons.  As an adult, and as a New Yorker, I've spent a lot of time trying to find places that really felt like mine.  Maybe it's watching too many episodes of Friends or Cheers (I know, again with the TV!) but I feel like I've been constantly on the lookout for places that made me feel comfortable, welcomE, or like they just fit.  The Edison was one of those places.

For plenty of people, this probably wouldn't make sense.  Walking into the Edison, it doesn't seem like much of anything special.  The theatre posters are hung a little crookedly, the signs are handwritten, the paint's yellowing a bit.  However, based on the uproar that erupted once the closing was announced, it's clear I'm not alone in feeling connected to the place.  For me, the Edison was far more than a hole in the wall with great matzo ball soup or a killer blintz; it's been a marker in so many of my important memories here.  It's one of the first places I came when I first visited NYC at age 19, it plays a prominent role in what's easily one of the happiest memories of my life and the moment I decided I needed to move here after college.  Every year when my mom is here, without fail, we make it an event to go here (and we always order the same thing; cheeseburger deluxe with a Diet Coke, no pickle).  We've sat at those tables, year after year, as life has zoomed by.  Our conversations have changed--from next semester's classes to 401Ks, from heartbreak to the pangs of a new love, from figuring out where the closest IKEA was to what couch was the best investment.  I've grown up inside these walls and while my life has changed so much in the seven years since I first came here, this place has stayed the same. There's been something really comforting about knowing that in a life that felt like it was moving and changing so quickly and a city that wouldn't stop doing that either, there was this one place that felt suspended in time, stable, safe.

I'll be sad to see the Edison go.  The girl in the left booth will have to find a new place to haunt.  Maybe its closing is a sign of the times.  Maybe it's another reminder that I have to stop making a home for myself in places, and instead need to make a home within myself, so that sense of safety and stability with go with me wherever I go, because things are going to keep changing.

Does Time Warner not understand...

...that when my cable and internet are down, I am forced to be left alone with my thoughts which is completely unacceptable.

I'm Lovin It: Things I'm Digging This Week V.6

• It's widely known amongst my group of friends that one of my favorite movies is You've Got Mail.  I honestly find it impossible to watch this movie and be in a bad mood.  I get Kathleen Kelly; I really do and I find the idea of falling in love with someone's words utterly charming.  I also have a pretty silly sense of humor, so you can imagine my delight when I read about a girl who responded to all Tinder messages with dialogue from the movie.  I really think someone out there needs to find the last guy in article and marry him.
• Kate turned me on to "Riptide" when she was in town last week and I listened to it on repeat for days; coupled with the fact that I generally think Taylor Swift is killing it these days, I love this cover that she did.  So many things I love collide!
• Sound of Music junkie that I am, I really appreciated this comedic rewrite of "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria."
• This Gone Girl inspired image; the sex scene from that movie is basically giving me night terrors but this cartoon makes me chuckle (as much as one can chuckle about a sociopath).
• I might be a little late to the party here, but thanks to my book club, I finally got around to reading Unbroken, the story of Louis Zamperini, the American Olympian who was stranded at sea for 46 days, only to be held prisoner in a gruesome POW camp.  There's a movie  adaptation coming out this Christmas but the real story is phenomenal, and I loved getting to learn more about real life Louis (he was a pretty precious old man).
• Consider this your yearly reminder to rewatch the Scream trilogy (Warning: Spoilers ahead!)
• Thanks, Zach, for saying what we all want to say to Justin Bieber.
• I think Malala is a tremendous and fascinating individual.  Here's a quick read on her and a TED Talk her father gave, which I loved.
• "Perfectionism doesn't protect us": I can't lie, I have been talking about perfectionism and vulnerability a lot with my therapist and how much I try to do everything just right to feel like I have some sense of security, stability, and control over my life.  I'm ruminating on this idea a lot so this video felt particularly timely.
• Minute 1:06.  100% chance of Puppy Hugs.  YES. If only it were true!

Whatever Happened to those Gilmore Girls?

NB: If you're not familiar with Gilmore Girls, you're really not going to get anything out of this post.  Never fear, there's plenty of other content to enjoy on this page.  Or better yet, go to damn Netflix and educate yourself.

I love TV.  I'm not even going to try to pretend that I'm above all that.  I can happily sit down and devour a book or I can lay in bed watching hour upon hour of television. Either one's perfectly lovely to me.

My best friend, Kate, was in town this past weekend to help me with some health related stuff, and while plenty of the weekend's conversation was heavy, our conversation turned to lighter fare, and as it somehow always does...Gilmore Girls.  Despite the fact that we have been quoting, debating, and analyzing this show since we met eight years ago, we still somehow have not managed to run out of things to talk about when it comes to our GG.  We started chatting through this recent article where someone outlined what they thought happened to the characters after the show ended.  Now, when you love characters as much as Kate and I love these ladies and gents, you care deeply about what happens to them but I have to say, I think this article got some things right, but we have a difference of opinion about a number of things.  So here's my vision for now it all worked out...


Lorelei and Paul Anka (the dog, not the person) showed up at Luke's the day after Rory left to pack up his stuff and move him into her place.  After some encouragement from Richard, she started serving as an independent consultant to innkeepers across New England; she and Sookie started holding workshops for people interested in opening their own inns across the country, making an effort to provide useful content and good snacks, two things the workshops they had attended sorely lacked.  She continued to have offers to franchise the Dragonfly or open another inn but ultimately didn't want a job that took her too far from home, especially now that she was finally learning how to use her oven and her stove for things other than sweater and clothes storage.  Plus, with the dawning of Netflix Instant, binge watching trash TV and movies had taken on all new meaning and someone had to make sure Luke caught up on his pop culture education.  Luke and Lorelei got married in early January 2009 when Rory was able to make it home for a long weekend before the inauguration.  The ceremony was small--outside, under the chuppah Luke built years ago--with April, T.J., Liz, Sookie, Jackson, Rory, Jess, and the Gilmores in attendance--followed by a celebration at the diner with the town afterwards.  It wasn't quite the winter Russian Romanov wedding Emily had envisioned but she was happy just to have been invited, since her daughter seemed to have a penchant for cancelling weddings or eloping, so this was a nice change of pace. Lorelei pretended she didn't hear her mother's comments under her breath because with snow and Rory and Luke there, it was quite simply the perfect day.

Try as he might, Luke couldn't convince Lorelei to go completely off of coffee while she was pregnant.  They named their son William after his dad and he bought a new Nationals baseball cap to celebrate the occasion, since he and Lorelei were in DC visiting Rory when she went into labor.  He looked forward to April's visits during the year and when she enrolled at Wesleyan near Stars Hollow, he converted the garage into a full fledged bedroom so she'd have a comfortable place to escape to away from campus.  He tried changing or altering the Luke's Diner menu several times but it rarely stuck.  The one edit that stayed?  A non-sequitur story Lorelai wrote about Paul Anka that went on the back of the menu.  Next to the hardware order Luke's dad wrote on the wall behind the counter are the carved names of all the Danes/Gilmore clan.

Rory struggled initially on the campaign trail; her first few months were lonely and long.  One of the youngest on the bus, she didn't immediately click with her colleagues and many of her fellow journalists were skeptical given her inexperience.  She patiently worked hard on her pieces, hoping her work could speak for itself, and spent her spare time writing home to Lorelei and Lane and sending postcards to Paris, Jess, and Lucy and Olivia.  After helping her more seasoned busmate Maggie when her cameraman was too drunk to focus the camera for a segment, she had an ally and from that point on, she felt more comfortable on the campaign trail .  The night Obama was elected, caught up in the high emotions of the night, she called Logan for the first time in years.  She visited him in San Francisco for a few days and while there were still sparks, it was clear that their lives were moving in different directions but she finally felt like she had some closure.  She joined the White House Press Corps and moved to D.C., loving that she'd finally found a place where people spoke as quickly as her and her mother. Her primary focus was work, not romance, and that was more than fine with her, as she took on additional side projects, networked, and went home whenever she could to visit her brother.  She went on a few disastrous dates which proved to be good fodder for her weekly calls with Lorelei.

True to his word, Doyle follows Paris wherever she goes, first to Boston for Harvard Medical School and then to Philadelphia for her cardiology residency. The Geller-McMasters finally settled in New York, the only city in the world that could possibly keep up with Paris' pace. Paris is quickly climbing the ranks at her hospital and having co-authored several important studies, is also becoming known in the wider medical community.  Doyle works for CNN and together, he and Paris live a highly overscheduled life as they work and raise their two children Wyatt and Eleanor.  Luckily, Nanny is with them to help.

Kirk and Lulu took over the dance studio once Miss Patty passed away and Cat Kirk remains a permanent fixture there, a favorite among all the students, friendly to all humans except Human Kirk. Lulu and Kirk still live with his mother, and Lulu makes a picnic basket for Kirk every year.

Though young Lane shuddered at the suggestion that she was well suited for a life in sales, adult Lane's accepted that she has a gift for it.  She co-owns the music shop with Sophie now and has found her niche.  She's got a knack for managing the books and really loves helping people discover and explore their love for music.  Kwan loves the bass and gets lessons from his Uncle Brian but Steve is more interested in school, church, and community service (and really doesn't get why his mom keeps harping on The Clash and The Jam).  Zack is mostly gone and away on tour so Mrs. Kim helps Lane raise the boys.  In a weird way, much like Rory and Lorelei, Lane and Mrs. Kim ended up being the great love of each others' lives.

Jess' publishing house in Philadelphia goes under and he takes that as an opportunity to move to Boston.  After self publishing his next novel online, he joined a larger publishing firm as a reader; while there's a part of him that feels like he's sold out, he also loves that he has the opportunity to get paid to read and decide what material makes it to his boss' desk to be considered for print.  He and Rory stay in touch to varying degrees for several years, reconnecting more significantly at Lorelai and Luke's wedding as they trade war stories from the dating scene and talk through book recommendations for each other.  When he's in D.C. for the launch of a new book, they grab drinks which turns into dinner which turns into a late night walking around D.C.'s Historic District.  From that point on, they're together.  A little older, a little wiser, and both more clear on who they are and how they fit together.

Dean moved out of Stars Hollow shortly after his second (third?) break up with Rory.  He found a number of different construction opportunities in Philadelphia and while his stint there was initially meant to be temporary, he ended up making the city his permanent home.  He lives in the suburbs with his wife Robin and by all accounts, their life is good.  She teaches preschool and cooks dinner from scratch every night and he coaches their son's pee wee baseball team.  He saw Paris once at a grocery store and hid behind the bread.

After a proper period of mourning for Chin-Chin, Michel got another Chow.  He named her Celine.  He thinks Celine (the dog and the person) are better than most other living beings.  He's still trying to reach his goal weight and is anxiously awaiting Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion's next tours.

Sookie and Lorelei joke that her third child, Sadie, is destined to be "the older woman" in William's life. Though the kids and the inn keep her busy she finds the time to write a cookbook after the inn's success creates increased interest in her recipes.  Writing the cookbook is one of the most anxiety inducing experiences of her life (she manages to throw out her back, burn her hand, and nearly chop of her fingers all while caught up in the stress storm of trying to create new recipes and decide on the right combination of dishes to include).  The book's a modest success until Oprah features it in her magazine, at which point it goes to the top of the charts.  Jackson doesn't have to worry about crunching numbers on his calculator anymore.  After the book's success, she's presented with the opportunity to open up a farm to table restaurant with Jackson and while they're both compelled by the idea, for now her dreams are closer to home.  She gets stopped on the street a lot for looking a lot like the woman who was in Bridesmaids.

Richard and Emily still have Friday night dinner with Lorelei but since William was born, they alternate hosting responsibilities with Lorelei and Luke.  These dinners are still full of plenty passive aggression but love too, and Richard and Emily are determined to be in their grandson's life from the start, even if it means accepting more diner food and take out into their lives.  Since they've spent more time in town, Emily's also found a friend in Taylor Doose, much to Luke's chagrin and Lorelei's amusement.  Just as he had with Rory, Richard brings books from his library over for April when she is in town and he still tries to take Luke and William to the club for golf.

Fin.

10 Things I Know to Be True

1.  That there are more seasons of Teen Mom 2 than there are of Happy Endings, Freaks and Geeks, Sports Night, Pushing Daisies, and Veronica Mars is a great tragedy.

2.  I am incapable of eating just a few Pringles.  Once you pop, the fun don't stop. Ditto Oreos.  Or candy corn. Or Ruffles.

3. That craft that I saved to my Pinterest board?  75% chance I won't actually follow through and do it.  However, there is a 90% chance that if I do, it will look absolutely NOTHING like the photo.

4. Beyonce didn't wake up like dis.  So it's okay that you don't either.

5.  Telling your friends "omg, my phone was on silent" on Friday night, when in reality you ignored it while you ate a cookie cake by yourself and watched Netflix is a totally valid life choice.  Them Breaking Bad episodes aren't going to watch themselves, girl.

6.  People who don't like golden retrievers are not to be trusted.  Back away.  Back sloooooooowly away. And ideally, go find a golden retriever to hug.

7.  Watching a lot of crime procedurals will come in handy one day, I swear.  Every day, we're just seconds away from livin a real life Clue.  I am ready.

8.  People may look at you oddly when you say "ella-ella--ella-ay-ay-ay" whenever they mention an umbrella.  You should do this anyway because it is awesome.

9.  Continuing to repeat "pageants aren't about beauty; they are scholarship programs!" is about as quaint and cute as my repeating "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" over and over again.  Both phrases are meaningless.

10. Nicholas Sparks films are all secretly the same.  Pretty people with symmetrical faces+North Carolina+Tragedy+Kissing in the rain=Love.  And you know what, I will pay full price for that nomsense EVERY. TIME.

I'm Lovin It: Things I'm Digging This Week V. 5

To everyone who DMed, emailed, and smoke signaled me (friends, family, and just general readers alike), thank you for checking up on me.  At some point, I'll share the things that have been going on behind the scenes because there have been some doozies.  But for now...we play!

• Let me join the chorus of people heralding Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl.  Like I was telling Nisha, I think this book will only confirm whatever feeling you already have about her (negative or positive) but I really loved it. Her characters in Girls drive me mad but there's something about her as a person that I really love.  I love smart, brassy women who are a little off kilter; I try to surround myself with as many of them as possible because those women--the women that stick out, that don't always seem to quite fit, they're my kindred spirits. Lena happens to be one of those ladies and I'd be lying if my old soul and utterly neurotic self didn't hear a lot of myself in her words (before you freak out, Ma, no there are not any stories lurking in my past that have anything to do with me snorting cocaine or having sex with vacant surfer dudes.  I promise). With that said, peppered amongst some of her wilder stories are some real gems about the relationships we have with ourselves and others and the things that drive us and very few times have I felt like somebody actually "got" what it's like to live in an anxiety filled head all the time.
• Talk about dream job...literally!  I think one of the biggest and most important things we can do for students besides preparing them academically is ensuring that they leave school confident, resilient, and feeling empowered to take ownership of their lives, dreams, and choices.  The Future Project helps fund dream directors/coordinators at schools who are charged with helping students achieve their dreams and goals and building culture at the school.  No summary I give will do justice to just how awesome this is, so please give it a read.
• I won't even try to pretend that I know who should win the great Ben Affleck vs. Matt Damon debate (careful, it's heated over there y'all), but this week, Ben Affleck wins for his hilarious stories on Jimmy Fallon's show.  How he can manage to go from Frozen to baseball to kiddie sports in 5 minutes, I have no idea.
• Sarah Kay's Ted Talk, "If I Should Have a Daughter" had me in tears about two minutes in; it's not just about parenting; so much of her discussion is about creation and living openly and how both require immense vulnerability but reward you with true, deep connection.
• This acoustic version of "Somebody Loves You" by Betty Who.  I'm pretty much a sucker for any song broken down to its bare parts but this song really just does it for me, since the original version is also a favorite.
• I think the relationship between people and their pets is a powerful one and I deeply admire the people who raise therapy animals since I think the positive and soothing impact animals can have on humans is fascinating.  I loved this article about Iris Grace and her relationship with her therapy cat.
• I've been obsessed with the Kennedys since I was in the 6th grade and had to do a project on the 1960s and while I've always been partial to Bobby, you best believe I devoured these rare photos from JFK and Jackie's wedding.
• Look, I actually liked A Fault In Our Stars but whoever did the writing for ebola inspired SNL spoof is a genius.  
• I've been volunteering all year but more recently, I started working at some shelters, mostly serving low income and homeless individuals.  The days I'm there are fulfilling ones but they are also hard in their own way.  I find myself standing around sometimes, parsing out food and looking around at the dully painted walls, harsh lighting, and thinking to myself that no one should have a life that's devoid of beauty like that.  These places are not run down by any means but they're not warm and people deserve a warm place to come home to at the end of the day.  Beyond that, I find myself even more cognizant of homeless people on the streets, on the subway and it makes me deeply sad.  While I've found myself growing frustrated about the persistence of homelessness in my city and saddened by the realities of what these people's lives probably feel like, this kid actually did something about it.

I'm Lovin It: Things I'm Digging This Week V. 4

What day is it?

Honestly, I've had that thought multiple times in the past week and not in a I'm-so-drunk-I'm-in-a-nacho-and-vodka-induced-fugue, I'm talking, my-head-is-spinning-what-is-going-on-is-it-Tuesday-or-Wednesday kinda place.

I've been off the grid awhile as I've tried to get into the groove of my new job and while I've been anxious and stressed, that anxiety has been a great source of restlessness and restlessness is such a great foundation for good old fashioned pointless internet surfing.

• Like I have said before, I really love animals and animal videos and this video of a baby elephant blowing bubbles is just about the cutest thing I've seen.
• I've been thinking a lot about my schedule and my time recently because I've noticed some things getting out of balance; I LOVE this article that a friend shared via Facebook about productivity and really want to try some of the things they suggested.  While I do some of the things that the author writes about already (like scheduling specific tasks for certain times), I think the idea of more intentionally scheduling freetime and spending less time on "shallow" tasks is pretty provocative, especially since I feel like I've spent years of my life the past few years, solely answering emails.
• I love Emma Watson.  Not because she can pull off a pixie like few of us can, not because she was Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movies.  I love her because she leads with her intelligence and because she is a tremendous example of what a modern feminist is.  Her speech at the UN about women's rights and feminism is a definite must watch (and is a great contribution to a larger conversation happening in the world about feminism and women's equality right now).
• I would love to work some place that had one of these initiatives.  Sing at work?  Yes please! (I already do this, but actually having this singing be welcomed is a whole other story...)
• This Olivia Locher art project, highlighting some of the more absurd laws on record in the US (no ice cream in your pocket in Alabama...that's a no no!) is interesting...and educational.  I now know that I should not paint my yard red should I ever move to Kentucky, which is too bad, because that was certainly on my bucket list.
• Like American history?  Like documentaries?  Well then you MUST watch Ken Burns' documentary on Franklin, Eleanor, and Teddy Roosevelt.  And lucky you, it's all streaming online here!
• In another ode to America, I give you the weird shit Miss America contestants shared about themselves during the talent portion.  I think my favorite is Miss Oklahoma's.  How exactly did she discover she could say the alphabet backwards?  How did she cultivate that skill? Any why?  So many questions.
• Consider this your weekly reminder that if you're not watching The Mindy Project, you really need to start watching The Mindy Project.

Applause For...

1.) The woman walking down Amsterdam with not one, not two, but three, parrots atop her shoulders.

2.) The clearance aisle of Duane Reade, featuring condoms about to expire as well as discontinued pregnancy tests.  I think I see where this is going.

3.) The little girl who walked up to her daddy very politely and said, "Papa, your shoes are very ugly." Man, sir, they start early here and you are clearly in for many years of that to come.

I'm Lovin It: Things I'm Digging This Week V. 3

I have returned!  Vacation is almost over (just a matter of hours at this point) and I wish I could go back.  Since I was off all week, I expected to have a ton of new internet gems to share but I actually wasn't on my computer or surfing the web most of my trip (in hindsight, this is actually a great thing but still weird). I do have a few fun things to share with y'all though so behold!

• I'm heading to the Paley Center tomorrow to see some early premieres of the new NBC shows but I've I've already managed to see A to Z, with my girl Cristin Milioti and I love it. You can watch the pilot On Demand or on their official site and I definitely recommend you do so!  I'm basically subtitling this show Tracy McConnell's Revenge. It's unapologetically romantic, quirky, and charming, and pretty much gives Cristin Milioti all the goofy, great material I wish HIMYM had.
• As expected, the HIMYM alternate ending leaked early online before the DVD set was released.  I've talked about HIMYM a fair amount here (and the blog post I wrote about the finale is, in fact, my most popular post with views in the triple digits!) so I was, not surprisingly, eager to see this. I'd link something here but literally every site this has been on keeps pulling it down so I implore you to do some googling and see if you can snag a view while you still can.  Overall, I liked this version better (in that we have none of this Robin-Ted nonsense and they touch on all the twists life takes to get us to our ultimate path) though there is a little part of me that feels like this version is a little stale.  I'm curious to hear others' opinions though!
• My best friend Grace insists that we get grocery store cakes whenever I visit (I'm sure there's some tradition or reason for this dating back to college or something but I certainly can't remember it).  This reminded me to check out Cake Wrecks, one of my absolute favorite websites that I haven't read in some time.
• I love hugs and because I'm also apparently five, I love animals doing cute things so by that logic, I really love animals giving hugs (though the one with the snake is kinda making me nervous).
• I've been thinking a lot about social media and my presence on it and a friend passed along this article about Facebook Likes.  Facebook Likes/Instagrams are a tricky thing; we all want to share and be affirmed but at what point do these Likes cease to have meaning?  Why do we impose such a heavy meaning on them in the first place?  If someone doesn't like your photo, is that a sign of lack of affection?  Was your experience lessened?  (I have a friend who will take down any Instagram photo that gets less than 11 likes in 2 hours so really...what's the real reason we're posting these things?)  Is Facebook or Instagram really helping us feel more connected to one another or are we just stockpiling more surface level relationships? Interesting conversation topic for the future, I think.
• More Beyonce!  That Blu Ivy, she kills me.  Skip to the last 40 seconds for extra cuteness.
• Oddly enough, I was reading Joan Rivers' recent book on my flight home--the day before she checked into the hospital.  I grew up watching Joan Rivers on Fashion Police and what I would give to be famous and have her tell me my dress was hideous.  She was honest and brave and brutally funny and she'll be deeply missed.  If you're not familiar with her work, click on the Time article above or take a gander at some of her best lines.