esprit de l'escalier

Thinking about Nora Ephron

I was sort of shocked at how saddened I was by Nora Ephron's death. I never read any of her essays, but two of her films imprinted themselves on my psyche. I have long joked that I was indelibly changed by my watching Sleepless in Seattle ad nauseum as a pre-teen. (Mostly that I am an incurable romantic, which might be why I am perennially single. My head is in the clouds and not open to the possibilities around me.) I currently joke that my state of my love life is more akin to Carrie Fisher's character in When Harry Met Sally BEFORE she meets Bruno Kirby's character (the man she marries in the film). I have found myself saying to friends, "He's never going to leave her," not because I'm dating a married man, but because I have been hopeless over someone who is not ever going to give me what I want. I usually follow that statement with, "I have to remember I am not Meg Ryan in this situation. I will NEVER be Meg Ryan."

All of this is to say that I loved Nora Ephron. She gave me shorthand for life and love. Those two films will always mean much to me. I now plan on devouring some of her collections of her early essays, if I can get my hands on them.

Lena Dunham, a new pop culture hero of mine, has an excellent remembrance of Nora Ephron in the New Yorker. Ephron's advice on Dunham's love life is wonderful. "You can't meet someone until you've become what you're becoming."

The Last September

I am behind on posting, and have a kitty update, but my brain is super tired and instead I will leave you with this beautiful scenic description from the book I'm currently reading, The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen. It takes place in a manor house in Ireland, during the Irish War of Independence. (Also! I missed my blog's birthday last weekend! SEVEN YEARS I have had this space. I will write more later.)

To the south, below them, the demesne trees of Danielstown made a dark formal square like a rug on the green country. In their heart like a dropped pin the grey glazed roof reflecting the sky lightly glinted. Looking down, it seemed to Lois they lived in a forest; space of lawns blotted out in the pressure and dusk of trees. She wondered they were not smothered; then wondered stll more that they were not afraid. Far from here, too, their isolation became apparent. The house seemed to be pressing down low in apprehension, hiding its face, as though it had her vision of where it was. It seemed to huddle its trees close in fright and amazement at the wide light lovely unloving country, the unwilling bosom whereon it was set... Fields gave back light to the sky - the hedges netting over them thinly and penetrably - as though the sheen of grass were but a shadow on water, a breath of colour clouding the face of light. Rivers, profound in brightness, flowed over beds of grass. The cabins lifting their pointed white ends, the pink and yellow farms were but half opaque; cast doubtfully on their fields the shadow of living. Square cattle moved in the fields like saints, with a mindless certainty...

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my dad and to all the other wonderful fathers I know.

Miss Mookie

Here is Miss Mookie. She's a sweetie. She belongs to my friend Cat, who I've been running with in the mornings. This is from Memorial Day weekend, and Mookie was trying to beat the heat. Isn't she cute?

I went to the market and met a pig

A couple of weeks ago I went to the opening weekend of the Worthingotn Farmers' Market with my friend Mel. We met a pig named Hamilton. Then we saw him meet a small dog, which might be the best meet-cute ever. I love summer and its farmers' markets and the things it brings into my life. Like pigs and pups and peonies.

Happy caturday

This morning was full of laundry, hanging with Leo, and an impromptu Skype session with my lovely friends in Germany. (So nice to see your faces Elaine, George, and Ben-o!) This is my friend Ginny's cat Maebe, from back in early April when I was in DC. Hope you're having a lovely weekend. I'm off to a party tonight to celebrate my friend's graduation from med school. Should be a fun time.

Waterlilies

I got the Yashica Mat fired up Memorial Day weekend. Here are some waterlilies from my friends' yard. It is so nice to be shooting with this camera. I have missed it.

Apparently now I get up at 6

This morning I woke up a little after 6, and kept staring at my alarm clock, flipping back and forth between the time and the alarm, wondering why it hadn't gone off. It took me a while to realize that 6:18 was BEFORE 7:00. (sigh)

Last week my friend Cat and I started meeting at 6:30 to run around Schiller Park. So far, it's great. I'm tired, but I feel like it puts me in a good frame of mind for the day. We are using the Couch to 5K program, walking and running for about a half hour, slowly building up our stamina. I have been trying to start running, but needed a friend to help me get started. (Thanks Cat!) 

I enjoy being up early and being in the park. The light is incredible. I am looking forward to watching summer progress through the changes in the flowers and trees. It's also fun to see all the dogs running around. And really, the light.

All it took was a week and here I am expecting to wake up at 6. The cat also now thinks I get up at 6. He kept coming in and checking on me to see if I was ready to play yet. This is at least better than the 4am that Frank would wake me at, wanting to go out. Plus Leo has yet to start hitting me on the head to wake up. (Let's hope he doesn't figure that out.)

More Leo photos

Here are some more photos of Leo!

Bits of my weekend

Hi all! I spent this weekend thinking about the past in some form or another, but have ended it thinking about what the future might bring. Seems like a good order for things. I'm going to tell this via photos on Instagram. I decided to join (find me at clairehelene7).

First off, I went down to Cincinnati Friday night to visit with my friends Gail and Sam, their adorable daughter Nevy, and their two cats. Not only did I get to catch up with them, but our friend Dale from Collins has also moved to Cincy. I got to see him and meet his 3 year son. I might have a post of all the cute kids from my weekend later in the week. Lots of cute. Oh, old friends. It's nice to reminisce about things. Above is Julius, one of Gail & Sam's cats.

Yesterday I drove back up in time to head over to a barbeque at my friends' Amy and Tim's house. Tim just built a new patio. It looks awesome. It's funny how at this stage of my life most bbqs seem to have little ones running around.

This morning I went to a graduation party for a young man for whom I used to babysit. I haven't seen him since I was 18. I gave him the same thing I give all graduating seniors: a roll of quarters for laundry. He didn't remember me at all. And why should he? He was 5. But it was so nice to see his parents and for them to invite me. I got a little inwardly weepy and didn't stay long. For a while in middle school I was a very regular babysitter. I started sitting for his older brother when I was 12. I remember him being born. He was the sweetest little boy. His brother was so serious, but he was just such a joyful child. I love being able to check back in with some of my old charges and seeing them do well.

This afternoon I headed to the Arts Festival with my friend Heather. We wandered the fest and then headed over to 400 W. Rich St. We ran into Chris Sherman, who runs the place, and Jim Sweeney, who runs the Franklinton Development Corp. Of course Heather knows both of them. Sweeney ended up giving us a grand backstage tour of both 400 W. Rich and another warehouse that his organization owns. It was pretty freaking awesome. (That's me in a mirror in one of the warehouses.) What I love about this town is how accessible the movers and shakers are (and how connected my friends are).

On our way out of the fest, we stopped in to the Cultural Arts Center, and there was my rug on the wall! I submitted it for the student show. I'm taking a little break from weaving, but I hope to get back into it this fall.

My final act of the day was to pick up my new cat. (I know, right, talk about burying the lede!) His name is Leo. He's about 9 months old and a fourth generation Bengal cat. My friend Amie had adopted him from one of her clients, but the combo of her and her dog didn't work. I wasn't looking for a cat, but I have found myself with one again! He's been sniffing around, checking the place out, and coming up for pets. I think we're going to get along well. More photos tomorrow.