As a follow-up to my previous post, apparently whoever created that awesome video with all the clips of "period men" redid it to include a broader range of films and men, including the dashing Mr. Knightly from Emma (the version with Gweneth Paltrow) and Colin Firth as the ever-enigmatic Mr. Darcy. Hooray!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Next Day
Many thanks to everyone who emailed and left comments of support in response to yesterday's blog post. Your caring and concern boosted my spirits.
Another thing that boosted my spirits was this fabulous YouTube video sent to me by my wonderful friend Jenny R. She clearly knows that one of the best remedies for romantic heartbreak is Jane Austen! (I do wish the video included scenes of Colin Firth from the 1990s BBC Pride and Prejudice and of Hugh Grant from Sense and Sensibility, but otherwise, it's pretty perfect.)
Another thing that boosted my spirits was this fabulous YouTube video sent to me by my wonderful friend Jenny R. She clearly knows that one of the best remedies for romantic heartbreak is Jane Austen! (I do wish the video included scenes of Colin Firth from the 1990s BBC Pride and Prejudice and of Hugh Grant from Sense and Sensibility, but otherwise, it's pretty perfect.)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Blahs
We got hit by a winter storm yesterday that left several inches of snow on the ground, cars stranded in ditches, and a big gray sky today. That dull monochrome sky mirrors my mood at the moment.
I haven't exercised in a week. I've been doing a lot of sitting. I was going to walk to the nail salon across the street yesterday evening to get a pedicure, but then it started snowing fast and furious and everything closed down.
On Monday, the guy I've been dating for a couple months and really like announced he's moving across the country to accept a new job and he doesn't want to do the long-distance thing. What that really means is he's not into me enough to even try the long-distance thing.
I intended to work out with Jillian last night, knowing exercise would help boost my flagging spirits, but I simply couldn't muster the strength to do more than lay on the couch with the TV on mute.
Since getting that news on Monday, I haven't had much of an appetite, which I guess is good for off-setting the lack of exercise in the net calorie department. For breakfast today, I had two peanut-butter cookies with chocolate pieces on top. It was the only thing that sounded good.
Awesome.
I haven't exercised in a week. I've been doing a lot of sitting. I was going to walk to the nail salon across the street yesterday evening to get a pedicure, but then it started snowing fast and furious and everything closed down.
On Monday, the guy I've been dating for a couple months and really like announced he's moving across the country to accept a new job and he doesn't want to do the long-distance thing. What that really means is he's not into me enough to even try the long-distance thing.
I intended to work out with Jillian last night, knowing exercise would help boost my flagging spirits, but I simply couldn't muster the strength to do more than lay on the couch with the TV on mute.
Since getting that news on Monday, I haven't had much of an appetite, which I guess is good for off-setting the lack of exercise in the net calorie department. For breakfast today, I had two peanut-butter cookies with chocolate pieces on top. It was the only thing that sounded good.
Awesome.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Train Shots
I'm on a train from NYC to Washington, DC. I should be working, but all I really want to do is stare out the window at this east coast landscape as it shushes past.
I forgot how enjoyable train travel is. It makes me feel like I'm sophisticated and in Europe again. I also love the free WiFi.
I forgot how enjoyable train travel is. It makes me feel like I'm sophisticated and in Europe again. I also love the free WiFi.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Another Take on New Year's Resolutions
One of my coworkers brought to my attention a very interesting and timely article in the British newspaper The Guardian, titled, "Abandon Resolutions. Stop Looking for a Soulmate. Reject Positive Thinking." The tag line underneath states that it's full of advice on "how to be a better person in 2011."
Indeed, the article is full of advice on living better, though it's not what you might expect of a new year's article on self-improvement and being happier. Here's the practical, logical, non-traditional advice dispensed by this thought-provoking piece:
1. Abandon your New Year's resolutions, today.
2. Stop looking for your soulmate.
3. Overhaul your information diet (but don't starve).
4. Self-improvement: Track your personal data.
5. Volunteer (even though [British Prime Minister] David Cameron wants you to).
6. Reject positive thinking.
7. Make dinner, make furniture, make an effort.
8. Don't take frugality too far.
9. Befriend your friends' friends.
10. Creativity: Make one small change to your workspace.
You'll have to read the article to see what its author, Oliver Burkeman, has to say about each of these topics. The common thread among them is that life is meant to be lived, in a measured, thoughtful way, not fretted and frittered away in a string of intense micro-bursts of striving for perfection. Amen to that!
On to a wonderful 2011.
Indeed, the article is full of advice on living better, though it's not what you might expect of a new year's article on self-improvement and being happier. Here's the practical, logical, non-traditional advice dispensed by this thought-provoking piece:
1. Abandon your New Year's resolutions, today.
2. Stop looking for your soulmate.
3. Overhaul your information diet (but don't starve).
4. Self-improvement: Track your personal data.
5. Volunteer (even though [British Prime Minister] David Cameron wants you to).
6. Reject positive thinking.
7. Make dinner, make furniture, make an effort.
8. Don't take frugality too far.
9. Befriend your friends' friends.
10. Creativity: Make one small change to your workspace.
You'll have to read the article to see what its author, Oliver Burkeman, has to say about each of these topics. The common thread among them is that life is meant to be lived, in a measured, thoughtful way, not fretted and frittered away in a string of intense micro-bursts of striving for perfection. Amen to that!
On to a wonderful 2011.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Resolution Review
Happy New Year 2011!
I've been feeling like I should set (and document) some new year's resolutions for 2011. For most of my life, I didn't make new year's resolutions, preferring instead to set goals at times that seemed more appropriate and less arbitrary throughout the year. For some reason, the idea of taking stock of my life and resolving to make changes going forward has been more appealing in the last few years.
Last year, I kind of made two resolutions, which I'm not sure were even resolutions as much as a recommitment to previously-set goals.
Resolution #1: One was to apply myself with a vengeance to my last semester of grad school in order to maintain my perfect 4.0 GPA and graduate magna cum laude.
Outcome: I did graduate magna cum laude, but, much to my dismay, I did not leave Georgetown with a perfect 4.0 GPA. I got an A- on my very last paper of the semester, which pushed my grade for that class down from an A to an A-. I know, it's quite a tragedy and I felt it keenly.
Resolution #2: Figure out what to do with my career.
Outcome: Failed completely. Still no idea what to do with my career, though I did manage to get a new job in 2010 that applies my linguistics training. We'll see where it goes. This career-planning thing has been part of my new year's resolutions for a few years running and I've never made much head-way on it. If you have any insights as to what I should be when I grow up, please don't hesitate to share them with me!
Have any of you (my three readers) made resolutions for 2011?
Stay tuned for the next entry, when I (hopefully) record some new year's resolutions for 2011 (once I've thought of them).
I've been feeling like I should set (and document) some new year's resolutions for 2011. For most of my life, I didn't make new year's resolutions, preferring instead to set goals at times that seemed more appropriate and less arbitrary throughout the year. For some reason, the idea of taking stock of my life and resolving to make changes going forward has been more appealing in the last few years.
Last year, I kind of made two resolutions, which I'm not sure were even resolutions as much as a recommitment to previously-set goals.
Resolution #1: One was to apply myself with a vengeance to my last semester of grad school in order to maintain my perfect 4.0 GPA and graduate magna cum laude.
Outcome: I did graduate magna cum laude, but, much to my dismay, I did not leave Georgetown with a perfect 4.0 GPA. I got an A- on my very last paper of the semester, which pushed my grade for that class down from an A to an A-. I know, it's quite a tragedy and I felt it keenly.
Resolution #2: Figure out what to do with my career.
Outcome: Failed completely. Still no idea what to do with my career, though I did manage to get a new job in 2010 that applies my linguistics training. We'll see where it goes. This career-planning thing has been part of my new year's resolutions for a few years running and I've never made much head-way on it. If you have any insights as to what I should be when I grow up, please don't hesitate to share them with me!
Have any of you (my three readers) made resolutions for 2011?
Stay tuned for the next entry, when I (hopefully) record some new year's resolutions for 2011 (once I've thought of them).
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