currently loving.

currently loving is a new series to recognize the details I am loving this week. or month. or whenever I am inspired to write about them.

watching: one night screening of re:generation music project documenting some pretty fresh beats.

capturing: a new project with the iphone. (shameless plug.)

reading: nine stories. italy day by day.

browsing: dialogue tales collaboration over at hitRECord. helpful timeline re:syria.

listening: youth lagoon. the tallest man on earth. dr. dog.

eating: smushed avocado, mixed with lemon juice, sea salt, and red pepper flakes, and spread on toast.
turkey, cranberry, and brie on pumpernickel from devon & blakely.

some things I did this weekend.

flew on a tiny plane from DC to omaha. was reminded why I like big planes much better.

surprised a wonderful friend for her birthday. some might call her a best friend. I would not disagree.

discovered that while omaha may not be the bustling metropolis that is DC, it does boast some pretty impressive brick.

visited my kind of bookstore. the kind with keats spilling out of the rafters. and steinbeck from floor to ceiling. and dust happily settling on everything like the smile of my old friend settling happily on me.

watched warm winter light interact with a house overflowing with friends. and food. and so much laughter.
(and maybe some settlers of catan too.)

found a most impressive display of salt and pepper shakers.

complete with these little cuties.

and also wondered at the thought of buying a family portrait that belongs to someone I have never met.

played in the snow.

and walked and talked and remembered what it was like to be completely at ease.

experienced the most entertaining and completely hardcore display of female empowerment.

drank foamy chai (the best kind) and read astonishing and imaginative graphic novels.

drank maté, listened to youth lagoon and hung out with one very cool dog named gracie.

found some great street art.

and realized omaha is much cooler than I thought.

thoughts from :: being sick.

the last few months have been full of not feeling like myself. lots of doctors appointments and prescriptions and struggling to get through days that feel lethargic and unending. lots of wondering and worrying and fighting off an internal hypochondriac convincing me that I have some sort of chronic and serious illness. I was sure I had melanoma after accidentally watching very informative PSA. okay, maybe more frightening than informative.

last week it all came to a head and among many things, I got to experience my first ride in an ambulance. and my first time entertaining eight large paramedics. all of them were men, and according to kim at least one or two of them were attractive. and although I do not know how to get there (as I was preoccupied in the back of an ambulance), I can assure you that the closest hospital is less than t five minutes from my house. on a related note, shout out of thanks to those very nice men from the firetruck and ambulance that showed up at my house. and to the friendly doctors and nurses and virginia medical center. thanks for making sure I was not dying.

this week it's been all about the cleanup. back to the doctor who doesn't seem to think much is wrong. she's not concerned so I guess I shouldn't be either? back to more tests and the crook of my arm turning black and blue from hypodermic needles coming and going. back to finding dark shadows of bruises that remind me that if I start feeling like I'm going to pass out I probably should not go looking for water and lose consciousness against the open door of my refrigerator. yes, that happened. I cracked an egg on the way down and woke up with my head banging against bottles of salad dressing and jars of strawberry jam. I mean it is a little bit funny when you think about it.

so the emergency room doctor could not figure out what was wrong. and my normal doctor cannot figure out what is wrong. and I would be more worried about this if I did not know what was wrong. but I do know what's wrong. the common theme in all of these consultations and diagnoses (or lack thereof) has been one word: stress.

ah, stress. the most underrated and, in this crazy place I live, probably the most common cause of illness. when questioned about why this part of my body is failing or that part is hurting, general practitioners and specialists alike have nonchalantly noted that stress can be a factor. and their casual mention sets off a huge red flag because it's making me realize that I live inside a huge bubble of stress. not in the way that I am depressed and living in a dark cloud of anxiety. more in the way that I can't even tell anymore. I barely notice it. I live happily consumed by stress, not really realizing it's out of the ordinary. not realizing that the constant clenching of my jaw and constant dull ache in my stomach are not things I should be experiencing. I am blind to it except in the most extreme cases. I am happy and excited about life. and stress is my normal. but if there's one thing that's emerged out of all this doctor drama it's this simple formula: stress + inadequate release of this stress = carrie feels crappy.

but here's the great thing. if the formula for the problem is simple, the solution should be simple too right? try to like my job more. rest intentionally and well. stop letting the chaos that is my life permeate my physical well being. be. less. stressed. seems easy right? sometimes.

today it felt a little bit like spring. in the midst of cold and gray. in the midst of january. somehow the sun was shining and I was able to go outside for a quick walk to the bank in only one layer instead of three! and as I was walking back to the office I let myself stop. just for a second. I wanted to feel the sun on my face. I wanted to soak in the uv rays and stand for just a minute before the cold returns and settles back in until march. and let me tell you, those few seconds were just what the doctor ordered.

and what does any self-respecting lover of spring do when it's just about to be february and she knows the clouds and the chill are right around the corner? she goes out and buys herself some tulips. bright yellow ones. when all else fails and the frost is about to take over. because the winter blahs are no match for the bright yellow tulip. and when they open just in time to fight the cold that returns to my bones - that will be just what the doctor ordered too.

remnants of home.

finally finally! I have framed and hung those lovely photos from that lovely lady!

she is the one who inspires me to take photos when I feel silly. and write moments down as they are happening (usually in list form). she inspires me to change my perspective. and notice the details. she inspires me to be thankful for every single moment of every single day. and she was the one who first inspired me to blog. you will see shadows of her influence all over this little site. because her ideas are ones that sneak in the back door and wedge themselves in my head until I just have to try them out for myself.

and now those photos get to inspire me everyday as I walk past them and out my front door.

just in case you want to be inspired too, here's her little shop on etsy. and who doesn't want to be inspired after all?

washed out.

this one spawned an impromptu living room dance party. and friends, if there's one thing I love it's a good impromptu dance party.

son lux.

wordless weekends are not so much about wordless music anymore. lately, its just about music that catches me off guard and has me playing it on repeat for days and days. music that slips in quietly behind the scenes and completely makes my day.

like this guy. who created this album in 28 days. start to finish. 28 days. are you kidding me?