I left my heart in... Massachusetts?

It's true!  Last week I went to visit Ian, and my apologies for not writing in a million years, but I was in a pre-visit excitement phase and a post-trip come down love haze, and somewhere briefly in the middle was a magical time in Williamstown, Massachusetts with my sweetest of sweethearts.  

So because Ian and I are trying desperately to budget our lives slash we procrastinated buying my ticket, I had to stop a million times each direction which I must say was wearing but well worth it.  I went from San Jose to DC to Charleston To Albany and Albany to Raleigh to DC to San Jose... and no I can't answer why I went South to go North and North to go South... I officially have a dysfunctional and strained relationship with Expedia.  

Any how now brown cow... It was just the best to be with Ian.  I just feel instantly warm and relaxed and happy and full of life with him.  He is at a renowned theatre festival in the small gorgeous town and is basically working himself silly every minute in crew, apprentice works, etc etc.  

The town was dar-ling, green, cool, breezy, dripping with wild flowers, creeks, rivers, and pretty white buildings.   I had a chance to drive around one day and soak in the sites;  little shops, summer grass... everything was very personal, very relaxed.  When you go into a small town it feels like the weight of the world just can't touch down there.  Williams college was lovely too. 

 Ian and I spent our time eating (suprise suprise) and being generally in love.  Our first date was at Pub 6 a cute restaurant and bar where I realized how much I love  potato skins and fat white strings of lights. We went to an absolutely wonderful park that faced a rushing creek, I sat with him during crew, every minute was the best.  I also got the chance to meet many of the 60 some apprentices in the program and they gave me the warmest welcome.  Everyone was so friendly which was just the best.  Oh and I got to see a run through of the festival's Three Sisters directed by Michael Greif of Rent and Grey Gardens fame (star struck? YES)  When I see a rehearsal I just want to jump in and work.  Still, every activity was trumped by just being with Ian. Needless to say it was a bummer to leave but a great adventure to go and now I'm counting down the 30 days until we meet again in Texas for a visit!

All this beauty

You might have to close your eyes

And slowly open wide

All this beauty, we traveled all night

We drank the ocean dry

And watched the sun rise

The Weepies

Localebrities!

Kelly (my big sister) Robert (her hubby) and Grace and Kevin (my niece and nephew) are visiting for the week! Our week has been full of swimming, shopping, playing, eating, cooking, and enjoying the beautiful summer weather, post awful-smoke-disaster. Two days ago we all went on a fun adventure to the city.  We went crazy at Lush, go there for amazing earth friendly products that work! Then after strolling around union square, which right now showcases a banner of David Beckham in his tightest tightie whites for Armani covering Macy's storefront, we went to gorge ourselves on the oversized goodness at The Cheesecake Factory. Courtney and I traveled up to the C. Factory floor to meet the fam and were met by an unreal pair as we entered the lobby. Two 80-something women, petite, and clad in cheetah furs and pink felt hats.  Their eyebrows carefully drawing a couple cm's higher than the origionals, these cute little bugs were a mix between munchkins from munchkinland, the cheetah girls, and old vegas broads. They were just breathtaking. And little did i know until I talked to my mom and confirmed her with some google searches, these women are an SF pop culture gem! I feel like i've seen the loch ness monster or something.  Always matching and usually in animal print, these women are just the tops for me right now. They live together, shop together, stroll downtown together and they are living loud! Next time you're in the city cross your fingers and hope to see the San Francisco Brown Twins! LOVE. THEM.

“When I am an old woman I shall wear purple, 

With a red hat which doesn't go and

 doesn't suit me, And I shall spend my 

pension on brandy and summer gloves,

 And satin sandals, 

and say we've no money for butter”

-Jenny Joseph