Next Disney Movie?

Willow, Lost Cat From Colorado, Resurfaces in Manhattan

www.nytimes.com

 

Have you read about Willow yet? Such a great article. And a bit like The Incredible Journey Except that the dogs sat around not doing much....

I love that they still have her little Christmas stocking.

Sunday Soup Recipe

Last weekend I wanted a speedy soup recipe, so I pulled out Nigella Express. She had a recipe for Minestrone in Minutes. I have to admit, I was skeptical, but it turned out really well.

I didn't have any pasta sauce, so I ignored her instructions to add pre-made sauce, and I just added some sauteed onions and garlic, crushed tomatoes, a bit of dried oregano, and a bay leaf, as well as a bit of extra chicken stock. It was pretty tasty and express.

Here is the recipe.

London Bags

When I first moved to London, I asked a friend who used to live here where she'd suggest buying a new bag. She suggested Mimi Berry. Sadly, I can't (yet) justify the cost, but I think I would be happy with almost any of the bags they sell. Especially the Clementine or the Peggy (shown below).

Easy New 'Do

I wear my hair the same way every. single. day. Usually, I wake up, shower, blow it dry, and then throw it up in a messy ponytail after an hour or so. It's just boring. So, the last time I went to get my hair cut, I asked the stylist (whom I trust) if she had any suggestions for an easy, new way to wear my hair.

She suggested a modified bun. Here's how you do it:

• Put your hair in pigtails. The part doesn't really matter. 
• Tie the pigtails in a knot and then pin down the ends. 

I'm trying no to wash my hair every day, and this is a great solution to save my hair from looking flat or greasy. Plus, I can do it myself. What do you think?

Here are pictures:

Great Article

I love this article called "My Superpower Is Being Alone Forever". It's all about online dating and meeting people. Great line: "Everyone has a friend who is so charismatic, brilliant or good-looking that the idea of him or her trolling OKCupid is mind-boggling. I am haunted by those friends. What is it that separates us? Is it gluten?"

Zoolander

I love Zoolander, but had no recollection of Alexander Skarsgard being one of the "orange mocha frappuccino" male models...

Literary Pets

What kind of animal would you love to keep as a pet? Some famous authors have some interesting choices, shared in this article. Can you imagine parading a lobster around on a leash??

Here's Flannery O'Connor and her peacocks:

Fun Tunes

Marie Claire suggested these songs this month, and here are a few I think are okay, including some French Gypsy Jazz. 

 

"Je Veux" by Zaz: 

"Free My Mind" by Katie Herzig:

"Paper Tiger" by Rosi Golan: 

Fun Song

Music of the Day

I am a big fan of The Tallest Man on Earth. Here's one of the neatest videos I've seen....I kind of want to find this shop:

I also really like this cover he does of "Graceland':

This is kind of hilarious.

"Ah, what can ever be more stately and admirable to me than mast-hemm’d Manhattan?"

10 years ago today, I was wandering the streets of Lancaster, England during my study abroad course. I was with two friends and our plan was to head into town to get groceries. It was a beautiful day. It felt like fall.

Now, on September 11, 2011 I again find myself in England. London is cool and crisp. But today I miss New York.

The title of this post is taken from Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Walt Whitman.

Danny MacAskill Videos

I posted these on Facebook ages ago, but I watch them every now and then just because they're so amazing, and well-done. Again, great music picks with "The Funeral" by Band of Horses and "Wax and Wire" by Loch Lomond.

Song of the day

I know I just posted the long boarding video, which features this song, but I just can't get enough of it!

I think I may have to buy the whole album...

Bag o'...

I go through white t-shirts like it's my job. If it was my job, I'd be loaded. They're always grey, or stained (I'm a bit of a slob) after a week or so. So, I think this is an excellent idea. For only $48 you get 3 crips, white tees. I wonder if they're see-through....

Dark tees and tanks are also available.

More Shoes...

Check out these cute shoes from BC Footwear at American Eagle. $45 seems like an okay price for shoes too. I like both the blue and the yellow.

Cheap, Cool, Perscription Glasses

I have never worn contact lenses, so I view my glasses as an accessory. Unfortunately, they're an expensive accessory that are supposed to last for years, so I end up getting sick of my frames before I should be buying new ones. So, when I read about Warby Parker, I was kind of jazzed. 

The company offers frames + glasses for $95. And for every pair of glasses they sell, they donate a pair to a person in need. So, for $95 you can also feel good about your purchase.

The down side is that as of now, they only have two places for you to try on glasses in a showroom, and both are in NY. To get around this, they will ship you up to 5 pairs of frames at a time for free (anywhere in the contiguous 48 States) to try on at home. If you like them, you're in luck. If not, send them back for free. It could be a good opportunity to get a spare pair of cool frames, or some prescription sunglasses.

The down side: they're not shipping internationally yet. So, if you buy a pair, you'll have to let me know if they're any good!

Have you read it yet?

Unbroken has just sold 1 million copies in hardcover, which is a pretty impressive feat in the age of the e-book. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend picking up a copy--in hardcover or e-book version.

Though it's non-fiction, it reads like fiction, and is an amazing story of survival.

Body Lotion with SPF

Wouldn't you like to try this body lotion? It's a bit on the pricey side, but it's all natural, and has SPF 30 for your whole self.

Weekend Soup Recipe

I've just bought this thermos to bring to work, so I'm trying to get in the habit of making soup over the weekend so that I'll have at least a few weekday lunches ready to take with me before I'm rushing around in the morning trying to get ready for the day.

This week, I made Carrot-Ginger Soup from The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook. It's healthy, easy-to-make and tasty hot or cold. Recipe below, copied from this site:

Ingredients

• 6 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh ginger root
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 7 cups chicken broth
• 1 ½ lbs. carrots, peeled and cut into ½ in. pieces
• 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat.
2. Add the onion, ginger, and garlic and sauté for 15 – 20 minutes.
3. Add the broth and carrots. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered until the carrots are very tender, about 45 minutes.
4. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor, 2 – 3 cups at a time, and pour into a large bowl. When finished, pour the pureed soup back into the stockpot. Season with lemon juice.

Beirut

Today, I'm listening to a lot of Beirut and wishing there were still tickets left to see them next Friday in London! Here's one of my favorites. It reminds me of France. Plus, I love the marching aspect:

Knitting

How cute are these patterns from Tiny Owl Knits? I only know very basic knitting, but these kind of make me want to take it up as a hobby:

Veggie Recipe:

This past weekend, I tried my hand at making Ratatouille (the last time I'd had a craving for it was as I was leaving the theater after seeing the movie...) There's a chill in the air here, so it seemed like the right time to cook up some vegetable stew.

I used this  recipe from a Menus from an Orchard Table. Yum.

Rompers!

As summer is drawing to a close (in some places. In London, it's practically winter), I can't help but check out the end of season sale. One purchase I never made this summer was the romper. Why? Because they're rompers. Then my sister met me in New York for a weekend and looked adorable in one. What do you think? Hers was black, but the coral would be fun with a tan...Also, it's only $33 here.

If you're not going to rush out and buy one, at least take a moment to appreciate the word. It's kind of fun to say: rompers!

Laughs

This will at least make you smile.

Interesting move, Google.

It seems as though Google's plan to take over the world is one step further along with their acquisition of Zagat's. I hope this "dependable" guide doesn't get too much of a "facelift".

Travel Deal

If anyone in New York, Boston, or Chicago is interested in traveling to Canada,  Porter Airlines is having a 50% sale off all flights through December 15. You just have to book soon!

Here are details: Book online or contact your travel agent. Use promo code WOW50 by September 9, 2011. Travel by December 15, 2011. New bookings only. Cannot be combined with any other promotions or programs.

Girl Hate

This is a great article on girl hate.

Loafers

I've decided I'm a fan of the fall loafer trend, but what pair to get? Here are a few different styles I've seen and pondered:

Color Pair Loafers from Anthropologie: 

Bed Stu Penny Loafer from American Eagle:

I like both the classic-looking Biella Loafers and the Darby Patent Loafer from J. Crew:

Lastly, while summer is drawing to a close, I am still wishing, I'd bought a pair of boat shoes. Maybe there will be an end of season sale? I still like these Sperry Top-Siders:

Fall in London

It is definitely Autumnal in London. To be fair, it's been somewhat fall-like since July, but I suspect the days of bare legs are rapidly coming to a close. I've recently discovered Emerson Made. Doesn't  this seems like the perfect fall blazer for London (or anywhere?). I wish the price was a bit more perfect for my wallet...

Carving the Mountains

Kaitlin posted the below video and it was too amazing not to swipe. I wish I was this fierce. Not to mention, an awesome song by The Decemberists.

Swagger Wagon

I'm not a mini van fan, but the new Sienna ads are pretty funny. In particular, this:

I heart Roald Dahl

Besides his amazingly weird kids' stories like James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and his amazingly weird adult stories like "The Hitchhiker" and "Lamb to the Slaughter", he also sent some pretty weirdly amazing responses to fan mail.

Click this link to see his response to a letter to a class.

And here to read about how he had all of his permanent teeth pulled!

100 Years of Style (and dancing!) in London

Fun Video:

What I Miss: Grand Central

Grand Central Station is one of my favorite buildings in New York. If you're lucky enough to come across it when it's calm, it's spectacular. But, as this fun New York Times article suggests, it's really a work of art anytime. I think this line sums it up perfectly: "I sense that these same visitors would not carry themselves in quite the same way at Penn Station or the Port Authority. The immensity of the hall’s space makes an impact at all times, surrounding people with drama."

New Favorite Lip Gloss

So, this isn't a new product, but I've just discovered it and am loving it!

I've been putting it on before work each morning.

Banned Book Barge

I first heard about The Book Barge a few months ago when it was docked along the canal in Islington, not far from my flat. In a tougher and tougher independent book market, The Guardian calls the Barge is the "brainchild" of Sarah Henshaw. I've read about several independent booksellers who are interested in making the purchase of books about the experience more than about the bargain.

Now, the Book Barge, which sells new and used books, has made it's way to Bristol and the crew has been told that their license isn't being accepted in the port. Here's a link to the article.

Either way, a neat shop. I'd gladly buy my books from a barge!

Vintage Bike

Every Wednesday, I look forward to getting my free issue of Stylist Magazine, which is handed out at tube stops. For the past few weeks, they've been on vacation, so I was especially excited to nab my copy on my way to work this morning.

This week, one of the stand-outs on their style list is this vintage inspired bike, on sale at made.com for only £179. (It comes in pink too!)

Wouldn't you like this bike for touring around town? All it needs is a basket!

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

If you're in the mood for a happy read, look no further. Major Pettigrew's Last Stand is a cozy adult love story that gently explores issues of race and prejudice and hammers home that it's never too late in life for love. All of the characters in the book are flawed, but most of them are likeable. I genuinely enjoyed Major Pettigrew and rooted for him along the way. A lovely debut novel. 

Emerald Street

Emerald Street is one of my go-to London blogs. They send along a newsletter a few times a week with suggestions on fashion, bars, etc. They aren't always to my taste (especially the fashion suggestions), but it's neat to read their newsletters.

Today, they've included their list of The 20 Books YOU Must Read. I have to admit, I don't agree with all of their picks (I'd definitely replace The Blind Asassin with The Handmaid's Tale), but it's worth a browse.

What do you think? What are books you always find yourself raving about?

Texas Gothic

 If you haven't read any Rosemary Clement-Moore, you're missing out. While I preferred Prom Dates from Hell, I did thoroughly enjoy Texas Gothic. Clement-Moore's books are a breath of fresh air in the over-crowded paranormal romance YA market. Her characters are part Nancy Drew, part Veronica Mars, and a teeny, tiny bit Twilight (in that they are dead-pan characters who can't believe that something out of the ordinary is happening to them. My suggestion: get Prom Dates from Hell first and see what you think.

London Rainbow

Last Friday night, I got caught in a Downpour (with a capital "D"). Just as I was walking home along the canal, I came out from under a bridge to the below sight--so neat!

Sadly, I did not find a pot of gold.

Willow!

As previously mentioned, Willow is one of my favorite moves of all time. Therefore, I'm a little bit excited that Warwick Davis is starring in a new show with Ricky Gervais. I will not comment on the trailer other than that Ricky Gervais' laugh is contagious. Clip below:

Hey everyone, there's a new Poet Laureate in town...

Congratulations, Philip Levine. Here's an article about Levine's poetry.

 Poets.org has a few of his poems if you're interested in checking them out too.

50 of Poetry's Most Poignant Lines

Stylist, my new favorite British magazine, has a great article called "50 Of Poetry's Most Poignant Lines". Click here to read it!

One of my favorite picks is by David Lehman, the head of The New School poetry department and also the series editor of The Best American Poetry series:

"When a woman loves a man, they have gone / to swim naked in the stream / on a glorious July day / with the sound of the waterfall like a chuckle / of water rushing over smooth rocks, / and there is nothing alien in the universe."

-When a Woman Loves a Man, David Lehman

Buster Plughole Unblocker

Living in a foreign country, there are inevitably things you end up missing from home. Here are a few examples of things I have yet to find in London: Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Stick, Luna Bars, J. Crew (sometimes they have stuff on the Outnet...), Crest toothpaste.

When I first moved into my flat here, I noticed the drain was clogged. Immediately, I wondered if Dran-o was even available in the UK. But, my worries were for naught as I soon discovered the British equivalent simply has a different name:

Buster's Plughole Unblocker.

Warm French Lentils

Initially, this was supposed to be a Meatless Monday post. You have to admit, it has a certain ring to it. But last night, my supplies were limited. So, tonight I made a delicious lentil recipe for dinner from Ina Garten's How Easy is That? So far, I love this book. All of the recipes are really easy and super delicious. Here's a link I found to the recipe online. I also took a lovely photo, but just managed to delete it.

Since it's summer, I served the lentils with a salad and a baguette. Pretty tasty!

Word of warning: I usually half the butter / oil and salt in the Barefoot Contessa's recipes. 

Beach Hair

Confession: though I don't normally spend a lot of time styling my hair, I am a sucker for trying new hair products, especially in summer when my hair tends to get dry and tangled so easily. My go-to detangler for years has been Bb Tonic Lotion: 

While Bumble and bumble products are not cheap (an 8 oz. bottle is about $19), once I bought my first bottle of the Tonic, I was a convert. It works on damp hair as a de-tangler and rumor has it if you want to skip washing your hair for a day, you can spray some on the roots and then blow them dry. The larger size lasts for ages, and the playfully labeled bottles cheer up a bathroom.

I've recently cheated on Bb with Oribe Foundation Mist:   

 

I have to say, I'm a fan. It's approximately $3 more expensive than the Bumble and bumble, but it smells heavenly (the tonic has a slightly medicinal smell), and it works as well, if not better. Overall, it's a nice change. I may even be a convert.

If you're looking for something to cure your parched summer locks, check out Kaitlin's post on argan oil.

Guilty Pleasures

This week, Kaitlin and I have decided to talk about our guilty pleasures.

When I think of guilty pleasures, I can't help but remember a night out a few years ago. My roommates, some friends, and  I were at a bar on the Lower East Side in New York when someone came up with the idea of a playing a drinking game called "I Hate". The basic concept of the game was that you went around in a circle saying the name of something (or someone) you hated. So, one person would say something like "I hate Paris Hilton" and anyone in the circle who liked Paris Hilton, would take a sip of their drink.  It was a pretty funny game, though a few rounds in, my roommate Adam suggested we switch it up and admit to guilty pleasures rather than "I hate ________." It seemed more positive, so we agreed. Our friend Scott started "I like....Enya?" And the game was on.

So, I'm here to confess a few movies that are guilty pleasures for me. Here goes:

• Dirty Dancing. Why? Because "nobody puts my baby in the corner." Plus, the line "I carried a watermelon" is one of my favorite movie quotes of all time. 
• 10 Things I Hate About You. This movie is so good, I don't think I even need to explain it. But, since I watched it (literally) 10 times the week I saw it for the first time, I believe it deserves a place on the list. I mean, Heath Ledger. Favorite quote (though there are lots of great ones to choose from):That must be Nigel with the brie!
• Annie. I was obsessed with this movie as a child. My favorite character: Pepper. She was so tough!
• The Reality of Love (initially titled "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks"). ABC Family movie classic starring Jason Priestly, Emma Caulfield, and Bradley Cooper. It's so horrible, but it was the movie that made me like Bradley Cooper even before I knew he spoke flawless French.
• Grease. Despite the terrible message that if you wear spandex and dress like a whore, you'll get the guy, my sister and I spent countless hours lip-syncing and making up dances to different songs from this film. I think at one point, we may have even put together a water ballet production in the pool in our backyard. Okay, we definitely did.
• White Fang. Adventure + Ethan Hawke. Need I say more? 
• Willow. Amazing.
• Someone Like You...which is now apparently called "Animal Attraction". Despite the disappointing smooch at the end, I loved this movie. Ashley Judd is just so likable in this. Then I married a roommate. Hmmm.
• South Pacific. So many good songs!
• Silverado. This movie was AMAZING. Kevin Kline, Kevin Costner, Scott Glenn (who, as a child, I thought was an actor and an astronaut), Danny Glover, John Cleese, and cowboys. It's worth watching just for the scene where Kevin Costner shoots 2 guys at the same time. 
• Save the Last Dance and Step Up. I'm grouping these 2 together. Maybe because I'm hoping you'll skip this bullet.
• Blue Crush. Kate Bosworth was so hot in this, I really wanted to be her. Plus, if you're a fan of The Vampire Diaries, you can see Alaric back in the day.

There's 12 I can think of now. I'm sure I'm leaving out a ton. Just FYI, The Goonies, The Princess Bride, Labyrinth and The Never-Ending Story totally don't count as guilty pleasures even if I have seen them countless times.


Bonus Picks: Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. I know. It's Justin Bieber. But, I defy you to watch this movie and not like it

Baby Beluga

Such a great video:

Monday Mix

Happy Monday! Here are a few songs I've been listening to lately that are hopefully upbeat enough to help speed up your first day back at work:

Pump Up the Jam  - The Lost Fingers
Toxic - Marc Ronson
Holland, 1945  - Neutral Milk Hotel
Nantes - Beirut
Antarctica- The Weepies
Fire at the Pageant  -The Felice Brothers
Animal - Miike Snow
Oh My God - Ida Maria
Be Calm - fun.
The Cave - Mumford & Sons
Graceland - The Tallest Man on Earth
Tonight You Belong to Me - Josh Ritter ft. Erin McKeown

OK Go + Pilobolus

Another creative video from OK GO--this time they've paired up with the Pilobolus Dance company:

2Cellos

Last night I went to see Lang Lang perform at the itunes festival in London.  A friend of mine won tickets, and I was excited to be her +1. I normally don't seek out classical concerts on my own, so it was nice to have an excuse to go to an event like that.

The opening act was performed by 2Cellos (Sulic and Hauser), two cellists from Croatia, who play rock music on their cellos. While at times they cross the fine line between cool and cheesy, for the most part they were pretty awesome. Here's a clip of them playing "Welcome to the Jungle":

And a performance of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" on Ellen:

 Lang Lang was impressive too.

Book Review - Bossypants

Bossypants by Tina Fey had been on my list of books to read for a while. When I saw kzmccaff's recommendation I moved it to the top of my pile.  I started reading it on Saturday night. I did not leave my apartment until I finished it yesterday. I haven't laughed out loud that much while reading since reading Us and Them from Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris. Tina Fey's story is touching, hilarious, and completely relatable.

My Life in France

I spent last year living in Fontainebleau, France in what must have been one of the narrowest houses I've ever seen. Here's a picture:

Fontainebleau is about a 40 minute train ride outside of Paris and nestled in the middle of the Fontainebleau Forest. Life there was definitely different than life in New York City, but it was a welcome challenge made a bit easier by Julia Child's My Life in France.

If you are going to France, or just looking for a great read, I highly recommend this. Prior to reading this novel, I didn't know much about Julia Child. She is brave, down-to-earth and inspiring. The movie Julia & Julia (while fun) just doesn't do it justice.

Favorite Song of the Week

Dear Mrs. Pacuppycheck

Having just moved to London, I've decided to start up my blog again. For me, having a blog is a bit like revisiting the time in my life when I surrounded myself with imaginary friends. And by surrounded, I mean I had a whole gang (most imaginative in her nursery school class right here!).

I guess writing for a readership that you're not sure exists is half the fun.  For a while, I wasn't sure I wanted to embrace that time in my life and again. Then I remembered it was a pretty awesome time. I'm not sure yet what this will turn into; perhaps just a mish-mosh of my favorite books, songs, places and experiences living in a new place.

So, Sherry, Pebbles, Licorice, and Mrs. Pacuppycheck, this one's for you--I hope you like it.

Moving to France with You

I have been living in France for two and a half months now, and lately I’ve found myself missing certain aspects of New York. So, today, I re-read one of my favorite New York School poems, “Having a Coke with You” by Frank O’Hara. The New York School of poets began in the early 1960s and included O’Hara, John Ashbery and Kenneth Koch, as well as the painters Willem DeKoonig and Jasper Johns (among others). O’Hara was interested in both music and in art. For much of his life, he even worked as an assistant curator at The Museum of Modern Art.

Having a Coke with You
     by Frank O'Hara 

is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne   

or being sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona   

partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian

partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt

partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches

partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary   

it is hard to believe when I’m with you that there can be anything as still   

as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it   

in the warm New York 4 o’clock light we are drifting back and forth   

between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles 

and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint   

you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them

                                                                                       I look

at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world   

except possibly for the Polish Rider occasionally and anyway it’s in the Frick

which thank heavens you haven’t gone to yet so we can go together the first

   time   

and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism   

just as at home I never think of the Nude Descending a Staircase or   

at a rehearsal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow 

    me   

and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them   

when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank   

or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn’t pick the rider as carefully   

as the horse

                   it seems they were all cheated of some marvellous experience

which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I’m telling you about it

Frank O’Hara, “Having a Coke with You” from The Collected Poems of Frank O’Hara. Copyright © 1971 by Mauren Granville-Smith, Administratrix of the Estate of Frank O'Hara. Used by the permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc, www.randomhouse.com/category/poetry/.

Source: The Collected Poems of Frank O'Hara (1995) via PoetryFoundation.org

The subject of art is featured prominently throughout this poem. O’Hara places a mundane activity in the foreground, as the title itself is simply “Having a Coke with You”. This contrasts sharply with the first line of the poem which immediately thrusts five exotic places upon the reader. One of the reasons that the poem works so well is that the narrator refuses to romanticize the places that he mentions. The activities that occur on his vacations include, “getting sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona”. The irony of this is that often, while traveling, the most unusual and unpleasant experiences become the best stories from a trip.

The remainder of the first stanza plays up the complexity of sitting in a park with someone the narrator loves. He starts off by declaring his love for “you” and then, unexpectedly admits his partner’s love of something as concrete and practical as yoghurt. After this line, his language becomes more creative, as he brings the “fluorescent orange” color of the tulips into the poem, as well as the “secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary”. However, it is the last line of this stanza that stands out. O’Hara writes: “we are drifting back and forth between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles”. This line is remarkable in that the narrator chooses to use this simile to describe the setting of drinking a coke, instead of a painting or a more exotic location.

The rest of the poem consists of shorter stanzas and more varied line breaks as it shifts away from the park setting and moves towards art. O’Hara mentions several specific artists, art movements, and art works during the last few lines of the poem. He begins this section with a two-word line that begins, “I look / at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world.” Instead of dwelling on this line, he then mentions Futurism, Impressionists, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Marino Marini, and Nude Descending a Staircase. He makes it clear that he is knowledgeable about art, and then declares that certain artists “used to wow” him and asks “what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them / when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank / or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn’t pick the rider as carefully / as the horse.” It is in listing the flaws, instead of the virtues, of things that are usually seen as overtly-romantic, that the narrator is able to describe the strength of his love for an individual.

 “Having a Coke with You” exudes quirkiness, yet at the heart, it’s quite a tender poem. Perhaps the thing that I like best about it is its conversational style. Paired with the long lines and sparse punctuation, it creates a sort of breathless excitement that builds upon itself the way a new relationship does.

Having moved to France because of a relationship, I find myself wanting to go to all of the places that O’Hara mentions in his poem, but I also find myself enjoying a night of just sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, or a can of Coke.

Fontainebleau, France

When my flight touched down in Paris on January 7, I felt a surge of poetic inspiration. It had been 24 hours since I’d slept, but it followed me to the rental car agency and down the A6 as I drove from Charles de Gaulle to Fontainebleau, where we’d be living for the next year. Just 15 minutes away from the airport, the buildings dropped off and we were surrounded by fields, a clear reminder that we weren’t in New York anymore. We entered roundabout after roundabout, and then a stretch of tree-lined streets leading into the town of Fontainebleau.

France has a long-standing reputation as a country that inspires poets and artists—from Gertrude Stein, to Rimbaud, to the Beat poets—I was excited to be here.

Although Gertrude Stein is one of the first poets to spring to mind when I think of American ex-pats living in France, I have never really enjoyed reading her poetry. Her writing has always seemed inventive, but inaccessible. After getting settled in Fontainebleau, I thought I would try to read some of her works again.

Her memoir, titled Paris France, seemed like an apt place to start. Perhaps by looking at a bit of this story and at one of her shorter poems, not far from where they were written, I would be able to better understand her words and her writing style. As Tender Buttons is so well-renowned, I re-read the poem “A Box” from this book.

A BOX.
A large box is handily made of what is necessary to replace any substance. Suppose an example is necessary, the plainer it is made the more reason there is for some outward recognition that there is a result.
A box is made sometimes and them to see to see to it neatly and to have the holes stopped up makes it necessary to use paper.
A custom which is necessary when a box is used and taken is that a large part of the time there are three which have different connections. The one is on the table. The two are on the table. The three are on the table. The one, one is the same length as is shown by the cover being longer. The other is different there is more cover that shows it. The other is different and that makes the corners have the same shade the eight are in singular arrangement to make four necessary.
Lax, to have corners, to be lighter than some weight, to indicate a wedding journey, to last brown and not curious, to be wealthy, cigarettes are established by length and by doubling.
Left open, to be left pounded, to be left closed, to be circulating in summer and winter, and sick color that is grey that is not dusty and red shows, to be sure cigarettes do measure an empty length sooner than a choice in color.
Winged, to be winged means that white is yellow and pieces pieces that are brown are dust color if dust is washed off, then it is choice that is to say it is fitting cigarettes sooner than paper.
An increase why is an increase idle, why is silver cloister, why is the spark brighter, if it is brighter is there any result, hardly more than ever.


From Tender Buttons (1914) by Gertrude Stein.

Stein, like many poets, was very active in the art world. She maintained friendships with painters, including Picasso. One can see how the cubist style that painters, like Picasso, were exploring affected her writing. Even the title “A Box”, implies sharp edges. Like a cubist-style painting, the unconventional repetition that Stein employs consists of sharp lines that run into, or overlap, with one another. She repeats words like “box” several times, as well as “necessary”, “table”, “length”, “increase” and “brighter”. She also packs her poem full of verbs like “to be” and “is” rather than more aggressive verbs.

In her descriptions of “A Box”, Stein makes her readers feel confined by using expressions such as “to have the holes stopped up” and “to be left pounded”, as well as in her descriptions of color, “a sick color that is grey”.

Stein’s writing also seems to take on a bit of a Dadaistic style here as well—like Duchamp she makes viewers/readers question the importance of her work. To this point, her memoir, Paris France, is written in a stream-of-consciousness style. It begins by describing the narrator’s impressions of the city. The memoir starts off:

Paris, France is exciting and peaceful.
I was only four years old when I was first in Paris and talked french there and was photographed there and went to school there and ate soup for early breakfast and had leg of mutton and spinach for lunch, I always liked spinach, and a black cat jumped on my mother's back...There are lots of cats in Paris and in France and they can do what they like, sit on the vegetables or among the groceries, stay in or go out. (Stein, 1)

It occurred to me after reading the start of this novel that I felt the way Stein was writing: scattered and full of sensory overload. The initial excitement of being somewhere new had morphed into a feeling of being completely overwhelmed. A simple trip buy bread had suddenly become a challenge. As in “A Box” from Tender Buttons, Stein plays with repetition, using words like “cats” and “Paris” frequently throughout the text. Once again, the words she chooses to repeat are basic, and are often used in everyday speech. In writing about a place that is new and foreign to her, Stein uses the same jolting language one would use when learning a new language. While the passage is a description from the viewpoint of a child, perhaps she also uses basic language and repetition to explore the way that people learn to speak other languages—often in a jolting, stream-of-consciousness style.

Stein’s writing has always been controversial. The repetition throughout the text, and the way in which she structures her sentences, can seem almost threatening. She peppers her poetry with ominous and often ambiguous sentences, like “there are three on the table”. In poems like “A Box”, the reader has to wonder what is inside the boxes that she refers to—at times she mentions cigarettes, and at other times, she gives an image of a “large box”. In both of the examples seen here, Stein defies conventional writing style.

While I still struggle with the lack of linear paragraphs in Stein’s writing, one has to admire the unique style in which she wrote. In a place where I often find myself speaking French in the same way that Stein begins her memoir in English, I may have a newfound respect for her writing.

An Introduction to My Life in France

Mark Twain once famously remarked that "it has always been a marvel to me—that French language; it has always been a puzzle to me. How beautiful that language is! How expressive it seems to be! How full of grace it is! . . . And, oh, I am always deceived--I always think I am going to understand it."

Having recently moved to a small town just outside of Paris, I find myself straining to eavesdrop on French conversations whenever I leave home, hoping to recognize words or phrases. So far, with my limited grasp on the language, it's been a bit disappointing. In New York, I worked in the publishing industry. With my work experience, and as a writer, I am most at home discussing grammar and playing with words. Here, everything is different.

Moving from a cramped apartment in New York, we now have an entire house. It's a skinny, oddly shaped house, but it's spacious and bright, and just a few steps from the center of town. 

 

The weekly market here, with its tables of fresh fruits and vegetables piled high, is a welcome change from struggling through the aisles of Gristedes. The smell of freshly baked breads, mingled with ripe cheeses, permeates most streets.
Still, these are the stereotypes that one hears about France. As language is a priority to me, and as I work to complete a Master’s degree in Writing, my hope is that this blog will help me to immerse myself in a new culture, through exploring poetry that was written here, on both a personal and a critical level.