I was tagged by two ladies whose charms I just can’t refuse, so here we go…
four jobs i’ve had
Barista at Rock N Java
Community news reporter for the L.A. Times
Gap t-shirt and jeans folder
Fact-checker for a local lifestyle mag
four movies i could watch over and over
Amelie
When Harry Met Sally
The Sound of Music
Almost Famous
four places i’ve lived:
Philippines [...]

I don’t normally play blog games or spread memes, but I can’t refuse my favorite Penelope. So, okay. Here are five idiosyncrasies of mine:
1. I have a funny walk. I didn’t know I did until my friend Erlina saw a picture that Rama drew of us on his web site and told me she recognized [...]

Inspiration
Amelie
Touted the “Christine Movie of the Year” in 2001, this film is still guaranteed to please.
I Like You by Sandol Stoddard
This sweet little book is perfect for your pals, crushes or partners in crime.
Living Out Loud by Keri Smith
We can all take a few cues from this artist extraordinaire.
Messy Thrilling Life by Sabrina Ward Harrison
Sabrina’s [...]

Martha Stewart’s Corn Chowder
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s soup season!
This time of year, there are few things I like better than enjoying a nice, big, piping hot bowl of soup.
I love the whole process: setting it down on the table, stirring the broth to cool it down, inhaling its seasoned goodness, getting my glasses steamed up, [...]

My dear,
Today I have a request. I’m leaving for vacation in less than two weeks and I want to bring a book or five with me. I don’t want to tell you what kind of books I like. Rather, I am curious to know what kind of books you like. If you were going to [...]

ForgetfulnessThe name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of,
as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where [...]

joy“don’t cry, it’s only music,”
someone’s voice is saying.
“no one you love is dying.”
it’s only music. and it was only spring,
the world’s unreasoning body
run amok, like a saint’s, with glory,
that overwhelmed a young girl
into unreasoning sadness.
“crazy,” she told herself,
“i should be dancing with happiness.”
but it happened again. it happens
when we make bottomless love–
there follows a bottomless [...]

i carry your hearti carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my [...]

Wild GeeseYou do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear [...]