Oprah Does Books.

I volunteer of Fridays. It's not very glam, I wipe down rooms full of germs between patients and stock carts and read old magazines. But fortuitously for me there were relatively new magazines this week and what did I spy? A book list in O! These are the winter books I'll be adding to my library cart (as well as a new book club book). Except the first book... that one has been on the list for a while and I have no excuse as to why it's not read yet. Oops. I'm especially psyched for The End of Your Life Book Club since it's about my job + reading. What a great combo.

What would you name your autobiography?

Stories, I love them. Anyone else love them? Two of my favorite books of all time are autobiographies.
I think one thing that is appealing about them is that they are charmingly skewed by the person writing them. I love to hear true stories- I listen to the Moth obsessively and ease stories out of my patients every day. Today a woman told me that last week while she was at treatment her husband bought a new house and moved them into it without her finding out. In five hours she was unpacked and completely settled in a new home! Isn't that crazy!!? True stories are so wild.

These two are thoroughly enjoyable as well...  and one written by a friend.

I love to think about what I would title my autobiography.
I haven't settled on anything I love but I make myself laugh with stupid titles.
How about you? Anything you've had squirreled away for when you write about your exciting life?

Big bookcase-

Have you seen this giant gorgeous Brazilian home?

I don't think I could have enough books to fill a bookcase that size (I reread too much). 

But it's so pretty! The house is a weird mix of design but a giant bookcase is hard to argue with.

The only kind of porn I endorse.

Reading, writing.

Read a book!

It's book week (not that I won't be watching Walking Dead but...)!

Again. Because I love reading.

Reading is discovering the hearts of others. And discovering yourself.

I write things down.
To remember it.
To sort it out in my head.
To discover things about myself.

So they are related, reading and writing and sorting things out.




Keeping a journal.
A girl reading in the olden days. And another.

MISC.

Going on a date tonight, picking out Halloweenie costumes and cooking and going to the Y. I felt so prepared this week. My finances are organized, my room is organized, my gym bag is organized. I even hung up a picture on the wall at work- I'm settling into routine. I'm going to read The Greatest Generation (yesterday at work a patient told me about his uncle waking him and his mother so they could listen to Roosevelt on the radio after the bombing), drink warm drinks, and watch Walking Dead. Even my weekend is routine! Love it.

This song from Walking Dead has been stuck in my head all week.


I'm a sucker for wallpaper. It's so against my personality but I adore it!


Did you see this gnarly fight? Silva is a monster.


I finally found the perfect blue! It's so dark it almost looks black. I might not take it off all winter.


Politics.


Also have you seen scented nail polish yet? I'm curious.

Things to make you smile.

Cute animals!

And 5 funny websites.

Baby.

I'm halfway through a baby blanket for a baby being induced today.
Except he died yesterday.


How can I look his dad in the face when he comes back to work?
The man who handmade him a toy chest, who smiled so big when he talked about him.
My heart is breaking.
I want life to be different. Not fair, but fair this once.



And what do I do with a blanket for a baby who will never use it? Donate it here.

Walking Dead

I think Walking Dead is brilliant. I love it I love it I love it.
Seriously. The best.
Remember this horribly sad scene? I just rewatched this episode.

Jewelery.

I love the stories behind E. Weiner's work. 

And these two banging rings. 

LOVE.

DOUBLE LOVE.http://ericaweiner.com/collections/rings/products/atomic-ring#.UH9kSJjR3ww

MISC.

I had my own patients this week. Killed it (although that's a bad turn of phrase)! And I found Darjeeling Limited for $3. Went on a date and ate tomato soup... had tomato soup 3 times this week actually. I have big plans: I'm going to catch up on some reading and some lovely peanut butter hot chocolate. Fall is here. I adore it.

These photos are still my favorites.


The perfect scarves. From Designmom.


Obsessed. Also a girl I work with gave me this recipe and it's really amazing. AMAZING. It tastes so good!


True acts of friendship.


I thought I could make a cute keychain. Reality... this one instead.


I can't stop.


I forgot about this! So glad it showed up on my front page.


I thought I gave up square blankets but I think a baby might enjoy a floral print.


Science and literature. A happy pair there never was.

Mandy! I love you!
Also, these.

Kinfolk.

Do you read Kinfolk? I do. I can't stop. Maybe I don't do dinner with people my age much but I do do dinner with my families, sitting around outside cuddling with Nana and talking and singing until someone has to go to work. And on long treks to Portland, lingering over beers and low lighting and laughing it's not how trendy we are or if my nails are perfectly manicured or even if the food is organic and fresh and local and especially delicious. It's us, together. And that's the point. And that's why I like them so.

Their post on etsy about creating a comfortable home.

Did you see this on Design Mom?

OH. EM. GEE.

Their expressions kill me! This might be the best series of photos ever. EVER.

Shut up Monday.

Got a case of the Mondays?
Cured.






I'm beat to hell. I drove to Portland and back this weekend, watched the entire new season of Doctor Who, and supported the Timbers while they get demolished. And went to a wedding. And probably other things but doesn't that seem like enough?

MISC.

Sorry I've been such a bummer lately.
This is the craziest busiest weekend ever! Errands, a wedding, a funeral, a Timbers game. It's what days off are for right?! I'm not a photographer (I should teach myself to be a little better though shouldn't I) but Ben Howard was delightful. The weather is changing- don't forget to apply lotion regularly. Okay, PSA out of the way. Have a lovely weekend!

Haha!


This looks so sad but so good. I've read two reviews this week (in O and EW, could they have been any more different?) and both were glowing.


Can I be friends with these two?


Did you watch the premier? How do you think it stacks up against Sherlock?


I've never been a bold lip kind of gal but these make me want to be!


YOU are tickety-boo Mr. Boyle. Are the Olympics over already?!


Exactly my sentiments.


I bought this lovely grey nail polish last week and am obsessed with it. I'm thinking with a navy and a nude I'll be set for winter!


I need a signature scent. How does one go about acquiring one? And doesn't that sound like a fun day, finding a scent that speaks to you?


I actually laughed out loud.


Google reverse image is AWESOME.


Can't help but love him a little.


Will I let my children be more adventurous than I am?

ACT JUSTLY

LOVE MERCY

WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.

Something that scares me-

Do you do things that scare you?
I don't, mostly.

But I really want to get my ears pierced for Christmas (aren't these hexagonal ones fun)!
Even though I'd probably wear the same pair every day it would be fun to change them for special occasions ...



But it's like getting a shot and that's not my strong suit.
Be brave.

Ben Howard.

Tonight.
In Seattle.

photo

This will only be the second time I've gone to a concert by myself. I keep telling myself it'll be fun and not scary to come home in the early morning hours and then go to work (lets be real, no gym tomorrow). Relearning how to do things on my own. Like picking out an outfit... so jeans and a striped top. Maybe I'll even wear my new grey nail polish.

I'm not over the warmth his voice with India's makes in my chest.
Like a drizzle outside with hot chocolate inside.

Breaking, My heart is

I flushed your port and squeezed your hand three weeks ago.
You were so young- you were young and you looked like my friends, like my brother, like me.

My heart is breaking for your partner and your puppies and their loneliness.






I should have squeezed a little more tightly.
If I'd known it was the last time I would have hugged you.

b&w floors.

                 google images.









Seeing them here reminded me that I pretty much have to have some in my house.

I love stripes.

Or a rug.

MISC.

Bought new socks. Need a new phone because mine won't text and has ruined some weekend plans. Eh, I have a great life if that's my one complaint from this week. Considering driving to Portland to attend Imago (I don't care if it's ridiculous). Trying not to slow down too much or I'm afraid I'll end up in bed eating the bag of misc popcorns I bought at Target and watching movies. Just wasting time until life begins again.

Digging these posters.

Have I posted this before? Because I periodically watch it. It's how I imagine a modern day fairy tale. From ESB.


Did anyone else miss that LUSH is making conditioner now? Cannot wait to try it!


I think it might be time for another book week! So interesting.


I dare Port Orchard to do this. Please. I'd get up extra early for church to participate.


I think this home would make me claustrophobic!


Iceland, still the coolest.


Check out what we're doing for my moms birthday! I'm terrified and totally stoked.


Nicknames are so fun!

Mumford and I'm a bum.

The new album.
Sophomore albums are so tricky because I love the old one so much and I'm never sure if I like the new style as much. I'm giving it a fighting chance though. I love ghosts that we knew and the above tune.

In other news I have no desire to do anything. I want to burrow under my covers for one hundred years.

Peace.

Peanut butter jealous time!

My dear friend from many years of summer camp and miscellaneous adventures is on an adventure so cool it warrants its own post!! Without a doubt. Get ready......
He's in Lebanon. Seriously you say? I know, I'm struggling with envy and wrath and all sorts of deadly sins against him and this awesome 18 ish months he's going to have. I might have to go visit him! When we went to camp together every day for half an hour there was an activity where you spent time getting to know another camper who you didn't have a relationship with. And every year we paired up on Thursday. I can't believe we got away with it really but we did! He's going to do some amazing things. I'm proud.

His blog.

The book I sent him.


Lebanon facts- do you ever get sucked into the CIA factbook? Oh my word I do! It's nerdy pinterest. Also WHO has an awesome website...


Street style.

A funny.

Yesterday I was singing on praise team and I'm standing on stage while someone is talking (I think maybe the preacher was giving the welcome) and Nana comes running down the isle in the baby Doc Marten-esque boots completely intending to do join me. She was gunning for my spot! She made it all the way up the first stair before her mama caught her.

I love that girl.
I would have held her all service and sang with her.
She was the happiest part of my day.

MISC.

I feel like an ad for the Y all the time, but really it's the greatest. Although I haven't been able to shave sitting on the side of the tub which I appreciate there are so many benefits like:
- Being able to watch whatever I want while I work out including but not limited to: cute boys, cute girls, old couples, ESPN, and my feet.
- A great pool that's never crowded before seven.
- 12 week starter programs to help you set goals and achieve them by utilizing the Y.

Blah blah I know. But really my life if going to work and going to work out. Work work work. This weekend is work on Christmas presents weekend (I have them all planned now I just have to buy/make them)! This is going to be the most selfish thing that might ever come out of my mouth but here it is: I like to be done Christmas shopping by black Friday so I can shop for myself. Yikes! I want some knakis and a white shirt like this dashing fellow.

Laughter is the best medicine.

My old dear friend wore this watch to a wedding we attended and I'm digging the retro vibe.

I love peter pan collars! And dresses.


Anybody else going to use these at work?


If I had someone else's life his would be in my top three.


YES!

Iceland, ineedyou.

I cried.

This is not shocking, but I find myself surprised by it anyway. The wild north sneaks up on me and calls to my soul. The wanderer.

An adventure. And food to take on it. From ACOJ.

Cheezballzzz-

Two happier girls you will never see.

The zoo! We love it.

VACAY.

I'm taking a blog vacay.

So a week of more sleep and more swimming and more praying.

And maybe a few posts I have tucked away.

Some weeks are the dumps.

MISC.

I went to a dinner about aHUS this week- only 15 people out of a million are diagnosed with this disease and we had a whole dinner on it. It was so cool to listen to a distinguished Doctor talk about championing care for the tiny group of patients. The community in Seattle is full of people who care about people and their pain and sickness. It makes me proud.

Also I ran into a screen door at an older couple from churches house so hard I popped it off it's track. In front of ten people. It was maybe the most embarrassing thing I can think of that I've done this year! Yikes.

Today I went to the zoo with 4 kids and my mom. I saw the walrus getting fed, he know over 200 hand signals/voice commands. IT. WAS. AWESOME. I have a season pass again, so let's go!!!

My friend went to the Olympics! Whaaaaat?!?!

Only slightly less embarrassing than the door incident, but I've listened to this for two days straight. I like how MJ has permeated culture. Oops, a cover. On a more serious note I actually think the hip hop bridge has some legitimate pearls of wisdom.

Joshua pointed me toward this blog and I've been digging through it loving how it makes me think. Also that he was a Merwin poem.

Another couple books to read. The Star Wars book was a gift from my brother for my birthday.

I would own every single thing that Madewell makes. They seem so pretty but functional too.

The new album comes out in ten days! Yikes, better budget for it!

Trying this tutorial for real this weekend, I finally buckled and removed my bottle opener from my keychain... my adventure calendar has given me several alternatives to a bottle opener anyway so I'm set.

Umm yes.

Coconut milkshakes? Thank you please right now. Milkshakes might be my favorite dessert. Ice cream is my favorite but ice cream that you drink? Heaven! And coconut is perfection. After a day at work a milkshake is the best comfort food. Or before a day at work... or pretty much any time. I wish it was healthy! I bet there are healthy milkshakes out there. But do they taste good? Maybe I'll try out some healthy recipes.

And three other things I'd like to make/eat tonight.

Mini farm!

Don't laugh but I may have inherited my dads love of pigs.

Especially tiny pigs!

And then at camp, where all the most crazy ideas happen, I decided it would be amazing if someone would make a mini farm! Complete with a teeny barn. And I'm sold on it.

Pig, cow, pony.

A perfect starter farm.

9.11

Beautiful.

New reads...

I hear about books on NPR, on The Moth, from friends, from ten year olds who watch movies with me. And sometimes I try them out (like The Night Circus). The trick is, what do you try and what do you leave?! I've been thinking about taking the plunge on these. But I have a stack of books literally as tall as my waist that I own/Joshua owns/my brother owns and I'm plowing through them.

All the while Nick mocks me from his monthly column which I will drop everything to read.

MISC.

Getting my oil changed today. What a grownup. And my hair died, I've become pretty adventurous when it comes to hair- after all it's not permanent and it'll grow out in a month. Meh. Do what you want. Next week is my first full paycheck- I think it's fair to get excited a week early! When I think about my weekend I mostly think about rest... and good thing! Hope you are planning something adventurous though!

This photo is the background on my computer. I love grey ocean days the most.

This is my number 1 choice for car listening right now. OBSESSED.

This makes me so happy! Smarty nerds are normal people too. Via ACOJ.

I'm pretty sure I've posted this at least twice. But really? It's perfect.

Mini webisodes for Doctor Who. I hate that Rory and Amy are fighting- better resolve episode 1!

Cutest couple.

I might do this to every journal ever from now on.

I want a progressive wedding. If I were just having a tiny wedding I would 100%. Or have it in Iceland. Or both!

Ombre.... part 1.

So we tried ombre but since it was the first time we went more conservative, you can barely tell that my ends are lighter! Now that practice is over next Friday we're going for it- either a BLONDE BLONDE or a plum for fall. I'm stoked for either!

Death.

I love my job.

But man when young people come in my heart aches.

Probably why I've been listening to this more this week.

I get a lot of literature and the latest book I got was about difficult conversations you have to have as a nurse. And the end-of-life is probably the hardest bit for me. Do I mind if I talk about it? Dignity and presence are conscious things we can offer as people transition from health to death. But it's hard, and scary, and hard.

Stanley Hauerwas talks about death in this question and answer session. He says, "In the Book of Common Prayer there's the prayer, 'save me from all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared.' In the Middle Ages, what people feared was not death, they feared God. They prayed to be saved from a sudden death because they wanted to have time to repent and have their lives appropriately positioned to face God. Now we just fear death." Isn't that so different from how we feel?! But I want to feel that way.

He also postures that how medicine deals with illness, especially long term illness leading to death is an example for the church living together with the illness of lives lived in sin. It's easy to go through a moment of deep pain together but how to continue after without burnout emotionally is the trick. I haven't been in long enough to speak to burnout but how to keep your heart guarded enough to function but open enough to care for people is a fine line.

Phew. It actually makes me feel tired just digging in to the ideas. And sad. But hard things aren't always bad.

This always makes me cry, and commiserate. We all wish it wasn't a part of life.

A series I'd like to see.

If you want to learn more about hospice.

Woof.

As the idea of living on my own becomes more and more in my mind the more I realize my schedule and apartment living is easier on a kitty. But oh man I love puppies! I love they way my puppydog smells and drools and loves me and turns two circles when he sees his family driving up. Puppies are most best. And this tumblr is best best. I mean check out these photos! I couldn't choose a favorite, I loved every picture. I die.