Following the Junot Díaz News

Following the Junot Díaz news lately after the recent New Yorker piece, and wanted to share my favorite passage by him, below. It’s hard to hear when anyone’s been treated in a way that echoes for the rest of their lives. I will say he put into words what myself and other women couldn't about love and life, for many years.



“This is how you lose her.



You lose her when you forget to remember the little things that mean the world to her: the sincerity in a stranger’s voice during a trip to the grocery store, the delight of finding something lost or forgotten like a sticker from when she was five, the selflessness of a child giving a part of his meal to another, the scent of new books in the store, the surprise short but honest notes she tucks in her journal and others you could only see if you look closely.



You must remember when she forgets.



You lose her when you don’t notice that she notices everything about you: your use of the proper punctuation that tells her continuation rather than finality, your silence when you’re about to ask a question but you think anything you’re about to say to her would be silly, your mindless humming when it is too quiet, your handwriting when you sign your name on blank sheets of paper, your muted laughter when you are trying to be polite, and more and more of what you are, which you don’t even know about yourself, because she pays attention.



She remembers when you forget.



You lose her for every second you make her feel less and less of the beauty that she is. When you make her feel that she is replaceable. She wants to feel cherished. When you make her feel that you are fleeting. She wants you to stay. When you make her feel inadequate. She wants to know that she is enough and she does not need to change for you, nor for anyone else because she is she and she is beautiful, kind and good.



You must learn her.



You must know the reason why she is silent. You must trace her weakest spots. You must write to her. You must remind her that you are there. You must know how long it takes for her to give up. You must be there to hold her when she is about to.



You must love her because many have tried and failed. And she wants to know that she is worthy to be loved, that she is worthy to be kept.



And, this is how you keep her.”

Enjoying the ☀️

Little Havana Restaurante y Cantina off of Key Highway in Baltimore is just a short walk from Riverside Park to the water. Like I wrote in my Presidents Day Brunch Post- there's the coolest huge mural on the wall here with a handwritten headline  'Land of Eternal Spring'. We were definitely in the mood to enjoy the Spring weather, and hopefully it'll stick! It was an ideal date. Not too hot or cold, and all we needed was a light jacket.

I didn't know until coming back here, that they've been serving Cuban-inspired cuisine on the South Baltimore waterfront for almost 20 years, and it was once a former Feed Supply warehouse!

Walt Disney World Resort Memories

This time last year, we were in front of where Harry Truman used to hang out in Florida on a family vacation to Disney World. It was my first time, a bucket list item.

RIP Barbara Bush. Half of another Gemini couple (George Bush Sr. and her were the longest married presidential couple), and someone who accomplished an incredible amount in her life. She said in 1990 Wellesley College commencement address:

"At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent."

'Fresh Baked Cookies' 🍪 Candlemaking

Did you know that the art of candlemaking is called 'chandlering'?



I am so proud of this 'Freshly Baked Cookies' candle scent mixture. I have to give Mark credit for helping come up with it- it really does smell like you just made a batch of fresh-baked cookies and it warms the feeling of the whole house. We thought of the concept while living in a hotel for two weeks back in January due to flooding issues, and I think were just wanting to think about cozy, comfortable things.

I want to make mini ones (votives), change up the label, keep working on this. There's a place I like called the Foundery that I went to print and cut out vinyl labels.



'The Foundery was built upon the goal to fuel the creative community with unique access to industrial-grade tools and knowledge, and to provide a safe and accessible makers’ space for Baltimore’s creative community to gather, learn, build and teach.'



With the cost of a day pass, you get access to embroidery machines, laser and vinyl cutting, woodworking, screenprinting, and more! It's also a nice, diplomatic space to think creatively and relax. And you can get a big mug of Zeke's coffee and a hot dog while you work.

Listening to: 'A Life That's Good'

Being from Texas, there are a few country songs that bring me back. Started watching Nashville recently. Really liked the storyline between Deacon and Rayna. This song and 'Sanctuary'; the feels.

Visiting My Old High School

 Took the bus down Friday night and got in super late, looked at our old art with Jenny, woke up in New York and took another bus down to Boston to ride the old red line to Natick.

Visiting Our Old High School

This post is dedicated to Jenny Lai and her unique, positive vision for herself and everyone around her. We met living down the hall from each other at our arts boarding high school in Natick, MA. We'd have dance parties in her room, hang out in practice rooms, explore together. She always knows what I need, often before I do. My first time in New York was with her to scope out whether we'd want to go to college there. If I hadn't gone with her, my life might've been really different. I think it's definitely high time we went back to our roots- 12 years later (last time was freshman year of college).



Walnut Hill School for the Arts feels like a secret gem, tucked a short ride on the metro away from Boston. A little oasis for arty high schoolers from all over the world who knew what they wanted to do with their lives, or so they thought. As background- I used to want to be an opera singer. My dad loved classical music and supported my yearning to be on stage. My siblings and I all took piano lessons already, so I started doing my vocal scales on the keyboard after practicing the same songs they were. I knew I didn't want to stay in Texas forever, so I presented the idea to my voice teacher, and made a tape. When I found out I got a scholarship, I presented the idea to my parents. To their credit, they let me go with some conditions, like I wouldn't date anyone, and continue to go to church every Sunday. And I followed those rules. Once I got to school, I met some great friends. To this day Jenny and a few others are still very important to me. I admire and am inspired by them a lot. Halfway through my Junior year, I had a very serious talk with my dormitory parent/ surrogate advisor/ birthday twin Ken Tighes, who said he saw me sketching every night and if that's actually what I wanted to do for college- I should start making my portfolio right away. If he hadn't helped me move to the Art Department, my life would have been (again) very different. To go back to this place and reminisce with these people was very special to me.







I remember being fifteen: hanging out in the grass snacking, sneaking into the campus center at night to drink chocolate milk, and painting for hours in my art studio space. Getting to see Jim Woodside, who was head of the Art Department and has only grown more and more into his role since I was a student, and his granddaughter Juniper, was incredible. His daughter Ruby is so great and Becca who hung out and walked around with us.



This whole trip took around 24 hours total. Took the bus down Friday night and got in super late, looked at our old art with Jenny, woke up in New York and took another bus down to Boston to ride the old red line to Natick. Ate some McDonalds but also really good tacos at a place called Southwest Grill, both inside South Station. After the afternoon walking around, we got dinner in Cambridge at Kimchi Kitchen and then I uber'd to the airport to get back home to Baltimore Saturday night. I almost teared up at the most perfect cup of coffee Mark had waiting for me when I got into the car: warm milk with honey mixed in, and fresh hot coffee poured over it.

An Ode to IHOP

There's a place in my heart for the International House of Pancakes. Doesn't matter what location (for the most part). My favorite one is where I'm constantly trying to convince Mark to take us as a reward for a good morning workout after the gym.



The best brunch- when I close my eyes and imagine my go-to order at IHOP: steak tips and eggs (poached, cut them in half over your hash browns and drizzle a little hot sauce over that mmmhmm), the neverending coffee, and pancakes with sprinkles on the side, with whipped cream on top.



I put my favorite dream breakfast aside this week, when I heard that a new type of french toast debuted, using Kings Hawaiian Rolls. If you've ever put that fluffy goodness in your mouth- I understand you. So I tried the bacon, sausage combo with that new french toast with strawberries and bananas. This is an unapologetically focused description of just how much I value these ideas and breakfast executions- keep doing you IHOP.

Weekend Hiking at Ricketts Glen ❄️

Spent this weekend camping with Mark's family at Ricketts Glen State Park. It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen, with over 22 waterfalls and 13 acres out a few hours from Baltimore, in Pennsylvania. We did this same trip in April last year, when it was warmer. This time, there was still snow on the ground, but it was nice to see the woods in a different way, and feel the crunch under our feet.



Mark and I love road trips, and had stocked up on three different brands of bottled tea (honey green tea and half tea half lemonade varietals), beef jerky, and Gardetto's (the only brand of trail mix that doesn't need spin-offs- it's perfect). The hours pass quickly with the radio on intermittently and some dancing, sometimes a podcast, and enjoying the scenery.



We drove along the Susquehanna River for a while, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. It was early morning, so the sun was just rising, and you could see a little fishing boat here or there on the water. The sun dappled the road ahead of us, and we couldn't resist taking a few photos of the open horizon. Lots of cute little houses out there and farmland. Some antique stores. When you finally get to the park- there's a very steep road right before getting to the campgrounds- so if you ever go, it can be a surprise.



The cabin had electricity and running water. I never grew up camping, so a few tips I've learned through Mark's family are- keep a burn box (of items that can go in the fire), and a recycling box (plastic water bottles mostly). Set the thermostat to 60, because it'll get more than hot enough in the rooms- and pack extra socks.



We walked to Lake Jean for a bit, then did a hike that was around 7 miles through the trails. Had dinner and played a card game called 'Mille Borne' that I really enjoyed. Mark's mom makes meals that I wonder at because of the volume and variety that are still safe enough choices for 8 people.



There are so many memories that I don't write about, but I just get the feeling this was an important one. I was drawing on some of our experiences from the year before to inform how to pack and what to expect- and I expect I'll do the same referencing if we make a trip like this in the future. And if anyone reading this has more information or finds the above useful, all the better.