Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Being three and a half years apart meant we were three grades apart. This meant we went to school together in elementary school, but our recesses were always at different times. This meant we would never go to junior high together, or high school together. I was finished with high school by the time she began.

College with my sister only further ignites our friendship. We are sisters first, of course, but close, hilarious, completely synced friends second.

Today she turns 21.

Happy birthday, friend, classmate, and sister.

Finley Files: Lazy Days of Summer

Photos by Hannah.
Nineteen months.

Because the Dead Read Blogs

Dear Grandpa,
I wish you were around so I could tell you know that I appreciate the things that you appreciated, and that I love the things that you tried so desperately to get me to love. I attribute my excellent taste in many things to you, and shamefully hide my terrible taste in many things so as to not taint your good reputation through proxy.
Philosophy is nearly over and I am seriously considering switching my major, just so I can continue with these discussions that so remind me of you. I was only fourteen when you died, so it's not as if we had incredibly deep conversations about art, God, or capitalism--but I have your old books. I know what you read. I've seen your highlighted sections in The Book of Ancient Verse. I would have loved to hear these opinions of your straight from your well-spoken mouth instead of having to infer them from your sketchy notes in your old primer.
Promise me someday that you will bend my ear off again about the mazurkas, about Humoreske, about Franz Liszt in all his holiness, about the brilliance of Michael Crichton, about German orchestras, and about the importance of staying polite in any regard.
Finally, I am sorry for hating Traumerei. I want you to know I love it now.


From the artist previously known as your granddaughter,
Me

Andy Warhol Died... And Then I Was Born

On Sunday night my family celebrated life with a dance party. Here's the proof.
These are mostly still photos, taken within seconds of each other, showcasing our moves. I put them into a slideshow-like video so you could check out our choreography.
You should be jealous of my family. We kick so much ass.
What better to post on the day of my birth than the several reasons why I like being alive? I love my family, I love music, and I love freedom.
Happy birthday, me. Let's make year twenty-five the year of wisdom and foresight, shall we?

Happy Birthday, Squirt

I have one brother, and he is part Michael Kelso...

Part Lloyd Christmas...

 Part Michael Scofield...

And part gangsta...

But he is absolutely one hundred percent adored by one Finley Mae, regardless of his actual gangsta status.

Happy birthday, Keats!

Something Silly

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Weekend Update

Fact: Finley had her first ponytail in her hair. It lasted for about an hour. See the little firecracker?

Fact: Finley adored the Park City condo we inhabited this Labor Day weekend. She pulled herself into every nook.

Fact: Crisp, sweater-wearing, hot coffee drinking fall air really does cleanse the soul.

Fact: There was a stray cat outside my parents' master suite. My mom wanted to slingshot it. My dad bought it a can of fancy cat food. We learned about different personalities this weekend.

Fact: Hannah, Keaton, and I played in the nooks like we were kids again. Also, fact: Hannah may have had to help me up into the nook.

Fact: Sleepyface Finley is just as cute to wake up to as Refreshedface Finley.

Fact: Finley is such a kid now. She wants to play, laugh, be tickled, see action, dance, and eat my food. What she doesn't want to do? Snuggle.

Fact: My family can fly.

Fact: Finley is more fun to read than the skankiest People magazine you can throw at me.

Fact: Finley and I had our own room and our own giant bed all to ourselves. (She hogged it, of course.)

Fact: Every Labor Day weekend, the Park City Library does a used book sale. Monday, the last day of the sale, bags are sold for $5 and whatever you stuff in the bags is yours. Three years ago, we were there when it opened, at 11am. Last year, we lined up early, at about 10:30 am. This year, we were first in line, because we got there at... 9:40 am!

Fact: We showed up at 9:40 am after packing up and cleaning out. This was also after staying up until 3 am playing Mafia and charades.

Fact: We camped out on the steps of the library. People asked us what we were protesting.

Fact: I like Finley in the fall.

Fact: Sometimes she doesn't want to wear her cute pink hat.

Fact: We left with around 400 books altogether. Not a bad haul.

Can't wait for next year, Park City Library Labor Day Used Book Sale! I will beat you again!