Summer Reading List: Complexity

This may not come as a shock, but I love to read, and lately I've had plenty of free time for reading. When I was in high school, I had a great English teacher all four years (thank you gifted program) who made us read excellent books and write excellent essays about them (boy, was I ready for those AP tests). Now when I read a book, I analyze it a bit like I will be writing an essay on it to be graded, but that isn't the case, so I've got all these pent-up analyses and opinions with no way of sharing them. Until now. 

For each book I've read this summer, I'm going to do a write-up/book report thing just for my blog. I plan on making this a weekly thing for the remainder of the summer with one or two books per post, sometimes with a theme. So without further ado, here are the books about human complexity I read in May:

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo

Heartbreaking. Illuminating. Must read. If this account of life in a Mumbai slum doesn't give you a little perspective, I am genuinely concerned for you in one way or another. Written from several different points-of-view, it showed me how different slum living is from my comfy middle class existence, but even more than that, it showed me how alike the two are in the most fundamental human and political ways. I think that it's easy to dehumanize less-priviledged people, especially when they're so far away from ourselves geographically, but Boo's book puts the reader right in the shacks of Annawadi residents, revealing just how complex life in the slum is. There are social and political hierarchies, different expectations of different people, and even religious prejudice. I really don't think I can do this book justice, but maybe John Green can help: 

 I think it's very important that absolutely everyone read this book or a book like it.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart

Truth be told, I had two rather strange reasons for purchasing this book: 1.) John Green recommended it, and 2. Sarah, Fred, and Carly are on the cover. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. It had me nostalgic for a boarding school experience I never had. More importantly it made me question the way things are run, or more specifically the logistics of making connections and networking. It explores the complexity of a girl who just wants to be treated as an equal in her patriarchal boarding school experience, but who might take it a little too far and burn some bridges along the way. I am confident there is a lesson to be learned here in how to stand up for your beliefs. I definitely recommend borrowing it from a friend or your local library if possible.

What have you been reading this summer? Any recommendations? Let me know.

KB

My thoughts are stars...

...I cannot fathom into constellations. 
-John Green via Augustus Waters

That's exactly how I've been feeling lately. At times my mind is moving a million miles an hour and I get all these great project ideas or general creativity bursts, but as soon as I've had time to relax and unwind and find a notebook to write them all down in, they're gone. My brain just stops. I guess I get overwhelmed by everything and shut off. And of course this isn't just a recreational creativity thing; it's also had a huge impact of my work life.

Until now (today, specifically) I haven't known what to do about it, but at work today I had a bit of a meltdown in front of my boss regarding the issues discussed in this post, and despite his tendency to talk and talk and not let me get a word in edgewise, I was able to convey to him all the feelings I didn't even realize I was having about my internship. Talking to him and more so listening to his perspective on my time with the company has helped me work out where I want to go from here. I'm not going to go into the details, because frankly I haven't figured them all out yet, but I definitely feel like I'm taking steps in the right direction.

Then a similar thing just happened/is currently happening with my roommate Ally. We're both posted up in a coffee shop in the East Village discussing blogging while simultaneously actually blogging. We've been talking about having great ideas about blog posts and instagrams we think of during the work day, then by the time we get back home, we've lost creativity and/or motivation (not to mention energy). It's like my brain has only two gears: hurricane and sloth. No matter how many sticky notes, electronic and paper, I write myself or notes written on my phone, most of my ideas just fizzle out to nothing.

The point I'm trying to make is that when this happens to me, the best thing I can do for myself is to talk through my thoughts with someone whose opinion I respect and value. By sitting down and sorting through the mental static, I'm able to identify specific goals, and figure out what steps need to be taken to achieve them.

Stay tuned for more meta coffee shop posts ;)

KB

P.S.: This is the instagram I posted while writing this post.

I made a mistake

So remember how I mentioned my internship in NYC this summer? Well as I didn't mention before, it's at NBC Health and Fitness Center. Yes, that NBC. The one at 30 Rock. But to tell the truth, I really don't think it's the job for me. Of course the facility is nice and the people who work there are great, even the members are wonderful and encouraging, but a corporate gym is just not a place I see myself spending the majority of my career. I've realized I'm interested in a more personal approach.

In Baton Rouge there are a few holistic health facilities specializing in corrective and functional exercise, allowing clients to live a higher quality life with fewer injuries and more health benefits. I'm sure this type of place exists in New York, the problem is that isn't where I'm doing my internship. On a nearly daily basis I find myself wishing I was at one of those Baton Rouge facilities, but then I take a step back and realize I'm living in New York City for three months. When else would I have a chance to do that? Probably never. 

If I'm honest, spending the summer in New York was a huge factor in deciding on an internship, but lately I've been questioning that decision. I'm far from home and everyone I know (except my brother). Everything is more expensive. I'm living in a tiny, filthy dorm. And it's been quite the financial aid nightmare. If I'd stayed in Baton Rouge I'd be near all my friends, I'd have a job with actual cash flow (in addition to the internship), I'd still be in my roomy townhouse (with a glorious, spacious kitchen), and I'd be able to see my family whenever I like.

But...

I've made three great new friends in my lovely roommates. I've gone on fun weekend adventures with them. And had all kinds of crazy experiences I never would have dreamed. I wouldn't call it stepping outside my comfort zone so much as leaping out then sprinting away, and I wouldn't have done it any other way.

So all in all, I don't regret the decision I've made. Although my job isn't what I'd ideally like to do in future, I'm still learning tons and getting all kinds of important experience under my belt (and on my resume). And I am beyond grateful for the opportunities I've been afforded by the Fitness Center and my supervisor. 

Have you made any questionable career choices? How did they turn out?

KB

P.S.: This was taken a couple Sundays ago in Sheep Meadow. It was such a lovely day and it seemed like everyone left in the city was there sunbathing.

I'm Going to New York

Whew! What a semester. From sunrise bike rides to schlepping the boys to and from practices, I’ve hardly felt like I’ve had time to breathe. I’ve neglected to a) keep my house clean, b) do any regular grocery shopping, and c) complete any blog posts. So here I am catching you up on things, like:

1. I got an awesome babysitting job at the beginning of the semester. It’s really chilled and involves walking a dog, making sandwiches, and driving a teenager and a pre-teen to and from various after school activities. It’s nice to be making a little money without having a huge time commitment (since my classes have been more than I bargained for).

2. I got a bunny rabbit. Her name is Thistle and she is incredibly difficult to photograph because she doesn’t stop moving, so this is the best I have: 

I admit, this really wasn't the best time to get a rabbit, but how could I tell Daddy no? More importantly, how was Daddy going to tell me no?

3. I nailed down an internship for the summer. IN NEW YORK! I’ll be working at a health a fitness center to be disclosed at a later date, and I’ll be living in an NYU dorm with roommates whose names (and genders) I still don’t know. I’m really nervous and stressed about the whole thing, but I know once everything actually gets started I’ll be so grateful for the opportunities presented to me.

In the meantime I have to pack for New York (leaving May 25) and move out of my townhouse at school, because my lease will be up while I’m away. I also get to hang out with my roommates and help throw a bachelorette party for Cee, so there’s lots going on, but it’s all good stuff.

What are you doing this summer?

KB

Lately

It's almost officially winter, but I've been in winter/Christmas mode since the day after Thanksgiving...well maybe the night before Thanksgiving when my dad and I made a trip to the mall to pick up no less than seven bottles of Bath and Body Works Twisted Peppermint hand soap (there was a really good sale). We left the mall with all those plus three bottles of shower gel, two hand sanitizers, and a tube of body lotion (we had multiple coupons). All in the same scent. Then after dinner (actually lunch) the next day, Mom went and bought two or three candles also in Twisted Peppermint plus candy cane hand soap and a plethora of other wintry-scented BBW products. So yeah, that happened.
In addition to wintry scents, we've also had some slightly wintry weather allowing me to take some of my favorite clothes out of storage. Cable knit sweaters, and wool skirts, and tights: oh my! I love dressing for cooler weather because you get to make so many combinations out of the same clothes by layering. This makes packing for extended trips home a little easier because you can pack for one week, but end up with two or three weeks of different outfits by switching things around and packing a couple extra pairs of tights.
Unfortunately after Turkey Day I had to return to school for a week of classes then a week of finals, #actualbaneofmyexistence. But studying for exams mean study breaks which I spent in the following ways:

1. Watching videos and vlogs. Some of my favorites have been: vlogbrothers (of course), Zoella, danisnotonfire, and dailygrace. Please, please, please give then a try if you haven't already. They each have something different to offer.
2. Reading Emma and The Hobbit
3. Christmas shopping! Another post on that soon to come.
4. Not cleaning my room or the house at all. It was a fustercluck by the first day of actual exams.
5. Babysitting my cousin's precious angel of a son, my personal favorite type of study break.

I was also a bit under the weather the whole time, which is why I let the house become such a mess, but it's all nice and clean now...mostly. I'm finding that if my clothes aren't hanging in my closet right in front of me, I kinda forget about them and don't wear them, so a lot of my trousers and my bucket o' sweaters get neglected. So I'm trying to find a solution to this. Any ideas/suggestions? 

After finals I think I slept 24 out of the next 48 hours. Whew, glad I have only one semester of coursework left.

What have you been doing to get into the Christmas spirit? Did you take any final exams? How do you cope with the stress? Also, have you come across any particularly good youtube channels lately? 

KB

P. S.: I made a spotify playlist for my study sessions. Check it out.

P. P. S.: This precious angel exists: 

#HairforHazel

So you know I love John Green and his book The Fault in Our Stars, so when production began and he started posting pictures and whatnot from set, I was all over that. The first post I saw was Shailene Woodley's  haircut. Obviously I was inspired to do the same. It took a little courage-plucking-up, but I finally did it:

I mentioned it in a post before, but I wanted to take more time to talk about it.

At first I considered doing it, but then thought "well what good is that going to do? I can give a kid a wig, but I can't cure her cancer." But I got to thinking about it some more in the context of watching lots of vlogbrothers videos, and thought about their ongoing mission to decrease world-suck, then I came to the conclusion that I can't cure that little girl's cancer, but I can make her feel a little bit more normal when she looks in the mirror, and that's more important than my having super long hair. That's my small contribution to decreasing world-suck. For now. We'll see where this goes.

Have you done something for others lately? Have you ever donated your hair?

KB

Changing seasons

Here in Louisiana we don't have "Indian summers" (I'm not a huge fan of that term for many reasons), but what we have is a false autumn. In the middle of October we'll get a cool front for a few days, then temperatures are back in the 70s and 80s (with really high humidity, so it feels hotter) until about Thanksgiving...when it gets chilly and still humid so it feels even colder. Funny how that works. Not. No matter what you call our climate, the recent descent of mercury has allowed me to delve into my cooler weather gear, and I. Love. It. Look out for more outfit posts soon (especially on instagram.

This was over a month ago when it first started to cool off and I had some errands to run. How cool are those boots?! They're the most supple leather and real wood soles. My roommate got them in Germany this summer while she was interning/doing research for DAAD. I might steal them before she graduates, sshh.

What's the weather like in your neck of the woods? How are you coping with these changes?

KB