June 30, 2010

June Reads

Here are the books I read this June:

A Certain Slant of Light by Laurie Whitcomb. I like to delve into YA every once in a while, and this one suited my Gothic state of mind. Helen is a ghost who has the unnerving suspicion that someone is watching her. The book begins auspiciously enough, but overall failed to really hook me. I kept waiting for something more...I don't know, more action, more development of the characters, more plot. I read this book on the recommendation of a friend, and while I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of the story, because I certainly did (the author writes beautifully of memories and the passage of time), I also couldn't say I really liked it or would recommend it, either. In every reader's life, there comes a time when, for whatever reason, a book fails to resonate with that person and this just happend to be one of those times. The trials and tribulations of reading...

The Case for Working With Your Hands (or why office work is bad for us and fixing things feels good) by Matthew Crawford. Anyone who feels tired or burned-out by their office job and who is grappling with complex questions about what they really want to do with their life would do well to read this book. Crawford's ruminations on the modern workplace really resonate and require a fair amount of soul-searching in this reader. As an added bonus, I now have more admiration for electricians and plumbers than I ever thought possible.


Up next: I'm currently in the middle of a few different books that are a little more fast-paced than what I've been reading lately. And thank heavens for that. I'm a sucker for a gripping plot, what can I say?

June 29, 2010

Viva Portugal

It's a sad day for Portugal, who lost to Spain during today's World Cup match. There's always 2014 (sniff). Meanwhile, I'll keep waving the flag of my ancestors with pride. Viva Portugal!

June 25, 2010

Meet Mr. Pompey Jr.

Take a look at this six-week-old bundle of joy. Don't you want to put him in your pocket and carry him home with you? Or is that just me? Congrats to my friend Linds who is the proud mama of this little guy. What a handome devil he is, too!

Doesn't he look like so much fun to be around? I can't wait to hang out with him more this summer!

June 21, 2010

Happy Summer Solstice


"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." -Henry James

Leave it to Henry James to perfectly capture the spirit of today. If there is ever a time to indulge in a little sun worship (if only for a little while), now is the time to do it. Wishing you all a very happy and summery solstice day!

{Photo via flickr}

June 15, 2010

T the Nominee

Congratulations to my boyfriend T whose short film "Mark & Tom" has been accepted into the LA Shorts Fest! Quite frankly, I couldn't be happier or more proud of him. I'm itching to go to the main event next month to finally see it on the big screen. The festival runs from July 22-30 and tickets can be purchased on the website.

{Image via LA Shorts Fest}

June 8, 2010

Joyful June


Loving this month's desktop wallpaper from Design*Sponge. Gazing at pretty things just makes the day a bit brighter, no? More pretty images from artist Christopher Bettig can be found on his website.

{Photo via Design*Sponge}