a black beret

I have had a black beret for a long time that has never fit me quite right. When I shared my conundrum with a friend, I was informed that there is a grand tradition and process one must become a part of in order to have a beret that fits correctly. What follows is the documentation of my journey to that special beret-filled place.


The beret originally looked like this on my head. It does have a certain je ne sais quoi, but it is windy here in Portland therefore such a style is tres impractical.

The journey begins.

Step 1: Hot water.


Step 2: Submerse and soak the beret in the hot water.


Step 3: Wring out the water from the beret. (Whether or not you choose to observe this step is really a matter of choice, but you're about to put the wet beret on your head, fyi.)


Step 4: Pull and shape the beret until it fits the way you desire it to. I did this with the beret on my head and off my head.
Leave it to dry and then wear your newly customized beret on cold days, preferably with cute outfits.

Strether

"He spent an hour in waiting for him--an hour full
of strange suggestions, persuasions, recognitions;
one of those that he was to recall, at the end of
his adventure, as the particular handful that most
had counted."
-The Ambassadors, Henry James.

Oh yeah, Strether, oh yeah.

quiz/a list

A picture of you in your room.

My parents moved from this house, but it is my room more than anywhere else.

A picture of you very drunk.

A picture of you on your birthday.

The youngest picture you can find of yourself in digital format.

2005. Freckles!

A picture of you in one of your favorite outfits.

New Year's Eve 2008/2009

A picture of you making a goofy face at the camera.


A picture of you truly being yourself.

A picture of you showing off a new haircut/color.

A picture of a time in your life that is over but you wish that it wasn't.

Studying abroad, learning, traveling, making new friends.

A picture of a time in your life that is over, and you could not be more thankful that it is.

Just back from London and so unhappy and ungrateful to be back.

A picture of you when you were anything but happy.

Just before London and feeling so stuck.

A picture that you had no idea was being taken.


A picture of you with someone you love.

Bear.

A picture of how you'd like the world to see you.

Happy, carefree, and traveling. How I'd like the world to see me/be.

A picture that describes how you'd like to spend every day.

With Bear. Boating in France.

A picture of a time when everything was changing.


A picture that makes your heart hurt.

Beautiful sunset in a beautiful city.

A picture that makes your heart smile.

thursday night.

Thursday night Bear and I went to a screening of Men Who Stare at Goats. We crammed under one tiny umbrella and walked through the rain, me slipping on the wet leaves in my high heels and him trying to sneak kisses.

Lazy Sunday

We ate breakfast.

We watched the Broadway Bridge from our balcony.

We stayed in bed for a little too long.

Reading Lolita

This is what I'm reading right now.