My Friend Anna emailed me to let me know that there are several people in her houseā¦and possibly several more people in the worldā¦who like Valentineās Day very much indeed. She herself has her wedding anniversary on Valentineās Day, so she should know, right? So now I have to shamefacedly admit that there are many good things about The Federally Mandated Day of Love and Happiness and Googly Eyes (besides the flip-flops and pajama pants). I also, in the spirit of Jessicaās and Hannahās latest entries, have to admit there are many things in the world I myself love, and that are worth celebrating at least once a year, if not more.
1) My red shoes. I donāt know if they are sneakers or trainers or what, I only know I got them on sale and that they are very cute and sporty indeed. I sometimes think they make my feet look a little like Hostess Fruit Pies, for some reason, but thatās probably just my insecurity speaking, right?
2) Tall two percent hot chocolate, no whip. Preferably from the Solstice Café Æn the Ave, and preferably not to go. Or, alternatively, made by me in what passes for my kitchen and enjoyed with a delectable Hob Nob cookie. Mmmm.
3) The Pride and Prejudice BBC movies. Since Iām currently reading the books, I decided to watch the movies AGAIN, and I love them more and more each time. I canāt help it. āThere are few people I really love, and even fewer of whom I think well.ā I want to be Elizabeth Bennet. Everyone does, right?
4) Dinner at My Friend Markās house the other night. It was, as his dinners usually are, astounding in every way. There was no Flapping Fin this time, much to my delight. He made jello out of port wine and also out of strawberries and champagne (these two jellos were not in the same dish, you may be relieved to know). He says that it was really aspic or a terrine or whatever, but Iām not buying it. If it wiggles and is sort of transparent and gelatin-based and if you can cut it into shapes, then itās jello. Upscale, delicious jello, jello perfect in form and hue, but jello nonetheless.
5) My new glasses. I got them, did I tell you? Yup. New spy glasses that make me look the epitome of all spyful spyness. You all better watch what you say around me, because you canāt be completely sure who Iām working for anymore.
6) How I look in my bellydance clothes. Iām not kidding. When you are covered in spangles and jingles and bells and are wearing a swishy long skirt and possibly a turban on your head, it doesnāt matter how huge your thighs or hips are or about that potbelly. Means nothing in the world of tribal bellydance, especially not if you can actually use those hips and thighs and belly to do cool dance stuff. Iām still not a great dancer, but I have it together enough to know what Iām doing with the basics, and let me tell you the basics are awesome. I spend so much time hating my body and hating my clothes, that itās nice once a week to look in the mirror and think Yay! instead of Oh Nooooooooooooooo! I wish I could wear this stuff all day every day. The fact that I can for one week out of the year is seventy-five percent of the reason to go to Burning Man, you know?
7) My mom is coming to visit in April in order that she may go to the Tulip Festival. I canāt wait. She hasnāt made any sudden decisions to run off to Europe this summer (again) so her Garden World Tour pretty much has to be confined to walking around the Skagit Valley in fields and fields of tulips. I would go to a Skunk Cabbage Festival, though, if I could get Mom to come out here and go to it with me.
8) That I have the best idea for a baby present for little Elvis (thatās what I call Manya and Landyās unborn son for the time being. Theyāve pretty much decided on a name, but thereās still a couple of weeks for me to try to influence them). I already told Manya about this when we were at our Swanky Christmas Lunch in Miami, because she hates surprises, so I can write about it here: Iām going to make a CD (with help from My Friend Craigās company of myself reading Elvis some bedtime stories. Like a Chiara Custom Special Book On Tape. This might sound really conceitedā¦like, oh, Chiara, giving the gift of you talking! How thoughtful! Like we canāt get that twenty four hours a day!..but thereās a good reason behind it. I was talking to Manya about how weird and exciting it would be to see her pregnant (and it was!) and she said I would have to make sure to talk to her stomach when I saw her because the baby can hear in there and that he sometimes responded to outside sounds. āAnd I want him to know your voice,ā she said, āso that heāll know you.ā I did get very sobby when she told me this, I admit. But then I had this great idea, and all I have to do now is get the stories and make the CD. Iām so proud of myself.
9) Oh, fine. Twist my arm. I love my boyfriend too, okay? So much. I love it that heās picking me up a thermarest at REI today on his way home from the train station so I donāt get cold again on our hike, and I love it that he described the neighborhood in Portland he was hanging out in last night as āTrustafarianā and then said, āYou know, my kind of demographic.ā I love that heās the smartest person I know. I love that he is gentle and silly and adventuresome in the extreme and also that he grills an excellent salmon, outside on the grill, in the dark, while wearing a head lamp. I love it that he hasnāt left me for J. Lo yet. Iām glad weāve been together as long as we have been, and that we really have grown up together in a lot of ways. Iām so glad to be with him, you donāt even know.10) You! I love everyone who reads this. I love writing this journal, and I love that you read it, and that sometimes you care enough about what I write to tell me that Iām wrong about something. Sometimes youāve even written to say you like something Iāve written, and you know you just make my day when you do that.
See? See all that love? Itās like itās Valentineās Day every day of the week up in here.