WAKE UP, JAY

I love Cheese, Part 1

2011-07-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that I love cheese. I love all cheese. Except sometimes blue cheese. But, whatever.

When we lived in Boston, we were introduced to the most amazing cheese store, Formaggio Kitchen. Seriously, it was awesome. Formaggio also sells delicious baked goods including macarons and the best raspberry bread pudding EVER, and all kinds of other overpriced deliciousness.

Noah is obsessed with comté, so we went and were somehow convinced into spending an exorbitant amount of money on Comté Extra Grand Cru, which was the most delicious thing ever. You know when comté gets those little crystals? Yeah. Formaggio only gets a limited number of these things every year, and as Noah put it, "I think that's worth $20."

The Formaggio website explains a bit of the history of this cheese. I kind of want to live in a cave and be a cheese maker. We'll see.

"After WWII, Marcel Petite bought an unused munitions fort from the French Government because he felt that it would be the best environment for aging the 70lb wheels of French Gruyère known as Comté. Our first tastes of the Comté in the humid, medieval, cavernous fort brought forth such refined, delicate, and long lasting flavors that we were hooked. After much trust-building with Philipe and Claude, we are able to bring in wheels of Comté from the fruitières that we have found to suit the palate of our customers. 2009 marks the first year we've been given an allocation for the rare 36 month old Comte which we call the Extra Grand Cru. This cheese has an exceptionally dense flavor with notes of grilled fruit, nuts and caramel."

Yum.

French Kiss

2011-07-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

Please tell me you've seen French Kiss? Kelsey and I watched it last week for about the zillionth time and we couldn't get over how funny it was and how dorky Meg Ryan acted. I really identified with her fear of flying, lactose intolerance (except what the hell? why did she make it seem like she was in labor and not just mildy nauseous?), and her little naive expressions. Kevin Kline is the real star. In fact, French Kiss is part of our semi-annual Kevin Kline marathon, which includes the Emperor's Club and Dave.

High School Relationships

2011-07-11T20:00:00.001-07:00

Sister: You are the only functional couple to come out of our high school.
Boyfriend: No, there was the blind guy and the girl who wore capes.

Fair point.

At prom, 2006:

At a bar, 2011:

I am listening to hear where you are

2010-04-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming!

RIP J.D. Salinger

2010-01-28T16:02:00.001-08:00

January 1, 1919 – January 27, 2010

Remember when we all first became hipsters because Catcher in the Rye was assigned in ninth grade English class?

A summer later, I went to a family thing on Cape Cod. My cousins and I found a used book sale in the basement of the Chatham Public Library. My oldest cousin pointed out a beat up, twenty-year-old copy of Nine Stories, which I bought for $0.50. That book meant a lot to me that summer.

Hats off to you, sir.

Conan

2010-01-26T19:44:00.000-08:00

"I'm asking this particularly of young people that watch--please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you. Amazing things will happen."

Clients From Hell

2010-01-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

With only three semesters separating me from The Real World, I've begun to feel some pangs of anxiety about the future. This tumblr shows what I have to look forward to. Here are a few of my favorites:

“I want it to be fabulous. When people look at it they will think “uh huh.” It should say wow and just be me. We have never met, but I think from this email you will understand what that means. I am me and it should be like me. You know who I am. Make it me. Make it fit me…just like that, you know. Is that specific enough? I think that should be enough for you to see my vision.”

"For my logo I would like a picture horse jumping out of an exploding light-bulb, while pulling our name on a banner."

"The logo with the goose and buoy should be the main focus of the ad. Make sure to have some fried chicken legs somewhere. Add a few lady bugs, maybe two or more? The company’s main color is yellow. Also, please make this christmas themed."

Here's to that BFA in my not-so-distant future.

An Open Letter

2010-01-13T17:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Meryl,

I hope it's okay that I've addressed you casually. Well, I just wanted to say that I'm obsessed with you and that you are absolutely stunning. Even my male friends thought "It's Complicated" was really funny, and we didn't mind being the youngest people at the theater in Nashua, NH.

With love and admiration,
J

PS. No really, I love you.

<3 Paris

2010-01-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge sap, apparently. My sister and I have watched this too many times.

2010

2009-12-31T13:56:00.000-08:00

The morning of New Year's Eve has started off in bed with a cold, but I'm hoping for a miracle recovery in time for tonight's festivities. I'm going to spend the rest of the day watching Big Love with NB and drinking endless cups of tea.

To end the year on a good note -- I love and am thankful for another year with:

family, friends, art school, good health, love, life, and happiness!

Wishing everyone a happy New Year!

Under Construction

2009-12-01T18:45:00.001-08:00

Hello, World!

This blog is undergoing some maintenance and will be back in business in January. Have a wonderful Christmas!

Xo,
Jay

P.S. check out my dreamy boyfriend's hilariously awkward and poorly-designed "website."

Oh, is it Earth Day?

2009-04-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Where I want to be:

Photos by Elizabeth Dunker via A Cup of Jo.

By Liz Pelly

My next DIY:

This moss carpet is kept alive by the steam and water on your feet as you step out of the shower. So spectacular. Happy Earth Day.

Sabbatical

2009-02-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

WAKE UP, JAY is taking a short break while I readjust to sub-freezing temperatures and lectures, and write papers on the following:

Be back soon!

2009.

2009-01-05T14:54:00.000-08:00

Happy (belated) New Year!

Finals week in Boston:

Home in LA:

PS. Thanks for the new header, Jillian!

HENRY & LIBBY

Je fais du vélo.

2008-12-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

I have no pictures to post of actual, gay Paris, but here are pictures of my sister, my boyfriend, and me puttering around the city of lights.

Above. Noah eats a crepe outside of the Eiffel Tower.

Below. Anna and Jay: Awkward.

And this, apparently, is considered an acceptable, non-creepy advertisement in Paris:

Back in LA on January 2nd. Wheeeeeeeeee!

PS. Thank you so much, Pelly Twins!

Joyeux Noël!

2008-12-24T22:24:00.001-08:00

This is what I learned in AP French:

Un elephant est:
A. un objet
B. un lit
C. un animal
D. un pantalon

The correct answer is C. Un elephant est un animal, ou, dans ce cas, du chocolat.

"Chocolat," Anna Sonenshein, 2008.

À Paris: 10 jours!

2008-12-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

I googled "yoga paris,"and found this great article on davidlebovitz.com.

Pictures from the Fédération Française de Yoga website.

I have no idea how to pack for a month spent in both Paris and LA.

Tomorrow's highs:

Paris: 37.4˚F
Los Angeles: 78˚F

À Paris: 11 jours!

2008-12-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

Duh:

I don't know if there is some colloquial way of translating "first lady" into French...La Première Femme?

À Paris: 12 jours!

2008-12-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

My parents and sister have been living in Paris since September, and I can't wait to visit them in just under two weeks! I'm sure it will involve: eating our weight in crêpes, walking everywhere (bring rain boots), museum after museum after museum (ahhhh!), watching French movies on netflix, missing the other sister who's still in LA, trying to speak French but getting laughed at, and who knows what else. I'm trying to immerse myself in French culture by watching a French film every night--we'll see how that goes.

De plus,

Fourth Semester French

2008-12-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

I just watched:

The movie was too choppy for my taste, but nice to look at. My favorite part:

13 days until Paris!

Oh, you're an art history major? What exactly do you plan to do with that?

2008-12-01T11:15:00.000-08:00

Old love:

New love:

Writing a paper on:

Detail, Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, Jan Van Eyck, 1434.
Yoruba beaded crown, Yoruba king, Nigeria, 20th century.
Ellen Terry at Age Sixteen, Julia Margaret Cameron, 1864.

Government Center, Boston

2008-11-19T01:43:00.001-08:00

Photo by Liz Pelly, of the notorious Pelly Twins.

Just use common sense.

NO WAY.

2008-11-06T22:57:00.000-08:00

I came across this months ago but just rediscovered it. NOT REAL.

One last political thing...

2008-11-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

If you're a resident of California and are over 18: please sign this petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html
http://www.petitiononline.com/seg5130/petition.html

Back and Ready for Action

2008-11-05T12:19:00.001-08:00

WAKE UP, JAY is back and ready to go wild. This blog has made its twice-yearly move from California to Massachusetts.

First off: Yes We Can.

But I can't ignore the heartbreaking reality that blatant discrimination has been written into the constitution of the state that I love so much: Prop 8, which implements a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, passed last night. I was so proud to vote NO, yet today, for the first time in my life, I am so ashamed of where I'm from. I don't like to get political, or even state my personal views on this blog, but I just felt like I had to say something.

Spines and Clay

2008-07-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

Roseline Delisle, Octet 1 White, 2000.

God my spine aches,
And every filament retraces its steps
Back to your hands,
Rough and used.

We hate the world around us,
But love the world within us.
It's been months
Since we were last entangled
And breathless.

Searching mud slopes and clay caverns,
There were lights and there were warnings,
Loud but un-amusing.
The black would creep from the inside out,
Disguising,
yet baring us as bright blue.

Then you disappear,
But my spine still aches.
My bones, they know you.
My joints, they bore your weight.
My skin, felt you collapse
Into me, out of me.

It's been days
Since we last shared each other's breath.
I was cold down to my teeth,
And perhaps deeper, still.
Your heat was red,
And then you taught me
What my spine felt.

A light snow on black concrete
That stayed and fought
The warmth of roots and soles,
Unburdened by its fate.

I know the feel of your breath,
And the sound of your teeth,
And the roll of your tongue.
It's been seconds
Since I last saw you.

So far
I could barely make out your shape.
Your edges, blurred.
Your limbs, stuck.
Were you walking towards me,
Or away from me?

You were too far and
Monochromatic to tell
The difference between proximity and distance,
Is a beat, a thud, a warning.
One nestled within
The bones that know you,
And the space that needs you.
--A. Mikhailov

The Pier

2008-07-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

"Sailboat" and "Ferris Wheel" by Glenn Boozan. 2008.

Aphrodite

2008-07-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

Aver me, Aphrodite
by D.A. Herman

We shall waltz the dance of death
Upon broken floors and
Half-finished, yes, undone, tiles abreast
These, paisan, cannot be the tiles you seek
See? They are smashed upon the floor
Like some great bird crushed it by beak
No, no, we must continue on to the next room
Yes, that one there, idle in revelation
The room of mirrors? No, should we leave soon?
She wants us out, the golden goddess old
I would leave now, truly I would
But I already split my soul, it’s now sold
To who, you say? Rather to whom, my muse
Well, I lit it up myself, yes I did
With only the help of an explosive fuse
Oh well, let us go on, to the outside world
I can’t get it now, Valerie,
My mind is, what’s the word? yes, unfurled

Rene Magritte, La Grande Famille, 1963.

The Laboratory of Your Mind

2008-07-26T22:02:00.001-07:00

I saw this in Chicago during its closing weekend. Described as a "romp through the imagination to stimulate your eyes, your ears, and your brain," The Laboratory of Your Mind did exactly that. Check out New Beast Theatre Works for upcoming projects if you’re ever in the Chicago area.

www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com
www.newbeast.com

Home

2008-07-26T19:16:00.001-07:00

Lithograph by Eve Plumb (Jan from the Brady Bunch).