59. Hustle.

Finally got around to seeing American Hustle tonight. Found it entertaining, if not particularly mind-blowing, and full of cleavage (oh so much cleavage).

But you must see it simply for the hair alone.

It kicks off with showing us how Irving, played by an amazingly unattractive yet absolutely captivating Christian Bale, has perfected the comb over. 

The hair glory builds from there. Edith/Sydney’s (Amy Adams) curlers. Richie’s (Bradley Cooper) even smaller curlers. Rosalyn’s (Jennifer Lawrence) single curl hanging down her face. Carmine’s (Jeremy Renner) fabulous swoop.

Sony makes great movie posters.

58. Ground.

Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road.

— Swedish diplomat Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations.

While this is a great idea in theory, it’s one that I just can’t accomplish  in practice. Can anyone? Isn’t “testing the ground” simply making sure your decisions are valid or thorough or, to put it at its simplest, right? I’m not a leap-before-I-look kind of person. I never have been. I never will be.

And, to be more literal, I actually have to look down at the ground because otherwise I will fall and injure myself. Really. I probably think more about walking than most people.

Dag was probably just a much more graceful human being than me, in both mind and body.

57. Steak.

Today, I cooked myself a steak. Confession: I have never done this before.

It’s just something I’ve managed to avoid since I left for college. During those years in Reno, I reasoned that I was simply too poor to buy steak and opted to eat a variety of things that stuck to my tiny budget, like mac ‘n cheese and eggs and toast and such (please note:  I have not broken these habits at all in the years since).

Then, when I moved to D.C. and got a job and all that jazz, I figured I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have a grill. What was this pan searing others spoke of? My parents only grilled things, so therefore, that was the only method that existed for me, too.

Until today.

56. Audition.

There seems to be this belief among people who know me that I enjoy the spotlight (if I’m wrong about this, let me know). But while I am a storyteller, I am not a natural born performer, and this is why: I hate auditions. When it comes to the performing arts, I usually do what I need to get in, and then that’s it. I don’t go after solos or starring roles or whatever.

This is how embarrassed I am by auditions: I usually delve into random details of my life to explain specific things on this blog. That’s not happening today, because I’d rather those memories live on only in my brain, not on the Internet.

55. Bustin’.

…makes me feel good.

Watched “Ghostbusters” tonight, a treasure trove of one-liners and hilarity.

And we did it in in honor of Harold Ramis, AKA Egon, who died today.

54. Deck.

We’ve had absolutely beautiful weather this weekend: temperatures in the 60s and tons of sunshine. A good chunk of today was spent just sitting on friend Amy’s deck post-brunch, telling stories and soaking in the vitamin D.

Sadly, this ends tonight, as the temperatures drop and yet another storm system closes in. But I guess with a chance of snow on five of the next 10 days (ugh), I’m glad I got bask in the light for a couple of days.

I just really need it to be spring right now, but let’s be real, that is always the case.

 

53. Animation.

Spent the evening watching the Oscar-nominated animated shorts and The Lego Movie, and I highly recommend seeing them all if you get a chance.

The shorts were beautiful and thought-provoking. Each was so different that I couldn’t tell you which one I think should win this year (though I will say that I don’t think Disney’s “Get A Horse” was even close to being on par with the others).

And The Lego Movie was, in one word, AWESOME. I knew I’d enjoy it, but I didn’t realize how hilarious it would be.

I might be 25, but the animated movies I’ve seen this year are absolutely trumping the live-action ones.

In the most fitting way, this song captures exactly what I’m talking about:

52. Galentine’s.

Today, came home to a package from friend emily (lowercase is to denote that this is a different Emily than previously mentioned; also, that is how she signs her name). Opened it to find a card, cookies, chocolates, a screen print and a sticker, all sent in the name of friendship.

I’m thankful that Parks and Rec created a holiday for ladies to celebrate ladies. But I’m even more thankful to know emily, who met me at the soul-sucking student newspaper more than 7 years ago and has spent the subsequent years commiserating over the challenges of being in our 20s, despite the many states between us.

Here’s to emily and more years and more Galentine’s Days.

51. Gravity.

I filed a story today that included a mention about protozoa (basically, these marine worms eat protozoa, and then the worms are eaten by fish like flounder, and on and on the food chain goes), which of course made me think of the fictional singer Protozoa from the Disney Channel classic “Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century.”

That resulted in this song being stuck in my head all day:

50. Hitchcock.

Spent the evening at the Corcoran Gallery of Art for a Hitchcock-themed evening with friends Amy and Mackenzie. Wandered through the galleries. Posed for photos. Cut out paper wings to make a bird (need to watch The Birds).

Much of the evening was spent in line waiting to make some screen print art. It was a test of patience. Mack may have gone a little cray.

The final result:

Definitely framing this.