It's a Christmas miracle!

For the past month or so, I've been certain I would be spending Christmas alone, with my tripod tree (glorious as it is) and cat. This past Friday, I was graced with Ashley and Joel Selby's presence in my humble abode for the day to celebrate their newly proclaimed holiday...Chelsmas. Their gift to me was both unexpected and delightful...it was a series of many gifts, which consisted of different increments of money, with little notes stating things like, "What could you do with $5?...Get Loulou some treats!"


(Ashley and I in front of my tripod tree and stocking as we celebrate Chelsmas.)

The last in the line of presents was still more money, with the statement, "What could you do with $60?...Come to Parkersburg for Christmas!!!!!"

I'm pretty sure I teared up a bit when I read that. I was absolutely resigned to not being able to make it out there this year, but after this incredible bid towards my presence, I had to at least put forth a valiant effort.

I timidly approach my employer about getting some time off in order to make the trip, ready with tears in waiting just in case I needed the big guns. Luckily, no waterworks were needed and I was rewarded with four glorious days of time off to go spend my Christmas in Parkersburg.

So, after I open the coffee shop bright and early tomorrow (which is actually today at this point, and only four and half hours away...I need to stop this night-owl thing), I will be running around to finish a few thing before I hit the road in the afternoon.

(This is one of my favorite photos I took last year in Parkersburg during Christmas. It's through the sunroof on my car...)


So, a very Merry Christmas to everyone...and safe travels to all of you who aren't sticking at home this year. I'm vowing to start updating my blog more than once a month, so here's hoping I'll stick to it!

ah, winter.

Well, I'd say it's about time for another update.

The city is getting to be extremely cold. I was warned about this, and I shrugged off all the warnings, stating I would be fine. In fact, I said I liked the cold...was looking forward to it even.

I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Leg warmers have become my best friend, as have hot drinks and my new coat, but despite all that, I'm still astonished at how numbingly cold it is here. Luckily, there have been some warmer days in the past week, which have given me a much needed break from the constant chill that has seemed to set into my bones.

I haven't turned my heat on yet. Part of that is due to the fact that it's gas and will cost me a lot of money I don't want to spend, and the other part of it is that I'm just stubborn like that. I vowed I'd live through the winter on my space heater and blankets alone, and by golly, I plan on it. I guess we'll see how it goes when February rolls around.

In an effort to keep myself occupied during the cold, since I don't want to leave my apartment unless I have to, I've been doing a lot of arts and crafts lately. I learned how to knit last week, which has come in quite handy during the slow hours at the cafe, and I've been painting a lot more as well. I don't always have the motivation to do artsy things, but it's gotten to the point that I've run out of options, so unless I want to lay in bed all day doing nothing, (you know, aside from working), I find the motivation.

I posted a new album of photos on Facebook from my last photo expedition in the city (since it's gotten too cold for me), but I'll add a few on here for all you (probably down to one or two people now since I hardly ever update) who check out my blog.

I'm in love with the doors in this city...



And the uneven stone streets...



I got my prints (the old ones from my photo show in May of 2007) back from Stone Soup Bistro (they've been hanging up there since I moved) and was finally able to fill my living room wall up and make my apartment feel a bit more lived in. That, paired with my tripod tree (can't afford to get an actual one) and stocking, and it's just downright cozy.

My Muslim bodyguards

I felt as if I was living through an episode (or several) of Seinfeld today. First with the waking up from the call to prayer and then at work I had to spend no less than three hours being the go-between for my boss* (a brilliant man who sometimes has difficultly communicating his ideas) and a coffee appliance repair man that talked way too loudly, and then later as I walked back from work I had the most interesting and reassuring run-in with my newest neighborhood acquaintance.

*Side note* Did I mention I have a job working at an authentic French cafe/coffee shop a few blocks away that just opened? Well, I do. I found the job four days after moving here and as luck would have it, was only the second full-time employee hired (the cafe just opened a few weeks ago). I make crepes, Belgian waffles and French sandwiches as well as brew excellent coffee and espresso that is roasted right here in Philadelphia. I love working in a place that feels like it's straight out of Europe.

So on my way back from work this evening I ran into one of the nice men that either works or just hangs out in the barbershop I live above. His name is Adbur and he's a sweet middle-aged Muslim who eagerly introduced himself to me a few days ago after I'd been waving at him every time I walked by the barbershop for the last few weeks.

He asked how my day had gone and told me a little about the festivities that had gone on in the streets while I was away at work and then got very serious and leaned in close to tell me what appeared to be something incredibly important. What he proceeded to say not only surprised me, but delighted me to no end.

I'll paraphrase: "Dear sweet girl, I just want you to know that up and down these blocks are good Muslim people who have taken notice of your move here. Two of them live in your building, and then there is the group of us at the barbershop nearly every day. I want you to know that if anyone ever so much as looks at you wrong, we will be there for you. We watch out for each other, and you are part of our family here now. You may not feel like you fit in around here, but we want you to know that we're here for you, and we'll be here to watch out for you as long as you live here. You just let me or any of us know if we can be of help to you in any way and we will do whatever we can. We all look out for each other, that's just the way it is. You have a blessed night dear, and keep on smiling like you do."

I walked the last half a block back to my apartment with a huge grin on my face and couldn't help but chuckle with delight to myself. If I'd ever had doubts about living in the city alone, they had all just melted away.

I love my neighborhood.

Allaahu akbar

This morning I woke up at 8 am with the sounds of the Muslim call to prayer blaring through my windows. I live right across the street from a Muslim prayer temple and today is Eid ul-Fitr. It's the end of Ramadan, so I'm guessing that's why there are hoards of people streaming into the tiny prayer temple. According to Wikipedia it lasts three days, so I'm wondering if I'll be waking up to this for the next three mornings.

Generally I hear the prayer services each night, but they're not usually broadcast loudly through the streets, so it wafts in my window just faintly enough to lull me to sleep and provide a nice background to my evenings, but this morning was a bit more invasive. I didn't mind too much as it got me out of bed earlier than usual when I don't open the cafe, but Loulou was a bit freaked out and unnerved by the whole thing. Days like today I feel as if I'm in a different country...which I love.

Living on a whim...

A week and a half ago, I started pondering Philadelphia.

Today, I moved here!

It seems like ever since I decided I wanted to move, no place, job, idea caught my attention long enough for me to actually begin pursuing it...and if it did, the pursuit usually ended in failure. So, as I started considering Philly, I casually browsed Craigslist one night only to find the most perfectly located and perfectly priced apartment for rent. I jumped on it, and found out yesterday that I got it...and today I signed the lease and moved in!

I'm still a little shell-shocked at how fast this all happened, but it all played out so easily and perfectly that surely it's meant to be.

My tiny one-bedroom apartment is perfect for me and Loulou (who will be joining me Sunday) and the sorry amount of stuff that I own. The kitchen is pretty bare, but the rest of the place is actually looking quite nice now that I've got some furniture in it.

Behold...some photos...

From my door...


Furniture filling it up!


The kitchen, once I had it all clean and organized...


I am those front two windows on each corner above the barbershop...


Cozy little bedroom...

Goodbye Stone Soup

Today is my last day at Stone Soup. I put in my month's notice about a month and a week ago, so it's been a long time coming. I knew I wanted to take some time to myself before I upped and moved my whole world somewhere new, but I have a feeling it's going to be harder to part than I anticipated.

Lately, it's been a highly stressful and disappointing job due to the customers and their overall treatment of the servers and insanely low tips (you would not believe how many seemingly decent and nice people leave less than a dollar these days). I know the economy has a lot to do with this, but I still find it a bit inexcusable. I mean, don't go out to eat if you can't budget for a tip...it's simple! Anyway, enough ranting...

Aside from the bad customers, things there have really been better than most any other job I've had in the past at a place like this. It's definitely unique (mostly organic food...located in a 200+ year-old building...a total of six servers and five kitchen staff), has allowed me to do things I never thought I'd get to do (be a line cook, become a wine connoisseur, work out my leg muscles at work [it's a two story restaurant and I'm always the upstairs server]) and it's become like a family to me. I know that it will take a while for me to realize I'm done there, but I'm sure once I do I'll feel just the slightest bit of sadness.

Then I'm sure that sadness will quickly turn to relief and happiness...and soon thereafter, panic about what I'm going to do next.

So now, the question is...what am I going to do next? Well, that is as much a mystery to me as it is to you. Keep your fingers crossed that I come across some awesomely cool opportunity and am able to jump on it.

As for now, I think I've earned a little vacation time.

[Stone Soup Bistro is the smaller building on the right]

Being land-locked eats my soul

Needing a break from life, I hopped in the car and drove to Philly on a whim after work on Monday. I've enjoyed my time off immensely, but unfortunately, I have to go back to reality tomorrow.

One of the things that has been getting me down recently has been the fact that I haven't been to the beach once this summer. For a Floridian with an intense love of the ocean, that's almost heartbreaking. Luckily, for me I was able to spend today on the Jersey Shore, reviving my soul after being away from the beach far too long.

It was my first time in New Jersey and I was not disappointed. Then again, I only really saw their beach, but that was enough for me. It was a soul-reviving trip and I feel refreshed just enough to tackle my double double on Friday and Saturday.