12 days...

I have been able to check off 5 more things from my summer list and with 12 days left I am confident I will be able to check off more. Here's the 5 I've done so far:

7. contemplate life under the stars (and a meteor shower)

27. Lollapalooza

29. State Fair

30. use my polaroids

31. visit the new modern wing at the chicago art museum

Before the end of the summer I'm going to do:

1. enjoy a good rain storm

2. watch the sun rise and set on the same day

4. go to the farmer's market on Saturday morning

5. blow bubbles off my balcony

16. make my "apartment" my "home"

24. girl's night

25. sleepover

35. work on my thesis idea

37. study anthropology

38. make an apple pie from scratch

39. do more diy projects

48. drink coffee and read the paper on the balcony in the early morning

And some good news! Perhaps number 18 (get a job) will be accomplished come September 1st. I have an interview schedule to be a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's not exactly what I want but it is a job and I desperately need one!

state fair

Ah, the Wisconsin State Fair. I think I prefer county fairs though. Especially the ones in Maryland. This was just too much fried artery clogging food and barn animals, a lot of barn animals. Okay, the bunnies weren't horrible. They were actually adorable. But with the hot weather and uninspiring atmosphere it was not the type of fair that I loved as a kid.

curiosities

Another Wednesday at the art museum and a couple new exhibits that we discovered. A whole exhibit about curiosities through the centuries and the other a collection of prints from the 80s that is both disturbing and yet still probes curiosity.

not a robot, but a ghost

Andrew Bird on concert is perhaps one of the most entertaining concerts I've ever attended. He's a classically trained violinist who whistles and sings and plays both violin and guitar in a style that is completely his own. He's dynamic and intoxicating while his drummer plays both drums and piano and he, himself, does all I mentioned above AND records and loops his recordings live. Truly amazing.

the modern wing...

Chicago through the lens of a polaroid land camera. Even the new modern wing looks like something from the 60s with this camera. One of the hottest humid days was still splendid with the absolute beauty and charm of Chicago.

(500) days...

Yesterday I went and finally saw (500) days of summer... a film that I have been waiting to come out and then waiting to go see. As films go this was probably one of my favorites. I don't care for movies that have a "happy" ending, I always enjoy the ones that have a realistic ending because let's face it, life doesn't always have the fairy tale ending that most romantic comedies have.

And of course I fell for this movie because the soundtrack consisted of some of my all time favorite songs and bands (including Regina Spektor's "Us"). Then the set design and costumes were to die for which brings me to my reason for posting.

In Joseph Gordon-Levitt's apartment, the wall behind his bed is c huge chalkboard (thank you chalkboard paint!). And throughout most of the movie you see the same wall with his headboard drawn on and different boxes, images, etc all over the place. Then during the film he takes it all down and puts up something new.

I am a huge commitment-phobe when it comes to "big" decisions like what headboard do I want for the next 5 or 10 years and so this seemed the perfect solution! I could draw my headboard on and change it whenever I felt like it. Genius!

So much of this film I can identify with and so much I want in my own life. I would recommend this to anyone to go see. And don't think it's a love story. Their disclaimer (in both the poster and the photo above) states: "This is not a love story. This is a story about love."

an august spell...

August is finally here and while the summer is dwindling down my calender seems to be filled more than other months. And with this last month of summer it also brings a sadness that the youthful season is moving on to a changing one. Change is just around the corner whether we like it or not. My sister is starting grad school, her husband has finished his Masters and will be thrust into the real world without a parachute and his sister is starting her OT program. It seems the only one who isn't changing is me. Still no job (14 months and counting), still confused, still unsure. Maybe I will figure it all out this month.... maybe I will figure it out in the next season.

So! with that said, I've decided to look at my summer list and see how far I've come. Let's take a look:

1. enjoy a good rain storm

2. watch the sun rise and set on the same day

✓ 3. peruse vintage & independent shops

4. go to the farmers market saturday mornings

5. blow bubbles off my balcony

✓ 6. take more photos

7. contemplate life under the stars

8. find an abandoned country road, get out of the car and dance

✓ 9. exercise everyday

✓ 10. read

✓ 11. watch more films

✓ 12. stay up late with friends

✓ 13. buy and wear more dresses

14. more drive-in movies @ Miller Park

✓ 15. learn to play the guitar

16. make my "apartment" my "home"

✓ 17. write letters to friends

18. get a job

✓ 19. wear bright lipstick

20. buy a cute vintage bike with a wicker basket

✓ 21. observe people at Alterra

22. get a summer glow

23. learn to play the cello

24. girl's night

25. sleepovers

26. jazz in the park

27. pitchfork music festival... scratch that now it's Lollapalooza

✓ 28. summerfest

29. state fair

30. use my polaroids

31. visit the new modern wing of the chicago art museum

32. visit northern wisconsin and see the goats on the roof

33. go bowling

34. fly a kite

35. work on my thesis idea

✓ 36. enjoy my birthday

37. study anthropology

38. make an apple pie from scratch

39. do more diy projects

✓ 40. enjoy a new piece of art every wednesday at the milwaukee art museum

✓ 41. green my thumb

✓ 42. reduce my footprint

43. find my groove

44. do something good

✓ 45. eat more fresh foods

46. make sun tea

47. go sailing

48. drink coffee and read the paper on the balcony in the early morning

49. learn to speak a new language

✓ 50. day dream

32 more to check off... 29 more days of August. I think it an be done!