Working to slow down

When you live in the city, you either get used to the fast pace here, or you get the heck out. You start to expect things to get done as quickly and efficiently as possible, because that's just how everyone lives their lives. For example, if it takes more that 5 minutes for you to get a bagel at a deli in the morning (this includes ordering, toasting, schmearing, paying, and heading out the door), you'll probably start to feel impatient and vow to find a quicker place to patronize next time.

The past couple months or so this has been the regular pace of my life, and suddenly all this time has passed and I don't really know how it happened. Get up, go to work, have some social event (dinner, drinks, show, movie, volunteering, etc), go to sleep and do it all over again. On the weekends, try to meet up with some of the people I didn't get to see during the week for more of the same. Exercise? Maybe if I can fit it in somewhere. Write? Eh, that activity usually gets the shaft in favor of others. Go out of town for the weekend? Sure, and then time slows for a bit, but I'm already thinking and planning to the week ahead when I get back.

All of this is to say, this past weekend and week thus far I've been making an effort to slow the eff down. I still want to see people and hang out and socialize, but I've had to make a conscious effort just to say: Tonight I'm going to watch TV, make dinner, read my book, and go to bed. I'm sure I'll get sick of this "domesticity" or whatever you want to call it soon enough, but for now it's kind of enjoyable to just think, hey, I'm not running out to meet anyone or do anything tonight. I'm just going to escape into some show or novel for a bit, and it's going to be enough, darnit.

Anyway here are some pictures from the past month or so:
Keychains at the RISD store in Providence for their school basketball and hockey teams. "When the heat is on, the balls stick together."

Lu cooking brunch at his coworkers' apartment for us all. In addition to poached eggs over arugula and sauteed tomatoes, he also made a TRULY refreshing orzo salad (with avocado).

And last weekend I cat-sat for the above mentioned coworker. This is my new boyfriend, Bogey. He's really into PDA, so you've been forewarned.

Some other delicious things I ate:

• Bareburger. Next time will try the bison.
• Vamos. Can't stop thinking about those delicious tacos.
• Spring rolls at the girls' sleepover
• Homemade cookies from Ohio
• Burger Joint
• Brunch at Julian's in Providence
• Beet and goat cheese salad at Aspen Social Club
• Best eggs benedict ever at Elephant and Castle (it had apples instead of ham)
• Wine and cheese board at that new place on 9th and 53rd
• 3rd Floor all you can eat/drink happy hour tonkatsu and fried chicken
• Brunch at Freeman's and Delicatessan
  

Hm. I eat a lot. Also tried the new Late Night Snack flavor of Ben and Jerry's and CAN'T FIND IT HERE IN THE CITY DEAR GOD WHY. It's good.