My birthday falls three days after the New Year. This is convenient packaging for that quiet moment of reflection that takes us all by the balls each January 1st, even those of us without balls. Where am I? Where am I going? Am I a fabulous success or a horrible, miserable worthless excuse for a productive member of the human species? Quiet, simple, healthy reflection.

Rather than dwell in the should’s or could’s or would have’s, in the past few years I’ve taken to writing a list of things I am grateful happened to me in the previous year. The unexpected things, the things that make me so happy I could spit. For me, 2007 happened to be splitting at its seams as far as rich, tasty, new experiences go, so this year’s list was so easy there were surely more than ten. But let’s review ten.

1. Korea

Without question, the most amazing thing that happened to me in 2007 was moving to Seoul, South Korea. I knew this in my bones and blood as early as March. Still, it took several months to find that feeling every single day, in every single encounter; to find a community of people to make it feel like home; to realize the profound shift in my heart and mind because of this place and its vibrance and its soul. No pun intended.

2. Photography
As a child, I spent entire Saturday afternoons perched on a high countertop next to the enlarger in my dad’s basement darkroom. He let me push the exposure button and move the prints from developer to the fixer and finally my favorite part: standing on the tall stool to hang the photos from clothespins to dry. He gave me free reign with his Olympus 35RC and rolls of B&W, even though I insisted he be my subject and pose on the front porch with my doll. In high school, he tirelessly helped me print color 8×10’s for my film school portfolio, bought me my first Pentax 35mm SLR and took me to Hunt Drug for gear. After college, he handed me his exquisite Nikon FE2 and said “Why don’t we say it’s on permanent loan?”

All of this and it took 35 years and a year overseas for me to “get” that I Like Photography. In one year, photography has brought me real friends, virtual friends, and an entire network of immediate friends from all over the world. I have been published and I have been featured. I have made projects and learned new skills. Photography has given me a focus and my learning curve this year has been tremendous. I actually don’t tune out anymore when people talk about f-stops around me. Well, not as much at least.

3. The German
In March, I met this girl. Well, I virtually met her. She emailed me about a photo I’d taken and the words I’d written with it, words that inextricably linked us in ways we’d not imagined. But as the emails grew longer, we realized that we had far more in common than that one thing that first stuck us to one another like glue. By May we were talking on the phone and by June she was on her way to Seoul for a 3-week visit that deepened not only our friendship, but my entire experience in Korea.

I’m not going to blahblahblaaahhhh about the internet community and its ability to bring people together, because I’ve done that enough. But I am going to say that Ann-Kathrin was one of the best and most unexpected things to come into my life in 2007. It is something I will be grateful for much longer than three sweaty, humid weeks in a tiny one room Korean apartment.

4. Money

We have not always been friends, Money and me. We are friends now.

5. Writing
In the seventh grade I moved the family typewriter into my bedroom to begin work on my screenplay. It was a very moving romantic comedy intended to feature a monkey, Simon LeBon of Duran Duran and the well-known actress Bess Armstrong whom I’d seen in my favorite movie of the 6th grade, High Road to China. I was a very serious middle schooler who held tightly to my Trapper Keeper, stuffed with poetry about snow, short stories about the holocaust and of course, my screenplay. Visions of New York City salons and smoking cigarettes over my beat-up typewriter danced through my head. I was going to be… A Writer!

Filmmaking became my focus and later design, but I never stopped writing. This year, through a number of means, I’ve had the opportunity to flex this muscle and it has been deeply satisfying in ways I could never have anticipated. I am sorry there are no monkeys. I’ll work on that for 2008.

6. Make New Friends But Keep The Old
The problem with gypsy living is simple. You collect so many amazing people into the inner circle of your secret society, it is hard to keep track of them all.

Oh wait. That is actually not a problem at all.

7. My Students
My biggest hesitation about coming to Korea was putting the design work aside and being a teacher for a year. Kids, they’re pretty cool I guess. But what if I wanted to scoop my eyeballs out with spoons within a month? It’s one thing to try out something to see if you like it. ‘Tis another to fly half way across the world to a strange land to try it.

And I didn’t really like it at first. Or consistently. There are still days when I want to tear my hair out or better yet, throw one of them out the window. The curriculum is often maddening and there have been long stretches where it is excruciatingly boring, exhausting or repetitive. But it surprised me how much I do like it. The one constant has been the kids, the vast majority of whom make me laugh every single day I see them. Some are so tiny and smart and adorable that it hurts. And when I think about not having the opportunity for those moments every day, that hurts a little, too.

8. Brass Tacks

Two suitcases + One small apartment=Life is a lot less complicated

9. Fashion
…has never been my forté. I come from a small tribe of New England hippies who like to set aside their best peasant dress for special occasions and have two pairs of shoes: their hiking boots and their dress-up hiking boots. As a result, I developed neither skill nor interest in this subject.

Korea, you had me at your $10 shoes and $13 haircuts.

I still, nine times out of ten, want to be in jeans, t-shirts and Converse like every other teenage boy my age. But now I have an arsenal of alternatives, accessories to match, a well-maintained haircut and appropriate footwear. I don’t know if this actually qualifies as “fashion”, but it is a wardrobe and that is a miracle.

10. Not Understanding a Cocking Thing
This, of course, has its obvious drawbacks, for instance not understanding a cocking thing. This occasionally presents problems when wanting one’s money back or getting lost. But overall, living in a country where I can retrieve little more than hello, thank you, yes, no, however, therefore, really and numbers from another person’s conversation, has been like turning the volume way, way down.

The constant buzz of chatter is reduced to background noise when you are never able to engage or invest yourself, even for a moment, in the conversation next to you. When the alphabet is so vastly different that it takes me ten minutes to read one word, I am not bombarded by everything I see, everywhere I go. It is just a series of pretty pictures that are not trying to sell me anything or tell me anything. There is more space for the important things in my head when less of it is occupied by things I didn’t even want there.

Ironically, just like meditation, when you turn the external volume down, the internal volume goes straight up to 11. But that is what this year was intended to be about and that is exactly what I got.

OK. So summer vacation turned into autumn blackhole turned into winter madness turned into now. January. When life always seems to slow down, reflecting happens and not-entirely-forgotten websites are remembered. The last few months have sped past with such velocity that we aren’t even quite sure what year it is. 1796? It’s possible.

Rest assured, we are back.

Thank you to all of you who continue to visit the site daily, sharing your cherished things in the Flickr group and for all those fabulous links to us. We are redesigning, reconfiguring and promise that in 2008, ye shall not be neglected. Ye might even be excited by the things to come!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

While Ann-Kathrin Koch may not speak English every day in her hometown of Hamburg, Germany, she is here to kick the English language’s ass and then some. And if that’s not enough, she takes the kind of photographs that make you weak in the knees. This is a feast for all the senses. The heart, the tongue, the eyes, the ears. You can almost smell her photos and taste her words. Janelle and I are both so delighted to bring you this stunning entry to 10 Things.

Matinée
Outside it has been raining for days. Grey, dull skies and an endless trickle of raindrops against my window. It’s only 12 p.m. and the whole day stretches ahead of me like an empty street leading nowhere.

I open a heavy door and the street noise mutes to a muffled hum while I walk into a dimly lit room. A dusty smell with a hint of popcorn encases me. As I slide myself into a plush red seat that embraces me like an old friend, the dark blue curtain, with little twinkling lights like the trail of a shooting star, opens.

The light fades and I get swept away into a world where everything is possible. The ultimate escape from reality for least two hours.

On the way home I think about taking a long walk in the pouring rain. It’s only 2 p.m., after all.

I Like Birds
The Eels have been my favourite band for quite a few years now.

The fact that the band is really just one guy, Mr. E, and a never-ending string of guest musicians makes it even easier for me to focus my undying love entirely on him.

There is something about his scratchy voice on the brink of failing right there and then, combined with his genius when it comes to songwriting that even exceeds the physical attraction to his adorable under bite and geeky fashion choices.

Am I seriously telling you that a hairy guy in plaid bermudas and white ankle socks with laryngitis makes my knees buckle? Well, yes.

Because what he does is write the kind of music that throws you down on the floor, breaks your heart and leaves you weeping.

But then it picks you up again, gives you a hug, wipes the tears from your eyes, pats you on the back and simply lets you know that no matter what, in the end you will be fine.

And that’s why I always come back for more.

PS: E, you rock my world.

My Daily Cartoon
While it is pretty safe to say that Alex would most definitely not place in the top 10 of a ‘Mr. Romantic’ contest he would far outrank everyone in the much more popular ‘Making Me Laugh Every Single Day’ competition.

I am someone who likes to laugh a lot but there are days where it’s not easy to get me to do that. Over the years he has perfected the art of cheering me up on those days by making me laugh about myself.

I will walk into a room unsuspectingly to find a drawing of myself or rather, of what I apparently look like when I’m asleep. Or running. Or after towel drying my hair. You name it. He’s done it all.

And it works every time. I love these little cartoons of myself looking hideous. It’s a hilarious version of me that he sees – and also sees through. How he finds humor in the tiniest details of my everyday life means the world to me.

Watching The World Go By
Whether it’s in a car, train or airplane, there is nothing better than watching the world pass by your window.

It feels as if I am soaking up everything that I see rushing by just by looking at it. I get high on the colours, shapes and movement while I let my mind wander endlessly.

Every tree and cow and sugar refinery that whooshes past becomes a part of my own private screening. I will take that over TV any day.

Live Rock Shows
It’s the only place where I really don’t mind being surrounded by thousands of strange people who rub their sweaty, half-naked bodies on mine while I get doused with their beer and burned by their cigarettes. I don’t even care that they blow smoke into my eyes from a distance so close they could tell I haven’t plucked my eyebrows in weeks, even though it’s pitch black around us. Nor am I bothered by them singing the wrong words off-key, and at the top of their lungs, directly into my ears.

I don’t mind any of it, because up there, just a few meters away, some guys are on a stage, rocking out and playing really, really good music. And it’s not only good music—it’s also loud music. The bass reverberates inside me until every organ seems to oscillate to the same rhythm. The guitars make my ears ring until late the next morning when my hurting feet remind me that I was squished in this mass of people jumping and screaming for what seemed like a century.

All this makes me so very happy.

Summer Dress
I am not a girly girl. I am most comfortable in jeans. Skirts or dresses make me feel incredibly awkward and overdressed when I am out in public or at work.

But there is one exception apart from dressing up really nice for say, the Vienna Opera Ball or a reception at some royal court. That’s my summer dresses.

When the temperatures reach an asphalt melting height, I gladly take off the skin-clinging pants and throw on some flimsy excuse for a piece of clothing. It’s all about air circulation. And the swishy movement.

During a balmy summer night with chirping crickets I might even confess that I like being a girl and dress up like one, too. Because the grass tickles so nicely on bare legs when you lie in it to look at the stars.

Morning Sunlight Through My Bedroom Window
It starts somewhere behind my left ear. A small tickle that silently inches towards my face and tries to get to my eyes that are still shut tight.

But then, the tingling in my nose begins. The longer I ignore it the stronger it will get and it expands and mounts until it spreads all the way into my toes.

Without opening my eyes just yet I turn onto my back and cherish the feeling that no matter how bad yesterday might have been, today everything will be bright and new.

Japanese Wonderland
Haruki Murakami was one of those writers I never wanted to read. Because everyone else already had.

Somehow, though, my mind was changed and I was hooked right after the first book.

There is a simplicity in his style that lets you experience everything almost first hand. His characters are usually surrounded by tragedy; the plots are dark and gloomy. If there is a love story involved you know it will end badly.

All the essentials are there: Passion, love, hate, mystery, desire, fantasy, death and talking animals.

If you get lured onto the addictive path of reading one of his novels be warned that you will feel the need to sit in your kitchen smoking, drinking whisky and listening to the hum of your fridge for hours. His books are like a slow rainy afternoon with music and lots of time for thinking.

Mango Ice Cream
I don’t even like ice cream all that much.

But this ice cream store recently opened up just down the street and suddenly, I am addicted. By now I know the name of every staff member and I’m pretty sure they call me Mango Lady behind my back, as if it is my fault that their mango ice cream is the most divine I have ever had.

Imagine the bursting flavour of a ripe mango, its flesh so juicy and sweet that you don’t mind the yellow threads of mango between your front teeth or the sticky juice that’s been running into your sleeve until it pools below your elbow.

Combine this with a creaminess so, well, creamy that all you can think about is how creamy this is. It’s so creamy that you can’t help but exclaim loudly (and repeatedly) how incredibly creamy this ice cream is.

And there isn’t even any cream in it!

Taking A Walk With My Grandma
My grandma is an amazing person. She is 92; despite the fact that she has lived through two World Wars, raised three kids, survived breast cancer, has two fake hips and a very bad case of osteoporosis that made her shrink about 8cm in the last ten years she remains a very positive and happy person.

Lately her medication has been increased so much that there are times where she has trouble remembering things. But there is one thing that seems to lift that fogginess and lets the grandma I remember from my childhood shine through. It’s when we go for a walk.

Each time I visit, I arrive to find her waiting for me impatiently — already dressed and halfway out the door. The anticipation is so heartwarming that, no matter how bad the weather might be, I cannot refuse to go for a walk with her every time I come to visit.

She tells me stories that I might have heard a hundred times before but the way she tells them is what matters. Every now and then, we sit down on a bench to take a break and she will look at me or pat my hand and just nod very wisely.

I have never felt as close to her as I do during our walks.

Flickering Things celebrates the outstanding contributions to the 10 Things group on Flickr. Here is a lovely tribute from gardenhoe/sara to getting away from it all, singing hearts and being delightfully, and unapologetically, Canadian. Us 10 Things girls really do love us some Canadians. We’re sure Sara, and her lovely expression of simple gratitude, will win you over as well.

gardenhoe/sara | canoe

“There is something about a canoe that just makes my heart sing, I am flooded with memories of summer, of water, of rocks and hemlocks, white pines and the Group of Seven. I dream about paddling while we are in the depths of frozen winters, and the sound of the water lapping against the sides on a muggy summer’s night is music that fills my ears.
It is all things cliche and Canadian, and that is me.” — gardenhoe/sara

My New Converse
I haven’t had a pair of All Stars since I was in high school 800 years ago. OK, not 800 but almost 20, as horrifying as that is to say. They were green and I wore them well into my college days, dirtying them up along the streets of Boston.

Then I started running and sneakers became a utilitarian and un-cute part of my wardrobe. I had a pair of Vans somewhere in there, but for the most part shoes have rarely been the fashionable part of my outfit, whether fancy or sneaker-y. But now I walk past a thousand discount shoe stores every day and have been eyeing these for a month. Now I can be cute and comfortable. As soon as the blisters go away.

The Kindness of Flickr
Flickr often finds itself on my lists of 10 Things. There are a thousand and ten reasons to love it: The daily inspiration. The marriage of photo technique, forum and showcase. To see the world through another’s eyes.

But what usually lands Flickr on my list is the friendships I have gained in the last two years. I have made friends that I have not only had the pleasure to meet in the flesh, but ones who send me things in the mail. In one week alone, I received a package full of candy & delights from Germany, a whole slew of crap Liz knew I would love with my Paper Crane, and a fabulous package of artwork from Texas. And I hear customs is unfairly delaying yet another German package from these two. A mailbox full of mail from perfect strangers.

The on-line community is simply a microcosm of the real world. There are the popular kids and geeks, the art crowd and the Most Likely to Succeed. Ok, maybe that’s high school, but you know what I mean. There are still assholes and cheerleaders and the cool guy who leans against his locker, too aloof to notice you are crushing on his photos. But just like real life, there are hearts inside those digital exteriors. And that, that is what has made these amazing people turn from FlickrID to real name to real life to real friend. And so make fun of my “internet friends” all you want, but they are indeed the real thing.

New Table from ssbc
I have discovered a fantastic little shop in Insadong that sells the work of three Korean artists. I am completely smitten with both artist and art. I have cleaned them out on more than one occasion.

This table was ten bucks and folds up flat so it can one day leave Korea with me, tucked neatly into my suitcase. It is only 12-inches in diameter and sits 10-inches off the floor, making it the perfect place to have dinner sitting on the floor.

This Coffeeshop in Insadong
Sitting on the rooftop of the Samszie Marketplace in Insadong is this greenhouse-like coffee and tea shop.

The coffee is expensive and average to slightly above, but I am a girl who likes things more if they come in pretty packages; this place delivers on atmosphere alone. I could spend a century and a half lounging around, breathing in this vibrant city around me.

Cheap Purses

Totally hawt for 10,000 Won. I still need new clothes, professional shoes or for god’s sake at least a belt, but now I have new purses. They do not hold up my pants, but they hold a whole lot of other crap, most importantly my camera. Now I can finally be stylish while I shoot.

When the Subway Comes Rolling In

I think what I really love is wind. In general. In the subways, I love to stand as close to the platform edge as possible to wait for that moment that the train comes breezing past and blows its first gust of air. There are few moments in the every day that make me feel more like a kid sticking my head out the car window than this.

Conveyor Belt Sushi
For years, the novelty of the Conveyor Belt Sushi has been a fantasy from a far-off land on distant shores, tales my father told when he returned from months of adventure overseas.

Now it is a 5-minute walk from my apartment.

Seokchon Lake

My new favorite place to run and walk on the weekends is Seokchon Lake in Seoul. The footpath that surrounds the lake is covered in a canopy of trees, has an entire course of stone mosaics to stimulate various reflexology points while you run, and all this to the soft, soothing sounds of piped-in minuets, concertos and string arrangements.

Keyless Entry

It is so nice to be free of fishing my keys from the depths of my bag.

Engrish
My dear friend Mary was born in Korea and lived here until her family moved to the US when she was four. Several years ago, I first had the pleasure of staying at her parents’ Guest House in New York, where Mary delighted in sharing with me the Guest Rules written in both Korean and English by her father. I don’t remember anything except “Please no laundering in the bathrooms”, but I do clearly remember Mary saying “You would think with three American-raised kids they would ask us to at least check it.”

I have only great reverence for Korea’s use of Engrish, as we in the English-speaking world are clearly guilty of the same. The Taco Bell menu comes to mind. What I admire most is the enthusiasm with which it is used. From the “Let’s Dimsum Party!” truck that roams my neighborhood, to the “Chicken Restaurant” near work, “A Special Cooking Franchise”, they get an A for effort.

And to a dummy like me, who can’t read a word of Korean, a little Engrish goes a long way.

More by Stephanie:
Stephanie’s 10 Things: April 18th

Stephanie’s 10 Things: March 20th

Stephanie’s 10 Things: February 24th

Cindy Loughridge was the first person to begin keeping a 10 Things set of her own after I started posting my little personal project to Flickr. Her photos often capture life’s little pleasures and in the month of Mother’s Day, we can’t think of a better contributor than a mom who not only celebrates her daughter as the subject of her work, but has also passed on to her a passion for photography.

Mint Chip Ice Cream at the former Thrifty’s Drug (now known as Rite-Aid)
Mmmmmmmint Chip! I remember going to Thrifty’s as a kid and getting a single scoop of Mint Chip on a cake cone for 25¢. Yes, that’s one quarter.

Well, due to inflation it is now 99¢. It is still the BEST Mint Chip ice cream in town…even better than 51 Flavors. I am so lucky that Rite-Aid decided to continue the Thrifty’s ice cream counter.

Gayles
Nestled in the seaside town of Capitola, California, Gayles is my favorite deli/rotisserie/bakery west of the Rockies. All the delicious concoctions are made on-site, so it’s fresh everyday. The store is extremely busy; they have to service customers with a numbered ticket system…kind of old school but it works for them. They have this system down to a science.

If you’re ever in the area, it’s a must to visit Gayles. Try my favorite breakfast item: the Christopher Bun, a fancy name for the cinnamon rolls. Oh, so delectable!

L’annine

This hand and body cream is from Europe, so it must be good, right? Well, let me tell you: this is the best cream I have ever tried. I have the driest skin due to the arid climate of California…I pray for humidity, crazy me. The cream goes on smoothly with no greasiness and the light lemon scent is divine. I always carry a tube with me in my tote.

Sweet Basil
According to Wikipedia, the word basil comes from the Greek word basileus, meaning “king”. It is considered the “King of the Herbs”. I always plant a few sweet basil plants, more than I can ever use in one season.

Basil makes a wonderful companion plant to tomatoes; they actually help each other grow! How very sweet (basil) that is. Try some in your sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza, and my favorite way, tomatoes with fresh mozzarella.

Booksmart
Independent bookstores have gone the way of giant corporate bookstores (not that there’s anything wrong with the Giant Bookstores). I just have a place in my heart for the independent ones. Our’s is aptly named BookSmart.

I count my blessings we still have one in my town. The owners are locals and are the kindest people you will meet. So go out and support your local independent bookstore. I do!

Cashmere Wrap
If you don’t have a pure cashmere wrap, put it on your wish list. It is a wonderful investment. For the price of the wrap, I can definitely say I have gotten my money’s worth.

It’s wonderful to use on evenings out when you don’t really need a jacket, or mornings when there is just a touch of chill to the air. It’s great when you are stuck under a fan at the movies and perfect to take on planes. Better than any airplane blanket–yuck. And who ever has a blanket this chic?

Reefs
The best flip flops on earth…to me.

I get a new pair every year. Here they are! Purrrrr.

Vietnamese Sandwich
This is the Asian version of a sub-sandwich. A variety of meats are offered in these sandwiches, but I always get the grilled chicken.

The fixins’ are as follows:
10-inch baguette
French mayonnaise
A sprinkling of Maggi (French soy sauce)
Thinly sliced pickled carrots, white radish, cucumbers and very hot green chili peppers….I mean smokin’ hot.
Grilled chicken (or other meat…they even offer a veggie version with tofu).
Last and most importantly: Fresh Cilantro

Pure gastronomic heaven.

Moms and Daughters
…and in this case granddaughter.

These two ladies are the best “things” of all. I love them dearly and, as you can tell, they love each other dearly. I’m not going to get sappy on this one. It would be too obvious. But it’s May, so go and celebrate with all the wonderful ladies in your life.

New Book Anticipation
Ah…who doesn’t know what I’m talking about? A newly released novel by a favorite author. The excitement, the thrill, the anticipation. Sometimes I will wait a few days before diving in; which is just my poor attempt to extend the book, when what I really want is to devour the whole thing in one sitting.

But like a good meal, we want to find out what happens while still savoring every bite. We race to the end, but that also means it’s really over. Next up: Body Surfing by Anita Shreve, one of my all time favorite writers.

Wasabi Peas

I love these bright and crunchy little marbles of sweet and stingy spice. These are so addictive; I eat them like popcorn.

Our chain lock
I’m not really one for locking the front door. Actually, I’m not really one for locking anything. I lose every key I have and I’m the type of woman who tapes my computer password to my monitor. When I first got email I even had a friend check it for me so that I wouldn’t have to deal with the “hassle” of logging in.

While I value my emotional privacy, I’m not one for locking people out of (or, for that matter, into) my world. As a matter of fact if a friend walked through my front door right now, without knocking, I’d be thrilled and I’d make them some tea (only because I’m out of vodka; if I had vodka they’d get that).

Liam looks at locks differently. Without going into too much detail, and deconstructing his psyche, it would suffice to say that my pet name for him isn’t “Poopsie” or “Muffin.” It’s “Captain Safety.” Before Liam and I lived together he never used this chain but after I moved in he was sure to chain our front door every night; sometimes he’ll even get out of bed to chain it if he forgot.

I don’t love this lock for what it keeps out or keeps in. I love it because, even though Liam could totally take down a Maine Black Bear if he wanted to, it’s his way of keeping all he holds dear safe from harm. It’s a sweet and precious thing.

Banjo

Something about that galloping strum of a banjo just makes everything sound better to my… Italian-American, life-long New Englander ears. Oh, whatever. Bring on the Appalachia, I say.

Homecoming

There is something so special about reading a book at the very spot it was written. This book was written over 120 years ago by Mason Walton, a naturalist who lived in Ravenswood Park in Gloucester, Mass. for 33 years. Liam gave this to me for Valentine’s Day this year and, as an added bonus, presented it to me as we ate lunch on the rock placed where Walton’s cabin once stood.

My big blue glasses
Steph has these, too.

We both bought them way back when we worked together at the Glass Sailboat, the tiny hippie café/homegoods store where we met. These heavy, blue, Mexican glass glasses were a favorite of the store’s employees and I think most have at least one in their permanent collection. Not only do I love the deep blue color and the solid feel of the heavy glass, I love remembering that they came from a pretty wonderful time in my life.

I miss that little café: it was the hub of Gloucester’s creative community and it connected me with some of the most favorite people in my life, Stephanie and Amy, as well as a handful of others that aren’t familiar to the 10 Things group.

The weight of these glasses are filled with memories of friends and I smile every time I sip from them.

Lake Alaska
Have you ever heard a song so perfect and so beautiful it completely changed the way you listened to music?

“Lake Alaska, 4 a.m.,” a song by Liam’s good friend Andy Stochansky, is a song so beautiful it prompted Liam and I to coin a term just to describe it: Songs to Stare at the Ceiling To. It’s the type of song that incapacitates you. Its perfection pushes the air out of your lungs and its beauty leaves you with nothing left to do but lay on your back, stare at the ceiling, and let the splendor wash over you.

While other songs have since been given the “Stare at the Ceiling To” label, none have quite reached the same level. This is a song so gorgeous it almost drowns you in its lush melodies and hypnotic rhythms that pound like a doleful heartbeat (no one on the planet writes a rhythm like Andy).

So, readers, here for you is our very first download and your very first Song to Stare at the Ceiling To. This isn’t a song to multi-task to; I suggest that when you download this you clear off your bed, take in a deep breath and let your ears, mind and heart know they’ll never be the same. If you find yourself weeping, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Cashmere
I heard about the luxury of cashmere but until I found this markdown it didn’t seem worth the dime or the hassle. I’m ashamed that I’ve gone so long without indulging in at least one piece of this incredible fabric.

Remember when you were little and you had that super-soft corner of your favorite blanket that, just by slipping it between your thumb and forefinger, would instantly soothe you, keeping all the trauma of the world at bay? That’s this sweater.

Thankfully, I am able to wear it during present-day traumatic experiences, like 8 a.m., Monday-morning editorial meetings.

Blackberries

The beach my brother and I grew up going to is bordered by woods; as kids we used to bushwack into the thicket to pick these when we wanted a sweet snack. Childhood doesn’t get much more perfect than that.

Blackberries mean summer to me, and you know how I love summer.

3 p.m. Cup O’ Joe

It’s my little late-day treat. Extra strong, with cream and sugar, it’s more of a buzz-shake than your typical coffee and it’s the only thing that gets me past my 3 p.m. hump. Sometimes, when I’m feeling spent, by say 2 p.m., I’ll make a little promise to myself that if I can hold off until 3 o’clock I’ll allow myself a cookie.

My co-worker Adam reads this, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t add that he typically brews a whole late-day pot for everyone in our company, and does a helluva good job at it too.

48 Hour Film Project

It’s fast. It’s furious. It’s torturous. It’s a fight against time, circumstance and the human body’s basic need for sleep, but for some reason we keep doing it.

This was our second year participating in the 48 Hour Film Project. We didn’t win this year — we didn’t even make it in on time — but Team Bait & Tackle did get to spend 48 hours straight working, collaborating and brainstorming with a group of friends that we love and admire.

Sleep is for sissies; for such a fun project we can’t wait to be deprived of it again. Here is a link to the end result of a sleep-deprived weekend. It’s called Eliot in Orbit.

Other entries by Janelle
Janelle’s 10 Things: April 12
Janelle’s 10 Things: March 15
Janelle’s 10 Things: November 13

It’s no secret that 10 Things is kind of a girl thing. Not really a dude thing. That’s why we are pleased to present our first contribution from a boy, Teddy Wieczorek, better known to the interweb as tedfoo. Even better, Teddy is not your average Suzy Sunshine. “I am not a very thankful person,” says he. We thought we could prove him wrong.

This Red Phone
A Christmas gift. I love it because of its bright red emergency look.

I feel like I’d use this phone to call a mistress or to report a murder.

PB Toast
I spread peanut butter on toast like it was going out of style. Big thick creamy waves cresting on the cheap bread I buy at the local super market.

In the morning I will eat five or six pieces of it. I’ll cut a small piece off for my two-year-old son Rhen; we’ll sit down and eat our breakfast while we watch cartoons.

Public Radio
Prairie Home Companion, Car Talk, This American Life, The Splendid Table, The Jazz Image, American Roots, Fresh Air, All Things Considered and A Matter of Faith.

I live and breathe Public Radio. I have sat in the car and let it run just so I can hear the end of a program. I cried when they aired a special on Fred Rogers after his death.

Public Radio is the last bastion of intelligence and dignity in media.

A Reliable Back Up
I hate it when I run out of coffee. I’m always tearing through the cupboards looking for something to help me into my morning if I run out of Joe.

My good friend, Earl Grey, always comes to the rescue.

Predicting Flickr

My wife is a photographer: she has a photo journalism degree. I’m happy that she took the time to document our lives in the style of Flickr before it even existed. Coming to Flickr was like coming home to a bunch of people that understood what it was like to photograph every mundane minute of the day. In a lot of ways Flickr brought back that same sense of enthusiasm I had for photography when I first picked up a camera.

A Collection of 78s I Found Last Week
I was digging through the upstairs closet the other week and found this collection of 78s my Mom bought me a few years ago. I had totally forgotten about it.

That old timey music is the best; it’s like listening to a total stranger telling you a good juicy secret about their past.

Drawing for Fun
I hate doing anything creative on spec. Looking at my old journals reminds me of this. I like to draw and let my mind go.

I’m not sure how this picture came about. Usually it’s a reflection of a dream I had. For a while I was having dreams of brightly lit graveyards that smelled of sickly sweet incense. This is a picture of the girl in the distance in my graveyard dreams.

Estate Sale Madness
My wife and I would go to estate sales during the summers before our son was born. We would drift through the crowds of people picking over the merchandise; it was a quiet morning weekend ritual.

The purpose of an estate sale is sad. Usually it is the stuff of the recently deceased that has been picked over by the immediate family and closer relatives. If the owner of the house was a town celebrity people might stop in just to check out their digs. Maybe gossip a little about the interior decorating.

We live in a relatively small town. Sometimes I would see my mom at an estate sale and we would talk as we walked through the rooms our murmuring voices mixing in with the other sale goers. Just small talk. Maybe about the impending storm or the different estate sales going on that weekend.

My Son

Where do you even start? I love him. I love him with all of my heart. I would easily give my life for him without a second thought. It’s that simple. My love for him is the most powerful thing I’ve ever felt.

Hanging Pots of Happiness

Being able to invest a hundred bucks or so into a permanent pot hanger for me was the surest sign that we had finally settled down. It was such a pain in the butt to hang I would have never done it if it were only a temporary thing.

Flickering Things celebrates the oustanding contributions to the 10 Things group on Flickr. This photo from olivelife brings us the memory of simpler days when we had to change ribbons instead of harddrives.

olivelife | typewriter

“An old typewriter makes me thankful. It taught me to type. It gets words on a page. It makes the coolest sound.” — olivelife

We are pleased to bring you April’s guest contribution from the enchanting Liz Shuman. She is the fingers behind the Paper Crane Project, one of our very favorite photographers and an excellent companion for ice cream cones or afternoon coffees. Please step into Liz’s world and enjoy the glory of its corners, edges and textures.

A Most Delightful Yellow Chair

I got this chair on Craigslist for $15. The chair is old, yellow and matches our orange desk famously. Sometimes I think of replacing the desk, but I would never consider getting rid of the chair.

Vegetables
Sometime around late December I bit the bullet and dropped meat completely from my diet. There I was, a brand-spanking new vegetarian and I was starving. It became painfully clear that I would need to learn how to cook vegetables and at the very least they would need to be edible, if not enjoyable. It was then that I fell in love with asparagus. I found a ridiculously easy recipe that not only yielded edible results but they were enjoyable as well! Who knew? The easiest asparagus recipe is as follows…

Wash and cut one to two bunches of asparagus. Slice three or four cloves of garlic (though I’ll tell you, the more the better). Take a soufflé dish (or a dish/pan that is safe to put in the oven) and pour in a bit of olive oil. Layer the asparagus covering it lightly with olive oil and salt and evenly distribute the garlic slices. Once you’ve followed the aforementioned steps, put the pan in the oven and turn on the broiler. Ten minutes later you have yourself a most delicious asparagus dish. Wasn’t that easy?

Now go eat your vegetables.

Blackouts
The evening I took this picture our electricity had suddenly gone off. Chris and I had an excellent time with each other, we drank some wine and played a very long game of Scrabble.

In this age where everything needs to be plugged in to be enjoyed, it was refreshing to know that we could sit in the dark and enjoy each other’s company.

Henry

The other man in my life, and the cutest being to ever grace the Earth, is our beloved feline Henry. Although I’d much rather not reveal my crazy cat lady tendencies, I’m afraid I must. I love this cat so much I will, on occasion, pick boogers from his little, pink, wet nose.

Putting Two and Two Together

I love diptychs.

Birkenstock Wool Clogs
I’ve had these clogs forever. I won’t get rid of them. In fact, the thought of chucking them hardly ever crosses my mind. I really only think about discarding them when I make the stupid decision to wear them in the winter and, not thinking, step in a puddle.

Who cares if they have holes all over them (as easily seen in the picture) and the left one is starting to come apart at the toe? I personally, think that’s part of their charm. I love these clogs; I’ll wear them until I, literally, can’t any longer.

The Paper Crane Project
I’m a very impulsive person; I’ll be the first to admit it. So, on impulse, I recently announced to the world wide web that I would make 1000 paper cranes and send them to people all over the world. I didn’t think about the potential cost of the project, nor the massive amount of time it might consume. And I certainly didn’t think about the fact that I don’t even know 1000 people. I got an idea in my head and I felt in my very core that I had to make this project happen.

But, about a week or two into the project, anxiety set in. You see, I’m a social worker; I wait tables to pay the rent, and in September I will be an unemployed grad student. Right about the same time I faced the financial reality of the project, two generous friends swooped in and saved me from myself.

I am eternally grateful to George and Lori who auctioned off beautiful art, allowing me to continue on with my crazy idea. In some ways I’m glad I didn’t give the idea too much “rational” thought prior to its launch. If I had, I’m not sure the project would have ever become real.

Although I’ve been vague when asked, the paper crane project is about something that people lose faith in all too often. It’s about the kindness in humanity and the little things in life that can mean so much. I am so thankful to all who have participated; the response has been overwhelming in the best of ways. I keep folding the cranes because of the kindness of strangers. It is the words of people I will never meet that keep this project alive.

Polaroids
When I was just a wee one my aunt had a Polaroid camera, which I coveted: partially because I was never allowed to touch it. These were the days way before digital imagery and that camera was my first dealing with instant gratification.

The thought of a camera that provided pictures immediately, as long as you could be patient for one minute, blew my young mind. Although I wouldn’t have a Polaroid to call my own until twenty years down the road, it was then that my lust for the Polaroid camera began. In this digital age, I now own four Polaroid cameras that I use on a regular basis, and I love each one of them.

Our Apartment

Chris and I have lived in the same place for almost two years now. It’s small and, like many Bostonians, we probably pay too much in rent, but we love our home. It’s quaint, and perfect and just the right size for us. Could we use more space? Probably. But in the time we’ve been here it’s become home and, for at least another year, we’ve decided to stay put in our lovely little abode.

Graduate School
Sometimes, the biggest questions that loom over you solve themselves simply and perfectly; and they do it all by themselves.

I recently went through the excruciating process of applying to graduate school for my Master of Social Work, and for months obsessed over the pros and cons of two programs. The first program was a top-caliber stretch—a dream even—but as the months wore on I wondered if it was a dream I actually wanted. The other program was well within reach, and would allow me to move forward with my life, without uprooting it. The former would entail at least three moves in two years’ time. The latter would allow me to remain in my comfort zone but more than that, it just seemed like a better overall fit.

I agonized over the decision until one beautiful Saturday, when I received a letter from the director of admissions at Smith College’s School of Social Work. The letter told me that, “regrettably,” I’m just not Smith material. Receiving that letter was the equivalent of dropping a two-ton weight I had been carrying for months; I never knew I could be so happy with rejection. As a result, I was forced in the direction of my “perfect fit”: I will attend Simmons Graduate School of Social Work in September, and I couldn’t be happier.

I love Boston and I love the life I’ve carved out here, and I’m excited that I’ll have the opportunity to really get to know this beautiful city, both by attending school right near Fenway Park and through grad school placements within the community. Best of all (and definitely not the least of it) I don’t have to move away from Chris (and Henry).