some infinities are larger than others.

Posted on February 18, 2014 by sorellaaglio

I just finished reading “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green, and I have many feelings about it. I think it’s one of the best sad books I’ve read, and I am glad that we read it for Book Club. I won’t say much more about it because I want you to go read it because it’s a great easy read and because I think you’ll like it.

I think one of my favorite things about reading a good book is how great it makes you feel, and how much it reminds you that you want to read more. After finishing this, I sat down for several hours yesterday reading Harry Potter (Number 6) because C and M and I are rereading the series. I am also reading Twelve Years a Slave (my lunch time nonfiction book) and The Goldfinch (my BFF-told-me-to-so-do-it book) and And the Mountains Echoed (the I really love this author and also my BFF said I’ll love it book.)

I have always been a person to read more than one book at a time, mainly because I like to be able to start and stop depending on my mood, weaving in and out of different worlds, times in history or the future, in different perspectives. I try to be reading the book club book, a novel, a nonfiction book, and sometimes throw in another novel (or two) for good measure.

This means I am never left thinking “Ugh I am tired and don’t want to read that sad book about slavery” because OH WAIT you’re also reading a young adult novel about wizards. When people ask me about it, how I read more than one book at a time, this is what I tell them: it’s like having your arsenal of unwatched TV shows queued up on your DVR. You watch multiple shows during the week, you don’t need to finish an entire season before you can move onto another show.

I assume the average person can keep straight the characters of a show (I don’t confuse Lady Grantham with Barney Stinson’s universe, and I don’t forget that Crosby is married to Jasmine in Northern California and that Leslie loves Pawnee, IN., and Ben’s butt, no matter what.) And so it goes. You read and you remember how much you love it, and pretty soon that’s all you want to do.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

we were meant to be known

Posted on February 13, 2014 by sorellaaglio

This is a birthday heavy week, you guys. In addition to my brother-in-law’s birthday on the 11, and Nikki’s on the 12, today is none other than Ms Corelyn’s birthday.

I love this photo of us, because look at our faces! True love, you guys.

Corelyn is the only OTHER person that can boss me around like Nikki can. She’s reasonable (except when I need her to make a cake with me at midnight), she’s always game for anything (even after saying no, we cannot make more cookies, she’ll pull out the whisk and dive right in), and she is pretty much the best person to hang out with, whether in the kitchen or watching television or traipsing around Los Angeles (or the country.)

Sometimes, I think the only reason that GMS works is because Corelyn knows how to rein me in, refocus me, and because we genuinely, truly are best friends. If we liked each other even the SLIGHTEST bit less, GMS would fall apart at the seams.

We have been together through thick and thin, through good and bad, and we have spent the past nearly 5 years constantly emailing, texting, calling, Gchatting, and carrier pigeon-ing each other. We survived her move away, and back. She’s my person. When we’re not busy convincing people we’re not lesbians (running a blog together makes it hard to take photos, you guys, and we often end up looking longingly at each other) we’re hanging out in a crowd, probably talking to each other, or telling someone a story about each other.

This has become cheesier than I meant it to be, but I think that sometimes friendship love is the love that’s the most unsung: family is a given, and relationships depend on constant acts of love, but friends are beat up emotionally nearly on the regular, and are expected to just take it as part of the friendship, without much appreciation, gratitude, or, well, love.

S0, Corelyn, I love you. And I am sorry because you’re probably now crying. I am, too. I am so glad you were born into this world, where we could meet and become best friends, so that we could be known to this universe. I hope that today is the best day, and tomorrow is even better, and so on, infinity.

Truly, thank you, for being my best friend.

she’s living, she’s golden.

Posted on February 12, 2014 by sorellaaglio

Today is my favorite sister’s 30th Birthday, and after knowing her for about 28 of those, I can say that I am truly excited for all that’s on the horizon for her as she rolls into the next decade. Any day now my nephew is going to grace us with his presence, and I can’t wait to see what an awesome mom she’s going to be.

My sister is the best you guys, but you probably already know that, because I talk about her all the time to anyone who will listen. I’ve always looked up to her, because she looks at something, decides she wants it, and she gets it. She always has some great advice for me, whether it be about my job, or recipes to try, what music I will love, what book to read, or what yoga position is the best to wiggle myself up to headstand.

This is us at Nikki’s wedding shower, and I feel like it’s pretty much a representation of our friendship – Nikki is one of only a choice few people who’s allowed to boss me around. And boss, she does. She doesn’t know how to sit still, she gets bored easily, and she always wants to be having all the fun. And she knows how to make anything fun – from a grocery store run, to waiting in line at a bus stop, to a long car ride – she’s the one you want by your side to make the mundane seem amazing.

This is a photo of my sister MOMENTS after falling into a lake on her WEDDING DAY. For those of you who know my sister, she has a serious fake smile, and you can tell in this photo that this one is 100 percent real. Even though the bottom of her dress is soaking wet and she’s got lake grass on her legs. Because she is into having full-on fun, not dwelling on the past – plus, falling into a lake was pretty much the second best thing that happened that day.

I am so excited as she goes into her 30s to watch from a close distance to see what awesome things are in store for her, and for me. I am so proud of who she is, I am proud of who she’s made me, and I am proud to call her my sister. Nikki, I love you, and I’ll see you in a couple of weeks when my nephew shows up – Have the Happiest Birthday.

be each other’s light in the dark

Posted on February 6, 2014 by sorellaaglio

Happy Thursday, you guys!

Tonight it’s raining in Los Angeles (thank the Rain Gods) so when I went for a run, I left my music and headphones at home, gave Jeff my intended course, and headed off to run a mile and a half, part of week two of my 5k training.

Turns out when I run without ~~music~~ Radio Lab, I run much faster. I shaved 1:40 off of my pace, and although I definitely could tell I was running faster, I didn’t realize it was THAT much faster. Like, PR for my mile faster. Which is exciting because this time around, doing yoga EVERY time I run, I am not fatigued every other day when I head out, and my legs aren’t getting tired like they were before, because they are stronger, and looser, and better.

So, dear rain, thank you for falling over me as I ran, keeping me cool, forcing my personal best out of me, focusing me on my pace and my breath and the air around me.

And thank you, yoga, for keeping my legs prepared to move my body.