louisa may today

Today in Seattle I chatted with my friend Simon in Sydney. As a third year medical student, Simon is...

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:06:00 -0400

Today in Seattle I chatted with my friend Simon in Sydney. As a third year medical student, Simon is currently shadowing doctors at a small town hospital. By his fifth week in obstetrics, Simon informed me that he has now started delivering babies.

As a grown man, Simon himself looks somewhat infantile - I’m not sure if it’s the baldness or the manic stare, but either way, the thought of Simon standing between my legs whilst I lie in such a vulnerable position makes me reconsider populating this world.

Simon assures me that this new skill of his should not affect me - or indeed the woman he sews up. It should only affect the father. If Simon likes him, he will add an extra stitch.

This evening in Seattle I went along to my first West Coast book club. We ate guacamole, meatless...

Mon, 13 May 2013 21:50:00 -0400

This evening in Seattle I went along to my first West Coast book club. We ate guacamole, meatless meatballs, chevre and brie with water crackers, and a mixed green salad. We washed it down with silk and citrus tea.

We spoke about the book for about 10 minutes before each of us confessed that we had yet to read it. Our next meeting is June 3rd.

Today in Seattle I met an older gentleman who went by the name of Ronelle. He grew up in Louisiana,...

Tue, 07 May 2013 23:39:38 -0400

Today in Seattle I met an older gentleman who went by the name of Ronelle. He grew up in Louisiana, one of 16 children: eight boys and eight girls. Ronelle himself was one of three sets of twins, all six boys: Ronelle and Lonelle, Hermit and Herbert, Claude and Clyde.

Ronelle is father to five girls. His twin is father to five boys. I didn’t catch their names.

This evening in Chicago, returning to our hotel after demolishing half a spinach and mozzarella deep...

Sun, 05 May 2013 02:07:00 -0400

This evening in Chicago, returning to our hotel after demolishing half a spinach and mozzarella deep dish pizza, my friend Tessa and I walked past a homeless man begging on the Magnificant Mile. Tessa offered the man the rest of her pizza. He politely, and without hesitation, declined. He is sick to death of pizza.

Today in Wicker Park, Chicago I met a young French bulldog named Eddie, after Edina on Absolutely...

Sat, 04 May 2013 14:00:00 -0400

Today in Wicker Park, Chicago I met a young French bulldog named Eddie, after Edina on Absolutely Fabulous. She was patiently waiting for her owner inside American Apparel on Milwaukee Ave as he bought her a hoodie for spring. When I asked the mustachioed gentleman if I could pat Eddie, he informed me of his dog’s diet: flaxseed oil, mixed vegetables, and seeds.

Eddie is a vegan.

Today in downtown Chicago I was offered a free makeover by a Russian woman at the Clarins...

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:49:00 -0400

Today in downtown Chicago I was offered a free makeover by a Russian woman at the Clarins Macy’s counter. She lives with her mother and her four year old son, Nikita. Her mother speaks Russian to the boy, whilst she speaks English. Lately, her son has begun to reply to his young mother’s queries over whether or not he liked something with the word “tolerable.”

She hopes he stays four forever.

Today in Chicago I got my nails done by a second generation Vietnamese woman who hasn’t slept...

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:41:00 -0400

Today in Chicago I got my nails done by a second generation Vietnamese woman who hasn’t slept a full night through for seventeen years. Her husband snores louder than the ‘L.’

Today in Seattle, the sun shone high and heated the city to a sweltering 80 degrees. I was in...

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:38:00 -0400

Today in Seattle, the sun shone high and heated the city to a sweltering 80 degrees. I was in Chicago where it rained.

Last night in Seattle my husband and I went to see Jersey Boys at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. We are...

Wed, 01 May 2013 00:28:00 -0400

Last night in Seattle my husband and I went to see Jersey Boys at the Fifth Avenue Theatre. We are trying out this thing in our first year of marriage where he accompanies me to a musical if I promise to sleep an entire night outside in the desert without a tent.

Just as Jack waited until morning before informing me that he had seen a scorpion the previous evening, crawling within close proximity to where i lay my bivy sack, I too waited until intermission before telling Jack that all musicals have two acts.

We celebrate our one year anniversary in 6 weeks.

This evening on a rooftop in Capitol Hill, Seattle, I celebrated the city’s sunny acceptance...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:19:00 -0400

This evening on a rooftop in Capitol Hill, Seattle, I celebrated the city’s sunny acceptance that spring has sprung by sociali(z)ing around a BBQ with a fellow Australian, a Canadian, three Americans, and a boy from South Dakota.

This morning in Seattle I awoke to realize I could not rise. I had been so athletic in my ten hours...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:47:00 -0400

This morning in Seattle I awoke to realize I could not rise. I had been so athletic in my ten hours of sleep that a nerve in my neck pinched itself in surrender. I immediately called a chiropractor - the only person within stumbling distance - to take a look at me.

Now, I have nothing against chiropractors. I have simply never, in sober mind, chosen to see one. But I was desperate.

A big dude called Wayne with no hair and bulging arms man-handlled me so aggressively that I immediately forgot my pain. He took that as a sign of success. No Wayne, no Gain.

Today in Seattle a young woman, who works as a freelance travel writer, contacted me to inform me...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:42:57 -0400

Today in Seattle a young woman, who works as a freelance travel writer, contacted me to inform me that she had my greencard. I have been waiting for this card for three months, despite being informed by the men in suits that it had been sent.

It turns out a homeless man found it and, without any means to find me, gave it to this girl who in turn came out of her way to meet me at my office and hand it over.

The moral of this story is always brush your hair when you are getting your identity photo taken at the Department of Homeland Security. You never know who is going to see it.

Today in our Seattle office, I encouraged fellow colleagues to...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 19:47:00 -0400

Today in our Seattle office, I encouraged fellow colleagues to wear blue to raise awareness for World Autism Day. One of our Senior Sales Reps, the perfectly named Chaz Cazzaza, really lit up.

Hi Louisa, Do you feel like married life has changed you?

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:29:31 -0400

Yes, I am a much better speller.

Last night from Sydney I flew Hawaiian Air to Seattle via Honolulu. I sat next to three 10 month old...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:21:02 -0400

Last night from Sydney I flew Hawaiian Air to Seattle via Honolulu. I sat next to three 10 month old triplets. I’m never letting my husband touch me again.

Today in Sydney I got into a deep and earnest debate over the work(s) of Lena Dunham with Liam, a...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:20:00 -0400

Today in Sydney I got into a deep and earnest debate over the work(s) of Lena Dunham with Liam, a recent cultural studies PhD graduate. After sitting back patiently as I went on an inarticulate diatribe over the successful actress/writer/director/producer’s current status as the voice of her generation, Liam asked me how jealous I was.

Today in Eastern Sydney I earned 7 extra freckles on my nose whilst bathing and baking at Bronte...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:23:00 -0400

Today in Eastern Sydney I earned 7 extra freckles on my nose whilst bathing and baking at Bronte Beach. I also experienced my first encounter with inner thigh chafe. I really wish I didn’t spend those first 6 months in America telling myself that half and half meant skim.

This morning in Sydney I dined on $25 poached eggs and herring caviar at Chez Dee in Potts Point. I...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:58:00 -0400

This morning in Sydney I dined on $25 poached eggs and herring caviar at Chez Dee in Potts Point. I was joined by one of my oldest and dearest friends, Julianna, a teacher who had to scoff her breakfast down quickly as she had an early morning class with underprivileged children.

This morning in Alabama my husband started his training at the military SERE course (Survive, Evade,...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:18:00 -0400

This morning in Alabama my husband started his training at the military SERE course (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape.) He will spend the next 3 weeks dehydrated, starved, and tortured.

This afternoon in Sydney I napped on the sand at Balmoral Beach next to my 64 year old father in his speedos. His snoring woke me up.

Jack wins this round.

Today in Sydney I basked in the sun at Cafe Bones with my friend Maddie and her labrador mix,...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:05:00 -0400

Today in Sydney I basked in the sun at Cafe Bones with my friend Maddie and her labrador mix, Charlie. She ordered a soy iced coffee, he had a puppacino.