And I know that it's been sang before but you're my human holiday.

I've been on a bit of a Spring cleaning bend this week each day after work. The other night, the little Peester (Pee Wee, Lil' Peesy) and I started dusting off Jesse's toys for safekeeping in storage until we get a glass cabinet.

Pee Wee was being a super helper. Occasionally moving around the bubble wrap to get it out of my way. Checking the sturdiness of the box by jumping around it on all sides. Surveying the swept up piles of dust for any cat toys I may have accidentally swatted in there. You know, a good partner. Just like he's proven to be in the past.

Hard at work:

It seems when Jesse is out of town Pee Wee really tries to "help out." He follows me around, snuggles me in bed, and sits next to me when I do the dishes or cook food (strangely enough, this is also where I feed him, so there may be a hidden agenda in attending to me at these times). He's a good pet.

Of course, sometimes he gets really lazy too. In the midst of all the cleaning, Pee Wee decided to "take a break." And by "take a break" I mean leave the rest of it to me and sit down and watch the classic 80s movie Just One of the Guys I had just queued up on Netflix. I was irate!

But then it was really funny because he was literally watching the movie. And, um, he's an adorable cat:

After a few hours, the cleaning was done. At least in this part of the apartment (see below). Tonight I tackle our room, do some yoga, and take care of the laundry. Because tomorrow? Jesse returns! Plus, an OkGo show! Yes!

We're holding hands back in the street.

My friends rule! Above we just finished seeing Kick Ass and decided to get Benny's Burritos in the East Village. L-R: Jaime, Andrew, Erica, Jim, Steve, and Amber. I was at head of table.

Friday:

• Dancing around in my living room to the Avett Brothers while I cleaned and waited for the book club members to arrive
• 
  
  WAR & PARTY - our final book club meeting regarding War & Peace! It was hiliarious. More to come, along with video (maybe)

Saturday:

• 
  
  Brunch with Jim & Amber
• 
  
  Kick-Ass with the crew above - entertaining film though I watched with a certain incredulousness. Also, way to go Nicolas Cage for finally "bringing it" to a recent film.
• 
  
  Benny's Burritos!
• 
  
  Law & Order Sexy Crimes - err, I mean SVU - at the homestead and then some SNL. Our efforts in obtaining ice cream cake for the occasion sadly failed.

Sunday:

• 
  
  Amber, Erica, and I woke up and decided it was just the right time to watch Antichrist
• 
  
  We quickly discovered it is NEVER the right time to watch that movie, and save your mind and your eyes the horror of taking in such disgusting dreck
• 
  
  Dinner with Gaby, Jim, and Erica
• 
  
  Dragonette at Brooklyn Bowl with Gaby, Erica, Rob, Kylie Minogue, Dana, etc. Wait, what?! Yes - Kylie Minogue was bowling in Brooklyn on a Sunday night. I didn't see her, but all I can picture is her bowling in a sequined minidress and platform heels
• 
  
  Dragonette killing it, as they do with every live show!
• 
  
  After the show, we were milling about with friends talking (mainly about Kylie Minogue) when a guy interrupted us and extended his hand. I started shaking it in confusion as he said, "You were great up there! Great show!" and I said, "Oh, that wasn't me...." and he apologized and said it was "the hair." Yes, we both have short hair, but Martina, the lead singer of Dragonette is currently sporting a bowl cut, so I was a little self-conscious after that dude's comment! (Here's a picture of her from last night!) The guy was a little on the dense side, since I was wearing a completely different outfit, had a purse, jacket, UMBRELLA, and...not a bowl cut. In fact, this is what I looked like last night. And though Martina is badass and gorgeous and can actually pull off that style, I thought the moment was hilarious.

I'm excited for this week because it culminates in the reunion of me and Jesse! YAY!

How was your weekend?

There's nothing like finding gold within the rocks hard and cold.

Given my previous foray into music I love intensely, I've decided to bring back an old feature I used to do here - Smiling Like I Mean It. The last entry under that tag was a full two years ago!

Smiling Like I Mean It

[songs that make me smile no matter what]

07 Kick Drum Heart - The Avett Brothers

This week I've been listening to one of my favourite albums from last year, I and Love and You by the Avett Brothers. (Most of my post titles this week are Avett Brothers lyrics!) And whenever it gets to "Kick Drum Heart" I can't help but smile and shimmy. Or, wanting to shimmy. It has the similar kind of silly charm as "Wishbone" by Architecture in Helsinki, but "Kick Drum Heart" wins in a matchup. If you know me, drums are usually my fave part of a song. I air drum, I don't air guitar at shows. And this song likens a heart beat like a kick drum!

Mah-mah-my heart like a kick drum!
Mah-mah-my heart like a kick drum!
Mah-mah-my love like a voice!

Other lines I tend to say (or at the very least mouth) out loud when walking down the street:

Always surprised to find more!

&

It's me following YOU!

You can buy the song's mp3 at the title link above, but I say you buy the entire lovely album by those brothers, also linked above. I just happened to post the song on my tumblr today if you need some convincing to buy the song/album - if it doesn't make you smile at any point, I don't even KNOW what. I mean, if it doesn't charm you into a smile, it has to make you laugh because it's so silly, right?

I LOVE IT. What do you think?

The rest is out in the cold, holdin' the last of the season.

            

Oh hey! Yesterday when I got home from work I tore open the J.Crew package I got to find three pairs of shorts I ordered. Summer is nearly here! I've never been a big fan of shorts because when shopping I can never find a suitable pair - for a while there I could only find super short shorts and I'm really not a fan of that look for myself. Last summer I found a great pair of chino five-inchers on jcrew.com in gray, and fell in love with the fit and style. PERFECT SHORTS.

Then they went on sale a couple of weeks ago in fun colors like a dusty brick red, peachy pink, and the light bright green you see me wearing above. Sold. So I climbed on my chair and mattress and tried to show you how much I love them. Making a fool of myself for photographic evidence. Classic me.

The point: I got really happy trying on the shorts and knowing that summer is ever so close! Now I just have to find the perfect sandals...

What have you been buying for summer?! Comment with some links if you want!

In other news, my power vinyasa yoga class went swimmingly last night! I told the instructor that this was my first ever yoga experience, and she was happy to know that I was trying it out. I loved the relaxing and the breathing and de-stressing. The main reason I wanted to take yoga is to help out with my pinched nerve issues and back problems. And during the class I felt so much tension released from my back, I was amazed! After the class I spoke with the instructor about how much I liked it and that I would be back next week. She said that I had good form and a good base to work from and that it should be easy for me to gradually become accustomed to yoga. YES! I felt like a got a gold star or something. I definitely left the gym feeling lighter on my feet and just relaxed. And even at dinner I felt myself actively correcting my posture. Feeling good, feeling good!

This morning on the elliptical guess what happened?! I FINISHED WAR & PEACE! Tomorrow is our final book club meeting. It's going to be hilarious. Report forthcoming.

I am a breathing time machine.

I went back to the gym today!

After trying to kick the Japan jetlag, then my pinched nerve making it impossible to move in any way, and then getting a cold: I haven't been to the gym in a while!

So this morning I got up, fed the cats, got dressed and headed on over! Per usual at 6am, it was completely empty and I pored over the epilogue for War and Peace on the elliptical. It was nearly meditative.

Speaking of - tonight I'm trying something I've never done before: yoga! Stay tuned. I will probably embarass myself and that makes for good blog fodder, right?

Seems like it's time to make another workout playlist...