I've decided that spring is my favorite season. I know, this is a question for an elementary school child along the lines of favorite color and brand of mac and cheese. But we are always learning about ourselves, aren't we? Summer is practically unbearable, not to mention punctuated by the constant threat of hurricanes. Fall and winter have their merits, including my precious Halloween. Counterpoint: I resemble a can of soup in most sweaters.
Spring, though. Apart from Florida's highly concerning drought conditions, spring is king. Sunny and 75 and full of renewed hope and blooming life (rain, we need you). I believe most people who imagine the good life in Florida are really picturing breezy, balmy spring. They're not thinking of summer, cruel mistress of thigh chafes and body odor.
Anyway, spring!
I recommend spring! Love her, cherish her, for she has one foot out the door.
Tulips
On spring: I just got back from a long weekend in Chicago (thanks for all your travel tips), and the jewel of the journey had to be the swaths of colorful tulips planted on city sidewalks. When I was little in Ohio, yellow tulips popped up effortlessly in our yard every spring. On May Day, we'd clip them and bring them to church as a nifty gifty for the Virgin Mary. I miss those bulbs! Tulips don't fare well in Florida because they need to freeze. And since I know some of you are stretching your fingers to write this tip as we speak, I just don't have the personality to put bulbs in the freezer and transfer them outside at the optimal growing time. I will simply never do it. Anyway, too much of a good thing is... less good? I'm just thankful I got to see tulips in bloom.
'Heart the Lover'
I read Lily King's latest novel about friendships, love and loss on the airplane, half on the way there and the rest on the return leg. Friends warned me not to read it in public, but did I listen? No. Instead I openly wept in Southwest seat 9E. You've been warned.
'New Girl'
I put it on for background noise recently and promptly remembered that this show is a banger. Nick and Jess have the most natural chemistry of any couple on television, and I stand by that. I'm allowing myself to sink into a glorious full rewatch, mentally traveling to a simpler time full of high-waisted shorts, ukuleles and the audacity of hope. It's on Hulu.
Bowling
After a recent night out at Ten Pin Lanes in South Pasadena, I wondered: Why aren't more people bowling all the time? The drinks and snacks are painfully cheap. The atmosphere is temperature-controlled. The 1990s music is PRISTINE. Furthermore, much like karaoke, being good at bowling is a bonus and not a requirement. And Ten Pin Lanes makes these things called pudding shots, which are a lot tastier than they sound. Trust.
