Author: Trish

Sunday Summary #6: What’s on the Internet

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1|  There’s a bookstore in Paris (Shakespeare & Company) where people can stay the night, even live there, so long as they “read a book a day, help out in the shop for a couple of hours, and write a single-page autobiography for George’s archives.”  People who stay are called Tumbleweeds, which is just adorable.

2|  The drama surrounding the “anti-Christmas” Starbucks red cups is succinctly described and shot down by Buzzfeed.

3|  Nikita Gill is blowing up on Instagram for her beautiful and powerful short poems.

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My Hamilton Obsession Grows

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I have spent…a truly enormous amount of time thinking about Hamilton: An American Musical.  I’ve listened to the soundtrack on repeat throughout every day, I’ve started following Lin-Manuel Miranda on Tumblr, and I’ve looked up what Hamilton’s enneagram type probably was (an 8, though I was hoping he was emotional enough to be a 4 like me).  Awkward conversations like this happen:

Me:  Put Rory [my cat] on Riley’s [my parent’s dog] back.
Mom:  I don’t think they’ll like that.
Me:  They might.
Mom:  I think the cat–I’m sorry, I should call him Rory.  Saying “the cat” feels mean.
Me:  You can call him whatever you want.  It’s like George Washington says:  “My name’s been through a lot; I can take it.”
Mom:  …
Me:  In Hamilton.  He said that in Hamilton.
Mom:  *sighs*
Me:  …I really want to see Hamilton.
Mom:  I KNOW.

But that’s the thing with obsessions.  Literally everything makes me think of it.  And I am determined to convert everyone around me to loving it too.  When Kelly asked what I’d been doing lately, I said, “Well, I’ve been listening to this musical.  Hamilton?  It’s awesome.  You should listen to it.  Here, let write it down for you.”  When I run into anyone who likes history, I practically shove the existence of Hamilton down their throats.  When I spent three hours in the car with Sarah, we talked about painful pasts and grace and then I segued into: “Hey, do you like musicals?  You do?  Have you heard of Hamilton?  You haven’t!?  Well, is there any way I can plug in my phone and we could listen to….Oh, there isn’t?  Yeah, fine, we can talk about Sondheim and Into the Woods, I guess…”

I almost had a convert when I was talking to my brother.  With him, I didn’t even have to pretend to segue.

Me:  Hey, I’ve been trying to think of a way to work this into our conversation, but nothing is coming up.
Roy:  Hah, okay, what is it?
Me:  HAVE YOU HEARD OF HAMILTON THE MUSICAL??
Roy:  Um.  No.
Me:  It’s a musical about Alexander Hamilton, but his story is told through rap and hip hop, like the cabinet meetings are rap battles.
Roy:  ….That sounds awesome.
Me:  I KNOW.
Roy:  Send me a link to somewhere I can listen to it!  I can’t wait to try it out!
Me:  Tell me when you listen to it!  And I expect no less than eleven exclamation points.  Whether you love it or hate it, I want an emotional response.
Roy:  Sure.

It’s been a few days, and nothing!  I was so close.  However, in a week I will be taking the train out to Seattle to see him, and I am nothing if I am not good at monopolizing conversations and forcing my big brother into “participating” in my obsessions, so this isn’t over.

I mean, honestly, at this point I wouldn’t be surprised if at my fundraiser tonight, I didn’t interrupt myself: “I’m so grateful that all of you turned up to support me, and I’m so excited about working with House of Damaris–you know what else I’m excited about, though?  Hamilton the Musical.  Lindsay, is there a way I could plug in my phone….?”

Thinking of Paris

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I never really know how to address world events on this blog – a place where I regularly fangirl about boy bands and YA novels.  I do occasionally take a more serious tone, but rarely do I comment on current tragedies.  This is only exacerbated by the fact that I’ve never been to Paris, I don’t know anyone in Paris, and I have no direct connection to what they’re going through.

But then I think: that’s exactly what makes my participation so meaningful.  When people who have no emotional connection to tragedy decide to empathize anyway – that’s beautiful.

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I love living in a global community, where the pain of one country is felt by all.  I hope that, in the midst of their heartache, Parisians will know that the rest of the world is hurting with them, and that maybe that will give them a taste of hope.

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I am so impressed by the courage of Parisians who will continue to live their lives, going to work and playing with their children and walking the streets.  “Not Afraid.”  That’s a bold declaration that terror will not win.  Life goes on, and we demand that it will go on.

Maybe I do have a personal stake here.  Because I’ve already read a post on Facebook saying that terror attacks will only continue in Europe because of ISIS members sneaking in amongst refugees.  And sure, maybe that’s true.  But I like to think the answer to that can also be, “Not afraid.”  We will not let terror win.  We will not let the fear of violence stop us from helping those in need.

Terror attacks are designed to make us huddle into ourselves, to strengthen us vs. them lines, and to close off compassion.  Perhaps instead, we can bravely choose to do the opposite, to widen our arms’ embrace and reach out.  We are not afraid…to live, or to love.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.

1 John 4:18

One Direction’s Latest (Last?) Album: Made in the A.M.

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Hello!  It’s me, Tricia, your Too-Old-For-This escort into the wonderful and horrifying world of One Direction!  You may remember me from the last time I broke down and indulged my inner tweenager by writing a 1D Manifesto (it is still one of my favorite posts that I’ve ever written).  Since then, a lot has happened:  Zayn left the band, Louis became an almost-father, they announced that they’re going on a break (which might actually be a break up), and today they released their fifth album.

Now, I’ve always freely admitted that first and foremost, I’m into their pretty faces.  Look at these faces!

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With every album released, I listen and love with the fondness of someone supporting their cute fictional boyfriend(s).  Their music isn’t hard to listen to, and there are always a couple songs that I completely adore.  But their sound is not my go-to musical choice.  However…when I started listening to Made in the A.M. I found myself loving the entire thing.

Admittedly, the objective part of my brain is broken.  Beautiful men do that to me.  I have no confidence in my opinions where One Direction is concerned.  I KNOW that they’ve musically matured since “That’s What Makes You Beautiful,” but there’s still some elitist part of me that doesn’t want to admit the truth:

I REALLY LOVE THEIR MUSIC.  There, I said it.  Let the flailing commence.   Continue reading →

My Life is a Lie: I’m an Enneagram Type Four, Not a Nine

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I’m going through a bit of an identity crisis.  The enneagram is a personality test, and for years I thought I was Type Nine: the Peacemaker with a Need to Avoid.  I even wrote up a long blog post about how much I fit that Type.  But then I got curious and wondered if INFJs are often Type Nines….only to find out they’re generally Type Fours.  So I did a little research and was horrified to discover that I feel a lot like a Four.  Naturally I then took two online tests, and it turns out….I’m a Four, with strong Nine tendencies.

What sucks is….Nines are awesome.  They’re inclusive, good at adapting, and calm under pressure.  Fours, on the other hand, are the WORST.  Everything I read about them was just reading all the things I dislike about myself.  They’re impetuous and moody, dreamy and unsatisfied.  It turns out, I am a Four who desperately wants to be a Nine and has therefore cultivated Nine qualities in her life.  But I’m a Four, the Individual with a Need to be Special.

FOURs draw their vital energy from others.  Their life question is: “What do you think of me?  Do you notice me? Do I catch your eye?”

Reading Richard Rohr’s chapter on Fours in The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective had me underlining everything and then burrowing my face into the couch.  Being a Four is being so needy!  And…I am!  And I hate it!  Unfortunately, I later learned that Fours are super hard on themselves, so my reaction to hating being a Four just means I am even more of a Four than I thought! Continue reading →

Letters Between Friends: PERSONALITY TYPES

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Hah, this letter from Lindsay is a perfect lead-in to my post going up tomorrow about how I recently realized I’m a Type 4 instead of a Type 9 in the Enneagram personality test.  Tomorrow the post will be largely a freak out, but Lindsay’s letter today makes me feel a lot better about being a 4!  Especially if it means Lindsay and my personality types go together so well!

LettersBtwnFriends_LogoDearLindsay

Dear Tricia,

We’ve been talking sooo much about personality tests lately, so I feel I should write you about that.  [Notice I write “feel” which means I’m an emotional person].

In the Enneagram Test:

  • I am a #2 The Helper: Caring, Interpersonal Type: Generous, Demonstrative, People-pleasing and Possessive

o   “When moving in their Direction of Integration (growth), prideful, self-deceptive twos become more self-nurturing and emotionally aware, like healthy Fours.”  YOU’RE A FOUR!  Ha!

  • You are a #4 The Individualist: The Sensitive, Introspective type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental

I looked at what #2 & #4 bring to a relationship…yes, I think they were more directing info at a dating relationship, but they had AWESOME things to say:

“Enneagram Twos and Fours can be a safe place for each to share their hopes, fears, and insecurities. They can be good medicine for each other: Twos contribute sociability and energy, giving Fours the confidence to interact more easily with others.“

“Fours also bring emotional depth and sensitivity to their relationships, a sense of mystery and unpredictability, sensuality and sexual freedom. In short, Fours invite Twos to take a closer look at their deeper needs, the truth of who they are and what they actually feel.”

We go together like Peas & Carrots!

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You should totally read more.  I was laughing at how we DON’T mix.  I was also realizing…do you think that the creator of the Divergent series read these, and FOUR/Tobias had a deeper meaning…it was kind of weird! Things that make you go….Hmmm…

I’m sorry I don’t have much to write you.  I’ve been with you this whole week AND I’m planning your party, so to have an expository or narrative thought is slightly difficult at the time.

See you this weekend!  For your PARTY!

Love,

Lindsay

Check out Lindsay’s blog Wild Ginger for more of her personality and passions!

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What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW (9)

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What Are You Reading Wednesdays #WAYRW is a weekly feature started on It’s A Reading Thing. Everyone is welcome to participate. You can answer the questions in the comments section of the weekly #WAYRW post or link back to your #WAYRW post on your blog via the link up. You can grab the image above or create your own, just please make sure you link back to IART as the host for this meme.

How to participate:
Grab the book you are currently reading and answer three questions:
1. What’s the name of your current read?
2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.
3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

mindy-kaling-why-not-me1. What’s the name of your current read?

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

2. Go to page 34 in your book or 34% in your eBook and share a couple of sentences.

I have been largely silent about my attitude toward weddings.  Anyone who knows me even slightly will recognize how unusual that is, since I am notorious for making impassioned speeches about things nobody cares about.  Like, I think it’s a federal crime parking meters won’t accept pennies.  Yeah, government, we know pennies suck.  But you made them!  You have to accept them!  Parking meters are literally one of the three things anyone uses coins for and you decide you don’t want to deal with them?

That’s technically from page 23, but I’m not to page 34 yet and that was hilarious, so.  I do what I want.

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

A world in which Mindy Kaling exists?  Of course, that way I get to enjoy The Office and The Mindy Project.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

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This was so much fun!!  While also being really dark.  It’s a hard balance tSix-of-Crowso create a criminal group who are…actually criminals.  I love Kaz desperately, but there is no doubt in my mind that dude is bad news.  But the great thing is that as horrible as he is, Inej can totally handle him, so I feel okay wanting them to be in love.  But I’m rambling too quickly without any background.

Set in Bardugo’s world from her Grisha trilogy, we get to explore Ketterdam and Fjerda.  And our cast of six characters are from all over the world – I really appreciate a woman who creates a fictional world and still manages to have racially diverse characters.  I mean, honestly, Bardugo is genius at world building.  She’s created five nations with distinct people, values, languages, and cultures.  Throwing them all together in one criminal gang and watching them hate and love each other is so much fun!   Continue reading →

The Secret to Traveling When You Don’t Make Much Money

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When I was visiting my old roommates in Dallas, Rachel turned to Rachael (the house must be confusing now) and said, “Tricia is great at traveling.  She made like, how much money?”

“$14,000 a year.”

“And how many trips did you take?”

I paused.  In the last year I’d gone to Puerto Rico, Greece, and several trips in the US to places like New Orleans and San Antonio.  “I try to go somewhere every three months or so.”

Rachael, my replacement in the Saranac house, raised her eyebrows.  “How?” she asked.    Continue reading →

TEN YEARS AGO…Leaf Raking and Ice Skating

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Today we’re kicking off the Ten Years Ago… blog series!  This isn’t exactly ten years ago to the day, but I am giving myself a little leeway so that I find more interesting blog posts to share.  But I promise to stay within a week of today’s date!

TEN YEARS AGO

November 5, 2005

I got up at 7:00 this morning.  Ungodly.  Earlier than school.  Why would I do such a thing?  To rake leaves.  Yeah.  Actually, it was pretty cool because I wasn’t going to (or just call later and meet everyone elsewhere), but I felt like God wanted me to.  If for no other reason than because He wanted me to, and it was a test sort of thing.  So I went.  And people cheered when I walked into church.  Hahaha.  My bad habits are well-known.

We (the youth group and RAs [little boys] were split into two teams.  Ours went to the Steeres (where we got hot chocolate and doughnuts…mmm…), Knights, and the Abels.  Then we all recongregated at church for lunch, which was grilled hotdogs and chips and that sort of thing.  I finished up my mood/emotion roll, but I don’t think it’s very good.  I mean, they’re good pictures (I hope) but I don’t think they’re very moodful.  And we definately set a pumpkin on fire.  It was sweet.  A great way to capture 30 odd kids’, teenagers’, and adults’ attentions.   Continue reading →