bethoffreshair

exchange.

Magic. The musician sings like a mix of Bob Marley and Shawn McDonald as he drums on his guitar. It’s my first time at the Oxford Exchange in Tampa and it feels like magic. A bookstore opens up to a coffee house, which opens to a two-story parlor with live music and a restaurant withContinue reading “exchange.”

tongue splinter.

I love seemingly endless Fruitwood salads that are already chopped up for me so I can hold my book and eat with little effort. I love the breeze that blows through this patio as if on the sea and not Kennedy. I love the wooden forks but I fear a tongue splinter would ruin myContinue reading “tongue splinter.”

deadline.

I thought I’d let you know one reason for my absence…I have been editing my New Zealand manuscript and will be sending it to a publisher friend by the 31st of August. You all have permission to ridicule me if I miss this deadline that I created for myself. Thank you for reading! I hope youContinue reading “deadline.”

fake eyelashes.

List after list, orange flowers and yellow hair pins, excitement and butterflies, constant bridesmaid laughter, handsome groomsmen donned in Air Force uniform, unforgettable introductions from new friends and hugs from old friends, dancing and twirling the flower girl around the dance floor, a bride more beautiful than one could’ve even imagined. Then all of aContinue reading “fake eyelashes.”

jay and the gre and the red backpack.

I am sitting in the lobby of the extravagant Grand Hyatt overlooking the Causeway in Tampa. When I entered donning my red Osprey backpack, the man at the door asked, “Have you registered at the hotel?” I kind of heard him, but wasn’t sure what he said, but instead of saying “Pardon?” or “Excuse me?”Continue reading “jay and the gre and the red backpack.”

3×5

It’s a slow, somewhat sunny day at the shop. I’ve been on the floor by myself and that means I have the rare privilege of controlling the iPod (after I bring the stool over to be able to reach). I had Mumford and Sons on repeat for the first couple hours. Then Old Crow MedicineContinue reading “3×5”

moo.

The two year old I babysit, Oliver, wakes up thinking about trains, he takes trains to bed with him at nap time, and when I ask “What should we do today!?” He says, “TRAINS!” To be honest, I’m not a Thomas the Train fan. The trains often misbehave and lie and are selfish. They alwaysContinue reading “moo.”

unfortunate fortunes.

Also, on a lighter note, I found a few brainstorming pages that Erica and I got from the book “642 Things to Write About” Write 10 sayings for fortune cookies: 1. You should’ve talked to the man who winked at you in the library last Tuesday. He was supposed to be your husband. 2. You’llContinue reading “unfortunate fortunes.”

boundless joy.

My babysitting gig got canceled this morning. I got some things done that I should have completed a while ago (meaning I watched a few episodes of Ellen that had been waiting for me). Then I threw on my bathing suit, grabbed my old journal, started Audrey Assad Pandora, and sat by the pool withContinue reading “boundless joy.”

cheap.

I had plans to meet friends for dinner after closing the outfitters. When I asked Mindy where I should meet up with them she said, “cheap.” I gave her a thumbs up. Something inexpensive sounded ideal. I left work at seven and called Mindy. No answer. I wrote and said, “Where shall I meet you?”Continue reading “cheap.”