hello, (almost) last day of August.

Being back in Philadelphia is an experience I have no words for.

Let me try to explain.

At once bittersweet and refreshingly new, I am suddenly a different person here than I was before but the people and places are the same. It makes for an odd sensation of seeing something familiar for the first time.

The friends that I have made over the past four years while living here are what make it necessary for me to visit as often as I can, and they truly are wonderful life-enriching people, but these trips also make me see (once again) how awesome Philadelphia is. I regret that I didn't take advantage of this city as dutifully as I should have when I had the chance. Oh well, it is just as well because I have a long to-do list of places to see while I'm around.

Today I am going for a run on Kelly Drive and then meeting Jess & Jackie for lunch at Soy Cafe!

Song of the moment: "Perfect Day" - Lou Reed

melodies in my head...

via google

Just saw The Runaways, which obviously prompted a swift listen of all of Joan Jett's greatest hits (she definitely knew what she was doing by producing this movie). I love rediscovering oldies, and I kept thinking to myself during the movie, "Wow, she wrote that, too? What a great song!" So, naturally I had to add her onto this list of my recent faves.

Click on the song for the download:

"Damnit Anna" - The Morning Benders

"Everybody Hurts" - R.E.M.

"Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah!)" - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

"Paper Bag" - Dear and the Headlights

"Please Come to Boston" - Jim Croce

"Are You Strong Enough To Be My Man" - Sheryl Crow

There is a song by Coldplay called "Postcards from Far Away". Well, it is more of a Chris Martin piece, being only 48 seconds long and composed solely on the piano. But man, is it ridiculous. In the good way. In that "holy crap I have chills" kind of way that some music stirs up in us.

I have played it on repeat for two days straight- not literally, but I do have every note burned into my brain- and I just can't believe how absurdly well the title of the song coincides with the actual melody. It feels as though I must go out at once, buy a black and white postcard, scribble the most romantic note I can think of hastily on the back, lick on a stamp, and send it through one of those old red Post Office boxes as soon as my feet will allow, to reach the one person I'm cripplingly in love with, of course.

Its haunting, strange, sweet, and melancholy. In the effort to bore you with an onslaught of copious nostalgia, I often experience a flash of sun drenched childhood memories inside my mind when listening to it, most notably of my sister and I putting willow tree buds in each others hair while lazily napping in our backyard hammock sometime in the summer, and that is how I know that music is indeed the greatest medicine - or drug, if you prefer.

If you are in any way, shape, or form interested in being overtaken by the most beautiful piece of musical composition produced by man possible, listen to this song.

xo J