Sunday, March 31, 2013

Beach Yoga, History, and Good Books


Hello Everybodyyy!
How was your spring break? Hopefully relaxing because we are not getting another one until June! I'll tell you about my spring break...
I went to Amagansett, the town neighboring Montauk, which was chilly, but not chilly enough to keep me and my mom from taking beach yoga pictures! (see below :) and I got a new hat! It's very british, don't you think?
I celebrated Passover with my family which was really in-depth Jewish learning and hysterically funny at the same time. My family does Passover like this; singing with ridiculous hand motions, term paper threats, heated debates, it doesn't get any better.
I also went to DC which was a little warmer and really fun! I went to the Newseum for the second time; it also happens to be my second favorite museum, the Museum of Modern Art being the first.  And I went to the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian and saw the First Ladies exhibit which was incredible.  They had dresses from almost every first lady in the history of the U.S. and sometimes the shoes and jewelry that they wore during that time. It was really cool to see the evolution of fashion as the title of first lady was passed through the centuries.  See below the dresses of Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton and, of course, Michelle Obama.
That night I went with my family to an awesome restaurant/bookstore called Busboys and Poets. The fact that it is a restaurant and a bookstore immediately makes it awesome. Picture a big space splashed with bright colors and comfy furniture amid high-stooled tables. The name, Busboys and Poets, comes from the story of how the African American poet, Langston Hughes supposedly got his start. Hughes was a waiter at a nearby hotel and one night he was serving a famous American poet. Langston slipped a few poems to him and the next day the famous American poet wrote about "The busboy poet" and Langston got his start. The environment of the restaurant was very down-to-earth and college town-y and even on the inside of the menu there was a tribal statement that insured the peaceful atmosphere.
I think the best thing about this Spring break was getting to see family. As George Burns, the famous writer, once said, "“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” These are words to hold on to.
"The Book Thief" is the best book I have read in a long time. Maybe forever. Here is an excerpt of the New York Times review of it: "Markus Zusak has not really written 'Harry Potter and the Holocaust.' It just feels that way. 'The Book Thief' is perched on the cusp between grown-up and young-adult fiction, and it is loaded with librarian appeal. It deplores human misery. It celebrates the power of language. It may encourage adolescents to read. It has an element of the fanciful. And it's a book that bestows a self-congratulatory glow upon anyone willing to grapple with it." See? SO GOOOOD! If you aren't reading another equally good book (trust me, you're probably not. But if you are, comment the title and author. I love book suggestions!) then start reading this one!!
I'm interviewing for a school job this week, so wish me good luck!!
I'm going to go eat some chocolate chip banana bread now, a great way to end a great spring break!
More,
Amanda

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