Hearts beat

I really like this blog because sometimes I feel like telling everyone my ten favorite Julia Roberts' movies (oh, yes, this will be a list posted in the next few days) and sometimes I like getting really personal and sappy and cornball and posting something about myself.

There is certain music I listen to that makes me feel all shmoozy. Certain music makes me feel like I did after three glasses of red wine on Frease's porch. We'd always end up in the middle of something super serious: reflection on our brothers or feelings for this person or that person or failed friendships and past learning experiences. We'd usually be interrupted by a phone call from Ben or Mikey and then we'd have to transfer to non-girl-time. I loved those summer days with my lady, and I can't wait to have her home. 

Listening to U2 when it's raining gets me there. Listening to Coldplay's "Politik" or anything from "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" gets me there. Right now, I've got Louis' "La Vie en Rose" (of course) on, an extremely feverish chest cold and the inability to fall asleep to get me there. (I do love DST, though.)

Things That Make My Heart Beat Faster

The beginning verse of Tupac Shakur's "Hail Mary." 

When Benjamin walks into his mother's bedroom to open his Christmas gift in Stepmom. 

Jogging for more than 10 minutes straight (at 6.2 mph, to be exact). 

Too much wine. 

The swelling of the music halfway through "Unable to Stay, Unwilling to Leave." 

Thinking about doing karaoke.

Finding out a big secret. 

Hearing about a celebrity death. (Michael, rest in peace.) 

"TOW The Prom Video": the part where they all just found out Ross dressed up to take Rachel to prom when she thought Chip was ditching her and Monica goes, "I can't believe you did that." 

When a member of my family calls me. (I assume it's bad news. Old habits die hard.)

Being woken up at 3:30 in the morning--even if it's by my favorite person, even if it's with a gentle caress on the side of my face, even if it's with a Face/Off reference--if my old most important person is also unexpectedly in the room.

The "blue screen of death" on a laptop.

Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred.

When people that only call me Jess call me "Jessica."

And quotes about hope.
I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life's not worth living. And you, and you, and you...gotta give 'em hope. 


Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. 


I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.


Because after all, my heart only beats because I hope.

While I breathe, I hope.