I don't usually...

agree with George Lois. 

But when I do, 

I listen to things like this:

"... Campbell nailed the secret of living

a joyous, fruitful, and successful life:

Follow your bliss. 

That which you love,

you must spend your life doing,

as passionately

and as perfectly 

as your heart, mind, and instincts allow. 

And the sooner you identify

that bliss,

which surely resides in the soul

of most human beings,

the greater your chance

of a truly successful 

life."

-From his book, Damn Good Advice (For People with Talent!)

.

.

.

Which is a good one to read I think.

.

.

.

Photo via balanceandperfection

"Come on...

is your heart a sponge

or a fist?"

-Tea Obreht

The Tiger's Wife

.

.

.

Sometimes, 

I think i'm a little too 

spongy.

Do you...

let style books 

inspire you?

I do

sometimes.

Here are my top three

picks.

"I read," I say...

"I study and read. 

I bet I've read everything you've read.

Don't think I haven't.

I consume libraries.

I wear out spines and ROM-drives.

I do things like get in a taxi and say,

"The library, and step on it."

My instincts concerning syntax and mechanics are better than your own,

I can tell,

with all due respect. 

But it transcends the mechanics.

I'm not a machine.

I feel and believe.

I have opinions.

Some of them are interesting.

I could, if you'd let me,

talk 

and 

talk."

-David Foster Wallace

.

.

.

What a genius.

He inspires me.

Yes, I can write.

And have things to say.

It's just that mostly

I'm nervous to 

do so. 

"Why is it so difficult...

to assemble those things

that really matter in life

and to dwell among 

them only? 

I am referring to certain 

landscapes,

persons,

beasts,

books, 

rooms,

meteorological conditions,

fruits."

-James Salter

Memorable Days: The Selected Letters of James Salter and Robert Phelps

Looking up...

job postings at

Penguin Publishing

instead of

focusing on

homework.

Whoops.

.

.

.

Tights

via

Happy Socks

Not sure...

where I'm going.

But I promise

it won't be

boring.

Do you know...

what it is

to be really intimate,

to feel safe

with someone who

will never 

betray you,

will never force

you to act

unlike yourself?

That is what

we have.

-James Salter

Light Years

The first Milwaukee snowfall...

demands an 

enchanting book

a cup of tea

and 

class 

skipping.

Literature takes a habit of mind...

that has disappeared.

It requires silence,

some form of isolation,

and sustained concentration 

in the presence 

of an enigmatic

thing.

-Philip Roth

"Give me books...

French wine,

fruit,

fine weather

and a little music

played out of doors 

by somebody I 

do not know."

-J. Keats

I have one million...

goosebumps. 

My favorite book

of all time

is coming 

to life.

Proof that we...

owe a lot to

literature.