Moonrise Kingdom, eat your heart out. We canoe'd, we made fire, we camped out and drank to extents we felt Billy Murray would approve of. It was a very much needed time away from the city. Every meal was fantastic (bravo, Sean)—the bouquet of campfire was simply the icing on the rustic cake. Is there anything my husband can't do? We now know: no.

Also, are you familiar with the blue hour? This weekend I came to know it well, and I am smitten. How can I sleep when such magic is passing me by? How many of these hours have I wasted unknowing?!

'Burma-Shave' by Tom Waits

"He kind of looked like Farley Granger the way he had his hair slicked back. She said, 'Honey, I've always been a sucker for a fella' that wears a cowboy hat... Just how far do you think you might be going?' He said, 'That would all depend on just what you mean. You see, I'm only stopping here 'cause I got to get myself some of this gasoline. I guess you'd say I'm going that-a-way—at least as long as it's paved... I guess you'd say I'm on my way to Burma-Shave.' He said, 'Honey, why don't you put your knees up on the glove compartment just like that.' And she took out her barrettes and, man, her hair spilled out just like root-beer."

It's always a hot summer night with you, Tom.

Porch Culture is a thing

Several years back, I was visiting an elderly woman in my Quaker meeting. She was reminiscing about her childhood. I asked her what she missed the most. She closed her eyes a moment thinking back, then said, “Porch talk. I miss the porch talk.” Social scientists and preachers offer a number of reasons for the decline of civil society: broken homes, poverty, disease, television and increasing secularism, to name a few. I believe all that is wrong with our world can be attributed to the shortage of front porches and the talks we had on them. Somewhere around 1950, builders left off the front porch to save money, and we’ve had nothing but problems ever since.

From Porch Talk LP, Chapter One: "Porch Talk," which I have not read in its entirety, but intend to. It may seem like false and far-fetched criticism (there are many ways to play this particular blame-game), but—with my experience and deep interest in urban planning and design—I believe a lot of our modern crime and community problems could be improved upon with the consideration of porches. Leaving your porch light on, meeting your neighbor, adding eyes on the street—that's easy, powerful stuff.

"Book of Self-Defense," '65

Park benches and beach days in the sun are no place to let your guard down. "Honor Blackman's Book of Self-Defense: in which the striking actress demonstrates 'Defense Galore.'" What a total vintage badass.

via howtobearetronaut