Mighty Girl » lifelist

Taste 1,000 Fruits, No. 97: Mountain Rose Apple

Maggeh — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:10:21 +0000

Can’t you almost smell that color?

When I first saw a Mountain Rose Apple, my breath caught. It reminded me of a professor who said that one of the Impressionist painters — I think it was Matisse — brought an apple as a gift when he visited friends. And that’s exactly what these apples are, tokens of affection. The best way to bring something simple and sweet to someone you love.

Taste 1,000 fruits is part of my ongoing Life List project. If you’d like to make a Life List of your own, start with these 10 tips or this exercise.

Violins in the Subway

Maggeh — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:11:35 +0000

When I worked in publishing, I loved my commute. I enjoyed the solitude, the chance to listen to people and observe them without having to interact. In the evening, I switched off my brain so I could navigate the subway, being pressed by strangers on all sides. And when I stepped on the escalator, I played a personal lottery, hoping I might emerge from the heat and pressure of the subway and hear a violin in the station above.

Violins in the subway have always been a private pleasure. There’s something about the contrast of being so close to people you can smell the animal on them, and then the absolute civility of a string instrument. Those juxtapositions are the best thing about living in a city. They give you incentive to be grateful.

For years, I’ve wanted to give an extravagant tip to a violin-playing busker. I added it to my Life List and started plotting. I imagined standing out of view and handing small bills to other commuters, asking them to tip the busker on their way out of the station. I thought it would be fun to use two-dollar bills, so the busker would feel appreciated, but also know something was up. Of course, I wanted to film it for the site, so all of you could see it unfold, maybe take some photos of the violinist too.

I told Bryan about my plan a couple years ago, and he surprised me with a stack of crisp two-dollar bills from the bank. I started thinking more seriously about logistics. I’d need some friends — someone to film, someone to pass out bills while I took photos. We’d need to head out at rush hour so there were sufficient passersby to help us tip, and to provide cover. It might take a few days, because we’d have to ride the subway around in search of a violinist, and violinists are a little elusive in San Francisco. Maybe it would take a week.

You can see where I’m going. In my head I was taking a simple pleasure, a moment distinguished by its serendipity, and turning it into a three-person, week-long slog. The plan was pretty in theory, but it was built to surprise and delight everyone but me.

This past year I’ve had to put my Life List on hold, but a few weeks ago I happened to be on the subway by myself for the first time in a long while. I stepped onto the escalator, and listened with my heart in my mouth.

There he was.

So I wrote him a check.

And I dropped it in his violin case before I headed upstairs.

The Mighty Summit and Camp Mighty are coming up, both events we’ve built around the concept of Life Lists. It finally feels like the right time to get back in the game. So here goes.

Give $100 to a violin playing busker? Check.

1,000 Songs Project: Friday Mixtape

Maggeh — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 04:45:27 +0000

I’ve always wished I knew more about music, and this is part of my Life List project to listen to 1,000 new songs. Right now I’m up to 976, and on Fridays I share some of my new favorites. If you’d like to share some music with me, please link to your picks in comments, and I will listen to them.

Those to Come from The Shins

Two of Those Two by Maria Taylor

Doo Wah Doo from Kate Nash (Thanks, Molly.)

That Day from The Villagers (Thanks, Jan.)

Firework from Katy Perry. I know you’ve heard this. I don’t care. Let’s do this.

Still looking for more music? Here you go: Mixtape 1, Mixtape 2, Mixtape 3, Mixtape 4, Mixtape 5, Mixtape 6, Mixtape 7, Mixtape 8, Mixtape 9, Mixtape 10, Mixtape 11, Mixtape 12, Mixtape 13, Mixtape 14, Mixtape 15 , Mixtape 16 , Mixtape 17 , Mixtape 18, Mixtape 19, Mixtape 20, Mixtape 21, Mixtape 22, Mixtape 23, Mixtape 24, Mixtape 25, Mixtape 26, Mixtape 27

Taste 1,000 Fruits: Black Arkansas and Davisson Apples

Maggeh — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:02:42 +0000

I choose apples the same way I’d choose a puppy, by looking for the one with the prettiest spots. The Black Arkansas apple on the left is so gorgeous. So red, it truly is almost black, except for the mottling on the side. It’s tart and firm, seems like it would make a decent pie apple. The Davisson is flavorful, but a little sweeter.

With the addition of these two, we’re up to 96 fruits. Only 904 to go!

Friday Mixtape

Maggeh — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 05:31:16 +0000

I’ve always wished I knew more about music, and this is part of my Life List project to listen to 1,000 new songs. Right now I’m up to 467, and on Fridays I share some of my new favorites. If you’d like to share some music with me, please send your picks to maggie at mighty girl dot com, and I will listen to them.

These first three songs and/or artists are suggestions from Amber Scott. Thanks, Amber!

“Bag of Hammers” by Thao with the Get Down Stay Down

“I know how you are going to die tonight.” by Chris Bathgate
Sample Lyric: “Lately it seems as though your attitude is an insult
Well I don’t take kindly to that
cuz you’re the dullest tongue yet to slice my back”

“So Sleepy” by Fiona Apple
This song was written by the kids at 826LA, and is part of a benefit album called Chickens in Love.
All songs were written by 826LA students and covered by bands including Fiona Apple, She & Him, The Submarines, Cold War Kids, and more. Buy it.

“God Loves You Micheal Chang” by Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
(via Josh! A.! Cagan!)
He looks like Elton John, but sounds like Morrisey on Zoloft.

“Modern Man” by Arcade Fire
(via Jacqui Thoman)
A couple weeks ago, I accidentally attended the Arcade Fire after party for their show in Madison Square Garden. I was staying at the Ace Hotel, and I wanted food, and they were having the party in the hotel’s restaurant. So when the doorman turned away for a second, I just went in. Sorry about that, Arcade Fire. Good party.

Still looking for more music? Here you go: Mixtape 1, Mixtape 2, Mixtape 3, Mixtape 4, Mixtape 5, Mixtape 6, Mixtape 7, Mixtape 8, Mixtape 9, Mixtape 10, Mixtape 11, Mixtape 12, Mixtape 13, Mixtape 14, Mixtape 15 , Mixtape 16 , Mixtape 17

Chocolate and Champagne Wednesday!

Maggeh — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:20:03 +0000

I’m back in New York for the Intel Insiders Summit, so this morning I had chocolate and champagne in Central Park with Zan.

Here’s to waking up with the light, breakfast in the park, and recovering from what ails you.

What are you toasting today?

Champagne and Chocolate Wednesday!

Maggeh — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:25:51 +0000

Here’s to ice cream cones and sundresses, freeing up space for new projects, and the smell of new shoes.

What are you toasting today?

Before I Die I Want to… Project

Maggeh — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:08:10 +0000

The Before I Die I Want to… Project collects polaroids of people as they state their wish, then asks them to write it down and send it in.

If you’d like to participate by sending in photos, you’ll find detailed information here.

(Thanks, Karen. You always send the best stuff my way.)

The Winner and a Reminder

Maggeh — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:39:23 +0000

And the winner is? #986. JJ, you won! You are officially a lucky person. I sent you a note with details, so check your spam filter.

As for the rest of you, it is officially the last day of March. When the Verizon campaign started, many of you promised that you’d finish three things off your life list this month too. How’s that coming? If you haven’t already commented about your victories, please do today, so I can read what you’ve been up to and include you in the roundup.

If you haven’t gotten started yet, do it! You have 24 hours to rock. Reeeaaddy? Go!

Go Dogsledding? Check.

Maggeh — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:17:41 +0000

Am I the only one who thought you have to go to the Arctic Tundra for dogsledding? The idea is so exotic to me, I expected to be shrouded in seal pelts and lunching on whale blubber. Then again, having grown up in California, windshield ice scrapers are exotic to me, so I may not be the best judge. Turns out there’s a dogsledding operation called Wilderness Adventures in Truckee, California, just a few hours north of my home town. Score!

This is our family riding in a dogsled, you guys. Hank is covering his face because I gave him my sunglasses so snow chips wouldn’t hit him in the eyes. He loved them and got very screechy when I tried to uncover his face. I thought about fighting him, because I was attached to the idea of a crazy-awesome dogsledding Christmas card, until I realized I was in danger of turning a magical day into a Perfectionist v. Toddler screamfest. So you’ll just have to trust me that he’s looking pretty cute under there.

Sledding was a little scary in the beginning because the dogs were so excited to get going, and also because this life list project has made me afraid of going fast without an adult helmet. Bryan asked if we should be prepared for the sled to tip. On the bridge, for example.

Yikes.

Our guide assured us that there was too much weight in the sled. So he basically called us fat. Take that, huskies!

For the most part, dogsledding was sort of like an amusement park ride, only the the bumper cars can poop. Speaking of which, the dogs do let loose while they’re running, sometimes without even breaking stride. So it was nice to have front row tickets for that.

Apparently the motion of the sled is so soothing that it often puts kids to sleep, and Hank was no exception. It was so cozy to have him dozing in my lap while I snuggled up with Bryan. Dog sledding is fun for the whole family!

After the run was over, we got to go play with the dogs, which made Hank delirious with joy and slightly terrified. He’s a little nervous around big dogs, so he kept saying, “These doggies are so nice to me. They will not bite me.”

And he was right.

We rewarded Hank for his bravery by finding him a pair of his very own sunglasses.

Christmas card secured.

A huge thanks to Verizon Wireless for sponsoring my Mighty Life List and helping me achieve my dreams. They gave me a Palm Pre Plus, which I used to find my way to the dogsledding place because it has GPS, and we were totally lost. Our guide also used it to take the first photo of this post, which I frankly would not have believed was from a camera phone if I hadn’t been there. Well done, everyone.