Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 50)

by Linda Nguyen on in Diary

1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we are called to action by our friend, Nico’s vlog about secrets.


Youtube Link

Do click through to our channel and watch the other girls’ videos. I loved them all.

2.


Here’s mine.


Youtube Link

3.

I took my little (from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America) out to dinner this week. She’s growing up pretty fast. 11 years old and almost as tall as me. I gave her a few lessons on how to be a lady, which tickles me so much. I try to keep it classy but I don’t think I’m so refined that I can give lessons on being a lady. I’m still working on how to be a lady myself (Sorry, mom)! Fortunately, I do know some things. We started with table manners yesterday and how to sit.

4.

Harry Ransom Center has a Tennessee Williams exhibit going on. I read Glass Menagerie in high school and loved it and that was all that I remembered of him. Since this exhibit, I’ve seen three movies (featured at the museum) adapted from his plays, perused his manuscripts, and read many of his original correspondences. I’m slightly obsessed now. I want to read all his plays.

Also, something about seeing his scribbled on manuscripts and eloquent letters has me inspired to start writing creatively (just so I can mark it up with red ink) and motivated to not write on my Little Mermaid stationary.

5.

I’ve been writing back to a few people and it’s reminding me how awkward letter writing can get when you use it side by side with social media. I sent Jennifer a letter asking her all sorts of questions about her recent move to Seattle, only to ask her the same questions when I caught her online. And yes, I totally wrote to her on Little Mermaid stationary.

6.

A few months ago, I had a sudden moment of clarity of how often I let the people in my life define the limits of our relationships and also how frequently I let their opinions affect my self-esteem. I’ve since been working on reclaiming my power and it has been very hard work. Just a few months later, I’m feeling pretty calm and powerful. It’s awesome.

7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ downtown stroll with Alan after dinner ♥ another Tennessee Williams movie at the museum (Baby Doll) ♥ dinner date with Davey ♥ laughing outloud reading Housekeeping vs. The Dirt ♥ strawberry shortcake cupcakes with perfect light frosting ♥ hilarious emails from friends, they stun me with their wit ♥ moment where I felt completely unsettled for reasons mentioned here, yet oddly happy ♥ checking out a fancy new movie theatre with Alan ♥ a late night out over beers with old friends I haven’t spoken to in over 6 years ♥ honeydew and cantaloupe snow-cones

Questions: When was the last time you divulged a secret? How did you feel?

29 thoughts on “Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 50)”

  1. My Secret: I really like the song ‘Secrets’ by One Republic.
    Wow. that felt good. ::deep breath:: yeaaaa. Tell me what you want to heaaarrrrrr….. 

    1. You and One Republic. I know of one secret that might feel good for you to
      tell someone. Just saying.

      1. nevahhhhhh. That little guy is going to the GRAVE with me. (Its not you its me)
        It’s too late to apologize
        Its too late
        I said it’s too late to apologize
        Its too late.
        Whoa!

  2. re: letter writing. i’ve had a pen pal since junior high. we’re now on facebook and never actually write to each other. however, the last letter we exchanged just a few years ago, i couldn’t remember what i had written (or when) in the previous letter. so i’m pretty sure i either repeated stuff or missed a lot of stuff.

    with email, i at least have a copy of the sent letter and can remember what new things to include or ask about. what a strange world we live in today. :)

    1. So the inner archivist in me has thought about this letter writing dilemma
      you’ve mentioned where you cannot remember what it is was you last wrote to
      them. Sometimes their response confuses you. I actually thought about photo
      copying all my sent letters or scanning them but then I felt too anal and
      lazy at the same time. Strange world indeed! How did they do it in the old
      days? ;)

  3. HI Linda! You are my new favorite blog! And for the record, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Little Mermaid stationary :)

  5. Proud of you for claiming back your power! I agree with Maria – there is nothing wrong with your LM stationary. It brought a huge smile to my face. I read the Glass Menagerie in high school too & remember loving it. Have a great weekend.

    1. Thanks Danielle! I recommend netflixing (instant!) Cat on Hot Tin Roof. I
      loved it and Paul Newman was super beautiful. Have a great weekend too. :)

  6. I agree with Kathleen & 5 is a big one. I have been thinking about a lot lately to!! Maybe there is something in the air??

  7. I’m so glad we shared our secrets this week. It was scary at first, but so freeing once I actually did it. And I feel closer to you and the other girls now too.

    Sorry, I never got back to you about the Tennessee Williams exhibit. I really wanted to go and it sounds like it was awesome; time just got away from me!

    1. Dearest Ashley,
      This was a great week for TAC. I feel closer to all you ladies now too and
      that I know a bit more. So glad we share this project! No worries about the
      TW exhibit, the last movie wasn’t our favorite and we sat in front of two
      unruly drunks. Yuck.

  8. nico’s video was intense, but definitely was an enjoyable video to watch. i’m thinking of doing one myself.

    on your video i feel the same way about meeting some people for the first time. i can relate when you really want them to like you.

    also you do what you have to do yourself :) reclaiming your power is hard, but we can’t always have others affect how we feel. i’m learning to regain my power as well. one step at a time. it must be so rewarding when you have full control

    1. It feels SO good. It’s like I didn’t even know I was suffering until I felt
      this good. I’m rooting for you in your journey too. Looking forward to
      seeing your secret vlog!

  9. I love letter writing, and I have gotten so behind at it. I want to make that better. Supposed to be a resolution. Shall I resolve now? Methinks so! (Yep, I totally just got Olde English up in here!)

    As for being a lady, I think all modern ladyhood is built around a love of cupcakes, so based on your picture it seems you are on the right track.  ;)

  10. Interesting vlog, Linda! It is quite an interesting experience, when we meet someone we know quite well for the first time. It does make one nervous! Your enthusiasm for Tennessee Williams is infectious! Hope you enjoy reading all his plays :) Writing letters is so wonderful! I used to be such a big letter writer! There was a time I and one of my friends used to prefer writing letters over mail and it was so much fun! Unfortunately, I don’t write many letters nowadays, and even if I do once in a blue moon, it is just a note filled with a few lines. I miss writing letters. Glad to know that you are enjoying Housekeeping vs The Dirt. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it. Hope you are having a wonderful time with your mom during this weekend. Happy weekend!

      1. Nico’s such a special person. I’m glad he vlogs. Letter writing is hard
        along facebook and gchat but there’s just something about opening something
        and actually touching it. It’s like presents! Happy Weekend to you too,
        friend.

  11. Hopefully posting my Scrests vlogs this week. Such honesty. I love writing letters, just wish I had people to write them to lol.

    1. Heather!
      You know what I’ve been lazy about looking into? Have you thought about
      writing to soldiers? Or uh, prison inmates? There are outreach programs that
      will set this up for you.

      Also, looking forward to seeing your secrets vlog.

  12. I have a secret that I’ve been wanting to divulge for months. It’s driving me nuts! It almost came out last night at happy hour. Maybe this weekend…

  13. It is so easy to just go with the flow with friends and people you know but after a while it does bug me too.  Like I have no say so.  Like you.  But its a situation I let happen so in essense it’s my problem cause I caused it.  It’s a consant revolving cycle.  Good luck teaching your Little manners.  So many kids have ZERO.  She will be gratiful in the future.  Letter writing – my daughter is at camp all summer as a counselor and she requested I write her letters all summer. Reason-the couselors have to do on-the-spot skits to get their mail and she loves it.  I am so enjoying writing actual letters versus texts or emails.

    1. It is a constant cycle that requires a lot of mindfulness and maintenance. It’s quite a task as I only see her 2-4 times a month, making it hard to be a constant model. I hope your daughter writes back to you as well! Ah, camp. One of those childhood milestones, I’ve never experienced.

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