Thank you, IU text messages

For telling me to get to the basement. Twister's comin.

I need to find a better way...

...to identify Haitians. Right now, I get real close and hum a Haitian folk song, Choukoun.

Missing out? Narrow in.

Make a city digestible: pick a few spots. Remember what you love. For me, people, pictures, eggs benedict, found notes and papers:



Fun while the sun set over Manhattan.


All of these found in $1 book bins on the curb:

Notes on intimidation.

I am humbled. I am humbled by big streets and fast people and subway transfers and creative musicians and better cooks than I'll be.

In other news: I love this girl and this window seat (one is my brother's love and one is mine):

Subway feet

Balance and style.

A few lessons in hunting

Piti piti (little by little) I am learning about guns, deer, and turkey mating calls.

Lesson #1
Hunters are serious about words. Don't say "bag" a deer. You killed it.

Lesson #2
Hunters are naturalists. Some of the most beautiful writing comes from those in the field who observe the way the grass feels, the way the sun moves, the way a leaf crackles.

Back to summer blogging

"Li béf mwen."

Summer. I won't make any grand statements about what it signifies (flowers and Brown Eyed Girl and basil and joy), but I will say I'm happy it's here.

I spent two weeks in Haiti, planting trees, practicing kreyol, and visiting friends. The Haitian newspaper Le Matin was still functioning, although they publish weekly now. Prestige beer is back to brewing its lovely signature beer and Guinness. The factory was fascinating, as it employs hundreds of Haitians and sends its beverages throughout Haiti, despite crumbled roads.

Sweet boy who called me "blan." I said, "M pa rele blan, m rele Carol." (My name is not whitey, my name is Carol).

Morning fishers.

Between Port-au-Prince and New York, a very special picnic:


Now, I'm in New York, working for a magazine and learning about Haitian media. I'm hoping to eat delicious food, meet people, and hear their stories. Life is full when it's full of stories.