1. I think my pharmacy thinks we're cooking up a meth lab. I bought so many cold meds yesterday that I had to purchase them in two transactions. YIkes! It's for me and my husband, I hastily explained. I don't think she cared. She just wanted me out of there before I needed 911 for lack of oxygen due to the coughing.

2. I think the Seth Rogen story from this week was really interesting. He was on Capitol Hill to testify about his charity to support research into Alzheimer's Disease. Only two senators in the subcommittee he spoke before stayed for the whole testimony and several people, according to Rogen FELL ASLEEP during the meeting. Now to be fair, there were several staffers in attendance, and those are the people Rogen is really speaking to. Congressmen and women are too busy in other meetings. And raising money. Oh, that. Seems a shame doesn't it?

I'm glad Seth Rogen went to congress, and I'm sorry he spoke to a bunch of literal empty chairs. I understand that Alzheimer's has touched his family personally, and I applaud his work. What I wish he'd gotten up to speak about (anyone? any celebrity?) to a roomful of empty chairs was how important it is to fund basic research, including Alzheimer's. That next great discovery? The great finding that cures cancer or limits the march of any other nameless disease will only come with more money put to basic research. But if congress isn't listening to the Alzheimer's talk, they likely won't listen to that one either.

3. I think I'm not sure I can't wait the week until this movie comes out. Wes Anderson, I love you. And seriously, that movie poster? Frame worthy.

4. I think I'm so glad my mom sent me this link from the New York Times. I'd breezed past it when it hit my twitter feed, and having her send it to me made me pause and really look. We talk about these kinds of things a lot, the photographers I hang with. There's all sorts of buzz these days about how our compulsion to photograph every experience causes us to remember less not more. So what happens on vacation? Where's the balance between capturing your memories and enjoying your time away? For photographers, especially. At my photography group we talk about how reluctant we are to pull out our big cameras in favor of our phones. I'm not sure where I fall, but I think about it, especially when I'm traveling, a lot.

5. I think I can't believe next week is the last week of the General Assembly session. Cal graduates next Saturday, and then he's home for good. So bittersweet. In the meantime, Neel and I are going out to dinner every night next week.

Oh, moving slowly again. I think Cal left a trace of his cold behind. I can only hope his leftovers are a bit weaker and I'm less under the weather than he has been. I've cheered myself considerably with a little project that was inspired by all of the compelling images Petra has been taking in London recently. What photos were my "left behinds?"

My Facebook feed is full of London right now. A friend just got back. Another friend considering going. Makes me wistful. (And Rooth seems to be there every other week, practically.) It's truly one of my favorite cities in the world. There's something that London just does so well as it juxtaposes its old (really old) with its new that I find so compelling. It feels big and exciting and different and also completely approachable. After I tapped out some tips for the friend who's headed there this summer (she has a kid Cal's age), I looked at Neel and said, "Hey, I'm thrilled about our trip this summer, but I really want to go back to London and see Annie again."

My left behinds, the photos of things that caught my eye, are still very different from the stunning images Petra brings us of her time in London. There's no denying it, we were tourists (much as Cal and I may have daydreamed otherwise!), and my pictures reflect that. But it's so lovely to look back here and remember the things that stood out to me, big and small.

five things, february 28

noticed london {still + life}