Essie's Notebook

the barista whose shift ended 30 mins ago

2012-01-27T09:17:00.000-05:00

"Good to see you give it 110%."

"Yeah, I wish they'd pay me 110%!"

shop fitting room

2012-01-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

"Your figure is too nice for that dress."

department store fitting room

2012-01-25T09:15:00.000-05:00

"You've got a lot going on right on your middle - I mean, if you're comfortable with that, you should get it."

passers-by on the street

2012-01-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

"I didn't think they'd ostracise us, I thought they'd have sympathy for us."

teenagers talking

2012-01-23T09:13:00.000-05:00

"Can I just say something? Annie Rawl must have had a chubby mother!"

archaeological dig in harvard yard

2012-01-20T09:25:00.000-05:00

filming in harvard yard

2012-01-19T09:24:00.000-05:00

kickball cheer: "diarrohea!"

2012-01-18T09:22:00.000-05:00

kickball

2012-01-17T09:22:00.000-05:00

cambridge common

2012-01-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

from the news

2012-01-13T09:18:00.000-05:00

"But I can hide sadness. I'm good at hiding the pain." Jonathan Grosvenor, who has Down's Syndrome.

from the news

2012-01-12T09:16:00.000-05:00

A mother strangled her severely autistic son with a belt in a hotel room. They were not discovered for three days, when she was found sitting on the bed in the darkened room covered in blood after cutting her wrists. After leaving her violent husband, she was terrified the boy would be taken into care and didn't trust anyone else to look after him.

from the news

2012-01-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

A Jack Russell has to wear special boots because he's allergic to grass.

from the news

2012-01-09T09:13:00.000-05:00

A former Brookside actress was jailed for 11 months after keeping her 95 year old mother's corpse behind a door so that she could claim her pension.

white guy to black guy

2012-01-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

"You don't have an attitude about it, you know what I'm saying? You're cool with your struggles."

traffic warden to tow truck guy

2012-01-05T09:02:00.000-05:00

"You're not supposed to smile when you're doing that."
"I know, but... cha ching!"

man on bike shouting after his girlfriend as she runs up the street

2012-01-04T09:01:00.000-05:00

"Don't be mad at me. Come on over here and let me rub your head, cool it down a little."

two students talking

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

"So... the only people richer than Harvard are Bill Gates and God."

two women in scrubs chatting

2012-01-02T09:59:00.000-05:00

"Is it me or does it always rain on your weekend?"

chelsea, nyc

2011-12-30T09:18:00.000-05:00

chelsea, nyc

2011-12-29T09:18:00.000-05:00

chelsea, nyc

2011-12-28T09:17:00.000-05:00

chelsea, nyc

2011-12-27T09:17:00.000-05:00

chelsea, nyc

2011-12-26T09:16:00.000-05:00

from the news

2011-12-23T09:12:00.000-05:00

Professional footballer Brandon Meriweather's return to the impoverished neighbourhood where he grew up went awry when an early-morning after-party grew violent and two men with him were shot in the head.

from the news

2011-12-22T13:30:00.000-05:00

A Boston police cruiser that crashed in Roxbury may have been responding to a call for an intruder in a home, was all police would say.

from the news

2011-12-21T09:09:00.000-05:00

The father of Melissa Gosule, who was murdered by a parolee. "How many passes does the victim get? Zero."

from the news

2011-12-20T09:08:00.000-05:00

"Republicans in Massachusetts legislature would like everyone to know that they are working on the former 'hack holiday' of St. Patrick's Day. Of course, the Democrats are also at work, just not with the same fanfare."

from the news

2011-12-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

John Kerry, calling for repeal of DOMA, "My job isn't to feel good about my vote 15 years ago or to boast about it. I'm vindicated when at last an American president agrees that DOMA is unconstitutional."

boyfriend to girlfriend

2011-12-16T09:58:00.000-05:00

"I'm sorry I'm like this, but... It is what it is."

two girls chatting

2011-12-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

"He's smart, he reads books, he's a cyclist, he's athletic, but... but... but... meh. You know?"

talking on phone, walking down street

2011-12-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

"Hi, Paul - the idiot strikes again!"

homeless man's sign

2011-12-13T09:54:00.000-05:00

"Seeking human kindness"

angry british guy in harvard square

2011-12-12T09:49:00.000-05:00

"Because they're f***ing useless in America and they won't do it!"

porter square

2011-12-09T09:08:00.000-05:00

porter square

2011-12-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

harvard square

2011-12-07T09:06:00.000-05:00

cambridge common

2011-12-06T09:06:00.000-05:00

cambridge common

2011-12-05T09:05:00.000-05:00

harvard book store winter warehouse sale

2011-12-04T12:58:00.001-05:00

"That's 35 books for $64, not bad!" (beat that, Amazon!)

yellow

2011-12-02T09:58:00.000-05:00

harvard square, november 14, 2011

orange

2011-12-01T09:58:00.000-05:00

harvard square, november 14, 2011

red

2011-11-30T09:55:00.000-05:00

harvard square, november 14, 2011

yellow

2011-11-29T09:53:00.000-05:00

cambridge common, november 13, 2011

orange

2011-11-28T09:50:00.000-05:00

massachusetts avenue, november 11, 2011

soccer coach to ten year olds

2011-11-25T09:06:00.000-05:00

"Do I look like a clown to you?"

waiting for a plane

2011-11-24T09:05:00.000-05:00

"It's how much? Look, I can't hear you, I'm in an airport. I'll call you tomorrow."

friends talking

2011-11-23T09:04:00.000-05:00

"How was last night?"
"Good. I'm going to post the photos on Facebook tonight, you should take a look."

notice in shop window

2011-11-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

"Yarn, spinning wheels and fiber lessons."

patience

2011-11-21T09:58:00.000-05:00

Two photographers still waiting patiently at Grand Geyser (Yellowstone Park) at 8am, when the predicted eruption was from 11pm to 3am.

from the news...

2011-11-18T09:10:00.000-05:00

Nine puppies were stolen from Sterling Animal Shelter. Staff are devastated and police are baffled.

from the news...

2011-11-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

Amidst the bodies of murdered prostitutes was found a female toddler, wrapped in a blanket.

tv news headline

2011-11-16T09:09:00.000-05:00

A mother found buried, her teenage son under arrest.

from the news...

2011-11-15T09:07:00.000-05:00

Worried that students will go hungry, the Boston School Superintendent has sent a letter home to parents telling that the food in the city's school cafeterias is safe to eat.

from the news...

2011-11-14T09:06:00.000-05:00

The killing of Jayna Murray and assault on her co-worker, Brittany Norwood at the Lululemon store seemed random at first, but wasn't. Norwood has been arrested for the crime.

paranoia

2011-11-11T09:54:00.000-05:00

Whilst out geocaching: "Are you looking for microphones?" the homeless guy asks us.

two youths talking

2011-11-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

"Why's he called G Raoul? Is he Gangster Raoul?"

the things waitresses discuss...

2011-11-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

(... amongst themselves when the restaurant is quiet)"I hate stitches.""They have those ones now that dissolve.""I guess the only place I've had stitches is my face."

earlier this summer....

2011-11-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

Tuxedo-clad prom boys walking down the street at 11pm, talking animatedly. "...I'm lying on my bed when Nadine Doran hits me up..."

neighbours chatting in the street

2011-11-07T09:45:00.000-05:00

"And where do things stand between you and your mother? Are you talking to her?"

autumn in Cornwall

2011-11-04T09:52:00.000-04:00

on the china clay trail

2011-11-03T09:51:00.000-04:00

Taken on the china clay trail, coming out of St Austell (Cornwall, UK)

fallen leaves

2011-11-02T09:48:00.000-04:00

pumpkins

2011-11-01T09:44:00.000-04:00

the dark side: NaNoEdMo from Pains, trains and inkstains blog

2011-10-31T21:48:00.001-04:00

Very funny article about the pains of editing your novel (all too familiar as I've just spent a year editing mine!)

the scariest house in our neighbourhood

2011-10-31T09:23:00.000-04:00

Much scarier than dead bodies and skeletons, brrr!

outside the pharmacy

2011-10-28T09:07:00.000-04:00

"I'm tired of you always saying you're going to be ill. Just once I'd like to hear you say - 'whatever I've got, it's not that bad'."

but he never says why...

2011-10-27T09:06:00.000-04:00

"I haven't looked at a police log in a while, are they long?"

"Actually, they just got longer."

pretty woman

2011-10-26T09:04:00.000-04:00

"That's awesome," she smiles and the man next to her smiles back, believing she's praising his preparedness in bringing a power supply to Starbucks, but she's talking on her phone and his smile fades.

frustrated girlfriend

2011-10-25T09:02:00.000-04:00

"The rule is you don't call after you're late, you call before you're late."

scruffy young man

2011-10-24T09:01:00.000-04:00

"I don't expect to get fired, but I do expect not to be doing this full time between August and January."

I'm tired...

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

... of you; tired of the drama and the routine, tired of the highs and the lows and the in-betweens. I'm tired of being your sidekick - I'm a real person, but you don't know. I'm tired of making an effort, tired of problems that aren't my own. I'm tired of being taken for granted, left drained and uninspired. Whatever you say next, I'm leaving. I'm tired of being tired.

am I the only one...

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

... who can feel? They knew you too, why don't they cry? Do they not realise this is real? Do they not know this is goodbye? I scream; but they cannot hear. I cry; but they do not see. You are gone; the world is shadowed. And still, it's only I who grieves.

This love's no good...

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

... I'm letting go. This ship has sunk, this rat's deserted. I'll cut these ties of martyr's lies of love and bloody sacrifice. This love's no good, I'm letting go. This ship has sunk and you deserved it.

people are fragile...

2011-10-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

... do not love them. They will shatter and they will die, or they will leave slowly, a little at a time, or they will hurt you in anger, or in carelessness, or in deceit. They will say cruel things, they will lie and they will cheat; or if they don't cheat and will not lie, even if they love you - they will shatter and they will die. People are fragile. Do not love them.

love is...

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

a loan shark lending you bliss, but pain is the interest you'll pay to it.

embarrassment

2011-10-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

The drunk guy getting kicked out of Starbucks, even though his girlfriend had bought a coffee and she tells him: "Just go, don't ask questions. Just go!"

youth orchestra meeting in starbucks

2011-10-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

"There are definitely kids who want to play rock violin. But if they want to play kazoo, let them, we cant' afford to be choosy at this point."

youth orchestra meeting in starbucks

2011-10-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

"Up until yesterday he didn't like me, which I thought was personal, but I met with him yesterday and worked out it was because he didn't get promoted to regional manager and I got caught up in the politics of him being pissed off and we're friends now."

earnest talkers, walking down Mass Ave

2011-10-11T09:30:00.000-04:00

"People say, do you not think you're black, which I kind of falter on. It's another whole conversation when the ancestry's more recent and I consider myself American."

wish I had my camera

2011-10-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

The woman riding her bike down Mass Ave, whilst wearing an old-fashioned horse-riding helmet.

nyc high line: photographers

2011-10-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

parking advert

2011-10-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

nyc rooftops

2011-10-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

storage advert

2011-10-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

nyc high line: corona

2011-10-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

interview in the coffee shop

2011-09-30T09:39:00.000-04:00

"I'm not really a spiritual person."
"Did you talk to anyone about that?"
"Not really. I never really talked to Shelby about it. One day I will, hopefully. I don't necessarily feel ostracised for feeling that way, but others do have stronger feelings. I'd like to talk about this stuff, but I'm a bit scared, to be honest."

not paying attention

2011-09-29T09:48:00.000-04:00

"So after this it'll be a relief. You'll only have one more exam to worry about."
(Angrily) "What do you mean?"
"Well, you'll only have one more exam to worry about, won't that be a relief?"
(Calming down) "Oh yeah, sure."

shy guy at the coffee shop with a girl

2011-09-28T09:52:00.000-04:00

"Do you want to take your sweater off?"
"No, it's okay."
"But don't you have a t-shirt on underneath?"
"It's okay. After I get my frap, I'll be cold."

in the park

2011-09-27T09:36:00.000-04:00

"Because you want me to die!" Child in tears, arguing with his dad about why he won't join in the frisbee game.

at the cinema

2011-09-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

Crying child: "I'm not kidding, I don't like popcorn!"

Kite surfer, Chapin Beach

2011-09-23T10:36:00.000-04:00

Cape Cod Bay

Kite surfers on Chapin Beach

2011-09-22T10:22:00.000-04:00

Walking the dog at low tide

Tidal flats at Chapin Beach, low tide

2011-09-21T09:43:00.000-04:00

Chapin Beach; low tide

2011-09-20T09:30:00.001-04:00

A dramatic difference; to the right of the photo is where we walked at high tide.

Chapin Beach; high tide

2011-09-19T10:05:00.000-04:00

Chapin Beach on Cape Cod

friday

2011-09-16T10:07:00.000-04:00

"It's Friday, why can't I just be happy?"

breast-feeding mums talking in starbucks

2011-09-15T09:43:00.000-04:00

"Doesn't Lucy pump like 8oz at a time?"

it isn't?

2011-09-14T09:47:00.001-04:00

"You can't spend $10,000 on a credit card, that's not how they work!"

young love

2011-09-13T10:09:00.002-04:00

"She's really weird, she acts like she wants to talk to me and then she just leaves."