quick trip to philly

My Christmas present to myself this year was a quick trip to Philadelphia. Only this time, it didn't involve spending hours in archives! Ever since our time together in June, some of the girls from the research fellowship had been planning to have a reunion after Christmas. I was really looking forward to seeing them, and it was just the break I needed. I wish it could have lasted a little longer!

So what do five women in their twenties do for a weekend reunion in Philadelphia?
-talk graduate school
-read each others' resumes
-play biography/trivia games (NOT history, though it claimed to be)
-go to the art museum
-visit historic Philly
-learn to knit
(and now the more normal stuff)
-exchange gifts
-go to the second largest mall in America
-watch movies
-eat lots of dessert

All in all, an excellent weekend.

But now, it's back to the grind for me. The last thing I need to check off my to-do list tonight is transcribing a paper I wrote. Long story short, but after my lovely computer crashed for the umpteenth time this past summer (do you catch the sarcasm in my voice?), I lost several important papers that I was hoping to submit as samples of my work. I knew I had a hardcopy of the most important one, but didn't know where I had put it "for safekeeping." After searching for it for three months and finally giving up, I found it the other day! Now I'm transcribing it and saving it in a million places.

--
My iTunes: Ta tienne by Carla Bruni

christmas wreaths

Christmas Wreaths
January 2008

My iTunes: Amico, Abbiamo Vinto from Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte"

Christmas decorations are still up, but probably won't be for much longer. People seem to get through New Year's and then realize that Christmastime is gone and the decorations disappear all of the sudden. My brother's birthday is tomorrow, the 12th day of Christmas, so my parents have always kept their decorations up longer. I like to make Christmas last as long as possible, so that's fine with me!

london ornament

London Ornament
December 2007

My iTunes: Gesu Bambino by Kathleen Battle

One of my favorites. Yes, it's red.

Happy day AFTER Christmas...

merry christmas

Merry Christmas
December 2007

My iTunes: It Feels Like Christmas from "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

I always thought this little chapel looked like it could be a painting. Now it IS, thanks to Photoshop.

Merry Christmas!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
--Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

decorations

Decorations
December 2007

My iTunes: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by the Chipmunks

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is all the decorations that you can enjoy for weeks ahead of time. There is something about red Christmas balls that especially catch my eye. Maybe after Christmas I'll try some of my creative juices on a picture of one and see what I can do with it in Photoshop.

Merry Christmas Eve!

snowy steeples

Snowy Steeples
December 2007

My iTunes: Clair de Lune, Op. 46/2 by Kyle Engler

I'll bet looking at this shot you have no idea that the tree on the left is really half the size that it appears here. Yay Photoshop. One of my friends was sitting with me as I editted the picture and she thinks I could make it into a Christmas card. Perhaps one day...

Happy first (full) day of winter!

winter wonderland

Winter Wonderland
December 2007

My iTunes: Falstaff by Verdi

"Wintery mix" is in the forecast... we'll see if I can snap some good shots...

twinkle lights

Twinkle Lights
December 2007

My iTunes: Die Zauberflote by Mozart

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is putting up the lights and then seeing them each night. Before I hung these around my door, I decided to do a little photo shoot...

I just got a new opera to listen to: "Die Zauberflote" or "The Magic Flute." Unfortunately, when it arrived in the mail, the plastic case was broken into a million little shards. But for the $3 it cost, including shipping, I figured I still got more than I would have through iTunes and I'll just keep the CDs. It's too much hassle to try to send them back at Christmas time.

wintery weather

Wintery Weather
December 2007

My iTunes: Monica's Waltz from Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Medium"

Taking a 5 minute break from studying for my America Since 1945 exam. I'm still not a big fan of the professor, but after he sent me an email saying, "Your paper rocks," I detest him slightly less than I did this morning. I'll still be SO glad when tomorrow's exam is over, though!

christmas ball

Christmas Ball
December 2007

My iTunes: The Sun Has Fallen from Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Medium"

Finals week this week. I may not be posting as frequently... wish me luck!

christmas balls

Christmas Balls
December 2007

My iTunes: Minuit Chretiens by *moi* = )

Tonight my church had a Christmas coffeehouse and I sang "Minuit Chretiens," the French version of "O Holy Night." One of my girls came with me and recorded me singing, so now I'm listening to myself. Kind of cool...

Doesn't this picture just exude Christmas-y-ness?

christmas decor

Christmas Decor
December 2007

My iTunes: The Prettiest Thing