1. Today I ate lunch at a burrito place in Charlottesville and as I headed for a table a girl stopped me and gave me a funny look and said "hey!" She's a girl from Santa Fe and we played in the Youth Symphony together and went to the same high school. Small world.
2. My dear friends Katie and Andrew have started a blog! I am very excited about this. I know that Katie keeps in touch with my life through this here blog, and now I get to keep in touch with her life back. Also, she and Andrew live very different lives than I do, what with all the growing of their own food and stuff, so maybe you guys will like to read it, too. I've added a link over on the side, so check it out.
3. Where are all the pistachio shells, huh? I mean, I haven't seen any in ages.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Why thank you!
My email service's spell checker is very nice. Rather than tell me there are no misspelled words, it compliments me with, "You have perfect spelling."
Monday, July 06, 2009
patriotic tat
So the beach trip was pretty great. Really it was one day at a water park and one day at the beach, which included the best fireworks show I think I've ever seen. Oh, and when I swam in the ocean I saw dolphins nearby, so that was pretty exciting. At least it was exciting until one dolphin appeared to jump toward me, and then I booked it for the shore.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
fourth
I'm headed to the beach for the holiday weekend, but I thought I'd share some lyrics I always like to sing on the Fourth of July.
They're from 1776 the musical, of course, and are sung by John Adams. So remember to have a happy fourth, because John would want you to.
I see fireworks!
I see the pagaent and pomp and parade
I hear the bells ringing out
I hear the cannons roar
I see Americans - all Americans
Free!
Forever more
They're from 1776 the musical, of course, and are sung by John Adams. So remember to have a happy fourth, because John would want you to.
Monday, June 29, 2009
luddite
I finally got my tv's conversion box set up and so far I'm not pleased. Sure, the picture is great, but now when there is bad reception I get that annoying pixilation and the audio stutters. I was perfectly fine watching a slightly fuzzy picture with unbroken audio. And now I can't find NBC! I barely even watch tv, but when I do NBC is a staple. Big. Fat. Ugh.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Gus the firefly
Tonight I saw a whole slew of fireflies in the bushes beside the road while driving home from Charlottesville at twilight. It was pretty neat.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
I went to Wisconsin and didn't eat any cheese.
It's true. I spent all of last week (Monday through Saturday) in Madison, Wisconsin, and I didn't have Wisconsin cheese. I did have some beer and a brat though.
I was there for a historical editing "camp" (no camping was involved, however). I learned some stuff, but the best part was meeting other people who do what I do. It was also exciting to meet a couple fellow historians of the westward trails, and I knew I had found my people when we spent a lunch break visiting the grave of the historian Frederick Jackson Turner, famous for his "frontier thesis." Overall it was a fun week of history nerdom.
I was there for a historical editing "camp" (no camping was involved, however). I learned some stuff, but the best part was meeting other people who do what I do. It was also exciting to meet a couple fellow historians of the westward trails, and I knew I had found my people when we spent a lunch break visiting the grave of the historian Frederick Jackson Turner, famous for his "frontier thesis." Overall it was a fun week of history nerdom.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Flag Day
Today, June 14, is Flag Day. It's also my Dad's birthday. He is pretty excited his birthday is always on Flag Day, and he always wears a flag shirt to commemorate. My Dad has always told me that Flag Day was started in 1949 by President Truman, which is extra exciting for Dad because that's the year he was born (hello 60!). However, I heard a story on the radio on Friday that said Woodrow Wilson started Flag Day in 1916. I immediately picked up the phone to confront my father on this huge discrepancy in the story he has told me my whole life.
Turns out he and the radio were both right. Whew.
You can learn more here, but the gist is that the design for our national flag was approved by the Continental Congress on 14 June 1777, Woodrow Wilson established a national Flag Day in 1916, and the day was actually signed into law in 1949.
Happy Flag Day, and Happy Birthday Dad!
Turns out he and the radio were both right. Whew.
You can learn more here, but the gist is that the design for our national flag was approved by the Continental Congress on 14 June 1777, Woodrow Wilson established a national Flag Day in 1916, and the day was actually signed into law in 1949.
Happy Flag Day, and Happy Birthday Dad!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
We love us some TJ.
Maybe it's lame, but here are two pictures with the same statue.
My brother Ryan is in town for a couple days, and today we went to Monticello. I haven't been there since I was in the sixth grade, and he went in the fifth grade. So it was about time.
Monday, June 08, 2009
Alaska
I'm back from Alaska folks, and it was great. Allison and Sam got married, and I saw musk ox. Here's how it went down:
Wednesday I woke up before dawn to embark on over seventeen hours of travel, including a 6.75 hour flight in the middle seat of the second to last row in the plane next to a man who coughed and wheezed the whole time. The toils of travel were soon forgotten, however, when the man driving me from the Anchorage airport to my hotel said "Want to see some moose?" And sure enough, right there next to the road on our way into town we saw two teenage moose, and another one farther up the road. Unfortunately I was too embarrassed to get my camera out, so you will just have to believe me on this one.
I checked into the hotel at 10 pm (it was still light out!) and went to bed. Then Josefina came in a couple hours later, and I woke up to talk to her. She and Allison and I went to UPS together and were in a Bible study all through college. We finally called it a night at 1:30 am.
Thursday Allison picked Jo and me up and took us to her house, where a bunch of us set out for Girdwood. The drive there was beautiful, with towering snowy peaks and a big lake. We ate sourdough pancakes at a bake shop, then we went for a "leisurely" hike.
The best part was the hand tram that you have to take to get across a gorge, with a rope to pulley yourself across in a little cage.
Don't look down!
After the hike we returned to Allison's house to hang out and relax for the afternoon. We also played a fun game of Pictionary with her family. For dinner we joined her billions of cousins at Snow Goose. I think after that we just went to bed.
Friday I woke up early, so I walked downtown to a coffee shop, where I had a latte and scone while working a crossword puzzle. Mid-morning Josefina and I went back to Allison's house, where Jo practiced the flute with the pianist for the wedding and I helped wrap chocolate for table favors. The wedding rehearsal was at noon. I was a reader for the wedding, and everyone yelled at me at the rehearsal and told me to go slower. I tried.
The rehearsal dinner (or lunch) was at the Moose's Tooth, a great pizza place and pub. After stuffing ourselves on cheezy bread sticks, pizza, and cake, it was time for a nap. So Josefina and I went back to the hotel. At 6 pm we walked downtown to watch Allison and her sister run a 12k. (Did you catch that? The night before her wedding she ran a 12k. She also went for a hike the next morning before hair and makeup!) We watched them take off, and then we joined some other UPSers (fellow alumni and friends of Allison's) for drinks. We saw Al again after the race, and when she went home for bed the rest of us went out to eat at Orso. I had a beet salad and halibut, and it was seriously delicious. The meal finally ended after 10pm (still light out!), so we went home to bed.
Saturday The big day. Josefina and I walked downtown for a great breakfast at Snow City Cafe, then went to Allison's house for a ladies'-brunch-slash-get-ready-for-the-wedding. Once everyone was ready (Allison looked amazing!) we joined the guys for pictures at a park. The morning had looked pretty dreary but by the afternoon the sky was blue, so it was perfect. After pictures we went to the church. The wedding was very nice. Her grandfather was the pastor. Josefina played the flute beautifully, and I didn't read too fast. Allison and Sam looked great, and it was a really happy moment for everyone!
The reception was at an art museum downtown. There was eating and dancing and an overall great time. After it was all over at 11 pm (it was still light out!), some of us went downtown for more fun. That midnight sun really messes with you.
Sunday Sunday it was my mission to see a musk ox. So I made it happen. Josefina and I checked out of the hotel and went to the airport to rent a car. We were then joined by the UPS group from before and headed north of Anchorage. We stopped at the Thunderbird Falls to take a short hike. Unfortunately there were more mosquitoes there than I have ever seen in my life, and we spent the entire time swatting at them. Seriously guys, there were a ton of mosquitoes. After that we kept driving until we reached the Musk Ox Farm. It's a little non-profit co-op that is trying to domesticate the musk ox so they can harvest it's wool, which they then send out to remote Alaskan villages for women to knit into fancy scarves and hats that cost a boatload of money.
We even got to feed "treats" to the animals. They were super cute.
After the Musk Ox Farm we stopped for lunch, where I ate a BLT but sampled someone else's reindeer sausage. We then drove back to Anchorage and I dropped Josefina off at the airport.
At this point I was on my own but still had my rental car, so I went downtown to visit the weekend market. I wandered around the booths of crafts and food, and bought myself a pair of earrings. Then I decided to look for a moose.
Since I still had time to kill before my flight, and since I hadn't gotten pictures of the moose I saw on my first night, I headed to Kincaid Park, which has the largest moose population in Anchorage. There were lots of trails and stuff, and I didn't really know where I was going, but it was fun anyway. And sure enough! I saw two moose cross the path in front of me. And I got pictures. (But I didn't get the two in one shot, because when I thought I was doing that it turns out I was taking a video with my camera. Oops.)
After the moose I walked on a little farther, and then turned back and headed to the car and to the airport.
Wednesday I woke up before dawn to embark on over seventeen hours of travel, including a 6.75 hour flight in the middle seat of the second to last row in the plane next to a man who coughed and wheezed the whole time. The toils of travel were soon forgotten, however, when the man driving me from the Anchorage airport to my hotel said "Want to see some moose?" And sure enough, right there next to the road on our way into town we saw two teenage moose, and another one farther up the road. Unfortunately I was too embarrassed to get my camera out, so you will just have to believe me on this one.
I checked into the hotel at 10 pm (it was still light out!) and went to bed. Then Josefina came in a couple hours later, and I woke up to talk to her. She and Allison and I went to UPS together and were in a Bible study all through college. We finally called it a night at 1:30 am.
Thursday Allison picked Jo and me up and took us to her house, where a bunch of us set out for Girdwood. The drive there was beautiful, with towering snowy peaks and a big lake. We ate sourdough pancakes at a bake shop, then we went for a "leisurely" hike.
The best part was the hand tram that you have to take to get across a gorge, with a rope to pulley yourself across in a little cage.
Don't look down!
After the hike we returned to Allison's house to hang out and relax for the afternoon. We also played a fun game of Pictionary with her family. For dinner we joined her billions of cousins at Snow Goose. I think after that we just went to bed.
Friday I woke up early, so I walked downtown to a coffee shop, where I had a latte and scone while working a crossword puzzle. Mid-morning Josefina and I went back to Allison's house, where Jo practiced the flute with the pianist for the wedding and I helped wrap chocolate for table favors. The wedding rehearsal was at noon. I was a reader for the wedding, and everyone yelled at me at the rehearsal and told me to go slower. I tried.
The rehearsal dinner (or lunch) was at the Moose's Tooth, a great pizza place and pub. After stuffing ourselves on cheezy bread sticks, pizza, and cake, it was time for a nap. So Josefina and I went back to the hotel. At 6 pm we walked downtown to watch Allison and her sister run a 12k. (Did you catch that? The night before her wedding she ran a 12k. She also went for a hike the next morning before hair and makeup!) We watched them take off, and then we joined some other UPSers (fellow alumni and friends of Allison's) for drinks. We saw Al again after the race, and when she went home for bed the rest of us went out to eat at Orso. I had a beet salad and halibut, and it was seriously delicious. The meal finally ended after 10pm (still light out!), so we went home to bed.
Saturday The big day. Josefina and I walked downtown for a great breakfast at Snow City Cafe, then went to Allison's house for a ladies'-brunch-slash-get-ready-for-the-wedding. Once everyone was ready (Allison looked amazing!) we joined the guys for pictures at a park. The morning had looked pretty dreary but by the afternoon the sky was blue, so it was perfect. After pictures we went to the church. The wedding was very nice. Her grandfather was the pastor. Josefina played the flute beautifully, and I didn't read too fast. Allison and Sam looked great, and it was a really happy moment for everyone!
The reception was at an art museum downtown. There was eating and dancing and an overall great time. After it was all over at 11 pm (it was still light out!), some of us went downtown for more fun. That midnight sun really messes with you.
Sunday Sunday it was my mission to see a musk ox. So I made it happen. Josefina and I checked out of the hotel and went to the airport to rent a car. We were then joined by the UPS group from before and headed north of Anchorage. We stopped at the Thunderbird Falls to take a short hike. Unfortunately there were more mosquitoes there than I have ever seen in my life, and we spent the entire time swatting at them. Seriously guys, there were a ton of mosquitoes. After that we kept driving until we reached the Musk Ox Farm. It's a little non-profit co-op that is trying to domesticate the musk ox so they can harvest it's wool, which they then send out to remote Alaskan villages for women to knit into fancy scarves and hats that cost a boatload of money.
We even got to feed "treats" to the animals. They were super cute.
After the Musk Ox Farm we stopped for lunch, where I ate a BLT but sampled someone else's reindeer sausage. We then drove back to Anchorage and I dropped Josefina off at the airport.
At this point I was on my own but still had my rental car, so I went downtown to visit the weekend market. I wandered around the booths of crafts and food, and bought myself a pair of earrings. Then I decided to look for a moose.
Since I still had time to kill before my flight, and since I hadn't gotten pictures of the moose I saw on my first night, I headed to Kincaid Park, which has the largest moose population in Anchorage. There were lots of trails and stuff, and I didn't really know where I was going, but it was fun anyway. And sure enough! I saw two moose cross the path in front of me. And I got pictures. (But I didn't get the two in one shot, because when I thought I was doing that it turns out I was taking a video with my camera. Oops.)
After the moose I walked on a little farther, and then turned back and headed to the car and to the airport.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
pause button
Sorry I've been such a slacker on the blogging front lately. I head off to Alaska in the morning, so I imagine you will get a post when I return.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
amazing. evening.
This evening was absolutely wonderful.
First, I got to talk to my brother Ryan. I love him.
Then, I talked to my good friend Katie. I love her, too.
Next, Josh joined me in Richmond and we went to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for...get ready...a Josh Ritter concert! I love Josh Ritter. He's my favorite musician/band.
As you may recall, I saw him a year ago on the day I finished my grad school papers in North Carolina. I also saw him in Seattle in 2004 with my friend Amy. The concert was wonderful, and while I was happy sitting in my folding chair on the lawn Josh forced me to go up by the stage. Which was great.
He also bought a music book so he can get out his ukulele and woo me with Josh Ritter songs.
First, I got to talk to my brother Ryan. I love him.
Then, I talked to my good friend Katie. I love her, too.
Next, Josh joined me in Richmond and we went to the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden for...get ready...a Josh Ritter concert! I love Josh Ritter. He's my favorite musician/band.
As you may recall, I saw him a year ago on the day I finished my grad school papers in North Carolina. I also saw him in Seattle in 2004 with my friend Amy. The concert was wonderful, and while I was happy sitting in my folding chair on the lawn Josh forced me to go up by the stage. Which was great.
He also bought a music book so he can get out his ukulele and woo me with Josh Ritter songs.
Monday, May 25, 2009
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
field trip
Today my coworkers and I took a field trip to Montpelier. That's the house of James Madison, or the "Father of the Constitution." We got a private tour and time to wander around (most people hung out in the gift shop at this point, but I went down to see his and Dolley's graves). Then we ate lunch at a nice little French place in Gordonsville. I love field trips.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
woot
I just booked a flight to Alaska for some friends' wedding in June. I'm afraid I will see a bear. But I really really hope I will see a musk ox.
Tomorrow I don't have to drive to Charlottesville (like I do every day) because I get to do research in Richmond instead. I'm calling it a field trip. I love field trips.
Tomorrow I don't have to drive to Charlottesville (like I do every day) because I get to do research in Richmond instead. I'm calling it a field trip. I love field trips.
Monday, April 27, 2009
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
check out their stash
When it comes to my personal pistachio consumption, my grandparents are my usual suppliers. And as you can see by this shot of their garage fridge, they stay well supplied.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
hodgepodge
Last week I got to meet the man whose papers I worked on for two summers at my archives internship. He was nice and I was pretty excited about it.
I also saw a woman speak who ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize for history yesterday.
I'm working on a Mozart piano duet with my cousin Sunni. She's eleven. We might perform it in a real live recital. It will be impressive.
Last night Grandpa and I went to see the Canterbury Choir perform. The choir includes boys and men, plus an organ. It was amazing. And when those little boys with their stiff white collars and purple robes move to rub their nose or scratch their ear, it's pretty darned cute.
You know what's annoying? Apartment hunting.
On Easter my aunt told some of us "big kid" cousins to go hide eggs, but we all said we wanted to hunt for them instead. So the other aunt hid them for all of us. We're definitely not little anymore, but we had fun.
I also saw a woman speak who ended up winning the Pulitzer Prize for history yesterday.
I'm working on a Mozart piano duet with my cousin Sunni. She's eleven. We might perform it in a real live recital. It will be impressive.
Last night Grandpa and I went to see the Canterbury Choir perform. The choir includes boys and men, plus an organ. It was amazing. And when those little boys with their stiff white collars and purple robes move to rub their nose or scratch their ear, it's pretty darned cute.
You know what's annoying? Apartment hunting.
On Easter my aunt told some of us "big kid" cousins to go hide eggs, but we all said we wanted to hunt for them instead. So the other aunt hid them for all of us. We're definitely not little anymore, but we had fun.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Apr. 13.
Today was my birthday. I also happen to share a birthday with Thomas Jefferson. As part of my present Josh made me some temporary tattoos, and today I wore a special one to work.
Since I'm still the new girl a few people sort of glanced at it this morning but didn't want to say anything. I think they thought it might be real (even though you can tell just from the picture it's definitely not real). One guy came up and asked about it, then seemed relieved it was fake. My boss, on the other hand, was disappointed it was only temporary and thought I was showing true dedication. Overall it was a big hit, if I do say so myself.
The folks at work also threw me a little party with cake and ice cream, which was very nice of them. Then Josh and I went out to dinner. Combined with the party my family threw on Saturday, I'd say I had a pretty good birthday.
Since I'm still the new girl a few people sort of glanced at it this morning but didn't want to say anything. I think they thought it might be real (even though you can tell just from the picture it's definitely not real). One guy came up and asked about it, then seemed relieved it was fake. My boss, on the other hand, was disappointed it was only temporary and thought I was showing true dedication. Overall it was a big hit, if I do say so myself.
The folks at work also threw me a little party with cake and ice cream, which was very nice of them. Then Josh and I went out to dinner. Combined with the party my family threw on Saturday, I'd say I had a pretty good birthday.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
sunny weekend
I am loving the warm weather. A lot. It helped make this weekend great.
Saturday I went for a run, and when I got home I opened the windows in my apartment for the first time in several months. Then I headed to Mexican lunch with my grandparents. I had my car cleaned, which I'm pretty excited about, and I bought four books on tape for a total of two bucks at the book sale at the public library downtown (and yes, I meant books on tape because my car still rocks a tape player). I then returned home to take a glorious two hour nap on my couch, before gathering up some laundry and heading back to my grandparents' house. In the evening I accompanied Grandpa to a concert at VCU, which was fun and different.
Sunday I went to church, then over to the grandparents' for lunch. After grabbing gas and an iced latte I stopped by my apartment to change, then joined former co-workers for a walk downtown along the route Lincoln probably took when he visited Richmond on April 4, 1865. It was a fun event, and so great to be out in the sun! I also spotted a pistachio shell on Clay Street in the Court End District. While pistachio sightings are always exciting, this one was fun because friends who read this blog and know my obsession got to experience a sighting first hand.
Saturday I went for a run, and when I got home I opened the windows in my apartment for the first time in several months. Then I headed to Mexican lunch with my grandparents. I had my car cleaned, which I'm pretty excited about, and I bought four books on tape for a total of two bucks at the book sale at the public library downtown (and yes, I meant books on tape because my car still rocks a tape player). I then returned home to take a glorious two hour nap on my couch, before gathering up some laundry and heading back to my grandparents' house. In the evening I accompanied Grandpa to a concert at VCU, which was fun and different.
Sunday I went to church, then over to the grandparents' for lunch. After grabbing gas and an iced latte I stopped by my apartment to change, then joined former co-workers for a walk downtown along the route Lincoln probably took when he visited Richmond on April 4, 1865. It was a fun event, and so great to be out in the sun! I also spotted a pistachio shell on Clay Street in the Court End District. While pistachio sightings are always exciting, this one was fun because friends who read this blog and know my obsession got to experience a sighting first hand.
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