The Quidditch World Cup is this coming Sunday. Games will be broadcast live at: http://www.collegequidditch.com/wc/ from 9:45am to 6pm (Eastern Time), in case you feel inclined to watch. I think it will be great fun!!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wyatt Earp has Alopecia!
Egads! It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it? My life has been out-of-control busy, but I’m on October Break now, inside and watching football (only getting the Vikings game, unfortunately, but hopefully I’ll get to watch them lose…) on a cold, drizzly day, and it seemed like it was time for an update.
This semester has started… stressfully. But, as is usually the case, everything is working itself out for the best, I think. At the very beginning of the semester were auditions for Drama Department shows, and I went in with very high hopes since we’re doing RENT and a Streetcar Named Desire, both shows I adore. Plus the third show, Haarlem Berlin, is also a musical, so it was an exciting time to be auditioning. Of course, that made it all the more devastating when I got cast in nothing. Nothing. Well, that’s not entirely true, I got cast as the Assistant Costume Designer for Haarlem Berlin. But, while I enjoy costuming, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to be doing production-wise this semester. However, my friend Andi was cast in the ensemble of Haarlem but had to drop out do to scheduling conflicts and they asked me if I was interested in taking over her part. I was.
Haarlem Berlin is an original musical written by one of the professors here at Vassar, with music by a guest artist. It was directed by a guest director from NYC. The music was beautiful (I have it on my computer. If you’re interested in an original cast recording, let me know), and unlike anything I’ve ever done before. And the process itself was taught me a lot about what it’s like to workshop a new show. The cast was a great group of people, and all in all I had a great time. We performed the first weekend in October, which means September was extraordinarily hectic, but it freed me up in time to get involved in student shows here, too. So I’m currently in a show called Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. It’s very lighthearted and hilarious. It’s set in the 1920s, and is about two 19-year-old girls, Cornelia and Emily, who go to Paris and have all sorts of absurd misadventures. I’m Emily, and I’m having a wonderful time. Rehearsal is probably my favorite part of the day.
In other news: Fencing is going really well. I’m the most experienced female sabre fencer on the team, which I was really worried about because it means I’m in charge of getting the girls ready to compete, I’ll be in charge of the roster/substitutions during tournaments, I’m expected to help coach them a little, etc. and I feel like I’m still learning so much myself that I wasn’t sure if I was ready to give other people advice. But the Alumni Match was the other weekend, and not only did I win undefeated, but I realized that I did have a lot of tips to offer the other girls. I’m pretty sure our squad is going to get killed at tournaments, but I think we’re going to have a fun time anyway, and I’m actually excited to be able to help them the way that all the previous sabre girls helped me.
The Quidditch World cup is next weekend, and it’s going to be incredible. Our team is phenomenal this year! And there are going to be 24 teams there from all across the country, and I think one from Canada. International. Awesome. I’ll let you know the results when we get back!
In other academic news: I love my classes, as usual. I’m taking Sources of World Drama, which I enjoy immensely most of the time. We’re reading drama from a time well before the women’s rights movement, however, and I’ve gotten a name for myself as the girl who always brings up feminism. Ah well. It’s just like being back in high school in Fort.
I’m taking a Seminar in Paratheatre, which is the study of everything theatrical that is not theatre. For example, religious ceremonies, sports games, and even everyday conversations, given that one behaves (or performs) differently depending on who they’re talking to (the audience). It’ very fascinating, but I sometimes feel like I’m beating my head against a wall because a main premise of paratheatre is that everyone has an individual definition of what constitutes a performance, so discussions can get very circular.
Because my semester would not be complete without a class where I do yoga, lie on the floor and breathe, play acting games, and other strange things that I often think it’s funny I do in college, I’m also in the Actor’s Voice. So far my favorite days have been the one where we learned tongue stretches (I often catch myself doing them in public now, which would make my professor proud, but is more than a little weird…), and the day where we got to look at our own and others’ soft palates and learn how to lift them correctly. It was one of the most unsettling things I’ve ever seen, but it’s actually been really helpful, especially for voice lessons.
Speaking of, voice lessons started off a little rocky this semester because I’ve been so busy and wasn’t able to practice as much as I should have. However, now that my life is a little more calm, things are going really well. I’m singing some wonderful songs, including The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music, because I’m a huge dork, but it’s SO MUCH FUN! My friend Charlie and I really want to do a senior recital together and we want to sing the Edelweiss duet. I’m so glad I’ve found someone else here who knows how to appreciate The Sound of Music.
I need to go apply to my abroad program in New Zealand now, because I’ve been putting that off for far too long. But I hope you are all well and enjoying the early snow! I know I am!
This semester has started… stressfully. But, as is usually the case, everything is working itself out for the best, I think. At the very beginning of the semester were auditions for Drama Department shows, and I went in with very high hopes since we’re doing RENT and a Streetcar Named Desire, both shows I adore. Plus the third show, Haarlem Berlin, is also a musical, so it was an exciting time to be auditioning. Of course, that made it all the more devastating when I got cast in nothing. Nothing. Well, that’s not entirely true, I got cast as the Assistant Costume Designer for Haarlem Berlin. But, while I enjoy costuming, it wasn’t exactly what I wanted to be doing production-wise this semester. However, my friend Andi was cast in the ensemble of Haarlem but had to drop out do to scheduling conflicts and they asked me if I was interested in taking over her part. I was.
Haarlem Berlin is an original musical written by one of the professors here at Vassar, with music by a guest artist. It was directed by a guest director from NYC. The music was beautiful (I have it on my computer. If you’re interested in an original cast recording, let me know), and unlike anything I’ve ever done before. And the process itself was taught me a lot about what it’s like to workshop a new show. The cast was a great group of people, and all in all I had a great time. We performed the first weekend in October, which means September was extraordinarily hectic, but it freed me up in time to get involved in student shows here, too. So I’m currently in a show called Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. It’s very lighthearted and hilarious. It’s set in the 1920s, and is about two 19-year-old girls, Cornelia and Emily, who go to Paris and have all sorts of absurd misadventures. I’m Emily, and I’m having a wonderful time. Rehearsal is probably my favorite part of the day.
In other news: Fencing is going really well. I’m the most experienced female sabre fencer on the team, which I was really worried about because it means I’m in charge of getting the girls ready to compete, I’ll be in charge of the roster/substitutions during tournaments, I’m expected to help coach them a little, etc. and I feel like I’m still learning so much myself that I wasn’t sure if I was ready to give other people advice. But the Alumni Match was the other weekend, and not only did I win undefeated, but I realized that I did have a lot of tips to offer the other girls. I’m pretty sure our squad is going to get killed at tournaments, but I think we’re going to have a fun time anyway, and I’m actually excited to be able to help them the way that all the previous sabre girls helped me.
The Quidditch World cup is next weekend, and it’s going to be incredible. Our team is phenomenal this year! And there are going to be 24 teams there from all across the country, and I think one from Canada. International. Awesome. I’ll let you know the results when we get back!
In other academic news: I love my classes, as usual. I’m taking Sources of World Drama, which I enjoy immensely most of the time. We’re reading drama from a time well before the women’s rights movement, however, and I’ve gotten a name for myself as the girl who always brings up feminism. Ah well. It’s just like being back in high school in Fort.
I’m taking a Seminar in Paratheatre, which is the study of everything theatrical that is not theatre. For example, religious ceremonies, sports games, and even everyday conversations, given that one behaves (or performs) differently depending on who they’re talking to (the audience). It’ very fascinating, but I sometimes feel like I’m beating my head against a wall because a main premise of paratheatre is that everyone has an individual definition of what constitutes a performance, so discussions can get very circular.
Because my semester would not be complete without a class where I do yoga, lie on the floor and breathe, play acting games, and other strange things that I often think it’s funny I do in college, I’m also in the Actor’s Voice. So far my favorite days have been the one where we learned tongue stretches (I often catch myself doing them in public now, which would make my professor proud, but is more than a little weird…), and the day where we got to look at our own and others’ soft palates and learn how to lift them correctly. It was one of the most unsettling things I’ve ever seen, but it’s actually been really helpful, especially for voice lessons.
Speaking of, voice lessons started off a little rocky this semester because I’ve been so busy and wasn’t able to practice as much as I should have. However, now that my life is a little more calm, things are going really well. I’m singing some wonderful songs, including The Lonely Goatherd from The Sound of Music, because I’m a huge dork, but it’s SO MUCH FUN! My friend Charlie and I really want to do a senior recital together and we want to sing the Edelweiss duet. I’m so glad I’ve found someone else here who knows how to appreciate The Sound of Music.
I need to go apply to my abroad program in New Zealand now, because I’ve been putting that off for far too long. But I hope you are all well and enjoying the early snow! I know I am!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
family compound here we come!
hello everyone. long time, no write. i am sitting here on a beautiful sunday afternoon, getting packed to come to WI!
great video of the daredevel miss freya and her amazing water tricks!
i finished my senior leader program in may, with 4 days in DC, a very successful small group presentation, a very successful personal presentation, and lots of pictures with our new chief and all the other big whigs. we also got to take pictures at the podium where the secretary of agriculture addresses the press. then i took the train down to newark, and spent the weekend with K and L, M and D. we had a wonderful weekend--a day in manhattan and meeting with mag to see a wonderful dance performance, got to listen to declan play at a very cool restaurant, did the sidewalk sale, and had a great visit.
came home to work back to normal, and looking forward to a quiet august. not to be. july 20 we got a horrendous hail storm, and have been working with the insurance company ever since. they will pay to replace the roof and gutters, replace 8 windows, replace siding on the N and W sides of the house, and all sorts of personal property in the back. they totalled our camper, and there was some damage to the dodge. we have kept the camper, and will sell it on our own. they still sent us a pretty fair check.
after shopping and looking at all of our options, we decided to put a down payment on an outback (keystone) trailer, the smallest one they make. it is very cool. we'll get it in september sometime. it is about 23' long--and the bed rolls out the back wall. lots of storage, and a door iin the front to put your bikes inside the camper. the new lances were great--but way too expensive. so we're going to try a trailer, and see how we like it. david was wanting something bigger--so this should work.
we've finally lined out contractors for all the work--and should get it all done in september or october. the new roof and new windows will be a wonderful thing for this house. we are excited about that.
amongst all that excitement, dick and jane (david's brother) called last week to say that one of the lots that we have been eyeing in akaska SD was for sale. so david went up there this weekend (he rode his BMW--which he was jazzed about) and met with the owner, and did the SD way of buying property. the owner had given one of his friends the first right of refusal. but he bailed. so david just called to say we have bought it! akaska is north of pierre, about 1/2 mile from the missouri R. lake owahee. it is a teeny town, in rolling hills of sunflowers and wheat. the polar opposite of here. about 30 permanent residents, mostly single wide trailers, and a few stick built homes and it swells to hundreds during walleye season and pheasant hunting. a bait shop/restaurant/bar and one other not so good bar, and that is all for commercial activity. mobridge and selby is where you go for groceries and beer. i will be the second democrat in the whole town--which teaches me to bite my tongue and smile at the same time. it is a small city lot--about 60 x 130'--so not big enough for 7 airstreams. but it is getting closer to the ND property! we also know that we could sell it next year and make money--unlike many things these days. so, we bought it, for a very small price, and are excited. it won't be the summer residence, but will be the place to hang for fishing and pheasant hunting. we always stay at dick and janes, cuz we've been going up there about twice a year for 5 or 6 years. it is about the best lot in town--trees, privacy, nothing behind it but 12 acres of undeveloped land and the creek. we'll have to send pictures.....
we think we will leave here thursday after work, and then continue on to WI on friday. but that is subject to change. we'll keep in touch. we are so looking forward to seeing you all.
see you all on sunday the 16th, if not before.
love michele, david link and ruby
great video of the daredevel miss freya and her amazing water tricks!
i finished my senior leader program in may, with 4 days in DC, a very successful small group presentation, a very successful personal presentation, and lots of pictures with our new chief and all the other big whigs. we also got to take pictures at the podium where the secretary of agriculture addresses the press. then i took the train down to newark, and spent the weekend with K and L, M and D. we had a wonderful weekend--a day in manhattan and meeting with mag to see a wonderful dance performance, got to listen to declan play at a very cool restaurant, did the sidewalk sale, and had a great visit.
came home to work back to normal, and looking forward to a quiet august. not to be. july 20 we got a horrendous hail storm, and have been working with the insurance company ever since. they will pay to replace the roof and gutters, replace 8 windows, replace siding on the N and W sides of the house, and all sorts of personal property in the back. they totalled our camper, and there was some damage to the dodge. we have kept the camper, and will sell it on our own. they still sent us a pretty fair check.
after shopping and looking at all of our options, we decided to put a down payment on an outback (keystone) trailer, the smallest one they make. it is very cool. we'll get it in september sometime. it is about 23' long--and the bed rolls out the back wall. lots of storage, and a door iin the front to put your bikes inside the camper. the new lances were great--but way too expensive. so we're going to try a trailer, and see how we like it. david was wanting something bigger--so this should work.
we've finally lined out contractors for all the work--and should get it all done in september or october. the new roof and new windows will be a wonderful thing for this house. we are excited about that.
amongst all that excitement, dick and jane (david's brother) called last week to say that one of the lots that we have been eyeing in akaska SD was for sale. so david went up there this weekend (he rode his BMW--which he was jazzed about) and met with the owner, and did the SD way of buying property. the owner had given one of his friends the first right of refusal. but he bailed. so david just called to say we have bought it! akaska is north of pierre, about 1/2 mile from the missouri R. lake owahee. it is a teeny town, in rolling hills of sunflowers and wheat. the polar opposite of here. about 30 permanent residents, mostly single wide trailers, and a few stick built homes and it swells to hundreds during walleye season and pheasant hunting. a bait shop/restaurant/bar and one other not so good bar, and that is all for commercial activity. mobridge and selby is where you go for groceries and beer. i will be the second democrat in the whole town--which teaches me to bite my tongue and smile at the same time. it is a small city lot--about 60 x 130'--so not big enough for 7 airstreams. but it is getting closer to the ND property! we also know that we could sell it next year and make money--unlike many things these days. so, we bought it, for a very small price, and are excited. it won't be the summer residence, but will be the place to hang for fishing and pheasant hunting. we always stay at dick and janes, cuz we've been going up there about twice a year for 5 or 6 years. it is about the best lot in town--trees, privacy, nothing behind it but 12 acres of undeveloped land and the creek. we'll have to send pictures.....
we think we will leave here thursday after work, and then continue on to WI on friday. but that is subject to change. we'll keep in touch. we are so looking forward to seeing you all.
see you all on sunday the 16th, if not before.
love michele, david link and ruby
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Daredevil
We found a used swingset on Craigslist for cheap, so we got that for Freya yesterday. She's got a daredevil streak; she's already figured out how to make it more exciting. (And risky.)
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Hi Everyone-I will see many of you tomorrow and will be sharing this news, but I wanted to let everyone know-and use the Blog-that I have a new job. As you know, I have been looking around Aurora for awhile and have come close, but no cigar. This was the job I was working on in April. I was one of two, the job was given to someone outside the system and she was to start on July 6. I got a call from the new Administrator on Wed. asking if I might still be interested because the other candidate had withdrawn. My current department has been going through many changes due to trying to get all of BH following the same procedures, and for me it has gone from bad to worse. Many of the therapists are talking about leaving and setting up their own practices and I am getting blamed for all sorts of things. Dr. Crowder is making one move after another trying to save his skin (money). So I accepted the new position.
I will be the Manager of a large, multispecialty medical clinic in Kenosha. We have recently acquired some Northern Illinois practices, so I will be involved in that also. Its a big job and totally away from BH, so I am a little apprehensive about it-it will be learning my fourth job in four years. I know alot of the other managers and they are all expressing their happiness about me coming on board, so that is wonderful. Its about twice the commute, but a lovely drive and I can do almost all back roads. I will be starting early in August. Its a lateral transfer so no raise, but I just got a nice bonus so its OK. More later and love to everyone! Susan
I will be the Manager of a large, multispecialty medical clinic in Kenosha. We have recently acquired some Northern Illinois practices, so I will be involved in that also. Its a big job and totally away from BH, so I am a little apprehensive about it-it will be learning my fourth job in four years. I know alot of the other managers and they are all expressing their happiness about me coming on board, so that is wonderful. Its about twice the commute, but a lovely drive and I can do almost all back roads. I will be starting early in August. Its a lateral transfer so no raise, but I just got a nice bonus so its OK. More later and love to everyone! Susan
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mothers' Day--5/10/09
Belated MD greetings to all,
Quiet, cool, breezy and cloudy day here!
Thanks for the phone visits which we've had over the last 3 days--and the messages you've taken time to leave if we did not answer.
We're getting the hang of the voice mail, but miss the visual signal we have to get something from Time Warner to restore our own message and recording.
Were Susan and Jay's guests for brunch this morning. So, as you might guess, we had a great and ample meal and time for some visiting. Did enough outside work yesterday to appreciate a day to do some relaxing. Went to Culvers for a takehome salad entre for our early evening repast. No need for another FULL meal!
A hint for you raised bed gardeners. I have implemented a new watering idea for our 4. During the past couple of summers I have been using a 5/8"soaker hose in the front flower bed under the living room window. Snaking it around I have about 3 east west lines and this has been a great way to water that area which gets all the sun with almost no shade--and it can water gently without tending for as long as one desires. So last fall I got some 1/2'' x
50' hoses along with a hand full of plastic hose repair male and female fitting and cut a hose into 4 10' lengths and put a fitting on each end. Then I joined ends together to make a loop tied with plastic wire straps which fits nicely into the 4' squares. I had some salvage 1/2" regular hose and made 3 custom segments and put on
male and female fittings on each end to connect the circles. It was easy to unscrew one end of each of the joiner segments to open the area between the boxes when I needed to mow between them.
So now I can run a hose from the farthest back yard faucet to one square and water the four of them at the same time. I have already planted bush beans, 3 kinds of peas, zuchinni and a yellow summer squash and some lettuce in the squares leaving space for
tomato, pepper, and egg plant transplants latter this month. You
westerners might want to think about this idea for your raised beds. The 10' foot circle should be great in Idaho, but you CO folks might be able to try this without as much cutting and end fitting installations. Hope you can visualize this!
This week we decided to replace the fading fake geraniums which we have used in the 6 pots on the racks in front of the living room window with real plants. So the green pots were painted "trim" brown and the transplants were put in.
Using one piece of 1/2" soaker hose I made 6 smaller circles which would fit inside the pots securing them with the plastic wire bundle ties. With fittings at both ends, the 6 can be watered at the same time. Some of the soaking water will fall to the ground, but as this area in under the awning, it will have value there, too, as rain does not reach it. These are the same pots which Susan attempted to water for us one time when we were gone until she realized the realistic looking geraniums were fake! These will be place in the plant holder tomorrow--more later after we try the watering scheme--because we know NO rain reached this area...
Enjoyed our 2 night /3day stay at the Elkhart Lake Osthoff House Resort for our retired educators' convention. Mom told most of you about it. We led off the days with a nice lunch visit with Susan and David at a Sheboygan river front sandwich shop, en route on Tuesday.
Mom has her first cataract surgery day, 5/23--the second follows about mid June. More on this later.
Our desk top is for a tune-up. Using the laptop tonight with the highspeed, but won't try to get email into this unit. Will respond to e-mails we find when we get the desk top back tomorrow.
Congrats to Magdalena on her commencement next weekend!
Love and prayers to each and all,
Mom and Dad
Quiet, cool, breezy and cloudy day here!
Thanks for the phone visits which we've had over the last 3 days--and the messages you've taken time to leave if we did not answer.
We're getting the hang of the voice mail, but miss the visual signal we have to get something from Time Warner to restore our own message and recording.
Were Susan and Jay's guests for brunch this morning. So, as you might guess, we had a great and ample meal and time for some visiting. Did enough outside work yesterday to appreciate a day to do some relaxing. Went to Culvers for a takehome salad entre for our early evening repast. No need for another FULL meal!
A hint for you raised bed gardeners. I have implemented a new watering idea for our 4. During the past couple of summers I have been using a 5/8"soaker hose in the front flower bed under the living room window. Snaking it around I have about 3 east west lines and this has been a great way to water that area which gets all the sun with almost no shade--and it can water gently without tending for as long as one desires. So last fall I got some 1/2'' x
50' hoses along with a hand full of plastic hose repair male and female fitting and cut a hose into 4 10' lengths and put a fitting on each end. Then I joined ends together to make a loop tied with plastic wire straps which fits nicely into the 4' squares. I had some salvage 1/2" regular hose and made 3 custom segments and put on
male and female fittings on each end to connect the circles. It was easy to unscrew one end of each of the joiner segments to open the area between the boxes when I needed to mow between them.
So now I can run a hose from the farthest back yard faucet to one square and water the four of them at the same time. I have already planted bush beans, 3 kinds of peas, zuchinni and a yellow summer squash and some lettuce in the squares leaving space for
tomato, pepper, and egg plant transplants latter this month. You
westerners might want to think about this idea for your raised beds. The 10' foot circle should be great in Idaho, but you CO folks might be able to try this without as much cutting and end fitting installations. Hope you can visualize this!
This week we decided to replace the fading fake geraniums which we have used in the 6 pots on the racks in front of the living room window with real plants. So the green pots were painted "trim" brown and the transplants were put in.
Using one piece of 1/2" soaker hose I made 6 smaller circles which would fit inside the pots securing them with the plastic wire bundle ties. With fittings at both ends, the 6 can be watered at the same time. Some of the soaking water will fall to the ground, but as this area in under the awning, it will have value there, too, as rain does not reach it. These are the same pots which Susan attempted to water for us one time when we were gone until she realized the realistic looking geraniums were fake! These will be place in the plant holder tomorrow--more later after we try the watering scheme--because we know NO rain reached this area...
Enjoyed our 2 night /3day stay at the Elkhart Lake Osthoff House Resort for our retired educators' convention. Mom told most of you about it. We led off the days with a nice lunch visit with Susan and David at a Sheboygan river front sandwich shop, en route on Tuesday.
Mom has her first cataract surgery day, 5/23--the second follows about mid June. More on this later.
Our desk top is for a tune-up. Using the laptop tonight with the highspeed, but won't try to get email into this unit. Will respond to e-mails we find when we get the desk top back tomorrow.
Congrats to Magdalena on her commencement next weekend!
Love and prayers to each and all,
Mom and Dad
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