Bryant Park, New York, New York, January 1, 2006 
I came across this forgotten photo last week while searching for something else. Such a classic! I’m glad I found it again. To tie this to current events, George (center) hit the big 3-0 two weeks ago — he’s first among our friends to hit that mark — and this weekend the gang is getting together to party in his honor. Woot!
Posted in friends, holidays, nerdery, nostalgia, Old-Timey Tuesday
If it seems like a random time to be posting things about Sarah Palin, it is. I was just reminded of this video by a post on Alex Ross‘ blog and feel compelled to share it, because it is the best election-related thing of all time, ever. It’s certainly the most entertaining way to make sense of Sarah Palin’s incoherent ramblings:
But wait — there’s more! Seeing that video again reminded me of another Sarah Palin song, this one by household favorite Josh Ritter. I heard it for the first time at his Atlanta show last November, and, conveniently, some dude in the audience recorded and posted it on YouTube. It’s a clever little ditty:
Last but not least, to bring things up to the current election cycle, a tumblr called Bad Lip Reading is worth checking out. Herman Cain’s is probably the best:
Posted in in the media, nerdery, pop culture, the internet, Whaa?
In the space of the past two weeks, I’ve purchased not one, not two, but three new pieces of printed art for our apartment. Fortunately, we have plenty of wall space; unfortunately, what we have on the walls doesn’t necessarily play well together with all this. Not that we’re tastefully coordinated by any means… which is why I feel free to buy awesome stuff now and plan to make it work later on.
The first thing I picked up on impulse was a print you’ve already seen here by German illustrator Katrin Wiehle. I stopped by Young Blood to pick up some cards a week and a half ago, and a lone copy of this print was set out right next to some t-shirts that caught my eye, as if it were waiting for me. I took it as a sign and spent the rest of my Christmas Visa gift card to get this for my kitchen:
The next print was a mutual pick — an excellent tour poster for a kickass band by Syracuse-schooled illustrator Nate Duval. (Fun fact: we’ve already got one of his posters on our wall, from the concert at which we got engaged.) Punch Brothers haven’t come through Atlanta yet on their tour, but we will be there when they do! Nate had a free shipping offer on his website, and I figured we might as well get the limited edition artist’s print now so we don’t have to worry about a) missing the poster (because it’s cool) or b) crushing it at the concert in April.
Last but certainly not least is the most-repinned item I’ve ever shared, a print from a letterpress outfit of displaced Southerners by the name of Old Try. It’s called General Manners No. 1. These colors happen to match the vague color scheme I have going on in my kitchen, but, really, I just think it’s great, and that’s the only justification I need right now. I’ll find a spot for it.
Someday our eventual house is gonna be full of REALLY DAMN COOL stuff. We’ll be the hippest, most stylish folks on the block. All in good time…
Posted in art, design, letterpress, paper goods, style
Dún Aengus fort, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Ireland, March 2007
I can’t believe it’s been FIVE YEARS since grad school and our class trip to Ireland. (Certainly the most enjoyable credits I ever earned!) We started off in Galway and ended up in Dublin; our last full day in the country was St. Patrick’s Day. While on the west coast, we made a jaunt to the Aran Islands. Aside from the extremely choppy waters on the ferry ride over, it was a lovely excursion.
Here and above, I’m peering over the side of a sheer dropoff to the churning ocean below. If you’re afraid of heights or falling, I don’t recommend this, but if you’re not, it’s a super cool feeling. Secure any loose clothing before attempting!
Next we have the eventual cover of Jon and Dave’s debut ska-punk album under the name ‘Habitual Plagiarism.’ When the record drops, you’ll hear it here first.
And, lastly, a sweet shot of me and Jon hiking back, taken by a classmate:
Posted in nostalgia, Old-Timey Tuesday, travel
I just want to note that the weather this week — uncharacteristically warm and polleny (and lovely, it must be said) for this time of year, even in Atlanta — is pretty much exactly the same as it was in May of 2010 around my wedding. Here’s now, March 2012:
And here’s two years ago-ish, May 2010:
That is so noots! If we’re in May now, weatherwise, then what the hell is actual May going to feel like? Nevermind July or August…
Posted in Atlanta, observations, Whaa?
I was going to blog last night — not to mention clean the house before Jon returns from his work trip to Malaysia on Saturday — but instead I had a delightful hourlong Skype chat with my in-laws. Not a bad way to spend the evening; they’re pretty much the best ever. I got super lucky. (And Skype rules.)
photo by Our Labor of Love/crop and filters by vignette
Posted in family
Over the weekend one of my best friends and I, along with our mothers, hosted a baby shower for another of our best friends. We took the easy route and kept things traditional, which, in these parts, means a base menu of tea sandwiches, Henri’s petit fours and punch. Here was the spread in the front room:
petit four close-up! waaaaah!
Now, punch is a tricky thing. Growing up attending lots of church functions, I’ve had my share of tangy, sherbet-based punches in an array of alarming colors. Fortunately, my mom, ever the hostess, had a super tasty punch recipe filed away somewhere. It was so delicious that I want to share it with y’all. You can drink it straight or mix it with white wine or bubbly — it’s refreshing either way. Simply combine and serve over ice:
Done! Delightful! Not too sweet, not too tart. (I bet it would spike well, too, for a non-afternoon party.) Then just stick a mini rubber duckie in your centerpiece and you’ve got yourself a baby shower!
Posted in events, excellent munchables, libations, social graces, things southern
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, October 2003
All this singing in German I’ve been doing lately has me seriously nostalgic for the days of study abroad. Well, that and my friend Amanda’s (pictured above) awesome blog chronicling her second round of adventures in Germany.
I also recently discovered that one of the ASO cellists did his master’s degree in Freiburg, so I introduced myself during intermission of our concert on Saturday and we compared notes on what was around in 1993 (him) vs. 2003 (me). One of his favorite haunts was a Brauhaus across from Martinstor (Martin’s Gate), which is also known as as McDonaldstor because someone decided to build a McDonald’s restaurant into the medieval city gate. All of that made me think of this photo, which was taken at that very McDonald’s.
At this point we had been in Germany for just about two months and had learned to brave the hordes of Big Mac-begeistert Freiburgers and hit up McDonald’s when we were craving cheap American treats like milkshakes or fried apple pies, because the Germans just couldn’t get them right. This was one of those nights.
Posted in friends who blog, nostalgia, Old-Timey Tuesday, things German, travel
Oof. Y’all, I am just about musicked out. I am in the thick of my own personal March Madness, which entails rehearsals and performances for a solid four weeks with only a handful of days off from singing. This week is definitely the worst of it, which sucks right now but will be awesome once I get past Saturday.
soloists rehearsing a semi-staged St. Matthew Passion at Symphony Hall
As luck would have it, my 9-to-5 workload has exploded at the exact same time as my extracurriculars. Isn’t that how it always happens? Things will be a little hairy while I attempt to wrangle my many deadlines, but somehow it will all get done (reasonably close to on-time).
Posted in kvetching, let me bring you up to speed, music
Evanston, Illinois, May 21, 2005
Tomorrow is Little Man’s seventh birthday, so tonight’s OTT is dedicated to him. This was taken the day after Little Man, a graduation present from my parents, arrived in my Evanston apartment. Was he not the cutest kitten of all time?
Posted in love, nostalgia, Old-Timey Tuesday, pets
