Greetings from Norwich University

The Norwich University Swimming and Diving Team
My very tired looking nephew.

Rest in Peace Barbaro

Breakin' the Law

This weekend offered up a brush with the law for me and The Bri Guy. Things started off innocently enough on Saturday with the usual trip to the vet with my Lester for his fluids, then to the dog groomer to get Jasmine all spiffed up and then to the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg for a look around. This urban farmers market brings with it an unusal contrast. There you will see the "urban" dwellers on one side of the counter being served often times by either Amish or Mennonite farmers. There are a few stands that serve Greek, German or Indian food. I had a vegetable dish from Curry in a Hurry. Brian had a Gyro (pronounced Yee-ro, just in case you were unaware.) I also couldn't resist a slice of peanut butter pie that had about an inch of whipped cream on the top. I shared some of the whipped cream with the kitties. They love that stuff!

On the way home from the market, I asked if Bri had ever been to the State Library since we were going past it. No, he hadn't so, we made a quick detour. Upon entering the library you can either make a left or a right. So, we went left first into the room that holds legal documents and books. We were immediately asked if we needed help. Geesh, no just looking!

Because the library, which is a really great old building, is attached to The Forum, an equally impressive art deco styled building, I thought I could show Brian the inside of that. So, we passed through the double doors to the stair well that took us over to the auditorium. Unfortunately, the doors to the auditorium were locked so we couldn't take a look inside. Back we went to the library where we crossed by the doors to the outside and passed a couple of people, namely a security guard on the way to the other side of the library. We get into the giant reading room when from behind us we hear (Cue the 007 music) "Excuse me!" We turn around and there is the rental cop, or library security or whatever he was with his rental uniform on WITH I might add a bullet proof vest underneath. You never know when one of those quiet, studious nerd types that spend the day at the library might freak out and start shooting everyone. He asked if we had been through the "double doors." And we're thinking well, we went through many double doors, which are you referring to, but kept our thoughts to ourselves and just said "yes."

Rental: "Why would you do that?"
Us: "Because I wanted to show him The Forum. And there were no signs indicating we couldn't go over there, nor were the doors locked."
Rental: "Who do you work for?"
Us: ( I can't even remember what we responded here because it was yet another ambiguous, unrelated question.)

So, after he sufficiently reprimanded us for our obvious illegal behavior, he let us off easy and went on his way to ensure library-goers could read in safety. This guy needs to change his name to Johnny on the Spot too. Not only had about 5 minutes lapsed since we walked through the dreaded double doors, but on our way to the other reading room, we walked right by him!!

Our drive home consisted of us coming up with the most obnoxious answers we could have...or should have given him. And we laughed our butts off!!

So, in a mere 24 hour time period, we could have very well ended up on America's Most Wanted without ever even committing a single crime. (Cue Judas Priest...)

Almost Famous

Upon some urging from Mr. Dorman who sent me a link to Beyond Second, a community photographic web site located in Harrisburg, I submitted some of my photographs. They're some of the same photos from the Flickr box here on my sidebar.

The criteria for this web site is that all the photographs have to have been taken within the city limits or if outside the city limits, must have at least a view of the city.

There are some very interesting views from the city of Harrisburg, some very talented eyes here in the city. My favorite image is Interim by Frank Borges. This was taken along the river where alot of dogs are walked. Not sure if he set up this image or just happened to be there at the "decisive moment."

Hope you enjoy taking a look at these pics. Thanks Dean for tell me about this site!!

I Can See Clearly

With the beginning of the semester and that feeling of the unknown that comes along with new professors and new classes with new expectations, I often feel overwhelmed and nervous and sometimes wonder why on earth have I done this to myself?

Then something happens, I get into the groove, the expectations are clear, the clouds begin to part and I feel better. Occasionally, there are things that make things perfectly clear. Today I got something in the mail that has done just that.

Dear Carnealian:

I write to congratulate you on your academic performance during the 2006 fall semester. As a result of your performance, I am pleased to inform you that I have placed your name on the Dean's List, a distinction conferred on students who achieve an average of 3.4 or higher for the semester.

Your work last semester is a clear indication of commendable effort and superlative achievement. You should be proud of this significant accomplishment. I hope that you will take time to reflect upon the efforts that lead to your success as a means of continuing in the same strong manner into the future.

Again, I congratulate you and wish you continued success.

Sincerely,

Vice President for Academic Affairs/Dean of the Faculty

Unlucky Number 7

Today I found out that I still have 7 more credits to complete for graduation. I'm very unhappy with this revelation needless to say. However, I can still "walk" at graduation in May and the party in May is still on, so no need to change your travel plans. The up side to all of this is that the classes I must take are only electives, so I can take pretty much whatever and I can also take them at the local community college which is much closer to my house and significantly cheaper than what my usual college charges. And, I can take them over the summer which means I can probably get them done in about 6 weeks. What I'm really hoping for is that the college is offering glass blowing over the summer. Something I've always wanted to take.

I have a project to do for my Color class. I can either do a plain and simple research paper (NOT!) or I can do a smallish research paper with an art project attached, something like a video maybe. So, I've called in the support troops for help with this. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do but I'd really like to do some kind of video since I've never done that before. I just want this project to be so cool when it's done.

The Man from Down Under

My first day of classes went well. My 8:00 a.m. class is Asian art and the professor is from Australia. I've never had him for classes before so I had no idea what I was in store for. He attended my African Art presentation from last semester but apparently he was holding back that night. He's completely insane. In a good way that is. He went home for the holidays so we got to take a look at his "Happy Snaps" from his trip home. Nothing like seeing a bunch of Aussies in the pool, cocktails in hand in 90 degree weather on Christmas Day. He had pics of himself sharing a beer with a lizard. He says the lizards like cheese and they feed them that to go with the beer apparently.

He has also informed us that from the first day on we are to refer to him as "Tripitaka." Which is a character from one of his childhood television programs from Japan. According to the syllabus we will be having a Chinese tea ceremony, seeing Japanese as well as Korean films and with the upcoming trip to New York City in the Spring, we will be going to Chinatown and eating till we puke. At least that's what he said. Last semester when the class went to New York, they made t-shirts. The t-shirt logo was developed by the class and the back read "Your shoes are ugly and prenatal." I'm not sure what that means, but it's hilarious!

Anyway, it sounds like it is going to be a very entertaining class. And who doesn't want to sit for hours and listen to an Aussie speak?!?

New Beginnings

Tomorrow I will begin the first day of the last semester before I graduate. I have an 8:00 a.m. class which I am not looking forward to. But, it's only 15 weeks! I also figured out that the huge chunk of time I have between classes will allow me to get all my homework done so I should not have any homework to do at home. YAY!!

P.S. Graduation is May 12. Pencil in that date for a partaaay!!!

Curses!

That dreaded Farm Show curse worked! We got a dusting of snow over night. Enough snow so that some schools had delayed openings this morning.

It is very blustery and cold out there today. Most of the snow has been blown away. Yuk, I hate winter.

No Jacket Required

This past weekend was just so out of the ordinary for January in the northeast. I happened to see the weather report from New York City this past weekend. It was 72 degrees in Central Park on Saturday?!?! It was sunny and beautiful this weekend. The other thing that made this extremely odd was that Saturday was the first day of the Pennsylvania State Farm Show. What makes the weather that more bizarre is that anyone from the state of Pennsylvania knows that during Farm Show week, we are almost 100% guaranteed to have bad weather. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it's January, it has everything to do with the Farm Show. It's true! They teach you that in meteorology school.

This state wide agricultural expo event that happens every year at this time. I've gone to the Farm Show almost every year since I've been a little kid. My father would take me and I'd pet every single animal in the place. My hands would be black and I didn't care. Then, we'd go off and eat some of the fabulous food they have there. Now, when you leave the area where the animals are there are hand sanitizers containers to use before you leave the area. For the love?!?

The food is the best part for me as an adult. Because now I think too much about why the animals are there. Mainly as food. And, even though I don't eat them, the million other people that are there do. And I feel bad petting the cute little lambs and pigs thinking they'll be on someone's dinner plate. So, I'm going to focus on the giant baked potatoes (nope, they don't just come from Idaho!) that are smothered in butter, the fried mushrooms and yummy milk shakes. Mmmm!!!

According to an inside source, there's lots of wine tasting this year. We are so there!!

Sticking on the food theme...one of my favorites besides what I usually talk about...Paris. I was just taste testing a gift a cousin gave to NittanyBri for Xmas. They were a selection of chocolate bites. They are savory chocolate pieces. There are some that are Lavender, Rosemary, Cinnamon Espresso beans, and Cayenne Chocolate. When you eat these it's mmm, chocolatey, then BAM! HOT! Certainly this isn't the kind of chocolate you can "power eat," but it's fun to taste the different flavors. I'm not too fond of the Lavender. I have a Lavender plant just outside my back door and I love the smell, but I don't really want to eat it. There is one remaining chocolate bar we haven't tasted yet from Bri's Xmas gift. And that's the Venezuelan dark chocolate flavored with plums and Indian coriander. I'm kind of scared of it.

Stilton, Edam, and Blue Oh My!

Today my family and I traveled to the Lehigh Valley area for my aunt's funeral. It was good to see my cousin that I never see. We talked about our memories of my aunt and found out she got toasted, or looped as she called it (on red wine) at Thanksgiving dinner! We got out old photographs and reminiced about good times with our family.

On our way back home, we decided to stop at Wegman's. This isn't your ordinary grocery store. This is the kind of store you go to when you don't want the ordinary. We don't have a Wegman's in our neighborhood yet. We due to get one in the spring.

The shopping frenzy started at the not-your-ordinary-cheese department. I picked up a Merlot cheese, similar to Port Wine cheese but this one is purple and white, made with Merlot (duh), a Beemster classic cheese from Holland, a Blue Cheese from St Agur, France (where else?), and a white Stilton cheese with apricot from England. Now I will have the perfect accompianment for the Swiss wine my friend Paul brought me.

The bakery department or Patisserie (for those of you that only talk about France) was To. Die. For. I got a vanilla creme brulee for NittanyBri and a chocolate, creamy, cake thingy for myself. And if Bri is reading this now, I guess I just ruined the big surprise huh?!?

Besides the smell of cheese (which can be good or bad depending if you like the smell of feet or not) the other aroma that filled the car was the smell of coffee. I purchased Seville Orange flavored Espresso bean and ground them there. There was also a Vermont Maple and the double your caffiene variety my sister chose.

We'll be eating and drinking tonight, it's grey and rainy outside anyway. Hope you all have a great weekend. Send Nittanybri get well wishes. He's got a yucky cold!



There is so much in this store that is new and unusual. I cannot wait till we get one. Grocery shopping will be a joy!!!

Like Wine for Chocolate

When the semester ended a few weeks before Christmas it seemed as if there was an eternity before the next semester started. Now that I've been writing in my work schedule for the next two weeks, my semester break is almost over!

I've ordered my books for my next classes. I will have kind of an odd schedule because I will have a very early morning class, then my next class doesn't start till after 3:00 p.m. I guess that time between classes will be beneficial when I have tests and papers to write. I can also go to the gym on campus during that time. Of course the lure of driving home and going back to bed is pretty strong.

Along with all the celebrating of the holidays which has made my semester break fly by, the birthday celebrations just keep on coming. Over the past weekend I had a visit from my friends from Philadelphia. You would think Phila is on the other side of the planet, but it is only 2 hours away and I never seem to get down that way. Thankfully, my friends make it up here frequently. And, since Paul had a recent trip to Geneva, I was given quite a lovely birthday gift! Paul is the one that works at CERN, the particle physics laboratory in Geneva, Switzerland which you've read about here before. In an a well executed attempt to woo his then girlfriend, he purchased a bag of champagne truffles. She of course turned me on to them, and Paul was kind enough to bring some home on his most recent trip for my birthday. He also brought a lovely red, Swiss wine. You know I've been into the chocolate, because who can resist?!? They're too stinkin good!! The wine, I will save for..something. Hopefully I'll have some chocolate left to eat with the wine, they'll probably be very yummy together.

Thanks Vera and Paul!!!

Famous Last Words

Because of this cold that wants to happen but I refuse to let it, I wasn't feeling much in the party mood come Sunday night. I wanted to get going to the various parties we were invited to, stay a short time and be home by 10:00. I even turned down dinner with my family because 7:00 was too late for dinner because I wanted to be home by 10:00.

However Nittanybri decided to take apart the doorknob which resulted in a trip to Home Depot. While he was working on that, my neighbor called and asked us to join her in some delicious Asti. Soon, she was at my door, and we were off an running.

Then, I got a test from Mattandriver. He and his wife were coming to town for dinner, we should meet up. They were about 5 minutes from my hous so we were happy to meet them at Cantone's. Several drinks later they were on their way back home and we were off to destination number 2.

This destination was a friends house, just a casual get together, yummy food, drinks, etc. Stayed there a couple of hours then off to destination number 3. Another friend that was nicely toasted by the time we got there.

By midnight, as she was fixing us her specialty drink of Kaluha, Baileys, Godiva and Egg Nog, we had to remind her to take the lids off the bottles before trying to pour. That seemed to work out better. We had lots of fun sending pics and messages to Mattandriver and Dorman and dancing round the kitchen to our favorite songs including lots of Jimmy Buffett which just made us all want to fly south for the winter. By the time it was time to go because she was asleep on the couch, it was 2:00 a.m. So much for getting home by 10:00.

Hope you all had a fun and safe new year celebration!

Another Goodbye

We haven't even gotten to bury my aunt that died on Saturday and have suffered another loss. Today we lost Rusty, one of my sister's dogs. He was a good boy.