U2 3D

We got to see this spectacle this weekend. If you like the band, you should go see this movie if it is in your area.

It was showing at an Imax theater near us. It's not just a typical concert movie. There's other nifty stuff goin on. And I'm not going to spoil it by telling you.

This movie gave the viewer the vantage point of the concert-goers, the view the guys in the band have and some views that can only be seen by sitting in an Imax theater.

It was certainly something to see!

Night At The Museum

Tonight had to be one of the best school nights ever. This is the second week of my Museum Studies class and we got the full frontal, behind the scenes, only for select audiences tour of the State Archives and some of the State Museum.

I have been going to the State Museum since my dad took me there as a kid. Surprisingly some of the exhibits haven't changed since then. I'm ashamed to say, I haven't been in the museum in quite a number of years. Though I've worked near it and really have no valid excuse for not going.

We started out in the 4th floor board room which has a spectacular view overlooking the city of Harrisburg, the Susquehanna River and parts of the west shore. After a discussion he took us down to an area where some of the archives are stored. After leaving the freight elevator, we all stood collectively near the doors marked "Archives" waiting for the professor to find the key that unlocked the door to reveal the mysteries that room held. I felt like one of the kids in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when Mr. Wonka was about to open the door to the room where everything was edible and the chocolate river flowed.

He opened the door and switched on the lights and there were metal shelves heavy with baby cradles, dress forms with formal gowns worn by governor's wives, quilts, teddy bears, blanket trunks, household utensils, etc. I could have stayed in there all night and had a blast!

We went to an area where they date archaeological finds. This is one of the largest department in the museum. There are some 3.7 million artifacts there. There were cases upon cases of American Indian arrowheads, pottery, beads, effigies all right next door to the palaeontology department. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to get to see what was in there. Maybe in a couple of weeks. If you'd like to take a virtual tour, click here.

The visit tonight just sealed my fate. If I don't get to work in that museum at some point in my life, I will be a very unhappy girl!! Luckily, the professor is the head curator of the museum. I think I may have the connection I need to find myself a very fulfilling job! Now I'm thinking, I wonder what the archives are like at The Met?!?

McNuggets

I absolutely love this commercial. The tune is catchy and these guys crack me up! They have names too...Fernando and Thomas. Now, I'd never actually eat a Chicken McNugget, that's just gross.

Susan Maurer in NYC New Year's Day 2008

Thought I'd share a bit of poetry read by my friend and published poet Susan Maurer. She's reading at The Bowery Poetry Club in NYC.

Warning! You may need a cigarette or cold shower after you watch this!

Things I Think About

I've been finding this presidential campaign pretty darned interesting. Though I've always been registered Republican, I think I'm as far from Republican as I can be. I'm not sure what I'll do when I get to vote in the primaries since most of the Republican candidates quite frankly scare me. I just took a "Straw Poll" on line and it showed the demographics of the U.S. based on who is voting for which candidate. According to this poll, Hillary is clearly the choice among Dems, but when it comes to the GOP....there is no one clear winner. That makes me feel better.

I've taken The World's Smallest Political Quiz, and according to that I'm a Liberatarian. That's how Nittanybri is registered. I don't know that I'm ready to take the step to actually register as one. Though I'm all for government change.

There's a gentleman I work with that is preaching the word of Ron Paul. I want to like Ron Paul, but every time I see him in a debate he looks like an incompetant, senile old man who makes no sense when he responds to a question. I really do not think there will ever be any change to our goverment until we finally elect someone representing another party besides Republican or Democrat. And I don't see how anyone that's not Dem or Rep will ever get elected.

On a completely different note...I begin my first masters class this coming week. The class is Museum Studies. I'm really looking forward to it. It's just one night a week. I'm also hoping there's not alot of homework. I'm getting lazier.

I've finally gotten smarter too about buying books for my classes. When I first started school, I'd buy books from the book store. Then in more recent years, I learned to buy them used on line because they were cheaper. Now, I'm not buying books at all but borrowing them from the library. Hopefully this doesn't backfire on me.

And finally, I just heard on the news where one of Hillary's political advisors (I think) got a DUI over the weekend. Recently in my neck of the woods, a former Commander of the PA State Police was arrested for DUI and you may remember the head of MADD was also arrested for DUI. A couple of weeks ago, several of us were playing a game of Trivial Pursuit and the question was "What's the most common arrest in the U.S.?" Guess what it was? DUI! So, all these arrests, jail time, fines, and supposed behavior modifying therapy are doing what???? It seems these laws have been concocted just to make the counties, cops, and counseling services richer. But it's not solving the problem, nor will it ever unless, in my opinion, prohibition is reinstated.

Attention Wordsmithers!

If you like words, know the meaning of lots of words, need to learn to use more words, enjoy a challenge AND a chance to donate food, you MUST check out this website: FreeRice

This website asks you to choose an answer that best defines the selected word. Every time you get it right, this organization donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. I just got 700 grains donated, now get to it!!!

Droppings

I don't know what gets dropped around the country in order to countdown to the New Year, but here in central PA, there's a plethora of gatherings a person can go to with all kinds of things being dropped in celebration:

Hershey--what else but a giant Hershey's Kiss?

Lebanon--of course a 150 pound 12 foot long Lebanon Bologna, which will be donated to a local food shelter

Lancaster--no, nothing Amish will be dropped but Lancaster is the Red Rose city, a red rose will be raised, not dropped. It might be kinda fun to find out what they drop in Blue Ball, Intercourse and Paradise?!??

York--the white rose city will raise...a white rose.

Harrisburg--a strawberry. I don't know why.

Falmouth--a town between Middletown and Bainbridge has the famous goat drop. Your guess is as good as mine as to why! They are also known for the goat races that take place there. Apparently, they have a thing for goats.

Dillsburg--a pickle

Carlisle--a mini-Indy car. Carlisle is well known for its car shows.

Mechanicsburg--a wrench

According to the local news there are also towns that drop a spring, a bag of potato chips, a shoe, a lollipop, an M&M, a cow, a canal boat, a huckleberry and the list goes on.

No matter where you are, I hope you have a wonderful, safe New Year!

Ice Storm 2007

Of course, this was a couple of weeks ago, and the ice has gone completely since it has been in the 50's many days.

This is the big pine tree that bit it, because of all the ice on it.

I'm Baaaack!

We're now back in the 21st century with Internet capabilities. Seems our telephone line was disconnected during the clean up of all the trees from the storm. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a wonderful New Year!!!

There's No Place Like Home

Ok, so rewind back to Sunday. A peaceful Sunday afternoon on the couch, watching movies and wondering where all the snow was that was predicted for the night before. Instead we got a nice, thick coating of ice on everything. It was actually quite beautiful, especially when the sunlight was on it. (Pictures to follow!)

Quickly this pastoral setting ended with a thud. Literally. And then all the lights and t.v. went dark. We quickly ran to the back window to see what happened. There it was, the approximately 40 year old pine tree, that has to be at least 50 feet tall was uprooted and laying on it's side with the power lines to my house underneath.

Immediately, a fire was built as it was late afternoon and it would soon be getting cold inside. And, I frantically began searching for the phone number for the Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) company. It was almost impossible to even get a recorded message with PPL as many residents in our area were without power due to the ice storm. I finally got to a person and was able to plead my case. She recorded my information and said, according to our information, the best estimate we can give you as to when your power will be restored is Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.

Needless to say I wasn't happy but we dug out flashlights and lit the candles and tried to make the best of it. We decided the next day to pack up the troops and move into a hotel till the power was back on. We just returned today. The hotel was full of people (and animals) just like us that had no power.

The good from all this: The outpouring of concern from friends and coworkers. Some of these people I barely know and were offering up their place for us to come stay. The hotel workers also enjoyed seeing us come through the lobby to take the dog out and were extremely accomodating. La Quinta rocks!!! The hotel bill wasn't as expensive and we even checked out really late and they didn't charge us for an additional day. The animals quickly adapted to their new surroundings without any "accidents." We also found that running up and down the hallway was a fine source of entertainment. And finally, yay for insurance!

Thanks to our friends who offered up their homes and showers and sympathized with our predicament. It's really good to be home!

A Christmas Meme

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Anyone who wants to play along, feel free. Try not to be a SCROOGE!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both!
2. Real tree or Artificial? None :(
3. When do you put up the tree? Sorta answered this already
4. When do you take the tree down? Don't have to worry about that.
5. Do you like egg nog? Yeppers! YUM!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably a bike or TV
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yea, but it's in the attick and I think about digging it out and putting in on my fireplace mantle.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Brian, he usually buys what he wants and never says, "oh, that's cool, I'd like that."
9. Easiest person to buy for? Patrick, he likes food and is a college student.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, there is no other way.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Exercise equipment/gear
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Story
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? If I see something anytime I get it and will save it, otherwise, whenever I really start thinking about what people would like.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas dinner and/or cookies.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? If I put one up, colored, that wasn't a racist remark either.
17. Favorite Christmas song? In the Bleak Midwinter
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Depends
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes, and Olive is my favorite!
20. Angel on the tree top or star? I think I have a star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Hopefully I have a ton of gifts to open, so BOTH!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People out on the roads going to the mall.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have an angel ornament that is really old. A mouse chomped the wing and it's kinda funny.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Veggies, stuffing, mashed potatoes
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To take a trip somewhere warm.
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Brian and Interstellar Lass, maybe Bone, maybe Michael
27. Who is least likely to respond to this? That's hard to say.

Remembering

I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong. -John Lennon

I Am Penn State

Bet you never thought you'd see these words written on this blog at least. Well, it's true. I was accepted at Penn State as part of their graduate program where I'll be majoring in American Studies.


American Studies focuses on the culture, society and folklore in America with some classes dealing with museum studies and administration. And since I want to work in a museum or some sort of historical preservation job when I'm done with all this, are two of the reasons I decided on this area of study.


I was beginning to lose hope in hearing from Penn State as it has been a couple of months since I had submitted my paperwork and had asked my professors from my undergraduate studies to send in letters of recommendation to PSU. I was just starting to get lazy again to; enjoying the couch a little too much, and not having to worry about homework. That's a good feeling!


On the other hand, I'm looking again for a challenge and have that goal of having a job that I go to every day that I really love.









Disclaimer: The aforementioned information in no way indicates that the claimant has forsaken Notre Dame as her favorite college football team. Nor does she claim allegiance to named university for anything other than academics.

You Know You're From Pennsylvania When....

The first Monday after Thanksgiving is a big deal around the great state of Pennsylvania. It's the first day of Buck hunting season and is a school holiday. You know deer hunting, that all time favorite sport of getting out into the woods before the sun has had time to rise as the stealthy hunter cracks open is first beer of the day. He hunkers down as he waits for his prey to enter his domain. If the hunter is lucky he will not have fallen asleep nor will have finished his entire 6 pack before the deer makes his appearance.

I can't help making fun of the first day of Buck season. These people beg for it. It all starts with the monster trucks they drive 365 days of the year complete with a gun rack. The back of their trucks are usually covered with NRA stickers, Bush/Cheney stickers, the mandatory Nascar stickers of the Calvin and Hobbes character peeing on a particular car number and the occasional Confederate flag. They dress in camo on days when they aren't hunting, chew tobaccy, and often behave in the sterotypical "You might be a Redneck" manner. I think you can figure them out on your own.

Perhaps instead of giving kids off for the first day of deer season, they should make them go to school and learn all the state flags. Pennsylvania is considering changing their state flag to actually read "The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" on the flag since many people aren't able to identify the flag on their own. Geesh.

Oh, happy Cyber-Monday by the way. This is also the first "official" day of on-line shopping season. And yes, that's the name I heard a news reporter call it. That makes it official.

Yea, It's The Big Day

I Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing

Turkey Day

It's almost the big day! Is everybody ready to stuff their faces? Lay around and watch football? Take long naps? Give thanks?

What's everyone doing? Going? Having for dinner?

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrive!!

This is a long French tradition celebrating the first wines of the fall harvest. We get it in the U.S. probably tomorrow. Go out, buy, enjoy!!!

Here I Go Again

I was at the store the other day thinking I needed to highlight my hair. So I was shopping for the right product; have to make sure it's Revlon since they don't test on animals. Then, I have to find the right highlighting product, I wasn't interested in "coloring" my hair. Then, I stepped around to the endcap and saw the Revlon sale products. Hair color, two for the price of one. Well, let's not pass up a sale!! They were all dark hair colors, which I'm not opposed to, I've done it before, I'll do it again. But, do I really want to go that route again? I decided against it and went for the blonde highlighting like I had originally planned.

But, I'm feeling the need for a change. Hair color, cut or something. I've been in love with her hair for a while. I think I'd like to just do it!!! That's Victoria Beckham, (a.k.a. Posh Spice) by the way.

Thank You