cupcakes
Originally uploaded by kjerstieb
happy birthday to marianne.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
travelogue part 2
I have been meaning to wrap up the travelogue for a few weeks, but just haven't gotten around to it. I know you all have been waiting with bated breath, so let's get this over with.
The second week of our England trip was spent in a lovely little canal town called Bulbourne. We rented a great house right next to the canal, which we shared with Richard's family -- his mother (aka "English Grandma"), brother Duncan and his wife Tracie, and their 2 kids Katie and Ben. The week was relaxing -- a much slower pace than the week in London. And by this point in the vacation, Richard was getting around much better, which was good for everyone.
For the sake of brevity, I am going to post a Jocelyn-style list of highlights:
1) Watching canal boats go by the front of the house, and learning about canal locks
2) Feeding ducks (we named one set King George and Queen Elizabeth, and for some reason, I took about 20 pictures of them throughout the week -- they're just regular old mallards. There was also a set of gay ducks -- two males -- that we named Drake and Josh.)
DRINKING TEA
3) Going to quiz night at the local pub (we came in 4th -- not too shabby)
4) Visiting the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden, and sitting in Roald Dahl's actual writing chair
DRINKING TEA
5) A trip to the Whipsnade Zoo which was huge, but distinctly lacking in animals
6) A walk around the ruins of Berkhamstead Castle
DRINKING TEA
7) Watching the clouds and snow (!!!) pass across the field behind the house
8) Eating a delicious English roast chicken and potatoes
9) Spending time with Richard's family
10) And did I mention, DRINKING TEA??? Man, did we drink a LOT of tea.
All in all, a lovely week. Lucy got a little sick of her younger cousins --- the poor thing is an only child at heart -- and Richard got a lot sick of his mother, nothing new there.
The End.
The second week of our England trip was spent in a lovely little canal town called Bulbourne. We rented a great house right next to the canal, which we shared with Richard's family -- his mother (aka "English Grandma"), brother Duncan and his wife Tracie, and their 2 kids Katie and Ben. The week was relaxing -- a much slower pace than the week in London. And by this point in the vacation, Richard was getting around much better, which was good for everyone.
For the sake of brevity, I am going to post a Jocelyn-style list of highlights:
1) Watching canal boats go by the front of the house, and learning about canal locks
2) Feeding ducks (we named one set King George and Queen Elizabeth, and for some reason, I took about 20 pictures of them throughout the week -- they're just regular old mallards. There was also a set of gay ducks -- two males -- that we named Drake and Josh.)
DRINKING TEA
3) Going to quiz night at the local pub (we came in 4th -- not too shabby)
4) Visiting the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden, and sitting in Roald Dahl's actual writing chair
DRINKING TEA
5) A trip to the Whipsnade Zoo which was huge, but distinctly lacking in animals
6) A walk around the ruins of Berkhamstead Castle
DRINKING TEA
7) Watching the clouds and snow (!!!) pass across the field behind the house
8) Eating a delicious English roast chicken and potatoes
9) Spending time with Richard's family
10) And did I mention, DRINKING TEA??? Man, did we drink a LOT of tea.
All in all, a lovely week. Lucy got a little sick of her younger cousins --- the poor thing is an only child at heart -- and Richard got a lot sick of his mother, nothing new there.
The End.
Monday, April 21, 2008
inapprop
I saw a very disturbing sight today while driving Lucy to the skating rink. I tried to get a picture of it with my camera phone, but it didn't work out.
It was a minivan, with a license plate that had one of those holders around it which said "Clergy." Now that in and of itself may be disturbing to some -- perhaps to heathens like myself who hate to share the road with god's messengers on earth. But no, the ick-factor does not stop there. The license plate was a vanity tag which said BACKRUB. Eeeew. Should I call the Pope?
It was a minivan, with a license plate that had one of those holders around it which said "Clergy." Now that in and of itself may be disturbing to some -- perhaps to heathens like myself who hate to share the road with god's messengers on earth. But no, the ick-factor does not stop there. The license plate was a vanity tag which said BACKRUB. Eeeew. Should I call the Pope?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
misery loves company
For a long time, I have been working on a mixtape in my head called "Misery Loves Company" -- a mix of all the best (i.e. most tragic) love-gone-wrong songs. I was thinking about my list today while cranking my iPod on a trip to scenic Dover, and thought I would post a list of the five songs I have come up with so far.
5. "The Art Teacher" -- Rufus Wainwright. A great song about a woman remembering her unrequited love for her high school art teacher. Lucy and I were singing this throughout London as we visited art museums..."I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts. I liked the John Singer Sargents. He told me he liked Turner. Never have I turned since then. No, never have I turned to any other man."
4. "Simple Kind of Life" -- No Doubt. Back when they were just a couple of kids growing up in the OC, Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal fell in love. After years of hard work, touring the country with their little ska band, life got in the way, and Gwen and Tony broke up. But despite the band's success, all Gwen ever wanted was a simple kind of life. "I always thought that I'd be a mom. Sometimes I wish for a mistake. The longer that I wait the more selfish that it gets. You look like you'd be a good dad." Now Gwen has Gavin, and baby Kingston, with another on the way, so she is living the dream, and I am happy for her. But if Tony needs someone to carry his baby, so he can find out if he would indeed be a good dad, I could probably make myself available.
3. "You Were Mine" -- Dixie Chicks. Country music. Key changes. Cheating men. Do you really need anything more for a great break-up song? Well, how about if we throw in an additional dagger to the heart (Justin, if Ally is reading this to you, brace yourself.....), kids caught in the middle. "I can give you two good reasons to show your love's not blind. He's two and she's four and you know they adore you, so how can I tell them that you've changed your mind?" Cue weeping.
2. "No Children" --Mountain Goats. More bitter than working class voters in Pennsylvania, and at least twice as witty. "I hope it stays dark forever, I hope the worst isn't over. I hope you blink before I do, I hope I never get sober. And I hope when you think of me years down the line, you can't find one good thing to say....And I hope you die, I hope we both die..." Hey, at least they don't have kids.
1. "Fairytale of New York"-- the Pogues with Kirsty McColl. This song gets me every time. Poor Shane McGowan is in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve, pining away for Kirsty, and Kirsty is totally over him, calling him a "scumbag" and a "maggot", among other choice words. This one is made so much more poignant by the fact that Shane McGowan really is a horrible drunk, and Kirsty McColl met a tragic end, decapitated by a boat. You can't make that shit up.
Now you have to tell me what other songs I should put on my mixtape (and by mixtape, I mean iTunes playlist). Thanks for your help.
5. "The Art Teacher" -- Rufus Wainwright. A great song about a woman remembering her unrequited love for her high school art teacher. Lucy and I were singing this throughout London as we visited art museums..."I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts. I liked the John Singer Sargents. He told me he liked Turner. Never have I turned since then. No, never have I turned to any other man."
4. "Simple Kind of Life" -- No Doubt. Back when they were just a couple of kids growing up in the OC, Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal fell in love. After years of hard work, touring the country with their little ska band, life got in the way, and Gwen and Tony broke up. But despite the band's success, all Gwen ever wanted was a simple kind of life. "I always thought that I'd be a mom. Sometimes I wish for a mistake. The longer that I wait the more selfish that it gets. You look like you'd be a good dad." Now Gwen has Gavin, and baby Kingston, with another on the way, so she is living the dream, and I am happy for her. But if Tony needs someone to carry his baby, so he can find out if he would indeed be a good dad, I could probably make myself available.
3. "You Were Mine" -- Dixie Chicks. Country music. Key changes. Cheating men. Do you really need anything more for a great break-up song? Well, how about if we throw in an additional dagger to the heart (Justin, if Ally is reading this to you, brace yourself.....), kids caught in the middle. "I can give you two good reasons to show your love's not blind. He's two and she's four and you know they adore you, so how can I tell them that you've changed your mind?" Cue weeping.
2. "No Children" --Mountain Goats. More bitter than working class voters in Pennsylvania, and at least twice as witty. "I hope it stays dark forever, I hope the worst isn't over. I hope you blink before I do, I hope I never get sober. And I hope when you think of me years down the line, you can't find one good thing to say....And I hope you die, I hope we both die..." Hey, at least they don't have kids.
1. "Fairytale of New York"-- the Pogues with Kirsty McColl. This song gets me every time. Poor Shane McGowan is in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve, pining away for Kirsty, and Kirsty is totally over him, calling him a "scumbag" and a "maggot", among other choice words. This one is made so much more poignant by the fact that Shane McGowan really is a horrible drunk, and Kirsty McColl met a tragic end, decapitated by a boat. You can't make that shit up.
Now you have to tell me what other songs I should put on my mixtape (and by mixtape, I mean iTunes playlist). Thanks for your help.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
blog this
Multimedia message
Originally uploaded by kjerstieb
Lucy took this picture of me yesterday when I was dropping her off at school. I really like this shirt (which Lucy insisted I buy), and think that my blog is the perfect place to share mundane facts like that. Also, I like Doritos a lot. Had some for lunch today and boy, were they tasty.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
picnik
tower bridge duo
Originally uploaded by kjerstieb
My latest obsession is the editing software that interfaces with flickr, called picnik. I am applying duotones to all my pictures. I think it looks cool. I am working my slowly towards a project that I bought art supplies for about 6 months ago-- applying encaustic to photos. I am thinking it will look cool with the duotones. I'll let you know in another 6 months.
Friday, April 11, 2008
a haiku for you
I would like to dedicate this to Lucy and Jen. Prepare to be touched.
"Mutter Museum
has floaty bits of babies
perfect but for brains."
(Some backstory: We were at the Mutter Museum once looking at all the deformed babies in jars, including one with no brain. These women in front of us said one of the funniest things I have ever heard: "Oh! That baby is so cute! It would have been perfect if it only had a brain!" I was inspired to write this haiku because Jen sent me a picture of her standing alarmingly close to a brain in a jar with a delighted grin on her face, and Lucy has been writing haikus at school.)
"Mutter Museum
has floaty bits of babies
perfect but for brains."
(Some backstory: We were at the Mutter Museum once looking at all the deformed babies in jars, including one with no brain. These women in front of us said one of the funniest things I have ever heard: "Oh! That baby is so cute! It would have been perfect if it only had a brain!" I was inspired to write this haiku because Jen sent me a picture of her standing alarmingly close to a brain in a jar with a delighted grin on her face, and Lucy has been writing haikus at school.)
Thursday, April 10, 2008
good news...
...all of my england photos are up on flickr. i am still working on tags, but check them out.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
happy accident
I did not take this picture on purpose at all, and didn't even know I had taken it. If you enlarge the picture of Lucy standing in front of Shakespeare's Globe, posted below, you will see this reflection -- Shakespeare superimposed on a perfect London streetscape, bookended by St. Paul's Cathedral. It looks cool, doesn't it?
Sunday, April 6, 2008
commercial break
Multimedia message
Originally uploaded by kjerstieb
We interrupt this gripping travelogue to bring you a picture of the previously referenced mayonnaise cake, which I made for my dad's birthday. I did not beat the icing for as long as I should have so it was a little weird (hence the brightly colored sprinkle disguise), but the cake itself was delicious.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
travelogue
As promised, a not-so-brief travelogue of our adventures abroad. (Going abroad sounds so fancy. It's also fun to say that we went to Europe. But several people have asked me how our "trip across the pond" was -- that just sounds lame.) I am going break the travelogue into two posts because otherwise, I am afraid it will be too long for my loyal readers to get through on their daily tours around the internets.
We had planned our trip to be divided into 2 stages -- a week in London, doing major sightseeing, inhaling bus fumes, and generally enjoying all the excitement that a major metropolitan location (in Europe) has to offer, followed by a more relaxed week in a small market-town in a rented cottage (cottages are cute, houses are boring) with Richard's family. Unfortunately, given the fact that Richard was still in a lot of pain and not particularly mobile the first week, London was not the best place to be, and it may have been better if the weeks had been reversed, but it all worked out just fine.
Week One --London.
Richard spent a lot of time in the hotel while Lucy and I traipsed around the city. Luckily, the hotel owner, also named Lucy, was just incredible. Before arrived, Richard had called the hotel to request a first floor room. We had booked a triple room, but because she did not have a triple on the first floor, she gave us an adjoining double and a single. The only bummer of this was that we did not feel comfortable letting Lucy sleep in the single by herself (and she didn't like that idea either), so poor Richard was banished to sleep alone. From the minute we arrived at the hotel, Big Lucy, as we called her, was just lovely. Each morning, they would prepare a breakfast tray for Old Gimpy, as we called him, since he couldn't make it down the steps into the dining room. And a couple of times, Lucy looked in on RIchard to make sure he was faring ok on his own while his wife and child, who had ditched his ass, were roaming London. When we left, she gave Little Lucy a small Easter present. Honestly, I can't say enough about her. (If you are ever in London, please stay at the Merlyn Court Hotel in Earl's Court. Tell Lucy we sent you.) But anyway....here are some highlights of the week.
Tate Modern. I really enjoyed this museum. The most interesting installation is this huge artist-made crack in the floor.
I can't imagine that it would fly in the States (that's what you call America when you are abroad, by the way) -- definitely a lawsuit waiting to happen -- I could just see ankles snapping (and one of my worst fears in life is a broken ankle. Just ask Richard.). This visit was definitely a highlight for Lucy because for some reason, a group of Harajuku girls were there taking photos. Lucy was enthralled.
Shakespeare's Globe.
Surprisingly fun. When we got there, it was mobbed with American school groups, so we could not do the full tour. Lucy was gutted. (She has loved Shakespeare since Jocelyn et al. gave her a book of poems for Christmas. Next time you see Lucy, ask her to do her recitation of the Battle of Agincourt scene from Henry V. It is superb.) We did, however, get to have a "Quick Peek" as they were calling it, which allowed us to go into the theater and look around. They had a school group there rehearsing for a kids production of Hamlet (or Blamlet, as we were calling it). Definitely cool. And the museum was nice too.
Sir John Soane's Museum.
This is an under-appreciated gem. Really. John Soane was the architect for the Bank of England, and he built this incredible house on Lincoln's Inn Fields that is just full of fascinating stuff. He even has an Egyptian sarcophagus in the house. And he had so much artwork that it did not fit on his walls, so he built these hidden panels that fold out again and again. It was just super-cool. Lucy and I loved it.
Tower of London. This is a no-brainer. I have been there a couple of times, and think it is so fun. If I never saw the crown jewels again, it would be too soon (although I was interested in how they have that display set up now to keep the line moving -- they have moving walkways, so there is NO lingering), but everything else is great. Unfortunately, it was pouring, so our Beefeater cancelled the tour halfway through. We had a good time poking around nonetheless. (Fun Fact: they feed the ravens bunnies and bunny blood. Poor bunnies.)
National Gallery. I am not a huge fan of gigantic traditional art museums (the Louvre kills me), but Lucy and I enjoyed the National Gallery because they had a really good audio tour for kids. And they have a great cafe. Chicken and mushroom pie to die for.
Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. I am not a history buff at all, and only went here because for some reason, Lucy wanted to, but I loved it. The Cabinet War Rooms are the underground bunker used by Churchill and his cabinet during WW II, left virtually untouched. So cool. And the Churchill Museum is pretty new, and really well done. I enjoyed this way more than I would have expected, and would definitely go again.
Some other highlights: Lucy participating in street theater in Covent Garden....a solo trip to Portobello Road market....a quick stop in the sketchiest coffee shop ever, featuring a giant English tranny and a smacked out couple nodding on the couch (you should have seen poor Lucy's face)....free Irish yogurt as part of a St. Patrick's Day Irish food fest....dinner at a new Gordon Ramsay pub in Docklands with Richard's friend Alan....a day with our friends Tariq, Trish and their kids (8-year old English kids love Hannah Montana too). I really could go on and on. It was a fabulous week for me and Lucy (not so much for Richard since London is not handicapped-accessible at all, but he did not complain overmuch).
More to come.....I will let you know when I get all 500 of my pictures up on Flickr so you can take your time perusing them.
We had planned our trip to be divided into 2 stages -- a week in London, doing major sightseeing, inhaling bus fumes, and generally enjoying all the excitement that a major metropolitan location (in Europe) has to offer, followed by a more relaxed week in a small market-town in a rented cottage (cottages are cute, houses are boring) with Richard's family. Unfortunately, given the fact that Richard was still in a lot of pain and not particularly mobile the first week, London was not the best place to be, and it may have been better if the weeks had been reversed, but it all worked out just fine.
Week One --London.
Richard spent a lot of time in the hotel while Lucy and I traipsed around the city. Luckily, the hotel owner, also named Lucy, was just incredible. Before arrived, Richard had called the hotel to request a first floor room. We had booked a triple room, but because she did not have a triple on the first floor, she gave us an adjoining double and a single. The only bummer of this was that we did not feel comfortable letting Lucy sleep in the single by herself (and she didn't like that idea either), so poor Richard was banished to sleep alone. From the minute we arrived at the hotel, Big Lucy, as we called her, was just lovely. Each morning, they would prepare a breakfast tray for Old Gimpy, as we called him, since he couldn't make it down the steps into the dining room. And a couple of times, Lucy looked in on RIchard to make sure he was faring ok on his own while his wife and child, who had ditched his ass, were roaming London. When we left, she gave Little Lucy a small Easter present. Honestly, I can't say enough about her. (If you are ever in London, please stay at the Merlyn Court Hotel in Earl's Court. Tell Lucy we sent you.) But anyway....here are some highlights of the week.
Tate Modern. I really enjoyed this museum. The most interesting installation is this huge artist-made crack in the floor.
I can't imagine that it would fly in the States (that's what you call America when you are abroad, by the way) -- definitely a lawsuit waiting to happen -- I could just see ankles snapping (and one of my worst fears in life is a broken ankle. Just ask Richard.). This visit was definitely a highlight for Lucy because for some reason, a group of Harajuku girls were there taking photos. Lucy was enthralled.Shakespeare's Globe.
Surprisingly fun. When we got there, it was mobbed with American school groups, so we could not do the full tour. Lucy was gutted. (She has loved Shakespeare since Jocelyn et al. gave her a book of poems for Christmas. Next time you see Lucy, ask her to do her recitation of the Battle of Agincourt scene from Henry V. It is superb.) We did, however, get to have a "Quick Peek" as they were calling it, which allowed us to go into the theater and look around. They had a school group there rehearsing for a kids production of Hamlet (or Blamlet, as we were calling it). Definitely cool. And the museum was nice too. Sir John Soane's Museum.
This is an under-appreciated gem. Really. John Soane was the architect for the Bank of England, and he built this incredible house on Lincoln's Inn Fields that is just full of fascinating stuff. He even has an Egyptian sarcophagus in the house. And he had so much artwork that it did not fit on his walls, so he built these hidden panels that fold out again and again. It was just super-cool. Lucy and I loved it.Tower of London. This is a no-brainer. I have been there a couple of times, and think it is so fun. If I never saw the crown jewels again, it would be too soon (although I was interested in how they have that display set up now to keep the line moving -- they have moving walkways, so there is NO lingering), but everything else is great. Unfortunately, it was pouring, so our Beefeater cancelled the tour halfway through. We had a good time poking around nonetheless. (Fun Fact: they feed the ravens bunnies and bunny blood. Poor bunnies.)
National Gallery. I am not a huge fan of gigantic traditional art museums (the Louvre kills me), but Lucy and I enjoyed the National Gallery because they had a really good audio tour for kids. And they have a great cafe. Chicken and mushroom pie to die for.
Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. I am not a history buff at all, and only went here because for some reason, Lucy wanted to, but I loved it. The Cabinet War Rooms are the underground bunker used by Churchill and his cabinet during WW II, left virtually untouched. So cool. And the Churchill Museum is pretty new, and really well done. I enjoyed this way more than I would have expected, and would definitely go again.
Some other highlights: Lucy participating in street theater in Covent Garden....a solo trip to Portobello Road market....a quick stop in the sketchiest coffee shop ever, featuring a giant English tranny and a smacked out couple nodding on the couch (you should have seen poor Lucy's face)....free Irish yogurt as part of a St. Patrick's Day Irish food fest....dinner at a new Gordon Ramsay pub in Docklands with Richard's friend Alan....a day with our friends Tariq, Trish and their kids (8-year old English kids love Hannah Montana too). I really could go on and on. It was a fabulous week for me and Lucy (not so much for Richard since London is not handicapped-accessible at all, but he did not complain overmuch).
More to come.....I will let you know when I get all 500 of my pictures up on Flickr so you can take your time perusing them.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
home again home again
Just wanted to let my loyal readers know that we made it back from England safe and sound. Despite the craziness before we left, we had a great trip. I'll post a mini-travelogue soon (you know you want me to). In the meantime, here are a few photos to tide you over.
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