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.)
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