School's in session...again...

Above: 2 cute monkeys at the STL zoo
Below: me and Nate in the 'mod pod' that took us up the Arch
Below: looking down one arc of the Arch! ahhh!

So, I'm back to launch in about what's going on with me lately.

My summer ended with a nice long weekend trip to St. Louis with Nate, where we did all the tourist'y things like ride up in the Gateway Arch, go the the STL zoo which is in Forest Park (the creation of an early 20th century World's Fair), tour the STL Museum, ride the metro, see Busch Stadium where the Cards play, and see the abundant and ubiquitous Anheuser-Busch advertizing. We wanted to go the Busch Brewery and see the clydesdales, but it was a little out of the way, so we didn't make it. However, we were entertained by the company that our hotel was hosting for a few days: people who were attending a matchbook conference! Yes-- that's what I said, 'matchbook conference'! Nate even overheard some old folks collectors who were chattin' it up about heart-shaped match heads and how rare they are....
Takes all kinds I guess.

August abruptly 'ended' for me on the 20th, when I returned to classes for the fall. I still can't get used to starting this early, as compared with the U (ofMN), which always starts the day after Labor Day. During the last week of August or so, I was listening to MN Public Radio at work, as usual, and they had a bit on why school starts when it does. Apparently, starting after Labor Day has much, if not all, to do with the agrarian calendar (of farmers) and also with state and county fairs, where families, esp. kids, get to show off their summer's crops. Fairs became the traditional end to the summer and the last 'hoorah', so to speak, before the academic year began and kids had to leave the fields for most of the day. The Univ. of MN has continued this tradition longer than many comparable schools because the State Fair grounds overlap with University grounds and, of course, (student/staff) parking. I always used to assume it simply because the Fair shares space with the University, but it is much more culturally involved than that. Interesting!
Too bad I have to start so soon here at Mizzou, but at least i get an entire week off for Thanksgiving---- suckers!!

Well.... I'll have to come back to this post since dinner's ready now... :)

I'm back... mmm... Wendy's (my friend, not the fastfood joint) New Orleans style rice'n'beans......... and I watched the documentary "Ringers: Lord of the Fans," which is all about the history of fan culture surrounding the Lord of the Rings series. Pretty interesting, and pleasantly brief. It doesn't compete for content with the special features already on the special edition DVDs, so that was really nice. Plus it's narrated by Dominic Monaghan, so a familiar voice is appreciated.
Thank god for Netflix. Is that a shameless plug? oh well...

Back to current events...
The first couple weeks of classes were actually rather 'anti-climactic' as I kept telling people when asked how things were getting on. What I mean is that when compared to my spring semester's course load, which was 4 classes- each of which had 'sit time' (actual sit-in-class time), my current fall course load masquerades as a cake walk. I am only enrolled in 3 classes (which is normal, as compared to 4), only 2 of which I actually have sit-time; my 3rd class is my thesis research, meaning I occasionally meet w/my advisor(s) and mostly just go to the library to finds reading/research materials, and then sit around and read it or toss it. Of course, my thesis is one of the most important works that I'll produce as a Masters student, but currenly I appreciate it even more because I have more freedom in my own time scheduling and management. Lest you think I'm being lazy this semester, I should say that I have stayed on with my summer job at the Univ. Archives in addition to starting my new academic year appointment as a graduate research assistant to the registrar of the Museum of Art & Archaeology (Univ. museum housed by my dept.). You could say that instead of an extra class I have an extra job, which is just fine, as it entails no homework, pays me, and looks good on the resume. :) Furthermore, I couldn't turn down the appeals of my peers last spring to be our grad student association's Treasurer, which does entail quite a bit of busywork and/or paperwork throughout the year, much like my post as Grad. & Professional Council rep. last year. Because it is a Symposium year (biannually our dept. hosts a 2-day art history & archaeology student symposium where students and one key-note scholar present their recent research) I will be in charge of the cash-ola for that in addition to regular stuffs. I think I find I'm happier with more to do...!

Anyway, the 'anti-climactic'ness I was talking about was because my appoinment with the Museum didn't start until the 3rd week of classes and I had virtually no class time to attend, so I spent my first couple weeks working a lil more at the Archives, but mostly just wandering back home early, being subconsciously confused about all the time I had. At least I stayed on top of my class readings for those 2 weeks!! haha.... It took until about the end of last week (week 4) to really get into the swing of things, set a schedule, and feel the course & activity load I have set up for this fall. I'm pretty sure I felt the initial intensity by last Friday (2 days ago), when I'm pretty sure I partied out the fatigue at our dept. grad student Wines of the World party--- which was oh so much fun!!!... ;)

I really like what I have going on here this fall, but as I see the 1st year grads settling in and going through the fledging rounds of their first semester, I have started to realize that I'm no longer new, despite still often feeling like it. This is my 2nd and last year, all at the same time. I feel as though I've really come to love the community of people here, even if I could really leave the city of Columbia and return to my natural, more urban habitat. There's a real push and pull, and I think it is going to be harder to leave than I can quite grasp yet. But- there's still another year.... and another cycle of all the fun things that graduate student life has to offer. I won't name names yet, but I know already that there are people that I will miss more than others- and I mean that in the most positive way.

Those are my thoughts for now, and take care,
Chris

Candor

Hello my longtime, but sometimes seemingly distant friend, my blog….

I know that I do not always write regularly, and I’m sure that it is apparent in most of my entries that I feel guilty about this, (I mention something about this nearly every time), but honestly, I do feel guilty. I will, as usual make the promise to blog more regularly. It’s kind of like communion for all the Christians of the world, or New Year’s resolutions concerning weight loss, or what-have-you: a renewal of a promise you always intend to keep, but somehow you just aren’t perfect.

I think lately, whenever I consider blogging, (which has been a lot lately, might I add, due to recent events & thoughts), I wonder and perhaps even struggle with what my blog is to me; what is its function? It can’t really be a personal journal because technically it is published material, and is seen by close friends and family- those at whom I often become most happy for or enraged with. By speaking completely (and I mean completely) freely I violate and alienate those people; but, on the flip side, I feel fake and shallow if I do not tell the truth about what’s going on in my life, esp. on something that is still so personal as a blog. What I’m saying is: if I’m angry, do I blog about it? if I’m happy do I blog about it? if I’m sad or some other feeling, do I blog about it? And I don’t just mean things concerning myself, but I mean these feelings concerning my family, close friends, colleagues, etc.? Even if I am careful, I might hurt someone’s feelings or say too much, or something, or even the simple fact that I am blogging about someone else might hurt their feelings because I either did not go to them first or already talked to them but needed another outlet anyway. I'm quite sensitive to this. I guess my conclusion lately has been to sit on my hands and not blog. I used to journal all the time as a kid and a teenager, but as I got older, it got harder and situations (of more and more adult nature) became harder and harder to articulate in 1,000-2,000 words or less on paper without killing your writing hand or absorbing all of your time. I’m a pretty social person and I consider myself to be rather introspective, so often I feel that I need both social and personal outlets to go over and iron out my thoughts.

I guess in a way then, through all of this written meandering I’m saying that I would like to try to be more open, esp. about certain areas of my life that I have not previously been able to be open about. Part of this is personal, in the sense that I, myself, wasn’t ready; and the other part is external, meaning other people weren’t ready or wanted the information shut up or didn’t (want to) admit to it. I have found that in my experience, you have to care of yourself first, others second- in order that you might be able to help others better, but not necessarily for this goal; perhaps you take care of yourself only to survive. I know this might sound all complicated and deep – and in a way it is – but really, I mean not to expose some sensational revelation like being gay, or a Marxist, or adopted, (none of which I am, lest you be confused about what I am driving at), but rather to be more open and candid about my life in general, and hold back less. Perhaps in the long-run it will be less sensational and surprising than it might sound, but to me it is a step that is a long-time-coming, and has taken a lot of thought and growth to reach. In a way I hope that it will be my social release from the constraints of wondering what people, in particular my family and close friends, will think—that is, if they even still read my blog!....

I do have to say though that when an issue becomes more candidly revealed it does lose some of its ‘exclusive glamour,’ if I can coin a term, but it can also be quite freeing as well; I suppose one must weigh which is seemingly more important at the time: keeping something to oneself to ponder, or pandering to friends and family for advice or help on that issue. At this point on my blog, I will be preferring (or at least trying to prefer) selective pandering to bottled up pondering.

Well, that’s 775 words right there. If I had had to handwrite all that, I’d be done for sure; thank the stars for computers and keyboards (yes, yes, I know typewriters have been around forever, but you had to practically punch the keys, which again would be tiresome!)

So, do I plow on into recent issues, or is this enough for now? I feel pretty spent having finally written the above material down. I’ve had it circulating in my head for some time now, and I’m not quite sure I have the energy and momentum to keep writing…. for today anyway. What I have said already, is already quite a bold move on my part, at least in my opinion.

However, I do have some announcements:

I would like to congratulate my cousin Eric and The Alarmists on their first (full-length, right?? correct me if I’m wrong) CD, which is officially released tomorrow (on my birthday no less!) and also on their album release party this weekend! Rock on!

Also, I’d like to congratulate my friend, Catherine, on her surprising engagement!

Other than all of this, my own update is that presently I am taking a summer course here at Mizzou: German (bootcamp, as I call it). It’s 4 weeks of “Intensive” German focused primarily on the reading knowledge requisite needed for masters/Ph.D. students in my department (among other humanities programs). We don’t focus on speaking and listening, but rather it is much like doing Latin or (ancient) Greek where you only focus on reading comprehension and recognition. We essentially do a year’s worth of German in a month – yup – minus some of the frill. Class meets 2 hours/day, 5 days/week, and we have at the very least 2-3 hours of homework/night; so, needless to say I am keeping busy with schoolwork for the month of July. As for my June and May past activities, in May I did pretty much as little as possible, to be quite honest. I basically recovered from this last year of graduate school that I somehow managed not only to survive but do well. I swear I don’t know how I did it sometimes, looking back, especially those last 1-2 weeks of class and finals and papers. How the hell did I fit it all in?? It seems impossible if I itemized everything that I had to accomplish, but somehow mental endurance and a little bit of this and that (not to mention many a meal prepared for me by none other than the fabulous Nate) helped me to manage it all. Anyhow, by mid-May I was spent with regards to using my brain for just about anything…. For the duration of May I slept in, jogged a lot more than I’d had time to in weeks…months…, swam in the apartment pool, read fiction, caught up on favorite shows recorded on Nate’s homemade ‘TiVo’ (or DVR, for those technologically-inclined), and pretty much just absorbed the last 9 months of school that sped by seemingly like a flash – this is no euphemism. I often found myself staring blankly into space whilst stuck leaning on a chair, trying to figure out what to do with myself, not knowing what I was supposed to do with all of this unfilled, unplanned, unspoken for time. For 9 months I was conditioned into a completely contrasting lifestyle, and to have that world come to an abrupt halt one afternoon after writing my last exam, (which only seemed like just one more on the daily regimen) somehow managed to be overwhelming in itself. Is this what retirement is like?? There were no screams of delight like the good ol’ days of elementary or even high school, where everyone ran home or out to lake with friends; all I saw that last day of exams was droopy eyelids covering glazed over glances made even more exasperated by knowing sighs of Teaching Assistants glowering to themselves over the fact that they not only had to take exams, but also still had to grade the exams of their own undergrads as well. I guess I was lucky in that sense since my appointment didn’t include T.A.ing this year. It’s funny how well I remember that last day; you’d think it should be a blur, but it isn’t. I finished my exam, walked out, walked to my car, went home, and collapsed. No party, no elated yelps – just pure, unadulterated fatigue. The party, however, did come later- the following Monday was the department picnic, at which all manner of good ‘spirits’ were fully accounted for.

By the end of May I’d found a summer job which started on June 1^st; the University Archives has me scanning (digitizing), archiving, organizing, (etc.) many of their old, decaying negatives. It’s pretty boring, but rewarding work in the sense that I’m helping to preserve history. I’ve even come across a negative of Winston Churchill taken in 1949 when he attended a journalism awards ceremony here at Mizzou; so, occasionally I come across some interesting characters. I do this job part-time, and during June tried to do some preliminary reading and research for my master’s thesis, while now that German has started, I stay pretty busy with that instead. So now, between work and German I’m not back at full-steam, but it is a nice summer pace. Honestly, I can’t say that I mind the break, that’s for sure. Swimming is goooooood; relaxing is gooooooooooood; doing a little nothing once in a while is gooooooood.

I don’t really have any more summer plans than to finish up German (August 3^rd is our final exam), maybe visit St. Louis, do some other summer’y things, and prepare for the fall semester which starts August 20^th. I already visited the Twin Cities at the end of June for a few days when Nate’s dad got re-marrried, so I probably won’t go back until at least Thanksgiving, probably Christmas. Nice and easy does it this summer for me.

Well, that’s nearly 1800 words, so I think I’m done for now, but look out for more candid entries in the future. Write me comments if you’ve got any!

rodeo, research, Bob Dylan, spring break, paper-writing, and Museum assistantship!!

"Hi everybody! Welcome to Twins baseball."
Well, maybe not, but that's my tribute to the late, longtime Twins sportscaster (of 45 years, no less) Herb Carneal.
Someone has big shoes to fill.

Well, my blogging really has been sporadic at best, for which i apoligize a little, but really must reluctantly admit that it has a bit to do w/my wrists/hands.....still. However, I am glad to announce that things are finally, in a sense, coming under control in that area of my life. I visited a hand specialist in orthopedics here at the University clinic in Columbia, and she helped me out and gave me some tips and a new brace. I think it's helping alot, but it's starting to get pretty stinky from wearing it so much.... perhaps it's overdue for a wash... Additionally, i may be trying a new drug this summer called Neurontin (feel free to Google- it's quite interesting), to help "re-calibrate" the pain-sensing nerves between brain and hands. I've certainly done my research, including consideration from 2 docs, but it has one ill-effect that i am not particularly fond of: drowsiness/sleepiness. Two considerations to take into account: 1) I'm already on Zyrtec for allergies which causes me to be a lil slower than my non-Zyrtec'd self ALL the time, and 2) I'm in graduate school & very busy. I just cannot afford to pack on another drug that would exhaust me completely; so, i may try it this summer.
Other than all this, I had a sinus infection about a month ago, but i managed to kill it. ha!
That's my health update! :) All on the uphill thus far.

The picture above is from spring break last week when i visited my family back in the Twin Cities. I successfully dragged my parents and brothers to the Weisman's current exhibit on Bob Dylan! It was alot of fun, with historic photos of Old and New Hibbing, early photos of the Zimmerman family, Dylan's note in a friend's high school year book telling her she "has the prettiest hair in school," and of course plenty of paraphenalia related to his writing, compositions, music installations, and even one of his experimental paintings. If you haven't checked this out yet, you simply MUST! It's free and open to the public everyday except Mondays on the Univ. of MN's East Bank campus in the Weisman Art Museum (the big shiny, silver building!)
Also, i managed to convince my family to visit the infamous "watchtower" of Dylan's musical memory: the Prospect Park witch's hat water/watchtower, just east of campus, down Univ. Ave. It was so cool! ..."All along the watchtower.....said the joker to the thief..."

Sometime in late February I rallied up the troops for a field trip to the RODEO! My camera's batteries ran out, so i didnt get many pics, but it was still a fantastic experience. I brought along Nate, and 3-4 friends for this lil outing. Did you know that to get the bulls to buck, they squeeze the hell out of the bulls testicles???!! If i were him, i'd be pretty upset too.... There was some "animal rights" discussions about this practice, in which i mostly agreed that this traditional practice does seem a bit absurd, but very interesting nevertheless. The rodeo put on the typical contests such as: calf roping, barrel racing, bull riding, etc. Did you know that horses can sweat profusely? And so visibly? I had no idea! Guess i never thought about it. But after contests the horses would be corralled and watered and would just stand there panting and dripping. Pretty amazing. I must say that the type of crowd the the rodeo draws is definitely your rough and tumble, cowboy/cowgirl, red-neck or blue-collar type crowd. It was obvious, but sometimes hilarious what the current clothing "fashions" were. Stetson wearers unite in this smokey, dirty, but energy packed, beer-slogging crowd for what really seems to be a family affair.

Currently, I am in the midst of my last month of classes. This means that i am pushing the last leg of the semester which includes feverish compilation of research and the composition of 3 research papers and their accompanying presentations of findings to my classes. Oh yeah, I have to finish strong in ancient Greek, too.... So let's just say that soon i will fall into the vast vacuum of paper writing, only to resurface sometime around May 11th.

I do have one fantastic announement to make: I got one of the 2 coveted museum assistantships offered to the group of graduate students in my dept. for next academic year! I am EXTREMELY excited and also extrememly grateful to the advising committee for realizing my path for more career/goal experience. YAY!!

Next time i write i'll update some more on my progress/timeline in school, and what ill be doing next year and more on future plans. For now, these things need a lil more thought.

In other news, Nate had a great work-trip to Boston where he visited the parent company of his employer: Meditech. He's doing well and being given more and more responsibility as time goes by. I think his employer (LSS Data Systems, of Eden Prairie & Minnetonka, MN) reallly likes him...... ;)

That's all for now!
xoxo
C

January brought me to MN, Cali, and back to Mizzou

I was reaquainted with the ocean (and my long-harbored yearning for it) during a 4 day conference in San Diego for the Archaeological Institute of America's (AIA) annual conference. It was my first AIA conference and it was fabulous. I literally wore myself out, and so drastically that i scarcely scraped up enough energy on the last afternoon to make it to the airport. I think every moment i wasn't in lectures or symposia or stimulating conversations with new ppl or fellow grad students, or visiting profs from alma maters, i was running around taking in the sites or, (must i say it?) partying w/the clan. I haven't had such a full 'vacation' since backpacking. It was really good to see one particular former professor whom i haven't seen since December 2004, Mimika. She was a professor of mine while i studied in Athens, and over the last couple years has become a great mentor, through email and letters. It was really nice to see her. Furthermore, i must say that i think i dragged some of my fellow mizzou grads around a bit, sightseeing and whatnot, for which i think they are grateful despite their slothful whining from time to time. ;)

Christmas was a bust.
No, just kidding. Good catch phrase to keep your attention though. I spent most of winter break in good 'ol Roseville, MN with my family, 3 weeks to be precise, minus San Diego time. I was able to catch up with much needed rest, personal reading (no textbooks! yay!), some friends and mentors in town, and of course, family. Christmas with the McCanns was nice, and is rather scary at times-- when i see my 'little' cousins getting older and more mature in many ways, it really hits me that i'm 23. Yes, it is young, but perhaps i am just more aware of aging these days. Christmas with the Aamodts had a new twist, as we all gathered at Missy's (and Neal's) new, and might i say fabulous, condo. It definitely put a new shade on the color green of envy for all those envisioning themselves in a nice condo someday soon. I hope Missy reads this, because i really did like their design and decor. I'm not really sure though how they reach all those 12 foot shelves in the kitchen though..... (Missy is shorter than i am!) This year i got my grampa a little gift that i knew would make him smile: a little stamper that says, "Complete and Utter Bullshit" with little red inkpad!! I mean, the man has a great sense of humor and can only love so many new shirts or sweaters! He stamped pieces of paper for everyone i think.... Maybe ya had to be there, but i loved it, and i think he did too. He needs cheering up these days anyway. I think if i still lived in the cities I'd make more of a conscious effort to visit more often. At least he can yell at the neighbor kid now and tell him when he shovels poorly. Gives him something to do.

This semester I had decided to take an extra class now that i am all settled in and ready to tackle more. I am taking my 2nd semester of intensive (ancient) Greek, the History of American Gardens and Landscape Design (which covers my Modern art history/archaeology grad req.), Greek/Aegean Prehistory (which is in my field of interest besides the archaeological ethics), and lastly, a seminar on ancient (Mediterranean) wall painting. I think now that i've had a semester of study, i am finally able to start honing in on my interests, which right now is really archaeological ethics. I know i want to work in the museum sphere, but how exactly is the next step. I am going to start volunteering for the University museum (Museum of Art and Archaeology-- MAA), and look into a possible internship at an auction house in St. Louis over the summer. That's all i got so far for experience plans this spring/summer. Speaking of summer, i'm not really sure what i'm going to do yet. I do know that for most of June (and maybe a little at the end of May) i will be taking an intensive German reading course which will help me to springboard my German reading skills for the MA requirement. But, this will only be half the summer, so... i'm still researching options for the rest. I do know that i will be staying in Missouri and don't plan to travel much, except maybe to visit home or various friends. I want to start my thesis research this summer and focus on my studies, so finding a summer-sustaining job plus various volunteer or internship activities is a must.

One thing i am very excited about is coming up pretty soon, actually. I'm going to another conference during the last weekend of February which is being held at the Univ. of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. It's essentially an all day symposia that saturday where the topic of discussion will be....... archaeological ethics!!! The title of the conference is "Acquisition & Exhibition of Classical Antiquities," so needless to say, my attendance of this meeting is nothing short of exciting and perfect to further my interest and studies in this field.

well, this is my update.
-c

Where did november and december go?

It has certainly been way too long since my last update...
I promise a detailed update sometime in the next couple days, but wanted to post a "new" picture while i was thinking of it.
This photo is from the week before Thanksgiving, when i (and my fellow neophytes) all gave our best performance as scholarly lecturers over 2 nights. This photo is, of course, post lectures, as exhibited in our smiley attitudes. It was a very proud moment for myself and all of us, and really marked a milestone in our program. We received alot of accolade from the whole department, which was fabulous. No major screw ups, bloopers (yes, there were a few...), or fainting (thank god). All was well and fun.
Well, that's my brief tidbit to hold you over.
-c

Latest Exploits

The last weekend of October was spent in good 'ol Minnesota, celebrating my friend Mike's (& Liz's!) wedding. That's him in the shiny tux in the pic. He's my first close friend to get married, inside the country that is. Of course, some of Nate's friends have gotten married (one w/a kid already! gaaa!), but that's different. I have known Mike since 2nd grade, so this is quite the step. I'm proud of him & glad he picked Liz. Yeah, yeah, sappy sappy- but that's what we do around weddings- get sappy, cuz well, they are, but extremely fun & happy too!
So, this post is pretty boring so far to some of you. Sorry.
I realized how much i missed being in the cities last weekend; it was fantastic! I knew, while driving through Iowa and coming upon Cedar Falls and feeling exhilarated by the 'city-scape' that i missed the Twin Cities and couldnt wait to get home. A friend i had picked up in St. Louis asked how i could be so excited about a 'small town' in Iowa (having not yet visited me in Columbia, MO)-- so, i had to explain to him just how SMALL Columbia is. I guess seeing tall buildings, old graneries, a river w/dams, and whatever else adds to a city's skyline just sparked some energy into me. I thought it a bit weird myself, but hey- whatever lights your match.
It was great to have a little mini-reunion w/friends (who came in from all over) & even see my family, even if i was in and out of the house allll weekend. Hopefully i can persuade my fam to visit me over my WHOLE-WEEK Thanksgiving holiday!..... we'll see. i do have a father who much prefers to have ppl visit HIM, rather than he visit his children... *wink... It sure would be nice to have a turkey in my Missouri oven!....!
School has been giving me a bit of an up & down time as of late, but i'm pulling through, while not without much effort. Weeks 9 and 10 gave me hell, but i leapt over those hurdles and came out with some descent results. I think semester one of grad school is sposed to make or break you- so i'm taking it head-on. I have my 'hazing ritual' next Tuesday night: first year grad student public lectures. I will be giving a 20 minute talk on a small bone figurine of a Graeco-Roman goddess (Aphrodite) from the University's Art & Archaeology Museum which hasn't seen the light of day since its purchase in 1963. After that stressful expression of knowledge i shall turn my research into a term paper which pretty much constitutes my whole grade in my 'into to grad studies' class. Needless to say, i'm keeping busy & i'm pretty nervous for next week! Thanksgiving holiday week will only be that much sweeter once my talk is over.
Well, must get to work on my lecture before an evening meeting with Grad. and Professional Council!
take care, write me notes!
-c

Autumn chill, settling in, & gearing up for weeks to come

Hey everyone, sorry it's been a while since i last wrote. Who knew that moving somewhere totally new in the USofA could demand so much of your energy for so long? As i've mentioned to others, and really only half kidding, i pretty much forgot to blink every day for the first month i've been here in Columbia; quite literally my eyes have been peeled wide taking in all the new input of: new type of school, new school, new town, new grocery store, new friends & social group, events & getting involved, getting organized financially and in my apt, getting around (& not lost), and quite frankly, new input from absolutely all angles! It's a tough job, but i love it!
By the way, the pic is of my new favorite tree on campus between the 2 arthist/archaeology (AHA) buildings, between which i walk frequently. Last week was the perfect week to capture its essence in revealing fall color: 50/50 deep red & deep green. Pretty fantastic how bi-chrome it was. Then this week it went all red and lost 75% of its leaves, 'leaving' the ground littered red.

This week Nate is on a business trip back up to his Minneapolis home base of LSS Datasystems, which is technically in 2 suburban towns: Minnetonka & Eden Praire, both of which he frequents here & there. He's currently working on a new project re: medical software for hospitals and clinics & therefore had a big meeting w/docs from all over. Had to buy his first real suit a few weeks ago. He's a big boy now, especially since he turned 25 last week. Hooray for lower car insurance rates.

As for me, I think i've mentally settled in, but only for the most part. I'm constantly antsy to 'get to the point'; it's this feeling i get all the time, like im not moving forward fast enough. Is that a good or bad sign? Maybe it is just career anxiety about making sure that this program is truly right for me and that i can steer it to preparing me as best as possible for my goals. Currently my drive, interests, and strengths are all pulling me toward museum work related to ethics, property, & trade law regarding artworks & cultural property. However, in the real world, this means getting a Masters degree, then pushing through law school, then pursuing what i want. The 2 portions are appearing to be quite independent of one another, as if i must study A, then study a completely different B, and then chase goal C. Intertwining the 2 portions of the education i want & need are a bit difficult, and thus i self-diagnose this as the cause of my anxiety. Yes, i like learning & doing research, yes i love the social group i've fallen into, yes i'm involved as much as my time will allow (3 campus groups to be exact), but no, i haven't quite figured out my path yet. But that's ok, right? Perhaps what i perceive to be anxiety is really only ambition pushing me along day by day.

I'm now on facebook, which is a totally new world to me. How do people keep up on that web of a website? I signed up primarily to swap photos more easily, only to be sucked into its black hole of power which often nags me into wondering, "I wonder if anyone has msg'd me?" or "what did she do today? does she have pics up yet?" Whatever happened to email? It makes me wonder whether in my generation the art of the letter (and occasional phone call!) is not only dormant & forgotten, but completely lost. We read news headlines and soundbytes & quick emails which we cram into our schedules of constant input, but do we ever read the whole story or just sit down and have a full conversation? I'm glad i do, and thank god for NPR.

Well, that's my snipit for today,
Chris

Quick hiatus to D.C., then off to Mizzou i went

As I mentioned in my last post, I am now 'comfortably' residing in Columbia, Missouri (Misery, for those of you northerners who hate humidity & southern accents). Really though, it's great weather down here most of the time (so far), the smallness is nice, esp. the park trails and small University campus (well, it's big, but not on 3 banks like the UofMN), cheap cost of living, quiet apartment (unlike my last Mpls apt where i lived less than a block from both interstate 35W & the industrial train tracks, for which i paid a higher price), and so many other great things about smalltown living. Of course, concessions have been made- no more: Jamba Juice, choice of Indian restaurants (there are 2 in town, luckily), never ending, daily musical events, Mediterranean pizza from Papa Murphy's (the closer to the south you get, the fatter the fast food gets-- and yes, i have determined this is the south: it is south of the Mason-Dixon line), etc. Zeus help me from having any strain of "y'all" exit my mouth around xmas time.

The photo on this post is from my little 5-day trip from the 7th-11th of August to Washington, D.C. It's a great self-portrait (focus on the view of course, not me) looking west down the mall from the Capital building plaza (area in front of Capital). I had fun focusing the camera to the distance, then turning it on myself and getting the photo. Because my friend Laura, with whom i was staying, had to work during the hot and humid days in her nicely AC'd Virginia office, I went out alone and braved the mall, museums, and massive humidity. I swear i went through 3-4 liters of liquids one day w/o using the WC. Last time i did that was on-site at the excavations on Crete. Pretty impressive absorption and sweating power the human body has-- not to mention, i walked for about 8-10hrs each of the 3 full days i was there... Needless to say, it was fun and exhausting and the same time.
I think the most fun i had while i was there, besides seeing my long-time friend, was visiting and actually using the Library of Congress. In case you don't know what that is, it's America's national library, essentially; and, the LC #s you use to find books at your local or university library were assigned based on the LC's (Library of Congress's!) cataloguing system, which as you all know replaced the old dewey decimal system which still lingers in some parts of most libraries nationwide. So- the LoC is very prestigious and has an immense collection of important books, and a fantastic rare books collection. I got to look at, research/take notes on, and photograph some rare books from the same time period as those i had been working on all summer from the 16th century AD/CE. It was so much fun, i wish i could have had more days to just sit in the library and do research! But, alas, the museums and monuments were calling my name...
After the August 10th British red alert and American orange alert on the airways, i returned home on the 11th without incident, and, might i add, without any carry on luggage- including water, lotion, chapstick, etc. At least it was a quick trip, except for my sprained left knee, which made terminal hopping not as fun (I had a stopover in Chicago). I made it back in one piece, hobbling home to my apt, only to spend the next 3 days straight packing up my possessions trying not to overanalyze the psychology of the moving and change processes. I think the fatigue sufficiently suffocated any doubts or worries; for, that first evening/night in the new apt was quite a blur. I went into 'get it done' mode for the unpacking process for 4-5 days, then started school on the 21st after a whirlwind of events over the previous days and weeks.

I think I am finally beginning to settle in now. I am definitely one to feel more at home and at ease in a picked-up, completely (or 99%) unpacked apt. I guess it's what they call making it 'home,' rather than just where you eat and sleep and study. Also, i feel as though my mentality for this leg of schooling is much more work-geared and rather than class/school-oriented. As much as i like lectures and the like, i am certainly tired of them. So why am i in graduate school you ask? Well, it's how i get to what i want to do, so i am ambitious and driven to do it. At least in graduate work there are more projects and research and reading, rather than busy-work. This is what i'm after; i want to do research and read all day and write up what i find. That's my goal. I don't want to be a professor or teacher, really, but i want to do work that is beneficial to a museum setting, rather than a classroom. What i research can then assist in the classroom setting and dissemination of knowledge in general in a more indirect (or direct, i suppose) avenue. So, back to my work vs. class attitude mentality: i am approaching and attacking my graduate work as though it were a 8-5 job, rather than the whimsical and aimless, wandering undergraduate strolling down every university campus, listening to their ipod and trying to forget the lecture they just left. Yes, undergraduate should be the description i just gave, in a way; it should give the student time to 'figure things out' and explore their career options, and go to parties, and try new classes and clubs. But, graduate work is different. You go because that's exactly where you want to be, and you have some goal in mind, even if a little fuzzy at the moment. I'm hoping that this mentality will force all my undergraduate tendencies into submission, a.k.a. procrastination, late nights, movie marathons on mondays, afternoon naps, etc. I'll keep you up to date on how my goal approach is working out as time goes by.

In other news, i love biking to campus everyday here. I ride about 2mi there, then 2mi back each day (except the pouring down rain days on which Nate will drive me the 3 miles it takes by road). I bicycle this state park path called the Katy Trail, which has an access path from my apt complex down into the woodsy area. At first I was a little hesitant, because well, im a city dweller and ppl dont ride that far alone on a bicycle by themselves in the woods. But, as I tried out the path the weekend before school started, and came to realize those couple days afterward, this path is used as a pathway for commuters everyday to and from campus and other areas around Columbia. My new favorite phrase is, "Nothing's far in Columbia," and it's true. The path is 2 miles of shady, pleasant lovliness in my mornings and afternoons. I have a great new hybrid bike that i got for my birthday this summer which makes things even more pleasant. I counted 7 little wooden bridges and a tunnel (under the only road it crosses on the way to campus), countless other little streams and creeks running to and from those crossed by the bridges, cardinals everywhere chirping (more in one place and consistently than the Twin Cities--- mom, i know you're jealous), wildlife, both flora and fauna, galore. Just in my first week i had 3 major faunal sightings: first, a whitetail doe jumping out in front of me one morning on the path, about 50 feet ahead of me, for which i stopped to gawk and wait for the others I knew must be behind her (where there's one deer, there's more)- which turned out to be 2 new and nervous fauns; second, a pudgy, over-sized, and certainly well-fed dirty muskrat; and third, the same 3 deer, who the second time jumped out in front of me at about 15 feet and scared me this time. Aren't you supposed to scared the deer? Well, this mama wasn't really scared, but her 2 babies were and wouldnt come out of the thickety woods, 10 feet off the path. The mother simply munched and casually watched me and her kinder from about 10-15 feet, until finally she decided that the young, and inexperienced would not cross in front of me while i was slow close. I had even backed off a little, so as not to separate them and throw someone into a frenzy, but to no avail. She, again casually and w/o any real sign of fear or lack of confidence, crossed right back in front of me (again, about 10 feet) to reunite with the fauns.
I told Nate and other fellow grad students about my sightings, but no one was ever as excited as me. I think some ppl become immune to wildlife encounters when they live in more rural areas (unlike Mpls), but despite all the national park trips and camping ive done over my lifetime, i am still always fascinated. Some may blame my [sub]urban upbringing, but nevertheless one should never lose touch w/the human connection to nature. We are only one species.

I suppose that's enough for now, ill write more soon! :)
email or write or msg me if you have even just a second!

-c

I made it to MO

Hey everyone....
I just wanted to post and say that i am safe and sound in Columbia, Missouri. Of course... my new apartment is quite a mess of boxes and random things, and pretty unorganized in general. But there's a few things i have that i've never had in my apt before, such as: a dishwasher, washer & dryer, built-in microwave, central air, etc. So, it's pretty nice. Oh yeah!-- a pool & fitness room on apt complex property which is about 40 yards from my building, so verrrry nice!
That's all for now- i've got alot to take care of between getting settled, getting classes & assistantship stuff settled for school, and other random things ppl do when they move somewhere completely new.
....like find clean shorts & glasses to drink from......
ill keep you updated!
i think soon, i might start a facebook page so that pics and comments are easier to make available online.
:)
-c

Pour one out to the gods: i made it to 23

Well, here i am safe and sound 48 hours into my 23rd year. I stayed home all day to do some research reading instead of biking over to my 'office' at the library in the nice morning and afternoon rainstorm. It was nice to finally get some rain; i think as a Minnesotan i just love those nice strong storms and crazy weather. Enough though about the weather.

That photo was taken yesterday in the Bell room in the James Ford Bell Library, where i work. Maggie, the curator and my supervisor, took it. She's a little shaky with digital camera technology yet, but i have great confidence in her. She's managed to master both PC and Mac as an adult who grew up thinking that computers were sci-fi and moon-age technology. Anyhow, Maggie wanted a photo for the board of directors, so to speak, so they would have a published photo of 'that intern Maggie keeps talking about who we're paying all summer to keep her nose in the books.' Fine, i said. With much due cheesiness, the 2 of us at the direction of Maggie decided an assortment of the primary documents i am researching would be most appropriate to include in the photo. That map laying at the bottom right of the photo is the prize piece around which my research centers, (that particular piece of paper is a facsimile of the original, which is about 30 feet away from me through the walls and in the rare books vault). The book i am holding, however, is an original April 1507 edition of the Cosmographiae Introductio, with a newer, 20th century binding. This is the work, translated Introduction to Cosmography, which was the accompanying text to the map i have already mentioned. The map is known as Martin Waldseemuller's globe or gore map; the conical & pointed 'gores' on the map, had it been transformed into its intended form, would have all bent inward at 2 points (north and south) while the ends of the map would join-- all of this either on a woodcut sphere or some sort of axis---much like 4th grade paper-cut globes. In the world there are only about 4 or 5 known originals, and only 're-discovered' and published since the beginning of the 20th century. One is owned by a private collector, sold at Christy's in London, while another is in Munich, and the others are lesser known for various reason on which i will not expound to my blog audience. I would be happy to oblige if anyone asks me! :) So let's just say that it has been made apparent to me that this is a very coveted and valuable piece of history, and therefore an ever-exciting project for me to be a part. I cant believe i only have a few weeks left before i am forced to leave for more exciting adventures! (Note: the other 3 items on the table with me in the picture are all 15th or 16th century originals. Cool, huh!!!)

That was fun telling a little more about what im up to these days and how im spending my summer. People keep asking me when it's over and when im leaving, but sometimes im not ready to talk about that or do not want to; i want to tell about what is happening NOW and how i love it so much! If you ever want to come visit me there, let me know and i can arrange a tour and show you some verrrry cool stuff like old maps and books!

On Monday night, i went out to eat at this amazing seafood restaurant called Oceanaire on Nicollet Mall in Mpls with my fam and Nate for my birthday. It was the best Mahi Mahi ive ever had and by far the 'garlic-iest' escarot ive ever had. It was seriously one of the best birthday meals ever, too. My parents even bought me a super nice blender for a present so that i can make Jamba Juice (the world's best smoothies) after i move to Columbia (where they probably do not have Jamba). Overall, it was a pretty calm day; 3 cards, a few happy birthdays, and a msg on my blog (thanks Heather:). I guess that's what a 23rd should be. Pretty strange though each year since ive hits the 20's; you just never know what you're gonna get for happenings on your birthday anymore. My happenings were good and fun and flavorful :)

I think i'll go back to reading some articles for research now, and maybe later ill hit up Jamba Juice..... mmm.....

ttfn
-c

About a month on the countdown

Hey everyone~
Not much new for me, other than feeling the time vice tightening before my move to Missouri for school. Tentatively, the move is scheduled for the 16/17th of August, which gives me about 4 days to unpack, settle in as much as is possible in 4 days, officially enroll and register at Mizzou, discuss my future w/a grad student advisor & pick my year's itinerary, and perhaps find groceries and books. We'll see how this all goes; it sounds like a whirlwind to me, that hopefully will be more guided than i suspect. When all that's settled, i can finally sit down in my new apt and relax, enjoy having a washer & dryer in my apt for the first time (and a dishwasher), (and central AC..whoo!), and plop down by the pool... yes, a pool. And did i mention that cost of living is about 1/2 to 2/3 as much as Mpls? It will be quite more than satisfactory for graduate living, and i am indeed excited.
Yes, of course i will miss MN, but i have lived here all my life and have explored much of the twin cities. It's time to explore a new city and get down to studying & aiming for the jobs i want. I think the 2 things i want to see in Mpls before i leave are the Great Gatsby at the new Guthrie and the 'new' Walker, which, i have been a little slow about visiting...

So today I had the pleasure of an extra doctor visit at the behest of Mizzou, which included a Menengitis shot. I thought that maybe since i am nearing 23 that i would not tense up like a 5 year old, but i did. I did tell the nurse though, as always with needles, to just not tell me when she's going to jab me. Seems to help. No tears though, because on a scale of '1 to Tetanus' it was only about a 5; the nurse liked my expression of comparison to the Tetanus shot. :) I swear my whole right arm was barely movable for 4 hours; now, it's just sore and does not want to move above horizontal. Oh well, it will fade in 36-48 hours the nurse said. Plus, i get to go back next week for a TB (tuberculosis) test. I am required to have one because i lived in Eastern Europe for more than 2 months; kinda strange, but oh well. Seems like a trip out of the way to me, assuming i did not somehow pick up TB in Greece or Turkey 2 years ago, and has laid dormant for 2 years. EEEEwww eeeewww eeeeww on the needles and tests.

Ah- the picture above is of Mpls from the south on the south side of Lake Calhoun while i was rollerblading one day with Nate. I've been trying to take many pictures of the Twin Cities lately to preserve it in pictures for when we move. Hopefully, with many pictures as my quarry I will find a few good ones to print and frame for the new place. In related news, Nate is learning to rollerblade, sometimes much to his chagrin, but much to my pleasure... He's a rock-climber by his own choosing, but I cannot climb with him (wrists), so we had been trying to find an outdoor, healthy activity to do together. Running/jogging was apparently out of the question for Nate, and Nate did not have a bicycle until recently, (plus bicycling can still be a bit hard on the wrists). So, i suggested rollerblading and after calculated persuasive techniques I got him to buy a nice Target pair, complete w/knee, elbow, and wrist guards (which, unfortunately came after Nate's fateful first loop around Como Lake). I know i should probably use wrist guards as well, but somehow cannot convince myself to use them because i have skated since i was about 6; i guess that's what having hockey boys in the family gets you. I was constantly trying to keep up with Bob as a kid, so i learned well and fast or my skate-mates skated off. So anyhow, Calhoun is definitely the skate neophytes haven: smooth, cleared, marked paths with only one small 'hill' which is a good learning spot, and you only have to do it once every loop around, which is a couple miles. Nate's a good novice; i've seen MUCH worse. Hehe....

This weekend Nate and I are christening the Mac computer that we have (he has, mostly) been working on for my Golden Valley Historical Society internship: we're bringing it to the GVHS historic church site for its first archival use! Seems like a long time coming, so it's quite eventful! Then Nate and I just have to teach the Society secretary and a boy scout, who want to continue the project, about how to use the database. Exciting!

Next Friday Nate bought tickets to go see Damien Rice and Fiona Apple at Northrup Aud., so i'm pretty stoked about that! It's kinda for my birthday, so it'll be a great celebration in my opinion. I have loved Damien Rice's music since about 2003, having completely worn out my a copy of my most beloved album, particularly while traveling in 2004. He always calmed me down at night so that i could sleep in foreign beds, helped me enjoy the beaches, and reminded me of loved ones back home. Fiona Apple, on the other hand, is just a neurotic genius, with a great latest album, from what i've heard of it (i've not bough it yet, though i should have by now). As long as she sticks to the passionate music and skips the soapbox scenes of the past, it should be an amazing show.

Well that's all for now. I'll definitely keep my blog more updated as i head south and after I start school at Mizzou to keep in touch! Including pictures! Maybe by then I will have real links to things on my blog for a change!

Keep in touch and always feel free to drop me a msg :)
-chris

Motorcycle gone... *tear*....

This is one of the last (and only) pictures of me and my favorite toy, in this last period of my life. My VTR was good to me and i was good to it. I had fun, and now it's someone else's turn. I finally saw my bike off to a nice couple from cheeseheadland last saturday, may 27th. The guy who was supposed to buy it fell off the face of the earth about 2 weeks before, probably (and hopefully) never to be seen or heard from again. That's ok though- i needed to sell and be done with this. Maybe someday the few pictures i do have of me and my baby will serve to prove to future generations that i did indeed have a motorcycle and loved every minute of riding it. So long, my sweet ride, after 4 good years together.... *sigh*......

Besides selling my motorcycle i've been up to other fun activities such as visiting with friends Catherine and Elijah, who were recently in town from St. Louis. Then, Laura came to visit this weekend from D.C. It's nice to see people during summertime visits; it makes me feel like i should be somewhere, and that i am somehow the stagnant, stationary one. Well, i guess i'll get my chance to move far away soon enough- which will be sometime in the first couple weeks of August.

*Happy 23rd birthday Catherine! Hope you're having a great time in Thailand and all that traveling went smoothly.
*A congratulations to my cousin Laura who will be getting her high school diploma this wednesday evening! Way to go!
*Another announcement is my cousin Eric's cd release party this friday night at the Varsity Theatre in dinkytown! It is so exciting! If you can make it, you should check them out! www.thealarmistsband.com

On another happy note, i am loving my research intern position at the U; i'm learning all sorts of fun, nerdy things that will help me now and later throughout my grad studies and eventually professional life. I'll have to post some sweet pics related to my internship soon, such as the map im researching and pics of me in the 'Bell reading room', which modeled on 19th century scholarly-looking reading libraries in which many of the western, modern world's earliest scholars may have studied and collected.
That's the update!
-chris

I GOT the INTERNSHIP!!! Whoooo!

Well, there's a picture of Nate all fast asleep and cozy in my chair last week. (He's been a tired baby lately from work & his brother moving to Portland, OR). i swear anyone could sleep an eternity in that thing.

As for me........in case you didn't notice the title of my post: i GOT my summer INTERNSHIP!! i am so excited to start, which is next Tuesday. A summary of the project is: a research project to find out more background history, including historical context, of a 14th century (i think) world map, of which only 4 or 5 were created like it. it is a map originally created and cut to be pasted on a spherical globe, but never was, and was created by a German monk in monastic France. it eventually ended up in the private collection of the family Lichtenstein (spelling?- gimme a break, i havent done the reading yet!) of Austria, then was found in the global antiquities market after years of being folded into a book. that felt like all one breath... heh. anyway, i will essentially be a research assistant to the James Ford Bell Library museum curator. And, it's possible that our finding may be published! Very exciting indeed. oh yeah, i get to work on my French and Latin skills as well; look out grad school- i'm coming prepared!! Only, damn that German language- i still have to learn just that one more...... oh well.

In another side-note, i am so happy for physical capability reasons to have gotten the internship job because my hands/wrists just were not making it easy to find temporary work that i could do without constant stress upon and pain in them. so, i must conclude that this internship is more than just a great opportunity, but also an extreme blessing, for which i am very thankful.

Do YOU have something for YOUR mother on sunday?? I do, but i can't tell becuz she'll read this....obviously that would be no fun. Also, Steven's confirmation is this Sunday, and it seems as though much of the fam is actually going to be present, unlike other Fishing Opener weekends that seemingly always magically land on mother's day weekend. So my mom has planned a nice brunch at Kozlak's for a few of us; should be GREAT food.

So do any of you guys watch Lost? WHAT A SHOCKER last week! Saw tonight's too, but wheeeeew!! this show has got me so hooked! i havent been this hooked since Jag (yes, yes, a very bad, guilty pleasure show for which i have been plentifully ostracized). Forget reality TV, gameshows, and all that crime&grime, dead ppl shows! I also havent really watched tv much in the last few years due to school and traveling, so it's been weird to follow a show! In case anyone wants to know (and borrow...... ;), i've got the complete first season of Lost............

Also, i havent passed the motorcyle onto someone yet due to weather and circumstance, but any day now, as it is indeed sold, even if not picked up. *tear*......

That's the exciting update! -chris

spring news!

Hello everyone!
I am pleased to announce that i will indeed be attending graduate school this fall! i was accepted, in addition to being granted an assistantship, at the University of Missouri, Columbia, in the grad dept of Art History and Archaeology. i am more than excited, and cant wait to get started in mid-august!

of course, life goes on before then.

these days i am done w/my temporary position at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN, & my internship at the MN Center for Photography, and am trying desperately to find summer work to hold me over through mid-august. i have applied & interviewed for a PAID (!!!) summer internship at the James Ford Bell Library at the UofMN. i know from having met the curator w/whom i would be working that we get along, she likes me, is impressed by my resume/c.v., and a few other things that may get me this position. i also know that i was chosen by the grant committee from a number of applicants, (meaning i passed the initial elimination process), and that the curator received 6 qualified applicants, 3 of whom she told me she was interviewing, including me. so, in a pool of 3 candidates, one of which will be a phone interview (never as helpful as the real deal), i shall reside until monday, when i will receive the ok....or worse. let's hope for the go-ahead!!! keep your fingers crossed for me!!! it would be the most perfect fit for me, as the main project is a research project, working with original artifacts, in addition to some research in french & latin texts which would help me solidify some of my skills! hope...hope....hope.....!

in addition to a job, which i need to be paid (and by the way, the FBL internship would be my first actual paid internship if i got it!), i will also be continuing work on my Golden Valley Historical Society internship. right now, nate and i have completed the task of acquiring the mac computer which was donated to the Society Museum, and also acquiring all of the appropriate programs we need, especially FileMaker- we even had enough of a budget to get one of the newest versions: Pro 8! Anyhow, nate and i are now facing the daunting task of actually creating from scratch a brand new database in which to house all of the archival data for/from the museum. my goal for the summer is to have the database created and modified to the best of our ability, in addition to begin entering large quantities of data records. then, in august when the society must find a new intern, i can train some folks on the database and they can continue the project, as the museum gets set up! it's all very exciting and i feel like i am contributing alot, which is a great feeling. :)

in other news, i have, both sadly & gratefully, sold my motorcyle. yes, indeed the time has come to move on from my teenage whims to the adult world, or rather....practically using the money for other, more fruitful goals- such as graduate school expenses... i sold it to a guy who seems to really want the bike, and will take good care of it- which is always nice. i believe the goodbye ceremony shall be taking place sometime this weekend.

i have no other great stories at the moment, so till next time...................
:)

-chris

So many things i could write about...

But, alas- my words will have a finite ending somewhere after many paragraphs i am sure.

I think anytime i am lacking motivation, or my current projects seem to slide into the mundane and pedestrian, I try to watch or quote to myself a line from a favorite book (and adapted film): never lose your childish ambition and innocence. of course, maintaining the innocence can be a challenge because all those adult responsibilities try to shape you into a budding, boring cynic. however, to combat that cynicism, it's still possible to pursue and to live the life that makes you happy, even if you're still figuring that out. Not fearing what all you have to lose, but embracing all that you have to gain and to live for. This is acting upon ambition.

Easy to say, harder to do- yes, don't we all know it?

For me, at a time when little is stable in my life (when is it or will it be stable...) i find myself constantly asking myself if 'this' is what i 'want'. Of course, my temp job pays the bills while i pursue my 2 internships which ironically and regrettably are given less of my time than i would have wished due to responsibilities, a.k.a. bills. All the while i wonder if the internships are even those which will get me onto the right school and/or career path. If nothing else, i have learned that jobs, internships, and even the process of applying to schools itself have all taught me what i do NOT want to do. When do you know when something is screaming at you to hold tight and climb aboard, rather than simply putting a big red X in front of that option? Quite frankly, im tired of the X's and ready for something that says 'yes!' all over it.

Or maybe it's just the snow, and the cyclic reverting back to the cold, teasing us after a long sunny day which had promised spring.
How do people avoid getting apprehensive, and nervous, and full of ideas at this time of year? They are tired of the same old thing, and ready to move on. I am definitely there. Only, i have known all winter that i was ready to move on, just not to which thing or place.

You might ask where all this is coming from, no?
Well, currently i have a temp job doing whatever menial projects are set me at Blue Cross Blue Shield insur. co. in Eagan. I work a variety of hours, depending on the day. In my other time during the week, i am maintaining those 2 internships: one, which i have mentioned in the past, at the Historical Society, and two, at the Minnesota Center for Photography in Northeast Mpls. I'm enjoying both, and learning alot (esp about what i do and do not want to do later), but i am no where near where i want to be yet. Perhaps it is supposed to be that way. At least I am not drifting only in some endless job that i hate, which is what i keep telling myself. I am pursuing something, whatever it is.

I have taken up yoga through a mpls adult rec program, which i think i will continue into the spring/summer because i like it so much. i have already learned alot about releasing stress and, of course, maintaining health. I've learned alot about breathing techniques, which have been the biggest keys to my success in my new found activity, in addition to success in carrying over what i have learned into my everyday life. i've known for some time now that when i get nervous, tense, stressed, or all of the above, i simply hold my breath and dont breathe. Not a good way to handle stress, so i've found out- the hard way and now verbally from a great yoga instructor. so, if you think you just might be interested in trying yoga, i'd say go for it! i promise you'll be waiting for the next class after you take the first.

Right now, i've got 2 major concerns on my mind: 1) getting into the right school, and 2) plan B if i don't go to school this fall. Yes, many of you know that family issues are of great concern to me right now as well, but then again- when haven't i been worried about that? It is simply a given; a rise and fall of daily and weekly thoughts, but sometimes one must move on to taking care of themselves first.
So, i must say that my 2 big stressors by and far take up most of my present brain activity day and night than anything else. Of course i think of other things, important and not, but alas, here i am- stuck in a haze about yet more schooling.
Through the process of applying i realized that 3 out of the 5 schools to which i applied, i dont think that i would actually accept an invitation to study. Take note, grad school potential students: the application process teaches you things, too. Also, in the midst of worrying about what i would do if the 'worst' were to happen and i were rejected from all the schools, i have had to create a 'plan b' to quell my tension. While doing this i have reverted to my law school interests and done some thinking as well as research and potential planning. Meantime, i have convinced myself, unknowingly and subconsciously until recently, that perhaps i should have chosen that application process for my first attempt at grad school rather than art history/archaeology/museology. Or maybe that even if i do get in to the school i want for museum work, that perhaps i should not accept the offer and try something else. It seems so backwards to me, but perhaps not.
I know that i have received good advice from lawyers i know who say, 'do not go to law school if you do not want to practice law.' Funny thing- at first i thought that meant i was exempt to the notion of law school because it sounds so harsh and hard & fast, now i find it more comfortable than my previous choice of grad school studies. At least for now. I think that i could/would be very happy practicing some sort of property law or property sales law. I think then I could still do major museum work because of how the practice of law relates to acquisition of pieces. We'll see. I still need to do more research.

This all is not to say that i would not be content with my first choice of study; i think that i would be happy with that as well. It just seems to me that i finally have some options which truly interest me and give me choices, which i didnt feel that i had for a while. While a walk down a straight and sure path is nice and easy, i think one with more choices will better befit my wants and needs and talents. It is 'simply' a matter of choosing.

On a less lengthy note, i have succumbed to the overpowering force of the tv series Lost. Nate's brother has the full first season on dvd, and so both nate and i kind of got sucked in like a black hole. I never really thought much of the show until i watched the first few, and then i was hooked. It certainly is nice to watch a show without 20 minutes of commercials per hour of television.

I am, sadly & gladly, selling my motorcycle this spring. I havent got a going price set in stone yet, but i think it is time. I have had my fun, it is no longer practical, i am ready for a car, and regrettably, i can no longer drive it due to my wrist. But, i don't let the last reason override the rest; the biggest reasons are the first three- the last simply pushes me that last inch toward selling mentality. Me and my first bebe had some fun, but in order to move on, a sale is nigh.

That is all i have to spew for now.
If i were Garrison Keillor i might say, "Be well; do good work; and keep in touch."

-chris

quickie

sorry not to have updated lately! just fyi: i will soon! i have had alot of things going on between getting a new job, 2 internships, and family stuff. so, please, stay tuned for more in the next couple weeks!

plus i just sliced open my left index finger cutting an orange, so typing is not so much fun or fast at the moment....

you'll hear from me soon, as im sure many of you are wondering what im up to and how i am. and if you're not now, you will be.

in case you need something to do, here's the websites of the schools and departments to which i applied for graduate studies:

http://www.brynmawr.edu/gradgroup/index.html
http://www.missouri.edu/~ahawww/index.html
http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Art_Architecture/
http://www.wisc.edu/arth/
http://history-of-art.osu.edu/

p.s. i am taking yoga!!! and it's great!!!

as always,
chris

This time it's decisions & deadlines...

Well, I've pretty much got my heart set on the Graduate Group program at Bryn Mawr...
sigh...

Bryn Mawr looks more and more attractive for graduate school by the day, hour, and minute. The problem is, well, will i get my hopes dashed if i apply to 4 or 5 schools, knowing that i will only accept one admission, and that i already have that school picked out? Meaning, even if i get into one or more of the other schools, beside Bryn Mawr, i dont know if i'd even accept anyway. THAT's how much i want to go to Bryn Mawr at this point. i wont go too much into details about why the other 3 schools are lacking re: my needs, but let's just say that i wouldnt get exactly what i want. and, i think graduate school should do just that - give you exactly what you need and want to meet your goals, or there's no point in spending/wasting your time, efforts, and money.
A plumber doesnt go to school to learn to make the pipes; he (or she, i guess, but honestly how many female plumbers are there?) goes to school to learn how they work.
Yes, that may be a strange analogy, but you get the point: in graduate school, you study a very specific line of work.

HA- i used a plumber analogy. *shakes head in shame...

As for the stress during this graduate admissions processes experience, it's at an ok level. some days, (and sleepless nights), and better or worse than others. The night before last, i slept only about an hour or 2 because i just laid there thinking. i shouldn't have been working on my Statement of Purpose (part of the application materials) right before bedtime. shoud'a known better! i kept drifting off into that limbo land between awake and semi-consciousness picturing myself sitting in front of my bookshelf full of course texts & other materials, just staring, trying to decide what i wanted to write about, & ultimately study. it's like facing that fork in the road, only the road ends into a haze of colors, but you can see the distance clearly. i know what i want to do for a job ultimately, but which way i take to get there is a bit confusing & uncertain.
anyway, it was a weird semi-dream which kept me up all night.

Most days I am excited about the whole thing, despite growing apprehension regarding applications and the related tasks, and of course- getting in. I DEFINITELY think that taking this year off, despite its own challenges, has been to my advantage & was also well-needed. I had very little direction for the course of my life after undergraduate work last fall, not to mention being busy abroad. there's no way i could have organized this over last year, nor that quickly. i needed the time to think and figure it out, rather than just jump into something. after studying abroad, finishing school, and then considering life mostly outside the frame of school for once in my life, i came to the conclusion about what my goals are, and also determined what skills i have and what i am good at. i have gotten so antsy floating between jobs that dont suit me and/or are not challenging me the way that i want, and then subsequent unemployment to boot, that i have become more genuinely ambitious than i would have been right out of undergrad. certainly, this is worth a great deal, not to mention peace of mind.

So, hopefully, graduate school here i come...

In other news, Nate got a GREAT job offer! It's at a company called LSS something or other in Eden Prairie. Im a bad girlfriend for not remembering exactly what they do, but it's computer programming stuff, nate likes it, and that's all that matters. Besides, he's been telling me about all these different jobs for the past few months and what they do, and i can remember alot of them, just not what name goes w/what city, and how big, and type of business, etc. I know one of the jobs does hospital software programming; does that count for something? Anyhow, this is a big deal that Nate has at least one option, because he needs to have a job soon after graduating this month due to money & insurance. He's still going to try to get a better offer, but we'll see. In any event, HOORAY for Nate!

Right now I am volunteering at Minnesota Center for Photography, a small gallery in N. Minneapolis, near one of the old Grain Belt brewery buildings. So, now i have 2 volunteer opportunities that i am participating in, (including the GVHSM). Of course, i do random things because they dont pay me. Like right now, i just tally the visitors & help people w/questions or t-shirt/book sales. You should come check it out- the website is: www.mncp.org

I think this is the first year that i finished christmas shopping early; in fact, i finshed earlier this week. Well, i mean with my family. I havent quite gotten to Nate yet. I should probably get a move on that....

OY!!! My long-time friends Mike & Liz (yes, you too Liz), got engaged last weekend!!!! awwwwwwwwwwwwww... Congrats you two! Mike & his twin brother Dave have a very successful computer graphics design business called Plaudit (they actually employ their dad, who quit his own job to work for his sons...!, and mike & dave are my age!), while Liz just took a prestigious (clothing) design position for Target Corporation. Awwwwesome you guys!

Well, i turn in my very last undergraduate paper next week, and then i am an official graduate.... whooooooo!! go me

that's all the news for now,
chris

First snow, holiday spirit, and deadlines in the air

hey everyone

Well, Minneapolis and much of MN had its first real snowfall 2 days ago. The grass is still white w/o mess of slush just yet, but there is ice here and there, and the tree are sprinkled w/that icy brown and white. It looks nice, but it sure as hell is cold- and it happened overnight! We flirted with 70's last week and now we're feeling the 2 and 3 degrees with windchill. That's MN weather in one of it's finest examples.

I quit my nannying job recently, which has proved to be a very good choice, despite the difficulty of making the decision and then carrying it out. I am much happier now and doing precisely what i want to be doing, and progressing with my personal goals, for which i had little to no time while nannying. I thought the job was perfect, but i guess you just never know until you actually are doing it and give it some time.

Now, i have multiple projects, and am also seeking PT paid work so that i can manage my projects and pay the bills until next August, at which time i hope to be leaving for graduate school. I have a few job prospects, 3 to be precise, but one doesnt want to pay me enough nor hire more than temporary (already had the interview), and the other 2 i've yet to hear from, but will be in contact over the next week or so. Here's hoping. If none of the 3 work out, i will just keep truckin until i find something.

My current projects are: studying for the GRE (Graduate Record Exam, entrance exam for grad schools, like the SAT or ACT, only for college grads) which i take next Wed, or the day before Thanksgiving; finishing my last, lonely 1 credit paper to officially graduate from the U; keeping up my Latin and French by continuing to read and translate (I will need these in grad school, call it post-bac or grad-prep work); volunteer interning at the Golden Valley Historical Society Museum; soon-to-be volunteering (potential intern for spring) for the Minnesota Center for Photography here in Mpls; and of course, managing my slow healing process for my hand, for which i have finally finished 2 rounds of physical therapy and have the doc's ok to continue on my own. Yes, it seems that i have alot on my plate without the a job, but i need that too, and believe me, i do have the time and like to keep busy. Besides, it's even better to keep busy, if not busier during the winter because everyone gets so lazy and depressed in the cold weather! Gotta keep moving to avoid the winter blues and chill in your spine!

My current internship for at the Golden Valley Historical Society Museum (GVHSM, henceforth) is going well. I started it a few weeks ago and i really like it alot. I spend about 4-6 hrs/week at the museum going through historical documents and artifacts relating to Golden Valley, sorting them, labeling if necessary, writing archival data in a log (which I will eventually put into a computer database), and then when all of the, what are now boxes of stuff are sorted, labeled, and archived, i will help choose and setup display pieces in the museum! Essentially, i am helping this fairly new museum get on its feet, get organized, and get set up so that the public can eventually visit. I think that this might be exactly what i want to do after i get my grad degree, only at a bigger museum and in a dept which i will specialize in. Right now my interests are ancient western art (which i have studied much of already as an undergrad) or photography (but not sure what specialty). Perhaps i could do a bit of both, but concentrate on one. This is one opportunity for which i am very grateful to have been given a chance to participate and to have found.

An update on my grad school search and application process is this: I have finally narrowed down my choices, after much research and consideration, to 4 schools. I have chosen to apply to the Art History programs of 1) Bryn Mawr College (just outside Philidelphia), 2) Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, 3) Brown Univ. (Providence, RI), and 4) Ohio St @ Columbus. All are reputable schools, so im nervous, especially about Brown. I would gladly attend the top 3, and ohio is kinda my fall-back; i have had a hard time deciding my top pick or order of choice because my impressions of them all thus far are very good. They all have the key elements i am seeking, and each have their own special attributes which make them stand out against one another. So we'll see. I think 3 or 4 choices is good to have. Also, i have spoken w/3 of my professors from undergrad and all have happily agreed to write letters of recommendation for me- which makes me soo happy! All 3 were my top pick for those letters, which is even better, becase often times if the prof is on leave or sebatical they refrain, but i got lucky! Plus, one of those professors is one which i had while overseas in Athens. Because i became close w/her and keep in touch w/her often, she agreed as well; i think this will help my impression on the grad schools because it highlights my abroad studies, my ambition, and so many other things. Right now, im working on puttin together all that i need for those 4 applications; next on my list is all the essays, specifically the statements of purpose/letters of intent, i.e. why i want to attend that school and why i am pursuing what i am. Plus, i am trying to study enough for the GRE so that i am well-prepared for the exam and do better. I have a great undergrad GPA, but schools also often look at the GRE scores at a parallel level, so i am pretty stressed about doing well.

Tomorrow night I am going to the opening of the 4th Harry Potter movie- The Goblet of Fire! I have read all 6 books in the series and thereafter seen all 3 previous movies and absolutely loved them. I am going to the film w/Nate, Steven (my bro), his friend Jeff, Adam (Nate's older bro), and Adam's girlfriend Ildico (yes, weird German name). It's always more fun to go to these big releases in groups! I have to buy advance tickets though, otherwise it will probably sell out- so wish my luck tomorrow morning! haha...

On Saturday night is my cousin Eric's band, The Alarmists' show in dinkytown at the Kitty Kat Klub. Im planning to go to that w/Nate, and possibly my cousins Lisa and Julie if they can make it up from Mankato. Eric's band is kinda loud live, so i'm remembering to bring tissue for my ears that i can actually hear the music properly (thanks for the tip uncle Jon - no offense Eric! i just wear 'em to enjoy better! hehe..) If i can remember the website for the band, sometime i'll put it up as a link on my blog.

That's the low-down for the moment! :)

Happy Thanksgiving next week! Gobble, gobble, gobble, gobble........


chris

October is here! - what am i doing these days?!

Greetings everyone!

Sorry for the huge gap in my blogging! I got some complaints about my slacking (thanks for the nudge auntie Mary), so here i am again!
Last time you heard from me i was at the end of my spring semester of undergrad this year, back in MAY! Life has taken some twists and turns since then.

Well, i didn't quite finish/graduate this spring. i have one more one credit paper that i am currently working on finishing that i intended to get done over the summer, but between a few things did not happen. I am pushing myself more than ever now because i this paper is a possible contender for a writing sample for graduate admissions applications this winter. So, wish me luck on that.
The end of May was an important turning point for me with the pain and trouble in my left hand: i had surgery. One week after final exams i went under the knife to endure arthroscopic corrective surgery in my left wrist. Since then i have had a difficult time typing, which is one major reason i have not posted to this blog since then. Over the summer i wore a hard cast and then soft, and then a splint which i still need to wear occasionally. It's pretty purple, but that doesnt make me feel a whole lot better about the pain. I have also gone through 6 weeks of physical therapy in august-september, which resulted in a dramatic decrease in skin sensitivity and external pain. however, internal pain, obviously the most important, decreased somewhat and then spiked back up to barely tolerable at times in the last week of therapy. So w/that bad news, i went for my follow-up w/the surgeon doc this past monday to get to the bottom of this. He said that i should definitely be doing much better and that the next course of action is 6 more weeks of therapy, then possible 2nd arthogram (special xray-like thing to see muscles), and hopefully not, and 2nd surgery- which i DO NOT want. i would rather do therapy for 2 years before more surgery. So that's my hand situation in a nutshell. Post, surgery was very difficult, as those of you who have had it know. it presents all sorts of foreign challenges to the body and mind such as: helplessness, deeper dependence on others, and every day task struggles. I wont go into detail this time, so let's just say that i got weapy w/the doctor when he told me i might have to do that all over again. so, it's a constant struggle that im battling- and trying to be as resilient as possible.

whew!
i feel like i have so much to say!

Over the summer i did not make it to the dig (archaeological excavation, if you will) i was accepted to (and would have gone for free except airfare) :( and would have had a great leadership position in SW France. oh well. surgery was necessary. so instead, as soon as my hand was marginally useful i found a job a the U of M scanning 2-300 year old books into archival databases in the sub-basement of Wilson library. That was the most boring job i have ever held, except when we got cool books. all i did was flip, click, flip, click for 8 hours a day; in case that wasnt clear: i flipped pages and clicked a mouse on the computer. BO-RING. well, i got paid 12$/hr to do it, so that wasnt bad.

When that job ended in august i took the month off to find a more suitable, permanant job for the year. I am taking the year off from school to live in the real world and learn the ways of the world, as my parents say. Not to mention, i certainly wasn't decided what path i wanted to take w/my undergrad degree, so i needed time off to think, finish my paper, study for and take the GRE exam (was in Athens when it was offered last fall), etc.
Through all my searching and all my resume dropping, i kept seeing and hearing about nannying and tutoring, which is something i had never really done but wanted to try it. So, i did.
I got a job as a nanny/household manager for a family in Chanhassen w/ 12 and 14 yr old kids; one boy one girl. The parents are very wealthy, which makes sense if theyre going to have a nanny and someone to run their house. The mom is a senior VP for Best Buy (her dad started/owns Best Buy), and the dad (well, and mom) own a winery called Fantesca out in Napa Valley, CA, which is just up and running in the last few years. The family is extremely nice and great, but they definitely are high-maintenance and need the help. I'm not sure how much info on them is polite, so ill leave it at that.
It has been a big adjustment for me in many ways. I have to be out in Chanhassen at 630am every weekday (25miles away), i work a few hrs every morning, and then later again around 230 in the afternoon through dinner time. I sometimes do overnight, which means im away from my friends and family even in my lazy hours. i drive, easily, 400+ miles/week and it can often be very anti-social because i am at their house all day sometimes. of course, making phone calls, receiving service persons, etc is some socialness, but it's very minimal. remember, im used to Perkins where im talking to ppl/customers all day long and around other servers/cooks with whom i am in close quarters and talk to all day. so, yes, i know real jobs can be fairly independent, but it's a change ive had to adjust to- so dont be too hard on me!
Overall, i like the job, it's great pay, im supporting myself well, but im not getting my paper done or studying enough for the GRE, and im exhausted all the time and see nate/friends/family alot less. it's a trade off and im learning to adjust my time. I think this is great experience of what it's like to be in charge of a household and keeping it running smoothly, and also what it's like to cart teenagers around everywhere. it really makes me appreciate all those rides growing up!!!! Thanks mom and dad! Let's just say it's a great lesson in leadership, decision-making, problem-solving (like when my car died and i had to get kids places and had no one to come rescue me.... and i did it!), and just plain hard work.

As for plans, i am looking at Art History graduate programs across the board because i am leaning towards a career in museum work. i have spoken with some professors and other professionals about how to go about this, and based on what i have for background and what i want, it looks like Art Hist. is my destined path at the moment. i dont have any particular schools picked out yet to which i am applying, but im narrowing it down slowly as i research programs, professors, facilities, location, etc. I also have to take into account the 'nate factor'. Nate's graduating (for sure!! yay!) in december and is job searching, applying, and interviewing this fall already for positions in computer science. so, we have to work that out as well.
Right now, i am about to start volunteering for the Minnesota Center for Photography in Mpls, near where i live, which is a gallery that puts on photo exhibitions, lectures, and has regular exhibits as well. In the spring i will be vying for an internship position w/them, which sounds promising. And other potential opportunities for me that i know of are the MIA intership to which i had applied in the spring for a summer internship, but they weren't taking interns due to their summer-fall 05 renovations + spring 06 moving and re-situating within the museum. So, i was encouraged to reapply for summer 06. So we'll see about all this, but i am at least hoping and pursuing.

This saturday Nate and I are finally going to use the free Minnesota Zephyr train tickets his dad gave us a couple years ago. it's a 4-5 hr train ride through MN on the antique, preserved train with semi-formal dresscode and 5-course meal! i have been looking forward to that date for weeks! im really excited to get out and do something fun like that. fall colors are piquing, unless the frost gets to it before saturday....boo on that.

oh yeah- also, i am currently living w/one of my closest, long-time friends, Laura. We finally found time in our busy college years to live w/each other for a few months before she heads out to DC for an internship in january. it's really nice living w/someone you know and already trust before moving in together, which is a great and comfortable change for me. however, it seems like we see each other almost less than when we lived apart! we have such differing schedules that it's almost impossible to sit down and eat or chat for more than 10-15 mins! i still like knowing that she's around though.

well, that's my update for now. i think i have said alot, so feel free to post me a msg or drop me an email @: mcca0465@umn.edu or mucacann@hotmail.com

take care and happy autumn :)