post xmas in ohio

I managed to eek out the best of both this holiday season. I got to spend a great holiday with J's family and then the day after xmas I headed straight to Ohio. J was headed to DC for the American Philosophical Association conference, where he was "talking" with schools about the possibility of joining their faculty. He attracted attention of 12 schools, so he has his work cut out for him. We'll see how everything pans out... too much uncertainty to really pin anything down. My priorities are finding a place with good people (especially for J) and real potential for photography.

The ohio trip was full of familiarity. Liz and David were home to entertain and create excitement for Ethan. The wooden stick frame craft project actually worked. E was the dragon hunter with clues that led him around the house in fits of giddiness. David the dragon was Ethan's new pal especially after he won the guess all the names of my kindergarten classmates game (Can't believe E's in kindergarten!) We had the normal routine of eating all around with the HB girls, Grandma and the whole Henrich crew. The little girls got cell phones from Santa proving that xmas will never be the same. A highlight was a visit to the West Side market right before I left (they had dreamy peanut butter baklava!!) I already miss Ohio!

new xmas generation

There was a new generation of xmas this year. J and I were staying in New England to celebrate with his family (although we missed his parents who were stuck in Arizona). J's twin brother's little girl Kayley was the party princess who looked lovely in chocolate brown velvet and the perfect little slippery shoes that had her walking drunk. J's great uncle insisted that I was the wife from Everybody Loves Raymond. Isn't she in her 40s? J claims he is nearly blind and partially deaf so I shouldn't be worried. His uncle even went as far as to tell me that I should take all the money I make from tv and invest in gold. Got it Uncle Freddy as long as you stop calling me Deborah.
We slept over at Nana's and the next day all drove down to Cape Cod for xmas dinner at J's uncle and aunt house. It was the perfect New England xmas complete with more little girls (second cousins once removed from something or other). The 4 year old and 2 year old didn't love the camera as much as Kayley but they kept me busy.

mexican find and 101 update

#47 is complete. We found a surprisingly authentic Mexican restaurant on the opposite side of Federal Hill. We were on our way to celebrate the final day of the semester with some good Italian food, but we ended up getting side tracked to Chilangos because Federal Hill was packed with people.

Here are a few other items that will be complete before the new year:
1. Kayak with seals that chill in Wickford, RI in the winter. The seals did greet us.
2. Fill xmas stockings for each other for less than $75 - the closest to $75 with receipts wins. I think J will win because I'm easier, but we'll see.
3. Participate in a holiday craft fair at least twice. One down, one to go.
4. Create my very own pinhole camera and print the negatives. Awesome.
9. Participate in some sort of craft swap once a year. 2006 ornament swap by freshly blended and cakepie was awesome. Here's a peek at the 7 ornaments I recevied:
10. Visit a Bazaar Bizarre. - http://www.bazaarbizarre.org. Made it through the door after waiting in the 200 person line.
42. Subscribe to a magazine and read the whole thing each month. Now have three to read; Domino, American Photo, and Shutterbug.
47. Find a decent Mexican restaurant near Providence. Chilangos is authentic.
54. Send care package to friends in Peace Corp in South Africa. Contributed to a group package that may not have made it.
90. Get J a new comforter so he gives me back the one he "borrowed" from me - he claims I "gave" it to him. J kicked a hole in the old classic comforter, so I gave him another one of mine ;) I guess I get a new comforter.

cookie exchange

It smelled like cookies at work all week. Not the scented candle fake smell, but the real deal. Can you really work when you smell cookies? We had a feast that filled a 20 foot conference table with more than just cookies. They left it out for two days to graze on... and grazing is hard to resist when you're surrounded by good cooks. Some of which go to Johnson and Wales cooking classes just for kicks. I participated in a cookie swap where I committed to making 5 dozen to swap for another 5 dozen varieties. I made peanut butter chocolate balls which I carefully drizzled with white chocolate on top to fit in with the fancy cookie makers. They made ricotta butter, spritz, molasses ginger, and butter creme cookies that could've easily been sold at a store. Now I'm surrounded by cookies at home which I plan to share with J's family during xmas eve north of boston and xmas day on the edge of cape cod. I also dipped hundreds of pretzels including 171 of these rolo, m&m, pretzel - the best salty sweet combos:

bazaar bizarre

I don't remember when I first heard about the Bazaar Bizarre (www.bazbiz.org), but it's bizarre that I didn't forget about it. I knew the original was in Boston. After weeks of waiting, I woke up excited to make my way over there with my friends in Boston (sans J much to his relief). Apparantly, I wasn't the only one. We arrived about an hour after it opened, and there was a line at least 200 people long waiting since the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama was full to capacity.
The line moved pretty fast, but once we got in there it was a mad house. We shimmied between each table in what seemed like a big line up of people. After we zig zagged through all 91 tables, we were empty handed! I felt like my super high expectations had somehow back fired on me. Before we headed out I bought some lavender soap from the women's crisis center fundraiser table. I thought - how vanilla can I be? - surrounded by all this cool designy craft kitsch. We went to dinner and I couldn't stop thinking about the handmade pomegrante cloth I'd gawked at over someone's shoulder. We ended up heading back and it was much less crowded and some vendors were starting to put stuff on sale - score! I got a pomegrante bag (I know, supporting my addiction), a screened shirt that says "beauty is in the eye of the believer", and a surprise for someone that may be reading this. The T treated us well (even though it's sad they aren't using tokens anymore) and every time I go into Boston I feel like I see a new part of the city.

cop-perific

J and I have a noon-time routine of meeting on the street corner every day we are "lunchable" without any meetings. This past week as I strolled across the science corridor I heard high pitched whistling. As I rounded the corner I noticed the traffic lights were off and there was a cop that was thoroughly enjoying his job. He was grooving, jumping up and down from his knees, swinging his arms every possible directions and whistling almost non stop as he shuffled cars down the road. As he'd let pedestrians cross the street, he'd mock-swim around saying "come on in, it's warm in here..." I was laughing out loud, happy to see someone that enjoyed his job enough to brighten others' days. Then, strangely, he said, "It's break time," and walked over to turn the street lights back on!? I was so confused I went back to work asking what the deal is? Turns out he's a retired RI cop that lives in Florida, but comes up for the holiday specifically to direct traffic with style. He's a "terrific RI institution" to some and "he must have a screw loose" according to others. I'd say by his website he has all his screws. http://www.providencedancingcop.com/

kundalini flows away

My kundalini yoga class ended until the new year, but I have a copy of my own grace music to create deep relaxation at home. It's like a portable sense of calm etched onto a cd. Now I just have to figure out a way to keep the cat off my belly when I'm in deep relaxation. She had us pick our own Yogi quotes out of a bag as we left class tonight. I felt like it was opening a fortune. Here's my quote: "Realize I am not the water, I am a pipe through which the water comes. I am not the source, I am a way. Once you recognize this, you are liberated, self realized. Self realization means you are a way - a flow of spirit."

Here is the intro to MyYahoo this morning: "Like peanut butter when it encountered chocolate, you will find yourself part of a very good combination today...." Love it. I'm definitely the peanut butter.

winter festival

I avoid talking about work because I think it encourages me to think about things in my life other than work, which I hope are plentiful and meaningful. Although there are some weeks when work is pretty consuming. I am so lucky that I am happy to be consumed in it and I have hilarious and sweethearted people to work with. This weekend was filled with holiday get togethers for work. We had a big "winter festival" on Friday where I took a ton of photos and instantly made them into button pins for people on this jazzy little photo printer. We also had kids crafts and gingerbread cookie decorating, but I barely got a meatball munched I was so busy. A highlight was our dean dressed up like Frosty the snowman and i ran around with him taking everyone's photo with Frosty. He won't admit he was Frosty to anyone and he claims we all have to keep it a mystery. Since I led him around and helped him out of the ridiculously disgusting sweaty outfit when he was finished, everyone can't stop asking me who it was... I'm a bad liar. I just keep saying "I thought it was you?" to anyone that asks me?! lame.

We also got a bunch of xmas choppin in, which I really needed to get done. My sister sent me my xmas present ridiculously early and of course it's already been in use for over a week. it's a frothy hot cocoa/latte maker that makes each cup the perfect temp with the perfect froth. I would recommend if you're looking for a gift for your list. I'm off to make some frothy cocoa...

holiday bazaar

Knit knack craft was in full effect today. I had a craft table at Brown's holiday bazaar where I sold knit hats and embroidered pillows. With all of our road trips and down time after work (when J's at these seminars, etc) I managed to have 57 hats to sell. A sign I have too much time on my hands, eh?! Or I just can't stop my hands from moving... not sure which. I ended up selling 12 hats and 3 pillows, not a shabby chunk of change (right around $150 when I subtract my costs and I still have most of my inventory left for another craft fair). I made big pillows, and I was thinking that scented pillows might be a good idea for next year since everyone kept picking up my pillows to smell them. I was right next to my coworker that was selling her stained glass ornaments, so it was fun to chit chat - She was also the best at jumping in and sealing the sale for me ;)

first snow

Yesterday was the first snow here in Providence. There were the largest snow flakes I'd ever seen. I walked to work in the winter wonderland subtly trying to catch some gigantic snowflakes without embarrassing myself to the passing cars. I arrived at work and my boss asked me to rush out with the camera to get some photos of the snow on campus. He was right, and the snow all melted once the sun came out fully. These photos are a bit dreary light wise, but you can check out campus under snow, flakes falling and all (I had the camera covered with a plastic bag).

smith castle?

It's been so nice around here that we decided to venture out to Wickford today to see Santa come in on a boat. Turns out we missed Santa being escorted in on the Sea Princess with kayaks surrounding him because the parking lot was overrun with children. When we managed to park without hitting anyone, we noticed it was possible we were the only people without kids there. We then walked down the way to see swans and seagulls fighting over food while little kids screamed at the seagulls to go away. I think one little girl said to the seagull, "I hope you eat my crackers and it makes you sick"...uh ok. Then after shopping around we took a seat on a bench outside one of the shops. Some little kid came running out of the store and started pointing at us, the mom said "sorry, he would really like to see that window" - We got up from our bench in the sun, and I'm not sure why we indulged the little bratty kid. I did not have my normal kid happy reaction today. Moving away from the crowds of kids, we stopped in at a school bake sale and listened to the string band strumming outside. We had lunch with a stuffed quahog on the side. I got to play with a few old cameras in the antique shops. Then we went to Christmas at Smith Castle, which wasn't a castle at all. It looked like a colonial home and no one explained what made it a castle? Kinda a bust, but better than sitting in on a beautiful sunny day.

Couldn't quite explain what this antique store find is? Is it a toilet brush before they realized it would be better to have longer handles? Any ideas?

newport christmas

It's a real holiday feeling in the Newport Mansions surrounded by gigantic poinsetia balls and funny little st. nicks skiing across grand marble mantles. We took a mini trip to Newport with Anna who trekked down to visit from Boston (despite her crazy MBA projects due soon - glad you came with, anna!) We were allowed to take photos in the Breakers and the Marble House of the decorated trees, which was my highlight (since normally they tell you no photos for copyright purposes?) It was a brisk, sunny day, good enough to walk around with just a scarf - although while waiting for the tree lighting on Bowen's wharf we broke down and bought army flap hats at the surplus store. We got some shopping in while waiting for the tree lighting and munched on free cookies and hot cider given out by the little wharf shops. When the tree was finally lit we were standing right behind Frosty (you'll notice a big gap of light missing on the tree - eh, gotta fix that).