summertime, summertime
It's a humid and rainy day off today. Just as well; there's plenty I've neglected in favor of sunshine.
A good amount has happened since my birthday:
1. Visits. My mom and Kathy visited in early June; they were able to meet Nick, catch up with Jess, and behold Philadelphia's wonders. Emma came mid-June for Bloomsday. Although work kept me from attending the readings, she and I were unstoppable at a Ulysses trivia contest. I met with Norma mid-month to indulge in museums, food/drink, conversation, and thankfully no bloodshed.
2. Work. The 4th of July barbecue included a spectacular view of the fireworks plus some illicit but harmless activities. Fran evaluated my Riot Tour a week ago, which meant getting a raise, for which I'm grateful. Soon after, he caught me reading when I wasn't supposed to. Yesterday I had the chance to redeem myself after someone dropped his ID badge into The Hole (solitary punishment cells, asbestos-ridden, deemed inhumane in the 1950s) because my arm was long and slim enough to reach through the grate.
3. Etc. Research continues on the column capitals from Beth Shean/Beisan/Scythopolis; today I found antiquarian sources which define some capitals as 2nd-century spolia. I've been compelled to read more broadly on early Christian and Byzantine architecture, especially 5th-c. architectural iconography. Jess and I indulge a Wii tennis feud. Nick and I toured City Hall (do it!) and dined at Marrakesh, which featured seven courses, opulent furnishings, and a belly-dancer. We later trespassed on a half-finished building, some twenty stories high, within Penn's hospital complex on the Schuylkill's west bank. We reached the roof, an exposed platform atop several unfinished stories; the view of Philly was stunning amidst skyscrapers, helicopter landing-pads, PMA and 30th Street Station, the river and the oil refineries alongside it...
Back to columns!
A good amount has happened since my birthday:
1. Visits. My mom and Kathy visited in early June; they were able to meet Nick, catch up with Jess, and behold Philadelphia's wonders. Emma came mid-June for Bloomsday. Although work kept me from attending the readings, she and I were unstoppable at a Ulysses trivia contest. I met with Norma mid-month to indulge in museums, food/drink, conversation, and thankfully no bloodshed.
2. Work. The 4th of July barbecue included a spectacular view of the fireworks plus some illicit but harmless activities. Fran evaluated my Riot Tour a week ago, which meant getting a raise, for which I'm grateful. Soon after, he caught me reading when I wasn't supposed to. Yesterday I had the chance to redeem myself after someone dropped his ID badge into The Hole (solitary punishment cells, asbestos-ridden, deemed inhumane in the 1950s) because my arm was long and slim enough to reach through the grate.
3. Etc. Research continues on the column capitals from Beth Shean/Beisan/Scythopolis; today I found antiquarian sources which define some capitals as 2nd-century spolia. I've been compelled to read more broadly on early Christian and Byzantine architecture, especially 5th-c. architectural iconography. Jess and I indulge a Wii tennis feud. Nick and I toured City Hall (do it!) and dined at Marrakesh, which featured seven courses, opulent furnishings, and a belly-dancer. We later trespassed on a half-finished building, some twenty stories high, within Penn's hospital complex on the Schuylkill's west bank. We reached the roof, an exposed platform atop several unfinished stories; the view of Philly was stunning amidst skyscrapers, helicopter landing-pads, PMA and 30th Street Station, the river and the oil refineries alongside it...
Back to columns!