From Lincoln to Les Mis
Sometimes I go back through old LJ entries and wonder why such-and-such event isn't mentioned. Turns out the problem is, I'm too busy experiencing/processing, I don't get around to writing about things until they are stale. The fortnight before Christmas was an incredibly productive? time for me, in which I figured out what I want, from a personal, short-term professional, and long-term professional perspective. I wish I could adequately thank all the clever and wonderful people who let me talk things through, who pointed out things I missed, who helped me clarify what's bothering me and what my best options are.
Last Tues, I took Pongo and Lucky to see Peter and the Starcatchers for Pongo's birthday. After Thanksgiving, it became important to me that celebrations include Lucky, so that he never feels like his father is choosing me over him. I knew many references in Starcatchers would go over his head, but I didn't realize quite how wordy it was: both Pongo and I strained to catch everything going past. Still, it's a cute panto-style telling of a Peter Pan origin tale. I'm not surprised it didn't catch on and is closing next month, but I'm glad we saw it.
Weds night, Jon and I had a quiet night in after the evening's phone interview. We started watching The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, which had been on my Netflix queue forever. Eventually I realized it was on my queue from that time in hs when I read a Vivien Leigh biography and we agreed it was too creepy, so we watched Roman Holiday instead. I think the cinematography was better in the former, but discussing Gregory Peck led us to re-watch that flash animation book report of To Kill a Mockingbird so.
Thurs night, Jon and I went to see Lincoln. I enjoyed it so much, I might see it again in the theater with Julian, bc it's so much of what we three like: wordy, clever, strategy, politics. It brought to life many of the points in Jay Winik's April 1865, although I felt like it was more about the Emancipation Proclamation or more about Thaddeus Stevens than Lincoln. I think they could've easily cut the last few scenes of the movies without losing any of the story, much as The King's Speech ended without telling us how World War 2 ended.
Fri was my all-too traditional pre-Christmas panic of presents and wrapping: I was 2 hours late getting to Ct, so I missed my chance to have Melting Pot with my mum. Oops. Instead Jon and I had a leisurely trip up to Vermont on Saturday morning, stopping by the Ben & Jerry's factory for a tour and a sample of "Mooberry" ice cream (ice cream with whole wild Maine blueberries that were alas too cold to taste in that form). B&J seems to have an Italian dessert thing going on: at the scoop shop, we tried Spumoni ice cream, but ultimately had the Bonnaroo's Buzz, which showed just how awesome an ice cream can be: caramel ice cream is awesome, but B&J found a way to make it actually taste like whiskey. YUM!
We spent Sunday and half of Monday skiing at Mt. Snow. Somehow, there were few people on the mountain, even though it was a holiday week and snowing constantly, so I skied 16 runs the first day and 7 the second. I was a little frustrated last year in Canada that we only skied green circles, but Jon is getting better at skiing and enjoyed a mogul-y blue so much, we repeated it as our final run.
I'm used to coming to Vermont with my family, but Jon is not, so he planned all sorts of nice touches. We had dinner at Crop Bistro the first night, where we had frickles, duck confit over greens, and a plate full of *wurst. I tried the maple rum, which was delish, but ultimately had a Mr. Figgy cocktail: fig bourbon, sweet vermouth, and maple bitters, garnished with the best bacon I've ever had, a slice that had been caramelized. When I took my first sip, my nose was full of bacon smell and my mouth was full of alcohol and life was awfully good. Then Jon topped that by arranging a private dinner in the library at the Trapp Family Lodge, which included a saffron mussell bisque, scallops, and weiner schnitzel with spaetzle omnomnom. Dessert was ridiculous though: chocolate cake, apple strudel ice cream, apple strudel, linzer tort ice cream, and linzer tort. During the meal, we speculated whether the live pianists play The Sound of Music; we heard a song from it, but then they played "Surrey With A Fringe On the Top", so.
Even though we used to road trip to Vermont when I was a kid, we'd never stopped at the Cabot Annex or Lake Champlain Chocolates. Somehow I sold Jon on both. It was pretty cool to try all their fanciest cheddars. Neither Jon nor I were excited by their spicy cheddars, although I was fond of the buffalo wing-flavored cheddar, but the spreadable habanero was delish (and came home with us). Sometime in 2011, my then-gf bought me an absurdly well-wrapped package from Lake Champlain. I'd had their hot chocolate, but didn't realize just how good their chocolate is. The factory store had overruns of their truffles and I exactly replaced what I'd eaten from Raven's gift. Starting with Julian's homemade truffles for V-day, welcome home Vosges, our tour of Maison Cailler, and now Lake Champlain, 2012 was the year I ate all the chocolate.
Christmas itself was better than expected, if lengthier. We were told to get to my aunt's by 7, but they hadn't started eating when we got there at 8. Bc we hadn't spent 2 hours snacking, we had more appetite for the Fairway-catered meal and Jon got to meet the last of my close relatives. Eventually we napped before getting called to the present opening. Although the 6yo had been avidly sorting presents, and although the recession has taken a noticeable toll on the haul, the whole process was lengthier than usual. The child got more clothes than she wanted, the teenagers got what they wanted most, which was boring money. My sister loved the spoon rest and instant read thermometer, and never asked who painted her spoon rest. For once, I got the sorts of things I like - spices, makeup, a book. My mum cleverly wrapped a box of soaps for me -- and included a very large check to pay for any tablet I might wish. This will get its own post rsn.
I was dubious about the Yankee swap, but it turned out to be lots of fun. At first it seemed like it would be a dud - the second gift opened was a bottle of bubble bath - but my mum put in a RC helicopter that had everyone snatching like crazy and people seemed to want the immersion blender Julian suggested we put in. Jon and I emerged with a gc to Amazon - after spending an equal amount to buy the blender in the first place. *snort*
Jon and I slept in on Tuesday, after getting back to my parents' house late and being locked out of our room. AISOT, we had lobster salad for snack on our way to my grandparents' for steak, on our way to the theater to see the first showing of Les Mis. When I was a girl, I liked Phantom of the Opera ever so much more than Les Mis, but even I had to admit that the staging of the latter was phenomenal, whereas the former... not so much. Les Mis the movie was wonderful and I'm so glad Jon suggested (insisted?) it. The actors look the parts and most of them can sing their parts. The more I look back at it, the more impressed I am with Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Fantine. I felt that both Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman thoroughly acted their parts such that I forgot I was watching Jack Aubrey and Wolverine tangle. Unfortunately, while Crowe's singing was competent, he sounded like someone trying to sing, rather than someone whose elevated emotions caused him to burst into song. Amanda Seyfried was chirpy, but at least adult Cosette is expected to be a little shaky. The best part though was holding Jon's hand, knowing I'd gotten everything my twenty years ago self could've asked for.
Last Tues, I took Pongo and Lucky to see Peter and the Starcatchers for Pongo's birthday. After Thanksgiving, it became important to me that celebrations include Lucky, so that he never feels like his father is choosing me over him. I knew many references in Starcatchers would go over his head, but I didn't realize quite how wordy it was: both Pongo and I strained to catch everything going past. Still, it's a cute panto-style telling of a Peter Pan origin tale. I'm not surprised it didn't catch on and is closing next month, but I'm glad we saw it.
Weds night, Jon and I had a quiet night in after the evening's phone interview. We started watching The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, which had been on my Netflix queue forever. Eventually I realized it was on my queue from that time in hs when I read a Vivien Leigh biography and we agreed it was too creepy, so we watched Roman Holiday instead. I think the cinematography was better in the former, but discussing Gregory Peck led us to re-watch that flash animation book report of To Kill a Mockingbird so.
Thurs night, Jon and I went to see Lincoln. I enjoyed it so much, I might see it again in the theater with Julian, bc it's so much of what we three like: wordy, clever, strategy, politics. It brought to life many of the points in Jay Winik's April 1865, although I felt like it was more about the Emancipation Proclamation or more about Thaddeus Stevens than Lincoln. I think they could've easily cut the last few scenes of the movies without losing any of the story, much as The King's Speech ended without telling us how World War 2 ended.
Fri was my all-too traditional pre-Christmas panic of presents and wrapping: I was 2 hours late getting to Ct, so I missed my chance to have Melting Pot with my mum. Oops. Instead Jon and I had a leisurely trip up to Vermont on Saturday morning, stopping by the Ben & Jerry's factory for a tour and a sample of "Mooberry" ice cream (ice cream with whole wild Maine blueberries that were alas too cold to taste in that form). B&J seems to have an Italian dessert thing going on: at the scoop shop, we tried Spumoni ice cream, but ultimately had the Bonnaroo's Buzz, which showed just how awesome an ice cream can be: caramel ice cream is awesome, but B&J found a way to make it actually taste like whiskey. YUM!
We spent Sunday and half of Monday skiing at Mt. Snow. Somehow, there were few people on the mountain, even though it was a holiday week and snowing constantly, so I skied 16 runs the first day and 7 the second. I was a little frustrated last year in Canada that we only skied green circles, but Jon is getting better at skiing and enjoyed a mogul-y blue so much, we repeated it as our final run.
I'm used to coming to Vermont with my family, but Jon is not, so he planned all sorts of nice touches. We had dinner at Crop Bistro the first night, where we had frickles, duck confit over greens, and a plate full of *wurst. I tried the maple rum, which was delish, but ultimately had a Mr. Figgy cocktail: fig bourbon, sweet vermouth, and maple bitters, garnished with the best bacon I've ever had, a slice that had been caramelized. When I took my first sip, my nose was full of bacon smell and my mouth was full of alcohol and life was awfully good. Then Jon topped that by arranging a private dinner in the library at the Trapp Family Lodge, which included a saffron mussell bisque, scallops, and weiner schnitzel with spaetzle omnomnom. Dessert was ridiculous though: chocolate cake, apple strudel ice cream, apple strudel, linzer tort ice cream, and linzer tort. During the meal, we speculated whether the live pianists play The Sound of Music; we heard a song from it, but then they played "Surrey With A Fringe On the Top", so.
Even though we used to road trip to Vermont when I was a kid, we'd never stopped at the Cabot Annex or Lake Champlain Chocolates. Somehow I sold Jon on both. It was pretty cool to try all their fanciest cheddars. Neither Jon nor I were excited by their spicy cheddars, although I was fond of the buffalo wing-flavored cheddar, but the spreadable habanero was delish (and came home with us). Sometime in 2011, my then-gf bought me an absurdly well-wrapped package from Lake Champlain. I'd had their hot chocolate, but didn't realize just how good their chocolate is. The factory store had overruns of their truffles and I exactly replaced what I'd eaten from Raven's gift. Starting with Julian's homemade truffles for V-day, welcome home Vosges, our tour of Maison Cailler, and now Lake Champlain, 2012 was the year I ate all the chocolate.
Christmas itself was better than expected, if lengthier. We were told to get to my aunt's by 7, but they hadn't started eating when we got there at 8. Bc we hadn't spent 2 hours snacking, we had more appetite for the Fairway-catered meal and Jon got to meet the last of my close relatives. Eventually we napped before getting called to the present opening. Although the 6yo had been avidly sorting presents, and although the recession has taken a noticeable toll on the haul, the whole process was lengthier than usual. The child got more clothes than she wanted, the teenagers got what they wanted most, which was boring money. My sister loved the spoon rest and instant read thermometer, and never asked who painted her spoon rest. For once, I got the sorts of things I like - spices, makeup, a book. My mum cleverly wrapped a box of soaps for me -- and included a very large check to pay for any tablet I might wish. This will get its own post rsn.
I was dubious about the Yankee swap, but it turned out to be lots of fun. At first it seemed like it would be a dud - the second gift opened was a bottle of bubble bath - but my mum put in a RC helicopter that had everyone snatching like crazy and people seemed to want the immersion blender Julian suggested we put in. Jon and I emerged with a gc to Amazon - after spending an equal amount to buy the blender in the first place. *snort*
Jon and I slept in on Tuesday, after getting back to my parents' house late and being locked out of our room. AISOT, we had lobster salad for snack on our way to my grandparents' for steak, on our way to the theater to see the first showing of Les Mis. When I was a girl, I liked Phantom of the Opera ever so much more than Les Mis, but even I had to admit that the staging of the latter was phenomenal, whereas the former... not so much. Les Mis the movie was wonderful and I'm so glad Jon suggested (insisted?) it. The actors look the parts and most of them can sing their parts. The more I look back at it, the more impressed I am with Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Fantine. I felt that both Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman thoroughly acted their parts such that I forgot I was watching Jack Aubrey and Wolverine tangle. Unfortunately, while Crowe's singing was competent, he sounded like someone trying to sing, rather than someone whose elevated emotions caused him to burst into song. Amanda Seyfried was chirpy, but at least adult Cosette is expected to be a little shaky. The best part though was holding Jon's hand, knowing I'd gotten everything my twenty years ago self could've asked for.