Jun 30th 2007 12:13:45 am

Hi all. I am alive and am having a great time in Italy. The cell reception is awful in the village where we are staying and we don’t have internet there, so I am sorry it has taken me a while to get in contact.

So, far the trip has been wonderful! The group of students is great and we have already done so much cool stuff. We are living in a restored 15th century stone village called Canova. It is adorable. So picturesque. I have taken about 500 photos so far! We have gone a touring trips to other local villages and practiced our drawing and documentation skills. We have heard presentations by local historians and met the local cheese maker. For the last two days we have been at our work site – an old stone mill – where we are documenting everything in it and repairing some of the stone and wood walls. It has been fun and tiring. Today we are in Domodossola, the bigger town, going to the market and using the internet.

I am going to be traveling to Venice for our break with a few of the other girls. We are excited for the trip.

There is a river that runs by our village that we have visited a few times. I even swam in it once, but it is freezing! Mostly, it is just pretty. Above is Natalie, Megan, Me, and Erin.

Above is Brett, Me, and Tanner doing our first perspective drawings of the trip.

Ok, I am almost out of battery… I miss everyone, but the trip is going great! xoxo

8 Comments » Categories: Trips

Jun 22nd 2007 01:16:19 pm

Whew! What a whirlwind! My parents left on Wednesday and since then I have been frantically trying to get ready to leave for Italy tomorrow morning. Travis and I are driving up to Portland tonight because my flight leaves from there at 6:15 am. I think I am almost completely packed, but it is hard organizing what I will need for tonight, versus what I need for the trip. I am really not bringing very much considering that I will be gone for five weeks. One medium suitcase, a carry-on Timbuk2 bag, and my purse. I proud of myself for fitting my life within those constraints.

Anyway, here is a link to the program I will be participating in: UO Italy Field School. During the break in the middle of the program I think I will travel to Venice. I have sent all of my important info to my family and left copies of all my important documents with Travis.

I will try to upload pictures and post to my blog periodically. We don’t have internet where we are staying, so I will only be able to do it when we go to internet cafes.

Arrivederci!

1 Comment » Categories: Just for Fun, Trips

Jun 19th 2007 07:27:00 pm

I graduated this weekend from the University of Oregon with my Masters of Science in Arts Management. Travis’ family and my parents came to town for the event. We have had a wonderful time! We ate out at lots of local restaurants, shopped downtown, climbed Spencer’s Butte, went to Saturday Market, ate cake, and went to an o.a.r. concert… and we spent lots of time talking and visiting.

Above is a photo of me and my mom and dad at King Estate Winery today. It was absolutely beautiful and the food was delicious! We took our time eating outside since it was such a beautiful day. I had Salmon and Pot de Creme. I would recommend trying it out if you live in Eugene.

On Father’s Day we all climbed Spencer’s Butte. It took us a few hours to complete the round trip hike, but it was worth it for the view!

This is a photo of Chelsea and me with our matching umbrellas at the Saturday Market before graduation. We were just about the only people in Eugene using umbrellas, but at least we looked cute!

Travis’ family had to leave this morning because they are driving home all the way back to Kansas, but my mom and dad are here for one more day. I am sad to see everyone go because we have had such a fun time, but Travis in I will be in Kansas City in a little over a month for my brother’s wedding. In between now and then, I will be squeezing in a four-week trip to Italy!

11 Comments » Categories: Family, Feeling Happy, School

Jun 12th 2007 01:11:20 am

I had my very last graduate school class today. It was a final presentation for Museum Education. It all went well, but I thought I would be feeling more. Like more relieved, or more excited, or even more sad. I never get very sentimental about life events. I may be broken in that way… or maybe it is just that I always have exciting new things on the horizon that keep my mind occupied.

5 Comments » Categories: School

Jun 9th 2007 12:23:00 am

Some things seen around my house this week:

1. my ribbon basket
2. the watering can I keep on the porch to remind me to water my flower boxes
3. my final research document, printed and bound. plus, a few copies of the Review for good measure.
4. my new Timbuk2 bag. I got it for my upcoming trip!
5. the beautiful new vase that Brad and June got us from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
6. ribbon and buttons in old Ball mason jars
7. my new Martha Stewart photo box sitting on a chair
8. a vase made by the ceramic students at UO. they do different cool designs each year and make a bunch to sell as a fund raiser.
9. a bunch of Herbal Answer lip balms sent by Travis’ awesome Aunt Carol. Thank you!

No Comments » Categories: Home, Just for Fun

Jun 8th 2007 12:36:44 am

I turned in my final, final, bound copies of my master’s research project today. It feels good, but I still have one last class project to finish before I will feel like I am totally done. I can’t believe graduation is in 8 days!

I want to learn more about theoretical physics. I have been interested in the topic ever since I read A Brief History of Time in 9th grade. Anyway, I am not a physicist, but I would like to read an updated, layman-friendly book about the topic. You know, something that address string theory and black holes in a way that I can understand. Any suggestions?

The recent expansion of my home-town museum, The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, has been receiving some great press (Wired and the New York Times, for example). I am really pleased to see the positive reviews because many people didn’t like the design during construction. I can’t wait to check out the new addition when I am in town for my brother’s wedding in July.

Travis, listen up. I will go see Ocean’s 13 with you. I have decided to see it after learning the Eddie Izzard is in it. I find him oddly attractive… and funny. I really liked him in the The Riches.

Speaking of movies. We went to see Pirates 3 last week. You may remember that I didn’t really like #2 last year. I must admit that I liked 3 better than 2, but I still think they are really over-playing the whole Captain Jack character. In the first movie he was so unique and funny. Now, they are just over-doing it and ruining it for me. Plus, I still say there was not enough Orlando (he has really matured nicely). However, I liked Keira in this most recent movie and I am glad that a female character had a strong, central role. Overall, it was too long and complicated, but I had fun watching it.

I am happy that Oprah picked Middlesex as her next book club selection. I read the book by Jeffrey Eugenides a year ago and it really touched me and taught me a lot. I am happy that it will be read by so many more people now. I think it will really change many people’s perspective on gender and sexuality.

Ok, I am going to sleep. Have a good Friday!

1 Comment » Categories: Art, Books, Just for Fun, Misc, Movies

Jun 5th 2007 12:10:49 pm

Well, it only took me about a year, but I finally replaced the bathroom curtain that was left by the previous owner. The old curtain was gray and pretty gross (it had dead bugs stuck to the window side). I wanted to do something totally the opposite to try and brighten up the little bathroom. I previously discovered that my local Ben Franklin Crafts sells Amy Butler fabrics. I picked out these two wild prints, lime oxford stripe and olive kashmir, from the Full Bloom Belle line. I had originally wanted to do pom-pom fringe instead of the ruffle, but NOwhere sells pom-pom fringe. Martha Stewart just likes to use it on all her projects simply to drive me crazy! So, I made the ruffle from scratch. This is the first time I ever attempted an original ruffle. It turned out satisfactory, but it is slightly uneven. I should have pinned it more carefully and been more patient. Lesson for life, I suppose…

6 Comments » Categories: Crafts, Home, Projects