7 Beginnings and Ends

Happy Friday!  Since my graduation is only a week away, this installment is going to be about some of the many "lasts" and "firsts" I'm currently experiencing. Many thanks to Jen for hosting the 7 Quick Takes linkup at Conversion Diary.

1.Tonight I turned in my last graduate school paper. Ever. It felt so surreal. Then my art history professor fed us tacos and pickled cactus, and it was delicious.

2. Last night I worked on said paper by pulling what I hope is my last almost-all-nighter in a long, long time. I've been avoiding graduation emotions, but as I turned off the library lights at 1am there was this sudden bittersweet feeling that it was the end of an era. I might shed a tear when I return all my books next week. 

3. On Monday I'll go on my last grad school field trip.We'll be touring the White House and Capital Building. This will be my first time seeing the inside of each, despite having grown up near them.

4. I got a new camera! Ever since my old Olympus died last summer I've been yearning to have a "real camera" again.My little point-and-shoot has taken good close-up images, but it makes me feel like I'm at the mercy of it's little buttons instead of in control of the situation. So, I took advantage of the magical, wonderful part of grad school known as "professional development funds" to buy a Nikon d3100. 

Check out this inefficient packing. Great job Sears, I am now the proud owner of  gallons of Styrofoam peanuts.

After I got over my initial buyer's remorse, I was delighted to see how well the camera handles both close up and action shots.

 

 

My first time shooting with my new toy was also probably the last time The Beau and I will have a date strolling around the museum grounds. I should send the gardens paths a thank-you card for being such a fun, free activity in the early months of our relationship.


5. My sister started her first museum summer job this week. I'm so excited for her, and can't wait to hear how this colonial farm work turns out. I'm imaging she'll get really buff carrying pails of water and hoeing crops. 


6. This just in: The Beau completed and passed his second and last Ph.D comprehensive exam! I am so glad his tough academic year is done, and I'm so proud of him I could burst.

7. Finally, I am pleased to announce that I have...drumroll please...a NEW BLOG! Chasing Claudia Kincaid is named for the heroine of From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, one of my all-time favorite books. This blog will focus on my thoughts about museums, art, and material culture, freeing up this space to write more about my faith and whatever other random things I feel like. "Claudia" is also my first attempt at using the Wordpress platform, so it will be an interesting learning experience. She'd love it if you paid her a visit!

Material Culture Alert: Cameras

My lack of posts recently is due to the fact that I have been traveling almost nonstop for a solid month. With The Beau, my family, and my grad school class I have managed to visit every southern state except Georgia and Kentucky. It's been great, but I'm looking forward to being back in my apartment for a while.

On the road I lost a valuable companion - Theodora the camera. Somewhere between New Orleans' French Quarter, the LSU campus, and being locked in a hot car in Florida, her focus and shutter went out of whack. We've spent three years and thousands of pictures together, and not gonna lie, I'm still in the camera grieving process. I salute you, my valiant little DSLR.
While the wounds were still fresh I had to run out and buy a replacement in time for my week-long school trip. I basically grabbed my cheapest option at Best Buy, but it is a Nikon with 12 megapixels.

I've heard that a skilled photographer can produce interesting shots even with a point-and-shoot, so this will be a good test for me. So far this little cherry-red number has worked pretty well, except for low light and long depth of field. No offense, Theodora ,but it has been nice not to be weighed down with a huge camera while running from museums to historic houses.