Seven Quick Takes Again

 I have to say, I was amazed to see how many visitors I got last time I linked up to this feature on Conversion Diary. Thanks for stopping by!

One

It was a glorious near-70 degrees yesterday, so I took a long walk. It's been winter so long I almost forgot how to dress myself for warm weather.

Two

I stopped at church on my walk and saw my pal the monsignor, who fell and tore a ligament two weeks ago. Armed with a cane and leg brace, he was testing to see if he could handle walking around the altar. It was pretty funny to see him in plaid pajama pants and a UD Blue Hens fleece.

Three

Holy cow Levar Burton is a guest star on Community this week! Between him and Theo Huxtable, they're bringing in almost all my childhood tv icons. Please let the MathNet cast be hoping to return to TV.

 Four

In other TV news, the Hoda Kotb/Kathie Lee hour of the Today Show has become my morning guilty pleasure. Today those girls taught me that Canadian bacon has less fat than turkey bacon.

Five

I hope your Valentine's Day was full of chocolate and nice words from the people you love. The Beau very sweetly made me GF pasta and we watched Dr. Zhivago. I'd never seen it and was not totally sold on the romance - just because he's a poet he can go cheat on his loyal pregnant wife? Not. Cool. Anyone want to convince me why it's a great love story?

Six

Margaret posted this video weeks ago, and I've been hooked on it ever since. It combines some of my favorite material culture things - architecture, glass, smashing ceramics. Also interpretive dance with sticks and chalk dust.


I heard a great interview with Adele on NPR. Did you know that she grew up listening to the Backstreet Boys and didn't discover Etta James until her teens? And that she's only 22? Gosh that makes me feel old. Especially since...

Seven

I am turning 26 this weekend! It really does feel weird to be closer to 30. My mom was this age when I was born - this means she's known me half her life! This also means my sophomore year of college was like 6 years ago. Funny, it still feels like I just left. When does adulthood actually start feeling real?

Off to Colonial Fantasyland!

From 30 Rock, episode 205: “Greenzo” (Via the splendid Kirsten.)

Ohhh CW. It's not an actual time capsule, but rather a conversation about "suspension of disbelief," "public history and memory," and the Colonial Revival. When anthropologists write a book that discusses the decision to leave horse poop in the streets, you know you are in an alternate universe.

This August The Beau was a trooper and let me drag him all over town, but I could tell part of him was skeptical. Why on earth were my college friends and I so excited to walk down a street of not-actually-historic buildings in 90 degree heat?

I think because we are happily brainwashed by our experiences there. No matter how much time I have spent in Williamsburg, it never disappoints. Part of my heart will always reside in that little colonial hamlet-turned college town and haven for retirees. That is where I first lived on my own, where I became an adult, where my life changed dramatically. It's where my friends and I made tons of memories that we'll relive at Homecoming this weekend.

Plus, my little sister is now a costumed interpreter intern in CW! So we'll frolic down the pseudo-historic street singing this song.

Modernist Monday - Kids Edition

The other day I had the TV on as I was getting ready to head to school, and a show called Willa's Wildlife came on. It seemed like a generic cartoon about a girl and talking animals, but then I got a look at her house. Wow! The home was full of angular, clean lines and furniture with mid 20th century flair. It was a little reminiscent of the Brady Bunch home, but it was also unique and fun. There was much more attention to detail than in some other animated shows. (As the oldest of five kids I have seen plenty of programming rated Y.)


I did a little Googling and discovered that Willa's Wildlife is a relatively new show that originated in Canada and Australia. Kids book An Octopus Followed Me Home by Dan Yaccarino is the basis for the concept. The fun architecture and interiors are the work of artist Adrian Thatcher, whose blog provided these images. He recently won a daytime Emmy Award for his art direction. I say, keep up the great work, and keep exposing kids to good design!