Thursday, August 28, 2008

In Which Annapolis And I Get Along Famously

I arrived at St. John's in Annapolis about 1:15 in the morning and thus was tired for awhile, but that's all in the past. Annapolis and I see eye-to-eye and I could hardly be happier. I found out where everything is, I have a job (I start work on Tuesday), I am ready for classes on Monday, I found a church, and the food is tremendous. All the running around like a chicken in heat paid off; now I can focus on Greek Greek Greek. For most of first semester the seminar readings will be a pushover (though not the discussions) so I'll have plenty of time to crack down on the hard parts of the Program.

The pianos are tremendous and well-kept. Three soundproof practice rooms with Yamaha U-3s are available, and in the classrooms are grands - one K.Kawai, (very nice-sounding for a cheap instrument), one or two Steinways, and a Baldwin. These are available after hours. (Mom, could you send me my Maryilyn Ham arrangements sometime? They're in my room and I forgot them) In the dining hall is an oldish Mason & Hamlin on which I will play rags and whatnot during meals.

I like Annapolis very much. Wish me luck (and cold hard cash - I'll need lots of that) on the East Coast with all these preppy kids!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Happy Birthday Oma




Happy Brithday, Feliz Compleanos (I hope I remembered that one correctly), and zum Geburtstag viel gluck!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

fall semester starts in five days!








Here's a quick pic of me and Connor the other day. Lil guy's getting big;)




Finally got my Mustang Pony back after me and dad's near death experience on I-39 in Wisconsin. I'm pretty happy with it, the custom gray stripes have been replaced with Ford Factory dark white ones. Lets see if that helps its luck a little bit;)

Monday, August 4, 2008

back from Bavaria

I got back from my little vacation to Garmisch-Partenkirchen this afternoon. It was a long train ride with a 2yr old, but we made it (barely--I cut it pretty close on my last connection in Frankfurt). But we had a good a time. We hiked around the mountains and to some beautiful lakes, and even made a short day trip up to Munchen. Anyway, I just thought I'd post a few of the pictures/share the beauty of the Alps (I put captions below them).

The view of the mountains behind Edelweiss (the Army hotel where I worked the first few days of my trip).



The view from the bridge just before entering the base where Nate is taking his language courses. I think it's one of the best in Garmisch.





Riessersee. Caedmon and I "hiked" (with a stroller) up to it Thursday afternoon.



The Alps surrounding Garmisch.

Badersee. The water was beautiful: cold, deep, crystal clear. They had a machine for fish food near it because you could see them from the shore. We tried it, but Caedmon wouldn't stop screaming "I wanna splash da water!!!" so we left early.

Nate and Caedmon walking back from Badersee.

Marienplatz, Munich. If you can't tell from the picture, it was insanely busy in Munich that day.