For Free!

One reason I'm really excited about living in DC is having all of the wonderful Smithsonian museums to visit. I can't wait to go to the National Gallery of Art. While I was checking out the current exhibits I discovered this FREE seven part video podcast called The Empire of the Eye: The Magic of Illusion. It illuminates the Old Master's manipulation of perspective and illusion. Those Renaissance artists could create the space of heaven on a ten foot ceiling or collapse a grand cathedral's space into a tiny room through tricks of the eye. Fascinating stuff and it's all free!

How did I miss these?

So right now I'm reading The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie. It's an interesting story but it makes me feel like I have a really pathetic vocabulary. Rushdie casually uses all the words I saw once on the SAT, guessed at using latin roots and never encountered again. Here are three that had me reaching for the dictionary. There were a lot more, I just happen to remember these most recent ones. Is it just me? Can anyone else use any of these words in a sentence? I'd love to see some examples :)

Sycophant - A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people

Matriculate - To be registered or admitted into a group

Recusant - dissenter; a nonconformist

Making Friends

I was feeling a little lonely last night so I did what lonely people do and walked down to the book store. There I was surrounded by other lonely people buying books to keep them company while the less hygenic, more permanent patrons read comics they hadn't bought while eating junk food.
I bought a day planner and The Story of Edgar Sawtelle since I have to give back the library copy I'm currently reading. I know I could wait to try to check it out at the library up in Alexandria but it's a new book so I'd have to be on the waiting list forever. I want to know what happens NOW. I'm really enjoying this story.


On the way to check out I glimpsed the little book, Sock and Glove. All the designs look super simple and very cute and I was very tempted to buy it. Then I decided I rather recommend it to the crafty people in my life and hope that they will go pick up this book, make the incredibly cute creatures and then let me buy one from them. But if none of you volunteer I might attempt to make one myself. I'd love to have a way to handle Aaron's burgeoning supply of lonely socks.

Where in the World?

People keep congratulating us on our move, which is very nice, but a little premature. Up to today I've been hanging out in C-ville, wrapping up some work while Aaron and Battle enjoy the luxury of furniture in our new Alexandria apartment. (We rented a truck and moved all the big stuff about two weeks ago.)

Back at the ranch, I have been sleeping in our gutted apartment, on an air mattress that stays inflated about 5 hours if you don't touch it and around 1-3 hours if you attempt physical contact. I've developed a pretty good routine of waking up every few hours to pump in some more air. There's nothing like a little mid-night exercise to keep the forearms strong. It's almost like camping, it makes you really appreciate the arrival of morning. All that's missing is gorgeous natural surroundings. Good thing I have a good imagination.

Anyway, all that will soon come to an end as TODAY I plan to fold up my sad little plastic bed and join the masses in NOVA.

Happy Birthday Katy!!

Happy Birthday Katy!!! Katy is traveling to S.C. for her birthday today because her brother is returning home from his mission to Brazil tomorrow. Since we've been together, we've been apart for almost half of Katy's birthdays which is kind of sad, especially because birthdays are a big deal in Katy's family. I am happy though to use this occasion to mark another wonderful year with Katy. Things seem to keep getting better, year after year. Katy is one of the most beautiful, interesting, intelligent, and remarkable people I know. Her passion for life and learning constantly inspire me. It is a thrill to be around her. She has so many wonderful gifts and talents. I particularly love how giving and caring she is toward others. She is thoughtful and kind and wonderful. So, even though we're apart today, Happy Birthday Katy! I can't wait until you move up to Alexandria next week.

Love,

Aaron

Stimulated Greed

Aaron and I just received our stimulus check in the mail. Yeah, I know, like a month after everyone else. Which means all our prudent plans on using it for our move or apartment deposit didn't really work out.
So now we're left with this temptingly large sum of seemingly available cash. I want to buy this toliet I saw on the wonderful blog Aquarium Lore. SO cool. I will do my best to make sure it is American made.
There are a few more things that I can am coveting:
Some really nice watercolor brushes and paper
A fish tank of neon tetras
A constellation night light
Audubon stuffed birds that make the accurate song when squeezed
Schleich dinosaur and animal figures. (The prehistoric mammals are pretty cool too)
Some nice prints from the National gallery
An Art class from the torpedo factory
A bike for Aaron so he can come ride with me
A bike upgrade for me
A flip
Some Ikea rugs to protect our dangerously white carpet in our new apartment
A pair of shoes (okay I really do need those)
A few good books including one of local DC day hikes.
And the taxidermied squirrel business card holder being sold at the local antique store
So there's my current American capitalist dream.
Any other suggestions?

Diamonds in the Rough

At my work while looking through the vast storage banks of long forgotten and under appreciated images, I come upon some real diamonds in the rough. Here are some I have recently enjoyed.

"Traveller Attacked by Dragon in the Swiss Alps" - Steve says the dragon looks remarkably similar to Battle

"Beaver Hunting"

"John Smith Taking a Prisoner" - Looks like it's not going so well for John

Donkey by Samuel Palmer