I just bought Faure's Cantique de Jean Racine off of iTunes. We sang it at our Baccalaureate and I remember that I loved it, but I haven't heard it in so long.

It is just gorgeous. And of course, the choir of Kings College probably sings it better than we did.
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This blog isn't turning into a weight-loss blog, because I don't really want to share all that with you (my two loyal readers), but my doctor thinks I need to start doing something more. So this morning I started keeping a food diary (blah), I parked my car further from the door than usual, I've taken the stairs instead of the elevator, and I brought a yummy spinach salad for lunch.

Weight is such a tricky topic. It has such a stigma, especially in our society. I'm not one of those women that stands in front of a mirror every night wishing she could lose weight. I can't stand those gals. But apparently I've got to do more than I am now.

Bleah.

sidenote: I just bought Sam Phillips' new CD and The New Pornographers Electric Version off of half.com. I guess I forgot that I'm going to NEW MEXICO later this month. Where is my brain?
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What minor Simpsons character are you? Ralph I bent my wookie

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

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Which generic smut novel character are you? (With somewhat relevant pictures!) The Obscenely Wealthy Heiress Poor dear, all alone in your opulent estate, with no one but a tight-fisted, controlling prude of a relative to keep you company. Perhaps you can entreat some strapping young lad into educating you in the ways of the world.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

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I think all the rainy days are finally catching up with me. Today I feel totally wiped out, physically and emotionally. The only reason I can think of is the rain, so that's what I'm going to blame it on.

And of all the days for it to happen; I've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I hope I'm more up by then.
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(the one on the right is Alice)
Alice came into town last week (my really busy week). I had forgotten, until I got an email from her on Thursday. Then I forgot to call her Friday - I was at the ATM after work, getting cash for dinner before "Farenheit 9/11" when my phone rang. I thought it was Mel, and answered as such. But it was Alice! Luckily it worked out that we were able to go to dinner together. She didn't know about Kristina's pregnancy or marriage, so I surprised her with that news. It was good to see her.


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Last night Mel and I caught "Baadassss!" through the Austin Film Society at the Dobie. We had to reserve spots and then tell the guy who we were to get in. I told him, "S*******, Elizabeth", and he said, "I know you're not Elizabeth S*******!" I told him that yes, I am, and he replied, "Well, I know an Elizabeth S******* and she looks nothing like you." I just thought this was all too wierd. I mean, I sent him an email reserving my spot and he didn't question my identity! How many of us are there in Austin? I can't imagine my last name is so popular.

See here for my review of the film.
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mountains in china, taken by chan chan.


Tasmania, taken by Zeshan S.

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I've got six gmail invites now, even though I gave three away last week! Is there a method to the madness?

Let's see what I can get at gmailswap.
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my evening schedule:

tonight - Administrative committee meeting (I lead it)
Tuesday night - free premiere of BAADASSSSS! at the Dobie.
Wednesday night - Bringing Up Baby at Paramount (The first time I'll get the chance to see it on the big screen!)
Thursday night - board meeting (I have to present recommendations for the fund development comm.)
Friday night - do nothing. at all.

I hope I make it through this week.

At Friday lunch, I met with the fund developer and executive director from the non-profit I work with and we discussed my future role with the organization. Since there is a large chance I will change my membership from my current church, I can no longer represent same church on the board. However, it sounds like they have big plans for me anyway. We are planning on a new web page, and I will be charge of keeping it updated. I guess I'll have to brush up on my html. But I'm so excited that we will finally have a real web page! I've wanted one since I joined the board three years ago.
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Caring for Your Introvert:

Female introverts, I suspect, must suffer especially. In certain circles, particularly in the Midwest, a man can still sometimes get away with being what they used to call a strong and silent type; introverted women, lacking that alternative, are even more likely than men to be perceived as timid, withdrawn, haughty.

Although mainly written for satire, this article is quite informative.

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not mine, of course. Kristina had an ultrasound yesterday, and I was slightly disappointed to be told that I would not have a namesake. It is a boy and his name will be James. I wouldn't have been so disappointed if she hadn't gotten my hopes up by saying she was going to name it after me if it was a girl. Darn it! Well, whoever it is, I'll love it the same, and call it "Elizabeth" under my breath. Just kidding!

Luckily all the stuff she and Will registered was non-gender specific (hooray for our side). It drives me nuts when parents gender their babies from birth. You can't choose your sex, but you can choose your gender. My sister babysat for this family that had two boys and the mom refused to gender her kids. The oldest boy had long blonde hair, wore his pants backwards and loved dolls. I don't think you should let the kid go crazy, but I think it is good not to paint a room pink or blue, not to buy only "feminine"/"masculine" clothing. Of course, I have no children, so take my opinion as you see fit.

I just know this boy is going to play football, whether he likes it or not. The oldest step-son plays soccer, the youngest one plays t-ball, so this one will be the football child.
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Okay, I wanted a pithy title for this entry, but cheesy was all I could come up with. Go to Tod's blog right now and vote for who you would rather see in a romantic comedy about a mother of a 13 year old with a gypsy background (based in New Orleans, no less!). My choices from his list were:

Julia Ormond, because she's the right age, dark-featured, gorgeous, and can act (see Smilla's Sense of Snow)

Sophie Marceau - same.

Marisa Tomei - same, and she is so quirky! See Happy Accidents and Only You.

Tilda Swinton - probably couldn't pull the whole gypsy thing off, but she's great.

Sela Ward - I used to be addicted to "Sisters", so I gotta pull for her. She deserves a big role.

Diane Lane - age-wise is good, she's pretty, and I think she can do comedy. Actually, I don't think I've seen her in any film. I was going with the fact that she was Oscar-nominated (which really doesn't mean much nowadays).


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Click on them for better resolution.




Both pics of Cuyagua beach in Venezuela, taken by my new pal there. Beeyooteeful.
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I like the word "mull". Anyway, I am currently mulling over the idea of staying at a hostel my last night in New Mexico. Since Kristina lives about an hour away from Albuquerque, I think I wouldn't be able to sleep much if I stayed with her. My flight leaves at 8-something in the morning, and I'll have to drop off my rental car. I would have to leave the house at 6am, meaning getting up at 5am (which I haven't done in a really long time). If I stay at the hostel, I could leave at 6:45 to drop off the car. I think.

I would also like to stay at a hostel just for the experience. And the area that the hostel is in is gorgeous.

So I think I'm going to try it. I'll miss the continental breakfast that a hotel would provide, but I prefer saving money.

I'll talk to Kristina before I reserve a spot, but I think it'll work.
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Okay, for some reason I have 4, count 'em, FOUR, g-mail invites now. I don't know why I have so many. Anyway, if you want one, leave a comment and make sure to put your e-mail address on it. Otherwise, I really have no way to get it to ya. I put this offer on my other blog a while ago and got two interested parties who didn't leave their e-mail addresses. So we'll try here now.

update: You can go to gmailswap to get something (or nothing) for a gmail invite. I got my name in Russian (Jelizaveta) and may get a pic of a Venezuelan beach. Whoo hoo!
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My first attempt at audio-blogging! Well, actually, it was about my seventh, but it was the one I finally posted.
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Well, u-- um, can we come up and have a look?


What Monty Python Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I have a feeling this is limited to only the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and not the series. Because I would make a damn fine lumberjack, or Cardinal Richelieu.

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I can't wait to see this movie. It's funny; when The Bourne Identity came out, I just happened to see it because About a Boy was sold out. And I loved it (so much that I bought it on DVD). I don't really like Matt Damon as a rule, but he is great in the movie. Plus, you can't go wrong with Franka Potente! So I am really looking forward to The Bourne Supremacy. I await it almost as eagerly as Farenheit 9/11.
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One of my favorite chick-lit books has been made into a movie. why did I just hear about it this weekend? I am eager to see it, even though I ADORE the book. I didn't really see any of these actresses in my head when I was reading the book, but I guess I can accept Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette (love her!) and Shirley McLaine. We'll have to wait and see, I guess!

In Her Shoes Listing at Box Office Prophets
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Artist lineup for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Currently, the tickets are $75 (plus service charges) for the three day concert. I think that's a steal. I'm hoping to get some friends together to go.
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I just got a call from Wolf Camera saying that the black and white roll I turned in for developing was blank. Damn and damn. I noticed this last time I loaded a roll in my camera that it wasn't working very well. I guess that is what happened with this previous roll. I am so mad - I thought I had taken pictures of Leah's graduation, Devil's backbone and more on this roll. Now I find there's nothing. This is the second time in five years I've had issues with this camera. I wonder if I should just give up and buy a new (used) camera. The one I'm using now was my dad's camera in college, and it has plenty of issues. I've never been completely sure that I'm using it right and the light meter hasn't worked at all since I've had it. Considering how much I paid for repairs last time, it might just be cheaper to buy a new one and give this one away. I just can't take any more of this. It is so depressing to find that nothing is on this roll.

I'm going to New Mexico and I want a camera that works this time!(Last time I went, my camera broke down)
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I never resided in Luckett Hall, as it was a male dormitory, but I did play a few games of Risk into the early morning hours there. God, I couldn't stand that game. The company was good though. Anyway, my mom was sent this e-mail (I didn't receive it for some reason):

"In my role as President of Austin College, I face many decisions that are very difficult, but over the past two years I have been dealing with one of the most difficult: the future of Luckett Hall. As many of you know, in August 2002 we discovered a major problem with black mold in the building. There were 123 students scheduled to live in the building that fall; therefore, we immediately tried to reclaim the building through the traditional process. We quickly discovered the black mold was rampant and that it would necessitate the removal of the drywall throughout the building, as well as ceilings and mechanical systems. With this discovery, we began the process of reviewing the future of Luckett Hall, with the goal of retaining the building and converting it to another use.

"We realized that the traditional residence hall, such as Luckett, was no longer attractive to students. A double-loaded corridor with gang bathrooms at the end of the corridor was “quaint” but not popular for today’s students. This meant that if we were to renovate the building for residence hall use, it would need to be converted to a suite style of living. In 2003, we built the apartment-style residential facility unofficially known as ‘Roo Suites in order to fill the void left by Luckett. Four buildings were built with a total of 152 beds and with each suite having four bedrooms and two baths and housing four students, The total cost of constructing the ’Roo Suites was $4.5 million. In our analysis of Luckett Hall, the estimated construction costs to create comparable suites for 60 students was over$6.5 million.

"With that in mind, we asked the architects to determine whether Luckett Hall could be remodeled for academic space. Since we already have plans in place for a new science facility and will eventually have additional general classroom space made available in the Moody Science Center and Thompson Hall once the sciences eventually relocate to the new facility, the most logical use would be for music and art. It was our hope that a major renovation project involving Luckett could result in the creation of much needed contemporary space for these departments. Ultimately, it was discovered this was impossible, as the roof structure of Luckett could not be changed in order to create adequate ceiling space for rehearsal rooms, recital halls, and studios. To change the roof structure, which is badly deteriorated and must be removed, would alter the weight distribution on the exterior walls, and the engineers and architects concluded that the exterior walls could not bear such ! weight.

We then turned to the idea of reclaiming Luckett Hall for a classroom-office building. The cost estimate to do this was nearly $6 million."

"With input from the architects and engineers , I made a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at the June 5, 2004, Board meeting that we remove Luckett Hall from the campus. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved this recommendation."

"In essence, the decision was based upon the following factors:

1. The cost of restoration is considerably greater than new construction.
2. The structural integrity of the concrete walls is questionable, as one projects the long-term use of the building.
3. The interior wood structure would have to be completely replaced, since it has greatly deteriorated and has been weakened by previous renovation efforts.
4. The expenditure of funds at the college for the renovation of Luckett Hall would have to fall well behind the construction of a new science building, new art and music facilities, and the adaptation of Moody and Thompson Halls to classroom and office space when the science building is complete. Serving today’s students with contemporary facilities is critical to the future of the college.
5. The ability to raise money for the project is very limited."

I have had to quote the letter, because it goes into explicit detail about what all is wrong with the construction. Someone from my church was at school in the 30s and remembers when some of the armed forces were living on campus and they used Luckett Hall. This building is pretty much the oldest one I know of still on campus, so it saddens me that they are taking it down. But that's what college is all about - progress and change.


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What Color is Your Brain?
brought to you by Quizilla

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I added my portrait on the side there. I tried to make it as accurate as possible, seriously. My mouth is bigger, my nose is a little bigger, and my hair only looks like that when I straighten it. Okay, it doesn't even really look like that when I straighten it. They have no hairstyle to choose from that even looks very close to mine. Anyway, my eyes really are that big. Yeah.
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Okay, we love our mom's dog. Leah took this picture of Rosie. It is only slightly posed.
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It appears that Jamie Cullum dude also did a cover of my favorite Radiohead song, "High and Dry". It is so cheesy. So he did a Jeff Buckley song in a mediocre fashion, and totally ruined a Radiohead song. There goes any chance of me buying his album. When will people leave well enough alone?! I have heard a piano instrumental arrangement of "High and Dry", which was actually quite nice.

Now John Aielli is playing Mr. Cullum's version of "The Wind Crys Mary", so I had to change the station. Stop the madness!
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is my theme for my CD for Charlie's summer CD swap. It will include (not necessarily in this order):

Afro-Celt Sound System (w/ Peter Gabriel), "(When You're) Falling" - I remember listening to this on the radio while driving around Columbia Heights, MN.

Fountains of Wayne, "Radiation Vibe" - I think this came out when I was in high school. Or maybe I was just a college freshman. Either way - this song turned me on to the greatness that is Fountains of Wayne, and I've been a fan ever since.

Kim Richey, "Every River" - I heard this on KGSR when I was riding the dillo to my temp job downtown, summer after freshman year of college.

Liz Phair, either "Rock Me" or "Supernova". I haven't decided yet.

Next Stop Wonderland soundtrack, "Corcovado". The film and music make me think of summer.

Dolly Parton, "Traveling Prayer" - memories of my Americorps summer!
Billy Joel, "Vienna" - ditto, plus it reminds me of my summer trip to Vienna.
Aimee Mann, "Save Me" - Americorps summer.

Backstreet Boys, "I want it that way" (unless I sold this CD) - this song reminds me of watching MTV in Italy. We saw the video about five times while we were in Rome, and we didn't spend much time watching TV. So it reminds me of my one trip to Europe.

Queen, "Crazy Little Thing" - b/c Queen is awesome!

Sheryl Crow, "Steve McQueen" - memories of our long drive to Vegas.

Putamayo Cuba, "Mecanica de Amor" - AWESOME CD. I bought it in North Carolina when we were there for the Americorps build.

Fountains of Wayne, "Mexican Wine" - last summer, when the CD came out.

If I have room, I'll try to include:

Guster, "Center of Attention"
Indigo Girls, "Ghost"
Dixie Chicks, "Ready to Run"
Nickel Creek, "Lighthouse's Tale"

These songs still remind me of summer, but not as much as my main choices.

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I'm waiting to hear back from Kristina as to when I can go out there to see her. It looks like I will be spending a week out there, b/c of the cheap flights I can get on Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm eager to see her, but I know she will be very pregnant. Suffice it to say, we won't be going out for drinks while I'm there. I'll get to stay with her and her hubby, so that will be interesting. I haven't seen her since she got married. That's what sucks about her living so far away!

We talked last night and she told me all she and her dad had just found out this weekend about her father's family:

a) her dad has a half-sister.
b) he does not have Cherokee blood (as her mom had told him), but instead his grandmother was mestizo.
c) his mother Alva was married 4 times.
d) Alva ran off with his stepfather before her divorce was final. They didn't get married until her current husband died, as being a strong Catholic, he wouldn't give her a divorce.

It's like a pulp novel! or a soap opera. Either way, more drama than I know of in my family.
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1. After spending 9 hours at work, I lack the energy to deal with dogs that won't follow my instruction.

2. I took them outside at least 5 times between 6pm and 11pm, and they still had two accidents inside.

3. I can't sleep when the cuckoo clock in the hall goes off every 30 minutes.

4. The second story is HOT! I had to turn the thermostat down to 62, which is ridiculous. I hate wasting energy like that, but it was unhabitable otherwise.

5. My cell phone reception sucks at their house.

This is what I've decided after last night. I couldn't get to sleep until 1:30 (after stuffing my ears with cotton since I forgot my earplugs), was awakened by the storm at 3am, and pretty much wasn't able to go to a deep sleep after that.

It's hard for me to say no (although I am much better at it nowadays), but I'm gonna have to put my foot down on this one. I miss my bed in my apartment (even with my loud neighbor). I don't function well on less than 6 hours of sleep. Even though I hate to tell their owners no, I've just got to next time.


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My Bloginality is ISFJ!!!

"As an ISFJ, you are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging.
This makes your primary focus on Introverted Sensing with Extraverted Feeling.

This is defined as a SJ personality, which is part of Carl Jung's Guardian (Security Seeking) type, and more specifically the Protectors or Nurturer.

In blogging, your journal will always be immaculate and have a touch of style. You may also feel overwhelmed because you want to be a part of everything going on. Because of your wonderful memory, other bloggers may come to you to ask about things you posted months before."
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Apparently, there's a stalker who has been sighted in our office building parking lot. The building management is making a big deal, and it is a slight deal. This guy has been spotted twice in our lot. Who is he stalking? We don't know. Will he hurt anybody? I think that's doubtful. From what I've heard and read, my thinking is that the stalker will rarely act on his obsession, but just obsess. I just think it's strange. We live in such an alarmist society. I don't condone stalking at all, but it's not like a convicted murderer is working in our building. Well, none that we know of.
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