We Are...!

When in doubt, go to Maine!
And go to Fore Street and order oysters, Jonah Crab soup and the chocolate torte. The olive oil ice cream is something to cherish.
The beets might or might not have the yogurt sauce.
Maybe stay away from the Compari and blood orange juice- it will remind you of metal shavings. Definitely welcome the Bordello.
Speak Italian often and don't be afraid to fake it. Vedo televisione nella camera di televisione-it's all good.
Call Andrea and Clementina in Sicily. They can't wait to see you in May and maybe meet Irin in August. (pick a name that will translate)
Watch Penn State with the family always and sing fight songs at every opportunity. Love Clark.
Don't ask questions about the Secret Men of Maine Association but go out to for sake and sushi instead with the Girls. The Comedy Connection makes a mean margarita but could use some sexier acts.
Don't forget to blow out the candles before leaving the house.
Washing cars as a family is a great fall activity where everyone can learn about the advantages of ceramic brake pads. Name your car but not Lola or Warthog- those have already been taken. Sorry.
Avoid talking politics with the Brewer family especially at children's birthday parties. If you can get away with it, change their TV channel from a Patriots game to a Steelers one. They won't mind watching Brett Favre try to beat your team.
Stay the night and leave in the morning. Nothing beats October sunrises in New England.
Love Maine.
Love Maine.
Love Maine.

all the cool kids are doin' it.

emr

Pet A Pet Day at Smith College!

Every institution should sponsor a day like this! Don't you agree?

Fire, Names, Chests and Roses

What a couple weeks it has been! Mid-terms are here but the fun never stops-ever. This past weekend I attended the opening reception of the newest art exhibit at the Smith Art Museum titled Touch Fire. It showcases 21 contemporary female Japanese ceramic artists (mouthful!) that have created both utilitarian and expressionistic works ranging from pottery to large scale installation pieces. My favorite artist is Azumi Shigematsu who blends organic and surreal forms that look like futuristic playground structures. It is hard to describe so I would definitely suggest Goggle-n-it. Smith was fortunate enough to have her come and give a presentation on her life and work and my favorite insight she gave to the audience was about the concept of tradition in Japan. Here we think of tradition as static but the Japanese have two words for tradition, one being dento that represents the idea that tradition is the change of innovation over time. That being said, while her art might seem outside of traditional Japanese ceramic it actually is in sync with it.
Second on my list is Names which only requires minimal explanation. During a recent conversation with my good friend Taja I was given a list of must reads one being Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman. I've decided to take it ou of the library and commit to reading a little every day to maintain my love of reading for pleasure. However, reading a little has turned into read a whole heckofalot because it is so darn wonderful and poetic. The story takes place during a summer in Italy and there is apricot juice. Nuff said.

On Saturday, after my America Reads training for my tutoring gig I went to a film screening in Amherst about Korean weddings called the Korean Wedding Chest. The professor who teaches my Women and Modernity in Asia class suggested it to us last minute and as a visual anthropology kid I thought it would be a good experience. The German filmmaker, Orilke Ottinger, was there to answer questions afterward and brought another 29 minute film with her she had just finished called Still Living. Her film style was all over the place which was off putting at first but by the end I appreciate the fact that she called our attention to the various manipulations and roles that the camera eye can have to relay fantasy and fiction. Some scenes were heavily composed and others let the audience do more work and careful observation. Often in movie making the film style is so consistent that you don't even realize how spoon fed we are as viewers but she didn't necessarily want us to have easy viewing. She kept you waiting, wanting and wondering. Good stuff.
I'll end this entry with and explanation of the photo that is obviously tied to the Roses topic. At Capen house (my old campus stomping grounds) my friend Sarah's boat-building boyfriend showed me how to make roses out of maple leaves. He splits his time between New Hampshire (??) and Massachusetts and has become a Smith legend for his good humor and good energy and willingness to entertain anyone who isn't working. Lucky boy.

Love and Happiness to all!
emr

Butterflies and Apples

Every year upperclassmen have the option to be big sibs to incoming freshmen and leave little gifts outside their doors for a week before revealing themselves on Friday at house tea. This year I decided to participate and got a lovely girl named Carmen from Connecticut as my little sib. To celebrate the week of fun and surprises I gave her two sea shells with butterflies painted that would be her tickets to a Sunday morning secret adventure. A local butterfly conservatory that I have always wanted to go to was releasing hundreds of monarchs for their yearly migration and so Carmen and her friend Denise came with! Magic Wings is located in Deerfield about 20 minutes away from campus and house over 8,000 species of butterflies and a random assortment of insects, birds and reptiles.

As for the apples, yesterday was Mountain Day at Smith which means that the illustrious President Carol Christ declared a day off from school for students and faculty to enjoy a beautiful NE fall day. The Smith tradition is to drive to Outlook Farm and pick apples with your house and come back and bake pies, apple sauce and dumplings. I went with my old house (Capen) instead of Chapin house because I still have a big group of friends there who are also graduating this year. Around 10 we also followed another tradition specific to Capen house and played a midnight game of capture the flag complete with wacky outfits and wigs. I of course could not compete but was given the responsibility of ref-hood which was a total power trip. I gave one team four points off for the hell of it because they were dragging their jail pad closer to the mid field line. Stupid freshmen...

3 days until fall recess yayy!

Not your grandmother's bookshelf...although mine is giving me a bamboo one and I by no means what to appear ungrateful. Love you Gram!

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/01/01/modern-and-creative-bookshelf-designs/

I got my weekly Chapin house email and this was a link for us to check out at the end of the letter
and i wanted to share it with all of you!

Brilliant stuff!

emr