tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10935522415227989492024-03-05T19:29:00.265+00:00Thoughts, Musings + Random ObservationsMy attempt to try and get some of my scatterbrained thoughts down on (virtual) paper.bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.comBlogger574125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-73664898869602697062015-01-04T22:53:00.003+00:002015-01-04T22:53:40.599+00:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWbzAAYUV2YJydjshCTYjoHOF9s6r5X0Mv2dDLnUzzIRT_sTvmXQbBl-l9ywqvXWBz3-x51eaTeNdlS3vh_moH-vWUppbIMHg4m0myXQnZ5pKtMD2fgn_-VRQqha266I0vWvHDEoYAiEt/s1600/shaul+schwarz+First+snow+of+2015+NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWbzAAYUV2YJydjshCTYjoHOF9s6r5X0Mv2dDLnUzzIRT_sTvmXQbBl-l9ywqvXWBz3-x51eaTeNdlS3vh_moH-vWUppbIMHg4m0myXQnZ5pKtMD2fgn_-VRQqha266I0vWvHDEoYAiEt/s1600/shaul+schwarz+First+snow+of+2015+NYC.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://instagram.com/p/xaTL-_D-WD/?modal=true">First snow of 2015 NYC</a>, by S</span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">haul Schwarz [3 January 2015]</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ok, so it's been <span style="font-size: x-small;">[checks date of last blog post]</span> 21 months since I last wrote anything on this page. Do I have an excuse? Not really. I could say I've been busy relocating from London, to Georgia, up to New England again, and finally settling in NYC. I could say I've been busy with ever changing roles at my job. I could say time was taken up by friends getting married, buying houses, moving, and changing jobs.<br />
<br />
To be honest though? It's mostly just that I'm lazy.<br />
<br />
But it's a new year! Resolutions and all that jazz. So here we go!<br />
<br />
We <i>did</i> get some snow here in Brooklyn yesterday morning, though only for about 20 minutes, after which it promptly turned into rain for the rest of the day. Baby winter steps I suppose. I think I got spoiled by the "harsh" winter NYC experienced last year, which to me was just about brushing the lower level of what I think winter should be. Most of my co-workers, on the other hand, thought it was a snowpocalypse. The city will probably get some actual snow this year, but most likely not like last winter. I will just <span style="font-size: x-small;">[still]</span> have to live vicariously through Boston.<br />
<br />
Overall we are liking living in Brooklyn. With the layout of NYC's five boroughs, sometimes it is easy to forget we actually <i>do</i> live in NYC, especially since we do not get into Manhattan all that often. But we are looking to move into a less suburban-like, more city-like neighborhood this month, which will help. I still don't feel quite the connection to this city I did with London, but I am really hoping to get there soon.<br />
<br />
In sports news, the Patriots are back in the playoffs! Woohoo! Check back in this space next weekend to see how the first game against the Ravens goes. <span style="font-size: x-small;">[oh man I hope it goes well...]</span><br />
<br />
I also am trying to find a project to work on/volunteer for/establish myself which centers around the more social + design issues I am interested in. With the hours I've been putting in at work, it's been hard to motivate myself to do something with my free time, especially in the winter with the limited sunlight. But lately I am trying to keep myself as close to 40 hours a week as I can, which hopefully should give me the time to get my ass going a bit.<br />
<br />
So, you know, a few small goals for the new year.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>Unknownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16266091262766647447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-17973644164096604432013-04-07T18:24:00.004+01:002013-04-07T18:24:59.219+01:00<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
its amazing how quickly 72 degrees out can feel like 720 degree when running a couple of miles in a paved cul-de-sac development with no trees for shade....<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-74778973489380142402013-03-25T23:12:00.000+00:002013-03-25T23:12:59.511+00:00<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span><br />
overlooking the strange interpretation of north america's geography, I <i>so</i> want this to be a reality.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe1ZcSLSo_gHOeDsAFpQKgwzPewMviiLyjmMiENYlu-Z5jPaaUCaXVAu3GO-xBqjl7735xdiL2Irb4WU096XKw5EPJj-rYleVWGXbgpI7MZR63NecQC7ezWv-Kt9_d8Yo-hK2wIc-JpJ0/s1600/313981428_b997676940_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqe1ZcSLSo_gHOeDsAFpQKgwzPewMviiLyjmMiENYlu-Z5jPaaUCaXVAu3GO-xBqjl7735xdiL2Irb4WU096XKw5EPJj-rYleVWGXbgpI7MZR63NecQC7ezWv-Kt9_d8Yo-hK2wIc-JpJ0/s400/313981428_b997676940_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'd be hopping on trains all over the freakin' place.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">[<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/anniemole/313981428/">image from here</a></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;">[<i>Taken from the Penguin book "Transit Maps of the World" by Mark Ovenden</i>]</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-67551074136685205622013-03-19T02:16:00.000+00:002013-03-19T02:25:16.522+00:00<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
ok sports industry, I have a bone to pick with you.<br />
<br />
look, I understand women's sports will never be as universally popular as men's.<br />
I get it.<br />
I may not 100% agree with it, but I get it.<br />
<br />
that being said, the disparity of attention given to the two is appalling.<br />
<br />
March Madness. aside from NFL playoffs and the Olympics, it's my favorite time of year. I love the atmosphere, the games, the 'anything can happen' arena of the bracket.<br />
and, coming from a state in which both the local university's basketball teams kicked ass, I am used to the women's games <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and subsequent achievements)</span> getting just as much attention as the men's.<br />
<br />
but I am not in my home state at the moment. haven't been for a good long while now. and when abroad or, as recently, down south, I turn to numerous reputable and well-known national sports websites to catch up on the goings on in the sports world.<br />
which in mid-march primarily focuses on tournament brackets.<br />
<br />
and here's where it starts to get f***ing annoying.<br />
<br />
the men's tournament: articles, discussion, up-to-the-minute and realtime updates, both live and pdf printable brackets. which is great. I love it. bring it on.<br />
<br />
women's?<br />
ne'er to be seen.<br />
<br />
out of the four websites I frequent <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I practically live on them during the NFL season)</span>, I was able to find information on the women's tournament on one.<br />
<i>one</i>.<br />
and that site doesn't even have a bracket available.<br />
I had to google image it and eventually found one on the huffington post's website.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(did you know the huffington post had a sports section? I did not. learn something new everyday.)</span><br />
<br />
now, these are pretty much the top four sports coverage entities in the country. they are respected. they have magazines and tv shows. they employ top writers, including many a former athlete.<br />
so what the hell are they playing at?<br />
<br />
the argument is there isn't enough interest to warrant the time and effort to provide the same amount of coverage as mens sports gets. the argument is not enough people care.<br />
<br />
and the response is the majority will not bloody well care if the media keeps acting like women's sports are somehow inferior and don't matter as much.<br />
as long as the leaders in sports coverage push women's sports to the side, hide them under dismissive labels, or don't acknowledge them at all, the general perception of their worth is not going to change.<br />
<br />
and I argue that while women's sports may never command the same level of fan base, sponsorship, or media wealth, there are <i>plenty</i> of people who care.<br />
<br />
and we are sick and f***ing tired of having to search the netherworlds of webpages for any indication that the sports we enjoy and support exist.<br />
<br />
it's 2013.<br />
sports is no longer the realm of the chauvinistic and the misogynistic.<br />
so get with it.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-86506954791422606442013-03-18T02:29:00.002+00:002013-03-18T15:13:50.514+00:00<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;">.\</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuI1I3NHsMmAvINq0yxQbgLroXhUvQXN_6E_HnRpbOEM91NGLwBIPPlVx6zLZ44Ks8LHH0nS42ZN59WiLkXK8F8yYa0zOnbtzkG92x1vsKvPeajcmdeUKltdq-CRfty13jFrFkkWZNryZ/s1600/2060_530846452641_738_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuI1I3NHsMmAvINq0yxQbgLroXhUvQXN_6E_HnRpbOEM91NGLwBIPPlVx6zLZ44Ks8LHH0nS42ZN59WiLkXK8F8yYa0zOnbtzkG92x1vsKvPeajcmdeUKltdq-CRfty13jFrFkkWZNryZ/s400/2060_530846452641_738_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<div>
I actually miss the rain.</div>
<div>
the driving, soak you to your skin, turn your umbrella inside-out, make you curse the invention of clouds rain.</div>
<div>
I miss walking in it.</div>
<div>
I miss staying inside with a cup of tea and a book watching it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
but mostly, I miss the rain because it was london rain.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and oh how I miss london.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<br /></div>
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bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-63838387978246524312013-03-13T15:15:00.003+00:002013-03-18T15:12:55.011+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white;">.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPk2bQKSMm2NSpkjToeCu5WJo2qvq0WlEAaxYxQD7C7FItS9FGcWYLwmlDWnUEyIca87jGNw86WVHgtL6OL7RpQuhe1bFrwIZMRACZbTDs7z_9R7RV-q_P-J9or81okbTclT2ZEkTnFzv/s1600/DSCN9432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzPk2bQKSMm2NSpkjToeCu5WJo2qvq0WlEAaxYxQD7C7FItS9FGcWYLwmlDWnUEyIca87jGNw86WVHgtL6OL7RpQuhe1bFrwIZMRACZbTDs7z_9R7RV-q_P-J9or81okbTclT2ZEkTnFzv/s400/DSCN9432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">found this cleaning out the attic the other day. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">couldn't help myself. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I'm a sucker for red-headed shenanigans.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;">.</span></span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-44567297118759708812013-03-06T17:09:00.007+00:002013-03-06T17:14:37.383+00:00<span style="color: white;">.</span><br />
so don't really want to spend a lot of time on this post, I am still really bummed about it <span style="font-size: x-small;">(as evidenced by the fact that these events went down over two weeks ago, I and I am just getting around to this now)</span>, but we will not be returning to london.<br />
shall we say, things went down. things involving sadistic border control officers, immigration holding rooms, fingerprinting, attempting to sleep on the floor in a locked room in the bowels of heathrow airport <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and failing)</span>, and an eventual deportation back to the US.<br />
<br />
there's no use expounding on the downsides to this development <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I've done that enough in my head anyways)</span>, so here going to focus on the positives.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-unlimited cheerios and cheez-its</div>
<div>
-no barriers to getting to the two weddings this summer we are invited to</div>
<div>
-closer to family and friends on this side of the pond</div>
<div>
-I might actually get to eat the lobster my family has been so kind as to call me internationally to tell me they were having over the past few years<br />
-girl scout cookies<br />
<br />
<br />
and ok then. enough on that.<br />
on to more interesting <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and less depressing)</span> things!<br />
<br />
all these have caught my eye lately.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFGtcLqq1kop3LQqo8As1TS5VVg_s-Qc9yg0l-L_SundPAWLWvdjKDjKep0nMdQCn4v0qs4GynScsVp7BjAHbkFsc7_CMytr8r1P6BZwPlWFqqZKsoyOSgJaFKpHkaHj30PNwOHBJvhvZ/s1600/alexandra_va.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFGtcLqq1kop3LQqo8As1TS5VVg_s-Qc9yg0l-L_SundPAWLWvdjKDjKep0nMdQCn4v0qs4GynScsVp7BjAHbkFsc7_CMytr8r1P6BZwPlWFqqZKsoyOSgJaFKpHkaHj30PNwOHBJvhvZ/s400/alexandra_va.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: pragmatica-web, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This house is 7 feet wide, built in 1830 by the cranky owner of one of the buildings next door because he wanted to keep people from using the alley next to his house.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
we all know I like odd buildings, constructions that are just a little bit strange or imperfect. but <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/49039/9-houses-built-just-spite">houses built specifically out of spite</a>? that I am <i>definitely</i> on board with.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd8DmVWvrFdqs1JbyBElb4vDKFQWjNIjL28J99jFWwswsUHJ6QxXhgJlUDzoxnL4oOZtdbcRjpsGIHEkXxRxeWcgRqOvWBOeTLjU-duIAnIuKi241NytbelAypIPYLFZfRkZoEgDu8zPa/s1600/e_inky4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXd8DmVWvrFdqs1JbyBElb4vDKFQWjNIjL28J99jFWwswsUHJ6QxXhgJlUDzoxnL4oOZtdbcRjpsGIHEkXxRxeWcgRqOvWBOeTLjU-duIAnIuKi241NytbelAypIPYLFZfRkZoEgDu8zPa/s400/e_inky4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">'the </span><a href="http://www.yankodesign.com/2013/01/29/best-keyboard-ever/" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">E-inkey Keyboard Concept</a><span style="line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">, designed by Maxim Mezentsev & Aleksander Suhih. The keyboard (hypothetically) uses E-inky technology to create a keyboard whose <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonoberholtzer/2013/01/31/awesome-keyboard-idea/">keys are customizable and responsive to the programs you are using</a>.'</span></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3M6lt-d4KEv5b30RsM6wJhzKVljrbpXGPLQgyV2VczLOpk1B4NcNd0Tul3gNRCHwvG3oqIOLdEN2QeRps-MUmjSjuWVEnYEHbry1kt6b9JRbReINCHqLJ28X5m5x9KCQZnTlWfZ13oqp/s1600/1e03f924b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3M6lt-d4KEv5b30RsM6wJhzKVljrbpXGPLQgyV2VczLOpk1B4NcNd0Tul3gNRCHwvG3oqIOLdEN2QeRps-MUmjSjuWVEnYEHbry1kt6b9JRbReINCHqLJ28X5m5x9KCQZnTlWfZ13oqp/s400/1e03f924b3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YEXPw8L7ph7f8ZZuerI8IyfHnQpo4rQW34ZV1O30Tr4cTLoFBR_RCNyapGaJPi7XOkZRECmsFn8pFS-Kq6UAaOGCmIGQh4b5a45iu5VAxuIxctpuvbvKQhGUim1imWkfFWBsmHNQPOYb/s1600/1f9f1e24c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YEXPw8L7ph7f8ZZuerI8IyfHnQpo4rQW34ZV1O30Tr4cTLoFBR_RCNyapGaJPi7XOkZRECmsFn8pFS-Kq6UAaOGCmIGQh4b5a45iu5VAxuIxctpuvbvKQhGUim1imWkfFWBsmHNQPOYb/s400/1f9f1e24c3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want <a href="http://bblinks.blogspot.com/2013/01/live-abroad-in-your-own-home.html">t</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><a href="http://bblinks.blogspot.com/2013/01/live-abroad-in-your-own-home.html">hese murals</a> by PIXERS in whatever future home I may own.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P5O7WVwSpYtZKjkC7E0judcQCJNjm4_mZl4Y_zJfqfEJunoP6SZSc0i1lLIP5z3zA_qnvakqHsnvyjADvr5MombAxNYS9omZPnv0r6-QUscDqJ11WVrNsgm7Scp2qgwdCcKodkdJq2yI/s1600/6a0111688f7c55970c017ee7847672970d-500wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2P5O7WVwSpYtZKjkC7E0judcQCJNjm4_mZl4Y_zJfqfEJunoP6SZSc0i1lLIP5z3zA_qnvakqHsnvyjADvr5MombAxNYS9omZPnv0r6-QUscDqJ11WVrNsgm7Scp2qgwdCcKodkdJq2yI/s400/6a0111688f7c55970c017ee7847672970d-500wi.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
<br />
this '<a href="http://www.whatpossessedme.com/wpm/2013/01/the-accidental-movement.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+whatpossessedme+%28What+Possessed+Me%29">accidental movement</a>':<br />
<br />
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<i>When war between Israel and Iran seemed imminent, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry shared a poster on Facebook of himself and his daughter with a bold message: "Iranians ... we [heart] you." Other Israelis quickly created their own posters with the same message -- and Iranians responded in kind. The simple act of communication inspired surprising Facebook communities like "Israel loves Iran," "Iran loves Israel" and even "Palestine loves Israel."</i></div>
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<i>Ronny Edry of Israel accidentally created an online movement for peace in the Middle East when he posted a Facebook image that declared "Iranians, we will never bomb your country."</i></div>
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<i>The image became a catalyst for dialogue between the people of two nations on the brink of war.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KWayEmTh5JysBAbBFLrOJbk1kMr_Q5sk2b7Hq6FgNotSzdV70rj2lleNpThJbSNKcXXxcsadkray0C_hLdmiZ23q6F3I13WFwswGEh4t2EQWO579rd3XgJnLiSMOsunP-JPzW1Aqvzci/s1600/tumblr_mh292o1GUa1qz6f9yo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KWayEmTh5JysBAbBFLrOJbk1kMr_Q5sk2b7Hq6FgNotSzdV70rj2lleNpThJbSNKcXXxcsadkray0C_hLdmiZ23q6F3I13WFwswGEh4t2EQWO579rd3XgJnLiSMOsunP-JPzW1Aqvzci/s400/tumblr_mh292o1GUa1qz6f9yo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
there are no words to describe how much I covet <a href="http://designtaxi.com/news/355347/An-Alternative-To-Plastic-Wooden-LEGO-Bricks/">these</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX3IICnfYxUE3gGW1WLGt1KMVpQBnbqyOieed4rUwN12OeSHvYxwcOXEDhMDcNwNF7LVgIUg_ghOOqYpm3H3OD5qx_3wQIv9ifU9pJ_Q4GhQrSh1omAtrrOWQjANgKabwTQ8ZNM2-j6-I/s1600/kievgeneral+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdX3IICnfYxUE3gGW1WLGt1KMVpQBnbqyOieed4rUwN12OeSHvYxwcOXEDhMDcNwNF7LVgIUg_ghOOqYpm3H3OD5qx_3wQIv9ifU9pJ_Q4GhQrSh1omAtrrOWQjANgKabwTQ8ZNM2-j6-I/s400/kievgeneral+27.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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this hedgehog statue in <a href="http://mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com/2011/05/kiev-general-ii.html">Kiev</a>...<br />
<br />
...which led to the discovery of this ridiculously cute short animation, <i>Hedgehog in the fog</i>, created by <span style="font-family: inherit;">Yuri Norstein in 1975.</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/smDlBmeeWck" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
and finally just the overall wintery insaneness of <a href="http://ilovecharts.tumblr.com/post/42763061418/sunkenteeth-hartford-ct-storm-nemo">this</a>.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[necessary to click link, no way to embed video...]</span><br />
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bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-52654726369213628392013-02-13T22:18:00.001+00:002013-03-06T17:15:09.927+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTJQByYcli8t6eF4W9glKVoCQbEiGjrxe6uKOWuBNcUKLiDkPKVThPqQ9Olf2olnP7LXrJcwdvDltBRw4UZUTg6EOULnNVtGyKFZy5YvP6QgjhHePJ50HjEEHbjfop0E5q06FEeeh4mD9/s1600/IMG_0426_Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTJQByYcli8t6eF4W9glKVoCQbEiGjrxe6uKOWuBNcUKLiDkPKVThPqQ9Olf2olnP7LXrJcwdvDltBRw4UZUTg6EOULnNVtGyKFZy5YvP6QgjhHePJ50HjEEHbjfop0E5q06FEeeh4mD9/s400/IMG_0426_Snapseed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
so it turns out we are in fact returning to london. at least for a little while.<br />
visa has still not come through <span style="font-size: x-small;">(nor any of the steps leading up to the visa, in fact)</span>, but we already had our return flights, and ben's boss prefers having him in the same continent, so on monday back to london we go!<br />
<br />
however, since the visas have <i>not</i> yet manifested themselves, I will not have the ability to work or search for a job over there at the moment. which means over the next three months, I will have to find other ways of occupying my time.<br />
this is what I have come up with thus far:<br />
<br />
-continuing working with the <a href="http://www.thinkingdevelopment.org/">NGO</a> I've been volunteering with <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and have been since last October)</span>, re-building a school in Haiti that got destroyed by the earthquake in 2010.<br />
<br />
-finding ways to make our £80 a month food budget last all 30 days...<br />
<br />
-toting our camera around the city, exploring a bit and practicing how to actually use this fancy dslr contraption we have <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I keep avoiding doing this on my own, for fear that people would think that I am in fact a tourist, instead of a local. like anybody would actually care. it's irrational, I know)</span>.<br />
<br />
-network the hell out of everybody I know so that when <span style="font-size: x-small;">(not if, when)</span> our visas come through I can find a job <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and hopefully, a job I like)</span>.<br />
<br />
-go to the museums I have not been to yet <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and re-visit some old favourites)</span>.<br />
<br />
-furthering my <a href="http://thoughtsmusingsandrandomobservations.blogspot.com/2013/02/hit-book-number-7.html">quest</a> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(we do live right across the street from a library over there, after all)</span>.<br />
<br />
-catching up on a few tv shows I've been remiss in watching.<br />
<br />
-figure out how to hang stuff up on our bedroom walls...<br />
<br />
<br />
I know it seems like a lot, but we'll see how much empty time I manage to fill productively <span style="font-size: x-small;">(instead of just sleeping a lot)</span>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">[photo mine]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-69392521863904866582013-02-06T22:49:00.003+00:002013-03-06T17:15:28.547+00:00hit book number 7.<br />
<br />
it was okay. have many more lined up in my queue that I am much more excited about. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(two of them may or may not involve julia child...)</span><br />
<br />
and for those of you curious how I've been rating the books I read on <a href="http://pinterest.com/bawaters/my-quest-to-read-100-books-in-a-year/">my quest to a 100 in a year</a>, I present to you, my book rating system:<br />
<br />
<b>0 out of 5 stars:</b> oh god that was horrible.<br />
<br />
<b>1 out of 5 stars:</b> eh.<br />
<br />
<b>2 out of 5 stars:</b> suppose it was okay enough, for a quick literary distraction. however, no need to go anywhere near it again.<br />
<br />
<b>3 out of 5 stars:</b> enjoyed it. might even search out other works by the author. but consider that particular book checked off as 'read', and nothing more.<br />
<br />
<b>4 out of 5 stars:</b> really liked it. might go out and buy it, for a future re-read or two.<br />
<br />
<b>5 out of 5 stars:</b> loved it. probably am going to go out and buy it. and will read it at least 3 more times over the next ten years.<br />
<br />
I try to keep myself in the 3 to 5 star range <span style="font-size: x-small;">(what's the point of reading a bad book?)</span>, but every once and a while a 2 or even a 1 will slip in there. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(my stubbornness gets the better of me sometimes, 'screw you book, I don't care <i>how</i> bad you are, I am finishing you, damnit! this was the case of the latest conquest)</span><br />
<br />
but even my stubborn nature can be bested by a 0. I usually quit on those about 5 pages in....<br />
<br />
<span style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-36669361245766125832013-01-21T18:12:00.002+00:002013-03-06T17:15:48.295+00:00<br />
well, one of my <a href="http://thoughtsmusingsandrandomobservations.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-years-resolutions-1.html">new years resolutions</a> fell through last night.<br />
the patriots lost to the ravens in the afc conference championship game.<br />
they will not be going to the superbowl, nevermind winning it.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(and, thusly, at least for the next two weeks, I am a 49'ers fan)</span><br />
<br />
therefore, time to focus on the resolutions that <i>are</i> in my control<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(instead of just wishes, hopes, and superstitions)</span><br />
<br />
I have already made some decent headway into one of them, my <span style="font-size: x-small;">(renewed)</span> quest to read 100 books in a year.<br />
<br />
three weeks in, and I've knocked down 2.<br />
<br />
not completely fabulous, but in my defense I am doing a lot of volunteer work for an ngo back in london, and we got a new lego game for the wii for christmas.<br />
there are only so many hours in the day, after all.<br />
<br />
anyways, if interested, you can follow my reading progress <a href="http://pinterest.com/bawaters/my-quest-to-read-100-books-in-a-year/">here</a>.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(pinterest. the lazy man's way of keeping track of read books)</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-72389591230610029062013-01-11T16:37:00.001+00:002013-03-06T17:16:27.387+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik65CsQK5dhqAd1_DLfosLMOgKgn3CG1pdMibjo1gm-3vpFZoKE2_R7rGnsGBib1UG8SHIIvPL4NrPjTfGqabpjDciqpPRgrRhGyZeg_ZXEwLmY4yONX3eAqSSz1qxuujjUnV7bKJHttKG/s1600/tumblr_mfxturQdPn1qbkeb6o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik65CsQK5dhqAd1_DLfosLMOgKgn3CG1pdMibjo1gm-3vpFZoKE2_R7rGnsGBib1UG8SHIIvPL4NrPjTfGqabpjDciqpPRgrRhGyZeg_ZXEwLmY4yONX3eAqSSz1qxuujjUnV7bKJHttKG/s400/tumblr_mfxturQdPn1qbkeb6o1_1280.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<b>new years resolutions:</b><br />
<br />
1. stop ignoring this blog. it has feelings too.<br />
<br />
2. attempt to read 100 books in a year. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(again. grad school got in the way last time...) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(btw, I will be documenting my conquests on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/bawaters/">pinterest page</a> this time. waaaaay easier)</span><br />
<br />
3. see the new england patriots win the superbowl again. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(granted, this one is slightly out of my personal power)</span><br />
<br />
4. find a job. this one's not only a resolution, but a necessity.<br />
<br />
5. find a job I <i>like</i>. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(that's the hard part)</span><br />
<br />
6. travel more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
doesn't sound so bad, right?<br />
however, I have had this post sitting in my drafts folder for two weeks already, so...there's that.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[image from <a href="http://32flavors-.tumblr.com/post/39435317316">here</a>]</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-78152599796698636262011-11-12T19:49:00.000+00:002011-11-12T19:49:38.454+00:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
what do you get when you combine a country that has a decisive lack of tins of pumpkin puree and two whole pumpkins left over from halloween?<br />
<br />
bethany and ben in the kitchen becoming all domestic-like and making their own puree from scratch.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(btw, its surprisingly easy. we're following <a href="http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-cook-a-whole-pumpkin-to-make-pumpkin-puree">these steps</a>. bonus: you get to stab the pumpkins 10 or so times with a very large knife.)</span><br />
<br />
now we we have enough pumpkin to make <a href="http://thoughtsmusingsandrandomobservations.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-post_22.html">these</a> again!<br />
<br />
and <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pumpkin_cookies/">these</a>,<br />
and <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/pumpkin_gingerbread/">this</a>,<br />
and <a href="http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/6220/harvest-pumpkin-soup.aspx">this</a>,<br />
and maybe, just maybe, some of <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/333239/pumpkin-ravioli-with-sage-brown-butter">these</a>.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-24081425424158685972011-11-12T14:11:00.000+00:002011-11-12T14:11:22.251+00:00london as seen from a trafalger square lion at 2:30 in the morning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkLTfYc-lj4ogdig1nLgTyE0BlzLNPXSzNLz6O5boVQsSk_Snt8QPKgjW66X4bUxi9jwiCj2QEwHTVhiuyrbHSRqqCzixF1t_w-eOSoo9Exy9pk8HqrCXkbF-sZOYBhxREf-meib53xaO/s1600/DSCN7470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkLTfYc-lj4ogdig1nLgTyE0BlzLNPXSzNLz6O5boVQsSk_Snt8QPKgjW66X4bUxi9jwiCj2QEwHTVhiuyrbHSRqqCzixF1t_w-eOSoo9Exy9pk8HqrCXkbF-sZOYBhxREf-meib53xaO/s640/DSCN7470.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-75476178886878512102011-11-10T12:56:00.000+00:002011-11-10T12:56:08.597+00:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
when I saw on the schedule of the semester that we had a reading week in early november, I was like sweet! no classes! I can run errands and clean the flat and do all the non-school stuff I've been putting off!<br />
<br />
well, turns out, I've barely had time for the <i>reading</i>.<br />
<br />
that flat remains un-scrubbed.<br />
<br />
but it's the though that counts, right?<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-48876139301586944092011-11-02T14:05:00.001+00:002011-11-02T14:06:28.433+00:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
just got back from a DPU weekend workshop in Windsor.<br />
not the castle itself, unfortunately, but in a royal lodge in the park.<br />
<br />
pretty neat.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and more on that in a future post)</span><br />
<br />
this workshop fell one halloween so, naturally, we threw a halloween party.<br />
the decision was a bit last minute and we were encouraged to come in a costume that reflected our country of origin.<br />
<br />
I think I hit it spot on.<br />
<br />
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I was a new england patriot.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-69982786219525740462011-10-22T17:23:00.000+01:002011-10-22T17:23:27.937+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
you have not lived until you have made pumpkin chocolate chip cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.<br />
and you have subsequently not lived until you have eaten <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">[at least]</span> one.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(btw, the batter is almost more delicious than the final baked product)</span><br />
<br />
zoe found a recipe, and it was pretty much decided without any discussion that they desperately needed to be made.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><u><b>Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting</b></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>Ingredients:</u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>For the Cupcakes:</u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">2 cups canned pumpkin (its slightly more than a 15 oz. can)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">2/3 cup oil</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">2 cups granulated sugar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1/2 cup milk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">2 tsp. vanilla extract</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1 tsp. baking powder</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1 tsp. baking soda</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1/4 tsp. each- ground cloves, nutmeg, and ginger</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1/2 tsp. salt</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>For the Frosting:</u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">8 oz. cream cheese, softened</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">4 tbs. butter, softened</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1 tsp. vanilla extract</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1 tsp. cinnamon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">1/2 cup mini chocolate chips</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>Instructions:</u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>For the Cupcakes:</u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">In a medium bowl, stir together pumpkin, oil, sugar, milk, and vanilla. Sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Gently whisk by hand until just combined, being careful not to overmix as the texture will become gummy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Fill liners with 1/4 cup batter (cups should be about 2/3 full). Bake for 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b><u>For the Frosting:</u></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">In a bowl mix together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar and cinnamon, mixing until it's all incorporated. Use immediately or refrigerate. The frosting will harden in the refrigerator so plan to bring back to room temperature if you need to refrigerate the icing before frosting the cupcakes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: arial, 'century gothic', Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">we used dark chocolate chips.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">it is the only way to bake.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">recipe from <a href="http://www.ryanbakes.com/2011/10/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cupcakes-with.html">here</a>.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">.</span></span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-35156141190909608032011-10-13T18:34:00.000+01:002011-10-13T18:34:45.140+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
hello everybody who reads this, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(hi mom!)</span><br />
<br />
I am not dead.<br />
just really freaking busy.<br />
like, more busy than I think I've ever been in my entire life.<br />
<br />
just wanted to, you know, clear that up.<br />
<br />
so what have I been doing?<br />
let's see.<br />
<br />
traveling to london.<br />
attempting to find a flat for ben and I.<br />
failing to find a flat for ben and I.<br />
doing a bit of traveling around the south-east of england.<br />
attempting to find a flat for ben and I and three other people.<br />
failing to find a flat for ben and I and three other people.<br />
attempting to enroll at grad school.<br />
almost failing to enroll at grad school.<br />
enrolling at grad school.<br />
attempting to find a flat for ben and I and one other person.<br />
going to grad school orientation.<br />
helping sam and peter pack up their flat before they move.<br />
finally finding a flat for ben and I and one other person (!)<br />
helping sam and peter put all their stuff into storage.<br />
moving all our stuff way the hell down south of the river.<br />
starting grad school proper.<br />
moving all out stuff way the hell north of the river. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(into aforementioned flat)</span><br />
picking up two fluffy cats. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(that was a <strike>long</strike> loud car ride...)</span><br />
moving all the stuff out of storage and into aforementioned flat.<br />
reading an f$%* lot of stuff for grad school.<br />
unpacking roughly 56,000 boxes of stuff.<br />
picking up our first fruit and veg box scheme allotments. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(more on this later)</span><br />
fighting with the british banking system.<br />
putting together a powerpoint presentation on my hometown.<br />
more <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(ever so much more)</span> reading.<br />
<br />
so.<br />
you know.<br />
just a few things.<br />
<br />
but I am having a blast.<br />
grad school is awesome.<br />
and I really did miss this city.<br />
it's good to be back.<br />
<br />
and, for a few updates, I actually have read about 8 more books since I last wrote on my quest. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(no way in hell am I going to get to 100 this year btw, pretty much all of my reading time is going to be taken up by coursework, but I suppose considering the circumstances, I made a pretty good run at it. we'll have to see what I get to by the end of december.)</span><br />
<br />
also have been keeping track of my nfl picks week to week but won't really have the time to put them up on here.<br />
I can tell you're all heartbroken.<br />
fear not! I will post my record at the end of the regular season.<br />
<br />
and now on to the really exciting stuff!<br />
fresh and locally grown fruit and veg.<br />
we signed up for <a href="http://thoughtsmusingsandrandomobservations.blogspot.com/2010/03/just-signed-up-for-this-organic-fruit.html">our box scheme again</a> and picked up our first batch last friday. just picked up the send one a couple of hours ago.<br />
<br />
we've decided to start a blog <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(cause that's how these things work. don't have enough time to maintain one blog? start another one!)</span> to document everything that comes in the pick-ups, the awesome recipes they give us with the weekly newsletters, and anything new and exciting we try in the kitchen with our weekly stash.<br />
<br />
so go visit us over a <a href="http://carrotapplebeetrootbar.blogspot.com/">a carrot, an apple, and a beetroot walk into a bar</a>.<br />
or, as it's known around the flat, "what's in the box?"<br />
<br />
go for the wit, stay for the food.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-58234824076083853512011-09-13T19:18:00.001+01:002011-09-13T20:28:29.402+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
can't stay in kensington much longer. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
starting to get too used to it.<br />
<br />
and kensington does not wallet-friendly lodging make.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*flat-search just as difficult as I remember it being...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-25091028043608439882011-09-11T20:47:00.000+01:002011-09-11T20:47:35.034+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
it's been ten years since I returned to my dorm room after my 8 am calculus class, turned on the tv like I always did, and was flipping through the channels when something caught my eye.<br />
<br />
<br />
it was one of the twin towers on fire.<br />
<br />
<br />
I watched, confused and horrified, as the plane flew into the second tower.<br />
<br />
I called my parents. I needed to hear their voices.<br />
<br />
I watched both towers collapse later that day in the engineering building.<br />
<br />
<br />
earlier today we watched the footage from that morning on the news, and even after all this time, from another country clear across the ocean, my heart skipped a beat. none of us spoke a word while watching.<br />
we couldn't.<br />
<br />
<br />
it was the first time I had seen the video since I watched the events live in 2001.<br />
<br />
<br />
I hadn't ceased to affect me.<br />
<br />
I don't think it ever will.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-34718027945947384622011-09-08T23:13:00.000+01:002011-09-08T23:13:44.330+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
hi there.<br />
<br />
you haven't seen me much round these parts lately.<br />
been busy.<br />
finishing up jobs.<br />
saying goodbye to friends and family.<br />
packing up our whole life <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(mostly in an attic, but about 60 pounds worth in luggage)</span><br />
cleaning the house.<br />
getting hit by a hurricane.<br />
flight getting cancelled.<br />
un-packing carefully packed luggage <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(and doing some quick manic grocery shopping as hod gotten rid of all food....)</span><br />
going out of our minds bored for a week and a half.<br />
re-packing up life.<br />
re-cleaning the house.<br />
[re-eating all the food]<br />
and now I am sitting in an airport two hours before our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(re-scheduled)</span> flight writing this.<br />
<br />
so you know, a few things have happened.<br />
<br />
anywho, we're excited!<br />
back to London!<br />
<br />
and here are a few more things that have gotten me excited today.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://bblinks.blogspot.com/2011/08/space-oddity-childrens-book.html">this book</a>.<br />
I still have not wrapped my head around the awesomeness of this book.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNib1jxLwUDQAq2eUE0NHDIS0eWDHj-sqoRl4hFpAqSZUMsFeWmJFqDudEDsmtCIDekFRVsBifAtpjYwyWpbk48x1y7H7GAPAX8nB9qY-LY6NrVHPDHFtlw2HqK5FBP1FRJhQI0chXYLq/s1600/spaceoddity-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNib1jxLwUDQAq2eUE0NHDIS0eWDHj-sqoRl4hFpAqSZUMsFeWmJFqDudEDsmtCIDekFRVsBifAtpjYwyWpbk48x1y7H7GAPAX8nB9qY-LY6NrVHPDHFtlw2HqK5FBP1FRJhQI0chXYLq/s320/spaceoddity-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tzTDS9sw-DaVOO6Ct6BUExZFMumzKZrDiG0c2c0TV_jRkFO8pM4MrmrwY068BIiUGld6iIAFxqSXHpxi4Pj9p1vtj7CGBlSzKOWICZ8EGrMuDpqKzsUV5QpIzQM2Vc3mVCS4K3g40G-1/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-08-30+at+4.25.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tzTDS9sw-DaVOO6Ct6BUExZFMumzKZrDiG0c2c0TV_jRkFO8pM4MrmrwY068BIiUGld6iIAFxqSXHpxi4Pj9p1vtj7CGBlSzKOWICZ8EGrMuDpqKzsUV5QpIzQM2Vc3mVCS4K3g40G-1/s320/Screen+shot+2011-08-30+at+4.25.40+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBBKH_k85hEftjNrRf963R5lA0JumMpSfD70vxpdvtC4RDfhcYl22LZbISK26Mb_iaqKl6Ie83xlKBs2jpu_lMj5RyU2qYMYMn53pEVAq2hvFHkkHMedkeGsO94lIckIRGn2E1ho7m-GN/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-08-30+at+4.25.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBBKH_k85hEftjNrRf963R5lA0JumMpSfD70vxpdvtC4RDfhcYl22LZbISK26Mb_iaqKl6Ie83xlKBs2jpu_lMj5RyU2qYMYMn53pEVAq2hvFHkkHMedkeGsO94lIckIRGn2E1ho7m-GN/s320/Screen+shot+2011-08-30+at+4.25.06+PM.png" width="319" /></a></div><br />
it's a <i>david bowie song</i>.<br />
as a <i>children's book</i>.<br />
<br />
this just bounded itself to the top of my "must have" list.<br />
<br />
<br />
AND, it's finally football season again!!<br />
first NFL game tonight!<br />
we all know what this means.<br />
Bethany starts her completely random and usually wrong weekly picks. (this edition from abroad!)<br />
let's kick this thing off.<br />
<br />
<b>Week One:</b><br />
Packers over Saints<br />
Falcons over Bears<br />
Colts over Texans<br />
Bills over Chiefs<br />
Titans over Jaguars<br />
Browns over Bengals<br />
Rams over Eagles<br />
Steelers over Falcons<br />
Lions over Buccaneers<br />
Chargers over Vikings<br />
Giants over Redskins<br />
Cardinals over Panthers<br />
Seahawks over 49ers<br />
Jets over Cowboys<br />
Patriots over Dolphins (Patriots!!!)<br />
Raiders over Broncos<br />
<br />
let the ruckus begin.<br />
(woohoo!)<br />
<br />
see ya on the other side of the atlantic.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-26778919633118620742011-08-15T19:00:00.000+01:002011-08-15T19:00:57.697+01:00happy birthday to me!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQtusE4woQVwUbwlkKuF1Hfc6UOJrqrecZaB-Wwww1tDHSuJS7_O2RHhNXcd1u3YcTxyIEXISVHlWkWA57D5HBQ4PwTM3TOgQMkS6AmM1jZyEjv6u8Kpl2sSmoX0EiMouIzCvMkXdteVL/s1600/birthday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQtusE4woQVwUbwlkKuF1Hfc6UOJrqrecZaB-Wwww1tDHSuJS7_O2RHhNXcd1u3YcTxyIEXISVHlWkWA57D5HBQ4PwTM3TOgQMkS6AmM1jZyEjv6u8Kpl2sSmoX0EiMouIzCvMkXdteVL/s1600/birthday.png" /></a></div><br />
<br />
[what virgin atlantic sent me this morning. I got a kick out of it.]<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-6705990725792565582011-08-10T21:58:00.000+01:002011-08-10T21:58:55.146+01:00happy [early] birthday to me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
guess <a href="http://thoughtsmusingsandrandomobservations.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-post_31.html">what I just bought</a>?<br />
<br />
you know. for grad school.<br />
<br />
see?<br />
totally necessary.<br />
<br />
yup yup.<br />
<br />
not at all superfluous.<br />
<br />
nope nope.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-83496754586862925082011-08-04T19:48:00.002+01:002011-08-04T19:48:53.373+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveak1nv5hqskFADMmPhQ89XcJehdCtuV-jv26sLCKWO4817Y8u1sJ-9_PUP5sx-2pYS_tPcXtIgzmq9OLpGeCFU5cVXoQgS4mliWEL3xXN8Vg9omveirX_CEcCLA4qfFMivzfE4zFXwWV/s1600/tumblr_los1jc6Tzr1qbmfezo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveak1nv5hqskFADMmPhQ89XcJehdCtuV-jv26sLCKWO4817Y8u1sJ-9_PUP5sx-2pYS_tPcXtIgzmq9OLpGeCFU5cVXoQgS4mliWEL3xXN8Vg9omveirX_CEcCLA4qfFMivzfE4zFXwWV/s1600/tumblr_los1jc6Tzr1qbmfezo1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://eclecticanthology.tumblr.com/post/8478213369">via</a>]</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-22576702984897629332011-08-04T15:49:00.003+01:002011-08-04T20:55:13.951+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3hhYvYHMYqdVwtUPTRa46MDDYb5fpV_9AfyH8EE8iHq7SvfcoKfcFVBOOZkmgqEVreTY5biWqizJhSBvknPefpHky12mZ-H-RtgBoXPHdTQR0XSZj9Dgw-puq0BObzTXYCkBCRQz_pNV/s1600/tumblr_lpcw7vXzpp1qf5y35o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3hhYvYHMYqdVwtUPTRa46MDDYb5fpV_9AfyH8EE8iHq7SvfcoKfcFVBOOZkmgqEVreTY5biWqizJhSBvknPefpHky12mZ-H-RtgBoXPHdTQR0XSZj9Dgw-puq0BObzTXYCkBCRQz_pNV/s640/tumblr_lpcw7vXzpp1qf5y35o1_1280.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
or, here in bethany world, the following:<br />
<br />
<b>685 billion</b> bars of Ritter Chocolate<br />
<b>171 billion</b> 12 packs of Smuttynose Pale Ale<br />
<b>120 billion</b> <a href="http://thoughtsmusingsandrandomobservations.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-post_8882.html">fabric covered classics books</a><br />
<b>1.7 billion</b> new <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(high-end)</span> mac books<br />
<b>92 million</b> times through my masters education<br />
<b>34 million</b> nights of partying in<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> the fully rented out country of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><a href="http://abandbwedding.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_6199.html">Liechtenstein</a>.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<b>38</b> years worth of the gross national income of Kenya <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(to bring the point home)</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">[<a href="http://ilovecharts.tumblr.com/post/8428646128/thedailyfeed-what-would-you-do-with-2-4">via</a>]</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">.</span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1093552241522798949.post-39879812534391853292011-08-02T21:40:00.000+01:002011-08-02T21:40:07.020+01:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">this here's the point where we hope and pray that the double and triple checked visa applications currently on their way to nyc are, in fact, correct...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: inherit;">.</span></span>bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626731836205674789noreply@blogger.com0