Jen the Trend Setter

I didn't realize Jen was so wired into popular culture until I read this article in the Washington Post, our old hometown newspaper. It lists the top 10 music CDs of 2006. Here's the key selection:

9. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, "Rabbit Fur Coat"

Lewis is considered indie-rock royalty for her roles in Rilo Kiley and Postal Service, but she transformed herself into something else entirely here: a beguiling country-soul chanteuse. Gospelly, deliciously twangy and even a little bit torchy, the album is loaded with conversational, bittersweet songs that echo Loretta Lynn, Laura Nyro and Patsy Cline. The evocative tracks have a certain intimacy that Rilo Kiley's songs often lack, as Lewis sings of heartbreak, spirituality and family dysfunction in a crystalline alto. Though the co-billed Watson sisters provide harmony vocals, this is very much a solo album: Lewis plays guitar, sings lead and wrote all of the songs, save for a Traveling Wilburys cover. All hail the new queen of rapture.

And Laura and I had the good sense to select it for her. Of course, it was the only CD she asked for that was actually in stock.

But still.

The Christmas Eve Church Program

Will I guess that there weren’t enough people around the last time they tried a “live baby Jesus”, so they went for it again. This time Meghan was the Mary and a baby girl was Jesus. Meghan did a real good job on here part, and only had to hand the baby “Jesus” back to her Mom twice. The first photo shows her trying to put the pacifier back in the baby's mouth. Just look at Joseph! Its like “Wow what do we do now”!



The next photo is the one that I like. The baby “Jesus” seems to be under control in this one.



The last photo is of Karen with the icon that the Hansons gave to the church.



Merry Christmas everyone.

Photos of Clarence Case.

I went by to see Bucky and take him a few things. I haven’t been there for a good while. It always amuses me that they call him Clarence over there. It is his first name, but the family never used it for him. It was the name of a number of relatives named after Grand Daddy, but most used a nickname. He seemed pretty good and was truly glad to see me.

Laura's Christmas List

It was what I consider obscenely cold here on Saturday- 17 degrees F. Leo and I only lasted about 20 minutes out there for our morning walk. Moravian Creek was rimmed in ice and the little pond where the ducks and geese hang out had a thin cover of ice. The only good thing about Saturday's temperatures was that it made Sunday's 38 degrees seem almost ...well...balmy. So, as I think about my Christmas list, my thoughts turn to warming things. Flannel, rather than cognac. We could use another set of flannel sheets for the bed; we have a Queen size bed with a deep matress. PJ's would be good- Petite Medium. Could use a hat- navy blue or black- I've been borrowing Scotty's knit cap, but it makes me look like the Hamburglar. Non-cold weather stuff I've had my eye on would be: a couple of cookbooks (Margaret Fox's 'Morning Food' and Mark Bittman's 'How to Cook Everything'); some products from Bath and Body works aromatherapy collection- the orange ginger fragrance is my favorite; and we have been thinking of trying Netflix- I don't know if it's possible to get a memberbership for just a couple of months. Looking forward to seeing everybody and warmer climes. Laura

Scott's Christmas list

Some of these are obvious, and some are merely obviously too expensive, but some of them will work.

Drink:
Fine cognac (surprise me)
Imported beers (any will do - I tend to like dark beers)
red wine (esp cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, pinot noir)

Pen stuff:
Signo gel pens by Uniball
fountain pen ink in bottles - any color
cartridges for Pelikan pens

Books:
Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't be Wrong (paperback)
The Story of French (may not be out in paperback yet)
The Conservative Soul by Andrew Sullivan.

Gift certificates would also be fine, though it would be nice to be surprised by your own choices.

Laura says she is going to put hers up tomorrow. I am almost through with grading so may have time to get some Christmas cards out.

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Almost forgort...

There a couple of books too.

The Architecture of the City by Aldo Rossi
Barragan - The Complete Works by Rispa and Rispa

Jen's Christmas List

My dad asked me to post a list so here it is...

CD's
Maria Taylor "11:11"
Jenny Lewis "Rabbit Fur Coat"
Jamie Lidell "Multiply"
Nouvelle Vague "Bande a Part"

DVD's
Grosse Point Blank
Rushmore
Ferris Bueller
My Architect

Any gift certifiactes are good too. I need stuff for my apartment still so Walmart or Target. Music ones like itunes or Vinyl Fever will work too.

I hope to see everyone else's lists as well. I've got to shop before I come home. Thanks!

Let It Snow

I talked to my mom last night and she wanted me to post some pictures of the snow. I have never seen snow fall before so when it came down, I was super excited. These pictures I took this morning so the snow's a day old. It still looks really pretty, though.

This is Brookings, the main building at our school.

This is a sculpture right outside the architecture building (in the background).

This is a picture from Thanksgiving of my professor's kid, Evan. Grandma was asking me about him so I thought I'd post it as well. My friend Nanette and I think he's the cutest child in the world. (I might be biased though. He's half Asian too.)

Hope everyone is well!