Choo-choo

Last week during my sojourn in Indiana for the holiday known as Thanksgiving, Mom and I decided to gallivant about the countryside to satisfy my need for stark pictures that would look good in black & white (I lean towards those as I commence my burgeoning photography career). Lo and behold Mom used her detailed knowledge of what seems like most of southwest Indiana and we ended up at some cool railroad tracks. I immediately exited and took pictures of the empty train station, the tracks, signs, etc.

In pursuit of a great picture, I did exactly what one is not supposed to do - I walked the tracks (this is art, after all). Figuring it would be fine (i.e. trains wouldn't come that often), I walked towards the bridge. All of the sudden, I hear my mom shouting, "Katy...there's a train!" I turned around and saw this engine barreling around the bend in the tracks. I jumped off the tracks, waded through some waist high weeds and got about 20 feet away. And then proceeded to take tons of pictures - definitely some hot photo action time.

But the real moral of this story (which is in fact, not a moral at all), is that one of the greatest rushes in life is standing by railroad tracks as a train goes flying by. The train that day was probably going around 55, and it was so great.

I'm not the train buff that my dear Dad is...probably never will be. However, I do love riding trains, reading about the evolution of the rail system in Great Britain (Anglophilia, what?!), and learning more about really old trains (think Stourbridge Lion). So my Thanksgiving encounter was more thrill than scare...

But what I really want to do is ride in an engine of fa reight train poring on the speed in open country. I think I will make that an unofficial goal of mine. But, if anyone figures out how I could do such a thing before I do, just a reminder that I turn 28 on April 12th, and that would be the best birthday present...ha.

Guy Ritchie, we need to talk

Because I'm pretty sure you took the amazing literature of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and crapped all over it. Why do I say this? Because of this monstrosity...

What...what is that? I felt sorry for you when Madonna took away your masculinity and coerced you into making the disaster that was Swept Away. I gave you the benefit of the doubt and actually paid to see RocknRolla.

And what do you do? You take the beloved story of Sherlock Holmes and make it into some twisted action movie with bad comedy and worse (looks like at least) plotlines. For the love of all that is sacred and holy, why? Look, I know that SH was a drug user during his time, but that doesn't mean the audience show be required to do the same just to get through this monstrosity of a film.

And it is going to be released on December 25? What, you're trying to kill my Christmas, too? Bullocks to that, mate.

Because you can take your bare-knuckled fisting, bad joke making, wimpy looking, bad accent using Sherlock Holmes and stuff him somewhere that won't see the light of day. Because, my friend - Jeremy Brett is better than you'll ever be. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

2009 Europe Trip - The condensed version

Due to the following factors: 1) lack of time 2) my immense enjoyment in posting pictures on Facebook and 3) the fact that I have several other things I want to blog about, I have decided to forgo the traditional approach to assigning a blog to each of the cities I visited. Instead in this blog for each of the remaining cities I will post one picture and give you my 5 favorite things from that experience.

If you want to know more about my trip, let's go old school and actually talk to each other live and in person...

Auschwitz
1) Finally getting to see a place that I have read so much about.
2) Witnessing history that should never be forgotten
3) The 1.5 hour drive from Krakow to Auschwitz
4) My amazing tour guide who balanced extremely well the facts and the emotion of the experience
5) Never forgetting


Malbork
1) Standing in a place where the Teutonic Knights once were
2) Dominika's father's "informal" tour
3) Seeing firsthand a medieval castle
4) Walking around in the rain
5) Goofing around with friends


Gdansk
1) Seeing the gorgeous waterfront
2) Communist apartment blocks
3) Walking through the open market
4) Taking pictures in St. Mary's Church
5) Kebobs - the Polish Taco Bell



Kartuzy
1) Spending time with the Fard and Szreder families
2) Witnessing the wedding of two wonderful people
3) Cute, friendly Polish kitties
4) Hunter's stew
4) Vodka, good food, and throwing glass against a rock


London
1) Troilus and Cressida at The Globe
2) Ordering the same sandwich at the same place (from when I was a student in 2003) and having it tasted the very same
3) The Florence Nightingale Museum
4) Cute 21 year olds who ask me to go salsa dancing
5) The 39 Steps


Also fulfilled another goal: 45) See Auschwitz

Water & a Flame

So my sis posted this on Facebook a few days ago, but this song is so incredibly beautiful, that I just had to share it myself! I love Adele - the more the world hears her, the better!!

Tiny Baby Lemur

So I read the Daily Mail like some people read the Bible. I have to check it a couple of times a day because it's so brutal! This is no holds bar celebrity and political gossip...and I love it. I'm pretty sure there is nothing that this paper won't write about. When I lived in London, it was a staple on my grocery shopping list. And sometimes, its articles just about make my day.

Like today's story of a newborn-ed lemur named Tahina in eastern France.

She is being raised in captivity without a mama. And while the vets can feed her, she's needs to cuddle with something just as she would her mother if she was in the wild. How cute is she with her teddy bear??

The universal truth found in this article, I believe, is that teddy bears are a necessity when you're little, lemur or not, for security and love. If something is chubby and furry, how can one resist? My teddy bear was named Chubby Cheeks Townhall (don't ask, I have no idea how I came up with that name), and he was the best!

And no mocking, I'm sure every one of you owned a teddy bear with an ridiculous name as well.

A Brand New Love

I'm just now coming up for air after an insane, emotional roller coaster ride of a week. However, past blogs would demonstrate that I'm not really up on sharing the personal stuff. I'm pretty sure my most emotional blog to date has been a love letter to my old truck. And, as I'm only 1.2 work days until some much needed vacation time, I'll stick to one of my new loves in life.

Now before I share what it is, I have to mention that my inner snob has somehow surfaced and is demanding high end brand names. Nothing I can do about it - except go with it and hope for the best! Because, alas, my new love is Burberry. I know, at times I consider it totes ridiculous, I can't help it! I could blame the children, but I really blame my gorgeous new winter boots. I actually bought them at the Burberry store on Michigan Ave. in Chicago - no Ebay, no discount website - legit brand name purchase. Granted, I'll probably wear them with my Target coat and Goodwill sweater, but the too late - the monster inside me that loves Burberry is like the mythological Cracken - released and hungry.

Downside to this newfound love of the British high-end label? Ah, yes, that would be the fact that I do not work at a profession that results in copious amounts of money allowing me to indulge my need at a whim. And by whim, I mean, maybe once a year I will be able to get something - if I save up.

I can handle it though, I'm a strong girl. Just now a strong girl that covets all things Burberry.

My European Adventure

as told through pictures

Oh yeah...

So, I promise, mes amis, that in the coming days I will post further about my outstanding time on tour with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. However given my current time constraints, jetlag, and the eight million things I need to do this week before leaving to be in my friend's wedding this weekend, I leave you with an image. One that brings tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart. Me, a co-worker, and Tony Blair. Yes, that's right, Tony Blair. I got to have a little chat with him at a post-concert party. Being the British politics junkie that I am, it was definitely a little slice of heaven. And yes, he's very dynamic, funny, and self-efacing in real life - love it!!

Anglophilia and such

I (heart) England. I loved studying there and experiencing London. I loved the chance to travel around the country and see Stonehenge's ancientness, pretend I was in a Jane Austen novel in Bath, and make a pilgrimage to Thomas a Becket's tomb. And while the country is currently struggling with both a bad economy and increasing violence, I still take comfort in my memories of living there.

In fact, whenever I need "easy" reading - books for fun on a Friday night or something for my daily commute, I find myself reaching for some historical fiction - British style.

I'm usually in the middle of several books and right now the list is:

-Cromwell by Antonia Frasier
-The Years of Extermination (Nazi Germany and the Jews 1939-1945) by Saul Friedlander
-The Story of French by Jean-Benoit Nadeau
-Doomsday Men (The Real Dr. Strangelove and the Dream of the Superweapon) by P.D. Smith

Not really what one would call "light" reading. But you couldn't pry my history books from me with a crow bar - others have tried, all have failed.

But every once awhile, I just need something that's fun, witty, and easy.

Thus, my recent addiction to two authors that write great historical mysteries with smart, sassy women as the main protaganist. Both sets of books are set in Regency England and are extremely well-written. I've gotten my Mom addicted to them as well.

The first author, Tasha Alexander, is a fellow Domer. The second author, Deanna Raybourn, has her own blog and is also a self-professed Anglophile. Both authors are obviously well-read themselves and write with knowledge of the events and culture of the time in which they set their stories. Plus the writing is brilliant and I can never put the book down without having finished it!!!

Raybourn's blog is particularly entertaining, and at times, completely random. And while I usually have GB on the brain, there are countries all over the world that I yet to explore - either through books or on a plane.

This point was especially brought home after my attempts to play this game. Don't blame me when you get frustrated:)

The kicker - you have to spell them right - I knew Azerbaijan existed, I just couldn't spell it:)