Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
A book and a movie.
Brett gave me this book and I am fascinated with the story and all of the studies it reports. I have yet to finish the book but am processing the information and encouraged by what I am learning.
I completely forgot to put up anything about Where the Wild Things Are when it came out in theaters. I loved the book when I was little, own a few copies now, and really enjoyed peeling away the layers of the movie afterward.
I'll eat you up, I love you so.
Angela
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Aller Voir
my view from french classApparently, Aller Voir directly translated means "to go to see." It looks familiar to me but I was too distracted by anything and everything in Libreville to listen during Maxime's French lessons so I will have to rely on About.Com's translations. To Go To See is the perfect summary of the September - November picture collage/ mess below.
These pictures are from when Jared and Alyssa came with the girls for a visit. Brett and I tried to "child proof" our townhouse before they came. Live and learn, we now know to put things like sugar jars out of reach in case a wandering three year old decides to begin eating it by the first full! It was great fun and we were glad they made the drive down to see us in Oxford. We miss you! 
Next on our visitors docket is our friend and Brett's Race Street roommate
Jeremiah. We were able to see him and his fiance Casey in Cincinnati last time she was in town and this time Jeremiah came up for a weekend in Oxford. I just got a picture on his way out of town, because if I don't get a picture then the visit didn't exist. Kind of like Kyle's visit and Casey's second visit. No picture = it did not happen. (in my blog world) When Mom, Dad, Larisa and Cameron came for a visit/ half marathon of hills we decided to move the indoors outside for our pre-race day meal. They always say to eat pasta which we did, but pizza seemed to also fit.
Dad and I ran the State to State 1/2 marathon together - a.k.a. ran up and down hills for 13.1 miles:) My red face shows the exhaustion I had at the end just putting one foot in front of the other. Dad on the other hand has a great smile and was dancing in the streets next to me to the live music playing for the final miles. 
As usual my pictures are all over the place but on the left are the leading ladies of our curb crew. I
had a picture of Brett and Cameron together but they did not take advantage of the photo opportunity so I sided with the smiling ladies.
We were able to catch a game the weekend Brett's parents came down for a visit. We checked out all our regular spots around town and took full advantage of the nice weather by walking around town with our Kofenya drinks. We are soaking up Oxford right now as Brett is in his final year at Miami.
For my birthday weekend Brett and I drove up to H2Oville. The girls went to Plate 22 and caught up on life while the fellas shot at targets by the river. Brett went to Google Images and found all these animal pictures with Brielle. She would name an animal and then pick the pictures to click on. It lasted for a long time!
Brett drove back to Perry and met our nephew. . . Bob! Brett may or may not have had a camera with him but either way did not take a single picture. Luckily Bob's mom Taylor had a few we could share. Apparently Bob can high five, low five, play dead, and more things that Brett will be able to remind me of when he reads the blog.
Just yesterday Larisa and Cameron drove back to H2Oville from the best weekend of their lives. The weekend of fun started with Brett and I at the Grand Opening of Chipotle in Uptown Oxford. It all sounds so grand - I even got a cloth bag! Then on Saturday Larisa and Cameron came down for the weekend. There is more. . . then Grant and Emily came down for the evening. These are the most recent pictures taken with our camera posted on this blog. I am now going on and on because it is getting late but I put on my calendar to do list to blog today and I am determined to have a blog complete before I go to bed! 
Love, Angela
Friday, September 25, 2009
Miami Police Beat
The Miami Student, Miami's twice-weekly paper, always has a "Police Beat" side column. Reading about the sort of trouble Miami undergraduates get in, and their response to authority, is often entertaining--this week's three stories, however, made me laugh out loud. All transcribed from The Miami Student.
Male with wet crotch claims he works for U.S.
At around 2 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to a disturbance at Woody's One Up at 11 S. Main St. When police arrived, an employee of the bar reportedly said a male subject had urinated in the bar and on the dance floor and attempted to punch the owner when he tried to remove him. Police reportedly met with the male who gave them a Kentucky driver's license issued to Ryan Harrison, 26. When officers were speaking with the male he reportedly yelled at them and said they would not dictate terms to him. When police spoke with the male, his crotch was reportedly wet, he had the odor of alcohol on his breath and was slurring his speech. Officers reportedly told the male to leave the area and not to come back. The male began walking away but then stopped and yelled expletives at the police and repeated that they didn't "dictate terms" to him. Police then reportedly took the male into custody and found another Kentucky driver's license issued to Miami University student Michael Sebastian, II. Sebastian was taken into custody and allegedly told officers he was an employee of the United States of America, and they would be fired from the United States of America for arresting him. Sebastian was charged with underage intoxication, possession of a fake I.D., disorderly conduct and obstructing official business.
Female drives recklessly, thinks it is funny
Around 1:40 a.m. Saturday, officers reportedly observed a black Nissan traveling north on College Corner Pike that accelerated above the speed limit of 35 mph and swerved from curb to curb almost losing control. When the officer stopped the car, the driver was identified as Miami University sophomore Casey Ellerman. Police reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath and when they asked her why she was driving recklessly she said she thought it was funny. Ellerman reportedly told the officer she had consumed a couple of vodka shots and some beer at a party. Ellerman reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests and asked police "Are you f*cking kidding me?" after they gave her directions to perform the one-legged stand. Ellerman was taken to OPD and a Breathalyzer found her BAC to be 0.26. Ellerman was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, underage intoxication and willful or wanton disregard for safety.
Sleeping student says he had a 'rough night'
At 1 a.m. Saturday, officers observed a male subject passed out on a park bench near the intersection of Main and High streets. The officer reported noticing a number of females taking inappropriate pictures with the male subject, but when the officer approached they quickly left the area. The male was lying on his back with an iPhone on his chest and appeared to have vomit on his shirt. According to police reports, the male was originally unresponsive but sat up quickly after a few attempts to wake him. The male was identified as Miami University sophomore Alexander Campbell, 20. Campbell reportedly had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and told police he had been drinking, and it had been "a rough night." Campbell reportedly told police he knew nothing about the pictures that were being taken of him. Campbell was charged with underage intoxication and public intoxication.
Male with wet crotch claims he works for U.S.
At around 2 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to a disturbance at Woody's One Up at 11 S. Main St. When police arrived, an employee of the bar reportedly said a male subject had urinated in the bar and on the dance floor and attempted to punch the owner when he tried to remove him. Police reportedly met with the male who gave them a Kentucky driver's license issued to Ryan Harrison, 26. When officers were speaking with the male he reportedly yelled at them and said they would not dictate terms to him. When police spoke with the male, his crotch was reportedly wet, he had the odor of alcohol on his breath and was slurring his speech. Officers reportedly told the male to leave the area and not to come back. The male began walking away but then stopped and yelled expletives at the police and repeated that they didn't "dictate terms" to him. Police then reportedly took the male into custody and found another Kentucky driver's license issued to Miami University student Michael Sebastian, II. Sebastian was taken into custody and allegedly told officers he was an employee of the United States of America, and they would be fired from the United States of America for arresting him. Sebastian was charged with underage intoxication, possession of a fake I.D., disorderly conduct and obstructing official business.
Female drives recklessly, thinks it is funny
Around 1:40 a.m. Saturday, officers reportedly observed a black Nissan traveling north on College Corner Pike that accelerated above the speed limit of 35 mph and swerved from curb to curb almost losing control. When the officer stopped the car, the driver was identified as Miami University sophomore Casey Ellerman. Police reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath and when they asked her why she was driving recklessly she said she thought it was funny. Ellerman reportedly told the officer she had consumed a couple of vodka shots and some beer at a party. Ellerman reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests and asked police "Are you f*cking kidding me?" after they gave her directions to perform the one-legged stand. Ellerman was taken to OPD and a Breathalyzer found her BAC to be 0.26. Ellerman was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, underage intoxication and willful or wanton disregard for safety.
Sleeping student says he had a 'rough night'
At 1 a.m. Saturday, officers observed a male subject passed out on a park bench near the intersection of Main and High streets. The officer reported noticing a number of females taking inappropriate pictures with the male subject, but when the officer approached they quickly left the area. The male was lying on his back with an iPhone on his chest and appeared to have vomit on his shirt. According to police reports, the male was originally unresponsive but sat up quickly after a few attempts to wake him. The male was identified as Miami University sophomore Alexander Campbell, 20. Campbell reportedly had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and told police he had been drinking, and it had been "a rough night." Campbell reportedly told police he knew nothing about the pictures that were being taken of him. Campbell was charged with underage intoxication and public intoxication.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Holy Toledo!
>Holy Toledo
Most likely first used in the early 1900s, either refers to a sarcastic remark about
- Urban Dictionary
One the left is Brett, the blogger, who kept the blog alive all summer, and on the right is Angela. . . who did not.
On the right is the Kalb family rocking the ice cream business. I was super jealous of their fun and took a few pictures of myself pretending to serve people ice cream through the window. We were stopping through on our way to good . . read the sign.
Brett and his parents (I spared everyone the fat cat Willard Pics)Below I was going to put a pic. from Larisa's Bridal Shower but this picture was too cute and Roz was there so it feels relevant.
I don't believe we ever really introduced Leon to anyone. If you don't know where this name came from then you missed out on a really great series.Unfortunately in this picture Leon had already "passed." We bought him at our local Walmart and
even though the guy said there were too many minerals in the H2O and their fish were dying we thought we would give him a chance. It weirded (spell check does not recognize this word but I am just going with it) us out to have another living thing in the house, but technically he was only there for like a day. We are trying a cactus now. One the right Brielle is just being her awesome self. Floating around on the blow up wave runner - why not?
Then there is Brett at the Toledo Mud Hens Game. The first event I am pretty sure with all the siblings married off. The Kalb's now include the Stricklands AND the Beadles! I think this makes everything very fun!
Below is a picture of the bridal party searching the grass for Larisa's wedding band which was lost before the ceremony. Larisa could not have been more calm. . . it was pretty impressive! Happy ending - we found it!
Left would be out beloved Thursday nights at the Oxford Summer Music Festival. The last one had a pig roast and this guy running around with his shirt off playing an air guitar on the stairs of the stage with the band. He was not part of the band but very sweaty and he LOVED playing his air guitar in peoples faces, quite enterainting! Maybe Brett will post on all of the craziness as he captured it with the camera.
Brett and I spent some time in Northern Michigan with his parents, sisters, and Tim. Yes, just like the Kid Rock song. Most of my time was spent laying out on the boat by day and becoming emotionally attached to the Twilight book series by night. Brett caught a couple fish and scored a nice tan! Good times had by all.
Dad came Monday night for a short BUT sweet trip! He actually came with mom a little bit ago when Larisa and Cameron went to Cinci, but I didn't take pictures then. So, its like it never happend in my blog world. Dad came down after work and we ran, hung out, ate, and had some homemade apple dumplings from mom as an early Happy Birthday to Brett (three days early). It kicked off his birthday week. Thanks for coming down Dad! It reminded me of our Libreville days when Dad would stay at our place on his way back and forth from work team building trips.I hope I am out of pictures to make notes on. Here is my final picture. . .of this post. Our neices are coming to visit Auntie Angela and Uncle Brett soon!
- Angela
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Love in a Time of War
Funny story. A while back, I posted that my review of Yusef Komunyakaa's Warhorses was accepted at an online magazine. Well, the issue is currently being put together, but my essay was one of the first up, so I was able to view it a couple days ago...but before I get to the interesting part, a bit of backstory.
I was told that since I was submitting a book review, I didn't have to title my essay-- it could just be the title of the book, and underneath "Reviewed by Brett Strickland." Or something along those lines. Since I had no snappy title, that's what I left it as. What I was not told, was that if I didn't pick a title the editor would slap one on for me.
So imagine my surprise when I clicked on the link to my review, and was greeted with an essay titled "Severed Genitals." Whoa. For a few moments, I was in a state of mild shock.
Now, I have to admit (sorry mom) that phrase is in the essay. But as a title, I'm not sure what it's meant to convey...luckily the editor was kind enough to let me change the title to "Love in a Time of War" (the title of section I in the book), which is a bit more fitting for the contents of the review.
I've included a link below for anyone interested in reading it. It's only about 600 words. The goofy picture of me at the bottom was taken by Angela before I left for "my first day of school" last summer.
Komunyakaa Review
I actually sent the review to Yusef Komunyakaa (he won the Pulitzer for poetry in '94, and is currently teaching at NYU), and he responded this morning, saying thanks, and that he was in Poland. Sort of fun. It's nice to be part of a subculture where the celebrities can still be tracked down for correspondance.
cheers.
I was told that since I was submitting a book review, I didn't have to title my essay-- it could just be the title of the book, and underneath "Reviewed by Brett Strickland." Or something along those lines. Since I had no snappy title, that's what I left it as. What I was not told, was that if I didn't pick a title the editor would slap one on for me.
So imagine my surprise when I clicked on the link to my review, and was greeted with an essay titled "Severed Genitals." Whoa. For a few moments, I was in a state of mild shock.
Now, I have to admit (sorry mom) that phrase is in the essay. But as a title, I'm not sure what it's meant to convey...luckily the editor was kind enough to let me change the title to "Love in a Time of War" (the title of section I in the book), which is a bit more fitting for the contents of the review.
I've included a link below for anyone interested in reading it. It's only about 600 words. The goofy picture of me at the bottom was taken by Angela before I left for "my first day of school" last summer.
Komunyakaa Review
I actually sent the review to Yusef Komunyakaa (he won the Pulitzer for poetry in '94, and is currently teaching at NYU), and he responded this morning, saying thanks, and that he was in Poland. Sort of fun. It's nice to be part of a subculture where the celebrities can still be tracked down for correspondance.
cheers.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Race until Aug. 24th
The fall semester begins August 24th, which will involve another full class-load, and teaching two sections of Freshman Composition. The reading period for most university literary magazines will begin (some already have), and I'll start sending out my triple-folded poems and query letters. I'll also begin a mentoring process for teaching Creative Writing in the Spring, and sending out applications for PhD programs in creative writing, and Angela and I will begin the now familiar process of finding out where we're going to be living one year from now.
I'm looking forward to fall, but it's also forcing me to evaluate both what I've done with my summer, and what I still need to do with the last two odd weeks.
My major summer projects (1. Compiling the list of poems for my reading list, and 2. Finishing my screenplay, "Hoopsnake") are now finished. All I need to do is put Hoopsnake through one more revision next week, and then it's out the door to a multitude of agents. The week after that, I'm pulling out the old syllabus, dusting it off, and cleaning it up for a new batch of freshman. One major change this fall is that I'm teaching a "Laptop Section", which means every student is requred to have a laptop for class, and there's more emphasis on incorporating technology in the teaching. Which is a lot of fun. To me, incorportaing technology into the classroom translates as, "play funny youtube clips."
Finally, in the last two weeks, I am racing to watch as many films as possible. Last night I knocked down Humbolt County, which started out slow, but ended up better than I thought-- Chris Messina plays a really interesting character. (I didn't know who Chris Messina was a month ago, but when I saw him in Away We Go, I was blown away, and looked him up. He plays Burt's friend in the movie, who's wife keeps having miscarriage's. His monologue at the club, about whether "you don't know whether to name it or bury it," is incredible writing.)
On the docket for the next few days:
1. Two Lovers (It was just added to Netflix instant watch!)
2. Papillon
3. The Soloist
4. Burn After Reading (I've lost my desire to see this, but feel obligated since Brad Pitt is in it.)
5. Notes on a Scandal
6. Lonesome Dove
That should get me through a few days. I also started Ordinary People, but after 40 minutes couldn't stand it. The acting was good, and typically I would enjoy the plot, but I felt like the movie was trying too hard, and it became painful. The young boy reading Jude the Obscure, and the class discussion on powerlessness...the patient-psychiatrist relationship that now borders on cliche....Anyone seen it and disagree?
I'm looking forward to fall, but it's also forcing me to evaluate both what I've done with my summer, and what I still need to do with the last two odd weeks.
My major summer projects (1. Compiling the list of poems for my reading list, and 2. Finishing my screenplay, "Hoopsnake") are now finished. All I need to do is put Hoopsnake through one more revision next week, and then it's out the door to a multitude of agents. The week after that, I'm pulling out the old syllabus, dusting it off, and cleaning it up for a new batch of freshman. One major change this fall is that I'm teaching a "Laptop Section", which means every student is requred to have a laptop for class, and there's more emphasis on incorporating technology in the teaching. Which is a lot of fun. To me, incorportaing technology into the classroom translates as, "play funny youtube clips."
Finally, in the last two weeks, I am racing to watch as many films as possible. Last night I knocked down Humbolt County, which started out slow, but ended up better than I thought-- Chris Messina plays a really interesting character. (I didn't know who Chris Messina was a month ago, but when I saw him in Away We Go, I was blown away, and looked him up. He plays Burt's friend in the movie, who's wife keeps having miscarriage's. His monologue at the club, about whether "you don't know whether to name it or bury it," is incredible writing.)
On the docket for the next few days:
1. Two Lovers (It was just added to Netflix instant watch!)
2. Papillon
3. The Soloist
4. Burn After Reading (I've lost my desire to see this, but feel obligated since Brad Pitt is in it.)
5. Notes on a Scandal
6. Lonesome Dove
That should get me through a few days. I also started Ordinary People, but after 40 minutes couldn't stand it. The acting was good, and typically I would enjoy the plot, but I felt like the movie was trying too hard, and it became painful. The young boy reading Jude the Obscure, and the class discussion on powerlessness...the patient-psychiatrist relationship that now borders on cliche....Anyone seen it and disagree?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Summer Photo-Essay / Cat Photo Essay
This post will consist of two separate, equally exciting photo essays.
1. Summer
Summer has been fairly busy here in Oxford. Angela and I spend the week days working and hanging out, and our weekends traveling—two weeks ago it was Michigan, and this past weekend, Bowling Green for Larisa and Cameron’s wedding. (My sister/brother-law.) Here is a photo, with Angela looking beautiful, and myself looking unpleasantly sweaty. A mixture of heat and champagne.
Today, Angela worked the morning shift at Butterfield Farms (A greenhouse/farmer’s market), then spent the afternoon grading the students enrolled in her online class. I revised some poems for send-outs, then drove up to the English office to take care of last minute business for my summer reading list. Afterward, while Angela graded from home, I drove to a friend’s and worked on a screenplay with him.
We’re grateful for Angela’s job, because besides the pay, we get lots of free food. Fruits, vegetables, different varieties of homemade bread, blocks of cheese…she usually comes home with something fun.
It’s missing a couple handles, but besides that, it’s beautiful, and in great condition, so we’re going to repaint it and buy new handles. We're both thinking something fun, but I'm leaning towards a color like mint green, and Angela is suggesting a grey and blue, southern style striping. Any suggestions?
We’ve been having friends over for occasional cookouts, and visiting their homes (apartments) as well. Here is a cookout behind our townhouse, and a poker game at a friend's house.
The second is Willard, my own cat. Below is slightly shocking final photograph of Willard capturing a baby rabbit. He carried it around in his mouth for a while, before carrying it to his den (my parents garage) to eat it, where I took some candid photos. Unfortunately, my sister Taylor took the rabbit away from Willard and freed it across the street, where it hopped away, unharmed except for some chewed fur.
1. Summer
Summer has been fairly busy here in Oxford. Angela and I spend the week days working and hanging out, and our weekends traveling—two weeks ago it was Michigan, and this past weekend, Bowling Green for Larisa and Cameron’s wedding. (My sister/brother-law.) Here is a photo, with Angela looking beautiful, and myself looking unpleasantly sweaty. A mixture of heat and champagne.
Today, Angela worked the morning shift at Butterfield Farms (A greenhouse/farmer’s market), then spent the afternoon grading the students enrolled in her online class. I revised some poems for send-outs, then drove up to the English office to take care of last minute business for my summer reading list. Afterward, while Angela graded from home, I drove to a friend’s and worked on a screenplay with him.
We’re grateful for Angela’s job, because besides the pay, we get lots of free food. Fruits, vegetables, different varieties of homemade bread, blocks of cheese…she usually comes home with something fun.
All free, except for the jars we bought to make the jam in.
Life in Candle Wood (Candle Hood) Terrace is good, besides children continuing to assault one another in a Lord of the Flies-esque manner. (I’ll post on that later.) A few weeks ago we found this dresser set beside the dumpster outside our front door, which we promptly carried it off.
Life in Candle Wood (Candle Hood) Terrace is good, besides children continuing to assault one another in a Lord of the Flies-esque manner. (I’ll post on that later.) A few weeks ago we found this dresser set beside the dumpster outside our front door, which we promptly carried it off.
It’s missing a couple handles, but besides that, it’s beautiful, and in great condition, so we’re going to repaint it and buy new handles. We're both thinking something fun, but I'm leaning towards a color like mint green, and Angela is suggesting a grey and blue, southern style striping. Any suggestions?
We’ve been having friends over for occasional cookouts, and visiting their homes (apartments) as well. Here is a cookout behind our townhouse, and a poker game at a friend's house.
I can't remember, but it looks as though Angela is miming a camera-taking motion in a story she's telling.
I don't know why my hand is in the middle of the table like that.
2. Cats
In the tradition of my past essay on the lifestyles and habits of feral felines in Marion, Indiana, I will post pictures of two interesting cats I have encountered this summer.
This first one is named, I believe, Rocky, and he is enormously fat, with thick, dirty, bear-like fur. He was outside a friend’s house, and turned out to be friendly when I approached him. The pictures really don't do justice.
2. Cats
In the tradition of my past essay on the lifestyles and habits of feral felines in Marion, Indiana, I will post pictures of two interesting cats I have encountered this summer.
This first one is named, I believe, Rocky, and he is enormously fat, with thick, dirty, bear-like fur. He was outside a friend’s house, and turned out to be friendly when I approached him. The pictures really don't do justice.
The second is Willard, my own cat. Below is slightly shocking final photograph of Willard capturing a baby rabbit. He carried it around in his mouth for a while, before carrying it to his den (my parents garage) to eat it, where I took some candid photos. Unfortunately, my sister Taylor took the rabbit away from Willard and freed it across the street, where it hopped away, unharmed except for some chewed fur.
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