Cheap as free!

Night out with Eliana and Lakisha. And seriously, night without paying for drinks? Really nice. Even with the rather bizarre guys buying the "ladies" shots. Note to parents that may be reading this- see? your daughter is smart enough to ward off guys that look like they came off the 'Love Boat' even with offers of free drinks. You raised me well.

Aha! I have come to the conclusion that if I were to end up having my own Medieval Cooking Show, as my Dad thinks I will, I would be able to make something besides chocolate chip cookies (and Claire's guest-spot on deviled eggs, what would those monks think?) Yes, loyal readers, I have begun to master the grill pan. Truth be told, it's not that complicated, but it's also me. I had a dream that someone got me both a food processor and a pink standing mixer. Where would I put a standing mixer? I mean, pink is nice, but really. But perhaps room could be made for cool things like that. More importantly, why did I have a dream about kitchen appliances?

We only have one week of summer session left, after which there's a 3-week break before fall term starts (that includes the one week we're in "orientation" which is sort of not-as-big-a-deal for 2nd years). During said break, I really will be working on my masters essay. Really. Because, well, it needs to get written. It's not like I'm writing on something I don't enjoy- I love Jacques Roubaud. It's just been a hard road since there isn't much out there yet on "Le Chevalier Silence," the book I'm writing on. But Jacques Roubaud is an incredible author- check him out. If you speak French.

Oh, Eliana's here. I'm leaving!

happy? sad? confused?

I cannot stress enough how imperative it is that everyone go out and see Garden State. Right now. Really. Then go again. And buy the soundtrack, while you're at it. I rarely see movies that can inspire this much emotion. And I'm not talking about the emotion that everyone should see it. Simply the emotion it stirred up in me. I felt all confused, but then everything started to sort itself out. It brings up so many different feelings, but it actually deals with all of them and doesn't just leave them hanging, like so many other movies do. I'm no movie critic. But I do see a lot of, well, crap, and I can sort out things that stand above. This most definately does. It now is with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as Best Movies I've Seen this year (and quite possibly in a long time). The soundtrack is also, as previously mentioned, incredible. I was almost nervous about buying it, since so many people like it, and I don't usually like music that lots of other people do. This is definately an exception. Sigh. It's a nice album to wrap yourself up in.

I'm going to see the Bourne Supremacy (yes, again) tonight, but I'm worried that it'll be a let-down after yesterday's wonderful showing. Good movie, though. Happy to see it again.

Today two of my students told me that I was a really fun teacher, but also really strict. It was one of the nicest things any of my students have ever said. I'm glad they don't think I take crap from them. Someone once told me that they thought I'd be a push-over as a teacher, and if there was one thing I didn't want to be, it was that. So there.

Coolest thing about Heather's wedding (besides figuring out that planning a wedding is like planning a really really big, really really important formal)- we've gotten close again, which is really really (heehee) nice. It's good to be able to randomly call each other again and rant about various things (both important (her) and random (me)). Plus, she doesn't mind when I get distracted by shiny things, cookies or a glitch in my lesson plan. Yay Heather!

Don't watch the synchronized swimming on the Olympics. It's sort of frightening.

Please, someone, comment! People comment on other people's blogs, but not mine (which probably just means that no one reads it, which is another problem all together). Maybe people don't comment because I don't really have anything interesting to say, and end posts randomly with no warning.

cookies? where?

Summer term is half over! Today's lesson involved a discussion on "eclairage de la maison" which means the "lighting of the house" but which one group was convinced had something to do with lots of eclairs and someone's house. And one of my students told me that I should get married because you get lots of dishes, silverware and toasters. Hee. Hee. I love this class. And that's not even sarcastic, I really do love this class.

Ok, people who make commercials for the Olympics, stop making Gina cry! Admittedly, I do cry way too easily over commercials. All the time. There's one that's not even supposed to be a sad commercial, it's supposed to be happy, but they play "There's a place for us" and it suddenly makes me sad. So I have to immediately mute the tv or scream for someone else to do it lest I get all teary-eyed. This is, of course, a source of much amusement for friends, as they like to point out "This isn't even a sad commercial Gina!" Best commercial- the new french fries for Jack in the Box- French reporter man "Which is is Monsieur Box, oui or non? Oui? Non? Oui? Non?" M. Box " Ehhhh." Heehee. Obviously, this is a sign that I've been watching tv too much. Note to self- after Olympics watch much less tv. There, I feel better.

As she said in her blog- April! I just got in contact again with April, who I haven't seen in aaaaaages (and by ages, I mean since sophomore year of college). Happy. And she reminded me of art history, and I was already thinking about Chicago, so I remembered our very eventful "Survey of Western Art I" field trip to Chicago. Professor Kane convincing us that the caution tape was for other people, but not our class; our bus driver forgetting about traffic laws, etc etc. Ahhh, freshman year of college. But wait, Gina, focus! April! It's very strange timing, since another ex-Ripon-ite was just asking me about her, and I couldn't provide him with any information.

I've just realized that this post is lots of rambling. I'm really sorry about that and will try to make up for it in the future.

Parental invasion of Eugene in 10 days. Have I already started cleaning the apartment? Of course I have. Am I worried that they'll look in closets to see if I've just put things in there or under the bed? Of course I am.

And that, loyal readers, is the end of the post.

what? a subject?

Eep! How do I introduce the conditional in class tomorrow? Everything else is ready, just not that!

And now for something completely different...
A while ago Meara taught me how to knit in the round, and now I'm almost done with a hat! (I took long breaks where i didn't work on it). This was supposed to be my "practice" hat, but it looks pretty nice. Now if only it were winter and I could wear it now...

Today, as I was talking to Eliana in front of Friendly Hall (yes, Friendly Hall, our department is in Friendly Hall) I saw Karli, one of the twins from the Amazing Race (love!show!) but had this thing where I knew I recognized her from somewhere, but couldn't place it. Hello, Gina. But yeah, this wasn't really a very big deal since she goes to U of O and was in Lakisha's Spanish class. Why can't I see Kathryn? Sigh. "Can we at least sleep in the SmartCar?"

tea and such

Claire's livejournal is pretty. I'm jealous. But my blog is still purple, which makes me happy.

I've just re-read "Getting Over it" by Anna Maxted and confirmed what I previously thought- I like "Running in Heels" by the same author a lot more. That shouldn't stop anyone from reading either book, though- they're both quite good. I just prefer the latter.

It's been pouring here but it just stopped. I haven't seen it rain in Eugene for a while, so this was very nice. Plus rain=less heat. And that's always good.

Tea is calming. I've heard that Yoga is too. I never seem to have time to take Yoga classes, though. Does anyone know if the videos work? Until then, I'll keep drinking lots of tea. Some favorites- Yogi Tea (especially the Cocoa Spice and Green Chai) - Besides the fact that they're delicious, each box has a different Yoga exercise on it, and each tea bag has a different saying from Yogi Bhajan. I also really like loose-leaf rose-petal tea. It's almost worth buying a tea strainer/tea ball just for this. Yum. Republic of Tea's Good Hope Vanilla Red tea is what I always get at the bookstore before classes. And finally, PG Tips black tea is simply the best black tea ever. My best friend Sarah introduced me to it (she grew up in England and Germany) and it's wonderful. And more widely available than you'd think.

Why are food processors so expensive?

Future trampoline aspirations

Oh, I already forgot what I was going to say. Hooray for me.

Did you know that trampoline is an Olympic sport? The finals were on last night, and I called Dad to alert him to this monumental event, but sadly, he turned on the tv too late and missed it. I know that trampoline really is considered a sport (it's even a class here at U of O) but I didn't realize that it was in the Olympics. Heather and I were talking last night about my goals in life, and I told her that I had added "Olympic trampoline star" to "member of Belle and Sebastian" and "marrying into royalty." Although we both agreed that they were sort of off-kilter goals, I reminded her of my active imagination and of that fact that, in my head, they were perfectly normal. So there.

The whole scandal with what's-his-face Hamm (I'm not being obnoxious, I really did forget his name) not "really" winning the gold medal in gymnastics reminds me of the 2002 winter games and the figure skating problem and the cute Canadians. And the slight obsession of Claire, which was ok, because the Canadians were undeniably adorable. And when Sarah Hughes won the gold, Sarah Mahler Hughes (or, as she was called by Rodman Rats, Mom) ended up with large pictures of the figure skater on her door, but with her face super-imposed. It was funny. The picture, not my stunning use of dangling modifiers.

This Old House is not nearly as good as it used to be. I miss Steve Thomas. This new guy is way too young to be the host. This Old House is not supposed to change. Just like the Victory Garden wasn't supposed to change. I grew up watching these shows on PBS with my parents- thus they are not allowed to change. Shape up, This Old House!

I'm jealous that Claire has already seen Garden State.

And, with that witty comment, I'm left with nothing else to say. Sigh.

But Gina, you said it in French...

So, it's been a long time, again. But I have a good reason, really. Summer session started on Monday, and so my days have been composed of getting up early, running to campus, making copies (and bizarre overheads that I can only hope my class thinks are funny), teaching for 3 and a half hours, detouring around the ever-present and growing construction to get home, then taking a nap (yes a nap, like a 2-year-old), making the next day's lesson plan, correcting papers and watching the Olympics. So interesting, I know. My class is great- there are only 14 of them, half as many as I'm used to and they're quite funny. Most of them have gotten the concept that every sentence has to have a verb. They can appropriately quote "Monty Python," when I ask them "vous y etes?" they chorus back with "nous y sommes" (a left-over trait from their last teacher- they've been together most of the summer), they laugh at Pony-on-the-Finger (in a good way), they liked playing "Quel est ton probleme?" and its new sister activity "Bonne idee/mauvaise idee" and they're not at all a bad group to spend large parts of my day with. But they leave little time for blogging (especially when combined with the Olympics).

Teaching over the summer has turned out to be, so far, a really good experience. It's nice to have at once both total freedom and the guidelines of what I did during spring term. This is probably very similar to what it would be like to be an instructor, which is an option I'll have when I finish here, if I don't find a job in the arts right away. I like teaching- it makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile.

Has anyone else noticed that local news, both print and broadcast, seems to be deteriorating? I find it hard to find a local newscast or even newspaper that I like and that provides decent information. Television has turned to more feel-good social issue stories, which are fine in small amounts but not fine as the main part of the newscast. Newspapers are turning to lower-quality writers and skimping on international news to report on smaller stories, which, while important, should share the stage with a more broad perspective of the news. I'm fine with getting most of my news from national sources (I can still stomach the national news on tv, and love the New York Times), but it seems sad that local news has reached this point. It's like two totally different versions of the news.

I'm listening to the soundtrack to Rushmore. It's such a good movie- and one that's never lost its appeal for me. I own the special edition of the Royal Tenenbaums, but the 2-disc set for Rushmore is so exorbidantly expensive that I haven't bought it yet. I refuse to get the cheaper version because the special features on Criterion Collection sets are actually good. Wes Anderson reminds me of my brother's friend Arthur.

I want to be interesting, but I can't think of much more to say right now. I'll post again if my brain remembers anything worth talking about.

Another class favorite. This group is showing how it is necessary to kiss a frog if you're a princess. Heehee.  

More from the class set. This one is about it being essential to show your cars if you're on "Cribs" 

One day I gave my class the puppets and told them to make backgrounds and sentences using the impersonal expressions that we had just learned. They set them up for me, I took the pictures, then made them into overheads that each group presented. They were so hilarious and well-done that I made color overheads for the first time ever (which I'll take to COFLT). This one describes how it is not necessary to drink and drive. 

My friend Steve got into the act too, using Pony-on-the-Finger in his Italian class (he's known as Cavalino there). Here, he does his Italian homework. This was for an activity where each group received groups of pictures and had to write captions. 

One of the first Pony-on-the-Finger appearences- brushing his teeth for the lesson on reflexive verbs.  

Heehee- Claudine the bunny at dinner. Surprisingly, my family didn't seem embaressed by this. This was for an overhead presentation about the differences between savoir and connaitre. 

Here, we're studying different types of houses and surroundings. This originally appeared in a Power Point presentation. The duck's name was Colette, since the french word for duck is canard, and they start with the same letter. You can also see my 3rd-grade art skills on full display. 

As I'm writing this, I'm actually listening to "The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side" (see previous long post). The Magnetic Fields, which is mostly just Stephen Meritt, are incredible. 69 Love Songs is a 3-disc set (each with 23 songs, yay math) that is very much worth having. Listen to this song, or "Queen of the Savages" (on disc 3) and think about me. The off-shoot bands of The Magnetic Fields (mostly just Stephin Meritt again, but with tons of guest vocalists) are also quite good and some of my favorites- the 6ths (anyone who has a song called "San Diego Zoo" that talks about driving on Interstate 5 can be my friend) and the Future Bible Heroes (listen to "I'm a Vampire" and think about Eliana, but don't tell her I said so) and maybe even more that I don't know about. Wow, end long music discussion. Oh wait, before I do, everyone go out and buy the Belle and Sebastian DVD Fans Only. Then watch the "Legal Man" video over and over and over. Learn the words! Sing along! Dance along! It's important to me that you do this. Now it's really over

Today it really hit me that I have to start teaching again on Monday. Probably because I was making a lesson plan. Not just any lesson plan- a SUPER lesson plan. Why is it super you ask? Well, faithful reader, that would be because it's THREE TIMES LONGER than my normal lesson plans. And that is because i get to teach for OVER THREE HOURS every single day! For three whole weeks! So yeah, I realize that it's not that bad since it's only for 3 weeks, but let me complain at least once (or ten times, you know) about the length. Eek! I figured I'd open with a tried and true classic like "La Double-Vie d'Eliana." The first-year French supervisor (Hilary, the coolest and best supervisor ever) is out of town, so Eliana and I are in charge. Really in charge. Heehee. It should go fine, and it will also be good experience and good practice.

Also today I finally got official notification from COFLT that I'm presenting at their fall convention. This is the Confederation in Oregon For Language Teaching (if you just followed the link you already know that). Now, faithful reader, you may say "Gina, why are you going to said COFLT convention? Do you belong there? Are they crazy letting you present? What are you going to talk about anyways, your finger puppets?" To answer that final question, yes, I am going to talk about my finger puppets. Ok ok ok, so in relation to my digital camera and how I use them in class. Backtrack- spring quarter I was cornered (and by cornered I mean stopped on the steps of Friendly Hall) by my former Methodology (how-to-be-a-teacher-class) professor Robert Davis, who asked me if I was going to be around in the Fall, and then told me that I should go to COFLT to present on how I use my digital camera and finger puppets to teach class. This is a true story- I really do. I have this collection of finger puppets that I set up in different situations, take pictures of (enter digital camera) and then make into either overheads or power-points for class. We teach with the communicative method, which is where you don't really explain grammar flat-out, the students pick it up (mostly) through seeing it used. So I tell lots of stories (hence the Double-Vie d'Eliana series), and thought the finger puppets, especially my long-time partner-in-crime Pony-on-the-Finger (Holy dashes Batman!) would at least make the class laugh. Turns out it works. And last term, one of my students lent me his collection of 33, taking my collection past the 43 mark. This summer I also found and purchased a finger puppet theatre, in the shape of a castle! With a queen, king, knight and jester puppet! I'm such a medievalist dork! But it's ok. So you may think that I'm just insane, but my students actually learned through these stories. And they laughed a lot. So Robert Davis thought this would be interesting for other teachers, not necessarily the finger puppets, but the using of the digital camera thingie. So I wrote a proposal (veeeeery late, since I didn't know about it), sent it in, heard unofficially forever ago, and got the schedule today. Look out COFLT! They'll never know what hit them!

My god, that was long. Ok, I'll be quiet now. And I'll post some pictures of these finger-puppet thingies.

(Don't forget about the Belle and Sebastian DVD. I'll know if you do)

the pictures

Thanks to mom for sending me the previously posted pictures (except the San Diego ones, which are mine). It's so nice to have these pictures of my family, many of who I didn't know until recently. But it's even better to know them now, and to have such a great extended family. If anyone else out there has more relevant pictures, email them and I'll post them on up too!

Grandad putting out the French Flag on le 14 juillet. The only house in Speedway Indiana to fly the bleu, blanc rouge. Heehee 

Action Adventure Guy ties his shoe! 

Dad, Aunt Sylvia, Myrna, and Dad's cousin Arlene. 

Dad and his cousin Myrna, with an old photo album. 

Me and Great-Aunt Sylvia and Dad 

Beeeeeeeeeach. (and seaweed) 

Wow, sushi on sale! Who knew it could be this good? 

Friday the 13th!

To start off, a question- does anyone know if the whole Friday the 13th=strange things, etc etc is just something that exists in the US? Are there similar things with other dates in other parts of the world? Just curious...

Things I'm excited about right now (in random order, not in order of importance or level of excitement-
*The Olympics start tonight! Yay! I've always loved the Opening Ceremonies (they're usually my favorite part of the whole shebang) and get to sit in front of the tv for several hours tonight to watch them.
*Meara and Megan and I saw the Princess Diaries 2 on opening day (wednesday). Yes, I know we're all big dorks. But we don't care. So there. It's a cute movie, what can I say?
*In other movie news, I finally saw Finding Nemo. It really was as good as everyone said it was. Apparently, I'm now supposed to watch it in French, because it's funny that way.
*My parents are coming! To visit! For my birthday! I'll get to show them where I live and all that good stuff. Plus, we'll go to Portland and maybe the coast.
*I don't have to get my bridesmaid dress for Heather's wedding adjusted- it fits!

This morning all the news channels were covering John Kerry's miniscule visit to Eugene. It was actually sort of an interesting set-up- he was speaking to a private group of about 50 neighbors, in a closed-off cul-de-sac. Bizarre, but it worked. Since it became clear that he would be the democratic candidate, I've known that I was going to vote for Kerry, even if just to get Bush out of office, but I feel now like I'm falling more and more in-step with his ideas. While he's obviously not perfect, I'm warming up to him.

I have many friends that are currently uber-stressed-out. They all have very good reasons to be so, but it's no fun to be stressed. In honor of them, here is my list (I know I know, no more lists already!) of Gina tested and approved ways to laugh and de-stress-
*Watch Drop Dead Gorgeous. No, really- watch it. Most smartest! If it doesn't make you laugh, at least it'll make me (or Claire) laugh.
*Read Bridget Jones's Diary. Again.
*Listen to "The Luckiest Boy on the Lower East Side" by the Magnetic Fields on the 1st volume of 69 Love Songs. My friend Erin once said "How can you not smile when you listen to this song?"
*Think about ridiculous things you've done in the past. Like the time Josh and I got into West Hall in the middle of the night and decorated our department's offices. No really, it's a true story.
*Go to this website, suggested by my cousin Myrna (2nd cousin?)- www.whitehousewest.com and watch the video with Will Ferell. Heeheehee.

So there. Laugh! Happy!

again!

Tomorrow I get to put my suitcase away until October! How exciting! I've loved traveling all over the place this summer, but it feels really nice to be in one place for a while.
I am so glad that I got the chance to go visit Mike in Pacific Beach. Thanks Mike for letting me crash with the marimba! I was able to meet the people he works with and get free advice from Hannes about arts education (aaaaand contact info in Chicago- job, anyone?) My awesome little brother is working with the La Jolla Music Society on Summerfest, their chamber music summer festival (as the name would imply). He's doing a great job as artist liason, handling (and sometimes, I think, babysitting) the over 70 artists wandering around the San Diego area for this thing. He also scored me tickets to the first three concerts, which were, of course, incredible. The first night was downtown with the San Diego Symphony. Until you have seen someone play the solo piano on Raphsody in Blue while conducting the orchestra, you have not seen that piece performed. Second night was at the normal venue, the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. John Adams = genius. His "John's Book of Alleged Dances" (originally written for Kronos) is played along with a tape track of prepared piano, which is difficult, but comes out in such a great, funky sound. Third night- Miami String Quartet. I've heard a lot of string quartets perform, but never one that sounded as tight as Miami. These people were meant to play together. Seriously, I now only want to own string quartet standards as played by them. There's so much more I could say about the concerts, but I don't want to get boring and drawn out. Maybe I'll post little things about them at later intervals.
San Diego itself was as wonderful as usual. Despite the constant presence of undergrads consuming mass quantities of alcohol, it was lots of fun. I "worked" on my thesis at Cafe 976, apparently the oldest building in town, where they play a great mix of trip-hop-y music. Sooooo good. Teehee.
I don't want this blog to get boring and just be me droning on. What should I do??? Maybe this should be a more audience-participation experience. Ideas, anyone? Post comments, please! Or email ideas. It'll be fun, I promise.

Holy internet batman!

Worst. Updater. Ever. Sorry, two loyal readers, but the internet thing didn't happen as much as planned. But now, back in good old Eugene, updates will be plentiful. And strange, as teaching starts next monday monday monday. Oooooh, the excitement of French 103! There is much to say (but don't worry, I won't say it all and bore everyone) and even more pictures. But now it is time for this little blogger to go to sleep. Nightie night, blog world!