Dig That! and 10 Years Later

So, in the season opener last week, we killed it-- winning in three games, the last a monumental 25-1. Newcomer David served a blinding 22 points in a row. He says he blacked out. It was fantastic. Game two is tomorrow... let's see if we can start a streak.

On another note, I traveled to my dear alma mater, Vassar, last weekend for our 10 year reunion. We walked around all weekend saying, "I can't believe we got to live here." The campus is still gorgeous (besides being overrun with weeds because the campus decided to go the route of popular-- and, okay, environmental-responsibility, culture and be "green" by discontinuing the use of pesticides). We lived in the dorms (Lathrop) for four days (ummm... I've never stepped foot in Lathrop... it was smelly), ate at ACDC (All Campus Dining Center), shopped in the revamped bookstore and hung out in the College Center. And despite a little side trip to St. Francis Emergency Room (don't worry, everyone's fine), it was a weekend to remember.

Jewett however, was apalling. They retained the outside but gutted the inside so that it now looks like an office complex. Sure, the best view in the house is now available to the public, but some of my favorite memories occured in that now extinct room from which these photos were taken. As a whole? Thoughtful design it was not-- they could have considered subtle things like carrying the exterior window design/shape through the inside windows, so that it better blended the old with the new; the entry door arches could have been mimicked by incorporating a valuted or groin-vaulted ceiling in the lobby. Don't get me wrong-- my favorite style of architecture is the blending of old and new-- when it's thoughtfully planned and expertly executed; when it's done with integrity and as a creative solution to a problem (e.g. space) without sacrificing historical integrity-- think Soldier Field or Grand Central Station. Sure, we should be grateful for their not completely bulldozing Jewett and building a new and improved version-- the days of tearing down historical buildings for new and improved are for the most part gone (less we forget, a moment of silence for the original Penn Station). So, on the outside Jewett's pretty much the same; but on the inside? Well, let's just say as a whole, it's an empty shell of its former self.

I Promise I Haven't Given Up

I have been vigorously attempting to remember by G*D-darned password to Flickr so I can upload photos from my Spain trip (which I'm embarrassed to acknowledge was officially two months ago)to my blog so you peeps (the whole negative 2 who even check out this blog at this point b/c I haven't written in so long) can see them ... as well as wait for something inspirational (and not cross-the-line personal) to blog about. But, between exhausting work commitments, travel and, well, some other interesting personal pursuits, I haven't had a lot of time to, well, blog. But I promise I'm getting my act together, especially since summer is FINALLY upon Chicago and Dig This! will be reconvening for another (hopefully) successful beach volleyball season-- now that we're a team to beat.

So, more to come... hope you haven't given up on me just yet...

Love

Doubt thou that the stars are fire;
Doubt thou that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt that I love.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE,
Hamlet

Haven't Laughed So Much Since...

Well, I don't even know... not only is Conan freaking hilarious ("... actual Conan O'Brien skin tone..." I'm dying), but my goodness... it was so gross and so funny, and just the fact that Tom Selleck was there cracking up at the whole thing. I'm just so glad I watched the whole segment last night in full. Hahaha.

Dreams

"We tell ourselves that reality is better. We convince ourselves that it's better to never dream at all. But the strongest of us-- the most determined of us-- we hold onto that dream.

...Or we find ourselves with a fresh dream we never considered. We awake to find ourselves against all odds- feeling hopeful. And if we're lucky, in the face of everything, in the face of life, the true dream is being able to dream at all."

- Grey's Anatomy