Dismantling Basecamp

"Hey, good work taking the tents down, guys!
I'm just gonna hang back and take pictures."

Ice Age

The Scars of a Poet

Defending a master's thesis is stressful. Writing a master's thesis is stressful. At least, that's what I hear. I don't have a master's thesis. But Kylie and I did watch Annelise defend her thesis, and that was something. It was quite the experience as Annelise and her thesis committee discussed all the topics about the thesis and surrounding the thesis, often with the intellectual level of thought flying well above my head. But while my brain was busting and my own anxieties about grad school and beyond were both relaxing and intensifying, one thing came clear: writing and defending a master's thesis is doable (though don't count on doing it as well as Annelise; not just anyone can give the best thesis defense Kim Johnson has ever been a part of). But something like this isn't knocked out in a couple weeks or a semester, or two semesters. It takes a lotta time and might cost you some scars. I think we've all noticed Annelise's absence during this semester. Well, this is a big reason why (and large doses of Buffy consumption). Give her a break. The last few months her world has probably looked something like this:

But now that she's finished both of these things, perhaps, just maybe we humble undergrads will be graced by more of her presence (last weekend's camping party but a taste of what might be). Which might lift that dark shroud and soothe some of those poetic scars.

Or maybe I'm off on that. Maybe thoughts of hanging around our crazy group only send one into a severe relapse (refer to picture 1). But in any case, congratulations, Annelise, on finishing your master's thesis and rocking the academic, poetic world.

A Warm Place

A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails

Camping at The Compound

The photos are a little blurred because I really hate using my flash.
Sorry I wasn't there in the morning! I went to sleep alone in a quiet room in my sister's house, and didn't wake up until 9:30. So I missed the snow. If anyone has pix of the morning, post them!

Halloweenies

...at Bess' family Halloween Party. Bess was an Austrian zombie, Christian was from "Pushing Up Daisies," Tina was Artemis (not Diana), Tiffany was...a glitter hippie, I guess (and a very beautiful one at that), and Whitney was a faerie. John was a drunken miner with a pick-ax, but he didn't act any differently than normal, and I was a witch because I have a witch's hat. What all did everybody else do?
Bess' family lives in a great place, by the way. I wanted to explore down to the water, but didn't dare. They really do Halloween. It was a lot of fun.

My Royal Golden Cup

I was so happy to find the Royal Golden Cup back where it should be, in the middle of the exhibition room. Sometimes when I go there is no Cup--sometimes even no 11-15C European exhibit open at all! which is a shock to my system. This time I decided to document the event--and the Cup--thoroughly. Below, the Cup and I. I figure they can keep the cup where it is at the British Museum, since it would be a great bother for me to insure it, ship it home, find a proper exhibition place for it at my house, and accommodate everybody who would want to come see it. But I do expect to see it prominently displayed when I go to all the bother of traveling to London to look at it again.
So, below are explanations of the eight main enameled panels, provenance of the Cup, and photos of each side. If the writing is not clear enough to read, I believe you can double click on the photo and it will come up enlarged.







I don't remember when I first fell under the spell of the Royal Golden Cup. I have a description of it in my journal from 1997, I believe. That was the year I gave up on souvenirs, after collecting a bag full of useless keychains. I decided that I might as well choose something truly worth coveting--and this Royal Golden Cup, with its 700 year history, life of St. Agnes, and pearls is what caught my fancy. So, when you go to the British Museum, enjoy looking at my Cup!

Holland Park

What is it with Bennion guys sleeping on picnic tables (Chris B, above)? Below, Matt, Katy, etc., enjoy breakfast at the Holland Park YH:

London!

St. Paul's Cathedral, photo by Bentley (above), and by Roxanne (below):
Tower Bridge, Tower guards, and Traitors' Gate, pix by Marshall:



John takes a nap on the Holland Park picnic tables, photo by Bentley:

Bath

Above, Chris B. by Bentley, and below, street sculptures by Jon:

Street performers, by Jon:

John B at the youth hostel, by Bentley:
Oooh, Katy's Welsh dragon earrings, by Bentley:
Roman bath by Jon:
by Marshall:
by Bentley:
by Jon:
Bath Abbey in the background, by Roxanne:
Bath city on the walk from the youth hostel, by Jon:
Frisbee! Chris and John B. by Jon S.:



Kylie and Chris B. by Jon: