Misery...

So did PBS air "Made for Each Other" because of the economic issues going on today? Hubby wanted to turn it off... my fondness for Jimmy Stewart kept it on... but come on... how long did it take the wife to fire the maid?!? Reminded me of how all these people cry about finances but they have Uggs, Blackberry or some other fancy phones, new cars, etc. etc. etc...

So I have to work in the attic today and it is only 21 degrees outside. I have so much to do around the house and not enough time. There are cracks in the walls screaming to me to get the work on the support beams done... we have re-insulating to do... I keep getting hair dye spots on the bathroom walls and have to touch that up... and I have to do so much work to try to make a sale for the business... I have a pile of projects in various states of incompletion so I keep submitting the same things for shows and the rejection letters are piling up... oh, did get wait-listed for one... I want to get rid of the clutter in the attic but have to suffer the bitter cold up there... and of course I have this family research I am trying to get my dad to finish with the pictures but every time I go there I get aggravated.

I think the Paris trip in a couple of weeks will be a welcome break - though they termed it a whirlwind training!

And the hand seems to be getting worse... I just don't think doing nothing with the hand and seeing it get better is a good thing... so I keep working with it as usual... but I can't bend my middle finger completely and I keep messing up typing b/c the right fingers are so slow... grr......

Things to look forward to: "Downton Abbey" finale on PBS tonight; kids in the room tomorrow even during exams; time with Millie...

So on Tuesday I go for neurological testing again. I have been wearing a wrist thingy at night but the pain persists. I cannot bend my middle finger all the way and it is perpetually stiff. And each time I shovel, the hand and fingers kill. SO what did I do? I chopped ice and tried to move snow today! I have so much ice hanging from the roof that we have to keep the cars parked down the driveway for fear of the icicles falling and damaging the cars!

On the funny side, I have seriously contemplated carving out seating areas in the snow to rest next time we have to shovel... of course, they will resemble mid-century modern because I can't get all fancy and do something Victorian or Art & Crafts...

Yesterday I received the details for the training trip to Paris. So it sunk in that I really need to brush up on the French. My pronunciation is OK but I need to commit to memory some key phrases. The hotel I will be staying in is in the suburb of Massy. Looks average and the hotel looks new. It is across the street from the train, which is a good thing. Need to change over some dollars to Euros. They said we could use an ATM, but I don't know how to do that... Perhaps I should ask at my bank!

We were going to go out with friends to night. But one of them is now sick. They both teach and his kids got him sick! So that means we will be home for the Jimmy Stewart movie on PBS tonight!

And... sad weekend... the Christmas decorations and tree go away... sniffle sniffle...

Millie Time!!!

So we finally get a snow that falls at the right time. Except I was out there shoveling and only found out the day was canceled once I was finished... sigh... At least I brought exams home. Now I have Foundations and the digital PII ones left to grade. And a heck of a lot of matting to do for Pingry!

I have noticed a great deal of people on Facebook today and so I assume the students are too and that's why no one blogs... Except for a few... Photo II just isn't as blog crazy as last year's group... sniffle...

I am running out of places to put the snow. I may have to shovel a path through the yard and wheel-barrow it out to there... And the icicles hanging from the house are absolutely dangerous looking. Kept my hood on in certain areas because my luck would have one fall on my head!

Had nap time with Millie and she is still there - probably waiting for me to return...

I began a photo project that's been swimming around in my head for awhile and really like the way it is turning out. I am using some things from grandma's house and using the DSLR... let's see how this goes...

Now, off to the sofa...

Movie time...

PBS is on a roll! I have not watched this much television in eons! Friday night movies on NJN have been fairly dodgy lately - Lassie (the barking upsets Millie, and I don't like dogs) and John Wayne (way too many comments to make here...). But... there was this mysterious sounding thing listed for Friday - Carnival of Souls. As soon as it started we knew we were in B-movie territory. A spectacular scare-fest from 1962 in glorious black and white. The dream/sub-conscious sequences were tinted green or blue a la Dr. Caligari and filmed in a cut edit kind of way that was just amazing. Upon research, I find the whole thing was done for only $30,000! Hubby and I said that if we had not read the credits in the beginning we could have sworn it was a George Romero film, it was so similar in feel to The Night of the Living Dead. Just an absolute classic.

Then, last night was my first Joan Crawford movie - Rain from the early 1930's. There's seediness and religion and missionary tension. And none of it required nudity or anything else gratuitous. The drama was all in the dialogue, filming and acting. And what a job Crawford did! And I love the history on the film you get from the PBS host - Neal Gabler - prior and after the film. And next week - Made for Each Other with Jimmy Stewart! Oh joy!

Completed a few more submissions last night. So much work and the wrist is hurting. Since it is soooo cold out, I plan on doing the shoot I have had in my head for some time.... Lights, backdrop and some goodies... Woke me up this morning just thinking about it!

Going underground...

Received the new ish of National Geographic yesterday... and utterly delighted to see the cover feature is on the tunnels under Paris! What perfect timing! I will have some free time when I am there next month and thought mother wants me to visit with relatives - free food! - I really want to go see the catacombs and the museum of Le Moyen Age.... and looking at the stacks of bones in the pictures, well, creepiness takes over family and food! Side note... I believe I received the magazine on time from my unreliable p.o. only because they send it in a sealed bag thus it cannot be taken home and read by the employees... grrrr....

An old friend I ran into in Portland this summer still takes pictures... his stuff includes unexplored places and he mentioned Detroit in a post - a plethora of crumbling history! I am so eager to get back to exploring this summer and taking the camera with me. Really want to get to Hungary but a recent article about the new leader there is not good... Would love to get to the places there that have not been Americanized... before they are.

Funny how my reading has changed. I have tried some other magazines - Vogue stinks (fire Wintour), Interview is narcissistic, Elle is vapid, the Sun was too lovey-dovey mush, Smithsonian was not pushing the envelope enough... Just so much mediocrity and playing it safe. So I have switched to the politically, historically, aesthetically and socially relevant... let's see how long this goes on until the new magazines let me down... Hey, at least I read...

Czeps, Casale and I were talking about the changes in the student body since we started teaching. There is such a lack of attention span, lack of drive, lack of ambition, lack of interest in gaining knowledge. I remember when I was in school, being intelligent was a matter of pride, gaining knowledge was something to be proud of. We all read. We all were not in honors courses, but at least those of us who were did not coast. I feel like the rapid fire news, media, etc. creates a short-attention-span child. And I try to model better things for my students but it may work in the classroom for 45 minutes - sometimes - but it clearly does not carry over once they leave the room... I NEED to find a way to get them to learn that you can like the rapid-fire media and doo-dads in life while also enjoying reading, watching long documentaries, having long meaningful conversations and learning things and retaining that information... More research to do...

So I will get all English on you here and apologize for something I should not apologize for, but, so sorry for the rant... it has been one heck of a couple of weeks to say the least!

Genuine...

So in love with the Dr. Caligari director right now. On the Kino DVD of Dr. Caligari, there is a short, condensed version of a vampire film called Genuine. Yet another masterpiece with fascinating sets and fabulous costumes! As I watched I kept thinking that this must be the major inspiration for Siouxsie Sioux. Wish I could show this in class but there is s bit of nudity... not much, but enough for me to worry... German cinema between the wars was just phenomenal and thanks to Kino, I can see some of it.

Also rethinking the destination for 2012. I had gone with Barcelona but have not been feeling it. Then I got a package from EF on Saturday. Looked through it and found two other trips I find more appealing: Germany and Berlin & Prague. Will talk about it with Dems tomorrow and see what she says then contact Justine at EF.

I was going to work in the darkroom last night but because the temperature was only 12 and the flames from the heat would be going on and off, I decided against it. No use getting frustrated by accidental exposures. So I worked on the sewing machine. I taught myself a couple more stitches with a different foot. Also converted a pair of pants to a skirt. But it does not fit so I will give it away. Also worked on ideas for other clothes. And finished the last of the two Paris books I inter-library ordered. In one month I will be on a plane for Paris! Woo hoo!!!

I need a hole in the wall like I need a hole in the head...

Yes, it has been a heck of a week in period 8. At least period 7 worked - for the most part. And periods 2 and 5? What a dream! I want all of the non-seniors to take Photo II next year, but we can't accommodate all of them... Darn...

Hand news: back to the neurologist. If nothing there, on to a hand specialist. This time the doctor uttered those three dreaded words: carpal tunnel syndrome... But I doubt it. It will probably just turn out to be more arthritis.

Now off to my fabulous dessert of an apple and then, Inspector Lewis at 9.00 pm! Who needs Jersey Shore when you have murder mysteries in Oxford, England?!?

Thought I was up to date with submissions... then found a pile of them. And missed one. Oops! One of the first places I had a show is having an auction to raise money to make up for lost state funding. I plan to send something - perhaps one of the books I had in the show there... I also found out that the Lupus Foundation will take magazines as donations. That made me and the hubby super happy. I have so many old ones that no one on Freecycle - except for Diane Kamikaze! - would take and I cannot be bothered with the time and money to try to sell them on e-bay. That means there will be so much more floor space in the attic and more space to set up for photo shoots! Woo hoo!

Ecstatic to have the day off... particularly after yesterday's periods 7 and 8. Period 7 does not quite get the idea of working independently. That means the teacher does not hold your hand; you are given the assignment and do it yourself and budget your time yourself. A few get it... but not many. And if I could capture this senioritis devil, kill him and bury him once and for all I would so that no other student photographer with potential ever falls under his spell again!

Period 8... well you know it's bad when Demsey can't even stay in the room. I flipped out on them yesterday. They were screaming like banshees in the middle room. I thought someone was hurt or passed out. No... it was a centipede. And then the usual three or four suspects were not working... That's it with trying... now they get written up or sent to you-know-who. I am done...

So I had a treat last night to calm myself... mom made her special rice pudding.... oh yeah! Now off to make some lavender and mullein tea...

The Dr. is coming...

So, over a cup of hot cider at Borders last night, I asked the hubby what he thought of showing "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" to the classes. He thinks it is a great idea. Not too scary at all and the sets should be inspiring. So there you have it... now to fit in into the school year. Especially considering I always aim to end the year with a viewing and analysis of Hitchcock's "Vertigo" and his use of colour and analysis of that... and I run out of time.

Bought a magazine on the use of herbs instead of medicine. One, I want to save money and am not convinced chemicals are the best treatment option. Two, it another thing for me to plant in the garden come springtime!

And I hope to see the chunky niece today too. Hopefully the students are doing photographic things... hint hint....

Finally watched "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" last night. Better than anything I ever imagined. The acting could be seen as overdone, unless you are used to seeing silent films. The sets - even hubby was amazed! The sets alone are works of art. And the scenes were tinted in the original, much like toning a photograph. I worried that the tinting would be like the horrible 1980s colorization of movies, but not at all! I would really love to show this to the photo classes - all of them - but I wonder if it is too scary. I guess I should discuss with hubby. I highly doubt anyone at work will know it (though some might not let on ;). The sets were a German Expressionist dream! It must have been such an amazing time to live in, between the wars. That is also when Louise Brooks was in Europe making movies in France and Germany.

Also looking at books I have on things we will see in Paris. I love scouring flea markets, library sales and used book stores. I have books on Versailles and Notre Dame - bought for a song - and started looking through those...

Update on the hand - last three fingers on the right do not type as fast and the joint on my middle finger feels tight and sore. Jeez...

Oooh!

I just turned around to look out the window and saw all the snow and it looked so pretty! Thankfully, hubby is home sick today so I do not have to worry about him driving...

I am excited by the students who are looking at the NYTimes Lens blog frequently. I like the students to look on the computer - I would prefer they also look at books, but let's not get too greedy here! - so they can see contemporary artists, especially not those in the canon of "approved" artists. And I was reading the education posts on the Art:21 blog and felt good that a lot of what they wish teachers would do, I do. Phew!

So my favourite posts:
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/russian-photos-in-painterly-strokes/
... because I wish I could be there...

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/mongolian-diptychs-tell-of-profound-change/
... because the modernization/westernization bothers me.

I know the first one I listed shows the effects of the locals leaving. Then the second one shows when the modern cr*p comes to them. I think a culture should be preserved. Nothing bothered me more in England than seeing American chains - McDonald's, Starbucks, etc. - in between the mom and pop's. And the chains were packed and the little ones were not. I think we grow up to be more accepting of differences if those differences remain in full force.

Shopping...

So while waiting for Google Earth to work, I decided to look at real estate in Hungary. No, we are not moving - though if Chris Christie runs for president and wins, we will be leaving. I just like looking at homes for sale.... always have, since I was little and our family moved around a bit... I told hubby there were some nice cottages that were fixer-uppers in the country in nice small towns. He didn't seem interested... So, I keep looking... Dare to dream...

Then I was able to check out the Paris suburbs on G.E. finally. I naturally checked for the proximity of possible hotels to cafes. They all look like nice quieter areas to rest each night - the hotel, not the cafes! We will all need to be able to get coffee every night so this is a priority!

We are supposed to have friends over today but not sure now. Their doggy is real sick and may not make it today. I so hate hearing about things like this. Millie gave us a scare this weekend. She wasn't eating like normal and tried to cough up something - just like mommy, she hates throwing up. But after detective work, I realized it is the food, not illness. She can be finicky. So no more Evo wet for her, but at least the pumpkin is ok...

Loaded a mint green Savoy with a roll of 120mm yesterday. Eager to keep shooting... and have 2 or 3 more shows to enter...

So no one is posting anything... but me...

I need to look at the three possible suburbs we will be staying in in France on Google Earth. I checked them out on the satellite map, but want to "travel" through the area beforehand. They are Noisy, Montrouge or Nanterre. I did get a look at the hotel chain that EF frequently uses - Mercure - and it looks decent and nice... I have a Rosetta Stone freebie sample cd to install on the Mac and hope to practice my pronunciation and pick up important phrases... Hubby gave me a Paris calendar of black and white photos to get me all geared up. And my cousin is very excited for the trip... She's a mellow and sarcastic sort so I will try to match her up with someone similar for rooms...

Going to New Hope today to see the in-laws. At least today's Christmas plan does not look to be postponed from weather. Then, tomorrow, friends with their two kids come up. They may be looking to move to our freak town and they've never seen the house or met Millie... let's see how that goes... maybe Millie will come out from under the bed...

And.... received my Kino order yesterday!!! Cannot wait to watch the Christmas video - all early 20th century films - and the improved Metropolis and then.... the nightmare of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.... nightmares to follow...