Take That, Pachelbel!

Since I can remember I have always harbored a secret love for Pachelbel's Cannon in D. Yes, I know what you may be thinking. "But Bridget, aren't you the one who rants and raves against it! Are you not the one who proclaims it to be the worst cello part ever written?" The answer is yes. I do rant and rave about it to anyone who will listen. I announce that no such abomination shall ever be played at my wedding. But secretly I love that piece of music. It is one of the most beautiful compositions I have ever heard. I have found a way around Pachelbel's nauseating cello part. Have it arranged for cellos! All parts! 4 or six I don't care how many cellos there are so long as the only instrument to be heard is a cello! Take that Pachelbel! I shall indeed have all cello music at the ceremony and yes, I will have your Cannon in D as well!

State Dinner

Just as the White House prepares for President Obama's first official state dinner, the Haenicke Institute hosted our own version, even if on a much smaller and less stately scale. The evening began with the singing of the American and Chinese national anthems and the alma mater and concluded with performances of traditional chinese dances and music. With the opening ceremonies of the Confucius Institute at Western Michigan University concluded, faculty, staff and distinguished members of the community made their way to the Kalamazoo Country Club for dinner. The Haenicke Institute played host to a Chinese delegation that included the Vice Cousul General from the Chinese Consulate and distinguished guests from Beijing Language and Culture University. Toasts, placecards, and more forks than one really needs set the mood amid a crackling fire and votive candles. Goodwill and friendsdhip between our two countries!


I love my job.

New Co-worker

Everyone, meet Brutus.....
or Nox, or Sashimi. Okay so I haven't named him yet. But so far he's been making my work day much brighter. Way to go fish!

I've always wanted a betta. I have no idea why it never occurred to me to have one at work. So yeah, here's my new fish and desk buddy.

My Not So Secret Garden

Okay, since we moved I know I haven't taken any pictures of the new place. I promise those are forthcoming; I am just waiting for the new furniture to arrive before I do so. In the meantime, here are a few pictures of my balcony garden taken on a rainy day. Hopefully these will tide you over. ;)

Bridget's not so secret garden

Shark Week!

Discovery Channel's Shark week is back.... and it's got bite! Every year in the first week of August television screens across the nation are filled with images of flashing teeth, extraordinary feats of escape and capture, and shadows lurking in the murky waters that strike fear into the very core of our bodies. Deep, resonating chords of drama shake your nerve and build an almost intolerable anticipation as you listen and watch, waiting for the moment when the lone swimmer will be snatched from the surface in an onslaught of fins, force and gnashing teeth. The 2 hour premier Blood in the Water lived up to the hype and chronicled the bloody Shark attacks off the New Jersey coast in 1916 that inspired "Jaws". Instead of the stereotypical photographs scrolling across the screen with voice overs it was a 2 hour reenactment worthy of the silver screen.
Okay, enough of the drama. In the summer of 2006 Jesse and I used Shark Week as an excuse to spend time together in the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house. Staying up late in the common room watching sharks on TV allowed us to talk and get to know each other without all the rowdy fraternity brothers. It also marks the first official week of our relationship. So now, it has become tradition as part of our anniversary celebrations to watch Shark Week.
I have been storing a Martha Stewart cupcake idea for about a year so that I could make fabulous theme desserts for the opener. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you shark infested waters off a tiny island..... err in other words dyed blue frosting with construction paper fins and a crushed graham cracker topping and a fun girly drink umbrella. I also made a fabulously cheesy shark card for Jesse. The start of Shark Week was amazing and so were the cupcakes!
Thank you Martha, I heart you!

Moving Day

Okay, so this is what happens when you pack up your grandmother's fine china:

















And this is what happens when your best friend comes down to help you pack:





















Quite an entertaining evening if I do say so myself.

Enter Stage Left

(732): FYI... At my funeral, it will be your job to throw yourself dramatically onto my casket.

I am glad I am not the only one who thinks of my funeral in this way. Sometimes, I catch myself planning it as if it were an elaborate event or stage production.

Packages From The Home Front

This year, I spent Memorial Weekend at Greenfield Village for their annual Civil War Remembrance. It was an event full of history, wonderful visits, fireside stories and songs,
and of course. . . carousel music.

I decided last year that I was going to tackle the Soldiers' Aid scenario and if I do say so myself, I think it turned out rather well. It was a learning experience, but an event I really look forward to heading up again. This year we expanded on what we have done in the past and became a three part scenario making it much more interactive for the public and much more of a learning experience for them. The first was a living display, something tangible the public could explore and was comprised of an MSAS workstation under our marquis tent. We had on display several items that would have been packaged up into care packages and we also physically worked on making items for the soldiers such as clothing items, quilts, letters, and patriotic ribbons. I found this to be the most enjoyable part of the scenario. We could explain to the public why and how we did the care packages. It was really nice to have something to do when we weren't visiting and sight seeing.
The second part was out official Soldiers' Aid and Off to Prison scenario at the Smith's Creek Train Depot. Thanks to Brian Egan and the village we had the most room to work on our care packages we've ever had before. The best part was how much of a hit the letter writing was with the public. If they chose to, they could write a letter to a "Brave Soldier" and then stuff it into a care package. It was fantastic! Some people wrote pages upon pages while others just drew them pictures. I was reading through them the next day and several brought me to tears. I think it will be used again next year. And even though the train broke down, two members of the 5th Kentucky still came by to do their presentation on northern prison camps. Note for next year: have a back up plan in case train breaks down.

Sunday the ladies delivered over 60 care packages to both Union and Confederate troops. We received a song from the 5th Kentucky in thanks for our kindness and a beautiful letter from the Sally Port Mess thanking the ladies of the MSAS for their comforts from home. Next year I hope to give the gentlemen of the Sally Port Mess an individual letter and package. They were just wonderful. The letter was signed by all of the men and expressed how our packages had reinstalled their courage and conviction in the Union cause. . . . Oh I can't wait to play with them again! Such gentlemen!

I also had a wonderful time catching up with Jeanne and Patrick. Turns out they were in the Flat River Community Players and Bottom's Dream Theater! They were also at the first reenactment I ever went to. It's because of them that I am a reenactor now! Good times. All in all, I can't wait for Greenfield Village next year.

Black Jack

Below is a photograph of my great great great second cousin, General John A. Logan.
















Fought at Bull Run, Battle of Belmont, Fort Donelson, where he was wounded, the Siege of Corinth, Vicksburg where he served as military governor after its capture, commanded the Army of the Tennessee at the Battle of Atlanta, and others. He also ran for President of the United States and was responsible for the legislation creating Memorial Day!

How cool is that!?

Don't Panic?

H1N1 has been confirmed on campus. . .

135th Run for the Roses

A bugle calls to post. You hear it faintly at first. It echoes, gradually becoming louder as the crowd beneath the twin spires lulls to a hush in anticipation. The thoroughbreds are loaded, one by one, into the paddock. Ladies in iconic and chic feathered hats and gentlemen in seersucker suits lean to the edge of their seats as the gates are closed. . . slam, lock, slam, lock, slam, lock. . .

Simultaneously a jockey and his steed take a breath, the horse wanting with every muscle to accelerate and break free, the jockey wanting to steady his heart beat. A bell rings.
And they're off!

Mind That bird rallied from last and exploded past the other contenders in midstretch, guided on the railing by jockey Calvin Borel to a stunning 6 3/4 - length victory in the what some say is the second biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history (beating 50-1 odds).


Even though my horse was scratched the morning of, my Millionaire's Row themed Kentucky Derby party was a hit. All parties I host should be this stress free and enjoyable. Garden party attire was mandatory and derby hats encouraged. Activities included afternoon tea, croquet and boccie ball in the park, southern dinner, betting, mint julep and Oaks Lily libations, and of course the Kentucky Derby. I had so much fun! There's just something about getting all decked out in pearls, dresses, heals, and a fabulous hat and doing 'high society" activities that just makes a girl's weekend. It's nice to do something refined once in a while.

Thank you Grandma Connie for giving me my love for horse racing and fabulous hats!

I Survived

Thank God for DayQuil, good hair days, and adrenaline! I spent Valentine's day in Detroit for my Uncle Dave's wedding, which I had been dreading and freaking out about since Christmas; not because of the wedding itself, but because I had been asked to sing the Ave Maria.... Did I mention that I haven't sung that song since high school let alone sung like that in about 5 years? Freaked out is the mild term I would use to describe my emotional state. Well after taking numerous doses of DayQuil, doing my hair, rehearsing on my grandmother's baby grand piano, and lots of performance adrenaline Audrey and I did well. Yay. And it absolutely made my Uncle Dave's and now Aunt Julie's day, and Grandma's too. So I suppose spending Valentine's Day at a wedding with my nearest and dearest wasn't such a bad way to celebrate it after all. I mean heck, who can pass up an open bar, a candy buffet, and really bad singing of love songs in order to get the bride and groom to kiss?
Happy belated Valentine's Day.

Hmmm. I am giddy with anticipation. :)

Yay for advice and yay for performing from the back of the chapel.

Good Advice

I am so blessed to have such wonderful co-workers. We talk daily, we ask each other about our lives and genuinely care. Today they offered some advice about getting married. (They know Jesse and I are planning on getting engaged.) I am very thankful that they offered advice based on their own lives. It was nice to be able to talk to people about it without feeling like they were passing some sort of judgment on us or our situation. Sometimes, I feel like I can't talk to anyone about it so it was nice to be able to let some of my thoughts out. Rena mentioned that she was very grateful for starting a family young because now she gets to enjoy her grandchildren and is able to take care and keep up with them. She is still young enough whereas her son's mother-in-law is not; she's 89 and needs to be taken care of herself. After I told her about Jesse wanting to pay down some debt before we got engaged, Rena offered a second bit a good advice: Don't let money stop you from getting married. The debt will always be there whether large or small so don't let it stop you. I chewed on that for a moment and have decided I agree with her.

I have always wanted a large family, and I have always wanted it while I was young. I find that I am crossing my fingers, just hoping as hard as I can that Jesse takes the hints and proposes soon.

Interesting Indeed

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder ....
Rather than get something wrong, OCPD individuals will make lists of things to do and how to do them. Then they go on adding to the lists, or find new associated things to do, meaning they may never finish what they wanted to do in the first place. This is most of all a problem at work or for students.