Kate: Tell you what - in August, if we lose the primary and you aren't at the next job yet, we'll just move up there and job-hunt from the dock. We'll import Jesse every few days so you don't do into withdrawals.



















Above is the view from the dock at the Wilberding Family Cottage that my friend is referring to. I think it's a brilliant plan. What could be more "paradise" than this? And what better way to spend the day looking for jobs than with your feet skimming the top of the water as they dangle off the sun-warmed dock?

Back To College (Because we're Old Like That)

What do you get when you mix Alpha Sigs, jungle juice, jello shots, FUBAR, a keg, beer pong, and a wicked game of hide and seek? You get a Saturday of good friends partying like the frat boys they weren't in college. Oh and lets not forget a guest appearance by our "crazy Asian friend, Johnny Lin"!

I honestly don't think I've laughed so hard in my life. I had a blast listening to R wax poetic about Cedar Point, two sides, and centemeters.... (I am not sure I could logically explain all of that so I apologize but lets just say he was attempting to tell us about making sure to take care of women.) I loved witnessing the effects of 167 jello shots combined with a gigantic vat of jungle juice.

It was just so amusing to me that most of us present didn't party like this in college and are now kindergarten and middle school teachers. I don't know, it just struck me. Especially that, nerdy as we all are, we had to tripple check that the keg had been tapped correctly. Only these guys....

When You Wish Upon A Star. . .

Yes, I am That Girl; the one who scoured the woods looking under leaves and rocks for frog princes. When I found them I would kiss and kiss them some more, wishing and hoping they would transform in front of my very eyes into Prince Charming. Having grown up on classic Disney fairy tales I distinctly remember believing that it was possible.

From my earliest memories fairy tales have shaped my view on the world. I can remember standing outside of OLQM in Detroit staring up at the first twinkling stars in the early night sky and wishing with all my might, "Star light star bright first star I see tonight. I wish I may I wish I might get the wish I wish tonight." I closed my eyes and asked for a tabby kitten. I doubt I would have done that if I hadn't believed Jiminy Cricket. A few years later after moving to Greenville my grandmother brought me to the side of the road where I resued a little tabby kitten, Tiger. I had kept that secret wish to myself and yet it came true. From that moment on I never doubted a wish made upon a star.

Classic fairy tales were and still are my favorite. Give me Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, or Cinderella any day. I have several versions of the books and movies. I couldn't seem to get enough of them. But then again, I have always been a traditionalist. I have always wanted to find my Prince Charming. I have always wanted the big "Cinderella dress". I have always wanted a white picket fence. Sometimes I would find it hard to believe that it could happen to me, but I never once doubted that true love existed: not once.

Then along came an adventure. It really is amazing how much my life has mirrored the fairy tale story arch. I came of age and left my home on a grand adventure, leaving everything behind to find myself in a whole new world. And then when I least expected it love managed to find me. When you strip away the castles and evil nemesis you are left with a reality even more wonderful than any tale that could be told. Why? Because for the first time the tale becomes real. I became the heroine and the frog prince magically transformed into the fraternity brother across the poker table... and it hit me like a hurricane. (Please forgive the cliche.) Everything I had been dreaming of and waiting for and wishing on stars for was possible. Because I realized that he was set on this earth as a gift just for me. He is my other half. And even though he may not wear a golden crown he is Prince Charming.

I think Disney was on to something. Hope: and an eternal truth more wonderful than I could have imagined.

The second star to the right
Shines in the night for you
To tell you that the dreams you plan
Really can come true
The second star to the right
Shines with a light that's rare
And if it's Never Land you need
It's light will lead you there
Twinkle, twinkle little star
So I'll know where you are
Gleaming in the skies above
Lead me to the one who loves me
And when you bring him my way
Each time we say "Goodnight"
We'll thank the little star that shines
The second from the right
~ Peter Pan

Gloria

For the first time in my life I attended the Easter Vigil. At the start of last week I had no intentions of actually going because in all honesty, I had no idea what it was. All I knew: it was long....
Something must have sparked my curiosity for I found myself all over Wikipedia looking up the Easter Vigil; its traditions, rituals, practices around the world. You name it I was reading about it. Naturally, with my flair for the dramatic, once I read about churches in darkness, candle lit processions, unveiling of draped statues, Latin hymns, and climactic lighting I had to see for myself this mysterious mass.

I invited the two women who have been the most pivotal in my faith journey. (I am so happy the attended with me.) I don't know why I was so nervous. I had butterflies in my stomach the entire way to the Cathedral. (I like to attend all the major masses at the Archdiocese: The Cathedral of St. Andrew.) I knew this was the place to be if I wanted to witness something spectacular in terms of Catholic ritual and tradition. Unlike many modern churchgoers, I absolutely love and in many ways need the traditions of Catholicism. Electric guitars and laser light slide shows do absolutely nothing for me. I need my service to be separate from my everyday life. I need it to feel reverent and special, like something grand and bigger than the day to day.

I was not disappointed. We began the mass outside in the piazza congregated around the Easter fire awaiting the lighting of the Paschal Candle. I don't know why but the image of our bishop in his funny hat and his shining silver shepherd's hook was striking. There was something about it. We then followed the processional into the darkened cathedral for the Service of Light in which the the candle is carried by our bishop through the sanctuary, itself in complete darkness, stopping three times to chant 'Christ our Light', to which we responded 'Thanks be to God'. We then all light our own candles from the Paschal Candle, each symbolically receiving the light of Christ. We now held the first part of the mass in candle light.

The readings were sung Gregorian chant style, something I particularly appreciated. And then it was time for the Gloria..... my favorite piece of music written for a Catholic mass. This time it was one of the most moving and inspiring moments I've ever had.

Refrain: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
1. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. (Refrain)
2. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. (Refrain)
3. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, the Father. Amen! Amen! (Refrain)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P45LGcOFsPs

The entire congregation joined three choirs, a brass section, strings, and percussion sections in singing. Each time we sang "Glory to God in the hightest" the lights in the cathedral got a little bit brighter until the very end when we sang it for a final time. The lights brightened to their max, the timpani, other instruments, and voices crescendoed. . . It was powerful. I wish I could better describe the feeling I had. The absolute peacefulness and contentment that filled my mind and body.

The remainder of mass went similarly for me. Each time another sung prayer or ancient ritual occured something in me stirred. I haven't had that happen to me all that often and I can't wait for that to happen again. I spent most of the hour carride home in silent cintemplation and prayer. Not the formal Hail Mary or Our Father but mostly just exhistance with God; relfection on the service I was just a part of, reflection and thanks for all the wonderful things and people in my life, gratitude for the birds and budding trees.....
I hope this wonderful feeling lasts.

Kate and I are going to attend the cathedral at least once a month. And we are going to make a point of going for special occaisions/holidays.

Now I Remember Why I Hate Games......

The game of chess is a lot more difficult than I remember it being. If I recall correctly I used to be pretty awesome at it. Not so much anymore.... I was swiftly beaten by Jesse's superior ability to think more than two moves ahead. I believe it took him under 10 minutes to place me in check mate. . . Damn. (This inability to think ahead is why I am also a terrible card player.)
It was like I was 6 again. I was furious that I had lost so quickly and so thoroughly. I felt so dumb! I lashed out. I don't remember what I yelled but I know I did. And I recall wanting to hit something but instead I cried. This of course made me feel even more dumb. Anyway, after that initial game we ended up playing at any opportunity that presented itself; sans tears. It's actually a lot of fun!














......Or so I thought.......
Jesse came home later in the week with Axis and Allies which is, as it turns out, just a glorified game of chess with twice the amount of really tiny pieces. I spent most of the game in a disproportionate amount of rage and tenseness. I really don't know why games get to me so badly. Jesse started the game kicking my butt, then I was winning for a while..... um yeah, I had to concede. After 5 hours of play there was no way I was going to be able to win. :(



I hate games. (But secretly I have really enjoyed playing them with Jesse. Shhh. Don't tell.)

Full Tilt

Sometimes it worries me how out of tune I can be with my own body. I mean, who knew a uterus could tilt? Not that mine is; the doctor ruled that one out. It also concerns me that when discussing tiled uteri, the image of Saturn on a full tilt pops into my head. Maybe in my head it represents the mysteries of womanhood and all that..... or maybe I'm just silly. Both are equally possible.

On a slightly related topic the earthquake in Chile caused the earth to tilt on it's axis therefore shortening the day by 1.26 microseconds.... Again I say, "Who knew?"

The Art of Womanliness

Thanks to the wonderful networking of Facebook and my abilities to be a creepy stalker on it, I managed to stumble upon a most delightful, enlightening and entertaining website: The Art of Manliness. I was so hoping to discover a link to a sister site regarding womanliness but alas, none such website exists.

After reading on the forums that I was not the only woman to express an interest in a such a site, I have decided that perhaps there isn't one because women are so complex. Not that men aren't, just that there are some interesting dimensions to take into consideration. Feminism, for example raises some issues about what to include or not include. Just exactly what is the perfect woman? Personally, I don't feel that just because I like perfume and high heels, and baking it means that I can't like swinging a hammer and playing football. I happen to do all of the above and then some. But I do feel there is something to ettiquette, grace, and how to handle oneself with respect and dignity. There inherently are differences between men and women. One can not avoid that.

It would be wonderful to have a place that celebrates all those aspect of womanliness. Things to include could be being a good hostess, running a business, running a household, organizing, etiquette for all kinds of social situations, how to change your flat tire, fashion....you name it. In the words of one contributor to the thread, "The Art Of Womanliness should be a site that teaches,edifies and encourages woman to learn how to become real with themselves and the people that love them. Strong character with a strong back-bone. Beauty within and grace that can be seen."

Women today are often presented with confusing and often time contradictory ideas of what it means to be a woman. Many women struggle with traditional roles for women and others struggle with the intense pressure of modern society to have it all; house, family, career when all they really want is to be a stay at home mom. This can lead to guilt at "betraying" the good aspects of the feminist movement that helped to give us the rights we have today. The bottom line is this. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be the CEO. There is nothing wrong with wanting to shape the people who will become our future. There is nothing wrong with wanting it all. I feel like it all comes down to what was mentioned above. You have to be true to yourself. As long as it it your decision, go for it!

To be womanly is many things. It is confidence. It is grace. It is knowing how to create that balance for yourself, never compromising your beliefs and recognizing when you are wrong. It is respectful and caring. Sometimes it means pulling off the perfect diner party for your husband's co-workers and sometimes it means changing the oil in your car.

Making Progress

15 pounds lost! Thank you Curves! That's in about 3 weeks. Now to get motivated about the home workouts to target my hips and butt! Wedding gown, here I come!

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.