Bridgett Came to Visit!

My friend Bridgett came to visit me.  We are friends from Lake Poinsett Camp and have known each other for a very long time.  She was my first visitor last year, so this time around we skipped the Freedom Trail and Cape Ann.  Instead we had a great time doing many new things.  I was able to cross a lot of my "to see" list.

FRIDAY

During the day was the Inauguration of President Hollinger (President of Gordon Conwell.)  It was a very cool ceremony and I am glad I went.  He is the 6th president of Gordon Conwell.

Bridgett arrived that night.  We had some Quiznos and watched Emperor's New Groove which is a movie we both love and now both own.  "No touchy!"

SATURDAY

We headed down to Cape Cod, Hyannis specifically.  We took in the JFK Museum dedicated to the time the Kennedy's spent in Hyannis.

Here is Bridgett in front of the Museum.

They had a little video presentation and a whole wall dedicated to the Kennedy Family Tree.

Here we are at the Kennedy Memorial at the beach in Hyannis.  

This is the Saugus Bridge.  Once we crossed this, we were in the Cape.

That night, Bridgett and I went to a Karaoke Potluck at my church.  Since I don't have an oven, we brought chips and salsa.  I was very happy to see some "American Chop Suey" aka "goulash."  Bridgett and I sang one song - to everyone's suprise (including us!)  We sang "Lean On Me."  Good times.

SUNDAY

Bridgett sang in the church choir with me on Sunday.  Both the karaoke and the choir were things that I had hoped she would do, but did not require her to do.  We are all grateful she sang - we really needed her that day!

After church we headed into Boston for a play - Billy Joel's Movin' Out.  It was like a ballet set to Billy Joel music.  It was very cool and very impressive.  We arrived a little early and since the theater was adjacent to the Common, we walked around a snapped a few pictures.  I did get to see the "Make Way for Ducklings" statues, but did not get a picture with them.

In the Boston Public Gardens, all dressed up for the show.

We ate supper at the Bull and Finch Pub, inspiration for the show Cheers.  I had Macaroni and Cheese.  It was excellent.

MONDAY

Monday was our relaxed day.  I don't actually have any pictures...oops!  We went candlepin bowling.  I did better than when I tried it a year ago, but am sadly still terrible at it.  I hope to go one more time when my parents are here.  I can't wait to see how my dad does!  Unless of course he is skilled at that as well... :)

TUESDAY

We went to Concord, MA.  As some of the more astute readers of this blog will note, I went here in August with my friend Dana.  Bridgett wanted to see Orchard House and who am I to deny her?  It was wonderful to see it again after reading the book.  We had watched the movie the night before in order to prepare ourselves a little better.

We then ate lunch and headed over to Sleepy Hollow cemetary.  At this point in the trip, we both realized we hadn't taken many pictures and tried to make up for it.  I will post a few of the highlights.

We did some "senior photo" moments.  This is the best of Bridgett.

Notice the braid?  Bridgett did that - as well as take this great picture.

We are enjoying the cemetary a little too much at this point.

Believe it or not, this was taken by me with a self timer.  
I am looking at Emerson's grave.
I am the master of looking instantly pensive.

After the cemetary, we headed to North Bridge.  This was the sight of the first battle of the Revolutionary War.  There is a Minuteman statue there carved by the same guy who carved the Lincoln Memorial.  That guy was tutored by the sister to Louisa May Alcott, who wrote Little Women and lived in Orchard House.  Oh the connections!

The Minute Man statue in the sunlight.

My artistic rendering of the Old North Bridge.

That night we ate at Not Your Average Joe's (or as Bridgett called it - Coconut Joe's) with my roommates.  It was a nice end to the day, as well as the trip.

This morning, we had breakfast at Depot Diner (where I discovered the joy of cornbread pancakes) and dropped Bridgett off at the airport.  I have done very little homework since then, but have not been too idle.  However, I must get lots done in the next few days.  Pray for me!

What a week!

I've been so blessed this week that I'm literally worn out from kindness.

Wednesday I went out to brunch with my friend Gina.  Interesting fact:  Gina had never heard of eggs benedict before that morning.    I also received a 3-layer chocolate in the mail from my great-aunt Bernice.  This is the third birthday cake I have received in the mail.  It was probably the best chocolate cake I have ever eaten.  I gave a piece to a former professor of mine here at the seminary and he told me later that if he wasn't already married, he would have proposed to my great-aunt.

Thursday the baked-goods-in-the-mail trend continued with homemade chocolate chip cookies from my mother.  I love chocolate chip cookes baked by my mother and decided not to share them. 

Friday night I checked off one of my many things on my Boston to do list - tried some Samuel Adams beer on tap.  Samuel Adams is brewed in Boston (or near it.. I cannot remember).    I'm not a huge fan of beer, but this wasn't bad.  Thanks to Kerry for taking me out!

Saturday morning was spent at a bridal shower in Hamilton.  Saturday night I headed to Worcester, MA (pronounced Wuh-stah) to see Third Day, Brandon Heath and Revive in concert.  Words cannot express how awesome the show was and how much of a blessing it was for me to be there.  There was a group of 6 that went together and I just had a blast with them.

Today I went to church and then the girls from seminary ate out.  We had intended to eat BBQ but the place was closed.  Then we decided to eat Mexican food.  Interesting fact: Gina has never eaten Mexican food.  (Same girl as the eggs benedict. I've shown her a whole new world of food this week!)  Then we came back, ate cheesecake and played the Office DVD game.  

It's been a wonderful birthday celebration.  I feel very loved and blessed.  My room is full of yellow flowers and whenever I look at them I just smile.  Thank you to everyone.  It's going to be really hard to go back to a "normal" existence after a birthday like this.  Good thing I won't have to suffer for long.  Bridgett comes on Friday!  Woo Hoo!

Lutheran Video

I came across this when I was looking for something else.  It's based off of the Hannukah song by Adam Sandler.  It made me laugh.  Enjoy!

I lack originality.

This is taken from my friend Kim's blog which was taken from someone else's and so on and so forth.  There have been a lot of these types of things going around, but this one appealed to me because I have been a little sentimental lately and therefore am in the mood to give.

But before we get to the contest thing - a little story.

There is this couple in my church that I have become friends with.  They are also good friends of the pastor and her husband, which is how I got to know them.  Both of them are transplants from the Midwest to New England and much of our time is spent cataloguing the differences between the two regions.  For awhile the Kesters were trying to convince me that I would stay in New England, but I eventually convinced them otherwise.  About a month ago, Kimie (the wife) emailed me her husband's birthday which I put in the announcements page in the church bulletin.  This is typical for church members, but he isn't technically a church member yet.  Once he saw this he was determined to figure out my birthday and let the entire church know.  I gave him various hints over the past few weeks. I told him I never give up sweets during lent so I can always eat my birthday cake.  I told him I share my birthday with Albert Einstein.  Finally I told him my birthday was on Pi Day.  Of course he heard "pie day" and had no idea what that meant.

Well, today he figured it out.  However, when I do birthdays in the bulletin, I always do them for the upcoming week and since my birthday is on Saturday - he was too late!  [insert evil laugh]  Besides, I am the one who makes the bulletins - like I would incriminate myself!

It was a small victory for me, but a victory nonetheless.  Speaking of small victories - I bowled last night and got a 147 and a 158.  Those are really great scores for me, but I need to talk to my dad about it because the lanes were super slick and I think that had something to do with it.

Okay,  for those of you interested, here are the rules for the game I stole from Kim.  I'm modifying it a little.

The Rules

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me. Something crafty or yummy, who knows?

2. The gift that you send to your three winning friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make and/or ship your item. 

3. When you receive your gift, please share with blogdom what arrived on your doorstep. If you're not among the first three commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

Movie Moments Part 5

The final post in my series of favorite movie moments of movies that I own.  

The Saint

Favorite Moment:  Part of the movie is set in Oxford, England.  As many of you know, I spent a semester in Oxford during college.  One of the more famous buildings in Oxford is the Radcliffe Camera - part of the Bodleian Library.  In the movie, they make it seem like the lecture at the end of the movie is set within the Radcliffe Camera and there is a police chase through the Bodleian courtyard.  It's just fun because those are places I used to frequent when I lived there.

The 10th Kingdom

Favorite Moment:  This is a TV miniseries from a while ago, but I love it.  My favorite scene is the three trolls singing along to "night fever" by the BeeGees.  The tape player (yeah... tape player) dies in the middle of the song and they are so disappointed.  Then one of the trolls picks his nose and eats it.  It's such a great scene of sibling rivalry.

Twister

Favorite Moment:  After the final twister there is a scene where the rest of team is driving over the horizon towards the two main characters.  Van Halen's "Humans Being" is playing in the background - love it.  I watch this movie every summer.

Two Weeks Notice

Favorite Moment:  "George, you are the most selfish person in the entire world."  "That's just silly, have you met everyone in the world?"

Under the Tuscan Sun

Favorite Moment:  When Frances sees a snake enter her room, she has the italian realtor come to seek it out.  In the process she breaks down emotionally over her choice to move to Tuscany and he reassures her by telling her a story about faith.  That character is everything a man should be: kind, compassionate, faithful, the list goes on.

Waitress

Favorite Moment:  I love Nathan Fillion in this movie.  He's so awkward and sweet.  It's actually quite a feat to make his character endearing because he's a married doctor who is having an affair with one of his pregnant married patients... yet - I find myself really liking him.  Specifically when he shows up Keri Russell's door and just hugs her for 20 minutes.  We all need a little selfless love in our lives.

While You Were Sleeping

Favorite Moment:  Hands down favorite is the kid wiping out on his bike while delivering papers. It's a transitional scene and so funny.  Two other scenes are tied for a very close second:  The whole "leaning" discussion and the family dinner where about 5 conversations are happening at once... these mashed potatoes are so creamy.  

Well, that's it.  I hope you've found some of this interesting and perhaps it has inspired you to watch a movie or two.  You are welcome to borrow them from me (if that is practical) as long as you return it.  As you might notice, The Holiday wasn't on this list because it is still missing.  Very sad.  

I would be interested in your favorite moments of some of these movies or some of your own favorites.  Perhaps you'll inspire me to watch your favorites.