Classing it up in class...

I took a couple of classes during the spring (while working full-time), and recently got a letter telling me I had made the dean's list... :)

Here's an example of what I might have worn to class on days when class was in the evenings after work (I was more casual for Saturday classes, ie. polo shirt, instead of dress shirt):

There is no possible excuse for anyone who has any self-respect to show up wearing pajamas or lousy t-shirts + ripped jeans... or sweatpants for that matter. People of good taste, let's unite and show how to do it right! :)

P.S.: It needn't be pricey... just in good taste--not hard if you try. Many people spend more than I do for things that look terrible. Using good taste is the best value... I don't need to buy two wardrobes for work and being comfortable, they run together for me... why should I need to be uncomfortable at work or look terrible when I'm enjoying myself?

P.P.S.: I'm allowed to be opinionated on my own blog. I'm not suggesting people do not have a right to dress as they see fit. I however challenge the idea that dressing without concern should be acceptable to society.

The Hope Diamond: It's sparkly...

I went to Washington DC today on a whim, because my work was closed due to AC failure today... and I thought I'd go and see the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, because I'd never really been farther than the lobby. After looking around a bit, I realized the Hope Diamond was here... so I went over and took a few pictures and a video... which has the relevant comment, "it's sparkly" by some random girl standing next to me... :D

So busy!

I have been running around lately and so distracted that I have forgotten to write here! Here are a few happy pictures from what I've been up to:

Making panoramas of things like pretty sunsets...

...and the new transportation center that's near my work...

Sewing a little, I decreased the size of a tablecloth here... this is hopefully the forerunner of a number of other upcoming projects, if I ever get around to them!

Spending time in DC with Victoria...

Swing Dancing at Glen Echo Park... :D :D :D

Making crepes!

Dancing at the Old Virginia Ball put on by the Virginian branch of We Make History...

Making all sorts of funny faces with someone I love to spend time with... (can you guess who?)

(that would be more funny faces)

And much, much, more!

Hopefully soon I'll have time to write up some more reviews about elegant happy things like Northanger Abbey, style, or other generally interesting/exciting material... but I thought I'd at least let everyone know that I haven't completely dropped off the face of the earth, lol!

Congratulations Cameron and Clegg! :D

More happiness: Tryon Palace, friendship, music, and iTV's Jane Austen clips...

I've been terribly remiss as of late regarding the updating of my blog. Let my dear readers know: it's not that I didn't have things to write... I just have been too preoccupied and distracted lately.

So, to start things back up a bit, I'm going to post a couple more pictures from Tryon... and also one or two of me and my good friend, Miss Victoria, who was a delight to spend time with and which is kind of how I discovered the existence of the delightful Tryon Palace and the lovely City of New Bern, North Carolina.

Reading the 'instructions'...

Isn't it lovely how they put up candles in the garden? They had a few weddings going on at the place when we were there...

Here's an alternate view of the garden from under the pillars above:

Somebody was enjoying herself too much and tried to get me wet... lol...

And then I had the brilliant idea of doing a picture that was kinda inspired by Emma Woodhouse in the latest BBC production of Emma (2009)... only, she wasn't exactly trying to hide here, lol...

And here I am in the garden...

Victoria in her very lovely outfit from Sunday... still in the garden...

Discovered the covered walkway between the buildings is actually nothing more than a walkway, notice how it opens up to the backyard through a thin wall...

Another fact that is of note, the stables have windows to the courtyard, which allows the courtyard to preserve its symmetry...

And I'm told this garden is mapped out like a butterfly...

Happy picture of me in the butterfly-shaped garden:

The gate is interesting too...

Then we discovered there were lights under the wood things to stand on at the guard posts:

Another thing, it actually has two gates, so here's how the view is on the town from the outer gate:

There were nice homes on either side of the gate...

And here's what the palace looks like from outside the grounds...

We even managed to escape without damage after driving around the cannon behind the palace:

At which point we went and walked around the lovely historic area of New Bern, North Carolina:

Including visiting the birthplace of Pepsi...

And there was another home we saw next to the palace on our way back...

And then for the Janeites, I was thinking about the theme music for the iTV Austen productions and finally discovered it can be downloaded/listened to in full and there is sheet music!!! So, let's start with two video collages... the first a fan video that is quite nice and the second is a trailer for the season.

Trailer:

So, as it turns out, the music is by Philip Sheppard and is called Crystallised Beauty. The sheet music is available on his website, as is a full recording that can be listened to. Click here for all this loveliness!

Good morning!

I was just eating a quick breakfast and wanted to post a most amazing piece of music I have come to completely adore... please enjoy and consider buying this track from Amazon or iTunes.




Purchase:

iTunes
Amazon

Wonderful weekend!

I had the loveliest weekend ever in North Carolina just now! I'll have more pictures later, but here are one or two to tease you all with. I got to spend time with friends and see some awesome places including the Tryon Palace in New Bern. :)