You don't have to fake it, you have to find it.

Chris's Unique Fashion Sense

2010-05-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

LOST Finale

2010-05-24T09:45:00.001-07:00

Casey and Ron went all out! Here's my boarding pass for Oceanic Flight 815.

And our Dharma-sponsored feast!

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

2010-05-24T09:40:00.001-07:00

Commencement! As the representative for the Graduate Student Organization, I got to sit on the platform. Here's the view from the stage.
With our keynote speaker, Bert Jacobs, co-founder of Life is Good.
With the gang!

Saturday, May 22nd, 2010

2010-05-24T09:38:00.001-07:00

This woman was walking her goat past my apartment building. That's right. I said goat.

Friday, May 21st, 2010

2010-05-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

The gang, at the L.L. Bean Flagship Store in Freeport, Maine. Awesome to have everyone here for graduation!

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

2010-05-24T09:25:00.001-07:00

The Bennie, at the home of the Bennie! In York, Maine.

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

2010-05-24T08:10:00.001-07:00

At the commencement fair, when Sara and I bought our caps and gowns, a crazy lady wearing a lobster hat was yelling about the Lobster Bake and telling us that there was going to be a beer truck. So, of course, we signed up.

When we picked up our Lobster Bake tickets, we were told that we would have to bring our IDs in order to get beer bracelets. I had no idea what a beer bracelet was. Now I know!
Sara Ann with her lobster feast.
And Andy!

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

2010-05-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Laura, at the Lawson shop, on the Plasmacar. :)

Monday, May 17th, 2010

2010-05-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

And after...

Sunday, May 16th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:47:00.001-07:00

Okay, hopefully this video works...

This is my office before I cleaned it out.

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:44:00.001-07:00

At the Lawson shop... Laura wanted to try the different horns. Here, a posthorn...
and here, a trompe de chasse.

Friday, May 14th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:43:00.001-07:00

On the way to the Lawson shop in Littleton...

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

The music theory class I taught. I had a lot of fun. I hope they did too!

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:37:00.001-07:00

The music department teaching assistants and the band directors frequently go to lunch, and we frequently tease Andy about his poor nutrition. On this day, he decided to get a salad, and I was so proud of him that I had to take a picture.

Dr. Andy Boysen, ladies and gentlemen...

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

Bassoon final exam, or lethal weapon?

Monday, May 10th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:20:00.001-07:00

This is what I get for using my cell phone camera...

At any rate, Claire invited me over for dinner, and we drank beer from glasses displaying a picture of a bear with antlers. Love it!

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:17:00.001-07:00

Casey and I work out together frequently, and we often see this guy at the gym. He, like most people, has a set routine, and when he stretches his calves against this pole, he always hugs it. "Oh how I love this gym... I just want to hug it..." :P

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:14:00.000-07:00

Whoopie pies. Mmm...

Friday, May 7th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

UNH has this initiative called "Healthy UNH" that is focused on the general overall health of the school population. This includes stress relief during finals week. I was in the library, and I noticed this sign. Pretty awesome, even if I didn't get to partake.

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:08:00.001-07:00

A little field trip to a restaurant in Portsmouth called The Friendly Toast. Here, Casey's devouring her King Cakes (I guess this is a flavor combination that Elvis liked): chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter in between and bacon on top. She opted out of the whipped cream on top...

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:07:00.001-07:00

At the afterparty for the recital: The ceremonial burning of the Kopprasch.

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

2010-05-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Kendall Betts, ladies and gentlemen.

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

2010-05-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

Pics from the horn recital. I promise, Amanda and I didn't plan the matching dresses!
With Hannah...
with Amanda Payne...
with Jason...
with Laura and Gray.

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

2010-05-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Pretty tulips in Boston.

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

2010-05-24T06:45:00.001-07:00

The Old North Church. Having heard the poem "Paul Revere's Ride" countless times, I've often wondered how tall the Old North Church tower actually was. "One if by land, two if by sea..."

Friday, April 30th, 2010

2010-05-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Here I am with my ass.

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

2010-05-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

This is the pulpit at King's Chapel. I thought it was really cool-looking. Kind of the like the pastor is floating...

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

2010-05-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

This very nice Redcoat let us join his tour. :)

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

2010-05-24T06:32:00.001-07:00

Katie came up for a visit, and we went to Boston to walk the Freedom Trail. I didn't know this, but this brick path runs for about 3 miles through the city of Boston, past many historical sites along the way. Very cool! The weather was gorgeous that day. Katie and I had a ball being tourists.

Monday, April 26th, 2010

2010-05-24T06:22:00.001-07:00

People around here sometimes complain about how the public transportation isn't extensive enough. Compared to Georgia, however, it's pretty great. Wildcat Transit is UNH's bus system. This picture was taken at a stop in the town where I live.

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

2010-04-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

That, my friends, is a completed masters project. W00t!

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

2010-04-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

I took care of Lucy, Kendall's daughter, the other day, and we spent some time in the arcade at the bowling alley. This is the luckiest girl in the world. Next time, I'm going to have her pick my lotto numbers. $5 in tokens, and she got something like 350 tickets, mostly on one game!

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

2010-04-28T06:20:00.001-07:00

This is what happens when the horn section doesn't get enough attention during rehearsal... We come up with French horn gang signs. Check it out... My index finger is the lead pipe, my thumb and middle finger make the body of the horn, and my ring finger and pinky are the bell. Pretty cool, huh?

And here's Hannah trying to play hers... :D

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

2010-04-28T06:12:00.001-07:00

The Graduate Student Organization. Every grad student at UNH is automatically a member, but here are some of the regular attenders of our meetings. Okay, maybe not the dog...

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

2010-04-28T06:10:00.000-07:00

Mathieu and Fabienne were kind enough to invite me to dinner at their place. We went on a walk in the woods behind their house, and we picked up a few pieces of litter along the way. Beer can on a stick. Fabienne feels like it's representative of New Hampshire. :)

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

2010-04-28T06:09:00.000-07:00

In addition to horns, Kendall really likes cars. And his cars definitely reflect his personality... and his horning...

Monday, April 19th, 2010

2010-04-28T06:07:00.001-07:00

I've driven up to the Lawson shop (in Littleton, a 2-hour drive north) a couple of times in the past couple of weeks. On the way, I pass one of those landmarks you don't see in just any small town: a Trojan horse.

Yeah, I don't know either.

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

2010-04-28T06:06:00.001-07:00

Adam, making use of the latest technology by listening to his Discman. Hey Adam, the 90's called. They want their technology back! :P

Saturday, April 17th

2010-04-28T06:04:00.001-07:00

Walking to class one morning, I saw a bunch of hula hoopers on the lawn. What's up with that? Heck if I know. :)

Friday, April 16th, 2010

2010-04-28T06:03:00.001-07:00

Also seen at the MS Walk... (which began at an elementary school).

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

2010-04-28T05:59:00.001-07:00

Sara Ann Shea (who you just saw posing with Wild E.) is one of my fellow music grad students. Her mom has MS, so some of us decided to do the MS Walk in Portsmouth. Sean filled out his "I walk for..." badge with "Mrs. Ann Shea." :P

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

2010-04-28T05:56:00.001-07:00

UNH hosted a Commencement Fair that dealt with all of our commencement-related needs. I bought my cap and gown (and hood!), got a bunch of brochures about diploma frames, and got information about the upcoming grad lobster bake. (Hooray for lobster!) Sara and I also got our picture taken with Wild E. Cat, modeling his very own cap and gown.

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

2010-04-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

Another cool thing about the library is that certain rooms are dedicated quiet rooms for study. You can't talk in those rooms, or you get dirty looks from all of the people trying to study. Being one of those who is usually trying to study, I love it!

Monday, April 12th, 2010

2010-04-28T05:52:00.001-07:00

Dimond Library at UNH. I love the windows. Makes it a gorgeous place to study. :)

Spring!

2010-04-11T03:47:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, we had a few "teaser" days when the temperatures were in the 70s (and one day, in the 80s!) Now we're back down into reasonable spring-in-New-England temperatures, but the trees have definitely begun to bloom again. Here's a really pretty tree near the library. (Sorry about my shirt looking ridiculous - guess I should have looked in the mirror...)

And here's a night shot of a tree like that one. Thought it was a cool picture.

Crazy College Kids

2010-04-10T15:30:00.001-07:00

I was walking from the parking lot, and I saw this guy walking around barefoot. Granted, it was warm last week, but warm enough to walk around without shoes? I don't think so. (If you look closely, you can see that his shoes are hanging from his backpack. I wonder how long it was until he put them on.)

2010-04-09T03:19:00.000-07:00

You might have to really zoom in on this one.

I was walking from the parking lot to the PCAC the other morning, and I noticed a squirrel running along the ledge on the side of one of the buildings. When it got to the corner of the building, it didn't turn and run down the next side of the building, it stopped. It stopped and looked at that tree. Kind of like it wanted to jump into the tree, but instead it just stared longingly.

I waited for it to jump into the tree. I wanted to see what would happen. But it didn't jump. It just waited. It waited for so long that I had time to fish my camera out of my bag and take this picture. It waited for so long that I gave up and walked away.

I feel like this picture needs some sort of caption...

Vanessa's memere...

2010-04-08T04:01:00.000-07:00

...wearing Vanessa's sunglasses.

I was lucky enough to join my roommate Vanessa and her family for Easter this year. I had an awesome time meeting everyone and just hanging out. Thanks to everyone for hosting; I really enjoyed myself!

Crazy Band Kids

2010-04-07T04:10:00.001-07:00

Bowl-o-Rama recently hosted a fundraiser for the marching band. 2 hours of cosmic bowling on Saturday morning. As usual for cosmic bowling, music was played the whole time. These are some pick from the Cha-cha Slide. Almost everyone put their game on hold to go dance. :)

Dustin

2010-04-06T03:57:00.000-07:00

You know, I proposed marriage to him, but he refused. Something about already having a girlfriend... What's up with that?

Taking the Indoors Outdoors

2010-04-05T03:31:00.000-07:00

Daffodils!

2010-04-04T04:30:00.001-07:00

Growing next to my house. I didn't even know they were there!

This one's for you, Mom.

Saturday, April 3rd

2010-04-04T04:27:00.001-07:00

Home of the most cheerful postal workers I've ever met. Gruntled? Very.

Outdoor Classroom

2010-04-02T04:14:00.001-07:00

On the way to the gym yesterday, Casey and I saw the writing on the wall. Literally. This building on campus has undergone some serious renovations, so we're used to walking by construction equipment and mounds of mud, but it was finished about a month ago, and it seems like they've done some pretty cool stuff with it. For instance, there's a chalkboard on the outside of the building - which I never noticed until I saw people having class there yesterday. Casey took the picture with her iPhone, so you have to kind of squint to see the little people, but you get the idea.

That big rock thing close to the camera? Yeah, I don't know. At first, I thought that maybe the construction workers were chipping pieces off of it for some reason, but now I think it's some kind of sculpture. I'm no art critic, but... well... they could have done better. I'm just sayin'.

Thursday, April 1st

2010-04-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

"New Hampshire. It's just like Old Hampshire, but new."

No kidding. This was featured on the morning news.

Granite State of Mind

This pretty much sums it up. Not even an April Fool's joke.

Wednesday, March 31st

2010-04-02T04:01:00.000-07:00

My roommate Vanessa makes some interesting fashion choices. I figure, hey, everyone's different. Who am I to judge? But when she came home the other night wearing a shower cap, I just had to take a picture. Granted, it was raining, and she had just gotten her hair done. But this was just too comical not to make a Kodak moment.

Side note: This is actually the way that Vanessa smiles for pictures. If she's not thinking about smiling, she'll actually smile, but the clenched fists and the bared teeth - she's actually trying here.

Rain!

2010-03-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

It's been raining cats and dogs for the last two days. Today, Casey and I went to the gym, which is shaped like half of a cylinder laid on its side. Consequently, the windows aren't perpendicular to the ground but angled to face the sky, and when the water runs down over them, it makes it look as though we're underwater. Kind of a neat effect.

I rode with Casey in her car to the gym (and back to the PCAC), but it was raining so hard, that this is what I looked like after walking from the parking lot to my office (maybe a quarter mile).

What a day.

The Caswell Sisters Take Portsmouth!

2010-03-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

The subject of this post should probably be more like "Portsmouth's Press Room is Unable to Generate Appropriately-Sized Audience for Highly-Talented Performers," but it didn't have quite the same ring to it. When I asked Rachel how the tour had been going, she said, "Musically and emotionally it's been great, but no one wants to come out unless it's for Herbie Hancock accompanied by the ghost of Duke Ellington." Which is too bad - because Rachel and Sara are awesome. I always enjoy hearing them perform, and it's even better when they come to my neck of the woods to do it!

The C and J Bus

2010-03-28T05:21:00.001-07:00

One of the cool things about New Hampshire is that people generally try to "go green" whenever possible. For that reason, quite a lot of public transportation options are available. Traveling to Boston's airport by car is expensive, since parking, even in the economy lot, is $18 per day. It's $19 for a one-way train or bus ticket, so it's only economical to drive your car if your trip is 2 days or fewer.

Taking the train is fun, but it only runs about 5 times a day, and when you get off, you have to take the T to the airport.

The bus, on the other hand, runs hourly from my town directly to the airport. Good stuff.

Mark's French Fries

2010-03-27T03:33:00.001-07:00

Every Monday night during marching band season, we'd go out for dinner after rehearsal for a "staff meeting." Most of the time I would eat dinner before rehearsal, so I wouldn't always get food when we went out, but I would inevitably end up eating Mark's french fries. Last week, Casey, Ron, Mark, and I went out to dinner, and Mark (per usual) got fries that he couldn't finish. Which reminded me of all of the fries he "bought me" over the course of the past two marching band seasons.

Mark

2010-03-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Mark Adams, percussion instructor of the Wildcat Marching Band and, apparently, model for senior portrait scenarios...

Stress Relief Tea

2010-03-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Amanda and Gray, I've been introduced to the wonders of Stress Relief tea. It's got an ingredient called Kava which, I guess, is pretty strong. The tea is tasty, and it does indeed promote relaxation. It also makes me laugh that there's a warning on the back of the box about combining the use of this tea with alcohol consumption and operating heavy machinery. :D

This stuff is gooooood. :P

Sam Adams. Mmm...

2010-03-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Like Ben and Jerry's, you can get Sam Adams pretty much anywhere, but it wasn't until I moved to New Hampshire (I'm only an hour and a half drive from Boston) that I discovered that more varieties existed than just Boston Lager. In fact, there's a whole variety pack!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

2010-03-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

Ben and Jerry's. 'Nuff said. Vermont isn't exactly New Hampshire, but it is next door.

My Favorite Practice Room

2010-03-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time practicing, so I've developed a preference for certain practice rooms. This one is my favorite. It's got a curtain on the wall to absorb the sound so that I don't deafen myself and it's got a relatively in-tune piano (but just in case, it's also got several electronic keyboards - in tune, of course - to choose from). It's also twice as big as the other practice rooms which is good for two reasons. One, that means that there are twice as many lights on the ceiling, and since the practice rooms are pretty dim, that's a hot commodity. Two, the extra room prevents me from feeling claustrophobic. When you're crammed into a teeny tiny practice room, it can sometimes feel a little as though the walls are closing in on you.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

2010-03-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

Family.

Renee and I also went to see our Aunt Karen (my mom's sister)...

...our cousin Amber (Aunt Karen's daughter)...

...and our cousin Josh (Amber's brother), his girlfriend Julie, and Amber's kids, Nathan and Lily.

That evening, I was lucky enough to get to visit with my cousin Eric (Renee's brother) and his kids, Connor, Rowan, and Kaylee...

...and their mom, Cathy.

What an awesome time. Words can't express it, although my mom came close when she said, of her family, "I'd choose them." You know what? Me too.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

2010-03-22T13:04:00.000-07:00

Trumpets: Fun for the Whole Family

So, of course I took my horn with me to Pittsburgh for spring break. I mean, who doesn't bring their horn with them when they travel, right?

While we were taking a walk in the neighborhood, Renee discovered that I had brought my horn, and she mentioned that not only had she played trumpet (which I knew) but that Joe had played as well (which I didn't know) and that they had several in the attic. She asked if I could play my horn a little for the girls, so I did, which led to letting them try it, which led to pulling the trumpets out of the attic, which led to a little trumpet lesson. What a riot. :)

Here, Jess (11) and Natalie (8) are giving it a try. (The mute was a must after about 5 minutes...)

Even Lindsey (6) was able to play a little, probably aided by the lack of her top front teeth!

When Joe got home from work, he showed us what he remembered.

So Renee couldn't be left out. :)

I was impressed. Each of the girls were making characteristic sounds within about 5 minutes, and Renee and Joe sounded pretty good themselves!

Friday, March 19, 2010

2010-03-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

Grandparents.

While in PA, I got to visit with Grandpa (my dad's dad)...

...and Granny (my mom's stepmom). Both live in retirement communities, and it's been way too long since I've seen either of them.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

2010-03-22T12:52:00.001-07:00

Thursday was Renee's birthday. Here she is with her youngest daughter, Lindsey, getting ready to blow out the candles on the birthday brownies. Happiness in Pennsylvania...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

2010-03-22T12:49:00.001-07:00

St. Patrick's Day!

On St. Patrick's Day, I went to Pittsburgh for a visit to the extended family. I stayed with my cousin Renee and her family and had an absolute blast.

Natalie, Renee and Joe's middle daughter, left a note for the leprechaun to leave his underwear while she was at school, and what do you know? He did!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

2010-03-22T12:47:00.001-07:00

Another highlight was getting to see Aaron. Here he is, scrunched into a desk, looking like he's in detention or something.

Monday, March 15, 2010

2010-03-22T12:43:00.001-07:00

One of the highlights of the workshop for me was getting to visit with Lauren a bit. Lauren is a UNH alum (before my time), but she and I met at horn camp. We were both campers a few years ago, and last year, we were on staff together. This picture is post-Matilda's, after a loooong day of horning. We were both exhausted.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

2010-03-22T12:38:00.001-07:00

While exploring the wilds of Newark, we came upon a restaurant called Matilda's which advertised "Australian Barbecue." We jokingly wondered if kangaroo would be served. Looks like we could have found out. Too bad we didn't. Having already eaten dinner, we were all going for drinks - except Lauren, who's a vegetarian, and therefore unqualified to determine whether "roo" meat just tastes like beef or actually is beef in disguise. (Why does my hamburger have a pouch?)

Saturday, March 13, 2010

2010-03-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

So, I didn't update for an entire week because I was on spring break. I figured, the blog is called "Happiness in New Hampshire," so if I'm not in New Hampshire, I must be off the hook, right? After a verbal flogging from 50% of my loyal readership (that's you, Stacy...) who said "What? You can't be happy in other places?" I rethought things.

For that reason, I bring you:

Happiness in New Hampshire: Spring Break Edition

This one's for you, Stace.

Spring Break 2010: First stop, Newark, Delaware, for the Northeast Horn Workshop.

Jason, who entertains me greatly on his own, even in the state of New Hampshire (and therefore will probably get his own blog entry later on), recently purchased a Vienna horn. A Vienna horn, for those who don't know, is essentially a single F horn. For reasons too detailed to explain here, accuracy is more difficult on a single horn than on a double horn (what most horn players use), yet the Vienna Orchestra horn section still uses Vienna horns, even when most of the rest of the world has switched to a less regional model of instrument.

Here, Jason's getting some practice time in at a rest stop in Connecticut. (I think...)

Ample Practice Time

2010-03-12T05:22:00.001-08:00

What, you may ask, IS ample practice time? Heck if I know. I have yet to feel as though I've ever practiced "enough" in a given day. But one thing is sure, it's a lot easier to create practice time within my schedule as a graduate student than it was working full time.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

2010-03-12T05:17:00.000-08:00

Each morning, on my walk from A Lot to the PCAC, I pass behind the library, and I see this bird feeder. Sometimes I even see some birds, although on this day, they were a little camera-shy.

It reminds me of the bird feeder that we had at home... and images of Mom hanging laundry in the backyard in her bathrobe and Dad's hiking boots and calling the birds. :)

Apparently, birds aren't very tidy eaters. Here's the scene below the window. The other day, a couple of birds were so preoccupied with chowing down that I almost stepped on them when I passed.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

2010-03-12T05:12:00.001-08:00

Don't have time to go to the gym? Just go to the library. This picture was taken in front of the PCAC (where the music department is). The building on the left is the library which, unfortunately, you can't enter from the back. Instead, you have to climb the stairs to enter through the front.

I know what you're thinking... those stairs don't look too bad. Mm hmm. You climb 'em. By the time I get to the top, I feel like I need to lie down just to slow my breathing and heart rate.

Thank you, UNH, for looking out for my cardiac health. You realize that students have busy schedules and can't always make it to the gym, so you find alternate ways to create a healthy student body. :P

Big Blue Crab!

2010-03-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

Here's Miss Lucy being pinched by a giant blue crab in front of the New Hampshire Children's Museum - also conveniently located in Dover.

Monday, March 8, 2010

2010-03-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

Fiddlehead Farms, food (literally) for my addiction to fresh produce.

A fiddlehead, by the way, is the tip of a fern. Edible, and honestly not too bad if sauteed in butter. I haven't seen them for sale since I moved here, but several years ago on a family vacation to Maine, we made the discovery and actually tried to cook some for ourselves. It was a nice try at least. The flavor was a little like asparagus...

Sunday, March 7, 2010

2010-03-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

So, they're remodeling my local Wal-Mart, and as it turns out, they're apparently giving things away for free! Check it out!

I guess nobody really wants a pinata that looks like Ronald McDonald.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

2010-03-08T13:36:00.001-08:00

NHPR: New Hampshire Public Radio. 104.3 FM.

Friday, March 5, 2010

2010-03-08T13:34:00.001-08:00

The Dairy Bar is actually at the train station, on campus here at UNH. It's entirely sustainable; even the plasticware is made from soy and is compostable. And the ice cream is exceptional. I personally recommend both "Graham Central Station" and "Peanut Butter Iditarod."

Thursday, March 4, 2010

2010-03-08T13:30:00.001-08:00

The train. You know, I never rode on a train until I moved here. It's pretty fun! And it runs directly through campus, through the town where I live, all the way north to Portland, Maine, and all the way south to Boston. Amtrak's Downeaster. Good stuff.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

2010-03-08T13:09:00.000-08:00

Mmm... apple cider... and apple donuts... mmm...

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

2010-03-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

Apple 'n' Spice donuts. Again, you can get them anywhere, but only in New Hampshire would we have such a severe windstorm that the power would go out for three days and come on again when it's too late for me to go grocery shopping for the week, so I allow myself to eat breakfast at Dunkin' Donuts every day for a week straight.

Mmm... pure deliciousness.

Monday, March 1, 2010

2010-03-08T13:02:00.001-08:00

Because of the salt used on the roads when it snows, it's necessary to get a lot of car washes. And because I have no hose at my house (and because it's too cold for me to be washing my car myself outside), I go to the automatic car wash. Which is kind of fun, and only about $10. When you think about how long it takes to wash a car thoroughly, $10 is worth it.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

2010-03-08T13:00:00.001-08:00

Indoor Ascent is a climbing gym in Dover. It's no Atlanta Rocks or anything, but it has the advantages of a. being right in the town where I live, and b. being a really cheap place to climb.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

2010-03-08T12:58:00.001-08:00

When I initially came to Dover to apartment hunt, Dad and I noticed "Ralph's House of Tone" across the street from our hotel. Now that I've been in it and discovered that it's just a normal music store, it amuses me just as much that it's called Ralph's House of Tone. :D

Friday, February 26, 2010

2010-03-08T12:50:00.000-08:00

Janetos is a family-owned meat market here in Dover. I mean, technically it's a supermarket, but their specialty is meats. You can walk in and ask for just about any kind or cut of meat, and they'll have it. This is the place that I learned that you could order more than just what you saw in the case. There's more in the back, you know.

I also enjoy the "local flavor" you find in Janetos. It reminds me of going to the grocery store with Granny as a kid. It's kind of small and slightly dirty, and the guy behind the meat counter will talk to you for half an hour about cuts of meat (because that's what he loves to do), and the cashier is about 300 years old and has eyelashes that I think are actually made from mascara. It's good stuff.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

2010-03-08T12:36:00.001-08:00

Mmm... La Festa. When I was apartment hunting before I ever moved here, this is the first place that Dad and I ate. Little did I know that we'd stumbled on what would become one of my favorite places to eat in Dover. Good pizza, good beer, good atmosphere. I'm a fan.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

2010-03-08T11:54:00.001-08:00

This is the house directly across the street from where I live. I can see it through my bedroom window. I think it looks like a doll house. Like that one that Stacy had when we were kids. You turn it around, and instead of a back wall, there's a giant hole in the house, and, thanks to "Sylvanian Families," you find disproportionately large woodland creatures inhabiting the rooms and trying to sleep in impossibly small beds.

I've never actually seen the back of this house. It's pretty quiet over there, but who knows, maybe something exciting is going on.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

2010-03-08T11:51:00.001-08:00

That's right. Dunkin' Donuts. I know that they aren't just in New Hampshire, but here, as opposed to the south (where Waffle House reigns supreme), you can find a Dunkin' Donuts on every corner.

Their latest coffee ads say "Better than mittens..." And as someone who sometimes drinks coffee for no other reason than that my hands are cold, I have to say that they're right.

Snow

2010-02-22T09:57:00.001-08:00

It's been pretty warm for winter lately, so when it snowed last weekend, the snow was wet and slushy and very sticky. Beautiful when it stuck to the trees. Here's the view from my deck.
And here's a pretty tree outside the PCAC (my building at school) after an earlier, lighter snow shower.

Sunday, February 21st

2010-02-22T09:47:00.001-08:00

It wasn't until I moved to New England that I learned that there's more than one type of bowling. Candlepin bowling uses pins that are closer to cylindrical than "big-ball" bowling, and balls that are slightly larger than softballs. Andy, one of my fellow grad assistants, is really into bowling; he even works at the bowling alley. Unfortunately, it was pretty dark in the bowling alley, so you don't really get the full idea, but this is a picture of him.
And Ron and Casey with some candlepin balls. Or maybe imitating Mickey Mouse...

Saturday, February 20

2010-02-22T09:27:00.000-08:00

Hannah makes me laugh, basically on a daily basis. This is when I found her sitting in the hall waiting for her flute lesson to start. It looked like someone had pushed her down and thrown a flute on top of her. The pout-y face is just for effect. :)

Eggs!

2010-02-19T13:35:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I went to a chamber music recital, and at the reception, they served (among other things) eggs. Who cooks eggs for their recital reception? Apparently, the "UNH Chamber Winds." Ben did an "eggscelent" job. :)

Thursday, February 18th

2010-02-19T13:34:00.000-08:00

New England Clam Chowder. 'Nuff said.

Steel Drums in the MUB

2010-02-17T18:32:00.000-08:00

Our student union is called the Memorial Union Building (MUB, for short), and I often eat lunch in the food court there with the band directors and some of the other graduate students after wind symphony rehearsals. On Wednesdays, they have a series called "WOW: What's On Wednesday." Last week, they had a steel drum band. It's hard to tell from the picture, but they're on the stage against the far wall.

Tuesday, February 16th

2010-02-17T18:21:00.000-08:00

My roommate Vanessa got dressed up to go out, and she was so cute that I had to take her picture. Then, of course, she put on her Madeleine hat (as in, from the children's books), so I made her pose again.

Recital Flowers, the Gift that Keeps on Giving

2010-02-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

Pretty, aren't they?