52 Weeks

Over the course of this year, I took many photographs. Some of them I shared with you during my daily blogging odessey; some of them stayed in my flickr account. My favorite ones made it into a set called 52 weeks, a pictorial representation of my life this year. For my final blog365 post, I'm sharing this set with you, as a slideshow, with musical accompaniment by the Hold Steady.

The hardest part about sharing this was finding the right song from this year to sum up not only the set but my life this year. Take a look at all the pictures, particularly the pictures of me. I'm smiling in every one of them. Take a look at the other people in the shots; "I've got a lot of old friends who are getting back in touch, and it's a pretty good feeling, yeah, it feels pretty good..." But overall, my boys say it best in the chorus. "We gotta stay positive." Anyone who's talked to me at all this year knows that sentiment is what I've been striving for, and continue to strive for as 2009 looms, hours away.

Thank you to all the people who made it into these photographs--you were the best in my life this year.

Thank you to a great many other people who are not in the photos, but were there in spirit.

Thank you readers, for keeping me focused on this daily blogging journey. I hope it was entertaining for you. Oh, and, listen to the song while you watch the show. It's more fun that way.

I wish all of you a peaceful, joyous, hopeful 2009. Peace, love, and stay positive.


Stay Positive - The Hold Steady

MP3 File

You Have To Throw A Stone To Get The Pool To Ripple

P8260089, originally uploaded by crau1971.

There's not much I can say about the band Squeeze. They were a great pop band, with lots of hits. The show I saw recently was definitely a greatest hits kind of night, which was fun. My friends and I had a great time.

The venue, however, was something else. New, still shiny. Kind of slow service, but great sound. Clean, well mixed, not overpowering. I'll be really interested to see what other bands they are able to book there.

What a night like this really makes me think about, though, is better camera gear, and a press pass.

Flashback

Rau sisters, two Carchedis and a neighbor, originally uploaded by crau1971
Back to when sundresses were simple, and the only thing we HAD to do that day was sit on the stairs.

I'm in the center of the back row; my two sisters are next to each other in the front, first and second from left. The girl next to them is the neighbor up the street, and the two next to me are these two girls.

Time flies.

Washington St.

Washington St., originally uploaded by crau1971.

When you start getting emails from friends, asking when you're going to update your flickr account, you know you've been a slacker. I had to use my sister's computer, though, because mine has somehow corrupted my iPhoto.

This shot is of the beginning of the Norwood Little League parade, the last weekend in April. I live on the next block, so, welcome to my neighborhood, I guess.

Tree, with dam behind it

Tree, with dam behind it, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Taken from the "pooh sticks" bridge, behind Smith College.

It's always nice when new friends get your weird references, like what pooh sticks is, and why the bridge we were standing on was a perfect place for that.

Lovely afternoon of sushi, and a good walk, and funky stores. I had a nice little jaunt.

Everyone always says Washington is a circus.

Everyone always says Washington is a circus., originally uploaded by crau1971.

Which is one of the reasons I love this city so much; I always find something here to surprise me. I found this image (and several others) waiting for me Saturday morning, as I walked out of my hotel and strolled down to the National Mall. The morning news had said the official Cherry Blossom Parade was that morning, and I found a unique opportunity to see a celebratory Washington, not a power center Washington or political intrigue Washington. And to see all the bands, and floats, and balloons on 7th street, waiting in formation, it made me laugh, at the end of a week where I really needed the laugh.

My friend's party was lovely; she has a wonderful, large circle of friends, and I connected with one of her graduate school friends, and she and I spent a great deal of time talking with each other, and with Heather's fiance, who doesn't like huge crowds, but paradoxically, was thrilled to be a part of this big crowd. Much like me. As Heather said as I was leaving, "I always love it when my friends meet my other friends and everyone gets along." A better testament to the woman who brought us there, I think, than to our own personalities.

I head home today, a little tired, but glad to have been away.

PS: Note Bob the Builder enjoys looking at the Capitol dome, too. ;)

Washington Monument

Washington Monument, originally uploaded by crau1971.

I like the clouds in the background.

Spring Mix

Forsythia, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Care of Muxtape.

Click that link, and you can play them right from the screen. All of the songs remind me of spring, some old, some new, all very cool, and all in HEAVY rotation on my iPod this spring.

Now, if the weather would just cooperate, I could really get into the spring feeling.

The Campaign Continues...

P3280107.JPG, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Remember, local elections affect your life every day. It really IS your civic duty to vote.

What The Backstage Pass Gets You

What the backstage pass gets you, originally uploaded by crau1971.

BAD angle on my shirt, but there I am, with my musical hero, "backstage" after his show last night. ("Backstage", last night, consisted of being able to meet with Bob before he had to go out and sign merchandise for everyone waiting. But, relatively unmolested face time with Bob is ALWAYS a good thing.) Of course, I blanched when he asked me how my guitar playing was (oh, right, yeah, HE REMEMBERS THAT!!); fortunately, we were interrupted before I had to answer.

Review tomorrow, as I've got loads of work to do tonight. More pictures on flickr, should you want to peruse.

Where I Will Be This Evening

Bob Mould electric 1, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Bullwinkle for Dinner

No, seriously. Saturday night, I cooked moose for the first time. I have cooked venison in the past, in fact, I used this recipe, modified to make a roast. However, since I had the proper cut of meat, I decided to make the stew for my father and my friends from Australia. There's something romantic about cooking food you know the exact origin of, and the path it took to your table. The moose I prepared was killed by my father this past fall, and I was anxious to try some. And, since his moose was over 675 pounds, he had plenty of meat to spare.

I made some adjustments to the recipe, mainly in the mushrooms and the seasoning. I couldn't find dried porcini mushrooms, so I chopped up crimini mushrooms, and added extra stock to make up for the mushroom liquid. I also substituted herbes de provence for the cloves and the rosemary sprig (I used 2 teaspons of dried herbes de provence rather than the 2 cloves and the fresh rosemary), and instead of 2 tablespoons of tomato paste, I used the whole small can. These minor tweaks enhanced the flavor and made a beautiful rich, red sauce, very French in feel, and paired with a lovely Cotes du Rhone wine, was an excellent food wine combination. Here are some pictures of the fun:
Moose in process of cooking. Notice the bay leaf. Moose has a very mild flavor, similar to beef, and an almost sweet aroma when cooking. I could have sworn I smelled vanilla.
Finished dish on the table. Very savory and French, as noted. A Chateneuf de Pape would have also gone nicely with this dish.

All in all, a successful evening. I would definitely eat this again. For those of you adventurous foodies out there, try it, using the tweaks I described. You won't be disappointed.

Dupont Circle Metro

Dupont Circle Metro 2, originally uploaded by crau1971.

I took this picture last spring, not knowing I was foreshadowing Bob Mould's latest album title.

Read my review here.

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Now playing: Bob Mould - Very Temporary
via FoxyTunes

These Boots Were Made For Something

boots, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Walking, sure. Making a statement, more accurate.

I purchased these boots four years ago, in the bargain basement of a store in Freeport, ME. They were all alone on the rack, not even a box. Exactly my size. No others like them in the whole store. Marked down close to 90% of retail, I kid you not. Of course, I had to own them. I mean, pink snakeskin Doc Marten's?! Come on!

As I walked to the register, giggling over my find, I kept hearing whispers. When I put the boots down on the counter, the sales girl shook her head, and said, "Dammit, I lost." I turned around to notice EVERY EMPLOYEE IN THE STORE gathered to watch me purchase these boots. Apparently, they'd been languishing in the basement for quite some time, and this sales girl had bet every one of her co-workers a coffee if no one bought them that particular weekend.

I left the store just as she was leaving for Starbucks. Possibly my favorite retail story ever.

me, tree, canyon

me, tree, canyon, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Blast from the past, as I'm still feeling crap-tacular today.
One of the few places on earth that actually left me speechless. Not an easy feat, either.

Hurdy Gurdy Man

Hurdy Gurdy Man, originally uploaded by crau1971.

For a complete review, please head here.

Rock Band Meme

A little searching involved, but fun.

Go to wikipedia's home page, and hit the random article link in the side bar. This is your band name.
Best Jockey ESPY Award. Huh... We must be ironic and wear too-small sweaters.

Then, for your album title, go to this Random Quotations page. Find the last quote on the page. The last four words of that quote are your album title.

"An epigram often flashes light into regions where reason shines but dimly." Edwin P. Whipple

So, Reason Shines But Dimly. Definitely too-small sweaters.

Finally, go hit flickr explore. The third picture on the page is your album art. Thanks, karloswayne.

Anyway, have fun making your own. I need to go find an ill-fitting sweater now, and stare at my shoes.

Living Up to My Billing

Because, apparently, I'm a legend.

And, a tip. Go here and learn about punk rock girls. ;) There are no flowery sparkly princesses in punk rock. Only grrrls. (source)

New Chuck Taylor low tops, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Thanks, lovebites and the Ask crew. Come back anytime. ;)

Also, I wore those shoes to work today. Because, well, I really do live up to my billing.

Court & Cat

Court & Cat, originally uploaded by tinarockarena.

Not the picture I talked about in yesterday's entry, but damn close. This was taken Christmas Eve, by honorary sister k8.

The funny thing is, we were both wearing red cable knit v-neck sweaters, and Cat almost never wears red.

I love my sisters...said in as Jo-from-Little-Women-like as possible (private joke). ;)

colleen and me

colleen and me, originally uploaded by crau1971.

I know, you can see the repair job, but it's still one of my favorite pictures of me and one of my sisters ever. I'll find the one I love of Cat and I and scan it soon. I'm on the right, fyi. This picture was taken in Dennis, MA, at Bay St. Beach, probably 1976 or 1977. I'm sure the beach is all condos now, but in the 70s, it had these adorable stone cottages that sat right in the sand. Perfect, perfect, perfect.

In honor of National Delurking Day, what does this picture remind you of? Leave your thoughts in the comments.