I don’t think it’s a secret that I am just a little obsessed with pictures.  In fact I’m pretty sure that, at some point, 95% of the people in my life have been annoyed with my insistence on taking pictures of what’s going on.  But even beyond that, I can literally spend hours looking at old photos.  I love black and white photos.  I love pictures where people aren’t looking at the camera.  I love portraits of individuals.  I love pictures of couples.  I will probably always smile at any picture of a baby.  I can look at pictures that I was never even there for and imagine what was happening, and I can laugh at pictures I am in or that I took and vividly recall the exact situation in which the picture was taken.  And this is pretty much what I have been doing the past three days or so – looking at pretty much every photo of people in my life that I can get my hands on (and you don’t even want to know how many that is).

So, in honor of that, here are some quotes I particularly like about the power of photography…

Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created.  It is a major force in explaining man to man. – Edward Steichen

All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget.  In this – as in other ways – they ar e the opposite of paintings.  Paintings record what the painter remembers.  Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it. – John Berger

Too too much to say about the wonderfulness that are my friends and family. I had a great week, an amazing weekend, and an utterly wonderful day of birth Pictures here. Thanks so much to everyone!!! (And Scott…we should talk ASAP lol)

KD Toga party last night.  Wild & crazy fun times ensued.  The evidence – I mean, pictures – are online here.

Things are going well in general   I started my TFA application; need to finish it up.  Gotta start studying for the psych GRE.  Oh, and catch up on school work.  And plan LP performances (WHY is no one returning calls/emails??).  It’s Homecoming weekend!!!  I actually have tickets for the game tomorrow; we’re playing against Army.  I’m pretty excited to see all the alums etc

*Yawn*.  Goodness.  I seem to have fallen majorly behind on updating not only this, but my real journal too.  And I seem to be falling behind in my GRE studying.  And in my fundraising letters.  Lacking motivation much?  This could possibly be tied to the upcoming Harry Potter release…also possibly to exhaustion and a seemingly constant migraine.  Ah well.  First thing’s first…catch up a bit on this blog, as much has happened

I saw Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!!!!  Mostly, I have to agree with the illustrious Rachel Baxley’s criticisms (cop-out, I know).   The books are, as ever, wonderful.  I’m getting really geared up for the new one, obviously.  Cannot wait.

Also saw The Pursuit of Happyness (finally) tonight.  Will Smith was, as usual, excellent.  Painfully difficult movie to watch tho.  I hate being late and stuff like that, so having to endure all of that with him, while so much was riding on his impressions, was awful.  Can’t believe it’s a true story…incredible what people can do.

So, I didn’t really do an entry justice, but I’m about to pass out.  In other news, I did finally manage to switch picture sites (the Europe pics can still be viewed at the old site) and update with some summer pics, viewable here.

Besitos a todos!

So, this past weekend I took a beautiful drive down from PA to VA through the Shenandoah Valley to attend Daddy’s installation ceremony in the Hebron Valley Presbyterian Church in Stanton, VA.  It was so gorgeous!  Really easy drive too.

As for Stanton, I think the fam will be really happy there.  Daddy’s already practically giddy, which is absolutely wonderful.  I can’t believe what a huge blessing this is.  The chickens, you will all be happy to know, are also doing fine.  The service itself was quite nice and the church was kind enough to have a 100% delicious covered-lunch after the fact that rendered us all immobile for a couple of hours.  I didn’t eat dinner until 9:30pm.  It was almost like Spain…almost lol.  A bit more Southern USA tho, which is also always good.

Speaking of Spain tho, I’ve had the opportunity recently to show off my pictures on more than one occasion.  But after looking over them yesterday with Kevin (Charlottesville is only 40minutes away from the new homestead) I got intensely…Salamanca-sick.  And group-sick.  God I love those people.  Hello, senior year, when are you going to start?  Oh that’s right, I have to take the GRE before hand.  Which I’m dreading.  Maybe cause I’m doing things like updating this instead of studying.  Ugh.

Anyway, returned to PA last night (got in around 1am) and it’s good to be back.  Can you believe I missed the little boys in the day & a half I was gone?  Silly ridiculousness I tell you.  But they are pretty cute.