Dear break,

I'm home! And I've been home for a few days, but I was reveling in being home.  And before that was exams and goodbyes and we all know what that is like.  Exams and goodbyes. 

All of that said, I don't plan on posting over Winter Break with any kind of regularity.  And definitely not with music.  I just don't have the energy.  And because of my January travel, there won't be anything substantial on here until January 21ish. 

Instead today I give you a video.  (Click the title) She's a friend and a very talented musician, and I really like her cover here. 

I hope that everyone has fantastic peace and rest into the New Year, makes it safely to their final destinations. 

14 days until travel.  32 days until reunion. 


love,
hannah

Dear leggings,

I have spent so much of the last three days slothing around in you. You! Who I swear is evil.  But you are not quite so evil when it is just the two of us sitting in my room all day long.  You and I writing away American Studies.  We're gonna write so much Am Studs there won't be nothin' left. 

Today we watched Pride and Prejudice clips and almost completely finished one class.  We're so close babe.  (Yes, I refer to my leggings as "babe." We're a little delirious, alright?)

So many things: Commencing, Ophelias, BLIZZARD, and then add in finals and it has been a busy weekend.  Where to now my friends?

ON TO WINTER BREAK

Forgive my musical absence
Jonsi: Go Do
Phantom Planet: Winter Wonderland
Koop: Come To Me
Joshua Radin: Vegetable
The Feeling: Love It When You Call
Many artists!: Auld Lang Syne
Earth Wind and Fire: Sing a Song
Lady Gaga: Christmas Tree*
Florence And The Machine: Last Christmas
Kevin Devine: People Are So Fickle

*This one is nuts, guys.  Prepare yourselves. 

We have now approached major countdown mode: 2 days and 20 hours till home and 38 days until reunion with the C's!


love,
hannah

Dear Ophelia,

I get to be one of you! Twelve, five, six, the exact number and meaning is unclear, but I am one of many Ophelias.  It's pretty exciting.  The casting is actually perfect, and they're some of my favorite people in the world. 

As a result I have done less work than I intended today.  But, for me classes effectively ended today, so I can begin in earnest on final projects.  There are two papers, (research prosepectives, which means I don't have to have any answers.  Awesome!) one danger exam from LDN, one forum on my classroom/internship experience, and I should really rewrite that paper from a couple of weeks ago... It wasn't too good.  Boo. 

Lara was so sweet in class today.  She almost cried when we gave her a book of her weirdest quotes.  For all the misery that she's brought me this semester she's one of my favorite professors outside of class.  Really incredible.  In class however, I am often staring daggers at her.  Also, she didn't leave the room while we did evaluations.  Doesn't she know the protocol? Ah well, we made her fall in love with living again. 

Damn. 

That's profound LDN. 



mussssssssic.  with a theme of the artistic s.  
Sam Sparro: Black and Gold
Stevie Wonder and India Arie: The Christmas Song
Starfucker: Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second
Maria Callas: Ave Maria

I figured you deserved a non-whacked out version of Ave Maria. 

The biggest news of all: Commencing is really gonna happen! We have dates and everything! I will report back later. 


love,
hannah

Dear Castle,

The Bones fan world is sad these days.  They are just not happy and they don't provide enough internet chatter to keep me entertained.  Therefore I must turn to the lesser Bones, also known as Castle.  At least there's enough unresolved sexual tension there to keep me happy.

And today shall go down in history as the day that horny little Macalester discovered the internet.  Or at least, likealittle.  Thanks forever, Mansalsa.  I don't know if there's another school in the country that cares as much about that website as we do right now. 

today today today:
Elizabeth & The Catapult: Momma's Boy
The Puppini Sisters: Last Christmas


love,
hannah

Dear farts,

Yesterday I bought this fart book.

 

Not for myself, but as a gift for someone else.  They are going to like it very much.  It has different fart noises for every page.  They are really going to like it.  

Just like you're going to like today's music:

Coldplay: Christmas Lights

Jamie Lidell: Multiply

Elizabeth and the Catapult: Christmas with the Jews

Asa: Why Can't We

I like the busy days where I feel busy and content.  They are especially good when I spend large amounts of time on the theater couches.  Today was one of those days.  

love,

hannah

Dear auditions,

I understand that you are a necessary part of the theatrical process, but you drive me nuts.  I mean all kinds of crazy.  (Which is at least partially responsible for my silence over the last two days.)  Also, it's basically finals, and I'm not prepared.  Or rather, I know exactly what I need to do, but none of it is scary enough for me to really get down to it now. 

However, that does mean that I have skimped on music for the last few days. 
Nickel Creek: Anthony
John Legend and the Roots: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free
Sufjan Stevens: The Winter Solstice
Heino: Ave Maria (Bonus: album artwork included.  Take a look.)
Catherine Feeney: The Christmas Song

Also, here are the best pictures so far of what our ceiling of perpetual snowfall looks like.  (Even they do not do it justice.)  Last night we tried to make a video for the folks (read person) in Amsterdam, but it was not to our liking.  These photos will have to suffice.  

I will do better in upcoming days with photos and music.  Everyone needs an extra something to get through this time of year. 


love,
hannah

Dear Loch Lommond,

Why don't they play you? Why don't they sing you? Why not all the time? You are a beautiful song and were missing from tonight's concert. 

So much snow!

Other music for you:
Macalester Concert Choir: Loch Lommond
Bing Crosby: Let It Snow!

Dear candlelight service,

Again, you chose a horrible hymn.  Is that a tradition as well? It's not a very good one.

48 days till reunion.

I'm really into covers at the moment, especially this one.
Today: the second of December:
John Legend and the Roots: Wake Up (Arcade Fire Cover)
Ben Kweller: Rock of Ages

I know that now it is technically the third of December.


love,
hannah

Dear bone folder,

For those that don't know what a bone folder is, this is what they look like:

This is what a bone folder looks like.  They are used in bookbinding.  When you need a really good crease or fold, it's helpful to have one of these.  Otherwise, your nails and finger start to hurt after a while.  Thus, winter can be hard on my nails, especially after as many snowflakes as I make.  

Today I sat up while cutting a snowflake a yelled out, "Bone folder!" I remembered that I had stolen one from work at the end of the summer.  (It wasn't really stolen, I asked if I could take it.) I enjoyed the bone folding class at camp, and since there probably wasn't going to be another, I thought it wouldn't hurt anyone if I took a bone folder.  And it is extremely helpful! Yesterday I started making snowflakes that had been folded four times, and they are hard to fold and cut.  Great success! I have a bone folder!

The songs for today:

KT Tunstall: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Barenaked Ladies: Hanukkah Blessings

Michael Bublé: Let It Snow

Dane with KT Tunstall, dedicated to all of you crazy cats on other continents.  It snowed today! Happy first night of Hanukkah! And if you're my gentile cousin in Missouri, I hope you enjoy getting the Skype date version of Hanukkah with my family.  

love,

hannah