Awesome

A portable hammock!

Way to go, kid. When we get nice weather, don't say we don't appreciate it. 

Now, where can I get one of these?

Meanwhile... RIP Hard drive

Yes, folks, my hard drive has met its untimely end, and with my photos, music, documents, etc. Lesson learned: back everything up ALWAYS. This was two weeks ago, and I got a new HD, which is up and running, but I can only hope that at some point I'll be able to salvage all of my information. Professional recovery services start at $500. No thanks. 

My mother was visiting the weekend it died, luckily, so I was able to borrow her computer, and get an extension for the paper that was lost... I've got an external HD coming in the mail... Know I know. 

Don't let it happen to you. 

Dear Weather part II

Dear Weather, 

Thank you. 76 degrees by 10:30 this morning seems like heaven right now. Trees are leafing out, providing real shade again. I am going to sit outside until I am brown again--my legs have been too long in jeans. Girls ride by on cruiser bikes, skirts fluttering. Everyone is in flip flops. Shade feels good now. The breeze feels good. Classes are over, and for today we can pretend that means work is done, too. In two weeks I'll be home. I am rebuilding melanin in preparation. If I were a horse, I would eat the dandelions blooming. Thank you. 

Dear Weather

Dear Weather,

I am not sure if you have noticed, but today is April 6. This means that it is officially springtime. As such, I am asking that you be nice to us. We have waited a long time for this. We have been pining. We are wearing sandals and shorts in the hope that you will notice, and take pity on us. Flowers are blooming despite the weeks projected high of 54. Easter is nearly upon us. So, please, Weather, we entreat you--help us out a bit; do your part. Be sunny. Be warm. Be Spring. 

 

Be Spring

Thanks. 

A Slew of Slavs Singing on a Sunny Sunday

The Yale Women's Slavic Chorus is 40 years old this year. Happy Birthday, Slavs! The Chorus was created the first year that women undergrads were first admitted to Yale, in 1969.

I celebration, we had a huge reunion gathering this past weekend. There were nearly 100 alumnae and current Slavs. It was crazy!

It began on Friday night. We all gathered in the Branford Common Room, ate Thai Food, and chatted. Women met who hadn't seen each other in probably 20 years. There were Slav progeny, all of them adorable. Slavs make cute kids. 

The point of Slav reunions is to put on a concert at the end of the weekend in which ALL of the Slavs sing. That's right--that means that there were almost 100 of us singing today. Wow. We began Saturday with a morning rehearsal, following it up with another in the afternoon. It was fascinating to sing with so many Slavs, especially because many of them had sung things quite differently however many years ago. The rule of the weekend was that whatever version was least likely to confuse the majority of people was the one we went with. We worked them all out somehow! 

And then... on to the party! I say it as though it were easy. We had a big catered dinner and Zlatne Uste, a balkan brass bank, performing all evening. I started by hauling crates of napkins, flatware, and paper plates down from one of the Slavs dorm rooms, and then--disaster! We had rented a dozen tables, and had them delivered to someone's house a few blocks away, since they couldn't be delivered to the venue right away. Someone with a truck was supposed to come help us get them to the venue, about three blocks away, but they never showed up, so we had to get them there by hand. These were big round banquet tables, so the most logical thing was to roll them down the street, one by one. Easier said than done. They were heavy, and it was really windy--it made for slow going. But it was quite a sight, a line of Slavs making out way down the sidewalk, each one rolling a table... You should have seen us crossing the street... 

Once we got the tables there, and set up, everything went quite well. There was an abundance of Greek food, and wine, and balkan dancing. How could you go wrong? And then there was another event in the building, right on our heels, so we had to clear out at 10 o'clock, and FAST. Let the hauling begin again! Chairs, tables, trays of food, garbage bags... 

I slept well last night. 

And then today dawned bright and sunny, and finally warm! We had another rehearsal this morning (This is what happens when you have 3 days to put together a concert), and then something really cool happened: we all got in chronological order, and introduced ourselves. So the original women, from 1969, introduced themselves, and we went all around the circle, until it got to... me. (Although I am not actually the newest Slav--our newest ones had had to leave.) What an honor to sit with all these women, to be part of this wonderfully tangible tradition. We were all so different, and yet... not. There was some common thread, some shared sensibility, that bound us all, across generations and locations and professions. A Slav is a Slav is a Slav, to a degree. I got to join hand with one of the original Slavs as we all stood in a circle, grateful for each other. It was wonderful and moving. 

And then we sang! This afternoon, at 3:30, we had our 40th reunion concert! 100 Slavs singing in Battell Chapel, which is a wonderful place to sing, big and bright and echo-y. It was so fun to hear the alums sing, and to sing with them. 100 Slavs at once! Sorry, I'm still astounded. 

I learned something interesting: Slavs was started by a man. How bizarre. He was here this weekend. His name is Celo. He was in the Russian Chorus, and had come across some Bulgarian folk music, written for women, so when women came to Yale, he got some of them together to sing Slavic music. He did, he said jokingly, "to meet girls." But he was the original conductor. I had no idea that men had had any part in our history! On Saturday afternoon, Celo, who is in his 60s, tall, with long, wispy, white hair, said a few words: "I just want to say... I am very proud of you, and of what you have become... I am honored to be a part of this." He nodded solemnly, and clasped his hands beneath his chin. "Thank you." It was, as one of the current Slavs aptly noted, a very Pygmalion moment. He had created such a beautiful thing... It was very strange, but also very touching. 

He then conducted us in Prekvhrukna Ptichka, which is one of our most beautiful songs, and the one that we always finish our concerts with. He was the most animated conductor I have ever seen! But we did sound really good, all 100 of us. As we did this afternoon, when conducted this song in the concert. 

What a weekend! It was so fun to see so many alums, and such a wonderful group to be a part of. As one of the alums said, "We've found our people."

Things are happening

Daffodils are blooming. Trees are budding. The dogwoods are about to flower.

Spring is upon us. Rejoice!

Also, scones are being made--rejoice.

Maple Syrup Scones

(thanks, Heidi)

Spring Break Recap

Yikes! I am a delinquent blogger, I know. Better late than never, right?

So, Spring Break: SLAVS were in New Mexico--that is, the Yale Women's Slavic Chorus, not actual... Slavs.

We sang--A LOT (retirement homes, schools, a few public concerts). And ate--A LOT (cheese, apples, bread, good things that my mother made). And that was mostly it. I was busy giving directions, leading caravans, making sure the fridge was sufficiently stocked, etc, but I had a lot of fun. And I learned something very interesting about my house--you can fit twelve (Yup, count 'em) people in it. Who'd have thunk?



Slavs left after a week, and then... Home was beautiful. Fruit trees were blooming, the days were warm, the sky was vast. I went on walks, sat in the sun, enjoyed the lengthening days, took many photos, caught up with friends, made good food, shared meals, took naps.

Cows behind my house

Apricot Blossoms

View from Chimney Rock

I can never quite get enough.