Laments aside, I'm happy to say I've had a wonderful and relaxing time here with my parents, and had the good fortune of seeing several of my old professors (from both undergrad and from my master's program) and hanging out with some very good friends: EC and I got a chance to catch up and commiserate about grad school (though we did very little reminiscing of our middle-school-days, which is probably just as well); LR and I had a yummy dinner at an old haunt; I got to see my friend EB not once but twice and seeing her is always fabulous; I ran into an old friend AW, whom I hadn't seen in forever, out of the blue, and we both made vows to keep in better touch; and my friend LP and I had a lovely day in Richmond, the former Capitol of the Confederacy (not that I would consider that its primary selling point!), where we had two amazing meals and walked through a beautiful old cemetery as well as the requisite sightseeing and window shopping.
Restaurant-wise, if you're ever in Richmond, I highly recommend The Can Can Brasserie in Carytown, both for its ambiance and the quality of the food (I had the duck crepes and they were stellar), and The Hard Shell in Shockoe Slip for terrific seafood.
Dating back to 1928, the Byrd Theatre is a historic landmark in Richmond's Carytown area (on West Cary St.) and has a beautiful facade.Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond dates back to the Civil War (founded 1847) and reminded me a bit of Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester which was opened in 1838. They're both full of beautiful old Victorian gravestones and Hollywood Cemetery is also home of an impressive stone pyramid in honor of Confederate Women (the second photo below)
Since returning from my day in Richmond, I've enjoyed quite a bit of free time and dancing (Argentine Tango and ballroom dance parties) with my parents. I've been trying to make the most of my break and, in that vein, the three of us managed to make it through the entire first season of 30 Rock in four evenings. I have to say that it was incredibly exciting to see my father jazzed about a television show. Getting him to watch television--especially something as mundane as a sitcom--is usually like pulling teeth. So, I was thrilled that he loved 30 Rock so much--yet another testament to Tina Fey's ineffable brilliance.Speaking of Tina Fey, her alma mater is the same as mine (except I went to the University of Virginia for my Masters instead of my BA), and yesterday I spent a beautiful, crisp afternoon wandering around the UVa grounds, and meeting with two of my MA professors, one of whom can be credited with encouraging me to apply to UofR in the first place. Without him, I really can't tell what I'd be doing now or if I'd be so happy with my current course of study.
In any case, the sunny winter day afforded me some more opportunities to play with my new camera down in a relatively hidden amphitheater behind the theater building. I have no idea how this area is used (perhaps just as a practice field for various sports, judging by the soccer and lacrosse nets), but I think this may be the proposed site of the new art museum--although that's a proposal that's been in the works since 2002.
Walking around UVa yesterday allowed me an invaluable opportunity to think without the constant glow of my computer, the seduction of the interweb, the addiction to email. It's funny how you can forget what it's like to just go on a nice walk and sit and enjoy your surroundings. Granted, this is more difficult to do in Rochester in the winter, where being outside in January is not pleasant, but I think it's still feasible. So, a belated New Years resolution: to allow more time for simple pleasures without distractions. Don't get me wrong, I love technology. I love television. I love my computer. But sometimes it's good to just let those things go for an hour or two, just to wander.
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