Garfield's 12 Days of Christmas

Leave it to the producers of Garfield to come up with this funny twist on a Christmas favorite! Take time to view this from the beginning- its well worth the laugh! A new selection is made available every day


http://www.garfield.com/fungames/12Days/12Days.html

If for some reason the above link doesn't work, then just go to Garfield.com and towards the bottom of the screen, you'll see the 12 Days of Christmas advertised

Windham Hill Artists - Carol Of The Bells

Windham Hill is a group of artists that come together with some very pleasing results- here's an example of such featuring, of course, Carol of the Bells!

George Winston's Carol of the Bells

This is probably one of my favorite versions of the Bell Carol that I have come across. Winston has a style all his own. I have sheet music for this song on the way-we'll see how hard it looks on paper! There's another clip with different alternating pics instead of one solid picture like this one, however the pictures moved so fast and in time with the music that it became a little infuriating to watch. Enjoy!

Carol of the bells claymation special

A very funny version of Carol of the Bells-the bad thing is, I think that I remember this from when I was a kid!

Carol of the Bells Duet

Most who know me remember that my favorite Christmas song is Carol of the Bells. In honor of my favorite song, I'm going to be periodicaly posting different versions of the song. This duet is a variation that I've never heard before, but I thought that it was beautiful and well played! I'm currently begging for the sheet music! Enjoy!

Thankful

I have a lot to be thankful for, but just recently, I was reminded again of God's goodness and I want to thank Him. Last Tuesday night I was driving down to PV for my night class and on the way there while traversing a notorious mountain I hit a deer. There was oncoming traffic and other deer on my side of the road-there was no where I could go. I' m thankful that the deer didn't come through the window. The way I hit her, the doe was actually thrown straight ahead of me and away from the car. I'm thankful that I had a place to pull over on the side of the road. Most of you will know of what mountain I speak of and understand that there isn't always available room to pull off. I'm thankful that a lady pulled over and was kind helpful enough to let me use her cell phone because I didn't have mine with me. I'm thankful that a friend of the family came out to get me and took care of having my car flat bedded back to SC since I couldn't reach my dad. And I'm thankful that despite a busted radiator and shaken nerves, I was able to walk in my front door, alive and well. I have a lot to be thankful and I just want to thank God for His protection. Though the accident happened, when I look back through the events, I could have been SO much worse.

Answer to trivia

sorry it took me to monday to post an answer to the trivia question; i forgot to do it on Friday. The classical song that Il Divo used as a main melody is:

Pavane, Op. 50, composed by Faure. The piece actually has words to it, but I guarantee that it has nothing to do with Isabel!

Il Divo - Isabel

Some music and a little trivia

I must say that when I first heard Il Divo, I didn't like them at all. There are still some songs that I don't like, but then again, there are some that I do, and this is one of them. It's entitled "Isabel" and as far as I can tell, the song is in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish and all of my efforts to find a translation for the song have failed so if you do understand Spanish and they're saying something they shouldn't, then sorry, I didn't know. If you can tell me what the song is saying, then that would be great, I'm curious. I like the voices of the last two guys to come in, especial the fourth guy.

Here's a question perhaps you guys can help me with-

1. for all of those musically inclined and wise, why do the two guys in the center switch places?

and second, here is a little trivia question for you to mull over. I'm sorry, but I can't offer anything like a CD or a lollipop for a correct answer; this is more for your own musical edification. The question is:

What classical song did Il Divo rip off to make "Isabel"? Yes, the main melody is a classical song (a pretty one at that-one of my favorites). I'm looking for the name of the piece and the composer- it will take both to get the answer right! I will post the answer on Friday, Nov. 16th. Happy listening!!

Please see the above post to see the clip

Update

Dad is doing much better, there are just a few bugs to get worked out in everyday living. Other than that he's done well. Thank-you for your prayers!

Prayer request

I would really appreciate prayer as my Dad had surgery. The surgery wasn't life threatening, but he's in pain and would appreciate prayer. Thanks!

Random PVBI picture

The Blacks (with extended family)

Long time, no post!

Much has happened since my computer decided to take a vaction. Speaking of computers, I'll pick up right there. I purchased an external hard drive to the tune of a hundred dollars with the hopes of retrieving my personal files off the computer (which I did). I was getting ready to reinstall Windows and had just turned on the computer when lo and behold, my laptop loaded perfectly and greeted me with its perky little welcome screen as if nothing had happened at all. I was thrilled needless to say. I'm not even sorry that I bought the external hard drive since they're a good thing to have and use anyway. So for some odd reason my computer crashed and for another odd reason, it fixed itself. It must have heard me grumbling somthing about buying a Mac....
Anyway, hopefully my bloging should pick up more. In the mean time, I've started my new job and I absolutely love it! My main job is processing what are called 'picture covers'. These are books (mostly paperbacks) that are made into hardbacks. The book binder takes the entire cover off of the book, scans it, and then wraps the scanned image onto a new hard cover which is then rebound on to the original pages. It's a really fascinating process and a good way to make the books look better and last longer at the same time. I'll try to get a sample picture of what I'm talking about.

Some progress....

Hello all. I'm just reporting in. I'm making some progress on my comp. I've retrieved all of my important personal files, now it just remains for me to reload Windows. One guy at Best Buy says that since my computer did reboot into safe mode, then my problem may not be a bad hard drive-we'll see, though. I've been told that my make of laptop is notorious for throwing C drives. Last Saturday was my last day to work at my burger job. WHOO HOO! I've worked there since 99', and its time to move on. I'll start mingling with the books on October 1st....this monday!

So...it appears that i've been tagged so here you go whether you want them or not- 7 random things about me....

1. I like the smell of old books
2. my dogs sleep in the bed with me
3. I've wanted to play the violin ever since I was a little kid....a cello got in the way though
4. I would love to visit California (at one time I would have said that I would like to live there, but I think that I like good old Pa better, and besides....if California gets any more liberal, then it might just sink into the ocean)
5. I like computer programming
6. Our van's fuel pump decided to die at the worst possible location-while I was temporarily parked infront of a high security building. The person that I had come to see had to call security so that they wouldn't get worried.
7. I didn't know how to iron clothes until I came to PVBI and a certain other Sarah taught me

hmm...now who should i tag.....how about Rex McDowell Jr, Bethany M., Jason M, Allen Mowery, Julie Shultz, and Annette M.

My computer is having a senior moment.....

Hi all.....and hello to 'anonymous'. Sorry that I haven't been posting...there has been a delay for two reasons. One, the photo that I wanted to put up next needs edited just a little and i'm trying to find software to do so...does anyone have suggestions? All I need to do is to black out somthing on a picture I took. I don't have a lot of money to sink into a graphics program. And two, my computer decided it wanted a break-in a bad way. I either need to reinstall windows or I have a bad hard drive. We'll find out when I try reinstalling windows!! I may be able to post some pics from the computer that I'm currently 'borrowing'. We'll see, though, the person may not want me to upload on their comp. For now, though, I hope all is well for you all! My last day at my old job is drawing nigh!!! YAY!!!!!

Ok..I asked nicely before...now I'm just going to take over the computer!

Can we go to MY website now?

After the game.....

Football Eve

Football eve in a Wal-Mart parking lot

Itzhak Perlman comes to Penn State

On Thursday, September 27th at 7:30 pm in the Eisenhower Auditorium, audiences will be awed by the virtuoso Itzhak Perlman and pianist Rohan De Silva. As far as I know, Perlman has been to University Park only one other time, It is well worth the time to go see this performance. Perlman's works include pieces on the soundtracks for Schindler's List and Memiors of a Geisha

For more information visit the Centre for the Preforming Arts at

http://www.cpa.psu.edu/events/itz.html

Monday Mirth

More scenes from State College

As promised, here are a few more scenes from around town. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics from Wally World; and to this end I'm glad that I didn't because I have been told that if they know that you are taking pictures, then they can confiscate your camera or cell phone. Apparently, the Wal-Mart near me has already done so. But these pictures are safe....I think

Congestion near some apartments and dorms

Moving in

Night life

Line outside of the Creamery at about 10:30pm

en masse

A favorite hot spot!!!

More to come!

Another favorite -kinda long, but worth the read!

If

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream-and not make dreams your master,

If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same,

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build them up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss,

If you can force your hear and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings-nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And-which is more-you'll be a Man, my son!

-Rudyard Kipling

candid camera scary

Random photos

I realized that I have quite a collection of random photos from PVBI so I've decided that, instead of hoarding them to myself, I would share them with you, my faithful audience. Now, I'm not someone who likes to post too much personal information on the internet so I'm not going to be giving too much info or names on these photos. Most of my audience, however, will know who these people are. So, in the fashion of Laura E., here is one of many random photos to come....


Man....there sure are some WEIRD students around these days......

A favorite poem

The Fog

The Fog comes

on little cat feet

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on

-Carl Sandburg

They're baaaak.........

This week starts the chaos of the return of Penn State students for the beginning of the fall semester. Gone will be the well-stocked Wal-Mart shelves and abundant parking spaces. In all seriousness, though, we missed the students! They make life interesting and to be honest, the town is just too quiet without them! Welcome back students! I hope to get some good pics of the Wal-Mart chaos to come. You should see it! You can't sneeze without bumping into someone. People call each other from within the store just to locate each other again-a fact that I've seen personally. Locals around here know to go shopping before the offical move-in day which is this Friday the 24th, and to stay clear of downtown. Your personal intrepid explorer-me! will be a little crazy, however, and will try to get some good shots to try and give you a feel of what a town (yes, a TOWN) looks like when 40,000+ students move back within two or three days' time. It will be interesting since classes will start that Monday, the 27th. Think of it- you've got furniture to move in, scheduals to print out, books to buy, groceries to buy, and irritatged locals to deal with. Ah the life of a student...... for now, though, here's some pictures to tide you over.

Houses that students rent line the street of College Ave. Here, you can see the beginnings of the process of clearing out the old to make way for the new. And where does the old get put? Why, right out by the road of course! If you look hard, you can make out desks, sofas, and rolls of carpeting

Finally....you thought the dumpster at PVBI was bad....

Yes, there really is a dumpster under there! The thing sticking up to the left is the lid

Hopefully, I'll have more pics on the way!

New Job

I recently was hired on at Penn State, which was a huge answer to prayer! I'll be working in Paterno library (which actually comprises the area of the library to the right in the photo) in the bindary department. My start date is October 1st and I can't wait! In the meanwhile, I'm eagerly waiting for Penn View to start. Yea, I'm one of the weird ones that actually enjoys school.....guess thats why I'll be working in a library!

The best part of the arts fest

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is problably one the biggest events to hit State College besides a home football game. Riots that occured in 1998 and 2000 led to increased police presence, including (much to my delight) mounted police. Every Arts Fest I look forward to seeing these fantastic (and often overly large) horses. To someone who cannot afford the beautiful fares at the Fest, these mounted police and their mounts are the highlights of the fest. I'm sorry that they are needed, but I appreciate their presence since the Fest draws quite a crowd. My dad and myself happened to be in the area where they brought the horse trailers in and unloaded them, so I happily took pictures while the police saddled up. The evening was getting on, so the pics are a little dark, but you can see them pretty well. I hope you all, at some point get to see these officers in person some time.

The trailers had just arrived, but the officers immediately started to unload the horses

There were two trailers total and as far as I know the officers traveled in pairs

They put reflective strips on the horses' legs so the local (and non-local) drivers who were not used to sharing the road with horses would notice them quickly

Mounting up

Moving out

It was a pleasure to see these horses work. The whole time that we were standing there, loud atv's, cars, large vans pulling trailers, and even a few people passed close behind the horses who hardley even moved an ear. I can't imagine the training that must go into a riot horse!

Chat Noir

I recently adopted a cat. In truth I wasn't looking for one, I had no intentions of adopting in the near future as I owned two large dogs that had never been raised with a cat, however, the cat adopted me. For any of you that know, the introduction process can be difficult, but it all depends upon the individual personalities of the animals....here I seem to have underestimated my dogs. They took to the cat just fine, and after a few weeks of curious sniffing, were walking around the house together as if the cat had always lived here. The cat is still a little stand-offish to the dogs, making them even more curious at times, but that's just typical cat for you. Anyway, here's some pictures of my newest edition, Cocoa.

For some reason, Cocoa's favorite spot to curl up is around my male's food bowl. She moves pretty quick, however, when she sees those pearly white canines digging into the kibble!!

Good thing it's not feeding time....

We have a bird feeder suction cupped to the window and as you can imagine, this offers no end of fascination to Cocoa

I've been told that once you have kids or get animals nothing is sacred anymore. Well...I don't know about the kids part, but I can definitely attest to the animal part! Never surf the internet alone again!

Would you stop taking all those stupid pictures?!

Hey wow! A new shag rug! I thought the other one was looking kinda shabby!

Just kidding! I love cats. When I was growing up, I always had cats. Anyway, Cocoa is an absolute sweetie. She has a great personality. Welcome to the family, Cocoa!

A Tribute to Bostonians!

One night as my father and I were making a stop at our local Target store, I noticed a very interesting sight. The thought came to me, however I did not at that time have my camera. I returned a little later and took this picture. You see, it occured to me that this glowing sign on the side of Target, in its own neon-deprived way, was trying to do its best to send out a tribute to all those hailing from Boston! I could only think of a certain bible school cook who at one time had called this area his home and whom I was sure would never see this tribute to his heritage. So I am doing my meger part to spread the word..........Hail Bostonians!!! (especially those that make good fried chicken!!)

The dignified cello....

This is a cute video in which Yo Yo Ma (a famous cellist for those of you who may not know) makes an appearance on Sesame Street. For most of us, this video will be a little immature, but keep watching...it takes a real artist with a real heart to do what he does in this little clip. My hat is off to Ma for investing himself in children; who knows but what there wasn't a future cellist watching him?

First Blog

I just couldn't help it......everybody seemed like they were having so much fun blogging that I just had to try it! I don't claim to have anything as fun and exciting as cute baby pictures, horses stuck in slime, candid photos of people with cheeseburgers on their heads, or things such as-by the way, to encounter such antics, please refer to my links :-). However, I do intend to just be me, and and some would say, that's enough hilarity for a 24 hour period. Welcome to the String Section! Keep checking back as I'll be changing things around once I figure out how. Thanks for stopping by!


Sara