#3,990 reason why the D is frustrating/possibly unliveable!!!

#3,990 on why the D is frustrating: both the DFC and Burton Theatre have defunct website, which then send you to more defunct websites, ie: exbx (wtf is that, still don't know), mantra, and peoples records (403 forbidden). It's like to know anything you have to jump thru 400 hoops. AND WHAT DOES THIS LEAVE ME WITH? A last resort of going to the DIA to look at 64 FACES OF JESUS?!!!!??? WHY GOD WHY.

Best of 2011...

My best meals consisted of Sugarfish in California, Fojol Brothers of DC.  in Austin: Barley Swine, Wink, Breakfast tacos: arturo's, paco's tacos, julio's and Korea House.

my best date of 2011 was in Santa Monica at Stella Rossa.  The pizza was amazing and the dessert was salted caramel mousse. to. die. for. also i had a hot man sitting across the table from me.

Favorite concert of the year: Arcade Fire, May, @ the Backyard in Austin outlands.  Honorable mentions go to White Denim, St. Vincent.

Top 10 Favorite Albums/Songs/Artists this year:

1. Adele: 19, 21
2. Civil Wars
3. "You Turn me on I'm a Radio" - Joni Mitchell
4. St. Vincent: Strange Mercy
5. Vampire Weekend: Contra
6. Beyonce: 4
7. Stevie Wonder
8. Soundtrack to "An Education"
9. Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues
10. Lady Gaga: Born this way

Favorite websites to visit of 2011:

1. D Listed
2. Wild Fox inspiration tumblr
3. Facebook
4. Pinterest

This was the year of Hedonism for me.  I ate, kissed and drank to full capacity. I know i should change this before next year - but i don't think i will.

I worked-out from Jan - August but then i let my work and school rule my time.  For some reason after 4 classes and two jobs i had no energy to run 6 miles. I know. It baffles me too.

I got to go to DC, California and Toronto.  My DC summer internship at the Smithsonian was a highlight of the year.  It was fun to live in the DC area.  At this point, I think i may go back after August.  I'd like to get an international job, or one that lets me travel alot, so maybe i will have luck finding this type of job in DC.

I have March 8-20 off for spring break and i am debating on going on a big solo trip. More on those plans as they develop in the New Year.

Best to you & yours....
Savvy

2012 is creeping in ...

With 2012 creeping in, I keep on being ambushed by "life changing" articles.  They all insist that i refrain from eating bread and dairy and only one cup of coffee a day.

let's see how i measure up to this article:

• Not getting enough sleep (less than 8 hours)
• Eating too much sugar
• Drinking too much coffee (more than 1 cup)
• Skipping meals
• Eating anything made in a factory (junk and processed food)
• Eating bread
• Eating dairy
• Drinking more than 3 glasses of wine or alcohol a week
• Working too much
• Not exercising at least 4 times a week
• Not doing yoga
• Spending too much time on the computer
• Watching TV
• Not being outside in nature
• Not spending time with friends
• Getting dehydrated - if this includes alcohol, i'm fine.

everything that is crossed out i am doing fine at.
for the new year i want to find a job, work out more and i guess i have to drink green juice so i don't die.

but i can guarantee i will continue to eat breakfast tacos and Quack's chocolate croissants.
i will still swear and drink too much.

their are certain things i refused to give up.

where will i be living in the latter half of 2012???
i'd like to find a job in a different country, but i don't know how to do that. also i don't think i have the energy or gumption for that right now.

i am going to Paris & London for a week with my friend in Feb. This is neither a good decision for my bank account or job seeking. It is contra but i am doing it anyways.

Middlegate Japanese Gardens

Please check out my Smithsonian Collections blog entry on the beautiful - yet tragic - Middlegate Japanese Gardens of Pass Christian, Mississippi.  I wrote this blog entry this summer while interning at the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens. Enjoy!

Images for the Future

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure to attend a talk by Hans Westerhof of the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision.  The Smithsonian meeting was about my main interests in audiovisual digitization, petabyte scale storage, and open access with  Mind boggled and sooo happy. I also met a LOC film archivist!  He gave me great advice to become an AMIA member which is having there conference in Austin this November. It's now on my August checklist.

You can watch the lectures here!

I Call it Pop, You Call it Soda

One of my fellow summer interns, Kayla Burns, has written an excellent blog post on public tagging.  As you will be able to tell from the map, it is amazing how many words there are for Fountain drinks in the USA - and how this effects the way we label and classify things.

Throughout the month of August and into the Fall, blog posts I have written will be popping up on the Smithsonian Collections Blog.  I will post them here to make sure you see what I learned over my summer at the Smithsonian Gardens. 

The Enid Haupt Rose Garden at the Smithsonian

Check out horticulturist, Shelly Gaskins talk about Roses, one of the world's favorite flowers.....

The ACTive Gardener

Last night, I watched the 2008 documentary, The Garden.  This documentary was about the fight for a South Central L.A. Community Garden to keep their garden going.  Due to shady legal and political corruption, the garden's land is targeted and threatened to be bought by a private owner - who has no interest in keeping the garden there.  The garden flourished in the middle of a industrial wasteland.  It provides food, community and happiness for it's urban growers. If you are at all interested in a case for social justice, community causes or the importance of a community garden, check this documentary out on Netflix.  It's instant so you don't even have to wait for it in your mailbox!

I recently saw an article from Huffington Post about Julie Bass and her controversial garden.  Mrs. Bass decided to grow a vegetable garden in her front yard for her young children and the other kids in the neighborhood.  She thought it would be fun for the kids to garden and witness the process of gardening.  The city of Oak Park did not agree and ordered she remove her vegetable garden or face 93 days in jail!!!!
To follow Julie fighting the good fight, you can visit her blog, Oak Park Hates Veggies and see what will happen to her garden.  

Also - If you are interested in your local community garden, I'd encourage you to check out if you have a CSA program nearby.  A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program nearby.  Each week you will receive a box full of locally grown veggies and fruits from your farmer.  It's a great way to support your local farmer AND get great quality food.

Mount Vernon & Greenspring

Washington's seal featured in the movie "National Treasure"  - They filmed some of the movie in Mount Vernon's basement

Front porch view from Mount Vernon, looking out over the Potomac

This Wednesday we went on our final Intern field trip.

We went to Mount Vernon (George Washington's homestead) and Greenspring (A Virginia county public garden)

At Mount Vernon we saw the grounds, gardens, education center and museum.

The Smithsonian castle

Mount Vernon in the distance

Slave quarters

Wheat from the Mount Vernon farm

Potomac

On the "National Treasure" movie tour.  This was where Washington kept his ice.  The guide said he loved his ice cream - who knew?

Artichoke flower

Tree hugger

WASHINGTON'S DENTURES. NO, THEY ARE NOT WOODEN. i thought they were until i saw them.

Greenspring community garden

Children's garden at Greenspring

Historic Home on Greenspring property

At Greenspring, we saw the public garden and the outreach and education programs they do for the community.