Also

As for my life, I've been having a relaxing month or so, which is great. Applications were in by the end of October. Finished up classes before Christmas. Had a great time with all my fam for the holidays. So now I'm just having a bit of fun, prepping for my upcoming interviews, watching shows, hanging out with siblings &co. Wrapping up my last online class (developmental psychology).

For Christmas, I got P a rock climbing pass so we went several times. Here I am trying my hand at some inverted bouldering:

Been trying to get out snowshoeing as much as I can get buddies to go with me. Went once with P and R (we barely managed to summit Kearsage North by the time we needed to turn back in order to return to the car before dark):

...and another time with B and A (this time, not so fortunate; it was too foggy to make our way to the top safely, but it was still a fun trip):

So far I've been invited to interview at four programs, but two of them are scheduled on the same day, so I had to turn down one of the interviews. I'm interviewing in Denver, DC, and here. So a nice spread. I'm still waiting to hear back from the fifth school, which is also here.

So, I have to say life is overall going pretty well for this one.

Dollhouse

I am on Dollhouse now. That show plays with your mind fantastically.

Buffy

So I recently concluded Season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer after having watched alllll the prior seasons as well. A lot of ups and downs in that series.

I have so many things sort of brewing in my head from it. Thoughts about healthy vs destructive relationships. What it means to be a strong woman. I don't know if I'll have a better post (or multiple posts) later, but I do want to say there's so much good stuff in that show, besides just entertaining storytelling. I would recommend it for anyone, but especially in regards to the show's treatment of a strong female lead.

Joss, Gellar, and company do not disappoint.



(it is tough not to have more episodes to look forward to though)

The Friendly Beasts

Jesus, our brother, kind and good
was humbly born in a stable, rude
and the friendly beasts around him stood
Jesus, our brother, kind and good. 

I remember performing this simple little song with the youngest of the children at church. Each age of kids was assigned to represent one verse, one of the friendly beasts. Starting with the youngest, as the donkey, all shaggy and brown. Then the cow, all white and red. Etc. When a particular animal's verse came up, the idea was that the appropriate children would hold up cardboard cut-outs of that animal, with a hole for their singing faces. I am not sure how accurate we were at this task, but I am sure the adults in the congregation thought it was plenty darling and also probably hilarious.

In this video, Sufjan Stevens' gentle rendition accompanies a little boy's illustrations of each animal's gifts, interspersed with video footage of him carefully setting up his plastic Playmobil nativity scene. So charming. Especially the drawings. The donkey, who has only a stump where his head should be, carrying a giddy Mary safely to Bethlehem town. The giant two-legged cow gladly gives the baby Jesus her hay, to pillow his head. Baby Jesus lying there, so spidery, practically levitating out of his manger. Somehow perfect.

As the story goes, Jesus grew up to say, about little children, "forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." I like to believe that he was talking about exactly this sort of thing. Which is why the song will always hold a special place in my heart.

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

Do I just like all the minor songs? Perhaps.

Anyway, this is technically an Advent hymn I think, rather than officially Christmas. Somehow I feel like this song sounds better sung by men only, I prefer the tenor and bass voices on this one. I couldn't find a high quality version that I really liked. So here's a personal video somebody recorded at St Peter's in Vatican (Latin).

I sure do love every time they come in with the "Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel" - very full and rich sound.

Actually. I like this Enya version pretty well too, even though it directly contradicts what I'd just said about male voices. Very otherworldly, as per her style.

Ukrainian Carol

The original Ukrainian lyrics to the well-known English “Carol of the Bells.”

It was originally a new year’s song, springtime, nothing to do with Christmas. New year was moved due to the Christian calendar so now we associate it with Christmas, reflected by the English lyrics.


But it's really pretty in the original language.