Tonight we went and saw the movie Once. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. Hurry and go see it before it's out of theatres!!!

In other news, I was running a long run yesterday and ran into a Turkey. Yes. A turkey. In downtown Cambridge, right by MIT and right before the Longfellow Bridge. Not a normal place for a turkey to be AT ALL. I was in runner's zone when I passed by it and at first I thought "Was that a turkey? No. It had to be a very large goose." I stopped and turned around and indeed it was a turkey. I was so baffled by this wild animal being where it was that all I could do was stand there. I looked around looking at all the people that were in the area and no one else seemed to be in amazement nor did they seem to think it was out of place - at least they didn't act like it. I kept waiting for someone to say "Oh... don't worry that's my PET turkey." or even better some camera crew to come out and say "You're on Candid Camera!" Finally this guy was walkig towards me and had the same reaction I did. Then a couple walking behind him stopped and said "That's not normal!" To which I said "Thank you!!" I was just relieved that someone else also thought it was strange to see a big ol' turkey in the heart of the city. That's all I wanted.

Mid-summer musings, visitors, and a new job

I don't even know where to begin. I feel like the past 3 weeks have a been a blur. A blur and mix of emotions, having loads of fun, self-examination, transition, and more fun. (fun is a very important thing!) It's also already almost the end of July which I cannot believe and I keep thinking how it is that the summer can go so fast!

Let's start with the big news. I officially have a job for the year starting August 20. I'm already currently working part-time in the job as the person I took over for has moved into her new position - but the full time status will begin when I return from Ohio. My new job is the Operation's Manager of Institutional Advancement at Longy. My job will be to oversee "effective functioning of the Advancement office" (scheduling meetings, keeping department calendar, ordering supplies... etc.), oversee events that include the Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors and any major donors, monitor the department budget, coordinate the yearly budgeting process, coordinate donor stewardship, assist with production of special presentations and projects, supervise the administrative assistant, student office and events workers. Whew. If you didn't follow any of that that's ok because I'm still not sure I do. In other words - I'm going to be very busy and how on earth am I going to find time to practice???? As my co-worker, Chris, said: "Rachael, you're the new puppet master of the IA Department!" No pressure, right??
My last day at Harvard is next Wednesday and I'm a little sad. I've been here for 3 years now and I've made some teriffic friends, was a job out of the music scene (which I think provided some sanity during the past 3 years), and is a place where I'm just so comfortable.

This summer has been great! I'm still increasingly overwhelmed with the gift and blessings of friendships. Late night chats, playing tennis, running, games, cooking, beach fun, movies, general craziness. Friends that give so much value to life.

Two weeks ago my brother and his buddy Tige came for a 4 day visit and then last week Jason, Aubrey, Aria, and Liam came to visit for a few days as well. Both weeks were awesome and so much fun. I've included pictures below. Now the house is quiet and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I think Michelle and I are FINALLY going to see Harry Potter this evening! WHOOT WHOOT!!!!!!

Choir Camp starts in less than two weeks and we are almost ready. Thank God for Chris who has been doing so much work on her end. The music is ordered, Brian's composing away for our commissioned anthem, and we've got some new kids this year. I can't wait to see my old kiddos - it's always a great reunion and they make me smile. The things they remember from summer to summer amazes me.

Just down the street from me (literally) at Sanders Theatre Denzel Washington has been filming his new movie, "The Great Debators". It's set in 1935 so there have been all these extras wandering around in 1930's costumes etc. There are several tents set up in that part of campus where they are doing all the make-up and hair. It's very surreal to walk through because I feel a bit out of place with my hair down, my bare legs in flip flops, and a cute little skirt - it's like I'm in the 1930's but visiting from the future. It's also weird to walk past these people dressed up in costume wandering around outside talking on the cell phone. It just doesn't belong! lol

I travel to Columbus on the 4th. Anyone want to make the drive with me? Pretty please? :-)

Ashley and I made a DELICIOUS post-tennis meail the other night. The burgers are a variation on a Cooking Light recipe and the Watermelon-Cucumber salad comes from Ashley.

Southwestern Turkey-Cheddar Burgers

1 - 1.5 lb ground turkey
1/3 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 tsps. chile powder
3/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Mix together, form into burger patties, and grill!

We also added a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and slices of avocado to the burger. MMMMMMMM

Watermelon-Cucumber Salad

Watermelon
Cucumber
Crumbled feta cheese
Balsamic Vinegar

Cut up the Watermelon and Cucumber - put in bowl. Add feta cheese. Mix.
Individuals may sprinkle desired amount of the Balsamic Vinegar on own servings.
It sounds like a strange combination - but it's SO good and surprisingly refreshing.

Harvard Square turns into Hogwart's Square

Harry Potter Gals



With Harry Potter. Check out the scar - Aunt Rachael did that!



We're going to cast a spell on you!



Aria took the following pics:





Aubrey, Jason, Aria and Liam



Aubrey and Aria



Sooooooooooooooooo hungry!

Day at the Beach

Playing tag with Michelle



Airplane!



Burying Aria



It's Liam's turn!





DADDY!

Views from Ashley's Rooftop





A gelato/pastry break from Modern Pastry in the North End





I'm not related to him - nope, don't even look like him!



Michelle's so goofy



Legal Seafood-ing it; except I Legal Poultry-d it!



The airplanes were so close!



Jonathan and Tige - ocean fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN AND BRIAN!!!!!!



About 6 weeks ago Ashley and I started a tradition of going to Ben and Jerry's once a week for an ice cream/sundae/shake or whatever. Ashley has a Ben and Jerry's booklet of coupons that are mostly all "Buy One, Get One Free" and several with a discount off of certain purchases. The booklet expires at the end of July so we made a pact that we were going to use as many coupons as we could (but only going once a week and always after a tennis match). One of the coupons is a discount off of an ice cream cake and we were trying to think of people we knew who had a birthday in July. The only two people we could think of were Karen and Brian - but they are both out of town until August. We decided that we would use the coupon and get an ice cream cake and celebrate with them in absentia!
So tonight (we had to celebrate a night early) we made our way to Ben and Jerry's in Harvard Square only to discover that they don't sell ice cream cakes!!! We came back to the apartment and went online to see what Ben & Jerry's in the area did sell ice cream cakes. Newbury Street. Out the door we bounded and into the car for a field trip to Newbury Street. We bought a 1/2 cookie dough 1/2 fudge brownie ice cream cake - unfortunetely we did not have enough room on the cake for them to write "Happy Birthday Karen and Brian" so we just had their names put on it.
I love summer!!!
Thanks Karen and Brian for having a birthday before the end of July!!! :)It's possible that there will still be some cake left by the time you come back!
Can't wait to see you both very soon in OH-IO!! xxxx



It's not the best singing in the world - but sometimes it's a little bit fun to not sing pretty!!

I just read and highly recommend the book Mudhouse Sabbath by Lauren F. Winner. It was an insightful and enriching book on the Christian faith and how it can possibly be enriched with eleven spiritual practices from Judaism.
The author converted from Orthodox Judaism to Christianity many years ago, but misses a lot of the traditions and spiritual practices within the Jewish faith. In this book she chooses 11 of these practices and traditions which she feels can crossover into Christianity and help Christians enrich our own faith and practice. Chapters range from topics such as the Sabbath, mourning, prayer, aging, fasting, hospitality, and weddings.
One of my favorite chapters (although, I loved them all and had several 'ah-hah' moments) was the one on Hospitality in which Winner states:

"Christians and Jews hold in common one theological basis for hospitality: Creation. Creation is the ultimate expression of God's hospitality to His creatures. In the words of one rabbi, everything God created is a "manifestation of His kindness. [The] world is one big hospitality inn." As church historian Amy Oden has put it, "God offers hospitality to all humanity... by establishing a home...for all." To invite people into our homes is to respond with gratitude to the God who made a home for us."

"In the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, we find another resource for hospitality. The Trinity shows God in relationship with Himself. Our Three-in-One God has welcomed us into Himself and invited us to participate in divine life. And so the invitation that we as Christians extend to one another is not simply an invitation into our homes or to our tables; what we ask of other people is that they enter our lives."

and

"God's creation gives us a model for making and sharing homes with people, but the reality of God's Trinitarian life suggests that Christian hospitality goes further than that. We are not meant simply to invite people into our homes, but also to invite them into our lives. Having guests and visitors, if we do it right, is not an imposition, because we are not meant to rearrange our lives for our guests - we are meant to invite our guests to enter our lives as they are. It is this forging of relationships that transforms entertaining into hospitality."

So - I just plagarized a whole lot (however, I have stated who the author is, what book it comes from and put everything in quotations - does this count?). Something about these passages within in this chapter really struck me. How God's hospitality to us is His creation - the land and landscape. Sky and sea. Trees, flowers and creatures. I've always known and believed that we are called to preserve and conserve the earth and all of his creation and that it is a gift to us but never as hospitality.
In addition, how many times do we invite people over because we enjoy entertaining, or because we're bored, or because it's just nice to have people over and have fun or quality time. These are all good and valid reasons to "hang out" with our friends and loved ones and even newcomers. But to think of it as being about hospitality and the sharing of our lives together puts a slightly new spin on it.It calls for thinking of these gatherings of friends and family more deeply and more meaningfully - even if it is just a game night or movie night - and because we are inviting them into our lives and not just our physical home! Don't mind me - I'm just chatting away here...
So that's just an example of a topic in this book - but there's so much more. Go out and get a copy today! (so cheesey I know!)

Ashley and I went to the beach over the weekend. Ashley fell asleep - I buried her feet AND built two sand mounds with motes :-)


Ivan and I "helped rescue" this little baby mouse from the library at Longy. (yeh yeh - i know it's a mouse...). He was taken outside and he looked hungry so I gave him part of my Luna bar. Oh - his name is Oliver and I called him Oli for short. Unfortunetely, Oli did not make it through the night.


Oli - so cute


She's a Kansas gal :-)


OH - IO!!


Sunshiney day!


Ashley, me, and Michelle


USS Constitution off of Castle Island - 4th of July


Arlyn and Karen - team "ghetto"


Brian and Karen and I on a Euchre night. I'm milking Karen :-) Don't ask... it's a Euchre thing.


Karen and I enjoying the sunshine at a studio picnic/bbq


Michelle getting ready to play Kubb!


Kubb! Karen on the "enemy" team doing her best to knock down a block


with the 'rents :-)


Me and Yi-Hui


Me and Yumi


Adam, me, and Sara

Ahhhh... finally. The first week for me where I don't have a rehearsal or a concert or anything officially scheduled in my book other than work. Friends at church were asking me yesterday if I feel any different now that I've graduated - but really, I don't. I think the biggest reason is because it's now summer and it really just feels like it always has for the past 3 years at this point. It's not until the fall when I think I'll feel "different" - once everyone returns to classes or whatnot and I continue working. And while I don't feel different since having stepped across the stage to recieve that diploma, life has certainly been interesting since graduation and I continue to wait patiently for what is to come next - in all things. Of course I'm still keeping myself busy with some practicing here and there (although I'm taking this week off - we'll see how long that lasts) as well the usual hanging out with friends. Last weekend we saw Shrek (so funny!) and also took a trip to Amesbury to Jaynes for a studio cookout she was having. Karen introduced us to the game of My Word and then we played several rounds of Kubb which is starting to become an annual tradition. I've been running - although I need to get up off my butt and step up the number of times per week I'm going out to do this. Motivation is very hard when my running partners are gone for the summer. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to run an 18 miler in the fall - but perhaps I need to do a 1/2 marathon first before I attempt an 18 mile run.
It's that time of year at Harvard now too. Books are being returned by the hundreds and hundreds. Literally. Harvard has a system where you can return any library book to any Harvard library. Those books, in turn, will get put in a bin for the library it belongs to and then a delivery is made once a day to that library with those books. Well, last week was a mad house. Normally we get 1 maybe 2 bins a day - last Tuesday we got 14 bins and Wednesday was a little lighter with 11 bins. It took 4 of us an hour to unload and discharge all those books. By the time we were all done we were a sweaty and exhausted bunch. This is why I don't need to go to a gym for weight training! Seriously.
The last Sunday for choir was yesterday so now the acadmeic year really does feel officially done. More free time in my weekly schedule is very welcome - but what do I do with it all???

Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till Love create a place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.

Words: Bianco da Siena, d. 1434;
trans. Richard Frederick Littledale, Jr., 1867