163: M...I..C...K..E..Y...

My parents are here hanging out for the evening so they are closer to the airport for the morning. (They are heading to Wisconsin for a visit.) It's 11 and I'm about to head to bed but needed a photo for today. I saw the nice glow the candles were casting on our Mickey and Minnie figurines and snapped a quick one.

162: Tie-Dye

Today was CNU's annual Campus Tie-Dye. My attempts to actually tie dye shirts at the event have never been that great so I passed on trying this year and snapped a few photos with my pocket digital camera.

161: Loaded Questions

Tonight we gathered to celebrate the birthday of Katie a day late. It was a HILARIOUS night of games, including a round of Loaded Questions that made me cry from laughing so hard. It felt really good to laugh that hard! Here is a photo from the night of Tim and Katie:

160: Live a life less ordinary

Today is the birthday of Katie Baynor. I have no words that can fully describe how much her friendship has meant to me. She has truly been there and loved me at my worst and at my best and all of the times between. I could go on and on about her wit and intellect, her loyalty and wisdom, her love of dental hygenie and Aaron Copland (though not together!), and, of course, her amazing talent at making mix CDs.

Of course all of the "classic" Katie/Beth photos are all pre-digital so here's one from last year at a VERY cold JMU football game:

And now for my Photo of the Day.....a few of us from work braved the rain to enjoy a free Carbon Leaf concert at W&M put on by their student group headed up by Trici! Trici was awesome enough to let me come on the stage (out of the rain!) to take some photos. It was a pretty neat experience. I love watching people doing something they love together....namely musicians. Carbon Leaf is fantastic...I mean, you can't go wrong with a lead singer that also plays a mean pennywhistle! I got a lot of neat shots thanks to Trici letting me up there. It was hard to pick one so I picked two. :-)

Sidenote: Work has been pretty crazy the last two weeks. Tonight's concert in the rain was exactly what I needed. Good people, Good music, Singing and an AMAZING Aerosmith cover to end the show!

159: Fun Socks

I am on record as being pro-fun socks. Tonight Karen, of our Trivia Team, was wearing fun socks. They make a colorful addition to the photo blog. (For those of you keeping track at home, our trivia team did not place tonight. It was a tight race throughout.)

158: Home Run!

We played our first kickball game tonight. I was surprisingly not nervous, which was a nice change from playing softball. I think this is because I'm not afraid of getting a ball or bat to the face. I could deal with getting hit with the kickball...it's probably not going to knock my teeth out. I only got up to kick once. I got a bunt down (which is basically what almost everyone does vs. booting it) but thrown out at first. It wasn't a bad bunt or a bad kick so I'm okay with that. I'd like to get on base next time. The ball didn't come near me in the outfield so nothing exciting to report there. Eddie played really well (no shock there) and even kicked a home run!

I'm pretty excited that we are playing on this team. I think it will be a fun way to spend my Wednesday nights.

Here is a shot (though blurry) of Eddie rounding second as part of his home run:

157: First Day of School

CNU offers a free class to employees and I'm finally taking advantage. I'm taking "The Exceptional Learner", which is a class that is designed for students who will be teachers. The topics include gifted learners, learners with disabilities, legal mandates, etc. Sara, who works down the hall, suggested taking the class given the added responsibilities from Disability Support Services that the office I work in has taken on. Some of the class will be a review from what I learned in undergrad and in the three years that I taught but I think there will also be some valuable information that I will be able to apply in the office. The class has some funster former RAs and the professor seems pretty cool so I'm looking forward to it. (I haven't been in a classroom for a grade since the fall of 2002...Spring of 2003 I was student teaching, from 2003-2006 I taught and I've been at CNU since 2006. )

Eddie snapped this photo of me as I was headed out to class:

156: WAKA

Eddie and I have joined an adult kickball league along with some friends from work. I hadn't played kickball since probably 5th grade so it's been fun to do it again. We've had two practices and have our first game on Wednesday. I'm pretty excited because it's a game where I'm encouraged to bunt and the ball is big and soft enough to where I'm not afraid of it smashing my face! I'm pretty excited about seeing how the first game will go. My photo of the day today is of a regulation WAKA ball that Eddie and I got so we can play/practice on our own.

154 & 155: Weekend!

This weekend I was able to get some quality time with family and friends, which was a nice change from the stressful week that I had.


Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the 50th Wedding Anniversary Party for Mike and Jan. They have been a part of my life from the time that I was born and I consider them to be family just as much as my blood relatives. The party was really great and it was neat to see their family and friends together to celebrate their marraige.

This evening Eddie and I went over to CNU's Club Fair to check it out and for me to say hello to the Photography Club peeps. It was good to see some of them this evening and I'm really excited to see what they have in store for this year. I have really enjoyed acting as their advisor and hope that their table tonight helps to get a few new faces at the meetings/events. I snapped this right when the doors had been open for the students to come in to see the tables.

153: Dan Duval

Dan Duval is an amazing man. Eddie first saw him in 1999 as a freshman at Fairfield University and went back each year to hear him speak to the freshman class. Three years ago CNU was looking for a new speaker for Welcome Week and Eddie suggested Dan. He has been to CNU three times now to speak to the freshman class about drug and alcohol addiction, relationships and overall life lessons. He is an incredibly captivating speaker and really puts himself out there for the audience.



His story is pretty intense....he was an All-American football and basketball player who began drinking and doing drugs at a young age. He tells stories about how this addiction affected his relationships and his life. By the peak of his addiction he attempted to kill himself by driving off of a bridge, but he "only" crashed the car and had a concussion. He has been sober for over 25 years and is an incredible, loving and open man who has a positive impact on those around him, including all of the students that he speaks to each year.



I am always moved by his speaking and each time have taken away something different from what he has had to say. I hope that he can continue to come to CNU because his message is so valuable, especially to freshmen as they begin college where their decisions can truly affect the rest of their lives and the lives of others.

152: Mantis religiosa

I had a fun picture of Matt and Norris from trivia tonight but when we got home I noticed a praying mantis on my car roof. I snapped a few shots with my pocket camera but decided to go back inside to get my "real" camera. The mantis was patient for a few shots and then started to try to attack my lens so I cut the photo shoot short. Pretty odd looking thing but a neat photo opportunity. (For those of you keeping track at home, our trivia team came in 2nd.)

151: Class of 2013

Tonight we had the entire class of 2013 together for the first time (for the most part). I snapped this shot from the back of the Concert Hall during Jerry's talk to the freshmen.

150: Theeeeeey're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Today was Day 1 of Freshman Move in. Beloit College in Wisconsin publishes a list each year profiling the incoming freshman class. The list includes facts about the class based on what they have known or not known their whole life. Two examples from this year's list:
They have never used a card catalog to find a book and Margaret Thatcher has always been a former prime minister.

I always enjoy reading the list each year though I found some items on this year's list to be silly...like: There has always been blue Jell-O. This factoid about this class does not tell me anything about them....lame.

Anyways. If you want to see the whole list you can read it online at: http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2013.php (I also really enjoy the list for my college class of 2003...it includes a bonus list of items that only a child of the '80s can explain...like Trapper Keepers!)

I took a picture of a move-in shirt that I wore today and will also wear tomorrow. (Don't worry...Eddie washed them tonight.)

149: 'Cause we've got no time to fool around around here

Today was a busy day at work and I ended up staying late because we were supposed to have gotten our orientation student booklets between 7 and 8. I got more done between 5-9 than I did between 8-5, which was good. I turned up my Broadway internet station and plowed through some work once everyone was gone. Eddie and I headed home around 9 and picked up two slices of pizza from Azzurri (which Marco wouldn't let us pay for) on the way. We relaxed at home for al ittle bit before heading back out to meet the delivery lady who arrived at 10:50. Goodtimes.

I snapped a shot of a stack of file folders on my desk before I left work tonight. Nothing too exciting but it does sum up my day.

Tomorrow freshmen move in....where the heck did summer go?!

148: Popcorn

Eddie and I are enjoying a quiet evening in tonight watching West Wing Season 1 on DVD. We just popped some popcorn (kettle corn, actually) and I figured I should grab a shot before we eat it so I don't have to look around for another photo of the day.

147: Plastic Pool

Tonight was the annual RA pool party at the condo complex of one of the VPs of CNU. Karen, Mike and I met up with Eddie for some pizza and relaxation. (They flew into Norfolk this evening.) I didn't have a photo of the day so I snapped one of the pool after everyone had left. I chose the plastic wrap effect from PhotoShop mostly because I find it amusing.

146: Take Two

On the way home from work I noticed there was a moth/butterfly smooshed into the asphalt of the parking lot. I went to take a picture of it and found that my camera battery had died. I was pretty bummed about it because I didn't think I'd go back over there just to take a photo but....Eddie and I stopped back by on our way out for errands. I'm glad that we did. I rather enjoy the photograph for some reason....not that I like dead things but it makes for an interesting photo.

145: Cuke-tastic!

Tonight I received perhaps the largest and most fun-shaped cucumber EVER from Kim, co-worker and home gardener. She knows that I am always good to take the "weird" cukes, including the awesome conjoined ones last week. Her daughters thought it was hilarious and so we posed for some pictures and then I took more posed shots at Trivia tonight. (For you readers keeping track out there, we dominated tonight and took first place!) I had a bunch of photos of us with the cuke to post but the internet is being weird so I only got two to upload. Here are Katie and Gracie with the cuke. :-)

144: Guest Photographer

Tonight Eddie and I went to go hang out with the Ritchey family for some fun. They have two adorable daughters and the older of the two, Ella, played photographer with my little digital camera. She enjoyed it and I thought it was a good chance to have a guest photographer for the blog tonight.

So, I give you Ella Ritchey's "Self Portrait, Serious":

Bonus picture:

Eddie has gotten me sucked into the wonderful world of coupons. Harris Teeter has Triple Coupons right now and so we utilized some online resources to kick off Triple Coupon week. We got all of these items for a total $1.32 (though the real total should have been $.86...something didn't triple correctly).

143: Warning: Adult Content

Okay, PopPop....avert your eyes from today's picture! :-)

Eddie and I met up with Trici for dinner at Red Robin and afterwards Trici and I ventured into the local mall. We noticed some naked mannequins in the window of one of the stores. I asked Trici if she would be embarrassed if I stopped to take a picture and she said no. I snapped this shot which actually looks pretty cool in black and white. We also saw some high school kids taking pictures later....so I wasn't the only creeper.

142: Trix are for kids....or adults

I ate dinner with Eddie in the dining hall after work with the rest of the Residence Life folks. I was going to have a bowl of Lucky Charms for dessert but was talked into having Trix by one of the lovely ladies who works at the dining hall. She said they were phasing Trix out from their cereal menu. This doesn't really affect me all that much because we don't have a regular meal plan anymore but I figured I should have some Trix because I probably won't have them in quite some time. (We don't really buy sweet cereal like that.)

I was impressed with the colors of the cereal:

141: Playing A-Round

Eddie, Karen, Mike and I braved the heat and humidity to play a round of mini golf. It was a close game most of the way with Eddie pulling ahead for a win. We followed up golf with some arcade fun where we won awesome prizes like plastic rings, giant playing cards and Airheads. Good times!

139 & 140: Ketchup

Friday night was the first time throughout this project that I actually forgot to post the picture that I had taken for the day. Yesterday we didn't have internet for most of the day so I'm catching up today with my Friday and Saturday pics.

139: Residence Life "Houses"

This year CNU's ResLife Resident Assistant (RA) training theme is loosely based on Harry Potter. They made "house" banners to hang up in the dining hall. It looks pretty neat.

140: Cooooookies!

Tim and I stopped at Wal-Mart on the way to a housewarming cook-out for Sarah and Matt. We were in search of a dessert to bring and we found these fun mini-versions of the awesome frosted cookies that they sell. I loved the neon green frosting with the sprinkles. They were delicious!

138: Back in action...

After a few weeks of a win-drought, our trivia team tied with two other teams for second tonight. Jacqui was victorious in the double-elimination rock-paper-scissors tie-breaker so we officially came in second! We had a lot of "guest stars" tonight at Trivia, including my parents. They were up for the night as we (read: Eddie) are taking them to the airport bright and early tomorrow so they can have an adventure in Arizona. It's always nice to have them around. I am fortunate to have them so close.

I didn't have any great photos from tonight but thought this one was interesting after playing with it in Photoshop. Weird effect.

137: PB&C?

So this evening I tried a new creation: Peanut Butter and Craisin toast. It was quite tasty! We got a good deal on Craisins (dried cranberries) at Harris Teeter and I've been thinking about ways to use them....this was a success as was the chicken salad with craisins mixed in. Anyone have any other suggestions?

136: Non-stop Puzzle Action

Eddie and I met up with Heather in Williamsburg at the NY Pizza & Deli for our traditional Scrabble and Dinner. We like to go there because it has good food, good music and reminds Eddie and Heather of Jersey. I had a stressful day at work and so it was nice to just go, relax, be nerdy with some Scrabble and eavesdrop on some ridiculous conversations from the corner booth behind us.

Heather and I both noticed that the tiling in the bathroom reminded us of Tetris. (For those of you readers who don't know....Tetris is an old video game where there are falling puzzle pieces that you have to flip around and drop to make complete row.) I thought it would make a good photo of the day:

P.S. I have seen this video posted on some people's Facebook pages and I thought it was really cool and that you might enjoy it as well: http://music.todaysbigthing.com/2009/08/03

135: Extended Commute

My "commute" in the morning consists of walking out of the residence hall where our apartment is, crossing Warwick Blvd, walking by the Freeman Center, Admin and the Library and then I'm at the building where I work. On a short crossing signal day it takes about five minutes. They have been doing a lot of construction on Warwick so the cross often feels dangerous with fresh asphalt, ogling construction workers and large machines. Last week they started working on a parking lot over by the Freeman Center but it didn't affect my walking pattern...until I tried to walk home today and found they had put up that orange construction fencing all around. My commute is going to double in the morning! I snapped a picture of one of the ground-grinding machines in the lot. It reminded me of a ship's wheel, which is fitting for our campus. (Go Captains!)

134: Boy Talk

Eddie and I headed back south to Virginia from New Jersey this morning....lots of rain, which made the trip extra fun. We got back in time to participate in a farewell softball game for Chris, who was an RA and frequent-visitor to the Student Affairs Suite. He is heading off to grad school (tonight actually) and a bunch of people came together to play softball. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon. One of my coworkers brought his two little ones and I snapped this picture of Eddie and Noah "chatting" during the game.

133: They call her...The Jackal.

Well, dedication paid off....I got to meet Allison Janney tonight! Eddie, Eddie's mom, Meredith (Eddie's friend from HS who is just a fantastic person) and I went into the city with the intentions of all going to see 39 Steps (a play). During the car ride we were discussing 9 to 5 and the fact that Meredith really wanted to see it. The show is closing on Labor Day weekend and I had been thinking about seeing it again (it's slowly becoming one of my favorites) so I suggested that we split up. I'm so glad that we did. Meredith and I had a great time at 9 to 5 and Eddie got to spend time with his mom and enjoy a play. After the shows were over we stayed outside the stage door of 9 to 5 and Allison Janney came out!!! I got her to sign a 9 to 5 steno pad that I bought. She was genuinely nice to everyone and it was certainly worth the waiting.

Today we have a added bonus photo by Guest Photographer Eddie because he snapped this pic of Allison and I. :-)