HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I'm pretty sure Rusty doesn't really like his costume- I don't think he's happy with his new haircut either- they went a little (ok a LOT) heavy on the puppy perfume. 

Here's a before picture.

He really doesn't like having his picture taken, even without the costume.

Shocking news...

I failed my French exam.  :( 

French

I took my language exam today... it was painful. It's been about 3 years since I took French so I'm a little (ok a lot) rusty. 

For the exam I had to translate about a page and a half of French. I wonder how they pick the text they have us translate- mine was very odd. Here's one sentence, "It was held by an Egyptian man who did not appear to be very radioactive." I changed it a little when I typed it up so that it sounded better in English but that was my basic translation. Which made me a little nervous about how accurate my translation was- seriously an Egyptian man does not appear very radioactive? What is that about? (I'm pretty sure I'm right about the radioactive part- I mean what else could radioactif mean?) grr argh!       

It's very likely that I will be taking the exam again next semester- but hopefully I will only have to take it twice. (I've heard everyone fails the first time- and my French is obviously weak). On the bright side I heard they may offer some kind of refresher course next semester and preparing for the exam has made me realize I kinda miss taking French (I was shocked too). And I'm thinking maybe I should possibly think about perhaps doing a transnational chapter (or more) as part of my dissertation- so French might actually be useful (shocking I know) I've just started thinking about this so who knows where it will lead. So there might be more French on my future (who'd a thunk it?)

    

When I grow up...

I want to be a historical reenactor. You thought I came to Williamsburg to go to school but really it was to be closer to "living history" where I might someday be able to secure a job as a milkmaid... or a tavern wench. The ultimate role of course would be a revolutionary war hero but I'm guessing the don't hire many female war heros- but they should! There were women who disguised themselves as men and went to war- one even received a pension after the war.   

Ah... my kingdom for a pair of fancy pants and a tri-corner hat...

Recipe

Back in August, I posted a picture of the super fantastic dinner I made, see it here. And I said I would post the recipe, but alas I never did, so here it is now... I made it with chicken but you could substitute turkey if you'd prefer it- both kinds are tasty (and they are even better with gravy). 

Savory Chicken Crescents 

3 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken (or turkey) or 2 5 oz. cans boned chicken

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon chopped chives or onion

1 tablespoon chopped pimento- if desired (I don't add pimento)

8 oz can Pillsbury Refrigerated Quick Crescent or Italian Flavor Crescent dinner rolls 

3/4 cup seasoned croutons, crushed.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, blend cream cheese and 2 tablespoons butter (reserve 1 tbls butter) until smooth. Add the next 6 ingredients, mix well. Separate crescent dough into 4 rectangles; firmly press perforations to seal, spoon 1/2 cup meat mixture onto center of each rectangle, pull four corners of dough to top center of chicken mixture, twist slightly and seal edges. Brush tops with reserved butter; dip in crouton crumbs. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Refrigerate leftovers. (Makes 4). I got this recipe from one of my mom's cookbooks- I believe it's one put out by Pillsbury.   

Enjoy!

More pictures from around town

One nice thing about having an out of town guest is that I actually get out. I'm so busy with school that all I really do is sit at home and read (and write) and then go to class and start over again. And that's it, over and over and over, etc. I have managed to eat out occasionally with a couple new friends here but mostly I eat at home and really haven't been to too many restaurants  here, I know my friends back home would be shocked at this- but who has the time (and money) plus I don't really like going out to eat alone. 

Anyhow, on Bernie's last night here we decided to go to a Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg (CW). It was actually my first time walking around that part of town, I drive through all the time and have spent quite a bit of time in the downtown area but otherwise I haven't done much around CW. It was a lovely night and the tavern was fun... here are some pictures.    

President's Park

My sister was in town visiting this week and we spent a rainy Wednesday afternoon at President's Park where we looked at very large busts of all of the Presidents and learned interesting facts about them. I had no idea there have been so many assassination  attempts on so many Presidents! How did I not know that? Anyway, here are some pictures...

 

I took this picture of Lincoln, not only because he is clearly the best President ever but I also wanted to add another picture of the changing leaves... sadly they are kind of hard to see.

Has anyone ever noticed how close together Bush's eyes are? Is that why he seems so shifty? Although I thought the tie was a nice touch...  

So there you have pictures of my favorite and least favorite presidents, I feel kind of bad having them in the same post. If you'd like to learn juicy tidbits about the presidents through poetry you should visit my friend Liz's presidential poetry blog.... it's priceless!

Rusty's new friend...

Rusty discovered the neighbor's cat... he was surprisingly unexcited. But she (he?) seemed very interested in us.  

Stairwells

I took this picture the other day- it's in the Student Center on campus... there is something about stairwells that make me think of Lifetime movies. Suddenly I'm a woman, being chased by a man who wants to kidnap our daughter and take her away from me, but it turns out the daughter isn't actually mine because she was switched at birth and I'm not even who I think I am because I had a psychotic break and stole someone else's identity. Do stairwells have this affect on anyone else? 

October

Holy s**t it's October! I can't believe I've been here 6 weeks!