Sunday, December 14, 2008

These are the times that try men's souls

My obsession with the American Revolution was on display this weekend at the dress rehearsal for the annual reenactment of General Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River in the aptly named Washington's Crossing, Penn. It has all of the makings of one of my dreams--a beautiful clear day, fife and drum corp, tri-corner hats, recitations of Thomas Paine's "Crisis" and of course, General Washington. Unfortunately, they weren't actually able to cross the river today because the conditions were deemed dangerous by the safety officials (some rough water didn't stop the real General Washington though, did it?), but it was still a perfect Sunday afternoon....




...Weekend Anna

O Christmas Tree...



Sunday, December 7, 2008

Tu scendi dalle stelle


Tu scendi dalle stelle
O Re del Cielo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.

O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato!
Ah, quanto ti costò
L'avermi amato.
Ah, quanto ti costò
L'avermi amato.

A te che sei del mondo,
Il creatore,
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.

Caro eletto pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
Più mi innamora,
Giacchè ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Giacchè ti fece amor
Povero ancora.

It's getting colder...

...and I love it! A little tiny bit of snow yesterday, but not much yet. That's ok though, I'm getting my fill of holiday/winter spirit this weekend, starting yesterday with a trip to one of my favorite places in the world--children's bookstores. I love books and spend way too much money expanding my collection. Right now this "collection" is spread over three states: Ohio, New Jersey and Florida. I'm hoping all of my dear friends will be reunited soon. Anyways, back to children's bookstores. Memories of books I read as a child and teenager always bring a smile to my face--from Madeline and Angelina Ballerina to the Boxcar Children, "Little House on the Prairie", Nancy Drew, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", "Little Women" and "Treasure Island," many of my happiest memories involve youth literature.

This is why I decided to get my young goddaughter a book for Christmas and this is how I ended up at 18 W. 18th Street yesterday. The store is called Books of Wonder, and it's absolutely perfect. Young adult fiction, classic picture books, contemporary picture books, first editions of classics like "The Secret Garden" and other rare books--it's all there. Plus, there's a little cafe serving coffee and cupcakes nestled into the rows of books. Children and parents were everywhere, making me feel a feeling I only get once in a blue moon--that one day it might be nice to have a child (those that know me well know that I sometimes--or rather, almost all of the time--lack any sort of maternal instinct, but that I still have a spot in my heart for children).

Anyways, I was hoping to get Madeline's Christmas but because they were sold out, I settled on "Eloise at Christmastime". It's signed by the illustrator, Hillary Knight, and I think the mischievous Eloise will entertain my beautiful and strong willed little cousin.


Most of my shopping is done...now it's time for cards!




...Weekend Anna

Saturday, December 6, 2008

It's that time of year...

It's officially the Christmas season, which means lights, the smell of pine/evergreen trees, gingerbread cookies, and of course, Christmas music! All of my favorites are playing repeatedly:
"Happy Xmas, War is Over" (lennon)
"White Christmas" (bing!), "The First Noel" (nat king cole)
"The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" (bing and bowie!!!)

So, a blend of the secular with the religious. This year there are some new additions to the rotation in the form of music from Stephen Colbert's Christmas Special. It's glorious, especially the non-Christmasy "cover" of Elvis Costello's "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding".

Truly, the greatest gift of all...

...Weekend Anna

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Looking Backwards


So, I've already fallen behind in the weekend blogging, seeing as how I haven't posted anything since election day. Hopefully I can get back into, or rather start the habit of weekend posting. So tonight will be a recap of last weekend, tomorrow will be, tomorrow.

Saturday the 8th was drizzly, gray and cold, so that of course meant coffee, pie and a trip to the Upper West Side's Cafe Lalo. It was crowded and I waited, plastered against the pie case and once I was seated, I felt bad for taking up a table for two with just myself. That guilt passed pretty quickly once I had my coffee and pie (apple+pear+raspberry=perfect). I spent the rest of the rainy afternoon traipsing through Central Park before seeing my lovely Rebecca.

Sunday was IKEA and tools day. I now own a toolbox. And tools. And a desk. Which I will put together with my tools at some point. It should look like this:

Right now it looks like this:



Well, sort of...



...Weekend Anna

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

It's over.

Officially, that is. It was exciting to vote at a real polling station (after voting so many years absentee in the great state of Ohio). I prepared my election day tote bag--filled with a book (Joan Didion's "Democracy"), a newspaper, water, iPod, hand lotion and granola bar--last night, set my alarm for 6:15am and was ready to go this morning, once I had my thermos of coffee in hand. I walked over to PS 8 on Franklin Ave. in Jersey City, and while there were a lot of people crammed into the lobby of the school's auditorium, the lines were quick (a bit chaotic) and I was able to cast my ballot without cracking open my tote. Below are my few, but demonstrative, photos of my first New Jersey election:


The Wall Street Journal's Nov. 4th front page.





My free Starbucks coffee that bought my vote.





Voter Registration card for Hudson County, NJ.





Outside my polling location, PS 8 in Jersey City (I wasn't sure if I was allowed to take photos inside, so I didn't tempt fate.)


Until Saturday,

~Weekend Anna.

Monday, November 3, 2008

At last, it has arrived...

...election day.

Well, almost. I can't believe election season is coming to an end. How now will I fill my spare time, with no new polls to check, campaign ads to fawn or frown over, and new SNL campaign related sketches to watch over and over? Urgh, I'll have to read about the actual governing of things. At least tomorrow I get to go to the polls and cast my ballot (in person!) at PS 8 in Jersey City, NJ. The highlight of my week. That is until...

...the weekend. Those two days (I don't count Friday since work doesn't stop until after 8pm for me) where I can do whatever I want--sleep in, read all day, take an absurdly long shower, eat breakfast/lunch/dinner at a table, go for a walk without the constraint of a schedule, catch up with friends or a movie, and the list goes on and on.

And the weekend is the whole point of this blog--a chance to post photos and reflect on the two days of non-work. I will do my best to not mention work--in any capacity!--in these posts. Most of the posting (but not all) will be done on Saturday and Sunday, in my own little, if insignificant, homage to a world free of employment constraints...


~Weekend Anna