MIT

 A couple weeks ago MIT had an open house.  I saw some really cool stuff: wind tunnels, robots, cool computer apps, you name it! But one of the coolest things was when they dropped a piano off a building- a tradition I don't really understand about the drop deadline for classes.  People flocked like vultures to get a piece of the piano (which didn't really splinter like I'd imagined)  that had been dropped.  It was a funny experience.

The following day, Sunday, I went for walk with my friend Amy Stuart and we wandered a much emptier MIT Campus and enjoyed playing in the Stata:

with the MIT Mood Meter- very fun face detection:

 and the giant chalkboards that are available for anyone to grafitti:

It was such a lovely Boston day!

Cute Kids at the Zoo

These are just a few pictures I took at the zoo the other day- I just think they're so cute that I needed to share.  Enjoy!

Talent Show

Back at the end of April my ward had a talent show.  I participated in two different acts- both of which confirmed where my talents are... or aren't.   My friend Alexandra studies Dress History and Museum Studies here and as her talent asked me and about 10 other girls from the ward to model some of the dresses she's made.  I got to be a swashbuckling maiden although I discovered that a model I most definitely am NOT.  It was fun though.  

The other act, which I REALLY wish I had a recording of was an acapella group of girls singing a cover arranged by Sarah Houghton (my visiting teachee) of "Always be my Baby" originally by Mariah Carey.  Here's a picture of that group:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150153178798751&set=t.17806456&type=1 
and a snipet of sounds from the talent show by a fantastic gal in my ward (Colleen Kelly) who does this kind of thing (the last 25 seconds or so are me and the other ladies):

http://www.theinfamousdance.com/1/post/2011/04/the-sunday-sound-a-mormon-saturday-night.html

Happy Patriot's Day!

Massachusetts has it's own holiday called Patriot's Day.  It is a weekend of revolutionary re-enactments around Lexington, Concord, and Boston.  

It was really really cold!

I celebrated by going to a re-enactment of Paul Revere's and William Dawes midnight ride where they deliver their infamous message.  The acting was absolutely horrible, but I guess you can't win them all.  That night I car camped with my friend Jenny so we could watch a battle re-enactment at 5:30 Monday morning.  This particular re-enactment draws so many people that unless you're there by about 4:30 you have no hope of seeing anything, and even then it's questionable.  The population is compounded by the fact that all these events also happen on the same weekend of the Boston Marathon. 

Don't know these guys, but my batteries died
before I could get more pictures :(

The marathon was absolutely incredibly inspiring.  Not only the physical and mental discipline of the runners- which is awe-inspiring in and of itself- but also of the fans who just stand on the sidelines and cheer.  I couldn't help but be touched by the feeling of comraderie and family as everyone genuinely wants the people running to succeed.  It was so unlike a regular sporting event where you are typically pulling for one side or another.  I loved it and couldn't help but wish that everyone could be so concerned for others all the time. The Boston Marathon is one of the most difficult in the country and has about 30,000 runners.  A new world record was set at this particular race.  Such amazing athletes!!    I had at least 4 friends who were running and it was such a memorable experience to be able to cheer them on.  

We are sowing, er... sewing

 I caught a sewing bug the other week.  We ended up with twirling skirts and t-shirts.  

I had the girls draw a picture for their shirts and then I sewed it onto the shirt. 

Good times... 

Gliding along

The girls don't have bikes, but they have "gliders." Pretty much just bikes without pedals.  They have gotten good on them and we've really enjoyed them on sunny days.

Dare I hope....

You may or may not be able to tell what this is, so I'll tell you...   It's all that remains of a giant mountain of snow that was behind my house and I really really really really hope it's the last snow I see until at least December!