New Building Dedication

The R. Michael Shanahan Center for Teaching and Learning has been up and running since the semester's start, and this past Saturday the HMC community celebrated the dedication of the building. After the opening speeches and presentations, attendees wandered the structure finding goodies to eat in various places, listened to presentations, and enjoyed the new space which so clearly defines the campus center now. It hadn't occurred to me that there was no one central place on campus for the HMC community to gather (there had been several places, but not very centrally located). Now there is such a comprehensive place - smack in the middle of campus - with a variety of purposes. Besides classrooms, a recital hall, a small art gallery, you will also find a cafe (with Starbucks coffee), tutoring and writing center, the Math Department, Admissions and the President's Office and other places I have forgotten. 

President Klawe receiving the LEED award for the building

President Klawe receiving a certificate from Claremont's Mayor

A talk about how Pixar uses math in animation given by the parent of a current Mudder

Performance by the Psyko Taiko drummers - a 5C group

Performance by the Claremont Shades (a 5C a capella group)

One of the many plaques to be seen around the building

Desserts

Friday night we had some HMC students over for a little dessert party. In the past we have served a TJs cheesecake to students, but I wanted something different this time, so I checked out my cousin's pinterest site to come up with some ideas. I wanted finger desserts so I didn't need silverware, and these are the recipes I came up with. First I made Peanut Butter Cup Brownies which are even better than Costco Brownie Bites, and about the same size. I was happy to use the tiny muffin tins that I had purchased for my daughter's wedding shower just over a year ago. They turned out very well, and I was happy to discover that Nestle sells a bag with a mixture of chocolate and peanut butter chips.

I also made Cheesecake Yogurt Cups. It was supposed to be lemon, but I used raspberry yogurt instead of vanilla. They worked out just fine and I topped them with fresh raspberries. The third recipe will need a little changing if I am going to make them again. These Caramel Apple Grapes looked so darn cute, and they taste pretty good, too, but next time I will make sure to add some pre-crushed peanuts and set them apart from each other since after they harden, they like to stick together, if they are close to each other. 

Now that I have been in the kitchen recently, I probably won't come back to baking until the holidays.

Martha Redbone: Levitt on the Lawn

Last November I heard a piece on NPR about singer/songwriter Martha Redbone. I was especially intrigued by the way she used poetry by William Blake set to the music of her Appalachian roots. After listening to a few of her songs online, I was so taken with her work that I bought her entire album The Garden of Love on iTunes. I rarely buy an entire album, but I have listened to this one many times already.

So, when I saw a poster at HMC saying that she would be giving a free concert at Scripps, I had to go. The concert was part of the Levitt on the Lawn series sponsored by the Levitt Pavillion in Pasadena. Liz Levitt Hirsch, a Scripps alum, is part of the Mortimer Levitt Foundation which encourages community through music by providing free outdoor concerts.

Along with many other lawn-sitters, I enjoyed the live music from Redbone's album, especially when she added some improvisational sections to the songs I already enjoy. There is something so much better about live music than recordings.

Now that I am aware that Scripps has two of these concerts every year, I will keep them on my radar! 

Coyote

Yesterday when I was driving along Oak Park Ave., I saw this coyote. Being as there was no traffic, I stopped and watched him for a bit. I thought he might be pretending to have a hurt paw, but then when I got out my camera to snap a video of him, it was clear to me that he had been in some sort of altercation from which he did not emerge completely intact. Notice not only the dangly paw, but also the blood on his back.

Swiss Watching

Although I did not actually read this book, H read aloud the most interesting parts of it to me. In preparation for our sabbatical next year, we think it would be wise, not only to brush up our German, but to also have a heads-up on fitting into and trying to understand the culture of Switzerland.

This book was written for Brits who are moving to Switzerland, but the advice would seem to work well for Americans, too. The one chapter that has stuck in our minds is the way in which one attends a social function. First of all, according to this book, Swiss do not go in for small talk, so please refrain from mentioning the weather.

"The moment you walk into the room is moment of truth. It's not about dress codes, because the Swiss rarely have those, or about being late, where a simple apology is enough. It's all about saying hello. At any gathering in Switzerland, every guest's first duty is to go round and greet everyone. Faced with a crowd of people, most of them strangers, you might be temped to lurk in a corner until you spot someone you know, or wait for your host to make the introductions. Bad idea. What you should do before anything else, and that includes getting a drink, is introduce yourself to everyone, regardless of how long it takes. ... This custom is possibly the real reason most Swiss people are punctual. It's much easier to stand around chatting or drinking and make all the newcomers come to you for the introductions."

Of course, leaving the party also has its formalities. Think of the above in reverse, and try to remember everyone's name....

Gabby Giffords Honored at Scripps

Gabby Giffords was honored at her alma mater, Scripps College, last week as the third recipient of the Ellen Browning Scripps Medal (along with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor). This medal "is awarded to a woman whose accomplishments have made a significant and positive difference in the possibilities available in women's lives, enabling all women to live more confidently, courageously, and hopefully."

As shown on this news report about this event, Scripps has a graffiti wall which is signed by all graduates. When I walked over to the wall today, I found the class of 1993 with no problem, but I did not find Giffords' signature, although you can see it in the video. I will have to go back sometime with someone who has a better eye than I.

Hidden Claremont: Shoes from Around the World

I read somewhere (Facebook?) that the Petterson Museum at Pilgrim Place was opening a show of shoes from around the world. What's not to love about 1) a free museum 2) a close-by museum 3) the Pilgrims at Pilgrim Place 4) a collection of shoes?

The weather being perfect today was invitation enough to warrant a stroll to the Petterson. The sweet docent who was there told me that this exhibit will be around until after Thanksgiving (and the Pilgrim Festival), so locals have a little time to peruse this collection. If you don't make it over before the Festival, the museum will be open during the Festival and is worth the 10-minutes or so it takes to enjoy the shoes.

These knit slippers reminded me of the "booties" that my Gramma used to knit for all of us each year.

iOS 7

I'm not what you would call an early adopter. I enjoy letting other people work out the kinks of a new product before I plop down my money. So, I will not tell you that I was in line today for the newest iPhone. Heck, I don't even have a previous iPhone.

Anyway, I decided to download the new operating system for iPad/iPhone/iWhatever last night on my iPad, and it's not too much different than the previous one. Swiping has changed a little bit, but it's not too hard to figure out, and the apps work the same way as they did before.

I guess one of the new features of this operating system is the filters in the camera, and though I don't take many photos with my iPad, I thought I would try it out. Here is a picture of a rock and its shadow with one of the filters and the enhance button. I don't think this will be a time sink for me, but it's nice to have it if I want it.

Earthquake in the Wee Hours

We will not be getting phone calls from friends and relatives in other parts of the world on these little quakes we had this morning. At 4:45 we were awakened by a 3.8 temblor that apparently was in LaVerne, just four miles from Claremont and 3 miles north of Pomona. (I wonder why they don't just say where it IS, rather than what is is close to. LaVerne is really a place, guys.) Twenty minutes later we felt another one, probably the one that was 3.7. 

Of course, I went to Facebook first when I woke up (because KVCR did not report any quakes), and people had already posted about it, so I knew that it had been close. It was a short, jarring shake. Then I turned on the local tv news, and there was a brief mention, but even the LA newsroom said that they had not felt it, so apparently it was not worth mentioning.

Oh, yeah, no damage, so not really a story. But it does serve as a reminder to us all about the nature of where we live!

German Wednesdays

Today is Wednesday - Beginners Day at German Table in Oldenborg. You knew that from last Wednesday's post. Again, it was great to work on our spoken German, and perhaps one of these days we'll be brave and go on a day that it not for beginners.....

Anyway, in preparation for German Table, we thought we should learn/relearn the German Alphabet. Instead of looking up the pronunciation, I thought there ought to be a youtube video of it. Of course there is. If you can imagine it, it will be on the internet.

Actually, there are many videos that pop up if you search for German alphabet song, but this is the one that I liked the best.

Dodgers Magic Number - 2

Great to see Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramierez not only back in the lineup, but hitting and scoring!

Puma Statue

One member of our book club lives up in Mount Baldy, and I had not been up to his house for two years, so when we arrived, I was surprised to see this guy looking at us.

Apparently this mountain lion was created in Sedona, Arizona in 2010, and in 2011 they bought it. It was no mean feat to get it up the steep mountain, but here he sits, keeping watch.

Fire Photos

Yesterday evening we walked along Foothill and looked through the fence at the fire damage to the Bernard Field Station. Here are a few pics.

The orange is the sunset, not a fire...

The sign at the gate is gone, but the trash can only melted a little.

Now you can easily see a house on Blaisdell. See how close the fire came to residential neighborhoods...

Danskos

During the REI Fall Sale, I was casually browsing through the shoe section, and I found these Dansko sandals. As soon as I slipped them on my feet, I feel in love. They are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes / sandals I have ever owned.

I have been teaching in them all week, and my feet are extremely happy. Plus, I am two inches taller!

I heard about Danskos from my daughter, and since then, I have found out that people who are on their feet every day (like nurses) choose this brand.

And no, I have no connection to this company.

Bernard Field Station Fire

Life in Claremont was pretty exciting for a few hours yesterday afternoon. I was home in the afternoon, and around 4:00 or so, I heard a low-flying aircraft that made the house shake. That happens occasionally, and I always wonder if I should somehow avoid an airplane crashing into my house, but am never sure what the best course of action should be. Then I heard another plane, then a helicopter, and I knew that something was going on. I grabbed my camera and went outside and snapped these shots from my front porch. I was hoping that they weren't chasing some gunman who would run on my street.

It occurred to me that the best way to get immediate news of what was going on was to check Facebook, and, sure enough, I found out that crews were fighting a fire at the Bernard Field Station, just four blocks north of my house, and right across the street from Harvey Mudd. I made a comment on Facebook that I knew where to get immediate information (usually I head there when I feel an earthquake), and my friend asked me if I hadn't gotten the emergency call yet. I hadn't, but around 4:30,  the phone rang with the automated warning.

By that time, the fire was nearly contained, although the traffic was a mess on Foothill and Mills for quite a while, I've heard. In the end, 17 acres burned, 115 firefighters worked to save the Botanical Garden and all homes in the area. No one was hurt, no structures were damaged. The fire was sparked by a metal saw being used by Golden State Water doing work along Foothill. Here is the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin report. The Courier also had a good article, but it's probably behind a paywall. 

Friends posted some pretty scary-looking photos of huge smoke plumes and high flames, but apparently the wind was blowing them away from my house, and I did not smell or see smoke.

Deutsch at Oldenborg

Hallo Liebe Leser!

Heute hatten wir unser Mittagessen im Oldenborg Center gegessen. Warum? Weil im Oldenborg können wir  Deutsch mit anderen Menschen sprechen. Wir wollen informieren, besser Deutsch zu sprechen.

Hello Dear Readers!

Today we ate our lunch at Oldenborg Center. Why? Because at Oldenborg we can speak German with other people. We want to get better at speaking German.

Oldenborg is Pomona College's Foreign Language Center with graduate resident assistants who speak various languages and facilitate language and cultural learning. On Wednesdays the tables are designated as beginner tables, so we felt that although we are past our first semester of German, it has been so long that we really need a refresher.

I was surprised at how much I could actually participate at my level, surprised at some words that came back to me, and surprised at how many words I have forgotten. Well, maybe not so surprised at that. As soon as someone would remind me of a word for which I was searching, I felt like hitting my forehead with my palm.

Anyway, I am once again reminded that the best way to learn a language is immersion!

First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of the school year for music classes at Vista. As much as I love the slow pace of summer vacation, I am happy to be back at work. I find that I do so much better with my time when I have some structure. I usually think that I am going to get so much done during the summer, and while I get to about half of my list, it's never the amount I think I'm going to do.

Not only that, I truly enjoy spending time and playing music with my students. I used some of my favorite old lessons and added a few new ones which keeps me fresh. Also, at the start of the year, the students are more receptive to learning. They aren't tired of school yet, and their new teachers, new classmates are still exciting.

A Full Day at Church

From the CUCC Facebook Page

The first Sunday after Labor Day, congregations often have a Homecoming Sunday, or some such day to celebrate the start of the fall season. Sunday school starts up again, choirs are back to regular rehearsals, etc.

It was a busy day for me with Women's Choir practice, regular church service, and music committee meeting. However, the most exciting part was the installation of our new lead pastor, Eileen Gebbie. We have these events rarely, so it was exciting to see all the community members participate in the celebration, from the pastors of local churches, our own conference minister, representatives from Kiwanis and other organizations as well as two CPD officers and a firefighter.

Because red is Eileen's favorite color, she requested that people wear red, and the sanctuary was very brightly colored for the festivities.

Tall Ships Festival

Today was a perfect day to escape the heat of the Inland Empire and go to Dana Point to partake of the Tall Ships Festival.  The Brig Pilgrim, docked at the Dana Point Harbor, is a replica of the ship from Richard Henry Dana's Two Years Before the Mast. Some of the tall ships in the harbor are used by school groups for 3-5 day living history and oceanography learning. You can read about those opportunities here. 

During our four hours at the festival, we toured through about 6 tall ships, watched a little play on board the Pilgrim, people-watched (lots of people dressed up as pirates, a few as mermaids), saw some aquariums, watched a parrot show, saw some hula dancing and watched a demonstration of sailors climbing the rigging to let out a sail. 

This was a very popular event with many, many people. It continues on Sunday. Here are a few of the many, many pics I took (as usual).

A very cute pirate

Some grown-up pirates.

Part of the Royal Marine Corps in the play

Royal Marines firing away

Pirates getting ready to board the Pilgrim to free the captive, Jean Lafitte

Jean Lafitte in need of rescuing

Pirates vs. Royal Marines

Climbing in the rigging. Not what I want to do.

A pirate and his parrots

Kids with parrots

A Bell for Adano

I had never heard of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel before it was chosen for book club. Published in 1944, this book centers on a small Sicilian town during the Allied occupation in 1943. An American major takes over the running of Adano. Major Joppolo works hard to do what is right for the people of the town, including getting a bell to replace the one that was taken during Mussolini's rule and melted down to make ammunition.

My general sense of the book is that the comedic parts reminded me of the movie The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, but other parts of the plot slogged along. In this day when we've read Catch 22 and other war novels, this book feels dated to me, but if it was reworked as a short story, I think that would improve it.

Sagehen Cafe

In all these years I've been in Claremont, I have never eaten at Pomona College's Sagehen Cafe. I did not realize that it was a sit-down restaurant, but I was very happy for the great air conditioning inside today. The reason for the visit was for us to meet with a German professor who is from Switzerland to pick his brain for any ideas about living in Zurich and learning German. Besides learning more about actual Swiss life, he will give me contact information for his sister who is a piano teacher, living in Bern (the Swiss capital) who has Zurich music connections. That, in itself, was worth the whole lunch, which was actually very informative in many respects.

Oh, yes, the lunch was pretty good, too.

Blue Jasmine

Saw our second movie of the summer at the Laemmle, this time Woody Allen's latest offering - Blue Jasmine.

I pretty much like Allen's films, perhaps my favorite is The Purple Rose of Cairo. While walking home we agreed that although the cast is quite devoid of Allen's usual actors, and the setting was not New York, the patina of the film felt like Allen. The jazz music and the messed-up characters fall into his genre. Cate Blanchett is fabulous as the Blanche DuBois character. (It's a long way from Rivendell to San Francisco, but she makes the transition look effortless.)

Labor Day 2013

Even the Delhi Palace Express is closed for Labor Day.