Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Dove Candy Wisdom

In short, it has been and will continue to be a stressful summer at Opera Camp. That's not really what its called but it is a very intensive summer. We put up 3 mainstage shows (fully stage, fully teched, etc) in 8 weeks; plus there are other concerts, events, etc on the side. There shall be a later post detailing more, but this one is chocolate-oriented.

The candy of choice (first provided by our production manager and later supplemented by others) has been the Dove Promises candy nuggets. They are amazing. We're particularly fond of the dark chocolate ones; and me personally, the dark chocolate with almonds.

But what's just about as good as the candy inside are these little nuggets of info/sayings/advice on the inside of the wrappers. We've amassed our favorites - some very appropriate, others just amusing.

In no particular order:

  • Fill your cup and nourish others from the overflow.
  • Sing, no matter how bad you sound.
  • If you can imagine, then you can achieve.
  • Life is too short to drink cheap wine.
  • Sometimes good enough really is good enough.
  • Let your light shine, the world is watching.
  • If in darkness, lift your eyes to the stars.
  • How perfect a day can be if you think postively.
  • Perserverance is a synonym of victory.
  • It's okay to not do it all.
  • The most enjoyable experiences are often free.
  • Remember to exhale.
  • When you can't control the wind, adjust your sails.
  • Instead of complaining, try to find a solution.

    I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did. There may be more... and there definitely will be follow-up posts about this summer. And sometime in the near future, my artistic soul won't be screaming so much as I will soon have the opportunity to take pictures!
  • Tuesday, June 15, 2010

    Archive Photo - 3 Duck Tails

    Honest to goodness, I haven't taken a picture in awhile. Actually, I have, but I haven't uploaded them. And I may not have had the steadiest hand at the time.

    At any rate, I've certainly not been taking the quantity or quality of recent times. My summer job schedule is absolutely insane. I barely have time to sleep and accomplish all the work that needs to get done.

    So here's an oldie but goodie. It is in my desktop pictures folder and so every so often when I get to see my desktop, this picture makes me smile.

    So here, in turn, it shall make you smile. I was taking pictures of the ducks, and suddenly, they all flipped upside-down. Thusly, this picture was taken.

    3 Tails

    Friday, June 11, 2010

    Bellefontaine Cemetary

    I'm not usually a fan of cemeteries. As a photographer, I do enjoy the tragic beauty, especially when gravestones/gravesites were ornate and tributes beyond the basic headstone.

    St. Louis is home to one particularly historical and beautiful cemetery. It's called Bellefontaine Cemetery and there are many notable St. Louisans buried there as well as Civil War soldiers.

    My mom and I visited it one day - and let me tell you, the cemetery is VAST. We didn't stop at every 'notable' grave, but we stopped at many. Some were simply famous St. Louisans, or just plain famous. But some were listed on the tour because of their unique gravesite. Or in particular, one had a great story.

    Herman Luyties

    Herman Luyties fell in love with a model, who turned down his romantic advances. He was so obsessed with her that he had a sculpture commissioned in her likeness and it was eventually moved to his family's burial plot from its extreme weight. He had the statue enclosed in the glass case when the weather started to deteriorate the marble. He's buried at the feet of his long-lost obsession.

    Isn't that a great story? Makes you wonder if that woman ever knew she has a sculpture of her.

    Here's some more interesting graves/masoleums:

    Captain Isaiah Sellers

    Capt. James B. Eads

    Children's Grave

    Detailed Statue

    Kate Brewington Bennett

    Read more about it here.