12.10.2012

Wrapping up the fall semester...

just in time for Christmas. 


I took my Dutch exam today. It was bittersweet because my teacher is going back to the Netherlands. Our class will have a new instructor for Dutch 2.

For our last class, Chris Van Wolffelaar gave us little, painted, clay clogs, just touristy gewgaws, but precious all the same. She also gave us pepernoten for Sinterklaas. They are like little gingerbread cookies. They come in a mix with gum drops and these sweet, colored candies that are molded into shapes of presents, horses and torches.

The reason behind these shapes will make more sense if you read a brief background of Sinterklaas: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/netherlands/

On the night of Sinterklaas, the children put their shoes out, and "Sinterklaas" leaves the pepernoten in them. My instructor realized when she was telling us the story that it may be considered gross to eat candy straight out of your shoes...She was not certain if everyone's parents did this or if some put the candy in wrapping first.

  Photobucket 

Also, I have a new coffee combination that you may be too embarrassed to recite, but if you do you will find it delicious.

It is a venti lite ice coffee with egg nog and 2 pumps of caramel brulee and 2 pumps of chai.
It is very festive.

But because it is so long, and I do get embarrassed, and customers save 25 cents by reusing any mug, I always wash my cup and just bring it back; that way I save myself the long-winded order.

However, apparently I mutter, actually, I know I do because my dad has reminded me repeatedly, the barista heard "Alana" rather than "Lauren." I thought it was such a coincidence when this happened on three separate occasions. I took this picture so I could put it on Instagram with a caption like: I got "Alana" on my cup 3 times in a row. How weird!"

But...before I posted it, I realized it was just the same cup...that I had reused; I had just forgotten. What is even more embarrassing is I told the last barista, on the third time, what a strange coincidence it all was. I wonder what she was thinking?
  Photobucket 

This is just something I was staring at for too long while I was lying on my floor, as I often do. I think the raised parts of the plaster make a shape that looks like a gator's head. Don't you think? Maybe you have too look at it for too long.

The gator is looking off to the side, it's nostril is on the right side, it's eye is in the upper middle of the frame, it's mouth is slightly open and facing downward at an angle.

See it?
Also, do you hear those voices?


  Photobucket 

This is a mini, fake, Christmas tree that I dug up from the closet when I was moving my stuff out of the house.

I used to decorate it with lots of tiny ornaments each year and put it in my room, next to my bed.

I have heard about people decorated Christmas tree with popcorn and cranberries and I had wanted to try it. It actually doesn't look like garbage. Surprised?

The deep red contrasted with the fluffy white is actually quite nice against the faux evergreen. I put it in the hall's lounge.

  ~

I am leaving here for winter break in a week.

My first stop is SF's house, and then I am going to visit my parents in the mountains.

I plan to do some video blogging during that time though I do not know why you would want to watch a summary retelling of my life.

However, it is fun to make video blogs, and they will help me remember things when I'm grey. Also, now I have a video camera, albeit point and shoot, so I might as well.

LA

All in a day's work

This is a really immature story book I made for a forest conservation class.
I I took the class as an introduction to wildlife ecology and conservation to see if it is a double major I might want to go into. After taking the class, I am still not sure.

Anyway, I did this the day before it was due so it short, but hopefully sweet. 

It is a just about a lonely squirrel who is trying to find where he belongs, so he journeys through a typical bottomland hardwood forest in Florida and learns about where all the other animals belong and eventually finds his home. I do not know if that makes sense. I try.

Photobucket

Photobucket
Photobucket


Photobucket

Photobucket
Photobucket

Photobucket
Photobucket


Photobucket
PhotobucketPhotobucket 
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Spencer's Design Final Project/An Original Song by Spencer Feder/This Title Is Too Long


Hey friends/frenemies!

This is my design final project with a song that I wrote/sang/played guitar for with extra special accompaniment by my pal Jonathan who has a great YouTube channel with all sorts of original songs and also covers that are really very beautiful. 

I hope you like this!


Your friend/frenemy,
Spencer




What I'm listening to right now: Halfhearted Nonfiction by Spencer Feder

12.07.2012

Spencer's Winter Break Bucket List


Photo by Brown Eyed Baker


1) Make peppermint bark
2) Record some songs
3) Write some songs?
4) Make gingerbread men with my pal, Lauren
5) Hang out with my cat, Josephine
6) Hang out at the local Starbucks with its festive hot beverages and festive window decals of snow that will simply never fall in Florida
7) Update The Lauren/Spencer Project's "about me" and other things that no longer make sense
8) Do something about these roots of mine that apparently people who dye their hair do something about
9) Is this a boring bucket list? Should I add some pictures?
10) I don't know I really have to work on finals stuff.
11) For my 3D studio class, I'm creating a thing to wear on my head that is inspired by cubism.
12) Should I blog about it when I'm done?


Love you guys for real,
Spencer



What I'm listening to right now: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac