A night out in the towns
Mar. 27th, 2003 06:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
magidI ended up going to the senior thesis performance last night. It was early enough that it didn't make sense to go home and then head out again, so instead I went to Wellesley College to walk around Lake Waban.
I parked at the alumnae center, and headed around the lake which is just behind the building, counterclockwise, as we always did when I was little.
The first part of the shore is by the main campus, and I realized it's been ages since I've been there, and the buildings are still incredibly pretty. There seems to be a lot of construction going on; I hope the buildings that are coming will fit in, not be scary sore thumbs of boxy architecture or anything.
There are lampposts along the walkways at that point, ones that make me think of the Lamppost, the first recognizable feature behind all the coats of the Wardrobe. Of course, there are many of them, which just doesn't work, but I can't quite get the thought out of my head, either.
There are lots of squirrels out skittering through the leaves. I know there must be squirrels around where I live, but I just don't remember seeing them. And the Harvard squirrels never make the same sounds, since their lawns are obsessively groomed.
The path (sometimes paved, sometimes an edged path of wood chips, sometimes just dirt, and in places rather muddy at that) curved around and I found the benches I remembered: there are a series of four or more platforms that jut over the surface of the lake, with benches and railings on three sides. They're in amongst the trees, so they're shady, too, perfect places for a picnic. Perhaps later in the year, once the foliage is out, people would join me for a picnic?
More curving path, and I realized that there were new things on the path, a boathouse I didn't remember, a new paved path heading up a hill that hadn't been there the last time I'd been there. I explored, and found a new sports field. And as I walked around, I found that there's a new boardwalk, too, over a rather flooded area. There was an S-curve of the intended water path, but the rest of the area, with it's obviously reasonably new plantings (they still had tags on) was mostly under water too. I was surprised by it all; why would they do this? At the other end of the boardwalk (which had benches along it, but no railings except at the official bridge), I turned right to investigate this new water. I found a nicely-built waterfall, and a sign explaining that there had been a paint mill there years and years ago, and now Wellesley bought the land to ensure no development there. They also found some contanimation from whatever paint processes years ago, so they had to dig out the contanimated soil, and then are restoring the wetlands that had been there. Interesting.
As I continued around the lake, I found more patches of snow, which, when on the path, had compacted into ice. My sandals slipped sometimes on the surface, so my feet got a bit wet (and muddy, in other places). Still, the incogruity of the shoes on that surface was pretty entertaining. I also now saw that the 'skin' on the lake that I'd worried was something nasty was actually the melting ice on the lake, now mostly very very thin, almost colorless (though in some inlets it was more solid, and white).
By the college, the only animals I'd seen or heard were the squirrels, and the call of Canadian geese. As I walked farther, there were more interesting things. I'd startled a pair of ducks on the boardwalk, who flew out onto the lake. As I got farther, I found a couple of groups of ducks in the water, two dozen, perhaps. The geese stayed farther out, which pleased me; they're not my favorite birds. I also noticed some bugs in the air; it's early enough in the season that this was not merely an annoyance... Many inlets later, I noticed a V of ripples in the water, moving by. I'm not sure, but I may have seen a muskrat swimming by. This cheered me immensely. And later on, I saw a pair of white swans out on the lake. Really, they are beautiful birds.
Though there were light sounds of cars far away, most of the time the sounds were more of wind in the brown oak leaves still clinging from last year, the occasional burbling water, lots of song birds and water fowl. And there was a light, clean, outdoors smell that I realized I haven't noticed in far too long. It was good to be out.
I noticed yet again how much variety there is in different trees' barks, smooth like the birch, or craggy, or tending towards lichen, or other interesting patterns. And as I walked, I wondered if there was a good place for a geocache somewhere along the lake; it would be a nice place to go...
The sun must've gotten below the trees or something; after a while I noticed the wind had a definite chill to it. I tried to pick up the pace, but I was on a side that was still rather muddy and icy. I started to wonder if The Lawn was still there, and just when I'd decided it was another thing gone into my memories, there it was: a carefully landscaped waterfall of a private lawn, a viewing promenade at the top, somewhat obscured by the Topiary Trees, looking rather Seussian. It's just so strange, in contrast to the unrestrained woods on either side, which increases the peculiarity.
I finished my circuit of the lake, crossing a stone bridge, and was glad I'd not taken much longer, since the light really was fading. There would be no time for other errands, but I was glad I'd come.
I had time at Brandeis to stop in at the new student center. Not enough time to explore as I'd want, but enough to look around the central area. It's all very smooth surfaces, sleek and new-looking.
Sweet Inverted Princess was the senior thesis of Whitney Cohen. The program was wonderfully designed, rather like one of those kids' books where you fill in your experiences as the most this or the least that or your most horrifying moment. This included a rather scarily moist and graphic photo of her vocal cords, and a recommendation to read The Paper Bag Princess (Robert Munsch), which is a wonderful book. There was also a longish quote from Muriel Rukeyser about myth, a dialogue between Oedipus and the Sphinx, that was wonderful. Along with the programs were also advertisements from one of the sponsors, Miko Exoticwear, down in Providence. I wasn't quite sure what was going to be presented, based on that...
The show was about a girl who has just won a reality TV show: she now has a weekend date with a real live prince (of some unmentioned European duchy). She's waiting for him to take her away, sitting in some room by herself, wearing her gown, the tiara, a huge necklace. And she starts talking about how wonderful it is. But as she talks more, she becomes more nostalgic. And at a certain point, she finds she can't talk about things while still in this fantasy ensemble. She tries, but fails. She rips it off, and ends up talking after that, briefly in her underwear (yes, a largish push-up bra was involved), later in sweats and a baseball-style shirt. And she gains her voice in more than one way, facing up to the violence that has been done to her personally (unwelcome strangers' comments on her appearance, a date rape and the aftermath thereof), and the general violence, objectification done to women in the media all the time, casually. Not a particularly new theme, at all. And there were definitely rough edges to this show. But it was interesting, and she had a wonderful voice for the songs she sang, too. Not perfect, by any means, but pretty good, especially considering she's a senior in college.
I parked at the alumnae center, and headed around the lake which is just behind the building, counterclockwise, as we always did when I was little.
The first part of the shore is by the main campus, and I realized it's been ages since I've been there, and the buildings are still incredibly pretty. There seems to be a lot of construction going on; I hope the buildings that are coming will fit in, not be scary sore thumbs of boxy architecture or anything.
There are lampposts along the walkways at that point, ones that make me think of the Lamppost, the first recognizable feature behind all the coats of the Wardrobe. Of course, there are many of them, which just doesn't work, but I can't quite get the thought out of my head, either.
There are lots of squirrels out skittering through the leaves. I know there must be squirrels around where I live, but I just don't remember seeing them. And the Harvard squirrels never make the same sounds, since their lawns are obsessively groomed.
The path (sometimes paved, sometimes an edged path of wood chips, sometimes just dirt, and in places rather muddy at that) curved around and I found the benches I remembered: there are a series of four or more platforms that jut over the surface of the lake, with benches and railings on three sides. They're in amongst the trees, so they're shady, too, perfect places for a picnic. Perhaps later in the year, once the foliage is out, people would join me for a picnic?
More curving path, and I realized that there were new things on the path, a boathouse I didn't remember, a new paved path heading up a hill that hadn't been there the last time I'd been there. I explored, and found a new sports field. And as I walked around, I found that there's a new boardwalk, too, over a rather flooded area. There was an S-curve of the intended water path, but the rest of the area, with it's obviously reasonably new plantings (they still had tags on) was mostly under water too. I was surprised by it all; why would they do this? At the other end of the boardwalk (which had benches along it, but no railings except at the official bridge), I turned right to investigate this new water. I found a nicely-built waterfall, and a sign explaining that there had been a paint mill there years and years ago, and now Wellesley bought the land to ensure no development there. They also found some contanimation from whatever paint processes years ago, so they had to dig out the contanimated soil, and then are restoring the wetlands that had been there. Interesting.
As I continued around the lake, I found more patches of snow, which, when on the path, had compacted into ice. My sandals slipped sometimes on the surface, so my feet got a bit wet (and muddy, in other places). Still, the incogruity of the shoes on that surface was pretty entertaining. I also now saw that the 'skin' on the lake that I'd worried was something nasty was actually the melting ice on the lake, now mostly very very thin, almost colorless (though in some inlets it was more solid, and white).
By the college, the only animals I'd seen or heard were the squirrels, and the call of Canadian geese. As I walked farther, there were more interesting things. I'd startled a pair of ducks on the boardwalk, who flew out onto the lake. As I got farther, I found a couple of groups of ducks in the water, two dozen, perhaps. The geese stayed farther out, which pleased me; they're not my favorite birds. I also noticed some bugs in the air; it's early enough in the season that this was not merely an annoyance... Many inlets later, I noticed a V of ripples in the water, moving by. I'm not sure, but I may have seen a muskrat swimming by. This cheered me immensely. And later on, I saw a pair of white swans out on the lake. Really, they are beautiful birds.
Though there were light sounds of cars far away, most of the time the sounds were more of wind in the brown oak leaves still clinging from last year, the occasional burbling water, lots of song birds and water fowl. And there was a light, clean, outdoors smell that I realized I haven't noticed in far too long. It was good to be out.
I noticed yet again how much variety there is in different trees' barks, smooth like the birch, or craggy, or tending towards lichen, or other interesting patterns. And as I walked, I wondered if there was a good place for a geocache somewhere along the lake; it would be a nice place to go...
The sun must've gotten below the trees or something; after a while I noticed the wind had a definite chill to it. I tried to pick up the pace, but I was on a side that was still rather muddy and icy. I started to wonder if The Lawn was still there, and just when I'd decided it was another thing gone into my memories, there it was: a carefully landscaped waterfall of a private lawn, a viewing promenade at the top, somewhat obscured by the Topiary Trees, looking rather Seussian. It's just so strange, in contrast to the unrestrained woods on either side, which increases the peculiarity.
I finished my circuit of the lake, crossing a stone bridge, and was glad I'd not taken much longer, since the light really was fading. There would be no time for other errands, but I was glad I'd come.
I had time at Brandeis to stop in at the new student center. Not enough time to explore as I'd want, but enough to look around the central area. It's all very smooth surfaces, sleek and new-looking.
Sweet Inverted Princess was the senior thesis of Whitney Cohen. The program was wonderfully designed, rather like one of those kids' books where you fill in your experiences as the most this or the least that or your most horrifying moment. This included a rather scarily moist and graphic photo of her vocal cords, and a recommendation to read The Paper Bag Princess (Robert Munsch), which is a wonderful book. There was also a longish quote from Muriel Rukeyser about myth, a dialogue between Oedipus and the Sphinx, that was wonderful. Along with the programs were also advertisements from one of the sponsors, Miko Exoticwear, down in Providence. I wasn't quite sure what was going to be presented, based on that...
The show was about a girl who has just won a reality TV show: she now has a weekend date with a real live prince (of some unmentioned European duchy). She's waiting for him to take her away, sitting in some room by herself, wearing her gown, the tiara, a huge necklace. And she starts talking about how wonderful it is. But as she talks more, she becomes more nostalgic. And at a certain point, she finds she can't talk about things while still in this fantasy ensemble. She tries, but fails. She rips it off, and ends up talking after that, briefly in her underwear (yes, a largish push-up bra was involved), later in sweats and a baseball-style shirt. And she gains her voice in more than one way, facing up to the violence that has been done to her personally (unwelcome strangers' comments on her appearance, a date rape and the aftermath thereof), and the general violence, objectification done to women in the media all the time, casually. Not a particularly new theme, at all. And there were definitely rough edges to this show. But it was interesting, and she had a wonderful voice for the songs she sang, too. Not perfect, by any means, but pretty good, especially considering she's a senior in college.
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no subject
Date: 2003-03-27 08:12 am (UTC)Zodiac by Neal Stephenson mentions a problem with soil contamination from a paint factory at "Sweetvale College", which is pretty clearly meant to be Wellesley.
no subject
Date: 2003-03-27 08:22 am (UTC)I haven't read Zodiac yet; perhaps this will give me the inspiration to.
t
Spoon-holders, take 2
Date: 2003-03-27 08:24 am (UTC)y
no subject
Date: 2003-03-27 11:34 am (UTC)n