Philly Tourist Stuff

When everyone (parents, brother, godparents) came to Philly to help me move from Chez Headley to the Little Apartment, it was on one of the hottest weekends (so far) of the year. Chez Headley is about to undergo a massive phase of destruction, and being that my fellowship has been extended for a second year, it seemed like an optimum time for a potential move. Specifically to someplace close enough for me to walk every where I want to go. (No SEPTA wanted.)

After the move, which thankfully happened during Philly Beer Week 2010, we spent a bit of time taking in the Old City Revolutionary-Era Philadelphia Sites. Treading where Ben Franklin trod. And whatnot.

The Liberty Bell.

In the Visitors' Center where the Liberty Bell is housed, there is an exhibit detailing the history of the bell. At one point, a disembodied voice says, inspirationally, "Why are we so entranced by the Liberty Bell?" Having gazed upon it, then answer to that question is: I have no idea.

Independence Hall.

Try explaining this to a Canadian: "Ummm... well... it's a musical version of the creation of the Declaration of Independence." Supervisor Greg thought I was joking. Once he figured out that I wasn't, his response was, "Only in America."

Sink Cat

I went into the bathroom this morning to brush my teeth and found the cat all curled up. Inside the sink. Where she remained for the next two hours, until I kicked her out. This sink-nesting is a new thing for her.

I giggled the whole time I was taking pictures.

MidWeek Blizzard

Everyone in Chez Headley had off of work today - which meant a day of work on the house. I took a turn shoveling the walk in front of the house, but by the time I finished, I needed to start over again.














Bret's friend Tom, who lives a couple blocks away, turns the corner, coming to help with the house-fixing.

Art Installation

The newly-revealed 1940's linoleum on the wall of the dining room has provided everyone at Chez Headley, and our varied guests, with great enjoyment. Since the linoleum will eventually be torn down, we decided to use it as a large, green canvas for our Sharpies.

The Headleys. Drawn to scale.

Fragmentary astronaut, turtle, and a dream of bacon and eggs.

Lena reacting to the Turtle, man with weights, martini glass, and large dark blob.

Rough map of the US (note how large Pennsylvania is), coffee cup, Bret's graffiti tag, assorted flowers, and some dude's head.

Fraktur nonsense, Bret's tag again, and 80's band graffiti.

You should come visit. There is still more wall-canvas available.

Archaeologists!

A few weeks ago, before my classmate Cindy and her boyfriend arrived to spend a Philly Weekend, those at Chez Headley decided that we just couldn't stand the huge, white, nasty wainscoting in the dining room a moment longer! So we tore it off! (photos by Emily)

I display the prize we found trapped between the maybe 1940's faux green tile linoleum and the wainscoting: one Uno card. Sweet.

Then Bret tore some of the wall down, while I tore the rest of the wainscoting off. So now the dining room is larger, but uglier.

Larger, because the people who lived in Chez Headley prior to us were crazy. The wainscoting was normal wainscoting attached to two-by-fours that had been nailed into the wall. The gaps between the boards, behind the wainscoting, were filled with large chunks of foam. Like foam that electronics would be packaged with. So removing it actually made the room much more spacious.