Bulletin Board of the Brain » Psychology/Being Human http://kjswanson.com/blog Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:24:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 ‘Run to the Woods’: Songs for an Appalachian Dystopian Narrative http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/04/run-to-the-woods-songs-for-an-appalachian-dystopian-narrative/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/04/run-to-the-woods-songs-for-an-appalachian-dystopian-narrative/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:02:44 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=3122

I tend to only use Pandora in situations where I can’t use iTunes, which then means I just try to recreate my finely honed playlists designed mostly for reading. So of course for re-reading The Hunger Games, I needed to create a portable station with which to read along. When I started plugging tracks from the [AMAZING] Songs From District 12 and Beyond album, I began to pay attention to every song Pandora played to see if the lyrics would fit the narrative, characters and world of The Hunger Games Trilogy. I keep being shocked at how eerily this mix of indie folk, bluegrass, etc has captured so much of the texture and tone of the stories. As an interpretive experience, I love discovering those songs that sound like one character speaking to another, or maybe just songs that certain characters would listen to if they could. And I especially love when the artist name, album or cover art evokes the mood as well.

Here’s some lyric highlights from songs that have come up, (and were findable on youtube). There are many, many more. The name of my Hunger Games station on Pandora is called ‘Run to the Woods’ I dig it.


Mother’s Sick by Horse Feathers from Words are Dead

-Mother’s sick. She’s gone mad.
A daughter’s tricked, she’s been had.
Life just don’t always fold up neat.
Sadness will come in different sheets.

As blue eyes state, on your father’s face,
hides some grace.
All those years your youth has stole.





Have You Ever by Brandi Carlile from The Story

-Have you ever wandered lonely through the woods?
And everything there feels just as it should
You’re part of the life there
You’re part of something good

-Have you ever stared into a starry sky?
Lying on your back you’re asking why
What’s the purpose I wonder who am I





Flowers and Blood by Marie Sioux from Faces in the Rocks

-I’ll shoot me a gun made of leaf and branch in this here town
And eat me a bowl full of secret and mud, yes, i will
I’ll eat eat me a bowl full of secret and mud, yes, i will
If you build up a new me of flowers and blood — say you will
Build up a new me of flowers and blood — say you will





How Long by Eilen Jewell from Letters from Sinners & Strangers

-The darkness is deep, but night will end
‘Cause truth crushed to earth will rise again
How long will it take, you want to know
How long, not long because you reap just what you sow





Sing your Song by Johnny Bertram from Sing Your Song

-If you wake up in the morning to find
your things all gone
sing your song
And if you bed down in the darkest cave
of fear and fright
shine your light
Don’t let yourself pretend
that this is the end

- If you’re standing on the battlefield wearing blood,
the lines are drawn
sing your song
And if you’re stuck in situations far out
beyond your control
Let them go




Sing Out by Mason Jennings from Blood of Man

-I’ve been a rolling stone since the devil first came to me
No light upon my feet, so much that I couldn’t see
I was a hurricane till the hurricane called my name
Into the eye of the storm out of the cold, cold rain

-Sing out, sing for the wounded heart
Sing for the lives we’ve lost




Love Song for Buddy by Headlights from Wildlife

-We’re all gonna die tomorrow
Waiting around for your friends to come down and join you

-Don’t you want to say you tried?
Don’t you want to say you tried to the ones you love?


]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/04/run-to-the-woods-songs-for-an-appalachian-dystopian-narrative/feed/ 5 What Happened To Me Tuesday http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/what-happened-to-me-tuesday/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/what-happened-to-me-tuesday/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2012 09:16:54 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=3081
This



What can I say? I am astounded, dumbfounded, profoundly humbled, and indescribably grateful.

And a little bit closer to leaving Seattle.

[no comment]

]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/what-happened-to-me-tuesday/feed/ 2 Miss Representation http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/miss-representation/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/miss-representation/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:16:18 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=3070
This Wednesday at The Seattle School, I’ll be one of 7 panelists for a screening of this excellent documentary. We’ll be discussing portrayals of women in media, and no doubt lots of feminist theology goodness! Come, if you like.



]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/miss-representation/feed/ 0 Writing Papers for Fun & Amusement (and battling personal demons) http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/writing-papers-for-fun-amusement-and-battling-personal-demons/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/writing-papers-for-fun-amusement-and-battling-personal-demons/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:53:58 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=3033
It’s been about a month since I presented my Harry Potter research at the 2012 Southwest/Texas Popular & American Culture Association’s conference. Per the growing trend in my life, I wrote the paper in order to address some personal questions. Some people make art installations; I write research papers. I’m learning to accept this about myself.**

The idea to write this particular paper was born quite a while ago, from maybe my 29th viewing of the film adaptation of Prisoner of Azkaban. I don’t remember a particular moment of revelation, but I’ve since forced many a person to listen to my interpretative theory of the Expecto Patronum spell. I even blogged about it.

But when the time came to decide if I should go to the conference this year, I took the fact that 2012 would be the inaugural year of a specific “Harry Potter Studies” section of the conference, as a sign that it was time to test my theory to see if the text itself, (much less my amateur Latin translating abilities), would support my interpretation.

Turns out its really hard to write a paper when you haven’t done so in almost two years. Thankfully, a snow storm set down in Seattle right when I needed to create more hours in the day in order to write. I pushed through, and am really pleased with what I managed to eke out. What I’m posting here is really only a draft- I know some of what I’d fix if I were to submit it for publication, (the title, for example). but this draft gets across the gist of what I wanted to explore.

You can open the pdf here: Expecto Pater–Kj Swanson.
Or, if you’re not in the mood to read 27 pages about a late ’90′s children’s fantasy novel, here’s some Powerpoint presentation highlights instead. Enjoy!





















**The actual reason I wrote this paper was to help me decide my third tattoo text.

]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/03/writing-papers-for-fun-amusement-and-battling-personal-demons/feed/ 4 What I Do in ABQ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/02/what-i-do-in-abq/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/02/what-i-do-in-abq/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:07:06 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=2945
Last week, Ian and I reunited for our third trip to the Southwest/Texas Popular and American Culture Association Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It’s a fascinating blend of faculty, doctoral/grad students, undergrads and random smart people, all getting together for four days of watching people present papers on anything and everything relating to Pop Culture or American Culture. This spans the Grateful Dead to Library Sciences; The Beat poets to Grand Theft Auto; Film History to Biker Culture. It’s pretty rad.

Ian and I attended over 18 panels in 4 days, which measures at least 54 individual papers. The conference was a bit (extremely) disorganized compared to past years, with an unending tide of no-shows and cancellations, as well as one day where no lunch or dinner break was scheduled, with only 15 minutes breaks from 8am-8:30pm. Needless to say, while staying at the lovely and newly remodeled Hyatt Regency for 5 nights may seem like a vacation, (Ian & I have logged enough nights at this place over 4 years to qualify for their Gold Passport) we were lucky if we got seven hours of sleep ever, usually having to get up at 6:30 (app. 6 hours earlier than I’m used to getting up). But it’s always worth it to be inspired by new ideas and frames of thought, as well as gaining new perspectives on things you know well.

Our approach to choosing what panels to attend is honed each year. What I landed on this time, is that I get a lot more out of going to papers on topics I know very little about as opposed to going to the one’s in my field. It comes down to the fact that hearing papers on the Hunger Games, you just sit there saying “yep- already thought of that and that and why didn’t you mention this”, etc. But when I step into a different discipline, where I may know the thing being discussed, but not the methodology being applied, my synapses explode with new frames of thought. As has been true every year thus far, Ian and I are always most impressed, inspired and mind-blown by the presenters from Game Studies, even though-or especially because- neither he nor I ever really play video games. Listening to people talk in detail about the theories and meaning behind stuff you personally only know a little about opens up whole worlds of ideas. We love the gang at Game Studies. We’re their biggest secret fans.

But even in great presentations, you run into some common tropes- tempting one towards drinking games of oft-used phrases or sources. This year’s list:

Most-Heard Phrases From SWTX2012 Papers:

“gender performativity”

“Baudrillard says …”

“according to Thomas Campbell’s hero’s journey…”

“signifier”

“the Walt Disney Corporation”

Also, of note, of all places, Mark Driscoll came up three times. (Is nowhere safe?)

We had a great time, and thanks to the fact that my friend Sarah moved to ABQ last fall, Ian and I actually got to travel beyond the 5 block radius of the Hyatt Regency. We were not forced to eat at Maloney’s three nights in a row. Hallelujah. Here’s the list of panels I attended and some notable papers.

SWTX2012 Panels & Papers of Note

Gender and Sexual identity 1: Queer(ying) American Popular Culture
Young, Out, and Proud: the History, Development, and Impact of Young Homosexual Characters on Television
Robin Haynie, University of Texas at Tyler

Graphic Novels, Comics, and Popular Culture 1: Superheroes
Superinjuns: An examination of Two of Popular Culture’s Native American Stereotypes in Marvel Comics’ X-Men
Kristin Riggs, Texas State University

Religion 3: Interpreting Religion, B
Faith Plus One: Jesus People, Contemporary Christian Music, and the Question of Authenticity, 1970-today
Krystal Humphries, Texas Tech University

Stephen Colbert and Stephen King: Catechists for a Secular World
Kathleen Heininge, George Fox University

Science Fiction & Fantasy: Screening and Sing-along
Joss Whedon’s ‘Dr Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog’ and Buffy the Vampire Slayer S6E7 ‘Once More With Feeling’

The Apocalypse in Popular Culture: Literature of the Apocalypse-The Hunger Games
Teenage Love, Dystopia, and The Hunger Games
Heather Braun, Macon State College

Computer Culture 2: Apps, Blogs, and Social Networks
Hipstamatic, an App for Nostalgia of the Recent Past
Maria de Panbehchi, Virginia Commonwealth University

God 2.0: Religious Groups, People of Faith, and Social Media Use
Amanda McClendon, Independent Scholar

Myth and Fairy Tales 1: Disney’s Consumer Culture
Cooking with Class: How Food Represents Status in Ratatouille
Jason Feldstein, New York University

Game Studies 5: Culture, Play, and Practice
Fallout 3 and Yesterday’s World of Tomorrow
Rowan Derrick, University of Wyoming

Religion 5: Women and Religion
Be Quiet, Already: Evangelical Popular Culture’s Misogyny Problem
Melanie Springer Mock, George Fox University

Blogging for God: Women, Christianity Today, Sojourners, and The Christian Century
Kendra Weddle Irons, Texas Wesleyan University

Game Studies 7; Culture, Play, and Practice
The Mouth of the Cave: The Challenges of Player Doubt in Computer Game Narratives
Jennifer DeWinter, Worcester Polytechnic University

Harry Potter Studies 4: Colloportus! Harry Potter and Class
Work in a Magical World: Revisiting the Stratification of Castes in the Harry Potter Series
Lindsay Clifton, Youngstown State University

Harry Potter Studies 5: Protego! The Relationships of Harry Potter
Making Up Wizards: Technologies of the Body in the Magical World
Deana Day, University of Pennsylvania

Expecto Pater: Reading Harry’s Journey of Identity in Prisoner of Azkaban through a Theological/Psychological Lens
*Me! Kj Swanson, The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology

Computer Culture 4: Theory and Vision
From the Page to the Screen: Towards a Model of Interactivity in Reading Practices
Jenna Pack, University of Arizona

The Apocalypse in Popular Culture 4: The Apocalypse as Positive and/or Negative
‘I’d Shake Your Hand But I Don’t Want to Set a Bad Example’: Contagion and the Display of Global Paranoia in Contemporary Epidemic Films
Julia Echevarria-Domingo, University of Zaragoza

‘Not With a Bang But With a Whimper’: Dollhouse’s ‘Thought-pocalypse’ as Cautionary Capitalist Tale
Erin Giannini, Independent Scholar

Food and Culture 11: Alcohol and Nostalgia in American Popular Culture
Don’t Drink the Bath Water: Moonshine and Filth in the Lower Class
Sarah McMahon, University of Colorado Denver

Cosmos, Wine, and Shots of Tequila: The Urban Girl’s Fairytale
Tiffany Fitzgerald, University of Colorado Denver

Science Fiction & Fantasy: Guest Lecture
Thinking Dothraki: An Evening with David J. Peterson, Language Creator for HBO’s Game of Thrones

Film & History 2: Ethnicity, Gender. Politics, and Film History
Dealing in Absolutes: Experiments with Music and Animation in the works of Walt Disney and Oskar Fischinger
Ian Klein, Columbia University (my co-conferencer!)

Double Dutch: Transforming Female Jewish Identity in Verhoeven’s Black Book
Ruuard Dykstra, University of Western Ontario

Film & History 3: Medieval History/Contemporary Film
Crusade, Jihad, Film: The Encryption of Despair
Robin Vose, St. Thomas University


Templars, Witches, and the Holy Wars: Religious Critique in 21st Century Medieval Period Films
Benjamin Villarreal, New Mexico Highlands University

]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2012/02/what-i-do-in-abq/feed/ 2 Sounds of Synethesia: The Nostalgic Season http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/10/sounds-of-synethesia-the-nostalgic-season/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/10/sounds-of-synethesia-the-nostalgic-season/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:07:38 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=2765


The start of Fall marks a full year of chronicling my ever-intensifying method of seasonalizing my music by color and feel [Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer]. The only season missing is Christmas (coming in December) which won’t be quite so synesthetic, as most Christmas music sounds red, green and white to everyone, but I’ll post it anyway.

Fall is the season I first began to notice the rhythm of types I music I chose, as well as the evocative colors that helped me choose. I’ve also learned over the years that Fall is when I listen to a lot of historical and global folk music. I get nostalgic about American history, and that “back to school” feeling as well, which I think in large part explains the FIVE Harry Potter albums in the mix. (Also, perhaps that I’m re-reading the books). And NOTHING is more nostalgic to me in the world than George Winston’s album “Autumn.” But perhaps most notable in Fall, is nostalgia for the 1990′s. For some reason, most 90′s rock sounds yellowish-brown to me (no piss assocaitions that I know of…). So this year, I welcome Nirvana into my “Gold Leaf Radio” Playlist. And new to “Autumn Hearth” this year, Chet Baker, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti, and many more. Oh, and for those wondering, the two playlist are each over 24 hours long and always on shuffle. That’s how I roll.


You know you’re in The Cottage if you can smell Yankee Candle Harvest & Apple Cider and can hear:

George Winston: Autumn

Neil Young: After the Goldrush, Live at Massey Hall

Nirvana: Nevermind

Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison, American Man IV

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Time Out

Chet Baker: In Paris, Best of Chet baker Sings

Floyd Collins: Original Off-Broadway Sountrack

Erik Friedlander: Block Ice & Propane

Miles Davis: Kind of Blue, Sketches of Spain

Dixie Chicks: Home

Dolly Parton: The Grass is Blue, Little Sparrow, Trio, Trio II

Harry Chapin: Greatest Stories Live

Zabe I Babe: Drumovi

Ralph Stanley& Kim Lauderdale: Sweethearts, Lost in the Lonesome Pines

Everything is Illuminated: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Joshua Bell: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Songs of the Civil War: Various Artists

Water: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Handel: Concerti Grossi & Water Music

Evan & Guy Carawan: Appalachian & Irish Tunes on Hammer Dulcimer

Yo-Yo Ma: Simply Baroque

Mozart: Marriage of Figaro, Serenades & Divertimenti

Kitka: Voices on the Eastern Wind

Alison Kraus: Lonely Runs Both Ways

Counting Crows: Augustu and Everything After

Csokolom: Dog Daze, May I Kiss Your Hand

Harry Potter Original Film Soundtracks: Prisoner of Azkaban, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, Death Hallows Part 1, and City of Prague Philharmonic’s Essential Harry Potter Film Music Collection


With Tracks by: Tom Waits, Fela Kuti, Blind Melon, The Cranberries, Gillian Welch, Lisa Ekdahl, Old Crow Medicine Show, Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, and the Jesus Christ Superstar Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/10/sounds-of-synethesia-the-nostalgic-season/feed/ 0 What Yankee Candle Means to Harry Potter: Additions http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter-additions/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter-additions/#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:08:08 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=2587
Done with the first and second batch, but am happy to take requests and add them here. Here’s the Dursleys.


Mr Vernon Dursely
Strawberry Buttercream:
Yum … an absolutely luscious treat of plump, sweet strawberries buried in rich whipped cream.



Mrs Petunia Dursley
Bahama Breeze:
There’s cool summer refreshment in this tropical blend of pineapple, grapefruit and mango.








Dudley Dursley
Cinnamon Roll:
So hard to resist … the deliciously perfect blend of creamy rich frosting and spicy cinnamon.








Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

For the House Candles, they had to fit the House colors, evoke an essence of the House Founder, but mostly, fit the atmostphere of the common rooms. (Yes, Ravenclaw is a Hanukkah candle, but I think the scent is perfect).


Gryffindor
Mulled Wine:
A seasonal favorite the inviting aroma of Fruit with a touch of clove and other spices warms the spirit.









Hufflepuff
Golden Spiced Pear:
A savory blend of warm pears, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla bean.








Ravenclaw
Festival of Lights:
A blend of savory spices, rich cinnamon and sweet potpourri to celebrate the season.









Slytherin
Rainforest:
Fresh, slightly moist air with hints of exotic flowers and greenery.








Argus Filch
Moonlight Harvest:
Hints of pumpkin and spice from the kitchen window float on the cool breeze of an autumn night.




Madame Poppy Pomfrey
Country Linen:
Imagine a weekend at a cozy bed and breakfast with warm sunshine, crisp cotton sheets, and the sweet scent of spring flowers.






Professor Pomona Sprout
Beautiful Day:
Life is good with this happily enchanting mix of sunny fruits, pretty flowers and spicy herbs.







Cedric Diggory
Sun and Sand:
A tropical beach breeze of sweet orange flower, lemony citrus, fresh lavender and powdery musk.







Victor Krum
Siberian Silver Fir:
From snow-covered arctic peaks, discover the unique crisp freshness of pure Siberian silver fir oil.






Seamus Finnegan
Root Beer Float:
The delicious aroma of old-fashioned spicy sweet root beer and creamy rich vanilla ice cream.



]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter-additions/feed/ 9 What Yankee Candle Means to Harry Potter: 2 http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter-2/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter-2/#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:12:23 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=2545
Harry Potter Characters’ Favorite Yankee Candle Scents (continued)


Mrs Molly Weasley
Kitchen Spice:
This modern blend of sweet orange, clove, ginger and cinnamon is a new take on pantry favorites.




Mr Arthur Weasley:
Orange Dreamsicle:
A favorite childhood summer treat you never outgrow … a cool blend of orange and vanilla ice cream.

Bill Weasley:
Cottage Breeze:
Like a day by the shore with the refreshing scent of cool salt air blowing across the dunes.




Fleur Delacour-Weasley:
Blue Hydrangea:
The enticing scent of beautiful flowers with green notes and hints of hyacinth, lilac and vanilla.






Fred Weasley:
Pumpkin Pie:
Sweet pumpkin, nutmeg, molasses, cinnamon, and a hint of apple in a buttery crust.








George Weasley
Pineapple Cilantro:
A tropical treat … fresh, island pineapple served with a citrus touch of cilantro and sweet coconut.







Lavender Brown
Garden Sweet Pea:
The sweet perfume of delicate blooms accented with hints of pear, peach, freesia and rosewood.







Cho Chang
Mistletoe:
The woody scents of mistletoe, berries, pine boughs, and holly create this holiday tradition.







Dolores Umbridge
Pink Sands:
Transport yourself to a beautiful, serene beach with this citrus, fruity and floral blend.








Rita Skeeter
Black Cherry:
The absolutely delicious sweetness of rich, ripe black cherries.









Bellatrix Lestrange
Midnight Jasmine:
A seductively lush perfume of water jasmine, sweet honeysuckle, neroli, and mandarin blossom.







Lucius Malfoy
Patchouli:
The spicy sweet aroma of exotic patchouli creates a perfectly mellow mood.








Voldemort
Blueberry Scone: The delicious aroma of English quickbread with sweet blueberries, rich cream and a hint of vanilla. [WORST SMELLING CANDLE EVER MADE]





And there’s still more…


]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter-2/feed/ 4 What Yankee Candle Means to Harry Potter http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter/#comments Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:52:30 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=2481
Earlier tonight, a friendly tweet-mention turned into an unexpected project.



Ideas churned so quickly that I basically didn’t stop until I had this list done.
My method was simply to imagine which Yankee Candle specific characters from the Harry Potter series would be mostly likely to use. There was no purposefull attempt to have the candle names or candle photos symbolize the characters, but following the scent-inspiration, it often worked out.

In considering scent, I thought narratively about when characters had specifically talked about scents or tastes, or sensory moments of significance, or just a gut feeling I had about their personality and how I characterize certain flavor palettes myself.

I chose the higher profile characters, but if a scent made me think of a character or vice versa, I stuck them on the list too. Each character/candle combo includes the Yankee Candle official scent description. They are priceless.

Alright Ian, hope I didn’t steal your thunder. Thanks for the inspiration. (what the hell am I doing with my life?)


Harry Potter Characters’ Favorite Yankee Candle Scents

Harry Potter
Fireside:
Cozy and rustic … the scent of a warm, crackling wood fire.









Hermione Granger
Fresh Mint:
A stirring sensation … the cool, peppery zing of green mint leaves fresh from the garden.








Ron Weasley
Spiced Orange:
This bright, cheery blend of sunny citrus and snappy ginger is the perfect winter warmer.







Ginny Weasley
Nature’s Paintbrush:
A perfect autumn day captured in radiant, aromatic strokes of brisk air, spicy woods and warm musk.







Neville Longbottom
Greenhouse:
Savor the heady perfume of delicate rose blossoms intertwined with spicy green herbs




Luna Lovegood
Lavender Vanilla:
An oasis of tranquility . . . the perfect mix of fresh lavender and warm vanilla with musk and bergamot.







Draco Malfoy
Storm Watch:
A cleansing ocean air before the storm.










Professor Severus Snape
Midsummer’s Night:
An intoxicating and masculine blend of musk, patchouli, sage and mahaognay cologne.








Professor Albus Dumbledore
Sparkling Lemon:
Effervescent sweet Meyer Lemon with notes of energetic citrus lime and bergamot orange.






Rubeus Hagrid
Mountain Lodge:
A luxurious retreat in front of a cozy hearth, warm with the aroma of cedarwood and sage.








Professor Minerva McGonagall
Mountain Lake:
A refreshing treat … the cooling scent of mountain pines and cypress with notes of lily and musk.






Professor Sybill Trelawney
Drift Away:
Cares float away on peaceful, blue waters surrounded by lush woodlands.







Gilderoy Lockart
Vanilla Satin:
Sophisticated. Classic. A smooth blend of rich vanilla, romantic flowers and sensuous sandalwood.







Mad Eye Moody
Lucky Shamrock:
A touch of the Emerald Isle the fresh scent of lush, green hills kissed by a sparkle of sunshine.







Remus Lupin
Early Sunrise:
A new day dawns crisp and fresh in this clean lemony citrus scent with hints of ginger and tea.








Sirius Black
Evening Air:
The crisp breeze of a fall night warmed with notes of clove, geranium, basil, cedarwood and musk.







Dobby
Clean Cotton:
The refreshing scent of just cleaned sheets dried in a gentle breeze.










To be continued….

]]> http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/07/what-yankee-candle-means-to-harry-potter/feed/ 3 Little Did She Know… http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/05/little-did-she-know/ http://kjswanson.com/blog/2011/05/little-did-she-know/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 02:23:43 +0000 Kj http://kjswanson.com/blog/?p=2324
Late at night, Friday April 15, I wrote yet another post about the many businesses in my adopted neighborhood of Lower Queen Anne that were closing their doors. What I could never have predicted, is that only 12 hours later, I would receive notice that the place where I’ve worked since 2006, the entire reason for Lower Queen Anne having a gravitational pull on my life, was closing it’s doors, THE NEXT DAY. Yep. I found out during the Saturday matinee that the next day’s show would be the theatre’s last for the rest of the year. After an emergency board meeting that morning, Intiman Theatre announced it was going on hiatus for all of 2011.

Needless to say, we were shocked. While we were acquainted with the financial challenges we and NEARLY EVERY arts organization in the US are facing, we thought we’d cleared the major danger for 2011 and were more or less, set for a solid year of shows. Instead, the closing day of the season’s first production, became the closing day of the entire season.

St Germain, Chartreuse, Violette. We did not get enough time together

Intially, after the shock, I thought I’d blog about it immediately. The excrutiating irony of having just written about the closed-doors of Lower Queen Anne and finding that the doors were closing on me as well, seemed like it had to be addressed, and quickly. But unsuprisingly, the pain was one I couldn’t write about without some distance. I can say now, that on that final Sunday, since I was House Managing, I was the last person in the building- I locked the gates outside, went in through the access door to turn off the lights, stood there in the upper lobby where I’d first walked into the building for my interview in October 2006, and just started sobbing. That building, with it’s green sofas, enclosed courtyard, giant hallways and tall columns, had been a holding place for me during the greatest time of transition in my life. There was only one month of my living in Seattle, where I was not employed at Intiman, and spending some 30 hours a week there.

My last specialty cocktails on display

The loss of the job is certainly upsetting in terms of needing to find a new one, but mostly what I’ve lost is the home and holding place of so many memories. I stood behind that bar reading Martin Buber in my first term of graduate school and sat in front of the bar with my laptop plugged-in writing my thesis in my 4th year. In 2007 I sat in the courtyard and did my Hebrew homework. In 2008 I had to stay downtown during the blizzard so I could make it to our Black Nativity performances. In 2009 I sat in the conference room watching Dr Horrible with Ian. in 2010 I got my first taste of not having to do any class work during my breaks, because I had graduated. And all this doesn’t cover the friendships I made, the friends who joined me in working there, the five years of inside jokes, cocktails created, play-dialogue memorized and repeated, and wine-wrapper dubloons made.

All my Signature Cocktail Menus standing at attention on the tables

It took a while to have a sense of what the rest of the year will look like for Intiman and the building that’s been our home. On the last Sunday, I told my staff, “Just think nuclear winter. Anything you wouldn’t want left to dust and rot for the next year, throw away or lock up.” But the past few weeks have been encouraging as we now know that we’re still going to host some rentals and other performances as usual. It’s our shows that aren’t happening. And that last day when I walked out fearing that I’d ever get to step foot in the building again? Well, I’ve actually been working there a fair bit the past month, manging some events that were planned for the month break between shows.

My last batch of intermission pre-orders

But safe to say, if Intiman recouperates and is able to reopen in 2012, it will be a very differnt Intiman. New staff, new mission, new structure. So even if I end up working for them again, the Intiman I’ve known, loved, served, and been loved and served by, is gone.

With only 2 hours notice that my Saturday April 16 bartending shift would be my last time behind the bar until who-knew-when, I took some pictures as a last-ditch sudden effort at closure. It was only that morning that I’d let myself into the building, walked to the bar which I’d closed down the night before, and breathed a sigh of delight, feeling deep gratitude for how much I loved working there.

Goodbye Intiman of my (late) youth. I treasured every moment of our time together.

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