Weekend in the Adirondacks!

So I just got back from spending a short weekend in the Adirondacks with 50 members from the co-ed service fraternity (Alpha Phi Omega) that I am in here in Syracuse. I planned the trip with the help of one other person, and it was a lot of work but a great experience in organization and coordination for a large group of people. We stayed at the ESF ecological center in Newcomb, NY (which is smack in the center of the 'daks).

The first thing we did when we got there was to work together to drag ten 55 pound batteries 2 miles up a steep mountain (Goodnow) to establish some kind of wireless power station for the ecological center. We put the batteries on sleds and changed people out every so often- it was really hard, physical work! When we got to the top, it made the view so much more satisfying! It is an amazing feeling to be rewarded with spectacular views after doing physical service. Below is the picture of the group on top of the mountain!

The next morning, we woke up and a group of us decided to head towards home and stop at another mountain to climb. I was driving, enjoying the scenic drive and suddenly I noticed a bunch of smoke in front of us. We stopped, and realized that a trailer (pulled behind a large pickup truck) was on fire. We pulled ahead of it, and jumped out of the car to see if there was anything we could do. The men who owned the trailer (who were on their way to a snowmobile competition) were throwing snow on the fire so we tried to help them but it was completely useless. After about 30 seconds, I knew we had to get away from it because there were snowmobiles (with gasoline) and propane tanks in the trailer that could explode. Below is the group when we decided to move (I am in the white coat standing close to the fire).

We moved the cars further away and sent someone to get the fire department (there is no cell phone service out in that wilderness!). The men got their truck away but lost $100,000 worth of equipment in the fire. On the bright side, they all had beds to sleep in that night. It could have been a much different story. 

After that, we continued to our mountain climb and had a snowball fight on the top! So much fun!

Now, I am back in Syracuse and realize that I have a massive amount of work to do this week before I can leave for spring break! I have to (almost) finish 3 paintings (they have to be 90% done), take a big midterm in my Baroque Art History course, find sources for a 20 page research paper on secular art in Medieval Italy, and put glass enamel on 40 little metal rectangles for Jewelry and Metalsmithing. 

I love this busy life! I can't imagine living any other way. 

Snowstorm, History and the Adirondacks!

So the other day, we got a huge snowstorm here in Syracuse. We have about a foot and a half of snow now!! I have not seen this much snow since I was a little kid! We actually had our afternoon classes canceled, which was a nice relaxing break. A ton of people built snow forts and snowmen, so a drive around the off campus housing area is really interesting now! It was perfect packing snow too- one igloo was about 10 feet tall!

I am working on a paper proposal for my “HST 201- History of Italian City-States” class right now, which should be pretty interesting. It is going to be a 20 page research paper- EEK! As an art history major, I am allowed to take any regular history courses I want, so I chose to take this one- and so far I am really psyched about it. It is a small class with only 10 people and a fantastic professor who is a gift- I love him! We even take turns bringing food every week J. For my paper, I want to take it in an art history direction (duh!) by researching art that was made in Italy in 1100-1450 (pre-renaissance). We have read a little bit about “Pittura Infamate” or “insulting painting” basically. At this time, people who betrayed their city states would have images made of them that were insulting- some were painted hanging upside down! One specific traitor who had been beheaded was shamed by having his portrait removed from the town hall (and in its place, a statement explaining his traitor status was written)- at the meeting when they made this decision however, one councilman suggested that they cut the canvas of the original painting at the neck so that it hung off just like it had in real life. Gross!

I am also busy tonight planning events for my co-ed service fraternity. Next weekend (March 6-7^th) I am leading a trip to the Adirondacks for 50 people! I am really excited about the trip- we are going to be helping the ESF Ecological Center to establish some kind of communication system on the top of a mountain (think 2 mile hike uphill with tons of equipment!). After we are done volunteering with that, we are going to snowshoe, have a campfire, play snow-ultimate-frisbee and have a fantastically good time! Lets hope it isn’t too cold!