Brit’s beach birthday
Brittany’s Beach Birthday from Karen Seifert on Vimeo.
A lot of you already saw the other version of this video with the Male Bonding song, but I really wanted to use this song. So I had to tweak it a bit. Yay summer!
4th of july
4th of July! from Karen Seifert on Vimeo.
It’s been a busy summer. But this was 4th of July and we had a pretty great time.
longest day of the year
I’ve never been one to ever really care what my wedding will be like. I mostly believe I’ll end up eloping and having a party when I get back. But man oh man a Marie Antoinette inspired wedding would be amazing.
I just downloaded the leaked new Wavves album (I also plan on purchasing it when it is released). I liked his older stuff but I really like this. This is summer summer summer. Going to see him on Friday with Brittany and Kelsey T. and can’t wait. It’s gonna be a great night.
Kinda seems like he might be a punk but I’m liking that shorter pants look with the Vans so I don’t care.
beach weekend
This past weekend was pretty great. On Saturday we made the first trip to the beach. Three cars of 13 of us. Whew. The car I was in stopped by my parents house afterwards for some burgers and hanging out, which was lovely.
Sunday was spent in the pool, grilling at Christine and Colin’s and watching True Blood with friends. Good good weekend indeed.
I also made this.
Sandbridge from Karen Seifert on Vimeo.
(if you go to the actual video page on Vimeo you can watch it in HD, which you should)
family friends Memphis NYC Philadelphia Richmond summer Things to Look At travel
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Summer recap 2009
I know most people wait until the end of the year to do their “end of year recap blog post,” but since this summer has been so insane/ridiculous/crazy/epic I just felt like I needed to recap on things that happened.
I think it all really got going when it was completely confirmed that Liz and I would be moving into #parkberry. I think we kinda knew it would “go offff” at that point.
The beginning of June meant I only had one month left in that horrible basement apartment situation I was in and it couldn’t come fast enough. Although I basically was living by myself at that point, the reasons I’m pretty sure I’ll never know. One night Hunter, Liz and Kelsey had a little photoshoot at my house. One of my favorite images I’ve taken this summer we did that night.
I also made my homemade ringflash, which I’m still proud of. Not gonna lie.
Like a ridiculous stalker I also got to see Phoenix three times in one very awesome weekend. This was also the weekend that I figured out how to start tweeting from my phone. Twitter has been something that all of us have gotten into this summer, and in some ways shaped some of the things that have happened.
July finally arrived, and I was finally out from underground. My biggest suggestion to anyone looking at living in a basement apartment, DO NOT DO IT. Since July 4th was a Saturday this year, and we have a pool in the backyard we decided to throw our first shindig. It was a crazy night and I’m pretty sure lots of new friends were made.
On July 7th, 2009 (7-8-09!) we all welcomed Ruby Kristine into the world. It was so exciting to see my first close friend become a mother. Mary, Ruby and her husband Joe are moving to Georgia in November, so they will be very missed, but an easy weekend trip away!
The very next evening was the shot heard round the world, or at least Richmond. Liz and our friend Phil were walking home from Sticky Rice when a mugger approached them and ended up shooting Liz in the leg. I wish I would describe how insane and quickly those first few minutes went by when I found out. I was at Sticky Rice hosting Blingo and I got a text (he knew I wouldn’t be able to hear my phone) from Phil saying he was on his way to the hospital. I’m still very thankful Phil decided to come back and get me, and then let me drive him.
Just as much as I know Liz appreciates it, I also appreciate all of our friends and family who called/came/texted/everything. And the thankfulness I feel that Liz ended up being completely okay is something I don’t know how to express. I think the events of that night definitely show you that there is something looking out for all of us.
The rest of the month of July saw a couple weekend beach trips, many late night pool parties and some Wednesday night $5 bowling (Thanks Kulture!)
The beginning of August brought some of the hardest news for all of us. My friend Colin (known him since 2003/2004 dorm days!) was diagnosed with a stage four malignant brain tumor. Needless to say all of this information was shocking and hit everyone hard. How could something like this happen to our friend Colin? A 24 year old guy who likes to play video games and hang out with his girlfriend? Since all of this he’s started treatment and his brother Eric has moved to Richmond to help out with everything, they’ve set up a blog at www.terminatethetumor.com for everyone to follow with video updates and such. Since the initial news Colin seems to have taken a very strong approach to all of this and hasn’t let his spirits get completely squashed. I’m so proud of him and Christine and will continue to pray for them. And play Catch Phrase. 
The day after all of this was Brittany and Craig’s birthday party at Hadad’s Lake. It was a fun day and I think it was good for everyone to go on with the normal things we would do. The month of August seemed like it went by really fast.
I went and visited my grandparents in Memphis for a week. It was really nice to go and spend time with them. I came back with a big box of old slides, and old (new to me) camera, and very happy that I got to spend time with my family that week. Brittany and I are talking about a road trip to Memphis in April during her spring break. Tennessee!
Best Friends Day was quite the day. I have so say I’m kinda proud of us for all the preparations we made this year. Raechel’s family came and really hooked it up for all of us. Margaritas at Best Friends Day who knew? I think all of us were a little scared about the weather situation that day, and it did absolutely rain like crazy on us, but in some ways it made it so much better. As much fun as this year was I kind of have to agree with everyone about how it’s becoming something less for Richmonders and more for all the out of town people. I will continue to go though as long as my friends are going and we get a pavillion/pagoda/tent/gazebo like we did this year!
The very next day after BFD, we hit the road. Liz, Christine, Brittany and I all jumped into the Ellie and headed for Philadelphia. Being in a car with those 3 girls was a little out of control and I can’t tell you how many “isms” have come from those 3 days. After a day in Philadelphia we headed up to New York. As much fun as we all had I think we all agree to not go out of town like that directly after an event like Best Friends Day.
I’d have to say the real closer to this summer was Diana’s birthday party at her family’s bay house in Deltaville, VA. A bunch of us headed out there to hang out and relax. It was a beautiful old house and sleeping on a porch was pretty funny. We did some long exposure pictures and some people jumped off the dock in the middle of the night into the dark abyss and just had an all around good time with friends.
Ok the rest of 2009, let’s see what you have to offer.
Memphis (part one)
Firstly (is this a real word?) let me introduce you to Wally. William Wallace XV is the West Highland terrier my grandparents got 4 years ago, but I had yet to meet him until this trip.
So adorable and the best little personality ever. He pretty much followed me around all week at the house, a sweet little pup for sure. I’m really glad he’s there with my grandparents, I know he makes them very happy.
It was a great week to catch up with my family that’s out there, do a little shopping and eat great food every day. (homemade peach cobbler what’s up!) On Tuesday my grandparents and my Aunt Jill had their friend Faye (who has lived in Memphis since 1954) to show me the town. I have been to Memphis before for family things, but never really made it downtown before. We checked out Graceland a long time ago but that was about it in the downtown scene.
On our drive towards the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks (will explain) we drove by Sun Studios. You know the spot that Elvis and Johnny Cash and lots of other famous recording artists made their early music. We didn’t take the tour but I hopped out and snapped a couple of pictures.
Then it was on to the ducks at the Peabody Hotel. For those who don’t know (I surely did not) everyday at 11am the ducks that live on the rooftop in their “Duck Palace” get on the elevator, ride down to the lobby (with the Duck Master of course) and then march into the fountain in the hotel lobby.
This was pretty much exactly how it happened, but the entire area surrounding the red carpet and the fountain was FULL of people. When the ducks came out I’ve never seen so many flashes going off cameras in my life, it was like Lindsey Lohan was marching into the fountain. The ducks spend their day swimming around in the fountain until 5pm, then they are led back up to their “palace” on the roof. Apparently this all started back in the 1930’s when the manager and his friends had been out hunting (and drinking heavily) all day and decided it would be fun to put their live duck decoys in the hotel fountain as a practical joke on the guests. I heard someone in the crowd say to their friend, “I wonder how many traditions have started off as jokes?” Good point, probably most of them. Also at the Peabody Hotel was the only place I spotted an Elvis, but he wasn’t fully dressed up. Bummer.
After the ducks we ate lunch at the Arcade Restaurant. The oldest restaurant in Memphis (1919!) and lots of movies have been filmed there over the years. Also Elvis used to eat there all the time, those famous grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Yum or not.
The Lorraine Motel was right around the corner from the restaurant so we went by there and I got some pictures. This is the famous hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Kind of a weird vibe I got there, it was probably because no one was really around.
I asked about the river and if there was any spot where people could go swimming, I was quickly answered with a no. Too strong, too fast, too big, too muddy. So even though the James is the James at least we can get in it if you want. We went to this museum that was right on the bank of the Mississippi River (see current Facebook profile picture), it was a metals museum and had this cute little garden with metal sculpture everywhere. After leaving there we accidentally got on the highway headed for Arkansas, so I visited Arkansas for a few minutes.
We ended our lovely touristy Memphis afternoon with milkshakes from an old fashioned soda fountain. Where I enjoyed a vanilla malt milkshake and my grandpa enjoyed his strawberry soda. Obviously.
The rest of the week to come…
Summer songs
These songs have been my summer songs of 2009. Can I just go ahead and make them next years as well?
Camera Obscura “French Navy”
(of course) Phoenix “1901″
The Pains At Being Pure At Heart “Young Adult Friction”
The Zombies “She’s Not There”
Department of Eagles “No One Does It Like You” (Thanks @reachthesky!)
Grizzly Bear “Two Weeks”
(yes again, let’s be honest both of these songs scream “summer”) Phoenix “Lisztomania”
Will probably be adding more. ;D
Reasons why my job is awesome
I’m a nanny and sometimes I get to take my girls to Busch Gardens for the day. It’s a pretty swell time and yesterday Jordan decided to film our adventure riding the Griffon. Quite a fun roller coaster if you like roller coasters.
Roller coasters are so silly and sorry for all the screaming.