Christa’s Blog

To Blog or Not to Blog ...

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 21:01:16 -0400

It’s been forever since my last blog entry. Suffice it to say, I’ve been a little busy. On Dec. 7, 2009, I started my new job as assistant director of communications at the Cleveland Museum of Art (see more photos in the albums section of this site). I love being back in the arts, but there’s a lot to learn. And, the museum is an amazing place. So far, I’ve helped to open an exhibition, a newly renovated auditorium, an Opening Nights Festival and more. Plus, we’re already planning for the opening this summer of new antiquities galleries for Ancient Near East, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Egyptian and Sub-Saharan African art, as well as prints and drawings. I’m sure I’ll catch up, but I’m just not sure when.

And, so I’m faced with the decision of whether or not to continue this blog. I’m not sure I’ve missed it. I’m pretty sure you haven’t either. I haven’t finalized a decision, but I’m certain the blog needs to come back revamped or go away entirely.

I’ll keep you posted ...

New Beginning

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:36:09 -0500

Tomorrow, I begin my final week at Kent State. On Dec. 7, I’ll start my new job as assistant director of communications at the Cleveland Museum of Art (pictured above during a visit Stephen and I made just after the museum’s re-opening in the summer of 2008).

I’m definitely excited about the chance to return to the arts, a world I’ve missed dearly since our relocation to Northeast Ohio in 2007. And Cleveland’s is truly one of the country’s best art museums, with a collection of more than 40,000 objects that spans nearly 6,000 years.

It’s also an exciting time to be at the museum, which is in the middle of a multi-phased expansion project. In 2016, the organization will celebrate its centennial.

I’ll be joining the group of individuals responsible for developing and managing the museum’s messaging, both internally and externally, through media relations, the Web site and social media. It’s a privilege to be asked to join this team, and, on this Thanksgiving weekend, an opportunity for which I am truly thankful.

Breathing Room

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:41:25 -0400

I know it’s been a little quiet on the blog front lately. Though my position at Kent State University has less seasonal workload fluctuation than others, the beginning of the fall semester this year did, in fact, bring several large projects that have kept me intensely focused on those responsibilities. We’ve also found our calendar a little more entertaining of late, with a couple of trips to Cincinnati (for a wedding and the opening of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park’s 50th season) and a trip to Chicago (for the kickoff of the U2 concert in North America) already completed since August.

As a result, I find that, with a little breathing room this morning, the air is suddenly crisp, the leaves in the backyard are starting to pile and I hardly know what happened to September. Fall is threatening to be a bit cooler than I’d like, but the colors are truly beautiful this year, and I am enjoying the hard work Stephen managed to accomplish in our front yard landscaping (pictured above) between weekend trips to direct Urinetown at Xavier University.

I’ve included a new album with pictures that capture the flavor of some of these more recent adventures.

Trespasser

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:57:30 -0400

Tonight, our home was invaded: by a bat! I was quietly reading in the family room; Stephen was watching television from the sofa. Out of nowhere, he shouts, “Get out of the house. Get out of the house now; there’s a bat!”

We pushed the dogs into the three-season room, grabbing Pywacket on the way. (Grizabella was, sadly, nowhere to be found and left behind to fend for herself. She’s fearless anyway.) Stephen called a friend for assistance, and the dogs watched with me through the window as the bat circled our room.

We believe the culprit was no stranger. He’s pictured above. We’d seen him before, but always sheltered by the safety of several layers of bedroom window. We left him alone, in exchange for what we believed was a mutual agreement that he’d never venture further inside. We were betrayed.

It’s not clear how he made his way into our home (most likely suspect: one of our two fireplaces.) None of our pets sounded an alarm, for which they will face a long discussion about the shirking of their duties.

Fortunately, I can report that, approximately 45 minutes after the sighting, the bat was captured and released back into his natural environment. I only hope, as I try to calm myself but know that bedtime will be delayed this evening, that his last hissing noises issued a warning to nearby bats to clear the area.

Down on the Farm

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:20:12 -0400

We spent the past weekend visiting Stephen’s family in Western Kentucky. Our visit included an afternoon spent at his grandparents’ farm.

I’ve posted pictures in our photo album section. I’m fascinated by the farm, but you can see from one of the pictures that I’m a little out of my element: Evidently, I scared the cows as I walked over to snap their picture. They stared at me for a bit, and then ran off into the field.

I didn’t think I could be that threatening.