tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:36:04 +0000from the desk of John Hopkinshttp://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/noreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)Blogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-1628738719300773346Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:04:00 +00002008-06-06T12:08:49.685-05:00Just a quick post to show you how happy coffee is in Italy and how pretty temples are. in case you'd forgottenhttp://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2008/06/coffee-and-temple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-5295274386413285262Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:51:00 +00002008-03-02T16:02:55.205-06:00Ok, so there will be more of this, but just to give everyone a taste of Sweden:10 friends in a cabin in the mountains in northern Sweden. One of the best trips I've ever taken.8 of those friends againand the view. Yup, that's the slopes. They were amazing. more pics once the others have sent me some...http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2008/03/quick-sweden.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-813340879210615585Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:49:00 +00002008-02-15T14:13:52.293-06:00So I won't lie. Life is good. Exhausting as it may be, life is good. Here is a series of pictures, though, to contrast imaginary 'John life' and real John lifeIMAGINARY: this is the place I stayed in Venice. Really it is. But I did not stay in this room. Nor did the walls and ceilings of my room have art like this. Rather......they looked like thisok, what is the appropriate title for this http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2008/02/real-not-real.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-3130569423239822945Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:46:00 +00002008-02-04T14:49:36.360-06:00turn up the sound on your computer to about mid-level, press play and watch / listen. Pandas are hilarious.http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2008/02/sneeze.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-1138314197834819184Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:46:00 +00002008-01-29T05:08:36.286-06:00So I've been working a little bit and thought I'd put up some pictures of the work I'm doing. Just to give some people an idea of the objects I'm working on, here are a few shots of me measuring the Capitoline Temple, one of 4 buildings I'm dealing with in my dissertation.on top of a foundation wall. big, huh?Just to prove that's me and not someone I took a picture of...counting blocks...fun!!!http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2008/01/at-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-8216768943404704919Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:41:00 +00002007-12-31T17:57:16.077-06:00or as they say in Italy, BUON ANNO!!!!It's been over a month since my last post. What can I say, I'm not a born blogger. But here are some new year's eve photos.I think Lisa (Sanditz) summed it up best when she said "This is so Italy. There's not one organized fireworks event, they just all set off their own fireworks randomly." I freakin' LOVE IT!Hope you are all well!xoxo,J.The big http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/12/merry-christmas-and-happy-new-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-4173583787651005186Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:08:00 +00002007-11-28T04:17:42.274-06:00So I've been incredibly out of touch, primarily because I've been working hard, moving around town a lot and anticipating the arrival of the genitori (parents) in a few weeks. YAY!It looks like I'll be excruciatingly busy for awhile, so I thought I'd post a few pics to let y'all know that I'm still alive, things are still spectacular and that Rome is beautiful even in the late fall.Hope everyonehttp://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/11/out-of-touch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-7937587998160316490Fri, 02 Nov 2007 17:18:00 +00002007-11-02T12:20:19.953-05:00http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/11/its-fall-in-rome.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-8204132666534518593Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:48:00 +00002007-11-01T10:45:18.796-05:00This is gonna take a second to load...Piazza Armerina: People made out...even in ancient times!!!Museum at Agrigento...um...what is this guy wearing?!?!?!!?!With the Fashion so extreme in Agrigento, some chose to take a break :-)Selinunte, Temple E: Just a temple like any otherThe Professor surveying his site"The antiquity of it all!!!"It would seem to be a column capitol like any other...until http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/11/sicily-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-5821142244328791683Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:09:00 +00002007-11-01T10:57:55.041-05:00Guardate che funziona!My heater, it works! they turned it on early and for this last night before i head to Sicily (where it will be 75 degrees) i have heat!:-)http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/10/eccola.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-926969804524794884Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:43:00 +00002007-10-25T03:49:58.039-05:00So finally I was gettin a little work done.And then I got a little cold and now I'm off to Sicily.It's cold here (see my friend mandy's blog on that: http://mandyinroma.blogspot.com/2007/10/cold-snap.html) and the heat isn't on yet (won't come on until November 1, by which time it will be warm again!).Hope everyone is well!http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/10/i-finally-get-down-to-work-and-then.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-6335884331586592213Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:13:00 +00002007-10-02T15:32:42.079-05:00I have been having experiences like today's since I got here, but nothing of this magnitude. On a routine basis we, the fellows, are lead around Rome and its environs by experts in a field.Today, I was privileged to be part of a walk of historic proportion.A group of 15 or 20 fellows and visiting scholars started at S. Susana on the Quirinal (facade by Maderno) across to S. Bernardo (great foil)http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/10/baroque-rome.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-1065262018230958064Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:55:00 +00002007-09-25T15:03:17.978-05:00A quick post of two pictures of a few of just the coolest people in the world. This place is full of spectular people, so there's never a shortage of conversation: artists, architectres, restorers, conservators, medievalists, enlightenment experts, modernists, photographers, writers and of course your requisite ancient folkMe and SarahJana, Me and Sarah after fireworks (yup, there are fireworks http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/people.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-7144454725058246008Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:13:00 +00002007-09-20T15:57:27.322-05:00So the neighbors finally invited us over for a drink tonight.We started out the front gate of our little placeand then out for a walk to Bramante's tempietto around the corner.followed by a spiritual walk across the Janiculumto view the Vaticanand back to our neighbor's placeThe Villa AureliaUp to the roof for drinksand conversationoverlooking the city.and more of the city.And more.and some of http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/neighbors.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-3306964205682527290Sun, 09 Sep 2007 09:51:00 +00002007-09-09T05:09:51.947-05:00I'm over my jetlag.Woke up yesterday and for the first day in a week did not feel my eyelids weighing me down. the night before I had walked out into the cortile of the Academy, where we've been having our dinners and found the complex darkened save for the few tables set up for the fellows to eat. I had an immediate and profound sense of time I'll have here and the joy to come. After dinner, http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/im-over-my-jetlag.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-9189858788129746738Mon, 03 Sep 2007 20:04:00 +00002007-09-03T15:17:09.168-05:00I promise I won't keep doing this, but...I just had my first dinner and learned all about the food here. Two years ago, after years of wretched food, the Academy went to Alice Waters, founder of Chez Panise and the slow-food movement in America. They asked her to help them redesign the food experience at the Academy. She told them to hire Mona Talbott to create a sustainability food program http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/dinner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-1639730299392720152Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:31:00 +00002007-09-03T15:05:48.466-05:00I am so happy I almost forget about my flight last night / yesterday. I am in heaven and not just because I'm in Rome. I have posted pictures of my rooms and my views below; needless to say I am one of the luckiest people I know and can't wait to share my (non-monetary) fortune with you all. For the record, I have a DOUBLE bed (WHE-HEW!) and a view of the grounds, my own private bath (well, http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/american-airlines-and-utter-bliss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-5137221578463217340Sun, 02 Sep 2007 14:06:00 +00002007-09-02T00:02:06.917-05:00For those non-Texans, they're not playing "I've been workin on the railroad," but "The eyes of Texas are Upon You," UT's fight song. I guess you really have to love this place for that to make you teary eyed...arrivederci, amici!http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/lift-off.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-4352368535285450790Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:22:00 +00002007-09-01T13:38:11.439-05:00A scene from Monty Python's The Life of Brian: "Romans go home" but is it spelled correctly??http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/09/t-minus-1-day-aaah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-4915010270347619003Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:35:00 +00002007-08-31T09:36:10.072-05:00Yo' mama so stupid, she thought fruit punch was a gay boxer!1. Only in America......can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.2. Only in America......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/08/publish-or-perish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-373153267113114882Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:31:00 +00002007-08-29T22:47:09.442-05:00Happy Birthday Mom!!!A man, whose level of drunkenness was bordering on the absurd, stood up to leave a bar and fell flat on his face."Maybe all I need is some fresh air," thought the man as he crawled outside.He tried to stand up again, but fell face first into the mud."Screw it," he thought. "I'll just crawl home."The next morning, his wife found him on the doorstep asleep."You went out http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/08/t-minus-3-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-490447167305028624Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:49:00 +00002007-08-29T08:51:32.404-05:00How to write a college paper...1. Sit in a straight, comfortable chair in a well-lighted place with plenty of freshly sharpened pencils.2. Check your email.3. Read over the assignment carefully, to make certain you understand it.4. Walk down to the vending machines and buy some coffee to help you concentrate.5. Check your email.6. Stop off at another floor, on the way back and visit with your http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/08/t-minus-4-days_29.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-898748703917956288Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:39:00 +00002007-08-28T09:56:57.923-05:00Y'all, today, I'm gonna have you watch a video that shows just how South Carolina, my home state, can represent! You'll feel more smarter and have a new phrase in your vocabulary to demonstrate your intelligence. I personal believe that I will use the phrase 'such as' more an more, now that I've seen this videohttp://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/08/t-minus-5-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-792929376168962138Sun, 26 Aug 2007 17:22:00 +00002007-08-27T22:50:11.323-05:00A teacher, a thief and a lawyer all die in the same freak accident. So when they reach the pearly gates, St. Peter tells them that, unfortunately, heaven is overcrowded, so they each have to answer a question correctly for admission.The teacher is first, and St. Peter asks, “can you name the famous ship that was sunk by an iceberg?” “Phew, that one's easy,” says the teacher, “The Titanic.” “http://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/08/t-minus-6-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567988576528358734.post-9053465346289640431Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:20:00 +00002007-08-26T08:27:22.112-05:00After my failed first attempt, here are the new (hopefully better) instructions:on the right of this blog, put your email address in the space that says "Enter your email address:" and click 'Subscribe.' You will have to approve your subscription (it's all explained by Feedburner) and that'll do it!Doing that will put you on a list; when I update my blog, you will automatically get a brief emailhttp://www.jnnhopkins.com/meditations/2007/08/t-minus-7-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Hopkins)1