Monthly Archives: November 2010

Performing, Teaching

Grandparent’s Day

I always get stressed before my students perform.  Tomorrow morning’s performance (at the weekly Chapel, but for a special “Grandparent’s Day”) is at 8:30 am; therefore I am stressed tonight.  Firstly, I have to get up VERY early to be there on time (6:15 to 6:30 am, very early for me).  Secondly, I don’t know exactly what is going to happen so I am not sure how tuning will happen or what the set up is.  Thirdly, there is of course the usual stress as to whether the kids will behave, freak out, etc.  We are only doing a few pieces, but this is the first time I am “performing” for the school and naturally I am nervous for myself as well!  Wish me luck Smile.  It’ll all be over by 9:30 or so…and then I’ll have another week before another student performance.  (This month contains FIVE different concerts.  Luckily I am not in charge of any of them, we just show up and play.)  The kids will be great of course—they have been working hard and we have likely over-rehearsed. 

Today was a day off from work, so I decided to double down on workouts.  I am still within my two week unlimited Bikram time frame, so I figured I should head back and torture myself again.  Wow, it was still very hot!  I had a lot of trouble feeling like I was going to pass out.  Maybe I was pushing myself too hard?  The teacher lectured me after class about not going directly from trying the posture to sitting down (instead, I should stand with arms by sides first) but I really didn’t want to pass out.  I’ve fainted in my life, and I know how it feels when I am about to.  That is not the time for continuing to stand.  She also suggested I should wait to try a posture again until I really feel up to it.  Maybe I will go to a larger, busier class next time so I won’t be the only one sitting out!  (Yes, I know it’s meant to be non-competitive.  Not my forte!)

Then I had a workout with Mike.  First one since Thanksgiving—it was tough but as usual fun.  I am feeling more like myself again after all the butter!  (You know, from stuffing and turkey and pies and cookies).

I also did tons of emailing—I think I’m actually caught up on my “correspondence.”  It’s amazing how much time goes into communication/scheduling with the parents and teachers. 

HBBC:  90 minutes Bikram Yoga: 4.5 points, 1 mile walk: 1 point, 60 minutes cardio/strength workout: 3 points.  Total: 8.5 points.

Random thoughts

Final Thoughts on Thankful-ness Month

Today is the last day of November.  It is the end of a month during which each day I blogged about something I was thankful for. 

Each day—what I chose and the link to the corresponding blog post.

1 My cat

2  No more election campaigning

3  Being able to afford to buy food

4  Gorgeous fall weather

5  Processed cheese

6  Good friends

7  My strong legs

8  My pumpkin bread recipe

9  Days off

10  Being able to go on cruises (on occasion)

11  Hummus

12  Comp tickets to the Symphony

13  New clothes

14  Chris

15  My students

16  My hair towel

17  Tivo

18  Family

19  Women

20  Having a wedding free weekend

21  Tower Grove Park

22  Being employed

23  Vacation

24  My health

25  A wonderful, bountiful Thanksgiving dinner with dear friends

26  Not being forced to go Black Friday shopping

27  Living in a small, easy to clean, house

28  Being in good enough shape to exercise for over 2 1/2 hours

29  Cookies 

So here I am at the end.  I have one more day to do…today I am thankful that I was able to work with my first trainer, Joe.  He inspired me to lose weight and get in shape, much more so than I could have thought.  I mean, really, a year ago I was hardly the sort of person who voluntarily ran around the park twice (7.5 miles) or went to Bikram Yoga where the point is to sweat for 90 minutes.  But here we are, and it’s all thanks to Joe.  THANK YOU JOE!

So how was the month then?  Since each day I had to think of a specific thing to be thankful for, I have been reminded repeatedly of how lucky I am to have everything I have in my life.  It’s a good life!  Sometimes I complain or feel like a loser, but this month has helped remind me that I have so much to be thankful for. 

Teaching

Monday night

Whew!  I survived my first day back at work since Thanksgiving break.  I was dreading it, but of course it was a fine day.  In fact, the kids were wonderful, probably since they were well-rested and in good moods.  We worked hard on our concert music!  In orchestra I also worked with the kids on following a conductor—I’ve been primarily leading from the piano or the violin so I wanted to focus on conducting.  We’ll do more of that in the future, as they need more experience.

My private students were great as well.  I’ve been all about keeping violins up today!  It really does make a difference in the sound Winking smile  Plus watching your bow really helps keep it in one place on the string. 

My cookie party was a great success!  I am too tired to upload any of the pictures I took.  Suffice it to say there were tons of cookies and I may have sampled many.  Cookies may be the greatest food ever!  I am grateful for cookies—a portable, small, delicious dessert.  And my friends are seriously the best cookie bakers ever.

No points today for the HBBC.  Didn’t get enough fruits/veggies to count and it is my rest day.  (Stretches sore legs.)

Random thoughts

Cookies

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I have eaten about four cookies today.   I just can’t stop!  And this is before a dozen of my closest friends descend upon my house bringing cookies to swap. 

Maybe it’s due to the ridiculous amount of work outs I’ve done today.  I went to a spinning class at my friend’s gym.  It was GREAT!  My gym is expanding sometime in the near future and will offer spinning then.  In any case, I really enjoyed it, and plan to go again soon.  I was jealous of the other class members’ fancy spinning shoes  (I love workout clothes/gear.)  I will be able to attend class with my friend another time or two before having to figure out my own thing (or joining her gym which is super expensive!). 

Then I didn’t want to derail my training, so I still needed to get in a long run.  I somehow managed to run 7.5 miles…now my feet hurt, my thighs ache, and I have a feeling by tomorrow I will be VERY sore.  But nonetheless I burned a lot of calories, tried a new workout (which I am looking forward to continuing…perhaps a bit more so than Bikram Yoga?), and now I suppose will just try to stop eating cookies!  I made another pot of coffee to quell the snacking temptation.

Today:  What am I thankful for?  I’m thankful I’m in good enough shape to exercise for over 2 1/2 hours and live through it! 

HBBC:  1 hour spin class: 4 points, 7.5. mile run:  7.5 points, Total:  11.5 points

Random thoughts

Sunday Funday

Just fyi, I’m going to wait until the end of the month (Tuesday) to recap my whole month of thankfulness.  And then perhaps I’ll launch another great plan for December—it’s been wonderful reminding myself of how many wonderful people, places, and things I have in my life.  What are some other monthly projects I could do?

Today:  spinning class with a friend, long run (well, we’ll see how the legs feel after spinning, but you do what you gotta do), then cookie swap party.  Last day of Thanksgiving vacation, let’s make the most of it!  And hopefully burn a few more calories Smile

This week:  Child of God students perform at Grandparents Day, lots of teaching, wedding, a couple of church jobs, more Bikram yoga, several workouts with Mike, lots of running.  And maybe we’ll get the tree this week and decorate (hopefully!).  I love decorating for Christmas.

 

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The plan for Grandparents Day!  As usual, I shall be performing on the piano.

Okay, let’s see how the day goes—lots of fun activities ahead, can’t wait to see all the cookies people made. 

Readers:  let’s hear from you—what are your favorite Christmas cookies?  Also, any ideas of good monthly projects I could do, i.e. the Month of Thankfulness, or something totally different?

Weddings

Back to work!

Well, sort of.  I basically had the day off, but I did have a wedding to play.

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The wedding was at Temple Israel.  It went smoothly, nothing noteworthy.

Before and after the wedding was the hard work!  I did get to sleep in today, for once, but after I got up I was seriously in cleaning mode.  I spent about two hours cleaning the house, then went grocery shopping.  After the wedding I made several of the things I am serving the girls for tomorrow’s Cookie Swap.  Since the party is over dinner time, but not technically a dinner, I wanted to provide some more substantial snacks.  I decided to make some spinach roll-ups and some “crab” roll-ups.  Basically, I made two different spreads, spread them on tortillas, and rolled them up.  Tomorrow I will slice them into bite size pieces.  I also got a bunch of other stuff at the store—cheese, crackers, veggies, etc.  I’m sure there will be plenty of savory food, and then of course dozens and dozens of cookies, but those are technically for later.

On a more personal note:  yesterday I was a bit stressed and I wrote about how yoga is stressing me out.  I think the issue is that I need to set a boundary.  I’ve decided I will go two times next week and two times ONLY, and not worry about it.  If I decide to continue with yoga, I will only go once a week, and if that doesn’t happen due to my work schedule, I will not let it bother me.  I spend lots of time working, practicing, and running…I can’t do everything, and I need to allow myself to do some things less well, or at least less often.  That was the problem I had earlier in the year with the pottery class—I ended up resenting it because I wasn’t putting in as much time as the other people in the class and I felt like I was a failure.  Instead, I should have tried to appreciate the time I was able to put into it, and simply allowed myself to do what was possible for me.

Edited:  I forgot to say what I am thankful for today!  Today I am thankful that I live in a small house so it doesn’t take too long to clean the whole place from top to bottom!!

HBBC:  2 hours cleaning house:  4 points, 7 fruits/veggies: 1 point, 30 minutes cardio/strength training video: 1.5 points.  Total points: 6.5