Monthly Archives: November 2011

Random thoughts

Emperor Concerto

Today I am thankful for Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto.  I forgot how absolutely, sublimely beautiful the second movement is!  That moment where the pianist changes keys and the principal cello (Danny Lee in this case) plays a drone…and the whole thing just MELTS.  Then there’s the transition into the third movement…oh yes.  Oh yes.

The man was a genius.  And the Emperor Concerto isn’t even my favorite piece that he wrote (that would be String Quartet op. 132 or the Violin Concerto).

sublime

Yes, I just screen capped my own tweet during the concert.  To be clear, I wasn’t playing.  I was listening.  I wish I were playing. 

Random thoughts

FRIDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY!

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I don’t know why I get so excited about Fridays.  As you know, I work weekends.  So it’s not as if Friday kicks off this fantastic two day binge of fun and relaxation…it usually just means a very tired Saturday is almost upon me followed by a Sunday consisting of too much working out.

That’s the plan at least!  I’ve been running around all day and I’m finally sitting down on the couch.  (OH yes.)  I am waiting for Chris to get done with his concert and then we are hitting up a friend’s housewarming party.  I made cake batter blondies.   I should stop telling people how easy it is to make those because they will be less impressed when I bring them to parties.

Today was a rest day.  As a result (or not) I was starving all day!  I ate an entire burrito from Milagro for lunch and was famished by dinner (leftover pasta with meat/mushroom sauce, yum, yum!).  Maybe it’s because of all the working out I did yesterday?  Tomorrow I am planning to go with Jen to her infamous boot camp class.  I’m sure it’ll be super easy for me since I’m in such great shape.  After that:  wedding, recording session (ocarina!), and then the Symphony concert.  It’s nice to have these busy days, make me feel more useful in life 🙂

I think I’ve settled on my Thanksgiving desserts.  Caramel Apple Cheesecake Pie (can’t wait to meet Natalie next week at the relay) and Pumpkin Bread Pudding.  Less than two weeks away.  I’m looking for a great recipe for the bread pudding that uses pumpkin bread.  I have one I’ve used which is great, I’m wondering if there is something out there that’s even better.  Suggestions?  And I’m sure I could just substitute pumpkin bread for any bread, but really I’m looking for tried and true here.  Thoughts?  Because I have a killer pumpkin bread recipe.  Laura sent the Thanksgiving dinner menu to me.  Oh my goodness.  I need to start fasting so I can eat a bite of everything. 

What are you doing this weekend?  Any fun plans with friends or mud races?

Random thoughts

11.11.11

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A year ago (approximately) my friends and I were out and I remember making a joke that Chris and I were getting married on 11.11.11.  This must have been in November last year, or who really knows.  I know that we were at Robust Wine Bar, I know that Chris and I were not engaged (yet) and I remember telling everybody (jokingly) to save the date, and I remember that my friend Jon thought I was being serious.  Sorry Jon!  It’s 1.2.12.

So, happy 11.11.11 everybody!  And Happy Veteran’s Day.  I’m playing a service this morning for Veteran’s Day.  I’m not sure exactly what it is, but Ashokan Farewell (from The Civil War series) is most definitely involved.

I may be a pacifist but that doesn’t mean I can’t respect those who have served. 

Okay, a few business items:

1.  It’s been awhile since I’ve done promotion of my facebook page.  Come "like" me on facebook if you haven’t already!  Puh-lease!  It’s almost like having friends.

2.  Also feel free to follow me on twitter @hannahviolin.

3.  I got my Christmas cards today!  If you are a faithful blog reader (you know who you are) who wants to exchange cards, email me your address!

30 Days of Thanksgiving:  Today I am thankful for quite a few things:  that I didn’t embarrass myself on National TV like Rick Perry the other night, that I am not involved in the Penn State scandals, and that I haven’t had to serve in the armed forces (with my depth perception you should all be thankful for that.) 

Running

Double workout

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Last night my friend Vanessa texted me to ask if I would run with her since she had been having a hard time getting herself out the door for running, and she is in the relay next weekend.  I realized the only time I’d have until Sunday was today, but after I worked out with Mike.  That’s nothing for somebody hardcore like me though.  Those 12 minutes miles we threw down in the park (ha, 12 minute miles) went by so fast!  And by that I mean my legs were totally dead but it was nice to get a run in, the sun was shining, and I wore my running tights for the first time this fall.  After Vanessa left I spent about 15 minutes foam rolling my poor legs.  Tomorrow is a day off due to scheduling (lunch w/a friend took priority over working out and the rest of the day is super busy) so I am glad I did it.

I’ve got a new student today.  I always get a little nervous for new students, not as much as I used to, but still.  Until I get to know the student the lessons are more stressful, especially for the little ones.  I’m excited though, it’s always nice to get more students, plus I didn’t get as many at the beginning of the school year as I’d hoped for so I still have openings (both at home and at the school, so if you are reading this and you need a violin teacher for yourself or your child…!).

Last night my friend Laura was texting, asking me what I was making for Thanksgiving dessert.  I was thinking to myself, Laura’s so excited (we are going to her house for dinner), but today I realized, wow, it’s only two weeks away.  Oops!  I need to get to making my test cheesecake if I’m actually doing that.  Option two:  do only one cheesecake but have ingredients on hand to make pumpkin pie in case of cheesecake fail.  I think that’s a better option—I can do the cheesecake the day before and always throw a pie in if needed.  She suggested something apple, so I will probably make either my favorite apple pie recipe or baked apples.  Or…suggestions?

I didn’t blog yesterday, so I better give two "30 days of Thanksgiving today":

I’m thankful for good friends to run with who make the miles fly by.

I’m thankful for good friends who act as family when your family is too far away to visit for holidays.

Random thoughts

30 days of funny blog searches

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Playing at the Tavern of Fine Arts on Friday night.  I should really sit up straighter!

Here’s some of the best searches for my blog in the past 30 days: (Honestly, I don’t know if you care at all but this stuff really amuses me! Also this fits in well with my 30 days of Thanksgiving Theme.)  These will be presented without comment.  Add your own comments in the comments!

trainer in short, short headband

running turkey

humorous wedding invitations funeral

marathon poop runner

hates music cat

stretches to hurting shoulder

funny searches to my blog

pancake cushions

real life amazon woman

unsuccessful in violin orchestra audition give up?

lolcat violin

wedding gnome

how tough was your workout

scatter+your+heart+october+2010+violin

i am open at the close

hannahviolion

hello i am a cat

when i workout i tell facebook

"do you like my tanlines"

"violin blogger runner who knows an awesome wedding photographer

is drinking vegetable oil bad>?

a tukey running track

80s gym rat outfits

make sure everyone knows i’m at the gym facebook

ms paint cat

cheese

kitten wearing a hat

fear of failure cat

funny advice for worrying worry

genius violin teachers st louis

All time searches for my blog:

1. hannah violin blog

2. cheese

Today I am thankful for google and the ability to find anything you need to know online, quickly and easily.

Food

Case of the Mondays

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I’ve probably used that title before.  Sorry!

Today I slept in.  After yesterday’s half marathon, I needed it.  How am I feeling?  Pretty good.  My hip is still pretty sore—I iced and rolled it a bit.  My calves are sore too so I’ve been wearing my compression socks all day.  Otherwise I’m pretty good.  My ankle might be a bit tired as well as my knee…this is all on the right leg.  Must be my longer leg?

Then I had three hours of teaching.  One of my youngest students was a particular challenge today and I feel like I didn’t stay on task with him as much as I would have liked.  I’ll have to do better with him next week.

After teaching Chris and I went to Eau Bistro to try a few things.  We are having our rehearsal dinner there and had only been for Easter Brunch before, never for dinner, so we wanted to try it.  It was awesome!  Even on a Monday night, the service was impeccable and the food was delicious.  I feel confident that our rehearsal dinner will be wonderful.

Life is getting busier over the next few weeks.  I’m looking forward to it.  More importantly, I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving…one of my absolute favorite holidays.  We are spending it with friends and it should be fantastic.  I am making a couple of desserts.

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Secrets of adulthood:  Sometimes even when things are a disaster and you are fighting with somebody you love, you still stop in the middle of it to watch Burn Notice.  As a child, you would never think you could put your emotions on hold and do something unrelated and pretend that everything is fine.  As an adult, you realize that life goes on, sometimes you need a break, and sometimes you just want to take your mind off things and watch Burn Notice.  Whatever you are fighting about will still be there afterwards.  This goes for all different things, i.e. sometimes you have to answer a work call in the middle of a personal crisis, or you have to go to work even when you are upset, or sometimes you have to stay in a situation until you can leave and go cry in the bathroom.  (This I learned in school—there was a bathroom at my college that invariably some girl would be crying in—we would stick it out as long as needed and then ultimately run down the hall and collapse in the bathroom stall, coming out later and pretending nothing had happened.) 

30 days of Thanksgiving:  I’m thankful for delicious food and wine.  I had a fantastic dinner this evening with Chris and we both enjoyed everything we ordered.  I can’t wait to share that food with my closest friends and family.