This year I decided to take an actual spring break. I realized that most of my students had their school spring breaks on the same week (and as far as I can tell, those that don’t simply don’t have spring break at their school so it isn’t that their break is the week before or after) so I declared that to be spring break week for my studio. Not every year is so lucky, in fact, I recall one year where I was teaching kids and there were three weeks in a row that different people had spring break. It’s not that I necessarily need a spring break (well, I do) but it’s that when say, 1/3 of your students are missing it STILL feels like a regular work week since you are usually still teaching from 3 to 8 or 9, and yet you aren’t making as much money. This year is different, and after a concert this afternoon I’m officially on Spring Break (capitalized!) until the following Monday.

So I’m off to Phoenix to visit with my niece and Leslie and Peter. And by visit I really mean babysit while they are at work, but I’m sure it will be delightful and we will really bond.

Unfortunately Louie had some time off that didn’t coincide so he won’t be coming along. I believe they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, don’t they?

I had to do some digging yesterday to find if I had any shorts that fit to bring to Phoenix. The answer: two pairs. It’ll do for the week, but I’ll tell you, I keep finding myself without clothes that fit properly. I wish I were one of those people that could maintain a size from year to year, but I haven’t managed to do that. It’s a goal of mine, to be able to change from winter to spring wardrobe and still have plenty of stuff to wear from the year before. Shirts are easy, but pants/shorts are just ridiculous. Like I said though, I do have a couple pairs. I fully expect everything I bring along to be either spit up on or peed on so I’m sure there will be laundry done. Ha! Babies! They make a mess, right?

So far March has been flying by. I attended a Suzuki Teacher Workshop the other week—it was taught by Nancy Lokken and it was shorter than I’d thought it would be, but I learned a few things and got some new ideas about how to teach my students to have a beautiful tone and how to insist on it. I played with Winter Opera St Louis and  we had a conductor emergency and had to get a new conductor for the final dress rehearsal and performances. It was stressful but went well. I played Irish music for a little concert with some folks and had a good time. I’m playing on an all-Bach choral concert this afternoon. I’ve taught a million (probably an exaggeration) lessons and my students have tried my patience in every single way, though hopefully I’ve maintained it nonetheless.

(onstage for our Irish music concert)

Outside of work, I’ve managed to squeeze in a few social activities. Last night I went to see Manuela (the other violinist in my quartet) play a wonderful recital with Diana (pianist who we played with in the fall) at the Tavern of Fine Arts. It was great seeing her perform and was very inspiring! And yes, that counts as a social activity. I’ve also met up with a few friends and eaten too much Mexican food. The weather is nice so I’ve made it on a few short runs, and though I haven’t gone to gym in a few weeks, I’ve done some body weight workouts around the house and I’m feeling okay. I think it would be fun to train for a race again!

(slightly obstructed view seats at the Tavern)

Here’s the question: I don’t want to bring my violin to Phoenix. I don’t think I’d have much time to practice anyway, but really I want to take a break from it. My concern is that when I get back I have some rehearsals right away and some performances coming up. I do think that my wrist is pretty tired and my pinky still hasn’t totally recovered from my fall back in February and a few days off would likely do wonders (or a week!). I’m leaning towards not bringing it but asking Leslie if I could play on hers a bit if I felt the need to practice. I guess it’s not really a question. I don’t want to bring my violin, but I don’t want to feel guilty about it. Help!

Well, so far it’s just a regular day for me because I don’t start teaching until 3:30. How is it out there? I’m safe and warm at home and enjoying a lazy start to the week…as usual.

Valentine’s Day Weekend was fun.  We went to the Missouri History Museum on Saturday to see the 250 in 250 exhibit (about 250 years of St Louis History) before it closed. I’d gone with my parents but Louie hadn’t seen it and I thought it was good enough to see again. It was freezing cold and as we power walked from where we parked to the museum, I tripped over a small bump in the sidewalk and fell. As I landed I bent my pinky and wrist backwards, hit my left shoulder and almost hit my head!

Walking is hard, evidently. More concerning was how much my pinky finger hurt (remember, I play violin, so that’s important.) I haven’t played since then…my pinky is feeling a bit better today but it’s still sore at the joint and it worries me a little. It’s definitely improving though, so hopefully by tomorrow I will feel confident practicing again, because SATURDAY is our first quartet concert of the year and I really want it to go well.  I’d had high hopes of doing a lot of practicing over the weekend, but what can you do? Playing on a hurt finger doesn’t make it better.

We went to Five Bistro for V-day dinner. We’d thought it would be pricey, but we had NO idea! (I suppose we could have called). The prix fix menu was delicious, but the weird thing was that when it was over we were still kinda hungry and wished there had been more food. Every course was delicious but tiny. We were glad we went out though, and despite the meal costing as much as a plane ticket enjoyed ourselves. We also enjoyed being in the restaurant with a ton of other people, all of whom were likely experiencing the same sort of thing..awkward sticker shock by the menu, deciding to stay anyway, enjoying the taste of their meal, noticing how little lamb chop was served, realizing they were paying this much and considering running through Taco Bell afterwards. We did the wine pairings too, and the one thing I will say is that I enjoyed ALL the wines, even the white wines, which I never have in the past.

Front and back of house scenes of a snowy day. The front steps will definitely need to be shoveled. I suppose that would be an excellent workout for today!

And check out this awesome picture Leslie sent me of my niece:

I should get a matching “I love my niece” onesie.

Scenes from the “zoo”.

How much snow did you get? I won’t complain a bit thinking of all the people who have just been getting hammered this winter! It’s pretty to look at, though I’m glad I haven’t had to venture out in it yet. Since it’s a holiday I suspect the roads are a little worse than they might be normally.