All posts by hannahviolin

I am a violinist. I also enjoy running, working out, reading, and hanging with my friends and cat.
Teaching

Summer memories

Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe that for me, TECHNICALLY, summer is over.  I am now teaching three days a week at the St Louis School of Music, and their fall semester started on Monday.  And I couldn’t be happier right now with my schedule and my position.  I’m still adding students there (and at home as well) but so far it’s going really well.  I feel so decadent with my mornings free, but honestly, that is just how my schedule is going to be, and I will be SO much happier this way.  Last year was just crazy, and I spent most of the time stressed and unhappy with my students.  This year (and I know I say this every year, but this year really) is going to be great.

image

Why?  One of my student’s parents last night asked why I teach at the St Louis School of Music when I live in South City (it’s about a 30 minute drive, no big deal).  I told him because the students and parents there are great, and because the school has a great reputation, cares about the product, and respects me as a person.  Plus I do teach out of my home and that doesn’t create any sort of conflict since people don’t drive that far to take lessons here.

I’m sure in a few months I’ll be more tired and rundown, and my new students will have lost all their enthusiasm, but for now, I’m thrilled and excited.

I’ll also add that some of my private students probably won’t be back until after Labour Day, so there are still several weeks of summer left.  It’s sort of half and half.  Plus some of the most exciting summer events are yet to come! (Sisters visiting, Bridal Shower.)

But…the title of my post:  summer memories.  Last night driving home I was reliving my summer in my head.  Since, like I said, it’s basically over.

I was thinking of some of my favorite summer moments…in no particular order…

image

image

image

image

image

image

  • Wedding dress shopping…and finding the perfect wedding dress!

image

(not my dress)

I’ll miss you, Summer 2011!  But you were a GREAT one.  Next summer I’ll be married and probably will be doing stuff like cooking and cleaning around the house rather than going out with friends and having fun.

(That’s a joke, of course.  I can’t clean.)

image

Random thoughts

Car drives into Club Fitness

2 Comments

My gym.  Somebody drove into it.  I wasn’t there but Mike was.  I’ll have to hear more next time I see him.

image

http://www.kmov.com/news/just-posted/Car-smashes-into-Club-Fitness-building-127476688.html

image

http://www.ksdk.com/rss/article/271249/3/Car-smashes-into-gym-storefront

image

I know we’ve all done stupid things.  But I’ve never driven my car into a storefront before, thank goodness!  Seriously people.  Focus. 

That reminds me…frightening moments…I was on the phone with a friend yesterday.  We were chatting during our commutes (attention IRS:  I mean travel for work, not commute as home is my main location) and suddenly she says, "I just got rear-ended."  I started freaking out!  Yes, she was fine.  But still, scary. 

Speaking of scary:  My friends Alicia and Andrew are making progress (it seems?  Andrew for sure, it sounds like) but still have a LONG way to go.  The website reminds us this is now a marathon, not a sprint.  Please continue keeping them in mind.  It’s been a little over two weeks.  Unimaginable.  Life changes in an instant.  (oh don’t worry, I’m not getting wound up again…just saying!)

Watching this man on the Colbert Report right now:  Nassir Ghaemi, author of "A First Rate Madness." (link to NYtimes article) He seems to suggesting that leaders are better when they are mentally ill.  I’ll have to read the book.  It seems (potentially) controversial, but yet not perhaps that far from Kay Redfield Jamison’s writings either.  I’ve always said somebody would have to be crazy to run for president… (hyuk, hyuk)

Food, Weather

Beautiful Weather

Leave a comment

weather

Doesn’t that look just BEAUTIFUL?  And by Saturday, I’ll be running again (not in the T-storms, but I think you understand.)

IMG_0737

Hard to get a good picture of that.  But how pretty are my purple toenails?  I need to cut them before I start running again or I will be in trouble.

Sorry, this blog post is rather boring.  Oh, you know what it needs?

IMG_0696

Bacon.  Praline Bacon from Monarch, to be exact.  This stuff is AMAZING. 

Oh!  I don’t think I told you guys about Monarch yet.  I went there Saturday night with my friends Jen and Kim.  We split the bacon and BBQ goat appetizers.  The bacon is pictured about…it’s smothered in brown sugar and who knows what else.  Great for splitting though, probably a bit decadent to order on your own.  (The guilt, oh the guilt.) 

Then I got the BBQ shrimp and grits.  I’m a southern girl.  When shrimp and grits are on the menu somewhere, I have a really hard time NOT ordering them.  They were fantastic, and what’s more is that I was able to eat exactly half and take the rest home.  Monarch is owned by the same people who own Herbie’s, another restaurant I love.  It was a great dinner, and I would definitely return (and take Chris, he’d like it too, even though he does NOT share my bacon obsession, silly boy.) 

After dinner we went to the Central West End to meet some people from Jen’s gym, but it was too humid outside, and several of the people from her gym were…how do I say this, STILL wearing their gym clothes even though it was Saturday night, so we decided to move on.  We ended up at Beale on Broadway (a blues club) listening to a really great band.  I generally don’t like bars with live music (yes, sue me…) plus this was great!  It was still outdoors though, and the heat and humidity was rough.  It was a good evening though.

But like I showed you at the top, the weather NOW is fantastic.  I’m going out for a walk around the park.  Have a great day!

Random thoughts

Tuesday afternoon randomness

Leave a comment

I haven’t run since a week ago Sunday.  I’m currently icing my ankle/leg.  It’s getting MUCH better.  I plan to run this weekend (but not before.)  Who would have thought I’d miss it so much?  Weird.  Seriously weird. 

The gym this morning was tough.  Mike made me do a ridiculous amount of squats—back squats and front squats (holding the bar on the front of your shoulders).  I didn’t care for it.  The highlights of the day were when I went around a corner and almost ran into somebody, and then he almost kicked a woman who was coming around the corner.  Basically, be careful going around corners at the gym.  Perhaps use a mirror to make sure no one is coming or bending over with their leg sticking out backwards. 

The weather today is GORGEOUS…I am inside on the computer, about to start practicing.  I’ve been trying to put in at least an hour a day.  That may not sound like much, but (as I tell my students) it’s the consistency that matters. Then I have teaching. 

fat cat1

It’s strange because for my fall schedule (so far) I don’t start teaching any day until at least 4:30.  I could almost have a full time job and then teach violin.  Of course, I’d hate that.  When would I work out and plan my wedding?  And blog?

I updated the "life" page last night.  Let me know what you think!

I’ve been doing a bit of cruise research recently.  We’re looking at Celebrity.  Anybody cruised with them recently?  Pointers?  Advice?  Suggestions?

image

The regular mail carrier seems to be on vacation this week.  The substitute keeps getting our mail mixed up, plus it comes three hours later.  It’s really throwing me off!  Usually the mail comes around 11 am and now it’s coming between 2 and 4 pm. 

Chris is having a great time in Vegas.  I’ve barely heard from him at all, so I’m SURE he is!  He seems to be doing a lot of golfing…I’m sure that’s what they are doing…golfing…at least that is what he is telling me about.  (I’m kidding of course, I’m sure it’s true.  Chris loves golf.)

Food

Tavern of Fine Arts

Leave a comment

I had heard about the Tavern of Fine Arts for awhile now from my friends at Chamber Project St Louis, along with a few news articles.  (Sauce, RFT, and Feast).   My friends were excited because they knew the owners were great chefs and great musicians and music lovers.  If you read the articles you’ll know already, but they plan to have classical music concerts at the restaurant.  In fact, we may even be rehearsing there for some of our concerts, as weird as that might sound.  I think people may enjoy listening!  (I know my mother would, and I’m sure other mothers across the world would.)

(Note to readers, I have no financial stake in the place, but a free place to rehearse and perform is priceless!)

Last night Laura, Melissa, and I decided to check the Tavern out for dinner.

IMG_0736

It’s a cute little place, and there are two big rooms.  The menu is limited but had both meat and vegetarian options.  The wine list had a nice variety of types of wine and price range, with a good variety by the glass.

IMG_0723

All of the artwork on the walls is for sale.  I loved the colors of the artwork in the front room.

IMG_0726 IMG_0725 IMG_0724

We decided to split the hummus as an appetizer.  It was more lemony flavored than some, but very tasty. 

IMG_0727

We also split a bottle of wine.

IMG_0728 IMG_0729

I ordered the gazpacho and a roast beef sandwich.  Our friend Dana had told us the gazpacho was fantastic, so we all tried it.  It was really good!  I was surprised by its creaminess.

IMG_0730

The roast beef had cole slaw on it.  It was also very tasty.  I forgot to ask them to hold the tomato though.

IMG_0731

Melissa had the fig flatbread and Laura the vegetarian sandwich and they said those were good as well.  Finally, we decided to split the cheesecake.  As you know…I’ve been craving cheesecake for WEEKS and I still hadn’t had any.  FINALLY. 

Also, remember,we split.  So the calories don’t even count.  Plus…fruit.

IMG_0732

We popped into the other room to check it out before we left. 

IMG_0733 IMG_0734 IMG_0735

By the time we left there were about 8 to 10 other people there, not too bad for a Monday night, though I am sure they hope to have more people.  The service was really nice if a bit slow, but we were in no hurry so we didn’t mind at all.  Overall it was a tasty dinner and a nice place to hang out. 

They said tonight was their first "concert" which was going to be a percussion duo.  I look forward to playing there myself and seeing other local people play.  I’d recommend you check it out if you want a light dinner/snack, some music and a bottle of wine. 

Random thoughts

10 in 100 checkup

Leave a comment

Happy Monday, dear readers.  I had a lot of fun over the weekend putting together my “7 links” post, and reading back through my blog entries over the past year and more.  I ran across some things I had completely forgotten about, and also enjoyed reading about past adventures and experiences.  I forgot how depressed I was in April as well, and how much fun our cruise last August was.

Another thing I realized was that I’d forgotten about my 10 in 100 list!  I thought I’d do a quick follow up to check my progress.  How am I doing so far?  (I have until October 4, just under two months)

1.  Go to Chicago and visit Karen.  So much fun!  Here, here, here,  and here.

2.  Have a 4th of July BBQ at my house.  Done!

3.  Go shopping with my sisters Leslie and Carrie.  Not yet…but we WILL.  Plans are in motion.

4.  Wedding cake tasting with Chris. We did this twice!  Here’s one.  We may still go to a few more bakeries…

5.  See the new Harry Potter movie. Yup!

6.  Visit the St Louis Zoo.  *crickets*

7.  Visit MOBOT, not while playing a wedding.  The extreme tree houses exhibit looks very interesting.  I wanted to go with my parents but we didn’t have enough time.

8.  Run a half-marathon, and PR.  Right now just running would be nice.  But I’ve got it.

9.  Attend another blogger meet up of sorts.  Did it!  Will Write for Wine.

10.  Go to another festival of sorts.  Lots of options, I’m sure.  My sisters are here during Festival of Nations at TG Park, which I’ve never been to but heard is great.  That’s on our itinerary.  (I have an actual itinerary I’m working.  Leslie and I are insane and actually do itineraries.)

Still got a few more left.  But I’m doing pretty good.  Is it better to set small, achievable goals or dream big and fail?  Obviously the big dreams won’t necessarily fail…but still.  They might.

image

 

Are you familiar with the Marshmallow Study?  I know as a child I would have NOT eaten that marshmallow and I would have held out for two.  Today I would stuff that marshmallow in my mouth because after all, who needs two marshmallows and besides, I can buy my own marshmallows at the store and quit wasting time sitting around waiting for free marshmallows.  What does that say about me?

What do you have planned for your week?  I’ve got teaching, some gigs, and some repertoire to learn for September.  My friend Laura is back in town so I’m doing some stuff with her, and Chris will be back soon.  Basically I’m back to “work” now even though I hope I will get some more students over the next month or I will certainly regret teaching five days a week!  I am excited about my teaching this year, and really feel like I’m doing what I want to be doing and what I am GOOD at.

I’m also hoping by the end of the week to feel injury free running again.  Fingers crossed!

image