Category Archives: Random thoughts

President’s Day

I love being a teacher in the school system—you get wonderful holidays off!  I am only teaching my private students today. 

A few weeks ago Living Social ran a deal for a couples massage at Prolong Symmetry in Chesterfield (very near the St. Louis School of Music), and I thought that seemed like a nice Valentine’s Day gift, so I bought it.  Chris and I had the appointment today since I finally had a Monday off.  (Monday is always his day off.)  Wow!  It was fantastic.  I have had a few massages in the past but never a couples massage.  The only difference is that you are just in the same room with your “partner.”  Two tables, two massage therapists.  Great way to spend an afternoon off.  They offered us the same price if we come in again between now and the end of May and we may just take them up on that. 

Totally unrelated:

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra—generally regarded as one of the world’s best orchestras.  But as you may or may not know, has only FOUR women in the orchestra, and until about a decade ago, didn’t allow women at all.  Read this article about how we shouldn’t be okay with this (if in fact you are).  The author also mentions that the orchestra seems to have an unspoken ban on minorities as well.  Granted, the orchestra isn’t from our country, but certainly plays here enough.  Should we be protesting?  Writing angry letters or organizing pamphlet drops?  Thoughts?

(I have attended a concert of the VPO and it was one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever attended.  I think we as a people get used to certain things and stop being angry—we have to or we would go crazy.  I imagine the concert would have been even better if the orchestra were composed of the best musicians, not simply the best white male musicians.)

Did I mention I was engaged?

First I told my family and close friends

omg

and then it became facebook official

engaged1

I received dozens of congratulatory comments and some messages too!  Chris was a little slower to make it facebook official…

robyn

(from Chris’s page)

engaged

But then he made it facebook official too!

honeymoon

Probably not…I mean, not since LeBron left…

julia

Enough said!

bling

It’s been over a week now!  I still think my ring is pretty Smile and I still want to get married!

Wedding planning

Today I stopped by a bookstore on my way home from teaching and ended up picking up a few wedding magazines and a wedding book.  I was a little embarrassed to buy them, but it ended up being okay…as I am wearing an engagement ring.  After all, NOW is the time I actually can legitimately buy these things and not feel weird or creepy.

I haven’t spent much time thinking about my wedding in the past—I have never been one of those women who dreamed of her perfect wedding.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I have thought about my wedding, but primarily I have thought about it while I was playing at other ceremonies and thinking about what I didn’t like about those ceremonies.  So I have lots of ideas of things that I definitely don’t want (and I won’t say here as I don’t want to insult people who might love those things!) but not as many ideas of things that I DO want.  Hence the books and magazines…I need to brainstorm. 

image

That’s me tonight…

By the way, evidently Friday’s performance of La Traviata is sold out, but Sunday is still available.  It’s going to be a great show!

Tired

I’m tired.  I’m definitely going to bed early tonight.

I had an exhausting (though very exciting) weekend.  For those of you who are behind on my blog (or living under a rock), I got engaged!

I’ve had 9 hours of opera rehearsal so far.  La Traviata is going well.  The St. Louis Woman’s Club is a lovely venue.  Perhaps a good place to get married? 

I didn’t do too many (none, actually) workouts over the weekend so it was great to get back to the gym today and run then workout with Mike.  He was girlishly excited that I had gotten engaged.  I feel silly getting so much attention…but I guess it’s nice…and well-deserved?

I made a new recipe tonight—Spicy Sweet Potato Wedges.  They were tasty, but I don’t think I cooked them as long as I should have.  The 500 degree temperature frightened me.  I do like sweet potatoes though.

I had lunch at a new (to me) restaurant today—Nora’s in Dogtown.  It was great—I had a pork/applesauce/brie sandwich (“For Pete’s Sake”)with tomato basil bisque soup.  Delicious.

Now to watch a show or two on tv and then rest up for a long day of teaching and more opera tomorrow. 

(Last note:  the students loved their Valentine’s cookies yesterday.)

Things I’m thankful for

As a few of my posts lately have been negative, I wanted to post something more positive…

How about a list of things I am thankful for?  That always cheers me up.

I’m thankful for:

a warm house that I can make warmer if I want

a warm snuggly kitty

adorable students

my LEFT wrist doesn’t bother me

St. Louis Bread Company (that’s Panera to most of you) and their awesome “you pick two” combo

my kindle, chock full of awesome books (currently reading “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion)

a loving boyfriend

being gainfully employed, from a variety of employers…

my awesome trainer who never fails to cheer me up AND kick my butt twice a week

getting to run outside in a race on Saturday..and supposedly it will be much warmer!

getting to play La Traviata next week

being able to email my thoughts to npr on their stories (yes, I did this today!)

Last but not least:  I’m thankful that February is nearly half over, which means March is nearby!!  And spring!!