Christmas, Performing

Christmas Vacation begins!

Today is my first day of Christmas Vacation!  It’s earlier than most people’s because I opted to take over a few more days of teaching—after the concerts it didn’t make sense to have one more class. 

Yesterday was very busy, but ended really fun.  I ran a race (though since I messed up the tag thing there is no record of me…oh well, it wasn’t my best time, in fact was my worst), played a wedding at the Jewel Box, played my last mass at St. Mary’s in Madison, IL, and played a four hour holiday party in Sappington.

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St. Mary’s

I had been dreading the 4 hour party but it ended up being quite fun!  We were playing at a private home, which was super decked out for the holidays.  There was a themed Christmas tree in just about every run, and nutcrackers of all sizes (tiny to human sized) displayed throughout.  We were encouraged to eat and drink (yummy shrimp and sushi!) while we played, and we played tons of Christmas music, including selections from the Nutcracker (I love the holiday volume of “Music for Three” and need it for myself STAT! )  It was exhausting, but the people I played with were easy going, good musicians and the evening was very enjoyable.  I should have taken some pictures of the house, but didn’t have my camera and didn’t want to be weird and creepy either.  Maybe I’ll be asked to play again next year, and I”ll remember my camera and not care about weird and creepy!  At the end, the host told us if we played one more rousing finale we would each get $50 cash on the spot.  Well, we couldn’t’ pass that up, and played a rousing “Trepak” from the aforementioned Music for Three.  FYI to other musicians:  the audience really loved hearing the Nutcracker tunes.  

I was utterly exhausted by the time I got home and just read a bit and went to sleep. 

Today:  I did my long run—8.5 miles I believe (or so) in the park.  It was manageable, icy in spots but fine overall.  I am loving my new running tights (though I should probably get another, slightly warmer pair, also to switch out for laundry purposes) and felt like a real runner going around the park 2 1/2 times. 

Then I did the first step of the Tres Leches Eggnog cake…though I decided to just use a box mix.  (First step is to make the regular cake and let it cool).  I had a box mix on hand, okay?  It was taking up room in the cupboard!  (Second step is to pour milks/eggnog over cooled cake and let sit overnight).  Besides, after I add the Tres Leches, will it really matter if the cake was from a box or homemade?  NO!

Tonight we are going to a Holiday Party at a friend’s house.  I am looking forward to seeing people—I haven’t seen several of my friends for a few weeks as we have all been so busy!  The next few days are for relaxing, seeing friends, and preparing to go to Long Island for the holidays. 

HBBC:   8.5 mile run: 8.5 points, 20 minutes stretching: 1 point, Total:  9.5 points (will edit if I eat 7 f/v)

Random thoughts

There is no do, only try

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Prompt: Try. What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it?


reverb10.com

We all know Yoda’s saying.  You may be thinking that I messed up the title of this post, but I didn’t.  My friend Ranya and I went through a period of time last fall where we played a lot of Mario Party 8 for the Wii.  We learned, no matter how hard we tried to win by skill, luck ended up being the only thing that mattered in the end.  You could play a bad game and win, or a great game and still lose.  We decided we needed to just relax and enjoy the ride, and coined the saying, “There is no do, only try.” 

The fun was in the trying.

So what do I want to try next year?  There are a few things I want to try that are personality traits.  I want to try to be less stressed over small unimportant things.  I have a hard time when I am not in control of a situation, and I want to try to be more relaxed when things aren’t under my control, especially when it’s fairly unimportant things like somebody making dinner or planning where to meet to friends. 

What else do I want to try?  I want to try new activities!  I want to try to visit the city’s museums, particularly the art museum.  I made a list of places I wanted to try to go last summer and never got to most of them…(nothing bad happened, the list just continued existing).  It’s still a great list!  I will try to carry that list over into the new year. 

Is there something I wanted to try in 2010? 

I wanted to try to get more into the freelance scene here…it’s a slow process but I am getting more calls from a few more people…so I know I will eventually get there (unless we move, then I’ll have to start all over again.). 

I wanted to try to have more students—that happened beyond my wildest dreams (in fact, I may need to try to have less students).  I wanted to try to lose weight and get in better shape—I definitely did that. 

I wanted to try to be more pleasant and less angry—I accomplished that as well.  In fact, I would say that 2010 was a pretty good year in terms of meeting my resolutions.

In summation:

2011 is going to be the year of HAPPINESS–

the year of really trying to enjoy the city I live in by taking advantage of the many opportunities here for recreation and education.

I will also continue on my path to be more relaxed (less stressed) and to maintain CALM, at least on the outside Smile

Running

Running in the snow

Wow!  I just finished my first cross-country 5k.  I didn’t mean to run a cross-country 5k…but the race director decided the roads/sidewalks were too icy (true!) so the course was rerouted through the grass.  The race was the “Reindeer Run.”

I had signed up to run it because it is literally right across the street from my house and I figured, hey, I’ll get in a good run on the morning of a busy day AND have the home field advantage (hoping for a personal record, or “pr” as the “cool kids” say.)

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The race started here at the Sons of Rest Shelter in Tower Grove Park (picture not from today—) and took me 38:49 to finish…a very long time.  At least, as I crossed the finish line the clock said 38:49.  Worst 5k time yet…but again, the snow, the grass, not tripping over tree roots, definitely slowed me down so I’m okay with it.

It is REALLY hard to run in the snowy grass and try not to fall.  In any case, I succeeded in not falling, I finished the race (maybe a few seconds faster, it wasn’t chip-timed), AND I tried out my new running tights, which were awesome.  It was probably 22 degrees outside and I thought I would feel much colder than I did, so evidently my layers paid off.

PSA:  My race bib (#82) didn’t have any sort of tracking device or chip to put on.  There was just a part that I could rip off with my name on it.  I assumed that was for the store to know who to give the bibs to…so I tore it off and left it at home (besides the bib was assymetrical with it on).  Evidently we were meant to leave them on and they were taken at the very end of the race.  Oops!  Other races I had torn that part off.  So, if there isn’t a shoe thing-y or a tracking device on the back of your bib, leave the name part on, just in case.  The word bandit was used by the volunteers taking the “toe slips?” (I think they called them that?) for me and several others—I’m betting that we all just didn’t know.  I was too exhausted at the time to say anything…I’m sure most people know this, and somehow I missed the memo.

HBBC:   I’m giving myself 4 points for the race/warm-up—it seemed longer, plus took me longer/more exertion, so I deserve it.  I’ll edit if I meet the f/v for the day!  total:  4 points

Random thoughts

Learn, change, and grow #reverb10

Prompt: Lesson learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

reverb10.com

 

The best thing??  It’s so hard to come up with these things every day when I’m busy…I can easily think of good things I learned about myself, but the pressure of “best thing” is really tough! 

Good things:  I have more self-control than I thought.  I actually enjoy muscle soreness and sweating.  I can run.  I have infinite patience with small children in a one on one setting (though not in a group).  I will always be swayed by cuteness, particularly kittens and fat cats.  I love to learn, and have a constant sense of wonder about the world I live in.

So what is the best thing I’ve learned?  I will continue to learn, change, and grow every year, every month, every week, every day.  That’s the answer to both questions in one. 

Or I’m really tired.  Either way, that’s good enough for me tonight!

Christmas

Christmas Tree part 2 (but probably not last!)

I wanted to include a few more pictures of my ornaments so you can feel like you are in my living room with me (oh and it is nice and warm under my throw blanket).

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This guy is a s’more angel playing the trumpet.  I don’t remember where I got it, but how cute is he?

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My mother loves to give me violin ornaments—this is a creepy cat playing the violin.  Each year it grows on me though—by next year it might be my favorite!

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Here is a more normal violin ornament my mother gave me.  Tasteful Smile

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I wanted to get something to commemorate this year.  Those are real diamonds!  (not really).

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The tree with the lights on! 

In any case, I’m really enjoying my Christmas tree this year—it hasn’t fallen down at all, and it’s just beautiful. 

The only other Christmas décor I’ve put up is on the mantle in the living room.  I’ve got a few figurines and a bunch of cards on display. 

 

In other news:

Tonight is the last student concert!  My Child of God students are playing all the songs they know, accompanied by yours truly on the piano.  I’m sure they’ll be fantastic.

Tomorrow is a busy day:  a 5k in the morning (just across the street at the park) unless I deem it too icy (possible), a wedding, a mass, and a 4 hour Christmas party.  THEN—-VACATION TIME!!!!  (can you tell I’m excited????) 

HBBC:  1 mile walk: 1 point, workout with Mike: 4 points, 7 f/v: 1 point, total:  6 points.  Total for week of Dec 11-17: 36.4, Total so far (Nov. 20-Dec. 17): 149.5

Random thoughts

Friendship #reverb10

Prompt: Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

reverb10.com

Okay, so I am a bit late on this one.  I procrastinated because I didn’t have a good response.

I have had to make new friends many times in my life, because I have moved several times, and because my friends tend to move as well.  One of these days I will be somewhere more permanently…perhaps I am even there now and just don’t know it.  But until then I will continue to make new friends, and struggle to keep in touch with old friends.  Facebook is a great help for keeping in touch with old friends—both acquaintances and the sort of friend who, if you end up in the same city with them for a few hours, you can pick up exactly where you left off and have a fantastic time with them. 

It’s harder to make friends the older I get.  Sometimes I just don’t want to make the effort to get to know new people and to let them get to know me…other times I meet people who I know would be great friends, but they already have a bunch of friends.  And then many people have children and don’t have time for friends, or have nothing in common with us non-child-bearing folk.

How has a friend changed me or my perspective on the world this year?   One of my new friends loves to try new restaurants—that is always fun.  Other friends encourage me to take classes such as pottery, yoga, or spinning.  I guess if I had to sum it up, my friends tend to encourage me to get out of the house and try new things…Chris and I are creatures of habit, especially if left to our own devices, so it’s good to have friends who push you out of your comfort zone. 

Change is a gradual thing—though showing up to a new class or restaurant is a sudden burst—but personal growth is gradual.  I love having a wide variety of friends with different interests and strengths, and I know they will continue to push me to grow as a person.

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.