I am giving thanks this week for a few products, appliances, and snacks that I feel have greatly enriched my life.
Today we honor: lotion.
I don't even want to think about what life must have been like before lotion. If my skin gets too dry it makes me want to freak out, barf, and cry all at the same time. I am so extremely thankful for lotion.
I have been a big fan of the postsecret project for years. Every Sunday I go to the website and I read the posted secrets. Often they are depressing, often they are incredibly beautiful, and every once in awhile, I find one that is down right cathartic.
Before I started reading Post Secret, I thought of "secrets" as events that you don't want anyone else to know about, like "I killed a man in Reno", that sort of thing. Now, I think of secrets as things I feel about myself and the world that are hard to express. The truth is, I am as secretive as anyone else, and so are you.
This little video is sort of intense, but it nicely explains the project, and I really like it.
Almost three years ago, on the night our beloved friend Scott died so suddenly, I had an amazing dream. I didn't find out about his death until morning, so that night I went to sleep unaware of the unfolding tragedy.
In the dream, I was playing the viola in a beautiful, empty concert hall. Playing was effortless and hugely enjoyable. One part of the dream I remember vividly is making a huge shift and then laughing out loud as I totally nailed the high note. Unlike any real life experience playing the viola, in my dream, playing was just pure joy. It was fun, and exciting, and easy as pie. I have never had another dream like this, before or since, and I've always kind of thought of it as a little gift from Scott. As crazy as it sounds, I believe he was trying to teach me something on his way out of my earthly life. When I think about this now, when I really stop to consider that dream, I can remember it, and I can stop the constant churning in my mind.
I learned a lot from Scott, both in his life and in his death.
I miss him so much.
1. I'm sorry I've been such a delinquent blogger recently. These days, when I am not practicing, I am watching Battlestar Galactica. With such a busy schedule, I have very little time for blogging. The good news is that I'm starting to combine my activities (practicing and Battlestar Galactica) into one super awesome project: I am practicing being a Cylon. I totally heart Cylons. My entire strategy for an upcoming audition is to channel my inner Cylon. I call her #13.
2. My hand is feeling much better thanks to all of Ashley's great advice. If you are suffering from a Prokofiev Classical Symphony related injury, Ashley can totally help. The cure is unpleasant, as it involves repeatedly plunging your gimpy hand into a bowl of ice water, but it works.
3. Here is the awesome wombat video again. You can never have too much of this guy.
Janz and Ellen's precious tax deduction bundle of joy was born at 9:45am, December 31st!
Hoooooray!
Meet Lucas the Wise, seen here feeling somewhat apprehensive about his new life outside the womb (tough breaks kiddo). Janz' sister took this picture on her cell phone and it is the only one I have. I hope it is not rude to post it without the proud parents consent, but look how cuuuute! Even when he's cranky! I will soon have a more formal portrait, but for now, here he is, unedited.
Lucas
Birthday: December 31st, 2006
Weight: 7lbs 10oz
Height: 5'2
Sign: Capricorn
Likes: Being born, Ellen, Janz, womb-like swaddling, naps, gangsta rap
Dislikes: Being born, bright lights, open spaces, phonies
My viola teacher from high school, Alice Preves, died on Wednesday. I was so sad to hear the news yesterday. Sad that the world has lost a wonderful violist and teacher, and sad that I will not again get the opportunity to tell her how much she meant to me.
During my senior year of high school my father died only a few months after being diagnosed with cancer. It was a terrible year. There are many things about that time period that I don't even remember, that I don't choose to remember. I know that in my grief, I was very difficult to reach.
One thing I remember clearly from those days is my viola lessons. Sometimes it felt like my only anchor to the future was playing the viola. Alice seemed to intuit and respect my emotional boundaries. She didn't ask for more than I could give and she helped me stay focused and moving forward. In this way her support was literally life saving. Alice's unique brand of stern tenderness ushered me through the worst period of my life. Unlike pretty much every other place in the world, I felt safe in my viola lessons.
Almost every quality about my viola playing that I really truly like, I can trace back to Alice and think, "Alice taught me how to do that". She was my first serious teacher. When she accepted me as a student I was a Suzuki kid, by the time I left for college she had turned me into a budding musician. I have had many wonderful teachers since then, but Alice is the one who instilled in me the musical values I hold most dear. Alice was a born teacher.
It is hard to write about Alice from the perspective of an adult. I wish I could write more about who she was, but honestly, I don't really know. I was a messed up kid when I was closest to Alice. To me she represents love, stability, hard work, passion, and faith. Alice was a teacher to me in more ways than I can explain or understand.
I love you, Alice. You will be missed.
Hooray! I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders! Buh-bye Rick Santorum!
I am so relieved that we finally got pissed off enough to shake some shit up.
Shake it, baby.
I am currently sitting on my couch nervously munching on Twizzlers and watching the election results through the fingers over my eyes. In past election years I have chosen to watch results with friends, but this year I want to be alone in my cozy apartment. I haven't really been keeping track of all of the political races- I generally find politics depressing. 2004 was a real heartbreaker and I am still not fully healed.
All day I have been thinking about this strange red state/blue state situation. I have my own strong feeling about the issues that have divided the country, and sometimes it feels like there is no middle ground between me and my red countrymen. I do however understand feeling strongly, even if I don't agree with Republican politics. What I don't understand is how we ended up divided up so evenly. I think that God is laughing at us. He is saying "Heehee, I'll divide them up with incredibly emotional issues, but I will divide them in nearly even numbers. Hee, that will screw with their heads......silly humans."
Why are we divided so strongly, so evenly?
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
