Today as I was riding my bike to babysitting, I saw a moving truck with "Two Men and a Truck" written on the side, but there were clearly three men sitting in that truck. Then, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said "Question Reality." Oh, geez. The irony! haha!
Also, I have a qualm (okay, many qualms) with the American sense of distance and transportation necessity. However, more on this rant when I am not so sleepy. It's been a "special" day...
Gratitude 272
Reusable travel mugs for my tea and occasional coffee. :)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Oktoberfest! Prost!
Last night, my friends Bradley and Miriam and I ventured to "Oktoberfest"...or the American version of what they suppose Oktoberfest is... haha! ;) It was a lot of fun, though! Yummy Bratwurst and Sauerkraut, delicious giant German cream puffs, huge Biersteins everywhere, Dirndls and Lederhosen, and a "polka" band (aka a band who thought they were playing polka and German music...what they were thinking, we'll never know!) We each had a small German beer, but I felt like I needed to be walking around with one of the giant steins. haha! Basically, the festival was exactly how you'd imagine the American tourist trap "authentic"-but-not-really version of Oktoberfest would be. (Some people were even dressed like super American tourists in Germany!) Highly amusing! Man, I wish I had pulled out my camera to document the ridiculousness. hehe! We wondered what these people who are so into it do the rest of the year when it isn't Oktoberfest? And then, Miriam and I decided that we want to be the families that are all dressed in dirndls and lederhosen. Fabulous! ;) It was pretty much the most ridiculous evening ever.
Gratitude 271
Colgate Wisps for being stashed in my purse when I'm in a rush and realize a little too late that I forgot a very important step in the morning routine! Oops!
Also...Joyce Didonato's blog and vlog posts always seem to be ironically exactly what is needed to be heard...particularly her vlog...
Gratitude 271
Colgate Wisps for being stashed in my purse when I'm in a rush and realize a little too late that I forgot a very important step in the morning routine! Oops!
Also...Joyce Didonato's blog and vlog posts always seem to be ironically exactly what is needed to be heard...particularly her vlog...
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Up, Down, Circle Around
Sometimes, like now, life resembles the bear hunt game we (or at least, I) learned in kindergarten: at every obstacle encountered in your path to find the bear, you have to decide how to overcome it..."Can't go under it, can't go around it, gotta go over it..."
Basically, life since my last post can be summed up as a cycle of "Soprano Moments" and a touch overboard on the melodrama. (My mother told me the other day that I have always been overly melodramatic. Always have been, always will be...and that's how she knows I can make it in this career. Oh, geez!)
Back at my lessons with Lynn and chugging along with a heaping dose of vocal confusion added in just so there's never a dull moment. She makes my heart happy...and somehow deals with all of my ridiculous nonsensical tendencies! haha! My voice has taken a crazy leap in many ways...and a few steps back in others, so we're working on sorting it all out.
My life is now not only filled with ice cream but also with babysitting. First, the adorable Gretchen and Kate...and then the new family of a quiet 3-yr old boy who never knows what he wants, an overly-rambunctious and "I can't do it myself!" 5-yr old boy, and a precocious and attitude-driven 7-yr old girl. Oy vey! Often, I wonder how/why I agree to things that overwhelmingly test my patience.
"Little Miss Social Butterfly" Samantha seems to be reappearing for the next couple of weeks, too. :) Spur-of-the-moment karaoke night with some friends I haven't seen in 4 months last night. (I think I've stated this once before, but I'll say it, again: Karaoke always sounds like a good idea...and then always turns in to a very bad one! haha!) Surprisingly, it was the most fun karaoke adventure I've ever had. We made complete fools of ourselves and probably (okay, definitely) weren't so kind to our painstakingly-trained classical voices by belting Disney pop music, but sometimes not taking music so seriously is good for the soul.
As for the rest of the social calendar: tonight is "Oktoberfest" downtown with Bradley and Miriam (two college friends); Tuesday is potentially dinner on the balcony (weather-permitted) with Carolyn; Friday is Homecoming/Alumni Weekend, and a few of us "new alums" are going to be completely ridiculous and go to the festivities that night and support our colleagues still in the choir at their concert; then Matt and Amber's wedding on Saturday (last one in the marathon...until next season...),which will begin with a road trip with Chad and Haley! Fabulous!.
That just about sums it all up. Oh, yeah, and I almost got smacked in the face by a butterfly while riding my bike. Like I've said, my life is filled with ridiculous things like this that you just can't make up!
Gratitude 270
Sunglasses.
Basically, life since my last post can be summed up as a cycle of "Soprano Moments" and a touch overboard on the melodrama. (My mother told me the other day that I have always been overly melodramatic. Always have been, always will be...and that's how she knows I can make it in this career. Oh, geez!)
Back at my lessons with Lynn and chugging along with a heaping dose of vocal confusion added in just so there's never a dull moment. She makes my heart happy...and somehow deals with all of my ridiculous nonsensical tendencies! haha! My voice has taken a crazy leap in many ways...and a few steps back in others, so we're working on sorting it all out.
My life is now not only filled with ice cream but also with babysitting. First, the adorable Gretchen and Kate...and then the new family of a quiet 3-yr old boy who never knows what he wants, an overly-rambunctious and "I can't do it myself!" 5-yr old boy, and a precocious and attitude-driven 7-yr old girl. Oy vey! Often, I wonder how/why I agree to things that overwhelmingly test my patience.
"Little Miss Social Butterfly" Samantha seems to be reappearing for the next couple of weeks, too. :) Spur-of-the-moment karaoke night with some friends I haven't seen in 4 months last night. (I think I've stated this once before, but I'll say it, again: Karaoke always sounds like a good idea...and then always turns in to a very bad one! haha!) Surprisingly, it was the most fun karaoke adventure I've ever had. We made complete fools of ourselves and probably (okay, definitely) weren't so kind to our painstakingly-trained classical voices by belting Disney pop music, but sometimes not taking music so seriously is good for the soul.
As for the rest of the social calendar: tonight is "Oktoberfest" downtown with Bradley and Miriam (two college friends); Tuesday is potentially dinner on the balcony (weather-permitted) with Carolyn; Friday is Homecoming/Alumni Weekend, and a few of us "new alums" are going to be completely ridiculous and go to the festivities that night and support our colleagues still in the choir at their concert; then Matt and Amber's wedding on Saturday (last one in the marathon...until next season...),which will begin with a road trip with Chad and Haley! Fabulous!.
That just about sums it all up. Oh, yeah, and I almost got smacked in the face by a butterfly while riding my bike. Like I've said, my life is filled with ridiculous things like this that you just can't make up!
Gratitude 270
Sunglasses.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Full Speed Ahead
Good news...first lesson back with Lynn on Thursday! Hope it goes well...
Bad news...sinus headaches returning. :( I hate allergies!!
My practicing today was rough at first, but then it got going really great. The placement was so spot on at times that I even got lightheaded and had to sit down. I know that sounds like it wouldn't be a good thing, but in Soprano Land, it is confirmation that you're definitely doing it right. (You just have to conquer not passing out! haha! I experienced that once during the whole blood drawing incident over Easter this past year...we certainly don't need to repeat that horrifying episode!!)
I also am still baffled by how two arias I pulled out, one new and one old, feel so unbelievably right in my voice at the current moment. I mean, since when do Beethoven's Fidelio and a 20th century American opera be what works when you first return to practicing after a time off?? So weird, yet so great. On a whim, I decided to pull out two other old arias that were okay when I first did them but fit very well now...guess I "grew" into them over the last couple of years. ;)
I've been in such a weird mood lately...small hints of hysteria or something. (Don't worry...I'm not going psycho!!) It's like you can't believe the things that are happening around you and just find yourself laughing. Seriously, the things in my life...you can't make stuff this ridiculous up! That, compounded with a tug-o-war with stress and serenity basically equal my current mental state. Add my melodramatic tendencies...and incessant sinus pressure...to that, and you've got "extra special" emotion in the package. haha!
Gratitude 269
British comedy. Pure genius. :)
Bad news...sinus headaches returning. :( I hate allergies!!
My practicing today was rough at first, but then it got going really great. The placement was so spot on at times that I even got lightheaded and had to sit down. I know that sounds like it wouldn't be a good thing, but in Soprano Land, it is confirmation that you're definitely doing it right. (You just have to conquer not passing out! haha! I experienced that once during the whole blood drawing incident over Easter this past year...we certainly don't need to repeat that horrifying episode!!)
I also am still baffled by how two arias I pulled out, one new and one old, feel so unbelievably right in my voice at the current moment. I mean, since when do Beethoven's Fidelio and a 20th century American opera be what works when you first return to practicing after a time off?? So weird, yet so great. On a whim, I decided to pull out two other old arias that were okay when I first did them but fit very well now...guess I "grew" into them over the last couple of years. ;)
I've been in such a weird mood lately...small hints of hysteria or something. (Don't worry...I'm not going psycho!!) It's like you can't believe the things that are happening around you and just find yourself laughing. Seriously, the things in my life...you can't make stuff this ridiculous up! That, compounded with a tug-o-war with stress and serenity basically equal my current mental state. Add my melodramatic tendencies...and incessant sinus pressure...to that, and you've got "extra special" emotion in the package. haha!
Gratitude 269
British comedy. Pure genius. :)
It's the simple things in life.
Like having a bath tub. I wish I had one now. I know now that I definitely did not appreciate it when I did have one...because all I want right now is a bubble bath with mounds of bubbles, vanilla-scented candles, a glass of wine, a symphony playing on the ipod, some dark chocolate, and a book of poetry. :(
Clearly, it's just been a long night, and what people are thinking before they do or say things honestly just makes me wonder. Really just need to go to bed, but instead, I decided to watch Jimmy Fallon and make a little post. ;)
I've been drinking a lot more tea lately, and that has resulted in an elevated state of calmness/taking life in stride. :) Yay, tea! Actually, I've really just started to fall back into the habit of tea-drinking I developed while studying in Hungary. (I miss that place!) A cup of tea seems to make everything [seem] better. Perhaps, I should just get it in an IV drip! ;) (After work tonight, though, something a little stronger was necessary...so out came the red wine and crystal glass! haha!)
Also, I discovered this evening at work,that I am pretty sure I can fairly accurately determine the personality of someone merely by their choice of ice cream. And it's probably a bad thing, but I also sometimes feel that demographics could be categorized by this as well. Just observations from a curious mind.
Gratitude 268 (It came to my attention that I forgot to add one to the last post! Uh oh!)
The glorious foot massager a friend accidentally left at my apartment and that I found (and happily set my tired feet upon!) when I got home tonight. :)
Clearly, it's just been a long night, and what people are thinking before they do or say things honestly just makes me wonder. Really just need to go to bed, but instead, I decided to watch Jimmy Fallon and make a little post. ;)
I've been drinking a lot more tea lately, and that has resulted in an elevated state of calmness/taking life in stride. :) Yay, tea! Actually, I've really just started to fall back into the habit of tea-drinking I developed while studying in Hungary. (I miss that place!) A cup of tea seems to make everything [seem] better. Perhaps, I should just get it in an IV drip! ;) (After work tonight, though, something a little stronger was necessary...so out came the red wine and crystal glass! haha!)
Also, I discovered this evening at work,that I am pretty sure I can fairly accurately determine the personality of someone merely by their choice of ice cream. And it's probably a bad thing, but I also sometimes feel that demographics could be categorized by this as well. Just observations from a curious mind.
Gratitude 268 (It came to my attention that I forgot to add one to the last post! Uh oh!)
The glorious foot massager a friend accidentally left at my apartment and that I found (and happily set my tired feet upon!) when I got home tonight. :)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
"Oh, Jesus loves me...so it's all good!"
This is my new philosophy. ;) Thanks, Sarah.
I am happy to report that I am singing, again. It feels good to return to such a frustrating yet comforting thing. It takes leaving it awhile sometimes to realize how much of one's self is composed of this big little thing. (Yes, I know that's an oxymoron, and I placed it there intentionally...it's what it is.)
There are times in this life when you must persevere through the frustration and struggle ("Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." -Newt Gingrich) ...and other times it is far deeper than that, and if you don't step away altogether for a little while, you'll grow to hate it and potentially leave it forever. This past month or so has been the latter for me. It's complicated to explain this feeling. Let's just leave it basically at that for now.
I love my "gift." God granted it specifically to me for some purpose (unknown to me...anytime you want to fill me in, God, would be great...how's now sound for You?). Nonetheless, even the greatest of gifts can sometimes feel like a curse. Love it or hate it, it's mine for this lifetime.
My return to practicing will be an uphill journey, but piece by piece, it'll all fall back into place. And who would've thunk it that Beethoven and Moore would be the composers to pull me back and help me work through some of the tension that has settled on my voice?! Everything's gonna be okay. Besides, Jesus loves me. ;)
Now, it's on to the graduate school process...whether I feel ready or not, here it is...hopefully, I feel ready to embark on this endeavor when it appears in my path. Welcome to the roller coaster of my life. ;)
I am happy to report that I am singing, again. It feels good to return to such a frustrating yet comforting thing. It takes leaving it awhile sometimes to realize how much of one's self is composed of this big little thing. (Yes, I know that's an oxymoron, and I placed it there intentionally...it's what it is.)
There are times in this life when you must persevere through the frustration and struggle ("Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." -Newt Gingrich) ...and other times it is far deeper than that, and if you don't step away altogether for a little while, you'll grow to hate it and potentially leave it forever. This past month or so has been the latter for me. It's complicated to explain this feeling. Let's just leave it basically at that for now.
I love my "gift." God granted it specifically to me for some purpose (unknown to me...anytime you want to fill me in, God, would be great...how's now sound for You?). Nonetheless, even the greatest of gifts can sometimes feel like a curse. Love it or hate it, it's mine for this lifetime.
My return to practicing will be an uphill journey, but piece by piece, it'll all fall back into place. And who would've thunk it that Beethoven and Moore would be the composers to pull me back and help me work through some of the tension that has settled on my voice?! Everything's gonna be okay. Besides, Jesus loves me. ;)
Now, it's on to the graduate school process...whether I feel ready or not, here it is...hopefully, I feel ready to embark on this endeavor when it appears in my path. Welcome to the roller coaster of my life. ;)
The Adventures of Sarah and Samantha
I think I should start a new blog entitled the above. I'm sure it'd provide a great deal of comic relief in addition to this one.
Some of the things that happen to us on our adventures, some people will just never believe...like yesterday when we decided to go to Olive Garden for lunch because I had a gift card, and we wanted that blasted pasta bowl...and it was closed. We're talking boarded up windows, no more sign closed. How sad. Then, we went to the next one in the GPS because we'd already set out on this mission. And that one was closed, too!! Boarded up to be serving pasta bowls no more. Lame! It was like some weird sort of deja vu...the setting was exactly the same, including a fire truck with flashing lights passing by. Bizarre. At this point, we're hungry, irritated, and I, personally can't help but laugh at this irony. Finally, third time's a charm, and we did find an operating Olive Garden, ate pasta bowls, and all was delicious. Honestly, though, in whose life do things like this actually happen?!
Some of the things that happen to us on our adventures, some people will just never believe...like yesterday when we decided to go to Olive Garden for lunch because I had a gift card, and we wanted that blasted pasta bowl...and it was closed. We're talking boarded up windows, no more sign closed. How sad. Then, we went to the next one in the GPS because we'd already set out on this mission. And that one was closed, too!! Boarded up to be serving pasta bowls no more. Lame! It was like some weird sort of deja vu...the setting was exactly the same, including a fire truck with flashing lights passing by. Bizarre. At this point, we're hungry, irritated, and I, personally can't help but laugh at this irony. Finally, third time's a charm, and we did find an operating Olive Garden, ate pasta bowls, and all was delicious. Honestly, though, in whose life do things like this actually happen?!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
A beautiful Saturday morning!
Gratitude 267
I just love the Autumn time! :) The weather is getting brisk, yet still sunny and colorful. The trees are painting the landscape, and we can finally (hopefully this lasts!) open the windows to a lovely breeze. It's getting cool enough to drink hot tea everyday, again. :) My sweaters and fabulous pashmina collection are just waiting to be worn! :)
Last night, I got an amazing impromptu call from my darling Katie in Chicago! :) We only talked for a mere 2 hours this time, though. hehe! ;) ...I think that's our highest record of phone call length thus far. Thank you, Katie...no better way to spend my lazy Friday evening!
This morning, for the first time in four years of living here, I actually made it to the Saturday farmer's market. A little flash of my much-missed European culture. ;) (As much as I miss it, though, I am somehow oddly content where I am sitting right now...we'll go with it and see how long it lasts. haha!)
I just love the Autumn time! :) The weather is getting brisk, yet still sunny and colorful. The trees are painting the landscape, and we can finally (hopefully this lasts!) open the windows to a lovely breeze. It's getting cool enough to drink hot tea everyday, again. :) My sweaters and fabulous pashmina collection are just waiting to be worn! :)
Last night, I got an amazing impromptu call from my darling Katie in Chicago! :) We only talked for a mere 2 hours this time, though. hehe! ;) ...I think that's our highest record of phone call length thus far. Thank you, Katie...no better way to spend my lazy Friday evening!
This morning, for the first time in four years of living here, I actually made it to the Saturday farmer's market. A little flash of my much-missed European culture. ;) (As much as I miss it, though, I am somehow oddly content where I am sitting right now...we'll go with it and see how long it lasts. haha!)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Happy Birthday to Me! :)
Yesterday was my birthday! 23! :) Unfortunately, I had to work for the first half of the day and was battling a terrible sinus headache all day. :( Nonetheless, I had a nice little celebration. :)
Gratitude 266
Mom and Dad made the long drive just to take me out to dinner. We went to BRAVO!. It was DELICIOUS!! yum yum yum! We also got an impromptu 45-minute tour of practically the entire city. Oh, geez! haha! Then a few of my girlfriends came over, and we sat out on the balcony and enjoyed some lovely wine and brownies Alexa's dad had made. :)
Today, my allergies and sinuses have gotten no better sadly, and I feel awful. :( Ew. (Sometimes, they hurt so badly I can barely see straight. This is no good. Stupid nose!) So...it's movies on the couch, some more tea, and hopefully some rest because I work the day shift, yet again, tomorrow. Blech. (Happy for the hours...not happy to drag myself out of bed when I don't feel so grand.)
Gratitude 266
Mom and Dad made the long drive just to take me out to dinner. We went to BRAVO!. It was DELICIOUS!! yum yum yum! We also got an impromptu 45-minute tour of practically the entire city. Oh, geez! haha! Then a few of my girlfriends came over, and we sat out on the balcony and enjoyed some lovely wine and brownies Alexa's dad had made. :)
Today, my allergies and sinuses have gotten no better sadly, and I feel awful. :( Ew. (Sometimes, they hurt so badly I can barely see straight. This is no good. Stupid nose!) So...it's movies on the couch, some more tea, and hopefully some rest because I work the day shift, yet again, tomorrow. Blech. (Happy for the hours...not happy to drag myself out of bed when I don't feel so grand.)
Monday, September 6, 2010
A Catch-Up on Current Life Events
I apologize for the hiatus. The only explanation is that I have been lazy. So...I'll do a quick overview of highlights from the past couple weeks...
The last week of August, my older sister Jessi and my nephew/Godson Xander came for a visit. We did some exploration, chased Xander everywhere, and laughed lots. And who would have known that if you give a 2-year old a pickle, approximately 30 minutes of entertainment has been provided for a mere 40 cents...until he proceeds to chuck it at the dashboard because he's over it. haha! Oh, that little crazy man!
Then, everyone was coming back to campus, so that was a little overwhelming that suddenly everyone was back. However, it was nice to see people, again.
Yesterday was my friend Sarah's wedding. (I've lost track of how many weddings there have been this year...so much food! haha!) It was BEAUTIFUL! It was my first time at a Russian Orthodox ceremony, but I really enjoyed it. It was like I'd been transported to an abbey or something. The entire ceremony was sung. And Sarah looked gorgeous. :) I'm so happy for her and Cole. They are like a Cory and Topanga couple. hehe! ;) Poor Sarah was sick, but she was such a champ.
Other than that, I've just been working and cleaning and all that fun everyday grown-up stuff. (Boo!) Eating ice cream everyday. (Oh, no!) We have to test all the new ice creams and sundaes and floats before they come out...the new Manhattan float is yummy...it's bourbon ice cream with bourbon-soaked cherries and black cherry soda...so needless to say I was quite giggly for the next couple hours of my shift after that. Oh, geez!
Started German lessons with a tutor...they are great, but I need to get my butt in gear, again, with that self-motivation studying thing. Went to a Bible study with a couple of my friends. Slowly singing, again...and stressing myself out just looking at the websites for grad schools. AAAHHH! Life! My birthday is on Wednesday...23! (I have to work, though...ugh!) And my roommate's is tomorrow. So much celebration going on. ;)
Gratitude 265
I got to see my dearest Katie and Bryan yesterday at Sarah and Cole's wedding!!! I was so excited that I was talking about the fact that I got to see them for the past two weeks! ;) Miss you guys!
The last week of August, my older sister Jessi and my nephew/Godson Xander came for a visit. We did some exploration, chased Xander everywhere, and laughed lots. And who would have known that if you give a 2-year old a pickle, approximately 30 minutes of entertainment has been provided for a mere 40 cents...until he proceeds to chuck it at the dashboard because he's over it. haha! Oh, that little crazy man!
Then, everyone was coming back to campus, so that was a little overwhelming that suddenly everyone was back. However, it was nice to see people, again.
Yesterday was my friend Sarah's wedding. (I've lost track of how many weddings there have been this year...so much food! haha!) It was BEAUTIFUL! It was my first time at a Russian Orthodox ceremony, but I really enjoyed it. It was like I'd been transported to an abbey or something. The entire ceremony was sung. And Sarah looked gorgeous. :) I'm so happy for her and Cole. They are like a Cory and Topanga couple. hehe! ;) Poor Sarah was sick, but she was such a champ.
Other than that, I've just been working and cleaning and all that fun everyday grown-up stuff. (Boo!) Eating ice cream everyday. (Oh, no!) We have to test all the new ice creams and sundaes and floats before they come out...the new Manhattan float is yummy...it's bourbon ice cream with bourbon-soaked cherries and black cherry soda...so needless to say I was quite giggly for the next couple hours of my shift after that. Oh, geez!
Started German lessons with a tutor...they are great, but I need to get my butt in gear, again, with that self-motivation studying thing. Went to a Bible study with a couple of my friends. Slowly singing, again...and stressing myself out just looking at the websites for grad schools. AAAHHH! Life! My birthday is on Wednesday...23! (I have to work, though...ugh!) And my roommate's is tomorrow. So much celebration going on. ;)
Gratitude 265
I got to see my dearest Katie and Bryan yesterday at Sarah and Cole's wedding!!! I was so excited that I was talking about the fact that I got to see them for the past two weeks! ;) Miss you guys!
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