12.27.2008
12.18.2008
Packing...
Or not ;) Weather permitting, I'm headed to the mitten state on Friday morning for a week-long (much-needed) change of ZIP code. I should be packing (or at least eating dinner) instead of talking to you, but why do things the right way when you can do them my way?!
To do:
7:30p edit: Crossed off supper, taxi and voicemail. That helps!
10:16p edit: Everything is done, except mailing the bills. I'll have to do that tomorrow, because I couldn't find a mailbox tonight! Now I just need a weather report and I can go to bed.
Have a happy everything!
To do:
George to kitty hotelPay billsEat supperBankTaxi reservationPackChange outgoing voicemail greeting at work- Set alarm for 4 a.m.
7:30p edit: Crossed off supper, taxi and voicemail. That helps!
10:16p edit: Everything is done, except mailing the bills. I'll have to do that tomorrow, because I couldn't find a mailbox tonight! Now I just need a weather report and I can go to bed.
Have a happy everything!
12.13.2008
Things I've Done
Here's another good meme... this one via Pica:
Things I’ve done are in bold.
1. Started my own blog (obviously!)
2. Slept under the stars (church camp, on the beach, actually)
3. Played in a band (band, orchestra)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain (I promise this is not on any life-list of mine!)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch (I'm counting knitting -- my mom taught me as a kid, so I had a general idea when I picked it up again, but pretty much everything this time around comes from reading/watching online)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (huge fear of heights -- no thanks!)
18. Grown my own vegetables (but my mom did when I was young)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (there was one when I was in elementary school; I remember looking through a pin dot in a piece of construction paper...)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia (in June, 1990, with a small group of people from high school)
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (and my mom was the cookie chairman one year...)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (honestly, just the Holocaust Museum was probably enough for me... I've actually been there twice, although I didn't do the full experience the second time. The first time was so hard.)
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (but I have seen them change at Lenin's Tomb in Moscow...)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (almost, but I couldn't get through Psalms. I just don't get poetry. Sorry, Cindy)
86. Visited the White House (actually, I'm not 100% sure on this one... I don't *think* we did when I was in DC with Close-Up in high school, but I could be wrong. That was a crazy week.)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant
12.12.2008
Wow.
Today hasn't been a great day (more on that another time), but it ended with a bang. I was lucky to score a ticket for the Boston Symphony with James Levine, which was at NJPAC tonight. Beethoven's Seventh Symphony comprised the first half, and it got the best ovation of the evening from the audience. I know -- you're thinking that sounds more like the second half than the first half. But it worked -- because the second half opened with Elliot Carter's Horn Concerto. Yeah... not exactly a crowd-pleaser, despite Mr. Carter becoming a centenarian yesterday. Fortunately, it was short. Finally, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Wow wow wow.
The piece was included in Disney's original Fantasia -- it's the segment with the dinosaurs. (Otherwise known as the segment I always fast-forwarded through on video, since I didn't care for the dinos.) If you've never really listened to the piece without watching the movie, I have to recommend it highly. It's completely different -- at least to me -- than it was to those imagineers at Disney. I really heard the jazz influences (it's an early 20th century piece), much more so than I had ever noticed previously. I found it all very compelling.
See, orchestra concerts are really visual experiences to me, and there's a whole lot going on here. Eight horns, I think, two tubas, two sets of timpani, five bassoonists, and a whole slew of other folks. It was really edge-of-my-seat listening and watching at times, since I don't know the piece that well -- every new entrance came from a new sound and a new direction. (Here's the instrumentation list if you're interested.) Apparently, I either couldn't get past the Fantasia version in my head or I just didn't pay enough attention in music history class. Or something.
I can't remember ever hearing this done live before. Totally worth it, even though it made a 14 hour day. Sure am glad to be home ;)
The piece was included in Disney's original Fantasia -- it's the segment with the dinosaurs. (Otherwise known as the segment I always fast-forwarded through on video, since I didn't care for the dinos.) If you've never really listened to the piece without watching the movie, I have to recommend it highly. It's completely different -- at least to me -- than it was to those imagineers at Disney. I really heard the jazz influences (it's an early 20th century piece), much more so than I had ever noticed previously. I found it all very compelling.
See, orchestra concerts are really visual experiences to me, and there's a whole lot going on here. Eight horns, I think, two tubas, two sets of timpani, five bassoonists, and a whole slew of other folks. It was really edge-of-my-seat listening and watching at times, since I don't know the piece that well -- every new entrance came from a new sound and a new direction. (Here's the instrumentation list if you're interested.) Apparently, I either couldn't get past the Fantasia version in my head or I just didn't pay enough attention in music history class. Or something.
I can't remember ever hearing this done live before. Totally worth it, even though it made a 14 hour day. Sure am glad to be home ;)
12.11.2008
Deck the Halls meme
Christine did this, so of course I had to, too!
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate.
Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? Santa's are unwrapped, of course.
Colored lights on tree or white? We had colored when I was a kid, but my mom prefers white now. So do I :)
When do you put your decorations up? Um, am I supposed to do that?!
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? We don't really have any major Christmas food traditions... breakfast used to always include those Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that come in a can -- yum!
Favorite Holiday memory as a child: I don't know about "favorite" -- a lot of them blend together! I do remember one year, I must have been about 8, my mom had bought me a "Ginny" doll, with clothes, and a storage wardrobe... she numbered the packages so I would be sure to open the doll before the accessories!
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? The only thing I know about Santa is that he's awesome. I have no idea what other "truth" anyone might be asking about.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope. We celebrate with my mom's family on Christmas Eve, so there were presents from extended family when we were younger.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Well, the last time I tried, it fell down. (The integrated plastic stand was a dud.) Luckily I hadn't decorated it yet! Anyway: my mom always gives my sister and I a new ornament every year, reflecting a special event or trip, special interest, whatever. When we each moved out, our ornament boxes moved with us. I have a great -- and eclectic -- collection of things I love to see on my tree.
Snow! Love it or Dread it? The only good thing about it is that it reflects sun, so it can help brighten a dreary winter.
Can you ice skate? Sure! It's been a long time, though.
Do you remember your favorite gift? Wow... that one's tough. I remember lots of great gifts, but it's hard to pick just one.
What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with family and friends.
What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I have a couple of good cookies -- a shortbread that you twist and shape into candy canes, peanut butter kisses, and buckeyes, for example... (yum!)
What is your favorite tradition? Hmm... now that I live far away from my family, I don't get to do this very much, but I used to wrap almost every single gift we gave. My mom would box up gifts for my sister and I into plain boxes, and just tell me to wrap them -- she wouldn't even tell me who they were for! (Mostly, she remembered who got what by the shape of the box... except when she forgot.) I used to love having my own little wrapping station set up, choosing the perfect paper, tying a beautiful bow... now, it's more of a chore, unfortunately!
Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving? I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it may incriminate me!
What is your favorite Christmas Song? Adeste Fidelis, sung in the original language; Un flambeau, Jeanette Isabella (that one's stuck in my head lately, although I can only remember the first line); and pretty much most of the rest of them. For Advent: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Mostly yuk. Although Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses are a total YUM!
Ever recycled a Christmas present? I remember re-gifting something, but I can't remember if it was originally a Christmas or a birthday gift. I've also recycled gifts to Goodwill from time to time. But if you're reading this, I promise none of these were things you gave me. Honest. No, really.
Go forth and meme :)
Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate.
Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? Santa's are unwrapped, of course.
Colored lights on tree or white? We had colored when I was a kid, but my mom prefers white now. So do I :)
When do you put your decorations up? Um, am I supposed to do that?!
What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? We don't really have any major Christmas food traditions... breakfast used to always include those Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that come in a can -- yum!
Favorite Holiday memory as a child: I don't know about "favorite" -- a lot of them blend together! I do remember one year, I must have been about 8, my mom had bought me a "Ginny" doll, with clothes, and a storage wardrobe... she numbered the packages so I would be sure to open the doll before the accessories!
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? The only thing I know about Santa is that he's awesome. I have no idea what other "truth" anyone might be asking about.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope. We celebrate with my mom's family on Christmas Eve, so there were presents from extended family when we were younger.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Well, the last time I tried, it fell down. (The integrated plastic stand was a dud.) Luckily I hadn't decorated it yet! Anyway: my mom always gives my sister and I a new ornament every year, reflecting a special event or trip, special interest, whatever. When we each moved out, our ornament boxes moved with us. I have a great -- and eclectic -- collection of things I love to see on my tree.
Snow! Love it or Dread it? The only good thing about it is that it reflects sun, so it can help brighten a dreary winter.
Can you ice skate? Sure! It's been a long time, though.
Do you remember your favorite gift? Wow... that one's tough. I remember lots of great gifts, but it's hard to pick just one.
What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with family and friends.
What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I have a couple of good cookies -- a shortbread that you twist and shape into candy canes, peanut butter kisses, and buckeyes, for example... (yum!)
What is your favorite tradition? Hmm... now that I live far away from my family, I don't get to do this very much, but I used to wrap almost every single gift we gave. My mom would box up gifts for my sister and I into plain boxes, and just tell me to wrap them -- she wouldn't even tell me who they were for! (Mostly, she remembered who got what by the shape of the box... except when she forgot.) I used to love having my own little wrapping station set up, choosing the perfect paper, tying a beautiful bow... now, it's more of a chore, unfortunately!
Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving? I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it may incriminate me!
What is your favorite Christmas Song? Adeste Fidelis, sung in the original language; Un flambeau, Jeanette Isabella (that one's stuck in my head lately, although I can only remember the first line); and pretty much most of the rest of them. For Advent: O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Mostly yuk. Although Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses are a total YUM!
Ever recycled a Christmas present? I remember re-gifting something, but I can't remember if it was originally a Christmas or a birthday gift. I've also recycled gifts to Goodwill from time to time. But if you're reading this, I promise none of these were things you gave me. Honest. No, really.
Go forth and meme :)
12.10.2008
Keep your paws to yourself!
George is ''sharing" my lap with my laptop... well, it's HIS idea of sharing, anyway. That means he randomly pats, taps and paws at the trackpad whenever he feels like it. Whoosh... there went someone's blog post. Whoosh... stop trying to load pages in the new Knitty. (Painfully slow, not sure it's worth it today.) Whoosh... oh, nevermind... I'll get down and have a snack now, mom. Thanks!
12.08.2008
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