...have days where things feel so up in the air in your life? I'm not talking about anything in particular, just kind of everything in general? Where you feel like everything is caving in on you and you're about to be buried by it all, whether it's work, or life, or friends, or love, or the future, or even the paperwork and stuff that you have?
...yeah. Today is one of those days. Oh, joy. Woo hoo.
adventures, trials and tribulations, and a whole lot of other randomness. welcome!
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Love and Ikea
Ok, so we all know that I love Ikea. It's a great place - you can buy inexpensive furnature for every room in your home, get little gadgets and dishes and picture frames and toys and bedding, and even eat a meal quite inexpensively. The carts are addictively fun to ride on in the warehouse and, if nothing else, people-watching is very entertaining as well. (it's funny to see what people are shopping for at a store like that!)
...but that's not what this post is about. It's really more about love. Not my love for Ikea. Not about my love for anyone else. It's really about other people's love and their collective love of Ikea... or at least their love of the unusual. On Friday, February 11th, at 9:30 in the morning, Ikea Paramus is hosting a wedding. Supposedly 10 complete strangers will publically confess their love for one another by getting married at Ikea. (does that mean that they are strangers to us, yet couples, or will everyone be strangers and agree to marry someone unknown to them???) Chuck Woolery will be there. The Honerable James J. Tedesco, III will be there to officiate. There will be a reception in the Cafe. The first 50 adults to arrive at the store in the morning wearing bridesmaid dresses will each receive a $100 Ikea gift card. (Note that it says "adults", not just women, and that the invitation requests you arrive no earlier than 5am.)
I wish I could go. Too bad I have a concert that afternoon at work... otherwise I would want to take off work to see this fiasco... or is it that I'm a sucker for a happy ending?? ;)
...but that's not what this post is about. It's really more about love. Not my love for Ikea. Not about my love for anyone else. It's really about other people's love and their collective love of Ikea... or at least their love of the unusual. On Friday, February 11th, at 9:30 in the morning, Ikea Paramus is hosting a wedding. Supposedly 10 complete strangers will publically confess their love for one another by getting married at Ikea. (does that mean that they are strangers to us, yet couples, or will everyone be strangers and agree to marry someone unknown to them???) Chuck Woolery will be there. The Honerable James J. Tedesco, III will be there to officiate. There will be a reception in the Cafe. The first 50 adults to arrive at the store in the morning wearing bridesmaid dresses will each receive a $100 Ikea gift card. (Note that it says "adults", not just women, and that the invitation requests you arrive no earlier than 5am.)
I wish I could go. Too bad I have a concert that afternoon at work... otherwise I would want to take off work to see this fiasco... or is it that I'm a sucker for a happy ending?? ;)
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Inspiration
Because of my daily reading session of the adventures of my dear friends at World Wide Wood, I have been introduced to a little girl by the name of Hope Natalie. Talk about inspiration. I find it amazing that the human spirit is so resilliant. Hearing the daily reports of this little one makes me and my troubles seem so petty. It's beautiful, really.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
I'm just a bill.....
Some of my older choir kids walked in to choir yesterday singing "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly (get your adverbs here)" from School House Rock. I thought it was amusing, and it led to a discussion about it. Then, all of a sudden, I remembered - we have a choir medley in the cabinet of several of the SHR songs! I pulled it out and they went crazy! I never thought anyone would want to sing it at the middle school level, and it was too hard for 4 & 5th graders, so I forgot about it. However, the chamber choristers are actually really excited about it (and the fact that there will be solos in it!) How funny is that, really? I was never a huge fan of SHR when I was a Saturday-cartoon-watcher, but now I think they are cool. :) Hmm. Go figure!
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Stinky house
In my solitude, I've been cleaning the house. (well, besides sitting in front of the television for hours, knitting, shopping, laundry, baking, and several trips to Panera, that is.) Oh yes, what a domestic Goddess I am! ;p
Anyway, when I was cleaning the living room on Sunday, I came across one of those plug-in things by the outlet. Personally, I can't stand them, since they are uber strong and aggravate my athsma... so mom doesn't use it much. Well, it was on the floor and I was vacuuming, so I put it on top of the baseboard-heater to get it out of the way. Yesterday, when I came home from work, I thought that the house smelled especially pungent... and figured it was the cleaning supplies I'd used the other day. The smell persisted and seemed to be getting stronger, and as I was sitting in front of the TV I saw an ad for an air freshener... which reminded me of where the "smelly" (as my dad likes to call them) was! The whole point of those things is that the outlet provides it with enough heat to release the smell... and since ours was now sitting on top of the heater (which was on, of course) it was stinking up my house... and leaking! No wonder I felt like I was wheezing!! The oil went everywhere... into the heater (oh joy) and on the floor. So now my house stinks of some floral smell. Yuck. I tried my best to clean it up and have tried a natural smell-neutralizer (vinegar) so we'll see how it is when I get home today. Hopefully not so stinky.
I know, I know. I should have realized that the heater was not the place to put the smelly. I think that the thing to focus on is not that, but rather that I was giving the house a thorough cleaning!!!!!
Anyway, when I was cleaning the living room on Sunday, I came across one of those plug-in things by the outlet. Personally, I can't stand them, since they are uber strong and aggravate my athsma... so mom doesn't use it much. Well, it was on the floor and I was vacuuming, so I put it on top of the baseboard-heater to get it out of the way. Yesterday, when I came home from work, I thought that the house smelled especially pungent... and figured it was the cleaning supplies I'd used the other day. The smell persisted and seemed to be getting stronger, and as I was sitting in front of the TV I saw an ad for an air freshener... which reminded me of where the "smelly" (as my dad likes to call them) was! The whole point of those things is that the outlet provides it with enough heat to release the smell... and since ours was now sitting on top of the heater (which was on, of course) it was stinking up my house... and leaking! No wonder I felt like I was wheezing!! The oil went everywhere... into the heater (oh joy) and on the floor. So now my house stinks of some floral smell. Yuck. I tried my best to clean it up and have tried a natural smell-neutralizer (vinegar) so we'll see how it is when I get home today. Hopefully not so stinky.
I know, I know. I should have realized that the heater was not the place to put the smelly. I think that the thing to focus on is not that, but rather that I was giving the house a thorough cleaning!!!!!
Sunday, January 16, 2005
bibliophile
This morning, in the midst of a cleaning frenzy, I had on a favorite program - Great Hotels. One of the places she went to was The Library... and now I want to go there, too. What an unusual concept - classifying floors and rooms by the Dewey Decimal system. (boy, does that prove what a nerd I am!) I love the concept, location, quirkiness of it all. How much fun would it be to go there!?!
It really doesn't matter that I live nearby. It really doesn't matter that it would cost me a bundle. It's now on my list of places to go at some point in my life.
It really doesn't matter that I live nearby. It really doesn't matter that it would cost me a bundle. It's now on my list of places to go at some point in my life.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Solitude
I like solitude. It's not that I'm antisocial, it's just that sometimes it's good to have some time to yourself. True, sometimes it's downright awful - like at the end of this past August, for example. But for the most part, time to yourself is healthy. I could never live alone, though - I'd either go postal or become one of those recluse people with a million cats.
Hmm. maybe that's what I should do. Quit my job and go off into the woods and simply write, a la Thoreau. Who needs work? Who needs health insurance? Who needs education debt? Maybe we all just need to live deliberately...
Hmm. maybe that's what I should do. Quit my job and go off into the woods and simply write, a la Thoreau. Who needs work? Who needs health insurance? Who needs education debt? Maybe we all just need to live deliberately...
Thursday, January 13, 2005
One of these things is not like the others.....
My parents are downstairs watching television. No big deal, it's a regular occurance. But when this is what they are watching, you know that something is not right in the cosmos. Hmmm.
note to Bec - I like the fact that one of the episode titles is "the smack is back." hehe! :)
note to Bec - I like the fact that one of the episode titles is "the smack is back." hehe! :)
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Extremely red in the face
Yesterday was one of those days where you remember you've forgotten something and then you want to either...
a) crawl into a hole
b) bang your head against the wall
c) submit yourself to a public flogging
(Yeah, so any or all of the above would be appropriate.)
a) crawl into a hole
b) bang your head against the wall
c) submit yourself to a public flogging
(Yeah, so any or all of the above would be appropriate.)
It's funny... I feel like I've known you forever, and I'm glad
you're you and that you put up with insane me.
Here's to a fantastic 26th year, smacky. Too bad we couldn't go
tubing with the drunk guys again this year. ;)
I promise to spoil you when I see you... hopefully soon!!!
Sunday, January 09, 2005
Mary and Joseph
I know, Christmas is over, but these are two things I have been thinking about for a while...
1. Mary. Catholics revere her, and some even put up little Mary shrines or statues in their yards. (something some of us affectionately refer to as "Virgin on the halfshell"). But while I am not well versed on the whole Mary thing, it must be really really bad if your Mary statue has lost its head. There is a house I drive by every day that has a headless Mary. That's got to be a really really big sin.
2. Joseph. He doesn't seem to be as important as Mary in the whole scheme of the Christmas story, but still obviously a big part. Some people like to set up those light-up Nativity scenes in their yards... sometimes just Mary, Joeseph and Jesus, and others display everyone - shephards, wise men, animals, etc. There seem to be two major brands of these light-up figures: one has Joeseph wearing brownish robes. The other has him in pink. Pink? I understand the whole Mary-wears-blue thing, but to put him in Pink?
1. Mary. Catholics revere her, and some even put up little Mary shrines or statues in their yards. (something some of us affectionately refer to as "Virgin on the halfshell"). But while I am not well versed on the whole Mary thing, it must be really really bad if your Mary statue has lost its head. There is a house I drive by every day that has a headless Mary. That's got to be a really really big sin.
2. Joseph. He doesn't seem to be as important as Mary in the whole scheme of the Christmas story, but still obviously a big part. Some people like to set up those light-up Nativity scenes in their yards... sometimes just Mary, Joeseph and Jesus, and others display everyone - shephards, wise men, animals, etc. There seem to be two major brands of these light-up figures: one has Joeseph wearing brownish robes. The other has him in pink. Pink? I understand the whole Mary-wears-blue thing, but to put him in Pink?
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
HB VSBN
Happy Birthday to my sister Vanessa!
She probably doesn't even know this blog exists, but I'll wish her a HB anyway. In thinking about it, I don't even remember the last time I saw her... wow, it has to be several years ago. Sad that I don't remember when. I guess that's what comes of her living all the way out in Mormon Land. I wish I knew her better, now that we're both older... back in ye olde days when we she lived at home, she probably didn't like me too much because I would tattle on her (such is the curse of being 6 years apart in age!), but I always thought she was so cool. I kind of still do.
Sunday, January 02, 2005
useful gifts for a cold girl
My parents are cute. They know how cold their daughter gets in the winter, what with Raynaud's and all. For Christmas, I got several helpful, heat-filled things.
1. Microwavable mittens and booties. They are like those funky heating pads that go in the microwave - you pop them in and the pellets warm up. They are good if you're sitting around watching tv or right after you come in from the bitter cold. Just don't try walking around in the booties... too clumsy and noisy!
2. A heated blanket. We actually got this yesterday, and it is my new favorite thing. It has adjustable settings and a 'preheat' setting too, and an auto shut off if you leave it on for 10 hours. Considering how cold my room gets, this is wonderful. I slept so well last night! :) Yay for the people at Sunbeam.
Isn't it sad that such things make me so happy? This is what my life has come to! I should probably just move to Florida, but I think I'd shoot myself. :)
1. Microwavable mittens and booties. They are like those funky heating pads that go in the microwave - you pop them in and the pellets warm up. They are good if you're sitting around watching tv or right after you come in from the bitter cold. Just don't try walking around in the booties... too clumsy and noisy!
2. A heated blanket. We actually got this yesterday, and it is my new favorite thing. It has adjustable settings and a 'preheat' setting too, and an auto shut off if you leave it on for 10 hours. Considering how cold my room gets, this is wonderful. I slept so well last night! :) Yay for the people at Sunbeam.
Isn't it sad that such things make me so happy? This is what my life has come to! I should probably just move to Florida, but I think I'd shoot myself. :)
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Resolutions?
Happy New Year!
Last year was the first year in my memory that I actually kept a New Year's Resolution. Usually, I resolve dumb things like everyone else - eat better, exercise more, etc... but last year I resolved to change my life - to actively try to do new things, experience different things, be bolder. I know, an overachiever with an impossible task. But I actually fulfilled it, for better or for worse! Here's a taste. There were more things, but these are just highlights:
January: Blindly went and auditioned for Patience.
February: Agreed to be set up by people from work and went on a blind date. (Didn't see him again.) Oh, and cut my hair, which was big.
March: Agreed to a second set up, but this one through a friend and by email. Kept emailing. (Also this month, had a car crash, but it had nothing to do with me. Just thought I'd mention it.)
April: Dethroned myself and stepped down as the queen-and-dictator of "The Club." :)
May: Conducted the G&S people on the field at a NJ Jackal's game. Very cool.
June: (Oh, many in June...) Decided that I would teach in my school for only one more year. (Big, scary choice!)
July: Fell in love... or perhaps realized I was already there.
August: Made a realization that broke my heart.
September: Started rehearsing for my first ever sung role. As a soprano... identity crisis!?
October: Went to my cousin's wedding with a tres fabulous dress and the attitude to go with it (yes, it fits the resolution in that I was much bolder than I felt.)
November: Sang my first role. In front of an audience. With an orchestra. Yikes.
December: Became the last-minute substitute chef and cooked my first Christmas Turkey dinner!
So. I wanted to change things in my life, to choose to experience new things. I succeeded. For what it's worth, good and bad together, this past year was the best of my life. I've seen my highest highs, and my lowest lows. I did things I had never done before. I took risks. I laughed. I loved. I cried. I lived.
How do I top that? Anyone have a suggestion for a new resolution?
Last year was the first year in my memory that I actually kept a New Year's Resolution. Usually, I resolve dumb things like everyone else - eat better, exercise more, etc... but last year I resolved to change my life - to actively try to do new things, experience different things, be bolder. I know, an overachiever with an impossible task. But I actually fulfilled it, for better or for worse! Here's a taste. There were more things, but these are just highlights:
January: Blindly went and auditioned for Patience.
February: Agreed to be set up by people from work and went on a blind date. (Didn't see him again.) Oh, and cut my hair, which was big.
March: Agreed to a second set up, but this one through a friend and by email. Kept emailing. (Also this month, had a car crash, but it had nothing to do with me. Just thought I'd mention it.)
April: Dethroned myself and stepped down as the queen-and-dictator of "The Club." :)
May: Conducted the G&S people on the field at a NJ Jackal's game. Very cool.
June: (Oh, many in June...) Decided that I would teach in my school for only one more year. (Big, scary choice!)
July: Fell in love... or perhaps realized I was already there.
August: Made a realization that broke my heart.
September: Started rehearsing for my first ever sung role. As a soprano... identity crisis!?
October: Went to my cousin's wedding with a tres fabulous dress and the attitude to go with it (yes, it fits the resolution in that I was much bolder than I felt.)
November: Sang my first role. In front of an audience. With an orchestra. Yikes.
December: Became the last-minute substitute chef and cooked my first Christmas Turkey dinner!
So. I wanted to change things in my life, to choose to experience new things. I succeeded. For what it's worth, good and bad together, this past year was the best of my life. I've seen my highest highs, and my lowest lows. I did things I had never done before. I took risks. I laughed. I loved. I cried. I lived.
How do I top that? Anyone have a suggestion for a new resolution?
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Oh, the sadness!
How sad is this? Jerry Orbach is dead! What an amazing shock! I love him! Lennie Briscoe! Lumiere! Oh, dear man, how sad.
And it's scary - prostate cancer. Every time I see that happen in the news, I thank God that Dad has now been cancer-free for over 10 years. It makes you thankful for the little things.
Check out Becky's eulogy. It's more eloquent than mine. But I have the same sentiment. We both love him. :)
And it's scary - prostate cancer. Every time I see that happen in the news, I thank God that Dad has now been cancer-free for over 10 years. It makes you thankful for the little things.
Check out Becky's eulogy. It's more eloquent than mine. But I have the same sentiment. We both love him. :)
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Lose Pesky Holiday Pounds Fast!
Do you overeat during the holidays? Too much turkey? Gallons of eggnog? Piles of cookies? Don't fret! Try this lose-quick method today! The stomach flu!
Yes, you too can feel absolutely wretched for days on end! You can eat whatever you want! (if you can bear the thought of eating at all!) Total body detoxification is the key - and if you're lucky, you'll become dehydrated and have a lovely fever, too! Those pesky holiday pounds will just slip away!
As you smart ones can now guess, I got one gift this year that was unwanted... and I know the giver (mom) wishes she hadn't shared, either. The past two+ days have left me feeling like a little more than a dishrag. Talk about unpleasant and exhausting... not to mention that I look oh so beautiful with my hair standing on end and no color in my face at all. Woo hoo, what a hottie! At least I know I am on the mend, although I am certainly not ready to go out and dance on a table. (have I ever?)
Yes, you too can feel absolutely wretched for days on end! You can eat whatever you want! (if you can bear the thought of eating at all!) Total body detoxification is the key - and if you're lucky, you'll become dehydrated and have a lovely fever, too! Those pesky holiday pounds will just slip away!
As you smart ones can now guess, I got one gift this year that was unwanted... and I know the giver (mom) wishes she hadn't shared, either. The past two+ days have left me feeling like a little more than a dishrag. Talk about unpleasant and exhausting... not to mention that I look oh so beautiful with my hair standing on end and no color in my face at all. Woo hoo, what a hottie! At least I know I am on the mend, although I am certainly not ready to go out and dance on a table. (have I ever?)
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Merry Boxing Day!
Hope your Christmases were all merry and bright, and that Santa brought everyone the gifts they wanted!
Christmas Eve was better than anticipated. We picked up Dad at work promptly at three and headed for the Island of Long... expecting that it would take hours to get to my brother's house. Shocked were we when it took only 90 minutes, a miracle in anyone's book! The house is very nice - they have done loads of work on it and the kitchen is incredible. The kids, of course, were amazingly wired... my nephew Patrick spent a good half-hour literally running in circles around the house!
The drive home was also amazingly uneventful (and as short as the drive out!) and we opened a few things before bed. Poor Mom ended up being sick all night with a nasty stomach flu which kept her on the couch all day Christmas Day... leaving me in charge of cooking the turkey. It couldn't wait, since it was defrosted, so I had to do it. I was successful, too! Never expected to be cooking my first Christmas dinner yesterday, but we had turkey breast, baked pasta, broccoli and cranberry-orange relish. (the full production was not necessary for a meal that only Dad and I ate.)
It certainly wasn't the Christmas I expected on many levels... Christmas is a time of surprises, and I for one wanted to believe that this year, yet I didn't think I could. But maybe I was wrong...
Christmas Eve was better than anticipated. We picked up Dad at work promptly at three and headed for the Island of Long... expecting that it would take hours to get to my brother's house. Shocked were we when it took only 90 minutes, a miracle in anyone's book! The house is very nice - they have done loads of work on it and the kitchen is incredible. The kids, of course, were amazingly wired... my nephew Patrick spent a good half-hour literally running in circles around the house!
The drive home was also amazingly uneventful (and as short as the drive out!) and we opened a few things before bed. Poor Mom ended up being sick all night with a nasty stomach flu which kept her on the couch all day Christmas Day... leaving me in charge of cooking the turkey. It couldn't wait, since it was defrosted, so I had to do it. I was successful, too! Never expected to be cooking my first Christmas dinner yesterday, but we had turkey breast, baked pasta, broccoli and cranberry-orange relish. (the full production was not necessary for a meal that only Dad and I ate.)
It certainly wasn't the Christmas I expected on many levels... Christmas is a time of surprises, and I for one wanted to believe that this year, yet I didn't think I could. But maybe I was wrong...
Friday, December 24, 2004
Merry
Well, readers (the few of you that there are!) I want to wish you all the Merriest of Christmases. May you find much joy and love in time spent together with loved ones in celebration. Peace and love to you all.
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good tidings of great joy that
shall be for all people. For unto us is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11
P.S: Remember others, especially those who are sacrificing much to keep us safe. Operation Dear Abby
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
Monday again
Well, that concert crisis did, of course, work out.... eventually. I did end up going with the fairies, and we did take the ferry, which is still in existance, although it is a ticking time bomb in terms of when it will stop. We did not go out afterwards, which was good on several levels. The concert itself was interesting, but being that I was not in good voice I was frustrated with myself and my singing. Yesterday's music extravaganzas at church went fine, and I made it through better than I anticipated. Now it's just to get through work craziness for a few days before I can run and hide for a little while on Christmas vacation. Sleep sounds nice. As does quiet.
Quote of the day:
Quote of the day:
"Not only is she a good choir teacher,
but she's a good cook, too!"
Thanks, John. You don't know it, but you made my day.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Deer in the headlights
(no, not actual deer, although we've been seeing many more lately... poor babies, being driven out of their homes by McMansion construction-influx. Grr.)
So. stress has not abated - I thought that after 5 school concerts and a mental-health day on Friday I would be more sane... but no. Tonight is the G&S thing in the city and getting into the city is proving to be a disaster. Originally, I was planning on going with some fellow fairy friends - but there seems to be a plan in the works to go to some bar somewhere in a not great neighborhood afterwards, and since I have to sing tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening, such a plan isn't so kosher for me. So now I am throwing everything on its head to try to get in and out without driving, since traffic will be a nightmare the weekend before Christmas. Luckily the ferry is still running, and mom is going to be an absolute angel and come with me so I am not wandering the city alone, if the girls decide to go to the bar. Of course, though, a little nasty voice in the back of my head can come up with a much more pleasant way this whole scenario could have taken, and proceeded to incessantly remind me of it all last night and this morning during choir rehearsal. But obviously the "nicer" plan is about as far from reality as it is possible to be.
Extremely tired. Pretty cranky. Very stressed. Not feeling so great, which is freaking me out for tonight. Nervous. Cold. Amazingly frustrated on so many levels. And now depressed even more due to seeing that DeLovely is coming out on DVD this Tuesday. (much the same feeling as when I saw that The Terminal was also coming to DVD.) Not merry. Still running unrealistic scenarios and old memories through my head, which I know is not helpful in the least, but unfortunately I can't seem to stop them.
Why did I have to make my life like this?????????? Grr.
So. stress has not abated - I thought that after 5 school concerts and a mental-health day on Friday I would be more sane... but no. Tonight is the G&S thing in the city and getting into the city is proving to be a disaster. Originally, I was planning on going with some fellow fairy friends - but there seems to be a plan in the works to go to some bar somewhere in a not great neighborhood afterwards, and since I have to sing tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening, such a plan isn't so kosher for me. So now I am throwing everything on its head to try to get in and out without driving, since traffic will be a nightmare the weekend before Christmas. Luckily the ferry is still running, and mom is going to be an absolute angel and come with me so I am not wandering the city alone, if the girls decide to go to the bar. Of course, though, a little nasty voice in the back of my head can come up with a much more pleasant way this whole scenario could have taken, and proceeded to incessantly remind me of it all last night and this morning during choir rehearsal. But obviously the "nicer" plan is about as far from reality as it is possible to be.
Extremely tired. Pretty cranky. Very stressed. Not feeling so great, which is freaking me out for tonight. Nervous. Cold. Amazingly frustrated on so many levels. And now depressed even more due to seeing that DeLovely is coming out on DVD this Tuesday. (much the same feeling as when I saw that The Terminal was also coming to DVD.) Not merry. Still running unrealistic scenarios and old memories through my head, which I know is not helpful in the least, but unfortunately I can't seem to stop them.
Why did I have to make my life like this?????????? Grr.
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