In December 2002, my roommate Kelly and I were scheduled to play a duet at the Penn State School of Music Common Hour.
Playing at Common Hour was a big deal. We had to get our professor to sign a form saying we were permitted to perform the piece. He didn't have time to listen to the piece, especially since it was not in our school repertoire. He went on faith and signed the form and said something along the lines of "You had better make it good." His point was, don't mess up and make me look bad for letting you do this.
A few days before we were scheduled to play Kelly became really sick. I can't remember the details, but I am pretty sure it was the stomach flu. She couldn't even get out of bed. We had signed up to play it the last Friday of the semester (during my senior year) and that was that. We were never able to play it for our fellow students.
We have seen each other periodically since then and sometimes we play together. However, last night we decided we needed to play our duet and record it for our fellow Penn Staters.
Gratitude:
Nov. 12
1. Piano Lessons. I am grateful to my parents for providing me with years of piano lessons and to my teachers for years of patience.
2. My college roommates. I still keep in touch with most of my roommates, I love having the common bond of getting through Penn State together. They still make me laugh. Kelly and I had to do a couple of takes because I couldn't stop laughing and we kept chatting during the duet.
3. Husbands who help. Kelly's husband turned pages dutifully for our duet and my husband patiently recorded. They didn't complain when we kept them up really late with our piano antics!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
11/11/11
Gratitude
Nov. 10
1. I'm grateful I am not a pilgrim. Lilly is learning about the pilgrims at school and it is a big reminder of how hard it must have been. I would have not lasted a day crossing the Atlantic. I get seasick in a canoe.
2. An obedient Jack. Jack makes huge messes and deliberately throws as much as he can on the ground. However, when I tell him to pick it up, he does. He says "okay" and then puts it away. I did not have such luck with another child of mine at this age.
3. My friend. My friend drove me all over creation to find a dump to get rid of my construction trash. The trash men would not pick it up from my curb. My friend kindly filled her mini-van with messy bags of drywall and other such nonsense and took it to the dump for me.
Nov. 11
1. My stick blender. I use this regularly to make pureed soups. It is so much easier than using a regular blender.
2. My celery soup. I found the recipe for creamy celery soup at good house keeping online about 5 years ago. It is full of vegetables and vitamins and I actually like the taste. You know who else likes it? My Jack! He actually ate it tonight and said "good" in between each bite. I might get some vegetables into that boy yet.
3. My helpful Lilly. I told Lilly she could stay up later tonight if she helped me clean the house. She was thrilled and loved every minute of it. She swept, mopped, and cleaned rooms. It was so wonderful to have a little helper who was very productive.
4. My college roommate. My college roommate and her husband are coming to visit tonight. They are on their way to the Penn State game and making a stop here. It's a sad week for Penn Staters, so it's so nice to have them visit tonight. She was also a piano major like me and I know we will play some killer piano duets late into the night. She might be the only person who I can talk to about music theory, music education, and all things piano.
Nov. 10
1. I'm grateful I am not a pilgrim. Lilly is learning about the pilgrims at school and it is a big reminder of how hard it must have been. I would have not lasted a day crossing the Atlantic. I get seasick in a canoe.
2. An obedient Jack. Jack makes huge messes and deliberately throws as much as he can on the ground. However, when I tell him to pick it up, he does. He says "okay" and then puts it away. I did not have such luck with another child of mine at this age.
3. My friend. My friend drove me all over creation to find a dump to get rid of my construction trash. The trash men would not pick it up from my curb. My friend kindly filled her mini-van with messy bags of drywall and other such nonsense and took it to the dump for me.
Nov. 11
1. My stick blender. I use this regularly to make pureed soups. It is so much easier than using a regular blender.
2. My celery soup. I found the recipe for creamy celery soup at good house keeping online about 5 years ago. It is full of vegetables and vitamins and I actually like the taste. You know who else likes it? My Jack! He actually ate it tonight and said "good" in between each bite. I might get some vegetables into that boy yet.
3. My helpful Lilly. I told Lilly she could stay up later tonight if she helped me clean the house. She was thrilled and loved every minute of it. She swept, mopped, and cleaned rooms. It was so wonderful to have a little helper who was very productive.
4. My college roommate. My college roommate and her husband are coming to visit tonight. They are on their way to the Penn State game and making a stop here. It's a sad week for Penn Staters, so it's so nice to have them visit tonight. She was also a piano major like me and I know we will play some killer piano duets late into the night. She might be the only person who I can talk to about music theory, music education, and all things piano.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Basement
My basement has been through a lot.
2009
We begin the process, these walls had to come out, not just for cosmetic purposes.
Below: Dry--locking the cinder blocks.
Below: Metal Framing!
Below: Dry wall! Before the mudding and taping.
2010
Below: Finishing up the tile and painting.
2010 Carpet
2011 Flood
Post Flood Carpet Race
2011 Carpet
Lilly was quite disappointed that the carpet looked the same. There was no way I was going through the process of carpet shopping again. The store still had my order on file and I just re-filled it a year later.
Nov. 9 Gratitude List
1. My Basement! My kids are thrilled to have their play room back, I am thrilled to get the second half of my house back.
2. Lovely Carpet! Seriously, did you see the flooring before??
3. Chili. I made delicious chili in my crock pot tonight and my friends came over and ate with us. Lovely fall night.
4. My mom. I am grateful for her for so many reasons. Today I am grateful because she sent Jim her old phone to replace his phone that broke.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Nov. 7, 8
In addition to my gratitude I am loving this new print from my friend Sarah Jane.
It is on my Christmas list this year!
Nov. 7 - Monday
1. Picky eaters. For the most part my children and husband wont eat anything I prepare. Which means I don't have to worry about preparing what anyone likes, because they don't like anything. Which means I can make what I want to eat every day!
Side note: I made Au Gratin Potatoes last night for dinner completely from scratch. I made a roux, added cheese, sliced and peeled 10 potatoes and then baked it until it was delicious. You would have thought I made her dirt for dinner. She was crying and said "What is even IN this!?!"
2. No bake cookies. My mom made these when I was a child and I loved them. I still love them and now my children love them too. (Yes they will eat cakes, cookies, and treats that I prepare)
3. Running. Most of my exercise has been through indoor cardio classes. It was great to do something different and to be outside.
4. Story time. I took extra time at story time tonight. Lilly and I read a picture book called Titanicat (about a cat on the Titanic - in case you didn't get that). We then read scriptures and a chapter from her Magic Tree House book. Story time and bed time can be the best part of the day. (I thought I had better add a 4th one today in case my first one didn't really count.)
Nov. 8 - Tuesday
1. Helping at Lilly's school. I am able to volunteer in Lilly's classroom on Tuesday mornings. This is the highlight of my week. I love her kindergarten class and wish I could stay the whole day. Lilly said she would get permission from her teacher for me to come in all day long. :)
2. Breakfast. My husband fed the children breakfast today to give me more time to get ready. This is a huge deal in the morning.
3. 15 minutes. My house was a little messy (seriously messy) last night and I was feeling completely overwhelmed. I set my timer and did 15 minutes in each room and was able to get a lot done. I guess that also makes me grateful for flylady who introduced me to the 15 minute concept.
It is on my Christmas list this year!
Nov. 7 - Monday
1. Picky eaters. For the most part my children and husband wont eat anything I prepare. Which means I don't have to worry about preparing what anyone likes, because they don't like anything. Which means I can make what I want to eat every day!
Side note: I made Au Gratin Potatoes last night for dinner completely from scratch. I made a roux, added cheese, sliced and peeled 10 potatoes and then baked it until it was delicious. You would have thought I made her dirt for dinner. She was crying and said "What is even IN this!?!"
2. No bake cookies. My mom made these when I was a child and I loved them. I still love them and now my children love them too. (Yes they will eat cakes, cookies, and treats that I prepare)
3. Running. Most of my exercise has been through indoor cardio classes. It was great to do something different and to be outside.
4. Story time. I took extra time at story time tonight. Lilly and I read a picture book called Titanicat (about a cat on the Titanic - in case you didn't get that). We then read scriptures and a chapter from her Magic Tree House book. Story time and bed time can be the best part of the day. (I thought I had better add a 4th one today in case my first one didn't really count.)
Nov. 8 - Tuesday
1. Helping at Lilly's school. I am able to volunteer in Lilly's classroom on Tuesday mornings. This is the highlight of my week. I love her kindergarten class and wish I could stay the whole day. Lilly said she would get permission from her teacher for me to come in all day long. :)
2. Breakfast. My husband fed the children breakfast today to give me more time to get ready. This is a huge deal in the morning.
3. 15 minutes. My house was a little messy (seriously messy) last night and I was feeling completely overwhelmed. I set my timer and did 15 minutes in each room and was able to get a lot done. I guess that also makes me grateful for flylady who introduced me to the 15 minute concept.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Nov. 4, 5, 6
Gratitude:
Nov. 4 - Friday
1. My friend and her saw. My friend came to my basement and cut all the baseboards for me with her awesome saw.
2. My other friend helped me to put nails in the baseboards by hand until we could get a nail gun. She then watched Jack for me for a long time.
3. Fall leaves. My kids and neighborhood kids have been playing in my leaves all week.
Nov. 5 - Saturday
1. My neighbor, who brought his nail gun over and then taught me how to use it, I then nailed in all the baseboards.
2. My friend, who came over again to help me in my basement for many hours.
3. My husband, who went to the grocery store and let me take a nap. He then came home and had a delicious dinner waiting for me after I woke up.
4. My vacuum, my floors were so filthy and my vacuum worked so quickly!
5. 409, because I had to clean up hidden flood damage in the basement. 409 works well!
Nov. 6 - Sunday
1. Daylight savings time. My children and I slept in until 8:30, but really it was 7:30! Which means we got to sleep in and have an extra hour. Miracle of miracles to have children sleep in on daylight savings day.
2. Family pictures. We are having our family pictures taken today by a friend, who also happens to be a professional photographer.
3. Breakfast. My children have quietly sat as I typed this list out, eating their breakfast, and chatting with each other. It's a good day if I can already find three things to be grateful for by breakfast.
Nov. 4 - Friday
1. My friend and her saw. My friend came to my basement and cut all the baseboards for me with her awesome saw.
2. My other friend helped me to put nails in the baseboards by hand until we could get a nail gun. She then watched Jack for me for a long time.
3. Fall leaves. My kids and neighborhood kids have been playing in my leaves all week.
Nov. 5 - Saturday
1. My neighbor, who brought his nail gun over and then taught me how to use it, I then nailed in all the baseboards.
2. My friend, who came over again to help me in my basement for many hours.
3. My husband, who went to the grocery store and let me take a nap. He then came home and had a delicious dinner waiting for me after I woke up.
4. My vacuum, my floors were so filthy and my vacuum worked so quickly!
5. 409, because I had to clean up hidden flood damage in the basement. 409 works well!
Nov. 6 - Sunday
1. Daylight savings time. My children and I slept in until 8:30, but really it was 7:30! Which means we got to sleep in and have an extra hour. Miracle of miracles to have children sleep in on daylight savings day.
2. Family pictures. We are having our family pictures taken today by a friend, who also happens to be a professional photographer.
3. Breakfast. My children have quietly sat as I typed this list out, eating their breakfast, and chatting with each other. It's a good day if I can already find three things to be grateful for by breakfast.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Experiment
I was browing pinterest tonight and found this picture:
The caption read: The best chocolate mousse of your life in under 5 minutes and only 2 ingredients
I was highly doubtful, so doubtful that I clicked the link to get the truth.
After I read the recipe I was so doubtful that I decided to drop everything I was doing (surfing pinterest) and make the mousse right then and there.
I watched this youtube video:
Then I set about preparing to make the mousse.
You know what? It worked! Exactly as described. It was pretty good mousse. I don't know if it was the best in my life, but certainly the best mousse I have ever made.
I have very few culinary experiments that succeed, thus the bragging! If you try it let me know!
How to be Happier
I mentioned in a previous post that I attended Time Out For Women a few weeks ago. A lot of what I heard had a great impact on me, especially a discourse given by Wendy Ulrich on "How to be Happy."
She gave us the 7 keys to happiness, number 4 impressed me the most.
It stated "Don't try to feel happier."
Instead try to feel grateful. She then instructed us to keep a gratitude journal and write down three things we were grateful for and WHY we were grateful for them.
She mentioned that studies show the best way to feel happier is by increasing your gratitude.
So in the grand tradition of my dearest and longest friend, Heather, I give you gratitude month.
Nov. 1
1. My car
2. Sunshine
3. My piano
Nov. 2
1. Prayer
2. Friends
3. Soup
Nov. 3
1. Music class
2. Fall weather
3. Lilly's kindergarten class (it's really fun)
You can find Wendy's happiness slides at www.sixteenstones.net
She gave us the 7 keys to happiness, number 4 impressed me the most.
It stated "Don't try to feel happier."
Instead try to feel grateful. She then instructed us to keep a gratitude journal and write down three things we were grateful for and WHY we were grateful for them.
She mentioned that studies show the best way to feel happier is by increasing your gratitude.
So in the grand tradition of my dearest and longest friend, Heather, I give you gratitude month.
Nov. 1
1. My car
2. Sunshine
3. My piano
Nov. 2
1. Prayer
2. Friends
3. Soup
Nov. 3
1. Music class
2. Fall weather
3. Lilly's kindergarten class (it's really fun)
You can find Wendy's happiness slides at www.sixteenstones.net
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