Yummy yummy yummy I've got love in my tummy

I love cooking. I love the smells, the magic of it all coming together (chemistry rules!), and the taste of something I made myself. Home cooking is always better than restaurant food, especially chain and fast food, even if just for the personal satisfaction of it all. This doesn't mean I don't eat out, because I do and I enjoy it, but home cooked is better. Plus, the time spent around a table with friends or family eating something you've prepared for them or with them is time well spent. And yes, I AM a foodie. I'm so grateful my parents taught me my way around the kitchen and encouraged us to learn to cook and prepare full meals.

Now, I don't cook something brand new and spectacular every day. One, it's expensive. I'm okay with making one or two family sized meals a week and eating leftovers. This also helps the time factor, reason number two. Leftovers are very convenient. Three, I don't have anyone else to cook for very often. The only time that's a perk is when a new recipe fails and I'm the only one disappointed and hungry. I like feeding other people, and there are some things that just aren't worth making for just me. I'd have more people over more often, but, Four: I only have half a kitchen.

I have a toaster/mini-convection oven instead of a full sized oven - 6 cupcakes at a time here. Two burner stovetop (like two hot plates) on my counter, with a very slow heating left burner. A microwave. And a George Foreman grill. (I also have a toaster and a blender, but those aren't as versatile.) My counter space is also very limited, and the one time I had the toaster oven, microwave, and stove going simultaneously, I blew a fuse.

Considering some places I looked at when I was apartment hunting tried pass a microwave on top of the dryer off as my "kitchen", I lucked out having as much as I do. The toaster oven came from a co-worker who knew I was apartment hunting, but didn't know I was also researching toaster ovens. She just popped into my office one day and said "Hey, do you need a toaster oven?" "Yeeess . . ." "Good, my husband bought one that I don't really like, so you can have it." It was perfect!

It's not ideal, but it's working out really well. One pot/pan meals are awesome. I'm getting really good at mise en place and timing my meal preparation appropriately. And I can still make some really yummy food!

I Believe in Christ

In case you don't already know, I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons. Each Sunday in November, as part of NaBloPoMo, I'm going to discuss some things related to my faith and what I believe. Regardless of your own beliefs, I hope this gives you a chance to get to know me and my religion a little better.

There has been some confusion about whether Mormons are Christians or not. Let's clear that up, shall we?

We are Christians.

I am a Christian.

I believe in Jesus Christ and in His role as our Savior and Redeemer.

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:23, 26).

It's in our name - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I believe that He was born, the Only Begotten of the Father, to live a perfect and sinless life, only to atone and be crucified for our sins. I believe that He was resurrected so that we all, everyone who has ever lived, will also be resurrected and live again, forever, with our Father in Heaven (and our families).

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

We don't have crosses on or in our churches, and don't wear crosses around our necks, though it is the traditional symbol of Christianity. This is because we choose to celebrate the Living Christ, as He is now. Instead of the cross, the symbol of our faith is our members and their lives.

Jesus Christ is the very foundation of our church and our faith in Him is the reason for everything we do.

So yes, Mormons are Christian.

I am a Christian.

X

I goofed up. I failed to properly promote this amazing concert I'm singing in today (The Mormon Choir and Orchestra of Washington at the Strathmore Music Center, an important DC music venue) yea, the very reason I stayed in DC for Thanksgiving, and, therefore, as far as I know, no one is coming to see me. Yes, I'll likely have friends and acquaintances in the audience, but none will be there primarily to support me and it's my own blasted fault.

Sure, I could blame the less than stellar month that was October, or the busy-ness of November, but when it comes down to it, I didn't take 5 minutes to email my friends and invite them until last night. I even have a comp ticket that I don't anticipate getting used.

I'm really bummed. I'm still excited to be part of the event, I just wish I'd made more of an effort to share it with someone.

Next time!

P.S. Reading this? In the DC area? Can make it to the 2 PM? Know my first and last name? The comp ticket is yours!

And yes, Eilonwy, this post's title is an actual song lyric AND the appropriate letter for today. Remind me and I'll play it for you.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone while the orchestra rehearses since we don't come in until measure 219

Wait! What's your rush? What's your hurry?

Patience is a virtue.

At least that's what they say.

Unfortunately, it seems to be one of the hardest ones to learn, and just when you think you've learned it, you realize you haven't.

I usually have no problem waiting for things when I know it's going to be a short wait and I'm not in a hurry, like today when my laser hair removal was interrupted by an overheated machine or even when I was stuck in Germany for 9 hours longer than I anticipated because I missed my morning flight. I do get a little testy when, say, I'm in traffic and trying to get somewhere that's anywhere other than my car in the middle of a packed freeway, but I try to relax and take advantage of the wait with a car dance party or sing along.

But what about when I have no idea how long I'm going to be waiting and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it?

That's when it gets difficult.

Whether it's something as simple as waiting for the phone to ring or as big as pieces of a life changing puzzle to fall into place, exercising patience obviously not the easiest to do.

The key I've found for myself is to do what I can when I can, and then let the other things happen as they will, and, most importantly, try not to stress about it in the meantime. There are other things I can be doing while I wait.

As Jewel said:

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear

Easier said than done, of course, but I'm sure going to keep trying!

Very Extraordinary

Today, I was a Thanksgiving refugee. Unable to travel to see family this year, I'm so grateful for a group of fellow refugees and friends to gather with today and share a meal and reflect on our blessings.

As one of these friends mentioned, the wonderful thing about Thanksgiving is its simplicity. The best thing about any holiday is the food and the loved ones anyway, and that's all that Thanksgiving is about. No gifts to stress about, just good food and good people.

I definitely enjoyed good food and good people today. Yes, I missed my family, but I'll see them soon. I've never had to spend a major holiday alone and I feel truly fortunate for that.

I live such a blessed life. I have everything I need, so much of what I want, and I could never truly enumerate everything I am thankful for.

Is my life perfect? No. But it is so, so good.

Umbrella, ella, ella

This will be a brief Thanksgiving Eve post, since I have a CLEAN ALL THE THINGS MAKE ALL THE DESSERTS KITCHEN DANCE PARTY to attend to, nevermind that it's quite late. I have music playing, clothes drying, butterscotch-peanut-chow mein noodle no bakes freezing, and a chocolate pumpkin tart baking. Once that's cooled off enough to refrigerate, I'll probably adjourn the party for a sleep break and resume the good times tomorrow.

But I'd like to take a moment to express what I am most grateful for this year and that is you. Thank you. You and all the other people in my life who make it worth living. You who let me stand under your umbrella, so to speak. You who give me reasons to travel just so I can spend time with you and get to know where and how you live. You who get me out of my apartment for a much needed friend's night. You who call me/answer your phones. You who comment on this here blog. You who just read this blog. You who hug me.

You who love me, like me, or even just tolerate me.

You for everything you do and are.

Thank you.

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol

Work and choir rehearsals. That is my life right now. Soon it will be work and choir performances. Such is the life of a musician in multiple church choirs around the holidays.

The good news? I love it. I'm expanding my vocal repertoire and continuing to develop my musicality. Plus, I'm having fun! I love Christmas music, and I love most of the songs we're singing.

Except this one.


It makes me do this.
I'm also learning new things. Like the definition for the word troll.

Troll

–verb (used with object)

1. to sing or utter in a full, rolling voice.

2

2. to sing in the manner of a round or catch.

r of a round or catch.

–verb (used without object)

to sing with a full, rolling voice; give forth full, rolling tones.

This came up because in a version of the carol "Deck The Halls" arranged by one of our choir directors, he'd edited the line "troll the ancient Yuletide carol" to "toll the ancient Yuletide carol" which didn't make a lot of sense. So, being a nerd with a compulsive need to know, I looked it up in my dictionary app and shared with the choir. We've changed it back to "troll" and I'm going to try and use it in my personal vocabulary more often.


Then tonight, this thing was set up right in front me and it was huge!


Discussing it with my fellow sopranos, we decided it was probably a conductor's stand. But probably wasn't good enough, so I did a Google image search on my phone and confirmed it. Compulsive need to know strikes again!

Learning new things is awesome.

Somewhere that's green

Some people have a dream house. I just have a dream next apartment.

Don't get me wrong, I really love my current apartment. I need to get it clean again and take you all on a little tour, and I do mean little since it's about 300 sq. ft. based on my mental estimations. As a visual aid, I can vacuum my entire apartment in under 8 minutes from one electrical outlet.

Anywho. This was supposed to be about my next apartment.

The key to my next apartment will be space and sun, two things my current apartment lacks. As much as I love that my bed is my dresser is my storage space and my dining room is my sewing room is my food storage room, I wouldn't mind separating these things a little bit. I look forward to the day that my bedroom is my bedroom is my bedroom with maybe a dresser but very little else.

And sun? Oh how I miss natural light. I've had a basement bedroom for 8.5 of the last 12 years, so I'm used to having very little natural light in my bedroom, but there's always been a sunny spot somewhere else in the house. Now, I don't have any windows in my bedroom/living room, and the tiny windows I do have look out into the window wells and are over my toilet (making the rare times when there is someone in the backyard potentially awkward) and the back of my kitchen and dining room. I'm not totally devoid of natural light, but it hardly does anything to allow me to see and certainly doesn't warm up my space at all.

Space. Sun. I wants them.

I also want a dishwasher, a real oven, and a real stove. This half kitchen thing works, but it's certainly not ideal.

Oh, and a bathtub. I have a standing room only shower with terrible water pressure. No soaking sore muscles after a long day. Washing my long hair is such a chore, and if I use my Big shampoo from LUSH, I usually don't quite get it all rinsed out. One of my favorite parts of any of my travels is getting to use a shower with decent water pressure, which is kind of sad. I can't even remember the last time I had a bubble bath - probably just before I moved to this place. One of my Christmas presents to myself will be a soak in my parents' garden tub. I can't wait.

To sum up, my next apartment, if I can at all help it, will have 2 bedrooms, 1-2 full baths, a full kitchen, and windows. Plenty of windows. I'll use the extra bedroom as a hobby room of sorts - where I can set up my sewing machine, books, musical instruments, whatever.

Someday.

For now, I'm going to get off my futon that is my couch that is my "guest room" that is my secondary shoe storage (underneath) and move the three feet and three steps up to my bed. I haz a sleepy.

We can be together forever someday

In case you don't already know, I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons. Each Sunday in November, as part of NaBloPoMo, I'm going to discuss some things related to my faith and what I believe. Regardless of your own beliefs, I hope this gives you a chance to get to know me and my religion a little better.
I love my family.


I'm so lucky and blessed that they are some of my best friends.


Sure, we have our disagreements and times we don't get along.

But we always love each other.


The best thing? We always will, and I mean always.


We believe that when married by the proper authority in the temple, couples and their children can be sealed together not just for time, but for all eternity. It's not just until death do we part.

Being with this crowd forever?


That promise makes me very happy.

Round round get around

Since 5:30 last evening, I've put 120.8 miles on my car. Considering I might put 10-15 miles on my car on any normal day, 120.8 miles in 28 hours in quite a lot for city driving.

From the gas station (which is where I reset my tripometer), I drove home, where I killed some time eating cornflakes and curling my hair, though not simultaneously. I'm talented, but I have my limits.
The evening's festivities were watching Harry Potter 7 with my crew. Free movie theater popcorn thanks to a friend's MovieWatcher card for the win! Oh yeah, and the movie and my friends. They were pretty good too.

This morning, I had a choir rehearsal (it seems I always have choir rehearsal these days) in Maryland and had to drive from where I live southwest of DC to a church building northeast of DC. Thanks to construction and a Penn State game (surmised by all the cars with Penn State stickers and flags filled with warmly dressed people), this took well over three times as long as it should have. It could have taken even longer if I'd only been 30 seconds later! Right behind me (and I mean right behind me), they blocked all four lanes of the Beltway and didn't let anyone go anywhere for 20 minutes. I learned about this when a few other choir member friends arrived much later than I did, and I was very late.

After rehearsal, I had to drive all the way back around DC and several miles west to Chantilly to meet someone with whom I may be partnering to teach dance lessons and we met for approximately 30 seconds. Weird that. We'll see how that shakes out.

Then back home. Took a nap. Finished my Q book. Rock on.

Tonight, I had my third of three pre-Thanksgiving dinners at another church building, fortunately in my city. The only problem is that there is a lake between us, so it's a long drive around and back.

It's a good thing I like driving (minus riding the clutch in 5 mph stop and go traffic). Driving gives me time for thinking, sing a longs, phone calls to and from the parents, and dance parties.

Tomorrow I have to drive to and from Maryland (for a choir performance this time) again. Hooray!