A month-old post

Well, I've safely escaped Cambria county to enjoy a few days in one of my favorite cities, Philadelphia. Yay! I'm about to head down to the market and a few of my favorite shops, but first, I think I'm finally ready to spit out my year-end thoughts. Bear with me if I repeat myself a little.

Reflecting on the past year, I realize that so much has changed in my life. I live in a new city: last year Philly, this year DC. I have a new job: last year part-timing it at Trader Joe's and teaching piano lessons, this year Master Chorale of Washington. I no longer have roommates. Last year at this time, I was living with a cool, but deceitful 19-yr-old and a slightly psycho woman in her forties (we'll leave it at that, but if you ever want some good stories, ask.). This year, drumroll please.... I have my own apartment on Capitol Hill!! yay! I'm still excited about it 9 months later. Last year I had a car, this year - no car.

But even my family has changed. No new babies this year, but new life stages all around. Grant, Steph and the girls moved to Arizona in June to help Scott and Caryl start a new church. They've since decided not to start the church, but are staying in AZ, at least for now. But, it's a great new phase of life for them because for the first time ever, they have a really nice house and enough bedrooms for everyone. I'm very happy for them even though I know that it's been tough for them. But, I digress... The holidays are different now because no one comes home. Just me. We're still figuring out how exactly to do this new stage of family-ness. My dad retired so mom and dad are travel-happy now. Which is cool. They've never really done that much other than to visit us.

Anyways, so the point is that there is so much different-ness in my life now. Well, I guess not everything's changed... still single... I'm taking suggestions, folks! But seriously, life has brought all sorts of changes this year so as I look forward to 2006, I hope to bring more changes to my life, but perhaps have fewer changes thrust upon me. Through it all, though, God is the same. Love that!

LED lights: not just for Christmas

I sent some LED Christmas lights to Korea for my friends and apparently, Nathaniel thought they were a toy. Turns out, it's a pretty cool toy. They're half-off now. Go get your toys while you can. (Also, a general TY to Jonathan for introducing me to the coolness of LED holiday lights.)

the effects of a weekend in my hometown

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my Western Pennsylvanian heritage. I like the idea of coming home and getting away from the city and, theoretically, spending time with my family. I love the snow hanging on the trees and seeing "real" winter. However, I always quickly remember all of the reasons I wanted to get the hell out of Dodge when I was a teenager. Except that now, even the things I never noticed because they were just part of my concept of normalcy (is that a word? aah! this mountain is eating my brain!) bug me now. Things like the fact that something as simple as going to a coffeeshop is completely impossible here. But, even more, people seem to be living in this bubble where the word "doesn't" don't exist. (Yes, that was intended.) I have to stop myself from launching into a grammar lesson in the store.

This is a world where the hairstyle you had when you graduated from high school is the one that you are destined to have for the rest of your life. And, it's a world where girls are expected to meet a "nice boy" in high school or, for the late bloomers, college and then settle down and have a nice little life where meals consist of a meat and a potato and a vegetable. I don't fit in here. Not one tiny iota. My parents giggle at the mention of an alcoholic beverage and are uncomfortable with the word, "bar". I love them all dearly, but I really do need out. And, to top it all off, I have no car here. (Ok, so I guess I don't have a car anywhere else, either, but you know what I mean.) Talk about freedom deprivation!

K, I'm done now. Someday, I will write about all of the wonderful-ness of growing up in Ebensburg. There really is wonderful-ness, too. I'm just having trouble seeing it through my boredom at the moment.

My Christmas vacation kickoff

I am so psyched. I don't have to go back to work for 10 days! And, I'm getting paid! Having a salary job is nice sometimes. Which brings me back to my twelve days of Christmas. This year has brought so much change in my life, most noticably my physical location and the existence of an actual full-time job for the first time. But, I digress....my Christmas kickoff... (I promise I'll spit that thought out eventually!)

Today, we closed the office at noon, which worked out perfectly for me to make the matinee of Wicked at the Kennedy Center. What's that you say? You thought it was sold out? Oh, yes, it is, actually. Having box office connections pays off from time to time!! So, Tara and I saw a musical to kick off the holidays. It was fun... a very fun musical. Big and fancy and complicated as usual, but pretty good. The second half suffered less than I expected which makes it a good musical in and of itself, I suppose. I have this theory (that has yet to be disproven) that the first half(s) of broadway shows are always better than the second half. It still holds true in Wicked in that the first half is a beautiful interweaving of character portraits and intriguing plot hooks. You really have time to, in the words of musicologists, "revel in the sights and sounds" on stage. But, then the second half comes and all of a sudden, you feel as though you're being drug through the plot as its twists and turns jet past you leaving you a bit breathless. But, I guess that's kind of what Broadway is all about... music that isn't "boring". Leave the audience breathless and always give them lots of spectacle to look at.

Wow, that sounded really negative... I didn't mean it that way... Anyways, so I kicked off the holiday break with a musical... a rare treat for me! Tomorrow I'm off to PA for football and Christmasing and general relaxation.
Happy holidays! I'll check in soon!

One more reason Christmas rocks

Because there are shortbread cookies everywhere! I love shortbread!

And, really, how often do you see shortbread? Christmas and girl scout cookie season... that's just about it.

The 8th day of Christmas brought me shortbread cookies! whoo-hoo!

my pirate name

Another blog I read had a link to find out your pirate name... this is me:

Red Bess Bonney

Passion is a big part of your life, which makes sense for a pirate. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

If you want to know what kind of pirate you are, (or just have nothing better to do for the next 10 minutes), check it out here

yummy fries and a holiday greeting, to boot

Um... so much for the twelve days of Christmas. Sorry, work kind of ate me alive and after regurgitation (now, isn't that a lovely word?), I didn't feel much like waxing eloquent about Christmas.
However, a random woman totally imbued me with holiday spirit tonight. I was just getting dinner at the local ghetto-palace-of-burgers-and-fried-foods when a woman, who was also waiting for her food, started talking to me. She asked me if I was ready for the holiday. I kind of laughed and out of politeness, asked her if she was ready. Well, she was so super nice! For the next ten minutes, she told me about what she was giving her husband and nieces and gave me the scoop on where to find gift boxes around here. (I asked... she didn't just randomly start recommending gift box vendors.) Sometimes I'm so busy maintaining my personal space walls that I forget how nice it is to just chat with someone for no good reason. And, also, while I'm thinking about it....what is it in black people's blood that makes them so friendly to everyone? It used to kind of freak me out (and it still does sometimes, e.g. the guy calling after me, "sweet cakes, boo-boo" etc.), but I realize that usually people are just being nice. Maybe we should teach that to the white folks?
In any case, when that woman walked out the door, I had a big smile on my face... So, there, I guess that's my sixth day of Christmas.

The second day of Christmas

On the second day of Christmas, my life gave to me, two rejection letters and a new life in Washington, DC.
Yeah, I didn't have a whole lot of Christmas spirit this afternoon after being turned down for two jobs. Probably, two jobs I wouldn't accept, but still... it's the principle of the thing. On the upside, though, I got to see the National Christmas tree lit up, finally. And, the yule log! That's the best part. We have a national yule log! How cool is that? Turns out that a yule log had to do with the festive celebrations associated with the god Thor. Who knew?
So, yes, two rejection letters, but also a yule log! Maybe I'll incorporate the yule log into tomorrow. We'll see.

The first day of Christmas

I've decided to post something for the twelve days of Christmas from now until December 24. I think that the real twelve days of Christmas start on Christmas, but whatever, it's my blog and I get to do what I want. I should warn you, though, that they may read more like a New Year's entry than a Christmas entry. My inspiration was a series of thoughts (there needs to be a word for the conversations that take place in my head) centered around the things that are different in my life today from one year ago. So, it's more reflection, perhaps, than festive greetings. Anyways, so without further delay, the first day of Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, I woke up and found, a life in the nation's capitol. Christmas in DC is a whole new experience. I've had to really try to seek out Christmas-ness. I'm not entirely sure if that's endemic to Washington or if it's just because I'm new in town. I knew how to "do" Christmas in Philly, but I'm not that adept in DC yet. I'm working on it, though. So, if anyone has any great Christmas-y suggestions (Metro or foot accessible, please), I'm all ears!!

It's football Sunday again

Well, fortunately, the Steelers picked off the cobwebs and played a fine, snowy game against Chicago today. I love watching football in the snow. It looks like so much fun! Anyways, at the other end of the room the Bengals/Browns game was on (we would be helped by a few Bengals losses) so I was yelling things at the tvs on both ends of the room. Fortunately, Tara didn't seem too disturbed by my antics. I'm so embarrassing. I think at one point I yelled, "Hurt a Bengal, get a cookie" And, I still have friends? wow.


My boys in the snow--
SO PRETTY, SO MESSY!

Thanks, once again, to Pandora

I've been listening to jazz on pandora.com (if you haven't checked it out yet, go there right now, do not pass go, do not collect $200, go straight to pandora) and I never realized how much I like Diana Krall. Her band is good, her voice even better, and her sense of musicality and style is just plain hot. If I was a guy, I would totally be in love with her, or at least crush on her.
Unfortunately, I'm too lazy right now to post a clip, but you can check out some clips on her website at dianakrall.com. Her Christmas album is AWESOME.

A retroactive post

Since I can't change the date and time in blogger anymore, I'll 'fess up and say that I wanted to post this yesterday, but it just didn't happen.

So, it's happening again - Washington's giving me yet another reason to love it against my will. Snow delays! I haven't felt like this since I was a kid. When the weather report says there's a chance for snow, the whole city crosses their fingers and hopes for no work! No joke! Most companies here go by the federal government schedule and they close their offices or delay opening when there's bad weather. And, around here, a skift of snow is a good enough excuse to close up shop. So, that brings me to yesterday. There was a delayed opening of two hours. For me, that means I wouldn't have had to go in until noon if I didn't want to! Whoo-hoo! I think it might snow again next week! I can hardly wait!

Also, a random comment from my oh-so-exciting life: I never realized how many trees I walk under on an average day. Yesterday, though, they were all dripping on me so I noticed them. It turns out that I walk under a TON of trees! (as my wet head would testify)

Happy weekending!

If only God had e-mail

I wish God would e-mail me a brief summary of what it is that He wants me to do here in DC in the next year. I know he's stirring things up and moving me into different areas to build relationship with people and generally do good PR for Him, but I could use an itinerary right about now.
I feel like I know there's a lot going on somewhere, but I can't quite see it right now.
Allow me to give a little parallel from work: I sell tickets for Kennedy Center concerts, right? Well, in the side tiers, there is limited visibility of the stage and I tell patrons when they buy those seats that they will have a restricted sightline. I feel that way now, that I have a restricted sightline. I know there is a lot happening onstage, but I can't quite see all of it. I hear it and get glimpses when it's on the right side of the stage, but it would be nice to see the whole picture. Oh well, I suppose the journey is half the fun!

Sentenced to Marriage

I went and saw a documentary film this evening about Israeli women bound to marriages because their husbands won't consent to a divorce. I liked it. It wasn't overdone, wasn't overdramatized...just showed the footage and presented the situation as it is. Apparently, because Israel does not separate church and state, there is no such thing as a civil marriage. Therefore, there is no such thing as a civil divorce...everyone must go through the rabbinical court. Anyways, it was interesting and it was good to stretch my brain a bit. If I wasn't so tired, I would stretch it more successfully and share further. Unfortunately, you'll have to settle for this. I included a link about the film, but I don't know that it's playing anymore around here. Who knows when it will show up in other cities, though?

Check out the film

Word of the day

Today's learning moment comes from the second book in the Chronicle of Narnia series.

biv·ou·ac ( P ) Pronunciation Key (bv-k, bvwk)
n.

A temporary encampment often in an unsheltered area.

intr.v. biv·ou·acked, biv·ou·ack·ing, biv·ou·acs, also biv·ou·acks

To camp in a bivouac.

But, as you all know, true learning comes from application. And, so, a few of my own interpolations:

-Stranded at O'hare, we did our best to defend our bivouac.

-"No, Mom, please... not bivouacking AGAIN!"

-She bivouacked for three days outside the box office waiting for U2 tickets.

And, he wrote these books for kids? Now, seriously, how many 10-year-olds know the word, bivouac... heck, how many 30-year olds know that word?

Anyways, happy bivouacking.

The boats were a bust

Ok. So, I was looking for something cool to do this weekend b/c a friend was visiting me and I thought, "hey! what a good opportunity to do something Christmas-y!" So, I found out that there was this parade of boats that would be coming by the SW waterfront tonight by 6:30. I found it on cityguide, but then someone at work told me about it, too. So, tonight, my friend and I trudged down there (knowing how relatively inconvenient it is from NE - my neighborhood) all psyched for this parade of 50 decked-out boats. We got there a little early and it was cold, but it wasn't bad at first. So, we sat and waited and talked and then walked some more. So, it was 6:30 and no signs of the boats. 6:40 - no boats. 6:45 - no boats. Also, relatively little sign of life - as in people watching for boats. Where were the boats? Is there another SW waterfront? It said the Washington Channel/ SW waterfront. I feel betrayed, as though it was a big joke on me. Ha, ha... stupid girl thinks there are going to be big, beautiful decorated boats... she's going to freeze her ass off out there and drag her friend the whole way down there just to see the water and half the washington monument peeking up over buildings. Last night, I took her to see the National Christmas tree and we missed it by 4 minutes! 4, mind you. What do the festivity gods have against me? I just want to see some Christmas lights!! I haven't given up yet, but I am getting discouraged.

Very little left in the fingernail department... they'll come back, though. My fingernails, I mean... we'll see about my boys.
K, I'm going to try to decorate my apartment for the third day in a row. It's very difficult to feel Christmas-y when it's 60 degrees outside. NOT that I'm complaining!

Why I won't have any fingernails on Tuesday

Well, tomorrow could make us or break us. We could be on the top of the world or in the land of mediocrity. Mettle will be tested, endurance stretched, determination displayed. What, you ask, am I talking about? Well, Steelers vs. Colts on Monday Night football, of course. Undefeated colts, I might add...for another 24 hours or so. So, for all you people that don't really care one way or the other, just do me a favor and root for the Steelers (Stillers, if you will) tomorrow night. We can use all of the extra fans we can get, even if they are a bit fickle. I'm tempted to pray for the offense to show up, but I have some other prayer matters that I would like to be answered first so I don't want to throw the petty stuff at God. Besides, what if He decides to move that one to the top of the list and answer that one first?? That would be sad. K, I'm done now. I will not attempt to use God for my own personal NFL desires. I promise. That's all.

Go Black and Gold!!!

Thanksgiving observance

Thanksgiving was once my favorite holiday. But, yesterday seemed a bit hollow. I tried not to have high expectations, knowing ahead of time that it would be a small crowd, but I still seemed a bit disappointed for some reason. I think I figured out at least part of the reason, though. I want my own traditions. There is a big part of me that wants to stay home (as in my actual residence) and celebrate holidays there and create my own traditions. But, then I realize that doing so would involve a lot of sitting alone and staring at the walls (or more likely, my computer screen) and that would be disappointing, too, if not downright depressing. This being grown-up stuff is highly overrated.

a nice little concert

I just got home from a concert of chamber music at the Library of Congress. A free one, none-the-less! Listen up all you DC-ites: There are free concerts all the time at the Library of Congress. And, these are no second-rate performances. We heard chamber music performed by NSO players tonight and I will be returning soon to hear the likes of Eugenia Zukerman and the Julliard Quartet (playing my absolute favorite string quartet EVER, I might add!!). However, as usual, I had some random thoughts during the performance. First, I was reminded how incredibly silly it is to list the first tempo or directive of a movement to identify it if the work was written during the romantic period or later. I looked down at the program during a particularly fiery, appassianato section and realized that it was part of the "Molto Tranquillo" movement. So much for that.
Second, poor Mendelssohn. I feel so bad for him everytime he digs himself in a hole and gets stuck trying to get out. Fortunately for him, even the stuck music is beautiful, if not cleverly constructed.
Third, live music, particularly chamber music, is such a luxury. If I had remained in Cambria County, I would never have had the opportunity to hear such high quality music live, let alone just blocks from my house. There is something about hearing a live performance that is so refreshing for my soul. Second only to standing on the ocean's shore.
Finally, I should have been a string player. I am so physical when I play...and string players communicate so much physically... I would stick out less as a string player.

Lessons I learned tonight

• Trying to do something social without my cell phone is just dumb. It nearly always fails
• When it rains in DC, traffic is a nightmare and hailing a cab is even worse.
• Cab drivers that pontificate about the current state of affairs in Iraq are really quite irritating when you've already had an atrocious evening.
• The SW waterfront is horribly inconvenient for those of us car-less people.
• My boots are not waterproof...sexy, perhaps, but not waterproof.
  

Autumn thiefs

They're stealing my Fall! I'm still running through piles of leaves and enjoying my pumpkin candle and the world is trying to encroach on my Fall. I'd like to remind the world that it's only officially been Autumn for about 7 weeks. When I was walking by Union Station on my way home this morning, they were installing giant wreaths and bows. That's not fair!! It's only Nov. 12. They can't hang Christmas decorations yet! They're trying to steal my Fall! I refuse. I love Fall and I will enjoy every leaf-crunching minute of it. They can't take my favorite season away from me.

Homecoming weekend, con't.

Finally, the long-awaited weekend moments post, illustrated. Blogging's a funny thing. I absolutely HAD to write about this stuff when I thought of it, but now that 3 days have gone by, it seems much less pressing. But, I still want to share three little thoughts.
First, I got to see Freya this weekend. Freya and I hadn't seen each other since I was in her wedding two and a half years ago. Sadly, we hadn't spoken in that long either. I'm not entirely sure what happened and we didn't discuss it this weekend, but regardless, it was good to see an old friend and a kindred spirit. So here's Freya...and her 3 week old baby boy, Max!!! Now that's craziness! It's just weird how everyone's lives are changing so quickly. We used to sit around and talk about cute boys and bad dates. Now she has a husband and a baby. Regardless, it was good to see her. I was a little mad at her for not keeping in touch, but there was something about her infectuous (sp?) smile that just made all of my inner bitterness toward her melt away. Maybe that's the sign of a natural friendship. Or, maybe not... whatever.
Saturday morning, I was practicing in the concert hall at the music building on campus. I was just playing along, staring at my music, but then I needed to really work out a run so I started pacing around playing it over and over like I always used to do. Memories of long practice sessions in that room started flooding back to me, but then I looked up at the little window above the clock. It's in the picture to the right, but it's hard to get perspective from that shot. The window is just a tiny little square way up high on the white, concrete block wall. But, the cool thing is that you can see a little piece of a tree in that window. Just a few branches...none of the rest of the tree is visible from that perspective. I missed that window. I didn't even realize that I missed it, but I had. I used to watch the light change, the leaves change, the seasons change through that window as I practiced. I watched time go by through that window. I knew that I needed to kick it in for finals when the leaves started falling off that tree and that I would soon be shedding my sweaters when I could see the flowering blossoms in the spring. For some reason, that window symbolized a sort of peace and steadiness and constancy and routine that I crave when life is really crazy.

Ok, the last one is just plain old funny. In fact, I laughed so hard, I could hardly breathe. So, Rachel and Dan (her husband...noticing any themes among my college friends?) and I were driving through the great metropolis of Winona Lake on Sunday and got a little misdirected so I pulled into a parking lot to turn around. I don't know what it was... the local sanitation office or some such thing, but they had labeled parking spots. Not with numbers or titles, but with the employees' names. Apparently, the thought that one or more of them might leave the company at some point was beyond their imagination. Also, I feel a need to point out that there were only about 6 spaces in the whole parking lot. Yet, they labeled the employees' spaces personally. I'm sorry, but did they have a hard time finding parking before? And, do they have to work their way up to the front parking spot? I mean, that could cut a full 15 seconds off their commute. God help Becci if she tries to park in Giselle's spot. K, I'll stop my insensitivity now... but it's just so funny!

Lions and wolves and Jesus bread

I was all psyched to post some pics and thoughts
from the weekend, but I'm a dork and grabbed the wrong film this morning. So, instead of pictures of Grace and Gracies and the midwest, I have zoo animals and Columbus Day. Doh! Well, I will throw a couple in here anyways. Completely unrelated, but that's ok.
The first one is just for Nathaniel. Thany, they're woofs!! I miss you! (I know they're hard to see, but I promise they're woofs!)

The next one is the lion I saw at the zoo last month. He (or she) is fast asleep and his tongue is hanging out. I thought it was SO funny that I giggled out loud.

The last one is completely unrelated. I told a couple of people about our communion at my newest church so I thought I'd give you a visual. I know the picture quality isn't great, but it's a small silver tin filled with a vial of red juice of some sort and a tiny little communion "bread". I didn't take communion that day b/c I have a weird thing about communion. I grew up in a church that made a HUGE deal out of communion and so sometimes when communion is sprung on me, I don't feel prepared to take it. Anyways, so that's why I had the "communion kit" leftover. I guess if they were Grace Brethren, they'd throw a little wet-nap in there!

Thoughts from Indiana and a promise of pictures

I went back to Grace this weekend. It was only the second time I had returned since graduation. This was homecoming weekend and the music department invited me back to play for a sort of choir reunion/music celebration weekend. Anyways, I went and played a concert with my fellow alum. It was so refreshing. I enjoyed playing immensely. I cannot say enough. The other players were excellent and that sort of musical experience is always enjoyable...those moments when the music truly feels alive in your hands....when you can feel it and mold it and touch others with it. It was pretty awesome. Alex and Thomas and I played this entirely too cool trio. How nice to play with really good musicians again.
However, there was so much more to the weekend. I could write so much, but I will try to keep it reasonably short. (Perhaps I will continue this later this week.) In a way, it was healing to go back and realize that the bitterness I have for Grace is not really about Grace so much as it is about my own decisions. It wasn't the rules or the buildings or the classes. It was me. But, as I've said a million times, I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. It had a hand in making me who I am today. (scary as that is!)
I have lots of little funny randomness to share, but I will save it for tomorrow when I have illustrations. I'll leave you with one, though.
When I got off the plane in Fort Wayne, an older gentleman holding a basket greeted me and said, "Welcome to Fort Wayne. Have a cookie!" Oh, the good 'ol Midwest.

a new computer

Oh, it feels good to blog again! It also feels good to have a sweet, sweet machine in front of me. My new computer came this weekend while I was away. Whoo-hoo! Life is good. The screen is wide... really wide...movie screen wide. No, really... I mean it. Ok, fine, but it is big and sweet. yippee. So, I'm officially back in the world of blogging. It makes me feel alive again. Living without a computer was like living in a black hole. I never want to go back there again!! I think I'm going to rent a DVD tomorrow and watch it in surround sound...just because I can. (Oh, yeah, did I mention I got external speakers, too?) K... I'm done blabbering now.

moving on

Well, for some reason, that last super-long post froze my blogging efforts. I'm not sure why I haven't posted in so long. I've been busy, but I think, even more than that, I just didn't feel like I had anything worth posting. That's probably not a good thing. It probably means that I am feeling neither hot nor cold about anything. That's not good at all. Oh well, more will well up inside me soon, I am sure.

upclose with my week...REALLY upclose

I've had a busy, good week and I'd just like to share a little bit of it so sorry if this gets a little news-y. The last two weeks seem a bit blurr-ish since I was away last weekend. It makes it seem as though it's been one long week rather than two. But, that's besides the point, I suppose. The point is that this week I had five very different evenings, but all quite nice. Monday evening, I went to my community group. I'm just really starting to get a feel for my place in that group and it's nice. I feel like I've been there long enough that I can kind of be "one of the group" and try to make the newer people feel more welcome. I'm really surprised how comfortable I am there, though. I must admit that I am fighting the urge to leave and go to another small group. I'm not entirely sure why. I like that group...I really do, but I have some sort of flight sickness, I think. But, I need to stay. Anyways, we had a good discussion, albeit a difficult one and that was good.
Tuesday, I was looking forward to occupying my couch for the evening, but then Jeremy asked if I wanted to go do something so we went and had dinner. I'm so glad we did because it was just really nice to chill and spend time with him... never mind the half-hour search for bunny-friendly restaurants, the mediocre tapas (but yummy sangria!) and our completely inattentive (and slightly sexist) server. Acutally, that all was probably what made the night enjoyable... spontaneity, unpredictability, and good company.
Wednesday.... um, yeah, wednesday was a not so good date, but a decent story...let's just say I shoved money in the server's hand and said, "just in case he's cheap".
Thursday...I was looking forward to this for weeks. I went to hear the NSO play Corigliano's symphony #1 (the AIDS symphony). I didn't even know what was being programmed in the first half until I got there. Turns out it was Brahms' Tragic Overture and the Bruch violin concerto. Brahms was nice as Brahms usually is (don't get me wrong, sometimes it's exquisite, but usually, it's nice), but I forgot how much I enjoy Bruch. His melodies are so well-spun and it's not difficult to understand and appreciate...that's nice sometimes...especially when you know there is a Corigliano soon to follow. But, the violinist did a really nice job...not over-romanticized or over-emoted, just beautiful. Before I move on to the Corigliano, a quick note...I was sitting in the second row because I got a comp ticket from an acquantance and beggars can't be choosers. Just for reference, if you go to a concert in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, don't sit in the first 5 rows. I was used to the Kimmel Center in Philly where even the first few rows are good...close, but good. Not so in the Concert Hall... the first rows = neck kink. Just a word of advice. Now, on to Corigliano, I did move back a bit prior to the symphony...thank god! If you've ever heard this piece, you know that it is percussion heavy and loud, loud, loud at points. So, even in the 12th row, it was almost too close...should have sat in the tiers for this one. Regardless, it was performed fairly well. I think I'm spoiled, though. Philadelphia's orchestra is truly amazing, especially their winds and brass. The NSO just isn't there yet. I guess I just expected more from Slatkin and this orchestra on this piece since they recorded it and won a grammy for it and all. And, actually, I liked the recording as I recall. But, it was still a good performance...a different performance, of course, but a good one. The main draw to this concert for me was that John Corigliano was there engaging in an after-concert discussion. It was interesting. I didn't really hear anything earth-shattering, but it is always interesting to hear musicians relate as philosophers and most importantly, people. I, of course, wimped out and didn't ask my question. Doh! I was afraid it was too "heady". Oh well, hopefully, I haven't lost my chance forever. Ok, sorry about the rambling on this one.
Friday...I had a crappy day at work. I was tired from being too social all week and by the end of the day, I just wanted to cry and sleep. However, I had told someone I would go see a movie. So, I went home and turned out the lights, turned on Nora Jones and lit a stress-relief candle (yes, I really have one). I laid down and listened to the music and the rain outside my window and soon everything was once again right with the world. It's amazing how little things can make the biggest difference. So, then after the muck of my day was washed off of my brain and spirit, I made my way toward Gallery Place for a movie. We watched Serenity. I had heard lots of good things about both the movie and the series it was based on (thanks to Colleen, Nathaniel, Dave and other random sources). However, I hate to break it to you all... not terribly impressed. Perhaps the series was really great, I don't know. I should enter a disclaimer here, though. We were sitting in the fourth row...we got into the theater a little later than we should have and it was a Friday night so the viewing experience may not have been optimal. So, once again, the experience was thwarted by neck-craning. That's the story of my week, I guess.
Thanks for sticking with me the whole way to the end.

a little recognition

I'd just like to give a shout-out to some people I'd like to thank:
First of all, thanks to all of the people that did not buy flights from DC to NY this weekend and in so doing, forced American Airlines to put their flights on sale at a ridiculously cheap price. I appreciate it.
Thanks to the random guy at the Octoberfest party for trying to salsa or tango or something with me. I know that I suck, but thanks for sticking it out with me for an entire song. Now I may actually attempt to learn.
Thanks especially to Jeni and Kent for making a good weekend a really great one! It was so fun to hang out with you guys!
A special thanks to God for making sure there weren't any clouds on Saturday and also for allowing me to see Philly from the top. You totally made my day.
And, finally, thanks to Caryl for introducing me to Trader Joe's pickles (and as a by-product, introducing me to Trader Joe's in general). They rock and my dinner wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable this evening without them.

Monopoly houses on the way to Park Avenue

I love flying. I particularly love flying when I can see the ground below. On the flight from DC to NY on Saturday, I could see the ground the whole time. It was so cool to see how we basically followed the water the whole way there. I happened to look out the window at just the right time and saw the skyline of Philly. Well, I don't know if you can call it a skyline if you're looking at it from above, but it was the city, at least. It was cool because I know the area well enough that I could orient myself even from the sky. I could see where the new building near 30th Street station is and follow 611 up to where I used to live in Willow Grove. From that perspective, even the skyscrapers look like little monopoly houses. But, monopoly houses that I could identify! Sweet!

signing away rights

This morning, I officially signed away my right to have representation in congress. I am a bona fide, card-carrying DC resident, with a quadrant in my address and without a senator. There was this little clause on my voter registration that basically amounted to, "I hereby understand that I do not have the right to vote in any other state and therefore will not be represented in Congress." Ok, so it didn't really say that literally, but it might as well have. When I went to sign that, I really had to stop for a minute...it makes me mad, but I don't have a choice, really.... at least not legally. So, there you have it. I will now join the ranks of DC-ites that look forward (or dread, depending on your view) to mayorial elections. So much for rights.

Hey, I like Indian food!

Today, I tried Indian food for the first time in about five years. It was yummy! So, there's still a lot of things on the menu that looked scary, but I liked what I tried. Now, I must enter a disclaimer: the restaurant was a bit hoighty-toighty and the food seemed like mediterranean tapas with a curried twist, but I liked that. So, I guess I'm making progress, at least. Perhaps, I am ready to try actual bona fide Indian cuisine now. I won't hold my breath and I won't go too hungry. It will be nice not to have to recoil in fright when my friends suggest going out for Indian, though.

escalators and vertigo

So, today, I left work early for the first time in a really long time. I was so proud of myself for actually leaving early since I had been there late most nights for the last few weeks. So, I walked down to the metro and there was this huge line of people waiting to go down into the metro. Apparently, the escalators were broken and there was only one that could even be used as a staircase so there was a line wrapped around the block waiting to get down into the station. The metro guard-guy (I refuse to call them police.) told me it would be a 20-30 minute wait. So, I walked to Farragut North and got on there. Weird. How bizarre is that. Who would have thought that a simple escalator outage would have caused all of that.

And, while I'm commenting on bizarre things, I had a girl call today to order a subscription that asked for a specific locale because she has vertigo. I'm not entirely sure what vertigo feels like, but I have a feeling she probably shouldn't have purchased tickets in the second tier.

Velvet Elvis

So, a friend of mine recommended that I read a book called, "Velvet Elvis". If I had known it was a "God" book, I wouldn't have bothered borrowing it from him. I don't know why I didn't pick up on that...I mean we were talking about God stuff when he brought it up. Anyways, so I started it Thursday night and I just finished it today, two days later. I can't begin to say enough about this book. For the last two years or so, I've had all of these thoughts about how Christianity works in my life and in our society that I just couldn't effectively put into words. Things about my view of spirituality and specifically the cross-section between spirituality and Christianity. I had all of these amorphous thoughts about how blighted organized religion is and at the same time how necessary and God-mandated/condoned it is. Things about the fact that being a Jesus-follower doesn't mean being a rules follower, it's about freedom to be everything I was created to be... the ultimate reality. But, most of all, that questioning and stretching the rubber band of beliefs is necessary and beautiful. So, the point is that I've had trouble articulating this, but he did it. He did it in a creative, easy to understand, yet researched and defended way. Not to say this book answered my questions, but rather that he said about Christianity the very things I was thinking without the words. Reading this book, I felt like he put on paper my philosophy of Christianity. Of course there are things in there that don't perfectly resonate with me, but in some parts, I felt like I was reading my thoughts translated into English. I think that anyone that's ever considered, doubted, questioned, criticized, accepted Christianity should read this book. This is the first book written by a Christian about a Christian-y topic that I have ever liked. Really. Ok, I'm done. Just read it: Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.

frazzledness, squirrels, and wire hangers

What an insanely busy week. By Thursday night, I felt so frazzled and disoriented, almost as though I wasn't even myself. Work was just insane this week. I knew I had a lot to get done, but I didn't anticipate all of the other little things that would sap my time one minute at a time. And then, somehow I had an obligation every night. I'm not entirely sure how this happened, but lately my weekdays have been chocked full with work and social stuff and then the weekends are the "open" times. Which, I guess is good...it gives me a little breathing room before the next crazy week begins. It's just weird because for a long time, I had plans every weekend and not during the week. Anyways, that's not the point. The point is that it's left me in a bit of a search for myself. Where is the Hyla I always knew? I'm not the frazzled, discombobulated (wow, I don't think I've ever written that word before and I have no idea how to spell it) go-through-the-motions kind of girl. Even when things are crazy, I process things and take time to watch a squirrel eat a nut. (Yes, I actually did that one day. It was awesome! You should make it a point to try to see that at some point in your life.) But, I felt like I was always five minutes late and had to press the next button, get on the next train, and come up with the next joke. But, now that I have a few minutes to process things a bit, I realize that I've somehow allowed life to attack me. I mean, they are things that are necessary and things that I love...like work and church stuff and music stuff, but they sort of usurped authority over my life and in the process have left little, if any, time to pursue the new things I want to be part of my life. My new goals. It doesn't look like the hectic-ness is going to stop anytime soon, though, so I may need to get creative about how to pursue those things. And, how to remain true to myself. Okay, I'm off now. I need to rig up some rods for my new file crate. I wonder if I could manipulate a wire hanger for that?

update: Yes, a wire hanger is actually quite easily manipulated into file rods. Happiness.

oreos for breakfast

For me, there is something so luxurious about eating oreos for breakfast. Something very indulgent....perhaps just disgustingly American (especially since I dunked them in milk to obtain that yummy soggy texture!) I feel like a kid whose parents are away for the weekend. They can't make me eat fruit!! I will have oreos just because I can! In fact, living alone is a lot like being a kid whose parents are on vacation. I leave my shoes by the door because it's not going to annoy mom and I stay up way too late emailing because no one's going to tell me to go to bed. I guess when you're a kid doing things like leaving your clothes all over the room when mom and dad are away is a way to silently claim a bit of independence. You're still completely dependent, but for that one weekend, concerning that one little matter, no one can tell you differently. For me, that's independence. And, so on this wonderfully empty Saturday morning, I got up late and declared my independence by eating oreos for breakfast.

my new vocabulary word

Tonight, we were sitting at the Cheesecake factory, staring at the bizarreness that is their architecture (did I spell that wrong?) when someone said that there is a term in architectural/design circles called suburban gaudy. I love it! That's exactly what I hate about the suburbs... the plasticity and the suburban gaudy element. I am putting that into my regular vocabulary rotation.

the corruption of small children

I think I may have corrupted some small children this evening on my commute home. I was sitting on one of those cement slabs they call benches at Metro Center waiting for a train when a cute little family of four came up and sat down. The father walked away to check the value on his smarttrip card and the little girl, who looked to be about 5, seemed quite concerned that he was going to miss the train. She heard the trains underneath us and was looking for the train and seemed confused when no trains showed up. So, I, in my father's tradition of talking to anyone within earshot, said to the girl, "There are trains underneath us, too. Did you hear a train?" She looked frightened and ran over to her mother. The little boy (about 3, maybe) turned to his mother and said, "May I speak to the stranger?" When she said, "yes", they both started up a conversation with me that was quite entertaining to me since I rarely talk to anyone under 18, but the mother scolded, "Now let her read her newspaper." I don't know...maybe I shouldn't make a habit of talking to random little kids, but they're kids!! How can you resist? I suppose I should have known they employed peculiar parenting strategies when I overheard the mother say, "What word are you not going to say anymore?" to which the little boy answered, "kill". I suppose they will outlaw the words "lie, cheat, rape, sex, and shoot", too.

Atlantis II

I talked to a friend of mine, well, ex-boyfriend, really, from New Orleans East. He's not expecting to have an apartment left and certainly not a car. He is sure that his family's home is ruined. One of his closest friends freaked out and jumped out of the Superdome to his own death. He told me that he is not going back. So, now he has to reinvent his life. Find a new job, a new city, a new life, really. The good news is that his whole family was able to leave and get to Texas safely. The bad news, of course, is that his life will never be the same. But, maybe that's the good news. I certainly hope that he reinvents himself in a really fabulous way. When we were talking tonight, he said that he had decided something come hell or high water...and high water definitely came first! It seems almost sinister to make light of it, but I think he was glad to have someone make him laugh. He said, "How appropriate that such a bizarre little city would end up a cross between the lost city Atlantis and the Iraq battlefield."

I know that he loved (and hated) that city, though, so I know it will be difficult.

The strangeness of living in DC

I'm still struck by the strangeness of living in DC. I've been here six months, but it is still weird to look down a random street and see the dome of the Capitol building (which I do frequently since I live just a few stone throws away). I mean as a child I learned the difference between capitol and capital because the capitol has a round dome...like the letter o is round. Now it's part of my daily routine. The other night, I went to a grocery store I had never been to before and when I was approaching it, I looked down a street and saw a great view of the Washington monument. At just about the same time, I realized that the store I was walking to is in Watergate. Things that once were very abstract concepts are now concrete locales in my life, literally. Weird.

Ok, blogger somehow lost the first blog I created, so hopefully, this one sticks. This is going to be mainly for those people I love that live in faraway places... Tia in Hawaii, Colleen and Nathaniel in Seoul, my family in Pheonix, Krissy in Alexandria...and also for my mental health, particularly when I don't have my journal.
Tonight when I was walking home, I had the thought that I am getting good at living without friends. That sounds really pathetic, but maybe it's good. Maybe at some point, unmarried people just learn how to live without friends and lovers and it's okay. I mean I find ways to keep myself busy, but I'm not engaging in deep friendships. That's different for me and I long for that in a way, but at the same time, I feel so socially awkward right now that I can't imagine forging a below-the-surface relationship.
Maybe I just need to chill out and do some serious God-searching. I know that when I focus on the right things, I have the most joy and yet my focus so often shifts to other things... like gobs. mmmm.... gobs.
In other news, the Steelers lost a preseason game last night. I was there. I'm starting to think I'm bad luck. They lost the last one I went to, too.