Mumbling while I should pack... but I need to just sit and mummble.
It seems like there is never enough time, but somehow, we are getting on a plane tomorrow no matter what is done or undone.
I felt so on top of it until the last week. I was all ready, all the gifts and cards were getting in the mail. Then, the ominous then, I forgot which day Abi was leaving for Europe, so she couldn't hand deliver Dave's present. Next, I proceeded to misplace Dave's present completely. I think it fell behind the dresser, but I haven't been able to move it. Just too much stuff in it. Long story short, Dave gets shorted again, and will have to wait for his gift. On a positive note, as soon as I find the original, he will get two? This is what I get for being so excited and getting it done way too early, but not mailing it as soon as it was finished.
Then, work got crazy. I knew it would, but I wasn't quite sure I was ready for it.
Background, while everyone thinks that the Holidays just close at schools, for a select few, Schedulers, Registrars, anyone who needs to do stuff for students) it is a very busy time. All the classes need to be set, the rooms assigned, and the entire schedule for spring input. Since everything has to wait for the classes, it is the tightest turn around that we have all year.
Luckily, I have an amazing Registrar I work with. Even though she was way too busy to be setting things, she did the best she could the curriculum ended up handed to me, on Monday at 5. In the past we have had to manually transfer the curriculum from one software to another. My goal at work has been to automate the transfer. We've been testing the upload process months. Miracles happen, and luckily, the upload worked on the second try. Best work moment of the year, and so what took 3 weeks, now takes three days. Like I said, best work day ever. It was still a bit tighter than I like, but now I know it works, and can leave for vacation feeling almost not behind. There is still a ton to enter when I get back.
Then, a totally positive then, I recieved a few new commissions for very fun projects. I've knit every spare moment plus some. Even more I still can say each piece gets better than the last. I'll share pictures when I get back.
Either way, I am so excited for the vacation. I'm happy about seeing everyone and spending time with the family.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
what we hold on to
It never ceases to amaze me what I hold on to, or reach out for, in a completely non-threatening situation. Yesterday I was riding down the elevator at work when a whole bunch of older men got in from the Business School. All of a sudden I was crunched into a corner with all these guys talking about their huge mergers (or something with money), and one of them kept giving me (in my opinion) strange looks. The looks you get when someone thinks, how cute, a young'in scared of graduate school. (Which I found rather entertaining/annoying considering I am an employee in good standing, who just happens to be quite a bit younger than her counterparts.)
For the first time in a while, at least in a move for self worth, I thought to myself, "I am a successful young adult, with a very happy marriage, and two masters degrees, working at an incredibly respected, although possibly fairly stuck up at times, institution, who really does like who she is and feels like she deserves more than strange looks from men at least as old as her father who feel some need to be cool by ignoring the little kid in the back".
It really surprised me that this was my thought train, because I've been working pretty hard to let that kind of odd self image go. It isn't healthy to hold on to my education or job as who I am and why I'm worth something, especially when everyone who walks into my floor thinks I'm a receptionist based on the placement of my desk. I'd have a huge complex if I cared that much about appearances. I love my schools, but I don't want to be that kind of person who is always the girl from "x" who can't stop talking about her degree either. Its odd being in a community that places so much on things that in the long run really don't matter much.
I think I'm happier knowing I have a wonderful home, that despite physical limits is just right for Ted and I. The thought that someday (emphasis on the someday) we will hopefully be blessed with children and the health to care for them. And that I still have an abiding hope that there is something more than what we can see/have on this earth.
I know I've been a lot more centered on the whole "who am I now" issues since last October, especially as I really have had to decide if my priorities and goals are the best ones for me in the long term, even though we will have no clue until the long term comes. And I'm not always positive about having to change my point of view, but it is nice to know that more and more often, I can see what really matters. Its a change I've been looking for for quite a while, and maybe means more to me because I'm seeing it in winter. Its easy to think things are great when the weather is nice, and the world looks pretty, but when the windchill is bitter, and no one is smiling, its nice to see that I might be warm on the inside, even if I'm cold on the outside.
For the first time in a while, at least in a move for self worth, I thought to myself, "I am a successful young adult, with a very happy marriage, and two masters degrees, working at an incredibly respected, although possibly fairly stuck up at times, institution, who really does like who she is and feels like she deserves more than strange looks from men at least as old as her father who feel some need to be cool by ignoring the little kid in the back".
It really surprised me that this was my thought train, because I've been working pretty hard to let that kind of odd self image go. It isn't healthy to hold on to my education or job as who I am and why I'm worth something, especially when everyone who walks into my floor thinks I'm a receptionist based on the placement of my desk. I'd have a huge complex if I cared that much about appearances. I love my schools, but I don't want to be that kind of person who is always the girl from "x" who can't stop talking about her degree either. Its odd being in a community that places so much on things that in the long run really don't matter much.
I think I'm happier knowing I have a wonderful home, that despite physical limits is just right for Ted and I. The thought that someday (emphasis on the someday) we will hopefully be blessed with children and the health to care for them. And that I still have an abiding hope that there is something more than what we can see/have on this earth.
I know I've been a lot more centered on the whole "who am I now" issues since last October, especially as I really have had to decide if my priorities and goals are the best ones for me in the long term, even though we will have no clue until the long term comes. And I'm not always positive about having to change my point of view, but it is nice to know that more and more often, I can see what really matters. Its a change I've been looking for for quite a while, and maybe means more to me because I'm seeing it in winter. Its easy to think things are great when the weather is nice, and the world looks pretty, but when the windchill is bitter, and no one is smiling, its nice to see that I might be warm on the inside, even if I'm cold on the outside.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Treasury
I should have posted a picture of the Etsy Treasury that my hat was in. I didn't realize the links expire in two days.
Either way, it was pretty neat.
On other exciting news, I've sold a Lucern to a friend who saw some of my work. I'm in the middle of a dino-boy order, and possibly have an order for an adult sherpa hat! Slow but sure.
I need to start putting pictures up of my projects in progress on the crafty blog. Maybe a posting schedule is in order. I've thought about combining the two, but really feel strongly that the two blogs should stay apart if the hats ever become a business. I just can't seem to keep the blog and the shop up to date right now. Next term Ted has two night classes, so I think one of them will become crafty night, and the other will become blog/shop night. If the shop pans out the blog will be nice because it would give people a chance to see new work before it is finished. Commissions could do well with some preview time.
On other fronts, I decided to plant a winter bulb garden. The first batch or paper-whites are just starting to bloom. It has been fantastic to watch our little window garden grow. I hope the amaryllis bloom before we leave for Oregon, but if they don't, the office will get to enjoy them. The tulips shouldn't even spout for another few weeks. I'll have to take a new picture to post, the one I took a few days ago doesn't have any flowers.
We've switched over to winter food. That means soup, or something pre-made/big at least twice a week. Ted has been making a new soup every week. Then improvising a soup or stew for the other large item. Next week I might make a lasagna for one of the big items. But we already have a meatloaf planned, and Thanksgiving, so I'll probably wait until December for the Lasagna. We are also loving the squash and fall greens that can be found.
Ted and Abi have a great Thanksgiving planned. My involvement this year seems to be limited to ordering the cheesecake. We priced it and it turned out about the same price to order from Juniors as to buy everything and make a Pumpkin cheesecake. I may still make a pie just for kicks. It should be fantastic though.
Either way, it was pretty neat.
On other exciting news, I've sold a Lucern to a friend who saw some of my work. I'm in the middle of a dino-boy order, and possibly have an order for an adult sherpa hat! Slow but sure.
I need to start putting pictures up of my projects in progress on the crafty blog. Maybe a posting schedule is in order. I've thought about combining the two, but really feel strongly that the two blogs should stay apart if the hats ever become a business. I just can't seem to keep the blog and the shop up to date right now. Next term Ted has two night classes, so I think one of them will become crafty night, and the other will become blog/shop night. If the shop pans out the blog will be nice because it would give people a chance to see new work before it is finished. Commissions could do well with some preview time.
On other fronts, I decided to plant a winter bulb garden. The first batch or paper-whites are just starting to bloom. It has been fantastic to watch our little window garden grow. I hope the amaryllis bloom before we leave for Oregon, but if they don't, the office will get to enjoy them. The tulips shouldn't even spout for another few weeks. I'll have to take a new picture to post, the one I took a few days ago doesn't have any flowers.
We've switched over to winter food. That means soup, or something pre-made/big at least twice a week. Ted has been making a new soup every week. Then improvising a soup or stew for the other large item. Next week I might make a lasagna for one of the big items. But we already have a meatloaf planned, and Thanksgiving, so I'll probably wait until December for the Lasagna. We are also loving the squash and fall greens that can be found.
Ted and Abi have a great Thanksgiving planned. My involvement this year seems to be limited to ordering the cheesecake. We priced it and it turned out about the same price to order from Juniors as to buy everything and make a Pumpkin cheesecake. I may still make a pie just for kicks. It should be fantastic though.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
So cool
Someone liked my work enough to include it in a Treasury! If I'm lucky it will turn into a front page.
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=33081
One more step closer to my very own cottage industry.
Now if I can only figure out how to blog and knit at the same time. Hmm...
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=33081
One more step closer to my very own cottage industry.
Now if I can only figure out how to blog and knit at the same time. Hmm...
Monday, November 17, 2008
modes
One night last week Ted and Mom and I were talking about education, as we often due. I ended up most the night trying to remember and explain all the different modes and their relationship to scales.
I hated that semester of theory. I never did learn to sing them or hear them just by name. And none of it really made sense until my last spin with grad school when I was actually playing music that used them.
Either way, Ted said something that really made me think. He was arguing that he didn't really want to know about them in high school, but would have liked to know there was more out there than he did know about.
It made me think about if there was a moment that made me realize there was so much more out there that I wanted. Maybe I didn't need it, or even really care, but I wanted some sort of arbitrary knowledge that would somehow help me understand this thing we call music.
After about a week of pondering those thoughts, I know there was a moment. I was a freshman in high school. About 15 of us sat in Girls Glee. We were going over the theory portion of our final. It was basically just being able to write out a major scale and name the notes. The kind of stuff that I didn't know why, but I had known for years, due to massive amounts of band. Someone whs arguing that a singer didn't need to know any theory. They just needed to know up, down, and the same. The piano would tell them the rest.
As an answer, our teacher, who only knew enough piano to get us through the day (we had amazing accompanists for almost all rehearsals and concerts) pulls out a chord progression from thin air. It was something simple. Arpeggiated chords. Eight bars long. A phlagal cadence followed by a perfect authentic. Some really silly melody sung over the top about how if you didn't know basic theory you couldn't be a writer for the Backstreet Boys.
Not that I knew any of that at the time. But it amazed me that he could make something out of nothing. I knew it wasn't "music", but it was a song. I remember it all so clearly.
There was another moment when I was a senior in college. My theory professor and I were sitting at a piano bench. We were looking at a shenkerian bass line (no I did not spell that correctly) in a Strauss art song. Since my theory was so week, I could not figure out what was going on. She took the time to really help me see and understand where the notes were and why specific ones were important. In that moment I knew that there was more, and if I wanted it, I could learn it. I also knew in the few weeks I had left, there wasn't much point cramming. She mentioned that if I ever had a chance in grad school to see if I could take a refresher course. The funny thing was I already was thinking the same thing.
Even though I will still defend that an average music teacher does not have time to teach performance and theory in an average program, they should make sure to remind students that there is more out there, and maybe even kick them in the right direction.
I've wondered what drove me to keep learning for quite a while. I always want more, and I don't feel bad for that. I guess I've always felt like if I wanted something, I have plenty of time to find it, so why not explore now, even if it means that I may not be the "best" at what I do do. Its an odd way to look at education, and one that not many people do, or teach. I know I don't teach that way. But I wonder if I did ever inspire a moment of wanting more?
I hated that semester of theory. I never did learn to sing them or hear them just by name. And none of it really made sense until my last spin with grad school when I was actually playing music that used them.
Either way, Ted said something that really made me think. He was arguing that he didn't really want to know about them in high school, but would have liked to know there was more out there than he did know about.
It made me think about if there was a moment that made me realize there was so much more out there that I wanted. Maybe I didn't need it, or even really care, but I wanted some sort of arbitrary knowledge that would somehow help me understand this thing we call music.
After about a week of pondering those thoughts, I know there was a moment. I was a freshman in high school. About 15 of us sat in Girls Glee. We were going over the theory portion of our final. It was basically just being able to write out a major scale and name the notes. The kind of stuff that I didn't know why, but I had known for years, due to massive amounts of band. Someone whs arguing that a singer didn't need to know any theory. They just needed to know up, down, and the same. The piano would tell them the rest.
As an answer, our teacher, who only knew enough piano to get us through the day (we had amazing accompanists for almost all rehearsals and concerts) pulls out a chord progression from thin air. It was something simple. Arpeggiated chords. Eight bars long. A phlagal cadence followed by a perfect authentic. Some really silly melody sung over the top about how if you didn't know basic theory you couldn't be a writer for the Backstreet Boys.
Not that I knew any of that at the time. But it amazed me that he could make something out of nothing. I knew it wasn't "music", but it was a song. I remember it all so clearly.
There was another moment when I was a senior in college. My theory professor and I were sitting at a piano bench. We were looking at a shenkerian bass line (no I did not spell that correctly) in a Strauss art song. Since my theory was so week, I could not figure out what was going on. She took the time to really help me see and understand where the notes were and why specific ones were important. In that moment I knew that there was more, and if I wanted it, I could learn it. I also knew in the few weeks I had left, there wasn't much point cramming. She mentioned that if I ever had a chance in grad school to see if I could take a refresher course. The funny thing was I already was thinking the same thing.
Even though I will still defend that an average music teacher does not have time to teach performance and theory in an average program, they should make sure to remind students that there is more out there, and maybe even kick them in the right direction.
I've wondered what drove me to keep learning for quite a while. I always want more, and I don't feel bad for that. I guess I've always felt like if I wanted something, I have plenty of time to find it, so why not explore now, even if it means that I may not be the "best" at what I do do. Its an odd way to look at education, and one that not many people do, or teach. I know I don't teach that way. But I wonder if I did ever inspire a moment of wanting more?
Thursday, November 6, 2008
blogging update
Seeing as I seem to be taking a voluntary hiatus from blogging in general, here is meme from a friend's blog that seemed to stick with me. I am actually pretty amazed and how much I've done.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - does a great lake count?
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - this is only attractive now that I probably won't ever be able to. Maybe a half marathon someday with Abi.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - only if bongo ball counts
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - if charcoal counts, I really should hang it someday
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - doesn't count, they wouldn't take it even if I tried
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible -still working on it.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
I don't mean to take a break, I just am.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - does a great lake count?
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - this is only attractive now that I probably won't ever be able to. Maybe a half marathon someday with Abi.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run - only if bongo ball counts
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - if charcoal counts, I really should hang it someday
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - doesn't count, they wouldn't take it even if I tried
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible -still working on it.
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day
I don't mean to take a break, I just am.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
oh my...
Today I started my Christmas shopping... not that I haven't been doing this for a while now. I finished shopping for my family sometime this summer, and I've been gathering pieces of my Brother-in-Laws gift since I found out he was my Christmas giftee. So it may be more correct to say today I finished my Christmas shopping, or at least gathering the pieces that would be made into the Christmas gifts.
What makes today different is that it is actually Fall as I am making this purchase. That makes it a striking reality that winter will actually come. I am no longer being a packrat and saving up for a mysterious cold day some many months away.
Almost another year come and gone.
I now understand what mom meant when she used to say time went too quickly.
What makes today different is that it is actually Fall as I am making this purchase. That makes it a striking reality that winter will actually come. I am no longer being a packrat and saving up for a mysterious cold day some many months away.
Almost another year come and gone.
I now understand what mom meant when she used to say time went too quickly.
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