A women in Rochester was at an Amvets Thrift shop where she bought a box of Christmas cards. When she got home, she realized there were other things in the box: business cards, photographs, a work ID card, and a love letter written from a husband to his wife on their 12th anniversary. The woman took a chance and sent the personal items to the address listed on the business cards with a note saying she hoped people at the address would know the people in the photographs and to let her know if they made it to the right place.
My grandmother in Buffalo received that bundle in the last week. The items had belonged to my grandfather who died in October. The pictures were of him at meetings with friends, spending time on a friend's boat in 2007, and one of him posing with me and my cousins on Easter Sunday in 1987.
My grandmother misses her husband of 61 years a great deal. She told my Aunt that she has been looking for a sign since October that he is where he's supposed to be and is happy. My grandmother says she has her answer now.
A side note - I googled the name of the woman who bought the Christmas card box and if the person I found online is the same, she's a widow too. My aunt helped write a note for my grandmother that she will send back to the kind woman whose chance purchase made all of my family smile this past week.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 01, 2011
When It's Time To Change, You've Got To Rearrange
There have been some big changes in the works for several of our friends recently, mostly of the moving-out-of-town sort. It's going to be sad to see some of them go, but seeing them head off for new opportunities and adventures has made us think a bit lately.
Both Matt and I have embarked on different interests outside of our regular jobs. We've discussed taking those interests to the next step. Unfortunately, there is a sense that doing that in Jamestown might not be possible. So when our friend, Candy, started sending job listings in Portland, Oregon to me, mostly as a joke, I started looking into possibilities. We've never been to Portland but based on friend's experiences and various stuff I've read on the interwebs, it definitely seems like a vibrant city that has a great art scene.
While we love Jamestown and our friends and family here, we think it may be time to chase the other dreams. With that, we've begun plans to move to Portland where we hope to start on a project Matt came up with, inspired by the Portlandia series. It will be the "Put A Bird On It" web company. Part of our goal is to target artists in Portland and provide them a venue to have websites built around their artwork. Think of it as a very localized Etsy. We figure that the sooner we move, the better given that the housing market is only sucking more and more as the months go on, so our tentative move date is April 31st.
We're very excited about these changes, but sad at the same time as we'll miss this community and everyone. Look for more details in the coming weeks!
Both Matt and I have embarked on different interests outside of our regular jobs. We've discussed taking those interests to the next step. Unfortunately, there is a sense that doing that in Jamestown might not be possible. So when our friend, Candy, started sending job listings in Portland, Oregon to me, mostly as a joke, I started looking into possibilities. We've never been to Portland but based on friend's experiences and various stuff I've read on the interwebs, it definitely seems like a vibrant city that has a great art scene.
While we love Jamestown and our friends and family here, we think it may be time to chase the other dreams. With that, we've begun plans to move to Portland where we hope to start on a project Matt came up with, inspired by the Portlandia series. It will be the "Put A Bird On It" web company. Part of our goal is to target artists in Portland and provide them a venue to have websites built around their artwork. Think of it as a very localized Etsy. We figure that the sooner we move, the better given that the housing market is only sucking more and more as the months go on, so our tentative move date is April 31st.
We're very excited about these changes, but sad at the same time as we'll miss this community and everyone. Look for more details in the coming weeks!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Elliptical Playlists
Back in January, I discovered that I actually like using the elliptical or arc trainer for exercise. I think part of it has to do with the fact that I'm in a lot better shape than the first time I tried to use an elliptical some years ago. It also helps that I now have an iPod with thousands of songs and dozens of playlists to help make the time go by and motivate me.
The first playlist I made, called "Elliptical Delusions," had a lot of pop stuff on it and I used it pretty regularly until this last week. A sampling of the music includes:
Stars - Fixed
Lady Gaga- Teeth
Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
Metric - Help I'm Alive
P!nk - Raise Your Glass
Basement Jaxx - Rendez-Vu
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
Fergie - Fergalicious
Daft Punk - Technologic
The latest playlist, named "Elliptical Confusions," has less songs (first one had 3.4 hours of music) and comes in at 1.6 hours of music. I'll probably have to switch music out more frequently, but I found a lot of stuff I wanted to listen to just wasn't coming up. Here are some of the songs on the list:
Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - Daisy Chain For Satan
Faith No More - Midlife Crisis
New Order - Vanishing Point
MNDR - Fade To Black
The Go! Team - Grip Like A Vice
Metallica - Of Wolf And Man
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss
ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
I've read a bit about how music can motivate you and I find it definitely is true for me. I think this is a big part of why I like Zumba. On that front, no plans to teach right now. Taking the certification class was a good experience, but finding time to get additional training is rather rough right now given that it's my busy season at work.
The first playlist I made, called "Elliptical Delusions," had a lot of pop stuff on it and I used it pretty regularly until this last week. A sampling of the music includes:
Stars - Fixed
Lady Gaga- Teeth
Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
Metric - Help I'm Alive
P!nk - Raise Your Glass
Basement Jaxx - Rendez-Vu
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock - It Takes Two
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
Fergie - Fergalicious
Daft Punk - Technologic
The latest playlist, named "Elliptical Confusions," has less songs (first one had 3.4 hours of music) and comes in at 1.6 hours of music. I'll probably have to switch music out more frequently, but I found a lot of stuff I wanted to listen to just wasn't coming up. Here are some of the songs on the list:
Kelly Clarkson - All I Ever Wanted
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - Daisy Chain For Satan
Faith No More - Midlife Crisis
New Order - Vanishing Point
MNDR - Fade To Black
The Go! Team - Grip Like A Vice
Metallica - Of Wolf And Man
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss
ABBA - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
I've read a bit about how music can motivate you and I find it definitely is true for me. I think this is a big part of why I like Zumba. On that front, no plans to teach right now. Taking the certification class was a good experience, but finding time to get additional training is rather rough right now given that it's my busy season at work.
Friday, March 04, 2011
20th Anniversary of the Rochester Ice Storm of 1991
I initially blogged about my experiences with the Ice Storm of 1991 some years ago. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle has a retrospective including a slide show of photos.
The big thing about the storm, aside from the massive tree damage, was the number of people who lost power and then went days, some even weeks, without power. I was only 14 but I understood the concept that this was a public relations nightmare for RG&E. It didn't help their good image much more when they instituted a rate increase in later months to help with costs incurred by the storm. My house was without power for just over 6 days. Like many, we stood in line for dry ice at a local church so that the well-stocked freezer in the basement wouldn't defrost, spoiling the food.
Even with photography and video, it was still sometimes hard to grasp how hard this storm was on tree population. The magnitude of how many limbs and trees were affected became easier to understand when driving south on Route 590 just before the 104 interchange. Massive piles of branches towered. At first, I think the town of Irondequoit was burning the wood until the neighbors complained. They later resorted to chipping the limbs into mulch. The town gave it out for free, and then continued to offer free mulch at Durand-Eastman Park for years after. Up to 3 years later, I used to joke with my parents when we drove by the steaming mulch pile that they were still trying to grind up trees from the Ice Storm.
The night hours stick out for me still. While I was growing up, we didn't watch a lot of television. That changed when I moved away and my mom discovered HGTV. In 1991, we were mainly a family of readers with the occasional hockey or football game thrown in the mix for my dad. During those power-less days, the oil lamps and candles threw off a decent amount of light at night. I could have read but opted to drag out coloring books because it gave me something to do with my hands while we listened to WHAM for hours. My parents didn't listen to talk radio, but the friends staying with us for the week did. It seems like they tried to keep local hosts on the radio all day and into the night so that people could call in from all over Monroe County to tell their survival story or share information. These days we'd Twitter or post something on Facebook that people would read on their phones so we'd know what was going on. As much as I love having that kind of information readily available, hearing it on the radio made it more human.You could hear the emotion in people's voices. The frustration over how long it was taking crews to make their way through neighborhoods, worries about where to find generators that were sold out all over town, sadness over the loss of grand, beloved trees in yards; and appreciation for the radio station providing a venue for people to talk during the disaster.
Rochester would be hit again with a destructive Ice Storm in 2003, but it would not compare to the Ice Storm of 1991. In a sense, I suppose the 1991 storm is comparable to the Blizzard of '77 for Buffalo in terms of the way it affected a large area for weeks and also by how much people continue to talk about it, even 20 years after the fact.
The big thing about the storm, aside from the massive tree damage, was the number of people who lost power and then went days, some even weeks, without power. I was only 14 but I understood the concept that this was a public relations nightmare for RG&E. It didn't help their good image much more when they instituted a rate increase in later months to help with costs incurred by the storm. My house was without power for just over 6 days. Like many, we stood in line for dry ice at a local church so that the well-stocked freezer in the basement wouldn't defrost, spoiling the food.
Even with photography and video, it was still sometimes hard to grasp how hard this storm was on tree population. The magnitude of how many limbs and trees were affected became easier to understand when driving south on Route 590 just before the 104 interchange. Massive piles of branches towered. At first, I think the town of Irondequoit was burning the wood until the neighbors complained. They later resorted to chipping the limbs into mulch. The town gave it out for free, and then continued to offer free mulch at Durand-Eastman Park for years after. Up to 3 years later, I used to joke with my parents when we drove by the steaming mulch pile that they were still trying to grind up trees from the Ice Storm.
The night hours stick out for me still. While I was growing up, we didn't watch a lot of television. That changed when I moved away and my mom discovered HGTV. In 1991, we were mainly a family of readers with the occasional hockey or football game thrown in the mix for my dad. During those power-less days, the oil lamps and candles threw off a decent amount of light at night. I could have read but opted to drag out coloring books because it gave me something to do with my hands while we listened to WHAM for hours. My parents didn't listen to talk radio, but the friends staying with us for the week did. It seems like they tried to keep local hosts on the radio all day and into the night so that people could call in from all over Monroe County to tell their survival story or share information. These days we'd Twitter or post something on Facebook that people would read on their phones so we'd know what was going on. As much as I love having that kind of information readily available, hearing it on the radio made it more human.You could hear the emotion in people's voices. The frustration over how long it was taking crews to make their way through neighborhoods, worries about where to find generators that were sold out all over town, sadness over the loss of grand, beloved trees in yards; and appreciation for the radio station providing a venue for people to talk during the disaster.
Rochester would be hit again with a destructive Ice Storm in 2003, but it would not compare to the Ice Storm of 1991. In a sense, I suppose the 1991 storm is comparable to the Blizzard of '77 for Buffalo in terms of the way it affected a large area for weeks and also by how much people continue to talk about it, even 20 years after the fact.
Monday, February 07, 2011
Certifiable - A Quest To Zumba
Over the weekend I did something that would have seemed completely foreign and mind-boggling to me just two and half years ago: I became an official Zumba instructor.
The first time I took a Zumba class was November 11, 2008. I had the day off from work and Nicole, who taught my lunch time exercise class, told me I could drop into her Zumba class for free one time. I did it once and got hooked. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to sign up for a full session until January, and only on Saturdays, because of its popularity. I was able to add more regular classes as I got wise to when enrollment was opened and got in before the roster filled up.
Should I mention I hate exercise? I find walking/running on a treadmill to be boring. I find aerobic classes or pilates classes to be a major yawn. So what in the world was it about Zumba that kept me going and then pushed me over the edge to even learn how to become an instructor?
The music and dance. It didn't feel like exercise. That feeling kept me going and shed over 20 pounds off my 5'2 frame over a 2 year period. You could say I bought into the concept of how successful this could be for others. It also helped that my friend, Alison, was highly interested in getting authorized to teach as well since we both see a need in Jamestown for more classes.
Even though I read some stuff online about what to expect in a Zumba Basics 1 class, I still wasn't sure what it was going to be like. I will admit I had fears of it being all skinny personal trainers who were ready to yell "Zumba!" at the slightest provocation. Even as we registered that morning, I was still looking around nervously wondering how many people were already exercise gurus and if I had any business bringing my sometimes 2-left feet to the show.
My fears were waylaid when our instructor, Jani Roberts, led us through the master class, opening with "Raise Your Glass" by P!nk as the first warm-up song. Her enthusiasm was incredible and you could see she was someone who loves her job. Soon after we learned that we were a motley mix of people who were exercise trainers, dancers, people who had never been to Zumba, students taking over Zumba instructor's classes, people who lost up to 75 pounds and wanted to teach others, to people who were already teaching Zumba but came back for more.
Even though it wasn't as intense as the master class in the morning, you could say we danced our arses off the rest of the day. There was a break-down of how to do four of the main styles of dance: meringue, salsa, cumbia, and reggaeton. Jani also discussed some program related notes of interest, instructor/class interaction, and got us to attempt to group choreograph bits of one of the more popular Zumba songs. It was a hell of a day, but worth the effort.
Will I teach? I've had friends and acquaintances ask if I'm going to teach and tell me that they'd take a class from me. Right now, my schedule would require some finessing in order to follow through. I also would plan to get some additional training/certifications in important things like CPR/First Aid which usually are necessary and non-negotiable if you're going to try to make a group of people break a sweat. So in short, I'd like to teach but it's going to be a little while before that becomes a reality. I have a year to figure it out since that's how long my authorization lasts. After that, I either have to re-take the course or become a licensee by joining the Zumba Instructor Network (fee per month). You never know how things will work out sometimes, but I'm sure if I suddenly turn true instructor that I'll list times/locations for those willing to be indoctrinated.
The first time I took a Zumba class was November 11, 2008. I had the day off from work and Nicole, who taught my lunch time exercise class, told me I could drop into her Zumba class for free one time. I did it once and got hooked. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to sign up for a full session until January, and only on Saturdays, because of its popularity. I was able to add more regular classes as I got wise to when enrollment was opened and got in before the roster filled up.
Should I mention I hate exercise? I find walking/running on a treadmill to be boring. I find aerobic classes or pilates classes to be a major yawn. So what in the world was it about Zumba that kept me going and then pushed me over the edge to even learn how to become an instructor?
The music and dance. It didn't feel like exercise. That feeling kept me going and shed over 20 pounds off my 5'2 frame over a 2 year period. You could say I bought into the concept of how successful this could be for others. It also helped that my friend, Alison, was highly interested in getting authorized to teach as well since we both see a need in Jamestown for more classes.
Even though I read some stuff online about what to expect in a Zumba Basics 1 class, I still wasn't sure what it was going to be like. I will admit I had fears of it being all skinny personal trainers who were ready to yell "Zumba!" at the slightest provocation. Even as we registered that morning, I was still looking around nervously wondering how many people were already exercise gurus and if I had any business bringing my sometimes 2-left feet to the show.
My fears were waylaid when our instructor, Jani Roberts, led us through the master class, opening with "Raise Your Glass" by P!nk as the first warm-up song. Her enthusiasm was incredible and you could see she was someone who loves her job. Soon after we learned that we were a motley mix of people who were exercise trainers, dancers, people who had never been to Zumba, students taking over Zumba instructor's classes, people who lost up to 75 pounds and wanted to teach others, to people who were already teaching Zumba but came back for more.
Even though it wasn't as intense as the master class in the morning, you could say we danced our arses off the rest of the day. There was a break-down of how to do four of the main styles of dance: meringue, salsa, cumbia, and reggaeton. Jani also discussed some program related notes of interest, instructor/class interaction, and got us to attempt to group choreograph bits of one of the more popular Zumba songs. It was a hell of a day, but worth the effort.
Will I teach? I've had friends and acquaintances ask if I'm going to teach and tell me that they'd take a class from me. Right now, my schedule would require some finessing in order to follow through. I also would plan to get some additional training/certifications in important things like CPR/First Aid which usually are necessary and non-negotiable if you're going to try to make a group of people break a sweat. So in short, I'd like to teach but it's going to be a little while before that becomes a reality. I have a year to figure it out since that's how long my authorization lasts. After that, I either have to re-take the course or become a licensee by joining the Zumba Instructor Network (fee per month). You never know how things will work out sometimes, but I'm sure if I suddenly turn true instructor that I'll list times/locations for those willing to be indoctrinated.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Sun & Blue Skies in February
It's a rare sunny and blue sky filled day today in Western New York. We've had more than our fair share of cloudy grayness for the past couple months.
Zumba
I decided I enjoyed taking the class so much that I signed up for Instructor Training with my friend, Ali. We head up to Rochester after work tonight for an all day session tomorrow. There's a serious need for evening classes in the Jamestown area with only one being offered at the Y after the 5 o'clock hour. I'm hoping Ali will be able to fill the gap, with me filling in if needed. On a related note, I re-joined the Jamestown Y since as long as I make it there at least 3 times a month, it pays for itself in terms of the cost of adding me to Matt's membership.
Violin
I won't be performing in any musicals this Spring as the school I usually play for doesn't have a violin part written into the musical they are doing. This means I won't be playing again until the Spring concert for Jamestown Community Orchestra. On the non-performing side, I still have 2 students at Infinity. After almost 10 years of prodding, T.R. McKotch finally got me to write a violin part so one of my students could accompany an ensemble that's covering "Back To The Earth" by Rusted Root. I can't really say I'm writing the part as all I'm doing is transcribing the background vocals so my student can follow along. It's still more than I've dared to try in years.
Radio
I'm still faithfully recording the news every Sunday through Thursday night for WRFA. I've also been voicing a segment called "This Week In Metal" whenever I'm sent scripts by Len Barry. It's a goofy segment, but it's fun to do something different than straight news reading. For the past month, I've also been mentoring the Public Affairs coordinator at the station to give him some pointers, story ideas, and delivery tips. He has some radio background, but he's left to his own devices a lot of times so I thought it would be helpful to offer some guidance.
Health
I've had a cold/sinus drainage issue for over 5-weeks now. I was knocked down pretty good for 2 of those weeks but my doctor didn't recommend any kind of medication. I'm hoping it will go away soon since it has been keeping me from being as active as I'd like. Otherwise, I keep trying to eat healthy, get enough rest, get enough fluids, run the humidifier at night and exercising.
Zumba
I decided I enjoyed taking the class so much that I signed up for Instructor Training with my friend, Ali. We head up to Rochester after work tonight for an all day session tomorrow. There's a serious need for evening classes in the Jamestown area with only one being offered at the Y after the 5 o'clock hour. I'm hoping Ali will be able to fill the gap, with me filling in if needed. On a related note, I re-joined the Jamestown Y since as long as I make it there at least 3 times a month, it pays for itself in terms of the cost of adding me to Matt's membership.
Violin
I won't be performing in any musicals this Spring as the school I usually play for doesn't have a violin part written into the musical they are doing. This means I won't be playing again until the Spring concert for Jamestown Community Orchestra. On the non-performing side, I still have 2 students at Infinity. After almost 10 years of prodding, T.R. McKotch finally got me to write a violin part so one of my students could accompany an ensemble that's covering "Back To The Earth" by Rusted Root. I can't really say I'm writing the part as all I'm doing is transcribing the background vocals so my student can follow along. It's still more than I've dared to try in years.
Radio
I'm still faithfully recording the news every Sunday through Thursday night for WRFA. I've also been voicing a segment called "This Week In Metal" whenever I'm sent scripts by Len Barry. It's a goofy segment, but it's fun to do something different than straight news reading. For the past month, I've also been mentoring the Public Affairs coordinator at the station to give him some pointers, story ideas, and delivery tips. He has some radio background, but he's left to his own devices a lot of times so I thought it would be helpful to offer some guidance.
Health
I've had a cold/sinus drainage issue for over 5-weeks now. I was knocked down pretty good for 2 of those weeks but my doctor didn't recommend any kind of medication. I'm hoping it will go away soon since it has been keeping me from being as active as I'd like. Otherwise, I keep trying to eat healthy, get enough rest, get enough fluids, run the humidifier at night and exercising.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
2010 - Is It Over Already?
1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I began teaching violin at Infinity Visual & Performing Arts
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not much of a resolution making sort of person, but I did pinky swear with a few friends that 2011 will be the year we're more positive.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin, Rachel, had a baby girl in May.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Grandfather died October 5th. He had been sick since this summer, but took quite a turn that first weekend of the month. Just by chance I was able to be there in the room with my family when he died. In an odd way, being there helped bring a lot more closure than I've had when other family members have died.
5. What countries did you visit?
Matt and I went to Hamilton, Ontario to see Star Wars In Concert on our 6th wedding anniversary.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
The feeling like I can move forward with things I want to do.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing some fear to do the things I want to do.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Still not saying no enough.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm still a pretty healthy gal.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
PlayStation 3, which enabled us to "cut the cord" on the upper tiers of cable.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Matt still gets high marks.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
It would not be polite to name names.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and house related stuff such as replacing the foundation on the backside of our house, fixing the furnace, and having to get our sewer line roto-rootered twice.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Signing up for a Zumba certification class that will take place in February 2011.
15. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I am happier. I feel more even going into the New Year than last year.
b) thinner or fatter? I think I gained a couple pounds from where I was last year. Hard to say since I KNOW I gained some "holiday weight" over the holidays last year.
c) richer or poorer? Edging toward a little poorer after some hard home maintenance costs over the last year. We're still on course though to try to purchase a car to replace my beloved Toyota Tercel.
17. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I think I should have written more. I had a nice streak going at the beginning of the year, but lost focus. I always wish I had taken more time to read, and that continues. You know it's bad when you have a monthly magazine that you still haven't read and the next issue is probably in the mail today.
18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wish I had stressed less.
19. How did you spend Christmas?
We went to Cheektowaga for Christmas Eve dinner with my family. Much to my joyous excitement, Matt gave me my big Christmas gift of tickets to see New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys with Ali in Pittsburgh this June. After opening presents, we headed off to Midnight Mass at Queen of Martyrs where the service actually began at 10pm and only lasted 42 minutes. We left Christmas morning after eggs, toast, and copious amounts of coffee to come back to Jamestown for Christmas day with Matt's parents.
20. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I stayed in love.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
Paranormal State, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Psychic Kids, and the news.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I'm not big on hate because it wastes so much energy. There are people who disappoint me, but I don't hate them.
23. What did you want and get?
Some pure joy.
24. What did you want and not get?
That sense that I can change some things in order to be more happy
25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked and later went to the Brick Room for dinner with Matt, TJ Maxx, and then ice cream at The Big Dipper. I turned 34.
26. Who did you miss?
I was sorting Christmas decorations when I came across a box from my grandmother's house that hadn't been opened since she died 5 years ago. When I opened it, all the linens smelled like her house and reminded me of how much I still miss her.
27. Good Things About 2010 (a list)
I began teaching violin at Infinity Visual & Performing Arts
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not much of a resolution making sort of person, but I did pinky swear with a few friends that 2011 will be the year we're more positive.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My cousin, Rachel, had a baby girl in May.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My Grandfather died October 5th. He had been sick since this summer, but took quite a turn that first weekend of the month. Just by chance I was able to be there in the room with my family when he died. In an odd way, being there helped bring a lot more closure than I've had when other family members have died.
5. What countries did you visit?
Matt and I went to Hamilton, Ontario to see Star Wars In Concert on our 6th wedding anniversary.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
The feeling like I can move forward with things I want to do.
7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing some fear to do the things I want to do.
8. What was your biggest failure?
Still not saying no enough.
9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm still a pretty healthy gal.
10. What was the best thing you bought?
PlayStation 3, which enabled us to "cut the cord" on the upper tiers of cable.
11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Matt still gets high marks.
12. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
It would not be polite to name names.
13. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and house related stuff such as replacing the foundation on the backside of our house, fixing the furnace, and having to get our sewer line roto-rootered twice.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Signing up for a Zumba certification class that will take place in February 2011.
15. What song will always remind you of 2010?
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
16. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I am happier. I feel more even going into the New Year than last year.
b) thinner or fatter? I think I gained a couple pounds from where I was last year. Hard to say since I KNOW I gained some "holiday weight" over the holidays last year.
c) richer or poorer? Edging toward a little poorer after some hard home maintenance costs over the last year. We're still on course though to try to purchase a car to replace my beloved Toyota Tercel.
17. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I think I should have written more. I had a nice streak going at the beginning of the year, but lost focus. I always wish I had taken more time to read, and that continues. You know it's bad when you have a monthly magazine that you still haven't read and the next issue is probably in the mail today.
18. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wish I had stressed less.
19. How did you spend Christmas?
We went to Cheektowaga for Christmas Eve dinner with my family. Much to my joyous excitement, Matt gave me my big Christmas gift of tickets to see New Kids On The Block/Backstreet Boys with Ali in Pittsburgh this June. After opening presents, we headed off to Midnight Mass at Queen of Martyrs where the service actually began at 10pm and only lasted 42 minutes. We left Christmas morning after eggs, toast, and copious amounts of coffee to come back to Jamestown for Christmas day with Matt's parents.
20. Did you fall in love in 2010?
I stayed in love.
21. What was your favorite TV program?
Paranormal State, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Psychic Kids, and the news.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I'm not big on hate because it wastes so much energy. There are people who disappoint me, but I don't hate them.
23. What did you want and get?
Some pure joy.
24. What did you want and not get?
That sense that I can change some things in order to be more happy
25. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I worked and later went to the Brick Room for dinner with Matt, TJ Maxx, and then ice cream at The Big Dipper. I turned 34.
26. Who did you miss?
I was sorting Christmas decorations when I came across a box from my grandmother's house that hadn't been opened since she died 5 years ago. When I opened it, all the linens smelled like her house and reminded me of how much I still miss her.
27. Good Things About 2010 (a list)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Icicle Dreams - Christmas 2010
I've already put together this holiday season's music mix which is kind of odd and possibly frightening if you know my past aversions to doing anything holiday-ish before Thanksgiving. I chalk it up to sorting through all our Christmas tree ornaments and decorations recently to why this mix came to be.
1. Weezer - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. The Three Wise Men (XTC) - Thanks For Christmas
3. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. Snow Patrol - When I Get Home For Christmas
5. The Autumns - She Whispers The Winter Snow
6. Stars - Winter Bones
7. Elk City - Deer Crossing
8. Glasvegas - A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like a Kiss)
9. Regina Spektor - 20 Years of Snow
10. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Mr. Heatmiser
11. The Format - Holly Jolly Christmas
12. Great Big Sea - Seven Joys Of Mary
13. Pink Martini - A Snow Globe Christmas
Theme this year is Christmas-themed music with some songs that merely mention snow/winter thrown in to round it out. I will mention that this is the first time that beloved/detested Mariah Carey song has found its way onto any holiday mix by me. Have you seen Love Actually? Like love, Christmas IS all around us, or at least that's what all the retail establishments are hoping you believe.
Happy (ridiculously early) Christmas.
1. Weezer - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
2. The Three Wise Men (XTC) - Thanks For Christmas
3. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. Snow Patrol - When I Get Home For Christmas
5. The Autumns - She Whispers The Winter Snow
6. Stars - Winter Bones
7. Elk City - Deer Crossing
8. Glasvegas - A Snowflake Fell (And It Felt Like a Kiss)
9. Regina Spektor - 20 Years of Snow
10. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Mr. Heatmiser
11. The Format - Holly Jolly Christmas
12. Great Big Sea - Seven Joys Of Mary
13. Pink Martini - A Snow Globe Christmas
Theme this year is Christmas-themed music with some songs that merely mention snow/winter thrown in to round it out. I will mention that this is the first time that beloved/detested Mariah Carey song has found its way onto any holiday mix by me. Have you seen Love Actually? Like love, Christmas IS all around us, or at least that's what all the retail establishments are hoping you believe.
Happy (ridiculously early) Christmas.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
When I Grow Up, I Want To Be...
I had the discussion with some friends not long ago about what we wanted to be "when we grew up." Of course, that always leads to the inevitable, "I'm still asking myself that question every day because I STILL haven't grown up!"
Even if you're fairly satisfied in your job, I think it's always good to look back at where you thought you would go in life and the dreams you had as a child. Consider it a lesson in grounding yourself, perhaps?
So my list of all the things I thought I could be was so varied that I thought it might be fun to list them all off:
Even if you're fairly satisfied in your job, I think it's always good to look back at where you thought you would go in life and the dreams you had as a child. Consider it a lesson in grounding yourself, perhaps?
So my list of all the things I thought I could be was so varied that I thought it might be fun to list them all off:
- Witch - Some of the first books I read on my own were about a little girl witch, Dorrie .I think I thought I could become a witch too and make potions to help people. It wasn't until years later that I learned that there were actual witches in this world
- Artist - My mom signed me up for a variety of art classes through Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery's Creative Workshop when I was younger. Most of them involved some sort of water color painting and drawing. There might have been one class where we made pottery items, but I could be confusing that with art class in middle school. My mom was an enthusiastic supporter of some of the stuff I produced which I suppose led me to believe that maybe I could do that art thing.
- Ghost Investigator - Before I became afraid of everything bloody, violent, and gory in films, tv, and books, I read many books about the paranormal. After I exhausted the children's section of the library, I moved onto the rest of the library to find books with ghost stories and other horrors. I think my idea about becoming a ghost investigator was primarily fueled by seeing Ghostbusters.
- Meteorologist - Meteorologist Kevin Williams visited my school when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. He had footage of tornadoes and other weather phenomena. It looked exciting and something I could
- Archeologist - The Indiana Jones movies are solely to blame here although my parents did have a habit of taking me to every historic village they came across while on vacations. I still love history.
- Musician - Before the next notion came about, I decided that maybe I could be violinist professionally because how cool would it be to play violin in an orchestra and get paid for it??
- Music Teacher - The performer idea track was derailed when the idea to become a music teacher was presented to me just before 8th grade. I think it sounded reasonable and something I might like to do so I spent the next 6 years of my life dedicating my studies toward this goal.
- Music Historian- Almost 3/4 of the way through my freshman year in college, I realized that maybe I didn't want to be a music teacher. I loved music and thought perhaps the music history route was the way to go. I even met with the music history department head at Baldwin-Wallace College to try to feel him out for what possible careers in that field could be.
- Radio Music Director - Ultimately, I switched majors to broadcasting with thoughts that maybe I could be a music director for a radio station since I had so much fun doing it in high school.
- Radio Programmer - That led to thinking maybe I could program a whole station.
- Radio News Person - And then I took that news writing course my Junior year in college at Buffalo State and it was all over from there.
Friday, September 24, 2010
When Summer Lingers Into Autumn
The mild weather when I took my dogs out this morning brought up a favorite Fall memory of one of those freak warm weather days in the middle of October. Sure, this is still late September but the idea we're supposed reach the mid-80s today is odd.
Anyway, this one day it was sunny and the projected high was 75-degrees. For once, we didn't mind going outside for gym class. I think our phys ed teachers liked to make us run around the track in super cold weather as a way to build character. I used their penchant for cold-weather exercise later in December to ask to walk around the track with my friend, Sue, instead of playing endless rounds of volleyball. Of course, our teachers didn't know it was so she could smoke as we walked, but that's another story.
On this one October day, the sun was terrifically warm and made the yellow leaves still clinging to the trees around the school property glow. A good breeze rustled fallen leaves around the tennis courts where we smacked balls at each other with rackets that had seen better days. For 42 minutes of class time, it was the best day ever.
Tomorrow we'll be back to Autumn and I'll be dragging out my hoodie to keep me warm. Today I'm wearing short sleeves and capris. Happy Summer-Autumn in the meantime!
Anyway, this one day it was sunny and the projected high was 75-degrees. For once, we didn't mind going outside for gym class. I think our phys ed teachers liked to make us run around the track in super cold weather as a way to build character. I used their penchant for cold-weather exercise later in December to ask to walk around the track with my friend, Sue, instead of playing endless rounds of volleyball. Of course, our teachers didn't know it was so she could smoke as we walked, but that's another story.
On this one October day, the sun was terrifically warm and made the yellow leaves still clinging to the trees around the school property glow. A good breeze rustled fallen leaves around the tennis courts where we smacked balls at each other with rackets that had seen better days. For 42 minutes of class time, it was the best day ever.
Tomorrow we'll be back to Autumn and I'll be dragging out my hoodie to keep me warm. Today I'm wearing short sleeves and capris. Happy Summer-Autumn in the meantime!
Friday, September 03, 2010
Pre-Labor Day Summer Wrap-Up
The unofficial end to summer is this weekend. I'm currently scanning RADAR and several weather websites in an attempt to divine whether we're going to get so much rain that the city's Labor Day Festival, which I help organize, has to be postponed until Monday. Fingers are crossed right now.
So what about the rest of this summer?
- We took a 4-day weekend to the Midwest. A stop in Chicago was made for dinner at Hop Leaf with friends. A fantastic party in Pontiac came next with a theme of "Video Games." I went as Princess Peach.
- Matt and I spent our 6th wedding anniversary in Hamilton, Ontario to see "Star Wars In Concert." It was a fabulous performance that we capped off by having dinner at La Bella Sicilia's which is where we held our rehearsal dinner. I also convinced Matt that we needed frozen custard from Fran Ceil's.
- We took in a lecture by Ed Kashi at Chautauqua Institution courtesy of our friends from Kodak who were there for Photography week.
- An evening of Bellini's and Ballet was had with friends at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.
- My two young violin students showed up regularly for the rest of the summer. I'm hoping they come back to the program this Fall.
- Matt scored tickets to see an Abba tribute band perform at Chautauqua Institution. It was surprisingly good and revived my appreciation for that Swedish pop band.
- I was asked to play violin in the pit orchestra for Lucille Ball Little Theatre's production of "Chicago" in October. Rehearsals started this past weekend.
- We met up with Len and Ali in Cleveland for the "Dog Days of Summer" at Great Lakes Brewing Company. After admiring lots of people's dogs and having some food/beer, we headed downtown for more beverages at Flannery's. Before heading back to Jamestown, we walked around downtown and I showed Ali and Len Tower City Mall.
- We celebrated Ali and Len's 10th wedding anniversary with them, family, and friends in the cool middle-of-nowhere log cabin where Len's mom and step-dad live.
- I earnestly started clearing out a lot of my clothes that don't fit or I haven't worn in awhile. I also started a consignment account at a local shop to try to sell some of things I no longer wanted.
The Fall, which eventually turns into my "slow time" at work, is shaping up to be rather busy. There's Labor Day Festival this Sunday (unless it gets rained out), Local Music Showcase, WRFA fundraiser at Southern Tier Brewing Company, my mom's 60th birthday, "Chicago," Jamestown Community Orchestra concert, Halloween Fun Fest, pierogi party, and when we get to November I'll finally get a 2-week vacation. Just doing my best to hang in there until then!
So what about the rest of this summer?
- We took a 4-day weekend to the Midwest. A stop in Chicago was made for dinner at Hop Leaf with friends. A fantastic party in Pontiac came next with a theme of "Video Games." I went as Princess Peach.
- Matt and I spent our 6th wedding anniversary in Hamilton, Ontario to see "Star Wars In Concert." It was a fabulous performance that we capped off by having dinner at La Bella Sicilia's which is where we held our rehearsal dinner. I also convinced Matt that we needed frozen custard from Fran Ceil's.
- We took in a lecture by Ed Kashi at Chautauqua Institution courtesy of our friends from Kodak who were there for Photography week.
- An evening of Bellini's and Ballet was had with friends at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute.
- My two young violin students showed up regularly for the rest of the summer. I'm hoping they come back to the program this Fall.
- Matt scored tickets to see an Abba tribute band perform at Chautauqua Institution. It was surprisingly good and revived my appreciation for that Swedish pop band.
- I was asked to play violin in the pit orchestra for Lucille Ball Little Theatre's production of "Chicago" in October. Rehearsals started this past weekend.
- We met up with Len and Ali in Cleveland for the "Dog Days of Summer" at Great Lakes Brewing Company. After admiring lots of people's dogs and having some food/beer, we headed downtown for more beverages at Flannery's. Before heading back to Jamestown, we walked around downtown and I showed Ali and Len Tower City Mall.
- We celebrated Ali and Len's 10th wedding anniversary with them, family, and friends in the cool middle-of-nowhere log cabin where Len's mom and step-dad live.
- I earnestly started clearing out a lot of my clothes that don't fit or I haven't worn in awhile. I also started a consignment account at a local shop to try to sell some of things I no longer wanted.
The Fall, which eventually turns into my "slow time" at work, is shaping up to be rather busy. There's Labor Day Festival this Sunday (unless it gets rained out), Local Music Showcase, WRFA fundraiser at Southern Tier Brewing Company, my mom's 60th birthday, "Chicago," Jamestown Community Orchestra concert, Halloween Fun Fest, pierogi party, and when we get to November I'll finally get a 2-week vacation. Just doing my best to hang in there until then!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
2010 Summer Run Down Thus Far...
I'm going to say summer started at the end of April because we've had some seriously nice weather these past few months. So what have we been up to? Ready, steady, GO!
- A Dos De Mayo Party at Shannon Mac's house kicked off the season. There was delicious food made by one of the chefs from Hutch's Restaurant in Buffalo, a DJ, and a slip'n slide on a hill.
- "This Week In Metal" was revived on WRFA-LP (podcasts available). Leonard Barren and Julia Tesla can be heard weekly giving you random cool facts with a metal theme.
- I played in the Spring concert for the Jamestown Community orchestra. We rocked out to Chuck Mangione's "The Children of Sanchez."
- The foundation on the south side of our house was replaced so that we no longer feared the back-end of house falling over because of crumbling blocks.
- Memorial Day weekend my parents visited, installed a motion detector light on the back of our house and went on the Chautauqua Art Trail. We all watched the Memorial Day parade down Lakeview Avenue and later hung out at a friend's house on Chautauqua Lake.
- We attended the Yassou! Greek Festival with friends and some of us attempted to drink the Southern Tier Brewing Opa! kegs dry.
- We celebrated the marriage of NickDean and Lori in Bemus Point. It was a super hot and muggy day that was met with lots of chair rocking on the front porch of the Hotel Lenhart.
- A orange tiger-striped cat we named McKinley came to live at our house. Matt wrote the whole story here.
- We revisited our high school years by attending Forte's Surprise Prom Party - Enchanted Shipwreck Under The Sea.
- More hanging out on Chautauqua Lake for Fourth of July.
- Spent as much time as possible hanging out with Shannon who was in town from Pontiac, Illinois. Plenty of beer was consumed.
- In theory, I began teaching violin lessons at the Infinity Performing Arts Center. Of the two students I have, one had car trouble and the other forgot to show up. We'll see how the second week goes!
- We joined some cousins in Rochester to head off to the wineries for much merriment. Crowning touch on that visit, besides all the excellent food consumed, was clogging a Wegmans' aisle while looking at beer.
And that's just through this past weekend! Stay tuned...
- A Dos De Mayo Party at Shannon Mac's house kicked off the season. There was delicious food made by one of the chefs from Hutch's Restaurant in Buffalo, a DJ, and a slip'n slide on a hill.
- "This Week In Metal" was revived on WRFA-LP (podcasts available). Leonard Barren and Julia Tesla can be heard weekly giving you random cool facts with a metal theme.
- I played in the Spring concert for the Jamestown Community orchestra. We rocked out to Chuck Mangione's "The Children of Sanchez."
- The foundation on the south side of our house was replaced so that we no longer feared the back-end of house falling over because of crumbling blocks.
- Memorial Day weekend my parents visited, installed a motion detector light on the back of our house and went on the Chautauqua Art Trail. We all watched the Memorial Day parade down Lakeview Avenue and later hung out at a friend's house on Chautauqua Lake.
- We attended the Yassou! Greek Festival with friends and some of us attempted to drink the Southern Tier Brewing Opa! kegs dry.
- We celebrated the marriage of NickDean and Lori in Bemus Point. It was a super hot and muggy day that was met with lots of chair rocking on the front porch of the Hotel Lenhart.
- A orange tiger-striped cat we named McKinley came to live at our house. Matt wrote the whole story here.
- We revisited our high school years by attending Forte's Surprise Prom Party - Enchanted Shipwreck Under The Sea.
- More hanging out on Chautauqua Lake for Fourth of July.
- Spent as much time as possible hanging out with Shannon who was in town from Pontiac, Illinois. Plenty of beer was consumed.
- In theory, I began teaching violin lessons at the Infinity Performing Arts Center. Of the two students I have, one had car trouble and the other forgot to show up. We'll see how the second week goes!
- We joined some cousins in Rochester to head off to the wineries for much merriment. Crowning touch on that visit, besides all the excellent food consumed, was clogging a Wegmans' aisle while looking at beer.
And that's just through this past weekend! Stay tuned...
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Stay by Allie Larkin
Some time ago I noticed there was this lady named Allie who was commenting on my blog. I initially confused her for my other friend, Ali, until I clicked on the link for her blog.
That's where I learned about Stay. Who wouldn't be suckered in by a romantic comedy that involves a puppeh? And bonus?? It's set mostly in Rochester!
Even though my parents were visiting me at the time, I refused to put down the book until I devoured it all in one day. I laughed as I recited passages to my mom about the trials and tribulations Van goes through as she welcomes her new dog, Joe, into her home. It's an entertaining read that has some real poignant moments.
Please check out Stay when it comes out June 10th!
That's where I learned about Stay. Who wouldn't be suckered in by a romantic comedy that involves a puppeh? And bonus?? It's set mostly in Rochester!
Even though my parents were visiting me at the time, I refused to put down the book until I devoured it all in one day. I laughed as I recited passages to my mom about the trials and tribulations Van goes through as she welcomes her new dog, Joe, into her home. It's an entertaining read that has some real poignant moments.
Please check out Stay when it comes out June 10th!
Monday, June 07, 2010
Time Changes
My main computer went kablooey this weekend while Matt was trying to do a back-up of it, so I've been using our laptop for the past day. I haven't looked at files on it in about two years, so I started going through old pictures.
If I ever wondered if those zumba classes, change of diet, change of jobs, and general change in a lot of areas of my life were having any affect on me...
Here I am with my friend, Lynn, outside Mojo's after a concert in September 2006:
Here I am in Allen Park just before Memorial Day weekend this year:
For those wondering, that's what losing over 20 pounds looks like on a 5'2 lady.
If I ever wondered if those zumba classes, change of diet, change of jobs, and general change in a lot of areas of my life were having any affect on me...
Here I am with my friend, Lynn, outside Mojo's after a concert in September 2006:
Here I am in Allen Park just before Memorial Day weekend this year:
For those wondering, that's what losing over 20 pounds looks like on a 5'2 lady.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Say - Latest Editorial
I wrote "The Say" editorial in the latest edition of the Chautauqua Region Word.
The hot topic this time was the new Jamestown Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. It's a topic/story that I hope to see more of in the news over the coming months and years because if the recommendations are able to be enacted it could create some very positive changes in the Jamestown housing market.
The hot topic this time was the new Jamestown Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. It's a topic/story that I hope to see more of in the news over the coming months and years because if the recommendations are able to be enacted it could create some very positive changes in the Jamestown housing market.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Dreaming of the Millennium Falcon.. again
Last night I had another Star Wars themed dream. I blame this one solely on the fabulous fact that I had just bought the tickets for Matt and I to go see Star Wars: In Concert in Hamilton, Ontario in July.
In this one, I was on the Death Star hanging out near the Millennium Falcon waiting for Luke to get his ass back to the ship so we could take off before it was time to blow up the place. I ran across a group of emo/rave kids who were totally unconcerned about their impending doom as I encouraged them to take refuge in the Falcon. I sighed as they stood agape, watching various star ships start whizzing above the Death Star is pre-battle formations.
"They don't get that this place is gonna blow up pretty soon," I grumbled. "And where the hell is Luke? Can it really take that long to kill off the Emperor and then drag his dad's dead body back here? I mean, c'mon.. really."
And end dream. No. I didn't make any of that up. Still comes in a distant second to the dream of the chill party on the Millennium Falcon with R2D2 and Han Solo.
In this one, I was on the Death Star hanging out near the Millennium Falcon waiting for Luke to get his ass back to the ship so we could take off before it was time to blow up the place. I ran across a group of emo/rave kids who were totally unconcerned about their impending doom as I encouraged them to take refuge in the Falcon. I sighed as they stood agape, watching various star ships start whizzing above the Death Star is pre-battle formations.
"They don't get that this place is gonna blow up pretty soon," I grumbled. "And where the hell is Luke? Can it really take that long to kill off the Emperor and then drag his dad's dead body back here? I mean, c'mon.. really."
And end dream. No. I didn't make any of that up. Still comes in a distant second to the dream of the chill party on the Millennium Falcon with R2D2 and Han Solo.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday Reading on the Porch
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
This Week In Metal
Starting next week, a weekly bit called "This Week in Metal" will begin airing on WRFA-LP.
The segment is the brain child of Occasional Truth blogger, Len. He asked me to voice part of it, which I was happy to oblige. Here's hoping I don't massacre the pronunciations of too many metal-related names!
Tune to 107.9 FM in Jamestown or listen online.
The segment is the brain child of Occasional Truth blogger, Len. He asked me to voice part of it, which I was happy to oblige. Here's hoping I don't massacre the pronunciations of too many metal-related names!
Tune to 107.9 FM in Jamestown or listen online.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Garbage Plates & Southern Tier Beer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Cutting to the Scene with the Pixie
Ten years ago, I decided to do one of the most drastic things I had ever done to my hair. I went from a long style (below collarbone) to a p...
