Return to Blogger..

Ahh, good ol' Blogger.. it's been awhile. Like four years, according to these old posts.. and most of them are even older! But xanga is going ad crazy, and I've had trouble with comment hackers, so let's try this, shall we? (and hello, facebookers.. I'd hate to leave you out of the loop, so you get the imported version)

Other than not getting my homework done yet, I've had a nice productive evening. I made progress putting Christmas back in boxes (don't judge me, I've been busy!!), cleaned the kitchen, grabbed groceries from CM (using my wonderful market basket.. look at me being all eco-friendly), made dinner, packed lunch and breakfast for tomorrow, put my fresh flowers that I bought myself (blue hydrangeas.. I heart hydrangeas..),  and put gas in my poor, thirsty Jeep. Yes, I know I haven't finished reading for class tomorrow... but it's not midnight yet, so I still have some time. I do, however, need to pause in order to turn the heat on in the apartment, as it has now dropped to approximately -45 degrees in here... *dramatic pause*  Ok, that's better.  It's funny to me how cold it feels right now, when I can be perfectly comfortable with 30 and rainy (or colder) when I'm in PA or England or somewhere else cold.. I guess it's a mindset. And maybe warmer clothes.

I'm definitely better today than I have been the past few days. Sorry to those of you who had to put up with me.. I'm not sure what brought on that funk, but I seem to be pulling out of it and moving on with life. I hate sounding whiney.. so.. moving on.

I heart jazz. We have two, maybe three concerts this semester... and I'm starting solo transcriptions in my private lessons.. and yay. Should be good. Now if I can just pass my exits and get this thesis written... speaking of, I should get back to my reading. G'night world..

So btw...  I'm working on getting all of xanga and fi.selcouth.com posts moved here.. if only to have my life story in one place so I can remember what life was like two years ago..

So this won't be much for a while.. 

A British Thanksgiving: Days 3-5

Day 3 (Wednesday 21 Nov)
We went in to London today, Lisa and I. We went and had a light lunch and tea at the Orangery at Kensington Palace, and then spent the afternoon walking through the exhibits and the un-inhabited sections of the palace. SO cool! After, we walked down to Brompton to see Holy Trinity Brompton (home of Alpha and Tim Hughes!), and then over to Harrod's to drool, pick up a few gifts, and of course, some chocolate to eat at the theatre. Of course it started raining at that point, so we ducked into a coffee shop for a sandwich for dinner before we walked swam over to the Queen's Theatre to see Les Miserables. Such a great show! I had not seen it before, though I was familiar with a few of the songs. It was so good! It was a late night, but overall a very nice day.

Day 4 (Thursday 22 Nov; US Thanksgiving)
I slept in today, which was SO nice and very needed. Spent the afternoon market shopping and cooking dinner. Lisa and I have decided to take over Christmas dinner back in Texas.. we make a good team!

Day 5 (Friday 23 Nov)
I wandered London today... literally. I had no set agenda, I just walked. Shopped a bit in Covent Garden, and walked past Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, and a few other spots. It was really a nice day. Now we're putting up the Christmas tree and watching Wizard of Oz with Catherine. I'll pack shortly, and then get a quick drink at the pub with Darryl (I haven't been to a pub yet!) before going to bed early, since I have to get up and catch a train around 0615.

It's been such a quick trip, but I'm glad I was able to come. See you all when I get back!

A British Thanksgiving: Days 1 & 2

Day 1 (Monday 19 Nov)
After an insanely long flight (made longer by the people in my row who kept switching seats, standing in the aisle talking all night, or falling asleep with their elbows in my seat), I finally arrived and flew through customs (seriously, from plane to arrivals in like 20 minutes!). Lisa picked me up and we made the drive back to Stortford in the rain. Dropped off my stuff, and went back out to hit up the newly remodeled/relocated Sainsbury's to stock up on groceries for the week. Had tea and biscuits. Picked up Cat from school. Blah blah. Sat around, read a book, had dinner (fresh chicken and dumplings.. YUM!), and watched some late night tv with Lisa accompanied by Mint Bailey's on ice and chocolate covered tea biscuits. Lovely!

Day 2 (Tuesday 20 Nov)
Slept in a bit before getting back in the car to head to St. Alban's to see the cathedral of this diocese. Got to attend a noon communion before walking around a bit and having lunch in their cafe. Walked around some pond, saw a lot of birds (which flocked on Darryl... funniest thing ever.. I'll have to put up a picture..), and what claims to be the oldest pub in England. We didn't have time for a pint however, as we had to get back to pick up Cat. Sat around some more. Planned our trip for tomorrow. Made pizzas for dinner with munchkin child so L & D could go out for their 14th anniversary. Watched tv with tea and aforementioned chocolate biscuits. Currently can't sleep..

I know it sounds so boring.. but it's been pretty restful.. and since I arrived feeling rather sick-ish, that has been nice. Tomorrow is 'Girls Day Out' in London... shopping, tea at Kensington Palace, and catching Les Mis at the Queen's Theatre.... should be a good day.

Cheers y'all. Miss everyone.

At the End of the Day...

Well, another month has gone by. And a crazy month it has been. No joke.

Add to that the fact that November comes on Thursday.. with Thanksgiving and Christmas and REST on its heels. I think November-January will always be my favorite time of year.. bring on the parties and family visits and hot cider and ice skating and CHRISTMAS MUSIC and Midnight Mass and cold air and Christmas baking (and chocolate pound cake batter...) and lots of sleep and rest and time to reflect. Yes, it is a most wonderful time of the year.. not to be punny or anything..

To be honest, September and October were largely one large blur. I feel like I've been pushing just to get by and make it to the next day, only to get there just in time to start the next one.. vicious cycle. This weekend was really the first downtime I've had in a very long time. It was blissful, really... Friday was Lainey's birthday party, which was the most I've laughed in quite some time.. the rest of the weekend was made up of quiet walks on the Katy Trail, with me and my iPod.. catching up on reading, studio projects, research, cleaning, laundry..

And today, I held a beautiful, sleeping baby for close to an hour... and I perhaps realized why I'm fighting to find motivation to finish school.

I'm trying to psyche myself up for another week. It should be a good one, if a tad busy.. but busy is good, as it keeps me from over-analyzing my life.. which I'm sure you are all grateful for, ha. I leave for England three weeks from today. That is both super exciting and super scary.. I have SO much to get accomplished between now and then... but I just have to make it to the plane, and then it will be 6 days of blissful England... ah, how I long for tea and biscuits, train rides, old music stores, walks to the pub, listening to the bells of St. Michael's.... sigh, can I leave now?

Well, sleep calls yet once more. Take care dear ones.

I'm Not Dead Yet...

Yes, I know I've been away from the blogging thing for a while. The past month and a half since school started has simply disappeared somewhere into never-neverland... Today is the first day I've really been able to look up long enough to breathe and sort things out. The past few weeks in particular have been very difficult for me, and those around me.. I've had the longest stretch of "bad" work days I've ever had in the time I've been there.. school has been super busy, with lots of extra teaching and projects.. my health largely continues to be a medical mystery.. dear friends have had their worlds implode.. and I've just been trying to keep myself pulled together long enough to help everyone else. I've had a few moments of quiet and unexpected happiness.. a few laughs, a random pedicure, some dancing, an afternoon of junk food and Pride and Prejudice with great girls, and a late night piece of chocolate cake..

But it's interesting.. how God plants seeds from conversations.. that you are able to see take root later. Not yet a week ago, at Growth Group, I sat in a small circle of close friends, and discussed being alive in Christ and being workmanship of Christ.. and even as I shared thoughts.. I felt disconnected from my words. Until tonight, as I sit in the quiet of my apartment, reflecting. And I can see God's hand throughout the week, helping me get through. And even though I felt like I was just getting by, I can see now how I was used in the lives of others.

And that, makes everything worth it. So I'm not dead yet.. in fact, I've never felt so alive.

Currently Listening to:
Album: Hopes and Fears
Artist: Keane
Track: This Is the Last Time

A Week (or two) In Review

What a week it was.

Work just might kill me one of these days. But that's a post for another day. Other than work, I got to see Nessa (one of my old roommates) who was in from Houston. It was good to hang out again with the 'family unit.' Good times, of course :) Saturday night was dinner for Steve's birthday at Il Sole, which was a very nice evening.

For those in the know, I'm feeling better. The reader's digest version for those who aren't: about a week ago, I had some health issues again, mostly extreme fatigue and some weird weakness/tingling in my left arm. Dr. still has no idea what was wrong, but I'll see a neurologist at the end of the month. In the meantime, I'm finally feeling mostly up to par, and I'm back at my apartment. The show must go on! I'm fairly convinced it's stress.. (note to self: reduce stress)

The week to come is of course just as busy. Monday is Growth Group, Tuesday I'm taking off work to wrap up the recording with the band at church, Wednesday is dinner out with some old friends, Thursday is a handbell gathering, Friday is dinner for my brother's birthday, and Saturday.. Saturday is just plain full with wedding showers, reception site scoping, and drinks at the G-man. Sheesh, I'm getting tired just looking at that. Hopefully I will be able to squeeze in dancing one of these weekends... my dancing shoes are gathering dust! Tragic, really.

Well, the hour grows late, and the rest of the teachers come back to work tomorrow (translation: crazy day). Add to that my day off on Tuesday... and tomorrow will be interesting and long. And next week... it's back to the books. Here we go again! Hope y'all have a good a week! Hasta!