Girls Nights Are...

This is just a short post, more fun and random than anything else!

I've had guys question girls nights, not understand them, not understand why we would want to exclude them. That is because girls nights are:

• Therapy - often, although not always, for guy problems
• Venting sessions - these differ from Therapy because no one wants a solution, it's a moment where she just wants to be heard
• A Safe Haven - I'll admit, you can have this w/your guy friends. But it's different. There's something great about getting together with your closest girl friends and just being yourself, warts and all
• Sanity Saving - like when you walk in the door and the first words out are, "can I get you a glass of wine?"
• Brainstorming Sessions - about anything and everything that needs to be addressed!
  

Short blog post, definitely. But I've got a girls night tonight that I'm pretty excited about, so I thought I's just share all the reasons why!

Support and Acceptance

Ok, I realize that the title here is maybe a little misleading. But...I'll explain where it comes from. First, let me build the background by saying that I'm jumping head first into a new business venture - I've started working with Arbonne, and so far I love it. There's so much to learn and there are tons of trainings, but I'm incredibly grateful that I haven't been dumped into a business and left to figure it all out on my own.

Part of my reason for moving in this direction is because I am at a point in my world where I really needed to try something completely new, to expand my boundaries, and to build some new skills that in some ways, scare me to death. I think it's healthy to push yourself from time to time in ways that maybe aren't the most comfortable but have the potential for great payoff. In this case, while of course I hope my business stays financially viable, the best payoff for me is the opportunity to meet new people through the presentations and get to talk to them about their lives.

Already, I've been fortunate to find that I really click with my sponsor - I think we have similar outlooks on the world, and it's always a gift to meet someone like that. Plus, working with one of my longtime friends is a major added bonus - we're learning together, and I trust her implicitly so it makes attempting to overcome some of the personal challenges a little less daunting.

In this process, I have been pleasantly surprised at how supportive those closest to me have been. Now, let me say that it's NOT the case that my doubt was based on previous experience...everyone's always wonderful, so why would I expect anything else? But as with any new thing, it's a learn-through-experience kind of deal. And I've been blown away by the people who have come to my launch parties, purchased items (and I've gotta say, the products do pretty much rock :)), or even just sent simple notes of encouragement and well wishes. It's been eye-opening to see how strong my network really is, and how blessed I am!

So...now to get to the explanation for the title. I have a friend's wife who is also starting out in direct sales with a different company. If her launch had been on a weekend, it's likely that I would have gone down just to support her...but it was a weekday and in the morning, so I couldn't make it. I sent a note expressing my excitement for both of us, suggesting we compare notes sometime, wishing her luck, and letting her know if she had a catalogue to let me know and I'd take a look at her products.

I have learned in the week leading up to getting her invitation how important and welcome that simple offer can be.

I got a note back saying that we should compare notes, and telling me in a fair amount of detail why she thinks her company is better than mine. At the end of the note, she deigned to offer to look at what my company might have that her company didn't.

Really?

Clearly, I'm a little irritated by the return message. I completely understand that some things don't come across well in an email...but was it really necessary to tell me why she thinks her company is better and to offer so little positive in response? I've got to admit, I'm incredibly hesitant now to even look at what she's selling - I'm sure the products are fine, but I don't need to be torn down in order to build someone else up.

In my world, it seems to me that the amazing support that people can offer also has to know how to be accepted on the other side. Sometimes that's not an easy thing - I'm terribly independent and get that - but at the very least, acknowledge the offer with grace.

So I guess to sum it up...all I'm saying is that to me, when people volunteer their time or their money or even something like a thought that they turn into a note in order to build me up, it's like my personal small miracle in that moment and means the world. And really, it's a shame for those people who have trouble purely accepting that offer...because they're missing out on an incredibly powerful experience.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that we're back into the holidays - I think I just don't believe it since it really hasn't snowed much this year. I, for one, definitely tie the colder weather to the holiday season...which is really weird, since in Colorado it's as likely to be 65 on Thanksgiving Day as it is to be 32.

So then, what is there to be thankful this year, since that's what this day is all about? I can say that it has been a roller coaster of a year, with extreme ups and downs...but the basic things I'm thankful for stay the same through all of it.

1. My family - My brother and SIL make so many days better just by being so fun and still so laid back. Plus they are so awesome about helping to build my relationship with my nephew. My nephew could brighten anyone's day - he's changing so much, and has wrapped his Auntie right around his finger (being told to get off a table by his dad, so he wraps his arms around my neck to give me a hug - seriously, who's going to remove a kid who's giving you a hug??) My parents, who are just as involved as we need them to be and are always willing to offer a hand when we ask. Oh, and I would be in remiss to not mention my very talkative cat!

2. My friends - So many of these people are basically extended family. They are the ones that support all my crazy ideas with love and sensitivity, are there when I need to vent/talk through things, remind me that I do actually have something to offer when I'm feeling spectacularly unspecial, and would be there at a moments notice. I've been blessed with so many AMAZING people in my life, who all bring something unique to my world...how in the world can you not be thankful for that??

3. My job - While things are slowly getting better 'out there', there are still people who are having a tough time making ends meet. I am fortunate to be working in the field that I have chosen, and it helps to support my crazy love of travel!

4. My health - I've been able to do some amazing things this year and am so grateful that my body continues to take the abuse :) A 1/2 Marathon, a 14er, a fair amount of country and swing dancing...hopefully more of all for 2011!

I'm sure that there are other things, but just writing these things down is an excellent reminder to me that there are always silver linings, even if I can't see them in the moment.

I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving, and cheers to the upcoming holiday season!

I'm Back!

It has been months and months since I posted to my blog, and this time it's not for lack of things to talk about! Really, I jumped off onto a traveling binge right after my last post. Since the beginning of May I've been:

• Portland, Oregon for a wine tasting trip with three of my favorite ladies
• Southern Indiana for my Grandpa's 85th birthday
• Most of July I was holding still (if you don't count camping within the state)
• August I ran a 1/2 marathon
• September I went to Hawaii with one of my besties
• October I went to Maine with my dad to visit my other Grandad

So, as you can see, it's not been a slow six months! But...shame on me for not writing about all of these adventures. Because really, they were ALL adventures. Maybe now that I'm headed back to technologically solvent (yep, that's right, I finally replaced my 7 year old computer) I can circle back and tell the stories that I've collected!

Tonight I spontaneously ran into some friends at the mall and we decided to make an evening of it by getting dinner and catching up. Can I just say how much I love random run-ins like that? Anyway, there was a lot of talk of blogging and it inspired me to start catching up on my own project. I've got a few ideas about posts to add here, and they won't all tie to travelling...but I can't wait to put them out there!!

The Game of Constant Catch-up

The title of this blog is pretty much how I feel about my ability to keep the blog up to date! I've had all kinds of thoughts rolling around in my head for possible posts, now I just need to sit down and write them. Which means another possible flurry of activity before I go MIA for another month.

First, the coolest project ever:
The New York Times has a photography blog called Lens. They were behind the idea of appointing a time (15:00 UTC = Universal Coordinated Time) when anyone who was interested, anywhere in the world, would take a picture of what they were doing and submit it. That way, they could build a collage of literally a single set of moments from around the world.

The date for this project was Sunday, May 2nd and here in Denver the time for photo taking was 9am. I had actually thought ahead for this project and decided that at 9am I would be hiking up at Red Rocks - what better place to capture a Sunday morning in the Rocky Mountains? See - obviously this project captured my heart, because it takes a lot to get me out of bed at 7:30a on a weekend! It was a Colorado spring day in its truest form, with a combination of sunlight and the tiniest hint of snowflakes...but I was bundled up and eventually the sun did decide to play nice.

Anyway, my success with participation was unfortunately limited because my ancient computer decided it was not going to let me access, edit or email the photo (there were a series of computer crashes, a ridiculous amount of time, and a WHOLE lot of swearing before I came to the realization that it was futile), and I had made the mistake of taking it off my camera when I put it onto the computer. But, all the same, I know I was out there with thousands of other photographers at the same time doing exactly what they were doing in that moment. And what a cool experience, just knowing that!

Everyone should take some time and check out the end result - it will require a lot of time to look at everything, but even just clicking around will give you an idea of all the different things happening at 9am MST two Sundays ago!

Here's the link: A Moment In Time (NYT: Lens)

Two important things came out of this experience: (A) I am going to buy a new computer that will run programs from this decade and (B) I would love love LOVE to really start pursuing a new camera and a photo blog. Time will tell, and obviously the new computer is the key (I can't justify a nice camera until I have the technology to support it), but I get so excited about the possibility of sharing my photos - the good, the bad, and the ugly - that it might be closing in on the point that I have to find a way to make it happen!

Leaping Back In...

I have missed running outside, and I just realized it since the sidewalks are clear and I was able to take a quick run before it got dark! Best feeling ever - I'm tired and sweaty, and didn't even go that far since it became clear pretty quick that I've forgotten how to pace myself - but I'm proud that I got out to do something. It's crazy, but my best motivation is when I just want to scream and pick a fight...and I know that neither of those options are productive. So what better than to hit the sidewalk for a little bit?

Only 1.6 miles today (I did make it 1.25 before I needed to take a short walk break), but more on the horizon when I have a little more daylight to work with. Bolder Boulder, here I come!

A Good Dose of Inspiration

Lately I have been feeling very bored, which is a weird description for my life. Too busy, yes. Overwhelming, often. So then it seems strange that bored would also tie to those words. Because while I'm moving a thousand miles per hour, it's all beginning to feel the same.

I have a problem with being present in the moment, and I think taking the long view actually hurts all of the experiences that I'm meant to be having right now. I worry about the "what if this isn't going to/supposed to work out" and the "how on earth is that going to happen" rather than enjoying the exact place that everything actually is and trusting that it's that way for a reason. If I would just let things either work out - or not - rather than thinking them to death, I think it would open a better window for me to know myself even better than I do. By going with the moment, it would better allow me to react to how I really feel rather than worrying about the ramifications...it would allow me to just be and to take care of myself in the process.

Moving to this philosophy is going to take some work, but it's been on my mind a lot lately as I find myself worrying about things that just can't be addressed right at this exact moment. And then I don't enjoy the moments that I have. I may need the occasional reminder that everything will be fine...but I'm going to try to focus more on the here and now to see if that doesn't help relieve some of the boredom.

I'm in the middle of reading Siddhartha and there's a line that caught my attention. Not having it in front of me right now, all I can share is the gist, but it basically talked about how he'd been through a period where he fed his body, but starved his soul. He goes on to reflect on the way he'd been living and the experiences he'd been having...he had made money, experienced women, enjoyed good food and nice clothes. But ultimately, he was left friendless, miserable and nearly suicidal until he rediscovered that the little voice in himself that reminded him that there was still a journey to live for. It just wasn't a journey of things.

I love how this translates, since it acts as a reminder to not place so much value on things you want, or even the direction you think life should take. Instead, the focus should be on finding enlightenment...not necessarily happiness, but a peace and acceptance within yourself that's meant to carry you through everything else that's going on.

I have to remind myself that it's ok to be in a constant state of "work in progress", and that sometimes it's out glitches that make us interesting.

So here's to finding inspiration to make the best of the journey...wherever I may end up. And I say this a lot, but it always is worth repeating...a thanks to my wonderful friends who are so supportive of both my random joys and my most confusing disappointments and fears. I'm blessed to have so much love in my life!

Brahms Requiem

Two weekends ago, the Colorado Symphony Chorus performed the Brahms Requiem. This piece is considered a favorite by many of my co-chorus folks, and I began to see glimmers of the fun that this piece could be. But...to me, Verdi still reigns supreme.

My personal struggle with the Brahms is the amount of time the sopranos hang out around the high A, which is a tough part of my range especially for extended periods of time. But I do love that this Requiem is a celebration of life, and would like to someday see it performed.

Here's the critique from the Denver Post:

Brahms' choral requiem near-perfect

By Kyle MacMillan
Denver Post Fine Arts Critic

Posted: 02/27/2010 01:00:00 AM MST

If one were to make a list of the 10 great choral works that classical listeners should experience before they die, Johannes Brahms' "A German Requiem" would surely be on the list.

Unlike nearly all the hundreds of requiems that have been composed, this non-liturgical work does not follow the Catholic Mass of the dead. Instead, Brahms created his own text drawn from Martin Luther's translation of the Bible.

The seven-movement work, which was the centerpiece of the Colorado Symphony's program Friday evening, conjures the mystery and breadth of the human experience, mourning death but also celebrating life and what comes afterward.

Conductor Jeffrey Kahane has a flair for such large-scale works, and he was totally in command and at ease here. He delivered an adroitly shaped interpretation of depth and subtlety, with spot-on tempos that assured an ideal pacing.

The two first-rate soloists — baritone Brett Polegato and soprano Karina Gauvin — handled their parts with aplomb, but the real star was the Colorado Symphony Chorus.

This fine group of singers, superbly prepared by chorus director Duain Wolfe, supplied many standout moments, including the spine-tingling celebratory bursts in the sixth movement and the dazzlingly multilayered final stanzas of the third movement.

But it was perhaps the long second movement when the chorus was at its best, communicating the section's full complexity and emotion, with deft, sometimes word-by-word shadings of tone, dynamics and phrasing.

Two things that will most be missed when Kahane steps down as music director at the end of this season are his willingess to do the unconventional and his eloquent piano playing.

Both were richly in evidence Friday evening as Kahane daringly opened the program with a chamber rather than symphonic work — Brahms' Trio in E flat for Violin, Horn and Piano, Op. 40.

The performance was partially hurt by dynamic imbalances, with principal French horn player Michael Thornton frequently overshadowing the other players. Concertmaster YuMi-Hwang Williams was at her best in the slow movement, with a lovely, plaintive sound.

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/entertainmentlastold/ci_14482008#ixzz0huYZ3RzO

Open Letter to Radio Stations

Dear Radio Stations -
Please don't change song lyrics to include your station frequency or call letters. We all know it wasn't recorded that way, and it gets in the way for those of us who like to sing along. Plus, sometimes it doesn't even make sense!

If you feel the need for station identification, please stick to the beginning and end of sets and I'll be much less likely to change away from your channel.

'Nuf said.

Chicago

I did something completely and totally out of character last week, and it was wonderful! Last Wednesday, I bought a ticket to Chicago for Friday night (and thanks, M., for understanding my crazy last minute change of plans). I had been talking to L. during the week, and this has been one of our longest stints apart so far. I really think it's a little easier for me, because I'm still here in Colorado with a ton of work, a bazillion activities and all my friends whereas he has less going on to distract him in Springfield. He sounded so down when I talked to him that on a whim Weds I checked ticket prices to see if it was possible to maybe meet him Chicago, since he was going to be up there visiting family.

Low and behold, we found a reasonable ticket and off I went on Friday night!

The flight was fine until about 2 minutes before we touched down at Midway. We went into the landing and at the last second, the pilot pulled the plane back up into the air. Apparently, the plane ahead of us had landing gear issues, and while it had safely landed it was stuck on the runway. Midway only has two runways (each one based on how the wind is directed), which meant that we got to circle for 20-30 minutes in hopes that they could clear the broken plane.

Because of the difficulty in getting a plane towed, we were not able to get into the airport before we started running low on fuel so we were diverted to Milwaukee. Not a big deal, only a 20 minute flight further, but then we got to hang out on the plane for a while during the refueling. At least most people on the plane seemed to be in pretty good humor...

So finally, an hour and a half after we were supposed to have arrived, we managed to head back to Midway where the airport was now open landing around 12:30am vs. the 10:15pm planned time.

It was WONDERFUL to be on the ground...I am only really good for so many landings, since for some reason the landing throws off my equilibrium more than the take-off or even in-air turbulance, and three was pushing my limit!

From there, L. was there to pick me up (poor guy, he'd been there waiting for 3 hours) and we headed back to the hotel room where I pretty much fell asleep immediately.

We stayed at the Essex on Michigan Avenue (www.essexinn.com), and it was a really cute room. All the necessities, nothing too crazy, and the location was out of this world. We were easy walking distance from the museum campus and the lake, the Art Museum and the Sears tower. The only thing that we really noticed was that the walls in the hotel were really, really thin - our neighbor coughed all night both nights, and there were some partiers who came in late one night and sounded like they were in the room with us. My singing in the shower habits were severely limited by the thin walls.

We headed out for breakfast Saturday morning to a restaurant called the Bongo Room...fantastic food! Breakfast burrito was huge, and came with this interesting sour cream that also added a kick.

From there, we headed to the Art Institute. I have not had the pleasure of visiting art museums in big cities (I now know that Denver does NOT qualify as a big city), so this was really one of the highlights of the trip for me. AND the month of February was free attendance...so bonus! We spent 3 1/2 hours wandering around the museum, and spent the bulk of that time with the impressionists. Monet, Renoir, Serat...large collections and they were all there! I about died with happiness to see three of the Water Lilies collection and the Haystack light study. I could have spent the entire day just hanging out in those rooms, and still have seen new things each minute!

And the Serat that everyone recognizes? It's HUGE. It took up an entire wall, and considering the fact that he's a pointilist, it's remarkable to me the level of execution in a painting that large. It took him 5 years to complete it, and I'll bet that was with consistent work. What an amazing surprise!

We also strolled through the modern wing (umm...scary). I have never taken the time to do both genres in a single visit, so to have them put side by side was eye-opening. I felt happy and light while viewing the impressionist gallery...but you hit the modern wing and it's like nothing will ever be happy again. Apparently to be modern is to have not only multiple levels of meaning, but to be dark and depressed as well. I was pretty disturbed by some of the content that I found in that gallery, and am not in a hurry to go back to revisit it. The Dahli was interesting, just because of the crispness of the paintings...and the Jackson Pollock was actually kind of cool. But all definitely brought me down. I suppose if the intention of art is to affect someone in some way, then it's all successful art. But you better believe I wouldn't want any of it in my living room!

From the art museum, we headed to the old Marshall Fields department store (now Macy's, and from what I hear, this is NOT a good thing if you're from Chicago!). Seriously, people...Mecca. 9 floors of department store. And we walked around EVERY floor!

As you might expect, after all that walking we were dying for food and decided to walk further to a great little pizza place called Pizzaria Due (a branch off the pizza place called Uno's). We were fully expecting at least a 1/2 hour wait, and were happily surprised to be able to walk right in. Large dinner and two margaritas later, we were ready to wander around. And how cool is our waitress that she let me steal the menu since it was clearly my first time to the city?

The wandering actually led us back to the hotel rather than out on the town - which was fine with me after all the physical activity that day...does that mean I'm getting old and boring?

Sunday was a little more laid back, since I had to get to the airport and we also needed to head down to South Chicago to visit L's aunt, uncle and cousin. We went back to Bongo Room, where I had the most amazing French Toast that ever existed, and then discovered we didn't need to be out of town until 2. That led us to walk down to the lake (which was frozen) and around to the Planetarium (which has huge, sweeping views of the city). It was definitely cold and I was so glad to have my ski hat, but it was also completely worth it to walk down over there. The ice on the water was really remarkable to me, since it's not like Lake Michigan is small.

Then, after taking a bazillion pictures, we headed over to the Bean and Millenium Park. Not much really to say about that other than it'd be fun to go to a concert there in the summer. The Bean was pretty cool for photo opps, but otherwise, not a lot to really do with it. So from there, we headed back to the car.

After a family visit, we headed on over to Midway so I could catch my flight back out. No problems on the return flight, and I slept for the entire thing. Can't imagine why!

Such an incredible experience, and I really did have fun with the spontenaeity of the thing. And...I'm really looking forward to going back in March, since we have a completely different itenirary for that trip!

Run like the Wind...On the Wings of Love

I love my friends! There's really no other way to say it - whenever I need them, even when I don't know I need them but they sense that I do, they are always there. And that is an everyday miracle.

My parents are back east with my grandad, and things seem to be ok on that front so that's good news. They'll be back this coming Saturday, so I might get an opportunity to see them in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, the schedule continues to fill up on this end, but mostly with fun and exciting things! I've finally started running again on a fairly regular basis, and it feels amazing. My energy level is already improving, and that's saying something because I'd been dragging for the last month or so. I've also started in on the cross training (unintentionally). Last week was running, yoga, skiing, and then dancing on Sunday night.

Here is a plug for the Mercury Cafe (www.mercurycafe.com) - fantastic venue for all those who love to swing dance. I went with some friends, one of whom I've danced with for a long time. We arrived early enough to get in on part of the lesson, learned some new things (we're both pretty rusty), and then applied it! I have missed being picked up and thrown around!! The best part is that there's dancing on Sunday nights, so when there's time to cram it in before the week begins, all of us who love to dance are even in town.

I did learn, however, that it's time for new dance shoes. I think I pulled most of the muscles in both feet. But...totally worth it!

Now...one more plug before I head out to my new (kick-ass) yoga class. If you're watching the Bachelor this season, there is a fun blog that follows it and says all the things you know they were thinking. It's a pretty funny recap, so check it out if you get the chance:

www.ihategreenbeans.com

Have a great rest of the week and hopefully I'll have more things to post on soon!

Hmmm...

My update for today isn't super happy, but since I mentioned it previously I thought I should bring some closure. My grandmother passed away yesterday, and I have to say that I am grateful that it wasn't a long, drawn out process in hospice. I can't imagine that would have been good for anyone, least of all my grandad.

But - here's a question that I've been thinking about. I know that grief affects different people in different ways. I wasn't terribly close with this grandmother, due to geographic distance, but she's the one I looked forward to visiting most and who I used to exchange letters with when I was a kid. Still, we would literally go months without contact.

So, shouldn't it logically follow that if you're not super close with someone - even a family member - that you're less affected by that loss? I'm only asking because I feel strangely out of sorts today and I don't really feel justified attributing that to the loss of a grandmother I haven't seen a couple of years. But nonetheless, I feel hypersensitive, my head hurts, my focus isn't stellar and I kinda want to cry. It just doesn't make sense in my own too-logical head.

There's nothing that needs to be done, I don't need to fly out there because there won't be a service. I am still thinking about trying to make a trip out there in May - maybe my dad will be ready to go back again at that time. I have to think that my grandad would still enjoy the company, and it might be good for me, too.

Anyway, that's it for today...thanks for the good thoughts and the prayers sent this direction. I guess it's one more life lesson/experience to add to the collection.

What to say?

I know that I've had less of a presence on here over the last month or so, but I really haven't had all that much to report on. I suppose it's the downside of having a blog that's not dedicated to a particular topic or not having kids yet to report on!

But...I suppose even everyday life can deserve an update from time to time.

These last few weeks have been hectic, but not for the usual reasons. Work's been busy, absolutely, and I'll probably be dedicating some evenings to it this week. But the hectic part last week was a baby blanket that I was crocheting. I have fallen in love with crocheting as a craft and like having something to do with my hands while I watch TV in the evening...and it was my forgetting my own afghan at my parents house over the holiday that inspired me to create a baby blanket for Lande's sister's shower this last weekend.

It turned out really well, all yellow, green and white. But...there was a funny part that I did not think through in terms of the two weeks I gave myself to make the blanket. As the rows get longer, the time it takes to finish a row gets longer. That's right - seems like a pretty basic assumption, but it was going so well and quickly at the beginning that it didn't occur to me that wrapping it up might take all the time I had in the last week! I'd look and think, only 10 more rows! And then, it hit me that each row was taking an hour to complete, lol!

Anyway, it was an excellent learning experience and I can't wait to do another one.


Lande was here over the weekend, and things are going well. He's easy to be with, I really enjoy his company, we discovered the joy of playing Lego Starwars together (not a bad Saturday night activity!), and are making plans for the next few visits. The hard part these days it taking him back to the airport. This long distance thing is hard...not tough to commit to, but hard to be without the other person when you're so happy spending time together.

The only other thing I'll make a quick note of here is that my grandmother was admitted to hospice over the weekend. She's had Alzheimers for some time now, and unfortunately this is the nature of the beast...but she will be the first grandparent I've lost. I know how fortunate I am that all four (well, technically 5, I love my step-grandmother!) grandparents are still alive, but I'm not completely sure what to do with this situation since there won't be a service and therefore no need to go back east to see my grandad. If you're reading, say a little prayer for my family as we go through these next few transitions.

Not meaning to be a downer of post today, but wanted to share a little of what's been going on...hope everyone is having a decent start to the week.

Happy New Year!

Wow - 2010! Hard to believe that we're at the start of a new decade, and I'm so thankful that 4 days in, it's started off well. It's been almost a month since I've been on here, so I've got some serious catching up to do for everyone. I suppose that I have so much to catch people up on is largely why it's been a month since I've been on here!

Ok - so Colorado Christmas. The concert was the weekend of 12/11-12/13, 4 total performances that were wonderful and hysterically funny all at one time. I am proud to say that one of our own, CSO Chorus member Sydney Fisher, was the soloist this year and did an amazing job. She walked the line just perfectly between classical and pop styles, which lent itself so well to the music and was just fantastic to listen to. Another reminder of how lucky I am to be in a group with so much talent!

Then, as those of you who have been to the show before know, Santa makes an appearance every year. This year, though, the Grinch showed up in all his glory for the 2nd half of the show! Friday night (opening night) was not terribly tight, and things didn't really go as planned for the Grinch's appearance. What was supposed to happen? Grinch shows up, talks about delaying Santa, sings "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" with the kids, and then has a conversation with the real Santa (who arrives) and winds up reading The Night Before Christmas to the kids and audience.

What actually happened? The Grinch showed up and made it through the song, but when Santa and Grinch went to look for the book in Santa's bag, they couldn't find it! Pretty soon, they're pulling the stuffing out of the bag (which was NOT audience ready - it was tissue paper, unwrapped boxes, bubble wrap) and the conductor goes down to help them. The Grinch says,"I know where it is, I'll be right back, stall them!" and goes tearing off the stage to try to find the book backstage.

He bounds back onstage a minute later and says, in his character's voice,"They TELL me it's IN there!"

At this point, the chorus, the orchestra and the entire audience is rolling since it's clear this wasn't staged but they're playing it off so well!

Eventually, they do find the book at the very bottom of the bag and the rest of the show goes on with no snags.

As for the two Saturday shows and the Sunday show, this bit was such a hit that they actually wound up writing it into the show, unbeknownst to any of the other performers (the first time they did it, Scott - our conductor - turned and looked at us like, really, again?) He totally got us, since the next step was to pull out a pink, shamwow snuggie, which Scott announced as "just what he wanted this year". By Sunday, Scott actually started the Night Before Christmas piece while wearing the pink shamwow snuggie!! :)

So, just goes to show that some of the best theatre is a result of an accident!

The following weekend, Dec 18-19, I got to do a little traveling and went to Springfield for the weekend to see Lande. He had invited me to the big holiday ball there, so we got totally spruced up and had a great time at the party (again, I do have pictures but I have to have 2 seconds at home to post them. It's on my list for this week!). But really, it was a great all-around weekend to see his place (really pretty apartment, the upstairs of a house), meet his pets (his cat Roo is tiny and sweet but a little shy, and one of the other cats in the house, Murphy, is 22 lbs and loved me immediately - apparently he has a thing for females), and see some of the town. We lost tons of time just talking, I got to see his pictures from when he lived in Russia, and I was introduced to a TV show called Dead Like Me. Great show, very sad that there are only two seasons since the writing is clever and the cast is excellent.

It was hard to come home, but at least he was headed to CO for the holidays two days after I left!

Then, we get into Christmas and New Year's. Christmas Eve and early morning I spent at my brother's house since I wanted to be with my little nephew. He still thinks the best part of gifts are the paper and bows, but he's a smart little guy and figures out all of the toys quickly. He did get a wagon from Santa, which he decided was great for crawling in, then crawling out, then crawling in, then crawling out...you get the idea. After that, we went to our parent's house for the rest of Christmas day and took it slow and easy. All in all, we had a great Christmas, lots of games and toys for all, and quality time with each other.

PS - for the record, it is possible to find Lego Starwars for Wii. I have it for PS3. BEST GAME EVER!

Last but not least, partying in Ft. Collins for New Year's. Excellent party, lots of fun people, and the highlight for me - lighting off my first-ever firecrackers!! I'm sure we drove the neighbors crazy with the fireworks, but they were SO worth it!

Now, sadly, it is back to the grind and there's little possibility right now of things slowing down much at work. But, I'm going to try to cram in as much as possible in my 8-9 hours so that I can have a life outside of work...I am such a happier person when there's room for better balance, so I need to find a way to create that better balance!

I hope you all had wonderful holidays filled with lots of loved ones and joy, and here's to the start of what I hope will be a terrific year for us all!