As Good As It Gets

I am finally getting around to posting video from my Junior Recital. The delay in posting this time isn't due to my disappointment with my recital. After the recital I got really sick. Maybe due to stress. Maybe due to the unseasonable cold winter we've been having. In any case, I had to find where I had stashed the videos in my fever induced state. I still have a couple of more videos I need to find.

In the end, I was pleased with the recital. For me I think this might be as good as it gets. If I compare the videos from two and three years ago, I have made vast improvements. So that is good.



My boss was hassling me about being single the other day. He asked me if I was going to be one of those self involved women that never get remarried. I told him probably. There are too many things I enjoy ... too many things I wouldn't want to give up. I love being able to take organ lessons. I love having a piano and an organ in my living room. I love being able to wake up at 4:00 a.m. in the morning to start practicing. I love going to my writing group. Further, I told my boss, it would be impossible to find a spouse who would support these kind of habits.

I felt pretty sure of myself until later that night when it occurred to me that I had just described my father. My mom used to get up to practice the organ at 3:00 so she would be done practicing when I got up at 5:00 to practice. We had two pianos (one upstairs and one downstairs) and a full organ and Leslie cabinet in the basement. Somebody had to haul that upright grand and that theater organ down the stairs. And I bet he didn't complain. And I bet he was proud of how hard she practiced, because I know he was proud of how well she played.

I suppose they just don't make men like that any more.

Concert Season 2013

Despite the unnaturally cold temperatures, concert season is in full swing. This week I got to watch both Naji and Bobo in concert. Below are just a few of the highlights.

Winter is Here

You know that slogan, "Winter is coming." We don't say that anymore. Winter is definitely here. I got sick. I don't even remember the last time I got that sick. I actually missed two days of work, but it took even longer than that to recover. I could barely hobble around on Thanksgiving, but with the help of a cane and my wonderful children we were able to create a family feast and practice for the Ward Christmas party.

And this week it has snowed in Dixie. Twice. Wednesday was bad. Saturday was worse. We do not have the clothes or tools to match this kind of winter. (Not that that stopped my kids from playing in it all night).

So this is a hodge podge post. This is the post of pictures announcing winter is officially here. And the videos of the Piano Ensemble concert, where I played with a fever of 102. The awful sickness had just begun.