Thoughts of Thanks

It's THANKSGIVING!  Turkeys are running for cover, pumpkins are turning into pies, cranberries are getting saucy, and tons of people are clogging the streets to watch giant balloons roll past the buildings of New York.  I didn't get to go home to be with family this year, but I am glad to have wonderful friends to spend time with today.  Thanksgiving is such a great holiday because everyone loves getting together and eating lots of great food.  Taking time out to be thankful is certainly a good thing too.  I've decided to share 10 of the billion things I am thankful for this year.  In no particular order:


I am thankful for... 

1. this year especially, my education and for going back to school.  It's a delight to be back on track with music and working hard towards small and large goals.
2. a family that has supported and loved me through all my pursuits and helped me follow my dreams.
3. friends who surround me with laughter, love, and encouragement
4. God!  It's great to know that he has it under control, even if I can't understand a bit of it.  Also thankful to have found a church that both challenges and encourages me each week.
5. my job.  Gotta pay the bills and I'm lucky in these times to not only have a job, but to have a boss that's flexible enough with my insane schedule that I can go to school while holding down the job.
6. music - for filling my life with passion, love, creativity, and excitement.  
7. coffee...without which I would not function half as well as I do.  :)
8. my health - something that really should not be taken for granted
9. food - for making life a lot more delicious.
10. my iphone - for taking my organization skills and not only turning them up a notch, but making it a lot easier.  Also for providing several ways to keep better in touch with everyone. How did we survive before we had EVERYTHING in a little device in our pocket?

The more I write, the longer I want to make the list.  So basically, life could be a lot worse.   There is a lot to be thankful for!  To quote MMHoney, we just need to take the time to "slow down and smell the roses".

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

What are YOU thankful for?

She's a sweet little thing.

On Saturday I was walking up Third Avenue in Manhattan, enjoying the sunny side of the street, when I passed a pastry shop, La Delice Pastry Shop.  It's a very traditional, small, mom and pop shop with only enough space for big counters filled with a variety of cupcakes, cookies, cakes, bars, tarts, etc., etc., etc.  Pretty much any kind of desert you could wish for. The smell alone will give you a sugar high!  No room for tables... grab your sweets, your coffee, and go.  

I've been to this shop before, but the reason I bring it up this time, when I didn't even go inside, is because of  the cake in the window.  The shop does have a life-sized baker mannequin at the front door to welcome guests, but if he comes across a little scary (which he can at times) there are beautifully decorated cakes in the front window to help seal the deal. This weekend they had a Barbie cake.  (I guess it's not officially "Barbie" but a Doll Cake.)  The reason this excites me is because I used to have these cakes as a kid. I don't remember exactly how many I had, but I know I had a few and I was quite a fan of them.  I'm also not sure if they were all made by Mama, or possibly Mom made one too, but they definitely came down from that side of the family.  Kind of a strange cake, now that I think about it... but fun and I loooved it as a Barbie obsessed girl.  I doubt the Barbie cake is all that uncommon, but I know I don't see them on a regular basis, so it was kind of neat to see her in a NY bakery window.  Maybe I'll get one for my next birthday...isn't that what every 30-something wants? At least I'll know where to order it from...

Falling Leaves, Changing Colors

Wow.  Right this moment the setting sun is shining right down my street and highlighting every color of every leaf on the tree outside my window.  It is stunning.  As if the tree is on fire.  I've noticed that New York has been absolutely gorgeous over the past week.  The leaves are just at that place where much of them have fallen and the rest will fall any moment. The colors are at their most beautiful.  Even those scattered on the ground are vibrant in color. The hues seem to change throughout the day, deepening as the sunlight hits them from a new angle. It's sad that this most beautiful moment is so short, passing so quickly. I wish I could freeze the colors like they are now and look at them for months.  Maybe part of the beauty is that they are here for such a short time and have to be appreciated before they are gone.  Either way, I had to slow down several times this week to look at the beauty all around.  I bet we would all benefit from doing that more often.

Happy 11-11-11

Busy busy busy busy busy!!!
Anyone who thinks going back to school and keeping a job is easy is nuts!  No time for anything!

Had a big orchestra concert last week and spent this week in rehearsals for a concert of new music.  Last night I played in the premieres of two pieces - playing both clarinet and bass clarinet.  Tonight we repeat the concert at a different venue.

I'm enjoying being back in school and working much harder on my music...but it's CRAZY times!