Fun, Family, Florida

The Florida trip already seems like it was so long ago, even though it has only been two weeks.  Stacy came back with me to New York and we spent a few days having fun in the city.  This past week I started classes again.  I am also preparing for my first doctoral recital, so things are moving along.

Spending time with family on a little vacation was fun.  We had a great trip!  It's so hard to get the whole family together, since we are spread out all over the place, so it was really a special and nice thing to be able to relax and have fun together.  We rented a really great house in Florida.  It had enough space that we weren't always on top of each other (except that I slept in a top bed of a bunk bed, so maybe I was on top at that point, but that's okay :)  The house had game tables that we took advantage of, TVs to veg out to, a big pool and patio, a lake with a paddle boat (which Jared and Alma Lee got caught out in a storm!), and maybe my personal favorite: a hot tub.  And I loved the weather!  It is GREAT to be able to wear sandals and summer tops in January.  That was a nice way to break up the frigid winters I'm used to. I think I may have a calling to be a snow bird.

I think we were able to have a nice balance of "doing stuff" and relaxing.  Splitting up at times, and going as a group at other times allowed everyone to vacation in their own way.  From biking with alligators, shopping for shoes, eating everything in sight, to playing "Bananas" and "Settlers"...we did a lot!

One day I joined the "Brothers with Babies" group and went to the zoo.  I took my camera, of course, and had so much fun hanging out with them and taking pictures.  Joel was my buddy.  He always wanted to "push the button" on my camera.  He got a few interesting shots.  I'd share them, but I don't want him to sue me for copyright infringement when he starts his own blog.  

We each took a spin (or two) on the zoo's carousel!

I really enjoyed getting to spend time with my nieces and nephew.  I wish I could see them more often!  I look forward to one day when all the cousins can come visit Aunt Megan in New York!  I think we'll have a lot of fun....and not get into too much trouble.

And here is a view of our lovely lake after sunset.

I'm cold!

Turn up the heat!

2012 thus far

So far I have had a nice new year back in New York.  I celebrated the arrival of 2012 in Brooklyn with a small group of friends.  It was very nice.  Since then I have been working, practicing, taking advantage of some after-Christmas sales, and trying to relax as much as I can.  Aside from two very frigid days, the weather has been pretty mild and I've been enjoying my break from school.  I'm also in the midst of a room organization project that I'm enjoying.  I am going through my room in sections and trying to get everything organized.  The project has included several trips to The Container Store, Home Depot, and the discount store in my neighborhood.  As I go along I am coming up with new ideas and also looking at websites for inspiration.  It's been pretty amazing how much more space I can find when I get really organized.  I found one extra shelf on my small bookcase and a whole extra shelf (maybe even two) on my larger bookcase!  The goal is for every "thing" to have its own "place".  Then nothing should go on the floor or in piles to never be seen again, right?  We'll see.  I'm excited about what I've done so far and there is still PLENTY to go.  I'm still trying to decide the best methods for my clarinet stuff, music, and school stuff.  These things tend to get out of control, especially during the semester or when I get really busy.  Unfortunately, Better Homes and Garden's website doesn't have a "de-clutter your clarinet stuff" page so I'm on my own with this one.  Maybe I will come up with something creative and put it on my website and become famous with all the clarinetists.  I'll be the Martha Stewart of clarinet.

Well - Project Organization 2012 will have to go on hold tomorrow because I will be going to Florida for the rest of the week!  I'm super excited to take a vacation with my family and get to relax in a warm place.  I look forward to seeing my nephew who I haven't seen in a year, and meeting my new niece for the first time!  With a family so spread out, it's hard to get everyone together at the same time, so this will be great!  Yippee!

I made it!

One step closer

Last night, I finished my first semester back in school!  I spent the weekend finishing up a big analysis paper and had my last lesson of the semester yesterday.  Ahhh.... I can't believe it!  It hasn't really settled in yet that I can finally relax, but I'm sure it will later today when I get on a WV-bound flight.  Looking forward to seeing family and relaxing!

I really don't have time to be writing this, but....

WOAH!  I think I forgot what the end of a semester is like when you are in school!  Yikes!  And it's at the same time that we are supposed to be getting ready for the holidays - decorating, shopping, making travel plans, baking, going to Christmas shows, meeting up with friends, and on and on.  Who came up with this schedule???  Bad timing.
Hopefully I will get everything done in time and be able to catch my plane to WV, where I hope to put the breaks on long enough to throw a man in the oven and pass out a present or two.  (Or just pass out.)

It's December!!!

Look who is coming into style:

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!