2013 Goals and Resolutions

Oh Calvin.  You get me.

But seriously, I have such a hard time with goals.  Meeting goals, that is.  Making them is fairly easy.  I get distracted.  I unprioritize and reprioritize.  I get lazy.  I don't wanna read x amount of books, or write x amount of sonnets.  Let's see how this year goes, then, when I make goals that are less easily measured.

1. Talk on the phone more, and in doing so, defeat my fear of the thing.
2. Stop saying the word "annoying", and in doing so, be less easily annoyed.  (It's good in theory.)
3. Do not complain, whine, or gossip.  Ever.  (Except maybe to Kevin.  That's basically like talking to myself.)
4. Finish all the books I left half-done in 2012.  There are quite a few of 'em.
5. Read more fiction.
6. Read more classics.
7. Play and teach piano.  (Seriously.  This one is happening, and I'm a bit nervous about it!)
8. Take voice lessons again.  (Yikes!  If I can find the time for it, I wanna make this one happen!)
9. Move into a house!
10. Be a better wife and friend.
11. Support and encourage Kevin.  (Sometimes I forget he has to verbally process and dream.)
12. Write more letters.
13. Spend more structured time praying and in the Scriptures.
14. Be more assertive.
15. Stand up straighter.
16. Be more active.
17. Cook more, and learn to bake.
18. Be spontaneous.
19. Watch less TV.
20. Don't take short-cuts out of laziness.

our precious bilbo

Our precious: Bilbo 

So, Kevin and I have been wanting a puppy for a rather long time.  

It's sort of impossible to live in Colorado and not own or want to own a dog; it's even more impossible to work at the Idaho Springs Starbucks, surrounded by only the most avid of dog-lovers.  

Dogs are expensive.  Especially, we've found, corgis.  Especially corgis that aren't mixed with something else, particularly chihuahua.  We wanted a corgi.  It's become a practice of mine, when I've absolutely exhausted my typical online demands (a la Facebook, Failblog, news sites, etc), I'll look up corgis up for sale or adoption in the Denver area.  Friday, I found an interesting ad.  There was a litter of Pembroke Welsh Corgis (aka the type the Queen prefers) almost three hours away from us, but the price was right.  Kev gave the lady a call, who said she had only one male left.  We braved Friday evening traffic, stopped to get Chick-fil-A, and made it to the place just after the sun had set.  Needless to say, although the breeder didn't have papers for him (because when she bought the father, that breeder didn't get through the necessary paperwork, or something), we fell in love with this little guy and brought him home.  Well, first, we went to the hospital, because our best friends were having their baby.  Funny timing, we know.

Anyway.  We love him.  Bilbo has one of the best personalities I've seen in a dog: he's playful, but quiet.  He rarely whines, and I've heard him bark (almost whispered, like he's not sure he wants to commit to it) maybe twice?  He knows to use the bathroom outside (except when he was so excited yesterday at church - sorry about that, again, guys).  He is perfectly content rolling around on the floor by himself, chasing his tail or the rope toy we bought him.  He jumps on me when I sing (delightedly, we think), and he wrestles with Kevin like a champ. 

He's just the best.  

6 month check up on 2012 goals

1) Learn German.  Ehh.  This one is on hold for the time being.  Faith and I are learning Koine Greek, instead! Rosetta Stone's too danged expensive!


2) Read through the complete works of Shakespeare.  Gonna work on this one this summer!  AKA soon.


3) Go hiking/camping on a mountain with Kevin.  Also a summer goal.  Probably going to count this as completed when Collette & Pete come out and visit (which we so very much hope they will do!)


4) See sunrise on said mountain.  See above.


5) Use the paint supplies I have acquired.  Well, I've only got blank canvases.  No paint.  So...


6) Use the Pilates DVD and mat I bought myself for Christmas.  For two weeks, I was pretty faithful with this, but things got busy & I got lazy.  Will have to pick it up again.  Oy.


7)  Write a letter to a friend a week.  With this, I've done okay.  I wouldn't say it's been one per week, but at least three a month!


8) Journal weekly.  Yessah!


9)  Read through the collected works of Milton.  Erhm... after Shakespeare.  Promise.


10) Read through the collected works of Lewis.  Have read The Great Divorce, and am half done with The Four Loves.  For my thoughts on these, see my other blog! 


11) Read through The Making of a Sonnet, and attempt one a month.  Nope.  Haven't been feeling it.  But might be a good fall-winter activity.  Will see.


12) Work harder than absolutely necessary.  I think I've got this one.  But, to be continued.


13) Develop relationships with the girls in the youth group.  Yes!  So far so good!  Also, to be continued!


14) Sing out.  Yes... but I need to be reminded of this kinda often.


15) Develop better posture.  Oy.  I need to see a chiropractor.


16) Complete the application process and become a certified teacher in the state of Colorado.  Yes!  Finished the application, just waiting to hear!


17)  Learn more about pre-K education.  Finished ECE101, just begun Guidance Strategies!


18) Collect and read as many of my childhood-favorite books as I possibly can!  Doing okay with this one, too - read The Prisoner of Zenda, and recently acquired the Roll of Thunder series!

How are YOU doing on your 2012 goals?? 

As you can see, I've got a lot of work to do..........

but 9/18 seems to be right on track!

one year

On this day last year, Kevin and I arrived in Colorado.

2011

2012

reflections upon a mattress

A Learning Experience.

_

Made me feel like a fish out of water.

24 songs in two months?

More hours spent practicing than in my senior year of high school.

Awful/awkward time signatures. (5/4??!!)

Awful/awkward key signatures. (G♭??!!)

Always tired; no life.

Having to get over my pride.

Threats of carpal tunnel.

Having to be okay with only playing melody or RH in many songs.

Not getting to work with the students as much as I'd've liked.

Living on Spaghetti O's and frozen pizza.  Seriously.

+

Challenged me to push the limits of my ability.

Pressured me to excel.

Reintroduced me to my second love, piano.

Reminded me of the thrill of performing.

Let me contribute to theatre, albeit in the background.

Acquainted me with some awesome individuals and educators from the community.

Expanded my social circle.

Caused me to think and act outside myself, and my box. 

Networking/foot-in-the-door.

Reminded me that I do love teaching, and love teaching secondary ed.

Taught me to count measures.

Taught me 5/4 time.

Taught me glissandi.

Taught me to think of piano as a part of a whole.

Taught me to listen.

a tale of two hamlets

Forgive the corniness of the title.  It gave me great joy.

So, long story short: Petco killed our Hamlet.

Long story long:

We hadn't had him a week, most days he slept and shook, then, he was freaking out: 

flipping all over his cage and biting himself.

We realized he didn't have any fur left on his front legs, and his mouth wouldn't close.

He seriously looked possessed.

After trying to treat him ourselves with a homemade remedy for mites (it wasn't mites),

we took him back to Petco, where they bought him back and sent him to the vet.

...FOUR WEEKS LATER...

I get a phone call (yesterday) telling me he's finished his last round of meds and is ready to be picked up!

JOY OF JOYS!

Today, Kev and I drive down (~30 miles away) to pick up our Ham.

We enter the store.

We approach a salesperson.

We tell her we're here for our hamster.

She rolls her eyes, and begrudgingly speaks to us.

"Yeah, he didn't make it."

...

Wait - what?

Apparently he had died yesterday.  After the phone call was made.

We didn't get any sort of call telling us the poor little guy "didn't make it."

Now, I'm confused.  

When we had him admitted, the salesperson said it was because we purchased the wrong bedding and it was choking him; the salesperson was supposed to have told us which bedding to use.

...

I'm still really wanting a hamster, though, so we head home (quite upset), 

and stop at a PetSmart on the way.

Their selection of hamsters was pleasing, and we picked out a replacement Hamlet.

This one is active: running all around his cage and in his wheel and drinking water and doing the whole circulation again.

We ask the salesperson what type of bedding to use; he points it out to us; it's the same thing we used for Hamlet I, which supposedly had KILLED HIM.

As we go through the paperwork with the salesperson, 

he explains that all of their animals are "vet assured".

...

Conclusion: 

Petco sold us a defective, already sick hamster.

That, or he found out he would have to come home to us and decided to end it.

Rest in peace, Hamlet I.

All hail and long live Hamlet II!

to do: read Gen-Rev

Kevin and I have begun reading through the Bible again!  Instead of going book-by-book as per usual, we'll be going through it chronologically.  To see/steal/use/judge the plan we'll be following, click here!

oh life life life

It's been a while since I've blogged about... anything, really.  Besides just my records of the hilarious and/or insightful things my kids say at the preschool.  So.  Here's why.

I'm not sure exactly why I do this to myself.  I guess I just figure that I have "all the time in the world" now that I'm out of college, and living "real life".  Au contraire!  If I thought I was busy then - a 20-credit undergrad student, working at 20 hour/week job, trying to have some semblance of a social life - what am I doing to myself NOW?  Let me give you the run-down of what my "semester" looks like this year:

- Working full-time at Starbucks.
- Working part-time at Evergreen Academy.
- Being a housewife (seriously - I'm making a career out of doing laundry, dishes, cooking, etc) and loving on my husband, keeping that relationship real.
- Being an obedient servant of God (all that that entails, some listed below, some just having to do with my personal spiritual life... this is a relationship that demands up-keep, as well!)
- Being a friend and mentor (I have more of a social life now than I ever did in college - what?!)
- Singing and playing piano for Saturday evening services at our church.
- Supporting Kevin and the youth group by attending Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings (mostly regularly).
- Taking an online course at Red Rocks (it's a 101, but still is work).
- Working on learning 15 new songs to be the piano accompanist for the spring musical at the local high school (boy, am I rusty - but excited for the challenge and the chance to get involved with the youth!)
- Trying to finish this 700 pg book... just to be DONE with it already!
- And now because Kev and I have decided that what I need is more peer-fellowship - I'm joining a Bible study with a friend and some other ladies down the mountain.

This is my life, guys.  I love it.  I love what I do, my friends, my life.  Truly.  But I feel like I'm killing myself sometimes.  Like, I never have time to breathe.  I have days off, obviously, but those days are taken up with all the other busyness I have to "get done".  It's so easy for me to get overwhelmed and stressed and take it out on people closest to me (i.e: Kevin).  Not good!

So, here are some things I need to be constantly reminding myself.

These are the things I know:
- This is a 101 course.  I can and will get a decent grade, basically despite my best efforts to the contrary.
- I am good at playing piano, and after I acquaint myself with the songs a bit more, I'll be fine.
- I cannot take out my stress on Kevin.
- Adarae is coming to visit me in five days and will make everything better! (Plus, days off work!)
- God is faithful, and I am able to please Him by my obedience in the little things as well as the big things.
- I cannot always please everyone - so I can't beat myself up for failing in the little things, asking forgiveness, etc.  I cannot let my fear of letting others down affect my day-to-day.
- I can love people in little ways that make a big difference.
- I can organize and prioritize: Do what matters most first.

al fine: goals for 2011

2011 is over.  Officially.  Care to see how I did on my goals for this year?

1) journal weekly (in my journal, not my blog)
2) teach like I mean it—student teaching was rough, but I can say with confidence that I started each day as if it were on purpose! And now that I'm working at Evergreen Academy, many more opportunities!!
3) graduate PBU (get certified, succeed as a teacher, all that jazz)
4) see an obscene number of friends get married!—and still so many coming up!
5) move away (pref. to Colorado!)--we're here!!  
6) twice a month, write a letter to a different dear (if distant) friend—yes!  I've gotten better at this one since the half-way mark!  I love love writing (and receiving!) letters of encouragement! 
7) get a piano—an electric piano counts.  I guess.
8) learn 5 new pieces by Chopin—I've *begun* learning two.  Shoot, I'll work on this one!
9) read (and appreciate!) a Russian novel--I read Crime and Punishment this summer.  "Read"-check.  "Appreciate"-...I'll let you know.
10) finish reading the works of Shakespeare in its entirety!--Will have to finish next year....
11) write something worth reading--this is up for debate.  
12) go hiking & camping with Kevin on a mountain--hiking, yes.  Camping, no.  
13) see sunset and sunrise on said mountain
14) learn to knit and/or crochet
15) research Trivits heritage
16) learn German… begin learning German--I downloaded a podcast that was supposed to teach you German.  I didn't make it far, but I made an effort!

17) learn to cook - not really Julie & Julia style, but kinda
18) give people the benefit of the doubt, every time
19) learn and play a number of different card games
20) acquire painting supplies, use said supplies

21) learn to love Kevin more than I love myself; support him; dream with him (aka be an awesome wife!)—definite improvements!

22) learn when and how to be a follower rather than a leader (and vice versa)—definite improvements!
23) read through the Bible again—Yes!  In just about six months!
24) have Kevin teach me Greek—in progress!
25) sing somewhere--every Saturday night, I get to help lead worship at my church!
26) grow a garden (even an herb garden, come on!)
27) learn to exercise (& do it regularly!)--Next year.
28) remember to not be too serious

29) study up on world religions
30) …get a new and decent job.


22/30... is a solid C.  

update on my goals for twenty-eleven

I began this list in late January.  In June, I gave a six-month update.  Now, in the middle of November, I want to see how much more I've gotta focus and put the pedal to the medal for the next month and a half.    I think I did pretty well!  Care to see?  How are you doing on YOUR New Years' Resolutions?  Oh yeah, remember those?  :)

1) journal weekly (in my journal, not my blog)
2) teach like I mean it—student teaching was rough, but I can say with confidence that I started each day as if it were on purpose!
3) graduate PBU (get certified, succeed as a teacher, all that jazz)
4) see an obscene number of friends get married!—and still so many coming up!
5) move away (pref. to Colorado!)--we're here!!  
6) twice a month, write a letter to a different dear (if distant) friend—yes!  I've gotten better at this one since the half-way mark!  I love love writing (and receiving!) letters of encouragement! 
7) get a piano—an electric piano counts.  I guess.
8) learn 5 new pieces by Chopin—I've *begun* learning two.  Shoot, I'll work on this one!
9) read (and appreciate!) a Russian novel--I read Crime and Punishment this summer.  "Read"-check.  "Appreciate"-...I'll let you know.
10) finish reading the works of Shakespeare in its entirety!--my next project after reading through the NT.
11) write something worth reading--this is up for debate.  
12) go hiking & camping with Kevin on a mountain--hiking, yes.  Camping, no.  
13) see sunset and sunrise on said mountain
14) learn to knit and/or crochet
15) research Trivits heritage
16) learn German… begin learning German

17) learn to cook - not really Julie & Julia style, but kinda
18) give people the benefit of the doubt, every time
19) learn and play a number of different card games
20) acquire painting supplies, use said supplies

21) learn to love Kevin more than I love myself; support him; dream with him (aka be an awesome wife!)—definite improvements!

22) learn when and how to be a follower rather than a leader (and vice versa)—definite improvements!
23) read through the Bible again—in progress!
24) have Kevin teach me Greek—in progress!
25) sing somewhere--every Saturday night, I get to help lead worship at my church!
26) grow a garden (even an herb garden, come on!)
27) learn to exercise (& do it regularly!)
28) remember to not be too serious

29) study up on world religions
30) …get a new and decent job.

21/30!!  Not too shabby... and a definitely improvement from June's 13/30.  Now you know what I'll be up to for the next 1.5 mos till December 31!  

FAVORITE MEAL EVER!

All right, guys.  Here it is.  The recipe you've all been waiting for, drooling for, dying for....
(not at all dramatic - you'll understand when you taste the heavenly goodness that is this curried chicken!)

Anna's Curried Chicken with Rice
(I always approximate measurements... but I'll do my best to standardize it for ya.  Feel free to mess with amounts to your taste)
Serves Four
Ingredients:
2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup (the smaller ones, not family size)
3 Tb Curry Powder
2 Tb Cinnamon
Honey
Handful of Raisins (super specific, haha)
2 Small-Medium Sized Yellow Pears (the best are the almost mushy ones)
Rice for 4 Servings (depends, I guess... and I use Minute Rice, because it's so dang hard to cook rice up here at 7500 ft.)
4-6 Chicken Breasts (defrosted, obviously)
---
1) Heat cream of mushroom soup over medium heat, stirring in 1 cup of water (do not follow instructions on the can!)
2) Stir in curry powder and cinnamon as directed (or to taste).  Mix thoroughly so there are no chunks of mushroom, etc.
3) Stir in honey.  This is an optional step... I love love love the honey added, and usually put in quite a bit.  Use your discretion.
4) Let sit on low heat for 10 minutes, stir in raisins after the 10 minutes are nearly up.
--Preheat oven to 375.
5) Dip defrosted chicken in flour and place in medium-sized (glass) baking pan.
6) Cover chicken with the mushroom soup/curry/honey/cinnamon mixture.
7) Slice pears (I like them to still have the shape of the pear when I slice it... but I'm not sure what the technical term is for that... so... do what you want, just get those pears on those chickens!) and place on top of the chicken and soup-mixture.
8) Place in bottom rack of oven, let bake for ~30 minutes.

Then... just make rice as you see fit.  You don't even need to eat it with rice, but it's so so good to let the rice soak up the soup-curry sauce.  Highly recommended.

Serve each chicken breast with at least one slice of pear, and plenty of sauce.

Enjoy!  Let me know what you think, or if you have any additions/suggestions to this already near-perfect recipe!  :)

Here are a couple pictures for inspiration!

Before Baking

After Baking

(this picture is from a different batch... sans raisins)

the things i've seen

I love theatre.

Well, I guess it'd be more accurate to say that I love stories.  And I love music.  And I love adrenaline rushes.  Musical theatre takes these three items, mixes in some choreography, sets, bright and colorful lights.  The result is dazzling:  the audience is actually able to not only enjoy the display of talent and narrative, but it's almost impossible not to be swept into the story itself -- drama sucks a viewer in and doesn't let go.

Me, I'm a groundling.  And goodness, I'm more than pleased to be spat upon by the geniuses performing above me.

Last night, Kevin and I got to experience the timeless story of Les Miserables at Denver's Buell Theatre.  I miss this.  Yes, I miss performing, but I miss watching the stories, the talent, having my ears thrilled by the highs and the lows of a talented tenor or two.

Here's the list of shows I've seen.  Directly following is the list of shows that I'm dying to see.  Give me your feedback.  Any suggestions?  Any comments?  Have you seen any of these shows, too?  Let me know!


Fiddler on the Roof (2001) - with Topol!
--Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI

The Scarlet Pimpernel (2002)
--DeVos Hall, GR, MI

Porgy and Bess (2004)
--DeVos Hall, GR, MI

Wicked (2005)
--Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto, Canada

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! (2006)
--Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI

Les Miserables (2006)
--DeVos Hall, GR, MI

Spamalot (2006)

--Shubert Theatre, NYC

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2006)

--Imperial Theatre, NYC

The Tony Awards (2006) - so many songs, so many shows, all in one place at one time!

--Radio City Music Hall, NYC

Phantom of the Opera (2006)
--Majestic Theatre, NYC

Wicked (2007) - Front row, twice in one day.  The lottery is a glorious thing!
--Oriental Theatre, Chicago, IL

Chicago (2007)
--Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI

Les Miserables (2011)
--Buell Theatre, Denver, CO


DYING TO SEE:

The Lion King -- just purchased our tickets to this one at Denver's Buell Theatre for Nov. 11!!!
Legally Blonde
Beauty and the Beast
Catch Me If You Can
Wicked, again
Spamalot, again
Book of Mormon
Big Fish (rumored to begin production)
And... anything starring Sutton Foster

srsly?

Kevin and I are trying our hand at selling some extra furniture on Craigslist. Pretty simple. Take some pictures, put ‘em up online, wait to hear from some people, sell sell sell. Apparently, some people don’t get the concept. Or, maybe they just set out to make our lives a little more confusing today. Take a look at the incompetence ridiculousness “interest” of the lady who contacted us about the dresser we’re selling.

This is a bit how it went: —Kev and I are in bold, the lady is in italics.

MONDAY

(Email) 8:19 PM
I would like to purchase this dresser. I have cash and a truck on Wednesday. I will purchase. Please call or text if I don’t answer I work in day. (###)###-####.

(text) 10:09 PM
I’m the person selling the dresser on craigslist. Wed is good. What time would you like to pick it up?

(text from here on out) 10:36
Afternoon. And is there anything wrong with it like tracks being off? It is the dark espresso with modern handles right.

10:38
It’s $100 only right?

10:50
There’s nothing wrong with the tracks. Yes on the dark and modern handles. Yes only 100. There is a small crack on the side but it’s not big. Very sturdy piece.

10:50
Ok b there n Wednesday. Please note I have might be late just Bcos I’m not sure of schedule but I will be there…with cash and I have truck.

10:52
K. Can u send me another pic….how tall is it.

10:53
It’s about five ft. I can’t send one right now. I’ll try and remember to do that for you tomorrow.

10:54
Oh that’s a good size… Cool. I’ll see u Wednesday.

10:54
Great.

TUESDAY


6:54 PM
Ok so what is ur address….

8:02
[Address] It’s a very small street, and we are the only apartment on the street. so call me when you turn onto it.

8:36
Any idea what time?

10:20
Hopefully morning around 11 12

WEDNESDAY

5:57 AM
Good morning. Is there anything I should know about the beautiful dresser before I get there….I do look forward to the morning trip and…

6:23 AM
Pretty straightforward. It’s big and solid with a small crack on the one side. That’s the only setback I could find.

1:00 PM
I’m sorry.

1:01
Are you no longer interested?

1:02
I don’t want it cracked. Sorry mg husband made the final call..sorry…

1:03
No problem.

1:28
My huSband asks would u drop the price.

1:45
We are entertaining best offers. There is another person interested. I’ll let you know if it falls through and we can work something out.

7:14
Do you have a price in mind for the dresser?

7:16
Please tell me. Just let me know.

7:17
Sixty?

7:18
Can u send another picture

7:19
I will when I get back to my place.

7:32
K. That will b good. Send me pic I can com n get tonight.

8:38
The puncture is about three inches total. Here’s a picture. It’s just on the side of the dresser. [picture’s pretty dark, but you can see the crack]

8:40
I am sorry its all black. I can’t see

8:42
[New pic, with a flashlight over the cracked area]

8:43
Put light to it. Please.

8:44
I just held a flashlight up to it. Did it not turn out ok?
[resent pic, lighting up the cracked area]

8:45
No. Sweetie that’s a big might spread…sorry.

8:49
You can’t tell from the picture, but it’s actually not a structural problem. It’s a thick piece so it won’t spread, but it’s fine if you’re not interested.

8:50
It is in the back right

8:58
No, the side.

8:59
My hubbies said no. He would tale it it were on the back. Thank you.