Jazzy Jingle Bells

 Happy Holidays from the City Children's Choir!

Of which my little brother is a proud member.

He wore these light up reindeer antlers that he had to keep switching on constantly throughout the concert because they only blinked for 20 seconds or so after pressing the button.  So, of course he had to keep reaching up and pressing the button.  I don't know who bought him those antlers.  *whistles innocently*

Luke and his friend Elizabeth.  "Choir is FUN!!!!"

And with little siblings.  Who are adorable.  :)
 

JJ Heller Love

JJ Heller is easily my favorite recording artist.

That's saying a lot coming from the girl who can find enjoyment in almost any type of music (obviously exception would be heavy metal, whether or not it's even music is debatable.)  But, although I have a wide range of tastes, and a big list of favorite songs it's not often that I find an ARTIST that I love.  As in, I pretty much love every song she's ever recorded.  I love her sound.  I love her image.  I love that she's an independent artist.  I love that her music is understated and simple with amazing, killer lyrics.  I love that she has an  adorable baby girl that she features along with her adorable sewing projects on her adorable blog  I love that she and her husband travel together and give beautiful un-pretentious concerts where the audience feels more like they're in the Heller's living room than in a concert hall.  By the way, I know about the concerts, because I went to see them a couple weekends ago at the Outeredge Stage (which is awesome by the way.)

See?

 And I took some friends with me.  'Cause it's always good to spread the JJ Heller love. 

My friends drink a lot of coffee.

Then we went to Barnes and Noble and shopped in the used book section on the way home.

So, it was basically a perfect weekend. 

February 11, 2010

I've been busy, Oh so busy
It's amazing how busy I feel!

(Yes, I've been listening to the West Side Story soundtrack.  And, yes, Hayley Westenra is the best Maria ever. No contest.) 

Anyway.

BIG NEWS!

My new laptop has arrived!   And I've been busy, oh so busy, *ahem* playing with it.
Windows 7 has my thumbs up, by the way.  Not that my thumbs up really counts for anything at all.

I named the new laptop Riley.  Because I name things. And because... RILEY!  *grins*

Other things that have been keeping me busy are as follows and in no particular order:

• Writing (mostly for the IDD blog)
• Valentine's Day. 
• Keeping my house clean.  Explain this to me.  We're gone most of the day. Which means we aren't home to mess it up.  And yet, there is ALWAYS housework to do.  Why is this?  I conclude that either
• a) We are VERY messy when we ARE at home.  or 
• b) it has something to do with the second law of thermodynamics. 
• It may in fact, be both reasons.  And the first reason may be because of the second reason.  But, I don't know for sure, because I am not a physicist.  I'm a florist.  And the flower shop is pretty messy this time of year too.  But that's because of, like I said V-Day.  Or, the second law of thermodynamics.  Hmmmm..... This is obviously proof that the second law of the thermodynamics is directly related to Valentine's and that all florists should moonlight as astro-physicists.  
• I completely messed up my iTunes library and iPod and all that in my attempt to transfer my iTunes library to my new computer without the help or supervision of Katie.  I was trying to be smart and not bug her.  Ended up looking not smart and bugging her anyway.  
• Reading the Fitzwilliam Darcy books.  Only a couple of breaks to read Agatha Christie.  Has anyone read the Darcy books?  
• Itching for spring!!!  I ordered some flower seeds... they came in the mail... I was so excited I couldn't sleep that night because I was trying to plan my garden in my head.  But, obviously, I won't be able to actually get out and start working for at least another 6-8 weeks so it's all like some kind of cruel joke I'm playing on myself.  *sigh*

Well, I think that's all for now.  Have to get going to the flower shop and as my mom says "Make pretty flowers!"  for all of those lovers and sweethearts out there.  Do you think I will ever have a sweetheart?  I'm beginning to doubt... But, that's usual for this time of year...  

Pirates of Penzance - With cat-like tread

From Gilbert and Sullivan's ingenius opera "The Pirates of Penzance"
With Cat Like Tread- forte.... :-)


here's the lyrics for anyone that doesn't know them.

PIRATES: With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal;
In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel.
No sound at all! We never speak a word;
A fly's foot-fall Would be distinctly heard--

POLICE: (softly) Tarantara, tarantara!

PIRATES: So stealthily the pirate creeps,
While all the household soundly sleeps.

Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Truce to navigation; Take another station;
Let's vary piracee With a little burglaree!

POLICE: (softly) Tarantara, tarantara!

SAMUEL: (distributing implements to various members of the gang)
Here's your crowbar and your centrebit,
Your life-preserver--you may want to hit!
Your silent matches, your dark lantern seize,
Take your file and your skeletonic keys.

POLICE: Tarantara!

PIRATES: With cat-like tread

POLICE: Tarantara!

PIRATES: in silence dread,

ALL (fortissimo): With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal;
In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel.
No sound at all! We never speak a word;
A fly's foot-fall Would be distinctly heard!

Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Truce to navigation; Take another station;
Let's vary piracee With a little burglaree!

With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal,
In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel.



Another good place to hear this song... if you come over to my house... and all my sisters are there... and if the upstairs neighbor isn't home...

Do, Re, Mi....

My sister Katie taught a music workshop at camp last week.

Some of us tried to help her... (Note: emphasis on TRY....) Notice how most of us look totally lost?
On the last night the children performed for us... it was beautiful!