...except I think I was the only one in the pub not rooting for the Sox. I kept a pretty low profile! I was wearing my OSU jersey kept it covered lest someone realize I was from Ohio.
But now, my loyalties shift - and GO RED SOX!!!!!!!
Monday, October 22, 2007
"Crabernet Sauvignon"
One of the gifts in my "Surviving your 30's" bag from the girls. Michelle created this masterpiece on the wine bottle. I tried to take close-up pics of the label so it's readable.
I also had a baggy of "1977" facts and other musings which we went around the room reading. I'll share some of my favorites:
In 1977... Where were you when the lights went out? A 25 hour blackout on July 13-14 in New York unleashes a crime spree.
In 1977...Final fairwells to Charlie Chaplin, Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx and the King - Elvis Presley.
(On October 17) There are 69 days till Christmas 2007!
There are 82 days till Orthodox Christmas!
In 1977...Last execution by guillotine in France.
1977 is...Silver Jubliee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Your fortune cookie reads:
Don't forget, you are always on our minds.
There are 366 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 31 candles. Those 31 candles produce 31 BTUs, or 7.812 calories of heat (that's only 7. 8120 food calories!) You can boil 3.45 US ounces of water with that many candles!
No ordinary person, full imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-respect, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, many complexes, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.
Your date of conception was on our about 24 January 1977 which was a Monday.
One of the gifts in my "Surviving your 30's" bag from the girls. Michelle created this masterpiece on the wine bottle. I tried to take close-up pics of the label so it's readable.
I also had a baggy of "1977" facts and other musings which we went around the room reading. I'll share some of my favorites:
In 1977... Where were you when the lights went out? A 25 hour blackout on July 13-14 in New York unleashes a crime spree.
In 1977...Final fairwells to Charlie Chaplin, Bing Crosby, Groucho Marx and the King - Elvis Presley.
(On October 17) There are 69 days till Christmas 2007!
There are 82 days till Orthodox Christmas!
In 1977...Last execution by guillotine in France.
1977 is...Silver Jubliee of Queen Elizabeth II.
Your fortune cookie reads:
Don't forget, you are always on our minds.
There are 366 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 31 candles. Those 31 candles produce 31 BTUs, or 7.812 calories of heat (that's only 7. 8120 food calories!) You can boil 3.45 US ounces of water with that many candles!
No ordinary person, full imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-respect, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, many complexes, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.
Your date of conception was on our about 24 January 1977 which was a Monday.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
I'm back from the land of the Buckeye! It was a whirlwind of excitement and absolute exhaustion but full of lots of happy moments. I apologize to those you I didn't get to see while I was at home. I was in Columbus for only a week before I went up to my parents and during the day I was at choir camp and in the evenings I was either sleeping or trying to catch up with as many people as I could.
This year's choir camp was brillant! It was disappointing in the fact that our numbers were very much down this year due to family vacations and unexpected family members coming to visit - but the kids we did have were so much fun, excited about singing, and learning about God. This year's theme was Children Go Where I Send Thee: The Great Commission. All music (choir anthems and hymns), projects and presentations had to do with spreading the Gospel. Brian also wrote an anthem for our choristers to learn and they loved it! They also loved getting to work with him at the end of the week. I'll try and post video from their dress rehearsal of them singing the piece.
Saturday evening I got to spend some time almost the entire gang (minus the Chizmars and Helmuths). The kids are all growing so big and it was really great to spend time with all these people who I hold dear to my heart all year long, but rarely get to see. It's good to know that some things never change. :-)
I'm back now and relaxing this weekend before I officially start at Longy on Monday morning. And the singing and rehearsing never stops. I have a concert on Wednesday, the 29th at Boston College so I have several rehearsals this week for that. Michelle and Shadi and I are trying to form a trio as well and have got some rehearsing to do in the upcoming weeks too. Oh, and George (guitar) wants to do some pieces for soprano and guitar. So yeh, it never ends!!!! :)
Earlier today and I got to meet up with a blast from the past. Paul Tipton was singing at Trinity in Copley Square and afterwards we had lunch together. It was great to catch up. To those of you who remember Paul (raptor man!), he sounds amazing!
This year's choir camp was brillant! It was disappointing in the fact that our numbers were very much down this year due to family vacations and unexpected family members coming to visit - but the kids we did have were so much fun, excited about singing, and learning about God. This year's theme was Children Go Where I Send Thee: The Great Commission. All music (choir anthems and hymns), projects and presentations had to do with spreading the Gospel. Brian also wrote an anthem for our choristers to learn and they loved it! They also loved getting to work with him at the end of the week. I'll try and post video from their dress rehearsal of them singing the piece.
Saturday evening I got to spend some time almost the entire gang (minus the Chizmars and Helmuths). The kids are all growing so big and it was really great to spend time with all these people who I hold dear to my heart all year long, but rarely get to see. It's good to know that some things never change. :-)
I'm back now and relaxing this weekend before I officially start at Longy on Monday morning. And the singing and rehearsing never stops. I have a concert on Wednesday, the 29th at Boston College so I have several rehearsals this week for that. Michelle and Shadi and I are trying to form a trio as well and have got some rehearsing to do in the upcoming weeks too. Oh, and George (guitar) wants to do some pieces for soprano and guitar. So yeh, it never ends!!!! :)
Earlier today and I got to meet up with a blast from the past. Paul Tipton was singing at Trinity in Copley Square and afterwards we had lunch together. It was great to catch up. To those of you who remember Paul (raptor man!), he sounds amazing!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Tonight we went and saw the movie Once. It's one of the best movies I've seen in a very long time. Hurry and go see it before it's out of theatres!!!
In other news, I was running a long run yesterday and ran into a Turkey. Yes. A turkey. In downtown Cambridge, right by MIT and right before the Longfellow Bridge. Not a normal place for a turkey to be AT ALL. I was in runner's zone when I passed by it and at first I thought "Was that a turkey? No. It had to be a very large goose." I stopped and turned around and indeed it was a turkey. I was so baffled by this wild animal being where it was that all I could do was stand there. I looked around looking at all the people that were in the area and no one else seemed to be in amazement nor did they seem to think it was out of place - at least they didn't act like it. I kept waiting for someone to say "Oh... don't worry that's my PET turkey." or even better some camera crew to come out and say "You're on Candid Camera!" Finally this guy was walkig towards me and had the same reaction I did. Then a couple walking behind him stopped and said "That's not normal!" To which I said "Thank you!!" I was just relieved that someone else also thought it was strange to see a big ol' turkey in the heart of the city. That's all I wanted.
In other news, I was running a long run yesterday and ran into a Turkey. Yes. A turkey. In downtown Cambridge, right by MIT and right before the Longfellow Bridge. Not a normal place for a turkey to be AT ALL. I was in runner's zone when I passed by it and at first I thought "Was that a turkey? No. It had to be a very large goose." I stopped and turned around and indeed it was a turkey. I was so baffled by this wild animal being where it was that all I could do was stand there. I looked around looking at all the people that were in the area and no one else seemed to be in amazement nor did they seem to think it was out of place - at least they didn't act like it. I kept waiting for someone to say "Oh... don't worry that's my PET turkey." or even better some camera crew to come out and say "You're on Candid Camera!" Finally this guy was walkig towards me and had the same reaction I did. Then a couple walking behind him stopped and said "That's not normal!" To which I said "Thank you!!" I was just relieved that someone else also thought it was strange to see a big ol' turkey in the heart of the city. That's all I wanted.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Mid-summer musings, visitors, and a new job
I don't even know where to begin. I feel like the past 3 weeks have a been a blur. A blur and mix of emotions, having loads of fun, self-examination, transition, and more fun. (fun is a very important thing!) It's also already almost the end of July which I cannot believe and I keep thinking how it is that the summer can go so fast!
Let's start with the big news. I officially have a job for the year starting August 20. I'm already currently working part-time in the job as the person I took over for has moved into her new position - but the full time status will begin when I return from Ohio. My new job is the Operation's Manager of Institutional Advancement at Longy. My job will be to oversee "effective functioning of the Advancement office" (scheduling meetings, keeping department calendar, ordering supplies... etc.), oversee events that include the Board of Trustees, Board of Visitors and any major donors, monitor the department budget, coordinate the yearly budgeting process, coordinate donor stewardship, assist with production of special presentations and projects, supervise the administrative assistant, student office and events workers. Whew. If you didn't follow any of that that's ok because I'm still not sure I do. In other words - I'm going to be very busy and how on earth am I going to find time to practice???? As my co-worker, Chris, said: "Rachael, you're the new puppet master of the IA Department!" No pressure, right??
My last day at Harvard is next Wednesday and I'm a little sad. I've been here for 3 years now and I've made some teriffic friends, was a job out of the music scene (which I think provided some sanity during the past 3 years), and is a place where I'm just so comfortable.
This summer has been great! I'm still increasingly overwhelmed with the gift and blessings of friendships. Late night chats, playing tennis, running, games, cooking, beach fun, movies, general craziness. Friends that give so much value to life.
Two weeks ago my brother and his buddy Tige came for a 4 day visit and then last week Jason, Aubrey, Aria, and Liam came to visit for a few days as well. Both weeks were awesome and so much fun. I've included pictures below. Now the house is quiet and I'm not sure what to do with myself. I think Michelle and I are FINALLY going to see Harry Potter this evening! WHOOT WHOOT!!!!!!
Choir Camp starts in less than two weeks and we are almost ready. Thank God for Chris who has been doing so much work on her end. The music is ordered, Brian's composing away for our commissioned anthem, and we've got some new kids this year. I can't wait to see my old kiddos - it's always a great reunion and they make me smile. The things they remember from summer to summer amazes me.
Just down the street from me (literally) at Sanders Theatre Denzel Washington has been filming his new movie, "The Great Debators". It's set in 1935 so there have been all these extras wandering around in 1930's costumes etc. There are several tents set up in that part of campus where they are doing all the make-up and hair. It's very surreal to walk through because I feel a bit out of place with my hair down, my bare legs in flip flops, and a cute little skirt - it's like I'm in the 1930's but visiting from the future. It's also weird to walk past these people dressed up in costume wandering around outside talking on the cell phone. It just doesn't belong! lol
I travel to Columbus on the 4th. Anyone want to make the drive with me? Pretty please? :-)
Ashley and I made a DELICIOUS post-tennis meail the other night. The burgers are a variation on a Cooking Light recipe and the Watermelon-Cucumber salad comes from Ashley.
Southwestern Turkey-Cheddar Burgers
1 - 1.5 lb ground turkey
1/3 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 tsps. chile powder
3/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
Mix together, form into burger patties, and grill!
We also added a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and slices of avocado to the burger. MMMMMMMM
Watermelon-Cucumber Salad
Watermelon
Cucumber
Crumbled feta cheese
Balsamic Vinegar
Cut up the Watermelon and Cucumber - put in bowl. Add feta cheese. Mix.
Individuals may sprinkle desired amount of the Balsamic Vinegar on own servings.
It sounds like a strange combination - but it's SO good and surprisingly refreshing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)