Category Archives: Music

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 15, 2017

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For Today… January 15, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… sunny and around 40F. It’s a nice change from mornings when it’s 15F when I leave the house with a high in the 20’s.

I am thinking… about various homework assignments that are due in the next week.

I am thankful… that my kiddo FINALLY went to sleep around 1 a.m. after tantruming on and off for almost 9 hours. #autismproblems #ADHDproblems

One of my favorite things… soft grey kitties like the one asleep in the cat bed on my desk.

I am wearing… a long-sleeved Cougars shirt and jeans. Church clothes this morning were a charcoal grey top, my black slacks, and my black boots.

I am creating…

I am reading… My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live by my friend Maria Johnson. I got to know her through podcasting stuff on SQPN and am really jazzed to finally get to read her book after gifting it to a number of people.

I am hoping… to finish my book today in between all of the homework on my plate.

I am learning… how to get kitty litter out of the bleach receptacle of the washing machine and the fabric softener receptacle on the dryer. *glares at Daniel* (The answer involves a toothbrush, an F crochet hook, and a dust buster.)

In my kitchen… stroganoff for dinner tonight. Yay!!! Good leftovers this week!!!

In the school room… Daniel has a four-day weekend.

Post Script… So let’s talk about how many buses are headed to DC for the inauguration vs. how many are headed there for the Women’s March on Washington. (Hint: It’s not even close.)

Shared Quote…

My sentiments exactly.

A moment from my day… Our offertory hymn this morning in honor of MLK Jr.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: The Holidays Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Yeah… no. A friend of mine posted a 1930’s marital test on Facebook. Let’s just say that I would not have been good housewife material then and I’m quite OK with that!

My score: a -3.

— 2 —

Prerequisite sacred music take. We’re doing this for Christmas Eve and then this and this in the next few weeks. I’m excited!

— 3 —

O Antiphons. As part of my parish’s Advent Game, I’ve been reading the O antiphons on the USCCB page for the last few days. They’ve been good but I think I might just read verses of “O Come Emmanuel” next year as they touch on the same things and I can actually sing them.

— 4 —

Festivus. I’ve submitted my grievances for Festivus tomorrow. Have you?

Also, go google “Festivus” and see what you get for the results page.

— 5 —

One of the better ways to celebrate Christmas Eve. This may be what I do after church on Saturday night.

Happy Christmas Book Flood!

— 6 —

Plans. We’re having a family dinner at my cousin’s house tomorrow. On Saturday, we’ll have my uncle and grandmother over for dinner and I have church in the evening. On Christmas morning, my uncle and aunt (and possibly grandmother) will join us to open presents and we’ll spend the day together. We’ll miss my brother and his wife but they’ll be with her family in Arizona. (We get them for Thanksgiving.)

— 7 —

Kelly. Our intrepid hostess Kelly is answering questions about hosting orphans this Christmas through Project 143. Go surf on over and read what she has to say!

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

{five favourites}: Things Keeping Me From Getting Too Grinchy

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#5Faves

Those who know me in real life know that I really don’t *LIKE* December very much. I hate the materialistic aspect of Christmas, decorating the house is ONE MORE THING TO DO (probably why I haven’t decorated on my own in years and usually delegated it to Jon), I loathe secular Christmas music, and besides, IT’S FREAKING ADVENT, PEOPLE!!! CHRISTMAS DOESN’T START UNTIL THE 24TH.

Having said all that, here are some of the things that are keeping me from being *TOO* grinchy this holiday season.

One

My Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar. If you don’t know about Jacquie Lawson, you need to surf over RIGHT NOW! She does interactive cards with beautiful artwork and music. Every year, she puts out an amazing Advent calendar which is under $5 to download onto your computer. This year, it’s a seaside Christmas and I know I’m always excited to see what I’ll be opening every morning. She also has an ornament smashing game which is great when I need to think something through but need to be doing something brainless to do it.

Two

My church’s “Advent game”. On the first Sunday of Advent, they were handing out envelopes with slips of paper in them. The game is simple: take out one slip of paper each day and do that activity with your family or on your own. There are ideas for prayer, suggestions for things like building a fire and roasting marshmallows, writing a letter to someone you haven’t talked to in a while, read the O Antiphons, etc. Even though I missed a few days (OK… more like a week), it’s given me an interesting Advent.

Three

My Advent playlist. It’s nice having music that fits the season and what we’re focusing on in church.

Four

Family gatherings. With the amount of pain that has happened in my family this year (not just my divorce but other things), it has been really helpful to gather for things like celebrating my cousin’s graduation. We have a Christmas dinner we’re not having to host on Friday and it will be good to see everyone.

Five

Getting to write the prayers we’re using for Christmas. My priest asked if I wanted to write the prayers being used for Christmas worship. This should be fun and definitely will help me get into the spirit of what the season is all about.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 18, 2016

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For Today… December 18, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. The wind is howling and it’s in the 30’s. We’ve still got some snow on the ground and we’re hoping that the rain doesn’t freeze and turn to ice as that would make driving even more treacherous.

I am thinking… one of my church kids from Montana who is in a position of having to wait to have her baby because of ITP and platelet issues. I may or may not be in overprotective big sister mode.

I am thankful… for my church choir. Our director/organist couldn’t make it this morning due to the roads being bad so we ended up leading the service and singing everything (including our anthem) acapella. Every member of the choir could be the main soloist in a regular church choir and to have ten such people in the same choir means that we can do some pretty amazing things.

One of my favorite things… episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a burgundy shirt, black slacks, and my black boots because of the snow. After church, I switched out the black slacks with jeans.

I am creating… nothing at the moment.

I am listening to… the rain on the windows and the wind outside.

I am hoping… the roads are better tomorrow. I have errands to do and I’d prefer to not be slipping and sliding on the road.

I am learning… my limits.

In my kitchen… scavenging for dinner. We had a gathering for my cousin Sarah on Friday so we decided to just do our own thing for dinner tonight. In my case, it was mac n’ cheese.

Me with Sarah.

In the school room… my kiddo is on break for two weeks.

Post Script… apparently, there is a problem with moose licking salt off of cars in Alberta’s parks.

Shared Quote… “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.” — C.S. Lewis

A moment from my day…

My beach boy frolicking in the snow.
FIguring out mittens.
Parka selfie!

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

{five favourites}: Miscellanea (LXXX)

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#5Faves
One
Straight No Chaser. I love these guys. The sight gags/choreography are equally as good as the harmony.

Two
10 @ 10. Go bond with Laura to hear more about this!

Three
Compline. I feel like I sleep better if I pray Compline at the end of my day. (The other prayers are also pretty awesome if you want to pray but need some words to help.)

Four
Handel’s Messiah. It’s popular to participate in Messiah sings at this time of year. I used to do the You-Sing-It Messiah with the San Jose Symphonic Choir in high school and college, then performed the Christmas section with Jon’s internship congregation in 2002, did the Messiah Sing with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra, performed the Christmas section for our Christmas cantata with my church in southern California in 2014, and did the Messiah Sing-A-Long with the choirmaster of the Skagit Symphony Chorus.

Yeah… I’m kind of a Messiah junkie. 🙂 These are my favorite choruses/solos.

Five
 

Fernando Ortega. I really recommend his music if you need something to put you in a more spiritual frame of mind.  He is seriously brilliant.

Go love up Bonnie, DeBalino, and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: December 11, 2016

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For Today… December 11, 2016

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. Weather.Com is saying that it’s 29F here and that snow might be starting soon. I’m kind of excited but wishing that my boots would arrive from L.L. Bean because all I have are my running shoes.

I am thinking… about my Access assessment that I finished last night. After I’m done with this, I’ll proof it and then submit it.

I am thankful… for my shopping trip to Old Navy today. I got some new long-sleeved shirts that should help keep me warm and are in seasonal colors.

One of my favorite things… the Sanctimommy Said What group on Facebook.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were the blue-green fitted tee from Old Navy/black slacks from Kohl’s/black cardi from Kohl’s that I recycled from last night’s Messiah singalong with the Skagit Symphony Chorus.

I am creating… a prayer shawl and some socks for my mommy.

I am listening to… the Classical Holiday channel from DISH Network.

I am hoping… to get a perfect score on my Practical Accounting final tomorrow.  I’ve gotten 98’s on the last three tests and it’s killing me not to get a perfect score yet.  (Why yes… I *AM* Hermione!  How ever did you guess?)

I am learning… random Access things.

In my kitchen… pork fried rice from Haggen that seems to be missing the pork.  So NOT amused.

In the school room… Daniel has a new phrase: “dress for school”.

Post Script… a list of good Christmas carols, even if the versions she picks are occasionally sub-par.

Shared Quote… “Don’t make the same mistakes that everyone else makes. Make wonderful mistakes. Make the kind of mistakes that make people so shocked that they have no other choice but to be a little impressed.” — Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy

A moment from my day… a Wordle of our recessional hymn today.

Wordle of

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: Advent Is Here Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Advent Playlist. I put together an Advent playlist for those who are interested. Secular Christmas music makes me stabby so this is a nice change from all the tripe that’s playing in the malls right now. Props go to Bonnie of A Knotted Life and to my friend Thomas as I borrowed some of their ideas for mine.

— 2 —

Free Advent Reflection Book. My BFF Rebecca put this Advent reflection book together.

— 3 —

Advent game of sorts. On Sunday, our senior warden (translation: president of the “vestry” or congregation council) was handing out white mailing envelopes with a blue piece of paper attached signifying that it was “The Advent Game”. The instruction was to take a slip of paper out each day and read it with our families before doing the action indicated. (If it wasn’t something we particularly wanted to do, there were “extras” in the envelope so we could draw another one.) Each slip of paper has been something fun or thought-provoking. I’ve been asked to do things like write in a journal, go outside after dark and listen to the sounds of the night, say a prayer for a pregnant person if I see one, or ponder some interesting reflection questions.

— 4 —

An “interesting” arrangement of “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”. We’re working on this for next weekend in my church choir. It’s good to be able to listen to it on the JW Pepper website because it can sound kind of like music from a haunted house if not heard with all the parts together.

— 5 —

Christmas cards. I was hoping to get my Christmas cards out on the day after Thanksgiving but that obviously didn’t happen so I’m aiming to have a workday on Tuesday to get them ready to take to the post office. My plan: curl up at $tarbux after I get Daniel to school and watch YouTube videos while I try and get it all done.

— 6 —

Messiah Sing-a-Long on Saturday! Provided that Daniel isn’t being the pill he has been a few nights this week, I’ll be singing Handel’s Messiah with the Skagit Symphony Chorus. I used to sing it with the San Jose Symphonic Choir when I was in high school and college so I’m pretty excited!

— 7 —

End of the Quarter. I just have to submit my Access assessment and take my in-class test for Practical Accounting on Tuesday before I’ll be officially done with the quarter. It has been interesting thus far and I’m looking forward to continuing with accounting next quarter.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.