Category Archives: Music

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: September 6, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY September 6, 2015

Outside my window… dark and probably 75F. We’re getting to 100F or higher toward the end of this week. My mother-in-law refers to it as “county fair weather”. I refer to it as “Purgatory”.

I am thinking… about the blood draws I had on Friday and the tests coming up on the 15th and 16th.

I am thankful… that I’m not Kim Davis. She is sitting in jail AND the misguided souls at Westboro Baptist Church are coming to protest HER for causing gay marriage. (I couldn’t make this up if I tried!)

In the kitchen… sitting here eating a Cup of Noodles and drinking a Coke.

I am wearing… aqua shirt and capri sweats.

I am going… to IKEA tomorrow, I think, to keep Daniel entertained as it’s a day off of school. (I’m seriously hating three-day weekends right now.)

I am wondering… about if I have to do both of the colon prep things I got from the G-I specialist. They gave me a kit in the office and then I discovered a prescription for GoLYTELY when I was picking up another prescription at Target today. Given that I was puking the GoLYTELY up pretty violently before my last colonoscopy (14 years ago), I’m hoping that I don’t have to do that one!

I am reading… The Alpine Winter by Mary Daheim. I finished Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews and read/finished The Alpine Vengeance by Mary Daheim.

I am hoping… for a good sedated appointment for Daniel on Thursday and that we don’t have to postpone again.

I am looking forward to… Bible study with my church ladies on Wednesday. I’ve missed them for the last two months!

I am hearing… the sound of the grandfather clock in the living room.

A Daniel story for today… Mr. Boy went to my room where I was unplugging the power cable for my laptop and climbed on the bed. I told him to go get his blankie and turn off his light if he wanted to come have cuddles… and he did! He fell asleep not long after.

Around the house… cats and humans going to bed.

A favorite quote for today… “It’s no use crying over spilt milk — it only makes it salty for the cat.” — Random Quote Generator

One of my favorite things… iced vanilla lattés made with whole milk.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT on Tuesday, Bible study and my FIL’s birthday on Wednesday, Daniel’s sedated dental appointment on Thursday, and two gatherings on Saturday.

A peek into my day… I missed church this morning so I’ll probably be watching this later…

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: André Rieu, Doctor’s Appointments, and the Kim Davis Debacle

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

My newest addiction. I have become addicted to the music and performance videos of violinist André Rieu. He was the one who recorded Sir Anthony Hopkins’ waltz with his orchestra, the Johann Strauss Orchestra. He has such a joy and passion when he plays and conducts as well as the ability to have fun (conducting “I Will Follow Him” from Sister Act, for example). His YouTube channel is here. I also recommend anything involving him and South African musicians or the Harlem Gospel Choir as they get him dancing and jumping.

— 2 —

Because I apparently hate myself. I’m doing another plank challenge like I did in January. I hate doing planks but it is so incredibly good for my core. I’m also back to beating myself to a pulp on my core ball 2-3x a week to atone for my iced vanilla latté habit and my Coca-Cola addiction.

— 3 —

The week of epic medical appointments: Jen-style. PT went fine on Tuesday and my G-I appointment was yesterday. He recommended a probiotic called Align which has been shown to help IBS patients and ordered some bloodwork to test for various things like celiac disease (gotta love being Irish!). The BIG thing is that he ordered an endoscopy/colonoscopy for me and I consented to both. (I have PTSD from the prep for my last colonoscopy 14 years ago and refused one two years ago which, in hindsight, was stupid and could have illuminated some of the digestive issues I have.) The reason for both (and the abdominal ultrasound that I was supposed to have last month and got rescheduled to the 16th): I have IBS and a history of ulcers.

— 4 —

The week of epic medical appointments: Daniel-style. Daniel was supposed to have a sedated dentist appointment today but we had to reschedule it to next week due to some respiratory issues (coughing and needing breathing treatments). Instead, he and I went to a radiology place in Rancho Cucamonga to get some x-rays done on his legs for his orthopedist appointment tomorrow. (He wasn’t happy at having to wait but he was relatively cooperative when he was on the table.) I’m thankful that his teacher was chill with this and is fine with me picking him up tomorrow so that we can get to his appointment in Rancho on time.

— 5 —

Totally a good product for California. I’m wondering if people will start buying this in droves due to the drought.

— 6 —

The Kim Davis debacle. For those living under a rock, the Rowan County clerk in Kentucky has been ordered to jail. Kim Davis, the clerk, has refused to issue any marriage licenses to same-sex couples (and I think to any couples in general) and three courts have told her that she is required to do it based on what she was elected to do. Davis has refused based on her religious principles which are that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Here’s the problem: it’s an elected position so they can’t fire her. However, she is refusing to do the job that she was elected to do and the judges ruled on that basis. I understand her religious principles but I disagree with how she is going about this. If performing these duties is such an abhorrent thing to her, she needs to say, “I cannot uphold the civil law in these matters and for this reason, I am resigning my job.” That would be a statement that I think both sides would recognize and respect. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has even told her to do her job or resign which I think is interesting, given that Graham is against same-sex marriage.

— 7 —

Coming soon. I want to write something on my habit of prayer-walking in the morning but haven’t had the time to do it. (Silly kiddo wanting Mommy to pay attention to him!) I’m hoping to have it up in the next couple days.

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

#5Faves: Miscellanea (XLV)

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#5Faves

One

Ramen. I’ve been having a lot of ramen/Cup-of-Noodles stuff for lunch or dinner lately because it’s quick and it doesn’t irritate my stomach. It’s not ideal and not particularly healthy but it works.

Two

“The Echo Song” from Sesame Street. My favorite version is Madeline Kahn and Grover. The version with Ernie and Elmo is blasphemy.

Three

“Boldly I Approach” from Rend Collective This song takes its name from one of my favorite passages of Scripture (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Four

Taebo I have to actually enjoy something to make myself do it regularly and this is pretty fun. The kicking and punching is also quite therapeutic.

Five

Cool mornings. It’s been beachy and cool in the mornings lately. Given that I was soaked when I’d get home from my walks last week, I’m quite a happy camper

Go love up Jenna and the others.

7 Quick Takes: Cleaning Out My Bookmarks from the Last Week

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

Worship Music Link #1. I’ve been a worship musician (not a choir member) for almost 16 years and while I like doing “contemporary music” every so often, I really prefer the older hymns. It’s an issue of musicality for me and also that many praise songs are theologically-shallow or inaccurate. Here are a few examples and why we need to stop singing them.

— 2 —

Worship Music Link #2. Here is a fabulous piece addressing why we need to stop singing praise songs. Be sure to click on all the links to understand why it is so wonderful.

— 3 —

Worship Music Link #3. I found this in the “I’m fed up with bad church music” group on Facebook and I know there are some praise songs I would pay serious money to not have to sing. What hymn/praise song/service music would you pay good money to block?

Block a hymn

— 4 —

Worship Music Link #4. One of the rants I see online frequently has to do with how the Catholic church has a beautiful tradition of choral music going back 1500 years and yet we have to settle for Marty Haugen, David Haas, and so on. Someone posted the “Glory Pony” mass on there and it’s facepalm-ingly bad how similar the mass setting is to the “My Little Pony” theme.

— 5 —

Twitter does it again. One of the best things I’ve seen online in the last few weeks is the #ThingsJesusNeverSaid hashtag on Twitter.

— 6 —

For those who love people with anxiety. Those who have anxiety or who love people with anxiety need to read this piece.

— 7 —

It makes a difference. While I was up in San Jose this month, I was worshipping with my friend Rebecca at my home congregation and I was in the pews this last week at my church here with my VBS music partner-in-crime Margaret. It was a content feeling each Sunday and upon reflection, I think the reason is that I didn’t have to explain what I was doing (standing, kneeling, sitting, singing, genuflecting) or *why* I was doing it as I frequently have to do when I’m at church in Jon’s Lutheran parishes given that my practice of the faith is more toward the Catholic and Anglican part of the spectrum. I’m liking the opportunity to worship with like-minded people and to not be on display all the time.

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

#5Faves: Miscellanea (XLIV)

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#5Faves

One

Rend Collective. I am seriously in love with this band. Their music is stuck in my mind and right now, it’s actually keeping me going.

Two

Margaret Maron. My mother-in-law was #1 on the library list for her latest book and she gave it to me to read when she finished it. Of all the murder mystery authors I read, she is in the top 3 favorites if not my favorite because I can actually get lost in her books without realizing it.

Three

Air1. Listening to music keeps me sane while driving and Air1 is the local nationally-broadcasted Christian station that I can get down here. (I could actually get it and KLOVE equally well when we lived up north and would switch off when a song came up that I didn’t like.)

Four

Trader Joe’s. The people at my Trader Joe’s are just fabulous and they love Daniel. (Then again, who doesn’t love Daniel that has met him?) I’ll be having some of their chili when I get home.

Five

Iced vanilla lattés made with whole milk. I fully believe that the existence of these is proof that God wants me to be happy. 😉

Go love up Jenna and the others.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 23, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 23, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It got into the 90’s here today which was irritating but unfortunately not uncommon for August. (And yes, I’m seriously praying that Jon gets a call to a colder climate. The Arctic Circle is looking lovely right now.)

I am thinking… about some of the more asinine arguments and statements in favor of homeschooling that I saw on the Web today. I have friends who are amazing homeschooling parents like Dawn and Kelly so I’m definitely not opposed to it (also because my husband was homeschooled); but seriously, some of the crud I read today would be at home on the Sanctimommy page on Facebook.

I am thankful… for Daniel going back to school tomorrow. I’m kind of bummed that we didn’t get to go to Meet-the-Teacher on Friday but it was worth it to get the extra respite time with my parents.

In the kitchen… cheese and crackers because it’s too hot to do anything involving the oven, microwave, or stove.

I am wearing… the black cat nightshirt that my mother-in-law got me here as a coming-home present.

I am going… to pray Compline from the Book of Common Prayer when I’m done here.

I am wondering… how Daniel will do tomorrow with his longer school day.

I am reading… Friendship Cake by Lynne Hinton. I was reading Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu but it deals with the subculture that surrounds families like the Duggars and it just wasn’t a good thing in which to immerse myself at the moment.

I am hoping… the pain in my foot from walking almost 6 miles on Friday will go away.

I am looking forward to… being able to go for prayer walks and work out once Daniel is on the bus tomorrow.

I am hearing… various things on iTunes and YouTube.

A Daniel story for today… he said “mo nanna” (“more banana”) to my mom when she was watching him while I was somewhere last week.

Around the house… silence. It is positively blissful.

A favorite quote for today… “The worship-to-panda ratio has gone a different direction.” — Rend Collective in this video:

One of my favorite things… club soda when I’m trying to beat my Coca-Cola addiction.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT on Tuesday, a bunch of phone calls, and getting medical records and such ready for a bunch of Daniel appointments.

A peek into my day… I was trying to explain this video to a friend last week. I find it hysterically funny because I’ve attended a church like this.

Post Script…

This is my favorite worship song and very few people outside of the UK or my chapter of Intervarsity know of it.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 16, 2015

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY August 16, 2015

Outside my window… dark. It was over 100F in San Jose today which did not make me a happy Jen. We also have smoke from the wildfires in the northern part of the state so it’s not good air for walks with the small child. *makes mental note to go in and record miles walked in the last week on MapMyRun*

I am thinking… about things in the coming week.

I am thankful… for the time with my parents. It’s been a good week with them and I’ve gotten to get together with a few people including Rebecca.

In the kitchen… Dad made hot dogs again tonight.

I am wearing… jammies (charcoal v-neck from Old Navy and black capri sweats from Target).

I am going… to the store tomorrow for more apple juice for Daniel.

I am wondering… about a lot of things right now.

I am reading… The Alpine Yeoman by Mary Daheim for the third time. (2nd re-read this time.)

I am hoping… for resolution in some areas of my life.

I am looking forward to… a mall date with Rebecca to get some Giants socks. I’m going to my first MLB baseball game in a few weeks and it’s at Dodger Stadium so I can’t wear my Giants stuff. Before I even knew about the game, Jon and my priest were negotiating the terms. I can’t wear my Lincecum shirt (which I only have because they weren’t selling Romo shirts at Target) but I can wear Giants socks. I am also not allowed to boo Kershaw or Puig, which I think is completely unfair.

I am hearing… David Wesley singing on YouTube. (He’s a Canadian Christian version of Peter Hollens.)

A Daniel story for today… He’s been taking over closets at my parents’ house and playing with his tablet in them.

Around the house… silence as I think everyone is likely asleep.

A favorite quote for today… “When I pray for another person, I am praying for God to open my eyes so that I can see that person as God does, and then enter into the stream of love that God already directs toward that person.” — Philip Yancey

One of my favorite things… Coca-Cola which is pretty much banned at my parents’ house – my mom got me some one night when I needed “comfort food” (I’m weird, OK?) and she was referring to it as “hemlock”. Whenever I’d take a sip, I would say, “mmmmm… minty!” (According to a murder mystery, hemlock tastes minty.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: drive back down to LA and whatever else comes up.

A peek into my day… Daniel and I in the redwoods.

Daniel and I in the redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.