SYMPHONY!

Last night I was given 2 tickets to the Eugene Symphony! I got them right at 5pm, drove to pick up and surprise Greg, and after a quick change at home we were off! It sure does pay to know people who play- the seats we got were fantastic (thank you Derek!). The only draw back to the seats was that, apparently, the people who normally go and couldn't make it (which is why we got the tickets in the first place) are regulars. The older fellow sitting next to me was quick to point that out, and insinuated that perhaps we were either in the wrong seat or had stolen them!! Never had to explain myself to a concert goer before. Oh-well, he tried to make up for it later by some small talk, and while I was polite, I surely didn't make him a friend. You know, I think we were probably one of the youngest couples there!

The first part of the concert was good, and the second part - Enigma Variations- was awesome! I love the finally when the whole orchestra works together and the sound builds and builds until you feel like your whole being is filled with music. I felt as if it would lift me right out of my seat!

This was the program:

Enigma Variations
April 23, 8 pm
Alexander Mickelthwate, Conductor
Bach--Orchestral Suite No. 4
Sibelius--Symphony No. 7
Elgar--Enigma Variations
An overnight success, Elgar’s "Enigma" Variations has become a favorite among audiences the world over. In its 110-year history, musicologists can agree that all of the dedications are to friends or family, but the mystery of one, variation thirteen, still remains. Did Elgar dedicate variation thirteen to his former fiancee or to his mistress? The Eugene Symphony explores Elgar’s magnificent Enigma Variations in a quest to solve the ever-elusive musical puzzle.

Oh, and the conductor! He was great! He moved so fluidly with the music. I used to watch my friend Lauren practice and was always in awe at how she did it- and with so much passion! Here is a picture of the conductor Alexander Mickelthwate:

Last week I went to the OSU symphony with my friend Zane. We had a lovely dinner at a French Bistro before the concert. That one was awesome because it was the orchestra and the choir combined. It was beautiful.

I just love music, and I am fortunate enough to have a husband who shares that in common with me! Sometimes our tastes differ, but I think that is good because we both get exposed to things that we might not have listened to on our own. I love you Greg!!!!

April 15, 2009 Tax Day Tea Party

Ok, I have never posted anything political before because I have many friends who have LOTS of different opinions, most of which contradict my own. However, I feel that now is not a time to stay silent and hold my peace. If you don't follow what is going on, start today. There is too much happening in these times to stay in a happy cocoon of not knowing (even though it was SO much easier!). Seriously, Greg is on me all the time to keep up with the news.
This Wednesday,tax day, there is a national protest going on. A tea party! Check out this web site, research the issues, and take a stand for our future and our children's future.

www.taxdayteaparty.com

The Great Baking Expedition......

I really don't know how to top Greg's post..... actually, I can't. So I'll just post about Greg! He is starting school on Tuesday and I am very excited for him. He has a bad cold right now which pretty much sucks, but I hope he is feeling good enough to get through the day. He got through today pretty well, I think he just may be on the mend.
Well, this Sunday afternoon, we not only went for a walk (as seen below), but Greg also went on a Great Baking Expedition by making his first loaves of bread. He chose a potato bread. Here he is kneading the dough-It turned out FANTASTIC! It is so soft and flavorful, with a thin hard crust. I Love It! It is a perfect hardy bread to go with some homemade soup. Like my Mom's chicken noodle. Delicious. Good job Greg!!! Here is the final product-

Who says there is no sunshine in Oregon?

Howdy everybody. it's Greg again. I have been thinking about how Oregon gets pretty much a bum rap when it comes to rain. Yes we get a lot of it which is not always a bad thing in my mind. I just wanted everyone to see that Oregon has it's fair share of sunshine too! The following are real pictures we took while during a Sunday afternoon walk.







Albany is the new town we moved to. Its been about 2 weeks now and we just LOVE our new place. We live right downtown and we are situated on the banks of the Willamette river. Our neighborhood is very quite except for morning traffic, although we heard that we might live on the edge of the "bad side" of the tracks. We're not worried much, Andrea is pretty steady with a pistol, plus I taught her how to power thrust with a knife. Me,I'm an eagle scout so enough said! The funny thing is that we saw more bums in Corvallis than we do in Albany! Just so your not mistaken, Albany was not founded in 1996 like the plaque says. I assume that is when the courtyard where said plaque is placed was erected.


While we were strolling along we ran into some cherry blossoms! I just enjoy these so much. when the wind picks up and the petals whirl around you. I can't but help imagine I am in some epic martial arts battle from some asian kung fu film. My strange fantasies aside, we love it when the cherry blossoms appear because that means were in spring!

Other than this being an awesome tree I wanted to post it for another reason. When I saw this tree it made me ponder how I would never behold such beautiful sights while living in Phoenix. I am sorry all you Arizonians, but that is the harsh reality you face when living in a desert. Therfore I have a proposal to make. If you are envious of all the lush greenery and refreshing tempetures we are fortunate enough to expeience here, you too can have it. It is just a short 23 hour drive in a moving van and there is plenty of room for everyone up here. If you happen to worry that people won't accept you, you shouldn't. Oregon is full of liberals and it's common knowledge that they are open minded and welcoming of all people.... right?

And as always I can't leave with out a picture of the cats. Marco, the great white land manatee does not look thrilled to have been awoken from one of his many slumbers.

Our new abode

Hello all! For my first post on the blog I thought I better make it a good one. We finally have pictures of our new place. Now I have to admit that I was a tad bit worried to move from a two bedroom, two story apartment into a studio, But now we could not feel better about it. Even after we moved all our things in we enjoyed how much more space we had than in the other apartment.



Also here is a picture of our hall in the building




And can't leave without a cute picture of Dora!

One Project Down- a zillion to go!

1st Project Complete!

All right, I am actually following through with my word. Here is a picture of our first needlepoint project! Mine is the flower (left), and Ellen’s is the puppy (right). Now won’t these be cute on some 3-6 month old baby?!


Not sure what my next project will be. Maybe another onesie (how do you spell that?)? I think I probably will do another one, it is good practice. Then I can move to the big projects I want to do. But I have to learn counting before I can get to the intricate stuff.

I hope everyone’s Christmas was great! I know mine was.

The Cold Hard Truth

The reason why I don't post very much is because I feel like my life is not very exciting. I work, hang out with my awesome husband, and sometimes my family. That is about it. Every once in a while I get together with friends from work. Like tonight I am going over to my friend Ellen's. We are teaching ourselves needlepoint. Ok, I know, that is so boring right? Well, not to me. To me it is a creative outlet. Something I can make myself, and I have control over how it turns out. Of course, to get any good at it I have to practice. Practicing is always more fun in good company. I didn't make the one I posted- I'll have to take a picture and post once I have completed my first project. (But don't worry, I am so not into stitching the "home sweet home" with a picture of a little house on it. That is just not my style!

This is my life. Not very exciting. I don't really feel like I am moving one direction or the other right now, but I know that whole worlds can change in a split second. That is one of the biggest lessons I have learned from my current job. I work for an expert witness in the field of injury biomechanics. Basically, we are retained by attorneys who are either the plaintiff or defendant in injury lawsuits. I have seen some pretty horrific accidents just from everyday living. If you want to know more about it just check out the website here. Life changing quickly is something that has also been taught to me through the passing of a friend from the ward I grew up in. She was 25 years old, a newly wed, and just an amazing person. She had colon cancer. She blogged about the entire experience. It is incredibly moving and I reccomend reading it to anyone who needs a new perspective on life. Go to www.lemonademakers.blogspot.com. I just wish I had posted on her blog how she had impacted me, and all of that. Maybe this is my way of making up for it.

What I am trying to get at is that I have had the wrong perspective on life. Thinking that it isn't of importance because I am not doing anything "important". I have been so negative about the place I live, the job I work at, and the "lack" of things to do. Why? I can't say for sure, but I know it is something I am working on. The truth of the matter is that I can't compare myself to anyone else, and neither should you. I look at all of my friends blogs, and read about babies, and business, and all of these happenings. Then I think about my life and compare it. But there shouldn't be a comparison. I am not them, and they are not me. We each have our own set of challenges, and our own set of joys. And maybe I shouldn't be so afraid to share things that make me happy. I guess this whole time I have just been afraid of being judged. Silly to think that, but maybe not. But I am going to get over it because I know that my family and friends who read this love me for who I am. And if you don't, and you do judge me, then I guess I just don't need you in my life. And that is the cold hard truth.

So this Christmas Season, I want my friends and my family to know how much I care about them. Seriously, I really don't think anyone knows just how much they mean to me, and how each one of you have shaped and impacted my life. I hang on to every conversation, every laugh, every cry, every single experience. I love you all forever!