Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. XX

I. 

It snowed this morning. Snowed! And there was ice! Fortunately now it's about 50 degrees so both problems are taken care of. But I was not happy. 

II. 

Things that make me happy--St. Pat's fish fry! Tonight I'm going with one of my old college buddies. He has a hankering for fish fry, but he's not Catholic, so I am provided the Catholic creds. :) I, too, love a good fish fry, so I'm excited.

III.

And continuing in the theme of food--I am excited to watch this tonight. I have Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals, and I'll write up my first experience with it later. It involved whisky and avocado. Good stories.

IV. 

Sorry it's been such a slow blogging week. I think I might have finally caught up with the DST clock. I promise more posting in the future.

V. 

How's your bracket? Mine is OK. Half of my final four still in, so I'll take it. 

VI. 

Books: The Law of Similars , The Agony and the Ecstasy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo (this is such a good novel. If you've never read it, you should.) 

VII.

Had a fantastic voice lesson on Wednesday. I was happy, Robin was happy, the music was happy. Gotta love days like that. 

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen!

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. XIX

(we'll see how long I can keep up those roman numerals...)

I.
The Madness has begun! Do you have a bracket? At this moment, the Panthers (my favorite college team) are playing Oakland in Milwaukee, and winning right before the half. Let's hope this remains true. They were scaring me a bit in the beginning. 

II. 

Spring, spring, spring! Are you happy? I am!

III.

Things that make me not happy--this health care debate. I've got a post on it over at CPG.

Nothing this big has ever been passed in single-party fashion. Nothing. That makes me very, very nervous. 

IV.

Voice yesterday was great; Robin was very pleased. And when the teacher is pleased, I am pleased. I'm working on "Woman" from The Pirate Queen, "Live Out Loud" from A Little Princess, "Where Is Love?" from Oliver! and an Italian arietta. All of them are fantastic pieces. 

V.

What I'm reading: FinishedThe Scarlet and the Black: The True Story of Monsignor Hugh O Flaherty, Hero of the Vatican Undergroundand Song for Nagasaki. Both very good, S&B better than SFN. Also both WWII books. So I guess I'm on a kick there. Especially since I read Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife earlier this week. Definite trend. The Anne Frank book was good, but really only if you're familiar with the diary editions, the plays, and the movies. Otherwise it can be too nit-picky and specialized. 

VI. 

St. Patrick's Day at St. Pat's was awesome! Read about it here.

VII. 

Don't have a seven. So it's a six. :) Enjoy the weekend!

Head over to Jen's for more quick takes!

Evan wins gold!!!!!!!!

He beat Plushenko by a point. GOLD MEDAL USA!
And Frank Carroll finally has a n Olympic gold medalist.

Figure Skating

I am in love with Evan Lysacek. That is all.
Did you see that Program? Did you see it? If you didn't, go to www.nbcolympics.com or YouTube and WATCH IT. It was perfection. True, beautiful, glorious perfection, to the "Firebird Suite."
Right now he's in second place, right behind Plushenko. Great position going into the long.
I would marry him right now. As would probably every woman in America.
Here's the NBC wrap-up. 

What I learned from the Super Bowl

Ben R. > Peyton M.
Even if the Steelers were down 14 points, Ben would've gotten a TD with that last drive. Heck, he would've run it in himself.
So I do not want to hear anymore "Peyton is better than Ben" crap.
That is all.

Some Pitt Love

After beating Louisville--in OT!--today:
Andy Katz
Dana O'Neil

UPDATED: (Sunday)
PG's take

A column of Pitt love

That's right, we're bringing it. 
Coach of the year? 

A "rebuilding year"?

Pitt beats undefeated (and No.5) Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

Late Christmas Gift for Dad...

Pitt won. 

The Simple Woman's Daybook--October 19, 2009

Outside My Window ...

Sunny and the leaves are pretty close to peak color. They are fantastic!!!

***

I am listening to...

Loreena McKennit, "The Book of Secrets" (I'm ADDICTED, I tell you. Addicted.)

***

To Live the Liturgy...

Rosary, Magnificat, Bible reading, classes, and re-reading Rediscovering Catholicism for my Faith Sharing Group. I also got my Advent companion from Magnificat today. Can you believe in about a month, it will be the first week of Advent?!

***

To Fit and Happy...

Gym and ballet this week. If I achieve ONE day of gym, and ballet class, I will be happy.

***

I am thankful for...

beautiful fall days.

***

I am pondering ...

the rest of the day's schedule

***

From the kitchen ...

Made orzo pasta with saffron and shrimp last night, and had the leftovers for lunch. So probably just soup and sandwich for dinner. I'm sort of "eating down the kitchen" this week.

I am wearing ...

Brown tights, a heather khaki skirt from J. Jill, and a cashmere sweater from Talbots (in this fantastic color called "raven", it's a great blue. I want everything they have in this color, but I'm restraining myself.)

***

I am creating ...

The memoir; music (voice lesson practicing)

***

On my iPod...

The "random" Setting. :) (Or shuffle. Whatever)

***

I am thinking...

that it's shaping up to be a good week.

***

Around the House

More clearing of the kitchen table.

.***

I am reading ...

W.H. Auden's poems; The Amish Cook's Baking Book. (It is awesome. Believe me.)

***

I am hoping and praying ...

for friends who are undergoing cancer treatments.

***

On Keeping Home ...

these candles look awesome. (keeping this link because they are awesome)

***

One of my favorite things ...

baking

***

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Possibly Opera Columbus this weekend--they're doing Pagliacci. 

W: Ballet

Th: Voice

A picture thought I am sharing:

Jerome Bettis and Mario at the Steelers game yesterday. Two of my favorite sports people.

Surgery update

So, two days later--
Not feeling too bad. Yesterday the vicodin and my system played "hey, we don't like each other!" and I vomited a few times, but I also slept a lot. Today I feel pretty good--eating more milkshakes (McFlurry for lunch, go me), and relatively awake, so that's good. I'm going to do some biblical studies reading and then watch hockey tapes with my dad. That's a good day.
Oh, and a plug--this is one of the best things I have ever bought.

It holds my laptop, books, insulin pens, med bottles, pens and pencils, journals, and everything else I could need to lug around. This may become my permanent work/travel carry-on bag. And I got it in the above pattern, which is Imperial Toile--a lot prettier in person.
(OK product plug done)
So I am feeling better, the Pens AND Jackets won, and the Steelers are on tonight. Go Steelers!

We're back!

Hockey season starts tonight.
Bring it on, Pens. :)
And, just to recap last season--the names on the cup. 
'Tis sweet.

Funny

OK, OK, I KNOW that it's only week one, and there's a lot of football left. But this just struck me as funny:

Cleveland Browns. Oh, how I loved you in the first half, you scrappy little Cleveland Browns. All these pregame talk was, "Oh, Favre is a captain for the Vikings already, he gives the Vikings a new swagger, they already have Adrian Peterson and a tough, tough defense and they should be great! And Eric Mangini has all the Browns miserable and none of their players are very good," and blah blah blah.

But the Brownies came out, middle fingers extended to the haters, and they played their little orange hearts out. They held Adrian Peterson to 2.8 yards per carry in the first half, Favre was a total non-factor, and they held the lead at halftime. They were Week 1 Cinderellas.

But then the universe righted itself in the second half, Peterson started burning through the Browns defense like they weren't there, and for the final thirty minutes of the game, Cleveland resumed being Cleveland. It was fun while it lasted, though.

The Simple Woman's Daybook--September 14, 2009

Outside My Window ...

Another great early fall day here. The leaves are starting to turn gold on more trees. I love fall!

***

I am listening to...
L'Angelus "Sacred Hymns" (yes, still. It's that good!)

***

To Live the Liturgy...

Today: Exaultation of the Holy Cross

Tomorrow: Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (so hopefully Mass)

in between--rosary, Magnificat

***
To Fit and Happy...

Gym with my brother tonight; dance on Wednesday--that's what is set in stone right now.

***

I am thankful for...
My family; football season
***

I am pondering ...

What to order tonight at dinner w/ my brother
***

From the kitchen ...
Made a pizza over the weekend, and cake for the two birthdays I celebrated. Yummy.

I am wearing ...

gray slacks, a Boden top, my pearl necklace.

***

I am creating ...
typed at least 10 more pages in the memoir yesterday. Yay!

***
On my iPod...
I have to reinstall iTunes, so right now...nothing.

***

I am thinking...

I'm excited to see my brother tonight.
***

Around the House

Vacuuming (again, always)

.***

I am reading ...

Finished We Two (about Victoria and Albert) over the weekend, and picked up Home. Also read The Gargoyle, and it is amazing; do yourself a favor and pick it up!

***

I am hoping and praying ...
For friends I know with cancer and who are receiving treatments this week.

***

On Keeping Home ...

these candles look awesome. (keeping this link because they are awesome)

And MORE candles: these are what I'm burning right now.

*yeah, I really like candles*

New stuff: Just general cleaning, getting ready for fall and colder weather.

***
One of my favorite things ...
The Gargoyle (see above); football; hockey training camps!

***

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Tonight: Dinner and gym with my brother

Tuesday: Biblical Studies Lecture

Wednesday: Ballet class

Thursday: Voice lesson

Sat.: A friend's baby shower

Sunday: football!

***

If you like reading my daybook, you can find many more over at Peggy's!

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. XII--the Video Edition

I.

So this is what I feel like right now:

Making a cake for my best friend's birthday dinner tonight! Longhorn for the meal and then back

here for the cake and Smiley Cookies (which are left over from the office gouging).

Note: My cakes are so much better. :)

II.

Did you see this? Get a load of my piano playing!

III.

Today is also my brother's 24th Birthday. Happy birthday Bubby!

IV.

So Steelers win last night. Me happy. What makes me unhappy is OT on a work night. Oh well.

Still a good win.

V.

Ballet class this week was excellent. I was very proud of my balances, and floor work.

We also did some work with port des bras.

VI.

Speaking of lessons--in voice, Robin is happy with my French. She had some tweaking to do

on the Italian. "He Was Despised" was very nice, except for a few random B-flats that

didn't want to cooperate. They will be forced into submission next week.

VII.

(Whoa seven already?!)

Football is upon us! Go Pitt! (And the Irish, I want them to beat Michigan, so if the Bucks

lose to USC tomorrow, Michigan won't have a better record.)

Have a good one, y'all!

The Great Hockey Notes Roundup

I know that the NFL season starts in....oh....3 1/2 hours.

But, today I present the Great Hockey Notes Roundup.

Malkin's Day With The Cup

Five Reasons to Love Hockey, Part I

Five Reasons to Love Hockey, Part II

Five Reasons to Love Hockey, Part III

Malkin interview

Crosby and the Cup

The Simple Woman's Daybook--September 7, 2009

Outside My Window ...

Another great late summer/early fall day in OH. Sun's out. Some of the leaves are already starting to turn red and gold.

***

I am listening to...
L'Angelus "Sacred Hymns"

***

To Live the Liturgy...

Magnificat readings, rosary

***
To Fit and Happy...

Gym, after hauling kids around this weekend.

***

I am thankful for...
Beautiful weather; the changing of the seasons
***

I am pondering ...

What to wear tomorrow.
***

From the kitchen ...
Not sure. I need to plan something...

I am wearing ...

jeans, my Johnson Space Center NASA t-shirt.

***

I am creating ...
more music. :)

***
On my iPod...
music! I just had to reinstall the software since it somehow managed to wipe itself. Yikes.

***

I am thinking...

I had a great weekend.
***

Around the House

Clearing off the kitchen table; making lunch for tomorrow; prepping the coffee machine for the AM.

.***

I am reading ...

Am now reading: We Two (about Victoria and Albert). Read Gilead over the weekend. So good! I can't believe I hadn't read it until now. Now I want to read Home. Also reading The Merchant of Venice (Ignatius Critical Edition)

***

I am hoping and praying ...
For a good week

***

On Keeping Home ...

these candles look awesome. (keeping this link because they are awesome)

And MORE candles: these are what I'm burning right now.

*yeah, I really like candles*

***
One of my favorite things ...
my cousins; my new Pitt sweatpants. (Yes, I now own a pair of sweatpants)

***

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Thursday: Voice Lessons #2; NFL season begins, Steelers vrs. Titans, at Heinz Field!

Friday: Bryan's 24th birthday. My baby brother is twenty-four! Yikes!

Saturday: Tiff's birthday dinner; OSU vrs. USC.

***

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. XI

I.

I cannot wait for Labor Day weekend--we're taking a trip to Pittsburgh to see the fam, and that means celebrating this little guy's first birthday (a bit late, but....he doesn't know that).

Is he NOT adorable?! That's my cousin Kelly holding him. She's a music (flute, specifically)/music ed major at Michigan. She's starting him early.

II.

The last time we saw the adorable Justin, he looked like this:

And that was just in May.

Don't they grow fast? Stop! Stop I say!

III.

OK, is that enough cuteness for y'all? I don't think it is, but you'll get more later.

IV.

Let's talk weather, huh? On the way home, I hit three downpours, and no it is lovely and sunny out. Welcome to Ohio. We're supposed to get more storms tonight and throughout the weekend, and it's going to be in the upper 60s. Bring on fall, I say!

V.

Corollary to that: High School football starts round here tonight. Go Tigers!

VI.

So, fall is back-to-school. And I am back-to-school, not just with my MA stuff (which is going swimmingly), but also with voice. I finally found a new voice teacher (after, oh, nine years?) and am starting my lessons w/ her next Thursday. We will meet for an hour a week.

Am I excited? You bet. I have a large bag of music I'll be tugging along with me, and it's got everything: Operas, arias, art songs, oratorios (i.e., stuff from "Messiah", like "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion"), and the Ugly Yellow Italian Book of art songs that I sang in high school, but there are still a few pieces left to cover. So I am very excited. I'm hoping to learn a lot of new repertoire, vastly improve my ear again, and hone the technique. I have very modest goals. :)

VII.

Another great thing about fall? Fall clothes. I love sweaters, turtlenecks, corduroy, cashmere. Mmmmm soft and snuggle things. So bring on the falling leaves!

Seven Quick Takes Friday--Vol. IX (the Play Ball! edition)

I.

Back from date with the boy/guy/man (whatever you want to call him, since "boy" is not universally loved by my readers) to the Clippers game. The Clippers are the Cleveland Indians' AAA affiliate (farm team), and they were playing Buffalo, lost 4-3. Could've tied it, except the last play of the game was a double play. ARGH!

II.

Lots of fun, both in the game and in the company. Started to rain a bit in the 8th (what is it with our dates and rain, huh?) but it was negligible. Lots of families with adorable children, and lots of women in heels. Why were they in heels? It's a baseball game! Who are you trying to impress?

III.

The Indians' mascot, Slider the Bird, was there, joining the Clippers' bird and seal. Watching Slider dance on the dugout is something else.

IV.

I got the materials for my five year college reunion in the mail today. FIVE YEARS? What is u with that? Apparently it includes a 2 mile run/walk, the usual homecoming events (Cap corner, etc., and the game), and then the party that night in the Cap center, where the class photo will be taken. I can't believe it's been five years! I will be sending in my registration forms soon, so I hope the rest of you alumni who read this will do the same!!!

V.

I do still see a lot of my friends from college, and high school, which I think is impressive. It's nice to have so many long-lasting friendships. Anne, one of my best friends, and I have known each other since we were six! Go us!

VI.

Football training camp has begun! Go Steelers!

VII.

And finally, some books: Harry Potter And the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Deathly Hallows always, always makes me cry, especially when Snape tells Dumbledore that he's loved Lily for years after she died. From that point until Harry kicks ass, I am just one big puddle. Catharsis, man. Catharsis.

Love me some Troy

Troy Polamalu (Steelers' Safety) talks family, God, and football (And hockey!)