jello salad

Families are weird. How can I go out and create my own life without completely estranging myself from everything and everyone I've ever known and loved? I can see what I want, and it does not line up with how they live. I love living in a city. I love being active outside, riding my bike everyday, and running and walking and swimming and... well, you get the idea. I love supporting my local community, but only if that community embodies ideals that I truly believe in. I like having really nice things, rather than just buying the cheapest option. I love eating healthy, healthy things all the time, and saving indulgences for foods that are worth it. (Okay, okay, with some McDonald's thrown in here and there... but those fries are so worth it.) I love good wine and hate cheap beer. I like to connect with people by talking about books, art, music, politics, and how generally f-ed up the world is and how we ought to be fixing it. I like to feel smart and conscientious, and I want to be understood as a classical musician. Most importantly, I want to be surrounded by people who aren't going to make fun of me for wanting all of this. I love my family, but after reunions only make me feel more and more alone. I know that plenty of people go through this at my age, but I still haven't heard a solution that I think will work for me. Ultimately, I'll admit it, this boils down to money. But really, I don't think it's the amount of money spent but the way I would choose to spend it. Different priorities. I'll also admit that my concern is not so much for my family as it is for me; I don't want to end up alone. If I go the way of my family, I end up being with people that I don't respect or relate to. If I find friends and a husband who reflect my new lifestyle, I'm separating them and myself from my family.

Well, anyway. I got a new camera! Look look look:

christmas cookie extravaganza!

My list of Christmas Treats 2008, either done or to-be:
(and no, these are not pictures of my actual cookies, but they come close!)

Moravian Ginger Cookies


Almond Bark Pretzels and Butterscotch Haystacks


Peanut Butter Blossoms


Marzipan Cookie Snowmen


Oreo Ice Cream Cupcakes (Brytan's Special Request)


Popcorn Balls


Cream Caramels


Raisin Bars

I'm sure some oatmeal chocolate chip will be thrown in there somewhere, but do you guys have any other suggestions?

ignore this one

I'm writing this all out so it doesn't seem so bad:

Sunday:
- practice for at least 3 hours
- work out
- study for Western Civ final for at least 2 hours
- write half of my 18th Century Counterpoint final composition

Monday:
- practice for at least 3 hours
- work out
- play for trombone jury
- study for Western Civ final for at least 2 hours
- write other half of 18th Century Counterpoint final composition
- teach 2 lessons
- attend and oversee my students' first piano recital
- rehearse with vocalists for juries

Tuesday:
- practice for at least 3 hours
- work out
- play for vocal juries
- study for Western Civ final for hours and hours and hours
- go over final composition with Holmberg
- attend and oversee my students' second piano recital
- write up pedagogy final

Wendesday:
- turn in final composition
- turn in pedagogy final
- take Western Civ final
- collapse and die, then come back to life and continue with my day
- play my jury
- teach 4 lessons
- pack for winter break

Thursday:
- drive home!
- attend rehearsal for Laura and Nathan's wedding!

Friday:
- the wedding!
- finish (er... start and finish) Christmas shopping

Oy.

at least someone's got it right

"In Venice, we know how to live with high water."