I'd like to make an announcement...

...there is more to New York than NYC.

Take a look at a map...

Thank you,
Western NYer

Merry Almost Christmas!

Mike and I had our family Christmas together last night. It was nice, but was a huge reminder that we won't be able to spend the actual day together. I am thankful that until now we haven't had to miss to many things together because of his program. In the end, when he passes his exam, we'll be glad he stayed here for Christmas, but for now, it kind of stinks! He gave me money toward my new piano! Yay! I think I have enough now. So, I'll probably be spending January 1 and 2 at music stores playing their pianos so I can decide which I want!

In 22 1/2 hours I will be on the road. Car packed. Puppy strapped in. Snacks and books on CD at the ready! There's still lots to do to get ready to go though...
1. Trip to the mall for 2 things (both of which I can't say because they're gifts!)
2. Stop at Target (or somewhere) to get travel hairspray (I just ran out during our last concert last Sunday)
3. Fill up the gas tank
4. Clean out the car
5. Pack myself and finish packing Bella
6. Pack the car
7. Make sandwiches and easy-to-eat snacks

Lunch time will be utilized well today! :)

Merry 'almost' Christmas all!

The mad dash to Christmas...

This year I haven't had nearly enough time to feel prepared for Christmas. I've been squeezing in shopping/wrapping/gift making in every spare second that I have. I have 3 evenings, and 3 lunch breaks left to finish getting my last minute things, wrap them, make 10 more 'sand art brownie' gifts, do several loads of laundry, pack myself, pack Bella's stuff (not quite as daunting as traveling with a baby, but requires lots of extra stuff!), get books on CD from the library, clean out the car (and clean at least the windshield...it's bad!), pack the car, make sandwiches for travel and have a date night and mini gift exchange with Mike.

This week is going to fly by.

I'm hoping that on my drive to NY I'll be able to focus more on the 'reason for the season'!

Happy Monday before Christmas!

Christmas and guests

Christmas is almost here! Despite my hectic weekends playing with the Virginia Handbell Consort, I decided it was a good idea to make gifts for everyone at work and church! I'm not sure what I was thinking, because my time is very limited, but it's been fun anyway!

This year, I made Sand Art Brownies. They're the dry ingredients for brownies, layered to look like sand art. They're really pretty (I'll have to post a picture later) but quite labor intensive! It's taken me several days to assemble them, and I was starting to worry that I wouldn't be able to finish them all, but lo and behold, we had an unexpected snow storm and guest!

My brother-in-law had to come into town for work, so he stayed with us Thursday night. We were supposed to go to our small group Thursday night, but because of a pretty big snow storm, that got canceled...AND we left work 2 hours early! Yay for more time to get gifts made!

So, Mike made dinner (Thai Red Curry Chicken...so yummy!) while Jon helped me cut out circles from fabric to go on top of the quart size mason jars. My hand has been giving me some trouble as the bell season has gone on, so I was SUPER thankful for an extra set of hands. In just 30 minutes or so, we cut out 20 circles! After dinner, Mike helped me cut and tie the baking instructions on, and I was ready to bring my gifts to work today!

Now...I still have 13 more to do for church people. Looks like that's going to have to happen on Saturday morning.

Playing bells tonight from 5-8 at a local mall. Pray for my hands...and my feet! ;-)

Living in the future

I was driving to work this morning and in front of me was a car with a license plate holder that said, "Recycle Life, be an Organ Donor".

For some reason this struck me. I started thinking about all of the things around me that I never imagined would be reality. Here's a short list:

1. Giving of ourselves, even in death, through organ donation.
2. Children playing on landfills because there's not enough green grass anywhere else to play. (click here)
3. The internet
4. Skype - now you can keep in touch with anyone, anywhere...and even see them!
5. Segways
6. Flying - I know this isn't new, but every time I get on a plane, I marvel at the ability for that huge piece of metal, filled with people and all their stuff, to get up off the ground and fly!
7. Facebook - I have reconnected with some really old friends. Amazing!

Sometimes I feel like I'm watching myself in one of those 'futuristic' movies...only, it's reality!

What's 'futuristic' to you?