I Am The Day

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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

I met with Claire to go over the music for the wedding. We listened to all the pieces, worked on the order and pretty much figured out the details. So, with exception of one piece, all the songs are in. One item down!

Thought of the day:

“If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow.”

(Rachel Carson, Writer, Scientist, and Ecologist)

Beautifully put! It certainly makes you think of the importance of arts and music in particular, as they, for certain, cause the most impression on the senses. How significant is this part of education and how little attention compared to the other subjects it is given!

Very appropriate for the events of the day also. How much more memorable is a wedding ceremony with music, especially when it is telling a story…

OH! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAXI! LOVE YOU!!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Had to run some errands, but spent most of the day working on transcribing one of the wedding songs that will also be part of Zaphyra’s upcoming engagements. It is called “I Am the Day” by the British boy vocal band Libera. Unfortunately, none of their songs have been published. If you haven’t heard them, you must! They are absolutely amazing. And the arrangements, many of which are done by the conductor, are gorgeous!

You can listen to some samples here: http://www.libera.org.uk/music.htm. Check them out, you won’t regret it! The “I Am the Day” sample can be heard under the Free cd.

Thought of the day:

“I learn life from the poets.”

(Madame de Staël, Eighteenth/Nineteenth Century Writer)

I believe we all learn the most from that with which we identify the most, in addition to all the other sources from which we absorb knowledge.

 

I our relationship, Matt and I, I believe, grow and learn much from and with music and written word. And, at the wedding, we hope to share with those we love in this way.

Oh, something really nice happened when I was at Publix today. I had finished paying for my groceries and realized the cashier had not rung a Sprite Zero I still had in the cart. (This after trying to find my $5.00 coupon, which later I found at home.) So, the person coming up next told the cashier to have her put it on her ticket, which was already open. She would not accept the $2.00 I was trying to hand her and said somebody had done it for her some time ago.

Simple gestures that bright up the day! So, thank you Ms. Stranger. Being that this area is pretty small, I hope to run into you soon again. And I will look for my opportunity to “pay it forward.”

Friday, February 19, 2010

Spent the whole day running errands, having to drive all over town. Thankfully enough, of course, I had music with me in the car and learned two new pieces.

Brrr….I am pooped!

Thought of the day:

“There is vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.”

(Martha Graham, Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer)

Wow! This is certainly something to remember every time we try to talk ourselves from doing, whatever it is we could, would or should be doing or when others tell us that we can’t or shouldn’t. Simply put, we are denying the universe of the unique gift that can only come from us.


When that vitality and life force is shared with one we love, I believe it is even stronger; because two together can be greater than two apart. And, when this works, it is certainly greater than the sum of its parts.

Just The Thought of the Day

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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Thought of the day:

“Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.”

(Marie Curie, Scientist and the First Woman to Win a Nobel Prize)

I think, even in our personal relationships, many times we bother with what the other individual does or does not do. Personally, I think a better focus of energy is to be concerned with what we do or not do. It is certainly more productive and has the additional benefit of respecting the other individual’s space and allowing him or her to be.

Valentine's Day!

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Sunday, February 14, 2010

I woke up early and went to get some coffee. Matt was apparently still sleeping. When by the coffee maker, I hear the garage door open. It was Matt coming in with three beautiful heart shaped balloons and flowers! What a wonderful beginning to Valentine’s Day! Matt always knows how to make these days very special!

The girls came for rehearsal and we worked on the pieces for the upcoming concerts and the wedding. Later in the evening, we went to see Twilight’s Broadway by Candlelight.

What an amazing show and line up of talent! It was certainly the best Candlelight to date. Kudos Alison! It was a wonderful night!!!

Thought of the day:

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breath and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

(Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Nineteenth-century Poet)

Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time to tell each other all those things that our heart feels. To remind each other what we mean to one another and to celebrate being together. Days like this are always special and help us add flavor to a shared life. A moment, a word, a detail can go so far to letting the other person know how much they mean to us.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Today was home office day, taking care of bills, paperwork and stuff of the kind. While doing this all day, I had in the background the marathon of “Cake Boss” which I had never watched before.

Very entertaining but, most of all, I learned tons about fondant, modeling chocolate, structural support for wedding cakes and a whole bunch of other stuff. It will soon be time to do a little mock cake and see how the recipe we want works with a couple of ideas I have in mind.

Oh, Frizzi is still standing. Though he has endured a strong liquid diet and has lost some considerable weight since Saturday.

Thought of the day:

“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word: always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

(Therese of Lisieux, Catholic Saint known as “The Little Flower of Jesus”)

What a wonderful thought and really so simple to achieve. Have you ever felt that nice sensation when a stranger smiles or says hello? I remember when I came to Atlanta the first time while I was still living in New York. People in the streets here in The Southern Crescent would smile and say hello.


Quite frankly, at first, I just looked and felt completely puzzled. Hey, in NYC you do not talk to people in the street. What are you nuts? Not that people are rude in New York. That was never my experience. It is just too risky.

Then, when I moved here, I got used to it and now I do it without even thinking. It is just part of Southern hospitality. But I still like how it feels when somebody smiles at me and says hello. I hope they feel the same when I am the one offering the greeting.
I personally believe that something as simple as a smile or a thank you can really add to a person’s day, especially if they are having a bad one. And what a better opportunity than smiling and saying thank you to the one we love. This is one of the things I love about Matt. He always says thank you. He’ll say thank you for cooking, or thank you for updating the website, or thank you for helping me with this, for doing that. And he says is from the heart.

Snow, Snow, Snow & EUREKA, I AM CAUGHT UP!!!

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Friday, February 12, 2010

Snow day today! Started early afternoon and everything is already covered in white. For those who do not know, as they said in the news yesterday, “snow in Georgia is as frequent as, well, snow in Georgia.” And this is the second time this year. Love it!

Practiced and hour of piano and then worked on my rep for about an hour and a half, particularly on the second section of Rusalka’s Song to the Moon.

Then we started watching the Olympics. OK, don’t kill me. But, as good as the special effects were, Matt and I found it kinda bland… Everything took too long. Much great display but not much dramatic content or effective flow. The whole thing just dragged like a turtle with a broken leg, if you know what I mean.

I can hear myself when arguing with Matt during show season. The flow from one piece to the other is key. And the timing is crucial. If things don’t happen with a particular rhythm (and I don’t mean the music) the dramatic impact goes out the window.

And then there is the overall dramatic concept. How do you start, where do you want to go to, how are you going to get there and is your closing strong. Did I mention “flow” already???

The other thing is your rep. You can have an amazing performance but if the piece is kinda OK, well…It needs to give me goosebumps. That’s my thermometer.
Anyway, Artistic Director’s eye aside, the effects were incredible. I can imagine that Sarah is checking some ideas (some of which came from China, lets be truthful) for the European arm of the Symphony Tour, if it ever happens. Maybe she can fine tune the holographic projections and take them a step further. The Canadians certainly did to say the least!

And I have to say, K D Lang was awesome. I prefer a little different rendering of that song, but she sounded great! Her voice was just impeccable!

Now, may I say, this is just my opinion. How I see it. And I can certainly agree that I can disagree with a different perspective.

So, in the middle of this, a blackout. Bummer! Being that this is not uncommon in this area, we lit all our house candles. And if you’ve been here, you know we have plenty; as I said, not only for wonderful scenting purposes. (Have you tried Circle E candles, Crème Brulee? Makes your house smell like sweet heaven! Thanks Cathy!) Or as decorative accessories, but, as you see (or not,) for very practical ones.

I called Lisa to see if they had power and they did. Thanks for the overnight invite Lis! Too cold and dark to go anywhere…So we cuddled up and tried to stay warm until the lights finally came back on about and hour or a bit more later.

Thought of the day:

“Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too.

Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.”

(Diane Sawyer, Journalist)

Well, talk about the Olympics…Don’t think I really need to get into it, do I?


Wedding thoughts…I guess different people or points of view are going to want to rule this one. More thoughts to process…

Saturday, February 13, 2010

DID I MENTION I AM CAUGHT UP WITH THE BLOG!!!!YES, TODAY IS SATURDAY, FEB 13 AND I AM WRITING ABOUT SATURDAY, FEB 13!!!!

The Chick Fil’A finals was postponed to next week. Responsible decision as the roads were still pretty icy and are supposed to get icier tonight.

So Matt and I went for a snow walk. Here are the pics:

Snow Day Pics

Thought of the day:

“Your work is to keep cranking the flywheel

that turns the gears that spin the belt in the engine of belief

that keeps you and your desk in midair.”

(Annie Dillard, Pulitzer Prize-winning Writer and Poet)

So, I guess, I must keep my castle in the air floating. Which sometimes can be difficult because of the bumpy clouds floating around. Maybe what I need to do is figure out how to melt them away….

Smiling by Choice

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Not much today either. I worked out. It feels so good to be getting back into my training routine. I also thought a lot about the date of the wedding.

Thought of the day:

“Learn from the mistakes of others.

You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

(Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady 1933 – 1945 and Reform Leader)

Do I need to say that I totally love this quote? My students have heard me say something like this for ever; to observe and learn from others’ experiences. Life can be so much easier when we do.


I think that is partly why, when I am working on a concert, I listen to music, and listen, and listen, and listen, and listen. And now, with the wedding, I am watching anything and everything wedding on TV. I think it helps me process the do’s and don’ts, get ideas, and figure out what is right for us.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

I worked on some home flower arrangements today. Next step is to work on the flowers for the wedding and probably go and get some more.

Thought of the day:

“When I fight about what is going on in the neighborhood,

or when I fight about what is happening to other people’s children,

I’m doing that because I want to leave a community

and a world that is better than the one I found.”

(Marion Wright Edelman; Lawyer, Educator, and Activist)

When I do what I do in music, is because I believe – as corny as it may sound – in the power that it has. I believe that music reaches people far and beyond what words on their own can. It is a loyal friend who is by our side at the most important and memorable moments of our life. It will keep us company when we are down and help us get through those dark and cold nights. It will make special moments even more special and will put a smile in our hearts.


Music can reach out to everybody and can open doors that otherwise would remain closed. It teaches us about life and it keeps our children involved in something they can share and be proud of.


If we can leave a miniscule fraction behind of what the great ones did, then the world will be better and, maybe, someone will be happier if even for a few moments.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I met with Jeanne for lunch. As always, she helped me clear my mind and put things in perspective regarding the date and time of the wedding.

Thought of the day:

“We have no choice of what color we’re born

or who our parents are or whether we’re rich or poor.

What we do have is some choice over what we make of our lives once we’re born.”

(Mildred D. Taylor, Author)

The truth is everyone has a story to tell. As children, we do not have much say in what happens in our lives. As adults, we do.


Many times I wondered what makes two individuals with the same background go in opposite directions. The bottom line, life is a choice. We have a choice; it might be a difficult one, but the choice is there. So, regardless of how things were or are, we can choose our direction. We can choose who we share with and we can choose how to live.


Matt and I found each other, chose each other and choose to live with a smile on our face and in our hearts. There is always a grumpy day, sometimes even gloomy, and sometimes very difficult. But we always come back to us and make each other smile and laugh and remind each other that we have a choice. Hey, at the end of the day, a smile is just a frown turned up side down; isn’t it? ;-)

Not Much, Just Thoughts

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Saturday, February 6, 2010

We went to Mass today and then stopped by Publix. Not much happening…

Thought of the day:

“A laugh at your own expense costs you nothing.”

(Mary H. Waldrip, Writer)

Having a sense of humor and flexibility about ourselves is mighty handy, I would say. It is certainly better than others having it at our expense and without our approval. And taking ourselves not too seriously all the time can certainly save us a lot of aggravation, don’t you think so?

Sunday, February 7, 2010

I found a really good recipe for a low carb cheesecake; only 2 grams per serving and it tastes so good! What and aid for our diet! Let’s see how in shape we can get for the wedding. As it is, Little Matt already started and, per his posting in FB, already lost 10 pounds.

Thought of the day:

“Let me tonight look back across the span

‘Twixt dawn and dark, and to my conscience say –

Because of some good act to beast or man –

“The world is better that I live today.”

(Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Nineteenth-century Poet)

What could make a life more poetic than living up to this with just a simple act everyday? If we would just remember…

Monday, February 8, 2010

Today was just a slow day. Didn’t feel very good so I took it easy.

Thought of the day:

“Often the search proves more profitable than the goal.”

(E. I. Konigsburg, Author and Illustrator)

Well, we have heard or read this in many different ways and with many different words so many times. But it is true. Maybe that’s why so many have and continue to express this thought over and over again. I hope I can have it more present so I can have more awareness during the ride.


I promise to savor the path to November more, not letting the bumps in the road throw us of course, remembering, when all is said and done, it is just a representation of our life together. And there is so much more to come...which we hope we will continue to share with those we love.

Flowers and More Flowers

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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

I went to Stacey’s to see if they had anything I could use for the wedding. The stores are closing so I got the name and number of the owner to see if I we can negotiate a better pricing if we buy in quantity.

On a separate note, Nancy called me to tell me that Abby, Camille and Paige are finalists in the Chick Fil’A competition. So congrats girls! Look forward to the finals!

Thought of the day:

“Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren’t just waiting: women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters now the sky is the limit. Anything is possible for them.

(Nancy Pelosi, in her first speech to Congress

after her election as the first woman Speaker of the House)

I would like to add to this thought the following:

"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study painting,

poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."

(John Adams, Founding Father and Second President of the United States)

How often we take for granted that which we have been gifted by those who came before. I hope I always have present the sacrifices others made so that today I can sing and make music or sit and write or simply be, whatever I decide that is…

Thursday, February 4, 2010

It was lesson day. All the girls are sounding pretty good if I may say so. Gave some creative thought to the usage of the flowers for the wedding and have been reflecting more about the date.

Matt called the owner of Stacey’s and we are meeting with him in one of the stores on Friday.

Thought of the day:

“Happiness is like the penny candy of our youth:

We got a lot more for our money back when we had no money.

(Mignon McLaughlin, Writer)

I will interpret this as talking about simpler things. And, yes, as time goes by, I guess we all let ourselves want more and better. There is something, though, to be said for that which is earned with hard work and also for enjoying the simpler but really special moments in life. There is some stuff no money can buy…and when you are with the one you love, those are the most important treasures. They live forever and can make us smile with such warmth in the heart…Those are the moments that pull us through the darkness and make us realized the happiness we are gifted with every day.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Matt and I went to Stacey’s. We got a decent deal and bought some beautiful flowers that we will be using for the wedding. Matt gifted them to me for Valentine’s which make them even more special. The creative juices are flowing…

We’ve gone back on a low crab diet. We started last Monday. So tonight, my dear grumpy Matt said:

“See that tear going down my face, is the last drop of sugar left in me.”

Yes, I love how me makes me laugh. We laugh SO MUCH together! The things that his mind comes up with you will never hear anywhere else!

Thought of the day:

“Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can’t figure out what from.”

(Mae West, Actor and Writer)

What do you think?

I am not sure what to think about this. Maybe it refers to the intrinsic female archetype; where the strong confuse soft with weak.