I think it was around 6th grade, where we got to choose which musical instrument to play in the band. I have no recollection if it was a choice to be in the band or not, but they did let us choose which instrument we wanted to play. Yippee!
I chose the flute. I was so excited, I knew it was what I wanted to play. I kinda wanted to play the drums, but I was a little intimidated for sure. Shy Naomi was ready for the flute.
"Oh, I'm sorry, your upper lip is misshaped and you won't be able to play the flute. Here, try a clarinet. You'll love it."
what?? my dreams of being an elegant, girly flute player were crushed. what the heck was a clarinet and what was this dry, pasty reed thingy I have to put in my mouth.
But I did play the clarinet and I did like it.
Still, I think all the girls wanted to play the flute, so they had to find a way to spread the wealth among the other, less desirable instruments.
Was this my first run-in with "the man" I wonder? :)
Friday, April 27, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
QOTD - do you remember your dreams?
I do. I think I always have. Sometimes I remember several dreams from one night.
Today I woke up in a dream about trying to pack up an old house full of my belongings to move across the country to where I was living now (presumably Seattle). I was there with a friend, who was willing to help me, but mostly along for the ride, socializing with the other people in the house. There seemed to be quite a few.
I was having trouble packing everything, or rather, getting motivated to pack everything. There seemed to be at least one thing of mine in every crevice I searched, even though I thought I'd made progress. It felt neverending, but it was also fun to open cupboard doors and find little treasures.
The day was coming to an end and I'd barely begun. As I was losing daylight I made a big decision to keep only the items that fit in my car and leave the rest. I felt a huge sense of relief with that decision, even though I seemed to be highly emotionally attached to a wooden table (and 4 chairs) and clearly wouldn't fit in my car.
I think the table is one from my childhood and the chairs are the ones that currently belong to Aaron. Oh, and my friend made me put her up in a swanky resort for the night while I finished packing, and then I would pick her up in the morning to make the long drive home.
Today I woke up in a dream about trying to pack up an old house full of my belongings to move across the country to where I was living now (presumably Seattle). I was there with a friend, who was willing to help me, but mostly along for the ride, socializing with the other people in the house. There seemed to be quite a few.
I was having trouble packing everything, or rather, getting motivated to pack everything. There seemed to be at least one thing of mine in every crevice I searched, even though I thought I'd made progress. It felt neverending, but it was also fun to open cupboard doors and find little treasures.
The day was coming to an end and I'd barely begun. As I was losing daylight I made a big decision to keep only the items that fit in my car and leave the rest. I felt a huge sense of relief with that decision, even though I seemed to be highly emotionally attached to a wooden table (and 4 chairs) and clearly wouldn't fit in my car.
I think the table is one from my childhood and the chairs are the ones that currently belong to Aaron. Oh, and my friend made me put her up in a swanky resort for the night while I finished packing, and then I would pick her up in the morning to make the long drive home.
Friday, April 20, 2007
My cowboy hat
I love my cowboy hat. A couple of Valentine's Days ago, Aaron and I drove home from work together and since we'd gone out to a nice dinner the prior Saturday at Bandoleone (best Sangria and garlic broccoli), we weren't really planning on doing anything special on the actual Valentine's Day. Being a girl, though, you still always hope for a little recognition of the date.
Aaron drove us to a Western clothing store and said, "let's get cowboy hats." to which I replied, "Yes! Let's!" What a random and fun moment. It's become the most memorable Valentine's Day ever for me.
I love this hat. How could I not?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
QOTD - do you like pie?
Lately I have been craving Peach Pie. I had it a lot growing up, my dad certainly loved it and a couple of years ago I asked my Aunt Trisha for her Peach Pie recipe. The first pie Aaron and I made together was this very Peach Pie. Here is the delicious, scrumptous recipe. I can't wait for peach season!
Two pie crusts:
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. Crisco
4-5 Tbs. cold water
Measure flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut in shortening. Flour should resemble meal... sort of like Bisquick looks.
Sprinkle in 1 Tbs. water at a time mixing until all flour is moistened and dough almost cleans the side of the bowl. (More water can be added if needed).
Gather dough into ball. Cut in half and flatten. Place dough between pieces of wax paper. Use rolling pin or round wine bottle to flatten into 2 flattened rounds (top and bottom crusts). Put bottom crust into 9" pie plate.
Peach filling:
5 cups sliced peaches (about 7 medium)
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tbs. flour
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1+1/2 tsp. bourbon
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Heat oven to 425* Prepare pastry. Mix peaches and lemon juice.
Stir together sugar, flour and cinnamon; mix with peaches. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate; dot with butter (works easiest if butter is cold). Add bourbon and nuts by sprinkling about the filling. Cover with top crust. "Fork" the top crust for steam vents. Seal the edges and flute. Cover the edge with 2-3 inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil last 15 minutes of baking.
Bake 8 or 9 inch pie for 35-45 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble up through the steam holes.
MMMmmmmmmm....
[yes, the "mmm" part is also from Trisha]
Two pie crusts:
2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. Crisco
4-5 Tbs. cold water
Measure flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Cut in shortening. Flour should resemble meal... sort of like Bisquick looks.
Sprinkle in 1 Tbs. water at a time mixing until all flour is moistened and dough almost cleans the side of the bowl. (More water can be added if needed).
Gather dough into ball. Cut in half and flatten. Place dough between pieces of wax paper. Use rolling pin or round wine bottle to flatten into 2 flattened rounds (top and bottom crusts). Put bottom crust into 9" pie plate.
Peach filling:
5 cups sliced peaches (about 7 medium)
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2/3 cup sugar
3 Tbs. flour
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1+1/2 tsp. bourbon
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Heat oven to 425* Prepare pastry. Mix peaches and lemon juice.
Stir together sugar, flour and cinnamon; mix with peaches. Turn into pastry-lined pie plate; dot with butter (works easiest if butter is cold). Add bourbon and nuts by sprinkling about the filling. Cover with top crust. "Fork" the top crust for steam vents. Seal the edges and flute. Cover the edge with 2-3 inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil last 15 minutes of baking.
Bake 8 or 9 inch pie for 35-45 minutes or until crust is brown and juice begins to bubble up through the steam holes.
MMMmmmmmmm....
[yes, the "mmm" part is also from Trisha]
Friday, April 13, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Easter flower exchange
This year our family did a living plant/flower exchange. This was all Katie's idea and a beautiful one it was. We drew names to see who to buy for. I bought my mom a lovely purple/white flower called a cineraria, which look a little like an exotic daisy, but with sparser petals. Gorgeous.
I received Hydrangeas from Katie (pic above). They are so beautiful and it makes me want to buy a house so I can plant them in the ground. For now, they are making my apartment even more beautiful and I just love having these flowers around!
Thank you, Katie, for a wonderful Easter flower exchange idea. And thank you to my family for a wonderful Easter.
Easter dinner at my mom's was particularly delicious with fresh Halibut bbq'd by Mike Donahue. De-lish!!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
QOTD - songs in your head
Most days when I wake up there is a song playing in my head. Thankfully, it's usually a good song, not some annoying guitar solo that gets stuck on repeat in my brain. This has happened to me for years and I remember telling Sue, my old roommate from San Francisco, and she just loved the idea that someone would wake up with songs in their head. It seemed such a happy thing to her, and I think she's right.
I have always thought it to be my own personal, ever-playing jukebox and whatever song is playing is the song I just happened to wake up in. There was a time when I kept a journal of the songs and what dreams I had that night, in case there was some radical connection. I think I only kept the journal for a day though. I was too busy singing to keep it up! :)
Today's song is "Only Joking" by the Indigo Girls.
It sure got me curious... what noises are in your head when you first wake?
I have always thought it to be my own personal, ever-playing jukebox and whatever song is playing is the song I just happened to wake up in. There was a time when I kept a journal of the songs and what dreams I had that night, in case there was some radical connection. I think I only kept the journal for a day though. I was too busy singing to keep it up! :)
Today's song is "Only Joking" by the Indigo Girls.
It sure got me curious... what noises are in your head when you first wake?
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