Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Breathe and (Blog) Reboot

Last post was........SIX MONTHS AGO?!

How is that I created a life in which I have no time to blog and even when I do have time I'm so exhausted that I don't want to blog?

Unacceptable.

Life has this way of throwing very fast curveballs; one after the other. The past six months have been far from normal (took 45 teenagers to Europe, my grandmother died, job situation changed) but it finally hit me that you MAKE time for the things that matter. And if your life situation is one that drains instead of drives then you have no choice but to make a choice.

This coming school year, I'm going from a part-time job plus a full-time job (with benefits) to two part-time jobs with no benefits. But for once I'm not worried. I will be teaching what I love and the pay cut will force me to be frugal and enjoy simple pleasures instead of going on shopping sprees to dull the pain from an over-scheduled life.

The road ahead will be rough. Old habits die hard. I love shopping. I love clothes. I'm full of rationals, justifications, excuses, and denials. But I also love making music. Reading. Brewing the perfect cup of tea. Catching up with friends. Evening runs with the Blue Ridge Mountains for a backdrop. BLOGGING.

Turning 30 put a new fire under my feet. No more time to waste. There is work to be done and fun to be had! Time to turn my focus from money and things to music and people. Thanks to you for  reading....it's a simple and powerful way to keep me accountable. More specific details regarding my plans to simplify life coming soon.

For now, time to breathe and reboot! (I think that looks a little something like this.......)

 Kayaking on the James River with my good friend, Megan.

The view of the James River from my grandparents' house.




Tuesday, January 20, 2015

TED Talk Tuesday

I have been a classroom music teacher for six years. This seventh year of teaching marked a big change in my routine....the addition of 10th grade English. It's been a challenge.....writing lesson plans, catering to the various levels and individual needs of my students, finding time to tutor students, the HOURS of grading, and the amount of sleep and sanity sacrificed in the name of learning how to teach a brand new subject.

Hardships aside, I have enjoyed many aspects of teaching English. I've gotten to know an entire grade level, not just the musically talented. I get to read and listen to their stories and I must say, I have some pretty incredible kids! However, these interactions have brought up some concerns. I am troubled by a generation that is so caught up in social media that they forget to think for themselves. I am troubled by a generation that is loosing their ability to write. So I'm fighting it. Every Tuesday. With TED.

Every Tuesday we begin class with a TED Talk, short lectures on a variety of subjects. I pick a variety of subjects because I want my students comfortable with writing summaries and responses on any topic. Here are all the TED Talks we watched first semester-Fall 2014. Click on the link to be redirected to the video. The kids' favorites: Shaka Senghor & Clint Smith. My favorites: Ken Robinson and Kevin Briggs. Enjoy!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

2014 in Review

Today I scrolled through hundreds of pictures, reviewing the past twelve months of memories. First of all, where did the time go? Did we really experience this much in just one year? Second of all, I'm amazed at how many more pictures I take with a phone/digital camera versus "old" cameras with actual film. We didn't waste any shots back then and now we click and click like we've got no memory bank.

Anyway....here is the year in review. I cannot believe how much went down. What a stressful, yet wonderful transformative year. Let's begin with New Year's Day. SNOW! Winter 2014 brought more snow than usual, which was just fine with me.


Next stop....my 29th birthday in March. That month was so stressful I didn't even want a birthday. But then my mom arranged for some of my closest friends to be present and it turned out to be a perfect day.


Shortly after, I took 40 high school musicians to New York City for a music tour. Here my cousin and I pose outside the Majestic Theater after seeing Phantom. Last time I saw this production I was also on a high school music tour....as a 10th grader. :-)


Next came my graduation from James Madison University. I now have my Masters of Music in Music Education. It was a long, hard road but I am so glad I took the plunge. The cherry on top was having three generations together for Commencement. My grandmother went in the hospital over the holidays which makes this moment and this picture even more special to me right now. She was so proud to be able to attend and wear purple. (Go Dukes!)


My dad and I finally bought kayaks! My grandmother already had canoes at her house so now our whole family can enjoy time on the water. Here I am kayaking with a friend from elementary school I reconnected with over the summer.


As summer flew by, the long anticipated west coast/cross country adventure arrived. What a trip. One of the best days was the one my brother and I spent in San Francisco. How I miss that gorgeous place and the lovely family members who gave us the grand tour.


Along came autumn. From visiting the Edgar Allan Poe museum in Richmond, Virginia to hammocking in the Blue Ridge Mountains it was full of new experiences.



And here we are. Can't think of a better way to end the year than being at home with these buffoons (aka my brothers).


Goodbye, Fourteen! Thank you for teaching me how important family and friends are, that down time is crucial to efficiency in the work place, and how travel is the best way to hit the internal reset button. Perhaps the most important thing I learned in 2014 is best articulated by Christopher Robin speaking to Winnie the Pooh.

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you imagine, and smarter than you think."



Thursday, January 1, 2015

Frugal Fifteen


I can hardly believe it is the new year already. This winter break has been a whirlwind (more on that in a later post), but I was determined to get my list out. There are a lot of changes I need to make in my life but for once I'm excited by the challenges ahead. 2014 was full of unexpected twists and turns but it pushed me to grow in ways I never imagined. It made me believe real, honest change is actually possible. On that note, here are my top seven New Year's Resolutions.

1) Pay off ALL credit card debt.

2) In order to pay off debt......NO new clothes. Thrift stores only and even then I'll have a very small budget. Specifics in a later post.

3) Read 30 books because I haven't read for fun since before grad school AND.....I turn 30 this year!

4) Less screen time. (Hi, my name is Kelly and I'm addicted to my phone.)

5) Take better care of my body: specifically stretching and strengthening my back, cutting way back on sugar, and getting sufficient sleep.

6) Practice violin at least 1 hour a week. When I became a music teacher I stopped practicing my instrument. My dream has always been to teach AND perform but teaching quickly took over my life. One hour will sound puny to my musician friends and by our standards it is puny. But it symbolizes a very big step towards my dream of splitting my time between the classroom and the stage.

7) Give more to others. Whether it's in the form of a listening ear, a helping hand, or a handwritten note, I want to be less selfish, less whiny, and more giving.

Tonight I declare that the year 2015 shall now be referred to as "Frugal Fifteen" (aka #frugalfifteen). Join me as I take on a year of super saving, coupon clipping, simple living, letter writing, book reading, violin practicing, yoga stretching, clothes shopping, and teeth gnashing. Like I said.....it will be an adjustment. Know that I appreciate YOU helping keep me accountable just by reading this blog.

Cheers!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Soundtrack for Christmas

It's the most stressful time of year!!!!   -Every musician everywhere

Aside from the stress of organizing Christmas concerts, I absolutely LOVE performing Christmas music. Of course, I am very particular about the holiday music I listen to. While I enjoy putting on the local " Christmas music 24/7" radio stations blasting Mariah Carey, when I'm at home there are certain albums considered sacred that are put on repeat. Here are my top pics for a most wonderful Christmas.

Mannheim Steamroller's first two Christmas albums have been a tradition in our family since I was a small child. Many will laugh at me for this choice but I don't care. I love these albums dearly, from the cheesy 80s style synthesizers to the renaissance English carols, I love the whole eclectic thing. It probably helps that it brings back lovely memories of decorating the tree as a child and driving around late at night looking at Christmas lights. This was the best nighttime driving music.




Next we have an album that is probably more loved by the general population. A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Friends of mine who are serious jazz aficionados agree, this album is SOLID.


I love the traditional carols of Great Britain and Craig Duncan's albums of English and Celtic carols covers both popular and more obscure songs. Great instrumentation and there is even a companion book of sheet music published by Mel Bay called "A Fiddling Christmas" that my brothers and I play out of every year. Quality stuff.



For the Indie/quirky side of you, there is Sufjan Stevens' boxed set of 5 LPs, originally recorded and intended as Christmas gifts for family and friends. Sufjan gets Christmas and his music beautifully reflects the whimsy, magic, and even melancholy moments of the holiday season. From traditional carols to his own compositions, these albums cover everything from the Nativity to Santa to snowstorms and annoying family members. 


Christmas is not complete without some quality choral music. Chanticleer's album is gorgeous and festive and heartbreaking and gorgeous. My personal favorite is Coventry Carol. Gives me chills every time.


And FINALLY....a new favorite that I remembered to look into this Christmas season. I loved Zooey Deschanel before and now even more with "She & Him." I love when a voice and style are perfectly matched.


Thanks for reading (and hopefully listening) to my favorites. And now please share some of your special Christmas albums. Even though I love my playlist, I'm beginning to fall into a rut....I need new Christmas music so share away!




Sunday, November 30, 2014

Still & Thankful

This snowstorm could not have come at a better time. First snow of the winter season and it's Thanksgiving! I am very particular about what constitutes the perfect snowfall. This time around was pretty much perfect. It snowed goose feathers all day Wednesday and was the kind of snow that sticks to every branch of every tree. Then on Thanksgiving it stayed foggy and overcast, maintaining a sense of mystery fit for Sherlock Holmes. This picture was from my walk on Thanksgiving morning.


On Friday the sun came out and we took our Thanksgiving guests up to the mountains and into Shenandoah National Park. In the valley the sun was melting the snow off the trees, but up above on the mountain it was still like Narnia.


We timed our trip so we could watch the sunset and it was one of the most spectacular sunsets we have ever witnessed. We parked at an overlook so we could see the sunset and the valley below. Here are snapshots of the sunset, reduced to 4 stages. (No filter, no retouching.)





I started Instagramming the sunset but then something made me put the phone down and just watch. It was almost unreal, the way the light kept shifting, painting the sky in a magnificent array of colors from Sedona red to Indigo blue. Such a beautiful, relaxing evening that was the cherry on top of a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends.

And yet throughout this vacation.....my mind races. Deadlines loom and my to-do list keeps growing. I have papers to grade and parents to email. Christmas is the busiest, craziest time of year for musicians and as a result Thanksgiving has unfortunately come to represent the calm before the storm. This poses the question: how do you relax when you know there is so much to be done??

I've been thinking quite a bit about this dilemma lately. Life will never get easier. It might improve with more everyday conveniences (that of course come with more money) but we live in a world of stress, pain, suffering, and eventual death. Somehow I convinced myself that if I could just finish my masters, get out of debt, find a better job, meet the perfect guy....I will have arrived, be complete, and not have to deal with anymore than the everyday difficulties such as the common cold or flat tire.

(I can hear life laughing at me with great amusement even as I type this.)

And so I am slowly learning that the key to life is to be present and enjoy what is good in this moment. Deadlines, responsibilities, emails, and voicemails be damned......I will find joy in this moment. When I take a walk through falling snow I won't think about what could make this moment more perfect. When I'm sitting at home with my family, hot drinks in hand, listening to the crackle of a roaring fire, I won't focus on my bad hair day or intestinal troubles. I will smile and find joy in just being together. How sad that everyday chaos has wormed its way so deep into our minds that being still feels like more work than updating Facebook.

All I want this day (for myself and anyone reading) is to be still and be thankful.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Fall in Love with the Shenandoah Valley

For our family, no autumn is complete without time spent exploring the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. It's like walking through a postcard and the crowds are proof that when the color comes out, so do the tourists. We are lucky to live so close. Several weekends back, my brother, cousin, and I hit up the pumpkin patch and then my dad joined us for a short hike on the Appalachian Trail through the Shenandoah National Park. Near perfect day.


Okay, so I might have dressed up for the pumpkin patch. I threw on this denim jacket (JC Penney circa 1999) over an Old Navy corduroy dress complete with my L.L. Bean boots.


Loving my brother's L.L. Bean vest, Levi's, and Timberland boots.


My cute-as-a-button cousin jazzing up her jeans with a blazer and scarf.


Shenandoah National Park was absolutely breathtaking. The pictures do not do the colors justice.



I AM Katniss Everdeen.


Big leaf. Small leaf.



Perched atop the bridge by the entrance with a bird's eye view of the mountains. 


Ended our day back home with friends around the fire. MmmmMmmm good.




Sunday, November 2, 2014

Road Trip Part II: Portland, Chicago, HOME!

Here is the second and final installment of this summer's road trip with my brother. I wish I had more time to write! Perhaps one day. There was SO much to see and I'm grateful for the locals (our family and friends!) who took us to the best of the best-both off the beaten path and to tourist traps.

Ah, the glorious Northwest Coast. I had no idea how magnificent it is. We have family in Tillamook who took us to the various beaches, showed us tide pools (and star fish!), and bought us ice cream at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. 





Had the pleasure of visiting TWO dear friends in Portland. Liz and I roomed together in college and Andrea and I worked together in Chicago. They were excellent tour guides. Here are Liz and I visiting the Japanese Gardens and then Andrea and I enjoying the downtown Portland.



Famous Portland sign. Based on our observations they are doing a fine job. 


If you go to Portland, consider the following:

(1) Powell's Bookstore: A book lover's PARADISE. Multiple floors filled with dozens of categories (including steam punk and a section for each member of The Beatles) and thousands and thousands of used books.

(2) Eat Vegan! Portland is bursting at the seams with healthy dining. I'm not vegan but both times I ate out I went to vegan restaurants and they were fantastic.

(3) The Bubbling Water Fountains. Everyone I know who has been to Portland gets this picture.


(4) VooDoo Donuts. They really are that good. Our favorites were the Arnold Palmer and Tang donuts. We splurged on a dozen and were set for snacks as we drove back across country.


We left Portland at 9:00pm. This was taken about 8am. We did not stop until Fargo, North Dakota at 9pm. 24 hours in a car together and we still get along. Is there an award for that?


Pausing for a moment of silence in the North Dakota badlands. 


Stopped in Minnesota for some local coffee. Dunn Brothers Coffee's specialty is 24 hour cold pressed coffee and is the strongest brew I have ever tasted. We still had a lot of driving left so naturally we bought the 64 oz. growler. OOFTA!


Spent our last day in Chicago. Some good friends of mine recently acquired a boat and took us out on Lake Michigan to watch the sun set over a city dear to my heart. (I lived there for 3 years.) Nothing quite like the Chicago skyline.


 And then....HOME SWEET HOME Virginia and reunited with our better third. :-)