Goals

When I was on my choir trip in New York achieving a goal of singing in Carnegie Hall, I decided it would be fun to write a list of my goals for a lifetime and others that I probably could get done sooner if I weren't so easily distracted or liked to watch tv when I am home.

The one goal that always appears on my lists and never gets very far I'm afraid is getting organized. I remember trying to clean out my dresser and make it organized, while in the process making more of a mess than anything else. I wish I could hire someone to get me organized, like on one of those tv shows where people come in, dump everything on the lawn and start over. But I'd have to get some things organized before I could let that happen :)

Another goal is to put my photos together in some sense-ical order so that I could possibly do slideshows of my photos with music behind it. That would be fun. I bought a scanner to put hard copy photographs onto the computer so I could help myself in that process. It's back in the box waiting for me to use it again.

The goals of a lifetime I came up with in NYC were:

• sending audition materials to Broadway, Juliard, music studios in California
• writing music for others
• writing articles for big city newspapers or magazines
• writing a novel
• getting a Master's or Doctorate or both
• putting a photography show together with my work
• entering photography/writing contests
• getting my music published
• organizing photographs

Some of these goals may actually be attainable. I could get a Master's or a Doctorate after I finish studying and pass the GRE, I could enter the photo/writing contests, organize photographs and maybe work my way into big city magazines and newspapers. I've already had things published nationally and potentially nationally. Perhaps I could do a photography show if I can make the right connections and find appropriate material. The music goals would take a lot more practice, but when I was a little girl I always dreamed of singing or playing flute on the records I would listen to in my room.

Thoughts for the day!

Christmas Day

Merry Christmas Day.

Spent the day at my dad's after walking in a foot of snow up hill all the way! Well, it wasn't uphill any of the way, but it was still up to my hips! It was nice to have a car waiting at the end of that road. My little vehicle won't make it out of the neighborhood for awhile so I'm always glad for a ride.

This white Christmas stuff is nuts. This is the first year I didn't make it to Christmas mass but I watched the pope's homily on tv so I had a little bit of Christmas mass that way. Crazy weather!

Now it's time to start making my new year's resolutions!!

Tomorrow :)

Merry Christmas

I wish all a very merry Christmas this year--and safe travels. Wow, what a white Christmas we are having. I cannot believe I was actually snowed in from Christmas mass. I am glad to have spent time with all of the family yesterday and today. I guess I will be trying to watch Mass for Shut-Ins...if I'm not enjoying sleeping in. I'll say extra prayers tonight before I go to bed.

The song "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" kept playing on the radio the other night and I kept thinking, "I'm Not!" but am glad to have the chance to have my brother in town and time to spend hanging out at home.

I am so grateful for so much.

stories

I was reading an online Advent reflection by Sister Gail Cabral, IHM Scranton, Pennsylvania and she quotes an answer of a rabbi that made me stop and think. She said, “When asked why God created humans, a Jewish rabbi replied, ‘Because God loves stories.’” It is kind of a fun thought that God likes stories, especially since I want to be a writer of stories. But I also realize that many of my stories come from my relationship with God and faith experience.

I started gathering my stories of faith experience into one word document and found I must have written a lot of stories and reflections of faith over the years. I might try to put some older reflections on this website.

scars reflection

“Scars remind us where we’ve been but do not have to dictate where we are going.”

This was a quote I heard on the television show “Criminal Minds.” I know it’s not typical for someone to pick up on inspirational quotes off a crime show but sometimes an inspirational quote comes from places you least expect.

Something about this quote struck me. I know in my life and in the lives of every human being there are scars that reflect the hurts and struggles we have experienced. And I know, personally, I have struggled with letting those scars heal enough to be only reminders and not feel like fresh wounds.

This quote seems encouraging to me and also a good reminder to not let those scars tell me where I am to go. It’s so easy to think that I can’t go in some direction because the past and all its hurts have kept me from going in the direction I want.

So, where am I going now? What are the scars that are dictating that direction at this point? How do I get the scars to be only reminders and not directional challenges?

Third Week of Advent

Greetings on this third week of Advent. It's hard to believe we are already on the third week because I've been in a different church or at a different event every week so far--started in New York, I was at St. Pius last week and I was at Trinity and St. Johns this week.

I went to a writers workshop yesterday which turned out to be a great experience. We were given different topics to write a sentence with and then invited to share. One of the themes was medicine and the sentence I came up with was "Medicine heals what forgiveness cannot." The director of the workshop told me he thought a 747 had come through the room at the effect of the quote and actually wrote it in his notebook I think. I wasn't sure where that line came from. But I could probably spend some time reflecting on it.

Today has been super busy. Started at Trinity Episcopal playing and singing Advent Carols and Lessons, saw my stepsister sing Christmas carols, went to an open house for a nun who turns 80 today, and am killing a little time before going to sing and play flute for a Christmas program at St. Pius.

So maybe it's not so hard to believe it is the third week already...I have been flying through the rest of the weeks. I have to make sure I'm done Christmas shopping one of these days!

How do I prepare for the next bunch of weeks? Christmas will be here before I know it.

busy times

I know it has been a long time since I’ve written for this blog. Things have been really busy…lots to do in December with music and events and practices; etc. I have been feeling a little better emotionally I think. I don’t feel well physically at the moment with bronchitis, but it will pass eventually.

I can’t believe how fast this year has gone. It seems like it just started. I always try to look through the calendar at the end of the year to try and see where I’ve been and what I’ve done. I know one thing I’ve done is a lot of article writing which I have enjoyed. I got certified as a paralegal after passing a 2-day test. I have traveled to various places including western Nebraska, North Carolina, New York and places in between! I'cw also done a lot of music at church and things. And that's only the beginning. I wonder what next year will bring?

Things I did in NYC!

Here's the highlights of my trip to NYC with the choir from College of Saint Mary--amazing experience, lots to reflect on and remember!!

Things I did in NYC
· Had lunch at Mickey Mantle’s restaurant
· Walked to see the parade balloons inflated
· Happy hour at Café Frida
· Dinner at Angela’s Rock n Roll Deli
· Stayed at the Helmsley Park Lane across from Central Park
· Watched the Macy’s Day Parade
· Saw Jude Law as Hamlet on Broadway
· Took a ferry to Liberty Island, saw Statue of Liberty
· Went to Ellis Island
· FAO Schwarz and played the piano from the movie Big
· Dinner at Hard Rock Café
· Exploring and shopping in Times Square
· Lunch at Burger Pop which was featured on the Food Network
· Shopping at Macy’s
· Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
· Dinner at McDonald’s in Times Square
· West Side Story at the Palace Theater
· Sightseeing tour
· Dinner at Jekyl & Hydes
· Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show
· Walk around Rockefeller Center to see Ice Rink and tree
· Natural History Museum
· Dinner at the Russian Tea Room
· Singing at Carnegie Hall
· Visit Metropolitan Museum of Art
· Dinner at Rue 57