There and Back Again

So much going on, and what with my early to bed routine so I can keep up, haven’t had much time to write.

I could talk about a million things…

but I won’t. Or maybe I will…we’ll see where this post takes us, shall we?

Let’s start out with a little Christmas music to set the mood. I share with you the smooth tones of a local boy who made good—our very own Tony DeSare. Tony grew up in our little town and went to school with my sister. It was always a treat to listen to this talented musician/singer at band and choir concerts, and we all had a feeling that something big would be in store for him. Be sure to check out his website for more information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0evfDGNlnw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

While I’m on the subject of Tony, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention another talented young man who graduated with Tony, Ted Firth. We have some good musical genes in this town! :). Check out this video of them playing piano earlier in the year.

Our music and drama department has always had a standard of excellence that is unmatched in the region. It is truly the pride of our little town. I knew that I wanted my children to attend school here, not only because I was confident in the teachers, but because I wanted them to have our music department available to them should they express talent and desire. I had a feeling my children *might* have music in their genes…my mother-in-law is a music teacher and pianist, my own family has beautiful voices in the mix (that gene unfortunately skipped me.) As it turns out, both girls got the music genes. (Too soon to tell with Mister!) Big Girl has a beautiful voice and perfect pitch (and reluctantly plays the flute.) But desire? Not so much. Little Girl plays piano and viola and seems to learn effortlessly. Desire? She’s got it. In fact, at ten, she already thinks she wants to be a music teacher. I’m thinking we made the right choice in schools.

In other news, we’ve been busy shopping and wrapping and baking and exhausting. In between we have been dealing with an intense exasperation of Mister’s reflux caused by a stomach bug and post nasal drip from a possible tree allergy. (This is new…we may have to go artificial in the future, but I refuse to entertain that notion right now…I am “real” all the way and it gives me the weenies (damn autocorrect!) the weepies to think of ending that tradition.) What this means is that Zan and I have had a roommate for the past week since my darling boy is afraid to sleep in his own room in case “the throw ups come back.” (Remember my last post? Um, yeah…he threw up the very next night. Cruel irony, don’t you think?) His eating is off, his belly ache comes and goes, and he’s pale one moment, pink the next. Hopefully the increased meds the doctor prescribed will do the trick soon…in the meantime it’s a bit of a roller coaster ride.
While we are talking about medical situations, my back is faring well, and I’m managing the Fibro with an early bedtime, shortened shopping trips, and lots of tea breaks throughout my days. I’m finding my lack of stamina extremely frustrating, but trying to take it all in stride. It is what it is.

And now I have to run like the wind…(okay fine then, walk like the breeze) and do a little (okay, fine, a lot) of house tidying in preparation for our family Christmas gathering on Saturday. Not to mention that trip to the store because we’ve been out of garbage bags for two days (those plastic shopping bags only hold so much) and not to mention the laundry I became painfully aware that I have to do (when Little Girl was stomping around irritably looking for socks and pants this morning…oops!)
A little Johnny should get me moving. Cue Christmas music, aaaaaaand GO!

Scared Crapless

Gerry read this and thought something was wrong…so sorry if it was misleading. My test today was my routine first/baseline, but leave it to me to freak myself out over it. I tend to visit the world of Whatifs a bit too often than is good for me when I’m faced with a routine exam. This was one of those times.

So, I’m heading in for my first ever Mammogram and I am shaking and quaking so I can barely type. I am early so I am killing time and somehow writing about it is therapeutic. I have never visited this office feeling quite so terrified, even when I was having scary problem pregnancy moments. I guess those were mid crisis though and I tend to hold myself together fairly well when I’m in the midst of a trauma…it’s after that I fall apart.
Ok so I’m going in on my rattling legs. Wish me luck and a good result.

Best of 2011

As all of you know, I’ve been a bit (okay, more than a bit) quiet on the Photo Challenge front.  The Fibromyalgia diagnosis and the two bulging discs kicked my butt from March through September, so the photographer in me was quite neglected. Thank the good Lord (and my team of doctors, acupuncturist, and chiropractor) that I am gaining ground and finally back participating in the Land of the Living.  I was close to adding psychiatrist to that team, but things came together just in time to get me back on track.

My poor, poor lonely camera had a long year with many and long bouts of dust collecting.  However, I was happy upon looking back to see that I DID take some photos this year, and even a few that deserve a little highlight in my “Best of 2011” post for Scott’s assignment.  Most of these you have already seen as I tend to build my posts around favorites, but there might be a few new ones for you in here somewhere.

This photo was taken last Christmas while decorating for the holiday.  We were testing the red bulbs and:

This next one was probably my very favorite, simply because it was an adorable moment.  I was taking photos of this sign “Because Nice Matters” and my son peeked in as I was snapping a shot and said, “Whatcha doin’?”  Perfect timing.

I highlighted this next photo in this post.  I just loved my niece’s expression.  Not even close to technically perfect, but I love it anyway.

This next photo was taken on my son’s fourth birthday.  This is a favorite because it is the first time I ever used flash (my new-at-Christmas SB-600) correctly.  Unfortunately, it was also one of a very few times I used it correctly.  Good intentions of becoming proficient with flash evaporated when things went haywire.  Maybe 2012 will see me more successful.

This next photo was a favorite from my trip to Newport.

Next are my favorite flower shots of the year.

My favorite self-portrait…well, it’s my favorite because it’s my only.  😉

Next up, my favorite black and white from my daughter’s 11 inch donation to Locks of Love:

My favorite vacation shot…I posted about this one here.

And another from vacation that is near and dear to my heart:

 

 

Here’s my favorite shot of my oldest daughter from 2011:

And my most recent favorite shot…these chocolate chip cookies are gluten free! (And oh, soooo gooooood.)

When looking back, I notice that all my favorites are of the “small” moments.  Seems to be a pattern with me, doesn’t it?

There’s a reason my photo wall contains the quote: “Our lives are made in these small hours…”