I truly believe that I have the coolest siblings in the world!

http://jabeccawalk.blogspot.com/

oops, the concert hall forgot that it was spring and kept the heat on for winter, so with all the people in the hall it was something like 85 degrees!

After my 4am bed time the night before, I woke up at 1:30pm to a phone call from my mom who jokingly asked me (knowing I don't drink) if I was recovering from a hangover, to which I responded, "Yeah, those 4 oz of beer that I drank really did me in."

most disappointing live dvorak played by professionals ever... broke my rule and listened to it the second i got home.

I'm guessing McDonalds and "epic Fail" both didn't exist when the company who built Tanya's piano was named McPhail.

As I rushed across the parking lot carrying my hot-off-the-stove side dish, I knew something was not quite right, which I quickly confirmed when I looked down and realized I was still wearing my bedroom slippers and being that I was in a rush, I sported them all evening at the dinner party with my coworkers!

Strange foods that I don't think are strange but people don't know about include Kasha (visiting Alex today, she said she sometimes bought that cereal, but she didn't know it was made with buckwheat) and Nutritional Yeast (which gained me a pretty funny look from Chuck over the dinner table last night, when he asked what was in the delicious sauce).

I felt like I gained an extra day or two (and thought I should maybe get out of life's fast lane) when I asked today whether it was the 7th, or the 8th, and was told it was the SIXTH!"

In The Economist there was a quote about my actual dinner today, though I didn't share the magazine's opinion: "Look at this muck," says 35-year-old Pamlesh Yadav, holding up a tin-plate of bilious-yellow grains, a mixture of wheat, rice and mung beans. "It literally ticks in the throat. The children won't eat it, so we take it home and feed it to the cows."

In the words of my dearest, "You know whats awesome? Things. Things are awesome."

I found a killer parking spot at the gym today, where I proceeded to sleep in my car, then woke up two hours later and drove home- some work out!

It astounds me both ways: how inspiring music can be to such diverse audiences, and also sometimes, how uninspired people can be by music (getting and and leaving in the *middle* of the Mendelssohn Octet?)

I dare everyone to take the Milton (name of a pillowcase filled with rice that gets put in the microwave to heat and then use on minor aches) challenge: Microwave for 8 minutes and 88 seconds (happens to be a lucky chinese number, but also the easiest to type into our particular microwave) and see how much stuff you can get done around your house in that time.

The Phantom of the Opera plot was best explained by Jim as "Creepy as in 'pedophile' not creepy like a horror movie."

As I drove through my old familiar stomping grounds of Ithaca on Friday night, a sigh of tranquility went streaming through my body: like returning home after being gone for far too long.

the least funny april fool's day joke was telling us rehearsal would end by ten, and at 10:30 we were halfway through... I fixed it by leaving and dancing two contras instead (thank you drew and alec!).

three breakfasts in a row (one of the last times bagels in the car from brian's work) one of which overlapped with hanging out with shannon until it was time for her induction.

there's something satisfying about going to whole foods, and spending less than the person in front of you on food that will last you about 10 times as long, even if that's literally all you eat (grains, legumes and flour for the win!)

Some people make me laugh sooooo hard, I lose my balance and fall to the ground with a belly rocking giggle that leaves my eyes drippy while I gasp for a breath!

Yesterday I got bit by the tiny yet mighty teeth of a two-year-old boy, and today I have a bruise.

wow, what an inspiringly mature first performance from my youngest (yet older-souled) sister - solo bach is hard!

My favorite student told me in a grumpy voice: "Sometimes, you always win."

One month free membership at a classy all-women's gym has been fantastic, although I must say, I have never seen so many bare bodies in such a concentrated area in my life... it's a little strange.

My baby was never as small as the precious 6-day-old Abigail that I held today....

A trip to the laundromat is always an experience: homeless drunk woman asks me for spare change, homeless drunk woman proceeds to sit in the laundromat although she has no laundry to do, disoriented homeless man (presumably homeless woman's boyfriend) enters laundromat, disoriented homeless man proceeds to speak loudly to homeless drunk woman, disoriented homeless man curses at and threatens other laundry-doing 20-something man, I call 911, cops ask homeless couple to leave, laundry-doing 20-something man asks me for my phone number.

My twenty year old brother slept mostly through his birthday DAY, lying next to his sweet nephew, but then we partied it up in style, with gift-wrapped bacon, and a Mendelssohn quartet read through.

Even though I was little too old (or maybe have just been through too many years of school) to find the Science Museum exceptionally engaging, it was still neat to watch a bearded man create lightening.

My babyest sister really pulled off a mature Schostakovich quartet, at the end of a very two-and-a-half hour student concert.

I zumba-ed so hard, I lost my earrings!

three job offers to choose between, but i'm not the one making the decision.

It always makes me smile when I see the JP oil truck drive around town because it is painted pink and white and has a big pink ribbon on it symbolizing breast cancer awareness, not to mention that this particular oil company donates a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research!

Good news: my mom is definitely fine and there was no cardiovascular emergency last night, though I must admit, I was really scared for a few hours there and had a terrible case of the "what ifs" which is a game I would prefer never to play again.

I am proud of my high-heel-wearing attitude, but took it too far today - all the way to the entrance of the gym.

What else should I do besides send her directly to the emergency room when my mom, who is home alone because my dad is on a business trip and my siblings are hiking the Appalachian Trail, calls at 10:30pm to say she has been having chest pain and tingling down her left arm for the past two days?

I dare you to try having heartburn *before* sitting down to dinner. (thanks who)

A long, flowing conversation with a friend you love and trust is always the best way to spend a long, snowy car ride home.

Goodbye Maki, and Happy birthday Bach: here are some cupcakes, Amanda and Brian and I will listen to some of your music and sing a round for you, that ends with the words "we wish you a long long life" and change those words to... "so thanks for all your music" before finding out that your birthday is only on the 21st in the Julian calendar, which i've never used, but you did, well, for the beginning of your life - it's all ok, the Ben Stiller show didn't steal your show, Johann.

A whist-full brunch is better than a wistful bunch - especially with mimosas.

A beautiful weekend, on a beautiful mountain, doing beautiful skiing (that might be an overstatement), with beautiful people (and that would be an understatement) is all I could have wanted right now!

I can't think of a better selling-point to put on Saffron-Chamomile tea than the one we saw today: "Aphrodisiac for impotency."

My neighbors will just have to get used to the strange (in our society) sight of my little boy playing naked in our yard... it's just so much fun!

The fine dusting of flour I gave my groceries when the seal on the bag broke was just enough to make the oranges we gave to Amanda on St. Patrick's day (is there a joke somewhere about the Orange and the Green) look very very moldy.

I would never have said this 5 years ago, but some movies you just don't have to finish watching.

These days, there are three words that are making me so very happy!

In my little town our "large group discussion" of the "our town reads" book takes place at a starbucks with a grand total of 10 people (including Theo)

I wished so many people a Happy Pi Day, and I was really shocked at how many people stared at me blankly even after I spelled out the whole "three point one four" for them... I'm just glad that I celebrated it, made a wish on 1:59, and ate blueberry pie.

twinkies should be illegal, and massages should be mandatory.

Black diamonds, icy slopes, moguls- I can handle it... it just takes me a second or two to work up a little extra umph of courage and remind myself that I AM in control... and my new ski pants help!

How was my little family extra productive (yay baby breakfast, car fixing/cleaning, used-items delivery, friend catch-up + general household stuff) on an extra short, 23 hour day?

Four weeks of inspiration meant it only took 10 minutes to paint the canvas once I had the requisite supplies.

The last Saturday before daylight savings was full of sunshine, smiles and productive endeavors: I updated my ipod, I ran around the pond with my updated ipod playing motivational music, I walked down to collect a delicious free sandwich, I stopped by the oldest community theater in the US which happens to be 3 blocks from my house where I collected information on upcoming performances (RENT in April!), I saved a woman from losing the cup of soup she had placed on the top of her car and forgotten before driving away, I filed my taxes which will provide returns that will in turn allow me to finally pay off my credit card bill (hoorah!!), and now I am off to a contra dance!

A memorable concert at Mechanics in Worcester, where the Violas play the WHALE (in Haydn's creation) had a favorite moment: "Maybe just a tad too much lower viola!"

Today I watched as a thin man wearing a bow tie stoled down a gray street, dodging the raindrops, and bopping his head from side to side as if dancing to the music of the traffic.

It was a day of tasting cinammon in things that had no cinnamon, like pancakes.

Invalids serving invalids.

Instead of "duck, duck, goose" we play "yuck, yuck, eeeeewwww"

A friend wanted to introduce me to someone famous, whom I had never met before, but I was too socially confused to recover from his long, warm hug and his exclamation "Soooo good to see you again!"

This day was just awesome, but walking in the dark in the rain and in the cold was an extra awesome ending.

The coolest girls all wear teal to the (soup and dessert soiree) party without prior coordination.

Not so much a cacophony party as a Raffi party, aka a songwriter-I-had-never-heard-of party.

A guy came up to our table, and told Amanda she was an old soul and a seeker, and he could sense knowledge from Brian's eyes, and then looked at me and told me I was rude.

Looking at an old picture of the marvelous Robert Frost, my dear friend said to me, "He looks like one of those upside-down people," and with that, I laughed until my stomach ached because I knew exactly what she meant and could never have come up with a more accurate comment to describe that particular photo of Mr. Frost!

So much amazing energy that I think I should go to the gym every day, literally.

My first kiss... from my little Theo that is.

So many things to get done today that even though I only managed less than half of them and had Labeeby to help me all day long I was still exhausted.

Beethoven's fifth and somebody's (who used to breath Beethoven's Fifth, in-in-in-ooout) birthday party.

My little baby is now a one-year-old who can barter with blocks, walk two steps, sing himself to sleep, and say Teh DEEEE!

Friends make life easier by coming to visit, like Shannon, or by finding us car seats, like Alison and Keith.

It's really true that being ultra happy just depends on little things in life, like slow-cooking, and hearing echoes of your baby's laughter, and having people come home early as a surprise, and waking up to soft snowfall that won't affect your day other than by being temporarily pretty.

It's always the most wonderful thing to catch up with friends, even when there has been sadness in life in between times, because you feel like you can be there and lend an ear, and after all, that is what friendship is about to begin with!

Floss your teeth because Baz Luhrmann said so.

twelve and a half hours of non-stop cleaning and organizing my house for someone i've never met, but maybe will one day.

cue lyrics (with explanations): I had breakfast (and then worked out and was back before nine, score), I had brunch (with awesome amanda with her wonderfully cool parents and all the fixings), I had music (played on my viola, and on my cd player and danced to by my two boys), who could ask for anything more?

edited from lame to: Went for a lovely walk with my whole little family, mama, papa, theo and who, among the enormous new england snow banks in fifty degree weather with a thunderstorm brewing and raindrops occasionally falling on (some of) our heads.

hugely inspired to play music, which is good, since that's what i do for a living.

On my first full day as a 25 year old, I did a bunch of big girl things: snoozed my alarm for 60 minutes, built a block tower, ate chocolate for lunch, talked to my daddy, played with my pet bird, and watched a fantasy TV show... I must be growing up.

celebrated my blog-other-half's birthday by not going to see a movie with her (after-movie ice cream i couldn't refuse) and thinks that such differences make us such extra awesome friends.

A quarter of a century should always be spend with a crew of your favorite people.

This morning I was awakened (well, reawakened after the rude awakening at 5am) by my little baby climbing all by himself up the stairs and standing up and saying mamamamama to me, without any whining or crying.

It is always fascinating to me how certain people resurface in my life as such precise times.

First time ever teaching a lesson sitting down... how is the word invalid pronounced again?

I spend all of Valentine's Day in bed... though not is a romantic sense... it was more of a feverish sense... but I still got lots of love thanks to some of my favoritest people!

rounded out a cultural weekend (2 operas and a musical igloo) with watching the Ahn trio, who were so inspiring.

There is nothing warmer than the comfort of a trusted old friend who has returned at last.

watching opera goers fight over handicapped seating, eating large popcorns, and saying inappropriate things just a little too loud in a movie theater was almost as sureal as "Nixon in China"

Why is it that silly kitchen stores are so very interesting?

I have to believe that the very best thing to do with a brand new friend, is make play-dough.

one planned labeeby visit and one unplanned nick visit makes me so happy, a happiness that can't be negated even after seeing La Traviata.

negative calories burned at contra today, who thought to feed dancers cake??

i sent a concerned email to a parent today, but am very sad thinking i wont get any response.

i need inspiration, maybe i need a change.

more icy irony includes travelling to a student's house scared that my studio driveway is too icy, and finding theirs worse.

memorial concert i played at caused one weeping woman to curse the music we played as being "too manipulative"

should have been judging 50 junior violinists, but the managers were scared of snow that never started.

irony of the day: slipping on the ice on the way to the gym to get a membership so that i can avoid the dangers of the outdoors, like slipping on the ice.

When you're looking for a rehearsal, and somebody tells you that you just have to "walk through the chapel" to get there, do you expect that there just may be a person in a coffin lying in there?

in the grocery store, some lady asked me (a six month pregnant lady, just in out of the crazy cold, still with snowflakes on my head, and no i wasn't wearing the store colors, she didn't think i worked there) "Do you mind reaching up and grabbing that can of beans for me?"

snow forces us to stay indoors, so it's time for some serious cleaning and phone-calling, 50s housewife style.

I skied (SKIED!) to work today.

my memory works in mysterious ways, in that i have trouble remembering the name of one of my dearest friends' mother, but can remember every single word from a song in a 1930s operetta that i saw 15 years ago. (And welcome back AMANDA!)