I've dipped my toes- some of them, anyway- back into the waters of the violin. It's an exciting and scary time. I've got some lofty repertoire goals and some technical hurdles to work out (jes' workin' the turkey through), but this time it's for me, and not to further the cause of fame or glory or college and career.

It's ultimately about the Bach ( Read more... )

I'm thankful that we have most of the rest of the day to just flop! The humidity really takes it out of me.

I've been pulling up the remaining tack strips on the floor over the past few days. Still a couple of rooms to go, but it feels good to be making progress towards some respectable flooring. I've also renewed my wallpaper-stripping efforts and ( Read more... )

Funeral today for the newly-departed +Maria Redko, mother of the wife of our choir director Sergei. It was my second Orthodox funeral (sufitom's being the first. I can never get through the "last kiss" stikhiri without losing it. I'd never even had the opportunity to meet Maria because she was already a patient at the nearby assisted-living facility when ( Read more... )

As of yesterday, I've lost 40 pounds. I'm doing Pilates 4 times a week (on DVD) and I feel like I look like I did in the early part of my undergraduate studies. It's a fantastic feeling. It's about time to get a few clothes; I've been looking at the dresses at Shukr Online , since they're long and modest and fabulous. Maybe soon? They've got some ( Read more... )

I am thinking of brewing my own kombucha at home. Do any of you do this?

( Read more... )

I wish there was more to say. Weight loss is going very well; haven't weighed myself in a week but I'm going to guesstimate that I've lost a total of 20 or 21 pounds so far. By this point there are lots of clothes that fit very differently, which puts me in a great mood.
I'm sitting in rehearsal for a breast cancer benefit and trying out a new LJ ( Read more... )