Spring, Spring, Spring

Happy first day of spring! I celebrated by . . .

letting our dog take me for a walk,

going to the nature park,

and wearing my sunglasses.

More sunny days to come! Cheers.

Mmmmm, I feel lucky today

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A day when everyone should wear green: my favorite color, and the only color that makes you smile when you say it. :)

Stars in my eyes

Since it's been a whole twelve days since I've last posted a blog, I'm sure you've all been dying to know what I've been up to lately (at least I like to flatter myself and think that). So here you go . . .
First of all, I must preface my happenings by telling you that my sister, Amber, got her tonsils out last week. This event has highly influenced my recent activities as you will soon read . . .
My poor sister for the past ten days has been in pain, weak, and on powerful medications that make her . . . drowsy, out of it, itchy, etc. She has hardly been able to eat, drink, or sleep. Since (as I am constantly reminded) I have all this time on my hands, I have been trying to be a good sister/nurse and take care of her. I fetch water, heat up rice bags, and make milkshakes. I'll have you know that I have also become an expert maker of Cream of Wheat.
But I believe my greatest form of service has been my role as the provider of movies, dozens of movies. I think I've been to the public library eight out of the past ten days, and each time I come and go I carry a big stack of movies with me. Sometimes I can barely carry them all out of the place. A librarian was once kind enough to give me some plastic bags for all the movies after watching me struggle and juggle and even drop a few on the floor. I can't tell you how many times I have carefully browsed through the library's collection of movies. Give me the name of a movie, any movie, and I'll tell you whether or not the library has it.
Now, I have been trying not to let my pride get in the way, but sometimes I'll admit that I feel foolish going to the library to check out so many movies. I mean, a library is for books and smart people right? I become acutely aware of people's stares and imagine judgemental thoughts that may be running through their minds. I try to conceal my stack of movies, but really, how well can you actually hide eight video cassettes? Sometimes I'll put a book on top of the movies just for good measure. I hope they haven't noticed that the same girl has been coming in day after day and checking out more movies than anyone should watch over the course of a year, let alone the course of a day or two. Just to prove that I am not an illiterate couch potato, I have compiled a list of all the books I have read since I graduated almost three months ago:

• The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
• The End of the Beginning by Avi
• The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
• Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom
• Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
• The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
• Madam Curie by Eve Curie*
• I'll Be Seeing You by Jerry Borrowman*
• The Book of Mormon*
  *I have not yet completed these books

Now that I have proven my point, I feel comfortable continuing, and hopefully explaining the title of my post . . .
I have actually been enjoying watching some of the aforementioned movies with Amber during her recovery, and have particularly enjoyed the older movies of which the library has many to choose from. Here is a sampling of what we have been watching:

• An Affair to Remember - quickly becoming my second favorite movie of all time behind It's a Wonderful Life. I love this movie!
• A Touch of Mink - can you ever have too much Cary Grant?
• Bringing up Baby
• The Shop Around the Corner - love Jimmy Stewart!
• Magic Town
• South Pacific - so classic

Why can't movies be the same as they were back then? There is no cursing, no violence, no drugs, and no sex. It's so refreshing and wholesome. I would recommend these movies to anyone!
It's true, while I should be out in the real world conversing with real people, I have been spending my time crushing on fictional characters who are probably all dead by now. But it's just like the line from Sleepless in Seattle: "You don't want to be in love, you want to be in love in a movie."

Happy 200th Birthday Chopin!

There is speculation as to exactly when Chopin's birthday is. Some say it is February 22, and some say that it is today, March 1st. For all intents and purposes of this blog, I have decided to celebrate it today.

Born in Poland in 1810, Frederic Chopin rose to become one of the greatest and most well-known composers of all time. For quite a few years now, he has been my absolute favorite. I am partial to the music of the Romantic period, and his beautiful and wistful Nocturnes are to me the epitome of Romantic music. A large bust of Chopin sits atop of my piano and I like to think of him watching me as I play. Sometimes I imagine him looking down and cringing at my lack of proficiency.

Almost six years ago, I played 90 seconds of this Nocturne in Eb Major Op. 9 No. 2 by Chopin in my high school's Junior Miss program. I won the talent award as well as the title of 2nd Runner-up. I went on to learn the rest of the piece and perform it for my senior piano recital. To this day, it's still one of my favorites to play.

It is my dream to someday be able to play this famous piece by Chopin, Fantasie Imrpomptu in C minor Op. 66. I love love love this piece! We'll see if I ever reach that level. (So far I can only play the middle section.)

Happy Birthday to a musical master and genius!
I think I'll go play something on the piano now . . .