This is the Title of an Uncreative Violinist.:)

...when the husband is out with coworkers and doesn't need you to make dinner for once: Best Pad Thai, cheap zinfandel from TJs and a foreign romance on TV Friday night attire: sweats and ponytail Puppy kisses TGIF!!!

So, according to my Facebook feed, most school teachers around here have another snow day. Meanwhile, private teachers everywhere still have to go in and work :) Honestly, it's not even that bad around here.  Ryan and I spent some time shoveling snow in our neighborhood and mused how quiet it was, as everyone was hibernating indoors not even wanting to bother shoveling their walkways.  Since I haven't been working out, I decided that was going to be my workout.  Fortunately, it didn't snow any more after that so the streets look drive-able today. Our basement is coming along nicely; we ordered a rug and it arrived on Friday.  It really brings the whole room together, and even though I used to hate the red accent wall and was going to paint over it, it now seems alright now that the rug is there. You cannot see it in the pics, but there is a keyboard set up to the left so I can finally use it for lessons. There are still so many things I want/need to do w

It's been awhile since I've quoted the silly things some of my students say.  Usually my first go to place is Facebook, otherwise, I just forget about it. I think I should probably start writing everything down in a physical journal, along with the dates and the name of the student--it just seems more special that way. Anyway, today I had one of my more ornery students--a seven-year old named Andrew-- who, lately, has been the source of many Facebook-worthy quotes.  Working measure by measure in one of his pieces, I asked him to repeat a particular measure "three times without mistakes" and his reaction? "Will you give me a dollar if I do?" Ack.  Needless to say, the answer to his question was a resounding "No"! Wonder what Andrew will say next week, lol.

Sooo, because of the heavy snow, my lessons were canceled today.  Part of me loves snow days, but that just means I have to go in on the weekend to make up those lessons...just like kids having to stay in school longer towards the end of the school year whenever they get more snow days. Sucks. But I enjoyed staying in, nevertheless!  I made a quick trip to the grocery store around the corner to pick up some salmon and other items for dinner.  I made the usual mustard-brown sugar glazed salmon; tried a new Brussels sprouts recipe with shallots and orange zest and juice plus toasted walnuts; and mashed potatoes.  Standard, but still good and healthy. I attempted to work out following a Tracy Anderson workout in a new issue of Health I received-- and I could NOT get past the third step the first time I tried it earlier today.  That is how out of shape I am.  Ugh.  Tried all eight steps later tonight and was still pretty exhausted...and uncomfortable as there is not a good space to act

I randomly chose this recipe from an old Bon Appetit issue, but after the fact, I thought it was an oddly appropriate recipe to make for New Year's Day. Vinegar Braised Chicken and Onions: Ryan absolutely loved this dinner and I'll be making it again in the future.  The combination of balsamic and red wine vinegar, plus golden raisins and pearl onions made for a scrumptious sauce.  I like to think of it as a bittersweet dinner--being that this was our last day of vacation, yet looking forward to the future! Back to normal tomorrow...until the weekend :P

Happy 2014!!!  So what did you all do for NYE?  My husband and I were a boring old couple and went to bed around 10:30 and continued watching The Hobbit until we fell asleep.  Before that, it was wine and hors d'oeuvres downstairs: Sigh.  So today is our last vacation day before the old routine starts again.  Depressing and exciting at the same time.  I'm always excited for the new year and to see what will happen.  No resolutions for me, except the usual goals I always have-- to be healthier and exercise more often; be the best musician and teacher I can possibly be; and be a kind, loving and compassionate friend, daughter and wife.  One thing that I'm looking forward to in 2014 is a remodeled basement.  Since we do need help from my dad, it's been delayed until he completely recovers from his flu/cold, and it most likely won't be finished until the middle of January. I'd also really like to blog more often--even on the days where it seems I have not