Seven Quick Takes No. 61

I.

This week felt like it flew by.It’s that time of year again, when it just gets closer to Christmas and there’s so much to DO and not enough time to do it! Totally the theory of relativity, right? As a kid, you remember these days going so slowly. And now? Gone so quickly. It’s amazing.

II.

This is partially because there’s a lot going on–tomorrow I’m going to a Penguins/Jackets game with my parents (in which I will be happy with the outcome, because one team I love will win!). On Sunday, it’s the last CCD class before the break, which basically means a video on St. Nicholas and bingo games; then we have a catechist meeting; then there’s a Third Order meeting which concludes with life promises (EEEEK), and then dinner with Mary and lessons and carols at my parish. WHEW. And Monday I have a doctor appointment with all that attends that, and an audition that night.

III.

So, life promises. Yes. Basically, this means I’m a Lay Dominican forever and ever (amen), I promise to live by the rule of St. Dominic for the rest of my life, and be a good Lay Dominican. 🙂 The rule requires that I say morning and evening prayer of the liturgy of the hours, attend Mass as often as possible during the week, go to confession once a month, say a daily rosary, and perform individual religious study. None of these are bound by pain of sin. If I miss vespers one day or something, it’s not a thing I need to confess. But these are the “pillars”, so to speak, of my life, forever, after Sunday. I’ve been in formation for five+ years now, and I’m so glad to be making this final step.

IV.

My Christmas shopping, however, is 98% finished. I still have to get something for two more people, who are hard to shop for. Sigh. I’m hoping to come up with magic inspiration over the next week.

V.

My 2015 calendar is starting to fill up–January has good things (a Symphony concert!) and some unfun/fun things–a colonoscopy (Oh YAY!). Yes, my friends, I need to have one, and the hospital, of course, is freaking because I have a PORT, and we’re going to USE IT, and OH MY GOSH!

Really, guys, it’s not that hard. They don’t even have to access me–mom can do it. All they have to do is push the lovely happy meds into the tube. I do not understand the freak out. It’s an adult hospital I’m going to, but they treat cancer patients, so a port isn’t some exotic medical things they’ve never seen. Sigh. I guess it’ll be a “teachable moment” for them. AS long as they don’t break the port, I don’t care. Just give me the fun meds and do what you have to do, doc.

VI.

in 2015, revision on THE BOOK will begin in earnest. Yes. I have left the draft alone for a few months, I’ve gotten some feedback from my beta readers, and in January it will be time to start massaging it into shape again, and bring out the long knife of editing. Oh yes, my friends. The knife is coming out!

VII.

Next week has two of my favorite days! JANE DAY, her birthday, on Dec. 16, in which we shall all drink tea, watch the Wet Shirt video, and read her books, and Dec. 17, which is Beethoven Day (it’s the day Beethoven was Baptized.) Such great genius!  They were born five years apart (Beethoven in 1700, Jane in 1775), and died ten years apart (Jane in July 1817, Beethoven in March 1827). So on Beethoven Day we will listen to much Beethoven and rejoice in his genius. (Yes, he’s my favorite composer, why do you ask?)

(Side note: people: stop using this to mean “pounds.” I See it all the time: “The fish was 8#!” REALLY?!?!?!)

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 47

Outside my window:

It is frigid. We’re talking below 0, without wind chill, for the actual temperature. With wind chill, it’s in the negative 20s and 30s. So what am I wearing? The warmest clothes I have–my only turtleneck, light blue cashmere, brown pants, wool socks. Tomorrow it’s going to be negative temps for the high. Yeah. So I’ll look like Randy in A Christmas Story, as opposed to a human being…. Good thing I have so many scarves!

I am never, ever complaining about heat again. Ever. I love all heat. Sun. Sand. Warm water. Oh heck yes.

whirpool lurking at Stormalong Bay, Walt Disney World’s Beach Club Resort

Books::

Mythology, by Edith Hamilton; also re-reading One Thousand Gifts. Also there’s a facebook group: Reading Augustine’s City of God in 2014. I joined and my copy should be coming today. Doctors of the Church, yo! On deck: Charles Dickens, Dance with Dragons.

Memorizing::

This right here. Join us?

From the kitchen::

My new planner has a great feature where I can write in the week’s menu at the bottom of each day. Keeps me so organized.

Tonight: Greek Shrimp with Feta

T: Jamie Oliver’s meatloaf (because it’s going to be really cold, and this requires a really hot oven)

W: Stir-fry, or pasta

Th: Mustard and apple pork chops

F: Cacio e pepi (pasta with pepper and cheese)

Around the house::

Vacuuming today. Dusting. The usual. Nothing that involves going outside. 🙂

In the CD player::

Frozen soundtrack. A propos, right? Been listening to David Neuve’s etheral piano recordings, though, at home. Check them out if you love gentle, soothing music. It’s great when I’m writing or cooking.

1000 gifts::

I’m up to No. 84 in my journal!

Plans for the week::

Not to freeze? Sounds like a good plan. 🙂 We warm up on Wednesday and Thursday though, praise Jesus. Lay Dominicans meeting on Sunday.

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 44

Outside my window::

It’s not snowing! For the record, this has been the 8th snowiest December on record in Columbus–and it’s not even winter yet. Oy vey! It will, however, be snowing later today……about an inch of so.

Wearing::

Tan pants, a navy blue boatneck top, my Pandora charm bracelet, and really warm wool socks. Smartwool, thou art my friend.

Reading::

One Thousand White Women, The Fiery Cross (re-reading the Outlander series), Writing Down the Bones (a Christmas gift from Tiff)

In the CD player::

A Midwinter Night’s Dream. I have swapped out Frozen, but now I have the Frozen sheet music, so…. 🙂

Keeping Advent::

The O Antiphons start today with Wisdom. I love the O Antiphons!

Christmas Prep::

That last scarf! And writing a list of gifts received so I can write Thank You notes.

Celebrating::

Birthdays. Today is the Pope’s, and Beethoven; Jane Austen’s was yesterday. Let’s party!

From the kitchen::

Nothing tonight, but I did have a very successful dinner party on Saturday! Beef and cider pot along with a salad (greens, capers, red onion, and a vinaigrette with dijon mustard, EVOO, worchestershire, steak seasoning, white wine vinegar)

Around the house::

I think my vacuum cleaner is broken. 😦 So this makes me a bit unhappy. Thankfully it will warm up to the 50s (!) and rain this weekend so my car will get clean!

Pondering::

There is another very ordinary expression that I wonder how often we ponder: someone has a job to “wait on tables”. What do we mean by that? Not that you stand there and do nothing–quite the opposite! You are moving all the time. You are taking care of people’s needs. You are watching out for needs; you don’t even wait until they are expressed. You see that everyone is taken care of, that no one is missed. This is what we mean by waiting. And our dear Lord tells us that he rewards waiting–with waiting! Isn’t that marvelous? “Blessed are those whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them (Lk 12:37).” The reward for focus, for service, for active waiting upon the Lord is that he will wait on us. I think that is the most marvelous truth that the Church shows us in the Scriptures. This is how we rewards us for right, energetic, focused, joyous waiting for him. God always does this. When we wait upon him, then he waits upon our needs.

Who would not want to wait upon Jesus hand and foot? Well, so often the answer is that we are the ones who do not want to do this. Where is he? In the tabernacle, yes; in the world of Scripture, yes; and in the  persons in this room. We want to wait upon him hand and foot in one another, so that he may wait upon us. The more we do this, the more do we enter into the joy of the child, who says in the right way, with the wisdom peculiar to the child, unencumbered by the complexities and rationalizations of the adult, “I can’t wait! I can hardly bear the deliciousness of this activity of waiting!”

How do you wait for someone whom you really love? You do all kinds of things; you have all kinds of surprises awaiting the loved one. It is an expression of love. Real waiting always begets this loving “doing.” It eases the burden of waiting, which otherwise can scarcely be borne, as the child knows so well. The person waiting at the window is full of activity. When we are waiting for the loved one to come down the road, our heart is poudning, our eyes are straining, our whole body is taut, leaning forward. Someone is coming! Someone whom we love above all is coming! And now, in Advent, the One who we love about all is coming. The Church is giving us these precious days to focus the eye, to let the heart pound because he is coming. He will come. By the love of waiting for his little red lights that say, “Step back, now, because someone else needs to be served”, we will enter into the deliciousness of the real “Can’t wait.” We shall understand that when waiting is rightly comprehended, it is a deliciousness that is already indeed a wink of bliss.

–Mother Mary Francis, PCP, Come Lord Jesus, December 17: Waiting

Plans for the week::

Blood drive at work on Thursday and office Christmas lunch; Friday my parents and I are going out to lunch, and Saturday I’m planning to see The Book Thief with a theater pal.

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 42

Monday of the First Week of Advent

Outside my window::
As Pooh would say, it’s a blustery day! Upper 40s, and sort of overcast, but there was some sun today.

Wearing::

A gray pleated skirt, purple top with a keyhole collar, black flats. It was Advent-y. 🙂

Reading::

A Dance With Dragons, One Thousand White Women. 

From the kitchen::

I made a crazy good Rachael Ray recipe on Saturday–beef and cider pot. Recipe forthcoming. It was so good! Tonight is another Rachael Ray recipe. Actually, this week is all Rachael. There’s also leeky chicken and cowboy spaghetti on the menu this week. I also need to menu plan for two dinner parties I’m giving this month.

Praying for::

Pregnant friends

a friend who just had twins!

Angela 

Creativity::

OK, there was another Christmas scarf. 🙂 So it’s being done, in beautiful shades. The skein is a variegated one called “Orchard” and wow do I love this. It actually sort of reminds me of a vineyard.

Oh, and I won NaNoWriMo! My novel is 50,000+ words written all in November. I won two days before Turkey Day but just forgot to post here. I am really happy with the novel as it stands. I’m letting it sit for the month of December and then post-Christmas I’ll come back and start the editing process, but I think it’s a pretty solid piece of work.

In the CD player::

The Frozen soundtrack. I know, I know. 🙂 It should be Advent music, and it was, but I just love this soundtrack. Review up next!

Advent::

Reading my Advent books-–Come, Lord Jesus; Advent and Christmas with Pope John Paul II; The Greatest Gift. Also have the wreath up. And I love getting out the blue Vol. I of the Liturgy of the Hours. It just makes me so happy.

Pondering::

So, let us go forth together into this so tender, so sweet, and so demanding season, when our dear little all-powerful Redeemer wants to see a plowed-up heart, a  plowed-up spirit, with no hard clots of pride; but instead someone who has turned her swords into a plowshare upon herself; someone who has turned the spear into a pruning hook and is no depressed or discouraged, but is happy about what she will see, as everyone sees who sets out with a pruning hook: how much there is to be pruned and that there is no time to be lost.

–Mother Mary Francis, PCC, “Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting”, First Sunday of Advent, Year A

Plans for the week::
Pure Barre classes Wednesday and Thursday; teaching CCD on Sunday (the nativity!), and also Lay Dominicans meeting on Sunday.

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 40

Outside my window: 

Clouds moving in. We’re supposed to get a cold front that’ll bring frost/freeze weather. Yeah Ohio in October. I mean I don’t like snow, but I don’t like the 80s in October, either. This is fine with me. 🙂

Reading::

Finished House Like a Lotus, so re-reading Mother Teresa and Me. Also trying to finish A Feast for Crows.

Wearing::

Nutmeg colored cashmere V-neck sweater and a rust/cream/brown skirt. I had on boots that matched the sweater earlier, but I’m home so they’re off. 🙂

Praying::

For pregnant friends

For Thomas Peters

for Elizabeth D., blog friend. 🙂

For friends who are sick/going through medical procedures.

Pondering::

Do we really think that eliminating suffering is what makes life worth living? Do people actually think it’s possible to eliminate it? Because it’s not…

From the kitchen::

Just sandwiches tonight. It’s the first week post-show, so I’m not up to much more than that.

In the CD player::

the Original Broadway Cast of Aida. But might change it to Loreena McKennit soon here.

Crafting::

Hoping to finish grandma’s Christmas scarf this week. Then on to a scarf for me. 🙂

Fitness: 

Back to the Pure Barre classes, since I missed them last week due to Tech Week insanity.

Plans for the week::

Workout tomorrow and W; clean up rehearsal tentatively scheduled for Thursday. Show Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and CCD on Sunday morning.

 

Captured::

 

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 38

(Prompts Elizabeth style, today) 

 

Noticing God’s glory::

Autumn in Central Ohio is usually beautiful, but even moreso when we have so much great leaf color. It makes it a bit easier to commute against the color show.

 

In the CD player::

Still the Joyce CD. I’m all about it, as my brother would say.

 

Clothing myself in::

Nutmeg boots; a asymmetrical hemmed skirt in oatmeal; a blue v-neck top, and a cream scarf (linen, not knitted. I still need to knit a blue scarf for me!). Oh, and smartwool socks, which I looooove.

 

thinking and thinking::

About how to get everything into my days; I have been working on that, and I’ve been getting up earlier. I’ve added a workout to my almost daily schedule. But then with the workout comes two hours home at night in which to do everything–write, take care of the house, knit, etc. Eventually my goal is to be awake at 6:30, but right now we’re about 40 minutes short of that. Maybe “falling back” will help?

 

pondering prayerfully::

the idea of vocation, and what it means when what you thought your vocation was isn’t what you thought it was–or, God has a different idea of how to use your skills, talents, and desires. What is the best use of these?

 

cultivating rhythm::

Well I sort of touched on this, above. But there’s some things that have to be done in a rhythmic way–the mornings, especially, and the preparation for the next day in the evenings.  Also, being sure I use the pockets of free time I have well, on the things that need done.  (Does this make sense?)

 

Creating by hand::

My grandma’s Christmas scarf is on my knitting needles now. Hopefully during Tech Week I can get a lot of this done. 🙂

 

Learning lessons in::

Balance. Always, always balance. How to get everything in, in a way that isn’t a rushed thing, but a way that allows everything to work the way it should.

 

Prayers for::

My friends with health problems

My pregnant friends

My World Vision child, Mery, who turned 13 today!

Thomas Peters

 

Keeping house::

Cleaning the kitchen. I’ve been cleaning out the cabinets and the fridge over the last few weekends and stocking up on some fall essentials. So I have to sweep and mop the floor and deep clear the stove burners.

 

Reading::

Just finished The House of Hades, the latest Rick Riordan book. I’m not as pleased with it as I was with others that he’s written. There’s some unnecessary “contemporary” problems in there and it’s sort of meandering. (I’m being vague in case anyone reading this is a Percy fan. 🙂 )

 

Planning for the week ahead:

Tonight: workout at Pure Barre, and port access. Whee!

Wednesday: Eye doctor appointment; Pirates game. They better win.

Thursday: Another PB class

Friday-Sunday: Rehearsals for the show and Tech Week starts! We open next Friday.

Sunday: Possible Lay Dominicans meeting if I don’t have rehearsal on Sunday, but I”m fairly sure I will. Teaching CCD in the morning.

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 38

A sunday version, this week. 🙂

I am wearing::

A grey BR pleated skirt; a Boden sweater w/ a Peter Pan color in navy and plum (plum at the collar, waist and wrists); tiny sparkly earrings from Touchstone Crystal. I taught CCD today and the girls like it when I wear jewelry. 🙂

Outside my window::

Sunny and blue skies, low sixties. It’s a lovely first day of Fall here.

In the CD player::

Joyce DiDonato, ReJoyce! Let me tell you: her “You’ll Never Walk Along” is stunning. Go give it a listen.

Reading::

The Last Olympian; Back to Virtue; Relish (which is so much more than a cookbook, it’s got some great tips in it.)

Crafting::

Christmas Scarf No. 5 in a beautiful cobalt blue yarn. I just love it.

Being healthy::

I’m taking my first pure barre class tomorrow. Gulp. We’ll see how this goes! One of the girls in the show works here and she told me all about it. I know I do better in a class when I can’t just quit early, and when I have to be accountable for it. So I’m a bit nervous but also excited to try this!

From the kitchen: 

Tonight is Ina Garten’s weeknight bolognese, which I’ve been wanting to try for awhile. Also this week are some new chicken and pasta recipes that I’ll share as I try them out. Also planning a menu for a Saturday night dinner party!  (Small–only two other guests–but still fun!)

Around the house::

Clearing out the closet and sifting through clothes I could donate; vacuuming; clearing off the kitchen table.  I’ve got friends coming over for dinner on Saturday so we have to have a place to eat!

Praying for::

Thomas Peters

my friends who are pregnant

Syria

Wendy, a member of my third order chapter, who is having a biospy in the near future

The kids in my CCD class

Plans for the week::

Lunch w/ my dad tomorrow

My parish’s 160th anniversary is on Wednesday, so I’m planning on attending the special Mass that evening.

Another Pure Barre class on Thursday

Friday/Saturday/Sunday: Show rehearsal!

Saturday: Dinner party

Sunday: CCD class. ALSO the Master of the Dominican Order is visiting our parish and concelebrating the 9 AM Mass, so I will make a special effort to get up for that!

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 33

Wearing::

A black and white maxi skirt and a violet 3/4 length sleeve top, both from White House Black Market.

Reading::

St. Catherine’s Dialogues; The Genesee Diary, by Henri Nouwen.

In the CD player::

Loreena McKennit’s The Book of Secrets.

Around the house::

Revamping hits the living room. More on that in a later post.

From the kitchen::

I’m feeling bruschetta meal again. Yes. Also there was this great Rachael Ray recipe that I pinned, and this is being made soon, too. (It has this and this as sides. I mean, how good is that.)

Being healthy::

More ballet beautiful this week.,

Being creative::

Knitting! Oh my goodness, knitting. I’ve got more in today’s yarn along, which will be up later. 🙂

Praying for::

Thomas Peters

Other special intentions

Plans for the week::

Mass tonight (I think).

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 32

Wearing::

A Boden skirt from a few years ago; BR royal blue tee.

Reading::

And Then There Were None, in preparation for an audition on Saturday; Nothing Daunted; The Dialogues of St. Catherine of Siena.

In the CD player::

L’Angelus “Sacred Songs”

Around the house::

I’m doing a massive organizing/clean out of the house. It’s time to get rid of the stuff I don’t use and don’t want. Yesterday I made progress in my book room and loaded up some bags to take to Half Price Books. Today’s (and probably tomorrow, too. And maybe Wednesday) focus is the living room. There will be sorting and cleaning.

From the Kitchen::

I’ve got some more Rachael Ray recipes on tap. Haven’t decided precisely which ones, yet.

Being healthy::

The back feels better so we’re on to ballet beautiful workouts this week–an hour, hopefully, each day (M-F). We’ll see how this experiment goes! It’s a very high-intensity workout for the muscles, so even if I can’t do the entire hour, it’s still a fantastic workout.

Being creative::

Well there’s that audition on Saturday. And knitting. I’m on bookmark no. 3, but I’m hoping to cast on a scarf before this week’s Yarn Along.

Pondering::

This, all about lectioand how to do it. I am lugubriously bad at lectio. This, however, really seems helpful.

Praying for::

Thomas Peters

Some special intentions that people have asked me to pray for.

Plans for the week::

Saturday: Audition and Crew (they’re our MLS team) game with the Capital Alumni Organization

Catholic Women’s Almanac No. 31

Wearing::

A khaki colored silk faille skirt from Talbot’s (I love, love full skirts); a red short-sleeved cashmere sweater (it’s not even 80 here today), black flats, red earrings a la Mary Crawley from my favorite Etsy shop.

Reading::

Nothing Daunted, for book club; it’s our August book. Also Keeping House, Organized Simplicity and the last book in my Austin series re-read, Troubling a Star.

In the CD Player::

a Mix CD I made a few years ago.

Around the house::

I had a “nothing on the schedule” weekend so I got to actual work down my to-do list. I cooked twice (glorious meals!) and cleaned the kitchen, as well as put some things back where they belonged. Today: vacuuming and mopping the kitchen floor.  The house is slooowly returning to its pre-show appearance.

From the kitchen::

Over the weekend I made two Rachael Ray recipes–Drunken Tuscan Pasta, which involves an entire bottle of Chianti ,  and a meal based on her trip to Cinque Terre, in Italy. I had some timing issues with that one, since it was basically three small dishes that were being made at once. But I’m going to fix that, and make it again at some point, because it was just really good. Or it had the potential to be good before my can opener decided not to cooperate. Tonight is pasta with olives and Italian breadcrumbs.

Being healthy::

The back is cooperating, so some yoga tonight, I think. Dance classes are starting again at the end of August so I need to think about re-enrolling in those. It’s too cold to swim but it’s nice enough for a bit of post-dinner walking, if I’m so inclined.

Being creative::

Doing another round of editing to the novel I finished during last year’s NaNoWriMo. Also casting on a new knitting project since I finished the scarf, which actually sort of morphed into a really fun and ruffly sort of cowl thing, instead of a basic scarf. I have no idea how I did that. But it’s pretty! The new project is a bookmark. I keep re-casting on. I think I’ve got way too much tension and just need to be more “loose” with my yarn.

Praying for::

Thomas Peters

My cousin who is pregnant with her third child (yay!)

Some other special intentions

Plans for the week::

Haircut tomorrow because my hair is craaaazy long

Book Club on August 1 (For our July book)

Dominican chapter retreat and Dominican Rite Mass on Sunday.

Pondering::

AKA, “EVERYBODY CALM DOWN!” 

Also– the idea of keeping just things I love, from Organized Simplicity. I have a lot of books and movies. I am fairly sure I don’t love them all. Like, yes. Love? Not so much. So it’s time to get them out the door.