I started writing a blog post...

And it was really stupid. Something like "this year has been very eventful" blah blah.

I guess I am not terribly sentimental. I live very much in the moment, and look forward to the future. Instead of looking back at the difficulties this past year has brought us, I'd rather dream about what things we get to look forward to when residency is done.

Children grow at an alarming rate. This is something I had to expect from the beginning. But I do not mourn the growth of a child. Pippa was only a newborn for an instant, but becomes more vibrant every day. If she was a baby forever, she might be cute and innocent all the time, but she would not grow to understand the world around her and taste the bittersweet fruit of a life truly lived.

Cheers to a happy new year.

Things you need to try.

Dear world:

1. Today I tried Kimchi Ramen noodles.

 

It was delicious. Available at your nearest Asian foods market.

I am not a food snob. I eat Ramen noodles with joy in my heart. 

2. Everyone within the sound of my voice (or within

the  blogosphere) needs to watch Sherlock if they haven’t already. Not the movie with Robert Downey Jr., but the BBC version starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

I guess what persuaded us was the fact that Freeman will be playing Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming movie, The Hobbit, and Cumberbatch the voice of Smaug the dragon in the same film.

Also, the episodes are available streaming on Netflix.

November is no mo

Well look at that.

Thirty days of November gone in an instant.

Thanks to all the blogstalkers who kept reading this inane drivel.

On this last day of november, I am grateful for hot showers. It's a small thing I suppose. But I have seen days in my life without hot water (in the dead of winter no less) and I have vowed to never take it for granted again. It's a rejuvenating luxury that I know many in the world cannot afford.

29th of November

Today I am grateful for art. Without it, I would surely, surely go insane. For you see, it is my therapy.

I have learned that art can take on many different forms. On my mission I was not allowed time to create, but I found cooking to bring me the creative solace that I greatly needed.

Most people ask me what my favored "medium" is, and I usually respond with ceramics. I love most 3 dimensional art, but there are MANY different crafts that appeal to me. I have tried my hand at beading, sewing, polymer clay, embroidery, quilling, origami, knitting, crocheting, quilting, interior design, wax molding, printmaking, bronze casting, welding, bookbinding, ukrainian egg dyeing, watercolor, oils, acrylics, chalk pastel murals on asphalt, stone carving, wire sculpting, ink drawing, intaglio, calligraphy, graphic design, figure drawing/sculpture, and others I am simply forgetting at the moment. Some of these I am much more experienced at, while others were just for fun. But the thing is, they are ALL fun. There is so much more I want to try. All in good time.

A picture of some artwork would be nice but my words shall have to suffice for today.

November 28th

 

The number of days in November dwindle!

I would be remiss to exclude one of the most important thankfuls, which is MUSIC!

It would take me way too long to go into depth about all my favorite artists. But just for fun, I give you a few samples, thanks to youtube.

 

 

I used to listen to the slavonic dances when I was 13-14 years old. I remember listening to them on my cd walkman on youth temple trips, like a total nerd.

 

Dvorak played a major role in my youth. I have no idea why.  I listened to the New World Symphony a lot.

I also listened to this piece a lot:

 

I think God knew how much I loved slavic composers, which is why he sent me to Ukraine. As a child, I had no idea what drew me to their music and art.

 

Candide has an energy that I enjoy.

I wanted to find a video of one of Gershwins preludes but it is difficult to find a proper one on youtube.

On calmer days I am a fan of Debussy.

 

Sometimes I am even a fan of Opera. If you don’t like opera, this is the only suggestion I would make to attempt to change your mind. My brother made the subtitles. Start at 1:43 if you are impatient.

 

SO before I bore you all to death with “classical” music (a genre widely misunderstood) I do have some contemporary favorites.

Coldplay recently released their new album, “Mylo Xyloto” – I have been obsessed with it for the past few weeks. I am slightly obsessed with Coldplay in general.

 

Another song by Coldplay is one of our ( Micah and I) very favorites. They’re astoundingly good at building to fantastic musical climaxes. In this song, I believe at 2:21 they are using a 7/8 time signature. I do not know of any other “pop” artist doing this in the past decade.

 

And as I have mentioned several times on this blog, we are huge fans of Paul Simon.

 

 

People, I have so so many more favorites. But this

will have to suffice for now.  I am so grateful for the companionship music provides me on a daily basis. Hope you enjoyed this little musical journey.