Saturday Soundtack – Brought to You By Bad 80’s Annimation

19 Nov

introducing a new feature on BiRL: the Saturday Soundtrack! (Aren’t they all new features, this being a new blog and all? Oh, well.) I walk through life with a constant soundtrack playing in my head – yes, I am the star in my own movie, thank you for asking. In Saturday Soundtracks I’ll share what’s playing in my head right now. The music that makes me move, the tunes my toes are tapping to, the melodies that make memories…you get the idea. Hopefully you don’t think me schizophrenic after you see how varied the soundtrack of my life is. 🙂

Today’s Saturday Soundtrack goes out to my hubby, who is in Texas visiting his Ex-Pat bff. (Yes, Ex-Pat, because Texas is a different country.) I was trying to come up with the sappiest songs I’ve ever heard about missing someone, and this little gem from my childhood popped into my head. This also goes out to my mother, who taught me to love really bad Olivia Newton-John movies at a tender young age (remember when ONJ & John Travolta had matching mullets?). Oh, and you get a bonus of seeing some of the most cracked-out whimsical animation I’ve ever seen in a music video. Disney it is not. Enjoy!

“Don’t Walk Away” by Electric Light Orchestra, from the amazing, the timeless, Xanadu.

#23 Complete – I Love My Job!

18 Nov

We continue with our series of posts about at the things that were crossed off my list before this blog existed.


I added #23 – work at a job I love, or make the leap to self-employment – to The List when I was working at a job that I hated. It’s hard for me to say that because I don’t like to be so negative, but I really can’t sugar coat it, it was that bad. A trained monkey could have done what I did. 

I’ve had fantastic jobs for my whole working life, this one bad job aside. I lost a job that I loved because California’s schools have no money, and took a job in another district that was below my experience level just to have a job. When I was offered the position I called Aaron crying, because I knew I didnt want it, but we had a mortgage to pay. I convinced myself that it couldn’t be that bad and took it. My first day, after going through my ‘training’ to answer phones and the perils of the photocopier, I excused myself to the bathroom where I had a mild panic attack because I couldn’t believe that this was my life. I spent five months in that job; looking back, it’s true that I hated it, but it kept a roof over our heads and for that I am grateful.

Last January my good friend Brian suggested I try for a position at the private school he worked for. I got the job, and I was good at it. It was challenging, every day was different, and I was still working in education. What coulld be better?  I got my answer this past Spring. Before I left for my five-year anniversary with Aaron, our schools had our Spring programs which I got to watch and review. Thanks to my comments about the quality of hte singing, the Powers That Be at the top of our schools figured out that I had a background in music. Because of my experience on the corporate side of our schools, and my musical background, I came back from Hawaii to a brand new job offer. Now I get to work with teachers, teaching them how to teach their students to sing. I get to be in the classroom, working with students, improving teacher’s knowledge base. I make my own schedule, and every day is still different. While I still believe I was meant to teach (a feeling that is reinforced every time I start making a difference in a classes’ voices and all I want to do is stay with them forever), this is the best possible job that I never could have dreamed of myself. I say it all the time, I can’t believe they pay me to do what I do.

I never thought I’d be able to combine my love of teaching and music so soon. I prayed, so hard, for so long. I was unemployed, we ate through our savings, I worked a job that left me crying every night, moved to a new job when God opened the door, and was blessed more than I had hoped for or imagined. Thank you, Lord, for letting me cross #23 off of the list.

What was/is the best job you’ve ever had? Got any work horror stories? I want to hear them, so join the discussion!

Working on #27 – C. S. Lewis Blows My Mind

17 Nov

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I just picked up The Four Loves at my local bookstore to get started on #27 of my 30 before 30 list: to read all the great works of C. S. Lewis. I’m on page one of the introduction and he’s already twisted my mind into a pretzel.

“Divine love is Gift-love. The Father gives all He is and has to the Son. The Son gives Himself back to the Father, and gives Himself to the world, and for the world to the Father, and thus gives the world (in Himself) back to the Father too.”

*Ka-pchooooo!* Page one, people. Mind. Blown.

I thought I’ve give myself a break and intersperse his heavier works with The Chronicles of Narnia, but truth be told I’ve read none of the famous children’s series. I know, I know. My book lover card should be revoked. I also picked up The Magician‘s Nephew yesterday, but I was wondering: should I go in order? What’s the best way to experience Narnia? You who have read all of The Chronicles tell me, what’s the best way to go about it? I leave myself in your capable hands.

#11 Complete – My First Tattoo!

16 Nov

We continue with our series of posts about at the things that were crossed off my list before this blog existed.

The Time: Our five-year wedding anniversary.
The Place: Maui, Hawaii.
The Accomplishment: Crossing #11 off of my 30 Before 30 list.

I’ve wanted this tattoo for a long time. I knew what I wanted it to say and where I wanted it inked. I’d actually been sitting on this design for two years. I just looked up the last email I received from my translation service and it was dated May 9, 2009. I worked with Hebrew Tatoo, to get the wording right (English to Hebrew is not a direct, word for word translation), and to choose the font that would become my permanent physical faith statement: ‘Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords.’ So this was a well planned, highly anticipated tattoo, and yet it took me two years to get it inked.

Aaron and I had never been to Hawaii, so after five years and several lean anniversaries we decided it was time for a tropical getaway. Five years – we finally felt like legit marrieds. We weren’t newlyweds anymore, we’ve been married for five years! It was a perfect trip, with long hours spent on the beach, long talks over amazing meals, and long drives along the most gorgeous coastline we’d ever seen.

My wedding present from Aaron was an artistic necklace with coin pearls purchased on Catalina Island. We both wanted a souvenir from our Hawaii trip, something we could bring back that would not only remind us of our time on the island, but would commemorate our five years of marriage. Before the trip I told Aaron I wanted mine to be another necklace. We spent time shopping around, and I saw lots of pretty pieces, but nothing that felt like it would mean something to me. Halfway through our vacation I had the idea to finally get my tattoo, and I realized why I hadn’t gotten it yet in spite of my planning – there was never a big enough reason.

A first tattoo is a big deal, I think. It’s super permanent, obviously, which is why I encourage everyone thinking of getting one to sit on an idea for at least six months to make sure it’s something they can live with. Every time I thought about getting it done I would put it off, and it took my five-year anniversary for me to see that I was waiting for something big to happen to get it done. I wanted my first tattoo to mean something, which is why I wanted it to be a statement of my faith, but I also wanted to be able to look back and remember the significant time in my life when I got it done. Five years of marriage seemed perfect.

Aaron loved the idea, and decided to get the tattoo he had been waiting to get as well. So he got his fourth inked image, I got my first, and we both took home a memorable and meaningful souveneir. I absolutely believe Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords, and am proud to have it out there for the world to see. I’m also proud of how far Aaron and I have come in five years, and how our love has grown and changed and is better and more strong today than it was the day we were married. #11 on the list was a real winner.

How Tuesday: Acorn Squash Linguine

15 Nov

Introducing a new feature here on BiRL: How-Tuesday! There are lots of things I like to do, cooking, crafting, repurposing, speaking, being awesome, and I thought I’d share the skills I’ve honed over my twenty-eight years of life with you. Now I doubt I will post a tutorial every Tuesday, but when I do it will be a How-Tuesday! Because I like the name, and I’m cool like that.

I had next to nothing in my cupboard and a husband at a board meeting, so no palates to satisfy but my own. But trust me, A will die for these leftovers! Out of my own little brain, I bring you a delicious fall recipe that is super simple, can be made in the time it takes to boil pasta, and only 6 ingredients (if you count salt and pepper as a freebie): Acorn Squash Linguine.

Squash is one of our favorite cold weather foods, and acorn squash is one the most versatile. Roast it, cube it, bake it, stuff it, or simply steam it and mash with butter. It’s a hearty veg that is very good for you, yet feels silky and indulgent. It has a sweet, slightly nutty flavor we love it on the side with roasted pork loin or roasted with a chile-lime vinaigrette. For the best flavor, choose a squash that feels heavy for its size.

(Note: A came home while I was writing and tried the leftovers. His reaction? “Ommmmh! Wow! Baby, this is the best pasta you’ve ever made. It’s better than that one with mascarpone that I love. This makes me happy.” And let me tell you, folks, I make a LOT of pasta. So now I’m happy, and very confidant that I’m bringing you a recipe the whole family will love.)

Ingredients:

1 lb. linguine
1 large acorn squash
1 cup turkey or chicken stock (or 1 cup water and bullion – I won’t judge!)
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
a dash of ground nutmeg (about 1/8 teaspoon)
1/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus more for the table
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
chopped, fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add salt and linguine and cook until al dente.

While the water is coming to a boil, cut the stem-end off of the squash and cut the squash in half from stem to point. Scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff and discard. Place the squash in a microwave safe dish and cover with a plate. Microwave for fifteen minutes, or until flesh is tender. When squash is done, remove from the microwave and set aside.

Melt butter in a large pan over mid-high heat. Scoop out the flesh of the squash, avoiding the stringy membrane that lies along the inside ridges of the skin, and add it to the pan. Add stock to squash and bring to a slow boil. Add nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste, keeping in mind that the Pecorino Romano is salty. Mash the squash until the sauce is fairly smooth, or use an immersion blender to make it super-smooth and silky. Keep a slow boil for about five minutes until sauce is thick, and flavors are melded.

Drain pasta, reserving a coffee mug-full of the starchy pasta water. Add pasta to the squash sauce and toss until coated, adding the Pecorino Romano as you toss. Add some of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is a little thick, or if you like your pasta looser. Sprinkle with parsley (if using) and serve with extra cheese.

I paired this with a glass of chilled Cupcake Chardonnay($9.99 at Whole Foods) and it was fabulous. If you make it, I’d love to know what you think. Happy eating!

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