Have you heard?

There's a new blog post up on the new site! In case you missed the news, we've moved to wordpress! Check it out at http://runningviolinist.wordpress.com (apparently blogger doesn't want to supply the link...)

We're Moving!

Almost as soon as I started this little blog I thought about what it would be like with a different blog host. After a lot of changes on blogger, and quite a bit of frustration (post being deleted, photos being lost, freezing the computer...) it is time to move on. To Wordpress!!

That's right folks! There's a brand spanking new look for the running violinist on wordpress! Don't worry, all of your favorites are already there thanks to the internet fairies! As surely as Mr. Goat can shed his wings, he and all of the other post have already made their way over to the new site. So, reprogram your google readers, lace up those running shoes, and head on over! The next post will be on the new site!!

I am Thankful for: Friends

I went and voted on Tuesday, and afterwards I made a stop at Starbucks before heading to work, and found this:

My first reaction was, "Christmas cups already?" (yes, I actually said that out loud) I remember the first TV ads for Christmas starting back in July. Perhaps you don't remember, but there's this little holiday called Thanksgiving in between Halloween and Christmas here in the U.S. It actually happens to be my favorite holiday for several reasons. There always seems to be a race, loads of great cooking, and at the end of the day you get to sit down with family and share a meal. I understand that this might not be the same reaction everyone has to Thanksgiving. Some might find sitting down with family hard or painful, and I understand that not everyone feels the same way about the holiday that I do. Over the last several years I have become very thankful of the blessing and people that have come into my life. So, instead of just making a list this year, I thought I would take a little time to reflect, and express gratitude for the things, and people who have touched me this year.

Friends:
I realize time and time again that I have some really awesome friends!

• Angela Hansberger - I love how you find the beauty in small things, like the fog at the river. You make me think about the way I look at things & to find beauty everywhere. And thanks to you I have new respect and love for bacon :-)
• Amy Fingerhut - To be honest I don't know where to start :-). Thank you for helping me find my own potential, for answering questions, and your honest opinions. I feel fortunate to call you friend, and grateful that I now know where all the best burger & cupcake locations are :-)
• Mallory, Kim, & Betty - you are strong, wonderful, funny, amazing women who didn't let a little thing like cancer get in your way. You inspire me, and I feel privileged to call you friends!
• Jaclyn - How can you go wrong with someone who runs the same pace and likes to eat! :-) In some ways I feel like we have known each other longer than 5 short months. Thanks for letting me hang with you
• Laura S. - Your encouragement & support has meant so much! You've taught me how cool our side of town is, and that cheese dip is pretty awesome. I laugh when you run a route that I finished an hour before hand, and can't thank you enough for sharing Stephanie.
• Tim L. & Ken K. - Thanks for all of the support, encouragement, and coaching "tips."
• Jim & Carol - I get excited every time I see you! You make me smile, and there is no better way to start a run than with a hug from either or both of you!
• Lori & Angela Holder - You remind me that running is fun, especially when it's followed by one of our breakfast outings to Highland Bakery!
• to my friends on dailymile - I think dailymile is one of the best things I've ever found! All of the support & encouragement truly keeps me going.
• to my Team in Training teammates - So many of you are like family to me now. I can't imagine running without seeing you. Things are not quite the same when I miss a GTS, although one might argue I'm not the same after a GTS depending on the topic of conversation during the run...
• I have met some pretty great folks through twitter. It's one of the first things I check when I get up, and any chance I get during the day.

Acceptance

In the next to last episode of Project Runway the designer who was out had a bit of a moment when they didn't know how to tell their family they had lost. There was fear, uncertainty, and lots of tears. And the first thing that came to my mind was I have so been there!

Growing up my Dad use to tell me that I had until my 25 birthday to make my first million dollars so that I could take care of him. There was one small problem with this plan. He wanted me to be a doctor or lawyer (I didn't discover this till much later), I on the other hand wanted to play the violin. I remember being in the 8th grade and having to decide between the International Baccalaureate program and the Performing Arts program at the high school I would be attending. There was no question in my mind, I was auditioning for the performing arts track. I signed up for an audition without telling my parents. They had mentioned that they wanted me to go into the IB program. I got into the performing arts magnet, and after playing in my school's soccer game I went up to my parents and proudly told them I had passed the audition. They were not happy. I remember the fight later after we had gotten home. They wanted me to do the IB program, and I was going to be applying for it the next day whether I wanted to or not. I would not be a musician, I would go into some kind of business. End of story. I vaguely remember walking into the school's office the next day and asking for the IB application. A nice secretary asked why since they had the paper work from the performing arts audition. I remember her very kindly explaining that I would get just as much out of the performing art track as the IB.  I could take Advance Placement courses when I was older, which were almost equal to the IB courses, plus I was getting orchestra, which made me look well rounded to any schools I applied to for college. Someone I didn't know was on my side!

I remember getting into music school, and all through my first year my Dad kept telling me that I needed to pick a minor so that I would have something to fall back on when I failed as a violinist. He still didn't believe in me, and it hurt. The good news was at this point my Mom was at least behind me. Cheering me on through some of the hard things I went through in my early music career, giving me a hug and a shoulder to cry on when things or auditions went wrong. My Dad showed indifference. In April 2006 I called home one afternoon to tell my parents the good news. I was a month away from graduating with my Masters in Music and I had gotten a job back in Atlanta. My Dad was so relieved he said I could move back in with them till I got on my feet. I was stunned. He then said he was afraid that I was never going to find a job as a musician. At least we had gotten half way. In a strange twist I moved home, my Dad had a stroke 4 days later, and at the age of 27 I started taking care of my parents. Too bad I didn't have that million dollars I was suppose to have from being a lawyer or doctor. At least I was happy with my job, and I loved what I was doing!

Things don't always go the way we plan. I remember one particularly awful audition. I sent 15 minutes crying in my car before I could call my teacher to tell him how badly it had gone, and was bawling by the time I called my Mom to say I was coming home. It took hours, and countless hugs from my mom to admit what had happened. I was so afraid that my Dad was right, and that I had failed as a musician.

I have yet to win my dream job of an orchestra contract, but because I haven't it has allowed me to have some great experiences freelancing with other orchestras all around Georgia. Every job is an experience worth having, and learning from. I have a great teacher (yes, I have a Masters degree in violin, and still take lessons) who has helped fill in so many of the gaps I have in my technique. There is something coming, and I want to be ready. People tell me that I'm good. My teacher tells me I can play anything, and I never know what to say because deep down inside I'm still scared. What if I fail? It doesn't mater. Fear holds us back and keeps us from growing. I want to keep moving ahead. I'm happy, I love playing the violin, and I can't imagine doing something else.

Afternoon Tea

Sometimes I feel like there is nothing more perfect in the world than a wonderful cup of hot tea. Admittedly I'm a bit of a tea snob. My favorites come from a tea shop in England, although fortunately the Fresh Market down the street carries a few selections so I don't have to spend an arm and a leg on shipping!

 favorite cup for tea!

It finally feels like fall this morning. Not only is it starting to look like fall with the leaves changing colors, but this morning's 8 mile run was actually, wait for it, cold! I got home and could barely move my fingers :-). I loved every minute of my run this morning, despite the drivers on Peachtree that just can't seem to yield to people in cross walks. And after a wonderful haircut I feel ready to tackle the day. That is after my tea is done steeping. Because practicing the violin on a clear, crisp day with a hot cup of tea just hits the spot! Oh, and Lucy dog curled up at my feet is pretty nice too :-). It just seems like the perfect day!

new haircut. No FRIZZ!!

Happy Friday!

Taste of Atlanta

This past Saturday I got to have a little foodie fun! My friend Jaclyn and I headed to the Taste of Atlanta festival and spent the afternoon eating. We might have done a little too much eating since I felt like I never wanted to eat anything again by Sunday evening at our Chicago team reunion where, yes you guessed it, we eat even more (needless to say Monday's run was pretty awesome since I was all fueled up!).

one of my favorite places was right up front. West Egg!!

you can't go wrong with a Nutella crepe!

you would have a line this long if you to were serving Fries with Parmesan truffle oil! It was that good!

still good despite losing an awesome chef

fried goat cheese ravioli made to order = yummy! Only problem, it burned our tongues

Iberian Pig. It was so good we went back a second time!!

cooking demo. It was in the sun, and we ended up leaving. Part of my motivation to go was not wanting to eat brussel sprouts that were being cooked

The smart people at Cafe Intermezzo were offering gift certificates for coupons. Took a slice of cheese cake & a $10 gift card for later

Who wants a cupcake?

It was a crazy weekend, and it's carried over to the week. Needless to say I feel behind all ready, which means I don't have the fabulous blog post ready that I want. This is part of the reason:

leading the students in a little halloween concert. Like my hat?

all of the leftovers. Dear parents, what you don't take home gets given out during the week. They'll get the sugar one way or another (there are at least 2 dozen cupcakes left over, down from at least 6 dozen that walked through the door!)

At least I have a pretty view for this insane week! And I think there's only 1 stink bug left!!