Friday Fun

So I had this big post all ready to go about the problem with buying men things for Valentine's Day.  We women folk are SO easy to buy for, especially me.  Give me a cooking gadget, jewlery, Victoria Secret stuff, Bath and Body Works, or really just nice heartfelt cold hard cash...just kidding.

I am very easy to please when it comes to gifts.  For me it really is the thought that counts.
But that only gets you so far when you are trying to buy something for the man in your life.  Valentine's day is not really a testosterone filled holiday, as pink and red hearts does not scream masculinity.  So the guy gift giving is hard.

So anyway I was going to kvetch about my lack of gift for Rich.

However, I no longer need to do that because I found have the PERFECT gift for him.

I'll tell you later.

So back to Friday Fun.

I found this video and laughed my butt off...I love Josh Groban.  He has an amazing voice but is also very funny, down to earth, and can laugh at himself.  This is from the Jimmy Kimmel Live show.



Fast forward through the bodysuited cupid in the opening "commercial" if you can. There is only one beeped word at the beginning otherwise there is no bad language...odd for Kanye West tweets.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!!

More Later

- A Ro

The One Where I Tell You 25 Pieces of Meaningless Information

So here at the A Ro blog it is my 400th post.  In honor of that major feat (as I really didn't think I'd last this long) I am going to give you some tidbits of information about ME!!! 

I am sure some of you thought that it would be a giveaway...but nope not this time but I have some inside information that there MIGHT be a giveaway sometime early next week...oooooohhhhh

Now some of you (3.5 to be exact) might know some of these things already so just skip over the ones you already know about and take note of the ones you don't as there will be a quiz sometime next week.

not really

1. I have a dog named Maggie...see an easy right off the bat tidbit of information.
2. My favorite color is purple not sure why we as a society feel like we really know someone as long as we know their favorite color...need to find out where that came from.
3. I have no spleen...as evidenced by the rather large scar across my belly which prohibits me from ever wearing a bikini that and the fact that I like donuts.
4. I have the overwhelming urge to make my bed everyday...
5. I hate to drive...thankfully my husband humors me and will drive anytime we are together and will even go with me places just I don't have to drive.  It isn't that I DREAD to drive, just don't have fun doing it.
6. I wish I knew how to pop my gum...I realize that some of you think that is a disgusting habit, but I think it is totally cool.
7. My Tupperware cabinet is so organized that I am the only one allowed to put anything in it or take anything out of it.
8. My first rock concert was to go see Rick Springfield with my neighbor friend...and my dad...fun times.
9. I have had glasses or contacts since I was three years old, and they were NEVER straight on my face in any of my childhood pictures.
10. My Bath and Body Works flavor is Warm Vanilla Sugar...oddly enough it is Rich's favorite flavor too :)
11. I hate to backtrack...I am always thinking about how to get somewhere in the most direct way.
12. I was a vegan vegetarian for 2 years...the key word is WAS.
13. I am the oldest of my siblings and the shortest...by about 6.5 inches.
14. I can tie a cherry stem in a knot with my mouth...as long as it is a rather long cherry stem.
15. I am a classically trained opera singer, turned mother, turned teacher...thank goodness I am a better mother and teacher than opera singer.
16. My Starbucks drink of choice is a iced skinny cinnamon dolce latte decaf, I like to call it the hardly-worth-it-latte
17. I secretly like Katy Perry...although I guess it isn't really a secret anymore.
18. I need to hit snooze exactly 2 times before I can get up.  This makes knowing what time I need to set the alarm a math lesson every night.
19. I hate dog hair even though it is the secret ingredient in most everything I cook.
20. If you are facing the bed I have to sleep on the left side.
21. I am an early to bed early to rise kind of girl...yep even on the weekend.
22. I hate public speaking but have no trouble at all singing in front of large crowds.
23. I love shoes and if you ask my kids they will tell you that I have a million pairs.
24. I don't like anyone to touch my feet therefore I have never had a pedicure...I know that I am missing out on a heavenly event, but it would cause me to pass out.
25. I married my high school sweetheart after 20 years and thankfully he loves me because and in spite of all these things.

More Later

- A Ro

Don't You Just LOVE the Hodgepodge

Joining in again this week for Joyce's weekly hodgepodge.  If you don't want to think too much about what to blog about then you to can go on over and answer these questions, link up and play along.

Here are my thoughts to this week's questions:

1. What is more important-doing what you love or loving what you do?
I really think it is more important to do what you love.  It makes for a happier life.  If that isn't possible then you should really try your hardest to love what you do.  One of my favorite quotes is "Life is not the way it is supposed to be.  It's just the way it is.  The way you cope with it is what makes all the difference"

2. Do you like bleu cheese?
I think I would like the taste of bleu cheese if it wasn't full of mold.  Yeah...that's the way I roll.  I won't eat escargot because they are SNAILS.  I won't eat caviar because it's FISH EGGS.  I won't eat eel because its EEL.  It might have something to do with texture, but mostly it is because it is MOLD.

3. What is the most difficult emotion for you to handle?
I think fear is the most difficult emotion for me to handle. In fact it can be gripping at times.

4. Fresh flowers or a box of chocolate?
I really don't like either.  If you are going to drop $50 bucks on me for Valentines Day, then I would prefer a piece of jewlery or a silicone muffin tin (or two)...hint hint.

I am totally serious.


5. What's a song you love that has the word 'love' in its title? It doesn't have to be a 'love song'.

This has always been one of my favorite "love" songs.  John Lennon decided to base the song around a word that was known by most people around the world...love.



6. Are you the person you wanted to be when you grew up?
Yes. Exactly.  I wanted to be a high school choir director and direct musical theater.  As far as who I have become as a person...I have very few regrets.

7. Any special Valentines Day plans?
C'mon we are practically newlyweds...psh...of course we have plans for a Valentine's Day that falls on a school/work day with two kids.  I am sure it will involve us cooking dinner, lots of homework, and an episode of Chuck.  AND if I am lucky enough to get above mentioned silicone muffin tin it might include me baking some Valentine's day muffins!!!

truthfully I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing

In Summary:  If fear is the one emotion I have the most difficulty with...love is the easiest.  It is something that I do easily and with my whole heart.  I am lucky to have a man in my live and a family who do so as well.  I am very excited for Valentines Day and as long as I don't have to eat eel, or blue cheese AND I get some silicone muffin tins...it will be a great day!!


More Later

- A Ro

A Nighttime Nate Berkus

For those 3.5 of you who read my blog on a regular basis know that I am a crazy night time talker.

I have been known to carry on crazy conversations without remembering a darn thing.  To this I say: just be glad that I am a mere music teacher instead of some CIA operative because to get all my secrets one would not need any truth serum or torture devices, just sing me a lullaby and put me to sleep and I'd sing like a canary...to be quite truthful...just a car ride anywhere would also do the trick.

However, last night I took my night time craziness to another level.  I acutally moved furniture. 

I went to bed at a reasonable time.  I did not have any alcohol.  I did not have spicy food.  I did not watch scary movie.  I did not pass GO did not collect $200.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  However, about 12:30 am a big huge crash wakes me up.  I sit up to see my nightstand completely pulled out from the wall and all of my books, candles, glasses, phone, water bottle and alarm clock on the floor.

As if that wasn't crazy enough my first thought was "Oh mygosh someone came into my room and moved my nightstand". 

Now, obviously I was the one who moved my nightstand, but that NEVER entered my mind.

Needless to say the next morning I was very upset about what I will now refer to as "The Nightstand Incident".  I moved the nightstand back to its original place and realized that the nightstand is pretty heavy.  It took quite a bit of effort to actually move it back into place.  To think that I actually moved it in the middle of the night without waking up is still utterly riduculous. 

Rich remembers waking up to the crash, but really didn't think too much about it.  He saw that I was upset about this event and tried to convince me that maybe the dog did it.

Oh yeah...Not only did Maggie decide that she needed to rearrange the furniture, but she chose to do it in the middle of the night.  Not to mention her lack of opposable thumbs.

Thanks honey for trying to make me feel better, but I might be deemed crazier if I believed that the dog actually moved the furniture instead of me.

I just cannot believe that in my sleep I actually moved a heavy piece of furniture.  So whats next...

...wait don't answer that.

More Later

- A Ro

Weekend (or Lack There of) Highlight Reel

Not sure who I can complain to, but I feel downright cheated!!  Now I  knew this was coming but as I sit here writing this post I really feel like there is no way I should be going to work tomorrow.  Now what is all this complaining about you ask???

Rich and I both worked 75% of this weekend. 

Rich worked midnight to 6:00 am ops both Friday and Saturday night.  I worked at my schools honors music festival Friday night and Saturday until 6:00 pm.

It looked something like this:  Friday day I worked Rich had off.  Friday night I cam home around 10:00 pm and two hours later Rich went to work.  I woke up Saturday and went back to school and came home after the concert and had a few precious hours with Rich and he went to work.  Sunday he woke up about noon and we both tried to get everything done in about 6 hours that we normally do all weekend.

Quite frankly...I am exhausted.

Quite frankly...I want another weekend.

And no I wouldn't like some cheese with my wine.

Here are some highlights:

1.  Got to meet Joe Torre.  I KNOW that should TOTALLY make up for my having to work!!!  His daughter sang in the honors choir and he was at the concert.  I got to work with her in sectionals and she is a very nice young lady.  Andrew will now marry her.  I will arrange it all.

2.  I had a complete ephiphany regarding my job as a choral music teacher because of the amazing conductor the choir had at this festival.  It consists of me quitting my job and joining the circus.  The amazing things this man got a choir of 56 to do in about 24 hours takes me and my choir of 32 6 weeks to accomplish. 

maybe I'll cut myself some slack and just steal some of his ideas and keep trudging along...not sure that I am cut out for circus life.

3.  I know that me and my spleen-less self have been bragging that I never get sick so I almost hate to admit that I think I am coming down with a little something.  Headache, scratchy throat, sinus pressure...yep if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...its a duck.

4.  The word study guide is now a curse word in my house.  It causes tears and gnashing of teeth, not to even mention what it does to my poor Bella.  When you take that cute little bundle of joy home from the hospital you fail to fully realize how you will need to relive, over and over, each of your worst days in elementary, middle, and high school.  I haven't even gotten to the mending the first broken heart yet...sigh... what I would give to get back those sleepless nights of infancy. 

ok maybe it isn't THAT bad.

5.  Super Bowl - Great comercials, crappy-don't-know-the-words-national-television-even-though-I-am-a-professional-singer-and-getting-paid-barrels-of-money- national anthem, and a pretty good game which has caused much sadness in my brothers household.  NOT to mention that my tivo-ed Glee episode is going to be cut off by 15 minutes due to the need to interview each and every sweaty overpaid athelete and listen to them prattle on about God, country, and honor none of which have anything to do with football.

OK done

6.  Sitting for 90 minutes and watching our honors festival concert holding Rich's hand after having not seen him for the better part of last week and this weekend made me appreciate him all that much more.

Now if he could only pull some strings and get me some weekend back so I could vacuum my house that would be great.

More later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 6

Well we have moved into February this week and all I can say is that I am (sorta) glad I live in California because I think we are the only state with some "normal" temps.  Anyway take a peek at my "normal" week here in California and they head over to Sara's and check out some of the other participants weeks, I bet you'll see some snow pictures!!

Here is my week:

Sunday January 30:

Aaaaflllaaackkk

We went to the park after the library on Sunday and got out to see the ducks.  Bella thought that this one looked like the Alfac duck.  It seemed like he just wanted his picture taken. 

Monday January 31:

Rocker Dude

Today was our school's battle of the bands and here is Andrew who played bass in one of the two bands.  It was SO fun to watch him.  And I know, as my sister-in-law stated, I better watch out because the girls dig them some rock stars!!


Tuesday February 1:

Nana's Lighthouse

Bella finished her lighthouse picture today.  She will be giving this one to her Nana because Nana loves lighthouses.  We just need to figure out how to get it to her.  She is really good, if I do say so myself.

Wednesday February 2:

Another Bella Original

This picture of Bella's got chosen to be displayed in the lobby of our theater.  It is such a cool picture.  I love the diversity of the people walking.

Thursday February 3:

Fairy Princess Allie

Here is my silly girl Allie.  It was senior night for cheerleading so all the senior cheerleaders got to sport the fairy princess look.  Allie loves the magic wand and thinks she might just keep it "just in case"...

Friday February 5:

You Can Hide in the Back, but I'll Find You

This weekend my school hosted a big independent schools honors music festival.  Andrew sang bass in the choir.  It was a fun evening of meeting new people and lots and lots of singing!!

Saturday February 6:

The Culmination

Following another 4 hours of rehearsals we had our big honors choir concert this afternoon.  You can just see Andrew in the top right corner of this picture.  All my students had a wonderful experience and the conductor was just amazing.  What a great day!!

In Summary:  Talented kids, students, and a duck summarize this week...ha!!  I love that I have such talented kids, but am fearing the phrases: "Hey mom the guys and I are going to skip college and go on tour" and "Hey Mom, I am going to sell all my posessions and move into an artist colony up in Northern California...hey do you like my new Birkenstocks??"  Just kidding (sort of) I really do hope their talents take them very far!!


More Later

- A Ro

Friday Fun ala Grandpa Mike

I have been thinking about my Dad a lot today.  He died in 2003 of a sudden heart attack.  I was living in California, and to say the least, the news was devastating.  Even though I lived so far away we were a constant in each others lives.  We talked almost daily and in fact we had talked the night before he died.  I tried to convince him to go to the doctor because he had been feeling ill, but like most men he didn't want to go. 

But mostly our conversation was about the ventriloquist act Willie Tyler and Lester. 

Didn't see that coming did ya??

I had just found out that our neighbor was Willie's twin brother.  I KNEW my Dad would love to know that tidbit of information and called him right up...and yep he thought that was pretty cool.

We had the kind of relationship that always left nothing unsaid.  We always ended each conversation with an I love you, and usually some sort of warning, like "now Amy remember that you don't want your gas tank to sit on Empty too long" or "I sure hope that you are ready for that BIG earthquake...it's coming soon you know"

I was most certainly Daddy's little girl.

So today I received some pictures from sister in law today that just caused me to smile real big. 

My nephew had entered his first pinewood derby contest with the Boy Scouts.  Thankfully for Tyler, a) my Dad passed down his love for wood working to his son and b) he isn't my son because I didn't get those genes.  

Like Father Like Son Like Son (and daughter)

 Yeah...Sister-In-Law has always been a BIG Steelers Fan

Yes Tyler, Grandpa Mike is very proud of you!!

Thanks Dad. (and to all those other Dads, both living and gone, for loving your kids so much, it really does make a difference in the next generation)

More Later

- A Ro