Day 15: Mid-Week Dinner with Friends

We just got back from Tamara and Rian's.  We had some of Tamara's AMAZING chili, and we brought some cornbread and a quart of our home-brewed beer.  We weren't celebrating anything in particular, just getting together for a mid-week dinner and movie.  But we joked, and laughed, and lifted each other's spirits, and stuffed ourselves with delicious food.  I love this time in our lives that we're so young and free to have a mid-week dinner date with friends.

Day 14: Slow Cookers

Is it weird to be thankful for "things"?  

Our schedules have been way busier this fall what with my new job, choir rehearsals, and Bryann in class twice a week, so making dinner has been difficult.  We've taken to making slow-cooker meals lately and they've been a complete meal-saver.  I threw together a beef stew on my lunch break yesterday (I work super close and can come home for lunch sometimes) and it got us through dinner last night, lunch today, and dinner tonight.  

<3!!  

Day 13: Consonare Chorale

Tonight, we had dress rehearsal for our concert this coming Saturday.  Dress rehearsals are always a point of anxiety for most of us.  Are we ready?  Do we have the notes? Do we have the music memorized?  Are we comfortable enough with the non-memorized pieces to look up and watch Georgina for guidance in ambiance and the intricacies of the music?  I'm always a little nervous pre-dress rehearsal that the concert will be a disaster and I'll regret inviting everyone I know.

But dress rehearsal always works out the nerves and the kinks and eases our worries.  We're always ready. Because we're a high caliber group, and we're all passionate about music and performing to the highest of our abilities.

I love being a part of Consonare.  I was told in college to treasure the time I had with Chamber Choir because I would never again sing in a truly great choir again.  Well, that was before Georgina (a former WU Chamber Choir alumn) created Consonare and showed Dr. Long that truly great choirs do exist outside of college.  I love music, I love singing, and I love being a part of such an amazing group of musicians and people.

So thankful I took a risk last December and auditioned.  I'm so thankful I got in!  I'm so thankful I get to share my passion with like-minded and equally talented musicians once a week, 9 months out of the year!  :-D

Day 12: Flexibility of My New Job

I worked from home today and it was awesome.  I have a company laptop instead of a cubicle, which means I can (and often do) work from several different locations.  So far, I've worked from the Milwaukie Hospital, the Providence Office Park, Missoula, and my house.

I'm an hourly employee, paid on an 80 hour pay period.  Outside of classes I'm teaching, or meetings I have to attend, my managers don't care how I get in my 80 hours.  My schedule is super flexible and I can set my own working hours.  I worked 47 hours last week, so today, to fill in those 3 hours I needed for today, I stayed in my pajamas, made some coffee, and worked on some excel tracking stuff my team needed.  I think I really love this job.  :-D

Day 11: Bryann's Teammates

Bryann plays in a Men's and Co-Ed softball league as well as a flag football league.  His teammates (and their wives/husbands) have become good friends of ours.  They came to our bachelor/ette parties, to our wedding, to Christmas and holiday and birthday parties.  They're great people and I'm thankful to have them in our lives.

Day 10: Wine & Dine

We had November's Wine & Dine party at Katy and Travis's home tonight.  We got to try some yummy wines - the theme was "wines with people on the label" and my favorite was the Head Snapper Red - and play with Katy and Travis's new baby boy, Isaac.  

Our wine & dine group has been going strong for over 3 years, and I'm thankful for my fantastic friends who keep the tradition going!  

Day 9: Snow!

It just started snowing in Missoula last night.  And it's gorgeous here!  I wish it snowed more in Portland.  I miss the high desert, winter snow and mountains that I grew up with in Klamath Falls.  Luckily, we're not too far from Mt. Hood and we get over to the mountain a few times every winter to go skiing.  Nate is trying to convince me to try snow camping this year.  I do really like snow, but I really don't like being cold. Weird, huh?