More?!

We got over 2 feet this past weekend. Oye.

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Windy City

Joe and I took some time and went to Chicago this past weekend for a mini vacation! Well, not really....I had an audition, and Joe eagerly came along for the ride. What a trooper though, supporting his crazy wife's musical habits. I mean seriously, if the audition in Chicago is a success, and an invite is extended, Joe and I could very well be living in Japan by the end of August!! Many kisses to Joe for being so supportive in my precarious career choice.

We did enjoy ourselves while in Chicago though. Our first stop was, Mitsuwa; the largest Japanese grocery store in the mid-west. Boy howdy, we went nuts-o here, their sushi accounted for three of the seven meals we had while in the windy city. Oye....my mouth is watering just thinking about it. We also bought various kinds of candy, mostly for its nostalgic effect, and scored a slender tea thermos I've been trying to find.

May I recommend...

The All Rise Gallery for your future Chicago accommodation. A lady by the name of Lisa Flores runs an art gallery on the third floor of a four story building in the Wicker Park area of Chicago. She has three extra rooms she rents out to those not residents of Illinois. You get free reign of her kitchen, the art gallery, and licks from her German Shepherd/Chow mix, Archer. The rail stop is just right around the corner from her place and will take to directly downtown within 10 minutes. And, it's cheap. We were able to stay at a flat $75 a night. Gosh darn good for 2 peeps in Chicago. So, the next time you're looking for a cool, cozy, personable place to stay in Chicago, look up the All Rise Gallery, and Lisa will hook you up.

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Taking Advantage of Winter

Rumors of my Oklahoma friends wearing shorts this time of year actually makes me yearn to be back in the Sooner State. But, you know, still being in the midst of winter has its perks too. Snow-Coneable ingredients at arms reach, free icicles to quench sudden thirst, an extended period of time when soups, stews and homemade breads are comforting, waking up nice and toasty under 7 layers of blankets, the list could go on forever...

Joe and I decided to enjoy the winter outdoors yesterday, and embarked upon some skiing. We recruited our friends Alan and Doug from CIM for an afternoon/evening of uncontrollable speeds and runny noses at the local ski park. Boy howdy, it's the most fun thing I've done in a while. We hit up Brandywine Ski Resort, a mere 30 minute drive, and hit up their Sunday afternoon special of $30 for lift ticket and all equipment. 'Twas choice.

Now it ain't no Alta, but Brandywine was definitely the perfect park for Joe's first time on the slopes. And heck, for $30, I'd go again in a heartbeat.

Towards the end of our adventure we could not escape the adventurous wrath of the "free style" area of the park. Ramps galore. It was a daredevil's paradise. So, naturally, the four of us spent a good 3 hours trying to tame the ravenous ramps. Down below is video footage of the...success?

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Winter Bloom

We just got ohhhhhh, about 9 inches of snow this past week....winter is definitely still in full force. Luckily, Trader Joe's had just received a fresh shipment of tulips from Holland a couple weeks ago. A big ol' bunch of a dozen tulips for only 5 bucks. Who can resist a little indoor spring time to subdue winter woes?

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CIM Waffle Federation

Ahhhh.....waffles. Who can resist the fluffy, carb ridden, delectable breakfast dessert? Here at CIM, a dedicated group of us congregate each Saturday morning for our weekly installment of "Waffle Time", a breakfast feast fit for the chubbiest of kings. We each bring something to either top the waffle with, create an omelet with, pass out from a sugar coma with...

So, if you ever stop by Cleveland and are here for the weekend, a visit to Waffle Time will definitely be on the "to-do" list. *Note - wearing elastic waist banded britches to such event is very much advised.

"Waffle Time" creator, sheriff, genious himself, Tim Mauthe.

Greg basking in waffle glory.

Jenna mastering the fine art of omelet making.

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And, we're back.

Apologies for the lack in posting for the past....um, couple of months. Things are going really well up here in Creverand. Lots of snow, fleece pants and socks, soups, breads, stews and electric blankets. I dug up a couple of photos from this past fall. A couple of us went out to a nearby state park for a day hike. We sorta, got lost and were never able to make it to the top of our hike. So, no pictures of miles and miles of rolling hills blanketed with trees turning shades of mustard and maroon. More posts to come, soon!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Joe and I took a mini vacation out to Niagara Falls for our Thanksgiving Holiday. Only a 3 and a half hour drive from Cleveland, 'twas a great get away from the work and school grind.

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

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Flashback

One of Joe's work buddies scored tickets to this past weekend's 80's glory, Genesis concert, but decided stay true to his Buckeyes and go to the game rather than the show; he graciously passed the tickets to Joe and I. Hearing them play took Joe and I back to our youngin' years. I remember my dad cranking ol' Phil on our family boom-box while my brother and I would dance around the apartment in spaghetti, kool-aide, and paint ridden hand-me-downs.

We got to sit in Quicken's very own suite. Free food and beverages, comfy seats and couches, and plenty of leg room. It was indeed a plush and awesome way to spend a Saturday night.

The dude labeled in the picture above was air-drumming.....the entire concert.

Sadly, everyone's all-time hit didn't make an appearance...

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Market Delights

Ahhh, the farmer's market. Probably one of my favorite places to go on the weekends. Before fall begins to settle in and certain fruits begin to disappear from the stands, Joe and I decided to take advantage of the abundance of figs. We bought 2 baskets of the plump goodies along with a healthy heaping of different veggies from our favorite farmer.

With a fig newton fiend living amongst me, I decided what better than to make homemade newtons. I found a recipe, which I totally forgot to bookmark, that consisted of a pastry simply consisting of butter, cream cheese, flour, salt, and a little milk. And the fig concoction, just chopped figs, a little sugar and a the juice from half a lemon. That's it. A little work, and you get the best tasting fig newtons ever.

Totally worth the time.


For dinner a couple of days later, we fancied up a farmer's market salad creation, inspired by a salad we ate at the botanical gardens on my birthday. Gently cooked sirloin, slices of sweet plum, crushed walnuts, and blue cheese, on top of a bed of lively mixed greens. Drizzle a little orange ginger dressing, and you've gone to salad heaven.

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Gala

We had our first orchestra concert this past Wednesday. It. Was. Awesome. We played Rossini's Barber of Seville, Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra in Severance Hall, home to the Cleveland Orchestra. Completed in 1931, Severance Hall boasts flares of Art Deco, French Noveau, Egyptian Revival and Modernism. The ornate pattern found all across the ceiling of the concert hall is in honor of Mrs. Severance, who passed away just weeks after Mr. Severance's announcement of his $1 million pledge towards the building of the hall. The cream colored swirls and curves are fancied after the lace found on Mrs. Severence's wedding gown.

So here are some snaps I took while at Severence Hall for our Tuesday evening dress rehearsal. I even took a short video. Enjoy!

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24 Years Later

24...
When my mom turned 24, I was nearly a year old already and my younger brother Kris was in the making. Weird to think about. Here I am; 24, still in school, blissfully married, with lots of life ahead. I'm eager to win a job, settle down a bit and enjoy a life without tests, homework and dang piano exams. But, at the same time, I'm enjoying the process of continually learning and soaking up information I thought I had down...

I had quite an excellent Birthday. It was a day full of good food, (I....love....food....) and a lengthy and well spent day at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.

Woke up slow, to the smell of bacon and eggs. :-)
Then headed out for some fresh air.


Then, while I ran off to quintet rehearsal Joe worked his magic in the kitchen.
Dinner, was, BON!

Mashed fennel and red potatoes.

Salmon stuffed with lemon, topped with cool cucumber, and drizzled with a green sauce.

Best Birthday cake....ever. Chocolate brownie base, topped with a dark chocolate whipped mouse/tort, dusted with a healthy helping of cocoa powder. *I'm having more tonight...

And thus, on a full belly and a nature inspired day; I went to bed, another year older.

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Put me in Coach!

Being at CIM for 10 hours a day can make one become a little insane. So, in order to balance things out I made the plunge and joined Cleveland's women's ice hockey team. It's another commitment to the already heavy duty schedule I somehow get through, but I think it'll be worth it and will prove to make me happier and healthier.

We had our first practice last night, and after not having put on a pair of skates and a helmet in 5 years....I must say I picked it back up rather quickly. Although I will admit, I took a Richter scale worthy fall during one of the drills. My fanny's right hemisphere is a little on the sore side today.

Once games start up in October, perhaps I can get Joe to get behind the lens and capture some action shots. Should be fun.

Plethora of hockey gear in the left corner after last night's practice. If you don't let that stuff air out....it could prove to be deadly the next time you open up your bag in the locker room.

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Stompin' Grounds

First week down.

I'm thoroughly enjoying my time here at CIM. The atmosphere is very driven and very intense. The practice rooms are packed........all......day. Good luck finding one after 8:00am.

I'm taking theory, piano, orchestra, chamber music, and ear training. Oh, by the way, CIM uses fixed-'do'....try singing a major scale starting on 'fa' after years of only starting on 'do'. Eeeesh.

The people here are great. We're all nerds, and we all know it. We geek out over Shotakovich and practice our instruments until we hurt.

A part of my work study assignment is to play in Lab Orchestra, which is an orchestra put together for the benefit of the Masters and Doctoral Conducting majors. This past week we read through Beethoven's First Symphony without missing a beat. It, was, fantastic. And to think everyone was simply sight reading.

Our first orchestra concert is coming up in a short two weeks. We're hashing out a Rossini Overture, Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra in Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra. Should be thweet.

Here are a few pics from around the CIM campus. It's a small school, incubating roughly 370 students all eager to learn, practice, and win a job. The main building was built in 1961 and thanks to over $40 million in donations, has expanded with a new classroom, office and practice wing on the eastern side and a new recital hall on the western side that will open this November. So, the school is still in the midst of construction, and is no doubt a little annoying when sitting in class and the dictation exam is a combination of piano melodies and jack hammers...

Turquoise brick that envelops the outside of the of the concert hall. Remnants of the 60's...

You must kneel to get a sip of H2O at CIM.

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