This is...

a fly by post.

School has started -I'm running around like a maniac....and I might just lose my mind!  :)  Just kidding about that last part -that'd be bad for a music THERAPIST....lol.

Just wanted to drop in and say that I've missed you!  I hope everyone has an excellent day!

xo

Glass Half Full: 10 January, 2011

Happy Monday, everyone!


It's time again for Glass Half Full!!!  I'm hoping that I can stay on the ball this semester.  Don't get your hopes up too high, but I'm going to do my best for you!  :)  You know the drill (and if not, you can hop over here to read all about it!

Here's my story for the week:

After Christmas, I posted this.  Do you remember (if not, I still love you -promise!)?  I said goodbye to my "year of judgment."  I really did.  This is how I know.

I started back to school today, and I had all of those "first day of school" excited feelings without all of those "first day of school" expectations.  I'm not sure I understand exactly why this is, but it is, and I'm happy about it.  I also had no desire to do my normal nervous eating, like I usually do on the first day of school.

Along a completely different, but relevant line (I promise...), a long Christmas break is hard because we get off schedule, but this break has been good for me.  It's allowed me to determine what's truly important to me and what's not.  What type of relationships I want to have with everyone/thing in my life, and the types I want to avoid.  I truly came back from break renewed, which isn't something I can say about ANY of the other breaks so far in my life. 

So by now you're probably asking yourself why this matters -what makes this story a "glass half full Monday" post, right?  I don't blame you.

Here's the point:  Mind over matter.  I've started playing this positive -"live life, no expectations" tape in my head, and it's working.  Working REALLY well.

I hope you all have had a great Monday!  :)  If you did, share it with me, and then hop over to My Thoughts and Treasures for
and share your story with my friend Chantel!

Keep on keepin' on!

Briana is.....

Posting her very first post from her very first MacBook Pro.  Be excited, y'all.  Be REALLY excited.

Actually -I'm not sure how excited YOU should be...but I'm so far beyond excited, it's really quite....well...exciting.

Happy Sunday, y'all!

Remix: NYE

New Years Eve is magical for everyone, whether you're tucked in at home, or you're out on the town.  I was out on the town.  Murphy works for Pittsburgh Opera, so he was able to get us tickets!  The best part?  Two FREE tickets so my new friends Helena and Kurt could join us.  You'll hear about that in a sec.  I think I should tell you how the whole night went down.

Earlier that day Murhpy and I are exploring.  YAY.  That's really all we did.  We drove around looking at neighborhoods.  I LOVE to look at houses, except, "babe!  Look at that one!"  Response: *grunt....snort....sniffle*  Oh -yeah, that's a nice one.  Want to know who was which?  I was the very tired number two.  Poor Murphy....

After that thrilling adventure, Murphy takes me to dinner at Bahama Breeze.  Anyone know what that is?  It's like Cheeseburger in Paradise...?  It was okay -too overpriced, if you ask me.  Anyway...Closer to the gala I'm getting ready.  I did an excellent job.  I got my make-up AND hair done in an hour and a half, and  am ready to put my dress on.  Before I tell you how this goes down, just know that I love my husband, and he really is a great guy.

This is us:



I'm holding onto the wall -it's not a stripper pole, I PROMISE.  Murphy's using the bed for extra leverage... 



This is what we're saying:

Me: Okay, babe.  I'm ready for you to zip up the dress!

Murphy: Mkay -are you sure?

Me: Yeah ...why?

Murphy:  becasue you can't go to the bathroom after I zip you...

Me: *sigh* I'm fine.  Just zip.

Murphy: *starts zipping until half way* *starts grunting at half way* Geeze babe...I dunno....

Me: What do you mean, "you don't know"? 

Murphy:  it feels a little too small....

Me: excuse me?  (Getting angry now...you know....)

Murphy: you know the zipper...it  just...it's not moving....*throws up hands in frustration*

Me: is it stuck? have you tied the bow yet?  (Now I'm the two P's of death: pissed and panicked...)

Murphy: *ties bow, starts zipping, and resumes grunting*  Sheesh....oh man....uhmmmm....

Me: JUST ZIP THE DRESS

Murphy: I CAN'T ZIP THE DRESS

Me: WHAT DO YOU MEAN??  *desprately starts grabbing at fabric...*

Murphy: oh...that helps..

Me: *exhales*

Murphy: *zips dress* WHEW!

Me: *evil stair of death*

By this point, I'm complete sweaty and have little bits of hair falling down from the super awesome hair-do that took me 40 minutes to create.  But hey -a little hair spray, and a look in the mirror, I'm doin' okay.  The dress wasn't THAT small....  *cough*
...
So since he's working, we get there at least 30 minutes early.  I'm just sitting...waiting...he's doing bassist-stuff.  So finally it's getting closer to time.  It's the day I've been waiting months for -tonight is the night I get to meet my new friend.  Seriously though -we've been blogging buddies for a year, and she tells hilarious stories.  You'd be pretty excited too! 

So I'm sitting -staring at the door like a creeper and all of these beautiful, slim, done up women are walking in and I'm thinking -oh no -their dresses fit, they're SO going to know that I'm an imposter!  I'm a size 14-16 and they're going to know!!!!!  So I decide that watching the door was only damaging my psyche and picked up my phone to do important stuff.  Like facebook....


So I'm facebooking for a bit, until I'm self conscious again -I was the only one on my phone too....  Just as I'm plummeting towards the tunnel of despair (I have serious self consciousness issues, if you can't tell...and maybe some drama ones too...) I see them!  After a brief pep talk ("briana -you WILL not scare them...you will not scare them....) I went over to say hello!  She and her husband were SO wonderful and friendly.  It was seriously the easiest time I've ever had making a friend.

So after visiting for a few minutes, we went into the hall, talked a little opera, and watched the show.  It was excellent.  Lots of Diva's, you know.  I LOVE the opera; I could seriously listen to it every day for the rest of my life and be content.  I'm not sure why I started loving it, and maybe it loved me first...not sure.  Anyway -the show went on (had some meow-ing too!) and we heard some of the patrons participating too!  There was a snorer in the back (really funny -grunts and grumbles in all!), and then a very drunk and confused diamond-&-kimono pants suite-wearing patron came and plopped into someone else's seat, was kicked out, and then sat elsewhere.  It was HILARIOUS. 

After the performance came the party.  I LOVE parties.  This one included deserts (chocolate mousses, cakes, custards, cheeses, and tortes.  I got so excited I spilled my champagne all over the place (and probably on Helena too -she just wasn't going to admit it.  Sorry...)!  We danced for a bit, heard a marriage proposal, and danced some more. 

I was having some serious hunger issues, so we busted that hot-dog joint for some tasty Steak & Shake (most belovedly called Stake & Wait...)!  At this point, it was easily 1:30.  At S&S we talked about books, and crafts, sex shops and jobs while our husbands politely discussed careers, school, and music while shooting us dirty looks.  It's nice to know that our husbands like each other, right?  I also suppose that it's good that they KNOW they married chronic oversharers and to just ignore or redirect us.

After we'd exhausted ourselves (read: the husbands were getting too sleepy...) we hopped over to borrow some books (YAY for trashy romance novels!  ;) hehehe....), said goodbye and went our separate ways.

I admit -I was sad to leave Pitts on Saturday, but am looking forward to going back!  :D

Happy New Year, y'all!  ;)

Keep on keepin' on!

A Saturday Post??

Yep folks -I'm doing it...a Saturday post.  I never did them when I worked that desk job, and then I didn't do them when school started because I was doing my new job, but since I haven't started back to school or work yet (that's coming on Monday....*sigh*), I thought I'd clean up a few things for you! 

First of all -if you've never been around Priester's Peace, THANKS for stopping by!  I'm here with my cup of tea and hope you are too (mine's Chai...)!  I've recently joined 20 Something Bloggers, so if you're here from there, give me a shout!

Warning: this MAY be a long post...but will also probably be funny....since I haven't written it yet, I can't make any promises....

  

New Years was SO WONDERFUL.  I know I told you about my husband, but I really didn't tell you about me, which, as we all know is SO much more entertaining!  ;)  Just kidding, though -I'm not that egotistical...really!  But you'll have to wait for a different post, because I want to do it justice.  My gf Helena's already written about it here.  It's HILARIOUS.  Seriously.  You'll cry happy tears.

After New Years, we've basically been transitioning.  And reapiring my car.  Right now we're spending time with my in-laws, which is really nice.  They're taking care of us too.  I'll be sad and lonley when we have no one to take care of us.  That means I'll have to become...a real adult again!  Gahhhh!

Blog transition is almost over.  JOY!  I just need to double check and re-edit some stuff, and she'll be ready to go!  Glass Half Full WILL be back on Monday!  Stay posted!  Get your story picked out!!  :)

Now -on to the good bits.  *clears throat*

Fact 1: Some of you know I'm a "do-over" student.  This means that I have one degree, but am back in school to get a different one. 

Fact 2: I LOVE my toshiba notebook.  It's lasted me FIVE long and healthy years.  It'd last me longer, but I won't, if you get my drift.

So, knowing those two facts, I've been dying for a MacBook.  I don't care -toooo- much which type of MacBook it is, I just want one.  It's got amazing music software that would be excellent for clients and is really integrated so that I am able to keep all of the stuff together.  Well, over break Murphy has been complaining about my computer.  You, of course, know what my solution was!  BUY A NEW ONE!!!  heh-heh-heh....  He's not into that, he's more into you know....living within our budget and means, and making toshy (my toshiba...get it?) last as LONG as possible.  He's impossible...and that's impossible seeing as I'm this close *holds up fingers* to tossing it out the window. 

*clears throat*

So.  Since then (about two weeks ago or so...) I've been working my powers of persuasion.  HA!  For me, it's noting sexy or feminine.  I've been reasoning him to death. 

 Yep -that's how he likes it.  JK!  *giggles* 

I finally broke through the guard!  Last night Murphy took me to the Apple store in the mall.  We had a Mac-dude answer every silly question I had.  Seriously -they were like, "can I make a website?" and, "how do I write papers?".  He was really nice. 

So after an hour and a half -Murphy's hooked.

I'm getting a MacBook...

A MacBookPro.

*REALLY happy dance*

 Happy Saturday!!!

Keep on keepin' on!

Check, please!

  I started off posting two days ago feeling so...zen.  After the car fiasco yesterday, and some of the projects I have up today, my zen bubble has popped.  It's so popped it would blow your mind.  *sigh* 


Check for an order of zen, please!


If I showed you what I look like now, you may just cry.  All of my real life things are busting back in.  You know that disgusting feeling you get when you're coming off of vacation and submerging back into real life?  That's what I have -grossness.  *head nod*  I have requests to do this and that (and if not done fast enough, even more requests...), schedule concerns, work hours, session documentation, already not having time to Jazzercise every day like I planned, and that twisting feeling in my gut that I thought I'd lost.

The UPSIDE to all of this is that I realize it, did some Wii boxing yesterday, and am SO ready!  *play Rocky theme music*


Keep on keepin' on!





PS -I owe you a bunch of crafty photos!  Now they're on my computer, and I should have time to upload them, but ...don't keep your fingers crossed!  :0

Under Warranty

I love that life is so unpredictable.  Just like you can sit down to have a cup of coffee with a friend and see another old friend, or in this very specific case, you can be driving your car, just like normal, and hear a sound similar to that of a landing airplane.  Even more specifically, like the plan is landing on the roof of your car. 

This happened while we were in Pittsburgh.  Today, I took the car in to find out that it needed a new wheel bearing.  Michael and I were sweating it -that's a major expense for us...$1000.  *cold sweat*  Just a bit ago, I called to check in (read: "Am I REALLY going to have to pay $1000?!?!).  The very nice man told me that it was under warranty and that we owed NO money.  *swoon*

Just when you're not looking for those sweet moments in life, she surprises you and blesses you with what you truly need.

Cheers to your small (and big!) blessings! 

Under Construction!!

Just like my life, my blog is getting a make-over that I hope to have completed this week...sometime.  Please be patient with me!  Hopefully it's transformation won't give you the same headache it's giving me!  :D

xo-

Glass Half Full, 2011

 I realize that I haven't posted this linky party in AGES, so I'm just going to tell you a story with no expectations!  My hopes are to start this up again for uplifting tales for me AND for you, but for today, just enjoy my story, okay?  ;)

My husband and I are living the college life.  *cough cough*  The MARRIED...broke...college student life.  He's been having every sort of imaginable trouble with his program, and is handling it with such amazing Grace and Faith.  I however...have not.  I've been angry, justifiably so, and have been telling him how I feel about the whole thing.  "SOMEONE needs to cut you a break!"  "They OWE you a meeting...you're PAYING them to HELP you...."  Etc.  Get the picture?  There's SO much more to this story, but it's rubbish, and there's no point in flaying that fish right now.  The point is, I've been adamant about SOMEONE giving my husband some bloody help!

All this time, he's been working for every orchestra in the state of Indiana trying to make money for us to pay bills, while also traveling three months out of the year to Pittsburgh to play in the pit for their opera orchestra.  He's been a long term sub there, and very recently someone raised a fuss about him not being on contract.  Our immediate fear was that he was going to lose the job and what those ramifications would be for the rest of his career -teaching AND playing.  A true nail-biter, let me tell ya'.

We were there for New Years Eve.  The Opera has a gala, and so they hired him to play for it.  It was wonderful -singing, dancing, and desserts!  We even got to witness a marriage proposal!!!  So romantic.  This whole time, I'm worrying about his contract and job.  At the end of the gala he tells us (we're with some new friends!!!) that they've offered him a contract, and he'll become a full section player!!!!!!  YAYYYYY!!!  *insert all sorts of happy dances*

It was in this moment that I realized my dear, patient, respectful husband had received his break; and from the least likely place.  His unyielding faith and personal responsibility allowed him to persevere and win himself a job.  A REAL job.  I also realized that I wanted him to have some sort of forward progression so that I could move forward too.  That his door could open my door so we could move forward together.  The good news is that this is now possible.  The bad news is that I need to make peace with all of the bad things that have happened to him on his journey.  The second peace of good news is that this happened to HIM instead of me for a reason.  I'm not sure what that is yet, but I have faith that I'll figure it out.  That's the good thing about believing -you know you don't have the answer...YET.

 Happy Glass Half Full, friends!  I hope you have a Monday full of wonderful things!

Keep on Keepin' on~

2000-What?

 Dear Bloggers,

I write this post with a joyful heart, and with a little guilt too!  It's been since OCTOBER since I last posted, and honestly...I miss you!  I must admit, though, that this post is mostly selfish, so I'll get right to the point.

I titled this post 2000-what?  because 2010 is a year I am not proud of (mostly...).  I started this blog so that I could vent.  I'd lost my whole support system and was (and still am) living in a place I don't consider home.  Well, even though I haven't posted in months, I still consider my blog to be vital to my life, and in many ways, a "home."  I realize that my blog isn't important to you in the same ways it's important to me, BUT, as a fellow blogger and woman (I know there are men in blogland...just most of you are of the female nature...), I know you understand WHY I need this "home."  So....  I was inspired to write this post after meeting new friends for New Years and old friends for a nice long chat.  I am reminded of what my life is to become and what it has been, and I refuse to remind myself of the things I'm leaving behind by choice, or residual icky 2010 baggage.  I'm saying goodbye to 2010, and am thanking it for it's opinion, but...no thanks.

I said goodbye to a bad job.  I said goodbye to friends (some by choice, some not so much...).  I said goodbye to some bad familial relationships.  I said goodbye to the me that let people make me feel bad.  I said goodbye to lots of pride.  I said goodbye to cable tv (BEST choice ever...just sayin').  I also said goodbye to some of my faith (not necessarily by choice...).

PEACE OUT 2010.

This year, I am resolving not to resolve.  I am being honest with myself.  Why make promises to myself that I'm honestly not going to keep?  I am living my life with high goals and NO expectations.  I am loving my family, even if they can't love me back.  I am being a true spouse to my husband (because we all know he WAY deserves it).  And I am not going to be afraid of what I don't know.  God hasn't left me -I just need to remember keep my eyes open for him.


My friends and family lovingly reminded me that it's alright to not know; that it's alright for there to be a question mark in my life.  They reminded me that a past is the past and that a journey requires one step at a time (take a small bite of the elephant; it's not much, but you're still a bite closer...).  My family reminded me of unconditional love and compassion.  My husband shows me what I cannot show myself, and allows me to be what I am -good, the bad, and the ugly (although, according to him...there is no ugly!  HA!!  We'll see how he feels in 20 years....).  The family I work for shows me that life comes in all forms and it doesn't matter if you're not perfect.

Welcome, 2011.  I am embracing you with open arms and a free mind.  Give me your best shot, I dare you.



 Keep on keepin' on~