New sofa

I start 2012 with a new addition to the household.  It arrived this morning just after 9 a.m.  The delivery was painless for all.

I love my new sofa!

2012 resolutions

With less than nine hours left in the old year, I still must finish the year, first by showering, then by attending Evening Prayer, then by grabbing some Taco Bell for supper (!), and then by attending various gatherings this evening with my dear friend K.

I’ll be up in time to take Eucharist tomorrow, and then see War Horse (the movie) with my friend D.

I also must shop a bit groceries for the Monday brunch I am hosting.

But now, my mind turns to 2012.

I am hopeful that the new year will find me bold enough to:

• regain and increase the health of my body, particularly as this relates to blood pressure, cholesterol, and BMI;
• grow in friendship and love of those I cherish;
• exercise the financial discipline necessary to afford the kind of travel I truly want to experience; and
• renew my commitment to an inner spirituality that glows and shines through my own actions and deeds.

May it be so, and may 2012 be a year of honesty and renewal for us all.

(PS.–On top of all this, I wouldn’t mind appearing on stage again, falling in love, having a summer of enough rain to make the wonderful flowers grow, music directing a show somewhere, and getting that research grant I’m after.  Just sayin’.)

(PPS–I wouldn’t mind world peace too.)

Best Supporting Actor?

Judy Newmark, the theater critic for the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, annually publishes a personal awards list.  That list was posted on-line this morning.

Her awards are, of course, one person’s opinion.  She sees almost every show in town, though!

"Perspective," Sipos' big first-act song.

I was flabbergasted to find my name on the list, as Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for my role as Sipos in She Loves Me at Insight Theatre Co.

I’d been off the boards for 19 years before returning to stage last August.  And I just thought I was playing myself!  (Perhaps I was.)  In any event, that role has certainly gained me a few plaudits.

Judy’s article is posted here.  The local paper’s website is a bit clunky, so be patient as the article loads.

I’m grateful to my grad assistant, Charlie, for pointing this out to me!

2009

Joseph is my youngest nephew.

PDF: 2009 Joseph

Dinner

Four of my voice students and a tag-a-long joined me for dinner this evening.

In the category of things I never expected I’d buy, I purchased anchovy paste for the homemade Caesar dressing.  I will never buy Caesar dressing again, so good was the homemade stuff.

The panna cotta was too rich to finish, but we tried desperately.

And the house was warm and cozy.

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Gelato and a Hilton

Tags

evening prayer, southwest baptist

After attending Evening Prayer yesterday at 5.30 at The Church of Saint Michael and Saint George, I went the few blocks on over to World Market to scour the last of the Christmas items.  And I drove home from there poorer, but happy.

Jacob Wolverton

Meanwhile, my student Jacob Wolverton texted me to let me know he was in town for the evening with his family.  I’d not seen Jacob since I left Indiana in 2008, so we got together later in the evening at the historic Hilton downtown by the Fed, and shared laughter, swapped stories, and imbibed just enough.

I love meeting up with former kids of mine!

(This particular student has a back-story, though, which makes him even more special.  Jacob’s parents were students at Southwest Baptist at about the time I was working there.  Jacob was in children’s choir, and while I don’t have specific recollection, I would have seen him on the chancel steps at First Baptist Church in Bolivar, singing lustily at age four.)

Before the Hilton visit, though, I dashed from my dinner of salad at home to the South Grand gelato place where I enjoyed very much a small cup of London Fog gelato while talking with my friend K.  We always find things to discuss.

‘Twas a good evening of chatting.

Sixth Day of Christmas

On the sixth day of Christmas . . . .

2008

I moved to my home on Lawn Place one month before Christmas 2008.  This was my little musical gift to the new home.

PDF: 2008 Lawn Place carol

Grocery shopping

Tomorrow evening I am hosting four of my voice students for dinner.  These kids are all in the cast of Sunday in the Park with George at The Rep, and are away from friends and family whilst in rehearsals during the university break.

Today I did my grocery shopping for their dinner.  I love to cook, but I often find myself scurrying in haste through the supermarket.

I took my time today.

And I found all sort of things I don’t need and didn’t buy, but that I’d love to have on my pantry shelf.  Pickled cauliflower?  You bet.  (But . . . ick . . . really?)  Black beans with all sort of spices.  Check.  Cocktail onions for Beef Bourguignon?  Yup.  (And I bought that latter item, since I’m thinking about Beef Bourguignon soon.)  Apricot gelatin mix?  Certainly.  Eight different brands of fresh grated Parmesan cheese at the Schnucks on the Hill?  Delightful!

Then I drove the few blocks to the Hill and parked my car.  Volpi’s provided the pancetta and the spicy sausage for the pasta sauce.  Herbaria was the site for my soap purchase (not related to dining, but necessary nonetheless).

And then I stopped by Penzey’s in Maplewood to purchase some vanilla extract.

So tomorrow’s menu includes Insalata Cesare for the first course, complete with homemade Caesar dressing; penne pasta with fresh-made Bolognese sauce for the main course; and homemade panna cotta for dessert.  My dear friend D provided some frozen bread dough, so fresh bread is part of the meal too.  I’m in heaven just thinking about my kitchen time tonight and tomorrow, and the result on table and in stomach.

I have a hunch that Audrey, Jordan, Jacob, and Charlie will be delighted too.

2006

My eldest neice, Kristen, received this 2006 Christmas present.

PDF: 2006