The Adventures of Jane, Marley and Cat

I was born in a dreary month.  Well, it wasn’t dreary in Santa Monica, California where I was born.  But since moving to Utah almost 20 years ago, my birthday is always gray and snowy and cold.

For the last several years, I’ve made it a point to visit my sister in Long Beach, CA on or around my birthday.  This year is no exception.  She lives two blocks from the ocean in a marvelous old neighborhood.  I love going there and listening to the wild parrots (yes, there are wild parrots in Long Beach) and in February the jacaranda trees are in bloom.

I celebrate turning 53.  I’m old enough to not care what others think, and young enough to be able to do whatever I want.  There are things I want to change, and even more things I want to keep the same.  In other words, I love where I am.  I am blessed with a great job, wonderful family and friends, and good health.

However, I am celebrating my birthday in the place of my birth.  Where it is warm in February.

Tags: birthday, california dreaming

I have the Brahms’ Requiem playing on repeat in my head.  It is the soundtrack under my life.  When we performed the Mozart Requiem in 2002 it became the soundtrack of my life for months.  But today is the Brahms.  How lovely is his dwelling place.

I smile when I tune in and think to myself, “Oh, is that where we are in the score.”  Sometimes I can pinpoint the precise measure, sometimes I don’t know where I am.  But it just loops and loops.

My friend Linda firmly believes I was a nun in another lifetime.  In fact the other day she was trying to convince me it was likely several lifetimes.  This theory developed because, as she says, I love the “dominus vobiscum music”, which loosely translates to anything in Latin, sounding like monks, or commissioned by a Catholic.

I was raised by a choral director who loved great music, and because of him I have a deep an abiding love of the “dominus vobiscum” music.  In fact, and I believe I have written this before, my most favorite of all music are Requiems, or masses for the dead. (I don’t even want to figure that one out).

My list?  Why, thank you for asking…

1. Brahms’ Requiem
2. Faure Requiem
3. Durufle Requiem
4. Mozart Requiem
5. Verdi Requiem

Of those 5, I have only performed one and am in rehearsal for another.  Obviously I have some work to do on my life-list of musical performaces.

Perhaps that is why the music, and the attitude about music, in the LDS church just left me so flat.  What does it mean when it is a church policy to not allow the singing of Brahms and Mozart in a church meeting?  But I digress.

For me, singing is a clear channel to God, and nothing opens that channel wider than when I am with a group of great musicians singing amazing music.  For this experience, I am truly grateful.

Tags: Brahms is my boyfriend, dominus vobiscum baby, I was a nun in another life

Aside from the fact that the event and training was a huge success, I actually had the perfect day yesterday.

This is what it looked like:

8:00 – get up and see guests and kids out the door to ski

8:30 – make a great cup of coffee, which I drink while reading email

9:00 – go back to be and sleep until noon

Noon – make toast, go back to bed and watch things on DVR

3:00 – get sleepy, go back to sleep

5:00 – wake slowly from 2nd nap, watch TV

7:00 – guests bring dinner from Famous Dave’s Barbeque

10:00 – go back to bed

I feel much better than I did yesterday, my sinus infection is clearing, and my work load has been reduced slightly. Aside from trying to put my newly updated computer back together, today has been pretty good.

And tonight?  More Brahms.

I know, life is good!

Tags: perfect day, Sundays are my favorites days