Maestro

I have played the piano since I was really small. Mom decided that the piano was my instrument after I plunked out "Rhapsody in Blue" after hearing her play it. (I think I was four...?) Besides my penchant for Gershwin, my long fingers were a dead ringer for a budding pianist (If your fingers are short, never fear. I knew a wicked pianist with dwarf fingers. God knew I would give up if I couldn't stretch my fingers across the keyboard. Kind of like how Gandhi probably would have given up yoga if he wasn't so skinny and bendy to begin with...or so I believe.).

The piano is a versatile instrument. It can be classical, or jazzy. For me, it is a classical instrument most of time. I don't have the rhythm for jazz (the furthest I go is "New Age," which is more moody than jazzy.)

The reason I bring this up is because I think people fall into different categories of instruments. I, for example, am a classical instrument. Jeremy, my little cricket, is also a classical instrument (he has played the violin since he could pick one up), which is probably why I found him so appealing when we first met (never mind his total oblivion to my flirtatious advances..."tee hee hee!"). I have dated people who were obviously non-compatible with my classical tendencies. Jazzy brasses don't always mesh well with classical instruments.

So, what are you? Where do you sit in life's orchestra pit?

2 Tag-arrific

2 secrets: (1) I hold imaginary arguments with people where I win due to my flawless logic. (2) I count my steps when I walk, or how many times I rock in a rocking chair, or when there is anything to count.

2 regrets: (1) Not presenting my senior paper at Perdue University. (2) Um...

2 things you spend money on and probably shouldn't: (1) Junk food (2) Computer Games


2 things you don't like about your body: (1) My fatness. (2) My skin.


2 bad habits: (1) Peeling off my nail polish. (2) Pulling out my hair.

2 fears: (1) That Jeremy will die and leave me to raise the kids by myself. (2) That I will die and leave Jeremy to raise the kids by himself.

2 spiritual gifts: (1) Knowledge (2) Faith


2 pet peeves: (1) People who only think of themselves in the Walmart parking lot. (2) Messes.


2 least favorite chores: (1) Mopping the kitchen floor. (2) Vacuuming.


2 favorite pastimes: (1) Blogging. (2) Reading.


2 events that changed your life: (1) Getting married. (2) Having children.

**I tag Bethany, Becky and Savannah**

Tagged by Emily

Keyhole Perspective

I really wish that I had the right perspective all the time. As it is, I tend to only see things properly 7 percent of the time.

For example...

After consuming my spicy milk, Lily's little stomach couldn't handle the stuff, and she threw up what looked like oatmeal all over her head. Yes, her entire head AND face (and me...). It was astounding, actually. As she blinked one sliver of an eye at me in shock, my heart didn't fill with compassion for my tiny daughter. I got cranky, and turned over my poor little mess of a Lily to Jeremy, who patiently and lovingly gave her a bath. In retrospect, I wish I had taken a picture, hugged her, and then cleaned her up. My first thoughts were of how this little person had just wasted a whole lot of milk, and it was so her fault that she managed to turn into Mount St. Helen. I forget that 99.9999999 percent of the time Lily is a complete angel who makes my heart squishy and I can't help but kiss her a million times.

And then there is Jeremy...Every night since I had Lily, Jeremy wants to stay up and watch something...anything...and I feel obligated to sit with him because I can't stand his puppy dog face when I don't. So, we have stayed up 'til midnight almost every night, and since I have to wake up every couple of hours to nurse Lily, I end up crashing after a couple of days and I can't get out of bed until noon (like today...). I get crabby about it, especially since I know that on Monday (TOMORROW! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHGGGG!!!!), I am swinging this gig all by myself. But, then I realized something...I am so lucky that my husband still loves my company. If I insist that I don't want to watch something, he won't watch it by himself. He will go with me to bed. So, even though it may be physically exhausting at this point in my life at times, the time spent with Jeremy is priceless. Furthermore, when I have crashed, Jeremy has picked up the slack. And he is tired too. Lights on and off all night, crying/wide awake baby, frequent requests to fetch and carry, taking turns trying to get Lily to sleep...I have an awesome husband. And I feel lucky that he still smacks my rear (Hey, it's cute!), letting me know he cares.

Hindsight is 20/20 they say. But I would hope that in looking back, you can change how you look at things around you. You miss so much of the good when you are looking at life through a keyhole.