Music Monday & a book review

Hello again! Hopefully this week, I can stay on track with blogging. This past weekend, I was gone in Cincinnati for the 2012 Zinzinnati Oktoberfest (which by the way was amazing), and now I am back for a PACKED week. Today, I am practicing organ and have a 12 o'clock appointment with my FREE PERSONAL TRAINER working out (oh yah).

Since it is Monday, I thought I would get back in the swing of things with a new music choice:

Trans-Siberian Orchestra "Another Way You Can Die"

This song comes off of their "Night Castle" CD (2 volumes), the newest music they have out there. The "Night Castle" CDs are not Christmas music, but instead a story created from songs. I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smZyHgFTD44


Next is a book review. After reading through some new books I bought (Ayn Rand's Anthem and The Help I have finally been back to my local library. Today's book review is: "Crying Wolf" by Peter Abrahams.

At first, this plot was a bit confusing, especially after I read a short summary of it. It is about a young man who heads to college, leaving a family and girlfriend behind. There, he meets twin girls who have a rich (although somewhat messed up) family. He spends Christmas break with the family and gets involved (hmmhmm) with one of the twins.

While this is happening, another sidestory is happening as well. "Freedy" is a pool cleaner in CA who moves back east to his mom's (near the college the students go to). There, he steals appliances and sells them to his friend's dad, who again sells them.

Back to the twins and "Nat". They discover underground tunnels in the school (how they heat the college), and find a completely furnished room. In this room, they listen to music (Rigoletto!) and drink century-old booze.

In the end, one twin is kidnapped by you'll never guess who, the other twin and "Nat" pay ransom, and there are some surprising last-minute switches!

Overall, a good book, but I question some characters' reason of being there. Such as the philosophy prof. Did I mention him up there? No? That's why. I am still not sure why he was in the plot...oh well. Good book aside from that!

Read any good books lately? Are you a fan of TSO? If so, what's your favorite song?

Orange Cream Smoothie

Hello--again, I have been off of my usual blogging schedule. It is getting busier and busier in my life, which is never a problem, especially because the more job and musical experience I have, the more confident I get, but the problem DOES occur when it comes to time to sit down and write a blog.

Today would normally not be a posting day unless something big happens, but I have to put up this recipe for an: Orange Cream Smoothie. I just made this and am enjoying it now! No pictures up, but here's the recipe:

This comes from my newest cookbook, "How to Cook Everything; The Basics--All You Need to Make Great Food" I am a terrible cook. This book is necessary.

The original recipe is a Vanilla-Peach Smoothie, but I chose the orange cream smoothie variation.

Ingredients: 2 cups orange juice
1 cup Greek Yogurt (I used vanilla)
1 cup ice (I used 3 ice cubes)
1 frozen banana (I am weak and could not peel the frozen banana, so I
used 1 fresh)
Directions:
1.) Put the ingredients in a blender. TIP: THE BLENDER WILL WORK BEST IF YOU PUT THE LIQUIDS AND BANANA IN FIRST, THEN ADD ANY REMAINING FRUIT AND ICE (IF THE FRUIT ISN'T FROZEN).
2.) Start by pulsing the machine, then turn it on and whiz it until smooth. If it is having trouble, add a splash more orange juice. Serve it right away, ideally in chilled glasses.

At first, the orange juice was a bit strong, but as I sipped more, it weakened a bit. This was a yummy recipe (and healthy with the greek yogurt)! Enjoy!

Workout #1

I know I haven't blogged in quite a while, and I know that I am behind on my subjects, but I thought now would be the perfect time to blog about how my health journey is going.

It's been a long year: finishing college, senior piano recital, taking Praxis II tests, student teaching, graduation, job hunting, SAI convention, and now multiple jobs...I've had my fill of being busy, but my multiple jobs are just now beginning!

Here's an update on my personal life:

This has been a tremendous end to a "lazy summer". Unfortunately, I was not able to nab a full-time teaching position; however, I DID gain employment with St. John Lutheran Church as the full-time organist! I have now been playing there for 2 weeks and am loving it!

Also, I put out a flyer for teaching piano lessons! No bite yet, but flyers are going up around town tomorrow!

Lastly, I just got a job at a local High School as the choir(s) accompanist! I'm so excited to be an accompanist once again! :D

Needless to say, this is going to be a fun year!

Now on to my health: As you all know, I'm struggling through an uphill battle against my weight (Grr), and so far, it's been a losing battle....until today!

I just got back from my first workout at Anytime Fitness in my hometown, and I feel great. I have not been in a gym in almost a year, and I do not exercise outside of a gym (YET), so all of the equipment is still new to me. Here are my results for my cardio workout:

I walked for 15 minutes for .64 miles, burned 172 calories (more than my Panera Frozen Lemonade I had for dinner!), and was able to get up to a 3.0 with a 1% incline (first time EVER using an incline). I am SO excited, especially since I haven't been walking in a long time!

This is just the beginning: I am going to go 3x/week, and my next day is Wednesday. Oh, yes, and I forgot to say, I have a free 30-minute workout with a PERSONAL TRAINER just for joining! I'm hoping to do that Wednesday! From what I've heard, he's going to kick my butt....

That's it! I should be blogging more now that I am working out more and getting my life together!


OH YEAH DID I MENTION I HAVE MY FIRST SUBBING JOB TOMORROW AT MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL? OHMYGOSH SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is all.