Gals after my own heart

I love writing and sending letters.

But I think that I love stationery even more.

I watched "Last Chance Harvey" for the first time,

and when Kate is being set up on a blind date with a man "in stationery"

and she says "I love stationery," I yelled "ME TOO!" 

A gal after my own heart.

Why, walking through the Dollar Spot at Target is a dangerous thing-

There's always a perfectly perfect little set of notecards positively calling my name.

And of course I answer the call.

It's the Dollar Spot.

How can I not?

Ingenious bit of advertising they've got going on at Target...

And as I bought a new cell phone last week 

and the salesman plugged on and on

about different text messaging packages I could get,

I couldn't help but think of how nobody writes letters anymore!

People spend hundred's of dollars per month 

to have internet and texting capabilities on their phones so that

they can message anytime they want,

but I bet if you asked every single one of them,

they'd tell you how they get excited when checking the mail everyday,

even if all they get is bills, and that they'd be 

THRILLED to get a letter from anyone.

How personal and thoughtful is it to receive a letter!

The picture above is the "stationery wardrobe" of a woman who wrote

this article.

Ahhh, another gal after my own heart.

And did you know that 150ish years ago and before,

 letter writing was a predominantly male art form?

Of course, I shouldn't have been surprised to read that, 

since practically everything back then was ruled by men.

I must say that I'm glad times have changed,

although I would not mind at all a guy who could wield some power with a pen,

and have stellar handwriting.

Keep in mind, oh future man o' mine.

So now I'm off to make a plate of cookies to go alongside

a nice spot of tea, 

and watch Lost in Austen

while I dust off my fountain pens.

Here's another link to an interesting site:

The art of Manliness

My favorite boy

My nephew is the most adorable little boy in the world. 

I love him so much.

And I hate him a little bit, since I think

that whenever I have my own kids,

they might not be as cute.

It's hard to imagine :)

Enjoy his then-newfound game of peek-a-"doo".

Birth Day.

 I was born to this song:

Dad was watching the movie in the hospital,

and mom was rethinking their marriage.

Spend two minutes and listen to the very end.

Just imagine it...

Do I maybe make a little more sense, now? ;)

HA

Update!

So, it's been a while, and so much has been going on!

In the Family:

Caroline turned 23 in March- we're getting so oldish! crazy....  

Fun cake with feisty napkins, 

and we got Mom to play some Nirvana 

on Guitar Hero Rock band.

Drums are all in the family now, right, Uncle Young?

(and notice Caroline's crown....)

Kohen will turn ONE next week! I can't believe it's been a whole year! 

He's walking, talking (okay, just four little wordies), 

and working on growing two more teeth!

He likes to discover new sounds to make with his mouth, 

and he LOVES to play with his soccer ball. SO cute!!

A few days old: Almost a year old!:

In the "professional" life:

I had my last rehearsal with my kid's church choir. 

We had a party :) I'll miss those kids!

I had my debut on the opera stage! 

Singing with Fort Worth Opera, I had the small solo role

of Mrs. Charleton. My line: 

"I can't tell you how I've praaaaaaaaayed for ooooone, Sister Catherine."

Yes, about a pot holder.  Count on me to get one of the only Lucille Ball lines of the whole opera.

And CHECK OUT my costume. Please, hold your selves back. I know it's just about too much attractive to deal with in one person.. The frizzy ponytail, the jean skirt and shirt that looks like wallpaper peeled from the walls of cheap hotel, both 4 sizes too big... too bad I didn't get a picture of the shoes. Those babies were stellar.

Here's a picture of me with my cousin's boyfriend: 

We didn't meet until our first rehearsal- such a small world!!

And a picture of the set from backstage. 

Seriously. One of the coolest things I've done up to date.

It's amazing. I can't wait to do more.

And on a Final Note:

The decision's made- I'm MOVING TO MARYLAND!!!

I'll be attending the Peabody Conservatory of Music

to get my Master's in Voice Performance! Woohoo!

A few pics of my to-be stomping grounds:

snowing! :

workers "working":

If you come visit me, I'll take you to the harbor and we'll visit the aquarium!

Yes, I'm bribing you. I miss you already. 

But we WON'T eat this: promise. Worst Valentine's Dinner EVER.

The latte was good, though. :)

And that's about it for now! Lots of new, exciting things going on! :)

Have a great day, peoples!

Cheers

Happy Easter :)

I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find,
Thy power, and thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots,
And melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I,
Where-by the grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calvary's Lamb.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow

Happy Easter, everyone.

Love,

Annie

It's Windsday

"Texas, our Texas..."

This 'global warming' is KILLING

us Texans these days.

Why, today, it got up to almost..

..55 degrees.

I studied French in high school, 

and also in college.

As I prepare to go back to school

this coming fall for my Master's degree,

and afterwards pursue my career,

I wanted to use part of this year 

perfecting my language skills.

(Because opera singers sing in so many 

different languages, it is good to learn 

as much about each of the languages 

as is possible, to further the connection

with the characters, emotions, etc...)

So, this past fall, I hired a french tutor

to help me with my then-TERRIBLE grammar

and stuttered speech.

I love learning languages!

I'm encouraged these days since I can watch a film

or read a book, 

and actually really comprehend what I'm "digesting," 

as opposed to just guessing.

Si vous voulez parler le français avec moi, laissez-moi savent! :)

And now, when I have to take 

another language in school,

I'll (hopefully) be tri-lingual

upon graduating. yipee

On a completely different note,

I saw Monster vs. Alien tonight 

with my sister and her hubby.

It was cute! Many laugh-out-loud moments

(yes, I refuse to use the "LOL"..)

and very surprisingly little inappropriate humor, 

which is usually annoyingly rampant in kid's movies

these days. A fun, all-star cast, I recommend it!

I leave you with

some links I've found this last week..

..maybe you'll find them as interesting

as I did. Or maybe not.

And that's ok with me, too. :)

Videos:

Natalie Dessay, a french soprano, and Kristin Chenoweth, a huge American artist on the musical stage- both are amazingly real, hilarious, and down-to-earth "divas", and both kinda make me wish I was only 5 feet tall...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXS0nEOx_20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HDKgsXfkaA

My "Big Break," as it were...

I have the fun privilege of singing with the 

Fort Worth Opera Chorus 

in the opera 

Dead Man Walking 

this coming May (rehearsals start tomorrow- woohoo!). 

 I recently was informed, however, that 

I've been given a small solo! 

How exciting is that? 

It's only two measures long, but I'll take it! 

My debut on the 'real' opera stage, 

and I've got a solo to boot. 

And what's it about, you ask?

Perhaps something glamorous?

Well, it might be, if it looked like this:

It's about a POTHOLDER.

Love it.

:) 

Bon Nuit, mes amis