Life Updates of a Larger Magnitude

I have joined the Christmas choir at my church and I am so over the moon about it.  I was literally in choir in the womb, and it is a very visceral part of me.  I sometimes think that I only go to church to have the music sooth my soul, and I am, admittedly, a choir snob.  Give me some good ol' fashioned SATB hymns and I am as close to heaven as I am likely to get.  Although I try not to judge church choirs harshly - it is a wonderful gift they give, even if they're not perfect - my opinion of a parish hinges on the homilies and the music. Anyway, the reasons why I haven't been in a choir in quite some time are many and sometimes lame.  But this year, we have made the monumental decision to do Christmas at our very own house.  I am both sad and elated at the same time.  It is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, for sure.  One of the upsides is that I joined the midnight mass choir.  And prior to midnight mass we are doing...

This week I have taken care of miscellaneous tasks that have been lingering. I've gone running. I've watched TV.  I feel like I'm getting my life back.  It's nice :)  And the weather here is A-MAZ-ING. Also, I've ordered accent tile for the bathroom reno and today at lunch am finally going to order the shower tile.  This weekend we're getting the vanity, toilet, and *maybe* tub.  Let the demo begin!! (Give this girl a sledgehammer!!) Last weekend we went to Hartford for the famous Golik-Mahoney wedding and it was all that was promised and more.  It was fantastic to see all our friends, to dance, to sing, to play.  And play I sure did.  We didn't bring (couldn't find) our camera, so I'm waiting to steal other peoples' pics but then I promise to post some. Also, I couldn't resist posting this funny graph my mom sent me. :)

(A bit of a delayed post) I've been at a work conference in Framingham this week, and aside from the pretty awesome experience that it has been, I ALSO had the opportunity to hang out with Nboat tonight since she volunteered to come find me! We had a great night visiting with some of my new/old work friends, then capped the night at Olive Garden. A lot of back story that's probably unnecessary, but is the lead in to this... At dinner I admitted to her that I feel like I just may be the least fun version of Beka that has existed. I am not unhappy, but I am... in transition, I guess. I think this has been a gradual process over the past few years. The things that brought me certain joy in the past now tire me. I hold on to this expectation of what I should like and not like, how I should act, and when I take stock I just don't seem to measure up anymore. This brings disappointment, a resolution to do better, resignation to the state of life. I think I need a new yardsti...

I was all ready to put up a new blog about how the misery has passed, but apparently that was just related to the weekend at the beach.  Now that I'm back at work I am once again cranky.  I really need to figure a way out of this mental slump... *addendum* I spent the afternoon trying to get out of this funk.  I did all the things I could think of - ignored work, got a tasty lunch, snagged a walk-in haircut (looks fantastic), made a Ryan Reynolds desktop collage... I think the last part may have done the trick.

I've been working ridiculous amounts now for about 8 weeks.  Well, 1 week in there I went on vacation.  And then I had like 3 days of slowness.  I am miserable.  I am running out of steam and feel wildly ineffective but just have to... get... to.... deadline.... Miserable.  And since this is my blog, I get to throw a pity party.  Woe is me!  Woe is me!  Waaah waah waah.... Surprisingly, that didn't make me feel better.  Dang.

Because these are just so great, they get official blog posting.  Seriously, what a blast!  I love this picture.  Classic Alyssa.  "I'm beautiful, but if you match wits with me a I will cut you to shreds.  Think about it." I have no idea who these other girls are or when this picture was taken.  I'm pretty sure I crashed this photo.  And stood right in the front.  What a jerk. :) Now THESE suckers I know.  The trouble-making table.  :)