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Need to Decompress? TOO BAD
Oct. 13th, 2024 01:49 pmFriday, slept poorly and had to be up early.
When moving the plants back to the patio, I made the idiot decision to lift my small lemon tree--it's in an incredibly heavy and smooth-sided cement planter--starting from a squatting position. Needless to say I pulled or strained something in my lower back, like right above my hips. It doesn't "hurt," but the feeling is uncomfortable and kept me up. I'll have to be careful bending and lifting for a bit.
Rehearsal at the Magic Kingdom was lovely. It was about half the regulars and subs, and the other half will come in to rehearse on a different day. We all checked in with each other: "How'd you weather the storm?" "Do you have power back yet?" and "Do you need anything?" What a kind and cool group of musicians :)
Additionally, our boss Mike kept the rehearsal very casual, taking into account that many of us would be tired or strained from dealing with hurricane recovery. We played through the Christmas music, first the parade sets and then the show sets, but with frequent breaks and time to get up and stretch.
Here are the little trombones conspiring together in our towel hamper during one such break :D
From left to right, Keith's trombone; my trombone; and Cory's trombone.
(this is a "backstage" photo, please do not share/distribute.)
Several of the songs involve literally singing some of the carols, and the guys yelled them enthusiastically or sang them falsetto or interjected "creative" lyrics. Honestly it was a lot of fun, and before I knew it rehearsal was already over!
Though it was fun, I was relieved because I wasn't feeling well again. Not sure what's going on but typically when I feel haggard or run down and can't put my finger on a cause, I blame it on stress. I stopped at the grocery on the way home, then at home the solar guy was there to repair some pipes (our pool is heated via solar panels) so I handled that. Then prepped ingredients for dinner.
Meanwhile Jameson had been rehearsing Jollywood over at Hollywood Studios (it's so cool that we both got to be Disney musicians today!) When he got home he was in a foul mood, having been diverted all around Disney due to flooded roads and downed trees from the hurricane. The drive usually takes him 20-30 minutes; today it took an hour! I'd be pissed, too.
While he went to check on his online students, I laid down on the floor and dozed. This is very unusual for me, so I must be very tired.
We had taco salad for dinner, and I did feel a little better after eating and resting. But there is so, so, SO much to do and it feels overwhelming. Now that the hurricane is past, I feel frantic inside.
Some things that need to be done yet:
- Make banana bread so as not to let these home-grown bananas go to waste!
- Buy and wrap Jameson's birthday presents
- Acclimate the petunia outside (I think this should happen next week)
- Make and send caramels (also going to happen next week)
- Memorize Disney Christmas music, even though I'll probably never get to play it
- Find out whether I'm attending my grandpa's funeral
- Give notice at the hat shop (doing it tomorrow)
- Continue working at the hat shop and doing transcription jobs
- Start actually packing for tour
- Reserve tickets for friends and family along the tour route
- Get a massage (now that I've wrenched my back it really is needed)
- Plan a pumpkin carving day with Jameson, and roast the seeds (our tradition, I won't skip it!)
- Make Jameson's birthday treat, since I won't be here to celebrate with him
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday doesn't feel like Saturday. The storm threw off my sense of time.
I got up at 8am, would have loved to sleep until 10.
Went to get bagels so they'd be here when Jameson wakes up.
Put my large petunia outside because it's yellowing; I think I've overwatered it + I'd moved it away from the grow light to make room for the cuttings and that's had a negative impact. It's still too hot for it to live outside but I want it to dry out a bit. It doesn't look THAT bad, but watch, it will wilt today from being outside (sure enough it did.)
Next was the cringey task of writing my Letter of Resignation for Chapel Hats.
I always feel bad to write these, and especially now because just after the storm a lot of people are abandoning their shifts to take care of personal problems. But it's got to be done.
That sent off, I got to work making banana bread using the mini-bananas from my tree! Jameson had requested "pumpkin spice" banana bread, and there IS such a thing so that's what I'm making! It was lucky we had two eggs left in the fridge because there are no eggs to be found around here right now (many gas stations also still don't have gas.) The only change I made to the recipe was to exclude 1/4 cup of pumpkin, and replace it with 1/4 cup of sour cream.
The bananas, smooshed:
The completed bread. Needless to say it made the house smell fantastic. The bread was perfectly moist and springy. Definitely banana-forward, but with all those great fall spices. And the walnuts for a nutty crunch.
Just as I'd sliced us each a piece, our neighbors came over with chocolate chip cookies to thank us for the bananas I'd given them! How sweet! We each had a piece of warm bread and a cookie, and it warmed my heart :)
After lunch Jameson got an interesting job offer involving fake-playing the piano for a commercial, which pays big bucks for him to just sit there and act. It did have a rather extensive audition process, and I helped him to film a few parts of it. Then cleaned up from baking, ran the dishwasher, packed my dinner, added a bunch of flight confirmation numbers to my tour itinerary, emptied the dishwasher, checked the mail...and took a nap on the floor again. I just---I don't think I'm getting adequate sleep lately. Maybe tomorrow I can force myself to sleep in extra.
Today's hat:
This is a new Kathy Jeanne hat, sort of an angled top hat with this massive magnolia flower on the side. In fact the flower was so heavy it pulled the hat sideways all night haha. It doesn't suit me, but despite that it got loads of compliments and interest. In fact four different people tried it on and seriously considered it!
At least three people abandoned their shifts last night--literally called out with absolutely zero notice or time to find replacements--so it was me and Jordan alone. I agreed to stay an hour later to close the shop, plus he managed to get the sock kiosk employee to work with us for three hours, then got another part-timer to come close the store with us too. It made me feel bad to tell them that I had given notice (my boss hasn't responded to my email and apparently hasn't told anyone yet either) but it was also a relief to be able to talk about going on tour instead of having to bite my tongue every time someone asked about my holiday plans this year.
It was very busy at the Springs but we managed. I have a longer closing shift tomorrow and am not looking forward to it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, I did allow myself to sleep-and-doze until 8:30-9.
Breakfast, typing this up, adding the tour travel itinerary to my tour spreadsheet, adding musician contact info to my phone. Even though I don't know these people yet, it's good have their numbers in case someone is late to rehearsal or a message needs to be conveyed quickly. You'd be amazed how many times the task of mass-messaging has fallen to me simply because I bothered to put everyone's numbers in my phone.
I intentionally tried to make myself relax and "do less" before work today. It didn't really work.
There's a lot to do, but it's no good feeling frantic about it.
So ultimately: practicing Elf. Grocery shopping for cheap sushi for dinner, random household items that we need, wrapping paper, and condolences cards for my stepmom and step-aunt. Filling out the condolence cards to be ready to go out in Monday's mail. Wrapping Jameson's birthday presents. Giving the large petunia time in the sun and bringing it inside when the temp got too high.
Generally still getting stuff done, but trying to keep calm and centered until it was time for work. Jameson's presents (there are five things in here, mostly little things but one is a commissioned piece that I hope to share with y'all later!) I have no idea how I'm going to manage getting Christmas presents arranged while jumping between time zones this year. Sigh.
As usual, Sunday's hat will be in the next post since I'll get home too late to share it tonight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To-Do:
Monday: A day off. Make caramels, practice, weeding and cleaning up outdoors post-hurricane. Expecting to receive a new transcription job.
Tuesday: Package the caramels and possibly ship them. Practice, start the transcription job if I have one, closing shift at hat shop.
Wednesday: Day off. Transcription, getting the suitcase out and beginning the packing process.
When moving the plants back to the patio, I made the idiot decision to lift my small lemon tree--it's in an incredibly heavy and smooth-sided cement planter--starting from a squatting position. Needless to say I pulled or strained something in my lower back, like right above my hips. It doesn't "hurt," but the feeling is uncomfortable and kept me up. I'll have to be careful bending and lifting for a bit.
Rehearsal at the Magic Kingdom was lovely. It was about half the regulars and subs, and the other half will come in to rehearse on a different day. We all checked in with each other: "How'd you weather the storm?" "Do you have power back yet?" and "Do you need anything?" What a kind and cool group of musicians :)
Additionally, our boss Mike kept the rehearsal very casual, taking into account that many of us would be tired or strained from dealing with hurricane recovery. We played through the Christmas music, first the parade sets and then the show sets, but with frequent breaks and time to get up and stretch.
Here are the little trombones conspiring together in our towel hamper during one such break :D
From left to right, Keith's trombone; my trombone; and Cory's trombone.
(this is a "backstage" photo, please do not share/distribute.)
Several of the songs involve literally singing some of the carols, and the guys yelled them enthusiastically or sang them falsetto or interjected "creative" lyrics. Honestly it was a lot of fun, and before I knew it rehearsal was already over!
Though it was fun, I was relieved because I wasn't feeling well again. Not sure what's going on but typically when I feel haggard or run down and can't put my finger on a cause, I blame it on stress. I stopped at the grocery on the way home, then at home the solar guy was there to repair some pipes (our pool is heated via solar panels) so I handled that. Then prepped ingredients for dinner.
Meanwhile Jameson had been rehearsing Jollywood over at Hollywood Studios (it's so cool that we both got to be Disney musicians today!) When he got home he was in a foul mood, having been diverted all around Disney due to flooded roads and downed trees from the hurricane. The drive usually takes him 20-30 minutes; today it took an hour! I'd be pissed, too.
While he went to check on his online students, I laid down on the floor and dozed. This is very unusual for me, so I must be very tired.
We had taco salad for dinner, and I did feel a little better after eating and resting. But there is so, so, SO much to do and it feels overwhelming. Now that the hurricane is past, I feel frantic inside.
Some things that need to be done yet:
- Make banana bread so as not to let these home-grown bananas go to waste!
- Buy and wrap Jameson's birthday presents
- Acclimate the petunia outside (I think this should happen next week)
- Make and send caramels (also going to happen next week)
- Memorize Disney Christmas music, even though I'll probably never get to play it
- Find out whether I'm attending my grandpa's funeral
- Give notice at the hat shop (doing it tomorrow)
- Continue working at the hat shop and doing transcription jobs
- Start actually packing for tour
- Reserve tickets for friends and family along the tour route
- Get a massage (now that I've wrenched my back it really is needed)
- Plan a pumpkin carving day with Jameson, and roast the seeds (our tradition, I won't skip it!)
- Make Jameson's birthday treat, since I won't be here to celebrate with him
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday doesn't feel like Saturday. The storm threw off my sense of time.
I got up at 8am, would have loved to sleep until 10.
Went to get bagels so they'd be here when Jameson wakes up.
Put my large petunia outside because it's yellowing; I think I've overwatered it + I'd moved it away from the grow light to make room for the cuttings and that's had a negative impact. It's still too hot for it to live outside but I want it to dry out a bit. It doesn't look THAT bad, but watch, it will wilt today from being outside (sure enough it did.)
Next was the cringey task of writing my Letter of Resignation for Chapel Hats.
I always feel bad to write these, and especially now because just after the storm a lot of people are abandoning their shifts to take care of personal problems. But it's got to be done.
That sent off, I got to work making banana bread using the mini-bananas from my tree! Jameson had requested "pumpkin spice" banana bread, and there IS such a thing so that's what I'm making! It was lucky we had two eggs left in the fridge because there are no eggs to be found around here right now (many gas stations also still don't have gas.) The only change I made to the recipe was to exclude 1/4 cup of pumpkin, and replace it with 1/4 cup of sour cream.
The bananas, smooshed:
The completed bread. Needless to say it made the house smell fantastic. The bread was perfectly moist and springy. Definitely banana-forward, but with all those great fall spices. And the walnuts for a nutty crunch.
Just as I'd sliced us each a piece, our neighbors came over with chocolate chip cookies to thank us for the bananas I'd given them! How sweet! We each had a piece of warm bread and a cookie, and it warmed my heart :)
After lunch Jameson got an interesting job offer involving fake-playing the piano for a commercial, which pays big bucks for him to just sit there and act. It did have a rather extensive audition process, and I helped him to film a few parts of it. Then cleaned up from baking, ran the dishwasher, packed my dinner, added a bunch of flight confirmation numbers to my tour itinerary, emptied the dishwasher, checked the mail...and took a nap on the floor again. I just---I don't think I'm getting adequate sleep lately. Maybe tomorrow I can force myself to sleep in extra.
Today's hat:
This is a new Kathy Jeanne hat, sort of an angled top hat with this massive magnolia flower on the side. In fact the flower was so heavy it pulled the hat sideways all night haha. It doesn't suit me, but despite that it got loads of compliments and interest. In fact four different people tried it on and seriously considered it!
At least three people abandoned their shifts last night--literally called out with absolutely zero notice or time to find replacements--so it was me and Jordan alone. I agreed to stay an hour later to close the shop, plus he managed to get the sock kiosk employee to work with us for three hours, then got another part-timer to come close the store with us too. It made me feel bad to tell them that I had given notice (my boss hasn't responded to my email and apparently hasn't told anyone yet either) but it was also a relief to be able to talk about going on tour instead of having to bite my tongue every time someone asked about my holiday plans this year.
It was very busy at the Springs but we managed. I have a longer closing shift tomorrow and am not looking forward to it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, I did allow myself to sleep-and-doze until 8:30-9.
Breakfast, typing this up, adding the tour travel itinerary to my tour spreadsheet, adding musician contact info to my phone. Even though I don't know these people yet, it's good have their numbers in case someone is late to rehearsal or a message needs to be conveyed quickly. You'd be amazed how many times the task of mass-messaging has fallen to me simply because I bothered to put everyone's numbers in my phone.
I intentionally tried to make myself relax and "do less" before work today. It didn't really work.
There's a lot to do, but it's no good feeling frantic about it.
So ultimately: practicing Elf. Grocery shopping for cheap sushi for dinner, random household items that we need, wrapping paper, and condolences cards for my stepmom and step-aunt. Filling out the condolence cards to be ready to go out in Monday's mail. Wrapping Jameson's birthday presents. Giving the large petunia time in the sun and bringing it inside when the temp got too high.
Generally still getting stuff done, but trying to keep calm and centered until it was time for work. Jameson's presents (there are five things in here, mostly little things but one is a commissioned piece that I hope to share with y'all later!) I have no idea how I'm going to manage getting Christmas presents arranged while jumping between time zones this year. Sigh.
As usual, Sunday's hat will be in the next post since I'll get home too late to share it tonight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To-Do:
Monday: A day off. Make caramels, practice, weeding and cleaning up outdoors post-hurricane. Expecting to receive a new transcription job.
Tuesday: Package the caramels and possibly ship them. Practice, start the transcription job if I have one, closing shift at hat shop.
Wednesday: Day off. Transcription, getting the suitcase out and beginning the packing process.
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