7 Quick Takes {Take 88} Things I'm looking forward to this fall edition...

It's been a long week, yes it is true, and so I want to think happy thoughts. The air feels crisp today,  and the campus is starting to look alive again. And so, what am I looking forward to this fall? Read on, gentle reader. :)

-1- Podcasty goodness!

I'm hoping to start a podcast this fall. Still brainstorming on ideas, so stay tuned!

-2- Fall sweaters!

Oh gosh. Fall is my absolute FAVORITE time to knit all year. Favorite. I have sweater plans, and do you want to see the yarn? Of course you do:

I mean...

:0

Is that my color, or what?! It's called Candied Yam, and it would make the most perfect Thanksgiving sweater EVER, am I right? Of course, that may be Thanksgiving 2017 before I'm done with it, but hope springs eternal!

-3- Shawls, shawls, shawls!

I also love to knit shawls in the fall. I mean, look at this. Did you ever?!

*happy sigh*

I'm also working on gift shawls:

That yellow will be the third striping color added in soon, with short rows. Sublime.

-4- SO MANY SOCKS

I've been knitting a lot of socks lately, and I think I should get marriage bonus points for this:

And isn't Mike a good sport for modeling? He loves them. I also have more gifts socks to make:

Don't you just love the colors? I still have a lot of sock knitting to do, don't I? But I love socks, so it's all good.

-5- Crockpot cooking!

Goodness, do I love fall themed cooking, and I ADORE our crockpot. I love just dumping stuff in there in the morning, and then you come home and smell this wonderful, completed meal aroma. It's like divine intervention cooking or something. And if it involves squash or pumpkins, all the better.

-6- Fall dancing!

My troupe has an outdoor event to dance at in mid-September, so here's hoping we won't freeze our beads off. It's usually still pretty mild in September, but you never know. After that, we have the fall hafla planned for mid-November, and I'm all excited about that. New solo in the works! :0 Sword and veil are both competing for the coveted spot, so we'll have to see who wins this little power struggle. ;-)

-7- Fall reading plan!

Right. The Catholic Book Club. :0 I've been slacking a little bit. If you looked on my Kindle right now, you'd see that I've read nothing but Amish and cozy crafting fiction all summer.That's just the way it is sometimes. ;-) I have the latest book in the young adult John Paul II High series on my list for August, Near Occasions, and I plan to read it as soon as I'm done with the Amish mystery I'm currently reading. I think I'm over 70% of the way through it, too. So, what this means is that the book club is still alive and well, I'm just going to bump our next date to the following week. Which will  be September, I will grant. ;-) But we'll get there! Then I do have a book for late September planned, and subsequently need to add to the list. Keep your eyes peeled!

What are YOU looking forward to this fall, dear reader?

All right everyone, have a great weekend, and I'll talk to you next week. In the meantime, check out more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum!

7 Quick Takes {Take 87} New chaplet recordings, and blessings of my big trip! edition...

Hi all! It's Friday, and I'm glad of it. But I've been a busy bee working on small projects to distract me, and counting my blessings. Want to know more? Do read on, gentle blog viewer. :)

-1- The chaplets page is now live! #ThisIsBig!

 In super exciting news, I finally motivated myself to do the editing and other "stuff" I needed to do in order to get the Chaplets page up and running. Oh, oh, go check it out! I'm super proud of it. :0 I loved putting it together and thinking that you and I would be praying together for our various and sundry intentions. So far, I have introductory videos and downloadable audio files for: Our Lady Star of the Sea, St. Therese, St. Anne, St. Kateri Indian Rosary, St. Dymphna, and Our Lady of the Snows. Coming soon to a Chaplets page near you: St. Cecilia, 7 Sorrows of Mary, Divine Mercy, Sacred Heart, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Philomena.

*beams*

-2- This has the benefit of giving me an excuse to buy more rosaries and chaplets...

...which I LOVE doing, and I've been having lots of happy rosary design talk with Allison, my right hand rosary gal. I absolutely love prayer beads, always have. I used to think that someday, I would stop buying rosaries, because I had enough and because I had one main rosary that was THE rosary, and I wouldn't need anymore. Well dear reader, I am here to tell you that it simply does not work that way, at least in my little corner of the universe. ;-) When my budget allows, I love adding new saints into my collection of friends that I pray with on my beads. It's simply joy incarnate. :)

-3- The blessing of friends...

This week I've been thanking God fervently for all of my friends. If I'm feeling down, all I have to do is look down at my phone for that little notification icon that there is a new message in our chatting string and my heart lightens. Having friends that you feel super comfortable with, and can confide in...there's just no substitute.

-4- Don't forget about the rosary novena if you'd like to pray with us!

 And so, as I pray my 54 day rosary novena, I've been including Allison's intentions too, as well as a few other family/friends who mentioned that they've been praying along. If you haven't started already, no worries! I know of several people who started a few days after us, and simply adjusted their dates accordingly. The majority of the time we will overlap, so it's all good. Thus if you haven't yet started and want in on the praying action, start today! I love praying with friends. :)

-5- Appreciation anew for my family...

 I missed Mike and the kids a ton while I was on my trip. The kids had been going through this painful stage in which they were arguing all the time, and/or generally picking at each other...can you say SO PAINFUL. :0 But when I got home I tried to just focus on the good, because I missed them so much. And wouldn't you know it, they've stopped arguing so much. I suppose they really do pick up on our moods. It's been bliss, and this is yet another thing I am SO grateful for this week.

-6- On a totally different topic, I'm looking forward to fun new workouts!

While I was away, I went to a Barre3 workout class. You all know that I take dance lessons, which I adore and would never give up, and sure, dancing is healthy for your body, but it isn't a workout class, you know? Nothing says that you are comfortable with a person like sweating alongside them and assuming pretzel-like Pilates contortions. I LOVED the workout, so refreshing. And though there is no studio near me, they have an online option that I am super jazzed about. 15 day free online trial, hello!!! This is a combination of Pilates, yoga and barre workout, and the former ballet dancer in me loved that tie-in. Have any of you tried this before?! Do write in and let me know all about it. :)

-7- A fancy new water bottle, because why not?

 Finally, post-workout, I procured a new pink water bottle, because you know. I'm a nerd. It reminds me of my enjoyable workout and makes me smile!

How was your week, dear reader? Write in to give me feedback about the Chaplets page (I'm asking nicely, pretty please ;-)), about barre workouts if you've ever taken one, and about friendship! I'm dying to hear from you!

I'll talk to you all next week. In the mean time, check out more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum. :)

7 Quick Takes {Take 86} Traveling with the paranoid Catholic Librarian edition...

*sighs*

I'm so excited about my trip, truly I am. But the actual traveling part? My stomach is in knots. I never used to be this uptight about flying. Another age-related fun fact, I'm thinking. Joy. And so, here is the situation:

-1- Trip? What big trip?

I'm a nervous flyer. SO NERVOUS. The amount of anxiety I put into these feats is completely ridiculous. Denial is one of my defense mechanisms. :0

-2- To commence at approximately 11 am EDT tomorrow morning: SO MUCH SQUEALING

I can't fully imagine the emotion that will result from this trip, but I would imagine that it will likely: (1) involve tears, and (2) be very loud. :0 And also: (3) very fun. But before we get to the fun...

-3- "Where is my new blue and white blouse? Did Anne go through the laundry basket again?!"

...I have to pack. :-\ And to sum it up, I make packing WAY more complicated than it needs to be. I like to have options for outfits, dependent upon venue, weather, and a number of other factors that make sense only to me. I wanted to pack a dress to wear to Mass and dinner, and workout clothes, because we're taking some sort of fun class together. And then there's...well, you get the picture.

-4- "This lotion bottle isn't labeled. Do you think it's under 3.4 ounces?!"

Ugh. I do so hate this new travel world we live in, in which we all need to be so careful about the size of our water bottles and other toiletries. As if I'm not paranoid enough already about packing everything I think I'll need, this makes me extra paranoid that I'm going to forget about a container of hand sanitizer and be muscled aside for questioning. Of course though, I do bring a lot of this on myself, because...

-5- "I don't trust any of you people!"

I prefer not to check a bag. ;-) I could bring as much lotion as I wanted if only I had a checked bag to tuck it into. But instead, I insist on stuffing everything into my cute orange carry-on sized rolling bag so that I don't have to worry about anything getting lost. I like knowing with 100% certainty that all of my carefully packed stuff will be with me when I arrive at my destination. Thus, the obsessing over toiletry sizes. Alas.

-6- "I'm just going to listen to my soothing podcasts and/or squeeze my eyes shut to pray a rosary the whole time."

I'm a nervous flyer, it is true. And I checked in for my flight this morning and got a look at the planes assigned to my flights.

*terror*

I kind of knew this would be the case, since I'm taking a short, nonstop flight of under 2 hours. And so the planes are, you know, LITTLE. Smaller than the traditionally sized passenger jets. The smaller the airplane, the more anxiety-ridden your Catholic Librarian becomes. I haven't flown in one of these tiny death traps planes in quite some time. I'm making light of it, but this is a serious fear. Prayers?

-7- "Ma'am, would you like a bag of peanuts? Oh, are you OK?!"

Indeed, I abstain from all snacks on these tiny flights. :) I never feel well when I fly on them, and so I stick my nose in my book and hope that it will all be over soon. And luckily, the flights are short. And indeed, the result is SO WORTH IT!

I'll be back to posting on the blog on Wednesday. The chaplet project is moving along *swimmingly* BTW, and I'm hoping to have news on that towards the end of next week. Until then, love to you all, dear readers!

Head to This Ain't the Lyceum for more 7 Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes {Take 85} Summer festival dancing approaches, time to panic! edition...

When I miss a week of 7 Quick Takes, like I did last week, I really feel a void, because I do so enjoy writing these posts. They appeal to the spontaneous writer in me. :) So, what is on my mind this morning? A heck of a lot of dance routines, that's what. My troupe's big performance season starts next weekend, and let's just say that things are a little hectic right now in Dance World. Want to know more? Read on, gentle reader!

-1- Festivals rapidly approacheth

So, YEAH. We have a performance at an artisan's market on Saturday July 18th, and then a full weekend of festival performances the weekend of July 25th and 26th. Two sets on each of those days. Each set is 45 minutes to an hour long, so...that's a LOT of dancing. At least it is for those of us older than our early 20's. ;-) Especially when...

-2- ...the choreographies are multiplying like small, happy furry creatures...

Right. We now have quite a few choreographies in our repertoire. We learn new ones every year, but not all of them make it into The Repertoire. The Repertoire consists of routines that are engaging for a public audience (so, use of eye catching props and/or distinctly representative of a specific style within Middle Eastern dance) and contain formations easily adaptable to any number of troupe members to accommodate absences. Some routines we'll perform at a hafla and then they fade away. Others, we retain. At this point, we have an Arabic pop number, a drum, a Shaabi piece, a Saidi cane number, a tray balancing routine that also incorporates Isis wings, and a more traditional piece that we call the "Spectacular" because it has multiple segments demonstrating different styles, and in the introduction we use the gigantic veil wraps. So, that's six routines, and I think I'm forgetting at least one, which right there, is NOT a good sign towards me remembering the actual choreography if I can't even remember that it exists. Plus...

-3- ...we also learned an entire choreography in a single evening *insert scared face*

At our last rehearsal, we got a little ambitious. This is what happens when we are left alone in a bright and sparkly dance studio for two hours on a Friday evening. ;-) We put together an entire new veil piece in a single evening. It's not a long song, and we do repeat segments by incorporating in new arms and orientations to make it look completely different, but all the same. It's a new dance that we learned in one night. And it's routine #7 (maybe #8, if I'm in fact forgetting one), which is, you know. A little *intimidating*. :0 Back when I first started dancing, I used to fret over and practice incessantly the one class routine that I would perform at a hafla. So being responsible for nearly 10 numbers now I have had to come to terms with the fact that I have to just trust my muscle memory. For a Type A perfectionist like me, that is no small feat. ;-)

-4- Possible silver lining: this may actually save my brain cells as I age. Or so I am hoping.

I read somewhere (most likely a women's magazine of questionable validity while I awaited a hair appointment at the salon, I will grant) that a study reported in lower incidences of dementia amongst dancers as they age. I'm assuming that the reason for this is that the memorization involved in dance aids in healthy brain cells. I don't know if this is true or not, but we're stickin' with it, k?

-5- And we will be performing all of this dancey fun in a single week's time

Back to our quandary, we have rehearsal tonight and next Friday, and then we perform. We did not have rehearsal last Friday due to Independence Day weekend, so we're going to be a bit rusty tonight. Hence, we're wrangling together these 8ish choreographies in fairly close succession. It's true that we do already know (most of *gulps!*) them fairly well already, but we have to adapt the formations for who can make each specific performance and for the space that we'll be dancing in. There will be a bit of chaos tonight, to be sure...

-6- ...amidst a cacophony of props and potentially disastrous weather conditions

Oh right, and the performance on the 18th is down by a large body of water, did I mention that? So we're concerned about our wings and possible wind conditions.

See, that is a terrifying statement right there, but I have to admit that it is one of the reasons that I adore Middle Eastern dance so much. Always something new, always something fun, and we use delightful props that could be blown off our heads or otherwise cause us to possibly become airborne.

-7- Right. And I'm supposed to dance a solo with a sword balanced on my head. #BecauseIAmNuts

Adding to our routine quota I am slated to dance a solo when we need additional routines to fill the set, potentially on both weekends, but definitely on the 25th. And I decided to do a balancing piece with my sword, because apparently I like to live dangerously and cause myself to sweat a lot and my heart to skip beats. Practice is going well, and the reason I picked to do this is because my sword and I generally coexist pretty peacefully together, but it adds an additional element to fear to the next two weeks. Good blog fodder for certain, I'll keep you posted. :-\

All right, I'm off, but I hope that you all have a great weekend! What do you have planned? Going to any festivals in the next two weeks? Maybe you'll see me there. ;-) Talk to you next week!

Head to This Ain't the Lyceum for more 7 Quick Takes! (edited to add: looks like there is no link up this week due to the Edel Gathering, but my happy dance post will remain, even if all by it's lonesome. :))

7 Quick Takes {Take 84} Fab Amish mysteries, summer dancing update, alert: tears ahead! and EXCITING news, edition...

We're at a nice point of the summer, yes? School is out, the 4th of July is on the horizon, and everything is feeling pretty laid back at work. So, what's going on with me this week, you ask? Lots of summery activities. Reading, dancing, writing, and only one thing made me cry this week. ;-) What's this all about? Read on!

-1- My baby!

I won't keep you in suspense. The teary thing is that we received a letter confirming Anne's placement in our district's universal Pre-K program, with her school assignment, start date and time, and supply list. It made me a little...*emotional*, as such things are wont to do. She's my baby, and dropping her off for the first day in September is going to be a bit rough. You might want to consider skipping the inevitable hysterical weepy post that is coming for *that* particular day.

*sniffle*

Thus, I've been trying to distract myself from thinking about this coming fall with other things. What are those, you ask? Read on!

-2- Distraction #1 - "Maybe if I try moving it a little closer to my neck...OW!"

So, I've been dancing. :) Practicing for the festivals, and I decided to go with balancing rather than drum. I just wasn't feeling the drum. If I'm bored by my own dancing, I hardly think anybody is going to want to watch me. So I pulled out my old buddy, my sword. Sword and I go way back. :) We like each other, we usually dance well together. Occasionally he gives me a heart-stopping moment during performances when I go to balance him on my head, but for the most part he is predictable and stable. I want to add shoulder balancing to my repertoire, so Sword and I have been practicing a bit. It's going well, albeit a bit ouchy. But I'm excited to be feeling good about the music and style that I chose, and it's invigorating to have a new challenge to work on.

-3- Speaking of dance...

If you haven't watched already, my past two video posts (Tea Time episodes 4 and 5) encompass a short series of my journey in Middle Eastern dance. I had a lot of fun recording them, and I manage to tie everything into a Catholic angle with accompanying patron saints. :0 Go check them out and leave me your thoughts!

-4- Distraction #2 - "Mom, why do all the books you read have people wearing bonnets on the cover?"

It's true, I love Amish fiction. And this summer I'm reading a series that I am *really* enjoying. There are currently four titles in the series, and they weave in romance, family dynamics, and mystery. LOVE. They are the Appleseed Creek Mysteries, by Amanda Flower. The first book is A Plain Death:

I'm currently on the third book, and because the characters all carry over from story to story, I am very heavily invested in the characters. The titles often go on discounted prices for Kindle, so keep an eye on them, or see if your library has them. I definitely recommend.

-5- And I've also been reading...

Unleashed, as part of the Catholic Mom Summer Book Club:

I'm on chapter three. I've been keeping pace with the weekly chapter posts, but this week the chapter is longer and I haven't finished yet. :0 But I'm trying! It's nice to have a longer span to read a deeper spiritual book such as this one. I've been leaving comments after each post over at Catholic Mom, and there is lots of chatter each week. Come join in!

-6- Distraction #3 - "I need a better word here than 'flexible.' Resilient? Maybe. Let me check the Thesaurus...Buoyant or supple? Um, no." The EXCITING news!

I've been doing a lot of writing lately. Other, non-blog writing. Well, to be precise, I took several old pieces that did appear at one time on this blog, and completely re-worked and edited them. And the reason that I did that is because those pieces are going to be posted somewhere else, and I thought the writing style could use a boost and an update, and to incorporate less emoticons. ;-) Where are these pieces going to appear, you ask? Read on!

-7- There is a theme, right? I'm a new contributor at Catholic Mom!

*streamers*

I am VERY EXCITED. :0 I'm going to be contributing one article a month over there, and I even have my own little author page and everything, soon to collect my writing as it appears. My first piece will come out the week of July 13th, and I will be sure and link to it from here if you'd like to read! I truly appreciate your support!

On that vein, I've been getting more comments and interaction over here on this humble blog, and I wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you to you all. Knowing that people read what I write, and care enough to respond to me, well...that's why I do this. I do love to write, but I don't think I'd continue if I didn't have anyone to share it with. And for that...THANK YOU. So much.

I'll talk to you all next week. But in the mean time, check other 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum!

7 Quick Takes {Take 83} of things that are making me smile this week...

I have the post-CNMC blues, it is true. I feel like my 4 year old Anne expressing my emotions:

"I am sad. I miss my friends."

It's really quite simple, nothing more to say. I love and miss you all.

*sniffle!*

But let's not get the water works going again.

*the world breathes a collective sigh of relief*

I also feel excited and energized this week. And what's that all about, you reasonably ask?

-1- You like me, you really like me!

My CNMC reflection post has accumulated some beautiful comments, and each one has made me inordinately happy. I have responded to each and every one of you. This is a small time blog here at Life of a Catholic Librarian, I don't get a ton of regular comments. And that's ok! I know you're out there, reading. But I do love getting comments, and responding to you personally. So, you know...if you want to, please get on the comment train.

No pressure. ;-)

-2- VERY happy nostalgia with the absolutely lovely Allison Gingras...

Yesterday, on her radio show A Seeking Heart with Allison Gingras, Allison was recapping the CNMC. Never one to keep my nose out of *anything* when it's something I care about, yours truly called in. I mean,

:0

...this is kind of a big deal for me, I NEVER do things like that. But I love Allison, and I love the CNMC, so HELLO THERE! And so here is my big radio debut, if you'd care to listen. I appear somewhere around the 12 minute mark. 

-3- *streamers!*

Allison asked me to be on A Seeking Heart again as a guest to talk about books and blogging, so you know, I got all tongue tied and blushy. :) But I am THRILLED! That will be later this year, I'll keep you posted on the date.

One interesting little tidbit from my conversation with Allison yesterday was that she asked me what I write about here on this humble blog. And do you want to know what I said?

"I like to make people laugh."

I didn't even think before I spoke, I just said whatever came into my heart and mind. And you know, that is so, so true. I write about books a lot, I write about Catholic stuff a lot, and about my family, but what holds all of that together is that I like to write humorous stories that make all of us feel a little lighter as we navigate this journey of life together. That was very eye opening for me. I feel a renewed energy for my writing, and I'm so glad that you are all here with me along for the ride.

-4- Because wine with friends is fun 100% of the time...

Someone else that I met up with at the CNMC is the funny and perfectly delightful Maria Johnson, AND in two weeks she's going to be right here in my home town for another conference! You know what this means:

*wine for everybody!*

Seriously. If you're ever going to be in Western New York, please let me know, because I will buy you a drink. I MEAN IT. EMAIL ME.

Ok, but back to Maria. :0 I just have to pop her upcoming book in here, because it has the best title EVER:

Is it any wonder why I love her so much?! Her book title has the word "badass" in it. No more needs to be said to prove her awesomeness.

-5- Cacophony of drum beats emanates from Tiffany's ipod...

I have dance rehearsal with my troupe tonight, and nothing warms my heart more than getting together with those ladies every Friday night. We talk, we laugh, we dance. I am SO blessed to be a part of it all. And with summer festivals right around the corner, our efforts are imparting more hilarity than ever. I'm trying to pick my solo music, which is something that causes me no end of angst:

"Too slow."

"Too fast!"

"What's up with that taxim right in the middle, that seems terribly odd?! Next!"

It's a labor of love, to be sure. But love it I do, so all of this practicing will be my summer workout.

-6- A very large order is currently sitting in my Amazon cart *bites nails*

Speaking of fun projects, I have been a busy bee researching new media equipment. I really need a decent web cam for a number of different projects, including the Tea Time series, since my phone has limited space for such uses. I also need an audio recorder for the chaplet recordings I want to do. SO, this will be use up my entertainment budget for the month of June, no doubt about it, but I see it as an investment in my future happiness, so we're all good. :)

-7- My husband

Last but not least, I am happy this week because of my Mike. We've been married for 10 years, and he's more adorable, and I am more in love with him, than ever. He is ever helpful and industrious, ever supportive of whatever crazy project I decide that I am now obsessed with doing, and I really do not deserve him. *heart*

This has been a really outstanding week. Here's to many, many more. *raises glass*

*but not really because I'm still at work* ;-)

I'll talk to you all next week! And don't forget...more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum!

7 Quick Takes {Take 82} On a jet plane to the CNMC! edition...

Well, away I'm about to go, and I'm all atwitter with excitement and nervous energy. How has my trip preparation process been going, you ask?

-1- My video post yesterday really put me in a happily excited place...

I purposely waited until Thursday this week to record my video post so that I could capture my in-the-moment feelings of joy and nervousness about my trip. I really enjoyed recording this week's post, and each week I can see myself growing more and more comfortable with this new use of media. Loving it! The video really made my trip seem real and HERE. Subsequently, I moved into full-on packing and preparation mode. But then...

-2- I promptly forgot to do a bunch of things :0

My memory, always somewhat overloaded because I'm an introvert and have lots of conversations with myself in my own head, is even worse than usual. I was so preoccupied with my packing list that I forgot to bring in honey for my work tea cabinet for the fifth time this week (as an aside, Mike always snorts when he sees "WORK HONEY" on the grocery list), and also to check-in with the airline this morning to retrieve my boarding pass.

#typical

-3- But I did pack a bag! Mostly

Last night while Anne "helped," I stuffed some clothes and other necessities into my cute new orange carry-on bag. It all fit! Kinda. It's not like I need a lot of stuff, but I like to have outfit options depending upon the weather and other factors. It's complicated! Other women will understand this phenomenon. ;-) But I was encouraged that everything was able to be maneuvered into my new bag. I just have to manage to not forget the things that I still need to use until I leave. #challengeoftheday

-4- Of key importance whenever I travel by air...

Kindle. Knitting. Phone loaded with podcasts. That's all I need right there, and I'm a happy girl. I can't use two of these items (Kindle and knitting) when I travel by car because I get motion sickness. Lovely, aren't you glad that you know that? But one of (the few ;-)) perks in my mind of traveling by air is that I do not experience motion sickness. Usually. As long as the plane is big enough it doesn't seem to bother me. And so long as I have those distractions I am content. And we can all breathe a sigh of relief when THAT happens.

-5- But alcohol also helps...

...and it doesn't matter what time of the day it is. I'm just SAYING. I'm a nervous flyer, and even if it should be 9 in the morning, a little Bailey's in the coffee never hurt anybody. I defy you to find fault with this logic. ;-)

-6- I am going to miss my babies. :-\

Anne in particular has been very emotional about me going away.

"Mommy, I don't want you to leave!! Can't I come too?!"

You know, real tear-your-heart-out stuff. I always feel terrible leaving, but I do it so rarely, I know I shouldn't feel guilty. And of course, I always assure about how I'm coming right back. But it doesn't make the heart sickness any easier.

Henry is pretty laid back about such things, but he's 9 now, so that's to be expected. And he's such a reserved kid (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree...) that his idea of showing how much he'll miss me is to wave from safely across the room. He'll be fine. But I worry about Anne, since she's so much littler.

*sniffles*

-7- But all that aside, I'm planning on reveling in the joy and fellowship, and just having a GREAT time!

If you're going to be in Atlanta this weekend, I cannot WAIT to meet you! What a wonderful opportunity for friendship and spiritual nourishment we have, and I plan to not waste a second of it. Much revelry to come!

I will write up a full recap early next week, I promise. I'm not getting back until Monday, so I won't talk to the rest of you until Tuesday, but I'll be burning up Twitter with my chatter, I'm sure, so follow me on there if you want all of the minute details. ;-) Otherwise, I'll talk to you Tuesday! May God bless you!

Check out more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum. :)

7 Quick Takes {Take 81} Summer critters, crafting, and packing?! edition...

Summer is a time of new life, yes? Lots of cute baby animals and new flowers, plant life, etc. Well, theoretically. Last night I offered to water the garden, since Henry wanted Mike to toss the Frisbee with him, and I got a concerned look for my efforts:

"What's wrong?"

"Well...don't give them too much water."

"I won't! I'll be careful."

*skeptical pause ensues*

"I mean it!"

"Try not to kill them."

"I won't!"

I don't exactly have a green thumb, so I'm not taking this personally. :0 But speaking of new life...

-1- "Mommy, look at that birdie! HI BIRDIE!!"

 I step to the kitchen window to look at the birds with Anne, and espy a Robin, a European Starling and a mysterious brown bird. I inspect it for a moment, then I realize:

"Oh! That bird is a fledgling, a baby. See how he keeps tweeting and going over to the black bird for food? That's his mommy."

"A baby bird?!"

Anne is transfixed.

"HI BABY BIRDIE!! He's so cute Mommy!"

"Yeah, he's pretty big though, just about as big as his mother." :0

Life is tough when you're a bird, you need to grow fast.

"What is he doing Mommy?"

"Well, his mother is trying to gather food, but he's being awfully loud and interrupting her a lot. I can tell he's really distracting her, but see how she just popped something into his mouth? There she goes to try and find more, and gosh, he's right there isn't he, being all shrill and demanding and following her every move. Come to think, that poor beleaguered mommy bird."

Apparently, certain characteristics amongst young carry over between species. ;-)

Speaking of cute critters...

-2- The lamb now has ears...

*drum roll*

I'm sure he's grateful. :0 I will grant, he still needs a body, but we're getting there!

-3- Video series is going great!

I am loving recording a video each week. I have a bit of a big mouth apparently, so before I know it, I glance at the timer and see that I've been yapping on for over 8 minutes, and I'm going to work on that. :0 I also need to work on my equipment set up, which right now consists of a dictionary, a thesaurus, and my copy of Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light stacked up to act as a stand, and a tape dispenser and stapler to prop the phone up. But besides those things, it's going great. ;-) I loved talking to you yesterday about why I became a librarian and how my responsibilities are about to shift to include a ton more teaching over the next year. Do tune in with a cup of tea or coffee to sip if such things interest you, and also don't forget to leave me your suggestions for chaplets that I can make audio recordings of!

-4- What's that you ask? Packing for my trip? *look of innocence*

So. I'm leaving for my trip to Atlanta for the CNMC in one week. Someone asked me if I had started packing yet, to which I snorted in response. That would be a NO. I'm definitely a last minute type of a packer. I DO have a gigantic to-do list of small headachey things, like little diddies I need at the store to update my travel toiletry bag, acquiring a new piece of luggage because we badly need it, and checking the TSA website for whether various Important Items (like my hair straightener :0) can be tucked into my carry-on bag. We're getting there. I'm very nervously excited. But speaking of things to pack...

-5- Thinking of upgrading my Kindle...

I have the newest Kindle Basic, and I adore it. Henry has a much older version, and it's really on the fritz. I'm thinking of giving him this Kindle and upgrading to the Kindle Paperwhite so that I'll have the built-in light. What do you all think? If you have a Paperwhite, how often do you use the light? I didn't originally get the Paperwhite because I have a bedside lamp that I use to read at night, but I'm now thinking that there could be other occasions on which the built-in light would come in handy, especially while on a trip. Thoughts? :)

-6- My current read...

Yes, it's a very secular romance, judge away. ;-) But I love romantic suspense, and every once in awhile I indulge in a title from the Harlequin Intrigue line. This one is KCPD Protector, by Julie Miller:

I'm just about a quarter of the way through, but so far the mystery has grabbed my interest, although I can tell that this is a part of a larger series that I have not dipped into previously. It's set during a Kansas City summer heatwave, so seasonally it feels like the perfect time to read it. I love it when that happens. :)

-7- June book club!

In June, I'm going to be reading Cardinal Timothy Dolan's Praying in Rome: Reflections on the Conclave and Electing Pope Francis:

This is a quick read, and only $1.99 for Kindle, so scoop it up if you'd like to join in!

All right, I have to jet! I hope that you all have a beautiful last weekend in May, and I'll talk to you next week. Head over to This Aint' the Lyceum for more 7 Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes {Take 80} Book club & video series news, lots of fiction recommendations, & somebody's turning 4?! *sob!* edition...

On a springtime morning in WNY (a few graduation ceremonies here on campus today; I remembered to park closer to the exit so as to avoid a near occasion of sin when I leave later :0), I'm in good spirits and thinking about what's coming up this weekend and for the rest of May. And what would those things be? Read on, dear friend. :)

-1- *sniffle*

My littlest button's birthday is Monday, and we're having a party for her tomorrow. She's going to be 4.

*insert any number of hormone-induced emoticons here*

My little babe. :-\ She's getting decidedly not-so-little. She's seeming quite tall and lanky these days. And sassy, have I mentioned that? Her party has a Frozen theme, complete with Elsa dress and cake with Olaf's face on it. She's terribly excited and adorable about the whole thing.

-2- Who can resist this face?

And here's the birthday girl, in all her sassiness:

She is precious, isn't she?

-3- What's on my Kindle?

Lots of book talk again this Friday. And what's on my Kindle? *unladylike snort* A LOT of books.  But what I'm currently reading is An Amish Gathering: Life in Lancaster County, which is a compilation of novellas by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Barbara Cameron.

You all know how much I love Amish fiction. Here's the description:

Three heartwarming tales of old friends and new beginnings that span one year in an Amish community.

A Change of Heart by Beth Wiseman
Leah is no good at cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening―the skills that young women need to make a proper Amish wife. All she wants to do is write stories, but she's sincerely tired of being a disappointment. Will she ever find someone who accepts her just as she is? And can an almost-Amish angel in red polka dots help her find her way?

A Place of His Own by Kathleen Fuller
When Josiah left Paradise the first time, he didn't even say good-bye. Now he's back, ten years later, and he's changed. Why is he so distant and bitter? Where is the boy who used to be Amanda's best friend? Amanda is learning that there are things even a capable Amish girl can't fix. But can she stand there and watch him walk away . . . again?

When Winter Comes by Barbara Cameron
It's been too long since Rebecca has done what she loves―put on her skates and fly across the ice. Five years have passed since a winter accident took her twin Lizzie and left Rebecca heartbroken. And Ben has waited for her all that time. At last she's starting to heal. But has too much time passed for their hearts to reconnect?

I'm still on the first story, and it's excellent so far. Beth Wiseman is a favorite of mine, to be sure. The premise is different from other Amish books I've read. I'm digging it!

-4- Lots more fiction coming your way...

Speaking of my current read, I have been on a real fiction kick lately. I've been going through more books that I've downloaded and been saving up, and I have plans to download some more that I'm coveting for my trip to Atlanta next month. So, I'm thinking that at least for the summer, the Catholic Book Club will incorporate in more fiction (with a religious bent, certainly). It's just the mood that I'm in, so why not, right? If you enjoy religious fiction, be sure to stay tuned for upcoming titles that we can read together.

-5- May book club coming up soon!

Indeed, our May date for the Catholic Book Club is near at hand, May 27th, and on that day we'll be discussing Into the Clouds: A Berdie Elliott Ascension Mystery, by Marilyn Leach:

I couldn't resist the feast of the Ascension tie-in. I reviewed the Advent book in this series, and really enjoyed it, so I thought this installment was perfect for May. I just finished reading it a few days ago, and am looking forward to talking to you about it. If you'd like to join in, the book is only $3.99 for Kindle!

-6- And now on to dance-related frivolities...

Summer festival season is just about upon us, and my troupe is booked for several dates in July and August. This means lots of rehearsing for the rest of May and all of June. Excitingly, our sets are fairly long for these, so there are solo opportunities. Given the sheer volume of how much I sweat before I dance solo, one wouldn't think I'd be clamoring for the opportunity. One wouldn't *think*. ;-) But soloing is an opportunity to really grow as a dancer, and gain valuable experience. Thus, I am slated to solo. I'm pretty nervous, but excited all the same. Much obsessing about music and costuming to come, stay tuned. ;-)

-7- Have I mentioned how excited I am about the video series I'm starting?

Yes, clearly. :0 But I can't help it, I'M SO EXCITED! If you haven't joined in the fun yet, my very first video post ever is linked here, and I'm looking forward to recording another installment next week. These will be called "Tea Time with Tiffany" and we can kibbutz together each week over tea or coffee. I'm figuring out my topics for the next few weeks, and I have also received some suggestions, so I'm keeping a list of everything!

#TypeA

As a preview, some things on the list are: my identity within academic librarianship, and will I continue to have a role as an old fashioned reference librarian? How do I integrate my Catholic faith into my marriage?  How did I discover Catholic podcasting?...and my experiences, as a Class A Introvert ;-), at my very first Catholic New Media Conference. How did I get started taking classes in Middle Eastern dance? I'll talk about the feedback that I've received a bit more on next week's edition of the show, I promise, because there are some really fascinating suggestions in there. Yay? YAY!

All right everyone, talk to you next week. Have a beautiful weekend, and please come back to join me afterward for some fun conversation and fellowship. Until then, don't forget to check out more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum!

7 Quick Takes {Take 79} New hair straighteners, sassy little girls, sale Kindles, and more cozy fiction! edition...

It's been a bit of a long week, my friends, but you know what? God is good, and I have such fabulous family and friends to rely on. And I love sharing it all with you, I really do. So here we are, and what's been going on with me this week?

-1- "No Mommy, I do not WANT to wear THAT!"

My daughter is sassy. Good heavens, has she been a handful of late. Back in the winter, she wanted to wear sleeveless dresses when it was apocalyptic outside, and now in the spring and at nearly 80 degrees, she wants to wear pants, long sleeved tops, socks and the same pair of blue Frozen shoes. Every.Morning. A battle. Every.morning. I should offer this up and get a soul out of purgatory or something, right?

:0

-2- But SPRING! There are ACTUAL GREEN THINGS GROWING!

Wait for it, wait for it...

One segment of our street has trees with those white buds at the exact same time each spring. Glorious.

-3- "Are you frying a cat in the bathroom, what is that hideous stench?!"

Aaaannnndddd this would be the hair straightener portion of our discussion. My poor long suffering husband has been saying for some time that my hair straightener (which I use every single day, you really *don't* want to see what my hair looks like if I don't use it) has been giving off a terrible burning odor. See, I hadn't even really noticed it. I've been straightening my hair for approximately the past 20 years, and I consider bad smelling hair-related appliances to just be the price we ladies pay for beauty. ;-) Ironically, when I was a teenager, I used to curl my hair, but let's not flash back to those early 90's hair years, shall we?

*shudders*

I like my out of control rat's nest naturally wavy hair to be straight, and so I live with the fumes that the straighteners puff out. I don't put anything in my hair except shampoo and conditioner, no gels etc., but our hair has natural oils, and that can buildup on the surface of the straightener over time and contribute to the burning smell. I did what I could to clean mine, all to no avail. It still smelled like someone left the oven on.

It had been three years, so I figured it was time for a new one, and I chose this one. So far so good. It's not odor free, but not nearly so asphyxiating. And it straightens nicely. I need good hair for my upcoming summer trips. ;-)

-4- Kindles are on sale!

I use any and all opportunities to talk about e-readers since I love mine so much. I have the newest Kindle Basic, and bought it when it was on sale, and it is on sale again, I'm assuming until Mother's Day. So if you are in the market for one, scoop it while it's $59! That's a steal. As well, the Kindle Paperwhite is also on sale for $99, that's the one with the built in light. Those are both major bargains for the price.

-5- Time for cozy book talk!

Speaking of e-readers, I've been doing a lot of happy reading lately. I've really been in a cozy fiction mood, and during the week I finished the Cat in the Stacks mystery I got from the library. Loved! I can't wait to read the other books in the series. My newly discovered obsession is the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle:

And she also apparently has a Fixer Upper Mystery series:

Ohhhh baby. I cannot WAIT to dive into these series! The only problem is...

-6- I have way too many books. :0

I own some print books, most of which I've read, but still a good number of unread titles sitting on my bookcase. But my Kindle? Smoke is practically coming out of him, there are so many unread ebooks on there. So I've decided that for any new book I want to download, I have to first read two books that are already purchased and sitting on my Kindle. So far so good, and I'm discovering that I have good taste in books, there is some good stuff on there. :)

-7- But *you* should buy more ebooks!

Why should you have to suffer, right? I noticed a few titles on sale today that are on my wish list. An Amish Cradle, a collection of novellas, is currently $2.99 for Kindle, down from $9.99:

The description from Amazon is quite lovely:

Tiny fingers,
Tiny toes,
And lives that will never be the same.
Journey with four families as their lives are about to change forever.

In His Father’s Arms by Beth Wiseman
Ruth Anne has been dreaming about motherhood her entire life. Now she is doubly excited that she and her best friend are due with their children the same week. But when Ruth Anne’s baby is born with Down syndrome, she and her husband struggle to understand God’s plan.

A Son for Always by Amy Clipston
Carolyn and Joshua are thrilled to be pregnant with their first child together. Carolyn was just a teenager when she had her son, Benjamin, and she still feels solely responsible to secure his future. As Joshua watches Carolyn struggle to accept his support, he knows he has to find some way to convince her that she—and Ben—will always be taken care of.

A Heart Full of Love by Kathleen Fuller
Ellie’s mother hasn’t stopped meddling in her personal life since Ellie lost her sight—and she’s taken it up a notch now that Ellie’s pregnant. When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother insists on moving in to care for them. But when her mother’s behavior becomes unbearable, Ellie is forced to take a stand . . . and finally find out why Mamm can’t let go.

An Unexpected Blessing by Vannetta Chapman
At 42, Etta thought she was finished having children, but she’s pregnant again. After a frightening labor, Etta finally gives birth, but her constant worry over her estranged grown son, David, haunts her still. As a new mother again, Etta must hold tightly to the promise that God will watch over her children—and that one day David will return.

And another is Murder Simply Brewed (Am Amish Village Mystery), by Vanetta Chapman, on sale for $1.99!

Description:

When the coffee shop manager is murdered in Middlebury’s Amish Artisan Village, two women from different walks of life must join together to solve the mystery.

Spring has arrived in Middlebury, Indiana, and Amber Wright is optimistic about the growing profit from her collection of Amish shops—until she receives a call that Ethan Gray is dead. Hurrying over to A Simple Blend, she finds a solitary hole in the front window and the store manager lying next to the espresso machine, dead from an apparent heart attack. All the money is still in his register.

When Amber hires a young Amish woman, Hannah Troyer, to take over the shop’s duties, the two women become fast friends—as well as amateur sleuths. The police believe Gray’s death is a by-product of vandalism, but Amber and Hannah aren’t convinced.

Clues that don’t add up, a neighbor who is pulled into the midst of the investigation, a town with secrets to hide, and a blossoming romance—all will combine to push Amber and Hannah into unfamiliar roles in order to solve a mystery that will once again reveal the depth of God’s grace.

I reviewed the second title in this series, Murder Tightly Knit, and enjoyed it. Check it out!

All right, I'm off. Have a great weekend everybody, talk to you on Monday. And head to This Ain't the Lyceum for more 7 Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes {Take 78} Cozy summer mysteries & loud dance costumes edition...

I'm wearing open toe shoes, you know what this means, don't you? It means that I'm anticipating the weather staying seasonal, and thus I am tempting fate for record May snowfall, but I care not. My feet long to be free! Can we please say goodbye to socks for a few months, I don't think that's a lot to ask?! It remains to be seen, but on this fine spring day, I'm thinking about books and dancing, as I am wont to do. Let's detail!

-1- A cat in the stacks? Yes please!

Last weekend, Mike and I took the kids to a nearby branch of our public library system. I was mostly there to corral Anne, as Mike was picking up specific books and needed his hands free, but guess what I glimpsed when I happened past the fiction paperbacks?

*feline angels sing!*

I was immediately drawn to the cover, and couldn't resist checking it out when I read the back blurb:

Everyone in Athena, Mississippi, knows Charlie Harris, the librarian with a rescued Maine coon cat named Diesel. He’s returned to his hometown to immerse himself in books, but a celebrated author’s visit draws an unruly swarm of fanatic mystery buffs…and one devious killer.

It’s National Library Week, and the Athena Public Library is planning an exhibit to honor the centenary of famous novelist Electra Barnes Cartwright—creator of the beloved Veronica Thane series.

Charlie has a soft spot for Cartwright’s girl detective stories (not to mention an extensive collection of her books!). When the author agrees to make a rare public appearance, the news of her whereabouts goes viral overnight, and series devotees and book collectors converge on Athena.

After all, it’s rumored that Cartwright penned Veronica Thane stories that remain under wraps, and one rabid fan will stop at nothing—not even murder—to get hold of the rare books…

Love. And then I discovered...

-2- THAT IT'S A WHOLE SERIES!

Dude. I was really excited when I learned this. :0 A Cat in the Stacks Mysteries, by Miranda James. There are 6 books so far, the most recent of which came out earlier this year, Arsenic and Old Books. I mean...I am beside myself with how tickled I am by these books. I immediately set to work on The Silence of the Library, but quickly made an alarming discovery...

-3- "Why do they make the print so small these days?! I think it's a conspiracy!"

Right. So, I haven't read a traditional book in quite some time. I read on my Kindle. And of course, I've adjusted the font size such that it is comfortable for my delicately aging eyes. So all of a sudden, I'm diving into the first mass market paperback my eyes have seen in some time, and they're all like:

"What are you *reading* girlfriend, do you think we're 18 or some such nonsense?!"

I was in bed last night, moving the book gradually closer and then further away from my nose, and complaining to Mike the whole while that THEY MAKE THE PRINT IN THESE THINGS TOO DARN SMALL!

"Maybe you should go get your glasses."

Time stopped. I think the earth ceased rotating. Such was my shock and horror at his suggestion. I frowned:

"But I don't *want* to have to wear my glasses in bed. It's bad enough that I have to wear them at work all day to look at the computer screen."

I flared my nostrils for good measure. But I went and got the glasses and it did make it much better, damn them. But I have to say, going back to my precious Kindle, that I officially prefer reading on there. Dozing off and having your glasses biting into your face isn't exactly an enjoyable thing. I really want to read the rest of the series, and I may suck it up and buy the others on Kindle to avoid this new little problem I'm having.

-4- A yarn retreat? That would be another yes!

Now that I'm shaken off my righteous indignation, I can move onto the second book I checked out at the library. Which is called Yarn to Go:

This is also part of a larger Yarn Retreat Mystery series, and come to find out, the author also writes Crochet Mysteries! Great Googly Moogly, this is a jackpot. I'm very excited to explore these books more as well.

-5- And speaking of crafty mysteries...

One of my favorite cozy mystery series has a new release slated for May 5th, which is the Seaside Knitters, by Sally Goldenbaum. That would be A Finely Knit Murder:

She usually has a new release each May, and it's a fun spring treat to look forward to. It looks like this year there will be a holiday release as well! Excited. :)

-6- But in dance costume news, who needs solid fabric when a wild and crazy one will do?

Our new troupe Beledi gowns are in, and may I say that they are fabulous? This is the fabric:

Yes, that is bright blue and lime green paisley, and it is fantastic. We dyed coordinating, super loud silk veils to use as hip wraps, and we're ready for Saturday. Exhibit A:

I appear to even glow in the dark!

And tomorrow is the...

-7- Hafla! *nervous*

I've practiced my little heart out, and Saturday kicks off the start of our spring/summer performing season. Mike and the kids will be there, as will my mom. I'm looking forward to it, and I hope it goes well. :) As in:

"I hope I don't look stupid!" or

"I hope I don't accidentally drag my veil through somebody's plate of hummus!"

Because that's always a distinct possibility at these events, trust me. I will report in early next week! Talk to you all then!

In the mean time, check out more 7 Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum!

7 Quick Takes {Take 77} Spring reading and yarn, 1st Communion rosaries, and dancing with giant veils, edition!

Well, the sun is shining here in Western New York, so that seems springy, right?  The snow that fell yesterday would dispute this fact, but we're ignoring that little detail. What's going on with me this spring week, you ask? Do read on. :)

-1- April book club coming on Wednesday!

Next Wednesday April 29th marks our next edition of the Catholic Book Club, and this month I'm reading Vow of Evil, by Veronica Black, the last in the Sister Joan Mysteries:

I read the other books in this series some years ago, but was unable to procure a copy of this one as it wasn't available via Amazon's U.S. store at that time. Now, happily, it is available for Kindle, so if you'd like to read it, it's downloadable for under $9. And despite the fact that this is a series, the books stand alone, so don't be scared off from reading this by the fact that you haven't dipped into the earlier titles. These are LOVELY books featuring a crime-solving British nun, I mean, did you ever?

-2- And we also have a crime-solving vicar's wife!

I just can't resist such things. I've read previous books in this series, the Berdie Elliott Mysteries (here and here), and for May I have the Catholic Book Club slated to read Into the Clouds: A Berdie Elliott Ascension Mystery, by Marilyn Leach:

I am so tickled that the story is set around the feast of the Ascension, and I picked it for May for just this reason. I have really enjoyed the other books in this series and am excited to get started on this one. The book is just $3.99 to download for Kindle, if you'd like to join in!

-3- Can you even believe this gorgeousness?

A friend of mine (also named Anne, love!) is a talented spinner and dyer of yarn, and she recently hand painted the following bulky weight yarn that I nearly got apoplectic over:

I mean, I LOVE IT. The colors just scream "SPRING!" to me, and if we're not screaming it, I'm afraid the sun may not get the hint and go hide for another 6 months, so we *must* do our part! I immediately messaged her to buy the skeins, and plan a spring cowl from it, plus matching mittens for next fall.

*squeals*

-4- First Communion gifty goodness!

My cousin invited me to her twins' First Communion party, and unfortunately I can't attend. But never fear, perfect gifts are on their way! I live for this stuff. Allison's shop is freshly restocked with lovely rosaries ready to ship, and I thought I'd share the pocket rosaries that I ordered for the twins (a boy and a girl :)). We have Pope Francis in citrine:

...and St. Therese in pink:

Perfect little gifts, yes? I can't wait to send them along.

-5- Summer dance dress is enroute!

My troupe ordered Baladi dresses for our summer festival season, and since they are custom made, there was a small delay in shipment. Finally, they are on their way to us, and I'm terribly excited. Mine is a halter style with a full flared skirt, because we want things to be as twirly as possible, right?! Nothing better than a new dance costume. Except new yarn. Or a new book. But I digress!

-6- And speaking of summer dancing...

Our spring hafla (in studio show for friends and family) is next Saturday, and we're in high rehearsal mode. Excitingly, for the first time, Mike and both kids are coming! Mike has come before, many times, and Henry has seen me dance a few times, but Anne hasn't. I'm very excited! Given that Anne gets down to the Gloria during Mass, I'm thinking she's going to be out of her seat and joining in the dancing fun at a hafla. :0

-7- "Oh, I think somehow a little water got onto our veil?" "No that's sweat, sorry!"

Soooooo, I've been alluding to this dramatic new choreography we have in which my part in the beginning involves me wrapping up into this giant piece of fabric with my troupemate Amy at the other end, and then we twirl out to do this carousel-like spinning sequence with it. Eventually, we fluff it up airbourne so that other dancers can enter from beneath it. It sounds really cool, but let me tell you, this whole thing has got me really stressed out. :0 Lots of room for error here, and I *really* don't want to get stuck in this thing, and/or trip over it, and/or somehow become engulfed in a wave of hot pink fabric and subsequently fall off the stage. Hence, every time we wrap up in the veil to get started, I'm perspiring. As demurely as possible, I assure you, and this would be the TMI portion of our post today, sorry, should have warned you! But at any rate, poor Amy has now learned of this reality, and so as we wrap up, we both try to think non-sweating thoughts, but it isn't easy, dear reader. The dancing life is decidedly not stress-free, apparently! But we're persevering. We're busting out this new choreography at the hafla as a bit of a trial run for summer festivals, and here's a raised glass to not humiliating myself! Or sweating in public.

All right, I gotta jet. Have a great weekend, everyone, talk to you on Monday! And don't forget to check out more 7 Quick Takes at This Ain't the Lyceum!