Trio Three-Eighty

Today I heard Trio Three-Eighty perform holiday classics at the Mayo Clinic.  It put me in a very good mood.  So good in fact, I didn't even mind the long, long, long line at Best Buy or all the crowds shopping for groceries at Trader Joe's and Costco.  Listening to great music always puts me in a relaxed, calm mood...the perfect antidote for holiday shopping. 

Phoenix Boys Choir

On Sunday evening hubby and I attended our first Phoenix Boys Choir "Spirit of the Holidays" concert.  They had their little guys in training there along with their Touring Choir and their Master's Choir.  Also at the end they had their alumni in the audience get up on stage and sing along with them.

I sat next to man who flew in from Wisconsin just for the concert.  He has been coming to this concert every year.  He had a nephew in the Choir for many years, but now even though his nephew is grown up and has moved away, he said coming to hear the Phoenix Boys Choir every year has become a tradition for him.  I certainly can understand this.  Even hubby said as we were leaving that he would love to bring his mother to the concert next year. If my hubby is already thinking about coming back next year, you know this was one GREAT performance. 

Fry's Fresh Attractions

On Sunday afternoon I attended a cooking class at Fry's Signature Marketplace.  The class featured a semi-homemade Holiday Pot Luck of Chicken Tetrazzini and fast & easy Tiramusa.  The phrase "semi-homemade" appealed to me.  I am not or have ever been into cooking or baking.  I do it because I have to...not because I want to.  Shopping for groceries, preparing and cooking a meal, and cleaning up is a big waste of time to me...I have better things to do with my day.  I'm not even into going out to dinner...I would rather spend the money on some form of entertainment. 

Okay, since I HAVE to cook, I thought I should try to make some different dishes.  This cooking class was not only informative, but also fun.  There were six of us in the class and all were newbies to this cooking school just like myself.  I will definitely make the Chicken Tetrazinni for my next Bunko party, and for some out-of-town guests who are coming to town soon. 

Angel Day

Saturday I spent the day painting angels on all my gift bags and boxes.  I had a lot more bags and boxes than pictured above.

I also painted the same angels on 5 x 7 canvas boards.  Angels have always centered in my holiday themes, mostly because I like them, but also because they are non-denominational.

Pete Pancrazi

It finally stopped raining.  Us Zonies don't like rain because we don't like to get wet...we think we might melt like the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz if we get a little water on us.  :-)

Today I heard Pete Pancrazi perform.  He sang and played mostly Holiday music, and the sun made an appearance through the atrium windows while he played.  All was sunny and bright today.

Hugo 3D

Another cold and rainy day here in the Valley of the Sun.  Woke up this morning to a cold and dark bedroom.  While laying in bed I decided what I was planning on doing was not going to work out, and I thought about going to a movie.  I made the decision to go see Martin Scorsese's new film Hugo.  After getting out of bed, I checked the internet for show times, and was also happy to read that just today Hugo received 11 nominations from the BFCA's.  So it was a great choice to see, and I really enjoyed this film.

On a side note:  My favorite actor, Leonardo DiCaprio also received a BFCA nomination for Best Actor in J. Edgar.  I know exactly what I will be doing on January 12, 2012...watching this Critic Choice award show and rooting for Leo.

Sylvan Street

Monday was a cold and rainy day, and my hubby and I had dermatologist appointments.  Not exactly a day you want to spring out of bed to start.  But the day became a lot brighter and cheerier when we headed over to The Musical Instrument Museum to hear Sylvan Street perform. They were fantastic and made the dreary day a whole lot better, and getting all our moles checked out not so bad. 

On a side note:  Andrew Hix, Sylvan Street's drummer and singer is a DePaul University School of Music graduate.  Hubby and I are also DePaul graduates, and I met my hubby in the faculty dining room on the 4th floor of DePaul's downtown campus on February 18, 1980.

I have not been to The MIM in awhile, and I will definitely get there more next year.  That's a promise...because I just LOVE this place.

Purple Blossoms

Me'sterpiece

Purple Blossoms

On Sunday I went back to Me the Artist to paint Purple Blossoms.  Painting has become very addicting.

Gifts of Music

I enjoyed two great Gifts of Music this week.  On Thursday I heard the Mayo Clinic Choir perform their annual Holiday selections at the Mayo Clinic.  The choir consists of dedicated employees who are very gifted with the ability to sing, and also there were gifted musicians as well.  The place was more crowded than usual...it seemed more of the employees at Mayo came to hear their friends sing. 

Then on Saturday, my friend and neighbor invited me to attend with her and her mother a peformance at ASU Gammage Theatre of  a White Christmas.  Her husband got called to work suddenly and couldn't go, so I was invited to take his place.  What a nice gift!  We had great seats, and the production was extraordinary.    Two wonderful, and truly gifts of music.

Mornings At Seven

On Sunday I went to the Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale to see Mornings at Seven.  The cast and production was stellar as usual.  The script was...let's say - dysfunctional.  There were four sisters, three the brother-in-laws, a nerdy nephew with a oh-so-nice fiance set in 1939...oh, but what a dysfunctional family.  This script made me realize what a normal family I had...so much so...I need to call my big sister in Chicago to tell her how much I love having her as a sister.  :-)  We have always been close, and she gets along with my husband very well...but not that well.  lol



Mom, Sis and Me outside our Chicago family home.



First Saturday Art Walk in Fountain Hills

This past Saturday I went to the First Saturday Art Walk in Fountain Hills which is held by the great fountain.  The weather was horrible...cold and rainy.  The day looked nothing like the above picture. There were only a few artists who showed up, but luckily for me, one of the best ones was there.  I managed to buy all the gifts I needed for my holiday shopping from this one artist. She gave me a great discount on all my purchases and I bought local...which is a win, win for everyone.