300 Days of Sunshine

Cheers to 33!  Sometimes I forget how old I am because age is just a number and 30-something birthdays aren't very monumental.  Birthdays also become less meaningful when life revolves around a toddler, but I was still determined to spend my birthday weekend doing all of my favorite things.  I took Ady to gymnastics class, went out for wine with friends, had coffee and my favorite donut at the Farmer's Market, started a new book, went to a heated Vinyasa class, FaceTimed with family, opened a fancy bottle of champagne, and enjoyed family time at home. I love the tradition of birthday yoga.  It's a time for setting intentions, for connecting my mind and body, and getting in tune with things that are affecting me.  My birthday Vinyasa class this year reminded me to do everything with purpose and intention, to not go through the motions or become habitual, to accept that where I am right now is where I'm supposed to be, to practice forgiveness for my own mistakes and

Photo from santafeopera.org Bucket list item: Attend the Santa Fe opera... Check!   My dad was visiting at the end of July and we got tickets to see Leonard Bernstein's Candide .  I chose this particular show because I'm familiar with the music from my high school wind ensemble days, and was also familiar with Voltaire's novella, which I studied in European history.  Leading up to the show, I became more and more excited to see the performance after reading the reviews, listening to the soundtrack, and learning more about how one of the most famous American composers and conductors happened to compose an opera based on a story from a witty French Enlightenment writer.  "All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" is an optimistic phrase repeated throughout the story of Candide , representing the idea that nothing bad can happen in a world created by a benevolent and omnipotent God.  However, it is obvious that Voltaire thinks this is idiotic,