You CAN See!

So much fun! Singing The Star-Spangled Banner at the Bulls game Saturday night was a blast. It was not at all scary, and it was over so fast! That was the largest audience I've ever performed for, although I can't say how many of them were actually paying attention. The best news of all: 1) If I did look pasty, the cameras never got close enough to me to show it. 2) I did fall, but not entering or exiting the court -- not until after the game started and I was out hunting for a slice of pizza. 3) I remembered all the words!

(Me = front row, first on the left)

Why I Love Baking

This, my friends, is what I call a loaf of bread.

Can You See?

Tune in to WGN tomorrow night (December 23) around 7:30 Central time to see members of the Chicago Chamber Choir sing the national anthem for the Bulls/Bobcats game. They tell us the national anthem will be televised.

Reasons I'm terrified:

1. We've been warned to wear plenty of make-up so as not to look "pasty." I always look pasty! I live my life looking like I'm about three melanin cells away from being an albino! I'm going to look like the walking dead.

2. I'm going to trip and fall either entering or leaving the court. I just know it.

3. I'm going to forget the words! To The Star-Spangled Banner! On national television! I will die.

Like a Child-of-the-80s-Turned-Overprotective-Mom

As I was driving home from my choir concert last night, "Like a Virgin" came on the radio. Of course, I immediately started belting along with the Material Girl -- I know the song well. I grew up on this stuff. "Like a virgin -- hey! Touched for the very first time!"

And as I sang and recalled those *shocking!* lyrics, I chuckled a bit to myself. Remember how upsetting that song was to so many grown-ups back in the day? What is Madonna teaching our youth? Oh my god, pre-teen girls are singing about being "like" a virgin! They shouldn't even know what that means! Gasp! I was amused and diverted by this memory for a bit. Please -- like we were harmed by listening to this or any other Madonna song. Give me a break!

And then a little voice in my head said, "But I wouldn't want the twins listening to this, of course! I mean, not until they're at least 25."

O Christmas Tree

We finally managed to get our Christmas tree up last weekend. I like to wait a bit longer than most people because I have a fear of the tree getting old and dry and becoming a large piece of highly flammable kindling sitting in my home. (Does that fear help me remember to water it regularly? No.) Realistically, I know that just because I wait to get the tree doesn't mean it hasn't been sitting on that tree lot for weeks and weeks, shriveling into a dry husk. I try not to think about that.

So as has been our tradition for the last several years, we went to Gesthemane, a lovely (overpriced) garden center near our home. This year, our friendly salesman alerted us to the fact that there's a special bargain-price lot full of less-than-perfect trees. So you're wondering why our tree looks a bit lop-sided? I love it just the way it is.

My tree-decorating theme? "Ornaments Kelly Likes." I'm consistent, so they all look good together, but otherwise there isn't much tying things together. Mental note -- I am no longer allowed to buy tons of new ornaments every year, no matter how super cute and awesome Gesthemane's new ornaments are. We barely found room for all the ornaments we already have on this not-small tree. One new ornament per year, max.

The Eagle Has Landed

Thanks, Nanette!!


Now it's time I reciprocate.

Technical Difficulties

A few of you have reported trouble trying to post comments on the blog lately. Sorry, guys. I assume the problem is that I finally gave in to those nagging messages from Blogger.com to "upgrade" to Blogger Beta. I think Blogger Beta needed to undergo a bit more beta testing before they rolled it out and shoved it on us.

I have no idea how long this problem will persist, but know that I feel your pain. Feel free to email your witty comments directly to me so at least someone gets to appreciate them.

Supah Stah

That's me! On TV! (I'm the one on the left.)

Those of you who missed the Chicago Chamber Choir's media blitz this morning, have no fear! Visit the WGN archive and choose "Toy Drive, Chicago Chamber Choir 12/15" to see a (brief) clip of us singing "Carol of the Bells." (We performed several other songs, but that's the only one in the archive.) Here is a lovely shot of us singing for WGN.

And go to the WBEZ archive for Eight-Forty-Eight and choose the December 15 program to hear us sing "Caroling, Caroling," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and "Christmas Time Is Here." (We are about the last 10 minutes of the program, so you can fast-forward straight to the end.)

Next week, we're singing the national anthem at a Bulls game -- more details to come.

Reminder: Tune In Tomorrow!

Don't forget! Tune in to WBEZ tomorrow morning, December 15, between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM Central time (you can listen online at wbez.org). On Eight-Forty-Eight with Steve Edwards, the Chicago Chamber Choir gives a sneak peek at our upcoming holiday concert, and director Timm Adams chats a bit about the choir. Our segment is about 10 minutes long -- I'm not sure where we fall in the 9:00 to 10:00 block, so you'll just have to listen to the whole thing. If you miss the broadcast, you can go to the site later and listen to the archive.

Also, CCC will be appearing on the WGN morning news program tommorow, December 15, between 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM Central time to sing Christmas carols as locals drop off presents for WGN's holiday gift drive. If you're awake that early and receive WGN broadcasts (I understand it's in some satellite TV packages, for those of you who aren't in Chicago or its surroundings), be sure to tune in!

If you're planning to join us for our Carols By Candlelight concert, reserve your tickets now! The December 17th concert is in serious danger of selling out.

Is it me you're looking for?

These days, this is how a typical conversation with me goes:

You: Hey, Kelly!

Me: Hi! How are you?

You: I'm great, thanks for asking! How are you?

Me: Oh, we're fantastic. The girls are doing just great. Sophia's standing now, did you hear? And Evelyn is mastering two-word phrases. I mean, they're just so advanced. It's incredible. And did I tell you about Sophia's adorable obsession with penguins? So cute! She calls them "beedee" -- isn't that the cutest thing ever?

You: Well, that's great. So how are you doing?

Me: Oh, great. You know. The girls keep me busy. Yesterday, they had physical therapy, which is just so much fun, and of course they have their 18-month check-up coming up, and then there's their holiday photo shoot. Our schedule is pretty full!

You: [exhibiting great patience] That sounds like a handful! I've had a lot going on lately, too.

Me: Really? That's great. Did I tell you about Sophia's newest word? Window! Isn't that great? That brings her total word count to 47 -- mama, dada, bubble, baby, puppy ... [etc.]

As you can see, I've completely lost my ability to talk about anything other than my kids. In every conversation, I talk about them every chance I get. I'm constantly thinking about more interesting things I could be telling you about them, if only I could find a way to fit it into the conversation. Because you're dying to know, right? Everyone is. I'm sure of it.

So, fine. I'm obsessed with my kids. Most parents of young children are, right? Seems perfectly normal to me. However, it's been occurring to me lately that not only do I love to talk about my kids -- I now have no desire to talk about myself. Because I don't really have any interest in myself. I am secondary. When I take the girls out and people ooo and ahh over them but don't even say hello to me, I'm not offended. I'm pleased. When people ask what's going on in my life that isn't kid-related, I have nothing to say. Sure, I have lots going on. I could talk about choir or my freelance work or my gripping addiction to World of Warcraft. But who wants to talk about me? The Girls! Are! So Cute!

Is it bad that I've lost most of my own identity in them? Should I be fighting to maintain some sense of individuality, some Kelly-ness? A tiny shred of interest in anything other than them? A little voice in the back of my head wonders about this, but I'm too busy dressing the girls up in cute outfits and taking pictures of them to pay it any mind.