But I have to have that...

I know I have strayed from speaking of musical things as of late but I think this topic is rather worthy of discussion.
Topic: Food. Really good food and the inability to attain the good food.

Two friends. Same story. End result...despair.

Day before: two friends decided to attend the local bbq, The Branding Iron. However, this is not just regular bbq.
This is bbq at its best. Art in brisket and fried okra form. It's just good.

Next day:
Friend #1:
She gets up and goes running in hopes of burning some calories before the festivities begin.
She comes back home with feelings of accomplishment and decides to eat some cheese and crackers to keep
her stomach prepped for heavenly bbq on a plate.

Friend #2:
She gets up, drinks some OJ and gets on her Wii fitness to burn approximately 44 calories in order to
have the desired appetite for her lunch...rather her feast. :)

Two friends drive up to the local bbq place and wonder why it looks so empty?
As they walk up to the door, they realize that the restaurant is closed for the holidays.

"No! Why? How can this be?" as they continue to dramatically challenge the lack of good bbq they would have consumed that day. It was tragic no doubt. Expectations failed. Desires pushed aside and never to be experienced. Yes, put a picture of puppies in front of their eyes and they still would have been wallowing in their disappointment.

Result:
They decided to go to the alternative bbq place in town which is probably where all the other branding iron lovers resorted to.
Of course, the brisket was lean and kept getting stuck in their teeth, the okra was far slimier than usual, and interestingly the sausage tasted like waffles with maple syrup. They like waffles but they were expecting bbq today. Overall, they felt like they were being overly critical but it was merited for the lack of excellent bbq they were expecting.

Sometimes you have expectations and they aren't met. You work so hard for something so good and it still doesn't add up.
Such is life. Sometimes there are good bbq moments but most of the time, there aren't...cherish the former as much as you can when they come your way.

Tip: We recommend going to your favorite places before the holidays because you never know when they will be closed. :)

<3
C

Nighttime

I'm not a night person but nighttime has become wonderfully pleasant for me recently.It's when I get to crawl into bed in my comfy clothes, turn on my nighttime playlist of relaxing songs, read and write my thoughts down for the day and just breathe. I have the best memories of taking nighttime drives with a friend and listening to songs so fitting in our lives at that moment.

Nighttime,
fond of you am I,
with peaceful bliss
you invite me stay.

Sincere and earnest
are your lullabies,
a sweet smile gathers on my face.

My slumbers aided
by your comforting conversations,
and liberty of allowing me,
without reservation in:

thought,
time,
action,
feelings,
laughter.

Thank you.

Love,
C

Inside

From "Letters to a Young Poet", Rainer Maria Rilke--

"So dear Sir, I can't give you any advice but this:
to go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows at its source you will find the answer to the question of whether you must create. Accept that answer, just as it is given to you, without trying to interpret it. Perhaps you will discover that you are called to be an artist.

Then take that destiny upon yourself and bear it, its burden and its greatness, without ever asking what reward might come from outside, for the creator must be a world for himself and muts find everything in himself and in Nature to whom his whole life is devoted."

<3
C

PS passed to me from a dear friend. <3

A time I fell in love

Friends,
What a week it has been. You know what puts a damper on things?
Getting sick.

It kind of ruins the plans, expectations, fun, and relaxation you had in mind.

I got to see family this past weekend. It's still great how things work out despite the busy-ness of the Christmas season. There may be frustration and miscommunication about who is coming to whose house and when they are coming and why they haven't figured out a better system of coordinating who travels each year...these disruptions always occur but when we get together, things seem to be alright. Laughter and merriment seem to adorn the aforementioned chaotic mess.

This week I've had the honor of being a bridesmaid in a beautiful wedding. It was truly a fairytale. Winter weddings are really wonderful. I felt so invited and happy to be a part of a celebration. It was lovely.

A dear friend of mine paid me a visit yesterday even in my sickened state. She's a sweetheart for putting up with my yucky self. It was an enjoyable time and each time we come together, it seems absolutely effortless picking up where we left off.

We watched The Holiday...a fantastic, warm fuzzy feeling and absolute girly movie. Sometimes, I wonder why we, women, willingly let ourselves be tortured by such sappy scenarios. However, there's something about watching these movies with your girls and being able to squeal, sigh, laugh and vomit at what is taking place in these character's lives. The hope that you build for two people to find each other and stay together despite the turmoil in the middle of the movie (cue sappy I miss you music) is captivating nevertheless.

The getting sick part this week was absolutely no fun, my friend but the laugher and joy this week has been great.

I know that even though this season is full of joy, there is emptiness for many. I know there are some who long to be closer to a someone else, some mourning the loss of a loved one, some wishing this season turned out a bit differently for them and so forth. I wish I could give those people a big hug and say it's going to be ok. I think something I caught on to from the movie was that, there are many ways to fall in love. Many ways and do remember that. There are many ways for you to love and be loved.

Love,
C

"every now and then on my mind yeah"

Joys this week:

1. choir kids learning parts of a song I just wrote and rocking it.
2. seeing little ballerinas dance at a recital, falling and getting back up with a smile again
3. talking about music from the 1700's with my students as if they are angsty songs still applicable today to our relationships and lives
4. shamelessly replaying the same song in my car on repeat and loving it more each time
5. holding and comforting a person I hardly knew who was crying over love and brokenness
6. the stillness of the day=no wind
7. really good hot chocolate I just had tonight. the marsh mellow ratio was just right. it was just good each time.

Sometimes, one needs to list the joys out...because they do exist. They don't replace the emptiness or sadness we feel but they remind us that it's going to be ok despite whatever it is we are going through. I know I sound rather silly listing these details out...from ballerinas to hot cocoa...really Casie?

Actually, yes. :)

Love,
C

PS beautiful song: I have loved you wrong--The Swell Season

you're 22

**MY MUSIC IS ON ITUNES AND AMAZON. Please check it out! :)**
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/casieluong


When you're 22,
you're stubborn and bold
make mistakes,
wading in new waters.

When you're 22,
you face decisions never faced before,
people you've never faced before,
fall on your face like never before.

When you're 22,
the nursery rhymes and songs change,
new songs are written,
new songs are sung.

When you're 22,
there's still much to learn,
to feel to yearn,
for something more.

Optimism,
looking up,
hope,
a chase,
something new starts to awake.

Updates on my music life: still writing and working on some new material. Got music up on itunes and amazon. Exciting! Going to get more songs recorded beginning of next year. Brainstorming up another benefit concert!

I am enjoying my work at the highschool with the choirs. It has been a semester full of frustration, despair, music making, and laughter. We just had our Christmas concert and it was fantastic. :)I was proud of our kids. It's been a great semester full of music and being 22. I love it. All of it. <3

<3,
C

far from

Never say never,
of want to separate,

It's a natural bond,
that can be severed,
from having endured much.

Stand here,
stand there,
when I'm hurt,
be closer.

When he's scared,
be closer,
when she's confused,
be there.

Find her,
no matter where she is,
be near,
no matter how much he refuses.

whatever you do, never be far from.

Love,
C