New Year…New Us!

Whelp…2026. I took down Christmas today. Pardon me whilst I cry uncontrollably. Sniff! But, it is interesting isn’t it? We look forward to the Christmas and NYs holidays, decorate up a storm, wallow in it, don’t want it to end…then the new year hits and all of that is past history. Huh! First you don’t want to take down the decorations but then you can’t wait to take them down.

I think what I’ve just described is moving on. We psychologically know when to move on. And we want to move on and get going again. We look forward to a new year with hopefully better moments in our lives, especially if we’ve experienced a lot of heartache or crappy circumstances like financial stuff or job stuff or just difficult stuff. And that’s a great thing we humans have in our inner being. The resolve to move on and make it better! Think about that. We want to fix things. We want to fix ourselves, maybe lose a few lbs, new haircut etc. We want to fix a few things around our living abode, maybe start a new project (perhaps a blog? ha!), and just incorporate something new and promising in our lives. Humans are built like that!

I hope for and aim for 2026 to be less heartbreaking and happier. With my brother dying in March of 2025, my famous back surgeon being killed in a private plane crash in April, my car being totaled in May, I’m emotionally exhausted. The only new surprise I would take now is if some millionaire comes into my life and asks me to marry him!

I plan to keep the music going of course, blog more for your enjoyment, and my paid subscription blog for professional musicians (or any career) who need some advice or just something to ponder in their professional lives moving forward. I also enjoy helping my church out 1-2 days a week. And other activities that come up that are creative etc. And of course, being in touch with my wonderful family and enjoying my friends as well.

I also want to find some new and healthy recipes to add to my already nice stash but something newer and more adventurous. I love exploring new healthy food ideas especially stuff like salads, etc. More water! Boy do I need to keep that going! And more calming exercises. I tend to get anxious pretty much for no reason from what I can figure. So I need to keep my deep breathing exercises going. Good thing I’m an opera singer. That’s what we do…deep breathing. Plus what would a new year be without keeping up our beauty regiments? Still selling Avon beauty products and giving makeup advice. Can’t quit that!

So I feel confident I’ve got a decent start in the new year. Never expect too much. You know what happens with that. Ha! But what do you want for the new year? Hopefully you are planning some new and positive things for your own lives. Do tell!

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Happy New Year 2026!

Well, absent again since late November 2025. As much as I have my regular MRI/CT Scans for my wonderful doctors at Brighams here in Boston for the past 2 years since back/spinal surgery, it does take time to navigate all of this time-wise. And as much as there is nothing new (yay!) there was still something old they were tracking for a year. So, 2 weeks before Christmas they scheduled one week of radiation to zap the old stuff. Done! Now to resume quarterly tests and see where we are with that.

Went to my Church’s NY Eve Party for the first time. I figured I needed a good party after the past few years of surgery, deaths, car accident, etc. It was good! Loud Greeks and loud Greek music but good. Ha! Good food, good company and great that I made myself do it. Thanks to a few of my friends who kept nagging me.

And something I’ve been doing since 1987…journaling every January 1st. I started doing it for some reason. But now in 2026, I’m reading past years stuff and seeing my life unfold through tough times, good times, interesting times, and weird times. Ha! Also my emotions through all of these moments and how I wished and prayed for the right outcome, and was determined to move forward “Come Hell or High Water!” It is always very interesting to see how you felt in years past and feel now about perhaps similar situations. How you grow over the years. It’s a real education into personal growth and just life in general…your life.

Now it’s on to 2026. NO MORE hurtful things happening. Time for a few real good events to enter my life and enhance my life. I’ve still got stuff I have to do in this life and plenty of energy to get it done!

And getting back on track with my blogging because I know all my fans, like you folks, are just waiting to read about my next adventure.

So what are you planning for 2026? Do tell!

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Other Experiences

Why did I name this blog “other experiences?” I didn’t want to scare anyone saying “supernatural” or so even though this is what this blog is about.

As we go through life stuff happens. Many times you’ll hear other people say how they avoided something that could have turned out terrible…”whew!” Or a dream-job lands in one’s lap or perhaps one wins the lottery. And sometimes one is led down a productive path…networking, someone puts in a good word for you for a job or other event, etc.

But how does this happen? I personally think there’s Divine intervention. Throughout my life I have always tried to plan according to how experts recommend. Career, financial, you-name-it. And just when I’ve got a really darn-good plan…it all falls apart. Hah! Seriously!

I moved from Chicago to Boston because of music work with my best music bud but within the first 6 months landed an interesting job I wasn’t quite prepared for…organist/choirmaster in a Greek Orthodox Church. I was Roman Catholic at the time. My music bud recommended me to the priest who was a friend of his. Aaaaccckkkkk! I had no idea what a Greek Orthodox Church did. And…they hired me! Faint. It took me 4 months of intensive training (Orthodox boot camp) to learn the Liturgy and some Greek too since half the Liturgy is in Greek.

And you know what? Two years later I became Orthodox. Huh! I was so impressed with the Liturgy, how intense it is, how Memorials in honor of deceased loved ones at the end of the Liturgy helped so many people grieve and feel loved and comforted, and much more. My choir was good! I learned the basic liturgical music and liturgical Greek. Now if you think I ever planned this in my life…think again!

My music bud and I eventually did start teaching together and making more music together but that wasn’t the shockeroo that converting to Orthodoxy was! And interesting enough, a friend at the Church I used to work for (in the office) back in Chicago told me that perhaps I was moving for spiritual reasons. Ummmm….I think she hit that nail on the head even though I had no clue!

Before I moved to Boston I had head surgery…benign tumor (meningioma) that did not go into my brain. I was fine in about 6 months. After that and after I had moved, I decided I wanted to be the healthiest thing on the planet. Yet, I didn’t know how to accomplish that. I ended up reading a series of books starting with Deepak Chopra’s “Perfect Health.” Then I went on to read several other health books. How did I know which ones to read? I didn’t. They appeared either in an ad or bookstore, or for one of them, I was watching a 90 minute special on public TV. This nutritionist was talking about being healthy and losing weight, and pushing his new book. Well, I bought the book. It’s great. I try to follow some of his stuff to this day.

Then I retired in 2020 from my regular jobs and intended to just do my music. I had a retirement plan! But…the pandemic hit. We lost the music studio. My music bud died. I had major back/spinal surgery. What happened to my plan? Gone! Pfffttt! Here we go again. I think God slaps my plans into infinity and then drops His own on me instead…without warning. Grrrr.

Re the major back/spinal surgery I had 2 years ago…about 3 months before I had a dream about my Busia (boo-sha which is Polish for grandma)…my mother’s mother. I have a black and white picture of her standing and smiling. I never met her because she died before I was born. Well, the dream was so happy! She was smiling and sparkling…the picture was in color, the sun was shining…I was even in the dream. I was happy! And of course you can still think in dreams…I remember thinking “why am I dreaming about her again?” When I woke up I thought perhaps she was going to take care of me or ???? I have not dreamed about her since.

When I was in rehab after surgery…I was falling asleep one night and felt a light, warm hand first on one side of my back and then on the other. I thought “is that you Mom?” My mother took care of me after my head surgery. I always called her a saint after that. Soooo…I came to the conclusion that my Mom and her Mom were in charge of taking care of me. And I’m doing well today and determined to stay healthy as I did before!

I know God has a plan for all of us. And as far as me making more plans for the future, forget it! I still have my heartfelt dreams but I’ve gotten to the point where I refuse to make plans to obtain them. I just pray and wait for the obvious…God to make it happen…usually in a much different and more dramatic way than I would ever think of. Oy vey!

And let’s not forget the good ole “low gut feeling.” I have learned in life to never ignore it! Never! If something is nagging you just do whatever it is. You’ll be happier for listening to yourself…or the Divine intervention. Sometimes it seems like a secretary you can’t see. Ha!

Interesting isn’t it? That Divine intervention just pushing you around in life in different directions…but always in the right direction. That’s how it’s been for me, at least when I take the time to analyze what just happened yet again in life! Ha!

Feel free to mention how your own life has taken unrealized twists and turns…eventually for the better. I always say life’s a trip! And don’t forget, eat pie. It really helps!

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Here We Are Today

So. Yes, I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus again due to life circumstances. My work schedule changed. It’s fine. And an old health issue has changed a smidge but it’s something the doctors want to take care of now! And my current health is just fine…happy doctors. Yay!

So here I am, having to backtrack a bit to get rid of some old crap from the previous hospitalization 2 years ago. A week of radiation therapy and the old crap will be gone. And there’s nothing new in my body so it’s a “clean-up crew” type of thing I like to think.

We all have to expect that life doesn’t go smoothly from point A to point B. Mine sure hasn’t. But we keep moving forward even if we have to go backwards a couple of steps…3 steps forward-1 step back, etc. But for myself, I am happy to be cleaning up an issue from about a year ago or more so that my moving forward feels more secure. I find myself being happier right now especially since we are keeping watch on my situation and being pro-active. Might I add that I have a couple of superb doctors who are also the nicest guys. That also makes me feel very secure!

I have a paid blog on what I call personal achievement careers. This is a real thing moving forward in this type of career path. Making strides in life isn’t a perfect science. We all see this in our own personal health. Like I said…3 steps forward-1 step back. And to add to this imperfect science is emotions and mental health. Life is tough like that, especially when you think you’ve “beat it” (what ever “it” is) and have to go back and beat it again…hopefully this time for good!

So what makes us press on and in a good frame of mind as well? For me, it’s Faith. I know the Spirit is in my corner and I do converse with the Spirit (God). We don’t know what is in store for us in life but I suspect it’s there to challenge us to rise above and grow as a person. And perhaps even help others face what we’ve faced and come out on top as well.

Since I retired from full-time jobs in 2020, my life the last 5 years has been the following: lost music studio due to the pandemic; my best friend/music bud died; my brother died; I had major back/spinal surgery; my last car was totaled. Huh! Excuse me whilst I faint. Ha! Maybe you have already!

Here are the positive things that happened because of the above paragraph:
-I started teaching again for a very good music studio with a wonderful owner who is quite the entrepreneur! One of the best I’ve been affiliated with.
-I was able to help with my best friend’s funeral and his burial in particular, in a cemetery very much affiliated with his religion (Russian Orthodox).
-Even though my surgery was emergency back surgery my doctors were the best in their fields, and the ongoing care is absolutely amazing as well as the doctors in charge of that.
-My finances of course were being affected with all of this happening. Then out of the blue my Church called and asked me to fill in as the office admin asst due to an issue with the current asst., something I had done for 22 years. I was there a year and the previous person came back but they still want me there a couple of days a week to help out as the job is pretty big.
-My brother’s children, my nieces and nephew who are very tightknit, celebrated him with a beautiful funeral and so much love.
-I was not hurt at all in the car accident. And with the accident insurance funds, I was able to buy a newer used car just like my old one with quite a few upgrades and even low mileage.
-With the financial help working for my Church and also my mortgage company I was able to tackle some debt and do a few necessary repairs at home.

So yes, the path forward over the past 5 years has been “gimme a break already!” But it led to a better situation all around! I remember talking to God and saying “does it have to be so dramatic?!” Well, since I’m a musician/performer aka drama queen, I guess so! Ha!

Ok. Now it’s your turn. What in your life has been this dramatic so-to-speak and what has it meant for you? How did you handle it and move forward? Take your time and always remember, eat pie whilst you’re pondering this. It always helps! Ha!

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https://www.avon.com/repstore/eczaja

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