oh dear

where does the time go?

I'm neck deep in prepping for my lecture tomorrow so forgive me if I only touch lightly --I promise to return in the near future with more news.

Raspberries and whipped cream have spurred me on listening, purchasing (iTunes) and Power Pointing for my 'morrow lecture--Renaissance Instrumental Music.  I love this lecture.  I'll keep that in mind while my colleagues make faces (I've learned they are not so interested in instruments).  Onward!

Great field trip yesterday to the Rosary Chapel (wonderful stained glass!!! (thank you Libby Owens!) and the art museum. I'll include some of the pics here.

Looking forward to next week and being with the "kids" and the baby.

Whew

Later gators!

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Thursday and chilly

Survived the attack of the HUGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEEE mouse!

The nerve--he ran out of my bedroom closet, climbing over my sweatshirt--stood and stretched and yawned like he just was getting off a bus.  I screamed and screamed and he just stared at me.  I ran and got Muffin and tossed her in the room.  Muffin literally walked past the mouse--I think they waved.  I screamed some more--grabbed the bedding (i was making the bed!) and the laundry (I was folding laundry next) and ran down the hall to call Doug the handyman.  I reached his sweet wife. Doug wasn't home.  I ran back to the bedroom to shut up the room, trap the mouse and he was GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I ran to the living room and there he was admiring the view in the kitchen!  I screamed and screamed and he didn't mind a bit!  He was big and very furry--had on a very thick winter coat!  I think now, he had traveled in for a guest appearance with the Moscow Ballet-scheduled to do the Nutcracker in A2 this week.  He was tiptoeing around . ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH   I grabbed a towel and threw it over his head.  He didn't seem to move.  So I ran in the kitchen and grabbed a heavy alumnium pan and screamed as I placed it over the part of the towel I thought had the mouse.  Then I got the heaviest book in the house "History of Art" and put it on top of the pan--to keep him from escaping or running off with the pan still on him.  Then I sat in the living room and watched for any movement (none!).  Doug arrived about 30 minutes later.  I met him at the door. I told him "Now Doug, if you lift that towel and he isn't under there I want you to lie to me and say "I got it" !  " He waited while I disappeared down the hall a safe distance away.  He got it by the tail (so he said) and said "what should I do with it?" and I said "oh, don't hurt him, just send him outside".  So out he went.

I HATE MICE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am contemplating remarrying!

School was full. Kids are having difficulties getting ready for the holidays.  My stinker 4th hour was suspended from school for several days due to his antics in Piano Class YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Not sure that will help much.  

Talked with Jeanine via email.  Life is hard at her workplace--lay offs.  Talked with Mark via text message (his birthday)--he is having a terrible time with morale.  Gosh! 

Orchestra concert was tonight and I didn't go back in.  Sometimes I just need to be nothing.

I've become addicted to NCIS.  I really like the program.

Did I mention the FANTASTIC dinner last night?  Cranberry brined turkey, cornbread and water chestnut stuffing, squash and great wine and conversation.  Life is good!!!

Well....laundry to do.

Gonna go wet my whistle with some apple cider.  Was on a lemonade kick but the lemonade is gone.

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful full moon--I AM!

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Brr......

Still chilly here. Had a great time at the Pioneer Hockey game Friday night.  Froze though.  I noted the hometeam (Saline) had heaters that worked while the visitors side, the heaters did not work.  Clever.  I have several students on the hockey team so it was fun to support.  Chelsea won 9-5.  One of my students, Chi, scored a hat trick.  He spent as much time in the penalty box as he did scoring goals.  He was sent in the first time for slamming an opponent in the head.  I told the Mom next to me he had perfected that move in my class. She said "what do you teach????" I said "piano".  ;-)  I figured on Monday I'll write a "congrats, Hat trick" on the board before he comes in. We have class 3rd hour.  2nd hour he should have received the lunch detention slip I filled out for him on Friday for disappearing before the end of class ;-)

I could be working on my lecture.  I am not enthused.  Renaissance Vocal Music.  Will present my "Columbus Song" for extra credit possibilites for students.  

The snow has stopped but it is still very chilly out there. I abandoned the car in the garage.  I hope she appreciates it.

Now that the frig is new and quiet I can hear the furnace struggling.  I had asked my handyman to look at it and he thought it was "okay"--called the furnace man (no return call) so will call again.  It makes a "swoooooooooshhhhhhhh" sound when it is trying to start up.

Didn't see the turkey yesterday. I figured he was at Jan and Marshall's watching the basketball game. GO BLUE!!!

Watching the PBS "Godfathers of the Renaissance" once again.  I really like that film.  The Medici's were such "interesting" (cut throat, loyal, godfathers, financiers, patrons of the arts) people.  I think of Jeanine and my trip to the Uffizi every time I watch it--those beautiful Botticelli's!  "Birth of Venus" "La Primavera"  ahhhhhh  Did you realize this was also the time of the "Bonfires of the Vanities" ?

Running to town errands. New Chelsea Market is a center of activity these days. I like the new owner, Francesca--she is from Cuba.  (well, a long time ago).  I'll pick up some meat for Gpa.

Hope you are all enjoying a great Sunday!

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Freezing!

Boy, it is chilly out! I was sitting in the car talking w Gpa on the phone and brr!!!!

I stuck around A2 tonight as the Huron High School has a concert tonight and I want to attend.

It's been a hectic week.  Monday I was still wiped out from staying up late and chatting with Emily Ann.  I went to bed with my lecture notes and fell asleep early.  The lecture went "okay"--probably would have been great with some rehearsal.  Tuesday night I performed at the Hospice Memorial Service at St Joe's. Marshall had used his snowblower to plow out the lower drive as his tractor battery gave up the ghost.  It was kind of him, because then I could get out to work.  The service was beautiful but when they started scrolling the names on the screen, their computer crashed before they got to the "G's".  I kept playing for another 8 minutes while they tried to fix it--didn't work.  So people stood in the audience and spoke their deceased loved ones name.  That was hard.  I came home pretty exhausted.  The crescent moon lit my path--pretty sweet!  (covered in clouds)--rather eerie.  Finally in with the harp, unloaded and asleep by 11pm.  Last night I fell asleep at 6:30.  I talked with Gpa and then just fell asleep.  I was awake at 10pm, thinking it was 2 or 3 in the morning--then tried to fall back to sleep.  My bed wouldn't cooperate--either it felt too hot, or too soft, or too hard--(sounds like a bear story) so I finally pulled all my covers down on the floor and slept on the floor.  That worked.

Kids are feeling pushed right now.  Interims are tomorrow and though given the opportunity, many dragged their toes toward either getting their work done or retaking playing tests to raise their scores.  I was surprised. Maybe it is the time of the year.  I realized I seemed more invested in their grade than they were--so I think they need to bump their noses.  Always interesting to me also that kids, though warned, shown, encouraged, badgered, will wait until the last minute (Wednesday this week) to try and turn around their 5 missing theory papers, quiz and 2 projects to fix it by "Friday".  Yep, I think they need to bump their nose this time.

Lecturing next week on Renaissance Vocal Music.  I would like to "not" drive in to Dearborn this Sunday (time time time) but Gpa is counting on me.  Though Denise returned from her Vegas trip last night, she went to Ben's then came home this morning and left 20 minutes later for A2.  She said she'll be back tomorrow evening so Ben can pick her up for the weekend.  Glad Emily drove Dad all around.  Gave him some (a lot of) companionship. On Tuesday they spent a chunk of the day at Greenfield Village/Henry Ford (Gpa used his wheelchair) and then they went to Miller's Bar for a hamburger.  They had a good time.  

Song and Dance lady just showed up at the library.  I think it might get quickly cheerful.

I think I'm too tired for cheerful ;-)  

Tonight's concert should be great.  Pioneer ALSO has a choir concert tonight, but I elected not to go. I've gone to their events before and they are not as good, boring, pacing off, etc.  I know the Huron group will be a professional concert.  Rick says this is his best choir ever!  Amazing--as he has been teaching 34 years.

I'll let you know what I think ;-)

In the meantime, Fa la la la la 

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Good Bye old Friend

Cleaning out the frig.  Doug wants it so I wanted it to look halfway decent.  It does.  When I uncovered the baby pictures, magnets, coupons, pencil holder--I found the remaining portion of that Dominos pizza sticker Jean had pasted on the frig when he was in middle school.  Cleaning out the freezer, I also found a ziplock bag of egg rolls ala Jean-Pierre's egg roll love about Freshman year in high school.  Saved the organic frozen peas for future ouches.  Most of the frig's contents is sitting outside on the deck.  I am keeping a careful eye out for hungry skunks, raccoons and coyotes.  The turkey doesn't look in bags.  He prefers his food spread out on the ground.  

Have my bags packed--just waiting. 

Talked with Dad.  They did feast last night after 8pm. 

Ran to the recycling center again--and am pretty magazine free again.

Ah the Chicago express is humming through the woods.  That will be me someday soon.  Adventures await!

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Frig

comes today. I listened to the old one chirp and chip last night.  It really has held on well--over 29 years! It started this unhappy chirping in May--so kudos to GE's strength.  The machine I bought is an Amana. The freezer is on the bottom.  The door opens on the opposite side--should be fun learning that trick ;-) I'll spend some time cleaning out this frig and putting the extra food out on the deck. It is cold enough it should be okay for an hour out there.  

I have plenty to do while I wait for the Heydlauff crew.  I just don't want to do anything.  Laundry is always waiting, have done most of the cleaning, could work on my lecture but Humanities has lost a lot of its luster, need to organize my other 3 classes--piano, guitar (where do we go from here--what can the kids do and still do well and enjoy) and then MT&T starts Finale.  I guess it would be best for me to go into school early on Monday to see if I left my "old" finale projects there.  They don't seem to be neatly filed here at home.  I did look.  I found a lot of other things though--and lots to throw out.

It is rather "fun" going through house stuff. Gosh, we accumulate a lot of things! I think I'll "do" the pantry today.  The top shelf fell down in July and I have yet to get a ladder, make the climb and put things back together.  No time better than the present.

After doing the recycling yesterday on my way to Dad's--yes, he gave me more magazines.  Denise also has been bringing home magazines from Ben's (I mean stacks, not just a few!) She often will package up the medical ones and send to Larraine (come on, old medical magazines??) To me they seem like great fire fodder.  Perhaps I have the "wrong" attitude.

Emily and I pattered back and forth via text message.  Her flight from MN was quick! She was "home"  a lot sooner than I anticipated.  I have a feeling everyone is sleeping in this morning. Dad, Denise (who is in Vegas for the week) and Emily are all late night people--like 2am going to bed people.  I guess getting up at 4:45am for 6 years has kinda set my clock.  Even Muffin makes sure I am not sleeping in.  She was whining at 5am for me to get up.  When I came out to see if she 1) needed fed? 2) needed to go out? --she didn't want either. Like Kayla, she just wanted to be sure I knew the time.  Good ol' Kayla.  I still miss her!

Off to play

Hope you enjoy your day!

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ps  Bought gas on Ecorse and Beech Daly yesterday for $1.59  When the pump stopped I thought it was broke--it only cost $18.42   When I started pumping, I was practically empty, too!  Far cry from those $58 payments at the pump!

Busy day

Running hither and yon.

I have plenty of fix up, clear up chores around the house--so Muffin saw to it I was up early.  She of course went back to nap already.  

The turkey had a hard day as he is still sleeping in the tree over the house.  At least he is still with us ;-) 

When hunting for checks I discovered gallons of junk stored in the lower level.  I have decided to spend some time sorting and pitching.  I thought I had done this in recent years, but perhaps this stuff gathered again.  The wok that I thought I would use regularly--forget it!  Another trophy for the recycling pile. Quiet on this backhill as Jan and Marshall are gone.  The kid had his wood stove fired up last night--smelled wonderful!  

I promised my Dad I would come in today and help him to do final cleaning chores to get ready for Emily.  His hand is less swollen now but still sore.  Denise left for Vegas this morning.  Emily should be in late tonight.  I'll be back home by then.  The dinner is ready and prepared for when she comes in.  Poor kid--she already had 2 Thanksgiving dinners with her family.  They made Thanksgiving dinner at their house for Josh and Veronica on Sunday. Last night Larraine invited Ben, Veronica, Emily and Jasper for a full Thanksgiving dinner.  

I bought lunch meat  at the Chelsea Market for Gpa.  He wanted extra food on hand for Emily. (she really isn't a big eater).  Part of my job today is to buy the rest of what is needed--yogurt, Rock and Rye soda.  Dad loves having Emily home.

My new frig is supposed to come tomorrow afternoon sometime.  Good news is it is coming, bad news is--I'll have to wait to go in and see Emily.  

I lecture on Tuesday so trying to prep that on the side.  Humanities has lost a lot of its sparkle in my eyes. I put more effort into it than I receive back.  I was surprised to hear the head of the department say "we can't expect the kids to have read their books".  Really now.  She wants me to slow down in the presentations to review what has been said, what the book says because the kids don't read their materials.  Really now.  

Headed out for a morning walk at Waterloo.  Should be relatively quiet.

Happy Thanksgiving All!

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