Saturday Go Blue!

Early morning here.  Waiting for the Comcast guy.  My house phone has been "out" for about 3 weeks.  They are narrowing down the problem over time I believe ;-)  If the Comcast guy doesn't show today I am going to be not nice.  Hopefully he (they said it would be a he) will show in the next 50 minutes as my appointment states so I can zip on up to Farmer's Market (last day in Chelsea).  

Spent most of yesterday at Oakwood sitting with my Dad.  He was rushed to ER Thursday about midnight.  I got a call Friday morning at 1am.  My lil sis, Emily called me to tell me ('round about--Denise called her to call me) When I saw her name on the caller ID  and the lateness of the hour, I was so afraid something had happened to Jasper or Mike (police officers).  I listened and realized what was happening.  I texted Denise, she texted back to call her when I woke up.  I got back to sleep near 3am, up at 4:45am and well, the rest of the day was push push.  Morning had me teaching classes while writing sub plans, hiring an afternoon sub and securing all the rooms etc etc--then off to Dearborn.  Jeanine had taken the morning to be with her Gpa so Aunt Denise could go home and sleep, but Aunt Denise did not go home so I saw her as well when I got there at noon.  It was good to see Jeanine.  She is pretty as always.  Some of the time when she wasn't tending lovingly to her Gpa, Jeanine was texting her cousin Larraine in CA.  They are two peas from the same pod! ;-)

Dad told his usual jokes but was in terrible pain when his medication wore off.  I helped him up and down and was generally busy being present.  After Jeanine had left, the man in the next bed fell pretty terribly, right through Dad's curtained area--he yelled a lot, bled a lot all over the floor (I watched them clean it up with one of those disposable pads, but no soap and water--hmm?) I swear 12 people materialized in his room in seconds, including 2 paramedics who were in the hall at the time--amazing!  A surgeon came to see what had happened, probably 10 minutes after.  Dad moved to a private room about 4pm--and the temp was set at 48 (honest!).  The nurse jiggled some buttons with itty bitty numbers and slowly the heat came on.  I gave Dad my coat to put on his legs --brrr!!!!! The room did not have any window curtains or curtain that allows some privacy, so Dad was rather "exposed" to the world.  We asked for curtains and a nice man came a couple of hours and put them up.  The nurse said that they had to do a complete tear down and clean out of that room prior and that's why everything was gone.  I think I should go scrub my hands again ;-)

Well, enough of the Friday Hospital fun.  I drove home in the cold rain, tired--glad to be back home (near 9pm I believe) .  Muffin was waiting for me and none to pleased I had not provided her with evening company.  

Other exciting prior news:  something was in the air on Thursday as kids were up to mischief at school.  Real highjinks.  Kept me on my toes! One of my guitar student's apartment caught fire and burnt to the ground :-(  This is a family that has come from Iraq (in 2003) and struggled to get ahead.  After I felt for the family and their plight, I also realized he had a school guitar at home and I'd have to file zillions of paperwork to cover the department.  argh  Funny how your mind works.

Well, off to organize my Saturday chores (no Comcast guy yet).  I have 2 wedding commitments today--ceremony and reception at the Botanical Gardens. I put it together that I should be packing up and trying to get home JUST as the U of M (Go Blue!) and MSU game is finishing.  Oh joy!  If you don't hear from my until Tuesday, you'll know traffic was bad. ;-)

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Wednesday

Whoa, how the time flies!  Lecture was excellent.  I spoke on Musical Instruments.  Prior to the lecture I presented the "Vote Song" along with about 8 talented students who sang the solo sections.  It is an extra credit project. (and fun)  I'll sing it for you if you like. "Your opinion's in demand, get out and vote! Get on up and take a stand, Get out and Vote!  If you want to make a change, don't just sit there and complain, Get up off your duff and vote!"  It has 8 verses...shall I continue? .... ;-)  Call for your private concert.   Today's lecture was Islamic Art--the balsam blue in the tile work (mosaics) was gorgeous.  I hope I'll go to southern Spain someday and visit those beautiful mosques.  For now, I'll just save for a refrigerator and Hawaii ; -)

Talked with Jeanine for a while tonight.  They are in transition with Hunter and his day care. They made a hard and excellent decision to pull Hunter out of his old daycare.  I will be glad to hear good stories about Hunter's day without goose eggs on his head.  Poor little Pumpkin!

Received an email from my niece, Kristine. Keep her in your prayers as she investigates lumps that have grown on her throat.  :-(  Her biopsy is Wednesday. 

Chilly tonight--worked hard on school work, entered grades, worked on my Test 2 for Humanities (next week) so I'm off to bed with a good book to arise again at 5:30am.  Talk to you then

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Quick Monday Post

Worked hard today.  Was prepared--every student had theory bellwork--now I have to grade it all and enter it in my gradebook as well as online in the online grading system.  tee and hee.  

The MT&T kids have moved on to a new creative melody project, the guitarists eyes about popped out when they saw the music I choose for them today (lots of fancy picking), and the piano students were ready when I came flying in, moving them forward in their books.  Whew! My feet are worn out!  Lecture this morning was Byzantine Art.  I had the pleasure of viewing the mosaics in Ravenna and remembering Jeanine and my trip there when we did our whirlwind "Treasures of Italy" tour. The mosaic tiles were gorgeous, and the intricate Isalamic influenced designs--mmmmmmm.  

Annie-Sophie Mutter was excellent last night. Her accompanying chamber group really kept pace with her.  It was an excellent concert. While we were parking to go into Hill, Cynthia and I saw the most beautiful sunset over western Ann Arbor.  (I love the Old West side).  Cynthia's husband is still out of work.  It is scary times in Michigan.

Tonight, I will prep for my lecture (Tomorrow). I am driving a red Fusion (2008) as my Freestyle is in for maintenance. Palmer still loves that I come there for service.  I think they have not been doing so well.  

Well the rain has begun--I'm ready for a nap.

(In the meantime, did I tell you I am making potato leek soup with ingredients from my garden and the Farmer's Market--come on over for a taste)

Later gators

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Sunday Morning

Listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing "Be Still, My Soul" based on a Sibelius tune (Finlandia)--quite beautiful to start the morning.

The last few days have been very busy, so sorry I didn't update.  Lecture went well on Thursday. I have yet to take my notes out of my briefcase and burn the changes to a new CD and file for next year.  ....next year that is IF I choose to teach Humanities again.  It takes a time toll! Though intellectually stimulating, the pay off is not enough anymore. My friend, George used to say "Wow, you are teaching Humanities? That is quite the heavy teaching load!" Indeed it is.

 Friday was filled with a beautiful weather day.  The students were ready for Friday. My piano students perform on Friday and my Guitar students are assessed on Friday so it was a busy performance day.  I critique and grade each so lots of listening, pencil, paper, and ending with a positive comment.  Unlocked, locked, unlocked and locked 10 practice rooms, that many times ;-) Tuned 28 guitars, though they are making better attempts at tuning their own.  My MT&T class was quiet in the sense that everyone was under headphones and working feverously.  Their assignment had been to compose a 12 bar blues.  Though we covered all the bare essentials, it was pretty interesting what they came up with. (rap over blues chords?)  Many don't seem to understand what a "melody" is.    Stopped at Arbor Farms on the way home, chatted with Even the deli guy, talked at length with a Mom of former students (Sophia and Glen Mitas) Sophia went to Japan with my delegation and then both Sophia and Glen went on to be my Humanities students.  Mrs. Mitas still calls me "M&M Sensei"  :-)  She told me Sophia was finishing at Michigan and Glen is in his 2nd year there.  Though both are doing very very well, she mainly told me about Glen who chose to live in Couzins Hall which had a "focus" of community service.  It had attracted students from around the world.  After freshman year, Glen took all the money he had earned during the year (parents are paying for college) and went around the world visiting all this college friends he had met in the dorm.  By August he ended up in Dubai and flew home.  WOW!  She said it was hard for her to trust and let him go, but all turned out well.  They are having a great Michigan experience (minus the football).

My friend, the C/W Gospel singer called Friday night.  He reminded me he would be singing at a Christian coffee shop downriver Saturday night (no, I didn't go).  Saturday arrived crisp and bright. I went to the Farmer's Market, bought leeks for potato leek soup (Will make later today), kale (for the chicken soup I had in the frig), and next door for a nice roast.  Jan and Fran (Fran is Marshall's sister from Mississippi) came past and invited me out to the apple orchard and to see the colors.  What fun!  Cider, donuts and fresh crisp apple tasting!  I bought enough apples to make several batches of applesauce.  Jan just finished a class on the Underground Railroad in Western Washtenaw County, so she dragged along showing us all the beautiful sights on the path in Freedom Township.  We spent time at the Zion Lutheran Church on Waters and Fletcher--established in the early 1800s.  They conducted services in German until late 1930.  The old cemetery behind the church has people from the early eras.  They are buried not by family but by year they died.  Interesting.  Once home, I made my pot roast and apple sauce (yum!), worked on my lecture for Tuesday (Musical Instruments), talked to my Dad, my sister Denise, and my friend, Cynthia.  Doug stopped by to help me move my harp from the lower level back up to the upper level.  We had housed the harp downstairs during the summer to keep it cool and happy during those hot snotty months.  Now she prefers to be upstairs.  We sat and talked for about an hour. He has very wise investment advice.  He told how his friend bought $50.000 worth of Ford stock last week.  

Chelsea tidbits: Chelsea Pharmacy is moving across the street to join the Post Office in the old Polly's building.  The builder sold the land development to Reinhart and they are selling the lots, including the lot at the bottom of the hill.   They have free Zingerman's bread and pie tasting at the Chelsea Market on Saturdays.  Word has it that one of the Zingee owners moved into town.

At my Humanities meeting on Thursday, did I tell you they asked me to lead the class trip this year?  After wanting to go on the trip for the last 2 years, and saying so and being bypassed.......finally the guy in charge does not want to go and they asked me to lead (trip is to Greece)....I said no.  Huron Band had asked me to chaperone at the same time.  I will go with Huron.  For those of you who don't know, I highly respect the Huron High School Music Team.  They are mature, ethical, moral, and kind to one another.  They work as a functional family, daily.  Where are they/we headed on tour? Hawaii ;-)  

It is Sunday morning so I'm working on my lecture, laundry, hopefully go for a walk in the beautiful weather, read a bit of a book, and attend a UMS concert tonight. I am not headed to my Dad's--just can't do that every week.  With Denise there on and off, it does give Dad some company.   Will be a late night for me, with an early start tomorrow but eh....

I"ve included a picture of my student Alexi singing his "Ode to Ms. Martinez" song.  Brought a smile to my face.  

Happy Sunday everyone!

long

week and glad it is Friday.  I look nice ;-)  I have on my painted purple/decorative shirt (art fair), black skirt, black tights and shoes--wrapped here at home in my black cashmere (ala Beijing) shawl.  Tired as all get out.  I stayed at school last night to listen to the choir and orchestra concert.  Being a public forum, I'll decline to comment about the concert here.  It was nice to see so many of my students on stage and in the audience.

The time waiting, I graded papers, entered grades, made copies for next week, began organizing my Tuesday lecture. (yeah, it was just yesterday that I wove my way through "Form").  I had a Humanities meeting after school as well, so the day stretched into the night. I left Pioneer shortly after 9:30pm.  It was good to come home!

The alarm rang too early and I was up and out the door.  It was a beautiful orange and yellow tree filled day.  I primarily noticed on the drive home (Jackson Rd!).  Seemed like pods of kids were missing in classes (nice day + Friday) and there was word there was an off campus grillfest in the park at lunch--several seniors had trouble finding their way back to school.  I myself was out of lunch items, so I was particularly delighted when the orchestra kids invited me to their party at lunch.  BIG SUBMARINE SANDWICHES!!!   Later on my MT&T class was full of pizzazz.  They were writing a blues piece and working on lyrics.  They definitely got the hang of the whiney lyrics ;-)  Tonight is the big football game between Pioneer and their arch rivals--Huron.  Both bands will be marching but I will be home (hopefully in bed) before half time.  

Hope all of you had beautiful Fridays.  Until later...........

Damp

and chilly but wrapped up warmly.  Once home from school it's been steady work getting ready for my lecture tomorrow morning.  I find it takes ALOT of time to reorganize the musical excerpts.  Since it tends to freeze my computer to have the music played while displaying my Power Point presentation, I have begun to transfer all the music on to my "real" computer (there is something wrong with the extra school computer and whenever we try to play music on it, we get horrid feedback)...so my evening was spent burning music on to a disc to transfer to my "real" computer and then organize all 47 excerpts to be ready for quick listening tomorrow am.

Actually, I'm planning on watching the debate and going to bed.  

Muffin has been more of a companion since Houdini died.  Muffin likes hanging around my feet, sleeping in my bed.  She is a snuggler.  Houdi used to poke me with her paw to get me to scratch her ears--Muffin has started to do that.  Amazing...like Houdi whispered in Muffin's ear.  We've had Muffin, how many years?  12 perhaps? and she never did this before. Muffin makes a good companion.

Anybody else enjoying the "PieMaker?"  Isn't it clever ;-)

Well I'm off to prep for morning.

Night all. Enjoy the noctural rain serenade.

 

the colors danced

with the sunlight today.  The shift in the shadows was so inviting.  I bounced out the door after dinner and there was the turkey sitting on the front step.  He has grown used to my enthusiasm, merely stepping aside as I came bouncing out.  I didn't realize he was there, didn't wish to upset his serenity, so I slowed my steps and took the long path around up to the garage for chores.  He waited for me to return and then walked slowly up the hill.  

I just love the thick yellows and oranges.  My favorite oak on E Old 12 was full of herself today.  It was very tempting to STOP and sit under her spreading branches.  I love this time of year! It is my favorite time of year.

I went out to my deck and checked in with my garden.  I gathered enough green beans for two servings tomorrow (yum) and three ripe luscious tomatoes.  I have dragged my toes getting rid of the garden.  I "guess" this weekend I will have to being the closing ritual for deck gardens.  I had many flowers planted this year as well, colored asters, mums (3 kinds) snapdragons, white azalea, spider plant, petunias and sweet potato vines--along with the veggies.  I've enjoyed rubbing my hands in the rosemary, or pinching a leaf of basil, or cozing up to the lavender.  It has been a very good garden year.  I sat for a while on the glider, listening to the hundreds of birds gathering down at the pond.  They took off with one secret signal.  The turkey soon followed--flying up into the tree.  He always sounds like a balloon taking off.  I'm not sure the kids would remember, but we used to get a lot of balloons out this way.  Sunday mornings there would be the " 'allo!" call from above.  Friscobaldi in particular would announce their arrival. 

It was a spicy dinner.  I put aside soups and broths to have one of my Dad's inventions.  Spicy sausage with refried beans, sprinkle of cheddar, chopped onions, rolled into a fresh,warm tortilla.  I know my friends swear by A2 and Co tortillas--but I prefer the kind my Gma made and follow her recipe (Bisquick ;-)  I had a steamed ear of sweet corn. The sweet corn came from the nice farm on Scio--where you put your money in the door of the frig and help yourself.  It's the best corn in the county!

The sun has gone now, the moon to rise soon. I think I'll rock in my big brown chair and just wait her arrival.

Good Evening All

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