found my shoes online

http://www.zappos.com/n/sc?buy=1&back=0

They are called Finn Comfort.  They are about $40 less on the net, and no shipping charges.  I could have them in 4 to 5 days.  I am thinking about it. Or I could go back to the local store and trade "up".  Oh, decisions!

Now, I don't know if I should get them in black (I always wear black) or desert tan.  Heh, Jeanine, Nicole, are you there? opinions?

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aha!

After a katrillion years of being on aol as harpee--in the last 5 months I have begun to receive oodles of spam.  I couldn't figure out what had changed.  I don't use harpee for my nytimes account or a2 snooze (news) --and then signing in here I realized "aha!!!"  

Oh well.  I'll just continue to delete.

My cousin, RoseAnn, wrote from Santa Fe.  She has switched jobs from being a vet assist on the reservations to being a pet sitter. She was quick to tell me that pet sitting, walking is a big job in Santa Fe--you know, I remember reading about that!  There are a lot of wealthy people in Santa Fe and I am sure she is having a good time.

Great Saturday afternoon.  I went to A2 to run errands.  I ran over to Cynthia's to deliver her food containers and money for a ticket to Jeff's Gilbert and Sullivan show (next week)...continued down the road to Arbor Farms to get Dad some Z bread (they were out) so moved on to the PTO thrift store to look for things for Hunter, also found a $5 all most new coffee maker (have been looking for a while)--but when I picked it up my stomach went into spasms???, I put the coffeemaker in my cart and my stomach was still upset--since the store does not have a bathroom I was thinking "oh oh" but then--realized my stomach felt like it did when I would drink coffee in the early morning (acidity and sick) --so I reconsidered, put the coffeemaker back on the shelf and my stomach felt better.  Left with only Hunter items.

I stopped in the A2 library to pick up a few of my on order items, then moved on to Target.  As I arrived at Target, my Dad was called to check in about Easter.  He is funny.  I looked for my favorite "brand" of T shirts (all cotton and comfy for teaching in a building with poor air circulation) but Target quit carrying the items.  (boo!) Found something for Hunter (ah, there is a theme here) and a few cleaning items...then out.  I needed to buy new comfortable supportive shoes so I moved on to Westgate to try the Mast Shoe Store.  Since my parking spot was in front of the Learning Express Store and I had never been in there--I went in.  One of my former Humanities students was working the floor.  Found something else for Hunter--just in case.   When I finally made it to the shoe store, they were closing in 10 minutes (whoops).  I found an INCREDIBLE pair of shoes but they cost $230 and since $230 is a lot of money when you are going to have to buy a $1000 water softner and leave for Hawaii in a few weeks, I didn't get them.  I bought a $130 pair which were okay, not as good. (I've had a terrific problem with a heel spur since August.  Dr. Lu has given me herbs, I went to the masseur (which helped), but I need to eliminate the problem.  I figure if my shoes don't look professional enough for school as well as pretty, I won't wear them.)  I ended up with a taupe pair (they only came in taupe or brown) but are not sold on them yet.  I just may go back and invest the +$100 in the INCREDIBLE pair and be done with it.  I know I'd wear them...plus they are in black which means I could wear them more often, with more things, yes?    Shoe people weigh in here, please.  Oh, they are called Finn Control.  Wow, I'm suddenly getting into shoes. ;-)  Must be the Nicole influence.

okay so from the shoe store, with Target and Hunter and shoe purchases in the car--and looking like a Saturday traveler and disguised in my pj pants ;-)  I went over to Pioneer where they were hosting "Bands in Review".  I figured I often promote the orchestra, attend the choir concerts as well, but am slow to go to Band--so there I was--an hour early??? At least I was able to sneak in the back (yeah, it costs money) and find an incredible seat!  Okay, get this--all the east side middle bands played (today all the west side middle bands) + Pioneer and Huron.  I figured since I was going on the Huron trip, it would also be nice to attend for Huron band.  The bands were terrific.  Pioneer really nailed a wonderful piece--"Entry March of the Boyars" by Johan Halvorsen.  I'd like a recording of it!  (no not for my birthday, I mean, I'd like a recording from Pioneer HS archives, so I'll ask David the band director.)  As it got closer to the hour I noticed my friend, Laura slide in the back (her son plays in the band)--I waved and she came over and sat with me.  We enjoyed the concert together.  From there we went to Quarter Bistro (excellent restaurant).  I realized other than a bag of popcorn at Target and a few gummy bears, I had not had dinner--so I had an incredible Insalata de Mare --salad with scallops, shrimp, oysters, crab meat, and mussels.  Excellent. By 11:30 I was ready to roll home.........

Here I am unprepared for my lecture this week (oh well) but smiling and moving forward to the road meeting, off to Dad's. 

 Rainy morning but it is brighter having been out and about yesterday.

Peeked down at my desk and see I have to get my license AND pay the harp insurance all this week.  Maybe those INCREDIBLE shoes will have to wait until another time. 

oh well.

Dancing off barefoot

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Breakfast Company

Marmalade came over to check on breakfast.  I am donating a 30lb bag of cat food to his house.  Muffin won't eat it (and she's stubborn).

Catching up on lost sleep from Friday early morning. About 2:30am,  I was having a great dream complete with music when I heard the cat getting sick.  Unfortunately she was sleeping on the bed with me at the time.  She managed to vomit all over the white quilt--so I got up, cleaned it up, put the quilt in the wash, stayed up to move it to the dryer, washed the quilt cover, went back to bed--but couldn't fall asleep until near 4:30.  The alarm went off at 4:45am.  yawn.  It took 3 dryings to dry the quilt--and then I think, the heat unit wasn't working. Blasted!  oh well.....the continuing adventures of Shelley the Elf.

Tracked down Ken through his daughter (teacher in Chelsea).  He indeed had been seriously ill, at St Joe.  Had unexpected intestinal surgery on March 6th and then was in the hospital up until last Tuesday--whew!  He is quiet about what all went on, but I am glad he's back in circulation (though propped up in bed at home--Visiting RN and daughters supporting his recovery). Touched base with Mark the Buckeye.  He is a walking wounded waiting for GM news.  Says he has a job lined up out of state if he gets papers.  Said he spends a lot of time NOT talking about GM--doesn't listen to the news, read the print news--just watches sports. Doesn't respond to email, text message--just phone calls now--and heck--

I am learning again what it means to be a friend to yourself first.

Me, I told my Fine Arts boss I wanted out of Humanities, then told Amy my H Department head on Tuesday, then W hunted down my Music Department head at Pioneer and told him I'd like the open position in MT&T IF they get the fte they are hoping for.  My H Department wasn't happy with me but immediately started planning my replacement.  Kinda felt like--'member you are always replaceable ;-)  When all is said in down, did you really want to spend more time at work over real relationships?  Exactly why I am hoping to quit.

My hair looks like a wooly mammoth.  I tried my new "ala Nicole" head scarf/headband that I purchased with Jeanine--but even though I "played with it" like Jeanine suggested, I still look like a wooly mammoth gone bizerk.  I have a hair cut on Tuesday.  

Today I'd like to walk in the woods so waving magic wand--will do it!  I also have a katrillion errands I "could" do, plus would like to go to the A2 Art Museum reopening (live music for 24 hours, some of my friends performing) need to start planning for the Hawaii trip, and wouldn't mind working in the yard a bit. My recycling has collected such that I probably could make my own park bench now--but I'll run it to the center.  Have a road meeting tomorrow then scoot off to buy Dad Zingerman's bread (his favorite) and then on in to Dearborn.  Oh--I also have a lecture to prepare (Program Music), another test to write (Romantic Era) and a study guide to prep.  What fun!  

Spoke with Aunt Emily via email yesterday.  She is working hard, wishing hard.  Difficult week for all police officer families and then with added family difficulties life can hurt you at times.

Love you all,

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Surprise it's Jean-Pierre

Jean-Pierre surprised me with a phone call last night.  We commiserated about the Michigan game and caught up on news.  I had expressed my concern about my friend, Ken disappearing off the face of the earth --and he took time to listen.  Thanks Jean.

That has worried me for some time now.

Doug is supposed to come over with a plumber friend to price out a water softner for me.  (Close to $1000 I don't have today but oh well)  I'm off early to my Dad's so I can get back to Huron for the Hawaii chaperone meeting. COPS last night featured friends of Larraine and co workers of Mike--how ironic it was the same day as three officers were killed in Oakland CA.  

Hope to clean some, do house chores before I fly out of here at 10am so I"m scooting.

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Lunch with Craig

Well, the library cooking class was GREAT!!! Craig Commons taught us how to make several dishes and then he FED US all the food.  We had Shrimp and Scallop Creole Spinach Salad, Parmesan Crusted Whitefish with Lemon-Chive Butter and Fresh Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries) with Grand Marnier.  SUPERB!!! He also gave gobs of cooking tips while he was preparing lunch--like--why to only use free range chicken that has not been fed antibiotics etc etc, take the skin off your fish when you purchase it, soak it in milk before you bread it, cook it,  use kosher salt etc........ I got extra copies of the recipe for Jeanine ;-)

Well, off with a full happy tummy to finish grading my tests (15 to go) and join the NCIS marathon!

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was up early

trying to update this blog and whoa--felt like I was losing my mind ;-)  I couldn't remember how to sign on....when I finally realized something was wrong with google this morning and it wouldn't display the sign on piece of the blogsite. Ah

well, hi all

Had a tremendously intense week.  I had to lecture 2x (T and F) with 4 hours of Parent Conferences thrown in on Thursday night.  I came home last night and fell asleep with my clothes, contacts, and tv all engaged at 7:30 pm.  Jan had asked me over for dinner but I declined. Barely found the bedroom as it was.  

My lecture yesterday was brilliant.  Had lots of info and "fun" music (Romantic Era is so cool!)  I was up at 4am prepping since I had fallen asleep with my notes on my face at 11pm Thursday night (got home from conferences near 8pm and had started right in).  I ended the lecture section with the 1812 Overture and as the music came to its climax, clashing, cannons, crescendos, tympani--I shut down the computers, turned off the cameras, and pushed the button for the screen to lift (on cue no less) to reveal a Grand Piano set up with a student poised ready to perform.  The kids were so enthused with this culminating music, screen movement, revealance of the piano (Yeah, Jeanine, I know that's not  a word) that they stood up and applauded--yep at 8:25 in the morning.  They were in LOVE with Tschaikovsky--almost made me blush with joy.  Well, I had asked Alvin to play his cadenza as a promotion for the concerto concert (in 2 weeks)--he was brilliant and ALL the kids left saying it was the best lecture yet--even better than my last lecture where I ended up showing Bugs Bunny as the Barber of Seveille!  (Yeah, I'm a showman)

So lecturing next week and have to play "top this"  ...

Still have 48 tests to grade--down from 158..not bad.  

Yesterday after the long long week, packed up the car (had 2 computers, 3 texts, 60 pages of lecture notes) and drove to the Fine Arts Director District Office--for an appointment.  I told her I was hoping she could tell me of any options for teaching next year to get out from under the heavy prep load of Humanities.  Seems IF the district funds the band program another .2 taking Nancy out of MT&T for an hour--they could give me that MT&T position (should but then you know the history of the department....) and I could drop Humanities.  Yes, they'd need to hire someone for Humanities but alas......

I will talk to my Humanities Department chair today so she is in the loop.  Then I have to talk to my Music Department Chair (David) to express my interest in teaching MT&T if that position opens up.  My other choice was to leave the high school and teach vocal music at the lowest economic, lowest scoring, most difficult life challenging middle school--I passed.

Oh and yes, I was the "cool" teacher this week as I let the kids tune in on Thursday at noon and then again (another class) at 2pm to watch the BB games.  Unfortunately they then thought they could watch each day--but I'll let them have a few. ;-)  Yeah, might be hard pressed to explain this in my curriculum.

Headed to a lecture this afternoon by Craig Common (yes, Jeanine, I'll take notes) about global conservation/purchasing and eating locally.  Should be interesting.  

Talked briefly with my sis, Emily Ann on Thursday (until my phone battery gave out).  Things are doing better in her life.  Larraine is tired but still feeling pretty well.  Tonight is the COPS Sacramento version.  ;-)  Veronica is off on her own (well, living with her boyfriend and his mother)  and Ben is happy but poor.  

Gpa has been showing some signs of confusion of late and he asked us to research diabetes and Alzheimers.  Larraine sent some articles.

I plan to go in to Detroit tomorrow morning.  I don't feel as "pushed" this weekend as in the past weekend.  yeah   We "have" to go to breakfast/brunch as I have a 3pm Hawaii chaperone meeting in A2 for the spring trip.  (I think I had better talk to David about that position BEFORE he finds out I am accompanying Huron on their trip.  I meant to mention it earlier, but never got around to it--besides Pioneer has never asked me to chaperone so what can I say?)

Oh and ....I've been asked AGAIN to submit an application for the grant to study in Turkey this summer.  I had thought perhaps it wouldn't get funded, but it did and they (UMS) has asked for me to consider.  (total cost is $1000 for 5 weeks which the bulk is supposedly for housing in A2 in June (a week) for classes/seminars--so I wouldn't have to pay that).  I'm thinking........

I really really really want to go to Boston and hear the Pops play 1812 over the Charles River with the cannons and fireworks.......I think actually that is my priority--but I'll think on it.

Off to grade tests.

Love you

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Bill said last night

"Do you suppose there is a hip hop artist somewhere in China called Yo Ma Ma?"