what to do????

I am having a bit of trouble trying to talk to the IRS on behalf of Mom.  In 2008, we cleared out most of her IRA both because we needed it to live and to try to save the store.  I hadn't been paid much in 2008 and bills must be paid so we withdrew money early.  I didn't have them deduct much tax either, which in hindsight was a huge mistake, however, that is over and done.  We were on a nice little payment plan until she died.  Then, I didn't know what to do.  I ask for advice and well, I should have continued to pay it as now it is becoming an issue.  I should not have stopped paying the taxes.  I know Mom is gone, I am not sure what will happen to the house.  I have contacted 2 lawyers for information.  I spoke to one and he gave me good advice, but it doesn't seem like he thinks I will need a lawyer for this.  I am waiting to speak to the other.  He left me a message and I hope to speak to him tomorrow.  So until then, I am just praying that is isn't going to be a big issue.  We shall see.  I just am at a loss of what to do since I screwed up badly on this one.

I had one lesson today and it looks like on Mondays I will only have one right now.  Calli and Acer have switched days from Monday to Friday.  It works better for their schedule so that works for me.  This way, Calli will have plenty of time for homework as lessons take up about 1 1/2 hours on Monday night plus drive time so I totally understand why they needed to switch.  Now I have lessons on Friday to look forward too so I am happy on that.  Before, Friday was a blank day and I dreaded them.  Now I don't.

I slept in so late today but I expected to as I didn't sleep much over the weekend.  I planned that I would wake up super late and I did.  I feel a bit more rested now that I have had a good night sleep (well, as rested as I get and as well as I sleep!).  I was so exhausted from the weekend even though I did take naps during the day at competition but it is such a busy weekend for me plus the 2 1/2 hour drives each way.  When Momma was here and could drive, she usually drove home as I slept most of the way home from sheer exhaustion.  Another reason to miss her.

Bob picked out his spring concert music today.  I think he will do very well with them.  One of the pieces is a piece he is working on.  It is an invention by J. S. Bach.  The Sonata from Mozart just will probably not be ready by the concert so he pick a fun piece, Volare.  He did a nice job for the first week on it.  I like the song so that is good.  Overall, his playing has really improved over the last year.  His sight reading skills are pretty good, and his musicality has really improved.  I am pleased with his progress.  Now we just need to work on nerves.

I have some more paperwork to fill out for Mom to her known creditors that I am going to do tomorrow after I drive downtown to find the courthouse.  I am nervous to leave it to Wednesday morning to find parking and where I need to go.  I am just not going to wait on this.  I want to be prepared as I have to get up at 6 in the morning and leave by 6:15 to make sure I am there by 7:30.  I will be bringing a book with me too so I will have something to read while I wait.  I anticipate arriving early.  I can't wait for this process to be over.  I should have done this last year and not waited so long to do it.  This was another bad decision on my part.  Procrastinating on this but it is almost over, thankfully.

Just relaxing this evening, nothing much planned except watching the news for the weather.  My knee is still really sore and I realized today it is in a flare just my knee though nothing else.  Weird, I know, but what isn't weird about this illness so many of us have?  My head is a bit sore more than usual today, I think that is from the exhaustion that I still feel from the weekend.

I do hope your day is going well and that the week will be great also.

back from competition

I have been gone since Friday afternoon.  It is now Sunday.  It was a semi fun weekend.  Only semi fun because it was the first one I was at without Momma.  She always came with me.  She loved going to competition with me and listening to the students.  They didn't even have to be mine, she listened to them all.  I was rather glad about that.  It gave us more to bond over.  We were a team.  She collected music afterward and then when we got home she would mark them returned in the library page on the computer and refile them.  It was nice.  I always had my music up to date.  I now longer really hand out too much original music, despite the library system I have, much music is missing and I don't have the money to rebuy most of it.  I just collected a bunch of music from Rachel and Rebecca.  I will get Katie's back next week during her lesson.  Because Rachel and Rebecca no longer have regular lessons, I needed the music right away because last year they didn't have lessons from after competition to Sept for Rachel and to November for Rebecca.  They did pretty well considering the few lessons they had.  However, I do feel Rachel would have won more 1st places had she had more lessons and we could have really polished it.  the judges really nailed her on placement of her voice at times (as they should since this is one of her problems).  I feel I would have really had her ready and have had her placement much better if I had seen her more than 3 times since fall.  I also will not do this again.  Either you have regular lessons or no competition.  It is too frustrating to me and it is unfair not only to me but to the student.  yes, practicing is important, but practicing correctly is more important which is why Rachel didn't do as well as she could have for her last year.  But, with all things considering, she did all right.

Mom's room is almost cleaned.  I caved and agreed to have things sorted.  Things were donated not just sorted.  I walked into her room and the hole just got bigger.  this was why I didn't want her room touched.  I feel like I gave my mom away and tossed her out with her stuff.  I do have the disney stuff and the hoodies left but that is about it.  I am hoping the stuff that was on her dresser is in the drawers like promised but I can't look at them right now.  I knew I wasn't ready but they don't listen to me.  Well, NEVER again.  When I say I am not ready, I mean I am not ready and anyone who doesn't understand, that is too bad.  This has been a very painful lesson to me.  I threw mom's stuff out.  I invaded her privacy and got rid of her stuff.  It is like she never lived in that room.  I feel like I lost her all over again. I know this isn't necessarily rational or even make any sense, but it is how I FEEL.  Letting go of Mom's things is very hard to do.  These are all I have left physically of her.  She touched these things and loved them.  She picked them or was given them as gifts.  Now they are gone like she is.  I have to have something left of my mom's.  I just do.  It means she was really here and not a dream.  It gives me strength to have some of her stuff.  I don't feel as lost.  Now I feel very lost again.  I won't do this with the rest of the house.  I just won't.  I can't take it.  I have to know what everything is and what is happening to it.  It didn't help me at all this.  They thought it would.  I wasn't sure, but I caved because "she is gone and not coming back" was what I was told.  Like I don't know she is gone?  I feel it everyday all day long.  I felt it this whole weekend everywhere I turned.  I had to eat by myself, drive by myself, and do everything by myself.  I know she isn't coming back but that doesn't mean we have to toss her out with her things.  I want part of her with me and her things are a part of her.

I will be seeing the doctor this week about the new pain medicine.  It isn't helping at all and I am having even more trouble sleeping because of the leg pain.  It is mostly the right leg and knee right now.  I have the bankruptcy hearing on Wednesday.  I am driving downtown on Tuesday to check where it is at because I have never been there and I don't know where parking will be or anything.  I don't want to be late on Wednesday.  I am very nervous about this.  I really am.  I do hope everything goes well.

what on earth did I do?

I was sitting on the usual chair during Bob's lesson and when I got up my back was killing me.  I can't stand up straight and I can barely walk.  I don't know what happened.  I didn't move a weird way or anything, I didn't lift anything strange or too heavy.  I just don't get it.  This really, really hurts.  It is mostly on the right side, although the left hurts a bit, but not like the right side.  I don't understand this at all.  I am hoping this will pass tonight and then I will be fine as Lily is coming tomorrow!  I can't wait!!!  She is such a doll!  This will be so much fun as long as I am fine.  I don't want to be in massive, more than usual pain while she is here.  We have plans.  I did the grocery shopping yesterday but I forgot eggs and bread crumbs.  We also have to go to the post office.  She seems to be excited about going to Tim Horton's with me although apparently they have gotten rid of the mac and cheese  that she loves so much.  She said she would get a donut instead.  Hey, whatever she wants within reason, she can have.  I am just excited to be spending the entire day with the young lady.  I will have a lesson but she has a book here she can read or she can play on the computer.  Lily is good about only going on websites her parents approve of so I don't have to worry about that.  Thank goodness!!  She is such a good kid.  I can't believe she will be 13 in about 2 weeks.  Actually, I think it is about a week and half.

My Muglia girls had their lessons earlier today.  They are doing so well.  I am very pleased with their progress.  Their younger sister, Sarah is ready for piano lessons now too.  She is 7, a perfect age.  That is about when the older girls started.  Apparently she fiddles with the piano everyday.  That is wonderful.  A great way to get ready for lessons.  She will do wonderful, I think.  I just have to get her the notespeller and theory books.  They have the rest of them as the girls have already played out of them.  Laura, their mom, is getting excited about the new baby.  Baby Thomas will make his grand appearance about the end of May.  I am excited about this too.  This will be baby number 9 for them.  All the kids, except Mary who is 2 and doesn't really know what is going on, are excited about this baby.  Everything is pretty much ready for him.  I can't wait to hold him.  I can't wait for Mary to have a real baby to play with.  She will have a pal to play with as the next sibling is 5 and hangs out with the 8 year old a lot so this new one will be good for Mary.  This will give them 4 boys and 5 girls.  They are such a great family.

Bob had his lesson, like I said and he is doing really well.  His Invention by JS Bach is coming along so nicely.  It shall be ready for the spring concert.  After the lesson, he graciously removed a bit more snow around my car for me.  How nice is that?  He has been doing this all winter.  He is such a nice man.

Outside of this strange pain that had better go away by tomorrow morning or sooner, it has been a good productive day.  I am looking so forward to Lily's visit tomorrow.  I do have to charge the scooter batteries tomorrow for the weekend.  I don't think that the scooter batteries are down, but I don't want to take a chance.  I want to make sure they are full of power.  I will be bringing the scooter charger with me too so I can charge it both Friday and Saturday.  It should be a fun filled weekend.

I do hope you are having a good day too.

A Quiet Day

I slept in today rather late, but it felt so nice not to have to get up early.  The next several days I will be getting up early because of competition coming up, lessons tomorrow, and Lily is coming on Thursday.  It shall be a fun filled few days.  I am excited about that.  I went to get the ingredients that Lily and I will need for the parmesan chicken and snickerdoodles that we will be making.  I, naturally, forgot a couple of things, eggs and bread crumbs.  Silly me!  Now Lily and I will have to go and get them on Thursday as I will be teaching a lot tomorrow and probably won't remember to go and get the items.  Lily will be amused plus we will be able to go and get Tim Horton's together.  She likes to get their macaroni and cheese.  She loves that stuff.  I think we will have a great day together.

I had a lot of fun talking to Donna this evening.  I also went to Border's Books.  The one near my house is going out of business.  I had a gift certificate for Christmas so I went and ended up being able to get 3 books.  I was very excited about that!  They are by one of my new favorite authors, Kristin Hannah.  She is such a good writer.  I have read 3 of her books.  Kathy loaned me the first book I ever read by her.  I simply loved it.  The friendship in the book reminded me of Kathy and I's friendship in some ways.  We have been friends since we were 3.  Mom said she and I instantly clicked when we met.  I finally found someone who wanted to listen to me speak and she found someone who didn't expect her to answer.  It was great.

I am watching NCIS right now.  I love this show, so did Momma.  Near the end I could still watch most of the episodes when I couldn't watch a lot of other TV since it frightened her.  I was talking to Donna but we had to hang up because we both have to watch this show.  I also like the NCIS Los Angeles show.

Surprisingly, my bad headache I had this afternoon, has gone down to a normal headache.  Shocking, I know, but it did.  The pain pills actually worked today.  I don't know why but they did.  Hey, I am NOT complaining.  I am happy that they worked well for a change.  I haven't made the doctor appointment yet.  I am not sure I am going to do it.  I really am not sure I want the next stop in pain pills.  It is narcotics and I am very nervous about them.  I just don't know.  We shall see.  It is such a tough decision.

It has been a semi productive day despite no lessons.  I should have had 3 of them, but I new last week that I wouldn't have any of them.  It is a triple boo on that.  I do hope that next week I have them all.  I certainly hope so.  So far, I know I will have 2 on Tuesday.

reschedule day

I had to reschedule the Muglia's lessons as I am completely snowed in from the front walk.  My driveway is done, but not the front walk and without the front walk, there isn't anything I can do.  So I called some kids I know to see if they could do the front walk.  I tried, I just can't lift the snow or push the snow.  I was bummed because I was really looking forward to the lesson.  We are having the lessons on Wednesday.  I also will have Lily over that day so after I am done with the Muglia's I will go pick up Lily.  that should be lots of fun.  She has the whole week off because of Midwinter break.  After this, they won't get another full week off until Easter.  I do hope no one else has to cancel or reschedule lessons because of the snow.  It is a wait and see type day.

I think with this weather, that Maia and Tillie will probably not be coming this week.  I will be gone from Friday to Sunday at competition and Tillie was coming over sometime during the week.  As she doesn't drive in snow, I think we will be rescheduling that visit.  I actually don't expect her to come until spring when the snow is completely gone.

I do hope this is the last of the big snow, but something tells me that it isn't.  It is almost March, but it is possible to have snow then too.  We have many other years.  I do hope we don't though, because I am tired of it.  Of course, when I think about it, it is better than having tons of rain.  Snow is prettier and people drive just as badly as they do in rain as they do in snow.  You don't get as wet with snow either.  I think I would rather have nice sunny days in the fall and spring type temperatures.  Spring will be here soon, it just seems so far away.  I miss my spring!

The company that I want to either buy the living room furniture or sell it on consignment for me called me while I was teaching on Saturday.  I am to take pictures of the set and the bar stools and email to them so they can make a decision.  both are in really good condition and I am hopeful they will be able to help me.  I do hope so!  I also will be getting Darrin's email from Tillie so I can send him the pictures of the shuffleboard.  That, too is in great condition.  I am so glad Mom was diligent on cleaning and taking care of good stuff or we would have nothing left.  This last week I had two students who almost put their water glasses on the pianos.  I about flipped, I was like don't put it there put it here.  No drinks on the pianos.  I mean, really people!  Let's think about this.  Good pianos and water don't mix.  Let's keep these pianos looking like new for their entire life span.  I am hoping to get the pianos tuned this spring though.  They are slightly out of tune with the CDs and it is driving me crazy but I want to wait until the weather turns because it will make a difference in the tuning.  Heat and humidity can make a piano go out of tune fast so it is best to wait a bit before tuning.

I think I will take a nap this afternoon before teaching as I am tired now.  I am going to get something to eat.  Thank goodness I shopped yesterday despite the shock of snowfall on my car when I came out.  I do hope you are having a good day.  I am hopeful that today will be productive too with many lessons.

It is snowing again! Ugh!

I went grocery shopping this afternoon.  When I left the sky was gray, but no snow or rain at all.  When I came out?  It was snowing down hard.  I had to clean off my car before I left.  I didn't listen or watch the news yesterday so I didn't know we were expecting snow.  Well, I will watch the news every night from now on so I know what to expect.  I certainly would have picked a better time to go.  I did get my medicine that I haven't had for a few days.  It was the Zantac.  I also refilled the cholesterol medicine as I only have about 3 days left.  I needed to pick up a few things, but not too much as I did a good shopping a few weeks ago.

I have a very busy day tomorrow.  I think I have rested pretty well to get ready for tomorrow.  I am excited to have the Muglia girls tomorrow.  They are such sweethearts, all three of them.

Not too much happening today now that I am done grocery shopping.  I am just going to read and watch some TV for the rest of the day.  I do hope we don't get so much snow tonight although from what one of my Facebook friends have said, we may be getting 6 to 8 inches today.  Not happy about that.  Yuck.  It does look beautiful though, I will admit that and I love the way sunshine reflects on snow.  I just don't like driving in it right now.

My head is normal today and so is the rest of the pain, which is surprising since it is snowing.  I do hope you are having a good day.

a busy Saturday

I had 6 lessons today.  Yes, I am a bit tired.  Plus I drove Maia home to Windsor this evening.  Boy, did we go the wrong time through the tunnel to Windsor.  It was backed up all the way to the beginning of the tunnel.  Thank goodness I had company to talk to while we were waiting.

The bruise from the cabinet incident is faded but it still hurts to touch.  What a smart move that was.  I told Maia she nearly came to a dead cousin and she was like, what?  then I told her what I did and she kind of laughed too.  Hey, I don't blame her, I would have had a laugh at her for the same thing.  Her mom laughed when I told her too.  It really was a brainless thing to do.  I mean, how did my face get in the way in the first place?  Whatever.

My lessons did very well today.  Aggie was here too so that was good.  She is learning a new piece today that I picked.  She is now learning another Mozart aria, "Batti Batti".  It is from Don Giovanni.  I love this piece.  Katie is now ready for competition and Amanda is ready for Solo and Ensemble.  Kayla is doing well with her new pieces too.  Charles was here for his piano lesson and he is really reading music nicely.  He learned 3rds today.  Koffi is doing very well too.  She is my first lesson on a Saturday.  Kayla needs to change times starting next month so she will be at 11:30 am instead of 1 pm.  That should work for us or at least I hope so.

Maia started taking pictures of Mom's military stuff to send to the museum in Ottawa.  We ran out of batteries.  That is not good, but I can get more tomorrow, which is the plan.  She also took pictures of the shuffleboard for Darrin.  I just need his email address.  I have to take pictures of the living room furniture and bar stools to send to a store that may be able to sell them for me.  I really hope so!  I really do!  It will be a big space out of the family room that will allow us to move things around and put things were they belong.  I am excited about that.  That will help to set the room they way I want it in the spring after tax season.  It makes me want to go and work in the room.  I haven't been able to really do much because I haven't felt like I could do it.  Once I have the living room furniture and bar stools taken care of, I will be on a roll.  We shall see. The company may not want or can't sell the furniture for me.  I am hopeful though.

I am feeling a bit more pain in the head again today.  I will be calling the doctor on Monday and making an appointment to see about better pain medicine.  I am nervous to talk with him about it.  Usually, I just grin and bear it, but right now I just can't.  It is just getting out of hand and making it hard to function on days that it is bad.  I need something.  I just can't take it much anymore.

I get Lily for the day this week on Wednesday.  I am not sure what time I am picking her up yet, but I am looking forward to playing games and making cookies with her.  She is such a joy to be around.  I had originally asked for tomorrow, but I forgot about her youth group at church so we are hanging out on Wednesday.  It will be fun.

Tomorrow will be a resting and relaxing day.  I do have to vacuum the steps tomorrow because I didn't do them yesterday.  I have a lot of lessons on Monday so I need to be ready for it.  It has been a long time since I have had lessons from 11:30 to 7:00.  I will have breaks where I can rest a bit, which I will probably need.  I just can't believe I used to teach like this all the time.  I would routinely have 8 to 10 lessons a day in a row and think nothing of it.  Now that would exhaust me.  I look back and think, how did I do it?  I have no idea.  Sometimes I even had another job in the morning with that many students too.  Of course, I was much healthier back then.  I didn't get as tired as easily as I do now.  I also took naps in between teaching and the morning job.  I would also go right to bed right away when I got home too.  That all makes a big difference.  I like teaching here at home a lot now.  I really do.  I like them coming to me.  I can rest in between lessons if I need too or if I need a drink or something or something to eat.  It is very nice for me.  I don't think I will ever go back to going to the student's houses.  This way works so much for me.

I am tired today.  I did take a small nap while Maia went grocery shopping.  I did forget to get gas before I took her home.  I don't like having the car with less than a 1/2 tank of gas in the winter with the cold weather.  I just don't like that.  I have to get gas tomorrow since it will be getting a bit colder.

somesome of her stuff but there wasn't enough room for the scanners.

I do hope you are having a good evening!  It has been a good day even though it was tiring and busy.  I like waking up to company in the house.  It is a nice change from being alone all the time.  I am used to that though, but it is nice to have company.

laundry day

I hate to do laundry.  I put it off as much as possible until I get to a day like today where all my outer clothes need to be washed.  Oops!  I meant to do a load the other day but got distracted by something so this morning I went to get dressed and realized, oh, wow, no clean clothes so I trudged down the stairs with my load and put the in.  Ooh, now time for the dryer.  Be right back!

Step two no in progress!  I guess you would think I would learn my lesson from this?  I know I won't I will do the same thing again in a week or two.  it is a process I go through pretty much every time I do laundry.

Maia will be coming this afternoon instead of the morning as planned.  Her son, Zachary, who had a root canal yesterday apparently was very ill last night.  Poor kid!  At least Maia was there to take care of him.  I am picking her up at the bus stop at Walmarts at about 2:40.  i will be there waiting for her.

Katie is coming for a brief time today.  She is picking out 3 painted violins for the auction her work is having.  She is picking them herself.  I told her she could.  I am just excited that someone wants them for a good cause!

I slept so badly last night.  I had nightmares about 5 this morning.  It felt like I was going downstairs and the power was out.  It was scary.  After going back to sleep again, it happened again!  I went through this for about 45 minutes when I finally prayed that they would go away and they did!  I slept a bit better after that.  I am thinking I may go and take a wee nap before I pick up Maia.  I am just so exhausted from that.  This happens every so often again and it usually happens between the hours of 2 to 5 am.  We live in a safe neighborhood.  We haven't had a house break in in many many years.  Why am I so scared of one?  What could I possibly do if one happened anyways?  I have the screen door and both locks on the main doors locked.  It isn't like it would be easy to get in, but still I have that fear some nights.  Last night was one of them.  I rarely had this issue when Momma was here.  I have only developed the fear since she passed away and it was really bad the first few months she was gone.  Now it is just once in a while. I don't like it, I don't like the nightmares I get, nor do I like feeling afraid.  I hope not to have this happen tonight.  Lately it hasn't happened two nights in a row plus Maia will be here.

I have Charlie's lesson today.  He won't have one next week because he doesn't have school that day so we already made up the lesson for him last week.  I like that he makes up his lessons.  I like that a lot.  I have about 5 lessons on Saturday and on Monday, i have 8 so far right now.  I haven't had 8 lessons in a day for a long time.  I, as of right now, get my Muglia girls, then I have Bob, Callie, and Acer.  I also get Rachel and Rebecca who I haven't seen since December and competition is next week.  I hope they are prepared.  We shall see.

I hope to get a scanner/copier/printer next month.  I am returning Tillie's to her this weekend and I want my own.  It makes it much easier to get ready for lessons if I have something I can copy right away instead of going out to do it.  I loved the one I had at the store, but like everything else, it went too when the bank came and took everything.  They even sold the light fixtures at the auction.  The store was stripped bare.  I don't think about it as much as I used too.  It would be nice to have because I would have a place to go every day, but I really am not healthy enough to run one.  It was a lot of work and I ended up in the hospital ER 13 times with 3 extended visits, something I am not interested in doing again.

I have decided i have to talk to my doctor about my bad headaches.  This new pain medicine isn't cutting it.  It isn't helping at all at this point.  I am making the appointment for next week.  I also need to do my protime at that point too.  I have had just way too many bad headaches since I switched medicines.  I do hope I find something that works better.

I am planning on a good day despite being so tired.  I do hope yours is good too.  We are enjoying our last warm day.  Starting tomorrow winter comes back.  Ugh, at least it will only be in the 30s and not below zero.

Random Thoughts

Maia was supposed to come this afternoon but is unable to make it today so she is coming tomorrow morning instead.  Her son, Zachary just had a root canal so she needs to make sure he is okay.  Must take care of these children, that is for sure.

I had one lesson already, Brianna takes both voice and piano and is doing quite well for the 2nd lesson.  She is such a sweetheart.  We would talk forever if I don't keep track of time.  We get along very well.  I have a make up lesson later this evening.  My 12:30 Saturday Amanda.  She will be out of town this weekend.  I am glad we are making it up.  Make-ups are definitely the way to go.  Next weekend there will be no lessons because I will be out of town.  I don't know if we can do any make-ups then or not.  We shall see.

It is still very nice outside.  It is about 50 degrees which is so nice compared to the negative wind chill numbers we have had.  We have one more day of this and then back to the 30s.  I am hoping it doesn't seem so cold when it gets here though.  I am so looking forward to spring!  I need my spring!  Of course, then comes summer which is another season I don't do well in.  Hmm, I need to move where there is 70 degree weather all the time.  I have no idea where on earth that would be though.  I think that is just dreamland right now.

I have some theory stuff I need to do for my students this weekend.  They will be learning lots of theory with their vocal music.  i don't want them to be the type of voice student who can't read music.  That would just be terrible especially if music is what they want to do when they grow up.  It is important to be able to read the music too not just sing it.

I am going to read for a bit now.  I do hope you are having a good day too.  Despite the fact I was slightly disappointed that Maia isn't coming tonight, I do get her tomorrow, so it will work out fine, it is a good day.  My face hurts less than it did yesterday from when I closed the cupboard on it.  That was a brilliant move, let me tell you.  I shut the cabinet door on my cheek.  Man, did that hurt bad.  Pain level seems to be a bit higher than normal.  I am thinking perhaps I should see my doctor about better pain meds as these aren't working as well as I would like.  Some days it seems like they don't work at all.

Wednesday with nice weather

I am loving this warmer weather stuff.  It makes me long for spring and it is only here for a few days then back to the cold winter weather we always have.

It is a quiet type week with lessons almost everyday.  I have one tonight that I have not had in several weeks as her mother's work schedule just didn't allow a lesson in.  I am so glad I have her tonight.  It will be lots of fun for the two of us.  She is a very nice young lady who is 13, I think or almost 13.  She is doing very well with the piano lessons so I am pleased with her progress.  I can't wait to hear her tonight!

Maia is coming for a short visit this week too, so I am glad about that.  She will arrive sometime tomorrow and stay until Saturday.  I am glad.  I haven't had too much time with her since November as she has been rather busy moving and getting things in order in her apartment.  They have moved closer to her mother which is a good things.  Mothers are very important.

I am going to swiffer the floor now and make it all nice and pretty for Maia's visit.  I love my swiffer as I am able to do it without much pain.  I have both the wet and the dry so I am totally covered.  I do need to do some more domestic type stuff before tomorrow.  I have to wash a set of sheets that go on the spare bed and then make up the bed.  I plan to do that after the lesson tonight.  First I will do the floor and the hall way as it needs my attention.  I have all the housework planned out and so far it is working well.  I do a bit everyday so that it doesn't cause extra pain.

I do hope your day is going well.  Mine is just quiet with the exception of the lesson that I am looking forward too.

Warmer weather!

It was such a nice day today.  The weather was beautiful.  This is my idea of winter, temperatures in the 40s.  I bought my new Easter tablecloth this afternoon.  It was very strange picking one by myself as Momma usually help picked them out with me.  It is a cute one and I think she would totally approve.  I will put it on in a few weeks when Ash Wednesday arrives.  I am not even sure when that will be this year.  I do know that Easter is very late this year, April 24 or something like that.  It has made me really trying to figure out when the Spring Concert will be.  I am now not sure since Easter is so late.  I will figure it all out soon.

I only had one student tonight.  He is one of my adult singers.  He works really hard, but I suspect he was rather tired tonight.  He seemed that way.  I am glad he made the lesson despite the tiredness.  Charlie will have his lesson on Friday this week.  I have 1 lesson tomorrow too and then 1 on Thursday.  So far, lessons are going well and outside of the temporary students, only 1 new one has quit and that was right after his first lesson.  I do hope for more this spring and I hope none quit for summer or I could be in a bit of a pickle.  I am positive God will surely take care of me.  He has done such a great job so far, so I am sure he will make sure I will be okay for the summer.

It has been a rather quiet day except for the one lesson.  I went and paid the house bill, bought the new tablecloth, and then a new book.  I love gift certificates.  They are the best inventions!  I am almost done with the gift certificates now.  I have a few more and that is it.  I will take my time with the rest of them.  Kathy won't be back in town for a bit so I will put them aside until she is back in town or I am in her town.  I don't have any plans to travel right now, outside of competition coming up, but one never knows.

The nice thing about the warmer weather is that I have less pain.  It is nice to be able to get up from the chair and have less pain and less stiffness.  I like that a lot.  I have found out that the pain I thought was my hips is actually my lower back right at the hips.  My friend, Heather B-T showed me an exercise that should help.  I have remembered to do it a couple of times.  My goal is to remember both in the morning and night.  She said this should help some of the pain, so I am all for it.  I also have won a "free" membership to a somewhat local gym.  Yeah, free except for the maintenance fees, which you have to pay up front and right away.  Well, naturally I turned it down as I cannot afford the fees.  I am sick of these so called free memberships.  If it was truly free, then I would accept it, but they aren't.  I know Joe put my name in.  He has done it before.  I don't appreciate that as if and when I can afford a gym, I will pick one nearby.  This one is about 30 to 40 minutes away from me, not very convenient at all.  I am tired of him interfering in my life.  He showed up on Saturday during a lesson.  He wanted to take me to lunch.  Obviously, he listened to me a few weeks ago when I said I teach on Saturday.  I told him I am teaching all afternoon and then I have company arriving.  He left pretty quick as I was teaching at that time.  I don't like lessons being interrupted.  I just don't.  I rarely answer the phone during a lesson too.  It has too be very important in order for me to answer it.  Most of the time I would answer it if Momma were in the hospital and pretty much that was about it.  Everyone else can leave a message and I will call back.

It was a bit more than usual missing Mom afternoon.  It hit me hard again as I was picking the tablecloth for Easter.  We used to pick them together so it was strange to pick it myself.  It made me miss her all the more than usual at that point.  Now, it is just a usual missing Momma day.

I do hope you have had a good day.

Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!  it isn't one of my favorite holidays, but Momma liked it.  I did enjoy getting her stuff though for it so I guess I was into it at that time.  Last year I got Momma a really cute white and red bear.  She carried around for about a week.  I still have it.  After she carried it around, we put it on the piano so it could be displayed.  I was so happy that she loved it.  She loved stuffed animals so I got her many on the holidays.  I think her favorite was the Jesus Loves Me Bunny that actually sings Jesus Loves Me.  I have one too as I got both of us one.  Hers is pink and mine is yellow.  O am keeping hers too.  I don't know if William or Abby would want any of her stuffed animals.  I will be asking this summer.

Surprisingly, I am not extra sore from the extra walking yesterday!!!  Talk about a win!  I am so happy about that!  I wasn't sure how my body would react to the extra walking but it did just fine.  Yeah for me!  I also did sleep in a bit as I expected too since we went to bed rather late on Saturday, but I am as perked up as I get right now, so that is good too.

I had 1 lesson for the day today.  Acer is still not feeling up to par and Heather (his mom) isn't feeling too well right now either.  She and Acer head for the doctor tomorrow.  They have had this cold for about a month now and Acer just doesn't seem to be getting rid of it.  So the little guy may or may not be here depending on how he feels after school.  I will miss them, but I do totally understand, you have got to take care of the little people!  I also appreciate that she keeps me in mind too.  I have a low immune system because of the illnesses and she doesn't want me sick either so talk about a good friend!  We did get to see the kids on Saturday when Kathy was here so that slightly makes up to missing them, if I do.  I just love my students.  They are the best.  I have the best kid students in the world and the best adult students in the world.  I was a bit worried when I was assigned with new company 3 adult students, but they are all very serious about learning their instruments, so that is good.

I tried to get a hold of Richard today, but he must be busy because he didn't answer.  I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted to talk to him.  I don't get to talk to him very much because he is so busy.  I just wanted to wish him a Happy Valentine's Day in person over the phone instead of the message.  Oh well, another time.

I think I am going to use my other book gift certificate this week.  Phillipa Gregory has a new paperback book out I would like.  I love most of her stuff.  Some of it isn't so good, but most of it really is.  Kathy went home with about 5 books to read.  She needed some new reading material so I loaned her some.  I mean, I have quite a few.  Not as many I as used to, but some.  I simply love reading.  I used to get teased about that from my brothers and mom.  They used to say I could walk, talk, listen to what they were saying, and read at the same time.  Momma used to say, put the book down and listen with both ears.  Kind of funny to remember these moments.  I have some great memories of all of us growing up and when we were in our 20s.

It has been a very good day so far, although I haven't been up too long.  I am planning to make some nice chicken for dinner.  I do hope your Valentine's Day is good.  Maybe next year I will have someone to celebrate with.  Who know?  We shall see what the year brings.

a fun filled weekend!

I had 4 lessons on Saturday.  My last lesson cancelled due to work, I think that was why.  Kathy arrived at 4:10 pm just about as planned.  I whisked her away to Olive Garden for dinner.  Boy, it was a good think we went early because when we left, it was jammed packed with people waiting.  We had such a good time for dinner.  I kept teasing her about the surprise after dinner.  Now, I know Kathy does not really like surprises and I love to do this to her, so I broke down and told her the surprise.  She was so excited!  The surprise was going to our other friend, Heather B-T's house for games for the evening.  She hasn't really be able to spend a lot of time with Heather like I have been able to.  So after dinner, we stopped by her parents house to pick up something.  Kathy had visited with her parents before coming over to my place.  It would have been terrible to be in town and not stop in to see your parents.  They are very important.  So we chatted for a few minutes and Mrs. Knight showed me her Nook and now I want one a lot.  I am going to start putting money aside for one.  They're are simply wonderful.  I just love it.  I can only imagine how much space I would save by having one and not books.  We stayed for a few minutes at her parents and then headed right over to Heather B-T's house.  Calli and Acer were waiting for us.  First we chatted a bit.  Acer showed me the new electric piano they have.  It is totally awesome!  Bill, Heather's husband, also mentioned he knows a piano tuner so he is going to get me the name as in the spring my pianos are hopefully being tuned.  They haven't since we moved them into the house in September of 2008.  It is amazing they still sound wonderful but I am beginning to notice a slight out of tuneness that drives me batty.  Anyways, after chatting for a few minutes we went into the kitchen to play some games.  Acer decided he wanted to play other things so he didn't play, but that was okay.  Calli wanted to play some games with us.  We played Would you rather.  It was a blast!  I love that game.  I hope to play it again with them soon.  It was so much fun.  We laughed and giggled at our equally awful choices of what we would rather do.  Would you rather have ants in your nose and ears or slime all over you, type things.  Definitely worth a good giggle or too.  Then we played Uno.  Calli and I love that game.  Kathy likes it too.  We left at about 10 when the kids were in bed and Heather needed to get to bed to get up for church the next day.  Kathy and I headed back to my house and then talked to 1:30 in the morning!  Yes, I was awake until shortly after 1:30.  I was just having such a good time!  So we headed off to beds and then we both got up around 10, with me more around 10:30.  I asked her not to let me sleep past 10:30 because I didn't want to miss out on any of the visit!  So after we had some relaxing in the morning we headed to Red Robin for dinner.  Boy that was really good.  I am still so stuffed from it!  I don't anticipate any dinner for me as I am so full.  those burgers are huge and the fries are heavenly!  We didn't get an appetizer as I knew how big these burgers were.  Lunch was so fun.  When we walked in they looked kind of busy and I thought we would have to wait but we didn't.  We got seated right away.  Once lunch was finished and we were both so stuffed we headed to Walmart.  I needed to get some pop and chicken and Kathy needed to get some Valentine stuff.  There was no scooter there!  Oh my, that is a tragedy for me as I don't walk very well.  I knew we only needed a few things so we got a cart and I hung on to it for balance and we went to get what we needed.  it wasn't too bad.  I got my couple of things, so did Kathy and we checked out.  Then we went to Target.  Again, no scooter so I grabbed a cart and we got what we needed and left.  I am rather tired from all that walking but I am not feeling too bad from it so I am really happy about that.  I was able to do a bit more walking than I thought, but to do a whole lot of groceries, well, I can't see that happening very well.

Overall, this was a fantastic weekend and I hope we can do it again.  Even her little Samantha (she's 4) told her to have fun at my house.  Wasn't that just the sweetest thing ever?  Her children are awesome.  All four of them are wonderful children.  I enjoy being with them and watching them play and have fun together.



I do hope your weekend was as good as mine.

exhausted day

I don't know why, but I am so exhausted today.  I think I pretty much slept most of the day away.  I was up for a bit and then went back to bed.  I finally got back up again for dinner about 6 pm.  I am still so very tired so I will be heading to bed shortly.  I am just so tired and I don't really know why.  Usually it is because I did too much or didn't get enough sleep the night before, but I slept okay yesterday so I am at a loss of why I am so exhausted.

I am excited about tomorrow.  I get 5 lessons to teach and Kathy!!!!!  Kathy is going to be here at 4 pm and boy do I have plans!  He he he!!!!  I am excited that I will get her until Sunday afternoon.  I do hope she has a good time.  I figure she will arrive and we will whisk away for dinner and then on to the surprise in the evening.  I know she will have a good time, she is usually game for anything, which is one of the best things about her, besides being my best friend.  We have known each other since we were 3 years old when we met in Sunday School at church.  We went to school together all the way through from Kindergarten to 12th grade.  We didn't go to the same college as she went to Western Michigan University and I stayed here in town for college.  I went to Wayne State University in Detroit.  After college, she moved back into town and then got married and moved to Kalamazoo!  I do wish we lived closer, but we do have good visits when we are together.  Momma and I went to see her and her lovely family this summer and had a good time.  Momma really had a good time.  I am glad she did because she needed the time away too and to have a nice relaxing time from her not so good summer.  Kathy was at the funeral for mom which I really appreciated especially since I held myself together for most of the service but at the end I lost it when it was over and they took Momma away.  Fortunately, Kathy was there and I cried all over her.  She said just let it out.  My other good friend, Peggy was there too as well as the Emerton family.  Lily was there too.  She sat next to me at the luncheon.  Her sister, Emily didn't stay for the luncheon as she had a rough time during the funeral.  Both girls were close to my mother and looked to her as a grandmother.  I simply love all of the Emerton girls.  Their parents are very good friend too.  I am very blessed with my friends as well as my family.

I am thinking that next Sunday maybe Lily can come over for games as I haven't seen her since Christmas and that is just too long for me.  I need my Lily.  I have cookie dough too so we can make cookies too.  The following weekend is competition.  I am looking forward to competition as it will be a nice weekend away.  I am nervous about the drive there and back as I don't know how exhausted I will be, but if necessary I can stop and rest on the way.  It really is only about 3 hours away.  What used to happen is that I would drive there and Mom would drive home until, of course, she became unable to drive then she just kept me company on the way home.  I only have 3 students going to competition this year.  It is less than I used to have, but what can I say?  It is the economy and I got the new students too late to have them enter.  Perhaps next year I will have a few more.  Doesn't matter to me, if you want to go then go, if not, that is okay too.  The important part to me is the learning process.  Learning to sing or play properly, using good techniques, learning the techniques, and stuff like that.  I love teaching although I miss how many students I used to have.  I have to be careful how many I have because I am not healthy enough to teach full time which bums me out, but I have learned to live with this.  I think it is something that many of us have had to learn to live with.

I can't wait until tomorrow.  It should be a fun weekend.  I can't wait to see Kathy.  I do hope she has a good weekend here with me.  It all starts shortly after I am done teaching with going out to dinner.  I have gift certificates!!!

I do hope you are having a better day than me.

paperwork

I think I have finally turned in all the paperwork for the bankruptcy!  Boy has this been a long process to deal with.  I don't ever want to do this again.  Well, I didn't want to do it in the first place but when we lost the store, we lost pretty much everything.  Thank goodness Mom wasn't on the business or we would have lost the house too.  She didn't want to be on the business.  She said it should be me and my brother alone so that is what we did.  Thank goodness!  Because of that, I have a home to live in.  I do hope that I don't have anymore to turn it.  There are a couple of papers I need to take with me, but I have them put aside and ready to go.  My meeting is set for early March.  I am so happy I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It has been such a long road and it didn't help that I procrastinated about it either.

I don't have any students today or tomorrow.  I may go and visit tomorrow, but I am not sure.  We shall see how cold it is out and if I feel like going out.  It is a rough decision in this cold weather.  The one thing I do need to do is clear off the table so Kathy will have a place to sit.  Right now there are music books sitting on her chair.  That will be a problem.  I am going to put them in a box and take them downstairs to the office where the rest of the music is.

Andrew is feeling rather sad today.  He put on face book that he is missing Mom a lot today.  This is the first time he has done that since she passed away.  I put a small comment to him.  I hope it helps him.  I know what it is like to miss her.  I told him I missed him too because I do miss my brother.  He may drive me crazy, but he is my brother and I do love him.  I am hoping to see him in the spring.  Right now he is so busy with school that he doesn't have time for any visits.

It is a rather quiet day around here.  I am feeling better than yesterday.  I am not in as much pain and the tummy feels so much better.  I am reading a really good book too that is so hard to put down.  I hope to finish it tonight so I can start a fresh one tomorrow.  I am waiting for my Army Wives season 4 to come in the mail.  I love that show.  I don't know if it is because I am an Army Brat or not, but it is such a good series.  I don't watch it when it is on during the season because it is on rather late and I am usually getting ready for bed at that time so I buy the DVDs and watch it that way.  Also, no commercials when you watch the DVD so that is awesome!  I also ordered 1 book.  That is all my spending money this month though but that is okay.  I doubt I will need anything else.  I don't buy a lot of DVDs so to buy the series is not really a big deal.  I also usually buy my books at the used bookstore so it is a treat to once in a great while buy a new book.  I also had gift certificates from Christmas that I hadn't used.  I do have one more for Border's that I haven't used yet.  I am waiting for the next book club book before I use it.  I got the next book club book a couple of days ago.  I plan to read it when I am done with the 2 new other books I got.  It isn't because I think it will be a bad book, it is because we won't be discussing it until April so I don't want to read it too soon and then forget what I read.  You know Fibro Fog!!!  I have a hard time remembering books at times now.  It is very frustrating to me when that happens.  I am going to also reread the March book club book close to the end of the month because I forgot what I read!  I read it while Momma was still with me so you know how long ago that was!  Time to reread!

I have some DVDs that I bought while Momma was still with me that I haven't watched yet.  I haven't been able to watch them without her but I think I am at the point where I can.  One of them is the season 12 to Murder She Wrote.  Momma and I loved that show so much.  We watched it when it was on regular TV when I was in college.  Every Sunday I would put aside whatever homework I was working on and sit next to Momma and watch it with her.  When it was over, I would pull out my homework and continue working on it.  It was a nice ritual to do with her every week.  It is the small things like that that I miss the most.  I am anxious to finish up the entire series of Murder She Wrote so that I can start watching them all over again.  I also have the movies to the MacGyver series to watch.  I don't know if Kathy and I will have time to watch them.  I have plans for us so we will see!

I am not working on much right now.  I think I am going to work on the back room a bit today so I can start to get that done.  It is not hard work physically, but putting Momma's

I do hope this is finding you having a good day.  Stay warm!  Bundle up!  I hope you have less pain if you have any.

0 degree temps with -10 degree wind chill

It is so cold here.  I am not happy about being so cold.  I don't mind in the 20s right now since I have a very warm coat, but when it gets really cold, below zero with the wind chill, my bones ache, my joints ache, my head aches, and it is just really bad at night when it is this cold.  I have about 4 fleece blankets, 2 velour blankets, and 1 quilt on my bed at this point just to keep warm.  I am seriously thinking about switching rooms.  Momma's room is a bit warmer than mine and it is okay in the summer, so maybe I should switch to Momma's room.  I don't know.  I just don't know what is best.  Most of the time I love my room, until it gets this cold, then I am not so happy with it.

I am not feeling so well tonight.  My tummy has been a bit upset since last night.  I didn't have any regular tummy medicine though, so I had to use something else and it just doesn't work as well.  I went to the store and picked up some when I picked up my pain pills that I was also missing all day yesterday.  Apparently, it works better than I thought because I didn't have any yesterday and I ached all day and night.  I am grateful to have both medicines right now.  I do hope they kick in soon.

I had a new student this afternoon, Brianna, she is taking both piano and voice.  She is 15 and a homeschooler.  She did very well for the first lesson.  I look forward to working with such an ambitious young lady.  She is on her way right now to pick up the piano books she accidently left here.  She just picked them up.  Difficult to practice when the books are at your teachers house!  Her mom is ordering her music tonight so that is too cool.  I am so happy when they order the music right away.  It shows to me that they are serious about their lesson.  I have one mom who doesn't want to order any music right now because she isn't sure her daughter is serious about lessons.  I do hope this month she buys some music.  That would be good.

I don't teach again until Saturday.  I am going to stop at the Lawyers office to drop off yet some more paperwork.  I am so tired of this.  I have to find my social security card.  When I go upstairs I will look in the file cabinet.  I don't know if mine is in there or not.  Otherwise, I have to order a new one because I need it for the bankruptcy hearing.  I don't know why, I just do.  I had hoped to just order it online, but that isn't the case.  You can't just order a new one online like I thought.  Darn.  Oh well, I will get it.  I am asking the lawyer about that tomorrow.  I wish the medicare card would count but it is a totally different card.  I have a court hearing on March 2 downtown.  I will map it out a few days before and maybe take a ride down there so I know where I am going.  I have never been to the courthouse down there so I am nervous about being late.  If I am late, the hearing will get postponed and rescheduled.  I definitely don't want to do that.

I had a brief meltdown this afternoon before I went to go and get Brianna's music.  It was definitely a bad missing Mom moment.  They seem to happen less often, but are still intense when they happen.  From what Brianna's Mom said, it doesn't get better, just a bit more bearable.  She lost her Mom a year ago.  I have heard that before, my friend, Anne, said the same thing.  We belong to a club of motherless daughters, a club I had hoped to never belong too, yet I do.  I also melted down before bed last night.  I think because I was in so much pain that just added to the meltdown.  I think I was missing how Momma would rub my legs and help them not hurt so much.  I miss that.  Sometimes I would hurt so bad that it wouldn't help, but sometimes it did help.  It made me feel better even if it didn't help the pain.  Momma always felt so bad for me and wanted to know what she could do to help lessen the pain.  It was nice to have a sympathetic, but not overly sympathetic Mom.  If was wallowing in self pity she would pull me right up.  She didn't put up with that too much.  I now have to do that with myself in memory of her.  I try not to feel to sorry for myself as I have noticed that it increases my pain level.  I wonder if that is normal?

I will most likely going to bed a bit early because I am really tired.  I didn't sleep to well last night with having an upset tummy most of the night.  I am hoping for a better night tonight.  I really am, although with no lessons in the next couple of days, I can take a nap if necessary.

I am feeling more confident about the finances now with the new students that I have.  It makes me really think that I can make all the bills and not have an issue with them.  I am looking forward to being about to pay the bills and breathe a sigh of relief of being able to pay them and not have them get behind.  I was so nervous at first about that but now I am relaxing a bit about that.  My prayers have been answered with the finances.  Momma is definitely my guardian angel on this issue.  I just hope I can be as wise with money as she was.  That is my goal to be financially wise like my Momma.  I love being told I am a lot like her.  I hope I am with the good things.

I do hope you have had a good day.  Overall, it wasn't too  bad, just filled with a bit of pain and upset tummy issues.  I do hope they go away tonight.  I did take the medicine so I am hopeful it will work.

Lazy Day

Well, instead of clearing out the utility room I went to the bookstore.  I got 3 new books.  One was the new Cleopatra book, a non fiction one, which I got for 60% off!  The other two were paper back and looked interesting.  I may start the back room tonight or tomorrow.  I need to find the black garbage bags though to put Momma's clothes in.  My clothes need to be hung up or put in the proper drawer in my room.  Then on to emptying the 2 boxes of stuff that are back there.  Pretty much it, only I didn't do anything except read today.  I was pretty sore when I woke up so I came down and took some pain pills.  Of course, I am out of my regular pain pills today.  I did call in and order a refill only to find out that the prescription is out of refills and it will take another day to get a new prescription from my doctor.  Yeah, oops on the timing of that one.

I did have a lovely chat with Kathy today!  That was the highlight of my day.  Alicia and Samantha (age 4) also said hi and chatted for about 2 seconds each but it made them happy.  I love talking to them.  Alicia told me the big news at preschool is that they got new toys to play with.  Apparently, this preschool changes the decorations in the room every month and puts out different toys to play with every month too.  Sounds like a really good idea as the kids can't get sick of toys because they are different every month.  It seems to me it is a great idea!

It is very quiet in the house tonight as I don't have the TV on right now.  I am enjoying the silence.  I just heard the heat kick in again.  It is supposed to be very cold these next few days.  I am NOT looking forward to that then it is suppose to warm up a bit.  That I am looking forward too.

I have only 1 more lesson during the week this week.  All my lessons seem to be on Saturday this week. My today's lessons were moved to yesterday because of schedules and the one I was suppose to have earlier in the afternoon had to cancel due to being out of town with work.  I am disappointed with that, but not much I can do except look forward to his next lesson.  My Thursday girl moved to Saturday morning at 11 am because of her Mom's work schedule.  I am glad we finally straightened that out because I was getting rather worried about that.  So after a lesson tomorrow at 6, I don't have another one until Saturday morning at 11 am.  I will have to buy some milk this week before the weekend.  I meant to do that this afternoon when I went to the book store, but I forgot until I was comfy in the house.  It is too cold out to go now.  I can wait until tomorrow.  I don't need the milk this evening, although I was getting in the habit of having a glass before bed.  I don't know if it helps with sleeping, but I do like it so that is why I was doing that.

I have a semi-bad headache right now.  My left side is a bit sorer than normal.  Probably because I only have Tylenol for pain right now and that doesn't always cut it.  I can't do anything about that right now until the pharmacy calls to tell me my refill is ready.  I do hope it doesn't take very long, that is for sure!

I am looking forward to the weekend.  It looks like Kathy will be able to come barring some unexplained circumstance that neither she nor I are aware of.  I am so looking forward to it.  We need some good bonding time!  She is coming on Saturday.  She is going to stop and visit her parents while I teach.  I think that is a great idea because parents need to see their children, even if it is only for a little while.  Then she will be coming here!  I am so excited to have her for almost 2 days!  If we need to reschedule, well, that will be a disappointment, but I do understand things come up.  I have the spare bedroom all ready for her.  We are going to use some of the gift certificates I have.  I have one for Olive Garden and another for Red Robin.  Both are so good!  I simply love both restaurants and spending them with Kathy is a great thing to me.  I have some books for her to read to.  I just finished Daughters.  It is a YA book, but it is so good.  I really enjoyed it.  I have some new ones though now.

I am going to put the news on for a bit now.  I have to see what the weekend weather is going to be like!  I do hope nothing drastic that will make it impossible for Kathy to come.  I do hope you are having a great day!

a simple Monday

I was expecting to have about 6 lessons today, however, my lovely Calli is still not feeling up to a lesson, so she and Acer were absent, which left me with 3 lessons.  That was fine.  I just hope my little ones feel better soon.  Actually, I was also supposed to have the Muglia's today, which is 3 lessons, but as they all have the flu, so no lessons there either.  I will see them next week instead.

I am trying to work on my list of what to do with the house, reorganizing-wise.  Should I pull up the carpets in the upstairs, or not?  I don't know the condition of the hard wood floors that are underneath them, plus they would have all the carpet tacks holes in them, so is that a bad thing?  Hard to say for me.  I just don't know.  I am going to work a bit in the back room tomorrow, I think.  I am just not sure where to begin.  I really don't know.  I need to work on the upstairs too, but I am not sure I am ready to do that.  I think starting in the back room will be a good start.  There are many of mine and Momma's clothes hanging in the back room that need to be put away.  I will do that tomorrow as I have no lessons tomorrow at all.  Hard to believe but it is true.  No lessons at all so plenty of time to work on the back room.  Everything is so much harder to do without Momma here to help.  I think I still feel like I am walking through mud, but it isn't as bad as it used to be.

I was thinking about getting a new steam cleaner because ours is big and very heavy for me to use.  Well, it was pointed out that I probably couldn't do it in the first place because I would be in so much pain.  I hadn't thought of that so I won't be getting a new steam cleaner.  I will have to have someone do them for me.  I just am trying to come up with ways that will make it less dust around here especially in my room, which is filled with dust.  Our house is just filled with it.  The last couple of years I have skipped the spring cleaning because I was concentrating on Mom.  Now I am regretting that I ignored spring and fall cleaning for the last few years.  It just isn't a good idea to skip those type things.  I have started with the kitchen and I will be beginning the utility room.  I have to get the wall cleaner.  I don't remember what Momma used to use.  I do like the magic cleaner erasers though.  They are really nice and clean up so well.  I want to empty out the boxes in the back room and clean out some of the cabinets.  They weren't washed when we emptied them.  I thought they were, but they were only vacuumed out.  Some of them need to be washed, not all, just a couple of them.  I am moving the cans to the back room because I need to do some changing around in the kitchen again, but that doesn't need to be done until the grill finds its home.  I know where I am going to put it, I just have to empty the drawer and find a cupboard to put the stuff in.  First, though, I am going to work on the back room.  I have to put the clothes of Mom's in a bag to donate.

That's my plan for tomorrow and I hope I feel well enough to do all this!

I hope you are having a good day.

A fun afternoon

Well, instead of book club, we went to Olive Garden for lunch.  I woke up late as usual, and was a bit hungry.  Maggie has been so busy with work that she didn't have time to finish the book yet.  So we will talk about it next month.  We already have the month after's book picked.  It is an ancient Egypt couple of months.  I simply love book club.  I am excited that my friend, Pattie will be joining us.  I will be messaging her today so she can plan ahead.  I am so excited about this stuff!  I now teach until 4 on Saturday so book club is going to be a bit later than it used to from now on.  I don't mind.  It makes for a very fun filled day.  Lessons and then book club!

Maggie and I just talked and talked about so many subjects.  She is a wonderful friend to have.  I am so blessed with the friends I have.

I have to pay some bills today, well, write the checks out for them.  I am going to do that as soon as I finish up with my post.

Competition is coming up.  I made the hotel reservations the other day.  I am looking forward to competition.  It will be a nice getaway for me.  I have only been to competition by myself once, so this will be strange.  Also, I am the only one who is planning to go to the banquet which kind of stinks because I think everyone should attend.  It is always good and then you have a good seat at the awards ceremony.  I have to send in my check for that too.  Just called Rachel, they aren't planning to go to the awards banquet so i think I will surprise Rachel and get her a ticket.  She won't know until competition.  I think she would like to go as it is her last year.  I did ask Tillie if she wanted to go but she can't this year.  Oh well, maybe another time.  I will have a good time anyways.

Well, it has been a fun filled day so far.  I am making cookies for the kids who are coming to do my driveway and sidewalks.  They are such a nice family, super nice and supportive.  Barb's daughter, Carolyn was the one who would come and stay with Momma when I had to shop.  She was so good with Momma.  When I called Barb to ask her to pray for us when Momma was dying, she came right away.  It was so nice.  They also came to the viewing and the service we had for the little lady.

It is a normal pain day, nothing is worse than normal so I am so glad about that!  My headache is it's normal pain.  With the snow we have had I expected worse than normal pain and I didn't get it so I am happy about that.  It is also a normal missing Momma day so that is good too.  It was nice to talk about Momma with Maggie.  She knew her pretty well these last few years.  She says I am doing really well and am thinking things clearly.

I do hope you have a good Superbowl day!  I will be reading for a while after I make cookies for the kids.

more snow

I looked out the window when Amanda was leaving after her lesson and it was flurrying.  Nothing major, a few flakes here and there.  Well, by the time Kayla arrived, it was snowing hard and it still is.  We are heading for another 4 to 6 inches between today and tomorrow.  I am so not happy about this, but I can roll with it.  I just won't be heading anywhere for a couple of days that is for sure.  We were supposed to have book club today but it was snowing too hard so we are doing it tomorrow instead.  I don't mind.  I didn't have anything really planned since the snow ruined my plan.  Tillie doesn't drive in the snow so she isn't coming tomorrow.  Oh well, we are having book club so that is okay!  I don't mind.  Not one bit.  I get book club!

For some reason this afternoon I got a bad headache.  I will be heading to lay down shortly as it really hurts.  I am rather annoyed by it, but at least it came after lessons and not during!  I am so thankful for that! Because it is damp outside, the pain is a bit higher, but that is too be expected with this type weather.  It usually happens when it snows, rains, or is super cold or super hot.  So, basically, I am a fall and spring girl.  I sure do hope that the person who has been doing my snow all winter is going to do it again, because otherwise, it won't really get done because I just can't do it.  I simply can't stand long enough for it or lift the snow.  Mom used to have fits when I would try.  She would be like, put that down, go in the house, what are you trying to do to yourself!  I have finally come to realize, I just can't do it myself.  I need help with it.  I did buy some cookie dough to make the person who is doing it some cookies, if I ever find out who it is.  I haven't checked to see if it stopped snowing so I don't know if it has been done.  I will check tomorrow before Maggie arrives.

Not much happening this evening.  I had 4 lovely lessons today.  They went very well.  I am excited about my new students and the progress they are making.  I am not sure if Amanda S's mom is happy, but she is progressing very well.  Her mom just doesn't hear any difference yet.  She has only had 3 lessons so far.  I do hope she gives her a chance.  We shall see.  I have another busy week ahead!  i love being busy!  My Thursday student who didn't show up did call me this afternoon.  It looks like we will be moving her lesson to Saturday also because of Mom's work schedule.  I am so glad I was able to get a hold of her.  i was getting really worried about it because she already paid for the lessons and then to miss without a phone call?  So we are going to speak tomorrow and confirm the schedule.

I think I will go and lie down for a bit.  My head is sore and I am so tired.  I am also cold right now.  I do hope you are having a good day too.

semi busy day

I had one lesson at about 12:15 this afternoon, then I  went grocery shopping, then I had 2 more lessons.  I believe it is the last lesson for Stephanie because tomorrow is Solo and Ensemble and that is what we were working towards.  I may have a new one because a mom called me today so that is hopeful.  She will take both piano and voice so that is awesome!  She is 15.  I hope her Mom calls back tomorrow and signs her daughter up.  I am hopeful!

It is supposed to be rather cold this weekend, so I am probably not going to go out this weekend.  I don't want to freeze, not at all.  I do have a nice new coat, but I don't like to freeze so unless I have to, I am not going out.  I am thankful for my new coat.  It definitely keeps me warm on these cold days.

I may have company on Sunday for dinner.  We shall see.  I have invited Tillie but she isn't sure if she is babysitting Warren or not.  I do hope she comes over.  It will be fun.  I plan on making beef stew and biscuits with cake as desert.  I haven't had anyone over for dinner since Thanksgiving week so I am hoping she comes over.  I guess she is planning to come over on Tuesday for shopping.  She doesn't always stop here when she goes shopping.  I don't shop very much.  I don't particularly like it.  It isn't very fun to me.  I did like shopping for Mom when we had the money for it.  I did like picking clothes for her, but I don't like it for me.

I am planning to go to bed a bit early tonight as I have to be up a bit early for lessons.  I have 4 lessons and book club tomorrow!  I am so excited about that.  I haven't seen Maggie since before Christmas.  I think I know what book we are going to read this next month.  My friend, Pattie wants to join our book club so hey, how cool is that?  I think it is neat.  She will get along really well with Maggie.  Maggie is just so nice.

It has been a nice day.  I am looking forward to the weekend.  I do hope yours is going well too!

Thursday

I was supposed to have 2 lessons today.  1 didn't show up.  I don't understand it, but she didn't.  The new company has a strong absent policy.  I decided to email her and see what the problem was so I am just waiting for the email.  I do hope to hear from her.  It is frustrating to want to teach a lesson that doesn't show.  Let's hope she will have a make up later this week.

I got a letter from DHS today.  Apparently, with my new part time job, I no longer qualify for food stamps or medicaid.  I knew this would happen, so it isn't a surprise.  It is not that bad of a thing as I anticipated it happening, I just didn't expect it so soon because I didn't expect so many new students.  I would rather have the new students than the assistance.  I think I am starting to get back on my feet.  I need 7 more students from the new company or some from the new company and from my website, either way would work for me.  I just need a few more students and I will be a-okay!  It does feel good to know that I can pay my own bills (mostly right now).  I look forward to the day when they all are paid right away and I don't stress over them.  If I had a choice, I would prefer that Momma would be here, but since I didn't have a choice, I am glad she taught me to be strong.  I can still be strong and have a chronic illness, can't I?  Fibro only takes my physical strength, it can't take all of my inner strength.  I won't let it.

I didn't get up too early today.  I could have, but I was being lazy.  Tomorrow I have a lesson first thing in the afternoon, so no laziness tomorrow!  I like having an earlier lesson because it gives me a reason to get up and get going.  That is important to me.  I had a dream about Mom and wanted to really think and remember her so that was part of my laziness this morning.

I was going to clean up the dining room table.  Maybe I will, maybe I won't.  We shall see.  I have to figure out what bills need to be paid right now.  Several automatically come out of the bank account (love that - nothing to forget!) so there are only a few left over.  I have music on the table too that needs to be removed.  I will do that this weekend after I am done copying everything that needs to be copied.

Saturday is book club too so that will be awesome.  I am really looking forward to it.  I love book club.  We haven't really had a book club since Momma passed away.  At first, I just couldn't really function enough to have one and then Christmas and the holidays, so we are having the first one now.  We were going to have one in December, but Maggie took me to lunch instead.  We had a great time.  We really did.  I just love Maggie.  She is such a good friend to have.  She and her husband, Bob, are such great people.  Bob is my student and he plays piano so well.  Just goes to show you are never to old to start.  My little Sarah Muglia will be beginning piano next month, so that is exciting to me.  She is a little doll.  She is 7 (I think).  The entire Muglia family is really awesome and very, very supportive.  They really helped me while Momma was dying.  The girls came to see Momma in the hospital and then they came to both the viewing and the funeral.  It was so wonderful to see them there supporting me.  They knew how difficult it was for me.

So basically, the next few days will be lots of fun.  Three lessons tomorrow, 4 lessons on Saturday plus book club!  I am looking forward to the next few days.  Things are improving for me.  I am finding I can do more than just function, I can sometimes enjoy myself again.  I am not as afraid as I was, so that is a big improvement.  I am working on giving it to God and not taking it back.  This week hasn't been too bad in that way.  I am going to start a Bible Study online.  It is by Beth Moore, called Believing God.  My friend, Kathleen is currently involved with it and says it is wonderful.  So we shall see how it goes.  I am looking forward to that.  I like doing studies and miss the friendships that come with studies.  I know this one will be different as I will be doing it online and not with a group, but that is okay.  Overall, I think it will be a good experience for me.

I do hope you are having a good day.  So far, it has been good outside of the disappointment of not having my student.

the blizzard of the year?

Well, we didn't get the amount of snow they predicted here in Michigan.  I am very thankful for that.  We got about 6 to 8 inches which isn't too bad.  Once again, I was blessed by a neighbor who shoveled my driveway and front walk this morning.  I am one lucky girl when it comes to the snow being shoveled.  I woke up this morning and looked outside to see how much we got and noticed that my snow was pretty much gone.  There was a bit on the ground because it was still snowing, but hey, it wasn't much and I am so happy not to have to shovel myself.  Of course, I have no idea how I would shovel myself, but I don't have to worry about it.  We are supposed to get a few inches this weekend.  Yuck.  I am ready for spring.  I am not ready for summer but definitely for spring.  I am a spring and fall girl.  I don't do well in winter and summer.  Extreme temperatures make me ache more whether it is too hot or too cold.  I have the little heater on tonight as I am still in my pajamas.  I didn't get dressed because I needed to do some laundry.  I was slightly out of clothes.  Oops!  I fixed that though.  I woke up nice and early for a change and really was happy about that.  I did take a brief, well, not so brief nap but that was to be expected since I woke up early.  It helped to cut back on 1 of the Tylenol PM last night.  I still slept okay, as good as I usually do, but I didn't sleep as long as I have been.  I feel like I should have done something more today, but I will work on stuff tomorrow.  I am thrilled that I have 2 lessons tomorrow.  My lovely Stephanie couldn't make it today as the weather is worse where she lives than where I live, so she is coming tomorrow instead.  I am happy about that.  I also have my usual Thursday girl, Koffi.  She is very nice and very sweet girl.  She has had one lesson so far as she was ill last week.  I do hope to see her tomorrow.  I have 3 lessons on Friday so that is even better and even better than that!  4 lessons on Saturday.  My Katie won't be having her lesson this week because of her schedule, so she is going to have her lesson next week instead.  I have a goal of having about 4 to 6 lessons Monday through Thursday and Saturday.  That would be enough for me and probably the most I can handle in a day.  I feeling pretty well overall these days.  I do have pain, but it isn't as bad as it could be so that is good.  My head does hurt everyday but the bad headaches are further apart than they used to be, or at this point.

I called a neighbor tonight to see if she knows who has been shoveling my driveway.  I am so thankful for that!  I really am!  Being disabled, it is difficult to do these things so I am so grateful that someone is taking care of me.  We have great neighbors.  When Momma was here, one of the neighbors would come and stay with her while I went grocery shopping.  At the end, she just couldn't walk that far so I had to go without her.  I miss hanging out with her all day.  I am used to it though.

I think some of the fear I had has gone away.  I don't feel so consumed by it this last few days.  I am thankful for that.  I still pray that the rest of the fear will go to.  God is so good!  He is really providing for me.  It is amazing to see how God is working in my life.  I am excited to see what will be happening in my life in the future.  A few months ago, I didn't imagine a future without Momma.  I couldn't see how I could live without her.  While I still have trouble with the fact she is gone, I am starting to see a future for me.  I still miss her all the time.  I imagine I always will.  We were best of friends but I feel like she is watching over me and cheering me on at times.  I will always wish she were still here with me, but I am able to live without her by my side all the time which is something I didn't think I would be able to do.  It is a day by day process with me, I think it will be for a long time.

Tomorrow I think I will be working on the dining room before lessons.  I want to clear off the table and put the bills in order to be paid tomorrow.  I am pleased that I can pretty much pay my bills now which was a problem when I didn't have the students I have right now.  I am thankful for what I have.  I am confident I will get the amount I need in the next few months and then I will be standing on my own two feet!  What a concept!  Me?  Independent?  Wow, what can I say?  Something I wasn't sure I would be able to do with the illnesses that I have.

All in all it has been a decent snow day.  I didn't do any work like I should have, but there is always tomorrow or later this week.  I do hope you are having a good day too!

preparing for the blizzard of the year

I am prepared, well, as prepared as one can get.  We are supposed to get somewhere between 12 and 18 inches of snow between tonight starting at 7 pm and 7 pm tomorrow night.  We shall see.  We didn't get the little bit of snow we were supposed to last night so it is a wait and see mode in the Paxton house for the snow.

My noon student rescheduled his lesson to Friday.  I had the choice of just marking it paid because he called so late or rescheduling it.  I chose to reschedule because he is brand new and interested in singing so why no give the opportunity to reschedule since I have the availability.  The new one tonight is on his way.  He called to see if he could start earlier and since I don't have Charlie tonight, it won't be a problem.  Charlie will have his lesson on Friday this week.  Charlie prefers to make up his lessons as opposed to just skipping them.  He is my kind of student!  Sometimes we double up on one because he missed the week before.  I don't mind.  We always have things to play.

My kitchen looks so pretty.  I don't want to mess it up by cooking!  Isn't that funny?  I am pleased with how everything looks.  I have my plans finalized for the family room.  I am pleased about that too.  Tomorrow I am going to empty the shuffle board and take pictures for my cousin of it.  I am hoping it will be gone by the end of February.  I am a bit worried on how they are going to get it out of the downstairs, but we will find a way.  It has been done before and we will do it again.  I am anxious to get going on the house, but know that it will take a long time to do.  I am starting on the living room tomorrow.  Only a few things need to be taken care of there so that isn't going to be a problem.  I have a couple of packages of disposable undies that I am taking to church so they can send them to the mission. The opened packs will just have to go in the garbage.  No one will take an open package.  I understand completely, but one of the packages only has 1 missing so it is practically full.  Oh well, I have no use for them and since I can't donate them, off they go.  I also have a couple of turtlenecks in the living room that will go to Phoebe.  I will be collecting all the hoodies that Momma never wore and be giving them to her also.  She is the only one I know besides the Muglia girls, that is small enough for them.  I am not sure if they would fit the Muglia girls, they may be too big for them.  I am not sure.  If Phoebe doesn't want them, then I will give them to the Muglia's.  I have several that are really nice and have never been worn that I bought Momma last summer.

It has been an okay day.  I went to get ink for Tillie's printer/scanner/copier because I needed to copy some music.  I will be getting my own shortly.  I have a few places to check into before I purchase one myself.  I will be putting the other computer and the scanner for that computer away tonight.  They are taking a lot of room up on the table.  Once I get my new all in one, I have several pictures to scan.  I found some old band camp pictures and boy are they funny!  The one of Kathy  though, is blurry so I am bummed about that.  I have a few other packages of pictures downstairs that I haven't looked at yet though.  I think most of that box is my pictures.  I am going to scan them all and then put them on disc.  This way I have them saved nicely.

I plan to work on the dining room again tomorrow.  I had the table nicely cleared and everything, then I needed some paperwork copied for social services and well, there went the nice and neat table.  I will also be writing some checks ready to mail for Thursday.  I am trying to stay on top of bills instead of behind on them.  That is my new goal.  To be better organized!  I have about 4 piles of music that still need to be sorted and put away.  I also need to put away the CDs

Anyways, my student should be here anytime now.  It has been a normal missing Mom day and a normal pain day so yeah for that!  I do hope you are having a good day and that you are safe from the weather we are supposed to get.  Stay nice and cosy!