Sunny Day

It is nice and sunny out today.  It makes me smile!!!  I did have the appointment with the arthritis doctor this morning (well, by the time I actually got to see her it was afternoon).  The x-rays just show a bit more arthritis than a few years before and the blood tests are normal so all in all, nothing unexpected, which I suspected as she didn't call me when the results came in.  She also wants me to add 2 tramodol in the afternoon and 1/2 the dosage of the Meloxicam.  She is hoping that the addition of the tramodol will help me get rid of the Meloxicam.  The problem with the meloxicam is that I also have to take coumiden, the blood thinner medicine because of my blood disorder.  Meloxicam can can bleeding and with the coumiden, it raises the risk really high for bleeding.  However, without the Meloxicam, it is very difficult to walk in the evening.  by 6:00 or so, I am in so much pain, I can barely get out of a chair so I continue to take it even though I know the risk.  I have been very vigilant with watching for any signs of bleeding and I haven't had any problems with it yet.  I am trying her suggestion of adding the 2 pain pills in the afternoon and lower the Meloxicam by 1/2.  I did do that starting today.  I will see how these things work.  Hey, if it does, awesome!  If not, well, I will go back to what I was doing.

I talked to my friend, Donna, today.  She and I had a very good conversation.  Then I also had Bob's lesson as it is a Monday!  He is doing very well.  I had him bring his Hanon exercise book back so we can do some.  I know he has already done most of the book, but I think at this point revisiting some of the exercises will make his fingers more agile and really help with speed of the runs.  He agreed with my assessment and has absolutely no problem redoing the book.  His Clementi Sonatina is really coming along and we started the last page of the Mozart Sonata this afternoon.  All in all, I must say I am very pleased with his progress.  I have Emily later this evening.  She too, is doing very well.  She is just learning to read notes and is doing quite well with her flash cards.  The fact that she is super cute helps too.

Kathy, my best friend's son turned 13 today.  I had to call and ask how she felt now that she is the Mom of a teenager.  He really is a very good young man.  He is on a school field trip to Cedar Point today.  What a way to spend your birthday!  She had a horrible headache yesterday and is feeling a bit better today, but still under the weather.  She totally has my sympathy and my empathy!  I certainly know how bad heads can ache!

I talked to my friend Georgette this afternoon too.  I needed some advice to deal with the inappropriateness of Jose's behavior yesterday and Saturday too.  I know have a plan that makes me feel like I will be in charge of any situation that comes up.  I am hoping not to have to put it in place, but if I must I will.  I still plan to screen the phone this week, that is for sure.  I feel much more confident about this now.  Thank goodness for good friends, and for Barb who also gave me advice yesterday too.  I didn't expect this from a family friend.  I have known him since I was in my teens.  It is just too much and should it be necessary, I will take action.  So anyways, I feel much better over these incidents now.

I was supposed to go to lunch with Georgette today, but because I got out of the doctor so late, we have to reschedule it.  I am bummed, but I did have a nice long talk with her as I have already mentioned.

It is simply wonderful outside right now.  My baby birds are popping their heads up right now so I can't take any pictures.  As soon as they do, I will definitely post a picture.  I just love them!  I think there are three of them in there.  I saw the Momma bird yesterday, what a pretty bird.  Not as magnificent as the Poppa bird, but still very pretty.  She was white with brown spots on her tummy.  I do hope this finds you doing well and having a great day!  I am having a good day and am anticipating another good lesson with the lovely Emily.  I have 2 lessons tomorrow, 2 on Wednesday, 1 on Thursday (although she takes 2 lessons), 2 on Friday, and 2 on Saturday.  I think Sunday I am going to take Donna out for the afternoon since I have no lessons and I want to give her back her books.  I also want to loan her a DVD that I know she will adore.

A busy day!

I got to see my cousins, Hayley and Justice, this afternoon.  They stopped by to pick a few packages that they had ordered.  Then Rick had his lesson and after that was a Michigan Music Association meeting.  We were discussing deadlines and jobs for the competition 2012.  I will be helping with the luncheon this year. I think it will be fun.  A couple of teachers weren't at the meeting so Diane is going to ask them about what they will do for the competition.  It will be a good year, I think.

Jose was over again today.  He put one door up for me in the furnace room.  I am thankful for that.  However, I was a bit uncomfortable tonight with him here because he was staring at me.  I don't like that.  I don't like being stared at.  I have had enough being stared at when I was young.  I asked him to stop and he really didn't.  He doesn't think anything is wrong staring at me even if I don't like it.  I am not sure I will be available the next time he calls.  He says he was staring at me because I am beautiful.  Well, I don't care because I still don't like being stared at.  He doesn't seem to care that I don't like it.  How rude if you ask me and very disrespectful.  I don't appreciate being stared at no matter whatever the reason he says.  If the person doesn't want to be stared at, just stop it.  It is very simple.  I know he is going through a rough time, I know it is hard watching someone you love die.  That doesn't give you the right to stare at someone who doesn't like it.  His wife is dying, I know but that doesn't mean he should be disrespectful to me by staring. Anyways, I hope he is busy for the next few weeks and forgets about me.  I really do.

It started out as a good day and then ended not so good.  I was very uncomfortable and irritated the last hour of Jose's visit.  I hope to never go through that again.  I am glad that today is over though.  I am tired now.  I do hope to get a good night (well, as good as I get) sleep.  I get my test results tomorrow from the x-ray and the blood test.  I hope you have a good night.

a bit of a different day

Normally, on a Saturday, I teach lessons, but this week I didn't have any students so no lessons.  Mom's friend Jose called earlier in the week and wanted to talk to me and take me to lunch.  Generally, I avoid his calls because he always comments on my weight, or at least he used too.  He didn't today or the other day.  he has finally, it seems anyways, understood that I am not going to be his work out buddy.  Yes, I need the exercise, but this is a very fit man who works out like 3 hours a day.  That is so not me.  I am lucky if I can do a few minutes much less 3 hours.  His wife is very ill and he had some questions about hospice.  It appears that she is going to be heading into the hospice unit at the hospital.  I feel bad for him because I know how hard it is to watch someone die.  She has been ill for about 27 or so years at this point.  She also has been giving the hospital a hard time about her dialysis (she is diabetic and her kidneys have shut down on her).  The doctor basically said you don't want to go, we won't make you, but you will be gone very quickly so she grudgingly went.  I don't personally understand that as if you have to do it, you have to do it.  Saying you don't want to when it is time to go isn't going to make you any better.  He seemed like he was at peace with what is going on.  I know he misses my mom a lot and that he is going to miss Dorothy but I think he at one time, imagined that when Dorothy was gone he would have a life with my mother.  Well, that isn't going to happen now as Mom is already gone.  I probably won't see him again for a while.  He only pops in every so often.  That works for me.

I don't have any other plans for the evening.  I am a bit tired now and will probably go to bed early again.  I actually had a semi okay night of sleep last night and I am hoping for a repeat.  My cousins may come over tomorrow before my lesson so they can pick up their stuff that they ordered.  I think they plan to be here around 1 ish tomorrow so I will be up around 12:30 ish.  This will give me plenty of time to get organized and have breakfast before they arrive.  I also have a lovely meeting that I am looking forward to tomorrow.  That will be awesome!  I don't mind going to MMA meetings.  I actually look forward to it.

The three baby Robins that live above my front porch light are getting bigger.  They are so cute!  Usually you can only see 2 of them, but there are three.  The third just hides a bit at times.  I did learn an important lesson this year about nests.  Remove the old one in the fall when the birds are gone because next year they will just build on top of the old one!  Well, if they do that next year, there is no where to build!  i will be sure to have the nest removed before winter.  I love baby birds!  We have had a nest above our front porch light since I was small.  I have no idea when they started nesting there but we have had Robins there my whole life and I just love it.  Only one year did they not come and that was because a big old wind storm destroyed the nest before the babies were born.  The next year, they were back.

Only about a month before the next and last Harry Potter movie comes out.  *sigh*  I love Harry Potter! I am anxiously awaiting this movie but will not subject myself to the midnight showing.  1 - I would not probably stay awake to see it and 2 - it would be super crowded and that just doesn't sound appealing to me.  I will go with my Muglia girls a few weeks after it has come out and we will go during the day during the week so it won't be as crowded.  I only wish Mom had lived long enough to see all the Harry Potters.  Of course, I wish she were here for so many reasons!  I just miss her so much.  Mom loved Harry Potter.  i remember when I was in the hospital with my blood clot.  (Apparently, I nearly died with this one, hm)  She was visiting me and I was quite out of it so she brought a book for me to read.  She just grabbed the nearest book on my book shelf in my room and it was the first Harry Potter.  Momma started reading to me.  When the lady who was in the bed next to mine was discharged from the hospital, she asked Momma what book she was reading to me and who it was by so she could go and get it.  She wanted to know what happened.  I gave her the info.  I told her it was a children's book but the whole series so far was wonderful.  I think about that lady every time I start the Harry Potter series again.  I also think of Mom because she loved Harry Potter and the movies.  She did finish reading the first book but never did start the next because that was when the Alzheimer's was really starting to affect her.

Anyways, this has become a chapter in a book!  I do hope you are having a good day too.

it's a Friday!

I had Calli and Acer's lessons today.  Acer is so cute.  I told him what song we were going to play and he was like, no I don't want to play that song.  I quickly switched gears and we went with the song called the Donkey.  It is a cute piece and he plays both hands at the same time with more than 1 note in the left hand. We were going to work on his version of Fur Elise but they accidentally left it at home along with one of Calli's books for voice.  Calli is going to start working on some Italian Art song next week.  We are starting the lighter classical music since I think she is ready.  Her voice is quite mature for an 11 year old.  She has an amazing range too.  She can sing higher than any of my students.  I am quite pleased with how well she is doing and Acer too.  I look forward to Fridays.

Other than those two lessons, I don't have anything else going on.  I couldn't sleep last night.  I think I fell asleep after 3 am.  I was reading until about 2:30 because I couldn't sleep.  Just one of those things.  I don't have any lessons tomorrow so I am going to do some housework.  That is the plan.  I want to vacuum and scrub the floor in the dining room, kitchen, and utility room.  I am not sure if my cousin is coming by to pick up her packages or not.  I also need to type the minutes from the last meeting for the meeting on Sunday.  We have a Michigan Music Association meeting on Sunday.  It shall be fun.  We will starting the planning of next years competition.  That will be rather cool.  I am on the Executive Board this year.  i am the assistant secretary/treasurer.  It is a nice position.  I will find out on Sunday to find out what I will be doing during the competition this year.

It has been a good day today.  It has been cooler and rainy but it is a nice change from the super hot and humid that we had most of the week.  I do hope you are having a good day too!

another hot day

I know I wanted warmer weather, but did we have to skip spring weather?  It seems to me we went straight from winter to summer weather.  I love spring weather and fall weather, I ache in summer and winter weather.  If it is extremely hot or extremely cold, I am an aching girl.  Although, I will admit that I am loving the sunshine we are having!  I received a plant in a pot (huge, simply huge!) and it sits on my front porch.  This afternoon when I went out it looked like it is dying.  I came home and watered it and it revived itself.  I do not know how much to water it so I guess when it looks like it is dying, it is time to water.  Other than that I have no idea how much to water.  It is so huge that I watered it with a 2 litre diet coke bottle.  (I rinsed it first)  It used all the water and there wasn't any water on the ground so I guess that was enough.

I STILL don't have my pain pills.  I am calling the doctor again tomorrow to see if the doctor has authorized the refill yet.  I really need this.  Tylenol is doing just okay, nothing great so I am in more pain than usual because of this.  I will be strong and be happy when I get the refills.  From now on I will order a refill one week before the bottle is empty from now on.  I will be more vigilant on these refills from now on.

It was a decent day despite the extra pain.  Carson had his lessons.  He takes both piano and voice and let me tell you, the hour flies by.  He is such a great kid.  He is learning his treble clef notes this week.  He did bass clef notes last week.  He will be getting some new voice songs too next week as he needs some new ones.  I am going to be looking through my books to see what ones to give him.  He does so well.  His idol is Michael Jackson when he was with the Jackson 5.  He loves that music so I will hopefully be able to get some of the Jackson 5 music this summer.  I am not sure because I don't have a lot of money to buy new music.  Beth also had her lesson today too.  She is auditioning for the Music Man this weekend at her local Community Theatre.  She is ready.  She knows the two pieces that they required.  We worked on her breathing tonight.  She was lying on the floor singing and was surprised at how much louder she was.  She breathes (like most people) backwards.  When you breathe in, your tummy goes out filling with air, when you breath out, your tummy goes in, releasing the air.  Most people really only breathe with their shoulders which doesn't use all of your lung capacity.  It is the hardest thing to teach sometimes.

Tomorrow I have no lessons because Breanna is still working on finishing up her schoolwork for the year.  She has to have it all done by next week.  This is the 3rd week she hasn't had lessons and I miss her.  I totally understand that she needs to finish her work but still, I miss my Breanna!  I get used to having my students week to week and I miss them when they miss.

I don't know exactly what I will do tomorrow since I don't have lessons.  I do wish Kathy and I lived near each other because I know exactly how I would spend the day if we did!  I would be with her!!!  and her kids!!!!  They are finished with school I think, this coming Monday.  Seems like a weird day to be ending school but Charlie is finishing on a Monday too.  It is just weird.  I think the schools in my area get out next week but i am not sure.

I thought this Sunday was father's day, but apparently it is next week.  I have a week to send Richard a card and his gift so I am glad that I have an extra week.  I hope to talk to him on Father's Day too.  Other than speaking to Richard on Father's Day I don't have any plans on that day.  This week on Sunday, I have Rick's lesson and then a MMA meeting.  I look forward to MMA meetings because they are fun.  I have to type out the minutes from the last meeting.  I haven't done it as of yet, but I will before Sunday.

I do hope you are having a good day.

Wednesday

I have a bad headache today.  I have had it most of the day.  I also had 2 new students.  It looks the adult, Angela, is going to only take lessons for about 4 weeks.  This is not a big surprise.  Most adults don't even last that long.  She does want to learn to sing on pitch better and breathing.  Those things I can help her with.  The other new student seems to be one that will last much longer.  Her name is Rachel and she is 5 years old.  She has just finished Kindergarten and she is super adorable.  She is so tiny.  Rachel is blond and just so cute.  Her hands are very tiny too but she did very well for her first lesson.  Her grandmother clapped at the end of her first song.  Rachel was so proud of herself.  I was very pleased for her.

Charlie had his lesson too.  He forgot that one of his exercises was actually 2 pages so he didn't practice the 2nd page.  I remember doing that once in when I was in school.  I didn't do that very often after the first time though.  I realized today that he is going to be a senior already.  Yeah, that went fast, super fast.  I am not prepared for him to be a senior but he will be.  *sigh*  They all grow so fast.  It just isn't fair.

I think I am heading to bed a bit early as this headache is pretty bad.  I am completely out of regular pain pills so I am left with Tylenol.  That isn't going to help to much.  I talked to the doctor's office today and they just found the request in the computer for the pain pills refill.  The secretary said they were a bit behind.  A little?  How about over a week.  I am in a lot of pain and the pharmacy will not give emergency refill for pain pills so I am out of luck until they refill it, which I do hope will be tomorrow as I can't go through many more days without the proper medicine.  I have to have the protime blood test redone next week.  My dosage also has changed as usual because of the weather.  Blood is naturally thinner in the hotter weather and thicker in the colder weather.  I don't want to get my blood test again next week but I will.  I do hope that my refill is filled tomorrow.  I am sick of the extra pain because of no medicine.

NCIS Los Angeles is on.  I missed NCIS because it was a rerun so I flipped channels only to discover I should not have ignored the letter from WOW stating that I need an HD something for my cable.  I did not order it right away.  I did order it a few days ago but it takes a while to get it until then, no more HGTV or Lifetime or any channel about 25.  Yuck.  I do hope it arrives this week and not next week as Sunday is the season finale of Army Wives!  It is bad enough I missed last night's episode, but I can't miss that one too.  I will be upset and heartbroken!  I should be able to watch it online though if I have too.  My Aggie can talk me through how to do that as I have never watched anything online.

It has been an interesting day.  2 new students, one who will most likely disappear at the end of the 4 weeks.  As long as she gives me back my books that is all that matters.  I will copy the songs we did this week for her.  The CDs I want back, at least the Princess CD one.  I can't replace it too well since I bought it in Disney.  The pain level is higher than usual due to no pain pills.  Tylenol is barely taking the edge of the pain off and isn't denting the headache.  I am hoping I get some sleep tonight.  I slept sort of last night so I am hoping for a better night.

I do hope you are having a good day.

hmm

It has been a good day so far.  I had Bob's lessons and Emily's.  I also FINALLY got a hold of the newest student's Mom.  It only took like 4 days but I finally spoke to her this afternoon.  I picked up both Rachel's and Laith's piano books and flashcards.  I almost forgot that Rachel is starting tomorrow.  She is 6 and just finished Kindergarten.  She is very excited and so am I.  I had a nice chat with her grandmother who will be bringing her.  She knows about where I live so that isn't going to be a worry.  That is good because the last couple of new students got lost getting to my house.  I also have a new adult tomorrow for singing lessons.  We shall see how this one goes.  I am going to copy some music for the her tomorrow afternoon after Rachel's lesson.  Thank goodness for my scanner/copier/printer.  I am really happy with it.  I am so glad that I got it when i did.

I ordered the concert I saw last night on PBS.  Walmart online had the DVD whereas Amazon only had the Blue ray and I don't have a Blue Ray player so I got the DVD from Walmart.  The best part?  It was on SALE!  I got it for $10 less than the regular price, talk about a happy bonus!  They don't have a CD of the concert so that was a bummer, but I am happy they made a DVD of it.  I could have bought it last night from PBS but it would have been super expensive since they were part of the gifts for donating.  I wasn't planning to donate to PBS as I didn't have a spare $75 to get the DVD, I figured I would order it from Amazon or someplace like that.

I am watching a new TV show on HGTV.  It is called My Yard Goes Disney.  What they do is they create a Disney style backyard!  There is a train station, Mickey Hat, a Tinkerbell bird cage/swing, and a tea cup.  It is something we would have loved to have this type thing as children.  I know we all would have.  My brothers and I are all Disney fanatics and so are Richard's children and wife.  We are definitely Disney fans.  Mom and I have been there 13 times.  Yup, we win so far with who has been there the most although Richard is coming up close.  I would like a yard like this.  Our yard is not big enough and it is a weird shape, but I would love Disney added to it.  Mom made sure we had a cool backyard when we were kids, but it wasn't as Disney one like this one.  We had a pool, jungle gym set, swing set, slides, and sand boxes.  There was always a cover on our sand boxes to keep the sand nice and no gross stuff in it.  Our backyard was the place to be in the neighborhood.

I am pretty tired today.  I hope I sleep better tonight like I did last night.  I slept a lot last night, I think because I did not sleep at all the night before.  I had to run to the store after Emily's lesson for both the piano books I need tomorrow and for milk and sleep medicine.  I did pick up a 12 can box of pop because I do like it and I do drink a lot of water all day long so I treat myself to decaffeinated pop at night.  No caffeine because that would add to the no sleeping at night.  I need to sleep.  When I don't sleep at all I have more pain the next day.  I need the sleep to help calm the pain so caffeinated pop would be horrible.

All in all it has been a quiet teaching day.  I didn't have my usual Muglia girls although it is the beginning of the month because their mother, Laura, has been very ill.  She was rushed to the hospital a week ago Friday because something was terribly wrong.  They found out she had a artery burst near her intestine.  They quickly did a procedure and she went to ICU.  She is home now and it was a very close call.  She will recover, but it will be slow so we are planning to have piano lessons next month the week after July 4.  That gives her 6 weeks to heal, which I hope she does.  She also has a newborn.  Thomas was born May 23, but with 8 older kids, she does have help, plus all us friends and her family.  I miss my girls though.  The older 4 girls take piano, with Sarah, the 7 year old, just starting to learn.  She has had about 3 lessons and has learned a bit from the older sister, Lydia for the last couple of years so she is doing very well.  Her older 3 sisters have all been playing for about 6 to 7 years so they are pretty advanced.  I need to remember to bring them some new music this next month.  I will write that down.  I just did.

I sent a brief email to the older brother.  I saw a commercial for Disney World and the special pricing it has so I sent him the info.  I know how much he and his family love Disney.  We all can thank Mom for that.  We were introduced to the Disney characters rather early and we were in Magic Kingdom of Disney World  a year after it was opened.  We went in 1973.  The love affair with Disney continues to this day for all of us.

Les Miz

On PBS right now is the concert of Les Miserables, my all time favorite musical.  I have seen it 5 times with the best time being 5th center with my students and my lovely Mother.  I have the soundtrack on CD somewhere.  I am just not sure where it is.  Miss Saigon is another favorite.  I simply love Musicals.  The first live performance I saw was Kiss Me Kate when I turned 10.  It was my birthday present from Mom.  Mom, Andrew, and I went to the local college and so it was awesome.  My favorite character in Les Miz is Eponine.  She is just waiting for love but he loves Colette.  It is a love triangle in the way that both love Marius.  I swear the guy who plays Marius looks just like a Jonas brother.  He really does.  I don't know if it is him or not, but the guy is really good as are all the actors.

I guess I won't be watching Army Wives tonight as this is amazing.  I love this song.   The are singing the finale for the first act, "One Day More".  It is a wonderful finale.  This is what i was working toward when I became too ill to continue.  I was finished with college, had my headshot, and was auditioning.  I had audition for a tour of Meet me in St. Louis.  I had the part if I lost 10 more pounds in one month.  I had recently, at that point, lost about 40 pounds and was quite slim but they needed me to lose 10 more.  The pains had been there for several years but I still could dance although it was getting much harder to do.  By the time the rehearsals started I had to drop out.  The pain was so bad I couldn't dance anymore.  I was almost bed ridden at that time.  It broke my heart to give up the part.  I was playing one of the sisters, the oldest one, Rose.  It was a dream part, but I gave it up.  I would have loved to have been in Les Miz.  Eponine was my absolute favorite character ever.  At times when I am watching this type stuff, it makes me miss performing but I got too sick to perform outside of a few small things here and there.  I haven't been able to dance since 1995 and now it would be impossible (not to mention, I managed to gain a lot of weight since then)  Most of the time, I am not unhappy with how my life turned out, however it is NOT the road I was working toward.  I was going to be on Broadway.  I am happy being a teacher, but it wasn't what I originally wanted to be but thanks to my dance teacher, I became a teacher.  She started me teaching, Mom taught me how to plan lessons, and now I have been teaching since I was 18.  Now, I can't imagine doing anything else.  I just can't.  I do miss performing, but as time goes on, not as much as I used too.

Okay, it is Nick Jonas who is playing Marius!!!  I was right!!!  It is a Jonas brother.  He is spectacular.  He really is.  Also, I missed one of my favorite actresses playing Fantine, Lea Solanga.  She was the original Miss Saigon in Miss Saigon.  She originally played Eponine when she younger now she played Fantine, Cosette's Mother.  Now it is "On My Own".  I love this song too.

Anyways, I had one lesson today.  Rick, my adult singer.  He is doing pretty well.  He practices the Musical Theatre stuff more than the classical although he does really like a couple of songs that we are working on.  since I was awake most of the night again, I took a nap this afternoon.  I was so tired.  I just hope I sleep a bit more tonight.  I really do.

I do hope you are having a good day today.  Back to Les Miz for me!!!!!  "a Little Bit of Rain" Is on right now!

hot day

It is close to 91 degrees today with high humidity.  I am hiding inside from the heat.  Tomorrow is supposed to possibly be like this too then we will cool down a bit to mid 80s, which to me is perfect weather.  I had decided to stop buying pop for the house, but now I am questioning that logic.  I really like the stuff and I do drink water in addition to it so I am thinking I may go and get some from Kroger.  They are on sale at Kroger today.  3 containers of 12 for $10.  That is a really good price since they are about four dollars each at Walmart.  I am not sure I want to venture out in the heat again, but maybe.

I did something I have never done before.  I went to a psychic.  Yup, I went and had the tarot cards read.  She was pretty accurate for  a lot of the information.  I don't know what possessed me to go, I just went.  I don't think I will go back as 1 - I don't have the money and 2 - I am a skeptic.  I just wanted to do something different and I did.  She did mention a few things that nearly had me in tears, like the lose of someone very close, yup, nearly lost it then.  She got me a tissue to wipe my eyes with.  She also mentioned my not sleeping.  This has become a serious problem for me.  I just don't sleep at night.  I am not totally sure why I am not sleeping and it isn't just the pain.  The medicines I take have may cause drowsiness warnings on them and still I am awake most of the night every night.  I even take 3 Tylenol PM's and still I am awake.  I don't know how to work through this issue.  I really don't.  It is very frustrating as I am so exhausted all day from it, yet I don't sleep.  I have limited my caffeine intake and I buy decaffeinated pop so I don't add anymore.  I just am not sure what the deal is.  I really wish I did.  I can't even take good naps in the day like I used to.  I just don't know what to do.  Then there is the issue with missing Mom.  This is a big issue for me.  I was with her day in and day out for 7 years not to mention the fact that I have always lived with her.  Being her caregiver was very important to me and now the importance is gone.  Dealing with this has been tough as most of you know but I am working through this.  What to do with my life?  Well, I don't really know about this one yet either.  I do know a few things.  One thing is I love teaching and want to continue with that the other is that I love living in this house and don't want to move anywhere so I won't.  It really is the perfect set up for teaching.  I have the living room all set up for teaching and living space.  It is perfect.  I will have the family room all set up soon which will clear up some of the other rooms for me.  So basically, this house is the perfect size for me for my teaching.

Anyways, it is a boring day except for talking to Kathy, Donna, and Andrew.  I have no lessons for the day.  I do have one tomorrow afternoon that I am thankful for.  He usually comes today but is unable to so he is coming tomorrow.  I am glad.  My hands are getting numb again, as usual, and the pain level is the normal nothing out of the ordinary so it is a decent day for me.   I think I am going to go and get me some pop.  I have drank enough water today that I could float so time for my pop.  I hope this is a good day for you too.

joy of paying bills

I know that is a weird title for a post, but it is what I am doing today.  Today, I am paying bills.  My disability has come in and it is time to pay them.  I have my little Quicken program ready and the check book too.  I already called Verizon wireless and wow Internet/cable.  I wrote the number of the check for 2 more bills.  I just have to dig in the pile of bills for the hospital bill and the other doctor bills.  I paid a payment on one this morning.  Doctor bills are never ending for me.  Because the old insurance didn't cover doctor visits, I had to pay for them all, which meant several doctors are owed a lot of money but none as much as my primary physician.  I owe him about $1200.  Yup, it is a lot that I owe but I am thankful they let me pay payments.

I went grocery shopping today as it is the day to do it.  I got enough for a few weeks and am glad that is over.  I also picked up this weeks People magazine.  I sometimes get it if the front page looks interesting and it does so I got it.

I have no lessons this afternoon because Acer came home sick from school.  Poor little guy.  He was sick in school.  That has to be awful so he came home and cleaned up before heading to bed for a nap.  Apparently, he was unhappy about the said nap, but his mom prevailed and off her went.  I will see both he and his sister next week for lessons.  This left me with going to grocery shop earlier than anticipated.  Hey, it worked.

I have one lesson tomorrow and one lesson on Sunday for the weekend.  I am glad it is the weekend again.  I bought different sleep stuff this time.  I am anxious to see how it works.  I am going to try it tonight.  I am not sure if tomorrow is Kayla's last lesson until fall or if next week is.  I will find out tomorrow.  Both she and Amanda are stopping for the summer.  So far, they are the only 2 who are and I have 4 new ones starting for the summer.  2 I already mentioned and then two more that I just found out about this week.  I am trying to get a hold of one of them to introduce myself but their phone is very strange.  I am not sure if it is taking messages or not.  Like I said, very strange.  Also, I have tried about 3 times all different times of the day to get a hold of this mom.  I do hope so before they start.  I would feel bad if I didn't, but I am trying.

I have no plans for vacation this summer.  I really can't afford a vacation so I am not planning one.  I need to save money to pay the property taxes by March 1 of next year and it is a lot of money.  I am waiting to see the bill that they usually send by now so I know exactly how much I owe.  Right now I can only estimate what I owe.  I am confident, though, that somehow, someway that bill will be paid and I will be fine.  Kathy is planning to come to town next month sometime.  I may go to Kalamazoo for a couple of days to spend with Kathy and kids, but we shall see.  I am not really sure at this point.  It all depends on how many absences I have this summer.

It has been an okay day today.  I am tired, as usual.  That doesn't seem to ever go away along with the general pain.  It isn't too hot today.  Tomorrow is supposed to be about 87 degrees so I may be hiding in my house.  It all depends on the humidity on whether or not I go outside or not.  I do hope it is a good day for you too.

better day

It is a better day than yesterday.  I am not so sad today.  I had one lesson and before that lesson I decided to get a bagel from Tim Horton's (with a milk instead of a pop!).  My friend, Rosemary was there too!  She and I had a nice little visit.  She actually lives down the street from me but I usually don't see her in the neighborhood as I am not outside very often and I can't see her house from mine. She lives all the way down the street from me.  We usually run into each other at Tim Horton's when we see each other.  She is doing okay.  There is so much paperwork when a person passes away, it is unbelievable so she is in the midst of doing all that paperwork.  They have some investments so there is even more paperwork for her.  Thankfully, Mom's stuff wasn't that complicated, just time consuming.  I hope that I have dealt with the last doctor yesterday except for the one that needs a letter and a copy of the death certificate.  Every other doctor has said no problem, we will take care of this.  This doctor wants a letter and the certificate.  What do they think, that I am lying?  Whatever, i will get around to it.  So anyways, Rosemary and I just sat and chatted a bit about everything.  She is an older lady (okay, she is older than Mom was by a few years) but I simply just love her.  She is so nice and sweet.  She is interested in antique dolls and children's toys.  She belongs to a doll club and a garden club that meet monthly through out the year.  I have a few dolls that I am going to donate to the doll club so that they will be auctioned off for whatever the club needs.  Usually, the money is to help a member who has lost their spouse or family member.  It is definitely for a good cause.

I slept through my blood test yesterday for my protime so I have an appointment for tomorrow afternoon.  I decided not to make it for the morning because I knew it would be hard for me to get up.  I have stopped trying to pretend that I get up early or can get up early.  I don't and it is really hard for me to do.  I end up sleeping all afternoon so that is that.  No more pretending that I can do these things.  People can take it or leave it.  I am not going to set my alarm to get up at what other people call a good time to get up.  I will get up when I wake up.  As many nights I don't get several hours sleep until after 4 or 5 am, I am no longer going to try to get up at 8 or 9 am.  It doesn't happen and I am not going to try anymore.  When I get up that early, I end up back in bed an hour or two after I got up and I sleep for about 4 to 5 hours.  I will get up when I get up.  Thursday and Saturday I am up a bit earlier, Thursdays at 12 noon and Saturdays at 11:15 for lessons.  I don't teach before noon except for Saturday which I start at 11 am.  i am not going to start any earlier because I don't teach very well when I am more exhausted than usual.  Yes, I am aware that I spend a lot of time in bed.  I don't know anyone who has fibro who doesn't.  So I made my little blood test appointment for 1:30 in the afternoon.  That gives me plenty of time to get up and go.  I don't make the doctor appointments too early anymore either.  The next arthritis doctor is for 11:30, which isn't too bad.  I will have time for a nap if necessary before the lessons of the day.  next time I will go for an afternoon appointment.  That would work out better for me.

I had a potential new student call this week, however, I think they wanted morning lessons but they said afternoon but when she went through the schedule, it sounded like morning would work better.  I start lessons at noon and not any earlier.  Also, I was the second one she called and she was waiting for the cal back.  I haven't heard anything yet.  I am not surprised.  They are very busy and I think she thinks I am extremely young because I have a young sounding voice.  I did tell her my age and how long I have been teaching, but it is almost as if she didn't believe me.  Whatever, i guess, don't believe me.  I don't lie.  That is not my style nor do I say I am an age that I am not.  I am 43, I am aware that I sound very young.  It may not be good for teaching or regular speaking, but it certainly helps my singing.  My squeaky little voice for speaking sings nicely (when it wants too!)  Anyways, it has been a long time since someone asked how old I was.  I do have 3 new students with the new company for the summer.  i am very excited about that.  This will help offset the 2 students who are quitting for the summer.  2 of them are 6 and will take piano, and the third is 11 and will sing.  I am excited about them all.  I now have a slightly busy Tuesdays with lessons at 2, 5, 5:30, and 6:30.  It will be a good day for me.  I am glad the summer is shaping up well.  I am almost to the point I have enough students.  It is a slow road, but I knew it would happen.

It is beautiful out again today.  Just the perfect temperature and the breeze with much sunshine!  I love today type weather.  It is good for shorts, but not too hot to make me ache like winter.  I am still quite dizzy and light-headed a lot.  That actually worries me but I think it may just be side effects or my anemia.  On the 13th I will find out my test results and I believe my anemia was tested too.  I also will know if the arthritis in the back and hips is worse from the x-ray.  I do hope you are having a great day.  Like I said, today is a much better day.  Yes, I still miss mom but it is more bearable today.  Yesterday, it just wasn't.  Boy, grief hits you when you least expect it, that has been my experience with it.