3 lesson day!

I had three lessons today.  Charlie is at band camp so he will have an hour lesson next week to make it up.  I am watching NCIS right now as usual since it is a Tuesday.  I looooove these shows (NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles) so much.  Tonight's episode, surprisingly, isn't one I don't recall seeing before.  It is a nice surprise to be watching an episode I don't remember.  Yeah!  I know I have missed some NCIS Los Angeles this year, but I usually watch the regular NCIS.

Anyways, it hasn't been too bad for the pain without the main pain killers.  With the Meloxicam, the Tylenol is helping with pain.  I did have a bad headache for a bit this afternoon since I was so tired but I took some Tylenol and that has helped some.

I didn't get much sleep until after about 7 am this morning.  I went to bed at 10 like I often do.  I was very tired.  I slept until about 1:30 am and then I couldn't sleep after that.  I stopped taking my prescription Zantac to see what would happen.  Not a smart move on my part.  Oh my gosh!  By 3 am my tummy was so awful.  I had heartburn and acid like I haven't had in a while.  (Of course, I haven't had it in about 3 years except for the odd time because I take my Zantac)  It was just horrible.  I came down and took one about 4 am and some Mylanta at about 5 am.  It was just horrible, I felt so bad.  I finally fell asleep about 7 am for a few hours so once again, my sleep pattern stinks.  I will pray for a better night tonight.

I am excited to see Harry Potter on Thursday.  I looooooove that movie!  It is definitely the best one ever!!!!!!  and I mean ever of the Harry Potter Movies!!!!!!  It is funny because the 7th book is not my favorite book but the movie is my favorite, well the 2nd part of the movie is my favorite!!!  I am to pick up my girls at 12:30 pm and then we will go to the 1 pm movie.  It will be awesome.  We 4 Harry Potter fanatics watching the movie together.  What could be better?  Okay, so I do know of something that could be better, but this is the 2nd best thing.  I am looking so forward to seeing it with them.  I also can't wait for the music to be available for piano because I know 3 young ladies who will play every song in the book.  I know them well.  I, of course, will have to play them all first so that I can teach them the songs, but hey, that will be no problem.  I also saw the first preview for Breaking Dawn part 1.  That looks good too.  I will have to watch Eclipse still, but I will between now and November.  I am starting to get back into movies again.  I am also starting to enjoy reading again and not just to pass time.  I still miss my mother all the time and wish she were here, but it is getting better some days, especially on the days that I have more than 1 lesson on.  Tomorrow is a 2 lesson day.  Carson will get his new music and Beth just got a couple of new songs so she is all set.

August will be an interesting month with lessons and the summer concert at the end of the month.  So far, Rachel and family is definitely coming.  Laith is not interested in playing, just watching, so that will be fun.  Charlie will have his family's pig roast the day before, but he thinks he will be just fine to play in it.  Both Bob and Rick will be away so they will not be there.  It is a bummer, but hey, vacations happen and I knew that someone would have a conflict.  I also will be most likely, taking a trip to Chatham, Ontario to see the placing of my mother's gravestone.  That is the only trip to Canada I plan to make this summer.  Perhaps in the fall I will go and visit but right now I can't afford to go except for the one trip that I have planned.  It should be ready in a few weeks.  Andrew is taking care of it so I guess he will let me know when it is placed and when we will go to see it.

I do hope it has been a good day for you.  It was a pretty good one despite the lack of sleep again.

the first of August - how did this happen?

It is very hard to believe that July is over, but it is.  Where has that month go?  I just don't know.  At least it isn't super hot right now today like it was a few weeks ago.  I am thankful for that.

I had a new young student start with me today.  She has played piano for about 6 months or so but her mom felt she was bored and not progressing like she should be so she started with me.  She is from the new company so I was just assigned to her.  Camille is almost 9 and in the super young beginning books.  Yeah, they are just way to easy for her.  She needs both hands at the same time all the time.  I think that will be better for her.  She is such a cutie!  I think she will fit in with everyone well.  I have a few students about her age that will be nice for her to play duets and things like that.

Breanna is not having a lesson Thursday because of drivers training.  I am hoping to see Harry Potter again with the Muglia girls again that day.  I have to see the movie again!  I just do!  I loved that movie so much.

My head and tummy are not doing super great again today, but it is better than it was.  I had a horrible night last night.  I was awake again, all night long.  My arms were so sore that I couldn't get comfortable.  I ended up getting up at about 5 am and came downstairs to read since I was so sore and couldn't sleep or get comfortable.  I finally went back to bed about 6:30 am to see if I could sleep.  I slept for a few hours before I got up for Aggie's lesson.  I am very tired this evening.  I am hoping to be able to stay up until about 9 when I will go to bed and hopefully sleep better tonight.

I am out of my pain pills again.  Once more, my brain went dead and did not call the pharmacy on time for a refill.  It is out of refills (for some reason, my doctor only allows 1 refill per prescription) and I should have called last week Monday, and I didn't!  The pain isn't too high right now which is good, but we shall see how long this lasts.  My arthritis doctor isn't in the office on Tuesdays, so I will call on Wednesday.  I have plenty of Advil and Tylenol for the mean time.  I am thankful for a busy schedule this week except for Thursday when I don't have any lessons for the day.

I do hope you are making plans to see Harry Potter!!!!!!  It is the best one ever although, it could have been much longer in my humble opinion (Aggie's opinion too!)  I wish they had done 2 films for books 4 through 6 not just for the 7th.  All of them so needed more that wasn't in the books.  They really did.  I love these books so much.  I love the movies too.  I really think they did a great job at casting too.  No one could have been a better Snape than Alan Rickman.  He is just so good at everything he does.  The kids were very well casted too.  They are just great movies.  Kathy was going to re-read book 7 again because she can't remember a lot of it.  I, of course, in preparation for the movie, re-read all the books and re-watched all but the 7A (Charlie has it right now) movies.  I was very prepared and ready for the movies.  Now, of course, I must see it again to really pay strict attention to the details.  The music was awesome.  I don't know who the composer was for this one, but the music was great!  I know that John Williams did the first 3 and then someone else did the rest, but I am not sure who it is.  I will, naturally, buy the music book when it comes out as my lovely girls will want to play every song (that is after I learn them all of course!!!)  Usually, the books are about $25 so it will be a nice Christmas present for me at Christmas.

Anyways, I do hope you are having a good day.  I will be heading to bed in about 1 1/2 hours for the evening.  I sure hope I sleep better than I did last night.  I am hoping to improve my sleeping schedule in the next few days.

an iffy kind of day

I had one lesson this afternoon and it went pretty well.  I am used to the hour lessons now so they are okay.  Now to get used to a piano lesson for 45 minutes on Tuesday!  Lessons generally last 1/2 hour but the new company will schedule for 45 and 60 minute lessons for different students.  At first it was difficult to pace but now it is not a problem.

After the lesson I had some lunch and was reading a bit.  then, the strangest thing happened.  My ear started ringing and wouldn't stop.  I got rather tired and the ringing made my head hurt worse so I went to lie down for a bit.  The ringing has finally stopped but I am a bit dizzy and my tummy is a bit upset.  I don't know if they are because of the ringing or just being annoying.  With my tummy, it could be either of them.

I am doing laundry right now.  The laundry fairy just hasn't shown up so I had to break down and do it myself.  I will be right back.  The undies and stuff are now in the dryer so I have fresh clothes again.  Yeah!  Always nice to have fresh clothes.

I have finally seen Harry Potter.  I need to see it again as I was so enthralled with it.  I loved it.  I wish they had shown the feast at the end of the battle when they won, it would have been nice to see the Malfoy's there looking kind of strange on the right side for a change.  Although I do like what they did with them at the end, where they were walking away from Voldemort before the final battle.  Lucius was just not looking so good at the end.  I like how Narcisca called for Draco, grabbed his hand, turned and left with Lucius chasing them from behind.  Mama power that is what that was.  I would have also liked to have seen more characters in the very end when they jump up to 19 years later.  It was nice to see them as grown up with their children but I would have like to have seen Teddy Lupin and Victoire as well as perhaps George with his wife.  I can't wait until the Pottermore website with more back stories comes out.  That will be super cool.  I love Harry Potter, the books and the movies.  I think number 7B is my absolute favorite.  I loved when Maggie Smith (Professor Mongongall) said, "I have always wanted to do that spell" and gave a brief giggle.  I loved that part a lot.  There are so many moments that I loved.

I am watching Beauty and the Beast right now on ABC family channel.  The one that was playing harry potter for the last few weekends.  I guess they are done with Harry for a bit.  I love the music from Beauty and the Best.  Belle is my favorite princess.  She loves to read just like me!  She can read books over and over again, just like me!

Anyways, my head is still not back to normal yet, I am hopeful that it will be better tomorrow.  Although, I am completely out of my tramodol so I don't have that.  It really helps taking the edge off the pain.  I will call the doctor tomorrow so hopefully it will be refilled tomorrow or Tuesday.  Tylenol just doesn't cut it but in a pinch it is all I have.

I hope today was a good day for you.

ew kind of day

It is a bad headache kind of day.  I am not sure if it because of the weather changes we have been having or just that my head has decided it is time to be really bad.  Either way, it is bad.  I have taken all the medicine I can take at this moment.  I plan to head for bed rather early so that perhaps I shall sleep some of it off.  I can only try.

I did watch some interesting TV last night.  I shall write about it when my brain allows me to think better.  Right now thinking is hard to do.

I did pay another $175 on my property taxes today!  That is $275 for this month, just $25 under my goal with several absences this month too so I am pleased with myself!  Pray that I am able to continue this until they are all paid and up to date!

Anyways, off to bed to let my head rest.  Thank goodness it wasn't super bad until after Breanna had her lesson.  I hope you are having a good day!

more paperwork

I got my bank statement today, thank goodness.  I need the last 3 statements to send in to the hospital so I can find out if they will help me pay that huge bill that I have.  I have the application, the bank statements, the income statement, and a pay stub from the new company teaching all ready to finally be copied and sent in.  I just have to type the letter.  I am so glad that this hospital has a foundation to help people like me.  I can do a low monthly payment, but I owe about $1200 now so it will take forever to pay and probably will owe more when I crash again.  So far the health crashes haven't been bad enough to go to the hospital. I am really glad about that.

It is a quiet day here.  Katie had her lesson and we have picked what she is going to sing in the concert.  Now she is having trouble deciding what to sing at competition in February.  She wants to have the decision down by September 1 because of her school schedule.  It will be super full and she wants to have tough decisions done as soon as possible.  Normally, I don't even start discussing competition until October, however in her situation I agree that earlier will be best for her.  I don't mind, we can work on the stuff and other things too.  She loves the new Italian piece I gave her today.  It is my favorite out of the entire book.  It is called "Se Tu M'ami".  I don't remember exactly what it means but it is such a fun piece.  Now she is divided between the German piece and this new Italian piece.  She is also torn between which inspirational piece to do.  She is deciding between a beautiful medley and "My Lord What a Morning".  Both are great pieces that really show off her maturing voice.  She is such a beauty too.  Both inside and out, she is simply a wonderful young woman.  I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished with her life.  She will finish in June with not only her high school diploma, but her associates degree also.  Talk about a hard road!  It does require her to take a lot of credit hours, but she feels she is up for it.  It is just wonderful.

It is pretty nice out today.  It was starting to rain a bit when I came in from the store, but my brown grass really needs it so that is okay.  The temperature wasn't too high for a change, only around 81 or so.  That is a good thing.  It is possibly more rain tomorrow.  I don't have anywhere really to go except the bank tomorrow and the bank can actually wait another day if it rains bad.  I only have 1 lesson tomorrow so I can go in between rains.  Pain level is regular, nothing standing out too much.  It is a normal missing Mom day.  I don't think either of those things will ever go away so they are just at the normal range for me.  I do hope you are having a good day.

tuesday

It was a 3 lesson day instead of 5 lesson day.  Elizabeth wasn't scheduled, I am not sure what is going on with her and McKenzie's family had a death in the family so they had to reschedule to next week.  Both Rachel and Laith started learning bass clef notes.  I am pleased with them.  Charlie had a 1 hour lesson to make up from last week.  I love how he makes up lessons instead of totally skip them when he can.  He will miss next week too so the following week he will have another hour lesson.

Not much going on other than the few lessons today.  I am re-reading the Sherbrooke Bride series.  i love those books.  I am on the third book right now.  I will probably finish it tomorrow or maybe later tonight.

It is so nice out today for a change!  It is low humidity and in the mid 80's, in other words, it is simply beautiful!  I could have spent the day outside but I was teaching instead.  I wasn't too hot or cold going outside today for a change!  It was so nice.  i really like this.  Unfortunately, by the weekend it will be in the low 90s again with chance of rain.  The rain doesn't bother me because my poor brown lawn needs it so bad.  My little violet flowers are drooping so bad.  They need some water.

Tomorrow is 2 lessons, Katie and Carson.  I have 2 new songs for Carson and I have a new CD for him filled with new music for him.  I have typed out two songs so far and will type them as we go along.

Well, I am going to watch NCIS and then head for bed.  I am hoping for a better night's sleep tonight.  I am pretty tired tonight so let's hope for a better sleep!  I do hope you are having a good night!

oh my I need a personal assistant

Yesterday, much to my distress because I screwed up, was my lovely Katie's baptism.  Yeah, I wanted to go because it is so important to her and I mixed up the weekends.  I had it written down as last night, but I NEVER looked at my calender yesterday.  How awful is that?  It is simply too awful for words.  I really wanted to go.  That would have been the coolest thing ever!  I was so honored that she asked me to go and then I didn't go.  How awful and terrible and oh my.  I have been screwing up my schedule between yesterday and today.  Today's episode?  Oh, I nearly missed Beth's lesson at 2 pm because I forgot to check my schedule last night.  Had I done that like I usually do after Rick's lesson, I would have seen to go last night.  Well, fortunately, Beth called me when I didn't answer the door.  Wow, thank goodness for that!  I quickly got dressed and ran downstairs to start her lesson.  I am not sure what is up with me these last few days, but something sure is.  I do hope it has run its course and I am fine now.  I sure hope so.  I called Katie, I know she is at work, but I had to call and apologize to her.  I can't wait to speak with her in person.  I can't believe I did this.  boy, when I screw up, I do a good job.  How disappointing for Katie.  She was expecting me to be there and I didn't show up.  I would be very disappointed too.  I was napping when her baptism started too to make it worse.  Wow, I am just so disappointed in me.  I hope the rest of the week is better because these last two days, were awful with what I forgot.

At least the lessons, when I had them, went well.  Beth did very well with her new and old songs.  Bob is really coming along with his Clementi and Mozart pieces.  Young Emily just started with G Position.  It is a bit hard for her since it is brand new.  Her flash cards are getting a bit easier for her but they are still not quite where I would like them to be.

I am having the strangest sleep patterns these days.  I need to somehow fix it.  I just don't know how.  I go to bed at a decent hour, I just don't sleep well until after 5 am.  It is really getting annoying.  I can't take anymore sleep medicine because I am already taking enough.  Somehow I need to shift my sleeping to start around 12 midnight so I get up earlier.  I do hope to stop taking naps in the afternoon and evening too.  That helps screw it around too but I get so tired that I can't stay awake.  I haven't slept well since I lost Mom.  I had thought that by now I would be sleeping better but I am not.  It is even worse than ever now.  I hope to be able to turn it around a bit so that I am getting up a bit earlier and going to sleep earlier.

Anyways, lessons were good, the rest was not.  Being this upset over missed events and almost missed events make me ache more so today is a complete achy day.  I hope tomorrow and the rest of the week will be better.  I hope you are doing better than me.

did it rain today?

I think it rained for a few minutes this afternoon.  This is what one of my friends who live near me on Facebook said.  I was asleep because I was so tired this afternoon that I slept about 3 hours.  i could have slept longer, really, I could have but I forced myself to get up.  Harry Potter number 4 is on again and Harry Potter 5 is on at 9 so I will watch it until I fall asleep or decide to go to bed.  I love Harry Potter movies and books so much.  It is kind of weird because I am not really into a lot of things right now, but Harry is one of things that I am into.  It does make me think of my mom because she loved Harry Potter movies a lot.  She read me the first book when I was in the hospital with the blood clot.  I was pretty out of it a lot during that week.

I did have a good lesson with Rick today.  We started a new song for him.  The song is "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin, the movie.  I love this song.  It has a beautiful range that will definitely be a stretch for him.  We did go through it but we are focusing on the first part today.  He seemed to really like it so that is good. I now have a date for the Summer concert but unfortunately, Rick and Bob won't be there as both will be out of town.  I am bummed but I knew there would be some people it wouldn't work for.  I am hoping that for everyone else it will work for.

I can't wait until next weekend.  Kathy will be here in town and we are going to see Harry Potter together!!!  Finally!!!!  I can't wait!!!!  I just can't wait!!!  Not only for the new movie but to see Kathy too.  I just talked to her.  She is planning to watch Harry number 5 in a few minutes too.

I am off to watch Harry now.  I hope your day is good and cool.

Sleepy

Sometimes I feel like all I ever do is try to sleep.  For the last few months I have been awake off and on until about 5 am and then I sleep for a couple hours, then I need to roll over because of pain, sleep a couple more hours, roll over again, and on and on it goes.  Today, I rolled over at 10 thinking I would get up in a bit and start my day.  The next time I woke up it was 2 pm.  I had actually slept for 4 hours straight!  I was excited, still exhausted, but excited.  Why couldn't I do that earlier so I could get up a bit early?  Who knows.  I got up and got ready for the day, which was partly over more than usual.  I went and mailed a letter that is due next week.  It is, I hope, the last of what is needed for the IRS from the store.  The nightmare never ends it seems when it comes to the store.  I do hope this is the last of it.  

I didn't have any lessons today so I read some after I went and got some Chipotle's for dinner.  Since I woke up super late I figured I would have a bigger meal now and a smaller meal later around 7 or 8 or so.  I have one lesson tomorrow so that is wonderful!  I love lessons and I really think that is the only time I feel like I am achieving something.  I do think that some other times when I am with friends or doing something at home other than watching TV or reading but often, I feel like I am in a rut and can't get out.  It isn't always like that, but often enough to bother me.  I think it is because I am still trying to find the new me without Mom.  When I had Mom here, I had a purpose and that was taking good care of her, which mostly I did.  Now my purpose is gone and I don't know what my purpose is, outside of teaching that is.  I am thankful I have more students now that I have had in the last few years.  It is very helpful and fun.  I simply love all my students.  I don't have one that is forced to play so that is a wonderful thing.  I have had a few in the past, and oh, my that was the hardest teaching ever.  Can you imagine trying to teach a child music to a child who really could care less about whether they play it right or not?  Believe me, I think I would rather bang my head against a wall than to do that again.  Fortunately, all my younger students play because they want to learn.  Thank God for that!

I don't have any plans for the rest of the evening except to relax and watch TV.  I am exhausted again and I have only been up for about 4 hours.  I probably will go to bed at the regular time because I will only toss and turn if I go early.  I can't wait for the lesson tomorrow.  I am debating which new song to give him.  I am not sure.

It is a bit cooler this afternoon that it has been in the last few days.  Next week is supposed to be back in the 80s so I can't wait for that.  I do hope that you are cool and staying out of the heat.

A Bit Cooler of a Day

It is still hot but not as hot as yesterday!  thank goodness for that!  I went and got an oil change for my baby car this afternoon.  The oil change place has changed hands and I didn't notice it until I pulled it.  It wouldn't have matter as I needed it done.  They don't vacuum out the cars anymore though and I was really counting on that.  I will go and vacuum out the car next week when the weather is a bit warmer.  I did get rid of all the garbage in the car in the door spaces.  I will not let garbage go in them anymore.  It is too messy and I want a clean car now.  I also found some cream containers in the passenger side of the car.  I was not happy about that because cream can smell when it is spoiled.  I know who did it and it won't happen again because I won't allow it.  Also, the 3 bottles that were in my car were not from me either and that isn't happening again either.  bottom line, my baby will stay clean from me and others.  I just have to wipe the dashboard and the sides of the doors.  I also need to clean the inside of the windows next week too.  My car will be spiffy and beautiful again.  No more people going, you need to clean the dashboard and the windows.  I bought some cleaning cloths for the car that I will use.

Acer didn't have a lesson today as the little man's mom was not feeling well.  Heather B-T gets some dozy of headaches so they needed to stay home.  Acer has decided though what songs he is going to play at the concert.  He will play 3.  Hey works for me.  He has also moved on for singing songs too.  He is finished with Caro Mio Ben (he only knows 1/2 of it right now) and is wanting to know Feed the Birds.  That works for me too.  Acer and I don't always follow the general pattern that I set for each lesson.  He works much better this way and so I do things a bit different for him than I do for most other students.  Sometimes you just have to change the style for what works best for the student.  This is definitely needed for Acer to keep him challenged and interested.  I am pleased with how well he is doing.  Acer is also still working out new songs all the time on the piano.  It is so nice to have him say, listen to this and I do.  Calli is a bit more structured of a lesson.  This is due to partly her age and her level but also she works well with a bit more structure.  I am pleased with how well she plays and sings too.  It is nice to have students again who range in age.  For a while, I only had older students but now I have some little ones again too.  I really like that variety of ages and levels with my students.

We have a date for the Summer concert/BBQ.  It is August 28 and I am thrilled.  I will be working on the flyer this evening.  I want to be passing it out next week.  I do know that Bob will be absent because they will be in Maine.  I am disappointed, but hey, he will be having a good time in Maine!  Everyone will hear him at the Christmas Concert.

Katie is going to help me put away the music at the end of the summer.  I am so grateful.  I have tried to put some away, I just don't stand well enough for it.  Also, at the middle to end of August is when Lily and Julie are available to help with the family room.  That works for me!!!  I think I will have Lily help decorate the house for Christmas again this year.  She is very creative and I am not always that creative like she is.  I am going to have more decorations up I think this year.

Pain is a bit high today, I think mainly because it has been so hot.  I ache more in the extreme temperatures.  My head hasn't been too good these last few weeks.  I am hoping next week will be a bit better.  I am missing Mom as usual.   It is hard to believe but it has been just over 9 months since she passed away.  Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday and other times it seems like it has been forever.  I just want my Mom back.

I do hope this finds you doing well and staying cool.

a record hot day

It was just over 100 degrees today and with the heat index it feels about 110.  I can't imagine how my friend, Missy and other friends can handle the hotter weather down south.  I did have to do a bit of grocery shopping today, I wish I waited until tomorrow but I need milk and lunch meat for today.  I went in for a few things and I came out 40 items later!  I got a new thermometer for me.  I have noticed that there are days it seems I have a low grade fever so I am going to be keeping track of my temperature.  Today it is at 98.4 so that is good.  Last night I had the night sweats again.  I get them a few times a week again.  I am not sure why, but I will be keeping track of myself.

Breanna had her lessons this afternoon.  She takes both piano and voice.  She went to Pittsburg to audition for American Idol.  She was able to audition but the judge said she was too young.  She is 15 and I thought they were taking 15 year olds again this year.  Whatever, anyways the judge said to come back another year so I thought that was pretty positive for her.  It gives us another year to work on maturing her voice so that she will be even more ready next year.  Breanna has a very strong chest voice and her head voice is getting stronger but I think 1 more year will really make a difference for the young lady.  She is a lot of fun to work with too.  We have a date for the summer concert so it is time for her to decide what she wants to sing.  I think she should do the song she played and sang today from Pink.  It is really neat and definitely has the Wow factor in it.

I only have Acer for lessons tomorrow.  Calli is at camp.  I do hope she is having a great time.  Acer is at day camp this week so I can't wait to hear how his camp is going when I see the young man tomorrow.  I was hoping to take Lily to see Monte Carlo on Saturday but she will be busy getting ready for her performance in Summer Music Theatre next weekend.  I thought it was over, I am glad it isn't because I would like to see the performance if I can still get tickets.  If not, I will have to wait until next year.  Lily and family will be going on vacation so when they come back we will work on the rest of Mom's and the family rooms.  I think that will be good to work on at the end of summer.  It is too hot to work on it right now.

I do hope you are staying cool in this super hot heat.