Thursday 9-22

I had 2 students this evening, Laith and Logan.  Laith is really doing well with reading his notes.  He is just jamming!  I am really pleased with the young man.  He even has notes he hasn't played yet.  Also, it is really weird, but the level B Christmas book is in a hand position they don't really learn until level C, but with his note reading ability, I am sure he will be fine unlike some of my others who aren't as strong in note reading as Laith.  Logan is doing well with his song.  We did some sight reading today too.  He is doing alright with sight reading, but not as quickly as he and I would like.  We did one hand at a time on the sight reading.  He is getting better with the ledger line notes too.  He is not confusing B, G, A in treble clef as he has been.  He also is doing better with his bass clef notes.  He flew through the flash cards.  Next week I am going to give him papers that have the ledger lines above and below the staff.  Overall, I am pleased with how my students are doing.  I really am.

Tomorrow I am meeting with Diane to discuss competition since I missed the meeting.  I just notice from reading the minutes that Georgette wasn't there.  Hm, I will have to find out why.  She wasn't home when I called.  I will try again tomorrow.  I am excited about competition this year.  I don't know who will attend outside of Becca and Katie.  It looks like Calli and Acer may attend this year.  I will be typing out the newsletter for students this weekend so that I can pass out the concert and the competition info.  I have printed the info, I just have to put it in the newsletter form.  I wish that Microsoft would make publisher for macs but they don't.  It is just not fair.  It is not fair at all.  I do use in design but it is an older version.  I have no desire to update it either since I don't use it very often.  I only use it for newsletters once in a while.  I may see what word has as far as newsletters.  They used to have something for that.  I will check into that.

I didn't do too much today as I wasn't feeling so hot this afternoon so I came down and got some medicine before heading back up to bed.  I think I slept on and off for a while more.  I then went and got my hair washed and dried so today it looks really cute with poofy bangs and it is down, not in a ponytail.  As winter is coming, I will be wearing it down more often.  In the summer I wear it up a lot because it is cooler and I don't overhead that way.  I also don't like hair sticking to my neck.  It just feels weird.

I won't have the Little Man Acer and Miss Missy Calli tomorrow for lessons.  They are going on a retreat for the weekend.  I do hope it is a good time for them.  I haven't been on a retreat in many years but I did enjoy them when I went.  In addition to Bible Studies we played volleyball and other games.  I haven't been on one in about 14 years.  Wow, that was a long time ago.  It is hard to believe that it was that long ago, but it was.  I will have Emily tomorrow though.  She has switched from Monday to Friday because it fits better for her schedule.  Saturdays are now a busy day, thankfully.  I have Sandra, Camille, this week, Rick, Katie, and then Rebecca.  Sunday is the empty day for the week for a change.  It has been that way for a few weeks now, but hey, whatever fits Rick's schedule is what works for me.  I like to be flexible when I can.  Next week I have a doctor's appointment and I am not sure I will be home in time for Laith's lesson.  Thank goodness he switched just for next week.  He started golf at school today.  He says that he thinks he is going to like it a lot.  I think that it is very cool opportunity for the young man.

Project Runway is on right now.  They are designing for a new Rock band who won this contest for the Rolling Stone Magazine.  Some of the designers have never done menswear so they are kind of freaking out.  I would be freaking out, completely as I have never made anything for a man.  The band is called Sheep Dog.  They played a bit and they were good.  I am anxious to start sewing again.  I am going to make my students their Christmas Present.  It will be the coolest ornament.  I know it will turn out well because I have done something similar about 15 years ago.  I did like they way it turned out then so I think it will be that way again.  The sad part though is that Mom and I made them together as she helped me with all my students ornaments.  Sometimes I would make her one too and she wouldn't know it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 will be out on DVD November 11, 2011!  I am very excited about that!!!  I can't wait for it!  It will be awesome to have the entire series!  I love Harry Potter so much.  Mom loved it too.  She would fall asleep any time she started to read anything longer than a couple of pages.  I am getting ready to do my marathon of reading book 1 then watching movie 1, reading book 2 than watching movie 2, etc.  Kathy came up with this idea.  I am so glad that she did.  It is an awesome idea.  Oh, speaking of movies, Laura has decided that Sarah (Hannah, Lydia, and Natalie's little sister) can go with us when we see in at the cheap theatre.  She won't have to do the school assignment though.  She is 8.  I think she is excited about it.  I love those girls.  I just do!  I love all my students though.

Anyways, this is getting rather long and I just don't want to have any cut off.  I do hope you had a good day!

Wednesday 9-21

It is the third week of September already.  This month is going pretty fast.  I don't mind though.  Tomorrow is only 2 lessons.  Breanna is absent this week.  I am disappointed because I enjoy her lessons but she has a lot of school work to work on this week.  Then 3 on Friday with 4 on Saturday.  Friday I am meeting with Diane to talk about the judges for competition.  I think it will be fun.  I missed the meeting on Sunday because I didn't feel so good.

The cold is doing alright.  Nothing spectacular like getting healthy super fast or anything, but it isn't getting any worse so that is okay.   At least it isn't getting worse.  I just wish it would get better faster.  I have discovered that I am not a great patient these days.  I am just impatient to be over it.

Modern Family is on right now.  I don't know why I watch this sometimes because sometimes it is just dumb not funny.  Dance Moms is on tonight too.  I think it is the last episode.  I am not sure though.  It is interesting though.  The moms and the dance teacher are all crazy.  They just are.  However, it should be noted that the dancers are good dancers and not typical of their age.  Most 6 year olds and 8 year olds do not dance as well as these girls do.  I do like watching them dance.  The dance teacher does come up with good choreography and these girls do win competitions.  However, competition is only a part of education whether it is dance or music.  I think if you want to go to competition, you should work hard and do your best, but I don't think competition is the end all.  There is much more to music and dance than just competition.  I think that is why it doesn't bother me if my students go or not.  If they do, then I expect them to do well but if they don't want to go, that is fine too.

Dance Moms is a repeat.  How disappointing.

Allison did very well for her lesson today as did Natalie.  Beth is really coming along with her audition material.  Natalie got another song today so now she has 3 as did Allison.  I was a bit worried about Allison because she was late.  I was kind of nervous because I didn't know if she wasn't coming or was just caught in traffic.  She had only 1 lesson and with some of the track history with adults, however, she was just caught in traffic.  Thank goodness it was only a bit of traffic.  I am going to be starting to pull all the Christmas books out this weekend so i can plan who needs what book and what I need to copy since I have 3 students in the level B book and I only have 2 level B books.  I have to teach them 3 new notes in the next little bit so they are prepared for level B.  Acer is in level 1B and Calli is in level 3 so I don't have to copy anything for them.  They can each borrow a book without needing to share.  My 2 level A book students are siblings, so that works out even better.  I am not sure if Breanna is going to want to play the piano for the Christmas Concert.  She didn't for the summer one.  Sandra is in the level 2 books so she won't have to share that one either.  Logan, Breanne, and Brooke are the three that will have to share the most.  I will have to copy their music for them because I don't have that many books for them.  We shall see how this works out.  I am not too worried as it will work out in the end somehow.  It always does.

I think I am going to read for a bit and then head for bed.  Tomorrow I need to pay a few bills and send another payment in to the property taxes.  I have 2 bills I have to pay right away and the rest can go on the property taxes.  That will be another $200 for them so I am excited about that.  That brings this months total so far to $325.  I will only need to send in $75 more next week and the monthly total is exactly what I thought I could pay!  This is great news for me.  I am very excited about that.  I never thought I would be excited about paying property taxes.  Never.  Who knew?

It has been a good day with lessons.  My cold is doing okay.  It is slowly getting better just not fast enough for me.  I do hope your day is going well too!

Cold is still here

The cold is still a small cold, so I am a happy camper about that.  I had the trial lesson and I believe it went well.  We talked about what Brooke (the lovely young lady) wanted to play, perform and all sorts of things like that.  She would like to incorporate other styles to her repertoire, which I am totally for.  She would like to play some New Age and some Pop.  I think we will work well together.  She had a couple of technical questions such as what the trill symbol meant and the grace notes.  We went over it and she has them very well.  She has wonderful hand position and fingering.  She actually reminded me of Anne when she played the piano.  Not that the two look a lot alike outside of general coloring, it was just the musicality that she played with reminded me about Anne.

I actually got to speak with Anne tonight!!!  We talked for just over an hour before my phone was about to die.  I think the battery is not doing as well as it should but I will have to get it checked out.  I don't know if I am eligible for a free upgrade on a phone or not but I shall find out.  Anne is doing well and went to a Renaissance Festival this weekend.  I saw the pictures and she looked so cute on the camel!  She got to ride a camel, how cool is that?  I would love to ride on a camel!  My friend, Debbie got to ride on one when she was in Egypt in high school.  A man offered many goats for her hand in marriage too.  Fortunately, her mother turned him down.  It still gets a giggle from her to be teased about that.

Outside of lessons, I don't have any other plans for the week.  Tomorrow I will have a new song for Natalie.  I have to copy it for her tomorrow afternoon before the lesson.  It looks like I will be off on Sunday again.  Rick needs to have his lesson on Saturday again this week.  It works for me as would have Sunday.  I may go see a movie or watch a movie here at home.

My friend, Donna is rather ill right now.  I think she got it from her granddaughter.  She is finally going to the doctor tomorrow.  I will probably talk to her tomorrow to see how she is doing.  I was hoping to see her this Sunday, however, I will wait until she gets better.

NCIS is on right now.  It is the season premier.  I love this show so much.  It does seem weird to be watching the season premier without Mom here with me.  Another first for me, I suppose.  I am tired of firsts.  After October 18, 2011, all firsts will be over and the seconds will start.  It is hard to believe that it is almost a year since I last saw my mom alive, since I last spoke to her.  It seems unfair to be living without her here.  It just does.  I don't think it will ever seem fair not to have her here.

NCIS Los Angeles season premier will be on after the regular NCIS.  It is a good show too.  I remember when it first started, I didn't want to watch it but then Mom and I gave it a shot and we both liked it.  I fortunate that Mom liked that show until close to the end.  She didn't become afraid of this show however, when she became afraid with other shows, I did stop her from watching NCIS too.  I couldn't take the chance of it upsetting her.  It just would not be good for the little lady.

I have the cutest material for the Christmas presents for my students.  It has Christmas music printed on it with other Christmas stuff on it.  I don't know what I am going to make, but I will come up with something cute.  I also have some Snoopy Christmas Music fabrics that I may use instead.  It is hard to say.  I like both fabrics a lot.  I will see what I can come up with before I make my final decision.  I like making ornaments out of fabric for my students because it is fun.  I have pretty much made ornaments for my students almost every year for the last 20 years except for the last 2 years.  I just couldn't do it those years.  There has been the off year where i didn't make something and sometimes the students would be like, hey, you didn't make me anything this year.  They liked what I got them, but some of them like the ornaments better.  Several students still have them.  I will play around with some scraps and then see what I will come up with.  I don't have much to get for Christmas this year outside of my students.  A few friends and their children and that is about it.  I am pretty sure I know what I am getting my friend's boys but not her girls.  The boys are easy because they are at the age where I have an idea of what they like but the girls like lots of different things so they are a bit harder.  Sometimes that is how I come up with my best ideas for gifts.  I love shopping for Christmas gifts.  I plan to start shopping in October so that I will be able to get everything I want to get.  If I wait until December, I will either have the choice of paying bills or purchasing presents.  It is not a good place to be so I shop early.

I do hope you had a good day today.  So far, it has been a good week despite the lovely cold.  It is a mild one so that makes me happy.  I fully expect this little cold to be history by the end of the week!

Monday 9-19

The cold is doing somewhat better, thank goodness.  I must say that this is, so far, just a small cold.  I am hoping it stays a small cold and doesn't develop into a big cold.  This week, already, 1 of my little ones also had a cold.  I am always not sure when I have a cold whether or not I should teach.  However, I have since noticed in the last few years that if it is just a cold, the kids come so I now teach unless I am coughing really bad or have a fever.  If it is the flu, I don't teach.  I haven't had the flu in many years since I started getting the flu shot.  I will probably get it in a few weeks when I get my blood test done.  It seems strange to be the only one to get one this year.  Last year Mom and I both got them and she was not happy with me about that.  I felt so bad, but I couldn't take the chance of her getting sick.  She just didn't need to get the flu that is for sure.  She was crying after she got the shot.  Fortunately, the nurse who gave her the shot knew her very well so she sat with Mom until Mom calmed down.  I didn't know she was upset until it was over. The nurses at my doctor's office are very good.  Only one or two times did we have problem with his staff and I did complain because the office staff member yelled at mom on 2 separate occasions.  I was furious to say the least.  Fortunately, she didn't last very long at all.  Apparently, many people complained.  With many of his patients seniors, that particular woman really needed compassion and I think she totally lacked it.  After that, I took care of everything at the doctor's.  Mom was always with me so if she needed to say something she could, but I took care of everything else.

I don't have my Aaiyanna tomorrow but I do have my trial student at 2:15.  That should be fun.  I can sleep in too if I need too.  I only have 2 lessons tomorrow total.  The trial student and Charlie.  My student, Camille has changed her day for lessons to Saturday.  She is just having trouble getting her homework done and getting to bed at a decent time so her Mom called to see if she could change times.  It wasn't a problem.  Katie will have her lesson on Saturdays in the afternoon too.  The schedule is really shaping up nicely.  I am hopeful that the young lady I am meeting tomorrow at 2:15 will connect with me and then I will have 2 more lessons for the week.  That is my goal.  We shall see!

I am doing the I made a payment on the property taxes dance tonight.  I am so excited!  It is a small payment, but I figure if I wait until I have a big payment, I may not be able to pay the total amount.  Small payments add up!  That is the important thing to remember!  Small payments here, small payments there, and then add them together and they equal a big payment!  I owe a lot, but I know I can do this!  I am trying to be very diligent on this.  I really am.  It is certainly teaching me thriftiness and planning ahead.  I just wish I had learned this skill when I was younger.  Perhaps I would not have spent so much money and have some savings at this point, then again, with the issues of what happened with the store, my savings would have been gone.  Anyways!  I am pleased with myself.  I was not able to make a payment last month so that puts a big strain on every month that I have left.  I will do this.  My home is at stake.  I know I can do this.  I will also be making another payment at the end of the week when I get my online teaching company check.  I was going to wait until I got the paycheck, but I thought, no, I better not.  That would be too easy to spend somewhere for something and then I am short how much i needed to pay for the end of the month.  I have a couple of other bills that need to be paid to, but they are smaller payments so that is good.  This being in charge of everything including bills and house stuff is tough.  How did Mom do when I was young and in my 20s?  I certainly think she did so much more than I had thought!  She was definitely a super Mom with all this.  She was excellent in stretching a dollar as much as possible, she kept up on major repairs, minor repairs, and house and yard work.  I am so inadequate compared to the little lady.  Someday I hope to find my footing but right now my footing is running on a slippery surface.  I know that I am slowly getting my grip, it is just taking a long time to do this.  I will eventually get this right.

I will be heading to bed soon.  I am hoping I get a good night sleep. I hope you are having a good day too.

Sleepy Sunday

I think I must have slept most of this day thanks to this lovely cold.  It isn't a bad one, thank goodness, just enough to be annoying.  I ended up missing the MMA meeting because I just didn't feel well enough for it. I had called Diane last night about it so she wouldn't be surprised that I wasn't going to be there.  I do need to get some stuff from her about Judges.  I figure starting the first week of October would be good to start getting the judges.  I am nervous about this as I have never done this before but on the other hand, it is good to do something out of the comfort zone at times.  I called Kathy today and found that she has a cold too.  That makes both of us slightly miserable.  I asked if the kids were taking good care of her and she laughed.  I expected that answer.  She did say they had been rather good while she isn't feeling well so that is definitely a plus!  I don't remember Mom being sick a lot except with migraines.  I do remember one time Andrew and I made Momma dinner and we were going to bring it in her room.  So we carefully brought up the TV tray for her and then her dinner.  Then we told her that dinner was ready (she had asked us to let her know when it was ready - I was the cook for the day).  Momma kept saying I will eat downstairs and we kept saying no Momma you eat here, you are sick.  Eventually Andrew and I won.  Momma at her entire dinner in her room.  We kept her company and we were trying to be super quiet for her.  Then we tucked her back into bed and took the tray and empty dishes downstairs.  We then ate our dinner.  We were so proud of ourselves because we were taking care of Mommy.  Poor Momma, she got such migraines at times.  I think that is one reason when I started to get sick that she really fought for me.  She knew what it was like to be in such pain and she didn't want me to suffer like she had at times.  She was definitely a fighter.  Of course, she was in the air force and the army so I guess she really was a fighter!  I remember one time I went to a new doctor for my headache (this was before I had the great doctor I have now).  Mom came with me in the appointment because I was so out of it from the pain.  That doctor told Mom that I was emotionally disturb and that there was nothing wrong.  Oh my was she super angry at that one.  We left rather quickly and Mom wrote the AMA people in Michigan about the appointment.  Thankfully, many years later, (like sooooo many I know) I finally got the proper diagnose and am able to mostly control the pain.  I mean, at times it is out of control, but mostly I do okay and am able to at least still do what I need to do.

I think I am heading back to bed again for the night shortly.  I am so tired.  I have the music I need for my girls tomorrow so that is good.  I have to books by the front door so I can't forget them.  I have a houseful of lessons tomorrow.  It shall be nice!  I hope you are having a good weekend!

ugh, I actually have a cold

I had hope to bypass much of this lovely cold.  Yeah, that didn't happen.  It is here.  I did go and get more nighttime medicine for it because I used the last one last night.  I am trying Day Quill and NyQuil.  I have used it before and it has worked but I am still going to ask the expert (that would be Kathy as she is a Mom) what works best for her.  I already called Diane to let her know that I may possibly not be at the MMA meeting tomorrow as I am ill.  I was pretty fine for most of the day.  Sandra's lesson went super well as well as Rick's.  I am so pleased with how well both of them are doing.  Sandra is concentrating on learning the C position in bass clef as she is not as comfortable with bass clef as she is with treble clef.  This is mainly because she played the organ as a child and didn't use bass clef as much.  Rick is really coming along on the Friend Like Me Song.  We spend a lot of time on it because it is so difficult.  So far we have most of it down pat.  There is one part at the key change that we have trouble with.  We should be working on it next week.  I get so excited when I teach.  I took a bit of a nap between Rick and the Bowman-Tomlinson kids lessons.  I slept for just over an hour and boy did I need it.  Calli did so very well.  She finished her In My Own Little Corner song today.  She works very hard.  Her Ave Maria is really coming along.  We will work on the 2nd verse next week.  Calli is also singing In the Bleak Midwinter.  Acer wants to sing a veggie tale song.  I am not sure where we can get the music for it so I will have to start looking for it.  Both need to think about what piano Christmas music they would like to play.  Everyone is starting to think about what Christmas music they want for the concert.  Aggie is going to be singing Oh Holy Night and she is deciding on another piece.  She has a couple to check out. I am not sure when she is coming home again for another lesson.  She sounds like she will be home on class reunion weekend on that Sunday so I may or may not see her that day.  Whatever works for her as long it is NOT Saturday evening.

I am really liking this new schedule that I have 25 lessons.  I am so excited about that.  Natalie, Rebecca, and Katie, my every other week girls, all have lessons this coming week as well as the Muglias, my once a month girls.  I am so excited about that.  I need to pull Christmas for the Muglia girls.  Since they have once a month lessons, I need to make sure that their Christmas music is ready for the concert.  I am not going to start Sarah on her new music for Christmas as she is just starting the level B book so I need to give her some stuff in the book before we start Christmas music.   However, her sisters are definitely ready to start working on their music.  I just love all my students, from my little ones, to my older ones to my retired ones.  All of them are so awesome and so excited to learn and seem to really enjoy lessons.  I am excited about the coming season.  I have started planning ahead like I usually do.  I didn't really do a whole lot of planning starting in October but I had started planning in September.  Once I lost Mom, I just couldn't do anything.  It took a few months to even function outside of lessons.  Thank goodness I have taught so long now that I could still teach while being very sad.  I am doing much better with lessons at this time.  I am especially thankful for how many I have.  I have a trial lesson this week that I am looking forward too.  I am really hoping we will click and then I will have 2 new lessons.  Wouldn't that be nifty?  I certainly think so.

It is getting late.  I have a couple of things I need to do before I head up to the little bedroom.  I did have to send Aggie up to get a original CD because I can't find the copy.  I know I had it a couple of years ago, but now it is not here.  Aggie will make a copy of it and give back the original.  She is very good about that.  I also know that she doesn't care what my bedroom looks like so that is good too.  She is such a good student and person.

I do hope your day was fine.  Despite the yuckiness of the cold, I had a good day with all my lessons.

Friday 9-16

It is amazing how fast my schedule can change.  I don't mind.  I am flexible so that works just fine.  So tomorrow I only expected to have Sandra (a new piano student) and Aggie's lessons.  Well, I will have the new student, Sandra, Rick, Calli, and Acer's lesson along with Aggie's tomorrow.  It certainly makes my day busier!  Thank goodness because really, my day was looking rather boring.  Not now!  Now it will be full and fun.  Calli and Acer's parents are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.  That is just so cool so they are out tonight and will have lessons tomorrow.  I also will have a new student on Tuesday to see if we are a good match.  Her piano teacher just retired so she and her sister are on the lookout.  A friend of theirs gave them my name and number and here we are on Tuesday, trying out a lesson.  I don't normally like trial lessons but in a case like this, it is a good thing.  With the students coming from another teacher that they worked very well with, it is important to try out before committing to another teacher.  I do hope it will go well so both she and her sister will have lessons!

I now have a cold.  Yup, a cold.  I was really bummed out this morning when I woke up with this cold.  I had a really bad headache most of the day because of this cold.  My nose is running but not stuffy yet.  I am hoping to be able to bypass the stuffiness with cold medicine.  I will have to get more tomorrow night because I only have enough nighttime cold medicine for tonight.  Yuck.  I am heading to bed much earlier than usual because I am very exhausted with this cold.  I also need to be up by 11:45 am tomorrow for my lessons.  I want to be fresh for them.  I haven't really taught on a Saturday regularly since spring when 2 of my teenagers quit supposedly just for the summer although I have not heard from them since and school has started.  I am hopeful that Amanda will at least start up again.

I had Beth's lesson this evening.  It has been the only one today, which was good since I was laying down a lot because of this cold.  She started 3 new songs, 2 from Jekyll and Hyde, and one from South Pacific.  She is going to audition for Jekyll and Hyde in October for her community theatre.  I do hope she gets in the chorus since that is her goal.  We have a new strategy for this audition.  She is going to try out for a part and hopefully get in the chorus.  She is a good singer and her voice is improving a lot.  Her breathing is better.  Her air placement is better too, so overall she is doing very well.  I am pleased with her progress.

Calli has been working on Ave Maria - the Schubert version, and In the Bleak Midwinter.  Both songs really show off what the young lady can do.  For piano she is working on the Village Dance out of her level 3 book.  Acer is working on something in the 1B book.  I will start them working on Christmas songs by the beginning of October.  This month the Muglia girls will be starting Christmas Music on Monday at their lessons.  I am looking forward to that.  I have to pull some Christmas Songs for them tomorrow or Sunday.  They are looking forward to starting Christmas Music.  I am hoping that after Christmas I will be able to purchase the Harry Potter 7B Music.  I also really like the 6th movie's music too.  I am focusing on Christmas and competition music at this point.

Kelly Lynn won't be able to go to the MMA meeting after all.  Her Grandfather is very ill and has entered Hospice so on Sunday they are all heading to go and see him.  I totally understand that.  She needs to be with her grandfather and family.  Chances are huge that she will see me again, she most likely won't see him again so Kelly Lynn needs to spend as much time as possible with him.  It is so hard when a life is ending or near the end.  I hope she gets the chance to see him a few times before he heads for Heaven.

It has been an okay day as far as days with a cold can go.  I hope tomorrow is better.  We shall see.  I hope your day was good too.

Thursday 9-15

I am so glad that it is Thursday because my friend, Julie came over!!!  She arrived at about 11:20.  I had gotten up at 10:30 and got dressed.  I went downstairs and sat in the living room with my feet up on the stool.  I took a wee nap while I was waiting for her.  I knew that she may be late as she was working at her office to clear up a project.  I didn't mind because it meant a bit more sleep for me.  She brought some homemade Apple spice cake and oh my, it was soooooo delicious!  I really liked it.  Julie is an excellent cook and baker.  She just is.  She has been not feeling too well these past few weeks.  She was even in the hospital but I think she is on the mend.  We just chatted about so many things!  Julie is going to help me with the family room when she is up to snuff and available.  Her youngest daughter is the famous (well to my blog she is famous!) Lily.  Lily is now 13 and in 8th grade.  I haven't seen her in a very long time as the summer was so busy for her that we just weren't able to get together.  I hope to see her a bit more now that she is in school.  I am going to get Lily another Gingerbread House for her to decorate again this year.  She had such a good time decorating it.  I had a good time with her that day.  It is strange to have Lily here without Mom.  Mom loved Lily and her sisters.  Lily could bring a smile on my mother's face really fast just like her sisters.  I have pictures of the gingerbread house Lily decorated last Christmas on my face book.  She did an awesome job.  That is all I have to say.  I will get different candies this year.  I think i will add mini M&M's.  We will  make some homemade cookies too.  Lily is just a really good baker like her Mom.

Project Runway is on.  I like this crazy show for some reason.  Their clients this week is the significant other of a bunch of men.  Most men have no idea what their women like.  I think this is the funniest one ever so far this season.  I will be heading for bed right after this show.  I have a bad headache again today.  It isn't as bad as it was earlier, but it is still worse than usual.  I ended up taking a nap before Logan's lesson because the head hurt so bad.  He is a nice student although he is slightly hard to teach as he doesn't exactly like the classical music.  There is a song he really wants to learn called Ancient Words so that is what we are working on.  I had told him that if there was something he wanted we would learn it.  We also went over some basic intervals and chords today.  He is interested in theory to help him learn his notes better.  He is doing actually much better than he thinks so.  In about 4 weeks or so we will be starting the Christmas Music.  I am excited about Christmas music.  I will be starting Christmas music for my girls on Monday since they only have lessons once a month.  I also need to make the newsletter about what is coming up for students.  We have a craft day, the Christmas Concert, and the Michigan Music Association Competition.  I have the information for Kelly Lynn to for the Competition.  We may actually have several new teachers at the meeting on Sunday.  I am very excited about that.  I also need to type out the minutes from the last minutes.  I haven't done that yet.  I will be starting on them soon.  I will have them done in time for Sunday.  Thank goodness this meeting is later in the afternoon because I have Rick's lesson before it.

Saturday, I will be going to do a bit of grocery shopping.  I only need a few things.  I don't have a lot of money so I had to cross off a few things on my list.  I have hamburger and chicken in the freezer so they are off the list.  I also have corned beef in the fridge and another one in the freezer.  I also have some pork roasts too that I can make.  I have spaghetti sauce and spaghetti too.  I have other pastas so I have the basics.  I also have the veggies too.  I do need some Kleenex, mushrooms, cheese, and a few other stuff.  I also need some light bulbs but if I don't get them, it will be okay because I have enough light right for now.  The dining room chandelier has all burned out bulbs but the other light is fine.  I have to get the light bulbs from another store than the one I am going to on Saturday.  I also will need to get a fresh milk and bread as I am almost out of bread and the milk will be out dated.

Tomorrow will be Acer's and Calli's lesson.  Beth will also have her lesson because she needed to reschedule this week.  I also get to sleep in a bit tomorrow.  That will be nice as I am so tired right now because of the headache.

It has been a decent day despite the bad headache.  I really enjoyed visiting with Julie.  We got a few things taken care of so that is nice.  We had a nice discussion with what was going on with both our families.  I enjoyed my lessons.  I do hope your day was nice too.

Wednesday 9-14

I woke up this morning with a really bad headache.  Fortunately, it is back down to the normal headache at this point.  I got up and went back to bed.  I ended up staying there until about 2:30 because it just hurt so much.  Finally, I had to get up to get ready for my only lesson tonight.  Beth will have her lesson on Friday.  The student I had this afternoon was a new student named Allison.  She is 18 and will be starting college this January.  She wants to be an actress and major in Theatre and Musical Theatre.  We started working on Caro Mio Ben and God Help the Outcasts.  She loves Disney too just like me.  Her mom came with her and she is very nice.  I am very pleased with how the lesson went.  Allison played the flute so she can read music and count.  I am going to start her on sight reading next week.  I am excited to work with her.

I do not have anything planned for the evening except relaxing.  The bad headache really exhausted me.  I may even go to bed early.  Tomorrow Julie is coming over at 11 so I will be up by 10:30.  I need to eat breakfast before she arrives.  I am so excited to see her as I haven't actually seen her in a few months.  With my teaching schedule and her schedule this summer, we just weren't able to meet.  I am very happy to be spending some time with her tomorrow.  It should be a good time.  I have Breanna, Laith, and Logan's lessons tomorrow.  Breanna has changed her time from 12:30 to 2:15.  That works fine for me.  I don't have to get up as early!

The news is on right now.  The forecast for the next week is pretty chilly.  It won't be in the high 70s until next Monday.  I don't really mind the cooler weather as it was a very hot summer.

It has been a quiet day because of the bad headache.  I am almost ready for bed now and it is only about 7:30 pm.  I will stay up a bit longer because I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night and stay awake for a long time.  That would just be bad.

I hope your day has been good.

Tuesday 9-13

I am so glad that next week will be the season premiere of NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles.  I can't wait as I love those two shows a lot.  Kathy is excited about Survivor starting up again.  I think she said that was tomorrow night?  I have never watched Survivor so I am not sure.  I am glad the new seasons are starting again.  It gives me something else to look forward to during the week.  I used to watch Law and Order SVU a lot.  I don't know if I will start watching that again or not.  I haven't seen in for the last few years because Mom was afraid of the show and then I forgot when it was on so I haven't watched it at all.  I like the show, but if I miss it, that is alright.  It is not a big deal.  NCIS, well, that is a big deal although once a month I will miss it because we have our subdivision meetings at the same time.  I can survive missing it once a month.  I had thought about getting a DVR but until those taxes are paid, nothing extra will be bought.  I have to be very serious with myself on this or I will find myself homeless and that will not be good.  That would be horrible.  So for the next 6 months, I am buckling down.  So far, it is going okay.  I have a lot of the monthly bills already paid for the month and it is only the 13th!  I have the hospital, 5 doctors, and the taxes left for the month.  I am so thankful for the new students.  The additional students have really made it much easier to pay the bills.  It is nice to be able to sit down and pay bills without wondering which ones have to stay unpaid.  I am planning to go grocery shopping with the lovely Calli this weekend.  I hate grocery shopping but I figure it was fun when Calli came with me to get groceries for the BBQ that maybe it will make it fun for regular shopping.  She loves grocery shopping.  I think taking an excited 11 year old should be an interesting trip.  We have about 2 places to go.  We also have to go to the hardware store for light bulbs.  I need some 40 watt and 60 watt regular light bulbs and then I also need some 25 watt chandelier light bulbs for the house.  I do need to go to Toys R Us sometime this week too because Emily just earned her first gift card.  With the addition of her birthday points, she has enough for a $10 gift card.

I only had 2 lessons today.  I had Aaiyanna and Charlie.  Aaiyanna had the beginnings of a cold.  The poor kid was trying to blow her nose but she had a cut in her nose that would hurt each time she went to blow.  I felt so bad for the young lady.  We talked about lifting the eyebrows while she is singing.  We couldn't work on breathing because of her cold.  We will take care of that at her next lesson.  She is such a cutie and a doll to work with.  Aaiyanna actually had 2 songs completely memorized.  Remember, she only received the music last week!  She had Castle on a Cloud and I'd Do Anything for You memorized.  She simply loves the songs.  I was really quite surprised by pleasantly so.  Charlie had an hour lesson because he had to miss last week.  I so love how he makes up lessons as opposed to skipping them all together.  We worked on some articulation, which is one of his main weaknesses, and then some other exercises that will strengthen his fingers when playing fast.  Overall, they both did really well with their lessons.  Tomorrow is just my new student, Allison.  She is 18 and wants to be a singer.  I am hopeful she likes what we will be learning.  I have to find out if she is planning to go to college for music or not. That will help shape what we will do in our lessons.  I am looking forward to the lesson.  Beth has rescheduled to Friday for this week because of a school activity tomorrow.  She is a 1st grade teacher.  I really like her a lot.  She works really hard.  Beth is interested in performing in Community Theatre.

I am tired as usual.  It is getting a bit late.  I am hoping that I will go to bed a bit early tonight since I am feeling a bit more tired than usual.  I got up a bit late too but I have been just so tired today.  The drastic change in temperature usually wipes me out.  We went from almost 100 to low 70s overnight.  Today was about 80 and tomorrow is supposed to be high 60s.  I am thankful for the cooler weather though.  I don't do as well in either really hot or really cold weather.  Yup, tomorrow will be a bit chillier than it has been.  I am thankful for the cooler weather.  I can breathe better then!

I do hope you are having a good day.

Monday 9-12

I love Mondays because I have several lessons.  Today I had 6 lessons with 5 being in a row.  That is actually my limit because I get too exhausted if I put anymore in.  Once a month I will have 4 more on a Monday but since I rest a lot the day before, it is okay.  I just go to bed much, much earlier on those Mondays.  Emily (6:30) has actually moved to Friday at 6:15 starting this week so I will only have 5 regularly scheduled lessons on Monday.  That will be okay.  Tuesdays are nice too because I have about 2 lessons with another one every other week.  My 4 pm is an hour lesson so in a way, it is 2 lessons.  Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are also 3 lessons so things are picking up nicely.  I am pleased about that.

I haven't really done anything else today but teach.  I read a bit before and after Bob's lesson.  I am reading the Canopy by Angela Hunt.  She is a good author.  I have read her historical stuff and her contemporary stuff too.  It is very interesting.  Most of this book takes place in Peru in the Amazon Rainforest.  It is very interesting.  I finished the O'Malley books that I have.  I plan at the end of the month, if I have enough money left over from paying bills, to order book number 4 and the prequel.  That will make the collection complete.

Tonight is the Design Star Season Finale.  I never thought I would actually be interested in this type of a show, but it is good.  I am very surprised since I have very little talent to decorate.  I really don't have much.  I keep it very basic.  My cousin, Hayley, now she is the one with talent.  She can take anything and make it beautiful.  She is very, very, very talented.  I love watching her create something beautiful out of an ordinary item.  It is just really cool.  I also like watching Project Runway.  Now there is another show I NEVER thought I would like, and I do.  I like to sew but I am not a super great sewer.  I can sew pretty well, but I am not good enough to be a designer plus, I can't draw to save my life.  I can do the basics and a few fancy things, but not super fancy and I am not the tailor my mother was.  She could tailor an outfit beautifully.  She was an amazing seamstress.  When I was small, Mom made all my clothes.  I remember every year we would go to the fabric store and she would let me help pick out the dresses (I only wore dresses all through elementary school) I wanted.  I loved that she made my clothes.  I really did.  In 4th grade, I had to have store bought clothes because Mom just didn't have the time to make any clothes for me.  She was going to school 24 credit hours, working 2 part time jobs that added up to 40 hours a week plus she had to take care of me and my brothers.  I cried when she said to pick out what I liked.  I simply cried like a baby.  The saleslady just didn't know what to do so Mom and I went home.  I was still crying.  When we got home Mom asked what was wrong again (she asked in the store but I couldn't answer, I was crying too hard).  I asked her if she still loved me.  I remember the strange look she gave me.  She said yes right away.  I then said, then why aren't you making my clothes.  You always make my clothes.  Momma set me straight and explained why I needed to have some store bought clothes because of all the things she was doing.  I understood eventually and we went back to the store where I found some nice dresses.  Store bought wasn't too bad, but Momma made better clothes.  Mom still made all my Christmas outfits though all through high school.  I liked wearing long dresses or long skirts on Christmas and I liked to match her so she always made our outfits.  It was during a fitting of a long skirt that Mom discovered that I had scoliosis.  She was working on the hemline when she said I wasn't standing up straight.  My friend, Jodi was over so she called her up to see if it was just her.  Jodi said I wasn't standing up straight.  I was, but my one shoulder was 1 inch higher than the other and I had a lump in my back.  I didn't think anything about it but Mom called my doctor right away and I went to see her.  She was stunned because I had had a full check up including a check for scoliosis that previous May.  I had to go and see a specialist in Toronto.  I ended up having an operation in December of 10th grade.  That is how I got the 2 rods in my back.

I am tired tonight, but I expect it and it is a good tired because I was busy today.  I simply love all my new students.  They are wonderful and the younger ones are so adorable.  They are so cute.  The older ones are doing very well too.  I do have a new student starting Saturday at 12:30.  She is an adult and we all know how well that has gone for me but I am hopeful about this because she has played the organ and wants to play piano.  That might mean she is serious and knows how much time is required for learning piano.

I do hope you are having a good day.