NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles Night 11-15

Tuesdays are good nights for TV for me because my favorite shows are on.  I don't watch a whole lot of shows, but I will admit to being crazy about NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles.  they are action packed and the good guys always win!  Sometimes it is a bit gross with the bodies, but I don't look when it is like that.  Since I can't stand the sight of blood, I usually just listen to the scenes that are in the autopsy room.  I like how the teams work with each other and the characters are so interesting to me.  All in all, I am glad I started watching them even though at first I stuck my nose up in the air with them.  I was annoyed because they took the place of JAG for a few weeks and I loved JAG.  As a matter of fact, I have all 10 season of JAG.  I think because we were an army family that I can identify with the families who have members serving the military.  Now, Mom was in the reserves, which I know is a bit different, but it still means we were a military family.  While there were definite things I disliked intensely about Mom being in the Army, overall, I was very proud of her.  She accomplished a lot and without her and women like her, the women of today would not be at the ranks and jobs that they are in.  Mom was a pioneer.  She broke glass ceilings.  Mom was also very brave and courageous however, she was very shy about talking about her accomplishments.  She was a very humble woman.  I love that about her (one of a million or so reasons I adored my mother!)  Anyways, Mom always said that she was born too soon.  I can only imagine what she could accomplish if she was born 40 years later.  However, I am rather glad she was born when she was since I would not be me if she wasn't.

Today the tummy is a bit better than yesterday.  Most of the time I ignore the pain and the upset tummy.  I just go and take my tummy medicine and pain medicine but sometimes it is difficult to ignore such things.  Last night was one of them.  I think at this point, I am so used to pain that I don't always feel it.  I know it is there, but I can ignore it at times unless I get up (then my hips cry and my legs) or I move wrong and it twinges the pain.  I think because I don't teach or work full time and I have time to make sure I rest it makes a difference.  I don't anticipate actually ever being able to work full time or teach full time again.  The last time I tried that I was in and out of the hospital so much that I knew the ER doctors and nurses and they knew me on sight.  Not really a recommended thing.  I have been in the ER in the last year, but it isn't as much as it used to be so that is good.  I have better medicine now, I think, at least for the moment.

Anyways, I am going to make some dinner now.  I am going to have pasta and veggies.  I forgot to take the chicken out to thaw so no chicken tonight.  I don't mind, I like pasta and veggies without meat too.

Try to have a good night!

the Beginning of another week! 11-14

It is the start of another week!  3 weeks from yesterday will be the Christmas Concert.  I am looking forward to it.  My girls had their lessons this afternoon.  They are pretty much ready for the concert.  Lydia and Sarah are very ready.  Hannah is almost ready and the same with Natalie.  Natalie has one of her songs down pat and almost the second one.  Both girls should be as ready as their sisters by the concert.  I am pretty certain about that.  Bob is almost ready too.  Isaac is nervous about the concert so he isn't sure he wants to be in it.  I told him to worry about it in two weeks and if still didn't want to do it, he didn't have too.  He didn't practice this week so that is what he is worried about.  He did pick one piano song and played it pretty well.  We talked about looking at practicing a different way.  He likes to play the piano and really that is all that practicing is.  He was like, good point.  So let's hope he plays his piano more this week than last week.  He is also doing very well with his vocal songs too.  I did let Isaac know that he was learning the Christmas music whether or not he would be in the concert.  He said okay no problem.  Isaac is such a nice young man.  His grandparents live down the street from me so after his lesson he walked down to their house to have dinner with them.

After my lessons, I went to Walmart for some tummy medicine and milk.  I also got the Christmas Table Cloth, Christmas cookie cutters, pop, and a few other necessities.  I almost walked out without the Mylanta.  That would have been bad because my tummy has not been so good these last few days.

I have a new young man tomorrow from the online company.  He is 5 and will be starting piano.  I am excited about this.  This leaves 2 students tomorrow.  Charlie has marching band practice tomorrow for the Thanksgiving Day parade.  This is his last Thanksgiving Day parade as he is a senior in high school this year.  Aaiyanna and Samuel, the new young man, will have their lessons tomorrow.  I have to copy some sight reading music for Aaiyanna.  I had copied some a few weeks ago, but she has lost them.  Now that she has her binder, she can put it in the binder.  I do hope that the new CDs I burned for her work.  The only other option is to loan her the originals and have her parents burn them on CDs.  I don't particularly like loaning original CDs out because if I don't get them back, I have to buy both the book and the CD again.

I haven't started the ornaments for the students yet.  I have 3 weeks to do this.  I will be starting tomorrow evening after i clear the table so I can start cutting them out.  I have to figure out how many I need.  I am also going to be making some for Kathy's kids since I am already making some, what is a few more?  There is like 4 seams and top stitching for each one.  Not too hard for me to make.  I have made them before.  I just need to get some red fabric paint since the paint I have is not fabric paint and the fabric paint I had is very old, if I even have it anymore, which I sincerely doubt.  I am not going to bother to look for it because I think I did get rid of it a while ago.  It costs about $1 so I will just pick some up in the next few days.  I have the ribbon for the hanging of the ornament and the jingle bells although I am not sure I am going to put the jingle bells on it.  We shall see.  I will see what looks the best on ornament.  I am excited about starting them.  I probably should have started them a few weeks ago, but I do know how easy they are to make so I kept procrastinating.  I will stop procrastinating this week though since the concert is in one day less than 3 weeks.

I am not feeling super well today.  I can't pin point it exactly, I just don't feel too hot.  I don't think I am coming down with anything, just the usual fibro feeling bad.  Sometimes, fibro sucks at times, well, okay, it sucks all the time if the truth be told.

Despite the not feeling so hot, it was a decent day.  I hope yours was good too.

Sunday 11-13

We are almost in the middle of November.  Wow, how quick did this happen.  Tomorrow I have my girls, Bob, and Isaac.  I am rather exhausted today.  I made it to church though!  Unfortunately, I didn't eat a good enough breakfast so I started to get light headed with the lights by the time we sang our song right before the sermon.  I ended up mouthing some of the words.  It was a great song too.  I hope no one noticed that I didn't sing near the end.  I wasn't sure I would survive at that point.  Finally we were done and we could leave the stage for our seats in the congregation.  I grabbed my coat and went to sit down.  We had a guest minister speaker today.  It was missions weekend.  He was very interesting and it was a good sermon.  I am pretty okay now although I still feel lightheaded at times.  I have been having problems with lightheadedness for a good 2 months now.  I don't really know why.  I have been to the ER about this and there was no conclusive answer.  I truly do not believe it is from dehydration because I have since made sure that I am drinking enough water.  There are days I feel almost waterlogged from drinking so much water and that doesn't seem like it that good.

I am watching Harry Potter number 4, "Goblet of Fire" and Cedric has just been killed.  Ever since Momma passed away I tear up (sometimes even cry) whenever anyone dies whether it is one of my friends' family and friends or even TV and movies.  I teared up when Cedric was killed and I have seen this enough to know that it happens.  I also have read all the books.  Still, anyone dying makes me tear up and sometimes cry.  My cousin just lost her father and she wrote today in her face book that it was time to process and move on.  It has been one week since her father was killed.  When one of my face book friends lost her mother a week later she wrote on face book, time to get back to happiness.  I don't understand how they can so easily go back to the way it was.  How does one process and move on so fast?  Is it because they have families themselves to take care of?  I am still processing and moving on.  I can't say I am back to happiness.  I have better days than I did last year at this time, but there are still days where I miss her so much.  Is it because I took care of her and we were together all the time for the last 5 years?  I don't know.  I just know that a week after I lost Mom, I was still in shock.  Maybe they are still and just don't realize it.  The mysteries of mourning still confuse me.  I get told I am in a depression, yet I don't think I am.  Yes, I am sad at times.  I say I am in mourning, not a depression as if to mourn in these days and times is a bad thing.  I don't think so but in this world it seems at times that mourning is not acceptable, you have to process and move on immediately and not allow yourself to feel the emotions that go with losing a family member or a friend.  That is how it seems in my family.  I remember calling Richard (back when he would actually speak to me) and I was crying.  He was all "you aren't crying are you?" like it was a horrible thing.  I quickly stopped and realized that he doesn't feel the same way I do.  I thought he did, but he had moved on from missing Mom if he ever missed her at all.  I don't think I will ever understand this world that we live in.  My friends who have lost their mothers and were close to them says that the second year is easier.  So far it is a bit.  Last year at this time my chest felt like bricks on it and I don't have that feeling too much anymore.  However, I do miss her as much as I first did when she died.  I don't know, I certainly can't say I have all the answers.

I am glad that I made it to church after missing it last week.  It starts the week off right somehow to me, despite how early I have to get up.  I actually didn't yawn during church, just on the way home where I took a nap right after.  I slept for about 3 1/2 hours before Beth had her lesson.

I do hope you had a good day.

Another lovely day in November - the weather is beautiful

It is so nice outside today.  Unlike yesterday, which was rather cold, today is more fall like than winter.  It is definitely nice and warm.  I didn't really need my winter coat on but since I didn't know it was so nice out, I had it on.  I love my winter jacket.  It was a beautiful Christmas present last year from my dear friends, the Emertons, Lily's family.  Camille had her lesson today.  Her uncle brought her.  She is doing so well and I think when we are done with this level, we may switch to something different.  I am still not sure though.  She is doing so well with switching her hands around that I fear that the level 2 book will be too easy for her.  We shall see.  She is such a lovely young lady.  Last Tuesday was her middle sister's birthday, she turned 5 and this Tuesday will be the youngest sister's birthday, she turns 4.  Camille is the oldest.

Not too much going on today.  Some weird pains on and off in my back and my chest.  I am not sure why but it comes and goes so I am not too worried at this point about it.  I am rather exhausted this afternoon.  Much more so than normal.  I do hope this means I will sleep better tonight because Church is in the morning!  I am ready to sing tomorrow.  I love singing in the choir.  I can't stand during the music part of the service because my legs ache so much, so I lean on a stool.  It is a high stool so I can't really sit down too well.  By the end of the music part my legs are actually usually numb but they wake up quickly when i start walking.  I would like a better stool, but this will work for now.  Carolyn will not be singing tomorrow because she has been absent from choir practice for a couple of weeks.  She has had volleyball games at the same time as practice.  It is kind of hard to be in two places at once!  I just love Carolyn, she is such a nice young lady.  She sings rather well too.  It is nice to be in a choir full of good singers.  Most of them are very good, which is really nice.  It means we can do some harder music and really get some good stuff.

I need to clear off the table today.  I plan to move all the music into the living room for now because during Christmas and New Years, I will have it put away and then the living room and the dining room will be beautiful.  I also need to go through the boxes of tools behind me and put them in my lovely new tool box that Heather B-T and family gave me.  I was so excited since my has long since disappeared along with many of the tools mom and I had.  It is quite frustrating to have tools disappear from the furnace room and garage.  These tools will stay for a long while since I am in charge now.  This being responsible and being a grown up can be hard work!  I really want the new Harry Potter movie but I cannot get it until the monthly bills are paid.  It is so tempting to go and charge it but I won't.  The credit cards are for emergency only and that is how they should be for me.  I have used them a bit and discovered I was using them a bit too much because they were in my wallet so I took them out.  Now, I don't have the temptation.  I am thankful for that!

I do need to go to the music store Monday or Tuesday for my new little guy on Tuesday.  He is scheduled the one lesson but then the rest are unscheduled, which is weird to me.  Is he going to change his time every week?  Or is this a trial lesson to see if he likes it?  Either way, I will teach the lesson and we shall see how the little guy does.  I only have a couple of lessons on Monday this week, Bob and Isaac.  I don't think I have the girls this week but I shall find out shortly.  I have messaged them to find out.  I know Laura has it on the calendar.  So whenever she has me scheduled works for me!  I just love my girls.  Well, truth be know, I love all my students.  I have the best.  I may not have as many as I used too (oh my goodness!  I wouldn't be able to do that) but I have really good ones now.

I do hope you are having a good day.  I hope this random pain goes away.  It comes and goes whenever and I have had it since yesterday.  The joys of fibro!  My hands aren't are sore as they were yesterday as it is nicer out right now!  Enjoy your day!

Veterans Day, Remembrance Day

When I was a little girl, my biggest fear was that the USA and Canada would get in a war and we would be put in a concentration camp.  I had just learned about them in history and was so stunned that people would treat others this way.  My mother served in the Canadian Army Reserves.  She was a major, but we live over in USA so she would go across the border every week two and three times to go to the reserves.  I would cry and be upset after she left.  After a few weeks of this our babysitter told Mom about this so Mom asked me what was wrong.  I told her about my fears.  She calmly explained that would never happen as both countries are allies and friends.  My mom also explained to me that she was a teacher so she would never go where the fighting would be.  She would just train them, not fight with them.  It makes me think about the families who have members fighting.  I know what my fear was like, I can't even imagine what their everyday is like, especially the children.  How do you explain something like this to your children?  How?  I think about this a lot, not just on days like today that are set aside to honor them.  They deserve more than that because if it wasn't for our soldiers, both past and present, we would not be able to have the freedom that we have.  Many of us live in countries that are free and we have no idea what it is like to live in countries that you have no freedom.  I can't even imagine living somewhere where you can't say what you want or do what you want.  We can go to the store and buy whatever we want.  Most of the time, we have enough food, shelter, and clothes.  Can you imagine those that live in countries where there are food lines and when you finally get in the store, there is no food left?  I can't.  I can't imagine living in a country where women are not allowed to drive, vote, be in company in public of men without their husbands or father, where girls are not allowed to go to school?  It completely baffles me about these things.  How can people treat people they way they do?  Yes, in this country there are people who are not nice and treat others poorly.  We have choices and rights that so many don't have.  I have always been proud of the country I was born in and the country I was raised in, however, I am more American than Canadian.  We were raised to be American.  We went to American Schools and lived there.  Mom wanted us to know about both countries, the one of our birth and the one we were raised in.  I decided when I was 18 not to become an American not because I don't love the USA, I do but because I wanted my children to be the first Americans in our family.  To me, that was the American Dream, coming from another country and having your children be the first Americans.  I have since changed my mind.  I want to be able to vote.  Yes, I also have made this decision because I can't have children so they won't be the first Americans, but the right to vote has been a dream of mine for several years now.  I am working on saving the money to pay the fees.  (It is now really expensive to become an American, about $400 plus other fees.)  In a few years, I will be an American.  It will be an exciting day when that happens.

We should be thankful for those who serve our countries everyday, not just on days designated to remembering or honoring them.  I know I am.  My mother ended up serving 31 years.  I have always been proud of my Mom being in the Armed Service (even when we had to wait for what seemed like hours for her to get out of the officers' mess after parades or special events).  She joined the Air Force at 18 and then when her time was up she joined the Army Reserves.  We were an Army family.  At times, it seems like we still are.

Choir Practice Day

Thursday is choir practice.  I am getting my own folder number next week!  I have the new person number right now so I get my own number now.  It is a cool thing.  We worked really hard tonight on 3 pieces that we are going to sing in the next three weeks.  The choir stood quite a bit of the time.  I don't because I can't stand very long.  In church I sit on a stool because I can't stand for all that time.  I don't think I could even stand long enough to sing the song.  It just hurts to much.

My bad headache that I have had most of the day is a bit better, but not too much yet.  I do hope that by morning it is down to its normal headache.  I am not as tired as usual right now but I am sure shortly I will be.  I tried to take a nap this evening because I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep.  This was in between teaching and choir.  I had my three B's today: Breanna, Brianne, and Brooke.  All 3 are doing so well.  Brooke has one of her Christmas songs almost down pat and close to the second.  Brianne is struggling a bit with hers.  We may have to edit her songs a bit.  Both are 4 pages and difficult left hands.  We will see how she is doing next week.  We have reschedule Brianne and Brooke's lessons for Thanksgiving Day.  Breanna is checking her schedule for a reschedule that week too.  Breanna has switched one of her vocal pieces for Christmas.  She is trying to learn the guitar part but we have a CD if she doesn't.  Her piano is doing very well today.  I loaned her the new theory game CD for the computer.  She and I tried it while she was here for her lesson.  She loved it.  Breanna also thinks her nephews are going to like it too.  I think so.  They always want to be with her and do what she is doing.  Breanna got a new piano this past weekend.  She got a Yamaha baby grand piano.  It is beautiful and she loves it.  I would too but there is no room in my living room for a baby grand.  I like the pianos that I have so I am satisfied.  I am glad she loves it and wants to practice more.  She is a good musician.

I have not cleared the table like I wanted to this week.  Hayley is supposed to stop by tomorrow before I go to tea with Wendy.  I am so glad to see Hayley, but I also am glad to see Wendy.  Then I will have a couple of lessons before resting for the rest of the night.  I only have Camille on Saturday and Beth on Sunday after the after church nap.  I am going to use Sunday and Saturday for resting a lot since I have been so extra tired this week.  I will also do a bit of housework.  I have to clean the bathrooms.  That doesn't take too long and I rest in between the bathrooms.  I did part of the downstairs bathroom this evening.  I will do the other part on Saturday and the other bathroom then too.  I will clear the music off the dining room table on Sunday now that I don't need it anymore.  I will put the original CDs in the living room so I will have them when I make the CD for the concert.  This makes it easier for Bill who runs the sound.

I am watching Project Accessory and it is kind of interesting.  Some of the designs these people come up is crazy, simply crazy.  I wouldn't wear most of them.  This one model's hair was so insane.  It was a mohawk type thing.  Who would wear their hair like that.  One has a belt on the model hung down between her legs.  It was insane.  Just simply insane.  There are some that are nice.

Wednesday 11-9-11

2 more days until Harry Potter comes out on DVD!  Yes, this IS cause for celebration!  It really is!  I, personally, can't wait.  I know, I know, many of you are shaking your head, you already knew this.  I can't wait to see it again with seeing number 7 part 1 right before it.  That is the plan for Friday, as long as everything works out well.

I met Jennie for lunch today at Applebee's.  It was so much fun.  I got to read some of the stuff that people wrote at the reunion.  The memory papers were great!  We chatted for about 2 hours before we had to leave.  It was also cool because Jennie's husband, Bill gave her a gift card for Applebee's so that paid our lunch.  Talk about generous!  It was just a nice lunch.  I was late for it though.  I knew yesterday I needed to get gas.  I planned to get the gas after Aaiynna's lesson.  Somehow it slipped my mind.  I also didn't plan to get up early enough to get gas and be on time so I was late by about 10 or so minutes.  I had run out of the house without my coat too so while getting gas, I froze and got wet since it was raining!  Not how I planned to arrive!  I will plan better next time!

After lunch, I came home and took a bit of a rest in the living room before Rachel's lesson.  I was a bit tired so I figured it was a good time to take a bit of a rest so I went in the living room and propped up my feet on the stool.  I slept for about an hour.  Rachel arrived for her lesson and she is doing so well with her Christmas Songs.  She did picked out 2 more for fun.  We immediately went into the dining room to copy the music for her.  She then went and got 2 of the page savers then put the new music in them.  She giggled when we discussed the hand position.  Rachel is learning several new hand positions and is really doing very well.  I love when she giggles though.  Children have the sweetest giggles and Rachel is no exception.  Her giggle just send happiness to my soul so to hear the giggle at the new hand positions.  Allison had her lesson right after.  She was early, which was perfectly fine for me.  Allison is also doing very well with her Christmas music.  I remembered to copy her second page of sight reading just in time for her lesson.  Allison is doing very well with her Christmas music too.  Her voice is getting ready to change and I can hear it.  It is exciting when the voice changes, it really is.

I have a bit of a bad headache this evening.  I took some pain meds so I am hoping it will go down to the normal headache.  With the rain and the changing of the weather, it is not surprising that I ache a bit more than normal and have a bigger headache tonight.  I just hope it goes back to the normal pain by bedtime or morning.

Despite the extra pain this afternoon, it was a good day.  I hope yours was too.

Beautiful day out today! 11-8

It is so beautiful out today.  It was nice and warm with a light breeze.  I totally loved it.  I had to go out to the bank and it was simply gorgeous!  It makes it hard to believe we are in November already!  I did hear that out east a lot of people got snow!  I am not ready for the white stuff yet!  Give me a few weeks and then we will talk about it, but not until then.  Tomorrow is supposed to rain, I think.  I am excited about tomorrow though because I will get to see my friend, Jennie!  We are meeting for lunch, so that should be awesome!

I donated 2 more violins to fundraisers today.  A face book friend of mine is hosting a fundraiser tomorrow so I asked if she needed more things for the auction.  She came by with her daughter this afternoon to pick out the violins.  Isabelle, her lovely 7 year old, picked them out.  Her daughter is such a loving, sweet girl.  It was like we were kindred spirits.  She is such a sweetheart.  Her mom really liked the gold one with Eeyore all over it.  I love Winnie the Pooh characters so much and so does she.  The wild thing about this? Debbie (the mom) and I actually knew each other in high school!  We did go to different schools but she was good friends with my good friend, Jodi!  Jodi is now on face book!  I have been looking for her for about 2 years now!  I found her!  I am so excited about that.  So I face booked Jodi a friend request and I do hope she accepts it.  From her picture, it looks like all her children are either almost grown up or already grown up.  The 2 boys are taller than her with one of her sons taller than his dad!  They look happy.  I haven't seen her in many, many years.  So not only did I find a way to connect with Jodi, I re-met Debbie!  It was a great meeting!  I also did find out that one of our mutual high school friends has since divorced and re-married.  I knew her first husband too.  We worked together at the parks.

Aaiyanna had her lesson.  She did pretty well.  We also worked on flash cards.  That was really cool.  She did pretty well.  I think she is also taking piano or did take piano.  Either way, learning to read notes will help her a lot in the long run.  I need to copy some of the sight singing for her so she can learn her notes better!  She is such a cutie and a really nice little girl.  She really is.  She does play with the stuffed animals that are on the other piano, which I need to remove so she can't be distracted with them, but overall for a 7 year old, she is doing really well.  We are working on her Christmas Concert music.  She is doing Sleigh Song, which she loves, and Gesu Bambino, which I love.  She seems to like it but I know she really likes Sleigh Song a lot.

Tonight is my lovely NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles!  I love those two shows.  After that, I will be heading straight to bed since I will be getting up rather early tomorrow to meet Jennie.  I don't mind because it will be so fun to be with her.  I haven't seen her since the reunion and before that it was spring since I had last seen her so tomorrow will be lots of fun.

I do hope you are having a good day.  I would say today was a good day for me too.

Monday 11-7

I had a good day today.  I woke up earlier because Maia needed to pick up the food that she stored in my chest freezer.  She woke me up.  I had a rough night last night so I didn't get up too early.  I hope next time she lets me know in advanced so I will be ready for her to be over to pick up the stuff.  After she left, I thought about going back to bed but I was slightly hungry so I went to Tim Horton's for brunch.  I haven't been there in a while so I thought I would go.  I ran into a nice couple that I have seen before.  It turns out that I went to high school with their daughter, Debbie.  She was so nice and she played the flute in marching band with me.  No wonder they always looked familiar to me.  They were very involved with band boosters like Mom was.  Then I saw a former student's Grandmother there.  I had a nice chat with her.  It was lots of fun.  From there I came home to teach Bob his lesson.  I had Katie, Isaac, and Laith's lessons after.  I have 2 new students with the online company this month.  One of them is a temp student until January.  She is in a show and needs to learn the music.  I will call the parents tomorrow.

I am tired as usual tonight.  I do hope to sleep better tonight.  I have to be up by 11:30 because Debbie is coming over to pick out 2 violins for a fundraiser she is heading up.  I also have to burn 2 CDs for Aaiyanna.  Her CDs are not working too well now.  She is only 7 and I don't think she takes super good care like an older child would.  Since it is a copied CD, I don't mind having to burn new CDs.  I expect them to need to be replaced every so often.

My tummy is a bit sore tonight.  I am not sure why but it is.  With me, who knows why anything happens.  Pain come and goes all the time.

I am watching House Hunters.  It is a rather amusing show to me.  This couple is looking for the first house and they are so picky but their budget is really small.  They want 3 bedrooms, large yard, large kitchen, and completely move in ready with a really small budget.  The wife wants perfect move in ready without having to do anything, no painting, and things like that.  The husband wants a good "value".  He is already looking to when they sell the house down the road.  Oh my!  It is making me giggle.  The word compromise is not really in their vocabulary.  The husband just now (after seeing over 30 homes) said maybe they would have to compromise.  Hm, even people who spend over a million dollars must compromise.  I think the new show tomorrow would be funny to watch but it is on at the same time as my NCIS so I won't be able to watch it unless they rerun it.  With HGTV they very well may.  It is called, My House, Your Money.  The parents are helping to buy the house with the kids so that will be funny.

I get to see my friend, Jennie Ross this week.  We are meeting on Wednesday for lunch.  Yes, I will have to get up early, but hey!  I get to see and hang out with Jennie so it is totally worth it to me.  To make the week even better?  I may get to see my friend, Wendy Davis on Friday for tea!  I mean add lessons in and that spells an awesome week.  I won't have any lessons on Sunday because Rick is gone for 2 months and my lovely Katie is getting her wisdom teeth out on Friday.  She is such a wonderful girl.  She really is.  I just simply adore her.  She has grown so much in the last 5 years.  Katie really has a good head on her shoulders.  She is very thoughtful and thinks about things before she does them.  I am so proud of her.  She is also seriously considering joining the church choir.  She attends the same church I do and I have told her all about the choir.  I do hope she is able to join but right now she is working on Sundays.

I do hope you are having a good day.

Time Change

Did I mention I had the time changing?  Hmm, I must not of, anyways, I hate the time changing.  It wrecks havoc all over my already bad sleep habits.  Last night I diligently set all the clocks back.  Only, I forgot to check the am and the pm on my alarm clock so it was set wrong and well, I missed church.  I don't have any lessons after all today because Rick cancelled and Katie is coming tomorrow instead of today, which works out just fine.  Whatever works for them, generally works for me.  I won't see Rick now until the 2nd Sunday in January.  He is heading to Hawaii for a month and then on to India for several weeks.  After that is the holidays (if he is even back at that time) and then, I will see him on the second Sunday in January.  It is really weird to think that January isn't that far ahead, even weirder is the holidays.  I mean, didn't we just end September?  It seems this way that is for sure.

I am super exhausted today for some unknown reason.  I got up rather late and then went to take about an hour nap.  I am still super tired.  I foresee going to bed rather early tonight.

It will be the usual busy type week with lessons and students getting ready for the Christmas concert (it is a month from today away!)  I will also get to see my friend, Jennie for lunch on Wednesday.  I am super excited about that.  I was supposed to see Wendy last Friday, but had to change at the last minute so I am hoping possibly this Friday if it works for her.  Nothing like hanging out with two friends in one week.  Tomorrow I need to copy some more music for Isaac for voice.  He is having his second lesson.  He is such a nice young man.  He plays piano too.  I will have 5 (2 for Isaac) lessons tomorrow.  Bob will have his usual lesson and Katie and Laith will have make up lessons.  This will be great.  I like being busy for lessons.  Rachel will have her lesson on Wednesday instead of Monday because Grandma is in California right now so Rachel's mom will need to bring the lovely young lady.  This will make 3 lessons on Wednesday instead of 2.  I like that.  Tuesday only has the regular 2 right now.  In a few weeks, I will have a new one on Wednesday.  That will be nice.  He is 5 and starting piano.  I did call his mom but I left a message.  I will have to try again tomorrow because maybe they are going this weekend.  Anyways, I will somehow get a hold of her.  I need to let her know about the books he needs.  I will pick them up but she will need to pay me back for them.  Only once this summer did I not get paid back for the books so I want to make sure she knows she needs to pay for the books too.  Usually, the parents don't have a problem with paying me back, but once in a while they don't and that is bad.

Not too much going on today.  I called Kathy and talked to her for a bit.  She didn't have a long time to talk because she needed to pick up Matthew from church.  He is being confirmed this year.  I vaguely remember being confirmed.  We were in 6th grade, although now they confirm children at our old church in 8th grade.  At Kathy's church it is the 8th grade too.  I vaguely remember we went on a few retreats for confirmation and we visited several other churches.  I remember we went to a Bar Mitzvah, a Catholic church, another non-Christian church but I can't remember which one.  I just remember we all took our shoes off inside of it.  It was also very pretty inside.  I have a picture on my computer of Mom, Andrew, Richard, and I at my confirmation.  Andrew was confirmed the year after me.  (Since he is a year younger than me, this makes perfect sense).  I think he liked it too.  We had the coolest associate pastor at that time.  His name now escapes me.  He came back a couple of years ago to be the senior pastor at our church but he has since moved on.  I don't really know who is the ministers at my old church these days.  Back then, Andrew and I rarely missed church.  We had the coolest Sunday school teacher, Mr. Weaver.  We really liked him.  I was in the youth group for about one year.  The second year it was more of a bible study and I wasn't too interested in that so I didn't go very often plus I was rather busy.  It was hard to fit it in.

I have to go and pay a few bills now.  It is that time of the month!  Bills like to be paid, that is for sure!

I hope you are having a good day and are staying nice and toasty warm!

Brrr, it is getting chilly outside 11-5

I can't believe how chilly I am right now.  The thermostat says 72.5 degrees yet I am freezing.  I also have on a sweatshirt and knit pants so I shouldn't be so cold, but I am.  It is strange, I know, but I suppose since it is November I should be expecting a bit colder weather.  I have a lovely, light blue, really warm winter jacket so I am pleased about that.  I got it for Christmas last year and it was definitely Heaven sent!  I love this jacket a lot.  I am as ready as I can be for winter.  I have my little heater ready to run when needed.  I have all my blankets on my bed ready to help me have a nice, warm night.  I have my 2 main blankets with several fleece blankets at the foot of my bed for when I get cold.  I also have nice warm flannel pajamas.  I do want another pair, Christmas ones!  the ones I have now are winter ones with penguins and polar bears on the bottoms, but I want a Christmas pair.  I think I am finally getting a bit warmer.  I have the little heater on because I have been so cold this evening.  I just turned it off since I am now warm again.  Finally!  It isn't super cold out yet!  I am not ready for winter yet, but I will be soon.

It has been a rather quiet day.  I had Sandra's and Camille's lessons.  Both are doing very well with their Christmas Concert songs.  I am quite pleased with their progress.  Camille's little sister wants to sing.  She is a doll let me tell you.  Camille and her 2 sisters are such cute and sweet girls.  Both younger sisters came to the lesson today and they brought coloring books and crayons to keep them busy today.  They both color very well and made lots of pretty pictures.

I have to remember to put my clocks back an hour tonight.  Yeah!  I get an extra hour of sleep before I drag my sorry butt out of bed for church.  I have the songs we are singing with the congregation so I will bring those with me.  I love singing with the choir.  Before, when I sang in the choir, the rehearsals seemed to last forever, this time, they go super fast.  It is very strange about that.  I don't know really what the difference is, but there is one.  It is also nice to not be the strongest and one of the best singers in the choir.  In this choir, I am one of several strong singers and I am not the best, I am good, but it is nice to not be the top for a change.  It really lets me enjoy the choir and not have to lead a section, we all work together.  I am really enjoying singing with this choir despite the super duper early hour I have to get up to attend.

I don't have any plans for the evening.  I may watch a movie since I picked up some this week: the new Pirates movie, the new Winnie the Pooh movie, and Monte Carlo.  I am anxious to watch them all.  I am watching the news right now so I know what the weather will be for the week.  I like to plan ahead with the wardrobe.  Tomorrow I will wear my pretty sweater for church and my nice dress pants with it.  i love the dress pants (I have 2 pairs exactly the same) even though they are really more fall/spring weather type.  I wear them year round because they fit beautifully and I love them so much.

My student, Sandra said she would help put away music after the Christmas Concert.  Wow, that will be so helpful.  I can take care of the CDs while she takes care of the sheet music/books.  I have so many that need to be put away.  I sure miss my assistant (Mom) for jobs like this.  I was so spoiled because she was so helpful.  Believe me, I appreciated that she helped me stay organized.  I really did.  I didn't take for granted her help.  I have had some help with Katie since Mom passed away too.  I just really appreciate my students helping me.  I have such a hard time standing there to put the stuff away.  If it was a small pile of music, it would be different, but it isn't, it is several piles of music.  2 on the pianos, 2 on the other piano bench, 2 on the dinning room table and 2 boxes in the office with a small pile on top of the file cabinets.  That is a lot of music that needs to be put away!  I can help by gathering it and putting it in order.  I will work on that between now and after the Christmas Concert.

I am going to clear off the dining room table this weekend so I can change tablecloths.  I have a really pretty one that is for fall and Thanksgiving.  I need a new one for Christmas but I will get that when they come out.  Right now, they only have the Thanksgiving ones out at the store.  I am not sure when I will decorate for Christmas outside of doing it after Thanksgiving.  I am going to ask if Lily would like to come and help.  She is a very creative young lady.  She had surgery about a week ago on her ankle.  She will have the other ankle taken care of during her Christmas vacation.  Lily is such a strong girl that I imagine she will bounce back quickly.  I simply adore that young lady as well as her sisters.  They are all such neat women.  Elyse is married (when did she get that old???).  Her wedding was the last big event Momma attended.  She had a good time while we were there.  Emily just graduated from high school.  I still have her Graduation present to give her.  I hope to catch up with her sometime.  Last, but certainly not least, is Lily.   Lily is in middle school and seems to be doing very well.  She is smart girl, extremely bright.  I expect that by the time she is a junior in high school that she will most likely be taking a few college courses for things like science and math.  So anyway, I hope to see Lily before her surgery to hang out for a while.

I am going to work on the subdivision newsletter now.  I am in charge of the newsletter.  For a change, we actually have lots of things to let the subdivision know about.  This is unusual because quite often there just isn't too much going one but with the holidays coming up, we have much to write about.

I do hope you have a great day too!