A better Wednesday this week than last! 9-26

This Wednesday was definitely better than last week when I was rather ill.  Thank goodness I feel almost back to my normal.  My nose is doing better and the chapping is getting healed so I don't look so scary or at least I think I don't look so scary to me.

I had a few lessons this evening.  I also met my new student, Sarah (age 9).  She is a very sweet young lady that I really like.  She seems very sweet.  Sarah hasn't had a lesson for about a year so we will need to review a few things for her.  I think we can work well together.  Oh, and like me, she loves Christmas music!  I am very excited about that since it is almost time to start working on the music for the concert.

Rahul and Sammy had their lessons.  Rahul is a bundle of extreme energy.  Trying to get him to focus on his music instead of what is on the other piano is very difficult at times.  Sam is starting to remember his notes better.  It is hard with the two boys because they don't practice at all so we do review notes and things a lot.  They are so cute though.

I called my neurologist's office yesterday, I think and they called me back today.  I was expecting it tomorrow, but it came today.  I am to double the amount of the nighttime medicine starting tonight.  I am really hoping this works because I am tired of bad headaches and everyday headaches.  The everyday ones aren't as bad as the others because I am used to the everyday headaches.

I am a bit more tired tonight than usual.  I think it is because I am just getting over a cold.  I am so glad that is almost gone.  I think by the weekend, I will be just fine.

First Week of Fall 9-24

It is definitely fall around here.  The leaves are starting to change colors and fall off the trees to sleep through winter.  It is a beautiful blue sky with puffy white clouds today.  It was a bit chilly last night.  I even had to use 2 blankets and the extra blankets on my feet since they freeze so easily (and I wear socks to bed too).  I have turned on the heat because I don't like to freeze.  I am happy to  be wearing my lovely Tinkerbell hoodie again.  I love this hoodie a lot.  It is white and has a nice picture of Tinkerbell and the word Flirty on it.  So very typical me since I love Tinkerbell a lot.  I am still looking for a beautiful pink hoodie for me, but I haven't seen one yet.  I am hopeful, but we shall see if I see it.

Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner is now also a 50th birthday party with a Halloween theme.  Maia is going to be turning 50 at the end of the month, but her daughter won't be able to be here so we are celebrating a bit early.  I saw a really cute night shirt with a pumpkin on it.  Apparently, I am supposed to wear a costume, yeah, I will go with a Halloween themed sweatshirt or t-shirt not a costume.  I am just not a costume type girl anymore.  My brother, Andrew will be at the dinner to so that will be fun plus I have some paperwork he needs to sign and take care of.  I will bring it to him that day and then mail it for him.  Silly little brothers, they just don't always remember to take care of these type papers.  That must be what older sisters are for, I guess.

My little Rachel had her lesson today.  She is such a beauty.  I simply adore her.  She is in level D now and is doing very well.  She is learning her new notes pretty well and plays her assignments nicely.  I so happy with her progress.

I had to go to the music store today.  Wow, another level of books for my Aubrey.  Aubrey is doing fantastic and has finished 3 books since she began the week between Christmas and New Years 2011.  To be in level 3 at this point in time is rather amazing.  Boy, can I tell how much she loves to play.  I picked up her 3 books this afternoon and then I went to Chipotle for lunch.  I love that place a lot.  I am going to get some brown rice and learn how they make it so I can have some here at home instead of always going there for it.  I have picked up some cooked grilled chicken to add to my salads when I make them here at home.  I have some really nice rolls too for dinner now.  I like putting peanut butter on them.  I love peanut butter.  I don't particularly  like peanuts but I do like peanut butter.  Strange, I know, but that is just me, strange.

I almost have a full schedule (full for me anyways) of teaching.  Since I am unable to work full time, I have to be very careful of how many lessons I can teach a day.  I get tired so easy and then I feel more pain when that happens so I am careful how much I teach in a day.  Some days I teach a bit more than others, but it works out to about 13 hours or so a week.  That is really all I can do.  I just can't do anymore.  The last time I worked full time (2008), I ended up in the hospital 15 times so I really don't want to repeat that ever again.  I like not being in the hospital.  I really do.  It is a good thing.

Tomorrow, I have to call the neurologist and let her know that the new medicine isn't working.  She upped the dosage and it is still not working.  I am a bit disappointed but not too much because I figured it would take some time to actually get a dosage that will break the headache I have had since March of 2003.  I can no longer remember what it is like not to have a headache.  I just don't.  It has been too long since that has happened.

Well, I hope that my next student shows and is happy with what we started with last week.  He wants to learn to sing properly so to me that means classical music.  I am not sure what he thinks about that, but I will find out.  It does say on my profile with the online company that I teach classical and Broadway singing so we shall see if he is happy with the path I am planning to take him on.  Isaac is having his lesson a bit later tonight because his Mom got out of work late.  It wasn't a problem to switch, not one bit.  I would rather do that then have him miss a week when I have the availability to reschedule.

On to checking what music I need for tomorrow's lessons while I wait for the next one.

birthday party day 9-22

I went to Elizabeth's 4th birthday party.  It was just a family party, not a big one.  We had dinner and cake.  It was nice and calm.  I was rather tired today so I am glad it was a calm party.  I think I overdid it yesterday shopping at Walmart.  Since they didn't have any scooter carts I used Maia's walker.  It has a seat so I could sit and rest but even with that, I was so tired when we were done.  Next time, I will have to pass on the shopping if there isn't a scooter cart available.  I got Elizabeth a Tiana costume dress.  She looked really cute in it.

I had 3 lessons today before the party.  Faith had her lesson first.  She was supposed to have a make up lesson yesterday but with the homecoming parade, there was no way to get to our street.  Nina had her 2nd lesson.  She is doing very well with her lessons.  In the next few weeks she will be starting to read music.  Nina is a very nice little girl.  I think she will fit right in with all the students just fine.  Camille had her last lesson for a while.  I will miss that young lady so much.  Camille is a really good piano player.  I do hope she comes back.  Camille is hoping to come back too.

I have 2 lessons tomorrow.  I also am planning to sleep in because I am exhausted tonight.  I am going to read for a bit.  Tomorrow I will be watching a new movie that I just got.  It is the latest one on DVD that one of my favorite actors is in.  I am looking forward to watching it.

Thursday 9-20

Wow, what a difference a day can make.  I am definitely feeling better today after totally sleeping most of the day away yesterday.  I think I slept a total of about 20 hours between getting up at 2:30 yesterday and getting up today.  I just couldn't stay awake.  I am much better now, thankfully.

Maia and Tillie are coming over tomorrow.  Elizabeth's birthday present is in.  I will be picking up her present tomorrow.  I think I know exactly what I am going to get her.  It is hard to believe that that adorable girl is 4 today.  She started junior kindergarten last week.  I saw a picture of her on the first day of school and boy was it super cute one.

Breanna had her lesson earlier this afternoon.  She is currently an every other week student so it has been 2 weeks since her last lesson.  Breanna also plays guitar and for the Christmas Concert I want her to pick a song that she will have to play the guitar and sing to.  I really like it when she does this and so does everyone else.  I will not make the same mistake I did last year, each student can only do one solo.  Last year, I didn't realize how many new students I had and so I had each of them doing two songs each.  Well, that was a rather long concert.  I did have an intermission, but it was still way too long so we are back to only 1 solo per student.

I had a lovely Fibro Fog moment this week.  It is actually kind of funny.  On Sunday, I looked up one song in my music catalogue because I wanted Becca to sing it.  I found the book number and went to the filing cabinet to find it.  Somehow, it is missing and I can't remember the last time I actually used this book.  I was upset to find that this really cool book is missing so on Monday I call Pepper Music, which is where I get a lot of my music from.  I am on the phone asking the representative to find the book in which this song "Love Will Find Out the Way" is in.  At this point I don't even think I have the title of the book.  He can't find the song except in Broadway Books which it is not because it is a very old English Piece.  I was not a happy camper because the book has disappeared.  My little Rachel then arrives and I have to get off the phone.  The next day I sit down to call them again when it hits me, I have the name of the book!  Every song in each book is catalogued.  Well, I had to look up the name to find the number of the book.  All I had to do was put the book number in find and the name of the book pops up!!!!!  Talk about fog!!!!  I had the name of the book the whole time I was talking to the man from Pepper Music.  Can you imagine?  All I had to do was look up the song for the book number and then place the book number in the find and it would have popped out!  Well, what can I say?  Fibro Fog is such a beautiful thing and well, it gave me a good giggle when I realized what I had done.  Silly me!!!!

We celebrated little Lulu's 5th birthday today.  Her mom brought cake so we all had some.  It was a very good cake.  Lulu is in kindergarten right now and is very excited about it.  Her older sisters, Koki and Dede had their lessons tonight.  Both girls are doing very well.  They are really sweet too.  I really like them and their mom and aunt too.  Their aunt is visiting them and the girls seem to be enjoying themselves with her.

I have been on a reading frenzy with the Danielle Steel's books.  The one I just finished was an okay book.  It was called "Big Girl" and you can tell it was written by a skinny woman because not every overweight person does what the main character does with her weight.  Most of her books are really good but there are a few that are just okay.  There is only 1 that I didn't like at all but I can't remember the name of the book.  Well, time to read for a bit.

Midweek 9-19

I ended up canceling lessons today because I just don't feel so well.  I think I will be okay by tomorrow because I really love teaching and I don't like it when I need to cancel lessons due to illness.  I am not liking this cold at all.  It should be almost over.  I think by the end of the week I should be healthy again (well, as healthy as I get).  I pretty much slept the entire day away.  I am so tired from this cold.  I do hope that I will feel better tomorrow.  I think I will.  Usually, after sleeping a day away with a cold, the next day is better.

I am thankful that it is the fall season.  The weather is a bit cooler than it is in the summer.  It is hoodie and light jacket weather.  Saturday is the first day of fall already.  I am planning to go see "finding nemo" with the students and their families, but I am not sure who will be able to go with me.  I will find out next week when I send the flyer around.

I am working on getting out the Christmas Music so it is ready for when we start working on this music.  I also am working on Competition music for those who want to go to competition in March.  I am rather glad that it is in this area this year.  I think more students will be able to go because it is so nearby.  So far, Becca and Natalie are the only ones who are going for sure.  I am not sure who else yet.  I will start asking about November as this is when we start working on the music.  A few of the piano students will be starting Christmas Music in the beginning of October because their music is much more difficult and takes longer to work on.  I have their books already out and ready to go to their October lesson.

I think I am going to read for a bit more and then go back to bed for the 3rd time today.  Good thing I like naps.

Tuesday 9-18

I still have the cold.  It hasn't gone away yet.  I am hoping that by the end of this week, I will be cold-free again.  I sure hope so anyways.

Next week is the season premieres of NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles.  I can't wait to see them!  I love those shows so much.  I am glad that Dance Moms is over because I like that show too, despite its craziness or maybe because of its craziness and they are all on the same day and the same time.  I mean, seriously?????  At least the new season starts next week.  I can't wait and neither can my student, Samantha.  She and I are both NCIS and NCIS Los Angeles fans.  They are interesting shows even though at first I thought I wouldn't like them.  My brother is the one who got me into liking the show.

I haven't had too many bad headaches so far this week.  I am not sure if it because of the medicine I am taking because of the cold or what, but it hasn't been too bad so far.  I have the regular everyday headache, but I can function mostly with that one.  I hope it stays away or at least until this cold is over.

I had a few lessons today.  My Sammy was absent as she has the flu.  I sure hope she feels better soon because having the flu is not fun.  It is so much worse than a cold.  Amy, one of the new adults, is doing very well.  She started reading music today.  I think she is doing really well.  Dan, my other new young man, is also doing pretty well.  He had lessons before but he had to quit.  He is slowly remembering his note names and finding his hand positions.  I think in a few more weeks, he will be more comfortable with his music.  He is also one of my shy boys.  Dan is not sure he wants to be in the Christmas Concert, which I told him was perfectly fine.  If he wants to be in it, fine, if not, that is okay too.  For me, the concerts and competitions are not required, they are extras if they want to be in them or not.  Aubrey is ready for her next level book.  It is amazing.  She is heading for level 3 and she only started last December of 2011.  I am very happy with her progress.  Aubrey is an amazing pianist.  She really is.  Tomorrow, I have a few lessons so it will be a good day.  I am rather tired tonight so i am hoping for a good nights (or at least as good as I get) sleep.  I did make a mistake of taking the nighttime headache medicine, Advil PM, and the nighttime cold medicine on Saturday night.  I went to bed about midnight and woke up at about 3 in the afternoon.  It was 2:50 pm as a matter of fact.  Yes, 10 minutes before Becca's lesson.  wow, I haven't made the mistake again nor will I.

I have several new to me books from the used bookstore.  I bought them a few weeks ago.  I am currently reading Danielle Steel.  I do like most of her books.  There is only the odd one that I don't care for.  I just finished the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson.  I simply love those books.  They are filled with action but also with wonderful relationships between the characters.  The main characters are orphans who met at a group home and became a family of their own.  They picked a new last name for them all and as each of them turned 18, they legally changed their name to O'Malley.  I love the books too.  I am missing one book, so I will get it hopefully soon.  I have 6 of the 7 books.  I need the 4th book.

changes 9-14

My life since October 9, 2010 has changed so much.  October 9th is the day everything I knew changed.  That was the day the hospice nurse and I had to take Momma into the hospital because she sounded like she was underwater and couldn't swallow.  I had anticipated that she would be in the hospital for a few days and then home as usual, like every other hospital visit since that previous May.  I was wrong.  That was the last time Momma would be in the hospital.  She was never coming home again.  On the 10th, I received the phone calls from the speech therapist and the doctor that told me she failed all the swallowing tests, her food was going into her lungs, and that her swallowing muscles had stopped working.  Essentially, she could no longer eat or drink anything as everything that went down her throat would head directly into her lungs and would cause her to have a very painful pneumonia.  There is NOTHING that the doctors can do about this.  I think I mostly died myself that day.  Yes, I am aware that I didn't physically die, but I so wanted to.  I didn't want to go where Momma wasn't going.  She was heading to a place without me.  So many thoughts would go through my mind.  Not only about the pain she was in, when she was in pain, but how would I do anything without my mother?  I had never lived on my own before.  I was ill, how would I survive.  The realities of my own illnesses were crossing my mind too but mostly I just wanted to be with her.  I couldn't even conceive of a life without my mother.  We were best friends as well as mother and daughter.  I don't think we could have been any closer and I don't just mean when I had to take care of her with the Alzheimer's, I mean before hand too, before she got Alzheimer's.  I went on vacations with her, I hung out with her, we went to movies and activities together.  The scariest part for me was, how would I take care of myself without her.  I didn't really realize I already was because the last six months of Momma's life, I did everything for her so I had to do everything for me by myself.  I was so scared and I felt so alone without her and she hadn't even died yet.  I had never felt so far away from everyone in my whole life.  It was like I was standing on an island and everyone else was in the ocean.  For 8 days I sat with mom and read to her, I sang to her.  She loved hearing me sing.  When I was younger (about 20ish) I commented to her that she didn't even like the way I sang.  I was commenting that she didn't like so much of the stuff I did.  Well, I was wrong.  It is true that she didn't like that I only wore black, but she loved my dancing at that point and she said I had a beautiful voice that was why she often would turn on the intercom in our house when I was practicing.  It was so she could hear it.  I sang her favorite songs to her.  They ones she taught me as a child.  I read her parts of her favorite books.  I sat alone most of the time.  The first day, she was in the hospice unit, we had a lot of company, which I was very thankful for.  My Muglia girls came to see her, Julie and her girls came to see her, and my uncle Ken along with 2 cousins came to see her.  After that day, I was mostly alone.  I wanted my older brother, Richard to be there so bad but I didn't have the courage to ask him to come.  I was afraid he would say no.  I don't know what he would have done since I never asked.  I wasn't by myself most nights.  Tillie and Maia were spending the nights at my house, which I appreciated but I still felt miles away from everyone.  For 8 days I watched her pass slowly away from me.  It was hard also because only the first day she could speak.  I am very grateful for that day though because the one thing I really wanted was to have the last words said to her from me be "I love you, Momma" and they were.  I didn't want to have regrets like so many who don't get the opportunity to say goodbye and I love you.  I did.  It didn't make the heartache go away or be any better, it was just a bit more peaceful.  I also am very glad her last words to me were "I love you".  I knew she loved me.  I just needed to hear it said again.  I still need to hear but I have to listen with my heart because I can only hear her voice in my head.

Anyways, after Momma passed away, I wanted to be with her.  I would pray every night that I would wake up in Heaven with Mom.  So much has changed since that fateful day.  I did ask my older brother, Richard if I could live with him since that is pretty much what mom and I talked about but he said no.  I was too sick and slept too much so I couldn't live with him.  I was devastated at that time, not only because I had just lost my mother but because my brother didn't want me living with him.  Some how I trudge through those first days.  I can't remember anything about them except I cried and cried and cried so much.  Now with the two year anniversary coming up next month, I can honestly say that I can live on my own.  I have been for almost 2 years.  I am glad, now, that Richard did say no because I think I would have never learned to stand on my own two feet.  Friends of mine have said that they knew I could do this because I had been taking care of Mom for so long.  But before momma needed 24/7 help, she helped me with a lot of things.  Simple things like washing my hair, helping me get dressed.  I couldn't do them because of my shoulder being frozen.  I have learned how to do these things by myself.  I didn't realize how dependent upon Mom I was until I had to do these things by myself.  I can do them (including the hair at this point - which was a wonderful relief).  I don't have to go to a hair salon to get my hair washed like I used to.  Most of my family didn't know how much I grieved for Momma.  They would say things like I should be over this now.  That would make me feel even worse because I wasn't over it.  I honestly don't think I ever will be.  Many friends who are in "the club" of people who have lost their mothers say that you don't get over it, it just becomes a bit easier to live with.  I think I have finally accepted that God is not going to let me die and be with mom right now.  The deep despair that I want to die is slowing going away and I am trying to figure what I want to do with my life within the limits of my illness.  I no longer pray to die every night.  My heart still aches horribly, but I know that will always ache for her until we are reunited in Heaven together.  I am impatient for that day, but I don't know when that day will be.  So now I am left with, how do I want to want to live?  I want to keep teaching.  I like teaching a lot.  I want to continue to be in the church choir and sing on Sundays so I am going to do that.  I want to learn on to hand quilt so I can make some presents for people.  I saw my friend, Robin, Wednesday for lunch.  She was one of the few who did know how badly I wanted to die.  She and Kathy were about the only two who knew.  Everyone else didn't really know how much I wanted to die.  No, I did not try to kill myself, nor would I have.  Although in reality, I really lost 2 people at that time, both my mother and my older brother as he is no longer speaking to me.  I don't think he will ever speak to me again.  I know why he is mad and I know how long he can hold grudges.  I was hysterically upset the day he told me not to ever call him again.  I am much calmer about that now.

I am trying to go on with living.  I have decided that enough was enough about my weight so I am working hard at losing weight.  I have lost a bit, but certainly not the amount I wanted to have gone at this point.  I can only work harder at it.  I am seeing friends and going to different activities (movies, ice cream with the girls) and sewing.  Everyday, the feeling of despair are slowly fading and maybe someday it won't be like that but for now it is a baby step and something that I can do.

I think I have found the want to want to go on living again.

Laugh of the day 9-13

I edited this from the original entry that I posted.  I did not mean to, but I didn't realize that I couldn't post the whole story because of who owns it.  I sincerely apologize for that.  I will leave the first 2 paragraphs and then I will add the link so that you may read the entire story.  I suggest you do because this is really funny and laughter is the best medicine.  I do thank the people who own this for letting me know.  It was not my intend to infringe upon their story.

Oh my, I just read the funniest post ever from my friend, Ann Marie.  It was hysterical.  Anyways, I didn't realize how much I needed a good laugh until I read that.  I am still chuckling about it.  I will try to repost the story here for you.

Here it is:

A story of unknown origin, but I am sure we all can relate to the experience some may have actually been there. I laughed so hard I cried when I read it... then I HAD to share it with you!

Like everything in life, farts have a time and place. However, I never realized that in the wrong time and place, flatulence had enough power to alter my course in history. Well, it can if it’s the third date with the man of your dreams. And, if it makes his eyes burn. If God destined us to be together, I was one SBD away from foiling His plans (that’s “Silent But Deadly” for you prudes).

here is the link to the rest of the story:

http://hahasforhodras.com/the-fart-that-almost-altered-my-destiny/

Anyways, I thought this was just very funny and I thank Ann Marie for sharing it.  Talk about embarrassing!!!  I would have been mortified if this had happened to me!

It is a lovely day outside today.  I am sitting in the dining room and the sun is shining with white puffy clouds.  Tonight is choir practice, which I hope to make as I haven't been there in a few weeks due to the lovely headaches I have been having.  I haven't even made it to church for a good 5 weeks.  Yes, that long.  Carolyn won't be at practice tonight as she has volleyball at that time.  I think she said she has games for the next 3 Thursdays.  She is such a nice girl too.  Her sister, Melissa is coming home this weekend from college.  There is an event at our church to raise money for Promise Village which is a place where severely abused children are helped and treated.  They have these "comedy for a cause" events every few months at our church.  I can't go because I teach tomorrow night until about 8:15 or so.  Maybe next time.

I am going to be meeting up with my friend, Star tomorrow afternoon.  I am not sure if we are going to Barnes and Nobles or Starbucks.  It is hard to say.  I wonder if Veronica or Chelaine will be there too.  i haven't seen them in forever it seems.  I was supposed to see them but then my uncle and aunt came so I cancelled.  I had a nice visit with my aunt and uncle along with my small cousin, Jayson although at times he is just so high energy that I get exhausted just by watching him.  Speaking of exhaustion.  Yesterday, I had 2 of my little ones for their lessons, Rahul (age 5) and Sammy (age 6).  wow, when we were done, I was simply so tired i think I could have fallen asleep right then and there. During Rahul's lesson, Rahul wanted to know what so much stuff was that I think I need to empty the tops of the pianos before he arrives.  He did finally play some and he did do his work book rather nicely, it is just the young man never stops going.  Then it was Sammy's turn.  In the middle of that young man's lesson both boys needed to use the bathroom, which is normally not a problem.  Their mom would take them and that would be that.  Well, their mom was still at work so their dad had to bring them so I took Sam and then a few minutes after Sammy was playing the piano, Rahul had to go.  Now when Sammy said he had to go, I asked Rahul if he did too.  Rahul said no.  So I left Sammy at the piano and took Rahul.  I was so tired from the ups and downs that I could have taken a nap.  I have learned that when the first boy is finished with his lesson, take both boys and have them go then proceed with the next lesson otherwise, oh my.  Both boys are simply adorable and cute that you just have to like them, and I really do.  Rahul is a very independent young man that likes to do his workbook smashed to my side and I mean right next to me.  He has been know to move my arm so he can snuggle closer.  How on earth can anyone resist that?  I have no idea.  Anyways, Sammy is very cute too.  They are such sweet boys with so much energy it is fun to watch most of the time.  Yesterday was just a bit tiring for me but I hope next week will be fine.  Antoinette had her lesson after the boys and she arrived early.  She was exhausted just by watching Rahul play with the cars I have for boys to play with and she only saw them for about 10 or so minutes.  

another tuesday

It has been a quiet day.  I had a few lessons and I had a bad headache this morning.  I woke up at about 6 and went to take some medicine for it.  I still had it when I woke up later that morning.  I had to take medicine again.  Finally, by the time I had to teach, it was back to the normal everyday headache.  I had a new student for piano this afternoon.  She did very well for the first lesson.  Dan was excited to get the CD for the music computer game.  He is borrowing it this week so he can play it this week.  I think he will like it a lot or least it seemed that way this afternoon when I showed him which games I wanted him to play.

I saw the trailer for the Les Miserables movie.  Oh my, I cannot wait to see this movie.  I really can't.  I have seen the musical on stage 5 times.  The last time I saw it we had 5 row center seats.  Oh my, it was so amazingly beautiful.  I had gotten group tickets for my students and their families to go.  It has been several years since I have seen it.  I think it is my absolute favorite musical ever.  My favorite movie is Beauty and the Beast but this is my favorite live musical so I am so excited about the movie.  Not to mention, one of my favorite actresses is in it, Anne Hathaway.  I have seen several movies with her in it and I have liked them all.  She is so good.  I also have heard her sing in another movie and she sings beautifully.  She is also an awesome dancer too.  I am glad that the movie people pick actors that actually can sing instead of just for acting as the entire play is sung, not one spoken word unlike Phantom that has both singing and spoken parts.  Allison loves this musical too.  I loaned her the 25th anniversary DVD and she loved.  She is also working on "On My Own" from the play.  She is doing well with it and I can tell she really loves the song.

Tomorrow, my friend, Julie will be here to help me figure out my budget.  I am so lost with it right now.  I know that I am missing bills that need to be added.  She is very good with numbers, so I know she will be a big help.  I am anxious about this though.  I just don't know why either.  I had a rough summer money wise so that must be why I am so anxious.  Julie will help though.  She is very good at this so I am looking forward to having a strong plan.

I am getting tired now so it is time for bed.  No reading tonight for me unless I wake up super early (like it often happens) and then go back to bed.

the start of a musical week! 9-10

I love the fall.  It is so beautiful and of course, it means the start of school.  The reason I like that is that students are back into a routine for lessons and practicing.  It is the start of my busy season for lessons.  In October/November not only do we start Christmas Music but we also start working on competition music.  I am not sure who is planning to go but I will be finding out shortly.  One of my students who goes to competition is starting lessons again.  I am not sure if the two who quit for the summer are coming back.  I sure hope so.  I really like both girls and they were very good students.

I woke up this morning with a bad headache.  I came down and took some medicine then I went back to bed.  When I woke up again, it was back to the normal headache.  It is cooler today than it has been and I like that because I tend to ache less when the weather is like it is today rather than hot or too cold weather.

I spoke to my friend, Julie for about an hour today.  She is coming over on Wednesday to help me figure out my budget and what problems I am having with it.  I just think having another person going over my budget and projected income will help me stay in control of the finances.  It has been a bit of a rough summer financially speaking.  I had a lot more absences than I had expected, but now it is fall and I will be back on schedule, I hope anyways.  Julie's daughter, Lily is very busy this fall.  Lily is very involved in band at her school.  It is hard to believe that she is in high school already.  Boy, does time fly!  Wasn't Lily just in early elementary school yesterday?  It certainly seems that way.  I am enjoying watching her grow up.  She is such a beautiful girl.  Lily is very strong and very confident.  Not conceited or anything like that, just confident in herself.  It is wonderful to see because so many teens are not confident at all and look to their peers for the confidence.

I will see my girls again soon.  I am hoping perhaps this week.  I thought maybe we could watch a movie at their house or here.  I can't take them to the movie right now, but in the future we will be going to see "Finding Nemo 3D".  I will be inviting all students and their family to go with me as soon as I know when I can go and see it.  I haven't seen them in a couple of weeks so it is time to see them again.

I am doing pretty well with the eating healthy.  I haven't lost as much weight as I wanted to at this time, but I am working on it pretty hard.  I am very picky about what I eat.  I have lots of veggies during my meals.  I try to eat a salad for dinner every day.  I am working on cutting out pop and white flour products.  I am giving myself to the end of September to quit drinking pop.  I am working on eating healthier grains instead of white flour products.  I am working towards being 1/2 my size by next summer.  I know that I can do this.  I am sure of it.  I no longer care how I got this way, I did.  Some of it is my fault for not eating healthy for the last 20 years and yes, 1/2 of the weight I have gained is from Lyrica.  However I got the weight put on doesn't seem to matter anymore.  I just need to lose it!  That is what I am working for now.

I am going to read for a bit before heading to bed.  I have a bit of a bad headache now, but it isn't too bad, just a little bit more than usual.

Sunday 9-9

I went to Windsor today for Tillie's birthday BBQ.  Kayla and family, Danielle and family, Maia, Luana, Zachary, and Chris were there too.  I finally got to see Phoenix (1 year old) for the first time.  Yes, I know, I should have seen the little one long before she was one.  Miles was so cute, as usual.  The surprise of the day was Elizabeth (almost 4 years old) wanted me to play with her.  She hung out with me a lot today.  I am very happy that I got to spend the afternoon with her.  Elizabeth is starting school tomorrow.  She is a junior kindergartner.  She seems really excited to start school.  She knows who her teacher is and everything.  I can't wait to see the pictures of her before school tomorrow.  Warren (age 5) is starting senior kindergarten tomorrow.  I can't believe how the two of them have grown and naturally, I forgot my camera so no pictures from me on face book.  Maia was doing pretty well today.  She has an aggressive form of Breast Cancer.  Right now she is in Chemo and then she will have her surgery followed by Radiation.  She is the second person I know who has Breast Cancer. My student, Laith's mom has it to.  Laith's mom is a OB/GYN doctor.  She is the one who gave me the name of the neurologist that I now see.  I really like her a lot.  I am hopeful that she will be able to get rid of the headaches including the everyday headache.  That would be so beautiful for me.  I can't remember what it feels like not to have a headache.  I have head the headache since March of 2003.  That is way to long to have a headache.

Tomorrow will be a quiet type day as I only have 2 lessons.  My Rachel is absent this week but she comes back next week.  She is 6 and in 1st grade.  Rachel is moving up to the level D books that I will pick up next week.

I am getting really tired now so I am going to read for a bit and then head for bed!