back from competition

I have been gone since Friday afternoon.  It is now Sunday.  It was a semi fun weekend.  Only semi fun because it was the first one I was at without Momma.  She always came with me.  She loved going to competition with me and listening to the students.  They didn't even have to be mine, she listened to them all.  I was rather glad about that.  It gave us more to bond over.  We were a team.  She collected music afterward and then when we got home she would mark them returned in the library page on the computer and refile them.  It was nice.  I always had my music up to date.  I now longer really hand out too much original music, despite the library system I have, much music is missing and I don't have the money to rebuy most of it.  I just collected a bunch of music from Rachel and Rebecca.  I will get Katie's back next week during her lesson.  Because Rachel and Rebecca no longer have regular lessons, I needed the music right away because last year they didn't have lessons from after competition to Sept for Rachel and to November for Rebecca.  They did pretty well considering the few lessons they had.  However, I do feel Rachel would have won more 1st places had she had more lessons and we could have really polished it.  the judges really nailed her on placement of her voice at times (as they should since this is one of her problems).  I feel I would have really had her ready and have had her placement much better if I had seen her more than 3 times since fall.  I also will not do this again.  Either you have regular lessons or no competition.  It is too frustrating to me and it is unfair not only to me but to the student.  yes, practicing is important, but practicing correctly is more important which is why Rachel didn't do as well as she could have for her last year.  But, with all things considering, she did all right.

Mom's room is almost cleaned.  I caved and agreed to have things sorted.  Things were donated not just sorted.  I walked into her room and the hole just got bigger.  this was why I didn't want her room touched.  I feel like I gave my mom away and tossed her out with her stuff.  I do have the disney stuff and the hoodies left but that is about it.  I am hoping the stuff that was on her dresser is in the drawers like promised but I can't look at them right now.  I knew I wasn't ready but they don't listen to me.  Well, NEVER again.  When I say I am not ready, I mean I am not ready and anyone who doesn't understand, that is too bad.  This has been a very painful lesson to me.  I threw mom's stuff out.  I invaded her privacy and got rid of her stuff.  It is like she never lived in that room.  I feel like I lost her all over again. I know this isn't necessarily rational or even make any sense, but it is how I FEEL.  Letting go of Mom's things is very hard to do.  These are all I have left physically of her.  She touched these things and loved them.  She picked them or was given them as gifts.  Now they are gone like she is.  I have to have something left of my mom's.  I just do.  It means she was really here and not a dream.  It gives me strength to have some of her stuff.  I don't feel as lost.  Now I feel very lost again.  I won't do this with the rest of the house.  I just won't.  I can't take it.  I have to know what everything is and what is happening to it.  It didn't help me at all this.  They thought it would.  I wasn't sure, but I caved because "she is gone and not coming back" was what I was told.  Like I don't know she is gone?  I feel it everyday all day long.  I felt it this whole weekend everywhere I turned.  I had to eat by myself, drive by myself, and do everything by myself.  I know she isn't coming back but that doesn't mean we have to toss her out with her things.  I want part of her with me and her things are a part of her.

I will be seeing the doctor this week about the new pain medicine.  It isn't helping at all and I am having even more trouble sleeping because of the leg pain.  It is mostly the right leg and knee right now.  I have the bankruptcy hearing on Wednesday.  I am driving downtown on Tuesday to check where it is at because I have never been there and I don't know where parking will be or anything.  I don't want to be late on Wednesday.  I am very nervous about this.  I really am.  I do hope everything goes well.

what on earth did I do?

I was sitting on the usual chair during Bob's lesson and when I got up my back was killing me.  I can't stand up straight and I can barely walk.  I don't know what happened.  I didn't move a weird way or anything, I didn't lift anything strange or too heavy.  I just don't get it.  This really, really hurts.  It is mostly on the right side, although the left hurts a bit, but not like the right side.  I don't understand this at all.  I am hoping this will pass tonight and then I will be fine as Lily is coming tomorrow!  I can't wait!!!  She is such a doll!  This will be so much fun as long as I am fine.  I don't want to be in massive, more than usual pain while she is here.  We have plans.  I did the grocery shopping yesterday but I forgot eggs and bread crumbs.  We also have to go to the post office.  She seems to be excited about going to Tim Horton's with me although apparently they have gotten rid of the mac and cheese  that she loves so much.  She said she would get a donut instead.  Hey, whatever she wants within reason, she can have.  I am just excited to be spending the entire day with the young lady.  I will have a lesson but she has a book here she can read or she can play on the computer.  Lily is good about only going on websites her parents approve of so I don't have to worry about that.  Thank goodness!!  She is such a good kid.  I can't believe she will be 13 in about 2 weeks.  Actually, I think it is about a week and half.

My Muglia girls had their lessons earlier today.  They are doing so well.  I am very pleased with their progress.  Their younger sister, Sarah is ready for piano lessons now too.  She is 7, a perfect age.  That is about when the older girls started.  Apparently she fiddles with the piano everyday.  That is wonderful.  A great way to get ready for lessons.  She will do wonderful, I think.  I just have to get her the notespeller and theory books.  They have the rest of them as the girls have already played out of them.  Laura, their mom, is getting excited about the new baby.  Baby Thomas will make his grand appearance about the end of May.  I am excited about this too.  This will be baby number 9 for them.  All the kids, except Mary who is 2 and doesn't really know what is going on, are excited about this baby.  Everything is pretty much ready for him.  I can't wait to hold him.  I can't wait for Mary to have a real baby to play with.  She will have a pal to play with as the next sibling is 5 and hangs out with the 8 year old a lot so this new one will be good for Mary.  This will give them 4 boys and 5 girls.  They are such a great family.

Bob had his lesson, like I said and he is doing really well.  His Invention by JS Bach is coming along so nicely.  It shall be ready for the spring concert.  After the lesson, he graciously removed a bit more snow around my car for me.  How nice is that?  He has been doing this all winter.  He is such a nice man.

Outside of this strange pain that had better go away by tomorrow morning or sooner, it has been a good productive day.  I am looking so forward to Lily's visit tomorrow.  I do have to charge the scooter batteries tomorrow for the weekend.  I don't think that the scooter batteries are down, but I don't want to take a chance.  I want to make sure they are full of power.  I will be bringing the scooter charger with me too so I can charge it both Friday and Saturday.  It should be a fun filled weekend.

I do hope you are having a good day too.

A Quiet Day

I slept in today rather late, but it felt so nice not to have to get up early.  The next several days I will be getting up early because of competition coming up, lessons tomorrow, and Lily is coming on Thursday.  It shall be a fun filled few days.  I am excited about that.  I went to get the ingredients that Lily and I will need for the parmesan chicken and snickerdoodles that we will be making.  I, naturally, forgot a couple of things, eggs and bread crumbs.  Silly me!  Now Lily and I will have to go and get them on Thursday as I will be teaching a lot tomorrow and probably won't remember to go and get the items.  Lily will be amused plus we will be able to go and get Tim Horton's together.  She likes to get their macaroni and cheese.  She loves that stuff.  I think we will have a great day together.

I had a lot of fun talking to Donna this evening.  I also went to Border's Books.  The one near my house is going out of business.  I had a gift certificate for Christmas so I went and ended up being able to get 3 books.  I was very excited about that!  They are by one of my new favorite authors, Kristin Hannah.  She is such a good writer.  I have read 3 of her books.  Kathy loaned me the first book I ever read by her.  I simply loved it.  The friendship in the book reminded me of Kathy and I's friendship in some ways.  We have been friends since we were 3.  Mom said she and I instantly clicked when we met.  I finally found someone who wanted to listen to me speak and she found someone who didn't expect her to answer.  It was great.

I am watching NCIS right now.  I love this show, so did Momma.  Near the end I could still watch most of the episodes when I couldn't watch a lot of other TV since it frightened her.  I was talking to Donna but we had to hang up because we both have to watch this show.  I also like the NCIS Los Angeles show.

Surprisingly, my bad headache I had this afternoon, has gone down to a normal headache.  Shocking, I know, but it did.  The pain pills actually worked today.  I don't know why but they did.  Hey, I am NOT complaining.  I am happy that they worked well for a change.  I haven't made the doctor appointment yet.  I am not sure I am going to do it.  I really am not sure I want the next stop in pain pills.  It is narcotics and I am very nervous about them.  I just don't know.  We shall see.  It is such a tough decision.

It has been a semi productive day despite no lessons.  I should have had 3 of them, but I new last week that I wouldn't have any of them.  It is a triple boo on that.  I do hope that next week I have them all.  I certainly hope so.  So far, I know I will have 2 on Tuesday.

reschedule day

I had to reschedule the Muglia's lessons as I am completely snowed in from the front walk.  My driveway is done, but not the front walk and without the front walk, there isn't anything I can do.  So I called some kids I know to see if they could do the front walk.  I tried, I just can't lift the snow or push the snow.  I was bummed because I was really looking forward to the lesson.  We are having the lessons on Wednesday.  I also will have Lily over that day so after I am done with the Muglia's I will go pick up Lily.  that should be lots of fun.  She has the whole week off because of Midwinter break.  After this, they won't get another full week off until Easter.  I do hope no one else has to cancel or reschedule lessons because of the snow.  It is a wait and see type day.

I think with this weather, that Maia and Tillie will probably not be coming this week.  I will be gone from Friday to Sunday at competition and Tillie was coming over sometime during the week.  As she doesn't drive in snow, I think we will be rescheduling that visit.  I actually don't expect her to come until spring when the snow is completely gone.

I do hope this is the last of the big snow, but something tells me that it isn't.  It is almost March, but it is possible to have snow then too.  We have many other years.  I do hope we don't though, because I am tired of it.  Of course, when I think about it, it is better than having tons of rain.  Snow is prettier and people drive just as badly as they do in rain as they do in snow.  You don't get as wet with snow either.  I think I would rather have nice sunny days in the fall and spring type temperatures.  Spring will be here soon, it just seems so far away.  I miss my spring!

The company that I want to either buy the living room furniture or sell it on consignment for me called me while I was teaching on Saturday.  I am to take pictures of the set and the bar stools and email to them so they can make a decision.  both are in really good condition and I am hopeful they will be able to help me.  I do hope so!  I also will be getting Darrin's email from Tillie so I can send him the pictures of the shuffleboard.  That, too is in great condition.  I am so glad Mom was diligent on cleaning and taking care of good stuff or we would have nothing left.  This last week I had two students who almost put their water glasses on the pianos.  I about flipped, I was like don't put it there put it here.  No drinks on the pianos.  I mean, really people!  Let's think about this.  Good pianos and water don't mix.  Let's keep these pianos looking like new for their entire life span.  I am hoping to get the pianos tuned this spring though.  They are slightly out of tune with the CDs and it is driving me crazy but I want to wait until the weather turns because it will make a difference in the tuning.  Heat and humidity can make a piano go out of tune fast so it is best to wait a bit before tuning.

I think I will take a nap this afternoon before teaching as I am tired now.  I am going to get something to eat.  Thank goodness I shopped yesterday despite the shock of snowfall on my car when I came out.  I do hope you are having a good day.  I am hopeful that today will be productive too with many lessons.

It is snowing again! Ugh!

I went grocery shopping this afternoon.  When I left the sky was gray, but no snow or rain at all.  When I came out?  It was snowing down hard.  I had to clean off my car before I left.  I didn't listen or watch the news yesterday so I didn't know we were expecting snow.  Well, I will watch the news every night from now on so I know what to expect.  I certainly would have picked a better time to go.  I did get my medicine that I haven't had for a few days.  It was the Zantac.  I also refilled the cholesterol medicine as I only have about 3 days left.  I needed to pick up a few things, but not too much as I did a good shopping a few weeks ago.

I have a very busy day tomorrow.  I think I have rested pretty well to get ready for tomorrow.  I am excited to have the Muglia girls tomorrow.  They are such sweethearts, all three of them.

Not too much happening today now that I am done grocery shopping.  I am just going to read and watch some TV for the rest of the day.  I do hope we don't get so much snow tonight although from what one of my Facebook friends have said, we may be getting 6 to 8 inches today.  Not happy about that.  Yuck.  It does look beautiful though, I will admit that and I love the way sunshine reflects on snow.  I just don't like driving in it right now.

My head is normal today and so is the rest of the pain, which is surprising since it is snowing.  I do hope you are having a good day.

a busy Saturday

I had 6 lessons today.  Yes, I am a bit tired.  Plus I drove Maia home to Windsor this evening.  Boy, did we go the wrong time through the tunnel to Windsor.  It was backed up all the way to the beginning of the tunnel.  Thank goodness I had company to talk to while we were waiting.

The bruise from the cabinet incident is faded but it still hurts to touch.  What a smart move that was.  I told Maia she nearly came to a dead cousin and she was like, what?  then I told her what I did and she kind of laughed too.  Hey, I don't blame her, I would have had a laugh at her for the same thing.  Her mom laughed when I told her too.  It really was a brainless thing to do.  I mean, how did my face get in the way in the first place?  Whatever.

My lessons did very well today.  Aggie was here too so that was good.  She is learning a new piece today that I picked.  She is now learning another Mozart aria, "Batti Batti".  It is from Don Giovanni.  I love this piece.  Katie is now ready for competition and Amanda is ready for Solo and Ensemble.  Kayla is doing well with her new pieces too.  Charles was here for his piano lesson and he is really reading music nicely.  He learned 3rds today.  Koffi is doing very well too.  She is my first lesson on a Saturday.  Kayla needs to change times starting next month so she will be at 11:30 am instead of 1 pm.  That should work for us or at least I hope so.

Maia started taking pictures of Mom's military stuff to send to the museum in Ottawa.  We ran out of batteries.  That is not good, but I can get more tomorrow, which is the plan.  She also took pictures of the shuffleboard for Darrin.  I just need his email address.  I have to take pictures of the living room furniture and bar stools to send to a store that may be able to sell them for me.  I really hope so!  I really do!  It will be a big space out of the family room that will allow us to move things around and put things were they belong.  I am excited about that.  That will help to set the room they way I want it in the spring after tax season.  It makes me want to go and work in the room.  I haven't been able to really do much because I haven't felt like I could do it.  Once I have the living room furniture and bar stools taken care of, I will be on a roll.  We shall see. The company may not want or can't sell the furniture for me.  I am hopeful though.

I am feeling a bit more pain in the head again today.  I will be calling the doctor on Monday and making an appointment to see about better pain medicine.  I am nervous to talk with him about it.  Usually, I just grin and bear it, but right now I just can't.  It is just getting out of hand and making it hard to function on days that it is bad.  I need something.  I just can't take it much anymore.

I get Lily for the day this week on Wednesday.  I am not sure what time I am picking her up yet, but I am looking forward to playing games and making cookies with her.  She is such a joy to be around.  I had originally asked for tomorrow, but I forgot about her youth group at church so we are hanging out on Wednesday.  It will be fun.

Tomorrow will be a resting and relaxing day.  I do have to vacuum the steps tomorrow because I didn't do them yesterday.  I have a lot of lessons on Monday so I need to be ready for it.  It has been a long time since I have had lessons from 11:30 to 7:00.  I will have breaks where I can rest a bit, which I will probably need.  I just can't believe I used to teach like this all the time.  I would routinely have 8 to 10 lessons a day in a row and think nothing of it.  Now that would exhaust me.  I look back and think, how did I do it?  I have no idea.  Sometimes I even had another job in the morning with that many students too.  Of course, I was much healthier back then.  I didn't get as tired as easily as I do now.  I also took naps in between teaching and the morning job.  I would also go right to bed right away when I got home too.  That all makes a big difference.  I like teaching here at home a lot now.  I really do.  I like them coming to me.  I can rest in between lessons if I need too or if I need a drink or something or something to eat.  It is very nice for me.  I don't think I will ever go back to going to the student's houses.  This way works so much for me.

I am tired today.  I did take a small nap while Maia went grocery shopping.  I did forget to get gas before I took her home.  I don't like having the car with less than a 1/2 tank of gas in the winter with the cold weather.  I just don't like that.  I have to get gas tomorrow since it will be getting a bit colder.

somesome of her stuff but there wasn't enough room for the scanners.

I do hope you are having a good evening!  It has been a good day even though it was tiring and busy.  I like waking up to company in the house.  It is a nice change from being alone all the time.  I am used to that though, but it is nice to have company.

laundry day

I hate to do laundry.  I put it off as much as possible until I get to a day like today where all my outer clothes need to be washed.  Oops!  I meant to do a load the other day but got distracted by something so this morning I went to get dressed and realized, oh, wow, no clean clothes so I trudged down the stairs with my load and put the in.  Ooh, now time for the dryer.  Be right back!

Step two no in progress!  I guess you would think I would learn my lesson from this?  I know I won't I will do the same thing again in a week or two.  it is a process I go through pretty much every time I do laundry.

Maia will be coming this afternoon instead of the morning as planned.  Her son, Zachary, who had a root canal yesterday apparently was very ill last night.  Poor kid!  At least Maia was there to take care of him.  I am picking her up at the bus stop at Walmarts at about 2:40.  i will be there waiting for her.

Katie is coming for a brief time today.  She is picking out 3 painted violins for the auction her work is having.  She is picking them herself.  I told her she could.  I am just excited that someone wants them for a good cause!

I slept so badly last night.  I had nightmares about 5 this morning.  It felt like I was going downstairs and the power was out.  It was scary.  After going back to sleep again, it happened again!  I went through this for about 45 minutes when I finally prayed that they would go away and they did!  I slept a bit better after that.  I am thinking I may go and take a wee nap before I pick up Maia.  I am just so exhausted from that.  This happens every so often again and it usually happens between the hours of 2 to 5 am.  We live in a safe neighborhood.  We haven't had a house break in in many many years.  Why am I so scared of one?  What could I possibly do if one happened anyways?  I have the screen door and both locks on the main doors locked.  It isn't like it would be easy to get in, but still I have that fear some nights.  Last night was one of them.  I rarely had this issue when Momma was here.  I have only developed the fear since she passed away and it was really bad the first few months she was gone.  Now it is just once in a while. I don't like it, I don't like the nightmares I get, nor do I like feeling afraid.  I hope not to have this happen tonight.  Lately it hasn't happened two nights in a row plus Maia will be here.

I have Charlie's lesson today.  He won't have one next week because he doesn't have school that day so we already made up the lesson for him last week.  I like that he makes up his lessons.  I like that a lot.  I have about 5 lessons on Saturday and on Monday, i have 8 so far right now.  I haven't had 8 lessons in a day for a long time.  I, as of right now, get my Muglia girls, then I have Bob, Callie, and Acer.  I also get Rachel and Rebecca who I haven't seen since December and competition is next week.  I hope they are prepared.  We shall see.

I hope to get a scanner/copier/printer next month.  I am returning Tillie's to her this weekend and I want my own.  It makes it much easier to get ready for lessons if I have something I can copy right away instead of going out to do it.  I loved the one I had at the store, but like everything else, it went too when the bank came and took everything.  They even sold the light fixtures at the auction.  The store was stripped bare.  I don't think about it as much as I used too.  It would be nice to have because I would have a place to go every day, but I really am not healthy enough to run one.  It was a lot of work and I ended up in the hospital ER 13 times with 3 extended visits, something I am not interested in doing again.

I have decided i have to talk to my doctor about my bad headaches.  This new pain medicine isn't cutting it.  It isn't helping at all at this point.  I am making the appointment for next week.  I also need to do my protime at that point too.  I have had just way too many bad headaches since I switched medicines.  I do hope I find something that works better.

I am planning on a good day despite being so tired.  I do hope yours is good too.  We are enjoying our last warm day.  Starting tomorrow winter comes back.  Ugh, at least it will only be in the 30s and not below zero.

Random Thoughts

Maia was supposed to come this afternoon but is unable to make it today so she is coming tomorrow morning instead.  Her son, Zachary just had a root canal so she needs to make sure he is okay.  Must take care of these children, that is for sure.

I had one lesson already, Brianna takes both voice and piano and is doing quite well for the 2nd lesson.  She is such a sweetheart.  We would talk forever if I don't keep track of time.  We get along very well.  I have a make up lesson later this evening.  My 12:30 Saturday Amanda.  She will be out of town this weekend.  I am glad we are making it up.  Make-ups are definitely the way to go.  Next weekend there will be no lessons because I will be out of town.  I don't know if we can do any make-ups then or not.  We shall see.

It is still very nice outside.  It is about 50 degrees which is so nice compared to the negative wind chill numbers we have had.  We have one more day of this and then back to the 30s.  I am hoping it doesn't seem so cold when it gets here though.  I am so looking forward to spring!  I need my spring!  Of course, then comes summer which is another season I don't do well in.  Hmm, I need to move where there is 70 degree weather all the time.  I have no idea where on earth that would be though.  I think that is just dreamland right now.

I have some theory stuff I need to do for my students this weekend.  They will be learning lots of theory with their vocal music.  i don't want them to be the type of voice student who can't read music.  That would just be terrible especially if music is what they want to do when they grow up.  It is important to be able to read the music too not just sing it.

I am going to read for a bit now.  I do hope you are having a good day too.  Despite the fact I was slightly disappointed that Maia isn't coming tonight, I do get her tomorrow, so it will work out fine, it is a good day.  My face hurts less than it did yesterday from when I closed the cupboard on it.  That was a brilliant move, let me tell you.  I shut the cabinet door on my cheek.  Man, did that hurt bad.  Pain level seems to be a bit higher than normal.  I am thinking perhaps I should see my doctor about better pain meds as these aren't working as well as I would like.  Some days it seems like they don't work at all.

Wednesday with nice weather

I am loving this warmer weather stuff.  It makes me long for spring and it is only here for a few days then back to the cold winter weather we always have.

It is a quiet type week with lessons almost everyday.  I have one tonight that I have not had in several weeks as her mother's work schedule just didn't allow a lesson in.  I am so glad I have her tonight.  It will be lots of fun for the two of us.  She is a very nice young lady who is 13, I think or almost 13.  She is doing very well with the piano lessons so I am pleased with her progress.  I can't wait to hear her tonight!

Maia is coming for a short visit this week too, so I am glad about that.  She will arrive sometime tomorrow and stay until Saturday.  I am glad.  I haven't had too much time with her since November as she has been rather busy moving and getting things in order in her apartment.  They have moved closer to her mother which is a good things.  Mothers are very important.

I am going to swiffer the floor now and make it all nice and pretty for Maia's visit.  I love my swiffer as I am able to do it without much pain.  I have both the wet and the dry so I am totally covered.  I do need to do some more domestic type stuff before tomorrow.  I have to wash a set of sheets that go on the spare bed and then make up the bed.  I plan to do that after the lesson tonight.  First I will do the floor and the hall way as it needs my attention.  I have all the housework planned out and so far it is working well.  I do a bit everyday so that it doesn't cause extra pain.

I do hope your day is going well.  Mine is just quiet with the exception of the lesson that I am looking forward too.

Warmer weather!

It was such a nice day today.  The weather was beautiful.  This is my idea of winter, temperatures in the 40s.  I bought my new Easter tablecloth this afternoon.  It was very strange picking one by myself as Momma usually help picked them out with me.  It is a cute one and I think she would totally approve.  I will put it on in a few weeks when Ash Wednesday arrives.  I am not even sure when that will be this year.  I do know that Easter is very late this year, April 24 or something like that.  It has made me really trying to figure out when the Spring Concert will be.  I am now not sure since Easter is so late.  I will figure it all out soon.

I only had one student tonight.  He is one of my adult singers.  He works really hard, but I suspect he was rather tired tonight.  He seemed that way.  I am glad he made the lesson despite the tiredness.  Charlie will have his lesson on Friday this week.  I have 1 lesson tomorrow too and then 1 on Thursday.  So far, lessons are going well and outside of the temporary students, only 1 new one has quit and that was right after his first lesson.  I do hope for more this spring and I hope none quit for summer or I could be in a bit of a pickle.  I am positive God will surely take care of me.  He has done such a great job so far, so I am sure he will make sure I will be okay for the summer.

It has been a rather quiet day except for the one lesson.  I went and paid the house bill, bought the new tablecloth, and then a new book.  I love gift certificates.  They are the best inventions!  I am almost done with the gift certificates now.  I have a few more and that is it.  I will take my time with the rest of them.  Kathy won't be back in town for a bit so I will put them aside until she is back in town or I am in her town.  I don't have any plans to travel right now, outside of competition coming up, but one never knows.

The nice thing about the warmer weather is that I have less pain.  It is nice to be able to get up from the chair and have less pain and less stiffness.  I like that a lot.  I have found out that the pain I thought was my hips is actually my lower back right at the hips.  My friend, Heather B-T showed me an exercise that should help.  I have remembered to do it a couple of times.  My goal is to remember both in the morning and night.  She said this should help some of the pain, so I am all for it.  I also have won a "free" membership to a somewhat local gym.  Yeah, free except for the maintenance fees, which you have to pay up front and right away.  Well, naturally I turned it down as I cannot afford the fees.  I am sick of these so called free memberships.  If it was truly free, then I would accept it, but they aren't.  I know Joe put my name in.  He has done it before.  I don't appreciate that as if and when I can afford a gym, I will pick one nearby.  This one is about 30 to 40 minutes away from me, not very convenient at all.  I am tired of him interfering in my life.  He showed up on Saturday during a lesson.  He wanted to take me to lunch.  Obviously, he listened to me a few weeks ago when I said I teach on Saturday.  I told him I am teaching all afternoon and then I have company arriving.  He left pretty quick as I was teaching at that time.  I don't like lessons being interrupted.  I just don't.  I rarely answer the phone during a lesson too.  It has too be very important in order for me to answer it.  Most of the time I would answer it if Momma were in the hospital and pretty much that was about it.  Everyone else can leave a message and I will call back.

It was a bit more than usual missing Mom afternoon.  It hit me hard again as I was picking the tablecloth for Easter.  We used to pick them together so it was strange to pick it myself.  It made me miss her all the more than usual at that point.  Now, it is just a usual missing Momma day.

I do hope you have had a good day.

Valentine's Day!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!  it isn't one of my favorite holidays, but Momma liked it.  I did enjoy getting her stuff though for it so I guess I was into it at that time.  Last year I got Momma a really cute white and red bear.  She carried around for about a week.  I still have it.  After she carried it around, we put it on the piano so it could be displayed.  I was so happy that she loved it.  She loved stuffed animals so I got her many on the holidays.  I think her favorite was the Jesus Loves Me Bunny that actually sings Jesus Loves Me.  I have one too as I got both of us one.  Hers is pink and mine is yellow.  O am keeping hers too.  I don't know if William or Abby would want any of her stuffed animals.  I will be asking this summer.

Surprisingly, I am not extra sore from the extra walking yesterday!!!  Talk about a win!  I am so happy about that!  I wasn't sure how my body would react to the extra walking but it did just fine.  Yeah for me!  I also did sleep in a bit as I expected too since we went to bed rather late on Saturday, but I am as perked up as I get right now, so that is good too.

I had 1 lesson for the day today.  Acer is still not feeling up to par and Heather (his mom) isn't feeling too well right now either.  She and Acer head for the doctor tomorrow.  They have had this cold for about a month now and Acer just doesn't seem to be getting rid of it.  So the little guy may or may not be here depending on how he feels after school.  I will miss them, but I do totally understand, you have got to take care of the little people!  I also appreciate that she keeps me in mind too.  I have a low immune system because of the illnesses and she doesn't want me sick either so talk about a good friend!  We did get to see the kids on Saturday when Kathy was here so that slightly makes up to missing them, if I do.  I just love my students.  They are the best.  I have the best kid students in the world and the best adult students in the world.  I was a bit worried when I was assigned with new company 3 adult students, but they are all very serious about learning their instruments, so that is good.

I tried to get a hold of Richard today, but he must be busy because he didn't answer.  I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted to talk to him.  I don't get to talk to him very much because he is so busy.  I just wanted to wish him a Happy Valentine's Day in person over the phone instead of the message.  Oh well, another time.

I think I am going to use my other book gift certificate this week.  Phillipa Gregory has a new paperback book out I would like.  I love most of her stuff.  Some of it isn't so good, but most of it really is.  Kathy went home with about 5 books to read.  She needed some new reading material so I loaned her some.  I mean, I have quite a few.  Not as many I as used to, but some.  I simply love reading.  I used to get teased about that from my brothers and mom.  They used to say I could walk, talk, listen to what they were saying, and read at the same time.  Momma used to say, put the book down and listen with both ears.  Kind of funny to remember these moments.  I have some great memories of all of us growing up and when we were in our 20s.

It has been a very good day so far, although I haven't been up too long.  I am planning to make some nice chicken for dinner.  I do hope your Valentine's Day is good.  Maybe next year I will have someone to celebrate with.  Who know?  We shall see what the year brings.