I received a letter from the IRS today. It is over the payroll taxes from the store I had. I had a payroll company do my payroll and stuff but when the store closed they did the end of the year paperwork but never sent it in. Needless to say, this was a surprise when I got notices about this. Since then I have sent in all the paperwork. Well, they lost the W-2s and W-3 from that year. I was on the phone with them but I only had to wait about 30 minutes (which for them, that isn't a bad wait) until I talked to a real live person. He was very helpful. He was polite and nice too. I always heard that they are not, well, my experience (as limited as it is) has been that they have wanted to help and they were polite. He told me to make a copy of the W-2s (all 7 of them) and the W-3 and send them in. He gave me the address and told me what part of the notice to send in with them. Talk about a good thing. I was very pleased. He put a hold on any action and said most likely when they balance, everything will be dropped and that will be the end of the paperwork mess up from the store. The only thing left for me, paperwork wise, is paying on the sales and use tax that we owe from the last year. I am on a payment plan and that paperwork is all taken care of. Thank goodness for that. I am very happy about how this is turning out. I will copy those papers this evening and mail them tomorrow. It shall be done quickly on my part so that they get them sooner and can put them in the beginning of the process to take care of them.
I think I am missing Mom a bit more than normal because it is Halloween. She really liked the younger children and their costumes. It was just something that she loved. Then again, Mom just really liked children. She had worked with children since she was 14 when she was a girl guide (Canada's girl scouts) leader. From there Mom went to work with Army Cadets in Windsor (boy do I remember that! I have lots of memories of being at camps and away with them) to working with my students for sewing and other things. Mom just enjoyed children a lot. I would say that Mom really loved lots of things. I am hiding in the house tonight because I just don't really want to do much. Trick or Treating here lasts from 6 pm when the sirens go off to 8 pm when the sirens go off again. I do like how the fire department lets people know when it starts and when it ends. It really is for the best this way. When we were small we would go to our elementary school for trick or treating. Sometimes I would do a lot and other times I would be with mom in the classroom where she would be passing out the candy. I really liked how the school had a party because all the candy was checked by the fire department (back then people would put glass or razor blades or something equally dangerous in children's candy) and you had a safe environment to go trick or treating. My friends would all be there too and as we got older we could go without my Dad taking us around. We would all meet in the gym/lunch room where they would be serving cider too. I just remember it being a good time the times that we did it. I know in early elementary we did this, but I don't remember later elementary after my dad left. I don't remember too much about Halloween then. I know at one point it was just Mom, Andrew, and I but I don't really remember too much about it. I have a picture of Andrew and I in our costumes in 4th and 5th grades in the china cabinet. I was a princess and I wore one of my Mom's fancy dresses. It was pink (naturally!) and I loved it. She even had a little jacket to go with it so I wouldn't get cold. The little jacket was white. I remember the other holidays so much better than Halloween.
I was thinking about Mom earlier today and that brought some memories out of all of us together. I have very little memories of my dad. The only reason I know what he even looks like is because I have a picture of him in one of the picture albums. I don't know what brought this memory on except I was scratching the top of my arm where my booster shot scar is. I do remember that day really well. Mom was never really allowed to tell Dad when she took us to the doctor because he felt his first wife was constantly taking my sister (I have never met her, she lives in England as far as I know and is 16 years older than me) so he didn't want Mom taking us "all the time". So she just never really mentioned it to him whenever we went. Well, that day was my booster shot. Remember how much those hurt? I do remember because I didn't cry too much I got to pick out a book to buy. (That was Mom's bribe, a book if you don't cry) I remember we went during the day so I missed a bit of school. I was not unhappy about that. I didn't like school then either. We came home, Mom made dinner and I remember we were sitting at the counter in the kitchen not at the dining room table. I was sitting to the right of my dad and Mom was at the left end of the counter. I must have been wiggling (that was usual for me. I wiggled all the time) and Dad got mad. i remember trying to not wiggle, but it was hard so of course, being the young child I was, I wiggled again. He smacked my arm exactly where the booster shot site was! I immediately burst into tears because that sucker hurt. My dad was like, what I didn't hit her hard. I jumped down from my seat and went to Mom to be soothed. Mom just quietly said, she had a booster shot today and you hit her where she got the shot. He didn't apologize, he just said, well, she shouldn't have been wiggling. I have very few other memories of him, but this is the strongest one I have. I do remember Mom putting ice on the spot to help it stop hurting. She even let me sleep in her bed with her that night. I have so few memories of my dad (he left when I was about 8 and the last time I saw him I was 9) but boy do I have many of Mom. Mom used to tell me how she knew when I was faking sick to stay home from school. I would go to my dad and say I didn't feel good. If I went to her, i was really sick. She told me this when I was in my 20s. Of course, this all changed after he left. Then I just went to mom. By that time though, I was having so much trouble with my tummy, that I missed generally at least once a week or once every other week. It wasn't until I was 40 when the doctor said what was wrong. My stomach doesn't digest properly. That is why I take reglan. It is kind of funny to realize how quickly we adjusted to no dad, but the adjusting to no Mom is so hard. I guess we were so used to dad traveling all the time that it didn't make a difference. We always had Mom with us and she was the one who took really good care of us. Even he admitted at the time of the divorce (in court no less! and he was mean to Mom during the divorce) that she was a really good mother. She certainly was. Yes, she made mistakes, but we talked about those when I was an adult and she apologized for some of the things she did. I apologized, she apologized and we put it behind us. I think that was when we became more than Mother and daughter, we were friends.
I do hope everyone has a good Halloween and a good day. I am enjoying the peace and quiet here in the dining room. I think I am going to make some chili for dinner now.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The day before Halloween
I don't particularly like Halloween. I am not really sure why, outside of it is such a focus on horror and I am not a horror girl. I can't watch scary movies or horror movies. I can't read scary books or horror books either so I am just not into Halloween. Mom loved seeing the smaller kids dress up for Halloween and come to our house trick or treating. I am not going to be passing out any candy this year. I am just not up to it. It is going to be cold and rainyish and well, I just can't stand that long. If it was nicer out then I could sit outside and pass out candy but it isn't going to be nice so no trick or treaters for me. I will do what I did last year, sit inside and watch TV. There was a time a few years ago we had a lot of high schoolers who wouldn't even dress up. They wouldn't even wear a mask! It was insane. Fortunately, the few years have been more littler ones. Those are the ones Mom loved to see. When we were small, Mom decorated the house for Halloween but not with anything scary. We had a witch, but she was a pretty one, and I think we had some cute ghosts too. I don't completely remember. I just remember how Mom loved to decorate for every holiday. She never missed one when we were growing up. I have some nice window clings for Thanksgiving this year. I will put those on the windows but I don't know where our other decorations went. They were for on the table. I will have help decorating for Christmas, Lily will be here for that. I am going to see if she wants another gingerbread house. If she does, then I will get one for her, if not, that is okay too. It is all up to the lovely young lady. Whatever she would like, works for me.
I took a nap after church today. Yes, I actually made it to church again! I was there for 7:30 am. I sang with the choir and enjoyed myself. After the choir was over, Carolyn (another really nice young lady) and I went to sit with her family. I think next week I will leave my coat with her family since I will be sitting with them. I love her family. They are simply wonderful people. I am thankful they invited me to sing in the choir. I am hoping Katie will join too as she is a wonderful singer and a great young lady too. My Katie goes to the same church and it was a nice surprise to realize that.
I don't have any students today. I had my normal Sunday student on Saturday this week. It worked best for his schedule so I didn't mind. Next week will be the last time he will have a lesson until January. He is going to Hawaii and India. He will be gone for about 2 months total. I do hope he has a good time. I will be burning CDs this afternoon for this week. I went and bought some ink for the scanner so I can make some copies. I need to copy Isaac's music for him. Katie is making copies for her and Calli. I have to make copies for Allison and for Natalie too. Many of the students already have their music. These are the last of the students who need them except for Isaac, the newest of the crew.
I don't really have any plans for the evening today except for watching some TV and maybe movie. I don't know. I am reading a good book so I may just finish it for the evening. I know what I should do, but I am not in the mood. I should be emptying the table and putting music away. I also should be vacuuming the floor too, but I am just not in the mood for anything like that. I will do it this week. I also need to fold some clothes that are on the hangers in the back room. They are the few clothes left of Mom's. I am definitely not in the mood for that. I need to though this week, because the pile of clean clothes of mine on the dryer is getting bigger and I need to hang up some of those clothes so I can take them upstairs.
Well, I am going to read for a bit. I do hope you are having a good day too. It has been. Church was good and so was the nap.
I took a nap after church today. Yes, I actually made it to church again! I was there for 7:30 am. I sang with the choir and enjoyed myself. After the choir was over, Carolyn (another really nice young lady) and I went to sit with her family. I think next week I will leave my coat with her family since I will be sitting with them. I love her family. They are simply wonderful people. I am thankful they invited me to sing in the choir. I am hoping Katie will join too as she is a wonderful singer and a great young lady too. My Katie goes to the same church and it was a nice surprise to realize that.
I don't have any students today. I had my normal Sunday student on Saturday this week. It worked best for his schedule so I didn't mind. Next week will be the last time he will have a lesson until January. He is going to Hawaii and India. He will be gone for about 2 months total. I do hope he has a good time. I will be burning CDs this afternoon for this week. I went and bought some ink for the scanner so I can make some copies. I need to copy Isaac's music for him. Katie is making copies for her and Calli. I have to make copies for Allison and for Natalie too. Many of the students already have their music. These are the last of the students who need them except for Isaac, the newest of the crew.
I don't really have any plans for the evening today except for watching some TV and maybe movie. I don't know. I am reading a good book so I may just finish it for the evening. I know what I should do, but I am not in the mood. I should be emptying the table and putting music away. I also should be vacuuming the floor too, but I am just not in the mood for anything like that. I will do it this week. I also need to fold some clothes that are on the hangers in the back room. They are the few clothes left of Mom's. I am definitely not in the mood for that. I need to though this week, because the pile of clean clothes of mine on the dryer is getting bigger and I need to hang up some of those clothes so I can take them upstairs.
Well, I am going to read for a bit. I do hope you are having a good day too. It has been. Church was good and so was the nap.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Saturday 10-29
I can't believe that October is almost over. I think I say that every month. Time is going so fast some days. Today is one of them. I have 3 lessons, Camille, Rick, and Katie and all but Katie is finished. I was copying her music but the black ink is out on the printer. I will have to pick some up this week because I will need to make copies for Allison and Natalie. Actually, I think I will have to pick it up tomorrow since I need the music by Wednesday. It won't be a problem, I will go after church tomorrow. They should be open by the time I finish church. After that, I can come home and take a nap. I have all day tomorrow to get the rest of the music organized for the concert. I also need to make a flyer for the concert so everyone knows the date and time.
I am glad this horrible month is almost over. With the except of a couple of birthdays, I simply hate the month of October now, just hate it. I am glad it is almost November despite it being a dreary month, it will be better than October. I only have 2 more days I have to get through and them a new month will be here. I will be hiding on Halloween just like I did last year. I just am not ready to take over Mom's passing out the candy post. Halloween has never been my favorite holiday, even when I was a child. I like the costumes part of it but I never really got to eat any of the candy I collected. My brothers got to eat theirs and my candy. I think I got maybe 2 or 3 pieces total for Halloween. I was glad when I was not going trick or treating. Halloween parties were more fun.
It seems that the last flare is over now. Thank goodness! My hips have been okay all week so I am glad about that. It was so hard to walk last week when the left hip was flaring so bad. I still have trouble lying on my back at night, but I always have trouble with that. I lay on my sides and it is much more comfortable to me. It doesn't hurt my hips or my back when I do that. Otherwise, my hips and back are really unhappy campers and that is not good.
After Katie this evening, I won't have any more lessons for the week. Rick came today instead of Sunday because it was best for his schedule. It works for me. I like to be super flexible when I can because then if I need to change a lesson for a day, my students and their families are more willing to change. It works out well for both of us. A perfect example was the reunion weekend a few weeks ago. I needed Friday cleared so my students came on Sunday and Saturday. If I was not so flexible, I would have lost out on lessons, but this way everyone is happy. My new students are more into rescheduling than canceling and I love that. My old ones also are more into rescheduling rather than just flat out canceling. It really works for the both of us, the student and me.
I am going to start cutting out the ornaments this week, I think. First though, I must clear off the dining room table. It is covered with CDs and music! It is simply covered! I have a small spot for my computer and for me to eat, but that is it! I have the lovely new tablecloth that I am also anxious to put on. I have a wonderful quilting mat that I can use to measure and cut the materials out on. I bought the mat about 2 years ago when Mom and I were going to learn how to quilt. Now, i am not so interested in it, but maybe someday I will be. I like the mat for other things too so that is good. I am anxious to have an area strictly for sewing downstairs. It will be nice to use. I will also be able to watch TV (when I get one for downstairs) in the family room too. I may buy a smaller one for up here and move the bigger one downstairs again where it originally was. I don't know. It depends on the money situation, of course, I can't do anything until the property taxes are completely paid for the year. Once that is in hand, I will be able to save smaller payments for the next year taxes and perhaps be able to buy a new TV for the kitchen/dining room area. I also have to have the carpet put on the stairs this winter. I have both the carpet and the padding, it just needs to be installed. I have the name of a person to do this but I am also going to check on Angie's list as that seems to be a good way to go.
I am going to read for a few minutes, Katie should be here shortly. It has been a nice and busy day with lessons and getting music ready for lessons. I am getting up super early tomorrow for church. I do hope you are having a good day too.
I am glad this horrible month is almost over. With the except of a couple of birthdays, I simply hate the month of October now, just hate it. I am glad it is almost November despite it being a dreary month, it will be better than October. I only have 2 more days I have to get through and them a new month will be here. I will be hiding on Halloween just like I did last year. I just am not ready to take over Mom's passing out the candy post. Halloween has never been my favorite holiday, even when I was a child. I like the costumes part of it but I never really got to eat any of the candy I collected. My brothers got to eat theirs and my candy. I think I got maybe 2 or 3 pieces total for Halloween. I was glad when I was not going trick or treating. Halloween parties were more fun.
It seems that the last flare is over now. Thank goodness! My hips have been okay all week so I am glad about that. It was so hard to walk last week when the left hip was flaring so bad. I still have trouble lying on my back at night, but I always have trouble with that. I lay on my sides and it is much more comfortable to me. It doesn't hurt my hips or my back when I do that. Otherwise, my hips and back are really unhappy campers and that is not good.
After Katie this evening, I won't have any more lessons for the week. Rick came today instead of Sunday because it was best for his schedule. It works for me. I like to be super flexible when I can because then if I need to change a lesson for a day, my students and their families are more willing to change. It works out well for both of us. A perfect example was the reunion weekend a few weeks ago. I needed Friday cleared so my students came on Sunday and Saturday. If I was not so flexible, I would have lost out on lessons, but this way everyone is happy. My new students are more into rescheduling than canceling and I love that. My old ones also are more into rescheduling rather than just flat out canceling. It really works for the both of us, the student and me.
I am going to start cutting out the ornaments this week, I think. First though, I must clear off the dining room table. It is covered with CDs and music! It is simply covered! I have a small spot for my computer and for me to eat, but that is it! I have the lovely new tablecloth that I am also anxious to put on. I have a wonderful quilting mat that I can use to measure and cut the materials out on. I bought the mat about 2 years ago when Mom and I were going to learn how to quilt. Now, i am not so interested in it, but maybe someday I will be. I like the mat for other things too so that is good. I am anxious to have an area strictly for sewing downstairs. It will be nice to use. I will also be able to watch TV (when I get one for downstairs) in the family room too. I may buy a smaller one for up here and move the bigger one downstairs again where it originally was. I don't know. It depends on the money situation, of course, I can't do anything until the property taxes are completely paid for the year. Once that is in hand, I will be able to save smaller payments for the next year taxes and perhaps be able to buy a new TV for the kitchen/dining room area. I also have to have the carpet put on the stairs this winter. I have both the carpet and the padding, it just needs to be installed. I have the name of a person to do this but I am also going to check on Angie's list as that seems to be a good way to go.
I am going to read for a few minutes, Katie should be here shortly. It has been a nice and busy day with lessons and getting music ready for lessons. I am getting up super early tomorrow for church. I do hope you are having a good day too.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday 10-28
It has been an interesting day. I went and picked up Maia to bring her to her boyfriend's house. It was just a quick trip over the border, few minutes there, few minutes back. The only hiccup was the charcoal in the trunk of my car. I had thought it was gone but a few days ago I found it in the trunk of the car. Did you know that charcoal is not allowed to be brought into Canada? No? Neither did I. Fortunately, the border patrol officer let me through and I will have it taken out tomorrow. I meant to have it taken out today, but I forgot to remind Heather to help me. I hope I can take it out of my car myself because I am NOT driving around with it anymore. Next spring, I will give it to the church to replace the charcoal we used for the summer concert.
Acer did really good at his lesson today. He sat there nicely and he did the proper fingering with both hands. It was really nice to see how he did. Then we worked on his high notes and what to do about some of the straining he does. I think the new trick will work. I am very pleased with how he did. Calli also had two good lessons. She does both voice and piano. She has a lovely singing voice that is rather mature for her age. Her range is out of this world for her age and well, for any age truth be told. She has over a 3 octave range. It is close to 3 1/2 octaves. Think Mariah Carey high notes and this 11 year old can hit them. Amazing. We finished the left hand for Hark the Herald Angels Sing and started the Little Drummer Boy. We have about 4 weeks now until the Christmas Concert, which is going to be on December 4. Emily began her Christmas Concert music too. She played them very well today so I am not worried that she won't have the music down pat. Emily will do well. I have to copy the music for Katie tomorrow. I just remembered that. Also, Calli and Katie need their duet too. Katie will have to decide what they are going to sing. I just hope that Calli likes it too.
I have been thinking about this for a while. I have often wondered of the inequities of some things. This has happened within the family with me for a long time now. I am expected to accept people's lifestyles, belief systems, and look at things from their point of view, but when it comes to me, I don't get the same respect, for lack of a better word. I am, at times, ridiculed for what I believe, how I live and in general, my point of view. I don't understand this. We are all different in many different ways that is just the way we are made but my differences are insulted (sometimes this happened last spring) and looked down upon. I just don't understand this at all. I don't say anything about the differences in our lifestyles but it is okay to put my lifestyle down. I do not go around speaking the Gospel nor do I condemn people who don't believe in God. That is there personal business between them and God. I figure I have enough I am going to have to explain to God that I am not going to start picking up someone else's stuff. Everyone sins and makes mistakes. The only perfect person died about 2000 years ago. I am far from perfect but I try to live my life as I was raised. I am a Christian. I was raised in church. However, I have not attended a church in the last 7 or 8 years. I recently joined a church choir and have started attending a different church than the one I was raised in. There is nothing wrong with the church I was raised in, I just feel at this point, a different church is where I need to be. I have many family members who don't believe in God and I do not try to convince them otherwise nor do I look down at them because their belief system is different than mine. I just try to live my life and think that actions speak louder than words. I may not understand some of the reasons people do what they do, however it is not my place to criticize them or put them down. I want the same things for them that I want for me: to live my life how I see is best, be happy, and be successful. I want my family to live the way they think is best, raise their children the best that they can, be happy, and be successful.
This is just something I have been thinking about for a few years now. It has been a thinking and a good day. I hope your day is good too.
Acer did really good at his lesson today. He sat there nicely and he did the proper fingering with both hands. It was really nice to see how he did. Then we worked on his high notes and what to do about some of the straining he does. I think the new trick will work. I am very pleased with how he did. Calli also had two good lessons. She does both voice and piano. She has a lovely singing voice that is rather mature for her age. Her range is out of this world for her age and well, for any age truth be told. She has over a 3 octave range. It is close to 3 1/2 octaves. Think Mariah Carey high notes and this 11 year old can hit them. Amazing. We finished the left hand for Hark the Herald Angels Sing and started the Little Drummer Boy. We have about 4 weeks now until the Christmas Concert, which is going to be on December 4. Emily began her Christmas Concert music too. She played them very well today so I am not worried that she won't have the music down pat. Emily will do well. I have to copy the music for Katie tomorrow. I just remembered that. Also, Calli and Katie need their duet too. Katie will have to decide what they are going to sing. I just hope that Calli likes it too.
I have been thinking about this for a while. I have often wondered of the inequities of some things. This has happened within the family with me for a long time now. I am expected to accept people's lifestyles, belief systems, and look at things from their point of view, but when it comes to me, I don't get the same respect, for lack of a better word. I am, at times, ridiculed for what I believe, how I live and in general, my point of view. I don't understand this. We are all different in many different ways that is just the way we are made but my differences are insulted (sometimes this happened last spring) and looked down upon. I just don't understand this at all. I don't say anything about the differences in our lifestyles but it is okay to put my lifestyle down. I do not go around speaking the Gospel nor do I condemn people who don't believe in God. That is there personal business between them and God. I figure I have enough I am going to have to explain to God that I am not going to start picking up someone else's stuff. Everyone sins and makes mistakes. The only perfect person died about 2000 years ago. I am far from perfect but I try to live my life as I was raised. I am a Christian. I was raised in church. However, I have not attended a church in the last 7 or 8 years. I recently joined a church choir and have started attending a different church than the one I was raised in. There is nothing wrong with the church I was raised in, I just feel at this point, a different church is where I need to be. I have many family members who don't believe in God and I do not try to convince them otherwise nor do I look down at them because their belief system is different than mine. I just try to live my life and think that actions speak louder than words. I may not understand some of the reasons people do what they do, however it is not my place to criticize them or put them down. I want the same things for them that I want for me: to live my life how I see is best, be happy, and be successful. I want my family to live the way they think is best, raise their children the best that they can, be happy, and be successful.
This is just something I have been thinking about for a few years now. It has been a thinking and a good day. I hope your day is good too.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Lovely Day 10-27
I have been busy from the moment I got up to when I got home from Choir practice. I woke up later than originally planned because I reset my alarm. I was just so tired! So I rushed to get ready for my first lesson with Breanna. I had lessons from 2:15 to 7 pm with the exception of 3:45 to 4:30. I had a small break then. It was a lovely day full of music. After my last lesson ended (the first one with the young man named Isaac - whom I have known since he was born), I went to choir practice. So basically, it was a day filled with music. Tomorrow I have Acer, Calli, and Emily. I am picking up my cousin, Maia to bring her over to her boyfriend's house. He is on the road right now so he won't be able to meet her at the border. She is going to help with the gas money and tunnel money because it is the end of the month and it is very tight this week (just like it is for soooo many others that i know) I am grateful for the things I have and that I am able to pretty much pay my bills on time! (Mostly, anyways - I am still behind in a couple but not too many).
My new student, Isaac is 10 and he is taking both singing and piano. I am very pleased with what he did today. We started one Christmas vocal song - Ding Dong Merrily on High, and a few pages for his piano book. Overall, he did really well. He also seems to have a good music teacher at his school and it shows. Benjy and Joiene did pretty well since they don't really practice at all. I don't know why but they don't. Benjy played his Christmas Songs pretty well and Joiene, when she played them, she did pretty good. Both Breanna and Brianne did awesome. Brianne is learning to play a jump base song. It is a challenge for her because she has never really had her left hand jump around the notes like this before. She is such a nice girl. Next week her sister Brooke will be moving her lessons to Thursday after her sister's lesson. Breanna is also doing very well. She has her vocal Christmas song that she is singing and accompanying herself with the guitar. It will be awesome. She was also going to sing and play Jingle Bell Rock, but she is having problems with the guitar part so we will use a piano track instead. It works for me. Breanna is doing well with her piano but she doesn't want to play the piano in the concert. I told her that was fine because it is. If she isn't ready to perform piano, then she doesn't have to play the piano in the concert. Laith is doing very well with new hand positions that he has never played before. His Joy to the World is really doing well. He not only learned to play in middle D position, but we added sharps, dotted quarter notes, and eighth notes. Laith is such a trooper and is really doing very well with his challenging pieces. We started the first page of Here Comes Santa Claus. That piece has 2 hand positions and I think he will do very well with it. All in all, I have to say that a musical day is definitely the way to go! I don't think I could handle a day like today every single day, but once a week is okay. Although, I will normally have a break between Laith's lesson and choir.
I am not quite as exhausted as I was when I came in from choir. I am still rather tired though. I do plan to head for bed soon especially since I am getting up earlier than usual to go and get Maia. My flare seems to be gone now. My left hip is doing very well and seems back to normal. My shoulder and arm were getting rather sore at practice, but nothing too bad. I am just glad that the flare seems to be gone and I hope it stays that way.
I do hope you have had a good day too and that tomorrow will be awesome.
My new student, Isaac is 10 and he is taking both singing and piano. I am very pleased with what he did today. We started one Christmas vocal song - Ding Dong Merrily on High, and a few pages for his piano book. Overall, he did really well. He also seems to have a good music teacher at his school and it shows. Benjy and Joiene did pretty well since they don't really practice at all. I don't know why but they don't. Benjy played his Christmas Songs pretty well and Joiene, when she played them, she did pretty good. Both Breanna and Brianne did awesome. Brianne is learning to play a jump base song. It is a challenge for her because she has never really had her left hand jump around the notes like this before. She is such a nice girl. Next week her sister Brooke will be moving her lessons to Thursday after her sister's lesson. Breanna is also doing very well. She has her vocal Christmas song that she is singing and accompanying herself with the guitar. It will be awesome. She was also going to sing and play Jingle Bell Rock, but she is having problems with the guitar part so we will use a piano track instead. It works for me. Breanna is doing well with her piano but she doesn't want to play the piano in the concert. I told her that was fine because it is. If she isn't ready to perform piano, then she doesn't have to play the piano in the concert. Laith is doing very well with new hand positions that he has never played before. His Joy to the World is really doing well. He not only learned to play in middle D position, but we added sharps, dotted quarter notes, and eighth notes. Laith is such a trooper and is really doing very well with his challenging pieces. We started the first page of Here Comes Santa Claus. That piece has 2 hand positions and I think he will do very well with it. All in all, I have to say that a musical day is definitely the way to go! I don't think I could handle a day like today every single day, but once a week is okay. Although, I will normally have a break between Laith's lesson and choir.
I am not quite as exhausted as I was when I came in from choir. I am still rather tired though. I do plan to head for bed soon especially since I am getting up earlier than usual to go and get Maia. My flare seems to be gone now. My left hip is doing very well and seems back to normal. My shoulder and arm were getting rather sore at practice, but nothing too bad. I am just glad that the flare seems to be gone and I hope it stays that way.
I do hope you have had a good day too and that tomorrow will be awesome.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday 10-26
I had only 2 lessons today, Allison and Beth. Allison is working on 1 of her Christmas pieces and she finished her 2 musical theatre selections. I am hoping that her other Christmas Song comes in next week. I had to order it from another store as the original one does not have it yet and it has been over 2 weeks. The other store is shipping it to my house and it should be here rather shortly. Beth is working on her audition material for Jekyll and Hyde. She is doing very well. The audition is next weekend so we have one more lesson before the audition to polish everything up. Beth works very hard. She practices regularly so I figure by next week she will be ready to go.
I have to copy some music for Laith tonight. We will be starting his Christmas songs tomorrow. I think I copied one already, but I am not sure. Either way, I will have it ready for him. I have 6 lessons tomorrow including the new young man. I have to copy some Christmas music for him to sing tomorrow. We might as well start with that since the concert is about 5 weeks away. I have Brianne and Breanna tomorrow or at least as far as I know I do. Last week Breanna had to cancel. I really hope she has her lesson tomorrow. I miss my students when they don't have lessons.
I am very tired tonight. I didn't want to get up today. I was just so tired. I don't know why I was so tired today but I was. It seems like it will be an early night for a change. I think I was awake until about 2 am. I would really rather be asleep by midnight. Then I would get up a bit earlier (I don't want to get up too early now!) and get a few things done. I think I am just not feeling well tonight. I hope it goes away tomorrow and I feel back to normal.
Tomorrow is choir. I do like going to choir. My hip seems to be back to normal so that is good. I should be able to make it to church on Sunday morning. That is my goal anyways. I like singing in a choir again. I just wish that church was a few hours later than it is. That would be so nice but it isn't so I will go at the proper time.
I look forward to all the lessons I have tomorrow. Thursday are a good day for teaching as I usually have 6 lessons and choir practice. I hope you are having a good day today.
I have to copy some music for Laith tonight. We will be starting his Christmas songs tomorrow. I think I copied one already, but I am not sure. Either way, I will have it ready for him. I have 6 lessons tomorrow including the new young man. I have to copy some Christmas music for him to sing tomorrow. We might as well start with that since the concert is about 5 weeks away. I have Brianne and Breanna tomorrow or at least as far as I know I do. Last week Breanna had to cancel. I really hope she has her lesson tomorrow. I miss my students when they don't have lessons.
I am very tired tonight. I didn't want to get up today. I was just so tired. I don't know why I was so tired today but I was. It seems like it will be an early night for a change. I think I was awake until about 2 am. I would really rather be asleep by midnight. Then I would get up a bit earlier (I don't want to get up too early now!) and get a few things done. I think I am just not feeling well tonight. I hope it goes away tomorrow and I feel back to normal.
Tomorrow is choir. I do like going to choir. My hip seems to be back to normal so that is good. I should be able to make it to church on Sunday morning. That is my goal anyways. I like singing in a choir again. I just wish that church was a few hours later than it is. That would be so nice but it isn't so I will go at the proper time.
I look forward to all the lessons I have tomorrow. Thursday are a good day for teaching as I usually have 6 lessons and choir practice. I hope you are having a good day today.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
NCIS night Tuesday 10-25
It was a busyish day today. I had Brooke's lesson, Aaiyanna's lesson, and Charlie's lesson. I had to get some music for Aaiyanna before her lesson. I am missing the CD that goes with it so I have to pull out the original so I can make copies of it. I just had it a few weeks ago so I don't understand why I don't have it right now. it is bothering me that I can't find it. I hope that as soon as I copy the original, I will find the other copy. That is what usually happens to me so I am hoping that will happen this time.
I have been wanting a table runner to go on my mother's dresser and some small cloths or doilies for her nightstand. I had some but when the room was emptied, they went too. I have looked on line and it was hard to know exactly what I wanted especially because I really liked the ones we had. I went into Walmart tonight and at first I was disappointed in what they had but then I went to another section of the store and right there in front of me was a pretty, lacy, white table runner with 2 doilies that will go on the nightstands. They are all very pretty and they were only about $4. That was a nice surprise. I don't have a lot of money to spend on this, so this was pretty awesome.
I have been so excited that my left shoulder has been doing much better. After a couple of years of getting used to a frozen shoulder, it is nice to be able to move it a bit more again. It started hurting a bit this afternoon, but I think the rainy and cold weather is really the culprit this time. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow too. I have to go and pick up some music for Isaac tomorrow for his lesson on Thursday. I am also hoping that the Christmas book is in too. I need it soon! Allison can't start her other Christmas song without it.
I have to finish putting Calli's songs in Finale this week before Friday. I think I need a new mouse pad because mine is totally falling apart. I have some music fabric and I wonder if I could use some of that to make one. I don't know. I will look into it. I looked on Amazon and they have the most beautiful mouse pad. I just ordered it. The shipping cost more than the actual mouse pad, however, they don't carry this one in stores. I have looked at some of the music stores and they don't have them. I am going to work on Calli's songs again tomorrow. It doesn't take too long, but I am so very tired today that it is best I wait until tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I don't get Lily after all. The orthodontist cancelled her appointment because of a family emergency. Darn. I really was looking forward to my girl. Well, another time! It probably is a good idea that she not miss any part of tomorrow because she is having surgery on Thursday and will be out of school for a few days. I am just not sure how much she will miss.
I must copy some more Christmas music for my little ones this week. Emily needs to start her Christmas music this week and so does Laith. I will do that tomorrow so I have them for the rest of the week. So far, Emily and Laith are about the only ones (except for Isaac since he is just starting) who haven't started their Christmas music. I am almost ready to start working on competition music! I am thankful to be so busy. I emailed a few more teachers asking if they are interested in judging for us this year at competition. I have hit several brick walls. I have 3 teachers interested so far. 2 for Saturday and Sunday and 1 for all three days. However, I need more. This is very nerve wrecking job. I am not sure I want to do this one again. I think some of the other jobs I have done are more interesting. The newsletter about competition and the concert went out last week and this week. I will put the rest of the Christmas music away that I didn't need and start pulling out the Competition music. I don't expect to have a lot of students going this year, but that is okay. I know that Breanna really wants to go but her family already has a vacation planned so she isn't sure she will be going. Katie and Rebecca made be my only ones going this year. Maybe after my new students have had lessons after one year will be interested in going.
NCIS is on right now. It is such a good show. I think it is one of my favorites. I don't know what my favorite show of all time is though. There are so many good ones. Oh my! A twist I never expected! You will have to watch to see the twist. NCIS Los Angeles will be on after the regular NCIS.
I am hoping to see my friends Jennie or Wendy some day next week. I saw them a couple of weeks ago at the reunion. It was such a good time.
I had a good day. I remembered to go to the bank and the post office before lessons. I had good lessons. I do hope your day was good too.
I have been wanting a table runner to go on my mother's dresser and some small cloths or doilies for her nightstand. I had some but when the room was emptied, they went too. I have looked on line and it was hard to know exactly what I wanted especially because I really liked the ones we had. I went into Walmart tonight and at first I was disappointed in what they had but then I went to another section of the store and right there in front of me was a pretty, lacy, white table runner with 2 doilies that will go on the nightstands. They are all very pretty and they were only about $4. That was a nice surprise. I don't have a lot of money to spend on this, so this was pretty awesome.
I have been so excited that my left shoulder has been doing much better. After a couple of years of getting used to a frozen shoulder, it is nice to be able to move it a bit more again. It started hurting a bit this afternoon, but I think the rainy and cold weather is really the culprit this time. It is supposed to rain again tomorrow too. I have to go and pick up some music for Isaac tomorrow for his lesson on Thursday. I am also hoping that the Christmas book is in too. I need it soon! Allison can't start her other Christmas song without it.
I have to finish putting Calli's songs in Finale this week before Friday. I think I need a new mouse pad because mine is totally falling apart. I have some music fabric and I wonder if I could use some of that to make one. I don't know. I will look into it. I looked on Amazon and they have the most beautiful mouse pad. I just ordered it. The shipping cost more than the actual mouse pad, however, they don't carry this one in stores. I have looked at some of the music stores and they don't have them. I am going to work on Calli's songs again tomorrow. It doesn't take too long, but I am so very tired today that it is best I wait until tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I don't get Lily after all. The orthodontist cancelled her appointment because of a family emergency. Darn. I really was looking forward to my girl. Well, another time! It probably is a good idea that she not miss any part of tomorrow because she is having surgery on Thursday and will be out of school for a few days. I am just not sure how much she will miss.
I must copy some more Christmas music for my little ones this week. Emily needs to start her Christmas music this week and so does Laith. I will do that tomorrow so I have them for the rest of the week. So far, Emily and Laith are about the only ones (except for Isaac since he is just starting) who haven't started their Christmas music. I am almost ready to start working on competition music! I am thankful to be so busy. I emailed a few more teachers asking if they are interested in judging for us this year at competition. I have hit several brick walls. I have 3 teachers interested so far. 2 for Saturday and Sunday and 1 for all three days. However, I need more. This is very nerve wrecking job. I am not sure I want to do this one again. I think some of the other jobs I have done are more interesting. The newsletter about competition and the concert went out last week and this week. I will put the rest of the Christmas music away that I didn't need and start pulling out the Competition music. I don't expect to have a lot of students going this year, but that is okay. I know that Breanna really wants to go but her family already has a vacation planned so she isn't sure she will be going. Katie and Rebecca made be my only ones going this year. Maybe after my new students have had lessons after one year will be interested in going.
NCIS is on right now. It is such a good show. I think it is one of my favorites. I don't know what my favorite show of all time is though. There are so many good ones. Oh my! A twist I never expected! You will have to watch to see the twist. NCIS Los Angeles will be on after the regular NCIS.
I am hoping to see my friends Jennie or Wendy some day next week. I saw them a couple of weeks ago at the reunion. It was such a good time.
I had a good day. I remembered to go to the bank and the post office before lessons. I had good lessons. I do hope your day was good too.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Another Monday 10-24
I have 1 more new student that will be taking both voice and piano! It is an old family friend's son. This young man's dad is my older brother's best friend so his dad has known me since I was a baby. In fact, he knew me from the minute I came home from the hospital. I am excited about teaching his son. He will be here this week a different day so that we can get started. His first lesson would have been on Halloween and no one wants to have a lesson on Halloween? I will have Bob and Rachel's but their lessons are before the start of trick or treating plus Bob is an adult so he doesn't really care about trick or treating. Rachel has her lessons right after school so it doesn't interfere with trick or treating. I plan to be hiding in my house during trick or treating.
I get Lily on Wednesday! Okay, I don't get her for a long time, but hey, I will have her for part of the day! I am picking her up from school, taking her to the orthodontist and then back to school. I haven't seen the young lady live and in person in a while, so I am excited about this.
I have to get up a bit early tomorrow so I make sure I get to the bank. I have the property tax payment to mail (I am so excited because it is the biggest payment I have made yet). This is going right on schedule so I am happy about that. I was talking on the phone so I missed the bank today. I also have to go to the post office and get stamps.
Oh my, there are Christmas commercials on right now. Wow, it is a bit early. There are about 62 days until Christmas, can we get through Halloween and Thanksgiving first? I have to clear off my dining room table so I can put my new harvest tablecloth on. There is so much music and teaching CDs on my table that it is a good think no one else needs to sit at this table right now. I do need a new Christmas tablecloth as all of mine were donated a year ago along with a lot of other things. I do have a really pretty cloth one, but for everyday use, I want to use a vinyl one. On Christmas Eve I will pull out the pretty one for those two days. It is a table cloth that my momma would pull out right before Christmas. I don't think there really is anything in this house that doesn't remind me about Mom. I don't really mind. I don't think it adds to my missing her. If anything, it is comforting to among her things and in the house I grew up in. I think Lily will help again this year with the Christmas decorations. I have found a few more Disney decorations in the family room and my room. I also found an ornament meant for Andrew that Mom and I must have forgotten about. I know it is his since his name is on it. I will give it to him the next time I see him, whenever that will be. I will be starting on my Christmas ornaments soon. Some material is in my room and some is in the family room. I bought the quilting batting last week at Walmart. I have jingle bells and ribbon in one of my sewing boxes. I do need to consolidate my sewing boxes as I have about 4 of them with small amounts of stuff in them. I have a really nice one in Mom's room right now. Mom and I each bought one but we never used them. Once the sewing room is put in order, I will take care of the extra boxes. I think one of my cousins would like one of my sewing boxes. She has commented about it before. If she would like it, I will give it to her. I also need to clear the dining room table so I have room for sewing too. I have to see how many I need too. Everyone is getting homemade gifts this year. I love making gifts by hand. It is so fun and always unique. Mom always loved homemade stuff best too. That was just Mom. I have a lot of Mom in me, I think. She used to tease me and call me her carbon copy. I do have many of her features too.
I have had a good day. I am tired now. I will be heading to bed soon. I hope your day was good too.
I get Lily on Wednesday! Okay, I don't get her for a long time, but hey, I will have her for part of the day! I am picking her up from school, taking her to the orthodontist and then back to school. I haven't seen the young lady live and in person in a while, so I am excited about this.
I have to get up a bit early tomorrow so I make sure I get to the bank. I have the property tax payment to mail (I am so excited because it is the biggest payment I have made yet). This is going right on schedule so I am happy about that. I was talking on the phone so I missed the bank today. I also have to go to the post office and get stamps.
Oh my, there are Christmas commercials on right now. Wow, it is a bit early. There are about 62 days until Christmas, can we get through Halloween and Thanksgiving first? I have to clear off my dining room table so I can put my new harvest tablecloth on. There is so much music and teaching CDs on my table that it is a good think no one else needs to sit at this table right now. I do need a new Christmas tablecloth as all of mine were donated a year ago along with a lot of other things. I do have a really pretty cloth one, but for everyday use, I want to use a vinyl one. On Christmas Eve I will pull out the pretty one for those two days. It is a table cloth that my momma would pull out right before Christmas. I don't think there really is anything in this house that doesn't remind me about Mom. I don't really mind. I don't think it adds to my missing her. If anything, it is comforting to among her things and in the house I grew up in. I think Lily will help again this year with the Christmas decorations. I have found a few more Disney decorations in the family room and my room. I also found an ornament meant for Andrew that Mom and I must have forgotten about. I know it is his since his name is on it. I will give it to him the next time I see him, whenever that will be. I will be starting on my Christmas ornaments soon. Some material is in my room and some is in the family room. I bought the quilting batting last week at Walmart. I have jingle bells and ribbon in one of my sewing boxes. I do need to consolidate my sewing boxes as I have about 4 of them with small amounts of stuff in them. I have a really nice one in Mom's room right now. Mom and I each bought one but we never used them. Once the sewing room is put in order, I will take care of the extra boxes. I think one of my cousins would like one of my sewing boxes. She has commented about it before. If she would like it, I will give it to her. I also need to clear the dining room table so I have room for sewing too. I have to see how many I need too. Everyone is getting homemade gifts this year. I love making gifts by hand. It is so fun and always unique. Mom always loved homemade stuff best too. That was just Mom. I have a lot of Mom in me, I think. She used to tease me and call me her carbon copy. I do have many of her features too.
I have had a good day. I am tired now. I will be heading to bed soon. I hope your day was good too.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday 10-23
I ended up not going to church this morning. My hip was so bad I could barely walk to the bathroom and back. It is somewhat better now, but really, couldn't it have been okay this morning? I was awake on time and everything. Oh well, better luck next week.
I had Rick's lesson this evening but I didn't have Katie's. I don't know what happened, but she didn't come. I called her but she wasn't available to answer the phone. I figure I shall speak with her tomorrow or sometime this week. I just hope my girl is okay. Everyone forgets once in a while (including me!) so that part isn't so bad. Katie has never forgotten before, I just worry that she is ill or something happened to her. She is a wonderful girl and student. Everyone just loves Katie especially my younger students. She is very good with children. Anyways, I did call and leave a couple of messages for her so I look forward to her calling me back. Rick did very well with his lessons. He is going to be gone for most of November and all of December so these next two weeks we are going to be wrapping up the songs he is working on right now so that in January we will start something brand new. He is going to Hawaii and India. I am hoping he is going to have a good time. I have been to Hawaii and it is simply beautiful. I spent about a week in Maui one summer for a writing conference. I was glad I went a few days early because once the conference started, we were busy everyday all day and evening long. Mom was originally going to go with me, but she got laid off a few months before so she couldn't go with me. I called her (naturally) at least once a day to let her know what was going on. I had a really good time and learned an awful lot from the conference. Mom would have liked to have gone too. She liked to go with me to these type things. I went on cruise to Mexico that had a travel writing course. Mom came with me. Because we got the cabins at a major discount and I didn't want to share with a stranger, I had to pay for the entire cabin so I asked Mom if she wanted to go. If I have to pay for 2 people, then I should bring someone with me, that was my thinking. Mom said sure, she would love to go. I hadn't bought the airline tickets yet because I was just booking the trip. After I booked us on the cruise, I went to book our flights. It was the craziest thing because I had checked the price before I booked the trip and then I checked after with the two of us. Well, at the time they had a special for seniors so it cost me $16 more to have mom come with me! I booked our flights and told mom how much her flight was. She was so cute, I told her she didn't have to give me the money for the flight, it was no big deal. Mom went upstairs and came down with $16 and handed it to me. She wanted to pay for her own flight. I giggled. Mom was smiling at how much the flight was. She said she needed to pay her own way. I just laughed. So that November, Mom and I packed and headed to the ship docked in Los Angeles, CA. I had never been to California before. Mom and I had a blast on the cruise. We went on a few excursions that were awesome. We just like so much of the same stuff that we rarely had disagreements of what to do. Mom and i had such a good time. I took soooo many pictures. I just wish I had taken more pictures of her and I in addition to what we saw there. I have since learned you can never have too many pictures of the people you love. This was also the trip where the wind literally picked Mom up and moved her 3ft. She had gotten in the habit to go and walk on the walkway at the top of the ship. This day was super windy and a bit chilly. We were heading back to LA. Apparently, the wind was so strong (remember she weighed about 95 pounds at this time) that it picked her up and moved her. Mom was so frightened. She hung on to the rail and headed back inside. There was another older lady like mom ready to go out. Mom told her what had happened to her and suggested she not go out as she was super small like mom. the lady thanked Mom for letting her know and then suggested that the two of them go and walk on the treadmills that were in the fitness room. It was nice that mom made a friend even if it was on the last day at sea. When Mom met me for lunch, I was so upset over the fact that mom could have been thrown overboard that I couldn't really eat lunch. Mom was fine, she was over the upset, I was not. That was also the day I fell on the floor and bent my tailbone back to where it belonged. I got up for lunch and slipped on the wet floor. There was no sign at that point (it had just happened and the crew person was getting the sign and something to clean it up). My feet just flew out from underneath me. Mom helped me up. I was rather embarrassed but I wasn't hurt or anything. After we got off the ship we headed to a bus tour of LA. We stopped in a few places and had lunch and a good time before we headed back to the airport for our flight home. I would say this was one of the best trips we took before the Alzheimer's really started to her downhill. The next trips we took were to Disney and to Richard's when he lived in North Caroline. He is on the west coast now so I don't see him very much at all, even if he were speaking to me. Mom and I went to Disney about 6 times between 2004 and 2008. It was a lot of fun. I could have taken her somewhere new but I thought she would remember Disney and remember how much fun we had there so that is why we went. Every time we went, it was so much fun. The cast members are so nice and helpful. I had my scooter with us too. We also did go to Disney's Vero Beach for New Year's in 2006. It was great. We went with Richard and his family. It was a great time.
Here are some pictures of Mom and I in Mexico:
I had Rick's lesson this evening but I didn't have Katie's. I don't know what happened, but she didn't come. I called her but she wasn't available to answer the phone. I figure I shall speak with her tomorrow or sometime this week. I just hope my girl is okay. Everyone forgets once in a while (including me!) so that part isn't so bad. Katie has never forgotten before, I just worry that she is ill or something happened to her. She is a wonderful girl and student. Everyone just loves Katie especially my younger students. She is very good with children. Anyways, I did call and leave a couple of messages for her so I look forward to her calling me back. Rick did very well with his lessons. He is going to be gone for most of November and all of December so these next two weeks we are going to be wrapping up the songs he is working on right now so that in January we will start something brand new. He is going to Hawaii and India. I am hoping he is going to have a good time. I have been to Hawaii and it is simply beautiful. I spent about a week in Maui one summer for a writing conference. I was glad I went a few days early because once the conference started, we were busy everyday all day and evening long. Mom was originally going to go with me, but she got laid off a few months before so she couldn't go with me. I called her (naturally) at least once a day to let her know what was going on. I had a really good time and learned an awful lot from the conference. Mom would have liked to have gone too. She liked to go with me to these type things. I went on cruise to Mexico that had a travel writing course. Mom came with me. Because we got the cabins at a major discount and I didn't want to share with a stranger, I had to pay for the entire cabin so I asked Mom if she wanted to go. If I have to pay for 2 people, then I should bring someone with me, that was my thinking. Mom said sure, she would love to go. I hadn't bought the airline tickets yet because I was just booking the trip. After I booked us on the cruise, I went to book our flights. It was the craziest thing because I had checked the price before I booked the trip and then I checked after with the two of us. Well, at the time they had a special for seniors so it cost me $16 more to have mom come with me! I booked our flights and told mom how much her flight was. She was so cute, I told her she didn't have to give me the money for the flight, it was no big deal. Mom went upstairs and came down with $16 and handed it to me. She wanted to pay for her own flight. I giggled. Mom was smiling at how much the flight was. She said she needed to pay her own way. I just laughed. So that November, Mom and I packed and headed to the ship docked in Los Angeles, CA. I had never been to California before. Mom and I had a blast on the cruise. We went on a few excursions that were awesome. We just like so much of the same stuff that we rarely had disagreements of what to do. Mom and i had such a good time. I took soooo many pictures. I just wish I had taken more pictures of her and I in addition to what we saw there. I have since learned you can never have too many pictures of the people you love. This was also the trip where the wind literally picked Mom up and moved her 3ft. She had gotten in the habit to go and walk on the walkway at the top of the ship. This day was super windy and a bit chilly. We were heading back to LA. Apparently, the wind was so strong (remember she weighed about 95 pounds at this time) that it picked her up and moved her. Mom was so frightened. She hung on to the rail and headed back inside. There was another older lady like mom ready to go out. Mom told her what had happened to her and suggested she not go out as she was super small like mom. the lady thanked Mom for letting her know and then suggested that the two of them go and walk on the treadmills that were in the fitness room. It was nice that mom made a friend even if it was on the last day at sea. When Mom met me for lunch, I was so upset over the fact that mom could have been thrown overboard that I couldn't really eat lunch. Mom was fine, she was over the upset, I was not. That was also the day I fell on the floor and bent my tailbone back to where it belonged. I got up for lunch and slipped on the wet floor. There was no sign at that point (it had just happened and the crew person was getting the sign and something to clean it up). My feet just flew out from underneath me. Mom helped me up. I was rather embarrassed but I wasn't hurt or anything. After we got off the ship we headed to a bus tour of LA. We stopped in a few places and had lunch and a good time before we headed back to the airport for our flight home. I would say this was one of the best trips we took before the Alzheimer's really started to her downhill. The next trips we took were to Disney and to Richard's when he lived in North Caroline. He is on the west coast now so I don't see him very much at all, even if he were speaking to me. Mom and I went to Disney about 6 times between 2004 and 2008. It was a lot of fun. I could have taken her somewhere new but I thought she would remember Disney and remember how much fun we had there so that is why we went. Every time we went, it was so much fun. The cast members are so nice and helpful. I had my scooter with us too. We also did go to Disney's Vero Beach for New Year's in 2006. It was great. We went with Richard and his family. It was a great time.
Here are some pictures of Mom and I in Mexico:
I do hope you are having a good day too!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
what did I do???? 10-22
I have no idea what I did but the hip that has been bothering me so much these last few weeks is worse today than ever. It was getting better until this morning. I really don't know what I did but walking is a problem. It hurts to stand. It isn't so bad when I sit but when I stand or walk it is really bad. It is not fun, let me tell you. I am sure this flare will be better by tomorrow. I sure hope so because I have to sing at church tomorrow and I don't want to be in extra pain.
Anyways, outside of the extra pain from the flare, things are fine for the day. I had 2 lessons earlier and will have to lessons in the evening tomorrow. Both Rick and Katie needed later day lessons. I don't have a problem with that. I will get up super early for church (don't laugh too hard - the alarm goes off at 6:50 am) and then head to church. After church, I will come home, have lunch, and then head to bed for a nap. At this point, I will really need it. Since the lessons are in the evening, I don't have to worry about setting the alarm again so I wake up at the proper time. I will be cleaning off the dining room table (it is totally covered with music and CDs and receipts) so I can put my harvest/thanksgiving table cloth on. It is really pretty. It is vinyl like the others but I like it because you can't get stains on it. Otherwise I have to put a plastic sheet over the cloth tablecloth. This way, I don't have to do anything about it! Talk about a good plan! I was going to put the Halloween one, but since I don't particularly like Halloween, I am just going to skip that holiday. I just don't really like Halloween. Mom really liked it. She was the one who wanted to pass out the candy and decorate the house. I just left it up to her. Now that she is in Heaven, I am just skipping this holiday. I will either go out to eat or hide in my house. One or the other, on Halloween. I like Thanksgiving and Christmas much better. I love Valentine's Day, not so much for the Valentines but for the legend behind Valentine's Day. Easter is awesome. What could be better? I mean to really sit there and think that someone loves you so much that he was tortured and crucified for your sins. It totally boggles the mind. I do like Independence Day. I also decorate for Canada day as I feel I should honor both countries, the one of my birth and the one I grew up in. I was born in Canada but raised here in USA. I never become a US citizen because I wanted my children to be the first Americans. I thought that was cool and the American Dream. Now that I can't have children and won't be having any, I am saving up to become a citizen. I know I can pass the test because I went to school here and I know my history. I won't have to take any classes like many do because I did go to school in the US and that makes me exempt from them. I have to write down and keep track how often I leave the country. You have to have this info for the last 5 years so since I have no idea, and I travel to see family every so often, I am starting to keep track now.
So, I am looking forward to decorating my house for Christmas. The wonderful Lily and her mom, Julie will be coming to help again. Lily is having surgery on her foot this coming Thursday, so if you could send a prayer or to our way, it would be much appreciated! Lily will have the other foot done at Christmas time. I just love Lily and her sisters. I am going to get another gingerbread house for Lily this year only I am going to buy some other candy to put on it because I am not sure she likes what is on it.
I am going to read for a while. I was planning on doing some vacuuming, but with the hip in a flare, it will just have to wait. There is no way around that one. I do hope your day is going well too!
Anyways, outside of the extra pain from the flare, things are fine for the day. I had 2 lessons earlier and will have to lessons in the evening tomorrow. Both Rick and Katie needed later day lessons. I don't have a problem with that. I will get up super early for church (don't laugh too hard - the alarm goes off at 6:50 am) and then head to church. After church, I will come home, have lunch, and then head to bed for a nap. At this point, I will really need it. Since the lessons are in the evening, I don't have to worry about setting the alarm again so I wake up at the proper time. I will be cleaning off the dining room table (it is totally covered with music and CDs and receipts) so I can put my harvest/thanksgiving table cloth on. It is really pretty. It is vinyl like the others but I like it because you can't get stains on it. Otherwise I have to put a plastic sheet over the cloth tablecloth. This way, I don't have to do anything about it! Talk about a good plan! I was going to put the Halloween one, but since I don't particularly like Halloween, I am just going to skip that holiday. I just don't really like Halloween. Mom really liked it. She was the one who wanted to pass out the candy and decorate the house. I just left it up to her. Now that she is in Heaven, I am just skipping this holiday. I will either go out to eat or hide in my house. One or the other, on Halloween. I like Thanksgiving and Christmas much better. I love Valentine's Day, not so much for the Valentines but for the legend behind Valentine's Day. Easter is awesome. What could be better? I mean to really sit there and think that someone loves you so much that he was tortured and crucified for your sins. It totally boggles the mind. I do like Independence Day. I also decorate for Canada day as I feel I should honor both countries, the one of my birth and the one I grew up in. I was born in Canada but raised here in USA. I never become a US citizen because I wanted my children to be the first Americans. I thought that was cool and the American Dream. Now that I can't have children and won't be having any, I am saving up to become a citizen. I know I can pass the test because I went to school here and I know my history. I won't have to take any classes like many do because I did go to school in the US and that makes me exempt from them. I have to write down and keep track how often I leave the country. You have to have this info for the last 5 years so since I have no idea, and I travel to see family every so often, I am starting to keep track now.
So, I am looking forward to decorating my house for Christmas. The wonderful Lily and her mom, Julie will be coming to help again. Lily is having surgery on her foot this coming Thursday, so if you could send a prayer or to our way, it would be much appreciated! Lily will have the other foot done at Christmas time. I just love Lily and her sisters. I am going to get another gingerbread house for Lily this year only I am going to buy some other candy to put on it because I am not sure she likes what is on it.
I am going to read for a while. I was planning on doing some vacuuming, but with the hip in a flare, it will just have to wait. There is no way around that one. I do hope your day is going well too!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday 10-21
I slept in this afternoon. I was so tired. I don't really know why I was extra tired but I was. Tomorrow I have to get up a bit earlier than usual because I have early lessons. I don't mind. Sandra is only every other week at this point. I will also have Camille tomorrow. Today I have Acer, Calli, and Emily. Acer is working on "When the Saints Go Marching In." He now has both hands down pat and the entire song. Calli is working on her Christmas pieces. She is playing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "The Little Drummer Boy". We have only started the Hark the Herald now. She knows all of her right hand and the first page of her left hand. I am very pleased with her progress. Acer will start his Christmas song next week. He started his vocal Christmas Song today. He is singing "Mary Had a Little Baby". It is a beautiful spiritual that he sings very well. Calli is singing "Ave Maria" and "In the Bleak Midwinter". She sings them both really well. She knows In the Bleak really well and we are working on the first verse of Ave. We should be starting the second verse next week. She has such a lovely voice, and her range, oh my, she has about a 3 octave range and she is 11! Yes, I said 11! It is very unusual but wonderful that she is so gifted with music. Emily is borrowing my Theory Games CD. She is going to load it on her computer and play the game. It is part of her assignment now. I think she will like it a lot. She is such a good student. She still has trouble with notes but only some of them. I do think the computer game will work well for her and help her with her notes.
My left shoulder had been giving me a lot of problem for the last 2 years. I have bursitis in that shoulder but for some reason, it has been doing much better! I can lift my arm up. I still can't put it behind my back very well, but I can lift it up! I was excited when I discovered this this week. I went to lift my arm up to reach and normally when I forget and use the wrong arm, it hurts. Well, it took me a few minutes to realize that it was the wrong arm but it didn't hurt! Now, if only my left hip would be this better. I am so excited about my left shoulder though. I knew eventually some of the shoulder would come back to normal but I didn't know when. I am glad that I have more mobility with it for now. I will take what I can get that is for sure!
So far this week has been decent. Tuesday, the anniversary, wasn't as bad as I feared and the rest of the week was good with lessons. I only had 1 absence, Breanna, yesterday. I had Brooke and Brianne who were new. Brooke had 1 lesson about 3 weeks ago but it was Brianne's first lesson with me. I think we did well together. Both Brooke and Brianne picked their Christmas music and started the songs. So far almost everyone has started their music except for a few that will be starting this coming week. I should have an idea in the next week or two when the Christmas Concert will be. After I have all the music copied and passed out, it will be time to find out who is going to competition. I know that Katie, Rebecca, and Aggie are planning to go but I am not sure who else will be going. I don't have major plans for Saturday or Sunday except for lessons like last week, but that is okay. Last weekend was wonderful from the parade on Friday to the reunion on Saturday and then Karlyn and crew's visit on Sunday evening. It was wonderful to see these friends of mine.
I have to say that without my friends, students and their families, and my family, I think this last year would have been even harder. It was the worst year of my life, hands down. It was worse than when my dad left, when my brother was kidnapped by my dad, or any other horrible incident. Losing my mother was the worst. I never imagined living a life without her and yet, I am. I am busy with my students and planning for a concert and the competition. I have found ways to do housework that I haven't been able to do in a few years. I learned new tricks to get dressed all by myself, something that hadn't happened for about 2 years before Mom passed away. I have learned a lot of things that I haven't done in a long time. I am pleased that I can be mostly independent where before I had to take care of mom all the time, she helped me with a lot of things I couldn't do on my own. Once Mom became to ill to help me, she and I had already devised ways for me to do these things on my own. That allowed me to be able to help Mom when she needed me. I do miss helping her all the time. She smiled so much and was so easy (most of the time) to work with. I came up with our routines and they worked for us. I just can't believe at times that it has been a year.
I do hope you are having a good day.
My left shoulder had been giving me a lot of problem for the last 2 years. I have bursitis in that shoulder but for some reason, it has been doing much better! I can lift my arm up. I still can't put it behind my back very well, but I can lift it up! I was excited when I discovered this this week. I went to lift my arm up to reach and normally when I forget and use the wrong arm, it hurts. Well, it took me a few minutes to realize that it was the wrong arm but it didn't hurt! Now, if only my left hip would be this better. I am so excited about my left shoulder though. I knew eventually some of the shoulder would come back to normal but I didn't know when. I am glad that I have more mobility with it for now. I will take what I can get that is for sure!
So far this week has been decent. Tuesday, the anniversary, wasn't as bad as I feared and the rest of the week was good with lessons. I only had 1 absence, Breanna, yesterday. I had Brooke and Brianne who were new. Brooke had 1 lesson about 3 weeks ago but it was Brianne's first lesson with me. I think we did well together. Both Brooke and Brianne picked their Christmas music and started the songs. So far almost everyone has started their music except for a few that will be starting this coming week. I should have an idea in the next week or two when the Christmas Concert will be. After I have all the music copied and passed out, it will be time to find out who is going to competition. I know that Katie, Rebecca, and Aggie are planning to go but I am not sure who else will be going. I don't have major plans for Saturday or Sunday except for lessons like last week, but that is okay. Last weekend was wonderful from the parade on Friday to the reunion on Saturday and then Karlyn and crew's visit on Sunday evening. It was wonderful to see these friends of mine.
I have to say that without my friends, students and their families, and my family, I think this last year would have been even harder. It was the worst year of my life, hands down. It was worse than when my dad left, when my brother was kidnapped by my dad, or any other horrible incident. Losing my mother was the worst. I never imagined living a life without her and yet, I am. I am busy with my students and planning for a concert and the competition. I have found ways to do housework that I haven't been able to do in a few years. I learned new tricks to get dressed all by myself, something that hadn't happened for about 2 years before Mom passed away. I have learned a lot of things that I haven't done in a long time. I am pleased that I can be mostly independent where before I had to take care of mom all the time, she helped me with a lot of things I couldn't do on my own. Once Mom became to ill to help me, she and I had already devised ways for me to do these things on my own. That allowed me to be able to help Mom when she needed me. I do miss helping her all the time. She smiled so much and was so easy (most of the time) to work with. I came up with our routines and they worked for us. I just can't believe at times that it has been a year.
I do hope you are having a good day.
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