Friday 1-20

Fridays are usually quiet with a few lessons and that is about it.  I usually get my hair washed and dried on Fridays after lessons but because of the storm we are getting, they must have closed early.  It is kind of a bummer for me.  I guess I should have gone earlier when I first got up or before my first lesson, but I didn't.  I waited.  The roads were not very good when I went out.  I went right there and came right home.  My cousin is supposed to come over tomorrow to shop and pick up some packages at my house, but I am not sure I will see her.  I will find out tomorrow.  I will check facebook right away when I get up to see if she will be arriving or not.  I have 2 lessons tomorrow.  One will be a rather long one because we are actually doing 2 lessons at that time, the other will be a regular lesson.  After that, my cousin is supposed to stop by and pick up the packages then Calli and I will go grocery shopping.  Tomorrow night is game night at Heather B-T's house.  That should be fun.  Sunday will be church in the morning with 2 make up lessons in the afternoon.  It should be lots of fun.  I am looking forward to going grocery shopping with Calli.  She is such fun to go shopping with.  Calli is very independent, very.  She likes to be in charge of the scooter when we are in line.  She likes turning it off when she wants.  Calli also likes to steer the scooter.  If the part of the store we are in is not busy, I will let her help steer however, if it is busy she just holds on to the cart part of the scooter.  We have so many giggles when we are shopping.  She likes to take things off the shelf and put them in the cart.  I just direct her to the shelf that the items are on and she picks them up.  Calli is very much a big help to me, not just company, although she is very good company too!

Emily is doing better on her notes this week.  I think the computer game was really helping her but her dad got a new computer for Christmas and the new computer doesn't have the computer game on it.  Breanna has it right now so when she gives it back next week, I will give it to Emily.  The game seems to help all the students.  I have noticed that several students who were having trouble remembering their notes started improving when they started playing the computer game.  My goal is to have Emily know her notes down pat by the time she is finished with the level 1B book she is in.  I like to have all the students really well by the time they start level 2.  Usually by the end of level 1B the students know their notes really well.  Level 2 has them starting to move their hands away from the 5 finger positions that they are used to.  The songs are much more complicated too with 3 note chords instead of one note at a time in the bass clef.  I just wish the vocal music had level music books too.  The Royal Canadian Conservatory does have levels, but they don't have CDs to accompany them.  They still don't.  I do hope some day they do because there is some good music in them.

I wonder how much snow we have right now.  We are supposed to get about 4 or 5 inches overnight and into the morning.  I am so glad and grateful that my car is in the garage.  It is the first time in 15 or so years since my car has been in the garage.  I also like it because then no one knows whether or not I am at home and since I am avoiding certain people, it comes in handy.  I haven't heard from them so that is good.  I do hope they never call again.

I hope you have had a good day.  I am tired now.  I don't seem to be the extreme exhaustion that I had earlier in the week.  My tummy has actually been okay today and yesterday so maybe the episode is over.  I can only hope so.  Tomorrow I get up earlier than I do during the week because I teach earlier in the day than I do in the week.  Unlike most people, my Saturdays and Sundays are my early days while during the week I get up later.  I do hope you have a good day tomorrow!

a music filled day 1-19

The house was filled with music today.  I had a few lessons and then choir practice.  It was definitely a good day.  My students Deema and Wama are doing so well for their 2nd lesson.  I simply love the girls already.  they are so eager to learn all about piano.  Deema even went ahead.  She was on the black keys for her assignments and figured out middle C position by herself!  I mean, wow, how cool is that?  I was so pleased at her interest.  Her younger sister, Wama, is very excited too!  It is so nice to teach students who can't wait to learn.

Choir went pretty well.  We are singing a very powerful song on Sunday and not just the lyrics but the range!  As I no longer have a very top range, I often sing the second soprano notes when given a choice of super high notes.  I used to be able to pop those notes out without a problem, not anymore.  Now I can't hit them.  The highest I can now hit is the G on top of the treble staff.  Despite the limits to my high range, I love singing in the choir!  I really do.  there are some really nice people in the choir too.  One gentleman, Mark, has a granddaughter who 5 weeks ago had the same operation I had 28 years ago.  She is doing very well and went back to school this week.  His granddaughter seems to be doing really well and I am glad about that.

I am feeling a bit better tonight compared to the last few days.  Last night when I went to go to bed, I started having major tummy pains.  They lasted until about 3 to 4 am.  the last time I looked at the clock it was 4 am.  I hope for a better night tonight.  I will certainly pray for it.

Tomorrow will be a quiet type day.  I do have a few lessons so that will be good.  Acer and Calli will be here for their lessons as well as Emily.  It is also the day I go and get my hair done.  I go once a week to have someone wash and dry my hair.  I like the ladies who do my hair.  Usually, it is Monica but if she isn't there Cindy will do it.  I like them both. Well, off to do some reading before I head for bed shortly!  Hopefully I will have a much better night's sleep!  I do hope you have a good night too!

Wednesday 1-18

It has been a good day.  I had a few lessons, Rahul and the Richards' girls.  They are all so cute.  Allison did well today too.  She is working on confidence, she is getting better so I am happy with her progress.

My phone doesn't seem to be holding its charge now.  It is a concern for me.  I don't know if that means I should just get a new phone or a new battery for the phone.  I am so not good with phones.  This phone has been such a good little phone.  I have pictures of Mom on it so I need to somehow get them off of it.  I am just not sure what to do with it right now.  I have asked my friend, Ross, what to do.  He is a tech guy and good at it too.  I don't know how much a new phone even costs at this point.  I know that my contract is not up yet but when I was qualified to get a new phone, I didn't get one.  Phones are so very confusing!  I don't want of the touch type ones because I don't really like them.  I like the style of my phone even if the pictures are not super great.  I still like it a lot.  I just got an answer from Ross.  He said a new battery would be the way to go so I am going to.  I should be able to get it from Amazon.com.  The phone is charging right now so I hope it will last at least until tomorrow so I can research what type battery I need.

My old dining room table is at the end of the road right now.  So far, only the chair has been taken.  The other chairs are down in the family room.  They will get brought up and taken out soon.  I am not worried about that and they are not in the way in the family room.  It is awfully nice to have a nice library.  Whenever I finish a book, I just go down the stairs and get a new one.  I put one away and take the other up the stairs.  It is quite cool.  I am saving up for both a blue ray player and a new TV.  I am planning to get a small TV for the kitchen/dining room and take the one that is currently in the dining room back down in the family room.  The blue ray player is for the family room too.  I already have a DVD player in the family room.  I have one up in the dining room too.  The TV in the kitchen/dining room is the old style with a big back to it.  I want a slimmer one for that room.  It is still a really good TV, it just is too big for the kitchen/dining room.  Eventually I will repaint the kitchen/dining room.  First I need to put new flooring down for the entire kitchen/dining room/utility room floor.  The old floor is not a very good color anymore.  Maybe the new person who is coming to help me clean will be able to get some of the stains out of it.

My head is a bit sore more than usual this evening.  I don't have a sore throat but it seems like it is about to get sore.  It is a strange feeling.  I have felt like I am coming down with something all week.  I sure hope I am not.  I do not want or need a cold.  I have a busy day tomorrow with a few lessons and choir practice.  I am not sure what song we are singing this week in church.  I can't remember right now.  I will find out tomorrow.

Well, it is getting late and I am getting tired.  I will go to bed earlier than usual tonight because I teach a bit early tomorrow and I have to go to the bank before my evening lesson.  I owe one mom $2 because I was $2 short with change last week when she paid for books for her girls.  I hope you are having a good day.

Tuesday 1-17

It has been a rather raining, quiet day here.  My first student of the day did not show up.  I was not happy about it.  Her mom called about 45 minutes into what should have been her lesson.  Hopefully, she will make up the lesson this weekend.  My other two lessons did show up and they went pretty well.  Samuel is at the point where he is going to be learning lines and spaces.  Yeah, he is having trouble noticing the difference between a line note and a space note.  I do hope next week will be better for him.  Charlie did well as usual.  He is such a good student.

I am hoping to meet up with my friend, Jennie soon.  I went to high school with her.  She is very nice.  Face book reconnected us as well as other high school friends.  Face book is a good thing for reconnecting.  I also have reconnected with several college friends.  Anyways, I do hope to see her real soon.  I also hope to see Wendy soon too.  I haven't seen her for a few weeks.  She is having problems with her neck.  It doesn't sound too good.  I think we are all falling apart at times, physically at least.

I am going grocery shopping this Saturday with Calli then later that night will be game night.  We are playing Dungeons and Dragons, something I have never played before.  I am also hoping to have a game night here at my house to play monopoly or something like that.  I am not sure exactly what, but that is okay.  I also am going to have my aunt and uncle (and Jayson, my cousin) to come over for dinner  now that I have my nice new to me table set.  It actually makes my dining room look bigger than it really is.  I don't feel so cramped in now.

I am watching a show I have never seen before since NCIS is a re-run this evening.  I am watching "Still Standing".  It is really funny.  Now I wish I had a DVR because it is on the same time as NCIS and when it is a new NCIS, I have to watch my NCIS but this show is really funny.  It is also a Dance Moms and NCIS Los Angeles night.  *sigh* How to choose?  Pretty much every other night I am not that excited about TV and here on Tuesdays they have several good shows.  It isn't fair but I will work it out.  I can watch Dance Moms and NCIS on the computer.  This is such a good show!  It is too funny.

Dance Moms is really funny tonight.  The new Mom is just insane.  She just interrupted a dance rehearsal.  That is the worst thing to do in Abby Lee's studio.  I do think it is crazy how fast they have to not only learn, but perfect these dances.  A new one every week.  These girls are ages 7 to 13.  I will say though, they are wonderful dancers.  Absolutely wonderful.  They have great facial expressions and their technique is really good.  The next competition they are going to is "Rising Star".  I competed in Rising Star 20 years ago when I was a dancer.  I won at regionals 3rd highest score 12 and over.  I went to nationals that year too.  I got 4th place overall for solos.  I was happy with my score that is for sure.  The National Trophy is the only one I have left.  The rest were donated (without me knowing) a year and a half ago.  I was not that happy about it, but now it is okay because I can't get them back.  I am doing pretty well with letting some things go that have happened.  I am not completely there yet, but I am working on it.  I am glad that the trophy was saved.  It was in Mom's room.  Mom was really happy how I did.  I worked really hard for that.  I won first in my age group and then 4th overall.  I sang "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from "Phantom of the Opera".  I think somewhere in this house is the video Mom bought of my performance.  That was the last time I competed because starting the next fall, I was a full fledged teacher.  I would only send my students to the competitions and not compete myself.  Sometimes I miss the life at the Dance Studio, other times, I don't.  I miss the size I was at the time.  I have gained so much weight after I quit dancing.  I learned the hard way, you don't quit dancing 4 to 6 hours a day to doing absolutely no exercise what so ever!  Yup, I learned that one the hard way.  I also quit because the pain was just too much to deal with.  I had such a hard time with floor work and jumps because my muscles hurt so much all the time.  We didn't know at the time about Fibro or that I even had it.  I don't know what else I could have done if I did know, Mom and I tried everything I could.  She would put heating pads on my hips and legs, as well as Icy Hot.  Nothing ever worked, now I know why, but I didn't then.  Mom always came to my recitals and she did come to some of the competitions, especially my last year.  She was there at the Nationals too.

I got a really neat Picture Frame for Christmas.  I haven't figured out exactly what pictures I am putting in it yet.  It has a whole bunch of picture frames in the big one.  It is really pretty.  I have another one that has room for lots of pictures in it too.  I am spending the winter going through family pictures and seeing what pictures I want in them.  I have some nice pictures of friends too that will go in.  I hope I find the one picture of Kathy and I at her wedding.  I also have a really nice picture of Mom and I at the wedding too.  the photographer was also taking pictures of the wedding party and their significant others.  Since I didn't have one, I had my picture taken with Mom.  Kathy suggested it and I am very glad that she did because it came out very nicely.  I like that picture a lot.

I do hope your day has been good.  So far, I love my new dining room set.  I do feel bad that I got rid of my old one.  I have some memories attached to it, but it was about to fall apart and I don't have the time or the skills to redo it myself.  If Mom were here, we could do it together, but at this point, I am just not going to do it.  the chair that was put out there is gone but as of tonight when I turned off the light, the table was still there getting totally rained on.  It definitely needs to be refinished now after being in the elements now.  I do really like my little round table.  The chairs are pretty comfortable too.  I no longer have to sit on the office chair.  I can take it downstairs in the office soon.  I will leave it in the living room right now, but eventually it will go down in the office.

The table has arrived!

Yes!  It is here!  The new to me table!!!!!  Here is the final look of the table:

It is a bit smaller than the old one, about 1/3 smaller, but that is okay!  Less table for me to load down.  I can comfortably fit 5 or 6 people at the table and that is what counts.  I don't have a lot of company over anyhow so that is just fine.  I will have the next subdivision meeting of the board of directors here.  It will be the first time I have had them here in a few years.  It should be a good evening and I am looking forward to it.

It has been a slightly weird type day for me.  I was so exhausted last night.  I went to bed at 10 pm (which is not like me at all!) and woke up at 2 in the afternoon.  Yes, I said 2 pm.  I did wake up every few hours as usual because of pain.  I would get up very groggy and stand up, then turn and go back into bed.  I was very light headed this afternoon when I got up.  It was all very strange.  I am feeling alright now.  I am certainly not that tired right now that is for sure.  I do hope I am fine tomorrow too.

I have had a strange thing happen every night the last week or two at night in the middle or near morning part of the night.  For no reason, I will all of a sudden feel like I am going to throw up, sometimes I will for no reason and not really any warning.  I already take some medicine for acid reflux and I don't have it that bad so this is just really strange to me.  It is annoying to me and rather upsetting.  I am wondering if I should call my tummy doctor on this one.  It has been about 2 weeks since it starting.  It used to happen every so often, but now it is more than that.

I just got back from Walmart.  I decided that I needed a Valentine's Day table cloth for the new to me table.  I wasn't going to get one, just let the glass be the top.  Then the fingerprints (mine) kept showing so I thought, you know what, I am a table cloth kind of girl, so I got a new one.  I didn't have a Valentine's Day one anyways so I was going to get a new one.

My dear friend, Julie, just called a few minutes ago.  Oh my.  I knew she had not been feeling well, but I had no idea what was really going on.  I am so glad she told me.  Julie has a heart murmur and now the valve either needs to be replaced or a balloon put in it.  She thinks that it may be done as early as next week.  She has gone to a great hospital, the University of Michigan hospital so that is great news.  I am not sure if there is a test before she gets the procedure or not.  Now her heart is enlarged.  This is because the valve is not working well.  Once the procedure is done, whether they replace the valve or put a balloon in it, the doctor said in 4 to 6 months, the heart should go back to its normal size.  I sure hope so. If you can, please add Julie to your prayer list.  I would greatly appreciate it.  I am so glad she told me.  I was wondering what was going on.  While she was working here at my house she would get out of breath super easy.  I totally understand why now.  Julie sounds very up about this whole thing too.  I told her to let me know what needs to be done.  I will re-arrange lessons and have make ups if she needs help.  She is a very good friend and has been for many years now.

The snow is now gone.  It is about 42 degrees out this evening.  Light rain was falling as I was driving to and from the store.  I also got a couple of Valentine's Day window clings.  They are very cute.  I haven't even taken down the Christmas Decorations, and I am planning Valentine's Day decorations.  I am a silly at times.  I am getting a bit tired again, not like last night where I was so exhausted beyond belief.  I do hope not to sleep as much as I did last night.  I hope for a good night's sleep with waking up at the regular time.  

I finally took picture of the family that Julie helped me (she did a lot of the work) clean up and de-clutter.

I do hope you had a good day and evening.  

Sunday Evening 1-15

I am rather cold tonight.  I had to put the temperature up this evening in the house.  It was just too cold for me tonight even with a fleece jacket on.  I hope it heats up quickly.  It usually does.

I got up early for church today.  We sang "Here I am to Worship".  It is a very neat song.  I really like it.  I have liked all the songs that the choir director has picked for us.  I am really enjoying being in the choir.  I hope Katie is able to join.  I think she would really like it a lot plus she is a good singer.  After church I had Rick's lesson.  Brianne didn't show up so I think her mother forgot about the lesson.  Rick had a good lesson.  He has 4 songs now that he is learning, one Italian, one English classical, one from Little Mermaid, and one Broadway.  The theme for the spring concert this year is movies.  The kids can dress up in costumes too if they want.  It should be a lot of fun but that won't be until spring.  Right now we are just working on regular music, not for the concert yet.  That will start at the end of May.

I am watching a marathon of Law and Order SVU.  I like this show a lot.  It is an interesting marathon.  The theme is legal loophole cases.  I have seen most of them though but they are still super good.

I am really tired today.  I did take a nap this afternoon.  I just couldn't stay awake anymore so I went up and got my pajamas on and fell asleep.  I will be heading back to bed soon.  I think I am coming down with a cold too.  My sinuses seem to be swollen.  It is hard to breath.  I have a bit of a bad headache today too.  It is more than the regular headache.  I hope it goes back to the normal headache by bedtime. I also hope I sleep better tonight since I am so tired.

Tomorrow I have a lesson at 3 pm.  Isaac is going to be absent.  His family is going skiing on the holiday.  I hope they have a good time.  I will still have Rachel though.  She is such a sweetie.  Two weeks ago she was so tired before lessons.  She climbed on the piano bench and was lying on it like a cat does.  Rachel did have a lesson but I am not sure how much she really absorbed.  Last week was a better lesson.  I hope she does well tomorrow too.  She is such a cutie.

I hope your Sunday was good too.

the first snowfall to stick to the ground

Yesterday I woke up to a winter wonderland!  There was about 2 inches of snow on the ground.  We have had brief snow falls, but they didn't stay on the ground and by the end of the day, it was totally gone.  This one stuck.  The sidewalks and the driveways are mostly cleared by now though because there really wasn't too much snow.  It looked really pretty out yesterday.  I realized today that I should have taken a picture of it.  I will the next time and since we live in Michigan, I am so sure there will be a next time.  I am thankful we haven't had the snow we had last year as we had so much snow.  I am thankful that this year things have been rather mild.  I am hoping for a rather mild winter, although just because it starts off slow doesn't mean we won't get the regular amount of snow.  If we do, I am ready, well, as ready as I can be.  My little red baby is in the garage safe from any snow falls.  That is the biggest thing I am glad for, having my car in the garage.  I won't have to scrap windows or clear off snow when I need to go somewhere.  It really is a major blessing.

It was a quiet teaching day today, just my lovely Camille.  She is in 4th grade and is doing really, really well.  Camille is just a lovely student to have!  Tomorrow is Rick and a make up for Brianne.  I will be able to take a small nap after church before Brianne arrives.  That will work out well.

My friend and former student, Kelly Lynn is coming by this evening.  She is a newly graduated teacher. She is doing pretty well.  I am so proud of her.  I had her as a child for a student.  I am face book friends with several former students.  Face book is so great to reconnect with people.  I have found some childhood friends, relatives, as well as the former students on face book.  I also found some college friends too.  That is a good thing.  Well, anyway, Kelly Lynn is coming over and we will have some fun.  I am hoping to go to bed a bit early since 6:45 comes super early in the morning!  I love singing in the choir!

My craft kits have come in!  i don't know which ones to make first?  It is a rough decision as all of them are adorable.  One is snowmen, trees, mittens, another is penguins, and the last is mittens with embroidery on them.  I also need to start taking down the Christmas stuff.  I am probably going to start that this evening after Kelly Lynn leaves.  I am leaving some of the window clings on, the winter ones and I plan to get some Valentines Day ones too to put up.  I know I have some.  They are in Mom's closet so I will look to see what I have and what I need.  I will have to get some new table cloths because I will have a round table now and not the oval ones so the table cloths I have won't fit my table.  I don't mind getting new table cloths.  i don't buy super expensive ones because I would be afraid to use them.  They might get stained or something like that.  I buy vinyl ones that have cute designs on them.  I have about 3 table cloths I haven't used yet.  They will be donated because I won't be able to use them with the new table.

Kelly Lynn should be here shortly.  I do hope you are having a good day!

fancy new table and chairs!

I have finally (and it took a lot to do this) have come to the conclusion (several of my friends have been mentioning this to me) that indeed, my lovely dining room table and chairs are, well, in need of replacement.  This breaks my heart as I love the set but it is true.  The chairs ALL need to be re-glued, the table needed to be tightened and probably needs it again, so I will have a new to me set on Monday.  The chairs are already here.  My friend, Heather B-T has bought it for me.  It is a metal table with a glass top.  The table is round and it comes with 4 chairs.  The chairs are high back (which I really like) and the seat is of a pattern that I like.  I can redo them if I want, but I don't at this time.  They are cream color so they will go with the decor of the dining room and kitchen.  I am so thankful for my friends getting me this new to me set because I do need it.  I can't use any of the chairs for the old set since they all need to be re-glued.  For me, I use my office chair in the dining room.  I have one chair from the old set at the table, but no one usual sits there.  I also had 2 folding chairs too since the other chairs can't be used.  Now, I can use dining room chairs with the new to me table and chairs set.  They are very pretty.  I have no idea what my style for furniture is but hey, I don't really need to know right now anyway.  I like the new to me set a lot.  I will have to change the style of my table cloths though since the table is round and all my table cloths are for an oval table.

My all time favorite movie is coming back out into theatres but in 3D.  I have trouble with 3D because I don't like things coming at me in my face.  I have seen some of the nature 3D movies in the IMAX and haven't had a problem with that so I am hoping that since this movie was not originally done as a 3D movie that it won't be so bad for me.  I am planning to go and see it with my Muglia girls in a few weeks.  I am not sure how long it will be in the movie theatre and if I miss it that will be okay.  I love Beauty and the Beast!  It is a great movie.  Belle is my favorite Princess and my 2nd favorite character that Disney has created.  We all know that Winnie the Pooh is my all time favorite character.  He is the best one ever.  I have several plush and beanie Winnie the Poohs.  They are in different outfits, which is why I have so many.  I have Christmas ones, Winter ones, big ones, little ones, and regular ones.  I have a Christmas Barbie Belle doll too.  Momma gave it too me at Christmas one year.  I like it a lot.  I also have a Cinderella Doll that Mom bought me too.  Cinderella is my 2nd favorite Princess.

Last night in choir we sight read a beautiful piece called, "Use Me".  It was simply lovely.  The choir accompanies 2 soloists - 1 male and 1 female.  I am really enjoying being a member of this choir.  The church service is different than what I am used to but I am enjoying the change.  I like the congregational singing part of the service.  The service goes quickly it seems.  The messages are always making me think and examine my own life and my actions.  It has really helped me a lot.

Tomorrow I am meeting a fellow teacher who happens to be a former student of mine!  She is new to teaching and has a few questions.  I don't mind and it makes me feel good that I can help her.  I did ask her to call and let me know when she is coming because the weather is supposed to be a bit iffy tomorrow.  We did set a time frame so that is why I ask for her to call first, this way I won't worry.

I am going to work on the kitchen this weekend.  I have several boxes that are now empty and need to be broken down for another use.  I also want to take down the Christmas Tree and put the decorations away.  I have a few boxes in the dining room that need to be taken care of too.  I will put the tools in the tool box and the rest of the stuff in the furnace room on the shelves.  I know there isn't much room left in the furnace room, but these will fit, I am sure.

Next Saturday, Calli and I are going grocery shopping.  That should be fun.  Calli is so fun to go grocery shopping with.  We have many good giggles while we shop.  I have quite a list this time.  I am working on eating at home more often.  I have some yummy soups that I add some chicken and vegetables too to make it more of a stew type thing.  I like stews, whether it is a beef stew or chicken stew.  I also like to add some seafood to it.  I start with a nice potato soup and then add a few things to make it yummier, if that is possible!  I have some other type soups from that same brand that are really good too.  With winter here, I don't always like to go outside each day.  I am cold most of the time and it is cold here for the next few days.  My new blankets shed.  I have brown specks from the blankets all over my pajama top.  I am not sure what to do about this.

I only have 1 lesson tomorrow and 2 lessons on Sunday.  1 of them is a make up lesson for tomorrow as Brianne has an exam to take for school.  The other Sunday lesson is Rick.  He goes back and forth between lessons on Saturday or Sunday depending on his schedule.  Either day works for me.  I come home from church and take a wee nap in the living room while I wait for him to arrive.  I am planning on being at church this Sunday.  I am really going to be working on making sure I am there every week.  It is super early for me, but I feel so much better when I start my week with church on Sunday.  Mom used to say that and I never really understood what she meant until the last few months.  My week seems to be better when I go to church every week.  I am trying to be more dedicated and make sure I go every week.

I do hope you have had a good day and have plans for a fun filled weekend.  I just want to get a few things done around the house and teach a few lessons, that will make me happy.

wednesday - 1-11

It is Wednesday!  Woohoo!

I had to go and pick up some new music for my students.  I also stopped at Barnes and Nobles to get a new planner.  I don't like the one I got so I got a new one.  It was only $5.80.  It was definitely a bargain.  I have a nice new calendar to put up.  I got it from Kathy.  It is Harry Potter!  I am sure absolutely no one is surprised about it being a Harry Potter.  I like it.

It has been a quiet day with a few lessons.  I did go and get my blood test done for my pro-time.  I was about 15 minutes late because I was so tired that I reset the alarm for 20 minutes.  I knew that being late was okay as long as I don't miss it totally.  It only took 1 poke today!  That is a great thing since I am a very hard poke.  A few times ago, I ended up having to come back a couple days later.  Since I also needed the flu shot too, it wasn't a big deal.  Fortunately, that happens very rare.

I have most of my bills in my new bill file.  I am really working on being very organized with my bills this year.  No more tossing them on the table behind my computer for this girl!  I found a few discs in books on the table for teaching.  I will burn them some time this weekend.  My Muglia girls are going to come sometime later this month to file and sort music.  I will also be putting the CDs away too.  I am thankful that they will help me.  I also have a lady coming to help me clean the house once a month.  I am thankful for that.  I hope it doesn't cost that much money.  It will be tight.  I probably should have asked her to come the week after because I would have been paid from takelessons at that point.  It will work out somehow, I know it will.  I will also be able to make a good payment on the property taxes 2011.  It starts all over again except I have more time to pay before the deadline.  Soon, I will be caught up and will just be saving for the current year's bill.  It will be a nice relief.

We haven't really had any snow this winter, which is kind of weird for Michigan.  We have had a few snowfalls, but none that stayed on the ground very long.  We are supposed to be getting some tomorrow as it gets colder this weekend.  We have had rather warm weather for January and in December too.  I haven't really minded because people drive crazy in the snow.  My car is in the garage now so I won't have to wipe any snow off.  I am very glad about that.  I need to take some time to clean my car windows.  They are not so good right now.  I always forget about them until I am driving.

Tomorrow is a filled day with choir practice and a few lessons.  I will be a bit late for choir because of a make up lesson tomorrow night.  I have let the choir director know this.  Since I am rarely late, it shouldn't be a problem.  I am not sure what we are singing this week.  I guess I will find out tomorrow night.

more progress 1-10

Today is a good day!  Today is Kathy's birthday!!!!  I made sure I called her to wish her a happy birthday.  I finally got to speak with her before my first lesson.  She is getting the Ultimate Edition of one of the Harry Potter Movies.  I am very excited to hear about that!  I can't wait to hear if it is awesome or not.  Part of me is hoping it isn't very good or worth purchasing because then I will want them.  What can I say?  I love Harry Potter!  I guess I should just add this to the list of things I want: a blue ray player, nook color, and all the Harry Potter Ultimate Movie Collections.  The list of wants.  I am working on other things first, but I still have some things I want.  Compared to things I used to want, I think the list is rather small.  I feel relived that the property taxes for 2010 have been taken care of.  I am now starting on the 2011 property taxes.

Tomorrow is my blood test, 2 weeks past due since I slept through the last appointment and forgot to make it all last week.  I will be working on this for 2012 so that I am on top of this issue.  They are important because I have to have my blood in "therapeutic range" so that I don't get another blood clot.  I really don't want another one.  They hurt an awful lot and well, you can die from them so I don't particularly want another one.  I am going to work on making sure I do what I am supposed to do such as NOT sleeping through appointments.  I have done this way too much in the last few years.  I also have another test that I have been putting off.  I will do it this week.  I go see the tummy doctor in March so I have to have it done soon.  She did ask to have it done by Christmas.  Woops, Christmas was a few weeks again and I haven't done this yet.  I also will make sure I do NOT run out of medicine like I have been.  I will no longer wait until I am almost completely out before calling in the refills.  I will call when i notice there is just one week left of medicine.  This way, if the refills are out, they have time to call the doctor and fill it.  This way, I will not run out anymore as I have a lot in the past few years.

I cleared off the dining room table and it doesn't look like I did much.  Yeah, I don't know.  I haven't touched the kitchen counter yet.  That looks rather scary too.  I think I will look at that tomorrow before lessons, after the blood test.  

Dance Moms is on and so is NCIS Los Angeles.  I will watch NCIS Los Angeles online afterwards.  It is annoying that I have 2 shows I like at the same time on.  Oh my!  I don't know what is on afterward but I am sure I will find something.  Boy, my typing isn't so good tonight.  I keep having to go back and fix words.  Dance Moms are having auditions to replace the girl who moved away.  Once again, there is trouble.  One mom doesn't like that her daughter didn't make the team so she was yelling at the director.  Well, welcome to the world of dance.  Dance is a VERY subjective art and believe me, the performing arts are filled with things like this.  It is the same type thing in music.  I work very hard to make sure I DON'T favor over another when it comes to performances and competitions as well as lessons.  Most of the music teachers I know do the same thing as me although at competition, I have seen the stage mom and the stage teacher at competition and they are such a distraction.  I will say though, these girls dance beautifully at such young ages.  They really do.

I have to remember to send in  copy of my mother's death certificate to one doctor's office.  I keep forgetting to send it to them.  They keep sending me bills.  I have called them over and over to tell them, but they keep sending me the bills 1 1/2 years later.  It is very frustrating.

I am looking for a new planner.  I am not happy with the one I bought.  I really am not.  I have to go to Office Max tomorrow after the doctor's appointment.  I hope I remember to do this!  Well, I hope your day went well and tomorrow is good too!

Monday 1-9

It is the start of another week.  I wonder what this week will bring me.  It could be almost anything.  I have been working on the getting the judges for the competition.  I have a few more names to call, so does Georgette.  I am not sure how this is going to work with both of us calling, but I am not sure.  This is not an easy job because I don't know the schedule and that makes it hard.  I don't get the schedule until next month so I have to leave them in limbo until then.  Also, I just found out one of the judges Diane doesn't really want.  Well, since we are running short on judges, we may need to keep her.  She sounds really nice too.  She gave me the names of about 3 other judges to call.  I will do that tomorrow.  It is too late to call tonight.

I am getting tired now, almost time for bed!  I do hope I sleep well tonight.  I have to remember to call Dr. Gradolph's office to make my blood test appointment.  I keep forgetting to do that.  I also have to make a payment for Doctor Grandolph.  I don't want to forget again.  Tomorrow is supposed to be warm out again.  Although it was warm outside, I was still a bit chilled during Bob's lesson.  I wonder why.  I hope tomorrow will be better.  It is supposed to be colder and snow starting on Thursday.  They say nothing will stick and I hope they are right.  I am not interested in snow on the ground right now.  We are having the strangest weather right now.  I like how it isn't super cold out right now though.  I know it is January and this won't last, but I will take it until then.

I am rather bored this evening.  TV isn't really interesting at this point.  I have HGTV on, but I am not really watching it.  I am reading a good book, but right now I don't really want to read it.  I think I am just too tired for that.  I love the new blankets on my bed along with my new pajamas.  Between the two of them, I am very comfortable at night for now anyway.

I do hope you had a good day.  I think I am going to read for a bit and then call it a day.