Jumble

Hi.  I'm home sick today.  I thought I would just put up a large amount of random things for you.  It might not be particularly telling about me or about the universe, but it might keep you busy for a minute.

There is a female singer called ZZ Ward.  Look her up.

I made a beautiful brisket on Sunday.  We had some for dinner that night, but its real purpose was to be a super fast dinner for yesterday (Monday) because we had both music lessons and Abbie's softball practice.  I made little sandwiches out of it.  It was delicious, and there was still enough left to make a third meal.  I was super excited about that, because it's my favorite.  Right before bed I went in to put it away, and dropped the whole pot on the kitchen floor.  (That should have been a clue that I was getting sick, but I didn't figure it out until later.)  Cleaning it up was a sad process, and the kitchen floor is still a death trap because of the grease, even though it's been mopped 3 times.

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Recent (within a month) facebook posts of mine:

Yay! Home in time to pay bills and do dishes! (That sounded better in my head...)

Dear Taylor Swift, By 22, you must mean 17. Very disappointing.

In other news, I bled from both hands at practice tonight. Either I am totally hardcore, or I'm a few callouses short.

Me: Next time I'm using my own pen. This pen makes me lose!
Josh: Uh...you won.
 Hee hee. Whoops.

Swollen finger. Taiko = ouch! :P

Dear Snow,
Why always when I need to drive an hour to taiko?!?!?!!? Why? What is wrong with a nice Monday now and then?
Sulkily,
Me

So tired. Wednesday, please be gentle!!

Dear everyone who told me to watch Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (especially Jon R-------r),
  Thank you!
Love,
Me

Okay, guys. The plan is that I will be winning the lottery on Wednesday, and I have different strategies in place, depending on my winnings. If I win between 50 and 100 thousand dollars, we will continue as scheduled, only with a much better chance of selling our house at a purchasable price. If I win between 100 thousand and 1 million, the same plan, only we get to spoil ourselves with stuff like furniture for the new house, and maybe I can finally get a new pair of bachi, hey? If I should win the whole 2.6 million dollars, I will be getting all of you a present this Christmas.

And here is yesterday's:  Okay. Done with school, music lessons and Lightning Dinner. Time for softball practice! I feel like a little slice of suburbia! ^_^

*

One of my contacts from facebook posted a photo of Einstein with the caption: "So, watching 2 hours of violence doesn't have any effect on people, but they pay 1 million for a 30 second Superbowl commercial so people will buy a product?"  That is a slight paraphrase.  I wish I had saved the photo, but I was annoyed that anything profound has to be linked to a photo of Einstein.  He obviously didn't say it, and he wasn't the world's only smart person. However, I can't emphasize enough how true I think the message is.  Please think about what you expose your brain to.  Please, please, please think about what you expose your children to.  Mine still aren't permitted to watch anything that I haven't seen first and approved.  In fact, I constantly wish I could prevent them (Abbie, at least) from being exposed to their classmates!  Little girls are supposed to be the personification of all things sweet and innocent....and in reality, I can't think of anything more selfish and judgemental.  And I can't fix it all by myself.  You have to help, too.

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I want one of these for Christmas: 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/toys-games-puzzle-blox-fine-art/25209542?ean=9781936011742

http://www.sockdreams.com/products/whats-new/sock-it-to-me-constellation-knee-high

http://www.sockdreams.com/products/whats-new/apple-pi-crew

http://www.signals.com/signals/Garden-Patio_1FZ/View-All-Garden-Patio_1FA/Item_NICKEL-TEA-LIGHT-LANTERN--OCTAGON_HN1594_ps_cti-1FA.html

http://www.signals.com/signals/T-Shirts-Sweatshirts_1CA/Item_GRAMMAR-POLICE-SHIRT_HM4681_ps_cti-1CA.html

http://www.signals.com/signals/T-Shirts-Sweatshirts_1CA/Item_I-FOUND-THIS-HUMERUS-SHIRTS_HN3311_ps_cti-1CA.html

http://www.signals.com/signals/T-Shirts-Sweatshirts_1CA/Item_I-DONT-EXPECT-EVERYTHING-TEES_HN3851_ps_cti-1CA.html#review-area

http://www.signals.com/signals/T-Shirts-Sweatshirts_1CA/Item_PHILOSOPHY-DEGREE-SHIRTS_HN3171_ps_cti-1CA.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ivanhoe-walter-sir-1771-1832-scott-sir-1771-1832/1102783563?ean=9783847266907

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddy-long-legs-jean-webster/1100010962?ean=9780375868283&itm=1&usri=daddy+long+legs

http://shop.nga.gov/nga/category.cgi?item=410000495629


Also, here is that article I wrote:  http://voices.yahoo.com/little-debbie-other-woman-got-husband-1410303.html?cat=41

I hope we get to go to the National Gallery of Art while in the DC area.  I am interested in the Dutch golden age, but have missed the feature exhibition for that.  I also like the pre-Raphaelites and Art Nouveau...  Let's cross our fingers.

Still, I have to get through this party and my next taiko performance before I can really focus on my upcoming vacation.


The rain has stopped.

I think I will lie down.  This being sick thing is not so fun.

Propper Copper Coffee Pot

Ever have one of those friends who make you really, REALLY wish someone would look over your shoulder when he/she is writing you, just so you can feel all awesome for being friends with such an amazing person?  I have a small handful of those, and here is one:

http://kill-the-bear.blogspot.com/2013/04/free-state-100k-me-vs-myself-and-feelin.html

He's one of those guys you want to marry off to your most worthy girlfriends.  And he's my friend.  How did that happen? 

I finished reading Ivanhoe.  Great fun.  Slightly melodramatic.  Would make a great film.  Speaking of film, my dearly beloved (unrequited, of course - we haven't met) authoress, Sarah Addison Allen's book, The Sugar Queen, has been optioned for film.  Hope something comes of it.  It would be an excellent opportunity for someone to show off his or her talents for evoking mood.

It's funny that during my reading of Ivanhoe, Richard III has been making the news.  Did you read the recent article?  They have examined his skeleton - recently discovered below a car park - to find that it really had been one of a hunchback.  Historians had previously assumed that the deformation was just a symptom of vilification by his contemporaries or immediate predecessors.  And now we find that the accounts were true.  Wondering how this has anything at all to do with Ivanhoe?  Richard III was the last of the Plantaganet dynasty, which was the family of Richard the Lionhearted - who appears in Ivanhoe.

Spring is in the air.  My neighbors are mowing their lawns.  Hitomi has planted her first red bud tree.  I spent yesterday afternoon pulling up dandelions.  (I wore gloves this time, but still got rashes on one arm and both ankles.)  I have also noticed a surge in political/social commentary.  I wonder if there is a significant connection, or if it's coincidence.

Grant got his first ever B+ on a report card, and Josh was seriously going to fuss him about it.  Grant is harder on himself than we could ever even try to be!  Plus, there was a note at the bottom that said that days test brought him up to an A-.  Grant does not need to be reminded to try hard.  The kid apologises every time he misses a question.  It's a little ridiculous. 

Abbie is the opposite.  She works hard to not have to work hard.  Any natural bossiness/snottiness she had has been increased greatly by her classmates.  I really wish I could afford Catholic school.

This weekend there was a small fire in our toaster.  It damaged one side, so I said I would get a new one.  What really happened is that Josh got a new one that is twice as big and won't fit in the cabinet.  It has four slots.  I'm sure it's also very cool, but since we primarily used it to make one package (i.e. two) of poptarts at t time....I've got to question the wisdom of its purchase.

We took out our old entertainment center TV stand and replaced it with one we had downstairs.  It's the first step in trying to downsize the house and pack away things for the purpose of showing and selling.  It isn't much, but it's a start.  Josh thinks we will be ready to sell in May.  I think July.  Next, we will research whether a "pod" or a storage garage are the cheapest.  Any thoughts?

Today I didn't have my usual students.  I had to cover for someone else.  I've had better days, but I'm home now.  Tonight we have music lessons, and then Abbie's softball practice.

Next big thing:  Josh's graduation picnic this weekend.  Well, that and I am going to win the lottery on Wednesday.  For real this time!! 

Because it is Monday:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSUQgfyplIY

The News of Many

I'm freezing.  Just wrote this to my husband:  "First of all....remember how you used to have two black pillows in the living room? Now...you just have two dogs. I, on the other hand, have a huge mess AND two dogs."  Also, both M and K had bad days today.  M was arguing with me in library, and he also pitched a fit at the end of P.E.  While I was taking him to get the library book that he forgot to return that morning, K was rude to the librarian!  Her bad day started before she saw me, though.  She was crying in the morning because she couldn't listen to her iPOD.  I heard her teacher say that she would be able to during indoor recess (it's pouring), so I hope that helps.  Tomorrow is her math test, but I don't know if she'll use the study guide I made her.

Then I came home to shredded pillows.  That's enough, Tuesday.  I'm making tea.

I also need to finish writing the newsletter for this month.  It's only an outline, so far.  I can't remember if I need to have it done by tomorrow or Thursday....

So.  Boston.  As far as I can tell, authorities don't know why there were two explosions during the Boston Marathon, except that it was probably not an accident.  On the other hand, no one is taking credit for it in the terrorism world.  Most of what I've heard about the reactions of the people paints a very human picture.  Many bystanders helped where they could, and that makes me feel a great deal for them.  Yay for the good guys.

I've got to tell you, though.  Many more people were killed in the earthquake in Pakistan, and no one seems to be talking about that....  Or Korea.  I wonder if the Korean government is missing the attention.

In other news, Abbie got in trouble yesterday for talking during a test.  A TEST.  This is also the second time this month that she has been in trouble for talking on a test.  We had a little talk.

On a brighter note, she finished the Nancy Clancy book, and is done with her book report, except that she drew pictures that she wants to color.

In Grant's class, the farm finally delivered the eggs, and sometime early next week there should be baby chicks hatching out of them.


I'm going to drink my tea now.

Moist Monday

At work today, someone said that she thought I was a college student until she saw me picking Grant and Abbie up one day.  I choose to believe that this is because of my youthful good looks, and not because of my "Help!  I'm lost!" expression.

Today was good.  No complaints about today.

We are having wet weather.  I actually like it quite a bit, at this temperature.  It isn't so hot that the wetness makes the outdoors seem jungley, and it's not so cold that my fingers become useless.  My hair does get huge, but who cares if I look a little fluffy?  I'm not there to be looked at.

I am pleased that the news is saying that North Korea is calming down with all of the threats of bombing both South Korea and...us.  However, I have no reason to believe it very deeply.  I wish I didn't have friends that were planning to go east this summer...  That sounds wrong.  I want to keep the friends.  I'm just wish they weren't planning to go this summer.

I had a super busy weekend.  On Saturday we had Grant's baseball practice, then the double baby shower and afterward we had dinner with our awesome friends.  That was as scheduled.  What wasn't as scheduled was for Mariah to be stranded in the morning and urgently need a ride somewhere.  We don't live in the same town.  I really don't know how we got on the list of rescuers.  Anyway, so the morning part of the schedule was a mess.  I left the house with wet hair.  In between the shower and the dinner, we snuck over to the Barnes and Noble.  The kids got books.  Josh wouldn't get me the fancy fine art puzzle dice because it was too expensive.  Boo.

Speaking of books, I finished The Color of Magic, but the story continues into the next book, so I will be reading that, too.

I also bought Lisle and Po.  It's a children's book.  I've been curious about it forever.  I will read it and tell you which age group I think it is right for.  I read a page or two, and so far I think my kids and their classes would be a great age to listen to the book.  We will see if they should also be the ones reading. 

Josh has been spending a lot of money this month, and eating a lot of junk food.  I am going to hope that this is just a Last Month of School thing.

I love books and rain.  I am almost wanting to make tea.

Wish my house would magically clean itself.  I need to combat the dust again, but the dust isn't as bad as the clutter.  Did I tell you that we are planning a yard sale?  I will feel so much better when it is over.

A tip from some friends at taiko:  Want a periodical for travel, but feel too mature for Cosmo, etc?  Try Popular Psychology.  Similar types of material, but without the assumption that you are ignorant and shallow.  Or - as Miss Manners recommends - "Always bring a book."

I love me some Miss Manners.  I used to read it recreationally.  I can't do that very much these days.  It isn't that I don't have the time; her work is easy to consume in small bites.  The trouble is that there are several events per year to which it is better you should not arrive with a fresh mental image of model behavior.  Ya' know?

Oh!  I forgot to tell  you about Sunday.  When taiko practice was unexpectedly cancelled, we went to the park.  It was windy, but sunny.  We packed every game/sport we own into the car.  Football, soccer, baseball, softball, whiffle ball, bocce ball, croquet, Frisbee and kites.  I think we managed to have games of all except football and croquet - and that was just because we were afraid of losing some of the wickets.  The kite flying was especially good.

 

After the park, we did all the necessary shopping.  Somehow, I ended up with some columbine bulbs, and a beautiful blue hydrangea, which will forever remind my of my trip to Japan to visit my cousins.  Now that it is here, though, I am afraid to plant it in my unhealthy soil.  A ceramic pot, perhaps?

Grant's first baseball game is this week, weather permitting.  Abbie's, somehow, isn't until May 2.

I am starting to be sleepy..  You will have to forgive me, but I'm running out of things to talk with you about.  (Note the "with."  You are certainly welcome to respond at any time.)

May this week be a lovely one for you!

Hello, WEEKEND!

FRIDAY!

M earned a snack two days in a row.  Yipee!  I knew that eventually he would catch on.  Sadly, I think it has more to do with coincidence than M understanding my expectations.

K did wonderfully today, and yesterday, too.  She's a nice kid.  I also did some concept work with her today to help with her math test when she gets it.  It was supposed to be today, but it didn't end up happening, because the class as a whole is not really ready.

Yesterday I worked the full day, and had the Wild Child again.  She thinks it's hysterical to hide under tables and chairs.  My main problem isn't really that.  It's frustrating, but the real problem is that her classmates constantly "help" without being asked.  So they distract her with compliments when she is supposed to be doing what I say, and they ask her to sit in their laps when she is supposed to be sitting up by herself.  They even talk to her when she's in Time Out!  I know they mean well, but if I ever have to be with Wild Child again (which I believe will be the 26th of April), I am going to have to make some rules for those guys.

Did you see this?  http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/11/missouri-man-arrested-at-hospital-for-refusing-to-leave-gay-partner/  Now, I'm no expert, but it seems to me that a valuable piece of information is missing from this entire document:  What exactly was the man doing that he was asked to leave?  Hospitals typically don't bother someone sitting quietly at a bedside.  Was he being loud?  Physically altering implements of care provided by the staff?  Objecting to a particular treatment?  I don't want to imply that this story is a little one-sided......okay.  I do.  This story never had any intention of representing the hospital fairly.  How is this good for future equality?  Seriously!  Now same sex couples are going to be seen as selfish, greedy, reactionary, and hyper-sensitive.  This article is as offensive to me as it is to anyone else.  However, that doesn't mean that I am going to read it with my brain closed.

It's cold again.  I don't mind, I guess.  Well...I do mind my hands being so cold right now, but I am still looking forward to a spring with a recognizable description.

Did I mention that I love Ivanhoe?  I might just have to get it in hardback.  It has comedy, it has adventure, it has chivalry...great stuff!  I'm also still reading The Color of Magic, but it's merely fair.

I made Josh a schedule for the house selling.  It needs a timeline added and then we will be truly organized.  Fortunately, he accepted the logic behind my choices, and we no longer have to proceed backwards.  I plan for an efficient and logical procession from this point forward.  I only hope we can get started shortly after Josh graduates.

Did I tell you he's on the Dean's list?  Well, he is. 

The sheep brain, by all accounts, was amazing and fun.  Grant's class was also supposed to hatch eggs with the use of an incubator, but so far no luck. Abbie is learning to tell time on a clock with hands, and is doing very well.

Hoping for nice weather this weekend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lKJTBmt_D8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrGF8DEbphU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi62IN3KD2E



   

Wednesday. (or Hello...Something)

Well, I was in a hurry this morning.  Those of you with naturally curly hair will understand that there was no point in doing my hair today with a thunderstorm outside.  However, I decided that I needed to look like I had made some sort of attempt, and so I quickly put some gel in it as I was leaving.  This proved to be a bad plan, but by the time I saw my reflection, I was at the school.  School employees aren't supposed to look like their appearance is bothering them.  Sadly, I didn't have any sort of break to sneak away and mess with it.

So, to start off, I had embarrassing hair.

K had a great morning, but was a little restless in math.  That is also the class where two of her classmates openly (although they give themselves credit for great stealth) mock her, and laugh at her.  To clarify:  they giggle when she speaks, and occasionally use a mimicking face or voice quietly to each other, but during class.  Although they are not addressing her, this qualifies as bullying under the school rules.  To hell with that, it counts as RUDE in MY book.  After carefully checking my position with the true authorities of the school, today I had reason to say to one of them, "You might not know this, but I am authorized to write you up if I suspect you are mocking my student." 

I also gave the names of both girls to the counselor.

My reason for being with the counselor was that M pitched a fit straight off in P.E. because he didn't get assigned to the game he wanted to play.  I happen to know that the coach does this on purpose.  If M complains, he doesn't get what he wants.  If he behaves, he gets put in the group he likes.  The fit was so disruptive, that I decided not to deal with it.  I gave him his Last Chance.  Those who deal with me will learn quickly to heed those words.  As per usual, M ignored his warning, and then when it looked like I was serious (I assure you I was), he tried to back-pedal and agreed to do as he was told.  Only it was too late.  First we left the room.  When he still didn't stop his fit, we went to the counselor.  His fit lasted the entire period.  When we went back, he pitched a new fit because there wasn't time to play anything.  At this point, I was nearly killed by a really terrific soccer goal attempt.  I deflected it with my hand, but it made such a loud sound!!!  I digress...  M was also taken out of the room several times in music.  It's a shame he didn't participate.  Singing does wonderful things physiologically to a stressed out person.  Deep breathing is wonderful.  He wants mainly to dwell on the thing that he didn't like, that he feels happened TO him (we all know that this was caused by his own choice, but shall ignore that for the present) instead of moving on and preparing (with "good choices) to be fit for the next event.  Long day.

I am dreading tomorrow.  I will be working all day, and I don't know if the other little girl will start with a clean slate or a grudge based on our last encounter.  M has made me paranoid!

We DID do the movement drill last night.  I had hoped it would give me energy...instead it made me really tired.

By the way, that reminds me.  I need to watch Juugo Ya  and remember how my part goes. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNd6AyOJxgE&list=UUWWD3ckPP-84R7dJY-P9nEA&index=34  (Can you see me?)

At least I know that the kids are having a great day.  Grant, for instance, has been excited for a week because they get to dissect a sheep brain today.  Yes, in second grade.  He wore a red shirt, especially.  I will try not to think about that too much.  I think Abbie's softball practice is going to be cancelled because of mud, but I haven't actually heard at this point.  I wouldn't mind, to be honest.  So much to get done here.

That reminds me.  I have less than an hour to relax.  (Originally I had said "nap" but I don't see it happening.)

Off I go!  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Hello, Guys!

I love a running gag.

In...I don't know....Kindergarten? we are told all about the five senses, and among them is the sense of taste.  To illustrate the taste called "sour", we are - without fail - directed to the lemon.  Lemon = sour.  It's practically a law.  However, for myself, I do not experience this to be the overwhelming taste of a lemon.  To me, a lemon is tart.  For years, I was confusing sour and tart because of lemons.  Sour is the taste of yogurt before you add stuff that tastes better.  (I am not a fan of yogurt.)  Sour cream is, of course, sour-ish.  "Sour Apple" flavored candies are tart.  Apparently I wasn't the only one confused.  Do you in your experience (all zero of you who enjoy answering my occasional questions) find this to be the case?

I mention that I am not really a yogurt fan.  I do, however, eat yogurt quite regularly now, for health reasons.  I like the strawberry.  It's tart.

Still reading Ivanhoe and The Color of Magic.  I haven't really sat down to either lately, and last night I just went straight to sleep.  We had a busy day.

After school, we had music lessons, and then went to the art show that the school district put on.  I could tell by looking that it involved a LOT of work.  They had refreshments, and select members of the high school band were playing in the back ground (remind me to flee the district before my children are band age) and the walls and tables were full of art.  Many of the ceramic sculptures from the high school were very impressive, and some of the paintings, too.  I was never allowed to use such media in my high school art classes.  Should I feel cheated?  I can't seem to muster the energy to, but maybe next time.  The art teacher has always gone on about Grant's work, but she hasn't said anything about Abbie.  I was blown away by her still life.  We will be doing art this summer, somehow.  My children are both excellent artists, in very different ways.

The kids' ball schedules are starting to get to me.  I'm losing track in a big way.  I'm going to have to start putting them on the calendar sooner.  And there is not set schedule yet.  That is killer. 

Taiko tonight, and I could use the activity.  I hope we do the movement drill.

School was good today.  My girl was good all day, and the boy was good for half of the hour again, and rotten for the other half again.  I have faith, though, that we will soon come to a true understanding, and start earning rewards again.

I am sleepy.  Also, the grass that I am allergic to is growing right now.  I wonder if I could lie down for a while.

This is a selection from the art show.  Not bad, eh?  And this one didn't get a ribbon.  Plenty of awesome work.

Hope today treats you well, but if it is tart or sour, you can always make lemonade!

Har, har.

Hello, Monday!

So far, lots of "Hello" going on this month. 

I shall be going to see my children's art displayed this evening after music class.  Can't wait!

We went to the Tartan Days festival.  It was fun.  I got my first sunburn of the season.

Do you more frequently monitor your words or the voice you use to speak them?  I have a student who is my responsibility for one hour a day.  I asked him to please use a respectful sounding voice when speaking to me.  It didn't go so well.  Is this a foreign concept, and I just don't know it?  I would say that the two aspects of speaking are of equal importance.  Especially in a school.  No one else seems to attach value to the voice, so long as it speaks the prescribed words.  Oh, well.  I will continue to ask for a polite voice.  Time only will determine if I will receive one.

My main responsibility had a good day today.  :)  I found her a book that is closer to her reading level than the one she had.  I do, however, worry about the math test she will take on Friday.  She's good at most computation, but less good at understanding the instructions.

I have the feeling that there is something I'm supposed to be working on, but I can't remember what.

I am still reading The Color of Magic and Ivanhoe. 

Taiko show in Springfield went well, on the whole.  Some things were great, and some had mistakes.  It was very exhausting, and since everyone interested had done the first workshop, we did 2 encores and then invited the crowd to solo over a matsuri beat for the second workshop.  They left happy.  I passed out some business cards, and managed to find the creepy guy.  They thought I was exaggerating.  No.

Me:  [blah, blah, blah, name of group, invitation to participate in workshop]
Him:  Have we met?
Me:  I don't think so, we came from St. Louis for the day.
Him:  I was just at the Fox.  Do you work at the Fox?
Me:  No... [more on track stuff about business card and performances]
Him: So, if I call this number, here, will you answer?
Mr:  Probably not.
Him:  Well, I'll take my chances.  Where are you staying tonight?  In a dorm?
At this point I claimed that they were "playing my song" and excused myself.

I told you.  Creepy.  And they always find me.  Then, he was staring through the glass doors from the outside as I helped pack up.  Yep.  I've still got the creepy magnet.  Or I can hope that he was staring at Andrew at that point.  He did seem that type.  Or maybe he's not picky.

Josh brought home more free furniture.  Furniture that wasn't even on the list of stuff that we need to replace.  I spent yesdterday cleaning it, and removing all of my china from a perfectly lovely cabinet made of wood, and putting it in a larger cabinet with lots of veneer, some that is meant to hold my valuables up, and lots of glass to be cleaned on both sides.  And we have another couch in the living room.  I don't want to talk about it.

I did something decadent on Sunday.  I bought a set of sheets that were only marked down 6 dollars.  I know.  But I am not sorry.  I love them.  They are nice and soft.  I hope they don't inspire me to oversleep.

Josh and the kids are all playing variations of baseball this season, and I am going schedule-crazy.  Please send your most sane vibes my way!

My recommendations of the day:

pictusmusic.com
Salmon Fishing in Yemen (movie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmhmMks3sZE

Hello, Friends!

I have so much on my mind, but I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it all.  I am interested in hearing what you are up to, though!  I do get curious.  I know that many of the people that I originally started blogging "to" don't really read it anymore.  Mostly that is because we are still in touch in a more equal exchange through other media.  But there is the other aspect, as well, that needs to be addressed occasionally.  In the beginning, I blogged because I had infants who never let me finish a sentence in person or on the phone.  (I never put finishing my sentences over any needs of my children.  Personally, and in my own case, I believe this has paid off.)  Aside from that, it was somewhat journalistic, and a way to arrange my own thoughts.  This didn't go as well, actually.  It's no wonder, really.  The things one contemplates are not always compatible with what one relates to others.  So, my two objectives were not a good match.  Mostly I related what Was - not necessarily what I thought about it.  Not that those who are on intimate terms of friendship with me couldn't read between the lines....  My goal was never really to establish conversations.  However, whether it was my goal or not, this blog (and its predecessor) did include dialogs with my readers and friends.  I would like to encourage that again.  I miss it.

Here is a brief description of my recent past and present: 

Spring Break - the largest snow count we got was 15 inches.  It could have been slightly more, but it was so late in the season that we really weren't giddy about it.  We ignored it, for the most part.  We visited Gran on Wednesday.  We never saw her new cats, but the dogs loved us.  We had tacos at B&B, saw the amazing library, and chatted.  A lovely day.  We continued on to Mom's in the late afternoon, and had dinner with Mom and Dad at Imo's. Thursday we went to downtown Rolla and pretended to be tourists.  I took pictures and we visited shops.  There is a new cupcake shop, and we bought my mom birthday cupcakes.  There was also a used book shop and a rock shop, so we got more minerals and books!  We met my mom for lunch, and surprised her with birthday stuff.  After that we went to Lions' Club Park for a few hours before going back to Mom's house.  I cleaned house and stirred the stew she had in the crock pot, thinking that her company would come just before we left, but they were late and we never saw them.  We left around 7:30 pm, after having stew with my parents.  Friday, I offered to take the kids to St. Louis, but they were too tired, so we stayed in and watched CATS, the musical - the 1997 film version.  It is their new favorite movie.Saturday I spent in preparation for Sunday, which did not go as planned.  We had our own Easter in the morning, went to Josh's mom's in the afternoon, but didn't stay late, as his dad was going to work 3rd shift, and needed to go to bed.

Monday we met Josh for lunch, and yesterday I worked all day and then went to taiko practice.  It was a rough day.  Today I only worked my scheduled half day.  Tomorrow, too, and then I drive Michelle to Springfield.  We perform in the evening and spend the night.  In the morning, I will be taking back Michelle, Julie and Kelsey.  The idea is that I get back in time to get Grant and Abbie from school so Josh won't have to take off more than the half day on Thursday.

The show is going to be fun, but very physically demanding.  We are playing two half-hour sets, but there are only JUST enough performers available to do the songs - no one gets a break.  We will all be playing all songs.  It is a pretty easy thing for half and hour....but there will be two of them, and workshops in between, which aren't restful unless you are doing something wrong.

I don't much care for The Color of Magic, so I am also reading Ivanhoe.  Not much progress in either.

So...what movies have you seen lately?  Anything good?  How about books?  We know that I love books.  Anything worth recommending?  What fun do you have planned for the future?  What kind of a day are you having? 

Versailles Library

Snow, at greatest (measured) amount.

Kite!