So Amazing

I have had the most incredible couple of days. Last night was the Nickelback concert. Entertainment provided by Tipsy Steph.

I had such a blast. Some of the time I stood there, mouth open and in a silly grin, just taking it all in. I danced when Tipsy Steph drug me into it, I screamed and hollered until I was hoarse. Good times, good times. I definitely have some stories to tell after that.

This morning I woke up around 7:00 with the kids, surprised that Bry was still here. Apparently he had a meeting downtown right before 9:00. I made him breakfast, then left for my personal training appointment. Learned some new back exercises, then came home and did some laundry.

Right before noon, my door opens, and in walks my husband. Complete and total surprise, and guess what? He brought me a dozen long-stemmed red roses.

Just because.

I melted on the spot. I am so in love with him that it hurts. It was such a sweet, romantic thing to do, and I die for flowers. Especially roses.

And the dresses I ordered online two days ago came in. One I thought would be too small, but ordered it anyway knowing I'm in the process of losing weight. And wonder of wonders, the thing fits. And looks freakin' amazing. So does the other dress.

So I'm two dresses, a rock concert, and a dozen roses happier, which is pretty darn happy.

Nickelback or Bust

I've got the gear. I've got the drive. I've got the ticket.

Yeah, baby, I'm going to Nickelback.

I expect tomorrow to be crazy-busy. I want to get in one more gym session, because I have a feeling Friday is going to be worthless. And, of course, my guilty conscience makes me madly clean my house before I leave, knowing I'm leaving my kids all night with Daddy.

Bry is really great about keeping the kids. And why shouldn't he be? They're his kids, too. They love being with him, and I get the feeling he enjoys the one-on-one, too. Plus, it gives me the sanity-saving Mommy break that I require to keep functioning.

This Mommy break just happens to kick much booty.

Tire Swings

It's too early for a truly original headline.

Last night after I posted, I was treated to a molten lava cake. Chocolate chocolate chocolate. How I love thee.

Which immediately preceeded playing outside with my husband. No, not that kind of playing. Dirty mind, you have.

We were playing on our kids' tire swing. We'd take turns pushing each other. When it was my turn to ride, Bry would run with it until I was over his head, then let go. I would go soaring across almost the entire expanse of the yard, giggling. The branch it's anchored from is pretty high, so it's a mighty swing. For a moment I could relax and enjoy the movement, back and forth, back and forth, even though it took much longer to get back and forth than it did to read the words. It was kind of like back.... (wait for it)... (keep waiting)... and forth...

So if anyone needs a calming moment, give me a call. My tire swing's available.

Dreams of Pina Coladas

Mmmmm....

Had one too many last night. But at least I wasn't the only one.

I was washing some stemware from last night this evening, and it gave me a moment to reflect on the past week. It's been near perfect. The usual worries, but the good outweighed the bad.

My class went amazingly and exceedingly well. Enough for the band director to recommend me to his colleague at another (very wealthy) school as a private teacher. Plus, he is going to talk to the parents and see if we can set up a regular clinic where I would teach the clarinets. My biggest hurdle this week wasn't the actual teaching, but believing I was a teacher at all. I had to stop myself every time I talked to the band director and chant his FIRST name in my head, along with "I am his peer, not his student. I am his peer, not his student." The weirdest part is being on the other end of it all.

Now I'll have to connect with the band directors and sort out schedules. I want it to work out to be available to the students of both bands, I think it's important that they have access to a private instructor. Isn't it funny how it worked out to be me?

Friday night was Parent's Night Out at the church. We ate dinner and then walked around Town Square. If I didn't want a new camera for Christmas, I'd want this. We had such a blast playing with it. I could only think that we'd have to hide it from the kids and only bring it out when they're asleep. That's the only way poor R2 would survive our house.

Saturday was spent cleaning ferociously. I now find that funny, because I went to great pains to clean and straighten everything, and everything got blown up at the party. Tons of pina colada glasses, beer bottles, bottles of rum and tequila, three dishwashers full of food platters. We had steaks, ribs, and burgers. Made good use of our smoker/grill. And got drunk as skunks. Not intentionally, but when Steph mans the blender, it's bound to happen. Don't strike a match anywhere in the vicinity of a drink made by Steph. And Iz's room was piled knee-high in crud that the kids had pulled out of the closet. It took us hours to do damage control on that room just to have a fire path. All in all, a hugely successful party.

So here's to a great week. Sadness on the horizon with a death in the church youth. Sadly I didn't know him, but I know he will be missed.

Now I'm going to go the gym every day this week to run off those pina coladas.

Beethoven Revisited - the Establishment of a DREAM

I'm flying high. Naturally. Today was my first day of class. I am officially a teacher.

I can actually tell people I'm a music teacher now. Hahaha! The incredible feeling of self-worth that comes with that is almost overwhelming.

I dressed in my teachery best (which isn't very fancy, it's just teachery). Striped button-down, cami underneath, nice earrings and necklace, black slacks. Hair nicely coiffed, makeup on. I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. Demille.

And, wonder of wonders, the band director assigned my section to the band hall. It was completely surreal. I remember the dreams I had to be the one on that podium full-time. The dream has passed, but the wonder of it remains. There I stood, in front of a large section of Bb and bass clarinets, on the band director's podium. They had their full attention on me. Some with the expected high school irreverence, some with almost worshipful posture and attention. And just for a moment, I panicked.

I had this momentary lapse, a second of doubt. Why am I here? Who honestly thought I was qualified to do this? To teach? To instruct? To guide in the theory and performance of music? And for that moment, I was scared that they'd see right through me. To a person who is just now gaining back her own embouchure and ability. To a person who let music slide for years on the silly reasons of busyness and irritation at an old crotchety teacher. What business did I have standing in front of them?

But then the moment passed when I realized that if they could see through to that, then they could also probably see the love I have for music, the relationship that began when I was very young, a passion that still burns today. One that, unlike so many other passions, is not tempered by busyness or crotchety teachers or anything else, but simmered just below the surface, ever present, waiting to be stoked again. Because even in those music-less times, I would look longingly at my piano, hear my favorite pieces in my head. And in those rare moments that I stole to tinkle the ivories, I was set free, and the passion was reignited and burned stronger.

What can you say about that, except that of course it had to overrule any insecurities I might have?

And all I can say is Thank You God, because the four students I asked for to be interested in private lessons blossomed into six eager girls that pounced the moment the class was over. And, God willing, by the end of the week they will be set up for private lessons to the tune of of heck of a lot of money. Yippee!

You see, this is perfection. The ability to draw in funds that will forward your domestic plans while doing something that you love so much that you'd do it for free. That is the nature, I believe, of a calling. And with these funds I can see our financial goals' time lines being cut in half, the end of waiting forever for those insurmountable checks on the to-do list.

And the silly thing about it is, all I can think about is how much fun I have teaching, and how it should be considered a sin that I have so much fun and still take their money.

And I consider it a sign that I didn't hit one red light on the way to the school. Not one.

Happy

Rain and brownies and scrapbooking and beer and friends and conversation and parties and friends and kids and coffee and nachos and Crocs and nails and smiles and hugs and friends happy.

Caterpillar Poo Looks Like Pepper

Or so my daughter says.

We adopted a caterpillar four days ago, and The Iz has named him Marvin. Good name, I think. He happily crunches away at rose leaves all day, and leaves little trails of caterpillar poo on the bottom of the jar he's in. He seems pretty happy, and he brings endless joy to the kids, so I don't mind keeping him around. Plus, he's kinda cute. Less messy than a bird, anyway.

Things are going exceedingly well today. We came to the conclusion that we are definitely moving to the north side. So there's a new fire lit under our bottoms, and we dove into fixing up the house and planning immediately. I made a list, which I'm so good at doing. I've even designated things that can be accomplished by this weekend. Of course, the move won't be for several months, maybe even close to a year, but that won't be for lack of trying. But we've decided as a couple to make this our priority. So this week my job is to finish the tile, since I've already cleaned the outside of the house. I might even get a wild hair and paint the pantry. You never know, 'cause I'm kind of a rebel. You know, a loose cannon.

*snicker, snicker*

I also ordered a homeschool curriculum today. Not the one I'd hoped to get, but with the new emphasis on getting things handled around here, I couldn't see spending three times as much on the one I'd really like when I could get some stuff handled with that money. I know it's a good program, anyway, and a lot of it is how the child deals with it, anyway.

And, of all things, I walked outside today to find my landscaper putting Weed-B-Gone (or something like it) in the cracks of my driveway. Wow. I'm just so impressed at stuff like that. I didn't even ask. He just wanted my yard to look good. What a concept.

So, it's with a smile that I go back to the grindstone and figure out how to lay this darned tile. Wish me luck!

Don't Mess With the Cherries

So this past week has been filled with sickness and laying low. Ugh. First the kids, then me, then the Iz-pie and Bry ate some bad cherries and spent the next 36 hours puking. So, so, so much fun. The only good part was I got to flex my Wonder-Wife muscles. Now Bry's pulled something in his back today, and I'm wondering if we're just on a downhill bend. Making up for so much time with no ill health.



And on top of everything else, our financial plans always get put on hold, this time for the stupid HOA's version of let's-pick-on-the-corner-lot. Apparently they want us to paint our house. I'd love to point out so many other houses that are in so much worse shape than ours, but since we're the corner house ont he main drag, we get picked on. A LOT. Any time I see a light at the end of the tunnel, here comes the good ol' HOA waving a threatening letter. Usually to the tune of way, way, way too much. They've gotta take classes about this to be this good at putting us back, I mean... geez.

So, here's to hoping the weekend gets better...

If You Add Potatoes, Is It Still Eggs Benedict?

Today was the last day of VBS. Honestly, I could've gone another week. I loved it, and I loved seeing the kids love it. Not just mine, but all of them. We had so much fun, and everything was so well done. My favorite part was watching the little kids worship. They put their soul into it, everything they have. They raise their hands and bounce around with glee and fight to be on stage for all the world to see them honor God. And I loved listening to my Izzy walk around all week singing songs from VBS. It's such a blessing. And I was blessed to be a part of it. The least of the blessing being that I know all the moves to the songs and all the words, so I can sing along, too.

Another great part was building relationships with these kids. I had a great group of girls, and a couple of tag-alongs in my crew. I had four, but sometimes I had six following me and my co-Crew Leader. I watched a wallflower bloom into a charming little lady once she got to know us, and another child having a difficult time, today, on the last day, run from her Daddy's arms to mine as soon as she saw me (and if you know her, you know how unusual this is). Both his and my eyes were as big as saucers, I'm sure. It was an unexpected pleasure to know I'd meant something to her.

And I can say without fear (even knowing that one of the VBS coordinators regularly reads my blog) that I would love to do it again next year. 'Cause it was awesome. Yes, I know. Hit 'em in the head with a big fat possum. Ooooh. Ah ah. Oooh ooh, ah ah.

To wrap it up, I got a whole five Susan Brockman books at the library today (yay!). And I fixed Eggs Benedict for dinner. I haven't done that in a while, and I usually don't do it without help, so when Bryan came home feeling ill, I inwardly groaned but outwardly smiled and told him to go lay down. Just 'cause I'm such a darned good wife. I was trying to juggle constantly stirring the hollandaise with stirring the cooking ham, putting the English muffins in the oven, baking the diced potatoes, poaching the eggs, keeping the kids out of the kitchen, and trying not to trip over either the dogs or the dog food container that the kids were using as a stool to get up on the counter. Sounds like fun, huh?

And for those of you who knew I wasn't feeling at all well this week (hopefully none of the VBS people noticed, but just in case you're worried, it wasn't contagious), I feel much better now thank you.

Tomorrow's probably going to be a rainy day, and so we're going to attempt to smoke some ribs on the front porch, which is thankfully long enough to not flood the house with smoke or catch it on fire. Hopefully we'll also be doing a trip to Chick Fil-A. Golly, we're such boring people.

So I guess I'm going to go and write again when I have something interesting to say.

Oh, the Lord's been good to me
And so I thank the Lord
For giving me the things I need
The sun and the rain and eternity
The Lord's been good to me
Yippie kai yay...
Yippie kai yo...
Yeeeeeeeeeehaaaaawwww!

Haaaaahhhh - lelujah!!!

I am car-ed again. I guess that's what you are after you're carless. At the ingeneous suggestion of my wonderful Mommy, I'm going to bake those guys a cake.

I don't have to find a ride to VBS, I don't have to skip the gym, I don't have to wait to run errands until all hours of the night. Yesssss.... *happy dance*

So, in light of this new happy mood, I'm going to regale you with the things over the past few days that I've enjoyed:

- Showering in the dark while it rains. I know it's crazy, we've been getting so much rain lately. But showering while it's raining is the closest thing a non-exhibitionist extremely modest person will get to feeling the rain on bare skin. And apparently that's important, because they wrote a whole song about it. And apparently, as well, no one else can feel it for me. It's relaxing and exhilirating at the same time.

- Swimming. Yes, we actually made it to the pool! It let up raining on Sunday afternoon long enough to let us go for a few hours. Eli learned to swim without anyone holding on to him (wearing a vest of course), and Izzy jumped off the diving board for the first time (without a vest, of course). And, as always, it's just nice to be in the pool, swimming around, freefloating or doing laps, I don't really care. I just love to swim.

- Free CDs. A friend gave me three of them, and it was quite unexpected. How did she know I've been on a CD kick lately?

- The first ray of sunshine in my new teaching career. A band director I'm working with called and wants me to do a week-long methods class with his clarinet section during band camp. It's unusual for it to be during the day, but it's just that week. Afterward it'll be in the evening. I'd be there for an hour a day, teaching clarinet basics, and I'm so freakin' excited about it I'm about to jump out of my skin. Anyone up for watching the kids one of those days? I promise it won't be more than 2 hours, allowing for driving time.

- Talking with old friends. A friend from high school called today, and we caught up for about an hour. I miss her, but hopefully I'll be seeing her soon. She's planning a trip down here next month, and we'll probably take the kids to the zoo and the aquarium and all the other touristy-type stuff. Although I think it's funny that she doesn't seem to remember our last trip to the zoo. When we left, we were so thankful to see the parking lot that we both seriously thought about getting down and kissing the ground. I hope she plans to stay long enough to recover from each expedition, or her trip down her might just kill me!

On that happy thought, I'm going to go to bed so I'm well rested to play with the kiddos at VBS tomorrow at Avalanche Ranch. Yippee kai-oh kai-ay!