One of those good news/bad news days
Although, in all fairness, it was mostly good.
So, we'll start with the bad news: I got a $10 parking ticket today for overstaying my welcome in a 1-hour parking zone. Completely my fault. I was volunteering at the public library and since I chose not to rush off to TKD at noon for once, I decided to work a little longer, then browsed a little, as well - I was there for 2 hours. Totally forgot the parking limit, and the parking czars are pretty strict in that part of town, as it is. (I'm sure it didn't help that I was parked right in front of City Hall, either!) At least it's not a moving violation. Paid an extra $1.50 for the privilege of paying online rather than by mail, but at least it's over and done and out of the way.
Oh, and I also borrowed a recording of Haydn's Creation, which I'm 99% sure is the version we sang when I was in college. However, upon playing the first bunch of tracks, I haven't recognized a single thing. Which is odd - yes, it's in German and we sang it in English, but I listened to Bach's Christmas Oratorio in German a few months ago and I still completely recognized every piece, even though - again - I had performed it in English. I mean, I definitely remember at least a few bits and pieces of The Creation, so either I have the wrong composer, or my memory is just completely failing. So, kind of disappointing, but ... oh well.
On to more cheerful news.
The best one is actually news from Monday, but I forgot to report it then: Nala's biopsies from her second surgery are completely clear. We still need to keep an eye on her for any further lumps and growths and such, but for now, she's a healthy dog again. Phew! (And she's been healing even faster this time than before, can hardly tell she had anything done at all, even if you look at the incisions.
Also: It cost a buttload of money, alas, but I've just signed up for another summer subscription to the local Shakespeare Festival (although I'm not actually seeing any Shakespeare this year - not as interested in this summer's Bard selections). And this year, I splurged on getting MiniPlu the same subscription, but I only got Two tickets to see the musical, because he asked, and I still regret that my kids didn't get to see Oklahoma! two summers ago or Fiddler last summer because I was too galled by the pricetag. This summer I just sucked it up: They're doing Les Miz. I was actually surprised they both wanted to see it again; we saw it at the local high school (which did an OUTSTANDING job) two years ago, and were both baffled by the convoluted plot, but I guess the music and acting made an impression on them. I actually had considered giving it a pass this year, because, frankly, when it comes to Grand Overblown Semi-operatic Musicals, I much prefer Phantom. But since they wanted to go, I figured I'd take them. I'm finding that I'm more willing to shell out money for theater/musical tickets - it's like travel, an experience you can take with you forever. My cultural gift to my kids. I only got Two tickets to Les Miz, however, because he often complains about seeing some of the shows and has been known to fall asleep in the theater. The other two shows MiniPlu and I will see (the subscriptions come in 3, 4, and 5-show units - I only wanted to see three) will be Around the World in 80 Days and The Foreigner, neither of which I have ever seen but both of which sound really fun. And since MiniPlu is even more interested in theater these days, I thought she might like to come along.
And we'll go see the annual summer children's production, too - it's only an hour. They take a fairy tale and make it both fun and funny the way they do it. We've seen Robin Hood, Snow White, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and this year it's Rapunzel.
And speaking of children's theater, our neighbor (in 6th grade), who has been part of the local youth theater company since she was, like, six, has earned the role of Lucy in Narnia: The Musical, so I bought tickets for the three of us to see her in May. (Plus, the annual high school production - Hairspray this year, in April. Lotta lotta theater coming up, but I'm really looking forward to it. :)
Then there's Camp Aranu'tiq, where Two will be going this summer. Initially, they offered a 1-week and 2-week camp, but if you only wanted the 1-week version, you had to go the first week. Which meant being gone over MiniPlu's 13th birthday (we planned to spend it in Maine, but still - not the same as letting her spend it with friends, at home), our dog-sitters weren't free (we planned to beg R&K to dog-sit), and there were just a number of logistical issues. This morning, however, an email went out to all the one-week campers saying that if they wanted to switch to the second week, instead, we could. I jumped at the chance. Problems solved!
Well, mostly. MiniPlu wants to attend a performing-arts camp run by her drama teacher through her church, and ... you guessed it. It's the same week. However, depending on timing and on how Will feels, I'm thinking maybe she could still attend (maybe R&K could help make sure she gets there/back?), leaving Will and me to visit people up in New England on our own, sans kids. Or maybe MiniPlu just won't get to go. We'll have to see.
Between that and our hoped-for travel at the beginning of summer, it's looking to be a really busy (and *cough* expensive) season for us! But hopefully a fun one. :)
I swear there was one more positive thing but right now I'm drawing a blank. I will say that I'm still way short on sleep, the knuckles of my left hand have been feeling arthritic the past couple of days (never used to) and tomorrow's going to be both long and weird, as it's a band morning, then MiniPlu gets out at 11:30am (conferences) and has a haircut at 1p, so I can't work the school library at all, plus there's double gymnastics at night. But Will has Fri off, so that kind of makes up for it. :D Oh, and it's SO MUCH LIGHTER OUTSIDE THESE DAYS. Seriously, that all by itself makes me deliriously happy, even if there is still snow and ice and crap all over the place.
Oh, and before I head to bed, let me leave you with yet another cartoon I think many moms will associate with. ;-P
So, we'll start with the bad news: I got a $10 parking ticket today for overstaying my welcome in a 1-hour parking zone. Completely my fault. I was volunteering at the public library and since I chose not to rush off to TKD at noon for once, I decided to work a little longer, then browsed a little, as well - I was there for 2 hours. Totally forgot the parking limit, and the parking czars are pretty strict in that part of town, as it is. (I'm sure it didn't help that I was parked right in front of City Hall, either!) At least it's not a moving violation. Paid an extra $1.50 for the privilege of paying online rather than by mail, but at least it's over and done and out of the way.
Oh, and I also borrowed a recording of Haydn's Creation, which I'm 99% sure is the version we sang when I was in college. However, upon playing the first bunch of tracks, I haven't recognized a single thing. Which is odd - yes, it's in German and we sang it in English, but I listened to Bach's Christmas Oratorio in German a few months ago and I still completely recognized every piece, even though - again - I had performed it in English. I mean, I definitely remember at least a few bits and pieces of The Creation, so either I have the wrong composer, or my memory is just completely failing. So, kind of disappointing, but ... oh well.
On to more cheerful news.
The best one is actually news from Monday, but I forgot to report it then: Nala's biopsies from her second surgery are completely clear. We still need to keep an eye on her for any further lumps and growths and such, but for now, she's a healthy dog again. Phew! (And she's been healing even faster this time than before, can hardly tell she had anything done at all, even if you look at the incisions.
Also: It cost a buttload of money, alas, but I've just signed up for another summer subscription to the local Shakespeare Festival (although I'm not actually seeing any Shakespeare this year - not as interested in this summer's Bard selections). And this year, I splurged on getting MiniPlu the same subscription, but I only got Two tickets to see the musical, because he asked, and I still regret that my kids didn't get to see Oklahoma! two summers ago or Fiddler last summer because I was too galled by the pricetag. This summer I just sucked it up: They're doing Les Miz. I was actually surprised they both wanted to see it again; we saw it at the local high school (which did an OUTSTANDING job) two years ago, and were both baffled by the convoluted plot, but I guess the music and acting made an impression on them. I actually had considered giving it a pass this year, because, frankly, when it comes to Grand Overblown Semi-operatic Musicals, I much prefer Phantom. But since they wanted to go, I figured I'd take them. I'm finding that I'm more willing to shell out money for theater/musical tickets - it's like travel, an experience you can take with you forever. My cultural gift to my kids. I only got Two tickets to Les Miz, however, because he often complains about seeing some of the shows and has been known to fall asleep in the theater. The other two shows MiniPlu and I will see (the subscriptions come in 3, 4, and 5-show units - I only wanted to see three) will be Around the World in 80 Days and The Foreigner, neither of which I have ever seen but both of which sound really fun. And since MiniPlu is even more interested in theater these days, I thought she might like to come along.
And we'll go see the annual summer children's production, too - it's only an hour. They take a fairy tale and make it both fun and funny the way they do it. We've seen Robin Hood, Snow White, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and this year it's Rapunzel.
And speaking of children's theater, our neighbor (in 6th grade), who has been part of the local youth theater company since she was, like, six, has earned the role of Lucy in Narnia: The Musical, so I bought tickets for the three of us to see her in May. (Plus, the annual high school production - Hairspray this year, in April. Lotta lotta theater coming up, but I'm really looking forward to it. :)
Then there's Camp Aranu'tiq, where Two will be going this summer. Initially, they offered a 1-week and 2-week camp, but if you only wanted the 1-week version, you had to go the first week. Which meant being gone over MiniPlu's 13th birthday (we planned to spend it in Maine, but still - not the same as letting her spend it with friends, at home), our dog-sitters weren't free (we planned to beg R&K to dog-sit), and there were just a number of logistical issues. This morning, however, an email went out to all the one-week campers saying that if they wanted to switch to the second week, instead, we could. I jumped at the chance. Problems solved!
Well, mostly. MiniPlu wants to attend a performing-arts camp run by her drama teacher through her church, and ... you guessed it. It's the same week. However, depending on timing and on how Will feels, I'm thinking maybe she could still attend (maybe R&K could help make sure she gets there/back?), leaving Will and me to visit people up in New England on our own, sans kids. Or maybe MiniPlu just won't get to go. We'll have to see.
Between that and our hoped-for travel at the beginning of summer, it's looking to be a really busy (and *cough* expensive) season for us! But hopefully a fun one. :)
I swear there was one more positive thing but right now I'm drawing a blank. I will say that I'm still way short on sleep, the knuckles of my left hand have been feeling arthritic the past couple of days (never used to) and tomorrow's going to be both long and weird, as it's a band morning, then MiniPlu gets out at 11:30am (conferences) and has a haircut at 1p, so I can't work the school library at all, plus there's double gymnastics at night. But Will has Fri off, so that kind of makes up for it. :D Oh, and it's SO MUCH LIGHTER OUTSIDE THESE DAYS. Seriously, that all by itself makes me deliriously happy, even if there is still snow and ice and crap all over the place.
Oh, and before I head to bed, let me leave you with yet another cartoon I think many moms will associate with. ;-P