The Tempest
Last night we had quite the storm. You know how in the storm chasers videos the wind is blowing wisps of clouds (technically fog) around the car against a backdrop of black-as-night clouds? I was driving through that yesterday. Maybe not the brightest idea, but I didn't know it was going to be THAT bad. Once we got out of the wind, the lightening was pretty cool, though. The real challenge was chatting with Samantha and telling her all about thunder and lightening; keeping it factual but not too scary.
So why was I driving in what could have very easily turned into a tornado? Well, my elementary school was supposed to be holding it's 50th anniversary. My friend Mary is the strings teacher there, and she dislocated a finger last weekend. I was going so I could play with her group (and play with the band, too) and help her tune instruments. (can you imagine tuning a violin one-handed?)
When we got to my parents house, the power was out. Around 5:30 my brother and I decided to drive up to the school and see what was happening. Since there was no power there, either, the event was being postponed until today at 9:00am (there was still no power at the school today, so who knows what they will do. Maybe the ghost of Folger McKinsey is causing problems!) But I did see Mrs. Morin, my strings teacher, Cheryl Cook, the art teacher (who still teaches there) and Mrs. Burns, my kindergarten teacher. (Yes, Kelly, she was there. I heard that she came into school earlier in the day and yelled at the secretaries because she thought that everyone who had ever worked there should have received a PERSONAL invitation to the event!) I was glad I went and saw some people. Too bad the weather didn't cooperate. The funniest part was when people would recognize me, then have a double take when they figured out who my brother was! (He had changed a lot since elementary school!)
On Monday I stopped in at AACC to visit my friend
shivedheart. I had made her a pair of socks and wanted to deliver them in person. It was a really great visit. She made me laugh so hard I literally sat down on the floor and cried. (She was reenacting a substitute teacher's reaction to some "creative" diorama rearrangements.) I felt bad for taking up so much time at her work, because I know she has a lot to to prepare the graduation videos, but I couldn't tear myself away. Next time I'll bring my kids. We will be much more disruptive, but at least it will be a shorter visit!
Disney Dazzle is over for another year. There are 5 more schools we need to do in the fall, but I'm done for now. I enjoy it (we perform a show for the schools to get them excited about playing an instrument next year) but I'm so glad I'm not a professional musician. It's a hard way to make a living! (Not that teaching is a piece of cake either, but at least it involves slightly less schlepping.)
Last day for students is Friday; last day for me is Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to summer vacation!
So why was I driving in what could have very easily turned into a tornado? Well, my elementary school was supposed to be holding it's 50th anniversary. My friend Mary is the strings teacher there, and she dislocated a finger last weekend. I was going so I could play with her group (and play with the band, too) and help her tune instruments. (can you imagine tuning a violin one-handed?)
When we got to my parents house, the power was out. Around 5:30 my brother and I decided to drive up to the school and see what was happening. Since there was no power there, either, the event was being postponed until today at 9:00am (there was still no power at the school today, so who knows what they will do. Maybe the ghost of Folger McKinsey is causing problems!) But I did see Mrs. Morin, my strings teacher, Cheryl Cook, the art teacher (who still teaches there) and Mrs. Burns, my kindergarten teacher. (Yes, Kelly, she was there. I heard that she came into school earlier in the day and yelled at the secretaries because she thought that everyone who had ever worked there should have received a PERSONAL invitation to the event!) I was glad I went and saw some people. Too bad the weather didn't cooperate. The funniest part was when people would recognize me, then have a double take when they figured out who my brother was! (He had changed a lot since elementary school!)
On Monday I stopped in at AACC to visit my friend
shivedheart. I had made her a pair of socks and wanted to deliver them in person. It was a really great visit. She made me laugh so hard I literally sat down on the floor and cried. (She was reenacting a substitute teacher's reaction to some "creative" diorama rearrangements.) I felt bad for taking up so much time at her work, because I know she has a lot to to prepare the graduation videos, but I couldn't tear myself away. Next time I'll bring my kids. We will be much more disruptive, but at least it will be a shorter visit!
Disney Dazzle is over for another year. There are 5 more schools we need to do in the fall, but I'm done for now. I enjoy it (we perform a show for the schools to get them excited about playing an instrument next year) but I'm so glad I'm not a professional musician. It's a hard way to make a living! (Not that teaching is a piece of cake either, but at least it involves slightly less schlepping.)
Last day for students is Friday; last day for me is Wednesday. I'm really looking forward to summer vacation!