Musings

• Is it bad when the vocational school that is going to fix your truck for the cost of PARTS ONLY is $2,000?!?! Yikes. That tree should have jumped out of the way as Ken came toward it in December. It's only the front left corner, but hit four or five panels. Eww!
• The last Saturday in January is becoming a reserved date on my calendar each year. I am able to accompany many students as they head to solo & ensemble, where they play for a judge. I accompanied 15 middle school students in December, and have 8 HS entries tomorrow...just up the road at Grant MS. It is fun to be able to sit down and play the piano while helping the students...and a little extra $ is nice, too. I love teaching English, but I do miss teaching music. All the students I'm working with are ones who started in 6th grade beginning band with Rob and me.
• Julius Caesar is now dead, Portia has killed herself, and others are about to experience the results of betrayal and conspiracy, as my 10th graders finish Shakespeare's tragedy. This is the first time I've taught it, and I am enjoying it. I've been reminded recently of how thankful I am to have a job I love going to each day. Kent City students and families are great.
• Anyone read Frank Stockton's "The Lady or the Tiger?" My 8th grade is finishing this story. Which way do you think the princess directs her lover...to instant death by the tiger, or to an instant wedding to a beautiful maiden (who the princess despises)???
• I now have tables and chairs in my classroom at school...how wonderful! My previous desks had a small desktop and when students opened up their books, there was little room for anything else. There is a lot of furniture in the room, but it's worth it so they can spread out some. My students seem to like it a lot.
• Our computer is dying a slow death....only one USB port works some of the time, the power cord will not charge the battery at all, so the computer turns off immediately if unplugged, the power cord doesn't stay in the computer well, the screen will not stand upright on its own, etc., etc. Can you believe we found a new laptop through Dell (and the Education Employee's section) for about $400? The best part? It has a CHERRY RED top!! My favorite was the pink top, but since Ken and I share the computer, I thought that might be going overboard.
• The sun is beautiful as it makes streaks through the snow, cutting diagonally through the lines of pine trees. I love looking at the woods.
• Why is it nap ("rest") time and I hear random sounds coming from upstairs?? Better go check on that. :)

Enjoy this weekend!

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