Cheers to Mom (in-law) !!!!

So not too far back...Ok...a while back, but the time in between went fast...so not too far back Wendy came down to stay with Duane and I for a couple of days to attend to some appointments down in our neck of the woods. I stocked up on stuff to cook and on her favorite soda (at least her favorite according to Duane, and I'm pretty sure he's right!)



Yeah...caffeine free diet coke. I was thinking eew...but Ok...so what do you do with the leftovers? They didn't have a 12 pack available so I got her a case for a couple of days. Sometimes in desperation we do weird things. One night, I get desperate for a soda...and all we had were those leftovers. YUM! It's not my Mountain Dew, but it's NO caffeine and NO calories. I'm sure it's still not the healthiest thing, but it's better than what I was drinking a gallon of (seemingly, not really) daily. So yeah, Thanks Mom for leaving those behind not so long ago because I have a new soda to drink as I try to peel back my caffeine habit!

Sometimes I wonder...

...if I should change careers. I don't know what else I would do, I don't have a passion for anything the way I do teaching. I think I'm pretty good at what I do and feel confident about it, especially looking at my 5-8th graders...kids I started from the beginning and are still working hard.

Last night the HS had large group contest. We got an excellent score...again. It was only marginally better than the excellent score we got last time, and still several points away from reaching superior. It wasn't their best performance. In fact, neither was their concert. Their best performance was the rehearsal in between their concert and contest.

The reason I wonder...is because I feel like a failure in that I am obviously completely unable to get this group to play their best when it counts most. I don't believe that I'm good for the students in those terms, and they deserve better. So me staying there...is just me caring about me and not giving them a chance to get someone in there that can motivate them to their peak performance.

I take SOME solace in the fact that for the first time, EVERY comment in clinic and on our comment sheets is something we had worked on and talked about. In fact it looks pretty identical to the last "rehearsal notes" set I took for myself and we DRILLED at their excellent rehearsal. I KNOW this group has the talent, I KNOW I gave them all the right tools...

...but I failed in getting them to use the tools at the right time.

Any suggestions or serious career opportunities out there?

It's Official

I have officially signed up for a course to become a certified scuba diver! I couldn't talk my chicken sister into going with me, even though it was a 2 for 1 deal...but I still got a discount. So...for just under $200 I will take the "classroom" portion of the course June 26-28 and do the actual dives the weekend of July 11-12.







Duane is certified, so we'll be able to go together in the future and it should be fun. Either later this summer (Aug or Sept.) or next summer, I'll take the advanced portion of the course so that I can dive deeper and keep up with him! Super Excited, and no...we're not diving in the Mississippi River. The dives will be on Lake Wazee in Black River Falls.

I have MORE exciting news (no moms, we're NOT expecting!)...but I'm not allowed to share it yet so you'll have to stay tuned.

Note to Self...

Next time buy Charmin, Ultra Soft...



Not Charmin, Ultra Strong...



Ultra Soft is strong enough...ultra strong is NOT soft enough.
Apparantly, distinguished butts can tell the difference!

Peace

For the first weekend in a LONG time, I got to operate mostly on my schedule and entirely on my terms. I came home after school Friday and wanted to go to the fitness center SO much...but thought I'd take a nap first. Big mistake. Didn't get up again until the next morning. Oh well, the sleep was needed. Saturday was a day with NO set plans. Duane was home, Brandi was home, I was home, and there was peace in my heart and my mind. Sunday was a day spent with students, but it was a trip to a dinner theatre in WI Dells.









I didn't have to plan because the Music Boosters did a wonderful job. I didn't even have to drive to the school, they let me pick up the bus here in LaCrescent. I met the bus about 9:45 was home about 5:30. The food was yummy and the show was delightful. If you're looking for something unique to do, check them out. The students enjoyed themselves and hopefully it will help them get past the quick and hard end of pep season and focusing on the end of the year. We have several major performances yet and with our every other day rehearsals we are looking at only a handful of days to prepare for each performance.

Next weekend...well, I requested off (at least Saturday) just in case we were still playing pep band...but since we're not...I'll have time again. Now that the house is in better order and I'm seeing straight again, maybe I'll have more to share!

6 of 8

Sorry for the absence...and for the lack of new pictures. The truth is I don't have anything new to say right now. The playoff run is in full swing, both teams are doing excellent...and I have spent 6 of the last 8 nights late at school. All of our games are now in Rochester, and if the girl's win their next one, they will be moving on to state tourney in Minneapolis. In fact...the first game of girl's state and the boys sectional championship game are the same day. That could mean that on Thursday the 19th, instead of spending our final chance at a rehearsal together for our Large Group Competition on the following Monday, we will be out of school playing in Minneapolis at 11:00 am and swinging back through Rochester for the guys game at 8:00 pm. Exciting, but tiring.

I'll spare you all the details because talking about it frustrates me. I love my job and my students, but the fact is...all of theses hours are hours away from my family, my fitness center and my other job. I'm tired to the bone, and we've got a long way to go...another 2-3 weeks of this insane schedule and it feels as if the powers that be take it me fore-granted in their assumptions that we can make all these games. I feel they have very little respect for the amount of time and personal life I am having to give up for this...none of which is in my contract.

Ah well...hopefully I'll have something more interesting (or at least something from life outside work) next time.