Somebody keeps stealing time from me somehow. Each day is shorter and less gets done. But I've been reading a new wave philosophical mumbo jumbo tree hugger book lately, and I'm convinced that the only way to increase time and space is to increase DISTANCE. Just step back from it all, as far back as you can, take a few breaths and THINK for awhile. Kinda like......stopping to smell the roses and such. Then you see how unimportant most of the things are that you are stressing over. And time will slow down a bit, and you can put space around and between things. And feel like you're living after all. Anyway......
When we got back from Destin, Smokey was not here. He goes places and comes back sometimes so we didn’t worry much. But by the weekend he was STILL not back. We have not seen him at all. So I called the pound and the humane society and they don’t have him. We drove around his usual spots and didn't see him. He does have a tag with our phone number on it but we had no messages on the voice mail about him. I’ve put an ad in the paper and no one has called about him. I don’t know WHAT has happened to him. But Tanner is thinking that he must have lost his tag, then got lost in some neighborhood and somebody started feeding him and he forgot how to come home. So that’s what we’re going to stick with. Tanner misses him.
I got official word last week that I AM getting the job transfer I requested! Woohoo! But I’m NOT going to Jr. High. It’s even better. I’m going to HIGH SCHOOL. I’m going to be right up there with Tyler lol. And then I’ll be there when Tanner gets there too. I’m very excited. VERY. I have a lot of studying to do over the summer to brush up on that level of teaching but I’m just thrilled about it. I will be a choral director mainly. But I think I’ll have a general music class or two. And I’ll be directing the high school play every year. I will have to take the choir to contests, etc. It’s going to be a lot more work than I am used to. But I totally need this change, something to put a spark back into me. It’s going to be a trip!
Tuesday night after we got back from Destin, my friend Lysa had gotten a few free tickets to see the Billy Joel musical called “Movin’ Out”. So she, Cheryl, and I went to see it and it was WONDERFUL. It was not quite what we expected, but it was still awesome. It was more or less a “rock ballet”. And Billy Joel was not in the cast or band but they had a guy that sang a lot like him singing the Billy Joel songs while the actors danced to it. There was a story line and all, just no spoken words. It’s kinda hard to describe, but this is all I could find about it on the internet:
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel. Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of AMerican youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War. The principal characters are drawn from those who appeared in various Joel tunes: high school sweethearts Brenda and Eddie ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"), James ("James"), Judy ("Why Judy Why"), and Tony (Anthony in "Movin' Out"). The show is unusual in that, unlike the traditional musical, it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. All the vocals are performed by a pianist and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the narrative sans dialogue, making the show, in essence, a rock ballet.
So basically I’ve been running around with Billy Joel songs stuck in my head all week. It was really cool lol.
Now, for the football drama:
Tyler has been saying off and on for a year that he doesn’t like playing football anymore, or wants to quit football, etc. I’ve thought that it had mostly to do with his medical issues going on and being depressed about it and all. We’ve continued to push him to do it and stick with it to see if he changes his mind, etc. So last week he brought it up again that it was a major source of problem in his life – the fact that he didn’t like playing anymore and that we are forcing him to keep playing. He said he just felt that he had absolutely no choice about it and that we never listen to him, etc. So after much discussion, we told him we were leaving it up to him. If he was THAT miserable, then he didn't have to play anymore. So he chose to quit football. It may end up for the best, with his cataplexy and all. I'd never forgive myself if he got seriously injured on the field and I had MADE him stay in football.
When we got back from Destin, Smokey was not here. He goes places and comes back sometimes so we didn’t worry much. But by the weekend he was STILL not back. We have not seen him at all. So I called the pound and the humane society and they don’t have him. We drove around his usual spots and didn't see him. He does have a tag with our phone number on it but we had no messages on the voice mail about him. I’ve put an ad in the paper and no one has called about him. I don’t know WHAT has happened to him. But Tanner is thinking that he must have lost his tag, then got lost in some neighborhood and somebody started feeding him and he forgot how to come home. So that’s what we’re going to stick with. Tanner misses him.
I got official word last week that I AM getting the job transfer I requested! Woohoo! But I’m NOT going to Jr. High. It’s even better. I’m going to HIGH SCHOOL. I’m going to be right up there with Tyler lol. And then I’ll be there when Tanner gets there too. I’m very excited. VERY. I have a lot of studying to do over the summer to brush up on that level of teaching but I’m just thrilled about it. I will be a choral director mainly. But I think I’ll have a general music class or two. And I’ll be directing the high school play every year. I will have to take the choir to contests, etc. It’s going to be a lot more work than I am used to. But I totally need this change, something to put a spark back into me. It’s going to be a trip!
Tuesday night after we got back from Destin, my friend Lysa had gotten a few free tickets to see the Billy Joel musical called “Movin’ Out”. So she, Cheryl, and I went to see it and it was WONDERFUL. It was not quite what we expected, but it was still awesome. It was more or less a “rock ballet”. And Billy Joel was not in the cast or band but they had a guy that sang a lot like him singing the Billy Joel songs while the actors danced to it. There was a story line and all, just no spoken words. It’s kinda hard to describe, but this is all I could find about it on the internet:
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel. Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of AMerican youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War. The principal characters are drawn from those who appeared in various Joel tunes: high school sweethearts Brenda and Eddie ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"), James ("James"), Judy ("Why Judy Why"), and Tony (Anthony in "Movin' Out"). The show is unusual in that, unlike the traditional musical, it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. All the vocals are performed by a pianist and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the narrative sans dialogue, making the show, in essence, a rock ballet.
So basically I’ve been running around with Billy Joel songs stuck in my head all week. It was really cool lol.
Now, for the football drama:
Tyler has been saying off and on for a year that he doesn’t like playing football anymore, or wants to quit football, etc. I’ve thought that it had mostly to do with his medical issues going on and being depressed about it and all. We’ve continued to push him to do it and stick with it to see if he changes his mind, etc. So last week he brought it up again that it was a major source of problem in his life – the fact that he didn’t like playing anymore and that we are forcing him to keep playing. He said he just felt that he had absolutely no choice about it and that we never listen to him, etc. So after much discussion, we told him we were leaving it up to him. If he was THAT miserable, then he didn't have to play anymore. So he chose to quit football. It may end up for the best, with his cataplexy and all. I'd never forgive myself if he got seriously injured on the field and I had MADE him stay in football.
So - THEN -I find out a few days later that Kyle decided to quit football too. Not sure on his reasons. But really, I think they are very lacking in the coaching area at our school or something. There is not a lot of encouragement or any kind of inspiration to make the boys want to keep coming back. They ought to have tons of kids on the team and they just never do, seems like.
Now, for the baseball drama:
Tanner's team has played about 10 games at this point. They have only lost ONE. They are a really good team. Tanner has had a real hard time this year though, baseball is kind of more advanced than the last time he played. Kids pitch now instead of coaches. And they are trying to STOP you from being able to hit it. So, basically he has not hit the ball with the bat in a game at all this year. He has been walked a few times, but that's it. And he had decided by the end of last week that he hated playing and wanted to quit, but he knew we were not going to allow him to quit. When we signed him up, we told him he HAD to finish if he started. So he's been kinda miserable about it a lot. Another thing - he has REFUSED to wear his glasses. Or, when he has agreed to try wearing them, he's accidentally left them at school, or home, etc. We have not had the glasses at any games. The coach got word that Tanner is supposed to wear glasses so he called me this week and asked me about it. I told him.........uh, yeah, he's supposed to wear them and I know I should have been making him but he hates them and blah blah blah. I didn't have a good excuse. Felt kinda dumb lol. But I promised him Tanner would have them on at this week's game on Tuesday. So he wore them even though he didn't want to. First bat, he hit the ball TWO TIMES - both times were foul balls but he actually HIT the ball. He hit it, and looked over at me and mom with shock on his face! He was a happy kid. He ended up getting walked, and then was walked two more times that night. (The other team had bad pitchers.) I think if he had been pitched some good balls he would have finally hit a good one though. Also that night, he made at least 3 really good outfield plays that stopped some runs that might otherwise have been scores. He was walking TALL that evening. And said he likes baseball again lol. We have two regular season games left next week, and then the play offs. I'm pretty sure we will be in the playoffs because we have the best record of all the teams.
Last Saturday I took Tanner and Cody to a birthday swimming party. There were a lot of kids there from their school. Their grade level has some pretty good kids in it, and a pretty close knit bunch of kids. That's good to see, because it doesn't happen too much these days. If I can get a picture or two off my phone I'm gonna post them.
Mothers Day was last Sunday and I had a great day. The guys took me to eat at the China Buffet, then we went to Jackson to Guitar Center to window shop and the kids even volunteered to go along. They were real sweet to me that day. Tyler had been shopping with a friend the day before and bought me a Mothers Day Card he picked out and it was adorable. It was a "fill-in-the-blank" card and was really funny. This is what it said (The red colored words are the parts he filled in the blanks):
"Once upon a time, (not any longer ago than today and no further than a hug), there was a mom named Tracy who lived in the land of men. Her family thought she was the best mom ever, for no one else's mom could be cool like she did! Indeed, the whole kingdom could see what a hip woman she was. Brave knights admired the way she could shake dat thang (he said Rusty helped him on that one lol). Wizards begged her to teach them how to shake dat thang...and even the biggest dragons brushed their nose hair and said "shake dat thang" with a smile when she asked them to. And so it comes to pass, that a special day was set aside to celebrate this fly mother so she'd know she was loved all the way to hell and back at least three times. And the best part of the story is....the once-upon-a-time mom is YOU!!!!"
I got a real kick out of that lol. I definitely live in the land of men. I often remember my Great Aunt Helen and how when I'd visit her house it was just so "male". Gun racks and guns on the wall, deer heads and fish and stuff. Everything was just so "guyish" and that seems like my house so much of the time. I understand now though - she just didn't stand a chance. I fight hard to make things pretty and feminine and there is just NO USE. I've got guitars and all kinds of unidentifiable electronic equipment everywhere lol. And even a gun cabinet. And football and baseball stuff, video games, giant tennis shoes, etc. But that's ok I don't guess I'd have it any other way. They love me to hell and back 3 times, so I can't complain I guess! lol
We went for a short visit with Mom on Mothers Day also, had gotten her a little outdoor candle set. Was a nice visit. She has bought lots of yard toys for the lake this summer so Tanner tried out a few of them. He's very much looking forward to summer lake fun.
The weekend after we got back from Destin, all four of us got out back and DUG OUT the patio. It was covered with dirt and grass growing over the top of it.We have intentions to build it up so that it won't overgrow again. We have not exactly decided how yet, but we're gonna do it. We need a patio for sure now because we have nowhere to grill lol.
Have I mentioned the fact that I backed into Rusty's new truck a few weeks back and dented his front bumper? Surely I have. Anyway. I have yet to hear the end of it. We were going to pay the $700 to have it replaced with the extra income tax money coming and all. But last Saturday he decided he was just gonna take it off himself and try to straighten it - then later on buy a new bumper and put it on himself. The bumpers are just hard to find right now because it's a 2008 truck. But soon he can find them and save tons of money. So I looked out last Saturday when I woke up and this is what I found .......
He got it straightened out pretty much, just a couple of very small indentions. He also changed the oil that day with the intentions of teaching Tyler how to do it. Not sure how that all went. I just noticed though.....it looks like Rusty is flipping me the bird. Hmm. I'll have to get him for that.
We had State testing at school this week. Which means I've had to stand and walk the room for 2 and a half hours solid everyday. We're not allowed to sit down while watching students take the test. So I've been pretty sore at the end of the days. I've also been rehearsing 6th grade students for a musical program they are doing tomorrow. Just taking it all one thing at a time I guess. I'm ready to close out school and move to my new spot though.
After getting my hair dresser to finally audition for our band, and him doing such an AWESOME job of singing......he then decided that he really doesn't have the time to put into it. Which broke my heart because he was SO good. We're currently trying to beg and plead with him to do it. I think he thinks we're going to be playing out as often as we were in the old band......but we're not. I can't handle that kinda lost time anymore I don't think, especially not with the new job position. I think playing out somewhere once a month, within driving distance, is plenty enough. And I think that is what we all have in mind.
This is just one of those times of the year, like right before Christmas, that I have so much going on I simply have to stop and take it all one day at a time. I'm NOT going to stress myself like I did the 2 weeks before Christmas to the point of being a gigantic ball of pain and unable to move or even THINK lol. So I know that very soon I'll be making a visit to Alabama, and doing some workshops over the summer, and so on. But I guess right now I'm just trying to finish out the year. By this time next week though, I'm gonna be EXCITED about the summer!
Tanner found a bag of balloons in my classroom as I was cleaning out some junk so I let him have them. Then I had to teach him how to tie a balloon and he actually got it this time. He was proud of himself.
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