I guess the last time I blogged was before Thanksgiving. Geesh, do I have a lot to catch up on. So let's start with THanksgiving.
We'd had it early at mom's house and it was terrific. Then Thanksgiving Day, well it was ok I guess. We went to Rusty's dad's kinda early so we'd have time to visit with them before jetting off to Aunt Joni's. At some point, I can't remember now if it was before, during, after, or whatever, but Rusty and I had our usual traditional holiday argument so that much was right in line with tradition lol. It's never anything big. It's always something little. So much that I don't even remember now what. All I know is we do it every THanksgiving and CHristmas. And sometimes other holidays. So anyway, we went down to Aunt Joni's for the rest of the afternoon. We were there quite a long time actually. BUt we had a good time. Got to visit with Ken and Connor as well. When we got home that night, our electricity was out but only in HALF the house. It was weird. Rusty and Donnie started going through breakers and boxes and outside junk. Finally at some point, Rusty turned the oven on and as soon as he did all the power came back on. It may have just coincidentally came on as he was messing with the oven. But it was really weird. We've not had anymore trouble since. So who knows!?!?
My friend Heather was in town from Atalanta with her new baby over THanksgiving so we go to see and hold the sweetest little baby girl! Always makes me want another one. BUt not really lol.
TAnner and I were so proud of ourselves for actually getting the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving! I was so afraid this would be one of those years that were the last minute getting it up. Little did we know what JACK had in store for us. Our Christmas tree has been around for 18 seasons. It has lived through I don't know HOW many cats. Not to mention all the moving and rearranging that I've done to it here and there. But the tree did not last a week with Jack. He climbed it, pulled limbs out of it, pulled all the ornaments off and took them all over the house, and knocked it over so many times that the base finally broke, once and for all. The only way it is still standing in the picture below is because I leaned it against the wall:
I decided I just did not need the stress right now. I took it down and threw it away. Bah humbug! lol. We kept the very top portion of it though and made ourselves a tiny tree for this year. I told Tanner we would just always remember this year as the "year we had a tiny make-shift tree" and it would be funny forevermore. I don't want to spend the money on a new one right now. And if I did, I"m not sure Jack would survive til New Year's if he destroyed a brand new one. So in interest of "Peace and goodwill toward men (and cats)" we are gonna make do with this one:
So far Jack has not bothered this one. I guess he can't climb it so it's not fun. BUt hopefully he will keep ignoring it. Everyone seems to get a kick out of seeing it. Especially those who saw Jack's handiwork.
Ok. Beginning the SUnday after Thanksgiving I had a series of constant performances it seemed like. The Madrigals performed at a special service at my doctor's church:
THen a few days after that I took the Madrigals and another choir I had thrown together at the last minute to the local Christmas Carol contest that is put on by a radio station. They all did well but I don't have any pics because nobody went with me. The Madrigals did not make the top 3 of their division, but that other choir of mine did! THey were excited. I just put that group together because I had realized that none of those kids had ever gotten to be in the caroling contest. I thought that was awful. But by the time we decided to do it we only had 4 days to practice. So we didn't figure on winning anything, our goal was just to go and see what it was like. We made it to the top 3 and had to go compete again on another night. They did very well. We ended up coming in 3rd, but we still got $500! Not bad for 4 days work if you ask me. They were happy about it also. All's well that ends well.
The Madrigal Feast finally came. I've been working on that for the better part of 3 months now and it has REALLY taken all my time. I think that evening was the climax of my stress level. But it ended up all being worthwhile. To start with, a gigantic storm with tornados and hail and stuff hit RIGHT about the time we were to start seating guests. People were so concerned with the weather that I ended up having to start 30 minutes late so that some of it could pass over. Thankfully we had pre-sold most of the tickets so everyone braved the weather to get there since they'd paid $25 a ticket lol. We didn't exactly sell out, but we came close. We made enough money to break even, which was what I expected. And everyone totally LOVED the show. And people are talking about us out in the community. So, once again, goal accomplished. The kids were on top of the world that evening. They've never done anything like that and now they can't wait to do it again. Makes me wish I had not come to the agreement to alternate years with the other high school lol. Because now we won't do it again til 2010. BUt that's ok, I don't think I could handle one EVERY year. Pictures from the Madrigal Dinner , which included dinner, a concert, and a play put on by some really talented kids that I pride myself for picking. You can see that even I dressed in Renaissance clothing.......I can't resist costumes any more than TAnner can I guess. I sewed ALL of the servant costumes, and ALL of the actors costumes. The Madrigals already had theirs. But I put some major hours into that show but I was very glad I did. Jenifer ended up choosing Tanner to be her volunteer from the audience and he had to eat "worms in dirt", which were gummy worms in cookie crumbs. But he had a great time. Mom, Pat, Tanner, Tyler, Brook, Rusty, Keith, Cheryl, and her mom all came to the show. Everyone said it was great, and we will have it on TV probably by next weekend.
THe next day at school I had given Mrs. Leese the day off, since me and the kids were going to just CHILL for once and talk about the performance. Mrs. Leese sent me a poinsettia with a card that said great job and that she was proud of me. Made me feel good! And I had the students write some of the good things they had heard about us from other people on the board...
Sometime in the midst of all that, there was a Christmas parade that Tanner and Cody were in, riding on the elementary school float. THey had a really terrific float this year. They had a good time for sure....
Also, in the midst of all that, we played another show at Julio's. We are minus a drummer now after all. So Trent filled in with us. In fact, since that show happened, we are now minus a singer as well. Just was not working out with Laura. She had a hard time getting here to practice and stuff. And just a hard time in life in general. So we've found another female singer. THis one is 21. And I swear if people start asking me if she's my daughter I'll DIE. lol. But she's real good, seems real mature and all too. So hopefully it's gonna work out for awhile. But with a new singer and fill in drummers, it's kind of like being back at square one again. I hate square one. But maybe it won't take long to get back on our feet. Here is a pic of Steve and Trent that evening.
Last night I went to watch our Jr. High School choir concert. They have a new director there as well and he and I are trying to stay in communication for recruiting purposes. He has 86 kids from 7th and 8th grade which is awesome. I have 50 total, and I have 9-12 grades. Lots of building to do. BUt looks like he's giving me a great start for the next few years.
So pretty much right now, I'm just POOPED. It's exam week at school, which is great for a choir teacher. I don't give an exam so kids don't have to come unless there is an exam. So I'm now going through music looking for what we will do for contest in February. I also finished up the auditions for the musical and that project begins right away after Christmas. Many kids are real happy with me and the part they got. But there are several who are just aggravated at me because they didn't get what they want. That's a weird spot to be in, but guess I"ll get used to it. Not everyone can be this and that. But what they don't realize yet is that pretty much every part is a really cool and fun one.
Rusty bought me a new video camera as an early Christmas present. It's awesome! Digital and all. I'm still learning to use it. BUt soon I should have cool videos each week maybe!
Tomorrow night we go to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the 5th year in a row lol. Every year we say we're gonna sit it out this year, but we always go. It's great. Both the kids and Blake and Brooke are gonna go too. It's fun to see with someone who hasn't seen it before. Thursday night will be my Christmas party at work. So things really haven't slowed down much this week, I just don't have any concerts. I'm aiming to get back in the gym over the holidays. And read some books. Because January - March is gonna be tough on me. Fun, but tough.
