I've been reading a book on dating. New book, same old topic. How am I, as a single mother, supposed to find the time to date.
Well, I'll worry about that later, because I've got an assignment from this book. For the moment I'm simply keeping a log of how many new eligible men I meet in a week. Probably a big fat zero, but I'll let you know next Friday.
Got to keep a long for two weeks. After that the assignment changes, then I have to meet 5 new eligibles each week. That's going to be rough! Going to have to take full advantage of the singles events, and maybe make sure I truly meet the people at work. I don't know. But I do have to do something if I expect to get a date. For two years I've been technically single, but haven't really had a date. So I've got to change something. Got fish with a different bait.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Singing
"Are we doing the acappella portion accapella?"
"Let's try it, please?" I asked. We have practiced this beautiful arrangement of I Stand All Amazed for about 4 weeks. The accapella section on the third verse is a very traditional arrangement. It's simply the voices straight and let loose. After all the odd harmonies and tricky rhythms in other places, it really is the easiest section. Well, it's been the easiest section because Yulia's been playing our parts on the piano.
Gary finally relented saying yes, we'd at least try it accapella, and we dove in. First we soprano's got lost on our descant on the second verse. Billy, our amazing bass singer, professional clarinet player, and band teacher, got off his notes, and messed up in another area. And though we all staid together on the accapella section, we could tell we were all off key when Yulia came back in on piano. In the final run thru the chorus at the end, all the other soprano's died on the high notes leaving only unconfident me searching for that high E.
As the piano died away Crystal let out, "Yulia did a great job on the piano!"
Gary's slight frustration erupted into humor, as we all busted out laughing at the one good thing that could be said. But a few more runs thru, and another bass to back up Billy, and by the end, we actually were sounding pretty good.
**********************************************
"Can you conduct?" Billy forced a hymnal at Gary. "We don't have anybody to play piano so we're just on our own."
Gary nodded, setting down his stuff. The evening scripture study was still filling up, but it was time to get started. "What song are we doing?"
"153," someone interjected. I flipped thru my hymnal, and found myself looking at I Stand all Amazed. I could see Gary's look of surprise as he saw which song it was. I straightened up in my chair, drawing in my long breaths.
Gary gave us our starting notes. I kept my ears tuned on Billy and Gary, keeping in tune with them. The three of us moved in unison, notes tight from over a month of practice on this one number. But the other 20 odd people failed to keep up.
Hmm . . . I'm thinking the choir sounds alot better than we are willing to admit. Maybe the perfectionists (like me) need to admit that this number is really hard and sounds very decent
"Let's try it, please?" I asked. We have practiced this beautiful arrangement of I Stand All Amazed for about 4 weeks. The accapella section on the third verse is a very traditional arrangement. It's simply the voices straight and let loose. After all the odd harmonies and tricky rhythms in other places, it really is the easiest section. Well, it's been the easiest section because Yulia's been playing our parts on the piano.
Gary finally relented saying yes, we'd at least try it accapella, and we dove in. First we soprano's got lost on our descant on the second verse. Billy, our amazing bass singer, professional clarinet player, and band teacher, got off his notes, and messed up in another area. And though we all staid together on the accapella section, we could tell we were all off key when Yulia came back in on piano. In the final run thru the chorus at the end, all the other soprano's died on the high notes leaving only unconfident me searching for that high E.
As the piano died away Crystal let out, "Yulia did a great job on the piano!"
Gary's slight frustration erupted into humor, as we all busted out laughing at the one good thing that could be said. But a few more runs thru, and another bass to back up Billy, and by the end, we actually were sounding pretty good.
**********************************************
"Can you conduct?" Billy forced a hymnal at Gary. "We don't have anybody to play piano so we're just on our own."
Gary nodded, setting down his stuff. The evening scripture study was still filling up, but it was time to get started. "What song are we doing?"
"153," someone interjected. I flipped thru my hymnal, and found myself looking at I Stand all Amazed. I could see Gary's look of surprise as he saw which song it was. I straightened up in my chair, drawing in my long breaths.
Gary gave us our starting notes. I kept my ears tuned on Billy and Gary, keeping in tune with them. The three of us moved in unison, notes tight from over a month of practice on this one number. But the other 20 odd people failed to keep up.
Hmm . . . I'm thinking the choir sounds alot better than we are willing to admit. Maybe the perfectionists (like me) need to admit that this number is really hard and sounds very decent
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Black Holes
I should have posted alot earlier, but it's been a busy day. First the kids had an activity at church. In the afternoon I had a class learning how to make crab ragoons, and wantons. They were so good none of them made it home. And this evening we went to the planetarium.
The planetarium was having "Astro Day." Tickets were discounted, and some local astronomers brought in telescopes to look at the sky. We actually got to look at the sun, which was neat. But the highlight was really the show at the planetarium.
We saw a show on Black Holes, and it was very well done. For half the show I had the sensation of movement. There is nothing to describe a planetarium show, it is amazing. I think sometimes I was paying more attention to the amazing show than to what was being said. The discussion was really good, but it paled in comparison to what was being shown to us. For the most part the kids were totally entranced. I looked over at my daughter. She was curled up in her seat, sucking her thumb, face rapt with attention.
On the way home I asked the kids some questions. I was a little stunned by how much they could tell me. My daughter gave an excellent definition of Black Holes, and my son could describe in some detail how they affected things. My son talked and talked about the presentation. Normally my daughter is the verbal kid, but when something captures my son's full attention, he breaks into an amazing gush of speech. And that was him this evening. Black Holes this, Black Holes that, they tear the atoms right out of your body, and even squeeze the atoms down until they EXPLODE!
The planetarium was having "Astro Day." Tickets were discounted, and some local astronomers brought in telescopes to look at the sky. We actually got to look at the sun, which was neat. But the highlight was really the show at the planetarium.
We saw a show on Black Holes, and it was very well done. For half the show I had the sensation of movement. There is nothing to describe a planetarium show, it is amazing. I think sometimes I was paying more attention to the amazing show than to what was being said. The discussion was really good, but it paled in comparison to what was being shown to us. For the most part the kids were totally entranced. I looked over at my daughter. She was curled up in her seat, sucking her thumb, face rapt with attention.
On the way home I asked the kids some questions. I was a little stunned by how much they could tell me. My daughter gave an excellent definition of Black Holes, and my son could describe in some detail how they affected things. My son talked and talked about the presentation. Normally my daughter is the verbal kid, but when something captures my son's full attention, he breaks into an amazing gush of speech. And that was him this evening. Black Holes this, Black Holes that, they tear the atoms right out of your body, and even squeeze the atoms down until they EXPLODE!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Flood Pictures
235556
Originally uploaded by Sunflower Central
This is a picture I took of the creek. After church I went back to the park with my camera to capture this sight. The flooding was actually wide spread over much of North Texas. Our own county has been declared a disaster area. Just a few miles west of this homes were washed away in the flood.
PS, I'm experimenting with the hyperlink between my pictures and my blog. Combing two of my addictive behaviors! OOOHHH Fun!
Flooding
On Sunday a morning downpour caused an amazing flood. Before Sunday the only floods I had really seen were on TV. This summer has been wetter than average. By a long shot. I remember a two week period where it rained every day. We had tornado sirens going off about once a week. The result is our soil has become saturated. And the downpours we get now are causing flooding.
As we drove home from church, I saw that the creek we drive over had flooded it's banks. It was within inches of reaching the road, but the rain had stopped. This same creek I pass over on my way to work. On Monday as I drove in I saw it was still at high flood stage. But by Monday evening when I drove back, the road was closed. I believe it was the rabbit in the snake effect. As the water came down stream it piled up in places, and then caused more flooding. My 20 minute drive home instead became a 1 1/2 hour drive.
As we drove home from church, I saw that the creek we drive over had flooded it's banks. It was within inches of reaching the road, but the rain had stopped. This same creek I pass over on my way to work. On Monday as I drove in I saw it was still at high flood stage. But by Monday evening when I drove back, the road was closed. I believe it was the rabbit in the snake effect. As the water came down stream it piled up in places, and then caused more flooding. My 20 minute drive home instead became a 1 1/2 hour drive.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
New addiction
I've developed a new addiction. It's nearly as bad as blogging. It's called flick.com. I'm a photo junkie.
I'm an addict. I spend as many waking hours on that website as I can. I post my own photos, and gather photos I like. And I'm trying to get as many people addicted to it as I can.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8542905@N07/
Please, look at my photos! You can even browse the one's I've marked as favorite. Come share my latest and greatest addiction. It's terribly fulfilling.
I'm an addict. I spend as many waking hours on that website as I can. I post my own photos, and gather photos I like. And I'm trying to get as many people addicted to it as I can.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8542905@N07/
Please, look at my photos! You can even browse the one's I've marked as favorite. Come share my latest and greatest addiction. It's terribly fulfilling.
Learning
Tonight I arrived at the babysitters house to a wonderful sight. Her twelve year old daughter was curled up on the couch with an astronomy book, a kitten wrapped into her shoulder. I don't know if she was reading or studying the pictures, but she was focused on the book. In the school corner was my son, and the babysitters 9 year old daughter. These two should be siblings. They have the same temperament, and get along wonderfully. That is, except when the two of them decide to cause trouble, then they are an unholy duo! But today they were studying some papers on Egyptian Hieroglyphics. They were trying to write everyone's name in Egyptian. And my six year old daughter was upstairs playing with something.
It was just a beautiful sight to walk into. Especially because I was heavily involved in planning for homeschooling this year. My babysitter and I made an agreement. I planned out the lessons for her, and she agreed to teach them. It has been a wonderful arrangement for both of us. She has none of the pressure to find material at the same time that she's trying to teach. And I had the freedom to plan to my heart's content, with none of the follow thru of teaching.
I love these moments when I walk in, and see all the kids really enjoying what I planned. I see my babysitter beaming because her girls are learning, and happy. She is happy because she didn't have to spend hours tracking down the websites and worksheets. Instead she was able to enjoy the children, and enjoy helping them develop. And I know that I'm a part of my children's day. They know that I planned these things for them.
My son took me over the astronomy mural they made. He pointed out Saturn and said he coloured it. The babysitter said actually he taught most of the lesson. He knew all the planet names, and knew facts about them, knew more than her girls. It was an excellent moment for him to shine, and the older kids learned from him. I'm so proud of him.
Another time she told me, the 12 year old girl taught one of the lessons. She guided the younger children thru an educational website, reading things out loud, and explaining things. Group learning at it's best. I love seeing my children learn like these. They are so excited and hungry for knowledge.
It was just a beautiful sight to walk into. Especially because I was heavily involved in planning for homeschooling this year. My babysitter and I made an agreement. I planned out the lessons for her, and she agreed to teach them. It has been a wonderful arrangement for both of us. She has none of the pressure to find material at the same time that she's trying to teach. And I had the freedom to plan to my heart's content, with none of the follow thru of teaching.
I love these moments when I walk in, and see all the kids really enjoying what I planned. I see my babysitter beaming because her girls are learning, and happy. She is happy because she didn't have to spend hours tracking down the websites and worksheets. Instead she was able to enjoy the children, and enjoy helping them develop. And I know that I'm a part of my children's day. They know that I planned these things for them.
My son took me over the astronomy mural they made. He pointed out Saturn and said he coloured it. The babysitter said actually he taught most of the lesson. He knew all the planet names, and knew facts about them, knew more than her girls. It was an excellent moment for him to shine, and the older kids learned from him. I'm so proud of him.
Another time she told me, the 12 year old girl taught one of the lessons. She guided the younger children thru an educational website, reading things out loud, and explaining things. Group learning at it's best. I love seeing my children learn like these. They are so excited and hungry for knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
