Tuesday Matinee at the Laemmle

You know that Claremont is a small town when you take in a late-afternoon matinee at the Laemmle on a Tuesday and of the 7 other people in the theater, you know four of them.

The movie was Fading Gigolo. It wasn't terrible, it wasn't fabulous, but it was a nice diversion.

Annual Vista Orchestra and Recorders Concert

Last night I finished up my music year at Vista with our annual Vista Orchestra and Recorders Concert. Our principal asked if this was our second such concert, and I said no, that we had been doing this for many years.

That made me wonder, "How many years?"

I know that we've had a Vista Orchestra since 2003, and I'm not quite sure when I started teaching recorders, but I'm thinking it was 2005. That was before I started blogging. Here is a link to what I think is my first blog post about an Orchestra/Recorders concert in 2009.

What was interesting and different about this particular concert:

1) I dropped one piece and added a different one at the last minute (never done that before!)

2) The recorder students played a song they made up to go with a story

3) Recorders and Orchestra played the Vista Ostinato, a piece composed by the string students

The CUSD EIMP (Elementary Instrumental Music Program) still has another week or so of classes, so I still have a reason to stay out of trouble.....

The Ages and Stages of Mothering and Mother's Day

Back in the day when my daughters were very young, the bulk of my time was spent doing for others.  What I really wanted for Mother's Day was for someone to clean my house and for, perhaps, some time for me.

Now that my children are grown, and I spend my day doing pretty much what I want to, I have a completely different idea of the perfect Mother's Day. I just want to spend time with my children. For the past several years I have been most fortunate to have one daughter close by, and we've had some lovely times together. This year was no exception. 

She brought over breakfast and coffee, went shopping with me, and then we and our guys watched the Dodgers on tv. I had a lovely chat with my other daughter, too. Even though the Dodgers did not pull through with a win, we did enjoy this sweetness, baked by C.

 ** After I posted this, I went back to read last year's entry on Mother's Day. Seems as though I have had the same thoughts for the past several years!

Watching My Speed

Sometime this year, this traffic-calming device was installed on College Ave. at the corner of Green and College right at Oakmont Outdoor School. It's easy to pick up speed after crossing the train tracks because of the downhill slope. Every time I drive by, I try to keep it to 24 mph or so, because if you are over 25 mph, this sign says "SLOW DOWN".  That is, I try to keep it under 25 unless I'm riding my bike. I've gotten up to 16 mph on two wheels.  Now, there is a corresponding sign on the other side of College, and when I'm riding my bike, the fastest I've been clocked at was 9 mph, and that was the day I was in a real hurry. Usually I'm about 6 mph puffing up the hill.

Signs Along the Way

In celebration of orchestra rehearsals being over for the year, we went to the Kogi truck in Diamond Bar for our favorite Korean BBQ this week. Along the way I saw these two signs. The first says that the Sanamluang Thai restaurant will be moving to the old Baker's Square location on Indian Hill and San Jose. HMC Thai students have said that this is the most authentic Thai food in the area. Right now it is below the 10 Freeway on Indian Hill and San Bernardino.

This sign says "Serious Drought. Help Save Water." Yes.

Buildings Up, Buildings Down

Claremont continues to keep contractors busy. Here are some ongoing projects.

The model house for the new subdivision on Indian Hill and Vista Drive is up, at least on the outside.

The Ducey gym is down.

Even in Montclair new buildings are going up - corner of Monte Vista and Arrow Highway.

What Would You Do?

Um....No thanks.

Looking forward to Monday

It's the kind of weekend that makes me glad that I can start the work week again tomorrow. Not that it wasn't a fun weekend, but I'm really tired.

Saturday: 8 hours involved in a board meeting. 90 minutes driving to Palm Desert, 90 minutes driving home, the rest in a meeting. The meeting was fine, and lunch was included, and I enjoy the company of the people on the board, but that much driving and that much meeting in one day almost did me in.

More Saturday: Played in a concert. This always takes more energy than one would suppose. It appears as though we are sitting on stage for 90 minutes, and we are. But we are thinking, thinking, and concentrating very hard. Oh, and moving our arms around a lot.

Sunday: Choir rehearsal, church, repeat the concert. Cleaned parts of the house that needed it the most. Yes, Monday should bring a calmer order to my day.

What's Wrong with This Photo?

As seen in Vroman's

Grades of Green Assembly

When Vista found out that we had won the Grades of Green Trash-Free Lunch Challenge, I made sure I put the assembly on my calendar so I could cheer on our school. It was a pretty big deal. The superintendent, three school board members, the Claremont mayor and a few other dignitaries were in attendance. The promoters of the challenge came and made some speeches and then recognized Vista's Green Team before presenting them with a check for $1,000.

Students are sorting their trash and recyclables. 

Two presenters are getting the students to yell - Trash Free!

The dignitaries had chairs in the shade. It was hot out!

 Two of Vista's awesome teachers!

The Green Team assembled