Back at Vista

Today I went to Vista for a bit, checking on the progress of my room (getting there!), printing out music and lesson plans, etc. I went into the office and saw a student who said, "Hey, our music teacher is back!" She asked me if I remembered her. Of course I did, but not her name. She prompted me, and I remembered that she had been in second grade when I was last here. I asked her if she was in 4th grade now and after she affirmed that, she said, "You didn't lie. You said you'd be back when we were in 4th grade, and here you are!"

Don't tell kids anything you don't want them to remember!

Orchestra!

Last night I made my debut as a violist in the Claremont Concert Orchestra. This year we have 12 violas! Which is good since we are playing Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and the Faure Requiem - both heavy on low strings. Yay, violas! I really enjoyed myself in my new position. First of all, I'm much closer to the front, so I can see the conductor better. Second of all, I am having so much fun playing the viola. I love the challenge of the new clef which I think is keeping my brain exercised. Also, viola music isn't quite as fast as violin music, nor do we shift so very much.

I made one gaffe, though. I knew, but didn't really register, that the violas and cellos are opposite the violins in regards to who is on the inside and outside of the stand. The reason that this matters is that there are certain tasks that are relegated to which side of the stand you sit on. Inside players play the bottom notes in any divided sections, with the outside player performing the top notes. Inside players turn the page. I was sitting inside, but thought it was outside, until my stand partner made some sort of comment and I realized my mistake.

I am very happy to be playing in an ensemble again after a year off.

Ready for London Weather

Here is Claire in her new raincoat from REI, ready for whatever weather London throws at her!

Sunday

Sometimes it's nice to just relax all afternoon - read the paper, surf the tv channels and the web. This week I start in earnest to prepare for teaching: recruiting students to play instruments, setting up my room, lesson planning. I hope I remember how to teach!

An Alaskan's Opinion

From someone who knows Sarah Palin on a first-name basis, here is a letter outlining Palin's actions as mayor of Wasilla, including the attempted censoring of books at the public library, the expansion of government and raising of taxes.

The letter: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/kilkenny.asp

Back-to-School at HMC

Tonight was the annual Back-to-School dinner at HMC for faculty, staff and families. The theme this year was baseball, so one could have hot dogs, hamburgers and even cotton candy and Cracker Jack. Probably the most entertaining part of the evening was leaving the party and trying to avoid the student bed races outside the building. Groups of 4 students were pushing dorm beds on wheels in the dark. Ahhh, what parents are spending $45K/year for....

Quick Read

If you ever saw the charming movie 84 Charring Cross Road, it might remind you of this sweet book - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. This novel is told completely through letters between a London-based writer, her editor, some friends, and the people of the island of Guernsey after the German occupation during WWII. Don't know where Guernsey is? I didn't either, but I know now!

It was amazing to read a book in two days after Pillars of the Earth which took over 3 weeks.

Happy Birthday, Liesl!

Here's where we were 23 years ago today - Happy Birthday, Liesl!

The students have landed

The students have been slowly infiltrating our sleepy town - we saw the cars unloading boxes and boxes (not just cars - a UHaul, too!), the pallets that have been in storage are on the streets, the first years are waiting for cars before they cross the street (that won't last long), and Hal will teach his first class tonight. On our way to the gym this morning, Hal and I had to navigate our bikes through the throngs of the ROTC kids running at CMC, and then all the elliptical machines were in use in the gym. We figure that we'll have our private gym back in about two weeks. Ah, yes, the world keeps spinning.

Labor Day is a good day to finish a book

Claire is busy in the kitchen making some sort of delicious-smelling vegetable soup and focaccia for our family time together tonight. We decided that family time can mean "good food" time. After dinner she is planning to make some delicious chocolate zucchini cupcakes.

I just now finished The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. I have been reading it since we were in Yosemite, but I think it must count for 3 books since it is 973 pages long. For my book review I have to say, it is a great story, one that I enjoyed from beginning to end.