Blithering Knitiot

Lately...

Life has been it's usual busy, get things done and meet some deadlines and have some more performance kinda thing. 

Drama Club at school presented "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde a couple of weekends ago.  I was the Prop Master for the show, so tea cups and silver tea services, journals and LOTS of cucumber sandwiches were taking up my time.  These kids ate through almost the entire show!  They were awesome and had quite an excellent theatre adjuducation from the New York state Theatre Association!

Some of my high school singers attended a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) solo festival this past weekend.  They did pretty well overall, and two of them received a perfect score on the pieces they performed. 

This weekend I'll be attended an all male knitting retreat just north of Albany.  I'm very excited!  I'm taking a laceknitting class, a spinning class, double knitting and a class on binding off techniques.  I think there are about 35 men going, so it should be quite a hoot!  My friend Van, who I met through menwhoknit.com will be going, so he and I can do some catching up, as well as meet lots of new people.  I know of a few guys who are going, but I'll take lots of pics and let you know who they are next week.

Yesterday I drove to Pa. to take Mom out to dinner for Mother's Day.  It was a very nice day.  It's not often we get to have time with just the two of us, so it was a nice treat.

I've started a little lace bookmark for a swap, and a mohair shawl is on the needles for some mindless knitting.  That's it for knitting at the moment. 

I hope you all are having a great start to your week!

It's been a little hectic...

Well hello there!  I can't believe it's been a month since my last post.  And what have I been up to?  No knitting.  Well, not much, but we'll get around to that...

So my kids had their high school production of "She Loves Me".  It was awesome, if I do say so myself.  In a nutshell, it was the right play for this group of kids.  I had options for casting, which was all put to rights during auditions, and it really did become the little Valentine of a musical that it was intended to be.  We also had an adjudication from the Theatre Association of New York State (TANYS), which was a great learning experience for us all.  An adjudication basically is a critique by a trained adjudicator, which looks at ALL the aspects of the production, from the printed program to the lighting, set design, props, costumes, music and acting.  We were given two roving adjudicator awards, one for our lead actor for his performance, and the second award was for the printed program (Since the plot involved annonymous letters to "Dear Friend", the program was written as a letter and was even in a matching pink envelope!).  So, the adjudicator liked that little detail a lot.  The scripts have since sent back, the costumes and props and sets were put away, and another musical came to an end.

We also had another Project Linus event in February.  We have over 100 blankets to donate to the cause this year, and the kids and a local knitters group did an outstanding job!  I'll post some pics this coming week.  One of my favorite blankets this year is a crocheted baby blanket with little blocks of pig faces alternating with blocks of pig tails!  It's just too adorable!

The kids and I spent a Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks ago cleaning out the costume room at school.  actually, we started to clean it out - there's so much to do that it's going to take several days to get it finished.  We threw out 8 garbage bags of old clothing that was falling apart or unusable.  It made quite a nice dent in what needs to be accomplished.

Today was our annual Spring Concert.  The kids did an outstanding job.  I've had bigger choruses than this one, but the sound these kids have is really special and well blended.  The sang the spiritual "Every Time I Fell the Spirit", "The Road Not Taken" by Randall Thompson, and "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by PDQ Bach.  We also recognize our seniors at this concert, which usually involves a little gift and a speech of some sort.  The speech went very well, and then the seniors take over and give a gift to their director.  Well, one of my little "off color" saying that the kids find amusing is when I talk about discipline and say something like "use a brick, don't hurt your hand".  Their first gift to me was a brick that they all had signed.  And the second gift, since I had been knitting at musical rehearsals this year (and I can't believe how it helped me to concentrate on what they were doing onstage - very interesting), they got me the book "Stitch & Bitch" by Debbie Stoller.  The funny thing was that they really couldn't say the title of the book on front of hundreds of people - they can be shy at times.  Not very often, but it does happen on ocaission.  So, I have a brick, a new knitting book, and I've been outed as a knitter to the community by my kids.  The Board of Ed. members at the concert were very amused - and very congratulatory about the kids work.  It was a good day.

Oh, and the mohair shawl?  After doing a little ripping out, I decided to put it away for a little bit.  Ripping out mohair is not a pleasant task, and I think that will have to happen in small amounts.  But I did start another one in reds, rusts and oranges.  I'll be a little more careful this time....

I hope you all are doing well.  It looks like spring might actually be paying us a visit.  Enjoy your Monday!

Former...

Good Morning.  The school year has started, and my schedule is, well, odd, to say the least.  I'm not going to bitch about it cause it's not gonna change a thing, and really, that's not what this blog is all about.

I got in touch with a former student recently, and this morning I got an e-mail from him.  He is probably the most musically gifted kid I've ever had, or will have the chance to work with.  His name is Matt, and you can find his myspace page here, with a couple of clips of his music.  He has a band he performs with, and I think (hope) he'll actually makes it big someday - he's a gem.  He composes and sings, and is an amazing pianist, and I'm just so very proud of him.  I'm not sure what credit I can take other than I gave him what I could, and gave him opportunities to perform.  He moved to Boston after high school, and studied at the Berklee School of Music.  And he's still performing, which is pretty awesome.

So back to my original thought, in reflecting on what I have done here and what I could do instead and what I need to be looking for for myself, I get this from Matt:

I didn't know you still existed!  Seriously. I'm fucking thrilled to hear from you.  (I'm grown up, I can say that now right?)

I just got a job as Music Director for some big budget, piece of shit musical that's opening next month.  Rehearsals are eating my life!! It's the first job I've ever had that makes me want to die - I'd rather eat a bowl of vomit than show up each morning. To make matters worse, I've still seen no pay check ...

I just miss when musicals meant everything.

It's the last line that really smacked me in the head.  I guess we don't always think about the lasting effects of what we say or do or give, huh? 

(Oh, and the "I'd rather eat a bowl of vomit..." phrase?  I guess I really do say that with some frequency...  ;-)  I guess I've always had a "colorful" vocabulary...  There are other phrases I use with the kids, and I know that I use them too often when they can finish them for me or in unison with me.  LOL!)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  I'm off to a little fiber festival in Pa. today, not too far from my Mom's place.  It's only their 4th year, so I'm not sure that it will be that big, but that's ok.  I think it'll be fun.  I'll take the camera and get some pics.  See ya.

Hewwo...

Been a long time (again).  The end of the school year is finally here - today was the last day of classes for the high school (the elementary still has the rest of this week and next week while the high school kids have Regents testing), and the chorus has an event Sunday night to sing at, then they sing at Graduation on the 23rd.  Almost over...

I've been very preoccupied with my Body for Life program.  My personal trainer (it's so funny to be writing that..) is just amazing.  She's positive, encouraging, stunning to look at, and above all, loves what she does with a passion, and is so incredibly knowledgeable that I always look forward to going and having her beat the crap out of my body. LOL!  I'm feeling results, my posture is so much better than it was (other people have noticed that) and I've lost 7 pounds to date.  I also must keep in my thoughts that it is a process, not an event, and in time I will have changed a lot - but it IS that time factor that I need to remember.  I've been eating much healthier, and am sorta enjoying cooking - not that it's anything extravagant.  But, it does the job of feeding my body.  For some of the weight training we've almost doubled the weight I lift, so I know that progress is being made.  I'm still amazed that I'm doing this, and am curious to see how far I'll go and what I'll actually end up looking like.  Again, time will tell.

Nothing new on the knitting front.  I've been so beat from working out that I've not gone to my Wednesday night knitting group in a while, but I do plan on going tonight.  Next week, the 20th, a guest is coming in to teach tatting, so I definitely want to make sure I'm there for that.

Otherwise I've just kinda been laying low and having some "me" time and shutting the world out for a little bit.  I tend to do that periodically during the year, and the end of the school year is a typical time for that to happen.   I have been doing some blog reading and commenting here and there, but not really having much to say at the moment.  Just being quiet.  ;-)

I hope you all are well and life is good to you, and you're being good to yourselves as well.  Later...

Words

I just started a new piece of music today with my kids.  A lovely piece called "That Ever I Saw" by Darmon Meader.  The dedication by the composer is:

"Dedicated to my wife, Lori Lynn, written on the occaision of our wedding"
(Could that be just a little more romantic?  I think not...)

This is the text (I just had to share it, since they are as lovely as the music itself):

She is gentle and also wise;
of all other she beareth the prize,
That ever I saw,

To hear her sing, to see her dance!
She will the best herself advance
That ever I saw.

To see her fingers that be so small!
in my conceit she passeth all,
That ever I saw.
That ever I saw.

Nature in her hath wonderfully wrought.
No, never such another bought
That ever I saw.

I have seen many that have beauty
Yet there is none like to my lady
That ever I saw.

Therefore I dare to boldly say,
That I shall have the best and fairest may
That ever I saw,
That ever I saw.

~Anonymous~

(Now girls, wouldn't that just make you swoon???)

The kids were just as excited as I was about their sound, which always makes for a great day.  I love it when they realize that they can make beautiful music, and it's not a struggle to do so.  It's like a big lightbulb turning on.  And it makes me really happy that I do what I do.  (That seems to not have happened too much this year.  Maybe there's a change in the air??)

Knitting group tonight - I finished my Mom's scarf (you remember, the one that was for this past Christmas???) so I'll take it for show and tell.  I'll post pics of it before the weekend.  Have a great night!

Sunday Sky

It's sunny, the sky is clear and blue, and it's 16º.

And that's really all I have at the moment.  Progress on the Dave hat has slowed down considerably in the last week.  Rehearsals and school have been keeping me busy and exhausted, so hardly any knitting this past week.  Oh, since a couple of you have asked, we're rehearsing "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"  for the annual high school musical.  The kids are liking it, they're getting the music (which is really pretty difficult, in the scheme of things), and the blocking and choreography are coming together as well.  But, I'm not home a lot at the moment, which means there's a little bit of cleaning and organizing that needs to happen sometime in the near future.  Tuesday may be a "mental health day".  Shhhh....  Don't tell anyone....

Ok, I'm off to rehearsal.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

The Weekend Sky

This was the sky this weekend in Potsdam, NY.  Several students from our high school participated in a music festival at SUNY Potsdam.  The temp averaged 47 degrees, but with the constant wind, it felt much colder.  The concert was awesome, and the kids learned a lot, and met lots of other students from many other school districts.  And it's good to be home....

Hope you had a great weekend!

Saturday...

Good Afternoon.  It has been such a busy week at school, that no knitting has gone on.  Why?  Well, I'm a class advisor for the freshman class, and it was Homecoming week, so we've been busy little beavers!  Homecoming week for the kids involves a few little competitions between classes, which include a parade float and a class dance (to be performed at the big Homecoming Dance!).

Last Saturday was spent building things for the parade float.  This year's Homecoming theme was "The Games People Play", and each class had to come up with a board game for their float.  The freshman decided upon "Chess", and set out to create a human chess game as their float.  They constructed a HUGE chess board out of donated pizza boxes, hats for their designated chess pieces, and other details to be placed on the trailer for the parade.  What was really cool, was that the kids got together, made some really great choices, and then devided themselves up into groups to do the jobs that needed to be done!  Talk about teamwork!  It was really awesome to watch them take chage, be creative, and do the work!  The other advisor and I just kinda stood there and supervised while they did all the work.  (They also planned that the other advisor and I would be one of the king and queen pieces on the float, so we got costumes together and got to be part of the parade.   When the kids ask, you can't say "no", you know what I mean?  And we had a ball and laughed, danced, sang and chanted with them all the way along the parade route.  Which is probably why at the moment I can sing notes lower than Bea Arthur ever even dreamed of...)

During the week, they worked on their dance during lunch periods and afterschool in my chorus room.  On Wednesday, they decided that they needed to have shirts to designate their chess pieces for the dance, so we bought white tee shirts that they painted (in my office - which now stinks of paint - LOL!) with stenciled designs and their names. 

So, Thursday night was the Parade and Bonfire at school.  The floats were lined up at the local firehouse, in order - Freshmen (Chess), Sophomores (Candyland), Juniors (Twister), and Seniors (Clue)(The Seniors' float was AMAZING, which, because it was the game "Clue, not only had rooms, but a fire place and bookcases as well!).  The fall sports teams were also in the parade, marching and singing and chanting.  The local Rotary also hosted about 50 of the Foreign Exchange students from thier local region, and there were about 50 Exchange students that marched in the parade with us.  The awesome thing about this was that they were at the beginning of the parade, and the Rotary  gave them flags of their country, so there were about 30 flags of different nations on 8 foot poles!  It was a mass of color, and it made me a little teary to see them marching in front of our kids!  It was just awesome!  And at some point during the parade, several of these exchange students dispersed themselves amongst the floats, and I distinctly remember 3 kids from France leading my kids in chanting "Vive la France" at the top of their lungs as we rolled down the street!

Friday night was the Homecoming game and dance.  Unfortunately, our team lost 14 to 6.  But everyone was still in high spirits at the dance.  The freshmen did really well with their dance (they didn't think so), but they did have a lot of fun.  The shirts they painted looked great!

The Freshmen came in 3rd place out of 4 (they kick the Juniors asses BIG TIME!), and for their first taste of high school class competition, I think they did very well.  It's always a learning experience for them, and there will be more competing during the year, so they've had a good start.

Needless to say, I slept for 11 hours last night, crawling out of bed at 10:30.  Was it worth it?  ABSOLUTELY!!!!!  They're a great bunch of kids, and I'm so very proud to be working with them.  It's really great to be so involveed again!  I decided also that I would give them my time and not worry about taking pictures, since there was also a designated school photographer from the yearbook staff that would be doing that, so as soon as I get some pics e-mailed to me, I'll give you a little peek at some pics of the events! 

Now I need a nap....  Have a great weekend!

Saturday Sky

Good Morning!  This is looking up Main Street in my little town.  It's a little hazy, but I think in time it will burn off, and be a gorgeous day.

It's been a while since I've posted.  School has started, and the past three days with kids had been VERY exhausting.  Hehehe...  Oy.

I was a little concerned about being in the elementary school again for a couple of morning each week, but oh my!  I've forgotten what a great bunch of adults work there.  They are very friendly, supportive, and nurturing.  So many people I had worked with before in that building came up to me to tell me how glad they were that I was teaching with them again, and how awesome it was to hear my laughter in the halls.  (With all my singing and theatre work, I do, ahem, project a little...)  I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it's been REALLY nice so far.  It' just a very different world that the high school, and maybe I'm a little more open to the change than I thought I was.  And the classes I have - one 4th grade section, two 3rd grade sections and 1 Kindergarten section - are really good kids.  (And, I've forgotten HOW MUCH you have to constantly talk and give directions to them.  LOL!)  I'm thinking I'm going to end up pretty happy with this situation.  And again, I can't believe I'm saying that. 

On the high school front, my numbers are a little bit less than I would have liked, but the kids I have there are really sounding wonderful.  The kids that can't sing or do much of anything aren't there (and I know that sounds a little awful, but there's always "dead wood"), so what I have left is pretty good sounding bunch.  I think it's gonna be a good year.  And I do have a little plan in my head now for my High School Spring Concert:  I'd like one of my 3rd grade sections (A-MA-ZING kids!!!) to sing WITH my high school chorus.  I don't know what song yet (If you have a suggestion, I'd be more than happy to hear it.  I have lots of time to plan for this one), but I think it's a very do-able "warm fuzzy" for the kids and their parents (can you say "Kodak Moment"?).  AND, hehehe, it will show the community, the staff and the administration yet again that I can make the best out of any situation that is thrown at me.  I've done it before, I'll do it again.

Ok, I'm done rambling for now.  I hope you have a GREAT weekend, and do lots of knitting and other fun stuff!  Toodles!

OH, and my back is doing REALLY well!  I almost forgot....  And thanks for all your well wishes and e-mails and cards!  You guys ROCK!  ;-)

Grey Skies...

Grey, rainy, depressing.  That's my sky today.

What's not depressing is the number of teachers, partners of teachers, siblings, friends, teachers of non-traditional skills, and former teachers and teacher wanna-be's.  And it doesn't matter if you have the degree or not.   If you share a craft, a skill, a way of doing things, you'e teaching.  The degree only means you took the classes - I know lots of people who have the piece of paper, but they still don't get the craft of teaching...  Teaching, too, is an art. 

Ok, off to do stuff.  Have a great weekend!