A funny and a gratitude

I went back to Sterling Singers last night. For anyone who doesn't know, it's a community choir founded by Sterling (I can never remember his last name) and conducted by Kelly DeHaan. Kelly is an old friend of mine.

Yes, I know he's amazing.
Yes, I know he's like a rock star in Mormon theatrical culture.
No, I don't care that much. (Can you spot the lie?)

Anyway, back to the topic, I was sitting at Sterling Singers last night next to someone I hadn't met before (which isn't hard in a choir of almost 300 when the person you usually sit by is on vacation) and she asked me if I was one of Kelly's students.

Yes, I laughed.
Yes, I told Kelly.
No, I don't think he was so offended that he'll never let me sing again.
....................................

I'm so grateful for Christmas music. Especially really good music that makes you want to sing along.

Priceless

With the cost of gas and groceries through the roof, I've been pondering upon the things in my life that are worth more than that, but cost less. Yes, I've been taking stock of what I have and what I haven't (sorry, the song just popped itself into my head, I had absolutely no control over it whatsoever)...What have I found?

• the look on Sarah's face when I handed her the sheet music for Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy"
• sitting down with Ella for her very first piano lesson (we clapped, a lot)
• listening to Joshua and Sarah talk excitedly about "Into the Woods" (I think I've raised a bunch of theatre kids)
• watching the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movie "Money From Home" with the family...there is a lip sync scene that is one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life
• having Ben tell me he's read 1350 minutes this week (his class total is 9000)
• knowing that I haven't been wasting my life...it's a good one
• I've got the sun in the morning and the moon at night (*sheepish grin* I just had to!)

As the world goes on, the stock market continues to fall, the economy continues to slide and panic ensues, I think I'll keep looking for these moments and remember that the most important things are priceless.

Completely random and bizarre quote

(Kudos to anyone, besides Rachael, who can figure out where it's from)

"Yente tripped! I knew something like this would happen!"

ARGH!

The high price of gas and groceries is wreaking havoc upon my budget.

A gratitude

Thank you to David for helping me with all the canning this last week. Especially for finishing up the plum jam last night.

Factoid

Benjamin is currently taller than Joshua. Think this doesn't really matter? The look of exultation on Ben's face when we discovered this tells a totally different story.

One of my favorite sounds in the entire world is the pop of canning jar lids. I learned this from my mother.

I learn difficult tap steps by relating them to music. Surprised? No? How about this. I hear them, and then I see the rhythm in my head...quarter, eighth, eighth, triplet, triplet, triplet. So, when I learned a new two-part step yesterday, there was a grand staff, feet on the bottom staff, claps on the top. I was the only person in the class that got it.

That Kind of Day

It all started with a bunch of really happy kids. Everyone got dressed and ready to go without me having to tell them repeatedly. Ben forgot his French Horn, and Josh forgot his lunch.

Ella and I went to Cindy's to get our hair done. We are both ecstatic about the results which means, Ella can see again, and my neck is currently turning purple.

It was beautiful weather, so Ella and I had lunch at the park. Rachael was able to join us, along with Jacob, Drew and Sabrina. I bought Ella a kids meal from Wendy's and some extra Frosty's, so I wouldn't be responsible for any little broken hearts. The kids shared all their lunches, chicken nuggets, french fries, string cheese, fruit snacks, water, root beer, and Frosty's.

I worked on Ella's Halloween costume; she's going to be a princess. Is anyone out there surprised at all? I didn't like the way the vest/corset was put together, so I changed the design. And now, instead of one flimsy layer, with bias tape binding, it's flat lined, and then fully lined, giving it much more durability and body. It's also much more suitable for a four year old.

Sarah A. came for her lesson and we laughed so hard I thought she was going to turn purple (like my hair). I'm grateful that I like most of my students.

David and I went to the temple to do a sealing session with his family. Calm, peaceful, beautiful...how many more adjectives can I think of? Crystal made me a fabulous fifties style hairnet to keep my hair from turning my dress and veil purple. After followed our traditional stop at Sconecutter for shakes.

At home, all the kids were calm, the boys were bathed, Ella was asleep...my life is good.