music geeks, unite!

Today, I got to totally embrace my inner music nerd. CMEA (Colorado Music Educators Assoc.) conference is this weekend, and today my friends and I got to be music geeks all day.

Really, this is a good thing.

Usually, on a day to day basis, I am a loner. No, not in the social sense (I can HEAR my dad laughing). But in my school, every day, there is no one who truly understands what I do. I am the only one of me. This is opposed to the High School music department, where there is a High School Choir director, 2 Junior High Choir directors, as well as 3 people in the band department.

The same is true for other teachers at my school, like the art teacher. She is the only one of her, and there's no one else there who knows what she is doing on a day-to-day basis.

Usually this is not a big deal, and I don't think about it much. But today, in a room full of hundereds of people who do the exact same thing I do, and understand exactly what I'm talking about when I say I'm going to the Kodaly session, it was nice.

The Kodaly session today was on a new kind of curriculum, based on Kodaly, but much of the presentation was on why this Kodaly method is better than the traditional Hungarian version of Kodaly's teachings. It was a LOT to take in in an hour. Kind of like trying to drink out of a firehose.

We also went to a reading session. This means we sang through about 20 pieces of music in an hour. Fun singing, not as much fun to evaluate each piece as we went through them. I did enjoy singing different parts, though. I'd switch parts in the middle of the song, just to get a wierd look from Becky. She was singing the other part next to me. Tee hee... :)

OK, that's music geek humor right there. Musical jokes. Intentionally not resolving the suspension at the end of a song. She hit me for that one.

Music geek statement of the day: "You know you're a music geek when you categorize people by their voice part."

Anyway, it was fun. To be among my own kind. To be able to burst out in song and not have anyone bat an eye.

I'm back tomorrow, for more singing, more learning, more musical jokes.

I'm going to go to the "Harmonicas in the Classroom" session. That seems like a musical joke in itself...

Musically,
K

love

This is my nephew. Just wanted you to see this lovely picture that he took him-very-self. You see, Nana got him a camera for christmas, and he has been taking pictures like crazy. I guess he wanted to see what he looks like with a funny face...it certainly made me laugh!

Ah, I love him. :)
K

one old friend and two new ones

I had such a nice time tonight.

When I used to live across the country, I had a roommate at one point. His name is Micah. We lived together for about 2 years, and aside from his inability to get his dirty dishes into the dishwasher, he really was a good roommate. Good person, nice to be around, and we got along well. Micah is a cyclist, and since I've known him has worked for either a professional cycling team, or a cycling events promoter. Several times I worked bicycle races with him and had a really good time even though I am the farthest from a cyclist than anybody.

A couple months ago, I was at a college football game watching party, and everyone was introducing each other. Sam said he worked at USA Cycling. Since Micah is into cycling, I asked if he knew Micah through his cycling connections. And Sam said..."Yeah. He's moving here next month." I was floored.

Long story short, we tried to meet up for awhile, but tonight he and his family came over. I got to meet his wife, and his 4 year-old daughter. We had a great time talking, catching up, and playing CandyLand (for the 4 year-old).

It was such fun to catch up with someone I knew 12 years ago, and to just spend time talking. I never thought that it would be so nice to gain a friend that I hadn't talked to in 12 years, but it was great. I guess we were really friends, and not just roommates.

And I won a game of CandyLand. :)
K

grow, connect, serve

I just had a fantastic weekend.

The High School group at church went on a winter retreat this weekend: High Altitude. It was GREAT!
We played: in the pool, dodge ball in the gym, card games, relay races, tubing run, and we duct taped several people to the wall. It was fun!

We ate: food was good at the camp, and one of our moms sent a TON of great snacks. We ate all weekend. The group that eats together, stays together...?

We worshiped: Jeff came up and led us in several great times of worship. It was perfect, to be able to sing and worship all together as a group.

We fellowshiped: several of us just sat around and made bracelets and talked.

We talked: our topic was Grow; Connect; Serve. Our new pastor come up and did our talks on Saturday. He talked about how important it is in you spiritual life to Grow - to be continually in the scriptures. To have a plan to do this, and to be faithful in it, otherwise your faith will founder. He talked about how important it is to connect with other believers - to have people you know and that know you. People that will support you, as well as call you on stuff. People to live life with and alongside. To have a plan to do this, otherwise your spiritual life will wither. He talked about how important it is to serve - to find people outside your usual circle of influence, find out what their needs are and meet them. Because in serving others, you have relationship. It was really good. Then, on Sunday, we all talked in a big group about how we can do this in real life after retreat is over.

We celebrated: my friend got a personal relationship with God this weekend. That was the MOST exciting part of the weekend. I'm super glad she came and that she opened her heart up to Jesus.

We loved: my friend Beth was there, and we got to spend time together and grow our friendship. I REALLY enjoy spending time with her.

We didn't sleep so much, but that's what tonight is for!

On the way to a nap,
K

the bag lady

If you are not a bag lady, like I am, then read no further.

But if you are drawn to a well made bag with beautiful fabric and great organization, the go check out my friend Karen. She makes custom bags, and they are fantastic. I personally own 5, and gave my sister one for her last birthday. Karen does beautiful work, and has an eye for what will just "work" in a bag. She makes purse-bags, messenger-bags (both for boys and girls), knitting-in-public-bags, coin-purse-bags, wallet-on-a-string-bags, and many more.

She's having a giveaway right now to celebrate 15 years of being in business, so head on over to
www.zoesbagboutique.blogspot.com
and see what she's got going on.

I may have to see about ordering another bag...
K

not so new years

Confession of the week: I really don't like New Years. Yes, I've cheerily said "Happy New Year!!" to several people this week. And I don't hold a grudge. But, I really don't feel like this time is the NEW YEAR. It still feels cold. There's no change in the weather. The school year is not even half over. I am still sneezing from packing up the fake tree and putting it back out in the garage. And, yes, I still have lights up outside.

Even though it technically is a new number I write on my checks, I don't FEEL like anything is new.

This week I was thinking about newness, and longing for the real beginning: Fall. Even though I'm not Jewish, I am totally down with the idea of Jewish new year. In Fall, there is a delicious change of seasons. In Fall, the school year is new and laid out in front of me like a blanket full of possibilities. In Fall, it's my birthday. Fall is the best part of the baseball season.

I've been on the Fall=new year schedule for my entire life: first in elementary and high school, then college and grad school, then teaching school. I think at this point that the new year is wired into my being as starting in the Fall.

As much as I love the tantalizing possibilities of the NEW YEAR, I think I will still celebrate in the fall. Maybe from now on I will do New Year's resolutions on my birthday. A new year, a new age, a new resolution to start fresh.

Happy New (middle of the) Year!
K