Weekend Frolics

So, this weekend was lucky enough to being early. Friday was a half day of school because it was the end of the term. On Saturday morning I helped judge trumpet auditions for the Northern Utah Honor Band. I only had three students scheduled to audition. I hope they did well. It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. Dan, Ally and I went and got some hot chocolate afterward and talked awhile.

After that I met Melissa and Michele at the temple, and we did a session there. It's always a cool thing to go, I did learn a few things and had a good experience. We went and picked up Ally after that and did some shopping. We bought cheese, books, desserts, and even looked at shoes, though we didn't buy those. I am the pround owner of some 9-year-old aged cheddar, but I forgot to buy crackers.

That night we went to Hamilton's for dinner. I had some excellent prime rib there. We were seated in the lounge area, the place was quite busy and there were about 20 or 30 high school kids in the waiting area all dressed in formal wear. We were grateful to be in the lounge, it was much quieter there, but a little cold. I can hardly wait to get back and try something else for Ally's birthday. Today was Fast Sunday, and I have choir practice this afternoon.

Lately, I've been watching old films in preparation for Old Movie Night this Friday. I've watched "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", "Gigi", "All About Eve", and will be watching "Casablanca" and "An American in Paris". The purpose is to choose one for Friday. I'm thinking we need something uplifting and cheery for the winter blues, but I'd also like something that's thoughtful. So far "Gigi" is the winner. I'm currently watching "Mrs. Miniver", which I am told is uplifting, we'll see what happens later, I guess. Right now a German has invaded Mrs. Miniver's kitchen and passed out due to injury.

What a world! What a world!

Feelin' green, anyone? Maybe like you're melting?

So last weekend I went to sunny St. George with my buddy Mecqae. We drove the little CRX there and back for just over $50. I love that car. We got to stay in this fabulous 'condo' - love that shower, and the bed, and the TV, and the leather furniture, and the decor, and .... well, all of it. Not to mention that it's in sunny St. George!

The conference was great, it always fun to go there and reconnect, and when you realize you miss the students you teach and think about them all day you know that you're in the right field. I was able to pick up some good music, and hang out with old friends, as well as new ones. Speaking of new friends... we drove to Vegas to eat dinner at the Wynn on Saturday night with some of Mq's friends. Talk about some serious rain. My poor, pathetic wipers couldn't keep up with the water and we had to pull over and wait a bit. When we got there the experience was totally worth it. We parked at the Belaggio and got to see the fountains (see pic insert) and walk the strip. It was stormy, but well worth the walk. I do have to say, though, that the walk to the Wynn at 6 was much more pleasant people-wise than the walk back to the Belaggio at 10.

This weekend was pretty much ho-hum. The best part actually happened before it started - our Parent Organization held a dance for the middle school kids. Two weeks ago they were referring to it as the Day of Doom, but due to the excitement of a few key players they worked up a positive attitude for it, and by the day of the dance they couldn't think of anything else. Really, this was more like a dance class. One of the parents taught the kids a basic waltz, cha-cha, the electric slide and macarena, and a few other dances. The kids had dance cards and were totally stoked to learn. It helped that the parent teaching was energetic and fun. I think the teachers had as much fun watching as the kids did dancing. Hooray for tween awkwardness!

Sick of Winter and the Tax Rant

The only redeeming thing about the end of January is the fact that the UMEA conference is held the first weekend in February. Really, what sane music teacher would pass up a professionally made excuse to spend a weekend in sunny St. George in winter? Seems like every year someone wants to move the conference somewhere more central (which always translates to Salt Lake because those Wasatch Fronters can be quite whiny about travel - really, peeps, it's just as far for me to drive there as it is for you to drive here), and every year it's voted down because the sane ones want an excuse to go to sunny St. George in winter. We don't care if we have to drive way far (8 hrs from Logan) because it's another day off work AND I get to go to SUNNY ST. GEORGE IN WINTER! Really folks, let's think this through. I'd bet that a good chunk of the attendees go because they get to go to sunny St. George in winter. That other stuff is side fluff.


So, taxes suck. Well, maybe not the taxes themselves, but the way the government uses them sucks. They think that they can spend and that they deserve so much - blah blah blah (we ain't listenin' because we know you lyin' anyhow). Now they're talkin' 'bout raisin' taxes so we can pay to for this and that and more verbal vomit whatever whatever. Really? More taxes? YOU ALREADY GET MORE OF MY INCOME THAN GOD! WHAT MAKES YOU MORE IMPORTANT THAT HIM!?!? Sheesh. Fire 'em all. Let's start over. Maybe with some people who've actually worked for a living and don't think the common American eats arugula on a regular basis. Did I mention that I'm excited because I get to go to sunny St. George in winter?