Dumpster Diving

Busy week this week, but this event today topped the cake. My son has a cell phone now ( yes, my 9 year old has a cell phone... we can discuss that later) Yesterday, I asked kiddo where his phone was. He said that I had it last ( the worst thing a kid can say when something is missing). A friend from the east coast was out and staying here for the past couple days. On our way to the airport, I brainstormed in the car as to where the phone might be. She said that she had last seen in on the kitchen counter. Uh-oh. I remembered a couple days ago working in the kitchen and hearing a "thunk" into the garbage can. I looked quickly and didn't see anything of note. So I dismissed it as a can that I probably knocked in. So, now, I thought differently. When we got back home from the airport off to the dumpster we went. Here 2 good things happened a) the dumpster wasn't that full and b) there were 2 teenage boys nearby. When they saw what we were doing they offered to help. I LOVE stupid teenagers!!!! They were actually very helpful. We found our 2 trash bags and in one, lo and behold, was kiddo's phone. Thank goodness.

So this was how we spend part of our Sunday. I know your jealous !!!

Back from NY

Returned from NYC. I feel like I have so much say about this visit, but can't for some reason.  I really do love the city, but wonder how much I'd love it if I did actually live there. That was probably a woulda, coulda, shoulda for my early twenties. Now, as a thirty something with a child... maybe not. Let's see what 40 holds :-)

I have some great pics that I'll share, once I relocate my camera :-)

We visited Central Park one VERY COLD morning, but it was still gorgeous. Toward the end of our walk I saw a female wearing the most brilliant and large diamond I have ever seen and another women walking 3 King Charles Spaniels ( the dog I will own someday).

Carnegie Hall was fabulous as was the performance. We also got a tour of Radio City Music Hall and got to stand on the stage. I never knew how vast or extravagant that building was. What a marvel !!!

Lion King was very good... even though I fell asleep in the first half. A five dollar dixie cup sized coffee helped me stay awake through act 2.

Lastly, I got my authentic "Boreberry" bag. ( can't afford a real Burberry) and wanted a scarf too, but we didn't make it to Battery Park where the "real" bargaining takes place :-). Also heard Chinatown was good for that, but we didn't make it down that far.

Thinking of trying to get there again late November to see the Christmas Show Spectacular and take Bev and Little C to see Wicked. I think Christian is now old enough for a little sample of the Big Apple. We'll see how that all plays out.

Last note - everyone should be on Facebook. It is the best way to see what people are up to, and that they are breathing in just a few minutes. You may choose to be on that "thing" for many hours, but a few minutes allows you to check in on your peeps :-). So if you aren't on it, get on it !!!

Catch up more later.

In NYC

In NYC with some kiddos and parents from school. I so love it here. Visted M&M, Hershey's store, got a pretzel from a street vendor and a Starbucks ( of course). Tomorrow, backstage of Wicked, West Side Story and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Will tell more later. Too tired to be coherent :-)

Update - craziness here in CO

I love you all but I am typing this as a way to pass the time while cookies bake :-) Don't be offended, but don't be surprised if I stop abruptly either.

Crazy times. The school where I work is being attacked right and left. From racism to threats to sexual harassment... the list goes on and on. For safety sake I won't go into a whole lot more until hopefully one or more of these issues are resolved, but I will say don't get too excited. What people are screaming and up in arms about here happened daily at our local high schools. This is just a situation where extremists who have an ax to grind are spinning hard to do just that. Currently, what is "right" and what is "easy" are on polar opposites of the spectrum.

As for my world, the honor band phenomenon is passed. What a great run though. Good music, met great people, a wonderful time altogether. Exhausting, but great.

Here's the story that I will share and I hope you can get a chuckle out of teenage kids being stupid teenage kids.

This past Monday I took one of the bands to a regional competition where I fully expected them to perform well. This was a regional qualifying festival and if they performed well, we could have been offered a bid to state festival. Ok, so we spend the early afternoon on a state school campus getting lunch before all the activities begun. During this time, a few male students frequented the restroom. At many colleges prophylactics are sold in the restrooms. This one was no exception. These kiddos decided to try it thinking that it was a gag ( protected kids) When they got it, they then had to figure out what they should do with it. After microseconds of thought, they decided it would be humorous to elongate it and put it into one of their female friend's case. They would be around her when she opened it have a good laugh and move on with their day. Sadly, we did not stay in the location that the disclosure would have taken place. We moved to a different location. One where they were not all that close together. In transit, the item shifted ONTO her instrument. And, as it was a lubricated variety ( classy school) it congealed, giving it the appearance that it had been used.

This all manifested itself in the warm up room. The girl opened her case and was promptly shocked and nearly vomited and swore that she was not going to play her instrument that day ( and hasn't for a few). A freshman, thinking he was being helpful, brought the case up to me, IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE ENSEMBLE, HOLDING UP THE ITEM, and shows me what the girl found in the case. I turned around, gave the mess to the assistant band director. My assistant then aids the girl, wipes off her instrument IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE ENSEMBLE, while we warm-up. We then walk from the warm up room to the performance area. During this time, the kids were talking to one another and the situation spread around the band faster than the Hayman fire. 

End result..... our performance was pretty freakin' rough.

I thought condoms were supposed to keep you out of trouble???

Anyway, we have since handled the situation to the credit of good but stupid kids and gracious parents.

The glories of education.

Cookies done. Gotta run :-)