Tea is great. I drink it everyday.

Things are busy. School is pretty involved already. This past week I listened to all 65 of the orchestra kids and just finished their placements earlier today (while drinking caribou, oddly enough).

It's fun to see the kids improve so much, both as individuals and an ensemble. I also met with my beginning classes for the first time this week. They're cute. I have flutes, clarinets and oboe (affectionately called the "ohno" by myself and many others). It's odd to have those classes in the afternoon. In many respects, those are the hardest classes of the day and it has been difficult to have them last. My teaching endurance isn't where it needs to be yet. I hope it builds up here soon.

We have our first marching band contest this coming weekend. Part IV is going to destroy me: the winds don't really know it all that well just yet and we are going to be putting it to drill this week and praying we will have time to clean some before Saturday. Next weekend is our double. Overall I am very pleased the way this season has gone so far. I think this group has a lot of potential and they work fairly consistently which helps. So far they get the award for the best retention out of all the groups I have had. I fixed/changed something during warm up for half time (only played through it once) and then we performed that section at post-game and they corrected it. That is impressive.

Things are interesting overall right now. I miss hanging out with my friends...not having time or money is having a negative impact on my social life. Who needs a social life during marching season anyway?? Hah. Not me.....

Momma and T are on their way over. I should prepare to hang out and finish plans.

Happy week.

I'm not quite sure what happened to the weather pattern we have been having...but I'll take this over 95 and 99% humidity any day. :)

I discovered a bike path the leads all the way to the YMCA. I can't tell you how happy that makes me. I am trying my hardest to be more "green" and it just didn't make sense to drive to the Y (or when super fit chicks drive around the parking lot three times to find a good parking spot when they are going there to become fit in the first place. WALK from your damn car. My God....

Anyhoo, I have been enjoying my bike rides there and for the first time all summer...I got in a bathing suit. The water was great and all the monster children had been dragged away from the pool, kicking and screaming, to eat their dinners with Mom and Dad (thank God). Nice and peaceful. ahh....

Since this morning I managed to have le nap, clean, do another small wall-art project (thanks to Zachary) and clean off the patio. My hope is that after I get done hanging out with the "old school" lady clan we can come here and have smores. Mmmmm. I like smores. Yay for leftovers from camp!

The preview show went fairly well. I was pleased. It was hot (as everything has been so far this summer). The food was great and a lot of people came out despite the crappy weather. That was exciting for the kids. My goal for this week (since our first game is this Friday, August 24)? Getting them to play out. Since we have sooo many freshmen, we sound a little more quiet than normal. Though, I must say that the tone quaility is much better than in years past. It's because I won't let them "go past the ugly line". ;)

Everyone is going back to school on Monday but me (and Sara now that she's at WHS!). I need the week to finish preparing. I need to go to Stanton's now that I know what my class lists look like. Yay for planning ahead!

I hope everyone can enjoy their weekend. :)

Enjoy your last few days of summer!!