let’s talk about me

i love to talk – really i do, but there is a distinct difference between talking about things and telling someone about myself.  i find the latter infinitely harder.  here’s my best shot – which will probably be edited and updated somewhat regularly.

i am once again teaching middle school choir!!!  i know that the exclamation points and the word middle school make many of you think that i am completely crazy.  maybe i am, but i LOVE middle school!  i am back in my hometown, teaching in a classroom where i was a student and sitting at the desk where my band director sat and listened to me break down so many times.  since this is only a half-time gig, i am also teaching general music at a charter school in a neighboring town.  though i do still have kindergartners, it is not the same as my last elementary job.  first off, the classes are multi-age so there are some more mature 2nd graders to buffer the kindies.  second, the entire school atmosphere is completely different.  maybe it has something to do with the fact that there are only 180 students grades k-8.  maybes it is just because it is ok to have fun – even in regular class activities like math and science.  who knows.  what i do know is that i am MUCH happier with my job this year!

i have been married for just over 3 years to my wonderful husband, who just happens to be the brother of my high school sweetheart.  sounds strange i know – but imagine already having known your in-laws for over 10 years when they became your in-laws!  it is awesome.  we truly are a big happy family.  my husband and i are still reeling over the arrival of our first child – a daughter who is now just over 18 months old as i type this.  as with all new parents, we think we have the most beautiful daughter in the history of the world.

it could take me all day to list the things i like.  you need to know that i don’t always do these things regularly, but that doesn’t make me like them any less.  i love music -really, it’s not just my job, i live and breathe what i do.  i play bassoon in a local orchestra and clarinet for a community band.  i used to play bassoon in a woodwind quintet on a professional level (that means i get paid). our quintet is disbanded for an indefinite amount of time as each of us struggles to find more time in our swiftly changing lives.  i could write a whole different blog on the changes in all our lives over the last year.  i teach lessons when i can.  i sing alto – though not currently with any groups.  i own 3 clarinets, 2 trumpets, 1 flute, 3 wooden native american flutes, 1 djimbe, 1 soprano recorder and a piano and will someday add a bassoon to that list (anyone got $30,000 to spare).  besides music, i am an avid reader.  there is rarely a time when i am not reading at least 2 different books.  mostly i don’t read adult books.  i read books written for kids.  i figure that if i am reading what they are, i can talk to them about books.  if, as an adult role-model, i am reading and talking about books, maybe i can influence a child to read.  i cross-stitch.  sounds old fashioned, but it keeps me busy.  i find sometimes that my mind wanders from what i should be doing (ok, i’m a daydreamer – especially during classes or training) and i find that keeping my hands busy allows me to focus on what is actually happening (aka – the teacher).  i cook.  my mother started me out in the kitchen with her as early as i can remember and i still believe that nothing soothes the soul like a home cooked meal. (please note – as much as i enjoy cooking, i hate doing dishes).  sometimes, i sew.  i like the thought of making clothes from sheets of fabric.  there is so much pride that can be taken in wearing something you’ve made and having other people comment on how nice it looks.  plus – if you make the clothes they always fit just right.  (i must interject here that i do not sew as often as i should.  recently, my mother has retired and has begun to make clothes for me again.  i take great pride in showing off the clothes my mother has made for me.)

i don’t know that i have any great life philosophies.  i just try to make the best out of the things that come my way.  however, recently a former student sent me an e-mail with this poem as her signature line and i think if we all did this, it would really shake things up.

Let Your Dreams Out Of Their Cages,

Every Passion, Every Desire,

Let Your Visions Be Outrageous.

Set Your Fantasies On Fire!