Entries RSS Comments RSS

Posts Tagged ‘piano’

Musical Tuesday

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Music has officially taken over my Tuesdays. First up in the morning is Music Together for Camper. We went to his actual class this week (last week we had to do it on Saturday instead because of Target silliness) and I was VERY happy with his group. There are a couple of older kids- but the bulk of the bevy are sitters/crawlers. It was super cute to see them all sitting in the middle of the floor together, greeting each other, and the percentage of people on all fours helped Camper feel secure enough to choose his own instruments instead of letting me get him one and bring it back to him. Music Together is mixed ages, so you can never guarantee an older or younger class. It works out well because the different aged children love to mimic/teach each other and entertain each other. But still…I’m glad to not have to watch his fingers around so many stomping toes.

Music-Together-

On TOP of it, I mentioned something about his super huge noggin and my difficulty in finding hats I like and a mom sitting next to me said, “Do you want me to make him a hat?” I was all…”Huh?” She said that she knits, and she’d be happy to get together with me and make him one, or even teach me. For maybe the first time ever another mom approached ME about doing something out of playgroup. It was nice to meet someone who seems interested in DOING things. Maybe this winter won’t be so long, after all. (Does anyone else get the warm fuzzies when you think about finding that perfect mom friend? Someone to hang out with, do things with, complain to, learn stuff from? LIVES LOCALLY. Is this only on TV?)

So yes, Musical Tuesday will now continue with a new piano student (another Mom, actually. Her husband bought her lessons for her birthday, which is so very sweet) and then my three kiddo students. After THAT I get to see if I can help a friend from high school with HER piano needs, and NEXT week I’ll be adding another man to the mix, as well. HIS wife bought him piano lessons for Christmas. So yeah. Tuesdays are full up. I’m excited. I think if I can get Thursdays started up soon, I might look around for lessons for myself again. It’s so hard because technically…I know what’s going on. It’s just the CONFIDENCE. I literally get all choked up when I try to play in front of people. Ah, we’ll see.

Oh, in other news…Camper has a new obsession.

snack 1

The Munchkin Snack Trap.  I gave it to him for the first time on our ride to Music Together, and then on the ride home.  When I went to take him out of his seat he was gripping both handles so tightly that I couldn’t get his arms out of the car seat straps.  When  I tried to take it away to give him lunch he FREAKED OUT.  I’ve never seen him react like this to anything.  He just wanted to keep his little fingers wrapped around those handles.  Maybe it’s because I don’t give him cups with handles usually?  This is special?  He ate holding it with one hand until I brought out the quesadilla, and was able to get it away from him without him noticing.

Seriously people.  Like it’s his new best friend.

Also: Last night I had a dream that I was buying a necklace from a jewelry store on my way home to teach piano.  While I was paying I got a  phone call telling me that my student was already at home, and I needed to get there NOW.  I got into my car only to turn and see John going into the store, but had to go.  I pulled out into the intersection to find it blocked off by police- obviously waiting for me.  And then it gets weird.  I saw them use some kind of weapon, and then a pulse went through the air and my whole body just shut off.  I felt myself relax and realized I had no control over my muscles.  I fought it until I decided it wasn’t worth it and close my eyes.  Then I woke up to find myself in bed.  It was SO WEIRD.  Why were they waiting for me?  What had I done?  They didn’t know I was innocent!  What was John doing there?  It felt so real- and the feeling of having no control over my body and no way to stop them from taking me was- outrageous.  It was enough of a physcial experience that I woke up and thought, “Whoa…cool.”

Brand New Day Today

Friday, February 27th, 2009

John fixed the elliptical.  So today, not Monday, TODAY, not next week, I decided to start.  I got the bright idea to get some books on CD to listen to while I work out.  Music doesn’t distract me enough, and if I can’t get outside because of the snow and the ice, and I have to be in basement, I really need something to distract me.  Just some chick lit- I’ll let you know what I think of them as I hear a little more.  Just 20 minutes today, more tomorrow.  I know that working out will help with the IBS (now officially diagnosed, no colonoscopy, I went to the doctor again) and also with the entrapment I sometimes feel as a SAHM. Just sometimes.

John heads off to the library every day now to work on his writing.  First, his application for a grad school program and then another project he’s been wanting to focus on.  I think it’s been good for him to have somewhere to go where I can get him to “hold Bubby for just a minute” and good for me to learn how to do stuff without so many pairs of arms around to help. (Let’s not fool ourselves, I’ve still got help) but honestly, I just gotta figure life out.  One day, God willing, we will have a steady income and a place of our own, and I better know how to go to the bathroom without hiring a babysitter or I’m in trouble.  OK, it’s not as bad as that.  I can be pretty independent as a Mommy, but  I’ve still got some learning to do.

As for what I’m going to be up to as John writes and when he gets work, I think I’ve found a Mommy Baby group to start going to.   I just hope with my new stomach regime I’ll be able to get a handle of my ISSUES and get out.  Also, I officially have my first TWO piano students!  I had a listing on craiglist for beginning piano lessons, and after a few crazy emails I got one that was a legit inquiry into my services.  I went for a consultation last night- their house- not mine- and was a wee wigged out to be going to someone’s house I didn’t know.  At all.  (Shouldn’t have seen Taken, huh?)  So I hired help- brought my brother along as my thug in the car.  I promised him Taco Bell for his services, and instructed him that if I didn’t come out in 20 minutes to call me because I was probably in distress.  An hour after arriving and after I visited with the NICEST family in the entire world, I walked outside to a brother who had been trying to figure out how to climb the side of the mansion they lived in, enter through the bathroom and save me before they cut me into a thousand pieces.  I felt bad that I broke the protocol and freaked him out, but I seriously have the best brother ever.

The funny part was that new piano student codename: Speedracer (younger brother figure) kept looking out the window “checking” on Jonathan, worried that I left my “little brother” in the car.  I told him that my little brother was no longer little, and he was just fine.  I don’t know if they realized why I brought him along or not, but I don’t care.  I’m just not into death and disappearing, and although I was super lucky and they are very nice (and had TWO kids to teach, not just 1!) I’ve definitely walked into houses before and feared for my life.  Call it a side effect to serving a mission in Brixton.  What can ya do? But I was lucky, there was no near-death experience, and I will now be teaching Speedracer and sister Ballerina, who are both amazingly nice children being raised by charming and respectful parents.  I almost didn’t feel shy at their house.  Almost.

So that should be fun.  I get to prepare lessons again, and I am going to love being “forced” to spend more time with the piano.  I’ll have to post some of my lesson materials so anyone who so desires can use them with their kids.  I already have a few games planned out to help Speedracer learn the names of the notes on the staff.

Also, yesterday, I made some more Bubby food.  I think squash is by far the nicest, most pleasing veggie to steam and puree.  It turned out really smooth and pretty.  Even more than the carrots!  Let’s hope he likes it.