Sharing the love

One thing I love about teaching music is that kids often feel the need to share their musical taste with me.

I get CD's thrust at me with the comment "Listen to this! It's really good and I think you'll love it!" Sometimes it is fantastic and I learn about a new artist that I would never have got to hear about as I think of it as a "young" person group - meaning commercialised stuff aimed at the hip pocket of the under 16.

There are times when a kid will hand me a CD and it scares the bejesus out of me. I am now thinking of a kid who put together her own CD. I listened to the first track and that was the end. The production was mediocre and the singing was very reminiscent of cat wailing. (I should know that sound as I have my own cat that demonstrates the style brilliantly.)

What I love is the fact that kids trust me enough to share themselves - either their own work, or their choice.

Excursions

I am about to get changed to go to work to go on an excursion into the city to the soundhouse. The soundhouse is a place that is set up for kids to record, edit and compose their own music electronically. It should be fun. Plus I am able to wear jeans for two days!!!! (casual day tomorrow.)

I had a great night sleep last night due to the fact that I was so relaxed after yoga. The kids are lucky.

horoscopes

I checked my horoscope today - "Stay calm, use your intuition and don't be distracted when you have to handle something that suddenly comes up some time today."

I wish that I had checked that earlier today.

"stay calm"
Staff meeting after school today and I was insulted by someone - idiot man.......then he sat next to me and cracked really bad jokes and asked inane questions and made stupid comments......AARGH. He shat me.......he made me cross - so I wasn't calm.

"use your intuition and don't be distracted when you have to handle something that suddenly comes up some time today"
This was easier. Sometimes there are many situations that come up suddenly when teaching. It is part of the job......

Thinking about staying calm...........GRRR to the man who annoyed me.....

In other things one of my nice neighbours dropped off half a home grown cabbage. Not sure how I will use it all.......

neighbour update

I haven't spoken of my neighbours for awhile. I think it is time to bring you up to speed.

In comparison to last year - they are quiet.

They're not silent, just quiet.

I think the daughter moved out. A least I haven't heard the dulcet tones of her screaming at her mother for some time so I can only assume that she has moved out. But I am a little confused as I have heard the mother talking to the daughter's boyfriend a lot and have heard him answering so I am really unsure.......

The massive structure they put up over the winter period is still erect - I think it will remain so as they will do damage to the supporting structures if they try to take it down etc. But they have moved the aerial for their television to out the back. I can see it clearly from my kitchen window. Summer tv viewing is now set up for them.

They do keep me amused.

I do know that I am not the only one who is annoyed by them and I think a few complaints did go in about them which might explain their quieter nature.

Funny as this sounds, I do miss their inane arguments. I learnt a lot about inappropriate language usage from their arguments but the season is early. Things could change.....

Now why haven't I moved? I was seriously looking but the difference in price was ridiculous. Housing shortage and all meant that I was looking at least a 90% increase in rent per week so I made the decision to save that per week for my own abode instead. (That and a bit extra......)

I have now rearranged my lounge room with the new furniture and surround sound. I can't hear them that much - compared to last year. I look at it this way. Each day is the last time on that day that I hear them etc.

I am looking at properties on line for purchase and I am starting to look at the minefield that is the home loan market. This credit/financial crises makes it very intriguing as well. The Federal Government here decided to double the first home buyers grant which is lovely. If I buy a new home I get even more.

It looks like this $7000 first home buyers grant. This is now doubled (until June 30 2009) to $14000 and a new home to $21000. A fair amount. If you live in Victoria you also are eligible for another $3000 for a first home and then $3000 for going rural and if I construct $5000. So there is a lot of financial rewards there if you want them. BTW - I am not going rural and I will only construct new if it is close to where I work.......fat chance and I don't think I can even afford the land around my workplace so just forget about that thought.

Some cynical friends of mine said that this is all well and good but the prices will increase by that amount. There is that chance but that is why I am waiting until after April next year to purchase as it gives me the time to really watch the market. (And April is the time when my term deposit matures......) Another colleague suggested that the best time to purchase will be in the second half of next year - but the bonus grant will disappear before then......Oh decisions.

I rang my financial institution to find out what I might be able to borrow. I just about fainted when she mentioned an amount which was nearly double what I had thought of borrowing in the first place. No wonder there are so many people freaking out at the moment. If they borrowed the amount they were offered..........I would go nuts with trying to make the repayments.

I sat and worked out what I felt comfortable paying back and then added a few changes in the interest rates and think I have a budget that I can work with. That is the amount I am ensuring I am saving........

So back to the neighbours. I now listen to them with interest as I think I might write a novel about them - if I can be bothered. They are my inspiration to move to my own. Yes I could end up with nasty pesky neighbours when I buy my own but.....at least it's mine and I can change things a little......

The art of friendship

Friendships are interesting things.

While I am cleaning the house I am thinking through friendships and how the dynamic changes as circumstances change.

Many years ago I would have said I have a lot of unbelievably close friends. Now I would say I have 1 person that I divulge everything to and a few that know a lot about me and then a lot of people who I share myself with but I don't seek them out. (I'm not even going to go down the path of close colleagues and acquaintances etc).

I realise that I am becoming more circumspect as I get older. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. I also know that as you get older friendships get harder to develop from new but they are worth their weight in gold.

I think of my mother with this last statement. She is an octogenarian and only recently met this lovely woman who I believe she has become best friends with. I love the friendship that they have. They are good for each other - sometimes the balance is more one way than another. As far as I know, they speak daily - if not every few days. I can only hope that I am in the same situation at the same age.

In my own situation my best friend lives around the corner. I speak with her weekly - and when I am less frenetic, every few days. The week is not the same without a chat to her - even if it is 15 minutes at a time.

The last couple of years has been interesting as I was not in the same amount of communication with her (I am shocking with phone usage, much prefer the face to face situation). Her world changed with relationships, moving to where we both live now, birth of her child etc. My own world has remained the same but the intensity has changed. We share a lot of emotional stuff without any effort. I think it is wonderful.

My other close friends I speak to every few weeks. Sometimes more often depending on times etc.

One of them I speak to about a lot of stuff but she is more the talker and I love hearing everything about her. We pick up each time where we left off. I am blessed with her friendship. She is very generous and is teaching me the same. You drop in for a coffee and you have cake, lunch, whatever. She loves a hug and I see her when I need a hug. It is awesome.

Another I am still trying to work out our current balance. It takes time - which both of us have limited access to this year. Sometimes we muse over the idea that it would be better if we lived closer to each other.

Yet another couple I see very irregularly but it's like we just know where we left off. It might take a few moments to catch up but it is always worth the few moments of re kindling.

There is another brilliant friendship that I developed through workplace, which is always interesting. She teaches me each and everyday that you can do ANYTHING if you apply yourself to it and focus your energies on it. I try and live like that each day. Sometimes I wonder at how she does what she does. Inspiring is something that crosses my mind each time I talk to her.

I look at all the close friendships and realise that I am blessed. All of these women are at different stages of their lives and teach me something each time I see them. They have each taught me valuable lessons in life, person-hood and to value me for who I am. I love the fact that they are willing to share their time with me.

Thank you to my friends. Thank you for your time, love and gifts.

Friday!!!

Yay!

It's Friday!

Thank goodness!

This week was massive.

I have a pile of correction - well technically it is in a box - to complete over the weekend.

I am certain that I will have great fun this weekend. Movies and dinner tonight with the girlies (mostly the drinking girls book club), dinner tomorrow night and lunch on Sunday.

I might even read up other blogs........

On the couch

So the kids sang at the funeral today - and I think they did a fantastic job considering the emotional roller coaster that is a funeral and the fact that they couldn't hear the organ.

I had been under the impression that I was going to have to take a keyboard, amp etc in my car but I only took 4 kids, the music and a music stand. Just as I was pulling up to the venue the other teacher (see yesterdays blog) rang me and told me that I had given the wrong place.......another suburb.......

I spoke to the former head of music last night and she agreed with me and the way I had dealt with the situation so when she turned up to the funeral today I made a passing comment about directions....Her reaction was "Bullshit!" LOL!

So the kids went in after the principal had spoken. They came in and had to stand next to the coffin. One kid was meant to solo at the beginning but couldn't and another took over once she realised that she had to be there......totally different melody to what was written BUT WHO CARES IN THIS SITUATION! I just kept the kid on the organ (other end of the room) in the right place. Interesting situation.

I'm having a well earned night off now. I came home from my singing lesson and I am lying on my couch (still in love with it).

The cat loves me - as I am home. I will be off to bed soon to try finish reading "The Handmaid's Tale". Thanks to Frogdancer for the book - I am finding it interesting but weird in the way it is written...... As soon as I have finished that one I am onto "Three Cups of Tea" for one book club.

Actually I should nickname them as I am in 2 book clubs. That's pretty easy. Drinking women's book club, and Busy Women's book club.

Drinking women's book club is a hoot. We talk about the book for about 20 minutes, up to about 30 minutes and the rest of the time is gossip, chatting, drinking and trying to work out what and when is the next book/time. There are quite a few women in this club. Last meeting we had 8 there and a few were absent. It's very laid back. I have almost 3 months to read the next book - Margaret Attwood - "Blind Assassin".

The other one - Busy Women- has 5 very highly educated women in it. (I'm talking multiple university degrees each...I only have 2 so I feel inadequate but I know I am NOT!) They are all beautiful women but they make me want to be a rebel. We've had one meeting and we had a very SERIOUS discussion about the book. It was fantastic but I came undone as I had not finished the book. I read it a few years ago and watched the tv series but it was not flowing easily for me. This is the one I have to read "Three Cups of Tea" for. Our next meeting is in a fortnights time. I will start reading the book this weekend. I have read the first few pages and I am intrigued so it should be good. I might also have to take a few notes.......

So why two clubs? I'm not sure but I am really loving the challenge of reading so much. I hated reading at school but this is very different. We decide what and then just go from there.

meltdown!

It has been a very interesting beginning to the week.

(highlight!)

Monday Night - I saw the most amazing concert EVER! Stevie Wonder. He is mind blowing. He played for 2 1/2 hours without a break and without a warmup band. He channelled the 4 tops, Miles Davis, played Giant Steps and Spain - all within the context of his own songs. He has so much material that he had to put most of songs into a medley! It was amazing.

(lowlight!)

Monday afternoon - before the concert - one of my colleagues rang me to 'discuss' the way I had made arrangements for children to sing at another colleagues funeral. I do use the term lightly. There was no discussion! I was accused of all sorts of things - including a lack of professionalism. WTF! That is when I saw red.

The whole story looks something like this. The principal rang me Sunday morning to advise me that I would need to organise some music for the funeral as the lady had just passed away (about 30 minutes ago). At this stage no music had been requested, time and date not organised. It was looking very fluid. I spoke to no-one as I had nothing to discuss.

Monday I spoke to the principal and was given a list of requested music. My internal reaction was "how am I going to do those pieces seriously?". Time and date still unknown. I got together a group of senior students and asked them if they were willing to take part. Most of them were ok but reluctant considering the music choices.

Later in the day the Principal said the pieces I had previously been told of were now to be played via disc and we were being asked for vocal music that was spiritual/gospel in style. Time and date now known.

It was now, when I knew what I was dealing with, that I rang the particular teacher to ask for input (like to organise, be involved in the music for the service). I suggested what I had discussed with the kids and that this was all up for negotiation. I was not going to make a decision about the group or the teacher's involvement. I was informing them that most of the senior singing students were willing to participate.....

As I was driving home this teacher rang me and basically told me that I was trying to take their job because of the way that I had spoken to the teacher and that I had not consulted. (What did I have to consult about? There had been nothing at that stage to discuss!)

I came out with the classic "Right! That's where I draw the line. I object to what you are saying because....." and outlined what I have stated above. I then went on with the fact that I was not in the position of making decisions for this or any ensemble etc......

Then there were analogies with String or Wind groups. The teacher stated that if I was asked to organise one of those groups I would have consulted with a string/wind teacher. I told the teacher that in the situation I wouldn't as most of the teachers were not in on Monday or Tuesday due to their timetables and the fact that there was another funeral on Tuesday - which I did not know about until Sunday......and that I would have organised the students as we had to move quickly to get permission slips out etc.

Then I was compared to the last head of department and came out with a classic "She would have done this...." I know what the truth of the matter is in this situation, the last head of department is one of my closest friends. My response "I'm not her."

The teacher then compared the current head of department to a fascist leader as he did not consult anyone when giving the choir to me. (AAH - now the truth comes out!) My response was that the teacher needed to talk to him about this. Retort: "what is the point? You conspired with him because you wanted it and my job!"

WTF! No way. He directed me - The teacher was not there in the discussion we had about it and I was doing my job. I did not agree with it but was told there was no option. Again, take it up with him.

Finally, I had had enough (20 minutes in and all). I then described the first conversation we had (8 years ago) as it was so unusual that it sticks in my mind. At that stage the teacher was concerned I was employed to take their job and that was they were saying now.

I told the teacher (please excuse the language) that I didn't want their fucking job as I had one of my own. I was very good at my job - classroom music teacher - and that they should be proud of the job they have as they do it well. (when there is no emotional meltdown - but I didn't mention that!) I don't have time to do both jobs! In amongst all of this I am an instrumental coordinator and my job was to organise music at the Principal's discretion. I acknowledged that they had made it blatantly clear that they did not want me to have ANYTHING to do with the rehearsal of the kids for Thursday, even though they were not in until then missing a normal day of teaching, and that I would organise the kids as this was my job, but I would NOT rehearse them.

I must admit, I was angry! (no!!!)

The teacher then apologised - although it felt half hearted.

Tuesday day. Informed the principal of this teacher's rant at me and my reaction (it is relevant to other things political happening in the school related to this person but nothing with me.....) and told the head of department that the teacher might being coming to speak to him.

I organised the kids - permission slips, rehearsal time for Thursday etc. Suggested what piece they might do but it might change as their director might think of something else appropriate. Then rang the teacher to let them know the outcome.

(highlight)

Tuesday night - Started yoga. Focused on breathing. Cleared the mind. Relaxed. Had a lovely time. What a beautiful thing.

Wednesday - pile of correction waiting for me! Excuse me while I head for it.......

Sundays are great

Sunday morning and all is well - except for the terrorist cat that is trying desperately to play with my cat. He is a young thing - about a year old and really, really, really wants to play with my cat. He won't take no for an answer. She doesn't want anything to do with him. He is haunting the front door and the back door. She won't go outside at all! Water spray to the rescue - it is a chicken around me now - but I am not proud.

I love Sunday mornings. My favourite shows are on the radio. I missed one this morning as i had a good sleep in. (9.45!) But I did listen to the doctors (Radio Therapy) and now I am listening to Blue Juice with the lovely-on-the-eye, Mohair Slim. I will probably catch up with a friend this afternoon listening to an ex student of hers playing a gig somewhere.

Tomorrow night is Stevie Wonder! Woo Hoo!

I might now go and do my correction, then a little house work and then off I go.....

Enjoy your Sunday.

catching up on it all

Bless me all for it has been three days since my last posting.

I am exhausted after all that bloody marking of performances!  The kids in the performance class are exhausted after playing for me under pressure.  So we're all doing silly things in class - and laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation.......and how bad our humour is!

My talk for the Germans was good.  One girl vagued out completely.  Who can blame her.  Some random woman talk full pelt in a language that is not your first - it could be very boring......BUT I AM VERY INTERESTING.........

Some of the boys were discussing the music I played for them (Parkway Drive, Cat Empire, The Waifs, The Presets.....) but got into serious trouble from their German teachers.  There is nothing like hearing such a percussive language as German full pelt with anger behind it!  I was a little freaked but intrigued by that.

My year 8s continue with their raps.  Pigeons, facial hair, Mario Bros and a few about teachers that they don't like.  There are a few unmentionable topics which are funny but very rude in an innocent way.  I am loving this exercise lots.  I will keep this for next year.

Year 9 performance group are busy preparing performances for me.  They are working hard. Each group has to perform 2 songs per member of their group.  3 people = 6 songs and so on.  They are finding it difficult, not so much from the playing point of view but from the time management point of view and the fact that they are having to prepare so much.  

I had a quiet dig at them two weeks ago and most have told me that that was the scariest thing that they ever heard......lol.  All I said - in a very quiet, restrained voice was that I was unimpressed by their laid back attitude and their unwillingness to push themselves further.  I said that I was willing to mark what they were showing me but they might be quite upset by the mark.  I reminded them that they were talented but they haven't demonstrated this to me and they were wasting my time - and theirs.

They're working really well now.

I've heard this a few times now that I am at my scariest when I am not loud.  I have scary eyes which pierce into children when I am quiet........It is amusing to hear but also relevant as a survey was released that kids find 1 out of 4 teachers scary.

I have had to be tough on a few kiddies a few times this week.  Singing Divas have been at the top of my hit list!  Being a vocalist I hate the reputation that badly prepared and unwilling to compromise singers have given me.  I don't like the "I can't lift this as it will damage my throat." Grr!

Over it now.

I am eager for the weekend to get here - just for the sleep in!  And to get out of the grumpy mood.

The recitals continue......

Last night wasn't too bad as I did very little marking.

Tonight is a humdinger!  22 kids!  I am assessing 20 of them!  Should be fun.

Today name badges and lanyards were handed out.  We were told of these about 6 - 8 weeks ago in a staff meeting.  We basically were told that we had to wear them as part of security.  There was discussion about what style you wear - magnetic badge or lanyard.  People laughed and some had a whinge.......all done.

SO many people were complaining that they were not consulted about wearing these things.  Well technically we weren't consulted but we were told.  They were claiming that we weren't even told.........

It is amusing.

In amongst all of this I have been caught up in the politics that is a school musical. I have very little to do with it - and I have done many!  Today I have had 2 people use me as their sounding board to vent.......I know both sides but I say nothing.......those I work with - I will not say anything so don't ask me.

We had a super, dooper long general assembly....the school is so big that we have a year level in another location.  I was in the other location.  The angle of the camera on the stage was interesting.  I learnt lots of things about conducting today by watching from that angle.  With the stage lighting we had I could make out that there were children on stage but could not make out there faces.  Thank goodness that the children from the year level I was with have very distinctive hairstyles!

My year 8s are performing raps this week.  We looked at the hip-hop/rap genre and they have written their own raps, backing tracks and rehearsed to perform today.  I haven't laughed so hard in ages!  Today's raps were about knitting, sesame street, facial hair and various other things.  They were fantastic.  I loved them!  A pity I have to mark them.........

Monday night recitals

I am sitting in the office at work - we have recitals tonight. There are 12 kids performing tonight and 22 performing tomorrow night.

Yes.

Somehow I think that we got that wrong. It would be better if we had about 18 each night. That way I wont freak out when I am marking them tomorrow night. Tonight I have hardly any assessment to do - it's all the head of department class who are performing. I have two kids who are up.

At the same time we have transition information for year 8 to 9. Head of department is meant to be available for that to do the chatting to the kidlets and their parents about music and options for next year. As he is assessing I will be there in his absence and he will mark my kids who perform tonight. I just get asked the strange questions.....I'm sure I will cope.

I was wandering the school aimlessly. Well, actually it wasn't aimless at all, I was trying to avoid the ever growing pile of correction on my desk. As I wandered past one of the admin offices I was growled at about who was going to be on duty to answer the questions. I have discovered that we have thrown the admin a curve ball by scheduling our kids performances tonight.

Note to self. Check the lists carefully to make sure you don't double book when other events are on! Make sure the recitals are on the list in the first place!

So I have had a nutritious dinner from a box - you know the heat and eat variety. Don't have them that often so I am always pleasantly surprised when I get something that tastes relatively good. I haven't had a glass of wine - although I really would love one.

My Australian Music powerpoint extravaganza has been reduced a little. I decided to show the person organising the exchange kidlets the thing and he suggested to reduce a little. I have to say I agree.

I was in a enthusiastic frame of mind and I asked him if he would like to do this as a peer mentor session for my Professional Development thingy.....(see Mr Abode, I am working). He has freaked me out somewhat. He suggested that I look at what unusual verbs and adjectives I might use in the presentation and find a few ways of expressing. My thoughts "HUH?".

Tomorrow I might have to actually write up my presentation so that I have an idea of where, when and what I am talking about. No freelancing for this chicken. I feel like I am under observation again as an Undergraduate.......and for a subject I know very little about.

I might have a look up about verbs and adjectives - just so I am fine with what I am going to say..........he he he.

Australian music

It's a beautiful day here but the temperature is very warm. 29 C is what they told us we would get to. That's rather hot for an October day. I would expect that late November early December and then again late February.

I'm sitting on my new couch and loving it. I've had an argument with the cat already about which bit of furniture is her scratching post. She is of the thinking that the new furniture is hers for the scratching. I have told her "no" quite emphatically. I am using a herbal dog/cat training repellent on the new stuff to get her away from scratching. I just have to break the habit of almost a decade. Good luck to me.

I spent most of the morning finishing a presentation I have been asked to do for the German exchange students about Australian music. I had a presentation I put together 2 years ago but then I trashed it. What was I thinking? The new slide show is a good 75 slides long. I have a little bit of Australian orchestral, country and jazz and then HEAPS on rock/pop.

I found it really difficult to cut down the number of artists to include.....there are so many that they should be told about. I have mentioned the usual suspects: Kylie, ACDC, Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel and INXS. I have mentioned newer artists like Gabriella Cilmi, Sam Sparro, The Waifs, Xavier Rudd etc. I have covered hip hop, punk, dance, electronica, funk, metal and trance. I am pretty happy with it.

I know I have missed a lot but I spent so much time attaching a song to each picture of each artist. There are 3 artists I have to go and source music for. The Saints, Troy Cassar-Daly and the Warumpi Band. None of the music I have would attach.

While I am out I will find out how/what I need to attach the settop box to the sound system as well as the dvd player.

One stop shopping. Love it!

new furniture coming

I am sitting here in the window area of my lounge/dining room and thinking that I had better get the vacuuming done soon. My furniture arrives this morning anywhere between 11.30 and 1.30pm!

I am very excited. I have spent the last three weeks between not being home - sitting on other peoples furniture, sitting on outside chairs with lots of cushions or on top of the two doonas and pillows.

The cat has not coped with the lack of furniture. She seriously does not know where to sit. I have her cushion out for her, but that hasn't helped her. There are no soft chairs, nothing to hide behind when she wants to attack me and nothing soft for her to settle on in the sun.

So between now and when the furniture could arrive I am going to put away the doonas, dust, vacuum and generally spring clean the space for the new stuff.

Update: Furniture arrived at 11.23 am. I have just got it all together now! 2.10pm. I am sitting on my couch and I am looking at everything and feeling very proud of myself. Go me!

wow!

"The world has gone insane." Just thought that I would quote from Jekyll and Hyde.

Australian dollar down.

Banks being supported by governments.

Politicians not sure what is going to happen next and how they should respond.

At least work is relatively normal.

Home is going along nicely.

Saving is going well - but then I might be able to buy sooner......who knows.

day one hits you for six......

First day back in term 4. I have 7 weeks and 4 days until I go on LONG SERVICE LEAVE for the last 3 weeks attached to my holidays. I am so excited.

First day back is always interesting for various reasons. The kids can be a little feral. The staff are often ridiculously happy - only to be crushed in spirit by day two!

My day was thrown by two things today.

1) A male colleague (early 50s) had a heart attack on Saturday and is in hospital at the moment. His father died when he was quite young and my colleague has worked on keeping himself fit (rode to work each day and worked out in the gym) but it still was a shock to the system. He is older than his father was but still it is a shock. This man has a reasonably young family.

One of the reasons I am a little affected is that I am thinking about my own situation. My father died when I was 12. I still have images of him falling down while he was helping my mother dish up the dinner. It was (and is) a pivotal moment in my life. The image has not faded and has made me aware of my health.

I realised that I have put on a few of the kilos that I lost and I had made the decision to lose those kilos again. One reason for my back and the other for my heart health.

I also have been looking at the work/life balance. I have brought my laptop home - but I have not brought any work home. I am going to make sure that I live each day in balance - work rest and play.

2) The second thing that threw me is not as intense. In fact I am still laughing at this situation.

A student that I do NOT teach came up to me and told me about a dream she had about me. I have never taught this girl. (At least I don't think I have) I believe she is in year 12.

The girl came up to me and told me that in her dream she was in my class and I asked her if she knew her scales. She replied that she had and I then, for no real reason she could think of, jumped up and sat on her knee and told her that I was very proud of her and gave her a big hug.

It threw me then as it does now. The fact that a student I don't teach dreamt about me and the fact that she told me about it!

It has been a day of highs and lows.

I very rarely share my thoughts about my family so I do hope you treat me kindly as you have entered into the inner sanctum.........

Sunday

I have started to moderate my comments again. I love getting comments and I read all of them but I don't like getting comments that are by people who have advertising web pages. If I wanted advertising my whole page would be covered in it.

I feel better now that I have got that out of my system.....

Now I have had two days of fun and frivolity - so much so that I am taking a leaf out of Frogdancer's book and having a skintflint Sunday. I have never done one of these (not deliberately) so bear with me.

I don't know what I can offer to the world of non-spending but I cancelled an outing to a coffee club today as a result of looking at my finances........Today I will clean the house, school work, read a few blogs, read my books that I have promised to finish and then, if there is enough time, I will cut out a pattern to sew up.

I went out to dinner the last two nights - both nights I had a good dinner, a drink and a chocolate for less then $20. I am impressed. But then I have been out doing other things as well - spending LOTS of money. Loved every minute of it but think it is time to stop and do nothing with money for a while.

The dinners were catch up with a large group of people I haven't seen for a while.

Last night I sat and chatted with a few people that make me laugh a great deal. Not so much for anything silly but because of all the random things they have said.

Friday night I went to dinner with another group of people who I haven't seen for a while - although K and Foo were there, thank goodness. Two of the people who were there had dated for a while. Both very intense, lovely people but how they dated without killing each other I do not know.

They have split now and they both came to dinner. They sat each side of me and did not talk to each other. They arrived one after the other and sat down either side of me. Unfortunately no one else had arrived. There we sat. I had a conversation with one while the other looked stormily into the distance. I then had the SAME conversation with the other while the other looked away. I tried, stupidly, to connect them but was greeted with ice spears the size of tree trunks.

That's when K and Foo turned up. Thank goodness.

It is not and was not my issue (their dating and break up) but I was part of the first meeting after the break up......I am still reeling from the intensity. I think that is one of the reasons I need this day in my cave........skintflint or whatever.

set top box

I went shopping today.

I finally have a set top box.

I have installed it except that I haven't got it plugged into the surround sound system.

Speaking of surround sound systems, I struggled getting that to work. It took me two days to get it to play the dvds and the tv. Wires everywhere. Speakers all over the place. My hand was quite sore when I was putting it together as I had just put two units together.

Now that I have a set top box I have to sort out the telly and the surround sound system again.

My telly is really old and you can only have one input into the tv. It is very funny when you are trying to plug everything in- dvd, surround sound and set top box. A friend gave me a switcher. It's fantastic. Watching tv was never so easy.

Tomorrow is the day I get the coaxial or whatever to get the set top box and the surround sound talking to each other.

systematically

I had dinner with Sparky and a couple of friends of hers the other night. It was a great night as we talked through many topics.

One topic that came up: Are you a system person? (feel free to let me know)

I mentioned a site where a 70+ year old man, fully clothed, demonstrated how to have a shower. I was entertained by this man demonstrating how to shower - he had a system. Start at the head and work down.

From this, the question of how you put on your socks and shoes was raised. I have no system. I put on either sock and either shoe. Sometimes sock, sock, shoe, shoe. Other times it can be sock-shoe, sock-shoe. There is no left first then right or vice versa.

I discovered that night that the world is built up of two types of people. Those with systems and those without.

Thanks people!!!!! I have spent the last two days and nights observing what I do and thinking "is this a system? Do I do this like this everyday?"

I can conclude after my extensive study of myself that I have a system of avoiding systems. I did dabble with the idea of putting the washing in the washing basket from the machine in a particular order. That was nuts. I stopped after 3 days.

Actually I realise that I have a system for putting my washing on the line - all shirts together, all socks together etc. I would have to say that is my most obvious attempt at having a system. Only this system is to help put clothes away.......sometimes it doesn't work.

I don't shower, as the 70+ year old man does, top down. I almost have a system in the shower but it is so dependent on the facts of hair washing, underarm shaving etc. Everyday is different. I have a basic system - take clothes off, shower, dry, put clothes on.

If I am that basic, I have a system for socks and shoes. Socks always on before shoes. I find it is hard to get socks on after shoes.......I don't think that this counts.

At one point last year Frogdancer got me onto the Fly Lady website. This website is meant to get your life under control. I think I started stressing more as I hadn't done everything on the list each day. This website encourages the development of morning routines, afternoon routines and evening routines. Now don't get me wrong. I have routines. I'm just not that systematic about them.

At Uni we were encouraged to develop a system in our teaching. Make sure every lesson you have a certain type of activity to calm the class down etc. I also did a Kodaly teaching course a few years ago which encouraged the development of systems in teaching.

I can't do that. I have a plan of what I am going to do that lesson - sometimes even that week - but this can change according to where the kids are. I can throw plans out the window very quickly when I realise that there is no point moving from something as understanding is not at a basic level. I am an excellent teacher without systems.

Yes I do have an entry system to my classroom. Juniors have to line up. I wait for quiet and then we all enter. I mark the roll and give a brief outline of the lesson ahead. Seniors we come in quietly. I explain the lesson ahead and mark the roll while they are working on something. That's it. I also have the system of collection of work from students. It is done as I mark the roll so that the work is in alphabetical order - it makes marking easy.

I have almost stressed over the last few days thinking if I have a system in any area of my life. Then I have wondered should I have one? But then I have looked at friends I know who have rigid systems - and yes I do have them. Some of them have no freedom to alter their plans as the systems are so entrenched. It does make for entertaining observation when I go to visit them.....I am thinking back to last week........sorry back with you now.

I realise that I have systems for work related things that I find boring. Behaviour modification, correction, reports etc. Everything else I have a few different ways of completing things but there is no real system.

I do have a system for each day though.......I write lists of things to do - but that's a whole new story.