First Meeting

This morning was my first board meeting as president of the local music teacher's association. I was dreading it, but it was an excellent meeting. I'm so glad. I worried for no reason. Every officer and director is taking charge of their area so well. I am blessed to work with such fine people.

The state organization is requiring us to bring our branch bylaws into compliance with the state bylaws. Oh dear! A political difference of opinion to begin with. And no one wants to take this on. Of course I must be a part of it, because I honestly don't know our bylaws well and ought to.

My good friend Christine offered to help me, so we will take a Saturday and go to Lake Arrowhead in the mountains and work for two hours, then take a mid-morning break to shop, work for two more hours, then lunch, then two more hours and we should be finished.

I used to do this when I had a study for certification tests when I worked for the hospital.

Work--reward--work--reward--work. A good way to get 6 good hours of hard work done.

Orientation

After church my friend Linda Keldjaard and I took six delightful Indian students grocery shopping. They have only been in America 7 days. There was much deliberating on the prices and who would buy which items. I supposed they would cook together.

Today would be their orientation to school, but it was obviously that they needed a cultural orientation ahead of time. These are not poor people. They are university graduates coming to America for a graduate degree. But I still surprised--very surprised--that they do are not acquainted with deodorant and toothpaste. They reeked and had bad breath.

I thought about it for some time before I decided it would be kinder to bring up the subject of deodorant. I said I was sorry to bring it up, but if they want to fit into the American culture, they need to wear deodorant. Otherwise people will avoid them. Last year one of the male students smelled so bad the other students in the class complained. I was pleased that they bought deodorant.

Apparently they weren't too insulted, because after the shopping they invited us to their dorm common room. They served us ginger tea made from fresh ginger, boiled milk and water, sugar, and tea leaves. Very delicious, even though I don't use milk and sugar in my tea. They also served us "rice flakes" with tumeric, onion, cumin, and something spicy. Also delicious. They eat this spicy mixture for breakfast. After I finished my portion, it occurred to me (too late) to ask if it was more polite to leave some food in the bowl. They didn't respond immediately, so I quickly took a spoonful from Linda's bowl (she was finished) and put it into mine. They laughed.

At the Indian store I bought some ginger tea that has dehydrated honey in it. I had some today. Verrry spicy. No sore throat germs could survive that tea. But I like it.

Then there's the Ballerina Tea. I bought it because it was intriguing. It's a dietary supplement to help one lose weight. Well, sure! Anytime you drink tea instead of a meal, you're going to lose weight. But with this tea, I'm sure I'll feel like a ballerina, even if I don't look like one.

Arab American Festival

This afternoon I went to an Arab American Festival with friends.

It was in Orange County, about an hour drive away.

We passed out free water, OJ, and Pepsi as people entered,

and then gave free Arabic/English Gospels of John

and a tract as they left.

The Festival was about 50% Muslim and 50% Orthodox Christians.

Many Lebanese.

The food was delicious.

Much better than the Phoenician restaurant in Redlands.

We had roasted chicken kabob

and basmati rice with onions and raisins,

fresh cilanto, tomato and onion "salsa."

Hummus with pita bread, and beef Shawarma

with raw red onions, tomato, and some white sauce.

The FBI and CIA were there. I wondered if they were gathering information or recruiting. Supposedly recruiting, because they need Arabic speakers.

In a mischievous mood, I walked up to their tent where several were sitting around and said, "Oh, the intelligence agency. Do you all belong to Mensa?" They just gave me blank looks.

Apparently not, if they don't even know what Mensa is!!

Obviously "government intelligence" is an oxymoron.

Not only that, one of their men, who had a CIA logo on his shirt, earlier asked us for directions to the CIA booth. We were dying to say, "You belong to the CIA and cannot find your own booth?!?!? Our government is in trouble!!"

It's theory week.

The last full week of every month my piano students have a group theory class instead of their private lesson. I don't have to prepare much for a private lesson, except to occasionally practice one of the more difficult pieces I'm trying to teach.

Theory classes require a lesson plan to prepare students for March exams. So this week I need to prepare 9 hours of different level lesson plans for piano and 4 hours for English classes. Trying to focus. Eyes are blurring. Easily distracted. Need chocolate.

Being a loser can be a good thing...

Today I lost 5-1/2 inches and it feels like 2 pounds in one hour. My hair is thick and even the hairdresser was a little surprised at the amount of hair covering the floor. Afterward Tom, although he looked right at me and spoke to me, didn't notice any difference from yesterday. Either he was very focused on our conversation or he's quietly sulking.

Now about my dog, Duchess. Her little blank eyes make her look so unintelligent. But what can you expect? She can't read, doesn't understand the TV, has no creative outlet, and cannot hold a conversation. But she is vocally opinionated about whom she likes and whom she doesn't, and she loves me, so she must be VERY intelligent!

Marketing

Interesting. I got a call this morning from a woman looking for voice lessons. Sorry, I only teach piano.

I always like to ask how they heard of me. I discovered I'm on Google! Type in Music Schools Redlands and I'm listed!! For free!! How cool!

Worship Team Seminar

This morning Trinity had a Worship Team Seminar. We had a lovely buffet breakfast, a time of worship singing with the Praise Band from Calvary Chapel, a sermon on "What is Worship?" by Dr. Leafblad, the grandfather of one of my former students (who's mother told me today they are coming back!). Then everyone could attend two different seminars: vocal, guitar, sound board, piano improvisation (I taught that one), percussion, leading, etc.

There was a nice group in my class both sessions. A little difficult with beginners and advanced together. Maybe next time it should be listed as "beginning" and "advanced." But everyone said they learned something, so that makes it a success.

I actually left the worship team a year ago to sit with Tom in the audience, since he decided that Trinity would be his church too. All of us pianists agreed we know very few of the words to songs--we're always focused on the music. So now I often cry during worship singing as my heart agrees with the lyrics.

John, a crazy jazz pianist, is one of the 4 current pianists on our rotating worship team. He plays in a style that is just beyond my ability. Jazz pianists, like theater people, are a different breed. I asked him to show me a couple new things, and could hardly keep up with him.

I ought to take lessons with him, but WHEN? I'm too busy as it is. It's just such a nice opportunity because he knows and can explain the structure of what he is playing, which is unusual for a jazz pianist (I think). I understand chord structure so it seems I might be able to play jazz. But I just cannot work in one more thing right now.

ESL Blunder

I've made my first big blunder teaching ESL. Already. One very young Mexican lady, Norma, speaks almost no English. It must be such a struggle for her to get through the class, although I do a lot of pantomime to demonstrate what I'm saying.

Anyway, we were reviewing the alphabet and learning to spell our names aloud. She, along with several others, could not pronounce the word "spell." Tongues get so used to making certain sounds. All the Mexicans were saying "Es-spell." They want so much to sound American, so I was drilling them on the pronunciation. I was working alone with Norma and tried to get her to say "spell" five times in a row. It was too much. I shouldn't have made her do something so hard so many times. She started crying, left the room for awhile, and didn't return the next two sessions.

What I asked her to do is no more than I ask my little students to do at the piano, but it was just too humiliating for her. I must be more gentle with shy Mexican women!

The Theater

Last Saturday I was hired for the 3rd time recently to be the audition pianist for LifeHouse Theater, a Christian repertory company in town. That's always a fun two hours. Theater people are a class to themselves. I could never be so extroverted in front of the audition panel, and certainly not in front of an audience.

At least this group didn't give me crazy difficult music to play. I once had a piece that jumped around from 5/4 to 3/4 to 7/4 !! Come on people!! If you want to look good in front of the judges, let the pianist help you instead of making her do battle with the music.

Then tonight my piano family who participates in a lot of theater productions gave Tom and I free tickets to see the Jonas Story, a re-telling of the Biblical Jonah story. Very "dark," serious, adult targeted play. But excellent, actually. What I like most about their productions is that every one is original dialogue and music score. So I'm sitting there listening to the music as much as watching the play.

We missed Vanessa's first home game, since Tom didn't feel like climbing on the bleachers. So we sat in comfy theater chairs.

Surgery

Thank you, Lord, for good health. Tom has had some health issues lately, including two cataract surgeries this Spring and today an inguinal hernia repair. All outpatient, thankfully. He was very optimistic about it, planning to take me to lunch afterward, but the nurse insisted he go straight home and have soup and rest instead. After the surgery he realized that was a better idea.

He cannot lift anything over 15 pounds for SIX WEEKS! No more trash duty! No lifting the dog! No washing the cars! He feels tender if he bends over, so no emptying the dishwasher! Tom keeps thinking up a new list of things he cannot do that I must do for him. I keep thinking this is going to be a long six weeks! All I know is he'd better not get used to this. I'm counting the days, then going on strike!

Dancing

Last evening we went ballroom dancing at the Elks Club in Riverside. I don't know anything about the Elks Club organization, but one of the women at the dance came over and introduced herself as Martha, the High Exalted Ruler.

How can she say that and not laugh? It's just too ridiculous. I was proud of myself for keeping a straight face. I wanted so much to say, "Oh no, I happen to know the High Exalted Ruler, and you're not it." But I was very good.

But I made wonderful new friends--an elderly Japanese couple who dance so elegantly. I went over to meet her and compliment her on her style. It turns out she is just like me--grew up in a conservative Christian home--no dancing allowed. When I look at her, I see hope.

Tonight we danced (I say that loosely--we're pretty pathetic) in Loma Linda. A much nicer place. Very fun. A couple dances were mixers. Women stand in a line and a man dances with the first in line, takes her around the floor, and drops her off at the end of the line. Every man I danced with was so patient and talked me through the steps. A good leader makes all the difference. It's easy to dance with someone who knows what they're doing.

ESL

Well, I'm so happy I could just burst. Teaching ESL is apparently one of my strengths. Who knew? It is so fun! Tuesday there were five in my first class, and Thursday two more came. Five Spanish and two Chinese adults. Two ladies know almost no English at all.

I like doing lesson plans too. These last few years of writing lesson plans for my monthly music theory classes for 6 different levels of students is just the experience I needed for teaching ESL.

What a blessing in my life.

Shopping at home

Sweet Romance, my all-time favorite retro jewelry company, emails me periodically. I discovered this company in a local store several years ago. Tom says, "Just tell me what to buy." What a husband! Today it was a sale. So I just spent an hour putting a few pieces on my "wish list" for my Christmas or "whatever" presents.

It's back on

Our local school board pulled a fast one on the community. A big article in the newspaper announced they got a grant and will resume teaching ESL. So we called all the people who wanted to take classes with us and told them to call the school district, because it was to their advantage.

I was disappointed, but decided early on to let the Lord work it out---or not. Whatever He chose. Well, yesterday the man who would teach Intermediate/Advanced, as part of our team, called to say the school district has changed it's mind. They will not accept everyone, and are not offering as many classes as they had announced.

So the phone has been ringing a lot, as people discover they need to sign up with us after all. At least the school is cooperating with us by giving out our flyers to the students they turn away.

So I'm teaching Beginning ESL next week after all. Yikes! Good thing I prepared some lesson plans ahead of time. Back to the books!