Singing through Saturday

[helia]

I'd love to see the robins, Harmony! We don't put water out for the birds, just food in the feeders. Birds here sometimes quibble over that. Like, this is my feeder - go away. Maybe MI birds are just ruder than FL birds. LOL!

Spent some time going through an online list of top design schools. We really need to get on the ball with dd16's college choices. I have started writing the names of schools down. Some are appearing on multiple lists. She would ideally like a school where she can dual major in design and writing - or take a minor in writing. Still, if she gets into RISD, which seems to be a top design school in the country, she will probably go there. A minor in English might be possible there, but we're not sure. . . Scores are not too high for RISD, or some of the other design schools - but I think the portfolio will be more significant. . . . Would help if she knew specifically what sort of design she was interested in. She does know some things she's not interested in.

I've s2s-ed, had lunch with dh and dd16, made some boiled eggs, made a groc. list for today.

The groc. store is next! Maybe I will sing in the car.

I'm loving the sunshine!

[ellyphant]

Hey all! I just showed dh a clip of his grandmother's church singing a beautiful old hymn on you tube. Then I came here and was amazed at the topic for today! So I had to post.

BTW, last night our Perry Mason episode was one with Leonard Nimoy as a young man. I thought that was a fitting tribute and probably unplanned. Dh says Nimoy was one of the few celebrities he has seen in person. He came to the university dh attended to read his poetry back in the 70's. He very patiently answered Star Trek questions and towards the end did the hand salute thing.

[Harmony]

It's nice to see you posting, Elyphant. DH and I were trying to do the hand thing yesterday. He does it easily. I can do it with my left hand but only barely with my right.

I have "perfect pitch" in my head and used to be able to sing nicely but about year 13 almost completely lost my voice and it never came back. I even had it checked by a dr. for nodules etc. but they never could determine why. So, I either sing in my head or whistle. I can whistle pretty nicely!

Making progress.

Made meatballs and sauce.
Made meatloaf to put in the freezer.
Cleaned up kitchen.
Reorganized 2 shelves of kitchen cabinet. It was getting messy. 1 big drawer to do next.
Moved all porch furniture (front porch) and swept all leaves away and put them in empty lot across the street so they don't blow in again.
Folded 1 LOL put away.
Washed last load and hung that up.
Miscellaneous pick up along the way doing the above.

Going to keep going after a short break.

Did I tell you my oldest DGSon is now in the National Honor Society? We're all so proud of him!

[DeeClutter]

Just taking a break and decided I need to come here and READ! Having my own little 'pity party' right now and have been tossing things that I'm sure if I went through them would bring back tons of memories. Just don't have room for things here and dh is pretty sure we need to strip the room. Asked him, "Do you realize how much stuff is packed away in this room?!?!" We definitely needed our own space and now I know that's not going to happen. Trying to put as much on the closet shelf as I can. Dh seems to think the carpet padding will never dry out and may quickly mold. Right now I'm pretty weepy. Hate to even think about dd coming home and seeing the house in such a state. (She'll be home late tomorrow). Unfortunately I can't work very long at a crack before my back starts in and I have to 'break'.

Need to get some boxes from the garage and start packing things in those to put out in the garage. Want to make sure they're up off the floor though. May end up buying some plastic bins to put things in to keep them safe.

[lucylee]

(((Dee))) I can certainly understand your sadness and frustration... and a bit of anxiety re: dd's arrival home! (I'm sure your dd will understand and be fine about it -- just know how you dread letting her see the room. But as much * stuff * as your dd has handled and handled well, this is going to be NOTHING for her.)

Congrats to dgs, Harmony... and big WTG to YOU -- you are really moving through the day!

Wish I could have seen that Perry Mason episode, elly. I love Perry Mason AND Leonard Nimoy. That is so nice about the clip of your dh's grandmother's church!

Ya'll would think I've made NO progress whatsoever... but I do have a CARD for the end of the month that says organize/order pictures. So I have combined pictures from phone, camera, FB, etc... and ordered from S hutterfly. I'm trying them again b/c Wmart always seems to crop out too much of the picture. Unfortunately, S hutterfly automatically makes you a photo book, so I proofed that and edited and played with it forever... and finally decided NOT to order. * sheesh * Waste of time. Big waste of time. I am a sucker for all things like that. Kinda like how I would spend hours on page layout, fonts, etc. of school newspaper.

Now...
[x] change sheets
[x] morning (???) routine of s/s baths, etc.
[ ] morning (???) routine of self-care -- s2s, Bible reading
[x] write check for allergy shots
[ ] CVS
[ ] grocery store
[ ] bank
[ ] post office

[Nancy]

Back from town got dgd and had date w h. Went to the thrift shop found cute pink mittens for ToddlerN yea do not have to knit them, found me a book too. Went to the book store and found a couple of used knitting books even though they were moving books so many of shelves were empty.

Did gazelle time this morning did a short walk w dgd this afternoon.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Home.

Is it bedtime yet?!

I'm exhausted. And was starving, despite being fed very well at the workshops.

Dh got the car washed and milk bought after dropping me off this morning. He came back at lunch time and attended the afternoon session which was singing.

After we headed across town to meet dd to pick up the exercise bike she wanted. Just after leaving the church we spotted someone we knew from the workshop (and the festival last November) waiting at a bus stop, so stopped and offered him a ride. Turns out he lives on the south east end of town so we took him to the east end and dropped him at a transit station with multiple choices for him to get home. And still got to the store before dd.

Picked up pizza on the way home, ate and watched the first episode of the latest season of House of Cards. I need to walk at least 5K. I went out during breaks and walked a bit since it was a sunny day (still below freezing but warm sun so I went out without a jacket. Maybe that's why I'm so cold now!

The workshops were fabulous. Funny, fun, interesting. The first was on consumerism and the church. I have done workshops on this before but it was interesting to hear a non-North American viewpoint. The second was on teaching the congregation to sing and had a lot of good points. I have pages of notes from today and several ideas.

John Bell is convinced everyone can sing you just need to believe you can. Although those of you who think you can't are in good company - 1/4 of those surveyed say they can't sing. But they are wrong!

[Harriet]

Harmony, that is wonderful - to think, a grandchild who actually wants to learn, a grandmother who can teach, and a piano, all in the same space.

Congratulations to Harmony's oldest dgs!

((Dee))

ellyphant, thanks for the little slice-of-life memory of Leonard Nimoy.

Nancy, so cool you and dh go on these dates.

helia, isn't that exciting for dd! I'm sure you and dd already know that Brown offers dual degree with RISD. Probably not at all what your dd would be interested in, but thought I would mention, in light of your post. Were dd here not firmly committed to the summer internship because of this engineering program, I would have perked up when hearing about the summer program at Brown. Dd35 went to SummerMath at Mt. Holyoke the summer of her junior year, but this child is 7 months younger than her sister was at the same grade, and, as many tell me, it is "a different time", meaning more caution may be due for kids these days. I'm quite sure her protective Daddy would not be happy. At any rate, you are quite right that it is time for learning about choices (as well as thinking of portfolios and such). Good job.

As for us, lots of communication about the internship happening now. We know dd will be grateful in the future that she does this, because she must complete it to graduate the pre-engineering program as she graduates hs, and she's already put 3 years into the program. But she hears that it can be very workaday, very much about workplace responsibility and not much about one's own interests. Oh well. We might define that as "life".

Super braggy emails and letters arriving, telling dd to be proud and telling us to be proud. But HRH and I are such old parents and have spent so many years reading amazing build-ups about education programs. We don't take this as seriously as we are supposed to. Today a letter arrived from the internship folks "to the parents of". So HRH opened and "read" it to dd, dead-pan:
"Dear parent, we are so sorry to let you know that if you are depending upon this child to support you in your old age, you look forward to retirement years spent under a bridge. Our condolences."

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Harriet: If dd can put up with HRH, she'll manage workplace co-workers quite well. I just picture her rolling her eyes when he read that!

I got on the treadmill and managed the 2 miles I needed. I'll finish the month making my goal. May not finish this week maintaining my goal (I need almost 12K steps for that and it is a preaching day plus I'm already exhausted.) Oh well. Not sure how next month will play out. There are many, many, sea days and then touring days which may not involve a lot of walking. On the other hand, this ship has a proper promenade deck. As well as a good gym and many other fitness opportunities.

There's also a guest choir, so I know what dh will be doing. I'm joining the book club so will skip the choir. Larger ship means lots more to do.

[Nancy]

Thanks Harriet. After we ate h. Went to the sporting goods store. We had dgd there and she played at mcdonalds playland a friend was there.

Bath time now here.