What's the world coming to?

I was in Walmart Sunday afternoon (for the first time for about three weeks) and they had totally eliminated their fabric section! In Yellowknife, Walmart was the only source I had for fabric - I guess it's good that I'm living where there is a Fabricland.

Then I tried to log into Scrabulous.com and the website has totally disappeared! You end up at one of those sites that tries to sell you the domain name.

Is this one of the first signs of the end of the age? No fabric and no scrabble? What's next?

I did it!

I've got my unit plans done for semester one for Grade 9 English!!! I feel good about it. Now to do the same for Creative Writing 10 (the only other class I teach). I like teaching, but I'm not too keen on all the required paperwork.

I think I can celebrate by doing some mindless computer games, seeing as I've also done my piano practice for the day.

Technologically challenged

It's potluck this morning after service. I've got Lazy Man's Cabbage Rolls in the slow cooker. I've got Coleslaw Forever in the fridge and I've got Apple Crisp in the oven. Therein lies the problem. I can't figure out how to do the time bake or delay start on the oven. I've wasted about 15 minutes trying different combinations of push buttons; I can tell it to delay start - but then I can't seem to tell it what I want it to do when it does start - like bake at 350 for 30 minutes. I can't find an owner's manual for the oven anywhere either.

I'd sneak out of church for a minute and run the half block home to start the oven at the right time except that I'm teaching Sunday School this morning. I think I'm going to have to give my keys to someone else and have them start my oven at the right time.

This is the reason why I don't own a VCR, DVD player or cell phone. There's too many buttons to push. (There would also be the matter of not having a TV to display anything from a VCR or DVD player on). I can manage (just barely) my CD player and clock radio; but that's the extent of my technological skills.

"I choose to praise you"

It would be very easy to indulge myself in a pity party this evening. I'm not feeling very well; I've been on the verge of tears all day besides that and I'm missing my kids. I wanted to phone them, but was afraid I'd be crying all over the phone so I chickened out and didn't.

However, I have chosen not to be pitiful. I have so much to be thankful for. We had a very moving Ladies' Bible class this morning. It was a real encouragement - and there's something about a women's only Bible study that is very helpful. My parents were up again for the day and I was also able to visit with Aunt Lois and Uncle Roland for a short while. I hadn't realized how much I have missed being a part of my extended family until I moved south again. I made another quilt block - as did Ruth. (Actually, Ruth did hers first.) It always feels so good to create things. My house is spotless and I was able to have my parents and my sister share lunch with me. Ruth and I are teaching Sunday school tomorrow and we're prepared for it. Last night I attended the City Wide Worship time which was held at the Regina Auditorium, and it was great.

Part of a tune is running through my head, and I can't remember all the words. However the chorus has "I choose to praise you" as the main line, and that's what I'm going to do. It's so much more constructive than indulging myself in the poor poor pitiful me thing. In addition, I'm going to have a lengthy prayer time. There are so many people I know that are needing additional prayers, that I have committed to pray for.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace. The way you love us in spite of our failings and shortcomings. Bless my kids; keep them safe.

The Weather

It seems a little cliche to talk about the weather - but I can't get over it. It is so beautiful out! Currently, at 8:30 pm, it's still +11 - and today is the 25th of September. It was up into the high teens or low 20's every day this week. On top of that there are the absolutely gorgeous autumn leaves with the golds, reds, yellows, greens and browns. To contrast, in Yellowknife right now the temperature is 0.3 with light snow. Yesterday had a high of 3.4, which is seasonally very normal.

Now I definitely didn't move to Regina because of the weather - but I can sure say that I'm enjoying it. I walk home at noon everyday, breathing in the acrid scent of fallen leaves and then walk back to school with thankfullness in my heart. Some of the college students had a picnic at noon today on the lawn.

Thank you, Lord.

Technical stuff

I'm supposed to be doing my scales in 16th notes, with an accent on the first of each of the 16ths. This is harder than it seems. The memonic to run through my head for 16th notes is "huckleberry" - count it out, there's four syllables. So when doing four octaves of scales, the "huck" part of each huckleberry is supposed to be slightly accented. However, it's on a different note for each octave. At the same time, I'm supposed to be remembering to put my thumb under the third finger sometimes and the fourth finger other times. Make sure you don't accidentally get the accent on your thumb, just because your thumb is naturally heavier than your fingers. The only way to keep it all straight is to go really slowly. I used to think that doing the scales was the easiest part of my technical requirements. However, I'm learning.

Now, on to arpeggios. Arpeggios should be played in 16th notes, not in triplets. (Back to huckleberry again.) Again, if you go slowly, you shouldn't have too much difficulty.

Then there's the dominant 7th chords. Apparently the correct fingering for those four note chords is the thumb and second finger and the fourth and fifth finger. Except for sometimes when it's the second and third finger. However, keep in mind that I have really tiny hands, so sometimes I have to use my thumb and third finger - instead of the more standard thumb and second finger. Confused yet? If you go really slowly, it's not too bad. (Yes, there is a recurrent theme here.)

The good news is that this year I don't have to do triads. I do them anyways; just because they don't require them this year, doesn't mean that they won't require them another year and I don't want to lose my hard-won skill at them.

I used to think that I could run through practicing my technical stuff with about 5 minutes per element; 5 minutes for scales, 5 minutes for arpeggios, 5 minutes for chords and triads. Lately it's been taking me about 45 minutes. I know it's all good for me, and it's amazing how much I am learning. I guess that's why I'm paying for lessons, eh?

Another day we'll look at sight reading.

Bedtime

It's been a busy week. The high school had a two-day retreat Wednesday and Thursday. It was excellent; everyone had fun and there was only one injury. We were out at Dallas Valley Ranch camp. I had never been there before but was very impressed. That also meant two days I didn't have to do any lesson planning; just enjoy myself being with kids (and theoretically being a responsible adult). I can do that.

Friday afternoon three sports teams took off for various locations, which left the school seeming kind of empty. I only had 6 students (out of 16) in my Grade 9 English class. So that was pretty relaxing.

Friday evening my parents arrived. I had a good visit with them, as they stayed at my apartment. Dad hung my thread racks for me, so I can't think of any more little tasks that need to be done. Nice.

Saturday morning I helped Ruth pack up her office. She's bought the office building next door and will be moving next weekend. We packed 72 boxes of old files, that by law must be kept for 7 years. That's a lot of files! Then we had lunch together. In the afternoon I helped Ruth sew her first ever quilt block. She's justifiably proud of herself. Saturday evening I baked butter tarts.

Today, Sunday, is always a highlight of my week. I practiced piano for an hour this morning before service; then attended service, followed by lunch at the Pradzynski's (I brought the butter tarts). Al and Nancy arrived in the afternoon (after my afternoon nap) and we had a short visit before they went to clean. (They have a monthly contract in Regina.) I went to help with the Bible Quiz program (I brought butter tarts again), then helped the Taylor's clean so I could get a bit more visiting in. Stopped by Tony and Joyce's on the way home and visited there a bit. Now I don't have any lesson planning done for tomorrow, but that can be done in the morning. It is definitely bedtime and I'm tired.