So, my mom just called and requested more blogging. I know I haven't done as much lately. I usually do it late at night while I'm working, if it is slow. Well, it hasn't been slow for a while, which is good for me, I guess, bad for my blogging.
Well, Jared's work has been going well, and they have added the responsibility to write up the reports to his plate, so now he has a
very full schedule, which is also great. He's still testing as well. The only down side is that this basically means he has risen up the totem pole to a level that the other Psychometrists have never risen to (even one who has been there like 25 years), so that creates an interesting dynamic. (The report writing is interpreting the tests that they give to the clients, and is PhD level, but he's got the training for it and can do it and the other people don't. This is one of the things the docs were so excited about when hiring him.) They've been okay about it, but he's trying to be very careful to be nice to all these girls, which can get tricky. One did complain that sometimes he forgets to re-sharpen the pencils in the testing room, so sue him! Of course the doctors were amazed by how well he wrote the reports--on his first one the doctor thought he had somehow deleted Jared's work and done it himself, but Jared had to prove (from his own draft) that it was his (Jared's) writing. That's how good it was. Anyway, there is one other piece of bad news. The free lunches will end as of December 31, 2009. Jared's so bummed, and he says it's kind of crazy, because it has made them all more productive (it totally saves time to have lunches always ready) and it's a great morale boost. Who doesn't love it when food is ready for you? Oh, well. I'm bummed, too. I've never packed a lunch for him regularly, and I'm very intimidated at the thought. Ahh! I don't iron for him, either, so maybe I'll refuse this, too.
Oh, and one of the docs scored Jared a ticket to see Condoleeza Rice speak at a fundraiser at his synagogue last Sunday. Interesting, huh?
http://kstp.com/news/stories/s1240562.shtml?cat=1I've been busy with a few new piano students--yahoo! I've decided to join the Minnesota Music Teacher's Association and met with the group a few weeks ago. I'm so excited, they were all very helpful with ideas, and even talked me into charging a higher price. Great, but scary at the same time (to charge more I guess I feel like I need to be perfect, and I'm FAR from it)! Eeek! There are a number of benefits of belonging to the group, like having group recitals and opportunities to play for competitions and "festivals."
So, I decided to go "tracting" for piano students, basically, and went door-to-door in a nice neighborhood right by our elementary school. That takes forever, kudos to those missionaries who do it regularly!! I had a flyer I'd leave if they weren't there, but I thought it'd be good to talk with them as well. It made me a
real nervous wreck just putting myself out there like that, but I don't want to just wait for the word to spread, and it seems risky to put ads in the paper. I don't know. Of course people were nice if they were home, but I only got one family (with three kids, though) signed up so far. I need to take more around, but the kids didn't enjoy it too much. I did some while they were at school, but then I took them with me too. They kept asking to play if there were kids there, to pet the dogs at every house, and chat everyone's ears off if they did answer their door. Anyway, it was exausting!
Oh, I've also decided to start teaching my own kids piano, which is ambitious of me. That teacher's association had a guest speaker at the last meeting about how good it is to teach those pre-readers, and also gave lots of ideas, so I thought I'd try it. Basically it means a big committment on my part, but I'm feeling up for the challenge as of right now. We just started that yesterday, and they were both so cute for their first piano lessons. So cute!
I've also been busy with my other job, taking calls for the infomercials, which is good for that 9-11 pm time slot, when I would just be watching tv, let's be honest. I've been there long enough that it's easier to get "spots" and so I usually get pretty steady calls when I'm on. I did get a nasty obscene call the other day--three times, so that wasn't good, but I've been thinking about it and decided that I feel sorry for this sicko. Oh, well.
As one who falls for infomercials as well, I've also been doing the P90X thing secretly. I didn't want to tell any of you, because I knew you'd all die laughing. I'm on week 4, and actually kind of enjoying it in a way. It's insanely hard, but of course I just try to do what I can, which isn't much. I don't think I'm going to be crazy ripped at the end of the 90 days, but if I am, I'll show you. Anyone want to join me? Oh, I forgot the best part. The kids keep telling everyone they see now (like the new piano family) that I'm stronger than Daddy. Could be, I don't know! :o)
I've also been obsessed with planning Christmas stuff for the kids, because of course I want to get them the perfect things. I can't seem to get their ideas to line up with mine yet, so we'll see what happens.
John happened upon the Toys R Us catalog and now wants every dinosaur thing ever created. He even told me he needed those toys in order to "change his life." Yes, those were his words. Where did he get that? I tried to explain, kindly, that there was no way (in #@**) he was going to get all those things, and he just proceded to say he'd just save up his money. Okay then! Then he said, and I quote, "save money, live better." If you don't recognize that, it's the Walmart slogan. Where he heard it, I have no idea. The only problem is, I think he thinks that it means, if you save up your money, you can buy a big toy, and therefore live better. What am I going to do with this kid?
He is going through about a ream of paper a week, but I'm not complaining about that. I love that he loves drawing so much. It's really too cute.
And our Sara. Oh, here's a good story. The other night we were playing memory with a set of John's dinosaur cards. I just went and counted and there are 36 cards, so 18 matches, right? That doesn't actually sound like that much, but when you have them all laid face down spread out it seems like a million. I actually tried to talk Jared into only using half at a time. But we went ahead and tried it. Well, Sara was amazing. She kept remembering where they were and of course she knows all their names now, too. Anyway, we were not expecting her to do so well. It was adorable! They are constantly requesting the "I am a Palenotologist" song by They Might Be Giants. Thanks for that introduction, Jus. Actually I like it, it's a fun CD.
I've been trying to teach the kids the Articles of Faith with the songs, and John picked up the first pretty fast, so I told him I'd give him a dollar. Well, of course he immediately wanted to go to the store, and I was still trying to clean bathrooms or something. Well, Sara didn't quite have it yet, so I asked him to help Sara learn it. Well, he took this task very seriously, and it was hysterical listening to him drill her! He said they'd do it five times, and of course she followed along happily. Then, one time he said, "let's do it one more time," but then he didn't sing with her. He explained he was trying to see if she could do it. Anyway, she got it so then they were demanding my money!! Another funny part of this story, if you're still interested... I only had a $20, so I was trying to explain that I couldn't give them their ones, but it would all work out. I told them we could give the cashier the $20, and they would give us twenty $1s. Well, whatever, they got to pick out a little toy, which only took them half the day. They were thrilled. So, a few days later at a different store John sees a toy that is five dollars and wants it. I explained he'd already spent his money, and he had to earn some more, yada, yada. He pesisted and asked how much money I had. I told him I only had three dollars now, and he figured out this solution. Well, he just decided he would ask the "worker" to give him five dollars if I gave him my three. If only that would work. He really did even ask the checker. Remember how easily I blush? Yeah.
Well, now that I've talked
your ear off, I'll sign off. We're planning to go to the zoo this weekend, so I'll be back with pictures next time! Later!
