Day In My Life (Wed, 9-20-17)

My alarm went off at 5:30. I felt Jelly at my feet, so I sat up in bed to pet him while I stretched my feet and ankles. This happens every morning, sort of like Groundhog Day!

I made my way to the kitchen, where I discovered there was absolutely NO COFFEE in our house! The horror! I had to drive down to McDonald's and get a large coffee. Boy are the workers at the McDonald's on Rossmoyne Road polite! It was 5:37am but they were as chipper as can be!

I only had a little bit of time to drink my coffee before my run. This was my first run after the Dam Half so I was nervous to see how I felt. My legs were tired and a little sore, but that's it. I ran a 1.5 mile loop around my neighborhood 4 times. More Groundhog Day!

When I got home, the kitties were waiting for me! I stretched, got ready for work, threw some treats at the boys, brushed Chrissy's teeth and out the door I went. I ate my cereal in the car.

Teachers arrive at school at 7:55 and the kids get there at 8:40. In the morning, we have meetings, duties, or planning time. I didn't have any meetings today, so I had time to get my room ready for the morning! I had to move a lot of chairs, set up instruments and get out music stands. I got all ready for my first couple classes before I had duty.

My duty is standing at the bottom of the main stairwell while the 3rd and 4th graders head to their classrooms. I just make sure they don't run or jump down the steps. Yet every morning, there is at least one kid that jumps down the steps... right in front of me! "Go up and try again," I say to them. Every morning. Groundhog Day!

All of my classes, regardless of grade level, are 40 minutes long. My first class of the day was 3rd Grade. They're singing 50 Nifty United States and doing a dance to it. I made the dance up YEARS ago and it is a tradition that I teach the song and dance to the 3rd graders. It is fun because if they have older siblings, they learned the same routine. Then we did a fun activity where we wrote rhythms to chant our names.

Somewhere in here I had a banana for a snack...

Then 4th grade came in and it was time to do the Boomin' Blues! I got out the boomwhackers, drums, egg shakers, and rhythm sticks. We learned the song and then the students took turns switching and doing different instruments. We recorded their performance for my classroom's Facebook page- "EP Music Kids". So if you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall in my room, "like" the page and you can see what we do!

11:15 = LUNCH TIME! (BBQ chicken and baby carrots.) I know, my lunch is early. My lunch and plan were back to back this day so it felt like I had a nice long break. Sometimes I eat lunch in the faculty room so I can talk with my colleagues and sometimes I eat at my desk. Today I sat in the faculty room for about 10 minutes but then I had to go get ready for chorus and set up my lessons for the rest of the afternoon. Oh, I also squeezed in time to sign up for a race!

My chorus is so nice this year. It's on the smaller side (50 kids), but I won't complain about it. I have had 80 kids in chorus before, and obviously that's a lot harder to manage! I think more kids will sign up after they see our winter concert and then I'll have 60-70.

After chorus, I had a little break because the 1st graders went on a field trip to the apple orchard. I used my time productively by getting "Emergency Sub Plans" ready. I always have lesson plans and materials out for a sub, but what if it's not a music certified sub, or someone who is not comfortable teaching my music lesson plans? I like to have emergency plans ready so the day goes smoothly. For a teacher, it's a lot of work to not be at school!

I'm sure this isn't totally true!

Then it was an afternoon of first grade classes and 4th grade classes. I had a little extra time with first grade so they did some dance along videos on the Smartboard. It was so funny to watch them dance.

I dismissed a 4th grade class for another teacher, but at 3:40 I was out of there! I leave right when the school day is over. My philosophy: There is ALWAYS more to do. It doesn't matter if I stay an extra hour or an extra four hours... so I may as well go home and recharge for the next day!

I stopped by Aldi, the liquor store, and the beer distributor on my way home... just to do some general stocking up. I surprised Paul with some Sierra Nevadas!

Then it was CHILLAX time! I got on my computer, put on a podcast, and just did whatever. I had a small bowl of white chicken chili and some corn chips. My kitties chilled with me.

Later, while Paul and I were playing cards, he got some good news from Johns Hopkins. Every four months he gets an MRI, and he just had one two days ago. The results came back and all is good. Yay!!!!

We still hadn't had dinner so it was time to eat. Christmas is always up in my business when I make food. He wonders, could it be for him!? I had a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, cheese curls, and lite ranch dressing. No dessert. I was too invested in the Big Brother Finale!

That's right, it was the two hour season finale of Big Brother 19! I was sure Paul would win (vomit) but JOSH PULLED IT OUT!!! I was so happy! In fact, by the end of the episode, my voice was raw from screaming with joy and I had a pounding headache... even though I drank 4 cans of seltzer water! You gotta hydrate during reality TV finales...

Paul and I were both so pumped. We didn't finish the finale until 10:30 and then I just had to watch the backyard interviews because Dr. Will was interviewing the house guests. Guys, I was up waaaaay too late... past midnight! But I had to see the after show!

Today was a typical Wednesday except for staying up super late for the finale. I love the days I don't have piano lessons and I can run errands after work and then just relax!

Is there a day of the week you can come home from work and just chill? I live for Wednesdays! Well, and Fridays. :)

Are there any TV shows you would be willing to stay up past midnight on a work night for?

Weekend Wrap Up!

Happy Monday!

I hope you had a great weekend.

Here's what we were up to...

My morning and work day were the same as practically every day this week. I'm a very routine person in my personal life and of course my job teaching is very routine too. I love routine! I won't complain.

Here I am, doing my morning duty. Ever wonder where I am between 8:40-8:50 Monday through Friday? I am at the bottom of the main stairwell making sure students get down safely. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it!

As soon as I got home from work, I got all dolled up to go see Pippin at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater (in Lancaster) with Paul. Paul doesn't like musicals, but he agreed to go with me. I thought he would like Pippin... and I was right!

The show was amazing. The players did a lot of acrobats and aerial tricks. It was almost like a circus. Pippin is a strange, dark show, but oddly upbeat at a lot of parts. After just the first number I was like... Oh my gosh I have to perform in a musical again!!! (I haven't done a show in like 4 years but I used to do them all the time!)

The food was really good. It was a buffet style so you could get a little bit of everything. I got a sampling of lots of different cold salads (seafood, broccoli, pasta), a dinner roll, and fried cod, stuffed shells, pork, and steak, and tomato soup. I know that sounds like a lot but I got small portions! For dessert, I had a small piece of dutch apple pie (of course!) and a small slice of a lemon square. They also had a full service bar, but that was not included in our ticket price. However, we were living it up so I got a half carafe (didn't drink it all but cheaper than buying two glasses) and Paul drank about 3 beers!

This is Paul's "I can't wait to see Pippin" face.

We had really good seats, about 6 feet from the stage. Our table sayt 8 people but only five of the seats were sold. It was Paul and I, a woman and her 13 year old daughter, and then another woman who actually turned out to be Pippin's mom! She flew up from Atlanta to see her son perform!

One of my favorite parts about Pippin is the Fosse style of dance. It's so unique. I also love the music, and forgot that it was Stephen Schwartz who wrote it. He also did Godspell and Wicked, so there ya go- you know the music is good!

Corner of the Sky/Magic to Do from the Tony Awards.

This is the opening of the show.

I slept in with the kitties on Saturday morning. I love how the cuddle with me!

Then I drank coffee and did some blogging. I also rewatched the ending of the Big Brother 19 Finale because I can't get enough of seeing Josh win!

Then I went for a 6 miler. I felt weak the whole time since it was STEAMING hot out and I didn't have anything to eat. I actually had a little bit of an upset stomach when I was done. It was my own fault.

That afternoon/evening, Paul and I went to some wineries with Bob and Rachel. Rachel drove. It was wonderful to not have to drive!!!! As you know, Paul doesn't drive, so I am the one who always have to drive. It was so fun to just sit in the backseat and just look out the window. I wanted to roll the window down and stick my head out like a dog!

First we went to Adam's County Winery. They had complimentary wine tasting (three .5 oz tastes). I tried Rebel Red, Stray Cat Strut, and Tears of Gettysburg. I liked all three of them. We bought a bottle of Rebel Red and a bottle of Stray Cat Strut to drink there.

We found a picnic table outside and good company, wine, and sunshine.

The next winery we went to was Hauser's Estate and it was only about 3 miles away. It was absolutely gorgeous here. I know Paul and I love Colorado and Cali, but Central PA is gosh darn pretty too!

Inside...

Again, we found a picnic table outside. They have hard cider here so that's what Paul, Rachel, and Bob had. I had a glass of Grapeshot. We brought snacks and dinner, so we chilled for quite awhile. Eat, drink, and be merry!

I didn't sleep well. The cats kept waking me up for FOOD. I finally got up at 7:30 and started catching up on all the episodes of The View I missed this week. I was delighted to see Monday was Jedidiah Bila's last day! I didn't know she left! I was so happy. I can't stand her on that show. (I feel like she is often contrary just to be contrary.)

The kitties chilled with me...

I had a delicious down home dinner and then I lifted at home.

Then I went shopping for FALL CLOTHES!!! I was out for a long time and had a ton of fun. I tried on some items that aren't normally my style...

Did NOT get these sweaters... but I sort of liked them.

I got the jeans though!

I treated myself to Panera!

I ended up getting a lot of good deals... I'll do a shopping haul later this week!

I like shopping on a Sunday... everyone was home watching football and I had the stores to myself!

Have you ever been to Hauser's or Adam's County Winery?

Have you seen Pippin? What's your favorite musical?

Tell me something fun you did this weekend!