Time is flowing in a rather unusual way or so I believe. The available time to write at a given time each day has disappeared and been sucked into some void or other.
Life is good and I have not felt an overwhelming urge to relate nothing much. Life is divided into the following categories:
Family
Music
School
Lack of gym
Family
This week my parents arrived for a couple of weeks. They are circumnavigating the globe once again and just left my brother in New Zealand. I had not told my girls that Grannie and Bumpty would be visiting so I was able to surprise them good and proper.
Younger daughter realised that something was going on when we got near the airport. She thought initially that we were collecting Daddy as he was in freezing cold Indianapolis but guessed who it was. She has been glued to my father ever since.
Older daughter had the classic surprise reaction of wide eyes and a mouth in an o-shape as she did not really believe what she saw. The reaction was exactly as my mother had wanted. The hug that ensued was pure love and a real Kodak moment.
Older daughter is loving having Grannie. Older daughter is also having a hard time being an older sibling and there are a couple more issues to deal with.
I miss my family horribly when they are not here and am so glad when we are all together. We are a close bunch. Even though the parents are 5,000 miles away I do not believe they are missing out on the girls as they are so hands-on while they are here plus a weekly skype call when they are away.Cue the skype login sound.
I am loving having help. We have a trip to a coastal town next week. We have rented a house and I look forward to the sounds of crashing or lilting waves to lull me to sleep.
Music
I have the bohemian life my husband can afford. Thank you.
With a regular weekly gig in a coffee shop the musician's dream continues to grow. It is a small coffee shop but people are there to soak up the tunes and the sun. It is pleasant. I am having to learn new tunes fast and perfect older tunes. Had I led a more conventional life I would not be afforded these opportunities. There is something glorious about being able to play and people enjoy listening.
The configuration of the band changes each week as do the tunes but that is part of the fun. I tried out some jigs and reels I had never played in public before and it went well. Inside I was jumping up and down and doing a victory dance. Outside I had the focused gaze of a musician. I have a few more recorder pieces to air out. Music is my drug of choice.
A few more trips to the open Irish session are needed to really immerse myself in the culture. The guys who play are great and there is a sense of camaraderie. It is the same in any club.
The other band is going well. We had a great rehearsal and a new tune. The recording dates are on the calendar. Time to really concentrate. I like dissecting a part and then seeing how it all fits back together. Not that the analogy was a good one as it is not that common for dissected pieces to ever be re-assembled.
School
Could the education system get more dire? This week we learned of even more cuts if tax cuts take place. There is to be a measure on the June ballot to keep taxes at their current level so as to keep more funding to education.
If this does not pass we are screwed. The amount that will be cut over the years is staggering and the children who are expected to pay the debt that was generated by poor leadership and executive decisions will simply not have the skills.
Each school is meant to have a savings buffer of 3% of the budget when this fund is dipped into to cover costs the state can then take over the school. We are 3 years away from this happening. That is not a long time. Is private school any better? In some cases yes in most probably not.
Schools are the linchpin of society and our district is frantically rallying to do what we can do. Why oh why do politicians think that education is non-essential and needs minimal funding? Governor Brown you have a lot of work to do. Bring back stocks and public flogging for politicians who are not prepared to invest in future generations.
I am so frustrated and angry. I have a second grader and one about to join the system. I will be as militant, involved and aware as I can be. I will continue to supplement what is taught and perhaps investigate opening a charter school.
Perhaps I am getting dramatic and react this way as the girls are little. I was given a little perspective when a friend suggested that I do not know how my girls will develop and that later in life it is better for them to be happy, not on drugs and not teen mothers! I want my girls to be happy and have the very best academically.
Lack of gym
Mea culpa. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.
Must try harder but life got in the way. Rather school demands took over the little time there was.
Must get ready for ski season or I will be more useless than normal. I need thighs of steel!
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