Creepy

The offices of CVC are a bee graveyard. Creepy is the only appropriate word to describe it. When you walk up to the front door of the office, the sidewalk and front stoop are littered with dead bees. For some unknown (and pretty strange) reason bees get to the front door of the building and just die. They drop dead. They buzz their last. I can't figure out why...You have any ideas?

Nerd Alert

I had a gigantic nerd moment today. I was in my Creative Arts Team meeting, and we were discussing the age demographics of Northern Nevada. The Reader's Digest version of the conversation is that there are not many people in my age demographic in the area because the cost of living is extrememly high. There are however, a lot of wealthy retirees that seem to have 400,000 dollars to drop on a home. But I digresss...Anyway, John (senior pastor) asks me if he thinks my sister Heather will stay in the area. We are just trying to get a handle on where the future of the valley is. He then asks me why I am living in this area and how long I plan to stay there. It is at this point that everyone in the room stops and stares at me. (and just to give you a mental picture, everyone else in the room is male and over forty). My answer: God called me here and I know this is where I belong. Now, don't get me wrong. I believe that with all my heart. It just felt like such an awful cliche coming out of my mouth. There are lots of reasons that I believe I belong here. All of them having to do with the fact I am called here by God. At that awful moment I simply couldn't articulate one of them. And I felt like an idiot in front of three men that I really admire. Not my best moment.

Long Live Mr. Darcy

Jane Austen has to be one of my favorite authors of all time. And outside of my roommate, who just happens to be an English teacher and general literary buff, I think I might be one of her biggest fans. And while I love all of her works, my favorite is a no-brainier: Pride and Prejudice. Here are a few of my favorite scenes, and some of my favorite dialogue. (If you haven't read Pride and Prejudice, I'll warn you that I'm probably going to reveal the ending.)

* I couldn't talk about Pride and Prejudice and not talk about Austen's opening line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." She masterfully sets the tone of the entire novel with this now-famous line. Even those who have never read this novel can usually identify this opening sentence.

* Chapter 11 - Where Mr. Darcy proposes for the first time: "After a silence of several minutes he came towards her in an agitated manner, and thus began, "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." "Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority--of its being a degradation--of the family obstacles which judgment had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit."
Hmm...No wonder she refused him.

* The scene towards the end of the novel in which Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy's Aunt, comes to Hartfordshire to visit Elizabeth. She has heard rumors that Elizabeth and her nephew are engaged. Her mission is to dispel those rumors.
"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your won conscience must tell you why I come."
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.
"Indeed you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the hounour of seeing you here."
"Miss Bennet, " replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so...A report of a most alarming nature, reached me two days ago. I was told, that not only your sister was on the point of being most adventageously married, bu that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I knew it must be a scandalous falsehood; though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you."
Elizabeth goes on to neither confirm nor deny the validity of the rumor. She doesn't want to give his aunt the satisfaction.

*The last scene I will mention is between Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy has just asked for her hand, and Mr. Bennet calls Elizabeth into his office to speak to her.
Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. "Lizzy," said he, "what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?"
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and she assured him with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.

Ah, what a novel.

Chicago Christmas

Should you be in the Carson Valley area on December 17th and 18th I urge you to come and check out what will be happening at CVC. That weekend will be our 3rd annual "Chicago Christmas Weekend." The group Chicago has a fantastic Christmas album (I recommend it to all two of you who read this) that we will 6 or 7 songs from. And this year I get to play for it!! Whoo Hooo! In fact, in honor of the fact that I get actually play for something I am planning on purchasing a Tenor and a Soprano saxophone. In my opinion, an instrument is never a waste of money.

I tell ya what...nothing like having to play in front of your boss (who just happens to be a stellar musician) to make me start practicing again. Hope the neighbors don't mind...

Movin' On Up

I am moving up in the technology world. I am now the proud owner of a Personal Digital Assistant. I am hoping that it is going to make my job as Celebration Arts Assistant more stream-lined and efficient. I have actually gotten to use it yet...It has to charge for three hours before I can get started. But boy oh boy does it look sleek and sophisticated charging next to my computer. Let the learning curve commence!

Tahoe Fun

This is a picture of me with my 7th grade class up in Lake Tahoe in May. It was their end of the year trip. The water was freezing, and it wasn't exactly a heat wave but those crazy children still got in the water.

Why post this picture now, almost four months later? I miss my kids. I have had several people ask me recently if I miss teaching. My standard reply, "Not really, but I miss my students."

I miss you, guys.