I Think I Peed a Little

(Originally posted on Myspace 11/16/2007)

Okay so tonight I had the scare of my life! We were doing the Wizard of Oz and a set of stairs fell on one of my students while we were moving scenery...

Could I be more scared!? I freaked out and lifted the stairs off him by myself (and usually it takes three or four guys to move the staircase...)... I was sure he was going to be dead. Seeing him laying there and not moving was possibly the most frightening and sickening moment of my entire life. When he started to move, I was so relieved I almost hugged him.

He is okay and coherent and alive! Just some bumps and bruises. After we got him talking, I thought for sure he was going to have a broken arm and a serious concussion, but he is fine. And through all this, the audience had no idea it even happened, which to me is insanity in and of itself...

But in any case, this situations has lead me to be very grateful... I'm so blessed to have such great students and to do all the things we do in safety. I also am realizing that I am so very attached to my students. I mean, I knew I was, but I did not realize the extent... I worry about them a lot, and I love them and want them to be safe!!! Some people wonder why I worry so much, but frankly if a person in my position with my responsibilities didn't worry, bad things would happen.

I worry because I care. I worry because I have people's most precious possessions in my care for much of the day. I worry because my students are amazing people who deserve the best. I worry because I am coordinating forty billion people and things to work in tandem with each other effectively and safely... And really, can you blame me for caring?

WHY???!!!

(Originally posted on Myspace 11/1/2007)

Okay, can anyone tell me why the windshield wiper on the passenger side ALWAYS works better? I mean, why don't they just reverse the whole wiper mechanism? It doesn't matter what car I'm driving, I can ALWAYS see out the passenger side better than the driver's side! AARGGHH! You would think that car people would do something about that, but they don't.

And now that I have complained, can I just say that heated seats are the best thing that has EVER happened to the automotive industry?! I'm pretty much in love.

You're Getting What?!

(Originally posted on Myspace 1/21/2007)

So I had a funny day teaching my madrigal choir the other day... I was trying to get them to sit quietly long enough to explain why we sing the music we do, so I said, "Guys! I need to talk to you about something important for a minute, so please be quiet!"

Only some of them quieted down enough to hear one of the tenors (Tyler) say, "What? Are you getting married?"

I laughed and said, "No, I'm not getting married!" And someone else says, "What!? Your getting married?" And I say, "No! I'm not getting married!"

And a sophomore says, "If you got married, would you quit?"

And a soprano (who finally started listening) says, "YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED!?"

"NO! I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED! Gosh, that's the last thing I need going around town!" You see, we live in a very small town, and rumors spread like wildfire.

And then the soprano says, "Oh... Are you dating someone?"

"No! What the heck? I just want to talk to you guys about the music!"

Who taught these kids how to listen? Anyway, I thought it was pretty funny. The only time they pay attention is when I make a total fool of myself. I've turned my hand into a puppet and told them that since it's the only one that listens, whenever I talk to it, they'll know they've driven me to insanity! It actually works... in high school! Weird... I just try to remember that I was where they are just five years ago... Even if this was never the answer to the "Where do you see yourself in five years?" question...