Fame

It has been a jam-packed, fun-filled, spiritually-challenging few weeks. Rob, myself, the boys, Alex, plus main squeeze, and Ethan's buddy got to see the Mythbusters Live show a couple weeks ago. It was a well done production, (sorry about the picture from my phone) and just like concerts, there's nothing like a Detroit audience! The focus of the show was to promote scientific thinking, share some behind-the-scenes stories, and give people a chance to come up on stage to try out concepts while giving Adam and Jamie an opportunity to "mess with them." Adam is a naturally hilarious fellow and could totally work the stand-up circuit if the show doesn't work out. :) Thanks Dad and June for the tickets! Definite "Like"

After a fantastic show Friday night, the next day was a full day of rehearsals for the Flint Festival of Choirs with guest conductor Dr. Paul Rardin from Temple University. He worked with the Lapeer County Concert Choir, the U of M-Flint Chorale and Chamber Singers, plus the Carolyn Mawby Chorale on five songs. The groups were so well prepared he focused mainly on stylizing and musical nuances, even fitting in time to teach us two South African melodies by rote WITH harmonies. Wow. Arriving for warm-up and final practice on Sunday the "ticket lady" was a little concerned that there were so many unsold tickets still. No need to worry because the place was SOLD OUT with standing room only. Ms. Mawby was over-the-moon delighted with the whole event and it was a joy to see her face from the platform as she enjoyed everyone's performances. More info is on the LCCC website, just click.

Ben, Ethan and I have also started getting the piggie pen prepared for our arrivals, trimming back trees, clearing brush, and resetting part of the fencing. Still need to create a couple gate doors then get the waterers and feeders. The aspect is getting a little daunting as we close in on our pick up date and I begin to calculate feed costs. Hoping for the best with the entire situation. Benjamin has decided he does not want to do 4H Camp this year which will be good since then he can stay at the homestead and make sure piggies are taken care of while Ethan and I are at camp.

Fox has been participating in the 4H counselor meetings to be a junior counselor for the day camp this year. The theme picked is Zoo Animals which should be pretty fun. He also just turned in his paperwork to take the AP US History Exam next month and is in full track training mode. Yesterday was their first meet at Cheasaning, Broncos got creamed but the competition was so fierce it pushed him to get his best times yet in the 1-mile he finished with 5:52 and in the 2-mile a 12:35. Next meet will be at Alma after spring break.

We are very proud of Ethan who was selected as student of the week. I've written out his interview questions because they are a bit difficult to see in the photo.

1. Why do you think you were nominated? "I haven't gotten in trouble and I have good grades."

2.How does it feel to do Student of the Week? "It feels nice but scary; I hope no one uses me or something!"

3.Do you like coming to school? "Yes I do."

4. What sports do you play? "Baseball, soccer, cross-country running,, football, basketball."

5. What is you favorite subject in school? "Math"

6. Do you participate in any after school activities? "Choir."

7. What is one thing you would do to change the school? "I would like to have a safety patrol here, because bullying happens a lot more in Ruth Fox than in the elementary."

The school counselor asked to meet with him regarding his answer to #7 but they have not connected as of yet. He believes it is to talk about starting a safety patrol which I hope it is that and not to questions him about bullying. They recently hosted the Rachel's Challenge program in our schools and I've had mixed reaction to it. None of my kids seemed very moved or motivated by it.

Last weekend was the opening of the Hunger Games movie. Rob took the boys to the Saturday 12:15p show as a guys outing, they've all read the book except Ethan. I went later in the evening with my Rollicking Readers group. I had literally just finished the book that morning so the whole ordeal was extremely fresh in my head which was a different type of movie-going experience for me. It was a good production overall but some of their choices confused and disappointed me, as with most literature/screen adaptions, the book is always best. Glad I staved off my resistance and finally read the book. Our next selection is Vanity Fair by William Thackery. I'll have to look for the audiobook because I know I will never get it read by the meeting date.

Yesterday was the program for the after school choirs I've been working with. We had a great turn out and my dear friend and several parents assured me it was a wonderful presentation. I'm trying to accept that however I was very frustrated by the technical challenges of the space. Although things did get changed around (the sound equipment used to be behind the stage with no way to see to the stage!) no one who uses the facility for performance was consulted and the company contracted to do the switch channeled things in a totally inappropriate manner, hence the opportunity for spiritual growth.

Academic Enrichment Company is off and running with 17 classes slated to run June 18-21 and 25-28. Marketing materials are in the works and the initial response to the endeavor has been very encouraging. Gotta love it when an area principal says "I'm so glad you're doing that, there really is a need. I have parents already asking me about things to do with their kids this summer. You will have no problem filling the classes." I've had several meetings over the past couple weeks with new contacts in various areas and will soon be putting out classifieds to recruit more. Plus class ideas keep coming to me in my own mind and through other people's suggestions which is really awesome. I'm also still involved, as a volunteer, with the efforts to launch the Lapeer Virtual Learning Center, helping to coordinate an open house and present another public presentation beyond the homeschool realm. Being involved with these people in upper management of a school district makes me realize what a challenging task they have to "keep everyone happy," and make me look at my efforts with a new perspective.

Tech/dress rehearsal for my Drama classes is tomorrow with performances on Saturday. Break a leg!

What's up for April? Ethan and I go to Chicago this Sunday for 4 days, getting out PR for the LCCC concert and AEC summer program, track meets, soccer practices, assisting with the Ruth Fox 5th Graders' field trip to the Willows, helping with Wild Lapeer planning, Lapeer River Clean-Up, final rehearsals for the LCCC spring concert getting John Rutter's Requiem perfected, and maybe throw in a few sub jobs here and there. Yee Haw! Happy Spring Everyone.....keep smiling (it makes people wonder what you're up to!)

Welcome Back Robert

Life has taken on a new speed as we wrapped up the second trimester and cruised into the third and final of the 2011-12 academic year. The Chatfield School Open House was very interesting and informative. Ethan is extremely excited to attend and although Ben was resistant initially he has warmed up to the idea. I put both their names in for the lottery that evening, the invitation list will be compiled in April and calls made starting in June and throughout the summer. If they get in they can both play on the middle school soccer team which will save me a lot of running around if we stay in AYSO, time will tell.

Robert returned safely from Germany but since we've both been so busy I haven't even had time to see the pictures he took yet. They visited a cathedral in Cologne and ate very well. He was quite impressed with Schatz AG and learned a lot. The driving there is ridiculous, from what he explained, on the open roads between towns they travel near to 150 mph. Their wasn't much to do around Remseheid where they stayed so it was probably better that I did not accompany him this time plus I ended up being involved in a lot of other things during that week. He is still running on exhaustion and managed to catch a cold so last weekend he spent on the couch trying to recover.

My choir endeavors have been a true delight lately. The last couple weeks we added in the guitar accompanists with the elementary choirs, three electric, one acoustic, all from the Ruth Fox and they are doing amazingly well. The final three songs will be with them and I'm also giving them a feature moment to play a selection on their own between choirs. This week I am also in final rehearsals for the Flint Festival of Choirs featuring LCCC, the Carolyn Mawby Chorale, and the U of M-Flint Chorale & Chamber Singers. Last night we had the first practice with all choirs combined, talk about some energy!! Very exciting. Recognized some faces from when I sang with the Flint Festival Chorus and was
impressed to see one of the grad students who worked with us at that time is now a full professor at U of M, Flint. Our director for LCCC, Garth Starr is a former student of Carolyn Mawby and she was delighted to have him come full circle returning to the Festival as a director in his own right. I just love choir people, such dedication, such fun. Fills my heart with joy.

This is one of the displays in the front of the North Branch Elementary School, too cute for words or what!? Went with Ben's class to see 'The Lorax' today, LOVED the colorful animation. I think they did a good job with it overall, glad I got to go with them. Also saw Ethan's teacher while I was in the building (who happens to be the same teacher Ben had last year). She asked me if I could go on their field trips to TREK and to the Art & History Festival. Checked the dates and both are good. Next week I have a meeting with Pete McCreedy who runs the Willows to discuss helping out during the North Branch field trips and also with planning of Wild Lapeer.

My drama classes are coming together nicely, although we missed class a couple weeks ago due to a power outage in downtown Lapeer. Making it work to my advantage though because our rescheduled class will be on a Thursday night right before our performance Saturday which will act as a regular tech/dress rehearsal. Woot! The older group is working on "While Shakespeare Slept" and the younger class is doing a few different skits because of the variance in reading levels, "Tea Party in Wonderland," "Whoops," "Me & My Shadow" and "Fish School." Alex will be 'subbing' for me this Saturday since I have to be in Grand Blanc to rehearse with the guest conductor for the ONLY time before we perform on Sunday. She is looking forward to putting her director hat on again and working with a motivated group.

My new enterprise, the Academic Enrichment Company is officially up and running with DBA, bank account, PO Box, email, and cell number, last thing will be to create a website and I have a gal that is going to create a logo and some marketing materials for me. There are 16 classes on the schedule for the summer program the last two weeks in June and I have been making wonderful contacts everywhere I go. Tons of class ideas are swimming around in my brain and I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

Report cards are in for the boys and they all did very well except that Ben and Ethan both had a C+ each, Ben's in spelling and Ethan's in science. Won't dwell on that right now, they know what they need to do to ammend that. Fox had all A's except for a B in Geometry. Nice. Track started this week and he was a little sore yesterday but kicked up the supplements and Performance Drink today so he's not feeling quite as fatigued. The Shaklee products are really helping him, much improvement from the start of last season. Expecting the call from Ethan and Ben's soccer coach any day now. Also got Ethan signed up for baseball. The spring sports trifecta is about to begin!

Really enjoying this 70 degree March we're having in Michigan, hope your life is filled with love and light.

Saved by the Bell

I am happy to report that the homeschool informational meetings I was helping to perpetuate went very well. Thought maybe there'd be a few more people but I know from past experience news will travel fast amongst the homeschool community from those that attended. Many times homeschoolers are not joiners initially but wait to hear what other people have found out or experienced and then follow through for themselves. There were some individuals with very strong opposition to the entire concept but thankfully after hearing the superintendent speak and listening to the responses of his staff that have done extensive research about how to proceed, their attitudes were softened. Most likely they will not participate in what is being offered but I believe they will not publicly continue efforts to derail it. Follow up conversations with the people I've been assisting indicate the more we move forward the more we still need to learn, but I am hopeful things will come together accordingly. The next step will be coordinating an Open House for parents and students to come and demo the various virtual class providers to help them decide which would suit their purposes best.
Ben brought home this "hands-on" project a few weeks ago, the only one I've seen in the upper elementary experience. His was voted "Best in the Class!" Nice job. We found out yesterday that he did not make the cut for the L-CHAMP program which is fine since after reviewing the packet I wasn't convinced that was the way to go for him. In a nutshell those that participate would go one day a week to the Ed-Tech building for intensive Math study which would allow them to complete two years of high school math during their middle school years. Although I will continue encouraging him to work ahead, I don't think he needs to work that far ahead.

Fox just got his paperwork for Track filled out this morning, I signed what I needed to and he'll get it turned in today. Practices will begin March 12th and he is very excited to be getting back on the track! They also just completed their forms for next years class schedule. Things will run a bit differently since they are moving from a 5 block day to a shorter incremented 6 block day. He will be doing AP Prep English 10, AP World History, AP Psychology (don't ask), Accounting, Biology, Algebra II, and for electives hopefully Drafting and Conditioning.

Last Friday was another snow day, fun times, but it is already significantly melted. Tonight Ethan starts a 4-week golf class through the Lapeer Enrichment program and he, Ben and myself will be visiting the Chatfield School Open House for middle school. Looking forward to that.

Moving ahead with my enrichment camps and classes for the end of June. I have made several new contacts and all have been very happy and supportive to be a part of what I'm working to put together which is great and keeps me motivated. Now I need to get busy creating some marketing materials.

Rob is in Germany this week doing training at Schatz AG. The atmosphere there is a total 180 from what he deals with in the US. Everyone is very laid back and friendly, the language barrier can be challenging especially during training sessions but it seems to be going well overall from what he's reported in emails and one relatively short phone call. Hoping to put up some pictures in my next post.

Alex's new routine being back at the ranch has seemed to fall into place rather easily. Assistant Manager training is going well and will be complete mid-month, then she'll begin working out of the Oxford BK. She and her 'guy' are planning to do some campus visits soon. That's my update, hope you're keepin' it real!