Today is the day

Today is the day that we leave on the cruise. Everything is packed and ready except for me. I am very nervous. Look for some news on the blog since there is a computer set up on the boat.
My son is now a college graduate. I am one proud mother. He graduated with distinction and recieved the excellence in chamber music award. He also looked great in his cap in gown. Pictures will appear in this space soon.
I can't get over how nervous I am. I am waking up very early, and having a hard time getting to sleep. It's not that I haven't traveled long distances in the past--maybe it was too far in the past. I hope I get over this soon. Tomorrow I will wake up over the Atlantic Ocean and get off the plane in Amsterdam. This is hard to imagine. I have a nervous stomach too. I guess I am one great big nerve.

It's mothers day!

Today my wonderful husband fixed a mothers day brunch for us. My mother came with my brother and we ejoyed some mimosas, then fruit salad, stuffed salmon with cucumber dill sauce, ham and an Walker brothers apple pancake. This was my husband first attempt to make a baked pancake. Everything was very tasty. We finished off with some chocolate coffee cake and some coffee.
I just finished watching 60 minutes, they had a segment about the Dixie Chicks. I really don't care much for country music, but this segment touched a chord. Their lead singer made a remark a few years ago, just about the time we got involved in Iraq. She said that she was sorry that Pres. Bush was from Texas. For this, she and the group have been pariahs to country music fans. People call into radio stations and ask that the station not to play their new cd again. They are now looking to the crossover--rock and country. I think that I will buy their cd tomorrow. I find it hard to believe that people are so narrow minded--not to even want to listen to music by this group because of one remark that some percieved as unpatriotic. Does being patiotic mean accepting everying that the administration offers up as truth? Does being patriotic mean that nothing is every questioned? I think the cd is called "Not ready to make nice."
I have included a picture of my mother and I on Mothers day. Doesn't my mom look great? She's over 80! I promised you a picture of Alma--she's on the blog at last.

No MoreRochester

Well, I found out today that our trip to Rochester next week will be our last. David has decided to not to attend Eastman for grad school--instead, he will go to Rice University in Texas. This has been a difficult decision for him, but I am glad he has made up his mind. I have never been to Houston, and from what I have heard, it is not a nice city, has a horrible climate, but the area around Rice is nice. I think that David has decided to go there for several reasons--one of the most important is money. Rice came up with more than Eastman. In many ways, Eastman has a lot to offer for David--but in may ways, it is more of the same. Rice is a new scene, a new teacher and different opportunities.
I really enjoyed our trips to Rochester--after the shock of the first trip wore off. The Midtown Mall really depressed me, as did the downtown. It is a nice city, it hasn't been too badly remuddled--except for sections of the downtown. It has a good arts community, it is a liveable size and it has the best grocery store in the USA--Wegmans. The best restaurant we have been to in Rochester is in Wegmans too! I'm glad we made our little wine tour in March-- because it was our last chance. We have to go to the Bug Jar this time. My husband has been talking about this place for 4 years--and even though we have driven past it several times, we never went there. Well, Bug Jar, we will visit you this time.

No More Rochester

More Idol

I didn't watch much of Idol on Tuesday, but I did see Taylor Hicks sing Jailhouse Rock. I have to agree with Simon--it was pure kareoke. Oh Well. I tried to vote at 10, tried several times, but only got busy signals. I guess that most people didn't agree and voted for him. He's still in it. This show is hilarious.
I finally have a picture of myself for this blog.A snap of Alma is in its way.

Panic sets in

I am getting very nervous.
I signed up for a lot of days at the Botanic Garden. I went there yesterday and it was just beautiful. I can't say that about the kids that comae through--they seemed jaded--and not very interested in what I had to say. The other docent said the same about her groups. I hope that the kids enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and the great day.
I am getting nervous about this trip and getting organized for it. I booked a tour of Florence, since we have only one day. After checking the prices of private guides on line, the ship's tour didn't seem so bad. It gets us into the Uffizi, which is what I wanted to see, and I don't have to gamble about the time for reservations. They have a 10 minute window, so if something happens, we miss out.
I am thinking about booking a guide in Rome. It is expensive, but it goes to everything--the Vatican and the ruins. The guide people suggested taking the train to Rome--I think that we will do that.
I am totally sick of shopping. I can't believe that I could get shopped out, but it happened. I don't want to have to look for any more clothes or shoes for a long time. What I have now is it.
I am abandoning my garden until we get back from Europe. I don't want to plant anything and then not be able to water it. There will be plenty of plants to buy in June. Anyway, I want to see what comes up, so I won't be overloaded with plants. Stuff is still coming up now. Last year, I got too excited and bought too much too soon. These warm days in May fool us gardners. I just have to remind myself, the average last day of frost is still May 15--and it can get cold until the end of May. That happened--and I lost a few things.
Well, I am still paniced. I quit New Trier last week. I just don't have any time with the Botanic and PT and getting ready for this trip.
Maybe my nervous stomach will help me stop eating so much--that might result in a tiny bit on wieght loss. I hope.

Idol Again

I watched American Idol yesterday because my tutoring student is out of town. I don't usually get a chance to see it on Tuesday, and I have to rely on my husband's comments. Well, for the most part it was mediocre. I can see that Paris Bennet may have a chance of some kind of career, but the current favorite, Chris just stands there are sings into the mike. Very boring. I think that Elliott Yamim is going home tonight. I tried to vote for Taylor Hicks--the recommendation of Vote for the Worst.com, but I called and called for two hours and got busy signals. I really do think that Taylor is a very hard worker, but he's not the worst of the lot. I really don't think that any of the five finalists are really good singers, especially when you see them next to Andrea Bocelli, who isn't that great. He can sing rings around all of them.
I was entertained by the master class format that they used on Idol--a well known singer comes to coach the Idol finalists. The last was Bocelli, actually it was his manager--backer. Bocelli didn't have that much to say. He told the group that he usually vocalizes before his sings, and them demonstrated what he does. None of them could do it at all, and they call themselves singers.

Back to subbing

I subbed at New Trier today for the first time this year. Teaching at this school is the equivilant to teaching in heaven. I had 4 science classes and one social studies class. The social studies class was interesting since I had to show a video of Shall we Dance--the Japanese version with Engligh subtitles. The actors were all Japanese. The class had just finished a unit on Japan.
The science classes were enviornmental science. I thought the lesson was interesting--it was on theories of why heat happens. I don't know if the kids agreed with me about the interest, but I enjoyed teaching it. I just can't resist adding something to the plans, so I did a short introduction and had a little discussion with the class. I still am not done with teaching even if I am retired.
On Thursday, I am going to the Botanic garden for science sleuths training. This is a fun program that the Garden runs in May. Kids rotate to several stations, so more groups can be accomodated. We see each group for about 20-30 minutes, then they move on. Nice program,nice spring weather,nice kids. A real win-win situation.